ENGLANDS sorrow OR, A Farewell to Essex: With A Commemoration of the famous lives, and untimely Deaths of many worthy Personages which haue lived in England.  
By W. H. Gent.  
The Contents follow in the next page..  
LONDON Printed for Henry Rocket, and are to be sold at the long shop in the poultry under the dial. 1606.   

❧ The Contents.  

1 Robert earl of Essex.  
2 Sir Walter Deuoreux.  
3 Elizabeth queen of England.  
4 Robert Dudley earl of Leicester.  
5 Sir Phillip Sidney.  
6 Sir William cecil.  
7 Henry earl of pembroke.  
8 Thomas Howard Duke of norfolk.  
9 Prince Arthur.  
10 Henry the fift.  
11 William earl of pembroke.  
12 Sir Thomas wyatt.  
13 queen Mary.  
14 earls of Worcester.  
15 earls of Rutland.  
16 Lord Clinton.  
17 Lord Grey.  
The Conclusion, A Defence against Envy.    

THE Lamentation of britain.  

A down the Oary rock by silver Lee,  
Nigh where the goodly girl was drenched of yore;  
Weeping I saw,& almost wept, to see,  
A mournful Queen in boat with broken oar  
Chide the stern wave, and strive against the 
The erop the flood in Severne, so called.  boar:  
With that she plain'd, sad ruth, it grieved mine eye,  
To see, how great and small, how all must die.   

Then did she gin to rend her hoary hair,  
Where aged gravity and reverence stood,  
Her gesture gracious, and demeanour faire,  
Nigh riven had my breast, when all my blood  
stood in my fore-head and congealde as crud:  
Then did she sigh and  shed some pearly due,  
Which soon did end, and thus began anew.   

Me seems the antic Sages were not wise,  
Ne ever great, inglorious were their daies,  
Their works embase, and merit no aguise;  
Of worthy front, though olden stories raise  
Their rusty fathers, and with lively bay  
garland their hoary brows, whose names down lye  
In lowest slime and grovelling ignomy.   

engraved in tomb of dust, whose grounded pall  
Emparkes the rotten ruin of some man;  
Some man, that whilom was ydread of all  
The world; the world was waxed wan,  
When this huge mass yfeared one great man:  
When one had all, what were our old sires then?  
More then you deem, for they were more then men.   

More then those mighty ones, whose greater famed,  
Is to be born of bold and valiant sire,  
Your second sons, whose kingdomes-threatning name,  
greatness affect, whose rage and bondlesse ire,  
S'daine virtues sacred meare engraved in mire:  
Blaze Natures blame, me seems some sin of old  
Makes Nature baulke, or she hath lost that mould.   

That heavenly mould, in which she wont to lay  
Our shapeless Ancestor in time of yore,  
'mongst men there were( oh might I ever say)  
Such worthy wights, of worthy wights such store,  
As much me fears, the world shall never more  
Behold so brave a band, so brave they are;  
Which Pallas yoke with Mars, and Arts with war.   

Such were our elder sires, I would you were,  
( Brave imps of honour) even as great as them,  
To wield the kingdoms cause and common fear,  
Secure was all their care, they wonted then  
T'exceede in bounty, as in birth base men:  
I am not heard, if heard, despisde; what then?  
" They cannot hurt, who cannot do like men.   

But they were men, and honourable wife,  
Their noble breasts did scorn to bear the scar  
Of ignorance, or peasant cowardice:  
T'was sacred Arts and honourable war  
That made them great, and you as now you are:  
As now you are, so were not they, they were  
As you should be, that's learned without fear.   

fearless they ever were, but now they are  
As if they ever feared, or never were,  
never so wise in peace, nor bold in war;  
But they were both, ne did they ever fear,  
Because what you are not, they ever were:  
They ever were renowned, but use hath bread  
A custom,( which is) all forget the dead.   

Then why doth man spend time and better daies,  
To gain the wreath which is not made of Bay?  
Or why doth man attempt by brave assays,  
His name to raise, since that his greatness may  
Fall with the blast but of one winters day?  
Then why doth man of latter world yscorne  
Those former ones, of whom themselves were born?   

Oh man, by mans ambition cast away,  
By man redeemed, by God the son of man;  
Why art thou proud, since thou mayst die to day?  
For when thy glass like to an hour hath ran,  
Thy end draws on, mans period is a span:  
" The fixed date unknown is to men,  
" We certain are to die, but God knows when.   

Man's like a wooden tower in midst of plain,  
subject to blast of unadvised fate,  
Tell me, O thou which as a King dost reign  
On lower orb, how sure is thy estate?  
" What men dispose the heavens determinate;  
Thou seest the rock, beware and shun the shelf,  
First fear the Lord, then learn to know thyself.   

This doth the sager soul of men amuse,  
To see the great men flourish like suins ray,  
served of the world, and soothed by every Muse,  
And yet to see them darkened in a day;  
Man, know thyself, earths worst, and that is day:  
" Each creature is the servant unto death,  
" For every one must die who draws his breath.   


Robert earl of Essex.  witness thou mighty Lord, whom I did see  
Laid in deaths house, whose honour ever shine;  
He was, what was he not that he should be?  
A great man good. I saw that man enshrine  
celestial virtue in a vault of slime;  
I saw men grace his good, his ill despise,  
" Who endeth best is blessed, and truly wise.   

Was never age, nor ever time did see,  
So valiant and so brave a Gentleman,  
So mighty, just, so good and great as he;  
The foreign spoils and conquests which he wan,  
Were like to those of Scipio African:  
If he now lived, how would he envy then?  
But thou art dead, and envy dies with men.   

But thou art dead, oh hadst thou never dide!  
Certes( unless I vainly prophetize)  
Thou art immortal, and my vow shall bide  
As firm as centre to immortalize  
Thy gests, and sand them to the mighty eyes:  
Great ones shall read and praise thy deeds, for me  
I deem it praise to be dispraisde for thee.   

Ne're shall thy name, ne're shall thy greatness die,  
Ne those triumphant trophies reared by thee,  
No nor the least of these( sweet soul) whilst I,  
Or these proud lines( which scorn to die with me)  
Have any being, thine shall ever bee;  
And as the mournful bide vpon a wave,  
Sad melody shall bring me to my grave.   

This was a man, the world shall never see  
So faire a mirror made of glories glass,  
A captain true of note and name was he;  
What was he not? no lover of the mass, 
The protestation of his own apology.   
Nor over pure, as some supposed he was:  
He used a mean, Experience said t'was best,  
Nor was he prove to war, but bent to rest.   

Who would entoombe those death-deriding deeds  
under the furrow of a Marble pile,  
And let bright honour walk in Sable weeds,  
And see( alas) vnworthies march the while,  
under the standard of a glorious style:  
Some self-love stolen vailes our vain glorious eyes,  
We smooth our worse selves, the best despise.   


Robert earl of Essex, general of the English before Roane.  Oh, can the pens of Europs paradise,  
Can France forgetful with oblivions wave,  
Wash all that blood which did her patronise?  
Me seems thy ghost should of the Normans crave  
Some lines to be engraven on thy grave:  
Roane is all rude, when sallust once was dead,  
The Muses from that barren climate fled.   


Sir Walter Deureux, slain at the siege of Roane.  There dide that memorable imp of famed,  
The second branch of heavens-aspiring three;  
Thy worthy brother, worthy that great name,  
Great name in being thine, hight worthy he  
That was the Sire of such nobility:  
Thy brother dide, whilst dangers he did dare,  
For that great heir of France, the good Nauare.   

Oh now I could my humble Genius strain,  
And sing of bourbon and the house of Guise,  
Haumount, and that rebellious Duke of main,  
Prince of sedition, Parma, far too wise  
To rule the Church, she falls when such do rise:  
These saw thy valour and admirde the same,  
Phoenix of praise, Prince of triumphant famed.   

But what of these? these were but shades to thee,  
Shades of thy greatness, for thou wert too great,  
Yet nothing to Desert; Desert was shee  
That made thy mighty arms and shoulders sweat  
With honours load, t'was honour made thee great:  
T'was Honour made thee great, and she again  
Threw thee to earth, ambition is but vain.   

vain is Ambition, why should worthies rhen  
( Worthy true praise by deeds done far away,)  
Pursue this shadow? which the wiser men  
shun as a shade, that rust of olden day,  
Will inly gnaw; great ones are old times pray:  
Preies to old age; old age and praise must die,  
This world and all, all is but vanity.   

vain is the world, and worldly honour vain,  
vain glory is the meare of greatest ●eede,  
And greatest deeds, as greatest ones must deign  
To be earths sons, her sons are like the seed,  
Which sown, rise, then fall; thus all must speed:  
Thus all must speed and perish like the grass,  
" The world must be as if it never was.   

The world must die, and all that live therein  
Must have a term, which reason could not see;  
The world must end because it did begin,  
The King of stars thought good it thus should bee;  
Faith onely apprehends such mystery:  
Thou wert a man, man errs, I, there I rest,  
Thy end did err, whereas it should be best.   

I will not of thy infant glory sing, 
His journey to lisbon, with the conquest of Cadez.   
Ne of that famous Spanish overthrow,  
For that they all been dark't, me seems such thing  
Should ever live, they cannot die, so thou  
Shalt live by them, and they shall live by you;  
Honour to man, doth life eternal give,  
" Who wanteth worth, unworthy is to live.   

With what applause and wonderful renown,  
Like roman old in his ovatique car,  
Did he assault that Ocean-bordring town;  
There did thy mercy shine in midst of war.  
And lenity did wrath from murder bar:  
Will Manlius beate the French, then Rome surprise?  
No man can happy be until he dies.   

What airy organ, what celestial style,  
Nay Angel may thy glory comprehend?  
What then dare I, who in respect am vile,  
nought( dreaded Lord) sweet soul I onely tend,  
To show how much thy actions all commend:  
Something there is; but what, lies hide to me,  
Makes us love those, whom scarce our eyes did see.   

Did not the foreign sons of Praise admire,  
To see thy Crimson colours spread in spain?  
And more to see,( sad sight) enraged fire,  
Raze their proud Towers, such pride and praise be vain;  
For as we hurt, we may be hurt again:  
What war doth purchase, that doth riot spend,  
Things gotten ill, do always worse end.   

Then flamde rich spires, then were the buildings high  
Made equal with low ground, and we did see  
The bloody cross, like antic eagle fly  
On heavens neighbour primare tower. Then he  
Was milder then a man of war should bee:  
In heat of fray, resistance made, all kill,  
The end of Conquest should be mercy still.   

Did antic Barde the greek immortalize, 
When Alexander beholded Achilles monument, or a● some writ the iliads o● Homer, which so highly commended his actions: it is reported he  shed tears.   
Which drew ambitious currents from the eyne  
Of the worlds King, and made him plain this wise;  
Happy young man, thou liv'dst in happy time,  
Whose honours Trump was Homers noble rhyme:  
Happy he was, more happy thou shouldst bee,  
If Homer were inferior unto me.   

What shoals of martiall Knights did I behold  
Vpon thy grace and easy favour tend,  
Which made them careless, and thyself too bold,  
Nay rather blind; I cannot that commend;  
" he that deals wisely doth respect the end:  
If thou beest great, judge not thyself too good,  
envy is page. unto ambitious blood.   

Oh what a troupe of Chieftains bravely tried,  
And thousand Souldiers never born to fear  
Were lead by thee! 
The island voyage.  whenas thy ships did ride  
On the proud Ocean, proud such weight to bear;  
A subiects glory breeds a Princes fear:  
seem not too great whom Princes lift on high,  
Kings are most jealous of their majesty.   

After this height of glory did I see,  
thyself exiled from worlds embracing eye,  
And from thy queen, which more aggreeved thee,  
Then most of ill, all public honour fly,  
You that wish rather for to live then die:  
shun the worlds favour, for t'will envy gain,  
humility is loved, all pride is vain.   

I weep that day, more like a night then day,  
When Fury did authorized power spurne,  
Imprisning counsel, oh for which my lay,  
My doleful lay, and I will ever mourn  
Like Vesta's fire, whose flames do ever burn:  
sleep still sad crime, let worth ennobled live,  
T'is not thy good, but bad that makes me grieve.   

The sun should shine, but did not shine that day,  
The ruddy morn slept still and would not rise,  
As shamed to see chased Honour run astray:  
What more could man attempt? they are not wise,  
Who counsel great men Princes to surprise:  
Though ye bear rule, obedient be to them,  
Whom heavens ordain to be the Kings of men.   

That was an hour predestinate to ill,  
When thou as Lion rowz'd didst leave thy den  
To chase a prey, on some vnhumane hill;  
What oft I heard, me greev'd to see it then,  
Great men trust knaves, and will not honest men:  
He that would learn the truth, should him believe,  
Who not for gain, but love, doth counsel give.   

What angry look of some infernal star  
Did guide that Ashy morn the first of Lent?  
When thou didst die, oh hadst thou dide in war  
For England then, then would not I lament  
Thy soul and bodies bloody banishment:  
Thus restend he, and laid him down to sleep,  
The mourners wept and walked about the street.   

Those eyes that saw him live, did see him dead,  
And wept to see so brave a warrior die,  
To die so bad, who was so bravely bread,  
bread by the hand of war; weep more mine eye  
To see him dead, who lived so worthily:  
Yea worthy olden daies, but man hath grave,  
Not when wee would, but when his stars do crave.   

I saw that star within the welken blaze,  
Whose lustre waved this warrior to renown,  
Worth wan renown, renown did purchase grace,  
Grace made him great,& greatness threw him down,  
With his own weight he fell like the worlds town:  
I saw the eagle which did tower so high  
Fall like the buck; which done, deserve to die.   

I saw that mighty buck within a grove,  
Shelter his horns, which whilom threat the sky;  
At length he roused was, and forth did rove:  
Then did I see an Ebon arrow fly,  
Which split his hart; thus did the great Hart die:  
Thus dide the Deere; what saist thou Pride? I say  
There is a God, though all the world say nay.   

There is a God, and that great God is just,  
As just as great, as merciful as wise,  
His mercy, not thy merit makes me trust,  
That thou art graced with Angells glorious eyes,  
Whilst God in heaven doth thee impatronize:  
God gave man life, sin death, and God again  
Gave his own onely son to die for men.   

For thee he dide, brave earl, he dide for thee,  
Not for thou wert so glorious and so wise  
he made thee so, but Nature, oh t'was she  
Wrought thy sad ruin, which my doleful eyes  
For ever mourn, like Vestaes sacrifice;  
And well-nie leave their house, oh more then hell!  
To see him so misled, which lead so well.   

Heavens smile on him, all ioy his soul betid,  
And everlasting praise his name attend,  
Also his sins with Iesus blood be dide:  
Farewell faire soul, with Saint and Angells spend  
Thy age in heaven, whose daies have never end:  
I'll leave thee to still rest, and tune my song  
To speak of britain, which lies butted long.   


britain of herself.  Of britain, why? who ever heard that name?  
Oh do not heires of younger world despise  
Me though now old, oh do not show your shane!  
Thus wept she faire, which made my watery eyes  
rain showers of woe for her indignities.  
doubtful she was her sorrows to renew,  
At last poor hart, she thus began anew.   

Oh why did I most wretched wight alive!  
Who live and have no life, thus direly plain,  
Nay rather why? oh why do I survive!  
banished by those that by my glory gain,  
banished by those that on my breast remain,  
banished by those that what they have is mine,  
Change is the son of ever-mooving Time.   

Was this the cause ignoble Vortiger, 
Horsus and Hengist were hired by Vortiger to serve against the Picts.   
That thou in Princely arms embraced their love,  
And wast for this, that I did erst prefer  
Your obscure valour? witness God above,  
My faith vnfainde, and their attainted love:  
They came to serve, and did their Lord beguile,  
Shun that slave still, who hath a servile smile.   

whilom I was, who knows not what I was.  
Nurse to great Kings, the greatest Ile my name,  
Brave Lords, they dide as men, men die as grass  
lopped with the sithe, they live, though dead, my shane,  
They being dead, I dide and lost my name:  
As man in tomb, so I in grave was lain,  
And when I rise, I'll never fall again.   

Was it not I? I was( then wept) quoth shee,  
Who forced the Roman eagles first retire, 
Iulius Caesar camest by the Britaines.   
Retire they did: and did not Caesar see  
His Labian slain? Then I with warlike ire,  
Did chase those men that did my spoil desire:  
These be old tales, what then? though old they bee,  
They union praise, and with the truth agree.   

union with truth agrees, the nerve of state,  
The sovereign sinew of a kingdoms good,  
Is mutual love; so disagreeing hate,  
usurpers grace: as hewn oak in wood  
Falls with each wind, so falls the reign of blood:  
union is heavens good, the best of state,  
Whom good doth join, let no man separate.   

When that the several kingdoms of this land,  
Were bound with loves inviolable chain,  
They florisht faire, and wisely did withstand  
The neighbour strength; when Kings have too large reign,  
The wrongs they do, they will with force maintain:  
witness thou queen of towns, and witness you  
Old Roman peers, that what I say, is true.   


The state of britain in the daies of Nero.  witness the son of murdered Agripine,  
Nero with shane beholded Pharasarate,  
Victorious Lord: oh do not Rome repined  
At that great name! that man ordainde by fate,  
To scourge thy envy and ambitious hate:  
he warred, he wan, and Romans ran away,  
At last he lost, and britain lost the day.   

Ne onely lost the day, the least of ill,  
But was enthralled more dire to noble eye,  
Then worst of death, to die is Natures will;  
Who will withstand? oh God forfend! and why?  
Are we not born to live, and live to die?  
Pay Natures debt: t'is paid, if paid, what then?  
All should be free, so Nature made all men.   

So Nature made us all, and so we were,  
Till fell ambition was yborne of rage;  
Romes fire, Rome was the universal fear,  
Not feared by me, ne dread by Arvirage;  

In the reign of Claudius.  All Kings should scorn the servile vassalage:  
So did this Prince, so did the Britons all,  
They loved to live in love, all loathed thrall.   

Loathed of all, but most of all by thee, 
Bundues a warlike virgin, vanquished the Romans.   
By thee heroic Nymph of royal line,  
By thee faire queen, for love and war agree,  
In thy maiestique breast, oh best of mine,  
beloved of me as I was loved of thine:  
Both thou and thine were mine, thou mad'st me free,  
Strong men by maides subdued not seldom bee.   

subdued they were, but not as oft they bee,  
By beauteous blaze( though thou wert wondrous faire)  
subdued they were by arms and war, by thee  
subdued they were, it vanished like the air;  
Leave nothing to the conquered but despair:  
" To hurt is ill, if ye not hurt to death,  
" Revenge still lives within oppressed breath.   

Revenge still breaths, Bunduca may not live,  
May she not live? oh who will help me mourn!  
Affinity in woe will woe relieve:  
Who will relieve my woe? my hart doth burn  
To see mans state, mans state as wind doth turn:  
She warred and wan, and winning, lost by strife,  
" war is vneth death sure, uncertain life.   

This was the goodly girl, that queen of yore, 
Her death.   
Of whom the worlds best Captaines were afraid,  
And this was she for whom I grieve the more,  
Because of late ther lived an other maid,  
By whom Romes Prince and Prelate was dismayed:  
Faire fare thy soul, faiths heir, stil live though dead,  
Glory thy garland girds Augustus head.   


A memorial of our late renowned Elizabeth.  Oh who will help me plain the maiden queen?  
Oh peerless princess! who will lend me phrase?  
A hundred tongues they be too few I ween,  
To trump such fain; grave Spenser live a space,  
And leave the grave, this monument to grace:  
For been my brains too dry, oh heavenly fire!  
" Things bove our sense we gloriously admire.   

Thy glories I admire, celestial star,  
earths ornament, whom heaven smiles to see,  
Wonder of women, queen of peace and war,  
Elizabeth, Saint, deign me leave to bee  
Thy honours trump, sith no man speaks of the:  
sleep still bright Angel, for thy head shall have  
A crown in heaven, though on the earth a grave.   

What grave so gorgeous or great monument,  
( Composde by Art, or by Appelles made)  
May vail thy virtues, virtues eminent,  
What Piramis or far more precious shade  
Enwombes such worth, such heavens envying rade:  
Glory proud earth, her body be thy share,  
" High virtues to all age bequeathed are.   

What age so dull,( pray God I never live  
To see the day) that will not sound thy name?  
I will for ever, I for ever give  
Due garland to great deed; forgive my shane,  
You that have wit to mend, as well as blame:  
Blame not my wit, you wise, but weigh my will,  
Love is esteemed where there is no skill.   

I can no skill, the greater been my love,  
Nay rather, I adore thy princely hearse,  
whom cannot such a doleful vision move  
To plain? Oh sad aspect! what sable verse  
Enwrappes such woe; or done, such deed rehearse:  
I, many mourn, mourn all, yea all your dayes,  
Whilst I unworthy sound her worthiest praise.   

whilom did live, there lived a virgin here,  
Of blood all royal, and of heavenly line,  
And when she lived, there lived a mighty peer:  
Much honoured Dudley, pardon my proud rhyme,  
Which thinks vpon that more than glorious time:  
" Whom kings respect, though they affect the right,  
" Yet men will say they err, because they might.   

Valiant thou wert, so wert thou also wise,  
Patient in peril, prove to every good,  
beloved of men, and graced by sovereign eyes,  
clear was thy thought, as clear as crystal flood,  
loyal thy love, and royal was thy blood:  
" feigned rumour shuns all truth, believe not famed,  
She stains the white as snow, the purest name.   

What though thy fathers crime 'gainst majesty,  
Did somewhat dark the shine of thy great name?  
Yet did thy hand, those wrecks re-edify:  
By thee was laid that Arch and gorgeous frame  
Whereon is built your everlasting famed: 
Sir Philip Sidney the ornament of his race.   
When Sidney fell, all feared the tower would fall,  
Men raise their names, names raise no men at all.   


Sir William Sitsilt lord Treasurer.  Not long ere this there was a reverend man,  
Whose issue lives, live brave, and ever good,  
He treasured virtue and bright honour wan  
In midst of Envy, and as oak in wood,  
With age he fell, and falling, raisde his blood:  
Blood worthy praise, live faire and flourish long,  
" Who firmly builds, must lay foundation strong.   

Oh thou for ever good, for ever wise,  
Magnifike father of best tempered brain.  
Be ever graced and glorious in the eyes  
Of all the world, enjoy the world again,  
Live but one day, my duty begs in vain:  
Live but one hour, one minute leave the grave,  
To see thy childes faire child all honour have.   


Henry carl of Pembroke.  Ne dares my silence shade that mighty peer,  
Father of two brave earls, heroic sire  
Of virtues best, whose honour I hold deere  
And highly estimate; my zeals true fire  
Enkindled is, and my enflamde desire  
joys to engrave vpon his glorious hearse  
This epitaph or lamentable verse.   

These lived and ruled, so did a mighty Prince,  
More mighty than the mightiest of these three,  
And better than the best which governed since,  
Renowned Howard whom we deemed to bee  
The perfect map of true nobility:  
Deserving change from ground I saw man rise,  
To dwell with stars and rule amid the Skies.   

These were the four Arch-pillers of the land, 
Th. Howard D. of Norff. Ro. Dudley. earl of Leic: W. Sitsilt L. Burghley. H. earl of pembroke President of Wales.   
Which the chased virgin swayed, who now lies dead  
In deep of ground, her white and sovereign hand  
Rests in the vaulted dust, whose glorious head  
Is crowned with earth, which is a Kings last bed:  
dream on faire queen in ioy, and my lament  
With the worlds woe, shall be thy monument.   

Tis britain weeps, thy mother weeps for thee,  
For thee it weeps, and also mourns for these,  
For these she mourns, whom whilom I did see  
With grave advice and not ignoble ease,  
Secure the land, where ruled the queen of Peace:  
Peace be with thee faire Queen, with these,& them  
Which fain would haue old britain live again.   

Oh now I could distil my eyes in tears,  
And waste my brain, my wit, and all I had,  
To think vpon those vertues-bearing bears,  
But that I see( sweet sight) which makes me glad,  
Better succeed, than those who were not bad:  
The frozen north dare gaze on heavens shine,  
So doth on these the humble thought of mine.   

Bright troops of Angells ever wait on thee,  
And be thou graced with every mortal pen,  
Immaculare, vnstainde, chased virgin bee,  
adored by all which have the name of Men,  
Live with the lamb in new jerusalem.  
Saint, deign my Sonnet to salute thy urn,  
I will not ioy when all the world doth mourn.   

I'll ever mourn for thee, and also grieve,  
For one before she ever was, was queen,  
queen Helena, bright Helena must live;  
Oh live for ever blessed, thou best I ween  
Of all thy sex, live ever in esteem:  
burn bright( brave Empresse) let thy lustre shine,  
Like to the mother of good Constantine.   


The Emperor Constantine the first, son to heal a Britonesse had this land in good reputation.  Thou best of women, which to men didst bring,  
That son of wonder, worthy Constantine,  
The wide worlds emperor, and the britain king:  
When he was born, my name bare goodly shine,  
Which held a queen who had a son divine:  
Then was I famous, and did seem to be,  
The seat of this worlds rarest majesty.   

The Roman Court was resident in Troy,  
And from earths farthest corners hither came  
Innumerable lords, who all did ioy,  
That Europes empires ever-during frame,  
Was laid in this large Ile of greatest name:  
Rome gave consent, the subject kings did smile,  
To see their Lord and sovereign in this Ile.   

Then were we famous, glorious every where,  
Whom now the world doth estimate to be  
Of no repute; then did our valour bear  
A faire regard, much honoured then was he,  
Who could from us derive his pedigree:  
Oh age( dread Lord) thou wrong'st these heires of mine,  
Men are but slaves, and subject unto Time.   

Arthur whom all the ancients grace so much  
Certes was prudent, and of spirit high,  
A valiant king; albee he were not such  
As Wisards fain: his fortune he did try  
Twelve times against the strength of Germany:  
Twelve times the Saxon kings he overcame,  
Arthur did much, yet did not more than man.   

As from the mountain top a sea of rain  
Which falls like sudden tempest on the vale,  
Doth with his channel drown the neighbour plain,  
Or as a ship which is devoured by whale,  
When sea-men judge no danger there at all:  
So man which sails within a ship of day,  
By sudden storm of fate is castaway.   

'gainst Scythian, Roman, Saxon, Pict and Dane,  
I did my valiant band of youths darraine,  
And ever wan, till discord shew'd the lane  
To enter me, peers envy, and disdain,  
disturb the peace of every quiet reign.  
Caesar had never lived to vanquish me,  
Had it not been for traitorous treachery.   

But how the Saxon came the world doth know,  
And witness Sarums field defiled with blood,  
So may the weak, the warlike overthrow,  
The worst the best, as perished trees in wood  
Deceive the sight, so do the bad, the good:  
try and then trust, give credite by delay,  
" The feigned friends with fairest looks betray.   

Much like the ancient lords of Rome we were,  
Selected chieftains never born to yield,  
Forward to charge, but wary to forbear,  
In counsel grave, courageous in the field,  
Heartes served as swords, our wisdom was our shield:  
corselets and Coats did seem alike to me,  
" continual ease ennerves virilitie.   

But what of Rome? Oh Rome, I wail thy fall,  
Thy ruins rude no rudeness was in thee,  
Whilst Rome thou wert, what name shall we thee call?  
Not Rome, for Rome was burnt, that name we see  
Is onely left of all; thus all must bee:  
Thus all must vanish, all the world is vain,  
" Each state must turn, though not return again.   


The downfall of the Roman Empire.  Where be thy antic swains and shepherds fled?  
Where reverend Numa? where the brothers brave?  
What, been they all to die? or be they lead  
To some more noble place? where they shall have  
A larger rule, their kingdom is a grave.  
This boast( proud Rome) the world enrounding wall,  
My rule must end, when God hath ended all.   

Thy rule must end, and all thy glory die,  
Thy glory which was wont in former time  
To overspreade the plain beneath the sky,  
All beneath heaven was Rome, for all was thine,  
But nought save worst is left. Bad out-lives Time:  
Time, see thy worthiest spoil: and see oh man,  
Times pray to pray, thy period is a span.   

Thou that of all wast queen, oh point to me  
One abject kingdom, never yet so poor,  
Which honours thee oh Rome, or daignes to bee  
Thy vassal; no, but rather thou the whore,  
pointed to be the Friers Paramour:  
Vouchsafe to hear( dread queen) oh pardon me,  
Tis better not to be, than bad to be.   

Would not this grieve that noble breast of thine,  
Kings hating Brute? I know it would, and more,  
Yea more than all the zealous Constantine,  
And would not Caesar mourn? and many more  
bewail thy woe, who never wept before?  
Oh well befall thy name, that nobly good,  
Stands like an Image, without life or blood.   

But all the Nobles lain low in dust,  
In lowest dust as if they never were,  
Never so glorious: Thus all glory must  
Be seeld in chest, and laid in baleful bear,  
Happy the man who never knew to fear:  
Yea more than wise thrice happy Caesar then,  
Who knewest to die but once, so die brave men.   

Where is that Caesar now? oh where be they  
Which scared the world? where be those warriors now  
Transported through each plague? whose valiant eye  
Did ne're ypall to fear, they knew not how:  
Great joints grow stiff, the weaker deign to bow:  
Be they all dead? All dead they be: what then?  
We all must die, because we all are men.   

Where be those four life-rending chariots? where?  
Yea, where be those imperial trophies laid?  
spoils worthy thee, when as thy brow did bear  
That golden circled, oh me seems it prayed,  
To round that sphere, thy head, where honor swayed:  
And wilt thou Brute? no more: oh more than death,  
To die by him, to whom he gave twice breath.   


Caesar falling ●●der the sta●… e of Pompey, the image ●… lead.  Ne boast thou Brute, ne glory of the deed,  
For black it was and horrid to the view,  
Sad spectacle, when senseless shadows bleed,  
And wel-nie feel the wound, but all of you  
Shall die bad death, who did your hands embrew  
In blood. Brute thus, Oh who will murder me?  
None but thy friend, thy friend was stabbed by thee.   

This world is like unto a common inn,  
Where Adams child doth live as passenger,  
Here some, one day, some, many daies have been,  
Some Arts, some war, some court, some law prefer,  
We all agree in this; All wandring err,  
Who is advauncde may fall, and mount again,  
The end makes happy or unhappy men.   

These now have all, and even these again  
Have nought at all; our state like heavens move,  
God governs Kings, though Kings do govern men,  
Inferior things are ruled by things above,  
Kings punish men, and God may Kings reprove,  
This world is made of change, by which we see,  
" All men are subject to calamity.   

Tumult doth order, order tumult gain,  
From ruin life, from life doth ruin spring,  
Peace war ensues, war peace, then strife again  
Begetteth blood, blood ease, long ease doth bring  
envy, then fear, t'is fear corrupts a King:  
If thou wilt trust, trust death, for she is sure,  
" What's made of earth must perish, not endure.   

Who tells of Nola and thy golden urn  
Which didst so oft the royal bide bespread? 
Marcellus.   
Who Romes forgetful pride? or who doth mourn  
Scipioes exile? fowle dust must crown the head  
Of every one which is by Nature bread:  
Heaven stand still, Caupernicuus we see,  
The earth is moved by mans inconstancy.   

Where's hannibal? oh Carthage where art thou?  
Where Hasdruball? Hamilcar where? oh where  
Be the old Roman spoils? whenas you slay  
So many Knights, whose kingdoms had no meare,  
Till you confined their reign with endless fear:  
Cato( too cruel) doth thy ruin crave,  
" Rome is secure, security breeds care.   

Oh Rome! thou lively image of my pride,  
And Carthage, thou my ruins airy shade,  
Your noble brats, whose praises wonten wide  
To trump your famed with all subverting blade  
expressed your worth, which vanished as a shade:  
So florish'd I, so fell, so florish'd mine,  
" And so they fell, rule is the spoil of time.   


Constantius with an army of britain youths, overthrew the Roman Legions.  The worlds elected Monarch hence withdrew  
My budding hopes, the twigs of mighty three,  
With which the Roman oaks he over-threw,  
In recompense whereof, he gave to me  
That part of France, now cleaped brittany:  
Oh then I was, yea that aggreeves me most,  
They have no cause to plain that never lost.   

How many Roman Emprors did I see,  
All fear begon, unto their ships retire,  
Chacde by the valiant Kings of brittany;  
When I was whole, vnrented and entire,  
My strength was termed the bar of Romes desire:  
Ne did, or ever could she vanquish me,  
But by feigned faith, friends infidelity.   

The second constance both in worth and name  

Constance by seducing many Britaines to defend his rule, much impaired the force of this island.  Did finish what his grandfather began,  
And left me desolate, as barren dame  
without son, the bait of honour wan  
My best of youth, and left me scarce a man:  
Youth's prove to err, and honour will 'allure  
" The grave foresight, to build on hope unsure.   

Hope is unsure, uncertain mans estate,  
Which as a sea by wind of divers sect  
Is much enraged, each sprinkle seems to hate  

Galfredus.  The neighbours height; so man, or mans defect  
The sense envies or sacred intellect:  
And to return,( great clerk) I end with thee,  
valour did never vanquish brittany.   

Now do I wander, Cato sees me err,  
Smile not stern churl on my licentious vain,  
Things done long since, together I confer,  
Whose solid bosoms do in them contain  
The noble gifts, which do with union reign:  
Some say I am obscure, look well, then vain  
You may me judge, but judge me also plain.   

That likes me best, my breast is ever bare,  
No Statist I to manage great affair,  
Though I them praise; if that defect may dare  
Attempt such worth, such worth the lofty air  
Of some more noble Bard should blazon faire:  
Kings are like Gods, most like when they be just,  
celestial virtue lives in tombs of dust.   

I jealous am, and do admire the peer  
Who prisons wrath, and patient seems to bee?  
Who is employed and held of sovereign deere,  
Yet will have nought save honour? honour he  
esteems bove all that can him given bee:  
She gives immortal daies, oh ever blessed!  
Who spares no travel for a kingdoms rest.   

That man I love, that man I honour much,  
Who's inlie wife, and spends the tedious day  
In grave fore-sight; if there be any such,  
( As many bee) me joys, I those be they  
That do what's just, but do not what they may:  
These be all fire and joined with lions these,  
Who pleasing God, their King do also please.   

I will not smooth, ne am I parasite  
To any state, ne was I born to bee  
The slave of Time, ne ever will I writ  
In smother lay, as many seem to me,  
Which praise earths worst, because they worthy bee:  
Worthy? oh no! no worth doth live in them,  
Save their great names, which makes them seem great men.   

I cannot honour 'vice, ne dares my pen  
mask ugly shape of sin, it shuns the hire  
Of base reward; you dead but glorious men,  
Whose glories live and greatness I admire,  
persuades me sing, and with this rude attire  
cloth your halfe-rotten bones, and to your hearse,  
Vouchsafe me consecrate my sable verse.   

me thinks I could an hoary period spend  
In this harmonious golden Paradise,  
This palace of all good, this goodly end,  
End of all good, all good doth sympathize,  
In him that's great, and being great, is wise:  
Not lovely front which fades, but learned brain  
gains honour true, true honour is not vain.   

Things which continuance long did lift on high,  
Whose weldie base was iudgement and advice,  
Stand on immoved rock as firm as sky,  
Which though it move, and that in lasting wise,  
Yet heaven is still, though there be moving skies:  
Such honour as the tide may ebb and flow,  
" virtue must live, albe it may lye low.   

Such honour is true honour and true praise,  
Such honour and such praise the Romans wan,  
The grecians such; those were magnific dayes,  
liberal to merites due: for as I scan,  
" None should wear honor, but who honor wan.  
Thou spur of doing well, no more of such,  
Lest that I seem to praise myself too much.   

To praise myself, fie, that were too great sin,  
So different from the humble thought of mine,  
As man from being good, or good to win  
By his deserve, my merits have no shine,  
For they been gazed by planets feminine:  
The sad event of things persuades me see,  
Saturne was Lord of my nativity.   

But you whose stars the sun and Venus were, 
To England.   
Predestinate to every noble deed,  
look on me wretch, look, but you must not fear  
The like effect, successful be your seed  
And noble heires, which from your lines proceed:  
Yet deign to stop bright eyes, and you shall see,  
Ambition wrought the wrack of brittany.   

inhuman monster, born of Adams pride, 
Ambition the ruin of britain.   
Eves wish, sins scourge, Gods wrath, heavens just ire,  
Earths shane, hells son, bloods river, envies pride,  
Natures defect, deaths queen, intestine fire,  
Mens grave, Kings fear, worlds woe, mans first desire;  
Ambition is th'essentiall cause of war,  
Heavens bad prophet, murder blazing star.   

State rending hook, ambition is a fire,  
Which though it smothered lye in deep of breast,  
Still lively breaths,( how boundless is desire)  
And scorns proud bar, albee that wisdom wrest  
Natures worst gift, yet nature cannot rest,  
But doth unmask her blame, blame worthy all  
Who raise their fortunes by a kingdoms fall.   


Ambition the child of envy.  Ambition is selfe-praising envies child,  
Who doth beget of wrath, disdain and rage,  
cities sad spoils, where many worthies pilde  
In heaps consume, and she in every age  
works strange effects vpon this lower stage:  
Shee's deere to all, but most to them on high,  
" Ambition seldom lives with misery.   


Ambition the roote of harm.  Ambition is the roote of every ill,  
Whence discord( civill monster) doth arise  
Like Snake from dung: so springs inhuman will  
From heap of day, sedition is all eyes,  
Which as a States-man to each secret pries:  
The ladder to ascend the breach of wall,  
" Intestine tumult works a kingdoms fall.   


Love, the best defence.  Who cannot hold a rocke-ymounted tower,  
Guarded by nature and more mighty love?  
More mighty then a kingdoms royal power;  
But if these good effects contention move,  
They'll either die as slaves, or servants prove:  
" experienced faith doth firm affection breed,  
" He is a friend that is a friend in need.   

As mighty hulk in midst of hugy wave,  
The prise for whom two sturdy winds contend,  
deems that each Tempest doth her ruin crave:  
So must the state where all to greatness tend,  
As man proscript, fore-see his sudden end:  
Heaven and earth by this distinguished bee,  
Earth hath all variance, heaven harmony.   

Oh clear our eyes, lest we be wilful blind! 
Discord the end of ambition.   
This wrath of God and vengeance doth 'allure  
Man to kill man, which doth offend the mind;  
Her smother front such venom doth immure,  
As who thereof doth taste, is poisoned sure:  
sense against nature strives, shee loves a mean,  
What's ever bad, that's ever in extreme!   

Some hunt for praise and spend their words in vain, 
Discontentment the cause of discord.   
vain words whose end do nourish discontent,  
Which as a stolen o'er vailes the wiser brain,  
Hope blinds defect, the hope of great event  
Makes man think ill, and that is discontent:  
Murmurs ambiguous phrase, and says all's bad,  
A self-conceit will make a young man mad.   

Such idle idiots, none but such as these, 
Discontent, the issue of prodigality.   
( Which nothing have, and therefore cannot loose,)  
Like war, because they cannot live in peace,  
Peace thou wide organ, silence rather choose,  
He needs must err, whose tongue is ever loose:  
In war wee'll use thee, but in peace be dumb,  
The valiant man himself should overcome.   

I do not now, ne will I ever blame  
True Fortitude, whose trumpet I will bee,  
If she do deign me grace to sound her name:  
But thou whose feathred Crest cries loud to me,  
Thou loath'st the camp and lov'st the canopy:  
T'is thee I swinge, and with an iron rod,  
A hardened hart feels not the wrath of God.   


The rand of Discord.  Who fears not God, can he do ever good?  
But such as these the seed of discord sow,  
Which nothing reap but ruin, rape and blood;  
Blood asks revenge, and vengeance comes, though slow,  
But where is peace, there milk& hony flow:  
Peace is the sovereign salue of wounded weal,  
What arms hurt that amity doth heal.   

Where peace is, there is universal love,  

The happiness which doth attend union.  Where love, there laws to all alike remain,  
There equal lawe, where Iustice sphere doth move  
To all aspect; where ever iustice reign,  
There's ever peace, t'is peace doth iustice gain:  
Peace doth unite, and union is the three,  
Love is the roote, the fruit felicity.   

turn over all the wonder of old daies,  
And in them all thy iudgement may behold,  
What ever merites honour, or what praise,  
What florisht young, and what was nobly old  
Was gained by love, and held by being bold:  
Ser●●rius main Misipsa● band of wood,  
Emblaze loves worth, united force is good.   

look in the younger world, and there, there see  
How all their woes by envy erst was bread,  
Humble thy haughty eye, and look on me,  
On me most faire, where envy ever fed,  
How much I was by union honoured:  
he's excellent who prevents; and he is wise,  
Who by example second mischief flies.   

Behold the factious Guelph and Gibeline, 
The dissension of italy.   
See milan burn, and see the Roman ire,  
See Fredericke rage, and see the valentine  
In civile arms, see Naples set on fire  
With inward brawl; what limit hath Desire?  
When wilt thou end? Tis ended, and what thoo●  
" The end of grief begins another woe.   

Me thinks I take the young mans task in hand,  
Or with ground-issue threat the airy King:  
Oh stay thy thunder! I amazed stand,  
And rather help and wisdom to him bring,  
Who glories of thy Iustice for to sing:  
For what else is dissension in a State,  
But plague powrde down, such power to ruinated.   

Strike the Stage dumb, thou tragic Muse of mine,  
And let my crimson Clarion loudly yell,  
Aloft ye Numbers in more stately rhyme,  
And to this age, this latter world ytell,  
What difference is twixt doing ill and well:  
Let Arnus neighbour Fiorenza prove,  
What she by discord lost, and wan by love.   

Yet higher yet, as high as heavens fire,  
And make the lamps nigh melt to hear thee plain,  
For I will sing of nought but rage and ire,  
Rebells to State, I, these shall sound my strain,  
Let others others please, I'll please my vain:  
Silent thy murmur Arnus but a while,  
Whilst I thy mistris misery compile.   


The discord of the Florentines made them slaves to others.  When Florence was what Florence is not now  
( More happy she) a dis-vnited state,  
Then Florence did, but Florence will not bow  
To neighbour arms, not arms, but inward hate  
Made those bright spires of envy desolate:  
Not Manferds rage, though it were all of blood  
Did wreck her so, as love did work her good.   


The pretence of liberty a mask for treason.  Oh liberty! thou god of multitude,  
For which, who would not wish to have a grave  
Deserves not life; ignoble servitude  
shows the base mind, but those which freedom have,  
A fiery spark their spirits doth embrave:  
witness thou subject of my sable scene,  
A troubled channel never can be clean.   

This mask of treason, cloak of discontent,  
This seeming good, this ensign of despair,  
To which bad troope, this gown of ill intent,  
Where riot is enwombde, this outward faire,  
And inly foul, thou people-chaunting air,  
freedoms sweet type, thou spring of civill blood,  
What is so bad that hath not show of good?   

Such, or more pleasing music did induce  
The credule crowd of that disordered town,  
Where iealousy( State monster) did abuse  
The idle rout, and cast the great men down;  
suspicion is the pillar of a crown.  
Thus are they slaves in seeking to be free,  
Where discord is, there is no liberty.   

Now might I rove as row or nimble hind  
In world of plain, a subject infinite,  
Such store of matter noble do I find,  
As where myself to take, or what to writ,  
I find election all indefinite:  
Shall I crave Patience leave? Oh no, t'were sin,  
I'll rather end, before I scarce begin.   

Ne will I writ, 
A continuance of Italian discord.  ne will I ever sing  
Of Nera, Bianch, ne of Arigo,  
Of Athens duke, ne yet of Naples king,  
Too much I fear( pray God it be not so)  
That I of my infirmity did show.  
Shall I of Rixi and Albisi speak?  
Tis bad to make a law, and that to break.   

Ne will I sing of mutual disagree,  
( The fear of common men, and nobles pride)  
Two mighty spurs of civill enmity:  
Ne will I longer on this theme abide,  
But down descend, let iudgement be my guide:  
What's best, if tedious, may the best displease,  
method doth more then matter nourish ease.   

Ne will I treat of Laurence nor his son,  
Nor of the famous reverend Cosimo,  
By whom the love of every man was won,  
But I will sing( my Numbers sweetly flow  
In pleasing phrase) their houses overthrow:  
But I will sing, that every man may see,  
dissension overthrew all italy.   


●… aur: de Me●… cis for the ●… fety of italy ●… id establish ●… oncord between the states of Naples, milan, and Florence.  That much renowned, that famous valentine,  
Who whilst he lived, was loved, and held most deere,  
Most deere to all that did to peace incline,  
Most deere to all where virtue did appear,  
For he could well the clavae of kingdom steer:  
He whilst he lived, combined those kingdoms three,  
Which severed fell, and scared italy.   

He whilst he lived wellnie did appease  
Lodowickes just fear, and wrongde Alphonsoes ire,  
And drew the warlike king to covet ease,  
Yet would not he to higher grace aspire,  
For well he could and would subdue desire:  
For well he knew the wrong which Galeas had,  
But tis not good to make a great man mad.   

For well he knew, and wisely did he fear  
Ambitious Venice, which did thirst for war,  
Whose empire tho did greater semblance bear,  
This league was made their pvissance to embarre;  
All loose save Venice, Venice wins by war:  

Their league.  Thus were they bound each other to defend,  
Tis odds when three 'gainst any one contend.   

Thus did he live as if that he were born,  
Not to himself,( as great men nowadays,)  
But to the public good, which they nigh scorn,  
Thus did he live, and proved by all assays  
To grace his city with triumphant praise:  
He dies in his best dayes, we oft behold,  
soon ripe, soon rot, soon firde,& as soon cold.   

Oh who will lend me grief and driery dole,  
And moist these ruby globes, these mournful eyes,  
My brow should be endarkt with Cyprian stolen,  
Whilst I compose this sable exercise,  
unworthy of maiestique obsequies:  
Oh well befall that man, his praise be old  
That was both temprate, just, and wisely bold.   

When Laurence dide, then Peter did decline,  
And wholly bent his love to Ferdinand;  
Men saw( as in a cloud which did divine  
The future storm) confusion near at hand:  
Affection is unable to command.  
Lodowicke misdoubts; mistrust doth wait on blame,  
Good cause is bold, and never feareth shane.   

That subtle Lord knows well to temporize,  
And show smooth front to his immortal foe;  
So must he bonnet vail who will surprise  
Ordainde revenge, or state usurp; and more,  
He must seem good although he be not so:  
He breaks all league, and calls in foreign war, 
Their division.   
Bad trust not those who know how bad they are.   

Oh whither wilt? what fury doth me lead  
To this vntroden desert, full of ways?  
Misdoubt my guide, and which of them to tread  
Me greatly fears; fear not ye humble lays,  
To trace the path, and finish your essays:  
What ignis fatuus doth illude my quill?  
Reason should govern man, and not his will.   

What brazen quill, or Adamantine pen?  
What Diamond? or harder instrument,  
drenched, and nigh drowned in blood of dying men?  
Can limb this mournful stories sad event,  
Where ended nigh th'italian government:  
Inbred sedition is the blazing star,  
Which lights ambition to each neighbour war.   

When Lodwicke Sforce, who swayed the milan crown,  
saw Alphons grudge at his usurped state,  
Because he kept his royal nephew down,  
Who married had Alphonsos child of late;  
He to prevent this wrath of great mens hate,  
moved Charles who had the Aniowe title than,  
To claim the kingdom neapolitan.   

See the imperious Charles, as tyrant flood,  

The dissension of Italy made it subject to foreign dominion:  Who overrunnes and wastes the neighbour plain,  
Whom neither bulwark made by earth or wood  
Can once beate back, for he like fiery train,  
blows up each state, and as a king doth reign:  
And doth with latin sword the latins beate,  
Tis ill to make a neighbour king too great.   

Now Alphons vengeance comes with nimble pace, 
Their misery   
And thou must leave thy crown to Ferdinand:  
Thy bad his good, as cloud the skies embase:  
See Florence Peter, see thy rended band  
Hath shew'd the way for tyrants to command:  
See Alexander, thy ambitious mind,  
Hath all thy greatness in a tower confined.   

See all of you, 
The effects o● disagreement  yea all the world behold  
proud Genes fall, and Charles as Caesar ride  
In brave Ovation like the Roman old:  
See kingdoms perish by their Princes pride.  
blessed is the state whose stern the wise men guide:  
Caponis courage Florence made thee free,  
The noble mind is tried in misery.   

See Naples, see the period of warres heat,  
See milan all on discontented fear;  
See mighty kings and princes Charles entreat,  
Who as a Roman Emperour thee did bear  
A sovereign rule and power every where:  
learn then oh man! from civill war doth rise,  
inhuman death, and all calamities.   

Thus far my Muse hath with vnchecked strain  
Sung baleful woe, which doth on discord tend;  
I therefore wish( let not my wish be vain)  
That every soul would in the world contend  
His life with love and amity to spend.  
Hence I conclude what all the world doth see,  
There is no love, where is no unity.   

I'll leave earths garden to that dire mischance,  
Which did unnatural enmity ensue,  
For I will bend my course and sail to France,  
Where every true unpartial eye shall view  
Sad desolation, private murder rue:  

inequality the cause of discord.  Where rule unlike, and different laws remain,  
There must be envy, discord and disdain.   

Al swear in one, the valiant English were  
ennobled by bold prowess, and brave deed,  
Yea Roman-like they triumphed every where,  
Yea every where they purchasde glories meed,  
Contest ye salic scars which ever bleed:  
France( though unwilling) to the world unfold  
Those overthrows which you received of old.   

Who can deny? or if they could, who dare?  
That our victorious ensigns were dispredde  
Vpon your toplesse towers, and ruins rare,  
Rare ruins, when your worthiest peers were lead  
As captives to the Kings that triumphed:  
Who doth appeal? reprove, stern Edward tell  
How the French fled, and John at poitiers fell.   

This was but one; yea one again you saw,  
Illustrious Henry, Henry clad in steel,  
Courage itself, whose courage did endaw  
Your bold bravado, and as furrowing keel  
Emplowes the wave, so he with nimble heel  
Of lusty row, and Eagle wing did chase  
Your wonted flight; to fly is ever base.   

But now I must, the truth I must confess,  
Which is as deere as mine own soul to me,  
Or ought more deere, if ought were more, as less  
It cannot be; deere England, deere to me  
As truth itself, I truly honour thee:  
Thy princess wan, their discord lost, 
The discord of France, made England victorious.  t'was she  
Brought us to France, she gone, soon partend wee.   

Burgoigne Arch peer and princely Orlian●ys,  
( The nerves and sinews of unsettled state,  
equal corrivalls in the wielding poised,)  
Sdaine others rule, Ambition, rather fate  
Wrought this all ill, no end hath great mens hate:  
No end, but when they end, clois began,  
Short and uncertain are the daies of man.   

When mighty John the Duke of Burg●ndy,  
perceived the Kings heroic brother slain,  
He 'gan to swell with proud indignity,  
Which many peers and Princes did complain,  
Whom the brave Dolphin did with hope retain:  
These all resolve his ruin to conspire,  
Which they accomplished in the height of ire.   

Then did they gin his hardy son to brave,  
Charles, whom no terror ever did amaze,  
Ne death itself, ne very depth of grave;  
He when he saw his fathers sad disgrace,  
'gan rouse his Crest against the royal race  
Of France, revenge hath bloody spurs, and she  
Is soon seduced to any cruelty.   

What though she gain the worst and nothing gain,  
To see the loathed son hurled down to ground,  
me thinks exceeds all diapase or strain  
Of harmony, and that melodious sound,  
As costly Balsamum doth salue the wound:  
The fore-head of revenge is dawbde with good,  
Albee her inward breast is nought save blood.   

But when the shrub by lofty oak is prest,  
How shal he then? how then relieve his woe?  
Must he complain? or must he patient rest?  
Rest without rest, to see the proud born foe  
Daily to rise, himself down lower grow:  
Must, he do so? oh no, t'is ill, and why?  
who'd live in shane that might with honour die?   

Those that with honour die, do ever live,  

Henry the fifth called to the Conquest of France by Charles Duke of Burgundy.  But not relieve their wo, that man must then  
Submit to one more great, who can him give  
( And will) aspiring hope; the mighty men  
Still envy those that seem as great as them:  
So Charles to Henry did, so vanquished he,  
" That weal must wreck where great men disagree.   


The effects of intestine sedition.  This as a thunder rage doth cleave in twain,  
The well knit pillars of a mighty land,  
Or as a channel over-rich in rain,  
Doth undermine the posts which nigh it stand,  
As seemed to scorn that wood should so command.  
So private quarrel in a public State,  
Like pestilence makes cities desolate.   

This like our grandam Earth doth all devour,  
The choice of men; and this unsatiate boar,  
Emplows the plain, where grow the glorious bower,  
And not the hilly rock, ne barren shore,  
Where's ever envy, there is ever store:  
Hiena like this harlot doth beguile,  
No traitor to the traitor that can smile.   

This horrid hag, this ugly creature,  
Which shades defect with some vermilion gear,  
Ypainted Lady; Ladies now invre  
Their hands to daub; poor Art when women wear,  
( I will not say false faces) but false hair:  
Pardon( dread Dames) it is not you I mean,  
But Discord, which is like a painted quean.   

Here might I tread a very world of room,  
The Roman Fathers famous far away,  
Ere they wage war abroad, made peace at home,  
And spent more dayes in stinting civill fray,  
Than conq'ring all which did their rule gainsay.  
The Roman State did never land subdue, 
Mach: in lib. d● principe.   
unless her lords and Rulers were untrue.   

Thus whilom did her elder sister fare,  
So long as Greece divided was, so long  
She was invrde to servitude, and bare  
No empery, nesdainde to suffer wrong;  
But being joined, she daily grew more strong,  
More strong than all the world, she cleaped then  
herself the queen and governess of men.   


The commendation of ●nion.  union the soul and salue of commonweal,  
The sovereign nerve of state, and kingdoms base,  
Honours foundation and the prop of zeal,  
immortal without end, celestial grace,  
The best of all is one, and ever was.  
The roote of good, bad's end, of all the best,  
The cause of peace, and peace the cause of rest.   

Is there more Gods then one? one excellent good,  
One water, earth, one air, and but one fire,  
One soul in man, all spirit without blood,  
One heaven which doth this lower globe engire,  
One sun, one moon, and one unquiet sphire  
Where dwell the stars? I, heavens gree, but wee  
loath heavens love, and that is harmony.   

God made but one, then man had Paradise,  
All rise from one, and all to one must tend,  
The three is one whence many boughs arise,  
The grain but one whence many ears extend,  
Man hath one birth, one birth hath but one end:  
Rome saw she needed but one Prince to have,  
" The rule of many is a kingdoms grave.   

union is that which maketh kingdoms great  
And gracious in the eyes of all estate,  
Nought save the heavens such wonder can beget,  
It is ere the world was predestinate,  
To none save those whom Angells estimate:  
The best of good, Gods elect grace, for he  
Loves none that do not live in amity.   

All those whom learning famoused of old,  
All those whom now we reverently adore,  
All that be skilled in Art, in arms bold,  
Perfect in ought, yea all the world and more,  
Heaven itself doth unity implore:  
One sire, one son, there is one sacred spirit,  
Three persons, but one God indefinite.   

How well would this become the greatest Ile,  
Three warlike people to impatronize?  
And of three warlike Nations to empile  
One Monarchy, whence glory might arise,  
And honour unto all posterities.  
Ne law nor honour doth the same improve,  
But a far meaner stop, sense or self-love.   

Oh where is britain! britain where is shee?  
What? smothered in forgetful sepulchre?  
exiled from mans reviving memory?  
Oh no, let England like a child prefer  
That well known title of her ancestor:  
I know the neighbour sisters of this Ile,  
Will greatly glory in so good a style.   

What? done the vnamafed Muses dare  
Assume the charge of mighty commonweal?  
No, glorious men of state, the Muses are  
But handmaides to those worthy wights which deal  
In kingdoms cause, and their inflamed zeal  
Doth inly burn, your excellence to sing,  
Albee it far too mean to show such thing.   

Whom not a world, ne heaven might all suffice,  
Whose peerless Empire never limit knew,  
When that great Prince united was and wise,  

Alexander wished the whole world one kingdom.  Who him withstood, that did not after rue;  
And did not Greece the eastern world subdue;  
Did not he wish that all this world were one,  
One name, one tongue, one law, one Macedon.   


The division of the grecian Monarchy wrought much harm.  But when his heires( unworthy so to bee)  
unworthy heires, though, worthiest was his choice,  
Hight perdiccas, but perdiccas did see  
His maisters merit, envy counterpoise,  
Whose life breed fear, his end doth nourish joys:  
One is made five, five have what one erst had,  
Pride, envy, envy rule, rule makes men mad.   


Li●i.  When the earths maisters, Romans heretofore  
With their still striving neighbours did unite,  
Did not they both agree, and both implore  
One name? like law, one custom, and like rite,  
" equality breeds love, but greatness spite.  
" Like loveth like, but seldom do we see  
" Affection in the throne of majesty.   


Idem.  So did the loyal son whence erst he came  
In armed guise, the stranger soon to prove,  
Old daies best trumpes, record how he did tame  
The bordering States, then cause of hate t'amove,  
Gave them one name, one law, and used one love.  
But what of these? their children were, and bee  
Heires to the fourth last greatest monarchy.   

suspicious frame is inequality, 
The difference twixt equality and inequality.   
Vpon whose front is laid the arch of hate,  
Where discontent guards Towers of injury,  
And rude emotion rendes obedience gate,  
Which like a Sea o're-whelmes the ship of state:  
" Similitude knits harts with silver chain,  
" When subiects gree, then Princes glory gain.   

For as the sun shoots forth impartial beams, 
Castilio lib. 4.   
So liberty and iustice should be one,  
To all the same, or as the silver streams,  
Which down descend from cliff or watery ston,  
Are ever clear, so lawe should favour none:  
This mo'vd Mecoe●as thus persuade his King,  
" diversity of names all harm bring.   

Oh that some great maecenas would persuade  
The willing breast of our so gracious king,  
unto so good a deed; then would I wade  
In deep of praise, and Clioes self should sing  
His worth, whilst I gave life to lowly string:  
In vain I wish, sith Princes wish in vain,  
Hope onely doth with misery remain.   

This moved that famous schoolmaster of old, 
Aristotle wished the whole world one kingdom.   
( To whom was left all science treasury,  
Whose brain did Natures deepest secret hold)  
To wish a league( if such a league might bee)  
As was but once at Christs nativity:  
One law 'mongst all, all governed by one man,  
" Sith like obedience, like allegiance wan.   

Farneze this in Parma did intend,  
And thought to join Placentia with the same;  
This Lewis did with britain, to the end  

britain united to the crown of France by marrying the heir thereof.  That France might quiet be; one law and name  
Doth everlasting peace in kingdom frame:  
Henry the seventh did the same intend,  
When Margret he to james did recommend.   

This was that union which Polonia wan,  
When it in marriage matched with neighbour state.  
And thereby gained the crown of Lithuan;  
Love is the spouse of glory, end of hate,  
Which is with ioy and peace conterminate:  

Augustus Caesar Emperour of the whole world.  witness this universe, which once did see  
A league 'mongst men, at Gods nativity.   

What is more glorious then a land entire?  
More to be wished, then love or heavenly peace?  
Or what doth more agree with Gods desire?  
Wee cannot Christ our Saviour more displease  
Then when to live in amity we cease:  
Thus saith the Lord, whose words be ever true,  
Love one another still as I love you.   


Henry the second& King John were called Kings of britain: Henry the seventh and the eight.  If princely John and his more noble sire,  
If Henry who surnamed was the Wise,  
And if his son this union did desire;  
If France it hindered lest that we should rise  
To rub old scars and drown indignities:  
What shall we do? nay what not do, to gain  
That title which for ever shall remain?   

I think, and as me seems I think the best,  
That England should, and Scotland both detain  
Triumphant glee, and both contented rest  
With this great Title, which some think but vain;  
If not with that, then with this quiet reign:  
How like you are! can nothing pride remove?  
Men say, Similitude engendereth love.   

You have one God, one King, one land you have,  
One watery wall doth both your coasts engire,  
Yborne alike ye be, and have like grave,  
Both valiant, wise, attempred with like fire;  
You onely want one name, and one desire:  
Wish you home peace; This you secures, if war,  
valour united grows more valiant far.   

Dares peasant Ignorance amaze the wise,  
And prison judgements eine? It may not be,  
Men be not lead by sense, but reasons eyes  
discern the truth; who would not union see?  
Envy which looks awry, and none but shee.  
Oh be not envious, ne suspicion drink,  
They swear that true, which Princes never think.   

Some men done say, I nought save Poetize,  
And argue without grant, I not deny,  
That all approve who are approved wise  
This league of kingdoms; but the jealous eye  
dreams danger most, when harm least is nigh.  
Love this allows, Law says it should not be;  
All perils do attend on novelty.   


●… e union of ●… ine, the ●… esest cause ●… er present ●… tnes. ●… con. Mach.  What of Granade, Lucete, and arragon?  
The Castiles twain, and famous Andeluse?  
Be not they all as if they were but one?  
Why then should this so many men amuse?  
That Britaines do the name of britain choose.  
eternal deeds were by this concord done,  
A second world this second union won.   

Was never king of Castile did so brave,  
So brave and great a deed was never done  
By the proud man, who swilles the Baetique wave,  
So large a plain as this was never won  
By Portaguse, ne yet by arragon.  
Twas spain did this, these all. Hence I conclude,  
" union is queen of noble fortitude.   

What did the wise and valiant Ferdinand  
When Charles like thunder in triumphant guise,  
rushed on the ruins of a mighty land,  
Which whilom was ydrad? With mournful eyes  
He saw his kinsmen fall, nor durst he rise  
In arms 'gainst lusty Charles, when spain was one,  
France fell, and Naples fell to arragon.   

T'was not Charles self, but t'was united spain  
Made Charles so glorious, and herself so great;  
So great she was that latter world doth deign  
To be her slave; and with her childrens sweat  
Dig her own womb; West India makes spain great:  
witness the antic worthies whilom dead,  
The glorious gests this mighty union bread.   

witness that ominous and fatal day, 
The batt●… before Pa●…   
Where the brave Pesquairy did all destroy  
Insulting Francis; and in mighty fray  
Tamde the stowt Swize and sturdy Milanois,  
Then milan was, what milan was I ioy  
To think, but milan is( unhappy she)  
The lively map of sad servilitie.   

As me she fell, I fell and cannot rise,  
Shee lost, but wan, small woe to her, but I  
Have lost myself, distressed me, the wise  
Shut me in grave, grave men done me to die,  
And dead I am, so milan was, but I  
Shall never be, she is as erst I was,  
I am as she must be, I am but grass.   

I not deny the German name is great  
And mighty in the eye of all estate, 
England a name of renown.   
Yet must I say( my vows do me entreat,  
But not seditious I, that stain I hate)  
I was as faire, and time may ruinated  
Her name as mine, mine rest, and she again,  
( Which God avert) may live and dwell with men.   

Then did she plain, and fountains left her eyes, 
A continuation of Brittain● lament.   
sweet pearly mist, ne did shee lin to cry;  
soon after these hart-rending Elegies,  
I saw her gaze with admirable eye,  
Vpon the dales and valleys which were nigh:  
Then 'gan she weep anew, with sighs oppressed,  
Which might have moved an adamantine breast.   

So dire her doale, as if she then would die,  
When all aghast to hear such mournful tine,  
Me seemed I saw the lordly Neptune by,  
Who as a Sea-man which observes the time,  
With Reasons helm 'gan stir the Brigandine:  

●… tanies ar●… ll in Eng●… d.  The ship by favour of the Sea-gods hand,  
With safety harbor'd nigh unto the land.   

That land which foreign men admire to see,  
That land, as doth the ancient story say,  
Where lived the sons of grave antiquity,  
That land for which my very soul doth pray,  
Triumphant glory and eternal day:  
England that land, that island of renown,  
Arch-piller of the late united crown.   

No sooner did the aged queen, yet faire,  

●… he King a ●… orthy resto●… r of his roi●… title, con●… ned by the ●… periall ●… ambers of England and Scotland.  Arrive vpon this mighty continent,  
But Englands king to Severne did repair,  
And dainde her welcome with the full consent  
Of countries twain heroic Parliament:  
Elected Statists, peers of noted famed,  
graced islands queen with this illustrious name.   

And james high Steward to the silver sphere,  
Which doth this lower kingdom canopise,  
Servant to him who in his hand doth bear  
The thunder ston, vouchaft with gracious eyes,  
To entertain this queens calamities;  
And her proclaimde through all his empery,  
Cleaping himself, Monarch of brittany.   

Oh glorious name and far more glorious king,  
Me seems I ioy, vpon these joys to dote:  
Oh that I Homer were, thy praise to sing,  
Or some more royal Bard, for well I wote,  
Such dignity doth crave a heavenly note.  
Pardon( dread Lord) though I deserve the rod,  
Kings should in mercy be most like to God.   

Pardon( dread sovereign) my vndazled rhyme,  
Which dares behold Augustus majesty,  
Thy happy greatness, and this gorgeous time,  
Whose radiant sparks, and lustre darken nigh,  
The gloss of Platoes rare felicity:  
Heavens best angel ever wait on thee,  
Thou best of men, phoenix of majesty.   

Now drowned honour breaths again, and grace,  
Grace waits on merit, and the noble line  
begin heroic virtue to embrace,  
Embrace it lords, that honor is divine  
Which thou dost get, and was not gained by thine:  
How much this age and elder times do jar,  
As Princes be, so subiects ever are.   

When the first happy Caesar swayed the Mace  
Of lower world, this base element;  
maecenas, although poor, was held in grace,  
Because his acts with iustice did consent,  
Which best beseemde the Roman government:  
chased virtue he did on his breast enthrone,  
Which was his sovereigns sacred paragon.   

Monster of men, a Monarch made of mire,  
He lifted to the worlds imperial seat  
ruled all by rage, made law the slave of ire,  
Sabinus and licentious Anicete,  
For that they were so bad, were made so great:  
A King should be most like a Ioyners square,  
Making all even, and himself most rare.   

As yeares four sons like untuned music jar,  
So do the natures of succeeding Kings  
maintain a strife and everlasting war;  
Aurelius to licentious palace brings  
Philosophy, the fairest thing of things:  
Plato hath now his Prince, except I err,  
A wise man King, a King Philosopher.   


Roger Mortimer earl of March a false leader.  Ne're shall a martiall troupe at Stanehope more,  
unworthy leaders treachery complain,  
Ne ever shall a mournful queen deplore  
Her noble Knight on English border slain;  

james the 4. slain at Floden.  Floden henceforth shall be renownde in vain:  
T'is nought save envy, pride, disdain and spite,  
Can sever them whom Nature did unite.   

Now may wee safely neighbour France invade,  
If she dare tempt our titles prejudice,  
Now let me with a moving tongue persuade  
Those people which both valiant be and wise,  
Each to defend the others dignities:  
Heavens infuse some motion to my pen,  
Be as it was at first one name, one men.   

Go hand in hand as Peace and Iustice go,  
here glorious peace ydwell, and Iustice there,  
There Peace, here Iustice shall her vigour show,  
Obedience there, and here a loving fear,  
Both bodies shall be one, and both shall bear  
One equal name, that britain hight, and shee  
Shall cleaped be the land of equity.   

Or Sion mount where David rules as King,  
Image of God, oh pardon me the while  
( Much feared sovereign,) I thy glory sing,  
Though I been base, and in respect too vile,  
Yet deign me leave to sound thy kingdoms style:  
Lord of the greatest island, whose defence  
Is seated in a seas circumference.   

Oh who will grace my irrenowned reede,  
And in my breast heroic thought infuse?  
That I may sing the praise of noble deed,  
Hight worthy deeds when as the great men use  
Mars camp with Pallas College to peruse:  
Men of great worth, and worthy to be great,  
Who can as well of Artes as arms treat.   

So the brave Courtier whose illustrious mind 
The quality of a good Courtier.   
Doth all converse with kingdoms grave affair  
Should be most wise, and being wise, most kind,  
In courteous speech, and semblance debonair  
To every gentle squire and damsel faire:  
His forehead should be brain, his breast sincere,  
His mind vnstainde, his heart devoid of fear.   


Castilio lib. 1.  But above all, he arms must profess,  
And like some brave Italian knight yride  
In gazed list, and with his spear express  
A French resolve, or a Biscaine tried  
show hardiment and more than manly pride:  
He should exceed in each and all of these,  
No Courtier unto Alcibiades.   

And as the silver swan on river sail,  
With ease from ground to barbed steede arise,  
He should with knightly valour learn to trail  
A souldiers pike, he ought with careful eyes,  
To heed those men, who are both grave and wise:  
To start the Hare, and rouse embraked deere,  
beseems the man of court and royal peer.   

He must with modest parley entertain  
( And not with strange unusual metaphor)  
chased Ladies ears, nor must he bravely strain  
His own desert, though he deserve much more,  
self praise is most dispraise, if praisde before.  
Do thou high deed, let others thee applause,  
No lawe allows a judge in his own cause.   

He ought persuade his sovereign to all good,  

The end of a Courtier. Castilio lib. 4.  To manage worthy Act and kingly deed,  
He must respect his honor more than blood,  
Ne must he basely fawn, though flattry speed,  
Yet is it base and spurnd by royal seed:  
That page. of rule which doth on greatness tend  
He must not serve; the best the best commend.   

Who cannot smooth if he can ought at all,  
And lowly bend to each submissive knee,  
unworthy to high deed, whose fiery gull  
burns bright in flamme; that man is praisde by me,  
Who tames burnt rage, he's wise and none but he:  
Ah well befall that man, who wisely can  
Subdue the froward appetite of man.   

Pardon( great Lords) my rash, but ardent zeal,  
Whose fortunes base and vnadvanced state,  
To your sincere demeanour must appeal,  
And as for you, you much beloved of fate,  
return from bad, t'is good, though ne're so late:  
I can but wish, it rests in you to do,  
Your duty ought perform, tis mine to wooe.   

Bright shades and images of antic sires,  
Whose glories are in primer age replete,  
Planted amid a world of heavenly spires,  
graced with all eyes, this onely I entreat,  
As ye be ever good, be ever great:  
Oh emulate your ancestors of old,  
Be modest, prudent, just, and wisely bold.   

Shall I speak more? or have I spoken more  
Then well beseems so mean a man as I,  
What have I done? misdone? I you implore  
That to redeem, and look with heedful eye,  
Vpon my loves ill framde infirmity:  
I'll ope my breast, if you will deign to view,  
That all I do, is but to honour you.   


〈…〉 Phil: Sid●… y an excel●… t Courtier.  Oh be like him, who whilom midst our peers,  
As Cynosure or fairer star did shine;  
Sidney, whose worths were more then were his yeeres,  
here brave Castilio see the praise of time,  
A perfect Courtier rightly cleaped thine:  
Most bold in arms, and excellently wise,  
himself in all, and gracious in all eyes.   

A generous and noble man indeed,  
To tilt and tourney with a comely grace,  
To manage vntam'd mouth of mighty steede,  
Of blood all worthy, worthy all his race,  
What e're a Knight should have, in him there was:  
he scorned bought honour, sdainde the servile fee,  
For what he was, he well deserved to bee.   

For what he had, he well deserved to have,  
And more, if more might given be to men,  
What man may give, that many to thee gave,  
Living, due praise, all praise; and dead,( oh then)  
They reckon thee with saints, and not with men:  
Court, city wept, so did the Academe,  
For thou didst live and wert beloved in them.   

Court thy brave carriage, city thy best love,  
Athens thy wisdom, and the world thy name,  
The world and all of them did well approve  
Thy rare perfection, yea and well-nie blame  
Death that did end thy life, but not thy famed:  
The world, yea Athens, city, Court maintain  
Thy carriage, courage, love and learned vain.   

Court many had, not many like to thee,  
impartial, modest, learned without fear,  
Magnificence and liberality,  
Did in thy breast their greater kingdom bear,  
Still did they live with thee, and died there:  
Whenas they saw thy ashes in their urn,  
They fled to heaven, and never did return.   

So did the Muse, the Muses wept thee dead,  
For well they knew, and they were taught by care,  
Thou wert the star, oh never such was bread  
By human breast! whose influences rare  
Gave ever shine, ne thy hand did never spare,  
Spare they that list for me, I seek not I,  
To elevate my stars by poesy.   

Thou wert a man yborne to govern men, 
Some say 〈…〉 should have been elected King of Poland: it is m●… certain he●… was well esteemed of 〈…〉 all the Vay●… vodes, at hi●… being in tha●… kingdom.   
And hadst thou liv d, thou mightst have been a King,  
When honour even choose thee, even then  
Thou leftst the world, and with thy virtuous wing  
Didst go to dwell with God, and there dost sing  
His praise, who's best above, whilst here below,  
The best of men bewails thy overthrow.   

Who would not glory that so great a Muse,  
A Princes pen, and such a Prince as he, 
Sir Phillip Sidney praised by his majesty.   
Whom all admire, should for his subject choose,  
Who, had he lived this latter day to see,  
Had been his subject worthy so to bee:  
Oh worthy subject, and far worthier King,  
Who choose so brave a subject for to sing!   

Who would not die, yea many deaths sustain,  
And all adventure deep of misery,  
So by his fall such glory he may gain,  
Such glory as I ween, maiestique eye  
Did nere behold of sovereign royalty:  
What was Achilles graced by Homers rhyme?  
And shalt not thou outlive the date of time?   

Yes noble Sidney, noblemen shall praise  
And well-nigh wail thy peerless worthiness,  
For they been base, nor do they dare the ways  
Attempt, which thou with more than hardiness  
Didst knightly lead, knights courage is far less,  
Their wisdom less( though many be) thine more,  
Those many yield to few that were before,   

But thou art dead, I would it were not sin,  
And I would wish thou wert but newly born,  
Thou wert, as if indeed thou hadst not been,  
Too soon we saw the night of such a morn;  
Oh hadst thou never dide, on ne're been born▪  
But being dead, faire heavens grant I see.  
One to excel, who now is like to thee.   


The worthiness of Will: earl of pembroke.  Whose name and virtue like his grandsire may  
Be ever great, his name shall never die,  
So did he live, but never lived a day  
Without brave deed, so been his virtues high,  
That they still live, but never lived to die:  
Live as beloved of all, and live you long,  
His sons brave sons to grace my humble song.   

Live thou for ever that didst never ill,  
Oh why should honour die, and virtue bee  
Entoomb'd? what spire or alabaster hill,  
Albee it heaven scar, as oft I see,  
Dare but obscure thy worth and worthy thee:  
Worthy ninth heaven, live there in spite of grave,  
Whilst thy brave nephews here all honour have.   

Honour the base which did thy greatness stay,  
Thy greatness stood on honourable base,  
Thou wert all honour, honour every way,  
No way to honour is, nor ever was  
Enstrang'd to thee, thou wert the glorious glass:  
Where me it may her noble shade behold,  
Base the advancement which is bought or sold.   

Oh couth I praise,( though I affect no praise)  
Thy rare achievements Lord, oh then would I  
( unworthy such rare work) were all my daies  
To give thy glory life; then every eye  
Might wish that such renown should never die:  
And when I die( all die) as die I must,  
Live thou on high, though low I lye in dust.   

Live in great glory, 
Sir Thomas wyatt overthrown by his wisdom.  whose great courage made  
Kents kingdom threatening rebel to despair,  
despair enforced him yield, when thy true blade  
Fled rusty prison, whose fear breathing air,  
checked the amazed fone, and did impair  
Resolved wrath, good cause doth glory gain,  
The bad may thrive, but often strive in vain.   

Thy cause was good, and all their anger vain,  
vain was their wrath, thy anger worthy zeal,  
Worthy thyself; oh could I bravely strain  
That mornings glee, when wyatt did appeal  
To war, and thou by arms didst interdeale  

queen Mary of a noble courage.  Thy princess cause, whose courage had no meare,  
Ne did she fly. A Prince should never fear.   


he was ordained general against wyatt by Qu. Mary, and against the northern rebells in the dayes of her sister.  Oh for a phoenix quill to make a pen!  
Then would I sing, and sweetly then unfold  
Thy fortunate success, thou best of men,  
Oh thou as wise as thou wert bravely bold!  
What man like thee doth live, or did of old?  
Two prudent queens 'mongst all did thee elect,  
To guard the garland, and their lives protect.   

Oh, was there ever any like to thee?  
Thou wert thyself, thyself without compare,  
pattern of pvissance, praise and piety,  
What ever Lord save thee did ever dare  
Vnrippe his breast to kings, and show it bare?  
That seldom; Prince who would in safety live,  
Should flattry shun, and noble truth believe.   

What ever grace did on thy worth attend,  
caused there magnific bounty much to be  
Admirde of Kings which did thee more commend?  

He was sent general to S. Quintin in the aid of K. Philip.  Twice did her gracious eyes with glory see  
Her champion crownde with wreaths of victory.  
Sage her advice, and happy was her choice,  
Which sent thee for to war in Vermandoise.   

There did the lordly Savoy much thee grace,  
So did thy master mighty king of spain,  
virtue doth virtue, 'vice doth 'vice embrace,  
Like doth his like with favour entertain;  
Desert where ere it goes doth glory gain:  
And so didst thou; All men did wish to bee  
unlike themselves, for to be like to thee.   

There Woster, Rutland, Shandoys, clinton, Gray, 
Accompanied with these nobles.   
With all the chosen youth of England there,  
Waited thy banner in warres proud array;  
And then, oh then, thy valour then did bear  
The price of praise and garland every where:  
virtue had then, and had she now her meed,  
Many would do( which dare not do) brave deed.   

Brave were thy deeds, t'was virtue did persuade  
Thy ready hand to tempt hard enterprise,  
A native courage did thy breast invade,  
Which as a glass laid open to thine eyes  
The secret path where sacred honor lies:  
Mirror of worthies, and true glories glass,  
Such as thou wert I ween there never was.   

Maiestique manners, Manners did admire,  
Thy care and carriage clinton did embrace,  
But Grey was with thy glory set on fire,  
Thy force did Ferrers, faith thy foes amaze,  
Woster thy worth, and all the world thy grace,  
These were by thee to fields of honour lead,  
And thou by these in field wert honoured.   

When the bold 〈◇〉 and Swizer born to war,  
Before S. Quintine marched in battle ray,  
Which as a chain of iron did abarre  
The house of spain; then thou in royal fray,  
Didst thy best gifts and bravest blood bewray:  
'mongst many Leaders which besieged that town,  
Thou wert the best, and held in most renown.   

What been thy bold achievements all to die?  
Or do they dwell with thee where Angells dwell?  
Oh no, they live in thy posterity,  
Live thou in heaven, which didst on earth excel,  
And ioy to see thy nephews do so well:  
Faire fall thy soul, mens ioy in heaven remain,  
Midst troops of stars with the Angelique train.   

But noble Lord, if ghost hath power to hear  
The voice of living man, then pardon me,  
And if not thou, then thou heroic peer  
His glories heir, which dost my error see,  
Pardon the man who lives to honour thee:  
unknown, but this know what e're I writ  
proceeds from zeal, I am no Parasite.   

And if great earl, my vnadorned Muse,  
( The humble hand-maid of heroic seed)  
May dare such noble worthiness peruse,  
Then will she sing, and my aspiring reede  
Shall blaze thy merit and eternal deed:  
eternal be thy deeds, that when I sing,  
My words may wonder to the wide world bring.   

And thou( brave Lord) whom whilom I did dare,  
In my best manner humbly to salute,  
Forgive me if I err, these errors are  
signs of my duty, and the same impute  
Most constant, as they seem most resolute.  
Not hope of praise invites my ruder phrase,  
Thy antic fathers merit to emblase.   

Most honoured earl, the reverence which I bear  
unto your house and peerless ancestor  
Hath drowned all dread in me, ne can I fear  
Though much me gastes, unfeigned zeal may err  
In praising of your famous grandfather:  
Image of him, ne're lin until we see  
yourself as great, more great, if it may be.   

No more ye lofty numbers, cease while,  
servile yourselves from world and worldly men,  
And live in woods, where whilom lived this Ile,  
There meditate in some vnhaunted den  
The virtue of some brave and Noblemen.  
go live 'mongst shades, so did the Sages old,  
" Contentment is a crown more good than gold.   

high ye to quiet rest, and sing no more,  
Rest quiet in some melancholy cave,  
Rend thy harp strings, which make thine own heart sore,  
For I well know, my rhyme and I shall have  
A life envide, and at our death a grave.  
though Kings have golden Tombs,& ours be ston,  
Yet is the earth in which we lye, but one.   

Forgive me envy now I show me base,  
Degenerate and of ignoble mind,  
To beg for mercy where was never grace:  
Envy disgrace me not, do 'gainst thy kind,  
When thou seest most, then seem to be most blind:  
I am all error, so are all my lays,  
I wish men glory, but myself no praise.   

All praise I wish to them, and ever will,  
Who deign me grace their glories trump to be,  
If such there be, then shall my cimball shrill  
Sound loud, and my rent harp and hart now free  
Servile itself, and once again shall see  
This loathed light: but if none grace my pen,  
As erst I said, I will not live with men.  
Thus end I as I never would begin,  
And pardon crave, repentance is no sin.   

If I have erred, and will no more, forgive;  
As proper tis to man to err, as live.   
FINIS.   

The Conclusion.  

THus have I sung( albee with lowly strain)  
In noble language well nigh strange to me:  
Thus have I searched that eviternall vain  
Where treasure lives and mines of glory be,  
Enwombing pearls of peerless amity:  
Thus have I sung( although in base style)  
The glorious union of the greatest Ile.   

Where many brave and memorable men  
Have been by me( unworthy such great deed)  
digged out their graves, and my not graced pen  
Admits them live; live ever whose great deed  
Craves royal trump or everlasting reede.  
Live ever, whilst I live you may not die  
successful sons of immortality.   

No, no, you cannot die, and whilst I live  
My greater care shall be to eternize  
Your antic trophies; mighty ones forgive  
These bolder essays, you who midst the skies  
As glorious stars gaze our infirmities.  
Though I on earth for you receive disgrace,  
Live you in heaven, see Iesus face to face.    

A Defence against Envy.  

WHat been they all who do the Muse admire,  
And reverence Art, what, al esteemed base?  
No Envy, no, thy wrath and impious ire  
Cannot the least, the least of thee disgrace,  
Whose zeal doth Science sacred self embrace.  
What dreads me then? not thou, this mind I bear,  
He who doth no man wrong, should no wrong fear.   

Were not the Sages wont in elder dayes  
To blaze the worth of honourable men,  
In lofty numbers and heroic lays?  
And did not antic Bard at banquet then  
Inspirde with rage, mans braver action pen?  
They did; we will( but not in banquet I)  
virtues admired glory dignify.   

Now Envy, do thy worst, I patience have,  
To guard my innocence from proud disdain,  
Revile my labours, and my lines deprave,  
Yet I will be myself, and will remain  
Constant vnmoov'd, who strive against the main  
Danger attempts: I will not: world forgive  
Me who doth err, because in thee I live.   

What need I thus so basely me excuse,  
Sith the wide world each day doth error view?  
Yet do not let these motives thee seduce;  
My vnstain'd pen be chased, be ever true,  
Full of Invention and of matter new;  
Submit thee to the wise, tis wisedoms end,  
Happy those houres which we in study spend.   
FINIS.   

Printed at London by Valentine Simmes. 1605.