Albions England A Continued Historie of the same Kingdome, from the Originals of the first Inhabitants thereof: With most the chiefe Alterations and Accidents theare hapning, vnto, and in the happie Raigne of our now most gracious Soueraigne, Queene Elizabeth: Not barren in varietie of inuentiue and historicall Intermixtures: First penned and published by William Warner: and now reuised, and newly inlarged by the same Author: Whereunto is also newly added an Epitome of the whole Historie of England |
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| 4. | THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND. |
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93
THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.
CHAP. XX.
The
Brutons thus departed hence, Seauen Kingdomes here begonne:
Where diuersly in diuers broyles the Saxons lost and wonne.
King Edel and King Adelbright in Diria iointly raigne:
In loyal concorde during life these Kingly friends remaine.
When Adelbright should leaue his life, to Edel thus he sayes:
By those same bondes of happie loue, that held vs friends alwaies.
By our by-parted Crowne, of which the Moyetie is mine,
By God, to whom my soule must passe, and so in time may thine.
I pray thee, nay I coniure thee, to nourish as thine owne
Thy Neece my Daughter Argentile, till she to age be growne,
And then, as thou receiuest it, resigne to her my Throne.
A promise had for this Bequest, the Testator he dies:
But all that Edel vndertooke, he afterwards denies.
Yeat well he educats a time the Damsiell, that was growne
The fairest Lady vnder Heauen: whose beautie being knowne,
A many Princes seeke her loue, but none might her obtaine:
For grippell Edel to himselfe her Kingdome sought to gaine,
And for that cause from sight of such he did his Ward restraine.
Where diuersly in diuers broyles the Saxons lost and wonne.
King Edel and King Adelbright in Diria iointly raigne:
In loyal concorde during life these Kingly friends remaine.
When Adelbright should leaue his life, to Edel thus he sayes:
By those same bondes of happie loue, that held vs friends alwaies.
By our by-parted Crowne, of which the Moyetie is mine,
By God, to whom my soule must passe, and so in time may thine.
I pray thee, nay I coniure thee, to nourish as thine owne
Thy Neece my Daughter Argentile, till she to age be growne,
And then, as thou receiuest it, resigne to her my Throne.
A promise had for this Bequest, the Testator he dies:
But all that Edel vndertooke, he afterwards denies.
Yeat well he educats a time the Damsiell, that was growne
The fairest Lady vnder Heauen: whose beautie being knowne,
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For grippell Edel to himselfe her Kingdome sought to gaine,
And for that cause from sight of such he did his Ward restraine.
By chance one Curan, Sonne vnto a Prince in Danske, did see
The Maid, with whom he fell in loue as much as man might bee.
Vnhappie youth, what should he doe? his Saint was kept in Mewe,
Nor he, nor any Noble-man admitted to her vewe,
One while in melancholy fits he pines himselfe away,
Anon he thought by force of Armes to win her, if he may,
And still against the Kings restraint did secretly inuay:
At length the high Controller Loue, whom none may disobay,
Imbased him from Lordlines, into a Kitchin Drudge:
That so at least of life or death she might become his Iudge.
Accesse so had to see, and speake, he did his loue bewray,
And tels his bearth: her answer was she husbandles would stay.
Meane while the King did beat his braines his booty to atchieue,
Nor caring what became of her, so he by her might thriue:
At last his resolution was some Pessant should her wiue:
And (which was working to his wish) he did obserue with ioye,
How Curan, whom he thought a drudge, scapt many an amorous toy.
The King, perceiuing such his vaine, promotes his Vassall still,
Least that the basenesse of the man should let, perhaps, his will:
Assured therefore of his loue, but not suspecting who
The Louer was, the King himselfe in his behalfe did wowe.
The Lady, resolute from Loue, vnkindly takes that he
Should barre the Noble, and vnto so base a Match agree:
And therefore shifting out of doores, departed thence by stealth,
Preferring pouertie before a dangerous life in wealth.
When Curan hard of her escape, the anguish in his hart
Was more then much, and after her from Court he did depart:
Forgetfull of himselfe, his bearth, his Country, friends, and all,
And onely minding (whom he mist) the Foundresse of his thrall.
Nor meanes he after to frequent or Court or stately Townes,
But solitarily to liue amongst the Country grownes.
A brace of yeeres he liued thus, well pleased so to liue,
And Shepherd-like to feed a flocke himselfe did wholly giue.
So wasting loue, by worke, and want, grew almost to the Waine:
But then began a second Loue, the worser of the twaine.
The Maid, with whom he fell in loue as much as man might bee.
Vnhappie youth, what should he doe? his Saint was kept in Mewe,
Nor he, nor any Noble-man admitted to her vewe,
One while in melancholy fits he pines himselfe away,
Anon he thought by force of Armes to win her, if he may,
And still against the Kings restraint did secretly inuay:
At length the high Controller Loue, whom none may disobay,
Imbased him from Lordlines, into a Kitchin Drudge:
That so at least of life or death she might become his Iudge.
Accesse so had to see, and speake, he did his loue bewray,
And tels his bearth: her answer was she husbandles would stay.
Meane while the King did beat his braines his booty to atchieue,
Nor caring what became of her, so he by her might thriue:
At last his resolution was some Pessant should her wiue:
And (which was working to his wish) he did obserue with ioye,
How Curan, whom he thought a drudge, scapt many an amorous toy.
The King, perceiuing such his vaine, promotes his Vassall still,
Least that the basenesse of the man should let, perhaps, his will:
Assured therefore of his loue, but not suspecting who
The Louer was, the King himselfe in his behalfe did wowe.
The Lady, resolute from Loue, vnkindly takes that he
Should barre the Noble, and vnto so base a Match agree:
And therefore shifting out of doores, departed thence by stealth,
Preferring pouertie before a dangerous life in wealth.
When Curan hard of her escape, the anguish in his hart
Was more then much, and after her from Court he did depart:
Forgetfull of himselfe, his bearth, his Country, friends, and all,
And onely minding (whom he mist) the Foundresse of his thrall.
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But solitarily to liue amongst the Country grownes.
A brace of yeeres he liued thus, well pleased so to liue,
And Shepherd-like to feed a flocke himselfe did wholly giue.
So wasting loue, by worke, and want, grew almost to the Waine:
But then began a second Loue, the worser of the twaine.
A Country wench, a Neatheards maid, where Curan kept his Sheep,
Did feed her Droue: and now on her was all the Shepheards keepe:
He borrowed on the working daies his holy russets oft,
And of the Bacons fat, to make his Startopes blacke and soft,
And least his Tarbox should offend he left it at the Fold,
Sweete Growte, or Whig, his Bottle had as much as it might hold,
A Sheeue of bread as browne as Nut, and Cheese as white as snow,
And Wildings, or the Seasons-fruit he did in Scrip bestow,
And Whil'st his py-bald Curre did sleepe, & Sheep-hooke lay him by,
On hollow Quilles of Oten straw he piped melody:
But when he spied her his Saint, he wipt his greasie shooes,
And clear'd the driuell from his beard and thus the Shepheards wooes.
Did feed her Droue: and now on her was all the Shepheards keepe:
He borrowed on the working daies his holy russets oft,
And of the Bacons fat, to make his Startopes blacke and soft,
And least his Tarbox should offend he left it at the Fold,
Sweete Growte, or Whig, his Bottle had as much as it might hold,
A Sheeue of bread as browne as Nut, and Cheese as white as snow,
And Wildings, or the Seasons-fruit he did in Scrip bestow,
And Whil'st his py-bald Curre did sleepe, & Sheep-hooke lay him by,
On hollow Quilles of Oten straw he piped melody:
But when he spied her his Saint, he wipt his greasie shooes,
And clear'd the driuell from his beard and thus the Shepheards wooes.
I haue, sweet Wench, a peece of Cheese, as good as tooth may chaw,
And bread, and Wildings souling-well (and therewithall did draw
His Lardrie) and, in eating, see, you crumpled Ewe (quoth he)
Did twinne this fall, and twin shouldst thou, if I might tup with thee.
Thou art too eluish, faith thou art too eluish, and too coy:
Am I (I pray thee) beggerly that such a Flocke enioy?
I wis I am not: yeat that thou doest hold me in disdaine
Is brimme abroad, and made a gybe to all that keepe this Plaine.
There be as quaint (at least that thinke themselues as quaint) that craue
The Match, that thou (I wot not why) maist, but mislik'st to haue.
How wouldst thou match? (for, well I wot, thou art a Female) I,
Her know I not her that willingly with Maiden-head would die.
The Plowmans labour hath no end, and he a Churle will proue:
The Craftsman hath more worke in hand then fitteth vnto loue:
The Marchant, traffiquing abroad, suspects his wife at home:
A youth will play the Wanton, and an old man prooue a Mome.
Then chuse a Shepheard: with the Sun he doth his Flocke vnfold,
And all the day on Hill or Plaine he merrie chat can hold,
And with the Sun doth folde againe: then iogging home betime,
He turnes a Crab, or tunes a round, or sings some merrie ryme:
Nor lacks he gleefull tales, whil'st round the nut-brown Bole doth trot,
And sitteth singing care-away, till he to bed be got:
Theare sleepes he soundly all the night, forgetting Morrow-cares,
Nor feares he blasting of his Corne nor vttering of his wares,
Or stormes by seas, or stirres on land, or cracke of credite lost,
Not spending franklier then his Flocke shall still defray the cost:
Well wot I, sooth they say that say more quiet nights and daies
The Shepheard sleeps & wakes than he whose Cattel he doth graize.
Beleeue me, Lasse, a King is but a man, and so am I:
Content is worth a Monarchie, and mischiefes hit the hie:
As late it did a King and his, not dwelling farre from hence,
Who left a Daughter, (saue thy selfe) for faire a matchlesse wench:
(Here did he pause, as if his tongue had done his heart offence.)
And bread, and Wildings souling-well (and therewithall did draw
His Lardrie) and, in eating, see, you crumpled Ewe (quoth he)
Did twinne this fall, and twin shouldst thou, if I might tup with thee.
Thou art too eluish, faith thou art too eluish, and too coy:
Am I (I pray thee) beggerly that such a Flocke enioy?
I wis I am not: yeat that thou doest hold me in disdaine
Is brimme abroad, and made a gybe to all that keepe this Plaine.
There be as quaint (at least that thinke themselues as quaint) that craue
The Match, that thou (I wot not why) maist, but mislik'st to haue.
How wouldst thou match? (for, well I wot, thou art a Female) I,
Her know I not her that willingly with Maiden-head would die.
The Plowmans labour hath no end, and he a Churle will proue:
The Craftsman hath more worke in hand then fitteth vnto loue:
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A youth will play the Wanton, and an old man prooue a Mome.
Then chuse a Shepheard: with the Sun he doth his Flocke vnfold,
And all the day on Hill or Plaine he merrie chat can hold,
And with the Sun doth folde againe: then iogging home betime,
He turnes a Crab, or tunes a round, or sings some merrie ryme:
Nor lacks he gleefull tales, whil'st round the nut-brown Bole doth trot,
And sitteth singing care-away, till he to bed be got:
Theare sleepes he soundly all the night, forgetting Morrow-cares,
Nor feares he blasting of his Corne nor vttering of his wares,
Or stormes by seas, or stirres on land, or cracke of credite lost,
Not spending franklier then his Flocke shall still defray the cost:
Well wot I, sooth they say that say more quiet nights and daies
The Shepheard sleeps & wakes than he whose Cattel he doth graize.
Beleeue me, Lasse, a King is but a man, and so am I:
Content is worth a Monarchie, and mischiefes hit the hie:
As late it did a King and his, not dwelling farre from hence,
Who left a Daughter, (saue thy selfe) for faire a matchlesse wench:
(Here did he pause, as if his tongue had done his heart offence.)
The Neatresse, longing for the rest, did egge him on to tell
How faire she was, and who she was. She bore (quoth he) the bell
For Beautie: though I clownish am, I know what Beautie is,
Or did I not, yeat, seeing thee, I senceles were to mis.
Suppose her Beautie Hellens-like, or Hellens somewhat lesse,
And euery Starre consorting to a puer Complexion gesse:
Her stature comely tall, her gate well graced, and her wit
To maruell at, not meddle with, as matchles I omit:
A Globe-like head, a Gold like haire, a Forhead smooth and hie,
An euen Nose, on either side did shine a grayish Eie:
Two rosie Cheekes, round ruddy Lips, white iust-set Teeth within:
A mouth in meane, and vnderneath a round and dimpled Chin:
Her snowish necke with blewish Vaines stood bolt vpright vpon
Her portly shoulders: beating Balles, her vained Breasts, anon
Adde more to Beautie: wand-like was her middle, falling still,
And rising whereas women rise: but ouer-skip I will,
What Males in Females ouer-skip: imagine nothing ill:
And more, her long and limber armes had white and azure Wrists.
And slender Fingers aunswere to her smooth and lillie Fists:
A Legge in Print, a pretie Foot: coniecture of the rest,
For amorous Eies, obseruing forme, thinke parts obscured best.
With these (O Raretie) with these, her tong of speech was spaer,
But speaking, Venus seem'd to speake the Balle from Ide to baer:
With Phœbe Iuno, and with both her selfe contends in face:
Wheare equall mixture did not want of milde and stately grace:
Her smiles were sober, and her lookes were chearefull vnto all,
Euen such as neither wanton seeme, nor waiward, mell, nor gall:
A quiet minde, a patient mood, and not disdaining any:
Not gybing, gadding, gawdy, and sweete faculties had many:
A Nimph, no tong, no heart, no eie, might praise, might wish, might see,
For life, for loue, for forme, more good, more worth, more fair thē she:
Yea such an one, as such was none, saue onely she was such:
Of Argentile to say the most were to be silent much.
How faire she was, and who she was. She bore (quoth he) the bell
For Beautie: though I clownish am, I know what Beautie is,
Or did I not, yeat, seeing thee, I senceles were to mis.
Suppose her Beautie Hellens-like, or Hellens somewhat lesse,
And euery Starre consorting to a puer Complexion gesse:
Her stature comely tall, her gate well graced, and her wit
To maruell at, not meddle with, as matchles I omit:
A Globe-like head, a Gold like haire, a Forhead smooth and hie,
An euen Nose, on either side did shine a grayish Eie:
Two rosie Cheekes, round ruddy Lips, white iust-set Teeth within:
A mouth in meane, and vnderneath a round and dimpled Chin:
Her snowish necke with blewish Vaines stood bolt vpright vpon
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Adde more to Beautie: wand-like was her middle, falling still,
And rising whereas women rise: but ouer-skip I will,
What Males in Females ouer-skip: imagine nothing ill:
And more, her long and limber armes had white and azure Wrists.
And slender Fingers aunswere to her smooth and lillie Fists:
A Legge in Print, a pretie Foot: coniecture of the rest,
For amorous Eies, obseruing forme, thinke parts obscured best.
With these (O Raretie) with these, her tong of speech was spaer,
But speaking, Venus seem'd to speake the Balle from Ide to baer:
With Phœbe Iuno, and with both her selfe contends in face:
Wheare equall mixture did not want of milde and stately grace:
Her smiles were sober, and her lookes were chearefull vnto all,
Euen such as neither wanton seeme, nor waiward, mell, nor gall:
A quiet minde, a patient mood, and not disdaining any:
Not gybing, gadding, gawdy, and sweete faculties had many:
A Nimph, no tong, no heart, no eie, might praise, might wish, might see,
For life, for loue, for forme, more good, more worth, more fair thē she:
Yea such an one, as such was none, saue onely she was such:
Of Argentile to say the most were to be silent much.
I knew the Lady very well, but worthles of such praies,
The Neatresse said: and muse I do, a Shepheard thus should blaze
The Coote of Beautie: Credit me, thy latter speech bewraies
Thy clownish shape a coined shew. But wherefore doest thou weepe?
(The Shepheard wept, and she was woe, and both doth silence keepe,)
Introth, quoth he, I am not such as seeming I professe,
But then for her, and now for thee I from my selfe digresse:
Her loued I, (wretch that I am a Recreant to be)
I loued her that hated loue, but now I die for thee.
At Kirkland is my Fathers Court, and Curan is my name,
In Edels Court sometimes in pompe, till Loue contrould the same:
But now. What now? deare heart, how now? what ailest thou to weepe?
(The Damsell wept, and he was woe, and both did silence keepe.)
The Neatresse said: and muse I do, a Shepheard thus should blaze
The Coote of Beautie: Credit me, thy latter speech bewraies
Thy clownish shape a coined shew. But wherefore doest thou weepe?
(The Shepheard wept, and she was woe, and both doth silence keepe,)
Introth, quoth he, I am not such as seeming I professe,
But then for her, and now for thee I from my selfe digresse:
Her loued I, (wretch that I am a Recreant to be)
I loued her that hated loue, but now I die for thee.
At Kirkland is my Fathers Court, and Curan is my name,
In Edels Court sometimes in pompe, till Loue contrould the same:
But now. What now? deare heart, how now? what ailest thou to weepe?
(The Damsell wept, and he was woe, and both did silence keepe.)
98
I graunt, quoth she, it was too much, that you did loue so much:
But whom your former could not moue, your second loue doth touch:
Thy twise beloued Argentile submitteth her to thee,
And for thy double loue presents herselfe a single fee,
In passion, not in person chaung'd, and I, my Lord, am she:
They sweetely surfeiting in ioy, and silent for a space,
When as the Extasie had end did tenderly imbrace,
And for their wedding and their wish got fitting time and place.
But whom your former could not moue, your second loue doth touch:
Thy twise beloued Argentile submitteth her to thee,
And for thy double loue presents herselfe a single fee,
In passion, not in person chaung'd, and I, my Lord, am she:
They sweetely surfeiting in ioy, and silent for a space,
When as the Extasie had end did tenderly imbrace,
And for their wedding and their wish got fitting time and place.
Not England (for of Hengest then was named so this Land)
Then Curan had an hardier Knight, his force could none withstand,
Whose Sheep-hooke laid apart, he then had higher things in hand.
First, making knowne his lawfull claime in Argentile her right,
He war'd in Diria, and he wonne Brenitia too in fight:
And so from trecherous Edel tooke at once his life and Crowne,
And of Northumberland was King, long raigning in renowne.
Then Curan had an hardier Knight, his force could none withstand,
Whose Sheep-hooke laid apart, he then had higher things in hand.
First, making knowne his lawfull claime in Argentile her right,
He war'd in Diria, and he wonne Brenitia too in fight:
And so from trecherous Edel tooke at once his life and Crowne,
And of Northumberland was King, long raigning in renowne.
CHAP. XXI.
The
Saxons (that, in these discents, deriue from Gods and men,
Ioue, Minos, Geta, Flokwald, Flyn, Fredwolfe, Fræloffe, Woden,
(Each, as heere placed, others sonne) not onely Conquer heere,
But with their wandring Armies spoyle the World through-out welneere.
The English-Saxon Kings oppresse the mightier ones the weake:
Each trifling cause sufficing here their loue and leagues to breake.
One seazeth of his Neighbours Realme, and is disseaz'd ere-long:
For Empiresome, for Enuie some, and some to right their wrong
Contend vnto their common losse, and some like Monsters raine:
As Sigbert, who for tyrannie did banishment sustaine.
Ioue, Minos, Geta, Flokwald, Flyn, Fredwolfe, Fræloffe, Woden,
(Each, as heere placed, others sonne) not onely Conquer heere,
But with their wandring Armies spoyle the World through-out welneere.
The English-Saxon Kings oppresse the mightier ones the weake:
Each trifling cause sufficing here their loue and leagues to breake.
One seazeth of his Neighbours Realme, and is disseaz'd ere-long:
For Empiresome, for Enuie some, and some to right their wrong
99
As Sigbert, who for tyrannie did banishment sustaine.
He wandred vnbewailed long, a man whom men exempt
From house and helpe, pursuing him with capitall contempt:
Forlorne therefore, with drouping lims and dropping eies in vaine,
He frendles walks the fruitles Woods and foodles did complaine?
A Swineheard meeting him by chance, and pitying his estate,
Imploy'd that Westerne King, vnknowne, on his affaires to wait.
Nor did the needie King disdaine such roome, for such reliefe:
An vnder-Swineheardship did serue, he sought not to be chiefe.
But when by speech and circumstance, his Maister vnderstood,
His seruant was the somtimes King, blood cries (quoth he) for blood:
My giltles Master in thy pompe, thou Tyrant, diddest slay,
Nor vnreuenged of his death thou shalt escape away:
With that he tooke a Libbat vp, and beateth out his braines,
And, dead (so odious Tyrants be) not one for him complaines.
From house and helpe, pursuing him with capitall contempt:
Forlorne therefore, with drouping lims and dropping eies in vaine,
He frendles walks the fruitles Woods and foodles did complaine?
A Swineheard meeting him by chance, and pitying his estate,
Imploy'd that Westerne King, vnknowne, on his affaires to wait.
Nor did the needie King disdaine such roome, for such reliefe:
An vnder-Swineheardship did serue, he sought not to be chiefe.
But when by speech and circumstance, his Maister vnderstood,
His seruant was the somtimes King, blood cries (quoth he) for blood:
My giltles Master in thy pompe, thou Tyrant, diddest slay,
Nor vnreuenged of his death thou shalt escape away:
With that he tooke a Libbat vp, and beateth out his braines,
And, dead (so odious Tyrants be) not one for him complaines.
Not all so ill, yeat cause of worse vnto the English state,
Was Osbert of Northumberland: his loue did winne him hate.
Enamored on Lord Buerns wife, as tired in the Chace,
He left the Hounds, and with a fewe dismounts at Buerns Place.
Her Husband absent, heartely his Lady entertaines
The King, and feasts him royally, not sparing cost or paines.
But he that fed on fansies foode, and hungred whil'st he eates,
Thought Venus sparer in her loues then Ceres in her meates:
The Trayne and table voyded, than he taking her apart,
Directs her by his tongue and teares vnto his louing heart.
Delay, he sayth, breedeth doubts, deniall bringeth death,
Or do not long surcharge my blisse, or soone discharge my breath:
For if my praiers adde no edge vnto thy begged doome,
The vintage of my thriftlesse loue is blasted in the bloome:
Be fauourable to my fire: for thy sweete sake, be bolde,
I durst attempt euen Hell (if hell so sweete a thing might holde.)
Was Osbert of Northumberland: his loue did winne him hate.
Enamored on Lord Buerns wife, as tired in the Chace,
He left the Hounds, and with a fewe dismounts at Buerns Place.
Her Husband absent, heartely his Lady entertaines
The King, and feasts him royally, not sparing cost or paines.
But he that fed on fansies foode, and hungred whil'st he eates,
Thought Venus sparer in her loues then Ceres in her meates:
The Trayne and table voyded, than he taking her apart,
Directs her by his tongue and teares vnto his louing heart.
Delay, he sayth, breedeth doubts, deniall bringeth death,
Or do not long surcharge my blisse, or soone discharge my breath:
For if my praiers adde no edge vnto thy begged doome,
The vintage of my thriftlesse loue is blasted in the bloome:
Be fauourable to my fire: for thy sweete sake, be bolde,
I durst attempt euen Hell (if hell so sweete a thing might holde.)
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Doe thinke her coie, or thinke her chaste, my Censure I suspend:
No Woman yeeldeth at the first, yeat yeeldeth in the ende.
She gaue repulses to his lust, and he replies of Loue:
Not all the Writs Diana had might Cupids Plaintremoue.
She countermaunding his demaund, he ceased Courting now,
And did with her by violence what vertues disalow:
And then departed, leauing her in selfe-conceit disgraste:
More trespassed then some would thinke, and yeat perhas as chaste.
Home came her Lord, whose browes had buds, and found his wife in tears,
And (foolish thing) she told a troth, for which renēge he swears.
But so the man did proue a beast: he better might haue hid it,
Some such are mistically domme, yeat domly doe forbid it.
The Wiues escapes done secretly, if by the man detected,
Shews hilled būps (supposed būps) meere hornes, not hornes suspected.
At Denmarke in his Cosins Court, he telleth of his wrong:
And gaines against his soueraigne Lord of Danes an Armie strong:
Hungar and Hubba, and himselfe, Conductors of this Hoast,
Did with their forren forces land, and spoile the Northerne Coaste.
The vicious valiant Osbret (that had vanquished ere then
The King and Kingdome of the Scots) though wanting armes & men,
Thought skorne his foes should beard him so & bar him vp in walles,
And therefore, issuing out of Yorke, vpon the Danes he falles.
A bloodie Bargaine then begonne, no fight might fearcer be,
And of the Danish part were slaine for euery English three.
But manhood lost, and number wonne, the Danes they got the filde:
And Osbret dyed valiantly, that not to liue would yeeld.
No Woman yeeldeth at the first, yeat yeeldeth in the ende.
She gaue repulses to his lust, and he replies of Loue:
Not all the Writs Diana had might Cupids Plaintremoue.
She countermaunding his demaund, he ceased Courting now,
And did with her by violence what vertues disalow:
And then departed, leauing her in selfe-conceit disgraste:
More trespassed then some would thinke, and yeat perhas as chaste.
Home came her Lord, whose browes had buds, and found his wife in tears,
And (foolish thing) she told a troth, for which renēge he swears.
But so the man did proue a beast: he better might haue hid it,
Some such are mistically domme, yeat domly doe forbid it.
The Wiues escapes done secretly, if by the man detected,
Shews hilled būps (supposed būps) meere hornes, not hornes suspected.
At Denmarke in his Cosins Court, he telleth of his wrong:
And gaines against his soueraigne Lord of Danes an Armie strong:
Hungar and Hubba, and himselfe, Conductors of this Hoast,
Did with their forren forces land, and spoile the Northerne Coaste.
The vicious valiant Osbret (that had vanquished ere then
The King and Kingdome of the Scots) though wanting armes & men,
Thought skorne his foes should beard him so & bar him vp in walles,
And therefore, issuing out of Yorke, vpon the Danes he falles.
A bloodie Bargaine then begonne, no fight might fearcer be,
And of the Danish part were slaine for euery English three.
But manhood lost, and number wonne, the Danes they got the filde:
And Osbret dyed valiantly, that not to liue would yeeld.
Meane while the Danes with fresh supplies ariue at euery Shoore,
And warre almost in euery sheire infesting England soore:
With whome courragious Etheldred contended long in vaine:
By them was he, King Ella, and the holy Edmund slaine.
Nothing was done, but all vndone, till King Alured lie
In daunger of his Royall selfe did set his subiects free:
For euery day, in euery place, the Danes did so increase,
That he nor any English King enioy one day of peace.
Nor mightier men at Armes than they, might any wheare be found,
Who in their diuers Warr els-where did diuers Realmes confound:
For as the Gothes, the Vandales, Hunnes, and Saxons, earst did range,
So now the Danes did plague the world, as sent by interchange.
This Westerne and victorious King, and greatest Monarke heere,
Perceiuing of this spoyled Isle a toward Ruine neere,
Disguised like a Minstrill poore, did haunt the Danish Tents,
And with his feats and melodie the Enemie presents,
And of their sloth, their gluttonie, and Counsels priuie so,
He tooke aduantage, giuing them a sodayne ouerthrow:
And slayeth Hubba, Hungar, and the Cause of their repaer,
And putteth all to sword and Seas that vnbaptized waer.
Yeat to Northumberland return'd fearce Gurmond with the Danes,
Meane time did King Alured die, the Hatchet of their Tranes,
But Adelstane (one King betwixt) not onely clear'd the Land
Of Danes, but of all England had sole Empire in his hand,
And warre almost in euery sheire infesting England soore:
With whome courragious Etheldred contended long in vaine:
By them was he, King Ella, and the holy Edmund slaine.
Nothing was done, but all vndone, till King Alured lie
In daunger of his Royall selfe did set his subiects free:
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That he nor any English King enioy one day of peace.
Nor mightier men at Armes than they, might any wheare be found,
Who in their diuers Warr els-where did diuers Realmes confound:
For as the Gothes, the Vandales, Hunnes, and Saxons, earst did range,
So now the Danes did plague the world, as sent by interchange.
This Westerne and victorious King, and greatest Monarke heere,
Perceiuing of this spoyled Isle a toward Ruine neere,
Disguised like a Minstrill poore, did haunt the Danish Tents,
And with his feats and melodie the Enemie presents,
And of their sloth, their gluttonie, and Counsels priuie so,
He tooke aduantage, giuing them a sodayne ouerthrow:
And slayeth Hubba, Hungar, and the Cause of their repaer,
And putteth all to sword and Seas that vnbaptized waer.
Yeat to Northumberland return'd fearce Gurmond with the Danes,
Meane time did King Alured die, the Hatchet of their Tranes,
But Adelstane (one King betwixt) not onely clear'd the Land
Of Danes, but of all England had sole Empire in his hand,
Thus of this long dismembred Realme was he the onely King:
In which, till Egelred his raigne, did prosper euery thing,
He raigning, much of England then the lordly Danes did hold,
Exacting Tributes euery yeere, and selling Peace for Gold:
And (which no doubt did hatch those Plagues) the King a wicked one,
Did enter by his Brothers blood, extorting thus his Throne:
In which, till Egelred his raigne, did prosper euery thing,
He raigning, much of England then the lordly Danes did hold,
Exacting Tributes euery yeere, and selling Peace for Gold:
And (which no doubt did hatch those Plagues) the King a wicked one,
Did enter by his Brothers blood, extorting thus his Throne:
King
Edgar, that subdu'd the Scots, and slaughtered the Danes,
And of the Welch had tribute Wolffs, of whom it more remaines
That, as it were in Triumph-wise, Eight Vnder-kings did roe
Him, Sterns-man, on the Riuer Dee, with diuers honors moe,
This Edgar by a former wife had Edward, by an other
This Egelred, a Sonne vnto a kinde and cruell Mother:
For as she labors to preferre her owne by well and ill,
So to destroy her Son-in-law she wanted meanes, not will.
And meanes did hit. King Edward hunts, and hunting lost his Traine,
Whom, man-les, at her Castle Corfe the Queene did entertaine.
He hauing seene to whome he came in curtesie to see,
Made haste away, in Quest of them that still a hunting be:
And when he, mounted, should depart, to him his Stepdame drinkes:
Whom, pledging, him an Hierling stab'd, and life-les downe he sinkes.
And of the Welch had tribute Wolffs, of whom it more remaines
That, as it were in Triumph-wise, Eight Vnder-kings did roe
Him, Sterns-man, on the Riuer Dee, with diuers honors moe,
This Edgar by a former wife had Edward, by an other
This Egelred, a Sonne vnto a kinde and cruell Mother:
For as she labors to preferre her owne by well and ill,
So to destroy her Son-in-law she wanted meanes, not will.
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Whom, man-les, at her Castle Corfe the Queene did entertaine.
He hauing seene to whome he came in curtesie to see,
Made haste away, in Quest of them that still a hunting be:
And when he, mounted, should depart, to him his Stepdame drinkes:
Whom, pledging, him an Hierling stab'd, and life-les downe he sinkes.
Thus Egelred obtain'd the Crowne, but for his crowning so
His Subiects grudge, and he became a Preface to their woe.
For when this proud and vitious king was neither lou'd of his,
Nor liued safely for the Danes, his secret Edict is,
That sodainely, in one selfe hower, throughout the Land should passe charge
A common Massaker of Danes, which so performed was:
Hartfordiā Welwyn (Wealth-wyn then, for promptnesse in that
Beginning, other Townes as it themselues from Danes inlarge.
His Subiects grudge, and he became a Preface to their woe.
For when this proud and vitious king was neither lou'd of his,
Nor liued safely for the Danes, his secret Edict is,
That sodainely, in one selfe hower, throughout the Land should passe charge
A common Massaker of Danes, which so performed was:
Hartfordiā Welwyn (Wealth-wyn then, for promptnesse in that
Beginning, other Townes as it themselues from Danes inlarge.
CHAP. XXI
This common murther of the Danes was common mirth to all
The English whom they did oppresse with slaueries not small,
Compelling men by grieuous Draught as beasts to plough their Land,
Of whom the thraled English as of Fiends, in terror stand.
The Husband durst not vse his Wife if liked of a Dane,
Not House nor Goods, nor ought he had, for who resists was slaine:
That frankes and feedeth daintily, This pines and fareth ill,
And of his sweat that hath the sweete, and is imperious still.
Each house maintained such a Dane, that so they might preuent
Conspiracies, if any were, and grope how mindes were bent:
Lord Dane the same was called then, to them a pleasing name,
Now odiously Lur-dane say we, when idle Mates we blame.
When Swaine the Dacia King did hear his Danes were murthered so,
With bitter vowes he shipt his men for Englands ouerthroe:
And landing, spar'd nor shrine, nor Saint, nor Sex, nor any State,
Not wanting Aiders English-men, that held their King in hate.
Especially false Earicus the Admirall deceiues
His King and Countrey oftentimes, and Bribes of Swaine receiues:
And Egelred his cowardisse incouraged the Foe,
Till Swaine at length, for Masses great, was bribed hence to goe.
But making short returne, the Peeres of England that disdaine
Th' indignities of such a King, that did so feebly raigne,
Submit them Subiects vnto Swaine: and Egelred did flie
Vnto the Father of his Queene, the Duke of Normandie:
And Swaine, possessed of the land, did shortly after die.
The English whom they did oppresse with slaueries not small,
Compelling men by grieuous Draught as beasts to plough their Land,
Of whom the thraled English as of Fiends, in terror stand.
The Husband durst not vse his Wife if liked of a Dane,
Not House nor Goods, nor ought he had, for who resists was slaine:
That frankes and feedeth daintily, This pines and fareth ill,
And of his sweat that hath the sweete, and is imperious still.
Each house maintained such a Dane, that so they might preuent
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Lord Dane the same was called then, to them a pleasing name,
Now odiously Lur-dane say we, when idle Mates we blame.
When Swaine the Dacia King did hear his Danes were murthered so,
With bitter vowes he shipt his men for Englands ouerthroe:
And landing, spar'd nor shrine, nor Saint, nor Sex, nor any State,
Not wanting Aiders English-men, that held their King in hate.
Especially false Earicus the Admirall deceiues
His King and Countrey oftentimes, and Bribes of Swaine receiues:
And Egelred his cowardisse incouraged the Foe,
Till Swaine at length, for Masses great, was bribed hence to goe.
But making short returne, the Peeres of England that disdaine
Th' indignities of such a King, that did so feebly raigne,
Submit them Subiects vnto Swaine: and Egelred did flie
Vnto the Father of his Queene, the Duke of Normandie:
And Swaine, possessed of the land, did shortly after die.
His sonne Canutus, present here, had Seazen of the Crowne,
Till Egelred, returning back, by Armor puts him downe:
Who scarcely giueth breathing time, but that he back resailes
From Denmarke, and by force, by friends, and fortune here preuailes:
For in this Warre King Egelred did sicken and decease:
And then the broiles (Canutus king) did for a time decrease,
Till Edmund, sonne of Egelred, did interrupt that peace.
Conferring Armes to Edmonds age, when Egelred did lie
Till Egelred, returning back, by Armor puts him downe:
Who scarcely giueth breathing time, but that he back resailes
From Denmarke, and by force, by friends, and fortune here preuailes:
For in this Warre King Egelred did sicken and decease:
And then the broiles (Canutus king) did for a time decrease,
Till Edmund, sonne of Egelred, did interrupt that peace.
On death-bed, to his sonne he said: not quite forlorne am I,
Whose life hath had so much of griefe thus gratiously to dye.
Ad more, thy vertues glad my death, yeat two things greeue among,
To leaue my Kingdom so in Warres, and thee for Warres to young,
So may these troubles weare to none as thou doest waxe I pray,
And so possesse thy Fathers Seate that all approoue thy sway.
Not to be made a King (my Sonne) is so to make thee proude,
For Mildenes fitteth maiestie, high mindes are disaloude.
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Nor thinke that euerie King hath hap to die a happie death.
Let nature for perfection molde a Paragon each way,
Yeat death at last on finest lumps of liuing flesh will pray:
For nature neuer framed it, that neuer shall decay.
The brauest are as blossomes, and the longest Liuer dies,
And dead, the louelest Creature as the lothsom'st Carrion lies.
Then thinke not but that kings are men, and as the rest miscarrie,
Saue that their fame or infamie continually doth tarry.
Deeme past Examples Sentences, and (which did fayle in me)
Make vse of those not now in vse, for now will cease to be.
Attempt not things beyond thy reach, ioyne fortune to thy will:
Least Phœbus Chaire do else surcharge rath Phaeton his skill.
If Fortune helpe whom thou would'st hurt, fret not at it the more:
When Aiax stormed, then from him the Prize Vlysses bore.
Try friends by touch, a feeble friend may proue thy strōngest Foe:
Great Pompeis head to Cæsars hand it was betrayed so.
Admit thou hadst Pactolion waues, to land thee Golde at will,
Know Cræsus did to Cyrus kneele, and thou maist speed as ill.
Abandon lust, if not for sinne, yeat to auoid the shame:
So Hogges of Ithacus his men the Latian Witch did frame.
Be not to moody in thy wrath, but pause though fist be bent:
Oft Philips Sonne did rashly strike, and leisurely repent.
Content thee with vnthreatned Meane, and play not AEsops Dogge:
The Golde that gentle Bacchus gaue did greedy Mydas clogge.
Be valiant, not too ventrous, but fight to fight againe:
Euen Hercules did hold it ods for one to striue with twaine.
Be not ambitiously a King, nor grudgingly decline:
One God did roote out Cis his stock, and raise vp Iesses line.
Iest not with edge tooles, suffer Saints, let mightie Fooles be mad
Note, Seneca by Neroes doome for Precepts pennance had
Haue care to whom, of whom, & what to speak, though speech be trew;
That Misse made Phœbus contrary his Rauens Swan-like hew.
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Perillus was by Phalaris adiudg'd to self-taught paine.
Prayse not the beautie of thy Wife, though she of forme be sped:
For Gyges, moued so, did graft on Candaules his head,
Shunne Ielousie that heart-breake loue, if Cat will will goe to kind,
Be sure that Io hath a meanes that Argus shall be blind.
Commit not Treasure with thy Child to greedy minded men:
Thou leauest Polydor a spoyle to Polymnestor then.
Occurrants giue occasions still of like, in which be sure
To serue thy God, to saue thy selfe, and well to all procure.
Be vertuous, and assure thy selfe thou canst not then but thriue:
In onely vertue it is said, that men themselues suruiue.
As for the vicious such they are as is the heedlesse Flye,
That killes it selfe, and hurts his sight that hath her in his eye.
Farewell my Sonne, England farewell, thy neuer happy Prince
Doth take his leaue, an happy leaue, if taken so long since.
And, Edmond (burying not with me thy vertues, nor my speech)
I blesse thee in his blested Name whom I of blesse beseech,
Said Egelred: and shortly gaue a quiet gaspe or twaine,
And being dead, his noble Sonne succeeded him in Raigne.
This like himselfe, euen Knight like and an English-man indeed,
Did quickē Englands quailing Prowes, & Mars-like did proceed.
Abrauer Captaine than was he not any band might haue:
And yeat a Mars did match this Mars, Canutus was as braue.
These wonders of that age for Armes, and Diris of those daies,
Did often battell, equally to eithers losse and praies.
Now, after many bloody Fields, when none might estimate
The better or the worser part, a Knight that saw the state.
Then present, and by likelyhoods presaged what might fall,
Said (hearing it, the differing Kings and Souldiers almost all:)
We euer warre, and neuer winne, Edmund hath Fortitude,
Canutus Fortune, neither thus of other is subdude.
Death feares not vs, nor for their liues our Contraries doe care:
It followes then, that all must die wheare all so desprat are.
If all be slaine, then who shall serue our Princes that suruiue,
Or fence out Forrens? better one, then none of both should thriue.
To thriue therefore, were not a-misse, that seeing one of twaine
Will Owner all, that onely they the quarrell doe maintaine
Or if Combattensie not please, the Land is rich and large,
And they Copernicers may liue, and vs of death discharge.
If Combat nor Partition be, then will his Warre reuiue,
Till one, suruiuing all of vs, wants one with whom to striue.
This said, the Kings did marke and make a profit of the same,
And did conclude by Combacye to winne or loose the Game.
Did quickē Englands quailing Prowes, & Mars-like did proceed.
Abrauer Captaine than was he not any band might haue:
And yeat a Mars did match this Mars, Canutus was as braue.
These wonders of that age for Armes, and Diris of those daies,
Did often battell, equally to eithers losse and praies.
Now, after many bloody Fields, when none might estimate
The better or the worser part, a Knight that saw the state.
Then present, and by likelyhoods presaged what might fall,
Said (hearing it, the differing Kings and Souldiers almost all:)
We euer warre, and neuer winne, Edmund hath Fortitude,
Canutus Fortune, neither thus of other is subdude.
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It followes then, that all must die wheare all so desprat are.
If all be slaine, then who shall serue our Princes that suruiue,
Or fence out Forrens? better one, then none of both should thriue.
To thriue therefore, were not a-misse, that seeing one of twaine
Will Owner all, that onely they the quarrell doe maintaine
Or if Combattensie not please, the Land is rich and large,
And they Copernicers may liue, and vs of death discharge.
If Combat nor Partition be, then will his Warre reuiue,
Till one, suruiuing all of vs, wants one with whom to striue.
This said, the Kings did marke and make a profit of the same,
And did conclude by Combacye to winne or loose the Game.
Within a little Island neare (round which the Armies stand)
The Kingly Champions trie their Force, by fighting hand to hand:
They spur their Horses, breake their Speares, and beat at Barriers long
And then, dismounting, did renew a Battell braue and strong.
Whil'st eyther King thus Martially defends, and did offend,
They breathing, King Canutus said: we both I see shall end,
Ere Empire shall begin to one, then be it at thy choyce
To fight, or part. With it their Knights, crie out with common voyce,
Deuide, most valiant Kings, deuide, enough ye haue of Fight:
And so the Champions did embrace, forgetting malice quite.
The Kingly Champions trie their Force, by fighting hand to hand:
They spur their Horses, breake their Speares, and beat at Barriers long
And then, dismounting, did renew a Battell braue and strong.
Whil'st eyther King thus Martially defends, and did offend,
They breathing, King Canutus said: we both I see shall end,
Ere Empire shall begin to one, then be it at thy choyce
To fight, or part. With it their Knights, crie out with common voyce,
Deuide, most valiant Kings, deuide, enough ye haue of Fight:
And so the Champions did embrace, forgetting malice quite.
Partition equally was made betwixt these Princes twaine,
And Brother-like they liue and loue: till by a deu'lish traine,
Earle Edricus, a Traytor to the Father and the Sonne,
Did murther Edmund: and his head (supposing to haue wonne
The fauour of Canutus so) presenting said (O King)
For loue of thee I thus haue done. Amazed at the thing,
Canutus said, and for that thou hast headed him for me,
Thy head aboue all English heads exalted it shall be:
The Earle was headed, & his head poold vp for all to see.
And Brother-like they liue and loue: till by a deu'lish traine,
Earle Edricus, a Traytor to the Father and the Sonne,
Did murther Edmund: and his head (supposing to haue wonne
The fauour of Canutus so) presenting said (O King)
For loue of thee I thus haue done. Amazed at the thing,
Canutus said, and for that thou hast headed him for me,
Thy head aboue all English heads exalted it shall be:
The Earle was headed, & his head poold vp for all to see.
Of England, Danske, and Norway then Canut was perfect Lord,
And in this triple Regiment all with vertue did accord.
Harold & Hards-knought his Sonnes each th' other did succeed:
Of either which small certaine Fame of well or ill we reed,
Saue by their Raignes to English-men did grieuous thraldom breed.
But after Hardi-knought his death the Danes were chased hence,
Not intermedling with the state of England euer since.
And in this triple Regiment all with vertue did accord.
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Of either which small certaine Fame of well or ill we reed,
Saue by their Raignes to English-men did grieuous thraldom breed.
But after Hardi-knought his death the Danes were chased hence,
Not intermedling with the state of England euer since.
CHAP. XXII.
Of foresaid Egelred his Sonnes, Alured and his brother,
Was Edward King, (for Goodwins guile had made away that other.)
Religious, chaste, wise, fortunate, stout, francke, and milde was he,
And from all Taxes, wrongs, and Foes, did set his kingdome free.
By ouer-ruling of his Lords, intreating long the same,
Least, dying Issulesse, he leaue succession out of frame,
He tooke to Queene a Damsell faire: howbeit, by consent,
In vowes of secret chastitie their louing liues they spent.
The Father of this maiden-wife, he sitting by the King,
And seeing one that stumbled, but not falling, vp to spring,
Did laughing say, the brother theare the brother well hath eas'd,
(His meaning was the Stumblers feete:) And haddest thou so pleas'd,
So had my Brother, quoth the King, bin easing vnto me.
The traitrous Earle tooke bread and said, so this digested be
As I am guiltlesse of his death: these words he scarcely spoke,
But that in presence of the King the bread did Goodwyn choke.
Was Edward King, (for Goodwins guile had made away that other.)
Religious, chaste, wise, fortunate, stout, francke, and milde was he,
And from all Taxes, wrongs, and Foes, did set his kingdome free.
By ouer-ruling of his Lords, intreating long the same,
Least, dying Issulesse, he leaue succession out of frame,
He tooke to Queene a Damsell faire: howbeit, by consent,
In vowes of secret chastitie their louing liues they spent.
The Father of this maiden-wife, he sitting by the King,
And seeing one that stumbled, but not falling, vp to spring,
Did laughing say, the brother theare the brother well hath eas'd,
(His meaning was the Stumblers feete:) And haddest thou so pleas'd,
So had my Brother, quoth the King, bin easing vnto me.
The traitrous Earle tooke bread and said, so this digested be
As I am guiltlesse of his death: these words he scarcely spoke,
But that in presence of the King the bread did Goodwyn choke.
His sonne Harold, by Hardi-knoughts late daughter, him suruiues,
He, crossed by contrary winds, in Normandie ariues,
Where Goodwins Sonne did take an oth, Duke William vrging so,
To keepe vnto the Duke his vse, when Edward hence should go,
The Crowne of England (claimed by Adeption, and by blood.)
But Harold after Edwards death, not to his promise stood:
And for he was in wealth, in friends, in blood, and Armor strong,
And title had his Mothers right he forced not the wrong:
But arming him against the Duke, so vrged vnto wroth,
Did seaze the Crowne vnto himselfe, contrary to his oth.
Whil'st William therefore works for war, King Harold had not rest,
For Harold Hare foote, King of Danes and Norwaies, much opprest
The English with his puissant Bands. But Harold him assailes,
And after fearce and doubtfull fight most valiantly preuailes,
And with the Norgaine Prince he slew his people almost all:
When, for deuision of the spoyle, did much contention fall
Betwixt the King and Englishmen, and many a noble knight
Not onely murmur and maligne, but did forsake him quight.
Such malice growing, William with his Normanes taking land,
Found hot-spur Harold prest in Armes, his puissance to withstand:
And either battell Marshalled, as either Captaine wild,
The King of England eagerly the Normane Oste behild,
And with his cheerefull speeches thus his men with courage fild.
He, crossed by contrary winds, in Normandie ariues,
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To keepe vnto the Duke his vse, when Edward hence should go,
The Crowne of England (claimed by Adeption, and by blood.)
But Harold after Edwards death, not to his promise stood:
And for he was in wealth, in friends, in blood, and Armor strong,
And title had his Mothers right he forced not the wrong:
But arming him against the Duke, so vrged vnto wroth,
Did seaze the Crowne vnto himselfe, contrary to his oth.
Whil'st William therefore works for war, King Harold had not rest,
For Harold Hare foote, King of Danes and Norwaies, much opprest
The English with his puissant Bands. But Harold him assailes,
And after fearce and doubtfull fight most valiantly preuailes,
And with the Norgaine Prince he slew his people almost all:
When, for deuision of the spoyle, did much contention fall
Betwixt the King and Englishmen, and many a noble knight
Not onely murmur and maligne, but did forsake him quight.
Such malice growing, William with his Normanes taking land,
Found hot-spur Harold prest in Armes, his puissance to withstand:
And either battell Marshalled, as either Captaine wild,
The King of England eagerly the Normane Oste behild,
And with his cheerefull speeches thus his men with courage fild.
See valiant (War-friends) yonder be the first, the last, and all
The Agents of our Enemies, they hencefoorth cannot call
Supplies: for weedes at Normandie by this in Porches groe:
Then Conquer these would Conquer you, and dread no further Foe.
They are no stouter than the Brutes, whom we did hence exile:
Nor stronger than the sturdy Danes, or victory er while:
Not Saxonie could once containe, or scarce the world beside
Our fathers, who did sway by sword where lifted them to bide:
Then doe not yee degenerate, take courage by discent,
And by their burialles, not abode, their force and flight preuent.
Yee haue in hand your Countries cause, a Conquest they pretend,
Which (were yee not the same yee be) euen Cowards would defend.
I graunt that part of vs are fled and linked to the Foe,
And glad I am our Armie is of Traytours cleered so:
Yea pardon hath he to depart that stayeth mal-content:
I prize the mind aboue the man, like zeale hath like euent.
Yeat troth it is, no well or ill this Iland euer had,
But through the well or ill Support of Subiects good or bad:
Not Cæsar, Hengest, Swayn, or now (which neretheles shall fayle)
The Normane Bastard (Albion true) did, could, or can preuayle.
But to be selfe-false in this Isle a selfe-Foe euer is,
Yeat wot I, neuer Traytour did his Treasons Stipend mis.
Shrinke who will shrinke, let Armors wayte presse downe the burdned earth,
My Foes, with wondring eies, shall see I ouer-prize my death.
But since ye all (for all, I hope, a like affected bee,
Your Wiues, your Children, liues, and Land from seruitude to free)
Are Armed both in shew and zeale, then gloriously contend,
To winne and weare the home-brought Spoyles, of Victorie the end.
Let not the Skinners daughter Sonne possesse what he pretends,
He liues to die a noble death that life for freedome spends.
The Agents of our Enemies, they hencefoorth cannot call
Supplies: for weedes at Normandie by this in Porches groe:
Then Conquer these would Conquer you, and dread no further Foe.
They are no stouter than the Brutes, whom we did hence exile:
Nor stronger than the sturdy Danes, or victory er while:
Not Saxonie could once containe, or scarce the world beside
Our fathers, who did sway by sword where lifted them to bide:
Then doe not yee degenerate, take courage by discent,
And by their burialles, not abode, their force and flight preuent.
Yee haue in hand your Countries cause, a Conquest they pretend,
Which (were yee not the same yee be) euen Cowards would defend.
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And glad I am our Armie is of Traytours cleered so:
Yea pardon hath he to depart that stayeth mal-content:
I prize the mind aboue the man, like zeale hath like euent.
Yeat troth it is, no well or ill this Iland euer had,
But through the well or ill Support of Subiects good or bad:
Not Cæsar, Hengest, Swayn, or now (which neretheles shall fayle)
The Normane Bastard (Albion true) did, could, or can preuayle.
But to be selfe-false in this Isle a selfe-Foe euer is,
Yeat wot I, neuer Traytour did his Treasons Stipend mis.
Shrinke who will shrinke, let Armors wayte presse downe the burdned earth,
My Foes, with wondring eies, shall see I ouer-prize my death.
But since ye all (for all, I hope, a like affected bee,
Your Wiues, your Children, liues, and Land from seruitude to free)
Are Armed both in shew and zeale, then gloriously contend,
To winne and weare the home-brought Spoyles, of Victorie the end.
Let not the Skinners daughter Sonne possesse what he pretends,
He liues to die a noble death that life for freedome spends.
As Harold hartned thus his men, so did the Normane his:
And looking wishly on the earth, Duke William speaketh this.
To liue vpon or lie within this is my Ground or Graue
(My louing Souldiers) one of twaine your Duke resolues to haue.
Nor be ye Normanes now to seeke in what you should be stout,
Ye come amidst the English Pikes to hewe your honors out,
Ye come to winne the same by Launce, that is your owne by law,
Ye come, I say, in righteous warre reuenging swords to draw.
Howbeit of more hardie Foes no passed Fight hath spead yee,
Since Rollo to your now-Abode with Bands victorious lead yee,
Or Turchus, Sonne of Troylus, in Scythian Fazo bread yee.
Then worthy your Progenitors yee Seede of Pryams sonne
Exployt this businesse, Rollons do that which yee wish be done.
Three People haue as many times got and forgone this shore,
It resteth now yee Conquer it not to be Conqured more:
For Normane and the Saxon Blood conioyning, as it may,
From that consorted Seede the Crowne shall neuer passe away.
Before vs are our armed Foes, behind vs are the Seas,
On either side the Foe hath Holdes of succour and for ease:
But that Aduantage shall returne their Disaduantage thus,
If ye obserue no shore is left the which may shelter vs,
And so hold out amidst the Rough whil'st they hale in for Lee,
Whereas, whil'st men securely sayle, not seldome shipwracks bee.
What should I cite your passed Acts, or tediously incence
To present Armes? your faces shew your hearts conceiue offence,
Yea euen your courages deuine a Conquest not to faile,
Hope then your Duke doth prophecie, and in that hope preuaile.
A People braue, a terren Heauen, both Obiects wroth your warres.
Shall be the Prizes of your Prow's, and mount your fame to Starres.
Let not a Traytors periur'd Sonne extrude vs from our right:
He dyes to liue a famous life, that doth for Conquest fight.
And looking wishly on the earth, Duke William speaketh this.
To liue vpon or lie within this is my Ground or Graue
(My louing Souldiers) one of twaine your Duke resolues to haue.
Nor be ye Normanes now to seeke in what you should be stout,
Ye come amidst the English Pikes to hewe your honors out,
Ye come to winne the same by Launce, that is your owne by law,
Ye come, I say, in righteous warre reuenging swords to draw.
Howbeit of more hardie Foes no passed Fight hath spead yee,
Since Rollo to your now-Abode with Bands victorious lead yee,
Or Turchus, Sonne of Troylus, in Scythian Fazo bread yee.
Then worthy your Progenitors yee Seede of Pryams sonne
Exployt this businesse, Rollons do that which yee wish be done.
Three People haue as many times got and forgone this shore,
It resteth now yee Conquer it not to be Conqured more:
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From that consorted Seede the Crowne shall neuer passe away.
Before vs are our armed Foes, behind vs are the Seas,
On either side the Foe hath Holdes of succour and for ease:
But that Aduantage shall returne their Disaduantage thus,
If ye obserue no shore is left the which may shelter vs,
And so hold out amidst the Rough whil'st they hale in for Lee,
Whereas, whil'st men securely sayle, not seldome shipwracks bee.
What should I cite your passed Acts, or tediously incence
To present Armes? your faces shew your hearts conceiue offence,
Yea euen your courages deuine a Conquest not to faile,
Hope then your Duke doth prophecie, and in that hope preuaile.
A People braue, a terren Heauen, both Obiects wroth your warres.
Shall be the Prizes of your Prow's, and mount your fame to Starres.
Let not a Traytors periur'd Sonne extrude vs from our right:
He dyes to liue a famous life, that doth for Conquest fight.
By this the furious Battels ioyne, a bloody day to eyther,
And long they fight, the victory inclining vnto neyther:
At length the English had the ods, who keeping close aray,
Vnto the Duchie Forces gaue no entraunce any way:
Who fayning feare, and martially retyring, as opprest,
The English so became secure, and follow on disperst:
To which aduantage, furiously the Normans did returne,
And got a bloody victorie. In vaine the English spurne
Amidst the Pikes against the pricke: King Harold then was slayne:
From whom began the Normans sole, but soone conioyned rayne:
For second Henry, Mawd her Sonne, freed Englands blood agayne.
Since when (and euer may they so) that Of-spring ruled vs,
Of whose Coniunction in the Crowne, the Genalogue is thus:
King Edmund Irn-side Issue had Edward the Out law, he
Had Margaret, Mawd, by Malcolme (then the King of Scots) had she,
Mawd to the Conqueror his Sonne, first Henry, Mawd did beire,
This second Mawd, the Angeos wife, had second Henry heire.
And long they fight, the victory inclining vnto neyther:
At length the English had the ods, who keeping close aray,
Vnto the Duchie Forces gaue no entraunce any way:
Who fayning feare, and martially retyring, as opprest,
The English so became secure, and follow on disperst:
To which aduantage, furiously the Normans did returne,
And got a bloody victorie. In vaine the English spurne
Amidst the Pikes against the pricke: King Harold then was slayne:
From whom began the Normans sole, but soone conioyned rayne:
For second Henry, Mawd her Sonne, freed Englands blood agayne.
Since when (and euer may they so) that Of-spring ruled vs,
Of whose Coniunction in the Crowne, the Genalogue is thus:
King Edmund Irn-side Issue had Edward the Out law, he
Had Margaret, Mawd, by Malcolme (then the King of Scots) had she,
Mawd to the Conqueror his Sonne, first Henry, Mawd did beire,
This second Mawd, the Angeos wife, had second Henry heire.
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Who present and succeeding times thus, dying, did vnfold:
It is a world to note (quoth he) the waies that men adore,
And how Hypocrisie hath bred of Godlike Deuils store,
That speake to seeme, that seeme to shift, that shift to spoyle by guile,
That smooth, & sooth, & yeat deceiue with Scriptum est meane while.
But let them heaue their hands to Heauen, they haue their hier in Hell
That seeme deuout to cloake deceit, and say but do not well.
The Rich are retchles in their willes, their liking is for law:
The Poore repine, and Goods, not theirs, by idle shiftings claw:
The Lords and landed ouer-rent, and cunningly the same
The Parasite doth ouer-reach, and beares away the game:
One riseth by anothers fall, and some doe clime so fast,
That in the Clowdes they doe forget what Climates they haue past:
But Eagle-winged mindes that fly to nestle in the Sunne,
Their lofty heads haue leaden heeles, and end where they begun.
It is a common point on which the aged grossely ronne,
Once to haue dared, said, and seene, more then was euer done.
The Youth are foolish-hardie, or lesse hardy then they ought,
Effeminate, phantastick, and in few not few are nought.
At Cyprus not the wanton Saint nor yeat her wylie Sonne
Did want her Orgies, nor at Rome did Vesta lacke her Nonne,
The Lampsacens gaue Pryapus his filthy Rites, and Create
To Ioue his Bulles, and Sicilie to Ceres tithed Wheat,
The Thracians with their Bacchanales did Lybers Temple fill,
And Italie did blood of Babes on Saturnes Altars spill,
And fatall wreathes of Myrtill boughes were sacred vnto Dys,
In fewe, there was no Pagane God his Sacrifice did mis:
But English-men, nay christian men, not onely seeme prophane,
But Man to Man, as Beast to Beast, holds ciuill dueties vaine:
Yea Pulpits some, like Pedlers packs, yeeld foorth as men affect,
And what a Synode shall conclude a Sowter will correct.
The rude thus boasting Litrature, one Schisme begets another,
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Meane while the learned want their Meed, & none with profit heares
The tedious Doult, whose artles tong doth preach to weary eares.
Here could I enter in a Field of matter more then much,
But gesse that all is out of frame, and long time hath bin such,
And what shall be let time disclose, This onely will I touch:
A Greene tree, cut from withered Stock, deuided Furlongs three
From proper roote, it shall reioyne and after fruitfull bee,
Said then the King, And thus doe some expound that Prophesee:
The Tree this Land, the Stock and Roote the thralled English line:
King Harold and the Williams twaine the Furlongs, some define,
Henry the Normane that begot on Mawde his English Queene
Mawde second Henries Mother, was the Trees returne to greene.
King Stephen first, though not so firme, did in this Turne proceed:
But second Henrie perfectly restalled Wodens Seed.
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