The History of Grisild the Second A narrative, in verse, of the divorce of Queen Katharine of Arragon. Written by William Forrest ... and now edited, for the first time, from the author's ms. in the Bodleian Library, by the Rev. W. D. Macray |
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Cap. 8.
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 | The History of Grisild the Second |  |
69
Cap. 8.
Walter fynyschynge his Progresse, passinge thorowe Thame, and other Townys, the newe Merqueses faste by his syde, what mutteringe the people had on Grisildis partye and for her doughter Mary. The Messengers reuerte from Rome without Dyuorsement; Walter (by a wycked man) was moued to take vpon hym the Supreamacye ouer the churche of Englande.
For all our tedious and longe dygression,
We have not forgote oure former pretence;
Walters pleasure fulfilled at Grafton
To Buckingehamsheere he dreste hym from thense,
At Ixill, before the deeare fell to offense,
To fynysche that tyme his huntynge season,
For Holye Roode Daye was then paste and gone.
We have not forgote oure former pretence;
Walters pleasure fulfilled at Grafton
To Buckingehamsheere he dreste hym from thense,
At Ixill, before the deeare fell to offense,
To fynysche that tyme his huntynge season,
For Holye Roode Daye was then paste and gone.
From thense wheare hee came, faste iumpe by his syde,
Accompayned hym the ladye Anne Bullayne,
All pleasaunte, fresche and gallaunt that tyde,
Goode Grysilde followinge, as one of her trayne,
At whiche manye (that wise weare) did disdayne
So noble á woman to bee forsake,
And in her steade so meane á thinge to take.
Accompayned hym the ladye Anne Bullayne,
All pleasaunte, fresche and gallaunt that tyde,
Goode Grysilde followinge, as one of her trayne,
At whiche manye (that wise weare) did disdayne
So noble á woman to bee forsake,
And in her steade so meane á thinge to take.
70
For thorowe Thame, that gentle Merket Towne,
The Kynge then issued vpp to Londonwarde,
Wheare dyuerse and manye their headys henge downe;
To see the case, withe Grysilde howe it farde,
Vnto their hartys, God wote, it went full harde,
And thus did saye, mutteringe as they stoode still,
“Christe saue goode Grysilde to His blessed will.”
The Kynge then issued vpp to Londonwarde,
Wheare dyuerse and manye their headys henge downe;
To see the case, withe Grysilde howe it farde,
Vnto their hartys, God wote, it went full harde,
And thus did saye, mutteringe as they stoode still,
“Christe saue goode Grysilde to His blessed will.”
“O Lorde!” (they saide, togeathers as they stoode),
“What meauethe our Kynge goode Grysilde to forgoe,
Whiche hym heere followethe withe trobled moode,
That better for her weare she weare ferdre froe?
In his solacinge shee feelethe but woe;
Whoe can her chalenge or blame in the case,
Shee to followe an other in her place?
“What meauethe our Kynge goode Grysilde to forgoe,
Whiche hym heere followethe withe trobled moode,
That better for her weare she weare ferdre froe?
In his solacinge shee feelethe but woe;
Whoe can her chalenge or blame in the case,
Shee to followe an other in her place?
“Shee (blessed womon, God comforte her harte!)
Hathe beene full godlye and louynge withe all,
And her behaued in eauerye parte
Moste honorablye, bothe to great and small,
And nowe her honour thus wise to appall!
To speake in the case wee maye nother dare,
Yeat pytee it weare shee shoulde oughtes mysfare.
Hathe beene full godlye and louynge withe all,
And her behaued in eauerye parte
Moste honorablye, bothe to great and small,
And nowe her honour thus wise to appall!
To speake in the case wee maye nother dare,
Yeat pytee it weare shee shoulde oughtes mysfare.
“What hathe she transgreste to bee thus caste owte,
A Queene (of bloode) so excellent as shee?
Of her behauyour none neadethe to dowbte;
Some bale is bruynge, what eauer it bee;
Straunge is this sight whiche wee heere nowe see,
A Queene moste royall to come all behynde,
And so meane before; this gothe oute of kynde.
A Queene (of bloode) so excellent as shee?
Of her behauyour none neadethe to dowbte;
Some bale is bruynge, what eauer it bee;
Straunge is this sight whiche wee heere nowe see,
A Queene moste royall to come all behynde,
And so meane before; this gothe oute of kynde.
71
“Well, well,” (they saide) “God graunte all proue well!
Wee feare some straunge nues shall after ensue:
If so á kynge maye his wife thus repell,
(So goode á woman and full of vertue),
Of weddelocke joynynge farewell then, adue!
This example, if it thorowly frame,
Shall other ensence to practice the same.
Wee feare some straunge nues shall after ensue:
If so á kynge maye his wife thus repell,
(So goode á woman and full of vertue),
Of weddelocke joynynge farewell then, adue!
This example, if it thorowly frame,
Shall other ensence to practice the same.
“If their unytinge had beene thought wrongefull,
Whie so longe tyme contynued haue they?
His Father (of witt and wisedome not dull)
What myght, and myght not, before did purveye.
Prospered togeathers they hathe many á daye,
And wee in wealthe and muche tranquyllytee;
This is noughtys els but Mannys fragylytee.
Whie so longe tyme contynued haue they?
His Father (of witt and wisedome not dull)
What myght, and myght not, before did purveye.
Prospered togeathers they hathe many á daye,
And wee in wealthe and muche tranquyllytee;
This is noughtys els but Mannys fragylytee.
“This is noughtis els but Mannys sensuall mynde;
God graunte wee all haue not cause to repent!
Let hym not looke á newe better to fynde,
Reason withe reasonable ought bee content.
Fye! that at that age Man shoulde bee insolent!
For, without all maner of suspection,
This is begone of carnall affection.
God graunte wee all haue not cause to repent!
Let hym not looke á newe better to fynde,
Reason withe reasonable ought bee content.
Fye! that at that age Man shoulde bee insolent!
For, without all maner of suspection,
This is begone of carnall affection.
“Wheare is become sage Discretion as nowe,
In suche noble Peearys that ought to frequent?
Wheare is vnto God his duetye, as howe
To haue in awe His holy commaundement?
Thoughe hee it let slippe in his inwarde entent,
Hee muste and shall make answeare in the case
When powre, nor selfe wyll, shall rowte in the place.
In suche noble Peearys that ought to frequent?
Wheare is vnto God his duetye, as howe
To haue in awe His holy commaundement?
Thoughe hee it let slippe in his inwarde entent,
Hee muste and shall make answeare in the case
When powre, nor selfe wyll, shall rowte in the place.
72
“God graunte hee (cheeiflye) repent not this geare,
For neadys it muste breede great inconuenyence,
Thoughe whiche wayes wee knowe not, howe, when, or wheare;
The soare of this passethe oure intellygence.
For Dauyths trespace, opprest withe pestylence,
Thousandys of his abode the affliction:
Synne, sore of Kyngis, stoorthe Goddys malediction.
For neadys it muste breede great inconuenyence,
Thoughe whiche wayes wee knowe not, howe, when, or wheare;
The soare of this passethe oure intellygence.
For Dauyths trespace, opprest withe pestylence,
Thousandys of his abode the affliction:
Synne, sore of Kyngis, stoorthe Goddys malediction.
“But sithe his affection is nowe so sett,
And the mateir so earnestlye begoone,
Wee (poore Subjectes) maye it in nowise let,
But feele it wee shall, by althynges bee doone;
Rasche recheles lust his race will neadys roone,
Like cowlte vnbrydeled, reason depryued,
Throughe shame (in fyne) moste straungely disguysed.”
And the mateir so earnestlye begoone,
Wee (poore Subjectes) maye it in nowise let,
But feele it wee shall, by althynges bee doone;
Rasche recheles lust his race will neadys roone,
Like cowlte vnbrydeled, reason depryued,
Throughe shame (in fyne) moste straungely disguysed.”
Suche, of the rude and pooare Comynaltee,
Was (secreatlye) their tawlke and whisperinge,
Whoe vnto Grysilde beeare loue and feualtie
Withe all that in their pooare hartys was lyinge;
And ferdre, they had this careful sayinge,
“Halas! if Walter goode Grysilde denye,
What shall become of her doughter Marye?
Was (secreatlye) their tawlke and whisperinge,
Whoe vnto Grysilde beeare loue and feualtie
Withe all that in their pooare hartys was lyinge;
And ferdre, they had this careful sayinge,
“Halas! if Walter goode Grysilde denye,
What shall become of her doughter Marye?
“What shall become of that pryncely Flowre
That all this Royalme hathe joyed so longe yn?
Shee shall forgoe then her Pryncely honoure;
The weyes thearvnto wee see dothe begyn.
None only but God maye oother grace wynne;
For Mother and Doughter what shall beetyde?
Wee can but praye Christe for them to prouyde.”
That all this Royalme hathe joyed so longe yn?
Shee shall forgoe then her Pryncely honoure;
The weyes thearvnto wee see dothe begyn.
None only but God maye oother grace wynne;
For Mother and Doughter what shall beetyde?
Wee can but praye Christe for them to prouyde.”
73
This of one Towne was not only the tawlke,
Or of one Countie, Cytee, or Burrowe,
But comonlye, wheare eauer men did waulke,
This noble Royalme (in maner) cleane thorowe,
So deepe in their hartys it graued furrowe;
For they of wyttie consyderation
Feared tensue great dyssipation.
Or of one Countie, Cytee, or Burrowe,
But comonlye, wheare eauer men did waulke,
This noble Royalme (in maner) cleane thorowe,
So deepe in their hartys it graued furrowe;
For they of wyttie consyderation
Feared tensue great dyssipation.
But what aduayled their tawlke in this case?
It dyd their goode wyllis but as signyfie;
The mateir dyd then but pause for a space,
Tyll from Rome the Messengers myght them hye;
Walter, nowe setteled wheare he wolde lye,
His expectation (daylye) then was
To heeare nues, howe his purpose came to passe.
It dyd their goode wyllis but as signyfie;
The mateir dyd then but pause for a space,
Tyll from Rome the Messengers myght them hye;
Walter, nowe setteled wheare he wolde lye,
His expectation (daylye) then was
To heeare nues, howe his purpose came to passe.
By this the Messengers to the Cowrte came,
Voyde of the purpose for whiche they weare sent:
So soone as Walter vndrestoode the same,
For malencolye hee ynwardelye brent,
And was (throughe malice) moste earnestlye bent
Agaynste the Busshope for sayinge hym naye,
Ragynge as lyon depryued his praye.
Voyde of the purpose for whiche they weare sent:
So soone as Walter vndrestoode the same,
For malencolye hee ynwardelye brent,
And was (throughe malice) moste earnestlye bent
Agaynste the Busshope for sayinge hym naye,
Ragynge as lyon depryued his praye.
At whiche selfe season one certayne stoode by,
Whois name (thoughe I herde) I will not expresse,
Whoe saide to Walter, muche coragyouslye,
“What shoulde this mateir oughtes vex your highnes?
Ye maye (witheoute doubtinge) it clearlye redresse;
Sithe yee are heere Kynge and lorde of this lande,
Yee dooynge youre lyfte, whoe dare youe withestande?
Whois name (thoughe I herde) I will not expresse,
Whoe saide to Walter, muche coragyouslye,
“What shoulde this mateir oughtes vex your highnes?
Ye maye (witheoute doubtinge) it clearlye redresse;
Sithe yee are heere Kynge and lorde of this lande,
Yee dooynge youre lyfte, whoe dare youe withestande?
74
“Yee, takynge on youe the Supreamacye
As headde of the Churche ouer all Brytayne
And other youre Domynyons specyallye,
Yee maye (at pleasure) then althinges ordayne,
So foreauermore Rome Cowrte to refrayne;
If yee not sticke to put this in practice,
Whoe is that dare denye youre entreprise?”
As headde of the Churche ouer all Brytayne
And other youre Domynyons specyallye,
Yee maye (at pleasure) then althinges ordayne,
So foreauermore Rome Cowrte to refrayne;
If yee not sticke to put this in practice,
Whoe is that dare denye youre entreprise?”
Walter this heearynge his harte can reuyue,
Callynge to hym of his Counsell the cheeif,
For the saide mateir withe speede to contryue
That hee weare quyeted oute of his greeif;
The thynge by Perlyament putten in preeif,
It was condescended after his mynde,
None durste say naye but Deathe hee liste to fynde.
Callynge to hym of his Counsell the cheeif,
For the saide mateir withe speede to contryue
That hee weare quyeted oute of his greeif;
The thynge by Perlyament putten in preeif,
It was condescended after his mynde,
None durste say naye but Deathe hee liste to fynde.
| The History of Grisild the Second | |