University of Virginia Library

Scena. 4.

The Marshall, three or fowre with halbards, Leading Promos to execution.
Byl.
Roome friends, what meane you thus to gase on vs,
A Bylmā.
A comes behinde, makes all the sport I wus.

Pro.
Farewell, my friendes, take warning by my fall,
Disdaine my life, but lysten to my ende,
Fresh harmes, they say, the viewers so apall,
As oft they win, the wicked to amend.
I neede not heare, my faultes at large resyte,
Untimely death, doth witnesse what I was:
A wicked man, which made eache wrong seeme right,
Euen as I would, was wrested euery case.
And thus long tyme, I liu'd and rule by wyl,
Where as I lou'd, their faultes, I would not see:
Those I did hate, tenne tymes beyond there yll
I did persue, vyle wretch, with cruelty.
Yea dayly I, from bad, to worse did slyde,
The reason was, none durst, controule my lyfe:
But see the fall, of mischeeue, in his pride,
My faultes, were knowne, and loe with bloddy Axe,
The headseman strayght, my wronges with death wyll quite:
The which, in worth I take, acknowledging,
The doome, was geuen, on cause, and not on spyte,
Wishing my ende, might serue for a warning.
For such as rule, and make their will a lawe,
If to such good, my faynting tale might tend,
Wretched Promos, the same would lenger draw:
But if that wordes preuayle, my wofull ende
From my huge faultes, then tenne times more wyll warne.
Forgeuenesse now, of all the world I craue,
Therewith that you, in zealous prayer, wyll
Beseeche of God, that I the grace may haue:
At latter gaspe, the feare of death to kyll.

Mar.
Forwards my Lord, me thinkes you fayntly goe.

Pro.
O syr, in my case, your selfe would be as slowe.