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

Very pleasant either to be read or songe: and a most excellent warning for all estates [by Thomas Deloney]
Deloney, Thomas (1543?-1600)

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The valiaunt courage & policie of the Kentishmen with long tayles, wherby they kept their ancient Lawes and Customes, which William the Conqueror sought to take from them.
 
Salomons good houswife, in the 31. of his Prouerbes.
 
How King Henrie the first had his Children drowned in the Sea, as they came out of Fraunce.
 
The Dutchesse of Suffolkes calamitie.
 
How King Henry the second crowning his Son King of England, in his owne life time, was by him most grieuously vexed with Warres: whereby he went about to take his Fathers Crowne quite from him. And how at his death he repented him thereof, and asked his Father hartely forgiuenesse.
 
The inprisonment of Queene Elinor, wife to King Henrie the second, by whose meanes the Kings Sonnes so vnnaturally rebelled against their Father, And her lamentation, being xvi. yeares in Prison whom her Sonne Richard when he came to be King, released: and how at her diliuerance, she caused manie prisoners to be set at libertie.
 
The lamentable death of King Iohn, how he was poysoned in the Abby at Swinsted, by a Frier.
 
The cruell imprisonment of King Edward the second, at the Castle of Barkley the 22. of September 1327.
 
How the King was poysoned, and yet escaped: and afterward, how when they saw that thereby he was not dispatched of life, they locked him in a most noysome filthy place, that with the stinke thereof he might be choaked: and when that preuayled not, how they thrust a hot burning Spitt into his Fundament, till they had burnt his bowels within his body, whereof he dyed.
 
The doleful lamentation of the Lord Matreuers, and Sir Thomas Gurney, being banished the realme.
 
The winning of the Ile of Manne, by the noble Earle of Salisburie.
 
The Rebellion of Watt Tyler and Iacke Straw: with others, against K. Richard the second.
 
A mournefull Dittie on the death of faire Rosamond, King Henrie the seconds Concubine.
 
A Sonnet.
 
Sonnetta. 13.
 
A Maydes Letter.
 
A new Dittie, in Prayse of Money.
 
An Epigram.
 
[Sprinks being asked what meates his Mistris loued]
 
A Louer being commaunded by his beloued to giue place to the disdayned crue, he writeth as followeth.
 
[Hee that in time, refuseth Time]
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Wise Sentences.
 
[Two thinges doth prolong thy lyfe]
 
[The Scarlet cloth doth make the Bull to feare]
 
[Why flyest thou heence thou glory bright]
 
[A word once spoke, it can returne no more]
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These Sentences following, were set vpon Conduits in London against the day that King Iames came through the Citie at his first comming to the Crowne.
 
Vpon the Conduit in Grateous streete were these verses.
 
In Cornewell.
 
In Cheap-side.

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Sonnetta. 13.

Faire sweete, if you desire to know,
And would the meaning vnderstend,
Wherefore on you I do bestow
This Ring of gold with hart in hand.
Read these few lines that are behind,
And there my meaning you shall find.
The Gift: betokeneth my good will.
The Ring: the wish of endles ioy.
The Gold: the worldly wealth, which still
Defendeth friendship from annoy.
The Hart in hand: my hart in hold,
Which pittie craues, as reason would.
The Hand, betokeneth loue, and might,
As chiefest member that defendes:

Shake handes then friendes, bend fist, then fight:
Thus loue, or hate, the hand offendes,
In proofe of perfect amitie,
I giue this Hand in hand to thee.
The Heart thus plac'd betwixt two hands,
If friendship breake, the Heart is slaine:
Euen so, the case with mee now standes,
My Heart doth in your Hands remaine.
My life, is yours, to saue or spill,
I say no more: do what you will.
T. R.
FINIS.
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