University of Virginia Library

2. The second part.

William Conquerour. An. Dom. 1066.

VVhen Britains, Romanes, Saxons, Danes had done,
The Normans (fiftly) Englands glory won,
New Lords brought in new Lawes incontinent,
And all were Conquer'd but the County Kent.
King William (after he had all surpriz'd)
Insulted, domineer'd, and tyranniz'd,
All Englishmen (like slaues) their doores must lock,
On paine of death, each night at eight of clocke.
The English from all Office were disgrac'd,
And in their places the proud French were plac'd.
Stil beating down the right, with wrong on wrong,
Disdaining men should speake the English tongue.
And so to bring our memory to naught,
The Grammar and the Lawes in French were taught.
King Swanus Sonnes, with Danes a mighty band,
Arriu'd in Humber to inuade the Land,
Then Yorke was burnt, the wealth away was borne,
And Danes on Composition home did turne.
A dearth in England was so great, that heere
Cats, Dogs, and mans flesh, was our wofull cheere.
The Mercians and Northumbers they rebel'd,
Strong warres the Scots within our Country held:
The Ile of Fly did the King surprize,
He caus'd the Rebels lose hands, feet, and eyes.
The Normans did rebell and were subdu'd,
Danes came and fled, with all their multitude.
The Kings sonne (Robert) by the French Kings ayd,
Did diuers parts of Normandy inuade.
The Scots spoild England, with all might and maine,
And Durhams Bishop in a broyle was slaine,
Heere euery Acre of mens Lands were measur'd.
And by a heauy taxe the King was treasur'd:
Slaine by a Deere the Kings sonne lost his life,
And Glassenbury Monkes were kill'd in strife.
The English Nobles almost were decay'd,
And euery place of rule the Normans swai'd.
And all mens goods and lands, and coyn were rated
Through England, and vnto the King related.
The French mens pride did England ouerwhelme,
And grieuous tributes did oppresse the Realme.
Churches and Chappels were throwne down with speed,
To make New Forrest as the King decreed:
Who hauing rul'd in trouble, toyle and care,
And tryannously pol'd this Kingdome bare,
Neere twenty one yeeres, death was then his bane:
He lyes in Normandy, enterr'd at Caue.

William Rufus. An. Dom. 1087.

William the cruell Conquerours second Sonne,
With ease, got what his Fathers paines had won,
Oppressed England he opprest and prest,
And great Exactions wrongfully did wrest.
For Symony, and base corrupting gold,
The King most Churches and Church-liuings sold,
And more, (his Subiects vilely to abuse)
Against them he in armes did arme the Iewes,
And swore if they the victory did gaine,
That he their faithlesse faith would entertaine.
Vpon his eldest brother hee raysd warres,
His youngest brother troubled him with iarres.
At London, such a furious winde did blow,
Which did sixe hundred houses ouerthrow.
The City Gloster was by Welshmen sack'd.
Northumberland was by King William wrack'd:
William de Oue, and William de Aluery.
In cruell torments dyed at Salisbury.
Duke Robert laid all Normandy to gage
Vnto the King, warres with the Turkes to wage.
Westminster Hall was built, the Danes came in,
And th'Orchades, and the Ile of Man did win,
But as the King was hunting in Hampshire,
Sir Walter Tirrill shooting at a Deere,
The Arrow glauncing 'gainst a Tree by chance,
Th'vnhappy King kild, by the haplesse Glaunce.
A Colliers Cart to Winchester did bring
The Corps, where vnbemoand they laid the King.

Henry the first. An. Dom. 1100.

This Henry (for his wisedome Beuclarke nam'd)
Th'vnlawfull Lawes and measures he reclaim'd.
The Norman Duke, eld'st Brother to the King,
To claime the Crowne a mighty Hoast did bring.
Saint Bartholomewes was founded and Saint Gyles,
And Henry stop'd Duke Roberts mouth with wiles.
Then peace was made; but after, warres did rise,
The King tooke's brother, and put out his eyes.
Here Windsor Church and Castle were erected,
And Wales (rebeld) most sharpely was corrected.
All the King's Sonnes and eight score persons more,
Were drown'd by tempest neere the Norman shore.
Thus all his Ioy in Childrens losse bereft,
Saue onely Maud, the Widdow Empresse left,
Whom Geffrey Anioy's Earle to wife did get,
From whom did spring the name Plantagenet.
The King proclaim'd his Daughter, or her seede,
After his death should in the Realme succeede,
And after thirty fiue yeeres time was past,
King Henry by a surfet breath'd his last.
Much trouble in his dayes this Kingdome wearied,
He dyed, and dead, at Redding he lies buried.
Thus God that lifts the low, casts downe the high,
Caus'd all the Conquerors sonnes vntimely dye.

King Stephen. An. Dom. 1135.

Stephen Earle of Boloign, (th'Earle of Bloys his son)
From th'Empresse Maud this famous Kingdome won.
Domesticke, forraigne, dangerous discords,
'Twixt factions factions, of the King and's Lords,
Wars 'twixt the King and th'Empresse for the crown,
Both tasted Fortunes fauours, and her frowne,
Now vp, now downe, like balles at Tennis tost,
Till Stephen gain'd the goale, and th'Empresse lost.
And after eighteene yeeres were come and gone,
The King not hauing any lawfull Sonne,
He dyed, and chang'd his Kingdome & his strength,
For a small Sepulcher of sixe foote length.

Henry the second. An Dom. 1154.

This King vnto the Empresse Maud was Heyre,
And lawfully obtain'd the Regall Chayre,
He was couragious, and yet most vnchaste,
Which Vice, his other Vertues all defac'd.
He lou'd faire Rosamond, the worlds faire Rose,
For which his wife and children turn'd his foes.
He made his sonne Copartner in his Crowne,
Who rais'd strong warres to put his Father downe.
Faire Rosamond at Woodstock by the Queene
Was poyson'd, in reuengefull iealous spleene.
In toyle, and trouble, with his Sonnes and Peeres,
The King raign'd almost fiue and thirty yeeres.
Hee neere his death did curse his day of birth,
Hee curst his Sonnes, and sadly left the earth,
Hee at Founteuerard in his Tombe was laid,
And his Son Richard next the Scepter swaid.

Richard Cordelion. An. Dom. 1189.

This braue victorious Lyon-hearted Prince,
The foes of Christ, in Iury did conuince:
Whilst at Ierusalem he wan Renowne,
His Brother Iohn at home vsurp'd his Crowne.
And as he home return'd, (his owne to gaine)
By Austria's Duke, the King was Prisoner tane.
His ransome was an hundred thousand pound,
Which paid, in England he againe was crown'd.
Yet after nine full yeeres, and 9. months raigne,
Hee with a Shot was kild in Aquitane,
His buriall at Founteuerard was thought meet,
At his dead Fathers, second Henries feet.

King Iohn. An. Dom. 1199.

John Earle of Morton tooke the regall Seate,
His state, his toyle, his pompe, his cares, all great:
The French, the Welsh, the Scotsh, all prou'd his foes,
The Pope King Iohn did from his Crowne depose.
His Lords rebel'd, from France the Dolphin came,
And wasted England much with sword and flame.
And after seuenteene yeeres were full expir'd,
King Iohn being poysoned, to his graue retir'd.

Henry the third. An. Dom. 1216.

Wars, bloody wars, the French in England made,
Strong holds, Towns, Towres & Castles they inuade.
But afterwards it was K. Henries chance,
By force perforce to force them backe to France.
Great discord 'twixt the King and Barons were,
And factions did the Realme in pieces teare.
A world of mischiefes did this Land abide,
And fifty sixe yeeres raign'd the King and dy'd.

Edward Long-shanks. An. Dom. 1272.

This was a hardy, wise, Victorious King,
The Welshmen he did to subiection bring:
He Scotland wan, and brought from thence (by fate)
Their Crowne, their Scepter, Chaire, and Cloth of state,
That Kingdome with oppression sore he brusde,
Much tyranny and bloodshed there he vsde.
When thirty fiue yeeres he the Crowne had kept,
At Westminster, he with his Father slept.

Edward of Carnaruan. An. Dom. 1307.

The hard mis-haps that did this King attend,
The wretched life, and lamentable end,
Which he endur'd the like hath ne'r bin seene,
Depos'd, and poyson'd by his cruell Queene.
Which when the poyson had no force to kill,
Another way she wrought her wicked will.
Into his Fundament a red hot Spit
Was thrust, which made his Royall heart to split.

Edward the third. An. Dom. 1326.

In Peace, and warre, this King was right, & good,
He did reuenge his murdred Fathers blood:
Hee, and the blacke Prince, his most valiant Sonne,
The Field at Cressie, and at Poytiers wonne,
At first and last in his victorious raigne,
Of French and Scots, were six score thousand slaine.
And more, (his glory further to aduance)
He tooke the Kings of Scotland and of France.
The noble order of the Garter, he
At Windsor, instituted caus'd to be.
When fifty yeeres this Land had him obaid,
At Westminster he in his tombe was laid.

Richard the second. An. Dom. 1377.

Yong King, rash coūsell, lawes & right neglected,
The good put downe, the bad in State erected:
The Court with knaues & flat'rers here did swarm,
The Kingdome, (like a Farme) was let to Farme.
The Commons rose in Armies, Routes, and throngs,
And by foule treason, would redresse foule wrongs.
In this Kings raigne, began the Ciuill warre,
(Vnnaturally) 'twixt Yorke and Lancaster.
Oppression on oppression, breedes Confusion,
Bad Prologue, bad Proceeding, bad Conclusion:
King Richard, twenty two yeeres raign'd, misse-led,
Deposed and at Pomfret knock'd ith'head.

Henry the fourth. An. Dom. 1399.

The Crown wrong got frō the wrong doing king,
More griefe then ioy did to King Henry bring:
France, England, Scotland, Wales, arose in Armes,
And menac'd Henry, with most fierce Alarmes:
Hot Percy, Dowglas, Mortimer, Glendowre,
At Shrewsbury, the King orethrew their power,
He fourteene yeeres did raigne, and then did dye,
At Canterbury buried, he doth lye.

Henry the fift. An. Dom. 1412.

This was a King Renowned neere and farre,
A Mars of men, a Thunderbolt of warre:
At Agencourt the French were ouerthrowne,
And Henry heyre proclaim'd vnto that Crowne.
In nine yeeres raigne this valiant Prince wan more,
Then all the Kings did after or before.
Intomb'd at Westminster his Carkas lyes,
His soule did (like his Acts) ascend the skies.

Henry the sixt. An. Dom. 1422.

This Infant Prince scarce being nine moneths old,
The Realmes of France and England he did hold:
But he vncapable through want of yeeres,
Was ouer-gouern'd by mis-gouern'd Peeres.
Now Yorke and Lancaster, with bloudy wars,
Both wound this kingdome, with deep deadly scars.
Whilst this good King by Yorke oppos'd, depos'd,
Expos'd to dangers, is captiu'd, inclos'd,
His Queene exilde, his sonne and many friends,
Fled, murdred, slaughtred; lastly, Fate contends
To crowne him once againe, who then at last
Was murdred, thirty nine yeeres being past.

Edward the fourth. An. Dom. 1460.

Edward , the 4. the house of Yorks great heire,
By bloudy wars attain'd the Regall Chaire,
The poore King Henry into Scotland fled,
And foure yeeres there was royally cloath'd and fed,
Still good successe with him was in the wane,
He by King Edwards power at last was tane.
But yet before the tenth yeere of his reigne,
Hence Edward fled, and Henry crown'd againe.
By Warwicks meanes sixe moneths he held the same:
Till Edward backe in armes to England came,
And fighting stoutly, made this kingdome yeeld,
And slew great Warwicks Earle at Barnet field.
Thus Ciuill wars on wars, and broyles on broyles,
And England against England spils and spoyles,
Now Yorke, then Lancaster, then Yorke againe,
Quels Lancaster; thus ioy, griefe, pleasure, paine,
Doth like inconstant waters ebbe and flow:
Ones rising is the others ouerthrow.
King Edward, twenty two yeeres rul'd this Land,
And lies at Windsor where his Tombe doth stand.

Edward the fifth. An. Dom. 1483.

High birth, blood, state, and innocent in yeeres,
Eclips'd, and murdred by insulting Peeres:
This King was neuer crown'd, short was his raigne:
For to be short, hee in short space was slaine.

Richard the third. An. Dom. 1483.

By Treason, mischiefe, murder and debate.
Vsurping Richard wonne the royall state:
Vnnaturally the children of his brother
The King, and Duke of Yorke he caus'd to smother.
For Sir Iames Tirrell, Dichton and Blacke Will,
Did in the Tower these harmlesse Princes kill,
Buckinghams Duke did raise King Richard high,
And for reward he lost his head thereby.
A fellow to this King I scarce can finde,
His shape deform'd, and crooked like his minde.
Most cruell, tyrannous, inconstant, stout,
Couragious, hardy, t'abide all dangers out,
Yet when his sinnes were mellow, ripe and full,
Th'Almighties Iustice then his plumes did pull:
By bloudy meanes he did the kingdome gaine,
And lost it so, at Bosworth being slaine.

Henry the seuenth. An. Dom. 1485.

VVhen Ciuill wars, full fourescore yeers & more,
Had made this kingdome welter in her Gore:
When eightie of the royall blood were kild,
That Yorke and Lancasters crosse faction held,
Then God in mercy, looking on this Land,
Brought in this Prince, with a triumphant band,
The onely Heire of the Lancastrian line,
Who graciously consented to combine,
To ease poore England of a world of mone,
And make the red Rose and the white but one,
By Marriage with Elizabeth the faire,
Fourth Edwards daughter, and Yorks onely heire.
But Margret Burgunds dutches storm'd & frown'd,
That th'heire of Lancaster in state was crown'd.
A counterfeit, one Lambert she suborn'd,
(Being with Princely ornaments adorn'd)
To claime the State in name of Clarence sonne,
Who in the Tower before to death was done.
Wars 'gainst the French King Henry did maintaine,
And Edward braue Lord Wooduile there was slaine.
Northumberlands great Earle (for the Kings right)
Was slaine by Northerne rebels in sharpe fight.
The King besiedged Boloigne, but a Peace
The French King sought, and so the siedge did cease.
Still Burgunds Dutchesse, (with inueterate hate)
Did seeke to ruine Henries Royall state:
She caus'd one Perkin Warbecke, to put on
The name of Richard, Edwards murdred sonne,
Which Richard, was the youngest of the twaine
Of Edwards sonnes that in the Tower was slaine.
The King at last these traitors did confound,
And Perkin for a counterfeit was found.
Sir William Stanley, (once the Kings best friend)
At Tower hill, on a Scaffold had his end.
On Blacke Heath Coruish rebels were o'rthrowne,
A Shoomaker did claime King Henries Crowne.
The Earle of Warwicke lost his haplesse head,
And Lady Katherine did Prince Arthur wed.
But ere sixe moneths were fully gone and past,
In Ludlow Castle, Arthur breath'd his last.
King Henry built his Chappell from the ground,
At Westminster, whose like can scarce be found.
Faire Margret eldest daughter to our King,
King Iames the fourth of Scotland home did bring,
Where those two Princes, with great pompe and cheare,
In State at Edenborough married were.
But as all Mortall things are transitory,
So to an end came Henries earthly glory.
Twenty three yeeres, and 8. months here he swaid,
And then at Westminster, in's Tombe was laid.
He all his Life had variable share,
Of Peace, Warre, Ioy, Griefe, Royaltie and Care.

Henry the eight. An. Dom. 1509.

From both the Lines, and both the Ioynes (did spring)
Of York & Lancaster, this mighty King:
Katherine that was his brothers wife of late,
He tooke to wife, and crown'd her Queene in state.
Empson and Dudley lost their heads at Tower,
For racking the poore Commons by their power.
Warres, dreadfull wars, arose 'twixt vs and France,
Lord Edward Howard, drowned by mis-chance
At Brest, he was high Admirall in fight,
Cast ouerboord, dy'd like a valiant Knight.
In England Suffolks Duke did lose his head,
The King to Turwin did an army lead,
Turney he wonne with his victorious blade,
King Iames of Scotland, England did inuade:
But Surries Earle, the Scotsh King ouercame,
Who lost life there, but wonne immortall fame.
Now Cardinall Wolsey, in the Kings high Grace,
Was rais'd to honours, from great place to place,
Lordship on Lordship laid vpon his backe,
Vntill the burthen was the bearers wracke.
The Duke of Buckingham, his head did lose,
And Luther stoutly did the Pope oppose,
Blinde ignorance that long had look'd awry,
Began to see Truth with a clearer eye,
And then the King (inspir'd with feruent Zeale)
Reformed both the Church and Common weale,
Iehouah with his power Omnipotent,
Did make this King his gracious Instrument,
T'vnmaske his Truth from Antichristian fables,
And purge this wofull Land from Babels bables.
This King at Boloigne was victorious;
In peace and warre, Magnifique, Glorious;
In his rage bounty he did oft expresse,
His Liberality to bee excesse,
In Reuels, Iusts, and Turnies he spent more,
Then fiue of his Fore-fathers did before,
His Auarice was all for Noble fame,
Amongst the Worthies to inrole his Name,
A valiant Champion for the Faiths defence,
Was the great Title of this mightie Prince.
Sixe wiues he had, 3 Kates, 2. Annes, one Iaue,
Two were diuorc'd, two at the blocke were slaine:
One sonne and two faire daughters he did leaue,
Who each from other did the Crowne receiue:
The first was Edward; Mary next, whose death
Left State, and Realme, to Queene Elizabeth.
He thirty eight yeeres kept this Royall Roome,
At Windsor hee's enter'd without a Tombe.

Edward the sixt. An. Dom. 1546.

Had this Kings reigne bin long, as it was good,
Religion in a peaceable state had stood,
What might haue his age bin, when his blest youth,
So valiantly aduanc'd Gods sacred truth?
At nine yeeres age, the Crowne on him hee tooke,
And ere sixteene, he Crowne and life forsooke.
Too good for earth, th'Almighty tooke his spirit,
And Westminster his Carkas doth inherit.

Queene Mary. An. Dom. 1553.

After a while this Queene had worne the Crown,
Idolatry was rais'd, and Truth put downe,
The Masse, the Images, the Beades and Altars,
By tyrannie, by fire, and sword and Halters,
Th'vngodly bloudy Antichristian sway,
Men were force, perforce forced to obey.
Now burning Bonner, Londons Bishop, he
Was from the Marshal-sea againe set free:
Iohn Dudley, great Duke of Northumberland,
And Sir Iohn Gates dyed by the Headsmans hand,
With them Sir Thomas Palmer likewise dy'd,
Hoping for heau'n, through Iesus Crucified.
In Latine Seruice must be sung and said,
Because men should not know for what they prai'd.
The Emp'rors sonne, great Philip King of Spaine
A marriage with Queene Mary did obtaine:
Against which match, Sir Thomas Wyat rose,
With powers of Kent the Spaniards to oppose.
But Wyat was or'throwne, his armie fled,
And on the Tower hill after lost his head.
Lord Gray the Duke of Suffolke also dy'd,
An Axe his Corps did from his head diuide,
A little after, the Lord Thomas Gray,
The Dukes owne brother went that headlesse way.
A Millers sonne assum'd King Edwards name,
And falsely in that name the Crowne did claime,
But he was tane and iustly whip'd and tortur'd,
And claiming it once more, was hang'd & quarterd.
King Philip won Saint Quintins with great cost.
But after to our shame was Callice lost,
Callice was lost, which threescore yeeres and ten,
Had beene a Garrison for Englishmen.
Thus by Gods mercy Englands Queene did dye,
And England gain'd much ease and rest thereby.
Fiue yeeres and 4. months was her bloudy reigne,
And all her glory doth one graue contame.
Though of her selfe this Queene was well inclin'd,
Bad-minded counsell altred much her minde.

Queene Elizabeth. An. Dom. 1558.

A Debora, a Iudith, a Susanna,
A Virgin, a Virago, a Diana:
Couragious, Zealous, Learned, Wise and Chaste,
With heauenly, earthly gifts, adorn'd and grac'd,
Victorious, glorious, bountious, gracious, good,
And one, whose vertues dignifi'd her bloud,
That Muses, Graces, Armes, and liberall Arts,
Amongst all Queens, proclaim'd her Queen of hearts,
She did repurifie this Land once more,
From the infection of the Romish whore.
Now Abbies, Abbots, Fri'rs, Monks, Nuns & Stews,
Masses, and Masse-priests, that mens soules abuse,
Were all cast downe, Lamps, Tapers, Relikes, Beads,
And Superstitions that mans soule misse-leads,
All Popish pardons, Buls, Confessions,
With Crossings, Cristening bels, Saints, Intercessions,
The Altars, Idols, Images downe cast,
All Pilgrimage, and Superstitious Fast,
Th'acknowledging the Pope for supreme head,
The holy water, and the god of bread,
The mumbling Mattins, and the pickpurse Masse,
These bables this good Queene did turne to grasse.
She caus'd Gods seruice to be said and sung,
In our owne vnderstanding English tongue.
In Scotland and in France, fierce warres she held,
The Irish she subdu'd when they rebeld,
The Netherlands her name doe still admire,
And Spaine her like againe doth not desire.
When forty foure yeers reigne was past and gone,
She chang'd her earthly for a heauenly Throne,
At Greenwich she was borne, at Richmond dy'd,
At Westminster she buried doth abide;
And as the fame of this Imperiall Maide,
Is through the world, (by the foure winds) displaid,
So shall her memory for euer grace
Her famous birth, her death, and buriall place.

King Iames. An. Dom. 1602.

VVhen as Elizaes wofull death was acted:
When this lamenting land was halfe distracted:
Whē tears each loyall heart with grief had drownd,
Then came this King and made our ioyes abound,
Ordain'd for vs by heauenly power diuine,
Then from the North this glorious starre did shine,
The Roall Image of the Prince of Peace,
The blest Concorder that made warres to cease;
By Name a Stevvard, and by Nature one,
Appointed from Iehouahs sacred Throne,
And by th'almighties hand supported euer,
That Treason or the Diuell should hurt him neuer:
And as his Zeale vnto his God was great,
Gods blessings on him were each way compleat,
Rich in his Subiects loue (a Kings best treasure)
Rich in content, (a Riches aboue measure)
Rich in his Princely Issue, and in them,
Rich in his hopefull Branches of his stemme;
Rich in Munition, and a Nauy Royall,
And richer then all Kings in seruants Loyall.
When Hell and Rome together did conspire,
To blow him and his kingdome vp with fire,
Then did the King of Kings preserue our King,
And all the Traytors to confusion bring.
And who so reckons vp from first to last,
The many hel-hatch'd dangers he hath past
Through all his daies, he will beleeue (no doubt)
That he with heauenly pow'rs was wall'd about.
All Christian Princes held his friendship deare,
Was fear'd for loue, and not belou'd for feare:
And Pagan Monarchs were in League combin'd
With him, as farre as is the Easterne Iude.
And like a flame amidst a Riuer fix'd,
So was his Iustice with his mercy mix'd:
He striu'd to imitate his Maker still,
And clemency preseru'd where Law would kill.
He hath cur'd England, and heal'd Scotlands wounds,
And made them both great (anciēt) Britains bounds:
All bloudy deadly feuds he caus'd surcease,
And canker'd hate he turn'd to Christian peace,
The mouth of warre he muzzled mute and dum,
He still'd the roaring Cannon and the Drum:
Secure in peace, his people sup and dine,
With their owne fig-trees shaded and their vine,
Whilst in an vprore most of Christendome,
One Nation doth another ouercome.
Vnto the King of Kings let's praises sing.
For giuing vs this happy peacefull King.
None know so well how they should peace prefer,
As those that know the miseries of warre:
Tis true (though old) and must not be forgot,
The warres are sweet to such as know them not.
Peace (happy peace) doth spread tranquillity,
Through all the bounds of Britaines Monarchy;
And may we all actions still addresse,
For peace with God, and warre 'gainst wickednesse.
Vnto which peace of God this King's ascended,
To reigne in glory that shall ne'r be ended.
His mortall part at Westminster enter'd,
His soule and Fame immortally prefer'd.

King Charles.

Two Williams, Henries 8. 1. Steuen, 1. Iohn,
Sixe Edwards, Richards 3. and 1. Queene Mary:
Elizabeth, and Iames, all dead and gone,
Our gracious Charles doth now the Scepter carry;
And may they liue and dye of God accurst,
Who wish the preiudice of Charles the first.