The Mirror for Magistrates Edited from original texts in the Huntington Library by Lily B. Campbell |
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The tragedie of Edmund duke of Somerset, slayne
at the first battayle at Saynct Albanes, in the tyme of
Henrye the sixte. |
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 | The Mirror for Magistrates |  |
388
The tragedie of Edmund duke of Somerset, slayne at the first battayle at Saynct Albanes, in the tyme of Henrye the sixte.
Some I suppose are borne vnfortunate,
Els good endeuours could not yll succede,
What shal I call it? yll Fortune or fate,
That some mens attemptes have never good speede,
Theyr trauayle thankeles, all bootles theyr hede:
Where other vnlyke in workyng or skyll,
Outwrestle the world, and wyeld it at wyll,
Els good endeuours could not yll succede,
What shal I call it? yll Fortune or fate,
That some mens attemptes have never good speede,
Theyr trauayle thankeles, all bootles theyr hede:
Where other vnlyke in workyng or skyll,
Outwrestle the world, and wyeld it at wyll,
Of the fyrst number I count my selfe one,
To all mishap I wene predestinate,
Beleve me Baldwyne there be fewe or none,
To whom Fortune was ever more ingrate.
Make thou therfore my lyfe a caveat,
That who so wyth force wil worke agaynst kynde,
Sayleth as who sayeth, agaynst the stream & wynde.
To all mishap I wene predestinate,
Beleve me Baldwyne there be fewe or none,
To whom Fortune was ever more ingrate.
Make thou therfore my lyfe a caveat,
That who so wyth force wil worke agaynst kynde,
Sayleth as who sayeth, agaynst the stream & wynde.
For I of Somerset which duke Edmund hight,
Extract by discent from Lancaster line,
Were it by folly or Fortunes fell despyte,
Or by yll aspecte of some crooked sygne,
Of my workes never could see a good fine:
What so I began dyd seldome wel ende:
God from such Fortune all good men defend.
Extract by discent from Lancaster line,
Were it by folly or Fortunes fell despyte,
Or by yll aspecte of some crooked sygne,
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What so I began dyd seldome wel ende:
God from such Fortune all good men defend.
Where I sought to save, most parte I dyd spyll,
For good hap with me was alway at warre.
The lynage of Yorke whom I bare so yll,
By my spite became bryght as the morning starre,
Thus somewhiles men make when fayne they would marre.
The more ye lop trees, the greater they growe,
The more ye stop streames the hygher they flowe.
For good hap with me was alway at warre.
The lynage of Yorke whom I bare so yll,
By my spite became bryght as the morning starre,
Thus somewhiles men make when fayne they would marre.
The more ye lop trees, the greater they growe,
The more ye stop streames the hygher they flowe.
By malice of me his glory grewe the more,
And mine, as the moone in the wane, waxt lesse:
For having the place which he had before,
Governour of Fraunce, nedes I must confesse,
That lost was Normandie wythout redresse,
Yet wrought I al wayes that wyt myght contryve,
But what doth it boote with the streame to stryve?
And mine, as the moone in the wane, waxt lesse:
For having the place which he had before,
Governour of Fraunce, nedes I must confesse,
That lost was Normandie wythout redresse,
Yet wrought I al wayes that wyt myght contryve,
But what doth it boote with the streame to stryve?
Borne was I neyther to warre nor to peace
For Mars was maligne to all my whole trade:
My byrth I beleve was in Ioves decreas,
When Cancer in his course beyng retrograde,
Declyned from Sol to Saturnus shade,
Where aspectes were good, opposites did marre,
So grew myne vnhap both in peace and warre.
For Mars was maligne to all my whole trade:
My byrth I beleve was in Ioves decreas,
When Cancer in his course beyng retrograde,
Declyned from Sol to Saturnus shade,
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So grew myne vnhap both in peace and warre.
A straunge natiuitie in calculation,
As all my lyves course dyd after declare,
Whereof in a bryefe to make relacion,
That other by me may learne to beware,
Overlight credence was cause of my care.
And want of foresight in geuyng assent,
To condemne Humfrey the duke innocent,
As all my lyves course dyd after declare,
Whereof in a bryefe to make relacion,
That other by me may learne to beware,
Overlight credence was cause of my care.
And want of foresight in geuyng assent,
To condemne Humfrey the duke innocent,
Humfrey I meane that was the protector,
Duke of Glocester of the royall bloud,
So long as he was Englandes dyrectour,
Kyng Henries tytle to the crowne was good.
This prynce as a pyller most stedfastly stood:
Or like to a proppe set vnder a vyne,
In state to vpholde al Lancasters line.
Duke of Glocester of the royall bloud,
So long as he was Englandes dyrectour,
Kyng Henries tytle to the crowne was good.
This prynce as a pyller most stedfastly stood:
Or like to a proppe set vnder a vyne,
In state to vpholde al Lancasters line.
O hedeles trust, vnware of harme to cum,
O malice headlong swyft to serve fond wyll,
Did ever madnes man so much benomme
Of prudent forecast, reason wit, and skyll,
As me blinde Bayard consenting to spyll,
The bloud of my cosyn my refuge and staye,
To my destruction making open waye?
O malice headlong swyft to serve fond wyll,
Did ever madnes man so much benomme
Of prudent forecast, reason wit, and skyll,
As me blinde Bayard consenting to spyll,
The bloud of my cosyn my refuge and staye,
To my destruction making open waye?
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So long as the Duke bare the stroke and swaye,
So long no Rebelles quarelles durst begin,
But when that the post was once pulled awaye,
Which stoode to vpholde the king and his kyn,
Yorke and his banders proudly preased in.
To chalenge the crowne by title of ryght,
Beginning with lawe and ending with myght.
So long no Rebelles quarelles durst begin,
But when that the post was once pulled awaye,
Which stoode to vpholde the king and his kyn,
Yorke and his banders proudly preased in.
To chalenge the crowne by title of ryght,
Beginning with lawe and ending with myght.
Abrode went bruites in countrey and in towne,
That Yorke of England was the heyre true,
And howe Henry vsurped had the crowne
Agaynst al right, which al the realme may rue:
The people then, embrasing titles newe,
Yrksome of present, and longing for a chaunge,
Assented soone bycause they love to raunge.
That Yorke of England was the heyre true,
And howe Henry vsurped had the crowne
Agaynst al right, which al the realme may rue:
The people then, embrasing titles newe,
Yrksome of present, and longing for a chaunge,
Assented soone bycause they love to raunge.
True is the text which we in scripture read,
Ve terrae illi cuius rex est puer.
Woe to the land whereof a chylde is head,
Whether chylde or childyshe the case is one sure,
Where kynges be yong we dayly see in vre,
The people awles wanting one to dread,
Lead theyr lives lawles by weakenes of the heade.
Ve terrae illi cuius rex est puer.
Woe to the land whereof a chylde is head,
Whether chylde or childyshe the case is one sure,
Where kynges be yong we dayly see in vre,
The people awles wanting one to dread,
Lead theyr lives lawles by weakenes of the heade.
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And no lesse true is this text agayne,
Beata terra cuius rex est nobilis.
Blest is the land where a stout kyng doth rayne,
Where in good peace eche man possesseth his,
Where ill men feare to fault or do amis,
Where the prynce prest hath alway sword in hand,
At home and abrode his enemyes to wythstand.
Beata terra cuius rex est nobilis.
Blest is the land where a stout kyng doth rayne,
Where in good peace eche man possesseth his,
Where ill men feare to fault or do amis,
Where the prynce prest hath alway sword in hand,
At home and abrode his enemyes to wythstand.
In case king Henry had bene such a one,
Hardy and stoute as his fathers afore,
Long mought he have sat in the royall throne,
Without any feare of common vprore.
But dayly his weakenes shewed more and more,
And that gave boldenes to the aduers bande,
To spoyle him at last both of life and land.
Hardy and stoute as his fathers afore,
Long mought he have sat in the royall throne,
Without any feare of common vprore.
But dayly his weakenes shewed more and more,
And that gave boldenes to the aduers bande,
To spoyle him at last both of life and land.
His humble hart was nothyng vnknowen,
To the gallantes of Yorke & theyr retinue,
A ground lyeng lowe is soone overflowen,
And shored houses can not long continue,
Ioyntes can not knyt where as is no synowe,
And so a prynce, not dred as well as loved
Is from his place, by practise soone removed.
To the gallantes of Yorke & theyr retinue,
A ground lyeng lowe is soone overflowen,
And shored houses can not long continue,
Ioyntes can not knyt where as is no synowe,
And so a prynce, not dred as well as loved
Is from his place, by practise soone removed.
393
Well mought I see had I not wanted brayne,
The wurke begon to vndermine the state,
When the chiefe lynke was lewced fro the chayne,
And that men durst vpon bloud royal grate,
Howe tickle a holde had I of mine estate?
When the head poste laye flat vpon the flore,
Mought not I thinke my staf next the dore?
The wurke begon to vndermine the state,
When the chiefe lynke was lewced fro the chayne,
And that men durst vpon bloud royal grate,
Howe tickle a holde had I of mine estate?
When the head poste laye flat vpon the flore,
Mought not I thinke my staf next the dore?
So mought also dame Margarete the Queene,
By meane of whom this mischiefe fyrst began,
Dyd she trowe ye her selfe not overwéen
Death to procure to such a noble man?
Whych she and hers afterward did ban,
On whom dyd hang as I before have sayd,
Her husbandes life, his honour and his ayde.
By meane of whom this mischiefe fyrst began,
Dyd she trowe ye her selfe not overwéen
Death to procure to such a noble man?
Whych she and hers afterward did ban,
On whom dyd hang as I before have sayd,
Her husbandes life, his honour and his ayde.
For whylest he lyved whych was our stable staye,
Yorke and his ympes were kept as vnder yoke,
But when our poste removed was away,
Then burst out flame that late before was smoke,
The traytour covert then cast of his cloke,
And he that lay hyd came forth in open light,
With titles blynde whych he set forth for ryght.
Yorke and his ympes were kept as vnder yoke,
But when our poste removed was away,
Then burst out flame that late before was smoke,
The traytour covert then cast of his cloke,
And he that lay hyd came forth in open light,
With titles blynde whych he set forth for ryght.
394
Whych thyng to compasse him fyrst behooved,
The kyng and his kyn a sunder to set:
Who being perforce or practise remooved,
Then had they auoyded the pryncipall let,
Which kept the sought pray so long from the net:
The next poynt after, was them selves to place
In hyghest authoritie about his grace.
The kyng and his kyn a sunder to set:
Who being perforce or practise remooved,
Then had they auoyded the pryncipall let,
Which kept the sought pray so long from the net:
The next poynt after, was them selves to place
In hyghest authoritie about his grace.
Therfore he wrought strayght me to displace,
No cause pretending but the common weale,
The crowne of England was the very case,
Why to the commons they burned so in zeale.
My faultes were cloakes theyr practise to conceale,
In counsayle hearing consider the entent,
For by pretence of truth treason ofte is ment,
No cause pretending but the common weale,
The crowne of England was the very case,
Why to the commons they burned so in zeale.
My faultes were cloakes theyr practise to conceale,
In counsayle hearing consider the entent,
For by pretence of truth treason ofte is ment,
So theyr pretence was only to remove
Counsayle corrupt from place about the kyng.
But O ye Prynces, you it doth behoove,
This case to construe as no fayned thyng,
That never traytour did subdue his kyng,
But for his plat ere he would furder wade,
Agaynst his frendes the quarel fyrst he made.
Counsayle corrupt from place about the kyng.
But O ye Prynces, you it doth behoove,
This case to construe as no fayned thyng,
That never traytour did subdue his kyng,
But for his plat ere he would furder wade,
Agaynst his frendes the quarel fyrst he made.
And if by hap he could so bryng about,
Them to subdue at his owne wyshe and wyll,
Then would he waxe so arrogant and stout,
That no reason his outrage myght fulfyll.
But to procede vpon his purpose styl
Tyll kyng and counsayle brought were in one case:
Loe to a rebell what it is to geve place.
Them to subdue at his owne wyshe and wyll,
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That no reason his outrage myght fulfyll.
But to procede vpon his purpose styl
Tyll kyng and counsayle brought were in one case:
Loe to a rebell what it is to geve place.
So for the fyshe casting forth his net,
The next poynt was in dryuing out his plat,
Common doltes to cause furiously to fret,
And to rebel, I can not tel for what,
Requyring redres of this and of that:
Who yf they speede, he standing at receyt,
Graspe would the pray that he long dyd awayte.
The next poynt was in dryuing out his plat,
Common doltes to cause furiously to fret,
And to rebel, I can not tel for what,
Requyring redres of this and of that:
Who yf they speede, he standing at receyt,
Graspe would the pray that he long dyd awayte.
Then by surmyse of sumthing pretended,
Such to displace as they may well suspect
Lyke to wythstand theyr practises entended,
And in theyr roomes theyr banders to elect,
The adverse party proudly to reiect.
And then wyth reportes the simple to abuse,
And when these helpes fayle, open force to vse.
Such to displace as they may well suspect
Lyke to wythstand theyr practises entended,
And in theyr roomes theyr banders to elect,
The adverse party proudly to reiect.
And then wyth reportes the simple to abuse,
And when these helpes fayle, open force to vse.
So this Dukes traynes were covert and not séene,
Which nought lesse meant, then he most pretended.
Lyke to a serpent covert vnder greene,
To the weale publycke séemed wholly bended:
Zelous he was, and would have all thing mended,
But by that mendment nothyng els he ment,
But to be kyng, to that marke was his bent.
Which nought lesse meant, then he most pretended.
Lyke to a serpent covert vnder greene,
To the weale publycke séemed wholly bended:
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But by that mendment nothyng els he ment,
But to be kyng, to that marke was his bent.
For had he bene playne as he meant in dede,
Henry to depose from the royall place,
His haste had bene waste, and much worse his speede,
The kyng then standing in his peoples grace.
This Duke therfore set forth a goodly face,
As one that meant no quarell for the crowne,
Such as bare rule he only would put downe.
Henry to depose from the royall place,
His haste had bene waste, and much worse his speede,
The kyng then standing in his peoples grace.
This Duke therfore set forth a goodly face,
As one that meant no quarell for the crowne,
Such as bare rule he only would put downe.
But all for nought so long as I bare stroke,
Served these dryftes, and proved all vayne,
Then dyd he attempt the people to provoke,
To make commocion and vprores amayne:
Which to appease, the kyng him selfe was fayne,
From Blackheath in Kent, to send me to the Tower.
Such was the force of rebels that hower.
Served these dryftes, and proved all vayne,
Then dyd he attempt the people to provoke,
To make commocion and vprores amayne:
Which to appease, the kyng him selfe was fayne,
From Blackheath in Kent, to send me to the Tower.
Such was the force of rebels that hower.
The tempest yet therewyth was not ceased,
For Yorke was bent his purpose to pursue,
Who seing howe soone I was released,
And yll successe of suffraunce to insue:
Then like a Iudas vnto his lord vntrue,
Esteming time lost lenger to deferre,
By Warwykes ayde proclaymed open warre,
For Yorke was bent his purpose to pursue,
Who seing howe soone I was released,
And yll successe of suffraunce to insue:
Then like a Iudas vnto his lord vntrue,
Esteming time lost lenger to deferre,
By Warwykes ayde proclaymed open warre,
At S. Albanes towne both our hostes dyd mete,
Which to trye a fielde was no equal place,
Forst we were to fyght in every lane and strete,
No feare of foes could make me shun the place:
There I and Warwyke fronted face to face,
At an Inne dore, the Castel was the syne,
Where with a sword was cut my fatal line.
Which to trye a fielde was no equal place,
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No feare of foes could make me shun the place:
There I and Warwyke fronted face to face,
At an Inne dore, the Castel was the syne,
Where with a sword was cut my fatal line.
Oft was I warned to come in Castel none,
But thought no whit of any common sygne,
I dyd ymagine a Castel buylt wyth stone,
For of no Inne I could the same diuine:
In Prophetes skyl my wyt was never fine,
A Foole is he that such vayne dreames doth dread,
And more foole of both that wyl by them be led.
But thought no whit of any common sygne,
I dyd ymagine a Castel buylt wyth stone,
For of no Inne I could the same diuine:
In Prophetes skyl my wyt was never fine,
A Foole is he that such vayne dreames doth dread,
And more foole of both that wyl by them be led.
My life I lost in that vnlucky place,
With many Lordes that leaned to my parte:
The Erle Percy had there no better grace,
Clyfford for all his courage could not shun the darte,
Stafford although stout, free went not from this marte.
Babthorp the attorney for all his skyll in lawe,
In this poynt of pleading was found very rawe.
With many Lordes that leaned to my parte:
The Erle Percy had there no better grace,
Clyfford for all his courage could not shun the darte,
Stafford although stout, free went not from this marte.
Babthorp the attorney for all his skyll in lawe,
In this poynt of pleading was found very rawe.
So thus this poore kyng disarmed of his bandes,
His frendes slayne wanting al assistence,
Was made a pray vnto his enemies handes,
Pryued of power, and pryncely reverence,
And as a pupyl voyd of all experience,
Innocent playne, and symply wytted
Was as a Lambe to the Wolfe committed.
His frendes slayne wanting al assistence,
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Pryued of power, and pryncely reverence,
And as a pupyl voyd of all experience,
Innocent playne, and symply wytted
Was as a Lambe to the Wolfe committed.
A Parlyament then was called wyth speede
A Parlyament, nay a playne conspiracye,
When all in poste it was by acte decreed,
That after the death of the syxt Henry,
Yorke should succede vnto the regally,
And in his life the charge and protection,
Of kyng and realme at the dukes direction.
A Parlyament, nay a playne conspiracye,
When all in poste it was by acte decreed,
That after the death of the syxt Henry,
Yorke should succede vnto the regally,
And in his life the charge and protection,
Of kyng and realme at the dukes direction.
And thus was Yorke declared protectour,
Protector sayd I, nay proditor playne.
A ranke rebell the prynces director
A liege to lead his lord and soveraygne,
What honest hart would not conceyve disdayne
To sée the foote appeare above the head,
A monster is in spyte of nature bred.
Protector sayd I, nay proditor playne.
A ranke rebell the prynces director
A liege to lead his lord and soveraygne,
What honest hart would not conceyve disdayne
To sée the foote appeare above the head,
A monster is in spyte of nature bred.
Some haply here wyl move a farder doubt,
And for Yorkes parte allege an elder right,
O braynles heades that so run in and out.
Whan length of time a state hath firmely pyght:
And good accorde hath put all stryfe to flyght,
Were it not better such titles should slepe,
Than all a realme for theyr tryall to wepe?
And for Yorkes parte allege an elder right,
O braynles heades that so run in and out.
Whan length of time a state hath firmely pyght:
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Were it not better such titles should slepe,
Than all a realme for theyr tryall to wepe?
From the heyre female came Yorke and his lede,
And we of Lancaster from the heyre male,
Of whom thrée kinges in order dyd succede,
By iust discent: this is no fayned tale.
Who would have thought that any storme or gale
Our shyp could shake, having such anker hold?
None I thinke sure vnlesse God so would.
And we of Lancaster from the heyre male,
Of whom thrée kinges in order dyd succede,
By iust discent: this is no fayned tale.
Who would have thought that any storme or gale
Our shyp could shake, having such anker hold?
None I thinke sure vnlesse God so would.
After this hurle the kyng was fayne to flée,
Northward in poste for succour and relyefe.
O blessed God howe straunge it was to sée,
A ryghtfull prynce pursued as a thiefe:
To thée O England what can be more repryefe?
Then to pursue thy Prynce wyth armed hand,
What greater shame may be to any land?
Northward in poste for succour and relyefe.
O blessed God howe straunge it was to sée,
A ryghtfull prynce pursued as a thiefe:
To thée O England what can be more repryefe?
Then to pursue thy Prynce wyth armed hand,
What greater shame may be to any land?
Traytours dyd triumphe, true men lay in the dust,
Reuing and robbing roysted every where,
Will stoode for skyll, and lawe obeyed lust,
Might trode downe right, of kyng there was no feare.
All thing was tried only by shield and speare.
Al which vnhappes that they were not foreséene,
I was in fault, or some about the Queene.
Reuing and robbing roysted every where,
Will stoode for skyll, and lawe obeyed lust,
Might trode downe right, of kyng there was no feare.
All thing was tried only by shield and speare.
Al which vnhappes that they were not foreséene,
I was in fault, or some about the Queene.
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Thou lookest Baldwyn I should my selfe accuse,
Of some subtyle dryft or other lyke thyng,
Wherein I should my prynces eares abuse,
To the Dukes foes overmuch adhering,
Though some mens practise did me thereto bryng,
My fault only consisted in consent,
Forgeve it me, for sore I dyd repent:
Of some subtyle dryft or other lyke thyng,
Wherein I should my prynces eares abuse,
To the Dukes foes overmuch adhering,
Though some mens practise did me thereto bryng,
My fault only consisted in consent,
Forgeve it me, for sore I dyd repent:
Yf I at fyrst when brandes began to smoke,
The sparkes to quenche by any way had sought,
England had never felt this mortal stroke,
Which nowe to late lamenting helpeth nought.
Two poyntes of wyt to dearly have I bought,
The fyrst that better is timely to foresée,
Then after over late a counsaylour to be.
The sparkes to quenche by any way had sought,
England had never felt this mortal stroke,
Which nowe to late lamenting helpeth nought.
Two poyntes of wyt to dearly have I bought,
The fyrst that better is timely to foresée,
Then after over late a counsaylour to be.
The second poynt, not easely to assent
To aduise geven agaynst thy faythful frende,
But of the speaker ponder the intent,
The meaning ful, the poynt, and final ende.
A saynt in showe, in proofe is found a fende,
The subtyle man the simple to abuse,
Much pleasaunt speache and eloquence doth vse.
To aduise geven agaynst thy faythful frende,
But of the speaker ponder the intent,
The meaning ful, the poynt, and final ende.
A saynt in showe, in proofe is found a fende,
The subtyle man the simple to abuse,
Much pleasaunt speache and eloquence doth vse.
And so was I abusde and other moe
By Suffolkes sleyghtes, who sought to please the quene,
Forecasting not the miserye and woe
Whych thereof came, and soone was after sene:
With glosing tonge he made vs fooles to weene,
That Humfrey dyd to Englandes crowne aspyre,
Which to prevent, his death they dyd conspyre.
By Suffolkes sleyghtes, who sought to please the quene,
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Whych thereof came, and soone was after sene:
With glosing tonge he made vs fooles to weene,
That Humfrey dyd to Englandes crowne aspyre,
Which to prevent, his death they dyd conspyre.
What should I more of myne vnhaps declare,
Whereof my death at last hath made an ende?
Not I alone was cause of all this care,
Some besides me there were that did offend.
None I accuse, nor yet my selfe defend,
Faultes I know I had, as none lives wythout,
My chiefe fault was folly I put thée out of doubt.
Whereof my death at last hath made an ende?
Not I alone was cause of all this care,
Some besides me there were that did offend.
None I accuse, nor yet my selfe defend,
Faultes I know I had, as none lives wythout,
My chiefe fault was folly I put thée out of doubt.
Folly was the chiefe, the noughty time was next,
Which made my fortune subiect to the chiefe:
If England then wyth strife had not bene vext.
Glory might have growen where as ensewed gryefe
Yet one thing to me is comfort and relyefe,
Constant I was in my Prynces quarell,
To dye or lyve and spared for no parell.
Which made my fortune subiect to the chiefe:
If England then wyth strife had not bene vext.
Glory might have growen where as ensewed gryefe
Yet one thing to me is comfort and relyefe,
Constant I was in my Prynces quarell,
To dye or lyve and spared for no parell.
What though Fortune enuious was my foe,
A noble hart ought not the sooner yelde,
Nor shrynke abacke for any weale or woe,
But for his Prynce lye bleeding in the feelde:
If priuie spyte at any time me helde,
The pryce is payed: and grevous is my guerdon,
As for the rest God I trust wyll pardon.
A noble hart ought not the sooner yelde,
Nor shrynke abacke for any weale or woe,
But for his Prynce lye bleeding in the feelde:
If priuie spyte at any time me helde,
The pryce is payed: and grevous is my guerdon,
As for the rest God I trust wyll pardon.
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