The life of Cardinal Wolsey By George Cavendish, his gentleman usher. And metrical visions, from the original autograph manuscript. With notes and other illustrations, by Samuel Weller Singer |
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 | The life of Cardinal Wolsey |  |
130
L'AUCTOR IN MORTEM EDWARDI VI.
I lake teares to lament, and connyng to compile
Matter sufficient of fame most worthye;
My wytt is to dull for so lamentable a style,
And my penne is to blount to put in memory
Of Edward the Sixt the woofull tragedie,
Which hathe here passed the paynfull passage
Of thes mondayn stormes in his tender age.
Matter sufficient of fame most worthye;
My wytt is to dull for so lamentable a style,
And my penne is to blount to put in memory
Of Edward the Sixt the woofull tragedie,
Which hathe here passed the paynfull passage
Of thes mondayn stormes in his tender age.
He was a kyng royal, of byrthe and of port;
In virtue surmountyng, garnyshed with grace;
In vice he had no joye ne any disport;
Sober in countenance, no lyghtnes in his face;
All was don with gravitie, in tyme and in place;
Yong he was in yeres, but in manners sage;
Yet deathe devoured hym in his tender age.
In virtue surmountyng, garnyshed with grace;
In vice he had no joye ne any disport;
Sober in countenance, no lyghtnes in his face;
All was don with gravitie, in tyme and in place;
Yong he was in yeres, but in manners sage;
Yet deathe devoured hym in his tender age.
Ah deathe! most cruel, thyself to revenge
On so tender an impe of vertue the flower:
Oh deathe! thy bytt was bytter in tarenge;
Alas! I say, that ever we saw that hower,
That thou sholdest so cruelly this prince devoure,
Regardyng hyme no more than a poore page;
Thou sholdest have spared hym in hys tender age.
On so tender an impe of vertue the flower:
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Alas! I say, that ever we saw that hower,
That thou sholdest so cruelly this prince devoure,
Regardyng hyme no more than a poore page;
Thou sholdest have spared hym in hys tender age.
In connyng and wysdome, Solomons right heyer;
His wytt was so excellent, his sentence so profound;
Absolon in beawtie, his visage was so fayer:
If he myght have lyved ther shold not have byn found
A prynce more excellent raynyng on the ground;
Yet for all his virtues and noble parentage,
Deathe hathe hyme devoured in his tender age.
His wytt was so excellent, his sentence so profound;
Absolon in beawtie, his visage was so fayer:
If he myght have lyved ther shold not have byn found
A prynce more excellent raynyng on the ground;
132
Deathe hathe hyme devoured in his tender age.
Noble Alexander, whom clarkes call Severe,
That was of Rome emperour by eleccion,
Who rewled his empier in love and in feare
Duryng all his lyve, by clemency and correccion;
To whom this yong kyng myght make comparison,
Yf deathe would have spared in hir cruel rage,
Hyme to devoure in his yong and tender age.
That was of Rome emperour by eleccion,
Who rewled his empier in love and in feare
Duryng all his lyve, by clemency and correccion;
To whom this yong kyng myght make comparison,
Yf deathe would have spared in hir cruel rage,
Hyme to devoure in his yong and tender age.
133
Wanton youthe raygned in hyme nothyng at all,
But wysdome, connyng, and sober gravytie;
For all his care and study pryncypall
Was to consider hys charge knytt to his dignytie,
And to governe his subjects in justice and equytie,
And nobly to raygne without any owtrage:
This was his disport in his tender age.
But wysdome, connyng, and sober gravytie;
For all his care and study pryncypall
Was to consider hys charge knytt to his dignytie,
And to governe his subjects in justice and equytie,
And nobly to raygne without any owtrage:
This was his disport in his tender age.
A virgin prynce, a mayden kyng,
Never corrupte with thought oncleane;
So chaste he was in all hys lyvyng,
Suche grace in hyme was daylye seen,
That all men dyd bothe juge and deme
Deathe to be to blame in hir fond rage,
This prynce to devour in his tender age.
Never corrupte with thought oncleane;
So chaste he was in all hys lyvyng,
Suche grace in hyme was daylye seen,
That all men dyd bothe juge and deme
Deathe to be to blame in hir fond rage,
This prynce to devour in his tender age.
From hyme all vice vanished was by grace,
That no rote of onclenness cowld take hold;
Vertue had so furnyshed fully in the place
Which made vice in hyme so fyble and cold,
And virtue so famylier that made hyme so bold,
With discression to rewle hys realme and baronage,
Tyll deathe devoured hym in his tender age.
That no rote of onclenness cowld take hold;
Vertue had so furnyshed fully in the place
Which made vice in hyme so fyble and cold,
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With discression to rewle hys realme and baronage,
Tyll deathe devoured hym in his tender age.
With pride he never entendyd to stryve,
Of covetous also he had non acquaintaunce,
Nor had indignation to any man alyve,
And to be revenged he never knew vengeaunce,
Gloteny could not prevayle for temperance,
Idelnes was banyshed, his commyn usage,
Discression so rewled his tender age.
Of covetous also he had non acquaintaunce,
Nor had indignation to any man alyve,
And to be revenged he never knew vengeaunce,
Gloteny could not prevayle for temperance,
Idelnes was banyshed, his commyn usage,
Discression so rewled his tender age.
My stile to direct with trewe dyligence,
This royal prynce to commend evyn at the full,
Of connyng clarkes I want the eloquence;
My experyence in suche matters are very dull,
And wysdome is banyshed my old grosse skull;
Therfore I beseche the, Lord, which is eternall,
That in hevyn this prynce may raygn immortall.
This royal prynce to commend evyn at the full,
Of connyng clarkes I want the eloquence;
My experyence in suche matters are very dull,
And wysdome is banyshed my old grosse skull;
Therfore I beseche the, Lord, which is eternall,
That in hevyn this prynce may raygn immortall.
135
L'AUCTOR G. C.
Musyng of this world and of the incertentie,
Where nother prynce, kyng, ne any other estate
In lusty youthe floryshyng in felicitie,
Can have of deathe any sewer date;
For whan deathe saythe oons to them, chekemate,
Geve over the playe for ye have lost the game;
This was my last studye musyng on the same.
Where nother prynce, kyng, ne any other estate
In lusty youthe floryshyng in felicitie,
Can have of deathe any sewer date;
For whan deathe saythe oons to them, chekemate,
Geve over the playe for ye have lost the game;
This was my last studye musyng on the same.
Perceyvyng at the last it ware great folly
Ferther to muse of thyngs in experyence,
Which daylie is seen, bothe symple and jolly,
That departithe this lyfe where can be no resistance,
For all must desolve and departe from hence;
Therfore to be sorrye it ware but a madnes,
For after old sorrowes comyth newe gladnes.
Ferther to muse of thyngs in experyence,
Which daylie is seen, bothe symple and jolly,
That departithe this lyfe where can be no resistance,
For all must desolve and departe from hence;
Therfore to be sorrye it ware but a madnes,
For after old sorrowes comyth newe gladnes.
The wether broke uppe that cloudy was byfore,
And the sonne gave lyght whom mystes did deface,
But God that knewe our lamentable sore,
Hathe agayn of his especyall grace
Torned our old sorrowes to a newe solace;
For the losse of a kyng which was a virgin clean,
He hathe restored us a mayden quene.
And the sonne gave lyght whom mystes did deface,
But God that knewe our lamentable sore,
136
Torned our old sorrowes to a newe solace;
For the losse of a kyng which was a virgin clean,
He hathe restored us a mayden quene.
IN LAUDEM REGINE MARIE.
Whome our Lord of his benygne goodnes
Hathe preserved from many stormye showers,
Or ells had she peryshed in great distresse;
But nowe hathe he made hyr a quene of owers,
Whom Jesu defend all tymes and howers,
And geve hyr grace to rewle thys realme in peace,
To the honor of God, our welthe and quyet ease.
Hathe preserved from many stormye showers,
Or ells had she peryshed in great distresse;
But nowe hathe he made hyr a quene of owers,
Whom Jesu defend all tymes and howers,
And geve hyr grace to rewle thys realme in peace,
To the honor of God, our welthe and quyet ease.
Let us love hir with faythfull harts,
For she is our lawfull quene, born by just dissent;
We be hir subjects, it is therfore our parts
To be to hir obedyent, with a good entent,
And let us not dought that ever we shall repent;
Yf we do otherwyse, our wytts be to blunt,
Quia corda regum in manu Dei sunt.
For she is our lawfull quene, born by just dissent;
We be hir subjects, it is therfore our parts
To be to hir obedyent, with a good entent,
And let us not dought that ever we shall repent;
Yf we do otherwyse, our wytts be to blunt,
Quia corda regum in manu Dei sunt.
137
God hathe ordened hir to raygn in this regally,
Therefore lyke trewe subjects let us be content;
To grudge ayenst God it ware a great folly,
For he is a Lord that workyth his devyn intent
Secretly and cloos ayenst all mens intendment;
His workes be not knowen untill they come to passe,
Therfore hyme to prevent thou art a very asse.
Therefore lyke trewe subjects let us be content;
To grudge ayenst God it ware a great folly,
For he is a Lord that workyth his devyn intent
Secretly and cloos ayenst all mens intendment;
His workes be not knowen untill they come to passe,
Therfore hyme to prevent thou art a very asse.
Yf thou pretend Gods holy word to know,
Whye dost thou rebell ayenst hir grace,
Maliciously abrode scedycion to sowe,
To slander hir honor, hir virtue to deface
With any falce reports as some of late hase?
Mayntayn non suche, let them not be releved,
For from the comon welthe they owght to be remeved.
Whye dost thou rebell ayenst hir grace,
Maliciously abrode scedycion to sowe,
To slander hir honor, hir virtue to deface
With any falce reports as some of late hase?
Mayntayn non suche, let them not be releved,
For from the comon welthe they owght to be remeved.
To travell any further hir virtues to comend,
My tyme I shold spend with insufficyence;
Though my will be good my wytt cannot comprehend
All hyr nobles and hyghe magnyficence,
Worthely to prayse as I owght of congruence;
Therfore lest my rude stile shold them deface,
I hir commyt to the protection of God's grace.
My tyme I shold spend with insufficyence;
Though my will be good my wytt cannot comprehend
138
Worthely to prayse as I owght of congruence;
Therfore lest my rude stile shold them deface,
I hir commyt to the protection of God's grace.
Leavyng hyr with God, whome she lovyth best,
She is his servant, he will not hir disseyve,
Nor leave hir with ennemyes cruelly to be opprest,
From whos malyce he will hir receyve
Into his protection, as we of late perceyve
How he hathe preserved hir, this royal quene:
Defend hir, good Lord, from ennemyes yet not seen.
She is his servant, he will not hir disseyve,
Nor leave hir with ennemyes cruelly to be opprest,
From whos malyce he will hir receyve
Into his protection, as we of late perceyve
How he hathe preserved hir, this royal quene:
Defend hir, good Lord, from ennemyes yet not seen.
139
L'AUCTOR G. C.
Now let me retourne to the foure knyghts
That late suffred deathe, I know not the cause,
But the wyll to fullfill of a man of myght,
Which caused them to dye by colour of the lawes;
Wherin was found a certyn defuse clause,
Wrested by craft to a male intent,
To cause them to dye that therin ware innocent.
That late suffred deathe, I know not the cause,
But the wyll to fullfill of a man of myght,
Which caused them to dye by colour of the lawes;
Wherin was found a certyn defuse clause,
Wrested by craft to a male intent,
To cause them to dye that therin ware innocent.
As I sat complaynyng, in my studye alone,
The deathe of thes knyghts and of ther wooful fall,
My hart was so greved I could no wyse but mone,
Rebukyng fortune most in especyall,
Which is of nature bothe cruel and mutall,
Without all pitie and will no mercy have
Of non estate ther honors to deprave.
The deathe of thes knyghts and of ther wooful fall,
My hart was so greved I could no wyse but mone,
Rebukyng fortune most in especyall,
Which is of nature bothe cruel and mutall,
Without all pitie and will no mercy have
Of non estate ther honors to deprave.
140
Thes Clarkes old that wrott wooful tragedies,
I pray you ware not ther playnts of hyghe estates,
Recordyng ther onware falls and dayngerous jeopardies,
Ther sodeyn changes and ther woofull fates,
Ther disdaynous dispyghts and onnaturall debates;
Allwayes concludyng, who list to take heade,
Howe hyghe estates are alwayes in most dreade.
I pray you ware not ther playnts of hyghe estates,
Recordyng ther onware falls and dayngerous jeopardies,
Ther sodeyn changes and ther woofull fates,
Ther disdaynous dispyghts and onnaturall debates;
Allwayes concludyng, who list to take heade,
Howe hyghe estates are alwayes in most dreade.
With that, in blakke, I sawe oon come and goo,
Whos countenance was sade, nowe standing in a staye,
His looke downcast in token of sorowe and woo,
The salt teeres in droppes on his bare cheeke laye,
Which bare record of his woo and deadly affray;
Wherfore he prayed me my penne for to redresse,
And therwith to discrybe hys playnts and hevynes.
Whos countenance was sade, nowe standing in a staye,
His looke downcast in token of sorowe and woo,
The salt teeres in droppes on his bare cheeke laye,
Which bare record of his woo and deadly affray;
Wherfore he prayed me my penne for to redresse,
And therwith to discrybe hys playnts and hevynes.
141
DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND.
The ground (quod he) and begynnyng of my destruction
I shall to you reherse shortly in sentence;
Yt was covetous pryde and hyghe presumpcion,
Disdaynyng all men of royal excellence,
Covetyng by ravyn to have the preemynence;
And whome I suspectyd that stade in my waye,
I shortly by falshod intended ther dekay.
I shall to you reherse shortly in sentence;
Yt was covetous pryde and hyghe presumpcion,
Disdaynyng all men of royal excellence,
Covetyng by ravyn to have the preemynence;
And whome I suspectyd that stade in my waye,
I shortly by falshod intended ther dekay.
First I caused a duke wrongfully to dye,
By rigor of the lawes purposely invented;
Yt hathe not byn hard in my symple fantzy,
A duke for fellony to be convented,
Without any acte wherby that he offendyd;
But of cankard malice my cruelty to fullfyll,
Caused hyme and knyghts fower to dye on Tower Hyll.
By rigor of the lawes purposely invented;
Yt hathe not byn hard in my symple fantzy,
A duke for fellony to be convented,
142
But of cankard malice my cruelty to fullfyll,
Caused hyme and knyghts fower to dye on Tower Hyll.
Froward ambycion set so my hart on fier
To assend uppe the imperyall see,
And to possesse the governaunce of the empier;
I did the best that lay in me
To rewle thys realme and have the soverayntie;
Thys was my purpose by covetous and pride,
Whan I sawe tyme, the just titile to sett aside.
To assend uppe the imperyall see,
And to possesse the governaunce of the empier;
I did the best that lay in me
To rewle thys realme and have the soverayntie;
Thys was my purpose by covetous and pride,
Whan I sawe tyme, the just titile to sett aside.
For lyke a subject to lyve I was not content,
But this realme to governe most lykest a kyng,
Which caused me to study what meanes to invent,
My desier to attayne and to my purpose bryng;
I revolved in my brayn, immagynyng every thyng,
Howe to governe and rewle, and still in this land,
Till at the last this subtiltie I fand.
But this realme to governe most lykest a kyng,
Which caused me to study what meanes to invent,
My desier to attayne and to my purpose bryng;
I revolved in my brayn, immagynyng every thyng,
Howe to governe and rewle, and still in this land,
Till at the last this subtiltie I fand.
I had a sonne that tender was of age,
Which greatly stode in my conceyt and favor,
Whome I intendyd than to joyn in mariage
To the doughter of Suffolk, the dukes enheritor,
And so in possibilitie myght be successor
Unto the emperyall crown, by lawes of this land,
As by the statutes ye may well understand.
Which greatly stode in my conceyt and favor,
143
To the doughter of Suffolk, the dukes enheritor,
And so in possibilitie myght be successor
Unto the emperyall crown, by lawes of this land,
As by the statutes ye may well understand.
Thus I presumed by falce usurpation,
In all Englond to quenche the cleare light,
And troble the lynne of just succession,
Which I intendyd by force, and not of ryght,
Contrary to the order of a royal knyght,
To subdue the lawfull quene, I falcely did ordeyn,
That I in this regyon the quyeter myght rayn.
In all Englond to quenche the cleare light,
And troble the lynne of just succession,
Which I intendyd by force, and not of ryght,
Contrary to the order of a royal knyght,
To subdue the lawfull quene, I falcely did ordeyn,
That I in this regyon the quyeter myght rayn.
I assembled to ayd me, shortly to conclude,
A great number of people in every degree
Advauncyng thus forward with a confused multitude,
Without any title, but grounded on sotiltie;
Wherfore the gentlemen and comons of the countrie,
All of oon assent and in oon opynyon,
Assembled them together, brought me to confusion.
A great number of people in every degree
Advauncyng thus forward with a confused multitude,
Without any title, but grounded on sotiltie;
Wherfore the gentlemen and comons of the countrie,
All of oon assent and in oon opynyon,
Assembled them together, brought me to confusion.
144
Thus can the Lord the meke enhaunce,
And from ther seats the proud thrust down,
Specyally them that have no remembraunce
To remember by wysdome, or by reasown
To know the Lord, most myghty of renown;
The Lord of Lords playnly to compile,
Who sufferyth tyraunts to raygn but a wyle.
And from ther seats the proud thrust down,
Specyally them that have no remembraunce
To remember by wysdome, or by reasown
To know the Lord, most myghty of renown;
The Lord of Lords playnly to compile,
Who sufferyth tyraunts to raygn but a wyle.
For cruell murder and falce oppression
Caused me to stand in great hatred;
What avaylled me my hyghe domynacion,
Without love of the people when I had most nede?
Whome for a wyle they did honor and dreade:
But now love and dreade are quenched and gone,
I ame but a wretche left all alone.
Caused me to stand in great hatred;
145
Without love of the people when I had most nede?
Whome for a wyle they did honor and dreade:
But now love and dreade are quenched and gone,
I ame but a wretche left all alone.
Take an example howe Mallios of Carthage,
For all his towers and castles made of stones,
For his oppression, tyranny, and owtrage,
The people of Africke fell on hyme all at oons,
Cuttynge his fleshe and hewgh all his bones;
Entendyng on hyme, they were so wood,
Unto ther gods to offer uppe his blood.
For all his towers and castles made of stones,
For his oppression, tyranny, and owtrage,
The people of Africke fell on hyme all at oons,
Cuttynge his fleshe and hewgh all his bones;
Entendyng on hyme, they were so wood,
Unto ther gods to offer uppe his blood.
Evyn so was I brought to myschefe and to dreade,
For all my great power where in I then stode;
Here may you se who lyst to take heade,
Howe gery fortune, furious, and wood,
Will not spare for power nor for good,
Myghty prynces, which lyst not God to knowe,
From ther estates to bryng them down full lowe.
For all my great power where in I then stode;
Here may you se who lyst to take heade,
Howe gery fortune, furious, and wood,
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Myghty prynces, which lyst not God to knowe,
From ther estates to bryng them down full lowe.
What myght avayle the conquest of great price
Done by kyng Zerses in his estate royal,
Which overcame in battayl, as clarkes doth devise,
Ten hondreth thousand; the nomber was not small,
Yet for all that he had a cruell fall
Whan he was, as in storyes is remembred,
On pieces small petyously dismembred.
Done by kyng Zerses in his estate royal,
Which overcame in battayl, as clarkes doth devise,
Ten hondreth thousand; the nomber was not small,
Yet for all that he had a cruell fall
Whan he was, as in storyes is remembred,
On pieces small petyously dismembred.
My seade, my succession, and all my bloode,
By my default are brought to distruccion;
Thus cruel fortune most froward and wood,
For my great pride and falce usurpacion,
Hath thrown me down and all my generation;
Thus can fortune with twynklyng of an eye
Bryng hyme full lowe that sometyme sat full hye.
By my default are brought to distruccion;
Thus cruel fortune most froward and wood,
For my great pride and falce usurpacion,
Hath thrown me down and all my generation;
Thus can fortune with twynklyng of an eye
Bryng hyme full lowe that sometyme sat full hye.
Of myn end what ned it any more to wright,
Or of my deathe make farther degression,
God may his vengeaunce a while respight,
But murder wyll owte, and all suche treason;
And thoughe it ware my disposicion
Falcely to murder, to you I must be playn,
Nedes must murder be my guerdon agayn.
Or of my deathe make farther degression,
God may his vengeaunce a while respight,
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And thoughe it ware my disposicion
Falcely to murder, to you I must be playn,
Nedes must murder be my guerdon agayn.
Therfore I beseche you that be here alyve,
Pray for my sowle to that Lord above,
To pardon my conspyracye that I did late contryve,
Which ambytious honor therto did me move;
What madnes is to conspire myself dothe well prove:
Beware by me, therfore, thynk not to opteyn
By rebellious conspiracye ayenst your soverayn.
Pray for my sowle to that Lord above,
To pardon my conspyracye that I did late contryve,
Which ambytious honor therto did me move;
What madnes is to conspire myself dothe well prove:
Beware by me, therfore, thynk not to opteyn
By rebellious conspiracye ayenst your soverayn.
And here I make an end of this my complaynt,
Repentyng me full sore of my corrupt mynd;
My lyfe is consumed, my purpose hath me attaynt:
Therfore, ye my frends, whom I have left behynd,
That loved my body, to my sowle be not onkynd;
Remember me, I beseche you; shortly to conclude,
This world and fantzy did me thus delude.
Repentyng me full sore of my corrupt mynd;
My lyfe is consumed, my purpose hath me attaynt:
Therfore, ye my frends, whom I have left behynd,
That loved my body, to my sowle be not onkynd;
Remember me, I beseche you; shortly to conclude,
This world and fantzy did me thus delude.
148
L'AUCTOR G. C.
Whan this stout duke had ended thus his playnt,
Jhesu, thought I, what, did this man intend
To mount the seage royal by forceble constraynt;
He was ferre overseen so madly to offend,
Yt was no loyaltie thus to assend;
Thereby to enjoye the throne emperyall,
His fond enterprice requirethe a just fall.
Jhesu, thought I, what, did this man intend
To mount the seage royal by forceble constraynt;
He was ferre overseen so madly to offend,
Yt was no loyaltie thus to assend;
Thereby to enjoye the throne emperyall,
His fond enterprice requirethe a just fall.
Beyng discontent partly in my mynd,
To se a man of honor and of hygh discression,
With ambycion to be so betyll blynd,
That he could not se the segnell progression
Which dothe ensewe suche haynous transgression:
With that I hard oon crie, makyng a rewfull mone,
That late was in honor, and now left alone.
To se a man of honor and of hygh discression,
With ambycion to be so betyll blynd,
That he could not se the segnell progression
Which dothe ensewe suche haynous transgression:
With that I hard oon crie, makyng a rewfull mone,
That late was in honor, and now left alone.
149
DUKE OF SUFFOLK.
Somtyme a duke (quod he) of highe estymacion,
Of Suffolk, that bare the name and style
Which hathe nowe corrupted my hole generacion;
Yt was fortune and fantzy dyd me thus begyle,
And brought me to ruyn, alas! alas! the while;
I lakked wytt, I lakked also reason,
Ayenst my soverayn whan I comytted treason.
Of Suffolk, that bare the name and style
Which hathe nowe corrupted my hole generacion;
Yt was fortune and fantzy dyd me thus begyle,
And brought me to ruyn, alas! alas! the while;
I lakked wytt, I lakked also reason,
Ayenst my soverayn whan I comytted treason.
What neded me conspire that was so ferre in favor
With the quenes grace, whom she called cosyn;
I myght have at lengthe with my sewte and labor,
Delyvered my daughter from the daynger she was in;
But wenyng made me thynk allwayes to wyne
All that I went abought with a corrupt mynd,
Hopyng to attayn that yet I could not fynd.
With the quenes grace, whom she called cosyn;
I myght have at lengthe with my sewte and labor,
Delyvered my daughter from the daynger she was in;
But wenyng made me thynk allwayes to wyne
All that I went abought with a corrupt mynd,
Hopyng to attayn that yet I could not fynd.
And when I remember the fond enterprice
Which I toke in hand to compasse and to bryng abought,
Yt was the greatest folly that I could devyse;
Supposyng to assemble so great a rowte
To take my part and to beare theme owt:
Ther wytts ware better than I at that tyme had;
To followe me they ware not so frantyke mad.
Which I toke in hand to compasse and to bryng abought,
150
Supposyng to assemble so great a rowte
To take my part and to beare theme owt:
Ther wytts ware better than I at that tyme had;
To followe me they ware not so frantyke mad.
I claimed and proclaymed, from place to place,
The title to be just of my daughter Jane;
In citie and town I travelled than apase
To declare hyr tytle just; but all was prophane,
For I sawe my trust dayly decrease and wane:
Than was I fayne to flee and hide my hed,
For if I ware taken shortlie I shold be ded.
The title to be just of my daughter Jane;
151
To declare hyr tytle just; but all was prophane,
For I sawe my trust dayly decrease and wane:
Than was I fayne to flee and hide my hed,
For if I ware taken shortlie I shold be ded.
Than was I persewed and sought for round abought,
There was no place wherin I myght be suer;
At the last I was aspied, taken, and brought owte;
For in whome I put my trust did me first discure;
My presumcion no longer myght endure:
Than was I taken with shame and dishonor,
And led away lyke an errant traytor,
There was no place wherin I myght be suer;
At the last I was aspied, taken, and brought owte;
152
My presumcion no longer myght endure:
Than was I taken with shame and dishonor,
And led away lyke an errant traytor,
And brought to the barre, tried by my peers,
Who found me giltie wherin I did offend;
My offence was evydent as playnly it appeers,
My colors of trowthe cowld me not defend,
Allthoughe I excused me howe truly I did intend,
Yet wold not myn excuse so symple be taken,
And whan I sawe that, I knew I was forsaken.
Who found me giltie wherin I did offend;
My offence was evydent as playnly it appeers,
My colors of trowthe cowld me not defend,
Allthoughe I excused me howe truly I did intend,
Yet wold not myn excuse so symple be taken,
And whan I sawe that, I knew I was forsaken.
Non other remedy than have I, none
But to make me redye in charitie to dye;
Yt boted me not to make ferther mone,
I thought it best, therfore, myself to mortefie,
And to receyve my deathe most paciently;
Down to the bloke to bowe my hed a lowe;
This is the sede that disloyaltie dothe sowe.
But to make me redye in charitie to dye;
Yt boted me not to make ferther mone,
I thought it best, therfore, myself to mortefie,
And to receyve my deathe most paciently;
153
This is the sede that disloyaltie dothe sowe.
Farewell, Lady Frances! my most lovyng wyfe,
Lynyally dissendyd of the blood royall,
Though I be gon, and chaynged hathe my lyfe,
Which myght have lyved still if I had byn loyall,
But presumption hathe nowe distroyed all;
Therfore comfort yourself with sober pacience,
And thynke that nothyng hathe here perpetuance.
Lynyally dissendyd of the blood royall,
154
Which myght have lyved still if I had byn loyall,
But presumption hathe nowe distroyed all;
Therfore comfort yourself with sober pacience,
And thynke that nothyng hathe here perpetuance.
Farewell, my bretherne! for I ame your dekay;
This is my last farewell; God send you of his grace
To escape the pajaunt that I must nedes play,
For I ame cheafe causer of your offence and trespace:
Farewell, all ye also, dissendyd of that race,
Pray God for his mercy my sowle may be saved,
And my hedlesse body vouchesave to se it graved.
This is my last farewell; God send you of his grace
To escape the pajaunt that I must nedes play,
For I ame cheafe causer of your offence and trespace:
Farewell, all ye also, dissendyd of that race,
Pray God for his mercy my sowle may be saved,
And my hedlesse body vouchesave to se it graved.
155
L'AUCTOR G. C.
O, Lord God! yt is to me a marvelous thyng
To se the folly, the madnes, and the pryde
That now among states is dayly raynyng;
Yt is for lake of grace to be ther cheife gwyde,
For vertue and wysdome they are clean sett aside:
Alas! that you shold your honor so defile
With fowle disloyaltie, to put all in exile.
To se the folly, the madnes, and the pryde
That now among states is dayly raynyng;
Yt is for lake of grace to be ther cheife gwyde,
For vertue and wysdome they are clean sett aside:
Alas! that you shold your honor so defile
With fowle disloyaltie, to put all in exile.
O ye honorables of noble and highe degrees,
Whan will ye be content with suffisaunce?
What mean ye so wyllfully, so madly to leese
Your highe honors and riche enheritaunce
Thorowghe necligence and your myssegovernaunce:
Amend your lyves, consider well your callyng,
Lyve justly, uppright, and for se your fallyng.
Whan will ye be content with suffisaunce?
What mean ye so wyllfully, so madly to leese
Your highe honors and riche enheritaunce
Thorowghe necligence and your myssegovernaunce:
Amend your lyves, consider well your callyng,
Lyve justly, uppright, and for se your fallyng.
Than sawe I a ladye that tender was of age,
Sodenly appeere with an hedlesse body;
The sight was straynge, it abated my corage
To se so yong a thyng to chaunce on suche folly
Hir hed to loose, that myght have lyved full jolly:
By signes without wordes she made me to understand
To wright her doole that I shold take in hand.
Sodenly appeere with an hedlesse body;
The sight was straynge, it abated my corage
156
Hir hed to loose, that myght have lyved full jolly:
By signes without wordes she made me to understand
To wright her doole that I shold take in hand.
LADY JANE GRAY.
By sygnes she taught me thus to wright:
As thoughe (quod she), why did ye me dysseyve,
With faynyng fantzye ayenst all equitie and right,
The regall powers onjustly to receyve,
To serve your tornes, I do right well perceyve;
For I was your instrument to worke your purpose by;
All was but falshed to bleere withall myn eye.
As thoughe (quod she), why did ye me dysseyve,
With faynyng fantzye ayenst all equitie and right,
The regall powers onjustly to receyve,
To serve your tornes, I do right well perceyve;
For I was your instrument to worke your purpose by;
All was but falshed to bleere withall myn eye.
O ye councellors, why did ye me avaunce
To a quenes estate, full soore ayenst my mynd,
Assuryng me it was my just enheritaunce!
Now, contrarye to your suggestion, I perceyve and fynd
All was in vayn, your wytts ware to blynd
Me to delude ayenst the forme of lawe;
Forsoothe you ware to blame, and all not worthe a strawe.
To a quenes estate, full soore ayenst my mynd,
Assuryng me it was my just enheritaunce!
157
All was in vayn, your wytts ware to blynd
Me to delude ayenst the forme of lawe;
Forsoothe you ware to blame, and all not worthe a strawe.
Your crepyng and knelyng to me, poor innocent,
Brought me to wenyng with your perswasions,
That all was trewthe which ye ontruly ment;
Suche ware your arguments, suche ware your reasons,
Made to me at sondrye tymes and seasons;
Your subtill dealyng dissayved hathe bothe you and me,
Dissimulacion woll not serve nowe may you se.
Brought me to wenyng with your perswasions,
That all was trewthe which ye ontruly ment;
Suche ware your arguments, suche ware your reasons,
Made to me at sondrye tymes and seasons;
Your subtill dealyng dissayved hathe bothe you and me,
Dissimulacion woll not serve nowe may you se.
Cowld non experyence force you to know
Howe dissimulacion and covert craftynes
Hathe byn the occasion of the overthrowe
Of many a person beyng in welthynes,
And suche as used the face of dublenes;
Wherfore dissimulacion and crafty dealyng
Hathe brought you and me to utter undoyng.
Howe dissimulacion and covert craftynes
Hathe byn the occasion of the overthrowe
Of many a person beyng in welthynes,
And suche as used the face of dublenes;
158
Hathe brought you and me to utter undoyng.
For your pryncely powers and hault dygnyties
Assured me with suche perfection,
To-establyshed me in the hyest degrees,
Untill fortune hathe brought us into subjeccion,
Of the lawes to abyde the publyke correccion;
Nowe accuse we fortune as cheafe ground of our falle,
And yet is she not giltie no thyng at all.
Assured me with suche perfection,
To-establyshed me in the hyest degrees,
Untill fortune hathe brought us into subjeccion,
Of the lawes to abyde the publyke correccion;
Nowe accuse we fortune as cheafe ground of our falle,
And yet is she not giltie no thyng at all.
Yt is your pride and pevyshe presumpcion
That hathe us led to this myschaunce,
By means wherof all is in consumpcion:
Where be now your promysis and your assuraunce?
Where is your ayed? where is your mayntenaunce?
Be they not abated and layed full lowe?
Yf ye wold denye, yet all the world doth knowe.
That hathe us led to this myschaunce,
By means wherof all is in consumpcion:
Where be now your promysis and your assuraunce?
Where is your ayed? where is your mayntenaunce?
159
Yf ye wold denye, yet all the world doth knowe.
My sorowes are treble and full of doble woo,
To remember the tragedy and wofull case
That to my father, my hosbond, and me also
Ys happened, thoroughe folly and lake of grace;
Yt causithe the teeres to run down my face,
And to lament your mysfortune and myn,
By such blynd folly to fall into rewyn.
To remember the tragedy and wofull case
That to my father, my hosbond, and me also
Ys happened, thoroughe folly and lake of grace;
Yt causithe the teeres to run down my face,
And to lament your mysfortune and myn,
By such blynd folly to fall into rewyn.
Wherfore the Lord that is Lord of lords all,
And sittyth in heven above the Iherarcheyes,
Behold and consider our whofull fall,
We the beseche, with thy mercyfull eyes,
And geve thy holy eares to our lamentable cries;
As thou art mercyfull of thyn owne natures,
So have mercy on us thy poore creatures.
And sittyth in heven above the Iherarcheyes,
Behold and consider our whofull fall,
We the beseche, with thy mercyfull eyes,
And geve thy holy eares to our lamentable cries;
As thou art mercyfull of thyn owne natures,
So have mercy on us thy poore creatures.
Farewell, madame! farewell, lady mother!
Farewell, my sisters! farewell, my frendes all!
Helpe us with your prayers our prayers to further
Unto God allmyght, the Lord supernall,
That he his grace will unto hyme call
The sowles of his creatures that now lyeth deade,
Which by the lawes hathe receyved our meade.
Farewell, my sisters! farewell, my frendes all!
Helpe us with your prayers our prayers to further
160
That he his grace will unto hyme call
The sowles of his creatures that now lyeth deade,
Which by the lawes hathe receyved our meade.
161
L'AUCTOR G. C.
To answer hir complaynt I wist not what to say,
Wherfore I thought to pawse and rest a while,
Entendyng here to have made a stay,
No more to wright of this wofull style,
Supposyng that fortune cowld no more begile
Men so well warned of hir fayned flatterye,
The experience being of late had in memorye.
Wherfore I thought to pawse and rest a while,
Entendyng here to have made a stay,
No more to wright of this wofull style,
Supposyng that fortune cowld no more begile
Men so well warned of hir fayned flatterye,
The experience being of late had in memorye.
Yet some there be that wantyth God's grace,
Whos wytts be oppressed so with vice,
Though fortune doth still them menace,
Yet of suche precedents they set small price,
But runnyng hedlong without any advice
Untill all myschefe and utter distruction,
Lyke men given to all evyll dysposition.
Whos wytts be oppressed so with vice,
Though fortune doth still them menace,
Yet of suche precedents they set small price,
But runnyng hedlong without any advice
162
Lyke men given to all evyll dysposition.
That sentence is trewe, yt cannot be denyd
(Quod oon to me), for I have felt the smart;
Thexperience in me is evydently aspied,
Which causythe me to lament with a carefull hart:
With that I cast myn eye aside, where I did advert
A rowt with sorrowe woofully arayed,
And oon most rewfully to me these words he sayd—
(Quod oon to me), for I have felt the smart;
Thexperience in me is evydently aspied,
Which causythe me to lament with a carefull hart:
With that I cast myn eye aside, where I did advert
A rowt with sorrowe woofully arayed,
And oon most rewfully to me these words he sayd—
163
AN EPITAPHE ON THE LATE QUENE MARIE.
Discend from hevyn, O Muse Melpomene,
Thou mournfull goddesse, with thy sisters all,
Passe in your playnts the wofull Niobe,
Torne musyke to mone with teeres eternall,
Blake be your habetts, dyme, and funeral;
For deathe hathe bereft, to our great dolour,
Mary our mastres, our quene of honor.
Thou mournfull goddesse, with thy sisters all,
Passe in your playnts the wofull Niobe,
Torne musyke to mone with teeres eternall,
Blake be your habetts, dyme, and funeral;
For deathe hathe bereft, to our great dolour,
Mary our mastres, our quene of honor.
Our quene of honor, compared aptly
To Veritas victrix, daughter of Tyme,
By God assisted, amased in armye,
When she a virgin cleare, without cryme,
By ryght, without might, did happely clyme
To the stage royal, just inheritor,
Proclaymed Mary our quene of honor.
To Veritas victrix, daughter of Tyme,
By God assisted, amased in armye,
When she a virgin cleare, without cryme,
By ryght, without might, did happely clyme
To the stage royal, just inheritor,
Proclaymed Mary our quene of honor.
164
And as a victrix, valerus endewed
With justice, prudence, high mercy, and force,
Dredles of danger, with sword subdued
Her vassells rebells, yet havyng remorse,
With losse of few she saved the cursse;
Suche was thy mercy, surmountyng rigour,
O Mary, mystress! O quene of honour!
With justice, prudence, high mercy, and force,
Dredles of danger, with sword subdued
Her vassells rebells, yet havyng remorse,
With losse of few she saved the cursse;
Suche was thy mercy, surmountyng rigour,
O Mary, mystress! O quene of honour!
To a virgin lyfe, which lyked the best,
Profest was thyn hart; whan, moved with zele
And teeres of subjects expressing request,
For no lust, but love of the common weale,
Virginities' vowe thou diddest repelle,
Knytt with a kyng coequal in valour,
Thyn estate to conserve as quene of honour.
Profest was thyn hart; whan, moved with zele
And teeres of subjects expressing request,
For no lust, but love of the common weale,
Virginities' vowe thou diddest repelle,
Knytt with a kyng coequal in valour,
Thyn estate to conserve as quene of honour.
The Roos and pomgranat joined in oon,
England and Spain by espousal allyed;
Yet of thes branches blossomes came none
Wherby ther kyngdoms myghte be supply'd;
For this conjunction a comytt envied,
Influence castyng of mortal vapour
On Mary the rose, our quene of honour.
England and Spain by espousal allyed;
Yet of thes branches blossomes came none
Wherby ther kyngdoms myghte be supply'd;
For this conjunction a comytt envied,
Influence castyng of mortal vapour
On Mary the rose, our quene of honour.
165
Then faded the flower that wyllome was freshe,
For Boreas blasts dyd wether away
The spyritt of lyfe from the tender flesh
Of that impe royal, that pryme rose gay,
Equal in odor to Flora in May:
The virtue vanished with vitall vigour
From our fayer Mary, our quene of honour.
For Boreas blasts dyd wether away
The spyritt of lyfe from the tender flesh
Of that impe royal, that pryme rose gay,
Equal in odor to Flora in May:
The virtue vanished with vitall vigour
From our fayer Mary, our quene of honour.
Though virtue vitall dyd vanyshe away,
Hir virtues inward remayn immortal,
Eterne, and exempte from deathe and dekay,
As fountaynes flowyng with course contynuall;
As vere in verdure and greene perpetuall,
Or lamps ever lyght and supplyed with licoure,
Enduryng endles to Mary's honoure.
Hir virtues inward remayn immortal,
Eterne, and exempte from deathe and dekay,
As fountaynes flowyng with course contynuall;
As vere in verdure and greene perpetuall,
Or lamps ever lyght and supplyed with licoure,
Enduryng endles to Mary's honoure.
Add there to virtue, blood, and parentage,
In all Europa no prynces equall,
So noble of byrthe, discent, and lyneage,
As no man can nomber the joynts legal,
Of Emperors old and houses regall:
No herauld hewked in kyngs coate armoure,
Sufficyth to blaze our Mary's honoure.
In all Europa no prynces equall,
So noble of byrthe, discent, and lyneage,
166
Of Emperors old and houses regall:
No herauld hewked in kyngs coate armoure,
Sufficyth to blaze our Mary's honoure.
Lament, ye lords and ladys of estate,
You puissaunt prynces and dukes of degree,
Let never nobles appere so ingrate
As to forget the great gratuytie
Of graces granted and benifits fre,
Gevyn and restored oonly by favour
Of noble Mary, our quene of honoure.
You puissaunt prynces and dukes of degree,
Let never nobles appere so ingrate
As to forget the great gratuytie
Of graces granted and benifits fre,
Gevyn and restored oonly by favour
Of noble Mary, our quene of honoure.
Hyghe prieste of Rome, O Paule appostolike,
And college conscrypte of cardynalls all,
And ye that confesse the fayth catholyke,
Of Christs Churche chief in yerthe unyversall;
O clerks and religious, to you I call,
Pray for your patron, your frend, and founder,
Mary our mastress, our quene of honoure.
And college conscrypte of cardynalls all,
And ye that confesse the fayth catholyke,
Of Christs Churche chief in yerthe unyversall;
O clerks and religious, to you I call,
Pray for your patron, your frend, and founder,
Mary our mastress, our quene of honoure.
167
Which late restored the right religion;
And fayth of fathers observed of old,
Subdewd sects and all dyvision,
Reducyng the flocke to the former fold;
A piller most firme the church to uphold:
Loo, where she lyeth, trew faythes defendour,
Mary our mastress, our quene of honoure.
And fayth of fathers observed of old,
Subdewd sects and all dyvision,
Reducyng the flocke to the former fold;
A piller most firme the church to uphold:
Loo, where she lyeth, trew faythes defendour,
Mary our mastress, our quene of honoure.
168
Whan sacred aulters ware all defaced,
Images of saints with outrage burned,
Instade of priests apostatas placed,
Holy sacrements with spight down sporned,
Whan spoylle and ravyn hade all overturned;
This chaos confuse, thys hepe of horrour,
Dissolvethe Mary as quene of honoure.
Images of saints with outrage burned,
Instade of priests apostatas placed,
Holy sacrements with spight down sporned,
Whan spoylle and ravyn hade all overturned;
This chaos confuse, thys hepe of horrour,
Dissolvethe Mary as quene of honoure.
Elizabethe, excellent of God elect,
With cepture to sytt in state imperyall,
In throne thriumphant, where thou art erect,
Have deathe allways in thy memoryall,
Death is thend of fleshe unyversall;
The world is but vayne; make for your mirrour
Mary thy sister, late quene of honour.
With cepture to sytt in state imperyall,
In throne thriumphant, where thou art erect,
169
Death is thend of fleshe unyversall;
The world is but vayne; make for your mirrour
Mary thy sister, late quene of honour.
So shall thalmyghty stablyshe thy throne
In quyet concord and dew obeysaunce,
And send the a prince to appeas our mone
With happy reign of long contynuance,
This thyng reposed in depe remembraunce;
Say and pray all, O Christ, O Savyoure!
Have mercy on Mary, our quene of honoure.
In quyet concord and dew obeysaunce,
And send the a prince to appeas our mone
With happy reign of long contynuance,
This thyng reposed in depe remembraunce;
Say and pray all, O Christ, O Savyoure!
Have mercy on Mary, our quene of honoure.
O Virgin Mary, O mother of Jesu!
O spouse unspotted, and quene eternall!
As our quene Mary was handmayd trewe
To the, O lady! in this lyfe mortal,
So of thy grace and bountie speciall
To the Kyng on hyghe be intercessor,
In hevyn to crown hir a quene of honoure.
O spouse unspotted, and quene eternall!
As our quene Mary was handmayd trewe
To the, O lady! in this lyfe mortal,
So of thy grace and bountie speciall
To the Kyng on hyghe be intercessor,
In hevyn to crown hir a quene of honoure.
FIAT, FIAT, FINIS.
| The life of Cardinal Wolsey | |