The History of Grisild the Second A narrative, in verse, of the divorce of Queen Katharine of Arragon. Written by William Forrest ... and now edited, for the first time, from the author's ms. in the Bodleian Library, by the Rev. W. D. Macray |
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Cap. 9.
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 | The History of Grisild the Second |  |
75
Cap. 9.
Walter sendethe to Oxforde to haue his case discussed, John Longelande (Busshoppe of Lincolne) his cheif Commyssioner, Fryer Nicholas Defendaunte in the same, Fyue Inceptours, Doctors, (withe sundry other) specially withestandinge thearin, wheare Women shewed them selfes on Grysildys Partye; Thunyuersiteis Seale (by stealthe) goaten; And what myseryes ensued.
Yeat, for that Walter wolde not be thought
(Of headye poure) to woorke contrariouslye,
Hee sent to Oxforde, as playnnes he sought,
To haue his case theare tryed by the Clergie,
At whiche trauelynge certaynlye was I,
Attendynge vpon a certayne goode man,
Whearfore in the same I somewhat saye can.
(Of headye poure) to woorke contrariouslye,
Hee sent to Oxforde, as playnnes he sought,
To haue his case theare tryed by the Clergie,
At whiche trauelynge certaynlye was I,
Attendynge vpon a certayne goode man,
Whearfore in the same I somewhat saye can.
Thither was sent as cheeif Commyssioner
The Busshoppe of Lincolne, one John Langelande,
Withe certayne other that well cowlde flatter,
The learned judgment theare to vndrestande,
Wheare one Fryer Nycholas took muche in hande,
As cheeif Defendaunte in the foresaide case,
Whoe fownde hym selfe macht euyn to the harde face.
The Busshoppe of Lincolne, one John Langelande,
Withe certayne other that well cowlde flatter,
The learned judgment theare to vndrestande,
Wheare one Fryer Nycholas took muche in hande,
As cheeif Defendaunte in the foresaide case,
Whoe fownde hym selfe macht euyn to the harde face.
76
But theare was vsed no indifferencye;
Suche as by learnynge made against the Kynge
They weare redargued moste cryellye,
Threatened alsoe to forgoe their lyuynge;
On thother syde, all thearto inclynynge
They had highe chearinge withe meede otherwaye;
Falsehod tryumphinge, Truthe quakynge for fraye.
Suche as by learnynge made against the Kynge
They weare redargued moste cryellye,
Threatened alsoe to forgoe their lyuynge;
On thother syde, all thearto inclynynge
They had highe chearinge withe meede otherwaye;
Falsehod tryumphinge, Truthe quakynge for fraye.
That tyme an Acte theare shoulde haue gone forwarde,
Wheare Seauyn famous Clarkes that Inceptors weare
Bycause (in this case) Fyue wolde not drawe towarde,
It was dyfferred, to their heauye cheare,
For that their cheeif freendys weare presentlye theare,
Mawdelaye, Mooreman, Holyman also,
Mortimer, Cooke, withe other Twoe moe.
Wheare Seauyn famous Clarkes that Inceptors weare
Bycause (in this case) Fyue wolde not drawe towarde,
It was dyfferred, to their heauye cheare,
For that their cheeif freendys weare presentlye theare,
Mawdelaye, Mooreman, Holyman also,
Mortimer, Cooke, withe other Twoe moe.
Theis Fyue in nowise wolde graunte their consentes,
The Regent Maisters weare of the same mynde;
Rather, they graunted to forgoe howse and rentes
Then weetinglye so to showe them selfes blynde;
The Proctors, for gaynes they hoaped to fynde,
(Throughe frendeshippe they made) obteyned the grace
Of Busshoppe Langlande the Acte to take place.
The Regent Maisters weare of the same mynde;
Rather, they graunted to forgoe howse and rentes
Then weetinglye so to showe them selfes blynde;
The Proctors, for gaynes they hoaped to fynde,
(Throughe frendeshippe they made) obteyned the grace
Of Busshoppe Langlande the Acte to take place.
77
The mateir longe tyme theare hangynge in suspense,
Witheoute hauynge Thunyuersiteis seale
As to confyrme Walters foresaide pretence,
For whiche the Busshoppe harde threatnynges did deale,
To his reproache, and hynderaunce of goode heale;
If so that some theare had had hym at large,
I wolde of his life haue taken no charge.
Witheoute hauynge Thunyuersiteis seale
As to confyrme Walters foresaide pretence,
For whiche the Busshoppe harde threatnynges did deale,
To his reproache, and hynderaunce of goode heale;
If so that some theare had had hym at large,
I wolde of his life haue taken no charge.
For on the outegatys wheare hee by nyghtes laye
Wear Roapes faste nayled, withe Gallowes drawne by,
To this entent, as a man myght well saye
“If wee so myght, suche weare thye Destynye.”
His seruauntes ofte handeled accordynglye,
As, one (indeade) makynge water at a wall
A stone (right heauye) on hym one let fall.
Wear Roapes faste nayled, withe Gallowes drawne by,
To this entent, as a man myght well saye
“If wee so myght, suche weare thye Destynye.”
His seruauntes ofte handeled accordynglye,
As, one (indeade) makynge water at a wall
A stone (right heauye) on hym one let fall.
Women (that season) in Oxforde weare busye,
Their hartes weare goode, it appeeared nolesse;
As Fryer Nicholas chaunced to come by,
“Halas!” (saide some) “that we myght this knaue dresse,
For his vnthankefull daylye busynes
Againste oure deeare Queene, good Grysilidis;
Hee shoulde euyl to cheeaue, he sholde not sure mysse.”
Their hartes weare goode, it appeeared nolesse;
As Fryer Nicholas chaunced to come by,
“Halas!” (saide some) “that we myght this knaue dresse,
For his vnthankefull daylye busynes
Againste oure deeare Queene, good Grysilidis;
Hee shoulde euyl to cheeaue, he sholde not sure mysse.”
Withe that, a woman, (I sawe it trulye,)
A lumpe of osmundys let harde at hym flynge:
Whiche myste of his noddle, the more pytie,
And on his Fryers heelys it came trytelynge,
Whoe (sodaynly), as hee it perceauynge,
Made his complaynte vpon the women so,
That thirtye the morowe weare in Buckerdo.
A lumpe of osmundys let harde at hym flynge:
Whiche myste of his noddle, the more pytie,
And on his Fryers heelys it came trytelynge,
Whoe (sodaynly), as hee it perceauynge,
Made his complaynte vpon the women so,
That thirtye the morowe weare in Buckerdo.
78
Theare they contynued three dayes and three nyghtes,
Till woorde was sent downe from Walter the Kynge,
Whoe fret at the harte, as vexed withe sprytes,
That Grisildys parte they weare so tenderynge,
To all that so dyd, this woorde downe sendynge,
That, magre their teeathes, hee wolde haue his furthe,
And ere longe tyme make some of them small wurthe.
Till woorde was sent downe from Walter the Kynge,
Whoe fret at the harte, as vexed withe sprytes,
That Grisildys parte they weare so tenderynge,
To all that so dyd, this woorde downe sendynge,
That, magre their teeathes, hee wolde haue his furthe,
And ere longe tyme make some of them small wurthe.
But yeat for all that the Fyue foresaide Clarkes,
Withe moste of the Regent Maisters, that tyde,
For all the threatnynges that flaterers barkes
From that was the right they wolde nowhit slyde.
The Busshoppe Langelande dyd thus then prouyde,
A Conuocation of certayne to call,
And gote the Seale as consented of all.
Withe moste of the Regent Maisters, that tyde,
For all the threatnynges that flaterers barkes
From that was the right they wolde nowhit slyde.
The Busshoppe Langelande dyd thus then prouyde,
A Conuocation of certayne to call,
And gote the Seale as consented of all.
For whiche was weepinge and lamentation,
I was then presente and herde their complaynte:
“Halas!” (they saide), “in pyteful fashyon
Nowe is goode Oxforde for eauer attaynte!
Thowe that haste florisched art become faynte!
Thowe weare vnspotted till this present daye,
Withe truthe euermore to holde and to saye.
I was then presente and herde their complaynte:
“Halas!” (they saide), “in pyteful fashyon
Nowe is goode Oxforde for eauer attaynte!
Thowe that haste florisched art become faynte!
Thowe weare vnspotted till this present daye,
Withe truthe euermore to holde and to saye.
“But notwithestandinge, consyderinge as thus,
Thoue weare withe powre and myght ouerlayde,
Thoue thearfore remaynyste innoxius,
As dothe (by vyolence) the rauysched mayde.
Eaueriche his duetye on eache pate bee payde,
That is, whoe of vs hathe wronged the right,
God to their desertes their dooynges requyte.
Thoue weare withe powre and myght ouerlayde,
Thoue thearfore remaynyste innoxius,
As dothe (by vyolence) the rauysched mayde.
Eaueriche his duetye on eache pate bee payde,
That is, whoe of vs hathe wronged the right,
God to their desertes their dooynges requyte.
79
“This to this ende wee put in remembraunce,
To the knowledge of oure posterytee,
That all, that season, made not dyssemblaunce,
But tenne to one stucke to the verytee,
But cheife that ought had no syncerytee;
False Ambition and Keepynge yn fauour
Declared in this muche lewde behauour.”
To the knowledge of oure posterytee,
That all, that season, made not dyssemblaunce,
But tenne to one stucke to the verytee,
But cheife that ought had no syncerytee;
False Ambition and Keepynge yn fauour
Declared in this muche lewde behauour.”
In this mateir is to bee adnoted
What euyl counsell withe Pryncys maye induce,
For, consequentlye, this Royalme was sorted,
As water breakynge ouer hedde or sluce:
All goode ordres weare cleane set oute of vse,
Suche calamyteis ensuynge theare vpon,
To this Royalmys neare subuersion.
What euyl counsell withe Pryncys maye induce,
For, consequentlye, this Royalme was sorted,
As water breakynge ouer hedde or sluce:
All goode ordres weare cleane set oute of vse,
Suche calamyteis ensuynge theare vpon,
To this Royalmys neare subuersion.
Then florisched Flatery tryumphantlye,
Then Falsehod beeare rule, and Truthe set á syde,
Then weare the goode maligned throughe enuye,
Then was true Meekenes ouercome withe Pryde,
Then to perdition all Goodenes faste hyde,
Then was Selfe wyll cheif Ruler ouer all,
Then myght, in right, none for Aduocat call.
Then Falsehod beeare rule, and Truthe set á syde,
Then weare the goode maligned throughe enuye,
Then was true Meekenes ouercome withe Pryde,
Then to perdition all Goodenes faste hyde,
Then was Selfe wyll cheif Ruler ouer all,
Then myght, in right, none for Aduocat call.
Then of the Churche began thaffliction,
Then entred Heresies cursed and nought,
Then encreased Goddys malediction,
Then His due honour in great decaye brought,
Then the goode not regarded as they ought,
But euery Ribaulde myght them checke and chace;
The Goode depryued, the Badde in their place.
Then entred Heresies cursed and nought,
Then encreased Goddys malediction,
Then His due honour in great decaye brought,
Then the goode not regarded as they ought,
But euery Ribaulde myght them checke and chace;
The Goode depryued, the Badde in their place.
80
In earthe they cowlde not their malice extende,
But vnto heuen shewed indignation;
The holye Saynctys theare they dyd discommende
By too too muche abomynation,
Sclaunderinge certayne vndre this faschion,
Howe holye Virgyns, of no lyttle some,
Weare Concubynes to the Busshoppe of Rome.
But vnto heuen shewed indignation;
The holye Saynctys theare they dyd discommende
By too too muche abomynation,
Sclaunderinge certayne vndre this faschion,
Howe holye Virgyns, of no lyttle some,
Weare Concubynes to the Busshoppe of Rome.
The gloryous perpetuall Virgyn Marye
No better esteamed then an other woman;
Eache doungegell as goode as the Sanctuarye;
Theis myscheifes, withe hundredefolde moe, began
At the incummynge of this nwe Queene Anne,
Whoe, as she was, declared at the laste,
Whome God vanysched withe muche sodayne blaste.
No better esteamed then an other woman;
Eache doungegell as goode as the Sanctuarye;
Theis myscheifes, withe hundredefolde moe, began
At the incummynge of this nwe Queene Anne,
Whoe, as she was, declared at the laste,
Whome God vanysched withe muche sodayne blaste.
As good and blessed inducethe Vertue,
And woorkethe all meanys to mayntayne the same,
So the malignaunte dothe Vertue subdue,
Bycause their doyngis shee dothe fierslye blame;
Prooif whoe so notethe, Vice endethe withe shame.
Then was no wondre this alteration
To breede great meanys of desolation.
And woorkethe all meanys to mayntayne the same,
So the malignaunte dothe Vertue subdue,
Bycause their doyngis shee dothe fierslye blame;
Prooif whoe so notethe, Vice endethe withe shame.
Then was no wondre this alteration
To breede great meanys of desolation.
For, certaynlye, vpon this induction
Entred in this Royalme suche innouation
(To the pooare mannys vttre destruction),
Raysinge of Rentes in wondreful fashion,
From one to fyue in ful numeration,
To cawsynge of dearthe in vytayl and warys,
Withe other sundrye ineuytable carys,
Entred in this Royalme suche innouation
(To the pooare mannys vttre destruction),
Raysinge of Rentes in wondreful fashion,
From one to fyue in ful numeration,
To cawsynge of dearthe in vytayl and warys,
Withe other sundrye ineuytable carys,
81
Somuche the bodye not heere molestynge,
But hundredfolde more endaungeringe the sowle;
At Fastynge and Prayinge was made but iestinge,
The vile Ignoraunte the Clarke to controwle,
All holye cerymonyes coniuringe the Mowle,
Eache cockynge Cobler and spittyllhowse Proctor
In learnynge taken so goode as the Doctor.
But hundredfolde more endaungeringe the sowle;
At Fastynge and Prayinge was made but iestinge,
The vile Ignoraunte the Clarke to controwle,
All holye cerymonyes coniuringe the Mowle,
Eache cockynge Cobler and spittyllhowse Proctor
In learnynge taken so goode as the Doctor.
In tokne yeat more of Infidelytee,
Downe went the Crosses in eauerye countraye,
Goddys servauntes vsed withe muche crudelytee,
Dysmembred (like beastes) in thopen highe waye,
Their inwardys pluckte oute and hartis wheare they laye,
In suche (moste greuous) tyrannycall sorte
That to to shamefull weare heere to reporte.
Downe went the Crosses in eauerye countraye,
Goddys servauntes vsed withe muche crudelytee,
Dysmembred (like beastes) in thopen highe waye,
Their inwardys pluckte oute and hartis wheare they laye,
In suche (moste greuous) tyrannycall sorte
That to to shamefull weare heere to reporte.
Shortelye after, to mende the mateir more,
Churches and Monasteries downe they went,
To haue the treasure speciallye thearfore,
Althoughe they fayned for other entent,
After this Prouerbe, to like consequent,
The Glouer (craftelye) brought this reason yn,
The Dogge to bee madde, all to haue his skynne.
Churches and Monasteries downe they went,
To haue the treasure speciallye thearfore,
Althoughe they fayned for other entent,
After this Prouerbe, to like consequent,
The Glouer (craftelye) brought this reason yn,
The Dogge to bee madde, all to haue his skynne.
Yeat this was not the vttremuste euyl;
Theye nybbed Christes faithe after their pleasure,
So weare they ledde by their Maister the Deuyl,
For, on the truthe, they lyed oute of measure:
The whoale heere to wright I haue no leasure,
But to this ende I haue rehersed this,
What came by exchaunge of good Grisilidis.
Theye nybbed Christes faithe after their pleasure,
So weare they ledde by their Maister the Deuyl,
For, on the truthe, they lyed oute of measure:
The whoale heere to wright I haue no leasure,
But to this ende I haue rehersed this,
What came by exchaunge of good Grisilidis.
| The History of Grisild the Second | |