The life of Cardinal Wolsey By George Cavendish, his gentleman usher. And metrical visions, from the original autograph manuscript. With notes and other illustrations, by Samuel Weller Singer |
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 | The life of Cardinal Wolsey |  |
19
TH'AUCTOR G. C.
When he his tale had told, thus in sentence,
His dolorous playnt strake me to the hart;
Pytie also moved me to bewayll his offence,
And with hyme to weepe, when I did advert
In his adversite, howe I did not depart
Tyll mortal death had gevyn him his wound,
With whom I was present, and layed hyme in the ground.
His dolorous playnt strake me to the hart;
Pytie also moved me to bewayll his offence,
And with hyme to weepe, when I did advert
In his adversite, howe I did not depart
Tyll mortal death had gevyn him his wound,
With whom I was present, and layed hyme in the ground.
When I had wepte, and lamentyd my fyll,
With reason persuaded, to hold me content,
I espied certyn persons comyng me tyll
Strangely disgwysed, that greatly did lament,
And as me seemed, this was ther intent,
On fortune to complayn, their cause was not slender,
And me to requier their fall to remember.
With reason persuaded, to hold me content,
I espied certyn persons comyng me tyll
Strangely disgwysed, that greatly did lament,
And as me seemed, this was ther intent,
On fortune to complayn, their cause was not slender,
And me to requier their fall to remember.
20
VISCOUNT ROCHEFORD.
Alas! quod the first, with a full hevy chere,
And countenance sad, piteous, and lamentable,
George Bulleyn I ame, that now doth appere;
Some tyme of Rocheford Viscount honorable,
And now a vile wretch, most myserable,
That ame constrayned with dole in my visage,
Even to resemble a very deadly image.
And countenance sad, piteous, and lamentable,
George Bulleyn I ame, that now doth appere;
Some tyme of Rocheford Viscount honorable,
And now a vile wretch, most myserable,
That ame constrayned with dole in my visage,
Even to resemble a very deadly image.
God gave me grace, dame Nature did hir part,
Endewed me with gyfts of natural qualities:
Dame Eloquence also taughte me the arte
In meter and verse to make pleasaunt dities,
And fortune preferred me to high dignyties
In such abondance, that combred was my witt,
To render God thanks that gave me eche whitt.
Endewed me with gyfts of natural qualities:
Dame Eloquence also taughte me the arte
In meter and verse to make pleasaunt dities,
And fortune preferred me to high dignyties
In such abondance, that combred was my witt,
To render God thanks that gave me eche whitt.
21
It hath not been knowen nor seldome seen,
That any of my yeres byfore this day
Into the privy councell preferred hath been:
My soverayn lord in his chamber did me assay,
Or yeres thryes nine my life had past away;
A rare thing suer seldom or never hard,
So yong a man so highly to be preferrd.
That any of my yeres byfore this day
Into the privy councell preferred hath been:
My soverayn lord in his chamber did me assay,
Or yeres thryes nine my life had past away;
A rare thing suer seldom or never hard,
So yong a man so highly to be preferrd.
22
In this my welthe I had God clean forgot,
And my sensuall apetyte I did always ensewe,
Esteming in my self the thyng that I had not,
Sufficient grace this chaunce for to eschewe,
The contrary, I perceyve, causithe me now to rewe;
My folly was such that vertue I set asyde,
And forsoke God that should have been my gwyde.
And my sensuall apetyte I did always ensewe,
Esteming in my self the thyng that I had not,
Sufficient grace this chaunce for to eschewe,
The contrary, I perceyve, causithe me now to rewe;
My folly was such that vertue I set asyde,
And forsoke God that should have been my gwyde.
My lyfe not chaste, my lyvyng bestyall;
I forced wydowes, maydens I did deflower.
All was oon to me, I spared none at all,
My appetite was all women to devoure,
My study was both day and hower,
My onleafull lechery how I might it fulfill,
Sparyng no woman to have on hyr my wyll.
I forced wydowes, maydens I did deflower.
All was oon to me, I spared none at all,
My appetite was all women to devoure,
My study was both day and hower,
My onleafull lechery how I might it fulfill,
Sparyng no woman to have on hyr my wyll.
Allthoughe I before hathe both seene and rede
The word of God and scriptures of auctoritie,
Yet could not I resist this onlefull deede,
Nor dreade the domes of God in my prosperitie;
Let myn estatte, therefore, a myrror to you be,
And in your mynd my dolors comprehend
For myne offences how God hath made dissend.
The word of God and scriptures of auctoritie,
Yet could not I resist this onlefull deede,
Nor dreade the domes of God in my prosperitie;
Let myn estatte, therefore, a myrror to you be,
And in your mynd my dolors comprehend
For myne offences how God hath made dissend.
23
Se how fortune can alter and change hir tyde,
That to me but late could be so good and favorable,
And at this present to frowne and set me thus aside,
Which thoughte hyr whele to stand both firme and stable,
Now have I found hyr very froward and mutable;
Where she was frendly now she is at discord,
As by experience of me Viscount Rocheford.
That to me but late could be so good and favorable,
And at this present to frowne and set me thus aside,
Which thoughte hyr whele to stand both firme and stable,
Now have I found hyr very froward and mutable;
Where she was frendly now she is at discord,
As by experience of me Viscount Rocheford.
For where God list to punysh a man of right,
By mortal sword, farewell all resistence;
When grace faylyth, honor hath no force or myght,
Of nobilitie also it defacyth the high preeminence,
And changythe their power to feeble impotence;
Than tornyth fortune hyr whele most spedely
Example take of me for my lewde avoultrie.
By mortal sword, farewell all resistence;
When grace faylyth, honor hath no force or myght,
Of nobilitie also it defacyth the high preeminence,
And changythe their power to feeble impotence;
Than tornyth fortune hyr whele most spedely
Example take of me for my lewde avoultrie.
All noblemen, therefore, with stedfast hart entyer,
Lyft up your corages, and think this is no fable;
Thoughe ye sit high, conceive yt in your chere,
That no worldly prynce in yerthe is perdurable;
And since that ye be of nature reasonable,
Remember in your welthe, as thyng most necessary,
That all standythe on fortune when she listeth to vary.
Lyft up your corages, and think this is no fable;
Thoughe ye sit high, conceive yt in your chere,
That no worldly prynce in yerthe is perdurable;
And since that ye be of nature reasonable,
Remember in your welthe, as thyng most necessary,
That all standythe on fortune when she listeth to vary.
24
Alas! to declare my life in every effect,
Shame restraynyth me the playnes to confess,
Lest the abhomynation wold all the world enfect:
Yt is so vile, so detestable in words to expresse,
For which by the lawe condempned I am doughtlesse,
And for my desert, justly juged to be deade;
Behold here my body, but I have lost my hed.
Shame restraynyth me the playnes to confess,
Lest the abhomynation wold all the world enfect:
Yt is so vile, so detestable in words to expresse,
For which by the lawe condempned I am doughtlesse,
And for my desert, justly juged to be deade;
Behold here my body, but I have lost my hed.
25
TH'AUCTOR G. C.
Another was there redy to complayneOf his evyll chaunce, crying owt, alas!
And said of all grace, no man more barayn
Than he was, that in his time so happie was,
And now onhappie fortune hath brought to passe;
That where most happiest he was but of late,
Now most onhappiest fortune hath torned hir date.
NORRES.
With welthe, worshipe, and houge aboundaunce,
My soverayn lord extendyd his benygnytie:
To be grome of his stoole he did me avaunce,
Of all his privie chamber I had the soverayntie;
Offices and romes he gave me great plentie:
Horsys, hawks, and hounds, I had of eche sort,
I wanted nothing that was for my disport.
My soverayn lord extendyd his benygnytie:
To be grome of his stoole he did me avaunce,
Of all his privie chamber I had the soverayntie;
Offices and romes he gave me great plentie:
26
I wanted nothing that was for my disport.
Of welthy life I dought it never a wytt,
Thou knewest well I had, and thereof no man more,
All things of pleasure unto my fantzie fitt,
Till ambyssion blyndyd me that I forthinke sore,
From the midst of the streme dryvyn to the shore;
From welthe I say, alas! to wretchedness and waylyng,
For my mysdemenor to God and to the kyng.
Thou knewest well I had, and thereof no man more,
All things of pleasure unto my fantzie fitt,
Till ambyssion blyndyd me that I forthinke sore,
From the midst of the streme dryvyn to the shore;
From welthe I say, alas! to wretchedness and waylyng,
For my mysdemenor to God and to the kyng.
My chaunce was such I had all thyng at wyll,
And in my welthe I was to hym onkynd,
That thus to me did all my mynd fulfyll,
All his benyvolence was clean owt of mynd:
Oh, alas! alas! in my hart how cowld I fynd
Ayenst my soverayn so secretly to conspier,
That so gently gave me all that I desier.
And in my welthe I was to hym onkynd,
That thus to me did all my mynd fulfyll,
All his benyvolence was clean owt of mynd:
Oh, alas! alas! in my hart how cowld I fynd
Ayenst my soverayn so secretly to conspier,
That so gently gave me all that I desier.
27
His most noble hart lamented so my chaunce,
That of his clemency he granted me my lyfe,
In case I wold, without dissimulaunce,
The trouthe declare of his onchaste wyfe,
The spotted queen, causer of all his stryfe;
But I most obstynate, with hart as hard as stone,
Denyed his grace, good cause therefore to mone.
That of his clemency he granted me my lyfe,
In case I wold, without dissimulaunce,
The trouthe declare of his onchaste wyfe,
The spotted queen, causer of all his stryfe;
But I most obstynate, with hart as hard as stone,
Denyed his grace, good cause therefore to mone.
To sighe, to sobbe, it ware but wast;
To weep, to waylle, or to lament,
Yt will not prevayle; the tyme is past:
Alas! in tyme why did I not prevent
The rage and fury of fortunes male intent?
But then I did as now all other do,
In tyme of welthe let all these thoughts goo.
To weep, to waylle, or to lament,
Yt will not prevayle; the tyme is past:
Alas! in tyme why did I not prevent
The rage and fury of fortunes male intent?
But then I did as now all other do,
In tyme of welthe let all these thoughts goo.
28
Who is more willfull than he that is in welthe?
Who is more folishe than he that shold be wyse?
Who syknes soner doth forget than he that hath his helthe?
Or who is more blynd than he that hath two eyes?
Who hath most welthe doth fortune most dispise;
Even so dyd I for whant of Goddis grace:
What now remayneth but sorrow in thys case?
Who is more folishe than he that shold be wyse?
Who syknes soner doth forget than he that hath his helthe?
Or who is more blynd than he that hath two eyes?
Who hath most welthe doth fortune most dispise;
Even so dyd I for whant of Goddis grace:
What now remayneth but sorrow in thys case?
29
Sometyme in trust, and now a traytor found;
Sometyme full nighe, but now I stand afarre;
Sometyme at libertie, and now in prison bound;
Sometyme in office, and now led to the barre:
The rigor of the lawe justice will not deferre,
But for myn offences syth needs that I must die;
Farewell my frends, loo helplesse here I lye.
Sometyme full nighe, but now I stand afarre;
Sometyme at libertie, and now in prison bound;
Sometyme in office, and now led to the barre:
The rigor of the lawe justice will not deferre,
But for myn offences syth needs that I must die;
Farewell my frends, loo helplesse here I lye.
30
TH'AUCTOR G. C.
Next hyme followed an other that was of that band,With teares bespraynt, and color pale as lead,
Yt was Weston the wanton, ye shall understand,
That wantonly lyved without feare or dreade;
For wyll without wytt did ay his brydell leade,
Followyng his fantzy and his wanton lust,
Having of mysfortune no maner mystrust.
WESTON.
Fortune (quod he) not so, but not fearyng God above,
Which knowyth the depthe of every man's mynd,
Whom I forgot to serve in dread and in love
By wanton wyll, for that I was so blynd,
Which caused my welthe full soon to outwynd;
And cheafe of all, and most to be abhord,
For my unkyndnes ayenst my soverayn lord.
Which knowyth the depthe of every man's mynd,
Whom I forgot to serve in dread and in love
By wanton wyll, for that I was so blynd,
Which caused my welthe full soon to outwynd;
31
For my unkyndnes ayenst my soverayn lord.
Beyng but young, and skant out of the shell,
I was dayntely noryshed under the king's wyng,
Who highly favored me and loved me so well
That I had all my will and lust in every thyng,
Myndyng nothing lesse than chaunce of my endyng;
And for my dethe that present is nowe here,
I looked not for, this fyvetie or threscore yere.
I was dayntely noryshed under the king's wyng,
Who highly favored me and loved me so well
That I had all my will and lust in every thyng,
Myndyng nothing lesse than chaunce of my endyng;
And for my dethe that present is nowe here,
I looked not for, this fyvetie or threscore yere.
My lust and my wyll ware knytt in alyaunce,
And my wyll folowed lust in all his desier;
When lust was lusty, wyll did hyme advaunce
To tangle me with lust where my lust did requier:
Thus wyll and hot lust kyndeled me the fier
Of filthy concupicence, my youth yet but grean
Spared not, my lust presumed to the queene.
And my wyll folowed lust in all his desier;
When lust was lusty, wyll did hyme advaunce
To tangle me with lust where my lust did requier:
Thus wyll and hot lust kyndeled me the fier
Of filthy concupicence, my youth yet but grean
Spared not, my lust presumed to the queene.
32
And for my lewd lust my will is now shent,
By whom I was ruled in every motion,
Now wyll and lust makyth me sore to repent;
That wyll was my gwyd, and not sad discression,
Therefore agenst wyll I ame brought to correction;
Who folowyth lust his will to obeye
May chaunce to repent, as I do this day.
By whom I was ruled in every motion,
Now wyll and lust makyth me sore to repent;
That wyll was my gwyd, and not sad discression,
Therefore agenst wyll I ame brought to correction;
Who folowyth lust his will to obeye
May chaunce to repent, as I do this day.
Lust then gave cause why will did consent
Willfully to rage, where wytt shold restrayn
So highly to presume; to furnyshe his intent
Will was to sawcy, and wold not refrayn,
Havyng no regard to pryncely disdayn;
Wherefore by Justice now hither am I led
To satisfie the cryme with the losse of my hed.
Willfully to rage, where wytt shold restrayn
So highly to presume; to furnyshe his intent
Will was to sawcy, and wold not refrayn,
Havyng no regard to pryncely disdayn;
Wherefore by Justice now hither am I led
To satisfie the cryme with the losse of my hed.
33
TH'AUCTOR G. C.
Then appeared an other his chaunce to declare,And sayd, that fortune hathe gevyn hyme a fall,
Which sowced hyme in sorrowe, and combred hyme with kare;
Yt avayllyth hyme nothyng to crye and to call,
For frends hathe he none, their helpe is but small
To socoure hyme nowe: loo, what it is to trust
To fykkyll fortune when she dothe chaynge her lust.
BREERTON.
But late I was in welthe, the world can it record,
Floryshyng in favor, freshly beseen,
Gentilman of the chamber with my soverayn lord,
Tyll fortune onwares hath disceyved me clean,
Which pynchethe my hart, and rubbyth me on the splene
To thynk on my fall; remembryng myn estate
Renewyth my sorowe, my repentance comyth to late.
Floryshyng in favor, freshly beseen,
Gentilman of the chamber with my soverayn lord,
34
Which pynchethe my hart, and rubbyth me on the splene
To thynk on my fall; remembryng myn estate
Renewyth my sorowe, my repentance comyth to late.
Furnished with romes I was by the kyng,
The best I ame sewer he had in my contrie;
Steward of the Holt, a rome of great wynnyng
In the marches of Wales, the which he gave to me,
Where of tall men I had sewer great plentie
The kyng for to serve, both in town and feld,
Redely furnyshed with horse, spere, and sheld.
The best I ame sewer he had in my contrie;
Steward of the Holt, a rome of great wynnyng
In the marches of Wales, the which he gave to me,
Where of tall men I had sewer great plentie
The kyng for to serve, both in town and feld,
Redely furnyshed with horse, spere, and sheld.
God of his justice, forseyng my malice,
For my busy rigor wold punyshe me of right
Mynestred unto Eton, by color of justice:
A shame to speke, more shame it is to wright;
A gentilman born, that thorowghe my myght
So shamefully was hanged upon a gallowe-tree,
Oonly of old rankor that roted was in me.
For my busy rigor wold punyshe me of right
Mynestred unto Eton, by color of justice:
A shame to speke, more shame it is to wright;
A gentilman born, that thorowghe my myght
So shamefully was hanged upon a gallowe-tree,
Oonly of old rankor that roted was in me.
35
Now the lawe hath taught me justice to know,
By dyvyn dome, Goddis wordes to be trewe,
Who strykythe with the sword the sword will overthrowe;
No man shall be able the danger to eschewe;
Thexperience in me shall give you a vewe,
That rigor by rigor hath quit me my mede,
For the rigor of justice dothe cause me to blede.
By dyvyn dome, Goddis wordes to be trewe,
Who strykythe with the sword the sword will overthrowe;
No man shall be able the danger to eschewe;
Thexperience in me shall give you a vewe,
That rigor by rigor hath quit me my mede,
For the rigor of justice dothe cause me to blede.
Loo, here is th' end of murder and tyranny!
Loo, here is th' end of envious affeccion!
Loo, here is th' end of false conspiracy!
Loo, here is th' end of false detection
Don to the innocent by cruel correccion!
Althoughe in office I thought myself strong,
Yet here is myn end for mynestryng wrong.
Loo, here is th' end of envious affeccion!
Loo, here is th' end of false conspiracy!
Loo, here is th' end of false detection
Don to the innocent by cruel correccion!
Althoughe in office I thought myself strong,
Yet here is myn end for mynestryng wrong.
36
TH'AUCTOR G. C.
Than came another, which had lyttil joye,Sayeng, that some tyme I did hyme knowe
In the cardinal's chapleyn a syngyng boy,
Who humbly requered me, and lowted full lowe
To wright his dekay, as last of this rowe;
And that his desier I wold not refuse,
For, by his confession, he dyd them all accuse.
MARKE ALS. SMETON.
My father a carpenter, and labored with his hand,
With the swett of his face he purchast his lyvyng,
For small was his rent, much lesse was his land;
My mother in cottage used dayly spynnyng;
Loo, in what mysery was my begynnyng,
Till that gentil prynce, kyng of this realme,
Toke me de stercore et origens pauperem.
With the swett of his face he purchast his lyvyng,
For small was his rent, much lesse was his land;
37
Loo, in what mysery was my begynnyng,
Till that gentil prynce, kyng of this realme,
Toke me de stercore et origens pauperem.
And beyng but a boy, clame uppe the hygh stage,
That bred was of naught, and brought to felicite,
Knew not myself, waxt proud in my corage,
Dysdayned my father, and wold not hyme se;
Wherfore nowe Fortune by hir mutabilitie
Hathe made so cruelly hir power for to stretch,
For my presumption, to dye lyke a wretch.
That bred was of naught, and brought to felicite,
Knew not myself, waxt proud in my corage,
Dysdayned my father, and wold not hyme se;
Wherfore nowe Fortune by hir mutabilitie
38
For my presumption, to dye lyke a wretch.
Loo, what it is, frayle youth to advance
And to set hyme uppe in welthy estate,
Or sad discression had hym in governance
To brydell his lust, which now comes to late;
And thoughe by great favor I lease but my pate,
Yet deserved have I cruelly to be martred,
As I ame juged to be hanged, drawn, and quartred.
And to set hyme uppe in welthy estate,
Or sad discression had hym in governance
To brydell his lust, which now comes to late;
And thoughe by great favor I lease but my pate,
Yet deserved have I cruelly to be martred,
As I ame juged to be hanged, drawn, and quartred.
39
TH'AUCTOR G. C.
In the myddys of my labor intendyng to take rest,Beyng fortossed in this my long travayl,
Disposed to pawse, I made me therto prest;
But as I sat musyng on Fortune so frayl,
A lady I saw sobbyng, that happe made to wayl,
Wryngyng of her hands, hir voyce she owt brayd,
Complaynyng on Fortune, thes words to me she sayd.
QUEENE ANNE.
Alas, wretched woman, what shall I do or say?
And why, alas, was I borne this woo to susteyn?
Oh how infortunat I ame at this day,
That raygned in joy, and now in endles payn,
The world universal hathe me in disdayn;
The slander of my name woll aye be grean,
And called of eche man the most vicious quene.
And why, alas, was I borne this woo to susteyn?
Oh how infortunat I ame at this day,
That raygned in joy, and now in endles payn,
The world universal hathe me in disdayn;
The slander of my name woll aye be grean,
And called of eche man the most vicious quene.
40
What nedythe me my name for to reherce,
For my fall, I thynk, is yet freshe in the mynd;
I dread my faults shall thy paper perce,
That thus have lyved and byn to God onkynd;
Vices preferryng, settyng vertue behynd,
Hatfull to God, to most men contrarye,
Spotted with pride, viciousnes, and cruelty.
For my fall, I thynk, is yet freshe in the mynd;
I dread my faults shall thy paper perce,
That thus have lyved and byn to God onkynd;
Vices preferryng, settyng vertue behynd,
Hatfull to God, to most men contrarye,
Spotted with pride, viciousnes, and cruelty.
Oh sorrowfull woman, my body and my soule
Shall ever be burdened with slander detestable!
Fame in her register my defame woll enroll,
And to race owt the same no man shall be able,
My lyfe of late hathe byn so abhomynable;
Therfor my frayltie I may both curse and ban,
Whissyng to God I had never known man.
Shall ever be burdened with slander detestable!
Fame in her register my defame woll enroll,
And to race owt the same no man shall be able,
My lyfe of late hathe byn so abhomynable;
Therfor my frayltie I may both curse and ban,
Whissyng to God I had never known man.
Who was more happier, if I had byn gracious,
Than I of late, and had moore my wyll,
For my soverayn lord of me was so amorous
That all my desiers he gladly did fulfyll;
My hosbond and soverayn thought in me no ill,
He loved me so well, havyng in me great trust:
I turned trust to treason, and he chayngd all his lust.
Than I of late, and had moore my wyll,
For my soverayn lord of me was so amorous
That all my desiers he gladly did fulfyll;
My hosbond and soverayn thought in me no ill,
He loved me so well, havyng in me great trust:
I turned trust to treason, and he chayngd all his lust.
41
The noblest prynce that raygned on the ground
I had to my hosbond, he toke me to hys wyfe;
At home with my father a maiden he me found,
And for my sake of pryncely prerogatyfe:
To an erle he advanced my father in his lyfe,
And preferred all them that ware of my bloode;
The most willyngest prynce to do them all good.
I had to my hosbond, he toke me to hys wyfe;
At home with my father a maiden he me found,
And for my sake of pryncely prerogatyfe:
To an erle he advanced my father in his lyfe,
And preferred all them that ware of my bloode;
The most willyngest prynce to do them all good.
Whan Fortune had displayed abrode my freshe sayle,
Also had arryved me in the most joyfull port,
I thoughte that Fortune wold me never fayle,
She was so redy to avance all to my comfort;
But nowe, alas, she is as redy my vice to transport,
Changyng my joy to great indignacion,
Leavyng me in the stormes of depe desperacion.
Also had arryved me in the most joyfull port,
I thoughte that Fortune wold me never fayle,
She was so redy to avance all to my comfort;
But nowe, alas, she is as redy my vice to transport,
Changyng my joy to great indignacion,
Leavyng me in the stormes of depe desperacion.
I may be compared in every circumstance
To Athalia that destroyed Davythes lynne,
Spared not the blood by cruel vengeance
Of Goddis prophets, but brought them to rewyn:
Murder askyth murder, by murder she did fynd,
So in lyke wyse resystyng my quarell
How many have dyed and ended parell.
To Athalia that destroyed Davythes lynne,
Spared not the blood by cruel vengeance
Of Goddis prophets, but brought them to rewyn:
Murder askyth murder, by murder she did fynd,
So in lyke wyse resystyng my quarell
How many have dyed and ended parell.
42
I was the auctor why lawes ware made
For speking ayenst me, to daynger the innocent;
And with great othes I found owt the trade
To burden mens concyence: thus I did invent
My sede to advance; it was my full intent
Lynnyally to succeed in this Emperial crown:
But howe sone hath God brought my purpose down!
For speking ayenst me, to daynger the innocent;
And with great othes I found owt the trade
To burden mens concyence: thus I did invent
My sede to advance; it was my full intent
Lynnyally to succeed in this Emperial crown:
But howe sone hath God brought my purpose down!
Who that woll presume a purpose to achyve
Without Goddis helpe their matters for to frame,
At thend they shall but skarsly thryve,
And for ther enterprice receyve great blame
At Goddis hands, presumyng to the same
Thexperyence in me, wantyng Goddis ayd,
Wold mount aloft: how sone ame I dekayd!
Without Goddis helpe their matters for to frame,
At thend they shall but skarsly thryve,
And for ther enterprice receyve great blame
At Goddis hands, presumyng to the same
Thexperyence in me, wantyng Goddis ayd,
Wold mount aloft: how sone ame I dekayd!
Yt had byn better for myn assuraunce
To have led my lyfe in meke simplyssitie,
Owt of all daynger of Fortune's dissemblaunce,
Usyng my lyfe in wyfely chastitie
As other women, regardyng myn honestie;
Oh how myche prayse is gevyn to thos
That wold in no case ther chastitie loos.
To have led my lyfe in meke simplyssitie,
Owt of all daynger of Fortune's dissemblaunce,
Usyng my lyfe in wyfely chastitie
As other women, regardyng myn honestie;
Oh how myche prayse is gevyn to thos
That wold in no case ther chastitie loos.
43
But well away, evermore the spott
Of my default shall, aye, spryng and be grean;
For who, alas, can bear a greater blott
Than of such lyfe to bear the name onclean?
My epitaphe shall be,—“The vicious quene
Lyethe here, of late that justly lost hir hed,
Bycause that she did spott the kyngis bed.”
Of my default shall, aye, spryng and be grean;
For who, alas, can bear a greater blott
Than of such lyfe to bear the name onclean?
My epitaphe shall be,—“The vicious quene
Lyethe here, of late that justly lost hir hed,
Bycause that she did spott the kyngis bed.”
But God that dyd abhorre this lothesome deade,
For that I was a quene and lyved not chast
Hathe spotted me, alas, and all my sede;
Oon for a pledge, here left behynd for bast:
Thus after swete sawce folowd an egere tast,
A payment fyt, full well as it apperes
Dewe unto me for myn onjust desiers.
For that I was a quene and lyved not chast
Hathe spotted me, alas, and all my sede;
Oon for a pledge, here left behynd for bast:
Thus after swete sawce folowd an egere tast,
A payment fyt, full well as it apperes
Dewe unto me for myn onjust desiers.
How happy art thou, quene Jane (the kyng's next wyfe),
Whos fame from ferre dayly doth rebound
For usyng of thy chast and sober lyfe;
Allthoughe thou art deade and layed in the ground,
Yet deathe wantithe power thy fame to confound;
For of thy chast sides perpetually to record
Sprong Kyng Edward, that swete and loyal lord.
Whos fame from ferre dayly doth rebound
For usyng of thy chast and sober lyfe;
44
Yet deathe wantithe power thy fame to confound;
For of thy chast sides perpetually to record
Sprong Kyng Edward, that swete and loyal lord.
O lady most excellent, by vertue stellefied,
Assendyng the hevyns, where thou raynest aye,
Among the goddes eternal, there to be deified,
Perpetually to endure unto the last day;
And I, most wretched, what shall I do or saye?
But humbly beseche the, O Lord, for thy passion,
That my worthy deathe may be my crymes purgacion.
Assendyng the hevyns, where thou raynest aye,
Among the goddes eternal, there to be deified,
Perpetually to endure unto the last day;
And I, most wretched, what shall I do or saye?
But humbly beseche the, O Lord, for thy passion,
That my worthy deathe may be my crymes purgacion.
45
Now must I depart, there is non other boote;
Farewell, fayer ladies, farewell, all noble dames,
That sometyme ware obedyent and kneled at my foote,
Eschewe detraction, preserve your honest names,
Geve non occasion a sparke to kyndell flames;
Remember this sentence, that is both old and trewe,
“Who will have no smoke the fier must nedes eschewe.”
Farewell, fayer ladies, farewell, all noble dames,
That sometyme ware obedyent and kneled at my foote,
Eschewe detraction, preserve your honest names,
Geve non occasion a sparke to kyndell flames;
Remember this sentence, that is both old and trewe,
“Who will have no smoke the fier must nedes eschewe.”
46
Farewell, most gentill kyng; farewell my lovyng make;
Farewell the pieussant prynce, flower of all regally,
Farewell most pityfull, and pitie on me take;
Regard my dolorous woo marcyfully with your eye,
Howe for myn offences most mekely here I dye:
Marcy, noble prynce, I crave for myn offence;
The sharped sword hathe made my recompence.
Farewell the pieussant prynce, flower of all regally,
Farewell most pityfull, and pitie on me take;
Regard my dolorous woo marcyfully with your eye,
Howe for myn offences most mekely here I dye:
Marcy, noble prynce, I crave for myn offence;
The sharped sword hathe made my recompence.
47
TH'AUCTOR G. C.
Fynyshyng hir dole and woful complaynt,
Concludyng the same with a sorrowfull conclusion,
My hart lamentid by carefull constraynt,
To se fortune conceyve such an occasion,
A quene to overthrow from hir royal mancion;
Havying no respect for hir highe renown,
But from hir estate thus cruelly to throwe down.
Concludyng the same with a sorrowfull conclusion,
My hart lamentid by carefull constraynt,
To se fortune conceyve such an occasion,
A quene to overthrow from hir royal mancion;
Havying no respect for hir highe renown,
But from hir estate thus cruelly to throwe down.
Thus beyng astonyed with fortune's mutabilitie,
Who no man favoryth, of hyghe or low estate,
Hir assurance standyth not in any sewer tranquilitie,
But, at a soden blast, she saythe to them chek-mate;
Then hir to resyst, alas! it is to late.
Sytting in this muse, for sorow lakkyng brethe,
A nomber dyd appere that suffred paynes of dethe.
Who no man favoryth, of hyghe or low estate,
Hir assurance standyth not in any sewer tranquilitie,
But, at a soden blast, she saythe to them chek-mate;
Then hir to resyst, alas! it is to late.
Sytting in this muse, for sorow lakkyng brethe,
A nomber dyd appere that suffred paynes of dethe.
48
MORS DIVERS. PERSONARUM.
Of parsons lamentable, whome fortune did forsake,
And left them in daynger of deathe and worldly shame,
Whom she before encoraged boldly to undertake,
As traytors, to rebell, deservyng that fowle name;
Ther fame detestable, blowen abrode by fame:
And for as myche as ther offences ware not all of oon effecte,
I leave, therefore, the circumstance, ther name to you detecte.
And left them in daynger of deathe and worldly shame,
Whom she before encoraged boldly to undertake,
As traytors, to rebell, deservyng that fowle name;
Ther fame detestable, blowen abrode by fame:
And for as myche as ther offences ware not all of oon effecte,
I leave, therefore, the circumstance, ther name to you detecte.
First I will ther names playn to you resite,
Kepyng non order, but as they come to mynd:
As Lord Hussy, Lord Darcy, and Constable the Knight;
Lord Hungerford also, that wrought ayenst kynd;
And Lord Leonard Grey, accused, as I fynd,
Wrongfully, in Ireland, even of very spight:
God send his accusers as they deserved of right.
Kepyng non order, but as they come to mynd:
As Lord Hussy, Lord Darcy, and Constable the Knight;
49
And Lord Leonard Grey, accused, as I fynd,
Wrongfully, in Ireland, even of very spight:
God send his accusers as they deserved of right.
Aske of the Northe, ther captayn onkouthe;
Bygott and Bulmer, Percy and Nevell,
Lumly the yong, Lord Dacre of the Southe;
And Tempest also, that haynous rebell;
Fortescue, Dyngley, Roydon, Frouds, and Mantell;
Also Carowe and Moore, thank nights bothe twayne;
For ther offences whom justice hathe slayn.
Bygott and Bulmer, Percy and Nevell,
Lumly the yong, Lord Dacre of the Southe;
50
Fortescue, Dyngley, Roydon, Frouds, and Mantell;
Also Carowe and Moore, thank nights bothe twayne;
For ther offences whom justice hathe slayn.
Many moo ther ware that stode in a rowte,
Of priests and prelates, a byshop them among,
For old customes that than ware sought out;
With weepyng and waylyng they tewned ther song,
For certyn abuses sayd they used long:
To tell you ther names, I cannot at this season,
But let them alone, defamed with treason.
Of priests and prelates, a byshop them among,
For old customes that than ware sought out;
With weepyng and waylyng they tewned ther song,
For certyn abuses sayd they used long:
To tell you ther names, I cannot at this season,
But let them alone, defamed with treason.
51
THE AUCTOR G. C.
Another there was, of whome I neds must tell:Cromwell; all men hyme knewe as well as I:
Which in my mynd all others dyd excell
In extort power and insacyat tyrannye.
First advanced to be the kyng's secretarye,
And next set uppe on the toppe of the whele,
Made Erle of Essex and Lord privye seale.
CROMWELL, ERLE OF ESSEX.
Than began he to speke: Such was myn adventure
To be placed, quod he, in hyghe dignytie,
Wenyng my authoritie ever to endure,
And never to be trobled with non adversitie;
But, I perceyve, with royal egles a kight may not flie;
Allthoughe a jay may chatter in a golden cage,
Yet will the eagles disdayne hys parentage.
To be placed, quod he, in hyghe dignytie,
52
And never to be trobled with non adversitie;
But, I perceyve, with royal egles a kight may not flie;
Allthoughe a jay may chatter in a golden cage,
Yet will the eagles disdayne hys parentage.
I rayned and ruled in hyghe estimacion,
From office to office assendyng the degrees;
First in the privye councell was my foundacion,
And cheife secretary with all vantages and fees:
Than folowed me sewters like a swarme of bees.
Thus began fortune on me for to smyle;
I trusted hir so myche that she dyd me begyle.
From office to office assendyng the degrees;
First in the privye councell was my foundacion,
And cheife secretary with all vantages and fees:
Than folowed me sewters like a swarme of bees.
Thus began fortune on me for to smyle;
I trusted hir so myche that she dyd me begyle.
53
The title of vice-gerent I had in my style,
Governor of the prelacye and of the lawes devyne;
Also master of the rolls I was, in short while;
Thus began my glory to florish and to shyne,
As thoughe fortune wold hir whele to me resigne:
Unto the state of baron she did me than advaunce,
And next to an erle: thus was fortune's chaunce.
Governor of the prelacye and of the lawes devyne;
Also master of the rolls I was, in short while;
Thus began my glory to florish and to shyne,
As thoughe fortune wold hir whele to me resigne:
Unto the state of baron she did me than advaunce,
And next to an erle: thus was fortune's chaunce.
In this hyghe estate I myght not long endure,
Fortune did so chaynge hir favorable chere;
She slipte away all sodenly as it hathe byn her ure,
Hir covert countenance dyd than to me appere;
I trusted hir to myche, I bought hir trust to dere;
She promysed me so fayer, that I could not beware
Of hir disceytfull bayte, till I was in hir snare.
Fortune did so chaynge hir favorable chere;
She slipte away all sodenly as it hathe byn her ure,
Hir covert countenance dyd than to me appere;
I trusted hir to myche, I bought hir trust to dere;
She promysed me so fayer, that I could not beware
Of hir disceytfull bayte, till I was in hir snare.
To Aman the Agagite I may be compared,
That invented lawes God's people to confound;
And for Mardocheus a galhowsse he prepared,
To hang him theron, if he myght be found,
Which he erected fyvetye cubytts from the ground,
Wheron Mardocheus to hang was all his trust,
Yet was hymself hanged on theme first.
That invented lawes God's people to confound;
And for Mardocheus a galhowsse he prepared,
To hang him theron, if he myght be found,
Which he erected fyvetye cubytts from the ground,
Wheron Mardocheus to hang was all his trust,
Yet was hymself hanged on theme first.
54
So wrought I, alas! with the lawes of this realme,
Devised a law ayenst the accused,
Condempnyng without answere, or he could understand
The ground of his offence, it myght not be refused;
Thus straytly the lawes my subtill wytt abused:
Therfor, oon of the first, I ame tastyng on the payn;
Such measure I measured is measured me again.
Devised a law ayenst the accused,
Condempnyng without answere, or he could understand
The ground of his offence, it myght not be refused;
Thus straytly the lawes my subtill wytt abused:
Therfor, oon of the first, I ame tastyng on the payn;
Such measure I measured is measured me again.
I may therfore conclude, experience hath me taught
All is but vayn that man doth here invent;
Ther worldly wytt God bryngyth oft to naught,
And with ther workes he is not well content.
Behold my deads, than may you se it evydent,
That for my presumption, wanting Goddis grace,
My lyfe consumed is within a short space.
All is but vayn that man doth here invent;
Ther worldly wytt God bryngyth oft to naught,
And with ther workes he is not well content.
Behold my deads, than may you se it evydent,
That for my presumption, wanting Goddis grace,
My lyfe consumed is within a short space.
This is thend of my complaynt, I must therfor depart;
Farewell, my frends! farewell, my foos all;
Take of me ensample and plant it in your hart,
That suche lyke fortune may geve you a lyke fall;
Consider well, therfor, that here ye be mortall:
All thyng hath an end, whye do ye honors crave?
Whan ye shall, as I ame, be covered with your grave.
Farewell, my frends! farewell, my foos all;
Take of me ensample and plant it in your hart,
That suche lyke fortune may geve you a lyke fall;
Consider well, therfor, that here ye be mortall:
All thyng hath an end, whye do ye honors crave?
Whan ye shall, as I ame, be covered with your grave.
55
TH'AUCTOR G. C.
Thys late Lord Cromwell may warne you all
That foremost ride aloft in the chayer,
Not to trust to fortune, that tomblethe as a ball,
For chaunces uncerteyn, that often fall onware;
To God, se first, your harts ye prepare;
And next after that, in all your doyng,
Observe your faythe and allegyaunce to the kyng.
That foremost ride aloft in the chayer,
Not to trust to fortune, that tomblethe as a ball,
For chaunces uncerteyn, that often fall onware;
To God, se first, your harts ye prepare;
And next after that, in all your doyng,
Observe your faythe and allegyaunce to the kyng.
Pawsyng a while, reformyng of my penne,
For dulled with writyng and feobled was my brayn;
Thus sitting in a muse, I saw too noble men
Present byfore me redy to complayn;
Desiryng me bothe to take on me the payn,
Ther fall to remember, dissended of oon race;
Whome to behold it was a pityous case.
For dulled with writyng and feobled was my brayn;
Thus sitting in a muse, I saw too noble men
Present byfore me redy to complayn;
Desiryng me bothe to take on me the payn,
Ther fall to remember, dissended of oon race;
Whome to behold it was a pityous case.
56
MARKES OF EXETER. LORD MONTAGU
What gretter prerogatyfe, quod they, have we
Of our lyves, or stand in more sykkernes,
Allthough of the lyne imperiall dissendyd we be,
Than hathe the mean sort of fortune's fykkilnes?
If she list to swerve, than is it remedylesse:
We must fortune abyde and suffer all with pacience,
For hyr to resist ther botythe no violence.
Of our lyves, or stand in more sykkernes,
Allthough of the lyne imperiall dissendyd we be,
57
If she list to swerve, than is it remedylesse:
We must fortune abyde and suffer all with pacience,
For hyr to resist ther botythe no violence.
I was, quod thoon, a marquis, of late creacion,
Called of Exeter, and lynyally dissended
To the Erledom of Devonshyre by dewe generation;
Alas! all this have I lost; it cannot be amendyd,
For we are accused of purpose pretended,
Our soverayn to offend in such an offence
As nothyng but our heds can make therfore recompence.
Called of Exeter, and lynyally dissended
To the Erledom of Devonshyre by dewe generation;
Alas! all this have I lost; it cannot be amendyd,
For we are accused of purpose pretended,
Our soverayn to offend in such an offence
As nothyng but our heds can make therfore recompence.
That is trewe, quod the other, I must it neds confesse,
For I have felt the smart, whom ye know full well,
Sometyme Lord Montague, and now in great distresse;
Such is my chaunce, I can it not refell,
But with my cosyn here I suffer every dell
Of fortunes lott, and take it in good part,
Gevyng God thanks, therfore, with all my hart.
For I have felt the smart, whom ye know full well,
Sometyme Lord Montague, and now in great distresse;
Such is my chaunce, I can it not refell,
But with my cosyn here I suffer every dell
Of fortunes lott, and take it in good part,
Gevyng God thanks, therfore, with all my hart.
The blast of our cryme is greater shame
Than is the losse of all our brittel glory,
That we, alas! shold bere the slaunderous name
Of traytors falce in any boke or storye:
What is he of our bloode that wold not be sory
To here our names with vile fame so detected,
Wherewith our posteritie shall always be suspected?
Than is the losse of all our brittel glory,
That we, alas! shold bere the slaunderous name
58
What is he of our bloode that wold not be sory
To here our names with vile fame so detected,
Wherewith our posteritie shall always be suspected?
What cause shold we have to be onkynd
Unto our soverayn lord, of hygh magnyficence?
Which, with his regal benyfitts did us hyghly bynd,
To bere to hyme our love and dewe obedyence;
Wherof all the world had intelligence,
That we, of all other, bothe of bloode and otherwyse,
Had least cause his magestie to dispise.
Unto our soverayn lord, of hygh magnyficence?
Which, with his regal benyfitts did us hyghly bynd,
To bere to hyme our love and dewe obedyence;
Wherof all the world had intelligence,
That we, of all other, bothe of bloode and otherwyse,
Had least cause his magestie to dispise.
But the evyll spyrytt, that of canckard malygnytie,
Malygned our honor and hyghe renowne,
Disdayned our blood and auncyent dignytie;
Intendyng our overthrowe and to bryng us down,
Accused us of conspiracie agenst the royal crown:
Whos falce accusations ware than regardyd more
Than ever was our trouthe, used alwayes byfore.
Malygned our honor and hyghe renowne,
Disdayned our blood and auncyent dignytie;
59
Accused us of conspiracie agenst the royal crown:
Whos falce accusations ware than regardyd more
Than ever was our trouthe, used alwayes byfore.
Accused by hyme that shold rather excuse,
And defend our truthes with all his trewe endevor;
Oh, howe onkyndly did he us abuse!
The fact onnatural purged will be never,
But allwayes fresh, continuyng still for ever;
Who ayenst nature condempned hathe his brother
To cruel death, so hathe he done his mother.
And defend our truthes with all his trewe endevor;
Oh, howe onkyndly did he us abuse!
The fact onnatural purged will be never,
But allwayes fresh, continuyng still for ever;
Who ayenst nature condempned hathe his brother
To cruel death, so hathe he done his mother.
To the great slaunder and blott of his name,
His credytt is lost, and so is his estymacion,
And he confused; alas! he was to blame,
Hymselfe to overthrowe, and all his generation,
Ayenst God nowe, how can he make purgation,
That so agaynst nature onnaturally hath wrought,
Destroyeng all his blood and brought hymself to nought?
His credytt is lost, and so is his estymacion,
And he confused; alas! he was to blame,
Hymselfe to overthrowe, and all his generation,
Ayenst God nowe, how can he make purgation,
That so agaynst nature onnaturally hath wrought,
Destroyeng all his blood and brought hymself to nought?
Cruel accuser! thy malice was too strong,
Our fall to conspire by falshod brought abought;
Ayenst all nature thou hast done us great wrong,
Therfore from shame we put the out of dought:
Thou shalt never escape, it is so ferre blowen owt;
For of all kynd of vice, shortly to conclude,
The worst ayenst God is ingratitude.
Our fall to conspire by falshod brought abought;
Ayenst all nature thou hast done us great wrong,
60
Thou shalt never escape, it is so ferre blowen owt;
For of all kynd of vice, shortly to conclude,
The worst ayenst God is ingratitude.
Though thy necligence bryngythe us to this end,
Yet, that thou mayst have therof remembraunce,
We God humbly beseeche such grace to send
That thou mayst repent or he on the take vengeaunce
For thy great ingratitude: take this for thy penaunce:
Alwayes in thy hart call to thy memory
That by thy oonly meane hedles here we lye.
Yet, that thou mayst have therof remembraunce,
We God humbly beseeche such grace to send
That thou mayst repent or he on the take vengeaunce
For thy great ingratitude: take this for thy penaunce:
Alwayes in thy hart call to thy memory
That by thy oonly meane hedles here we lye.
61
L'ENVOY DE L'AUCTOR G. C.
Since fortune sparith non of hyghe lynnage,
All men, therfore, be ye not rechelesse,
Prewdently to forsee the daynger of this pilgrimage;
Syth fortune waytithe onwarely you to oppresse,
Be circumspect and advise you in all your busynes,
And with vertewe ay pursue your noble pieussaunce,
Byfore fortune extendyth hir cruel vengeaunce.
All men, therfore, be ye not rechelesse,
Prewdently to forsee the daynger of this pilgrimage;
Syth fortune waytithe onwarely you to oppresse,
Be circumspect and advise you in all your busynes,
And with vertewe ay pursue your noble pieussaunce,
Byfore fortune extendyth hir cruel vengeaunce.
For it is not your estates fortune can defend,
Your diligent travel or noble behavour,
Whan flykkeryng fortune doth hirself entend
To cast you out of your prynces favour;
For if a prynce hath caught a deadly savour
Of indygnacion, farewell all treuthe and noblenes;
To the blokke ye must, it is remedyles.
Your diligent travel or noble behavour,
Whan flykkeryng fortune doth hirself entend
To cast you out of your prynces favour;
For if a prynce hath caught a deadly savour
Of indygnacion, farewell all treuthe and noblenes;
To the blokke ye must, it is remedyles.
62
There is no consideration with prynces in ther ire,
And most in especyall ayenst an hyghe estate;
For where dread and dysdayn hath set the hart on fier
Of a wilfull prynce, with mercy not socyatt;
Also where pitie and clemency cannot his ire abate,
There you, myghty peers, must take fortunes chaunce,
To trype on the trace as some hath led the daunce.
And most in especyall ayenst an hyghe estate;
For where dread and dysdayn hath set the hart on fier
Of a wilfull prynce, with mercy not socyatt;
Also where pitie and clemency cannot his ire abate,
There you, myghty peers, must take fortunes chaunce,
To trype on the trace as some hath led the daunce.
To be a lord of royall bloode and dygnytie,
Sometymes, ye se, doth but small avaylle;
For better it ware to be of basse and low degree
Than in suche honor for a while to prevaylle;
A ragyng wynd may torne your brittel sayle,
And dryve you bake agayn, and rove you on some rocke,
Where your noble pates may happe to catche a knock.
Sometymes, ye se, doth but small avaylle;
For better it ware to be of basse and low degree
Than in suche honor for a while to prevaylle;
A ragyng wynd may torne your brittel sayle,
And dryve you bake agayn, and rove you on some rocke,
Where your noble pates may happe to catche a knock.
63
TH'AUCTOR G. C.
Therfor thou, salved smart, for aye shallt be sore,
The great losse most worthy to be playned,
The onware chaunce that passed but of yore,
Wherof the greaffe so depe in me is grayned
That from myn eyen the teares skantly be refrayned
For the great dekay that still comyth me toward,
Of the late quene, whos name was Katheren Howard.
The great losse most worthy to be playned,
The onware chaunce that passed but of yore,
Wherof the greaffe so depe in me is grayned
That from myn eyen the teares skantly be refrayned
For the great dekay that still comyth me toward,
Of the late quene, whos name was Katheren Howard.
Thus as I sat, the teares in myn eyen,
Of hir the wrake whiles I did debate,
Byfore my face me thought I sawe this quene;
No wytt as I hir laft, God wott, of late,
But all bewepte, in blake and poore estate;
Which prayed me that I ne wold forget
The fall of hir within my boke to set.
Of hir the wrake whiles I did debate,
Byfore my face me thought I sawe this quene;
No wytt as I hir laft, God wott, of late,
But all bewepte, in blake and poore estate;
Which prayed me that I ne wold forget
The fall of hir within my boke to set.
64
QUENE KATHEREN, CALLED KATHEREN HOWARD
O cruel Destiny, (quod she) O Fortune insacyable,
O waveryng world, rollyng lyke a ball!
You are so wayward and so onstable
That never any assuraunce can be in you at all;
To all estates you are ennemyes mortall:
Who list of you to have experyence,
My fall may geve them intelligence.
O waveryng world, rollyng lyke a ball!
You are so wayward and so onstable
That never any assuraunce can be in you at all;
To all estates you are ennemyes mortall:
Who list of you to have experyence,
My fall may geve them intelligence.
To be a quene fortune dyd me preferre,
Floryshyng in youthe with beawtie freshe and pure;
Whome nature made shyne equall with the sterre,
And to reynge in felicitie with joy and pleasure,
Wantyng no thyng that love myght procure;
So hyghly beloved, farre beyond the rest,
With my soverayn lord who lodged in his nest.
Floryshyng in youthe with beawtie freshe and pure;
Whome nature made shyne equall with the sterre,
And to reynge in felicitie with joy and pleasure,
Wantyng no thyng that love myght procure;
So hyghly beloved, farre beyond the rest,
With my soverayn lord who lodged in his nest.
65
But well away, how dredfull is the joyell
Of brittel beautie, that grace doth not concerve;
Yf dread of shame do not attend it well,
How lyke is lust to make them for to swerve,
With wanton provokyng, whan reason dothe not preserve
From onleafull licence, which causithe youth, parde,
To breke the fetters of fame and chastitie.
Of brittel beautie, that grace doth not concerve;
Yf dread of shame do not attend it well,
How lyke is lust to make them for to swerve,
With wanton provokyng, whan reason dothe not preserve
From onleafull licence, which causithe youth, parde,
To breke the fetters of fame and chastitie.
O tender youthe, frayle for to resist
The wanton appetites of carnal delight;
Whan love with lust dothe in youth consist,
Than hard for youthe ayenst vice to fight:
For youthe is blynd and hath no sight,
The trade to consider of honest wyfehod,
Till shame hath beten them with hir rode.
The wanton appetites of carnal delight;
Whan love with lust dothe in youth consist,
Than hard for youthe ayenst vice to fight:
For youthe is blynd and hath no sight,
The trade to consider of honest wyfehod,
Till shame hath beten them with hir rode.
Alas! dame nature, who hathe in every vayn
Endewed me with gyfts, as to hir partie she thought mete:
Beautie, alas! also thou givest me cause to playn!
Why floryshest thou my youthe with thy licoure sweete,
Excellyng all other, from toppe unto the feete?
My blazing beautie is greatly to reprefe,
Chefe cause and ground of all my myschefe.
Endewed me with gyfts, as to hir partie she thought mete:
Beautie, alas! also thou givest me cause to playn!
66
Excellyng all other, from toppe unto the feete?
My blazing beautie is greatly to reprefe,
Chefe cause and ground of all my myschefe.
Who wyshethe beautie or wanton youth desier,
They covet that thyng they shold no wyse do so:
The brond I now repent that late was set on fier
Within my brest, which workythe me all this woo;
What daynger in Cupid's fier I playnly now do knowe:
Beware all ye, therfore, that nature hath you lent
Lyke graces, use them well, lest after ye repent.
They covet that thyng they shold no wyse do so:
The brond I now repent that late was set on fier
Within my brest, which workythe me all this woo;
What daynger in Cupid's fier I playnly now do knowe:
Beware all ye, therfore, that nature hath you lent
Lyke graces, use them well, lest after ye repent.
Culpeper yong, and I, God wott, but fraylle,
We bothe to feeble our lusts for to resist;
Whan shamefastnes in me began to faylle
Of chastitie, than did I breake the twyst
With Dereham first, that my maydenhed possyst;
Deathe was ther mede, I with shame defaced:
Who shamely dothe, of long will not be raced.
We bothe to feeble our lusts for to resist;
Whan shamefastnes in me began to faylle
Of chastitie, than did I breake the twyst
With Dereham first, that my maydenhed possyst;
Deathe was ther mede, I with shame defaced:
Who shamely dothe, of long will not be raced.
67
O vessell of vice! O thou frayle youthe!
In whom no vertue can take roote,
Onles that grace have on the rewthe,
To plant in the some vertue sote,
Vice to resist there can be no boote:
Where grace wantithe, and hath of youth no cure,
There vertue in youth hath seldom byn in ure.
In whom no vertue can take roote,
Onles that grace have on the rewthe,
To plant in the some vertue sote,
Vice to resist there can be no boote:
Where grace wantithe, and hath of youth no cure,
There vertue in youth hath seldom byn in ure.
Nowe I knowe well (quod she), among my frends all
That here I last the day of my dekaye,
That I ne gett no pompes funerall,
Nor of my blake no man my charge shall paye,
Save that some oon perchance may happe to say,
Suche oon there was, alas! and that was rewthe,
That she hirself distayned with such ontrewthe.
That here I last the day of my dekaye,
That I ne gett no pompes funerall,
Nor of my blake no man my charge shall paye,
Save that some oon perchance may happe to say,
Suche oon there was, alas! and that was rewthe,
That she hirself distayned with such ontrewthe.
Farewell, my bretherne and frends all arowe!
For all your harmes I oonly ame to blame
That thus have fallen, as all men knowe,
To your dekay and my great shame,
Though I ame well worthy of the same;
Yet pray ye to God, allthoughe that I have swerved,
That my sowle may have better than my body deserved.
For all your harmes I oonly ame to blame
That thus have fallen, as all men knowe,
68
Though I ame well worthy of the same;
Yet pray ye to God, allthoughe that I have swerved,
That my sowle may have better than my body deserved.
EPITAPH.
By prove of me, non can denyeThat beautie and lust, ennemyes to chastitie,
Have been the tweyn that hathe dekayed me,
And hathe broughte me to this end ontoward;
Some tyme a queen, and now hedlesse Howard.
CULPEPER.
And I, Culpeper, alas! born in Kent,
Admyttyd, from a boy, to be the kyng's page,
Prowde out of measure, which I may repent,
Drowned in the depthe of myn own outrage,
Over myche wenyng put God out of knowlege;
For by myne abusion of pride and viciousnes,
My lyfe is ended with shame and wredchednes.
Admyttyd, from a boy, to be the kyng's page,
Prowde out of measure, which I may repent,
69
Over myche wenyng put God out of knowlege;
For by myne abusion of pride and viciousnes,
My lyfe is ended with shame and wredchednes.
Take example of me, I desire you, yong men all,
That rageth in youthe and tradyth the courtly lyfe,
All is but vanytie, your lives be but bestiall;
Bytween will and deade let virtue breake the stryffe,
And suffer vice to asswage, which hath in you prerogatife:
So contynewe ye may to live in your degree;
For if ye followe vice, dought it woll not be.
That rageth in youthe and tradyth the courtly lyfe,
All is but vanytie, your lives be but bestiall;
Bytween will and deade let virtue breake the stryffe,
And suffer vice to asswage, which hath in you prerogatife:
So contynewe ye may to live in your degree;
For if ye followe vice, dought it woll not be.
I folowed my pleasure, of God I had no feare,
Thynkyng myself but idell; and my labour vayn spent
In dyvyn servyce, the tyme that I was there;
For my devocion and my hole entent
Was gevyn to pleasure, such as I did invent:
Nowe I repent, therefore, my necligence to God,
Who hathe me corrected with his dyvyn rod.
Thynkyng myself but idell; and my labour vayn spent
In dyvyn servyce, the tyme that I was there;
For my devocion and my hole entent
Was gevyn to pleasure, such as I did invent:
Nowe I repent, therefore, my necligence to God,
Who hathe me corrected with his dyvyn rod.
70
Besechyng you, my frends, whom I have left behind,
To pray that Lord, whom I most have offended,
That he of his mercy wyll to me be kynd;
For now to late, my lyfe to be amended,
Wherefore, mercy, good Lord, that for me dissendyd
To shed his precious blood, hangyng on a tree;
Nowe yet, mercy, good Lord, I hartely byseche thee.
To pray that Lord, whom I most have offended,
That he of his mercy wyll to me be kynd;
For now to late, my lyfe to be amended,
Wherefore, mercy, good Lord, that for me dissendyd
To shed his precious blood, hangyng on a tree;
Nowe yet, mercy, good Lord, I hartely byseche thee.
71
TH'AUCTOR G. C.
As I drewe towards thend of my boke,Purposyng to fynyshe that I had begon,
By chaunce, asyde, as I cast my loke,
I aspied a wydowe in blake full woo begon
[OMITTED]
That I wold hir a place here afford,
Whom I oons knew, Jane, Vicountess Rocheford.
VISCOUNTESS ROCHEFORD.
My grave father (quod she) of the Morlas lynne,
My mother of the St. John's; this was my parentage:
And I, alas! that dyd myself inclyne
To spot them all by this my owltrage,
Brought uppe in the court all my yong age,
Withouten bridell of honest measure,
Folowing my lust and filthy pleasure.
My mother of the St. John's; this was my parentage:
And I, alas! that dyd myself inclyne
To spot them all by this my owltrage,
Brought uppe in the court all my yong age,
Withouten bridell of honest measure,
Folowing my lust and filthy pleasure.
72
Without respect of any wyfely truthe,
Dredles of God, from grace also exempte,
Viciously consumyng the tyme of thys my youth;
And when my beautie began to be shent;
Not with myn owne harme sufficed or content,
Contrary to God, I must it nedes confesse,
Other I entised by ensample of my wredchednes.
Dredles of God, from grace also exempte,
Viciously consumyng the tyme of thys my youth;
And when my beautie began to be shent;
Not with myn owne harme sufficed or content,
Contrary to God, I must it nedes confesse,
Other I entised by ensample of my wredchednes.
73
Of right me thynkith I ought to be a glass
To all the rest of great estates; and dames
Seyng me nowe, considering what I was,
Without any blott, to kepe their honest names:
Seyng that vice ne endyth without flames;
And thoughe that shame may be wayled all day,
Thereof the blott will not be washt away.
To all the rest of great estates; and dames
Seyng me nowe, considering what I was,
Without any blott, to kepe their honest names:
Seyng that vice ne endyth without flames;
And thoughe that shame may be wayled all day,
Thereof the blott will not be washt away.
Howe bright among us yet dothe shyne the starre
Of them that ride within the chayer of Fame,
Above all things, which only did preferre
The brewte to kepe of their onbroken name;
As auctors right well dothe testifie the same
Ayenst such vices that wan the victory,
And beare the palme to their eternall glory.
Of them that ride within the chayer of Fame,
Above all things, which only did preferre
The brewte to kepe of their onbroken name;
As auctors right well dothe testifie the same
Ayenst such vices that wan the victory,
And beare the palme to their eternall glory.
As vertuous Sara, Rebecca, and Racell,
Judyth, Hester, and chast Pennelopie,
And Cornelia, that onbroken kept the shell,
And bare the lampe of onquenched chastitie,
Fleeyng excesse or superfluitie,
Where carnall lust for all his violence
Ne made them breke chastitie or obedyence.
Judyth, Hester, and chast Pennelopie,
And Cornelia, that onbroken kept the shell,
And bare the lampe of onquenched chastitie,
Fleeyng excesse or superfluitie,
Where carnall lust for all his violence
Ne made them breke chastitie or obedyence.
74
Where sturdy Silla, to nature contrarious,
Enforced by lust hir father's heare to pull;
With Cleopatra, concubyn to Anthonyous,
With vicious Pasiphæ that deled with the Bull;
And Messalyne, insacyatt, that never was full:
But ever thes wretches, vicious and discommendable
To God and nature, they lived abhominable.
Enforced by lust hir father's heare to pull;
With Cleopatra, concubyn to Anthonyous,
With vicious Pasiphæ that deled with the Bull;
And Messalyne, insacyatt, that never was full:
But ever thes wretches, vicious and discommendable
To God and nature, they lived abhominable.
Wold to God that I, in my flowryng age,
Whan I did trade the courtly life,
Had fostered byn in a symple village,
Beryng the name of an honest and chast wyfe;
Where now my slaunder for ever shall be ryfe
In every matter, both early and late,
Called the woman of vice insaciatt.
Whan I did trade the courtly life,
Had fostered byn in a symple village,
Beryng the name of an honest and chast wyfe;
Where now my slaunder for ever shall be ryfe
In every matter, both early and late,
Called the woman of vice insaciatt.
The tyme is past, and I have now receyved
The dewe dett of my onjust desiers,
Prayeng to God my fall may be conceyved
Within their harts that burn in vicious fiers;
The just God, as right allwayes requires,
That hathe me punyshed for my mysgovernaunce,
Ne take of me a greater vengeaunce.
The dewe dett of my onjust desiers,
Prayeng to God my fall may be conceyved
Within their harts that burn in vicious fiers;
The just God, as right allwayes requires,
That hathe me punyshed for my mysgovernaunce,
Ne take of me a greater vengeaunce.
75
TH'AUCTOR G. C.
Endynge thus hir playnt, another was commyng,
Of corage impotent, and depe worne in age;
Whos pitious dekay, if that I had connyng,
I wold expresse hir grevous dammage;
Althoughe she ware a lady of excellent parentage,
Of the bloode royal lynyally dissendyd,
Yet by cruel fortune at myschefe she ended.
Of corage impotent, and depe worne in age;
Whos pitious dekay, if that I had connyng,
I wold expresse hir grevous dammage;
Althoughe she ware a lady of excellent parentage,
Of the bloode royal lynyally dissendyd,
Yet by cruel fortune at myschefe she ended.
For Fortune, ye know, regardyth non estate;
All estates to hir is oon whan that she list to frown:
Wherefore, ye nobles, beware hir cruel hate;
Non hath more nede than ye of grett renown;
For whan ye are most hyghest then doth she throwe you down,
And tomblyth you hedles from your hygh stages,
Who will not be retayned with now ther fees or wages.
All estates to hir is oon whan that she list to frown:
Wherefore, ye nobles, beware hir cruel hate;
Non hath more nede than ye of grett renown;
For whan ye are most hyghest then doth she throwe you down,
And tomblyth you hedles from your hygh stages,
Who will not be retayned with now ther fees or wages.
76
COUNTESS OF SALISBURY
Thys matron hir playnt began in this wyse:
Alas, (quod she) age hath no more assuraunce
Of Fortune's sewertie, whom she dothe dispise,
Than hathe lusty youthe; all hangyth in hir balaunce,
Disposyng as she will to favor or to myschaunce;
Which I have felt, as well thoon as the other,
Although I was the daughter of a kyng's brother.
Alas, (quod she) age hath no more assuraunce
Of Fortune's sewertie, whom she dothe dispise,
Than hathe lusty youthe; all hangyth in hir balaunce,
Disposyng as she will to favor or to myschaunce;
77
Although I was the daughter of a kyng's brother.
My father, a Duke, of Clarence was his style,
And brother of Kyng Edward, the IVth of that name,
Who was condempned also, alas, alas, the whyle!
By subtill accusacion, and he nothyng to blame
For a prophane prophesye, of whom than ran the fame;
Condempned therefor to dye, and drownd in a butt of wyne:
Thus by cruel Fortune brought he was to rewyn.
And brother of Kyng Edward, the IVth of that name,
Who was condempned also, alas, alas, the whyle!
By subtill accusacion, and he nothyng to blame
For a prophane prophesye, of whom than ran the fame;
Condempned therefor to dye, and drownd in a butt of wyne:
Thus by cruel Fortune brought he was to rewyn.
A brother than I had, who also was his heyer,
Yong and tender, and I, God wott, not old,
Laft in the hands of worldly dispayer,
Whos lyfe thorough daynger was both bought and sold;
And so I here remayned in sorrows manyfolde,
Untill my sovereyn lord of his royal clemencye
Restored me againe to the Erledome of Salesbury.
Yong and tender, and I, God wott, not old,
Laft in the hands of worldly dispayer,
Whos lyfe thorough daynger was both bought and sold;
And so I here remayned in sorrows manyfolde,
Untill my sovereyn lord of his royal clemencye
Restored me againe to the Erledome of Salesbury.
Ledynge thus my lyfe accordyng to myn estate
I was the more estemed for my grave demeanor,
I banysshed allwayes the cause of ryott and debate
Owt of my hall, my chamber, and my bower.
With whome I had non acquaintance day ne hower;
So that my soverayn, for my sad disposicyon,
Assigned me the governaunce and prudent direccion
I was the more estemed for my grave demeanor,
I banysshed allwayes the cause of ryott and debate
Owt of my hall, my chamber, and my bower.
78
So that my soverayn, for my sad disposicyon,
Assigned me the governaunce and prudent direccion
Of his oonly doughter, than prynces of this land,
Of femynyn vertues the very soverayn flower;
The cuer than of whom I gladlie toke in hand
To governe and rewle as lady governour
Of that swete lady; I dyd my best endevoure,
For whome God I did beseche and pray
That he wold preserve hir long and many a day.
Of femynyn vertues the very soverayn flower;
The cuer than of whom I gladlie toke in hand
To governe and rewle as lady governour
Of that swete lady; I dyd my best endevoure,
For whome God I did beseche and pray
That he wold preserve hir long and many a day.
Thus passed I my lyfe, not wyllyng to offend,
But did myself employ, with all my dyligence,
That which was amyse, to se it well amend,
In all thes my places wherof I had premynence:
In mynestryng of justice I never used vyolence,
But with pacyence and charitie asswaged my affeccion,
Beryng in my hart no malice after correction.
But did myself employ, with all my dyligence,
That which was amyse, to se it well amend,
In all thes my places wherof I had premynence:
In mynestryng of justice I never used vyolence,
But with pacyence and charitie asswaged my affeccion,
Beryng in my hart no malice after correction.
Yet at the last, for all my sober lyfe,
The chaunce of fortune I cowld no wyse resist,
Whos crueltie myn honor cruellie did depryfe,
And gave me an overthrowe or ever I it wyst;
With a frownyng countenance she stroke at me hir fyst,
As thoughe she had sayd, in words expresse,
Thou shalt not escape this hand of cruelnes.
The chaunce of fortune I cowld no wyse resist,
79
And gave me an overthrowe or ever I it wyst;
With a frownyng countenance she stroke at me hir fyst,
As thoughe she had sayd, in words expresse,
Thou shalt not escape this hand of cruelnes.
I saw no remedy; for deathe with his mace
Gave me chek-mate, led to execucion;
Ther boted no excuse I could fynd, no grace,
I was condempned without examynacion:
Of the Plantagynetts last of that generation,
Which bare that name of old and noble fame,
Some tyme esteemed, and nowe in worldly shame.
Gave me chek-mate, led to execucion;
Ther boted no excuse I could fynd, no grace,
I was condempned without examynacion:
Of the Plantagynetts last of that generation,
Which bare that name of old and noble fame,
Some tyme esteemed, and nowe in worldly shame.
O ye matrons that be of noble race,
A myrror make of me, trust not your estate;
Beware of Fortune with hir dissembled face,
Allthoughe she smyle, as she did on me but late,
With face benygn, yet nowe she dothe me hate,
And will no more spare, for all my highe degree;
I warne you all—example take of me.
A myrror make of me, trust not your estate;
Beware of Fortune with hir dissembled face,
Allthoughe she smyle, as she did on me but late,
With face benygn, yet nowe she dothe me hate,
And will no more spare, for all my highe degree;
I warne you all—example take of me.
80
THE EARLE OF SURREY.
What advantage had I to be a duke's heyr,
Endowed with such qualities as few in my tyme,
Lakkyng nothing that nature myght repayr;
In dewe proportion she wrought hathe every lyme,
Assendyng Fortune's whele, made lyke to clyme;
Syttyng in myn abode, supposing to sitt fast,
With a sudeyn tourne she made me dissend as fast.
Endowed with such qualities as few in my tyme,
Lakkyng nothing that nature myght repayr;
In dewe proportion she wrought hathe every lyme,
Assendyng Fortune's whele, made lyke to clyme;
Syttyng in myn abode, supposing to sitt fast,
With a sudeyn tourne she made me dissend as fast.
Who trustith in honor, and settythe all hys lust
In worldly riches, havyng of them aboundance,
Let hyme beware, and take good hede he must
Of subtill fortune, with dissembling countenaunce;
For whan she smylyth than hathe she least assuraunce,
For the flatteryng world dothe often them begyle
Withe suche vayn vanynes: alas! alas! the whyle.
In worldly riches, havyng of them aboundance,
Let hyme beware, and take good hede he must
Of subtill fortune, with dissembling countenaunce;
For whan she smylyth than hathe she least assuraunce,
For the flatteryng world dothe often them begyle
Withe suche vayn vanynes: alas! alas! the whyle.
I have not only myself overthrowen,
But also my father, with heares old and hoore;
Althoughe his acts marsheall be right well knowen,
Yet was myn offence taken so passyng sore
That I nedes must dye, and he in prison for evermore
Shall still remayn, for it will not avaylle
All his great conquests, wherin he did prevaylle.
But also my father, with heares old and hoore;
Althoughe his acts marsheall be right well knowen,
Yet was myn offence taken so passyng sore
That I nedes must dye, and he in prison for evermore
81
All his great conquests, wherin he did prevaylle.
O Julius Cæsar! O thou mighty conquerour!
What myght thy conquests and all thy victorye
The prevayle? that of Rome was emperour,
Whos prowes yet remaynyth in memorye,
Whan Brewtus, Casseus, with falce conspyracye
Ayenst the in the Capitoll did contend,
Than all thy worthynes could the not defend.
What myght thy conquests and all thy victorye
The prevayle? that of Rome was emperour,
Whos prowes yet remaynyth in memorye,
Whan Brewtus, Casseus, with falce conspyracye
Ayenst the in the Capitoll did contend,
Than all thy worthynes could the not defend.
Also Scipio of Affrican, that for the comon wele
Of Rome, the empire, the citie beyng in distresse,
Lykly to be subdewd, than every dele
By Anyball's valyaunt hardynes,
And dyvers noble victoryes, as the history doth express,
That he atchyved to the honor of the town,
Cowld not hym prevayle whan Fortune lyst to frown.
Of Rome, the empire, the citie beyng in distresse,
Lykly to be subdewd, than every dele
By Anyball's valyaunt hardynes,
And dyvers noble victoryes, as the history doth express,
That he atchyved to the honor of the town,
Cowld not hym prevayle whan Fortune lyst to frown.
Thes myghtie champions, thes valyaunt men,
Who for the publyke wele travelled all their lyfe,
Regarded not their ease, nowther where or when,
But most valyauntly with corage intentyfe
Defendyd the wele publyke from all myschyfe;
Yet was ther nobles put in oblyvion,
And by matters conspired brought to confusion.
Who for the publyke wele travelled all their lyfe,
82
But most valyauntly with corage intentyfe
Defendyd the wele publyke from all myschyfe;
Yet was ther nobles put in oblyvion,
And by matters conspired brought to confusion.
Loo the reward, alas, that men shall have
For all ther travells in ther dayes old,
With a small spot ther honor to deprave;
Alas, it causithe full often men's harts to be cold
Whan suche chaunces they do behold,
How for oon offence a thousand conquests valyaunt
Can have no place, ther lyves make warraunt.
For all ther travells in ther dayes old,
With a small spot ther honor to deprave;
Alas, it causithe full often men's harts to be cold
Whan suche chaunces they do behold,
How for oon offence a thousand conquests valyaunt
Can have no place, ther lyves make warraunt.
Therfore, noble father, hold yourself content,
And with your captyfe lyve; be you nothing dysmayd,
For you may see in historys, playn and evident,
That many noble persons, as ye are hath byn dekayed;
The chaunce therfore of fortune nedes must be obeyed,
And perpetual prisonment here shall be your gwerdon,
And dethe for my deserts, without remyse and pardon.
And with your captyfe lyve; be you nothing dysmayd,
For you may see in historys, playn and evident,
That many noble persons, as ye are hath byn dekayed;
The chaunce therfore of fortune nedes must be obeyed,
And perpetual prisonment here shall be your gwerdon,
And dethe for my deserts, without remyse and pardon.
83
For all my knowledge, wisdom, and science,
That God hath me endowed all others to precell,
Gave me here but small preemynence,
All thoughe some ware advaunced in the comon wele
From basse estate, as experience dothe tell,
For suche virtues as vices in me accompted were,
Caused me to be doughted and in great feare.
That God hath me endowed all others to precell,
Gave me here but small preemynence,
All thoughe some ware advaunced in the comon wele
From basse estate, as experience dothe tell,
For suche virtues as vices in me accompted were,
Caused me to be doughted and in great feare.
That thyng which in some deservyth commendation,
And hyghly to be praysed, as virtues comendable,
Beyng esteemed therefore worthy exaltacion,
And to be advanced to dygnyties honorable,
I assure you ware to me nothing profitable;
For suche some tyme as are but vayn and idell
Dysdaynythe all them that owght to rewle the bridell.
And hyghly to be praysed, as virtues comendable,
Beyng esteemed therefore worthy exaltacion,
And to be advanced to dygnyties honorable,
I assure you ware to me nothing profitable;
For suche some tyme as are but vayn and idell
Dysdaynythe all them that owght to rewle the bridell.
Therfore, farewell, my peeres of the noble sect,
Desyryng you all my fall for to behold,
Let it a myrror be, that ye be not infect
Wythe folyshe wytte, wherof be not to bold;
My warnyng to you is more worth than gold:
An old proverbe there is, which trewe is at this day,
The warned is half armed, thus I hard men say.
Desyryng you all my fall for to behold,
Let it a myrror be, that ye be not infect
Wythe folyshe wytte, wherof be not to bold;
My warnyng to you is more worth than gold:
84
The warned is half armed, thus I hard men say.
I thought of no suche shame as now to me is chaunced,
I trusted so my wytt, my power, and myn estate,
Thynkyng more rather highly to be avaunced
Than to be deposed, as I have byn but late;
Be it right or wrong, loo, I have lost my pate:
Ye se thend of many noble estates,
Take a vewe of me, and of some your late mates.
I trusted so my wytt, my power, and myn estate,
Thynkyng more rather highly to be avaunced
Than to be deposed, as I have byn but late;
Be it right or wrong, loo, I have lost my pate:
Ye se thend of many noble estates,
Take a vewe of me, and of some your late mates.
85
TH'AUCTOR, G. C.
With that he vanyshed, I wyst not whether,But away he went, and I was left alone,
Whos words and talke I gathered them together,
And in this sentence rewd wrote them everychone;
Yet was my hart with sorrow full woo begone,
So noble a yong man of wytt and excellence
To be condempned for so small offence.
86
L'ENVOY DE L'AUCTOR.
But nowe behold the busynes that some hathe to overthrowe,
Some suche which after could hurt them but a small,
Mark them well, how they folowe on a rowe,
Stumblyng at the bloke; they doughted not at all
But as they measure—that same to them shall falle,
Thexperience is seen dayly byfore ther eyes,
But will woll not suffer them from folye to arise.
Some suche which after could hurt them but a small,
Mark them well, how they folowe on a rowe,
Stumblyng at the bloke; they doughted not at all
But as they measure—that same to them shall falle,
87
But will woll not suffer them from folye to arise.
Hope of long lyfe causithe all this desier
With ambycious honor that ther wytt defaces,
Yt makithe them so poore-blynd they cannot se the fier
Which them consumyth playn before ther faces;
But, to be short, it is for lake of graces
Which they myght have, if they wold call to God,
But they be so stoute they feare not his just rod.
With ambycious honor that ther wytt defaces,
Yt makithe them so poore-blynd they cannot se the fier
Which them consumyth playn before ther faces;
But, to be short, it is for lake of graces
Which they myght have, if they wold call to God,
But they be so stoute they feare not his just rod.
Evyn so did he, but now he felythe the smart,
Trustyng than, as they do now, in his tong and wytt,
To prevent all suche myschefs whereof he had his part,
Perceyvyng what wytt is when from God it doth flytt;
Trust in hyme therefore which eternally above doth sytt
Beholdyng your madnes, which ye so myche esteem,
Laughyng therat, and for foly dothe it deme.
Trustyng than, as they do now, in his tong and wytt,
To prevent all suche myschefs whereof he had his part,
Perceyvyng what wytt is when from God it doth flytt;
Trust in hyme therefore which eternally above doth sytt
Beholdyng your madnes, which ye so myche esteem,
Laughyng therat, and for foly dothe it deme.
88
L'AUCTOR G. C.
Intendyng here to end this my symple worke,
And no further to wade in this onsavery lake,
My penne was fordulled, my wytts began to lurke,
I sodenly trembled as oon ware in a brake,
The cause I knew not that I shold tremble and shake,
Untill dame Fame I hard blow hir trembling trompe
With woofull blast, brought me in a soden dompe.
And no further to wade in this onsavery lake,
My penne was fordulled, my wytts began to lurke,
I sodenly trembled as oon ware in a brake,
The cause I knew not that I shold tremble and shake,
Untill dame Fame I hard blow hir trembling trompe
With woofull blast, brought me in a soden dompe.
Dame Fame I asked, why blowe ye your tromp so shryll
In so deadly a sound? ye make my hart full sorry.
She answerd me agayn, and sayd, Sir, so I wyll.
Deade is that royal prynce, the late VIIIth Harry;
Wherfor adewe, I may no lenger tarry,
For thorowghe the world I must, to blow this deadly blast:
Alas, thes woofull newes made my hart agaste!
In so deadly a sound? ye make my hart full sorry.
She answerd me agayn, and sayd, Sir, so I wyll.
89
Wherfor adewe, I may no lenger tarry,
For thorowghe the world I must, to blow this deadly blast:
Alas, thes woofull newes made my hart agaste!
I went my wayes, and drewe myself aside,
Alone to lament the deathe of this royall kyng;
Perceyvyng right well dethe wyll stope no tyde
With kyng or kaysier, therefore a wonderouse thyng
To se how will in them dothe raygn, makyng ther ryconyng
Ever to lyve, as thoughe Deathe ware of them afeard
To byd them chekmate, and pluke them by the berd.
Alone to lament the deathe of this royall kyng;
Perceyvyng right well dethe wyll stope no tyde
With kyng or kaysier, therefore a wonderouse thyng
To se how will in them dothe raygn, makyng ther ryconyng
Ever to lyve, as thoughe Deathe ware of them afeard
To byd them chekmate, and pluke them by the berd.
To fynyshe thys worke I did myself dispose,
And to conclude the same, as ye before have red,
I leaned on my chayer, entendyng to repose;
In a slepie slomber I felle, so hevy was my hed,
Morpheus to me appered, and sayd he wold me lede
My spyritts to revyve, and my labor to degest,
With whom fantzy was redy, and stayed in my brest.
And to conclude the same, as ye before have red,
I leaned on my chayer, entendyng to repose;
In a slepie slomber I felle, so hevy was my hed,
Morpheus to me appered, and sayd he wold me lede
My spyritts to revyve, and my labor to degest,
With whom fantzy was redy, and stayed in my brest.
90
Fantzy by and bye led me, as I thought,
To a palice royal of pryncely edyfice
Plentyfully furnyshed, of riches it lacked nought;
Astonyed not a littill of the woofull cries
Which I hard there with many wepyng eyes,
Even as we passed from place to place,
I beheld many a pityfull bedropped face.
To a palice royal of pryncely edyfice
Plentyfully furnyshed, of riches it lacked nought;
Astonyed not a littill of the woofull cries
Which I hard there with many wepyng eyes,
Even as we passed from place to place,
I beheld many a pityfull bedropped face.
So that at the last, to tell you playn and right,
We entred a chamber without light of the day,
To whome wax candells gave myche light,
Wherin I perceyved a bed of royall array,
To the which I approched, makyng no delay,
Wherin a prynce lay syke with a deadly face,
And cruel Atrophos standyng in that place.
We entred a chamber without light of the day,
To whome wax candells gave myche light,
Wherin I perceyved a bed of royall array,
To the which I approched, makyng no delay,
Wherin a prynce lay syke with a deadly face,
And cruel Atrophos standyng in that place.
Clotho I aspied also, that in hir hand did support
A distaffe, wherof the stuffe was well nyghe spent
Which Lachesis doth spynne, as poetts doth report,
Drawyng the lyvely thred, till Attrophos had hent
Hir sharped sheres, with a full consent
To shere the thred, supporter of his life,
Ayenst whome ther botythe no prerogatyfe.
A distaffe, wherof the stuffe was well nyghe spent
Which Lachesis doth spynne, as poetts doth report,
Drawyng the lyvely thred, till Attrophos had hent
Hir sharped sheres, with a full consent
91
Ayenst whome ther botythe no prerogatyfe.
Attendyng on his person was many a worthy grome
Where he lay syke, to whom syknes said chekmate;
Allthoughe he ware a prynce of highe renome,
Yet syknes regarded not his emperyal estate;
Tyme approched of his lyfe the fynall date,
And Attrophos was prest his lyves thred to devyde:
Hold thy hand (quod he) and let thy stroke abyde.
Where he lay syke, to whom syknes said chekmate;
Allthoughe he ware a prynce of highe renome,
Yet syknes regarded not his emperyal estate;
Tyme approched of his lyfe the fynall date,
And Attrophos was prest his lyves thred to devyde:
Hold thy hand (quod he) and let thy stroke abyde.
HENRICUS REX LOQUENS, AD MORTEM.
Geve me leve, Attrophos, myself for to lament;
Spare me a lyttyll, for nature makes me sewe;
The fleshe is frayle and lothe for to relent,
For deathe with lyfe cannot be shett in mewe,
They be contraryaunt, ther is no thing more trewe;
For lyfe ayenst dethe allwayes dothe rebell,
Eche man by experience naturally this can tell.
Spare me a lyttyll, for nature makes me sewe;
The fleshe is frayle and lothe for to relent,
For deathe with lyfe cannot be shett in mewe,
They be contraryaunt, ther is no thing more trewe;
For lyfe ayenst dethe allwayes dothe rebell,
Eche man by experience naturally this can tell.
92
From Clothos distafe my lyvely stuffe is spent,
Which Lachesis the slender thred hathe sponne
Of my lyfe emperyall; and thou, Attrophos, hast hent
The sharped sheres to shere my feoble throme
That the warbeled spendell no more abought shold ronne;
And of my regall lyfe thus hast thou great disdayn
So slender a thred so long shold it susteyn.
Which Lachesis the slender thred hathe sponne
Of my lyfe emperyall; and thou, Attrophos, hast hent
The sharped sheres to shere my feoble throme
That the warbeled spendell no more abought shold ronne;
And of my regall lyfe thus hast thou great disdayn
So slender a thred so long shold it susteyn.
But leve of, Attrophos, thou nedes not make suche hast
My symple lyfe with vigor to confound,
Thy sheryng sheres thou shalt but spend in wast,
For the spyndells end alredy is at the ground,
The thred ontwynned cannot more be twound:
Great folly in the, that takes suche idell payne
To slee that thyng that is all redy slayne.
My symple lyfe with vigor to confound,
Thy sheryng sheres thou shalt but spend in wast,
For the spyndells end alredy is at the ground,
The thred ontwynned cannot more be twound:
93
To slee that thyng that is all redy slayne.
Wherfore leave of, Attrophos, for end of lyfe is deathe,
And deathe I se is end of worldis payn,
What shalt thou wyn than to stope my faynted brethe,
Sythe well thou knowest whan that thou hast me slayn,
To wele or woo I shall oons rise agayn:
Thoughe in thy fury my lyfe nowe thou devour,
To sle me agayn it shall not lie in thy power.
And deathe I se is end of worldis payn,
What shalt thou wyn than to stope my faynted brethe,
Sythe well thou knowest whan that thou hast me slayn,
To wele or woo I shall oons rise agayn:
Thoughe in thy fury my lyfe nowe thou devour,
To sle me agayn it shall not lie in thy power.
Slee me not, Attrophos, but let [the] spyndell ronne,
Which long hathe hanged by a feoble lynne,
For whan Lachesis hir fyned flees hathe sponne,
The spyndell woll fall; thou seest well with thyn eyne,
No stuffe is laft agayn the threds to twyne:
So slender it is, that with oon blast of wynd
The thred wyll breke, it is so slakly twynd.
Which long hathe hanged by a feoble lynne,
For whan Lachesis hir fyned flees hathe sponne,
The spyndell woll fall; thou seest well with thyn eyne,
No stuffe is laft agayn the threds to twyne:
So slender it is, that with oon blast of wynd
The thred wyll breke, it is so slakly twynd.
But nowe, alas! that ever it shold befall
So famous a prynce, of fame so notable,
That fame with defame shold the same appall,
Or cause my concyence to be so onstable,
Which for to here is wonderous lamentable,
How for the love and fond affeccion
Of a symple woman, to worke all by collusion.
So famous a prynce, of fame so notable,
That fame with defame shold the same appall,
94
Which for to here is wonderous lamentable,
How for the love and fond affeccion
Of a symple woman, to worke all by collusion.
I broke the bond of marriage, and did myself incline
To the love of oon in whome was all my felicitie,
By means whereof this realme is brought in rewyn;
Yet notwithstandyng, I neds wold serve my fantzye,
So that all my lust in hir was fyxt assuredly,
Which for to color, I colored than my case,
Makyng newe lawes, the old I did deface.
To the love of oon in whome was all my felicitie,
By means whereof this realme is brought in rewyn;
Yet notwithstandyng, I neds wold serve my fantzye,
So that all my lust in hir was fyxt assuredly,
Which for to color, I colored than my case,
Makyng newe lawes, the old I did deface.
With colour of concyence I colored my pretence,
Entendyng therby to sett my bond at lybertie,
My lusts to frequent, and have of them experyence,
Sekyng but my lust of onlefull lecherye,
Wherof the slander remaynethe still in me;
So that my wilfullnes and my shameful trespace
Dothe all my magestie and noblenes deface.
Entendyng therby to sett my bond at lybertie,
My lusts to frequent, and have of them experyence,
Sekyng but my lust of onlefull lecherye,
Wherof the slander remaynethe still in me;
So that my wilfullnes and my shameful trespace
Dothe all my magestie and noblenes deface.
Whan Venus veneryall of me had domynacion,
And blynd Cupido my purpose did avaunce,
Than willfull lust thoroughe indiscression,
Was chosyn juge to hold my balaunce
Of onleful choyse, by whos onhappie chaunce,
Yt hath darked my honor, spotted fame and glory,
Which causithe my concience oft to be full sory.
And blynd Cupido my purpose did avaunce,
Than willfull lust thoroughe indiscression,
95
Of onleful choyse, by whos onhappie chaunce,
Yt hath darked my honor, spotted fame and glory,
Which causithe my concience oft to be full sory.
Alake, therfore, greatly I ame ashamed
That thus the world shold know my pretence,
Wherwith my magestie is slaundred and defamed
Thoroughe this poysoned lecherous offence,
Which hathe constrayned by mortall violence
So many to dye my purpose to attayn,
That nowe more grevous surely is my payn.
That thus the world shold know my pretence,
Wherwith my magestie is slaundred and defamed
Thoroughe this poysoned lecherous offence,
Which hathe constrayned by mortall violence
So many to dye my purpose to attayn,
That nowe more grevous surely is my payn.
Though I ware myghty and royal in pieusaunce,
Havyng all thyngs in myn own domayn,
Yet was my reason under the obeysaunce
Of fleshely lust, fetered in Venus' chayn,
For of my lust, will was my soverayn;
My reason was bridelled so by sensualitie,
That wyll rewled all without lawe and equytie.
Havyng all thyngs in myn own domayn,
Yet was my reason under the obeysaunce
Of fleshely lust, fetered in Venus' chayn,
For of my lust, will was my soverayn;
My reason was bridelled so by sensualitie,
That wyll rewled all without lawe and equytie.
After I forsoke my first most lawfull wyfe
And toke an other, my pleasure to fullfill,
I chaynged often, so inconstant was my lyfe;
Deathe was the meade of some that did non ill,
Which oonly was to satisfie my wyll;
I was so desirous, of newe, to have my lust,
Yet could I fynd non lyke the furst.
And toke an other, my pleasure to fullfill,
I chaynged often, so inconstant was my lyfe;
96
Which oonly was to satisfie my wyll;
I was so desirous, of newe, to have my lust,
Yet could I fynd non lyke the furst.
In excellent virtue and wyfely trouthe,
In pryncely prudence and womanly port,
Which floryshed in hir evyn from hyr youthe,
So well disposed and of so sad a sort,
To all men it was no small comfort;
And synce the tyme that I did hir devorse,
All England lamentethe and hathe therof remorse.
In pryncely prudence and womanly port,
Which floryshed in hir evyn from hyr youthe,
So well disposed and of so sad a sort,
To all men it was no small comfort;
And synce the tyme that I did hir devorse,
All England lamentethe and hathe therof remorse.
Hir to commend and prayse, evyn at the full,
As she was worthy, it lyethe not in my myghte,
My wytt and connyng is to grosse and dull
Hir worthynes in so rude a style to wright,
Unto pacient Greseld, if ever there ware any;
For lyke hyr paciente there hathe not regned many.
As she was worthy, it lyethe not in my myghte,
My wytt and connyng is to grosse and dull
Hir worthynes in so rude a style to wright,
97
For lyke hyr paciente there hathe not regned many.
What inconvenyence have I nowe brought to passe,
Thoroughe my wilfullnes of wylfull necligence,
Within this realme, fare from the welthe it was,
It nedes not therfore to geve you inteligence,
For you have felt the smart and the indygence;
Wherfore to make any ferther declaration,
It ware to me but an idell occupacion.
Thoroughe my wilfullnes of wylfull necligence,
Within this realme, fare from the welthe it was,
It nedes not therfore to geve you inteligence,
For you have felt the smart and the indygence;
Wherfore to make any ferther declaration,
It ware to me but an idell occupacion.
For all my conquests and my royal powers,
My pleasaunt tryumphes and my bankettyng chere,
My pryncely port and my youthfull powers,
My great liberalities unto my darlyngs dere,
My emperyall magestie, what ame I the nere?
For all my great aboundance, nothyng can me defend
From mortall dethe; all fleshe must have an end.
My pleasaunt tryumphes and my bankettyng chere,
My pryncely port and my youthfull powers,
My great liberalities unto my darlyngs dere,
My emperyall magestie, what ame I the nere?
For all my great aboundance, nothyng can me defend
From mortall dethe; all fleshe must have an end.
98
Who had more joyes? who had more pleasure?
Who had more riches? who had more aboundaunce?
Who had more joyells? who had more treasure?
Who had more pastyme? who had more dalyaunce?
Who had more ayd? who had more allyaunce?
Who had more howsis of pleasure and disport?
Who had suche places as I for my comfort?
Who had more riches? who had more aboundaunce?
Who had more joyells? who had more treasure?
Who had more pastyme? who had more dalyaunce?
Who had more ayd? who had more allyaunce?
Who had more howsis of pleasure and disport?
Who had suche places as I for my comfort?
All thyng to reherce wherin I toke delight
A long tyme, I assure you, wold not suffice;
What avayllethe now my power and my myght,
Since I must dye and shall no more aryse
To raygn in this world, nor seen with bodely eyes?
But as a clott of clay consume I must to dust,
Whom you have seen to raygn in welthe and lust.
A long tyme, I assure you, wold not suffice;
What avayllethe now my power and my myght,
Since I must dye and shall no more aryse
To raygn in this world, nor seen with bodely eyes?
But as a clott of clay consume I must to dust,
Whom you have seen to raygn in welthe and lust.
Farewell, my nobles! farewell, my prelates pasturall!
Farewell, my noble dames! farewell, yow prensells fayer!
Farewell, my citezens! farewell, my commons all!
Farewell, my howses! where I was wont repayer;
Farewell, my gardens! farewell, the pleasant ayer!
Farewell, the world! farewell, eche creature!
Farewell, my frends! my lyfe may no more endure.
Farewell, my noble dames! farewell, yow prensells fayer!
Farewell, my citezens! farewell, my commons all!
Farewell, my howses! where I was wont repayer;
Farewell, my gardens! farewell, the pleasant ayer!
Farewell, the world! farewell, eche creature!
Farewell, my frends! my lyfe may no more endure.
99
Adewe, myn impe! adewe, my relyke here!
Adewe, my sonne Edward! sprong of the royall race
Of the wight rose and the red, as it may well appere:
Lord God, I beseche the to send hym of thy grace,
Prosperously to raygne and long to enjoy my place,
To thy will and pleasure, and the common welthe
Justly here to governe in great joy and helthe.
Adewe, my sonne Edward! sprong of the royall race
Of the wight rose and the red, as it may well appere:
Lord God, I beseche the to send hym of thy grace,
Prosperously to raygne and long to enjoy my place,
To thy will and pleasure, and the common welthe
Justly here to governe in great joy and helthe.
100
L'AUCTOR G. C.
With that I sawe his breath fast consume away,
And lyfe also, allthoughe he ware a kyng;
Whan deathe was come nedes he must obeye;
For deathe is indyfferent to eche creature lyvyng:
He sparithe none, all is to hyme oon ryconyng:
All estates by deathe must end, ther is none other boote;
Loo here nowe I lie (quod he) underneathe your foote.
And lyfe also, allthoughe he ware a kyng;
Whan deathe was come nedes he must obeye;
For deathe is indyfferent to eche creature lyvyng:
He sparithe none, all is to hyme oon ryconyng:
All estates by deathe must end, ther is none other boote;
Loo here nowe I lie (quod he) underneathe your foote.
Makyng thus an end of his most dolorouse talke,
I strayt awoke owt of my sobbyng slomber;
Morpheus than forsoke me and forthe began to walke,
But fantzy with me abode, who did me myche encomber,
Puttyng me in remembrance of the lamentable nomber
Which in my slepe I sawe, with every circumstance;
It was no small grieve to my dull remembrance.
I strayt awoke owt of my sobbyng slomber;
Morpheus than forsoke me and forthe began to walke,
But fantzy with me abode, who did me myche encomber,
Puttyng me in remembrance of the lamentable nomber
Which in my slepe I sawe, with every circumstance;
It was no small grieve to my dull remembrance.
And when I degested eche thyng as it was,
I could but lament in my faythfull hart,
To se the want of our wonted solas,
With whome I nedes must take suche equall part;
And than to my remembrance I did agayn revert,
Recountyng his noblenes, shortly to conclude,
Wrott than thus his epitaphe in sentence brefe and rude.
I could but lament in my faythfull hart,
To se the want of our wonted solas,
With whome I nedes must take suche equall part;
101
Recountyng his noblenes, shortly to conclude,
Wrott than thus his epitaphe in sentence brefe and rude.
| The life of Cardinal Wolsey | |