Strange Histories, or, Songes and Sonets, of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lordes, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen Very pleasant either to be read or songe: and a most excellent warning for all estates [by Thomas Deloney] |
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 | Strange Histories, or, Songes and Sonets, of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lordes, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen |  |
How the King was poysoned, and yet escaped: and afterward, how when they saw that thereby he was not dispatched of life, they locked him in a most noysome filthy place, that with the stinke thereof he might be choaked: and when that preuayled not, how they thrust a hot burning Spitt into his Fundament, till they had burnt his bowels within his body, whereof he dyed.
Cant. 7.
The
Kings curst Keepers, ayming at reward,
hoping for fouour of the furious Queene,
On wretched Edward had they no regard:
far from their hearts is Mercy mooued cleene.
Wherefore they mingle Poyson with his meate,
which made the man most fearefull for to eate.
hoping for fouour of the furious Queene,
On wretched Edward had they no regard:
far from their hearts is Mercy mooued cleene.
Wherefore they mingle Poyson with his meate,
which made the man most fearefull for to eate.
For by the taste he often times suspected,
the venome couched in a daintie dish:
Yet his faire body was full sore infected,
so ill they spiced both his flesh and fish:
But his strong nature all their craft beguiles,
the Poyson breaking foorth in Blaines & Biles.
the venome couched in a daintie dish:
Yet his faire body was full sore infected,
so ill they spiced both his flesh and fish:
But his strong nature all their craft beguiles,
the Poyson breaking foorth in Blaines & Biles.
An vgly Scabbe ore-spreades his lillie skinne,
foule Botches breake vpon his manly face.
Thus sore without, and sorrowfull within,
the despised man doth liue in loathsome case,
Like to a Lazer did he then abide,
that shews his sores along the highwayes side.
foule Botches breake vpon his manly face.
Thus sore without, and sorrowfull within,
the despised man doth liue in loathsome case,
Like to a Lazer did he then abide,
that shews his sores along the highwayes side.
But when this practise proou'd not to their mind
and that they saw he liu'd in their despight:
Another damde deuice then they finde,
by stinking sauours for to choake him quight,
In an odd corner did they locke him fast,
hard by the which, their Carrion they did cast.
and that they saw he liu'd in their despight:
Another damde deuice then they finde,
by stinking sauours for to choake him quight,
In an odd corner did they locke him fast,
The stinch whereof might be compared wel-nie
to that foule lake where cursed Sodome stood,
That poysoned Birdes which ouer it did flie,
euen by the sauour of that filthy mudd.
Euen so, the smell of that corrupted Den,
was able for to choake ten thousand men.
to that foule lake where cursed Sodome stood,
That poysoned Birdes which ouer it did flie,
euen by the sauour of that filthy mudd.
Euen so, the smell of that corrupted Den,
was able for to choake ten thousand men.
But all in vaine, it would not do (God wot)
his good complexion still droue out the same:
Like to the hoyling of a seething Pot,
that casteth the scumme into the fierie flame.
Thus still he liu'd, and liuing still they sought
his death, whose downfal was already wrought.
his good complexion still droue out the same:
Like to the hoyling of a seething Pot,
that casteth the scumme into the fierie flame.
Thus still he liu'd, and liuing still they sought
his death, whose downfal was already wrought.
Loathing his life, at last his Keepers came
into his Chamber in the dead of night,
And without noyse, they entred soone the same,
with weapons drawne, & torches burning bright
Where the poore Prisoner fast a sleepe in bed,
lay on his belly, nothing vnder's head.
into his Chamber in the dead of night,
And without noyse, they entred soone the same,
with weapons drawne, & torches burning bright
Where the poore Prisoner fast a sleepe in bed,
lay on his belly, nothing vnder's head.
The which aduantage, when the Murderers saw,
a heauie Table on him they did throw:
wherewith awakt, his breath he scant could draw,
with waight thereof, they kept him vnder so.
Then turning vp the cloathes aboue his hips,
to hold his legges a couple quickly skips.
a heauie Table on him they did throw:
wherewith awakt, his breath he scant could draw,
with waight thereof, they kept him vnder so.
to hold his legges a couple quickly skips.
Then came the Murtherers: one a Horne had got,
which farr into his fundament downe he thrust:
An other with a Spit all burning hot,
the same quite through ye horne he strongly pusht
Among his intrels in most cruell wise,
forceing hereby most lamentable cryes.
which farr into his fundament downe he thrust:
An other with a Spit all burning hot,
the same quite through ye horne he strongly pusht
Among his intrels in most cruell wise,
forceing hereby most lamentable cryes.
And while within his body they did keepe
the burning Spit, still rowling vp and downe,
Most mournefully the murthered man did weepe,
whose wailefull noyse wakt many in the towne,
Who gessing by his cryes, his death drew neere,
tooke great compassion on that Noble peere.
the burning Spit, still rowling vp and downe,
Most mournefully the murthered man did weepe,
whose wailefull noyse wakt many in the towne,
Who gessing by his cryes, his death drew neere,
tooke great compassion on that Noble peere.
And at which bitter screeke which he did make,
they prayde to God for to receiue his soule:
His gastly grones inforst their hearts to ake,
yet none durst go to cause the Bell to towle.
Ha mee poore man, alacke, alacke he cryed,
and long it was before the time he dyed.
they prayde to God for to receiue his soule:
His gastly grones inforst their hearts to ake,
yet none durst go to cause the Bell to towle.
Ha mee poore man, alacke, alacke he cryed,
and long it was before the time he dyed.
Strong was his hart, & long it was God knowes,
eare it would stoope vnto the stroke of Death:
First was it wounded with a thousand woes,
before he did resigne his vitall breath:
And being murdered thus as you do heare,
no outward hurt vpon him did appeare.
eare it would stoope vnto the stroke of Death:
First was it wounded with a thousand woes,
And being murdered thus as you do heare,
no outward hurt vpon him did appeare.
This cruell murder being brought to passe,
the Lord Matreuers to the Court did hie,
To shew the Queene her will performed was:
great recompence he thought to get thereby.
But when the Queene the sequell vnderstands,
dissemblingly she weeps, & wringes her hands.
the Lord Matreuers to the Court did hie,
To shew the Queene her will performed was:
great recompence he thought to get thereby.
But when the Queene the sequell vnderstands,
dissemblingly she weeps, & wringes her hands.
Ah cursed Traytor, Hast thou slaine (quoth shee)
my noble wedded Lord, in such a sort?
Shame and confusion euer light on thee.
Oh how I grieue to heare this vile report:
Hence cursed catiue from my sight (she sayde)
that hath of mee a wofull Widow made.
my noble wedded Lord, in such a sort?
Shame and confusion euer light on thee.
Oh how I grieue to heare this vile report:
Hence cursed catiue from my sight (she sayde)
that hath of mee a wofull Widow made.
Then all abasht, Matreuers goes his way,
the saddest man that euer life did beare:
And to Sir Thomas Gurney did bewray
what bitter speach ye Queene did giue him there.
Then did ye Queene out-law them both together,
& banisht them faire Englands bounds for euer.
the saddest man that euer life did beare:
And to Sir Thomas Gurney did bewray
what bitter speach ye Queene did giue him there.
Then did ye Queene out-law them both together,
& banisht them faire Englands bounds for euer.
Thus the dissembling Queene did seeke to hide
the heynous act by her owne meanes effected:
The knowledge of the deed she still denide,
that she of murder might not be suspected:
But yet for all the subteltie she wrought,
the trueth vnto the world was after brought.
the heynous act by her owne meanes effected:
that she of murder might not be suspected:
But yet for all the subteltie she wrought,
the trueth vnto the world was after brought.
| Strange Histories, or, Songes and Sonets, of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lordes, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen | |