A DUTIFUL INVECTIVE, Against the most heinous Treasons of BALLARD and BABINGton: with other their Adherents, lately executed. Together, with the horrible attempts and actions of the Q. of Scots: and the Sentence pronounced against her at Fodderingay. Newly compiled and set forth, in English verse: For a newyear's gift to all loyal English subjects. by W. Kempe.  
¶ Imprinted at London by Richard jones, dwelling at the sign of the Rose and crown, near Holborn bridge. 1587.   

To the right honourable my very good Lord, George Barn, L. Mayor of the City of London: W. Kempe wisheth in this world all earthly felicity, and in the world to come the inestimable joys of Heaven.  
BLame me not (right honourable, and my especial good Lord) though my boldness exceed the compass of discretion, and my rashness herein, surmount the limits of reason: For though there be (undoubtedly) many causes of great importance and efficacy, which may utterly extinguish all hope of your Lordship's favourable acceptance hereof, and chiefly for that it wanteth such ornaments, as a work (worthy your reading) ought to be furnished withal: yet my good Lord, having a certain and most assured knowledge, both of your Lordship's most sincere, zealous, and loyal affection, you have always carried towards her most excellent Majesty, (whose happy days I beseech the almighty may be innumerable) and also of the studious care you have ever fostered, for the prosperity of this flourishing, common wealth, hath so animated my fearful mind, that (casting away all doubts which I might justly stumble at) I have (most bayardlike) burst out into this boldness, and presumed to present unto your Lordship, this unlearned pamphlet or small treatise, wherein I have simply and plainly discovered the horrible and detestable treasons, lately practised by those graceless traitors and unprofitable members, which (thanks be to God) lately suffered condign punishment for their traitorous enterprises: and also made manifest the treacherous dealing of that ungodly disposed woman, the Scottish Queen: with the sentence pronounced against her at Fodderingay, and confirmed by her Majesty, And further, have therein showed, what rewards they always reap which attempt the like: and lastly conclude with an exhortation to all her majesties liege people, to shun such ungodly and unnatural enterprises, together, with a prayer for the preservation of her highness most royal person, her honourable Counsel, and the Commons of this Realm: humbly beseeching your Lordship (of your accustomed goodness, and loving encouraging, you have always used towards every one, whom you see forward in well-doing) to vouchsafe to protect the first fruits of my labour, and whereas it (altogether) wanteth learning, to furnish it with your favour, so shall your Lordship yield more than I dare desire or can deserve, and bind me forever, to rest at your honours command to the uttermost I may: not omitting my prayer unto the almighty, to send your Lordship a happy new year and many: to his (only) glory, and the earnest desires of all your well-willers.  
Your Lordship's most ready, as it shall please you to use me. W. Kempe.   

A joyful Newyears Gift to all loyal English subjects.  
Woe, woe. yea triple woe, be unto them appointed:  
That go about to overthrow, the living Lords anointed.  
WHat madness hath so mazed men's minds, that they cannot foresee,  
The wretched ends of caitiffs vile, which work by treachery?  
To overthrow the blessed state, of happy common wealth,  
or to deprive their sovereign prince, of her long wished health.  
If fear of God and of his laws, were clearly out of mind,  
If fear of death (by Prince's laws) might not their duties bind?  
If utter ruin of the Realm, and spoil of guiltless blood?  
Might not suffice to stay the rage, of traitors cruel mood?  
Yet, might they well consider, how treasons come to nought,  
And always work their overthrow, by whom they first were wrought  
And what they have pretended, that should on others light,  
Hath happened on their cursed corpses, and them confounded quite.  
Examples many have been shown, which plainly do express,  
How never traitor could prevail, in that his wickedness.  
But still they have by God himself most strangely been prevented,  
And their devices still disclos'de, though secretly invented:  
Yet these ambitious wicked grafts, aspiring to grow hire,  
And cherished (as it seems) by that most lewd Italian Friar,  
I mean the Pope and cursed crew of Papists most unkind,  
Who walking darkly in deceit, would feign have all men blind,  
Not fearing God nor yet his laws, nor having any care,  
For to preserve the common wealth, or how the commons far.  
Have sought by all the subtle means, the Devil could invent,  
To slay our Queen, confound the Realm, and kill the innocent.  
But God, the searcher of all thoughts, who knew their wicked mind:  
And saw the platform of their work, whereto they were inclined:  
And likewise having special care how he might safe defend:  
His servant true (our sovereign Queen) from such most cruel end:  
And with his mercy lovingly, beholding the estate,  
Of us his people here on earth, before his face prostrate:  
Hath brought their treasons unto light, and them hath over thrown  
In their own stones, whereby it is most plainly seen and known,  
Our sovereign Queen to him is dear, and in her he is pleased.  
That for her sake these dangers great and troubles are appeased.  
O Ballard 
Ballard.  thou that wast the first, and chief man in this act,  
What moved thee (so void of grace) for to attempt this fact?  
Didst thou not know, that fluttering Birds will treason still bewray:  
And heaven and earth do still provide, for traitors sharp decay?  
ANd Babington, 
Babington.  thou cursed wretch, what did bewitch thy mind?  
That to thy Prince and country dear, thou shouldst be so unkind,  
Thou hopedst (belike) for better hap, than ever traitor had,  
But now thou hast thy due desert, which makes our hearts full glad.  
Savage 
Savage.  also, thy name of right, unto thee is assigned,  
For what could be more savadge-like, then bear a bloody mind,  
against so gracious Queen as this, who always doth invent,  
How she her subjects wealth and peace by all means may augment.  
BUt Barnewell, 
Barnewell.  thou of all the rest, most cursed mayst thou be:  
How could thy hardened tigers heart, so wickedly agree,  
For to behold so good a Prince, and of her take a view:  
How she might be deprived of life, by this most traitorous crew?  
ANd Tichburn, 
Tichburne.  thou which livedst so well, & hadst great wealth at will▪  
what was the cause thou went'st about, the Queen & realm to spill?  
Was Pope and popish pack, so vile, now planted in thy mind:  
That thou didst hope for this thy crime, pardon by them to find?  
ANd Tilney 
Tilney.  thou, amongst the rest, most worthy art of blame,  
That wouldst conspire th'untimely death, of such a peerless dame,  
To whom (besides thy allegiance) thou specially didst swear,  
That during life, thou wouldst to her, a loyal duty bear.  
ANd Abington, 
Abington.  what Circe's charm, thy wicked mind bewitched,  
Her for ●o hate, who thee and thine, so largely had enriched:  
Thy father's wealth which thou possessed, in court it was all gain●  
But now, thy name (with loss of it,) for ever thou hast stained.  
ANd Salisbury, 
Salisbury.  I marvel much, what graceless Fiend thee led,  
Or devilish bag of hateful hell, this mischief in thee bred:  
Didst thou not know our gracious Queen, is placed here by God:  
By justice for to punish vice, with sharp correcting rod:  
ANd jones, 
jones.  how fell thy, wits away, that thou couldst not remember▪  
That he which treasons doth conceal, or traitors acts doth tender,  
Of like and equal scourge shall taste, and have such punishment,  
As he that author is thereof, and doth the same invent.  
CHarnocke 
Cha●●●●●  also, what fury fell, thy senseless head did fraught,  
With such ungodly enterprise, which thee to shame hath brought,  
Now mayst thou see what fruitless gain, from Antichrist doth spring  
And how to shameful wretched end, the Pope his people bring.  
DIstressed Dun, 
Du●●  thy dismal day, thou justly hast deserved:  
That wouldst consent her to destroy, who thee and us preserved  
In quiet peace from time to time, and always doth devise,  
God's truth to raise within her Realm, and popery doth despise.  
ANd trusties Travis, 
Tra●●●  what meanest thou, this treason to conspire?  
Thou thoughts by this to mend thy state, and thereby climb up hire:  
But now thy fall deservedly, thy name hath more disgraced:  
Then all the acts thou ever didst, in favour had thee placed.  
ANd graceless Gage, 
Gag●●  was fear of God and duty so exiled:  
That thou thy name with treason foul, so lewdly hast defiled?  
Well mayst thou cu●ss● thy careless course thou tookst in this attempt  
And wish thou hadst even at thy birth, been from the world exempt.  
ANd Bellamy 
Bell●●●●  though last, not least, in this devilish device:  
What was the game thou hopest to have, for this bad enterprise?  
The Pope of like did promise thee, that thou shouldst sainted be.  
But in mean time thou quartered art, a thing more fit for thee.  
ONe other Bellamy there was, amongst this cursed crew.  
What was the recompense, I pray, he should receive in lieu:  
Of this his traitorous enterprise, 
An●● Bell●●  perhaps he should be martyred:  
But if he had not hanged himself he (surely) had been quartered.  
Now may you see you faithless wights, what fruit from treasons spring  
Now may you see what wretched end, your hapless hope doth bring:  
Now may you all with open cry, the hour and time both curse  
That ever you lent your listening ears, to her, whose words have worse  
Bewitched your wretched senseless minds, that you could not foresee  
The guerdon always incident, to works of treachery:  
Then ever Circe's wicked charms, did any wight enchant:  
For God forbidden, that traitor should, of good successes vaunt.  
THe Scottish Queen, 
The ●●●tish Que●●●  with mischief scaught, for to perform the will  
Of him (whose Pupil she hath been) hath used all her skill:  
By words most fair, and loving terms, & gifts of value great:  
For to persuade your hollow hearts, your duties to forget;  
And for to be assistant still her treacheries to further,  
Wherein she reckons it no sin, though you commit great murder,  
Such is he heinous hateful mind, who long hath lived in hope,  
By such her subtle lawless means (and help of cursed Pope)  
Both to deprive our sovereign Queen, of her imperial crown,  
And true religion to expel, God's gospel to put down,  
And though to colour this her fact, she only did pretend:  
A title and her liberty, yet God will us defend.  
As plainly doth and may appear, by this his special care  
He hath of this our sovereign Queen, and of our happy fare.  
Yet you be witched wretched wights, her Siren songs did hear,  
And gave such credit thereunto, as nothing you did fear,  
But traitorously forgetting cleans, the duty you did owe,  
To this your gracious sovereign, (as all the world did know)  
Did give consent, you would forthwith, by all the force you might,  
Sake to deprive this peerless Prince, of Realm and regal right▪  
Wherein you fully did conclude, that it could never be,  
Except you first conspired her death, by secret treachery.  
And thereupon consulted oft, and sundry ways did seek  
For to perform this devilish act, which you so well did like.  
next unto this your promise was, to lend your help and aid  
With all the force and power you could, to foes that should invade.  
And thereby for to set at large, that Queen whom. I did name:  
Who alway in her treacherous mind, doth nought but mischief frame.  
These were the faithless parts you played, at instance of that Dame,  
Who sought your ends and utter spoil, with everlasting shame:  
For plainly hath it fallen out, by sundry proofs most true,  
She was the only maintainer, of all this Traitorous crew:  
For trial whereof we may see, how that our gracious Queen  
Both having care the very truth, most plainly might be seen,  
And she with honour might be tried in that she was a Prince  
Did cause the chiefest peers, her faults (by justice) to convince:  
Who did assemble at her place (by name) called Fodderingay,  
There to examine out the truth, and hear what she could say:  
And to that end did then direct, to them a large commission  
For to examine every one, in whom they found suspicion.  
Who meeting at that place, it plainly did appear,  
Howthat she was the chiefest cause, of all our troubles hear,  
And that she by persuasions did seek for to withdraw,  
The subjects hearts, from this our Queen, who erst had lived in awe.  
And that the treasons named before, were all by her consent:  
And that she author was thereof, and did the same invent,  
Whereto her answer was so light, and to so small effect,  
As that the weakness of the same, her treasons did detect.  
And thereupon, these Peers of state, having a due regard,  
To what she could object thereto, and likewise nothing spared.  
(by circumstance) to search out truth, did forthwith then pronounce,  
That she was guilty of these crimes, and could them not renounce.  
Which sentence so by them declared, was by our Queen's consent,  
Plainly revealed to all estates in court of Parliament:  
And was by them considered off, who there did all agree  
To join in suit unto her grace, the same to ratify.  
Where to our Queen with wont grace and mercy being moved  
Was loath to yield consent thereto, for that she well her loved  
And if it could have been devised, how she might safe remain  
From such like treacherous attempts, then is it most certain,  
She would not have agreed thereto, but sought some milder way,  
To deal with her, although she sought, her Grace's sharp decay.  
But seeing there could no way be known, how any trust might be  
Reposed in one that had so oft, practised most traitorously  
The overthrow of this estate, and sought her Grace's death.  
She was resolved at the length though with a fainting breath  
For to confirm that sentence just, was by her Peers decreed,  
And that the same should stand in force as her own act and deed.  
Commanding since in public sort, for open declaration,  
That it should notified be. by public proclamation.  
This is the end the Lord appoints, for those that seem to frown:  
'Gainst his anointed, whom he hath endued with regal crown.  
Fie on such fond and faithless wights in whom no truth doth dwell,  
Who both allegiance, duet●e, love, and conscience doth expel.  
Can any Christian fearing God or bearing any zeal,  
To good religion, christian faith, or state of public weal:  
Find in his heart for to devise how he might dark a light:  
That like the Ortent Sun doth shine throughout the world most bright.  
●ath not her Grace's government this eight and twenty years:  
e'en had in admiration of all that thereof hears.  
The fruit whereof doth plainly prove, she is the Lords anointed:  
Placed here by God for to perform, what is by him appointed.  
Such senseless sots, and dreaming dolts, which at her state do spurn,  
Do seem with Cieves (by labour strong) the rivers swift to turn.  
Or else do shoot against the sky, and when their arrows fall:  
They light upon their cursed corpses, and kill themselves withal.  
Liege people to so good a Queen, example take hereby,  
Fear God, in ●hiefe, obey your Prince, and love her zealously.  
Good englishmen and loyal hearts, lift up your minds with me:  
Stretch out your hands, bow down your knees, unto our, God most high:  
And with incessant voice, thus cry, O Lord of might and power,  
Preserve our Queen from traitor's force, who seek her to devour.  
Cut off such graceless wicked grafts, grub up and root their stock.  
drive out such ravening wolves (O Lord) from out thy silly flock,  
Prolong her days we pray thee Lord, and if it be thy will:  
Let us not overlive her reign, but let us have her still.  
Unto her Counsel (likewise) grant, thy wisdom from above:  
That with all loyal faithful hearts, they firmly may her love.  
Let all their counsels ever tend, her person to protect:  
From rage of foe, and popish crew, that are with mischief dect.  
Upon the commons Lord also, pour down thy heavenly grace:  
That in all states a perfect love and duty may take place,  
Towards this peerless Prince of price, who always doth delight,  
To have thy praises beautified, and glory brought to light.  
Amen: thereto, let all men say, with joy of inward heart,  
And they that will not say, Amen: the Lord them soon convert:  
Or speedily confound at least, and bring to shameful end:  
That (by their fall) all others may, their traitorous lives amend.  
W. Kempe.  
Finis.