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A Prophesie of Cadwallader, last King of the Britaines

Containing a Comparison of the English Kings, with many worthy Romanes, from William Rufus, till Henry the fift. Henry the fift, his life and death. Foure Battels betweene the two Houses of Yorke and Lancanster. The Field of Banbery. The losse of Elizabeth. The praise of King Iames. And lastly a Poeme to the yong Prince [by William Harbert]

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TO THE NO LESSE VERTUOUS then Honourable Gentleman Syr Philip Herbert, Knight of the most noble order of the Bathe.

Right worthy Sir, the honor which I beare,
And euer will vnto your worthy line,
Makes me presume (presumption cannot feare)
To tender you this litle Booke of mine:
Whose substance if your honor will approue,
My lines shall limits want, so doth my loue.
That man of men whose fatall name you beare,

S. P. S.


Of his vnnumbred worthes the chiefe were these:
Three glorious wreathes vpō his brow to weare,
Which said he, loued learning, warre, and peace.
O æmulate this man the sonne of Fame,

Baye. Oliue, and Oake.


Haue all his vertues, though but halfe his name.
Pursue thy first designments (noble Knight)
Affect thy Country, and admire thy King:


Be as thou art, sincere in all mens sight,
Do this, and I thy praise will euer sing.
I smoothe not I, nor do I hope for gaine,
Accept my loue, and so requite my paine.
The admirer of your vertues, whose life is deuoted to your loue. William Harbert.


THE AVTHOR TO HIS Poeme.

Trace the wide stage of spight and proud disdaine,
And mount the steps of scornefull enuies staire,
Imperfect embrion of an idle braine,
Soare not aloft, vse meane, do not despaire,
The best way is betweene the sea and ayre:
Be like thy selfe, be neither proud nor base,
One enuy gets, the other gaynes disgrace.
Be not too huge in shew, in strength a childe,
These imateriall Epithites eschew,
Be to the scornfull proud, the humble milde,
Put not thy censure to an open view,
Speech enuy oft, but Silence neuer knew.
When thou seest good then prayse, when bad be blinde,
Then wit will beare with thee, and fooles be kinde.


To the Reader.

I Which in silence nest so many dayes
Smoothered the flight of my vnfeathered quill,
Because I knew it could not merit prayse,
Here where the Muses sang and shewd their skill,
For this did seeme to be Parnassus hill:
But this amaz'd my minde, and grieu'd mine eye
To see the Buzards with the Eagles flye.
To see a troupe of Souldiers neuer tride,
Besiege a fort by nature fenc'd on high,
I was asham'd to see the heires of pride,
Debase in vnexperienc'd Poetry,
The immortall vertues of great Maiestie,
I these are they that do the Muses staine,
One wanton pen makes all be iudged vaine.
I which securely on these errours gaz'd,
And safely stood vpon the silent shore,
When others Ships by enuies rockes were craz'd,
Loue me constrain'd, as pride did them before,
To trust the rockes and leaue the silent shore:
The loue of friends, not prayse did me perswade,
Against my will, against the streames to wade.
Therefore to you whose iudgement is sincere,
If any fault, as many faults there be,
Seeme harsh and iarring to a tuned eare,
Impute the blame to those, and not to me,
Who made my pen shew his infirmitie:
If any good as small there is you see,
Reape you the profit, yeeld but thankes to me.


A PROPHESIE OF Cadwallader, last King of the Britaines.

Sitting with Clio by the gliding Thame,

Description of Fortune.


neere to her siluer girt the verdant strand,
I saw Rhamusis so adornd by fame:
Dauncing in measures, on the farther sand,
Holding a Ball of gold within her hand:
She stood on that, that neuer stood but went.
So must all those that trust her gouernment.
Then did this Queene, her wandring coach ascend,
Whose wheeles were more inconstant then the winde,
A mighty troope this Empresse did attend,
There might you Caius Marius caruing find,
And martiall Scylla courting Venus kind:
Times alter, and in times we changed bee,
Chaunce onely constant is in leuitie.
There might you see how Archimedes art,
As a strong bulwarke guarded Syracuse:

Geometry


How Scipio fought and Cato stabd his hart,
How Anthony did wrong the sacred muse,
And Cleopatras body did abuse.
How Mago fell in Spaine, and Hanniball
Did pitch his tents before Saturnias wall.


His stratagems, his snares, vnequall fightes,
Scipio, Sempronius, and Flaminius slaine:
Aemilius dead amidst his wounded knights,
How chance his youth with praise did entertaine,
And in his age how Fortune wrought his paine:
All this shee did, oh man her fraude perceiue,
And trust her not, for shee will thee deceiue.
How Alexander rose at Darius fall,
Lysimachus within the Lyons den:
How Scypio did besiedge Numantias wall,
And many thousands more which scape my pen,
Amongst this fatall troope of Fortunes men:
I saw an aged king except I erre,
That cleaped was the high Cadwallader.
He was the last, saue three of Fortunes trayne,
Those were a Dane a, Saxon, and a Norman king:
Hengist the first, next was Denmarkes swayne,
The last was Normanes bastard, which did bring
Plenty of Ioy; whose praise the English sing.

William the Conquerour.

William, whose valure mixt with happy fate,

Brought bondage to the Iuthes and Augles state.

Cadwallader last King of the Britanes, his land being vexed with the scourge of Pestilence, went to Rome, where he vndertooke the habit of a Friar

The Britaine Monarch ware a simple Crowne,

Hauing small beades of Amber by his side:
A siluer Crosse, a Friers white frize gowne,
Vpon an humble Asse this King did ride,
As white as snow, or as the siluer tide.
One hand a staffe, the other held a booke,
On which his eyes continually did looke.


Wherein were charactred in lines of gold,
Locrinus warres, and Humbers tragedy:
The King himselfe by Gwendoline controld,
The Scythians paramour of Germany
Estrilda drownd, the praise of Hungary.
Sabrina thrust in Seuerns flowing maine,
Poore Madan by the curres of Ireland slaine.

Wolues.


The Britaine Manlius, not the Romane knight,

Madans second sonne.


Thinking to slay Mempricius Madans sonne:
Himselfe was by his brother slaine in fight,
And he by wolues (as Madan was) vndone,
For Sodomes gilt to lust his mind had wonne.
The foremost booke did Britaines raigne relate,
The next of Swayne; the third of Saxons state.
The fourth and last did write of Williams raigne,
In which there was an ancient prophesie:
Written of yore, confirmd by Merlins twaine,
What should ensue to Williams progeny,
Was there at large explainde in poetry.
The warres of England for the crowne of France,
There many battels with their mournfull chance.
The ciuill warres of Yorke and Lancaster,
The Cambrian helmet changde for Englands crowne:
How true discent did Tudors blood preferre,
The brow of peace dispearced Mars his frowne,

The helmet was the ancient crest of the Teudors.


The land of warre is rulde by iustice gowne.
These shall haue end, then shall arise a King
Which plenty shall conduct, in concords string.


He with vnnumbred linkes of reasons chaine,
Shall three in one, and one in three vnite:
Britaine should be the name, for Brute doth raigne,
A King commands no Princes fauorite,
This he intreates, for this his penne doth write:
Cease to command, learne subiects to obay,
Reason where iustice rules, beares greatest sway.
Is it not peerlesse praise with peace to gaine,
That for the which, our fathers spent their blood:
And neuer age but ours could reobtaine?
O happy men if that you saw such good,
But will is masked still with errors hood.
Let true obeisans vp this diet breake,
So Cæsar wils, so Cicero doth speake.
The fect was this, the prophesie was such
Which he had read with carefull industry,
And quoted euery line with iudgments touch,
Amidst his study casting vp his eye,
Seeing his mistresse Fortune was not nye.
His booke he sleightly set into his gowne,
Which on the yellow sand fell quickly downe.
Thence posted he on his maiestique Asse,
Like some slow rider pacing to the race:
Then Isis siluer channell did I passe,
And thither went, where as mine eyes might gaze
On that faire booke, clad in a golden case.
I past the Annales, for it pleasde mine eye,
To muse vpon that sacred prophesie.


When I had read vnto the latter lyne,
I saw the aged king returne with speede?
Kind Syr (quoth he) saw you a booke of mine?
I Syr (quoth I) if this be he indeed
I gaue it him; he gaue me thankes for meed.
He posted thence, I to my study went,
Where on this matter many houres I spent.
At last I was resolu'd for to relate
In Poetry the things mine eyes did see:
Which was the vncertainety of humane state,
To paint the things aright with equitie,
I did implore the ayde of memorie.
Which she denide; Oh worthies pardon mee,
If ought I write amisse which you shall see.
Not Orpheus trees, and birds inchanting quill,
Nor Homers art heere (Reader) shalt thou see:
Expect not Ouids verse, nor Maroes skill,
For if you doe, you shall deceiued bee:
If bad it is, pray gentles beare with mee.
Say it is meane, thou dost mee much commend,
I'de haue it meane, because I meane to mend.
Mistake mee not, I liue in hope to please:
Dispraise mee not, before thou knowest mee well:
Maugre sweete, not reuenge, my lines loue peace,
Doe not my shame before thou seest it tell:
Marke euery line, and each wordes nature spell.
Ere thou beginst to reade, looke, beare in minde
Of whom I write, yea how, and in what kind.


Faire Englands Peeres with Romanes I compare,
Their warres, their spoiles, their fightes and victory,
Their filthy vices, with their vertues rare:
Their laud, dispraise, their praise and infamy,
Their conquests triumphes with their treachery.
Then doth our muse declare intestine warres,
Kings conquering fields, and Princes wounding iarres.
Then doth she mount the ayre with Eagles winges,
Then to the North shee goes, and passeth Twide
And sings his praise, which endles glory bringes,
Who like a Pilot doth this Island guide,
Which like a barke, within the Sea doth ride.
This land is seated like to Venice state,
The waues, the walles, and euery ship a gate.
Least that my Gates be wider then my towne,
And that Diogines my folly see:
My proems prologue Ile set quickly downe,
And bend my muse vnto the Prophesie:
Where you may reade art mixt with industry.
Needs must I erre, to erre all men are bent,
To perseuere, is a bad beasts intent.

The Comparison.

So called for assisting Godfrey of Bullion, in his expedition to Iudæa. Bassianus and Geta.

O what a sea of blood shall England spill,

When Normans Prince, and Palastinas friend,
With burgonets of steele our fieldes doth fill,
Brothers must striue as did Seuerus kind,
Enuious ambition makes iust nature blind.
Arunce and Brutus dead, Alarums cease.
Publicola doth liue, and loueth peace.


When Brutus dide, Valerius then did raigne,

Henry the 2. sonne of Mawd the Empresse, and Stephen Earle of Blois, Nephew to Henry the first.


When Arunce fell, the Tuscan Emperour fled:
When Tirrolls shaft shall enter Rufus braine,
When Henries life with Roberts lightes are fled,
When all these sleepe in natures earthly bed.
Norfolke shall giue to Stephen, Henries due,
Peace then shall be, but warre shall soone ensue.
Flora is fled, stout Hiems weares her crowne,
Attir'd like Mars in furniture of steele:
Aniow and Blois striue for the Imperiall Crowne,
A griefe surpassing griefe doth England feele,
Whilst doubtfull Fortune turns her doubtfull wheele.
Camillus comes, the Frenchmen feare his voice,
Alba is freed, and Albion hath her choice.
When Rome was sackt, Camillus ended strife,
And made Bellinus brother to dispaire:

Brennus.


When Germanes Empresse Mawd shall end her life,
Henry shall claime the crowne, as lawfull heire,
His Eame in graue, but he in regall chaire
Is plac't, and rules his princely Peeres with peace,
His sonnes rebell, and concord gins to cease.
Now springs the plant, from hence our ioy shall spring,

Henry the 2. the first Plantaginet.


Victorious Aniow crownd in regall state:
Liuing, adopts an heire, inuests a King,
Vngratefull child spurd by a womans hate,

Richard 2.


Sturd forraine foes the land to ruinate.
Romes sword is Consul, foe-men tribute paies,

Marcellus, so called by Hanniball.


Both Henries dead, Christs friend the Septer swaies.


Marcellus which did Syracusa burne,

Hanniball.

Made Affricks praise, to praise his matchles minde,

And place his ashes in a golden vrne:
So Albions lyon sprung from lyons kinde,
When death the king and prince in cords shall binde.
Heele spend his treasure, for Iehouas good:
But woe alas, a slaue shall spill his blood.
Designed Iohn disuests young Britaines Duke,
But Antichristians prince, our sauiours foe:
Bringes Lewis in, and doth him straight rebuke,
Egles of England, yeeld to Swans of Poe,

Titus Flam. as slaine at the batle of Thrasimenus whose death was by his sonne Revenged in the poisoning of Hanniball.

A Monarch falles by Monkes, fates wills it so.

Titus suruiues, though flames Flaminius burne,
Worster is safe, and Lewis doth returne.
At Thrasimenus valiant Titus fell,
In Prusias Court, his sonne reuengde his death:
From happie heauen, though Iohn to haples hell
Headlong did slide, his sonne shall weare the wreath,
The Dolphen flyes, and Mars begins to breath:

Henry the 3.

Tempestuous whirle-windes, breake the Temple gate

Of Peace; the peers the king, the prince the Baron hate.
Ciuill dissention and disloyall armes,
Cleerly declares Clares hidden enmitie:
A fatall starre foretelleth future harmes,
The legions meete, each doth the other spye,
Eccho resounds, S. George, S. George, both cry:
Gracchus is stabd, young Scipio peace maintaines,
The Barrons tam'd, all conquering Longshanckes raignes.


Romes enuious Tribunes that ignoble Tribe,
The vitious issue of a vertuous dame:
Did the base mindes of poore Plebeians bribe,
To gaine them honour, with their Countries shame:

Caius and Tiberius Gracchus.


They dead; the world did ring with Romanes faine.
So Clare and Mountford shall, who being slaine,
Edward shall vanquish Calidonias plaine.
Acon is tane, and Tunis feares his stroakes,
He loued peace, yet bare a warriors shield:

The saying of Leoline himselfe, as Powell hath laid down in his life.


Cambria disdain'd to weare her sisters yoake,
The Ensignes spred, both striue to win the field,
The bridge is past, and Leoline must yeeld:
Marius departs, Proscriptious gin to cease,
The Prince of warre shall end his dayes in peace.
Destruction graz'd on fertill Italy,
Till Syllas legions vanquisht Marius might:
So ciuill warres shall feed on Britany,
Till Leolinus that all daring Knight,
Is tane by Edward in vnequall fight:
When Marius fell, Concordia gan to smile,
So Wales will amplify faire Englands stile.
Resplendant Iuno, leaues her sacred throne,

Queene Isabel wife to Edward the 2 was next heir to Charles king of France whose title our present king doth enioy


Young Gaueston bewitcht great Edwards hart:
The minor Gods bewaile Saturnias mone,
Bohume and Beaumount takes the Marchers part,
And false Matreuers stabbes Carnaruans hart:
For Cæsars office Scipio striues in vaine,
And March too soone retells his triple gaine.


When that the Romane Eagles graspt of yore,

Scipio & Lentulus two worthy Ro stroue vehemently in the campe of Pompei: for the Bishoprick of Rome, but the battels ioyning & Cæsar winning, their strife ended with their liues

Scipio with auncient Lentulus did striue:

For Iulius priesthood, whose deserts were more,
But when that Pompeys legions did not thriue,
They tasted gall within the honies hiue.
So Wigmore seekes in vaine to get a Crowne,
But by Lord Mountaoute is tumbled downe.
Terras proud issue tam'd, immortall Ioue
Rides in his Chariot, through the azurde skie:
Adornd with Valure, Mercy, Peace and Loue,
So Cæsar rode in Rome with maiesty,
Scipio would liue, life Cato doth deny.
So Wigmores honor seekes, but must not part,
Matreuers hand, hath stabd Matreuers hart.

Ed. the third, maried Phillip daughter to the Earle of Henault.

Warres thunderbolt, with his Egiptian pearle,

Illustrious Venus and her martiall Bride
Phillips faire sister, with great Mercias Earle,
Submits to Henaults mounting-minded bride,
Vengeance and Fury scourge inhumane pride.
Egipt is lost, and Anthony must die,
March is immurde, and twise he may not flie.

Lord Roger Mortimer Earle of March and Queene Isabel, compared to Anthony & Cleopatra:

When Anthony did Cleopatra loue,

And did Augustas chamber-bed forgoe:
Bellona Cæsars irefull minde did moue:
To worke reuenge on chaste Octauias foe,
Marcus is slaine, he must his Loue forgoe.
As Anthony and Cleopatra were,
So is Queene Isabel and Mortimer.


Depressed waters element, some thinke,
Is downe supprest by powers most diuine:
Some iudge that Terra doth the moisture drinke,
Yet certes shall men see with mortall eyne,
When deadly weter shall with ayre combine,
Great Mortimer whose name from waters sprang,
Shall waue in waues of ayre, and there shall hang.
Vermilion collour'd clowdes of purple warre,
Are by the radiant beames of Edwards raigne:
From Englands territors exiled farre,
But stay (me thinkes) Bellona soundes againe:

Edward the blacke Prince compared to Geranicus.


And calles forth Mars to fight in Aquitaine,
Stay Cæsar stay, let valiant Drusus goe:
Great Arthurs heire, can vanquish Artois foe.
When that Tiberius did the Septer sway,

Edward the blacke Prince ayded the Earle of Artois against King Iohn of France.


Of Albas Empire, great Saturnias king.
Germanicus whose head was deckt with bay,
Fought still abroad, and conquest home did bring:
So Edward did whose praise the Spanyards sing,
Let Beaumount witnes fearfull Phillips flight
And Iohn which yeelded to the Gascoigne knight.
The wandring Planets of the burnisht skye,
Are by the vncomprised Spheare of Ioue,
Thrust here and there, as men condemn'd to dye,
Heauen were nought, if Heauen did not moue:
So nature taught, so natures sonne did proue.
Like vnto these, or like a Comet bright,

Aristotle.


Through euery region Cæsar sent his light.


Geranicus appeased Germany, but ended his dayes by poison in Assiria. Edward prince of Wales restored Peter King of Spaine into his Kingdome by the conquest of Henry his bastard brother, at the battle of Nazers. John Lord Beaumont, tooke part with the english against the French nation, about afterwards he fauoured the factiō of Iohn, king of Frāce. The lord Audley at the battle of Poytiers behaued himselfe most valiant, as Crasinius did in Pharsalia, who bad Cæsar be of comfort, and take courage before he fought and that day he should praise him aliue or dead, which he performed, for he lost his life in the pursuite of honor, and for the safety of Cæsar.

The Zodiaks lamp in the Eclipticke line,

Twice vrgd his courser to a swift careere:
The Hitrurian sonne doth in the East decline,
In Europes West his praise did first appeere,
Oh Climatericall disaster yeere:
Cæsar thy glory in the West did rise,
The poisoned East, thy ruine did deuise.
So siluer streames and toplesse Apenine,
Which doe confront terrestriall Paradise:
Must not great Edwards wandering Fame confine,
Mars and Bellona stratagems deuise:
That he with Honors wings should mount the skyes.
Exiled Peter doth implore his ayde,
Iberia quakes, to see the crosse displayd.
Reuolting Henault, and relenting Iohn,
Are terrified at Bruse and Balliols fall:
No Salike law, can barre bold Phillips sonne,
His matchlesse valure caused a kingdomes thrall:
Whilst slothfull Charles immur'd him in a wall.
Germanias terror wan a glorious field,
So Cambrias monarch made a King to yeeld.
Carelesse of death, like to a thunder-bolt,
Englands Crasinius with a massie lance:
And not vnlike a fierce vntamed Colt,
Glides like the siluer Rheine through yeelding France,
Blinded with age great Boheme falls by chance.
Caligula is borne, the sinke of shame,
Richard misled, deserues an endlesse blame.


The worldes faire mistresse, Empresse of the earth,
Ordaines a triumph for Augustus heire:
So Gascoigne triumphes at young Gascoignes birth,
Wonder of Armes set in Victorias chaire,
To Troynouant with Tropheys doth repaire.
Romes Senators attended Albas starre,
So Albion Peeres did waite on Albions carre.
Two glorious sonnes, rules the celestiall Globe,
Cheering the world with their transpearcing rayes:
Garnisht with Saphires, and a Iasper robe,
(Vntimely chaunce) times wonder ends his dayes,
Æmilius mournes amidst his Tropheys praise.

Ed. the 3. compared to Paulus Aemilius who in his greatest glory lost his chiefest ioy, namely his two sonnes.


Troies hope is dead, and Priams Hector slaine:
Edward hath lost his sonne, his sonne a raigne.
Impartiall death maskt in a sable weede,
Passeth the Romanes watch and Prætors guard:
And to Tiberius royall tent doth speede,
Phisicke resists, and death by art is bard,
But art doth yeeld, for death was too too hard:
He laid in graue, his nephewes sonne doth raigne,
The scourge of Rome, and Europes Empresse slaine.
So when that death of Edward made an end,
Essence of value, substance of renowne:
Whome peace for iustice, warres for rule commend,
Exalting vertue, putting vices downe,
His bones entombd, his worthy sonnes doe crowne:
Their nephew Richard second of that name,
The first, though not the last disgrac't by fame.


Melpomene thou dismal muse appeare,
And moralize the Anthemes which bring:
Richard misled by Bushy, Poole and Uere,
Ignoble Scroope in his new Empires spring,
Inchaunting charmes vnto his eares did sing:
Flattry corrupteth kings, but good aduise
Makes Counsellors gratious, and the Princes wise.
When Neroes sonne was borne in Neroes campe,
Quirinus father Rheas valiant spouse,
In his red Spheare enlightned had his lampe,
Leauing his yron roabes and brazen house,
Did to Bellona cups of blood carowse.
Saturne then ioynd with Mars, which did foretell
That Neroes sonne for murther should excell.

Romanes.

Whom Brutus freed by death from Tarquines stroakes,

Princes of peace, for warres admirde of all:
The worlds Arch monarches rent their chained yoakes,
Consulls and Tribunes do a Senate call,
Their voice is one Caligula must fall.
Nature doth swarue and from her limits passe,
The Imperious Lyon, got an abiect Asse.
So when chaste Alice Richard forth shall bring,
In Edwards Campe, Victorias sacred seate:
Prophets like starres, ensuing harmes shall sing,
The Peeres (like Albas knights) were all repleate
With wrath, disdaine was in a mightie sweate
In working waies, the king for to depose,
Which being done, the Nobles Darby chose.


The Northerne Planet great Northumberland,
Whose peerles issue neuer shall decaie:
Till Nature doth confound both Sea and land,
And shapeles Chaos comes his part to play,
Vertue must liue though men be turnd to claye.
This glorious Moone true badge of Honor bright,

The halfe Moone is the armes of the Percies Earles of Northum.


Disdaynes the Sunne, and did not borow light.
Foreseeing Gaunt like to a carefull fire,
Seeing that lost by Sloth which Labour wonne:
Doth contermaund his Soueraignes hot desire.
And like a blast doth caulme the scorching Sunne,
Which by illuding Sycophantes is wonne,

Hen. Bullingbrooke Duke of Heref. was accused by Th. Mowbray Duke of Norfolke of treason, which he not being able to proue, was contented to maintaine his allegation by combat, which his aduersary did accept. But better aduice being taken, they were both banished the land, Hereford for the terme of ten yeares, and Mowbray for the date of life


Two Combatants on their earth threatning steedes,
Attend the trumpets sound in yron weedes.
The reuerent Consulls Yorke and Lancaster,
Doe conuocate a Senate of the Peeres:
And equalizing Woodstocke did preferre,
Due banishment to those ambitious Peeres,
The Barons ioynd to this; the Champions sweares
Mowbray for aye, ten yeares must Harford part,
Griefe galles the one, and kills the others hart.
The gallant Courser in the listed race
Dismounts the Ryder, scornes his curbing raine:
Stamping with ioy, his freedome doth embrace,
And doth his pristine seruitude disdaine,
Leauing his Ryder breathlesse on the plaine.
So raging Burdeux tumbles downe his kinne,
And runnes from sin to vice, from vice to sinne.


Caligula slain by his own friends The stone where the Kings of Englands chaire is placed at their Coronatiōs, is reported to be that stone wheron Iacob laid his head whē the Angel appeared to him in his dream Genes. brought frō Scotland by Edward the first. Henry 4. The extremitie of his lawes are set downe at large in Powels Annales. Owen Glēdour compared to Sertorius.

In his Imperiall Pallace Pleasures Bowre,

Romes mightie Monster did himselfe repose:
Sacking Cythereis fort, faire Venus Towre,
The raging multitude their wrath disclose,
For his Prætorian guard, they did insclose:
Chærea did split his hart; oh happie thing!
T'was good he dide, twas bad to kill a King.
So Honors spurre did pricke the Percies blood,
To tumble Richard from his bloudie Throne:
Wishing great Herford to transpasse the flood,
To come and sit on Iacobs sacred stone,
Where he might raigne as King, and rule alone.
As Claudius rose, so Herford came to raigne,
As Nero fell, so Edwards sonne was slaine.
Now Gaunts great issue in his Throne is set,
Whose sacred Science this my Muse should tell:
For Margarets sake, that sprang from Sommerset,
For her it should, if Cambria did not tell,
For lawes vnheard, this Monarch did excell.
Who gaue him wings to mount, he threw to ground,
Claudius who ran so faire, is Claudius found.
In Silence vault my Muse shall hide his fame,
Who dide the Grey goose wings with purple red:
Praise he deseru'd, though he deserued blame,
Sertorius like his warlike troopes he led,
For by alluring hope they both were fed.
Had men and Fortune equaliz'd his minde,
His Conquests Seuernes neuer had confinde.


Victorious Hotspurre, and his valiant sire,
The kings great Steward, Wosters reuerent Lord:
With neuer daunted Dowglas doe conspire,
Whose endles praise our Annales doe record:
With these doe Glendowre ioyne, and Wigmors Lord,

Edmund Mortimer Earle of March was designed heire apparant in the dayes of Richard the 2. if the King dyed without issue.


To pull the Scepter from the tyrantes hand,
And giue it him that should by right command.
Dowglas and Hotspurre peerlesse for their might,
Are ouermatcht by Henries matchlesse sonne:
Who like a lyon rows'd him in the fight,
Glendowre himselfe is by himselfe vndone,
Northumberland is sicke and cannot come:

The battle at Shaftsbury


Like to a Tyger in his eager chase,
Great Monmouthes praise doth run from place to place.

Henry the 5. borne at Monmouth shire in Wales.


Tumults appeas'd and armor set aside,
The stately Citty of the highest God
Diuine Ierusalem, Iehouas bride,
Being whipt with warre, and famines pinching rod,
Implores the helpe of this all-conquering Lord:
His soule defilde with sinne, by merits sought
That to redeeme which Iesus blood had bought.
His royall Nauy like a sea of wood,
Attends his princely presence in the bay:
But see how meager death still enuying good,
With fatall stroake his enterprise doth stay,
The Cædar falles in time, so Kings decay.
Why stay you shippes, he treades the sacred path,
Ierusalem his soule and body hath.


Henry the fift, his lyfe and death.

Henr. 5.

A vaunt proud Rome and bragge not of thy men,

Nor thy ætheriall Cæsars warres declare:
Cease peerlesse Plutarch with thy sacred pen,
The worlds Archmonarches aptly to compare,
Reason doth vrge, and this alledge I dare,
That Englands Homer portraid hath his warre,
Which doth excell the worthiest Cæsars starre.
What telst thou me of famous Hasdruball,
Of Cannas chance, and Varros ouerthrow:
Æmilius death, and conquering Hanniball,
Of Syllas Legions, and a Parthian bowe,
Of Titus valure, Catos wrinckled browe,
Of Syracuse, and strong Namantias wall,
Or Phillip, Persia, Iugurth Iubas fall.
Of Noble Drusus and proud Saturnine,
Of Scipios death, and Gracchus infamy:
Of Marius trophies, and sterne Cataline,
How Cæsar vanquisht France and Germany,
And twise returnd as foild from Britany.
The world admir'd their victories to see,
Yet none of these must be comparde with thee.
Let Athens praise the lawes which Solon gaue,
And Marathon extoll Miltiades,
Write Caria of Mansolus stately graue,
And let Cycilia wish Demosthenes,
But Salamina praise Themistocles.
Greece did admire their tryumphes for to see,
Yet all of these cannot compare with thee.


Let Sparta now conceale Lycurgus fame,
And Lacedæmon hide Lysanders praise:
Cease Argos now, to shew th' Olimpicke game,
Let silence cloud or maske those golden dayes,
When Epires Monarch acted Tragicke playes:

Pyrrhus.


But what of him? or what are these to thee?
For thou alone doest farre exceed those three.
Though Alexander wan Darius Crowne,
And forc't the Easterne Emperour leaue his tent:
Burning Persopolis that regall Towne,
Seeing thy valure freely giues consent
That two bright sonnes should rule the Element:
With thee great Prince we aptly may compare.
Rich Europes Paragon, and Phænix rare.

The Duke of Yorke & Earle of Suffolke, were the onely men of Nobilitie that ended their liues in the battell of Agincourt. Crassinius was the first Captain that charged the enemy in the Field, which office of valure, Edward the Duke of Yorke enioyed at Agincourt.


Thou didst not want Parmenios aiding hand,
Nor valiant Perdicas aspiring minde:
Which might Alansons quarels fierce withstand,
As long as Langlies gallant issued minde
Had faithfull Suffolkes loue to him combinde.
They wan, they lost, they liue though they are dead,
They liue in heauen, and dide in Conquests bed.
France did ten yeares withstand the Romanes might,
Both parties oft with equall courage plaide:
Yet that before the Sun shewd twice his light,
Madst great Mompensier flye as all dismaide,
To see thy kingly Banner forth displaide.
Like to Crassinius Yorke the vaward led,
True valure is by hope of honor bred.


Henry two Diadames doth now combine,
Europes faire daughters, eldest sisters twaine:
By marriage of a maide a Mimph diuine,
Whilst Lewis liues, as Emperour he mustraigne,
Henry as heire apparant doth remayne:
When Katherin is betrothd his beauteous wife,
Peace conquers warre, and concord endeth strife.
Immortalized virgin sacred Queene,
Britaines Aurora harbinger of day:
Fairer then thought could thinke or eye hath seene,
Rich Vertues port, and Honors cleerest bay,
Thrice blessed wombe fram'd of ætheriall clay,
Which didst enclose that glorious Theodore,
Whose sonne did Britaines regalty restore.
Her Amber-tresses like to wyers of gold,
That shadowed her white vermilion face:
Like Vulcans chayne did Venus champion hold,
VVho triumphed erewhile, now sues for grace,
Vndecent action for a Captaines place:
Thy eyes are now bewitcht with eyes diuine,
Thy heart consents to honor Katherine.
If I had Zeuxes art to paint thy lookes,
Did I enioy Mæonian Homers quill:
To pourtraiture thy praise in golden bookes,
Thy vertues rare would æqualize my skill:
Thy sacred paps sweete Nectar did distill.
Hadst not thou bene, our eyes should neuer view
Our present peace and pleasures to ensue.


Stay ranging Muse, thy wandring course restraine,
When Ioues all-seeing eyes did view this King:
He sent his Harauld to that spatious plaine,
Where the three fatall Sisters, then did spinne:
To know when Henries life did first beginne.
And if his thred were not already spunne,
That Lachesis should make it quickly runne.
His wisest sonne did place his golden wings,
Holding a siluer rodde all-charming wand:
VVherewith he could inchant all mortal things,
VVith this attire he claue the ætheriall land,
Where Ioue and Iuno doth the Gods command:
When that he came vnto the appointed place,
He told his message with a comely grace.
Sisters (quoth he) for so they were indeed,
Th' omnipotent and all-commanding Ioue:

Mercuries Oration.


VVhich doth on Nactar and Ambrosia feed,
Iuno, Apollo, and Cythereis loue:
VVith all the Gods that rules the sphere aboue,
Entreats, cōmands, of you faire sisters three,
To end his life, though not his dignitie.
Atlas you know is old Alcides dead,
You know the waight of Heauens massy throne:

He dyed in a Chamber at the Deane of Westmi lodging named Ierusalem.


The Planets houses couered all with lead,
Ioues pallace varnisht with rich Rubies stone,
The gates of Iuory and Indian bone:
He that doth heauens heauiest waight sustaine,
Must patience haue to tollerate his paine.


Therefore (quoth he) this is my Fathers will,
(For Ioue his Father was, or Fame doth lye)
That you which power haue great kings to kill,
Would shorten Henries life that he might dye,
A heauenly thought deserues æternitie.
Atlas is old, and Atlas must haue aide,
All feare the heft, Henry was nere afraide.

The Fates answere.

The Sisters stood amazde at his request,

Each looke at others eyes as in a glasse:
Whereat sterne Clotho eldest of the rest,
Brother quoth shee (for Ioue their Father was)
Shall Fates be rulde by Gods? ahlas, ahlas,
They reuell still, but we poore wretches worke,
We labour, they in Caues of pleasure lurke.
The worlds poore Impes may iustly now complaine
Of humane sorrow, mans still growing griefe:
How birds and beasts a longer life do gaine
Then man, poore man; And mans commaunding chiefe
If you deny them helpe, where is reliefe:
Men say that Fates are certaine, now they see
Ioue made vs constant in incostancy.
The angry God invelloped with ire,
Wrath in his face, and fury in his lookes,
His eyes more redde then was the reddest fire:
Shewes auncient Monuments of sacred bookes,
Which earst he wrote by the Idalian brookes.
There might you see what Acts the Gods did frame,
Amongst the rest Ioue might the Sisters blame.


Out of this place he drawes his argument,
And doth confute their sugred Sophistry:
Then reades another Act of Parliament,
Which did confirme Ioues royall Empery,
His great prerogatiue and dignity.
Then doth he powre forth sacred Eloquence,
Selected flowers of learnings Quintessence.
What if proud Terras issue Briarcus,
VVould combat with your great ætheriall Sire?

Mercinys reply.


Entring Castalia, where the sacred Muse
Liues still inspirde with yong Apollos fire?
VVhat if the Giants could so high aspire,
VVould not they touch the christalized sky,
Vntuning heauens sweetest harmony?
VVhat God should then the heauens waight sustaine,
VVhilst Bacchus in his Indian Tygers Carre
VVould shake the Orbes and that celestiall plaine,
VVhen faire Uictoria conquering Queene of warre,
Brighter then Venus, or the brightest starre,
Doth giue to Ioue a Crowne bedeckt with gold,
Could Atlas then heauens heauiest waight vphold?


His age is great, and yeares will strength remoue,
Therefore faire Sisters well aduised bee:
To answere Ioue and all the Gods aboue,
Though loth they were, yet all did well agree
To cut his thred for meere necessitie
Then Atlantiades did soone depart,
And Atropos did stabbe great Henries hart.
Thus dide the Phænix of the vastie round,
Whose worth my Muse should euer memorize:
And Eccho-like his martiall deeds resound,
But that he did his Country scandalize
In following Henry which did tyranize.
She gaue thee breath to liue and men to fight,
Yet thou depriu'st her of her cleerest light.
When noble Henry ended hath his daies,
Bedford with conquering swords Uernoi shal fill,
And spend his blood to gaine immortall praise:
Beauford and Beaumount shall good Humfrey kill,
And Warwicke gaine the popular good will.
Poole is exilde from wofull Margaret,
And Yorke malignes the Duke of Somerset.
Mars mounts his Ensigns on our highest towers,
And decks our helmets with Ambitions plumes:
Reuenge sad massacres and scarlet showres
Distills, Cities are burnt, whose dankish fumes
Contaminates the Ayre, now Yorke presumes.
VVith Sarums Earle and Warwickes willing hand,
To gaine the Crowne, and with the Crowne the land.


The Ciuill Warres.

Plutonian Princesse sacred Proserpine,
Licence Megæra and Ctesiphone,
VVhich neuer saw the Sunnes all-pleasing shine
Enter this vale of humane misery,
And consecrate to endles memory
These Ciuill broyles in Characters of brasse,
Set forth these warres which did all warres surpasse.
Heers Mars pauilion, there Bellonas tent,
The Lanciers here, & there the Carbines stands:
The Bilmen strikes, the Archers bowes are bent,
Here raging Fury flies with burning brands,
Distorted limmes are pilde on purple sands:
Here Gassamores are cract, there helmets crazd,
Here Gorgets cut, there Vaines of Azure razd.
Now doth the Courser neigh, the Clarions sound,
And wrath mounted on a flaming steed:
Doth both the Legions fortitude confound,
The moistlesse earth for very griefe doth bleed,
To see the Gardner spoyle the sowen seed.
Heere might you see what age could neuer tell,
Whilst Lyons fought, the forests Barons fell.
Heere Ambuscadoes watch the sallying Scout,
There Hanniball entraps Marcellus traine:
Here wings are plac't and squadrons round about,
Scipiades must leaue disloyall Spaine,
And like Anchises clippe the Elizian plaine.
Nature hath digd for men more kind of graues,
Then Indian Ganges hath translucent waues.


No valiant Martius stout Coriolæne,
Did now the raging multitude withstand:
Tumultuous windes haue left the rocky lane,
Where sterne Hypodates with Mace in hand,
Their lawlesse force by force doth countermaund.
Eurus will blowe and shake the Islands King,
Rebells will rise, and belles of discord ring.
Vnworthy I, to mount that sacred hill,
And Clodius-like see female sacrifice:
Uirgill sang this, and none but Virgill will
Aduenture valures worth to memorice;
Thrice glorious obiect fit for Princely eyes.
Pardon great Homer, my all-daring muse,
Let Cherills folly, Cherills fault excuse.
The lesser starres makes Phœbe shine more bright,
So may my infant Muse comparde to thine,
Make thy heroicke Poems splendant light,
Seeme fairer farre in mens iuditious eyne,
Comparison makes Vertue seeme diuine.
Yet giue me leaue with my vnworthy pen,
To blazon forth the Acts of worthy men.
Cease mournfull Rome thy sad enlangoring,
Those fatall Fields neere to Campania sought,

The ciuil wars of Marius and Sylla.

Wherein the very prime of Marius spring,

The spring of griefe which Carbo deerly bought,
Ambitious Conquest rulde great Syllas thought.
Speake not of these proud Rome, nor make thy mone,
Or if thou speak'st, make not comparison.


What of stout Varro, and Affranius lost,

The battell in Spayne, where Cæsar was victor.


Massilias ruine Scæuas pierced shield:
Home by Brundusium, Cæsars shippes were tost,
Euer renowm'd Pharsalias bloody field,
How Iuba fell, and Diator did yeeld.
Pompey in Egipt by Pothinius slaine,
And endles shame which Ptolomy did gaine.
Cæsar is stabd, and Albas doth lament,

Cæsar slaine the Court of Pompey.


Antonius doth the Tyrants plea refute:
Irefull Octauius to reuenge is bent,
Cascas and Cassius, Cicero and Bruto,

The battell of Phillippia.


For Countreys freedome frame a faithlesse suite.
Lawes silent are when armies rule the towne,

The feelde at Actium.


Who conquered Kings, by Kings are tumbled downe.
Enuious desire of honor, loue to raigne,
Seuers their mindes whome nature did combine:
Two Romaine nauyes cut the Ocean maine,
One brothers losse, doth cause anothers gaine,
Nothing is worse then Potentates disdaine.
Rome smild with ioy, when ciuill warres did cease,
England admired more at perfect peace.
In thirteen battells Englands strength was tryde,
Gauntes issue striues with Clarence progenie:
Through euery place destructions steed did ryde,
Making debate and endles enmitie,
Twixt subiects loue, and Princely soueraigntie.

The first of Sain Albons battells.


The Lords conspire, and at Saint Albons meete,
Heres Warwickes tent, there Yorke doth man the streete.


Vnder the Castell Somerset is slaine,
Here Clifford falls, and there Northumberland,
Great Buckingham renewes the fight againe,
In vaine the Lion doth the Beare withstand,

Daysie in French, signifieth Margaret

Where Warwicke leades his all subduing band:

The Rose doth wither, and the Daysie spring,
The Queene escapt, but Warwicke hath the king.
O whither shall she fly? whose ayde expect?
Who is encombred with a thousand woes:
VVhat peasant boore will princes griefes respect?
By flight she scapes the furie of her foes:
Thus to the North this Amazonian goes.
Griefe flies to those, who are opprest with griefe,
Societie in woe is some reliefe.
VVhen Romes two Scipios fell, two glorious starres
In Andeluzia or illuding Spaine:
None durst but Scipio vndertake those warres,
Euen so when Clifford was for England slaine,

At Wakefield, Rich. Duke of Yorke being taken by the Lord Clifford, in reuenge of his fathers death slaine at S. Albons, crowned the Dukes head with paper.

And Percies pride lay breathlesse on the plaine,

None durst the Ragged Staffe and Beare withstand,
But Cliffords sonne and great Northumberland.
The Trumpets wake the Champions to the field,
VVho rode in tryumph through Epæons towne
To VVestmerland; and Margaret must yeeld,
VVhose vertues did deserue a golden Crowne:
His browes are circulizde with paper browne.
Themistocles doth yeeld to Xerxes might,
Yorke ouermatcht, giues place to Henries right.


Penthifilea bends her course to Troy,
Shewing the spoiles of Larisseas King,
And Henry like to Priam smiles with ioy,
Seeing his Queene such Tropheys home to bring:
And all the Phrigian Virgins Io sing.
Like vnto this, or like a brauer wight,
Couragious Margret doth returne from fight.
Neuer discouragde Warwicks royall Peere,
Vnconstant Clarence, constant Montacute,
Seeing the Southerne coast of Albion cleere,
Did Essex, Suffolke, Surrey resalute,
Norfolke doth Mowbray Captaine constitute.
Both Armies ioyne, and to Saint Albons came,

The second Battell of S. Albons.


They flye their foes, where first they ouercame.
Mowbray to Suffolke, Warwicke with the rest,
In haste, poste haste, to Cambrias borders flye:
New rising March doth rowse his spangled Crest,
And vnderstanding by a sallying spye
His Fathers friends, and fauourites were nigh,
With decent gesture doth them entertaine,
Imploring aide his right to reobtaine.
Warwicke who was the speaker for them all,
In modest sort, as well became his age:
Not Duke of Yorke but doth him Soueraigne call,
A name so great doth vertue equipage,
Now each to other doth his honour gage.
Like Cæsar now he ioynes with Anthony,
And like to him doth foster enmitie.


When Brutus hand had stabd great Cæsars hart,
Octauius honour euery where did finde:
Antonius takes the stout Cæsareans part,
But when reuenge had satisfide her minde,
Whome mariage chaste with friendship had combinde,
Ambition makes them striue for endlesse raigne,
And with their bloud to dye the crimson mayne.

Richard Earle Warwicke.

So Edward and renowned Sarums sonne

Ioyne to reuenge dead Richards iniury:
But when that Gaunts great issue was vndone,
Warwicke doth enuy Yorkes prosperitie,
And much disdaines his peerlsse Soueraigntie.
Witnesse when Edward durst not here abide,
And Barnet field where noble Warwicke dide.

Margaret daughter to Reino Earle of Aniow who entituled himself King of Naples, Sycil, & Jerusalem, but enioyed none. That day in which Cæsar lost his life in the Court of Pompey, a poor man tendred him a petition which he lightly regarded, the contents wherof if he had pervsed, his life might haue bene preserued

Henries faire Queene, great Neapolitane,

Blinded with masked fate, vnconstant chance,
Did neuer feare her future fatall bane,
Like a fierce coult this Iennet proud did prance,
Smiling with ioy to see her smiling chance.
Harke how the Drumme doth summon to the field,
See how she takes her ill beseeming shield.
Stay Naples pride Sicilian Empresse stay,
Will France for euer showres of vengeance raigne?
Thy first approch presage this fatall day,
Fire flew from heauen and made our Turrets plaine,
When thy Armados cut the Ocean maine.
Had Cæsar read that which the poore man gaue,
Egypt had neuer beene Antonius graue.


Had but great Henry, great in Maiestie
Ioynd with that match which Bedford first did make,
He had not tasted base seruilitie,
But when his minion Suffolke did forsake,
That Nimph of ioy, great heire to Arminake,
Then Yorkes depressed issue gan to rise,
An abiect Prince each Subiect will despise.
Clifford and Percy proppes of Henries state;
(Seeing the Southerne Lords entend to fight,)
Doth the fierce Tygers anger instigate,
Proposing arguments of Henries right,
How her decayd, augmented Edwards might.
In Hampton first she did our woe begin,

At her first coming, landing at Southhampton, some part of Paules steeple and many other Churches in England were set on fire


Two Hamptons cannot end her endlesse sin.
Fury awakes the murthred Lions whelpe,
And like poore Hector his deceased sire,
Craues of his kinsemen their supporting helpe,
Their smotherd hate hath kindled murthers fire,
Which none can quench till they haue quencht desire,
Where Nemesis of late did murther end,
There she begins heroicke bloud to spend.
Like the worlds Monarch, Yorkes apparant heire
Ioynes with his Fathers friend, great Neuils race:
They to Northampton with their troupes repaire,
VVhere Aniowes Tamiris with martiall grace
Cliffords triumphant Armes did embrace:
Clifford whose name as Talbot did in France,
Made Warwicke feare his Colours to aduance.


A comparison of Edward and Warwicke with Octauius & Anthony.

Octauius now, and chaste Octauias Bride,

Conspire the death of tyranizing Brute.
Clifford must fall, in top of all his pride,
Who did by Armes great Munsters plea refute,
Doth pleade his cause, but Warwicke gaines the suite.
A headlesse arrow piercst his armed throate,
Who in his youth did saile in Conquests boate.
If Homer liu'd and dwelt in Castalie,
And daily tasted of Parnassus Well,
Inspirde with furious sacred Poesie,
Yet would he not our Virgils worth excell,
Whose Pæans did these fierce massacres tell.
Delia is praisd with thy all-praysing hand:
No wonder, for thou dweltst in Delos land.
Eight seuerall Battels shall escape my Muse,
Least pride it selfe should me esteeme as proud:
Let Maros quill that sacred path peruse,
Couer my temples with a sable cloud,
Cimerian wreathes my head of sorrow shrowd:
Giue me a brazen Pensill not a Pen,
Some drops of blood to portraiture these men.

The Field of Banbery.

Now warre is mounted on rebellions Steede,
And discontent perswadeth willing Pride,
His crest to raise, and weare an Iron weede:
Long smothred Enuy doth the Army guide,
Which made firme loue from true obedience slide:
'Twas that great Neuill made proud George rebell,
Whose haughty spirits Warwicke knew too well.


Warwicke that raisde the race of Mortimer,
Whose eyes did see too soone, thy death saies so:
The downfall of immortall Lancaster,
'Twas he that did, what could not Warwicke doo?
Make Kings and Queenes to loue and feare him too.
'Twas that great Peere, who with one warlike hand,
Crown'd and vncrown'd two kings who rulde the land.
Thus while these Royall but disloyall Peeres,
Maugre reuenge to him that knew not feare,
Vnnumbred bands of men and swarmes appeares
In North and South, East, West, yea euery where
They throw away their Coats, and Corslets weare.
Wiues, maides, and Orphants eyes are stuft with teares,
And cannot see the Spades transform'd to Speares.
The Shepheards hooke is made a souldiers pike,
Whose weather-beaten hands must learne aright
His speare to traile, and with his sword to strike
Vpon the plumed beauer of a knight,
None must be sparde by warres impartiall might
If euery souldier were a King, what then?
Princes should die as fast as other men.
The Senator must leaue his skarlet gowne,
And keepe him in some Turret of defence:
When warres once flourish, Iustice must goe downe,
Lawes to correct, is lawlesse warres pretence,
Valure doth greeue to see ill gotten pence.
To see a man without deserts to rise,
Makes warre such men, not Iustice to despise.


You that in peace by vse of golden hoords
Your dunghill race to Barons did erect:
You that by English phrase and chosen woords
Make heauens enuy your toplesse Architeck,
Your Angels cannot you from warres protect.
The Campe and Court in manners different are,
Words may in Peace, but deeds preuaile in Warre.
For Robes of honor furr'd with Miniuere
You must haue brest-plates of well tempred steele,
And on your aged heads strong Helmets weare,
All states must turne when Fortune turnes her wheele,
That man which pleasure tastes must sorrow feele.
Who sees the wracke of mightie Empery,
He loues his life too well that will not dye.
When Kings must fight, shall subiects liue in peace?
What Coward is of such a crauant race,
That loues not honor more than idle ease?
Great Romane I applaud thy worthy Phrase,
To liue with shame, is worse then dye with praise.
All which haue being, alwaies cannot bee,
For things corrupt must die, and so must wee.
Could Cressus mightie mines from Cyrus hand,
His captiue carkasse or his state defend?
Wealth cannot warre, nor siluer speares withstand:
By strife we see the greatest states haue end,
And most they marre by warre, who most would mend.
When old warres cease, then straight their springs anew,
For harmes still harmes, and euils do ills ensue.


No sooner had the gladsome eyes of peace
Beheld this warlike sea inuiron'd Ile,
But disobedience heire to sluggish ease,
Did weake beleefe subdue with subtile stile,
Grace winnes the heart, but words the eares beguile.
Twas Warwicks tongue, whose speech did all men please
Whose words were such, or very like to these.

The Earle of Warwicks speech.

You know great Lords, your very eyes did see
The spotlesse honor which my house and I
Did euer beare this kingdome; who but wee
Did checke the pride of wilfull tyranny:
And with our Grandsires we esteemde it good,
For Englands weale to spill our dearest blood.
Witnesse the dismall fall of Salisbury
And Richard Duke of Yorke in Wakefield slaine,
The wracke of my decaied familie,
Why did we this, what profit did we gaine?
Twas but to shew our country our good will,
Which now we also do, and euer will.
How many times haue I in complete steele
Yea mounted on my steed pursude the chase?
Witnesse these weary limbes, for age must feele,
If youth hath runn'd astray or tedious race.
Witnesse these siluer haires which now appeares,
Cares makes vs old, though we be yong in yeares.


When as these eyes, impartiall eyes of mine,
Beheld my king illuded and misled
By baser men, true honor did repine
To see great maiestie with basenesse wed:
For which I waged warre, and warring wan,
And winning, chose a Tyger for a Lambe.
Both you and I great Lords, yea all the state
With vniuersall voice adiudg'd him wise:
Who now hath prou'd a tyrant and vngrate,
Humilitie makes times obseruers rise.
For you I chose him king and spent my blood,
But tryall saies, good seeming is no good.
Now therefore friends let Warwicks tongue intreate,
Since that our hopes of Edwards loue dispaire,
That Lancaster may repossesse his seate,
Whom we vnkindly thrust from honors chaire,
The reason is which gouernes our pretents,
Tyrants are worser farre then Innocents.
Thus this enraged Lord doth instigate
With spurlike words swift coursers to the race:
Enuy ambition breeds, ambition hate:
Hate discontent breeds, discontent disgrace,
These be warres angry sounds, pernitious race.
These vices by Iniustice nourisht are,
Affection in a Iudge is worse then warre.


Blessed that state, thrice happie is the land
VVhere sacred Iustice is esteemde diuine:
And where the Iudge on one eare holds his hand,
My pen applaudes that sentence iust of thine,
Romes holy Prince, peace louing Antonino,
As I am Marcus, I am not thy foe,
But being Iudge, I must be iust also.
That lawe deryding Peere, disdaining Lord,
Warwick doth his rebellious Ensignes reare:
And vowes reuenge on Edward with his sword,
Hastings and Stanley do withstand the Beare,
True honor neuer yeelds to seruile feare.
He is a friend that loues when Fate doth frowne,
He shall haue thousands that doth weare a Crowne.
Thus while these threatnings like some blazing starre,
The wracke of some great Emperour do portend:
Their friends on either side addresse for warre,
Great William Earle of Pembrooke doth entend,
Ere warre begin to make of warre an end.
And for that purpose for his friends he sent,
To whom as thus he shewed his right intent.

The Earle of Pembrookes Oration.

You that did euer with your swords maintaine,
The vndoubted title of the whiter Rose:
By whose great ayde great Edward did obtaine,
The Royall crowne and homage held of those,
VVhich now rebell, deere friends correct this sinne,
'Tis as much praise to keepe, as praise to winne.


If speech might spur you to this glorious race,
Where endlesse honor is the purchast fee:
Selected words my ruder speech should grace,
We pricke in vaine his sides whose feete are free,
You euer did the house of Yorke adore,
True loue encreaseth daily more and more.
Giue not occasion to the enuious pen,
To brand you with the badge of infamie:
Be firme in resolution worthy men,
And thinke vpon your auncient libertie.
Behold why Warwicke doth these warres entend,
A bad beginning hath a worser end.
Looke with indifferent, not respecting eyes,
Vpon these two coriualls in the warre:
Edward a King, couragious, honest, wise,
Warwicke whose name is like a blazing starre,
That some ensuing harmes doth foretell,
Enuy doth still worke ill, but neuer well.
For whom doth he this bloody battell wage?
For aged Henry, and the Prince his sonne:
Who but for him had led a quiet age,
But they poore Princes, were by him vndone.
I finde it true which hath bene often sed,
Beares must sometime with humane flesh be fed.


It is not loue to either of these twaine,
That doth enforce this proud ignoble Peere:
These wandring troupes of rebells to maintaine,
But tis ambition whom he holds most deere,
That doth compell his willing hands to fight:
Vnsetled braines bloud still respect, not right.
Nay, what if Henry should enioy the wreath,
Thinke you by yeelding fauour to enioy?
Friends, when warres rise say kings should neuer breath,
Princes in neede men of regard imploy.
To this iust action loyall friends be mou'd,
The firmest faith in danger great is prou'd.
Thus hath this Lord as with a touch-stone tride,
The courage of his countrey-men and loue:
The voyce of all is on warres, warres they cride,
The Princes vertues do the subiectes moue,
Dangers and perils eminent to proue.
The noble Earle with speede pursues his fate,
Delay brings danger to the surest state.
When Fame reported this to Edwards eare,
Hope vanquisht feare and gaue encouragement:
To see them firme who euer faithfull were.
Then to Lord Stafford, Southwike Earle he sent,
To muster all his friends incontinent:
Then gaue he ioynt commission to these twaine,
As equalles when they came in Campe to raigne.


Thus these two Captaines as those two of yore,
VVhen Romes selected youth in Cannas bled,
Equall in power, but not in Iudgements store,
As Varro, Stafford from the battell fled,
As Paulus, so renowmed Pembrooke sped.
Thus Lord-like stout Æmilius forth doth goe,
To chase the pride of his rebellious foe.
Stafford and hee weake staffe to leane vpon,
No Stafford he, nor sprung from Buckingham,
Nor let that name so base a man bemoane,
His cowardize escandalizde his fame,
Lassiuious lust did explaiten his shame.
These two to Banbary with Armies bend,
Thence Stafford fled, there Herberts life did end.
There might you see a troope of warlike men,
Conducted by the glories of their Clyme:
Vnworthy I, with my vnworthy pen,
To æternize in Layes vndecent Rime,
Their memories, which liue in spight of time.
These two as Fabius and Marcellus weare,
Romes guarding target and offending speare.
Richard was valorous, but his brother wise,
Youth made him forward, age the other stayde:
Richard for action, Pembrooke for aduise,
If both their worths were in a ballance wayde,
Neither should Fates partiallitie vprayde,
The differences betweene these brothers are,
One peace affected most, the other warre.


There might you see the Champions of the Beare,
Mounted on lustie Coursers, scoure the plaine:
There might you see the sonne of Latimer,
With rashnesse charge, with feare returne and slaine,
They neuer feare, who neuer feeled paine.
There might you see, O I am greeu'd to say,
What yeares confirm'd, consumed in a day.
There might you see that worthy man of men,
Richard with his victorious sword in hand,
Like a fierce Lyon passing from his den,
Or some sterne Boare, whose anger plowes the land,
Securely passe through euery conquer'd band.
As a round bullet from a Canon sent,
This Knight alone through fortie thousand went.
And backe return'd to his amazed traine,
But more enraged with anger then before:
Begins to kill, where he before had slaine,
Like a close myzer he augments his store,
The more he slaies, to slaie he loues the more.
All this thou didst, what latter age can tell,
Of one that better did, or halfe so well.
Thus like Alcides all composde of ire,
Whose fiery lights shut sparkes of fortitude:
This Champion doth to greater deeds aspire,
Still pressing on the Hydra multitude,
Till like to sheepe they fled in order rude.
Then to his Tent with tryumph he doth goe,
Valure doth loue to spoile, not chase the foe.


But see vnconstant chance, and seeing weepe,
For euery word requires a siluer teare:
Whiles carelesse victory did sweetly sleepe,
And conquest by desert did honour weare,
(VVhen most we liue secure, we most should feare)
Sixe hundred men conducted by a Squire,
Made those that chaste with praise, with shame retire.
But ere that these confused warriours fled,
Whom vnexpected horror did amaze:
They sold their liues for liues ere they were dead,
Their conquering blood their honors did emblaze,
But all were not deriued from one race.
Some Stallions in a field, some Asses bee,
And so of men there be, of each degree.
Richard thou canst not mount thy steed and flye,
Nor thou great Lord experience makes thee stay,
To feare the name of death is worse then dye:
But men borne base, a baser word will say,
I care not how I scape so liue I may.
Ye slaues to feare whom I abhorre to see,
That loue life more, then praise or honestie.
Still do they striue till that vnnumbred presse
Like Bees of Hybla swarmed euery where:
Courage in danger doth it selfe expresse.
Submission to a Lyon breeds but feare,
But rauenous beasts their prostrate subiects teare:
By such great Richard falls, and Pembrooke dies,
Conquering twise twentie thousand enemies.


Mount sacred spirits with cleare conscience wings
To the ninth heauen whereas your glorious eye
May gaze on the immortall king of kings:
Liue you in peace, but we in misery,
Man cannot happie be before he dye.
Vnto your glorious tombes I sacrifice,
These dismall Anthems and sad Elegies.
Cease mournfull Muse, to chaunt these Ciuil broiles,
Vnciuill warres, and sence-amizing times:
Brothers by brothers spoild, vnnaturall spoiles,
The guilt whereof to Ioues tribunall climes,
Oh subiect fit for Thæban Statius rimes.
All warres are bad, but finall end doth tell,
Intestine warres all other warres excell.
Witnesse the same the Macedinian downe,
When Pompey did the Senates cause defend,
And Cæsar sought the worlds Imperiall Crowne:
Witnesse Philippes and Antonius end,
Milde Othos death which Authors so commend.
Richard now riseth at his Nephewes fall,

Richard. 3.


A conscience cleare is like a brazen wall.
Now Englands Traiane sprung from Troiane race,
Doth Oxford helpe and Darbies aide implore,
Froth-faced Neptune with his trident mace
Doth guide his Argosies to Milfords shoare,
At Bosworth field he slaies the tusked Boare.

The battle of Bosworth.


Leicestrian Dales their crimson goare did fill,
A scarlet streame from Richard did distill.


Cheiney thy armes and sinewes are not strong
Enough to match with Albions martiall king:
Brandon thou dost thy youthfull vigor wrong,
To combat him who to the field did bring
Those cruell parts which Collingbourne did sing.
Now consolations wings doth reare my minde,
To shew his praise, who sprang from Priams kinde.

Henry. 7.

Great Impe of kings, heroicke Theodore,

Englands Augustus, famous Prince of peace,
Great Treasurer of sacred Vertues store,
Eden of pleasure, which didst all men please,

Arthur. Henry. Margaret. Mary.

Comfort of Albion, and thy Countries ease:

From the foure golden Fountaines did arise
Like vnto those that sprang from Paradise.
Oh that I had all wittes excelling witte,
To eternallize thy deeds immortall king:
My pen thy trophies should, and tryumphes writte,
The triple lauor of this round should ring
VVith thy great name, which my great muse should sing.
But since that Nature did the same denie,
Accept my will, ætheriall dietie.

Elizabeth eldest daughter to Edw. the 4. was maried to Henr. the 7 by which mariage the both houses of Yorke and Lancaster so long seuered wer vnited

Elizabeth, O Princely perfect name,

Combinde with thee, oh cheerfull cordiall knot:
No priuate quarell could white Albion fame:
VVith blood and rapine fierce dissention blot,
Fury it selfe, within it selfe did rot.
Two parted Roses which so long did striue,
Grew on one stalke, and both began to thriue.


From that faire stalke great Arthur first did rise,
Arthur who matcht with Castiles Katherine,
Childlesse he dide, and death he did despise,
His body was intombde in gorgeous serine,
His soule ascended, for it was diuine.
Henry then Prince and heire apparant was,
Henry which did all former Henries passe.
The snow-white Cliffes which Albion do confine,
Whose subiect sands are deckt with Margarites:

Henry 8.


Clearer then is the clearest Christaline,
The towring waues, which rule the narrow streights,
Which do adumbrate sleepy rockes deceits,
Could not debarre his thoughts, but he did goe
To conquer France, and Englands greatest foe.
Wolsey then liu'd, high minded worthy Clarke,
VVhich did erect those glorious Towres of yore:

Christ Church in Oxford.


Learnings receptacle, Religions parke,
Oh that some Eagle-mounting thought would soare
To finish that which he began before.
Oh that some Prince (for none but Princes can)
VVould perfect that, that excellent worke of man.
The siluer Isis and the gliding Thame,
Whose billowes resalute the verdant strand,
Should warble Pæans to his mightie name,
The leaden age is past which rulde the land,
Saturne is come, and Saturne doth command:
VVhose hopes were dead, rich students neuer feare,
(Most rich in hope) some will your turrets reare.


Nurse of ingenious spirits Athens praise,
Chiefe benefactor of what ere is mine:
O might I see some mightie Monarch raise
Those halfe built walles and parted towres combine,
Then Christ might yet be iustly tearmed thine:
As Christ is best, so should his houses bee,
And in perfection haue a sympathie.

Edward 6.

Henries triumphant carkasse laid in graue,

Couered with gold in Cæsars ancient towre:
Edward succeeds, a Prince though yong yet graue,
The skye which whilome smilde begins to lowre,
And showres of sorrow on the land to powre.
He endes his life before it scarce began,
What is more short then shortest life of man.
When nature fram'd this Prince, oh goodly creature,
Compos'd of pure and elementall fire:
Turnd in a heauenly mowld diuinest feature,
She saw her selfe deceiu'd, and wroth with ire,
When life began, his end she did desire.
What enuie so could thee proud Nature sting,
Nothing should make and marre the selfe same thing.
The Gods did enuie mans felicitie,
And therfore did to Nature condescend:
That this yong King, great King of Maiestie,
In sixteene yeares his vitall course should spend,
His life hath end, and all our ioyes haue end.
Nature doth hasten to the house of death,
And shee consents to steale away his breath.

Queene Mary married with Phillip Prince of Spayne.

Now Spayne and England ioynes, that peace I loue,

That concord doth augment the common state:
Pray God it doth both firme and faithfull proue,


But for to match with Spayne, oh cruell fate,
Could Mary so her countrey ruinate?
Guiltlesse shee was, but those that made the match,
Vnder their wings did egges of Serpents hatch.
Oh now me thinkes I could in dismall blacke
Shadow my lookes, and neuer wish the light:
Writing red lines of blood, more blacke then blacke,
The massacres of mans amazing sight,
After these duskie cloudes comes clearest light.
Mary is dead, Elizabeth doth raigne,
Her conscience cleare, no corasiue could staine.

The losse of Elizabeth.

Faire Virgin, Empresse, royall Princely maide,
Sprung from the Damaske Rose the Roses bud:
Tis true as truth it selfe which men haue saide,
The end is best, though all the meanes be good,
She was the last and best of Henries blood.
Henry did well in all, excell in this,
In getting of this Maide, our greatest blisse.
He vanquisht Bolleine, and strong Turnus towne,
And rode in tryumph through the English Pale:
Placing the Diademe of France, that regall Crowne,
Vpon his sisters temples; and withall
Made the twelue Peeres to feare their finall fall.
But what of these? If Bullain had not bin,
We all had liu'd for aye in endles sin.
Astronomers did dreame and fondly saide,
That twelue designed signes did rule a Spheare:
Virgo did guide the earth, oh heauenly Maide;
But now sky-teachers wise men neuer feare,
To say she is in heauen, for sure shees there.
Oh she is gone, with her our pleasures fled,
They liu'd in her, they dide when she was dead.


Bright Gem of honor, Albions glorious starre,
The Cynosure of Englands Hemispheare:
Princesse of peace, Cytherian queene of warre;
Rides through the cloudes on her cælestiall beare,
Conquering deathes Ebon dart and sharpest speare.
Fathers of peace put on triumphant weedes,
A gratious King, a gratious Queene succeedes.
Reasons first founder, Natures eldest sonne,
The Stoikes prince did also erre in this:

Aristotle.

Repugnant natures neuer raigne in one,

Plato.

Perfect my griefe, more perfect is my blis,

I smile with ioy, yet teares my cheekes do kisse.
A present salue hath cured a pensiue sore,
Britaine is now, what Britaine was of yore.
The wandring Brute, who sprang from Priams kinde,
Though artlesse men with their malignant muse:
Still bearing burning enuie in their minde,
Britaines first Monarch warlike Brute abuse,
Of all the Northern world, this Isle did chuse.
With fire and sword he did obtaine his sute
With peace and ioy we chuse a second Brute.
Peace, valure, learning, science hee did bring,
Thou feare of God, whom thou doest onely feare:
Imperiall Monarche, truth and concordes King,
No champion then did weild his fruitlesse speare,
No chaine did tye the milde vntamed Beare.
Saturne then liued, no Sinon did amisse,
All men were free, (no slaue by Nature is.


Oh sacred age, and blessed times of yore,
When iust Astræa rul'd this circled plaine:
Then each man liu'd alike, and liu'd withstore,
No Persian blood did Salamina stayne,
No Vandals Rome, nor Romane gouernd Spayne.
No Cannas chaunce did cause Saturnia mourne,
No sencelesse Nero wisht new Troy to burne.
No Manlius sought a Diademe to gaine,
No iust Papirius sude for Fabius bloud:
Claudius as then did not Virginia stayne,
No Consulls fell at Alias flaming flood,
Red Chærea was not dewde with Fabys blood.
Albans and Romanes knew no single fight,
Saffetius did not yeeld to Martius might.
The vnspotted spowse of martiall Collatine,
Did not consent to Sextus lawlesse lust:
Each virgin was ybound with Vestas line,
Camillus needed not the Ardeans trust,
Nor Sceuola his hand in flames to thrust.
But see, oh see how age doth follow age,
VVorse after worse, as Actors on a stage.
Thrice happy Britaine, strong vnited Ile,
Disioynted was by her first monarches fall:
Then Albanact was slaine by Humbers guile,
Cæsar then conquer'd it, who conquered all,
Hunes, Pictes and Danes tryumph't in Britaines fal.
Vaile sorrowes roabes, Ioues father comes againe,
The golden age begins with Iacobs raigne.


The Lords great Stuart, Albions mightie King,
Our second Brute like to the morning starre,
To Englands Court doth light of comfort bring.
Now Concords boult doth Ianus temple barre,
Binding in chaines the sternest god of warre.
Vertue and valour triumph euermore,
Augustus liues adornd with Crassus store.

TO THE MAIESTIE OF King Iames, Monarch of all Britayne.

All haile great Monarch of the greatest Ile,

Iames the 1. of England, and 6. of Scotland.

The Northerne worlds vnited lawfull King,

Pardon my rudest reede vndecent stile,
Though I want skill in thy new Empires spring,
Yet doe I loue, and will thy prayses sing.
Me thinkes I do on Claros kingdome stand.
No maruaile, for Apollo rules the land.
On true obedience knee I pardon aske
Of thy diuine heroicke Maiestie,
It was thy merites great impos'd this taske
On my weake pen, badge of infirmitie,
Too weake indeede to prayse thy excellency.
Each Cherrils muse doth now salute thy grace,
Shall I alone be mute and hide my face?


Maro extold Augustus peacefull daies,
The Liricke Poet sung Mecenas fame:
Ennius did Scipio Affricanus praise,
If all they liu'd and saw thy sacred name,
Each verse they made should sure containe the same.
But if they reade thy gift, oh Princely worke!

Basilicon Doron.


For shame they would in vntrode desarts lurke.
If Englands Load-starre pride of Poesie,

Chaucer, so called by M. Camden.


Could the firme Centers regiment transpearse:
And formalize his peerlesse ingeny,
Thy all-surpassing vertues to rehearse,
A Princely matter fitts a princely verse:
Yet were his wit too weake thy deeds to praise,
Which brought vs ioyes, in our most mournfull daies.
Could Lidgat passe the tower of Proserpine,
And like to Virbius liue a double age,
Penning thy Trophies in a golden skrine,
Yet could he not thy merits equipage,
Admiring most would vse a tapinage,
Bocchas and Gowre, the Virgils of their time,
Could not vnfold thy prayse in antique rime.
If these foure Poets liu'd like Lions foure,
They should thy famous Coach of glory drawe
From Vertues temple, to true honours towre,
Each should a kingdome haue, thy foes should know
Thy might, and feare their finall ouerthrow.
But what should muses sing? the world doth see,
And seeing, feares vnited Britany.


Still liuing Sidney, Cæsar of our land,
Whose neuer daunted valure princely minde,
Imbellished with Art and Conquests hand,
Did expleiten his high aspiring kinde,
(An Eagles hart in Crowes we cannot finde.)
If thou couldst liue and purchase Orpheus quill,
Our Monarches merits would exceed thy skill.
Albions Mæonian, Homer natures pride,
Spenser the Muses sonne and sole delight:
If thou couldst through Dianas kingdome glide,
Passing the Palace of infernall night,
(The Sentinels that keepes thee from the light)
Yet couldst thou not his retchlesse worth comprise,
Whose minde containes a thousand purities.
What fatall chance is this, and lucklesse fate,
That none can aptly sing thy glorious prayse,
And tell the happinesse of Englands state,
O barren time, and temporizing dayes,
Fowle Ignorance on sacred Learning prayes.
But now I doe a Diapazon see,
None but thy selfe (great King) can sing of thee.

Philip Aristotle

That Macedonian starre, first Prince of Greece,

Sent for that wandring learned Stagirite,
To teach his Sonne knowledge of knowledges:
His sword was keene, his sense could ill indite:
Thy sworde is sharpe, and who can better write?
He had another to instruct his sonne,
What he by others did, thy selfe hath done.


Some Cæsar deemde the happiest mortall wight,
That breath'd the ayre, or did ascend the skye,
For conquering Scipios force, and Pompeis might,
Some did Augustus iudge more happy, why?
Because the vanquisht Ægypts Anhtony,
Romes holy Prince, said Nerus did surpasse,
For leauing such a sonne as Traian was.
If those olde Wisards which of yore did sing,
Read with impartiall eyes thy peerlesse deeds,
(Great Prince of warre, of peace thrice happie King)
Concord should reconcile their striuing reeds,
And sensures ioyne, which censures enuy breeds.
Cæsars acts, Augustus peace, good Neruas kinde,
In thee alone, in none but thee we finde.
The siluer Moone plac'd in her circle round,
At her encrease, her equall distant hornes
Vpwards ascends, as scorning abiect ground,
So when the worlds great honour first was borne,
That fayre arising Sunne, cleere faced morne,
Her mounting thoughts did to the heauens Towre,
Scorning the earth, or any terrene Bowre.
But when that Virgins Goddesse doth decrease,
Her picked forkes their course to Terra bend:
So when our Englands Lunas light did cease,
The Artike Clime an Vnicorne did send,
VVhose radiant lusture, night shall neuer end:
Phœbes cleere light seemes darke, whilst he doth shine
He borrowes perfect light of God diuine.


Those that do reade the secrets of the skie,
Whose iudgement is in heauen conuersant:
Which portraiture the signes in heauenly die
Might asseuere that Virgo was on high,
I sawe a starre of late from heauen flie:
Why cannot this starre then faire Virgo bee?
A starre more chaste I thinke we cannot see.
O now my thoughts can diue into the deepe,
Our all ships guiding starre was fixed there:
And when Eliza did with honor sleepe,
Mounted vpon her praise deseruing beare,
She did obtaine of him she lou'd so deare,
That she might haue his seate, he rule the land
Which she of late as Empresse did commaund.
The Anatomizers of our learned daies,
Affirme that Virgo do the belly guide:
No wonder then that Albions wondrous praise,
That Virgin Queene which here on earth did bide
So nourisht each poore hunger-bitten side.
Now she is dead, oh who will them reliue?
The present starre doth present comfort giue.
I heard an aged woman often say,
That she did see a starre from heauen descend:
Which was as true me thought, as trees did bray:
For she alledg'd the same, and did commend
A certaine Crowe, whose wit she did defend.
Pardon me Age, for now mine eyes do see
A starre on earth, more bright than starre can bee.


To whom shall I this Northerne starre compare;
To Cæsar which did first subdue the state:
To Horsus who no limbe of Christ did spare,
Damming his soule this land to ruinate,
Great Williams conquest and the Normanes hate.
Thus doth my Muse all wanting art begin,
To sing thy vertues, and to shewe their sin.
Cæsar was twice repulst ere he could see
This litle world from all the world remote:
Before we sawe thy face we sent to thee,
As to a Pilot for to guide our boate:
Which did in Seas of suddaine sorrow floate.
He lost his sword before he conquest wan,
We yeeld thee all our hearts, and all we can.
Horsus by cruell tyrant trechery,
Subdude Ambrosius that wise Prince of peace:
Witnesse the hidden kniues at Salisbury,
He trauaile brought; but thou doest bring vs ease,
Thy true descent makes greedy warres to cease.
A Wolfe possest his heart, a Lyon thine,
He worse then man, thou better more diuine.
William was fierce in warre, and so art thou:
In counsell sage, thou doest him æqualize:
His sword forc't foes their trembling knees to bowe,
Thou conquerst hearts, by thy hearts winning eyes
By force he wan, by merits thou doest rise,
He brought subiection, thou doest freedome bring.
He loued warre, but thou of peace art King.


Rufus was rude, thou ciuill, gentle, kinde:
He was austere, thy browes hath mercies frowne:
He had a Neros hart, thou Cæsars minde:
He hunting lou'd, for pleasure tumbled downe
Many a Castle fayre, and stately Towne:
Thou lou'st the chase, yet Cities doest adorne,
Thou wert for all the worlds great profit borne.
Henry was grac't with artes, thou doest excell:
Children did blesse his age, but soone did dye:
Children thou hast in health and perfect well,
(God prosper them with pure prosperitie,)
Adorne their harts with louing pietie:
He was a worthy King, thou worthier farre,
Thou art our Northerne-Pole, harts-guiding starre.
Soare humble thoughts, and let my abiect pen
Touch the high mounted Artike Northerne starre,
And there compare this man excelling men:
VVe should compare the things that equall are,
And who is like this light, this lampe, this starre?
Mine eyes distill sweete teares, the teares of ioy,
To see Troyes issue raigne in new found Troy.
Let Barland cease to write of wisest Kings,
And Mellificius with his tuned voyce,
From whose sweet tong sprang learnings sweetest springs
Sing not of Persians prayse, or Caldeans ioyes,
The Grecians Emperour, Europs worthiest choyce.
These three combinde, each sought the others fall,
Britaine is ioynd, and Concord guides it all.
When Alexander sawe that precious stone,
Vnder whose Isye wings Achilles lay,
Shedding ambitious teares, he said with mone,


Vnhappy I, and ten times happy they,
Whose ensignes prayse, sweet Homer did display:
Then happy art thou King, whose raigne wee see
Homer doth sing thy prayse, for thou art hee.
The Maiestie of Marius fearefull face
Did terrifie the Cymbrians crauen minde:
Though he were armde with Clothos fatall mace,
And solemne oath to murther did him binde,
A wandring Bucke did feare the Eagles kinde:
So did thy Princely lookes and grace of God
Protect thy issue from a Traytors rod.
Now doth my Ship in plenties Ocean sayle,
Pusht with a pleasant gale of pleasures winde:
But stay I here an enuious Momist rayle,
Thy toothlesse threate doth not amaze my minde,
Barke, for thou canst not bite, I scorne thy kinde.
That which I wrire, I reade, and both are true,
I dare not, nor I will not tell what will ensue.
My hope is good that we shall happy bee,
Hopelesse our foes, they feare, we still secure:
We peace, they warre: Ye endlesse peace shall see,
We plenty haue, they pouerty endure,
Religion we sincere, but they impure.
They liuing seeme to dye, we dying gaine
To liue with Saints in Paradisus plaine.
What said the learned, those that learning loue,
If causes perish, then effects decay,
Pray for the cause, yea, pray to God aboue
That he may long the Albion Scepter sway,
Who shinde like Sol in our Cimmerian day.
Liue, and liue long, great King, liue many dayes,
Vse that fayre Theame, Be as thou art alwayes.
FINIS.


TO THE WORTHY AND Honourable Gentleman Sir Philip Harbert, Knight of the most Noble Order of the Bathe.

The second time doth my vnworthy muse
Salute thy milde aspect thrise noble Knight,
Let gracious censure his defects peruse,
Whose Genius waites on thy heroicke spright,
Whose loue and life are bent to honour thee:
And whilest breath lasteth vse both them and mee.
These Poems which my infant labours send
As messengers of dutie to thine eares,
Are of small value, but if nature lend
Some perfect dayes to my vnripened yeares,
My pen shall vse a more iudicious vaine,
And sing thy glory in a higher straine.
Your Honours at commaund. William Harbert.


TO THE IVDICIOVS Reader.

I Which in bloudy warres haue sleep'd my pen,
Whose Muse the passing bell of peace did wring,
And how the world did loose a world of men,
Now chuse to touch a more concordant string,
My Prince his prayse, whose prayse Ile euer sing.
Tis no mechanicke hope of hired gaine
That mou'd my minde these labours to sustaine.
No, that ignoble basenesse I abiure,
It was the loue I euer bare the place
Where first I breathed life did me allure,
In pleasant paines for to consume a space,
And her to prayse, though with mine owne disgrace:
With my disgrace, why? though my verse be ill,
I do not doubt to please the good with will.
To thee Iudicious Reader do I send
These fruites of youth, tis thee I hope to please:
If that my muse the ignorant offend,
No lines of mine their fury shall appease,
I set iust warre before an vniust peace,
I rayle not I, though I with Plato say,
To please the wise, must bee the wisest way.


A Poeme to the yong Prince.

The lotted seruant to thy Infant age,
Thrice glorious issue of a gracious King,
Least that her twelue-monthes fearefull tapynage,
Ingratitude suspect to thee should bring,
Me, though vnworthy, chose thy prayse to sing.
Her mourning garments she hath cast aside,
And hopes ere long to entertaine her Bride.
The Cleargie with the Barons borrowed light,
Is now obscured by thy transplendant shine:
The Rochet nor the Border hath no right
To rule, but that which doth from thee decline,
She ioyes and glories to be onely thine:
Shee deemes it honour, count it no dispraise
For thee with her to spend thy yonger dayes.
No matchles Machauil, nor Arietine,
Doth her plaine meaning breast with enuy breede,
Her wits do moderne seeme, and not diuine,
Loyall her loue though lowly is her weede,
A sympathie there is of word and deede:
Such as these are, in Wales thine eyes shall see,
Thousands that will both liue and dye with thee.
O was she euer false, vntrue, vnkinde?
Since her obedience did augment thy stile?
Or since the parted Roses were combinde,
Did euer rebels blood her brest defile?
Or did she euer Englands hopes beguile?
Witnesse the world, and those that liue therein,
Her spotlesse soule did neuer taste that sin.


Search Truthes Records, not times illuding lines,
Then shall thy Princely thoughts and eyes be fed
With the strange wonders of those warlike times,
When thy great Gransyres made our channels red
With blood of those that on our shoares laie dead.
Teaching great Cæsar how to runne away,
That neuer knew to flye before that day.
Ten yeares did Rome and all the world admire,
For all the world and Rome ten yeares did feare
The lusture of thy Bekons set on fire,
Great Odonisis King, Charactaker,
Whose endlesse worth my worthlesse Muse shall reare
To that bright Spheare where honor doth remaine,
She loues thee dead, thy life her loue did gaine.
VVhat honor or what glory didst thou win
VVith the earthes strength to conquer but an Ile,
Maister of the worlds mistres, mightie King?
Only this grac'd the greatnes of thy stile,
Claudius with blood did not his hands defile.
This triumph Rome did thee as highly grace,
As when by Scipio Affrique conquered was.
How many Legions Cæsar didst thou send?
How many Consuls did returne of thine,
VVhich sought what others marr'd, by warres to mend?
How many Emperours Britaine did repine,
To see thy honor rise, their praise decline.
Let Tacitus vnto the world declare,
No land saue Rome might with this land compare.


I know yong Prince, and am agreeu'd to see
The leeuy'd lookes of squint-eyde Theonyn:
Who saies this fault is proper vnto mee,
To iudge all others base our selues diuine,
No enuious Momist tis no fault of mine:
That some are so, I must confesse tis true,
All are not bad of vs, nor good of you.
The mellow fields haue tares as well as corne,
And thistles grow amidst the greenest grasse:
An Anacharse in Tartary was borne,
Vertue and vice do meete in euery place,
Clodius in Rome as well as Milo was.
Both good and bad in euery land we see,
And so are you if of a land ye bee.
Curbe the malignant pride of enuies rage,
And checke the stubborne stomackes of disdaine,
These penny Poets of our brazen stage
Which alwayes wish, O let them wish in vaine,
VVith Rossius gate thy gouernment to staine,
Make them more milde, or be thou more austere,
Tis veretue, vnto vice to be seuere.
I speake not this vnto the learned wise,
For them I loue, because the truth they loue:
Tis the bleard iudgement of seditious eyes,
That doth my muse and my affection moue,
A most vnwilling Satirist to proue:
Nature hath made me milde, but these hard men
Turn'd my soft quill into a brazen pen.


Play not the Satyr peace affecting muse.
I doubt not but their conscience will prouoke
These Lucilists their follies to refuse,
And make them soft, though they were hard as oke,
Conscience makes bad men good, so wise men spoke
I leaue them to their spurres, my muse shall flye
Vnto that Sphere where enuy dares not prye.
Vnto that Sphere whose circuit doth containe
The neuer spotted essence of his soule,
Whose sacred intellect no worldly staine
Could with desires rebelling aide controule:
This guilded Sphere is like a golden boule,
Which many lesser mazers doth containe,
So many vertues in this one do raigne.
Why parriall nature stepdame to my birth,
Ye mixed elements affections slaues,
VVhy did ye frame this vessell but of earth?
An equall matter to the dead mens graues,
And ioynd thereto a spirt like the waues:
Low as the earth although my Genius be,
Yet doth it touch skye threatning Maiestie.
O were my wit but equall to my will,
VVere I as wise as I am ignorant,
Here were a place that would deserue my skill,
Had I as great experience as I want,
Then would I in a booke of Adamant,
And Inke compoz'd by water made of golde,
VVith pens of Diamond thy prayse vnfolde.


Let Iustice rule the organ of thy speech,
And Clemency adorne thy Princely browe:
Vnto thine eares long absent patience teach,
By these which good men wish, let all men knowe,
None but thy selfe, thy selfe can ouerthrowe.
Let pittie check the rod when we offend,
That makes the good more good, the bad to mend.
I witnesse call the seuen hilled Queene.
How we obey'd, when Lawes obey'd were:
And shall not we be now as we haue bene?
Feare made vs then vnnaturall bondage beare,
VVe now securely liue, and cannot feare.

Cornelius Tacitus in the life of Agrippa.

Doubt not thereof, but come experience haue,

VVe loue to serue, but loathe the name of slaue.
Our gazing expectation longes to see
The true admired Image of thy Syre:
Which Nature hath so rightly grau'd in thee:
As Phisicke causes seem'd, they did conspire
To shape the like to him whom all admire.
So Sions sacred singer Dauid saies,
Good trees bring forth good fruit, good fruit alwaies.
Do not sweete Sallets spring from soundest seed?
And is not man like God, which man did make?
Can bad effects from causes good proceed?
Do we see fruite on any withered stake?
Or do we see in sea a bush or brake?
How canst thou then not good and perfect bee,
That wert engraft on such a goodly tree?
FINIS.