❧ THE LAST part of the mirror for Magistrates, wherein may be seen by examples passed in this Realm, with how gree●ous plagues, vices are punished in great Princes & Magistrates, and how frail and unstable worldly prosperity is found, where Fortune seemeth most highly to Favour.  
Newly corrected and enlarged  
Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum.  
IMPRINTED at London in Fleetstreet, near unto Saint Dunstanes Church, by Thomas Marsh. 1578.  
Cum Privilegio.   

Love and Live. TO ALL THE Nobility, and all other in office, God grant wisdom and all things needful for the preservation of their Estates. Amen.  
PLato among many of his notable sentences concerning the government of a common weal hath this: well is that Realm governed, in which the ambitious, desire not to bear office. Whereby you may perceive (right honourable) what offices are, where they be duly executed: not gainful spoils for the greedy to hunt for, but painful toils for the heady to be charged with. You may perceive also by this sentence, there is nothing more necessary in a common weal, than that Magistrates be diligent and trusty in their charges.  
¶ And sure in whatsoever Realm such provision is made, the officers be forced to do their duties: there is it as hard a matter to get an officer, as it is in other places to repulse & shifted of those that with flattery, bribes, and other shifts, sue & press for offices. For the ambitious (that is to say prollers for power or gain) seek not for offices to help other, for which cause officers are ordained: but with the undoing of other, to enrich themselves. And therefore ●ar them once of this bait, & force them to do their duties, then will they give more to be rid from their charges, than they did at that first to come by even: For they seek only their private profit. And therefore, where the ambitious seek no office: there no doubt, offices are duly ministered. And whe●e offices are duly ministered, it cannot be choose, but the people are good, whereof must needs follow a good common weal. For if the magistrates be good, the people cannot be ill. Thus the goodness or badness of any Realm lieth in the goodness or badness of the Rulers. And therefore not without great cause do the holy Apostles so earnestly charge us to pray for the magistrates: For in deed the wealth & quiet of every common weal, the disorder also and miseries of the same, come specially through them. I need not go either to the Romans or Greeks for the proof hereof, neither yet to the Jews, or other nations: whose common weals have always flourished while their magistrates were good, and decayed and ra● to ruin, when vicious men had the government.  
Out country stories (if we read and mark them) will show us examples enough, would God we had not seen more than enough. I purpose not to stand hereupon the particulars, because they be in part setforth in the tragedies following. Yet by the way this I note (wishing all other to do the like) namely, that as good governors have never lacked their deserved praises: so have not the bad escaped infamy, besides such plagues as are horrible to hear of. For God (the ordainer of offices) although he suffer them for punishment of the people to be often occupied of such, as are rather spoilers and judasses, than toilers or justices (whom the scriptures call Hypocrites) yet suffereth he them not to scape unpunished, because they dishonour him. For it is Gods own office, yea his chief office which they bear and abuse. For as justice is the chief virtue, so is the ministration thereof, the chiefest office: and therefore hath God established it with the chiefest name, honouring and calling Kings and all officers under them by his own name: Gods. You be all Gods, as many as have in your charge any ministration of justice. What a foul shame were it for any now to take upon them the name and office of God, and in their doings to show themselves devils? God cannot of justice, but plague such shameless presumption and hypocrisy, and that with shameful death, diseases, or infamy. How he hath plagued evil rulers from time to time, in other nations, you may see gathered in Bochas' book entitled The fall of Princes, translated into English by Lydgate a Monk of the Abbey of Bury in Suff. How he hath dealt with some of our countrymen your ancestors, for sundry vices not yet left, this book named, A Mirror for Magistrates, shall in part pla●inye set forth before your eyes which book I humbly offer unto your honours, beseeching you to accept it favourably. For here, as in a mirror or looking glass you shall see if any vice be found, how the like hath been punished in other heretofore, whereby admonished, I trust it will be a good occasion to move men to the sooner amendment. This is the chief end why this book is setforth, which God grant it may talk according to the manner of the makers. The work was beg●̄ & part of it printed in queen Mary's time, but stayed by such as then were chief in office, nevertheless, through the means of the right honourable Henry Lord Stafford, the first part was licensed, & imprinted the first year of the reign of this our most noble and virtuous Queen, & dedicated to your honours with this preface, Since with time, although I wanted such help as before, yet the said good Lord Stafford hath not ceased to call upon me, to publish so much thereof as I had gotten at other men's hands, so that through his Lordship's earnest means, I have now also setforth another part, containing as much as I could obtain at the hands of my friends: Which in the name of all the authors, I humbly dedicated unto your honours, instantly wishing, that it may so like & de●●te your minds, that your cheerful receiving thereof▪ may encourage worthy wi●s to enterprise & perform the test. Which assoon as I may procure. I intend through God's leave & your favourable allowance, to publish with all expedition.  
In the mean while my Lords and Gods, (for so It may call you) I most humbly beseech your honours favourably to accept this rude work, and diligently to read and consider it. And although you shall found in it, that some have for their virtue been envied and brought unto misery: yet cease not you to be virtuous, but do your office to the uttermost. Embrace virtue and suppress the contrary, both in yourselves and other, so shall God whose officers you are, either so maintain you that no malice shall prevail, or if it do, it shall be for your good, & to your eternal glory both here and in heaven which I beseech God you may both seek and attain, Amen.  
Yours most humble W. B.   

A TABLE OF THE Contents of this Book.  

1. Robert Tresilian chief justice of England hanged at Tyburn & his fellows justices banished for misconstruing the laws. Fol. 1  
2. The infortunate end of the two Mortimers. Fol. 4  
3. Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Gloucester, murdered in prison Fol. 8.  
4. Thomas Mo●bray Duke of Northfolk banished and died in exile. Fol. 12.  
5. King Richard the second deposed & miserably murdered Fol. 16  
6. Owen Glendour Prince of Wales, was chased to the mountains, where he miserably died for lack of food. Fol. 19  
7. Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland taken in battle and put to death. Fol. 25.  
8. Richard Plantagenet Earl of Cambridge put to death at Southampton. Fol. 28  
9 Thomas Montague Earl of salisbury, chaunceablye slain at orleans with a piece of ordinance. Fol. 30  
10. james the first King of Scots ●ruelly murdered by his own subjects. Fol. 36.  
11. Humphrey Plantagenet Duke of Gloucester Protector of England by practise of Enemies was brought to confusion. Fol. 40.  
12. Lord William Delapole Duke of Suffolk, worthily banished and beheaded. Fol. 56  
13. Iack● Ca●e worthily punished for rebellion. Fol. 60.  
14. Edmonde Duke of Somerset, slain in the first battle at S. Albans. Fol. 65.  
15. Richard Plantagenet D. Of York, slain through his over rash boldness, and his youngest son the Earl of Rutland being a child cruelly murdered. Fol. 77.  
16. The Lord Clifford for his abominable cruelly came to a sudden death. Fol. 80  
17. The infamous end of the Lord Tiptofte Earl of Worcester. Fol. 82.  
18. Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick, & his brother john Marquis Montacute slain at Barnet field. Fol. 86.  
19 The virtuous king Henry the sixt cruelly murdered in the Tower of London. Fol. 89.  
20. George Plantagenet Duke of Clarence, Brother to K. Edware the fourth, cruelly drowned in a Vessel of Mal●sye, Fol. 93.  
21. A lamentation upon the death of King Edward the 4. Fol. 100  
22. Sir Anthony Woduile Lord Rivers, with his Nephew Lord Richard gray and others, causeless imprisoned and cruelly beheaded at Pomfret. Fol. 102  
23. The Lord Hastings betrayed by his counsellor Ca●es●y, and murdered in the tower of London. Fol. 114.  
24. Master Sackuils' Induction. Fol. 129.  
The Tragedy of H. duke Buckingham. Fol. 138.  
25. Collingbourne cruelly executed for making a fosish rhyme Fol. 153.  
26. King Bichard the third slain at Bosworth. Fol. 159.  
27 The fall of the black Smith, and fatal end of the Lord Awdeley. Fol. 166.  
28. The complaint of Shore's wife, one of the Concubines of King Edward the fourth. Fol. 176.    

❧ A BRIEF Memorial of sundry unfortunate Englishmen. WILLIAM BALDWIN to the Reader  
WHEN the Printer had purposed with himself to Print Lidgates' translation of Bochas, of the fall of Princes, having made privy thereto, many both honourable and worshipful: he was counseled by divers of them to procure a continuance of the Story from whereas Bochas left, unto this present time, chief of such as Fortune had abused here in this Island: which might be as a Mirror for men of all estates and degrees aswell Nobles as other, to behold the slippery deceipts of the wavering Lady, & the due reward of all kind of vices. Which advice liked him so well, that he required me to take pains therein: but because it was a matter passing my wit & skill, and more thancklesse than gainful to enterprise. I refused utterly alone to undertake it without the help of such, as in wit were apt, in learning allowed, and in judgement and estimation able to wield and discharge the weight of such a burden, thinking so to shifted my hands. But he earnest and diligent in his affairs, procure me an Athlas to say the burden upon my shoulders, which I would not have undertaken, but that shortly after divers learned men (whose many gifts need few praises) consented to take upon them part of the travail. And when certain of them to the numof seven, were through a general assent at an appointed time and place, gathered together to devise thereupon: I resorted unto them, bringing with me the book of Bochas translated by Dan Lidgate, for the better observation of his order: which although we did not mislike, yet would it not conveniently serve, seeing that both Bochas, & Lidgate were dead, neither were there any alive that had meddled with like argument, to whom the unfortunate might make their moan. To make therefore a state meet for the matter, they all agreed that I should usurp Bochas' room, and the wretched Princes complain unto me: and took upon themselves, every man for his part to be sundry personages, and in their behalfs to bewail unto me their sundry chances, heavy destinies, and woeful misfortunes. This done, we opened such Books of Chronicles as we had there present, and Master Ferrer after he had found where Bochas left, which was about the end of King Edward the thirds reign, to begin the matter, said thus.  
I marvel (qd he) what Bochas means to forget among his miserable Princes, such as were of our Nation, whose number is as great as their Adventures wonderful. For to let pass all, both Britaynes, Danes, and Saxons, and to come to the last Conquest, what a sort are they, and some also in the time of Bochas himself, or not much before. As for example William Rufus the second king of England after the Conquest, either by malice or misadventure slain hunting in the new forest, by Walter Tirrell with the shot of an arrow. Robert Duke of Normandy elder son to William Conqueror deprived of his inheritance of England, by Henry his youngest brother having both his eyes put out, and after, miserably imprisoned in Cardiff castle, whereas he died. The most Lamentable case of William, Richard, and Mary, children of the said Henry the first called Beauclerke, drowned upon the Sea by the negligence of drunken Mariners, and King Richard the first slain with a quarrel in his chief prosperity. The most unnatural murder of Artur Duke of Britain right Heir of England, by king John his uncle, with the death of Isabella his Sister by Famine. The miserable end of the said king John their uncle by Surfeit, or as some writ poisoned by a Monk of the Abbey of Swinsted in Lyncolneshrye. Are not their Histories rueful, and of rare Example? But as it should appear, Bochas being an Italian, minded most the Roman, and Italike Story, or else perhaps he wanted the knowledge of ours. It were therefore a goodly and notable matter, to search and discourse our whole story from the first beginning of the inhabiting of the Isle. But seeing the Printers mind is to have us supply where Lidgate left, we wil● leave that great labour to other that may intend it, and (as one being bold first to break the Ice) I will begin at the reign of Richard the second, a time as troublesome to the people, as unlucky to the Prince. And for asmutch friend Baldwin, as it shall be your charge to pen orderly the whole process: I will so far as my memory, and judgement serveth, somewhat further you in the truth of the story. And therefore omitting the ruffle made by jacke Straw & his Lewd meiney, with the murder of many notable men which thereby happened, (for jacke as ye know was but a poor Prince) I will begin with a notable example, which within a while after ensued. And although the person (at whom I begin) was no king nor Prince: yet sithence he had a Princely office, I will take upon me the miserable person of Sir Robert Tresilian chief justice of England, and of other his fellows learned in the Law that were plagued with him: thereby to warn all of their calling & profession, to be ware of wrong judgements, misconstruing of Laws, or wresting the same to serve the princes turn, which rightfully brought them to a miserable end, which they may justly lament in manner ensuing. * ⁎ *   

❧ THE FALL OF SIR Robert Tresilian chief justice of England, and other his fellows, for misconstruinge the Laws and expounding them to serve the princes affections. Anno. 1388.  

IN the rueful Register of mischifee, and mishap,  
Baldwin we beseech thee with our names to begin,  
Whom unfriendly Fortune did train unto a trap,  
When we our state esteemed most stable to have been:  
So lightly lose they all, which all do ween to win:  
Learn by us ye Lawyers, and judges of the Land,  
Upright and uncorrupt in doom always to stand.   

And print ye this precedent to remain for ever,  
enrol and record it in tables made of Brass,  
Engrave it in Marble that may be razed never,  
Where judges of the Law may see as in a Glass,  
What guerdon is for guile, and what our wages was,  
Who for filthy lucre, corrupt with meed and awe,  
Wittingly and wretchedly did wrist the sense of Law.   

A change more new or strange, when was there ever seen,  
Then judges from the Bench to come down to the Bar,  
And counsellors that were, most nigh to King and Queen  
Exiled their country, from Court and counsel far,  
But such is Fortune's play that can both make and mar,  
exalting to most high, that was before most low,  
And turning tail again, the lofty down to throw.   

And such as late afore, could stoutly speak and plead  
Both in Court, and Country, careless of the trial,  
Stand mute as Mammers without advice, or read  
All to seek of shifting, by traverse or denial  
Which have seen the day, when for a golden Rial  
By finesse and cunning, could have made black seem whit  
And most extorted wrong, to have appeared right.   

Whilst thus on bench above, we had the highest place,  
Our reasons were to strong, for any to confute,  
But when at bar beneath, we came to plead our case  
Our wits were in the wane, our pleading very brute,  
Hard it is for Prisoners, with judges to dispute  
When many against one, and none for one shall speak.  
Who weens himself most wise, shall haply be to weak.   

To you therefore that sit, these few words will I say,  
That no man sits so sure, but may be brought to stand,  
Wherefore whilst you have place, & bear the swing, & sway  
By favour without rigour, let points of Law be skand:  
Pity the poor Prisoner that holdeth up his hand,  
Ne lad him not with Law, who least of Law hath known,  
Remember ere ye die, the case may be your own.   

Behold me unfortunate Foreman of this Flock,  
Tresilian, sometime chief justice of this Land.  
A Gentleman by birth, no stain was in my Stock,  
Locketon, H●lt, and Belknay, with other of my band,  
Which the Law and justice had wholly in our hand,  
Under the second Richard a Prince of great estates  
To whom and us also, blind Fortune gave the mate.   

In the common Laws our skill was so profound,  
Our credit and authority such, and so esteemed,  
That what that we concluded was taken for a ground,  
Allowed was for Law, what so to us best seemed.  
Life, Death, Landes, goods, and all by us was deemed.  
Whereby with easy pain, great gain we did in fet,  
And every thing was fish, that came unto our net.   

At Sessions and Assizes, we bore the stroke and sway,  
In pantents and commission, of Quorum always chief:  
So that to whether side, soever we did way,  
Were it by right or wrong, it past without represe,  
The true man we let hung, somewhiles to save a Thief,  
Of Gold and of Silver, our hands were never empty,  
Offices, F●rmes, and Fees, fallen to us in great plenty.   

But what thing may suffice unto the greedy man?  
The more he hath in hold, the more he doth desire,  
Happy and twice happy is he, that wisely can  
Content himself with that, which reason doth require,  
And moyleth for no more, then for his needful hire:  
But greediness of mind doth seldom keep the size,  
To whom enough and more, at no time doth suffice.   

For like as Dropsy patients drink and still be dry,  
Whose unstaunched Thirst no Liquor can Alaye,  
And drink they near so much, yet Thirst they by and by,  
So Catchers, and Snatchers toil both night and day,  
Not needy but greedy, still prollinge for their Pray,  
O endless Thirst of Gold▪ corrupter of all Laws,  
What mischief is on mould whereof thou art not cause.   

Thou madest us forget the faith we did profess,  
When Sergeants we were sworn to serve the common Law,  
Making a solemn oath in no paint to dygresse.  
From approved Principles in sentence nor in saw:  
But we unhappy wights without all dread and awe,  
Of the judge eternal, more high to be promoted.  
To Mammon more than God, all wholly were devoted.   

The Laws we did interpret and statutes of the Land,  
Not truly by the Text, but newly by a gloase:  
And words that were most plain, when they by us were scanned,  
We turned by construction like a Welshmans hose,  
Whereby many a one both life and Land did lose:  
Yet this we made our mean to mount a fit on Mules,  
And serving times and turfs, perverted Laws and rules.   

Thus climbing and contending always to the top.  
From high, vato higher, and than to be most high,  
The honey dew of Fortune so fast on us did drop,  
That of King Richard's counsel we came to be most nigh:  
Whose favour to attain, we were full fine and sly  
Always to his avail, where any sense might sound,  
That way (were it all wrong) ●he Laws we did expound.   

So working Law like wax, the subject was not sure  
Of Life, Land, nor goods, but at the Princes will,  
Which caused his kingdom the shorter time to dure,  
For claiming power absolute both to save and spill,  
The Prince thereby presumed his people for to pill:  
And set his lusts for Law, and will had reasons place,  
No more but hang and draw, there was no better grace.   

The King thus outleaping, the limits of his law,  
Not reigning but raging, as will did him entice,  
wise and worthy people from Court did daily draw,  
Sage counsel see at nought, proud vaunters were in price,  
And roisters bore the rule, which wasted all in vice,  
Of riot and excess, grew scarcity and lack,  
Of ●acking came taxing, and so went wealth to wrack.   

The Barons of the Land, not bearing this abuse,  
Conspiring with the commons assembled by assent,  
And seeing no reason nor trea●ye could induce  
The king in any thing his rigour to relent,  
Maugre his princely mind: they called a Parliament  
Francke and free for all men, unchecked to debate  
Aswell for weal public, as for the Prince's state.   

In which high assembly, great things were proponed.  
Touching the Prince's state, his regally and crown,  
By reason that Richard, which much was to be moaned,  
Without regard at all, of honour or renown,  
Misled by ill advise, had turned all upside down:  
For sure●ie of whose state, them thought it did behove.  
His counsellors corrupt, by order to remove.   

Among whom, Robert Veer, called Duke of Ireland,  
With Mighel Delapoole, of Suffolk new made Earl.  
Th'archbishop of York was also of our hand:  
With Brembre of London a full uncourteous churl)  
Some learned in the law in exile they did hurl:  
But I judge Tresilian, because I was the chief,  
Was dampened to the Gallows to dye there as a thief.   

Lo the fine of falsehood, the stipend of corruption,  
The ●ickle f●e of fraud, the fruits it doth procure,  
You judges now living, let out just punition  
Teach you to shake of bribes, and keep your hinds all pure,  
Riches and promotion be vain things, and unsure:  
The favour of a Prince is an untrusty stay,  
But justice hath a fee, that shall remain alway.   

What gloryiss more greater in sight of God or man.  
Then by paths of justice in judgement to proceed?  
So duly and truly the laws always to skan,  
That justice may take place without reward or meed,  
Set apart all flattery and vain worldly dread:  
Set God before your eyes the righteous judge supreme,  
Remember well your reckoning at the day extreme.   

Abandon all affray, be soothfast in your saws,  
Be constant and careless of mortal men's displeasure.  
With eyes shut, & hands closed, you should pronounce the laws  
Way not this worldly muck, think there is a treasure  
Moore worth than Gold or stone, a thousand times in valour,  
Reposed for all such as righteousness ensue,  
Whereof you cannot fail, the promise made is true.   

If judges in our days would ponder well in mind,  
The fatal fall of us, for wresting law and right,  
Such statutes as touch life, should not be thus defined  
By senses constrained, against true meaning quite,  
aswell they might affirm the black for to be white.  
Wherefore we wish they would, our act and end compare,  
And weighing well the case, they will (we trust) beware.   
Finis.  
G. F.   

WHen finished was this Tragedy, which seemed not unfit for the people touched in the same. Another which in the mean time had stayed upon sir Roger Mortimer Earl of March, and heir apparent of England, whose miserable end (as it should appear) was somewhat before the others: said as followeth. Although it be not greatly appertinent to our purposed matter, yet in my judgement, I think it would do well to observe the times of these great infortunes, and as they be more ancient in time, so to place their several plaints: For I find that before these (of whom master Ferrer here hath spoken) there were two earls of the name of Mortimer, the one in the time of king Edward the third out of our date: another in Richard the Second's time, slain in Ireland, a year before the fall of these justices: whose history sith it is notable, and th'example fruitful, it were not good to overpass. And therefore by your licence and favours, I will take upon me the parsonage of the earl Mortimer called Roger, who full of bloody wounds mangled, with a pale countenance, and grisly look, may make his moan to Baldwin, in this wise.   

HOW THE TWO ROGERS, surnamed Mortimers, for their sundry Vices, ended their lives unfortunatelye, the one Anno. 1329. the other. Anno. 1387.  

AMong the riders on the rolling wheel,  
Which lost their holds, Baldwyn forget not me  
Whose fatal thread, untimely death did reel  
Ere it were twisted, by the Sisters three,  
All folk be grayle, their blisses brittle be:  
For proof whereof, although none other were,  
Suffice may I, Sir Roger Mortimer.   

Not he that was in Edward's days the third,  
Whom Fortune brought from boot to extreme bale,  
With love of whom, the Queen so much was stirred,  
As for his sake from honour she did scale,  
And whilst Fortune, blew on this pleasant gale,  
Heaving him high on her triumphal Arch,  
By mean of her he was made Earl of March.   

Whence pride out sprung, as doth appear by many,  
Whom sudden hap, advanceth in excess,  
Among thousands, scarce shall you find any,  
Which in high wealth that humour can suppress,  
As in this earl, plain proof did well express:  
For whereas he too lofty was before,  
His new degree hath made him now much more.   

For now alone he ruleth as him lust,  
Respecting none save only the Queen mother,  
Which moved malice to foulder out the rust,  
Which deep in hate, before did lie and smother.  
The Peers, the People, aswell the one as other.  
Against him made so heinous a complaint,  
That for a traitor, they did the Earl attaint.   

Than all such crimes as hidden lay before,  
They scour a fresh, and somewhat to them add,  
For hidden hate hath eloquence in store,  
When Fortune bids small faults to make more bad,  
five heinous crimes against him soon were had,  
Causing the king to yield unto the Scot,  
Towns that this father, but late afore had got.   

And therewithal the Charter called Ragman,  
yeven to the Scots for bribes and privy gain,  
That by his means sir Edward of Carnarvan  
In Berckley castle, most cruelly was slain:  
That with his prince's mother he had lain,  
And last of all by pillage at his pleasure,  
Had spoiled the king and commons of their treasure.   

For these things lo, which erst were out of mind,  
Dampened he was, and hanged at the last,  
In whom dame Fortune fully showed her kind,  
For whom she heaves, she hurleth down as fast:  
It men to come, would learn by other past,  
My coosius fall might 'cause them set aside,  
High clymim, brybing, adultery and pride,   

The final cause, why I this process tell,  
Is that I may be known from this other,  
My like in name, unlike me though he fel.  
Which was I ween my grand sire or his brother:  
To count my kin, Dame Philip was my mother,  
Elder daughter and heir of Lionel,  
Of King Edward the third the second sequel.   

My Father height sir Edmund Mortimer,  
Caldoro Earl of March, whence I was after Earl,  
By true descent these two my parents were,  
Of which the one of knighthood bore ferl  
Of Ladies all, the other was the pearl:  
After whose Death I only stood in plight,  
To be next heir unto the crown by right.   

Touching the case of my cousin Roger,  
(Whose rueful end even now I did relate)  
Was found in time an undue atteindre  
Against the law, by those that bore him hate:  
For where by law each man of free estate,  
Should be herded speak before his judgement pass,  
That common grace to him denied was.   

Wherefore by doom in Court of Parliament,  
His atteindre appearing erroneous,  
The King, the Lords, and Cammons of assent,  
His lawless death unlawful did discuss,  
And both to blood and good restored us:  
A precedent worthy, in record left,  
Lords lygnes to save, by lawless means bereft.   

While Fortune thus did friendly me retain,  
Richard the king, that second was by name,  
Having none heir after him to reign:  
Made me his mate in earnest and in game:  
The Lords themselves so well allowed the same,  
That through my titles julye coming down,  
I was made heir apparent to the crown.   

Who then but I was every where esteemed?  
Well was the man that understood my ●ert,  
Whom I allowed, as Lords the People deemed,  
And me to serve was every man's intent,  
With all that wit or cunning could invent:  
To me as prince attended great and small,  
In hope a day would come to pay for all.   

But seldom joy continueth trouble void,  
In greatest charge cares greatest do ensue,  
The most possessed, are ever most annoyed,  
In largest seas sor● tempests lightly brew,  
The freshest colours, soon change their hue,  
In thickest place is made the diepest wound,  
True proof whereof, myself to soon have found,   

For while Fortune so lulled me in her lap,  
And gave me gifts more than I did require,  
The double Dame behind me set a trap,  
To dash me down and say all in the mire:  
The Irish Kerns against me did conspire,  
My Lands of Ulster unjustly to bereave,  
Which my mother for heritage did me leave.   

And whiles I there to set all things in stay,  
(Omit my toils and troubles thitherward)  
Among mine own, with my retinue lay,  
The wylder sort, whom I did lest regard,  
And therefore the reckless man's reward:  
When lest I thought, set on me in such number,  
That fro my corpse, the life they set asunder.   

Naught might avail my courage nor my force,  
Nor help of friends. which were alas to few:  
The cruel folk assaulted so my horse,  
That all my helps in pieces they to hue,  
Our blood distained the ground as drops of dew.  
Naught might prevail to fly or yet to yield,  
For whom they take they murder in che field.   

No law of Arms they know, nor none will learn:  
They make not war (as other do) a play,  
The Lord, the Boy, the Gallowglasse, the Kern,  
Yield or not yield, whom so they take they slay,  
They save no prisoners, for ransom, nor for pay:  
Their booty chief, they count a dedman's head  
Their end of war's to see their enemy dead.   

Amongst these men, or rather savage beasts  
I lost my life, by cruel murder slain,  
And therefore Baldwin note thou well my gests,  
And warn all prince's rashness to refrain,  
Bid them beware their enemies when they feign,  
Nor yet presume to make their match amiss,  
Had I not so done, I had not come to this,   

At nought I set a sort of naked men,  
And much the less, seeming to fly away,  
One man me thought was good enough for ten,  
Making small account of number more or less,  
Madness it is, in war to go by guess,  
At unwares assaulted by our fone,  
Which were in number forty to us one.   

See here the slay of pomp and high estate,  
The feeble hold of this uncertain life,  
For I but young, proclaimed Prince but late,  
Having fair fruit by my beloved wife:  
Lost all at once by stroke of bloody knife:  
Whereby assured, let men themselves assure,  
That wealth, and life are doubtful to endure.   
FINIS.  
T. Ch.   

AFter this Tragedy ended, Master Ferrer said, seeing it is best to place each person in his order, Baldwin take you the Chronicles & mark them as they come: for there are many worthy to be noted, though not treated of. First the Lord Murrey a Scottish man, who took his deaths wound through a stroke lent him by the Earl of Nottingham, whom he challenged at the Tilt: But to omit him and also the fat Prior of Typtre, pressed to death with throng of People upon London Bridge at the Queen's entry, I will come to the Duke of Gloucester the kings uncle, a man minding the common wealth, and yet at length miserably made away, in whose person if you will give ear, you shall hear what I think meet to be said.   

HOW SIR THOMAS of Woodstock, Duke of Glocestre, Uncle to King Richard the second, was unlawfully murdered. Anno. 1397.  

WHo stablished is in State, seeming most sure,  
And so far from danger of Fortunnes' blast,  
As by the compas●● o● man's conjecture,  
No brazen pylter may be fixed more fast:  
Yet wanting the stay of prudent forecast,  
When froward Fortune list for to frown,  
May in a moment turn upside down.   

In proof whereof, O Baldwin, take pain,  
Turn thy care to Thomas of Woodstock,  
priest in presence on Fortune to complain,  
In the forlorn hope of English flock:  
Who by descent was of the royal stock,  
Son to king Edward, third of that name,  
And second to none in glory and fame.   

This noble father to maintain my state,  
With Buckingham Earldom did me endow:  
Both Nature and Fortune to me were grate,  
Denying me nothing which they might allow:  
Their sundry graces in me did so flow,  
As beauty, strength, high favour, and fame,  
Who may of God more wish then the same?   

Brothers we were to the number of seven,  
I being the sixt, and youngest but one:  
A more royal race was not under heaven,  
Moore sto●t or more stately, of stomach & person,  
Princes all peerless in each condition,  
namely sir Edward, called the black Prince,  
When had England the like before or ever since?   

But what of all this, any man to assure,  
In state uncareful of Fortune's variance?  
Sith daily and hourly we see it in ure,  
That where most cause is of affiance,  
Even there is found most weak assurance:  
Let none trust Fortune, but follow reason,  
For often we see in trust is treason.   

This proverb in proof over true I tried,  
Finding high treason in place of high trust,  
And most false faith where I most affyed:  
Being by them that should have been just.  
traitorously entrapped, ere I could mistrust,  
Ah wretched world, what is it to trust thee?  
Let them that will learn now hearken to me.   

After king Edward the thirds decease,  
Succeeded my Nephew Richard to reign,  
Who for his glory and honours increase,  
Which princely wages did me entertain,  
Against the Frenchmen to be his chieftain:  
So passing the Seas with royal puissance,  
With God and S. George I invaded France.   

Wasting the country with sword and with fire,  
Over turning towns, high Castles and towers,  
Like Mars God of war, inflamed with ire,  
I forced the Frenchmen t'abandon their bowers?  
Where ever we matched, I won at all hours,  
In such wise visiting both City and village,  
That always my soldiers were laden with pillage.   

With honour and triumph was my return,  
Was none more joyous than young king Richard  
Who minding more highly my state to adorn,  
With Glocestre Dukedom did me reward:  
And after in marriage I was preferred,  
To a daughter of Bohun an Earl honourable:  
By whom I was of England high Constable.   

Thus hoisted high on Fortune's whirling wheel,  
As one on a stage attending a play,  
Seethe not on which side the scaffold doth reel,  
Till timber and poles and all fly away.  
So fared it by me. for day by day,  
As honour increased I looked still higher,  
Not seeing the danger of my fond desire.   

For Fortune's flood thus running with full stream,  
And I a Duke descended of great kings,  
Constable of England, chief officer in the realm,  
Abused with assurance in these vain things,  
I went without feet, and flew without wings:  
Presuming so fair upon my high estate,  
That dread set apart my Prince I would mate.   

For whereas all kings have counsel of their choice,  
To whom they refer the rule of their Land,  
With certain familiars in whom to rejoice,  
For pleasure or profit, as the case shall stand,  
I not hearing this, would needs take in hand,  
Maugre his will, those people to disgrace,  
And such as I thought ●●tie to settle in their place.   

But as an old Book saith, who so will assay,  
About the Cat's neck to hung on any Bell,  
Had first need to cut the Cat's claws away  
Lest if the Cat be cursed, and not camed well,  
She haply with her nails may claw him to the fell,  
So putting on the Bell about the Cat's neck,  
By being too busy I caught a cruel check.   

Read well the sentence of the Rat of renown,  
Which Pierce the Ploughman describes in his Dream,  
And who so hath wy● the sense to expone,  
Shall find, that to bridle the Prince of a Realm,  
Is even (as who saith) to strive with the stream:  
Note this all subjects and construe it well,  
And busy not your Brains about the Cat's bell.   

But in that you be Liege's learn to obey,  
Submitting your wills to your Prince's Laws,  
It sitteth not a subject to have his own way,  
Remember this prover be of the Cat's claws:  
For Princes like Lions have long and large paws  
That reach at random, and whom they once twitch,  
They claw to the bone before the skin itch.   

But to my purpose, I being once bend,  
Towards the achieving of my attemptate.  
Four bold Barons were of mine assent,  
By oath and alliance fastly confederate,  
First Henry of Derby an Earl of estate,  
Richard of Arundel, and Thomas of Warwick,  
With Mowbray the Marshal, a man most warlike.   

At Ratecote bridge assembled our band,  
The commons in clusters came to us that day,  
To daunt Robert Veer, than Duke of Ireland,  
By whom King Richard was ruled always,  
We put him to flight and broke his array,  
Then Maugre the king his leave or assent,  
By Constable's power we called a Parliament.   

Where not in Robes, but with Baslardes bright,  
We came for to parley of the Public weal,  
Confirming our quarrel with main and with might,  
With sword and no words we tried our appeal,  
In steed of reason declaring our zeal,  
And whom so we known with the king in good grace,  
We plainly deprived of power and of place.   

Some with short process were banished the Land,  
Some executed with capital pain,  
Whereof who so lis●, the whole to understand,  
In the Parliament roll it appeareth plain,  
And further how stoutly we did the king strain,  
The rule of his realm wholly to resign,  
To the order of those, whom we did assign.   

But note the sequel of such presumption,  
after we had these Miracles thus wrought,  
The king inflamed with indignation,  
By Subjects thus in bondage to be brought,  
Suppress●●ge the Ire of his inward thought:  
Studied naught else but how that he might,  
Be highly revenged of this high despite.   

Aggrieved was also this later offence,  
With former cause of 〈◊〉 to renew,  
For once at windsor I brought to his presence,  
The Mayor of London with all his retinue,,  
To ask account of the realms revenue:  
And the Soldiers of Breast by me were made bold  
To claim their wages, when the town was sold.   

These griefs remembered with all the remnant,  
Fulfyld his heart with hate out of measure,  
Yet openly in show made he no semblant,  
By word or by deed to bear displeasure:  
But Friendship feigned, in proof is found unsure.  
And who so trusteth a foe reconciled,  
Is for the most part always beguiled.   

For as fire ill quenched will up ●at a start,  
And sores not well salved do break out of new,  
So hatred hidden in an ireful heart,  
Where it hath not had long season to brew,  
Upon every occasion doth easily renew:  
Not failing at last, if it be not let,  
To pay large usury besides the due de●,   

Even so it fared by this friendship feigned,  
Outwardly sound and inwardly rotten:  
For when the king's favour in seeming was gained:  
All old displeasures forgiven and forgotten,  
Even than at a sudden the shaft was shotten,  
Which pierced my heart void of mistrust,  
Alas that a Prince should be so unjust.   

For lying at Plashey myself to repose,  
With long sickness diseased very sore:  
The King espying me apart from those,  
With whom I was confedered before,  
Thought it not meet to tract the time more  
But glad to take me at such advantage,  
Came to salute me with friendly visage.   

Who having a Band bond to his bent,  
By colour of kindness to visit his eme,  
took time to accomplish his cruel intent:  
And in a small vessel down by the stream,  
Conveyed me to Calais out of the realm,  
Where without process or doom of my pears,  
Not nature but murder abridged my years.   

This act was odious to God and to man,  
Yet rigour to cloak to ha●it of reason,  
By crafty compass devise they can,  
Articles nine of right heinous treason:  
But doom after death is sure out of season,  
For who ever see so strange a precedent,  
As execution to go before judgement.   

Thus hate harboured in depth of mind,  
By sought occasion burst out of new.  
And c●u●l●ye abused the law of kind,  
When that the Nephew the uncle slay,  
Alas King Richard, sore mayst thou rue-  
Which by this fact preparedst a plain way,  
Of thy hard destiny to hasten the day.   

For blood axeth blood as guerdon due,  
And vengeance for vengeance is just reward:  
O righteous God thy judgements are true,  
For look what measure to others we award,  
The same for us again is prepared:  
Take heed you princes by examples past,  
Blood will have blood either first or last.   
FINIS.  
G. F.   

WHen master Ferrer had ended this fruitful Tragedy, because no man was ready with an other, having perused the story which came next, said: because you shall not say (my masters) but that I will somewhat do my part. I will under your correction, declare the tragedy of Thomas Mowbrey, Duke of Norfolk, the chief worker of the Duke of Glocesters' destruction: who to admonish all counsellors to beware of Flattering Princes or falsely envying or accusing their Peregalles, may lament his vices in manner following.   

HOW THE LORD Mowbray promoted by King Richard the second, to the State of a Duke, was by him Banished the Realm, in the year of Christ. 1398. and after died miserably in exile.  

THough sorrow and shame abash me to rehearse,  
My loathsome life and death of due deserved,  
Yet that the pains thereof may other pierce,  
To leave the like, lest they be likewise served,  
Ah Baldwin mark, and see how that I swerved:  
Dissembling, envy, and Flattery, bane that be  
Of all their Hosts, have showed their power on me.   

A blame not fortune though she did her part,  
And true it is, she can do little harm,  
She guideth goods, she hampreth not the heart,  
A mind well ●ent, is safe from every charm:  
Vice, only vice, with her stout strengthless arm,  
Doth cause the heart from good to ill incline,  
Which I alas, do find to true by mine.   

For where by birth I came of noble race,  
The Mowbreys' heir, a famous house and old,  
Fortune I thank, gave me so good a grace,  
That of my Prince I had what so I would:  
Yet neither was, to other greatly hold,  
For I through flattery abused his wanton youth,  
And his fond trust augmented my untruth.   

He made me first the Earl of Nottingham,  
And Marshal of England, in which estate  
The Peers and people jointly to me came,  
With sore complaint, against them that of late  
Made officers, had brought the king in hate,  
By making sale of justice, right, and Law,  
And living nought: without all dread or awe.   

I gave them aid these evils to redress,  
And went to London with an army strong,  
And caused the king, against his will oppress  
By cruel death, all such as led him wrong:  
The Lord chief justice suffered these among,  
So did the Steward of his household head,  
The Chancellor scaped, for he aforehand fled.   

These wicked men thus from the king removed,  
Who best us pleased succeeded in their place:  
For which both King, and Commons much us loved,  
But chief I with all stood high in grace,  
The King ensued my read in every case,  
Whence self love bread: for glory maketh proud,  
And pride aye looketh alone to be allowed.   

Wherefore to th'end I might alone enjoy  
The kings favour, I made his lust my law:  
And where of late I laboured to destroy,  
Such flattering folk, as thereto stood in awe,  
Now learned I among the rest to claw:  
For pride is such, if it be kindly caught,  
As stroyeth good, and stirreth up every nought.   

Pride provoketh to flatter for the pray,  
To poll, and oppress for maintenance of the same,  
To malice such as match uneaths it may:  
And to be brief, pride doth the heart inflame,  
To fire what mischief any fraud may frame,  
And ever at length the evils by it wrought  
Confounded the worker and bring him unto naught.   

Behold in me due proof of every part,  
For pride pricked me first my prince to flatter  
So much, that who so ever pleased his heart,  
Were it never so evil, I thought it a lawfll matter,  
Which caused the Lords afresh against him clatter:  
Because of Holds beyond the sea that ●e sold.  
And seen his soldiers of their wages polled.   

Though all these ills were done by mine assent,  
Yet such was luck that each man deemed no:  
For see the Duke of Glocestre for me sent,  
With other Lords whose hearts did bleed for woe,  
To see the Realm so fast to ruin go:  
In fault whereof, they said the two Dukes were,  
The one of York, the other of Lancaster.   

On whose remove from place about the king  
We all agreed, and swore a solemn oath,  
And whilst the rest provided for this thing,  
I flatterer I, to win the praise of troth:  
Wretch that I was broke faith and promise both:  
For I bewrayed the King, their whole intent,  
For which unwares they all were ta'en and shent.   

Thus was the warder of the Common weal,  
The Duke of Gloucester guiltless made away,  
With other more, more wretch I so to deal,  
Who through untruth their trust did ill betray:  
Yet by this means obtained I my pray,  
Of king and Dukes I found for this such favour,  
As made me Duke of Norfolk for my labour.   

But see how pride and envy jointly run,  
Because my Prince did more than me prefer,  
Sir Henry Bolenbroke the Elder son  
Of john of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster,  
Proud I that would alone be blazing star,  
Envied this Duke, for naught save that the shine  
Of his deserts, did glister more than mine.   

To th'end therefore his light should be the less,  
I slyly sought all shifts to put it out,  
But as the poise that would the palm-tree press,  
Doth cause the bows spread larger round about,  
So spite and envy causeth glory sprout,  
And ay the more the top is over trod,  
The deeper doth the sound root spread abroad.   

For when this henry Duke of Hereford saw,  
What spoil the King made of the noble blood,  
And that without all justice, cause, or law:  
To suffer him so, be thought not sure nor good,  
Wherefore to me twofaced in one hood,  
As touching this he fully broke his mind  
As to his friend that should remedy find.   

But I, although I knew my Prince did ill,  
So that my heart abhorred sore the same,  
Yet mischief so through malice led my will,  
To bring this Duke from honour unto shame,  
And toward myself, my sovereign to inflame:  
That I bewraye● his Words unto the King,  
Not as a read, but as a most heinous thing.   

Thus where my duty bound me to have told  
My Prince his fault, and willed him to refrain,  
Through flattery lo, I did his ill uphold,  
Which turned at length both him and me to pain:  
woe, woe to Kings whose counsellors do feign,  
Woe, woe to Realms where such are put in trust,  
As leave the law, to serve the Prince's lust.   

And woe to him that by his flattering read,  
Maynteyns' a Prince in any kind of vice:  
woe worth him eke for envy, pride or meed,  
That misreportes any honest enterprise,  
Because I beast, in all these points was nice,  
The plagues of all together on me light,  
And due for ill: All doers doth acquit.   

For when the Duke was charged with my plaint,  
He flat denied that any part was true,  
And claymde by Arms, to answer his attaint,  
And I by use, that Warly feats well knew,  
To his desire incontinently drew:  
Wherewith the King did seem right well content,  
As one that passed not much with whom it went.   

At time and place appointed we appeared,  
At all points Armed to prove our Quarrels Just,  
And when our Friends on each part had us cheered,  
And that the Heralds had us do our lust:  
With spear in rest we took a course to just.  
But ere our horses had run half their way,  
A shout was made the K●ng commanded stay.   

And for to avoid the shedding of our blood,  
With shame, and death which one must needs have had,  
The King through counsel of the Lords thought good  
To banish both, which judgement straight was rad:  
Not marvel than though both were wroth and sad  
But chief I, that was Exiled for ay,  
My Enemy straungd but for ten years day.   

The date expired, when by this doubtful doom,  
I should departed to live in banished hand,  
On pain of death to England not to come,  
I went my way: the King seared in his hand  
Mine Offices, my Honours, Good, and Land,  
To pay the due as openly he told,  
Of mighty sums, which I had from him polled.   

See Baldwin see, the salary of sin,  
Mark with what meed, vile vices are regarded  
Through Pride, and Envy lose both kith, and kin,  
And for my flattering plaint so well rewarded,  
Exile, and slander are just to me awarded:  
My Wife, and Heir lack Laudes, and lawful Right,  
And me their Lord made Dame Dianais Knight.   

If these mishaps at home be not enough,  
adjoin to them my Sorrows in Exile:  
I went to Almaigne first, a Land right rough,  
In which I found such churlish Folk, and vile,  
As made me loath my life each otherwhile:  
There lo, I learned what it is to be a gest  
A broad, and what to live at home in rest.   

For they esteem no one man more than each,  
They use as well the Lackey as the Lord,  
And like their manners churlish in their speech,  
Their lodging hard, their board to be abhorred,  
Their pleityd Garments herewith well accord,  
All jagde, and Frounced, with divers colours decked,  
They swear, they curse, and drink till they be flekt.   

They hate all such, as these their manners hate,  
Which reason would, no Wiseman should allow,  
With these I dwelled, lamenting mine estate,  
Till at the length they had got knowledge, how  
I was exiled, because I did avow  
A false complaint, against my trusty friend,  
Which made them think, me worse than any fiend.   

That what for shame, and what for other grief,  
I parted thence, and went to Venice town,  
Whereas I found, more pleasure and relief,  
Which was not long: for now the great renown,  
Of Bolenbroke whom I, would have put down,  
Was waxed so great in Britain, and in France,  
That Venice through, each man did him Advance.   

Loo! thus his Glory grew great, by my despite,  
And I thereby increased in defame:  
So envy ever, her hatred doth acquit  
With Trouble, Anguish, Sorrow, and self Shame,  
Whereby her Foes do shine in higher Fame:  
Like Water waves, which cleanse the Muddy stone,  
And soil themselves by beating thereupon.   

Or ear I had sojourned there a year,  
Strange tidings came, he was to England go,  
Had ta●e the King, and that which touched him near,  
Imprisoned him with other of his Fone,  
And made him yield him up his Crown, and Throne:  
When I these things for true by search had tried,  
Grief gripped me so, I pined a way and died.   

Note here the end of pride, see Flatteries fine,  
Mark the reward of envy, and false complaint,  
And warn all people from them to decline,  
Lest likely fault do find the like attaint.  
Let this my life, to them be a restraint,  
By others harms who listeth take no heed:  
Shall by his own, learn other better read.   
FINIS.  
T. CH.   

THis tragical example was of all the company well liked, howbeit a doubt was found therein, & that by means of the diversity of the Chronicles for whereas Hall (whose Chronicle in this work was chiefly followed) maketh Mowbr●y appellant, and Bolenbroke defendant. Fabian reporteth the matter quite contrary, and that by record of the Parliament roll, wherein it is plain that Bolenbroke was appellant & Morobrey defendant wherefore whatsoever shallbe said in the person of Mowbrey (who being a most noble prince had to much wrong to be so causeless defamed after his death) imagine the same to be spoken against his accuser. Which matter sith it is more hard to decide, than needful to our yurpose, which mind only to dissuade from vices & exalt virtue, we refer to such as may come by the Records of the Parliament, contented in the mean while with Master halls judgement, which maketh best for our foreshowed purpose.  
This doubt thus let pass. I would said M, Ferrer, say somewhat for K. Rich. the 2. after whose depriving, his brother & divers other made a mask minding by K. Henry's destruction to have restored him, which maskers matter so runneth in this that I doubt which aught to go before, but seeing no man is ready to say aught in their behalf, I will give (who so listeth) leisure to think thereon, & in the mean time to further your enrerprise. I will in K. Richard's behalf recount such part of his story, as I think most necessary. And therefore imagine Baldwin that you see the corpse of this Prince all to be mangled, with bloody wounds, lying pale and wan, naked upon a Beer in Paul's Church, the People standing round about him, and making his complaint in manner as followeth.   

how KING RICHARD the second was for his evil governance deposed from his seat, in the year 1399. & miserably murdered in prison the year following.  

HApyye is the Prince, that hath in wealth the grace  
Virtue to follow and vices to keep under,  
But woe to him whose will hath wisdoms place:  
For who so renteth right and law asunder,  
On him at length all the world shall wonder,  
Boast of high birth, sword, sceptre, ne mace.  
Can warrant King or kaiser fro the case,  
Shame sueth sin, as rain do drops of thunder,  
Let kings therefore the Laws of God embrace,  
That vain delights 'cause them not to blunder   

Behold my hap, see how the silly rout  
On me do gaze, and each to other say:  
See where he lieth, but late that was so stout,  
Lo how the power, the Pride, and rich array,  
Of mighty Princes lightly fade away.  
The King which erst kept all the realm in doubt,  
Dead and least dread, to grave is carried out,  
What would be Kings made of but earth and clay:  
Behold the wounds his body all about,  
When living here, thought never to decay.   

Me think I hear the people thus devise  
Wherefore Baldwin, sith thou will't now declare  
How Princes fallen, to make the living wise,  
My lawless life, in no point see thou spare,  
But paint it out, that rulers may beware,  
Good counsel, Law, or virtue to despise:  
For Realms have rulers, and rulers have a size,  
Which if they break, thus much to say I dare,  
That either's griefs, the other shall agrise  
Till one be lost, the other brought to care.   

I was a King, who ruled all by Lust  
Without respect of justice, Right, or Law,  
In false Flatterers reposing all my trust,  
embracing such as could my vices claw:  
Fro counsel sage I did always withdraw,  
As pleasure pricked, so needs obey I must:  
Having delight to feed and serve the gust,  
Of God or man I stood no wise awe,  
Me liked least to Torney or to Just.  
To Venus' games my Fancy did more draw.   

Which to maintain, I gathered heaps of gold  
By Fines, Fiftenes, and loans by way of priest,  
Blank Charters, Oaths, and shifts not known of old,  
For which the people, my doings did detest.  
I also sold the noble town of Breast,  
My fault wherein, because mine uncle told,  
(For Princes acts, may no wise he controlled)  
His life I took, untried without Quest,  
And all such Lords as did his cause uphold,  
With long exile, or cruel death oppressed.   

None aid I lacked, in any wicked deed,  
For gayinge Gulls, whom I promoted had.  
Would further all in hoop of higher ●eede,  
There can no King, imagine aught so bad,  
But shall find some, to do the same most glad:  
For sickness seldom doth so swiftly breed,  
As humours ill, do grow the grief to feed.  
Thus Kings estatas, be worst of all bestead.  
Abused to wealth, abandoned at need,  
And nearest harm when they be lest adread.   

My life and death the truth of this hath tried:  
For while I sought in Ireland with my foes,  
Mine uncle Edward, whom I left to guide  
My Realm at home, rebelliously arose,  
Traitors to help, which plied my depose:  
And called fro France, Earl Bolenkroke whom I  
Exiled had, for ten years there to lie:  
Who tyrantlike did execute all those,  
That in mine aid dared look but once awry,  
Of which sort sooneafter some their lives did loose.   

For coming back this sudden stur to stay,  
My Steward false to whom I trusted most:  
(Whiles I in Wales at Flint my castle, lay,  
Both to refresh and multiply mine Host)  
There in any Hall, minding to fly the Coast,  
His Staff did break, which was my household stay  
Bad each make shift and road himself away.  
See Princes, see, the strength whereof we boast,  
Whom most we trust, at need do us Betray:  
Not better stay, then in a rotten Post.   

My Steward false, thus being fled and go,  
My servants sly shrancke of on every side,  
Then caught I was, end led unto my soon,  
Who for their Prince no Palace did provide,  
But prison strong, where Henry puffed with pride,  
Caused we resign, abandonig my throne,  
And so forsaken and left as post alone,  
These hollow friends, ●y henry sone espied,  
Become suspect, and faith was geeven to none,  
Which caused them from faith again to slide.   

Conspiring straight their new Prince to put down,  
Which to perform a solemn oath they sworn,  
To tender me my sceptre and my crown,  
Whereof themselves, deprived me before,  
But ●ate medicines can help no festered sore:  
When swelling floods have overflown the town,  
To late it is to save them that shall drown,  
Till sails he spread a ship may keep the shore,  
No anchor hold can keep the vessel down,  
When wind and stream hath set the seas in roar.   

For though the P●eres set Henrye in such state,  
Yet could they not dispiace him thence again:  
And where with ease my pride they did abate.  
They ●ere to weak to set me up again,  
Things hardly mend, but may be marred amain.  
And when a man is fallen by froward fate,  
Still mischiefs ●ight one on another's pace:  
And means w●l meant all mishaps to restrain  
Wax wretched moans, whereby his joys abate.  
Due proof whereof, in this appeared plain.   

For when the king did know that for my cause,  
His Lords in Mask, would murder him by ●ight,  
To da●h all doubts, he took no further pause:  
But Peers of Exto● a cruel cut throat knight,  
To Pomfret castle sent with great despite,  
Who reft my life by force against all Laws,  
Thus lawless life to lawless death aye draws.  
Wherefore 〈◊〉 kings be ruled, and rule by right.  
And so I end concluding with this clause:  
That God though sat, at last will surely smite.   
FINIS.  
G. F.   

WHen Master Ferrer had ended this so woeful a Tragedy, and to all Princes a right worthy instruction: having passed through a miseable time full of piteous Tragedies, we paused a while. And seeing the reign of Henry the fowerth ensued, a Prince more aware and Prosperous in his doings, although not untroubled with wars, both of outfoorth and inward enemies: we began to search what Peers were fallen therein, where of the number was not small. And yet because their examples were not much to be noted for our purpose, we passed over all the Masker's of whom king Richard's brother was chief: which were all slain and put to Death for their traitorous attempt. And finding Owen Glendour, a great Prince in Wales, next in succesion of ill Fortune with the stout Percies his confederates, I thought it not meet to overpass, so great people with silence, and therefore said thus to the silent company: What my masters is every man at once in a brown study? hath no man affection to any of these stories? you mind so much some other belike, that these do not move you: and to say the truth, there is no special cause why they should. How be it Owen Glendour, because he was one of Fortunes own darlingrs, and affected to be Monarch of Wales, although to his own mischief and destruction, rather than he should be forgotten, I will pray Master Phaer who of late hath placed himself in that country, & haply hath met with his ghost in the forest of Kylgarran that he will say somewhat in his person: which Owen coming out of the wild Mountains of Wales like the image of Death in all points (his heart only excepted) as a ghost forpined with extreme famine, cold and hunger, may lament his great misfortune in such manner as you master Phaer are able most aptly to utter and set forth.   

HOW OWEN GLENdour seduced by false Prophecies, took upon him to be Prince of Wales, & was by Henry Prince of England chased to the Mountains, where he most miserably starved for hunger. Anno. 1401.  

I Pray thee Baldwin sith thou dost intend,  
To show the fall of such as climb to high,  
Remember me, whose miserable end  
May teach all men Ambition to fly,  
O false Fortune, Fortune vengeance on thee I cry:  
Which offering a Sop of sweet receipt,  
Haste made me bite the Hook in steed of Bait.   

A Brytton born, and of the Tropan blood,  
But ill brought up, whereby full well I find,  
That neither birth nor Lineage make us good:  
Though it be true that Cat will after kind,  
Flesh gendereth flesh, but not the Soul or Mind,  
They gender not, but foully do degender,  
When men to vice, from virtue they surrender.   

Each thing by nature, tendeth to the same  
Whereof it came, and is disposed like:  
down sinks the mould, up mounts the fiery flame,  
With Horn the Hart, with Hoof the Horse doth strike,  
The Wolf doth spoil, the subtle Fox doth pike,  
And to conclude, no fish, flesh, foul, or plant  
Of their true dame, the property doth want.   

But as for men, sith severally they have  
A mind whose manners are by learning made,  
Good bringing up, all only doth them save,  
In honest acts, which with their Parents fade,  
So that true gentry standeth in the trade  
Of virtues life, not in the fleshly line:  
For blood is brute, but Gentry is divine.   

Experience, doth 'cause me thus to say,  
And that the rather for my country men,  
Which vaunt & boast themselves above the day,  
If they may strain their stock fro worthy men:  
Which let be true, are they the better then?  
Nay far the worse, if so they be not good,  
For why they stain the beauty of their blood.   

How would we mock the burden bearing Mule,  
If he would brag he were an horses Sun,  
To press his pride (might nothing else him rule)  
His boasts to prove, no more but did him run:  
The horse for swiftness hath his glory won,  
The Mule could never the more aspire,  
Though he should prove that Pegas was his Sire.   

Each man crack of that which was his own,  
Our Parents virtues are there's, and no w●it ours,  
Who therefore will of noble birth be known,  
Aught shine in virtue like his Ancestors,  
Gentry consists not in Lands, and Towers:  
He is a churl though all the World were his,  
Yea Arthur's heir, if that he live amiss.   

For virtuous life a Gentleman doth make,  
Of her possessor all be he poor as job,  
Yea though no name of elders he can take:  
For proof take Merlin fathered by an Hob.  
But who so sets his mind to spoil and rob,  
Although he come by due descent from Brutus,  
He is a churl, ungentle, vile, and brute,   

Well, thus did I for want of better wit,  
Because my parents naughtly brought me up:  
For Gentlemen (they said) was naught so fit,  
As to attast by bold attempts the cup,  
Of conquests wine, whereof I thought to sup:  
And therefore bend myself to rob and rive,  
And whom I could of Laudes, and goods deprive.   

For Henry the fourth did then usurp the Crown,  
Despoiled the King, with Mortimer the heir:  
For which his subjects sought to put him d●wne,  
And I while Fortune offered me so fair,  
Did what I might, his honour to appare:  
And took on me to be the Prince of Wales,  
Entiste thereto by prophecies, and tales.   

For which, such Idle, as wait upon the spoil,  
From every part of Wales unto me drawn,  
For loitering youth untaught in any toil,  
Are ready ay all mischief to ensue:  
Through help of these so great my glory grew,  
That I defied my King through lofty heart,  
And made sharp War on all that took his part,   

See lack, I too Lord Raynold Gray of Rythen,  
And him enforced my Daughter to espouse,  
And so unraunsomed I held him still, and sithen,  
In Wigmore land through battle rigorous,  
I caught the right heir of the crowned house:  
The Earl of March sit Edmond Mortifier,  
And in a Dungeon kept him prisoner.   

Than all the Marches longing onto Wales,  
By Severne West I did invade and burn:  
Destroyed the Towns, in Mountains, and in Vales,  
And rich in Spoils had homeward safe return:  
Was none so hold dared once against me spurn,  
Thus prosperously doth Fortune forward call,  
Those whom she minds to give the sorest fall.   

When Fame had brought these tidings to the King,  
(Although the Scots than vexed him right sore)  
A mighty army against me he did bring:  
Whereof the French King being warned afore,  
Who mortal hate against King Henry bore,  
To grieve our For he quickly to me sent,  
Twelve Thousand Frenchmen, Armed to War, and bend.   

A part of them led by the Earl of March  
Lord james of Bourbon, a Valiant tried Knight,  
Which held by Winds to Wales ward forth to march,  
took Land at Plymouth privily an a night:  
And when he had done all that he burst or might,  
After that a many of his men were ●ayne,  
He stolen to Ship, and sailed home again.   

Twelve thousand more in Milford did arrive,  
And came to me then lying at Denbigh,  
With armed Welshmen thousands double five,  
With whom we went to Worcester well nigh,  
And there Encamped us on a mount on high,  
To abide the king who shortly after came  
And pitched his field, on a hill hard by the same.   

There eight days long our Hosts lay face, to face,  
And neither dared others power assail:  
But they so stopped the passages the space,  
That victayles could not come to our avail,  
Where through constrained our hearts began to fail:  
So that the Frenchmen shrank away by night,  
And I with mine to the Mountains took our flight:   

The King pursued greatly to his cost,  
From Hills to Woods, from Woods to Valleys plain:  
And by the way his men and stuff be lost.  
And when he saw, he gained naught but pain,  
He blewe retreat, and got him home again:  
Then with my power I boldly came abroad,  
Taken in my Country for a very God.   

Immediately after fallen a jolly jar  
Between the King, and Percies worthy bloods,  
Which grew at last unto a deadly War:  
For like as drops Engender mighty Floods,  
And little seeds sprut forth great leaves, and buds,  
Even so small strives, if they be suffered run,  
Brede wrath and war, and death or they be done.   

The King would have the Ransom of such Scots,  
As these the Percies ta'en had in the field:  
But see how strongly lacre knits her knots,  
The King will have, the Percies will not yield,  
Desire of gooos some craves, but granteth ceil:  
O cursed goods desire of you hath wrought  
All wickedness, that hath, or can be thought.   

The Percies deemed it meeter for the King,  
To have redeemed their Cousin Mortimer,  
Who in his Quarrel all his power did bring,  
To fight with me, that took him Prisoner,  
Than of their prey to rob his Soldier:  
And therefore willed him see some mean were ●ound,  
To quite forth him, whom I kept vilely bond.   

Because the King misliked their request,  
They came themselves and did accord with me,  
complaining how the Kingdom was oppressed  
By Henry's rule, wherefore we did agreed  
To put him down, and part the realm in three:  
The North part there's, Wales wholly to be mine,  
The rest, to rest to Th'earl of Marches Line.   

And for to set us hereon more agog,  
A Prophet came (a vengeance take them all)  
affirming Henry to be Gog magog,  
Whom Merlin doth a Mould warp ever call,  
Accursed of God that must be brought in thrall  
By a Wolf, a Dragon, and a Lion strong,  
Which should divide, his Kingdom them among.   

This crafty dreamer made us three such beasts,  
To think we were the foresaid beasts in deed.  
And for that cause our Badges, and our Creastes,  
We searched out which scarcely well agreed:  
Howbeit the Haroldes ready at such a need,  
Drew down such Issues from old Ancestors,  
As proved these Ensigns to be surely ours.   

Ye crafty Welshemen, wherefore do ye mock,  
The noble men thus with your feigned rhymes?  
Ye Noble men why fly ye not the Flock,  
Of such as have seduced so many times?  
False Prophecies are Plagues for divers crimes,  
Which God doth let the devilish sort devise,  
To trouble such as are not godly Wise.   

And that appeared by us three beasts in deed,  
Through false persuasion highly born in hand,  
That in our feat we could not choose but speed,  
To kill the King, and to enjoy his Land:  
For which exploit we bond ourselves in band,  
To stand contented each man with his part,  
So fully, folly assured our foolish heart.   

But such they say as fish before the Net,  
Shall seldom surfeit of the Pray they take,  
Of things to come the haps be s● unset,  
That none but Fools may warrant of them make:  
The full assured, success doth often forsake.  
For Fortune finds none so fit to flout,  
As suresby Sots, which cast no kind of doubt.   

How sayest thou Henry Hotspur, do I lie?  
For thou right manly gavest the King a Field,  
And there wast slain because thou wouldst not fly,  
Sir Thomas Percy thy Uncle forced to yield,  
Did cast his head a wonder seen but seld,  
From Shrewsbury town, to the tope of London Bridge,  
Lo! thus fond hope, did both their lives Abridge.   

When King Henry this Victory had won,  
Destroyed the Percies, put their power to slight,  
He did appoint Prince Henry his elder Son:  
With all his power to meet me if he might:  
But I discomfit, through my Partners fight,  
Had not the heart to meet him face, to face,  
But fled away, and he pursued the Chase.   

Now Baldwin mark, for I, called Prince of Wales,  
And made believe, I should be he in deed,  
Was made to fly among the Hills, and Dales,  
Where all my men forsook me at my need.  
Who trusteth Loiterers ceil hath lucky speed:  
And when the captains Courage doth him fail,  
His soldiers hearts a little thing may quail.   

And so Prince Henry chased me, that lo!  
I found no place wherein I might abide!  
For as the Dogs pursue the silly do,  
The Brache behind, the Hounds on every side,  
So traced they me among the Mountains wide:  
Whereby I found, I was the heartless Hare,  
And not the beast Colprophet did declare.   

And at the last: like as the little roche,  
M●st either be eat, or leap upon the shore  
When as the hungry pickerel doth approach,  
And there find death which it escaped before:  
So double death assaulted me so sore  
That either I must unto mine Enemy yield,  
Or starve for hunger, in the barren field.   

Here shame, and pain a while were at a strife  
pain bade me yield, shame bade me rather fast,  
The one badad spare, the other bade spend my life,  
But shame (shame have it) overcame at last,  
Than hunger strong, that doth the stonewale braced,  
Forced me to feed on Bark of trees, and Wood,  
And last of all, to g●aw my flesh and blood.   

This was mine end to horrible to bear,  
Yet good enough for him that did so ill,  
Whereby O Baldwin warn men to forbear,  
The vain desires, when w●● doth yield to will:  
Bi● Princes fly Colprophetes lying skill,  
And not presume to climb above their states,  
For they be faults that foil men, not their fates.   
FINIS.  
Th. Ph.   

When master Phaer had ended the Tragedy of this hunger staruen Prince of Wales, it was well liked of all the company that a Saxon would speak so much for a B●ytton, then suddenly one found a doubt worth the moving and that concerning this title, Thearle of March: for as it appeareth, there were three men of three divers nations together in one time entitled by that honour: first sir Edmund Mortimer, whom Owen kept in Prison, an Englishman: the second the Lord George of Dunbar a valiant Scot, banished out of his country, & well esteemed of Henry the iiij: the third Lord james of Bourbon a Frenchman, sent by the French king to help Owen Glendour. These three men had this title all at once, which caused him to ask how it was true that every one of these could be Earl of March: whereto was answered, that every country hath Marches belonging unto them, & those so large, that they were Earldoms, & the Lords thereof entitled thereby: so the lord Edmund Mortimer was Earl of March in England, lord james of Bourbon of the Marches of France, and Lord George of Dunbar Earl of the Marches in Scotland. For otherwise neither could have interest in others title. This doubt thus dissolved, master Ferrer said: if no man have affection to the Percies, let us pass the times both of Henry the fourth, and the fift, and come to Henry the sixt, in whose time Fortune (as she doth in the mynority of Princes) bore a great stroke among the nobles. And yet in Henry the fourth's time are examples which I would wish Baldwin that you should not forget, as the conspiracy made by the Bishop of Yorcke, and the Lord Mowbray, son of him whom you late treated of: pricked forward by the Earl of Northumberland, father to sir Henry Hotspur, who fled himself, but his partners were apprehended & put to death, with Baynton and Blinkinsops, which could not see their duty to their king but took part with Percy that banished Rebel. As he was proceeding, he was desired to stay by one which had pondered the story of the Percies, who briefly said. To the end Baldwin that you may know what to say of the Percies, whose story is not all out of memory (and it is an notable story) I will take upon me the person of the Lord Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland, father of Sir Henry Hotspur, in whose behalf this may be said as followeth. * ⁎ *   

❧ HOW HENRYE Percy Earl of Northumberlande, was for his covetous, and traitorous attempt put to death at York. Anno. 1407.  

O Moral Senec, true find I thy saying,  
That neither kin, riches, strength or favour  
Ace free from Fortune, but are ay decaying:  
Not worldly wealth is aught save doubtful labour  
Man's life in Earth is like unto a Tabour.  
Which now to mirth doth mildly men provoke  
And strait to War with a more sturdy stroke.   

All this full true I Percy find by proof,  
Which whilom was Earl of Northumberland:  
And therefore Baldwin for my Piers behoof,  
To note men's falls sith thou hast ta'en in hand,  
I would thou should my state well understand:  
For few Kings were more than I redoubted,  
Whom double Fortune lifted up and louted   

As for my kin their nobleness is known,  
My valiant acts were folly for to praise,  
Where through the Scots so often were overthrown.  
That who but I was doubted in my days:  
And that king Richard found at all assays,  
For never Scots rebelled in his reign,  
But through my force were either caught or slain.   

A Brother I had was Earl of Worcester,  
Always in Office, and Favour with the King:  
And 〈◊〉 my W●fe Da●e Elinor Mortimer,  
A Son I had, which so the Scots did sting,  
That being young, and but a very spring,  
Hen●y Ho●spur they gave him unto name,  
And though I say it, he did deserve the same.   

We three triumphied in King Richard's time,  
Til● Fortune aught both him and us a spite:  
But chiefly me, whom clearly from any crime,  
My King did banish from his favour quite,  
Proclayminge me a tra●terous Knight:  
Where through false slander forced me to be,  
That which before, I did most deadly flee.   

Let men beware how they true folk defame,  
Or threaten on them the blame of vices naught,  
For Infamy breeds wrath, wreak followeth shame:  
Eke open slander oftentimes hath brought  
That to effect, that erst was never thought,  
To be misdeemed, men suffer in a sort:  
But none can bear the grief of misreport.   

Because my King did shame me wrongfully  
I hated him, and so become his foe:  
And while he did at War in Ireland lie,  
I did conspire to turn his Weaie to woe:  
And through the Duke of Yorcke and other more,  
All Royal power from him we quickly took,  
And gave the same to Henry Bolenbroke.   

Neither did we this only for this cause,  
But to say truth, force drove us to the same:  
For he despising God and all his laws,  
Slew whom he would, made sin a very game,  
And seeing neither age nor counsel could him tame,  
We thought it well done for the kingdoms sake,  
To leave his rule, that did all rule forsake.   

But when sir Henry had attained his place,  
He strait become in all points worse than he,  
Destroyed the Piers and slew King Richard's grace,  
Against his oath made to the Lords and me:  
And seeking Quarrels how to disagree,  
He shamelessly required me and my Son,  
To yield him Scots, which we in Field had won.   

My Nephew also Edmonde Mortimer  
The very heir apparent to the Crown,  
Whom Owen Glendour held as prisoner,  
Vilely bond in Dungeon deep cast down,  
He would not Ransom but did selly frown,  
Against my Brother and me which for him spoke,  
And him Proclaimed Traitor for our sake,   

This foul despite did 'cause us to conspire,  
To put him down as we did Richard erst,  
And that we might this matter set on fire,  
From Owen's jail, our Cousin we remeerst,  
And unto Glendour all our griefs reherst:  
Who made a bond with Mortimer, and me,  
To prive the King, and part the Realm in three.   

But when king Henry herded of this devise,  
Toward Owen Glendour he sped him very quick,  
My ●ding by force to stop her enterprise:  
And as the devil would, than fell I sick,  
Howbeit my brother and son more politic  
Than prosperous, with an host from Scotland brought,  
Encountered him at Shrewesbury where they fought.   

The one was ta'en and ●yld, the other slain.  
And shortly after was Owen put to flight:  
By means whereof, I forced was to fayne,  
That I known nothing of the former fight.  
Fraud often avails more than doth sturdy might:  
For by my feigning I brought him in belife,  
I known not that wherein my part was chief.   

And while the king thus took me for his friend,  
I sought all means my former wrong to wreak,  
Which that I might bring to the sooner end,  
To the bishop of York I did the matter break,  
And to th'earl Marshal likewise did I speak.  
Whose father was through Henry's cause exiled,  
The bishop's brother with traitorous death defiled.   

These straight assented to do what they could,  
So did the Lord Hastings and Lord Faulconbridge:  
Which altogether promised they would,  
Set all their power, the kings days to abridge,  
But see the spite, before the birds were flydge  
The King had word and seasoned on the nest,  
Whereby alas, my friends were all oppressed.   

The bloody Tyrant brought them all to end  
Excepted me, which into Scotland scaped,  
To George of Dunbar th'earlearl of March, my friend,  
Who in my cause all that he could ay scraped,  
And when I had for greater succour gaped,  
Both at the Frenchmen and the Fleminges hand,  
And could get none, I took such as I found.   

And with the help of George my very friend,  
I did invade Northumberland full bold,  
Where as the folk drawn to me still on end,  
Bend to death my party to uphold:  
Through help of these full many a fort and hold,  
The which the king right manfully had manned,  
I easily won and seized in my hand.   

Not so content (for vengeance drove me on)  
I entered Yorkshire there to waste and spoil,  
But ere I had far in the country go,  
The sheriff thereof, Ralph Rokesby did assoil,  
My troubled host of much part of our toil,  
For he assaulting freshly took through power,  
Me and Lord Bar●olph both at Bramham more.   

And thence conveyed us to the town of York,  
Until he known what was the kings intent,  
There lo Lord Bardolphe kynder then the Stork  
Did lose his head, which was to London sent,  
With whom for Friendship mine in like case went,  
This was my hap my fortune or my fault,  
This life I led, and thus I came to nought.   

Wherefore good Baldwin will the Peers take heed,  
Of slander, malice, and conspiracy,  
Of covetise, whence all the rest proceed:  
For covetise joint with contuniacye,  
Doth cause all mischief in men's hearts to breed:  
And therefore this to Esperance my word,  
Who causeth Bloodshed shall not escape the Sword.   
FINIS.   

BY that this was ended, I had found out the story of Richard Earl of Cambridge: ●because it contained matter in it, though not very notable, yet for the better understanding of the rest, I thought it meet to touch it, and therefore said as followeth: You have said well of the Percies and favourably, for in deed as it should appear, the chief cause of their conspiracy against K. Henry, was for Edmund Mortimer their consins' sake, whom the king very maliciously proclaimed to have yielded himself to Owen coulourably, when as in deed he was taken forcibly against his will, and very cruelly ordered in Prison And seeing we are in hand with Mortimer's matter, I will take upon me the person of richard Plantagenet earl of Cambridge, who for his sake likewise died. And therefore I let pass Edmond Holland Earl of Kent, whom Henry the fowerth made Admiral to scour the Seas, because that Britain's were abroad: which Earl (as many things happen in war) was slain with an arrow at that Assault of Briack: shortly after whose death this king died, and his son Henrye the fift of that name succeeded in his place. In the beginning of this Henry the fyftes reign died this Richard, and with him Henry the L. Scrope & other, in whose behalf, this may be said.   

HOW RICHARD Plantagenet Earl of Cambridge intending the kings destruction, was put to death at Southampton. Anno. Domini. 1415.  

HAst maketh waste, hath commonly been said,  
And secret mischief ceil hath lucky speed,  
A murdering mind with proper poise is weighed,  
All this most true I find it, as my creed,  
And therefore Baldwin wa●ne all states take heed  
How they conspire any other to entrap,  
Lest mischiefement light in the meaners lap.   

For I Lord Richard heir Plantagenet,  
Was Earl of Cambridge and right fortunate,  
If I had had the grace my wit to set,  
To have content me with mine own estate:  
But O false honours, breeders of debate,  
The love of you our lewd hearts do allure,  
To lose ourselves by seeking you unsure.   

Because my brother Edmond Mortimer,  
Whose elder sister was my wedded wife,  
I mean that Edmund that was prisoner,  
In Wales so long through Owen's busy stryte,  
Because I say that after Edmondes' life,  
His rights and titles must by law be mine,  
For he ●e had, nor could increase his line.   

Because the right of Realm and Crown was ours,  
I searched means to help him thereunto,  
And where the Henry's held it by their powers,  
I sought a shift their tenors to undo,  
Which being force, sith force or sleight must do:  
I void of might, because their power was strong,  
Sir privy sleight against their open wrong.   

But sith the Death of most part of my kin  
Did dash my hope, through out the father's days  
I let it slip, and thought it best begin,  
When as the son should dread lest such assays,  
For force through speed, sleight speedeth through delays,  
And ceil doth treason time so fitly find,  
As when all dangers most be out of mind.   

Wherefore while Henrye of that name the fift,  
Prepared his army to go conquer France,  
Lord Scrope and I thought to attempt a drift,  
To put him down my brother to advance,  
But were it Gods will, my luck, or his good chance,  
The king witted wholly where about we went,  
The night before to shipward he him bend.   

Then were we straight as traitors apprehended,  
Our purpose spied, the cause thereof was hide,  
And therefore lo a false cause we pretended,  
Where through my brother was fro danger rid:  
We said for hire of French kings coin, we did  
Behight to kill the king: and thus with shame  
We stained ourselves, to save our friend fro blame.   

When we had thus confessed so foul a treason,  
That we deserved, we suffered by the law,  
See Baldwin see, and note as it is reason,  
How wicked deeds to woeful ends do draw,  
All force doth fail no craft is worth a straw,  
To attain things lost, and therefore let them go.  
For might ruleth right, and will though truth say no.   
FINIS.   

When stout Richard had stoutly said his mind, belike said one, this Richard was but a little man, or else little favoured of writers, for our Chronicles speak very little of him But seeing we become now to king Henry's voyage into France, we cannot lack valiant men to speak of, for among so many as were led & sent by the king out of this Realm thither, it cannot be choose but some, & that a great somme, were slain among them: wherefore to speak of them all, I think not needful. And therefore to let pass Edward Duke of York, and the Earl of Suffolk, slain both at the Battle of Agincourte, as were also many other. Let us end the time of Henry the fift, and come to his son Henry the sixth: whose Nonage brought France and Normandye ●oute of Bondage, and was the cause that so few of our noble men died aged.  
Of whom to let pass the number, I will take upon me the person of Thomas Montague Earl of Salisbury, whose name was not so good at home (and yet he was called the good Earl) as it was dreadful abroad: who exclaminge upon the mutability of Fortune, may justly say in manner as folqweth.   

HOW THOMAS MONtague Earl of Salisbury, in the midst of his glory, was chaunceablye slain at orleans with a piece of Ordinance the third of November. Anno 1428.  

WHat fools be we to trust unto our strength,  
Our wit, our courage, or our noble fame,  
Which time itself must needs devour at length,  
Though froward fortune could not foil the same  
But seeing this Goddess guideth all the game,  
Which still to change doth set her only lust,  
Why toil we so for things so hard to trust,   

A goodly thing it is surely good report,  
Which noble hearts, do seek by course of kind:  
But seen the date so doubtful and so short,  
The way so rough whereby we do it find,  
I cannot choose but praise the Princely mind  
That presseth for it, though we find oppressed,  
By foul defame those that deserve it best.   

Concerning whom mark Baldwin what I say  
I mean the virtuous hindered of their brute,  
Among which number reckon well I may,  
My valiant father john Lord Montacute,  
Who lost his life I judge through just pursuit:  
I say the cause and not the casual speed,  
Is to be weighed in every kind of deed.   

This rule observed, how many shall we find,  
For virtues sake with infamy oppressed:  
How many again through help of Fortune blind:  
For ill attempts achieved with honour blest:  
Success is worst oft-times when cause is best:  
Therefore say I: God sand them sorry haps  
That judge the causes by their after claps.   

The end in deed is judge of every thing,  
Which is the cause or latter point of time:  
The first true verdict at the first may bring,  
The last is slow, or slipper as the slime,  
Often changing names of innocence and crime:  
Duke Thomas death was justice two years long,  
And ever since, sore tyranny and wrong.   

Wherefore I pray thee Baldwin way the cause,  
And praise my father as he doth deserve,  
Because Earl Henry, King against all laws,  
Endeavoured king Richard for to starve  
In jail, whereby the regal crown might serve,  
Out of the line to which it than was due,  
(Whereby God knows what evil might ensue)   

My Lord john Holland Duke of Excester,  
Which was dear cousin to this wretched king,  
Did move my father and the Earl of Gloucester,  
With other Lords to ponder well the thing:  
Who seeing the mischief that began to spring,  
Did all consent this Henry to depose,  
And to restore king Richard to the rose.   

And while they did devise a pretty train,  
Whereby to bring their purpose better about,  
Which was in Mask this Henry to have slain,  
The Duke of Awmerle blew their counsel out:  
Yet was their purpose good there is no doubt.  
What cause can be more worthy for a knight,  
Than save his king, and help true heirs to right?   

For this with them my father was destroyed,  
And buried in the Dunghill of defame,  
Thus evil chance their glory did avoid,  
Whereas their cause doth claim eternal fame:  
When deeds therefore unluckily do frame,  
Men aught not judge the authors to be naught,  
For right through might is often overraught.   

And God doth suffer that it should be so,  
But why, my wit is feeble to decise,  
Except it be to heap of wrath and woe  
On wicked heads that injuries devise:  
The cause why mischiefs many times arise,  
And light on them that would men's wrongs redress,  
Is for the tancour that they bear I guess.   

God hates rigour though it further right,  
For sin is sin, how ever it be used:  
And therefore suffereth shame and death to light,  
To punish vice, though it be well abused,  
Who furthereth right is not thereby excused.  
If through the same be do some other wrong,  
To every vice due guerdon doth belong.   

What preach I now I am a man of war,  
And that my body I dare say doth profess,  
Of cured wounds beset with many a scar,  
My broken jaw unhealde can say no less,  
O Fortune, Fortune, cause of all distress:  
My father had great cause thy fraud to curse,  
But much more I, abused ten times worse.   

Thou never flattredst him in all thy life,  
But me thou dandledst like thy darling dear,  
Thy gifts I found in every corner rife,  
Where ever I went I met thy smile cheer:  
Which was not for a day, or for a year,  
But through the reign of three right worthy kings  
I found the forward in all kind of things.   

The while King Henrye conquered in France,  
I sued the wars, and still found victory,  
In all assaults so happy was my chance,  
Holds yield or won did make my enemies sorry:  
Dame Prudence eke augmented so my glory,  
That in all treaties ever I was one,  
When weighty matters were agreed upon.   

But when this king this mighty conqueror.  
Through death unripe was both his realms bereft  
His silly infant did receive his power,  
Poor little babe full young in Cradle left,  
Where crown and Sceptre ●urt him with the heft.  
Whose worthy Uncles had the governance,  
The one at home the other abroad in France.   

And I which was in peace and war well skylled,  
With both these rulers greatly was esteemed:  
Bore rule at home as often as they willed,  
And fought in France when they it needful deemed,  
And every where so good my service seemed.  
That English men to me great love did bear,  
Our foes the French, my force fulfilled with fear.   

I always thought it fitly for a Prince,  
And such as have the regiment of Realms,  
His subjects hearts with mildness to connince,  
With justice mixed, avoiding all extremes,  
For like as Phoebus with his cheerful beams,  
Doth freshly force the fragrant flowers to flourish,  
So ruler's mildness subjects love do nourish.   

This found I true: for through my myeld behaviour  
Their hearts I had with me to live and dye,  
And in their speech bewrayer of their favour,  
They called me still good Earl of Salisbury,  
The Lords confessed the commons did not lie:  
For virtuous life, free heart, and lowly mind,  
With high and low shall always favour find.   

Which virtues chief become a man of war,  
Whereof in France I found experience,  
For in assaults due mildness passeth far  
All rigour, for●e, and sturdy violence,  
For men will stoutly stick to their defence,  
When cruel Captains covet after syoyle,  
And so enforced, often give their foes the foil.   

But when they know they shallbe friendly used,  
They hazard not their heads but rather yield,  
For this my offers never were refused  
Of any town, or surely very seld,  
But force and furies fit be for the field,  
And there in deed I used so the same,  
My foes would fly if they but herded my name.   

For when Lord Steward & Earl Vantadore,  
Had cruelly besieged Cravant town,  
Which he had won, and kept long time before,  
Which lieth in Awxer on the river Youne:  
To raise the siege the regent sent me down:  
Whereas I used all rigour that I might,  
I killed all that were not saved by flight.   

When th'earlearl of bedford then in France Lord Regent,  
Known in what sort I had removed the siege,  
In Brye and champaign he made me Vicegerent,  
And Lieutenant for him and for my liege:  
Which caused me to go to Brye, and there besiege  
Montagui●lon with twenty weeks assault,  
Which at the last was yielded me for nought.   

And for the Duke of Bretaines brother Arthur,  
Both Earl of Rychmond and of ivory,  
Against his oath from us had made departure,  
To Charles the Dolphin our chief enemy,  
I wi●h the Regent went to Normandy:  
To take his town of ivory which of spite,  
Did to us daily all the harm they might.   

They at the first compounded by a day  
To yield, if rescues did not come before,  
And while in hope to fight we at it lay,  
The Dolphin gathered men two thousand score,  
With Earls, Lords, and Captains jolly store,  
Of which the Duke of Alencon was guide,  
And sent them down to see if we would bide.   

But they left us and down to Vernoyle went,  
And made their vaunt they had our army slain,  
And through that lie the town from us they hent,  
Which shortly after turned to their pain:  
For there both armies met upon the plain:  
And we eight thousand whom they flew, not slay before,  
Did kill of them ten thousand men and more.   

When we had taken Vernoyle thus again,  
To drive the Dolphin utterly out of France,  
The Regent sent me to Anjou and to Main,  
Where I besieged the warlike town of Mauns  
There Lord of Toysers Baldwines valiance  
Did well appear, which would not yield the town,  
Till all the Towers and walls were battered down.   

But here now Baldwin take it in good part,  
Though that I brought this Baldwin there to yield,  
The Lion fierce for all his noble heart,  
Being overmatched, is forced to fly the field,  
If Mars himself there had been with his shield,  
And in my storms had stoutly me with stowed,  
He should have yield, or else have shed my blood.   

This worthy knight both hardy stout and wise,  
Wrought well his feat, as time and place require,  
When Fortune fails, it is the best advise  
To strike the sail lest all lie in the mire,  
This have I said to th'end thou take no ire:  
For though no cause be found, so nature frames,  
Men have a zeal to such as bear their names.   

But to return, in Main won I at length,  
Such towns and Forts as might either help or hurt,  
I manned Mayon, and Suzans town of strength,  
Before Barnard, Thanceaur, and S. Cales the curt,  
With Lile, sues, Bolton, standing in the dirt:  
Eke Guerland, Suze, Loupeland, and Mountsure,  
With Malicorne, these wan I and kept full sure.   

Besides all this I took near forty holds,  
But those I razed even with the ground,  
And for these deeds, as silly sheep in folds,  
Do shrink for fear at every little sound,  
So fled my foes before my face full round:  
Was none so hardy that dared abide my fight,  
So Mars and Fortune furthered me their knight.   

I tell no lie so gastful grew my name,  
That it alone discomfited an host,  
The Scots and Frenchmen well confess the same,  
Else will the town which they like Cowards lost,  
For when they sieged Beauron with great boast:  
Being forty thousand Brytaynes, French and Scots,  
Five hundred men did vanquish them like sots.  
For while the Frenchmen freshly assaulted still,  
Our English men came boldly forth at night,  
crying S. George, salisbury, kyl, kyl, kyl,  
And offced freshly with their foes to fight,  
And they as frenchly took themselves to flight,  
Supposing surely that I had been there,  
See how my name did pu●them all in fear.   

Thus was the Dolphin's power discomfited,  
Four thousand slain, their Camp ta'en as it stood,  
Whereby our Town and soldiers proficed,  
For there were victuals plenteous and good,  
This while was I in England by the Rood,  
To appease a strife that was right foul befall,  
Between Duke Humphrey and the Cardinal.   

The Duke of Excester shortly after died,  
Which of the King at home had governance.  
Whose room the Earl of Warwick then supplied,  
And I took his and sped me into France,  
And having zeal to conquer orleans,  
With much a do I got the Regentes aid,  
And marched thither, and siege about it laid.   

But in the way I took the town of Yane,  
Where murdered were for stoutness many a man:  
But Baugencey I took with little pain.  
For which to show them favour I began:  
This caused the towns of Mewne and jargeman,  
That stood on Loyer: to proffer me the keys,  
Ere I came near them, wellnigh by two days.   

See here how Fortune forward can allure,  
What Baits she layeth to bring men to their ends  
Who having hap like this, but hopeth sure,  
To bring to ●ale what ever he intends?  
But soon is sour the sweet that fortune sends:  
When hope and hap, when health and wealth is highest  
Then woe and wrack, disease, and need be nighest.   

For while I, suing this so good success,  
Laid siege to orleans on the River side,  
The Bastard (Cuckold Cawnies son I guess,  
though thought the Dukes) who had the town in guide  
Came fiercely forth, when he his time espied,  
To raise the siege but was bet back again,  
And hard pursued both to his loss and pain.   

For there we won the bulwark on the Bridge,  
With a mighty tower standing fast thereby.  
Ah cursed tower that didst my days abridge,  
Would God thou hadst been further either I:  
For in this tower a chamber stands on high,  
From which a man may view through all the town  
By certain windows iron grated down.   

Where on a day, now Baldwin note mine end,  
I stood in viewing where the town was weak,  
And as I busily talked with my friend,  
Shot fro the town, which all the Grate did break,  
A pellet came and drove a mighty fleake  
Against my face, and care away my cheek,  
For pain whereof I died within a week.   

See Baldwin see the uncertain glory,  
How sudden mischief dasheth all to dust,  
And warn all Princes by my broken story,  
The bappiest Fortune chiefly to mistrust,  
Was never man that always had his lust:  
Than sac●b be fools, in fancy more than mad,  
Which hope to have that never any had.   
FINIS.   

THis strange adventure of the good earl drove us all into a dump, inwardly lamenting his woeful destiny, out of which we were awaked after this sort.  
To what end (said one) muse we so much on the matter. This Earl is neither the first nor last whom fortune hath foundered in the height of their prosperity. For all through the reign of this unfortunate king Henrye, we shall find many which have been likewise served, whose chances sith they be martial, & therefore honourable, may the better be omitted. And therefore we will let go the Lords Molines, and Poyninges, slain both at the siege of orleans, shortly after the death of this Earl. Also the valiant Earl of Arundel destroyed with a bowlet at the assault of Gerborye, whose stories nevertheless are worth the hearing. And to quicken up your spirits, I will take upon me a tragical person in deed, I mean king jamy slain by his servants in his privy Chamber: who although he be a Scot, yet seeing he was brought up in England, where he learned the language, his example also so notable, it were not meet it should be forgotten. And therefore mark Baldwyn what I think he may say. * ⁎ *   

HOW KING JAMES THE first for breaking his oaths and bonds was by God's sufferance miserably murdered of his own Subjects. Anno. 1437.  

IF for example's sake thou written thy Book,  
I charged thee Baldwin thou forget me not,  
Whom fortune always frowardly forsook.  
Such was my luck, my merit or my lot.  
I am that james King Robert's Son the Scot,  
That was in England Prisoner all his youth,  
Through mine uncle Walter'S traitorous untruth.   

For when my Father through disease and age,  
Unwieldy was to govern well his Land,  
Because his Brother Walter seemed sage,  
He put the rule thereof into his hand.  
Than had my Father, you shall understand,  
Of lawful Barns, me and one only other,  
Nempt Davy Rothsay, who was mine elder Brother.   

This Davy was Prince of Scotland and so take,  
Till his adultery caused men complain:  
Which that he might by monishment forsake,  
My Father prayed mine Uncle take the pain.  
To threaten him his vices to refrain.  
But he false Traitor butcherly murdering wretch,  
To get the Crown began to fetch a fetch,   

And finding now a proffer to his pray,  
Devised means my brother to devour,  
And for that cause conveyed him day by day  
From place to place, from castle unto tower,  
To Faulkland fort, where like a tormentor  
He starved him, and put to death a wife,  
Whom through a Reed he sucked to save his life.   

O wretched death, fie cruel tyranny,  
A Prince in prison lost for fault of food:  
Was never enemy wrought such villainy,  
A trusty brother destroy his brother's blood,  
woe worth so friendly, fie on double hood,  
Ah wretched father see thy soon is lost,  
Starved by thy brother whom thou trustedst most.   

Of whom when some began to find the fraud,  
And yet the traitor made himself so clear,  
That he should seem to have deserved laud,  
So woeful did he for his Prince appear,  
My doubtful father loving me full dear.  
To avoid all danger that might after chance,  
Scent me away but nine years old to France.   

But winds and weather were so contrary,  
That we were driven to thenglish coast,  
Which Realm with Scotland at that time did vary,  
So that they took me as prisoner not as host:  
For which my father fearing I was lost,  
Conceived shortly such an inward thought,  
As to the grave immediately him brought,   

Than had mine uncle all the regiment  
At home, and I in England prisoner lay.  
For to himself he thought it detriment,  
For my release any ransom for to pay,  
For as he thought he had possessed his prey:  
And therefore wished I might in durance dure,  
Till I had died, so should his reign be sure.   

But good king Henrye seeing I was a child,  
And heir by right unto a realm and crown,  
Did bring me up not (like my brother) wyloe,  
But virtuously in feats of high renown?  
In I beral arts, in instrumental sown:  
By mean whereof when I was after king,  
I did my realm to civil order bring.   

For ere I had been prisoner eighteen year,  
In which short space two noble Princes died,  
Whereof the first in prudence had no peer,  
The other in war most valiant thoroughly tried,  
Whose room his son babe Henry eke supplied:  
The peers of England which did govern all,  
Did of their goodness help me out of thrall.   

They married me to a cousin of their king,  
The Duke of Somersets' daughter rich and fair,  
Relcast my ransom save a trifling thing:  
And after I had done homage to the heir,  
And sworn my friendship never should appare,  
They brought me kingly furnished to my land,  
Which I received at mine uncles hand.   

Whereof my Lords and commons were full glad,  
So was mine uncle chiefly as he said,  
Who in his mouth no other matter had,  
Save punish such as had my brother trayed:  
The fault whereof abundantly he laid,  
To good Duke Murdo, his elder brother's son,  
Whose father died long ere this was done.   

My cursed uncle slyer than the snake,  
Which would by craft unto the crown aspire,  
Because be see this Murdo was a stake,  
That stayed up the top of his desire.  
(For his elder brother was Duke Murdoes' sire)  
He thought it best to have him made away,  
So was he sure (I go) to have his pray.   

And by his crafts the traitor brought to pass,  
That I destroyed Duke Murdo and his kin,  
Poor innocentes, my loving friends alas.  
O Kings and Princes what plight stand we in,  
A trusted traitor shall you quickly win,  
To put to death your kin and friends most just,  
Take heed therefore, take heed whose reed you trust.   

And at the last to bring me hole in hate,  
With God and man at home and eke abroad,  
He counselled me for surance of my state:  
To help the Frenchmen, then nigh overtrod  
By Englishmen: and more to lay on lead,  
With power and force all England comu●de,  
Against the oath and homage that I made.   

And though at first my conscience did grudge,  
To break the bounds of friendship knit by oath  
Yet after proafe (see mischief) I did judge,  
jemadnesse for a king to keep his troth,  
And semblably with all the world it goth:  
Sins often assayed are thought to be no sin,  
So soyleth sin the soul it sinketh in.   

But as diseases common cause of death,  
Bring danger most, when lest they prick and smart,  
Which is a sign they have expulsed the breath  
Of lively heat which doth defend the heart:  
Even so such sins as felt are on no part  
Have conquered grace, and by their wicked bred,  
So killed the soul that it can have no cure.   

And grace agate, vice still succeedeth vice,  
And all to hast the vengeance for the furst,  
I areade therefore all people to be wise,  
And stop the brack when it begins to burst,  
Attast no poison (vice is vevim worst,  
It mates the mind) beware eke of to much,  
All kyl through muchness, some with only touch.   

When I had learned to set my oath at naught,  
And through much use the sense of sin exiled.  
Against King Henry what I could I wrought,  
My faith my oath unjustly fowl defiled,  
And while sly Fortune at my doings smiled,  
The wrath of God which I had well deserved,  
Fel on my neck, for thus lo was I served.   

Ere I had reigned fully fifteen year,  
While time I lay at Pertho at my place  
With the Queen my wife and children me to cheer  
My murdering uncle with the double face,  
That longed for my kingdom and my mace,  
To slay me there suborned Robert Grame,  
With whom his nephew, Robert stuart came.   

And when their time fit for their purpose found,  
Into my privy chamber they astart,  
Wherewith their swords they gave me many a wound,  
And slew all such as stuck unto my part  
There lo my wife did show her loving heart,  
Who to defend me felied one or twain.  
And was sore wounded ere I could be slain.   

See Baldwin, Baldwin, the unhappy ends,  
Of such as pass not for their lawful oath  
Of those that causeless leave their faith or friends  
And murdre kinsfolks through their foe's untruth,  
warn, warn all princes, all like sins to loath,  
And chief such as in my realm be born  
For god hates highly all that are forsworns   
FINIS   

WHen this was said (quoth one of the company) let pass these Scottish matters, and return we to our English stories which minister matter enough of tragedy, without seeking or travailing to foreign countries. Therefore return we to the rest of the Tragical troubles and broils which happened in this realm? during the minority of king Henry the vi. & the sundry falls and overthrows of great princes & other noble people happening thereby. Well said (qd M. Fer.) and as it happeneth. I have here ready penned two. notable tragedies, the one of Hamfrey Duke of Glocestre, the other of the Duchess Elienor his wife which as (me seemeth) be two of the most memorable matters fortuning in the time But whether of them is first to be placed in the order of our book, I somewhat stand in doubt. For albeit the said Duke's death happened before the decease of the Duchess, yet was her fall first, which finally was cause of overthrow to both▪ why should you doubt then (quoth the rest of the company) for seeing the cause doth always go before theffect and sequel of any thing: it is good reason you should begin with her first. And therefore we pray you let us hear first what she hath to say, for all this while we have not hard the complaint of any Lady or other woman.   

HOW DAME ELINOR Cobham Duchess of Gloucester▪ for practising of witchcraft and Sorcery, suffered open penance, and after was banished the realm into the isle of Man.  

IF a poor lady damned in exile  
Among princes may be allowed place  
Then gentle Baldwin stay thy pen awhyls  
And of pure pity ponder well my case,  
How I a Duchess, destitute of grace  
Have found by proof, as many have & shall  
The proverb true, that pride will have a fall   

A noble Prince extract of royal blood  
Humphrey sometime Protector of this land  
Of Gloucester Duke, for virtue called (the good)  
When I but base beneath his state did stand  
Vouchsafed with me to join in wedlocks vande  
Having in Court no name of high degree  
But Elinor Cobham as parents left to me   

And though by hyrth of noble race I was,  
Of Baron's blood, yet was I thought unfit,  
So high to match, yet so it came to pass,  
Whither by grace, good fortune, or by wit  
Dame Venus Iures so in mine eyes did sit,  
As this great Prince with out respect of state  
Did worthy me to be his wedded mate●   

His wife I was, and he my true husband  
Though for a while he had the company  
Of lady jaquet the Duchess of holland  
Being an heir of ample patrimony  
But that fell out, to be no matrimony  
For after war, long suit in law and strife  
She proved was the Duke of Brabant's wife.   

Thus of a Damsel a Duchess I become,  
My state and place advanced next the Queen  
Whereby me thought I felt no ground, but swum  
For in the Court mine equal was not seen  
And so possessed with pleasure of the spleen  
The sparks of pride so kindled in my breast  
As I in court, would shine above the rest   

Such gifts of nature god in me hath grafted  
Of shape and stature, with other graces moo  
That by the shot of Cupid's fiery shaft  
Which to the heart of this great prince did go  
This mighty Duke, with love was linked so  
As he abasing the height of his degree,  
Set his hole hat, to love and honour me   

Grudge who so would, to him I was most dear  
Above all Ladies advanced in degree  
(The Queen except) no Princess was my peer  
But gave me place, and lords with cap and knee  
Did all honour and reverence unto me  
Thus hoisted high upon the rolling wheel  
I sat so sure, me thought I could not reel.   

And weening lest that fortune hath a turn,  
I looked aloft, and would not look alow,  
The brands of pride so in my breast did burn  
As the hot sparks, burst forth in open show,  
And more and more the fire began to glow,  
Without quenching, and daily did increase,  
Till fortune's blasts with shame did make it cease.   

For (as 'tis said) Pride passeth on afore,  
And shame follows, for just reward & meed  
Would god ladies, both now and evermore  
Of my hard hap, which shlal the story reed  
Would bear in mind, and trust it▪ as their Crede▪  
That pride of heart, is a most hateful vice,  
And lowliness, a pearl of passing price.   

Namely in Queens, and Ladies of estate  
Within whose minds, all meekness should abound  
Since high disdain, doth always purchase hate.  
Being a vice, that most part doth redound  
To their reproach, in whom the same is found.  
And seldom gets good favour or good fame  
Bat is at last, knit up with worldly shame.   

The proof whereof I found most true indeed,  
That pride afore, hath shame to wait behind.  
Let no man doubt, in whom this vice doth breed,  
But shame for pride by justice is assigned,  
Which I well found, for truly in my mind  
Was never none, whom pride did more inflame,  
Nor never none, received greater shame.   

For not content to be a Duchess great,  
I longed sore to bear the name of Queen  
Aspiring still unto an higher seat,  
And with that hope myself did everweene  
Sins there was none, which that time was between  
Henry the king, and my good Duke his eme  
Heir to the crown and kingdom of this Realm.   

So near to be, was cause of my vain hope  
And long await when this fair hap would fall.  
My studies all were tending to that scope,  
Alas, the while to council I did call  
Such as would seem, by skill coniectural  
Of art Magic and wicked Sorcery  
To deem and divine the prince's destiny   

Among which sort of those that bore most fame  
There was a Beldame called the witch of Ay,  
Old mother Madge her neighbours did her name  
Which wrought wonders in countries by heresaye  
Both fiends and fairies her charming would obey  
And dead corpsis from grave she could uprere  
Such an Enchantress, as that time had no peer   

Two pryestes also, the one ●ight Bolenbroke  
The other Suthwell, great Clerks in conjuration  
These two Chapleins', were they that undertook  
To cast and calk, the kings constellation  
And then to judge by deep dyvination.  
Of things to come, and who should next succeed  
To England's crown, all this was true in deed.   

And further sure they never did proceed  
Though I confess, that this attempt was ill,  
But for my part, for any thing in deed  
Wrought, or else thought, by any kind of skill.  
God is my judge I never had the will  
By any Enchantment sorcery or charm  
Or other wise, to work my prince's harm.   

Yet nevertheless, when this case came to light,  
By secret spies to Cayphas our Cardinal  
Who long in heart had born a privy spite,  
To my good Duke his nephew natural  
Glad of the chance, so fitly forth to fall  
His long hid hate, with justice to colour  
Used this case with most extreme rigour.   

And caused me with my complyces all,  
To be cited by process peremptory,  
Before judges, in place judicial  
Whereas Cayphas, sitting in his glory  
Would not allow my answer disatory  
Ne Doctor or Proctor, to allege the laws.  
But forced me to plead in mine own cause.   

The kings council were called to the case  
My husband than) shut out for the season  
In whose absence I found but little grace  
For Lawyers turned our offence to treason  
And so with rigour, without ruth or reason  
Sentence was given that I for the same  
Should do penance, and suffer open shame.   

Nay the like shame had never wight I ween  
Duchess, Lady, ne Damsel of degree,  
As I that was, a Princess next the Queen,  
Wife to a Prince, and none so great as he,  
A kings uncle, Protector of his country,  
With Taper burning, shrouded in a sheet  
Three days a row, to pass the open street.   

Barelegd, and bore foot, to all the worlds wonder  
You, and as though such shame did not suffice  
With more despite, then to part a sunder,  
Me and my Duke, which Traitors did devise  
By Statute law, in most unlawful wise,  
first sending me, with shame into exile.  
Then murdering him, by treachery and guile.   

You and besides, this cruel banishment  
Far from all friends, to comfort me in care  
And husbands death: there was by Parliament  
Ordained for me, a mess of courser fare.  
For they to bring me to beggars state most bars  
By the same act, from me did then withdraw.  
Such right of dower, as widows have by law.   

Death (as 'tis said) doth set all things at rest,  
Which fell not so in mine unhappy case,  
For sins my death, mine enemies made a jest  
In minstrels rhyme mine honour to deface.  
And then to bring my name in more disgrace  
A song was made in manner of a lay  
Which old wives sing of me unto this day.   

Yet with these spites, their malice did not end  
For shortly after, my sorrows to renew  
My Loyal Lord, which never did offend  
Was called in haste, the cause he little known  
To a Parliament, without Summons due  
Whereas his death, was cruelly contrived  
And I his wife of earthly joys deprived.   

For all the while my Duke had life & breath  
So long I stood, in hope of my restore  
But when I hard of his most causeless death  
Then the best salve for my recureless sore  
Was to despair of cure for evermore,  
And as I could, my careful heart to cure.  
With patience, most painful to endure.   

O Traitors fell, which in your hearts could find!  
Like friends of hell, the guiltless to betray  
But you chiefly, his kinsmen most unkind  
Which gave consent to make him so away,  
That unto God, with all my heart I pray,  
Vengeance may light on him that caused all,  
Beaufort I mean, that cursed Cardinal.   

Which Bastard priest of the house of Lancaster  
Son to Duke john, surnamed john of Gaunt  
Was first created, Bishop of Winchester,  
For no learning, where of he might well vaunt  
Ne for virtue, which he did never haunt  
But for his gold & Sums that were not small  
Paid to the pope, was made a Cardinal.   

Proud Lucifer, which from the heavens on high  
Down to the pit of Hell below was cast,  
And beyagous' an Auugell bright in sky  
For his high pride, in Hell is chained fast  
In deep darkness, that evermore shall last  
Moore haut of heart was not before his fall  
Then was this proud and pomps Cardinal   

Whose life good Baldwine paint out in his pickle,  
And ●●ase this Baal & Belligod most blind,  
An Hipocryte, all faithless false and fickle,  
A wicked wretch, a kinsman most unkind,  
A Devil incarnate, all devilishly inclined  
And to discharge my conscience all at one's  
The Devil him gnaw both body, blood and bones   

The spiteful Priest would needs make me a Witch,  
As would to god I had been for his sake.  
I would have clawed him where he did notitche,  
I would have played the Lady of the Lake  
And as Merlia was, cloasoe him in a Brake,  
Yea a Meridian to Lul him by daylight  
And a night mare to ride on him by night.   

The s●ery fiends with fevers but and freuzye  
The Ayeryhegges with stench and carrion savours  
The watery ghosts with gouts, and with dropsy  
The earthy Goblius, with Aches at all hours  
Fairies & Faicies, with all infernal powers  
I would have stirred from the dark dungeon  
Of hell Centre, as deep as Demagorgon.   

Or had I now the skill of dame Erichto  
Whose dreadful charms, as Lucan doth express  
All fiends did fear, so farforth as Prince Pluto  
Was at her call for dread of more distress  
Than would I sand of hellhounds more and less,  
A legion at lest, at him to cry and yell.  
And with that chy●me, herrie him down to hell   

Which need not, for sure I think that he  
Who here in earth leads Epicurus life,  
As far from god as possible may be  
With whom all sin and vices are most rife  
Using at will both widow maid and wife  
But that some Devil his body doth possess  
His life is such, as men can judge no less   

And god forgive my wrath and wreakful mind  
Such is my hate to that most wicked wretch  
die when he shall, in heart I could well find  
Out of the grave his corpse again to fetch  
And rack his limbs as long as they would stretch  
And take delight to listen every day  
How he could sing a mass of wellaway   

The isle of Man was the appointed place  
To penance me for ever in exile  
Thither in hast they posted me apace,  
And doubting scape, they pinned me in a Pyle  
Close by myself in rare, alas the while  
There felt I first poor prisoners hungry fare,  
Much want, things scant, and stone walls hard and bore   

The change was strange, from silk and clot of Gold  
To rugged frieze my carcase for to clothe,  
From prince's fare, and dayntyes hot and cold,  
To rotten fish, and meats that one would loath  
The diet and dressing were much a like boath  
Bedding and lodging were all alike fine,  
Such Down it was, as served well for swine.   

Neither do I mine own case thus complain  
Which I confess came partly by desert  
The only cause which doubleth all my pain  
And which most near goeth now unto my heart.  
Is that my fault, did finally revert  
To him that was least guilty of the same  
Whose death it was, though I abode the shame.   

Whose fatal fall, when I do call to mind,  
And how by me his mischief first began  
So often I cry on fortune most unkind  
And my mishap most vitterly do ban,  
That ever I to such a noble man,  
Who from my crime was innocent and clear,  
Should be a cause to buy his love so dear   

O to my heart how grievous is the wound  
Calling to mind this dismal deadly case  
I would I had been doluen under ground.  
When he first see, or looked on my face,  
Or took delight in any kind of grace  
Seeming in me, that him did stir or move  
To fancy me, or set his heart to love.   

Farewell Grenewych my Palace of delight,  
Where I was wont to see the Crystal streams,  
Of royal Thames most pleasant to my sight  
And farewell Kent, right famous in all realms  
A thousand times I mind you in my dreams  
And when I wake most grief it is to me  
That never more again I shall, see you   

In the night time when I should take my rest  
I weep, I wail, I wet my bed with tears  
And when dead sleep my spirits hath oppressed  
Troubled with dreams, I fantazy vay●e fears  
Mine husband's voice then ring at mine ears  
Crying for help, O iave me from the death  
These villains here do seek to stop my breath.   

You and sometimes me thinks his dreary ghost  
Appears in sight, and shows me in what wise,  
Those fell tryantes, with torments had emboost  
His wind and breath, to abuse people's eyes  
So as no doubt or question should arise  
amongs rude folk which little understand,  
But that his death came only by god's hand   

I plain in vain, where ears be none to hear  
But roaring Seas, & blustering of the wind  
And of redress am near a whit the near  
But with waste words to feed my mournful mind,  
Wishing full often, the Parca's had untwind  
My vital strings, or Atropos with knife,  
Had cut the line of my most wretched life.   

O that Neptune, and Aeolus also,  
Thene God of Seas, the other of weather  
Ere mine Arrival, into that isle of woe  
Had sunk the ship where in I sailed thither  
(The shipmen saved) so as I together  
With my good Duke, might have been dead afore  
Fortune had wrought her wrath on us so sore.   

Or else that God when my first passage was  
Into exile along Saint Albans town  
Had never let me further for to pass,  
But in the Streat with death had struck me down  
Then had I sped of my desired down  
That my poor corpse might there have lain with his  
Both in one grave, & so have go to bliss.   

But I alas, the greater is my grief  
Am past that hope to have my sepulture  
near unto him, which was to me most lief  
But in an isle, land country most obscure.  
To pine in pain, whilst my poor life will dure  
And being dead, all honorles to lie  
In simple grave, as other poor that die.   

My tale is told, and time it is to cease  
Of troubles past, all which have had their end  
My grave I trust, shall purchase me good peace  
In such a world, where no wight doth contend  
For highest place, whereto all flesh shall wend  
And so I end, using on word for all,  
As I Began, that pride will have a fell   
FINIS.  
quod G. F.   

SVerly (said one of the company) this Lady hath done much to move the hearers to pity her, & hath very well knit up the end of her tragedy according to the beginning but I marvel much where she learned all this Poetry touched in her tale, for in her days, learning was not common, but a rare thing, namely in women, yes (quoth Master Ferrer) that might she very well learn of the Duke her Husband, who was a Prince so exellently learned, as the like of his degree was no where to be found, And not only so, but was also a Patron to poets & orators much like as Maecenas was in the time of Augustus Cesar This Duke was foundor of the Divinity School in Oxford, whereas he caused Aristoles works to be translated out of Greek into Latin, and caused many other things to be done for advancement of learning, having always learned men near about him no marvel therefore though the Duchess brought some piece away. Me think (quoth another (she passeth bounds of a Lady's modesty, to inveigh so cruelly against the Cardinal Beaufort. Not a whit (quoth another) having such cause as she had, & somewhat you must bear with women's passions. Therefore leave we her to eternal rest, & letre us hear what Master Ferrer will say for the Duke her husband whose case was the more lamentable, in that he suffered without cause. And surely though the Cardinal against nature was the Duke's mortal Foe, yet the chief causers of his confusion, was the Queen, and William Delapoole E●le of Suffolk and afterwards Duke, whose counsel was chiefly followed in the contriving of this noble man's destruction, She through ambition to have soveraynty and rule and he through, flattery to purchase honour and promotion, which as he in short time obtained: so in as short time he lost again, & his life withal by the just judgement of God, receiving such measure as he before met to this good Prince. This drift of his turned to the utter overthrow of the king himself, the Queen his wife, & Edward their son a most goodly prince, & to the subversion of the hole house Of Lancaster, as you may see at large in the Chronicles: but now let us hear what the Duke will say.   

HOW HUMPHREY PLANtagenet Duke of Gloucester Protector of England, during the minority of his Nephew king Henrye the sixt, (commonly called the good Duke) by practice of enemies was brought to confusion.  

AS highest hills with tempests been most touched  
And tops of trees, most subject unto wind,  
And as great towers with stone strongly rowched.  
Have heavy falls when they be under mind,  
Even so by proof, in worldly things we find,  
That such a clime the top of high degree  
From peril of failing never can be free.   

To prove this true (good Baldwin) hearken hither,  
See and behold me unhappy Humphrey,  
England's Protector and Duke of Gloucester  
Who in the time of the sixt king Henry,  
Ruled this Realm years mothen twenty:  
Note well the cause of my decay and fall,  
And make a mirror for Magistrates all.   

In their most weal, to beware of unhap,  
And not to sleep in slom bring sickernesse,  
Whilst Fortune false doth lul them in her lap  
Drowned in dreams of brittle blessedness,  
But then to fear her freaks and sickleness,  
Accounting still the higher they ascend:  
Moore nigh to be to Danger in the end.   

And that vain trust in blood or royal race.  
Aouse them not with careless assurance  
To trust Fortune, but weighing well my case,  
When she most smyleth to have in remembrance  
my sudden fall, who in all appearance:  
Having most stays, which man in state maintain,  
Have found the same untrusty and most vain.   

Better than I, none may the same affirm,  
Who trusting all in height of high estate,  
Led by the ears with false flatteries chyrme,  
Which never Prince could banish from his gate,  
Did little think on such a sudden mate,  
Not heeding, less dreeding, all unaware,  
By foes lest feared, was trapped into a snare.   

If noble birth or high authority  
Number of Friends, kindred, or alliance,  
If wisdom, learning, or worldly policy  
Might have been stairs to Fortune's variance,  
None stood more strong, in worldly countenance,  
For all these helps had I to avail me,  
And yet in fine, all the same did fail me.   

Of King Henry the fourth, fourth son I was  
Brother to Henry, the fift of that name,  
And uncle to Henry the sixt, but alas,  
What cause had I to presume on the same?  
Or for vain glory, advancing my fame  
Myself to call in records, and writings,  
The son, brother, and uncle unto kings.   

This was my boast, which lastly was my bane,  
Yet not this boast, was it that brought me down  
The very use, which made my weal to wane  
So near of Kin that I was to the Crown,  
That was the Rock that made my Ship to drown.  
A rule there is not failing, but most sure  
Kingdom, no kin doth know, ne can endure.   

For after my Brother the fift Henry  
Won by Conquest the Royal Realm of France,  
And of two Kingdoms made one Monarchy  
Before his death, for better obeisance.  
To his young Son, not ripe to governance  
Protector of England I was by Testament,  
And John my Brother, in France made Regent.   

To whom if God had lent a longer life,  
Our house to have kept from storms of inward strife  
Or it had been the Lord Almighty's will  
Plantagenettes name in State had standen still  
But deadly discord which Kingdoms great doth spill  
Bread by desire of high Domination,  
Brought our whole house to played desolation.   

It is for trowth in an History Found  
That Henry Plantagenet first of our name  
Who called was, King Henry the second  
Son of Dame Mawde, the Empress of High Fame  
Would often report, that his Ancient Grandam  
Though seeming in Shape, a Woman natural,  
Was a Fiend of the Kind that (Succubae) some call.   

Which old fable, so long time told before  
When this kings sons against him did rebel:  
He called to mind, and being grieved sore.  
Lo! now (quoth he) I see and prove full well  
The Story true, which folk of old did tell  
That from the devil descended all our race,  
And now my children, do verefy the case.   

Whereof to leave a long memorial,  
In mind of man evermore to rest  
A Picture he made and hung it in his Hall,  
Of a Pelican sitting on his Nest.  
With four young Birds, three pecking at his breast  
With bloody beaks, and further did devise  
The youngest Bird, to peck the father's eyes.   

Meaning hereby, his rebel children three  
Henry, and Richard who bet him on the breast:  
jeffrey only, from that offence was free)  
Henry died of England's, Crown possessed:  
Richard lived his father to molest,  
john the youngest pecked still his father's eye  
Whose deeds unkind, the sooner made him dye.   

This king (some write) in his sickness last  
Said, as it were by way of Prophecy  
How that the Devil, a darnel grain had cast  
Among his Kin to increase enmity,  
Which should remain in their Posterity,  
Till mischief, and murder had spent them all  
Not leaving one to piss against the brickwall.   

And yet from him in order did succeed  
In England here of crowned kings fourteen  
Of that surname, and of that line and seed,  
With Dukes and Earls, and many a noble Queen,  
The number such as all the world would ween  
So many imps could never so be spent,  
But some heir Male, should be of that descent.   

Which to be true if any stand in doubt,  
Because I mean not further to digress,  
Let him peruse the stories throughout  
Of English kings, whom practice did oppress,  
And he shall find the cause of their distress  
From first to last, unkindly to begin,  
Always by those that next were of the kin.   

Was not Richard, of whom I spoke before,  
A rebel plain until his father died,  
And john likewise an Enemy evermore  
To Richard again, and for a rebel tried?  
After whose death, it cannot be denied,  
Against all right this john most cruelly  
His brother's children caused for to dye.   

Arthur and Isabella (I mean) that were  
Geffreyes' children, than Duke of Britain  
Henry's third son, by one degree more near,  
Then was this john, as stories show most plain,  
Which two children were famished or else slain,  
By john their eme called Saunzterre by name,  
Of whose fowl act, all countries speak great shame.   

Edward, and Richard, second both by name  
Kings of this land, fell down by fatal fate  
What was the cause, that princes of such fame,  
Did lose at last their honour, life, and state?  
Nothing at all, but discord and debate,  
Which when it haps in kindred or in blood,  
Erynnis rage was never half so wood.   

Be sure therefore you kings and princes all  
That concord in kingdoms is chief assurance,  
And that your families do never fall,  
But where discord doth lead the doubtful dance  
With busy brawls and turns of variance,  
Where malice is Minstrel, the pipe ill report,  
The Mask mischief, and so ends the sport,   

But now to come to my purpose again,  
Whilst I●my charge applied in England,  
My brother in France long time did remain,  
Cardinal Beauford took proudly in hand,  
In causes public against me to stand,  
Who of great malice so much as he might  
Sought in all things to do me despite.   

Which proud prelate to me was bastard eme,  
Son to Duke john of Gaunt as they did feign,  
Who being made high Chancellor of the Realm,  
Not like a Priest, but like a prince did reign,  
Nothing wanting which might his pride maintain,  
Bishop besides of Winchester he was,  
And Cardinal of Rome which Angels brought to pass.   

Not God's Angels, but Angels of old Gold,  
Life him aloft in whom no cause there was  
By just desert, so high to be extolled,  
(riches except) where by this Golden ass,  
At home and abroad all matters brought to pass,  
Namely at Rome, having no mean but that  
To purchase there his crimzin Cardinal hat.   

Which thing the king my father him forbade  
Plainly saying, that he could not abide,  
Within his realm a subject to be had  
His Prince's peer, yet such was this man's pride,  
That he forthwith after my father died,  
(The King then young) obtained of the Pope,  
That honour high, which erst he could not hope.   

Whose proud attempts because that I with stood,  
My bound duty the better to acquit,  
This holy father waxed well near wood,  
Of mere malice devising day and night,  
To work to me dishonour and despite,  
Whereby there fell between us such a jar,  
As in this land was like a civil war.   

My brother john which lay this while in France,  
Heardof this hurl, and past the seas in haste,  
By whose travail this troublesome distance,  
Ceased a while, but nevertheless in waist:  
For rooted hate will hardly be displaced  
Out of high hearts, and namely where debate,  
Happeneth amongst great people of estate,   

For like as a match death lie and smolder,  
Long time before it cometh to the train.  
But yet when fire hath caught in the powder,  
No art is able, the flames to restrain:  
Even so the sparks of envy and disdain,  
Out of the smoke burst forth in such a flame,  
That France and England yet may rue the same.   

So when of two realms the regiment royal,  
Between brothers was parced equally,  
One placed in France for affairs Martial,  
And I at home for civil policy:  
To serve the state, we both did so apply,  
As honour and fame to both did increase,  
To him for the war, to me for the peace.   

Whence envy sprung, and specially because  
This proud prelate could not abide a Peer,  
Within the land to rule the state by laws,  
Wherefore lifting my life and acts most near,  
He never ceased, until as you shall bear,  
By practice foul of him and his allies,  
My death was wrought in most unworthy wise.   

And first he sought my doings to defame,  
By rumours false, which he and his did sow  
Letters and hills to my reproach and shame  
He did devise, and all about bestow,  
Whereby my troch in doubt should daily agow,  
In England first and afterward in France,  
Moving all means to bring me to mischance.   

One quarrel was, that where by common law  
Murder and theft been punished all alike,  
So as manslears, which bloody blades do draw,  
Suffer no more, than he that doth but pike,  
Me thought the same no order politic,  
In setting pains to make no difference,  
Between the lesser and greater offence.   

I being seen somewhat in civil law,  
The rules thereof reputed much better,  
Wherefore to keep, offenders more in awe,  
Like as the fault was smaller or greater,  
So set I pains more easier or bitter,  
Weighing the quality of every offence,  
And so according pronounced sentence,   

Among my other Delicta Iwentutis,  
Whilst rage of youth my reason did subdue,  
I must confess as the very truth is,  
Driven by desire, fond fancies to ensue,  
A thing I did, whereof great trouble grew,  
Abusing one to my no small rebuke,  
Which wife was than to john of Brabant Duke.   

Called she was Lady jaquet the fair,  
Delightful in love like Helen of Troy:  
To the Duke of Bavier sole daughter and heir,  
Her did I marry to my great annoy  
Yet for a time, this dame I did enjoy,  
With her whole lands, withholding them by force,  
Till, Martin the Pope, between us made divorce.   

Yet all these blasts not able were to move  
The anchor strong, whereby my ship did stay,  
Some other shift to seek him did behove,  
Whereto ere long ill fortune made the way,  
Which finally was cause of my decay  
And cruel death, contrived by my foes,  
Which fell out thus, as now I shall disclose.   

Elinor my wife, my Duchess only dear,  
I know not how but as the nature is  
Of women all, ay carious to enquiere  
Of things to came (though I confess in this  
Her fault not small) and that she did an isse,  
By wytches skill, which sorcery some call,  
Would know of things which after should befall.   

And for that cause made herself acquainted  
With mother Madge, called the witch of Eye,  
And with a Clerk that after was attaited,  
Bolenbroke he height, that learned was that way,  
With other more, which famous were that day,  
aswell in Science, called Mathematical,  
As also in magic and skill supernatural   

These cunning folks she set on work to know,  
The time how long the king should live and reign,  
Same by the Stars, and some by devils below,  
Some by witchcraft sought knowledge to attain,  
With like fancies, frivolous fond and vain,  
Whereof though I known lest of any man,  
Yet by that mean my mischief first began.   

Yet besides this there was a greater thing,  
How she in wax by counsel of the witch,  
An Image made, crowned like a king,  
With sword in hand, in shape and likeness such  
As was the king, which daily they did pitch  
Against a fire, that as the wax did melt,  
So should his life consume away unfelt.   

My Duchess thus, accused of this crime,  
As she that should such practise first begin,  
My part was then to yield unto the time,  
giving her leave, to deal alone therein  
And since the cause concerned deadly sin,  
Which to the clergy only doth pertain,  
To deal therein I plainly did refrain.   

And suffered them her person to ascite  
Into their Courts, to answer and appear,  
Which to my heart was sure the greatest spite,  
That cauld be wrought, and touched me most near,  
To see my wife, and lady lief and dear,  
To my reproach, and plain before my face,  
Entreated see, as one of sort most base.   

The clergy then examining her cause,  
Convinced her, as guilty in the same,  
And sentence gave according to their laws,  
That she and they whom I before did name  
Should suffer death, or else some open shame:  
Of which penance my wife by sentence had  
To suffer shame of both the two, more bad.   

And first she must by days together three,  
Through London streets pass a, along in sight  
Bore legde and barefoot, that all the world might see,  
Bearing in hand a burning taper bright,  
And not content, with this extreme despite,  
To work me woe, in all they may or can,  
Exiled she was into the isle of Man.   

This heinous crime and open worldly shame,  
With such rigour showed unto my wife,  
Was a fine fetch further things to frame,  
And nothing else, but a preparative  
First from office, and finally from life,  
Me to deprive, and so passing further,  
What law could not, to execute by murder.   

Which by sly drifts, and wyndlaces aloof,  
They brought about, persuading first the Queen,  
That in effect it was the kings reproof,  
And hers also, to be exempted clean,  
From princely rule, or that it should be seen  
A king of years, still governed to be  
Like a Pupil, that nothing could foresee.   

The danger more considering the king  
Was without child, I being his next heir,  
To rule the realm, as Prince in every thing  
Without restraint, and all the sway to bear  
With People's love, whereby it was to fear  
That my haut heart, unbridled in desire,  
Time would prevent, and to the crown aspire,   

These with such like, were put into her head,  
Who of herself, was thereto soon inclined,  
Other there were, that this it humour fed,  
To neither part, which had good will or mind,  
The Duke of York, our cousin most unkind,  
Who keeping close a title to the crown,  
Lancaster's house did labour to pull oowne.   

The stay whereof he took to stand in me,  
Seeing the king of courage nothing stout,  
Neither of wit great peril to foresee,  
So for purpose, if he could bring about  
Me to displace, than did he little doubt  
To gain the Goal, for which he drove the ball,  
The crown I mean to catch ere it should fall   

This hope made him against me to conspire  
With those which foes were to each other ●ate,  
The Queen old ween, to win her whole desire  
Which was to rule, the king and all the state  
If I were rid, whom therefore she did hate:  
Forecasting not, when that was brought to pass,  
How weak of friends, the King her husband was.   

The Duke's two, of Excester, and Buckingham,  
With the Marquis Dorset therein did agreed,  
But namely the Marquis of Suffolk William,  
Contriver chief of this conspiracy,  
With other more, that sat still and did see,  
Their mortal foes on me to whet their knives,  
Which turned at last to loss of all their lives.   

But vain desire of sovereignty and rule,  
Which otherwise (Ambition) hath to name,  
So stirred the Queen that wilful as a Mule,  
Headlong she runs, from smoke into the flame,  
Driving a drife, which after did so frame,  
As she, the King, with all their line and race,  
Deprived were of honour, life, and place.   

So for purpose she thought it very good,  
With former foes, in friendship to confeder,  
The Duke of York, and other of his blood,  
With Nevil's all, knit were then together.  
And Delapoole, friend afore to neither:  
The Cardinal also, came within this list,  
As Herode and pilate, to judge jesus Christ.   

This cursed league▪ to late discovered was  
By Bayardes blind, that linked in the line,  
The Queen and Cardinal brought it so to pass,  
With Marquis Suffolk master of this mine,  
Whose ill advise, was counted very fine,  
With other more which finely could disguise,  
With false visors my mischief to devise,   

Concluding thus they point without delay  
Parliament to hold, in some unhaunted place,  
Far from London, out of the common way,  
Where fewor none should understand the case,  
But whom the Queen and Cardinal did embrace,  
And so for place they chose Saint Edmondesburye  
Since when (some say) England was never merry.   

Somens' was sent, this company to call,  
Which made me mose, that in so great a case,  
I should no whit of counsel be at all,  
Who yet had rule, and next the king in place,  
Me thought nothing, my state could more disgrace,  
Then to bear name, and in effect to be.  
A cipher in Alg●●m, as all men might see.   

And though just cause I had for to suspect,  
The time and place appointed by my foes,  
And that my friends most plainly did detect,  
The subtle train, and practise of all those,  
Which against me, great treasons did suppose,  
Yet trust of truth with a conscience clear,  
Gave me good heart, in that place to appear.   

Upon which trust with more haste then good speed,  
Forward I went to that unlucky place,  
Duty to show, and no whit was in dread  
Of any train, but bold to show my face,  
As a true man yet so fell out the case,  
That after travail, seeking for repose,  
An armed hand, my lodging did enclose.   

The Viscount Beaumount, who for the time supplied,  
The office of high Constable of the Land  
Was with the Queen and Cardinal allied,  
By whose support, he stoutly took in hand,  
My lodging to enter with an armed hand  
And for high treason, my person did arrest,  
And laid me that night, where him seemed best   

Then shaking and quaking, for dread of a Dream,  
Half waked all naked in bed as I say,  
What time struck the chime of mine hour extreme,  
Oppressed was my rest with mortal affray,  
My foes did unclose, I know not which way  
My chamber doors, and boldly they in brake,  
And had me fast before I could awake.   

Thou lookest now, that of my secret murder,  
I should at large the manner how declare,  
I pray thee Baldwin, ask of me no further,  
For speaking plain, it came so at unware,  
As I myself, which caught was in the snare,  
Scarcely am able the circumstance to show,  
Which was kept close, and known but unto few.   

But be thou sure by violence it was,  
And ●o whit bread by sickness or disease,  
That felt it well before my life did pass,  
For when these wolves, my body once did cease,  
Used I was, but smally to mine ease:  
With torments strong, which went so nerethe quick,  
As made me dye before that I was sick.   

A Palsy (they said) my vital spirits oppressed,  
Bread by excess of melancholy black,  
This for excuse to lay, them seemed best,  
Lest my true friends the cause might further rack,  
And so perhaps discover the whole pack,  
Of the conspyrers, whom they might well suspect,  
For causes great, which after took effect.   

Dead was I found, by such as best did know,  
The manner how the same was brought to pass.  
And than my corpse, was set out for a show,  
By view whereof, nothing perceived was:  
Whereby the world may see as in a glass,  
The unsure state, of them that stand most high,  
Which than bread lest, when danger is most nigh.   

And also see, what danger they live in,  
Which next their king are to succeed in place:  
Since kings most part, be jealous of their kin,  
Whom I advise, forewarned by my case,  
To bear low sail, and not to much embrace,  
The people's love: for as Senec saith truly:  
O quam funestus est favour populi.   
FINIS.  
G. F.   

THe good Duke having ended his woeful tragedy, after much talk had concerning dissension among these that be magistrates, good Lord (quoth one) what mischief and destruction doth privy grudge and malice, raise among all sorts of people, both high and low? but especially among Magistrat●●s b●●ng the head and guide of the Common wealth: for what mischief did the dissension between these two people (being both of high estate) bring afterward to both the realms: yea and the utter ruin of most part of them that were the chief workers of this Duke's death, you say troth (quoth I) and now for that, it I may crave your patience awhile, you shall hear what I have noted in the Duke of Suffolk's doings, one of the chief procurours of Duke Humfrey's destruction, who by the providence of God came shortly after in such hatred of the people, that the king himself could not save him from a strange and notable death. For being banished the realm for the term of five years, to apprase the continual rumours and inward grudges, that not only the commons, but most part of the nobility of England, bore towards him for the death of the said Duke, he sailing towards France was met with a ship of Devonshire, and beheaded forthwith the first day of may, Anno 1450. And the dead corpse thrown up at Dover upon the sands, which may lament his death after this manner.   

how WILLIAM DELApoole Duke of Suffolk was worthily banished for abusing his king, and procuring the death of Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, protector of England. Anno. 1450.  

heavy is the hap whereto all men be bond,  
I mean the death, which no estate may fly:  
But to be banished, beheaded and than drowned,  
In sink of shame from top of honours high,  
Was never man, so served I think but I,  
Wherefore good Baldwin amongst the rest by right,  
I claim of thee my woeful case to write.   

My only life in all ponintes may suffice,  
To show how base all baits of Fortune be,  
Which thaw like Ice, through heat of envies eyes:  
Or vicious deeds which much possessed me:  
Good hap with vice, long time cannot agreed,  
Which bring best Fortunes to the basest fall,  
And happiest hap, to envy to be thrall.   

Called I was William Delapoole,  
Of Suffolk Duke in Queen Margaret's days,  
That found the mean Duke Humfrey's blood to cool,  
Whose worthy acts deserve eternal praise,  
Whereby I note that Fortune cannot raise  
Any one all often, without some others wrack,  
Floods drown no fields, before they find a brack.   

But as the waters which do break the walls  
Do loose their course, they had within the shore,  
And daily rotting stink within their stalls,  
For fall of moving which they found before:  
Even so the state that over high is boar,  
Doth lose the life of People's love it had,  
And rots itself until it fall to bad.   

For while I was but Earl, each man was glad,  
To say and do the best by me they might:  
And Fortune ever since I was a lad,  
Did smile upon me with a cheerful sight,  
For when my king had dubbed me a knight,  
And sent me forth to serve at war in France,  
My lucky speed mine honour did enhance.   

Where, to omit the many feats I wrought  
Under others guide, I do remember one,  
Which with my soldiers valiantly was fought,  
None other captain save myself alone,  
I mean not now the apprinze of Pucel jone  
In which attempt my travail was not small,  
Though the Duke of Bourbon had the praise of al.   

But the siege of Awmarle is the feat I praise,  
A strong built town, with castles, walls, & vaults,  
With men and weapon armed at all assays:  
To which I gave nigh five times five assaults,  
Till at the last they yielded it for naughts,  
Yet Lord Ramburs like a valiant knight,  
Defended it as long as ere he might   

But what prevailed it these Towns to win,  
Which shortly after must be lost again?  
Whereby I see there is more glory in  
The keeping things than is in their attain:  
To get and keep not, is but loss of pain.  
Therefore aught men provide to save their winninges  
In all attempts, else loose they their beginnings.   

Because we could not keep the Towns we won,  
For they were more than we might easily wield  
One year undid what we in ten had done:  
For envy at home, and treason abroad, did yield  
King Charles his realm of France, made barren field:  
For bloody wars had wasted all increase,  
Which caused the Pope help poverty sue for peace.   

So that in Tourayn, at the town of Toures  
Duke Charles, and other for their Prince appeared,  
So did Lord Rosse, and I than Earl, for ours:  
And when we showed wherein each other dered,  
We sought out means all Quarrels to have cleared,  
Wherein the Lords of Germany, of Spain,  
Of Hungary, and Denmark, took exceeding pain.   

But sith we could no final peace induce,  
For neither would the others covenants here,  
For Eighteen months we did conclude a truce:  
And while as friends we lay together there,  
Because my Warrant did me therein bear,  
To make a perfit peace, and through accord,  
I sought a marriage for my sovereign Lord   

And for the French Kings Daughters were to small,  
A fancied most Dame Margaret his Niece,  
A lovely Lady, Beautiful, and Tall,  
Fair spoken, pleasant, a very Princely piece,  
In Wit, and learning, matchless hence to Greece,  
Duke Rayners Daughter of Antow, King by stile  
Of Naples, jerusalem, and of Scycill Isle.   

But ere I could the grant of her attain:  
All that our King had of her father's lands,  
As Mounts the City, the county whole of Main,  
And most of A●iow Duc●y in our hands,  
I did release him by assured hands.  
And as for Dowry with her none I sought,  
I thought no peace could be to dearly bought.   

But when this marriage thoroughly was agreed  
Although my king were glad of such a make  
His Uncle Humphrey abhorred it in deed,  
Because thereby his precontract he broke,  
Made with the heir of the Earl of Arminacke,  
A noble Maid with store of goods endowed,  
Which more than this with loss, the Duke allowed.   

But love, and beauty in the king so wrought,  
That neither profit, or promise' he regarded,  
But set his uncles counsel still at naught:  
And for my gains, I highly was awarded.  
Thus virtue starves, but lust food must be larded,  
For I made Marquis, went to France again,  
And brought this Bride unto my sovereign.   

At whom because Duke Humphrey aye repined.  
Calling their marriage adultery (as it was)  
The Queen did move me, erst thereto inclined,  
To help to bring him to his Requiem mass,  
Which sith it could for no crime come to pass:  
His life and doings were so right and clear,  
Through privy murder we brought him to his Beer.   

Thus righteousness brought Humphrey to rebuke,  
Because he should no wickedness allow,  
But for my doings I was made a Duke.  
So Fortune can both bend and smooth her brow  
On whom she list, not passing why or how.  
O Lord how high, how soon she did me raise,  
How fast she fildime both with prays and praise.   

The Lords and Commons both of like assent,  
Be sought my sovereign kneeling on their knees,  
To record my doings in the Parliament,  
As deeds deserving everlasting fees,  
In which attempt they did no labour lose,  
For they set not my praise so fast in flame,  
As he was ready to reward the same.   

But note the end, my deeds so worthy deemed  
Of King, of Lords, and Commons altogether,  
Were shortly after treasons false esteemed,  
And all men cursed Queen Marget's coming hither,  
For Charles the French king in his feaces not lither,  
When we had rendered Rayner, Maunts, and Main,  
Found means to win all Normandy again.   

This made the Peopie curse the marriage,  
Esteeming it the cause of every loss:  
Wherefore at me with open mouth they rage,  
Affirming me to have brought the realm to mosse●  
When King and Queen see things thus go a cross  
To quiet all a Parliament they called,  
And caused me in Prison to be thralled.   

And shortly after brought me forth abroad,  
Which made the commons more than double wood  
And some with weapons would have laid on load,  
If their grand Captain Blewberd in his mood,  
Had not in time with wisdom been withstood:  
But though that he and more were executed,  
The people still their worst against me bruited.   

And so applied the Parliament with bills,  
Of heinous wrongs and open traitorous crimes,  
The king and Queen were forced against their wills  
Fro place to place to adjourn it divers times.  
For Prince's power is like the sandy slymes,  
Which must perforce give place unto the wave,  
Or sue the windy surges when they rave.   

Their life was not more dear to them than I,  
Which made them search all shifts to save me still,  
But ay my foes such faults did on me try,  
That to preserve me from a worse ill,  
The king was fayve full sore against his will:  
For five years space to sand me in exile,  
In hope to have restored me in a while.   

But mark how vengeance waiteth upon vice,  
To shun this storm, in sailing towards France,  
A Pirates Bark, that was of little price,  
Encountered me upon the Seas by chance,  
Whose Captain there took me as in a trance,  
Let pass my ships, with all their frait, and load,  
And led me back again to Dover road.   

Were, unto me recounting all my faults,  
As murdringe of Duke Humphrey in his Bed,  
And how I, had brought all the Realm to noughts,  
Causing the King unlawfully to wed,  
The●e was no grace, but I must lose my head,  
Wherefore he made me to shrive me in his boat,  
And on the brink, my Neck in two he smoate.   

This was mine end: which was by reason due  
To me, and such as others deaths procure.  
Therefore be bold to writ, for it is true,  
That who so doth such practice put in ure,  
Of due reward at last shallbe most sure,  
For God is just, whose stroke delayed long,  
Doth light at last, with pain more sharp and strong.   
FINIS.  
W. B.   

When this was said: every man reiosed to hear of a wicked person so righteously punished: for though fortune in many points be injurious to Princes, yet in this & such like she is most righteous: and only deserveth the name of a goddess, when she provideth means to punish & destroy tyrants. And when we had a while considered the drifts of the King & Queen to have saved this duke: & yet they could not: It is worth the labour (said one) to way the works, & judgements of God: which seeing they are known most evidently by comparing contraries, I will touch the story of jacke Cade in order next following.  
Whom King Henry with all his puissance was no more able for a while to destroy (yet was he his rebellious enemy) than he was to preserve the Duke of Suffolk his dearest friend: by which two examples doth appear how notably God disposeth all things, and that no force stretcheth father, than it pleaseth him to suffer. For this Cade being an Irisheman, but of mean parentage, of no ability, & less power, accompanied with a few naked Kentish men, caused the king with his army at all points appointed, to leave the field, and suffer him to do whatsoever he lusted for a time, but in the end he was slain at Hothfield in Suffer, and carried thence to London in a Cart, & there quartered. In whose behalf, seeing he is one of Fortune's Whelps, I will trouble you a while to hear the process of his enterprise, which he may declare in manner following.   

HOW JACK CADE Naming himself Mortimer, traitorously rebelling against his King in june. Anno. 1450. was for his treasons, and cruel doings worthily punished.  

SHall I call it Fortune or my frowardfolly,  
That lift me up, and laid me down below?  
Or was it Courage, that made me so jolly.  
Or strength of stars, with make men high to grow?  
What ever it were this one point sure I know,  
Which shallbe meet for every man to mark.  
Our lust and wills, our evils chief work.   

It may be well that planets do incline,  
And our complexions move our minds to ill,  
But such is reason, that they bring to fine  
No work unayded of our lust, and will:  
For Heaven, and Earth are subject both to skill.  
The skill of God ruleth all it is so strong,  
Man may by skill guide things that to him long.   

Though lust be sturdy, and will inclined to naught,  
This forced by mixture that by heavens course,  
Yet through the skill, God hath in reason wrought  
And given man, no lust nor will to course,  
But may be stayed, or suaged of the source,  
So that it shall in nothing force the mind:  
To work our woe, or leave the proper kind.   

But though this skill be given to every man  
To rule the will, and keep the mind aloft,  
For ●acke of grace full few use it can.  
These worldly pleasures tickle us so often:  
Skull is not weak, but will strong, flesh is soft  
And yields itself to pleasure that it love to.  
And ●ales the mind to that it most reproveth.   

Now if this hap whereby we yield our mind  
To lust, and will, be Fortune as we name her,  
Than is she justly called false, and blind,  
And no reproach can be to much to blame her:  
Yet is the shame our own when so we shame her,  
For s●er this hap if it be rightly known,  
cometh of ourselves, and so the blame our own.   

For who so liveth in the School of skill,  
And meddleth not with any world's affairs,  
Forsakes pomps, and honours, that do spill  
The minds recourse to Grace's quiet stairss,  
His state no Fortune by no mean a●payres:  
For Fortune is the folly, and plague of those  
Which to the World their wretched wills dispose.   

Among which Fools (mark Baldwyn) I am one,  
That would not stay myself in mine estate.  
I thought to rule, but would obey to none,  
Wherefore I thought to be my Prince's mate,  
And by some mean his power to abate,  
And for that ends, Mortimer would be named,  
Heir apparent, of England once proclaym'de.   

This shift I used the people to persuade  
To leave their Prince, and on my side to stick.  
Whereas in deed, my father's name was Cade.  
Whose noble stock was never worth a stick.  
But touching wit I was both ripe and quick.  
Had strength of Luns', large stature, comely face,  
Which made men ween my lineage were not base.   

And seeing stoutness stuck by men in Kent,  
Whose valiant hearts refuse none enterprise,  
With false persuasions strait to them I went,  
And say they suffered too great injuries:  
By mean where of I caused them to rise,  
And Battle wise to come to Blackheath plain,  
And thence their griefs unto the king complain.   

Who being deaf (as men say) on that ear  
For we desired release of subsedies,  
Refused roughly our requests to hear,  
And came against us as our enemies:  
But we to tarry sought our subtleties,  
Removed our camp, and back to Senocke went,  
After whom the Staffordes with their power wa●●●   

See here how Fortune setting us afloat,  
Brought to our nets a Portion of our prey.  
For why the Sea ordes with their army hot,  
Assailed us at Senocke where we lay:  
From whence alive they parted not away,  
Which w●an the kings retinue understood,  
They all affirmde my quarrel to be good.   

Which caused the King and Queen whom all did hate,  
To raise their Camp, and suddenly departed:  
And that they might the People's grudge abate,  
To imprison some full sore against their heart.  
Lord Say was one, whom I made after smart,  
For after Staffordes and their host was slain,  
To Blackheath field I marched back again.   

And where the King would nothing hear before,  
Now was he glad to sand to know my mind:  
And I thereby inflamed much the more,  
Refused his grants so folly made me blind.  
For this be flew, and left Lord Scales behind,  
To help the town and strengthen London tower,  
Towards which I marched forward with my power.   

And found there all things at mine own desire.  
I entered London did there what I list,  
The Treasurer, Lord Say, I did conspire  
To have condemned: whereof when I missed,  
(For he by law my malice did resist)  
By force I took him i● Guildhall fro the heap,  
And headed him before the Cross in Cheap.   

His Son in law james Cromer shrive of Kent  
I caught at Mile end, whereas then he lay:  
Beheaded him and on a pole I sent,  
His head to London where his father's lay.  
With these two heads I made a pretty play,  
For pight on poles I bore them through the street,  
And for my sport made each kiss other sweet.   

Than broke I Prisons set forth whom I would,  
And used the city as it had been mine:  
took from the Merchants, money, , and gold.  
From some by force, from other some by sign.  
This at the length did 'cause them to repine,  
So that Lord Scal●s, consenting with the Mayor,  
Forbade us to their City to repair.   

For all this while mine host in Southwark lay,  
Who when they known out passage was denied,  
Came boldly to the bridge and made a fray.  
For in we would the towns men us defied:  
But when with strokes we had the matter tried,  
We won the Bridge and set much part on sire,  
This dane to Southwark bock we did retire.   

The morrow after came the Chancellor,  
With general pardon for my men, half go,  
Which herded and read, the rest within an hour,  
Shrank all away each man to shifted for one.  
And when I saw they left me post alone,  
I did disguise me like a knight of the post,  
And into Sussex road away in post.   

And there I lurked till that cursed coin,  
That restless Begle sought, and found me out,  
For strait the King by promise did emoyne,  
A thousand mark to whosoever might  
Apprehended my corpse, which made them seek about:  
Among the which one Alexander Iden,  
Found out the Hole wherein the Fox was hidden.   

But ere he took me, I put him to his Trumpets,  
For yield I would not while my hands would hold,  
But hope of money made him stur his stumps,  
And to assault me valiantly, and bold.  
For two long Hours, our Combat was not cold  
Till at the last he lent me such a stroke,  
That down I fallen, and never after spoken.   

Than was my Carcase carried like a Hog.  
To Southwarkes Borough where it lay a night,  
The next day drawn to Newgate like a dog,  
All men rejoicing at the rueful sight:  
Than were on Poles my parboils Quarters pight,  
And set a fit for Vermin to devour,  
Meet grave for Rebels that resist the power.   

Full little know we Wretches what we do,  
When we presume our Princes to resist.  
We War with God, against his glory to,  
That placeth in his office whom he list:  
Therefore was never Traitor yet, but missed  
The Mark he shot, and came to shameful end,  
Nor never shall till God be forced to bend.   

God hath ordain the power, all Princes be  
His Lieutenants, nor deputies in realms,  
Against their Foes therefore fighteth he,  
And his Enemies drives them to extremes,  
Their wise devices, prove but Doltish dreams.  
Not Subject aught for any kind of cause,  
To force the Prince. but yield him to the laws.   

Wherefore Baldwin warn men to follow reason.  
Subdue their wills and be not Fortune's slaves,  
A shameful end doth ever follow treason,  
There is no trust in Rebels, rascal knaves,  
In Fortune less, which worketh as the waves:  
From whose assaults who listeth to stand free,  
Must know his state, and so contented be.   
FINIS.   

BY saint Mary (said one) if jacke were as well learned, as you have made his oration, whatsoever he was by birth, I warrant him a Gentleman by his learning. How notably & philosopher like hath he described fortune, & the causes of worldly cumbraunce? how like a divine hath he determined the office both of Magistrates and subjects For in deed Magistrates be God's deputies, and it is God's office which they bear: and it is he which ordaineth thereto such as himself listeth, good when he favoureth the People, and evil when he will punish them. And therefore whosoever rebelleth against any ruler, either good or bad, rebelleth against God, and shall never see good end of his attempt: for God cannot but maintain his deputy. Yet this I note by the way concerning rebels & rebellions. Although the devil raise them, yet God always useth them to his glory, as a part of his justice. For when kings & chief rulers, suffer their under officers to misuse their subjects, and will not hear nor remedy their people's wrongs (when they complain) then suffereth God the Rebel to rage, and to execute that part of his justice, which the partial prince would not.  
For the Lord Say a very corrupt officer, and one whom notwithstanding the king always maintained. was destroyed by this jacke, as was also the Bishop of salisbury (a proud and covetous Prelate) by other of the Rebels. And therefore whatsoever prince desireth to live quietly without rebellion must do his subjects right in all things and punish such Officers as oppress, his People: thus shall they be sure from all Rebellion. And for the clearer opening hereof, it were well done to set forth this Lord Says tragedy. What need that (said another) seeing the like example is seen in the Duke of Suffolk, whose doings are declared sufficiently already. Nay let us go forward for we have a great many behind that may not be omitted, & the time as you see passeth away. As for this lord Say, whom Cade so cruelly killed, and spitefully used after his Death (I dare say) shallbe known thereby he was to all that read or hear this story. For God would never have suffered him to have been so used, except he had first deserved it.  
Therefore let him go and with him the Bishop, and all other slain in that rebellion which was raised by some sly drift of the Duke of York, who shortly after by open War, manifested his title to the crown, and therefore gathered an army in Wales, & marched towards London: And preventing the king, going northward to prepare an army, in the way at saint Albans: Who for want of a sufficient power to take the field, was forced with such small power as he had about him, to defend the Lanes, & backsydes of the town, and to sand out the Duke of Buckingham for a treaty, which the Duke of York being head of the contrary faction, would not allow without first having the Duke of Somerset and other at his will, during which treaty Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick, the stout maintainer of yorckes title entered the Town by force, fought a Battle in the high street, where of the kings part were slain the said Duke of Somerset called Edmond Beauford, Henry Percy the second of that surname, Earl of Northumberlande, Humphrey, Earl of Stafford, Son and Heir to Humphrey Duke of Buckingham, John Lord Clifford, Babthorp the kings attorney, and his Son and heir, besides a great number of Knights, esquires, Gentlemen, & yeomen of the kings household & of other lords servants, on whom all the slaughter, and bochery fallen, being all for the more part unarmed. But because the Duke of Somerset was the chief of the kings part passing over the rest, let us only hear him speak for all.   

THE TRAGEDY OF EDmond Duke of Somerset, slain in the first battle at saint Albans, the. 23. day of May, in the. 32. year of Henry the sixt. Anno. 1454. * ⁎ *  

SOme I suppose are born unfortunate,  
Else good endeavours could not so ill succeed,  
What shall I call it? ill fortune or fate,  
That some attempts have never happy speed,  
But travail thankless, all bootless their heed:  
Where other unlike in working, or in skill,  
Wynne what they will, and wield the world at will.   

Of the first sort, myself I count for one,  
To all mishap, I we●ne predestinate,  
Believe me Baldwin, there be few or none,  
To whom Fortune was ever more ingrate.  
Make thou therefore my life a Caveat,  
That who so with force will work against kind,  
Saileth (as who saith) against the stremt, and wind.   

For I of Somerset which Duke Edmond height,  
Extract by descent from Lancaster line,  
Were it by folly, or Fortune's despite,  
Or by ill aspect of some crooked sign,  
Of mine attempts could never see good fine:  
What so I began did seldom well end:  
God from such Fortune, all good men defend.   

Where I sought to save, most part I did spill,  
For good hap with me was always at War.  
The Lineage of York whom I bore so ill,  
By my spite become bright, and shone like a Star,  
Thus some while men make, when fain they would mar.  
The more ye lordship Trees, the greater they grow.  
The more ye stop Streams, the higher they flow.   

Maugre my spirit, his glory grew the more,  
And mine, as the Moon in the wane, waxed lest  
For having the place which he had before,  
Governor of France, needs I must confess,  
That lost was Normandy yet nevertheless,  
Always I wrought that wit might well contrive,  
But what boots it, against the Stream to strive?   

Born was I neither to War ne to peace,  
Mars was malign, and enemy to my trade:  
My Birth I believe was in Jove's decrease,  
When Cancer in course, being retrograde,  
Swerved from Sol, unto Saturnus shade,  
Where aspects were good, opposites did mar,  
So grew mine unhap both in peace, and war.   

A strange Nativity in calculation,  
As my lives course, did after well declare,  
Whereof in brief to make relation,  
That other by me may learn to beware,  
Overlight credence was cause of my care.  
And want of foresight in giving assent,  
Humphrey to dam that Duke most innocent.   

Humphrey mean I that was the protector,  
Duke of Gloucester of the royal blood,  
So long as he was England's director,  
King Henry's title to the Crown was good,  
This worthy Prince, as a Pillar long stood:  
Or like a strong prop set under a vine,  
In state to uphold all Lancaster's line.   

O headless trust, unware of harm to come,  
O mad malice where wit obeyeth will,  
Was there ever any, whom folly did so nome:  
Of all forecast, rigth, reason, wit, and skill,  
As me blind Bayard consenting to spill  
My Coosyns' blood, my refuge, and my stay,  
To my destruction, making open way?   

So long as he in England bore the sway,  
So long Rebels no Quarrels dared begin,  
But when the post, was pulled once away,  
Which stood to uphold the king, and his kin,  
The Duke of York, than stoutly he stepped in,  
And challenged the Crown, by colour of right,  
Beginning with Law, and ending with might.   

And spread great brutes in England up and down,  
That he of England was the heir true,  
And how Henry had usurped the Crown  
Against all right, by practice most untrue:  
The people than, embracing titles new,  
Irksome of present, and longing for change,  
Assenced soon, because they love to range.   

True is the text which we in Scripture read,  
Vae terrae illi cuius rex est puer.  
woe to that land whereof a child is head,  
Whether child or childish, the case is one sure,  
Where Kings be young, we daily see in bred,  
The people awlesse, by weakness of their head,  
Lead their lives lawless, having none to dread.   

And no less true is this text again,  
Beata terra cuius rex est nobilis.  
Blessed is the Land, where a stout King doth rain.  
Wherein good peace each man possesseth his,  
For dread of whom, no man dare do amiss,  
Whose Prince is priest always, and Sword in hand,  
At home and abroad, all enemies to withstand.   

In case the son had proved such a one,  
Hardy and stout as his fathers afore,  
Sure had he sitten in the Royal throne,  
Dreadless, and careless of common upror.  
But Henry's weakness appeared more, and more,  
Which boldness gave, to the contrary band,  
To spoil him at last both of life, and land.   

His humble heart was nothing unknown,  
To the gay gallants, of York's retinue,  
Any low ground, is highly overflown,  
And shored houses cannot long continued,  
joints cannot knit whereas is no Synowe.  
And so a Prince, not dread aswell as loved,  
By hold Traitors may be soon removed.   

Well might I see, had I not wanted brain,  
The work began to undermine the state,  
When the chief link was loosed fro the chain,  
And that some dared upon blood royal grate,  
How tickle hold I had of mine estate?  
When the chief post lay flat upon the floor,  
Might not I think my staff then next the door?   

So might also, dame Margaret the Queen,  
By whose malice this mischief first began,  
Did she (trow ye) herself not overwene  
Death to procure to that most worthy man?  
Which she and hers afterward might well ban,  
On whom did hang, as I before have said,  
Her husbands life, his honour and his aid.   

For whilst he lived which was one stable stay,  
York and his Imps were kept as under Yoke,  
But when the Pillar removed was away,  
Then dared out flame, that late before was Smoke,  
The close traitor, then cast of his Cloak,  
And from the dark came forth in open light,  
With titles blind which he set forth for right.   

But this to achieve, first it him behoved,  
The King and his kin a sunder for to set:  
Who once perforce, or practice ill removed,  
Then had they avoided the principal le,  
with kept the sought pray so long from the Net:  
The next point after, was themselves to place  
Next to the Prince, and other to abase.   

I was the first whom they put out of place,  
No cause pretending, but the common weal,  
The crown on England was the very case,  
Why to the Commons they burned so in zeal,  
My faults were Cloaks their practice to conceal,  
In counsel hearing consider the intent,  
For by pretence of truth, treason often is meant.   

So their pretence was only to remove,  
Counsel corrupt from place about the King,  
But O ye Princes, you it doth behove,  
This case to construe, as no feigned thing,  
That never traitor did subdue his king,  
But for his plat▪ ere he would further wade,  
Against his friends, the Quarrel first he made.   

And if hap he could so bring about,  
Them to subdue, and have them at his will,  
Then would he wax so arrogant, and stout,  
That no reason, his outrage might fulfil,  
But to proceed upon his purpose still,  
Till King, and Counsel brought were in one case:  
Such is their folly, to rebels that give place.   

So for the fish, when cast forth was the Net,  
The next point was in driving out the plat,  
Commons to cause, in rage to fume, and fret,  
And to rebel, I cannot tell for what,  
requiring redress of this, and of that:  
Who if they speed, the slander at receipt,  
Grasp will the Pray, for which he doth await.   

Then by surmise of some thing pretended,  
Such to displace as they may well suspect,  
Like to withstand their mischief intended,  
And in their rooms their banders to elect,  
The adverse party proudly to reject  
And then with reports the simple to abuse,  
And when these helps fail, open force to use.   

So this Duke's trains were covert, and not seen.  
Who little meant, that which he most pretended,  
Like to a Serpent lurking under green,  
To the weal public seemed wholly vended:  
Zealous he was, and would have all things mended,  
But by that mendment nothing else he meant,  
But to be King, to that mark was his bent.   

For had be been plain, as he meant in deed,  
Henry to depose from the royal place,  
His haste had been waste, and murch worse his speed,  
The King then standing in his people's grace,  
This Duke therefore setforth a goodly face,  
As one that meant no quarrel for the Crown,  
Such as bore rule, he only would put down.   

But all for naught, so long as I bore stroke,  
Served these drifts, and proved all but vain,  
The best help then, was people to provoke,  
To make Commotion, and Uproars a main:  
Which to appease, the King himself was fain,  
From black Heath in Kent, to sand me to the Tower,  
Such was the source of Rebels in that Hour.   

The tempest yet therewith was not ceased,  
For York was bend his purpose to pursue,  
Who seeing how soon I was released,  
And ill success of sufferance to ensue:  
Then like judas, unto his Lord untrue,  
thinking time lost any longer to defer,  
By Warwick's aid proclaimed open war.   

S. Albans town, where both our Hosts did meet,  
To cry a field was not an equal place,  
For we were forced to fight within a street,  
With few against many, such was the case,  
There I and Warwick fronted face to face,  
At an Inn door, the Castle was the sign,  
Where with a Sword was cut my fatal line.   

Often was I warned to come in Castle none,  
But little thought of any Common sign,  
I did Imagine a Castle built with stone,  
For of no june, I could the same divine,  
In Prophets' skill my wits were never fine,  
A fool is he that such vain dreams doth dread,  
But more Fool he, that will by them beiled.   

My life I lost in that unlucky place,  
With many Lords that leaned to my part,  
The Earl Percy had no better grace,  
Courageous Clifford could not eschew the dart,  
Buckingham's Heir was at this mortal mart,  
Babthorp the Attorney for all his skill in Law,  
In this point of pleading appeared very raw.   

So thus poor Prince disarmed of his bands,  
His friends all slain, wanting good assistance,  
Was made a Pray unto his enemy's hands,  
Prived of power and Princely reverence,  
And as a Pupil voyde of all experience,  
Innocent plain, and simple witted,  
Was as a Lamb unto the Wolf committed.   

A Parliament than was called with speed,  
A Parliament, nay a plain conspiracy,  
When against right it was decreed,  
That after the death of the sixt Henry,  
The Duke of York should have the regally,  
And in his life, the charge, and protection,  
Of King and Realm at the Duke's direction.   

And thus was York declared Protector,  
Protector said I, nay Proditor plain.  
A rank Rebel the Prince's director,  
A vassal to lead his Lord, and sovereign,  
What honest heart would not conceive disdain,  
To see the foot surmount above the head,  
A Monster is in spite of nature bread.   

Some haply here, will move a farther doubt,  
And for York's part allege an elder right,  
O brainless head, that so run in and out,  
When length of time a state hath firmly pight,  
And good accord hath putall strife to flight,  
Were it not better such titles still to sleep,  
Than all a Realm, about the trial weep?   

From the female, came York, and all his lead,  
And we Lancastrians, from the Heir Male,  
Of whom three Kings in order did succeed,  
By just descent: this is no feigned tale.  
Who would have thought that any storm or gale  
Our ship could shake having such Anchor hold,  
None I think sure, unless that God so would.   

After this burle the King was fain to flee,  
Northward in post, for secure, and relief,  
O blessed God how strange it was to see!  
A rightful Prince pursued as a Thief!  
To thee O England, what can be more repreefe?  
Then to pursue thy Prince with armed hand,  
What greater shame, may be to any Land?   

Traitors did triumph, true men lay in the dust,  
Reviage, and Robbiage, toysted every where,  
Will, stood for skill, and Law obeyed lust,  
Might, trod down right, of King there was no fear,  
The title was tried only by Shield, and Spear:  
All which unhaps, that they were not foreseen,  
Suffolk was in fault, who ruled King. and Queen.   

Some here perhaps, do look I should accuse  
Myself of sleight, or subtlety unjust,  
Wherein I should my Prince's Ears abuse  
Against the Duke, to bring him in mistrust,  
Some part whereof, though needs confess I must,  
My fault only, consisted in consent  
To my Foes drifts, which I could not prevent.   

If I at first when Brandes began to smoke,  
The Sparks to quench by any way had sought,  
Never had England felt this mortal stroke,  
Which now to late lamenting helpeth naught  
Two points of Wit to dearly have I bought,  
The first that better is timely to foresee,  
Then after over late, a Counsaylour to be.   

The second is, not easily to assent,  
To any advice, against thy faithful friend,  
But of the Speaker ponder the intent,  
The meaning full, the point, and final end:  
A Saint in show, in proof is found a Fende,  
The subtle man, the simple to abuse,  
Much pleasant Speech, and Eloquence doth use.   

And so was I, and other more abused  
By Suffolk's sleights, who sought to please the Queen,  
Forecast we lacked, which cannot be excused  
Of things to come, as soon was after seen:  
Which glozing tongue, he made us fools to ween,  
That Humphrey did to England's crown aspire,  
Which to prevent his death they did conspire.   

What should I more of mine unhaps declare,  
Whereof my death at last hath ma●e an end?  
Not I alone was cause of all this care,  
Some besides me there were that did offend.  
None I accuse, nor yet myself defend,  
Faults I confess, as no man lives without,  
My chief fault, was folly, out of doubt.   

Folly was chief, the naughty time was next,  
Which made my Fortune subject to the chief:  
If England then with strife had not been vexed.  
Glory might have grown whereas ensued grief,  
Yet one thing is, my comfort, and relief,  
Constant I was in my Prince's Quarrel,  
To dye or live, and spared for no parel.   

What though Fortune envious was my foe,  
A noble heart aught not the sooner yield,  
Nor shrink a back for any weal or woe,  
But for his Prince lie bleeding in the field:  
If privy spite at any time me belde,  
The price is paid: and grievous is my guerdon,  
As for the rest God (I trust) will pardon.   
FINIS.  
G. F.   

AFter this Tragedy ended, one said seeing this Duke hath so vehemently exclaimed against the Duke of York's practices, it were well done to hear what he can say for himself. For after the first battle at S. Albans when he took KING Henry prisoner, he was made protector, which so much grieved Queen Margaret, & her complices, the privy grudges, & open dissembling never ceased till the Duke, & his allies were fain to sly both field, & Realm, he into Ireiand, & they to Calays. Whence they came again with an Army, whereof Richard Nevil Earl of Salisbury was leader, & marched toward Coventry (where the King was, and had gathered an army to subdue them, & encountered them at Northampton on ye.. 10. day of july in that year of grace. 1460. sought with them, lost the field, and was taken himself, and many of his friends slain, as Humphrey Stafforde Duke of Buckingham, John Talbot the second of that name Earl of Shrewesbury, John viscount Beaumond, Thomas Lord Egremont, Sir William Lucy, and divers other. But overpassing all these and many more because they were honourably slain in the field, let us come to him who was the chief cause thereof, that is to say, Richard Plantagenet Duke of York slain in the battle at Wakefield on Christmas even, and Edmond Earl of Ruflande his young son, who was there murdered by the Lord Clifforde as he would have fled into the town to have saved himself.  
Therefore imagine that you see a tall man's body full of fresh wounds but lacking a head, holding by the hand a goodly child, whose breast was so wounded that his heart might be seen, his lovely face and eyes disfigured with droping tears, his Hair through horror standing upright, his mercy craving hands, all to be mangled, and all his body imbrued with his own blood, out of the Weasand pipe of which headless body came a shreking voice saying as followeth.   

HOW RICHARD PLANtagenet Duke of York was slain through his over rash boldness, and his Son Earl of Rutland an Infant cruelly murdered Anno. 1460.  

TRust Fortune (quoth he) in whom was never trust,  
O Beasts most brute, that have no better grace,  
All rest, renown, and deeds lie in the dust,  
Of all the sort that sue her slipper trace,  
How now? Why dost thou Baldwin hide thy face?  
Thou needest not fear, although Imisse my head,  
See this poor Boy, whom by the hand I lead.   

The cause why I thus lead him in my hand,  
With blood, and tears haling his body stained,  
Is that thou mayest the better understand,  
How hardly Fortune hath for us ordained  
In whom her love and hate be whole contained.  
Richard I am Plantagenet by name,  
Whilom of York the Duke of worthy fame.   

For Richard Earl of Cambridge, elder son  
Of Duke Edmond, third son of King Edward,  
Engendered me whereof the course did run,  
Of Mortimers to be the Issue guard:  
For when Edmond her brother died Ward,  
She was sole heir by due descent of line,  
Whereby her Rights, and Titles all were mine.   

But mark me now I pray the Baldwin mark,  
And see how force often overbeareth right,  
Way how usurpers tyrannously work,  
To keep by murder that they get by might,  
And note what troubles and dangers do alight,  
On such as seek to repossess their own,  
And how by might, often right is overthrown.   

Duke Henry of Hereforde called Bolenbrooke.  
Of whom Duke Mowbray told the now of late,  
When traitor like he had king Richard took:  
Killed him in prison, usurped his estate,  
Without all right, or title, saving hate  
Of others rule, or love to rule alone,  
These two excepted title had he none.   

The Crown by right came to Edmond Mortimer  
Whose Father Roger was king Richard's heir,  
Which caused Henry, and them of Lancaster,  
To seek all shifts our houses to appare,  
For sure he was to sit beside the chair,  
Were we of power to claim our lawful right,  
And therefore thought good, to extirp us quite.   

His cursed son ensued the father's trade,  
And kept my cousin guiltless in sure hold,  
For whom my father full often did persuade,  
With his allies and consins that they would.  
Their Kinsman's right maintain and uphold.  
And to depose by policy or power.  
The heir of him that was an usurper.   

Whereof when Henry of that name the fift,  
Had herded, and known of this conspiracy,  
He from sir Edmond all the blame to shifted,  
Said that my Father was the French kings aly,  
And hired by him to work this treachery,  
For which at Hampton as it came to pass,  
His life he lost, and there veheaded was.   

Thus was the name of Mortimer extinct,  
Whose right and title descended unto me,  
Being forced to live, within a precinct  
For fear I would to other countries flee  
And so being at mine own liberty,  
Might haply move sedition or strife,  
For guilty hearts, can lead no quiet life.   

Yet at the last in Henry's days the sixt,  
I was restored to my father's lands,  
Made duke of York: where through my mind I fixed,  
To get the Crown and kingdom in my hands,  
For aid wherein I knit assured bands  
With Nevil's stock, whose daughter was my make  
Whereby great friends I had my part to take.   

O Lord what hap had I by marriage,  
Four fair Sons my young wife to me bore,  
Valiant men and prudent for their age,  
Such brothers she had and nephews still in store  
As none of the kin had any time before:  
The Earl of Salisbury, & his son of Warwick,  
Were knights peerless, from Barbary to Barwick.   

Through help of whom, & Fortunes friendly grace,  
I first began to claim my lawful right,  
And my chief foes with stoutness to deface.  
I raised power at all points priest to fight:  
Of whom the chief that chief bore me spite,  
Was Somerset the Duke, whom to annoyed  
All my hole force, I daily did employ.   

And maugre him so choice lo was my chance,  
Yea though the Queen was wholly on his side,  
I twice vare rule in Normandy and France,  
And last lieutenant in Ireland I did bide,  
Full often driven of force my head to hide,  
Yet through the love, my doings there did breed,  
I had their help at all times in my need.   

This doutye Duke most dear to King and Queen,  
With armed host, I thrice met in the field,  
The first unfought through treaty made between,  
The second joined wherein the King did yield,  
The Duke was slain, the Queen her party held  
far in the North, where overmatched with power  
My life I lost, in an unlucky hour.   

Before this last were other battles three,  
The first the Earl of Salisbury alone,  
Fought on Bloreheath, and got the victory,  
I at the next was present in person  
With my chief kin, whereas by one and one,  
Our soldiers false, withdrew away by night,  
Unto our foes and we put all to flight.   

This Boy and I in Ireland did us save,  
Mine elder son with Warwick and his father,  
To Calais got, whence by the read I gave  
They came again to London, and did gather,  
Another host, whereof I spoke no rather:  
And met our foes slay many a Lord and knight,  
And took the King and drove the Queen to flight.   

This dove I came to England all in haste,  
New claim to make unto the realm and crown,  
And in the house while Parliament did last,  
In the kings seat, I boldly sat me down,  
Claiming the place, whereat the Lords did frown,  
But what for that, I did so well proceed,  
That all at last to my demand agreed.   

But sith Henry had reigned than so long,  
They would be should continued till he died.  
And to th'end to make my title strong,  
Apparent heir of England they me cried,  
But sith the Queen and others this denied,  
I sped me strait Northward whereas she lay,  
Meaning by force to 'cause her to obey.   

She thereof warned, prepared a strong power.  
And ere my men were altogether ready  
To Sandale came, where in a dismal hour  
I like a Beast, so rash was, and so heady  
To try Fortune, which always is unsteady  
With thousands five, of soldiers to assail  
The double number, in camp to their avail.   

And so was slain at first: and while my poor infant  
Scarce twelve year old, sought way himself to save,  
That cruel Clifford that fell bloody tyrant,  
While the poor child with tears did mercy crave,  
With dagger sharp his heart a sunder clave.  
This don he came to the camp where I lay dead,  
Despoiled my corpse, and cut away my head.   

And set a crown of paper thereupon  
Which for a sport he sent unto the Queen  
And she for spite commanded it anon.  
To be had to York and set up to be seen.  
In some such place as thevis & Traitors been,  
This mock I had of fortune for reward,  
After long hope that she would me regard   

Wherefore Baldwin see that thou set her forth  
With her slipper pranks so as they may be known,  
And warn all princes well to way the worth  
Of things, for which the side of war be sown  
The gain no surer but as of dice thrown  
No worldly good can counterpeyze the prise  
Of half the pains that may thereof arise.   

Better it were to loose a piece of right,  
Then limbs and life in wrestling for the same,  
It is not force, of friendship nor of might,  
But god above that kingdoms set in frame  
Not wit, but chance doth wield the winners game,  
Wherefore if we our follies would refrain,  
Time would redress all wrongs we void of pain.   

Wherefore warn Lords no wise to wade in war  
For any cause, save their country's defence,  
Their troublous titles are unworthy far  
The blood, the life, the spoil of innocence,  
Of scendes, of foes, behold my long expense,  
And never the near: best than to tarry time,  
Low by the ground, than over high to climb.   
FINIS.   

WIth that master Ferrer shaken me by the sleeve saying: why how now man do you forget yourself? belike you mind our matters very much. So I do in deed (said I) for I dream of them. And when I had rehearsed my dream, we had long talk concerning the nature of dreams, which to stint, and to bring us to our matter again, thus said one of them: I am glad it was your chance to dream of Duke Richard for it had been pity to have overpassed him.  
And as concerning this Lord Clifforde which so cruelly killed his son, I purpose to give you notes: Who (as he well deserved) came shortly after to a sudden death, and yet too good for a cruel tyrant. For on Palmesonday next following, being the 29. day of March, in the year of Christ, a Thousand four hundredth threescore and one, this Lord Clifford with Henry Percy the third Earl of Northumberlande, the Earl of Westmerlande, the Lord Dacres, the Lord Welles & other were slain at Towton in yorkshire. Wherefore as you thought you saw & herded the headless Duke speak thorough his neck, so now suppose you see this Lord Clifford all armed save his head, with his Breast plate all gore blood running from his throat, wherein an headless Arrow sticketh, through which wound, he rattleth out this Rhyme.   

How the Lord Clifforde for his extreme cruelty, came to a cruel, strange, & sudden death. Anno. 1461.  

OPen confession asketh open Penance,  
Yet wisdom would a man his fault should hide:  
But sith pardon cometh by repentance,  
plainness is best when truth is plainly tried,  
Open or hide, all faults at length be spied.  
For cover fire never so close within,  
Yet out it will and so will secret sin.   

As for myself, my faults be out so plain,  
Bruited and known abroad in every place,  
That though I would I cannot them retain,  
All care is bootless in a cureless case,  
To learn by others some have had the grace,  
Wherefore Baldwin, writ thou my wretched fall,  
The brief whereof I briefly utter shall.   

Clifford I am that slew Duke Richard's child,  
The lovely babe that craved life with tears:  
Whereby my fame, most foully I defiled  
Poor silly Lambs the Lion never tears,  
The feeble mouse may lie among great bears  
But wrath of man his rancour to requyt,  
Forgets all reason, ruth and mercy quite.   

I mean such wrath as works parental wreak  
Surnamed a virtue (as these revengers say)  
But little know those people what they speak  
Which kindle us, our ennemis kin ●o slay,  
To punish sin is good, it is no nay.  
They wreak not sin, but merit wreak for sin,  
The father's faults that wreak upon the kin.   

Because my father Lord john Clifforde died  
Slain at S. Albans, in his prince's aid,  
Against the Duke my heart for malice fried,  
So that I could from wreak no way be stayed  
But to avenge my father's death assayed  
All means I might the Duke of York tannoy:  
And all his kin and friends to kill and stroy.   

This caused me with bloody dagger wound  
His guiltless son that never against me stored:  
The father's corpse dead lying on the ground,  
The neck I cut asunder with my sword  
The bleeding head I pight by way of board,  
Upon a spear, with a white paper crown  
And in great scorn I sent it to York town.   

But cruel deeds can never scape the scourge  
Of open shame, or of some bloody death,  
Repentance self that other sins may purge,  
Doth fly from this, so sore the soul it slayeth,  
Despair dissolves the tyrant's blustering breath:  
For vengeance due doth suddenly alight,  
On cruel deeds the mischief to requited,   

This found I true, for as I lay in stolen  
Against Coward Duke Richard's elder son  
My death I caught not far from Dintingale  
For as I would my gorget have undone  
To vent out heat traveling in the son  
An headless arrow pierced my throat bowl  
Which parted strait my body from the soul.   

Was this a chance? no sure Gods just award  
Wherein his justice plainly doth appear:  
An headless arrow paid me my reward,  
For headding Richard lying on his bear,  
And as I would his child in no wise hear,  
So sudden death bereft my tongue the power  
To ask mercy at my last dying hour.   

Wherefore Baldwin persuade the bloody sort.  
To leave their wrath, and rigour to refrain:  
Tell cruel judges horror is the port  
To which they sail to suffer endless pain  
Hell haseth tyrants down to death amain.  
Was never yet nor shallbe cruel deed  
Vnquy●ed leaf but had as cruel meed.   
FINIS   

When this tragedy was ended, O Lord said another, how horrible a thing is division in a Realm, to how many mischiefs is it the mother, what vice is not thereby kindled, what virtue left unquenched?  
For what was the cause of the Duke of York's death and of the cruelty showed to his young son by this merciless man, save the variance between King Henry and the house of York: which at length besides millions of the Commons, brought to destruction most part of the nobility. For Edward the Duke's elder son immediately after Richard his father was slain, through help of the Nevil's gave the king a battle at Towton in Yorkshire, whereat besides this Clifford, were slain the Earls of Northumberlande, and Westmoreland, with the Lords Dacres and Welles, besides more than 3000. men, the winning of which field brought Edward to the Crown, and the loss drove K. Henry and his wife into Scotland. But as few reigns begin without blood, so King Edward to keep the common course, caused Thomas Courtney earl of Devonshire, and john Veer Earl of Oxenford, and Awbrey Veer elder son to the said Earl, with divers other of King Henry's part, to be attainted and put to death. And shortly after did execution upon the Duke of Somerset, and the Lords Hungerford, & Rosse, whom he took prisoners at Exham field. For thither came those Lords with king Henry out of Scotland, with an army of Scots, and sought a Battle, which they lost, wherein most part of them were slain. And because these are all noble men I will leave them to Baldwins discretion.  
But seeing the Earl of Worcester was the chief instrument, whom king Edward used aswell in these men's matters, as in like bloody affairs, because he should not be forgotten, you shall hear what may be noted by his end.   

THE INFAMOUS END of the Lord Tiptoft, Earl of Worcestre, for executing his prince's cruelty. Anno. 1470.  

THe glorious man, is not so loathe to work,  
As the infamous glad to lie unknown:  
Which maketh me Baldwin disallow thy lurk,  
Where Princes faults so openly be blown,  
I speak not this alonely for mine own  
Which were my Princes (if that they were any)  
But for my Peers, in number very many.   

Or might report uprightly use her tongue,  
It would less grieve us to augment the matter.  
But sure I am thou shalt be forced among,  
To fray the truth, the living for to flatter:  
And other while in points unknown to smatter.  
For time never was, nor never I think shallbe  
That truth unshent, should speak in all things free.   

This doth appear (I dare say) by my story,  
Which divers writers diversly declare,  
But story writers aught for neither glory,  
Fear, nor favour, truth of things to spare,  
But still it fares as always it did far,  
Affections, fear, or doubts that daily brew,  
Do cause that stories always be not true.   

unfruitful Fabian followed the face  
Of time and deeds, but let the causes slip,  
Which Hall hath added some with better grace,  
For fear I think jest trouble might him trip:  
For this or that (saith he) he felt the whip.  
This story writers leave the causes out,  
Or show them so as they were in some doubt.   

But seeing causes are the chiefest things  
That should be noted of the story writers,  
That men may learn what ends all causes brings,  
They be unworthy the name of Chroniclers  
That leave them clean out of their registers,  
Or doubtfully report them for the fruit  
Of reading stories standeth in the suit.   

Wherefore Baldwin either speak thou upright  
Of our affairs, or touch them not at all  
As for myself I way all things so light,  
That nought I pass, how men report my fall  
The truth whereof yet plainly show I shall  
That thou mayst write and other thereby reed,  
What things I did whereof they should take heed.   

Thou hast herded of Tiptoftes Earls of Worcester,  
I am that Lord that lived in Edward's days  
The fowerth, and was his friend and counsellor,  
And Butcher too, as common rumour says.  
But People's voice is neither shame nor praise,  
For whom they would alive devour to day,  
To morrow dead they will worship what they may.   

But though the people's verdict go by chance,  
Yet was their cause to call me as they did,  
For I enforced by mean of governance,  
Did execute what ere my king did bid,  
From blame therein myself I cannot rid:  
But fie upon the wretched state that must,  
Defame itself to serve the Prince's lust.   

The chiefest crime wherewith men doom charge,  
Is death of the Earl of Desmundes noble sons,  
Of which the kings charge doth me clear discharge  
By straight commandment and injunctions:  
Th'effect whereof so rigourouslye runs  
That either I must procure to see them dead,  
Or for contempt as traitor lose my head.   

What would mine enemies do in such a case,  
Obey the king or proper death procure?  
They may well say their fancy for a face,  
But life is sweet and love hard to recure,  
They would have done as I did I am sure:  
For seeldom will a wealth man atease,  
For others cause his Prince in aught displease.   

How much less I which was lieutenant than  
In the Irish Isle, preferred by the king:  
But who for love or dread of any man  
Consentes to accomplish any wicked thing,  
Although chief fault thereof from other spring,  
Shall not escape God's vengeance for his deed:  
Who scuseth none that dare do ill for dread.   

This in my king and me may well appear,  
Which for our faults did not escape the scourge:  
For when we thought our state most sure and clear,  
The wind of Warwick blew up such a sourge,  
As from the realm and crown, the king did urge,  
And me also from office, friends and wife,  
From good report, from honest death and life.   

The Earl of Warwick, through malice and grudge,  
Which to King Edward causeless he did bear,  
Out of his Realm by force did make him trudge,  
And set King Henry again upon his chair,  
And than all such as Edward's lovers were  
As traytaurs ta'en, were grievously oppressed,  
But chiefly I, because I loved him best.   

And si●h my goods, and livings were not small,  
Some greedy gulls did bear the world in hand  
For ten years space that I was cause of all  
Murder, and mischief, done within the land,  
For this did such as did not understand  
Mine enemies drift, think all reports were true:  
And so to hate me worse than any jewe.   

For seldom shall a ruler lose his life,  
Before false rumours openly be spread,  
Whereby this proverb is as true as rife,  
That rulers rumours hunt about a head,  
Frown Fortune once all good report is fled,  
For present show doth make the meinie blind,  
And such as see dare not disclose their mind.   

Through this was I king Edward's butcher named  
And bore the shame of all his cruel deeds:  
I clear me not I worthily was blamed,  
Though force was such I must obey him needs,  
With highest rulers seldom well it speeds,  
For they be ever nearest to the nyp,  
And fault who shall, for all feel they the whip.   

For when I was by Parliament attainted,  
King Edward's evils all were counted mine.  
No truth availed so lies were fast and painted,  
Which made the People at my life repined,  
Crying Crucifige kill that Butcher's line,  
That when I should have go to Blockham feast  
I could not pass, so sore they on me priest.   

And had not been the officers so strong,  
I think they would have swallowed me alive,  
Howbeit hardly haled from the throng,  
I was in the Fleet fast shrouded by the Shrive,  
Thus one days life their malice did me give:  
Which when they known, for spite the next day after,  
They kept them calm, so suffered I the slaughter   

Now tell me Baldwin what fault dost thou find  
In me, that justly should such death deserve?  
None sure, except desire of honour blind,  
Which made me seek in offices to serve:  
What mind so good that honours make not swerver?  
So mayst thou see it only was mystate  
That caused my Death and brought me so in hate.   

Warn therefore all men wisely to beware,  
What offices they enterprise to bear:  
The highest always most maligned are,  
Of People's grudge, and princes hate in fear,  
For Prince's faults his faultors all men tear.  
Which to avoid, let none such office take,  
Save he that can for right his Prince forsake.   
FINIS.   

THis Typtoftes Tragedy was not so soon finished, but one of the company had provided for another, of a notable person Lord Tiptoftes chief Enemy, concerning whom he said: Lord God what trust is there in worldly chances? what stay in any prosperity? for see the Earl of Warwick which caused the earl of Worcester to be apprehended, attainted, and put to death, triumphing with his old imprisoned & new unprisonned Prince K. Henry, was by & by after & his brother with him, slain at Barnet field by king Edward whom he had before time damaged divers ways. As first by his friends at Banbury field, where to revenge the death of his cousin Henry Nevil sir john Coniers, and john Clappan his servants slay 5. thousand welshmen and beheaded their captains, the Earl of Pembroke, & sir Richard Harbert his brother after they were yielded prisoners, of whom sir Richard Harbert was the tallest gentleman both of his person & hands that ever I read or heard of. At which time also, Robin of Ridsdale, a rebel of th'earlearl of Warwick's raising, took the earl Rivers K. Edward's wives father, and his son john, at his manor of Grafton, & carried them to Northhampton, and there without cause or process beheaded them: Which spites to requited, king Edward caused the Lord Stafford of Southwike, one of Warwick's chief ●●indes, to be taken at brent march, and headed at Bridgewater.  
This caused that Earl shortly to raise his power, to encounter the king which came against him with an army, beside Warwick at Wol●ey, where he won the field, took the king prisoner, and kept him a while in yorkshire in Middleham castle: whence (as some say) he released him again, but other think he corrupted his keepers & so escaped. Then through the Lords the matter was taken up between them & they brought to talk together, but because they could not agree, the earl araised a new army, whereof he made Captain the Lord Welles son, which broil king Edward minding to appease by policy foully distained his honour committing perjury for he sent for the Lord Welles and his brother Sir Thomas Dymocke, undersafe conduit promising them upon his faith to keep them harmless: But after, because that Lord Welles son would not dissolve his army, beheaded them both & went with his power into Lincolnshyre & there fought with Sir Robert Welles, and slay ten thousand of his soldiers (yet ran they a way so fast, that casting of their clotheses for that more speed, caused it to be called Loose coat field (and took sir Robert and other, and put them to death in the same place.  
This misfortune forced the Earl of Warwick to sail into France where he was entertained of the king a while, and at last with such poor help as he procured there of Duke Rainer, and other, he came into England again, and increased such a power in king Henry's name, that as the Lord Tiptofte said in his tragedy, king Edward unable to abide him, was fain to fly over the washeses in Lincolnshyre to get a ship to sail out of his kingdom to his brother in law the Duke of Burgoine: So was king Henry restored again to that kingdom. All these despites, and troubles the Earl wrought against king Edward. But Henry was so infortunate that ere half a year was expired, king Edward came back again, and imprisoned him, & gave the Earl a field, wherein he slew both him, and his brother. I have recounted thus much before hand for the better opening of the story, which if it should have been spoken in his Tragedy would rather have made a volume than a Pamphlete. For I intend only to say in the Tragedy, what I have noted in the Earl of Warwick's person, wishing that these other noble men, whom I have by the way touched, should not be forgotten.  
And therefore imagine that you see this Earl lying with his brother in Paul's Church in his Coat armure, with such a Face, and Countenance as he beareth in Portraiture over the door in Paul's at the going down to jesus Chapel from the South end of the Quire stairs, and saying as followeth.   

HOW SIR RICHARD Nevil Earl of Warwick, and his Brother john, Lord Marquis Montacute, through their to much boldness were slain at Barnet, the 14. of April. Anno. 1471. * ⁎ *  

Among the heavy heap of happy Knights  
Whom Fortune stalled upon her stayless stage,  
Often hoist on high, often pight in wretched plights,  
Behold me Baldwin, A per se of my age,  
Lord Richard Nevil, Earl by marriage  
Of Warwick Duchy, of Sarum by descent,  
Which erlt my father through his marriage hent.   

Wouldst thou behold false Fortune in her kind  
Note well myself so shalt thou see her naked:  
Full fair before, but too-too foul behind,  
Most drowsy still when most she seems awaked:  
My fame, and shame her shifted full often hath shaked,  
By interchange allow, and up aloft,  
The Lylard like that changeth hue full often.   

For while the Duke of York in life remayn'de  
Mine uncle deace, I was his happy hand:  
In all attempts my purpose I attayn'de,  
Though King, and Queen, and most Lords of the Land  
With all their power did often me withstand:  
For God gave Fortune, and my good behaviour  
Did from their Prince steal me the people's favour.   

So that through me in fields right manly fought:  
By force mine uncle took king Henry twice,  
As for my cousin Edward I so wrought.  
When both our syers' were slain through rash advice  
That he at chie●de his father's enterprise:  
For into Scotland king and Queen we chased,  
By mean whereof the kingdom he embraced.   

Which after he had enjoyed in quiet peace,  
(For shortly after was king Henry take,  
And put in prison his power to increase,  
I went to France and match him with a make  
The French kings daughter, whom he did forsake:  
For while with pain I brought this suit to pass,  
He to a widow rashly wedded was.   

This made the French king shrewdly to mistrust,  
That all my treaties had but ill pretence,  
And when I see my king so bend to lust,  
That with his faith he passed not to dispense,  
Which is a Prince's honours chief defence:  
I could not rest till I had found a mean.  
To mend his miss, or else to mar him clean.   

Wherefore I me allied with his brother George,  
Encensing him his brother to malign  
Through many a tale I did against him forge:  
So that through power that we from Calais bring  
And found at home we fcayd so the king,  
That he did fly to Freseland ward amain,  
Whereby king Henry had the crown again.   

Than put we th'earlearl of Worcester to death  
King Edward's friend a man lo fowl defamed  
And in the while came Edward into breath.  
For with the Duke of Burgoyne so he framed  
That with the power that he to him had named,  
Vnloked for he came to England straight  
And got to York and took the town by sleight.   

And after through the sufferance of my brother,  
Which like a beast occasion foully lost,  
He came to London safe with many other  
And took the town to good king Henry's cost:  
Who was through him from post to pillar tossed,  
Till th'earl of Oxeford, I and other more,  
Assembled power his freedom to restore.   

Where of king Edward warned came with speed,  
And camped with his host in Barnet town  
Where we right fierce encountered him in deed  
On Easter day right early on the down:  
There many a man was slain and stricken down  
One either side and neither part did gain  
Till that I and my brother both were slain.   

For we to heart our overmatched men,  
Forsake out steeds, and in the thickest throng,  
Ran preacing forth on f●te, and fought so then  
That down we drove them were they never so strong  
But ere this luck had lasted very long:  
With number and force we were so foully cloyed,  
And rescue failed, that quite we were destroyed,   

Now tell me Baldwin hast thou hard or read  
Of any man that did as I have done?  
That in his time so many armies l●d,  
And victory at every voyage wone?  
Hast thou ever hard of subject under son,  
That pl●ast and beast his sovereign so often,  
By interchange now low and then aloft:   

Perchance thou thinkest my doings were not such  
As I and other do affirm they were.  
And in thy mind I see thou musest much  
What means I used, that should me so prefer:  
Wherein because I will thou shalt not err  
The truth of all I will at large recite,  
The short is this: I was no hypocrite.   

I never did nor said save what I meant,  
The common weal was still my chiefest care  
To private gain or glory was I never bend,  
I never passed upon delicious fate.  
Of needful food my board was never bore,  
N● creditor did curse me day by day  
I used plainness, ever pitch and pay.   

I herded poor soldiers and poor workmen whine  
Because their duties were not truly paid.  
Again I see how people did repine  
At those through whom their payments were delayed  
And proof did often assure (as scripture said)  
That god doth wreak the wretched people's griefs.  
I see the poles cut of from polling thieves.   

This made me always justly for to deal,  
Which when the people plainly understood,  
Because they see me mind the common weal.  
They still endeavoured how to do me good,  
Ready to spend their substance, life, and blood,  
In any cause whereto I did them move:  
For sure they were it was for their behove.   

And so it was. For when the Realm decayed  
By such as good King Henry sore abused,  
To mend the state I gave his Enemy's aid:  
But when King Edward sinful pranks still used,  
And would not mend, I likewise him refused:  
And holp up Henry, better of the twain,  
And in his Quarrel (just I think) was slain.   

And therefore Baldwin teach by proof of me,  
That such as covet people's love to get,  
Must see their works, and words in all agreed:  
Live liberally, and keep them out of debt,  
On common weal let all their care be set:  
For upright dealing, debts paid, poor sustained,  
Is mean whereby all hearts are thoroughly gained.   
FINIS.   

AS soon as the Earl had ended this admonition, sure (said one) I think the Earl of Warwick although he were a glorious man hath said no more of himself than what is true. For if he had not had notable good virtues, or virtuous qualities, and used laudable means in his trade of life, the people would never have loved him, as they did: But God be with him, & sand his soul rest, for sure his body never had any. And although he died, yet civil wars ceased not. For immediately after his death came Queen Margaret with a power out of France, bringing with her, her yongue son Prince Edward: & with such friends as she found here, gave King Edward a battle at Thewkesbury, where both she, and her son were taken prisoners, with Edmond Duke of Somerset her chief captain: whose son Lord John, and the Earl of Devonshire were slain in fight, and the Duke himself with divers other immediately beheaded. Whose infortunes are worthy to be remembered, chief Prince Edward's, whom the King for speaking truth, cruelly struck with his Gauntlet, & his Brethren cruelly murdered. But seeing that time so far spent, I will pass them over, and with them Fawconbridge that jolly Rover beheaded at Southampton: whose commotion made in Kent, was cause of silly Henry's destruction. And seeing king Henry himself was cause of the destruction of many noble princes, being of all other most unfortunate himself, I will declare what I have noted in his unlucky life: Who wounded in Prison with a Dagger, may lament his wretchedness in manner following. * ⁎ *   

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

IF ever woeful wight had cause so rue his state,  
Or by his rueful plight to move men moan his fate.  
My piteous plaint may press. my mishap to rehearse,  
Whereof the lest most lightly hard, the hardest heart may pierce.   

What heart so hard can hear of Innocence oppressed,  
By fraud in worldly goods, but mealte to in the breast?  
When guiltless men be spo●●●, imprisonned for their own,  
Who waileth not their wretched case to whom the case is known.   

The Lion licks the sores of silly wounded Sheep,  
The dead man's Corpse cause the Crocodile to weep,  
The Waves that waste the Rocks refresh the rotten reeds.  
Such ruth that wrack of Innocence in cruel creatures bredes.   

What heart is then so hard but will for pity bleed.  
To hear so cruel luck so clear a life succeed?  
To see a sel● Soul with woe, and sorrow so●st,  
A King deprived, in Prison penned, to death with daggers dost   

Would God the day of Birth bade brought me to my bear,  
Then had I never felt the change of Fortune's cheer,  
Would God the Grave had gripped me in her greedy Wound,  
When crown in cradle made me king with Oil of holy Thoumbe.   

Would God the rueful Tomb had been my royal Throne,  
So should no kingly charge have made me make my moan:  
O that my Soul had slowen to Heaven with the joy,  
When one ●ort cried, God save the king another, Vive le Roy.   

So had I not been washed in Waves of worldly woe,  
My mind to quiet bend, had not been tossed so:  
My Friends had be●e a live, my Subjects not oppressed,  
But Death, or cruel Destiny, denied me this rest.   

Alas what should we count the cause of Wretch's cares,  
The Stars do stir them up, Astronomy declares:  
Our humours saith the Leech, the double true divines  
Toth'will of God, or ill of man, the doubtful cause assigns.   

Such doltish heads as dream that all things drive by haps.  
Count lack of former care for cause of after claps.  
attributing to man a power fro God be rest,  
abusing us, & robbing him through their most wicked theft,   

But God doth guide the World, and every hap by skill,  
Our Wit, and willing power are payzed by his will:  
What wit most wisely wardee, and will most deadly urkes,  
Though all our power would press it down, doth dash our warest wurkes.   

Than Destiny, our sin, Gods will or else his wreak  
Do work our wretched woes, for humours be to weak:  
Except we t●ke them so, as they provoke to sin,  
For through our lust by humours fed all vicious deeds begin.   

So sin and they be one, both working like effect,  
And 'cause the wrath of God to wreak the soul infect.  
Thus wrath and wreak divine, man's sins and humours ill  
Concur in one, though in a sort, each doth a course fulfil.   

If likewise such as say the welkin Fortune warks,  
Take Fortune for our fate and stars thereof the marks,  
Then destiny with fate and Gods will all be one:  
But if they mean it otherwise, skath causers skies be none   

Thus of our heavy haps chief causes be but twain,  
Whereon the rest depend, and under put remain.  
The chief, the will divine, called destiny & fate,  
The other sin through humours holp, which God doth highly hate   

The first appointeth pain for good men's exercise,  
The second doth deserve due punishment for vice:  
This witnesseth the wrath, and that the love of God  
The good for love, that bad for sin, God beateth with his rod.   

Although my sundry sins do place me with the worst,  
My haps yet 'cause me hope to be among the first:  
The eye that searcheth all and seethe every thought,  
Is judge how sore I hated sin, and after virtue sought.   

That solace of my soul my chiefest pleasure was,  
Of worldly pomp, of fame, or game, I did not pass:  
My kingdoms nor my crown I prized not a crumb,  
In heaven were my riches heaped, to which I sought to come,   

Yet were my sorrows such as never man had like,  
So divers storms at once, so often did me strike:  
But why, God knows, not I, except it were for this  
To show by pattern of a Prince, how brittle honour is.   

Our kingdoms are but cares, our state devoid of slay,  
Our riches ready snares, to hasten our decay:  
Our pleasures, privy pricks, our vices to provoke,  
Our pomp, a pump, our fame, a flame, our power, a smouldering smoke.   

I speak not but by proof, and that may many rue,  
My life doth cry it out, my death doth try it true:  
Whereof I will in brief, rehearse the heavy hap,  
That Baldwin in his woeful warp, my wretchedness may wrap   

In Windsor born I was: and bore my father's name,  
Who won by war all France to his eternal fame:  
And left to me the crown, to be received in peace  
Through marriage made with Charles his heir upon his life's decease,   

Which shortly did enfue, yet died my father furst,  
And both the Realms were mine ere I a year were nursed:  
Which as they fallen to soon, so faded they as fast  
For Charles, and Edward got them both or forty years were passed.   

This Charles was elder son of Charles my father in law,  
To whom as heir of France, the Frenchmen did them draw:  
But Edward was the heir of Richard Duke of York,  
The heir of Roger Mortimer: slain by the kern of Korke.   

Before I came to age Charles had recovered France,  
And killed my men of War, so lucky was his chance:  
And through a mad contract I made with Raynerds daughter  
I gave and lost all Normandy, the cause of many a slaughter.   

First of mine uncle Humphrey, abhorring sore this act,  
Because I there by brake a better precontract:  
Than of the flattering Duke that first the marriage made,  
The just reward of such as dare their Princes ill persuade.   

And I poor silly wretch abode the brunt of all,  
My marriage lust so sweet, was mixed with bitter Gall.  
My Wife was wise and good, had she been rightly sought,  
But our unlawful getting it, may make a good thing naught.   

Wherefore warn men beware, how they just promise break  
Lest proof of painful plagues do cause them wail the wreak  
Advise well ere they grant, but what they grant perform,  
For God will plague all doubleness although we feel no worm.   

I falsely born in hand, believed I did well,  
But all things be not true that learned men do tell:  
My clergy said a Prince was to no promise bond,  
Whose words to be no Gospel though I to my grief have found   

For after marriage joined Queen Margaret and me,  
For one mishap afore, I daily met with three,  
Of Normandy, and France, Charles got away my Crown,  
The duke of York & other sought at home to put me down.   

Bellona rang the bell at home and all abroad,  
With whose mishaps amain fallen Fortune did me load:  
In France I lost my forces, at home the fought field,  
My kindred slain, my friends oppressed, myself enforced to yield   

Duke Richard took me twice, and forced me to resine  
My crown and titles due unto my father's line:  
And kept me as a ward did all things as him list,  
Till that my wife through bloody sword had rane me from his fist.   

But though we slew the Duke my sorrows did not slake,  
But like to Hiders head still more and more awake:  
For Edward through the aid of Warwick & his brother  
From one field drove me to the Scots, & took me in another   

Then went my friends to wrack, for Edward ware the crown  
For which for nine years space his prison held me down:  
Yet thence through Warwick's work I was again released,  
And Edward driven fro the realm to seek his friends by East.   

But what prevaileth pain or providence of man,  
To help him to good hap, whom destiny doth ban?  
Who moyleth to remove the rock out of the mud,  
Shall mire himself and hardly scape the swelling of the found   

This all my friends have found, and I have felt it so  
Ordained to be the touch of wretchedness and woe,  
For ere I had a year possessed my seat again,  
I lost both it and liberty, my helpers all were slain.   

For Edward first by stealth, and sith by gathered strength,  
Arrived and got to York, and London at the length:  
took me and tied me up, yet warwicke was so stout,  
He came with power to Barnet field, in hope to help me out   

And there alas was slain, with many a worthy knight.  
O Lord that ever such luck should hap in helping right:  
Last came my wife and son, that long lay in exile,  
Defied the king, and fought a field, I may dewaile the while.   

For there main only son, not thirteen year of age  
Was ta'en, and murdered straight by Edward in his rage:  
And shortly I myself to stint all further strife,  
Stab with his brother's bloody shoulder-blade in prison lost my life   

Lo here the heavy ●aps, which happened me by heap,  
See here the pleasant fruits, that many Princes reap,  
The painful plagues of those that break their lawful bands.  
Their meed which may & will not save their friends fro bloody hands.   

God grant my woeful haps, tao grievous to rehearse,  
May teach all states to know how diepely dangers pierce:  
How frail all honours are, how brittle worldly bliss,  
That warned through my fearful fate they fear to do amiss   
FINIS.   

THis tragedy ended, another said: either you or King Henry are a good Philosopher so narrowly to argue the causes of misfortunes? but there is nothing to experience which taught, or might teach the king this lesson.  
But to proceed in our matter: I find mention here shortly after the death of this king, of a Duke of Excester found dead in the sea between Dover & Calais, but what he was, or by what adventure he died, master Fabian hath not showed, and master Hall hath overskipped him: so that except we be frendlier unto him, he is like to be double drowned, both in sea, and in the gulf of forgetfulness. About this matter was much talk, but because one took upon him to seek out that story, that charge was committed to him.  
And to be occupied in the mean while I have found the story of one drowned likewise, and that so notable, though privily, that all the world known of it wherefore I said: because night approacheth, and that we will lose no time, ye shall hear what I have noted concerning the Duke of Clarence, king Edward's brother, who all to be washed in Wine, may bewail his infortune after this manner. * ⁎ *   

HOW GEORGE PLANtagenet third Son of the Duke of York, was by his Brother. K. Edward wrongfully imprisoned, and by his Brother Richard miserably murdered the. 11. of january. Anno. 1448.  

THe Fowl is fowl men say, that files the Nest,  
Which makes me loath to speak, now might I choose,  
But seeing time unburdend hath her breast,  
And Fame blown up the blast of all abuse,  
My silence rather might my life accuse  
Than shroud our shame, though fain I would it so  
For truth will out, although the world say no.   

Wherefore Baldwin with tearis I the beseech  
To pause a while upon my heavy plaint,  
And though uneath I utter speedy speech,  
No fault of wit nor folly makes me faint:  
Not heady drink have given my tongue attaint  
Through Quaffiuge craft, yet Wine my Wits confounded  
Not which I drank, but wherein I was drowned.   

What Prince I am although I need not show,  
Because my wine bewrays me by the smell,  
For never creature was lov'st in Bacchus' dew  
To death, but I through Fortune's rigour fallen:  
Yet that thou mayst my story better tell,  
I will declare as briefly as I may,  
My wealth, my woe, and causers of decay.   

The famous house surnam'de Plantagenet,  
Whereat Dame Fortune frowardly did frown,  
While Bolenbroke unjustly sought to set:  
His Lord King Richard quite beside the Crown,  
Though many a day it wanted due renown,  
God so preferred by providence, and grace,  
That lawful Heirs did never fail the Race.   

For Lionel King Edward's second child,  
Both eme, and Heir to Richard issueless,  
Begotten a Daughter Philip, whom undefiled  
The Earl of March espous'de, and God did bless  
With fruit assin'de the Kingdom to possess:  
I mean Sir Roger Mortimer, whose Heir  
The Earl of Cambridge married Anne the Fair.   

This Earl of Cambridge Richard clepte by name,  
Was son to Edmond Langley Duke of York:  
Which Edmond was fift brother to the same,  
Duke Lionel that all this Line doth Korke:  
Of which two houses joined in a Fork,  
My Father Richard Prince Plantagenet  
True Duke of York, was lawful Heir beget.   

Who took to wise as ye shall understand  
A Maiden of a Noble house, and old,  
Raulfe Neutis' Daughter, Earl of Westmoreland:  
Whose Son Earl Richard was a Baron bold,  
And had the right of Salisbury in hold,  
Through marriage made with good Earl Thomas Hair,  
Whose earned praises never shall appare.   

The Duke my father had by this his wife  
Four sons, of whom the elder Edward height,  
The second Edmond who in youth did loose his life,  
At Wakefield slain by Clyfford cruel Knight,  
I George am third of Clarence Duke by right,  
The fowerth born to the mischief of us all,  
Was Duke of Gloucester whom men did Richard call.   

When as our Sire in suit of right was slain,  
(Whose life, and death himself declared erst)  
My brother Edward, the Quarrel stirred again,  
And won the Crown as Warwick hath rehearsed:  
The pride whereof so deep his stomach pierced  
That little passing on them that brought him in,  
Forgot his friends, and set at nought his kin.   

Which made the Earl of Warwick to malign,  
His dealing ingrate, and to attempt away,  
From prison to enlarge Henry the silly King,  
Him to restore to Kingdom if he may,  
And knowing me, to be the chiefest stay  
My Brother had, he did me undermine  
To his ill practise the sooner to incline.   

Whereto I was prepared long before,  
Because the king to me was so unkind:  
Not canker sure, soft flesh doth fret so sore,  
As unkind dealing doth a loving mind.  
loves strongest bands unkindness doth unbind,  
It moveth love to malice, zeal to h●te,  
Chief friends to foes, and brethren to debate.   

And though the Earl of Warwick subtle sire,  
〈…〉 I bore a grudge against my brother,  
Yet toward his feat to set me more on fire,  
He kindled up one firebrand with another:  
For knowing Fancy was the forcinge rother  
Which stirreth youth to any kind of strife,  
He offered me his daughter to my Wife.   

Where through, and with his crafty filled tongue,  
He stolen my heart that erst unsteady was:  
For I was witless, wanton, fond, and yongue,  
Whole bent to pleasure, brittle as the glass:  
I cannot lie, In vino veritas.  
I did esteem the beauty of my Bride  
Above myself, and all the world beside.   

These fond affections joined with lack of skill,  
(Which trap the heart, and blind the eyes of youth,  
And pricked the mind to practise any ill)  
So tickled me that void of kindly truth:  
(Which if it want all wretchedness ensueth)  
I stinted not to persecute my brother,  
Till time he left his kingdom to another.   

Thus carnal love did quench the love of kind,  
Till lust were lost through fancy fully fed:  
But when at length I came unto my mind  
I see how lewdly lightness had me led,  
To seek with pain the peril of my head:  
For had King Henry once been settled, sure,  
I was assuered my days could not endure.   

And therefore, though I bond myself with oath  
To help king Henry all that ever I might,  
Yet at the treaty of my Brethren both,  
Which reason granted to require but right,  
I left his part whereby be perished quite:  
And reconciled me to my Brethren twain,  
And so came Edward to the Crown again.   

This made my Father in law to treat, and fume,  
To stamp, and stare, and called me false forsworn,  
And at the length with all his power presume,  
To help King Henry utterly foriorne.  
Our friendly Proffers still he took in scorn,  
Refused peace, and came to Barnet field,  
And there was ki●'de because he would not yield.   

His Brother also there with him was slain,  
Whereby decay'de the Keys of Chivalry.  
For never lived the matches of them twain,  
In Manhood, Power, and Martial policy,  
In virtuous thews, and friendly constancy,  
That w●uld to God if it had been his will  
They might have tourn'de to us, and lived still.   

But what shallbe, shallbe: there is no choice,  
Things needs must drive as destiny decreeth,  
For which aught in all out haps rejoice,  
Because the eye eterne, all thing foreseeth  
Which to no ill at any time agreeth,  
For ills, to ill to us, be good to it,  
So far his skills exceed our reach of Wit.   

The wounded man which must abide the smart,  
Of stitching up, or searing of his sore,  
As thing to had, reproves the Surgeon's art  
Which notwithstanding doth his health restore,  
The child likewise to Science plied sore,  
Countess' knowledge ill, his Teacher to be wood,  
Yet Surgery, and Sciences be good.   

But as the patients grief, and Scholars pain,  
'Cause them dream bad such things as sure be best,  
So want of Wisdom causeth us complain,  
Of every hap, whereby we seem oppressed:  
The poor do pine for Pelf, the rich for rest,  
And when as loss or sickness us assail,  
We curse our Fate, our Fortune we bewail.   

Yet for our good, God worketh every thing:  
For through the death of these two noble Peers  
My Brother lived, and reigned a quiet King,  
Who had they lived perchance in course of Years  
Would have delivered Henry fro the Breres,  
Or holy his Son t'enjoy the careful crown,  
Whereby our Ligne should have been quite put down.   

A careful Crown it may be justly named,  
Not for the cares which thereto been annexed,  
To see the Subject well and duly framed,  
With which good care few Kings are greatly vexed  
But for the dread wherewith they are perplexed,  
Of loosing Lordship, Liberty, or Life:  
Which woeful wracks in Kingdoms happen rife.   

The which to shun while some to sore have sought.  
They have not spared all people to suspect:  
And to destroy such as they guilty thought,  
Though no appearance proved them infect,  
Take me for one of this wrong punished sect,  
Imprisoned first, accused without cause,  
And done to death no process had by laws.   

Wherein I note how vengeance doth acquit  
Like ill, for ill, how vices virtue quell:  
For as my marriage love did me excite  
Against the King my Brother to rebel,  
So love to have his children prospero well,  
Provoked him against both law, and right,  
To murder me, his Brother, and his Knight.   

For by his Queen two Prince like Sons he had,  
Born to be punished for their Parents sin:  
Whose Fortunes kalked made the father sad,  
Such woeful haps were found to be therein:  
Which to avouch, written in a rotten Skin,  
A prophecy was found which said a G.  
Of Edward's children should destruction be.   

He to be G. because my name was George,  
My brother thought, and therefore did me hate,  
But woe be to that wicked heads that forge  
Such doubtful dreams to breed unkind debate:  
For God, a Gleve, a Gibbet, Grate, or Gate,  
A Grey, a Griffeth, or a Gregory,  
As well as George are written with a G.   

Such doubtful riddles are no prophecies.  
For prophecies, in writing though obscure,  
Are plain in sense, the dark be very lies:  
What God foreshoweth is evident, and pure,  
Truth is no Harold, nor no Sophist sure:  
She noteth not men's Names, their Shields, nor Crests,  
Though she compare them unto Birds, and Beasts.   

But whom she doth foreshow shall rain by force,  
She terms a Wolf, a Dragon, or a Bear:  
A wilful Prince a raynlesse raging horse.  
A Boar, a Lion: a Coward much in fear  
A Hare, or Hart: a crafty, pricked Ear:  
A Lecherous, a Bull, a Goat, a Foal:  
An undermyner, a Moldwarpe, or a Mole.   

By known beasts thus truth doth plain declare  
What men they be of whom she speaks before.  
And who so can men's properties compare  
And make what beast they do resemble more,  
Shall soon discern who is the grisly bore.  
For God by beasts expresseth men's conditions,  
And not their Badges, Harroldes, Superstitions.   

And learned merlin, whom God gave the spirit,  
To know, and utter Princes Acts to come,  
Like to the jewish Prophets, did recite  
In shade of Beasts their doings all, and some,  
expressing plain by manners of the down,  
That Kings, and Lords such properties should have  
As have the beasts, whose name he to them gave.   

He known my Brother Richard was the Boar,  
Whose Tusks should tear my Brother's Boys, and Me,  
And gave me warning thereof long before.  
But Wit, nor warning can in no degree  
Let things to hap, which are ordayn'de to be.  
Witness the painted Lioness, which slew  
A Prince imprisoned, Lions to eshew.   

He told me eke my yoke fellow should dye,  
(Wherein would God be had been no divine)  
And after her death I should woo earnestly  
A Spouse, whereat my Brother would repined:  
And found the means she should be none of mine.  
For which such malice should among us rise,  
As save my death no treaty should decise.   

And as he said so all things came to pass:  
For when K. Henry and his Son were slain,  
And every broil so thoroughly quenched was,  
That the King my Brother quietly did reign,  
I, reconciled to his love again,  
In prosperous health did lead a quiet life,  
For five years space with honours laden rife.   

And to augment the fullness of my bliss,  
Two lovely children by my Wife I had:  
But froward hap, whose manner ever is,  
In chiefest joy, to make the happy sad,  
Bemixt my sweet with bitterness to bad:  
For while I swim in joys on every side,  
My loving Wife, my chiefest jewel died.   

Whose lack when sol● I had bewailed a year,  
The Duke of Burgoyns wife dame Margaret  
My loving sister willing me to cheer,  
To marry again did kindly me entreat:  
And wished me matched with a maiden neat,  
A step daughter of hers, Duke Charles Heir,  
A noble damsel, young, discreet, and Fair.   

To whose desire because I did incline,  
The King my brother doubting my degree  
Through Prophecies, against us did repined:  
And at no hand would to our wills agreed,  
For which such rancour pierced both him, and me,  
That face to we fallen at flat defiance,  
But were appeased by friends of our alliance.   

Howbeit my marriage utterly was dashed:  
Wherein because my servant said his mind,  
A mean was sought whereby he might he lashed.  
And for they could no crime against him find,  
They forged a fault, the people's eyes to blind,  
And told he should by sorceryes pretend,  
To bring the King unto a speedy end.   

Of all which points, he was as innocent,  
As is the babe that lacketh kindly breath:  
And yet condemned by the kings assent,  
Most cruelly put to a shameful death.  
This fired my heart, as foulder doth the heath:  
So that I could not but exclaim, and cry,  
Against so great, and open Injury.   

For this I was commaundedd to the Tower,  
The King my Brother was so cruel hearted:  
And when my Brother Richard see the hour  
Was come, for which his heart so sore had smarted,  
He thought it best take the time before it parted.  
For he endeavoured to attain the Crown,  
From which my life must needs have held him down.   

For though the King within a while had died,  
As needs he must, he Surfayted so often,  
I must have had his Children in my guide  
So Richard should beside the Crown have coft:  
This made him ply, the while the Wax was soft,  
To find a mean to bring me to an end,  
For Realm Rape spareth neither Kin, nor friend.   

And when he see how reason can assuage  
Through length of time my Brother Edward's ire.  
With forged Tales he set him new i● rage,  
Till at the last they did my death conspire,  
And though my truth sore troubled their desire,  
For all the world did know mine Innocence,  
Yet they agreed to charge me with offence.   

And covertly, within the Tower they called  
A Quest, to give such verdict as they should:  
Who what with fear, and what with favour thral'de,  
Dared not proudunce, but as my Brethren would.  
And though my false accusers never could  
Prove aught they said, I guiltless was condemned:  
Such verdites pass where justice is contemned.   

This feat achieved yet could they not for shame  
bereave my life by any common way,  
But like a Wolf the tyrant Richard came,  
(My Brother, nay Butcher I may rightly say)  
Unto the Tower, commanding all away,  
Save such as were provided for the Feat,  
Who, in this wise did strangely me entreat.   

His purpose was with a prepared string  
To strangle me: but I bestirred me so,  
That by no force they could me thereto bring,  
Which caused him that purpose to forego.  
How beit they bond whether I would or no.  
And in a But of Malmesy standing by,  
New christened me because I should not cry.   

Thus drowned I was yet for no due desert,  
Except the zeal of justice be a crime:  
False Prophecies Bewitched King Edward's heart.  
My Brother Richard to the Crown would climb.  
Note these three causes in thy rueful rhyme:  
And boldly say they did procure my fall,  
And Death of Death's most strange, and hard of all.   

And warn Princes Prophecies to eschew,  
That are to dark, and doubtful to be known  
What God hath said, that cannot but ensue,  
Though all the World would have it over thrown.  
When men suppose by fetches of their own  
To fly their fate, they further on the the same,  
Like Blasts of Wind, which often revive the flame.   

Will Princes therefore not to think by murder,  
They may avoid what Prophecies behight,  
But by their means their mischiefs they may further,  
And cause God's vengeance heavier to alight:  
woe worth the wretch that strives with God's foresight.  
They are not wise, but wickedly do are,  
Which think ill deeds, due destinies may bar.   

For if we think that Prophecies be true,  
We must believe it cannot but betide,  
Which God in them foreshoweth shall ensue:  
For his decrees unchanged do abide,  
Which to be true my brethren both have fried.  
Whose wicked warks, warn Princes to detest,  
That others harms may keep them better blest.   
FINIS.   

BY that this tragedy was ended, night was so near come that we could not conveniently tarry together any longer, & therefore said master Ferrer: It is best my masters to stay here. For we be now come to the end of Edward the fourth's reign. For the last whom we find unfortunate therein, was the Duke of Clarence: in whose behalf I commend much that which hath been noted.  
Let us therefore for this time leave with him, and some other day when your leisure will best serve let us meet here altogether again, And you shall see that in the mean season I will not only devise upon this myself, but cause divers other of my acquaintance which can do very well to help us forward with the rest. To this every man gladly agreed, howbeit (said another) seeing we shall end at Edward's the fourth end, let himself make an end of our days labour with the same oration which master Skelton made in his name, the true copy whereof as he written the same I have here ready to be read   

HOW KING EDWARD the fourth through his surfeiting and untemperate life suddenly died in the midst of his prosperity, the ninth of April Anuo. 1485  

MIseremini mei you that be my friends,  
This world hath form me down to fall:  
How may I endure when that every thing ends?  
What creature is born to be eternal?  
Now there is no more but pray for me all.  
Thus say I Edward that late was your king,  
And years xxii. bore Sceptre rial,  
Some unto pleasure and some to no liking:  
Mercy I ask of my misdoing,  
What availeth it friends to be my foe?  
Sigh I cannot resist, nor amend your complaining,  
Et ecce nunc in pulvere dormio.   

I siepe now in mould as it is natural,  
As earth unto earth hath his reverture:  
What ordained God in the world universal,  
Without recourse to the earth by nature,  
Who to live ever may himself assure?  
What is it to trust to mutability,  
Sigh that in this world nothing may endure?  
For now am I go that was late in prosperity.  
To presume thereupon it is but vanity,  
Not certain but as a cherry fair full of woe,  
Rained not I of late in great felicity,  
Et ecce nunc in pulvere dormio   

Where was in my life such a one as I,  
While Lady Fortune with me had continuance:  
Granted not she me to have victory,  
In England to raygn and to contribute France,  
She took me by the hand and led me adaunce,  
And with her sugared lips on me she smiled,  
But what for dissembled countenance,  
I could not be ware till I was beguiled.  
Now from this world she hath me exiled,  
When I was loathest hence for to go,  
And am in age who saith but a child,  
Et ecce nunc in pulvere dormio.   

I had enough I held me not content,  
Without remembrance that I should dye:  
And moreover to encroach ready was I bend,  
I known not how long I should it occupy,  
I made the tower strong I witted not why,  
I known not to whom I purchased Tater shall.  
I mended Dover on the mountain high.  
And London I provoked to fortify the brickwall,  
I made Nottingham a place full royal.  
Windsor, Eltam, and many other more,  
Yet at the last I went from them all.  
Et ecce nunc in pulvere dormio.   

Where is now my conquest and victory?  
Where is my riches and royal array?  
Where be my coursers and my horses high?  
Where is my mirth, my solace, and my play?  
As vanity to naught else is withered away:  
O Lady Bessus long for me may you call,   

For I am departed until, domes day:  
But love you that Lord that is sovereign of all.  
Where be my Castles and buildings royal?  
But Wyndsore alone now have I no more,  
And of Eton the prayers perpetual,  
Et ecce nunc in pulvere dormio.   

Why should a man be proud or presume high,  
Saint barnard thereof nobly doth treat,  
Saying a man is but a sack of stercory,  
And shall return into worms meat:  
Why what become of Alexander the great?  
Or else of strong Samson, who can tell,  
Were not worms ordained their flesh to fret?  
And of Solomon that was of wit the well,  
Absalon proffered his here for to sell,  
Yet for his beauty worms eat him also  
And I but late in honours did excel,  
Et ecce nunc in pulvere dormio.   

I have played my pageant, now am I passed,  
You wot well all I was of no great eld.  
Thus all things concluded shall be at the last  
When death approacheth then lost is the stelde:  
Then seeing this world me no longer upheld,  
For nought would conserve me here in this place,  
In manus tuas domine my spirit up I yield,  
Humbly beseeching thee O God of thy grace  
O you courteous commons your hearts embrace  
Beningly now to pray for me also.  
For right well you know your king I was.  
Et ecce nunc in pulvere dormio   
FINIS.   

When this was read every man for the time took his leave of other, and departed (for then it waxed dark) appointing a new day of meeting which being come we met altogether again. And when we had saluted one an other, than one took the book and began to read the story of king Edward the fift (for there we left) and when he came to the apprehending of the Lord Rivers: stay there I pray you (said I) for here is his complaint. For the better understanding whereof you must imagine that he was accompanied with the Lord Richard Gray, Hawt, and Clapham, whose infortunes he be waileth after this manner.   

HOW SIR ANTHONY WOULD vile Lord Rivers and Scales, governor of Prince Edward was with his nephu Lord Richard Gray, and other causeless imprisoned and cruelly murdered. An. 1483  

AS silly suitors letted by delays  
To show their prince the meaning of the mind  
That long have bought their brokers you as & naies  
And never the nigher: do daily wait to find  
The prince's grace from weighty affairs untwind:  
Which time attained by attending all the year,  
The wearied prince will then no suitors hear:   

My cause was such not many days a go,  
For after brute had blazed all abroad  
That one Baldwin by help of other more,  
Of fame or shame fallen princes would unload,  
Out from our graves we start without abode,  
And pre●ced forth among the rueful rout  
That sought to have their doings voulted out.   

But when I had long tended for my turn  
To tell my tale as divers other did:  
In hope I should no longer while sojourn  
But from my suits have speedily been rid,  
When course and place both orderly had hide  
Me show my mind, & I prepared to say  
The hearers paused arose and went their way.   

These doubtful doings drove me to my dumps,  
Uncertain what should move them so to do:  
I feared jest affections loathly lumps,  
Or inward grudge, had moved them thereto.  
Whose wicked stings all stories truth undo.  
Often causing good to be reported ill,  
Or drowned in suds of Lethe's muddy swill.   

For hitherto sly writers wily wits  
Which have engrossed princes chief affairs,  
Have been like horses snaffled with the bits  
Of fancy, fear, or doubts full dipe despairs,  
Whose reins enchayned to the chiefest chayrs,  
Have so been strained of those that ba●e the stroke  
That truth was forced to chew or else to choke.   

This caused such as loathed loud to lie,  
To pass with silence sundry princes lives,  
Less fault it is to leave then lead awry:  
And better draund than ever bond in gives,  
For fatal fraud this world so fond drives.  
That what soever writers brains may brew  
Be it never so false, at length is cane for true.   

What harm may hap by help of lying pens,  
How written lies may lewdly be maintained,  
The loathly rites, the devilish idol dens:  
With guiltless blood of virtuous men beslainde,  
Is such a proof as all good hearts have plainde.  
The taly grounds of stories thoroughly ●ryes,  
The death of martyrs vengeance on it cries.   

Far better therefore not to write at all,  
Then stain the truth for any manner cause,  
For this they mean to let my story fall:  
(Thought I and ere my time my volume clause,  
But after I known it only was a pause  
Made purposely, most for the reader's ease  
Assure thee Baldwin, highly it did me please.   

For freshest wits I know will soon be weary,  
In reading long what ever book it be,  
Except it be vain matter strange or merry,  
Well saust with lies and glared all with glee  
With which because no grave truth may agreed,  
The closest stile for stories is the meetest,  
In rueful moads the shortest form is sweetest,   

And sith the plaints already by thee pend,  
Are brief enough, the number also small,  
The tediousness I think doth none offend,  
Save such as have no lust to learn at all,  
Regard none such: no matter what they brawl.  
Warn thou the wary jest they hap to stumble,  
As for the careless, care not what they mumble.   

My life is such as (if thou note it well)  
May 'cause the wise, and wealthy to beware.  
For their sakes therefore plainly will I tell,  
How false and cumbrous worldy honours are,  
How can●cred foes, bring carls folk to care  
How tyrants suffered and not quelled in time  
Do cut their throats that suffer them to climb.   

Neither will I hide the chiefest point of all  
Which wisest rulers lest of all regard.  
That was and will because of many a fall,  
This cannot be to earnestly declared▪  
Because it is so ceil and slackly herded.  
The abuse and scorning of God's ordinances,  
Is chiefest cause of care and woeful chances.   

God's holy orders highly are abused,  
When men do change their ends for strange respects:  
They scorned are, when they be clean refused  
For that they cannot serve out fond affects,  
The one our shame the other our sin detectes.  
It is a shame for Christians to abuse them,  
But deadly sin for scorners to refuse them   

I mean not this all only of degrees,  
Ordained by God for people's preservation,  
But of his law, good orders, and decrees,  
provided his creatures conservation  
And specially the state of procreation  
Wherein we▪ here the number of them increase  
Which shall in heaven enjoy eternal peace.   

The only end why God ordained this,  
Was for the increasing of that blessed number  
For whom he hath prepared eternal bliss,  
They that refuse it for the care or cumber  
Being apt thereto are in a sinful slumber:  
Not fond respect, no vain devised vows  
Can quit or bar what God in charge allows.   

It is not good for man to live alone  
Said God: and therefore made he him a make:  
Sole life said christ is granted few or none,  
All seed sheders are bound like wife to take:  
Yet not for lust, for lands or riches sake,  
But to beget and foster so their fruit  
That heaven and earth be stored with the suit.   

But as this state is damnable refused  
Of Many apt and able thereunto,  
So is it likewise wickedly abused  
Of all that use it as they should not do:  
Wherein are guilty all the greedy who  
For gain, for friendship, land, or honours wed,  
And these pollute the undefiled bed.   

And therefore God through justice cannot cease  
To plague these faults with sundry sorts of whips:  
As disagreement, healths or wealths decrease.  
Or loathing sore the never liked lips,  
Disdain also with rigour sometime nyps  
Presuming mates unequally that match:  
Some bitter leaven sowers the musty batch.   

We worldly folk account him very wise  
That hath the wit most welthily to wed.  
By all means therefore always we devise  
To see out issue rich in spousals sped.  
We buy and cell rich orphans: babes scant bread  
Must marry ere they know what marriage means.  
Boys marry old trots, old fools wed young queans   

We call this wedding which in any wise  
Can be no marriage but pollution plain.  
A new found trade of human merchandise,  
The devils net a filthy fleshly gain:  
Of kind and nature an unnatural stain:  
A foul abuse of gods most holy order  
And yet allowed almost in every border.   

Would god I were the last that shall have cause  
Against this creeping canker to complain,  
That men would so regard their maker's laws  
That all would leave the lewdness of their brain  
That holy orders holy might remain.  
That our respects in wedding should not choke  
The end & fruit of gods most holy yoke.   

The sage king Solon after that he see,  
What mischifs follow missought marriages,  
To bar all baits, established this law.  
No friend nor father shall give heritage's,  
Coin, cattle, stuff, or other carriages,  
With any maid for dowry or wedding sale  
By any mean on pain of banning bale.   

Had this good law in England been in force,  
My father had not so cruelly been slain.  
My brother had not causeless lost his corpse.  
Our marriage had not bread us such disdain,  
Myself had lacked great part of grievous pain  
We wedded wives for dignity and lands  
And left our lives in enemies bloody hands.   

My father hight Sir Richard. Wooduile he  
Espoused the Duchess of bedford, & by her  
Had issue males my brother john, and me  
Called Anthony king Edward did prefer  
Us far above the state wherein we were.  
For he espoused our sister Elizabeth  
Whom Sir john Gray made widow by his death:   

How glad were we think you of this alliance  
So nearly coupled with so noble a king,  
Who dared with any of us been at defiance.  
Thus made of might the mightiest to wring  
But sie what cares do highest honours bring,  
What carelessness our selves or friends to know  
Hot spite and envy both of high & low.   

Because the king had made our sister Queen  
It was his honour to prefer her kin.  
And sith the readiest way, as wisest ween,  
Was first by wedding wealthy heirs to win,  
It pleased the prince in like mean to begin  
To me he gave the rich lord Scales his heir,  
A virtuous maid in mine eye very fair.   

He joined to my brother john, the old  
Duchess of Norfolk notable of fame:  
My nephew Thomas (who had in his hold  
The honour and right of Marquis Dorcets' name)  
Espoused Cicelie a right wealthy dame  
Lord Bonuiles' heir: by whom he was possessed  
In all the rites where through that house was blest   

The honours that my father atteind were divers  
First Chamberlain, than constable he was,  
I do omit the gaynfullest Earl Rivers,  
Thus glistered we in glory clear as glass  
Such miracles can princes bring to pass  
Among their lieges whom they mind to heave  
To honours false, who all their gests deceive   

Honours are like that cruel king of Thrace,  
With new come gests that fed his hungry horses  
Or like the tyrant Busiris whose grace  
Offered his gods all strangers strangled corpses.  
To foreigners so hard false honours force is  
That all her bourdens, strangers either geastes.  
She spoils to feed her Gods and greedy beasts   

Her Gods be those whom God by law or lot.  
Or kind by birth, doth place in highest rooms  
Her beasts be such as greedily have got  
Office or charge to guide the silly grooms.  
These officers in law or charge are bromes,  
That sweep away the sweet from simple wretches,  
And spoil the enriched by their crafty fetches.   

These pluck down those whom princes set aloft,  
By wresting laws, and false conspiracies  
Yey kings themselves by these are spoiled often,  
When wilful princes carelessly despise  
To hear thoppressed people's heavy cries.  
Nor will correct their polling thieves then god,  
Doth make those reves the reckless princes rod.   

The second Richard is a proof of this  
Whom crafty Lawyers by their laws deposed.  
another pattern good king Henry is  
Whose right by them have diversly been glossed,  
Good while he grew, ●ad when he was unrosed,  
And as the foadred these and divers other  
With like deceit they used the king my brother.   

While he prevailed they said he owed the crown,  
All laws and rights agreed with the same  
But when by dryftes he seemed to be down.  
All laws and right extremely did him blame  
Naught save usurping traylour was his name.  
So constantly the judges construe laws,  
That all agree still with the stronger cause.   

These as I said, and other like in charge  
Are honours horses whom she feeds with gests,  
For all whom princes frankly do enlarge  
With dignities these bark at in their breasts:  
Their spite, their might, their falsehood never rests.  
Till they devour them: sparing neither blood,  
Ne limb, ne life, and all to get their good.   

The Earl of warwicke was a praunsing courser  
The haughty heart of his could bear no mate:  
Our wealth through him waxed many a time the worser  
So cankardly he had our kin in hate.  
He troubled often the kings unsteady state  
And that because he would not be his ward  
To wed and work as he should list a ward.   

He spited us because we were preferred  
By marriage to dignities so great,  
But craftily his malice be deferred  
Till traitorously be found means to entreat  
Our brother of Clarence to assist his feat:  
Whom when he had by marriage to him bound,  
Then wrought he strait our lineage to confounded.   

Through slanderous brutes he brewed many a broil  
Throughout the realm, against the king my brother  
And raised traiterours rebels thirsting spoil  
To murder men: of whom among all other  
One Ro●in of Riddesdale many a soul did smother  
His rascal table at my father wroth  
took sire and son, and quick beheaded both.   

This heinous act although the king betested,  
Yet was he feign to pardon for the rout  
Of rebels all the realm so sore infested,  
That every way assailed he stood in doubt:  
And though he were of courage bighe and stout,  
Yet he assayed by fair mean to assuage  
His enemies ire, reveyld by rebels rage.   

But Warwick was not pacified thus,  
His constant rancour causeless was extreme  
Not mean could serve my quarrel to discus,  
Till he had driven the king out of the realm.  
Neither would he then be awaked from his dream.  
For when my brother was come and placed again,  
He stinted not till he was stoutly slain.   

Than grew the king and Realm to quiet rest,  
Our stock and friends still flying higher and higher,  
The Queen with children fruitfully was blest  
I governed them, it was the kings desire.  
This set their uncles furiously on fire,  
That we the queens blood were assigned to govern  
The prince, not they, the king's own blood & brethren.   

This caused the Duke of Clarence so to chafe  
That with the king he brainless fell at bate:  
The counsel warily for to keep him safe  
From raising tumults as he did of late,  
Imprisoned him: where through his brother's hate  
He was condemned, and murdered in such sort  
As he himself hath truly made report,   

Was none abhorred these mischiefs more than I  
Yet could I not be therewith discontented,  
Considering that his rancour touched me nigh,  
Else would my conscience never have consented.  
To wish him harm, could be have been contented.  
But fear of hurt, for safeguard of our state  
Doth cause more mischief than desert or hate.   

Such is the state that many wish to bear,  
That either we must with others blood be stained  
Or lead our lives continually in fear,  
You mounting minds behold here what is gained  
By cumbrous honour painfully attained:  
A damned soul for murdering them that hate you,  
Or doubtful life in danger jest they mate you,   

The cause (I think) why some of high degree  
Do deadly hate all sekers to ascend,  
Is this: The cloyne contented cannot be  
With any state till time he apprehended  
The highest top: for thereto clymers tend.  
Which seldom is attained without the wrack  
Of those between, that stay and bare him back.   

To save themselves they therefore are compelled  
To hate such clymers, and with wit and power  
To compass means where through they may be quelled  
Ere they ascend their honours to devour.  
This caused the Duke of Clarence frown and lower  
At me and other, whom the king promoted  
To dignities: wherein he madly doted.   

For seeing we were his dear allied friends,  
Our furtherance should rather have made him glad  
Than Enemy like to wish our woeful ends.  
We were the nearest Kinsfolk that he had.  
We joyed with him his sorrow made us sad:  
But he esteemed so much his painted sheath  
That he disdayn'de the love of all beneath.   

But see how sharply God revengeth sin:  
As he maligned me, and many other  
His faithful Friends, and kindest of his kin,  
So Richard Duke of Gloucester, his very Brother,  
Maligned him, and beastly did him Smouther.  
A Devilish deed, a most unkindly part,  
Yet just revenge for his unnatural heart.   

Although this Brother Queller, Tyrant fallen  
Envied our State, as much, and more than he:  
Yet did his cloaking Flattery so excel  
To all our Friends ward, chief unto me,  
That he appeared, our trusty stay to be:  
For outwardly he wrought, our State to further,  
Where inwardly he mind naught save murder.   

Thus in appearance who but I was blest?  
The chiefest honours heaped on my head:  
Beloved of all, enjoying quiet rest,  
The froward Prince by me alone was led,  
A Noble Imp, to all good virtues bread:  
The King my Liege without my counsel known,  
Agreed naught: though wisest were his own.   

But quiet bliss in no state lasteth long  
Assailed still by mischief many ways:  
Whose spoiling battery glowing hot, and strong,  
No flowing wealth, no force nor Wisdom stays  
Her smoakelesse Powder beaten Soldiers stays.  
By open force, foul mischief often prevayls,  
By secert sleight, she ceil her purpose fails.   

The King was bend to much to foolish pleasure,  
In banqueting he had so great delight:  
This made him grow in grossness out of measure,  
Which, as it kindleth carnal appetite,  
So quencheth it the liveliness of the spirit.  
Whereof ensue such Sickness, and diseases  
As none can cure save death that all displeases.   

Through this fault furdered by his Brother's fraud  
(Now God forgive me if I judge amiss)  
Or through that beast his ribald or his Bawd  
That larded still these sinful lusts of his,  
He suddenly forsook all worldly bliss.  
That loathed leech, that never welcome death,  
Through Spasmous humours stopped up his breath.   

That time lay I at Ludloe, Wales his border,  
For with the Prince the King had sent me thither  
To stay the Robberies, Spoil, and foul disorder,  
Of divers Outlaws gathered there together:  
Whole banding tended no man witted well whither  
When these by wisdom safely were suppressed,  
Came woeful news, our Sovereign was deceased.   

The grief whereof when reason was assuaged,  
Because the Prince remained in my guide,  
For his defence great store of men I waged,  
doubting the storms which at such time betide.  
But while I there thus warily did provide,  
Commandment came to sand them home again  
And bring the King thence with his household train.   

This charge sent from the Counsel, and the Queen,  
Though much against my mind I beast obeyed:  
The devil himself wrought all the drift I ween,  
Because he would have Innocentes betrayed:  
For ere the King were half his way conveyed,  
A sort of Traitors falsely him betrapped  
A caught afore, and close in Prison clapped.   

The Duke of Gloucester that incarnate devil  
Confedred with the Duke of Buckingham,  
With the Lord Hastings, hasty both to evil  
To meet the King in mourning habit came,  
(A cruel Wolf though clothed like a Lamb)  
And at Northampton, where as than I baited  
They took their Inn as they one me had waited.   

The King that night at Stonystratford lay,  
A town to small to harbour all his Train:  
This was the cause why he was go away  
While I with other did behind remain.  
But will you see how falsely friends can fayne?  
Not Sinon sly, whose fraud best Fame rebukes,  
Was half so subtle as these double Dukes.   

First to mine Inn, cometh in my brother false  
Embraceth me: well met good Brother Scales,  
And weeps withal: the other me enhalse  
Which welcome Cousin, now welcome out of Wales  
O happy day, for now all stormy gales  
Of strife, and Rancour utterly are suaged,  
And we our own to live, or dye unwaged,   

This proffered service, Saust which Salutations  
Immoderate, might 'cause me to suspect:  
For commonly in all Dissimulations  
Th'excess of glaveringe doth the guile direct:  
Reason refuseth falsehood to direct,  
The will therefore for fear of being spied,  
Exceeds mean, because it wanteth guide.   

This is the cause why such as fain to weep  
Do howl outright, or wailing cry ah,  
Teringe themselves, & strayninge Sighs most deep.  
Why such Dissemblers as would seem to laugh  
Breath not tibhee, but bray out, hah, hah hah.  
Why Beggars feigning Bravery are the proudest?  
Why Cowards bragging boldness wrangle loudest?   

For commonly all that do counterfeit  
In any thing, exceed the natural mean,  
And that for fear of failing in their feat.  
But these Conspirers couched all so clean,  
Through close demeanour, that their wiles did wean  
My heart from doubts, so many a false device  
They forged fresh, to hide their enterprise.   

They Supped with me propounding friendly talk  
Of our Affairs, still giving me the praise.  
And ever among the Cups to me ward walk:  
I drink to you good Cousin, each Traitor says,  
Our banquet done when they should go their ways  
They took their leave, often withinge me good Night  
As haertely as any Creature might.   

A noble heart they say is Lion like,  
It cannot couch, dissemble, crouch, nor fain,  
How Villainous were these, and how unlike?  
Of noble Stock the most Ignoble stain.  
Their Wolvish hearts. their Traitorous Foxly brain  
Either prove them base, of rascal race engendered  
Or from haut Lineage Bastardlike degendred.   

Such polling heads as praise for prudent policy  
False Practices. I wish were pact on Poles.  
I mean the Bastard see brood, which can mollify  
All kind of causes in their crafty nolles.  
These undermine all virtue, blind as molles,  
They bloster wrong, they rack, and straive the right  
And praise for Law, both Malice, Fraud, and Might.   

These quench the worthy Flames of noble kind,  
Provokinge best born to the basest vices,  
Through crafts they make the boldest Courage blind,  
disliking highly valiant enterprises:  
And praising vilely, villainous devices.  
These make the Bore a Hog, the Bull an Ox,  
The Swan a Goose, the Lion a Wolf, or Fox.   

The Lawyer Catesby and his crafty fears  
A rout that never did good in any Realm,  
Are they that had transformed these noble Peers:  
They turned their blood to melancholic phlegm.  
Their courage haut to cowardice extreme  
Their Force, and Manhood, into Fraud, and Malice,  
Their Wit to wiles: stout Hector into Paris.   

These Glaverers go, myself to rest I laid,  
And doubting nothing, sound fallen a sleep:  
But suddenly my servants sore afraid  
A waked me: and drawing sighs full deep,  
Alas (quoth one) my Lord we are hetraide.  
How so (quoth I) the Dukes are go their ways,  
They have barred the Gates, and born away the Keys.   

While he thus spoke, there came into my mind  
This fearful dream, whereout I waked was:  
I saw a River stopped with storms of wind  
Where through a Swan, a Bull, & Boar did pass.  
Fraunchinge the fish, and fry, with teeth of brass,  
The River dried up save a little stream  
Which at the last did water all the Realm.   

Me thought this stream did drown the cruel Boar,  
In little space, it grew so deep, and broad:  
But he had kil'de the Bull, and Swan before.  
Besides all this I saw an oughly Toad  
Crall toward me, on which me thought I trod:  
But what become of her, or what of me  
My sudden waking would not let me see.   

These dreams considered with this sudden news  
So divers from their doings over night,  
Did 'cause me not a little for to muse,  
I blessed me, and rise in all the hast I might,  
By this, Aurora spread abroad the light.  
Which fro the ends of Phoebus' beams she took  
Who than the Bulls chief Gallery forsook.   

When I had opened the window to look out  
There might I see the streets each where beset,  
My Inn on each side compassed about  
With armed watchmen, all escapes to let  
Thus had these Neroes caught me in their Net.  
But to what end, I could not thoroughly guess,  
Such was my plainness, such their doubleness.   

My Conscience was so clear I could not doubt  
Their deadly drift, which less apparent lay,  
Because they caused their men return the rout  
That yode toward Stonistratford as they say,  
Because the Dukes will first be there to day:  
For this (thought I) they hinder me in jest,  
For guiltless minds do easily deem the best.   

By this the Dukes were come into mine Inn  
For they were lodged in another by,  
I got me to them thinking it a sin  
Within my Chamber cowardly to lie.  
And merely I asked my brother why  
He used me so? he stern in evil sadness  
Cried out: I arrest the Traitor for thy badness,   

How so (quoth I) whence rises your suspicion?  
Thou art a Traitor (quoth he) I the arrest  
Arrest (quoth I) why? where is your Commission?  
He drawn his Weapon, so did all the rest  
crying: yield thee Traitor. I so sore distressed  
Made no resistance: but was sent to ward:  
None save their servants assigned to my guard.   

This done they sped them to the King in post,  
And after their humble reverence to him done,  
They traitorously began to rule the roast,  
They picked a quarrel to my sister son  
Lord Richard Gray: the King would not be won  
To agreed to them, yet they against all reason,  
Arrested him they said for heinous Treason.   

Sir Thomas Vaughan, and Sir Richard Haule  
Two worthy Knights were likewise apprehended,  
These all were guilty in one kind of fault,  
They would not like the practice then pretended:  
And seeing the King was herewith sore offended,  
Back to Northampton they brought him again  
And thence discharged most part of his Train.   

There lo! Duke Richard made himself Protector  
Of King, and Realm by open Proclamation,  
Though neither King nor Queen were his Elector,  
Thus he presumed by lawless usurpation.  
But will you see his deep dissimulation?  
He sent me a dish of Dainties from his Board  
That day, and with it this false friendly word.   

Commend me to him all things shallbe well,  
I am his friend, bid him be of good cheer:  
These news I prayed the Messenger go tell  
My Nephew Richard, whom I loved full dear.  
But what he meant by well, now shall you hear:  
He thought it well to have us quickly murdered,  
Which not long after thoroughly he furdered.   

For straight from thence we closely were conveyed  
From jail to jail Northward we witted not whither:  
Where after we had a while in sunder strayed,  
At last we met at Pomfret all together.  
Sir Richard Ratcliff had us welbome thither,  
Who openly, all law, and right contemned  
Beheaded us before we were condemned.   

My Cousin Richard could not be content  
To leave his life, because he witted not why.  
Good Gentleman that never harm had meant,  
Therefore he asked wherefore he should dye:  
The Priest his ghostly Father did reply  
With weeping eyes: I know one woeful cause,  
The Realm hath neither righteous Lords, nor laws.   

Sir Thomas Vaughan chasing cried still:  
This Tyrant Gloucester is the graceless G.  
That will his Brother's Children beastly kill.  
And lest the people through his talk might see  
The mischiefs toward, and thereto not agreed  
Our Tormentor that false perjured Knight  
Bade stop our mouths, with words of high despite.   

Thus died we guiltless process herded we none,  
No cause alleagde, no judge, nor yet accuser,  
No quest empaneld passed us upon.  
That murderer Ratcliff, Law, and Rights refuser,  
Did all to flatter Richard his abuser.  
Unhappy both that ever they were born,  
Through guiltless blood that have their souls forlorn.   

In part I grant, I well deserved this,  
Because I caused not speedy execution  
Be done on Richard for that murder of his,  
When first he wrought King Henry's close confusion.  
Not for his Brother's hateful persecution.  
These cruel murders painful death deserved  
Which had be suffered, many had been preserved.   

Warn therefore all that charge, or office bear  
To see all murderers speedily executed:  
And spare them not for favour or for fear:  
By guiltless blood the earth remains polluted.  
For lack of justice kingdoms are transmuted.  
They that save murderers from deserved pain,  
Shall through those murderers, miserably be slain.   
FINIS.   

When I had read this, they liked it very well, one wished that the combat which he fought with the Bastard of Burgoyne, and the Honour which he won with both spear & Axe should not be forgotten. Another moved a question about a great matter, and that is the variance of the Chronicles about the Lord Thomas gray Marquis Dorcet: whom Fabian every where calleth the queen's brother: sir Thomas Moor and Hal, call him the Queen's son as he was in very deed. Fabian says he was governor of that Prince, and had the conveyance of him from Ludlo towards London. The other (whom we follow) say he was than at London with the Queen providing for the kings coronation, and took Sanctuary with her as soon as he herded of the apprehending of his uncle. This disagreeing of writers is a great hindrance of the truth, and no small cumbrance to such as be diligent readers, besides the harm that may happen in succession of heritage's. It were therefore a worthy and good deed for the nobility, to 'cause all the records to be sought, and a true and perfect Chronicle there out to be written Unto which we refer the deciding of this & of all other like controversies, giving this to understand in the mean time, that no man shall think his title either better or worse by any thing that is written in any part of this treatise. For the only thing which is purposed herein, is by example of others miseries, to dissuade all men from all sins and vices. If by the way we touch any thing concerning titles, we follow therein halls Chronicle. And were we seem to serve from his reasons and causes of divers doings, there we gather upon conjecture such things as seem most probable, or at the lest most convenient for the furtherance of our purpose. When the reader would have proceeded in the Chronicle which straight entreateth of the villainous destruction of the Lord Hastings, I willed him to surceas, because I had there his Tragedy very learnedly penned. For the better understanding whereof, you must imagine that you see him newly crept out of his grave, and speaking to me as followeth.   

HOW THE LORD HAstings was Betrayed by trusting to much to his evil Counsaylour Catesby, and Villainously murdered in the Tower of London by Richard Duke of Gloucester, the. 13. of june Anno. 1483.  

I Am that hasting whose to hasty death.  
They blame that know wherefore I lost my breath,  
With others fearing lest my headless name  
be wrong'de, by partial Bruit of flattering Fame.  
Hearing O Baldwin that thou meanest to pen,  
The lives, and Falls of English Noblemen.  
Myself here present, do Present to thee  
My Life, my Fall, and Forced destiny.   

Ne fear to stain thy credit by my tale.  
In Lethe's flood, long since, in Stygian vale.  
Self love I drowned, what time hath fined for true,  
And ceaseth not, (though stolen) still to renew:  
Recount I will: whereof take this for proof.  
That blaze I will my praise, and my reproof.  
We naked ghosts are but the very man  
Nor of ourselves more than we aught, we scan.   

The heavens high, and Earthly vale below,  
Yet ring his Fame, whose deeds so great did grow.  
Edward the fourth you know unnamed I mean.  
Whose noble nature so to me did lean,  
That I his staff was, I his only joy,  
And even what Pandar was to him of Troy.  
Which moved him first, to created me chamberlain,  
To serve his sweets, to my most sour pain.   

Wherein, to justly praised for secretness  
(For now my guilt with shrikinge I confess)  
To him to true, to untrue to the Queen,  
Such hate I won, as lasted long between  
Our families: Shore's wife was my Nice cheat,  
The holy whore, and eke the wily peat.  
I Fed his lust with lovely Pieces so,  
That God's sharp wrath I purchased, my just wo.   

See here of Nobles new the divers source.  
Some virtue raiseth, some clime by sluttish sorts.  
The first, though only of themselves begun,  
Yet circled wise into themselves do run.  
Within themselves their force united so,  
Both endless is, and stronger 'gainst their foe.  
For, when endth hit that never hath begun?  
Or how may that, that hath no end, be undone?   

Th'other as by wicked means they grew,  
And reigned by flattery, or violence: so soon rue.  
First tomblinge step fro honours old, is vice.  
Which once stepped down, some Linger, none arise  
To former type: But they catch virtues spray,  
Which raiseth them that climb by lawful way.  
Beware to rise by serving Princely lust.  
Surely to stand, one mean is rising just.   

Which learn by me, whom let it help to excuse,  
That ruthful now myself I do accuse  
And that my Prince I ever pleased with such,  
As harmed none, and him contented much.  
In vice some favour, or less hate let win,  
That I ne wried to worse end my sin.  
But used my favour to the safety of such,  
As fury of later War to live did grudge.   

For as on dirt (though dirty) shines the Sun:  
So, even amids my vice, my virtue shoane.  
Myself I spared with any his cheat to stain,  
For love or reverence so I could refrain.  
Gisippus' Wife erst Titus would desire  
With friendships breach. I quenched that brutish fire.  
Manly hit is, to loath the pleasing lust.  
Small vaunt to fly, that of constraint thou must.   

These faults except, if so my life thou vb,  
Lo! none I hurt but furdred every man.  
My Chamber England was, my staff the law:  
Where by sans rigour, all I held in awe.  
So loving to all, so beloved of all,  
As, (what ensued upon my bloody fall  
Though I ne felt) yet surely this I think.  
Full many a trickling tear their mouths did drink.   

Disdain not Princes easy access, meek cheer.  
We know then Angels statelier port ye bear  
Of God himself: to massy a charge for spirits.  
But then, my Lords, consider, he delights  
To veil his grace to us poor earthly wants,  
To simplest Shrubs, and to the Dunghill plants.  
Express him then, in might, and mercies mean.  
So shall ye win, as now ye rule the realm.   

But all to long I fear do delay  
The many means, whereby I did be wray  
My Zealous will, to earn my Prince's grace.  
Lest thou differ, to think me kind percase.  
As naught may last, so Fortunes changing cheer  
With pouting looks 'gan lower on my sire,  
And on her Wheel, advanced high in his room  
The Warwick Earl, Mase of Christendom.   

Besides the tempting prowess of the foe,  
My Prince's Brother did him then forego.  
The cause was liked, I was his linked ally.  
Yet nor the cause, nor Brother's treachery,  
Nor enemies force, nor band of mingled blood:  
Made Hastings bear his Prince other mind then good.  
But ta'en, and scaped from Warwick's griping Paws.  
With me he fled through fortunes frowardst Flaws.   

To London come, at large we might have seemed,  
Had not we then the Realm a prison deemed.  
Each Bush, a Bar, each Spray, a Banner splayed,  
Each House, a Fort, out Passage to have stayed.  
To Linne we leap, where while we await the Tide,  
My secret friends in secret I supplied,  
In Mouth to maintain Henry sixt their King,  
By deed to devoir, Edward to bring in.   

The restless, to bar the empty Bay,  
With waltringe Waves roams wambling forth. Away  
The merry Mainer hales. The bragging Boy,  
To Masts high top up hies. In sign of joy  
The wavering Flag is vaunst. The surging Seas  
Their swelling cease: to calmest even peace  
Sinkth down their pride. With drunkenness 'gainst all care  
The Seamen armed, a wait their noble Fare.   

On board we come. The Massy Anchors weighed,  
One English Ship, two Hulks of Holland, aid  
In such a pinch. So small though was the Train,  
Such his constraint, that now, that one with pain  
Command he might, who late might many more:  
The ghastly Greeks erst brought to Tenedo.  
So naught is ours that we by hap may loose,  
What nearest seems, is farthest of in woes.   

As banished wights, such joys we might have made.  
Easo of ay threatening death that late we dread.  
But once our country's sight (not care) exempt,  
No harbour showing, that might our fear relent,  
No covert ca●e, no shrub to shroud our lives.  
Not hollow wood, no flight that often deprives.  
The mighty his prey, no sanctuary left  
For exiled prince, that shrouds each slave for theft:   

In prison penned whose woody walls to pass  
Of no less peril than the dying was:  
With the Ocean moated battered with the waves,  
(As chained at dares the wretched galley slaves,  
At mercy sit of sea and enemies shot,  
And shun with death that they wit flight may not)  
But grenish waves, and heavy lowering skies  
All comfort else forclose our exiled eyes:   

Lo lo from highest top the slavish boy  
Scent up, with sight of land our hearts to joy:  
Descries at hand whole fleet of Easterlings  
As then hot enemies of the British Kings.  
The mouse may sometime help the Lion in need  
The bittle Bee once spile the eagle's breed.  
O princes seek no foes. In your distress,  
The earth, the seas, conspire your heaviness.   

Our foe descried by flight we shone in haste  
And lad with Canvas now the bending mast  
The ship was racked to try her sailing then.  
As Squirrels climb the troops of trusty men.  
The steersman seeks a readier course to run,  
The Soldier stirs, the Gunner hies to Gun.  
The Fleammings sweat, the English Ship disdayns  
To wait behind to bear the Fleammings Trayns.   

Forth flieth the Bark, as from the violent Goonne  
The Pellet pierceth all Stays, and stops eftsoon.  
And swift she Swyndgth, as often in Sunny day,  
The Dolphin fleets in Seas, in merry May.  
As we for lives, so Th'easterlings for gain,  
Thwack on the Sails, and after make amain.  
Though heavy they were, and of burden great:  
A King to master yet, what Swine nold sweat?   

So mid the vale the Brehound seeing start  
The fearful Hare, pursueth Before she flerteth.  
And where she turn'th her there to bear.  
The one prey pricketh, the other safety's fear.  
So were we chased, so fled we afore our Foes.  
Bet flight then fight in so uneven close.  
I end. Some think perhaps, to long he stayeth  
In peril present shewing his fixed faith.   

This ventured I, this dread I did sustain,  
To try my truth, my life I did disdain.  
But, lo! like trial against his civil foe,  
Faiths worst is trial, which is reserved to woe.  
I pass our escape, and sharp returning home,  
Where we were welcomed by our wont fone.  
To Battle main descends the empires right,  
At Barnet join the Hosts in bloody fight.   

There joined Battles ranged in such array,  
As might for terror, Alexander fray.  
What should I stay to tell the long discourse?  
Who won the Palm? who bore away the worse?  
Sufficeth to say by my reserved band,  
Our enemies fled, we had the upper hand.  
My iron army held he steady place,  
My Prince to shield, his feared foe to chase.   

The like success befallen me in Tewksbury field.  
My furious force, there fors'de perforce to yield  
My Prince's foe: and tender to my King  
Her only son, lest he more bate might bring.  
Thus hast thou a mirror of a Subjects mind,  
Such as perhaps is rare agayve to find:  
The caruinge cuts, that cleave the trusty steel,  
My faith, and du allegiance, could not feel.   

But out alas, what praise may I recount,  
That is not stain'de with spot, that doth surmount  
My greatest vaunt? bloody for War to feet  
A Tiger was I, all for peace unmeet,  
A soldiers hands must often be died with gore,  
Lest stark with rest, they fi●ewd wax and hoar.  
Peace could I win by War, but peace not use.  
Few days enjoy he, who Warlike peace doth choose.   

When Crofts a Knight presented Henry's Heir  
To this our Prince, in furious mood inquire  
Of him he 'gan, what folly or frenzy vain,  
With Arms forced him to invade his Realm?  
Whom awsweringe that he claimed his father's right:  
With Gauntlet smit, commanded from his sight:  
Clarence, Gloucester, Dorcet, and I hasting slew.  
The guilt whereof we shortly all did rue.   

Clarence, as Cirus, drowned in blood like Wine,  
Dorcet I furthered to his speedy pine.  
Of me, myself am speaking precedent,  
Nor easier fate the bristled Boar is lent.  
Our bloods have paid the vengeance of our guilt,  
His fried bones, shall broil for blood he hath spilled.  
O waltsome murder, that attaynteth our fame,  
O horrible Traitors wanting worthy name.   

Who as mischievously of all men deserve,  
As they merit well, who do men's lives preserve.  
If those, therefore we reckon heavenly wights,  
These may we well deem Fiends, and damned Spirits.  
And while on Earth they walk, disguised devils,  
Sworn foes of virtue, factors for all evils.  
Whose bloody hands torment their gored hearts,  
Through bloudsheds horror, in soundest sleep he stars.   

O happy World were the Lion's men,  
All Lions should at lest be spared then.  
No surety now, no lasting league is blood.  
A meacock is he, who dreadth to see blood shed.  
Old is the Practice of such bloody strife,  
While ij. wear Armies two the Issues of first Wife,  
With armed heart and hand, the one bloody brother,  
With cruel chase pursueth, and murdereth th'other.   

Which who abhorreth not? yet who ceaseth to sue?  
The bloody Caynes their bloody sire renew.  
The horror yet is like in common frays.  
For in each murder, brother brother slays.  
Traitors to nature, country kin and kind.  
Whom no band serveth in brother's love to bind.  
O simple age, when slander slaughter was.  
The tongues small evil, how doth this mischief pass?   

Hopest thou to cloak thy covert mischief wrought?  
Thy conscience, Caitiff, shall proclaim thy thought.  
A vision, Chaucer showeth, disclosed thy crime.  
The Fox descry the crows and chattering pyens,  
And shall thy fellow felons, not bewray  
The guiltless death, whom guilty hands do slay?  
Unpunished scaped for hayvous crime some one,  
But unaduenged, in mind or body none.   

Vengeance on mind, the freating furies take,  
The sinful corpse, like earthquake agues shake.  
Their frowning looks, their troubled minds bewray,  
In hast they run, and mids their race they stay,  
As gidded Roe. Amids their speech they whist,  
At mea●e they muse. Not where they may persist  
But some fear netleth them. Aye hung they so.  
So never wanteth the wicked murderer wo.   

An infant rend with Lion's ramping paws?  
Why slander I Lions? They fear the sacred laws  
Of royal blood. Aye me more brute than beast.  
With enfants sides, (Licaons' pie) to feast.  
O tyrant Tigers, O insatiate wolves,  
O English courtesy, monstrous maws and gulfs.  
Only because our Prince displeased we saw  
With him, we slew him strait before all law,   

Before our Prince commanded once his death,  
Our bloody sword on him we did unsheath.  
Preventing law, and even our Prince's hest,  
We hide our weapons in the younglings breast.  
Whom not desire of reign did drive to field,  
But mother's pride, who longed the Realm to wield.  
But strait my death shall show my worthy meed,  
If first to one other murder I proceed.   

While Edward lived, dissembled discord lurked:  
In double hearts yet so his reverence worked.  
But when succeeding ●ender feeble age,  
Gave open gap to tyrants rushing rage:  
I holp the Boar, and Burke, to captivate  
Lord Rivers, Gray, sir Thomas Vaughan & Haw●e.  
If land would help the sea, well earned that ground  
Herself, to be with conquering waves surround.   

Their speedy death by privy doom procured,  
At Pomfret: though my life short while endured.  
Myself I slew, when them I damned to death,  
At once my throat I rived, and reft them breath.  
For that self day, before or near the hour  
That withered Atropos nipped the springing flower  
With violent hand, of their forth running life:  
My head and body, in Tower twined like knife.   

By this my pattern all you percs beware.  
Often hangth he himself who others weenth to snare  
Spare to be each others butcher. Fear the Kite,  
Who soareth aloft, (while frog and mouse do fight  
In civil combat, grappling void of ●eare  
Of foreign foe) at once all both to bear.  
Which plainer by my pitied plaint to see,  
A while a new your listening lend to me.   

Too true it is two sundry assemblies kept,  
At Crosbies' place, and Baynard's castle set.  
The Dukes at Crosbies', but at Baynard's we.  
The one to crown a king the other to be.  
Suspicious is secession of foul fiends,  
When either's drift to thocers' mischief tends,  
I feared the end, my Cates●ies being there  
Discharged all doubts. Him held I most entire.   

Whose great preferment by my means, I thought  
Some spur, to pay the thankfulness be aught.  
The trust he aught me, made me trust him so,  
That privy he was both to my weal and wo.  
My hearts one half, my chest of confidence,  
Mine only trust, my joy dwelled in his presence.  
I loved him Baldwin, as the apple of mine eye.  
I loathed my life when Catesby would me dye.   

Fly from thy channel Thames forsake thy streams,  
Leave the Adamant Iron. Phoebus lay thy beams:  
Cease heavenly Spheres at last your weary work.  
Betray your charge, return to Chaos dark.  
At lest, some ruthless Tiger hung her whelp,  
My Catesby so with some excuse to help.  
And me to comfort, that I alone, ne seem  
Of all dame natures works left in extreme.   

A Golden treasure is the tried friend.  
But who may Gold from Counterfayts defend?  
Trust not to soon, nor yet to soon mistrust.  
Which th'one thyself, with th'other thy friend thou hurt'st.  
Who twyneth betwixt, and steareth the golden mean,  
Nor rashly loveth, nor mistrusteth in vain.  
In friendship sovereign it is as Mithridate  
Thy friend to love as one whom thou mayst hate.   

Of tickle credit ne had been the mischief,  
What needed Virbius miracle doubled life?  
Credulity surnamed first the Aegean Seas.  
Mistrust, doth treason in the trustiest raise.  
suspicious Romulus, stained his Walls first reared  
With Brother's blood, whom for light leap he feared.  
So not in Brotherhood jealousy may be born,  
The jelons Cuckold wears the Infamous Horn.   

A beast may Preach by trial, not fore sight.  
Can I have shond light credit, near had light  
The dreaded death, upon my guilty head.  
But fools ay wont to learn by after read.  
Had Catesby kept unstaynd the truth he plight,  
Yet had yet enjoyed me, and I yet the light  
All Derbies' doubts I cleared with his name.  
I known, no harm could hap me without his blame.   

But see the fruits of tickle light belief.  
The ambitious Dukes corrupt the Traitor thief,  
To grope me, if alured I would assent,  
To been a Partner of their cursed intent.  
Whereto, when as by no means friendship vail'de,  
By Tyrant force behold they me assail'de.  
And summoned shortly a Cousaile in the Tower,  
Of june the fifteenth, at appointed hour.   

Alas, are counsels wried to catch the good?  
No place is now exempt from shedding blood,  
Sigh counsels, that were careful to preserve  
The guiltless good, are means to make than starve.  
What may not mischief of Madman abuse?  
Religious Cloak some one to vice doth choose,  
And maketh God Protector of his Crime.  
O monstrous world, well aught we wish thy fine.   

The fatal Skies, roll on the blackest day,  
When doubled bloodshed, my blood must repay.  
Others none forceth. To me sir Thomas Haward  
As Spur is buckled, to provoke me froward.  
Derbie who feared the parted sittings yore.  
Whether, much more be known by experience hoar,  
Or better minded, clearlyer truth could see:  
At Midnight dark this message sends to me.   

Hastings away, in sleep the Gods foreshow  
By dreadful dream, fell fates unto us two.  
Me thought a Boar with Tusk so razed our Throat,  
That both our Shoulders of the blood did Smoke.  
Arise to horse, strait homeward let us high.  
And sith our foe we cannot match, O fly.  
Of Chaun●eclere you learn dreams sooth to know  
Thence wisemen construe, more than the cock doth crow.   

While thus he spoke, I held within mine arm  
Shore's Wife, the tender piece, to keep me warm.  
Fie on Adultery, fie on Lecherous lust.  
Mark in me ye Nobles all, God's judgements just.  
A Pandar, Murderer, and Adulterer thus,  
Only such death I die, as I ne blush.  
Now lest my dame might think appalled my heart  
With Eager mood up in my Bed I start.   

And, is thy Lord (quoth I) a Sorcerer?  
A wise man now become? a dream reader?  
What though so Chaunteclere crowed? I reck it not?  
On my part pleadeth as well Dame Partelot.  
Vniudge hangth yet the case betwixt them twain.  
Ne was his dream cause of his hap I say.  
Shall dreaming doubts from prince my serving slack?  
Nay, then might Hastings life and living lack.   

He parteth. I sleep, my mind surcharged with sin,  
As Phoebus' beams by misty Cloud kept in,  
Ne could misgeve, ne dream of my mishap.  
As block, I tumbled to mine Enemy's trap.  
Security causeless through my feigned friend,  
Rest me foresight of my approchinge end.  
So Catesby clawed me, as when the Cat doth play.  
Dalyinge with Mouse whom strait she means to slay.   

The morrow come, the latest light to me,  
On Palfrey mounted, to the Tower I high.  
Accompanied with that Haward my mortal Foe,  
To slaughter led, thou God didst suffer so.  
(O deep Dissemblers, honouring with your cheer,  
Whom in hid heart ye traitorously tear)  
Never had Realm so open Signs of wrack.  
As I had showed me of my heavy hap.   

The vision first of Stanley late descried.  
Then mirth so extreme, that near for joy I died.  
Were hit, that Swan-like I foresong my death,  
Or merry mind foresaw the loss of breath  
That long it coveted, from this earth's annoy,  
But even as siker as th'end of woe is joy,  
And glorious light to obscure night doth tend:  
So extreme mirth, in extreme moan doth end.   

For why, extremes are haps racked out of course.  
By violent Might far swinged forth perforce.  
Which as they are pearcingst while they violentst move,  
For that they are near to cause that doth them shove:  
So soonest fall from that their highest extreme,  
To th'other contrary that doth want of mean.  
So lawghed he erst, who lawghed out his breath.  
So lawghed I, when I lawghd myself to death.   

The pleasingst means bided not the suckiest ends.  
Not ay, found treasure to like pleasure tends.  
Mirth means not mirth all time, thrice happy hire  
Of wit, to shun the excess that all desire.  
But this I pass. I hie to other like.  
My palfrey in the plainest paved street,  
Thrice howed his bones, thrice kneeled on the flower  
Thrice sh●nd (as Balams ass) the dreaded tower.   

What? should I ●hinke he had sense of after haps?  
As beasts foreshow the drought or rainy drops,  
As humours in them want or else abound,  
By influence from the heavens, or change of ground?  
Or do we interpret by success each sign?  
And as we fancy of each hap divine?  
And make that cause, that kin is to theffect?  
Not having aught of consequence respect?   

Bucephalus kneeling only to his Lord,  
showed only he was, monarch of the world.  
Why may not then the steed foreshow by fall,  
What casual hap the sicker bappen shall?  
Darius' horse by braying brought a realm.  
And what letteth, why he ne is (as the ass) Gods mean  
By speaking sign, to show his hap to come,  
Who is deaf hearer of his speaking domme?   

But forward yet. In tower street I stayd,  
Where (could I have seen) ●oe Haward all bewrayed  
For as I commond with a priest I met:  
Away my Lord quoth he▪ your time is ne yet  
To take a priest Lo, Sinon might be seen,  
Had not the Troyans' hares foolish forthright eyen,  
But since the time was come that I should dye,  
Some grace it was to dye with wimpled eye.   

Ne was this all. For even at Towerwharfe,  
Near to those Walls within the which I stars,  
Where erst, in sorrow soused, and deep distress,  
I emparted all my pyninge pensifnesse  
With Hastings: (so my pursuivant men call)  
Even there, the same to meet it did me fall.  
Who 'gan to me most dolefully renew,  
The woeful conference had erst in that Lieu.  
Hastings (quoth I) according now they far,  
At Pomfret this day dying, who caused that care.  
Myself have all the world at my will,  
With pleasures cloyed, engorged with the fill.  
God grant it so quoth ●e, why doubtest thou though  
Quoth I? and all in chafe, to him 'gan show  
In ample wise, our drift with tedious tale.  
And entered so the Tower to my bale.   

What should we think of signs? They are but haps  
How may they then, be signs of afterclaps?  
Doth every chance forshew or 'cause some other?  
Or ending at itself, extendth no further?  
As th'overflowing flood some mount doth choke,  
But to his aid some other flood it yoke:  
So, if with signs thy sins once join, beware.  
Else whereto chances tend▪ do never care.   

Had not my sin deserved my death as wreak,  
What might my mirth have hurt? or horse's beck?  
Or Hawardes bitter scoff? or Hastings talk?  
What mean then fool Astrologers to talk?  
That twinckilng stars fling down the fixed fate?  
And all is guided by the sterry state?  
Perdye a certain charge assigned they have  
To shine, and times divide, not fate to grave.   

But grant they somewhat give it at one instant  
Of every babe the birth in heaven so skand,  
That they that restless roll, and never stay,  
Should in his life bear yet so violent sway:  
That, not his actions only next to birth,  
But all his life and death be swayed therewith?  
How may one motion make so sundry affects?  
Or one impression tend to such respects?   

Some rule there is yet. Else, why were deferred  
Till now, these plagues, so long ere now deserved?  
If for they are trifles, they ne seem of care:  
But toys with god the stateliest sceptres are.  
Yet in them to plain doth appear foreset,  
The certain rule and fatal limits set,  
Yet think we not, this sure forsetting fate.  
But gods fast providence for each princely state.   

And hath he erst restrained his providence?  
Or is he niggard of his fire dispense?  
Or is he uncertain foreset drifts to drive?  
That not dame Chance but he all goods may give?  
A beathen God they hold whom fortune keep,  
To deal them haps while god they ween a sleep  
Mock Gods they are and many Gods induce,  
Who fortune fain to father their abuse.   

How so it be, it might have warned me  
But, wha I could not that in me see you,  
Who run in race, the honour like to win  
Whose fairest form naught may deform but sin  
Alas, when most I did defy all dread,  
By single hear death's sword ho●g over my head,  
For berke the end and listen now my fall.  
This is the last, and this the fruit of all.   

To connsayle chamber come, a while we stayd  
For him without whom naught was done or said.  
At last he came, and courteously excused,  
That he so long our patience had abused.  
And pleasantly began to paint his cheer,  
And said. My lord of Elye, would we had here  
Some of the Strawberries, whereof you have store.  
The last delighted me so as nothing more.   

Would, what so you wish, I might aswell command,  
My Lord (quoth he) as those. And out of hand.  
His servant sendth to Ely place for them.  
Out goeth from us the restless devil agaive.  
Belike (I think) scarce yet persuaded full,  
To work the mischief that did mad is skull.  
At last determined, of his bloody thought  
And force ordained, to work the wile he sought:   

Frowning he enters, with so changed cheer,  
As for mild may had chopped foul januere.  
And lowering on me with the goggle eye,  
The whetted tusk, and furrwed forehead high,  
His Crooked shoulder bristellike set up,  
With frothy jaws, whose foam he chawde and supd,  
With angry looks that flamed as the fire:  
Thus 'gan at last to grunt the grymest sire.   

What merit they, whomme, the kingdoms stay,  
contrived have counsel traitorously to slay?  
Abash d●ll sat. I thought I might be bold,  
For conscience clearness and acquaintance old,  
Their hire is plain quoth I Be death the lest  
To who so seeketh your grace so to molest  
Withouten stay: the Queen & the whore Shore's wife,  
By witchcraft (quoth he) seek to waste my life.   

Lo here the withered and bewitched arm,  
That thus is spent by those two Sorceress charm.  
And baced his arm and showed his swinish skin.  
Such cloaks they use, that seek to cloud their sin.  
But out alas, it serveth not for the rain.  
To all the house the colour was to plain  
Nature had given him many a maimed mark  
And it amongs to note her monstrous work.   

My doubtful heart distracted this reply.  
For thoue I cared not. Tother nipped so nigh  
That whist I could not: ●●t forthwith broke forth.  
If so it be, of death they are doubtless worth.  
If, traitor quoth he? play'st thou with yfs and ands?  
I'll on thy body avow it with these hands.  
And there withal he mightily bounced the board.  
In rush● his bill men one himself bestirred.   

Laying at Lord Stanley, whose brain be had surely cleft  
Had he not down beneat be the table crept.  
But Elye, York, and I were taken strait.  
Imprisoned they: I should no longer wait,  
But charged was to shrive me, and shifted with haste.  
My Lord must dine, and now midday was passed.  
The Boar's first dish, not the boar's head should be.  
But Hastinges head the boarish beast would see.   

Why stay I his dinner? unto the chapel joineth  
A greenish hill, that body and soul often twineth.  
There on a block my head was stricken of.  
As Baptistes head, for Herode bloody gnoffe.  
Thus lived I Baldwin, thus died I, thus I fel.  
This is the sum, which all at large to tell  
Would volumes fill. whence yet these lessons note  
You noble Lords, to learn and ken by rote.   

By filthy rising fear your names to stain.  
If not for virtues love, for dread of pain.  
Whom so the minds unquiet state upbeaves,  
Be it for love or fear: when fancy reaves  
Reason her right, by mocking of the wit:  
If once the cause of this affection flit,  
Reason prevailing on the unbridled thought:  
Downa falleth he who by fancy climb aloft.   

So hath the ryser fowl no stay from fall,  
Not not of those that raised him first of al.  
His surety stands in maintaining the cause  
That heaved him first, which reft by reasons saws,  
Not only falleth be to his former state,  
But liveth for ever in his prince's hate.  
And mark my Lords, God for adultery sleath  
Though you it think too sweet a sin for death.   

Serve truly your Prince and fear not rebels might,  
On Princes balues the mighty God doth fight.  
O much more than forswear a foreign foe,  
Who seeketh your realm and countrei to undo.  
Murder detest, have hands unstained with blood.  
Ay with your succour do protect the good.  
Chase treason where trust should be wed to your friend  
Your heart and power, to your lives last end.   

Fly tickle credit, shun alike distrust.  
To true it is, and credit it you must:  
The jealous nature wanteth no stormy strife,  
The simple soul ay leadeth a sour life.  
Beware of flatterers, friends in outward show.  
Best is of such to make your open foe.  
What all men seek, that all men seek to fayne.  
Some such to be, some such to seem, them pain.   

Mark Gods just judgements, punishing sin by sin  
And slippery state wherein aloft we swim.  
The proverb, all day up if we ne fall,  
Agreeth well to us hie heaved worldlings al.  
From common sort upraisde, in honour's weed  
We shine: while fortune false (whom none erst feed  
To stand with stay and forswear ticklenesse:  
Sowseth us in mire of dirty brittleness.   

And learn you princes by my wronged spirit,  
Not to misconstrue what is meant aright,  
The whinged words to often prevent the wit,  
When silence cesseth afore the lips to sit.  
Alas, what may the words yield worthy death?  
The words worst is, the speakers stinking breath.  
Words are but wind, why cost they then so much  
The guilty kick, when they to smartly touch.   

Forth irreturnable flieth the spoken word,  
Be hit in scoff, in earnest, or in board.  
Without return, and unreceived, hit hangs.  
And at the takers mercy, or rigour stands.  
Which if he sourly wrist with wrathful cheer,  
The shivering word turns to the speakers fear.  
If friendly courtesy do the word expound,  
To the speakers comfort sweetly it doth redound.   

Even as the vapour which the fire repels,  
Turns not to earth. but in mid aer dwells.  
Where while it hangth, if Boreas frosty flaws  
With rigour rattle it: not to rain it thaws,  
But thunder, lightnings, rattling bail or snow  
Sends down to earth, whence first it rose below,  
But if fair Phoebus with his countenance sweet  
Resolve it, down the dew, or Manna sleet.   

(The Manna dew, that in the eastern lands,  
Excelth the labour of the bees small hands.)  
Else for her Memnon grey Aurora's tears,  
On the earth it stilleth, the partner of her fears.  
Or sendeth sweet showers to glad their mother earth.  
Whence first they took their first inconstant birth.  
To so great griefs, i'll taken words do grow.  
Of words well taken, such delights do flow.   

This learned, thus be here at length an end,  
What since ensued, to thee I will commend.  
Now farewell Baldwin, shield my torn name,  
From slanderous trump of blasting black defame.  
But ere I part, hereof thou record bear.  
I claim no part of virtues reckoned here.  
My vice myself, but God my virtues take.  
So hence departed I, as I entered naked.   

Thus ended Hastinges both his life and tale,  
Containing all his worldly bliss and bale.  
Happy he lived, to happy but for sin,  
Happy he died whom right his death did bring.  
Thus ever happy. For there is no mean  
Twixt blissful lives and mortal deaths extreme.  
Yet feared not his foes to stain his name.  
And by these slanders to procure his shame.   

In rousty armure as in extreme shift,  
They clad themselves, to cloak their devilish drift.  
And forthwith for substantial citizens sent,  
Declaring to them, Hastinges forged intent  
Was to have slain the Duke: and to have seized.  
The kings young person, slaying whom he had pleased.  
But God of justice had withturnd that fate,  
Which where it aught, tied on his proper pate.   

Then practised they by proclamation spread,  
Naught to forget, that naught defame him dead.  
Which was so curious, and so clerkely penned,  
So long withal: that when some did attend  
His death so young: they see that long before  
The shroud was shaped, than babe to dye was boar.  
So wonteth God to blind the worldly wise,  
That not to see, that all the world espies.   

One hearing it cried out. A goodly cast,  
And well contrived, fowl cast away for haste.  
Whereto another 'gan in scoff reply,  
First penned it was by enspiring prophecy.  
So can God reap up secret mischiefs wrought,  
To the confusion of the workers thought.  
My Lords, the tub, that drowned the Clarence Duke,  
Drowned not his death, nor yet his deaths rebuke.   

Your politic secrets guard with trusty loyalty.  
So shall they lurk in most assured secrecy.  
By Hastinges death, and after fame you learn,  
The earth for murder crieth out vengeance stern.  
Fly from his faults, and spare to hurt his fame.  
The eager hounds forbear their slain game.  
Dead, dead, avaunt Curs from the conquered chase.  
Il might he live who loveth the dead to race.   

Thus lived this Lord, thus died he, thus he slept.  
Mids forward race when first ●o rest be stepped,  
Envious death that bounceth aswell with mace  
At Keysars courts, as at the poorest gates:  
Wheu Nature seemed to slow by this slope mean,  
Conveyed him sooner to his lives extreme.  
Happy in preventing woes that after happd,  
Ind slumber sweet his living lights he lappd.   

Whose hasty death, if it do any grieve:  
Know he, he lived to dye, and died to live.  
Vntimelye never comes the lives last met.  
In cradle death may rightly claim his debt.  
Strait after birth due is the fatal beer.  
By deaths permission the aged linger here.  
Enen in the swathebandes out commission goeth  
To lose thy breath, that yet but youngly bloweth.   

Happy, thrice happy, who so loosth his breath,  
That life he gaineth by his godly death.  
As Hastinges here. Whom time and truth agreed,  
To engrave by fame in strong eternity.  
Who spareth not speaking, with danger of his blood?  
Yet lo this noble Lord did think it good  
To clear the innocent not to spare to speak,  
Although his shoulders with his blood should reek.   

Worthy to live, who lived not for himself  
But prized his fame more than this worldly pelf.  
Whose name and line, if any yet preserve,  
We wish they live like honour to deserve.  
Whether thou seek by martial prowess praise,  
Or Pallas policy high thy name to raise,  
Or trusty service honour to attain:  
Hastinges foreled. track here his bloody train.   
FINIS.  
Master D.   

WHen I had read this, one said the admonition given in the history was profitable for the avoiding of the vices contained in the said history, and for the imitating of the virtues in the same mentioned and commended. Then said the reader: The next here whom I find miserable, are king Edward's two sons, cruelly murdered in the Tower of London: Have you their tragedy? Not surely (said I) The Lord Vaulx undertook to pen it, but what he hath done therein I am not certain, & therefore I let it pass, till I know further.  
I have hear the Duke of Buckingham, king Richard's chief instrument, written by master Thomas Sackuile. Read it we pray you, said they: with a good will (quoth I) But first you shall hear his preface or induction. Hath he made a preface (said one) what means he thereby, seeing none other hath used the like order? I will tell you the cause thereof (said I) which is this: After that he understood that some of the counsel would not suffer the book to be printed in such order as we had agreed and determined, he purposed to have got at my hands, all the tragedies that were before the Duke of Buckingham's, which he would have preserved in one volume. And from the time backward even to the time of William the Conqueror, he determined to continued and perfect all the story himself, in such order as Lydgate (following Bochas had already used. And therefore to make a meet Induction into the matter, he devised this po●sie: which in my judgement is so well penned, that I would not have any Verse thereof, left out of our volume. Now that you know the cause and meaning of his doing, you shall hear also what he hath done His Induction beginneth thus.   

THE INDUCTION,  

THe wrathful winter proching on apace,  
With blustering blasts had all ybard the treen,  
And old Saturnus with his frosty face,  
With chilling cold had pierced the tender green:  
The mantles rend, wherein enwrapped been  
The gladsome groves that now lay overthrown,  
The tapets torn and every tree down blown.   

The soil that erst so seemly was to seen  
Was all despoiled of her beauty's hew:  
And soot fresh flowers (wherewith the Summer's queen  
Had clad the earth) now Boreas blasts down blue.  
And small fowls flocking in their songs did rue  
The winter's wrath, wherewith each thing defaced  
In woeful wise bewailed the Summer past.   

Hawthorne had lost his motley livery,  
The naked twigs were shivering all for cold:  
And dropping down the tears abundantly,  
Each thing (me thought) with weeping eye me told  
The cruel season, bidding me withhold  
Myself within for I was got out  
Into the fields whereas I walked about.   

When lo the night with misty mantles spread  
'Gan dark the day, and dim the azure skies,  
And Venus in her message Hermes sped  
To bloody Mars, to will him not to rise,  
While she herself approached in speedy wise:  
And Virgo hiding her disdainful breast  
With Thetis now had laid her down to rest.   

Whiles Scorpio dreading Sagittarius dart,  
Whose bow priest bend in fight, the string had slipped,  
down siyd into the Ocean flood apart,  
The Bear that in the Irish seas had dipped  
His grisly feet, with speed from thence he whipped:  
For Thetis hasting from the Virgin's bed.  
Pursued the Bear, that ere she came was fled.   

And Pha●ton now near reaching to his race  
With glistering beams, gold streaming where they bend,  
Was priest to enter in his resting place.  
Erithius that in the cart first went  
Had even now attained his journeys stint.  
And fast declining hide away his head,  
While Titan couched him in his purple bed.   

And pale Cinthea with her burowed light  
Beginning to supply her brother's place,  
Was past the Noon steed six degrees in sight  
When sparkling stars amid the heavens face  
With twinkling light shone on the earth apace,  
That while they brought about the night's char,  
The dark had dimmed the day ere I was ware.   

And sorrowing I to see the Summer flowers,  
The lively green, the lusty lease forlorn,  
The sturdy trees so shattered with the showers,  
The ●●eloes so fade that flourished so before,  
It taught me well all earthly things be born  
To dye the death, for naught long time may last,  
The summers beauty yields to winter's blast.   

Then looking upward to the heavens leams  
With night's stars thick powdered every where,  
Which erst so glistered with the golden streams  
That cheerful Phoebus spread down from his Sphere,  
Beholding dark oppressing day so near:  
The sudden sight reduced to my mind,  
The sundry changes that in earth we find.   

That musing on this worldly wealth in thought,  
Which comes and goes more faster than we see  
The flickering flame that with the fire is wrought▪  
My busy mind presented unto me  
Such fall of Peers as in the realm had be:  
That often I wished some would their woes descriue,  
To warn the rest whom Fortune left alive.   

And straight forth stalking with redoubled pace  
For that I see the night drawn on so fast,  
In black all clad there fell before my face  
A piteous might, whom woe had all forewast,  
Forth on her eyes the crystal tears forth braced.  
And sighing sore her hands she wrong and fold,  
tore all her hair, that ruth was to behold.   

Her body small forewichred and forespent,  
As is the stalk that summers drought oppressed,  
Her wealked face with woeful tears besprent,  
Her colour pale, (as it seemed her best)  
In woe and plaint reposed was her rest.  
And as the stone that drops of water wears,  
So dented were her cheeks with fall of tearesses.   

Her eyes swollen with flowing streams a float,  
Where with her looks thrown up full piteously,  
Her forceless hands together often she smote,  
With doleful shrieks, that eckoed in the sky:  
Whose plaint such sighs did straight accompany,  
That in my doom was never man did see  
A wight but half so woebegone as she.   

I stood aghast beholding all her plight,  
between dread and dolour so distreinde in heart,  
That while my hears upstarted with the sight,  
The tears out streamed for sorrow of her smart:  
But when I see no end that could appart  
The deadly dewle, which she so sore did make,  
With doleful voice then thus to her I spoke.   

Unwrap thy woes what ever wight thou be  
And stint in time to spill thyself with plaint,  
Tell what thou art, and whence: for well I see  
Thou canst not dure with sorrow thus attaint.  
And with that word of sorrow all forfaint  
She looked up, and prostrate as she lay  
With piteous sound ●o thus she 'gan to say.   

Alas, I wretch whom thus thou seest distre●ned  
With wasting woes, that never shall aslake,  
Sorrow I am, in endless torments pained,  
Among the furies in the infernal lake:  
Where Plu●o God of Hell so grisly black  
Doth hold his throne, and Laetheus deadly taste  
Doth rieve remembrance of each thing forepast.   

Whence come I am, the dreary destiny  
And luckless lot for to bemoan all those  
Whom Fortune in this maze of misery  
Of wretched chance most woeful myrrours chose  
That thou seest how lightly they did loose  
Their pomme, their power, and that they thought most sure,  
Thou mayest soon deem no earthly joy may dure.   

Whose rueful unice no sooner had outbrayed  
Those woeful words, wherewith she sorrowed so,  
But out alas she shrieked and never stayed,  
Fel down, and all to bashed herself for wo.  
The cold pale dread my limbs 'gan over go,  
And I so sorrowed at her sorrows eft,  
That what with grief and fear my wits were reft.   

I stretched myself, and straight my heart revives,  
That dread and dolour erst did so appall,  
Like him that with the fervent fever sirives  
When sickness seeks his castle health to scale:  
With gathered spirits so forced I fear to avail.  
And rearing her with anguish all foredone,  
My spirits returned▪ and then I thus begun.   

O Sorrow alas sigh sorrow is thy name,  
And that to thee this dreere doth well pertain.  
In vain it were to seek to cease the same:  
But as a man himself with sorrow slain,  
So I alas do comfort thee in pain,  
That here in sorrow art forsoncke so deep  
That at thy sight I can but sigh and weep.   

I had no sooner spoken of a stick  
But that the storm so rumbled in her breast,  
As E●lus could never roar the like,  
And showers down rained from her eyes so fast.  
That all bedreint the place, till at the last  
Well eased they the dolour of her mind.  
As rage's of rain doth suage the stormy wind.   

For forth she paced in her fearful tale:  
Come, come, (quoth she) and see what I shall show,  
Come hear the playning and the bitter bale  
Of worthy men, by Fortune overthrow.  
Come thou and see them ruing all in row.  
They were but shades that erst in mind thou rolled.  
Come, come with me, thine eyes shall them behold.   

What could these words but make me more aghast?  
To hear her tell whereon I mused while ere,  
So was I amazed therewith: till at the last,  
Musing upon her words, and what they were,  
All suddenly well lessened was my fear:  
For to my mind returned how she teld  
Both what she was, and where her won she held.   

Whereby I known that she a Goddess was,  
And therewithal resorted to my mind  
My thought, that late presented me the glass  
Of brittle state, of cares that here we find.  
Of thousand woes, to silly men assigned:  
And how she now bid me come and behold  
To see with eye that erst in thought I rolled.   

Flat down I fell, and with all reverence  
Adored her, perceiving now that she  
A Goddess sent by godly providence,  
In earthly shape thus showed herself to me,  
To wail and rue this world's certainty:  
And while I honoured thus her Godheads might,  
With playning voice these words to me she shright   

I shall the guide first to the grisly lake,  
And thence unto the blissful place of rest.  
Where thou shalt see and hear the plaint they make.  
That whilom here bore swinge among the best.  
This shalt thou see, but great is the unrest  
That thou must bide before thou canst attain  
Unto the dreadful place where these remain.   

And with these words as I upraysed stood,  
And 'gan to follow her, that strait forth passed,  
Ere I was ware, into a desert wood  
We now were come: where hand in hand embraced,  
She led the way, and through the thick so traced,  
As but I had been guided by her might,  
It was no way for any mortal wight.   

But lo, while thus amid the desert dark,  
We passed on with steps and pace unmeet:  
A rumbling roar confused with howl and hark  
Of Dogs, shaken all the ground under our feet,  
And struck the din within our ears so deep,  
As half distraught unto the ground I fell,  
Besought return, and not to visit Hel.   

But she forthwith uplifting me a pace  
Removed my dread, and with a steadfast mind  
Bid me come on, for here now was the place,  
The place where we our travail end should find.  
Wherewith I rose, and to the place assigned  
Astoinde I stalk, when strait we approached near  
The dreadful place, that you will dread to here.   

An hideous hole all vast, withouten shape,  
Of endless depth, orewhelmde with ragged stone,  
With ouglye mouth, and grisly jaws doth gape,  
And to our sight confounds itself in one.  
Here entered we, and yeding forth, anon  
An horrible loathly lake we might discern  
As black as pitch, that cleped is Avern:   

A deadly gulf where naught but rubbish grows,  
With fowl black swelth in thickened lumps that lies,  
Which up in thair such stinking vapours throws  
That over there, may fly no foul but dies,  
Choked with the pestilent savours that arise.  
Hither we come, whence forth we still did pace.  
In dreadful fear amid the dreadful place.   

And first within the porch and jaws of Hell  
Sat deep Remorse of conscience, all besprent  
With tears: And to herself often would she tell  
Her wretchedness, and cursing never stint  
To sob and sigh: but ever thus lament,  
With thoughtful care, as she that all in vain  
Would wear and waste continually in pain.   

jer eyes unsteadfast rolling here and there,  
Whurld on each place, as place that vengeance brought,  
So was her mind continually in fear,  
Tossed and tormented with tedious thought  
Of those detested crimes which she had wrought:  
With dreadful cheer and looks thrown to the sky  
Wishing for death, and yet she could not dye.   

Next see we Dread all trembling how she shook,  
With foot uncertain proffered here and there,  
Benumbed of speech, and with a ghastly look  
Searched every place all pale and dead for fear,  
His cap horn up with staring of his hear,  
S●oynd and amazed at his own shade for dread,  
And fearing greater dangers than was need.   

And next within the entry of this lake  
Sat fell Revenge gnashing her teeth for ire,  
Devisinge means how she may vengeance take,  
Never in rest till she have her desire:  
But frets within so farforth with the fire  
Of wreaking flames, that now determine shse,  
To dye by death, or venged by death to be.   

When fell Revenge with bloody foul pretence  
Had showed herself as next in order set,  
With trembling Limbs we softly parted thence,  
Till in our eyes another sight we met:  
When fro my heart a sigh forthwith I fet  
Ruing alas upon the woeful plight  
Of Misery, that next appeared in sight.   

His face was leave, and somedeal pined away,  
And eke his hand consumed to the bone,  
But what his body was I cannot say,  
For on his Carcase raiment had he none  
Save Clouts, and Patches peeced one by one.  
With staff in hand, and Scrip on shoulder cast,  
His chief defence against the Winter's blast.   

His food for most, was wild fruits of the Tree,  
Unless sometime some Crumbs fell to his share:  
Which in his Wallet long God wots kept he,  
As on the which full dayntely would far  
His drink the running stream: his Cup, the bore  
Of his Palm closed, his Bed, the hard cold ground.  
To this Poor life was Misery ybound.   

Whose wretched state when we had well beheld  
With tender ruth on him, and on his seres,  
In thoughtful cares, forth than our pace we held.  
And by and by, another shape appears  
Of greedy care, still brushing up the breres,  
His Knuckles knob, his Flesh deep dented in.  
With tawed hands, and hard ytanned Skin.   

The morrow grey no sooner hath begun  
To spread his light even peeping in our eyes,  
When he is up, and to his work yr●n,  
But let the night's black misty Mantles rise,  
And with foul dark never so much disguise  
The Fair bright day, yet ceaseth he no while,  
But hath his candles to prolong his toil.   

By him lay heavy sleep the Cousin of death  
Flat on the ground, and still as any stone,  
A very Corpse, save yealdinge forth a breath,  
Small keep took he whom Fortune frowned on  
Or whom she lifted up into the Trove  
Of high renown, but as a living death,  
So dead alive, of life he drawn the breath.   

The body's rest, the quiet of the heart,  
The travails ease, the still nights fear was he,  
And of our life in earth the better part,  
Rever of sight, and yet in whom we see  
Things often that tide, and often that never be.  
Without respect esteeming equally  
King Croesus' pomp, and Irus Poverty.   

And next in order sad Old age we found  
His Beard all hoar, his eyes hollow, and blind.  
With droupinge cheer still poring on the ground,  
As on the place where nature him assind  
To rest, when that the sisters had untwind  
His vital thread, and ended with their Knife  
The fleeting course of fast declyninge life.   

There herded we him with broken, and hollow plaint  
rue which himself his end approaching fast,  
And all for naught his wretched mind torment.  
With sweet remembrance of his pleasures past,  
And fresh delights of lusty youth forewaste.  
Recountinge which, how would he so and shriek:  
And to be young again of jove beseek.   

But and the cruel fates so fixed be  
That time forepast cannot return again,  
This one request of jove yet prayed he:  
That in such withered plight, and wretched pain,  
As eld (accompanied with his loathsome train)  
Had brought on him, all were it woe, and grief.  
He might a while yet linger forth his lief.   

And not so soon descend into the pit:  
Where death, when he the mortal corpse hath slain,  
With reckless hand in grave doth cover it,  
Thereafter never to enjoy again  
The gladsome light, but in the ground plain,  
In depth of darkness waist, and wear to vought,  
As he had never into the world diu brought.   

But who had seen him sobbing, how he stood  
Unto himself, and how he would beemone  
His youth forepast, as thought it wrought him good  
To talk of youth, all were his youth foregone,  
He would have mused, and marveled much whereon  
This wretched age should life desire so fain,  
And knows full well life doth but length his pain.   

Crokebackt he was, toothshaken, and blere Eyed,  
Went on three feet, and sometime crept on four,  
With old lame Bones, that rattled by his side,  
His scalp all piled, and he with eld forlese:  
His withered fist still knocking at deaths door,  
Fumblinge, and drivelinge as he draws his breath,  
For brief the shape, and Messenger of death.   

And fast by him pale malady was placed,  
Sore sick in Bed, her colour all foregone,  
Bereft of Stomach, Savour, and of Taste.  
Ne could the Brook no meat but Broths alone,  
Her Breath corrupt, her Keepers every one  
Abborringe her, her Sickness past recure,  
detesting Physic, and all Physics Cure.   

But o the doleful sight that than we see,  
We tourn'de our look, and on the other side  
A griefly shape of Famine might we see,  
With greedy looks, and gaping mouth that cried,  
And roared for meat, as she should there have died,  
Her body ruinne, and bore as any Bone,  
Whereto was left naught but the case alone.   

And that alas was gnawn on every where,  
All full of Holes, that I ne might refrain  
From tears to see how she her arms could tear  
And with her teeth gnash on the bones in vain:  
When all for naught she fayne would so sustain  
Her staruen Corpse, that rather seemed a shade,  
Then any substance of a creature made.   

Great was her force whom Stonewall could not stay,  
Her tearing nails snatching at all she saw:  
With gaping jaws that by ne means ymay  
Be satisfied from hunger of her Maw,  
But eats herself as she that hath no Law:  
gnawing alas her Carcase all in vain,  
Where you may countech Sinow, bone, and Vain.   

On her while we thus firmly fixed our Eyes,  
That bled for ruth of such a dreary sight,  
Lo! suddenly she shright in so huge wise,  
As made Hell gates to shiver with the might.  
Wherewith a Dart we saw how it did light.  
Right on her breast, and therewithal pale death  
Enthrillinge it to reave her of her breath.   

And by and by a dumb dead Corpse we saw,  
Heavy and cold, the shape of death a right,  
That daunts all earthly creatures to his law:  
Against whose Force in vain it is to fight  
Ne Peers, ne Princes, nor no Mortal Wight,  
No Towns, ne Realms, Cities, ne strongest Tower,  
But all perforce must yield unto his Power.   

His dart anon out of his corpse he took,  
And in his hand (a dreadful sight to see)  
With great triumph eftsoons the same he shaken,  
That most of all my fears afraid me:  
His body dight with naught but Bones perdye  
The naked shape of man there saw I plain,  
All save the Flesh, the Sinow, and the Vain.   

Lastly stood War in glittering arms yelad.  
With Visage grim, Stern looks, and Blackly hewed  
In his right Hand a naked Sword he had,  
That to the Hilts was all with blood imbrued:  
And in his left (that King, and Kingdoms rued)  
Famine, and Fire he held, and therewithal  
He razed Towns, and threw down Towers, and all.   

Cities he Sacked, and Realms that whilom flowered,  
In Honour, Glory, and rule above the best,  
He over whelm'de, and all their Fame devoured,  
Consumed, destroy'de, wasted, and never ceased,  
Till he their wealth, their name and all oppressed.  
His Face forehewed with Wo●noes, and by his side,  
There hung his Targe with gashes deep, and wide.   

In mids of which, depaynted there we found  
Deadly debate, all full of snaky hear,  
That with a bloody fillet was ybo●ude,  
Out breathing naught but discord every where.  
And round about were portrayed here and there  
The hugy Hosts, Darius and his power,  
His Kings, Princes, his Peers, and and all his flower.   

Whom great Macedo vanquished there in sight,  
With deep slaughter, despoylinge all his pride,  
Pierced through his Realms, and daunted all his might.  
Duke Hannibal beheld I there beside,  
In Cannas' field, victor how he did ride,  
And woeful Romans that in vain withstood  
And Consul Paulus covered all in blood.   

Yet saw I more the fight at Trasimene.  
And Treberie field, and eke when Hannibal  
And worthy Scipio last in arms were seen  
Before Carthago gate, to try for all  
The World's Empire, to whom it should befall.  
There see I Pompey, and Caesar clad in Arms,  
Their Hosts allied, and all their civili harms.   

With Conquerors hands forbathde in their own blood,  
And Caesar weeping over Pompey's head.  
Yet see I Scylla, and Marius where they stood,  
Their great cruelty, and the deep blou●shest  
Of friends: Cyrus I saw, and his Host dead,  
And how the Queen with great despite hath flung  
His head in blood of them she overcome.   

Xerxes' the Percian King yet saw I there  
With his Huge Host that drank the rivers dry,  
Dismounted Hills, and made the Vales uprere,  
His Host, and all yet saw I slain peroye.  
Thebes I saw all razed how it did lie  
In heaps of Stones, and Tyrus put to Spoil.  
With Walls, and Towers flat Evened with the Soil.   

But Troy alas (me thought) above them all,  
It made mine eyes in very tears consume:  
When I beheld the woeful werd befall,  
That by the wrathful will of God was come:  
And Jove's unmoved sentence and foredoom  
On Priam's King, and on his town so bend.  
I could not lin, but I must there lament.   

And that the more sith destiny was so stern  
As force perforce, there might no force avail,  
But she must fall: and by her fall we learn,  
That Cities, Towers, Wealth, World, and all shall quail.  
No Manhood, Might, nor nothing might prevail,  
All were there priest, full many a Prince, and Peer  
And many a Knight that sold his death full dear.   

Nor worthy Hector worthiest of them all,  
Her Hope, her joy, his Force is now for nought.  
O Troy, Troy, there is no boot but bale,  
The hugy Horse within thy Wales is brought:  
Thy Turret's fall, thy Knights that whilom fought  
In Arms amid the Field, are slain in Bed,  
Thy Gods defiled, and all thy honour dead.   

The flames uprising, and cruelly they creep  
From Wale to Roof, till all to Cinders waste,  
Some fire the Houses where the Wretch's sleep,  
Some rush in here, some run in there as fast.  
In every where, or Sword, or Fire they cast.  
The Wales are torn, the Tower's wh●rld to the ground,  
There is no mischief, but may there be found.   

Cassandra yet there saw I how they baled  
From Pallas House, with sparcled tress undone,  
Her Wrists fast bond, and with Greeks Rout empaled:  
And Priam eke in vain how he did run  
To Arms, whom Pyrrhus with despite hath done  
To cruel Death, and Bathed him in the Bayne  
Of his sons blood before the Altar slain.   

But how can I descriue the doleful sight,  
That in the shield so lively fair did shine?  
Sigh in this world I think was never wight  
Can have set forth the half, not half so fine.  
I can no more but tell how there is seen  
Fair Ilium fall, in burning read gledes down,  
And from the soil great Troy Neptunus' Town.   

Here from when scarce I could my eyes withdraw  
That filled with tears as doth the springing Well,  
We passed on so far forth till we saw  
Rude Acheron, a loathsome Lake to tell  
That boils and Bubs up swelth as black as Hell.  
Where griefly Charon at their fixed tide  
Still ferries Ghosts unto the farther side.   

The aged God no sooner Sorrow spied,  
But hasting straight unto the bank apace  
With hollow call unto the Rout he cried,  
To serve apart and give the Goddess place,  
Straight it was done, when to the shore we place,  
Where hand in hand as we than linked fast,  
Within the Boot we are together placed.   

And forth we launch, full Fraughted to the Brink,  
When with the unwonted weight, the rusty Keel  
Began to crack as if the same should sink.  
We hoist up Mast and Sail, that in a while  
We fet the shore, were scarcely we had while  
For to arrive, but that we heard anon  
A three sound bark confounded all in one.   

We had not long forth past, but that we saw,  
Black Cerberus the hideous Hound of Hell,  
With Bristles reared, and with a three mouthed jaw,  
Before dinninge the Air with his horrible yell.  
Out of the deep dark Cave where he did devil,  
The Goddess strait he knew, and by and by  
He peast, and couched, whils that we passed by.   

Thence come we to the horror, and the Hell,  
The large great Kingdoms, and the dreadful reign  
Of Pluto in his Throne where he did devil,  
The wide waste places, and the hugy Plain:  
The wailings, shrieks, and sundry forces of pain,  
The Sighs, the Sobs, the deep, and deadly groan,  
Earth, Air, and all resounding plain, and moan.   

Here pewed the Babes, and here the Maids Vnwed  
With folded hands their sorry chance bewailed,  
Here wept the guiltless slain, and Lovers dead,  
That slay themselves when nothing else availed,  
A thousand sorts of Sorrows here that wailed  
With Sighs, and Tears, Sobs, Shrieks, and all yfere,  
That (o alas) it was a Hell to hear.   

We stayed us straight, and with a rueful fear,  
Beheld this heavy sight, while from mine eyes,  
The vapored tears down stilled here, and there,  
And Sorrow eke in far more woeful wise.  
took on with plaint, upheavinge to the Skies  
Her wretched hands, that with her cry the Rout  
'Gan all in heaps to swarm us round about.   

Lo! here (quoth Sorrow) Princes of Renown,  
That whilom late on top of Fortune's wheel  
Now laid full low, like wretches whurled down,  
Even with one frown that stayed but with a smile,  
And now behold the thing that thou erewhile,  
See only in thought, and what thou now shalt hear  
recount the same to Kezar, King, and Peer.   

Then first came Henry Duke of Buckingham,  
His Cloak of black, all piled, and quite foworn,  
wringing his hands, and Fortune often doth blame,  
Which of a Duke hath made him now her scorn,  
With ghastly looks as one in manner lorne,  
Often spread his Arms, stretched hands he joins as fast,  
With rueful cheer, and vapored eyes upcasted.   

His Cloak he rend, his manly breast he beaten,  
His hear all Torn about the place it lay,  
My heart so molte to see his grief so great,  
As feelingly me thought it dropped away:  
His eyes they whurlde about withouten slay,  
Wi●h stormy Sighs the place did so complain▪  
As if his heart at each had burst in twain.   

Thrice he began to tell his doleful Tale,  
And thrice the Sighs did swallow up his Voice,  
At each of which he shrieked so withal  
As though the heavens rived with the noise:  
Till at the last recovering his Voice,  
Suppinge the tears that all his breast beraind  
On cruel Fortune weeping thus he plained.   
FINIS.   

The Complaint of Henry Duke of Buckingham.  

WHo trusts to much to honour's highest throne  
And warily watch not sly Dame Fortune's snare:  
Or who in court will bear the swinge alone,  
And wisely weigh not bow to wield the care,  
Behold he me, and by my death beware:  
Whom flattering Fortune falsely so begil'de  
That lo she slew, where erst full smooth she smyl'de.   

And Sackui●e sigh in purpose now thou hast  
The woeful fall of Princes to descriue,  
Whom Fortune both uplift and eke down cast,  
To show thereby the unsuerty in this life,  
Mark well my fall, which I shall show believe.  
And paint it forth that all Estates may know:  
Have they the warning, and bemine the woe,   

For Noble blood made me both Prince, and Peer  
Yea Pearls too, had season purchased place,  
And God with gifts endowed me largely hear.  
But what avails his gifts where fails his grace?  
My Mother's sire Sprung of a Kingly Race  
And called was Edmond Duke of Somerset,  
Bereft of life ere time by nature set.   

Whose faithful heart to Henry sixt so wrought  
That never be him in weal, or woe forsook,  
Till lastly he at T●wkesbury field was caught  
Where with an Axe his violent death he took:  
He never could King Edward's party brook,  
Till by his death he vouched that Quarrel good,  
In which his Sire, and Grandsire spilled their blood.   

And such was erst my Father's cruel chance,  
Of Stafford Earl by name that Humphrey height  
Who ever priest did Henry's part Advance,  
And never ceased till at saint Alban's fight  
He lost his life, as than did many a Knight:  
Where eke my Grandsire, Duke of Buckingham  
Was wounded sore, and hardly scaped untane.   

But what may boot to stay the Sisters three?  
When Atropos perforce will cut the Thread:  
The doleful day was come when you might see  
Northampton Field, with Armed men O'erspread,  
Where Fate would algates have my Grandsire dead:  
So rushing forth amids the fiercest fight,  
He lived, and died there in his masters right.   

In place of whom as it befallen my lot,  
Like on a stage, so stepped I in straiteway,  
Enjoyinge there but woefully God wots,  
As he that had a slender part to play:  
To teach thereby, in earth no state may stay,  
But as our parts abridge or lengtht our age  
So pass we all while others fill the stage.   

For of myself the dreary fate to plain.  
I was sometime a Prince withouten peer,  
When Edward fift began his rueful reign,  
Aye me, than I began that hateful year,  
To compass that which I have bought so dear:  
I bore the swinge, I and that wretched wight,  
The Duke of Gloucester that Richard height.   

For when the fates had reft that Royal Prince  
Edward the fourth, chief mirror of that name,  
The Duke, and I fast joined ever since,  
In faithful love, our secret drifts to frame:  
What he thought best, to me so seemed the same,  
Myself not bend so much for to aspire,  
As to fulfil that greedy Duke's desire.   

Whose restless mind sore thirsting after rule,  
When that he saw his nephews both to been  
Through tender years as yet unfit to rule,  
And rather ruled by their Mother's Kin,  
There sought he first his mischief to begin,  
To pluck from them their Mother's friends assigned,  
For well he witted they would withstand his mind.   

To follow which he ran so headlong swift,  
With eager thirst of his desired draft,  
To seek their deaths that sought to dash his drift,  
Of whom the chief the Queen's allies he thought,  
That bend thereto with mounts of mischief fraught  
He known their lives would be so sore his let,  
That in their deaths his only help he set.   

And I most cursed caitiff that I was,  
seeing the state unsted fast how it stood,  
His chief complice to bring the same to pass,  
Unhappy wretch consented to their blood:  
Yea Kings, and Peers that swim in worldly good,  
In seeking blood the end advert you plain,  
And see if blood ey ask not blood again.   

Consider Cyrus in your cruel thought,  
A makeless Prince in riches, and in might,  
And weigh in mind the bloody deeds he wrought,  
In shedding which he set his whole delight:  
But see the guerdon lotted to this wight,  
He whose huge power no man might overthrow,  
Tomyris Queen with great despite hath slow.   

His head dismembered from his mangled corpse,  
Herself she cast into a vessel fraught  
With clottered blood of them that felt her force.  
And with these words a just reward she taught:  
Drink now thy fill of thy desired draft.  
Lo! Mark the fine that did this Prince be fall:  
Mark not this one, but mark the end of all.   

Behold Cambyses, and his Fatal day,  
Where murders mischief mirror like is left:  
While be his Brother Mergus cast to slay,  
A dreadful thing his wits were him bereft.  
A Sword he caught where with he pierced eft  
His body gored, which be of life benooms:  
So just is God in all his dredfulll dooms.   

O bloody Brutus rightly didst thou rue,  
And thou Cassius justly came thy fall,  
That with the Sword wherewith thou Caesar slew  
Murder'st thyself, and reft thy life withal.  
A mirror let him be unto you all  
That murderers be, of murder to your meed:  
For murder crieth out Vengeance on your seed.   

Lo! Bessius he that arm'de with murderer's Knife,  
And traitors heart against his royal King,  
With bloody hands bereft his masters Life,  
Advert the fine his foul offence did bring:  
And loathing murder as most loathly thing  
Behold in him the just deserved fall,  
That ever hath, and shall betide them all.   

What booted him his false usurped reign?  
Whereto by murder he did so ascend?  
When like a wretch led in an iron chain  
He was presented by his chiefest friend  
Unto the Foes of him whom he had slain:  
That even they should venge so fowl a gilt,  
That rather sought to have his blood yspilt:   

Take heed you Princes and you prelate's all  
Ofs this outrage, which though it sleep a while  
And not disclosed, as it doth seeld be fall,  
Yet God that suffereth silence to beguile  
Such guilts, wherewith both earth and air you file,  
At last descries them to your foul deface,  
You see thexamples set before your face.   

And diepely grave within your stony hearts,  
The dreary dewle that mighty Macedo,  
With fears unfolded wrapped in deadly smarts,  
When he the Death of Clitus sorrowed so,  
Whom erst he murdered with the deadly blow  
Reached in his rage upon his friend so dear,  
For which behold lo how his pangs appear,   

The lanced spear he writhes out of the wound,  
From which the purple blood spins in his face:  
His heinous gilt when he returned found,  
He throws himself upon the corpse alas.  
And in his arms how often doth he embrace  
His murdered friend: and kissing him in vain,  
Forth flow the floods of salt repentant rain.   

His friends amazed at such a murder done,  
In fearful flocks begin to shrink away.  
And he thereat with heaps of grief for done.  
Hates himself, wishing his later day.  
Now he likewise perceived in like stay,  
As is the wild beast in the desert bread,  
Both dreading others and himself abred.   

He calls for death, and loathing longer life,  
Bend to his Bane, refuseth kindly Food:  
And plung'de in depth of death, and dolours strife,  
Had quelled himself, had not his friends withstood.  
Lo! he that thus hath shed the guiltless blood,  
Though he were King, and Kezar over all  
Yet chose he death to guerdon death withal.   

This Prince whose Peer was never under sun  
Whose glistering Fame the Earth did overglyde,  
Which with his power well-nigh the World had wone,  
His bloody hands himself could not abide,  
But fully bend with famine to have died:  
The worthy Prince deemed in his regard,  
That death for death could be but just reward:   

Yet we that were so drowned in the depth  
Of deep desire to drink the guiltless blood,  
Like to the Wolf, with greedy looks that depth  
Into the Snare, to feed on deadly Food,  
So we delighted in the State we stood,  
Blinded so far in all our blinded Train  
That blind we saw not our destruction plain.   

We spared none whose life could aught for let  
Our wicked purpose to his pass to come.  
Four worthy Kinghtes we Headed at Pomfret  
Guiltless (God wot) withouten law or doom.  
My heart even bleeds to tell you all and some,  
And how Lord Hastings when he feared lest,  
Dispiteously was murdered, and oppressed.   

These rocks upraught, that threatened most our wreck  
We seemed to sail much surer in the Stream:  
And fortune faring as she were at beck  
Lay'de in our lap the rule of all the Realm.  
The Nephews straight depos'de were by the eme.  
And we advanced to that we bought full dear,  
He Crowned King, and I his chiefest Peer.   

Thus having won our long desired Pray,  
To make him King that ●ee might make me chief,  
Down throw we straight his silly Nephews twain,  
From Prince's Pomp, to woeful Prisoners life:  
In hope that now stint was all further strife.  
Sigh he was King, and I chief stroke did bear.  
Who joyed but we, yet who more cause to fear?   

The guiltless blood which we unjustly shed,  
The Royal Babes devested from their Trons,  
And we like Traitors reigning in their stead,  
These heavy Burdens passed us upon,  
tormenting us so by ourselves alone,  
Much like the Felon that pursued by night,  
Starts at each Bush, as his Foe were in sight.   

Now doubting State, now dreading loss of life,  
In fear of wrack at every blast of Wind,  
Now start in Dreams through dread of murderers knife,  
As though even then revengement were assigned.  
With restless thought so is the guilty mind  
Turmoiled, and never feeleth ease, or stay,  
But lives in fear of that which follows ay.   

Well gave that judge his doom upon the death  
Of Titus Glelius that in Bed was slain:  
When every wight the cruel murder layeth  
To his two Sons that in his Chamber lain,  
That judge that by the proof perceiveth plain,  
That they were found fast sleeping in their Bed,  
Hath deemed them guiltless of this blood yshed.   

He thought it could not be, that they which broke  
The laws of God and man in such outrage  
Can so forthwith themselves to sleep betake:  
He rather thought the horror, and the rage  
Of such an heinous gilt, could never suage.  
Nor never suffer them to sleep, or rest,  
Or dreadless breath one breath out of their breast.   

So gnaws the grief of conscience evermore  
And in the heart it is so deeply grave,  
That they may neither sleep nor rest therefore,  
Ne think one thought, but on the dread they have.  
Still to the death for tossed with the wave  
Of restless woe, in terror, and despair.  
They lead a life continually in fear.   

Like to the Dear that stricken with the Dart,  
With draws himself into some secret place,  
And feeling green the wound about his heart,  
Startlesse with pangs till he fall on the grass,  
And in great fear lies gasping there a space,  
Forth braying Sigbes as though each pang had brought  
The present death which he doth dread so often:   

So we deep wounded with the bloody thought,  
And gnawing worm that grieved our consciens so,  
Never took ease, but as our heart outhrought  
The stained sighs in witness of our woe,  
Such restless cares our fault did well beknow:  
Wherewith of our deserved fall the fears  
In every place rang death within our ears.   

And as ill grain is never well ykept,  
So fared it by us within a while:  
That which so long with such unrest we reaped,  
In dread and danger by all wit and wile,  
Lo see the fine, when once it felt the wheel  
Of s●ipper fortune, stay it might no stowne,  
The wheel whurls up, but straight it whurleth down.   

For having rule and riches in our hand,  
Who dared gainsay the thing that we averde?  
Will was wisdom, our lust for law did stand,  
In sort so strange that who was not afeard  
When he the sound but of king Richard herded?  
So hateful waxed the hearing of his name  
That you may deem the residue of the same.   

But what availd the terror and the fear,  
Wherewith he kept his lieges under awe?  
It rather won him hatred every where.  
And feigned faces forced by fear of law:  
That but while Fortune doth with favour blaw  
Flatter through fear: for in their heart lurks ay  
A secret hate that hopeth for a day.   

Recordeth Dionysius the King,  
That with his Rigour so his Realm oppressed,  
As that he thought by cruel fear to bring  
His Subjects under, as him liked best:  
But lo! the dread where with himself was strest,  
And you shall see the fine of forced fear,  
Most mirror like in this proud Prince appear.   

All were his Head with Crown of Gold ysprad,  
And in his Hand the Royal Sceptre set:  
And he with Princely Purple richly clad,  
Yet was his heart with wretched cares orefret:  
And inwardly with deadly fear beset,  
Of those whom he by Rigour kept in awe,  
And sore oppressed with might of Tyrants Law.   

Against whose fear, no heaps of Gold, and glie,  
No strength of guard, nor all his hired power,  
Ne proud high Towers that preaced to the Sky,  
His cruel heart of safety could assure:  
But dreading them whom he should deem most sure,  
Himself his Beard with burning Brand would sear,  
Of death deserved so vexed him the fear.   

This might suffice to represent the fine  
Of Tyrants force, their fears, and their unrest,  
But hear this one, although my heart repined  
To let the sound once sink within my breast:  
Of fell Phereus', that above the rest,  
Such loathsome cruelty on his people wrought▪  
As (o alas) I tremble with the thought.   

Some he encased in the Coats of Bears,  
Among Wild beasts devoured so to be:  
And some for Pray unto the Hunter's Spears,  
Like Savage Beasts withouten ruth to dye.  
Sometime to increase his horrible cruelty,  
The quick with face to face engraved he,  
Each others death that each might living see.   

Lo! what more cruel horror might be found,  
To purchase fear, if fear could stay his reign?  
It ●ooted not, it rather struck the wound  
Of fear in him to fear the like again.  
And so he did full often, and not in vain:  
And in his life his cares could witness well▪  
But most of all his wretched end doth tell.   

His own dear Wife whom as his life he loved,  
He dared not trust, nor proch unto her Bed,  
But causing first his Slave with naked Sword  
To go before, himself with trembling dread  
Straight followeth fast, and whurlinge in his head  
His rolling eyen, he searcheth here, and there  
The deep danger that he so sore did fear.   

For not in vain it ran still in his Breast,  
Some wretched hap should hale him to his end.  
And therefore always by his pillow priest  
Had he a Sword, and with that Sword be wend,  
In vain (God wot) all perils to defend.  
For lo! his Wife foreyrked of his Reign,  
sleeping in Bed this cruel Wre●ch hath Slain.   

What should I more now seek to say in this  
Or one jot farther linger forth my Tale?  
With cruel Nero, or with Phalaris,  
Caligula, Domitian, and all  
The cruel Rout? or of their wretched fall?  
I can no more, but in my name advert  
All earthly powers beware of Tyrant's heart.   

And as our State endured but a throw,  
So best in us the stay of such a State  
M●y best appear to hang on over throw,  
And better teach Tyrants deserved hate  
Than any Tyrants death tofore, or late.  
So cruel seemed this Richard third to me,  
That lo! myself now loath'de his cruelty.   

For when alas, I saw the Tyrant King  
Content not only from his Nephew's twain  
To rive World's bliss, but also all Worlds being,  
Sans earthly guilt ycausinge both be slain,  
My heart agrief'de that such a wretch should reign,  
Whose bloody breast so saluaged out of kind,  
That Phalaris had never so bloody a mind.   

Ne could I brook him once within my breast,  
But with the thought my Teeth would gnash withal:  
For toough I erst were his by sworn behest,  
Yet when I saw mischief on mischief fall,  
So deep in blood to murder Prince, and all  
Aye then thought I, alas, and weal away,  
And to myself thus mourning would I say.   

If neither Love, Kindred, ne knot of Blood,  
His own allegiance to his Prince of due,  
Nor yet the State of trust wherein he stood,  
The World's defame, nor naught could form him true  
Those guiltless Babes, could they no● make him rue?  
Nor could their youth, nor innocence withal  
Move him from reviage them their life, and all?   

Alas it could not move him any jot,  
Ne make him once to rue or wet his eye,  
Stirred him no more than that that stirreth not:  
But as the rock or stone that will not ply,  
S● was his heart made hard with cruelty,  
To murder them, alas I weep in thought,  
To think on that which this fell wretch hath wrought.   

That now when he had done the thing he sought,  
And as he would, complisht and compassed all,  
And saw and knew the treason he had wrought  
To God and man, to stay his Prince and all,  
Then seemed he first to doubt and dread us all,  
And me in chief, whose death all means he might  
He sought to work by malice and by might.   

Such heaps of harms upharbard in his breast  
With envious heart my honour to deface,  
And knowing he that I ●●tch woted best  
His wretched dr●ts, and all his wretched case,  
If ever sprung within me spark of grace,  
Must needs abhor him and his hateful race:  
Now more and more can cast me out of grace.   

Which sudden change when I by secret chance  
Had well perceived by proof of envious frown,  
And see the lot that did me to advance  
Him to a king that sought to cast me down,  
To late it was to linger any stowne:  
Sigh present choice lay cast before mine eye,  
To work his death, or I myself to dye.   

And as the knight in field among his foes,  
Beset with sword, must slay or there be slain:  
So I alas lapd in a thousand woes,  
Beholding death on every side so plain,  
I rather choose by some sly secret train  
To work his death, and I to live thereby,  
Than he to live and I of force to dye.   

With heavy choice so hastened me to choose,  
That I in part aggrieved at his disdain,  
In part to wreak the doleful death of those  
Two tender Babes, his silly Nephews twain,  
By him alas commanded to be slain,  
With painted cheer humbly before his face,  
Strait took my leave & road to Brecknock place   

And there as close and covert as I might,  
My purpose● practise to his pass to bring,  
In secret drifts I lingered day and night:  
All how I might depose this cruel king,  
That seemed to all so much a desy●rd thing,  
As thereto trusting I emprisde the same:  
But too much trusting brought me to my bane.   

For while I now had Fortune at my beck  
Mistrusting I no earthly thing at all,  
Unwares alas least looking for a check,  
She mated me in turning of a ball:  
When lest I feared, the nearest was my fall.  
And when whole hosts were priest to str●y my foen.  
She changed her cheer, and left me post alone.   

I had upraisde a mighty hand of men,  
And marched forth in order of array.  
Leading my power amid the forest Dene,  
Against the tyrant banner to display:  
But lo my Soldiers cowardly shrank away,  
For such is Fortune when she list to frown,  
Who seems most sure, him soonest whurls' she down   

O let no Prince put trust in commonty,  
Nor hope in faith of giddy people's mind,  
But let all noble men take heed by me,  
That by the proof to well the pain do find:  
Lo, where is truth or trust? or what could bind  
The vain people, but they will swerver and sway,  
As chance brings change, to drive & draw that way.   

Rome thou that once advanced up so high,  
Thy stay, patron, and flower of excellence,  
Hast now thrown him to depth of misery,  
Exiled him that was thy whole defence,  
Ne compressed it not an horrible offence,  
To reeven him of honour and of fame,  
That won it thee when thou hadst lost the same.   

Behold Camillus, he that erst revived  
The state of Rome, that dying he did find,  
Of his own state is now alas deprived,  
Banished by them whom be did thus debt bind:  
That cruel folk unthankful and unkind,  
Declared well their false inconstancy,  
And fortune eke her mutability.   

And thou Scipio, a mirror mayest thou he  
To all nobles, that they learn not to late,  
How they once trust the unstable commonty.  
That thou recuredst the torn dismembered state,  
Even when the conqueror was at the gate,  
A●t now exiled, as though thou not deserved  
To rest in her, whom thou hadst so preserved.   

Ingrateful Rome hast showed thy cruelty,  
Not him, by whom thou livest yet in fame.  
But nor thy deed, nor his desert shall dye,  
But his own word's shall witness ay the same:  
For lo his grave doth thee most justly blame.  
And with disdain in Marble says to thee:  
Unkind country my bones shalt thou not see.   

What more unworthy than this his exile?  
Moore just than this the woeful plaint he written?  
Or who could show a plainer proof the while,  
Of most false faith, than they thus forgot  
His great deserts? that so deserved not?  
His cinders yet lo●, doth he them deny,  
That him denied amongst them for to dye.   

Melciades, O happy hadst thou be,  
And well rewarded of thy Country men,  
If in the Field when thou hadst forced to fly  
By thy prowess, three hundred thousand men,  
Content they had been to Exile thee then:  
And not to cast thee into Prison so,  
Laden with gives to end thy life in woe.   

Alas how hard, and Steely hearts had they  
That not contented there to have thee dye,  
With fettered gives in Prison where thou lay,  
Increased so far in hateful Cruelty,  
That burial to thy Corpse, they eke deny:  
Ne will they grant the same, till thy Son have  
Put on thy gives, to purchase thee a Grave.   

Lo! Hannibal as long as fixed fate,  
And brittle Fortune had ordained so,  
Who evermore advanced his Country state  
Then thou that livedst for her, and for no more?  
But when the stormy Waves began to grow,  
Without respect of thy deserts ere while,  
Art by thy Country thrown into Exile.   

Vnfrendly Fortune shall I thee now blame?  
Or shall I fault the sates that so ordain?  
Or art thou jove the causer of the same?  
Or cruelty herself doth she constrain?  
Or on whom else alas shall I complain?  
O trustless world I can accusen none,  
But fickle faith of Commonty alone.   

The Polipus nor the Chameleon strange,  
That turn themselves to every hue they see  
Are hot so full of vain and fickle change  
As is this false unsteadfast commonty.  
Lo I alas with mine adversity  
Have tried it true, for they are fled and go  
And of an host, there is not left me one.   

That I alas in this calamity  
Alone was left, and to myself might plain  
This treason, and this wretched cowardye,  
And eke with tears be weepen and complain  
My hateful hap, still looking to be slain.  
wandering in woe, and to the Gods on high  
Cleaping for vengeance of this treachery.   

And as the Turtle that hath lost her mate,  
Whom gripping sorrow doth so sore attaint,  
With doleful voice and sowed that she doth make  
Mourning her loss fills all the grove with plaint,  
So I alas forsaken and forfaint,  
With restless foot the wood roam up and down,  
Which of my dole all shivering doth resowne.   

And being thus alone and all forsake,  
Amid the chick, forewandred in despair,  
As one dismayed ne wist what way to take,  
Until at last 'gan to my mind repair,  
A man of mine called Humphrey Bavastaier:  
Wherewith me feeling much recomforted,  
In hope of succour to his house I fled.   

Who being one whom erst I had up brought  
even from his youth and loved and liked best,  
To gentry state advancing him from naught,  
And had in secret trust above the rest.  
Of special trust now being thus distressed  
Full secretly to him I me conveyed  
Not doubting there but I should find some aid,   

But out alas on cruel treachery,  
When that this caitiff once an inkling hard,  
How that King Richard had proclaimed that he  
Which me descried should have for his reward  
A thousand pounds and farther be preferred,  
His truth so turned to treason, all distained  
That faith quite fled, and I by trust was trained.   

For by this wretch I being straight betrayed,  
To one john Mitton sheriff of Shropshire then,  
All suddenly was taken and covayed  
To Salisbury, with rout of harnessed men,  
Unto King Richard there encamped then:  
Fast by the city with a mighty host  
Withouten doom where head and life I lost:   

And with these words as if the axe even there  
Dismembered had his head and corpse apart,  
Dead fell he down and we in woeful fear  
Stood mazed when he would to life revert:  
But deadly grief still grew about his heart,  
That still he Iry, sometime revived with pain,  
And with a sigh becoming dead again,   

Midnight was come, when every vital thing  
With sweet sound sleep their weary limbs did rest,  
The beasts were still, the little birds that sing▪  
Now sweetly slept besides their mother's breast:  
The old and all were shrouded in their nest.  
The waters calm, the cruel seas did cease,  
The woods, the fields, & all things held their peace   

The golden stars were whirled amid their race,  
And on the earth old laugh with twinkling light,  
When each thing nestled in his resting place,  
Forgot days pain with pleasure of the night:  
The hare had not the greedy bounds in sight,  
The fearful Dear of death stood not in doubt,  
The Partridge drept not of the Falcon's foot.   

The ouglye Bear now minded not the stake,  
Nor how the cruel mastiffs do him tear,  
The stag lay still unroused from the brake,  
The fomye bore feared not the hunters speate:  
All thing was still in desert bush and breare.  
With quiet heart now from their travails rest.  
Sound they slept in midst of all their rest.   

When Buckingham amid this plaint oppressed,  
With surging sorrows and with pinching pains  
In sort thus swooned, and with a sigh ●e ceased,  
To tell forth the treachery and trains,  
Of Banastar, which him so sore distreines.  
That from a sigh he falls into a sound,  
And from a sound lieth raging on the ground.   

So twitching were the pangs that he assayed,  
And he so sore with rueful rage distraught.  
To think upon the wretch that him betrayed  
Whom erst he made a Gentleman of naught  
That more and more aggrieved was his thought,  
He storms out sighs, and with redoubled sore,  
Struck with the furies rageth more and more.   

Who so hath seen the Bull chased with daries,  
And with deep wounds foregalde and gored so,  
Till he oppressed with the deadly smarts,  
F●l in arage and run upon his foe,  
Let him I say behold the raging woe  
Of Buckingham that in these gripes of grief  
Rageth 'gainst him that hath betrayed his life.   

With blood read eyen he stareth here and there,  
Frothing at mouth, with face as pale as clout:  
When lo my limbs were trembling all for fear,  
And I amazed stood still in dreadn ad doubt,  
While I might see him throw his arms about:  
And 'gainst the ground himself plunge with such force  
As if the life forth with should leave the corpse.   

With smoke of sighs sometime I might behold  
The place all dimmed, like to the morning missed:  
And strait again the tears how they down rolled  
Alongste his cheeks, as if the rivers hist:  
Whose flowing streams ne were no sooner whist,  
But to the stars such dreadful shouts he sent,  
As if the crone of mighty jove should rend,   

And I the while with spirits wellnigh bereft,  
Beheld the plight and pangs that did him strain.  
And how the blood his deadly colour left,  
And strait returned with flaming read again:  
When suddenly amio his raging pain,  
He gave a sigh and with that sigh he said,  
O Banastar, and strait again he stayed.   

Dead lay his corpse as dead as any stone,  
Till swelling sighs storming within his breast  
Upraised his head, that downward fell anon,  
With looks upcasted, and sighs that never ceased:  
Forth streamed the tears records of his unrest,  
When he which shrieks thus groveling on the ground  
Ybraied these words with shrill and doleful sound.   

Heaven and earth and you eternal lamps  
That in the heavens wrapped, will us to rest,  
Thou bright Phoebe, that clearest the night's damps  
Witness the plaints that in these pangs oppressed  
I woeful wretch unlade out of my breast▪  
And let me yield my last words ere I part,  
You, you, I call to record of my smart.   

And thou Allecto feed me with thy food  
Let fall thy serpents from thy snaky hair,  
For such relief well sits me in this mood,  
To feared my plain● with horror and with fear,  
While rage afresh thy venomed worm appear.  
And thou Sibilla when thou seest me faint,  
Address thyself the guide of my complaint.   

And thou O jove, that with thy deep fordome  
Dost rule the earth▪ and reign above the skies,  
That wreakest wrongs, & givest the dreadful doom  
Against the wretch that doth thy name despise,  
Receive these words and wreak them in such wise,  
As heaven and earth may witness and behold,  
Thy heaps of wrath upon this wretch unfold.   

Thou Banaster 'gainst thee I clepe and call  
Unto the Gods, that they just vengeance take  
O● thee, thy blood, thy stained stock and all:  
O jove to thee above the rest I make  
My humble plaint, guide me that what I speak,  
May be thy will upon this wretch to fall,  
On thee Banastar, wretch of wretches all.   

O would to God the cruel dismal day,  
That gave me light first to behold thy face,  
With fowl Eclipse had reft my sight away:  
The unhappy hour, the time, and eke the day:  
The Sun and Moon, the stars, and all that was  
In their aspects helping in aught to thee,  
The earth and air, and all accursed be.   

And thou caitiff, that like a monster swerved,  
From kind and kindness, hast they master lorne,  
Whom neither truth, nor trust wherein thou served,  
Ne his deserts, could move, nor thy faith sworn,  
How shall I curse, but wish that thou unborn  
Had been, or that the earth had rend in twaye,  
And swallowed thee in Cradle as thou lay.   

To this did I even from thy tender youth  
Witsave to bring the up, did I herefore  
Believe the oath of thy undoubted troth?  
Advance thee up, and trust thee evermore?  
By trusting thee that I should dye therefore?  
O wretch, and worse than wretch, what shall I say?  
But cleape and curse 'gainst thee and thy for ay.   

Hated be thou, disdained of every wight,  
And pointed at where ever that thou go.  
A traitorous wretch, unworthy of the light,  
Be thou esteemed: and to increase thy woe,  
The sound be hatefel of thy name also:  
And in this sort with shame and sharp reproach,  
Lead thou thy life till greater grief approach.   

Dole and despair, let choose be thy delight,  
Wraps in woes that cannot be unfold,  
To wail the day, and weep the weary night,  
With rainy eien and sighs cannot be told,  
And let no wight thy woe seek to withhold:  
But count thee worthy (wretch) of sorrows store,  
That suffering much, oughtest still to suffer more.   

Deserve thou death, yea be thou deemed to dye  
A shameful death to end thy shameful life:  
A sight longed for, iopful to every eye,  
When thou shalt be arraigned as a thief,  
Standing at Bar and pleading for thy life,  
With trembling tongue in dread and dolours rage,  
Lad with white locks, and fourskore years of age.   

Yet shall not death deliver thee so soon  
Out of thy woes, so happy shalt thou not be:  
But to the eternal jove this is my boon,  
That thou mayest live thy elder son to see,  
Reft of his wits, and in a fowl Boar's Sty  
To end his days in rage and death distressed,  
A worthy tomb where one of thy should rest.   

Yet after this, yet pray I more thou may  
Thy second son see drowned in a dyke,  
And in such sort to clouse his later day,  
As heard or seen erst hath not been the like:  
Ystrangled in a puddle not half so deep  
As half a foot, that such hard loss of life,  
So cruelly chanced, may be the greater grief.   

And not yet shall thy huge sorrows cease,  
jove shall not so withhold his wrath fro thee,  
But that thy plagues may more and more increase,  
Thou shalt still live that thou thyself shalt see  
Thy dear daughter strooken with leprosy:  
That she that erst was all thy whole delight,  
That now mayst loath to have her come in sight.   

And after that let shame and sorrows grief  
Feed forth thy years continually in woe,  
That thou mayst live in death, and dye in life,  
And in this sort forewaild and wearied so,  
At length thy ghost to part thy body fro:  
This pray I jove, and with this later breath,  
Vengeance I ask upon my cruel death.   

This said he flung his reckless arms abroad,  
And groveling flat upon the ground he lay,  
Which with his teeth he all to gnashed and gnawde:  
Deep groans he fet, as he that would away,  
But lo in vain he did the death assay:  
Although I think was never man that known,  
Such deadly pains, where death did not ensue.   

So strove he thus awhile as with the death,  
Now pale as lead and cold as any stone.  
Now still as calm, now storming forth a breath.  
Of smoky sighs, as breath and all were go:  
But every thing hath end: so he anon  
Came to himself when with a sigh outbrayed,  
With woeful cheer, these woeful words he said.   

Ah, where am I, what thing, or whence is this?  
Who reft my wits? or how do I thus lie?  
My limbs do quake, my thought agasted is,  
Why sigh I so? or whereunto do I  
Thus grawle on the ground? and by and by  
Upraised he stood, and with a sigh hath staid,  
When to himself returned thus he said.   

Sufficeth now this plaint and this regreet,  
Whereof my heart his boccome hath unfraught:  
And of my death let Peers and princes weet  
The World's untrust, that they there by be taught.  
And in her wealth, sith that such change is wrought,  
Hope not too much, but in the midst of all  
Think on my death, and what may them befall.   

So long as Fortune would permit the same,  
I lived in rule and riches with the best:  
And past my time in honour and in fame.  
That of Mishap no fear was in my breast:  
But false Fortune when I suspected lest,  
Did turn the wheel, and which a doleful fall  
Hath me bereft of honour life and all.   

Lo what avails in riches floods that flows?  
Though she so smiled as all the world were his?  
Even kings and Kesars' biden Fortunes throws,  
And simple sore must bear it as it is.  
Take heed by me that blithde in baleful bliss:  
My rule, my riches, royal blood and all,  
When Fortune frowned, the feller made my fall.   

For hard mishaps that happens unto such,  
Whose wretched state erst never fallen no change,  
Agrieve them not in any part so much,  
As their distress to whom it is so strange,  
That all their lives nay passed pleasures range:  
Their sudden woe that ay wield wealth at will,  
Algates their hearts more pearcinglye must thril.   

For of my birth, my blood was of the best,  
First born an Earl, than Duke by due descent:  
To swing the sway in Court among the rest,  
Dame Fortune me her rule most largely lent:  
And kind courage so my corpse had blended,  
That lo on whom but me did she most smile?  
And whom but me lo, did she most beguile?   

Now hast thou hard the whole of my mishap  
My chance, my change, the cause of all my care:  
In wealth and woe, how fortune ●id me wrap,  
With world at will to win me to her snare,  
Bid kings, bid Kesars', did all states beware,  
And tell them this from me that tried it true.  
Who reckless rules, right soon may hap to rue.   
FINIS.  
T. S.   

HOw like you this my masters (quoth I) very well said one: the tragedy excels: the invention also of the Induction, and that descriptions, are notable. But whereas he feigneth to talk with the Princes in Hell, that I am sure will be misliked, because it is most certain, that some of their souls be in heaven. And although he herein, do follow allowed Poets, in their description of hell, yet it savoureth so much of Purgatory, which the Papists have digged thereout, that the ignorant may thereby be deceived. Not a whit I warrant you said one: for he means not by his hell the place either of damned souls, or of such as lie for their fees, but rather the grave, wherein the dead bodies of all sorts of people do rest till time of the resurrection. And in this sense is Hell taken often in the Scriptures, and in the writings of learned Christians, & so would have it taken. Tush (quoth another) what stand we hereupon? it is a Poesy and no divinity, and it is lawful for poets to fayne what they list so it be appertinent to the matter: And therefore let it pass even in such sort as you have read it. With a good will (quoth I) But whereas you say a Poet may say what he list: in deed me think it should be so, & aught to be well taken of the hearers: But it hath not at all times been so allowed: you say troth quoth the Reader: For here followeth in the story that after the death of this duke, one called Colling bourn, was cruelly put to death for making of a tyme. I have his tragedy here (said I) For the better perceiving whereof, you must imagine that you see him a m●●●cilous well savoured man, holding in his hand his own heart, new lie ripped out of his breast, & smoking out the lively spirit: & with his hand, beckoning too and fro, as it were to warn us to avoid: and with his faint tongue, & voice saying as courageously as he may these words that follow.   

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

BEware, take heed, take heed, beware, beware  
You poets you, that purpose to rehearse  
By any art what tyrants doings are,  
Erinnis' rage is grown so fell and fierce  
That vicious acts may not be touched in verse,  
The Muse's freedom, granted them of eld,  
Is barred, ●lie reasons treasons high are held.   

Be rough in rhyme, and then they say you rail,  
As Juvenal was, but that makes no matter:  
With jeremy you shallbe had to jail,  
Or forced with Martial, Caesar's faults to flatter,  
Clerks must be taught to claw and not to clatter:  
Free Helicon, and frank Parnassus' hylls.  
Are hellye haunts, and rank pernicious ills.   

Touch covertly in fermes, and then you taunt  
Though praised poets, always did the like,  
Control us not, else traitor vile avaunt,  
What pass we what the learned do mislike?  
Our sins we see, wherein to swarm we seek.  
We pass not what the people say or think,  
Their shuttle hate maketh none but cowards shrink.   

We know (say they) the course of Fortune's wheel,  
How constantly it whirleth still about,  
Arrearing now, while elder headlong reel.  
How all the riders always hung in doubt.  
But what for that we count him but a lout  
That sticks to mount, and basely like a beast  
lives temperately for fear of Blockham feast.   

Indeed we would of all be deemed Gods  
What ever we do: and therefore partly hate  
Rude preachers that dare threaten us plagues and rods,  
And blaze the blots whereby we stain our state:  
But naught we pass what any such do prate.  
Of course and office they must say their pleasure,  
And we of course must hear and mend at leisure.   

But when these pelcing poets in their rhymes  
Shall taunt, or lest, or pai●● our wicked works,  
And 'cause the people know and curse our crimes,  
This ugly fault, no tyrant lives but urkes.  
Wherefore we loathe such ●aunters worse than Turks,  
Whose meaning is to make us know our miss,  
And so to mend, but they but dote in this.   

We know our faults as well as any other,  
We also doubt the dangers for them due,  
Yet still we trust so right to guide the ●other,  
That scape we shall the surges that ensue.  
We think we know more shifts than other known.  
In vain therefore for us are counsels written:  
We know our faults and will not mend a whit.   

These are the fea●es of the unhappy sort,  
That press for honours, wealth, and pleasure vain.  
Cease therefore Baldwin, cease I thee exhort,  
Withdraw thy pen, for nothing shalt thou gain  
Save hate, with loss of paper, ink and pain.  
Few hate their faults, all bate of them to hear  
And fautiest, from fault would seem most clear.   

Thy intent I know is honest, plain, and good,  
To warn the wise, to fray the fond fro ill:  
But wicked worldlings are so witless wood.  
That to the worst they all things construe still.  
With rigour often they recompense good will:  
They rack the words till time their sinews burst,  
In doubtful senses, straining still the worst.   

A painful proof taught me the truth of this,  
Through tyrants rage, and Fortunes cruel turn:  
They murdered me, for meetring things amiss.  
For wotst thou what? I am that Colling bourn  
Which made the rhyme, whereof I well may mourn.  
The Cat, the Rat, and Lovel our Dog,  
Do rule all England under a Hog,   

Whereof the meaning was so plain and true,  
That every fool perceived it at furst:  
Most liked it, for most that most things knew,  
In, muttred what they dared.  
The tyrant prince of most was held accursed,  
Both for his own and for his counsels faults,  
Of whom was three the naughtiest of all naughts.   

Catesbye was one whom I called a Cat,  
A crafty lawyer catching all be could.  
The second Ratcliff, whom I named a Rat,  
A cruel beast to gnaw on whom ●e should.  
Lord Lovel barckt and buy whom Richard would,  
Whom I therefore did rightly term our Dog,  
Wherewith to rhyme, I called the king a Hog.   

Till he the crown had caught he gave the Boar,  
In which estate would God he had deceased,  
Then had the realm not ruined so sore.  
His Nephew's reign should not so soon have ceased,  
The noble blood had not been so decreased.  
His Rat, his Cat, and Bloodhound had not noyed  
Such liegemen true, as after they destroyed.   

Their lawless acts, good subjects did lament,  
And so did I, and therefore made the rhymes  
To show my wit how well I could invent,  
To warn withal the careless of their crimes,  
I thought the freedom of the ancient times  
Stood still in force. Ridentem dicere verum  
Quis veta●? Nay nay, Veritas est pessimarerum.   

Belike no tyrants were in Horace days,  
And therefore Poets freely blamed vice,  
Witness their satires sharp, and tragic plays,  
With chiefest Princes chiefly had in price.  
They name no man they mix their gall with spice,  
No more do I▪ I name no man out right,  
But riddle wise, I mean them as I might.   

When brute had brought this to their guilty ears,  
Whose right surnames were noted in the rhyme,  
They all conspired like most greedy ●eares,  
To charge me strait with this most grievous crime:  
And dampened me the Galow tree to clime,  
And then strangled, in quarters to be cut,  
Which should on high over London Gates be put.   

This judgement geeven so vehement and so sore  
Made me exclaim against their tyranny.  
Where with encenst, to make my pain the more,  
They practised a shameful villainy:  
They cut me down alive and cruelly,  
Ripped up my paunch and bulk to make me smart,  
And lingered long ere they took out my heart.   

Here tyrant Richard played the eager Hog,  
His grashing tusks my tender gristles shore:  
His blood bond Lovel played the ravening Dog,  
His muluish teeth, my guiltless carcase tore:  
His Rat, and Cat, did what they might, and more,  
Cat Cates●y clawed my guts to make me smart,  
The Rat Ra●cliffe gnawed me to the heart.   

If Jews had killed the justest king alive,  
If Turks had burned up Churches, Gods, and all,  
What greater pain could cruel hearts contrive,  
Than that I suffered, for this trespass small?  
I was no Prince nor Pier, but yet my fall  
Is worthy to be thought upon for this,  
To see how cankered tyrants malice is.   

To teach also all subject to take heed  
They meddle not with magistrates affairs,  
But pray to God to mend them if they need:  
To warn also all Poetee that he strayers,  
To keep them close in rompasse of their chairs,  
And when they touch that they would wish amended,  
To sauce them so, that sew need be offended.   

And so to mix their sharp rebukes with mirth,  
That they may pierce, not causing any pain,  
Save such as followeth every kindly birth,  
Requi●ed strait, with gladness of the gain.  
A Poet must be pleasaune, not to plain,  
Faults to control, ne yet to flatter vice  
But sound and sweet, in all things ware and wise.   

The Greeks no paint a poets office whole  
In Pegasus, their feigned horse with wings,  
Whom shaped so Medusa's blood did foal,  
Who with his fe●ee struck out the Muse's springs  
Fro flinty rocks to Helicon that clinges.  
And then flew up into the starry sky,  
And there abides among the God's 〈◊〉 high,   

For he that shall a perfect Poet be,  
Must first be bread out of Medusa's blood:  
He must be chaste and virtuous as was she,  
Who to her power the Ocean God withstood,  
To th'end also hiss doom be just and goad,  
je must (as she) look rightly wi●h one eye  
Truth to regard 〈◊〉 writ nothing awry,   

In courage eke he must be like a horse,  
He may not fear to register the right.  
What though some frown, thereof be may not force,  
No bit nor rain his tender jaws may twight.  
He must be armed with strength of wit and spirit.  
To dash the rocks, dark causes and obscure,  
Till he attain the springs of truth most pure.   

His hooves also must pliaunt be and strong,  
To rive the rocks of lust and errors blind,  
In brainless heads, that always wander wrong:  
T●ese must he brise with reasons plain and kind,  
Till springs of grace do gush out of the mind,  
For ●il affections from the fond be driven,  
In vain is truth told, or good counsel geeuen.   

Like Pegasus a Poet must have wings,  
To fly to heaven or where him liketh best:  
He must have knowledge of eternal things,  
Almighty jove must harbour in his breast,  
With worldly cares he may not be oppressed,  
The wings of wit and skill must heave him hire.  
With great delight to satisfy desire.   

He must also be lusty, free, and swift  
To travail far to view the trades of men.  
Great knowledge often is got by the shift:  
Things that impart he must be quick to pen,  
Reproving vices sharply now and then.  
He must be swift when touched tyrants chafe,  
To gallop thence to keep his carcase safe.   

If I had well these qualities considered,  
Especially that which I touched last,  
With speedy flight my feet should have delivered  
My feeble body from a most boisterous blast,  
They should have caught me ere I had been cast,  
But too much trust unto a tyrants grace,  
I never shroake, nor changed port or place.   

I thought the Poets ancient liberties  
For pleas had been allowed at the bar,  
I had forgot how new found tyrannies  
With truth and freedom were at open war,  
That lust was law, that might did make and mar,  
That among tyrants this is, and ever was  
Sic volo, sic jubeo, stet pro ratione voluntas.   

Where lust is law it booteth not to plead,  
No Privilege nor liberties avail.  
But with the learn'de whom Law, and Wisdom lead,  
Although through rashness Poets ●ap to rail,  
A plea of dotage may all Quarrels quail:  
Their old licence their writings to expound,  
Doth quit them clear from faults by Momus found.   

This freedom old aught not to be debarred  
From any wight that speaketh aught, or writeth.  
The author's meaning should of right be herd,  
He knoweth best to what end he enditeth:  
Woros sometime bear more than the heart behiteth.  
Admit therefore the author's exposition,  
If plain for truth: if forced, for his submission.   

In case of slander the laws require no more  
Save to amend that seemed not well said:  
Or to unsay the slanders said afore,  
And ask forgiveness for the hasty brayed:  
To Heretics no grater pain is laid  
Then to recant their errors or retract:  
And worse than these can be no writers act.   

Yes (quoth the Cat) thy railing words be treason,  
And treason is far worse than Heresy.  
Then must it follow by this auckwarde reason,  
That Kings be more than God in majesty,  
And souls be less than bodies in degree.  
For Heretics both souls and God offend,  
Traitors but seek to bring man's life to end.   

I speak not this to abase the heinous fault,  
Of traitorous Acts abhorred by God, and man,  
But to make plain their judgement to be nought  
That Heresy for lesser sin do ban,  
I curse them both as deep as any can,  
And always did: yet through my foolish rhyme,  
They stained me with that most hateful crime.   

I never meant the King, or counsel harm,  
Unless to wish them safety were offence,  
Against their power I never lifted Arm,  
Neither Pen, nor Tongue for any ill Pretence.  
The Rhyme I made, though Rude, was sound in Sense,  
For they therein whom I so fond named,  
So ruled all that they were fowl defamed.   

This was no Treason but the very troth,  
They ruled all, none could deny the same:  
What was the cause then, why they were so wroth?  
What? is it treason in a riminge frame  
To clip, to stretch, to add, or change a name?  
And this reserved, there is no rhyme nor reason.  
That any craft can clout to seem a treason.   

For where I meant the King by name of Hog,  
I only alluded to his Badge the Boar:  
To Lovels name I added more our Dog,  
Because most Dogs have born that name of yore:  
These Metaphors I use with other more,  
As Cat, and Rat, the half names of the rest,  
To hide the Sense which they so wrongly wrist.   

I may you now what treason find you here  
Enough: you rubbed the guilty on the Gaul,  
Both Sense, and names do note them very near.  
I grant that was the chief cause of my fall,  
Yet can you find therein no treason at all:  
There is no word against the Prince, or State,  
No harm to them whom all the Realm did hate.   

But sith the guilty always are suspicious,  
And dread the ruin that must sue by reason,  
They cannot choose but count their counsel vicious  
That note their faults, and therefore call it treason:  
All grace, and goodness with the lewd is geason.  
This is the cause why they good things do wrist  
Where as the good take ill things to the best.   

And therefore Baldwin boldly to the good  
Rebuke their fault, so shalt thou purchase thanks  
As for the bad, thou shalt but move their mood,  
Though pleasantly thou touch their naughty pranks:  
Warn Poets all, no wise to pass the banks  
Of Helicon, but keep within the bond:  
So shall their Freedom, unto no harm redound.   
FINIS.   

GOds blessing on his heart that made this said one) specially for reviving our ancient Liberties. And I pray God it may take such place with the Magistrates, that they may ratify our old freedom, Amen said another, for that shallbe a mean both to stay and uphold themselves from falling: and also to preserve many kind true, zealous, & well meaning minds from slaughter, and infamy. If King Richard, and his counsellors had allowed, or at the lest but winked at some such wits, what great commodities might they have taken thereby. First, they should have known what the people misliked, and grudged at, (which no one of their flatterers either would or dared have told them) and so might have found mean, either by amendment (which is best) or by some other policy to have stayed the people's grudge: the forerunner commonly of Rulers destructions. Vox populi, vox dei, in this case is not so Famous a proverb as true: The experience of all times do approve it. They should also have been warned of their own sins, which call continually for God's vengeance, which never faileth to fall one their necks suddenly and horribly, unless it be stayed with hearty repentance. These weighty commodities might they have taken by Collingborns' vain rhyme. But as all things work to the best in them that be good, so best things heap up mischief in the wicked, & all to hasten their utter destruction. For after this poor wretches lamentable persecution, (the common reward of best endeavours strait followed the fatal destruction both of this Tyrant, and of his tormentors. Which I wish might be so set forth that they might be a warning forever, to all in authority to beware how they usurp, or abuse their offices. I have here (quoth I) King Richard's tragedy. Read it we pray you (quoth they) with a good Will (quoth I) For better understanding whereof, Imagine that you see him tormented with Dives in the deep Pit of Hell, and thence howling this which followeth.   

HOW RICHARD PLANtagenet Duke of Gloucester, murdered his Brother's Children usurping the Crown, and in the. iij. year of his Reign, was most worthily deprived of life, & Kingdom in Bosworth Plain, by Henry Earl of Richmond, after called King Henry the seventh, the. 22. of August. 1485.  

WHat heart so hard, but doth abhor to hear  
The rueful reign of me the third Richard?  
King unkindly called though I the Crown did wear.  
Who entered by rigour, but right did not regard,  
By tyranny proceeding in killing King Edward,  
Fift of that name, right Heir unto the Crown,  
With Richard his Brother, Princes of Renown,   

Of trust they were committed unto my governance,  
But trust turned to treason to truly it was tried,  
Both agayust Nature, Duty, and allegiance,  
For through my procurement most shamefully they died  
Desire of a Kingdom forgetteth all Kindred,  
As after by discourse it shallbe showed here,  
How cruelly these Innocents in Prison murdered were.   

The Lords, and Commons all with one assent,  
Protector made me both of Land, and King,  
But I therewith alas was not content:  
For minding mischief I meant another thing,  
Which to confusion in short time did me bring,  
For I desirous to Rule, and Reign alone,  
Sought Crown, and Kingdom, yet title had I none.   

To all Peers, and Princes, a Precedent I may be.  
The like to beware how they do enterprise,  
And learn their wretched falls by my Fact to foresee,  
Which rueful stand bewailing my chance before their eyes,  
As one clean bereft of all felicities:  
For right through might, I cruelly defaced,  
But might, helped right, and me again displaced.   

Alas that ever Prince should thus his honour stain  
With the blood of Innocents most shameful to be told  
For these two Noble Imps I caused to be slain,  
Of years not full ripe as yet to rule, and reign.  
For which I was abhorred both of yongue, and old,  
But as the deed was Odious in Sight of God, and man,  
So shame, and Destruction in the end I won.   

Both God, Nature, Duty, allegiance all forgot,  
This vile, and heinous Act unnaturally conspired:  
Which Horrible deed done, alas, alas, God wots  
Such Terrors me tormented, and so my Spirits fired,  
As unto surch a murder, and shameful deed required,  
Such broil daily felt I, breeding in my breast,  
Whereby more, and more, increased mine unrest.   

My Brother's Children were right Heirs to the Crown  
Whom Nature rather bond to defend than destroy,  
But I not regarding their Right, nor my Renown  
My whole care, and study to this end did employ,  
The Crown to obtain, and them both to put down:  
Wherein I God offended, provoking just his ire,  
For this my attempt, and most wicked desire.   

To cursed Cain compare my careful case,  
Which did unjustly slay his Brother just Abel,  
And did not I in rage make run that rueful race  
My Brother Duke of Clarence, whose death I shame to tell  
For that so strange it was, as it was horrible?  
For sure he drenched was, and yet no Water near,  
Which strange is to be told to all that shall it hear.   

The But he was not whereat I did shoot,  
But yet he stood between the Mark, and me,  
For had he lived, for me it was no boot  
To attempt the thing that by no means could be,  
For I third was then of my Brethren three:  
But yet I thought the Elder being go,  
Then needs must I bear the stroke alone.   

Desire of Rule made me alas to rue,  
My fatal fall I could it not foresee,  
Puffed up in Pride, to Haughty than I grew,  
That none my Peer I thought now could be,  
disdaining such as were of high degree:  
Thus daily rising, and pulling other down,  
At last I shot how to win the Crown.   

And daily devising which was the best way  
And mean how I might my Nephews both devour  
I secretly then sent without further delay  
To Brackinbury then Lieutenant of the Tower,  
requesting him by letters to help unto his power,  
For to accomplish this my desire, and will,  
And that he would secretly my Brother's Children kill.   

He answered plainly with a flat nay,  
saying that to dye he would not do that deed:  
But finding then a proffer to my prey,  
Well worth a friend (quoth I) yet in time of need.  
james tyrril height his name, whom with all speed,  
I sent again to Brackinbury, as you herded before,  
commanding him deliver the Keys of every Dore.   

The Keys he rendered but Partaker would not be  
Of that flagitious Fact. O happy man I say!  
As you have herded before, he rather chose to dye  
Then on those silly Lambs his violent hands to lay.  
His Conscience him pricked, his Prince to betray:  
O constant mind! that wouldst not condescend  
Thee may I praise, and myself discommend.   

What though he refused, yet be sure you may,  
That other were as ready to take in hand that thing,  
Which watched, and waited as duly for their Pray,  
As ever did the Cat for the Mouse taking,  
And how they might their purpose best to pass bring:  
Where Tyrrell he thought good to have no blood shed,  
Becast them to kill by Smotheringe in their Bed.   

The Wolves at hand were ready to devour  
The silly Lambs in Bed whereas they lay  
abiding deat●, and looking for the Hour,  
For well they witted, they could not scape away,  
Ah woe is me, that did them thus betray,  
In assigning this vile deed to be done,  
By Miles Forrest, and wicked John Dighton.   

Who privily into their Chamber stolen,  
In secret wise somewhat before Midnight,  
And 'gan the Bed together Tug, and hale,  
Be wrapping them alas in woeful plight,  
keeping them down, by force, by power, and might,  
With Halinge, Tugginge, Turmoylinge, Turned, & Tost,  
Till they of force were Forced yield the Ghost.   

Which when I herded, my heart I felt was eased  
Of grudge, of grief, of inward deadly pain,  
But with this deed the Nobles were displeased,  
And said: O God, shall such a Tyrant reign,  
That hath so cruelly his Brother's Children slain?  
Which Brutus once blown in the People's Ears,  
Their dolour was such, that they braced out in Tears.   

But what thing may suffice unto the greedy man,  
The more be baths in blood, the bloodier he is always:  
By proof I do this speak, which best declare it can,  
Which only was the cause of this Prince's decay.  
The Wolf was never greedier than I was of my Pray,  
But who so useth murder full well affirm I dare,  
With murder shall be quit, ere he thereof beware.   

And mark the sequel of this begun mischiefr  
Which shortly after was cause of my decay,  
For high, and low conceived such a grief  
And hate against me, which sought day by day,  
All ways, and means that possibly they may,  
On me to be revenged for this sin,  
For cruel murdering unnaturally my kin.   

Not only kin, but King the truth to say  
Whom unkindly of Kingdom I bereft,  
His life from him I also reached away,  
With his Brathers, which to my charge was left.  
Of ambition behold the work, and waif,  
Provokinge me to do this heinous Treason,  
And murder them against all right and reason.   

After whose death thus wrought by violence,  
The Lords not sykinge this unnatural deed,  
Began on me to have great diffidence,  
Such brunninge hate 'gan in their hearts to breed,  
Which made me doubt, and sore my danger dread:  
Which doubt, and dread proved not in vain,  
By that ensued alas unto my pain.   

For I supposing all things were as I wished,  
When I had brought these silly Babes to bane,  
But yet in that my purpose far I miss:  
For as the Moon doth change after the Wane,  
So changed the hearts of such as I had ta'en  
To be most true, to Troubles did me turn,  
Such rage, and rancour in boiling Breasts do burn.   

And suddenly a brute abroad was blown,  
That Buckingham the Duke both stern, and stout,  
In field was ready, with divers to me known,  
To give me Battle if I dared come out:  
Which daunted me, and put me in great doubt,  
For that I had no Army then prepared,  
But after that I little for it cared.   

But yet remembering, that often a little spark  
Suffered doth grow unto a great flame,  
I thought it wisdom wisely for to work,  
Mustered then men in every place I came.  
And marching forward daily with the same,  
Directly towards the Town of Salisbury,  
Where I got knowledge of the Duke's Army.   

And as I passed over Salisbury down,  
The Rumour ran the Duke was fled, and go,  
His Host dispersed besides Shrewesbury Town,  
And he dismayed was left there post alone,  
bewailing his chance, and making great mo●ne:  
Towards whom I hasted withal expedition,  
Making due search, and diligent inquisition.   

But at the first I could not of him hear,  
For he was scaped by secret by-ways,  
Unto the House of Humphrey Banastar,  
Whom he had much preferred in his Days,  
And was good Lord to him in all assays:  
Which he full evil requited in the end,  
When he was driven to seek a trusty friend.   

For it so happened to his mishap, alas,  
When I no knowledge of the Duke could hear  
A Proclamation by my Commandment was  
Published, and Cried throughout every Shire,  
That who so could tell where the Duke were,  
A Thousand mark should have for his pain.  
What thing so hard but Money can obtain?   

But were it for Money, meed, or Dread,  
That Banastar thus Betrayed his Guest,  
divers have diversly divined of this deed,  
Some deem the worst, and some judge the best,  
The doubt not dissolved, nor plainly expressed,  
But of the Duke's death he doubtless was cause,  
Which died without judgement or order of Laws.   

Lo! this Noble Duke I brought thus unto bane,  
Whose doings I doubted, and had in great dread,  
At Banastars' house I made him to be ta'en,  
And without judgement be shortened by the head,  
By the sheriff of Shropshire to Salisbury led.  
In the Market place upon the scaffold new,  
Where all the Beholders did much his death rue.   

And after this done I broke up the host,  
Greatly applauded with this heavy hap,  
And forthwith I sent to every Sea coast  
To foresee all mischiefs, and stop every gap,  
Before they should chance, or light in my lap,  
giving them in charge to have good regard,  
The Sea coast to kept with good watch and ward,   

directing my letters unto every Shrive,  
With straight Commandment under our name,  
To suffer no man in their parts to arrive  
Nor to pass forth out of the same,  
As they tendered our favour, and vodye would our blame,  
Doing therein their pain, and industry,  
With diligent care, and vigilant Eye.   

And thus setting things in order as you hear:  
To prevent mischiefs that might then betide,  
I thought myself sure, and out of all fear,  
And for other things began to provide:  
To Nottingham Castle straight did I ride,  
Where I was not very long space,  
Strange tidings came which did me sore amaze.   

Reported it was, and that for certainty,  
Th' Earl of Richmonde landed was in Wales  
At Milforde Haven with an huge Army,  
dismissing his Navy which were many Sails:  
Which at the first I thought flying Tales.  
But in the end did otherwise prove,  
Which not a little did me vex, and move.   

Thus fawninge Fortune 'gan on me to frown,  
And cast on me her scoruefull lowringe look:  
Then 'gan I fear the fall of my Renown,  
My heart it fainted, my Sinews sore they shook,  
This heavy hap a scourge for sin I took,  
Yet did I not then utterly despair,  
hoping Storms past the whether should be fair.   

And then with all speed possible I might,  
I caused them muster throughout every Shire,  
determining with the Earl speedily to fight,  
Before that his power much increased were,  
By such as to him great favour did bear:  
Which were no small number by true report made,  
Daily repairing him for to aid.   

directing my letters to divers Noble men,  
With earnest request their power to prepare,  
To Nottingham Castle whereas I lay then.  
To aid and assist me in this weighty affair:  
Where straight to my presence did then repair,  
Thou Duke of Norfolk, his Elder Son also,  
With th' Earl of Northumberland, and many other more.   

And thus being furnished with men, and munition,  
Forward we marched in order of Battle ray,  
Making by Scouts every way inquisition,  
In what place the Earl with his Camp say:  
Towards whom directly we took then our way,  
Evermore minding to seek our most avail,  
In place convenient to give to him Battle.   

So long we laboured, at last our Armies met  
On Bosworth plain besides Leicester town,  
Where sure I thought the Garland for to get,  
And purchase peace, or else to loose my Crown.  
But sickle Fortune alas on me did frown,  
For when I was Encamped in the Field,  
Where most I trusted, I soon was be guild.   

The Brand of malice thus kindling in my breast  
Of deadly hate which I to him did bear,  
Pricked me forward, and bade me not desist,  
But boldly fight, and take at all no fear,  
To win the field, and the Earl to conquer:  
Thus hoping glory great to gain, and get,  
Mine Army then in order did I set.   

Be tied me life or death I desperately ran,  
And joined me in Battle with this Earl so stout,  
But Fortune so him savoured that he the Battle won  
With force and great power I was beset about.  
Which when I did behold, in mids of the whole rout  
With deut of Sword I cast m●e on him to be revenged,  
Where in the midst of them my wretched life I ended.   

My body was hurried, and Tugged like a Dog,  
On horseback all naked, and bore as I was born.  
My head, hands, and feet, down hanging like a Hog,  
With Dirt, and blood hesprent, my Corpse all to torn,  
Cursnge the day that ever I was born,  
With grievous wounds be mangled most horrible to see,  
So sore they did abhor this my vile cruelty.   

Lo! here you may behold the due, and just reward  
Of tyranny, and treason which God doth most detest,  
For if unto my duty I had taken regard,  
I might have lived still in honour with the best,  
And had I not attempt the thing that I aught lest.  
But desire to rule alas did me so blind,  
Which caused me to do against nature, and kind.   

Ah crused Caitiff, why did I climb so high,  
Which was the cause of this my baleful thrall.  
For still I thirsted for the Regal Dignity,  
But hasty rising threateneth sudden fall,  
Content yourselves with your Estates all,  
And seek not right by wrong to suppress,  
For God hath promised each wrong to redress.   

See here the fine, and fall of me,  
And guerdon due for this my wretched deed,  
Which to all Princes a mirror now may be  
That shall this Tragical Story after reed,  
Wyshinge them all by me to take heed,  
And suffer right to rule as it is reasou,  
For time trieth out both truth, and also treason.   
FINIS.  
F. Seg.   

WHen I had read this, we had much talk about it. For it was thought not vehement enough for so violent a man as king Richard had been. The matter was well enough liked of some, but the metre was misliked almost of all.  
And when divers therefore would not allow it, what (quoth one) You know not whereupon you stick: else you would not so much mislike this because of the uncertain metre. The cumelynesse called by the Rhetoricians Decorum, is specially to be observed in all things. Seeing than that king Richard never kept measure in any of his doings, seeing also he speaketh in Hell, whereas is no order: it were against the Decorum of his parsonage to use either good meeter or order.  
And therefore if his Oration were far worse, in my opinion it were more fit for him. Mars and the Muses did never agreed. Neither is to be suffered that their mild sacred Art should seem to proceed from so cruel and profane a mouth as his: seeing they themselves do abhor it.  
And although we read of Nero, that he was excellent both in Music, & in versifying, yet do not I remember that ever I see any song or Verse of his making: Minerau justly providing that no monument should remain of any such unjust usurpaton. And therefore let this pass even as it is which the writer I know both could and would amend in many places, save for keeping the Decorun which he purposely hath oblerued herein.  
In deed (quoth I) as you say: It is not meet that so disorderly, and unnatural a man as King Richard was, should observe any metrical order in his talk: which notwithstanding in many places of his Oration is very well kept: it shall pass therefore even as it is, though to good for so evil a person. Then they willed me to read the black Smith, With a good will (quoth I) but first you must Imagine that you see him standing on a Ladder overshrined with the Tybourne a meet Stage for all such Rebels, & Traitors: & there stoutly saying as followeth.   

THE WILFUL FALL OF black Smith, and the foolish end of the Lord Awdeley in june. Anno. 1496. * ⁎ *  

WHo is more bold than is the blind Beard?  
Where is more craft than in the Clouted shone?  
Who catch more harm than such as nothing feared?  
Where is more guile than where mistrust is none?  
Not plasters help before the grief be known,  
So seems by me who could no wisdom leare,  
Until such time I bought my wit to dear.   

Who being Boisterous, Stout, and brainless bold,  
Puffed up with Pride, with fierce, and Furies fret,  
Incensed with Tales so rude and plainly told,  
Wherein deceit with double knot was knit,  
I trapped was as silly fish in net,  
Who swift in swiming, not doubtful of deceit,  
Is caught in Gin whererein is laid no bait.   

Such force, and virtue hath this doleful plaint,  
Set forth with Sighs, and tears of Crocodile,  
Who seems in slight as simple as a Saint,  
Hath laid a Bait the warelesse to beguile,  
And as they weep they work deceit the while  
Whose rueful cheer the Rulers so relent,  
To work in haste that they at last repennt.   

Take heed therefore ye Rulers of the Land,  
Be blind in sight, and stop your other Ear,  
In sentence slow, till skill the truth have scanned,  
In all your dooms both love, and hare forbear,  
So shall your judgement Just, and right appear:  
It was a southfast sentence long ago,  
That hasty men shall never lack much woe.   

Is it not truth? Baldwin, what sayest thou?  
Say on thy mind, I pray thee muse no more.  
Me think thou starest and lookest I wots not how,  
As though thou never sawest a man before:  
By like thou musest why I teach this lore,  
Else what I am that here so boldly dare,  
Among the Press of Princes to compare.   

Though I be bold, I pray thee blame not me,  
Like as men sow, such Corn needs must the reap,  
And nature hath so planted in each degree,  
That Crabs like Crabs will kindly crawl, and creep:  
The subtle fox unlike the silly sheep:  
It is according to mine Education,  
froward to Press in Rout, and Congregation.   

Behold my coat burned with the Sparks of Fire,  
My Leather Aporn filled with horse shoe Nails,  
Behold my Hammer, and my Pincers here,  
Behold my looks a mark that seldom fails:  
My Cheeks declare I was not ●ed with quails,  
My Face, my Clotheses, my Tools with all my fashion,  
Declare full well a Prince of rude Creation.   

A Prince I said, a Prince I say again,  
Though not by birth by crafrie usurpation,  
Who doubts but some men princehood do obtain,  
By open force and wrongful domination,  
Yet while they rule are had in reputation:  
Even so by me the while I wrought my feat,  
I was a prince at lest in my conceit.   

I dare the bolder take on me the name,  
Because of him whom here I lead in hand,  
Tychet Lord Awdley a Lord of birth and fame,  
Which with his power and strength served in my hand,  
I was a Prince while that I was so● manned:  
His butterfly still underneath my shield,  
Displayed was from Welles, to Blackheath field.   

But now behold he doth bewail the same:  
Thus after wits their rashness do deprave,  
Behold dismayed he dare not speak for shame,  
He looks like one that late came from the grave,  
Or one that came forth of Trophonius cave,  
For that in wy the had so little pith,  
As he a Lord to serve a traytout Smith.   

Such is the courage of the noble heart,  
Which doth despise the vile and base sort,  
He may not touch that savours of the cart,  
Him listeth not with each jacke rout to sport,  
He lets him pass for pairing of his port,  
The jolly eagles earth not little flees,  
The courtly silks match ceil with homely frees.   

But surely Baldwin if I were allowed  
To say the truth, I could somewhat declare:  
But clerks will say, this Smyth doth wax to proud,  
Thus in precepts of wisdom to compare,  
But Smiths must speak that clerks for fear ne dare  
It is a thing that all men may lament,  
When clerks keep close the truth lest they be shent.   

The Ostler, Barber, miller, and the Smyth,  
Hear of the saws of such as wisdom ken,  
And learn some wit although they want the pith,  
The clerks pretend and yet both now and then,  
The greatest clerks prove not the wisest men:  
It is not right that men forbidden should be:  
To speak the truth all were he bond or free.   

And for because I have used to fret and foam,  
Not passing greatly whom I should displease,  
I dare be bold awhile to play the mome,  
Out of my sack some others faults to lease,  
And let mine own behind my back to poise,  
For ' he that hath his own before his eye,  
Shall not so quick another's fault espy   

I say was never no such woeful case,  
As is when honour doth itself abuse:  
The noble man that virtue doth embrace,  
Represseth pride, and humbleness doth use,  
By wisdom works, and rashness doth refuse  
His wanton will and lust that bridle can,  
In deed is gentle both to God and man.   

But where the nobles want both wit and grace,  
Regard no reed, care not but for their lust,  
Oppress the Poor, set will in reason's place,  
And in their words, and domes be found unjust,  
Wealth goeth to wrack till all lie in the dust:  
There Fortune frowns, and spite beginneth to grow,  
Till high, and low, and all be overthrow.   

Then sith that virtue hath so good reward,  
And after vice so duly waiteth shame,  
How hapth that Princes have no more regard,  
Their tender youth with virtue to inflame?  
For lack whereof the wit and will is lame,  
Infect with folly, prove to lust, and pride,  
Not knowing how themselves or there's to guide.   

Whereby it happeneth to the wanton wight,  
As to a Ship upon the stormy Seas,  
Which lacking stern to guide itself a right,  
From Shore, to Shore the Wind, and Tide do teese,  
Finding no place to rest and take his ease,  
Till at the last it sink upon the Sand:  
So far they all that have not virtue cand.   

The Ploughman first his Land doth dress, and turn,  
And makes it apt or ere the Seed be sow,  
Whereby he is full like to reap good Corne.  
Where otherwise no seed but weed would grow:  
By which ensample men may easily know,  
When youth have wealth before they can well use it  
It is no wonder though they do abuse it.   

How can he rule well in a common wealth,  
Which knoweth not himself in rule to fray?  
How should he rule himself in ghostly health,  
Which never learned one lesson for the same:  
If such catch harm their Parents are to blame:  
For needs must they be blind, and blindly led.  
Where no good lesson can be taught or read.   

Some think their youth discreet, and wisely taught,  
That brag, and boast, and wear their Feather brave,  
Can roist, and rout, both lower, and look a fit,  
Can swear, and stare, and call their fellows Knave,  
Can pill, and poll, and catch before they crave,  
Can Card, and Dice, both Cog, and Foist at fare,  
Play on unthrifty, till their Purse be bore.   

Some teach their youth to pipe, to sing, and dance,  
To Hawk, to Hunt, to choose and kill the game,  
To wind their horn, and with their horse to prance,  
To play at Tennis, set the Lute in frame,  
Run at the Ring and use such other game:  
Which feats although they be not all unfit,  
Yet cannot they the mark of virtue hit.   

For noble youth, there is nothing so meet  
As learning is, to know the good from ill:  
To know the Tongues, and perfectly indite,  
And of the laws to have a perfect skill,  
Things to reform as right, and justice will:  
For honour is ordained for no cause,  
But see right maintained by the Laws,   

It spites my heart to hear when Noble men  
Cannot diclose their secrets to their friend,  
In safeguard sure with Paper, Ink, and Pen,  
But first they must a secretary find,  
To whom they show the bottom of their mind:  
And be he false, or true, a Blab, or close,  
To him they must their counsel needs disclose.   

And where they rule that have of Law no skill,  
There is no boot, they needs must seek for aid:  
Then ruled are they, and rule as others will:  
As he that on a Stage his part hath played:  
But he was taught naught hath he done, or said.  
Such youth therefore s●eke Science of the Sage,  
As think to Rule when that ye come to age.   

Where youth is brought up in fear, and Obedience,  
Kept from ill company, bridled of their lust,  
Do serve God duly, and know their allegiawce,  
Learn godly wisdom which time nor age can rust:  
There Prince, People, and Peers needs prospero must,  
For happy are the People, and blessed is that Land,  
Where Truth, and Virtue have got the over hand.   

I speak this Baldwyn of this rueful Lord,  
Whom I perforce do here present to thee,  
He faynts so sore he may not speak a word,  
I plead his cause without reward, or Fee,  
And am enforced to speak for him, and me.  
If in his youth he had been wisely taught,  
He should not now his Wit so dear have bought.   

For what is he that hath but half a Wit,  
But may well know that Rebels cannot speed,  
Mark well my Tale, and take good heed to it,  
Recount it well and take it for good reed,  
If it prove vutrue I will not trust my creed.  
Was never Rebel before the World, nor since,  
That could or shall prevail against his Prince.   

For ere the Subject beginneth to rebel,  
Within himself let him consider well,  
Foresee the danger, and beaten well in his Brain,  
How hard it is his purpose to obtain,  
For if he once be entered to the Brears,  
He hath a raging Wolf fast by the Ears.   

And when he is once entered to rule the beastly rout,  
Although he would he can no way get out.  
He may be sure none will to him resort,  
But such as are the vile, and rascal sort.  
All honest men as well the most as least,  
To taste of treason will utterly detest.   

Then let him way how long he can be sure,  
Where faith, nor Friendship may no while endure:  
He whom he trusteth most, to gain a groat  
will fall him from, and assay to cut his throat,  
Among the Knaves, and slaves where vice is rooted,  
There is no other Friendship to be looked.   

With Slashers, Slaves, ' & Snuffers so falsehood is in price  
The simple faith is deadly sin, and virtue counted vice.  
And where the Quarrel is so vile, and bad,   

That hope of aid than is there to be had?  
Thyncks he that Men will run at this, or that,  
To do a thing they know not hue, or what?   

Nor yet what danger may thereof betide,  
Where Wisdom would they should at home abide,  
Rather than seek, and know not what to find.  
wisemen will first debate this in their mind:  
Full sure they are if that they go to wreck,  
Without all grace they lose both head, and neck.   

They lose their Lands, and Goods, their Child, and Wife  
With Sorrow, and Shame shall lead a woeful Life,  
If he be slain in field he dieth accursed,  
Which of all wrecks we should attempt the worst:  
And he that dieth defending his liege Lord,  
Is blessed, and blessed again by Gods own word.   

And where the soldiers wages is unpaid,  
There is the Captain slenderly obeyed,  
And where the Soldier is out of fear, and dread,  
He will be lack when that there is most need,  
And privately he seeks his ease, and leisure,  
And will be ruled but at his will, and pleasure.   

And where some draw forth, and other do draw back,  
There in the end must needs he woe, and wrack:  
To hope for aid of Lords it is but vain,  
Whose fore taught wit of treason knoweth the pain,  
They know what power a Prince hath in his Land,  
And what it is with Rebels for to stand.   

They know by treason honour is defaced,  
Their offspring and their progeny disgraced,  
They know to honour is not so worthy a thing,  
As to be true and faithful to their king,  
Above cognisance or arms, or pedigrew far,  
An unspotted cote is like a blazing star:   

Therefore the rebel is accursed and mad,  
That hopeth for that which rebel never had:  
Who trusting still to dales doth hung in hope,  
Till at the last he hung fast by the rope,  
For though such tales be told that hope might feed,  
Such foolish hope hath still unhappy speed.   

It is a custom that never will be broken,  
In broils the bag of lies is ever open,  
Such lying news men daily will invent,  
As can the hearers fancy best content,  
And as the news do run and never cease,  
So more and more they daily do increase,   

And as they increase they multiply as fast,  
That ten is ten hundred, ten thousand at the last.  
And though the rebel had once got the ●elo,  
Thinks he thereby to make his prince to yield?  
A prince's power within his own region,  
Is not so soon brought unto confusion.   

For Kings by God are strong, and stoutly hearted,  
That they of Subjects will not be subverted:  
If Kings would yield, yet God would them restrain,   

Of whom the Prince hath grace, and power to reign:  
Who straightly charges us above all thing,  
That no man should resist against his King.   

Who that resisteth his dread sovereign Lord,  
Doth damn his soul by Gods own very word.  
A Christian Subject should with honour due,  
Obey his sovereign though he were a jew:  
Whereby assured when Subjects do rebel,  
God's wrath is kindled, and threateneth fire, and hell.   

It is soon known when God's wrath is kindled,  
How they shall speed with whom he is offended:  
If God gave victory to whom he liketh best,  
Why look they for it whom God doth most detest?  
For treason is hateful, and abhorred in God's sight,  
Example of judas that most wicked Wight:   

Which is the chief cause no treason prevails,  
For ill must he speed, whom God's wrath assails:  
Let Traitors, and Rebels look to speed then,  
When Gods mighty power is subject to men.  
Much might be said that goeth more near the Pith,  
But this sufficeth for a rural Smith.   

Baldwin when thou hearest my reason in this case,  
Belike thou thinkest I was not very wise,  
And that I was accursed, or else lacked grace,  
Which knowing the end of my fond Enterprise,  
Would thus presume against my Prince to rise:  
But as there is a cause that moveth every woe,  
Somewhat there was whereof this sore did grow.   

And to be plain and simple in this case,  
The cause why I such matter took in hand,  
Was nothing else but pride and lack of grace,  
Vain hope of help, and tales both false and fond:  
By means whereof I did my prince withstand,  
Denied the tax assest by convocation  
To maintain war against the Scottish Nation.   

Whereat the Cornish men did much repined,  
For they of Gold and Silver were full bore,  
And lived hardly digging in the Mine,  
They said they had no money for to spare:  
Began first to grudge, and then to swear and stare,  
Forgot their due obeisance, and rashly fell to raving,  
And said they would not bear such polling and such shaving.   

They first accused the king as author of their grief,  
And then the bishop Moreton. and sir Reinold Bray,  
For they then were about the king most chief,  
Because they thought the hole fault in them lay:  
They did protest to rid them out of the way.  
Such thank have they that rule about a prince,  
They bear the blame of other men's offence.   

When I perceived the commons in a roar,  
Then I and Flamocke consulted both together,  
To whom the people resorted more and more,  
Lamenting and crying, help us now or never,  
Break this yoke of bondage then are we free for ever:  
Whereat we inflamed in hope to have a fame,  
To be their captains took on us the name.   

Then might you hear the people make a shout,  
And cry, God save the Captains, & send us all good speed,  
Then he that fainted was counted but a lout,  
The ruffians ran abroad to sow seditious seed:  
To call for company then there was no need  
For every man laboured another to entice,  
To be partaker of his wicked vice.   

Then all such news as made for our avail,  
Was brought to me, but such as sounded ill,  
Was none so bold to speak or yet bewail:  
Euerich was so wedded unto his will,  
That forth they cried with bows, sword and bill.  
And what the ruffler spoke, the lout toake for a verdict  
For there the best was worst, the worst was best regarded.   

For when men go a madding, there still the viler part  
Conspire together and will have all the sway,  
And be it well or i'll, they must have all the port,  
As they will do, the rest must needs obey,  
They prattle and prate as doth the popinjay:  
They cry and command the rest to keep tharray,  
While they may range and rob for spoil and pray.   

And when we had prepared every thing,  
We went to Tawnton with all our provision,  
And there we slew the Provost of Pentyn,  
For that on the subsidy he sat in commission:  
He was not wise, nor yet of great discretion,  
That dared approach his enemies in their rage,  
When wit nor reason could their ire assuage.   

From thence we went to Welles, where we were received  
Of this Lord Awdley, as of our chief captain,  
And so had the name, but yet he was deceived,  
For I in deed did rule the clubbish train,  
My cartly knights true honour did disdain:  
For like doth lave his like. it will be none other,  
A churl will love a churl, before he will his brother.   

From Wells to Winchester, and so to Blackheat● field,  
And there we encamped looking for more aid,  
But when none came, we though ourselves beguiled,  
Such Cornish men as known they were betrayed,  
From their fellows by night away they strayed:  
There might we learn how vain it is to trust,  
Our feigned friends in quarrels so unjust.   

But we the sturdy captains that thought our power was strong,  
Were bend to try our Fortune what ever should be●ide  
We were the bolder, for that the king so long  
Deferred battle: which so increased our pride,  
That sure we thought the king himself did bide  
Within the city, therefore with courage halt,  
We did determine the city to assault.   

But he working contrary to our expectation,  
Was fully minded to let us run our race,  
Till we were from our domestical habitation,  
Where that of aid or succour was no place,  
And then to be plagued as it should please his grace,  
But all doubtful plaints▪ how ever they did sound,  
To our best veil we asway did expound.   

When that the king see time, with courage bold  
He sent a power to circu●nent us all:  
Where we enclosed as simple sheep in fold,  
Where slain & myrdred as beasts in butcher's stall,  
The king himself, what ever thaunce might fall,  
Was strongly encamped within S. George's seld,  
And there abode till that he heard us yield.   

Then down we kneeled, and cried to save our life,  
It was to late our folly to bewail,  
There were we spoiled of armour, cote, and knife:  
And we which thought with pride the city to assail,  
Were led in prisoners naked as my nail,  
But of us two thousand they had slain before,  
And we of them three hundred and no more.   

This my Lord and we the captains of the west  
took our jane at Newgate fast in ferters tied,  
Where after trial we had but little rest,  
My Lord throw London was drawn on a slide,  
To Tower hill where with an axe he died,  
Clad in his cote armour painted all in paper,  
Corn and reversed inspite of his behaviour.   

And I with Thomas Flamocke, & other of our bent,  
As traitors at Tybourne our judgement did obey:  
The people looked I should my fault lament,  
To whom I holdly spoke that for my fond assay,  
I was sure of fame that never should decay:  
Whereby you may perceive bayn glory doth inflame  
aswell the meaner sort as men of greater name.   

But as the sickly patient, sometime hath desire  
To cast the things that Physic hath denied,  
And hath both pain and sorrow for his hire,  
The same to me right well may be applied,  
Which while I reached for fame on shame did slide  
And seeking fame brought forth my bitter bane.  
As he that fired temple of Diane.   

I tell thee Baldwin, I muse right often to see  
How every man for wealth and honour gapeth,  
How every man would climb above the sky,  
How every, man chassured mean so hateth,  
How froward Fortune often their purpose mateth:  
And if they hap their purpose to obtaint,  
Their wealth is woe, their honour care and pain.   

We see the servant more happy than his Lord,  
We see him live when that his Lord is dead,  
He sleepeth sound, is merry at his board,  
No sorrow in his heart doth vex his head:  
Happy then is he that poverty can wed,  
What gain the mighty conquerors when they be dead  
By all the spoil and blood that they have shed?   

The terrible tower where honour hath his seat,  
Is high on rocks more slipper than the ice,  
Where still the whorling wind doth roar and beat,  
Where sudden qualms and peries still arise,  
And is beset with many sundry vice,  
So strange to men when first they come thereat,  
They be amazed, and do they wots not what.   

He that prevails and to the tower can climb,  
With trouble and care must needs abridge his days,  
And he that slydes may curse the hour and time,  
He did attempt to give so fond assays,  
And all his life to sorrow and shame obeys▪  
Thus slide he down or to the top ascend,  
Assure himself repentance is the end.   

Wherefore Baldwine do thou record my name  
To be ensample to such as credit lies,  
Or thirst to suck the sugared cup of fame,  
Or do attempt against their prince to rise,  
And charge them all to keep within their size:  
Who doth assay to wrist beyond his strength,  
Let him be sure he shall repent at length,   

And at my request admonish thou all men,  
To spend well the talon which God to them hath lent,  
And he that hath but one, let him not toil for ten,  
For one is too much, unless it be well spent:  
I have had the proof, therefore I now repent,  
And happy are those men, and blessed and blessed is he,  
As can be well content to serve in his degree.   
FINIS.  
Master Caville.   

IT is pity (quoth one) that the metre is no better seeing the matter is so good: you may do very well to help it, and a little fyling would make it formal.  
The author himself (quoth I) could have done that, but he would not, and hath desired me that it may pass in such rude, sort as you have heard it: for he observeth therein a double decorum both of the Smith, and of himself: for he thinketh it not meet for the Smyth to speak nor for himself to write in any exact kind of meeter Welsayd another: the matter is notable to teach all people aswell officers as subjects to consider their estates and to live in love & obedience to the highest powers. what so ever they be, whom God either by birth, law, succession, or universal election, doth or shall aucthorise in his own room to execute his laws and justice, among any people or nation: for by all these means God placeth his deputies, and in my judgement there is no mean so good either for the common quiet of the people, or for gods free choice, as the natural order of inheritance by lineal descent for so it is left in God's hands, to created in the womb what prince he thinketh meetest for his purposes: the people also know their princes and therefore the more gladly and willingly receive and d●●y them. And although same realms more careful than wy●e, have entailed their Crown to their Male thinking it not meet for the fyminine sex to bear the royal office: yet if they consider all circumstances, and the chiefest uses of a prince in a realm, they shall see how they are deceived. For princes are Gods lieutenauntes or deputies, to see gods laws executed among their subjects, not to rule according to their own lusts or devices, but by the prescript of God's laws: so that the chiefest point of a prince's office consists in obedience to god and to his ordinances, & what should let but that a woman may be as obedient unto God as a man? The second point of a prince's office is to provide for the impotent, needy, and helpless, as widows, orphans, lame, and decrepit people: & seeing women are by nature tender hearted, mild, and pitiful who may better than they discharge this duty? Yea but a woman lacketh courage, boldness, and stomach, to withstand the adversary, and so are her subjects an open spoil to their enemies. Deborah, jael, judith. Thomiris, and other do prove the contrary. But grant it were so: what harm were that seeing victory consists not in wit or for●e, but in God's pleasure. I am sure that whatsoever prince doth his duty in obeying God, and causing justice to be ministered according to God's laws, shall not only lack war (be he man, woman or child) but also be a terror to all other princes. And if God suffer any at any time to be assailed it is for the destruction of the assayler, whether he be 〈…〉 foreign foe, & to the honour & profit of the virtuous prince, in whose behalf rather than he shall miscarye, God himself will fight with enferuous, & earthquakes from the land and waters, and with storms, and lighteninges from the air and skies. More wars have been sought through the wilful & haughty courages of kings and greater destructions happened to realm thereby, than by any other means. And as for wisdom and policy, seeing it consists in following the counsel of many godly, learned, & long experienced heads, it were better to have a Woman, who considering her own weakness and inability, should be ruled thereby, than a man which presuming upon his own fond brain, will hear no advise save his own. You muse peradventure wherefore I say this. The frantic heads which disable our Queen, because she is a woman, & our king because he is a stranger, to be our princes & chief governors hath caused me to say thus much For what soever man, woman, or child, is by the consent, of the whole realm established in the royal seat, so it have not been injuriously procured by rigour of sword and open force, but quietly, by title, either of inheritance, succession, lawful bequest, common consent, or election, is undoubtedly choose by God to be his deputy: and whosoever resistethe any such, resisteth against God himself, and is a rank traitor and rebel, and shallbe sure to prospero aswell as the Black Smyth and other such have done. All resist that wilful break any law, not being against God's law, made by common conset for the wealth of the realm, and commanded to be kept by authority of the prince: or that deny to pay such duties, as by consent of the high court of Parliament, are appoint to the Prince for the defence and preservation of the realm. You have said very truly herein (quoth I) and I trust this terrible example of the Black Smyth, will put all men in mind of their duties and teach them to be obedient to all good laws, and lawful contributions. The scriptures do forbidden us to rebel, or forcibly to withstand Princes, though they command unjust things: yet in any case we may not do them but receive quietly at the prince's hand whatsoever punishment God shall suffer to be laid upon us for our refusal, God will suffer none of his to be tempted above their strength. But because these two people last before rehearsed were thought not only obscure in matter, but also crabbed in the meeter (I have here ready to supply that which lacked in them) Shore's wife, an eloquent wench, which shall finish out both in metre & matter, that which could not comlily be said in their people Mark I pray you what she saith, & tell me how you like it.   

HOW SHORE'S WIFE King Edward the fowerthes' Concubine, was by king Richard despoiled of all her goods, and forced to do open penance.  

AMong the rest by Fortune overthrown,  
I am not lest, that most may wail her fate:  
My fame and bruit abroad the world is blown,  
Who can forget a thing thus done so late?  
My greae mischance, my fall and heavy state,  
Is such a mark whereat each tongue doth shoot,  
That my good name is plucked up by the rohte.   

This wandering world bewitched me with wiles,  
And won my wits with wanton sugared joys,  
In Fortune's frekes who trusts her when she smiles,  
Shall find her false and full of ●ickle toys,  
Her triumphs all but fill our ears with 'noys,  
Her flattering gifts are pleasure mixed with pain.  
Yea all her words are thunders threatening rain.   

The fond desire that we in glory set,  
Doth thirl our hearts to hope in supper hap,  
A blast of pomp is all the fruit we get,  
And under that li●● hide a sudden clap,  
An seeking rest unwares we fall in trap:  
In groping flowers: with nettles stung we are,  
In labouring long we reap the crop of care,   

O dark deceit with painted face for show,  
O poisoned bait that makes us eager still,  
O feigned friend deceiving people so,  
O world of the we cannot speak to ill:  
Yet fools we are to bend so to thy skill,  
The plague and scourge, that thousands daily feel,  
Should warn the wise to shun thy whirling wheel.   

But who can stop the stream that runs full swift?  
Or quench the fire that crept is in the straw?  
The thirsty drinks, there is no other shift,  
Perforce is such that need obeys no law:  
Thus bond we are in worldly yokes to draw,  
And cannot stay, nor turn again in time,  
Nor learn of those that sought to high to climb.   

Myself for proof so here I now appear,  
In woman's weed with weeping watered eyes,  
That bought her youth and her delights full dear,  
Whose loud reproach doth sound unto the skies  
And bids my corpse out of the grave arise,  
As o●e that may no longer hide her face,  
But needs must come and show her piteous case.   

The sheet of shame wherein I shrouded was  
Did move me often to plame before this day,  
And in mine ears did ring the trump of brass,  
Which is defame, that dothech vice bewray.  
Yea though full dead and low in earth I lay,  
I herded the voice of me what people said,  
But then to speak alas I was afraid.   

And now a time for me I see prepared,  
I hear the lives and falls of many wights:  
My tale therefore the ●●●ter may be herded,  
For at the torch the little candle lights.  
Where pageauntes u●e, small things fill out the sights,  
Wherefore give ear, good Baldwin do thy best,  
My tragedy to place among the rest.   

Because the truth shall witness well with thee,  
I will rehearse in order as it fallen,  
My life, my death, my doleful destiny,  
My wealth, my woe, my doing every deal,  
My bitter bliss, wherein I long did dwell:  
A whole discourse by me Shore's wife by name,  
Now shalt thou hear as thou hadst seen the same.   

Of noble blood I cannot boast my birth,  
For I was made out of the meanest mould,  
Mine heritage but seven foot of earth,  
Fortune ne gave to me the gifts of Gold:  
But I could brag of nature if I would,  
Who filled my face with favour fresh and fair,  
Whose beauty shone like Phoebus in the air.   

My sh●pe some said was seemly to each sight,  
My countenance did show a sober grace,  
Mine eyes in looks were never proved light,  
My tongue in words was chaste in every case,  
Mine ears were deaf and would no lovers place,  
Save that (alas) a prince did blot my brow.  
Lo, there the strong did make the weak to bow.   

The majesty that kings to people bear,  
The stately port, the awful cheer they show,  
Doth make the mean to shrink & couch for fea●  
Like as the hound, that doth his master know:  
What then, since I was made unto the bow:  
There is no cloak, can serve to hide my fault,  
For I agreed the fort he should assault.   

The Eagles' fort subdues each bird that flies.  
What metal may resist the flaming fire?  
Doth not the Sun, dastll the clearest eyes,  
And melt the ice, and make the frost retire?  
Who can withstand a puissant kings desire?  
The stiffest stones are pierced through with tools,  
The wisest are, with princes made but fools.   

If kind had wrought my form in common frames,  
And set me forth in colours black and brown,  
Or beauty had been parched in Phoebus' flames,  
Of shame fast ways had plucked my feathers down,  
Then had I kept my fame and good renown:  
For nature's gifts was cause of all my grief.  
A pleasant prey enticeth many a thief.   

Thus woe to thee that wrought my peacocks pride,  
By clothing me with nature's tapistry,  
woe worth the hue wherein my face was died,  
Which made me think I pleased every eye:  
Like as the stars make men behold the sky,  
So beauties show doth make the wise full fond.  
And brings free hearts full of to endiesse bond.   

But clear from blame my friends cannot be found  
Before my time my youth they did abuse:  
In marriage, a prentice was I bond,  
Then that mere love I known not how to use.  
But well away. that cannot me excuse,  
The harm is mine though they devised my care,  
And I must smart and sit in slanderous snare.   

Yet give me leave to plead my cause at large,  
If that the horse de run beyond his race,  
Or any thing that keepers have in charge,  
Do break their course, where rulers may take place:  
Or meat be set before the hungries' face,  
Who is in fault thoffender yes or not,  
Or they that are the cause of all this woe?   

Note well what strife this forced marriage makes,  
What loathed lives do come where love doth lack.  
What scratching breers do grow upon such brakes,  
What common weals by it are brought to wrack,  
What beavye load is put on pacientes back,  
What strange delights this branch of vice doth breed  
And mark what grain springs out of such a seed.   

Compel the hawk to sit that is unmanned,  
Or make the hound untaught to draw the Deer,  
Or bring the free against his will in hand,  
Or move the sad a pleasant tale to hear,  
Your time is lost and you are never the near:  
So love ne learns of force the knot to knit,  
She serves but those that feel sweet fancies fit.   

The less defame redoundes to my dispraise,  
I was entiste by trains, and trapped by trust:  
Though in my power remained yeas and nays,  
Unto my friends yet needs consent I must,  
In every thing, you lawful or unjust.  
They broke the bows and shaked the tree by sleight,  
And bend the wand that might have grown full straight.   

What help is this, the pale thus broken down,  
The dear must needs in danger run astray:  
At me therefore why should the world so frown,  
My weakness made my youth a Princes pray.  
Though wisdom should the course of nature stay,  
Yet try my case who list, and they shall prove,  
The ripest wits are soonest thralls to love.   

What need I more to clear myself to much?  
A King me won, and had me at his call:  
His royal state his Princely grace was such,  
The hope of will (that women seek for all,)  
The ease, the wealth, the gifts which were not small,  
Besieged me so strongly round about,  
My power was weak I could not hold him out.   

Duke Hannibal in all his conquest great,  
Or Caesar yet, whose triumphs did exceed,  
Of all their spoils which made them toil and sweat,  
Were not so glad to have so rich a meed,  
As was this Prince when I to him agreed.  
And yielded me a prisoner willingly,  
As one that known no way away to fly.   

The Nightingale for all his merry voice  
Nor yet the Lark that yet delights to sing,  
Did never make the hearers so rejoice,  
As I with words have made this worthy king:  
I never iarde, in tune was every string,  
I c●mpered so my tongue to please his ear,  
That what I said was currant every where.   

I joined my talk, my gestures, and my grace  
In wictie frames that long might last and stand,  
So that I brought the King in such a case,  
That to his death I was his chiefest hand,  
I governed him that ruled all this land:  
I bore the sword though he did wear the crown,  
I struck the stroke that threw the mighty down:   

If justice said that judgement was but death,  
With my sweet words I could the king persuade,  
And make him pause and take therein a breath,  
Till I with suit the fautors peace had made:  
I known what way to use him in his trade,  
I had the art to make the Lion meek.  
There was no point wherein I was to seek.   

If I did frown, who then did look awry:  
If I did smile, who would not laugh outright?  
If I but spoke, who dared my words deny?  
If I pursued, who would forsake the flight?  
I meant my power was known to every wight,  
On such a height good hap had built my bower,  
As though my sweet should never have turned to sour.   

My husband then as one that known his good,  
Refused to keep a Prince's Concubine,  
Foreseeing the end and mischief as it stood,  
Against the King did never much repined,  
He see the grape whereof he drank the wine,  
Though inward thought his heart did still torment.  
Yet outwardly he seemed he was content.   

To purchase praise and win the people's zeal,  
Yea rather bend of kind to do some good,  
I ever did uphold the common weal,  
I had delight to save the guiltless blood:  
Each suitors cause when that I understood,  
I did prefer as it had been mine own,  
And help them up that might have been o'erthrown.   

My power was priest to right the pooremans' wrong,  
My hands were free to give where need required,  
To watch for grace I never thought it long,  
To do men good I need not be desired.  
Nor yet with gifts my heart was never hired.  
But when the Ball was at my foot to guide,  
I played to those that Fortune did abide.   

My want was wealth, my woe was ease at will,  
My robes was ri●h and bra●●r than the Sun:  
My Fortune thou was far about my skill,  
My state was great, my glass did ever run,  
My fatal ●●reede so happily was spun,  
That then I sat in earthly pleasures clad,  
And for the time a goddess place I had.   

But I had not so soon this life possessed,  
But my good hap began to slip aside.  
And Fortune than did me so sore molest,  
That unto plaints was turned all my Pride,  
It booted not to row against the tide:  
Mine dares were weak my heart and strength did fail,  
The wind was rough I dared not bear a sail,   

What steps of strife belong to high estate?  
The climbing up is doubtful to endure,  
The seat itself doth purchase privy hate,  
And honour's fame is ●ekle and unsure,  
And all she brings, is flowers that be unpure:  
Which fall as fast as they do sprout and spring,  
Ind cannot last they are so vain a thing.   

We count no care to catch that we do wish,  
But what we win is long to us unknown,  
Till present pain be served in our dish,  
We scarce perceive whereon our grief hath grown:  
What grain proves well that is so rashly sown?  
If that a mean did measure all out deeds,  
Ind steed of corn we should not gather weeds.   

The settled mind is free from Fortune's power,  
They need not fear who look not up aloft,  
But they that clime are careful every hour,  
For when they fall they light not very soft:  
Examples hath the wisest warned often,  
That where the trees the smallest branches bear,  
The storms do blow and have most rigour there.   

Where is it strong but near the Ground, and Root?  
Where is it weak but on the highest Sprays?  
Where may a man so surely set his Foot,  
But on those Boowes that groweth low always?  
The little Twiges are but unsteadfast stays,  
If they break not, they bend with every blast,  
Who trusts to them shall never stand full fast.   

The Wind is great upon the highest Hills,  
The quiet life is in the Dale be low,  
Who treads on Ice shall slide against their wills,  
They want not Cares that curious Arts would know.  
Who lives at ease, and can content him so,  
Is perfect wise, and sets us all to School,  
Who hates this lore may well be called a Foole.   

What greater grief may come to any life,  
Than after sweet to taste the bitter sour?  
Or after Peace to fall at War, and strife,  
Or after mirth to have a cause to lower?  
Under such Props false Fortune builds her Bower,  
On sudden change her fliteringe Frames be set,  
Where is no way for to escape her Net.   

The hasty smart that Fortune sends in spite  
Is hard to brook where gladness we embrace,  
She threatens not, but suddenly doth smite,  
Where joy is most, there doth she Sorrow place.  
But sure I think, this is to strange a case,  
For us to feel such grief amid our Game,  
And know not why until we taste the same.   

As erst I said, my bliss was turned to bale,  
I had good cause to weep and wring my hands,  
And show sad cheer with Countenance full pale,  
For I was brought in sorrows woeful bands:  
A Pirry came and set my Ship on Sands,  
What should I hide, or colour Care, and Noye?  
King Edward died in whom was all my joy.   

And when the Earth received had his Corpse,  
And that in Tomb, this worthy Prince was laid,  
The World on me began to show his Force,  
Of Troubles then my part I long assayed:  
For they of whom I never was afraid,  
Undid me most, and wrought me such despite,  
That they bereft me from my pleasure quite.   

As long as life remained in Edward breast,  
Who was but I? who had such friends at call?  
His body was no sooner put in Chest,  
But well was he that could procure my fall:  
His Brother was mine Enemy most of all  
Protector then, whose vice did still abound,  
From ill to worse till death did him confounded.   

He falsely feigned, that I of counsel was  
To poison him which thing I never meant,  
But he could set thereon a face of brass,  
To bring to pass his lewd, and false intent,  
To sntch mischief this Tyrant's heart was bend:  
To God ne man he never stood in awe,  
For in his wrath he made his will a law.   

Lord Hastings blood for vengeance on him cries,  
And many more, that were to long to name:  
But most of all and in most woeful wise  
I had good cause this wretched man to blame,  
Before the World I suffered open shame,  
Where people were as thick as is the Sand,  
I Penance took with Taper in my Hand.   

Each Eye did stare, and look me in the Face,  
As I passed by the Rumours on me ran,  
But Patience then had lent me such a Grace,  
My quiet Looks were praised of every man:  
The Shamefast blood brought me such colour then  
That Thousands said, which saw my Sober cheer,  
It is great ruth to see this Woman here.   

But what prevaylde the people's pity there?  
This raging Wolf would spare no guiltless blood.  
O wicked Womb that such ill fruit did bear,  
O cursed Earth that yieldeth forth such Mud,  
The Hell consume all thiuges that did thee good,  
The Heavens shut their Gates against thy Spirit,  
The World tread down thy Glory under Feet.   

I ask of God a vengeance on thy Bones,  
Thy stinking Corpse corrups the Air I know:  
Thy shameful death no earthly Wight bemoanes,  
For in thy Life thy works were hated so,  
That every man did wish thy overthrow:  
Wherefore I may, though partial now I am,  
Curse every cause whereof thy body came.   

woe worth the man that fathered such a child:  
woe worth the Hour wherein thou wast begat,  
woe worth the Breasts that have the world beguiled,  
To nourish thee that all the World did hate,  
woe worth the Gods that gave thee such a face,  
To live so long, that death deserved so oft.  
woe worth the chance that set thee up a fit.   

Ye Princes all, and Rulers everichone,  
In punishment beware of hatreds ire.  
Before ye scourge, take heed, look well thereon:  
In wraths ill will if malice kindle fire,  
Your hearts will burn in such a boat desire,  
That in those flames the Smoke shall dim your sight,  
Ye shall forget to join your justice right.   

You should not judge till things be well discerned,  
Your charge is still to maintain upright laws,  
In conscience rules ye should be thoroughly learned,  
Where clemency bids wrath, and rashness pause,  
And further saith: Strike not without a cause,  
And when ye smite do it for justice sake,  
Then in good part each man your Scourge will take.   

If that such zeal had moved this tyrants mind,  
To make my plague a warrant for the rest,  
I had small cause such fault in him to find,  
Such punishment is used for the best:  
But by ill will. and power I was oppressed.  
He spoiled my goods, and left me bore, and Poor,  
And caused me to beg from Door, to Door.   

What fall was this, ●o come from Princes Far,  
To watch for crumbs among the blind, and lame?  
When alms were dealt I had an hungry share,  
Because I knew not how to ask for shame,  
Till force & need had brought me in such frame,  
That starve I must, or learn to beg an Alms,  
With book in hand to say S. David's Psalms.   

Where I was wont the golden Chains to wear,  
A pair of Beads about my Neck was wound,  
A linen clot was leapt about my hear,  
A ragged Gount that trailed on the Ground,  
A Dish that clapped, and gave a heavy sound,  
A staying staff, and wallet therewithal,  
I bear about as witness of my fall.   

I had no house wherein to hide my head,  
The open Street my lodging was perforce,  
Full often I went all hungry to my Bed,  
My flesh consumed, I looked like a corpse,  
Yet in that plight who had on me remorse?  
O God thou knowest my friends forsook me than,  
Not one holp me who suckred many a man.   

They frowned on me, that fawned on me before,  
And fled from me that followed me full fast,  
They hated me, by whom I set mu●ch store,  
They known full well my fortune did not last,  
In every place I was condemned and cast:  
To pled my cause at Ba●it was no boot,  
For every man did tread me underfoot.   

Thus long I lived all weary of myfe,  
Till death app●ch●, and 〈◊〉 me from that woe  
Example take by me both Maid, and Wife,  
Beware, takeheede, fall not to folly so,  
A Mirror make by my great overthrow:  
De●●e this World, and all his wanton ways,  
Beware by me that spent so ill her days.   
FINIS.  
Th. Churchyard.