Strange Histories, or, Songes and Sonets, of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lordes, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen Very pleasant either to be read or songe: and a most excellent warning for all estates [by Thomas Deloney] |
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The lamentable death of King Iohn, how he was
poysoned in the Abby at Swinsted, by a Frier.
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 | Strange Histories, or, Songes and Sonets, of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lordes, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen |  |
The lamentable death of King Iohn, how he was poysoned in the Abby at Swinsted, by a Frier.
Cant. 5.
A tretcherous
deede forthwith I shall you tell,
VVhich on King Iohn vpon a sodaine fell,
To Lincoln-shire proceeding on his way,
At Swinsted Abbey one whole night he lay.
VVhich on King Iohn vpon a sodaine fell,
To Lincoln-shire proceeding on his way,
At Swinsted Abbey one whole night he lay.
There did the King appose his welcome good,
But much deceipt lyes vnder an Abbots hood.
There did the King himselfe in safetie thinke,
But there the King receiued his latest drinke.
But much deceipt lyes vnder an Abbots hood.
There did the King himselfe in safetie thinke,
But there the King receiued his latest drinke.
Great cheere they made vnto his royall Grace,
While he remaynd a guest within that place:
But while they smylde and laughed in his sight,
They wrought great treason, shadowed wt delight
While he remaynd a guest within that place:
But while they smylde and laughed in his sight,
They wrought great treason, shadowed wt delight
A flat faced Monke comes with a glosing tale,
To giue the King a cupp of spiced Ale:
A deadlier draught was neuer offered man:
Yet this false Monke vnto the King began.
To giue the King a cupp of spiced Ale:
A deadlier draught was neuer offered man:
Yet this false Monke vnto the King began.
Which when the King (without mistrust) did see,
He tooke the Cup of him couragiously:
But while he held the poysoned Cop in hand,
Our noble King amazed much did stand.
He tooke the Cup of him couragiously:
But while he held the poysoned Cop in hand,
Our noble King amazed much did stand.
For casting downe by chaunce his princely eye,
On precious Iewels which he had full nye:
He saw the cullour of each precious Stone
Most strangely turne, and alter one by one.
On precious Iewels which he had full nye:
He saw the cullour of each precious Stone
Most strangely turne, and alter one by one.
Their orient brightnesse to a pale dead hue.
Were changed quite, the cause no person knew:
And such a sweat did ouerspread them all,
As stood like deaw which on faire Flowers fall.
Were changed quite, the cause no person knew:
As stood like deaw which on faire Flowers fall.
And hereby was their precious natures tryde,
For precious Stones foule poyson cannot abide:
But though our King beheld their cullour pale,
Mistrusted not the poyson in the Ale.
For precious Stones foule poyson cannot abide:
But though our King beheld their cullour pale,
Mistrusted not the poyson in the Ale.
For why, the Monke the taste before him tooke,
Nor knew the King how ill he did it brooke:
And therefore he a harty draught did take,
Which of his life a quicke dispatch did make.
Nor knew the King how ill he did it brooke:
And therefore he a harty draught did take,
Which of his life a quicke dispatch did make.
Th'infectious drinke fumde vp into his head,
And through the veines into the heart it spread:
Distempering the pure vnspotted braine,
That doth in man his memorie maintaine.
And through the veines into the heart it spread:
Distempering the pure vnspotted braine,
That doth in man his memorie maintaine.
Then felt the King an extreame griefe to grow
Through all his entrels, being infected so:
Whereby he knew through anguish which he felt,
The Monks with him most trayterously had delt.
Through all his entrels, being infected so:
Whereby he knew through anguish which he felt,
The Monks with him most trayterously had delt.
The grones he gaue, did make all men to wonder,
He cast as if his heart would split in sunder:
And still he cald, while he thereon did thinke,
for that false Monk which brought ye deadly drinke.
He cast as if his heart would split in sunder:
And still he cald, while he thereon did thinke,
for that false Monk which brought ye deadly drinke.
And then his Lords went searching round about,
In euery place to finde this Traytor out:
At length they found him dead as any stone,
VVithin a corner lying all alone.
In euery place to finde this Traytor out:
At length they found him dead as any stone,
VVithin a corner lying all alone.
For hauing tasted of that poysoned Cup,
VVhereof our King the residue of drunke vp:
The enuious Monke himselfe to death did bring,
That he thereby might kill our royall King.
VVhereof our King the residue of drunke vp:
The enuious Monke himselfe to death did bring,
That he thereby might kill our royall King.
But when the King with wonder heard them tell
The Monkes dead body did with poyson swell:
VVhy then my Lords full quickly now quoth hee
A breathlesse King you shall among you see.
The Monkes dead body did with poyson swell:
VVhy then my Lords full quickly now quoth hee
A breathlesse King you shall among you see.
Behold he sayd, my vaines in peeces cracke,
A greeuous torment feele I in my backe:
And by this poyson deadly and accurst,
I feele my hart-stringes ready for to burst.
A greeuous torment feele I in my backe:
And by this poyson deadly and accurst,
I feele my hart-stringes ready for to burst.
VVith that his eyes did turne within his head:
A pale dead cullour through his face did spread:
And lying gasping with a cold faint breath:
The royall King was ouercome by death.
A pale dead cullour through his face did spread:
And lying gasping with a cold faint breath:
The royall King was ouercome by death.
His mournfull Lordes which stood about him then
VVith all their force and troopes of warlike men:
To Worcester the corpes they did conuey.
With Drumme & Trumpet marching al the way.
VVith all their force and troopes of warlike men:
With Drumme & Trumpet marching al the way.
And in the faire Cathedrall Church I finde,
They buried him according to their minde:
Most pompiously best fitting for a King,
Who were applauded greatly for this thing.
They buried him according to their minde:
Most pompiously best fitting for a King,
Who were applauded greatly for this thing.
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