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78
[LOCRINUS]
Locrinus the eldest sonne of Brutus, declareth his slaughter to haue happened for his euill life. He died the yeare before Christe. 1064.
Yf euer any noble prince might rewe,
His factes are paste, long since the same may I:
That would to God it were not farre to true,
Or that I iustly could my faultes denye:
The truthe of thinges the ende or tyme doth trie,
As well by me is seen: my haplesse fall,
Declares whence came my greate misfortunes all.
His factes are paste, long since the same may I:
That would to God it were not farre to true,
Or that I iustly could my faultes denye:
The truthe of thinges the ende or tyme doth trie,
As well by me is seen: my haplesse fall,
Declares whence came my greate misfortunes all.
I am Locrinus, seconde Britayne king:
The eldiste sonne of him that founde this lande:
Whose death to me my mischiefes all did bring,
And causde why first I tooke my death in hande.
He chiefly wylde me when he gaue this lande,
I should be rulde, by all his counsayles will:
And vse their iudgmentes in my dealings still.
The eldiste sonne of him that founde this lande:
Whose death to me my mischiefes all did bring,
And causde why first I tooke my death in hande.
He chiefly wylde me when he gaue this lande,
I should be rulde, by all his counsayles will:
And vse their iudgmentes in my dealings still.
But what do I accuse my fathers heste,
What meane I here th'unfauty for to blame?
All he commaunded euen was for the beste:
Though in effecte of beste the worste became.
So thinges ofte times well mente vnfitly frame:
So often times the counsayle of your frende:
Apparent good, fawles faulty in the ende.
What meane I here th'unfauty for to blame?
All he commaunded euen was for the beste:
Though in effecte of beste the worste became.
So thinges ofte times well mente vnfitly frame:
So often times the counsayle of your frende:
Apparent good, fawles faulty in the ende.
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For as he wisht I vsde his counsayles ayde,
In eache thing that I deemde was good for mee:
I neuer ought that they desirde denayde:
But did to all their mindes and hestes agree.
And Corinaeus sawe my harte so free,
By diuers meanes, he sought this match to make:
That to my wife, I might his daughter take.
In eache thing that I deemde was good for mee:
I neuer ought that they desirde denayde:
But did to all their mindes and hestes agree.
And Corinaeus sawe my harte so free,
By diuers meanes, he sought this match to make:
That to my wife, I might his daughter take.
But I that wiste not then what mariage ment,
Did straight agree his Guendoline to haue:
Yet afterwarde suspecting his intent,
My frendes to me this pointe of counsaile gaue:
That who so doth of Prince aliaunce craue,
He meanes thereby to worke some point of ill,
Or else to frame the prince vnto his will.
Did straight agree his Guendoline to haue:
Yet afterwarde suspecting his intent,
My frendes to me this pointe of counsaile gaue:
That who so doth of Prince aliaunce craue,
He meanes thereby to worke some point of ill,
Or else to frame the prince vnto his will.
It may well be he mente no euill at all,
But wise men alwayes vse to dreade the worste:
And sithe it was, the fountaine of my fall:
From whence the springe of all my sorowes burste,
I may well thinke was some of vs accurste,
For why the ende, doth alwayes proue the facte:
By ende we iudge the meaning of the acte.
But wise men alwayes vse to dreade the worste:
And sithe it was, the fountaine of my fall:
From whence the springe of all my sorowes burste,
I may well thinke was some of vs accurste,
For why the ende, doth alwayes proue the facte:
By ende we iudge the meaning of the acte.
I made no haste, to wed my spoused wyfe:
I wiste I could as yet without hir byde:
I had not tasted toyes of trayned life:
I deemde them fooles by Cupides darte that died:
I Venus vile and all hir force defide:
And liude at reste, and rulde my land so well,
That men delighted of my factes to tell.
I wiste I could as yet without hir byde:
I had not tasted toyes of trayned life:
I deemde them fooles by Cupides darte that died:
I Venus vile and all hir force defide:
And liude at reste, and rulde my land so well,
That men delighted of my factes to tell.
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My brethren eke long weldid well their partes:
We feard no foes, we thought our state would stand.
We gaue our selues to learned skilfull artes:
Wherin we other fruite, or pleasur fand:
And we enioyde so fine a fruitfull land,
That fewe in earth, might with our states compare,
We lyude so voyde of noysome carke, and care.
We feard no foes, we thought our state would stand.
We gaue our selues to learned skilfull artes:
Wherin we other fruite, or pleasur fand:
And we enioyde so fine a fruitfull land,
That fewe in earth, might with our states compare,
We lyude so voyde of noysome carke, and care.
But see the chaunce when least we thought of ill,
When we esteamde our state to be moste sure:
Than came a flawe to bridle all our will,
For straungers far, gan vs to warre procure:
And euen when first, they put their pranke in vre,
On Albane shores my brother there they slewe:
Whose death we after made the Hunnes to rue.
When we esteamde our state to be moste sure:
Than came a flawe to bridle all our will,
For straungers far, gan vs to warre procure:
And euen when first, they put their pranke in vre,
On Albane shores my brother there they slewe:
Whose death we after made the Hunnes to rue.
When he was dead they hopte to winne the reste,
And ouer Abi streame with haste did hie:
But I and eke my brother Camber dreste,
Our armies straight, and came their force to trie:
We brake their rayes, and forste their king to flie,
Into the arme of Sea they ouer came:
Where Humber drounde the waters tooke his name.
And ouer Abi streame with haste did hie:
But I and eke my brother Camber dreste,
Our armies straight, and came their force to trie:
We brake their rayes, and forste their king to flie,
Into the arme of Sea they ouer came:
Where Humber drounde the waters tooke his name.
We ether slewe or tooke them captiues all,
Emongst the which O mischiefe great to tell!
The Gods to worke mine ouerthrow and fall
Sent ladies three, whose beauties did excell:
Of which because I liked one so well,
I tooke hir straight, nor she did ought denie:
But eche thing graunted so she might not dye.
Emongst the which O mischiefe great to tell!
The Gods to worke mine ouerthrow and fall
Sent ladies three, whose beauties did excell:
Of which because I liked one so well,
I tooke hir straight, nor she did ought denie:
But eche thing graunted so she might not dye.
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Thus Humber we this hatefull hungery king,
In Humber drenshte: and him depriude of pride:
And of his loftie ladies he did bring,
He loste the praye: and all his men beside.
And we the spoiles of all his hoaste deuide,
But I that thought, I had the greatest share:
Had caught the cause of all my wofull care.
In Humber drenshte: and him depriude of pride:
And of his loftie ladies he did bring,
He loste the praye: and all his men beside.
And we the spoiles of all his hoaste deuide,
But I that thought, I had the greatest share:
Had caught the cause of all my wofull care.
They calde this lady Elstride whome I tooke,
Whose bewty braue did so my wittes confounde:
That for hir sake my promise I forsooke,
Wherby I was to Gwendoline first bounde.
Me thought no lady went on earthely grounde
That might alure me, euer chaunge my minde:
So was I caught by snares of Cupide blynde.
Whose bewty braue did so my wittes confounde:
That for hir sake my promise I forsooke,
Wherby I was to Gwendoline first bounde.
Me thought no lady went on earthely grounde
That might alure me, euer chaunge my minde:
So was I caught by snares of Cupide blynde.
Was neuer none before so likte mine eye,
I loude hir more then I coulde loue my life:
Hir absence still me thought did cause me die.
I surely mente to take hir to my wife.
But see howe beauty breadeth deadly strife,
Lo here began my whole confusion here:
Sprang out the shaft from which this wounde I beare.
I loude hir more then I coulde loue my life:
Hir absence still me thought did cause me die.
I surely mente to take hir to my wife.
But see howe beauty breadeth deadly strife,
Lo here began my whole confusion here:
Sprang out the shaft from which this wounde I beare.
For Corinaeus had no soner hearde,
That I did meane his daughter to forsake:
But straight as one, that did nought else regarde,
In haste his voyage towardes me did take:
And come, declarde what promise I did make,
From whiche he saide if once I sought to slide:
It should by dinte of sworde, and bloud be tride.
That I did meane his daughter to forsake:
But straight as one, that did nought else regarde,
In haste his voyage towardes me did take:
And come, declarde what promise I did make,
From whiche he saide if once I sought to slide:
It should by dinte of sworde, and bloud be tride.
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But if I would hir take, as erste I sayde,
And not this straunger choose against his minde:
His helpe he promiste at eache time, and ayde
To be so redy, as I wishte to finde:
He furder sayde my contrey did me bynde,
To take such one as all my subiectes knewe:
Sithe straungers to their foes are neuer true.
And not this straunger choose against his minde:
His helpe he promiste at eache time, and ayde
To be so redy, as I wishte to finde:
He furder sayde my contrey did me bynde,
To take such one as all my subiectes knewe:
Sithe straungers to their foes are neuer true.
I wayde his wordes, and thought he wishte me wel:
But yet because his stocke should gaine therby,
I reckte them lesse: and yet the truthe to tell,
I durste not dare my promise made denye:
For well I wiste, if once it came to trye:
It would both weaken all this noble lande,
And doubtfull be, who should ha th'upper hande.
But yet because his stocke should gaine therby,
I reckte them lesse: and yet the truthe to tell,
I durste not dare my promise made denye:
For well I wiste, if once it came to trye:
It would both weaken all this noble lande,
And doubtfull be, who should ha th'upper hande.
Thus nedes perforce I must his daughter take,
And must leaue of, to loue where I delighte:
I was constrainde contentid to forsake:
The forme that moste did captiuate my sighte,
What lucke had I on such a lote to lighte:
What ment you Goddes that me such fortune gaue,
To caste my minde on hir I might not haue.
And must leaue of, to loue where I delighte:
I was constrainde contentid to forsake:
The forme that moste did captiuate my sighte,
What lucke had I on such a lote to lighte:
What ment you Goddes that me such fortune gaue,
To caste my minde on hir I might not haue.
To shorte my tale, his Guendoline I tooke,
I was contente against my will: what then?
Nore quite for this, myne Elstride I forsoke:
For why, I wrought by skill of cunning men,
A vaulte along vnder the grounde a denne:
Hir companie wherin I vsed still,
There we accomplishte, our vnhappy will.
I was contente against my will: what then?
Nore quite for this, myne Elstride I forsoke:
For why, I wrought by skill of cunning men,
A vaulte along vnder the grounde a denne:
Hir companie wherin I vsed still,
There we accomplishte, our vnhappy will.
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There I begat my Sabrine sely childe,
That virgine small, myne Elstride bare to mee:
Thus I my wife full often did beguilde,
Which afterwarde did beare a sonne to mee,
Namde Madan: yet we neuer could agree,
And he that was the cause, she was my bryde:
This whyle hir father Corinaeus dyde.
That virgine small, myne Elstride bare to mee:
Thus I my wife full often did beguilde,
Which afterwarde did beare a sonne to mee,
Namde Madan: yet we neuer could agree,
And he that was the cause, she was my bryde:
This whyle hir father Corinaeus dyde.
Which when I hearde, I had my hartes desire:
I craude no more, there was my ende of griefe.
At leste I thought to quenche Cupidoes fire,
And eke to worke my lusting loues reliefe:
I mente no more to steale it like a thiefe:
But maried Elstride, whom I loude as lyfe,
And for hir sake, I put away my wyfe.
I craude no more, there was my ende of griefe.
At leste I thought to quenche Cupidoes fire,
And eke to worke my lusting loues reliefe:
I mente no more to steale it like a thiefe:
But maried Elstride, whom I loude as lyfe,
And for hir sake, I put away my wyfe.
Likewise I causde was Elstride queene proclaimde:
And tooke hir as my lawfull wyfe by right,
But Gwendoline that sawe hir selfe disdainde,
Straight fled, and moude the Cornishe men to fight,
To them, when she declarde hir pitious plighte:
In haste they dreste an army for to bee,
Reuengers of my newe made queene and mee.
And tooke hir as my lawfull wyfe by right,
But Gwendoline that sawe hir selfe disdainde,
Straight fled, and moude the Cornishe men to fight,
To them, when she declarde hir pitious plighte:
In haste they dreste an army for to bee,
Reuengers of my newe made queene and mee.
And I likewise an armie did prepare,
I thoughte to quaile, their courage all by force:
But to my coste I founde to late beware,
There is no strengthe in armoure, man or horse,
Can vayle, if Ioue on wronged take remorce:
For he on whom the deadly darte doth lighte,
Can neuer scape: by ransome, frende or flighte.
I thoughte to quaile, their courage all by force:
But to my coste I founde to late beware,
There is no strengthe in armoure, man or horse,
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For he on whom the deadly darte doth lighte,
Can neuer scape: by ransome, frende or flighte.
So when our armies met nighe Stura streame,
The trompettes blewe and I denide the peace:
I minded to expell them all the realme,
Or else to make them euer after cease:
And they except I Elstride would releace,
(They sayde) and take my Gwendoline againe:
They would reuenge the wrong, or else be slayne.
The trompettes blewe and I denide the peace:
I minded to expell them all the realme,
Or else to make them euer after cease:
And they except I Elstride would releace,
(They sayde) and take my Gwendoline againe:
They would reuenge the wrong, or else be slayne.
On this we met, and valiauntly we fought,
On eather side, and nether parte did yelde:
So equaly they fell, it was great doubte,
Which part should haue the better of the fielde:
But I to bolde, rushte in with sworde and sheelde
To breake their rayes, so hasty men get smarte:
An arrowe came, and stroke me to the harte.
On eather side, and nether parte did yelde:
So equaly they fell, it was great doubte,
Which part should haue the better of the fielde:
But I to bolde, rushte in with sworde and sheelde
To breake their rayes, so hasty men get smarte:
An arrowe came, and stroke me to the harte.
Then was I brought to Troynouant and there,
My body was enterrid as you reade:
When I had raigned all out twenty yere,
Lo thus I liude, and thus became I deade:
Thus was my crowne depriued from my heade,
And all my pompe, my princely troupe and trayne,
And I to earth, and duste resolude agayne.
My body was enterrid as you reade:
When I had raigned all out twenty yere,
Lo thus I liude, and thus became I deade:
Thus was my crowne depriued from my heade,
And all my pompe, my princely troupe and trayne,
And I to earth, and duste resolude agayne.
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Now warne estates, let this for wedlocke serue,
Beware of chaunge it will not holde out longe,
For who so mindeth from his make to swerue:
Shal sure at lengthe, receiue reuenge for wrong:
Tis foly fight with God, h'is farre to stronge:
For though ye colour all, with coate of right:
Yet can no fained farde, deceiue his sight.
Beware of chaunge it will not holde out longe,
For who so mindeth from his make to swerue:
Shal sure at lengthe, receiue reuenge for wrong:
Tis foly fight with God, h'is farre to stronge:
For though ye colour all, with coate of right:
Yet can no fained farde, deceiue his sight.
FINIS.
86
The Authour.
With that this king, was vanisht quite and gone:And as a miste, dissolued into ayre:
And I was left, with Morpheus all alone:
Who represented straigt a Lady fayre:
Of frendes depriude, and left in deepe dispaire,
As eke she spake, all wet in cordes fast bounde:
Thus tolde she how, she was in waters drounde.
LENVOY.
This is the iustice great of mighty Ioue aboue,
To plague the men whose fayth vnfirme hee findes,
The promisse plight in sponsales sacred loue,
Which both alike the Prince and simple subiect bindes,
Who recklesse breaks that same nor faithed promise mindes,
If hee ensue the vice, wherein his sence is drounde,
No doubt Iehouah iust will therefore him confounde.
To plague the men whose fayth vnfirme hee findes,
The promisse plight in sponsales sacred loue,
Which both alike the Prince and simple subiect bindes,
Who recklesse breaks that same nor faithed promise mindes,
If hee ensue the vice, wherein his sence is drounde,
No doubt Iehouah iust will therefore him confounde.
If hee for wedlocke breatch in Pagan Princes then
So greate displeasure tooke, and did them sharply whip,
Will hee not rather nowe afflict such christen men,
As dare the sacred band of holy wedlocke rip?
Hee will not let the twifold faythed christian slip,
Which by so vayne delight in fleshly lustes is droun'd.
He cuts him of, and doth his queanes and him confound.
So greate displeasure tooke, and did them sharply whip,
Will hee not rather nowe afflict such christen men,
As dare the sacred band of holy wedlocke rip?
Hee will not let the twifold faythed christian slip,
Which by so vayne delight in fleshly lustes is droun'd.
He cuts him of, and doth his queanes and him confound.
Examples are in all the ages seene before,
And also daily proofe, declareth well the same.
Wherefore I will of this as nowe resite no more.
Perchaunce I may Incurre, some vnderserued blame.
But next beholde on stage apear'd a noble dame,
(Whose beauty braue Locrinus senses did confound)
Declaring how therfore Queene Guendoline her dround.
And also daily proofe, declareth well the same.
Wherefore I will of this as nowe resite no more.
Perchaunce I may Incurre, some vnderserued blame.
But next beholde on stage apear'd a noble dame,
(Whose beauty braue Locrinus senses did confound)
Declaring how therfore Queene Guendoline her dround.
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