Strange Histories, or, Songes and Sonets, of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lordes, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen ::

When Isabell faire Englands Queene,
in wofull warres had victorious beene:
Our comely King, her husband deare,
subdued by strength, as did appeare,
By her was sent to prison strong,
for hauing done his Countrie wrong,
In Barkly Castle cast was hee,
denyed of royall dignitie:
Where he was kept in wofull wise,
his Queene did him so much despise.

There did he liue a wofull state,
such is a womans deadly hate:

When fickle fancie followes change,
and lustfull thoughts delight to range,
Lord Mortimer was so in minde,
the Kinges sweete loue was cast behind:
And none was knowne a greater foe
vnto King Edward in his woe
Then Isabell, his crowned Queene,
as by the sequell shall be seene.

While he in prison poorely lay,
a Parliament was held straight way:
What time, his foes apace did bring
Billes of complaint against the King:
So that the Nobles of the land,
when they the matter throughly scand,
Pronounced then these speeches plaine,
Hee was vnworthy for to raigne.
Therefore they made a flat decree
he should foorthwith deposed bee.

And his sonne Edward young of yeeres,
was iudged by the Noble peeres
Most meete to weare the princely Crowne,
his Father being thus puld downe.
Which words when as the Queene did heare,
(dissemblingly, as did appeare)
She wept, she wayld, and wrong her hands,

before the Lords where as she stands.
Which when the Prince her Sonne did see,
he spake these words most courteously.

My sweete Queene Mother, weepe not so,
thinke not your Sonne will seeke your woe:
Though English Lords chose mee their King,
my owne deare Father yet lyuing:
Thinke not thereto I will consent,
except my Father be content,
And with goodwill his Crowne resigne,
and graunt it freely to be mine:
Therefore, Queene Mother, thinke no ill
in mee, or them, for their good will.

Then diuers Lords without delay,
went to the King where as he lay,
Declaring how the matter stood,
and how the Peeres did thinke it good,
To choose his Sonne their King to bee,
if that he would thereto agree:
For to resigne the princely Crowne,
and all his title of renowne:
If otherwise, they told him plaine,
a stranger should the same attaine.

This dolefull tydings (most vnkind)

did sore afflict King Edwards minde:
But when he saw no remedie,
he did vnto their willes agree:
And bitterly he did lament,
saying, the Lord this Plague hath sent,
For his offence and vanitie,
which he would suffer patiently:
Beseeching all the Lords at last,
for to forgiue him all was past.

When thus he was deposed quite
of that which was his lawfull right,
In Prison was he kept full close,
without all pittie or remorce:
And those that shew'd him fauour still,
were taken from him with ill will.
Which when the Earle of Kent did heare,
who was in blood to him full neare:
He did intreat most earnestly
for his release and libertie.

His words did much the Queene displease,
who sayd, he liu'd too much at ease.
Unto the Bishop did she goe,
of Hereford, his deadly foe:
And cruell Letters made him write
vnto his Keepers, with despight,

You are too kind to him, quoth shee,
hencefoorth more straighter looke you bee:
And in their writing subtiltie,
they sent them word that he should die.

The Lord Matreuers all dismayd,
vnto Sir Thomas Gurney sayd:
The Queene is much displeasd, quoth hee,
for Edwards too much libertie:
And by her Letters doth bewray,
that soone he shall be made away.
Tis best (Sir Thomas then replide)
the Queenes wish should not be denide:
Thereby we shall haue her good will,
and keepe our selues in credite still.

University of Virginia Library

The cruell imprisonment of King Edward the second, at the Castle of Barkley the 22. of September 1327.

Cant. 6.