The Mirror for Magistrates Edited from original texts in the Huntington Library by Lily B. Campbell |
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360
How Richard Plantagenet duke of Glocester, murdered his brothers children vsurping the crowne, and in the third yeare of his raygne was most worthely deprived of life and kingdome in Bosworth playne by Henry Earle of Richemond after called king Henry the .vii.
What hart so hard, but doth abhorre to heare
The ruful raygne of me the thyrd Rychard?
King vnkindely cald though I the crowne dyd weare,
Who entred by rigour, but ryght did not regard,
By tyranny proceding in kyllyng kyng Edward,
Fyft of that name, ryght heyre vnto the crowne,
With Rychard his brother, prynces of renowne.
The ruful raygne of me the thyrd Rychard?
King vnkindely cald though I the crowne dyd weare,
Who entred by rigour, but ryght did not regard,
By tyranny proceding in kyllyng kyng Edward,
Fyft of that name, ryght heyre vnto the crowne,
With Rychard his brother, prynces of renowne.
Of trust they were committed vnto my governaunce,
But trust turned to treason to truly it was tryed,
Both agaynst nature, duetye, and allegiaunce,
For through my procurement most shamefully they died
Desire of a kyngdome forgetteth all kynred,
As after by discourse it shalbe shewed here,
How cruelly these innocentes in pryson murdred were.
But trust turned to treason to truly it was tryed,
Both agaynst nature, duetye, and allegiaunce,
For through my procurement most shamefully they died
Desire of a kyngdome forgetteth all kynred,
As after by discourse it shalbe shewed here,
How cruelly these innocentes in pryson murdred were.
The Lordes and Commons all with one assent,
Protectour made me both of land and Kyng,
But I therewyth alas was not content:
For mindyng mischiefe I ment another thyng,
Which to confusion in short time dyd me bryng,
For I desyrous to rule and raygne alone,
Sought crowne and kingdome, yet title had I none.
Protectour made me both of land and Kyng,
But I therewyth alas was not content:
For mindyng mischiefe I ment another thyng,
Which to confusion in short time dyd me bryng,
For I desyrous to rule and raygne alone,
Sought crowne and kingdome, yet title had I none.
361
To all Piers and princes a president I may be.
The like to beware howe they do enterpryse,
And learne theyr wretched falles by my fact to forsee,
Which ruful stand bewayling my chaunce before theyr eyes,
As one cleane bereft of all felicities:
For ryght through might I cruelly defaced,
But might helped ryght, and me agayne dysplaced.
The like to beware howe they do enterpryse,
And learne theyr wretched falles by my fact to forsee,
Which ruful stand bewayling my chaunce before theyr eyes,
As one cleane bereft of all felicities:
For ryght through might I cruelly defaced,
But might helped ryght, and me agayne dysplaced.
Alas that ever Prince should thus his honour stayne
With the bloud of Innocentes most shameful to be tolde
For these two noble ympes I caused to be slayne,
Of yeares not ful rype as yet to rule and raygne.
For which I was abhorred both of yong and old,
But as the deede was odious in syght of god and man,
So shame and destruction in the ende I wan.
With the bloud of Innocentes most shameful to be tolde
For these two noble ympes I caused to be slayne,
Of yeares not ful rype as yet to rule and raygne.
For which I was abhorred both of yong and old,
But as the deede was odious in syght of god and man,
So shame and destruction in the ende I wan.
Both God, nature, dutie, allegiaunce al forgott,
This vile and haynous acte vnnaturally I conspyred:
Which horrible deede done, alas, alas, god wot
Such terrors me tormented, and so my spyrytes fyred
As vnto such a murder and shameful deede requyred,
Such broyle dayly felt I breeding in my brest,
Wherby more and more, increased myne vnrest.
This vile and haynous acte vnnaturally I conspyred:
Which horrible deede done, alas, alas, god wot
Such terrors me tormented, and so my spyrytes fyred
As vnto such a murder and shameful deede requyred,
Such broyle dayly felt I breeding in my brest,
Wherby more and more, increased myne vnrest.
My brothers children were right heyres vnto the crowne
Whom nature rather bound to defend than distroy,
But I not regarding theyr ryght nor my renowne
My whole care and study to this ende did imploye,
The crowne to obtayne, and them both to put downe:
Wherein I God offended, prouoking iust his yre,
For this my attempt and most wicked desyre.
Whom nature rather bound to defend than distroy,
But I not regarding theyr ryght nor my renowne
My whole care and study to this ende did imploye,
The crowne to obtayne, and them both to put downe:
Wherein I God offended, prouoking iust his yre,
For this my attempt and most wicked desyre.
362
To cruel cursed Cayn compare my carefull case,
Whych did vniustly slaye his brother iust Abel,
And did not I in rage make runne that rufull race
My brother duke of Clarens, whose death I shame to tell
For that so straunge it was, as it was horrible?
For sure he drenched was, and yet no water neare,
Which strange is to be tolde to al that shal it heare.
Whych did vniustly slaye his brother iust Abel,
And did not I in rage make runne that rufull race
My brother duke of Clarens, whose death I shame to tell
For that so straunge it was, as it was horrible?
For sure he drenched was, and yet no water neare,
Which strange is to be tolde to al that shal it heare.
The But he was not whereat I dyd shoote,
But yet he stoode betwene the marke and me:
For had he lived, for me it was no boote
To tempt the thing that by no meanes could be,
For I thyrd was then of my brethren thrée:
But yet I thought the elder beyng gone,
Then nedes must I beare the stroke alone.
But yet he stoode betwene the marke and me:
For had he lived, for me it was no boote
To tempt the thing that by no meanes could be,
For I thyrd was then of my brethren thrée:
But yet I thought the elder beyng gone,
Then nedes must I beare the stroke alone.
Desire to rule made me alas to rewe,
My fatal fall I could it not forsee,
Puft vp in pride, so hawtie then I grewe,
That none my peare I thought now could be,
Disdayning such as were of hygh degree:
Thus dayly rising and pulling other downe,
At last I shot howe to wyn the crowne.
My fatal fall I could it not forsee,
Puft vp in pride, so hawtie then I grewe,
That none my peare I thought now could be,
Disdayning such as were of hygh degree:
Thus dayly rising and pulling other downe,
At last I shot howe to wyn the crowne.
And dayly deuising which was the best waye
And meane howe I myght my nephewes both deuoure
I secretely then sent wythout further delay
To Brackynbury then lieuetenaunt of the tower,
Requesting him by letters to helpe vnto his power,
For to accomplyshe this my desire and wyl,
And that he would secretely my brothers children kyll.
And meane howe I myght my nephewes both deuoure
I secretely then sent wythout further delay
To Brackynbury then lieuetenaunt of the tower,
Requesting him by letters to helpe vnto his power,
For to accomplyshe this my desire and wyl,
And that he would secretely my brothers children kyll.
363
He aunswered playnely with a flat naye,
Sayeng that to dye he would not doe that dede:
But finding then a proffer ready for my pray,
Wel worth a frende (quoth I) yet in time of nede.
Iames Tyrryl hyte his name, whom wyth al speede,
I sent agayne to Brackynbury, as you heard before,
Commaunding him deliver the keyes of every dore.
Sayeng that to dye he would not doe that dede:
But finding then a proffer ready for my pray,
Wel worth a frende (quoth I) yet in time of nede.
Iames Tyrryl hyte his name, whom wyth al speede,
I sent agayne to Brackynbury, as you heard before,
Commaunding him deliver the keyes of every dore.
The keyes he rendered, but partaker would not be
Of that flagitious facte. O happy man I say,
And as you heard before, he rather chose to dye
Then on those silly lambes his violent handes to lay.
His conscience him prycked, his prynce to betray:
O constant minde, that wouldest not condyscend,
Thee may I prayse, and my selfe discommend.
Of that flagitious facte. O happy man I say,
And as you heard before, he rather chose to dye
Then on those silly lambes his violent handes to lay.
His conscience him prycked, his prynce to betray:
O constant minde, that wouldest not condyscend,
Thee may I prayse, and my selfe discommend.
What though he refused, yet be sure you maye,
That other were as ready to take in hand the thyng,
Which watched and wayted as duely for theyr pray,
As ever dyd the Cat for the Mouse taking,
And howe they might their purpose best to passe bryng:
Where Tyrryl he thought good to have no bloud shed,
Becast them to kyl by smothering in theyr bed.
That other were as ready to take in hand the thyng,
Which watched and wayted as duely for theyr pray,
As ever dyd the Cat for the Mouse taking,
And howe they might their purpose best to passe bryng:
Where Tyrryl he thought good to have no bloud shed,
Becast them to kyl by smothering in theyr bed.
The Wolves at hand were ready to devoure
The silly lambes in bed whereas they laye
Abiding death and looking for the hower,
For well they wyst, they could not scape awaye.
Ah, woe is me, that did them thus betraye,
In assigning this vile dede to be done,
By Myles Forrest, and wycked Iohn Dyghton.
The silly lambes in bed whereas they laye
Abiding death and looking for the hower,
For well they wyst, they could not scape awaye.
Ah, woe is me, that did them thus betraye,
In assigning this vile dede to be done,
By Myles Forrest, and wycked Iohn Dyghton.
364
Who priuely into theyr chamber stale,
In secrete wyse somewhat before midnyght,
And gan the bed together tug and hale,
Bewrapping them alas in rufull plyght,
Keping them downe, by force, by power, and might,
With haling, tugging, tormoyling, torne and tost,
Tyl they of force were forced yeeld the ghost.
In secrete wyse somewhat before midnyght,
And gan the bed together tug and hale,
Bewrapping them alas in rufull plyght,
Keping them downe, by force, by power, and might,
With haling, tugging, tormoyling, torne and tost,
Tyl they of force were forced yeeld the ghost.
Which when I heard, my hart I felt was eased
Of grudge, of gryefe, and inward deadly payne,
But with this deede the Nobles were displeased,
And sayd: O God, shal such a Tyraunt raygne,
That hath so cruelly his brothers chyldren slayne?
Which brute once blowen in the peoples eares,
Theyr dolour was such, that they brast out in teares.
Of grudge, of gryefe, and inward deadly payne,
But with this deede the Nobles were displeased,
And sayd: O God, shal such a Tyraunt raygne,
That hath so cruelly his brothers chyldren slayne?
Which brute once blowen in the peoples eares,
Theyr dolour was such, that they brast out in teares.
But what thing may suffise vnto the bloudy man,
The more he bathes in bloud, the bloudier he is alway:
By proofe I do this speake, whych best declare it can,
Which only was the cause of this prynces decaye.
The wolfe was never greedier than I was of my pray,
But who so vseth murder ful wel affirme I dare,
Wyth murder shal be quyt, ere he therof be ware.
The more he bathes in bloud, the bloudier he is alway:
By proofe I do this speake, whych best declare it can,
Which only was the cause of this prynces decaye.
The wolfe was never greedier than I was of my pray,
But who so vseth murder ful wel affirme I dare,
Wyth murder shal be quyt, ere he therof be ware.
And marke the sequell of this begonne mischiefe
Which shortly after was cause of my decaye,
For high and lowe conceyved such a gryefe
And hate against me, whych sought day by daye,
All wayes and meanes that possible they may,
On me to be revenged for this sinne,
For cruell murdering vnnaturally my kyn.
Which shortly after was cause of my decaye,
For high and lowe conceyved such a gryefe
And hate against me, whych sought day by daye,
All wayes and meanes that possible they may,
On me to be revenged for this sinne,
For cruell murdering vnnaturally my kyn.
365
Not only kyn, but kyng the truth to saye
Whom vnkyndely of kyngdome I bereft,
His life also from him I raught away,
With his brothers, whych to my charge were left.
Of ambicion behold the worke and weft,
Prouoking me to do this haynous treason,
And murder them agaynst al right and reason.
Whom vnkyndely of kyngdome I bereft,
His life also from him I raught away,
With his brothers, whych to my charge were left.
Of ambicion behold the worke and weft,
Prouoking me to do this haynous treason,
And murder them agaynst al right and reason.
After whose death thus wrought by violence,
The Lordes not liking this vnnaturall dede,
Began on me to have great diffidence,
Such brynnyng hate gan in their hartes to breede,
Which made me doubt, and sore my daunger drede:
Which doubt and drede proved not in vayne,
By that ensewed alas vnto my payne.
The Lordes not liking this vnnaturall dede,
Began on me to have great diffidence,
Such brynnyng hate gan in their hartes to breede,
Which made me doubt, and sore my daunger drede:
Which doubt and drede proved not in vayne,
By that ensewed alas vnto my payne.
For I supposing all thinges were as I wyshed,
When I had brought these silly babes to bane,
But yet in that my purpose farre I missed:
For as the Moone doth chaunge after the wane,
So chaunged the hartes of such as I had tane
To be most true, to troubles dyd me turne,
Such rage and rancour in boyling brestes do burne.
When I had brought these silly babes to bane,
But yet in that my purpose farre I missed:
For as the Moone doth chaunge after the wane,
So chaunged the hartes of such as I had tane
To be most true, to troubles dyd me turne,
Such rage and rancour in boyling brestes do burne.
And sodaynely a bruyte abrode was blowen,
That Buckingham the duke both sterne and stout,
In fyeld was ready, with divers to me knowen,
To gyve me battayle if I durst come out:
Which daunted me and put me in great doubt,
For that I had no armie then prepared,
But after that I litel for it cared.
That Buckingham the duke both sterne and stout,
In fyeld was ready, with divers to me knowen,
To gyve me battayle if I durst come out:
Which daunted me and put me in great doubt,
For that I had no armie then prepared,
But after that I litel for it cared.
366
But yet remembryng, that oft a lytle sparke
Suffered doth growe vnto a great flame,
I thought it wysedome wisely for to warke,
Mustered then men in every place I came.
And marching forward dayly wyth the same,
Directly towardes the towne of Salisbury,
Where I gat knowledge of the dukes army.
Suffered doth growe vnto a great flame,
I thought it wysedome wisely for to warke,
Mustered then men in every place I came.
And marching forward dayly wyth the same,
Directly towardes the towne of Salisbury,
Where I gat knowledge of the dukes army.
And as I passed over Salysbury downe,
The rumour ran the duke was fled and gone,
His hoste dispersed besides Shrewisbury towne,
And he dismayd was left there post alone,
Bewayling his chaunce and makyng great mone:
Towardes whom I hasted with al expedicion,
Making due serche and diligent inquisicion.
The rumour ran the duke was fled and gone,
His hoste dispersed besides Shrewisbury towne,
And he dismayd was left there post alone,
Bewayling his chaunce and makyng great mone:
Towardes whom I hasted with al expedicion,
Making due serche and diligent inquisicion.
But at the first I could not of him heare,
For he was scaped by secrete bywayes,
Vnto the house of Humfrey Banystar,
Whom he had much preferred in his dayes,
And was good lord to him in al assayes:
Which he ful euel requyted in the ende,
When he was driven to seeke a trustye frende.
For he was scaped by secrete bywayes,
Vnto the house of Humfrey Banystar,
Whom he had much preferred in his dayes,
And was good lord to him in al assayes:
Which he ful euel requyted in the ende,
When he was driven to seeke a trustye frende.
For it so happened to his mishap, alas,
When I no knowledge of the Duke could heare
A proclamacion by my commaundement was
Publyshed and cryed throughout euery shyre,
That who so could tel where the Duke were,
A thousand marke should have for his payne,
What thing so hard but money can obtayne?
When I no knowledge of the Duke could heare
A proclamacion by my commaundement was
Publyshed and cryed throughout euery shyre,
That who so could tel where the Duke were,
A thousand marke should have for his payne,
What thing so hard but money can obtayne?
367
But were it for mony, mede, or drede,
That Banystar thus betrayed his ghest,
Divers have diversly deuined of this dede,
Some deeme the worst, and some iudge the best,
The doubt not dissolved nor playnely exprest,
But of the Dukes death he doubteles was cause,
Which dyed without iudgement or order of lawes.
That Banystar thus betrayed his ghest,
Divers have diversly deuined of this dede,
Some deeme the worst, and some iudge the best,
The doubt not dissolved nor playnely exprest,
But of the Dukes death he doubteles was cause,
Which dyed without iudgement or order of lawes.
Loe this noble Duke I brought thus vnto bane,
Whose doynges I doubted and had in great dred,
At Banysters house I made him to be tane,
And wythout iudgement be shortened by the head,
By the Shrive of Shropshire to Salisbury led.
In the market place vpon the scaffolde newe
Where all the beholders did much his death rewe.
Whose doynges I doubted and had in great dred,
At Banysters house I made him to be tane,
And wythout iudgement be shortened by the head,
By the Shrive of Shropshire to Salisbury led.
In the market place vpon the scaffolde newe
Where all the beholders did much his death rewe.
And after this done I brake vp my hoste,
Greatly applauded with this happy happe,
And forthwyth I sent to every sea coste
To foresee al mischieues and stoppe every gappe,
Before they should chaunce and lyght in my lappe
Geving them in charge to have good regarde
The sea coast to kepe with good watche and warde.
Greatly applauded with this happy happe,
And forthwyth I sent to every sea coste
To foresee al mischieues and stoppe every gappe,
Before they should chaunce and lyght in my lappe
Geving them in charge to have good regarde
The sea coast to kepe with good watche and warde.
Directing my letters vnto every shryve,
With strayt commaundement vnder our name,
To suffer no man in theyr partes to aryve
Nor to passe forth out of the same,
As they tendered our favour, and voyd would our blame,
Doyng therein their paine and industrye,
With diligent care and vigilant eye.
With strayt commaundement vnder our name,
To suffer no man in theyr partes to aryve
Nor to passe forth out of the same,
As they tendered our favour, and voyd would our blame,
Doyng therein their paine and industrye,
With diligent care and vigilant eye.
368
And thus setting thinges in order as you heare,
To prevent mischieves that myght then betyde,
I thought my selfe sure, and out of all feare,
And for other thinges began to provyde:
To Notyngham castel strayt dyd I ride,
Where I was not very long space,
Straunge tydinges came whych dyd me sore amase.
To prevent mischieves that myght then betyde,
I thought my selfe sure, and out of all feare,
And for other thinges began to provyde:
To Notyngham castel strayt dyd I ride,
Where I was not very long space,
Straunge tydinges came whych dyd me sore amase.
Reported it was, and that for certaynetye,
Therle of Rychemond landed was in Wales
At Mylford haven, wyth an huge armye,
Dismissing his navie which were many sayles:
Whych at the fyrst I thought fleing tales.
But in the ende dyd otherwyse prove,
Which not a litle dyd me vexe and move.
Therle of Rychemond landed was in Wales
At Mylford haven, wyth an huge armye,
Dismissing his navie which were many sayles:
Whych at the fyrst I thought fleing tales.
But in the ende dyd otherwyse prove,
Which not a litle dyd me vexe and move.
Thus fawning Fortune began on me to frowne,
And cast on me her scorneful lowring looke:
Then gan I feare the fall of my renowne,
My hart it faynted, my sinowes sore they shooke,
This heauy happe a scourge for sinne I tooke,
Yet dyd I not then vtterly despayre,
Hooping stormes past, the weather should be fayre.
And cast on me her scorneful lowring looke:
Then gan I feare the fall of my renowne,
My hart it faynted, my sinowes sore they shooke,
This heauy happe a scourge for sinne I tooke,
Yet dyd I not then vtterly despayre,
Hooping stormes past, the weather should be fayre.
And then with all speede possible I myght,
I caused them muster through out every shyre,
Determining wyth the Earle spedely to fyght,
Before that his power much encreased were,
By such as to him great favour did beare:
Which were no smal number by true reporte made,
Dayly repayring him for to ayde.
I caused them muster through out every shyre,
Determining wyth the Earle spedely to fyght,
Before that his power much encreased were,
By such as to him great favour did beare:
Which were no smal number by true reporte made,
Dayly repayring him for to ayde.
Directing my letters to divers noble men,
With earnest request theyr power to prepare,
To Notyngham castel where as I laye then.
To ayde and assyst me in this weyghty affayre:
Where strayt to my presence did then repayre,
Iohn duke of Norfolke, his eldest sonne also,
With therle of Northhumberland and many other mo.
With earnest request theyr power to prepare,
369
To ayde and assyst me in this weyghty affayre:
Where strayt to my presence did then repayre,
Iohn duke of Norfolke, his eldest sonne also,
With therle of Northhumberland and many other mo.
And thus beyng furnysht with men and municion,
Forward we marched in order of battayle raye,
Makyng by scoutes every way inquisicion,
In what place the earle with his campe laye:
Towardes whom directly we tooke then our waye,
Evermore minding to seeke our most auayle,
In place convenient to gyve to him battayle.
Forward we marched in order of battayle raye,
Makyng by scoutes every way inquisicion,
In what place the earle with his campe laye:
Towardes whom directly we tooke then our waye,
Evermore minding to seeke our most auayle,
In place convenient to gyve to him battayle.
So long we laboured, at last our armies met
On Bosworth playne besydes Lecester towne,
Where sure I thought the garland for to get,
And purchase peace, or els to lose my crowne.
But fyckle Fortune alas on me dyd frowne,
For when I was encamped in the fyelde,
Where most I trusted I soonest was begyld.
On Bosworth playne besydes Lecester towne,
Where sure I thought the garland for to get,
And purchase peace, or els to lose my crowne.
But fyckle Fortune alas on me dyd frowne,
For when I was encamped in the fyelde,
Where most I trusted I soonest was begyld.
The brand of malyce thus kyndlyng in my brest
Of deadly hate which I to him dyd beare,
Prycked me forward, and bad me not desist,
But boldely fight, and take at all no feare,
To wynne the fyeld, and the earle to conquere:
Thus hopyng glory great to gayne and get,
My army then in order dyd I set.
Of deadly hate which I to him dyd beare,
Prycked me forward, and bad me not desist,
But boldely fight, and take at all no feare,
To wynne the fyeld, and the earle to conquere:
Thus hopyng glory great to gayne and get,
My army then in order dyd I set.
Betide me life or death I desperately ran,
And ioyned me in battayle wyth this Earle so stoute,
But Fortune so him fauoured that he the battayle wan
With force and great power I was beset about,
Which when I did behold, in myds of the whole rout
With dent of sword I cast me on him to be revenged,
Where in the middest of them my wretched life I ended.
And ioyned me in battayle wyth this Earle so stoute,
But Fortune so him fauoured that he the battayle wan
With force and great power I was beset about,
Which when I did behold, in myds of the whole rout
370
Where in the middest of them my wretched life I ended.
My body it was hurryed and tugged like a Dogge,
On horsebacke all naked and bare as I was borne.
My head, handes, & feete, downe hanging like a Hogge,
With dyrt and bloud besprent, my corps al to torne,
Cursing the day that ever I was borne.
With greuous woundes bemangled most horrible to se
So sore they did abhorre this my vile crueltye.
On horsebacke all naked and bare as I was borne.
My head, handes, & feete, downe hanging like a Hogge,
With dyrt and bloud besprent, my corps al to torne,
Cursing the day that ever I was borne.
With greuous woundes bemangled most horrible to se
So sore they did abhorre this my vile crueltye.
Loe here you may beholde the due and iust rewarde
Of tiranny and treason which God doth most detest,
For if vnto my duety I had taken regarde,
I myght haue lived stil in honour with the best,
And had I not attempt the thing that I ought lest.
But desire to rule alas dyd me so blinde,
Which caused me to do agaynst nature and kynde.
Of tiranny and treason which God doth most detest,
For if vnto my duety I had taken regarde,
I myght haue lived stil in honour with the best,
And had I not attempt the thing that I ought lest.
But desire to rule alas dyd me so blinde,
Which caused me to do agaynst nature and kynde.
Ah cursed caytive why did I clymbe so hye,
Which was the cause of this my baleful thrall.
For styll I thyrsted for the regal dignitie,
But hasty rising threatneth sodayne fall,
Content your selves with your estates all,
And seeke not right by wrong to suppresse,
For God hath promist eche wrong to redresse.
Which was the cause of this my baleful thrall.
For styll I thyrsted for the regal dignitie,
But hasty rising threatneth sodayne fall,
Content your selves with your estates all,
And seeke not right by wrong to suppresse,
For God hath promist eche wrong to redresse.
See here the fine and fatall fall of me,
And guerdon due for this my wretched deede,
Whych to all prynces a myrrour nowe may be
That shal this tragicall story after reede,
Wyshyng them all by me to take heede,
And suffer ryght to rule as it is reason,
For Time trieth out both truth and also treason.
And guerdon due for this my wretched deede,
Whych to all prynces a myrrour nowe may be
That shal this tragicall story after reede,
Wyshyng them all by me to take heede,
And suffer ryght to rule as it is reason,
For Time trieth out both truth and also treason.
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