Albions England A Continued Historie of the same Kingdome, from the Originals of the first Inhabitants thereof: With most the chiefe Alterations and Accidents theare hapning, vnto, and in the happie Raigne of our now most gracious Soueraigne, Queene Elizabeth: Not barren in varietie of inuentiue and historicall Intermixtures: First penned and published by William Warner: and now reuised, and newly inlarged by the same Author: Whereunto is also newly added an Epitome of the whole Historie of England |
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| 1. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IIII. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| 2. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| 3. |
| XIIII. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| 4. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| 5. |
| XXIII. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| 6. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| 7. |
| XXXIIII. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
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| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLIIII. |
| 9. |
| XLIIII. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
| XLVII. |
| XLVIII. |
| XLIX. |
| L. |
| LI. |
| LII. |
| LIII. |
| 10. |
| LIIII. |
| LV. |
| LVI. |
| LVII. |
| LVIII. |
| LIX. |
| LX. |
| 11. |
| LXI. |
| LXII. |
| LXIII. |
| LXIIII. |
| LXV. |
| LXVI. |
| LXVII. |
| LXVIII. |
| 12. |
| LXIX. |
| LXX. |
| LXXI. |
| LXXII. |
| LXXIII. |
| LXXIIII. |
| LXXV. |
| 13. |
| LXXVI. |
| LXXVII. |
| LXXVIII. |
| LXXIX. |
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CHAP. XXXIIII.
Albions England |  |
As hardly as her husband did Elizabeth escape:
For why? like Stratageme for both did bloody Richard shape.
Whilste that her Father liued, now a King, and now exilde,
Her crosses then did happen from such victors as weare milde.
But now the same that murthered her Brothers to be King,
That did with fraud begin and then with bloud conclude ech thing,
That flattred friends to serue his turne, and then destroyde the same,
That was her Vncle, yeat did hate her Mothers very name,
That thought he liued not because his Neeces weare vndead,
Theis now (and blame her not) in her a world of terror bread.
But of vnpriuiledged bloud yet had he store to spill,
Yet sanctuaries weare not forc'te, yet but expecting ill.
Theare ofte the Queene her Mother, Shee, and Sisters would reporte
Their happie and vnhappie daies, the fewer of first sorte.
For why? like Stratageme for both did bloody Richard shape.
Whilste that her Father liued, now a King, and now exilde,
Her crosses then did happen from such victors as weare milde.
But now the same that murthered her Brothers to be King,
That did with fraud begin and then with bloud conclude ech thing,
That flattred friends to serue his turne, and then destroyde the same,
That was her Vncle, yeat did hate her Mothers very name,
That thought he liued not because his Neeces weare vndead,
Theis now (and blame her not) in her a world of terror bread.
But of vnpriuiledged bloud yet had he store to spill,
Yet sanctuaries weare not forc'te, yet but expecting ill.
Theare ofte the Queene her Mother, Shee, and Sisters would reporte
Their happie and vnhappie daies, the fewer of first sorte.
Happy was I (the olde Queene said) when as a Maide vnweade,
Nor Husbands weale nor Childrens woe mistempered my head.
Yeat I, beloued, loued and so left that free estate,
And thought me happyer than before, for louely was my Mate,
Iohn Gray (a sweet Esquier for his prowysse dubbed Knight)
Was, as behoued, all my ioy: who, slaine in factious fight,
Your Father, Daughters, late my Lord and Husband now in earth,
From me had many a secret curse, as motyue of his death:
Lancastrian was my husband, and that faction had the wourste,
So, to releeue my Widdowhood, I kneel'd to whom I curste.
Edward (for Henry was depoes'de, and Edward seaz'd the Crowne)
(I wot not for what forme of mine) did raise me kneeled downe,
And gaue me chearefull words, and tooke me curteously aside,
And playd the ciuell Wanton, and me amorously he eide:
His plea was loue, my sute was Land: I plie him, he plies me:
Too bace to be his Queene, too good his Concubine to be
I did conclude, and on that point a while we disagree.
But when I was his Queene (sweete King) not for I was his Queene,
But for himselfe, and for the loue that passed vs betweene,
I held me happiest vnder heauen: yea, when his aduerse Line
Discrowned him, I had ynough that I was his, he mine.
Then, after fortunes often change, he died, and I suruiue
A life exceeding death for griefe and griefes Superlatiue.
My heart, ah Sonnes, my heart (deare Hearts) was dead ere he did die:
Too yong were yee to censure of your vncles tyranny.
Then wept shee, and her daughters wept: their onely talke alwaies
Was passed ioyes, or present woes: nor hope they better daies,
But in Earle Richmonds good successe, that now a power did raise.
Nor Husbands weale nor Childrens woe mistempered my head.
Yeat I, beloued, loued and so left that free estate,
167
Iohn Gray (a sweet Esquier for his prowysse dubbed Knight)
Was, as behoued, all my ioy: who, slaine in factious fight,
Your Father, Daughters, late my Lord and Husband now in earth,
From me had many a secret curse, as motyue of his death:
Lancastrian was my husband, and that faction had the wourste,
So, to releeue my Widdowhood, I kneel'd to whom I curste.
Edward (for Henry was depoes'de, and Edward seaz'd the Crowne)
(I wot not for what forme of mine) did raise me kneeled downe,
And gaue me chearefull words, and tooke me curteously aside,
And playd the ciuell Wanton, and me amorously he eide:
His plea was loue, my sute was Land: I plie him, he plies me:
Too bace to be his Queene, too good his Concubine to be
I did conclude, and on that point a while we disagree.
But when I was his Queene (sweete King) not for I was his Queene,
But for himselfe, and for the loue that passed vs betweene,
I held me happiest vnder heauen: yea, when his aduerse Line
Discrowned him, I had ynough that I was his, he mine.
Then, after fortunes often change, he died, and I suruiue
A life exceeding death for griefe and griefes Superlatiue.
My heart, ah Sonnes, my heart (deare Hearts) was dead ere he did die:
Too yong were yee to censure of your vncles tyranny.
Then wept shee, and her daughters wept: their onely talke alwaies
Was passed ioyes, or present woes: nor hope they better daies,
But in Earle Richmonds good successe, that now a power did raise.
Too soone had Richard notice that Earle Henry would ariue,
By precontract his eldest Neece Elizabeth to wiue:
And well he knew in Yorks descent she was immediate heire,
And Henry like in Lancaster, a Match for him to feare.
Which to preuent he flattered his Neeces from their mother:
Who, fearefull Ladies, did expect like deaths as had their brother.
And as they feare did he effect, which for the troubles then
Was vneffected: now behou'd to winne him loue of men:
Yeat casts he how he might conuay to him his Neeces right,
Soone compassing his Wifes dispatch, whose life stood in his light.
Then plyes he his amazed Neece to his incestious bead,
Of her abhor'd, Shee in conceite by faith fore-plighted spead.
This marrage motion gawles her more than any former greefe:
Her selfe, Friends, Realme, Conspiracie, & all it toucht in breefe,
And therefore death, late feared, now she fantaseth in cheefe.
Meane while did Henry land, incampe, fight, and subdewe his Foe,
And, marrying her, long ciuill warres in England ended so.
By precontract his eldest Neece Elizabeth to wiue:
And well he knew in Yorks descent she was immediate heire,
And Henry like in Lancaster, a Match for him to feare.
Which to preuent he flattered his Neeces from their mother:
Who, fearefull Ladies, did expect like deaths as had their brother.
And as they feare did he effect, which for the troubles then
Was vneffected: now behou'd to winne him loue of men:
168
Soone compassing his Wifes dispatch, whose life stood in his light.
Then plyes he his amazed Neece to his incestious bead,
Of her abhor'd, Shee in conceite by faith fore-plighted spead.
This marrage motion gawles her more than any former greefe:
Her selfe, Friends, Realme, Conspiracie, & all it toucht in breefe,
And therefore death, late feared, now she fantaseth in cheefe.
Meane while did Henry land, incampe, fight, and subdewe his Foe,
And, marrying her, long ciuill warres in England ended so.
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CHAP. XXXIIII.
Albions England | |