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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CHAP. XX.
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CHAP. XX.
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,
94
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.
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CHAP. XX.
Albions England | |