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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| 5. | THE FIFTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND. |
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| XXVIII. |
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 | Albions England |  |
113
THE FIFTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.
CHAP. XXIII.
Assisted by the former Boone persist, my Muse, and tell,
How, by the Normane Conquest, here an other world befell:
New lawes (not Labyrinths as now through wrested Quirkes) came in,
New Lords also, at whom, for most, our auncient Crests begin.
The English sinke, the Normans swimme, all topsie-turuie was,
Vntill the Conqueror had brought his whole command to pas.
How, by the Normane Conquest, here an other world befell:
New lawes (not Labyrinths as now through wrested Quirkes) came in,
New Lords also, at whom, for most, our auncient Crests begin.
The English sinke, the Normans swimme, all topsie-turuie was,
Vntill the Conqueror had brought his whole command to pas.
Then was one Edgar, sonne vnto the out-law Edward, he
To holy Edward had beene heire, had not King Harold be:
And William, pleading too by sword, admits no milder law:
So Edgar in his soonest flight his safest issue saw:
Who, with his mother (daughter to the King of Hungarie)
And Sisters did attempt into his Grandsiers Realme to flie.
Thus Englands hope with Englands Heire in one same Barke did sayle,
When desprate from their villanage was English blood of baile.
But God (that to the hopeles is not helples, if he please)
Did driue the storm-beate Engliship into the Scottish Seas,
Wheare, cast a shore King Malcolme soone had notice of the wracke,
And did become a gracious Lord vnto their present lacke:
And (Agatha a Votarisse) tooke Margaret to Queene,
Protects her brother, euen by Armes, against king Williams teene:
Vntill by warre and wise conuay he so to passe did bring
That Edgar reconciled was vnto the English King:
In credit, though withheld his Crowne, and thus, at least, did good:
His flight scotch-Queen'd his Sister, she rengraded Englands blood.
For let we Edgar (gainst the haer preserued, as exprest)
And either William, luckie Knights at armes, interred, rest,
And set first Williams yoongest sonne, first Henry, on the Throne,
Through him, the royall-English and the Normane bloods grew one.
On Mawd scotch-Malcomes daughter, by the foresaid Margret he
Had Mawd, that solie did suruiue her drowned brothers three,
Her (Empresse to the Emperour, then newly being ded)
Did Geffrey Plantaganet the Earle of Anioy wed,
And she vnto Plantaganet did second Henry beire,
Of England, Angeo, Gascoyne, and of Normandie the heire.
Yeat Stephen, first-Williams daughters-son, whom th' Earle of Bloys did marry,
Did with the Empresse and her son now King now Captiue varry:
But lastly, tyred, and inter'd, England by Stephens death
Was quietly second Henries, who was lawfulst heire by birth.
To holy Edward had beene heire, had not King Harold be:
And William, pleading too by sword, admits no milder law:
So Edgar in his soonest flight his safest issue saw:
Who, with his mother (daughter to the King of Hungarie)
And Sisters did attempt into his Grandsiers Realme to flie.
Thus Englands hope with Englands Heire in one same Barke did sayle,
When desprate from their villanage was English blood of baile.
But God (that to the hopeles is not helples, if he please)
Did driue the storm-beate Engliship into the Scottish Seas,
Wheare, cast a shore King Malcolme soone had notice of the wracke,
114
And (Agatha a Votarisse) tooke Margaret to Queene,
Protects her brother, euen by Armes, against king Williams teene:
Vntill by warre and wise conuay he so to passe did bring
That Edgar reconciled was vnto the English King:
In credit, though withheld his Crowne, and thus, at least, did good:
His flight scotch-Queen'd his Sister, she rengraded Englands blood.
For let we Edgar (gainst the haer preserued, as exprest)
And either William, luckie Knights at armes, interred, rest,
And set first Williams yoongest sonne, first Henry, on the Throne,
Through him, the royall-English and the Normane bloods grew one.
On Mawd scotch-Malcomes daughter, by the foresaid Margret he
Had Mawd, that solie did suruiue her drowned brothers three,
Her (Empresse to the Emperour, then newly being ded)
Did Geffrey Plantaganet the Earle of Anioy wed,
And she vnto Plantaganet did second Henry beire,
Of England, Angeo, Gascoyne, and of Normandie the heire.
Yeat Stephen, first-Williams daughters-son, whom th' Earle of Bloys did marry,
Did with the Empresse and her son now King now Captiue varry:
But lastly, tyred, and inter'd, England by Stephens death
Was quietly second Henries, who was lawfulst heire by birth.
With Hengests blood our droupen Muse it also now reuiues
For harshly sounds our Poeame saue in matter where it thriues.
Let be your bitten Vine, we here a blisfull Vintage gaine,
That did, and doth, and euermore vnblasted may remaine:
For this coriuall seed begot England English againe.
From whence we note what Scepters, what discents, and turnes befell:
Lesse pleasing vnto some, perhaps, than toyes which many tell,
That but of phansies, women, loues, and wantonnes can sing:
Frō which their tunes but pipp their tongs & then they hang the wing.
For harshly sounds our Poeame saue in matter where it thriues.
Let be your bitten Vine, we here a blisfull Vintage gaine,
That did, and doth, and euermore vnblasted may remaine:
For this coriuall seed begot England English againe.
From whence we note what Scepters, what discents, and turnes befell:
Lesse pleasing vnto some, perhaps, than toyes which many tell,
That but of phansies, women, loues, and wantonnes can sing:
Frō which their tunes but pipp their tongs & then they hang the wing.
This second Henry, mightie both in Empire and in Armes,
Was onely by his Cleargie crost with vnbeseeming harmes.
Perplexed therefore at th' Apeales that waiward Becket made,
To some, demaunding his disease, at Normandie he sayd:
Our Popes that seeme (they do but seeme) Saint Peter to succeede
(Who did denie, although deserue, high Styles to him decree'd)
Are quite vnlike to Peter and Popes thirty three fore-past
Who liu'd in miserie and died by Martyrdome at last.
Now neede not Tyrants, Popes to Popes be Tyrants, and they all
Doe wrest euen Principalities submissiue to their Pall.
Peter did sinne, and, sinning, to repentante teares did flye:
Popes sinne not, but to others sinnes giue pardon (els they lye.)
Christ washed feet, Kings kisse their feet, Christ gaue to Cæsar his,
They take, and say that either Sword in their subiection is.
The Pope did so our mothers Pheare, the Emperour, intreate
As that his proud attempts I shame and sorrow to repeate.
What cite I forraine matters, when our natiue Stories yeeld
Of myters medling with our Sword an ouerplenteous feeld?
We offer Tapers, pay our Tythes and Vowes, we Pilgrims goe
To euery Sainct, at euery shrine we Offrings doe bestoe,
We kisse the Pix, we creepe the Crosse, our Beades we ouer-runne,
The Couent hath a Legacie, who so is left vndone:
We fast the Eaue, we feast the day of euery Saint they make,
Their houslings, Shrifts, and Sacraments most reuerently we take,
By tale we say Orysons, and to words vnknowne Amen,
The Quier doth chaunt, we knock our brests, we bow and crosse vs the,
Their skaer-Spright water, boxed Boans, their hoasts, and what not brings
The Priest, the Fier, or Pardoner we count not holy things?
We seat them in our fattest Soyles for Pasture, wood, and spring,
We lodge them safe in stately walles, we sorrowing when they sing.
Their Belles call them from easie beds to sing in gownes as warme,
But Larums vs from restles Campes, by wounds, to heale their harme.
And meete is so, but meete also that they, protected thus,
Be not vnquiet, but for their quiet pray for and further vs.
When our great Grād-sier thought this Isle by Cōquest cleerly wōne,
And entred Kent, what earst he did did seeme in Kent vndone:
A moouing wood stole marching on, and hem'd his Armie round,
When al at once, their boughes cast downe, was heard a warlike soūd,
That to the Normanes did disclose an Armie ordered well,
Resolu'd to die, rather then leaue the lawes where they did dwell,
(For so, in way of Parlie, did their mytred Stygand tell.)
Their Bishop, their Contriuer, and their chiefe Conduct was he,
By whose deuise the Conqueror, intrapped, did agree
To ratifie the lawes of Kent such as they were, and be.
But, bearing in a common good with Crosiers crossing Crownes,
Proud Anselme in our Vncles raigne did farre exceede the bownes
Of Prelacie or pietie (for Church-men should be meeke:
Yeat some in practise leaue what they of vs in preaching seeke:
For they that bid me doe, and doe themselues the good they bid,
Doe leade me to the substantiue, and leaue me not in quid)
Yea, either of our Vncles thriu'd in Forraine Conquests more,
Than gainst their Church-men, setting al their Kingdome in vprore.
One Prelate wrought the Pope to curse & crosse his Prince with foes,
Twixt others long ambitious Pleas for Primacie aroes,
And now, through Becket, to our selfe no lesser damage groes.
I haue had hardy Knights for warres, and helpfull friends in peace,
Yeat helples friends, and hartles Knights this cleargie-pride to cease.
Was onely by his Cleargie crost with vnbeseeming harmes.
115
To some, demaunding his disease, at Normandie he sayd:
Our Popes that seeme (they do but seeme) Saint Peter to succeede
(Who did denie, although deserue, high Styles to him decree'd)
Are quite vnlike to Peter and Popes thirty three fore-past
Who liu'd in miserie and died by Martyrdome at last.
Now neede not Tyrants, Popes to Popes be Tyrants, and they all
Doe wrest euen Principalities submissiue to their Pall.
Peter did sinne, and, sinning, to repentante teares did flye:
Popes sinne not, but to others sinnes giue pardon (els they lye.)
Christ washed feet, Kings kisse their feet, Christ gaue to Cæsar his,
They take, and say that either Sword in their subiection is.
The Pope did so our mothers Pheare, the Emperour, intreate
As that his proud attempts I shame and sorrow to repeate.
What cite I forraine matters, when our natiue Stories yeeld
Of myters medling with our Sword an ouerplenteous feeld?
We offer Tapers, pay our Tythes and Vowes, we Pilgrims goe
To euery Sainct, at euery shrine we Offrings doe bestoe,
We kisse the Pix, we creepe the Crosse, our Beades we ouer-runne,
The Couent hath a Legacie, who so is left vndone:
We fast the Eaue, we feast the day of euery Saint they make,
Their houslings, Shrifts, and Sacraments most reuerently we take,
By tale we say Orysons, and to words vnknowne Amen,
The Quier doth chaunt, we knock our brests, we bow and crosse vs the,
Their skaer-Spright water, boxed Boans, their hoasts, and what not brings
The Priest, the Fier, or Pardoner we count not holy things?
We seat them in our fattest Soyles for Pasture, wood, and spring,
We lodge them safe in stately walles, we sorrowing when they sing.
Their Belles call them from easie beds to sing in gownes as warme,
But Larums vs from restles Campes, by wounds, to heale their harme.
And meete is so, but meete also that they, protected thus,
116
When our great Grād-sier thought this Isle by Cōquest cleerly wōne,
And entred Kent, what earst he did did seeme in Kent vndone:
A moouing wood stole marching on, and hem'd his Armie round,
When al at once, their boughes cast downe, was heard a warlike soūd,
That to the Normanes did disclose an Armie ordered well,
Resolu'd to die, rather then leaue the lawes where they did dwell,
(For so, in way of Parlie, did their mytred Stygand tell.)
Their Bishop, their Contriuer, and their chiefe Conduct was he,
By whose deuise the Conqueror, intrapped, did agree
To ratifie the lawes of Kent such as they were, and be.
But, bearing in a common good with Crosiers crossing Crownes,
Proud Anselme in our Vncles raigne did farre exceede the bownes
Of Prelacie or pietie (for Church-men should be meeke:
Yeat some in practise leaue what they of vs in preaching seeke:
For they that bid me doe, and doe themselues the good they bid,
Doe leade me to the substantiue, and leaue me not in quid)
Yea, either of our Vncles thriu'd in Forraine Conquests more,
Than gainst their Church-men, setting al their Kingdome in vprore.
One Prelate wrought the Pope to curse & crosse his Prince with foes,
Twixt others long ambitious Pleas for Primacie aroes,
And now, through Becket, to our selfe no lesser damage groes.
I haue had hardy Knights for warres, and helpfull friends in peace,
Yeat helples friends, and hartles Knights this cleargie-pride to cease.
These words heard diuers present Knights, who vexed at the wrong,
Did, cleane vnwitting to the King, ariue in Kent ere long,
And at S Bennits Altar, in the Minster of his Sea,
At sacring for a sacrifice the sawcie Clerke did slea?
Which heard, the Pope canonized the stir-strif Priest a Saint,
Insencing Kings against our King, till warres made Henry faynt.
Then humbled vnto haughty Priests as Legats sent from Rome
He basely bowes, and they to him for begged Pennance dome
Purs-payne and heathen battels, and (which worser was decreed)
Barefoote he went, whom Monkes did whip till feete and body bleed:
Barefoote to Iurie fare the Knights, so dying for their deed:
Nor might they mend it, for as bad euen Emperors did speed.
Did, cleane vnwitting to the King, ariue in Kent ere long,
And at S Bennits Altar, in the Minster of his Sea,
At sacring for a sacrifice the sawcie Clerke did slea?
Which heard, the Pope canonized the stir-strif Priest a Saint,
Insencing Kings against our King, till warres made Henry faynt.
Then humbled vnto haughty Priests as Legats sent from Rome
He basely bowes, and they to him for begged Pennance dome
Purs-payne and heathen battels, and (which worser was decreed)
117
Barefoote to Iurie fare the Knights, so dying for their deed:
Nor might they mend it, for as bad euen Emperors did speed.
CHAP. XXV.
The Kings fayre Leiman Rosamund, and how his Sonnes rebell
I ouer-passe. To Richard next the Dyadem befel.
He did in Cypris, Sycil, and in Syria warre & win:
Whose glory his confederate Peeres to enuie did beginne:
And, warring with the Soldan, left the English King behinde:
Who left not fighting till he forst Conditions to his minde,
And of Ierusalem was King. But as he did returne,
The Austrich Duke, (whose reared flagge our wronged king did spurne
From Acon wals, his Victorie,) did Richard intercept,
And him in easelesse prison for reuenge and raunsome kept.
I ouer-passe. To Richard next the Dyadem befel.
He did in Cypris, Sycil, and in Syria warre & win:
Whose glory his confederate Peeres to enuie did beginne:
And, warring with the Soldan, left the English King behinde:
Who left not fighting till he forst Conditions to his minde,
And of Ierusalem was King. But as he did returne,
The Austrich Duke, (whose reared flagge our wronged king did spurne
From Acon wals, his Victorie,) did Richard intercept,
And him in easelesse prison for reuenge and raunsome kept.
The Duke his daughter, as the King did theare a Captiue lie,
Did labour strongly in the loue she would but could not flie:
And sighing wept, and weeping spake, and speaking thus she said:
Richard through hate, through loue am I to diffring bands betrayd.
My haruest hangeth in the grasse, and ere the proofe may blast,
Or clew-led Theseus, from the denne of Minotaurus past,
To farre more harder starres than was poore Ariadne left
Leaue me he may, of all, yea more than all, of him bereft.
Sweete Loue, Saint Loue, or rather I thy Saint and thou my God,
In such desarts let such deceite be, as should be, forbod.
The Gailor bribed, with his keyes to stay or free him sent her:
Loue (louely Richard) makes, quoth she, that I this hel-house enter,
Hence make escape, remembring me that thus for thee doe venter.
Did labour strongly in the loue she would but could not flie:
And sighing wept, and weeping spake, and speaking thus she said:
Richard through hate, through loue am I to diffring bands betrayd.
My haruest hangeth in the grasse, and ere the proofe may blast,
Or clew-led Theseus, from the denne of Minotaurus past,
To farre more harder starres than was poore Ariadne left
Leaue me he may, of all, yea more than all, of him bereft.
Sweete Loue, Saint Loue, or rather I thy Saint and thou my God,
In such desarts let such deceite be, as should be, forbod.
118
Loue (louely Richard) makes, quoth she, that I this hel-house enter,
Hence make escape, remembring me that thus for thee doe venter.
Attentiue to her speech, but more retentiue of her shape,
The King, awaking to her forme, did sleepe his owne escape,
And giuing her a meeting kisse, quoth he, so God me keepe
As true desire to quite this good in me shall neuer sleepe:
Yeat ransomlesse I will not hence, but fetching backe the lone,
When as thy Father shall repay to England tenne for one,
I vow thy loue a recompence, till when I liue to thee:
Thus seuer they, and raunsome him ere many weekes did free.
Soone after on the Belgicke towers he English flags did reare,
Austrich and all the Empire of his prowesse stood in feare,
Vntill a desperate Stragler with an arrow pierst his head,
And sent the wofull English home, their worthy Leader dead:
Thus Lyons-hart (his courage got that surname) lastly sped:
To whom King Iohn (in courage not inferior to the other)
Succeeded, but in life and death more tragicke than his brother.
The King, awaking to her forme, did sleepe his owne escape,
And giuing her a meeting kisse, quoth he, so God me keepe
As true desire to quite this good in me shall neuer sleepe:
Yeat ransomlesse I will not hence, but fetching backe the lone,
When as thy Father shall repay to England tenne for one,
I vow thy loue a recompence, till when I liue to thee:
Thus seuer they, and raunsome him ere many weekes did free.
Soone after on the Belgicke towers he English flags did reare,
Austrich and all the Empire of his prowesse stood in feare,
Vntill a desperate Stragler with an arrow pierst his head,
And sent the wofull English home, their worthy Leader dead:
Thus Lyons-hart (his courage got that surname) lastly sped:
To whom King Iohn (in courage not inferior to the other)
Succeeded, but in life and death more tragicke than his brother.
In
Scotland, France, Ireland, and Wales he warred wearied lesse
Than by the Pope and English Priests wronged without redresse,
Nor was, saue from their Soueraignes death, their malice out of date:
Yeat Iohn, faine they, but they, felt Iohn, did trouble Church and state.
When (for as Gaylers with Conuicts, so Popes deale with a faulter:
Their sin-salue like the setting loose from Shackles to the haulter)
When Masse and all the Sacraments were Strangers many a day,
And that, so farrefoorth as it in the triple Myter lay,
Euen God himselfe was barred hence, and that, prostrate before
His Vassall Bishop Langtons feete, the King did grace implore,
When Peter-pence were graunted, and the English Crowne to holde
By rent and Homage of the Pope, and that for sums of gold
The French Kings son was cursed hēce, who els had wore the Crowne,
And that the reconciled King did seeme on surest ground,
Then he, whil'st he in progresse did at Swinshed Abbey lye,
Was poysned by a Monke, that baend himselfe that Iohn might dye.
Than by the Pope and English Priests wronged without redresse,
Nor was, saue from their Soueraignes death, their malice out of date:
Yeat Iohn, faine they, but they, felt Iohn, did trouble Church and state.
When (for as Gaylers with Conuicts, so Popes deale with a faulter:
Their sin-salue like the setting loose from Shackles to the haulter)
When Masse and all the Sacraments were Strangers many a day,
And that, so farrefoorth as it in the triple Myter lay,
Euen God himselfe was barred hence, and that, prostrate before
His Vassall Bishop Langtons feete, the King did grace implore,
When Peter-pence were graunted, and the English Crowne to holde
By rent and Homage of the Pope, and that for sums of gold
The French Kings son was cursed hēce, who els had wore the Crowne,
And that the reconciled King did seeme on surest ground,
119
Was poysned by a Monke, that baend himselfe that Iohn might dye.
The Monke, more solemnely inter'd and song for than the King,
Was cause that diuers diuersly did consture of the thing.
Some charg'd the Popes of Auarice, for that when Kings offend
They sell them peace: of pride, for that to them euen Monarks bend:
Of meere incharitie, for that to wreake their priuate spight
Gainst Kingdomes Kingdomes they incense, and, worser, do acquite
Euen subiects to allegiance sworne against their Lords to fight:
Of Treason, for that to intrap such as from them discent
With othes and al things they dispence: Some bid vs thus preuent
Their sinnes and sleights, do not as they, nor deale with them, for why?
Who doth must liue their Vassal or their Victorie must die.
A merrie mate amongst the rest, of Cloysterers thus told.
Was cause that diuers diuersly did consture of the thing.
Some charg'd the Popes of Auarice, for that when Kings offend
They sell them peace: of pride, for that to them euen Monarks bend:
Of meere incharitie, for that to wreake their priuate spight
Gainst Kingdomes Kingdomes they incense, and, worser, do acquite
Euen subiects to allegiance sworne against their Lords to fight:
Of Treason, for that to intrap such as from them discent
With othes and al things they dispence: Some bid vs thus preuent
Their sinnes and sleights, do not as they, nor deale with them, for why?
Who doth must liue their Vassal or their Victorie must die.
A merrie mate amongst the rest, of Cloysterers thus told.
This cloystring and fat-feeding of Religious is not old
(Quoth he:) Not long since was a man that did his deuoire giue
To kill the passions of his flesh, and did in penance liue,
And, though beloued of the King, he liued by his sweat,
Affirming men that would not worke vnworthy for to eate:
He told the erring their amisse, and taught them to amend,
He counselled the comfortlesse, and all his daies did spend
In prayer and in pouertie: Amongst his doings well
High-waies he mended: doing which this Accident befell.
(Quoth he:) Not long since was a man that did his deuoire giue
To kill the passions of his flesh, and did in penance liue,
And, though beloued of the King, he liued by his sweat,
Affirming men that would not worke vnworthy for to eate:
He told the erring their amisse, and taught them to amend,
He counselled the comfortlesse, and all his daies did spend
In prayer and in pouertie: Amongst his doings well
High-waies he mended: doing which this Accident befell.
A dosen Theeues to haue beene hang'd were lead this Hermite by,
To whom he went, exhorting them as Christian-men to dye:
So penitent they were, and he so pitifull (good man)
As to the King for Pardon of the Prisoners he ran:
Which got, he gaue it them: But this Prouiso did he add
That they should euer worke as he: They graunt, poore soules, & glad:
He got them gownes of countrey gray, and hoods for raine and cold,
And hempen girdles, (which besides themselues) might burthens hold,
Pick-axe and Spade, and hard to worke the Couent fell together,
With Roabes, and Ropes, & eu'rie toole for eu'rie worke & wheather.
So did they toyle as thereabout no Causie was vnrought,
Wherefore new labours for his men the holie Hermite sought:
But at departure prayed them to fast, to watch, and pray,
And liue remote from worldly men, and goeth so his way.
To whom he went, exhorting them as Christian-men to dye:
So penitent they were, and he so pitifull (good man)
As to the King for Pardon of the Prisoners he ran:
Which got, he gaue it them: But this Prouiso did he add
That they should euer worke as he: They graunt, poore soules, & glad:
He got them gownes of countrey gray, and hoods for raine and cold,
And hempen girdles, (which besides themselues) might burthens hold,
Pick-axe and Spade, and hard to worke the Couent fell together,
120
So did they toyle as thereabout no Causie was vnrought,
Wherefore new labours for his men the holie Hermite sought:
But at departure prayed them to fast, to watch, and pray,
And liue remote from worldly men, and goeth so his way.
The holy Theeues (for now in them had custome wrought contēt)
Could much of Scripture and, indeede, did hartely repent.
Now when the countrey folke did heare of these same men deuout
Religiously they haunt their Celles, and lastly brought about
That frō the woods to Buildings braue they wonne the Hermits crew,
Who was from found-out worke returnde, and their Aposta knew.
He going to their stately place, did finde in euery dish
Fat beefe and brewis, and great store of daintie fowle and fish.
Who seeing their saturitie, and practising to winne
His Pupels thence, Excesse, he sayd, doth worke accesse to sinne:
Who fareth finest doth but feed, and ouer-feedeth oft,
Who sleepeth softest doth but sleepe, and sometimes ouer soft,
Who clads him trimmest is but clad, the fairest is but faire,
And all but liue, yea, if so long, yeat not with lesser care
Than formes, backs, boans and bellies that more hōely cherisht are:
Learne freedome and felicitie, Hawkes flying where they list
Be kindlier and more sound than Hawkes best tended on the fist
Could much of Scripture and, indeede, did hartely repent.
Now when the countrey folke did heare of these same men deuout
Religiously they haunt their Celles, and lastly brought about
That frō the woods to Buildings braue they wonne the Hermits crew,
Who was from found-out worke returnde, and their Aposta knew.
He going to their stately place, did finde in euery dish
Fat beefe and brewis, and great store of daintie fowle and fish.
Who seeing their saturitie, and practising to winne
His Pupels thence, Excesse, he sayd, doth worke accesse to sinne:
Who fareth finest doth but feed, and ouer-feedeth oft,
Who sleepeth softest doth but sleepe, and sometimes ouer soft,
Who clads him trimmest is but clad, the fairest is but faire,
And all but liue, yea, if so long, yeat not with lesser care
Than formes, backs, boans and bellies that more hōely cherisht are:
Learne freedome and felicitie, Hawkes flying where they list
Be kindlier and more sound than Hawkes best tended on the fist
Thus preacht he promist abstinence, and bids them come away:
No hast but good, well weare they, and so wel as they would stay.
The godly Hermit, when all meanes in vaine he did perceiue,
Departing sayd, I found you knaues, and knaues I doe you leaue.
Hence sayd this merrie fellowe (if the merriment be trew)
That Cloystring, Friers cloathing, and a Couents number grew.
This heard a simple Northerne-man, no friend to Monke, or Frier,
Or preaching Lymmer, for his speach disclosed thus his yre.
No hast but good, well weare they, and so wel as they would stay.
The godly Hermit, when all meanes in vaine he did perceiue,
Departing sayd, I found you knaues, and knaues I doe you leaue.
Hence sayd this merrie fellowe (if the merriment be trew)
That Cloystring, Friers cloathing, and a Couents number grew.
This heard a simple Northerne-man, no friend to Monke, or Frier,
Or preaching Lymmer, for his speach disclosed thus his yre.
A Fowle ill on their weazens, for they Carles garre syke a dinne,
That more they member vs of iapes than mend vs of our sinne.
At Ewle we wonten gambole, daunce, to carrole, and to sing.
To haue gud spiced Sewe, and Roste, and plum-pies for a King,
At Fasts-eue pan-puffes, Gang tide gaites did alie Masses bring,
At Paske begun our Morrise, and ere Penticost our May,
Tho Roben hood, liell Iohn, Frier Tucke, and Marian destly play,
And Lard and Ladie gang till Kirke with Lads and Lasses gay:
Fra Masse and Eensong sa gud cheere and glee on ery Greene,
As, saue our wakes twixt Eames and Sibbes, like gam was neuer seene:
At Baptis-day with Ale and cakes bout bon-fires neighbours stood,
At Martlemasse wa turnd a crabbe, thilke told of Roben hood,
Till after long time myrke, when blest were windowes, dares & lights,
And pails were fild, & hathes were swept, gainst Fairie-elues & sprits:
Rock, & plow Mōdaies gams sal gang, with saint-feasts & kirk-sights.
I is tell yee, Clearkes earst racked not of purpoene of pall:
Ylke yeoman fed moe poore tume wambes than Gentiles now in Hall:
Yea, ledge they nere sa hally Writ, thilke tide is greater wrang
Than heretoforne: tho words had soothde, na writing now so strang,
I is na Wizard, yeat I drad it will be warse ere lang.
Belyue doone lyther Kirk-men reaue the crop, and we the tythe,
And mykell bukish ben they gif they tache our lakines blithe.
Some egge vs sla the Prince and shewe a Bullocke fra the Pape,
Whilke gif it guds the sawle, I is sure the cragge gangs till the rape:
Syke votion gyles the people, sa but sylde gud Princes scape,
Sateend our King his life, and song is Requiem for the Monke:
Gud King God rest thy sawle, but Feends reaue him bath sawle & trōke.
That more they member vs of iapes than mend vs of our sinne.
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To haue gud spiced Sewe, and Roste, and plum-pies for a King,
At Fasts-eue pan-puffes, Gang tide gaites did alie Masses bring,
At Paske begun our Morrise, and ere Penticost our May,
Tho Roben hood, liell Iohn, Frier Tucke, and Marian destly play,
And Lard and Ladie gang till Kirke with Lads and Lasses gay:
Fra Masse and Eensong sa gud cheere and glee on ery Greene,
As, saue our wakes twixt Eames and Sibbes, like gam was neuer seene:
At Baptis-day with Ale and cakes bout bon-fires neighbours stood,
At Martlemasse wa turnd a crabbe, thilke told of Roben hood,
Till after long time myrke, when blest were windowes, dares & lights,
And pails were fild, & hathes were swept, gainst Fairie-elues & sprits:
Rock, & plow Mōdaies gams sal gang, with saint-feasts & kirk-sights.
I is tell yee, Clearkes earst racked not of purpoene of pall:
Ylke yeoman fed moe poore tume wambes than Gentiles now in Hall:
Yea, ledge they nere sa hally Writ, thilke tide is greater wrang
Than heretoforne: tho words had soothde, na writing now so strang,
I is na Wizard, yeat I drad it will be warse ere lang.
Belyue doone lyther Kirk-men reaue the crop, and we the tythe,
And mykell bukish ben they gif they tache our lakines blithe.
Some egge vs sla the Prince and shewe a Bullocke fra the Pape,
Whilke gif it guds the sawle, I is sure the cragge gangs till the rape:
Syke votion gyles the people, sa but sylde gud Princes scape,
Sateend our King his life, and song is Requiem for the Monke:
Gud King God rest thy sawle, but Feends reaue him bath sawle & trōke.
Such talke was long on foote, and still was quittance tale for tale.
Dunstone, quod one, made Edgar, earst an English Monarke, quale
For matter of lesse moment, euen for wedding of a Nunne,
Whom in her Cell the King espi'de, lou'de, wooed, and thus wonne.
Dunstone, quod one, made Edgar, earst an English Monarke, quale
For matter of lesse moment, euen for wedding of a Nunne,
Whom in her Cell the King espi'de, lou'de, wooed, and thus wonne.
The same (quod he) that rules this Land the same intreateth thee,
Thou maist, sweet, Wench, vnto thy selfe deriue a Queen frō me.
What lets, since none may loue thee more, vnlesse perhaps this Cell,
Too strict a place wherein thy selfe, euen Beauties selfe, shouldst dwell.
Let nature hide her barren formes and imperfections thus,
And in such Puritanes as thou commend her skill to vs.
Thou wrongest Nature, molding thee to molde by thee as faer,
Thou wrōgest men, that would beget the fruit which thou sholdst baer,
Thou wrong'st thy Countrie of increase, thou wrong'st me in like sort,
Thou wrong'st thy Kin of kindred, and thou wrong'st thy selfe of sport.
Shouldst thou but dreame what marriage were, thou would'st not liue a maid:
One heart of two two Soules to one by wedlocke is cōuaid:
An husbands open kissings, and his secret coyings, nay,
The very Soule of Loue, more sweet then thou or I can say,
The ioy of babes which thou should'st beare, the Seruice at thy becke,
The sweet consorted common-weale of houshold at thy checke,
Would make thee seeme a Goddesse, who, because thou art not such,
Offendest God in hiding of thy Tallent: Too too much
Thou dotest on Virginitie, permitted, not impos'd
On any, saue on such as for no such thy selfe thou knoest:
Els what should meane this penning vp, such vowing, and these Vailes,
Since Vessels onely are of worth that beare in stormes their sailes.
The Seedsters of thine Essence had they beene as thou would'st be
Thou hadst not beene, Then gratifie the same, thy selfe and me,
And leaue these superstitious walles: Thou profitst not hereby,
Nor are we male and female borne that fruitlesse we should dy:
Then loue me, for, beleeue me, so will proue a Iubilie.
Thou maist, sweet, Wench, vnto thy selfe deriue a Queen frō me.
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Too strict a place wherein thy selfe, euen Beauties selfe, shouldst dwell.
Let nature hide her barren formes and imperfections thus,
And in such Puritanes as thou commend her skill to vs.
Thou wrongest Nature, molding thee to molde by thee as faer,
Thou wrōgest men, that would beget the fruit which thou sholdst baer,
Thou wrong'st thy Countrie of increase, thou wrong'st me in like sort,
Thou wrong'st thy Kin of kindred, and thou wrong'st thy selfe of sport.
Shouldst thou but dreame what marriage were, thou would'st not liue a maid:
One heart of two two Soules to one by wedlocke is cōuaid:
An husbands open kissings, and his secret coyings, nay,
The very Soule of Loue, more sweet then thou or I can say,
The ioy of babes which thou should'st beare, the Seruice at thy becke,
The sweet consorted common-weale of houshold at thy checke,
Would make thee seeme a Goddesse, who, because thou art not such,
Offendest God in hiding of thy Tallent: Too too much
Thou dotest on Virginitie, permitted, not impos'd
On any, saue on such as for no such thy selfe thou knoest:
Els what should meane this penning vp, such vowing, and these Vailes,
Since Vessels onely are of worth that beare in stormes their sailes.
The Seedsters of thine Essence had they beene as thou would'st be
Thou hadst not beene, Then gratifie the same, thy selfe and me,
And leaue these superstitious walles: Thou profitst not hereby,
Nor are we male and female borne that fruitlesse we should dy:
Then loue me, for, beleeue me, so will proue a Iubilie.
Her red, disperst in shadowed white, did adde to either more,
To her of beautie, and to him Loue greater than before.
She claimes the places priuiledge, and faintly cites a Tex:
She pleads her birth too bace, and playes the No-I of her Sex,
And fighteth as she would be foyld: But, prized, Dunstone makes
It Sacrilege, and for to wife the Recluse Edgar takes,
In twelue yeeres would he not annoynt or crowne him King, and more,
Enioynes him seuen yeeres pennance, and to edifie and store
Great Monasteries fortie ere Indulgence could be got:
Thus Edgar for his Cloyster-cheere did pay this costly shot.
To her of beautie, and to him Loue greater than before.
She claimes the places priuiledge, and faintly cites a Tex:
She pleads her birth too bace, and playes the No-I of her Sex,
And fighteth as she would be foyld: But, prized, Dunstone makes
It Sacrilege, and for to wife the Recluse Edgar takes,
In twelue yeeres would he not annoynt or crowne him King, and more,
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Great Monasteries fortie ere Indulgence could be got:
Thus Edgar for his Cloyster-cheere did pay this costly shot.
CHAP. XXVI.
Iohns murther bred such murmure: But third Henry, Iohn his sonne,Assisted chiefly by the Pope, his fathers Scepter wonne,
Who interdited Lewis till hee curst him into France,
And left to Henry prosperous raigne, till hapned this mischance.
A Parliament at Oxenford did derogate so much
From his prerogatiue as that the Quarrell grew to such
That ciuill warres betwixt the King and Barronage began,
Not ending, but with tragicke ends of many a worthy man,
Brother to brother, sire to sonne, and friend to friend was foe,
Allabouring (which they should vphold) their Countries ouerthrow:
Now was the King a Captiue, and the Barrons by and by
His Conquest, and the ciuill strife too fast begot supply:
My heart vn-apts mine hand to write the troth of it too trew,
Euen warres Idea, more then tong or eie can say or view:
But to conclude (which still concludes) the King he did subdue,
And shewes himselfe a gentle foe thus hauing wonne his peace,
And after liu'd in honour, and did happily decease:
Whose death (then warring with renowme in Syria) being knowne
To Edward, he resailed and possest his fathers Throne.
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The hansell of the Scepter was, the Welchmen did rebell:
Of whom to Edward, though with losse, the victorie befell.
Then on the French he warred, and a Winner did resayle:
And for that Balioll (whom he made the King of Scots) did faile
His Homage, thence from Albanacke to England due and done,
Against the Scots he grieuous, but a glorious warre begun.
Not Barwicke, though for number bold vntill it flowed blood,
Nor any Scottish armes or hold, though infinite and good,
Might stay his awing prowesse, till he had their King his thrall,
And in that Land, by Conquest, made himselfe the Lord of all.
Then taking Scottish othes (which they did breake, and he reuenge)
With those exploits he French attempts as gloriously did menge.
Yea Paganes, French, Cambries, & Scots, remembring but his name,
Cannot forget their skares he made, though enuious of his Fame,
Matchles for Cheualrie, and yeat his iustice matcht the same:
Not partiall for the Prince his Sonne, a rash vnbridled youth,
Whom he imprison'd, hearing of his outrages the truth,
And vnto whom he, dying, spake words worth report and ruth.
Of whom to Edward, though with losse, the victorie befell.
Then on the French he warred, and a Winner did resayle:
And for that Balioll (whom he made the King of Scots) did faile
His Homage, thence from Albanacke to England due and done,
Against the Scots he grieuous, but a glorious warre begun.
Not Barwicke, though for number bold vntill it flowed blood,
Nor any Scottish armes or hold, though infinite and good,
Might stay his awing prowesse, till he had their King his thrall,
And in that Land, by Conquest, made himselfe the Lord of all.
Then taking Scottish othes (which they did breake, and he reuenge)
With those exploits he French attempts as gloriously did menge.
Yea Paganes, French, Cambries, & Scots, remembring but his name,
Cannot forget their skares he made, though enuious of his Fame,
Matchles for Cheualrie, and yeat his iustice matcht the same:
Not partiall for the Prince his Sonne, a rash vnbridled youth,
Whom he imprison'd, hearing of his outrages the truth,
And vnto whom he, dying, spake words worth report and ruth.
My life (quoth he) a warfare right in body and in soule,
Resignes my robed carkasse to be rotted in the moule:
If well I did, well shall I doe, if ill, as ill and worse,
And therefore (Ned) worke as I will vpon my blesse or curse.
When thou becom'st an earthly God mens liues to ouersee,
Forget not that Eternall God that ouerlooketh thee.
The least part of a King is his, allowing him, and none
Lesse priuate then a Prince, the weale or woe of euery one:
He and his People make but one, a body weake or strong,
As doth the head the lims or lims the head assist or wrong.
Deriue thy lawes from wisest heads, to be vpholden still,
Not adding or abstracting as conceited Tier-braines will.
Be cheerfull, and in worke nor word be neither proud or hot:
No sincere loue, but seruile feare, or neither, so is got.
Encourage good Men by thy loue: reforme the bad by lawe:
Reserue an eare for either Plea: and borrow least of awe.
Oppresse not rich men, seeking so to please the poore, for neither
Is to be doomed, but as right or wrong is found in either.
To loyter well deserued gifts is not to giue but sell,
When to requite ingratitude were to doe euill well:
And (which, saue for the ill-mist ill, might else haue beene forgot)
Be choyse, but chuse, for wiuelesse haue each stranger, place, & shot,
Their heire, their home, & cost, which, saue the last, indeed are not.
Reforme thee euen to day, vnapt to day lesse apt to morrow,
Youth aptly offers vertues such as yeeres vnaptly borrow:
For he that plies the lappes and lippes of Ladies all his prime,
And falles to Armes, age failing Armes, then also looseth time.
Well haue I driuen out my date, and well thy daies shall runne,
If thou prooue not my Glories graue, nor I plauge in my Sonne
The ouer-weening of thy wits doth make thy Foes to smile,
Thy Friends to weepe, & Clawbacks thee with Soothings to beguile:
Yea, those thy Purses Parasites, vnworthie thine Estate,
Doe loue thee for themselues, nor will they leaue thee but too late:
I blesse thee; if thou banish them, and curse thee, if they bide,
My blisse and curse be at thy choyce: And so he shortly dide.
Forthwith as second Edward, sonne to Edward, wore the Crowne,
Resignes my robed carkasse to be rotted in the moule:
If well I did, well shall I doe, if ill, as ill and worse,
And therefore (Ned) worke as I will vpon my blesse or curse.
When thou becom'st an earthly God mens liues to ouersee,
Forget not that Eternall God that ouerlooketh thee.
The least part of a King is his, allowing him, and none
Lesse priuate then a Prince, the weale or woe of euery one:
He and his People make but one, a body weake or strong,
As doth the head the lims or lims the head assist or wrong.
Deriue thy lawes from wisest heads, to be vpholden still,
Not adding or abstracting as conceited Tier-braines will.
Be cheerfull, and in worke nor word be neither proud or hot:
No sincere loue, but seruile feare, or neither, so is got.
Encourage good Men by thy loue: reforme the bad by lawe:
125
Oppresse not rich men, seeking so to please the poore, for neither
Is to be doomed, but as right or wrong is found in either.
To loyter well deserued gifts is not to giue but sell,
When to requite ingratitude were to doe euill well:
And (which, saue for the ill-mist ill, might else haue beene forgot)
Be choyse, but chuse, for wiuelesse haue each stranger, place, & shot,
Their heire, their home, & cost, which, saue the last, indeed are not.
Reforme thee euen to day, vnapt to day lesse apt to morrow,
Youth aptly offers vertues such as yeeres vnaptly borrow:
For he that plies the lappes and lippes of Ladies all his prime,
And falles to Armes, age failing Armes, then also looseth time.
Well haue I driuen out my date, and well thy daies shall runne,
If thou prooue not my Glories graue, nor I plauge in my Sonne
The ouer-weening of thy wits doth make thy Foes to smile,
Thy Friends to weepe, & Clawbacks thee with Soothings to beguile:
Yea, those thy Purses Parasites, vnworthie thine Estate,
Doe loue thee for themselues, nor will they leaue thee but too late:
I blesse thee; if thou banish them, and curse thee, if they bide,
My blisse and curse be at thy choyce: And so he shortly dide.
He to promote his Flatterers did put his Nobles downe:
So Robert Bruze, then King of Scots, found ingresse for his Armes,
Recouering Scottish forces, and did spoyle our men by swarmes:
Barwicke in fine and all erst wonne and more then all was lost,
Yeat of more multeous Armies we than Scotland were at cost.
No Land deuided in it selfe can stand, was found too true,
To worser then the wars abroad the home-bred Quarrels grew:
Grange-gotten Pierce of Gauelstone, and Spensers two like sort,
Meane Gentlemen, created Earles, of chiefe account and port,
Enuying all equalitie, contriue of many a Peere
126
Good Thomas Earle of Lancaster, on whom the rest relye,
The chiefe and grauest of the Peeres, did, ouer-watred, flye
Into the woods, whereas himselfe and state he did bewray
Vnto an Hermite, vnto whom he, sighing thus did say.
Happy are you sequestred thus: for (so I may deuine)
Our common wracke of common weale, for how it doth decline
Through wilde and wanton Guydes in part I feele, in part I aime,
By Presidents too like and fire too likely heere to flame,
Heare (if you haue not heard) what fire, our leisure fits the same.
CHAP. XXVI.
The
Spartanes war for rapted Queene, to Ilions ouerthrow,
The Monarke of Assyria chang'd, and Latine Kings also
For Tarquins lust, yea how with vs a double chaunge did groe,
When Brittish Vortiger did doat vpon the Saxons daughter,
And Buerne for his forced wife fro Denmarke brought vs slaughter,
I ouerpasse: Who knoweth not Ireland, our neighbour Ile,
Where Noe his Neece, ere Noe his flood, inhabited a while?
The first manured Westerne Ile, by Cham and Iaphets race,
Who ioyntly entring, sundry times each other did displace,
Till Greece-bred Gathelus his brood from Biscay did ariue,
Attempting Irelands Conquest, and a Conquest did atchiue:
Fiue kings at once did rule that Ile, in ciuill strife that droopes,
When fierce Turgesius landed with his misbeleeuing Troopes.
This proud Norwegan Rouer so by aides and armes did thriue,
As he became sole Monarke of the Irish Kingdomes fiue,
Erecting Paganisme, and did eiect the Christian lawe,
And thirtie yeeres, tyrannizing, did keepe that Ile in awe,
Nor any hope of after-helpe the hartlesse Irish sawe.
Alone the wylie King of Meth (a Prothew plying fauor)
Stood in the Tyrants grace, that much affected his behauor:
For what he said that other soothde, so ecco'ing his vaine,
As not an Irish els but he a pettie King did raigne,
Turgesius friends that Vice-roy, for his daughters loue the rather,
And therefore for his Leiman askt the Damsell of her Father.
Ill wot I what they know that loue, well wot I that I know
That that browne Girle of mine lackes worth to be beloued so.
I haue a many Neeces farre more fairer then is she,
Yeat thinke I fairest of those faires vnworthy you, quoth he,
But she and they are yours, my Lord, such Beauties as they be.
The Monarke of Assyria chang'd, and Latine Kings also
For Tarquins lust, yea how with vs a double chaunge did groe,
When Brittish Vortiger did doat vpon the Saxons daughter,
And Buerne for his forced wife fro Denmarke brought vs slaughter,
I ouerpasse: Who knoweth not Ireland, our neighbour Ile,
Where Noe his Neece, ere Noe his flood, inhabited a while?
The first manured Westerne Ile, by Cham and Iaphets race,
Who ioyntly entring, sundry times each other did displace,
Till Greece-bred Gathelus his brood from Biscay did ariue,
Attempting Irelands Conquest, and a Conquest did atchiue:
Fiue kings at once did rule that Ile, in ciuill strife that droopes,
When fierce Turgesius landed with his misbeleeuing Troopes.
127
As he became sole Monarke of the Irish Kingdomes fiue,
Erecting Paganisme, and did eiect the Christian lawe,
And thirtie yeeres, tyrannizing, did keepe that Ile in awe,
Nor any hope of after-helpe the hartlesse Irish sawe.
Alone the wylie King of Meth (a Prothew plying fauor)
Stood in the Tyrants grace, that much affected his behauor:
For what he said that other soothde, so ecco'ing his vaine,
As not an Irish els but he a pettie King did raigne,
Turgesius friends that Vice-roy, for his daughters loue the rather,
And therefore for his Leiman askt the Damsell of her Father.
Ill wot I what they know that loue, well wot I that I know
That that browne Girle of mine lackes worth to be beloued so.
I haue a many Neeces farre more fairer then is she,
Yeat thinke I fairest of those faires vnworthy you, quoth he,
But she and they are yours, my Lord, such Beauties as they be.
This Preface likte the Tyrant well that longed for the play,
Not well contented that so long the Actors were away,
Oft iterating his demaund, impatient of delay.
Now haue I, quoth the King of Meth, conuented to your bed
My Neeces, and my daughter, loath to loose her Maidenhead:
But doubt not, Sir, coy Wenches close their longings in their palmes,
And all their painted Stormes at length conuert to perfect Calmes:
Alonely, if their beauties like (as likelier haue we none)
You may conclude them women, and the Goale therefore your owne:
To morrow, seuered from your Traine, vnlesse some special few,
Expect them in your chamber, where I leaue the game to you:
Yeat when your eye hath serude your heart of her that likes you best,
Remember they are mine Alies, vntoucht dismisse the rest.
Not well contented that so long the Actors were away,
Oft iterating his demaund, impatient of delay.
Now haue I, quoth the King of Meth, conuented to your bed
My Neeces, and my daughter, loath to loose her Maidenhead:
But doubt not, Sir, coy Wenches close their longings in their palmes,
And all their painted Stormes at length conuert to perfect Calmes:
Alonely, if their beauties like (as likelier haue we none)
You may conclude them women, and the Goale therefore your owne:
To morrow, seuered from your Traine, vnlesse some special few,
Expect them in your chamber, where I leaue the game to you:
Yeat when your eye hath serude your heart of her that likes you best,
Remember they are mine Alies, vntoucht dismisse the rest.
Sweete also was this Scene, and now vnto an Act we groe:
The Irish Princesse, and with her a fifteene others moe,
With hāging Glybbes that hid their necks as tynsel shadowing snoe,
Whose faces very Stoickes would, Narcissus-like, admire,
Such Semeles as might consume Ioues selfe with glorious fire,
And from the Smith of heauens wife allure the amorous haunt,
And reintise the Club-God Dys and all his diuelles to daunt,
And make the Sunne-God swifter than himselfe, such Daphnes chaced,
And Loue to fall in loue with them, his Psichis quite disgraced,
These rarer then the onely Fowle of Spice burnt Ashes bread,
And sweeter than the Flower that with Phœbus turneth head,
Resembling her from gaze of whom transformde Acteon fled,
From Meth came to Tergesius Court, as Presents for his bed.
The Irish Princesse, and with her a fifteene others moe,
With hāging Glybbes that hid their necks as tynsel shadowing snoe,
128
Such Semeles as might consume Ioues selfe with glorious fire,
And from the Smith of heauens wife allure the amorous haunt,
And reintise the Club-God Dys and all his diuelles to daunt,
And make the Sunne-God swifter than himselfe, such Daphnes chaced,
And Loue to fall in loue with them, his Psichis quite disgraced,
These rarer then the onely Fowle of Spice burnt Ashes bread,
And sweeter than the Flower that with Phœbus turneth head,
Resembling her from gaze of whom transformde Acteon fled,
From Meth came to Tergesius Court, as Presents for his bed.
In secret was their comming, and their chambering the same,
And now the lustfull Chuffe was come to single out his game,
His Pages onely, and a youth or twaine attending him,
Wheare Banquet, Bed, Perfumes, and all were delicately trim.
He giues them curteous welcome, and did finde them merry talke:
Meane while (the Harbengers of lust) his amorous eyes did walke,
More clogd with change of Beauties than King Midas once with gold:
Now This, now That, and one by one he did them all behold.
This seemed faire, and That as faire, and, letting either passe,
A Third he thought a proper Girle, a Fourth a pleasant Lasse,
Louely the Fift, liuely the Sixt, the Seuenth a goodly Wench,
The Eight of sweete Complexion, to the Ninth he altreth thence,
Who mildly seem'd maiesticall, Tenth modest looke and tongue,
The Eleuenth could sweetly entertain, the Twelfe was fresh & yong,
The Next a gay Brownetta, Next and Next admirde among:
And eury feature so intyste his intricate affection,
As liking all alike he lou'd confounded in election.
Sweete harts, quoth he, or Iupiter fetcht hence full many a Theft,
Or hether brought his Thefts that here their Leiman Children left.
Here wandring Cadmus should haue sought his missed Sister, wheare
Faire Leda hatcht her Cignets, whilst nor Cocke, nor Henne did feare.
How many view I fairer than Europa or the rest.
And Girle-boyes fauouring Ganimæde, heere with his Lord a Guest.
And now the lustfull Chuffe was come to single out his game,
His Pages onely, and a youth or twaine attending him,
Wheare Banquet, Bed, Perfumes, and all were delicately trim.
He giues them curteous welcome, and did finde them merry talke:
Meane while (the Harbengers of lust) his amorous eyes did walke,
More clogd with change of Beauties than King Midas once with gold:
Now This, now That, and one by one he did them all behold.
This seemed faire, and That as faire, and, letting either passe,
A Third he thought a proper Girle, a Fourth a pleasant Lasse,
Louely the Fift, liuely the Sixt, the Seuenth a goodly Wench,
The Eight of sweete Complexion, to the Ninth he altreth thence,
Who mildly seem'd maiesticall, Tenth modest looke and tongue,
The Eleuenth could sweetly entertain, the Twelfe was fresh & yong,
The Next a gay Brownetta, Next and Next admirde among:
And eury feature so intyste his intricate affection,
As liking all alike he lou'd confounded in election.
Sweete harts, quoth he, or Iupiter fetcht hence full many a Theft,
Or hether brought his Thefts that here their Leiman Children left.
Here wandring Cadmus should haue sought his missed Sister, wheare
Faire Leda hatcht her Cignets, whilst nor Cocke, nor Henne did feare.
How many view I fairer than Europa or the rest.
129
And Ganimædes we are, quoth one, and thou a Prophet trew:
And hidden Skeines from vnderneath their forged garments drew,
Wherewith the Tyrant and his Bawds, with safe escape, they slew:
Of which yong Irish Gentlemen and Methean Ladies act
The Isle was filled in a trise, nor any Irish slackt
To prosecute their freedome and th' amased Norgaines fall,
Which was performed, and the King of Meth extold of all.
And hidden Skeines from vnderneath their forged garments drew,
Wherewith the Tyrant and his Bawds, with safe escape, they slew:
Of which yong Irish Gentlemen and Methean Ladies act
The Isle was filled in a trise, nor any Irish slackt
To prosecute their freedome and th' amased Norgaines fall,
Which was performed, and the King of Meth extold of all.
Those Rouers (whose Originals, and others not a fewe,
As Switzers, Normaines, Lumbardes, Danes, from Scandinauia grew,
A mighty Isle, an other world, in Scythian Pontus Clyme)
Thus wrackt, left Ireland free vnto our second Henries time:
When (farre vnlike the Methes that earst their Countrie did restore)
An Amorous Queene thereof did cause new Conquests and vprore:
Dermot the King of Leynister, whom all besides did spight,
Did loue, belou'd, the Queene of Meth to whom he thus did wright.
Thy King, sweete Queene, the hindrance of our harts-ease is away,
And I, in heart at home with thee, at hand in person stay:
Now is the time (Time is a God) to strike our loue good lucke,
Long since I cheapned it, nor is my comming now to hucke:
But, since our fire is equall, let vs equally assist
To finish what we fancy, say Maligners what they list.
No like immortall she-Egge Chucke of Tyndarus his wife,
(The wracke of Dardane walles) shall mooue to vs like costly strife:
Thy husband no Atrides, or were it he were such,
The Idane ball-Iudge did not more, but I would doo as much:
For why? thy selfe, a richer cause of warre, art woorthy so,
Whom to continue euer frend, I carelesse am of foe.
My Kingdome shall containe thee that containest me and it,
Yea, though we be condemned, Loue or armour shall vs quit,
Loues lawe at least adiudgeth barres, cleere bookes, to pleade in breefe
Prescription to obiections how his passions be not cheese,
For none doth liue not passionate of loue, ire, mirth, or greefe.
I waite thee in the neerest woods, and thether, watching watch,
Doe waite escape, of all things els my selfe doe care dispatch:
Let onely Loue (sweete Loue) perswade, if more remaine to wowe,
I hope I wish not more be done than what you meane to doo.
As Switzers, Normaines, Lumbardes, Danes, from Scandinauia grew,
A mighty Isle, an other world, in Scythian Pontus Clyme)
Thus wrackt, left Ireland free vnto our second Henries time:
When (farre vnlike the Methes that earst their Countrie did restore)
An Amorous Queene thereof did cause new Conquests and vprore:
Dermot the King of Leynister, whom all besides did spight,
Did loue, belou'd, the Queene of Meth to whom he thus did wright.
Thy King, sweete Queene, the hindrance of our harts-ease is away,
And I, in heart at home with thee, at hand in person stay:
Now is the time (Time is a God) to strike our loue good lucke,
Long since I cheapned it, nor is my comming now to hucke:
But, since our fire is equall, let vs equally assist
To finish what we fancy, say Maligners what they list.
No like immortall she-Egge Chucke of Tyndarus his wife,
(The wracke of Dardane walles) shall mooue to vs like costly strife:
Thy husband no Atrides, or were it he were such,
The Idane ball-Iudge did not more, but I would doo as much:
For why? thy selfe, a richer cause of warre, art woorthy so,
Whom to continue euer frend, I carelesse am of foe.
My Kingdome shall containe thee that containest me and it,
Yea, though we be condemned, Loue or armour shall vs quit,
Loues lawe at least adiudgeth barres, cleere bookes, to pleade in breefe
Prescription to obiections how his passions be not cheese,
130
I waite thee in the neerest woods, and thether, watching watch,
Doe waite escape, of all things els my selfe doe care dispatch:
Let onely Loue (sweete Loue) perswade, if more remaine to wowe,
I hope I wish not more be done than what you meane to doo.
This read, and red her cheekes, and to his reede alreadie bent,
Not casting further doubts vnto her Paramour she went,
Conueyed into Leynister. Not many weekes ensewe,
When Morice King of Meth returnes, and what had hapned knew.
A whirle-winde in a whirle poole roost that paire of doues (quoth he)
The single state is double sweet, at price too deere I see.
How wowe we woe? and won, how loth we fowle and doubt we faire?
And onely then lacke women faults when men their faultes forbeare.
The diuell goe with her, so that I with credite might forgoe her,
But such doth sinne with fauour, he is flouted that doth owe her.
I may not put it vp, vnlesse I put vp many a mocke:
Fowle fall that Harrolde causing that my Geitrone is the smocke,
He worth, and wronged, and his wrong a common quarrel made,
Assisted by the Irish Kings, did Leynister inuade.
King Dermote, whom his subiects then and long ere then did hate,
Was left defencelesse, desprate of his life, depriu'd his State,
And fled to England: wheare the Pope imbulled had of late
England for Irelands Conquest: So the Exile welcome was,
As aptest Instrument to bring that Stratageme to passe.
For but to be reseated was the Fugitiues request,
And then to tribute part and leaue to English men the rest.
Not casting further doubts vnto her Paramour she went,
Conueyed into Leynister. Not many weekes ensewe,
When Morice King of Meth returnes, and what had hapned knew.
A whirle-winde in a whirle poole roost that paire of doues (quoth he)
The single state is double sweet, at price too deere I see.
How wowe we woe? and won, how loth we fowle and doubt we faire?
And onely then lacke women faults when men their faultes forbeare.
The diuell goe with her, so that I with credite might forgoe her,
But such doth sinne with fauour, he is flouted that doth owe her.
I may not put it vp, vnlesse I put vp many a mocke:
Fowle fall that Harrolde causing that my Geitrone is the smocke,
He worth, and wronged, and his wrong a common quarrel made,
Assisted by the Irish Kings, did Leynister inuade.
King Dermote, whom his subiects then and long ere then did hate,
Was left defencelesse, desprate of his life, depriu'd his State,
And fled to England: wheare the Pope imbulled had of late
England for Irelands Conquest: So the Exile welcome was,
As aptest Instrument to bring that Stratageme to passe.
For but to be reseated was the Fugitiues request,
And then to tribute part and leaue to English men the rest.
King Henry, yeat in warre else-where, did freely license any
To make aduenture for themselues: so Dermot sped of many:
Earle Strangbowe, and the Geraldines, Fitz-Stephans, Reymonde, and
Moe worthy Knights, of Wales for most, did take the taske in hand,
And to the Crowne of Englands vse made Conquest of that Land.
But should you aske how Dermot sped (Father) he sped too well:
And nothing else the Irish bookes doo of his Leiman tell:
Alone obserue what changes heere through onely lust befell,
And note our England surfetteth in greater sinnes than it,
The onely cause that I am Earle and Exile heere doo sit.
To make aduenture for themselues: so Dermot sped of many:
Earle Strangbowe, and the Geraldines, Fitz-Stephans, Reymonde, and
Moe worthy Knights, of Wales for most, did take the taske in hand,
And to the Crowne of Englands vse made Conquest of that Land.
But should you aske how Dermot sped (Father) he sped too well:
And nothing else the Irish bookes doo of his Leiman tell:
131
And note our England surfetteth in greater sinnes than it,
The onely cause that I am Earle and Exile heere doo sit.
The County thus concluded, and the Hermite answerd this:
CHAP. XXVII.
To lose an Earledome, and to liue an exile what it is
I cannot tell, but not to haue what may be lost were blis.
I will not speake of Coiture, nor of Conception, naither
It fits I should, for neuer made I Grandsier of my Father:
But mine experience at our birth begins it birth, I speake
How than doe we no creature worlds lesse helpefull or more weake.
From birth our Infancy throughout we liue as not aliue,
To others diuersly a care, we sencelesse how we thriue.
No sooner we vncradell, be we females be we boyes,
But we affect so many, and (God wot) such foolish toyes,
And are so apt for dangers, and vnapt to shift the same,
As aptly vanities by terme of childishnes we blame.
Thence grow we to more strength and sence, still senceles howbeit
Of vice of vertue, bettring by correction, nor by wit,
Gamesome, not caring who takes care, nor can we saue or git.
Next but demies, nor boyes, nor men, our daungerous times succeede,
For vanities, erst aymed at, we shortly act in deede,
Wilde roysting, wanton loue, or else vnthriftie shots and game
Doe cuppell, ere we finde our fault, distresse vnto defame.
Perhaps, experience beating vs, doth bid vs lay to thriue,
The first degree to which say (some) is warely to wiue:
But, wiued, if our Sainct become (as not vnlike) a Shroe,
Then is that first degree to thrift the third degree in woe.
Or be it she be constant, wise, well intertayning, faire,
Doe graunt her silence, patience, and what vertues els be rare,
Yeat by how much more shee deserues so much more we desire
To please and profit such an one, for whom on hers we tire
Our selues and sences, yea perchance, labour the most we may,
Much labour is too little that should houshold charge defray.
We, aged, carke to liue and leaue an ouerplus in store:
Perhaps for Spendals: so amidst abundance liue we poore:
Our heires waxe sickishe of our health, too long our heere abod,
Meane while the neerer to our graues the further we from God:
Grippell in workes, testy in words, lothsome for most at length,
And such at fourescore as at foure for manners, witte, and strength.
Thus Infancie is feeble, and our lustie youth vnstayde,
Our manhood carking, and our age more lothed than obayde.
And thus from first to last our liues be fruiteles and vnqueate:
But you, perhaps, expect I should of nouelties intreate.
I haue no tales of Robin Hood, though mal-content was he
In better daies, first Richards daies, and liu'd in woods as we
A Tymon of the world: but not deuoutly was he soe,
And therefore praise I not the man: But for from him did groe
Words worth the note, a word or twaine of him ere hence we goe,
I cannot tell, but not to haue what may be lost were blis.
I will not speake of Coiture, nor of Conception, naither
It fits I should, for neuer made I Grandsier of my Father:
But mine experience at our birth begins it birth, I speake
How than doe we no creature worlds lesse helpefull or more weake.
From birth our Infancy throughout we liue as not aliue,
To others diuersly a care, we sencelesse how we thriue.
No sooner we vncradell, be we females be we boyes,
But we affect so many, and (God wot) such foolish toyes,
And are so apt for dangers, and vnapt to shift the same,
As aptly vanities by terme of childishnes we blame.
Thence grow we to more strength and sence, still senceles howbeit
Of vice of vertue, bettring by correction, nor by wit,
Gamesome, not caring who takes care, nor can we saue or git.
Next but demies, nor boyes, nor men, our daungerous times succeede,
For vanities, erst aymed at, we shortly act in deede,
Wilde roysting, wanton loue, or else vnthriftie shots and game
Doe cuppell, ere we finde our fault, distresse vnto defame.
132
The first degree to which say (some) is warely to wiue:
But, wiued, if our Sainct become (as not vnlike) a Shroe,
Then is that first degree to thrift the third degree in woe.
Or be it she be constant, wise, well intertayning, faire,
Doe graunt her silence, patience, and what vertues els be rare,
Yeat by how much more shee deserues so much more we desire
To please and profit such an one, for whom on hers we tire
Our selues and sences, yea perchance, labour the most we may,
Much labour is too little that should houshold charge defray.
We, aged, carke to liue and leaue an ouerplus in store:
Perhaps for Spendals: so amidst abundance liue we poore:
Our heires waxe sickishe of our health, too long our heere abod,
Meane while the neerer to our graues the further we from God:
Grippell in workes, testy in words, lothsome for most at length,
And such at fourescore as at foure for manners, witte, and strength.
Thus Infancie is feeble, and our lustie youth vnstayde,
Our manhood carking, and our age more lothed than obayde.
And thus from first to last our liues be fruiteles and vnqueate:
But you, perhaps, expect I should of nouelties intreate.
I haue no tales of Robin Hood, though mal-content was he
In better daies, first Richards daies, and liu'd in woods as we
A Tymon of the world: but not deuoutly was he soe,
And therefore praise I not the man: But for from him did groe
Words worth the note, a word or twaine of him ere hence we goe,
Those daies begot some mal-contents, the Principall of whome
A County was, that with a troope of Yomandry did rome,
Braue Archers and deliuer men, since nor before so good,
Those tooke from rich to giue the poore, and manned Robin Hood.
He fed them well, and lodg'd them safe in pleasant Caues and bowers,
Oft saying to his merry men, what iuster life than ours?
Here vse we Tallents that abroad the Churles abuse or hide,
Their Coffers excrements, and yeat for common wants denide.
We might haue sterued for their store, & they haue dyc'st our bones,
Whose tongues, driftes, harts, intice, meane, melt, as Syrens, Foxes, stones,
Yea euē the best that betterd thē heard but aloofe our mones.
And redily the Churles could prie and prate of our amis,
Forgetfull of their owne, when their reproofes had proofe as this:
It was at midnight when a Nonne, in trauell of a childe,
Was checked of her fellow Nonnes for being so defilde:
The Lady Prioresse heard a stirre, and starting out of bed,
Did taunt the Nouasse bitterly, Who, lifting vp her hed,
Sayd, Madame, mend your hood (for why so hastely she rose,
That on her hed, mistooke for hood, she donde a Channons hose.)
I did amis, not missing friends that wisht me to amend:
I did amend, but missed friends when mine amis had end:
My friends therefore shall finde me true, but I will trust no frend.
Not one I knewe that wisht me ill, nor any workt me well,
To lose, lacke, liue, time, frends, in yncke, an hell, an hell, an hell:
Then happie we (quoth Robin Hood) in merry Sherwood that dwell.
Thus sayd the Out-lawe: But no more of him I list to tell.
Grammarian-like, in order wordes significant to speake,
Logitian-like, to reason pro and contra am I weake:
Rhetoricall I am not with a fluant tongue to ster:
Arithmaticke in numbring hath substracted me from her:
Geometric her Plattes, Bownes, and proportions passe my strayne:
Not Musick with her Concords or her Discords breakes my braine:
Nor yeat Astronomie, whose Globes doth Heauen and earth containe:
Let faire Mnemosine her broode their thrise-three-selues explaine.
Expect not here Anatomies of Lands, Seas, Hell, and Skyes,
Such length, bredth, depth, and height I balke: nor would I be so wise,
Least, knowing all things els, I should not knowe my selfe precise,
The Skyes containe the fierie Lights, Clowdes moysture, & the Aire
Windes, Birds & Vapors, men & Beasts the vpper Earth doth beare,
Her Bowels Wormes and Mettals, Seas o Fishes proper are:
Whom this Astrologie, and this Cosmographie mislike,
Beneath the Earth, beyond the Moone, further then farre must seeke.
Signes workings, Planets Iunctures, and the eleuated Poale,
With thousand toyes and tearmes wherein our curious Artists roale,
Be strangers to my Cell, yeat loe as sound a minde and heart
As theirs that calculate their times, eate, sleepe, and wake by arte.
What was the world before the world, or God ere he was God,
Why this he did, or doth not that, his bidden, or forbod,
I dare not thinke, or arrogate such Mysteries deuine,
Faith with her Fruites significant suffice these wits of mine,
To loue God, and our neighbour as our selfe is all in fine.
One Law and Gospell was and is, and eithers drift is thus,
To shew vs how the law doth kill, and Gospell quicken vs:
Which Corasiue and Lenatiue of Simples made compound
Do rather cure, he kindly heales that also feeles his wound.
This is my rest: if more I knew I should but know too much,
Or build in my conceited brayne too high aboue my touch,
Or else against the haire in all prooue toyous: euen such
As be too many blockish Clerkes and bookish Clownes, extreeme
In all things, saue in honesty, that haue no zeale but seeme.
As for the Court it is, you know, become a skittish Coult,
Of wise men hardlier mannaged than of the glorious doult,
Vice rides on horse backe, vertue doth from out the saddell boult.
Theare all deformities in forme in some one man we see,
More garded than regarded, franke not to continue free,
When as the Marchants booke the Map of all his wealth shalbee.
The Muses bacely begge, or bibbe, or both, and must, for why?
They finde as bad Bestoe as is their Portage beggerly:
Yea now by melancholie walkes and thred-bare coates we gesse
At Clyents and at Poetes: none worke more and profit lesse,
None make to more, vnmade of more, the good of other men,
For those inrich our Gownests, these eternize with their pen:
Yeat, soothly, nodds to Poets now weare largisse, and but lost,
Since for the Noddant they obserue no pen-note worth the cost,
For pallace. Hermites liue secure obscure in roufes imbost.
Some few there be much honored (well woorthie of so much,
Once wanting, wealthie, then and now in either fortune such:
But many a bace-stoute blood there is more lordly than be Lords,
Who wheare himselfe once coucht & bowde nor cap or beck affords:
But should we sinne (God shield we should in smallest sinnes offend)
What smaller sinne then skoffe such fooles so skornefull to no end?
The Souldiers haue nor pay nor pray, but (if I may be bolde)
Themselues be prayed vpon by some that do it vncontroulde:
And whilst the same on shore or seas be ouer set or pine,
Or Cuppes on Cushions full secure we victorie define:
We cast what may be done, but keepe the helps meane time away,
And diet thriftily our friends to giue our foes a pray.
The Citizens, like ponned Pikes, the lessers feed the greate:
The rich for meate seeke stomackes, & the poore for stomacks meate:
And euery wheare no Gospell is more Gospelled than this,
To him that hath is giuen, from him that hath not taken is.
Court, Citie, Counttie, Campe, and I at ods, thus euen bee,
I intermeddle not with them, they intercept not mee,
For still I tether thence mine eyes, so heere my heart is free.
Beleeue mee, Sir, such is this world, this crosse-blisse world of ours
That Vertue hardly hides her selfe in poore and desart Bowres,
And such be best that seeme not best: Content exceeds a Crowne:
They may be richer, but more sweete my pennie than their powne:
For wrest they, cark they, build they, sport they, get they worlds together,
At first or last they die frō al, & passe they wot not whether:
Then comes their pelfe in plea, themselues not praysed at a feather:
And then (for so the Princes of great Alexander did,
Greedie of his, they stroue and let the dead-man stinke vnhid)
Then he that had a Countrie hath, perhaps, a Coffen now:
Perhaps lesse Cost, a Sheete and corse: perhaps, his heires allow
The toombe himselfe aliue had build, els toombles might he lye,
As, saue for fashion, rearelesse: And it matters not, for why?
Testators and Executors so giue and so receaue,
As doubtfull whethers ioy or griefe is more to take or leaue:
For, as do hogges their troughes to hounds, so these giue and get place,
Death, not the Dier, giues bequestes, and therefore but Graue-grace.
Nor all die testate: if they doe, yet wieles may wills preuent,
Or what by rigor was misgot, in ryote is mispent.
Then Churles, why are they Churles vnto themselues and others too,
The good that commeth of their goods is good themselues shall doo.
But men doe walke in shadoes, and disquiet themselues in vaine
To gather Riches, ignorant to whom they shall remaine.
The world thus brooding Vanities, and I obseruing it,
Here in the world, not of the world, such as you see me sit.
A County was, that with a troope of Yomandry did rome,
Braue Archers and deliuer men, since nor before so good,
Those tooke from rich to giue the poore, and manned Robin Hood.
He fed them well, and lodg'd them safe in pleasant Caues and bowers,
Oft saying to his merry men, what iuster life than ours?
Here vse we Tallents that abroad the Churles abuse or hide,
133
We might haue sterued for their store, & they haue dyc'st our bones,
Whose tongues, driftes, harts, intice, meane, melt, as Syrens, Foxes, stones,
Yea euē the best that betterd thē heard but aloofe our mones.
And redily the Churles could prie and prate of our amis,
Forgetfull of their owne, when their reproofes had proofe as this:
It was at midnight when a Nonne, in trauell of a childe,
Was checked of her fellow Nonnes for being so defilde:
The Lady Prioresse heard a stirre, and starting out of bed,
Did taunt the Nouasse bitterly, Who, lifting vp her hed,
Sayd, Madame, mend your hood (for why so hastely she rose,
That on her hed, mistooke for hood, she donde a Channons hose.)
I did amis, not missing friends that wisht me to amend:
I did amend, but missed friends when mine amis had end:
My friends therefore shall finde me true, but I will trust no frend.
Not one I knewe that wisht me ill, nor any workt me well,
To lose, lacke, liue, time, frends, in yncke, an hell, an hell, an hell:
Then happie we (quoth Robin Hood) in merry Sherwood that dwell.
Thus sayd the Out-lawe: But no more of him I list to tell.
Grammarian-like, in order wordes significant to speake,
Logitian-like, to reason pro and contra am I weake:
Rhetoricall I am not with a fluant tongue to ster:
Arithmaticke in numbring hath substracted me from her:
Geometric her Plattes, Bownes, and proportions passe my strayne:
Not Musick with her Concords or her Discords breakes my braine:
Nor yeat Astronomie, whose Globes doth Heauen and earth containe:
Let faire Mnemosine her broode their thrise-three-selues explaine.
Expect not here Anatomies of Lands, Seas, Hell, and Skyes,
Such length, bredth, depth, and height I balke: nor would I be so wise,
Least, knowing all things els, I should not knowe my selfe precise,
The Skyes containe the fierie Lights, Clowdes moysture, & the Aire
Windes, Birds & Vapors, men & Beasts the vpper Earth doth beare,
Her Bowels Wormes and Mettals, Seas o Fishes proper are:
134
Beneath the Earth, beyond the Moone, further then farre must seeke.
Signes workings, Planets Iunctures, and the eleuated Poale,
With thousand toyes and tearmes wherein our curious Artists roale,
Be strangers to my Cell, yeat loe as sound a minde and heart
As theirs that calculate their times, eate, sleepe, and wake by arte.
What was the world before the world, or God ere he was God,
Why this he did, or doth not that, his bidden, or forbod,
I dare not thinke, or arrogate such Mysteries deuine,
Faith with her Fruites significant suffice these wits of mine,
To loue God, and our neighbour as our selfe is all in fine.
One Law and Gospell was and is, and eithers drift is thus,
To shew vs how the law doth kill, and Gospell quicken vs:
Which Corasiue and Lenatiue of Simples made compound
Do rather cure, he kindly heales that also feeles his wound.
This is my rest: if more I knew I should but know too much,
Or build in my conceited brayne too high aboue my touch,
Or else against the haire in all prooue toyous: euen such
As be too many blockish Clerkes and bookish Clownes, extreeme
In all things, saue in honesty, that haue no zeale but seeme.
As for the Court it is, you know, become a skittish Coult,
Of wise men hardlier mannaged than of the glorious doult,
Vice rides on horse backe, vertue doth from out the saddell boult.
Theare all deformities in forme in some one man we see,
More garded than regarded, franke not to continue free,
When as the Marchants booke the Map of all his wealth shalbee.
The Muses bacely begge, or bibbe, or both, and must, for why?
They finde as bad Bestoe as is their Portage beggerly:
Yea now by melancholie walkes and thred-bare coates we gesse
At Clyents and at Poetes: none worke more and profit lesse,
None make to more, vnmade of more, the good of other men,
For those inrich our Gownests, these eternize with their pen:
Yeat, soothly, nodds to Poets now weare largisse, and but lost,
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For pallace. Hermites liue secure obscure in roufes imbost.
Some few there be much honored (well woorthie of so much,
Once wanting, wealthie, then and now in either fortune such:
But many a bace-stoute blood there is more lordly than be Lords,
Who wheare himselfe once coucht & bowde nor cap or beck affords:
But should we sinne (God shield we should in smallest sinnes offend)
What smaller sinne then skoffe such fooles so skornefull to no end?
The Souldiers haue nor pay nor pray, but (if I may be bolde)
Themselues be prayed vpon by some that do it vncontroulde:
And whilst the same on shore or seas be ouer set or pine,
Or Cuppes on Cushions full secure we victorie define:
We cast what may be done, but keepe the helps meane time away,
And diet thriftily our friends to giue our foes a pray.
The Citizens, like ponned Pikes, the lessers feed the greate:
The rich for meate seeke stomackes, & the poore for stomacks meate:
And euery wheare no Gospell is more Gospelled than this,
To him that hath is giuen, from him that hath not taken is.
Court, Citie, Counttie, Campe, and I at ods, thus euen bee,
I intermeddle not with them, they intercept not mee,
For still I tether thence mine eyes, so heere my heart is free.
Beleeue mee, Sir, such is this world, this crosse-blisse world of ours
That Vertue hardly hides her selfe in poore and desart Bowres,
And such be best that seeme not best: Content exceeds a Crowne:
They may be richer, but more sweete my pennie than their powne:
For wrest they, cark they, build they, sport they, get they worlds together,
At first or last they die frō al, & passe they wot not whether:
Then comes their pelfe in plea, themselues not praysed at a feather:
And then (for so the Princes of great Alexander did,
Greedie of his, they stroue and let the dead-man stinke vnhid)
Then he that had a Countrie hath, perhaps, a Coffen now:
Perhaps lesse Cost, a Sheete and corse: perhaps, his heires allow
The toombe himselfe aliue had build, els toombles might he lye,
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Testators and Executors so giue and so receaue,
As doubtfull whethers ioy or griefe is more to take or leaue:
For, as do hogges their troughes to hounds, so these giue and get place,
Death, not the Dier, giues bequestes, and therefore but Graue-grace.
Nor all die testate: if they doe, yet wieles may wills preuent,
Or what by rigor was misgot, in ryote is mispent.
Then Churles, why are they Churles vnto themselues and others too,
The good that commeth of their goods is good themselues shall doo.
But men doe walke in shadoes, and disquiet themselues in vaine
To gather Riches, ignorant to whom they shall remaine.
The world thus brooding Vanities, and I obseruing it,
Here in the world, not of the world, such as you see me sit.
The Earle did well allow his words, and would haue liu'd his life,
Durst he haue stayd, for whom pursute in euery place was rife:
He reconuenting armes therefore, and taken Prisnor so,
Died to his Countries friends a friend, and to her foes a foe.
Nor might that Queene & Kings owne Son escape the Spencers pride,
Durst he haue stayd, for whom pursute in euery place was rife:
He reconuenting armes therefore, and taken Prisnor so,
Died to his Countries friends a friend, and to her foes a foe.
But, fearing, fled to France, & there as banished abide:
Till thence supplanted, safetie at Henaude they prouide.
Iohn, brother to the Earle, a Knight of Chiualrie the chiefe,
With little, but a luckie band, was shipte for their reliefe.
No sooner had the Zealand ships conuaide their men ashore,
But English Succors daily did increase their Standerds more.
Yeat first the Queene, Prince Edward, and the Nobles humbly craue
Theirs and theirs Countries enemies, but no redresse might haue:
And then Sir Iohn of Henaude shewed himselfe a warrior braue.
The King, his wicked Councellors, his big Vpstarts, and all
Were ouercome: So Spencers both from heauen to hell did fall,
Put to a fowle and shamefull death: with others that misled
The King in Out-rages more great than earst in England bred.
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Nor was an ancient English Peere vnbanisht or aliue:
Yea forraine and domesticke Swords, Plague, Famine, and Exile,
Did more than tythe, yea tythe of men within this Ile.
Of Baldricks, Hoodes, Tabrides, and Furres, from Knights disgraded tore,
Attaintures of Nobility, and Armes reuersed store,
So many Spurres hewen off the heeles, and Swords broke ouer head,
Were through a King so light and lewd a Councell neuer read.
The King in prison and depos'd, tyrannised, he dide
By Trecheries of Mortimer that ruld the Roste that tide,
Whilst Edward, in Minoritie, his Fathers throne supplide.
CHAP. XXVIII.
This third of that same Name, as yet in Nonage for a time,
Although a King was vnder-kept by some that ouer-clime:
Queene mother and proude Mortimer, familiar more than should,
Did and vndid more than they might, not lesse than as they would:
Till Edward, a better counselled, hong Mortimer, the death
Of many a Peere, who Earle of March, and haughtie for his birth,
Was Lord of nine skore dubbed Knights, his other traynes except,
For greater pompe than did his Prince this Lord of Wigmore kept.
But more he had beene happie though lesse hautie in his Halls
More honour in humilitie than safetie in walls,
Proud Climers proue not monuments, saue onely in their falls.
Then senselesse pride of Fooles therefore, whom reuerently we ride,
Should lessen, at the least because that earth their earth shall bide.
Although a King was vnder-kept by some that ouer-clime:
Queene mother and proude Mortimer, familiar more than should,
Did and vndid more than they might, not lesse than as they would:
Till Edward, a better counselled, hong Mortimer, the death
Of many a Peere, who Earle of March, and haughtie for his birth,
Was Lord of nine skore dubbed Knights, his other traynes except,
For greater pompe than did his Prince this Lord of Wigmore kept.
But more he had beene happie though lesse hautie in his Halls
More honour in humilitie than safetie in walls,
Proud Climers proue not monuments, saue onely in their falls.
Then senselesse pride of Fooles therefore, whom reuerently we ride,
138
The Countrie purg'd of Fleecers, and of Flatterers the Court.
The King became a Mars for Armes, a Iupiter for Port:
Th' Olympids, the Pythea, and the prowesse of the Earth,
Did seeme euen now, and not but now, to haue in him the birth:
East, South, and North, gaue ayme farre off, admiring so the West,
As if that Mars, discarding them, had set our Realme his Rest:
Philip Valois, and Dauid Bruz (of power and courage more
Than any French or Scottish Kings since or of long before)
Confedrate with three other Kings and Princes farre and neere,
Warre all at once on Edward, but did buy their warring deere:
Dauid, rebelled, left his land, but lastly did returne,
And whilst our King did warre in France, much did he spoyle & burne,
And proud of mightie Troopes of men, of vnresisted prayes,
And Edwards absence, prosperously he on aduantage playes,
Vntill not sending hence for helpe, the Queene did muster Knights,
And with the Foe, though tripled twise, victoriously she fights:
The Scots for most did perish, and their King was Prisner taine,
And Scotland wholy for a pray to England did remaine.
Meane while was Paris scarcely left, to rescue Philips Goale,
Whom Edward ferrits so from hold to hold as Fox from hoale,
That Melancholy he deceast, and valiant Iohn his sonne
Was crowned King of France: and then the wars afresh begonne.
But after many fieldes, vnto the Foes continuall wracke,
The French King captiuated to the English Monarke, backe
His Victor sayles, the Prince of Wales, Edward surnamed blacke:
The flower of Chiualrie, the feare of France, and scourge of Spaine,
Wheare Peter, dispossest of Crowne, was crownde by him againe,
Fower yeres the French, eleuen yeres was the Scotch king prisners here:
Whose, rated ransomes were as great as bountifull their cheere.
The King became a Mars for Armes, a Iupiter for Port:
Th' Olympids, the Pythea, and the prowesse of the Earth,
Did seeme euen now, and not but now, to haue in him the birth:
East, South, and North, gaue ayme farre off, admiring so the West,
As if that Mars, discarding them, had set our Realme his Rest:
Philip Valois, and Dauid Bruz (of power and courage more
Than any French or Scottish Kings since or of long before)
Confedrate with three other Kings and Princes farre and neere,
Warre all at once on Edward, but did buy their warring deere:
Dauid, rebelled, left his land, but lastly did returne,
And whilst our King did warre in France, much did he spoyle & burne,
And proud of mightie Troopes of men, of vnresisted prayes,
And Edwards absence, prosperously he on aduantage playes,
Vntill not sending hence for helpe, the Queene did muster Knights,
And with the Foe, though tripled twise, victoriously she fights:
The Scots for most did perish, and their King was Prisner taine,
And Scotland wholy for a pray to England did remaine.
Meane while was Paris scarcely left, to rescue Philips Goale,
Whom Edward ferrits so from hold to hold as Fox from hoale,
That Melancholy he deceast, and valiant Iohn his sonne
Was crowned King of France: and then the wars afresh begonne.
But after many fieldes, vnto the Foes continuall wracke,
The French King captiuated to the English Monarke, backe
His Victor sayles, the Prince of Wales, Edward surnamed blacke:
The flower of Chiualrie, the feare of France, and scourge of Spaine,
Wheare Peter, dispossest of Crowne, was crownde by him againe,
Fower yeres the French, eleuen yeres was the Scotch king prisners here:
Whose, rated ransomes were as great as bountifull their cheere.
Prince
Edw. Iohn of Gaunt, & all their Fathers sonnes might boaste
Of famous Sier, and he of sonnes matchlesse in any Coaste:
Howbeit, King and Prince at last, misled by counsell ill,
Through Taxes lost a many hearts that bore them earst good will:
Thence finding Fortune contrary to that she was before,
Yeat either dying seaz'd of French and Scottish Conquests store:
Yea Callice late, and Barwick yet of their exployts is left,
Though Sonne before the Sier and both of liues long since bereft.
Of famous Sier, and he of sonnes matchlesse in any Coaste:
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Through Taxes lost a many hearts that bore them earst good will:
Thence finding Fortune contrary to that she was before,
Yeat either dying seaz'd of French and Scottish Conquests store:
Yea Callice late, and Barwick yet of their exployts is left,
Though Sonne before the Sier and both of liues long since bereft.
When Barwick was besieged, and stood brauely at defence,
Sir Alexander Seiton, theare chiefe Captaine, had pretence
To linger forth the Siege till Scots should draw the English thence
In rescue of Northumberland, and therefore sent his sonne
A Pledge of treated Truce, and when the guile-got Truce was done,
And Barwick not releeued nor resigned, as it ought,
Two sonnes of Seiton were before the walles besieged brought:
They ready for the Iybbet and their Father for his Graue,
(For eyther he must yeeld the Towne or them he might not saue)
In griefe he then his Countries cause and Childrens case reuolues,
But, partiall vnto either, he on neither Choyce resolues,
To be a loyall Subiect and a louing Father too
Behooued him, but both to bee was not in him to doo:
Nature and honour wrought at once, but Nature ouer-wrought,
And, but his Ladie it preuents, to yeeld the Towne he thought.
O what pretend you Sir, quoth she, is Barwick woorth no more
Than error of such loue? I ioy that I such Children bore
Whom cruell Edward honoureth with such a cause of death,
For that especiall cause for which we all receaue our breath,
Euen for their Countries cause they dye, whose liues for it be dewe.
Why see their faces, (constantly she did their faces viewe)
The same, my Seiton, seeme so farre from dreading any woe,
As if they skornde that Barwick should redeeme them from the Foe:
Full deere they were to me vnborne, at birth, and borne, and now,
And Mother-like I moane their death, and yet their death allow:
Moe Sonnes and such you may beget, your honour if you staine,
Defected honour neuermore is to be got againe:
Preuent not then your selfe, your Sonnes, and me so great a blis:
Adiew, & dye (sweet Sonnes) your soules in heauen shall liue for this.
Sir Alexander Seiton, theare chiefe Captaine, had pretence
To linger forth the Siege till Scots should draw the English thence
In rescue of Northumberland, and therefore sent his sonne
A Pledge of treated Truce, and when the guile-got Truce was done,
And Barwick not releeued nor resigned, as it ought,
Two sonnes of Seiton were before the walles besieged brought:
They ready for the Iybbet and their Father for his Graue,
(For eyther he must yeeld the Towne or them he might not saue)
In griefe he then his Countries cause and Childrens case reuolues,
But, partiall vnto either, he on neither Choyce resolues,
To be a loyall Subiect and a louing Father too
Behooued him, but both to bee was not in him to doo:
Nature and honour wrought at once, but Nature ouer-wrought,
And, but his Ladie it preuents, to yeeld the Towne he thought.
O what pretend you Sir, quoth she, is Barwick woorth no more
Than error of such loue? I ioy that I such Children bore
Whom cruell Edward honoureth with such a cause of death,
For that especiall cause for which we all receaue our breath,
Euen for their Countries cause they dye, whose liues for it be dewe.
Why see their faces, (constantly she did their faces viewe)
The same, my Seiton, seeme so farre from dreading any woe,
As if they skornde that Barwick should redeeme them from the Foe:
Full deere they were to me vnborne, at birth, and borne, and now,
And Mother-like I moane their death, and yet their death allow:
Moe Sonnes and such you may beget, your honour if you staine,
Defected honour neuermore is to be got againe:
140
Adiew, & dye (sweet Sonnes) your soules in heauen shall liue for this.
With such perswasions did she win her husband from the wals,
And Edward executes their Sonnes, and to assault he fals
So long that Barwicke yeelds at length, and still vs master cals.
And Edward executes their Sonnes, and to assault he fals
So long that Barwicke yeelds at length, and still vs master cals.
These were the daies when English armes had eu'ry where request,
And Edw. knights throghout the world had prick & praise for best
Not Knights alone, but Prelates too, & Queenes, where of were twain,
The quondam & in esse Queenes, by Armour honour gain,
By Warre the Queene that was did cease her husbands tragicke Rayn,
And by the Queene then being was the Scotch-King Prisner rayne:
It followes then, that as the Pawnce doth circle with the Sonne,
So to the vice or vertue of the Prince are people wonne.
O that our Muse might euermore on such a Subiect ronne:
But Vulcan forgeth other Tooles, and sharpneth deadlier swords,
For little els then ciuill warres our following Penne affords.
French Expeditions badly thriue, whereof we cease to speake,
Not forraine, but Domestick warres, grew strong to make vs weake:
Melpomen here might racke her wits, Sylla and Marius hate,
Pharsalian Fields were gentle Fraies, regarding this debate:
The second Richard, sonne vnto the blacke Prince (Edward dead)
Was crownde an Infant, and from him the Stratagem was bread.
The bace attempts of Ball, of Straw, of Lyster, tag, and rag,
Of Villains, Of-skoms, Clownes, and knaues that checkmate durst to brag
With Richards self, & to their deaths his chiefest Princes drag,
Till Walworths girdle-Armor made the Armes of London more,
Because his courage chiefly gaue an end to that vprore,
And what-so-els Occurrants much may interrupt our Vayne,
Digesting Yorke & Lancaster, acquiring eithers Rayne,
Our Penne shall not endenizen: Now drops it sacred blood
Of Men-Gods, English Potentates that in this Faction stood:
Richard begun that ciuill warre, that till the Seauenth from him
Did last, though often fields with blood of Citizens did swim:
Against the Nobles he vphild innoble, and his Peeres
And Commons went alike to wracke, nor God nor man he feares:
In fewe, Ambition, Auarice, and Counsell lewd had wrought
In him a nature worser than into the world he brought,
Whereby, and thus, himselfe and house at length a down-fall cought.
And Edw. knights throghout the world had prick & praise for best
Not Knights alone, but Prelates too, & Queenes, where of were twain,
The quondam & in esse Queenes, by Armour honour gain,
By Warre the Queene that was did cease her husbands tragicke Rayn,
And by the Queene then being was the Scotch-King Prisner rayne:
It followes then, that as the Pawnce doth circle with the Sonne,
So to the vice or vertue of the Prince are people wonne.
O that our Muse might euermore on such a Subiect ronne:
But Vulcan forgeth other Tooles, and sharpneth deadlier swords,
For little els then ciuill warres our following Penne affords.
French Expeditions badly thriue, whereof we cease to speake,
Not forraine, but Domestick warres, grew strong to make vs weake:
Melpomen here might racke her wits, Sylla and Marius hate,
Pharsalian Fields were gentle Fraies, regarding this debate:
The second Richard, sonne vnto the blacke Prince (Edward dead)
Was crownde an Infant, and from him the Stratagem was bread.
The bace attempts of Ball, of Straw, of Lyster, tag, and rag,
Of Villains, Of-skoms, Clownes, and knaues that checkmate durst to brag
With Richards self, & to their deaths his chiefest Princes drag,
Till Walworths girdle-Armor made the Armes of London more,
Because his courage chiefly gaue an end to that vprore,
And what-so-els Occurrants much may interrupt our Vayne,
Digesting Yorke & Lancaster, acquiring eithers Rayne,
Our Penne shall not endenizen: Now drops it sacred blood
Of Men-Gods, English Potentates that in this Faction stood:
Richard begun that ciuill warre, that till the Seauenth from him
141
Against the Nobles he vphild innoble, and his Peeres
And Commons went alike to wracke, nor God nor man he feares:
In fewe, Ambition, Auarice, and Counsell lewd had wrought
In him a nature worser than into the world he brought,
Whereby, and thus, himselfe and house at length a down-fall cought.
Twixt Mowbray D. of Norffolke, and the Duke of Hertford, sonne
To Iohn of Gaunt, close Conference of better dayes begun.
The King (sayd Henry Hertford) more remisse than doth beseeme,
Leaues France to French, Scotland to Scots, and vs to woes extreeme:
His flatterers doe fleece the Crowne and Commons, not a State
Doth or dares counsel, ancient Coats that on the Crowne should wate
Giue aime to bastard Armorie: what resteth then but this?
Plucke downe those grating Harpies that seduce our King amis,
If worthles still, set vp a King worthier than he that is.
The other saying little then, immediately reueales
The secrete, and before the King his Foe-made frend appeales:
Whose Gauntlet raysed by the Duke defendant, at the last
It grew to single Combate, when the King his Warder cast,
And to the Duke of Norffolke iudg'd for euermore exile,
And selfe same law Duke Henry had, saue for a lesser while:
Thus That did This, but This and That their Iudge did thus begile,
And to his Coffers did escheate a world of wealth, a Pray
Vnto his Parasites, which thriu'd by other mens decay.
To Iohn of Gaunt, close Conference of better dayes begun.
The King (sayd Henry Hertford) more remisse than doth beseeme,
Leaues France to French, Scotland to Scots, and vs to woes extreeme:
His flatterers doe fleece the Crowne and Commons, not a State
Doth or dares counsel, ancient Coats that on the Crowne should wate
Giue aime to bastard Armorie: what resteth then but this?
Plucke downe those grating Harpies that seduce our King amis,
If worthles still, set vp a King worthier than he that is.
The other saying little then, immediately reueales
The secrete, and before the King his Foe-made frend appeales:
Whose Gauntlet raysed by the Duke defendant, at the last
It grew to single Combate, when the King his Warder cast,
And to the Duke of Norffolke iudg'd for euermore exile,
And selfe same law Duke Henry had, saue for a lesser while:
Thus That did This, but This and That their Iudge did thus begile,
And to his Coffers did escheate a world of wealth, a Pray
Vnto his Parasites, which thriu'd by other mens decay.
Meane while (whose actious life had lawd) did Iohn of Gaunt decease,
So to the banisht Duke his sonne fiue Cronets did increase.
But, with his kindly aire, the King withheld him all the same,
Till entring, ayded by his friends, he wonne beyond his clame:
For Richard was imprison'd, and by Parlament put downe,
And Henry Duke of Lancaster elected to the Crowne,
The Lyne Lancastrian frollicke, but the house of Yorke did frowne.
For to those Hydra-kinded warres that after did ensue
Those Families gaue name, though first the Diadem was due
Vnto the house of Clarence, till to Yorke that interest grew
By marriage, heere omitted: for we onely giue a viewe
How Yorke mis-raigning Lancaster did enter, then how This
Was dispossest, That repossest, and how their Vnion is
So to the banisht Duke his sonne fiue Cronets did increase.
But, with his kindly aire, the King withheld him all the same,
Till entring, ayded by his friends, he wonne beyond his clame:
For Richard was imprison'd, and by Parlament put downe,
And Henry Duke of Lancaster elected to the Crowne,
The Lyne Lancastrian frollicke, but the house of Yorke did frowne.
For to those Hydra-kinded warres that after did ensue
Those Families gaue name, though first the Diadem was due
142
By marriage, heere omitted: for we onely giue a viewe
How Yorke mis-raigning Lancaster did enter, then how This
Was dispossest, That repossest, and how their Vnion is
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