King Edward the 2 surnamed Carnaruen was crowned at westminster at the 22 year of his age the 24 of febru 1●03 he Reigned 19 year 6 months was deposed the 25 of januvarius 1326 he was slain in the Castle of barkley in the 43 year of his age   portrait   

THE DEPLORABLE LIFE AND DEATH▪ of EDWARD the Second, KING of ENGLAND.  
Together with the Downfall of the two Unfortunate Favourites, GAVESTONE and SPENCER.  
Storied in an Excellent Poem.  
LONDON: Printed for Roger Michael. 1628.   

THE DEPLORABLE Life and Death, of Edward the Second, KING of ENGLAND.  

1  
I Sing thy sad disaster, (fatal King)  
Carnarvan Edward, second of that name:  
Thy Minions pride; thy State ill managing,  
Thy Peers revolt, the sequel of the same:  
Thy Life, thy Death I sing, thy sin, thy shame;  
And how thou were deprived of thy Crown,  
In highest Fortune, cast by Fortune down.   

2  
Did I say Fortune? nay by Folly rather,  
By unrespect unto the rules of State;  
For let a Prince assure himself, to gather,  
As he hath planted, either Love, or Hate,  
Contempt, or Duty; not the works of Fate;  
Much less of Fortune, but of due respects,  
Two causes, which must needs produce effects.   

3  
As if a Prince do lay his platform right,  
And then with courage prosecutes the same;  
His ends prove happy; but, by oversight,  
He that is weak, wholly subverts the frame  
Of his own building, and doth idly blame  
Fortune, which wise men make to wait on them:  
But for a wayward Mistress, fools condemn.   

4  
In which Discourse, if I shall hap to touch  
Those faults; that in our time are frequent grown,  
Let not the galled offender, winch or grudge?  
For I intent a private wrong to none:  
Only I would have those same errors known;  
By which the State, did then to ruin run,  
That (warned by theirs) our age like sins might shun.   

5  
Nor do I mean to bond myself so much,  
As only for to tie me to those times:  
The causes, courses, consequents i'll touch  
Of latter ages, and of their designs;  
And if detractions breath, doth blast my lines:  
Be it, for me, I have for my defence,  
The privy coat of harmless innocence.   

6  
And thou (great King) that now dost wield our State,  
Building on that, which former times did square,  
Oh let it not be thought to derogate  
From thy perfections, (admirable rare)  
If I some errors of these times declare:  
Sure never State was so precisely good,  
But faults have scaped, which could not be withstood.   

7  
For men are not like God, complete Divine,  
Whom neither passions move, nor errors blind;  
Who is not limited with any time,  
Nor tide to means, nor into place confined;  
But free in all, no countercheck doth find,  
But worketh all in all, and nothing ill  
To contradict the least part of his will.   

8  
Whereas our humane actions are all mixed,  
Men live in motion, so do their designs,  
Nothing is simply good, or firmly fixed;  
All have defects, nature itself declines:  
Darkness oft clouds the clearest Sun that shines:  
Our purest streams are not without their mud,  
And we mistake what oft we take for good.   

9  
Besides, Kings needs must see with others eyes,  
From whence mistaking cannot choose but spring,  
And when th'offence from errors doth arise;  
Why should men cast the envy on the King,  
And not on those that misinform the thing?  
This is the gall most banes the Kingly Throne,  
That, of his faults, the least part is his own.   

10  
For he himself is blameless oft, (God knows)  
Except it be, because he doth not know  
The noted scandals, that arise from those,  
On whom he doth his favours most bestow,  
Which they abusing, discontents may grow  
Against the Prince, though not deserving them:  
So apr we are, even goodness to condemn.   

11  
Nor must we with a coal, strait mark or brand  
A Prince or State, because of some defect:  
Who can be free from Sulley (if't so stand)  
But that same Prince or State deserves respect,  
Whose actions doth in general effect,  
And aim at good; for in particulets,  
None can be so complete, but often errs.   

12  
And much are they deceived that think to find,  
A State without a blemish, or a stain,  
Conceit may cast Ideas in the mind,  
And forge strange forms (not practised in the brain,)  
But States consist of men, and men retain  
This native badge, which unto all doth cleave,  
That is, to be deceived, and to deceive.   

13  
The warlike Trumpet (sounding to the fight,)  
Commands the hearing more, then doth the reed,  
Each eye is fixed on the Eagles flight,  
When little Wrens deserve not any heed;  
The greatest men shall have the greatest meed:  
Mark who so list, and they shall find it tried,  
That all men's ears to Prince's tongues are tie.   

14  
Then let the World attend King Edward's words;  
The second Edward (matter fit for moan,)  
Whose smiles gave life, whose frowns did wound like swords  
Whilst he did sit upon the Kingly Throne,  
Not minded now nor meant by any one.  
So time cuts down (we see) with fatal blow,  
Aswell proud Oaks, as humble shrubs below.   

15  
Imagine with yourselves, you see him come,  
From forth the deep dark caverns of the earth,  
Starved and pined, nothing but skin and bone,  
In Princely plenty, suffering want and dearth,  
As naked as an infant at his birth:  
So pinching need doth pluck, what pride doth plant,  
And wasteful riot, is repaid with want.   

16  
And thus poor Prince begins his Tragic plaint,  
Am I the same that was first Edward's son,  
By nature borne to live without restraint?  
Were there for me so many Trophies won,  
By Longshanks? and such great atchivements done:  
I am the same, and he so great did leave me,  
As none (I thought) of greatness could bereave me.   

17  
But now I find by proof, that one there is,  
And well it is, that there is such a one,  
Who is not hoodwinked unto our amiss,  
And he can pull us from our Kingly Throne,  
For all our Guards, our Forts, our Walls of Stone.  
Know King, how great and powerful thou be,  
The King of Kings still ruleth over thee.   

18  
I know that nature, (apt to overween)  
May easily strain a Prince's thoughts too high▪  
I know it is, and evermore hath been,  
A common course to flatter Majesty,  
Greatness is apt to swim in Surcudrie;  
Yet though like hills we overlook low grounds,  
All virtuous Kings confess they have their bounds.   

19  
And therefore though we have Prerogatives,  
Yet there are certain limits to the same,  
Which hinders Kings to be Superlatives,  
To sway (as Gods Lieutenants) this fair frame,  
And those Aspirers merit Death and shame,  
That do repine against those Supreme powers,  
Whom God hath made his underlings, not ours.   

20  
And yet, although their State be free from force,  
That gives not Lawless liberty in all:  
Kings must observe a just and rightful course:  
God is their King, by whom they stand, or fall,  
And every Act, unto account will call:  
Their oath, their virtue, and their own renown,  
Are Dyamantine chains to tie a Crown.   

21  
And such as are not moved with these respects,  
But make their might, to serve their will in all:  
Leave them to God, who ruins and erects,  
Sets up a David, and pulls down a Saul:  
He prospers, Houses rise; he frowns, they fall:  
'Tis not descents, nor swords, nor force, nor fate,  
But God supports, and God supplants a State.   

22  
Nine Kings had ruled since the Conquest here,  
Whom I succeeded in a rightful line:  
My father, (all domestic tumults clear)  
Did War, and win in fruitful Palestine,  
This Northern Sun even to the East did shine:  
The French were fearful, hearing but his name,  
French, Scots, and Turks, eternised his fame,   

23  
No Realm but did resound first Edwards praise,  
No praise was ever won with more deserts;  
And no deserts (though great) could counterpaise,  
Much less out Balance, his Heroic parts:  
Mars taught him Arms, the Muses taught him Arts,  
Whereby so great he grew, that might there be,  
A jove on earth, that earthly jove was he.   

24  
A King may leave his name unto his Son,  
But to his Son, no King can leave his Nature:  
In outward form and shape, they may seem one,  
His Posture, Speech, both Countenance and Feature,  
May make the Son be thought the selfsame Creature,  
I know in Face, Sons may be like the Sires,  
But Faces like, have oft unlike desires.   

25  
For why? our bodies made of Humane seed,  
Resemble them, whose matter was their making,  
Yea so far forth, as often times we read  
Of many griefs hereditary, taking  
First root from Parent's loins, and not forsaking  
Their issue's issue, until many ages  
To woeful masters, most unwelcome Pages.   

26  
But minds, not cast in any mortal mould,  
Infused from Heaven, not tide unto succession,  
Are freely left (for so the Maker would)  
Unto his wife, and provident discretion,  
Likesoftned wax, apt to receive impression:  
But when the form is once imprinted in,  
'Tis hardly lost, what Nature first did win.   

27  
'Tis somewhat to be borne of Noble seed,  
An honest belly bears a hopeful son;  
But yet (we see) good Parents often breed  
A wild and naked issue, which do run  
Most thriftless courses, till their lives be done:  
As was the Sire, the son himself will fashion,  
Is probable, but yet no demonstration.   

28  
Which is but truly instanced in me,  
For I was far unlike my worthy Sire:  
A sour Crab from sweetest Appletree:  
A cloudy smoke, from Sun-bright shining fire,  
And that small good, which nature did inspire  
By soothing tongues, too soon was turned to ill;  
So smallest Frost untimely fruit doth kill.   

29  
For when men did perceive my youthful itch  
To vain delight, and saw my mind affected  
But to the flight, where pleasure made the pitch,  
How all my Noble studies were neglected,  
My youth with ease, my ease with lust infected.  
Strait some sowed pillows underneath my sin,  
And praised that most, that I delighted in.   

30  
Amongst the rest, one Pierce of Gavestone,  
French by his Birth, and French by his behaviour,  
(One that indeed was second unto none,)  
In winding in himself to great men's favour,  
That by their hazard, he might be the safer,  
When he did spy the mark, whereat I meant,  
Sraight found the means, to give my bow more bend.   

31  
We lived together even from prime of years,  
Whereby our joint affections were combined,  
The mutual consort of our infant pheares,  
Doth keep a long possession of the mind,  
And many deep impressions leaves behind:  
Wouldst thou have love last even to the tomb,  
Then let it take beginning at the Womb.   

32  
So hunts the Hound, and so the Hawk doth fly,  
As at first entrance they are made and man'd;  
And so those springing humours seldom dye,  
That in our first conceit ingraued stand,  
Though childish love seem to be built on sand;  
Yet every one even in himself may prove,  
He likes it still, that he at first did love.   

33  
Princes, that do intend your Heirs such good,  
As shall enable them for to succeed,  
And no way to disparrage their high blood:  
Oh, let it be your most respective heed,  
To sow their tender years with virtue's seed;  
For so the well, or ill manured field  
As it is til'd, doth Corn, or Cockle yield.   

34  
In ure their youth unto their Peers commerce,  
From whence some seeds of liking first will grow,  
Which even the soul itself in time will pierce,  
And prove a constant zeal, from whence will flow  
All duteous offices, that men may show.  
And then designs of Prince's happiest prove,  
When their great Peers do serve, because they love.   

35  
Besides, there is a secret trust reposed  
In those, whom long assurance hath combined,  
And when we know how humours are disposed,  
We frame our Counsels fitter to the mind,  
Unsounded natures sharpest judgements blind;  
And those, we entertain with difference,  
Of whom we have but small experience.   

36  
So that to win a trust, to plant a love,  
To gain a settled service of the Peers:  
This is the way which wisest Princes prove,  
To glue them close even in their infant years,  
And here my Father's error much appears,  
Who did engraft me into Gavestone,  
By co-uniting both our loves in one,   

37  
He was in face a Cupid, or more fair;  
A Mercury in speech, or else as much:  
In Active vigour, he was Mars his heir:  
In wit jove-bred; Minerva was not such;  
But all those guilts will not abide the touch,  
Except with inward virtues of the mind,  
Beauty, and Speech, Strength, Wit, are all refined.   

38  
Why then should Nature set so fair a gloss  
Upon a mind, that sin doth see deform?  
Why should she gild and polish such base dross,  
As if she did the Souls perfection scorn?  
And only would impiety adorn:  
Or else seduce those minds from judging right,  
Who do conform their censure to their sight.   

39  
But oft we see a sweet and mild aspect,  
A comely presence pleasing unto all;  
A Face that seems all virtue to affect,  
Doth hide a heart of stone, a mind of gall,  
A crabbed will, a soul to sin most thrall;  
And therefore, he in judgement shoots awry,  
That daily takes his level from the eye.   

40  
Because the glorious inside of the mind,  
Hath no dependence on the outward form:  
In which, if erring nature prove unkind,  
And disproportions do the shape deform,  
She commonly endeavours to reform:  
The body's errors, with the minds supply,  
So richest lems in earth's base entrails lie.   

41  
The face is false, the look is but a liar:  
The habit and the heart do much dissent,  
For good pretences cloak a bad desire;  
Fair compliments do guide a false intent,  
Who doth rely on them, may chance repent  
Which was my case, and caused my overthrow.  
And I did prise the substance, by the show.   

42  
If I may use that word without control,  
If ever any Metempsuchosis was  
I think, the last Assyrian Monarch's soul,  
By due descent to Gavestone did pass,  
For he a right Sadanapalus was,  
Drowned in delights, if one may term them so,  
That hatch in lust, and breathe their last in woe.   

43  
This highest Scholar in the School of sin,  
This Centaur half a Man, and half a Beast;  
This pleasing Siren, so my soul did win,  
That he was dear to me above the rest,  
Look what he said, was Gospel at the least:  
Look what he did, I made my Precedent  
So soon we learn, what we too late repent.   

44  
This Angel-divell, thus shrined in my heart:  
This Dragon having got the golden Fruit;  
My very Soul to him I did impart;  
Nor was I ever deaf unto his suit,  
He acted all, I was a silent mute.  
My being, seemed to be in him alone,  
Pluntaginet was turned to Gavestone.   

45  
And having seized me into his hands,  
(For fear belike) that he should be disseazed;  
He thought to tie me still in straighter bands,  
By praising that wherewith my mind was pleased,  
Affirming that our lives were to be eased  
Of many cumbers, which the curious wise  
Had laid on men, the more to Tyrannize.   

46  
For what are Laws but servile observations,  
Of this, or that, what pleased the maker's mind,  
The self-conceited sown imaginations,  
Of working brains, which did in freedom find  
Our humane State, which they (forsooth) would bind▪  
To what they like, what likes not was forbidden:  
So Horse and Mule with hit and spur are ridden.   

47  
Which well invented Scarecrows though they serve,  
For mud-borne men to keep them in some awe;  
Yet Princes are not borne, so to observe,  
The strict preciseness of th'encumb'ring Law,  
Which their high State to base contempt doth draw:  
Kings, made those Laws, & Kings may break them now,  
That pleased them then, and this now pleaseth you.   

48  
No, no (sweet Prince) saith he, there is no Law  
Can bind a King, but only his desire;  
And that full well th' Assyrian Monarch saw,  
Who had, before them, borne consuming fire,  
(Emblem of Regal power,) which all admire:  
But none must touch for fear of following harms,  
For fire we know consumes as well as warms.   

49  
The Spider's web holds fast the silly Fly,  
The Hornet breaks it, (like a mighty Lord)  
That King of Kings, when he could not untie  
The Gordian knot, divides it with his Sword;  
That act of his, fit matter doth afford  
For Precedent, were I, as thou shalt be,  
I'd rule the Law, it should not govern me.   

50  
Except it were the golden Law of Nature,  
Sweet Nature (sweetest mother of us all,)  
Which hath infused thus much to every Creature,  
To love the Honey, and to loathe the Gall:  
To serve delight, not to be sorrow's thrall;  
For pleasure doth with Nature so agree,  
As Bees with Hive, as Honey with the Bee.   

51  
For in the Prologue of our Infant play,  
Even in our Cradle, we do cry and yell  
For Nurse's breast: why so? for food (you'd say,)  
'tis true, and food (say I) doth please us well,  
As hunger seems to be a second Hell:  
So that in truth, the motive of our cry  
Is to be fed, and to be pleased thereby.   

52  
As in our Prologue, so in our next act,  
(I mean in childish years) who doth not see,  
That every thought of ours, and word, and fact,  
Do aim at sport, at pastime, and at glee  
Which daily cares, and mighty studies be:  
Witness the check, the rods, the blows we take,  
The many blows, and all for pleasure's sake.   

53  
But when our Youth doth step upon the Stage,  
The sweetest part that any man can play;  
Then pleasing love, and hope (loves pleasing pay)  
And courage, hopes attendant night and day,  
And Fortune, seldom saying courage may,  
With full sailed course doth carry us amain,  
To seek the course where full content doth reign.   

54  
Not staying here still Nature drives us on  
To new delights, but of a divets kind,  
For middle age to arms will needs begun,  
With honour's sweet, to feed his hungry mind,  
And what is honour but a pleasing wind:  
Remember what the famous Grecian says,  
The sweetest music is a man's own praise.   

55  
Next elder age, and silver seeming hairs,  
By Nature run full chase, still after pleasure,  
For (oh) the solace of the wayning years,  
To view their ruddocks, and their heaps of treasure,  
To weigh and tell their gold at every leisure.  
For great it is, speak they that rather choose,  
Gold should lose them, than they their gold should lose.   

56  
The Epilogue of all our former time,  
More hunts for joy, than any of the rest,  
Decrepit age doth pray before the prime,  
With fearful eyes, and knocks upon the breast,  
And gives his Alms to them that are distressed:  
And what's his end? that he might Heaven obtain:  
And what is Heaven? pleasure void of pain.   

57  
And as the mind hath motions to effect,  
So have we means to satisfy the mind,  
Our little world, is made with much respect,  
Our mother Nature, hath been wise and kind  
By whom we have apt Organs assigned,  
To execute what so our thoughts intent,  
And all our thoughts, aim at some pleasing end.   

58  
Is not the Head the Storehouse of conceit,  
Plotting the means to compass our delight?  
Our Eyes attendants that do daily wait  
Upon such objects as may please our sight?  
Witness the Cherry-cheek, and Brow milk-white:  
Witness no other witness but my wish,  
How Sight and Soul both like, and longs for this.   

59  
What mind, what man, what man of any mind  
That is not touched and moved, with music's sound?  
Whose deep impressions, work in brutish kind,  
As Dolphins, else Arion had been drowned,  
The savage Beasts, that would not Orpheus' wound,  
The senseless stones, whom Phoebus' Harp did move,  
Do witness all, how all do Music love.   

60  
The bubbling murmur of a sliding Spring,  
That seems to run with sweet, yet sullen mind  
By which, the winged, Quires in Consort sing  
With fair faced eunuchs, Cherpres of their kind,  
Whose Notes are answered with a soft still wind;  
Whilst some desired Dame, cheers all with kisses,  
Who would not hold that place, a Heaven of blisses.   

61  
As Head, and Eyes, and ears, so are our Hands  
Flesh hooks to draw, and gather all unto us,  
That with our pleasure, and our profit stands,  
Thrusting a side what ever may undo us,  
For which employments are allotted to us:  
Two Hands, two Feet, the agents of our wills,  
To follow, rest, and fly from restless ills.   

62  
So likewise, in the structure of this Frame,  
What is not made for pleasure, with much art?  
So likewise in the guidance of the same,  
What is denied us that may please the Heart?  
Most senseless man, what man so ere thou art,  
That in the very fullness of such store,  
By wilful wants, wilt make thyself most poor.   

63  
In heat of Summer, when the burning Sun  
Doth crust the earth, are there not shady bowers?  
Are there not rivers that do mildly run;  
And now and then some cooling dewy showers,  
To keep the beauty of the blooming flowers,  
Wherewith our mother earth's so fairly delight,  
That she allures her Children to delight.   

64  
I will not speak of every day's delight,  
They are so various, full of rareties  
But are there not sweet pleasures for the night?  
Masks, Revels, Banquets, mirthful Comedies,  
Night Songs, e'en Nature's dearest prodigies,  
Which work in men with powerful influence,  
As having their first life, best motion thence.   

65  
If then the mover of this glorious round,  
Hath wisely fitted each thing so to pleasure:  
May he not seem his order to confound,  
That bars himself from this same earthly treasure?  
And to delight doth limit sparing measure?  
Is't ever like, he would have made things thus,  
But that they should be fully used by us?   

66  
And that I may not run about the Field,  
But keep myself in compass of the Ring,  
I will omit the rich and fruitful yield,  
Of pleasure, pointing only at the Spring,  
The taste whereof such perfect bliss doth bring,  
As I do think none other Heaven there is,  
Heaven pardon me, if that I think amiss.   

67  
This is (sweet Ned) the Paradise of love,  
The joy of life, and life of our conceit,  
The Heavenly fire infused from above,  
On which the Muses, and the Graces wait,  
The body's health, souls hope, and Nature's bait,  
The quintessence of pure essential sweet,  
The point where all the lines of pleasure meet.   

68  
Sweet love, that hast sweet beauty for thy object,  
Wise love, that dost convert both souls and hearts:  
Great love, to whom the greatest King is subject:  
Pure love, that sublimates our earthly parts,  
And makes them eyrie by ingenious arts:  
Oh, let my Ned, my Prince, my jove possess  
The joys, I would, but cannot well express.   

69  
And thou, sweet Ned, experience but the pleasure,  
Try what it is to love, and be reputed,  
And I will pawn my life (my greatest treasure)  
With one sweet night, thou wilt be so delighted,  
That thou wilt wish the world were still benighted:  
Then say (dear Prince) when thou the same dost prove,  
No Heaven but joy, nor any joy but love.   

70  
Oh see the fruits of ill abused wits,  
What hurt is wrought by armed impiety:  
Thrice wretched souls, that ill with art commit,  
And surfeit with the sweet satiery  
Of Graces, given them by the Deity:  
Were all such minds brought up to Plough and Cart,  
Learning should have their due, they their desert.   

71  
I see the rule holds true, the best of all  
Being corrupted, turns unto the worst;  
And so those damned spirits, before their fall  
Most blessed, (changed from what they were at first)  
Are now most wretched, vile, and most accursed:  
Look what degree of goodness things retain,  
Whilst they are good, being ill, they so remain.   

72  
With such and many more, more wanton gloss,  
Whereat thy virgin Muse, will blush for shame;  
With unchaste words, and Pander-like supposes,  
This Gavestone so brought me out of frame,  
That I neglected Father, Friends, and Fame:  
And to those pleasures only was respective,  
That to my Fancy seemed most delective.   

73  
We see how soon our sweetest Buds are blasted:  
How soon our fairest colours lose their flourish?  
How easily are the seeds of virtue wasted,  
And noisome weeds of vice how much we nourish,  
Which doth the soul of her chief wealth impoverish:  
Youth apt to stray, is easily led awry,  
We fall by Nature, what needs flattery.   

74  
And yet it hath too much to work upon,  
The unexperience of our younger years,  
The hear of blood, which easily draws us on;  
Ungrounded hopes and fond surmised fears,  
The courses entertained by like compeares:  
Our own desert, our Parents loving care;  
This Devil doth use as traps unto his snare.   

75  
And soon it will the least advantage find  
Whereby it may creep into men's conceit,  
Observing first, to what they were inclined,  
which once perceived it fits the humour strait,  
Still keeping fashion, but still wanting weight,  
In compliments most seemingly precise,  
And that fair Mask, blinds unsuspecting eyes.   

76  
But like as those diseases faster grow,  
Whose moving causes our complexions feed,  
So far more dangerous is this private Foe,  
That doth attire himself in friendship's weed,  
Then he that shows his hate by open deed,  
For Arms, or Laws, or Friends may fence the one,  
Th'other, God himself must shield, or none.   

77  
So Sinon did the Trojan State confound:  
So gilded Tombs are full of rotten earth:  
So Crocodiles, although they weep, they wound:  
So Panthers circumvent with their sweet breath:  
Sy Siren's though they sing, their tunes are death;  
And yet as Fish bite most at honey bats,  
Even so are men most caught with sweet deceits.   

78  
Therefore be pleased to hear a plain Discourse,  
Suspect the tongue that's still tuned to the ear;  
Fair Truth is not for nakedness the worse;  
But falsehoods many ornaments must wear,  
Lest all her foul deformities appear:  
Which Art can flourish over fit for Court,  
While simple Truth to Deserts doth resort.   

79  
And this is that waste Sea of misery,  
In which the greatest Monarches most are drowned,  
That they are seldom free from flattery:  
Pretences being colourably found,  
To soothe that humour, that doth most abound;  
And so the Prince runs on from ill to worse,  
And still's persuaded best of his bad course.   

80  
Whereby the danger on himself doth fall,  
The gain unto the Favourite accrues;  
For grieved Subjects being wronged withal  
Forgetting Duty, impiously pursues  
Means of revenge, whence danger oft ensues.  
Mean while the man, that fed the humour so,  
Falls off perhaps; and escapes the coming blow.   

81  
Therefore let Kings prefer them that are plain,  
And make such great, as do not greatness fear:  
Such serve their Lords for love, and not for gain,  
theyare jewels of the heart not of the ear,  
They will discover dangers that are near;  
When oiled Tongues will still make all secure;  
And careless greatness ever stands unsure.   

82  
But why should I give rules, sith I kept none,  
Why should I teach, and never could obey?  
Only for this, why, I was overthrown,  
Others may look lest they be cast away;  
And they that make this use, thrice happy they:  
Because by others wracks themselves may read,  
How to prevent their own mishaps with heed.   

83  
Soothed thus in sin, all goodness was forgotten,  
My Father's words of no esteem were grown:  
And I that scarce seemed ripe, was strait found rotten:  
Like fruit that is from Tree untimely blown:  
But that took root, which Gavestone had sown.  
And sprouted so, that it did seed at last,  
So worthless seeds we see do grow too fast.   

84  
For at the first I was ashamed of sin;  
But sin did say, my greatest sin was shame,  
Then by degrees did I delight therein:  
And from delight did I desire the same,  
And my desires so prosperously did frame,  
That now I could with Gavestone connive,  
So doth the Bramble with the Thistle thrive.   

85  
Which when mine aged Father did perceive,  
With many tears (the messengers of moan)  
He did bewail himself, that he should leave  
His Crown to me, and me to Gavestone:  
I in my Son (saith he) am overthrown;  
My bliss, my bane; my peace procures my strife,  
First Edward dies, in Second Edward's life.   

86  
To be a Father was mine only joy;  
And now my grief it is to be a Father,  
Why should my solace turn to mine annoy:  
Why planted I hearts-ease, and Rue must gather?  
As I did sow, I should have reaped rather,  
My hopeful Harvest proves but Thistles weeds,  
And for the blood I gave, my heart now bleeds.   

87  
For (oh) how near a touch doth Nature give?  
How searching are the sufferings of our blood:  
How much the Father's soul doth joy or grieve,  
When he doth see his issue bad or good?  
It's hard of any to be understood;  
Except of those whose feelings bowels find,  
What deep impressions do proceed from kind.   

88  
Wise was the Prince, who playing with his Son.  
And teaching him to ride upon a Reed:  
To whom a great Ambassador did come,  
And seemed to blush at his so childish deed;  
Do not (quoth he) to judgement yet proceed:  
I only crave a respite of thy doom,  
Till thou thyself, art Father of a Son.   

89  
Inferring, that there is a secret love,  
Which untouched hearts can hardly comprehend,  
Would God the same reciprocal might prove:  
Oh that kind Nature would sometimes ascend,  
Fathers too oft in indulgence offend:  
But Sons more oft in duty prove defective,  
These way ward times are grown so unrespective.   

90  
Nature so wrought, that Croesus' son cried out,  
Who from his birth before had not spoke word:  
When he did see a Soldier go about  
To kill the King his Father with a sword:  
Could Nature then such precedents afford?  
Was she so powerful then, now weakened so,  
That Sons themselves now work their Father's woe.   

91  
But foolish man, why do I blame my Son,  
Whose yet unknowing years, by ill advice  
Being led away, a dangerous course doth run?  
For youths hot blood forgets cold ages ye,  
And whilst his hand is in doth throw the Dice  
At all, that pleasure sets, and thinks to gain,  
If with the buy he can discharge the main.   

92  
Sweet Ned, I blame not thee but Gavestone,  
For he it is that sitteth at the Helm,  
And steers the Stern at pleasure, thou art blown:  
Nor will he leave, till he doth overwhelm  
In deepest gulf thyself, and all thy Realm,  
For stirring spirits do troubled streams desire,  
And then thrive best, when all are set on fire.   

93  
Observe those wasted States that do decline,  
How apt they are for innovation,  
How much they do against public good repine,  
And hopefully expect an alteration,  
That whilst things are unsettled out of fashion,  
They may close up the wounds they had before,  
And by that means their private wants restore.   

94  
Therefore let those that have a grounded State  
And may live well, join close in any wise,  
Against all such as seek to innovate,  
If not in duty, yet in good advice  
To keep such down, as hope perhaps to rise  
Upon their ruins, whose revenues may  
Cut short their lives, sure prove the spoilers pray.   

95  
And with these links such spirits as would rise,  
But are by former great ones still suppressed,  
And such do dangerous Stratagems devose,  
Not will their eager hopes afford them rest,  
But mount they must, who ever be depressed  
And little do they force the State's confusion,  
May they thereby to greatness make intrusion.   

96  
And to this end they are obsequious still,  
They sooth, they fawn, they seem officious:  
They fit themselves to their great movers will  
Be't good or bad, just, or injurious,  
They serve even turns, base, and luxurious:  
But I'll provide a wholesome Mithridate,  
So to prevent these poisons of the State.   

97  
And firmly settled in this resolution  
By strict command, was Gavestone exiled  
I begged of him to stop th'execution:  
But then my Father shaked his head, and smiled,  
Oh Ned, quoth he, how much art thou beguiled,  
To foster that, which will thy downfall be;  
And warm the Snake that will inuenome thee.   

98  
I wish, myself an Echo at that word,  
That I might then have boldly answered thee;  
For never was there sharpest edged sword,  
That wounded more, then that same wounded me;  
But go he must, that was the King's decree:  
And when he went, then died my bloodless heart,  
So doth the body from my soul depart.   

99  
The former times have held it good advice,  
That some offender should abjure the Land,  
But 'tis a course both dangerous and unwise,  
And with no rules of Regiment can stand,  
For if the matter be with judgement scanned,  
It will appear to men considerate,  
That abjuration hurts both Prince and State.   

100  
I do not mean of men that are not missed,  
For who respects the humming of a Gnat?  
Such Atoms may wander where they list,  
Their muddy pates can neither frame the plat,  
Nor feeble hands work danger to the State.  
Let men of note be marked, and wary heed  
Be had of them that may disturbance breed.   

101  
And 'tis not safe to banish such a one,  
As may find means to work his own return:  
So Bullingbrooke stepped in to Richard's throne,  
And he had leisure afterwards to mourn 
Henry 4.   
His foolish fault, such Medicines may adjourn  
The present pain a while; but makes the sore  
To rave more selly than it did before.   

102  
Mild drugs may stir the humours that abound,  
But will not quite expel the growing ill;  
The root and body both remaining sound:  
Although the Tree be lopped, yet thrives it still,  
But when thou hast the Axe to use at will,  
Strike at the root, and fell it to the ground,  
Rather than pair the boughs and branches round.   

103  
For 'tis lost labour to begin with them,  
They needs must wither, if the other die;  
And do not fear, though vulgar breath condemn  
Thy carriage, in such courses; whose weak eye  
Looks at the present only, and thereby  
Values the rest; do thou make good thy end,  
The common sort will ever be thy friend.   

104  
Wise Longshanks (yet in this thou wert unwise)  
If thou hadst taken the head of Gavestone:  
Those subsequent disasters that did rise  
From him, had been prevented every one:  
Thy Son had not been shouldered from his Throne;  
Thy Peers not slain, nor Realms to ruin brought  
But so God works, till all his will be wrought.   

105  
My Gavestone thus driven into Exile,  
Myself committed like a Captive thrall:  
(For so my Father kept me short a while)  
With bitter curses I did ban them all:  
I drank my tears, and fed upon my gall:  
I chafed and frowned, yet could I not prevail,  
Needs must, willbe, feign would, doth often fail.   

106  
Then were my colours turned to mournful black,  
I did put on the livery then of care,  
Like to the hopeless Seaman in a wrack,  
That sees the greedy waves devour his share,  
No otherwise did thoughtful Edward fare;  
When sad remembrance in my soul did plant  
His lot, my loss, his woe, my pleasures want.   

107  
The chiefest Cordial of my grievedsoule,  
The one and only period of my pain,  
Was this, that Death admitting no control,  
Would end my Father's wrath, his Life, his Reign,  
And then (thought I) Ned will have Pierce again:  
When England's Crown shall make a jove of me,  
Then Gaveston my Ganymede shallbe.   

108  
As I did hope, so had my hopes success,  
For shortly after did my Noble Sire,  
Whilst he prepared the Scots for to suppress:  
Lo now (quoth I) I have my hearts desire,  
Longshanks is dead, his water, air, and fire,  
Are turned to earth, and earthly might he be,  
That on the earth did keep the Crown for me.   

109  
Yet in that sad dismaifull hour of dying  
No grief did him more feelingly distress,  
Then that his vicious Son, all virtue flying,  
Should ruin that by riot and excess,  
Which he had built with so great carefulness;  
And therefore for to wean me from such sins,  
These well tuned Notes this dying Swan-beginnes:   

110  
My Son (quoth he) for in that name of zeal,  
My words may prove of more effectual power,  
Why shouldst thou so, with thy sick Father deal,  
As to torment him in his parting hour,  
Whose life hath had his portion full of sour?  
And yet to make my measure fuller still,  
My Son doth daily add unto my will.   

111  
I know what 'tis by many dire extremes,  
To keep the Crown upright upon the head:  
I know the troublous sleeps, and frightful dreams  
That hover still about a Princely bed;  
The worm of greatness (jealousy) is bred  
Out of itself, yet this I know withal,  
Our powerful sway doth sweeten all our gall.   

112  
But for thyself, and for my heartbreak grief,  
That out of thy sin-shipt-wracke youth doth grow,  
No circumstance yields colour of relief;  
The cause excuseless, limitless the woe,  
That doth from thy full sea of follies flow:  
For foulest faults proceed from powerful ill,  
And subjects sort themselves to Princes still.   

113  
Thou dost not only by thy vicious living,  
Bereave thy soul of bliss, which virtue wins,  
But also by thy ill example giving,  
Thou dost attract weak minds unto like sins,  
For certainly the Subject ever swims,  
Just with the stream, so growing like to thee)  
A general deluge of all sin will be.   

114  
Much better had it been, thou hadst not been,  
Then that thy being, should so ruin all:  
Oh wherefore was thy birthday ever seen,  
If by thy life, the State itself doth fall  
To those soul sins, which wrath from Heaven do call,  
By whose just doom such States confounded are  
By Foreign fury, or domestic ware.   

115  
For when the seed of sin to ripeness grows,  
Then justice with a scythe doth mow it down:  
This, that it is, that Kingdoms overthrows,  
Lays waste the field, unpeoples every town:  
Or if not so, disorders yet the Crown,  
Although it prove no general desolation,  
Yet many dangers grow by innovation.   

116  
When my Heaven-seeking soul shall leave her Inn,  
And this my flesh closed in a house of clay,  
Then will my shame survive me in thy sin,  
And Babes unborn, will ban my births and say  
His wretched life, gave life to our decay;  
And had no other ill by him been done,  
He sinned too much in getting such a son.   

117  
Did I for this endure the dust and Sun,  
Dislodged at midnight, march in midday heat?  
Where Turkish, French, and Scottish trophies won  
Was all my care employed to make thee great,  
That some might dispossess thee of thy Seat?  
Oh than I see that greatness soon is gone,  
When God draws not the plot men builds upon.   

118  
And my divining soul doth sadly see,  
Thy ruin in thy riot (oh my Ned,)  
When I am gone, a King then shalt thou be;  
But if thou still be'st with thy passions led,  
Thou wilt not keep thy crown upon thy head,  
My soul now parting from the earthly cage,  
Foretells thee so, in her prophetic rage.   

119  
Well Son, I feel my faltering tongue doth fail,  
Therefore this short abridgement I do make;  
Fear God, love virtue, let the right prevail,  
Shun sudden courses, Parasites forsake:  
Disfavour not thy Peers, their Counsels take  
For thy designs, revoke not Gàuestone,  
For he will prove the canker of thy throne.   

120  
Pursue those Scottish wars I have in hand,  
And for because my soul did make a vow  
Unto my God, to serve in holy Land,  
From which this sickness interdicts me now,  
Though Death disable me, effect it thou:  
Embowel me, and thither hear my heart,  
That I therein at last, may have some part.   

121  
And you my Lords, speaking unto his Pe●res:  
Whose wealth and greatness, I have much increased,  
Be Fathers to my sons untutored years,  
Love him for me; though Longshanks be deceased,  
Let not Gavestones exile be released,  
Lest his repeal occasion civil strife,  
And so first Edward ends both speech and life.   

122  
Thus Death that Herald that even Kings doth summon;  
The Pursuivant that doth attach great Peers:  
The City Sergeant, whose arrest is common:  
The errant-bayliffe, that a Process bears,  
And no place bounds, but serves it in all Shires:  
The general Surueior of each one,  
Did bring my Father to his longest home.   

123  
The Obsequies and Ceremonies done,  
Then I was Crowned, me thought the Sun did dance;  
And that the Thames with silver stteames did run;  
Likewise the Stars did all applaud my chance,  
That did my State unto a Crown advance:  
Smile Stars, dance Sun, and River run with mirth,  
Carnarvan Edward is a god on earth.   

124  
But all the Stars to blazing Comets turned,  
Whose sad uprise presaged my dreiry fate;  
The Rivers seemed as if they wept and mourned;  
The Sun did never shine upon my State,  
Stars, Streams, and Sun, saw me unfortunate:  
Disastrous man, so borne, to suffer wrack,  
As is the Aethiop to be always black.   

125  
Observe the man whom Fates have slaved to grief;  
See how the wretch that's destined Fortunes foe,  
willbe a rub to turn away relief  
Even from himself, and weave his own wrought woe,  
Harm after him, he after harm shall go:  
(Forspoken man) & never but successelesse,  
Himself, his hurt, and yet his hurt redresseksse.   

126  
Nay even those very means which he shall use  
In good discretion to prevent the clap,  
shallbe returned unto his abuse,  
And serve for pulleys of his own mishap,  
So though he see, he shall not shun the trap;  
And if his ruin were not ripe before,  
His own designs shall hasten it the more.   

127  
Th● King of Epire fearing death: home,  
Forewarned thereof by formet Prophecy:  
To Italy forthwith must needs begun,  
So to prevent his fault by policy;  
But still he's followed by his destiny.  
In Italy, he finds an Acheron  
The fatal flood from which he would be gone.   

128  
Fourth Henry was by some blind Bard foretell,  
That he should never dye till he had seen  
jerusalem; fourth Henry willbe old,  
jerusalem for him shallbe unseen:  
No he shall see it, when he lest doth ween,  
He sounds at prayers, and by religious men,  
Is strait conveyed unto jerusalem.   

129  
For so the place was called where he was laid,  
And shortly after did the Noble King  
In vain men strive, the heavens willbe obeyed,  
We may foreknow, but not prevent a thing,  
Ourselves will never cease, till we do bring  
Our fates to full effect, and all we do  
shallbe but lines to lead us thereunto.   

130  
For first I do those Councillor's remove,  
That in my Father's reign had borne most sway,  
Whereby I did disarm me of their love,  
To practices and discontents made way,  
Expose myself to envy, open lay  
To disadvantage, wanting their advice  
Whom long employment had made deeply wise.   

131  
Besides, I did the public State some wrong,  
So to cast off those grounded Politicians,  
Who knew to govern, by, commanding long  
Had seen, and well observed men's dispositions,  
And so could tell when, where, how impositions  
Where to be raised, how to avoid offence,  
How to gain men and ends, with fair pretence.   

132  
Who likewise knew how other Kingdoms stood,  
The concordances of each Neighbouring state:  
How Realms best correspond for either's good:  
How to make Leagues, how to negotiate:  
When to break off, and when to incorporate:  
How far remote, and near confiners too,  
Are to be weighed, as they have means to do.   

133  
'tis not the practice of a day or twain:  
'tis not the Schools, or Sophister's debate:  
'tis not the foam of every working brain:  
'tis not the start into a neighbouring state,  
That works men fit to bear a Kingdom's weight;  
When men are fully made, employ them then,  
For 'tis an art of arts to govern men.   

134  
Therefore I hold it for a certain ground,  
Which new made Princes must not violate,  
Except they will the Commonwealth confound:  
Not to discard those men that knew the State,  
Whose long experience, ingenerate  
A true and perfect method to command,  
Both for the Princes good and for the Land.   

135  
Besides this fault, scarce settled in my State,  
I strait recalled exiled Gavestone,  
Who by my many favours grew so great,  
That I did seem to him to live alone:  
I Alexander, he Stephestion:  
Oh no, I wrong them to usurp their names,  
Our loves were like, but far unlike their fames.   

136  
here, I did violate my Father's will,  
And all respect of duty did despise  
To wrong the dead, is sacrilegious ill,  
A clog which endless on the conscience lies,  
And at the latest gasp for vengeance cries,  
And lo the fears and doubts lurks close within  
That restless soul, that's guilty of such sin.   

137  
When all his joints are racked with dying pain,  
With cold dead sweat all covered over quite:  
What thorney thoughts will then distract his brain?  
How shall he dare t'approach his father's fight?  
Whose dying words he lately set so light,  
He'll fear his friends, suspect his wife est-soone,  
And sighing think, they'll do, as I have done.   

108  
It is too common to betray the trust,  
That by testators is in friends reposed:  
But mark God's judgement, how severe, how just,  
How to the nature of the sin disposed:  
Even I myself, was by my son deposed;  
I that infringed my father's dying hest,  
Was in my life, by my own son distressed.   

139  
Me, that a Siere did wrong a son did wrong,  
I that did show myself degenerate,  
As I had sown, so did I reap ere long  
Such sin it is our faith to violate.  
Oh deepest doom of all foreseeing fate.  
How wisely are thy fearful judgements fitted,  
To punish sin as snne was first committed.   

140  
The Giants heaped up Hills to climb the Sky,  
I honours heaped, that Gavestone might climb,  
They did contend with jove, and fell thereby,  
He with my Peers, and perished in his prime,  
They thrived at first, but fell in after time;  
His Prologue sweet, but sad was his last act,  
So fairest glass (men say) is soon cracked.   

141  
These were the honours that he did attain,  
The Earl of Cornwell, and the Lord of Man,  
Chief Secretary, Lord great Chamberlain;  
And for his wife, the Glousters sister wan:  
Aspiring men see how great Monarches can,  
Advance their States, whom they do please to afavour,  
Who serves the King doth seldom lose his labour.   

142  
Though Poets fictions seem to savour much  
Of idle errors, yet they have their sense;  
King Midas turned to gold all he did touch:  
The Moral thus, the favour of the Prince,  
His gracious touch, may gild without offence  
His greatest wants, and make him for to sore  
A lofty pitch, that did but creep before.   

143  
Not all the painful passages one spends,  
In serious contemplation of deep arts,  
Nor any one employment so commends  
The Agent, (though a man of rarest parts;)  
As when the Prince but one sweet smile imparts,  
One look of love, one eye-glance of delight,  
Hath power to change dark clouds to Suns most bright.   

144  
The eyes of Kings are more than simple eyes,  
They are the Stars that do predominate  
Th'affairs of men, and in their influence lies  
The good or bad of every one's estate,  
theyare the primum-mobile of fate:  
They whirl about their fortunes as they list,  
And as they favour, we are cursed or blest.   

145  
A Kings smooth brow, is the true dwelling place  
Of honour, weakh, dependency, respect,  
And in this wrinkled forehead lives disgrace;  
Death, exile, want, a general neglect,  
A world of ills let that poor wretch expect:  
Be it, all Rivers to the Sea must run,  
And every light receive light from the Sun.   

146  
Let them be great whom Kings resolve to grace,  
It is a privilege that is their own,  
To raise such as they please to wealth or place,  
Is truly proper to the Princely thrown,  
And hath not been denied to any one:  
Lewes of France, did say he spent his Reign,  
In making and in marring men again.   

147  
Some by the School, some by the Laws do mount:  
Some by the Sword, and some by Navigation,  
As streams have had, though not the self same fount,  
Shali only Kings admit a limitation;  
How high, for what desert, or of what Nation  
They shall advance? it were a wretched thing,  
On this condition to become a King.   

148  
To make new Creatures, is the Princes due,  
And without murmur let him have his own:  
The danger only is to him that's new;  
For envy ever waits on such a one,  
Both from those men, that are not so well grown;  
And from great Houses to, who strait will fear,  
Lest such new stars should thrust him from the sphere.   

149  
For those which once have got the highest stair,  
Will keep them down that mount with too much haste,  
'tis best (some say) to rise, but soft and fair:  
If thou wilt gain thy journey's end at last,  
Tyre not thy means by posting overfast;  
Stir like a Dial unperceived to move,  
So shalt thou gather strength and purchase love.   

150  
And therefore they that sound a family,  
Must gather wealth, and under their estates,  
Make great pretences of humility:  
Ally themselves with strong confederates,  
Serve great men's turns, so to avoid their hates:  
For Cerberus with honey sops was pleased,  
And malice must with mildness be appeased.   

151  
Then let it be his work that next succeeds,  
To raise himself unto a greater height,  
Who by employments, or by Martial deeds:  
Or by unlading some of that rich freight:  
Which he hath stored, perhaps with the conceit,  
Which he much better, than the first may do,  
Whose means he hath, and adds his own thereto.   

152  
Nor shall he find such eager opposition:  
Time having worn out all his father's foes  
Or else perhaps altered their disposition  
By gifts, by favours, by obsequious shows  
Or else perchance for fear of future blows:  
And so some few descents, from higher to higher  
The newness of the house will varnish fair.   

153  
Where sudden greatness ruined Gaveston  
Whom I too much preferred before my Peers,  
Who did possess me more than any one:  
From whence grew many jealousies and fears:  
Close discontentments which at first appears:  
Of little moment, worthless of respect;  
But proved such scars as we did least expect.   

154  
It is the praise, and blessing of the son  
To make his heat and light both general:  
Princes are sons, and both must freely run  
In open course, and be not several  
Unto some few, but common unto all:  
The poorest he that breaths, this song may sing:  
We all have interest in the Air and King.   

155  
And this too much did spread abroad my passion,  
Who like pure water should have had no taste,  
This error did my government dis-fashion,  
That Gaveston unworthily was graced,  
And made too great a monster, huge and vast,  
Who in his growth was unproportionall  
Became offensive to himself, and all:   

156  
My Seal, my Court, my Realm, was ruled by him  
That neither knew to rule, nor to obey,  
I cared not though my Peers did sink or swim,  
Nor what my other Counsellors did say,  
For he did stern my compass night and day,  
Whilst I being sunk in sin and drowned in lust  
Had almost wracked, the Realm with such a gust.   

157  
The Court, which in my Father's life time seemed  
A Senate house of siluer-headed Sages,  
Might now a pompous Theatre be deemed  
Pestered with Panders, Players, and with Pages.  
Of my ensuing fall too true presages.  
And yet in show it seemed fairer far  
So Comets glifter more than any star.   

158  
But oh the quiet of that happy land,  
Where aged Nestor's bear the chiefest sway,  
Where strength of mind, rules more than force of hand:  
Where old men bid, and young men do abbey.  
Where Ages winter, guideth youths sweet May,  
But when the foot or hand commands the head,  
The body than is many ways misled.   

159  
Let silver hairs, and long experienced age,  
Be sole directors of each enterprise,  
Let youth be as an Actor on the Stage,  
To execute what staider heads devose,  
For youth is active, age discreet and wise,  
Youth is more daring, but precipitate,  
Age more judicial, and considerate.   

160  
Yet should not Statesmen be too aged men,  
Fer every year their spirits much decay,  
They earthy grow, and melancholy then  
Heavy and dull, their edge being worn away:  
Wayward and teachy wrangling all the day.  
Full of Morosity, and which is worse,  
Extremely given to gripe, and fill the purse.   

161  
Besides, we see some men are ripe betimes,  
Like summer fruit, some pleasing to the taste,  
And if those spirits in whom such virtue shines,  
May be with greatness, and employments graced,  
They come to full maturity at last:  
Men of exceeding worth, they being grown,  
Both for their country's good, and for their own.   

162  
But to myself, who did neglect my Peers,  
And only did devote myself to pleasure,  
Loved I? why, love itself, loves youthful years,  
Spent I? why, Kings should not be slaves to treasure:  
Herd I not Subjects suits? I had no leisure.  
Did I forbear my Peers converse. What then?  
love is not tie to sort himself with men.   

163  
When they did say, that Scottish Bruce did burn  
My Northern borders, and did waste the same,  
Then sighing I, to Gavestone would turn,  
And say (sweet Peers) myself feels fancy's flame,  
I saw, I love, I die for such a dame:  
Cupid I fear a Bruce to me will prove,  
My holds by him, my heart is fired with love.   

164  
With thsee, and many more fantastic toys,  
I shifted off my Council when they came:  
I have not time enough to spend in joys;  
Why should I spare one minute from the same?  
Let them that list, by wars go hunt for same;  
I force it not, give me these pleasing wars,  
Where blows are given, but never cause no skarrer.   

165  
But when the field, is to a field-bed turned,  
When eyes like sharpest Lances pierce, yet please;  
When amorous hearts with equal flames are burned,  
When Foes sink down, our furies to appease;  
And lips on lips, redouble blows of ease,  
When brave assaults are not by Death controlled,  
In such a band, who would not be inrouled   

166  
The Roman monster Heliogabilus;  
And Persian Xerxes, never fortunate,  
Might well be thought to live again with us;  
We prized our pleasures at so high a rate,  
Which was our sad, and still successelesse fate;  
In peace, our fault procured our decays,  
In wars our Fortunes made us runaways.   

167  
The luckless battles fought whilst I did Reign,  
With Robert Bruce, that Noble English Scot,  
Sad monuments unto the World remain,  
That vicious life with Monarchies thrive not,  
For sin and shame, are tied with Gordians knot,  
And those designs do prove successelesse quite,  
That are contrived by men, drowned in delight.   

168  
Mark but the Maps of all antiquity,  
True Registers vnfalsefied records,  
The race of time which we call History;  
And 'twill be found, that every age affords  
Plenty of proof to fortify my words  
Each leaf, each time, do pregnant witness bear,  
Who riot most, to ruin are most near.   

169  
When sin did overflow, the Deluge came,  
Th' Assyrians then did lose their Monarchy,  
When their last king did live most out offrame  
And was overwhelmed with sensuality:  
The Persians than did wreck their Empery,  
When wealth, and ease, and lust did most abound,  
Which also did the Roman State confound.   

170  
The Danes did first set footing in this Land,  
Because Lord Buer●● wife was ravished here;  
The Saxons forces got the upper hand,  
When Vortiger held Hengests daughter dear,  
And still our Realm to ruin hath been near,  
When ripened sin hath gathered strongest head,  
So stalled Steers, are to the Shambels led.   

171  
Thus Edward said, and this our age hath seen,  
Like instance of a near confining State:  
Never was France more deadly sick of sin:  
Never was goodness grown more our of date,  
Never did Princes more preposterate  
Their private lives, and public regiment,  
And as they lived, so died impenitent.   

172  
Never Religion served for more pretences:  
Never were Nobleses more ambitious:  
Never like inundations of offences;  
Never were Churchmen less religious:  
Never were Commons more seditious:  
Such plotting counter-plotting policies,  
Such Massacres, such Barbarous cruelties.   

173  
Such impious courses, such impunity  
Never was seen, less blushing, and more shame:  
Never had sin so great imunity:  
Never was ever all so out of frame,  
As in these latter times, till the fiery flame  
Of civil fury, and of Foreign foe,  
Did make poor France the Stage of tragic woe.   

174  
And without doubt, had not the Man of men,  
The mighty Atlas of that sinking State  
Been raised by God, to give new life; even then, 
Hen. 4.   
That famous Kingdom of so ancient date,  
By home ambition, and by Foreign hate,  
Had breathed her last, being sin-sicke unto death,  
And much a do there was to give her breath.   

175  
For still the eye of wrath doth overlook,  
The wicked actions of obdurate men:  
The Court of Heaven doth keep a tallying book,  
Wherein is entered all our sins; and when  
Our score is full; let's look for payment then:  
And (oh) what Prince, what Commonwealth can stand,  
When God doth scourge it with a rigorous hand.   

176  
And let us make this use of their new wrack,  
Forbear to sin for fear of punishment:  
God is not senseless, though he seem to slack,  
He respites us, in hope we will repent;  
But use grows more, the longer debts are lent,  
And God forbears, and winks at our abuse,  
That we might have less colour for excuse.   

177  
I could not choose, when I had yoked my Team,  
But make this Furrow to enrich my field:  
And now return to my intended Theme;  
And Edward wishes that his Reign might yield  
Fit precedents, for Princes, how to wield  
That weighty Province which they do sustain,  
And thus continues his Discourse again.   

178  
When my chief friends did see how things mischanced,  
And those mischances did impute to sin;  
My sin to him, whom I had so advanced:  
To banish him, they then again begin,  
And made myself to have a hand therein;  
Their force, my fear, compelled me thereunto,  
'tis hard when Princes are enforced to do.   

179  
It is the chiefest good of Kingly reign,  
That it is free from base compelling fear,  
And 'tis again the Kingdom's chiefest bane  
Not to admit wise Counsel to the ear,  
Away with awe, hold Admonition dear,  
Fears ne'er should meet with Kingly eyes  
But one the backs of flying enemies.   

180  
But the fair lively picture of advice,  
should still be placed nigh the Prince's sight,  
Thrice happy Kings, that are both stout and wise,  
Your scorn control, but set not counsel light  
No fear, but virtue, moves you to do right,  
Y'are Kings indeed, and may securely rest  
Whilst fears are pitched within a weaker breast.   

181  
Te solum Vereor is a Princely word  
Speaking to him that is Lord Parramount;  
And supreme Princes, so should bear the sword,  
As but to him, they need give no account;  
Which they shall do, if as they do surmount  
In greatness, so in goodness they excel.  
'tis certain, he rules all, that governs well.   

182  
And none doth so, but the self governor  
That his own private passion can command  
Which makes a slave even of an Emperor  
If once they grow to get the upper hand  
And soon deep searching spirits will understand  
And find a Prince that's weak, and ride him so  
That he must place, as they will have him go.   

183  
Whereof myself may be a precedent  
Who was soever awed by my great Peers,  
That Gaveston was doomed to banishment  
And now my soul full freight with griefs and fears,  
Was in her motion restless with these feres  
But not so fixed; now go he should, now should not  
So woman-like, I would, and strait I would not.   

184  
Yet ere he went, (as go he must, and did)  
Dear Prince, saith he, wherein have I misdone  
That I am banished thus? doth Edward bid  
His poor (but yet his own poor Pierce,) to shun  
His gracious fight, must I from England run?  
He bids, I must, farewell, yet think of me,  
my body goes, my soul doth stay with thee.   

185  
What were these words, but each to me a wound  
Whereat my very life-blood, gushed out,  
I would have spoke, but words with tears were drowned  
While giddy passion hurled by brain about,  
Confusedly I spoke, oh do not doubt,  
These damned Peers, it is not long on me.  
though body stays, yet goes my soul with thee.   

156  
Mourn not sweet Prince, said he, oh do not mourn.  
Let never tears disgrace those graceful eyes.  
Is't not enough that I am thus forlorn,  
Must cares from me, as clouds from sea arise?  
My dear dear Liege, let it at least suffice.  
That still you have the better part of me  
My body they command, my soul is free.   

187  
Cease, cease, my Pierce, thy tongue doth wound my hart,  
I grieve to see, because I see thy grief:  
Farewell, and yet me thinks, we should not part;  
And yet we must, well, this be thy relief,  
Thou bearest a field of gold▪ a King in chief:  
But be thou Ireland's Governor then for me,  
Would thou mightst stay, or I might go with thee.   

188  
At parting thus, with wanton grief we played,  
He went to Sea, and I to sorrow went;  
And yet my lustful heat was not allayed;  
My treasure, that to Gavestone was sent,  
And was in triumphs, 'mongst the Irish spent:  
Who seemed now greater than he did before,  
So Vines being cut, increase, and thrive the more.   

189  
And here my Peers did in true judgement fail,  
So to remove, not take him quite away:  
Who once returning, needs must seek to quail,  
The adverse part that laboured his decay;  
Dead dogs can neither bark nor bite (men say)  
But angered curs more fiercely still return,  
And wronged minds with greater fire burn.   

190  
Better it is, still to dissemble hate  
Then first to enter into discontent,  
And leave him great, whom thou hast edged of late,  
Who having means, and sharpened in intent,  
May easily work some dangerous event:  
Either strike not, or else be sure strike so,  
That thou thyself need fear no future blow.   

191  
Besides they did the more exasperated,  
By opposition my enraged Ire.  
And for my Gaveston, whom they did hate,  
they did inflame me with a greater fire,  
His absence setting edge one my desire  
For Princes kept from what they do affect  
do hurry to their ends without respect.   

192  
What ever stops the currant of the stream,  
Is swept away with furious violence;  
Force being effectless against a stronger means,  
But if one will with labour and expense  
Divert the course, and turn the Channel thence,  
'Tis possible, that he in time prevails,  
For Art doth compass, when resistance fails.   

193  
Philosophers do hold (and truly too)  
That lightning oft, (the sheath untouched, the blade)  
Consumes, the reason, why it doth so do  
Is, by the one there's small resistance made  
Being full of pores; th'other hard t'invade,  
Doth set itself against that heavenly shot,  
Which quite consumes, because it pierceth not.   

194  
I cannot fit the awful wrath of Kings,  
More properly then to this wondrous fire,  
Which once inflames, consumes resisting things,  
Breaks up the bounds that limits their desire;  
And by depressing down still mounts up higher,  
Whereas strong passion borne with patience,  
Spends on itself, and dies without offence,   

195  
My peers soon saw which way the hare did run  
And therefore gave consent to his repeal.  
Not Caesar, when Phasalia field he won  
Did triumph more, than I, when they did seal.  
And did subscribe, the ruin of our weal,  
Then all was well, whilst all did well agree  
But all proved Ill, for all, and worst for me.   

196  
For Gaveston after he did return,  
Of all my former favours once possessed,  
His full filled fortunes held my peers in scorn.  
Nor could he any equal well digest  
Oh foolish man to swell above the rest  
When bubbles fullest blown do soon break  
And trees are ever at the top most weak.   

197  
Content doth seat itself in lowest dales  
Out of the dint of wind and stormy showers.  
These sits and sings Melodious Nightingales  
There runes fresh cooling streams, there spring sweet flowers  
There heat and could are fenced by shady bowers  
There hath he wealth at will, but this we know  
the grass is short, that one the hill doth grow.   

198  
Oh Gaveston why dost thou then aspire  
To be so great, when greatness stands one ye,  
If thou shouldst slip, as now thy place is higher  
Than will thy fall be greater in a trice  
he's down that stands on pinnacles, be wise,  
Stand low, Stand fast, but oh I speak in vain,  
For men will mount, though sure to stoop again,   

199  
How Gavestone the third time Banished,  
Did live in Duchland where he found no rest:  
How he returned, how I was famished  
Did feed on him, as on some dainty Feast:  
How ill my Peers, his presence did digest,  
I do but touch at: now my Muse unfold,  
How till his fall, he bore him proud and bold   

200  
Suppose him spleenful melancholy sad:  
And me in mine affections passionate:  
Think him revengeful, think me doting mad:  
Think, how I loved; and think how he did hate:  
And think him then thus ●o expostulate:  
Grieved with precedent, feared with future wrong;  
Thus did this Siren tune his baleful song.   

201  
Oh King (no King) but shadow of a King:  
Nay do not frown, but hear me what I say,  
I speak in zeal, though fatally I sing;  
Thou op'st a gap unto thine own decay,  
By suffering thy proud Peers to bear the sway,  
For look how much the shadows height doth grow,  
So much the Sun declines, and goes more low.   

202  
Thy waxing is their wain, thy ebb their tide,  
When they are strongest, thou art weak and faint,  
Turn every stone, to quell their growing pride;  
It fits not Kings, to brook the least restraint,  
Disgrace, exile, straight durance, or attaint,  
Close practices, to bring them into hate:  
These are the means to re-assure thy State.]   

203  
Now thou art King in show, but not in deed,  
These petty pawns do check, and mate thee to:  
All is reversed that is by thee decreed,  
They do enjoin thee, what thou hast to do,  
And what they will thou art compelled unto;  
But though thy pleasure bend another way,  
Yet things must pass, as they are pleased to sway.   

204  
They have allies, to strengthen their designs,  
They back themselves with their Confederates,  
Their seeming zeal, the vulgar undermines,  
The wiser sort, for fear insinuates,  
And so they gain assurance of all states:  
Some by the gloss of fair deportment; and  
Some by a hard; and over-awing hand.   

205  
Besides, they raise men that are popular,  
And by their means, the people's hearts they steal,  
Themselves seems just, their courses regular,  
They make pretences for a Commonweal,  
Of reformation, of religious zeal;  
And by these colours which they do pretend,  
They bring their complots to a sinful end.   

206  
But more than this, the wealth of all thy Land  
Is in their hand, or else at their dispose,  
Whereby they have an absolute command  
Of many lives, which are maintained by those  
Great bounties, that from their abundance flows:  
For they must needs remain at their devotion,  
Who have from them their being, and their motion.   

207  
These are the close consumptions of thy State,  
Which by these antidotes, thou must restore:  
Be served by such as thou hast raised of late,  
Advance new Creatures of no note before,  
And such will still depend on thee therefore,  
For wanting means, except thou grace them still,  
They must remain obliged to thy will.   

208  
Let them be staring spirits of air and fire,  
Apt but to make, and to maintain a faction:  
Ambitious, active, hungry to aspire;  
Not foiled with fear, but apt for active action,  
True to their ends, but false in faith and faction:  
And such being graced, and favoured by the time,  
Will in despite of spiteful envy climb.   

209  
Whose growth thy Peers will malice and detest,  
And seek to stop, which they not brooking well,  
Will nourish mutual hatred in their breast,  
And rancorous envy in their souls will swell;  
From whence revenge, and greedy thrift to quell:  
The adverse party, cannot but proceed,  
And so confusion to them all indeed.   

210  
Mean while thou underhand must feed the flame,  
And secretly give heart to either side,  
And which is weakest, leave them to the same,  
Whereby, thou shalt confound the adverse pride,  
And if they doubting chance to be espied,  
Make it an open quarrel, and be sure  
To cut them off, that may most hurt procure.   

211  
This lecture was by Tarquin well expressed,  
When with his wand, he did behead those flowers,  
That any way did overgrow the rest:  
As who should say, be jealous of great powers,  
And cut them down, whose State near equals ours  
For that same Throne is but a slippery sear,  
That suffers any to be overgreat.   

212  
Make paenall Laws, to cut off their retainers;  
Wrest from their hands, all public great command,  
Grace them in show, but not to make them gainers:  
Keep them aloof, let them not understand,  
The passages of State, at any hand:  
Do not commit thy forces to their trust,  
Lest having minds, th'ave means to be unjust.   

213  
Where ere they live, though they be far removed,  
Yet let them be surveyed with careful eye,  
Such as are near to them, and dearly loved,  
To whom their inward thoughts most open lie,  
Win them by gifts, and by close policy  
To serve thy turn with true intelligence,  
Of any thing that may procure offence,   

214  
If they command, do thou not favour then,  
Let all advancements be derived from thee:  
So shalt thou wean from them, the hearts of men,  
And they will only, thy dependants be:  
For there men serve, while they preferment see:  
Lastly, what Stratagem thou dost intend,  
Let shows of virtue colour still thy end.   

215  
These are the baits to fish for wisest Peers,  
The longlings may be caught with easier means:  
Let Siren pleasures bane their youthful years:  
Let lust, expense, and riotous extremes,  
To which their age by course of nature leans,  
Let followers, change of beauties pompous pride  
Infect their minds, and rack their States beside.   

216  
Yet if thou see a likely growing plant,  
Whose spreading branches may in time prove great:  
Lodge him at home, let him employment want,  
And fruitless wither in his native seat,  
For ease and rest, will i'll his active heat,  
And lulled in pleasure of a safe delight,  
Relinquish mounting thoughts of honours quite.   

217  
But if his temper fore so high a pitch,  
And that his working virtues must have vent,  
Engage him in some action, by the which  
His Harvest may be Death, or discontent;  
Yet make a show to grace his hardiment,  
And thrust him so (with highest honour) on  
To such attempts, as Death still wait upon.   

218  
Which if he miss, as Heaven may bless him so;  
Yet will the managing of such designs,  
Afford fit matter for his over throw.  
If that his Fortune any way declines,  
For commonly the vulgar sort repines,  
Against all actions that do want success,  
And in their humours weigh the agents less.   

219  
And so they lie more open to their wrack,  
When they have once manured a common hate,  
And then some fair occasion cannot lack,  
Either by death to cancel their life's hate,  
Or at the least to weaken so their State,  
As that the Prince need fear no future harm,  
That may proceed from their unjoinced arm.   

220  
And having cleared thyself of such, yet then  
That thou mightst keep thy Majesty and State:  
Thou needs must entertain some Noble men,  
But frothy bubbles, full of idle prate,  
Who study fashions, know their place (scarce that)  
All whose sweet worth, is fetched from bad men's tomb,  
And they themselves less worthy than their Grooms.   

221  
Let them discourse of Kindred and Allies:  
My uncle Earl, my cousin Duke, or so;  
Who living, did this or that enterprise:  
And tell how his great Grandfires house did go,  
When he in France encountered with his foe:  
Grace these (sweet Prince) these thy Courts Comets be  
And pray for them, they'll never pray for thee.   

222  
Thus must thy twigs be limned, thy nets displayed,  
To catch these birds that sore up to the Sun;  
And when these wise foundations once are laid,  
'tis almost ended that is well begun,  
Then art thou King indeed, then hast thou won  
Unto thyself an absolute estate;  
Mean while thou livest but in a golden grace.   

223  
Thus did this hellish Ate cast the ball  
Of discontent, betwixt me and my Peers;  
Whose damned Counsels flowing from the gall,  
Filled them with fury, me with needless fear,  
And set us all together by the ears:  
For strait to arms they get, to venge the wrong,  
And vowed his head should answer for his tongue.   

224  
I wished the trees were turned to armed troops,  
And all the boughs were pikes, their hearts to wound;  
All other birds; the Princely Eagle stoops:  
The Lion roars, the beasts shake at the sound,  
Why should not I, their daring pride confound,  
That saucily usurp upon my right;  
But Lions, are no Lions wanting might.   

225  
But they did strike whilst that the Steel was hot,  
And still came on, to seize upon their prey:  
What should we do, complain it booted not:  
Go levy men, our men did disobey:  
Sue for a Truce, they would not grant a day:  
Submit ourselves, and so some pity crave,  
Me hurt they would not, him they would not save.   

226  
That Prince indeed is to be held most wise,  
Who by his virtues doth his slate secure:  
But he's a fool that means to tyrannize,  
And doth not seek by forces to assure  
His own designs, for let him be most sure,  
A Prince that's weak, and yet doth govern ill,  
Is subject to a thousand dangers still   

227  
Nothing remained but flight, and fly we did;  
So silly Doves before proud Falcons fly,  
Till Gavestone in Scarborow Castle hid:  
My Peers surprised whom Warwick Earl Sir Guy  
Beauchamp beheaded, so my Pierce did dye:  
A gloomy night concluded this fair morn,  
And Fortune's Minion, ended Fortune's scorn.   

228  
Oh what is honour but an exhalation:  
A fiery Meteor soon extinct and gone:  
A breach of people, and the tongues relation,  
That strait is ended when the voice is done:  
A morning dew dried up with midday sun;  
A ceasing sweet like Danaës golden shower,  
Which both began, and ended in an hour.   

229  
There breeds a little Beast by Nilus' streams,  
Which being borne when Phoebus first doth rise;  
Grows old, when he reflects his hottest beams;  
And when at night to Western Seas he hies;  
Then life begins to fail, and strait it dies:  
Borne, old, and dead, and all but in a day,  
Such honour is, so soon it wears away.   

230  
How much more happy is that sweet estate  
That neither creeps to low, nor soars too high,  
Which yields no matter to content or hate,  
Which others not disdain, nor yet envy,  
Which neither does, nor takes an injury,  
But living to it seek, in sweet content  
Is neither fordide, nor yet insolent.   

231  
He lives indeed, and spends his course of time,  
In truest pleasure that this life can yield,  
He hath set hours to pray at even and prime:  
He walks abroad into his quiet field,  
And studies how his home affairs to wield:  
His soul and body make one Commonwealth;  
His Counsels care to keep them both in health.   

232  
He fears no poisons in his meats nor drinks:  
He needs no Guard to watch about his bed:  
No treacher undermines him what he thinks:  
No dangerous projects hammer in his head,  
He sits and sees, how things are managed;  
And by observing what hath erst been done,  
He levels oft, how future things will run.   

233  
If he would deal with Kings, and mighty men,  
He doth converse with them in History:  
If he would know the Heavenly motions, than  
He takes his Globe, he reads Astronomy:  
His Maps and Charts do teach Cosmography;  
And whilst in his safe Cell he studying stands,  
In one short hour, he sails both Sea and Lands.   

234  
And tired perhaps with the Discovery  
Of Foreign things, he comes more nearer home,  
He looks into himself, with curious eye  
That little World, that is indeed his own  
He travels in, which being truly known  
Affords enough for wonder and delight,  
When he hath learned to know himself aright.   

235  
The Earl of Cornwall, causer of the war  
Thus being dead, they laid their weapons down,  
Protesting all, they would not go so far  
As to be thought disloyal to the Crown,  
But they did seek the Realms and my renown,  
Which was eclipsed in him which they had slain,  
But England's Sphere would not grow clear again.   

236  
Oh still dark clouds doth shadow England's sphere,  
And bitter storms on gloomy clouds dependant,  
Unfortunate, and fatal every year,  
Whilst hapless Edward was chief Lord ascendant;  
Malignant stars were still on me attendant,  
Though at my birth, love smiled with sweere aspect,  
Yet froward nature did my life direct.   

237  
For though disasted Gavestone was dead;  
Yet Edward lived, and lived to farther ill:  
For still I was by my ●ffections led;  
I willed no Law, yet had no Law but will:  
My Peers disgraced, my Council grieved still.  
The Spencers, they succeeded Gavestone,  
He changed for worse and worse; two ills for one.   

238  
These Spencers now the subject of my Song,  
Descended of a race of good esteem:  
The elder Hugh (the father) lived long  
In great account, and happy days had seen,  
Till his ambitious son did overween,  
Whose greatness caused the Father to aspire,  
And at the last did wrack both Son and Sire.   

239  
Oh what hast thou, old man to do with Court?  
Thy books and beads had better been for thee▪  
Live still retired and do not now resort,  
To stormy tempest, age doth ill agree  
With great concourse and vulgar mutiny,  
It rather craves immunity and rest,  
And powerful case, with tumult not distressed.   

240  
Whose joints being wracked & tortured with the gout  
Can scarce endure the stirring of a straw,  
Who being unwildie must be borne about,  
Whose golden Ewer is cracked with many a flaw,  
Who hath no grinders left in either jaw.  
Whose strong men bow, whose keepers shake and tremble,  
Whose meager looks pale death doth most resemble.   

241  
But this ambition is a boiling ill,  
Honour doth make dead Cinders grow again,  
What aged one so great, but by his will  
Would fain grow greater, age doth still retain  
Two humours, hope of life, desire of gain,  
And this was that which made old Spencer climb,  
When he had past the Autumn of his time.   

242  
The younger Hugh, the son of this old man,  
Was of an active spirit, and able Brain:  
Who with the Barons at the first began  
To side himself, they favouring him again,  
For Gavestone made him Lord Chamberlain,  
That he in place so near about the king  
Might always serve their turns in every thing.   

243  
Thinking because he was by them preferred,  
He still would cleave to them in their designs,  
But (ill advised men) herein they erred.  
A swelling spirit hates him, by whom he climbs,  
As yute kills the Tree wherein it Prunes,  
So rising men when they are seated high  
spurn at the means, that first they mounted by.   

244  
Because they think, such favours challenge still,  
An equal correspondency of love,  
Which ties them to be pliant to their will;  
And as the lower spheres, by those above,  
Are whirled about, so, they by these must move,  
In all attempts still swayed by their direction,  
And for no end, nor measure of subjection.   

245  
And such well-mettled men cannot digest,  
To be obsequious to an others mind:  
Their working spirits will not let them rest,  
Till those precedent bands, which did them bind,  
By opposition, are again untwined,  
And such an open rupture doth restore  
Their liberty, which was engaged before.   

246  
And greatness holds it needful policy,  
To rid his hands of them, that did it raise,  
By entering into open enmity.  
And so to cut them off without delays,  
These were, and are the courses of our days,  
Who list observe both old and modern times,  
Shall find, I wright no fables though some times.   

247  
I will not touch particulars at all;  
I play the ball, let others mark the chase;  
The Spencers do my wand'ring muserecall,  
Who being near the king in chiefest place,  
Did heap up much, and that in little space,  
For all things hid he from their passage then,  
Who turned to gold, all matters, and all men.   

248  
The chiefest Peers were underhand kept down,  
The Minions of the King got every place,  
Though Edward had, yet Spencer's ruled the Crown;  
And being both made Earls in highest grace,  
They built, they bought, they raised, they did deface,  
Whom, what they would, such was their powerful lust,  
And sudden greatness grows to some unjust.   

249  
Especially, if like a Mole it works,  
Only in earth: how greedy's such a man?  
How closely he in Covert, silent works,  
To Compass a whole Country, if he can;  
Still gripping all; that comes within his span,  
What wealth, wit, friends, force can do, good or ill,  
Shall, must be practised, for to please his will.   

250  
The Princes favours do for Pulleys serve,  
To draw on men, to be at his command,  
e'en seats of judgement shall from justice swerve,  
If they may bring a title to his hand:  
And if some reverend fathers shall withstand.  
Then weed them out, they will not serve our turn,  
Such men are fit for Martits, let them burn.   

251  
His Agents must be of another mould,  
Sharp-sighted into other men's estate,  
Pliant to do, what their great Masters would,  
Close, cunning to dissemble love, or hate,  
Well spoken, powerful to insinuate,  
Seemingly honest, outwardly precise,  
By which they may their close complots disguise.   

252  
These are like pipes of Lead that do convey  
Those practices, that from their head do spring;  
And let these seconds come to bear greatsway,  
Are legged and crouched unto, for fear they sting,  
These buy and build, and beg, and raise, and wring,  
Farmer, Esquire, Knight and Baron too,  
And Prince and all, with whom they have to do.   

253  
And this indeed was the most dangerous rock,  
Whereon I split, and so at last did drown:  
This was mine Error, this the stumbling block,  
At which I fell, and cast my fortunes down:  
This lost my people's hearts, and that my Crown.  
My Minions rapine, and unjust oppression,  
And my too much indulgent indiscretion.   

254  
My Peers were male content, being unrespected,  
My Captains mutinous for want of pay,  
My Court with all incestuousnes infected,  
My people poor, with taxes pared away,  
And apt for innovation every day.  
All out of joint, dejected, and dismayed,  
Only the Spencers, and their Consorts swayed.   

255  
I sold, they bought, I wasted, they did thrive,  
They had abundance I was indigent,  
They sucked the honey, Ith' ransacked hive:  
Which made them grow, bold, tart and insolent,  
And thereby caused a common discontent,  
Of all those crimes, I did in cur the blame,  
Because my heat gave life unto the same.   

256  
Princes attend, for I do speak in zeal  
'Tis not enough that you yourselves are just,  
But you must look into the common weal,  
And see that those, whom you do put in trust,  
Do govern by the law not by their lust.  
For he indeed the wrong doth perpetrate,  
That may redress, yet it doth tolerate.   

257  
And so you make their wickedness, your own,  
By suffering them to sin, without control,  
But let no Widows tears bedew your throne,  
Nor poor men's sighs, sent from a grieved soul,  
Nor Orphans prayers, which heaven doth still inrolle  
Nor common curses, caused by public grievance.  
Draw judgement down on you for their mischievance.   

258  
Kings must use some, and may choose of the best,  
But let them still remember what they are,  
Let not all laws be locked up in one breast,  
Let no one only censure make or mar,  
For men have passions, which oft strains them far:  
The most sees least, few best, but none fees all,  
Who hath not, doth; who doth not, yet may fall.   

259  
I do not bark against authority,  
My heart did never lodge unreverend thought,  
Heaven knows, how I adore just Sovereignty,  
How oft my soul, with upheaved hands hath sought,  
Unto that God whose precious blood us bought,  
For our right virtuous king, this peaceful state,  
And all those powers, he doth subordinate.   

260  
Oh if one beam of thy resplendent light,  
Most fair all guiding Sun chance to descend  
Upon this short abridgement which I write.  
Let no conceit thy sacred self offend,  
For they were chiefly moulded to this end:  
To show how much ourselves obliged stand,  
For these good times as now do bless our land.   

261  
Which by collation of these wretched days,  
Appear more full of comfort and content:  
But I go on, Muse, keep the beaten ways;  
Whilst Spencer's ruled with common discontent,  
e'en God himself inflicted punishment  
Upon the Prince, the people, and the land,  
Who felt the weight of his afflicting hand.   

262  
The king himself was full of diffidence,  
And thought to strengthen his partiality;  
The Lords not brooking Spencer's insolence,  
Did league themselves with strong formality,  
The best were guilty of neutrality.  
The vulgar sort was tided up and down,  
As fortune list, to favour or to frown.   

263  
The earth herself as sorrowing for her sons,  
Or weary of their foul misgovernment,  
Grieve out of heart, and barren strait becomes,  
Not yielding men sufficient to be spent,  
But seemed to drop away with languishment:  
So may we see how God unfructifies,  
A fruitful land for men's impieties.   

264  
The lowering Heavens did seem to drop down tears,  
As if they wept, to wash the sinful earth,  
Infectious fogs, and gloomy clouds appears,  
Which choke the growth of all things in their birth,  
Heaven, earth, and all conspired to make a dearth,  
Oh see when God takes arms against a land,  
He can Enrol all creatures in his band.   

265  
Great was the want of that unhappy time,  
The Earth not yielding her accustomed store:  
And that which was, whilst greedy men purloin,  
And hoard it up, they make the famine more,  
Grinding thereby the faces of the poor.  
As if God's heavy hand were too too light,  
Unless e'en man should study man's despite.   

266  
Such men are traitors even to nature's Law,  
And do conspire against the common good:  
They wring the bread out of the poor man's jaw,  
Whose very soul doth starve for want of food,  
But without doubt, God will require their blood.  
Their guiltless blood which from the earth shall cry  
And beg revenge of him that is most high.   

267  
If but one spark of grace in them did dwell,  
Did they respect humane society;  
Had they a hope of Heaven, a fear of hell;  
Or any little sense of piety;  
Did they in heart conceive a Deity;  
And that most just, most wise, most powerful too;  
They would forbear, what God forbids to do.   

268  
But neither fear of God, nor love of men,  
Nor just compassion of a public ill  
Can work upon their brawny hearts, and then,  
Coercive means best fites a stubborn will,  
Else they'll be hardened in their malice still,  
For oftentimes we see where nature fails,  
Law interposes, and indeed prevails.   

269  
The ancient Roman state in its chief pride,  
When it was governed with most sound advice,  
Had Leges frumentarias to provide  
That grain should not grow to too high a price,  
Our times such laws, our Laws need such advice,  
Some men are grown so monstrous in their kind,  
We must like monsters, them enclose and bind.   

270  
Me thinks this sin hath in't some taste of blood,  
And what if Dracoes' laws did match this sin:  
Which is not only opposite to good,  
And all good offices what soever been:  
But doth also infringe the common kin,  
Whereby one soul is linked unto another,  
As several sons descending from one mother.   

271  
But oh what times are these wherein we live,  
In which we neither can endure the sore,  
Nor yet the salve, the causes why we grieve,  
Nor yet the means, which should our state restore,  
Once Pharaoh's kine, which were but lean and poor,  
Devoured the fat; those times are altered clean,  
For now we see the fat devours the lean.   

272  
But whilst impatient hunger did constrain,  
The vulgar sort, to eat unhealthy food,  
A great mortality began to reign,  
Spilling too much (but most plebeian) blood,  
And after death came war with angry mood.  
Lo wretched man, how woe still comes in gross,  
And after one succeeds a second cross.   

273  
When God severely scourgeth any land,  
He seconds plagues, with plagues, and woes with woes  
He taketh his three stringed whip in hand,  
Of dearth, of death, of home, of farraigne foes,  
And from these three, all desolation grows,  
What true Content, what rest to men remains:  
When ills, by ounces; Good scarce comes by grains.   

274  
And to increase the current of my ear,  
A slavish Groom john Pordras was his name,  
Borne in the west, at Exeter did dare,  
To bruit abroad, that he from Longshanks came,  
And I a Changeling, but supposed the same,  
That he in truth was Edward's lawful son,  
And by a nurse this treachery was done.   

275  
But afterwards of his untruth convicted,  
He did confess that he was moved unto it,  
By those foul Arts that God had interdicted  
And by a spirit in likeness of a Cat;  
Who did assure him by this damned plot,  
He should unto the Sovereignty attain,  
But hanging did indeed prevent his reign.   

276  
here give me leave a little while to dwell,  
Upon the nature of this accident:  
First I observe the devil cannot foretell,  
Before things come what will be their event,  
If that they be not properly contingent:  
This is, that may be, and not be as well,  
And such no Devil, nor spirit can foretell.   

277  
All future things, that have or may be told,  
Are in themselves, or by their causes known,  
Things in themselves, God only can unfold,  
And yet sometimes, he doth impart his own,  
And proper knowledge of such things to come,  
Unto such Agents, as he lift inspire,  
With some small sparkles of his heavenly fire.   

278  
Such were the holy Prophets in their days,  
Who only by th'infusion of his grace,  
Foretold strange things, such likewise did he raise  
At several times, even from the gentle race.  
And in that rank, some do the Sibyls place,  
Who by the glimmering of his glorious light,  
Of things to come, did oft divine aright.   

279  
Those things that by their causes are conceined  
Do either follow of necessity,  
Therefore in them e'en men are not deceived  
Or grounded else on probability.  
Or they do hit by mere contingency,  
The first the Diu'l must certainly conceive,  
Ones at the second, in the least deceive.   

280  
And yet because of long experience,  
And by their wondrous knowledge in all Arts,  
And for no earthy substance dims their sense,  
And by their speedy motion which imparts  
A present knowledge from the farthest parts:  
I grant they fully comprehend those things,  
Which unto us great admiration brings.   

281  
But when in truth, the things are so concealed  
That neither causes nor th'effects appear  
Then those occurrents are by them revealed,  
In such a sort, as double sense may bear,  
Always ambiguous, cloudy, never clear:  
And such were those same Oracles of old,  
Which were by Phoebus, or by Haman told.   

282  
I will be no Retailor of such wares,  
For they are cheap, and common unto all,  
But I observe what comes to such men's shares,  
I note the fearful judgements that do fall  
Upon such Artists as do use to call  
Which both the ancient Annals do record  
And modern stories of our time afford.   

283  
Some burnt with fire as Zoroaster was,  
And some, the earth did swallow up alive,  
As Amphoraus when that he did pass.  
To Thebes, some did their own spirits deprive,  
Of breath, And so Pope Benedict did thrive,  
The ninth of that same name, whose vital sine  
The devil himself by strangling did untwine,   

284  
Nicephorus and so Abbidoes' tells,  
How Simon Magus flying in the Airen  
By Magic Art, and by enchanting spells,  
Fell down and broke his bones at Peter's prayer,  
And so he died in horror and despair.  
Oh God, how far thy hand is stretched out  
To pour down vengeance on this damned rout.   

285  
But to revert from whence I did digress,  
Besides this common confluence of ill.  
Those wars I undertook, God did not bless,  
But evermore they were successlesse still,  
Because I failed, both in advice and skill.  
Which being managed without due respect  
How could their ends but sort to such effect.   

286  
Most true it is a power of fearful Hearts,  
That by a Princely Lion is but led,  
Shall in the field exploit more glorious parts,  
Then armed Lions with a Hart their head  
For wars do thrive as they are managed,  
And in the stream of Action sound advice  
Prevails as much as doth bold enterprise.   

287  
A Ship well manned, well victualled, tackled well,  
Without a skilful pilot steer the same,  
Doth in that warrie world in danger dwell.  
Look what the Pilot is to that huge frame  
To armed troops, the Chieftain is the same,  
Who wanting either courage or foresight,  
Ruins himself, and all his Army quite.   

288  
In managing of Civil home designs,  
If any Council be not wisely fitted:  
There yet remains some space in aftertimes,  
To execute what was before omitted.  
Or to correct what was before committed,  
But in the fields, when Armies join in shock,  
One only error brings all to the block.   

289  
And hence, as I conceive, it doth proceed,  
That excellent Commanders are so rare.  
Because they must be very wise indeed,  
To take the least advantages that are,  
And very valiant to attempt and dare,  
And oh how seldom mere in one these twain,  
A Lion's heart joined with a fox's brain.   

290  
Troy only stories forth one Hectors fame  
One Alexander, name of great did merit.  
One Hannibal from Carthage only came,  
And but one Pyrrhus' Empire did inherit,  
So saving are the Heavens of such a spirit,  
That no one climate hath produced many,  
And many one hath scarce been blest of any.   

291  
The Theban state no greatness did attain,  
But only in Epaminondas time:  
Who being dead, it did grow weak again,  
He was the sun that lightened all the clime.  
His setting was their fall, his rise their prime,  
Before most glorious, after of no fame,  
Such powerful virtue from their Chieftain came.   

292  
Therefore let Princes labour to attain,  
The art of war, by all the means they can;  
Because it doth enable him to reign,  
And makes him greater than a private man  
That often hath the Supreme title won  
Of sole Commander which who doth possess,  
Is scarce a Prince, and yet but little less.   

293  
To have such troops of Soldiers at command,  
To have such store of wealth as men affect,  
To have such potent means by sea and land,  
To execute what ere they would affect,  
To be observed with duty and respect.  
By foreign States, and have dependency  
Are shadows at the least of Sovereignty.   

294  
And he that oft hath tasted that delight,  
Wherewith such powerful greatness doth bewitch,  
Me thinks can hardly humble so his spite,  
As not to think himself above the pitch,  
Of common men: more eager is the itch  
To mount the top, of one that's up half way,  
Then his, that still at lowest step doth stay.   

295  
Therefore in truth, I do not jump with those,  
Who think the Prince a conduct in the field  
Should both himself, and common wealth repose  
Upon some Chieftain, whilst himself doth wield,  
The home affairs which more assurance yield.  
In show I grant, but weighing everything,  
Such seeming safeties certain danger bring.   

296  
For if ambition seize upon the soul,  
As 'tis a passion apt to entertain,  
And once possessed no just respects control,  
I would advise the Prince that than doth reign,  
To doubt th'event, 'tis worse, to complain  
Then be complained of: And who doth not know,  
How many Kings have been uncrownedse.   

297  
This was the Rock that wracked great Olerones' line,  
And brought the Crown of France to martels care.  
For Childerick was forced to resign,  
To Pepin (martels son) his kingly place,  
And so likewise Hugh Capet did displace  
The line of Pepin, and advanced his own,  
Because in war, his worth was greater grown.   

298  
A Subject may in shape a Prince excel,  
A Subject may more than his Sovereign know,  
Either in arts or in discoursing well,  
He may be stronger to unhorsed his foe,  
And it no danger to the Sceptre so,  
But if in arms the subject grows too great  
The Prince may chance be set besides his seat.   

299  
Therefore the Prince, whose forces and whose arms,  
By other than himself commanded been,  
Must for prevention of ambitious harms,  
Have many chieftains to employ therein,  
So shall no one be able for to win  
So strong a party, but another may,  
Serve for a help to be crossed in his way.   

300  
But is there then no Cement for to join  
The Prince and powerful Peer, so close, so fast,  
As th'one shall not suspect, nor th'other clime?  
Or is the state of things so strangely passed,  
That men cannot be good with greatness graced?  
Must Princes fear the noblest virtues still?  
Or must a Subject use such virtue ill?   

301  
Oh no, such minds the gloss of virtue bears,  
But no essential part of her partake?  
A kingly nature cannot nourish fears,  
And virtuous souls love good for goodness sake,  
And only that their actionsayme do make,  
Where such as borrow virtues for a time,  
Are dangerous men, and very apt to climb.   

303  
Especially if their designments bend,  
To compass that which we dependence call,  
If all their actions jevell at this end,  
Tender themselves unto the General,  
Oh they'll be easl'y drawn to throw at all,  
When they have got the day into their hand  
By having often conduct and command.   

303  
The Antidote for Princes to preserve  
Their State vndangered from such poisonous pares,  
Is only justice, which, who doth observe,  
In all designs to men of all estates  
And is not swayed with fears, love, hopes, or hates,  
Or any passion, but goes clearly on:  
That Prince is wise, and doth secure his Throne.   

304  
Let all the politics that breathe this day,  
Rack their conceits until they break their brain,  
They never shall invent a better way  
Whereby a Prince may with assurance reign;  
Than to be truly just, and to retain  
An even proportion Arithmetical,  
Which giveth equal justice unto all.   

305  
This is the mother both of love and fear,  
This doth engender duty and desire,  
This doth the Prince from all suspicion clear,  
Because it doth cut off the means t'aspire;  
This distributes to all, deserved hire.  
Whereby the Subject (having his just due)  
Remains contented, and contented true▪   

306  
And you great Stars whose power is influence  
May work so much be not irregular  
Move fairly in your orbs without offence  
Be Nobles truly, and not titular,  
But soft my muse, how apt art thou to err  
From thy first path, return and make it plain  
That arms are safest for a sovereign.   

307  
Not only to prevent aspiring harms  
Would I have King's Commanders of their own,  
But chiefly would I have them practise Arms,  
That their brave spirits might be the better known,  
And have more vent, to make their virtues shown;  
For greatness doth much in opinion rest,  
And that's maintained by being in action best.   

308  
Besides, 'tis certain all men wish to serve  
Rather in Prince's eye, then by the ear,  
Nothing inflames the soul more to deserve;  
More quickens honour, more abandons fear  
Then when the Prince in presence doth appear  
To check the coward, and with praise and merit  
To grace the actions of a gallant spirit.   

309  
This of all causes, that I can conceive  
Made Alexander Monarch of the East,  
It is a mighty motive not to leave  
Their sovereign Prince in danger or distressed,  
Ill thrive they here on earth, in heaven unblessed  
That wish not so, and grant oh dearest Lord  
That men and Angels to my prayers accord.   

310  
Wise was the State, and very well advised,  
Wise forces being often put to flight,  
Still finding bad success, at last devised  
To bring their infant Prince into the fight  
e'en in his cradle, that his very sight  
Might give them better which proved most true  
For they did fight, and fight did subdue.   

311  
Besides, those under officers that are  
Employed according to each several place  
Will with more faith, and more respective care,  
Intent their charge before the Prince's face,  
So to avoid both danger and disgrace,  
And then the common soldier serveth best  
When he's respected most, and fleeced least.   

312  
And though I know examples do not prove,  
Yet is the state of things not so confounded  
But that those selfsame motives still may move  
On which their resolutions then were grounded,  
Therefore since Norman William first was crowned  
Who list survey our Kings cannot but yield  
Their States thrived best, who most did keep the field.   

313  
Yet if the Prince by age disabled be  
Or otherwise by any like defect  
Or if the sex with arms do not agree  
The let them make fit choice with much respect  
Of men of greatest virtues, to direct  
Their martial forces and the more they train  
In such designs, the surer is their reign.   

314  
Because the Prince with more assurance lives  
That doth rely on many then on one,  
For nothing sooner apt occasion gives  
To swelling spirits for to live upon  
Then if they often have command alone  
Especially if men do hold them such  
As without them the State cannot be much.   

315  
Besides it causes envy on all parts,  
Many malignant humours will be bred,  
If that the Prince all powerfulness imparts,  
Solely to one, which ev'nlyquartered  
Sets many spirits on work and all are fed;  
At least with hopes, which else perhaps might fall  
To practise, if one hand engrossed all.   

316  
Nor would I have the Prince to nourish fears  
Or jealousies, of such as well deserve;  
But let them make, and keep great spirits theirs;  
And let their favours and their bounties serve  
As chains to bind them, that they do not swerve;  
From loyal duty: stronger is that tie  
Then cunning practice of soul cruelty.   

317  
And since they must have Agents of their will  
For execution of their erterprises,  
Or be themselves engaged in action still,  
Let not ungrounded fears and false surmises  
unapt their means, and cross their own devices;  
For who suspects when no cause doth appear,  
Doth give a cause to that which he doth fear.   

318  
So Commodus and Bassianus so  
Two Princes of a most distrustful brain  
Did spin the thread of their own overthrow  
By difference which they did entertain,  
And were the means that they themselves were slain  
By their most dear Pirmadus, their false fear  
Making them guiley that before were clear.   

319  
For where's the man that may in peace possess,  
The happy blessings of a private state,  
Yet prostituts himself to wretchedness,  
To care of mind, to body's toil, to hate,  
Of envy, to the violence of Fate,  
To techie times to dangers ymminent.  
If virtue finds no grace but discontente.   

320  
Therefore let Princes weigh their servant's merits,  
And grace them most that have deserved best,  
So shall respected virtues raise new spirits  
And every noble heart, and gentle breast,  
Will boil with zeal, which will not let them rest;  
Till they have robbed of blood, each several vein,  
To do due service to their sovereign.   

321  
But if the Prince too much distasteful be  
Sad, sour, and of a melancholy mind,  
Hard of access, close handed, nothing free  
To best deservers, ever most unkind,  
Let such a one assure himself to find  
False hearts and feeble hands, but certain hate,  
If any danger threatens his estate.   

322  
Besides the soul defacing of his glory,  
And the remembrance of his living shame,  
Which will recorded be in every story  
And every Annual will report the same,  
And tax with hateful tyranny his fame,  
And why should Kings be so ill governed  
That their black deeds should live when they are dead,   

323  
A thousand years and more are gone and passed  
Since that justinian did the Empire sway,  
And yet his foul dishonour still doth last  
And will do still while there is night and day  
Because, he did unworthily repay  
Thy services brave Bellisarius  
To whom he was unjustly tyrannous.   

324  
Why though he did pluck forth those eyes of thine  
Thy cheerful lamps that lightened those dark days,  
Yet thy great acts, maugre his malice shine  
As bright and glorious as the Sunny rays  
And time both sees, and speaks thy lasting praise  
And what though thou dost beg from door to door  
Thou shalt be rich in honour, he but poor.   

325  
Besides God doth ingratitude detest  
But loves kind offices from man to man,  
For sweetness, goodness, private States are blest,  
And much more Kings, because indeed they can  
Do much more good, they measure not byth'span,  
But by the ell, and as their means are more  
With abler wings, so must they higher sear.   

326  
And oh dear God, the fountain of all good,  
How much obliged are these times to thee  
For one most blessed Prince of greatest blood,  
And yet of greater virtue, happy we  
Yea, ten times happy that have lived to see  
So many rare perfections joined in one  
And that some one to fit upon our throne.   

327  
I ●oe not purpose to perfume my rhymes  
With the false breath of servile flattery,  
I rather am to bold with these our times,  
But I appeal to God's all-seeing eye,  
To which our closest drifts do open lie,  
How my true pen writes from my feeling heart,  
When I great King but shadow what thou art.   

328  
And oh how blest, how dear the heavens do love  
That common wealth where virtuous Princes sway,  
Oh sweet experience, now by thee we prove,  
We taste, we touch that blessing every day;  
And grant (all guiding God) that long we may  
Long in himself, and so long in his race  
Till there be neither room for time nor place.   

329  
But whether hath my zeal my souls desire  
With servant passion, led my pen astray;  
To my first subject now I will retire,  
And bring my Muse into the beaten way,  
And sing of thy disaster and decay  
Oh fatal Edward, whose ill governed Crown  
Both ruined others, and thyself cast down.   

330  
But yet of all thy multiplicity  
Of several ills that do unhappy life,  
There was no greater infelicity  
Than was the falsehood of his faulty wife,  
That bosom wound, that deadly poisoned knife  
That stabs the soul, and never finds relief  
But kills with outward shame, or inward grief.   

331.  
Oh what a Chaos of confused ill,  
Is in the Compass of this one Contained▪  
First violation of God's secret will,  
Next parents, brother, Cousins are defamed,  
The Commonwealth by basterdy is stained,  
Inheritances wrongfully possessed,  
The husband scorned wife loathed, & babes unblessed.   

332.  
The festerous sore grows to a dangerous head  
Now Mortimer begins to play his prize,  
A braver Spirit, nature never bred,  
Of goodly presence to attract the eyes,  
Of sweet discourse, wherein great influence lies,  
Of high resolve, and of a noble heart  
No want of nature, and all aid of art.   

333.  
This was the Paris, which my Helen won  
And this Prometheus stole my heavenly fire,  
This was the Eagle airing in the Sun.  
he's more than man that can restrain desire,  
Especially being waged by such a hire.  
A Queen, and young, and fair, she's half a jove,  
Whom honour, youth, & beauty cannot move.   

334.  
And though there be no just excuse for sin,  
Yet Isabella, this will I say for thee,  
'tis hardly kept, what many seeks to win,  
The finest cloth doth soon stain we see.  
Perhaps thou hadst these precedents from me,  
'twas like forlike, though wrong in thee it were.  
Yet was it right and just for, me to bear.   

335  
Besides he did employ all potent means,  
To undermine the Bulwark of her breast,  
And oh that Sex too much by nature leans  
To Change of loves, what need it be oppressed  
With powerful Art, but men will do their best  
To scale the fort, and tillthe same be wone  
It is undone desired, repented done.   

336  
And after many sweet enticing baits,  
When he had something dived into her heart,  
He then fit opportunity awaits  
To act the last, and best of all his part,  
Wherein he was to show his master Art,  
Which having got; thus he begins the field,  
To conquer her, that of herself did yield.   

337  
Fair Queen (quoth he) may I behold thy beauty,  
Why not (quoth she) the Sun is seen of all,  
And shall speak respecting still my duty  
Why not (quoth she) jove hears the Captive thrall;  
Shall not disdain on my endeavours fall.  
Fear not (quoth she) great minds take all in worth  
'tis flint (no pearl) sends sparks of fire forth,   

338  
Then beauteous Queen my words, shall vent my woe  
I love, how sweet were that same sound from thee.  
For once (quoth she) I will be sure thine Echo,  
I love, it is no perfect point (quoth he)  
The sentence wants, except your Grace adds me,  
You said not so, I made but repetition,  
To greatest sums (fair Queen) needs no addition.   

339  
Why then (quoth she) what ist that I should add,  
Add fancy to affection (gracious Queen)  
Let not desire in tawny weeds be clad,  
No suit becomes sweet love, so well as green  
Add love to love, love will more lovely seem,  
Believe me (fair) stolen fruit contenteth most,  
Then spare not that which being spared is lost.   

340  
Ah Mortimer thou knowst (quoth she) I may not,  
Madam (quoth he) I know you may, but will not,  
What if I will, why then sweet Queen delay not,  
Edward will know, why say he should, it skills not,  
Fame will defame; Fame well may hurt but kills not  
Danger may grow, that will endure delight,  
As darkest grounds make wheat to seem more white,   

341  
Thou wilt be false, than Sun lose thou the light,  
Why being eclipsed thou knowest, it oft doth so:  
Let water burn, I now thou hitt'st it right,  
Even from our baths such boiling waters flow.  
Be constant Moon when I unconstant grow,  
That fitteth Just, she changing you untrue,  
Nay, you the Moon, and I the Man in you.   

342  
I'll cry, do Madam, shed some tears for joy,  
You wrong me much, yet wronged you will not tell,  
I pray thee leave, 'tis but an Idle toy.  
'tis true, and toys, please Ladies very well.  
I cannot yield, no women must but spell,  
Men put together, that's my part to play,  
I'll fight, i'll kiss, and so begin the fray.   

343  
You will, nay then I must, because you will  
Women (poor souls) are weak and dare not fight  
Who ever rises we go downward still,  
And yet fond men will say that we are light  
Well 'tis our fortunes, and the destinies spite,  
I am content because I cannot choose,  
'tis best to take what boots not to refuse.   

344  
Thus Mortimer, this golden fleece did steal,   
Desunt Nonnulla.  

go to thy looms again  
Unwearied Muse, till thou hast wou'ne at will  
The woeful story of poor Edward's ill.   

347  
'tis out of Air whereby we live and breath,  
'tis not the Earth the mother of us all,  
Nor Stars above, nor is it Hell beneath,  
Nor those same spirits which men their Daemons call  
Nor chance which seems to sway things casual  
That are the sole procurers of our evils,  
We to ourselves are either Gods or Devils.   

348  
But I was still the later of the twain,  
My selfe-wrought wrack, bears witness of the same,  
And you great Lords that lived whilst I did reign,  
And were consumed with the furious flame  
Of my enraged wrath, I will not blame  
Your wayward pride, nor yet my wife's untruth,  
My seed was sin, my crop was shame and ruth.   

349  
And when did ever the accursed field  
Bear other harvest, than such thistles weed;  
Can poisoned Fountains wholesome waters yield,  
Or do not worms out of corruption breed,  
Mischief the dam pregnant with sinful seed,  
Brings forth her daughter Misery at last  
And they are always glued together fast.   

350  
There can be no divorce betwixt those twain  
They mix, or rather they incorporate,  
Like to the Poles of Heaven it doth remain;  
Constant and fixed, sin is unfortunate  
Still drawing judgements down upon each state  
Which sometimes are deferred not following strait  
But what time looseth is repaired with weight.   

351  
How many houses have been raised by sin,  
And flourished fair for one or two descents  
But still the third unprosperous hath been,  
And God hath crossed them with some strange events,  
Whereof these times yield many precedents:  
But stay my Muse, if thou wilt shun offence  
Thou must not meddle with the present tense.   

352  
Speak of the Spencers mighty in their days,  
Let Edward be the subject of thy pen,  
Who did his Minions to such greatness raise,  
That the whole State was by them managed then,  
As men with counters, so do Kings with men,  
Sometimes they stand for half pence, and anon  
What was but so, becomes a Million.   

353  
But when my Peers did see how I was bend,  
To make base waxen wings to mount the Sky,  
whilst their fair plumes were plucked with vile contempt  
And they oppressed with scorn and injury  
To last-left arms they got them by and by,  
They moved war, the Spencers to remove;  
Hate armed them, and I was armed by love.   

354  
They levied men, I likewise men did levy,  
Both raised all the forces we could make;  
A tyrant's hand, they say was too too heavy  
A traitor's head I said became a stake:  
They vowed redress, I vowed revenge to take,  
We met, and meeting fought, and fight found  
No hurt more grieves than doth a self-wrought wound   

355  
Oh English Peers relinquish impious Arms,  
Build not your weightiest actions upon Sand,  
'tis not the collout of-pretended harms,  
Nor seeming zeal unto your native land.  
Nor reformation though you bear in hand,  
The people so of some abuse of laws,  
That can make lawful, your unlawful cause.   

356  
These have, and ever have been those smooth oils,  
With which foul treason seeks to paint her face.  
That she might seem fair, pleasing, full of similes,  
So to win love, and gain the people's grace.  
Who silly Gudgeons ever bite apace,  
Until the fatal hook be swallowed down,  
Which by ambition Angles for a Crown.   

357  
Who ever practised against Prince or State,  
But always did pretend the common good.  
Thereby to draw into Contempt or hate,  
The course of government as then it stood,  
This hath been still the marrow life and blood,  
Of such attempts, but hear the rule stands fast  
What's thought on first, is executed last.   

358  
For when that once their private turn is served  
The cares of common wealth is laid a side:  
That did but whet the knife with which they carved,  
For their own good: that Vizor did but hide.  
Some secret ends not fit to be descried,  
Until accomplished which once brought to pass,  
The public state stands as before it was.   

359  
And for to Angle men, crimes must be made,  
Against the Prince, if he be without touch,  
If that no just exceptions can be had,  
Then must the imputation rest on such  
As being near the Prince are used much;  
For this is certain they that stand on high  
Are fairest marks for foulest obloquy.   

360  
But though the Arrow seemeth at them aimed  
Yet through their sides, it wounds the Prince's breast  
Whose reputation cannot be but maimed.  
By their reproach whom they do favour best,  
And they that kill, the birds would spoil the nest,  
But what's intended must be closely wrought  
And that pretended which was never thought.   

361  
Why should vain man still doubt his actions thus,  
With outward whitelime, which are pitched within,  
e'en wicked kings must be endured by us.  
What ere the cause be, Treason is a sin:  
Rebellious arms cannot true honour win.  
The Sword is not the Subjects: his defence,  
In all extremes, is prayer and patience.   

362  
Therefore dear spirits, die not your silver arms,  
Into a Sanguine with your mother's blood,  
Let not uncivell hands, cause civil harms:  
For private grief, confound no public good,  
Not all the water in the Ocean flood  
Can wash the sin from you and your allies,  
For treason lives although the traitor dies.   

363  
Sweet Trent, how were thy Christ all waters stained  
With English blood, that was at Burton shed  
Let Burrow-bridge a Golgotha be named,  
A field of Death, wherein lay buried  
So many people, and all natives bred,  
Had those dear lives 'gainst Frenchmen been employed  
We had not grieved, though they had lived or died.   

364  
At last the doubtful victory proved mine,  
The Barons lost the day, and lost their lives  
Their heads went off, whose hearts did so repine  
Against their Prince, for Treason seldom thrives.  
That great allseeing God, whose knowledge Dives  
Into the deepest secret of the soul;  
Unjust contempts in justice doth control.   

365  
Great Lancaster, than whom no greater Earl,  
This greatest Isle of Europe had before,  
Good Lancaster, in goodness such a pearl;  
That him the vulgar sort did long adore.  
Had then his head struck off, and many more  
Even of the greatest felt the self same stroke;  
So lightning spares the shrub, and tears the Oak.   

366  
The sword was sharp, and wounded every where;  
Many great men of noble quality  
In several Cities were beheaded there,  
For beinst Actors in that treachery,  
Which always proves a mournful Tragedy.  
For though I know the sword is due to such,  
Yet should a Prince forbear to strike too much.   

367  
For often executions in a state,  
(especially of men of fashion).  
First stir up pity, then dislike, then hate,  
Then close Complaint, than Combination,  
Then follows practise for some alteration.  
And that endangers all, if not withstood,  
Although unprosperous, yet it spills much blood.   

368.  
And the same Throne that's often wet with blood,  
Is very slippery, apt to catch a fall.  
Yielding no hours rest, nor pleasures good,  
Sleeping on thorns, and feeding upon gall.  
Still thinking, meditating ill of all.  
Haunted with restless fears, whilst day doth last,  
And then at night with fearful dreamesagast.   

369  
Our Stories do report third Richard so  
(And without doubt he did too much let blood)  
Always mistrustful both of friend and foe.  
Ready to strike them that but near him stood.  
Fearful to all, such was his furious mood,  
And fearing all, as one that knew too well  
How many souls did wish his soul in hell.   

370  
Oh that a Prince might see a Tyrant's mind,  
What Monsters, what Chimaeras therein are  
What horrors in his soul, he still doth find,  
How much himself, is with himself at war.  
Ever divided full of thought and Care  
With Pistols, Poniards, poisons he conceits,  
And thinks each one for his destruction waits.   

371  
Besides indeed, it is no policy,  
Except it be in a mere Turkish state,  
To make the Crown a Common butchery  
To govern all by fear which breedeth hate  
In noble minds; and doth exasperate  
A freeborn people; where the Turkish race  
Fear best commands; being servile poor & base;   

372  
Princes rewards should fall like gentle rain,  
Which coming softly doth the longer last;  
That their sweet relish might still fresh remain.  
Their executions should be done in haste,  
Like sudden furious storms that soon are past,  
Because when once the violence is done,  
Th'offence thereof may be forgot and gone.   

373  
One limb of the great body that did band,  
Itself against me in these factious frays.  
Was Mortimer, who yet upon command,  
Came in before the fight, & then strait ways,  
Sent to the Tower to spend his weary days:  
In wretched bands restrained from liberty,  
But walls of stone kept not out destiny.   

374  
Which either finds or makes itself away;  
For Mortimer thus sent unto the Tower,  
To free himself still labours night and day:  
And by a sleepy potion which had power  
To make men slumber till a certain hour,  
He found the means (his keeper being fast)  
To make escape, and got to France at last.   

375  
This was not done without my Queen's consent,  
Whose head and hand were working in the same,  
Little thought I that that way the hare went,  
But Steeven Segrave only I did blame.  
Wretched mankind how bold we are to frame,  
Hopes to ourselves, how blind to see our ill,  
That lest we fear, what most doth hurt us still.   

376  
Do but observe, how much we strain at Gnats,  
And swallow Camels down without respect,  
And Hoodwinked are we to discern those platts  
That hurt us most, how ready to suspect,  
Our friends, for foes, how apt and pressed t'effect,  
Our own disaster, Mortimer gets free,  
And others die, that less had, wronged me.   

377  
And now I thought myself and State as sure,  
As if great Atlas did uphold the same:  
The dross being purged my gold must needs be pure,  
The smoke once gone my fire must brightly flame,  
Their eyes were out, that marked & marred my game,  
They have no heart to dare, or tongues to peach,  
Or hand to fight, or restless heads to reach.   

378  
But heartless, hapless, yea and headless to;  
Are these disturbers of our awful reign  
Who would prescribe their Prince what he should do,  
And when and where, and why, and whom refrain.  
Like Pupils whom their Tutors do restrain,  
To try with edge-tools is a dangerous thing,  
And no way gainful to control a king.   

379  
Thus in a Calm, I feared no storm at all,  
But yet to soon a sudden Cloud did rise:  
From whencesuch store of wintry storms did fall  
As for my shroud, no shelter could suffice.  
Until pale death, had closed my tearful eyes.  
Oh bring with you what ●●er reads my fall,  
Sad thoughts, wet eyes, and wailing woes withal.   

380.  
And thus it was; I sent my Queen to France,  
And after her, the Prince my Son I sent  
to treat a peace, but see the fatal chance,  
They brought home war, although for peace they went,  
Th'ambitious woman, she was fully bend,  
To have sole rule, and meant to put me down,  
So Ninus once did lose both life and Crown.   

381  
There is more mercy in the Tigers Claw,  
Less venom in the Scorpion's sting doth lie  
More pity in the hungry Lion's paw,  
Less danger in the Basilisk his eye,  
Hyaena that doth call the goers by  
The Panther's breath, and Crocodiles false tears,  
Have truer hearts then faithless women bears.   

382  
Let loser's speak, for they will not be let,  
I lost my Crown, my life I also lost,  
My glorious rising, had a gloomy sets  
My wife the Sea, wherein my Bark was tossed,  
The wrack wherein I suffered shipwreck most,  
She Clytaemnestra, Agamemnon I,  
Whom false Aegistus foully caused to dye.   

383  
His part, my Rival Mortimer did play,  
Whom Isabella my Queen so well did love,  
That still in France, with him she meant to stay  
As one that would the self same fortunes prove,  
And move no otherwise then he did move,  
Mean while the Cuckoo hatched in Edward's nest,  
And in my Boat, his Oar was liked best.   

384  
They that enjoy, and joy in their own love,  
Whose virtuous souls, no secret sins do stain,  
Who never did unlawful pleasures prove,  
But truly living are so loved again,  
Thrice happy they, and more contentments gain,  
Then those that have the change, & choice of many  
And using all, are never loved of any.   

385  
For streams divided, run a shallower course,  
Then they, that in one Channel only run,  
A mind unchaste doth ever like them worse,  
That are obtained, than those that are unwon  
Because it thinks some pleasure is to come.  
Which yet it hath not found, end never ill,  
Did seem so sweet, but something wanting still.   

386  
For how can sin afford a full delight,  
When as it is indeed a mere privation:  
As well may darkness be the cause of light,  
And Heaven to Hell be turned by transformation  
As wickedness yield perfect contentation  
The virtuous pleasures are complete and sound  
And lawful is at last delightful found.   

387  
But lust is deaf, and hath no art to hear  
The cunning Charmer, charm he ne'er so well  
Which did too much in Isabella appear.  
Who did resolve with Mortimer to dwell,  
And both of them did labour to expel  
Me from my kingdom, and to please the time,  
They made my son the colour of their crime.   

388  
And here observe the foul effects of lust,  
What treasons, murders, outrage from it springs,  
How both to God and Man it is unjust,  
How it defiles all States, confounds all things,  
And at the last to utter ruin brings.  
How much more pure is that most holy fire,  
Which God doth bless, and men themselves desire.   

389  
As Mortimer and Isabella my Queen,  
Practised in France, so here they had their factions  
Of Earls and Barons, men of great esteem,  
Both wise and stout to manage any actions,  
And the poor Commons grinded with exactions,  
To Innovation were most easily led,  
And nothing wanting but an able head.   

390  
But he that was chief workman of the frame,  
Which drew the plot at home for all the rest,  
Who afterwards did build upon the same,  
A Bishop was, yet Churchmen should be best,  
But oftentimes, sin lurks within their breast,  
When sacred titles, and religious names,  
Are but the Coverers of uncomely shames.   

391  
'Twas Tarlton whose great spleen and working brain  
Was the productor of this monster first,  
Who for some private wrong he did sustain,  
An inward hate, and bosom treason nursed,  
Against his Prince, which afterwards did burst  
Into these open flames from whence did grow,  
As hateful Ills as ever age could show.   

392  
May then religion be a cloak for sin,  
Can holiest functions serve but for pretences,  
Are Churchmen Saints without, and Devils within  
Dare men make good a Colour for offences:  
Oh know with what fierce wrath he recompenses,  
e'en simple sinners that scarce know his will,  
Then much more those, whose knowledge serves but ill,   

393  
Most reverend Priesthood thou art now profaned,  
How comes thy glorious lustre so obscure  
That e'en thy very title is defamed?  
The cause is plain Professors are impure;  
Their lives do hurt, more than their tongues do, cure,  
For laymen think all lawful which they do  
And on that thought are easily drawn thereto.   

394  
And so there grows a confluence of all sin,  
For sheep will wander, if the shepherd stray,  
Small boats must drown when great ships cannot swim,  
If Doctors fail, what shall poor pupils say.  
God help the blind, if clear eyes miss the way,  
Though sin doth ever draw with it a curse  
Yet doth the Author make the sin the worse   

395  
But to myself I doubted what to do,  
For weighty causes challenge heedful care,  
I feared the French, I feared my subjects too  
I wanted Crowns the sinews of the war  
Those that I had I thought not good to spare.  
But freely sent them to the king of France,  
For fear he should his sister's part advance.   

396  
Whereby from thence she had no aid at all,  
Oh what a pleasing Orator is gold,  
How well he speaks that tells a golden tale,  
How sweetly sounds it both to young and old,  
And yet it loves not to be heard but told.  
Orpheus did make the stones strange wonders do,  
But this can move both stones and Orpheus too.   

397  
Which when my Queen and Mortimer perceived  
They leaving France, to Henault went for aid,  
And there with honour they were well received  
Forces prepared, and Ensigns were displayed.  
And ships were Rigged, and nothing was delayed,  
That might advance their enterprise begun:  
So deepest sea's with smoothest silence run   

398.  
They took the Sea, and landed at the last  
At Orwell Haven, a deadly gulf to me,  
And thither their Confederates did haste,  
Both Lords and Commons seemed to agree.  
As winds and waves consent when wracks shall be,  
All turn their faces to the rising sun,  
Because my date was out and I undone.   

399  
But when the voice of Eagle-winged fame  
Had spread abroad the cause of their repair;  
And seemed still to justify the same  
By due succession of my son and heir;  
My hope to fear, my fear turned to despair  
And my despair on these two grounds was laid,  
My Peers werefalse, my Partisans dismayed.   

400  
Then did I flee from London where I lay,  
Because they seemed partially affected;  
And in my flight did often weep and say,  
To what hard haps (poor Prince) art thou subjected  
What gloomy stars have thus thy state infected.  
That they should hate, who ought to love theerather  
A hapless King, a husband and a father.   

401  
Most mighty Monarches have been oft distressed,  
Whom yet their wives have loved with tender care;  
And many in their matches cursed, are blest  
Yet in their issue, but my cause is rare;  
In all of them, my fortunes fatal are,  
They wrong me most that should protect me rather,  
A hapless King a husband and a father.   

402  
Some say that Kings are Gods upon the earth  
And marriage, quasi merry-age some surmise.  
God give us joy they say at children's birth:  
What God am I, whom traitorous men despise,  
And marreage from my marriage doth arise,  
There reap I care where most content should gather  
A hapless King, a husband and a father.   

403  
And thus I fled, my Queen pursu's a●●aine,  
So runs the hare for life, the hound for prey;  
Few followed me, but thousands were her train;  
So flies swarm thickest in the Sunshine day:  
At last at Oxford did she make some stay  
With all her troops, and did deliberate,  
What course to take with me, and with the State.   

404  
There did her Tutor Tarleton think it fit,  
Of their chief drift remonstrance for to make,  
Who being of good discourse and pregnant wit,  
To broach the matter, first did undertake,  
He preached, his text was this, My head doth ache;  
Whereon dilating, he did seem to prove  
That Subjects might a King their head remove.   

405  
And in that compass he concluded me,  
And so concluded I should be deposed,  
A dangerous and detested heresy  
By some infernal fury first composed  
In hell, where long the Monster lay enclosed  
Till impious spirits, swollen with insolence  
To curb all christian Princes brought it thence   

406  
Why should such devilish principles be broached,  
By them that seenme to bring God's Embassy?  
Why should the Pulpit be so much reproached  
As to be made a place to tell a lie?  
To serve a turn to such impiety;  
But they that only their own ends affect  
Nor God, nor man, nor heaven, nor hell respect.   

407  
No worthy mind will charge me to diselose  
With cursed Cham my father's secret shame,  
Though my free muse do somewhat touch at those  
Of holy Church, whose actions full of blame  
Have sold themselves (not function) with defame,  
Not ist a wonder, though these blinded times  
Did hatch both monstrous men, & monstrous crimes   

408  
William whose sword did seat him in his throne  
Brought with him Odo Bishop of Bayone,  
Whose pride, whose lust, whose irreligion,  
Whose symmonie to buy the See of Rome,  
Incensed his brother to just wrath, by whom  
Th'aspiring Priest in prison was restrained  
And not released as long as William reigned.   

409  
And had the headstrong man been still held in,  
(Rufus) thy reign had been more easy far,  
For having head, he laboured still to win,  
All discontented spirits, that always are  
Apt to take fire unto a civil war;  
And the corrupted humours drawn to head  
In Prince and State great inflammations bred,   

410  
When second Henry wore the Diadem  
How did ambitious Becket toil the State?  
Who made the Pope to interdict the Realm?  
Who with the French King did confederate?  
who under hand nursed man and wives debate?  
Who drew the son to arms against the sire?  
'Twas Becket that most kindled all the fire.   

411  
What bitter storm had almost wracked the State  
By Clergies practise whilst King john did reign;  
Six years the Realm stood excommunicate,  
And under interdiction did remain,  
People and Peers drawn from their sovereign,  
Lewis of France broughtin to wear the Crown  
If by his forces john were shouldered down.   

412  
Who almost sinking with so rough a blast  
Finding himself unable to withstand  
To save his Crown, was forced at the last  
For to resign unto the Pope this Land,  
And by a rent to farm it at his hand,  
Then all was well, the Clergies turn was served  
Lewis was cursed, and john had well deserved.   

413  
Do Kingdoms then serve but for tennis-bals  
For holy Church to racket up and down,  
Must Sceptres be disposed by Bishops Pulls,  
Or shall a Prince make forfeit of his Crown  
If a poor Prelate chance to fret and frown,  
If they can carry it so, I like their wit,  
But sure I am, 'tis not by holy writ.   

414  
When Straw his base rebellious troops did gather  
And drew the Commons to a dangerous head:  
One Ball a Priest, or one of Baal's Priests rather;  
By close seditious Libels which they spread,  
By times, and old said saws he much misled  
The vulgar sort, and made their madness more  
Which in itself did rage too much before   

415  
When Lancaster King Richard did depose  
His chief Assistant, Thomas Arundel  
Primate of England did absolve all those  
That joined in that foul action, to expel  
Their rightful King and did in substance tell  
The very tale that Tarleton erst had told,  
So oft this Realm by them was bought and sold.   

416  
Whilst Humphrey Duke of Gloucester ruled the Sat,  
Henry the sixth then being under age,  
What bloody tumults with intestine hate,  
Were here untimely raised by Beawfords' rage  
Which was so fell that nothing could assuage  
His rancorous spleen, nor would he stint the strife,  
Till by foul practice Gloucester lost his life.   

417  
Richard the third that did usurp the Crown,  
And swom through blood to get the kingly place;  
Had he not Shaw a Clerk of great renown:  
Before that time he in the people's Grace  
Who at Paul's Cross did bastard Edward's race,  
Defamed the dead, forged, wrested, soothed sin,  
Ventured his soul, a tyrant's love to win.   

418  
But stay, I handle with too hard a touch,  
The Church's wounds, that now are fairly healed,  
then were the hoodwinked times, then were they such  
In those dark days, now is the truth revealed,  
Now are those former errors all repealed,  
And now the Sun illumines all our clime  
Most learned Fathers, answer ye the time.   

419  
Be (as you should be) Lamps to give us light,  
And shining Stars to grace the Firmament,  
Though you do teach, and we believe aright,  
Yet minds unsettled sooner will be bend  
When they shall see your words and works consent,  
And therefore let your lives, your faith express,  
And preone by practise what you do profess.   

420  
Whilst I, and my Queen and Tarleton plaild  
The Pageant thus, the Current went so swift,  
That I thought fit, until the fury stayed  
In some close private place a while to shift:  
And, for the Land seemed cross unto my drift,  
I did resolve by sea to seek some clime  
Where I might harbour till some happier time.   

421  
And so I left the land, and took the seas,  
But sea and land conspired unto my taking,  
For neither plaints nor prayers could appease  
The winds and waves which fared as they were making  
Sharp war betwixt themselves whilst I stood quaking  
For fear lest I the subject of their strife  
Should end their war by ending of my life.   

422  
And yet thrice happy had poor Edward been  
If death had ended then his weary days;  
But cast on shore in Wales, I lived unseen  
In paths, in woods, in unfrequented ways  
With those few friends which whilom I did raise,  
Baldock and Redding. young Spencer and no more  
Who in my fall their ruin did deplore.   

423  
Of all the swarms that followed kingly reign,  
Of all the friends that fawned on awful pride,  
Lo only this poor remnant did remain:  
A true love knot with sad affliction tide:  
Who suffering, and who sorrows were t' abide,  
For wretched men compassionate each other,  
And kind compassion is afflictions mother.   

424  
Oh see what quick sands honour treads upon,  
How Icy is the way that greatness goes.  
A mighty Monarch late attended on,  
With supple hams, smooth brows, submissive shows  
For many followers, he hath many foes.  
False fawning friends from falling fortunes run,  
As Persians use to curse the setting Sun.   

425  
When jove had made the chief of all his Creatures,  
Whom we call man (a little world indeed)  
The gods did praise his well proportioned features,  
Each in their functions serving others need.  
But prying Momus (taking better heed)  
Observed at last one error in his Art  
Because he made no windows in his heart.   

426  
Oh that the glorious Architect of man,  
Had made transparent glasses in the breast,  
What place should be for Politicians then,  
How should dissembling grow in such request,  
And Matchiavillian Atheism prosper best,  
But temporizing is the way to climb,  
There is no music without keeping time   

427  
I shall not do amiss, if I do sing,  
Those heavy Anthems our sad consort made  
Whilst they did warble with their wretched king,  
As we did sorrowing sit in silent shade,  
The sudden downfall reeling greatness had  
Balducke quoth I out of Philosophy,  
Extract some medicine for our misery.   

428  
Dear Prince (quoth he) whom late our eyes beheld,  
In greatest glory that the world could see.  
Whilst thou with awful majesty didst wield,  
The public State, let it no wonder be  
If some few Stars prove opposite to thee.  
Since in their favour none so firmly stood,  
But they have given grief as well as good.   

429  
Do but observe the favourite of Chance,  
Her chiefest Minion highest in her Grace,  
Philip's great son, whom she did so advance,  
Who did subdue the East in little space,  
Unto whose Arms th'amazed world gave place.  
Whose actions are the subject of all stories,  
He poisoned dies amids the world of Glories.   

330  
I list not wade in telling tragic tales,  
Sufficeth this, all greatness is unsure:  
Storms rage more fiercely on the hills than dales,  
Shrubs better than high Cedars winds endure  
Those Colours soon stain that are most pure,  
Oh let him grasp the Clouds and span the skies,  
That can assure himself felicities.   

431  
In all that this same massy world doth hold,  
There is a certain mixture to be found,  
Either of dry, or moist, or hot, or cold,  
Of which, if any one too much abound,  
The body oft afflicted proves unsound,  
But being kept in just proportion,  
They do maintain a happy union.   

432  
So fares it in our fortune and our State,  
Nothing is simply sweet, or simply sour.  
Our wealth is mixed with woe, our love with hare,  
Our hope with fear, and weakness with our power  
Bright moons breed mists, the fairest morn a shower,  
And as there is an Autumn and a spring,  
So change by course is seen in every thing.   

433  
The wind that's now at South, will change to Nore,  
The greenest Groves will turn to withered hay,  
The Seas both ebb and flow at every shore;  
The Moon doth wax and wain, yet not decay,  
Day draws on night, and night draws on the day:  
Ourselves once babes, now men, then old, strait none,  
Do plainly prove a change in every one.   

434  
Wise Politicians, and deep sighted sages,  
That have discoursed of Common wealths with care,  
Both of our time, and of precedent ages,  
Observe in them a birth when first they are,  
A growth which oft extendeth very far,  
A state wherein they stand (so change withal)  
And then at last a dismal fatal fall.   

435  
Rome had her being first from Romulus,  
Her growth from Consuls that were Annual  
Her State most flourished in Octavius,  
Many conversions, these most principal,  
From kings to Consuls, last Imperial,  
And who sees not she is now ruined  
And in her Ruins now lies buried.   

436  
The greatest and best grounded Monarchy,  
Hath had a period, and an over throw;  
There is no constant perpetuity,  
The stream of things is carried to and fro,  
And doth in ever-running Channels go.  
If then great Empires are to changes bending  
We weaker States are warned from their ending.   

437  
Ruins of kingdoms, and their fatal harms,  
From one of these same causes do arise,  
From Civil fury, and from sorren Arms  
Or from some plague doomed from the angry skies,  
Or worn by wasting time, dissolved dies,  
For as the fruit once ripe, falls from the tree,  
So common wealths by age subverted be.   

438  
If these be rocks that shipwreck Monarchies,  
Are private States exempted from the same?  
Where lives the man hath such immunities?  
'Tis hard to scape vnscorched in common flame,  
Or parts to stand when ruined is the frame.  
Those public harms, that Empires do decay,  
In private states do bear a greater sway.   

439  
Five, hundred years some that are curious wise  
Would have the period of a public State,  
And they appoint for private families.  
Some six or seven descents the utmost date,  
I dare not so precisely calculate;  
But without doubt there is a fixed time,  
In which all states have both their set and prime.   

440  
Let these be motives (oh dejected great one)  
To calm the tempest of thy stormy care,  
And though I must confess, it well may fret one▪  
The past and present fortunes to compare,  
Yet since in all things changes common are,  
Think ebbed estates may grow, and think withal,  
What haps to one to every one may fall.   

441  
Thus Baldock chased, and Reading thus began,  
But first his eyes dewed down a weeping rain,  
Oh thou (once glorious) now eclipsed sun.  
Now thou art clouded, yet must clear again,  
With courage therefore hopeful thoughts retain.  
For oft those winds that draws the clouds together  
By their disperses occasioneth fair weather.   

442  
But I intent no comment on this text  
Nor will I harrow that which he did sow,  
What I apply to thy sad soul perplexed  
With those dismays, that from thy fortunes flow,  
Out of th'assured grounds of truth doth grow,  
Then make good use thereof, and learn thereby,  
This sovereign salve for thy sad malady.   

443  
All things that boundless thought can once conceive  
Sacred, profane, of Elements composed  
Unbodied spirits, or what else doth receive  
A being, when or where, or how disposed  
Within one triple Circle, are enclosed.  
Being eternal or perpetual,  
Or else indeed, but merely temporal.   

444  
That is eternal which did not begin  
Nor ever ends, And only God is so  
Who hath for ever, and for ever been,  
Whom no place circumscribes nor times forgo,  
Nor limits bound, nor thoughts can fully know:  
Whom we so much the more ought to admire,  
How much the less to knowledge we aspire.   

445  
That is perpetual which in time began,  
But never any time shall end again,  
Such are the Angels, such the soul of man,  
Such are those spirits that live in restless pain,  
(Rebellious spirits against their Sovereign,)  
All these were made as pleased the makers will,  
Once to begin, but to continue still.   

446  
Lastly, those things are counted temporal,  
Which had beginnings, and shall have their ends,  
And in that rank the world itself doth fall,  
So honour, riches, strength, allies and friends:  
All which by nature to corruption bends,  
And in this sense 'tis true Philosophy,  
What doth begin shall end most certainly.   

447  
And therefore make not things so weak and vain,  
To be thy God, as if they were eternal:  
Nay do not prise them as an equal gain,  
Unto thy soul, which is perpetual.  
But hold them, as they are, but temporal,  
And since their nature is, to cease to be,  
Think they observe but their due course with thee.   

448  
The spacious world is fortune's Tennis Court,  
Men are the balls, which with her Racket (Time)  
She tosses to and fro, for her disport,  
Sometimes above, sometimes beneath the line,  
Now bounding, strait struck dead, but yet in fine  
All go into the hazard that's the Grave,  
And they once gone, she other balls must have.   

449  
So silent he, and then spoke Spencer so,  
To my discourse, (dear Prince) vouchsafe thine ears  
And since we all do share alike in woe,  
Let me have leave to tune my voice like theirs,  
United forces, greater virtue bears,  
And all of us, level our aims at this,  
To make thee think the world but as it is.   

450  
Which (oh) that our experience proved not true,  
Would we did sit upon the quiet Strand,  
And thence behold the Rack that should ensue,  
And pity others, we secure on land,  
But our estates in doubtful hazard stand,  
Succeeding ages in our fall may read  
How all things hang but by a slenderthred.   

451  
Such is the sad condition of each State,  
Annexed to it, by eternal doom,  
Which is enroled in the book of fate.  
From whence the least occurrents here do come,  
That happen from the Cradle to the Tomb.  
For though our fortunes seem but casual,  
The finger of the highest is in all.   

452  
And 'tis a work of his all guiding will,  
Whose boundless knowledge sees which is the best  
In our whole life, to mingle good with ill.  
Contents with crosses, quiet with unrest,  
Lest we should hold the world in such request,  
That for the same we should abandon heaven,  
And sour ourselves with too much earthly leau'n.   

453  
For who sees not how much the world bewitches  
Who feels not how the flesh is apt to yield,  
Especially made insolent with riches.  
How hard it is prosperity to wield,  
How proudly sitteth sin with such a shield  
When lustful ease, and full satiety,  
And pleasing tongues still draw on vanity.   

454  
We may even of ourselves an instance make,  
When did we entertain such thoughts as these,  
Or when did we this theme for Subject take.  
Whilst sin (begot with greatness, nursed with ease,  
Confirmed with vice) did seek all means to please,  
The pleasant humour, that did most delight,  
And framed our wills, according to our might.   

455  
But now afflicting sorrow doth assail us,  
We tune our Consort to another key,  
We change our minds because our means do fail us  
And those Lewd motives being removed away,  
Which did induce us so to run astray,  
We now recall our wand'ring thoughts again,  
And from our troubles take our truest aim.   

456  
Oh sad affliction though thou seem severe,  
Yet oftentimes thou drawest us unto God,  
Who strikes for to instruct, and clouds to clear.  
So doth the tender father use the Rod,  
So bitter'st herbs in medicine, oft are sod,  
Of eàsie Rains who doth no reckoning make,  
Must needs be ridden with a rougher brake.   

457  
If thus thou dost account thou reck'nest even  
And thou shalt sum thy sorrows with delight,  
God strikes on earth, that he may stroke in heaven,  
He gives a Talon, when he takes a mite,  
And lest thy soul should live in endless night,  
He sends his Herald only to this end,  
That thou mightst be his follower by thy friend.   

458  
He ceased, I said Spencer I find it true,  
e'en from myself I can the proof derive,  
Calamity doth fashion us anew.  
Remorseful grief into the soul doth dive,  
And sorrow makes repentant thoughts to thrive,  
But full sad souls and fortunes soaring high  
Think neither how to live nor how to diem.   

459  
I must confess the truth, the time hath been  
Whilst my sweet candied fortune lasted still,  
I never thought on things that were unseen;  
I only was obsequious to my will.  
My sense my god, whose hests I did fulfil.  
And my deluded soul did place her good,  
Only in that, that pleased my wanton blood.   

460  
How often did I plot impiety,  
And fashion it upon my sinful bed,  
Still hunting after fresh variety,  
Longing to act, what was in fancy bred,  
How much were all occasions welcomed  
By which I might add heat unto my fire,  
And still new forms were framed by my desire.   

461  
And that I might do ill without control,  
Without all Check or touch of conscience;  
How often did I say unto my soul,  
Enjoy a present good be ruled by sense.  
Not by opinion or conceit, from whence  
Some curious brains have forged strange novelties,  
But be thou wise, and follow realties.   

462  
But Spencer, now I find, I was a fool,  
And like Ixion did a Cloud embrace,  
Calamity hath set me now to school,  
Where though I feel more grief, I find more grace,  
And now I see, how wretched was my case  
Whilst being bewitched with false felicity,  
I thought religion but mere policy.   

463  
But now my soul grieves with the weight of sin,  
And I lie prostrate at my maker's feet,  
I do confess, how sottish I have been,  
How my distaste hath taken sour for sweet  
I find a God whose judgements now I meet:  
Dam'd Atheist thou, that sayest there is no God,  
Thou wilt confess one, when thou feelest his rod.   

464  
Let Pharoe live at rest, and he will wage  
War against Heaven, and ask who is the Lord  
Nay more and more, the Tyrant still shall rage  
Till God draw forth his sharp avenging sword,  
Till his just plagues no breathing time afford.  
Then I have sinned pray for me, let them go,  
And then who goes as Pharoe, learns to know.   

465  
So doth the sharpest briar bear sweetest rose,  
And bitter'st medicines, purge the body best,  
How wondrously doth God his works dispose.  
That e'en by crosses he can make us blest  
And hath our chiefest joy in sorrow's nest,  
Then let us not repine against his doom  
But weave our web, as we have warp'dour loom.   

466  
And Reading of the world thou readest right  
It is indeed but merely temporal  
e'en those dear pleasures, wherein men delight,  
Friends, honours, riches, all are casual,  
And as they have their honey, so their gall:  
there's nothing certain in the world, but this  
That every worldly thing uncertain is.   

467  
These were our parleys as we sat alone,  
These tearful tributes daily were defrayed,  
Now did we walk and weep, now sit and groan,  
Till faithless Walsh, me (friendly wretch) betrayed  
Into their hands, who strait ways me conuaid  
To Kenelworth, where I imprisoned lay  
And never after saw one blissful day.   

468  
For first I was deposed by Parliament  
From Princely rule, as one not fit to reign,  
Both Peers and people all did give consent,  
That I unkinged in durance should remain,  
And sent their agents to me to explain  
That if I would not to the same resign  
Thaied choose a Prince out of some other line.   

469  
Oh English Peers weigh what you take in hand  
Look but with judgement into your design,  
That which you now attempt will wrack the land  
The wounds whereof will bleed in aftertime,  
And babes unborn, will curse your hateful crime,  
For what so doth pervert the course of things  
Wrath, envy, death and desolation brings,   

470  
There is a lawful and a certain right,  
Which always must be kept inviolate,  
And being infringed by practice or by might,  
Draws fearful judgements down upon the Stare,  
Then you or yours will wish, although too late  
That I had kept my rightful interest still  
And you had not been agents in this ill.   

471  
When your own children shall each other wound  
And with accursed hands gore others breast,  
When civil fury shall your State confound,  
Then will you say his ghost is not at rest  
He 'tis whom vainly we have dispossessed  
The second Edward for whose sacrifice  
Your nephews then shall play a bloody prize.   

472  
Never, oh never was the rightful course  
Of this our Crowno perverted or suppressed,  
But still the same hath been a fatal source  
Of many mischiefs, and of much unrest:  
And as the land hath been therewith oppressed,  
So the Usurper never kept it long,  
In any quiet, what he got with wrong.   

473  
William who with his sword did win the Crown  
Getting by conquest, what he kept with care,  
The true and lawful heir being shouldered down  
Like a wood Lion (his own word) did fare  
Against the English whom he did not spare  
Or young or old, that were of worth or place,  
And for the rest, he yoked with bondage base.   

474  
And as he toiled the land with his unrest  
So tasted he his share of misery  
Robert rebels, a bird of his own nest  
The Normans broke forth into injury  
The oppressed English hatched conspiracy,  
Always inforreine brawls or civil strife,  
And so wastes forth a wretched weary life.   

475  
Nay death the period-maker of all moan,  
e'en against nature follows him with spite,  
The mighty Prince by thousands waited on,  
Being dead is left alone forsaken quite,  
No son, no friend to do him his last right,  
None that vouchsaf'de to give him burial;  
But unregarded lay despised of all.   

476  
Nay more the ground where he should be intened  
Anselm fitz Arthur, his dead bones to spite,  
Claimed as his own, a thing scarce ever heard,  
And, for the Prince there dead by lawless might,  
Had wormed him out of that which was his right,  
On God's behalf, he did forbid them all,  
Within his earth to give him burial.   

477  
Nor would he cease the challenge he had made,  
Nor yet durst they inter his corpse therein  
Until a sum of money was defrayed  
With which they paid the ransom for his sin,  
So much ado had this great Prince to win,  
That which none doth the poorest wretch deny,  
A bed of peace, where his dead bones might be.   

478  
Nor was the stream of misery thus stayed,  
The date of our affliction lasted still:  
There is not yet sufficient ransom paid,  
The ill got Sceptre must be swayed as ill.  
Rufus succeeds, and still more blood doth spill.  
Still havecks more, and still doth tyrannize,  
Until by sudden violence he dies.   

479  
Nor did the Crown stand well on any head,  
Till Beuclark got the Sceptre in his hand  
Who to the Saxon Maude being married,  
Some beams of comfort cheered the drooping land,  
And then our State in peaceful terms did stand  
Till Henry died and Stephen unjustly got  
The Crown, and set new troubles here on foot.   

480  
Then burst there forth an all consuming flame,  
The Empress Maude sought to acquire her right  
Stephen had the Crown, and he would keep the same  
Until she could recover it by fight,  
Then followed all the hostile Acts of might  
Sword, fire, rapes, murders, leaguers, waist and wrack,  
And nothing of extremest ills did lack.   

481  
So hath injust succession scourged this Realm  
At length Stephen dies after a wretched reign,  
Than second Henry wears the Diadem  
In whom the rightful title did remain  
And then our State did happy fortunes gain,  
Then did our strength increase, our bands extend,  
And many Nations to our yoke did bend.   

482  
Then Richard his brave son did next succeed,  
In a just course of all things prospered well,  
In Syria he did many a worthy deed  
The Eastern world of his exploits can tell,  
And many thousand miscreants sent to hell  
By those unconquered arms have proved long since  
That Cordelion was a Peerless Prince.   

483  
He dead, young Arthur should have had the Crown,  
The son of jeffrey, who was Henry's son,  
Had not King john his uncle put him down,  
Who being hal'don by ambition  
Diverts the course of true succession,  
Makes himself King, usurps the Prince's name,  
And murders Arthur to secure the same.   

484  
And now, (oh) now begins our Tragedy,  
where death and horror only actors are;  
john governs, as he got preposterously,  
And doth both with his Peers and Clergy jar:  
Then janus sets wide open the gates of war  
And then the land with blood was overflown  
And none could safely call his own his own.   

485  
Then were the Cities sacked the fields laid waste,  
The virgins forced, the marriage bed defiled,  
Then were the ancient Monuments defaced  
The Ports vntrafficked, landed up and spoiled,  
e'en God himself seemed here to be exiled:  
The land was cursed, all sacred rights were barred:  
And six years' space no public prayers were heard.   

486  
Then did the King lease forth the Realm to Rome,  
Then did the Peers of France betray the Crown;  
Oh Heavens great King, how fearful is thy doom,  
How many mighty plagues canst thou pour down,  
Upon a Nation, when thou please to frown.  
Arthur, it was the wrong done thee of late  
That made the Heaven so to afflict our State.   

487  
Oh no, although third Henry was the man  
In whom the lawful title was invested,  
For Arthur dead, the right was then in john;  
And john deceased, the same in Henry rested,  
Yet that the world should see how God detested  
Such wrongful means, acts so unjustly done  
The father's whip is made to scourge the son.   

488  
For still the civil fury wound the State  
During the time of Henry's pupil age,  
And still the Peereswolne with intestine hate  
Against their harmless Prince being under age  
Combine themselves with France, and when that rage  
Was spent, the Baron's war broke forth again▪  
So full of tumults was third Henry's reign.   

489  
He dead, my father Longshanks then did reign,  
And in due course succeeded next his sire;  
Then all afflictions did begin to wain  
And England did to peace and wealth aspire,  
Nor did the stream of bliss flow ever higher;  
Then when first Edward managed the State  
Prudent in peace, in wars most fortunate.   

490  
That noble Prince to me my breath did give  
Whom I succeeded in a rightful live,  
You all have sworn allegiance whilst I live  
And will you now enforce me to resign,  
Will you again with wicked hands untwine,  
That sacred chain whereon depends our good  
And drown this Island once again in blood.   

491  
Oh if you do disorder thus the Crown  
And turn the lawful course anotherr way,  
If you unjustly wring from me my own,  
You spin a thread to work your own decay,  
And my Prophetic soul doth truly say  
The time will come when this unjust design  
Shall draw down wrath on this unhappy clime.   

492  
And from my flock two branches shall arise,  
From whom shall grow such great disunion,  
As many thousand lives shall not suffice  
To reunite them both again in one.  
England shall waste more dear blood of her own  
Against herself, than would suffice t'obtain  
All France, and conquer Germany and Spain.   

493  
But when that men are bend to do amiss,  
Then all persuasions are but spent in vain,  
The Parliament was resolute in this  
That I their King no longer should remain;  
Whereto, if I oppposed myself 'twas vain,  
They were resolved, and my perverseness might  
Make them perhaps to do my son less right.   

494  
Which when I heard, think how my soul did war  
Within itself, which way I should decline;  
Dear was my son, myself was dearer far;  
Through my eclipse, must I procure his shine?  
Cannot he reign, unless I now resign?  
My father died ere I could get the Crown,  
I live, and now my son must put me down.   

495  
My son? alas poor Prince it is not he,  
For many wolf's mask in that Lamb's attire;  
Proud Mortimer 'tis thou uncrownest me,  
Luxurious Queen this is thy foul desire,  
And moody Tarleton bellowes of this fire,  
'Tis thou that art the marrow of this sin,  
My son doth serve but for the outward skin.   

496  
You are the wheels that make this clock to strike  
My fatal hour, the last of all my good;  
For this is not the height of your dislike,  
Death is the fruit, when treason is the bud;  
Such practices do always end in blood,  
When others stumble, Kings fall headlong down,  
There is no mean betwixt a grave and Crown.   

497  
For this is certain, sin doth always find  
Within itself sufficient cause to fear,  
'Tis dangerous to trust a guilty mind  
The Creditor removed, the debt's thought clear,  
Men hate whom they have wronged, and hating fear,  
And fearing will not cease till they have proved  
All means by which the cause may be removed.   

498  
Therefore would I might lead a private life  
In some sequestered place which none might see,  
Where I might see to reconcile the strife  
That sin hath made betwixt my God and me,  
Or if the ransom of my Crown were free,  
My life from slaughter, little would I grieve,  
For none so wretched, but desires to live.   

499  
And yet why should I lose or life or Crown,  
Are lives, or Crowns so light and easy losses?  
'Tis vain to ask why fortune lists to frown,  
Or to inquire the causes of our crosses,  
When ships on sea, storms, winds, and billows tosses;  
It boots not ask why winds and storms should rise  
For powerful heavens respects not humane whies.   

500  
The stately Steed that champs the steely bit,  
And proudly seems to menace friend and foe,  
Doth sling and some, and boundeth oft, and yet  
Poor beast perforce, he is enforced to go,  
Even so fared I, and since it must be so;  
As good the same should seem to come from me  
'Twas best to will, what 'gainst my will must be.   

501  
And so I made a solemn resignation  
Of all my right and title to me son,  
And herewithal an earnest protestation,  
Which was with sighs and weeping tears begun  
How much I grieved that I had so misdone  
As to procure thereby my people's hate  
And so be thought unworthy of the state.   

502  
Which since I was, I willingly would give  
Unto my son, my State and Maiesttie,  
Desiring them to give me leave to live,  
And not too much tread on my misery:  
For I had once their faith and fealty,  
Which though I now discharged and set them free,  
Though not obey, yet should they pity me.   

503  
The Crown had often made my head to ache,  
And I prayed God my son felt not the same,  
Whom they should no less value for my sake;  
Since by his virtue he might salve my shame,  
And well I hoped my precedent would tame  
All youthful humours which are easily led  
Unto those courses which confusion bred.   

504  
And here though grief my senses did o'erwhelm  
And I seemed dead, yet that no bar might be;  
Sir Thomas Trussell Knight for all the Realm,  
Did then renonce obedience unto me,  
And of all faith and service set them free,  
My Steward broke his staff, my stare before  
Was now discharged, and I was King no more.   

505  
Mark what pretences wrong can make of right,  
How loath men seem against justice to offend,  
Oh sacred virtue thou art full of might,  
When e'en thy foes, thy title will pretend,  
As if thy only shadow could amend  
All wrongful acts, but now it's grown a use  
Thou must be made a cloak to hide abuse   

506  
But when I had thus parted with my Crown,  
I did bewail the waning of my State,  
Poor Prince said I, how low art thou cast down  
From that high heaven which thou enioyd'st of late,  
Thou hast no prospect but an iron grate,  
Thy costly hangings, ragged walls of stone,  
And all thy solace, solitary moan.   

507  
Now of a Cushion thou must make a Crown,  
And play the mock-king with it on thy head,  
And on the earth thy Chair of State sit down.  
And why not so since thou art earthly bred?  
But for a Sceptre how wilt thou be sped?  
Why take a brand, and shake it in thy hand,  
And now thou art a king of high command.   

508  
All guiding heaven what change do I endure!  
I'had wealth at will, but wealthy now in want,  
Then men my pleasure, now my grief procure,  
Then change of houses, now in Chamber scant:  
Then thoughts of rest, now restless thought doth plant  
The sad remembrance of my wretched fate:  
What now I am, and what I was of late.   

509  
Me thinks the Birds vpbrayd me in their songs  
And early sing my shame in every place,  
Me thinks the waters murmur forth my wrongs,  
And in their Course, discourse of my disgrace,  
Me thinks, the Snne doth blush to see my face,  
The whistling winds me thinks do witness this,  
No grief, so great as to have lived in bliss.   

510  
When I complain to Echo of head-aching,  
The sound's a King, and yet no King am I  
In silent night, when I my rest am taking,  
I dream of Kings, yet I unkinged do lie,  
And still sweet sleep seals up my weary eye,  
I cannot fix my thought on any thing,  
But tells me strait that once I was a king.   

511  
That once I was (ay me) that now I am not,  
And now I am not, would I had been never,  
Less feels he want, that yet to plenty came not,  
To have been happy, is unhappy ever.  
But to forget myself, I will endeavour,  
And only this poor plainsong will I sing  
I was not borne nor shall I die a king.   

512  
In such Complaints▪ I spent my weary time,  
My Cousin Leicester well respecting me,  
Which to my foes did seem a heinous crime.  
Who after consultation did agree,  
Some more obdurate should my keepers be:  
And Gurney and Matrevers Cousins were,  
To rid me of my life, them of their fear.   

513  
They that have ears to hear of my extremes,  
And feeling hearts to comprehend my woes,  
And yet have eyes as dry as sunny beams,  
Where no moist tears (poor pittles tribute) flows  
Within such mines, whole mines of marble grows,  
Flint-hearted men that pity not my moan,  
Some Gorgon's head hath turned your hearts to stone.   

514  
And what have I to do with stony hearts,  
With men of Marble what have I to do,  
I take no pleasure in Pygmalion's arts.  
I would not work on stone, or marble woe.  
He loved his stony maid, and Joyed her too,  
She was transformed at his incessant moan,  
So were my foes, but changed from men to stone.   

515  
And would to God I had been changed like them  
Then without sense, I should have borne my pain,  
And senseless, hapless, and half happy men  
Who feel no grief what needs they much complain,  
But I was touched being struck in every vain,  
That my dispares to their desires might bring  
The fatal period whence their fears did spring.   

516  
And first, they hurried me from place to place,  
That none might have intelligence of me.  
They clothed me with garments vile and base,  
Unlike myself, that I unknown might be.  
And lest I should the cheerful daylight see,  
I still removed, when sol his course had run  
My day was night, and Moonshine was my sun.   

517  
I did lament, that woes to words might yield,  
And said fair Cynthia with whose bright Sunshine,  
This sable night doth bear a silver shield,  
Yet thou art gracious to these griefs of mine,  
That with thy light dost clear my drooping eine,  
Thou borrowest light to lend the same to me,  
I lightened those that my Eclipses be.   

518  
The glorious Sun thy brother lends thee light,  
My son makes me obscure unlike to thee,  
Endymion's love, thou didst with love requite:  
My love distresseth and disdaineth me.  
Yet both too like in often changing be,  
Oh no for thou being waned dost wax again,  
But still her love continues to her wain.   

519  
Some do ascribe the Ocean's ebbs and flows,  
Unto thy influence working in the same,  
I wot not that, but this poor Edward knows,  
Men ebb and flow as fortune list to frame,  
Whose smiles or frowns, do make or war or gain,  
Then sure we all must stoop unto herlure:  
When she is false, how may our States be sure.   

520  
But cease fair Phoebus, cease thy beutious shine,  
Spend not thy rays on such a wretch as I,  
Against whom, the very heavens themselves repine  
Whose presence, all good-boading stars do fly,  
Then give me leave that I obscured may die,  
And suffer me (unsought, unseen) to go,  
Some case it is not to be known in woe.   

521  
And that the honeyed vapours of the night  
Might be of force to make weak nature fail  
They made me ride cold, and bareheaded quite  
To whom both hats and heads were wont to veil,  
Whilst I with prosperous wind at will did sail.  
But now I was reproached with hateful crimes,  
Oh times, oh men, oh change of men and times.   

522  
Think not that I was marble, not to have  
A sense of ill, after a feeling fashion  
Which made me sometimes for to fret and rave,  
Sometimes to weep, and humbly beg compassion,  
As I was swayed, by variable passion.  
Remembering what I was some storms did pass,  
And strait a Calm remembering what I was.   

523  
Traitors (quoth he) why do you use me thus,  
Know you not me, forget you who I am?  
Was not great Longshanks father unto us?  
I Kingly Edward, second of that name?  
Why kneel ye not, oft have ye done the same?  
Why should you not, since you are sworn to do it,  
And by our birthight, we are borne unto it?   

524  
From forth the loins of many Kings came I,  
This head hath been impaled with a Crown;  
And will you now a simple hat deny,  
I'll be revenged: they do not fear my frown,  
Too well, too well, they know my sun is down,  
My day is done, now doth my night begin,  
And Owls, not Eagles use to flee therein.   

525  
I have been graced, let me be gracious now,  
I have commanded, let me now request,  
Your sometimes King, hath humble knees to how,  
And weeping eyes to crave some little rest,  
Man's heart is flesh, he hath no flinty breast,  
One Ari●●●●●●ines had a hairy heart,  
But you are stones, else would you rue my smart.   

526  
And that I might be wretched every way  
That every sense might have his proper pain,  
The bird to whom Prometheus was a prey  
The waking serpent that doth rest restrain  
Hunger I mean, did gnaw on me amain,  
Hunger, fell hunger forced me to eat  
Such food as nature never made for meat.   

527  
I that Lucullus like was served at will  
With whatsoever sea or land affords,  
Would now be glad of crumbs to feed my fill,  
Such want doth often follow wasteful boards,  
Better the frugal fare of roots and goards  
That keeps the soul and body both in health  
And God doth bless with grace increase of wealth.   

528  
Chameleons feed upon the piercing air,  
I wish that nature had but made me such;  
The Salamander doth its strength repair,  
Amidst the fire, when it the flame doth touch  
Against whose happy state I did not grudge  
But only wished myself to have such means,  
For hunger is extremest of Extremes.   

529  
I thought sometimes to eat my very flesh  
My brawnelesse arms would do some little good  
But still my stomach loathes so vild a mess;  
And would not serve me to digest my blood,  
My teeth should rather tear the stones for food,  
I'll soften them with tears and ceaseless moans,  
But stones were hard, and men more hard than stones.   

530  
And for to make me fret myself to death  
They crossed and thwarted me in every thing,  
Sweet sugar words like to the Panther's breath;  
You pleasing tongues whose chimes so sweetly ring  
Where are you now, why soothe you not your King?  
Yea so you will, but that is not my case:  
And flatterers time not to the mean or base.   

531  
How deadly is the venom of fair tongues  
Whose Nectar-tearmes do seem more smooth than oil;  
And all the breath that cometh from their longs  
Is sweet in show, but full of gall and guile,  
Believe me, there's more danger in their smile  
Then in their frown, for seen is soon detected,  
But they hurt most that are the least suspected.   

532  
Oh why are Princes like to brazen pots  
Which being great are lifted by the ears;  
Little see they their reaches, and their plots,  
Whose tongues are turned to soothe them many years;  
Till turns be served, and then it strait appears,  
That honey gone, the combs are soon rejected  
And wanting means, the man is less respected.   

533  
May it please your highness, was my wont style,  
Whose pleasure now is valued less than mine?  
Did I look cloudy who durst seem to smile?  
Or was I pleasant, who durst then repine?  
Speak I; Apollo's words were less divine,  
What ere I did, applause graced every thing,  
And this the cause, because I was a King.   

534  
But now the spring time of my bliss is done,  
Those Nightingales that did so sweetly sing,  
In this my winter all are fled and gone,  
Nay turned to serpenrs that both hiss and sting,  
Thus bells to marriage feasts and burials ring,  
And this the cause, because I am no King,  
A King, no King, hap and mishap doth bring.   

535  
And that my words might unrespected be,  
And neither they nor I regarded aught,  
They gave it out my senses failed me,  
And I was mad, and helpleslie distraught,  
'tis true, I, have been mad and dearly bought,  
My madness, I was mad, when I did blot,  
My soul with sin, when I my God forgot.   

536  
But now my senses are restored again,  
And I begin to see how mad I was,  
To put my trust in things that are so vain.  
To change my heavenly gold for earthly glass,  
To dote on shadows, letting substance pass,  
And now my God hath purged that lunacy,  
With bitter potions of Calamity.   

537  
And oh this sickness is too general,  
The world doth labour of this mad disease,  
This frantic humour doth distract us all,  
We only seek the present sense to please,  
And whilst we live so we may float at ease,  
We quite forget the place where we must land,  
The throne of judgement where we all shall stand.   

538  
Why should mankind be so extremely mad,  
As for the short fruition of vain pleasure  
Which often is reported when 'tis had,  
To lose a soul more worth than worlds of treasure,  
This is indeed a madness above measure:  
Thus once I fawned, and therefore now I rue,  
Thus reign I now, and therefore so shall you.   

539  
And lest my torments should but seem to cease,  
Or breathe a while, they would not let me rest.  
Of quiet sleep, (the Harbinger of peace,  
The common Inn both unto man and beast)  
My weary eyes could never be possessed,  
My head waxtlight, yet heavy was my heart  
Two contraries, one cause, but no desert.   

540  
I that had once, so many princely bowers,  
And in the same so many beds of state.  
With sweet perfumes and beutious Parramonres,  
And melody, such as at Pluto's gate,  
Once Orpheus played, and all, most delicate,  
To charm the senses & bewitch the soul,  
Must not now sleep one hour without coutroule.   

541  
Oh justice what a tally dost thou keep  
Of all our fins, & how thou payest them right,  
Though God doth wink, yet doth he never sleep,  
The eye of Heaven sees in the darkest night,  
My sinful waist of time, (then thought but light)  
Was chaulked up, and now he pays the score,  
With want of that, which I abused before.   

542  
Fond men quoth I you have in all been cruel,  
But yet in this, you are too much unwise,  
If to my torments you will add more fuel,  
You should permit some slumber to mine eyes.  
That being waked fresh sorrow might arise  
Nor can I last, my strength with waking spent,  
For Bows grow weak that never stand unbent.   

543  
Besides continual thinking of my woe,  
So dulls my senses that I feel the less;  
As paths grow plain whereon we always go,  
So hearts grow hard that never find redress.  
And you will make me senseless by excess,  
I know you hate me, show your hate therefore,  
And let me slumber for to vex me more.   

544  
And that my grief might work on me the more,  
By apprehension of my present fall;  
And sad remembrance of my state before,  
They wreath a Crown of hay and there withal  
They Crowned me, and king eft 'zounds did call,  
And said in scorn, God save this jolly king,  
Oh save me God, whom devils to death would bring.   

545  
And thou meek Lamb that by thy precious blood,  
Didst make atonement 'twixt my God and me,  
Which was more soveriagne for a sinners good  
Than sweetest myrrh, or purest balm could be,  
See how these wicked men dishonour thee:  
The Sponge, the Spear, the Cross, the Crown of thorn  
Thine ensigns are, and may not else be borne.   

546  
Thy head was Crowned with thorn mine but with hay,  
Thou knewst no sin, my sins the sand exceed,  
Well may I follow when thou lead'st the way.  
And (oh) that I might follow thee indeed.  
Then of the Tree of life my soul should feed.  
My soul that hath none other hope but this,  
Who will be thine, thou always wilt be his.   

547  
Sweet Saviour Christ, these are the hopes I have,  
Though they afflict me, yet my soul is thine  
A tyrant cannot reach beyond the Grave,  
These fiery trials make me brighter shine,  
Thou canst relieve me when thou seest thy time,  
Or I shall end, or they at last will cease,  
Thou wilt give patience, till thou giv'st release.   

548  
And that I might even of myself be hated,  
They shaned of all my beard in my disgrace;  
Their instrument, a Razor blunt, rebated.  
And from a filthy ditch near to that place,  
They fetch'r could muddy water for my face:  
To whom I said, that e'en in their despite,  
I would have warm, my tears should do that right.   

549  
These drops of brine that power down from mine eyes  
Mine eyes cast up to heaven's high glorious frame;  
That frame whence God all earthly deeds descries,  
That God that guerdons sin with death and shame,  
Shall witness, yea and will revenge the same,  
That you have been most cruel to your king,  
Whose death his doom, his doom your deaths will bring   

550  
Unmanly men remember what I was,  
And think withal what you yourselves might be.  
I was a king, a powerful king I was,  
You see my fall, and can yourselves be free?  
But you have friends, why you were friends to me:  
And yet you see how much your love is changed,  
So others loves from you may be estranged.   

551  
But you are young, and full of able strength,  
And am not I, what boots my strength or youth,  
Both now seem firm, but both shall fail at length,  
Old age, cold ache and both sad grief ensueth,  
But you are wise, the more should be your ruth,  
Of mine estate, whose rack may teach you this  
That hateful chance may cloud your greatest bliss.   

552  
You are not, no you are not beasts by birth,  
Nor yet am I made of a senseless stone:  
We all were framed, and all shall turn to earth  
You should have feeling souls for I have one;  
Then seem at least relenting to my moan,  
I pity crave, and craving let me have it,  
Because one day yourselves may need to crave it   

553  
But these dead motives could not work at all  
In their sad steely hearts the least remorse,  
They rather added wormwood to my gall,  
And exercise of ills did make them worse  
So violent streams hold on their wont course,  
And being fleshed in cruelty before,  
Use made the habit perfect more and more.   

554  
And lest one torment should be left vntri'de  
They shut me in a vault, and laid by me,  
Dead carcases of men that lately died,  
That their foul stink my fatal bane might be;  
These were the objects that mine eyes did see,  
These smells I smelled, with these I did converse,  
And unto these, these words I did rehearse.   

555  
Oh happy souls, whose bodies here I see,  
For you have played your parts, and are at rest,  
Yet some way hapless, ye may seem to be,  
That with your bodies, I am thus distressed,  
Perhaps you'd grieve, if that you knew at least,  
That by your means your King is thus tormented,  
Grieve not dear souls for I am well contented.   

556  
'Tis not your bodies senseless as they are  
That do inflictt these torments on your King,  
But the fierce agents of proud Mortimer,  
From them my plagues proceed; as from their spring,  
And (oh) just heaven let them their tribute bring  
Back to the Ocean whence they first did flow  
And in their passage still more greater grow.   

557  
But what poor soul have you deserved so ill,  
That being dead you must want burial;  
Nothing but this, I must my fates fulfil,  
And still be plagued with woes unnatural,  
My wretchedness must still transcend in all,  
The living and the dead must do me spite  
And you poor souls for me must want your right.   

558  
But you are happy free from sense of wrong,  
Here be your bodies, but your souls are well,  
Death do not you forbear your stroke too long  
That with these happy souls, my soul may dwell,  
And soul be glad to go, here is thy hell,  
And e'en in this thouart happy that 'tis here,  
Oh better so, than it should be else where.   

559  
What seest thou now but objects of disgrace?  
What dost thou hear, but scorns and terms of spite?  
What dost thou touch, that is not vile and base?  
What dost thou smell, but stench both day and night?  
What dost thou taste, that may procure delight?  
Thy sight, thy hearing, touching, taste and smell,  
All cry for heaven for here is now their hell.   

560  
This darksome vault, the house of Acheron,  
These wicked men like friends do torture me,  
These very Snakes resemble Phlegeion  
Mine acted sins like fearful juries be.  
And he that would a whole infernal see  
Let him observe those torments I endure,  
And he shall find them hells true portraiture.   

561  
The earthit self is weary of my pain,  
And like a tender mother moans for me,  
From me thou cam'st, return to me again,  
Within my womb, i'll keep thee safe, quoth she,  
And from these vile abusers set thee free:  
Never shall these fell Tyrants wrong thee more,  
He that pays death dischargeth every score.   

562  
These bodies that thou seest, thy brothers were,  
Subject to many wants, and thousands woes.  
They now are cleared from care, and freed from fear,  
And from the pressing of insulting foes,  
And now they live in love, and sweet repose:  
Thyself canst witness, that they feel no woe,  
And as they rest, e'en thou shalt rest thee so.   

563  
Their eyes, that whilst they lived oft tided tears  
Thou seest, how sweetly they enjoy their rest,  
Those harsh unpleasing sounds that deafed their ears:  
Are turned to Angels tunes amongst the blessed.  
Their souls that were with pensive thoughts possessed,  
Now in their maker's bosom without end,  
Enjoy that peace whereto thy soul doth bend.   

564  
And thou hadst need of peace, poor wretched soul.  
If ever any soul had need of peace,  
God being in arms against thee doth inrowle  
All nature in his list which doth not cease  
To fight against thee, and doth still increase  
Thy wretchedness, forbear rebellious dust,  
To war with him who is both great and just.   

565  
Oh would to God, that I had died ere this,  
Then had my sins been fewer than they are,  
Then had my soul, long since reposed in bliss,  
Which now is wand'ring still in ways of care,  
Life's grief exceeds life's good without compare.  
Each day doth bring a fresh supply of sorrow,  
Most wretched now, yet shall be more to morrow.   

566  
My careful mother might have helped me,  
When I lay sprawling in her tender womb,  
If she had made her burdened belly be  
My fruitless birth-bed, and my fatal tomb,  
Sure had she known her son's accursed doom,  
She never would have wronged herself so much  
To bear a wretch, save whom was never such.   

567  
My tender nurse is guilty of these pains,  
She might have put some poison in my pap,  
Or let me fall, and so dashed out my brains,  
When she full oft did dance me on her lap,  
A thousand ways had freed me from mishap.  
But he, whom heaven ordains to live distressed,  
Death will delay to set that wretch at rest.   

568  
For Death's the weary Pilgrim's rest and joy,  
This world of woes, a hard and flinty way.  
Our birth the path that leads to our annoy,  
Our friends are fellow passengers to day,  
And gone to morrow, honour is a stay,  
That either stopps, or leads us all amiss  
Pleasures are thieves, that interrupt our bliss.   

569  
And in our passage as the way doth lie,  
We meet with several Inns wherein we rest,  
Some at the Crown were lodged and so was I  
Some at the Castle, that is now my nest,  
Some at the horn there married folks do feast,  
Though men have divers Inns, yet all men have,  
One home to which they go, and that's the grave.   

570  
Yet whilst we travel, fortune like the weather,  
Doth alter fair or foul, so doth our way:  
If fair, than friends like fowls do flock together  
If fowl, each man doth shift a several way,  
Only our virtues, or our vices stay,  
And go with us, whose endless memory,  
Doth make us live, or die eternally.   

571  
This is the freight that men cannot unload,  
No not by death, therefore mortality  
Work for thyself, whilst here thou mak'st abode,  
For on the present hath dependency  
Thy fortunes endless bliss or misery.  
And death's the Convoy to conduct us home,  
Come death to me, that I to rest may come.   

572  
Perhaps thou fearest me being great and high,  
Oh death, man were a thing intolerable,  
Were he not mortal, but e'en kings must die.  
No privilege doth against death enable,  
Both fat and lean are dishes for his table,  
The difference this, the poor one hath his grave,  
The great one he his Monument must have.   

573  
Our fates may be conceived, but not controlled.  
Before our dated time we cannot die,  
Our days are numbered, and our minutes told.  
But life and death are destined from on high.  
And when that God that rules th'imperial sky  
Shall find it fit, than thou shalt go in peace.  
Mean while with patience look for thy release.   

574  
Thus unto care I pay his due complaint,  
And joined with all my tributary tears  
Such my lament, for grief finds no restraint,  
As they at last did come unto their ears,  
That by the Castle past which caused such fears  
In their selfe guilty souls that used me so,  
As they resolved by death to end my woe.   

575  
To which effect came letters from the Court,  
Written by Tarlton at the Queen's command,  
In such a Cloudy, and ambiguous sort,  
That divers ways one might them understand.  
By pointing them, that if they should be scanned,  
He and his Letters might be free from blame,  
And they delinquent that abused the same.   

576  
The words were these (kill Edward do not fear,  
'tis good) which being commaed diversly  
As please the reader double since may bear,  
Oh Art, thou art the world's chief treasury  
But being employed to practise villainy,  
What Monstrous births from thy fowl womb do spring,  
So Grammar here is made to kill a king.   

577  
Which to effect, they first removed me,  
From forth the Vault, where I before did lie,  
And made a show as if they seemed to be,  
Compassionated, for my misery.  
And would hereafter grant immunity  
For such unworthy usage, so we see,  
The Sun shines hot before the shower will be.   

578  
But being ouerwatched, and wearied too  
Nature was much desirous of some rest,  
Which gave them opportunity to do  
What they desired, for being with sleep oppressed,  
They Clapped a massy table on my breast.  
And with great weight so kept me down withal,  
That breath I could not, much less cry and call.   

579  
And then into my fundament they thrust,  
A little horn, as I did grovelling lie.  
And that my violent death might shun mistrust,  
Through the same horn a red hot Spit, whereby,  
They made my guts and bowels for to fry,  
And so continued, till at last they found,  
That I was dead, yet seemed to have no wound.   

580  
And here I pitch the pillars of my pain,  
Now, Ne plus ultra shall my posy be.  
And thou which hast described my tragic reign,  
Let this at least give some content to thee,  
That from disastrous fortunes none are free.  
Now take the work out of the Looms again,  
And tell the world, that all the world is vain.   
FINIS.