The Mirror for Magistrates :: :: University of Virginia Library

If a poore lady damned in exyle
Amongst princes may bee allowed place
Then gentle Baldwin stay thy pen awhyle
And of pure pitty ponder wel my case,
How I a Duches, destitute of grace
Haue found by proofe, as many haue & shal
The prouerbe true, that pryde wil hauve a fall

A noble Prince extract of royal blood
Humfrey sometyme Protector of this land
Of Glocester Duke, for vertu cald (the good)
When I but base beneath his state did stande
Vouchsafte with me to ioyne in wedlockes bande
Hauing in Court no name of high degree
But Elinor Cobham as parents left to mee

And though by byrth of noble race I was,
Of Barons bloud, yet was I thought vnfitte,
So high to matche, yet so it came to passe,
Whyther by grace, good fortune, or by witte
Dame Venus lures so in myne eyes did sitte,
As this great Prince with out respect of state
Did worthy me to be his wedded mate

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His wyfe I was, and he my true husband
Though for a whyle he had the company
Of lady Iaquet the Duchesse of holland
Beyng an heyre of ample patrimony
But that fel out, to be no matrimony
For after war, long sute in law and strife
She proued was the Duke of Brabants wife.

Thus of a Damsel a Duchesse I became,
My state and place aduanced next the Queene
Wherby me thought I felt no ground, but swam
For in the Court myne equall was not seene
And so possest with pleasure of the splene
The sparkes of pride so kyndled in my brest
As I in court, would shyne aboue the rest

Such gyftes of nature god in me hath graft
Of shape and stature, with other graces moo
That by the shot of Cupids fiery shafte
Which to the hart of this greate prince did goe
This mighty Duke, with loue was linked so
As he abasyng the height of his degree,
Sette his hole harte, to loue and honour mee

Grudge who so would, to him I was most deere
Aboue all Ladyes aduanced in degree
(The Quene except) no Princesse was my peere
But gaue me place, and lords with cap and knee
Dyd all honour and reuerence vnto me
Thus hoysted high vpon the rollinge wheele
I sate so sure, me thought I could not reele.

And weening least that fortune hath a turne,
I lookt aloft, and would not looke alow,

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The brondes of pryde so in my breast did burne
As the hot sparkes, burst forth in open showe,
And more and more the fyre began to glowe,
Without quenching, and dayly did encrease,
Til fortunes blastes with shame did make it ceasse.

For (as tis sayde) Pryde passeth on afore,
And shame followes, for iust rewarde & meede
Wold god ladyes, both now and euermore
Of my hard hap, which shall the story reede
Wold beare in mynde, and trust it as their Crede:
That pryde of harte, is a most hateful vice,
And lowlines, a pearle of passing pryce.

Namely in Quenes, and Ladies of estate
Within whose myndes, all mekenes should abound
Since high disdayne, doth alwayes purchace hate.
Beyng a vyce, that most part doth redound
To their reproch, in whom the same is found.
And seeldome gets good fauour or good fame
But is at last, knit vp with worldly shame.

The proofe wherof I founde most true indede,
That pryde afore, hath shame to wayte behynde.
Let no man doubt, in whom this vice doth brede,
But shame for pryde by iustice is assynde,
Which I wel founde, for truely in my mynde
Was neuer none, whom pryde did more enflame,
Nor neuer none, receiued greatter shame.

For not content to be a Duchesse greate,
I longed sore to beare the name of Queene
Aspyring stil vnto an higher seate,
And with that hope my selfe did ouerweene

435

Sins there was none, which that tyme was betweene
Henry the king, and my good Duke his Eame
Heyre to the crowne and kingdome of this Realme.

So neare to be, was cause of my vayn hope
And long awayte when this fayre hap would fal.
My studies all were tending to that scope,
Alas, the whyle to councel I did call
Such as would seme, by skill coniectural
Of art Magicke and wicked Sorcery
To deeme and dyuine the princes desteny

Among which sort of those that bare most fame
There was a Beldame called the wytch of Ey,
Old mother Madge her neyghbours did hir name
Which wrought wonders in countryes by heresaye
Both feendes and fayries her charmyng would obay
And dead corpsis from graue she could vprere
Suche an Inchauntresse, as that tyme had no peere

Two pryestes also, the one hight Bolenbroke
The other Suthwell, great Clerkes in coniuration
These twoo Chapleins, were they that vndertooke
To cast and calke, the kinges constellation
And then to iudge by depe dyuination.
Of thinges to come, and who should next succede
To Englandes crowne, al this was true in deede.

And further sure they neuer did proceede
Though I confesse, that this attempt was ill,
But for my part, for any thing in dede
Wrought, or els thought, by any kynd of skill.
God is my iudge I neuer had the will
By any Inchauntment sorcery or charme
Or other wyse, to worke my princes harme.

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Yet netheles, when this case came to light,
By secrete spyes to Cayphas our Cardinal
Who long in hart had borne a priuy spyght,
To my good Duke his nephew naturall
Glad of the chance, so fitly forth to fall
His long hid hate, with iustice to color
Used this case with most extream rigor.

And caused me with my complyces all,
To be cyted by processe peremptory,
Before Iudges, in place Iudiciall
Whereas Cayphas, sytting in his glory
Would not allow my answer dilatory
Ne Doctor or Proctor, to allege the lawes.
But forced me to pleade in myne owne cause.

The kynges councel were called to the case
My husband than shut out for the season
In whose absence I found but little grace
For Lawiers turned our offence to treason
And so with rigor, without ruth or reason
Sentence was gyuen that I for the same
Should do penance, and suffer open shame.

Nay the lyke shame had neuer wight I weene
Duchesse, Lady, ne Damsel of degree,
As I that was, a Princesse next the Quene,
Wyfe to a Prince, and none so great as hee,
A Kinges vncle, Protector of his countrey,
With Taper burning, shrouded in a sheete
Three dayes a row, to passe the open streate.

Barelegd, and bare foote, to al the worldes wonder
Ye, and as though such shame did not suffise

437

With more despyte, then to part a sunder,
Me and my Duke, which Traytors did deuyse
By Statute law, in most vnlawful wise,
Fyrst sending me, with shame into exile.
Then murdryng him, by trechery and gyle.

Ye and besydes, this cruel banishment
Far from al frendes, to comfort me in care
And husbandes death: there was by Parliment
Ordaynd for me, a messe of courser fare.
For they to bring me to beggers state most bare
By the same acte, from me did then withdraw.
Such right of dower, as widowes haue by law.

Death (as tis sayd) doth set al thinges at rest,
Which fel not so in myne vnhappy case,
For sins my death, myne enmies made a Iest
In minstrels ryme myne honour to deface.
And then to bring my name in more disgrace
A song was made in manner of a laye
Which old wyues sing of me vnto this day.

Yet with these spytes, theyr malice did not end
For shortly after, my sorrowes to renew
My Loyal Lord, which neuer did offende
Was cald in hast, the cause he little knew
To a Parliament, without Sommons due
Whereas his death, was cruelly contryued
And I his wyfe of earthly ioyes depryued.

438

For al the while my Duke had life & breath
So long I stoode, in hope of my restore
But when I hard of his most causeles death
Then the best salue for my recureles sore
Was to dispayre of cure for euermore,
And as I could, my careful hart to cure.
With pacience, most paynful to indure.

O Traitors fel, which in your hartes could fynde
Like feendes of hel, the guiltles to betraye
But ye chefely, his kinsemen moste vnkynde
Which gaue consent to make him so away,
That vnto God, with al my hart I pray,
Vengeance may light on him that caused all,
Beaufort I meane, that cursed Cardinall.

Which Bastard preest of the house of Lancaster
Sonne to Duke John, surnamed John of Gaunt
Was first create, Byshop of Winchester,
For no learning, wher of he myght wel vaunt
Ne for vertue, which he did neuer haunt
But for his gold & Summes that were not small
Payd to the pope, was made a Cardinall.

Proude Lucifer, which from the heauens on hye
Downe to the pit of Hel below was cast,
And beyng ons an Aungell bright in sky
For his high pryde, in Hel is chayned fast
In depe darknes, that euermore shall last
More hault of hart was not before his fal
Then was this proud and pompos Cardinall

Whose lyfe good Baldwine paint out in his pickle,
And blase this Baal & Belligod most blinde,
An Hipocryte, all faythles false and fickle,
A wicked wretch, a kinseman most vnkynde,

439

A Deuil incarnate, all deuilishly enclynde
And to discharge my conscience all at ones
The Deuil him gnaw both body, blood and bones

The spyteful Preest would needes make me a Witch,
As would to god I had bene for his sake,
I would haue clawd him where he did not itche,
I would haue played the Lady of the Lake
And as Merlin was, cloasde him in a Brake,
Ye a Meridian, to Lul him by daylight
And a night mare to ryde on him by night.

The fiery feends with feuers hot and frenzye
The Ayery hegges with stench and carren sauours
And watry ghostes with gowtes, and with dropsie
The earthy Goblins, with Aches at all houres
Furyes & Fairies, with al infernal powers
I would haue stird from the darke dongeon
Of hell Centre, as depe as Demagorgon.

Or had I now the skil of dame Erichto
Whose dreadful charmes, as Lucane doth expresse
All feendes did feare, so far forth as Prince Pluto
Was at her cal for dread of more distresse
Then would I send of helhounds more and lesse,
A legion at least, at him to crye and yel.
And with that chyrme, herrie him downe to hell

Which neede not, for sure I thinke that hee
Who here in earth leades Epicurus lyfe,
As farre from god as possible may be
With whom all sinne and vices are most ryfe
Using at wil both widow mayd and wyfe
But that some Deuil his body doth possesse
His life is such, as men can iudge no lesse

440

And god forgeue my wrath and wreakful mynde
Such is my hate to that most wicked wretch
Dye when he shal, in hart I could wel fynd
Out of the graue his corps againe to fetch
And racke his lymmes as long as they would stretch
And take delyte to listen euery daye
How he could sing a masse of welawaye

The yle of Man was the appointed place
To penance mee for euer in exile
Thither in hast they poasted me apace,
And doubtinge skape, they pind me in a Pyle
Close by my selfe in care, alas the whyle
There felt I fyrst pore prisoners hungry fare,
Much want, thinges skant, and stone walls hard and bare

The change was strange, from silke and cloth of Gold
To rugged fryze my carcas for to cloathe,
From princes fare, and dayntyes hot and cold,
To rotten fish, and meates that one would loathe
The dyet and dressing were mutch a lyke boath
Bedding and lodging were all alike fyne,
Such Down it was, as serued wel for swyne.

Neither do I myne owne case thus complayne
Which I confesse came partly by deserte
The onely cause which doubleth al my payne
And which most nere goeth now vnto my harte.
Is that my fault, dyd finally reuerte
To him that was least gilty of the same
Whose death it was, though I abode the shame.

Whose fatal fall, when I do call to mynde,
And how by me his mischiefe fyrst began
So oft I cry on fortune most vnkinde
And my mishap most bitterly do banne,

441

That euer I to such a noble man,
Who from my cryme was innocent and cleare,
Shoulde be a cause to buy his loue so deare

Oh to my hart how greuous is the wounde
Calling to mynd this dismal deadly case
I would I had bene doluen vnder ground.
When he first saw, or loked on my face,
Or tooke delight in any kynd of grace
Seming in mee, that him did stirre or moue
To fancy me, or set his hart to loue.

Farewel Grenewych my Palace of delyght,
Where I was wont to see the Cristal streames,
Of royall Thames most pleasant to my syght
And farewel Kent, right famous in all realmes
A thousand tymes I mynd you in my dreames
And when I wake most grefe it is to me
That neuer more agayne I shall, see you

In the night tyme when I should take my rest
I weepe, I wayle, I weat my bed with teares
And when dead sleape my spirites hath opprest
Troubled with dreames, I fantazy vayne feares
Myne husbands voyce then ringeth at myne eares
Crying for help, O saue me from the death
These villaynes here do seeke to stop my breath.

Ye and somtymes me thinkes his drery ghost
Appeares in sight, and shewes me in what wyse,
Those fel tyrantes, with tormentes had emboost
His wynd and breath, to abuse peoples eyes

442

So as no doubt or question should aryse
Amonges rude folke which little vnderstande,
But that his death came onely by gods hand

I playne in vayne, where eares be none to heare
But roaring Seas, & blustring of the wynd
And of redresse am near a whit the neere
But with wast woordes to feede my mournful mynde,
Wishing ful oft, the Parcas had vntwynde
My vital stringes, or Atropos with knife,
Had cut the lyne of my most wretched lyfe.

Oh that Neptune, and Eolus also,
Thone God of Seas, the other of weather
Ere myne Arriual, into that yle of woe
Had suncke the ship wherin I sayled thether
(The shipmen saued) so as I togeather
With my good Duke, mought haue bene dead afore
Fortune had wroken her wrath on vs so sore.

Or els that God when my first passage was
Into exile along Saynt Albanes towne
Had neuer let me further for to passe,
But in the Streat with death had strucke me downe
Then had I sped of my desyred bowne
That my pore corps mought there haue lien with his
Both in one graue, & so haue gone to blysse.

But I alas, the greatter is my greefe
Am past that hope to haue my sepulture
Nere vnto hym, which was to me most leefe
But in an yle, and country most obscure,
To pyne in payne, whilst my poore life will dure
And beyng dead, all honorles to lye
In simple graue, as other poore that dye.

443

My tale is tolde, and tyme it is to ceasse
Of troubles past, al which haue had their ende
My graue I trust, shal purchasse me good peace
In such a world, where no wight doth contend
For highest place, whereto all flesh shal wend
And so I end, vsyng on word for all,
As I Began, that pryde wil haue a fall

445

HOW HVMFREY PLANTAGENET Duke of Glocester Protector of England, during the minoritie of his Nephue kinge Henrye the sixt, (commonlye called the good Duke) by practise of enemies was brought to confusion.

As highest hilles with tempestes bene most touched
And tops of trees, most subiect vnto wynde,
And as great towers with stone strongly cowched,
Haue heauy falles when they be vnderminde,
Euen so by proofe, in worldly thinges we fynde,
That such as clyme the top of high degree
From perril of falling neuer can be free.

To proue this true (good Baldwin) harken hyther,
See and behold me vnhappie Humfrey,
Englands Protector and Duke of Glocester
Who in the time of the sixt king Henrie,
Ruled this Realme yeares mo then twentie:
Note wel the cause of my decay and fall,
And make a mirrour for Magistrates all.

446

In their most weale, to beware of vnhap,
And not to sleepe in slombring sickernesse,
Whilst Fortune false doth lul them in her lap
Drowned in dreames of brittle blessednesse,
But then to feare her freakes and ficklenesse,
Accompting stil the higher they ascend:
More nigh to be to Daunger in the end.

And that vayne trust in bloud or royall race.
Abuse them not with carelesse assuraunce
To trust Fortune, but waying wel my case,
When she most smyleth to haue in remembraunce
my soden fall, who in al apparaunce:
Hauing most stayes, which man in state mainteine,
Haue found the same vntrustie and most vayne.

Better then I, none may the same affirme,
Who trusting all in height of high estate,
Led by the eares with false flatteries chyrme,
Which neuer Prince could banishe from his gate,
Did little thinke on such a sodein mate,
Not heeding, lesse dreeding, al vnaware,
By foes least feared, was trapt into a snare.

If noble byrth or high authoritie
Nomber of Frendes, kindred, or alliaunce,
If wisedome, learning, or worldly pollicye
Mought haue beene stayers to Fortunes variaunce,
None stoode more strong, in worldly countenaunce,
For al these helpes had I to auayle mee,
And yet in fyne, al the same did fayle mee.

Of King Henry the fourth, fourth sonne I was
Brother to Henry, the fyft of that name,
And vncle to Henry the sixt, but alas,

447

What cause had I to presume on the same?
Or for vayne glorye, aduauncing my fame
My selfe to cal in recordes, and wrytinges,
The sonne, brother, and vncle vnto kinges.

This was my boast, which lastly was my bane,
Yet not this boast, was it that brought mee downe
The very cause, which made my weale to wane
So neere of Kin that I was to the Crowne,
That was the Rocke that made my Ship to drowne.
A rule there is not faylinge, but most sure
Kingdome, no kyn doth know, ne can indure.

For after my Brother the fyft Henry
Wan by Conquest the Royall Realme of Fraunce,
And of two Kingdomes made one Monarchy
Before his death, for better obeysaunce.
To his younge Sonne, not ripe to gouernaunce
Protector of England I was by Testament,
And Ihon my Brother, in Fraunce made Regent.

To whom if God had lent a longer life,
Our house to haue kept from stormes of inward strife
Or it had beene the Lorde Almighties will
Plantagenettes name in State had standen still
But deadly discord which Kingdomes great doth spill
Bred by desire of high Dominacion,
Brought our whole house to playne desolation.

It is for trowth in an History Founde
That Henry Plantagenet fyrst of our name
Who called was, Kinge Henry the seconde
Sonne of Dame Mawde, the Empresse of High Fame
Would oft report, that his Auncient Grandame
Though seeminge in Shape, a Woman naturall,
Was a Feende of the Kinde that (Succubae) some call.

448

Which olde fable, so longe time tolde before
When this Kinges sonnes against him did rebell:
Hee cald to minde, and beinge greeued sore.
Loe! now (quoth hee) I see and proue full well
The Story true, which folke of old did tell
That from the deuill descended all our race,
And now my children, do verefy the case.

Whereof to leaue a longe memoriall,
In minde of man euermore to rest
A Picture hee made and hong it in his Hall,
Of a Pellicane sittinge on his Nest,
Wyth foure yonge Byrdes, three peckinge at his brest
Wyth bloudy Beakes, and further did deuise
The yongest Byrde, to pecke the fathers eyes.

Meaninge hereby, his rebell children three
Henry, and Richard who bet him on the brest:
Ieffrey only, from that offence was free)
Henry died of Englandes, Crowne possest:
Richard liued his father to molest,
Iohn the yongest peckt still his fathers eye
Whose deedes vnkinde, the sooner made hym dye.

This kinge (some wryte) in his sicknesse last
Sayde, as it were by way of Prophecy
How that the Deuill, a Darnell grayne had cast
Amonge his Kin to encrease enmity,
Which should remayne in their Posterity,
Till mischiefe, and murder had spent them all
Not leauinge one to pisse agaynst the wall.

And yet from him in order did succede
In England here, of crowned kinges fourtene
Of that surname, and of that lyne and seede,

449

With Dukes and Earles, and many a noble Queene,
The number such as al the world would weene
So many ympes could neuer so be spent,
But some heire Male, should be of that discent.

Which to be true if any stand in doubt,
Because I meane not further to digresse,
Let him peruse the stories throughout
Of English kinges, whom practise did oppresse,
And he shal fynde the cause of their distresse
From first to last, vnkindly to beginne,
Alwayes by those that next were of the kynne.

Was not Richard, of whom I spake before,
A rebel playne vntil his father dyed,
And Iohn likewise an Enmie euermore
To Richard againe, and for a rebel tryed?
After whose death, it cannot be denyed,
Against all right this Iohn most cruellye
His brothers children caused for to dye.

Arthur and Isabell (I meane) that were
Geffreyes children, then Duke of Britaine
Henries third sonne, by one degree more neere,
Then was this Iohn, as stories shew most playne,
Which two children were famisht or els slayne,
By Iohn their Eame cald Saunzterre by name,
Of whose fowle act, al countries speake great shame.

Edward, and Richard, second both by name
Kinges of this land, fel downe by fatall fate
What was the cause, that princes of such fame,
Did leese at last their honour, life, and state?
Nothing at all, but discord and debate,
Which when it haps in kindred or in bloud,
Erynnis rage was neuer halfe so wood.

450

Be sure therfore ye kinges and princes all
That concorde in kingdomes is chiefe assuraunce,
And that your families do neuer fall,
But where discord doth leade the doubtful daunce
With busie brawles and turnes of variaunce,
Where mallice is Minstrel, the pype ill report,
The Maske mischiefe, and so endes the sport,

But now to come to my purpose againe,
Whilst I my charge applied in England,
My brother in Fraunce long time did remaine,
Cardinal Beauford tooke proudly in hand,
In causes publique against me to stand,
Who of great mallice so much as he might
Sought in al thinges to do mee dispight.

Which proude prelate to me was bastard Eame,
Sonne to Duke Iohn of Gaunt as they did fayne,
Who beeing made high Chauncellour of the Realme,
Not like a Priest, but like a prince did reigne,
Nothing wanting which might his pride mainteine,
Bishop besides of Winchester he was,
And Cardinall of Rome which Angels brought to passe.

Not Gods Aungels, but Angels of old Gold,
Lyft him aloft in whom no cause there was
By iust desert, so high to be extold,
(Ryches except) where by this Golden asse,
At home and abroade al matters brought to passe,
Namely at Rome, hauing no meane but that
To purchase there his crimzin Cardinal hat.

Which thing the king my father him forbad
Playnly saying, that he could not abide,
Within his realme a subiect to be had

451

His Princes peere, yet such was this mans pride,
That he forthwith after my father dyed,
(The King then young) obteyned of the Pope,
That honour high, which erst he could not hope.

Whose proude attemptes because that I withstoode,
My bounden dutie the better to acquite,
This holy father waxed welnere wood,
Of meere malice deuising day and night,
To worke to me dishonour and dispite,
Whereby there fel betweene vs such a Iarre,
As in this land was like a ciuil warre.

My brother Iohn which lay this while in Fraunce,
Heard of this hurle, and past the seas in hast,
By whose traueil this troublesome distaunce,
Ceassed a while, but nethelesse in wast:
For rooted hate wil hardly be displast
Out of hyghe hartes, and namely where debate,
Happeneth amongst great persons of estate.

For like as a match doth lye and smolder,
Long time before it commeth to the trayne.
But yet when fyre hath caught in the poulder,
No arte is able, the flames to restrayne:
Euen so the sparkes of enuye and disdayne,
Out of the smoke burst foorth in such a flame,
That Fraunce and England yet may rue the same.

So when of two realmes the regiment royal,
Betwene brothers was parted equallye,
One placed in Fraunce for affayres Martiall,
And I at home for ciuil pollicie:
To serue the state, we both did so applie,
As honour and fame to both did encrease,
To him for the warre, to me for the peace.

452

Whence enuye sprang, and specially because
This proude prelate could not abyde a Peere,
Within the land to rule the state by lawes,
Wherfore sifting my lyfe and actes most neere,
He neuer ceast, vntil as you shal heare,
By practise foule of him and his allies,
My death was wrought in most vnworthy wise.

And fyrst he sought my doinges to defame,
By rumours false, which hee and his did sowe
Letters and bylles to my reproch and shame
He did deuise, and al about bestow,
Whereby my troth in doubt should dayly grow,
In England fyrst and afterward in Fraunce,
Mouing al meanes to bring me to mischaunce.

One quarel was, that where by common law
Murder and theft beene punisht all alike,
So as manslears, which bloudy blades do drawe,
Suffer no more, then he that doth but pike,
Me thought the same no order politike,
In setting paynes to make no difference,
Betweene the lesser and greater offence.

I beeing seene somwhat in ciuil law,
The rules thereof reputed muche better,
Wherfore to keepe, offenders more in awe,
Like as the fault was smaller or greater,
So set I paynes more easier or bitter,
Waying the qualitie of euerye offence,
And so according pronounced sentence.

Amongst my other Delicta Iuuentutis,
Whilst rage of youth my reason did subdue,
I must confesse as the very truth is,
Driuen by desire, fond fancies to ensue,

453

A thing I did, whereof great trouble grew,
Abusing one to my no small rebuke,
Which wife was than to Iohn of Brabant Duke.

Called she was Lady Iaquet the fayre,
Delightful in loue like Helene of Troye:
To the Duke of Bauier sole daughter and heire,
Her did I marrye to my great annoy
Yet for a tyme, this dame I did enioye,
With her whole landes, witholding them by force,
Til Martin the Pope, betwene vs made diuorce.

Yet all these blastes not hable were to moue
The anchor strong, whereby my ship did stay,
Some other shift to seeke him did behoue,
Whereto ere long il fortune made the way,
Which fynally was cause of my decay
And cruel death, contriued by my foes,
Which fel out thus, as now I shal disclose.

Elianor my wife, my Dutches only deare,
I know not how but as the nature is
Of women al, aye curious to enquiere
Of thinges to come (though I confesse in this
Her fault not small) and that shee did amisse,
By wytches skill, which sorcery some call,
Would know of thinges which after should befall.

And for that cause made her selfe acquainted
With mother Madge, called the wytch of Eye,
And with a Clerke that after was attainted,
Bolenbroke he hight, that learned was that way,
With other moe, which famous were that daye,
Aswel in Science, called Mathematicall,
As also in magicke and skil supernatural

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These cunning folkes she set on worke to know,
The time how long the king should liue and raigne,
Some by the Starres, and some by deuils below,
Some by witchcraft sought knowledge to attayne,
With like fancies, friuolous fond and vayne,
Whereof though I knew least of any man,
Yet by that meane my mischiefe first began.

Yet besides this there was a greater thing,
How she in waxe by counsel of the witch,
An Image made, crowned like a king,
With sword in hand, in shape and likenesse syche
As was the kinge, which dayly they did pytch
Against a fyre, that as the waxe did melt,
So should his lyfe consume away vnfelt.

My Dutchesse thus, accused of this cryme,
As she that should such practise first beginne,
My part was then to yeld vnto the time,
Geeuing her leaue, to deale alone therein
And since the cause concerned deadly synne,
Which to the clergie onely doth perteine,
To deale therein I plainly did refrayne.

And suffered them her person to ascite
Into their Courtes, to aunswere and appeare,
Which to my hart was sure the greatest spight,
That could be wrought, and touched me most neare,
To see my wife, and lady leefe and deare,
To my reproche, and plaine before my face,
Entreated so, as one of sorte most base.

The clergie then examining her cause,
Conuinced her, as guiltie in the same,
And sentence gaue according to their lawes,
That she and they whom I before did name

455

Should suffer death, or els some open shame:
Of which penaunce my wife by sentence had
To suffer shame of both the two, more bad.

And fyrst she must by dayes together three,
Through London streetes passe al along in sight
Bare legde and barefoote, that al the world might see,
Bearing in hand a burning taper bright,
And not content, with this extreeme despight,
To worke mee wo, in al they may or can,
Exilde she was into the Ile of Man.

This haynous crime and open worldly shame,
With such rigour shewed vnto my wife,
Was a fyne fetch further thinges to frame,
And nothing els, but a preparatiue
First from office, and fynally from lyfe,
Me to depriue, and so passing further,
What law could not, to execute by murther.

Which by slye driftes, and wyndlaces aloofe,
They brought about, perswading first the Queene,
That in effect it was the kinges reproofe,
And hers also, to be exempted cleane,
From princely rule, or that it should be seene
A king of yeares, stil gouerned to bee
Lyke a Pupil, that nothing could forsee,

The daunger more considering the king
Was without childe, I being his next heire,
To rule the realme, as Prince in euery thing
Without restraint, and al the sway to beare
With Peoples loue, whereby it was to feare
That my hault hart, vnbrideled in desire,
Time would preuent, and to the crowne aspire.

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These with such like, were put into her head,
Who of her selfe, was thereto sone enclinde,
Other there were, that this il humour fed,
To neither part, which had good wil or minde,
The Duke of Yorke, our cousin most vnkinde,
Who keeping close a tytle to the crowne,
Lancasters house did labour to pul downe.

The stay whereof he tooke to stand in mee,
Seeing the king of courage nothing stout,
Neither of wit great peril to foresee,
So for purpose, if he could bring about
Mee to displace, then did he little doubt
To gayne the Goale, for which he droue the ball,
The crowne I meane to catch ere it should fall

This hope made him against me to conspyre
With those which foes were to ech other late,
The Queene did weene, to win her whole desire
Which was to rule, the king and al the state
If I were ryd, whom therfore shee did hate:
Forecasting not, when that was brought to passe,
How weake of frendes, the King her husband was.

The Dukes two, of Excester, and Buckingham,
With the Marquise Dorset therein did agree,
But namely the Marquise of Suffolke William,
Contriuer chiefe of this conspiracie,
With other mo, that sate stil and did see,
Their mortal foes on me to whet their kniues,
Which turnde at last to losse of all their lyues.

But vayne desire of soueraintie and rule,
Which otherwise (Ambition) hath to name,
So stirde the Queene that wilful as a Mule,
Headlong she runnes, from smoke into the flame,

457

Driuing a drift, which after did so frame,
As shee, the King, with all their lyne and race,
Depriued were of honour, lyfe, and place.

So for purpose she thought it very good,
With former foes, in frendship to confeder,
The Duke of Yorke, and other of his bloud,
With Neuils all, knyt were then together,
And Delapoole, frend afore to neither:
The Cardinal also, came within this list,
As Herode and Pylate, to iudge Iesu Christ.

This cursed league, to late discouered was
By Bayardes blinde, that lincked in the line,
The Queene and Cardinal brought it so to passe,
With Marquise Suffolke maister of this myne,
Whose il aduise, was counted very fyne,
With other moe which fynely could disguise,
With false visours my mischiefe to deuise.

Concluding thus they point without delay
Parliament to hold, in some vnhaunted place,
Far from London, out of the common way,
Where few or none should vnderstand the case,
But whom the Queene and Cardinal did embrace,
And so for place they chose Saint Edmondesburye
Synce when (some say) England was neuer merye.

Somens was sent, this companie to call,
Which made me muse, that in so great a case,
I should no whyt of counsel be at all,
Who yet had rule, and next the king in place,
Me thought nothing, my state could more disgrace,
Then to beare name, and in effect to bee,
A Cypher in Algrim, as al men mought see.

458

And though iust cause I had for to suspect,
The tyme and place appointed by my foes,
And that my frendes most plainlye did detect,
The subtil traine, and practise of al those,
Which against mee, great treasons did suppose,
Yet trust of truth with a conscience cleare,
Gaue me good hart, in that place to appeare.

Vpon which trust with more hast then good speede,
Forward I went to that vnluckye place,
Dutie to show, and no whit was in dreade
Of any trayne, but bold to shew my face,
As a true man yet so fel out the case,
That after traueyle, seeking for repose,
An armed band, my lodging did enclose.

The Vicount Beaumount, who for the time supplied,
The office of high Conestable of the Land
Was with the Queene and Cardinall allied,
By whose support, he stoutlye tooke in hand,
My lodginge to enter with an armed band
And for high treason, my person did arest,
And layed me that night, where him seemed best

Then shaking and quaking, for dread of a Dreame,
Halfe waked al naked in bed as I lay,
What tyme strake the chime of mine hower extreame,
Opprest was my rest with mortal affray,
My foes did vnclose, I know not which way
My chamber dores, and boldly they in brake,
And had me fast before I could awake.

Thou lookest now, that of my secret murther,
I should at large the maner how declare,
I pray thee Baldwin, aske of me no further,
For speaking playne, it came so at vnware,

459

As I my selfe, which caught was in the snare,
Scarcely am able the circumstaunce to shew,
Which was kept close, and knowen but vnto few.

But be thou sure by violence it was,
And no whit bred by sickenesse or disease,
That felt it well before my life did passe,
For when these wolues, my bodie once did cease,
Vsed I was, but smally to myne ease:
With tormentes strong, which went so nere the quicke,
As made me dye before that I was sicke.

A Palsey (they sayd) my vital sprites opprest,
Bred by excesse of melancholie blacke,
This for excuse to lay, them seemed best,
Least my true frendes the cause might further racke,
And so perhaps discouer the whoole packe,
Of the conspyrers, whom they might wel suspect,
For causes great, which after tooke effect.

Dead was I found, by such as best did know,
The maner how the same was brought to passe.
And than my corps, was set out for a show,
By view whereof, nothing perceiued was:
Whereby the world may see as in a glasse,
The vnsure state, of them that stand most hye,
Which than dread least, when daunger is most nye.

And also see, what daunger they lyue in,
Which next their king are to succede in place:
Since kinges most parte, be Ielous of their kynne,
Whom I aduise, forewarned by my case,
To beare low sayle, and not to much embrace,
The peoples loue: for as Senec sayth trulye:
O quam funestus est fauor populi.