Titulum ne horresce novantis,  
Non rapit Imperium vis tua, sed recipit.  
Ausonius de Severo.     

THE HISTORY OF That wise and Fortunate Prince, HENRY of that Name the Seventh, King of England. With that famed Battle, fought between the said King Henry and Richard the third named Crook-backe, upon Redmoore near Bosworth. In a Poem by Charles Aleyn.  Vnus mihi pro populo, & populus pro uno. 
London Printed by Tho. Cotes, for William Cook, and are to be sold at his shop, near Furnivalls-Inne gate in Holborn. 1638.   

Perlegi historicum hoc Poema, dignumque judico quod Typis mandetur.  
Tho. Wykes. R. P. Episc. Lond. chapel. domest.   

To his Ingenious friend Mr. Charles Aleyn, on this his learned Poem.  
— Sume Superbiam,  
Quaesitam meritis—  
Think not that these my weaker lines can raise  
Or to thy name or to thy work a praise.  
Yet give me leave to write, and let these be  
The testimonials of my love to thee.  
They're no true Liegemen, whosoever disclaim  
Tribute of Praise unto thy Henry's name.  
Who now by thee instated lives, more high  
Than in the joys of former Royalty;  
And from thy hand receives a better Crown  
Than was his Kingdom's Transitory one.  
●y thee he conquers Death and Time, thy words  
●●eld him his honour, more than could his swords,  
And gain a Nobler victory than he  
Obtained o'er usurping Tyranny.  
Great Henry, whom wise heaven did ordain,  
●o bless this Realm with thy most happy reign.  
No more, dull Chronicle thy worth shall hold  
Or sullen prose thy Noble acts enfold.  
Behold! the shrine wherein thy reverend story  
Shall ever be preserved, and thy glory,  
Fresh to all Ages; then 'tis just we give  
Praise to his name, ' has made thine truly live.  
Ed. Sherburne.   

To my dear Friend Mr. Charles Aleyn.  
WHen Fame had said, thy Poem should come out▪  
Without a Dedication; some did doubt  
If fame in that had told a truth, but I,  
Who knew her false, boldly gave fame the lie,  
For I was certain that this book by thee,  
Was Dedicated to Eternity.  
Thy true lover, Ed. Prideaux.   

THE HISTORY OF HENRY THE SEVENTH.  

A Cesar, or that Maximilian,  
Who was our Henry's learned Contemporary,  
And his own Annalist, and Historian  
Could only pen our Henry's commentary.  
For only light itself, itself can show,  
And none but Kings can write, what Kings can do.   

Yet if those heights, which with aspiring look  
Do overtop the rest, are easilier found,  
And with more certain observation took  
By those who stand upon the lower ground.  
Then Henry's fame shall not disparraged be,  
Although his Altitude be taken by me.   

Richard whose gums his Birthday armed saw,  
(Presage of cruelty) will needs make true  
That dreaded sign; for he against the Law,  
After confinement Grace, and Rivers slew.  
For he the Devils Axiom did know,  
If you depress you must confound your foe.   

Rivers and Grace must sacrificed be,  
The sad oblation to Hastings power:  
But to appease divine Astrea, He  
Is offered next: a Scaffold at the Tower  
His Altar was; curses his Obits were,  
And for the Priest an Executioner.   

But here's a story scarce hath Parallel;  
For at the time those two destruction met,  
At the same Day and hour Hastings fell:  
As in a Clock you see a alarum set,  
So was his Ruin set: heavens vengeful power,  
Wheeled Hastings fate, and struck him at an hour   

'Twas Policy Hastings should suffer next,  
For he had done his work, when they were slain:  
Richard this doctrine borrowed from a Text  
In Machiavelli, who did this knowledge gain  
From Caesar Borgia, Whom you do employ  
In mischief, when 'tis done, you must destroy.   

●hen Richard did the Prince, and York oppress,  
For in the method of Confusion,  
Th' other were humble premises unless  
The Prince and York be the conclusion.  
It seems he would by their pure Crimson shed,  
Turn York's white Rose to the Lancastrian Red.   

Such Tears which from scorched Phaeton's sisters fell,  
And in their fall did into Amber turn,  
Would with their Ashes be proportioned well,  
Rich ashes, worthy of so rich an urn.  
For such sweet Corpses, and such limbs as theirs,  
No Tomb is fit but one congealed of tears.   

Twin-brethrens in their death's; What had they done?  
O, Richard sees a fault that they were in;  
It is not Actual, but a Mortal one,  
They Princes were, 'twas their Original sin.  
Why should so sweet a Pair of Prince's lack,  
Their Innocents' Day in th' English Almanac.   

Now here stand still, and gaze: their Father did  
Richard instruct, Henry the sixth to Kill:  
Their Father taught him by the blood he shed,  
The Art, how he his children's blood should spill.  
Who value others blood at a low rate,  
Make their own cheaper to be higgled at.   

The sword of vengeance, which a single twine  
Held over Richard's head must now drop down  
With ruin at the point; the Eye divine  
Hath spied a Hand, that must lop off his Crown.  
Henry like Meleager must come o'er,  
And combat with this Caledonian Boar.   

Fourth Edward's Queen, and Henry's mother plot  
The Union of her daughter and her son;  
Both must be set as Flowers in Hymen's Knot,  
And the two Roses be conjoined in one.  
In Henry's Royal Crown there's not a stone,  
Gives it such lustre, as this Union.   

Fate did this Union to Henry owe;  
In whom there was a union more rare:  
The Heaven's do not such a Conjunction show,  
When the two highest Planets married are.  
Scarce had the world seen such a union yet,  
Where Wisdom, Valour, and where Fortune met.   

But though the Queen, and Lady had contrived  
Their Cabinet of counsels close as his,  
Who vowed to burn his shirt, if it conceived  
But his least plot: Yet all unlocked is  
By some false Key Kings have long hands and ears,  
And then hear best, when they have greatest fears.   

Buckingham flies for this; and money's bid  
For's Head; cursed Banister the bargain made,  
And made his Lord his Ware; and basely did  
Sell him for money, which he ne'er was paid.  
Ingrateful servant, thou to him didst owe  
All that thou couldst, and all thou couldst not do.   

Puissant Gold! Redearth at first made man,  
Now it makes Villain; this refined clod  
Can what nor love, nor time, nor valour can,  
jove could do more in Gold, than in a God.  
Destruction surer comes, and rattles louder,  
Out of a Mine of Gold, than one of powder.   

But Banister hath his merit; this offence  
And treacherous Act his progeny betrayed  
To Heaven's revenge. But why must Innocence  
Suffer for him? stay there: the Ancients made  
Divine Revenge to be the child of Night  
Shut to the Earth's, but open to heaven's sight.   

Th' immediate hand of Heaven did scourge this sin;  
One son wa● drowned, one son with lameness took:  
White Leprous scales rough-cast his daughter's skin  
His Eldest son was with a madness struck,  
And so unfit to be an heir that he,  
Had not his portion o● humanity.   

But here I wonder Richard did not pay  
Such Traitors: how can Richard justly look  
For more such agents, others to betray?  
Fabius this council of his father took.  
For if, said he their payments be denied,  
You teach them how to leave, not choose your side.   

Now Henry is aboard; now under sail,  
Both shipped, and maned from Brettaigne; but the Sea  
Vexed with a scolding sto●●e, and thwarting gale,  
Proroges his executing heavens decree.  
‛ Though tossed, none were afraid; for all did know▪  
They carried Henry and his fortune too.   

Or Eole with his spear did strike his Cave,  
(The Goal of winds) and give them liberty,  
The Watery god in his own court to brave:  
Or Henry's friends, by some fair Augury,  
Foresaw his danger, if he landed then,  
And sent their sighs to blow him back again.   

The Morning showed him all the shores beset  
With walking steel; Henry his Ship-boate sent,  
To know if they in Henry's cause were met:  
Ambiguously they send him their intent.  
They said he should to Buckingham be led,  
And so he should for Buckingham was dead.   

But Henry's wise distrust did bid him stay  
(They were not Lizzards in the grass did lie  
But Evets:) a belief had made the way  
To his repentance, not recovery.  
Trust makes us our own Traitors: nor could He  
Be saved by faith, but infidelity.   

Henry thus crossed by Sea, and yet thus blessed  
To scape a wrack at Land, and wrack at Sea,  
Makes sail to Brettaigne his assured rest;  
Where English meeting, swear him fealty,  
And pawning to him both their selves and state▪  
Will take their own in following Henry's fate.   

At this on Richard's thoughts worse storms did fall,  
Than Henry had at Sea, or ever rose  
Charmed by a Lapland witch, which made him call  
A Council, and declare them England's foes,  
Who were her friends: Thus if the Lion do  
Say Ears be Horns, they must be deemed so.   

Then offers richly to have Henry slain,  
But Henry's lands must be the murderer's fee;  
A cunning Chapman, he would Henry gain  
At the best rate: what's Henries own, must be  
Henry's own Price; as if you would him pay  
The Lion's skin, that would the Lion slay.   

What will you give me is the common cry  
In Treason's Mart: by Rule of Relatives  
There will be some to sell, if some to buy:  
Landose was chapman and the sale contrives.  
In this design he will the Engine prove,  
But silver weights must make the Engine move.   

But Mortons' piercing eye descried the Plot  
Through the thick night of closeness, and did bring  
Light to the danger Henry dreamt not;  
Wise Counselors shine nearest to the King,  
Upon this lower Orb, as in the sky  
Sol constantly is nearest Mercury.   

Saved by this light, Henry to France did make,  
Hid in his man's apparel changed for his:  
Famed Barclay made his Poliarchus take  
A vizard, in his high-writ Arginis.  
Nay, gods they say have done it, to escape  
Less trusting to their deity, than shape.   

Richard informed that the Earl was fled  
From Brettaigne his best hold, nor could expect  
Succours from France; will not allow his head  
The notion of a foe, but let neglect  
Lull him in danger; like a Seal that sleeps,  
When an enfranchised tempest scares the deeps.   

And to be th' Extract of security  
His Fleet's discharged, Welch to the Coasts assigned;  
To shut all Landing from the Enemy;  
But Henry is their Country man, and friend.  
They will not close to Henry: when he shone,  
They were the flowers that opened to this sun.   

This fatal slackness Richard's party made  
Apt for impression, supple to receive  
The Characters of a victorious blade,  
Which Henry must imprint: the Heavn's do leave  
Some parts for him to act. Who would be great  
He must court fame not in perfume, but sweat.   

But now this news arrives; Richard would wed  
Elizabeth, by whom Henry must claim:  
Fear at this news amongst Henry's soldiers spread,  
Without his settled soul had spoilt their aim.  
But he, wise Marksman bids them quickly on,  
Lest hands should tremble, or the mark be gone.   

To scape the tempest threatened by these clouds,  
Henry from Hartflew setteth sail to sea;  
The winds tuned by Heaven sung in the shrowds  
Presaging that he should victorious be.  
You would have thought, he came so fairly in,  
He had the winds charmed in a Dolphin's skin.   

Blessed Milford Haven whose semicircling Bays  
With amorous embraces huged his Fleet:  
From thence was given the signal that did raise  
Our hopes depressed under a Tyrant's feet.  
And happy Milford shall triumph in this,  
Henry was England's Haven, Milford was his.   

Sir Rice ap Thomas with his British power  
First mixed his influence with Henry's stars;  
Which Act enstiled him, Wales her Governor;  
This Honour crowned his merit in these wars:  
Thus Hercules in Heaven is fixed down  
Next to the stars called Ariadne's Crown.   

Then Talbot joining with two thousand strong,  
The volume is enlarged: their forces grow  
With new additions, as they march along.  
As bellowing Volga issuing from Franow,  
Whilst in his stream he new supplies doth take,  
Pays seventy Inlets to the Caspian Lake.   

Richard is mad Henry meets no control;  
Choleric heat shakes his distempered nerves,  
Blood lies his Veins, and fury odes his soul.  
Choler, they say, as arms for valour serves:  
But weapons seldom have been fashioned thus,  
We rule our other weapons, this rules us.   

〈◊〉 thickened blood about his Heart did seethe,  
〈◊〉 Heart which in revenging heat did send  
〈◊〉 spirits out, his spirits which did breath  
Fire in his eyes, his eyes which did portend  
Ruin like Comets, or like Beacon's flame,  
To tell that Henry, and their danger came.   

But Henry in a dump marching behind  
(Having more thoughts in's Company than men)  
Was lost i'th' night, nor could his Army find,  
But in the morning came to it again  
To bring it Day; for without Henry's light,  
Although the Sun had shined, it had been Night.   

Yet when the sun was set, it was not Night  
In Richard's Conscience: that light ne'er goes out:  
Or Devils limned by his fancy did affright,  
And seemed to tear, and hale Richard about.  
Or else they real were, and came to see,  
What difference 'twixt his Tent, and Hell might be.   

Morpheus, that doth Fantastic Idols feign,  
Never with dreams th' Atlantic People frights;  
Because they feed not upon what is slain,  
Such diet had made Richard calmer nights.  
But Richard had been fleshed, and blooded deep,  
And spite of Poppy blood will break a sleep.   

The marks of fear were in his looks impressed,  
Which though in wisdom he would have defaced;  
Yet in those looks the Index of his Breast  
Some figures of distraction were so placed,  
That a deciphrer might without a Key,  
Read the distracted Characters in's Eye.   

Now he's by Bosworth pitched, whence he sent o'er  
A charge to Stanley to advance his power,  
And join with him, or by Christ's Passion swore  
His son, his Hostage should be slain that hour.  
He answered, he had more: 'Twas highly done,  
To prove his faith by offering of his Son.   

Strange he should Stanley a Commader make;  
His match with Henry's Mother did him bind  
To Henry: hence weak Policy might take  
The Crisis of his fall: to be so blind,  
Was deaths unerring Symptom: when we die  
Death with her lead doth first arrest our eye.   

Then Richard like a man, that first would taste,  
And then Carouse in Blood, puts Stanley's son  
I'th' Headsmans' hand; his Council stayed the haste  
Of th' Execution till the field was won.  
Where Richard falling, Stanley freedom got,  
And Richard's bane, was Stanley's Antidote.   

●hus julian vowed to offer Christians blood  
●f he his Persicke victory did gain,  
●ut Heaven his vow, and victory withstood,  
●or Iulian's self was in the Battle slain.  
The Christians scaped then, young Stanley now,  
julian, and Richard had like fate like vow.   

Now in the Glass of Time, that Sand by course  
●egan to run, which should begin the Time  
Of Richard's fall, who sat upon a horse  
All white, whiter than he that sat on him.  
It seemed an Emblem offered to the sense  
Of guilt, triumphing over Innocence.   

Then drawing out his men, he did commend  
The forward to Old Norfolk to be led,  
Which in a shapeless length he did extend,  
That seeming greater it might strike more dread.  
But strongest bodies wier-drawne in length,  
What they do get in terror, lose in strength.   

●n his Battalia stood his tried forces,  
Who being used to danger did not use  
●o fear her looks: on either side his Horses  
Stood out for wings; this strength himself did choose.  
Which upon Henry had victorious been;  
But naked virtue can beat armed sin:   

Then like those Generals, whose Examples are  
Precepts for leaders, for the times to come:  
In an Oration of more power in war  
Than the wild Rhetoric of Fife and Drum,  
He to his men his cause and mind did break,  
And thus did speak, or thus was made to speak.   

Chieftains and friends; they were your hands tha● mad●  
This Garland for me, & your Swords that set it  
Upon this head; then let it ne'er be said,  
That others hands and swords should ever get it.  
Be jealous of this right; that only you,  
Who first did crown it, can uncrown this Brow.   

This Throne, since I sat in't, hath been the Throne  
As well of justice, as of Royalty;  
My rule hath been Tyrannical to none,  
Directed by the line of Equity.  
My Morning red against all Astronomy,  
Turned to a day full of serenity.   

'Tis true that through a Sea of Blood I did  
Arrive at this wished Port; much blood was spilt  
To waft me hither; yet the Tears I shed,  
I trust did expiate my purple gilt.  
Then guard me, and if tears did me atone,  
What need my Veins do what my eyes have done▪   

●ut up your hearts to fear, but keep your eyes  
〈◊〉 to danger. This before you set  
〈◊〉 alike hard to Keep, as win a Prize,  
●d no less virtue to maintain, than get.  
See in this diadem this truth enrolled,  
That which my sweat did get, my blood must hold.   

●●t if your squeamish appetites have been  
●●ted with my mild government, and long  
●●r Richmond's second service, bring him in  
●●d taste his certain sharpness: for among  
All that from Exile did a Kingdom gain,  
Not one that did not like a Tyrant reign.   

●●are not his ragged Regiments, which are  
〈◊〉 fumes, and exhalations drawn out  
〈◊〉 his false heat; and He himself's the Star,  
〈◊〉 leads these straggling Meteors about;  
Which like those hairy blazing in the sky,  
Shine always against the Sun of Majesty.   

〈◊〉 forfeiteth his reason that expects  
●●om such a rascal herd of men as they  
〈◊〉 any thing but ruinous effects;  
●●ur lives, as well as livings are their prey.  
Like robberies men on foot, and women do,  
Their safety is to Rob, and Murder too.   

Their mercy must not be your Hope, but Scorn:  
It is their fate to take, and yours to give:  
You cannot be legitimately borne,  
If it shall be their favour, that you live.  
Th' Engagement is more Glorious to owe  
Your lives unto yourselves than to your foe.   

The wounds they give are General, each blow  
Strikes through your children, and your wives, but yet  
It hits but you: they do not only throw  
At you, nor you alone at hazard set.  
Here's greater game, England is staked at this,  
And as your virtue such her fortune is.   

There Richard stayed, there would some soldiers stay,  
And to the Action the same Period set,  
That he did to his speech: for what can they  
Hope from so poor an Enemy to get.  
And he's unwise that to a Mercat goes,  
Where there is nothing to be sold but blows.   

Booty doth more the common soldier move,  
Than a discourse of prowess, or high thought  
Of Magnanimity, or th' inbred love  
Of natural virtue: and the English fought  
On less advantage for the Spanish plate,  
Than e'er they did for the poor Irish State.   

Richard's imbattailed, what shall Richmond do,  
Who ne'er saw army, never armour wore  
A novice, and mewed up in Brettaigne too.  
'Twas a rare spectacle unseen before  
To play his Masterprize upon the stage  
At the first day of his apprentisage.   

One therefore did to the Lord Stanley go,  
To beg his aid in ordering the fight.  
Stanley said Richmond's self that work should do,  
Which seized Richmond's mind with such affright,  
And cross distraction, that he needed then,  
One to arrange his thoughts, more than his men.   

But he did both, and to himself did owe  
The ordering of them both. Extremity  
Is a shrewd Mistress: the most Arts we know  
Derive their being from necessity.  
She tutoured Henry, and her Power divine,  
Outdid Experience, and old discipline.   

The forward (which his numbers did allow  
To be but single) in the forefront hath  
Men that were well experienced in the Bow,  
Trusted to Oxford's fortune, and his Faith.  
The arrows looked like Rays diffused about,  
And Oxford was the Sun, that glanced them out.   

Savage and generous Talbot did appear  
Out at the wings; whose pinions were all hard,  
Conferred with themselves: and yet they were  
Flags, and sicke-feathers, if with them compared.  
These were the Principals, that did them carry,  
And set them, where a Kingdom was the quarry.   

Then the main Battle Richmond did begin  
To fashion out; for he, like Nature, meant  
To make his best Productions last; and in  
The Body of the Army Richmond went,  
A Head thus in a body set, did show  
Like a strange Prodigy, portending woe.   

Then Richmond spoken (for though some think no more  
Speeches can soldiers make, than a Tune Heard  
Can a Musician) Caesar would deplore  
When th' Enemies approach his speech debarred.  
Needs must that want be great that could constrain  
A man so great as Caesar to complain.   

And thus he spoke. If punishment, and sin  
Are borne at once, then cannot Richard dream,  
But that in Heaven his hath for vengeance been:  
For murders have lowed voices, and the Steam,  
Which fumes from blood, doth tear the clouds in sunder  
Such exhalations can breed nought but thunder.   

Think that you hear his slaughtered Brother cry,  
And beg your alms of vengeance on his brother:  
Think that you see his Nephews smothered lie  
In Bed, exchanging one sleep for another.  
And now he'll wed his Niece, as if he would  
Be more alli'de by sin, than by his Blood.   

On Crooke-backe as a Malefactor look,  
Abstracted from the Title of a King:  
But view yourselves as Instruments, are taken  
By heavens corrective hand vengeance to bring.  
Be Bold: there can be no resistance made,  
When justice striketh with a Soldier's blade.   

This is the Point of time: you must strike home;  
judgement holds execution by the hilt:  
His sins are ripe, and to their growth are come;  
His blood is now prepared to wash his gilt.  
Vengeance doth surely, 'though but slowly tread,  
And strikes with Iron, 'though it walks with lead.   

Dare, what they think you dare not: for that thought  
Makes the act easy, 'cause they think not so:  
The ends at which we level, will be brought  
Under command, if we but dare to do  
The hardness of an act as often springs  
From our Imagination, as the things.   

If you fear death, you shall decline that fear  
By change of Object: pitch your thoughts upon  
Those Garlands, which victorious you shall wear:  
Grasp conquest in your apprehension.  
No other qualities can be expressed,  
When th' Instruments of sense are prepossessed.   

You manage death by facing it; blows shun  
Those that present themselves to meet a wound:  
Death's a Coy Mistress, court her she's not won,  
Of those which sought her, she was rarely found.  
Who shows his back to danger soon dies,  
The shadow of death from her pursuer flies.   

Though his assaults be fierce, the charges hot  
Partaking of that wildfire, which doth glow  
In Richard's bosom; yet conceit them not  
Certain presages of an overthrow.  
Sharp maladies, and hardest to endure,  
Have not in Physic their predictions sure.   

Fear not his numbers: Victories consist  
In minds, not multitudes: most of their part  
Favour our cause, and coldly will resist:  
Fear not the hand, assured of the heart.  
Be wisely bold, and like a Centre stand,  
And fly with Brutus, not with foot, but hand,   

Flight may be their security, and though  
They vanquish not, they know there is a mean  
Between a Trophy, and a Grave: but you  
Are in a certain desperateness between  
Conquest and death: you must not doubt to dye  
Though Fortune doubts to give the Victory.   

That word pronounced last, impression made:  
(So the last sounds result most forcibly.)  
Lost in the mazes of their ears it played,  
Till they were ravished into valiancy.  
For valour was infused at this Oration,  
As at a Fiat, or some new Creation.   

Then, or to give an omen of th' event,  
Or make their courage to their General known;  
Shouts breathing forwardness to Heaven were sent.  
If winged Victory through th' Air had flown,  
They had so rend the Air with that vast found,  
That before Battle she had dropped to ground.   

Assurance now having armed all their hearts  
With proof against fear, not danger; they prepare  
To arm themselves completely at all parts,  
Offensive, and defensive: one might swear  
They did such motions to their Armour give,  
That Iron breathed, and that steel did live.   

Albert, whose speaking statue with a stroke  
Of Aquin fell: A work of Art (cried out)  
Of thirty years is broke: but here were broke  
Works, which even Nature was as long about  
Blows to their Principles resolve again,  
Natural statues, artificial men.   

The Archers strip their sleeves, who must define  
The Controversy here debated on:  
The sun of Richmond's hopes was in the sign  
Of Sagittarius, and there chiefly shone.  
The feathers of their shafts sung as they went  
Being newly set to th' one-stringed Instrument.   

Next these, men of exalted valour come,  
Whom their Commanders fires did sublime;  
Who scorning the encouragement of Drum,  
Their Pulses beat a March: but discipline  
Bade them expect the Trumpet, whose shrill breath,  
Some spirits raised to Glory, some to death.   

Between both Armies a great Marish lay,  
(A loving bar to hateful Union)  
Which Richmond on his right side kept to stay  
And break their charges: from his back the Sun  
Faced the foe, so that you might surmise,  
That Heaven, and Earth brought Richmond their supplies.   

But Richard seeing how his plot did lie,  
Breaks through the Marsh: the Archers than begin  
To let their shafts, like winged Serpents fly,  
With their heads forward, and their stings therein;  
Nor stung they like the selfe-disarming drone,  
They had more stings, when their first stings were gone   

As when the thorny Porcupine's pursued  
(Whose self is her own quiver, and her bow;  
And shafts, and strings) the damage is renewed  
Of her lost quills, which by succession grow.  
And such their quivers were, as if th' had been,  
Made of the Hide of an armed Porcupine.   

Here Caesar's was good council. Strike the face,  
For in this field brothers with brothers fought,  
Sires with their sons; and so when wounds erase  
The looks, and tear the marks of kindred out:  
They having lost the knowledge of each other,  
Nor duty stays the son, nor love the brother▪   

While th' Archers from their liberal quivers do  
Distribute Death, the men at arms rush thither;  
Nor staying till they're asked, match with the foe,  
Whom hatred doth more firmly wed together  
Than others love: divorced not till they die,  
This Knot is to be cut, not to untie.   

There Active Oxford did like lightning fly  
Delivered from the Prison of a cloud:  
Men with his sword, as Planet-struck did dye,  
His spritfull bear did blast them; and he showed  
Valour so much to spare above one Glory  
Might fetch a coward out of Purgatory.   

There one such wondrous executions did,  
That with those Arguments you might have proved  
That Miracles were yet continued:  
Some of them thought that Mars himself had moved  
Down from his sphere: thus wondering whoed should be  
At last one cried a Talbot, and 'twas Herald   

By Talbots side, Savage a name of war,  
(Whose valour impd one of the wings) flies out.  
The Actions of his Arm derived are  
From strength in th' Abstract: do not call them stout,  
Mighty, Magnanimous, fatal; for as yet  
Rhetoric hath not found a fit Epithet.   

There Pembroke holding out a Head espy,  
Perseus holds out Medusa's in this fashion:  
Had he then been translated to the sky,  
He had blazed out in such a Constellation:  
That our Astronomors had hardly seen,  
Which had been Perseus, which had Pembroke been.   

And Richard's men as well as these can fight,  
But most of them for fear fought valiantly.  
You would have thought this Paradox were right;  
That fear breeds courage▪ for his flaming eye  
Did fright them into valour, and none dared  
Act there a coward's part, he was so scared.   

Norfolk (a glorious star) that ruled that Day,  
Like something, more than man did men pursue:  
Without the aid of fire he de make away  
Through th' Alpes: nay prove Philosophy untrue  
Which thinks there cannot a third nature lie  
Between an Angel, and Humanity.   

With Shield and sword, Ferrars did next appear,  
(The Emblem both of safety and of death;)  
Marcellus, and stayed Fabius who were  
The sword, and shield of Rome, in him did breathe▪  
Mars would have thought, had Mars his actions seen  
Himself the trans-sumpt, this the pattern been.   

There lay an Archer whom that arrow slew  
Which he shot last: for fallen another took  
That arrow, and applied it to his Yew,  
Which with a resalute the owner struck  
And did so suddenly return again,  
That he was only by reflection slain.   

Here see a Breast cut open with a wound  
Wider than death, He, who man's shape did blame,  
Cause in his Breast there was no window put  
To have his heart discerned through that frame;  
Would have confessed, had he been in those parts,  
Such windows needless to discover hearts.   

There see an Arm sunder men by the sides:  
One instrument by a Compendious way  
Makes two divorces, and at once divides  
Their Bodies from themselves, and souls: you may  
But that incorporeity controls  
Fear there had been dissection of souls.   

There (as if Birthrights had been questioned) stood  
The womb at war with't self, and brethren fought:  
There Kinsmen fought, and streaming forth their blood  
Into one channel found their Kindred out,  
And proved without the aid of Heraldry,  
How near they were by consanguinity.   

Sword upon sword, a shield upon a shield  
A source of blood below, and one appear  
Above: yet was there not in all that field  
A solecism, in Armoury, nor there  
Did it abate, but make the Honour fuller  
Metal upon metal, colour upon colour.   

philosopher's who have so anxious been  
●nquiring where the soul doth chief reside  
Within the heart or Brain: if they had seen  
●ow weapons were by all the soldiers plied.  
The question than had been no longer scanned;  
They had defined the seat had been the hand.   

But see how Richard fumes, as if he could  
Turn men to incense with his fiery eyes  
The Evil spirit of his fury would  
Be expiated by such Sacrifice.  
Like to those gods the heathen did adore,  
With hecatombs of men, and humane gore.   

If when the souls from bodies are divorced  
They transmigrate, and others do endue  
By an assumption: Richards would be forced  
To wander, and be desperate of a new;  
Pythagoras had been posed and ne'er could find  
A Body, suitable to such a mind.   

Into the fangs of danger he did go,  
(Armed with the Doctrine of fatality  
As strongly as all Turkey:) every foe  
Did feel him, for he proved ubiquity,  
And bodies unconfined: he like a soul  
Was both in every part, and in the whole.   

As if he had drunken Opium that day  
With madded fits he furied on the foe;  
In a magnanimous scorn, that fame should say,  
That Richard would outlive his overthrow.  
Or that he did the rule Authentic hold:  
That Generals should not dye, till they were old.   

This Eagle catched no flies: stooped at men like  
Brandon, and mighty Cheney; nor would bate  
At a slight quarry, much more scorned to strike,  
It seemed his actions did prognosticate  
The sweeting sickness, which ensued e'er long,  
Which scorning weak ones, only seized the strong▪   

But Chenies foil Cheney could not appall;  
He rose with Death's inscription in his face,  
Most terrible of terribles; his fall  
Enfired his spirits, chafed with the disgrace.  
Thus from the Earth Antheus did recoil,  
With powers reenforced from every foil.   

But Brandon fell till Doomsday, and there lies  
His colours might his winding-sheete become;  
A Phoenix from the Phoenix did arise;  
Brandon, that demigod, that Charles, in whom  
Th' Essense of fortitude so plainly shined,  
Had you said Brandon, it had been defined.   

This breviary of consuming ire  
And Commonplace, of what is called stout,  
Grew by their opposition, and his fire  
Got heat by those, which strove to put it out.  
Force not opposed would languish; so would he,  
Mountains that burn do border on the Sea.   

He like a Boar (his bearing was the Boar)  
(A cognisance which with his mind agrees)  
Broke up the ranks to Richmond's self, and tore  
Men up like trees; men that are like to trees  
Inverst; but Richmond he extirped not.  
Non tibi spiro was this Roses Mott.   

There an untutored fortitude did try  
Experimental valour, personal strength;  
That is, soft Richmond Richard did defy,  
And warded the Boar's tusks at his sword's length.  
You could not have a cleaner valour seen,  
Though Magnanimity had incarnate been.   

And his impression in his soldier's hearts  
Made them his medals: he like Chemic fire  
Put souls of Gold into their Earthy parts;  
And by his mountures taught them to aspire.  
Actions of Kings are precepts; what they do  
Seem to be precedents, and warrants too.   

Exempli gratias teach not but compel;  
There's no such Canon, as Authority;  
They do their doctrine tacitly refel,  
Who with their Acts do not exemplify.  
Men practise what they see by Leaders done,  
Not Caesar's, Ito but his Veni won.   

Now Conquest with her wings found every side  
With equal hope, and struck with equal fear:  
Like scales with constant motion they slide,  
Now that is upward, and now this is there.  
And Henry's faith with fears, yet hopes was mixed,  
Like to those stars which tremble, yet are fixed.   

The Ancients gave a sphere to victory,  
On which her feet stand giddy, and uneven;  
But hence just causes draw alacrity,  
Her hands are holden by the hand of Heaven.  
Here's Henry's fear, she on a sphere doth stand,  
Here's Henry's hope; jove holds her by the hand.   

As thus the question doubtfully did stand,  
And unconcluded: Stanley did come on  
With sword, and a decision in his hand:  
Thus under the Equator, when the Sun  
With hottest flames tosteth the people's skin,  
The constant Breeze brings a cool rescue in.   

●he case at worst Stanley determines it,  
●he soldiers cries this martial court adjourn;  
●nd temper danger in her highest fit.  
Were Daphne woman still, she'd sooner turn  
A Laurel to crown him, than to escape  
The lustful charges of Apollo's rape.   

Yet Richard with such rage himself commits  
With the whole host, that he may make the story  
Questioned though writ by Truth: but these strong fits,  
Were lightnings before death; for this world's glory  
Is figured in the Moon, they both wax dull,  
And suffer their Eclipses in their full.   

And now I see him sink: his eyes did make  
A shot like falling stars: flash out and done:  
Groaning he did a stately farewell take,  
And in his night of death set like the sun.  
For Richard in his west seemed greater, than  
When Richard shined in his Meridian.   

●hree years he acted ill, these two hours well,  
And with unmated resolution strove:  
He fought as bravely, as he justly fell.  
As did the Capitol to Manlius prove,  
So Bosworth did to him, the monument  
Both of his Glory, and his punishment.   

Here leave his dust incorporate with mould;  
He was a King, that challengeth respect;  
Pass by his Tomb in silence, as of old  
They did their Hero's Temples, and erect  
An Altar to Oblivion, while I  
Another build to Henry's Memory.   

This fortune swelled not Henry to a brave,  
Mercy stepped in, and brought a Prohibition;  
Those are best tempered fortitudes, which have  
Some grains of Pity in their composition.  
Valour's the Iron virtue; yet abates  
Nought of herself with silk upon her plates.   

The wreath of Conquest in a Generous mind  
Is an inducement to a moderation;  
In all exalted spirits you shall find  
Something of humbleness for mitigation  
And Old Rome, built as Marius thought best  
The Fane of Honour lower than the rest.   

He conquered, yet lay prostrate in the field;  
(His sacred Camp did like a Temple look;)  
Where Henry first di● stand, now Henry kneeled,  
And changed his sword into a Prayer Book.  
And solemnly did a Te Deum say,  
Heaven's a kind Creditor, whom thanks can pay.   

Care and his Crown, met at his Head together;  
He is no sooner King, but he must be  
An Oedipus, and solve this riddle; whether  
He'll claim by Wife, or Birth, or Victory.  
But for this Triple Knot, Henry had stored  
A Triple wedge, and broke this threefold Cord.   

If by his Wife, he in effect had said  
The line of York was better than his own;  
Or why should man, who is the woman's Head,  
To a woman's hand do Homage for a Crown?  
And Henry thought it an unkingly thing,  
To have his Crown indebted to his Ring.   

Nor would he claim by Conquest, or give part  
Unto the sword: for that would but affright  
The Realm to forced obedience, and start  
Men into giddy subjects; for it might  
Make their faith stagger, and obedience reel,  
If Henry's Sceptre had been made of Steel.   

At last his love to himself made the case plain  
That Titles Royal in his blood did flow;  
And every Vein was a Basilick vein;  
This made him absolute: Henry did know  
That Princes were most independent, when  
Their Crowns do hold of Nature, not of men.   

Having thus defined, which suddenly was done  
(For's consultation, and his choice did go  
Together) in a Progress he set on  
For London, in a Coach unseen, and so  
Appearing not, some God appeared to be,  
Whom men adore, and yet no shape do see.   

Then Orisons, and Hymns at Paul's were sung,  
And (as before) Te Deum sung again,  
His Banners in the Church for offerings hung.  
When Henry prayed in th' Army, the Camp then  
Appeared a Church: when he his Banners reared,  
Within the Church, the Church a Camp appeared.   

Suspicion now whispered these airs about  
That Henry was not real: every head  
That could nor clear, yet could create this doubt,  
That Henry never would with England wed,  
And join with York. How can a skeete enfold,  
Two houses, which a Kingdom could not hold.   

This doubt had ground; for he had given some Hope  
To match with Brettaigne: But his case required  
Some reservation, and an other scope,  
Than he pretended, or than they desired.  
In Common Tracts great actions must not go  
Here that's the King's high way, which fewest know.   

To hush this talk he promised faithfully  
To match at home: and make this noise appear  
A Fable, gotten in adultery,  
Between a scandalous Tongue, and itching Eare.  
Bade them trust Henry, not the Buzz of Fame,  
Which like some Hound, opens where is no game.   

His Coronation then he hastened,  
Which, (that the title might be all his own)  
●efore the marriage was accomplished,  
●east she might seem a sharer in the Crown.  
For though in other loves 'tis strange yet he  
Knew that his love might here his Riv all be.   

●nd for his Glory, and his safety too,  
●e did erect the Guard; Henry conjorned  
●hings different in themselves; what none could do,  
●he two discordant Roses he combined.  
And which have rarely been allieed by fate,  
He did unite security, and state.   

●hen called a Parliament, so to proclaim  
●hat justice was the Rule he'd govern by;  
●nd that a Crown alone was not his aim.  
●hus Hercules constelled in the sky  
Though with one hand he at the Crown doth reach.  
He doth the other to the Balance stretch.   

There with a General Pardon he alleys  
The fears of th' Adverse Party: he did find  
That fear lodged in a subjects breast can raise  
A dangerous Passion: as we see combined  
Th' Order of Causes in the Chain of Fate  
So 'tis in Passions; if we fear, we hate.   

Statutes against Riots were enacted then  
By penalties to crush sedition  
I'th' shell: for a confused Mass of men  
Is as the Chaos whence Rebellion  
Is first created; and all Riots are  
The seeds, and Elements of Civil war.   

The Parliament dissolved, he begun  
To make his summer Progress; with his shine  
To clear the Northern air, and like the sun  
To Cancer did approach, the Tropic sign.  
And warming there the Yorke-addicted Hearts  
He made the Summer Solstice in those parts.   

Stafford, and lovel now, who had not dared  
To leave their Sanctuaries, had he been near:  
Rise in the South, like some new stars, nor feared  
(The King thus distant) boldly to appear.  
Like Venus shine at noon, if she doth run  
Her greatest Elongation from the sun.   

Lord lovel with his powers advancing forth  
Marched towards York; the King to let them know,  
He was in's Zodiac still, though so far North,  
Did suddenly against the Rebels go.  
In civil discords a delay may be  
More dangerous than a temereity.   

But by his Heralds first he pardons sent,  
(So Tamberlane sent his white flag before.)  
Henry by lenitives, not corrosives meant  
Those ulcerated members to restore.  
No soldier but a Herald; nor a blow  
But (strange) a Pardon overthrew the foe.   

The best of Trophies: chiefly when the war  
Is between King, and subject; those are best  
Complexioned conquests, which least sanguine are,  
And those most modest which do blush the least.  
Camillus once was by Rome's Senate thought  
Worthy to Triumph, though he had not fought.   

And greatest Trophy too: they laid their hearts  
At Henry's feet to be triumphed o'er  
And yielded their minds captive, which imparts  
The bravest glory to the Conqueror,  
For 'tis more hard to reconcile than kill;  
For you may force ones power but not his will.   

After this Northern blast was overblowne,  
The King is made the Father of a Son:  
Arturus called; after whose birth did frown  
State-tempests in the land; new storms begun  
To shake his throne; thus tempests beat the skies  
Soon as that star, which bears his name doth rise.   

A new King is in making, who pretended  
Fourth Edwards blood, and that his line was not  
Broke off, nor yet his lawful issue ended;  
And when a King a Prince of Wales had got  
A Priest steps in▪ and undertakes to get  
A Duke of York, or a Plantagenet.   

A Baker's son the Priest intends to mould  
Into a Prince: a matter that would suit,  
Well wrought with any feature; how they could  
Transchange the Baker's bread; I'll not dispute.  
This act is almost of as high a state,  
The Baker's son he'll Transubstantiate.   

First he resolved his scenicke Prince should play  
The Duke of York: but when he heard the King  
Purposed to make Plantagenet away,  
He changed his Theme, and his Mercurial thing  
Must act young Warwick: when this Prince is slain  
Enter his Ghost, new conjured up again.   

The Boy was capable all forms t'admit,  
Like the Materia prima, and might be  
By some Philosopher mistook for it,  
In him, as in some Pictures, you might see  
A different face: on this side he was taken  
For York, on that he did like Warwick look.   

Yet if you mark the Consequents, you may  
Conceive, that the Queen Dowager was she,  
That did this Picture draw, the Project lay,  
For Henry mewed her up at Bermondsey,  
Just at that time; who else had nothing done  
Worth turning of a Queen into a Nun.   

Beside, the Priest did ne'er the Copy see,  
He was to write by, nor the ●a●e survey  
He was to portrait: like young Painters, he  
Did on this Piece but the dead colours lay:  
Her pencil 'twas, so did it to the life,  
That th' extract with the pattern was at strife.   

Yet though the Piece was limned most curiously,  
He knew his object must not stand too near  
Th' examination of a judging eye  
His Picture farthest, fairest would appear.  
This show must be far off, or in the night  
His Puppit-play was best by Candle-light.   

The Priest to Ireland for this reason goes.  
(Their humours there did with the place agree.)  
Who did inhabit by the Alpin snows,  
Their valour like their snow dissolved would be,  
As Florus hath of old observed, and here  
The Bogs, and men equally ticklish were.   

Some of the great ones first came fairly on  
T' adore this Idol, but the People do  
Run headlong in a wild devotion.  
As in a jack the greater Wheels do go  
With soft and sober turnings; but the less  
Are hurried with a whirling giddiness.   

At Dublin Castle he was entertained  
With honour due unto a King; brought thence  
He's in the Church proclaimed, where he feigned  
The Genuine bravery of a natural Prince.  
That of Sebastian sorteth with this Else  
He was the true one, or the Devil himself.   

When in the fable Mercury is said  
To baffle Sofia, that he knew not whether  
He was himself, or not: he never played  
More neatly, for if these two met together,  
It might be feared, that this Mimic Youth,  
Would have Out-yorked him that was York in truth.   

The Country where they laid the Scene, did more  
Trouble our Henry, than the part they played:  
For if the King in Person should sail o'er  
England would rise, though Ireland should be laid;  
Like the Barbarians Emblem of the hide,  
Tread upon one, you raise the other side.   

Lost in this doubt, the King resolves to try  
His usual Art of war, and to stand sure  
At the old guard, he conquered Rebels by.  
He threw a Pardon out: 'twas Henry's lure  
That Rebels stooped at; and his fairest way  
To win: for Henry's Olive was his Bay.   

●hen that th' Imposture might be plainly seen,  
〈◊〉 Public true Plantagenet was shown:  
〈◊〉 the disparity, that was between  
The Truth and Counterfeit was eas●y known.  
They judged without a Perspective, and glass  
That this a star, that but a Meteor was.   

Lincoln knew well this fallacy, yet he  
Pretending Ignorance, to Ireland sailed.  
This Earl by Richard was designed to be  
The next successor, if right Heirs had failed.  
And he resolved when ere the field was won,  
This King should Play no more, his part was done.   

This flash was but a Star imaginary,  
But the reflex of a Plantagenet:  
That of itself would vanish and miscarry;  
And this by Henry or eclipsed, or set.  
And Lincoln thought, when they should disappear  
To be translated to the English sphere.   

Burgundias' Duchess next (whose envious eye  
Stared upon Henry to effascinate  
His greatness) did with so much malice rise,  
That Nature seemed this Lady to create,  
To try a new experiment, and see  
How much might go to th'making of a She.   

They called this Duchess, Henry's juno who,  
(As if her fingers spun the threads of fate  
For the two Rival families) did do  
Or undo any thing; and meditate  
To raise the Yorkists Henry to destroy:  
York was her Greece, and Lancaster her Troy.   

The reputation of the Duchess lent  
Face to the Action, and her forces Heart;  
Two thousand Almains to their aid were sent  
Under the charge of old experienced Swart.  
Such are best leaders, for old chiefs are such,  
Whom death even makes a conscience to touch.   

Thus bravely backed, they called a Council, whether  
The war, and action should be seated there:  
For that of force would draw our Henry thither,  
And stir up dangerous alteration here;  
Be not the Lion, or the Eagle by  
And every beast will roar, every bird fly.   

But nor that Country bred, nor could be bought  
Enough, to keep so great an army there;  
Even hunger would have made their bellies thought  
Their throats were cut, before a sword came near.  
And make them such thin starvelings, that they might  
Be fitter for a visit, than a fight.   

This made the People's general votes incline  
For England: they in civil discords strike  
The business home; nor dare the chiefs decline  
Their wishes, for they lead their leaders: like  
The Dragon in the fable: where the head  
Was in the rearward, and the tail did lead.   

It was good Policy to make the war  
Invasive; for invaders seem to come  
With bravest Hearts; and th' Irish thought they were  
So friended here, that they might beat's at home.  
And Scipio spoke an Oracle, when he  
Said afric must in afric conquered be.   

Soon did the Rebels under the command  
Of Lincoln, Swart, of Lovel, and Kildare  
In Lancashire, without impeachment land,  
No Fleet to intercept them being there.  
Strange, since attempts by Sea are best withstood,  
In citadels of Oak, and walls of wood.   

The Art of war hath rarely thought it fit  
To let our enemy land: (determined so  
In fatal eighty eight;) or to admit  
Upon our shore th' impression of a foe.  
'tis ominous, and hath been often known,  
They stamp the ground they tread on for their own.   

But Henry gave them landing: so he did  
To Perkin after, else the King had shown  
Perhaps injustice, should he them forbid  
To enter peaceably upon their own.  
Poor things, he let them come into his train,  
Then Pinioned them from flying back again.   

Landed, their march points towards York; a place  
Once fit for their designs; for 'twas the Bed  
Where the White Roses grew, and whence the race  
Of all the true Plantagenets was spread.  
That Corner for his shrine this Image chose,  
And there a Bramble would supplant a Rose.   

But (had not shame made silence) Lovel might  
Have told, the nature of the place was changed,  
'twas there where he himself refused to fight,  
And ran away when all his men were ranged.  
And Henry had been there, whose Physic had  
Cheered up the wholesome blood, and purged the bad.   

The King makes on, to let them see there lay  
A better King i'th' Pack. Of foes at home  
Let me but see them, he was wont to say,  
As if with him to see, and overcome  
Were terms convertible; but see, and dye,  
Like Basilisks, kings having a Killing eye.   

And sure the Prince's presence hath been thought  
Most efficatious, that the action might  
Sort to an issue; and some nations brought  
Their Infant Kings in Cradles to the fight.  
My Prince shall make me as much reverence feel  
Shaking his Rattle, as his rod of steel.   

I know 'twas Henry's principle, for he  
Both out of valour and distrust would go  
Himself in Person'gainst the Enemy.  
The Turkish bounds were first extended so  
As some observe: for their first Sultan's took,  
Some charge in every battle that was struck.   

Besides, their presence brings more clearly in  
Claim to the Glory of the victory,  
Of which some Princes have so jealous been,  
That Constantine this Act did ratify:  
To us the Honour of the Conquest yield,  
A hundred miles though distant from the field.   

Lincoln makes to the King; although no aid  
(As he had promised to himself) appeared;  
And though he saw his confidence betrayed  
He wisely did dissemble what he feared.  
And lightning hopes were in his brows expressed,  
Though loud despair did thunder in his breast.   

'twas done like a Commander: he must call  
Assurance to his most deplored occasion:  
A Captains passion's Epidemical,  
And soldiers put it on by imitation.  
A soldier will his Captain's colours wear,  
Be they the Red of joy, or Pale of Fear.   

Lincoln encamped upon a hill: (so high  
His hopes were once) but Henry in the plain  
(So was his Case) Lincoln resolved to try  
His fortune presently, marched down again,  
And from the hill descending to the vale,  
Himself was his own Emblem of his fall.   

●hen 'twas advised, whether they should protract  
●r suddenly upon the Rebels fall:  
●ut Henry willing that great chief to act  
●ho by deferring nothing conquered all.  
Calls for the fight: and Politickes have cast  
In all defections Generals must make haste.   

●ut how they fought is told so nakedly,  
●s if the writers of those times had laid  
● blank in that part of the History,  
●o let the moderns guess what should be said  
For Chronicles do it so lamely tell,  
As if 'twere said, they came, they fought, they fell.   

They say the Vanguard, where the King did lead  
Did only to the fight assistance bring:  
●s if the King in charity would spread  
●ome Princely lustre on this pretty thing,  
Who would have been a king; though he were none  
Here was his Glory, he had fought with one.   

And Lovel feeling that the fight grew hot,  
Thought of a cooler, and would swim the Trent;  
But long before the other side he got  
Was swallowed by the angry Element.  
It seems the stream out of a loyal sense  
Would nor support a Traitor to his Prince.   

But valiant Swarts for term of life did take  
Possession of the ground where he did stand.  
And Lincoln too, whom though his Hopes did make  
The sole Commander once of the whole land.  
Measure him now, and he'll no more contest,  
Give him six foot, let who will take the rest.   

There was the mock-king, younker Simnell took,  
Whose word was Regno, when he did appear  
On th' highest cog of Fortune's wheel: but struck  
To sine Regno now, the lowest there.  
Thus Honour's Pyramid itself extends  
Into a Point, then in a nothing ends.   

But Henry's scorn, or pity would not go  
So far as to his life: rather thought fit  
To keep him in his Kitchen for a show.  
Where he should turn a Sceptre to a spit.  
And there the king whose right they did so boast  
Must be content to fit, and rule the roast.   

Nor would Augustus have that Puppet slain  
That Alexander who was bragged to be,  
King Herod's son, but in a brave disdain  
Enslaved him in his Galleys: so that he  
Who gloried at the Helm of State before,  
Sat then degraded tugging at an Oar.   

After the field was won, Henry did fall  
To weed the roots, whence following wars might spronght  
As 'twere to cancel the Original  
Whence future discords might be copied out.  
Had he left off, when th' Enemy did fly,  
He had but wooed, not wedded Victory.   

He cut off all th' adherents, that did stand  
For the late Rebels, and each spark bereave  
Of hope to reenflame; it was a brand  
Stamped upon Caesar's actions, not to leave  
A war half done. From an unvanquished foe,  
And yet provoked, the greatest dangers grow.   

Now Henry looked abroad, and having here  
Dispelled the sullen mists, began to throw  
His lustre, and his Influence elsewhere.  
Like to a natural Agent, which doth show  
Its virtue in the Centre first, and thence  
Dilate itself to the circumference.   

And it was time; for now King Charles of France,  
Aiming at Brittaigne in's ambitious mind,  
Quarrels the Duke for succouring Orleans  
Who had fled to him. 'Tis not hard to find  
Pretences, when inferiors should be vexed,  
Give me but Power, I'll find out a pretext.   

The French Ambassadors to Henry sue,  
Or to stand Neuter, or their Master aid  
Against Britain's Duke; but Henry knew  
Should he do either, Britain were betrayed.  
And in this Duchy were the French invested  
We should by sea at pleasure be infested.   

But this Dilemma was well near above  
All Henry's Logic: Henry was so tied  
Both to this King, and Duke, that he must prove  
Ingrate to one, aiding of either side  
He hath a Wolf by th' Ears, and doth not know,  
Whether 'tis best to hold, or let him go.   

He would not stand a Neuter (like the Bat  
When Beasts, and fowls in the feigned Battle fought,  
And therefore cursed to fly in darkness;) that  
Had Henry's virtue into question brought,  
For not asserting Justice, which must be  
Fair on one side upon necessity.   

At last concludes for Britain; for he should  
At once be Charles his friend, and his own foe,  
Should he aid France; and no injunctions hold,  
Man to such offices as man undo.  
The strictest Moralist will set me free,  
Where my own gratitude would ruin me.   

Henry indeed by a Particular tie  
Had been much bound to France; but he was more  
Bound to preserve his subjects liberty,  
Which had been hazarded were Britain lost.  
The greater Bond thus making void the less,  
Who can implead him of ingratefulness?   

Then was the Action moved in Parliament  
To feel the People; who of their innate  
Envy to France did promise to resent  
The case of Britain their confederate.  
Were Britain swallowed first, they stood perplexed,  
'Twere a preparative to take England next.   

And that the succours might be more complete  
By joining Gold to Steel; they give the King  
A subsidy. Henry did seldom treat  
Of any war, but did some treasure bring.  
The coursest Ore he wisely could refine,  
And dig his Gold out of wars Iron Mine.   

That time without commission from the King,  
The hot Lord Woodvile in the Britons aid  
Levied four hundred men: a desperate thing  
And Introduction to have a state betrayed.  
To Private men this Privilege afford,  
You arm the Subject against his natural Lord.   

But as if fortune had resolved to tell  
The world, his act was rash; he lost his blood,  
And though his Cause was just, yet justly fell  
In th' Action: for to make a quarrel good  
'Tis requisite the Combatant should show  
Both a just Cause and Deputation too.   

Soon as the news of this defeat did land,  
So soon the English succours set to sea  
But that soon was too late; when towers do stand,  
With bending brows, men will immediately  
Set buttresses; he that would save a state  
In its decline, must not procrastinate.   

This stay made Henry censured, and the blot  
Was marked of all, set in so high a fane  
As Henry's worth. Small Stars obscured would not  
Be marked by Kepler, or the Noble Dane;  
But be the Sun Eclipsed, th' Eclipse will be  
Taken to a Digit by some Alestr●e.   

That which deceived him was, he set his rest  
That Charles meant fair; but he drew closely on  
His war i'th' Treaty, and that Rule professed  
That th' Eleventh Lewis lectured to his son  
To learn but so much Latin, as might tell,  
And tutor him how to dissemble well.   

Besides his trust in Maximilians strength,  
Who was to marry with Brittanias' heir,  
Imposed upon him: for that King at length  
Showed himself nothing, when he lost so fair  
A Hope as She: for he cold Suitor did  
Duchess, and Duchy too by Proxy wed.   

This Confidence her followers betrays,  
Mounts us to foil us; like the Eagle just,  
When she will break, she will the Tortoise raise.  
Henry had saved this Duchy by distrust,  
That argument of weakness; seldom heard,  
The weakest thing should be the strongest guard.   

The subsidy was now to be collected;  
But he must be beholden to his sword  
For's money: which the Northern men protected  
As Griffins do the Ingots which they hoard:  
Or like the Mines which as Olaus writes,  
Have for their Guardians Subterranean spirits.   

For the Commissioners, no sooner came  
To Yorkshire, but they raised a mutiny  
In stead of money: for King Richard's name  
Being there still in recent memory  
Rose like a spirit at some conjuration,  
And the great word i'th' Circle, was Taxation.   

For they, as once the Androsians did pretend  
Want; whom when Athens did enjoin to pay▪  
A Tax, and for the levying it did send  
The Goddess Violence: We have said they  
A Goddess too, as powerful as she  
A Goddess, which we call Necessity.   

This roused Henry in just rage to see  
Th' authority of Parliament cast down.  
To countermand what there th' Estates decree,  
Doth make a blow directly at the Crown.  
And should he suffer that, he should commit  
Implicit treason 'gainst himself, and it.   

And should he wink at th' Antecedent there,  
He would be forced this Consequent to see;  
The rest by dangerous Logic: would infer,  
If Yorkshire will not pay it, why should we.  
And by strange Grammar never taught in School,  
From on Example make a General rule.   

Then to Northumberland his Mandates go,  
With strict injunctions nothing to remit:  
But he the business doth carry so,  
That by the People thought the cause of it,  
He's slain in th' Act: sure Henry was at cost,  
Before a Penny got a Noble lost.   

Being thus in Blood, the malcontents agree  
To go against King Henry; and conclude  
Chamber and Egremond their chiefs should be.  
And thus the many-headed Multitude,  
Although it boasted Heads enough before,  
To be more Monster will have two Heads more.   

Fame with one of her Pinions soon had writ  
This news to Court: Surrie as soon was sent  
To hush this Tumult, and annihill it;  
Who like a Tempest scouring as he went,  
Some of those Clouds, scared at his presence flew,  
But like the wind called Cecias, others drew.   

For the Principals were taken, and led  
To York, where they did by just vengeance fall;  
Chamber in gallant manner suffered,  
For he was hanged in State above them all.  
Thus Chamber even in ruin did aspire,  
For they erected him one story higher.   

But Egremond seeing the cause miscarry,  
And all his followers like a mist dispeld,  
Fled into Burgundy, that Sanctuary  
Of Traitors: who like vapours hence expelled  
To Her, as to the middle Region flew,  
The Place whence Henry's greatest Tempests grew.   

Then Henry called a Parliament again,  
(For subsidies he did remunerate  
With Laws;) and such were framed in his Reign,  
As with th' old Heroes shall him celebrate  
Lycurgus would be prowed, if hither sent,  
To be but Clerk of Henry's Parliament.   

For 'twas a Principle amongst the Prime  
Of their Law givers t' have the law aspire  
To the Condition of the present time  
And seldom had their mounture planted higher.  
But in all Henry's statutes, Henry's eye,  
Looked through the present at futurity.   

In England then as in Polonia now  
Were but two sort of People: the whole land,  
Or in too base servility did bow,  
Or in too high a stateliness command  
To have no mean a vacuum doth imply  
Abhorred in states, as in Philosophy.   

The reason was enclosures; farms were then  
Turned to demesnes; therefore the land as yet  
No Yeomen had, but clowns or Gentlemen:  
Th' abuse reformed did that third sort beget.  
So proving, what our Logic doth deny,  
The best division is Trichotomie.   

By this mysterious way our Soldiery  
Had its foundation laid; in any states  
To live too poorly, or too gallantly,  
Vnapts the spirits, and emasculates.  
For through a softness, and habitual fear,  
One cannot suffer, th' other cannot dare.   

Which makes a moral Monster in the state,  
A fortitude defective in one part:  
For action joined with passion integrate  
The All of valour; and a Soldier's heart  
Must have them so, that yet they hardly know,  
Which is the chief, to suffer or to do.   

But then this sort of men, as a third creature,  
Bred up in fullness, and some taking pains:  
Amphibion▪ like partaking of each nature,  
Made able foot: so having equal grains  
Of power to do, and suffer, valour went  
By this new mixture to a temperament.   

This time were Maximilians' subjects grown  
To Rebels; and the news to Henry flies;  
Who like a King did make the case his own,  
For he stood Umpire in all injuries.  
As if Astrea, when she did abhor  
The Earth had made him her Executor.   

And to such perfect Rebels, that they took  
Their Sovereign Prisoner, after faith was made,  
And loyalty was vowed: when he did look  
For all things rather than to be betrayed.  
Dangers most dangerous, when we do not mind it  
Not to look for it, is the way to find it.   

And in this Act a Smith stirred most about,  
(Baseness first tramples on a humbled Crest.)  
The Emblem proves that the ignoble rout  
Scoffs most at greatness clouded, and depressed.  
The Pigmies mocked Alcides, when he slept,  
And none but Hares by the dead Lion leapt.   

A Smith was busiest with the Emperor;  
The Cornish Rebels did a Smith obey:  
A Bardeaux Smith first struck the governor,  
Who came a civil discord to allay.  
And the Ephesian Silversmiths did make  
An uproar for their great Diana's sake.   

Tumults seem incident to Smiths by fat●  
Whose very Trade doth as an Emblem show  
Both the Incendiaries of a State,  
And bellowes too, which the sedition blow,  
The Hammers with their harsh tumultuous jar,  
Make in their brains a kind of Civil war.   

How did that Time cross its first course, when fate  
Would Kings subject to their own subjects doom?  
Th' English rebel: These their King Captivate,  
The Scots Kill theirs; as if the days were come  
The Cynic spoke of, that when he was dead,  
Nature inverst should stand upon her head.   

Then into France the King some forces sent,  
In show to keep the English Pale unwon;  
But in his secret, and his chief intent  
To succour Maximilian: thus the Sun  
In his apparent course posts to the West,  
But by his hidden tract creeps to the East.   

Now before Dixmue were the French set down,  
And raised thus by th' English: a French spy  
Promised in lieu of Pardon from the Town  
To bring them safe upon the Enemy.  
So whilst the Town, by th' English then relieved,  
Repreved a Rogue, a Rogue the Town repreved.   

This Emissary brought them all unseen  
Close to the Camp: which careless never thought  
That th' English Forces could so near have been,  
Who for a hundred lives the Conquest bought:  
This Engine first against the Town did lie,  
But a Rope turned it on the Enemy.   

Lord Cordes madded to be thus disgraced  
Beleagred Newport, and so far prevailed;  
That the French Banner on a Fort was placed,  
But soon removed, so powerfully assailed.  
Such storms came whistling from the English bow  
Their Lilies planted there, not long could grow.   

For some few Archers newly had put in  
At Newport Hav'n; who by success did show  
So much of strength that Cordes thought they had been  
More than indeed they were: for looking through  
Th' Event, as through a Multiplying Glass  
He judgd their number greater than it was.   

Conceit the weakest things can fortify;  
And in a turn, the strong debilitate.  
This few, thought more, did thousands terrify;  
For our Imagination may create  
Real effects: though here no cause to yield  
His own Opinion beat him from the field.   

This Lord wished madly, that he might be fired  
Seven years in hell, so he might Calais take:  
But when his seven years' lease had been expired,  
I doubt this wish he would his second make,  
To lie there seven years longer to have been  
Secured by faith ne'er to come there again.   

Having for Maximilian thus prevailed  
He pressed him to the Marriage with the Heir  
Of Britain; for although his arms had failed,  
He thought the loss of Britain to repair  
This way: and judged, that though his Arms did miss  
A Lady's Arms more Powerful than his.   

And Maximilian did so far proceed,  
He married her by Proxy▪ who did lie  
●'th ' spousal sheets with one leg; but indeed  
That Court devise had no validity.  
'Twas a lame match; what could the Proxy do  
With his one leg, where's master should have two?   

King Charles resolved that this trick was vain,  
(Nor caring though his friends turned Enemies)  
Mocked at the Ceremony; and to gain  
The Lady planted golden Batteries.  
Not so to win a woman is hard hap,  
When jove reigned Gold, Danae held her lap.   

And that which winneth in a Lady's eye:  
King Charles was lusty, Maximilian old,  
Content to lie with her by Deputy:  
Who would not choose this heat before that cold?  
The Lady yields: nor will I think it strange  
That two such things should make a woman change.   

Nor could she well deny, if Charles entreat,  
For if she should in Opposition lie,  
Then out of France wars did her Country threat,  
Therefore to yield was her best Policy.  
Turn Mars to Venus, and not fight but wed,  
And so conclude the quarrel in a bed.   

But here's the Knot: King Charles himself is bound  
To Maximilians daughter by contract,  
And she to Maximilian; but he found  
A trick to solve both riddles with one Act.  
And by the dextrous cunning which he tried,  
One knot he loosed, and another tied.   

Want of consent did both contracts bereave  
Of validnesse; the Duchess was his Ward,  
And could not match herself without his leave▪  
Th' other by her minority was bard.  
Charles having thus broke this, made a new band,  
And set his own for Maximilians hand.   

But that his drift may lie obscured, he sends  
Ambassadors to entertain our King  
In vain belief, and to achieve his ends,  
Whilst Henry mocked imagined no such thing.  
Charles by dissembling first this Duchy got,  
Therefore to keep it, there's no Art but that.   

In bodies natural the same things do  
Keep them, which made them; and Philosophy  
Saith Elements are Aliments. 'tis so  
In Bodies Civil, for in Policy  
'Tis a ruled Case, That as a State is gained,  
By the same Arts that state must be mainteind.   

They (to divert his thoughts) do pray our King  
Would let their Master his own Ward dispose,  
Thus they the match would to conclusion bring,  
And the first note scarce heard, be in the close.  
And by strange Method make our Henry see;  
A Bridegroom, ere he should a Suitor be.   

They tell him that their Master did intend  
A war against the Turk, and to advance  
His Flower de Lis against their Moon, and send  
Against the Turkish bow the Gallicke Lance.  
True, he was Plannet-strooke, but that was done,  
By Brittaignes' Venus, not the Turkish Moon.   

But now his misted Counsels did appear:  
The marriage did break out for all to see't;  
Which plainly sundered the two Kings who were  
Like to lines Parallel which will not meet,  
‛ Though drawn to an infinity: for they  
Who differ in their Ends part in their way.   

This double Injury; to lose his own  
And daughter's match, made Maximilian break  
To boundless rage, with which swelled up, and blown  
The less he could perform, the more did speak.  
'Tis hollowness, and emptiness of ground,  
Which makes an Echo multiply the sound.   

His passion something cold, Reason stepped in  
To show his weakness, and advise him look  
For aids abroad, nor his revenge begin  
Vnsided: Henry with his wrongs is struck,  
Like needles of the same magnetic touch,  
If you move one, the other moves as much.   

But knowing that Conjunction of Heads  
Is a good part of speech, Henry unites  
His Counsels with his own: though a Prince leads  
Th' Action in chief, he in the Plural writes  
Mandamus, volumus, to let men know,  
He doth in Business with his Council go.   

Then war was noised in Parliament, which named,  
(As if some exorcism had been conceived  
To call up spirits) they were all inflamed  
To wipe of the disgrace which they received  
For Brittaignes' loss, and to repair their shame,  
He slighteth virtue, that will slight his fame.   

Their memories present them with the sight  
Of the French Trophies by their Grandsire's wonne▪  
Here the fifth Henry; there the Edward's fight  
I'th' field of their Imagination.  
Before the Sons when such fair Copies stand,  
They must write bravely, or a bastard hand.   

That Parliament (which much conduced to war)  
He did a Stature against Mort-paies make,  
Lest Captains should defraud their men, who are  
Cold Gamesters; when no money is at stake.  
They'll bear no Arms, but when the Field is fuller,  
And bravelier charged with Metal, than with Colour.   

And so 'twas here: they such a Tax did grant,  
That not a Soldier justly could repine;  
'Tis fearful, when they do their wages want,  
Or food: for hunger keeps no discipline.  
Who would the Body of an Army make,  
Must the beginning at the Belly make.   

Then men were raised, and ammunition brought,  
Monies indeed the sinew of all war;  
But sinews of the Arms and Arms are thought  
By Machiavelli to be preferred far,  
Thus Solon deemed, when he that Monarch told,  
The better Iron would have all the Gold.   

For leaders of these men he did assign  
Bedford and Oxford; so they used to be.  
His choice had in it something of Divine,  
Fixed with a kind of fatal Constancy:  
None from his Grace but Stanley fell away,  
He was the only State Apostata.   

He would not their Election decline,  
Their fortunes did for their election call.  
Felicity is an egregious sign,  
And proper Mark to choose a General.  
Let judgement, valour, in the Van appear,  
'tis nought, if Fortune bring not up the Rear.   

But Henry's Agents now to Henry sent  
That Maximilian could no succour be:  
Henry so covered this advertisement,  
That none perceived he saw what he did see.  
Like to the Optic virtue in the eyes,  
Unseen itself, yet all things else descries.   

His weakness did Originally rise,  
From's Fleming's, who indocile to obey  
Did contumeliously their Prince despise,  
Which made him once in jesting earnest say,  
That other Kings were Kings of men, but He  
Was King of Kings, who would no subjects be.   

So true was that which Machiavelli once spoke▪  
On Maximilian who so e'er despends,  
Shall from his friendship no more succour take  
Than the Campanians brought unto their friends,  
Who being small in strength, and great in Fame,  
Unto their aids brought nothing but a name.   

Then Henry shipped his men, meaning to be  
Alone in th' Action, and the Honour too.  
He had so soon passed the obedient sea,  
As if it had professed, what our Laws do,  
'Twas under his dominion, and his own  
As of the Ligeance of the English crown.   

Then marched to Bulloine, and already took't  
In their capacious thoughts; with threatening eye  
They looked upon it, as Gonsalvo looked  
On Naples, when he vowed rather to dye  
With one foot forward in a noble heat,  
Than live an age with half a feet retreat.   

But suddenly cool Airs of Peace did breath;  
Lord Cordes did negotiate that Peace:  
Whose Spirit once breathed only war, and death,  
Treats now, that all hostility may cease.  
The Fabled Clown would wonder to behold  
One, like his Satire, blowing hot, and cold.   

And here was Henry's wisdom, not to hear  
Peace's soft tunes, before the Drums had struck  
A lowed defiance; when his forces there  
Might force his own Condition to be taken.  
That's the brave Peace, whose Articles are made  
Under a shield, and written with a blade.   

This Peace pleased Henry, which the Frenchmen bought  
With more, than th' English gave unto the war.  
But yet the People, seeing he did nought  
With all the Money, were enraged so far,  
That to a dangerous Proverb they presumed,  
Himself he feathered, and his people plummed.   

But our young gallants had most need of blacks,  
Who to be bravely furnished, pawned their lands  
In hope of these French wars; and on their backs,  
Brought so much English ground to Calais sands,  
That they left none. A strange armorial shield,  
That they should bear their Arms without a field.   

He therefore meant to make the peace be thought  
His Counsels act; and suffered them to take  
Rich presents, as with which the Peace was bought,  
Under their shapes Henry this Peace did make.  
Examine jove, and look upon his 'scapes,  
The Poets make them done in other shapes.   

The course he used might prejudicial prove,  
By winning of his Counsels hearts to France;  
For Mutianus thus pretending love  
To Antonine, did all his friends advance:  
But Mutian by this Practice did so please,  
Antonine lost all his dependences.   

Yet Henry had fair Glosses for this Peace,  
Which did his Honour with his subjects save.  
T' exhaust no blood, and to imburse th' increase  
Of yearly Tributs, satisfaction gave.  
None bled but the French treasure, and the King,  
Opened that vein for Physic every spring.   

The End of this French war was to rewinne  
Brittaigne, which was past all Eviction gone;  
And Maximilians aids which should have been  
Means to acquire this End, came never on.  
No Agent doth his purpose more extend,  
Which is defective both in means and end.   

But this was his best Argument; he heard  
That Burgundy was making of a King  
Out of a Duke of York, and justly feared  
The storms which followed. For this twice-born thing  
Like to the twice-borne Bacchus at his Birth,  
Amazed with Thunder the affrighted Earth.   

The links of causes set in Homer's chain  
Not closer joined, nor more continued are,  
Than the affairs of Kings; no Interreigne  
Is in their State, nor Vacuum in their Care.  
The sweeting sickness in his Days so great,  
Was a Presage, that he should Reign in sweat.   

He (having not respired, since he last did  
Strive with a King in Substance) falls at Odds  
With a Phantasm; an Idol King will bid  
Henry defiance. King's are Earthly Gods,  
And this proved Henry one, that he should see,  
So many Idols tempt his Deity.   

Burgundy's Duchess knew imposture could  
(As the best Ingen) torture Henry most:  
Therefore she had Spials for such Boys as should  
Make Dukes of York: at last on one they crossed,  
So apt to take a form, that if there were  
A Rellicke of the Chaos, it was there.   

And this that Perkin was, that Errand Knight,  
Henry's Landloper, Ape of Majesty;  
Son of a Jew, who was a Convertite,  
Oweing to England his nativity.  
And out of zeal the Duchess now will do  
Her best, to make the Son a convert too.   

But this was pretty: our fourth Edward did  
christian the Boy, and hence suspicion feigns  
Some of that wanton Prince's blood was hid  
(To make him something York) in Perkins veins.  
And this might well the Boy's ambition touch,  
Godfather had a syllable too much.   

This is that metal must transchanged be  
By leaving its first nature: others doubt  
If Gold can be produced by Alchemy:  
But I'll presume this metal had come out.  
(If Henry's stars did not the work restrain)  
As fair a piece as any Sovereign.   

Let Paracelsus glory that he can  
Make Artificial men; she will do more;  
And by a resurrection bring a man  
To ' a Natural life, which he had lost before.  
Who in so near a likeness did survive,  
As that he posed the clearest Perspective.   

Soon as her Art this Bullion had refined,  
She stamped him with the face of majesty;  
And soon as she had this Rose Noble coined  
She sent him from her, lest the mystery  
Might be discovered, and suspicion should  
Think he were cast in a Burgundian mould.   

Hot from her shop to Portugal he goes  
To wait a fit Conjuncture, which must be  
When France, and England are declared foes;  
Soon as they had this opportunity,  
This Piece was vented on the Irish shore,  
Where one as false was currant once before.   

From thence King Charles sent for him into France,  
Where he a guard, and Princely service had;  
So great an invitation might enhance  
His price: For greatness, and great men do add  
Opinion, and the most adulterate stone,  
Will be thought true, if worn by such an one.   

But when this little Cockatrice did hear  
That France with England an accord did strike:  
This Ghost of York durst walk no longer there,  
But fled it as a Circle. Peace was like  
An Incantation, and the very smell  
Of a Peace-offering did this spirit expel.   

Then like a Body which returns into  
Its Principles, he to the Duchess went;  
And constant to himself did nothing do,  
Wherein he did not bravely represent  
A Prince, and though by Nature he w●re none,  
Custom that second Nature made him one.   

The Duchess made it strange in company,  
Where she would sift him, and with questions prove;  
At length received him like some Prodigy:  
She seemed to imitate the Birds of jove,  
Which at the Sun their doubtful airy view,  
Nor till they think it false, will think it true.   

This news our Commons swallowed greedily,  
Whose custom 'tis to loath the present state,  
Affecting change; which is the quality  
That from their mother they do propagate.  
And as the Spaniards say, there cannot go  
A needle's point between their I, and No.   

He lively set the People's Humours forth  
Who drew a silly Ass, and drew him clad  
In furniture of an unvalued worth,  
Who, though these rich habiliments he had  
Loathing his Golden saddle, cast his eye  
Upon an other base one, that lay by.   

Ill Humours then secretly gathered head  
Whence to break forth. Thus doth the Earth dispense  
Her hidden waters, till they find a bed  
Where their collected streams may lodge, and thence  
With struggling murmurs they a Passage tear,  
And make a bubbling insurrection there.   

The Lord Fitzwater, Thwaites, and Mountfort were  
The chief: and Stanley, who at Bosworth fought  
As Henry's Guardian Angel, will be here  
His Malus genius now; as if he thought  
To tell the world, that as he could create  
A King, so he could one annihilate.   

Henry to make the world this juggling see,  
Proved that the tender Princes had been slain,  
And did evince infallibly, that he  
Could not be York, unless they would maintain  
His resurrection, and believe his Tomb  
Had given him up before the Day of Doom.   

When Perkins lineage, and himself were made  
Naked as truth: Henry this course did hold  
To trip him up; he with his trains essayd  
His followers, and dependants. They that would  
Blow up a Castle, will begin the Mine  
Some distance from the place, which they design.   

If he can make but Perkins friends retreat,  
He will by consequence Perkin oppress;  
To ' anticipate the ways which make one great  
Is the compendious way to make one less.  
When Causes stop, effects do make a Pause,  
And perish in the ruin of their cause.   

First Clifford from this Ignis fatuus flies,  
Which showed but light to show men how to err;  
And as the meteor is observed to rise  
From places, where we do our dead inter;  
So the dead Duke gave matter to this flame,  
And from his grave this Ignis fatuus came.   

Their Towering Edifice began to shake,  
So soon as Clifford, their great prop was gone;  
So Arches threaten ruin, if you take  
Out of the Fabric but a single stone;  
And Henry now did all their secrets spy,  
For Clifford was both Cabinet, and Key.   

Now having thus made their materials like  
Sand without lime; Henry the Archduke prays  
●o chase him out of Flanders, so to strike  
●he very ground where he his frame did raise▪  
Some ground to stand on, was the only thing,  
The Engineer asked the Sicilian King.   

The Ambassadors which from our Henry went,  
The foulness of the crime before him set;  
That with more Zeal he might the fact resent;  
A King but in his coin to counterfeit  
Is treason, but to counterfeit a King  
In's Person, is a more nefarious thing.   

They tell his Birth (like that the Tartars say  
Now of their Cinchis, whom a widow bore  
Without the aid of man, some hidden way)  
Such was his Birth: but when all else give o'er  
Children, this Duchess than such striplings brings,  
As at their Birth give Battle unto Kings.   

Therefore they do request him, that he would  
Abandon Perkin, and discard the Knave  
Out of the Pack: since no Impostors should  
Or can in right any Protection have.  
Under what Title can he be supplied,  
Who is not York, and Perkin hath denied?   

The Answer they received was cold, and short;  
That th' Archduke would not the Pretender aid:  
Which did not Answer Henry's hopes, nor sort  
With his desires: for by the Rule, which said,  
(If not against him with him) Henry spied,  
That he was secretly of Perkins side.   

Therefore in point of Honour, he commands  
No entertrafficke be with Flanders made:  
Henry knew well, that they would quit their hands  
Of one that should so damnify their trade.  
And did presume Flanders would bid adieu  
To this false coin, before she would lose the true.   

Advertised then, that the disease did lie  
Both in the Realm, and from the Realm did come.  
The Plaster to the sore he did apply,  
By cutting of Conspirators at home.  
These sharp proceedings will annul their plots;  
For swords are fittest for such Gordian Knots.   

Take them away, you reunite the State.  
As when a Sweeting Hind with weighty stroke,  
And blustering Hempskirke, (which doth the spirits dilate,  
And force with more contention) cleaves an Oak,  
And tears the Knotty trunk with laboured blows;  
Remove the wedge, the gaping rent will close.   

Mountfort, and Ratliffe, first with Purple flood  
The scaffold died. The Gentiles to appease  
Their Idols offered up their children's blood  
An expiating sacrifice: but these  
Were to a more devout observance grown,  
Who to this Idol offered up their own.   

Next Stanley comes his last accounts to yield,  
Which cannot be made up without his head,  
His purer blood streamed forth at Bosworth field,  
But the corrupt was on a scaffold shed.  
Blood-letting never such a wonder had,  
That the good blood should come before the bad.   

How oft do men advanced prove treacherous?  
How soon the Graces of their Prince forget?  
Thus Seian, Plautian, and Perennius.  
So true is that the Florentine hath writ;  
Great benefits, as well as injuries  
Have been the motives to conspiracies.   

Knowing that nothing but a crown can add  
The last perfection to their power and state,  
They reach at that: and here more means are had,  
Whereby they may their plot facilitate.  
Their Prince's love, and freedom of access  
Make their strength more, and their suspicion less.   

Henry was closed at Bosworth, and the foe  
Had hemmed him in his toils: Stanley forbade  
Deaths, and the foes surprise, and saved him so;  
This Stanley did, yet this hard fortune had.  
Was there no way to gratify but this,  
To take his life from him, who gave him his?   

Nay, thinking this his service too to low  
For his so high intentions, he did bring  
The Crown, and set it upon Henry's brow,  
And at once saved a man, and made a King.  
Was it not strange, he that did set a crown  
Upon his Master's head, should lose his own?   

Some Authors make his Case abstruse to know,  
As if by Henry riddled up in doubt:  
And though King's Hearts cannot be searched into,  
They do pretend to pick his secrets out;  
And by a wondrous kind of theft to get  
The jewels, and not open the Cabinet.   

I dare nor say, he could ungrateful be;  
As in Divinity 'tis better far  
To think there is no God, than think that he  
Can be unjust, so I had rather swore,  
That he in nature never was at all,  
Than think he could be so unnatural.   

And though by some Lewis the Eleventh be thought  
Our Henry's pattern: I will not divine,  
That Henry always like his Sampler wrought,  
Or that he ruled this Action by that line,  
Which Lewis once drew out: when he professed,  
Whom he was bound to, he affected least.   

Nor will I think the sense of Stanley's power  
So waked his fears, that he his death decreed,  
Only because he feared, if to that hour  
His Power into Act did not proceed.  
He gave that power: and must not Stanley live,  
For having that, which Henry's self did give?   

Or why should Henry have the smallest touch  
Of that? Great benefits which cannot be  
Repaid displease; For Stanley's were not such.  
Or why should any man conceive, that he  
Was one of their disciples, who dare write?  
We hate him, whom we think, we not requite.   

For Henry equalled him, nor thought it hard  
To poise his merit, and requital make;  
For Bosworths' spoils were Stanley's: a reward  
Worthy a King to give, and him to take.  
Stanley had all the Riches that were there,  
And Henry nothing but a Crown, and Care.   

Then made him Chamberlain, and did commit  
His life into his hands. Who can repine  
At an advancement, so sublime, as it?  
For is it not an Attribute Divine?  
The lives of Kings are in his hands; then what  
Could Stanley challenge more, since he had that?   

For Stanley's over-merit which some find,  
I see't not. Man is bound to save a man  
By Nature's laws; and laws of Nations bind  
Our Countryman to rescue: then who can  
Think he doth over-merit, who shall do  
But that which two great Laws to bind him to?   

Rather than over-merit, Stanley had  
Over-ambition▪ (That peculiar sin,  
And solemn vice of greatness:) If you add  
The highest honour, which they sweat to win  
They stand upon it, and aspire to more,  
And that's a step, which was the top before.   

He looked on Henry's savour through a Glass,  
Which made the object less: but on his own  
Through such a Perspective, as made it pass  
In magnitude; by which himself was blown  
So great, that out of haughtiness of spirit,  
He looked not on his duty, but his merit.   

Then he a quarrel pickd; for he did make  
A suit for Wales; which suit he knew would end  
In a distaste: whence Stanley meant to take  
Occasion to forsake his King, and friend,  
Those Dutch who purposed to revoult, did crave  
Of Flaccus, what they knew they should not have▪   

'Tis true he rescued Henry: but to raise  
The greatness of the rescue by the sense  
And greatness of the danger; Stanley stays  
Till safety itself could hardly bring him thence.  
We should (for Princes are such tender things)  
Not only save, but not, endanger Kings.   

As when Severus with our Britain's fought,  
Was beaten from his Horse, and did begin  
To make a flight his safety, Let us brought  
A tardy, but a certain rescue in.  
He saved his Lord, yet suffered for that act,  
And grave Herodian hath approved the fact.   

But the concurrence of these causes were  
Without the influx of a stronger cause,  
Too weak to take the life of such a peer;  
Not yet or deeds, or words had broke the laws.  
Say Henry thought his thoughts had, must he dye,  
Only for's own, and Henry's fantasy?   

But now I hear him speak (and words they say  
Are females of sedition) If I thought  
That this young man were York, and not a play  
Or a disguise, I never would be brought  
T' encounter him. He might as well have said  
That York in his affection overswayed.   

'twas this roused Henry's fear; for the least wind,  
That should from Stanley's lips most calmly blow,  
Could raise a Tempest in the People's mind;  
If he preach thus, they will Apostates grow,  
And take his doctrine up without a proof,  
For Stanley's, Ipse Dixit, was enough.   

But other arguments proved his intent;  
His words were strongly seconded with deeds;  
He promised aids, and in the Interim sent  
Treasure to Perkin to support his needs.  
What wealth on Stanley, Henry did bestow  
Stanley will spend in Henry's overthrow.   

'Twas proved, and Stanley did the proofs allow;  
But vainly trusting in his merits, thought  
Confession would avail; but he was now  
Fallen from his faith, and works could merit nought.  
Henry in his Divinity denied  
That Stanley should by works be justified.   

Yet hasted not his death, as those who do  
Alter the forms of justice, and advise  
That punishment should before judgement go,  
Like lightning which before the Thunder flies;  
And in such Cases this proceeding like,  
Strike him at once, whom once ye mean to strike.   

In such diseases they begin the Cure  
With Execution; as he did aver,  
That we should rather make the Traitor sure,  
Than of the manner of the death confer:  
For should you trust a Lion in a Toil,  
He might both break it, and his Hunter spoil.   

But this suspicion could not Henry move  
To change the course of Law: yet when his eye  
Was fixed upon his danger, and the love  
Due to himself; Stanley is judged to dye.  
Their safeties had no counterpoise at all:  
Like scales this cannot rise, unless that fall.   

Thus he was brought to Act his fatal hour  
Upon a scaffold: to let greatness know  
The twofold danger of too great a Power,  
To him that hath it, and the giver too.  
Let greatness held by Nimium fear her fate,  
For 'tis a Tenure of the shortest date.   

Greatness triumphing on the towering height  
Of Honour; if it once be turned at all,  
Finds motion in itself: the very weight  
Great Bodies have accelerates their fall.  
There is no Medium in their declination  
Between the height, and the precipitation.   

Pow'r's a strange thing, which even additions make  
Weak, and disposed to fall: few can digest  
The swelling cheer of fortune: if you take  
But one dish more, you prejudice the rest:  
Some fortunes, that have flowed gently before,  
Run over, if you add one Honour more.   

Nilus, which issues from the Zembrian Lakes,  
His channel without inundation fills:  
But when th' accession of those snows he takes.  
Which are dissolved upon the Cynthian hills;  
Then with licentious rage he breaks the reins,  
And turns the Plains to Banks, his banks to plains.   

Lord Stanley's fall a general silence brought  
Upon the Subject: not a man durst speak,  
But closely did imprison every thought  
Even to a suffocation which might break  
Out with more horror: for by giving vent,  
The Peccant humours are exhausted, and spent.   

But since they dare not speak, the Pillars now,  
And Pasquil's will by a more dangerous way  
Traduce his name, and defamations throw,  
Which wound him worse: which made Severus say,  
That he less feared a hundred Lances, than  
Th' impetuous charges of a single Pen.   

But from within such Humours being taken  
By a blood-letting, (which is held a part  
Of the world's Physic:) he began to look  
Outward to Ireland, and his thoughts convert  
Thither, for Henry by experience found,  
That venomous things might breed in Irish ground.   

THE Egest such venom, as did festering lie,  
Poynings went over with an armed power;  
With him the active Prior of Lanthony,  
(Who was so oft employed) went Chancellor.  
To try if Ireland's health might be restored,  
Or by Bellona's, or Astrea's sword.   

But there was neither of these swords so long,  
Could reach the Irish in their flying course:  
So runs the Tigress, which hath lost her young  
Borne from her den on some Numidian horse.  
And they eluded Poynings, not by fight,  
But as the Parthians did old Rome, by flight.   

Swift foot, (which Homer did so oft impose  
Upon his Knight) the Irish much concerns;  
And yet Revenge would reach them, though she goes  
On wool, if Nature did not guard the Kerns.  
Their bogs are inaccessible, and would  
Give a repulse to jove, though turned to Gold.   

Sometime (said he in Xenophon,) we try  
To Master things; the greatest fight of all:  
'tis hard to combat with an Enemy,  
Whose Arms are taken from nature's arsenal.  
Man rarely from that fight a conquest brings▪  
Which is with Place, and not with men, but things.   

Thus Swethland fortified by Nature's care  
Upon that side, which lieth opposite  
To Russia, doth not the Invasions fear  
And vain attempts of the cold Muscovite.  
For prudent nature set a fringed hem  
Of Finland Marsh between the Swedes, and them.   

Let not the Irish glory, that their might  
Robbed us the Honour of a victory;  
The Nature of the soil, and Country's site  
Scorns an assault, and mocks an Enemy.  
That Poynings then so meanly came away,  
The bogs must set up Trophies, and not they.   

That great Castruccio, who soared so high,  
And was so low in his Original;  
Who twice o'rthrew the Arms of Thuscany,  
Once at Fucecchio, once at Serravall.  
Machiavelli who so famed him, was thus free,  
To say the places beat them, and not he.   

But the production of an act so great,  
As Ireland's peace, did its perfection lack:  
Until Eliza did the Work complete,  
That Virgo of our English Zodiac.  
Her maiden fingers tuned the Irish Harp,  
And made that note a mean, which was a sharp.   

Yet Poynings there performed one work of fame,  
That all the English laws in Ireland should  
Have force: which Constitution bears the name  
Of P●ynings law. It seems that Poynings would  
The Irish Rebels to obedience draw,  
Not by the Law of Arms, but Arms of Law.   

Now Perkin calls me, who looks boldly out,  
Hearing that Henry is a progress gone:  
'Twas Henry's absence that made Perkin stout,  
And counselled him to put a boldness on.  
When Henry like the sun, was progressed North,  
This Mercury, and wand'ring star peeped forth.   

This counterfeit, and Artificial Rose,  
(Like to the true ones, which in Winter go  
Back to their Causes and themselves disclose  
In Summer) did himself in Summer show:  
But all the Winter with the Duchess kept,  
Where like a Rose he in his Causes slept.   

But from this sleep, when he was well awake,  
And had on England an attempt designed:  
Debtors, and Malcontents his part did take,  
And Bankrupts flocked by swarms: which is a kind  
Of Reasonable Insect, that is made  
Of the corrupted matter of some Trade.   

No man of mark was in the Army seen,  
Except men marked for some Villainies:  
Felons, and Thiefs, whose fortune it hath been  
To lay the frames of puissant Monarchies.  
A man, as Henry Great, might fear their force;  
For Rome and Turkey did begin from worse.   

Fierce Spartacus the Fencer, once defied  
Rome at her full, with Gaole-birds lately flown  
Out of their Cage: so bravely that he tried  
Great Pompei's fortune to be overthrown.  
The fight is doubtful with that foe to try,  
Who brings despair armed with necessity.   

That none of name, and family were there,  
Henry's preventing wisdom did effect:  
They by the hand, and Sword of justice were  
Cut off, whose Fortunes Perkin might protect:  
His vital spirits floated in their blood,  
And all his hopes were drowned in that flood.   

They land in Kent but there no people rise,  
Because no braver men with Perkin came:  
A mean Aspect strikes not the vulgar eyes  
But show a great though an inglorious name,  
You cannot then their wild devotion hold,  
They will adore a Calf, if made of Gold.   

Nor did the Gentry second his design,  
But mustering up the People that were there;  
They Marshaled them in warlike discipline  
Without confusion; which made Perkin fear,  
For Tumult was his Hope; they did not look  
Like men of Perkins Church that Orders took.   

Himself land's not, when he their Order saw,  
(Which was a Badge, and Livery of a foe)  
Their fair array did so the stripling awe,  
He durst not venture from his ships to go▪  
And it was thought, that had he come a shore,  
The Youth had never made Sea voyage more.   

The Kentish seeing that no more would land,  
Nor touch the fatal ground, the Battle struck,  
And slew them, fore they could their ships command:  
Some sevenscore of the Herd, were Prisoners took.  
A just mischance to them, for 'twas no more,  
Than they had been, or should have been before.   

Henry for terror put them all to death:  
Here he was strangely rigorous: hut He  
At the more great Rebellion of Black-heath,  
Was strangely mild: so that a man may see:  
Caesar's, and Cato's nature met in one,  
Spare all like Caesar, or like Cato none.   

When just revenge, hath a right level made,  
Home to the head she may the arrow bring;  
And when provoked justice draws her blade,  
●nto the fire she will the scabbered fling.  
justice and sin should keep an equal race,  
If sins do gallop, justice must not place.   

And thus the courses kept by Rome of old,  
Were full of terror, or without it quite:  
Camillus said, the way to Latium hold,  
Was Punishment, or love: And Henry might  
From Alexander some such notion have,  
Or to save all, or none at all to save.   

Once by the Samnites when the Host of Rome,  
Was straight en compassed: one did thus advise;  
Or slay them all, or send them fairly home.  
Shun the third way: so place your courtesies  
That Rome endear may be your friend, or so  
Confound her, that she cannot be your foe.   

This blaze extinct, Perkin to Flanders sailed,  
To fetch more fuel: thence to Ireland came,  
That fumes, and vapours, from those bogs exhaled  
Might the expired Meteor reinflame.  
But the late thunder made by Poyring there  
Had purged the air, and made the Region clear.   

Ireland did nothing to his succours bring  
But blustering prayers, and uneffectuall vows.  
Therefore they think on Scotland, whose young king  
They did presume the quarrel would espouse;  
Glad that with England he some cause espied,  
With strength, and colour for his cause beside.   

To Scotland come, they welcome him at Court  
(For Charles of France had prepossessed the King,  
And by his letters had prepared him for't)  
And to the Presence Chamber Perkin bring,  
Where King and Nobles sat in state that day.  
To be spectators of a Puppet-play.   

Admitted to have audience he presumed  
To play the man he knew not; he did look  
Stately enough, and Spiritlike assumed  
The Body of another: for he took  
York from himself, and having made a rape  
Upon his Part, thus acted in his shape.   

Sir, shall you please to lend a gracious ear  
To a sad story, and a Princely eye  
To a sad spectacle; then know that here  
Both of those objects represented lie;  
And such that judgement will not censure right  
Whether the tale be sadder; or the sight.   

England's fourth Edward as your highness knows  
Two Orphans left to Crook-backe Richard's care:  
A man as far estranged from faith, as those  
With whom these Maxims Orthodoxal are  
Ravish Astrea, and pull justice down  
If on the ruins you may scale a crown.   

Soon he employed his ministers of death  
To kill them both, but take no blood at all:  
But curiously to suffocate their breath  
To make a violent death seem natural.  
'Tis a bold Cowardice, when man shall dare,  
To act the sin, and the suspicion fear.   

They posting to the Tower (which was the fold  
Of these soft Lambs in a Wolves Custody)  
Sacrificed one but they their Master told  
They had in both observed his Majesty,  
He trusts them: for from nature 'tis received  
An object much desired, is soon believed.   

Hard though they were, and villains to all worth,  
They had some softness for they pitied one.  
As in the Crystal, which the freezing North  
Doth of an Ice convert into a stone,  
Some little water uncongealed we find,  
Not hardened by the rigour of the wind.   

And they in truth slew not the Eldest son:  
For pitying Heaven, knowing that such a work  
Is then done best of all, when 'tis not done,  
Moved the Assassinates to spare poor York.  
The Holy-water issuing from his eyes  
Was York's expiatory Sacrifice.   

Now (Royal Sir) behold that York in me;  
Poor wandrer, like that bird without a Gall,  
Which was th' Espial of the Ark; for we  
Could find no ground to rest our feet at all:  
But our returns should be of different kind,  
She found an Ark, I should an Altar find.   

First I was close imprisoned in the Tower  
Then sent into the world, which is to me  
But as the greater Gaol: for to this How'r  
I never did enjoy a liberty,  
So that you may this my strange freedom call  
A world of room, and yet no room at all.   

For but this piece of ground, whereon I stand  
Lent by your Princely favour, I have none:  
And yet by birth the Monarch of a land;  
A land by Tyranns now usurped upon.  
Thus he whose hand should hold a Globe, can meet  
No room in all the Globe to set his feet.   

Long have I gone (as these tird limbs can tell)  
Like restless Heaven about the Earth; till I  
Were certain of his Death: at last He fell  
At Bosworth field▪ For Tyrant's seldom die  
Of a dry Death; it waiteth at their gate  
Dressed in the colour of their Robes of State.   

But what 'though Richard did at Bosworth dye  
The Persons are but changed, and not the Case:  
For now one Henry Tydder doth supply,  
The vacant Seat, and prides it in his place.  
This Tyrant did of his corruption breed,  
His grave was Henry's womb, his blood his seed.   

Henry for sureness doth my sister wed;  
It was his fortune to ascend a throne  
By the assistance of a Lady's bed,  
Whose brother should have lost his life by one.  
I had strange fate to Beds: for once my own  
Should have my life, now hers will have my crown.   

Thinking to make the Truth, by scorning weak  
He sport's at me, and sets himself a-work  
To give me names: indeed he dares not speak  
Now think my own without affright: for York  
Is Henry's tetragrammaton, and he dares  
No more pronounce it than the Jews dare theirs.   

He by th' imposing of the forged Style  
Of Perkin, would upon the Realm impose  
I am a counterfeit: yet he the while  
Knows I am York, but covers what he knows.  
Thus to the world two Counterfeits are brought,  
Henry is one indeed, I but in thought.   

For were I an Impostor, or a mere  
Imaginary Idol, why should He  
Me in his thoughts, as the true York revere,  
And so commit civil Idolatry?  
The World knows his devotion, and He  
Can sacrifice no more to York, than Me.   

For when in France his Arms were in the field.  
To question the French Aribute, and the Blade  
Drawn to decide, so soon as France did yield  
T' abandon me, so soon the Peace was made.  
Here he confessed my Birth, and did advance  
My natural Right; I made the Peace with France.   

Th' English with Fleming's trade, the Flemings come  
And trade with them; but when th' Archduke did make  
Some love to me he called his merchant's home,  
And interdicted traffic for my sake.  
Then, can I be a nothing, who have made  
A Kingdom's Peace, and marred a Kingdom's trade?   

And were I not that York, why should my Aun●  
Of Burgundy both recognize my Cause,  
And second my designs? who will not grant,  
That she contesting against nature's laws  
Should wrong her Niece a Queen, if she should get  
A Kingdom from her for a counterfeit.   

But to use farther demonstrations now  
Were in the Cause and to your judgement vain:  
Truth, and yourself were prejudiced, for you  
See clearly and the Truth itself is plain:  
But like to Truth of Old 'tis in a Pit,  
And must lie there, unless you secure it.   

Now in your brow (Great Sir) me thinks I spy  
Characterizd both pity, and belief  
Of my sad state: which with myself doth fly  
Unto your power, and justice for relief.  
These are the two, which can my Hopes complete,  
One makes you Good, and both may make me great.   

All Actions do their consummations owe  
To Can, and Will: these Principles alone  
Are all-sufficient, and do grow in you,  
One in your Power, and in your justice one.  
You are my Gaurdian Angel, these your wings,  
Whose quills may write me in the list of King's.   

The Greatest honour will be thine, for I  
Shall be but as thy Creature; a poor thing  
Tempered by thee; and is it not more High,  
And Glorious to make, than be a King?  
And know (Brave Prince) this shall thy honour be  
Kings have been made, Tyrant's unmade by thee.   

Thus Perkin boldly spoke: and did not spare,  
To promise Mountains to his Majesty:  
Which are no more in nature than those are,  
Called Hyperborean in some History.  
And with such l●fe did personate his part,  
That Nature never was so braved by Art.   

King james to Perkins declaration said,  
Who e'er he were, he never should repent  
That he had him his sanctuary made.  
His winning looks made all, that saw relent:  
For he did play True York with such a grace,  
'Twas hard to know the Mettle from the face.   

Diamonds and Saphires are ascribed to Jove  
In which if any feature be impressed,  
The owner as Magicians would prove,  
Shall with the favour of great men be blessed:  
Then Perkins face was in some Sapphire cut,  
Or in a Diamond his Image put.   

And to assure him, that he was as much  
In his opinion, as himself professed,  
Young Gordon, that same beautiful Non-such,  
(And by the King's consent) his Nuptials blessed.  
Me thinks he looked, when both of them were m●●  
Like a false stone, and yet most richly set.   

He then ammassed a sufficient power,  
And after the most hostile manner entered in  
Northumberland: and Perkin York's false flower  
Was wagging in the field, and did begin  
By a Proclamation a true King to play,  
Which like a Herald thus prepared his way.   

It said that York fourth Edward's second son▪  
(That Lion so long Couchant) now was roused.  
Whose case from Heaven had so much pity won,  
That Scotland now his quarrel had espoused.  
Which with the English got but small applause,  
Who for his Company did hate the cause.   

It promised that this war was but to free  
Himself from danger, them from Tyranny;  
His Princely care (forsooth) was such that he  
Would not the state or subject damnify.  
Which made King James to smile: for doing so  
Was but to be a Steward to his foe.   

It praised Richard that unnatural Prince;  
Who though he entered in by usurpation:  
Yet both his equity, and laws convince,  
That he was noble in administration.  
Nor was this such a wonder, for one can  
Be a good King, and yet a wicked man.   

It told of Stanley's, and of Mountforts fall  
Murdered by Henry most inhumanely.  
Thus virtue like himself, he did miscall,  
And what was justice nicknamd cruelty:  
But had not Stanley suffered, Henry must;  
And to himself be cruel, and unjust.   

It cried how Henry did with taxes get  
His coffers filled, and the poor Realm abused.  
But had the people but the fox's wit,  
'Twas a poor plea for him: the Fox refused  
To have the Flies removed, which sucked him first,  
He knew that fresh ones would torment him worst.   

It promised impositions should cease  
And th'hated names of Tax, and subsidy:  
It breathed nought but Dialects of Peace,  
And silken notes of Ease, and liberty.  
It might persuade the people, that they saw  
Too much of Gospel to have any law.   

It proffered worlds to him should take the King.  
And give to Perkin Royal Honours. He  
Did imitate the Devil in this thing:  
All this I'll give, if thou wilt worship me.  
The Devils and Perkins liberality  
Was but to draw men to Jdolatry.   

But these fair words could not the people take;  
There was not one that did assistance bring:  
Nor would his Proclamation perfect make  
By the addition of God save the King;  
They had not studied Pedigrees, to learn,  
What Yorks, or Edward's sons might them concern.   

King james despairing of access of aid,  
Turned his intended War inh a Road:  
And then with speed returned: for had he stayed,  
Our Army would have eased them of their Load  
Of spoil and booty: soon as that should come  
They'd have their Handsfull, yet go Empty home.   

Before that Henry would the wrong repay  
Made by this depredation: Henry made  
A reparation of the trades decay,  
And with the Flemings did renew the trade:  
That with his Treasure a Decorum kept,  
Twinlike they smiled together, twinlike wept▪   

This mutual entertrafficke seems a thing  
Purprosed by Nature. Isles (which in the sea  
Are set like stones within a Crystal Ring)  
Nature hath not so far remould, but we  
May from some part, some other land descry,  
To mind us of this Sociable tie.   

Trading confirmed; he calls a Parliament,  
And shows that war with Scotland must be made:  
Though he concealed his inference, they sent  
His Logic was, as if he should have said  
If war then Coin: when he his medium drew  
From war, they easily his Conclusion knew.   

With sixscore thousand pounds the subjects prove  
They took his meaning right. In one we read,  
His wars were a strange Ore, Iron above  
And Gold below: 'twas a strange Ore indeed;  
For Natralists observe, that in the ground  
Where Iron is, there's no rich metal found.   

The King's Collectors at S. Michael's Mount  
Met with a Cruel rub: for while they strive  
To bring the stubborn Cornish to account,  
Those People (buried in their Mines alive)  
Mistaking it for Doomsday, did begin  
To Rise out of their Sepulchers of Tin.   

These pioneers (as if they owed their Birth  
To the Earth matrix) crept out of the Ground:  
And like the Giants the old sons of Earth  
Against the gods do an Alarm sound.  
To undermine had been their trade of late,  
And so 'tis still; but not the ground but state.   

Want made them murmur: for the People, who  
To get their Bread, do wrestle with their fate:  
Or those who in superfluous riot flow  
Soon rebel: Convulsions in a state  
Like those, which natural Bodies do oppress,  
Rise from repletion, or from emptiness.   

While this rough Sea of People rolls, and raves  
With giddy Ebbs and Tides: some ●winds began  
(Like those dismissed from the Eolian Caves)  
T' exasperate this troubled Ocean.  
This Rabble quickly with Commanders sped;  
Ill Humours thus soon gather to a Head.   

A prating Lawyer (one of those which Cloud  
That Honoured Science) did their conduct take:  
He talked all Law, and the tumultuous crowd  
Thought it had all been Gospel, which he spoke.  
At length these fools that Common Error saw▪  
A Lawyer on their side, but not the Law.   

A Blackesmith next did in this tumult sweat,  
To have this monster brought to light, which they  
Bred in their Noddles; when joves' Brain was great  
With Pallas; Vulcan did the midwife play.  
The People thus did think a Vulcan fit,  
To be the Midwife of their Bare-whelpe wit.   

They say this Action was but to defend  
The Poor: and Chastise some about the King.  
justice, and Mercy blanche what they intent  
With fair pretexts. Who on the Stage do bring  
Rebellion, must to Countenance the Fact,  
Have virtues clothes wherein the vice must act.   

When these two Chiefs as far as Wells had gone,  
They met Lord Audly, and transfer to him  
Their Place, and Power by Resignation;  
As I have seen two little Bubbles swim  
Upon the Crystal pavement of a Lake,  
Then meet a third, and one great Bubble make.   

Turbulent spirits with the buzzing wind,  
And airs of People are puffed up, and blown.  
Popular Audly quickly was inclined  
To be their Head, although he lose his own.  
The discontents of Nobles often sleep,  
Till People wake them with the noise they keep.   

Proud of the Gallant change, they now obey  
A Lord, and under a new conduct go:  
And Audly was as vainly proud as they,  
To be their Leader, yet he was not so.  
In a just war, he had their Leader been,  
Here but their fellow, equallized by sin.   

He undiscreetely led them into Kent  
Which Henry by those two great props of states  
Had lately fixed, Reward and Punishment.  
There they might see their own in others fates.  
Rebels on Gibbets hanged, like Crows to scare  
Such fowl from flocking, and alighting there.   

But Kent was never conquered (said their story.)  
The worse for them. She, who refused that Kings  
Should touch her, will she yield her maiden Glory  
To the Embraces of such worthless things?  
As if a Virgin, which denied a Crown,  
Would prostitute her Honour to a Clown.   

That Kent no succours to their aid did bring,  
Possessed them more with choler, than affright.  
They threaten▪ to give Battle to the King,  
And pillage trembling London in his sight;  
Being thus confirmed they to Black Neath did go,  
A name of dread and Character of woe.   

The Rebels proud not to be met, expound  
That to be Henry's fear, which was his plot:  
And what they did suppose his doubt, was found  
To be his resolution; he seemed not  
To note them, lest the noise the game should spoil,  
And Keep the Beast from coming to the Toil.   

To have them far from home, Henry thought best,  
From their own ground they perish with more ease;  
Which Poets have mysteriously expressed  
In their Anteus; and their Hercules;  
Whose fight was equal till Alcides found  
This Stratagem, To take him from the ground.   

He knew how soon such violence was wont  
To languish, and a diminution take:  
Not to be feared, but in the first affront.  
For Nature never did a compound make  
Of such a mixture, as a headless rabble,  
At once so weak, and yet so formidable.   

Like to the Block, jove cast into the Lake,  
To be the King of Frogs: which the fall  
Rending the waters, such a noise did make  
At the first dash it terrified them all.  
The first affright passed over; not a Frog,  
But did insult; and leap upon the Log.   

He saw their Snowball did not grow, but loose  
●n rolling: daily waving in its might,  
And in such Cases the best Leaders choose  
The Fabian wisdom, and defer to fight.  
Here the design is hastened by delay,  
And then goes forward, when it seems to stay.   

The Rebels perched near London on a Hill,  
As if to stoop more strongly on the prey,  
Henry no more protracts the time, but will  
Instruct them in their ruin, that this stay  
Was but to choose his time, and make them know  
That his intendments were advised, not slow.   

London to see a foe so near her door  
Was strangely moved. Those who do most possess  
Are most afraid: desire of having more:  
Was ever matched with fear of having less.  
The Paleness of the metal, which they own,  
In the same tincture on themselves is shown.   

The King perceiving where the Cause did lie  
Of their fears shaking fit, and agueish swoon:  
Himself for Physic did himself apply  
near to the side of the astonished Town.  
Their Hearts left fainting, when they felt him there,  
He was a Sovereign Cure against their fear.   

Henry divides his forces into three  
(The number of Perfection;) Old Rome held  
This discipline, and order, nor did she  
Fight without three Battalias in the field.  
Like the three sister destinies they go,  
To spin the fate, and ruin of the foe.   

Th' Army whereon both London's Hope did lie,  
And this day's Honour, and its Danger too.  
Henry assigned to trusty Dawbenie,  
His Chamberlain, who will the City do  
Th' Office he did the King: Henry doth deign,  
To make his own the City's Chamberlain.   

These did the Foe affront: but he ordained  
Oxford, and Essex should beyond them go,  
T' enclose the Game▪ that, as that King maintained,  
That Hunting like a kind of war did show,  
And image representing it: so here  
This war a kind of hunting did appear.   

Henry with force invincible did go  
Assured to imparke this rascal Herd;  
Else had this course been dangerous; for a foe  
If stopped, gives greatest reason to be feared.  
You may from Music the resemblance take,  
Where every stop the note more sharp doth make.   

Despair of safety sharper spurs doth wear,  
Than hope of victory; there's not a man  
Who hopes no good, that any Ill will fear.  
He that contemneth his own being, can  
Be Master of another man's, and he  
That scorns himself, may triumph over thee.   

London was now assured of the Day,  
Affying in the Fortune of these Three.  
For man's condition's such to think, that they  
Who oft have conquered cannot conquered be.  
jove loves a Laurel, and his Thunder spares it  
Nor it alone, but even the Head that wears it.   

Our eyes, and Hopes are on men's Fortunes bend:  
When Caesar did the mariner importune  
To set to sea, He used this Argument,  
Thou carri'st Caesar, and with him his fortune.  
Not Caesar's virtue, but his fortune must  
Warrant a sailor in so great a gust.   

But least the Citizens should stand in doubt,  
(For they are Creatures, that will hardly trust)  
Of this security, King Henry brought  
His army to S. George's fields, which must,  
If they have need of better bondsmon yet  
Their Arms, and Marks to the assurance set.   

The King gave out he would not fight that day:  
That he the Rebels in suspense might hold  
And unobserud their strength might disarray.  
Like to the Norwey air, whose thrilling cold  
With such a stealth doth through the body run,  
Men feel not their undoing till undone.   

And yet he fought that day, that Day was His:  
As Tuesday once in the affection swayed  
Of Royal james, and his grave reason this,  
As the same Day the treasons were bewrayed:  
So, both the Plots from the same Author came,  
And th' Author of his safety was the same.   

Dawbney at the declining of the Day,  
(Which was their fortune's declination too.)  
At Detford bridge disordered their array  
And taught what reason, against rage could do.  
He beat them from that standing to a Ferry;  
And made them change the bridge for Charon's whirry   

There he did wind his valour to th' extreme,  
(Men belie virtue to a mean:) and 'though  
Imcompatible qualities they seem,  
He did a Generals part, and soldiers show  
A soldier's Grammar will not be complete,  
Till Captains' Rules, and their Examples meet.   

But fight hotly, (which I will not call  
An inconsiderateness, but forward zeal)  
Dawbney captived into their hands did fall,  
But was redeemed before they well could feel  
They had him there: no sooner took, but mist,  
As if they had graspd lightning in their fist.   

Then Oxford like his own Artillery  
Shot himself through them: had this worthy played  
Such strains of valour in Rome's Infancy  
Which canonisd great worths; she had not stayed  
For's Death, as her strict orders did provide,  
He had been deified before he died.   

Essex by Active proofs evinced so well  
A constant spirit: that had he been there  
When the whole breed of Giants did rebel  
Against the gods, and made the gods for fear  
Assume new shapes, that they might lie unknown;  
Essex had scorned any but his own.   

The Rebels now fears Antimasque begin  
Their sinews first like trembling Lutestrings shook:  
But when the spirits were retreated in  
They stood insensate statues, strange to look  
Upon so many Images, when fear  
Was th' only Statuary that was there.   

In Horror some deploring their mistake,  
Wished themselves underground, and digging Tin:  
Not all the Terriers under Heaven would make  
These Fox's stir, if they were Earthed again.  
They had turned Sadduces, and would gainsay  
A Resurrection with more zeal than they.   

The Leaders first did yield: it seems their men  
Would out of manners give their betters place,  
And let their Captains render first; but then  
Like to good Soldiers think it no disgrace  
To yield: nay if their Captains run away,  
They hold it breach of discipline to stay.   

Henry was once incensed: but while he  
Was thinking of Revenge, they of Despair:  
Mild Clemency, joves' eldest Child, for she  
Made Peace in the first Chaos, cuts the air;  
And for a while forsook her spangled Throne,  
Which jove hath seated in the temperate Zone.   

Over their steel with silver wings she played  
Till she had fastened her enquiring eyes  
On Henry: and his fierce intendment stayed  
Which meant to make them but one Sacrifice.  
And thus she spoke, having first found his brow  
With th' Emblem of herself an Olive Bough.   

Son of my Hopes, to spare these men incline,  
And in these men thyself: for every blow,  
Thy sword shall make, is by reflection thine,  
They are thy limbs, thou sufferest in their woe.  
That which I ask is but a slender boon,  
Show mercy to thyself, and I have done.   

Dead members should be lanced unto the quick  
I grant: and these are cut, as much as need;  
But the whole Body of the state is sick.  
Suppose; must therefore all the members bleed?  
In natural Bodies open but one vein,  
You bring them to their temperature again.   

Not Heart alone makes a Chief fit for wars,  
He must have Bowels too. Antiquity  
Gave not the Thunderbolt to Iron Mars  
To Leaden Saturn, nor Quick Mercury.  
Nor any other of the Seven above,  
But to the Kindly influence of jove.   

jove thy Example breaks th' insulting foes  
Pities the Broken: the Aspiring Pine,  
And daring Cedar feel his flaming blows;  
But not the Reeds which modestly decline.  
Shall not a King pity the yielding foe  
Which even the King of Kings vouchsafes to do.   

The Princely Lions their full anger try,  
When with a stubborn combatant they meet▪  
But in a Noble bravery pass by  
Then couching Prey which prostrates at their feet.  
And shall a King tread on the humbled foe,  
Which even the King of Beasts disdains to do?   

That Oil poured on thy head (whose suppling touch  
Mercy denotes) teacheth Commiseration;  
Curtane the sword, doth intimate as much,  
Carried before thee at thy Coronation.  
Which hath the Point rebated, to imply  
Your justice wedded to your Clemency.   

God, who hath said that you are gods, doth save  
By numbers: so may Henry now, and can  
Be like to God. Mans straightened Arm may have  
Power of extent enough to save a man:  
But to preserve whole multitudes alive  
But Gods, and Kings have thei● prerogative.   

Here your two Roses do their Colours show,  
Both in their spreading bravery arrayed.  
There the whole field distained with blood, as though  
The Red of Lancaster were there displayed.  
And they who yet survive are Pale with fear  
As if the White of York were planted there.   

Those who are slain can be esteemed no less  
Than an oblation, who ventured theirs  
To save the Blood of these: these who express  
Repentance in an Offering of tears.  
Heavens have not such a Sacrifice withstood,  
Which thus consisted both of tears and blood.   

When Kent was in commotion, I know,  
Corr'sives did cure the ulcers of the state;  
But should you use that course of Physic now,  
You might the Patients more exasperated.  
So the same simples, as th' experienced find,  
Gathered at several times do purge or bind.   

If to be great not good were your intent  
I have chalked out your way: 'twere a false aim.  
If by the ruins of the slain you meant,  
To raise the Pile, and Structure of your Fame.  
They which survive will the best Trophies be,  
And living statues of this victory.   

Her speech and Henry's choler end together,  
Who took this second for his first intent,  
That none should dye but those which lead them thither  
And heavens in this were Henry's Precedent,  
Which to those sinners easy Pardons grant,  
Who sin not out of wantonness, but want.   

The fine, and noble way to Kill a foe,  
Is not to kill him: you with kindness may  
So change him, that he shall cease to be so,  
And then he's slain. Sigismond used to say  
His Pardons put his foes to death; for when  
He mortified their hate, he killed them then.   

Audley, who led them once, is led from thence,  
Having those Arms by his brave Grandsires worn  
(Because his Arms were turned against his Prince)  
Turned, and reversed: and his Coat armour torn▪  
Then he salutes a Scaffold, where one blow  
Struck off the Rebel's head, and Audlies too.   

The Choleric Smith and Lawyer, who did so  
Divide the members of the troubled state,  
In their own members, were divided too.  
The Smith insulted in his noble fate;  
And on the Hurdle he did seem to Glory,  
That after times should read him in a story.   

When one had set (in a Satyric vein)  
The famous whores of Spain upon a list:  
One of that tribe took it in high disdain,  
And vowed revenge because her name was mist.  
What wild attempts will vain Ambition fly,  
To be Eternised, though for infamy?   

Amidst these stirs from Ferdinand of Spain,  
Came an Ambassador: whom Henry won  
To treat a peace with Scotland, but to feign  
'twas from his Master, not by Henry done.  
Gospels of Peace were here his sweetest airs,  
But he would no Epistles use, nor prayers.   

Then reverend Fox was in Commission joined  
With him, who would the Scottish King persuade,  
That Perkin might to Henry be consigned,  
Which with the King but small impression made.  
For so he should his former faith deny,  
Which would be thought Civil Apostasy.   

And yet King james, did privately recant:  
For calling him, he did advise him choose  
Some fitter seat: yet still did Perkin vaunt,  
And nothing of his haughty spirit lose.  
But from the Court undauntedly depart,  
Left of his hopes, and friends, but not his heart:   

But his fair Gordon would not leave him there  
But to himself, and to his fortunes cleave:  
Her Kindred she forsook, and did adhere  
TO a stranger. Thus a Loadstone will not leave  
The Kisses of the Irons loved embrace,  
Although a thousand Lodestones were in place.   

Stand up thou wonder of thy Sex, and Times,  
If I at first had invocated thee,  
To be th' assistant Goddess of these Rhymes;  
This they had borrowed from thy constancy.  
That all would in a constant Tenor flow,  
And had one verse been good, all had been so.   

Once more the Cornish murmur, and begin  
Lewdly to construe Henry's Clemency.  
'twas the whole Kingdom's Case that they were in,  
And therefore pardoned by necessity.  
That Henry did so many Cornish spare,  
They thank not Henry's love, but Henry's fear.   

The Florentine delivered this Position:  
When people think their Prince's courtesy  
Is not derived from his disposition,  
But from constraint, or some State secrecy.  
The Grace is valued at a slender rate,  
And more endangers than secures a State.   

When desperate villains ill success have had,  
(Who rather had be guilty of the fact  
Atcheived, than attempted) they will add  
A higher, and a more nefarious act.  
As when a stone-bow shoots too high, we will,  
To set the Bow, set the Bead higher still.   

They soon to Ireland did for Perkin send,  
Who with his Council canvasing the Case,  
Their fond imaginations apprehend,  
That was the Time, and Cornwall was the Place.  
Dispute not, if his Counsellors were able  
Who from their shop-bords climbed a Counseltable.   

In the first place a Scrivener (Be it known  
To all men) Perkins quarrel undertook;  
A Mercer then, late from a shop-bord flown,  
Where he had been condemned by his Book.  
To these a Tailor joined, as if he meant  
To mend his own with the whole Kingdom's Rent.   

With sixscore men he did in Cornwall Land,  
Then did to Bodmin go the Black-smiths town,  
Where without Proclamation, or command  
His Kingship did encounter many a clown.  
The Black-smiths Cinders, which were kept in store,  
Might make a worse combustion than before.   

But Perkin now a higher flight will sore:  
He thinks a Diadem fit for his brow.  
He that was Richard Duke of York before,  
Calls himself Richard King of England now.  
Thus Perkin did his former sign pull down,  
And for the Rose, set up the Rose and Crown.   

He like a dying Taper would expire,  
Which at the End, as if the End it knew,  
Musters together the surviving fire,  
As if it would its languished flames renew.  
Then blazeth forth a Gallant flash of light,  
Then is extinct, and lost in its own night.   

These Rebels in their madness had some wit,  
And Policy, which had a smack of Brain:  
They do advise him some good Town to get,  
Where, as in Garrison they might remain,  
Or if in Battle they in field were beat,  
To have some refuge, whether to retreat.   

Besides in gain a power attractive rests  
To call men to it: should they once but taste  
The pillage of a City, troops of guests  
Would without bidding, to the banquet haste.  
All stoop at gain: and if the Lure shall fail,  
A Pigeon with a Haggard will prevail.   

Fair Excester fit Rendez-vous is thought;  
But vainly, for nor battering pieces were,  
Nor other Ingens to the City brought;  
And before they starved them, Henry would be there,  
To cool their stomaches, that they should not serve  
To stay so long till Excester should starve.   

For want of Cannon they did wildly cry,  
And make the fields with barbarous shouts resound,  
As if those hideous roar should supply  
The Instruments of war. 'Tis not the sound  
Of voices, but of instruments must make  
A City dance, and her foundation shake.   

Both for a needful, and a brave defence  
The Excestrians wisely did themselves prepare,  
To keep such hungry Customers from thence,  
Men like to prove bad chapmen for their ware.  
Who taking all, might make a riddle just  
Faying for none, none given, and none on trust.   

And as their danger did collect their strength  
Into itself: so did their spirits dilate,  
In Hope that Henry would arrive at length  
Whose look that fiction would annihilate.  
With him a King, what will false Richard do  
Who but an Earl a true one did o'er throw?   

What gave them courage, made the foe aghast:  
(The hope of Henry;) for when he comes in  
Perkin must off; and therefore must make haste,  
Not quickly win, or not at all to win  
Did Perkin with an equal danger strike:  
Slow victory, and ruin was alike.   

Defective in the instruments of fire  
He made the fire his Instrument: and set  
Fire to a gate: the Citizens conspire  
To do the like: so flames with flames were met.  
Cross to that mouldy tenet, which denies  
Cures can be taken but from Contraries.   

Henry came thither, soon as he did hear  
That King of Rakehell's roreing in the West.  
('Twas Perkins west indeed for he set there.)  
Towards whose end, all were in Arms addressed.  
Let Greatness feigned, or true decline in state,  
'Tis the world's garb t' accelerate her fate.   

The Cornish soon did yield, (whom Henry took  
To mercy on submission:) for their Head,  
And Leader Perkin had them all forsook,  
And wisely to a Sanctuary fled.  
Where he was safe, as if the place had been  
A shrine for vice, and privilege for sin.   

Crimes as if Sacred to some God, were kept,  
And Patronizd with the Religious care  
Of Sanctuary: had a villain crept  
Within those walls, he was protected there.  
But while their Power such Parracids relieves,  
The House of Prayer is made a Den of Thiefs.   

Henry too tender of the Privilege  
Of Sanctuary, would not draw him thence,  
Although advisd by's Council, who allege  
No place could guard his person, or offence;  
And Canonists deny, this Grace to those  
Who are their Princes, and their Country's foes.   

Cities of Refuge anciently were meant  
For such Offenders, whom they guilty knew  
Of the thing done, but guiltless of th' intent;  
They helped not others: and Benajah slew  
The valiant joab by the King's command,  
Even when he touched the Altar with his hand.   

Henry to those inclined, who did advise  
To win him thence; that he might solve the doubt,  
And sound the depth of his conspiracies.  
Promise of life enticed the juggler out:  
Who like a Hokus-Pokus soon was won  
To show the King how all his tricks were done,   

Perkin to London did attend the King:  
Contempt, and wonder Perkin did attend:  
Who, as his life had been no other thing  
But juggling, like a jugglers' trick doth end.  
Which is of all admired, when unknown,  
But every Boy will slight it, when 'tis shown.   

As for dear Katherine in his love enthralled,  
She had more pity, than himself had scorn▪  
And truly was the dainty white-Rose called,  
The Title falsely by her husband worn.  
So fair, that had you Beauty's Picture took,  
It must like her, or not like Beauty look.   

What a deep wound did th' Arm of fortune give  
Upon a flesh, so delicate as this,  
And soft as Peace, and slumber? did she live  
With him that writ the metamorphosis;  
She with a numbing cold had turned stone-dead,  
And Gordon, had for Niobe been read.   

Calamity in Homer bare foot goes,  
Therefore encountering hard and stubborn men  
She makes a less impression of her woes,  
For she is barefoot, and treads lightly then.  
But if with soft, and gentle souls she meet,  
She dares more boldly trample with her feet.   

Hath Pomp a being 'tis so transitory?  
She's nothing now, that was even now a Queen▪  
There is no Present tense in this world's Glory,  
Even when it is, it may be said to have been.  
This Cressant's waned, and this Katharins' wheel,  
Resembling fortunes did her turnings feel.   

But where her Perkin had deficient been  
Henry supplied: Perkin but gave to her  
The titles of a Duchess, and a Queen  
But Henry gave the means; and did confer  
Such an allowance that no more was due  
Unto those titles, if they had been true.   

Now the Celestial powers did ordain  
A good effect from a bad accident,  
A Fray at Norham where some Scots were slain  
Brought on the match beyond the Frays intent.  
'Twas a brave match but a strange kind of wooing,  
Where both the parties sought their own undoing.   

From ugly Discord did fair union come,  
(So dainty Beauties have their being drew  
From the dark horror of a Negro's womb:)  
Antiquity ne'er such a reason knew  
To ratify her Axiom, that strife  
Gave all things Being, and all being's life.   

These Nation's Concord, thus derived from strife  
From stormy wrath, and boisterous injury;  
Is in that Goddess typified to life,  
Who is the Queen of love and unity,  
This Venus her Original must have,  
From a rough billow, and a rugged wave.   

The ways of heaven are Pathless: there's no light  
To trace, or p●●ck them: all those Counsels lie  
Under the Privy-seal of depth, and night  
That boundless Arm will work by contrary.  
And when that Oculist his skill will try  
even Clay shall be Colyrium for an eye.   

King james incensed that no orders are  
Taken by the wardens: by his passion driven  
Dispachd a Herald to denounce a war,  
If present satisfaction were not given.  
Henry was all for peace: for with the Scott  
The wars were barren, and he loved them not.   

Therefore Grave Durham, who was most engaged;  
(They were his men that did this quarrel make)  
Writes to the King of Scotland thus enraged;  
But no smooth lines this angry Mars can take.  
Letters from Venus would have failed in this,  
Sent by a Dove, and sealed with a Kiss.   

Not thus prevailing, he in Person went,  
(But Henry first his business approves.)  
And was his letters fuller supplement:  
For viva vox, not the dead letter moves.  
When he Preachd Peace, King james to peace did bow  
And's Gospels, not Epistles did allow.   

The King saw farther than the Bishop could,  
He told him, that his Match with England might  
This Knot of Peace inviolable hold;  
A Prince's thoughts sore above humane flight.  
there's not a King, but is in this like Saul,  
For by the head, he's higher than them all.   

'Twas an ind●biate Oracle he spoke:  
Divining, that this matrimonial tie,  
The great Conjunction of both Realms would make,  
And that a Peace, as fixed as destiny;  
A greater truth nor Priest, nor Sibyl gave  
From Delphian Tripod, or Prophetic Cave.   

That age the marriage saw, and we in it  
The great effect, a peace inviolate:  
And since the dislocated realms are knit,  
It will the juncture more consolidate.  
Thus in a bone cure but the fracture right,  
Those parts of all most solidly unite.   

About this time our world began to think  
Of a New world: 'twas an Italian Head,  
●here this imagination first did sink,  
●hat other Lands might be discovered.  
As Blithe Democritus of old had done  
In his assertion of more worlds than one.   

Even when the world had left to Hope for more,  
And like the Three-Night Giant set a mark,  
And non plus ultra, not to be passed o'er:  
Columbus like the Dove sent from the Ark  
With wing-like Sails by unknown waters passed,  
Till he found footing for himself at last.   

The furious Youth of Macedon was sad  
That one poor world should bond his victories:  
But had Columbus lived then, he had  
So plagued the Gallant with discoveries,  
That he had forced him to confess, that store  
Did worse torment him now than want before.   

The Prophecy of Seneca did make  
Small way to this discou'rie: it expressed  
Rather a flash of Poetry; and spoke  
Of Islands in the North, not in the West.  
It said, that Thule should no longer be  
The boundure of the Roman Monarchy,   

This Probability more than the rest  
Moved Him: for since but half of the degrees  
Of longitude were known toward the West,  
He could not think, the other half was Seas,  
And that the Sun did nought for half his race  
But gild the waves, and there behold his face.   

For this discovery he did obtain  
The use of three small Barks from Ferdinand;  
And sailing forty Days upon the Maine,  
From the Canaries West discovered land.  
Then the ships seemed to dance, and sails unfurled  
Swelled not with wind, but pride for the New-world.   

With poisoned breath the Spanish pride would blast  
This glorious act. For Envy doth invade  
Works breathing to Eternity, and cast  
Upon the fairest piece the greatest shade.  
By petty stars her black infection skips:  
They're Suns, and Moons that suffer her Eclipse.   

Nor he alone; but even that Age shall want  
The glory of it: since no Spaniard did  
Find it, a Roman shall: and hence they vaunt  
Some of Augustus' coin was there found hid.  
Th' Historian, and mintmaster did conjoin  
To coin this story, and to forge this coin.   

For can it be that in Augustus' time,  
When Peace, and learning strove with equal Glory,  
And Arts were in their flourish, and their prime,  
This thing should not be registered in story?  
To leave so brave an action unwrit,  
Argues both want of gratitude and wit.   

Rather the Knight famed in the Welsh records  
Shall have my Vote: for in those Parts there were  
At their discov'rie found some British words,  
Good monuments that they had once been there.  
Henry may seem entitled to the ground,  
As by his Countryman, and subject found.   

But the Acquist was for Castille marked down  
By destiny: which with the Golden East,  
Did at the first compose the Catholic crown,  
And now hath gilded it with the Golden West.  
And now the stars in his Dominions have  
Their rise, and set, their Cradle, and their Grave.   

Yet Henry had a tender of these lands,  
Which he embraced not; for it did not come  
In a fit time to one, whose head, and hands  
Had their just ta●ke of business at Home:  
Perkin that Little World, did lately try,  
The strength of Henry's best discovery.   

And tries it yet: for Perkin hath contrived  
His freedom; but is quickly had in chase  
To keep him from the sea; yet he arrived  
At th' Holy Island of a Privilege place,  
And did unto the house of Bethlem fly,  
In Bethlem then an Antichrist did lie.   

The Promise of his life, (which was the bait  
That drew him out before) drew him out now:  
Some about Henry, would have hanged him straight,  
But Henry's disposition could not bow,  
To hate a worm; for spirits highly borne,  
Did never join their anger to their scorn.   

All that his stomach suffered him to say,  
Was, take the Knave, and put him in the stocks;  
His he●les were justly punished, for they  
Helped his flight most: where having heard their mock●  
And made a Spectacle, they did him carry,  
Unto the Tower, a fitter Sanctuary.   

Lodged there, his Keepers he attempts to win;  
Who scorning his contemned state to Eye:  
He plots to work the Earl of Warwick in  
To share the fate of his conspiracy.  
It is hell's Art an innocent to make  
Partake in Sin, in suffering to partake.   

Weary of life Warwick the Plot embraced,  
And ventured death to fly the fear of it.  
Thus did the Tunnie, by a Dolphin chased,  
Into a boat, with greater danger get.  
He could no longer Deaths expectance bear,  
For death is less than deaths continual fear.   

The Hidden Powers of Heaven! they make, and bend  
Those Counsels, that a mischief should divert,  
Fit to advance it; when the fates intent  
To ruin us, our judgements they pervert,  
And add this greater plague, to make us thought  
The cause, which on our selus the mischief brought.   

Soon Warwick turned, soon turned the Keepers too,  
He was the spring whence they their motions took;  
His Fortunes did, what Perkins could not do,  
For Perkin had no bait upon his hook:  
Nero had nets of Gold: had Perkin one,  
Perkin had caught them, though he fished alone.   

These fellows, the Leisetenants men conspire  
To Kill their Lord, and them their freedom give,  
Rewared but hoped for did these villain's hire  
To sell his life, by whom themselves did live.  
Money and Men a mutual falsehood show▪  
Men make false money, money makes men so.   

But though their Project was in darkness sealed,  
Yet he, who made the Light from darkness come,  
Said but his Fiat Lux, and 'twas revealed;  
And 'tis maintained impossible by some,  
That any plot can undiscovered lie,  
With more than four in the Conspiracy.   

Perkin who twice before had life obtained  
By Henry's Pardon, nor could justly hope  
The Mercy of another, was arraigned  
To have his thread of life end in a Rope.  
You may the Ladder a true Emblem call  
Of his false honours; which he climbed, to fall.   

Thus he his fortune's giddiness did feel,  
For had not fortune turned, man would doubt  
She were the Lady Regent, who did wheel  
The Actions of Mortality about.  
And some unsetteld Head would draw from thence  
An argument to question Providence.   

At Tower hill next the Earl of Warwick fell,  
(With false Plantagenet a true one dies)  
The reason for't in state I need not tell,  
That object's not proportioned with my eyes  
To look upon: and he that argueth least  
In the affairs of Kings concludeth best.   

If that were true, which some of old professed,  
That vicious Souls fled hence themselves did roll,  
And wind into the Body of some beast  
Which they resembled here: then Perkins soul,  
That could so imitate, and take a shape,  
Is playing somewhere in a jugglers Ape.   

But if the Nobler Souls, as they maintained,  
Were fixed in the Body of some star  
Where, in a constant motion they reigned;  
Then Edward's murdered sons, and Warwick's are,  
In those called Delta of Triangle fashion,  
And there lend virtue to that Constellation.   

Such Envy fell on Henry for the fact,  
That though he ever was observed to stand  
And dare it to th' encounter, yet this act  
He was content to lay on Ferdinand;  
Tired with its weight, like Atlas, he was fain,  
To put it on the Hercules of Spain.   

Letters were shown from thence, wherein was read  
This doubt: his daughter's heirs might miss the crown  
If Warwick lived: 'twas that took Warwick's head.  
For which the Lady afterward made known  
Her fear, that Heaven would not the marriage bliss  
Because 'twas made in blood, and she meant this.   

This year a Jubilee at Rome did take  
Some English purses: but the Pope pretends  
A Holy war in Palestine, to make  
The People free by such religious ends.  
Sacred pretexts he knew the purse would drain,  
Thus in an ill sense, Godliness is gain.   

But now our Doctors Chairs will not allow  
Wars for religion: for the Conscience  
Is immaterial, and disdeignes to bow  
Unto the bent of corporal violence.  
'Tis built too strong, and high: none can invade it;  
Nor lead it Captive, but the hand that made it.   

And force is vain, for it advanceth higher  
The Cause it would oppress. The Martyrs' blood  
Made such conceptions in the pregnant fire,  
It brought forth Converts in a numerous brood.  
And the ten persecutions did as much,  
As ten Commandments to make them such.   

Pity from Love; love doth from pity spring,  
And such a mutual combination hold;  
That when the sad spectators in a Ring,  
With wonder, and Compassion do behold  
Those fixed spirits, which no torment awes:  
They pity first, and then they love the Cause.   

That was a merry Turk who when a war  
Was by the Pope denounced, this answer made;  
We Turks, as you Italians say you are,  
Are sprung from Troy, then let us Greece invade,  
And joined in one the Trojan wars renew  
With those who Hector our brave Grandsire slew.   

He said that Arms were an improper way  
To spread a faith: (nor doth the Signior take  
Th' assistance of compulsion at this day,  
Which doth more Hypocrites, than Converts make:)  
So scoffd at our Religion, and our Laws,  
That built a war on so absurd a Cause.   

But 'though Religion will not make a war  
Legitimate against this Infidel:  
Yet there be motives which sufficient are  
To rouse us against this race of Ishmael:  
Or else the truth of Prophecy might fall;  
All hands against his, his hands against them all.   

Th' enslaved Christians tired with whips, and fears  
Command us to compassionate their groans:  
The chained slaves, whose pitying Oars drop tears  
Solicit freedom with such ruthful Tones,  
That heard, there would more Voluntaries come  
Unto that Call than a Commanders Drum.   

How many sacred Oratories burned  
By the mad zeal of the Mahometan?  
How many Temples to Moskettos turned  
Profaned by their impious Alcoran?  
It is the Devil's policy that where  
God hath his Church, his Chapel should he there.   

God did his Law first in Arabia write;  
And there (this Ape of God) the Devil meant  
By Mahomet his Scripture to indite.  
With the same Country he was then content,  
But now grown saucy, the same walls must be  
Seezd by this Rival of the Deity.   

The world is summoned to this glorious strife  
By all those Kings out of their Kingdoms thrown:  
And by the action to give justice life,  
Which lies in this, Give every one his own.  
And spoil this gaudy ●ay, who thus presumes,  
Trimmed in the Pride of his usurped plumes.   

And since these Scythians in an impious vaunt  
Vntemple God, and Majesty unthrone;  
The singularity of the Act will want  
Both precedent, and imitation  
To discompose this Barbarous Power, which beats  
Both God, and Man from their Imperial Seats.   

Nor is th' Impress so difficult as then;  
Their Conquests have enlarged them to our doors:  
We may more easily now transport our men,  
Than when they went to the far Eastern shores.  
They have encroachd so near, that we may choose  
Surely to conquer, or as surely loose.   

The janissaries bull warks of that state,  
Are broke with idleness, and cowd with vice;  
As if they purposed to anticipate  
The loose delights of their dreamed Paradise.  
They were the winds which swelled that sea so high,  
Now they breathe faintly, and those waves will lie.   

And seems not Turkey to approach her Fate,  
Having so many years no progress made?  
(A certain note of ruin:) when a State  
Comes to its Tropic, then 'tis retrograde.  
When Bodies cease to grow, 'tis the presage  
Of a decline to their decrepit Age.   

Called to these wars Henry good will did show,  
To pay his money, that himself might stay:  
Yet (please the Pope) he would in person go,  
If Christian Princes first their discords lay:  
For Henry knew, they had the causes been,  
Why Christian Arms no good success had seen.   

While our first Richard, that same Lyon-heart,  
His banners did in Syria advance,  
And with his Conquests made the Sultan start:  
King Philip seized on Normandy; and France  
Forced him to lay that glorious action down,  
And quit the world's affairs, to save his own.   

But when another Philip had espoused  
The quarrel, and such preparations made,  
That the East trembled: our third Edward roused,  
And claiming France, the expedition stayed.  
Thus Emulation foils us; and while we  
Conquer ourselves, the Turks triumphers be.   

But at this time no Holy war went on,  
The pence for other use were kept in store:  
For when the Fair, and Jubilee were done,  
The rattle of the war was heard no more.  
When the Deneirs were paid, they understand,  
They were for Rome, and for no Holy-land?   

Our Arthur's nuptial with Spain's Katharaine  
Succeeds this year of Jubilee at Rome:  
Which we deluded with our Hopes divine  
Would be a year of jubilee at home.  
Vain man to Hopes, vain as himself, will trust,  
And Dust will build its confidence on dust.   

Things with slow strides to their perfection grow,  
Then they take wings, and to their period haste:  
A seven years treaty made this marriage slow,  
Whose joy with Arthur did not seven months' last.  
To the conjunction of the Moon and Sun  
A month's required, but in an hou'r 'tis done.   

And heaven it seemed, the Marriage would retard:  
The winds displeased her landing did oppose:  
Or Seaborn Venus her arrival bard,  
Who with a frown wrinkling the waves arose  
And stopped the Bark, vexed that her youthful Nun  
Should taste of sweets, which should so soon be done.   

Married at Paul's with state celebrious,  
The Triumphs of the marriage did succeed:  
He was Arcturus, she was Hesperus,  
And King Alphonsus did their fortunes read,  
No story tells what his predictions were;  
But if for good: he, or the stars did err:   

For these two Princes in November met,  
And th' April following divorced are  
By the command of Death: Arcturus set,  
And had his even before his evening-star,  
His Hesperus; who the new sphere did prove  
Of Henry's arms, where she did longer move.   

For compensation of this year, th' increase  
Of Triumphs do attend th' ensuing year:  
With Britain, 'tis the Epocha of peace,  
Her peace begins her computation there.  
Write all that year in Red, for it is all  
But as one Holiday, and Festival.   

Margeret, eldest daughter of the King  
King james to wife did by a Proxy take:  
Which told by Fame, the Bells contend to ring  
A peal as loud as Fames: and Bonfires make  
So great a light that if heaven's light were done,  
They might have made a Day without a Sun.   

Then into Scotland did this new Queen go  
Whom a brave troop of Lords, and Ladies bring  
I●●●llant order, and Majestic show  
To Ed●nborrough to her spouse the King.  
And there with all magnificence of state,  
This glorious Marriage they did consummate.   

A thousand little Cupids with their wings  
Did blow their fires, and heighten their delights;  
And every Grace a flowery present brings.  
Then Hymen, precedent of marriage Rites,  
Beckoned for silence with his Torch of Pine  
Used at Nuptials, and did thus divine;   

My Torch turns clear, and with the pointed flame  
Not dim, nor winking doth white hours foretell,  
And if my skill be true, I see the same  
Portended in the stars, by which I spell  
Future events and fortunes, that are set  
Down in those lights, heavens mystic Alphabet.   

In them (Fair Bridegroom, fairer Bride) I read  
This Marriage shall two hostile Realms atone,  
Which must be married too: yours doth precede  
As Introduction to that greater one.  
That marriage, as the substance, Heaven points at,  
Yours is the figure, and the Type of that.   

Your Marriage is their contract, and infers  
Th' espousals of those Kingdoms: in your hands  
The Genij of two nations hold out theirs,  
Which shall hereafter consummate those bands.  
But the Solemnities are kept by fate  
For your posterity to celebrate.   

It is a work of Time: there cannot be  
The spring-time in your Age, and Harvest too,  
Your Age the seed, the next the blade shall see,  
A third the Eare. Thus China Grandsires do  
Bury their Porcellan dishes in the ground,  
Whose profits but to their son's heirs redound.   

Both Realms a while with their own blood shall flow,  
(Alli'de in blood before alli'de:) but th' End  
Shall be a firmer love: for a brave foe,  
If reconciled, m●kes the bravest friend.  
All things from strife Originally rose,  
And discords must this harmony compose.   

Thus th' Elements did in the Chaos fight  
When jarring seeds did in her Matrix lie.  
When cold with hot, when heavy with the light,  
Did combat with intestine mutiny.  
Till on th' Abyss a Spirit did display,  
His brooding wings, and arbitrate the fray.   

Mars bathed in blood shall on the borders ride,  
With terror in the Van, death in the Rear.  
And in this quarrel fatal to decide  
These realms, with mutual cuts their breasts shall tear  
As if they meant through those large wounds to see  
Each others hearts, before they would married be.   

●et shall this Union no debtor be  
To victory, nor be a Conqueror's prize:  
The Author shall descend from you, and He,  
●hat must unite this Pair, from you shall rise.  
And that Rich Pearl, which doth the Union hight,  
Shall be derived from this Margarite.   

Your offspring, a Pacificke Prince shall knit  
This sacred bond, this true-love Knot shall tie.  
Biest are Peacemakers shall be justly writ  
His Glorious Motto: in whose Monarchy  
Drums shall be silenced, and alarms cease,  
As at the Birth of the great Prince of Peace.   

If the impressions of licentious rage,  
And marks of ancient enmity remain;  
They shall be cancelled, and effaced that age  
By the mild peace of his auspicious reign.  
Nature no more her prickles shall disclose  
In Scottish thistle, or in English Rose.   

Thus Hymen spoke; this heavens accomplished have,  
And with the Sea, as with a Ring, have Knit  
This Royal pair. Let Venice cease to brave,  
That she contracts the Sea, and marries it.  
Let her stand dumb at this more glorious thing,  
What there is married, here is but the Ring.   

ne'er could the Sea, which doth about them flow,  
With her embrace put them in mind of love.  
For her encircling arms did nothing do,  
But make a stage whereon their Arms to prove▪  
And two fierce realms the Gladiatours were  
To combat in this Amphitheatre.   

'tis thought the Policy of France did break  
Th' intended marriage of this froward pair▪  
For if for us alone France were too weak,  
Th' united Scots would force her to despair.  
Since th' English Aspect was alone so feared;  
At their Conjunction how had they been scared?   

Therefore when th' English did to France sail o'er  
The Scots obliged by the French courtesies,  
Made their incursions at the Postern door,  
And stopped the Current of our victories.  
Which did the Proverb make. He that would wi●  
The Day of France with Scotland must begin.   

When 'twixt sixth Edward, and the Scottish Queen,  
The match was almost to conclusion brought:  
'twas broke by France, whose gifts did intervene.  
Then was the field at Mussel Borrough fought;  
Where Mars did quit the wrongs by Venus done,  
And though the Night was lost, the Day was won.   

At last Great james this Union contrived,  
Whose Royal blood by lineal descent  
Was from the Monarches of both Realms derived,  
He joined this Isle, and in the Parliament,  
Called it his Wife: the Angel's Peace did sing,  
When he espoused her with Astrea's Ring.   

Here is a threefold Cord, a threefold Knot;  
The Saxons Heptarchy was first combined.  
Then Wales was added, than the valiant Scot,  
This twist by Mortals cannot be untwined.  
And as the lips of Sacred truth have spoke,  
A threefold Cord cannot be easily broke.   

My Sovereign now; Heir of his father's Peace,  
And great Confirmer of it, doth defend  
Her Rights, which do increase with his increase;  
Triumphs of Peace Trophies of war transcend  
In Glory, and an Olive branch will raise  
A name as high, as a whole Grove of Bayes.   

Being now at Peace, Henry did wealth pursue;  
For soon as Iron was laid down, he had  
Some thought on Gold: we but four Ages knew  
Gold, Silver, Iron, Brass, till he did add  
This fifth, a compound different from either,  
His Age was Gold, and Iron mixed together.   

And as the lower Orbs are wheeled about  
Rapt by the motion of the Orb above:  
So were Inferior agents soon found out,  
Which moved, and turned, when he began to move.  
For 'tis observed, that Princes sooner get  
Men for their humour, than their honour fit.   

Empson and Dudley, men of wide desires,  
Which could not be or satisfied, or shamed.  
The Creatures were, whose avaricious fires,  
Like Hells, could not or be extinct, or tamed.  
Had they drunk Tagus, and Pactolus quaffed  
Their Golden streams had been too small a draught.   

Nay if they owners had, and heirs become  
Of all the treasures, which interred lie,  
Where nature teems the burden of her womb  
Conceived with Sulphur mixed with Mercury.  
Even nature had grown barren, and her stuff  
Been all consumed, yet they not said, Enough.   

The wisest King in sacred leaves hath writ  
The Horseleech hath two daughters, which do cry,  
Give, give, nor have enough: if she thought fit.  
This longing Pair should not unmarried die,  
Here is a Pair, which may their longing save,  
So they two husbands, she two sons may have.   

Let dark Antiquity cease to avouch  
Her Midas, whom the angry Gods decreed  
Should with his fingers admirable Touch  
Turn all to Gold: for these men did indeed  
What he did but in fiction, and were able  
To make that Story which was once but Fable.   

These out of subtle malice, and not error  
Did wrest the penal statutes to their bent:  
And make that Rigour, which was meant but Terror.  
Pretence of law did colour their intent,  
And their oppression gild, as if they would  
Employ the scales of justice to weigh Gold.   

The sweet of Riches did pervert the Law  
To Gall, and wormwood, which their greedy mind  
Did with Gold-wires to its own vastness draw,  
And pass the lines, which justice had defined.  
Nay man will venture to an Indian Mine,  
Though in the passage he twice cuts the Line.   

This was the noted Blemish of his Time,  
And most disfigured it: though else a Man  
Built to be Great by goodness: the same Crime  
Story hath cast upon Vespasian.  
A Prince framed all of Clemency, and one  
Too high for Censure, but for that alone.   

Yet one Historian for the Emperor pleads;  
Says, he was forced by the necessity  
Of Public stock, and the Exchequers needs,  
But Henry found as lean a Treasury.  
Thus Victor with Vespasian did dispense,  
One is the fault, than one be the defence.   

I am not of their Party, who contend,  
He used these Arts to Keep his subjects low,  
And by the weight of Poverty to bend  
Their minds to Concord, and to Union bow.  
Want is too sordid, and too base will prove  
To bear so trim a Pair as Peace, and Love.   

What though the Scribe of Florence doth maintain,  
To keep men quiet, is to keep them scant.  
Clouds of Examples, and all Henry's Reign  
Refel him; whose Rebellions sprung from want.  
Vows a strange Herald: for some men had boar  
No Arms at all, unless they had been poor.   

To men exhaust, and worn with Pen●ry,  
New things are pleasing, and the Old ingrate,  
And innovation is their Remedy.  
Rebellions are the Monsters of a state,  
And nature shows, that they proceed no less  
From the defect of matter, than th' excess.   

They who to Fortune's lowest form are thrown,  
To ruin, and confusion do aspire;  
As if another's wound could salve their own,  
And when their own Estates are set on fire,  
Then Catiline's resolve is judged most fit,  
With fire not water to extinguish it.   

He rather did observe the Exigents  
The want of Treasure, brought some Princes to,  
And taught himself by those experiments  
The danger to be unprovided so.  
He's a Good husband who so buys his wit,  
That others, not himself, do pay for it.   

The Case of neighbour Kings did him instruct  
The inconvenience, not to have at hand  
The three main things, which do a war conduct  
As when one did Trivulcio demand,  
What things in war a Prince most powerful made,  
He answered three, and three times Money said.   

And may not Henry's Buildings speak him clear,  
And not so poor, that he did riches prize,  
His Royal Chapel this record shall bear,  
That he to Gold did not Idolatrise.  
For if he did, succession might object  
He spent his God, his Chapel to erect.   

But grant it was his fault: who will deny  
That Henry was a man? if you will say,  
That Henry had not his infirmity,  
Maintain this Paradox: He was not Clay.  
Man is God's Coin, yet he was never made  
Of any Ore so pure, but was allayed.   

A constant clearness is above the law  
Of Mortal, nor within that Region stands.  
As those elaborate pieces, which do draw  
Breath from exact Van-Dyks unerring hands  
Are deeply shadowed, and a dusky Sable  
Doth Clowed the borders of the Curious Table.   

Now lest that Henry should be too intent  
With an affection totally inclined  
On wealth; the times a danger did present,  
To wain his thoughts, and avocate his mind.  
Sent Heaven no trouble man no Watch would Keep,  
Without this Thorn the Nightingale would sleep.   

For at this time, Suffolk's wild Earl did take  
His second sally forth: Henry forgave  
His first, but that did small impression make;  
Who in such haughty souls thinks to engrave  
A favour, writes it in the Horn of Deer,  
Where it is cast, and mewed in a year.   

He fled before, for having rashly slain  
A Private man, was forced to plead his Case  
In Public, which in him begat disdain,  
And purpose of revenge for the disgrace.  
Indignity like lightning stealeth in,  
'Twill run a soul quite through, and miss the skin.   

His debts contracted by his bravery,  
Shown at Prince Arthur's wedding, made him place  
His thoughts this second time on Errantry,  
Want made him feared more than his disgrace.  
As 'tis observed, that Catiline ne'er meant  
His Country's ruin, till his means were spent.   

Yet nor his Want, nor his Indignity,  
So much moved Henry: 'twas another thing,  
That waked his fear, and roused his jealousy,  
The House he came of, terrified the King.  
This Comet shot from York his threatening Ray,  
Which was the Region, where his danger lay.   

To sound his purposes, Henry did fly  
To his Probatum est, and tried Art:  
He sent a Espial in discovery;  
Curson must wind, and screw into his Heart,  
And act the part of a Decoy, to get  
The fowl which flocked with Suffolk to his net.   

Curson had here too hard a Task to save  
His faith, and yet win Suffolk to believe;  
He had no way, but what Lysander gave,  
Children with confects, men with Oaths deceive:  
Or else the Spanish Axiom to try,  
He that would find a truth, must tell a lie.   

Then if the Earl (as who can think he would)  
Would not his Counsels with a stranger trust,  
Till he with vows, and execrations should  
Renounce his former master: then I must  
Think Curson masked under Religious oaths,  
Was but a Devil in an Angel's clothes.   

And since he was cursed solemnly at home,  
As one of Henry's foes, it may be said,  
That then the Maid the Mistress did become,  
And Policy Religion overswayed.  
'twas like the Error which Polemo found,  
When one said heaven, but pointed to the ground.   

Though Curson played his Part, Henry did find  
A storm do more: 'tis a● ill wind doth blow  
To no man Profit; that impetuous wind  
Which did Paul's Golden Eagle overthrow.  
It did this Courtesy for Henry do,  
Besides that Eagle, strike this Haggard too.   

Th' Imperial Eagle too, the Emperor's son,  
Philip of Castille being then at Sea,  
In hopes to take the Kings of Arragon,  
Was by this wind driven hither; thus while he  
To take another unawares divised,  
(See the mistake) was by a storm surprised.   

Henry upon the news dispatched away  
Arundel, with an Honourable train,  
To bring him unto Windsor, where he lay:  
henry's request at Calais could not gain,  
To have him in a Town: but now a storm  
Effects, what Henry's calm could not perform.   

After Caresses, and some Compliment,  
Henry from him his subject did demand,  
And that this Earl that harebrained malcontent,  
Might be no more protected in his Land,  
For since (said Henry) you are saved in Ours,  
It is not Justice I should wrack on Yours.   

He promised he would banish him; but what  
Could that help Henry? for unless assured  
The Earl should plague him no where else, by that  
Henry had but his pain removed not cured.  
And like a Running Gout with him be vexed,  
Which leaves one Part, but to invade the next.   

So 'twas concluded that this Errand Knight.  
Should be returned home: but not to dye  
On Henry's honour: as Physicians write  
Some Cures are taken from the Contrary,  
So it proved here, and Henry's ease must come,  
Not from his banishment, but fetching home.   

Now Suffolk's sent for: now he is arrived,  
Now come to London, and as soon as come,  
Imprisoned, as before it was contrived;  
For Henry meant to Keep the Axiom,  
Which he before to Philip had professed,  
The fittest place for Hornets is the nest.   

No sooner did the Tower the Earl receive.  
But (as his stay had for that purpose been)  
King Philip with all freedom took his leave  
But not till Suffolk had lost his: that Scene  
Concludes their Pastime, and the Jollity  
Ends with the Prologue of his Tragedy.   

Indeed his life was pardoned, but it cost  
Suffolk his life, under seventh Henry's son;  
So David slew not joab, yet he lost  
His life, by his successor Solomon:  
Death Cancels Deeds: that doth their honours save,  
And Suffolk's bond was laid in Henry's Grave.   

Now was the Realm healthy, and strong; no Foe  
Abroad; within no qualities at all  
Disposing to Corruption could undo:  
Nor need the Kingdom's Genius fear to fall,  
But by th' immediate hand which governs fate,  
Like to an Angel in's confirmed state.   

Thus white with honours he to nature paid  
The Common debt of man, in whose last breath,  
Lies the last payment: in our Law 'tis said,  
The King dies not, then speak not of his death  
Whose life I would to the last Ages draw,  
If 'twere a Rule in verse, as well as Law.   

Now if those Sages have opined right  
That all this All by Discord should be broke,  
A Concord once did make it: Henry might  
Cement the Ruins, who hath been so spoke  
For Union, that a thing called Henry's fame,  
Would like some Spirit reunite the frame.   
FINIS.