University of Virginia Library

Though yet no forraine Princes in this place,
Haue come to tell their haplesse great mishap:
Yet giue me leaue a while to pleade my case,
And shewe howe I slipt out of Fortunes lap:
Perchaunce some others will eschewe the trap
Wherein I fell, and both themselues beware,
And also seeke the lesse thy countreys care.
I am that Humber kinge of Hunnes that came
To win this Islande, from the Britaynes fell:
Was drownde in Humber where I left my name.
A iust reward for him that liude so well
At home, and yet thought others to expell,
Both from their Realme and right: O filthy fye
On such ambition earst as vsed I.
But I must blame report, the chiefest cause
Of my decaye: beware of rashe report:

73

Tis wisedome first to take a while some pause,
Before to dint of daungers you resort:
Least when you come in hast to scale the fort:
By rashe assault some engin, shaft, or fyre
Dispatcht you quite, or make you soone retyre.
For vnto mee the rumors daily flewe,
That here a noble Ilande might be won:
The king was dead: no warres the people knewe,
And eke themselues to striue at home begon.
It were (quoth I) a noble acte well don,
To win it then: and there withall did make
Prouision good, this famous Ile to take.
A war like regall campe prouided was,
And shipps, and vitaile for my Hunnes and mee:
By sea to Britaine conquest for to passe,
If Gods thereto and heauenly starres agree:
At length wee came to shores of Albanie,
And there to fight with Britaynes pitcht our field:
In hope to make them flinche, flye, fall or yeelde.
They met vs, longe we fearcely faught it out,
And doubtful was the victours part of twaine,
Till with my Hunnes I rusht amonge the route,
And faught, till that king Albanact was slaine.
Then they to yeeld and pardon craue were faine,
And I with triumphes great receiude the pray:
And marched forward, flesht with such a fray.

74

I past an arme of Sea, that would to God
I neuer had bin halfe so bold at furst:
I made to beate my selfe withall a rod,
When so within their Realme I venture durst:
But marke my tale thou hearst not yet the worst.
As sure I thought the rest to circumuent:
By spyes before, they knew my whole intent.
And or I wiste, when I was come to lande:
Not farre from shore, two Princes were preparde,
Their scoutes conueyde away my shipps they fand,
And of my shipmens fleshe they nothing sparde,
To rescue which, as backe againe I farde:
The armyes twaine were at my heeles behinde
So closde me in, I wist no waye to winde.
On th'east Locrinus with an armye great:
By West was Camber with an other bande:
By North an arme of Sea the shoores did beate,
Which compast mee and mine within their lande:
No way to scape was there, but water fande,
Which I must taste or els the swords of those,
Which were to mee and mine full deadly foes.
So when I sawe the best of all mine hoste,
Beate downe with bats, shot, slaine or forst to swim:
My selfe was faine likewise to flye the coast,
And with the rest the waters entred in.
A simple shift for Princes to begin:
Yet far I demde it better so to dye,
Then at mine enmyes foote an abiecte lye.

75

But when I thus had swam with hope to scape,
If I might wend the water waues to passe:
The Britaynes that before my ships had gate,
Gan watche mee, where amidst the surge I was:
Than with my boates they rowde to me alas,
And all they cryde kepe Humber kepe their king:
That to our Prince we may the traytour bring.
So with my boates beset poore Humber I
Wiste no refuge: my werye armes did ake:
My breath was short: I had no powre to crye,
Or place to stand while I my plaint might make:
The water cold made all my ioyntes to shake:
My hart did beate with sorrow, griefe and paine:
And downe my cheekes, salt teares they gusht amaine.
O must thou yelde, and shall thy boates betraye
Thy selfe (quoth I) no mercy Britaynes haue:
O would to God I might escape awaye:
I wot not yet if pardon I may craue:
Although my deedes deserue no life to haue,
I will: I nill: death: bondage beast am I
In waters thus, in foraine soyle to dye.
With that I clapt my quauering hands abrode,
And held them vp to heauen, and thus I saide:
O Gods that know the paines that I haue bode,
And iust reuengment of my rashnes paide,
And of the death of Albanacte betraide
By mee and mine: I yelde my life therefore,
Content to dye, and neuer greeue yee more.
Then straight not opening of my handes, I bowde
My selfe, and set my head my armes betweene:
And downe I sprang, with all the force I cowde:
So duckte, that neither head nor foote were seene:

76

And neuer sawe my foes againe I weene,
There was I drounde the Britaynes to my fame:
Yet call that arme of Sea by Humbers name.
Take heede by mee, let my presumption serue:
And let my folly, fall, and rashnes bee:
A glasse wherein to see if thou do swerue,
Thou mayste thy selfe perceiue somewhat by mee.
Let neither trust, nor treason traine forth thee:
But be content with thine estate, so shall
No wrath of God, procure thy haplesse fall.
If thou be forrayne bide within thy soyle:
That God hath giuen to thee and thine to holde,
If thou oppression meane beware the foyle:
Beare not thy selfe, of thee or thine to bolde:
Or of the feates thy elders did of olde,
For God is iust, iniustice will not thriue:
He plagues the prowde, preserues the good aliue.
FINIS.