 | The Preservation of Henry VII |  |
The Second booke of the tyranny and vsurpation of king Richard: and how king Henry the seauenth, when he was Earle of Richmond, was preserued in his time.
A praier.
I (He, that here doth apeale to the sacred seate of a Kingly,
Kingly tribunall throne, of a King celestial only,
Only the King of Kings, the triumphant Lord God imortall,
Three persons, one God, deifi'd with glory coequall)
Humbly before thee my God, that King, & Lord God of heauen,
Wholly my selfe prostrate, giue eare, O Lord to me listen:
Sanctify me by thy grace, and iustify me by thy mercy,
For by the grace of God, comes our saluation only.
Graunt that I may paraphrase, stout Henries glory to publish,
And to promulgat abroad King Richards tyrrany diuelish.
Kingly tribunall throne, of a King celestial only,
Only the King of Kings, the triumphant Lord God imortall,
Three persons, one God, deifi'd with glory coequall)
Humbly before thee my God, that King, & Lord God of heauen,
Wholly my selfe prostrate, giue eare, O Lord to me listen:
Sanctify me by thy grace, and iustify me by thy mercy,
For by the grace of God, comes our saluation only.
And to promulgat abroad King Richards tyrrany diuelish.
I he, that only before (in Romane rythmery verses)
Did modulate, with a thinne oten pype, fortunat Henries
Flight that he made to the Duke, with his vncle; there in a safety
Both to remaine for a time, till time should prooue to be friendly.
Which was a worke of thanks: But now, now, murtherus horror,
And Machauile stratagemes I record of a lewde malefactor,
That did vsurpe as a king, that killed his owne very brethren,
Murdered his Nephues wife, and many Peeres, or a sudden,
Mournefuly Muse manifest the detested deedes of a tyrant,
Monster of all mankinde; whose sinnes to the world ar aparant:
With salt watery teares, this wofull tragedy pensill:
Teares, from a sabel penne of direfull Ebony, distill.
I to the clowdes seeke not to mount, like Icarus in sky:
Nor like proud Phaëton, with a minde presume to be lofty.
Witty Thales maiden, that saw him looke vp on heauen,
And in a ditch to decline; he is wel seru'd, quoth the maiden,
For that he looked aloft, when he should haue lookt on his owne feete.
Looke not aloft sily Muse: but shew thy selfe to be discreet.
Here I do meane to declare (O Queene) how shamefuly Richard,
That Duke of Gloster (but a younger brother of Edward,
Lately the King) did ataine to the Crowne, and dignity regal.
Trewly my minde doth abhorre that I should here make the recitall,
What Machauile policies, what shifts, what crafty deuises,
What tyranus stratagemes he deuis'd, to crucifie Princes.
First of al, here to beginne; he stab'd and kill'd with a dagger
Henry the sixt, when he was safe kept (as a prisoner) in Tower.
For that he considered King Henries life was an hind'rance,
Both to the King, and him: by the which they wanted asurance.
Therefore he did this fact, his brother firmly to settel
In throne of Regiment (whose state he knew to be fickel)
For that he knew that he might, when a sure foundation is laide,
Build, as he would himselfe. Can a building stand that is vnstaid?
Like as an hungry Lyon (ramping) will seeke to deuow-er
Euery beast that he meetes, til he hath ful apeased his hunger:
So this vile bludy Duke their deathes did wilfuly conspire,
Which did opose themselues, that he might not ataine to this Empire.
For greedy thirst of gould, and feruent loue of a Kingdome,
All felo mates doth abhor: there faith is found very seldome.
Like as a weak patient, that lyes sore sick of a dropsy,
Drinkes, yet is alwaies dry; so that no liquor, his hasty
Or greedy thirst, can alay: So mindes that proudly desi-er
Imperiall regiment, still thirst, and long for an Empyre.
Next he, the Duke Clarence (his brother) caus'd in a malmsey
Butte to be drown'd, as a Duke (though guiltlesse) found to be guilty:
Immagining that he might, then sooner ataine to the Kingdom,
When that he was put away. For he diu'd each drift to the bottom.
Like Auroras birde, that fluttereth vp to the welkin,
So areth aloft higher, then a grosse mans sight can imagine:
So this proud greedy Duke (whose minde so lofty did aspire)
Reached a thought higher, than meane wits thought, to this Empire.
O what a vile perilus serpent, what a cormoran helhound
Is cruell ambition! which seekes mans glory to confound.
For mindes insatiate wil atempt still, still, to be highest:
First to be greatly preferd; next, equall; then to be chiefest.
Ambitius wisdome comes not from aboue; but is earthly,
Sensual, and diuelish, contentius, and ful of enuy:
But sapience from aboue, is gentel, merciful, harmelesse,
Wrongfuly not iudging, but void of hypocrisie doubtlesse.
Now to proceede, as I meant.
King Edward, when he knew that he was so spitefuly drowned,
His sory misfortune, and lewd luck, greatly repented.
For when as other Lords would speake for a lewde sory person
(Humbly beseaching him, that he would vouchsafe him a parson)
Sadly the King would say, many times, O brother vnhappy!
For whom, no body would once seeme to request any mercy.
But many men do repent, when it is too late to redresse it.
That priuy vile bludy fact, that he did so shamefuly permit,
Strake a remorse in his hart.
Surely the more that a mind is clogd with a grevius offense,
More dolor and anguish doth torment daily the consci'ence.
Sundry report diuers reasons of their priuy mallice,
Fiercely reuiued againe; each cause yet prou'd but a surmise.
For why? The King and Queene suspected a prophecie fore-tould,
Which they immagined would proue to be true; that a G should
(Thought to be George Clarence) their nobil progeny supplant.
Which soone was verify'd, and prov'd to be true by the tyrrant,
That Duke of Gloster; when he was proclam'd a Protector:
Who to the Kings children, did proue their sole malefactor.
O fond suspitions of mindes? Who can the characters
Of futur happes foretell, set downe by celestial orders?
Like as a cockes crowing, or crackling flame of a fy-er,
Daunteth a lusty Lyon, which flies for feare of a daunger:
So doth a suspition, conceiu'd by the bruit of a tumor,
Breed in a Princes mind, but an inward feare, but a terror.
Some did afirme, this Duke should match with Mary, the daughter
Of Charles Duke Burgon: which Edward daily did hinder.
Which was a grief to the Duke, as a sore that festereth inward:
For that his owne brother so dealt, that apeard to be for-ward,
Thirdly, the cause was aledg'd, that this Duke, George, had a seruant
Wrongfuly condemned, that should as a Sorcerer enchant
Their regall persons, and their posterity. Wherefore,
This Duke complayning to the King, was araign'd as a Traytour:
With sory wordes who reuyl'd, and still did murmur against them.
Whereby the king, in a rage, this Duke did speedily condemne.
There is a time, for a man, both where and when to do wisely:
As did apeare by the Duke, who prou'd too daungerus hasty.
Silence seldom ofendes: large speach oft stirreth vp anger.
That wity graue Socrates his schollers charg'd to remember,
Three speciall documents; to be shamefast, wise, to be silent:
Most requisite for them, that they may proue to be prudent.
For let a man see much, let him heare, and say but a littel.
Eor littel meddling doth seldom bring any troubel.
As litel hoat sparkels many times do kindel a fy-er
Great, fierce, and violent: So lew'd speech stirreth vp anger,
Sore, sharpe, and vehement. And as fire forcibly great streames
Vpflaming spreadeth: So lewd wordes enmitie by meanes
Endamaging disperse. And as fire quenched is hardly,
Till that it hath burned to the full, and that very fiercely:
Whose force doth ruinate, burne and consumeth in ashes
Great, large, huge tenements, faire, fine, and sumptuus houses:
Semblabel (in like sort) is an anger merciles ardent,
Continuing vehement: whose madde rage and fury feruent
Doth townes depopulate, subuerteth flatly the citties,
Vpturneth castels, murdreth Kinges, and many Princes
Stout, wise, and valiaunt. What is it, but mischeuus Enuy
Cankereth vp in her hart? To do wrong, she practiceth only:
Which she delights most in. With pride she iettes, as a copesmate,
Immagining vengeance. Wo worth so spiteful: brewbate.
Better a staf that bendes, than a staf that breaketh asunder:
Better a man patient, than a man that stirreth vp anger.
No wrath so vehement, as brothers enmity: whose rage
Fiercely reuiued againe, what man may possibil asswage.
As for an exampel; fierce Typhon killed Osyris:
Romulus also Remus: Cambises wrongfuly Smerdis.
Did modulate, with a thinne oten pype, fortunat Henries
Flight that he made to the Duke, with his vncle; there in a safety
Both to remaine for a time, till time should prooue to be friendly.
Which was a worke of thanks: But now, now, murtherus horror,
And Machauile stratagemes I record of a lewde malefactor,
That did vsurpe as a king, that killed his owne very brethren,
Murdered his Nephues wife, and many Peeres, or a sudden,
Mournefuly Muse manifest the detested deedes of a tyrant,
Monster of all mankinde; whose sinnes to the world ar aparant:
Teares, from a sabel penne of direfull Ebony, distill.
I to the clowdes seeke not to mount, like Icarus in sky:
Nor like proud Phaëton, with a minde presume to be lofty.
Witty Thales maiden, that saw him looke vp on heauen,
And in a ditch to decline; he is wel seru'd, quoth the maiden,
For that he looked aloft, when he should haue lookt on his owne feete.
Looke not aloft sily Muse: but shew thy selfe to be discreet.
Here I do meane to declare (O Queene) how shamefuly Richard,
That Duke of Gloster (but a younger brother of Edward,
Lately the King) did ataine to the Crowne, and dignity regal.
Trewly my minde doth abhorre that I should here make the recitall,
What Machauile policies, what shifts, what crafty deuises,
What tyranus stratagemes he deuis'd, to crucifie Princes.
Henry the sixt, when he was safe kept (as a prisoner) in Tower.
For that he considered King Henries life was an hind'rance,
Both to the King, and him: by the which they wanted asurance.
Therefore he did this fact, his brother firmly to settel
In throne of Regiment (whose state he knew to be fickel)
For that he knew that he might, when a sure foundation is laide,
Build, as he would himselfe. Can a building stand that is vnstaid?
Like as an hungry Lyon (ramping) will seeke to deuow-er
Euery beast that he meetes, til he hath ful apeased his hunger:
So this vile bludy Duke their deathes did wilfuly conspire,
Which did opose themselues, that he might not ataine to this Empire.
For greedy thirst of gould, and feruent loue of a Kingdome,
All felo mates doth abhor: there faith is found very seldome.
Drinkes, yet is alwaies dry; so that no liquor, his hasty
Or greedy thirst, can alay: So mindes that proudly desi-er
Imperiall regiment, still thirst, and long for an Empyre.
Next he, the Duke Clarence (his brother) caus'd in a malmsey
Butte to be drown'd, as a Duke (though guiltlesse) found to be guilty:
Immagining that he might, then sooner ataine to the Kingdom,
When that he was put away. For he diu'd each drift to the bottom.
Like Auroras birde, that fluttereth vp to the welkin,
So areth aloft higher, then a grosse mans sight can imagine:
So this proud greedy Duke (whose minde so lofty did aspire)
Reached a thought higher, than meane wits thought, to this Empire.
O what a vile perilus serpent, what a cormoran helhound
Is cruell ambition! which seekes mans glory to confound.
First to be greatly preferd; next, equall; then to be chiefest.
Ambitius wisdome comes not from aboue; but is earthly,
Sensual, and diuelish, contentius, and ful of enuy:
But sapience from aboue, is gentel, merciful, harmelesse,
Wrongfuly not iudging, but void of hypocrisie doubtlesse.
Now to proceede, as I meant.
King Edward, when he knew that he was so spitefuly drowned,
His sory misfortune, and lewd luck, greatly repented.
For when as other Lords would speake for a lewde sory person
(Humbly beseaching him, that he would vouchsafe him a parson)
Sadly the King would say, many times, O brother vnhappy!
For whom, no body would once seeme to request any mercy.
But many men do repent, when it is too late to redresse it.
Strake a remorse in his hart.
Surely the more that a mind is clogd with a grevius offense,
More dolor and anguish doth torment daily the consci'ence.
Sundry report diuers reasons of their priuy mallice,
Fiercely reuiued againe; each cause yet prou'd but a surmise.
For why? The King and Queene suspected a prophecie fore-tould,
Which they immagined would proue to be true; that a G should
(Thought to be George Clarence) their nobil progeny supplant.
Which soone was verify'd, and prov'd to be true by the tyrrant,
That Duke of Gloster; when he was proclam'd a Protector:
Who to the Kings children, did proue their sole malefactor.
O fond suspitions of mindes? Who can the characters
Of futur happes foretell, set downe by celestial orders?
Daunteth a lusty Lyon, which flies for feare of a daunger:
So doth a suspition, conceiu'd by the bruit of a tumor,
Breed in a Princes mind, but an inward feare, but a terror.
Some did afirme, this Duke should match with Mary, the daughter
Of Charles Duke Burgon: which Edward daily did hinder.
Which was a grief to the Duke, as a sore that festereth inward:
For that his owne brother so dealt, that apeard to be for-ward,
Thirdly, the cause was aledg'd, that this Duke, George, had a seruant
Wrongfuly condemned, that should as a Sorcerer enchant
Their regall persons, and their posterity. Wherefore,
This Duke complayning to the King, was araign'd as a Traytour:
With sory wordes who reuyl'd, and still did murmur against them.
Whereby the king, in a rage, this Duke did speedily condemne.
As did apeare by the Duke, who prou'd too daungerus hasty.
Silence seldom ofendes: large speach oft stirreth vp anger.
That wity graue Socrates his schollers charg'd to remember,
Three speciall documents; to be shamefast, wise, to be silent:
Most requisite for them, that they may proue to be prudent.
For let a man see much, let him heare, and say but a littel.
Eor littel meddling doth seldom bring any troubel.
As litel hoat sparkels many times do kindel a fy-er
Great, fierce, and violent: So lew'd speech stirreth vp anger,
Sore, sharpe, and vehement. And as fire forcibly great streames
Vpflaming spreadeth: So lewd wordes enmitie by meanes
Endamaging disperse. And as fire quenched is hardly,
Till that it hath burned to the full, and that very fiercely:
Great, large, huge tenements, faire, fine, and sumptuus houses:
Semblabel (in like sort) is an anger merciles ardent,
Continuing vehement: whose madde rage and fury feruent
Doth townes depopulate, subuerteth flatly the citties,
Vpturneth castels, murdreth Kinges, and many Princes
Stout, wise, and valiaunt. What is it, but mischeuus Enuy
Cankereth vp in her hart? To do wrong, she practiceth only:
Which she delights most in. With pride she iettes, as a copesmate,
Immagining vengeance. Wo worth so spiteful: brewbate.
Better a staf that bendes, than a staf that breaketh asunder:
Better a man patient, than a man that stirreth vp anger.
No wrath so vehement, as brothers enmity: whose rage
Fiercely reuiued againe, what man may possibil asswage.
Romulus also Remus: Cambises wrongfuly Smerdis.
| The Preservation of Henry VII | |