PART I.

Chapter 1163,623 wordsPublic domain

By JOHN HIGGINS.

[Reprinted from the edition of 1587, collated with those of 1575 and 1610.] ]

_Loue and liue._

To the nobility and all other in office, God graunt the increase of wisedome, with all thinges necessary for preseruation of theyr estates.

_Amen._

Amongste the wise (right Honorable) whose sentences (for the moste parte) tende either to teache the [Sidenote: _Plotinus._] attayning of vertue or eschuing of vice, _Plotinus_ that wonderfull and excellent Philosopher hath these wordes: The property of Temperaunce is to couet nothing which may be repented: not to excede the bands of measure, & to kepe Desire vnder the yoke of Reason. Whiche saying if it were so well knowen, as it is nedefull; so well embraced, as is[53] wished; or so surely fixed in minde, as it is printed in his workes: then certis many Christians might by the instruction of an Ethnicke Philosopher, shun great and daungerous perils. For to couet without consideration, to passe the measure of his degree, and to let will run at randon, is the only destruction of all estates. Else howe were it possible, so many learned, polliticke, wise, renoumed, valiaunt, and victorious personages, might euer haue come to such vtter decay? For example, wee haue[54] _Alexander_ the Great, _Cæsar_, _Pompey_, _Cyrus_, _Hannibal_, &c. All which [Sidenote: _Quintus (by desier of glorye) felte the reward of theire Curtius._] immoderate and insatiable lustes: for if _Alexander_ had beene content with Macedonie, or not beene pufte vp with pride after his triumphes, hee had neuer beene so miserably poysoned. If _Cæsar_ and _Pompey_ had beene satisfied with theire victories, and had not fell to ciuill discention, the one had not beene slaine in the senate with daggers, nor the other abroade, by their frendes procurement. If _Cyrus_ had beene [Sidenote: _Iustinus pleased with all Persia, and Media, and not thirsted lib. 1._] for bloud, hee had neuer com to so infortunate a fall. So if _Hanniball_ had not so much delited [Sidenote: _Plutarchus._] in glorye of warfare, his countrey had neyther fell in ruine, nor hee bene miserably forced [Sidenote: _Liuius._] to poyson himselfe. But you will say, desire of [Sidenote: _Polibius._] fame, glorye, renowne, and immortalitie (to which all men well nighe by[55] nature are inclined, especially those which excell or haue any singuler gift of fortune or[56] the body) moued them to such daungerous, great, and hardy enterprises, which must needes be confessed[57] as an infallible veritie: and therefore I suerly[58] deeme those Princes aboue specified (considering their[59] fortunes, fame, and exploytes) had neuer come to suche ende, but for wante of temperance. And now[60] sithe there are three other Cardinall vertues which are requisite in him that should bee in authoritye: that is to saye, Prudence, Iustice, and Fortitude, which so wonderfully adorne and beautifie all estates (If Temperaunce bee with them adioyned, that they moue the very enemies with admiration to prayse them) some peraduenture (as affection leades) will commende one, some another: as[61] _Aristotle_ the Prince of [Sidenote: _Arist._] Philosophers names Prudence, the mother of vertues, [Sidenote: _Cicero._] but[62] _Cicero_ defines her the knowledge of [Sidenote: _Prudence._] things which ought to bee desired and followed, and also of them which ought to bee fled and eschewed; yet you shall finde that for want of Temperaunce, some which were counted very wise[63] fell into wonderfull reproche and infamy. But[64] Iustice that incomparable vertue, (as the auncient Ciuilians define her) is[65] a perpetuall and constant will which giueth to euery man his right, yet if shee be not constant, which is the gifte of Fortitude; nor equal in discerning right from wrong, wherein is Prudence; nor vse proportion in iudgement and sentence, which pertayneth to Temperaunce: shee can neuer bee called equitie or iustice, but fraude, deceite, iniustice and iniurie. And, to speake of Fortitude, which _Cicero_ defineth, a consyderate vndertaking of [Sidenote: _Fortitude._] perills, and enduring of labours; if he whome [Sidenote: _Cicero._] wee suppose stoute, valiaunt, and of good courage, want Prudence, Iustice, or Temperaunce, he is not counted wise, righteous and constant, but sottish, rude and desperate. For Temperaunce (sayth _Cicero_) [Sidenote: _Cicero._] is of reason[66] in lust and other euel [Sidenote: _Temperance._] assaultes of the minde, a suer and moderate dominion & rule. This noble vertue is deuided into three[67] partes, that is Continency, Clemencie, and Modestye, which well[68] obserued and kept (if grace bee to them adioyned) it is impossible for him that is endued with the aboue named vertues euer to fall into the infortunate snares of calamity, or misfortune. But Ambition which is immoderate[69] desire of honour, rule, dominion, and superioritie, (the very distruction of nobility and common weales, as among the Romanes; Sylla, Marius, Carbo, Cinna, Cateline, Pompey, and Cæsar, are witnesses) hath brought great decay to[70] our contrey, and countreymen. Which Master Baldwin hath so touched[71] in his Epistle of the laste[72] volume of this booke, that I nede not therewith deale any further.[73] I haue here (right honorable) in this booke[74] only reproued foly in those which are heedelesse: Iniurie in extortioners, rashnes in venterers, [trecherie in traytours, riote in rebelles,][75] and excesse in such as suppresse not vnruly affections. Now[76] I truste you will so thinke of it (althoughe the style deserue not like commendation) as you thought of the other parte. Which if you shall, I doubt not but it may pleasure some; if not, yet geue occasion to others which can do better, either to amend these, or to publish their owne.[77] And thus wishing you Prudence to discerne what is meete for your callings, Iustice in the administration of your functions, Fortitude in the defence of your Countrey, and Temperaunce in moderation of all your affections, with increase of honours, and euerlasting felicity: I bid you in Christ Iesu farewell.[78] At Winceham the vii. day of December.

1586.

Your most humble in the Lord, IOHN HIGINS.[79]

“I. HIGGINS TO

THE READER.

“Amongst diuers and sondry chronicles of many nations, I thinke there are none (gentle reader) so vncertaine and brief in the beginning as ours: at which I cannot but maruayle, sith at all tymes our Ilande had as learned wryters (some singuler men excepted) as any nation vnder the sunne. Againe, those which now are our best chroniclers as they report, haue great antiquities; but what they publish of late yeares may be enlarged in many places by chronicles of other nacions: whereby it is manifest they are either ignoraunt of the tongues, or els not giuen to the studie of that, which they most professe. For if they were, me-thinkes it were easie for them, with such antiquities as they brag they haue, to fetche our histories from the beginning; and make them as ample, as the chronicles of any other country or nation. But they are faine, in steede of other stuffe, to talk of the Romains, Greekes, Persians, &c. and to fill our histories with their facts and fables. This I speake not to the end I wold have ours quite seperate from other, without any mention of them; but I would haue them there only named, where th’ affayres of both countries, by warre, peace, truce, mariage, trafique, or some necessary cause or other, is intermixed. I haue seen no auncient antiquities in written hand but two: one was Galfridus of Munmouth, which I lost by misfortune; the other, an old chronicle in a kind of Englishe verse, beginning at Brute and ending at the death of Humfrey Duke of Gloucester; in the which, and diuers other good chronicles, I finde many thinges not mentioned in that great tome engroced of late by Maister Grafton; and that, where he is most barraine and wantes matter. But as the greatest heades, the grayest hayres, and best clarkes, haue not most wytte; so the greatest bookes, titles, and tomes, contayne not most matter. And this haue I spoken, because in wryting the Tragedies of the first infortunate princes of this Isle, I was often fayne to vse mine owne simple inuention, yet not swaruing from the matter: because the chronicles (although they went out vnder diuers men’s names) in some suche places as I moste needed theyr ayde, wrate one thing, and that so brieflye, that a whole prince’s raigne, life, and death, was comprysed in three lines; yea, and sometimes mine olde booke, aboue mentioned, holpe mee out when the rest forsoke mee. As for Lanquet, Stowe, and Grafton, [they] were alwayes nighe of one opinion: but the Floure of Histories somewhat larger: some helpe had I of an old chronicle imprinted the yeare 1515. But surely methinkes, and so do most which delite in histories, it were worthely done, if one chronicle wer drawne from the beginning in such perfect sort, that al monuments of vertuous men (to the exalting of God’s glory) and all punishments of vicious persons (to the terrour of the wicked) might be registred in perpetuall remembraunce. To which thing the right reuerende father in God Matthew [Parker] Archbishop of Canterbury, and Metropolitane of Englande, hath brought such ayde, as wel by printing as preseruing the written chronicles of this realme; that by his grace’s studie and paynes, the labour, in tyme to come, wil be farre more easy to them, that shall take such trauayle in hand. But to leaue with these, and declare the cause of my purpose. As I chaunced to reade the _Mirour for Magistrates_, a worke by all men wonderfully commended, and full of fitte instructions for preseruation of eche estate: taking in hand the chronicles and minding to conferre the times, meethoughte the liues of a number euen at the beginning, the like infortunate princes offered themselues vnto mee as matter very meete for imitation, the like admonition, miter, and phrase; and seing Baldwine by these woordes moued mee somewhat thereto; It were (saith hee) a goodly and a notable matter to searche and discourse our whole storye from the beginning of the inhabiting of this Isle, &c. I read the storyes, I considered of the princes, I noted their liues, and therewith conferred their deathes. On this, I tooke penne in hande, minding nothing lesse than to publishe them abroade, but onely to trye what I could do if neede were, or time and leasure were giuen mee to bestowe in such wyse. I wrote the twoo first, euen as they now are, and because I would not kepe secrete my first labours in this kinde of study (though I might well haue blushed at the basenes of my style) I shewed them to a friend of myne, desiring his vnfayned iudgement in this matter; which when he had read, he neuer left intreating me to wryte other, til I had ended all to the byrth of Christ: and yet not so content; he desired mee t’ accomplish the residue til I came to the Conquest, (which were wel nighe fiftie Tragedies): but, wearied with those which I had written, I desired him pause on this, till tyme and leasure were giuen mee. Yet hee, making relation to other his frendes what I had done, left mee not quiet till they likewyse had seene them: whose perswasion, as it seemed without any suspition of assentation or flattery, so hath it made mee bolder at this present then before. “Although (sayd they) your Tragædies be simple, and not comparable to those which the other before haue written; yet when men consider that _many_ wrote those, but _one_ these; that they are graue writers, you are but yong; the perfection of those stories, and the imperfection of these: finally, the good wil you beare to your country, the commendation of vertue, the detestation of vice, the fal of ambition, the horrible end of traytours, harlots, tyrauntes, adulterers, enchaunters, murderers, and such like; When men (said they) consider these things, they cannot, (how simple soeuer your verse bee,) but thinke well of the matter.” At length, with these perswasions and suche like, I was contente (good reader) to publishe them for thy behoufe, and the publique weale of my countrye; at which if thou enuie, I minde not therefore to enuie my selfe, and staye my penne. But (God willing) thou shalt, as fast as I can prepare them, haue other bookes from my handes, which maye please thee againe; and thus with all my harte I bidde thee hartely farewell.

Thy friende I. H.”[80]

A PREFACE TO

THE READER.

[Before the edition 1587.]

Aboute a twelue yeares since (gentle reader) when I tooke vpon mee for exercise sake, only to make proofe in English verse what I could do, & had read the Mirour for Magistrates which Maister Baldwins set forth, (a booke both well penned and also well commended) I perused the Chronicles, I noted the times, I conferred the Princes, and me thought that a nomber euen at the firste inhabiting of this Islande, offered them selues the like haplesse impes of Fortune, with matter very meete for imitation, and like admonition, meeter and phrase. And sith Maister Baldwine in these words of his preface moued mee somewhat thereto: It were (sayth hee) a goodly and a notable mater to search, and discours our whole storie from the beginning of the inhabiting of this Isle, &c. I read agayne the stories, I considered of the Princes, I noted theire liues, and therewith conferred their falles: on this I tooke penne in hande, and wrote a fewe of the firste euen as they since were imprinted, minding nothing lesse then to publish them abroade: and because I woulde not keepe secret my first laboures in this kinde of studie, (although I mighte haue blushed at the basenes of my style) I shewed them to some frendes of myne, desired theire vnfayned iudgementes herein, who not only perswaded mee that they were well, but also desired mee to followe the same order till I came to the birth of Christe: which when I had done, yet they willed mee to proceede with the falles of the like vntill the conqueste, which I coulde not doe, being called away by other studies of more importaunce, but the rest which I wrot after that time and at leisure since by the perswations of some worshipfull, and my very good frendes; I haue here set downe, and agayne corrected those which I wrot before, euen for the profit of my natiue countrey. Now I desire thee (gentle reader) so well to accept of my paynes and good will herein bestowed, as I was well willing by this edition to doe thee ease, and pleasure. And so whishing thee the feare of God, the loue of thy Prince and countrey, and after this lyfe the fruition of perfecte felicitye, I doe bid thee hartely in Christe Iesu farewell.

Thy frende,

IOHN HIGINS.[81]

THOMAS NEWTON

TO THE READER,

_in the behalfe of this Booke_.

As when an arming sword of proofe is made, Both steele and yron must be tempred well: (For yron giues the strength vnto the blade, And steele, in edge doth cause it to excell) As ech good Bladesmith by his Arte can tell: For, without yron, brittle will it breake, And, without steele, it will bee blunt and weake:

So bookes, that now theyr faces dare to show, Must mettald bee with Nature and with Skill: For Nature causeth stuffe enough to flow, And Arte the same contriues by learned quill In order good, and currant methode still. So that, if Nature frowne, the case is hard: And if Arte want, the matter all is marde.

The worke, which here is offred to thy vewe, With both these poynts is full and fitly fraught; Set foorth by sundry of the learned Crewe: Whose stately styles haue Phœbus garland caught, And Parnasse mount theyr worthy works haue raught, Theyr wordes are thundred with such maiestie, As fitteth right ech matter in degree.

Reade it therefore, but reade attentiuely, Consider well the drift whereto it tendes: Confer the times, perpend the history, The parties states and eke theyr dolefull endes, With odde euentes, that divine iustice sendes. For, thinges forepast are presidents to vs, Whereby wee may thinges present now discusse.

Certes this worlde a Stage may well bee calde, Whereon is playde the parte of eu’ry wight: Some, now aloft, anon with malice galde Are from high state brought into dismall plight. Like counters are they, which stand now in sight For thousand or ten thousand, and anone Remooued, stande perhaps for lesse then one.

1587.

THOMAS NEWTONUS,

_Cestreshyrius_.[82]

THE AUTHORS INDUCTION.

When Sommer sweete, with all her pleasures past, And leaues began, to leaue the shady tree, The winter colde encreased on full fast, And time of yeare to sadnes moued mee: For moysty blastes, not halfe so mirthfull bee, As sweete _Aurora_ bringes in spring time fayre, Our ioyes they dimme, as winter damps the ayre.

The nights began, to growe to lengthe apace, Sir _Phœbus_ to th’ Antarctique gan to fare: From Libraes lance, to th’ Crab hee tooke his race Beneth the lyne, to lende of light a share. For then with vs the dayes more darkishe are, More shorte, colde, moyste, and stormy cloudy clit, For sadnes more then mirths or pleasures fit.

Deuising then, what bookes were best to reade, Both for that time, and sentence graue also, For conference of frende to stande in steade, When I my faithfull frende was parted fro; I gate mee strayght the Printers shops vnto, To seeke some worke of price I suerly ment, That might alone my carefull mynde content.[83]

Amongst the rest,[84] I found a booke so sad, As tyme of yeare or sadnesse[85] coulde requier: The Mirour namde, for Magistrates hee had, So finely pende, as harte could well desire. Which when I read, so set my heart on fire, Eftsoones it mee constraynde to take the payne, Not lefte with once,[86] to reade it once agayne.

And as agayne I vewde this worke with heede, And marked playne each party paynt[87] his fall: Mee thought in mynde, I sawe those men indeede, Eke howe they came in order Princely[88] all; Declaring well, this life is but a thrall, Sith those on whom, for Fortunes giftes wee stare, Ofte sooneste sinke, in greatest seas of care.

For some, perdy, were Kinges of highe estate, And som were Dukes, and came of regall race: Som Princes, Lordes, and Iudges greate that sate In councell still, decreeing euery case. Som other Knightes, that vices did imbrace, Som Gentlemen, som poore exalted hye: Yet euery one, had playde his tragedye.

A Mirour well it might[89] bee calde, a glasse As cleare as any[90] cristall vnder Sun: In each respecte, the Tragedies so passe, Theyr names shall liue, that such a worke begun. For why, with such _Decorum_ is it don, That _Momus_ spight with[91] more then _Argus_ eyes, Can neuer watche, to keepe it from the wise.

Examples there, for all estates you finde, For iudge (I say) what iustice hee shoulde vse: The noble man, to beare a noble mynde, And not him selfe ambitiously abuse. The gentleman vngentlenes refuse, The rich and poore, and eu’ry one may see, Which way to loue, and liue in due[92] degree.

9.[93]

I wishe them often well to reade it than, And marke the causes why those Princes fell: But let mee ende my tale that I began. When I had red these Tragedies full well, And past the winter euenings[94] long to tell, One night at last I thought to leaue this[95] vse, To take som ease beefore I chaundge my muse.

10.

Wherefore away from reading I mee gate, My heauy heade waxte dull for wante of reste: I layde mee downe, the night was waxed late, For lacke of sleepe myne eyes were sore oppreste: Yet fancy still of all theire deathes increaste, Mee thought my mynde from them I coulde not take, So worthy wightes, as caused mee to wake.[96]

11.

At length appeared clad in purple blacke[97] Sweete _Somnus_, rest which comforts eache aliue; By ease of mynde, that weares away all wracke, That noysome night, from wery witts doth driue, Of labours long, the pleasures wee atcheiue. Whereat I ioyde, sith after labours paste,[98] I might enioye sweete _Somnus_ sleepe at laste.[99]

12.

But hee by whom I thought my selfe at reste, Reuiued all my fancyes fond before: I more desirous humbly did requeste, Him shew th’ vnhappy _Albion_ Princes yore.[100] For well I wist, that hee coulde tell mee more, Sith vnto diuers, _Somnus_ erste had tolde, What thinges were done, in elder times of olde.

13.[101]

Then strayght hee foorth his seruante _Morpheus_ calde, On _Higins_ here thou muste (quoth hee) attende; The _Britayne_ Peeres to bring (whom Fortune thralde) From Lethian lake, and th’ auncient shapes them lende; That they may shew why, howe, they tooke theire ende, I will (quoth _Morpheus_) shewe him what they were; And so mee thought, I sawe them strayght appeare.

14.

One after one, they came in straunge attire, But some with woundes and bloude were so disguisde, You scarsly coulde by reasons ayde aspire, To know what warre such sondry deaths deuisde; And seuerally those Princes were surprisde. Of former state, these states gaue ample show Which did relate their liues and ouerthrow.

15.

Of som the faces bolde and bodyes were[102] Distaynde with woade, and turkishe beardes they had: On th’ ouer lyppes mutchatoes long of heyre, And wylde they seemde, as men dispayring mad. Theire lookes might make a constant heart[103] full sad, And yet I could not so forsake the vewe[104] Nor[105] presence, ere theire myndes I likewise knewe.

16.

For _Morpheus_ bade them each in order tell[106] Their names and liues, their haps and haplesse dayes, And by what meanes, from Fortunes wheele[107] they fell, Which did them earst, vnto such honours rayse. Wherewith the first not making moe delayes, A noble Prince broade wounded brest[108] that bare Drew neere, to tell the cause of all his care.

17.

Which when mee thought to speake hee might be bolde,[109] Deepe from his breste hee threwe an vncouth[110] sounde: I was amazde his gestures to beholde. And bloud that freshly trickled from his wounde, With Eccho so did halfe his wordes confounde, That scarce a while the sence might playne appeare: At last,[111] mee thought, hee spake as you shall heare.[112]

How King Albanact the Yongest Son of Brutus,[113] and First King of Albany (now called Scotland) was slayne by king Humber, the yeere before Christ, 1085.

Sith flattering Fortune sliely could beguile Mee, first of Brytane Princes in this land:[114] And yet at first on mee did sweetely smile, Doe marke mee here,[115] that first in presence stand. And when thou well my wounded corps hast scand, Then shalt thou heare my hap to penne the same[116] In stories calde _Albanactæ_ by name.[117]

Lay feare[118] aside, let nothing thee amaze, Ne haue despaire, ne scuse the want of time:[119] Leaue of on mee with fearefull lookes to gaze, Thy pen may serue for such a tale as myne. First I will tell thee all[120] my fathers lyne, Then hitherward why hee with Troians man’d, His voyadge made, and founde this noble land.[121]

And last I minde to tell thee of my selfe, My life and death, a Tragedy so true As may approue your world is all but pelfe, And pleasures sweete, whom sorows aye ensue. Hereafter eke in order comes a crue, Which can declare, of worldly pleasures vayne The price wee all haue bought, with pinching[122] paine.[123]

When Troy was sackt, and brent, and could not stand, _Æneas_ fled from thence, _Anchises_ sonne, And came at length to King _Latinus_ land: Hee _Turnus_ slew, _Lauinia_ eke hee wonne. After whose death, _Ascanius_ next his sonne Was crowned King, and _Siluius_, then his heire, Espoused to a Latine Lady faire.[124]

By her had _Siluius_ shortly issue eke, A goodly Prynce, and _Brutus_ was his name. But what should I of his misfortune speake, For hunting, as hee minded strike the game, He shot[125] his father, that beyond it came. The quarrell[126] glaunst, and through his tender side It flewe where through the noble _Siluius_ dyde.[127]

Lo thus by chaunce though princely _Brutus_ slewe His father _Siluius_, sore agaynst his will, Which came to soone, as he his arrowe drewe Though hee in chace the game, did minde to kill, Yet was hee banisht from his countrey still,[128] Commaunded neuer[129] to retourne no more, Except he would his life to loose therefore.

On this, to Greece Lord _Brutus_ tooke his way, Where Troians were, by Græcians, captiues kept: _Helenus_ was by _Pirrhus_ brought away From death of Troians, whom their[130] friends bewept. Yet hee in Greece this[131] while no busines slept, But by his facts, and feates obtayn’d such fame, Seauen thousand captiue Troians to him came.

_Assaracus_ a noble Græcian eke, Who by his mother came of Troian race, Because he sawe himselfe in Greece to weake,[132] Came vnto him to ayde him in this case, For that his brother thought him to deface.[133] Which was a Greeke by both his parents sides, His Castells three the Troian _Brutus_ guides.

While[134] hee to bee theyr Captayne was content, And as[135] the Troians gathered to his band, Ambassage to the[136] Græcian King he sent, For to entreate they[137] might depart his land. Which when King _Pandrasus_ did vnderstand, An army strayght he did therefore addresse, On purpose all the Troians to suppresse.

10.

So as King[138] _Pandrasus_ at Spartane towne Thought them in deserts by, to circumuent, The Troians with[139] three thowsand beate them downe, Such fauoure loe, them[140] Lady Fortune lent. By _Mars_ his force, their rayes and ranckes hee rent, And tooke Antigonus the brother of their King,[141] With others moe, as captiues home to bring.

11.

The taken towne from which the King was fled, Sir _Brutus_ with sixe hundreth men did man, Eche prisoner was vnto his keeper led To keepe in towne, the noble Troians wan: And into woods the Troiane gate him than[142] Againe with his, hee kept him there by night To quaile the Græcians if they came to fight.

12.

The King which cal’d to minde his former foile, His flight, and brother deare by Troians take,[143] The towne hee lost, where _Brutus_ gaue[144] the spoile, Hee thought not so the fielde and fight forsake, But of his men a muster new to make, And so againe for to besiege the towne In hope reuenge, or winne his lost renowne.

13.

By night the ambushe,[145] that his purpose knew, Came forth from woods, whereas they[146] waited by, The Troians all th’ vnarmed Græcians slew, Went through their campe, none could their force deny, Vnto the tent where _Pandrasus_ did ly, Whereas Lord _Brutus_[147] tooke their King that night, And sau’d his life as seem’d a worthy wight.

14.

This great exploite so wisely well atchiu’d, The Troiane victour did a counsaile call, Wherein might bee for their estate contriu’d, By counsaile graue, the publique weale of all. Now tell (quoth he) what raunsome aske wee shall? Or what will you for our auaile deuise? To which _Mempricius_ answer’d, graue and wise.[148]

15.

“I cannot (_Brutus_[149]) but commend thine act[150] In this, thou noble Captaine, worthy praise: Which deemest well, it were an heynous fact,[151] T’ abridge the Grecian king of vitall daies, And that wee ought[152] by clemency to raise Our fame to skie, not by a sauage guise, Sith Gods and men both, cruelty despise.

16.

“The cause wee fought, was for the freedome all Of Troians taken, wee haue freedome won, Wee haue our purpose, and their king withall, To whom of rigour nothing ought bee done: Though hee the quarrel with vs first begon, And though wee owe the fall of Troyes requite, Yet let reuenge thereof from gods to lighte.

17.

“His subiects now bewaile[153] their proude pretence, And weapons laide aside, for mercy crie: They all confesse their plagues to come from thence, Where first from faith of Gods they seemd to fly. Their Nobles dare not come the case to try, But euen for peace, with all their heartes, they sue, And meekly graunt, whence all their mischiefes grewe.

18.

“The Princesse[154] fayre, his daughter, who surmounte For vertues rare, for beautie braue, and grace, Both _Helen_ fine, of whom they made accountes, And all the rest that come of Græcian race, Shee for her father sues, bewailes his case, Implores, desires thy grace, and gods aboue, Whose woes may them and thee to mercy moue.[155]

19.

“Some Troians say hee should deposed bee From kingdome quite, or else bee slaine hee should, And wee here byde, eke this mislyketh me, Nay rather while wee stay keepe him in hold, Or let him pay a raunsome large of gold, And hostage geue, and homage doe of right To thee, that wonst the fielde by Martiall fight.[156]

20.

“For kingdomes sake a captiue king to kill, As euill abroade as in his natiue lande,[157] For vs in Greece to dwell were euen as ill, The force of Greece we cannot still withstande. Let vs therefore both cruelty abande, And prudent seeke both gods and men to please: So shall we finde good lucke at lande and seas.[158]

21.

“Or sith the Græcians will thee for to take The noble Ladie _Iunogen_ to wyfe, If thou so please, let him her dowry make Of golde, ships, siluer, corne, for our reliefe, And other thinges, which are in _Græcia_ ryfe. That we so fraught may seeke some desert shore, Where thou and thyne may raygne for euermore.[159]”

22.

This pleas’d both _Brutus_ and the Troians all, Who wil’d forthwith that _Pandrasus_ the King, Should reuerently be brought into the hall, And present when they tolde him of this thing: So griefe and sorowe great his heart did stinge, He could not shewe by countenaunce or cheere That he it lik’d, but spake as you shall heare.

23.

“Sith that the wrath of gods hath yeelded me,[160] And eke my brother, captiues to your hands, I am content to do as pleaseth yee, You haue my realme, my lyfe, my goods and landes,[161] I must be needes content as Fortune standes. I gieue my daughter, gold, and siluer fine, With what for dowry els you craue is myne.”

24.

To make my tale the shorter if I may, This truce concluded was immediately:[162] And all thinges else performed by a day, The King restor’d that did in pryson lie. The Troians parted from the shores, perdy,[163] Did hoyse vp sayles, in two dayes and a night Vpon the Ile of Lestrigons[164] they light.

25.

And leauing of their ships at roade, to land They wandring went the countrey for to vew: Loe there a desert city olde they fand, And eke a temple (if reporte bee true) Where in Dianas temple olde, the crew[165] To[166] sacrifice their captaine counsaile gaue For good successe, a seate and soyle to craue.[167]

26.

And he no whit misliking their aduice Went forth, and did before the altar hold In his right hand a cup to sacrifice, And fild with[168] wine, and white hinds bloud scarce cold. And then before her stature straight hee told Deuoutly all his whole peticion there, In sorte (they say) as is repeated heere.[169]

27.

“O goddesse great in groues that putst wilde boares in feareful feare, And maist goe all the compasse pathes of euery ayrye sphere, Eke of th’ infernall houses too, resolue the earthly rights, And tell what countrey in to dwell thou giu’st vs Troian wights. Assigne a certaine seate where I shall worship thee for aye, And where repleat with virgins, I, erect thy temples maye.”

28.

When nine times hee had spoken this, and went Foure times the altar rounde, and staide agen, He powr’d the wine and bloud in hand hee hent Into the fire. O witlesse cares of men, Such folly meere, and blindnes great was then. But if religion now biddes toyes farewell, Embrace that’s good, the vice of times I tell.

29.

He layde him then downe by the altars side, Vpon the white _Hindes_ skin espred therefore: It was the third houre of the night, a tyde Of sweetest sleepe, hee gaue himselfe the more To rest[170] perdy.[171] Then seemed him before _Diana_ chaste, the goddesse to appeare, And spake to him these wordes that you shall heare.

30.

“O _Brute_, farre vnder _Phœbus_ fall, beyonde of _France_ that raigne, An Iland in the Ocean is, with sea tis compast mayne, An Iland in the Ocean is, where Giauntes erst[172] did dwell: But now a desert place that’s fit, will serue thy people well. To this direct thy race, for there shall bee thy seate for aye, And to thy sonnes there shall bee built another stately _Troye_. Here of thy progeny and stocke, shall mightie Kings descend, And vnto them as subiect, all the world shall bow and bend.”

31.

On this hee woke, with ioyfull cheere, and told The vision all, and oracle it[173] gaue: So it reioyst their hearts a thowsande fold. To ships they got, away the shores they draue, And hoysing sailes, for happie windes they craue. In thirty dayes their voyage so they dight, That on the coast of Aphrica[174] they light.

32.

Then to _Philænes_ altars they attayn’d, (For so men call two hilles erected are In Tumise land) two brethren ground that gain’d For Carthage once, and went tis sayd too farre, On Cyren ground for bounds, there buryed were. Because they would not turne againe, but striue With Cyren men, they buryed them aliue.

33.

From thence they sailed through the middle lake, Betwene Europa fayre and Aphrica the drye: With winde at will, the doubtfull race they take, And sail’d to Tuscane shores, on Europe coast that lye. Where at the last amongst the men they did descrye Fowre banisht bandes of Troians in destresse To sayle with them, which did themselues addresse.[175]

34.

Companions of _Antenor_ in his flight, But _Corinœus_ was their captayne than, For counsayle graue[176] a wise and worthy wight: In warres the prayse of[177] valiantnesse he wan. Lord _Brutus_ liked well this noble man, With him full oft confer of fates hee wold, And vnto him the oracles hee told.[178]

35.

The Troians so in number now encreast, Set on to sea and hoysed sayles to wynde. To _Hercules_ his pillers from the East They cast by compasse ready way to finde: Where through once past to Northward race they twinde, To Pirene cleeues, tweene Spayne and France the bounde, Reioycing neere the promist Ile so founde.[179]

36.

Eke[180] vnto Guyne in France they sayled thence, Where[181] at the hauen of Loire they did arriue, To vewe the countrey was their whole pretence And victayles get, their souldiers to reuiue.[182] Eke _Corinœus_ lest the Galles should striue, Led forth two hundreth of his warlike band, To get prouision to the ships from land.

37.

But when the King _Goffarius_ heard of this, That Troians were arriued on his shore, With Frenchmen and with Guynes their power and his, Hee came to take the pray they gat before, And when they met, they fought it both full sore, Till _Corinœus_ rusht into their band, And caus’d them fly: they durst no longer stand.

38.

First might you there seene hearts of Frenchmen broke, Two hundreth Troians gaue them all the foyle At home, with oddes, they durst not byde the stroke, Fewe Troians beate them in their natiue soyle. Eke _Corinœus_ followed in this broyle, So fast vpon his foes before his men, That they return’d and thought to spoyle him then.

39.

There hee alone against them all, and they Against him one, with all their force did fight, At last by chaunce his sword was flowne away, By fortune on a battayle axe hee light,[183] Which hee did driue about him with such might, That some their hands, and some their armes did leese, Some legges, of some the head from shoulders flees.

40.

As thus amongst them all hee fought with force And fortune great, in daunger of his lyfe, Lord _Brutus_[184] had on him therewith remorce, Came with a troupe of men to ende the strife. When Frenchmen saw the Troians force so rife, They fled away, vnto their losse and payne; In fight and flight nigh all their host was slayne.

41.

And in that broyle, saue _Corinœus_, none Did fight so fearcely, as did _Turnus_ then: Sir _Brutus_[185] cosin with his sword alone Did sley that time well nigh sixe hundreth men. They founde him dead as they return’d agen, Amongst the Frenchmen, wounded voyde of sence, And bare his noble corps with honour thence[186].

42.

On this they bode awhile reuenge to yeelde, And to interre the dead, and _Turnus_ slaine, They tooke a towne not far from place of fielde, And built it strong, to vexe the Galles agayne. The name they gaue it still doth yet remayne: Sith there they buried _Turnus_, yet men call It Tours, and name the folke Turones all.

43.

Which towne they left at last with Troians man’d, When as their ships were storde with what they neede Aboarde, they hoise vp sayles and left the land, By ayding windes they cut the seas with speede. At length the shyning Albion clyues[187] did feede Their gazing eyes, by meanes whereof they fand Our Totnes hauen, and tooke this promist land.

44.

The countrey seemed pleasaunt at the vewe, And was by fewe[188] inhabited, as yet, Saue[189] certaine Giauntes whom they did pursue, Which straight to Caues in Mountaines did them get: So fine were Woods, and Flouds, and Fountaines set, So cleare the ayre, so temperate the clime, They neuer saw the like before that time[190].

45.

And then this Ile that Albion had to name, Lord _Brutus_ caus’d it Britaine cal’d to bee,[191] And eke the people Britans of the same, As yet in auncient Recordes is to see. To _Corinœus_ gaue hee franke and free The land of Cornwall, for his seruice don, And for because from Giauntes hee it won.

46.

Then sith our Troiane flock came first from Troy, The Chiefetaine[192] thought that duty did him binde, As[193] Fortune thus had sau’d him from anoy, The auncient towne againe to call to minde. Hee builte new Troy, them Troian lawes assignde, That so his race,[194] to his eternal fame, Might keepe of Troy the euerlasting name[195].

47.

And setled there, in perfect peace and rest, Deuoid of warre, of laboure, strife, or paine, Then _Iunogen_ the Queene his[196] ioyes increast, A Prince shee bare, and after other twaine, Was newer King of noble Impes[197] so faine, Three sonnes which had so shortly here begat,[198] _Locrinus_, _Camber_, last mee _Albanact_.

48.

Thus hauing wealth, and eke the world at will, Nor wanting ought that might his minde content, T’ increase his powre with wights of warlike skill Was all his minde his purpose and intent. Whereby if foes inuasion after ment, The Britans might not feare of forraine lands, But keepe by fight possessions in their hands.

49.

Eke[199] when his people once perceiu’d his minde, (As what the Prince doth often most embrace, To that the subiects all are straight inclinde, And reuerence still in eche respect his grace) They gat in warre such knowledge in short space, That after they their force to try begon, They car’d for nought by wit or wight not won.

50.

They got of giaunts mountaines whence they came, And woods from whence they oft made wise, they would Destroy and kill, when voyage out they frame, Or shewde themselues in banding ouer bold: Then straight the Britans, gladder then of gold, Were ready still to fighte at euery call, Till time they had extynct the monsters all.[200]

51.

Whereby the King had cause to take delight, And might bee bolde the lesse to feare his foes: Perdy[201] ech Prince may recke his enmies spight, Thereafter as his force in fight hee knoes. A princely heart the liberall gifts disclose. He gaue to eche such guerdons for their facts, As might them only mooue to noble acts.

52.

No labours great his subiects then refusde, No trauayles that might like his regall minde: But ech of them such exercise well vs’d, Wherein was praise, or glory great to finde. And to their liege bare faithfull hearts so kinde, That what hee wild they all obeyd his hest, Nought else was currant but y^e Kings request.

53.

What Prince aliue might more reioyce then hee? Had faithfull men, so valiaunt, bold, and stout? What pleasures more on earth could lightly bee Then win an Ile, and liue deuoyde of doubt? An Ile sayd I? nay nam’d the world throughout Another world, sith sea doth it deuide From all, that wants not all the world beside.

54.

What subiects eke more happy were then these? Had such a King of such a noble heart, And such a land enioyde and liu’d at ease, Whereof ech man almost might chose his part? No feare of foes, vnknowne was treason’s art, No fayning friends, no fawning _Gnatoes_ skill, No _Thrasoes_ brags, but bearing ech good will.

55.

But as ech sommer once receaues an ende, And as no state can stable stande for aye, As course of time doth cause thinges bowe and bend, As euery pleasure hath hir ending daye, As will can neuer passe the power of maye: Euen so my father, happy dayes that spent, Perceau’d he must by sicknesse last relent.

56.

As doth the shipman well foresee the storme, And knowes what daunger lyes in Syrtes of sand: Eke as the husbandman prouides beforne, When hee perceaues the winter cold at hand: Euen so the wise, that course of things haue scan’d, Can well the end of sicknes great presage, When it is ioyn’d with yeares of stooping age.

57.

His sonnes and Counsaile all assembled were: For why hee sent for vs and them with speede. Wee came in hast, this newes vs caused feare.[202] Sith so hee sent, wee thought him sicke indeede.[203] And when wee all approacht to him with heede,[204] Too soone alas, his grace right sicke we found, And him saluted as our duties bound.

58.

And casting of his woefull[205] eyes aside, Not able well to mooue his painefull head, As silent wee with teares his minde abide, Hee wil’d himselfe bee reared in his bed. Which done, with sight of vs his eyes hee fed, Eke pawsing so a while for breath hee stayd, At length to them and vs thus wise hee sayd.

59.

“No maruaile sure, though you herewith bee sad, (You noble Britaines) for your _Brutus’_ sake. Sith whilom mee your captaine stout you had, That now my leaue and last farwell must take, Thus nature willes mee once an ende to make, And leaue you here behinde, which after mee Shall die, as mee[206] departe before you see.

60.

“You wot wherefore I with the Græcians fought, With dinte of sworde I made their force to fly: _Antenor’s_ friends on Tuscane shores I sought, And did them[207] not my promist land deny, By Martiall powre I made the Frenchmen fly, Where you to saue I lost my faithfull frende, For you, at Tours, my _Turnus_ tooke his ende.

61.

“I neede not now recite what loue I bare, My friendship you, I trust, haue found so well, That none amongst you all which present are, With teares doth not record the tale I tell. Eke whom I found for vertues to excell, To them I gaue the price thereof, as due As they deseru’d, whose facts I found so true.

62.

“Now must I proue, if paines were wel bestow’d, Or if I spent my gratefull gifts in vayne, Or if these great good turns to you I ow’d, And might not aske your loyall loues againe: Which if I wist, what tongue could tell my paine? I meane, if you vngratefull mindes doe beare, What meaneth death to let mee linger here?

63.

“For if you shall abuse your Prince in this, The gods on you for such an haynous fact To take reuenge bee sure will neuer misse. And then to late you shall[208] repent the act, When all my Realme, and all your wealthes are sackt: But if you shall, as you begon, proceede, Of kingdomes fall or foes there is no dreede.

64.

“And to auoyde contention that may fall, Because I wishe this Realme the Britans still, Therefore I will declare before you all, Sith you are come, my whole intent and will: Which if you keepe, and wrest it not to ill, There is no doubt but euermore with fame You shall enioy the Britans Realme and name.

65.

“You see my sonnes, that after mee must raigne, Whom you or this haue lik’d and counsail’d well. You know what erst you wisht they should refraine, Which way they might all vices vile expell, Which way they might in vertues great excell. Thus if you shall, when I am gone insue, You shall discharge the trust repos’d in you.

66.

“Bee you their fathers, with your counsaile wise, And you my children take them euen as mee, Bee you their guides in what you can deuise, And let their good instructions teach you three: Bee faithfull all: as brethren ought agree: For concord keeps a Realme in stable stay: But discord brings all kingdomes to decay.

67.

“Recorde you this: to th’ eldest[209] sonne I giue This Middle parte of Realme to holde his owne, And to his heyres that after him shall liue: Also to Camber, that his part bee knowne, I giue that land that lyes welnigh oregrowne With woodes, Northwest, and mountaines mighty hye, By South whereof the Cornish sea doth lye.[210]

68.

“And vnto thee my yongest sonne, that art Mine _Albanact_, I giue to thee likewise As much to bee for thee and thine apart, As North beyonde the arme of sea there lyes, Of which loe heere a Mappe before your eyes. Loe heere my sonnes my kingdome all you haue, For which (remember) nought but this I craue:[211]

69.

“First, that you take these fathers graue for mee, Imbrace their counsaile euen as it were mine: Next, that betweene your selues you will agree, And neuer one at others wealth repine, See that yee bide still bounde with friendly line: And last, my subiects with such loue retaine, As long they may your subiects eke remayne.

70.

“Now faint,[212] I feele my breath begins to fayle, My time is come, giue eche to mee your hand: Farewell, farewell, to mourne will not preuayle, I see with Knife where _Atropos_ doth stand: Farewell my friendes, my children and my land, And farewell all my subiectes, farewell breath, Farewell ten thowsand times, and welcome death.”

71.

And euen with that hee turnde himselfe asyde, Vpyeelding, gasping gaue[213] away the ghost: Then all with mourning voyce his seruantes cry’d,[214] And all his subiectes eke, from least to most, Lamenting fil’d with wayling plaintes[215] ech coast, Perdy[216] the Britans, all as nature bent,[217] Did for their King full dolefully lament.

72.

But what auayles, to striue against the tide, Or else to driue[218] against the streame and winde? What booteth it against the Cliues to ride, Or else to worke against the course of kinde? Sith Nature hath the ende of thinges assin’d, There is no nay, wee must perforce depart, Gainst dinte of death there is no ease by arte.[219]

73.

Thus raign’d that worthy King, that founde this land, My father _Brutus_, of the Troian bloud, And thus hee died when hee full well had man’d This noble Realme with Britans fearce and good. And so a while in stable state it stood, Till wee deuided had this Realme in three, And I to soone receiu’d my part to mee.

74.

Then straight through all the world gan Fame to fly, A monster swifter none is vnder Sunne: Encreasing as in waters wee descry The circles small, of nothing that begunne, Which at the length vnto such breadth doe come, That of a drop, which from the skies doth fall, The circles spread, and hyde the waters all:

75.

So fame in flight increaseth more and more: For at the first she is not scarcely knowne, But by and by she fleets[220] from shore to shore, To cloudes from th’ earth her stature straight is growne: There whatsoeuer by her trompe is blowne, The sounde that both by sea and land out flies, Reboundes againe, and verberates the skies.

76.

They say the earth, that first the Giauntes bred, For anger that the gods did them dispatch, Brought forth this sister, of those monsters dead, Full lighte of foote, swifte winges the windes to catch; Such monster erst did nature neuer hatch. As many Plumes shee hath from top to toe, So many eyes them vnderwatch, or moe.

77.

And tongues doe speake, so many eares doe harke, By night tweene heauen she flies and earthly shade, And shreaking, takes no quiet sleepe by darke: On houses rowfes, on[221] towres as keeper made Shee sits by day, and Cities threats t’ inuade: And as she tells what things shee sees by vewe, Shee rather shewes that’s fayned false, then true.

78.

She blazde abroade perdy a people small,[222] Late[223] landed heere, and founde this pleasaunt Ile, And how that now it was deuided all, Made tripartite,[224] and might within a while Bee won by force, by treason, fraud, or guile. Wherefore she mooues her frendes to make assay To win the price, and beare our pompe away.

79.

A thowsand things besides shee bruits and tells, And makes the most of euery thing shee heares Long time of vs shee talkes, and nothing els, Eke what shee seeth abroade in haste shee beares, With tatling toyes, and tickleth so their eares, That needes they must to flattering fame assent, Though afterwards they doe therefore lament.

80.

By East from hence a countrey large doth lye, _Hungaria_ eke of _Hunnes_ it hath to name, And hath _Danubius’_ floud on South it bye, Deuiding quite from _Austria_ the same. From thence a king was named _Humber_ came: On coastes of _Albany_ arriued hee, In hope this king of _Britan_ for to bee.[225]

81.

Which when by postes[226] of subiects I did heare How enmies[227] were arriued on my shore, I gathered all my souldiers voyde of feare, And backe the _Hunnes_ by force and might I bore. But in this battaile was I hurt so sore, That in the fielde of woundes I had I dide, Where souldiers lost their noble prince and guide.[228]

82.

Such was my fate to venture on so bolde, My rashnesse was the cause of all my woe: Such is of all our glory vaine the holde, So soone wee pompe and pleasures all forgoe, So quickly are wee reft our kingdomes froe, And such is all the cast of Fortune’s play, When least wee thinke to cut vs quite away.

83.

I deem’d my selfe an heauenly happy wight, When once I had my part to raigne within: But see the chaunce what hap did after light, Or I could scarce t’inioy my glee begin. This _Hunne_ did seeke from mee my realme to win, And had his will: O flattering fortune, fye, What meanest thou to make thy selfe so slye:[229]

84.

You worthy warriours learne by mee, beware,[230] Let wisedome worke, lay rashnesse all aparte, When as with enmies you encountred are, You must endeuoure all your skilfull arte, By witty wiles with force to make your marte. Wit nought auayles late bought with care and cost, To late it comes when life and all is lost.[231]

L’ENVOY[232].

Mvsing on these thinges I cal’d to my minde, In historyes what I of _Troia_ read, And what of _Brutus_ I in bookes did finde Likewise I cast, and counted in my head. I found that _Albanact_ stoode mee in stead. For why, _Sicilians_ right this noble man Calles _Lestrygons_, as they were named than.

_Lestrygo_ was, perdy, _Neptunus’_ sonne, To whom his father gaue that noble Ile: And of his name the people there did wonne. The writers false abus’d vs then long while, Which set vs downe of _Leogece_ an Ile, So neere _Italia_ strandes was placed than, To which Lord _Brutus_ came, that noble man.

Of _Lestrygon_ that Ilande first tooke name, As _Albanact_ hath well recited heere. But of king _Humber_ see what nowe became, Which after him next haplesse did appeare With Armoure wet, as drencht hee lately were: So downe his greaues the water tricklinges ran, While he this wise his woefull tale began.

How Hvmber the king of _Hunnes_ minding to conquer _Britaine_, was drowned in the arme of sea now called _Humber_, about the yeere before Christ, 1085.

Though yet no foraine Princes in this place Haue come to tell their haplesse great mishap, Yet give mee leaue a while to pleade my case, And shewe how I slipt out of Fortunes lap. Perchaunce some other will eschewe the trap Wherein I fell, and both themselues beware, And also seeke the lesse their[233] countreyes care.

I am that _Humber_ king of _Hunnes_, that came To win this Ilande from the _Britaynes_ fell: Was drownde in _Humber_, where I left my name: A iust reward for him that liu’d so well At home, and yet thought others to expell Both from theyr realme or right: well seru’d was I, That by ambition thought to clime so hye.[234]

But I must blame report, the chiefest cause Of my decaye: beware of rashe report: Tis wisdome first to take a whyle a pause, Before to dint of daungers you resort: Least when you come in haste to scale the fort, By rashe assault some engine shaft or fire Dispatche you quite, or make you soone retire.

For vnto mee the rumours dayely flewe, That here a noble Ilande might be wonne: The king was dead: no warres the people knewe, And eke themselues to stryue at home begon. It were (quoth I) a noble acte well don To win it then: and therewithall did make Prouision good, this famous Ile to take.

A warlike regall campe prouided was, And shippes, and vittayle, for my _Hunnes_ and mee, By sea to _Britayne_ conquest for to passe, If Gods thereto or heauenly starres agree. At length wee came to shores of _Albany_, And there to fight with _Britaynes_ pitch’d our fielde, In hope to make them flinche, flye, fall, or yeelde.

They met vs, long wee fearcely fought it out, And doubtfull was the victours part of twaine: Till with my _Hunnes_ I rusht among the route, And fought till that King _Albanact_ was slayne. Then they to yeelde or pardon craue were fayne, And I with triumphes great receau’d the pray, And marched forward, flesht with such a fraye.

I past an arme of sea, that would to God I neuer had bin halfe so bold at fyrst, I made, to beate myselfe withall, a rod, When so without[235] theyr realme I venture durst, But marke my tale, thou heard’st not yet the worst: As sure I thought the rest to circumuent By spyes before, they knewe my whole intent.

And or I wyst, when I was come to lande, Not farre from shore two Princes were preparde, Theyr scouts conueyed away my ships they fande, And of my shipmens fleshe they nothing sparde. To rescue which, as backe agyane I far’de, The armyes twayne were at my heeles behinde, So clos’d mee in, I wist no way to winde.

On th’ East _Locrinus_ with an armie great, By West was _Cambre_ with an other band: By North an arme of sea the shoares did beat, Which compast mee and mine within their lande. No way to scape was there but Water fande, Which I must taste, or else the sworde of those Which were to mee and mine full deadly foes.

10.

So when I sawe the best of all mine hoste Beate downe with bats, shot, slayne, or forst to swimme, Myselfe was fayne likewise to flye the coast, And with the rest the waters entred in, A simple shift for Princes to begin. Yet farre I deem’d it better so to dye Then at mine enmies foot an abiect lye.

11.

But when I thus had swam with hope to scape, If I might wend the water waues to passe: The _Britannes_ that before my ships had gate Gan watche mee, where amidst the surge I was. Than with my boates they rowde to mee (alas) And all they cryde keepe _Humber_, keepe theyr King, That to our Prince wee may the traytour bring.

12.

So with my boats beset, poore _Humber_ I Wist no refuge, my weery armes did ake, My breath was short, I had no powre to crye, Or place to stande, whyle I my playnte might make. The water colde made all my ioynts to shake, My heart did beate with sorowe, griefe, and payne, And downe my cheeks salt teares they gusht amayne.

13.

O must thou yeelde, and shall thy boats betraye Thy selfe (quoth I) no mercy _Britaynes_ haue: O would to God I might escape away, I wot not yet if pardon I may craue, Although my deeds deserue no life to haue. I will, I nill, death, bondage, beast am I, In waters thus, in forayne soyle to dye.

14.

With that I clapt my quauering hands abroade, And helde them vp to heauen, and thus I sayde: O Gods that knowe the paynes that I haue bode, And iust reuengement of my rashnes payde, And of the death of _Albanact_ betrayde By mee and mine, I yeelde my life therefore, Content to dye, and never greeue yee more.

15.

Then straight not opening of my handes, I bowde My selfe, and set my head my armes betweene: And downe I sprang with all the force I coulde, So duckte, that neither head nor foote were seene, And neuer sawe my foes agayne I weene: There was I drownde: the _Britaynes_, to my fame, Yet call that arme of sea by _Humber’s_ name.[236]

16.

Take heede by mee, let my presumption serue, And let my folly, fall, and rashnes, bee A glasse wherein to see if thou do swerue, Thou mayst thy selfe perceiue somwhat by mee, Let neither trust, nor treason, trayne forth yee, But bee content with thine estate, so shall No wrath of God procure thy haplesse fall.

17.

If thou bee foraine, bide with in thy soyle That God hath giuen to thee and thine to holde, If thou oppression meane, beware the foyle, Beare not thy selfe of thee or thine to bolde, Or of the feates thy elders did of olde. For God is iust, iniustice will not thriue: Hee plagues the proude, preserues the good aliue.[237]

LENVOY.

Was not this drenched king well servde thinke you, That could not byde at home content with his? Now by his fall and his ambition vewe, What good they get which gaze on Fortune’s blisse, How soone their haps and hoped Ioyes they misse, Wherefore the setled minde surmountes the rest, The meane contented state of all is best.

The conquest wonne, and kingdome got, you see The _Albaynes_ all subdude to _Humber’s_ crowne: Yet straight againe the straunger drownde to bee, To leese his conquest, kingdomes, and renowme. Sith Fortune so sets vp and thirleth downe, The setled minde content I counte is blest, Reporting true the golden meane is best.

Loe how vaine glory causde him venter life, By seas to sayle, by land in fielde to fighte,[238] In peace at home abroade to fish for strife, And here confesse how _Sors_ had sowst him right. But king _Locrinus_ next apearde in sight. A shaft hee bare in wounded bleeding brest, And thus (mee thought) his fatall fall exprest.

How King Locrinvs the eldest sonne of Brutus liued vitiously, and was slaine in battaile by his wyfe Queene Guendoline, the yeere before Christ, 1064.

If euer any noble Prince might rue His facts are past, long since the same may I,[239] That would to God it were not farre to true, Or that I iustly could my faultes deny. The trueth of thinges the end or time doth trie, As well by mee is seene: my haplesse fall Declares whence came my great misfortunes all.

I am _Locrinus_, second _Britayne_ king, The eldest sonne of him that found this lande: Whose death to mee my mischiefes all did bring, And causde why first I tooke my death in hand. Hee chiefly wil’d mee when hee gaue this land, I should bee rulde by all his counsailes will, And vse their iudgements in my dealings still.

But what doe I accuse my father’s hest, What meane I here th’ unfaulty for to blame: All hee commaunded euen was for the best, Though in effect of best the worst became. So thinges oft times well ment vnfitly frame, So often times the counsayle of our frend Apparent good falls faulty in the end.

For as hee wisht I vsde his counsailes ayde In ech thing that I deemde was good for mee I neuer ought that they desir’d denayde, But did to all their mindes and hests agree: And _Corinœus_ sawe my heart so free, By diuers meanes hee sought this match to make, That to my wife I might his daughter take.

So I,[240] that wist not then what mariage ment, Did straight agree his _Guendoline_ to haue: Yet afterward suspecting his intent, My frendes to mee this poynte of counsaile gaue, That who so doth of Prince aliaunce craue, Hee meanes thereby to worke some poynte of ill, Or else to frame the Prince vnto his will.

It may well bee hee ment no euill[241] at all, But wyse men alwayes vse to dreade the worst. And sith it was the fountayne of my fall, From whence the spring of all my sorowes burst, I may well thinke was some of vs accurst. For why, the end doth alwayes proue the facte: By end wee iudge the meaning of the acte.

I made no haste to wed my spoused wyfe, I wist I could (as yet) without hir bide: I had not tasted ioyes of trayned life, I deem’d them fooles by Cupid’s dart that dide. Venus vile and all hir feates[242] defyde, I[243] liu’d at rest, and rulde my land so well That men delighted of my facts to tell.

My brethren eke long welded well theyr partes, Wee fearde no foes, wee thought our state would stand: Wee gaue our selues to learned skilfull artes, Wherein wee either fruite or pleasure fand, And wee enioyde to[244] fine a fertile lande, That fewe in earth might with our states compare, Wee liu’d so voyde of noysome carke and care.

But see the chaunce: when least wee thought of ill, When wee esteem’d our state to bee most sure, Then came a flawe to bridle all our will, For straungers farre gan vs to warre procure: And euen when first they put their pranke in vre, On _Albayne_ shoares my brother there they slewe, Whose death wee after made the _Hunnes_ to rue.

10.

When hee was deade they hop’d to winne the rest, And ouer _Aby_ streame with hast did hye. But I, and eke my brother _Camber_, drest Our armies strayght, and came their force to try. Wee brake theyr rayes and forst the king to fly Into the arme of sea they ouer came, Where _Humber_ drownde the waters tooke their[245] name.

11.

Wee either slewe, or tooke them captiues all, Emongst the which (O mischiefe great to tell) The Gods to worke mine ouerthrowe and fall Sent Ladyes three, whose beauties did excell: Of which, because I liked one so well, I tooke her strayght, nor shee did ought deny, But ech thing graunted so shee might not dye.

12.

Thus _Humber_ wee this hatefull hungery king In _Humber_ drencht, and him depriu’d of pryde, And of his lofty[246] Ladyes he did bring He lost the pray, and all his men beside, And wee the spoyles of all his hoast deuide. But I that thought I had the greatest share, Had caught the cause of all my woefull care.

13.

They cal’d this Lady _Elstride_, whom I tooke, Whose beauty braue did so my wittes confound, That for her sake my promise I forsooke, Whereby I was to _Guendoline_ first bound. Mee thought no Lady else so high renound[247] That might allure mee, chaunge my conflate minde,[248] So was I caught by snares of _Cupide_ blynde.

14.

Was neuer none before so lik’d myne eye, I lou’d her more then I could loue my life: Her absence still mee thought did cause mee dye, I surely ment to take her for my wife. But see how beauty breadeth deadly strife, Lo here began my whole confusion, here Sprang out the shaft from whence this wound I beare.

15.

For _Corineus_ had no sooner heard, That I did meane his daughter to forsake, But strayght as one that did nought else regard, In hast his voyage towards me did take, And come, declar’d what promise I did make,[249] From which if he sayd once I sought to slyde, It would by dynte of sworde, and bloude, be tryde.

16.

But if I would her take, as erst I sayd, And not this straunger choose agaynst his minde, His helpe he promiste at each time, and ayde To be so ready, as I wisht to fynde. He further sayd my countrey did me binde, To take such one as all my subiects knewe, Sith straungers to theyr foes are seldome[250] true.

17.

I wayde his wordes, and thought he wisht me well, But yet because his stocke should gayne thereby, I reckt them lesse: and yet the truth to tell, I durst not dare my promise made deny. For well I wist if once it came to try, It would both weaken all this noble land, And doubtfull be who should have th’ vpper hand.

18.

Thus needes perforce I must his daughter take, And must leaue of to loue where I delight: I was constraynd, contented to forsake The forme that most did captiuate my sight. What lucke had I on such a lot to lyght? What ment you Gods that me such fortune gaue, To cast my minde on her I might not haue?

19.

To short my tale: this _Guendoline_ I tooke: I was content agaynst my will: what then? Nor quite for this mine _Elstride_ I forsooke. For why, I wrought by skyll of cunning men A Vault along vnder the ground, a denne Her company wherein I vsed still,[251] There we accomplisht our vnhappy will.

20.

There I begat my _Sabrine_ seely childe, That virgine smale mine _Elstride_ bare to mee: Thus I my wife full often times beguylde, Which afterward did beare a sonne to me, Nam’d _Madan_: yet wee neuer could agree. And he that was the cause she was my bryde, The while her father _Corinæus_ dyde.

21.

Which when I heard, I had my heart’s desire, I crau’de no more, there was my end of griefe: At lest I thought to quench _Cupidoe’s_ fire, And eke to worke my lusting loues reliefe: I ment no more to steale it like a thiefe, But maried _Elstride_, whom I lou’d as life, And for her sake I put away my wyfe.

22.

Likewise I caus’d, was _Elstride_ Queene proclaymd,[252] And tooke her as my lawfull wife by right: But _Guendoline_, that sawe her selfe disdaynd, Strayght fled, and mou’de the _Cornish_ men to fight. To them when she declarde her piteous plight, In hast they drest[253] an army, for to be Reuengers of my new made Queene and me.

23.

And I likewise an army did prepare, I thought to quayle theyr courage all by force: But to my cost I found to late beware: There is no strength in armoure: men, ne[254] horse Can vayle, if _loue_ on wronged take remorce. Sith[255] he on whom the deadly dart doth light, Can neuer scape, by ransome, friend, or flight.

24.

So when our armies met nigh _Habrine_[256] streame, The trompetts blew and I denyde the peace: I minded to expell them all the realme, Or else to make them euer after cease. And they, except I _Elstride_ would release, (They sayd) and take my _Guendoline_ againe, They would reuenge the wrong or else be slayne.

25.

On this wee met, and valiauntly wee fought On eyther side, and neither part did yeelde: So equally they fell, it was great doubt, Which part should haue the better of the fielde. But I to bolde rusht in with sword and shield, To breake their rayes, so hasty men get smart, An arrowe came and stroke mee to the heart.

26.

Thus was I brought to bale, vnhappy, there, My body pearst that wicked life had led: When I had raygned all out twenty yeere, And had my corps with many pleasures fed, The earth receiu’d my corps as cold as led. And all my pompe, my pryncely troupe and trayne, On earth no more shall see their Prince agayne.[257]

27.

To all estates[258] let this for wedlocke serue, Beware of chaunge, it will not hold out long. For who so mindeth from his mate to swerue, Shall sure at length receiue reuenge for wrong. Tis folly fight with God, h’is farre to strong, For though yee coloure all with coate of ryght, No fayned fard deceaues[259] or dimmes his sight, Hee guydes the good, and wrekes the wronges of might.[260]

LENVOY.

This is the iustice great of mighty Ioue aboue, To plague the men whose fayth vnfirme hee findes, The promisse plight in sponsales sacred loue, Which both alike the Prince and simple subiect bindes, Who recklesse breaks that same nor faithed promise mindes, If hee ensue the vice, wherein his sence is drounde, No doubt lehouah iust will therefore him confounde.

If hee for wedlocke breatch in Pagan Princes then So greate displeasure tooke, and did them sharply whip, Will hee not rather nowe afflict such christen men, As dare the sacred band of holy wedlocke rip? Hee will not let the twifold faythed Christian slip, Which by so vayne delight in fleshly lustes is droun’d. He cuts him of, and doth his queanes and him confound.

Examples are in all the ages seene before, And also daily proofe declareth well the same. Wherefore I will of this as nowe resite no more. Perchaunce I may incurre some vndeserued blame. But next beholde on stage apear’d a noble dame, (Whose beauty braue _Locrinus’_ senses did confound) Declaring how therfore Queene _Guendoline_ her droun’d.

How Qveene Elstride the Concubine and second wife of king Locrinus was miserably drowned by Queene Guendoline, The yeare before Christ, 1064.

And must I needes my selfe recite my fall, Poore Pryncesse[261] I: must I declare my fate? Must I the first of Queenes amongst vs all,[262] Shew how I thrise fell from my princely state: And from the lofty seate on which I sate: If needes I must, then well content, I will: Lest here my place in vayne I seeme to fill.

I am that _Elstride_ whom _Locrinus_ lou’d, A Prince his daughter, came from _Germanes_ land. My fame of beauty many Princes mou’d[263] To sue for grace, and fauoure at my hand. Which bruite once blowne abroad in euery land, One _Humber_, king of _Hunnes_ with all his trayne, To come to mee a suiter was full fayne.

What neede I tell the giftes to me he gaue, Or shew his suite, or promise he me plight, Sith well you knowe a Prince neede nothing craue, May nigh commaund ech thing as twere his right. For as the foule before the Eagles sight, Euen so we fall, submit, and yeelde vs still At Prince his call, obeysaunt to his will.

And for that time the _Hunnes_ full mighty were, And did increase, by martiall feates of warre: Therefore our _Germayne_ Kinges agast did beare Them greater fauoure then was neede by farre. My father durst not _Humber’s_ hest debarre, Nor I my selfe, I rather was content In hope of crowne with _Humber_ to consent.

Two Princely dames with me came then away, He brag’d to winne these countrey partes all three. We Ladyes rather were[264] this Prince his pray, Because he promist that we Queenes should bee. We came to cost, these countrey coasts to see, Sith hee on whom our hope did wholly stand, Was drounde, nam’d _Humber_ waters, lost the land.

For as you heard before when he suppos’d He had wonne all, because he wonne a part, Strayght way he was agayne thereof depos’d, Constrayn’d to flye and swim for life, poore heart. Lo here the cause of all my dolefull smart: This noble King with whom I came to raygne, Was drencht, and drounde vnto my greeuous payne.

Then were his souldiers taken, slayne, or spoylde, And well were they, that could make suite for life. Was neuer such an army sooner foylde: O woefull warre, that flowd’st in flouds of strife, And card’st not whom thou cut’st with cruell knife! So,[265] had not _Venus_ fraught my face with hue, I had no longer liu’d my forme to rue.

But[266] as I came a captiue with the rest, My countenaunce did shine as braue as Sunne: Ech one that sawe my natiue hue, were prest To yeeld them selues, by beames of beauty wonne. My fame strayght blowne, to gaze on me they runne, And sayd I past ech worldly wight, as farre As _Phœbus_ bright excelles the morning starre.

Like as you see in darkes,[267] if light appeare, Strayght way to that ech man directs his eye: Euen so among my captiue mates that were, When[268] I did speake, or make my playnts with cry, Then all on me they stared by and by, Bemoning of my fates and fortune, so, As they had bin partakers of my woe.

10.

My forme did prayse my plea, my sighes they sued, My teares enti’st theyr hearts, some ruth to take: My sobbes in sight a seemely hue reneu’d, My wringing handes wan suiters shift to make, My sober southes did cause them for my sake Me to commend unto their noble King, Who wil’d they should me into presence bring.

11.

Which when I came, in cordes as captiue bound, “O King (quoth I) whose power wee feele to strong, O worthy wight, whose fame to skyes doth sound, Doe pittie me, that neuer wisht thee wrong! Release me, one, thy captiues all among, Which from my friends by fraude am brought away, A Prince his daughter, drownde in deepe decay.

12.

“Now as thou art a Prince thy selfe, of might, And mayst doe more then I doe dare desire, Let me (O King) finde fauoure in thy sight, Asswage somewhat thy deadly wrath and ire. No part of knighthoode[269] tis for to require A Ladyes death thee neuer did offend, Sith that thy foe hath brought her to this end.

13.

“But let me rather safely be conuay’d, O gratious King, once home before I die. Or let me liue thy simple wayting mayde,[270] If it may please thy royall maiesty. Or let me raunsome pay for liberty. But if he[271] minde reuenge of vnwraught ill, Why spare you _Britannes_ this my corps to kill?”

14.

With that the King: “Good Lady faire, what ist Thou canst desire or aske but must obtayne? Eke would to god with all my heart I wist Best way to ease thee of thy woefull payne. But if thou wilt, doe here with me remayne. If not content, conductours shalt thou haue, To bring thee home, and what thou else wilt craue.”[272]

15.

“O King (quoth I) the gods preserue thy grace, The heauens requite thy mercy shew’d to me, And all the starres direct thy regall race, With[273] happy course, long length of yeares to see. The earth with fertile fruites enrich so thee, That thou maist still like Justice here dispose, And euermore treade downe thy deadly foes.”

16.

The noble King commaunded to vnbinde Mine armes, and let me lewce, and free at will.[274] And afterward such fauoure did I finde,[275] That as his Queene I was at elbowe still: And I enjoy’d al pleasures at my fill. So that they quite had quenched out my thrall, And I forgat my former Fortunes all.

17.

Thus loe by fauoure I obtayn’d my suite, So had my beauty set his heart on fire, That I could make _Locrinus_ euen as muite, Or pleasaunt as my causes did require. And when I knew he could no way retire, I prayd he would his fauoure so extend, As I might not be blamed in the end.

18.

“For if (quoth I) you take me as your owne, And eke my loue to you hath[276] constant beene, Then let your loue likewise agayne bee showne, And wed mee as you may[277] your spoused Queene. If since in mee mislikyng you haue seene Then best depart betime, before defame Begin to take from _Elstride_ her good name.”

19.

“No wauering heart (sayd he) _Locrinus_ beares, No fayned flattery shall thy fayth deface: Thy beauty, birth, fame, vertue, age and yeares, Constrayne mee both thee and thyne hestes imbrace:[278] I must of force geue thy requests a place, For as they doe with reason good consent, Euen so I graunt thee all thy whole intent.”

20.

Then was the time appoynted and the daye, In which I should bee wedded to this King. But in this case his counsayle caus’d a staye, And sought out meanes at discord vs to bring. Eke _Corinœus_ claym’d a former thing, A precontract was made and full accord Betweene his daughter and my soueraigne Lord.

21.

And yet the King did geue mee comfort still, Hee sayd hee could not to[279] forsake my loue: Hee euermore would beare mee all good will, As both my beauty and deserts did moue. But still the end doth who is faulty proue:[280] His counsayle at the last did him constrayne To marry her, vnto my greeuous payne.

22.

At which I could not but with hate repine: It vexed mee, his mate that should haue beene, To liue in hate a Prince his concubine, That euer had such hope to bee his Queene. The steppes of state are full of woe and teene,[281] For when wee thinke wee haue obtayn’d[282] the throne, Then strayght our pompe and pryde is quite orethrowne.

23.

Lo twise I fell from hope of Princely crowne: First, when vnhappy _Humber_ lost his life: And next I layd my peacockes pride adowne, When I could not be King _Locrinus’_ wife.[283] But oft they say the third doth end the strife, Which I haue prou’d, therefore the sequel vewe, The third payes home, this prouerbe is to true.

24.

The King could not refraine his former minde, But vs’d me still, and I my doubtfull yeares Did linger on, I knew no shift to finde, But past the time full oft with mourning teares. A concubine is neuer voyde of feares, For if the wife her at aduantage take, In rage[284] reuenge with death she seekes to make.

25.

Likewise I wist if once I sought to flye, Or to entreat the King depart I might, Then would he strayght be discontent with me. Yea if I were pursued vppon the flight, Or came deflourd into my father’s[285] sight, I should be taken, kept perforce, or slayne, Or in my countrey liue in great disdayne.

26.

In such a plight what might a Lady[286] doe, Was euer Princesse poore,[287] in such a case? O wretched wight bewrapt in webbs of woe, That still in dread wast tost from place to place, And neuer foundest meane to end thy race, But still in doubt of death in carking care Didst liue a life deuoide of all welfare.

27.

The King perceiuing well my chaunged cheare, To ease my heart with all deuis’d deceates, By secrete wayes I came deuoyde of feare, In Vaultes, by cunning Masons’ crafty feates. Whereas we safely from the Queene her threats, Perdy the King and I so vs’d our arte, As after turn’d vs both to payne and smart.

28.

By him I had my _Sabrine_ small, my childe, And after that his wife her father lost: I meane he died and shee was strayght exilde, And I made Queene vnto my care and cost. For shee went downe to _Cornwall_ strayght in post, And caused all her fathers men to rise With all the force and strength they might deuise.

29.

My King and hers, with me, gaynst her prepar’d An army strong, but when they came to fight, Dame _Guendoline_ did wax at length to hard, And of our King vs both deposed quight, For from her campe an arrowe sharp did light Upon his brest, and made him leaue his breath: Lo thus the[288] King came by vntimely death.

30.

Then I to late began in vayne to flye, And taken was presented to the Queene, Who me beheld with cruell _Tigers_[289] eie. “O queane (quoth shee) that cause of warres hast beene, And deadly hate, the like was neuer seene, Come on, for these my handes shall ridde thy life. And take reuengement of our mortall strife.

31.

“I longed long to bring thee to this bay,[290] And thou likewise hast sought to suck my bloud: Now art thou taken in my spoyles a pray, That caus’d my life full long in daunger stood. I will both teach thy selfe and others good, To breake the bandes of faithfull wedlocke plight, And geue thee that which thou deseruest right.

32.

“O harlot whoare, why should I stay my handes? O paynted picture, shall thy lookes thee saue? Nay, binde her fast both hande and foote in bandes, And let her some straunge kinde of torments haue. What strompet stues, think’st, for thou seemest braue,[291] Or for thy tears, or sighes, to scape my sight? My selfe will rather vanquishe thee by fight.

33.

“Thou rather should’st my vitall breath depriue Then euer scape, if none were here but wee, But now I will not file my handes to striue, Or else to touch so vile a drabe as shee. Come on at once, and bring her after me, With hand and feete (as I commaunded) bound, And let me see her here, as _Humber_, drown’d.”

34.

A thousand thinges beside shee spake in rage, While that a caitiffe did with cords me binde. No teares, nor sobbes, nor sighes, might ought asswage The gelous Queene or mollifie her minde. Occasions still her franticke head did finde, And when shee spake her eyes did leame[292] as fire, Shee lookt as pale as chalke, with wrathfull ire.

35.

Ne stoode shee still, but fearcely me defide, Raung’d vp and downe, and oft her palmes shee strooke. “_Locrinus_ now (quoth shee) had not thus dide, If such an harlot whoare hee had not tooke.” And therewithall shee gaue a _Tiger’s_ looke,[293] That made me quake: “What lettes (quoth shee) my knife To ridde this whore, my husbande’s second wife. H’is dead, I liue, and shall I saue her life?”

36.

“O Queene (quoth I) if pittie none remayne, But I be slayne or drown’d as _Humber_ was: Then take thy pleasure by my pinching payne, And let me hence as thou appoyntest passe. But take some pittie on my childe, alas, Thou know’st the infant made no fault, but hee[294] That’s dead, and I, therefore reuenge on mee.”

37.

“No bastards here shall liue to dispossesse My sonne, (shee sayd) but sith thou soughtest fame, I will prouide for her a kingdome lesse, Which shall hereafter euer haue her name. Thou know’st whereof the name of _Humber_ came: Then so _Sabrina_ shall this streame be cal’d, Sith _Sabrine_ me, as _Humber Locrine_, thral’d.”

38.

With that my childe was _Sabrine_ brought in sight, Who when shee sawe me there[295] in bandes to lie, “Alas (shee cri’d) what meanes this piteous plight?” And downe she fell before the Queene, with cry: “O Queene (quoth shee) let me more rather die Than shee that’s giltlesse should: for why, thy king Did as his captiue her to lewdnes bring.”

39.

Which when I sawe the kindnes of the childe, It burst my heart much more then dome of death: Poore little lambe, with countenaunce how milde Shee pleaded still: and I for want of breath, (With woefull teares that lay her feete beneath) Could not put foorth a word our liues to saue, Or if therefore I might a kingdome haue.

40.

Her piteous plaintes did somewhat death withdraw, For as shee long beheld the Queene with teares, (Quoth shee) “Let me haue rigour voyd of lawe, In whom the signe of all thy wrath appeares: And let me die, my fathers face that beares. Sith he is dead, and we are voide of stay, Why should I thee for life, or mercy, pray?

41.

“My mother may to _Germany_ returne, Where shee was borne, and if it please thy grace: And I may well lie in my father’s tombe, If thou wilt graunt his childe so good a place. But if thou thinke my bloud is farre to bace, (Although I came, by both, of princely lyne) Then let me haue what shroud thou wilt assigne.”

42.

With that the Queene replide with milder cheere, And sayd the childe was wonderous feate,[296] and wittie: But yet shee would not her reuenge forbeare, “For why (quoth shee) the prouerbe sayes, that pittie Hath lewdly lost full many a noble Cittie. Here _Elstride_ now ile wreke my greefes on thee,[297] To die, take leaue, but talke no more to me.”

43.

On this my leaue I tooke, and thus I sayd, “Farewell my countrey, _Germany_, farewell Adew the place from whence I was conueyd: Farewell my father, and my friends[298] there dwell. My _Humber_ droun’d, as I shall be, farewell! Adew _Locrinus_ dead, for thee I die: Would God my corps might by thy coffine lie.

44.

“Adew my pleasures past, farewell, adew. Adew the cares and sorowes I haue had. Farewell my friends that earst for me did sue, Adew that were to saue my life full glad. Farewell my[299] fanning friends I lately had, And thou my beauty, cause of death, farewell, As oft as heart can thinke, or tong can tell.

45.

“Adew you heauens, my mortall eyes shall see No more your lightes and planets all farewell, And chiefly _Venus_ faire that paintedst me, When _Mercury_ his tale to me did tell, Eke afterwardes when _Mars_ with vs did dwell: And now at last thou cruell _Mars_ adew, Whose dart my life and loue _Locrinus_ slewe.

46.

“And must I needes depart from thee, my childe? If needes I must, ten thousand times farewell. Poore little lambe, thy friends are quite exilde, And much I feare thou shalt not long doe well. But if they so with boyling rancour swell As thee to flea which neuer wroughtest ill, How can they stay my stayned corps to kill?”

47.

With that, my _Sabrine’s_ slender armes imbrast Me round, and would not let me so depart. “Let me (quoth shee) for her the waters tast, Or let vs both togeather end our smart. Yea rather rippe you foorth my tender heart: What should I liue?” But they the childe withdrew, And me into the raging streame they threw.

48.

So in the waters as I striu’d to swimme, And kept my head aboue the waues for breath, Mee thought I sawe my childe would venter in, Which cry’d amayne, “O let me take like death.” The waters streyght had drawne me vnderneath, Where diueing,[300] vp at length agayn rose I, And sawe my childe, and cry’d “Farewell, I die!”

49.

Then as my strength was wasted, downe I went, Eke so I plunged twise or thrise yet more: My breath departed, needes I must relent. The waters pearst my mouth and eares so sore, And to the botome with such force mee bore, That life, and breath, and minde, and sence was gone, And I as dead and cold as marble stone.

50.

Lo thus you heare the race of all my life, And how I past the pickes of painfull woe: How twise I thought to bee a Prince his wife,[301] And twise was quite depriu’d my[302] honour fro, The third time Queene and felt foule ouerthro. Let Princely Ladyes vewe mine historie, Mine haps, and woes, and hatefull desteny.[303]

51.

Bid them beware, lest beuty them abuse, Beware of pryde, for haue a fall it must: And will them Fortune’s flattery to refuse,[304] Her turned[305] wheele is voyde of steedy trust. Who reckes no meane, but leaueth all to lust, Shall finde my wordes as true as I them tell: Bid them beware[306] in time, I wish them well.[307]

LENUOYE.

Who here considers _Elstride’s_ beauty braue was seene: Her noble birth, the sundry haps shee had: How many erst the like infortunate haue beene, Whose forme haue made right noble hearts full sad: Hee neede not now in loue bee halfe so mad, Sith beauty is the baite enbaneth many a bower, A meate too sweete in taste, that sauced is too sower.

It caused _Hercules_ to slay th’ _Œchalian_ King, And _Deianire_ her worthy fere to bane: It caus’d the _Greekes_ their armies forth to bring, And _Troia_ faire to fall, by _Græcians_ tane. It setled here in _Britayne_ first the Dane, For it of Kingdomes great the warres did oft deuoure: The prouerbe sayth, sweete meate will haue of sauces sower.

Wherefore let noble men beware of beauties grace, Lest so inflam’d they chaunce to fall thereby. If they allur’d the _Sirens_ sweete embrace, And ships forsake, the waues are wilde perdy. The monsters diue, the seas do swell to skye, The toyling tempests tosse to reaue the vitall power, While rockes, shelues, sands, and seas, the woefull wights deuoure.

They may hereby beholde the woefull childrens fall, Of those which led their liues in lawelesse lust: And learne to loue their Ladyes best of all, Which are to them so faithfull, true, and iust. Wherefore recyte the death of _Sabrine_ here I must, The Lady young, mee thought, from waters droun’d that came: Which might thus wise her tale haue seem’d to frame.[308]

How the Lady Sabrine daughter of King Locrinus and Elstride, was drowned by Queene Guendoline, the yeare before Christ, 1064.

Beholde mee _Sabrine_ orphane erst bereft Of all my friends, by cruell case of warre: When as not one to treat for mee was left, But Ielosie did all their powers debarre. When as my father eke was slaine in warre, And when my mother euen before my sight Was drown’d to death, O wretch in woefull plight.

Trust who so will the staffe of hye estate, And bring mee word what stay thereby you haue: For why, if Fortune once displeasure take, Shee geues the foyle, though lookes bee neuer so braue, Tis wisedome when you winne, to winne to saue:[309] For oft who trustes to get a Prince his trayne, Would at the length of begger’s life be fayne.

This might the _Hunne_ erst _Humber_ well haue sayd, And this my mother _Elstride_ prou’d to true, When as his life by striuing streames was stayd, And when the tyraunts her in waters threwe. What I may say, my selfe reportes to you, Which had more terrour shew’d then twice such twayne: Geue eare, and iudge if I abode no payne.

First when my fathers corps was striken downe With deadly shaft, I came to mourne and see: And as hee lay with bleeding brest in sowne, Hee cast aside his watring eyes on mee. “Flye, flye, (quoth hee) thy stepdame[310] seekes for thee, My woefull childe: what flight maist thou to take, My _Sabrine_ poore, I must thee needes forsake.

“See here mine end, behold thy father’s fall, Fly hence, thy stepdame seekes thy staylesse life:[311] Thy mother eke or[312] this is wrapt in thrall, You cannot scape of gelous griefe her knife,[313] Farewell my childe, mine _Elstride_ and my wife, Adew (quoth hee) I may no longer byde:” And euen with that hee gasped breath,[314] and dyde.

What birde can flye, and soare, if stormes doe rage? What shippe can sayle if once the windes resist? What wight is that can force of warres asswage? Or elss what warre can bridle Fortune’s list? What man is hee, that dare an hoast resist? What woman only dare withstand a fielde? If not, what childe but must to enemies yeelde?

My father’s souldiers fled away for feare, As soone as once theyr Captayne’s death they scand: The Queene proclaym’d a pardon euery where To those would yeelde, and craue it at her hand: Excepting such as did her aye withstand. For so the course alwayes of pardons goes, As saues the souldier, and entraps the foes.

Then wist I flight could nothing mee preuayle, I fearde her pardon would not saue my life: The storme was such I durst not beare a sayle, I durst not goe t’intreate my father’s wife, Although I neuer was the cause of strife: For gelosie, deuoyde of reason’s raygne, With frenzyes fume enragde her restles brayne.

But see the chaunce: Thus compast rounde with feare, In broyles of bloude, as in the fielde I stand, I wisht to God my corps were any where, As out of life, or of this hatefull land. No sooner wisht, but there was euen at hand A souldier vile: “In haste (quoth hee) come on, “Queene _Elstride_ will, before thou come, begon.”

10.

The rascall rude, the roag, the clubfist griepte My sclender[315] arme, and pluckt mee on in hast: And with my robes the bloudy ground hee sweepte: As I drue backe hee hal’d mee on full fast. Vnder his arme my carefull[316] corps hee cast. “Sith that (quoth hee) thou put’st mee to this payne, “Thou shalt thereby at length but little gayne.”[317]

11.

So[318] at the length wee came where wee descri’d A number huge of folkes about the Queene: As when you see some wonder great betide, Or else the place where some straunge sight hath bene: So might you there the people standing seene, And gazed all when as they see mee brought, Then sure I deem’d I was not come for nought.

12.

And in the prease, some prays’d my comely face, In beauty _Elstride_ which resembled right:[319] Some sayd I looked like my father’s grace, But[320] others sayd it was a piteous sight I should so dye: the Queene mee pardon might. Then sayd the beast[321] mee bore did mee abuse, Which[322] not so rudely ought a Pryncesse vse.

13.

But what did this redresse my woefull care, You wotte the commons vse suche prouerbes still: And yet the captiues poore no better are, It rather helpes theyr payned hearts to kill. To pittie one in griefe doth worke him ill. Bemone his woe, and cannot ease his thrall, It killes his heart, but comforts none[323] at all.

14.

Thus past wee through the prease: at length wee came Into the presence of the gelous Queene, Who nought at all the rascall rude did blame That bare mee so, but askte if I had seene My father slayne, that cause thereof had beene. “O Queene (quoth I) God knowes my whole intent Of slaughter giltlesse: I am innocent.”[324]

15.

With that I sawe the people looke aside, To vewe a mourning voice: I heard thereby It was my woefull mother by, that cry’d “Lo _Sabrine_, bound at brinke of death I lie.” What pen, or tongue, or teares with weeping eye Could tell my woes, that sawe my mother bound On waters shoare, wherein shee should bee droun’d!

16.

With that I fell before the Queene, and pray’d For mercy, but with fierie eyes shee bent Her browes on mee: “Out bastard vile (shee sayd) Thou wot’st not yet wherefore for thee I sent.” “O Queene (quoth I) haue pittie, bee content, And if thou minde of mercy ought to showe, Drowne mee, and let my mother harmelesse goe.

17.

“For why, shee was a Prince his daughter, borne In _Germany_, and thence was brought away Perforce, by _Humber_, who by warres forlorne Thy King as captiue tooke her for his pray. Thou mayst full well her case with reason weye. What could shee doe, what more then shee or I Thy captiues now, thine owne to liue or die?

18.

“Take pittie then on Princely race, O Queene, Haue[325] pittie, if remorce may ought require, Take pittie, on a captiue thrise hath beene, Let pittie pearce the rage of all thine ire. But if thy breast burne with reuenging fire, Then let my death quench out that fuming flame, Sith of thy husband’s bloud and hers I came.”

19.

Much more I sayd while teares out streaming went, But nought of ease at all thereby I gayn’d. My mother eke, did, as shee lay, lament, Wherewith my heart a thousand fold shee payn’d. And though the Queene my playnts to fauour fayn’d, Yet at the last shee bad shee should prepare Her selfe to die, and end her course of care.

20.

Then all her friends my mother _Elstride_ nam’d, And pleasures past, and bade them all adue: Eke as shee thus her last farewell had fram’d, With losse of him from whom her sorowes grue. At length to mee (which made my heart to rue) Shee sayd: “Farewell my childe, I feare thy fall. “Ten thowsand times adue, my _Sabrine_ small.”

21.

And as the cruell caytiffes came to take Her vp, to cast and drowne her in the floud, I fast mine armes about her clipt did make, And cry’d, “O Queene let mercy meeke thy moode, Doe rather reaue my heart of vitall bloud, Then thus I liue:” with that they slakt my hold, And drencht my mother in the waters cold.

22.

For loue to ayde her, venter in would I That sawe my mother striue aloft for winde. To land shee lookte and sayd: “Farewell, I die!” “O let mee goe (quoth I) like fate to finde!” Sayd _Guendoline_: “Come on likewise, and binde This _Sabrine_ here likewise, for so shall shee At once receiue[326] her whole request of mee.

23.

“Eke as I wish to haue in minde her fame, As _Humber’s_ is, which should her father beene: So shall this floude of _Sabrine_ haue the name, That men thereby may say, a righteous Queene Here drown’d her husband’s childe of concubine. Therefore leaue _Sabrine_ here thy name and life, Let _Sabrine_ waters end our mortall strife.”

24.

“Dispatch!” (quoth shee:) With that they bound mee fast, My slender armes and feete, with[327] little neede: And sans all mercy, mee in waters cast, Which drewe mee downe, and cast mee vp with speede, And downe mee drencht the _Sabrine_ fish to feede: Where I abode till now from whence I came, And there the waters hold as yet my name.[328]

25.

Lo thus this gelous Queene, in raging sort, With bloudy hate bereft her husband’s health: And eke my mother _Elstride’s_ life (God wot) Which neuer ment to hurt this common wealth. And mee, _Locrinus’_ childe, begot by stealth: Agaynst all reason was it for to kill The childe, for that her parents erst did ill.

26.

But here[329] you see, what time our pompe doth hyde, Hereby you see th’vnsteady trust in warre, Hereby you see the stay of states etride, Hereby you see, our hope to make doth marre, Hereby you see, wee fall from bench to barre. From bench,[330] (quoth I) yea from the Princely seate, You see how soone vs Fortune downe doth beate.

27.

And here you see, how lawlesse loue doth thriue, Hereby you see, how gelous folkes doe fare: Here may you see, with wisedome they that wiue, Neede neuer recke _Cupidoe’s_ cursed snare, Here may you see, deuorcement breedeth care, Here seldome thriue the children may you see,[331] Which in vnlawfull wedlocke gotten bee.

28.

Declare thou then our fall and great mishap, Declare the hap, and glory wee were in: Declare how soone wee taken were in trap, When wee suppos’d wee had most safest bin. Declare what losse they haue that hope to win. When Fortune most doth sweetely seeme to smile,[332] Then will shee froune: she laughes but euen a while.[333]

LENUOY.

A woefull thing mee thought this tale to heare, That pittie could not moue Queene _Guendoline_, When _Locrine_ both and _Elstride_ ended were, Which had committed facts adulterine, Th’adulter slayne and eke his concubine, Not so her cruell minde could bee content, But in reuenge to slay the Innocent.

What maruayle though shee were of such a minde, So cruell not to spare her husband’s bastard small: Sith that of gelosie wee often finde Examples passing reason naturall. Of _Porrex_ mother, reade the life who shall, Which slew her only sonne, eke _Progne_ was content, To sley her sonne an harmelesse Innocent.

_Medæa_ eke when _Iason_ her forsooke, And children twayne, which yong by him shee had, Full cruelly a sword in hand shee tooke, Reft both their liues, as cruell monster mad. Was not _Agaue’s_ cruelty so bad, Which _Pentheus_ her sonne to sley could bee content. Because hee nilde to Bacchanalls assent?

I will no more of these as now recite, Whose cruelty deserued all disgrace: Nor yet in generall thus wise I write, The worthy sexe of women to deface. Tis gelosie reproued here in place. But now I turne to Madan all to rent, Which next on stage thus wise to talke him bent.

How King Madan for his euill life was slayne by Wolues, The yeare before Christ, 1009.

Among’st the rest that sate in hauty seat, And felt the fall, I pray thee pen for mee A Tragedy, may some such wisedome geat As they may learne, and somewhat wiser bee: For in my glasse when as themselues they see, They may beware; my fall from Fortune’s lap Shall teach them how, t’eschew the like mishap.

I am that _Madan_, once of[334] _Britayne_ King, The[335] third that euer raygned in this land: Marke well therefore my death, as straunge a thing As some would deeme could scarce with reason stand; Yet when thou hast my life well throughly scand, Thou shalt perceaue not halfe so straunge as true, Ill life, worse death, doth after still ensue.

For when my mother _Guendoline_ had raygn’d In my nonage full xv yeares, shee dide: And I but yong, not well in vertues trayn’d, Was left this noble Iland for to guide; Whereby when once my minde was puft with pryde, I past for nought, I vs’d my lust for lawe; Of right, or iustice, reckte I not a strawe.

No meane I kept but ruled all by rage, No boundes of measure could mee compasse in. No counsayle could my meekelesse minde asswage: When once to fume I fearcely did begin, And I excelde in nothing else but sinne; So that my subiects all did wish my end,[336] Saue such to whom for vice I was a friend.

In[337] pleasures plung’d I tooke my whole repast,[338] My youth mee led deuoyde of compasse quite: And vices were so rooted in at last, That to recure the euill it past my might. For who so doth with will and pleasure fight, (Though all his force doe striue them to withstand) Without good grace they haue the vpper hand.

What licoure first the earthen pot doth take, It keepeth still the sauour of that same. Full hard it is a Cramocke[339] strayght to make, Or crooked Logges with wainscot fine to frame. Tis hard to make the cruell Tiger tame. And so it fares with those haue vices caught: Naught once (they say) and euer after naught.

I speake not this as though it past all cure From vices vile to vertue to retire: But this I say, if vice be once in vre, The more you shall to quite your selfe require, The more you plunge your selfe in fulsome mire, As hee that striues in soakte quicke sirts[340] of sand, Still sinkes, scarce euer[341] comes agayne to land.

The giftes of grace may nature ouercome, And God may graunt the time when wee repent. But I did still in laps of lewdnes runne: At last my selfe to cruelty I bent. But who so doth with bloudy acts content His minde, shall sure at last finde like agayne, And feele for pleasures thousand panges of payne.

For in the mid’st of those vntrusty toyles, When as I nothing fearde, but all was sure, With all my trayne, I hunting rode for spoiles Of those, who after did my death procure. These lewde delightes did boldly mee allure To follow still and to pursue the chase: At last I came into a desert place.

10.

Besette with hills, and monstrous rockes of stone, My company behinde mee lost, or stayed: The place was eke with hauty trees oregrowne, So wist[342] and wylde it made mee halfe afrayd. And strayght I was with rauening wolues betrayd, Came out of caues, and dennes, and rockes amayne. There was I rent in peeces, kild, and slayne.

11.

Woe worth that youth (in vayne) so vily spent Should euer cause a King to feele such smart: Woe worth that euer I should here lament, Or shew the hurt of my poore Princely heart. I thinke the clowne that driues the mixen cart Hath better hap then Princes, such as I: No storme of Fortune castes him downe so hie.

12.

A man by grace and wit may shunne the snare. Tis sayd a wise-man all mishap withstands. For though by starres wee borne to mischiues are, Yet grace and prudence bayles our carefull bandes. Ech man (they say) his fate hath in his handes, And what hee marres, or makes to leese, or saue Of good or euill, is euen selfe doe selfe haue.

13.

This thing is seene by mee, that led my daies In vitious sort, for greedy wolues a pray. I wish, and will, that Princes guide theyr wayes: Lo, here by this eschew like chaunce they may, And vices such as worke their whole decay. Which if they doe, full well is spent the time To warne, to write, and eke to shun the crime.[343]

LENUOY.

Thus haue you here the end of _Madan_[344] seene, (If it were hee) and yet I may suspect It was some other Prince so seru’d had beene, For that all stories doe not so detect His death that Princely vertues did neglect. But if hee died by wolues, as here I write, His vice the cause mine author doth resite.

Wherefore although that authors heere dissent, And I haue pen’d as praysed stories haue: To reade his warnings thou maist bee content, And take what counsaile of good life hee gaue. I trust, I (dreaming) may some pardon craue, For if the rest no dreames but stories pen Can I for that they write bee blamed then?

But what neede I on this to longer stay, Sith many moe remayne which felt the fall. Of _Britayne_ Princes heathen reade you may, As _Maline_ one appearing next of all: Whose tale in order now resite I shall. Then here conceiue this wounded Prince you see, Thus wise, of Fortune, speaking vnto mee.

How King Malin was slayne by his brother King Mempricius, the yeare before Christ, 1009.

If fortue were so firme as shee is fraile, Or glosing glory were still permanent: If no mishap mens doings did assayle, Or that their acts and facts were innocent: If they[345] in hope no hurt nor hatred ment, Or dealings aye were done with duty due, They neuer neede theyr great[346] misfortunes rue.

If pompe were payne, and pride were not in price, Or hauty seate had not the highest place: If they[347] could learne by others to bee wise, Or else eschewe the daungers of their[348] face: If once they[349] could the golden meane imbrace, Or banish quite ambition from their[350] breast, They[351] neuer neede to recke or reape vnrest.

But they doe thinke[352] such sweetenes in renowne, They[353] deeme on earth is all the greatest hap:[354] They[355] nothing feare the hurt of falling downe, Or little rome in Lady Fortune’s lap. They[3] geue no heede before they[356] get the clap: And then to late they[4] wish they[357] had bin wise, When from the fall they[358] would, and cannot, rise.

As if two twinnes, or children at the teate Of nurce, or mother, both at once might bee, And both did striue the better dugge to geat, Till one were downe, and slipt beside her knee: Even so it fares, by others as by mee,[359] In Fortune’s lap they[360] haue so little hold, She cannot stay both striuing if shee would.

I am that _Malin_,[361] one of _Madan’s_ sonnes. Which thought to raygne and rule this noble Ile, And would so done, but see what chaunce there comes Where brethren loue and frendship quite exile: Who thinkes in trust no treason neither guile, Is soonest cleane bereau’d of life and all,[362] In steade of rule hee reapes the crop of thrall.

My yongest[363] brother then _Mempricius_ hight, Whose hauty minde, and mine, were still at square:[364] Wee euermore as foes hight other spite, And deadly ire in hatefull heartes wee bare. Hee sought all wayes hee might to worke mee care, And ech regarded others enuy, so, As after turned both to paynfull woe.

Because my father lou’d him well,[365] therefore I fear’d my brother should obtayne my right:[366] Likewise on fauoure boldned hee him bore,[367] And neither had in vertue’s wayes delight. What neede I here our inward griefes recite? Wee, not as brethren, liu’d in hatred still, And sought occasion other each to kill.

I hauing hope for to preserue the crowne,[368] And hee for that hee feard my title[369] bred Such frendship as might alwayes keepe him downe And both depriue him of his crowne and head. But when it chaunst our father once was dead, Then strayght appeared all his[370] enuy playne: For hee could not from his[371] attempt refrayne.[372]

Some wisht wee should depart the realme in twoo, And sayd my father eke was of that minde: But nether of vs both, that so would doe, Wee were not ech to other halfe so kinde. And vile ambition made vs both so blinde, Wee thought our raygne could not bee sure and good Except the ground thereof were layd with bloud.

10.[373]

At last a time of parle appoynted[374] was, And truce concluded for our titles right: Wherein I hoped might bee brought to passe That I enioy in peace my kingdome might. But secretly by pollecy and sleight Hee slewe mee with his swoord, before I wist: Where crowne, peace, kingdome, life and all I mist.[375]

11.

Thus was I by my wicked[376] brother slayne, Which with my death his cruell eyes did fill.[377] This oftentimes they vse to get and gayne, That cannot shunne misfortune as they wil.[378] Was neuer man pretended such an ill, But God to him like measure shortly sent, As hee to others erst before had ment.

12.

Vniustice euer thriues as theues doe thee, And bloudthirst cryes for vengeaunce at his hand, Which all our rights and wronges doth dayly see[379] The good to aide, and gracelesse to withstand; If either vice or vertue wee aband, Wee either are rewarded as wee serue, Or else are plaged, as our deedes deserue.

13.

Let this my warning then suffice ech sort, Bid them beware: example here you see: It passeth play, ’tis tragicall disport To clime the steppes of stately high degree.[380] For though they thinke good Fortune seru’d not mee, Yet did shee vse mee as shee vs’d the rest: And so full oft shee[381] serueth euen the best.[382]

LENUOY.

This was mee thought that time the ruefull tale, That _Maline_[383] drewe from out his wounded breast. A woefull thing to heare the Prince’s bale. Should by his brother boldly bee addrest: But yet wee see such rage in tyraunts rest, If they may beare alofte alone the sway, For Kingdomes sake they care not whom they slay.

Examples are King _Porrex_ of this thing, The _Romish Antonine_ did euen the same: But what neede I of these examples bring: Such tyraunts euer yet deserued blame, And haue procur’d them selues, beside defame, Not only after shorter time of sway, But most they were by others made away.

Now here _Mempricius_ which his brother slew Was after King, as plainely stories tell: Whose filthy facts all princes ought eschew, And subiects eke, that hope to prosper well. Hee next appear’d declaring how hee fell, Eke how his brother deare hee made away, And how the Wolues in hunting did him slay.

How King Mempricius geuen to all lust was deuoured by wolues, the yeare before Christ, 989.

Tis often sayd, a man should doe likewise To other, as hee would to him they did. Do as thou would’st bee done to, sayth the wise, And doe as conscience and as iustice bid. Ther’s no man ought for rule[384] an other rid,[385] Nor yet[386] his hands[387] with cruell bloud distayne: For bloud doth alwayes cry for bloud againe.

Eke lustfull life, that sleepes in sinkes of sinne, Procures a plague: fie, fie, on _Venus_ vile: Wee little wot the mischiefes are[388] therein, When wee with poysons sweete our selues beguyle. The pleasures passe, the ioyes indure but while, And nought thereby at all wee get or gayne, But dreadfull death, and euerlasting payne.

Mee thinkes thou harkenest for to heare[389] my name, And musest what I am that thus doe come. I would or this haue told it, but for shame: And yet to giue example here to some,[390] I will no longer fayne my selfe so dome, But euen as others I will tell my fall:[391] Take here my name, my life, my death and all.

I am _Mempricius_, _Madan’s_ yonger[392] sonne, Once King of _Britayne_, that my brother slewe: Whereby the crowne, and Kingdome all I won, And after norisht vices moe that grewe, Not nature’s lawes, nor God’s, nor man’s I knewe, But liu’d in lust, not recking any thing, I deemed all thinges lawfull[393] for a King.

Fyrst[394] when I had my brother brought on beire, I thought in rest to keepe the Kingdome long: And I was voyde of doubte,[395] I had no feare, Was none durst checke mee did I right or wrong. I liu’d at large, and thought my powre so strong, There could no man preuaile against my will, In steede of lawe that vsed rigour still.[396]

Then wickedly I fell[397] to slouthfull ease, A vice that breades a number moe beside. I was so testy none durst mee displease, And eke so puft with glory, vaine, and pride. My sencelesse sence, as ship without a guide, Was tost with euery fancy of my braine, Like _Phœbus_ chariote vnder _Phaëton’s_ raigne.

I deem’d them foes that mee good counsaile gaue, And those my chiefest frends could glose and lie: I hated them that were so sage and graue, And those I lou’d were lusty, lewde, and slie. I did the wisest wittes as fooles defie, Such sots, knaues, ruffians, roysters I embraste, As were vnwise, vnhonest, rude, vnchaste.

I lusted eke, as lazy[398] lechers vse, My subiects wiues and daughters at my will I did so often as mee pleas’d abuse, Perforce I kept them at my pleasure still. Thus gate I queanes and concubines at fill, And for their sakes I put away my wife: Such was my lewdnes, lust, and lawlesse life.

But shame forbids mee for to tell the rest, It mee abhorres to shew what did insue: And yet because it moueth in my breast Compunction still, and was God wot to true, Ile farder tell whence[399] my destruction grue. To _Sodome_ sinne I fowly fell,[400] and than I was despised both of God and man.

10.

Could I long prosper thus, doe you suppose? Might ought of euill exceede[401] these vices told? Thinke you ther’s any wight on ground that goes Might scape reuenge of vice so manifolde? No sure: who is in sienfullnes so bolde, His vices fare like weedes they sproute so fast They kill the corps, as weedes the corne at last.

11.

My greate outrage, my heedelesse head, the life I beastly led could not continue so: My brothers bloud, my leauing of my wife, And working of my friends and subiects woe Cry’d still to God, for my foule ouerthroe, Which heares the wrong’d, hee vewes[402] their carefull case, And at the length doth all their foes deface.

12.

Yet I mistrusting no mishaps at hand, (Though I were worthy twenty times to die) I lewdly liu’d, and did my wealth withstand. I neuer thought my end was halfe so nie. For my disport I rode on hunting, I, In woodes the fearefull heart I chased fast, Till quite I lost my company at last.

13.

And or I wist, to cost I found my foes, By chaunce I came whereas the Wolues they bred: Which in a moment did mee round inclose, And mounted at my horse his throte and head. Some on the hinder partes their panches fed. Yet fought I still to scape, if it might bee, Till they my panting[403] horse puld downe with mee.

14.

Then was I hopelesse to escape their iawes, They fastned all their holders fast on mee: And on my royall robes they set their clawes: My Princely presence, nor my high degree Moou’d them no more obeysaunt for to bee, Nor of my corps to take no more remorce, Then did the greeuous groning of my horse.

15.

But rauenously they rent my breast and throte, Forsooke my steede, came all at once and tare My kingly[404] corps, from which they fleyde my coate, And of my flesh they made at all no spare, They neuer left mee till my bones were bare. Lo thus I slewe my brother, left my wife, Liu’d vilely, and as vilely ended life.

16.

Beware of bloudy broyles, beware of wrong, Embrace the counsayle of the wise and sage: Trust not to power though it bee nere so strong, Beware of rashnes rude and roysters rage. Eschew vile _Venus’_ toyes, shee cutts of age, And learne this lesson of and tell thy friend, By pockes, death sodayne, begging,[405] harlots end.[406]

LENUOY.

Marke but the end of brother quellers all, And you shall see what woefull ends they had: For so _Iehouah_ suffers them to fall, As were their risinges murderous and bad, The life of wicked _Cayne_ was sorrowfull and sad. Of _Ioram_ the King what neede I to discriue, So infamous and violent both dead and eke aliue.

What auayl’d it _Memprice_ this Kingdome to obtayne,[407] That shamefully his Princely brother so did slay: Sith that Almighty _Ioue_ so punisht him agayne, For scepter’s sake that tooke his noble Prince away. His wretched cruell corps became for Wolues a pray. What neede I more the caytiues beastly facts descriue, So infamous and violent, both dead and eke aliue.

Now when as hee was gone, there presently, mee thought, A King full Angel like in feathers did appeare: With flying winges and plumes by cunning finely wrought, As hee aloft like fame to flie prepared were, To harken well his tale I gaue an heedy eare, Which hee in order thus mee thought did then contriue, Desiring mee to write it so, to warne the rest aliue.

How King Bladvd,[408] taking on him to fly, fell vpon the Temple of Apollo, and brake his necke, The yeare before Christ, 844.

I pray thee _Higgins_ take in hand thy pen And write my life and fall, among’st the rest A warning set mee downe for curious men, Whose wittes the worke of nature seeke to wrest: I was Prince _Bladud_, pregnant as the best Of wisedome, and of wealth, and learning I had store, Of regall race I came what neede I craued more?

But this in all the sortes of men wee see, An vncontented minde when much they haue; The learned yet would more profounder bee, The richest most t’encrease their wealth do craue; The finest Dames doe slike[409] their faces braue; The noblest yet would higher clime, and all to skies Immortall they to make their names on earth deuise.[410]

In _Britayne_ though I learned had full well The artes, and could among’st the wise conferre, Yet when of _Athens_ I the fame heard tell, (Though it in _Greece_ so far hence distant were) I trauayl’d thither, writers witnesse are I studied there, and thence of learned men I brought That learning might from _Britayne_ land no more so far bee sought.[411]

But after hee was dead that was my stay, My father graue, I meane the worthy King Then all the _Britaynes_ shortly by a day To royall seat elected mee did bring. Where I to place in order euery thing, Did both receiue the crowne[412] and scepter in my hand, With glory and renowned fame to gouerne all the land.[413]

Then, for because the sway of all the Ile Depended on my gouernement to rest I did consult with all the peeres a while, And of my father’s counsaylers the best, I order tooke for matters vnredrest, Appoynting vnto each such place of iustice fit, As serued to their birth, their persons, wealth and wit.[414]

The learned _Greekes_, whom I from _Athens_ brought, Conferring with the _British_ learned men: A place, as I commaunded them, had sought Amid’st the Realme, and brought mee word agen. At _Staneford_ there I built a colledge then, And made prouision for the same perdy, To maynetayne them a famous Vniuersity.[415]

By this, of skilfull men the land had store, And all the arts were read in _Britayne_ well: No countrey was for learning praysed more. Abroad, the world began of vs tell.[416] From other nations hither came to dwell The wisest wits, commending vs, extolling vs to skies: They sayd wee were a people stout, and learned, graue, and wise.[417]

And for that time of Gods wee honour’d all, _Apollo_ high for wisedome, arte, and skill: At _Troynouant_ a Temple speciall I built to him, for sacrifices still. Whereon I fell, as after speake I will. Such was our vse and superstition [wholy][418] then, To deeme as Gods the statures tall of noble worthy men.[419]

Some saye I made the holesome Baths at Bathe,[420] And made therefore two Tunnes of burning brasse: And other twayne seauen kindes of salts that haue In them inclos’d, but these bee made of glasse, With sulphur fild, wilde fire emixt there was, And in foure welles these Tunnes so placed heate for aye The water springing vp, before it passe away.[421]

10.

Which waters heate and clensing perfect powre, With vapours of the sulphur, salts, and fire, Hath vertue great, to heale, and washe, and scowre The bathed sores therein that health desire. If of the vertues, moe thou dost require [To knowe,] I will resite what old experience tells In causes cold the noble vertues of these welles.

11.

The bathes to soften sinewes vertue haue, And also for to clense and scowre the skin From Morphewes white and blacke, to heale and saue The bodyes freckled, faynt, are bathed therein: Scabs, lepry, sores are[422] old and festered in, The scurfe, botch, itche, goute, poxe, [sweld ioynts] and humores fell, The milt and liuer hard it heales, and palsey well.[423]

12.

I must confesse by learned skill I found Those natiue welles whence springs that helpe[424] for men: But well thou know’st there runnes from vnder ground Springes sweete, salt, cold, and hote euen now as then, From rocke, salt petre, alume, grauell, fen, From sulphur, iron, leade, gold, siluer, brasse and tinne: Ech fountayne takes the force of vayne it coucheth in.[425]

13.

Then who so knowes by nature’s worke in these, Of metalles or of mynes the force to heale, May sooner giue his iudgement in disease, For curing by the bath, and surer deale With sickly people of the publique weale, And also finde of fountaynes salt, or hote, or cold, And for to heale by them the sicke with honour bee bold.[426]

14.

The Citie eke of _Bathe_ I founded there, Renouned far by reason of the welles: And many monuments that auncient were I placed there, thou know’st the story tells. I sought renowne and fame and nothing elze. But when our actes extoll our prayse aboue the skie, W’are blinded so, wee looke not downe from whence wee flye.[427]

15.

There are but fewe, whom Fortune bathes in blesse, But blinded are, and dazelingly they looke: They see nought else but worldly happinesse, At that they only fish with Fortune’s hooke. Beneath on earth pompe, pelfe, and prayse they pooke, On that depending frayle, that fayles, and flits, and flyes, Forsaking vertue sole, that bides for aye aboue the skies.[428]

16.

Mens vayne delightes are wondrous to behold, For that that reason nills, nor nature sowes They take in hand, on science far to bold, Deceiu’d by suttle snares of diuelish showes. From which attemptes a floud of mischiefe flowes, An heape of hurtes, [a swarme of smartes] a fry of foule decayes, A flocke of feares, [a droue of deathes,] and thrales a thousand wayes.

17.

If that the water fish forsake the streame Agaynst his kinde, feeles hee no hurt ensues? Or if the broeke would learne to play the breame, And leaue the lambes at land, were this no newes? A fethered fowle in th’earth a den to chuse, Or flounder say to flye [and soare aloft] the larke to catch, Would not you maruell then, what monsters now doth nature hatch?[429]

18.

But sith wee see that nature hath assign’d The fowle to fly the ayre, as seemeth well, The fish to swim the sea, as fits his kinde, The earth for men and beastes to breede and dwell: Of right a man, which doth the rest excell, Should euen so far surpasse the rest in ech degree,[430] As all the rest to him in wit and reason weaker bee.[431]

19.

All this I speake to warne the rest that heare, And eke to shew the blindnesse of delites. Herein my foly vayne may playne appeare, What hap they heape which try out cunning slightes, What hurt there hits, at such vayne shewes and sightes, Where men for pleasure only take much [toyle and] payne, To alter nature’s gifts for [pompe, and pride, and] pleasure vayne.

20.

Were not it straunge, thinke you, a King to fly, To play the tombler, or some iugling cast? To dresse him selfe in plumes, as erst did I, And vnder armes to knit on winges full fast? A sport you thinke that might the wise agaste. But _Magicke Mathematicall_[432] had taught mee poynts of scill, Whereby when first I practis’d then, I lern’d my selfe to kill.[433]

21.

I deckte my corps with plumes (I say) and winges, And had them set, thou seest, in scilfull wise, With many feats, fine poyseing equall thinges, To ayde my selfe in flight to fall or rise, An arte men seldome vse mine enterprise:[434] [Somwhat] gaynst store of winde, by practise rise I could, And try’d which way to turne, and mount, and lyght I should.[435]

22.

But er the perfect scill I learned had, (And yet mee thought I could doe passing well) My subiects’ hearts with pleasaunt toyes to glad, From Temple’s top, where did _Apollo_ dwell, I 'sayd to flye, but on the Church I fell, And broysed all to peeces lost[436] my life withall. This was my race, mine exercise and fatall fall.[437]

23.

What vayner thing could any Prince deuise, Than so himselfe a foolish fowle to showe: Learne you by mee, that count your selues so wise, The worst to doubt of thinges, what ere you know, Fly not so high for feare you fall so lowe: The massy wight is far to great for fethery downe to beare: Below y^e happy man knowes when tis well, & can content him there.[438]

24.

These curious artes alurementes haue alone, They profer much in recompence of payne: But yet among’st a thousand scarce is one In practise, ought by them can saue or gayne. You see perdy they are[439] but false and vayne Sophisticall, deceiptfull, [endlesse] and vntrue, That nothing haue them selues, and promise all to you.[440]

25.

I speake not of the rest that are in vse Amongst the wiser sort, Philosophy, Nor of the partes thereof, but of th’abuse That comes by magicke arts of imagery, By vile inchauntments, charmes, and pampestry, All which I deeme (and they shall finde in proofe) as euill That practise them, as is (by whom they deale) the diuell.[441]

26.

To make an end: you noble Kinges content Your selues with studies seruing for the state: You Lordes also with all your wits inuent What way t’eschewe the Prynce and people’s hate. Yee subiects loue your Prynce, eschewe debate. I wish you all beware to clime, or flee, or soare to hie, For feare you tomble downe, or slip, or fall, as erst did I.[442]

LENUOY.

Who so that takes in hand the aire to scale, As _Bladud_ here did take on him to flie: Or _Dedal’s_ sonne (as _Poets_ tell the tale) Yong _Icarus_, that flew (they say) so hie: Or else as _Simon Magus_ flew perdy: Though nere so well his plumes and winges hee decke, By sea h’is droun’d, by land hee breakes his necke.

On ground is surest place for men to goe, But yet take heede and let your ground bee good: The surest footing is perdy beloe, Who styes the aire I count his dealing wood: The slender buildings hauty, feoble stoode, On high the tempests haue much powre to wrecke: Then best to bide beneath, and surest for the necke.

King _Bladud_ yet might here commended bee, For that hee loued learning all his daies: Eke for hee built an Vniuersity At _Staneford_ first, hee well deserued praise, But now his nice _Cordila_ here assaies, From bleeding breast, to tell her woefull wrecke, With knife in hand her desperate death to decke.

How Qveene Cordila in dispaire slew her selfe, The yeare before Christ, 800.

If any woefull wight haue cause to wayle her woe, Or griefs are past do pricke vs Princes tell our fall: My selfe likewise must needes constrayned eke doe so, And shew my like misfortunes and mishaps withall. Should I keepe close my heauy haps and thrall, Then did I wrong: I wrong’d my selfe and thee, Which of my facts a witnes true maist bee.

A woman yet must blush when bashfull is the case, Though trueth bid tell the tale and story as it fell: But sith that I mislike not audience, time, nor place, Therefore I cannot keepe my woes in counsaile[443] well. No greater ease of heart then griefes to tell, It vaunteth all the dolours of our minde, Our carefull hearts thereby great comfort finde.

For why to tell that may recounted bee agayne, And tell it as our cares may compasse ease: That is the salue and medicine of our payne, Which cureth corsies all and sores of our disease: It doth our pinching panges and paynes apease: It pleads the part of an assured friend, And tells the trade, like vices to amend.

Therefore if I more willing bee to tell my fall, With my mishaps[444] to ease my burdened breast and minde: Some[445] others haply may auoide and shunne the thrall, And thereby for distresse more aide and comfort finde. They keeping[446] measure, whereas I declin’d, May bee as prompt to flie[447] like brute and blame As I to tell, or thou to write the same.

Wherefore if thou wilt afterwards record[448] What Queene _Cordila_ tells[449] to ease her inward smarte, I will recite my story tragicall ech word, To thee that geu’st an eare, and ready art.[450] But lest I set the horse behinde the cart, I minde to tell ech thing in order, so, As thou maist see and shew whence sprang my woe.

My grandsire _Bladud_ hight, that found the bathes by skill, A fethered King that practis’d highe to soare[451] Whereby hee felt the fall, God wot against his will, And neuer went, road, raygnd, nor spake, nor flew no more. After whose death my father[452] _Leire_ therefore Was chosen King, by right apparent heyre, Which after built the towne of _Leircestere_.

Hee had three daughters, first and eld’st hight _Gonerell_,[453] Next after her his yonger _Ragan_[454] was begot: The third and last was I the yongest, nam’d _Cordell_. Vs all our father _Leire_ did loue to well, God wot.[455] But[456] minding her that lou’d him best to note, Because hee had no sonne t’enioy his land, Hee thought to guerdon most where[457] fauour most hee fand.

What though I yongest were, yet men mee iudg’d more wise Then either _Gonerell_, or _Ragan_ more of age:[458] And fairer farre: wherefore my sisters did despise My grace and giefts, and sought my wrecke to wage.[459] But yet though vice on[460] vertue dye with rage, It can not keepe her vnderneath to drowne: For still[461] shee flittes aboue, and reaps renowne.[462]

My father thought to wed vs vnto Princely peeres,[463] And vnto them and theirs deuide and part the land. For both my sisters first hee cal’d[464] (as first their yeares Requir’d) their mindes, and loue, and fauoure t’vnderstand. (Quoth hee) all doubts of duty to aband, I must assay your frendly faithes to proue: My daughters, tell mee how you doe mee loue.[465]

10.

Which when they aunswerd him they lou’d their father more[466] Then they themselues did loue, or any worldly wight: He praised them, and sayd hee would therefore[467] The louing kindnes they deseru’d in fine requite. So found my sisters fauour in his sight, By flattery faire they won their father’s heart, Which after turned hym and mee to smart.

11.[468]

But not content with this, hee asked mee likewise If I did not him loue and honour well. No cause (quoth I) there is I should your grace despise: For nature so doth binde and duty mee compell, To loue you, as I ought my father, well. Yet shortely I may chaunce, if Fortune will, To finde in heart to beare another more good will.

12.

Thus much I sayd of nuptiall loues’ that ment, Not minding once of hatred vile or ire: And partly taxing them, for which intent They set my fathers heart on wrathfull fire. “Shee neuer shall to any part aspire Of this my realme (quoth hee) among’st you twayne: But shall without all dowry aie remaine.”

13.

Then to _Maglaurus_ Prince, with _Albany_ hee gaue My sister _Gonerell_, the eldest of vs all: And eke my sister _Ragan_ to _Hinniue_ to haue, And for her dowry _Camber_ and _Cornwall_. These after him should haue his Kingdome all. Betweene them both hee gaue it franke and free, But nought at all hee gaue of dowry mee.

14.

At last it chaunst a Prince of _Fraunce_ to heare my fame. My beauty braue, my wit was blaz’d abroad ech where. My noble vertues prais’d mee to my father’s blame, Who did for flattery mee lesse friendly fauour beare.[469] Which when this worthy Prince (I say) did heare, Hee sent ambassage lik’d mee more then life, And soone obtayned mee to bee his wife.

15.

Prince _Aganippus_ reau’d mee of my woe, And that for vertues sake, of dowryes all the best: So I contented was to _Fraunce_ my father fro For to depart, and hoapt t’enioy some greater rest. Where liuing well belou’d, my ioyes encreast: I gate more fauour in that Prince his sight, Then euer Princesse of a Princely wight.

16.

But while that I these ioyes so well enioy’d in _Fraunce_, My father _Leire_ in _Britayne_ waxt vnweldy old. Whereon his daughters more themselues aloft t’aduaunce Desir’d the Realme to rule it as they wolde. Their former loue and friendship waxed cold, Their husbands rebels voyde of reason quite Rose vp, rebeld, bereft his crowne and right:

17.

Caus’d him agree they might in parts equall[470] Deuide the Realme, and promist him a gard Of sixty Knights on him attending still at call.[471] But in six monthes such was his hap to hard, That _Gonerell_ of his retinue barde The halfe of them, shee and her husband reft: And scarce alow’d the other halfe they left.

18.

Eke as in _Albany_ lay hee lamenting fates,[472] When as my sister so sought all his vtter spoyle: The meaner vpstart courtiers thought themselues his mates, His daughter him disdayn’d and forced not his foyle. Then was hee fayne for succoure his to toyle With halfe his trayne to _Cornwall_, there to lie In greatest neede, his _Ragan’s_ loue to try.

19.

So when hee came to _Cornwall_, shee with ioy Receiued him, and Prince _Maglaurus_ did the like. There hee abode a yeare, and liu’d without anoy: But then they tooke all his retinue from him quite Saue only ten, and shew’d him daily spite: Which hee bewayl’d complayning durst not striue, Though in disdayne they last alow’d but fiue.

20.

What more despite could deuelish beasts deuise, Then ioy their fathers woefull days to see? What vipers vile could so their King despise, Or so vnkinde, so curst, so cruell bee? From thence agayn hee went to _Albany_, Where they bereau’d his seruaunts all, saue one, Bad him content him selfe with that, or none.

21.

Eke at what time hee ask’d of them to haue his gard, To gard his noble grace where so hee went: They cal’d him doting foole, all his requests debard, Demaunding if with life hee were not well content: Then hee to late his rigour did repent Gaynst mee, my sisters’ fawning loue that knew, Found flattery false, that seem’d so faire in vew.

22.

To make it short, to _Fraunce_ hee came at last to mee, And told mee how my sisters euell[473] their father vsde. Then humbly I besought my noble King so free, That he would aide my father thus by his abusde: Who nought at all my humble hest refusde, But sent to euery coast of _Fraunce_ for aide, Whereby King _Leire_ might home bee well conueyde.

23.

The souldiours gathered from ech quarter of the land Come at the length to know the noble Prince’s will: Who did commit them vnto captaynes euery band, And I likewise of loue and reuerent meere good will Desir’d my Lord, hee would not take it ill, If I departed for a space withall, To take a part, or ease my father’s thrall.

24.

Hee graunted my request: Thence wee ariued here, And of our _Britaynes_ came to aide likewise his right Full many subiects, good and stout that were: By martiall feats, and force, by subiects sword and might, The _British_ Kings were fayne to yeeld our right: Which wonne, my father well this Realme did guide Three yeares in peace, and after that hee dyde.

25.

Then I was crowned Queene this Realme to hold,[474] Till fiue yeares past I did this Island guyde: I had the _Britaynes_ at what becke I would,[475] Till that my louing King mine _Aganippus_ dide: But then my seat it faltered on ech side, My sisters sonnes[476] began with mee to iarre: And for my crowne wagde with mee mortall warre.[477]

26.

The one hight _Morgan_ Prince[478] of _Albany_, And _Conidagus_ King of _Cornwall_ and of Wales: Both which at once prouided their artillery, To worke mee woefull woe, and mine adherents bales What neede I fill thine eares with longer tales? They did preuaile by might and powre, so fast That I was taken prisoner at last.

27.

In spitefull sorte they vsed then my captiue corse: No favour shewde to mee, extinct was mine estate: Of kinred, Prynces, bloud, or peere was no remorce, But as an abiect vile, and worse, they did mee hate. To lie in darkesome dungeon was my fate, As t’were a thiefe, mine aunsweres to abide, Gaynst right and justice, vnder Jailour’s guide.

28.

For liberty at length I su’d to subiects were: But they kept mee in prison close, deuoide of trust: If I might once escape, they were in dread and feare Their fawning friends with mee would proue vntrue and iust. They told mee take it patiently I must, And bee contented that I had my life: Sith with their mother’s I began the strife.

29.

Whereby I sawe might nothing mee preuaile to pray, To pleade, or proue, defend, excuse, or pardon craue: They heard mee not, despis’d my plaints, sought my decay, I might no lawe, nor loue, nor right, nor justice haue. No friends, no faith, nor pittie could mee saue: But I was from all hope of freedome[479] bard, Condem’d, my cause like neuer to bee heard.

30.

Was euer noble Queene so drencht in wrecks of woe,[480] Depos’d[481] from Princely powre, bereft of liberty, Depriu’d of all these worldly pompes her pleasures fro, And brought from wealth to neede, distresse, and misery, From Pallace proude in prison poore to lie, From Kingdomes twayne, to dungeon one, no more, From Ladies wayting, vnto vermine store?

31.

From light to darke, from holesome aire to lothsom smell, From odoure sweete to smart, from ease to greeuous paine, From sight of Princely Wights, to place where theues doe dwell, From dainty beds of downe, to bed of strawe full fayne: From bowres of heauenly hewe, to dennes of daine: From greatest haps that worldly wights atchiue, To more distresse then any wretch aliue?

32.

When first I left my friends in _Fraunce_ did me exalte,[482] And eke my noble King, mine _Aganippus_ true: And came to _England_, for their heynous facts and faulte, Which from his right and kingdome quite our father threwe, To take his[483] Realme: to raigne and treason knewe, I thinke of all misfortunes was the worst: Or else I deeme the causers al accurst.

33.

For marke my haplesse fall that fortune did me send,[484] As thus in prison[485] vile on liue[486] I lingring lay, When I had mourned long, but found no faythfull fren That could me helpe, or ayde, or comfort any way, Was seru’d at meate as those that[487] Kinges betray With fare God wote was simple, bare, and thin, Could not sustayne the corps it entred in.

34.

And when the sighes, and teares, and playntes nigh burst my hart, And place, and stenche, and fare nigh poysond euery pore: For lacke of frends to tell my seas of giltlesse smart, And that mine eyes had sworne to take sweete sleepe no more, I was content, sith cares oppresse me sore, To leaue my foode, take mourning, playnts, and crye, And lay mee downe, let griefe and nature trye.

35.

Thus as I pining lay, my carcas coucht on strawe,[488] And felt the payne erst neuer creature earthly knewe, Mee thought by night a grizely ghost in darkes I sawe, Eke nearer still to mee with stealing steps shee drewe: Shee was of colour pale and deadly[489] hewe, Her clothes resembled thousand kinds of thrall, And pictures plaine of hastened deathes withall.

36.

I musing lay in paines, and wondred what shee was, Mine eyes stood still, mine haire rose vp for feare an end, My flesh it shoke and trembled: yet I cryde (alas) What wight art thou, a foe or else what fawning frend? If death thou art, I pray thee make an end. But th’art not death. Art thou some fury sent, My woefull corps, with paynes, to more torment?

37.

With that shee spake: “I am (quoth shee) thy frend _Despayre_, Which in distresse each worldly wight with speede do ayde: I rid them from their foes, if I to them repayre. To long from thee by other caytiues was I stayde. Now, if thou art to dye no whit afrayde, Here shalt thou choose of Instruments (beholde) Shall rid thy restlesse life, of this be bolde.”

38.

And therewithall shee threwe her garments lap aside, Vnder the which a thousand thinges I sawe with eyes: Both kniues, sharpe swordes, poynadoes[490] all bedyde With bloud, and poysons prest which shee could well deuise. “There is no hope (quoth shee) for thee to rise, And get thy Crowne or Kyngdome refte agyne:[491] But for to liue long lasting pyning payne.

39.

“Lo here (quoth shee) the blade that _Did’_ of _Carthage_ hight, Whereby shee was from thousand panges of payne let passe: With this shee slewe her selfe, after _Æneas’_ flight, When hee to Sea from _Tyrian_ shoares departed was. Doe choose of these thou seest from woes to passe, Or bide the end, prolong thy paynfull dayes, And I am pleasde from thee to packe[492] my wayes.”

40.

With that was I (poore wretche) content to take the knife, But doubtfull yet to dye, and fearefull fayne would byde. So still I lay in study with my selfe at bate and strife, What thing were best of both these deepe extreames vntryde, _Good Hope_[493] all reasons of _Despayre_ denyde: And shee agayne replyde, to proue it best To dye, for still in life my woes increast.

41.

Shee cal’d to minde the ioyes in _Fraunce_ I whilome had: Shee told me what a troupe of Ladyes was my trayne: And how the Lordes of _Fraunce_ and _Britaynes_, both were glad Of late to wayte on mee, and subiects all were fayne: She tolde I had bin Queene of Kingdomes twayne, And how my kinesmen[494] had my seate and Crowne. I could not rise, for euer fallen downe.

42.

A thousand thinges beside recited then _Despayre_: Shee tolde the woes in warres, that I had heapt of late, Rehearst the prison vile in steede of Pallace fayre, My lodging lowe and mouldy meates my mouth did hate; Shee shewde mee all the dongeon where I sate, The dankish walles, the darkes, and bade mee smell, And byde the sauour if I likt it well.

43.

Whereby I wretch deuoyd of comfort quite and hope, And pleasures past comparde with present paynes I had, For fatall knife slipt forth, my fearefull hand did grope: _Despayre_ in this to ayde my senceles limmes was glad, And gaue the blade: to end my woes she bad. “I will (quoth I) but first with all my hart Ile pray to Gods, reuenge my woefull smart.

44.

“If any wrong deserue the wrecke, I pray yon skyes, And starres of light, (if you my plight[495] doe rue) O _Phœbus_ cleere, I thee beseech and pray likewise, Beare witnes of my playnts well knowne to Gods are true. You see from whence these iniuryes they grue. Then let like vengeaunce hap and light on those, Which vndeserued were my mortall[496] foes.

45.

“God graunt immortall[497] strife betweene them both may fall, That th’ one[498] the other may, without remorce, distroye: That _Conidagus_ may his cosin _Morgan_ thrall, Because hee first decreast my wealth, bereft my ioye. I pray you Gods he neuer be a _Roy_: But caytife may be payde with such a frend, As shortly may him bring to sodayne end.

46.

“Farewell my Realme of _Fraunce_, farewell, _Adieu,_ _Adieu mes nobles tous_, and _England_ now farewell: Farewell Madames my Ladyes, _car ie suis perdu,_ _Il me fault aler desespoir m’adonne conseil_ _De me tuer_, no more your Queene farewell. My cousens[499] mee oppresse with mayne and might, A captiue poore, gaynst Justice all and right.”

47.

And therewithall the sight did fayle my dazeling eyne, I nothing sawe saue sole _Dispaire_ bad mee dispatch: Whome I behelde: shee caught the knife from mee I weene, And by hir elbowe carian death for me did watch. “Com on (quod I) thou hast a goodly catch.” And therewithall _Dispaire_ the stroke did strike, Whereby I dyde, a damned creature like:

48.

Which I to late bewayle, let those a liue beware;[500] Let not the losse of goods or honours them constrayne To playe the fooles, and take such carefull carke and care; Or to dispayre for any prison, pine, and payne; If they be giltlesse let them so remayne; Farre greater follye is it for to kill, Themselues dispayring, then is any ill.

49.

Sith first thereby theyr enmyes haue that they desire, By which they proue to deadly foes vnwares a frende: And next they cannot liue, to former blisse t’spyre, If God do bring theyr foes in time to sodayne ende. They lastly, as the damned wretches, sende Theyr soules thereby to darkesome _Stygian_ lake, Which kill the corps that mighty _Ioue_ did make.[501]

LENUOY.

When as this desperate Queene had ended thus Her tale, and tolde the haplesse grace she had: As of her playnte som poyntes I did discusse, Her sisters dealings were (mee thought) to bad. Her cosens cruell both, for Kingdomes mad. Her owne estate most pityfull to see, A Queene by kinred captiue kepte to bee.

So wise a Queene, so fayre a Princesse wrongde, So dutifull in parents plight of yore: By rebells vile hir cousens to bee throngde, Such hatred hir ambiciously that bore. Who euer saw such cruelty before? _Cordilaes_ state most pitifull to see, By kinred cloce in prison kepte to bee.[502]

But next from _Wales_ in warlike armoure came With wounded corps Morganus th’ Albane king, In woefull wise his doubtfull tale to frame. And of his auntes distresse reports each thing. Hee from Glamorgan this for truth doth bring, That who by slaughter seekes a prince to bee, As traytoure falles beneath his first degree.

How King Morgan of Albany was slayne at Glamorgan, in Wales, The yeare before Christ, 766.

I Wot not well what reasons I may vse, To quit myselfe from lasting infamy:[503] Wherefore I must perforce myselfe accuse: I was[504] in fault I cannot it denye. Remorce of conscience pricks my harte so nye, And mee torments with panges of pinching payne, I can no longer mee from speache refrayne.

I am that _Morgan_ sonne of _Gonerell_ Th’ungratefull daughter of hire father _Leire_: Which from his Kingdome did him once expell, As by the _British_ storyes may appeare. _Ragan_ and shee conspirde (both sisters were) But were subdude agayne and caus’d to yelde Theyr fathers Crowne: _Cordila_ wan the field.

I need not heare the storyes all recite; It were to long, but yet I briefly shall: The cause _Cordila_ ought her sisters spite Was, they procur’d her, and their father’s thrall. Yet t’was her chaunce at length t’out liue them all, Both sisters elder, and her father graue, And eke at length the kingdome all to haue.

That time was I of _Albany_ the King, Cal’d _Scotland_ now, and eke my cousin then, Of _Cornewall_ and of _Wales_, whom I did bring To warre, against _Cordila_ and her men: Wee sayd wee would our title winne agen, And that because our fathers[505] had it yore, Wee ment to get it ours againe therefore.

I must confesse I was the cause of warre, I was not pleas’d with that was lotted mee: Euen so our mindes ambitious often are And blinded, that wee cannot reason see. Wee thinke no men, but God’s on Earth wee bee, Yet worse are wee then beastes which knowe their kinde: For wee haue nought but mischiefe oft in mind.

Wee thinke, if so wee may our willes attayne By right or wrong, by might or malice, wee Could neuer liue like Fortune for to gayne: Or if one foes wee once reuenged bee, If that our enemies[506] fall wee chaunce to see, O then wee ioy, wee lift our selues to skie, And on the poore wee _crucifige_ crye.

I deem’d if once I might put her adowne,[507] The Kingdomes all were _Conidag’s_ and mine And I could easly after winne the crowne, If also I his state might vndermine. I thought, in deede, to haue it all in fine: By force or fraude I ment my purpose bring To passe, I might bee after _Britayne_ King.[508]

To speake in fewe, wee waged warre so long Gainst her, at last wee put her vnto flight: Wee warriours[509] for our aunt were far to strong, Pursude and tooke, depriu’d her of her right. Wee thought it ours what so wee wanne by might: Eke so play tyraunts, Traitours all doe watch To get by spoile and count their owne they catch.

Not so contented were wee with the pray: But fearing lest shee should recouer ayde, I sent in hast to prison her away, And all recourse of messengers denayd. Thus when shee sawe her Maiesty decayd, And that her griefes and sorowes daily grew, In pryson at the length her selfe shee slewe.

10.

O caytife vile, should I constrain’d a Queene,[510] That Iustice ment, her kingdome to forsake? Nay traytour I, her cause of death haue bene,[511] That would my selfe by bloudshed ruler make. How could reuenge on mee but vengeaunce take? Before the seat of God her bloud did call For vengeaunce still, and so procur’d[512] my fall.

11.

Lo here God’s iustice see, my treason see: Behold and see, to raygne was my delight: And marke, and make a mirrour here of mee, Which afterward was seru’d by iustice right. Wee wan the crowne betweene vs both in fight: And then because I was the elder sonne Of th’elder Queene, I claymed all wee wonne.

12.

So were my dealings nought in peace and warre: But by my force and fortunes v’sd in fight, I past, that time, the _Britaynes_ all by farre: I was of person, fortitude, and might, Both comely, tall, strong, seemely eke in sight, Whereby I wonne mens fauoure, glory, wealth And, puft with pride, at length forgate my selfe.

13.

I sayd it was my right the crowne to haue But _Conidagus_ stoutly it deni’d: Wherefore I went to _Wales_, my ryght to craue, With all mine army, and to haue it tri’d. Where long wee fought it stoutly on eche side, Till at the last, vnto my woefull payne, I was depriu’d of Kingdome quite, and slayne.

14.

And for to keepe in memory for aye That there vnfaythfull _Morgan_ lost his life, The place is cal’d _Glamorgan_ to this daye.[513] There was I perst to death with fatall knife: There was the end of all my hatefull strife. So _Morgan_, where hee thought to winne the Crowne, Was at _Glamorgan_ traytour striken downe.

15.

Thus mayst thou tell how proude ambition proues, What hap haue tyraunts, what wee Traytours haue: What end hee hath that cruell dealing loues, What subiects get the[514] Diademe doe craue. Tis better, then to winne, thine owne to saue: For so orethwartly trade of Fortune goes, When win thou would’st, then art thou sure to lose.[515]

LENUOY.

How restlesse are the peeres aloft would ryse? How vncontented are theyr hauty myndes? How quiet is the simple setled wise, Whom no desire of proud ambition blyndes? I see no ease the seeke-throne thirsty findes. Hee seekes all meanes to clime to catch the crowne, Till for his haste _Ioue_ hurle him headlong downe.

The royall borne by birth, the time should stay Till iust _Iehoua_ gaue to him the place: And not the Lordes anoynted seeke to slay, But as his Soueraigne serue him well the space. If hee with bloud his noble birth abace, I meane if hee by slaughter catch the crowne, With foote _Iehoua_ castes him headlong downe.

If _Morgan_ hadnot wrought his aunt’s distresse By dint of sword, by sword hee had not fell. But who so shall by sword a Prince oppresse, Shall of the sword therefore and slaughter smell. Lo here the next, that came his tale to tell, Was gieuen to vice when once hee ware the crowne, Till slouth and sleepy sickenes cast hym downe.

How King Iago dyed of the Lethargy, about the yeare before Christ, 612.[516]

Have I oreslept my selfe, or am I wake? Or hadst thou late oreslept thy selfe that wrote? Could’st thou not for the Letharge paynes to take: And with the rest his sleepy life to note? Was I amongst the wicked wights forgote? Well then, awaked sith wee are both twayne, To write my sleepy sinfull life take payne.

I am that _Iago_, once of _Britayne_ King, That ruled all this noble _Britishe_ Ile: No fame of mee the writers old doe bring, Because my life and gouernement was vile. Yet, _Higgins_, heere take paynes for mee a while: Enregester my mirour to remaine, That Princes may my vices vile refrayne.

At first, a while, I ruled well the land, I vsed Iustice, right tooke regall place: No wight but found iust iudgement at my hand, And truth durst shew, without rebuke, her face. I gaue my selfe to all good giftes of grace, My subiects liu’d in rest within my raygne, No cause of Prince compeld them to complaine.

But as in calme a storme wee nothing feare, When as the Seas are milde and smoth as glasse: And as in peace no thought of warres wee beare, Which least suppose of mischeeues come to passe: Euen so my still and rightfull raygning was. The calme a tempest boads: the shine, a raine: Long peace, a warre: and pleasure, pinching paine.

For rest and peace and wealth abounding thoe Made mee forget my Iustice late well vsde: Forsaking vertues, vices gan to floe, And former noble acts I quite refusde. My giftes, my treasures, wealth and will misusde, Began all goodnes quite at length disdayn, And did my facts with filthy vices staine.

Misgouern’d both my Kingdome and my life, I gaue my selfe to ease, to sleepe, and sinne: And I had clawbackes euen in Court full rife, Which sought by mine outrages gaines to winne.[517] For Kinges no sooner well or worse beginne, But euen at hand the good or bad take payn, For vertue’s sake, or meede, the Prince to trayne.

As vices grew encreasing more and more, So vertues fled and bade their friends adieu: Deseases bad likewise, and sicknesse sore Began to wexe, and griefes about mee grew. I may fullwell my naughty surfets rue, Which pesterd so at length my drousy brayne, I could not scarse from sleeping ought refrayne.

A sleepie sickenesse, nam’d the _Lethargye_, Opprest me sore, and feauers fearce withall: This was the guerdon of my glottonie, _Iehoua_ sent my sleepie life this dwall. So who so sleeping let sleepe Iustice shall, Although he feele no whit such slumbring payne, Yet may he write he hath not long to raygne.[518]

Physicions wise may take on them the cure, But if _Iehoua_ smite the Prince for sinne, As earst of me, then is the helpe vnsure, That’s not the way for health to enter in. No potions then, nor pouders worth a pin: But euen as we, they must to die be fayne. Bid them in time from vices now refrayne. Who gouerns well, deserues with mighty _Ioue_ to raygne.[519]

LENUOY.

Remembrng with my selfe this story past, When I agayne had tooke this worke in hand, I tooke my pen and wrote the same at last, Thereby to cause all Princes sloth aband. When they his fall set downe so vnderstand, They may beware: a warning this may be, Against the slothfull sweames of sluggardye.

The stories tell of _Comodus_ the raygne, A wise and noble Emperour at first: He diligent to gouerne well tooke payne, Till at the length him sloth in vice had nurst. But see at last, see whereunto it burst: He strangled was by wicked treacherie, That gaue himselfe to sluggish libertie.

I may no longer on this sleeper byde, Which for his slouthfull sinne was serued right: Because himselfe to sluggishnes he plyde, That plague of sickenesse dead on him did light. But now beholde, next _Forrex_ came to sight, Which in this sort beganne his life t’unfold: Eftsoones thus wise, his slaughter there he tolde.

How King Forrex was slayne by his brother King Porrex, about the yeere before Christ, 491.[520]

Complayne I may with tragiques on the stage,[521] Compeld I am amongst the rest that fell: I may complayne that felt of warres the wage, Vntimely death I drewe, doth mee compell. If I had not bin crowned king I had bene well:[522] There had no enuie vndermin’d my state, Nor fortune foil’d the seate whereon I sate.

What blisse enioyd I while my father raynd![523] I had no care, in honour I did liue: Would God I had in that estate remaynd, But what vs fortune wonted is to giue, Good happe that holds as water in a siue: Shee showes a glimpse of thousand ioyes, and moe Which hides in it tenne thousand seas of woe.

That hatefull hellish hagge of vgly hue, With rustie teeth and meygre corps misshape, I meane that monster vile, the worst in viewe, Whome some call _Discorde_, _Enuie_, _Ire_, and _Hate_: She set my brother first with me at bate: When we fiue yeeres had raygned ioyntly well, By her intisements, foule at strife we fell.

We liu’d that space well in this noble Ile, Deuyded well wee ioyntly did inioye The princely seate, while Fortune fayre did smile, Without disdayne, hate, discorde or anoye: Euen as our father raignd, the noble _Roy_, In wealth, peace, prayse, purporte, renowne and fame, Without the blots of euerlasting blame.

But when ambition bleared both our eyes, And hasty hate had brother-hoode bereft: Wee frendship fayre and concorde did dispise, And far a part from vs wee wisedome left: Forsooke each other at the greatest heft. To rule the kingdome both wee left, and fell To warring, iarring like two hounds of hell.

For bounds we banded first on either syde, And did incroach each one on others right. T’inlarge the limetes of our kingdome wide, We would not sticke full oft to fray and fight.[524] The wretched ground had so bewicht our sight. For why, the earth that once shall eate vs all, Is th’only cause of many Princes fall.

On th’earth wee greeue the grounde for filthy gayne, On th’earth wee close the earth t’inlarge our land: In th’earth wee moyle with honger, care, and payne, Wee cut, wee dig thence Siluer, Gold, and Sand: The bowels of the earth wee moyle with might of hand, With Steele and Iron tearing vnder ground, And rigging all the earth to make our ioyes abound.[525]

For th’earth forget wee God, (vnfaythfull fooles) For grounde forsake wee fayth and all our frends: For th’earth wee set our selues to subtile schooles, Of grounde lyke swine wee seeke the farthest ends: Wee spoyle the grounde that all our liuing lends: Of grounde to winne a plat a while to dwell Wee venter liues, and send our soules to hell.

If wee consider could the substance[526] of a man, How hee composed is of Elements[527] by kinde, Of earth, of water, ayre, and fire, than Wee would full often call vnto our minde, That all our earthly ioyes wee leaue behinde: And when wee passe to th’earth wee turne to rot: Our pompe, our pride, and glory is forgot.

10.

The fire first receaues his heate againe, The ayre the breath bereaues away by right: The watry and the earthly parts remaine, Of elements composed scarce so light: And in the ground a place is for them dight. The moistures dry, the bones consume to dust, The wormes with fleshe suffice their greedy lust.

11.

But wee forget our composition olde, Both whence wee came, and whereunto wee shall: Wee scarce remember wee bee made of mould, And how the earth agayn consumeth all. This great forgetfulnesse breedes Princes thrall. While present ioyes wee gaze vppon, meane while A fadeing blisse doth all our wits beguile.

12.

All this I speake to th’end it may aduise All Princes great, and noble peeres that ar, To learne by mee the rather to bee wise, And to abandon hate and malice far: To banishe all ambitious bloudy warre: To liue content in peace, with their estate: For mischiefe flowes from discord and debate.

13.

And now Ile tell what discord vile hath done To mee King _Forrex_. Thus the case it stood. I thought in deede to haue some castels wonne And holds, which were my brother’s, strong and good. So might I intercept his vitayles, forrage, food, Abate his pride, obtaine the Kingdome all: Mee thought the halfe a portion was to small.

14.

Ther’s no man takes an enterprise in hand, But hee perswades him selfe it is not ill: Hee hath of reasons eke in steede to stand, As hee supposeth framed wise by skill. So I was led by reason rude, to kill My brother, if I caught him at the nicke, Because the quarell first hee gan to picke.

15.

And for because I was the elder Prince, The elder sonne, and heyre vnto the crowne: Me thought no lawe, nor reason could conuince Mee from the fact, though I did beate him downe. This was my way to winne and reape renowne. I did prouide an army strong, encampte a fielde,[528] Not far from where I hoapte to cause him yeelde.

16.

And sundry sharpe assautes on each wee gaue, On purpose both enflamed for to fight: Wee had in parle receaued counsayle[529] graue Of wise and worthy men, perswading right. 'It pitie was (they sayd) so fowle a sight, That brethren twayne, both Princes of a land, Should take at home such woefull warres in hand.’

17.

But where ambition dwelles is no remorce, No countrey’s loue, no kinred holden kinde, No feare of God, no sentence wise of force To turne the harte, or mollify the minde: Good words are counted wasting of your wynde. The gayne proposde, the crowne and scepter hye, Are th’only thinges whereat men gaze and prye.

18.

At length my brother for to ende the strife, Thought best to worke the surest way to winne: He founde the meanes to take away my life, Before which time the warres could neuer linne. How much might better both contented binne! For hope is sloape,[530] and hold is hard to snatche, Where bloud embrues the hands that come to catch.

19.

Thus our ambition brewde[531] our subiects smart: Our broyles pourde out their guiltlesse bloud on ground: Which vile deuise of mine ambitious heart Procured Ioue my purpose to confound. Therefore beware yee wights whose wealths abound, Content your selues in peace to spend your dayes, By vertues good aloft in earth your names to rayse: So shall you liue in Heauen with mighty loue alwayes[532].

LENUOY.

What cruell heartes had both these Princes then, To raigne alone, which sought their brother’s life: These tyrants were no perfect noble men, But buchers rather raignyng all by knife: A woefull thing to heare such brother strife, Where loue aye lasting loyall should endure, That crowne or kingdome bloudshed should procure.

And here you one thing chiefely haue to note, That his pretence was punisht as the fact: For hee no bloudshed wrought (as well you wote) But purposde was to worke a bloudy act, And that both time and place therefore hee lact: Let such then know, as haue such thoughts in vre, No murder stable Kingdome can procure.

For if _Iehoua_ did his purpose dint, How much will hee the factours punish more: Let noble men from such endeuours stint, And loue embrace where hatred was before: _Iehouae’s_ ioyfull impes embrace this lore: For _Porrex_ here can tell, they may bee sure, No murder stable kingdome can procure.

How King Porrex[533] which slewe his brother was slayne by his owne mother and hir maydens, about the yeare before Christ, 491.

Can cursed _Cayne_ that captiue scuse him selfe, That slew his brother _Abel_ innocent: Or _Typhon_ tell a reason for himselfe, Why hee _Osiris_ downe[534] to _Lymbo_ pent? King _Dardan_ then may doe the lyke perdy,[535] They slewe their brethren each, and so did I.

The wicked witch _Medæa_ rent in peeces smalle _Absirtus_ limmes her brother, did not shee? Shee threw him in the way dismembred all, That so hir father’s iourney stayde might bee: _Orodes_ eke did sley his brother[536] _Mithridate_: And so did I my brother [_Forrex_] in debate.

_Learchus_ slewe his brother for the Crowne, So dyd _Cambyses_ fearing much the dreame: _Antiochus_ [the great] of infamous renowne His brother slewe, to rule alone the realme: _Ardieus_ dyd the lyke for kingdome’s sake, So dyd my selfe like wise away my brother take.[537]

_Mempricius_ lewde of lyfe likewise did kill His brother _Manlius_, for the same intent: These Princes vile were brother sleyers ill, For kingdomes sake vnnaturally bent: But reade the storyes, thou shalt finde it playne, The bloudy wretches all were after slayne.

Euen so I _Porrex_ eke, which slewe my brother, And ruled once the _Britayne_ land with him, Vnkindly kilde was by my cruell mother, Which with hir maydens chopt mee euery limme: As I lay sleeping on my bed at rest, Into my chamber full and whole they prest.

Apoynted well they were with weapons sharpe, And boldly layde on me with all their might: Oft quite and cleane they thrust me through the heart, And on my corps each where theyr weapons light: They chopt me small (I say) as flesh to pot, And threwe mee out my limes yet trembling hot.

Can I complayne of this reuenge shee raught, Sith I procurde hir wrath by slaughter[538] of hir sonne? Can I excuse my selfe deuoyde of faut, Which my deare Prince and brother had fordonne? No; ’tis to true that, who so slayes a King, Incurrs reproch, and slaughter bloud doth bring.

The traytours to their Prince haue alwayes binne As sleyers of their parents, viper’s broode: The killers of their brothers, frends, and kinne, In like degree well nigh of treason stoode: But what by this winne they, saue death, defame, Distayne theyr bloud, and shroude themselues with shame.

Example take you Princes of the[539] land, Beware of discord, shun ambitious pride: By right take yee the scepter in your hand, Let not your sword with soueraignes bloud be dide: The mighty Ioue, that raignes eternall ay, Cuts of the Kings that enter in that waye.

10.

Vsurpers may perswade themselues a while There is no God, no lawes of sacred crowne, No wrong they doe, no murther seemeth vile, Nor no respect of princely high renowne: But if they could consider well the case, They nild exalt themselues to Princes place.[540]

11.

They would example take by _Lucifer_ That was cast downe, the father first of pride: And al his impes how high so ere they were, Vsurping Realmes and Kingdomes farre and wide: From light to darke, from throne to thrall they fell, From hap to hate, from life to death, from heauen to hell.[541]

12.

Sufficient here is sayd to warne the wise, For he by prudence oft forecasts the doubt: The foole is bent all warnings to despise, He runneth headlong with the rascall rout: Then if thou cast to liue at rest a subiect good, Touch not the Prince’s fame, crowne,[542] scepter, nor his blood.[543]

LENUOY.

It lothed me a L’enuoy here to write Of such a cruell, proude, ambitious beast: But yet sith now his faultes he doth recite, And warnes for murther’s venge aliue the rest, Which had therefore againe his death addrest, I will (though he deseru’d no tale to tell) Set downe his fall for sample seruing well.[544]

The good deserue to haue their praises wrote, To spread their fames, t’incourage those aliue: Of wicked Princes wee the falls doe note, A _Caueat_ for kingdomes where they striue: To show that who so slaughters doth contriue, (Though hee deserue agayne no tale to tell) His tragique fall may serue ensample well.

These brethren quellers _Brutus_ bloud bereft, Which were last Kings that fate of all his line: Six hundreth yeares and sixteene, or they lefte, They raygnde, and thus they spoilde themselues in fine. The ciuill warres insued hereof long time. About the crowne I list not here define. But of intruders three[545] that after fell, As came to fight in order next I tell.

How King Pinnar was slain in battayle by Mulmucius Donwallo, about the yeare before Christ, 441.[546]

Might often times ouer runnes right[547] to fast, Right commeth after[548] and hopes to haue his owne: And when [agayne] hee ouertakes might at the last, Then is the truth of all the quarell knowne. Men neuer reape no other then was sowne: If good were the gayne,[549] the better commes the crop: On vine growes the grape, and not the biter hop.[550]

2.[551]

Of this that I haue sayd I would this inferre: A man by might a while may perforce withholde A kingdome not his owne: but hee farre better were To yeeld vnto the right, and then hee may bee bolde. Good metall bides the touch that trieth out the gold: When copper playne appeares, the counterfaite in cast Is counted but as drosse, and called in at last.

3.[552]

I am that _Pinnar_ once a _Britayne_ King, No pinner by my science for to make pinnes: And yet I could well cast of thousands in a ring, To catch the common wealth I made many ginnes. Let him that learnes my science, tell mee what he winnes. For tirrany, and robery, conspiracy, and wrong, Prognosticats of rebells raigne, they cannot prosper long.

4.[553]

When I to mee had gote a rascall rable rude Of roisters, ruffians, ronagats, and knaues, I did my selfe at last into the throne intrude, And was susteynd therein by billes, swords, and staues: I made of them officers that were before but slaues: Oppressing of the good and polleing of them still, For to inriche the bad and mayntayne all their ill.

5.[554]

Duke _Cloten_ of _Cornwall_ was heire to the crowne. But I, with other rebells, kept him from his right. Though wee were conspiratours voide of all renowne, Yet did wee raigne, and keepe him out by might. But when his sonne _Donwallo_ came for to fight, _Mulmucius_, that was in armes a worthy man, With me and them to try the quarell hee began.

6.[555]

Hee brought of _Cornishmen_ a royall army good, With other subiects late by me before opprest: And made mee pay the price of pillage with my bloud, As traitour slayn in field, example for the rest. Euen so who euer shall from Prince the scepter wrest, Vsurpe from him the crowne, or scale the throne of state, Shall shortely feele the rod of God’s immortall hate.

LENUOYE.

Thus though vnorderly his tale hee tell, As was his raygne, yet orderly it standes: Euen such decorum deckes the person well, Who in his life decorum due abandes. No fyner fyled phrase could scape my handes, When I began for him to pen the same: Let _Pinnar_ then receiue thereof the blame.

And now you must suppose did next appeare Another Prince, in warlike armour clad, With bleeding woundes, as if newe slaine hee were: Reciting first the hauty haps hee had, And then his fall in fight, his Fortune bad. If hee vnstatelike stammer out the same, With staylesse staggering footed verse, by ame, Let hardly him receiue thereof the blame: Or geue the faute to th’ countrey whence hee came.

How King Stater of Scotland was slayne by Mulmucius Donwallo, about the yeare before Christ, 441.[556]

Stint not in stories truely for to tell[557] The fall of vsurpers, the presidents[558] of pryde. Recite of our treasons, and how that wee fell, Intruders vntrusty the Realme for to guide: Of wit and of reason recklesse and wide, That tooke so vppon vs to rule all the land, No Princes presumde yet with scepter in hand.

How stately I _Stater_, of _Scotland_ the King, Did beare mee full stoutely when I had the crowne: And what a great army of _Scots_ I did bring, Against Lord _Donwallo_, of noble renowne. A deemed dame Fortune would neuer so frowne, Who made me a Prince, that Kingdome my pray, Of late but a subiect and simple of sway.

But here now behold how steady the state Of climbers aloft is aboue their degree, And how they doe fall from fortune to fate, Example are such as my fellow and me. The fruite giues a taste of the sappe of the tree, The seede of the herbe, the grape of the vine: The worke wrayes the man, seeme he neuer so fine.

For when I had leuyed an armie to fight, I ioyned with _Pinnar_, my power to preuayle: And _Rudacke_ of _Wales_ came eke with his might, _Mulmucius Donwallo_ the King to assayle. Our purpose the Prince by prowes did quaile, Which came out of _Cornwall_, vs vanquisht in fielde, Our souldiers slayne, skard, taken, forced to yeelde.[559]

O fortune I blame thee, my selfe more vnwise: Thou gau’st me a kingdome, and with life I it lost. My souldiers were slayne fast before[560] mine owne eyes, Or forced to flie, yeelde, and smell of the rost.[561] I neede not of honour or dignitie boast, Or tell of my triumphes, or crake of my crowne: The vaunt of vsurpers is voyde of renowne.

LENUOY.

A worlde it is to see the meaner sort Enhaunce themselues aboue their due degree: To sit aloft they deeme a noble sport, From whence they may the worlde and people see. But so they speede as their deseruings bee. Still triall telles, Iehoua tumbles downe Such subiectes false as dare assume the crowne.

For if these Pagans proud so plagued were, Which tooke on them ambitiously the sway, Wil not th’almightie’s Iustice soone appeare, When Christian men their Christian Kinges betray? Yes: he (by whome all Princes raigne for aye) Such subjectes smites, as dare assume the crowne, And from the throne intruders tumbles downe.

But now beholde and marke this story well, Which next in order seemes his tale to frame, With bleeding woundes in fielde likewise that fell, For so me thought in warlike sort he came, The last of these that _Rudacke_ had to name, Declaring how _Bellona_ strooke him downe, Because he had vniustly caught the crowne.

Howe King Rvdacke of Wales was slayn by Mulmucius Donwallo about the yeere before Christ, 441.[562]

Rude are the reuelles royaltie that rape, Restlesse the raygnes of rebels in the robe, Reckles the rage where cruelty doth scrape, Roundnesse regarded[563] but little of the globe, No man ambitious prudent with the probe, Crownerape accounted but cunning and skill, Bloudshead a blockehouse to beate away ill.

The rudenesse of rebels reaching the crowne, May be compared to _Bladhud’s_ deuise:[564] [But] better sit still than fall so farre downe,[565] If Lordes coulde by others hurt learne to be wise.[566] My selfe of [high] climbing haue payde well the price, That rudely in throne myselfe did install Aloft, not regarding how low I might fall.

When _Britayne_ was restlesse, wanting a Kyng, (For _Forrex_ and _Porrex_ the Princes were slayne)[567] The land many peeres ambitious did wring, Endeuouring each the kingdome to gayne. The heires good apparent forsake it were fayne, The subiects were armed, wee nobles did striue, At length we amongst vs deuision contriue.

Then recklesse wee were when all was at rest, And each had a kingdome aloted his part: The vice of the subjects dayly increast, And justice and right were layd quite apart. The lawes ouerlashed by couine and craft, And wee that did gouerne did winke at this geare: The worser, perdy, our faythed frends were.[568]

The ball that dame Fortune emparteth of blisse Is golden to gaze on, but voluble round: If once of your handfast in holding you misse, Away then it roleth, and you are on grounde. Of watchers thereon so many abounde, And catchers thereat, with snatching therefore, That if once you leese it, you catch it no more.

A Chirurgian that taketh a wounde for to cure, If skilfull and carefully hee sercheth it furst: The sea man doth sounde to take the deepth sure, Ay wisedome well taught for feare of the worst. But our vile ambition, blinde, blockish, accurst, Not prouing the sore, nor reckoning the sounde, Our shippes and our science we sinke and confounde.

Ambition out sercheth to glory the greece, The staire to estate, the graple of grace: But in her is hidde of perill a peece, Which all our attempts doth dimme and deface. Perdy shee gets vs vaine ioyes[569] but a space, Short, britle as glasse: false fayre giueing light: Not golden, though glittering braue in the sight.

For when see hath brought vs vnto the throne, And Fortune hath fraught vs with honour at fill: Then there to sit stedy and rule all alone Wee racke our deuices, and scud with our scill. Wee cutt off occursions, wee prole, pole, and pill: Wee bolster, wee band out, to brybe, banish, sley, The pillers of prudence that prop[570] in our wey.

Our race is then restles, our sleeping vnsounde: Our wakeing is warfare, our walkeing hath woe: Our talkeing is trustless, our cares doe abound: Our fauners deemde faythfull, and frendshippe a foe. Which troubles our fancies so tosse to and froe. That scarcely wee neuer inioy any rest Tormented, whome Fortune exalted and blest.

10.

This thing can I witnesse what troubles ensue, What cares doe vs compass enhaunced aloft: I therefore wish rebells to take better vewe Of the falles of intruders, recorded so oft. Who climeth so highe his fall is not soft. If once hee doe stagger or falter aside, Hee cannot recouer the rest for to guide.

11.

When I with my felowes (our selues which thought sure)[571] Here ruled the realme, there fell out a flawe: _Donwallo_ did seeke the Crowne to procure, Alleadging a title thereto by the lawe. He when him resisting in armes bright vs sawe,[572] Came strayght with an hoaste prepared to fight, With sworde for to trye out whose title was right.

12.

Our numbre was great, our title vniust: Our consciences guilty, our souldiers agast: Our enmy with honour[573] had souldiers of trust: And Fortune was frendly to them as they past. They slewe of our men by manhoode full fast, Or forst them to flye: In the feelde wee were fayne To resist[574] them (poore Prynces) and so wee were slayne.

13.

First _Pinnar_, then _Stater_, I _Rudacke_ likewise At last was with number oppressed dispatcht, Let Lordings beware how aloft they doe rise, [For] by Princes and commons theyr climing is watcht. No sooner they haue at the scepter once snatcht, But guilty themselues they deeme worthy to die, And God’s iustice such sentence [t’accomplish] doth hie.

LENUOY.

You see the end of rebelles here descride, Entruders see whereto they haue to truste: Their seat vnsure and slippery downe doth slide, Their names are eaten out with cankerd ruste. Theyr honours soone lay toumbling in the duste. Wherefore I count them triple thrise and foure times blest, Which prudently to serue their God and Prince are prest.

Sith stories all doe tell in euery age How these crowne croachers come to shamefull ends, And how they shortely winne the woefull wage, Which for uvniustice _Ioua_ iustely sends: Let hauty headstrong heede what hee pretends, Sith hee aliue, in death, and after’s only blest, Which prudently to serue his God and Prince is prest.

But now behold, from _Delphos_ next in place A noble valiaunt _Britayne_ there I vewde, Of stature tall, well sett, of comely grace, With body broysde, and armoure all embrewde. His wounded breast my woefull hart berewde: Whose life and death may proue contented wights are blest, Which prudently to serue their God and Prince are prest.

How the noble King Brennus, after many triumphant victories, at the seege of Delphos in Greece slew him selfe, about the yeare before Christ, 375.[575]

Amongste the noble martiall worthy men, Renowned farre, victorious great of fame, Though Autors sound my praise eftsoones agen Emongst the _Britayne_ Princes write the same: I am that _Britayne_ once that _Brennus_ had to name, My facts, exployts in warre, my conquests life and end, Doe write as I recite, when time doth leasure lend.

The mighty Monarche of this noble Ile _Mulmucius_ (conquerde tyranne Princes three They by intrusion rayning here long while)[576] Was father both to _Belinus_ and mee. His noble acts and lawes commended bee. This _Belinus_ (mine elder brother) was his heire, And Queene _Cornwenna_ was our mother wise and fayre.

When after him my brother had the crowne, Hee was content to make mee eke a king: Hee gaue mee _Albany_, where with renowne I rulde a while by Iustice euery thing: But at the last ambition made me bring An army thence, agaynst my brother for to fight, Which rather ought t’aue honorde him with homage right.

When _Belinus_ perceiued mee approach Vnto his Realme, an army hee addrest: He warned me I should not seek t’incroatch That was not mine, for hee was ready prest Mee to repell: hee wilde mee bee at rest, I marched one, the armies met, wee fearcely fought, My souldiers slayne, to saue my selfe by flight I sought.

To _Norwaye_ then I fledde for succour hence, Where good _Elsingus_ reignde the gentle King: I tolde him what I was, and eke of whence, Desirde his ayde, me home agayne to bring, And he not only graunted me this thing, But eke his daughter _Samye_ fayre to be my wife, With me to passe in _Albany_ for aye a Princely life.[577]

But while we were prouiding ships and men, The fame abroad of my returne was spread, And _Guthlake_ that was King of _Denmarke_ then, Prouided with a nauie mee forlead: The loue of _Samye_ so enragde his riuall head,[578] That for her sake he must perforce my ships [and me] forlay, To win by fight or take by might the[579] Lady faire away.

And when our nauies mette, he wilde me yeelde This Lady straight, or else defend the cause: A thing (quoth I) requested erst but seelde, Against of Gods and men the sacred lawes: It hath not erst bene harde amongst the wise men’s sawes,[580] That any King should clayme the like with sword of stormie strife, Or make assaulte in warlike sorte to winne a Prince’s wife.[581]

From wordes to fight we fell on eyther side, But in the ende I was discomfit there, And yeelded[582] her that listed scarce abide, For she to him before did fauour beare: By tempest then our nauies seuered were, And he perforce by storme on shores of _Britayne_ cast, Was fayne for tribute hostage giue to _Beline_ or he past.[583]

At Seas turmoylde fiue dayes with raging winde, Sore wearied with the fight, the foyle and losse, And casting with my selfe in woefull minde, The cause why so God _Neptune_ did me tosse, Why boyling Seas with surges so me sosse,[584] I made a vowe to kill the man that causde me flye, Or with my bloud the kingdome all from him to buy.

10.

The Seas alayde, at last my ships I found And rigde againe, at seas met of our foes[585] Some[586] wandring _Danes_, where we beset them round In warlike sorte, we did them all inclose: Euen so the wheele of Lady Fortune goes, Abiects, castes downe, turnes topsie toruie quight, The men of late extold with all her mayne and might.

11.

These ships my wants in some respect supplyde With tacle, armour, vitayles and the rest And so to _Britayne_ land apace I hyde, For kingdome lost to make againe request, Or else by might and force away to wrest The scepter from my brother _Beline_, and the crowne, Which lay that time by North at _Euerwyke_ the towne.

12.

To lande I came, and did menace my brother sore,[587] But he an armie did with speede addresse, Which mette me straight at th’entry on the shore, Our battayles ioynd and fought with valiantnesse: But I was put in th’end to such distresse, To ships I flewe and tooke a fewe with me beside, And hoysing sayles for hap to _Gallia_ strands I hyd.

13.

Ariued there, I trauayld long to see The nature of the Countrey and the men: And for my purpose I disposed mee, To please the Princes and the people then, In hope to see my countrey once agen, To winne my noble kingdome or to wreacke the wrong That I sustaynd, exilde from natiue soyle so long.

14.

When I had tolde the great mishaps I had Vnto the Peeres of _Fraunce_, some ayde to craue, I could obtaine no succour me to glad, Nor men, munition, ships, ne vitayles haue: I gate me thence to Duke _Seginus_ graue, Of _Prouence_ then the Prince renowmed noble farre, For prudence prompt in peace and wisdom great in warre.

15.

This worthie Duke receiued me with ioy, (For of afflicted wights he had remorce) He hearde me oft declare the great anoy That I had felte, and of my brother’s force: Howe _Guthlacke_ did my wife and me diuorce, The broyles at Sea, the toyles I taken had at land, Which neuer coulde the face of Fortune’s foyle withstand.

16.

Thou _Britayne_ tall (quoth he) I rue thy fate, Thou noble Prince (for so thou art in showe) If I could now restore thee thine estate, Thou shouldst perceyue what fauour I thee owe; ’Tis Fortune’s vse t’exalte and ouerthrow; My counsayle then is this expect her grace a while, Till where she frownes she turne her frendly face and smile.

17.

So in his court he did me intertayne, Where long I liu’d and bare my selfe full well: Some times to play the captaine I was fayne, To winne some praise as causes did compell, For when his subiects eyther did rebell, Or confines made inroads to spoyle or pray his land, Then I was one that had the charge to take the warres in hand.[588]

18.

In armour fearce and stout, and strong was I, God _Mars_ me gaue a stearne and stormie looke, With feates of armes by land or seas to trye, Experience taught me what I vndertooke: No payne, no toyle, nor daunger I forsooke, That might content the noble Duke of _Sauoy’s_ minde, Whose bountie me to honour him and serue his grace did bind.[589]

19.

In peacefull milde I was of comely grace, And wise in talke as time occasion gaue, And (though I say’t) I had a Princely face, I coulde both hunt and hawke, and court it braue: Eke Fortunes past had made me sage and graue, More heedy all attemptes to prosecute with skill, Rash hastie men (by proofe I found) incurre the greatest ill.[590]

20.

When Duke _Seginus_ sawe my humble harte, A regall _Britayne_ Prince, of royall bloude, How I employde my selfe and all my arte, Mine actiue feates with grace and prowes good, To serue and quayle his foes that him withstoode, He gaue his daughter rich to me, a peerles [princely] dame, His only heyre, and Dukedome[591] after him to guide the same.

21.

By her (when hee was deade) I _Sauoye_ had, A countrey fertile famous for the soyle; With liberall giftes the souldiers hartes I glad, To winne the restes good will I tooke some toyle, By banquets, iewels, giftes, or warlike broyle: Stil vsing all the meanes t’obeysaunce them to moue, Eke all the wayes that might allure them me to loue.

22.

And settled so in honour greate at rest, Without the feare of forayne foes, or nye: I mused what for _Britayne_ warres was best, Which way I might agayne my quarell trye: Such restles heades haue they that sitte on hye! O poore estate, how blest were thou that sitste below, How happy, safe and sure, if thou thy state couldst know.

23.

A councill called for the same intent, I told the Lordes my purpose for the warre, How I to haue my kingdome here was bent, They all agreed to levy nere and farre, Such souldiers good and captaynes stoute that were, They offered seruice eke themselues to fare with mee, To winne the crowne by sworde or els reuenged bee.

24.

Concluding thus, a powre prouided was, Munition good, and vitayles, shipping strong, On voyage so with hoysed sayles wee passe, Wee cut the seas and came apace along To _Britayne_ shores in hope to wrecke the wrong That oft before was done, or winne the land agayne Whence whilome twice I was to fly with daunger fayne.

25.

When wee were landed here, I herolds sent To claime my Kingdome at his hands, my right, I had them, if hee were not so content, To sound defiaunce, fyre, and sword, and fight: But of my message hee esteemed light, Hee brought an army strong, apointed was the day Of battayle, then to try who beares the Crowne away.

26.

This when our mother sawe _Corwenna_ wise, That mortall warres wee wadge for Kingdome sake Shee with her selfe did many wayes deuise, A peace betweene her Martiall sonnes to make, And with the Lords full oft did counsaile take, Yet all in vaine: there could no parle of peace preuayle, But on wee marcht agreed each other to assayle.

27.

The feeldes once pight and time of battaile comme, In place where should bee tryde this quarell sad, In armour eke the souldiers all and somme, With all the force that might so soone bee had, We captaynes vsing speach our men to glad, T’incourage them with promise proud of lasting fame: Tweene th’armies both _Corwenna_ stood that noble dame. And thus shee spake:

28.

“O out, ahlas! my sonnes, what meanes this broyle? Will you in feelde my tender bowels harme? What furies force you thus t’unkindly toile? What meane your men for slaughter here to swarme? Did not this wombe once both inclose you warme? And cannot now all _Britayne_ hold you brethren twaine, But needes by one of you his brother must bee slaine?

29.

“Cannot the feare of _Ioue’s_ immortall hate, Your mother’s teares, nor woefull wailings moue? Nor naked brests you suckte your malice slacke? Nor cause t’imbrace the sacred lore of loue? O euerlasting _Ioue_ that liu’st aboue! Then I protest ere you doe fight the feelde this day, You shall in field (vngratefull sonnes) your woefull mother slay.

30.

“Betweene you both you shall bereaue my life, What woes (my sonnes) aliue shall I sustaine, When I shall after this ambitious strife, So many see of both your subiects slaine, And you with brothers bloud your swords distayne, I shall (I say) in th’end of fight take woefull vewe, Of that my sonne, which this my sonne his [noble] brother slewe.

31.

“O rather now, my sonnes, leaue of to iar, Lay weapons both aside take truce a while, If you doe loue to spend your time in war, Destroy not here at home your natiue Ile, The present cause and quarell is to vile Joyne friendly both your armies fayth, and firme the same To take some conquest great in hand of [euer]lasting fame.

32.

“Therein you may with greater honour deale, By this defame you shall[592] your selfes for aye: Thereby you may enlarge your publique weale, By this your selues and it shall quite decay: Thereby you shall mine age with honour stay, Thereby you shal [in warres] most like your noble father bee, Which ere he wan[593] the crowne did conquere [Kings and] kingdoms three.

33.

“Once for my sake then ioyne yet handes agayne, Let mee enioy once both before I die, I would to see you frends my sonnes bee faine, And hope I haue you will not this denie, I aske a thing shall neuer hurte perdy, For if you now surcease [embrace,] and loue as brethren well, Then all the world of this your [peace and] concord aye shall tell.”

34.

And turneing then to mee, thus wise shee sayd: “Thou knowst, my sonne, how twice thou hast bene foylde, Thou twice to scape with life wast well apayde, And since full farre to countryes straunge hast toyld: If now thou shouldst of life and all bee spoilde, (When liue thou maiste in Princely sort with peerelesse ioy) What tong can tell thy mother’s griefe and great anoy.

35.

“I heare thou hast in _Fraunce_ a Dukedoome good, Of subiects good thou hast an armie here, Thou hast a wife that came of noble blood, Thou need’st at home no foes at all to feare: What mean’st thou then such mortall hate to beare Against my sonne, thy brother here, which gaue to thee His kingdome halfe, the noble land of _Albany_?

36.

“Sith thine ambition first procur’d the strife, Which didst in armour rise against thy King, Against thy brother lou’d thee more then life Thou didst thy subiects his against him bring, Think’st thou it was a wise or worthie thing? If not, thou hast good cause thy treason all confesse, And though he draue thee out therefore, to loue him ne’re the lesse.

37.

“Thou shalt therefore submitte thy selfe to mee, And take a truce a peace I will conclude, Thy brother eke shall so contented bee, No quarels olde shall be againe renewde, These broiles haue oft my cheeks with teares bedewde, My heart is rent, my hope bereau’d, my ioyes are gone, My life is lost if you conioyne not [frendships] both in one.”

38.

Then turning vnto _Belinus_ she spake: “My noble sonne (quoth shee) thou twice hast quaylde Thy brother’s power, and mad’st him twice forsake His natiue land, which I haue oft bewaylde: What though thou haue so oft before preuaylde, Think’st thou againe the thirde time eke to winne the feelde? Or art thou sure to slay my sonne, or force thy foes to yeelde.[594]

39.

“What glory canst thou get thereby in th’end? Will not the worlde of your foule slaughters tell? Will not they all that liue, still discommend The man that did his owne deare brother quell? _Mempricius_ shamefull actes are knowne too well, And _Porrex_, _Britayns_ both their noble brethren slew, Confounded [shortly] after both examples good for you.

40.

“Nowe further this againe to both I say, Doe not you rue these noble souldiers good? Doe not you see how many you shall slay? Haue you no care to shed their guiltlesse blood? The state of tyraunts neuer stable stoode, By bloudshed they doe founde, bace, builde, and prop their state, Raigne, liue and dye despisde, and heape themselues eternall hate.[595]

41.

“You noble men, in briefe I speake to you, And vnto all the Captains of your bands, And eke to all you souldiers good and true, Which haue the sway of bloudshed in your hands: Consider well the state of both our lands: You shall decrease your force, by ciuile discord, warres and strife, Distaine your blods, defame your selues, and reaue _Cornwenna’s_ life.[596]

42.

“Then if that eyther _Ioue’s_ immortall ire, (Which euer hated slaughters such as these) Or feare of _Plutoe’s_ euerlasting fire, Or daungers threatned both by land and seas, Or mother’s minde (which both you ought to please) Or countries loue, or sacred peace (which al are bound t’imbrace) May ought perswade, let my requests among you all haue place.[597]

43.

“If not, loe here my naked breast, (quoth shee) Which once you both did sucke in tender age, Let both your swords in these first bathed bee, Perhaps this slaughter shall your thirsts aswage: It shall be counted euen as small outrage To slay your mother pleading for your peace, As wadge the wars which gods and men and nature wils to cease.”[598]

44.

Much more she sayde which were too long to tell: And proffered foorth to swordes her naked brest, But when wee both considered had full well Her woefull teares, her wise and graue request, They so to peace our hautie hearts addrest, We layde our weapons downe: we met, imbrac’st and kist, More ioy in both the armies was then erst in wars I wist.[599]

45.

We ioyned hands, our captaynes did the like, And eke the souldiers linked all in loue, There was not one that did our truce mislike, Our peace did all to ioy and maruaile moue, With many triumphes feates of armes we proue, Our subiects all reioyce, in songs we sound _Cornewenna’s_ prayse, Her fame to skies aloft with many showtes and cryes they rayse.

46.

The _Galles_ and _Senons_ then supposing me In _Britayne_ from my Dukedome hard at fight, Thought great occasion offred them to be, And set themselues in armes and order right: My subiects eke of _Sauoy_ day and night They did entice, perswade, solicite and constrayne, To chuse another Duke at home with them to raigne.

47.

Whereof when I heard tell in _Britayne_ Isle, Eke when my brother _Beline_ thereof knewe, We layde aside our sports and playes a while, And of our souldiers tooke a muster newe: Of both our hoasts we chose a noble crewe: We past the seas, as brethren ought, in concord knit, And both our force in one to conquere _Fraunce_ we fit.

48.

Without resistance much we spoil’d the land At th’entry in, and after many fights We conquer’d all the Realme, my foes we fand, Which were in armes stout, valiant, noble wights. By sword they fell or flewe before our sights. The _Germains_ force likewise that did them succour send, We made to fall therefore and to our scepters bend.

49.

Three hundred thousand we in armour had, An armie great renownde _Europa_ through: The Kings and Princes of our peace were glad, We were in fight so puissant fearce and rough, Munition, vitayles, money eke enough, We had of tributes store, of dueties in that came, Through all the world of _Brenne_ and _Beline_ flew the fame.

50.

To vs came souldiers out of many parts, And captaynes worthy for the fame of warre, Of fearce _Bellona_ braue wee had the arts, Whereof wee wanne the praise both neare and farre: But not with this wee so contented arr, As _Hercules_ to scale the _Alpes_ did first contend, So wee agayne (a worke of toyle) the cloudy _Alpes_ ascend.

51.

Great mountaynes, craggy, high, that touch the skies, Full steepe to climbe vnto, and penshot all, The Seas allow doe rore, and foggy vapours rise, And from the hills great streames of waters fall, The pathes so strickte to passe the speede is small:[600] The ise, snowe, cold, clouds, rombling stormes, and sights aboue, Are able constant harts with doubtfull feare to moue.

52.

For as you goe sometimes y’ar fayne to reatch, And hang by handes, to wend aloft the way, And then on buttockes downe an other breatch, With elbowes and with heeles your selfe to stay, Downe vnder well behold the streames you may, And waters wilde which from the mountaynes faling flow: Ore head the rockes hang down whence riuers rore of melting snow.[601]

53.

When wee these _Alpes_ had past with daungers greate, To _Clusium_ towne in _Tuscane_ land wee came: They, as wee did prouide our forage vitayles meate,[602] Did issue out [in armes] to intercept the same: Ambassage to the _Romaines_ eke they frame, Desiring aide against the _Galles_ (so vs they counted theere) Because I was of _Fraunce_ and _Frenchmen_ in our armies were.[603]

54.

The _Romaines_ then, because that our successe Reported was to them in warres before, Euen for their owne safegard could doe no lesse, But aide their neighbours now at neede the more: To parle they sent for peace ambassadours therefore, Wee aunswerde wee desirde but space wherein to [bide and] dwell, Because our peopled Countrye could not now contayne vs well.[604]

55.

But they forgetting quite of armes the lawe Did arme them selues, ambassadours full stoute, With _Clusians_ came to bring vs all in awe, Without respect of any further doute: Whereon the seige from _Clusium_ walles aboute Wee raysed strayght, in speede alarme at _Rome_ wee cry, There to reuenge th’ambassadours outrage and iniury.[605]

56.

Yet first wee thought it best ambassage send, To haue truce breakers such deliuered vs, By lawe of armes as ought no weapons wend, And yet against the lawes came armed thus: They sayd wee were a people barbarous, They neither punishe would nor yeeld those _Romaines_ good, But honour them, they came of _Fabius_ noble bloud.

57.

Full swiftely on wee marched then in haste, And towardes _Rome_ with all our powre wee hyde; At _Alia_ floud gan forty thousand taste Of _Romaines_ that vs met what might betyde: Wee slewe them fast, the rest durst not abide, Wee had the spoyle, to _Rome_ wee came, the Citye wee possesse:[606] A thousand waight of gold [wee make] the _Romaines_ pay[607] for peace.

58.

_Pannonia_ eke with broiles of warres wee tame, And many yeares wee kept them vnder yoke, The Princes all about that herde our noble fame Desired peace with vs, before wee came to stroke:[608] Wee _Britaynes_ made _Europa_ all to smoke: To part our armies then in twayne wee tooke [at all] no doubte, And seuerall conquests tooke in hand as [valiaunt] captaines stoute.

59.

To _Macedony Beline_ tooke the way, Where raigned _Ptolome_ the tyraunt fell, Which did his sisters sonnes vniustly slay Before their mother’s face, and her expell, _Arsinoe_, that vsde him earst so well, Yea, though before the Gods[609] hee sware to take her to his wife, And loue her sonnes, [hee her expeld,] and them[610] bereft of life.

60.

Euen so that wicked king at first refusde To purchase peace with price, or hostage sende, That had before the fayth of Gods abusde, Was destinate to haue a naughty ende: Let Princes well beware what they pretende, For who for kingdomes sake breakes fayth, and murders foule commits,[611] Let him bee[612] sure to [haue a] fall on slipery throne hee sits.

61.

Our custome was that time to send each where Our Herouldes offering peace for tribute golde, But _Ptolome_ to _Beline_ bad him message beare, Conditions take of peace ne tribute[613] pay hee woulde, Ne frendship would admit[614] (as hee the herouldes tolde) Except the enmies layde downe weapons, them submit, No truce with them, no peace there were, nor no agreement fit.[615]

62.

King _Beline_ smilde to heare the heedelesse King, Rash witted so selfe wild, and after this The _Dardanes_ offered twenty thousand bring Of souldiers armde for ayde, to ioyne with his: Quoth _Ptolome_, now lost[616] all _Macedony_ is, Yf we once conquerde [all the East] by _Alexander’s_ hande, Neede we the _Dardanes_ ayde these straungers to withstande?

63.

Wee haue (quoth hee) some souldiers, sonnes of those Which serude in pay with them that vanquisht all, And for our selues wee nothing feare our foes, Although our army seeme to _Dardane_ smalle: This when th’ambassadours related all To good king _Dardane_: Then this noble realme (quoth hee) By this yong princox pryde will all be lost and conquerde bee.[617]

64.

With that alarme they crye, and armies ioyne, Where _Britaynes_ sley the _Macedonian_ crewe, And haue for spoyle theyr vitayles, armour, coyne, Tooke _Ptolomey_ theyr king and him they slewe. His heade aboue the campe they beare for vewe On speare, to make the rest of _Greekes_ in doubt to stand, Before they enterprice to take such [woefull] wars in hand.

65.

One this the fame of _Britaynes_ far was spred, All _Macedony_ held theyr countrey spoylde To _Alexander_ (erst theyr armies led) And vnto _Philip_, Princes neuer foylde, As vnto Gods they cry in warres tormoylde: O helpe (quoth they) our countrey falls, and we are [all] vndonne, Without your aydes whose noble actes erst all the world haue won.[618]

66.

But _Sosthenes_, a worthy _Macedonian_ stoute, When as the _Britaynes_ bathed in theyr blisse, Gate vnto him a warlike worthy route And set agayne on _Beline_ there; and his Put him to foyle, for all his worthynes Wheron when as the souldiers would haue made him all theyr roye: By captaynes name hee tooke theyr oth theyr enmies to distroye.[619]

67.

When this in _Greece_ I herde, and theyr successe, First of the feelde they wonne, and folly then Enrichte with spoyles, giuen all to idlenes Which were before approued valiaunt men: I sounde retracte and backwardes gate agen, With seuen score and ten thousand footemen for the fight, And fifteene thousand horsemen good of manhoode and of might.[620]

68.

With these apoynted well my frends to ayde The _Britaynes_ good, and _Beline_ in that case, To _Macedone_ I marcht, with souldiers well apayde, Both for my brother’s sake and riches of the place: Whereto when as wee came, in litle space We wan the feelde, we tooke the spoyles of all the land at will,[621] In pleasures plungde we had of wealth, [renowne,] and fame, our fill.[622]

69.

So I that had all _Macedoyne_ in awe, With spoyle of mortall men was not content, I past not of these conquests all a strawe, The temples of the gods to spoile I ment, And towards _Delphos_ with mine army went: Whereas on hyghe the temple[623] stoode most glorious to beholde, And god _Apollo’s_ shrine enrichte with mighty masse of gold.[624]

70.

The riche and welthy gods (quoth I) may lende To mortall men some of theyr treasures great, They haue no neede thereof for to dispende For clothing, vitayles, armour, drinke or meate:[625] But yet wee must therefore theyr priests intreate, There is enough for them, [and vs,] and many moe beside, Of offerings greate from Princes brought of all the world so wide.[626]

71.

This _Delphos_ is on mount _Parnasus_ fayre, In _Greece_, wel fenst with rising rockes about, By nature plaest aloft in pleasaunt ayre, So high to scale they neede no enmies doubt,[627] No watch, no warde they keepe the walles about: So strong steepe pendent are the rockes whereon it [stately] stands, As not the like could euer yet be made[628] With mortall hands.

72.

When in this city shoutes aloude they make, Or when the trompets sounde therein is herde, The _Ecchoes_ shrill so cause the skies to shake, That straungers staring stand and muse afferde: The wordes and tunes resounde agayne so harde, So often times aboute from euery rocke so playne, As if to one that cryde a thousand cryde[629] to him agayne.

73.

This made the men that came from farre to maze, To maruayle much, to feare and wonder still, And at the syte thereof to stare and gaze, Deuising ofte the stately high and mighty hill, A building founded first by heauenly skill, In citye [fayrely] builte and costly grande with worke of hande, _Apolloe’s_ temple highe [to heauen] aboue the rest doth stande.

74.

’Tis rownde theater wise so braue within, And large aloft without, pendant vpright, So high it seemes impossible to winne, With comely forme the gazers to delight, The maiesty whereof [(I weene)] did them inuite That chose that seate, to dedicate a temple[630] in the same, Whereof for Oracles was spred through all the world the fame.[631]

75.

Amidste the height of this _Parnasus_ mount, A turning wey there is, and in the playne A denne through rockes for deepenesse doth surmount, And turning vaults far in, whence aunsweres vayne The priests receiue from sprits to tell agayne When any come for counsayle there of things to [come to] knowe: Th’insensate priests the aunsweres of deluding sprits doe showe.[632]

76.

Wherefore the Kings and peoples offerings brought, From all the world and coasts of nations far Which many gifts of gold and siluer wrought, The statures of the Gods and iewells rich there wer.[633] To _Delphos_ all they runne in any doubte which ar,[634] This was the madnesse tho[635] that mortall men bewicht Whereby _Apolloe’s_ temple was and _Delphos_ so inricht.[636]

77.

Low nowe [in fewe,] I tell at _Delphos_ what I did, For towardes it as with my mates I went, Them bee of courage good and nothing feare I bid,[637] I told them, with the spoile,[638] them to reward I ment: But now I askte how they would giue consent The captaynes _Euridane_ and _Thessalone_ companions in the pray,[639] Where it were good [straight now] to scale, or else a while to stay.

78.

The Captaynes counsaile was alarme [at once] to call, Before the _Græcians_ were prouided for defence,[640] And straight to scale with skill the mighty wall, Before the city knewe of our pretence: The souldiers stout abroad encamped thence, And sayd they must refreshe their weried limmes a space, Vnable else to scale, or meete their enmyes in the face.[641]

79.

The _Græcians_ them commaunde that dwelt by hip In villages, to make[642] no spare of wine: The _Britayne_ souldiers fell thereon to sip, Forgate their feats of warre and playd the swine, Against their captaynes eke they gan repine: So that full long it was or wee could them perswade To flye from _Bacchus_ bouthes, and fall agayne to blade.

80.

Of souldiers thousands sixty fiue I had, But of our enmies fourteene[643] thousand were The stately towne they see their harts to glad, I bad them not at all to stand in [doubt or] feare: Behold (quoth I) what doth in sight [aloft] appeare, Those charets glittering braue and statures stout in founded gold[644] Of sollid masse, more [weighty] riche then glorious to behold.

81.

For on the Temple stoode a sort of golden[645] shapes, And in the walles thereof their pictures shone, Not one of these (quoth I) the _Britaynes_ scapes, Wee souldiers shall possesse them euery one, Let vs therefore not linger here vpon, But geue th’assaulte for here in hand wee haue for spoiles a peece,[646] In price of gold, [of perle] and gemmes surmounts the wealth of _Greece_.[647]

82.

Wee haue or this the wealth of men possest (Yet worthy Princes all) of mortall men, But here the treasures of the Gods are prest To looke for vs, shall wee refuse them then? Wee shall not so bee profered ofte agen Within the walles hereof are greater [offerings] farre by odds, Th’attyre, crownes, scepters, statures, plate and garnish of the Gods.

83.

Wee sound Alarme th’assaute the rockes assayes, Our souldiers brainesicke heedelesse vp ascend, The _Delphos_ men had fenste the easiest wayes, So that against the rockes our force wee bend: With stones the scaleing _Britaynes_ downe they hend, An earthquake eke by vowes [and cries] the sacrificers reare, Which on my souldiers downe [to fall] a mighty rocke did teare.

84.

The ground did shake, and rent, and tempests rise, The haylestones mighty fall, the thunders rore The lightnings flasheing dazled all our eyes, The _Britaynes_ from th’assaute were ouer bore,[648] My souldiers slayne discomfit mee before, And I sore wounded, foule amazde, orecome with [toile and] smart, T’escape the _Greekishe_ sword [and shame] did perce my selfe to th’harte.[649]

85.

You noble captaynes now that know my facts, Learne valiauntly in warres the sword to wend, Let fame extoll your wise and warlike acts, And let report your fortitude commend: But let your warfares haue a wiser end, And let what _Bochas_ writes and _Higgins_ here doth pen, As myrours shew what good[650] wee gate, to warre with _Delphos_ men.

LENUOY.

Great ruth that such a noble conqueroure, Should haue so hard and infamous an end, Which of the worlde might haue bene Emperour, If all be true that storyes him commend: But where is Fortune permanent a frend? Shee blyndely baytes and bathes her Impes in blisse, Who trustes her still I count ill fortune his.

_Galerius_ and _Florianus_ stoute, And _Iulian_ of _Rome_ the Emperours, And _Diocesiane_ of _Constantine_ in doubte, Though in their times full worthy warriours, So counted often noble conquerours, They slewe themselues, abated from their blisse: Which who so doth I count ill fortune his.

_Cordila_ slewe her selfe in prison pent, And _Dido_ for _Æneas_ flight away, That _Iudas_ which betrayde the innocent, And _Pontius Pilate_ wrought their owne decay: What neede I here on desperate captiues staye? Sith who so bathes in flickering Fortune’s blisse, Without God’s grace I count ill fortune his.

The warres haue prosperde well with Princes oft, Yet best with such who vertue sought alone, The rest, which onely werde to wende aloft, Were euer foylde confounded by their fone: But here I cease, the next full woe begone, With rented corps appeard deuoyde of blisse; Recounting thus that haplesse ende of his.

How King Kimarvs was deuoured by wilde beastes the yeere before Christ 321.

No place commendes the man vnworthie prayse. No title of estate[651] doth stay vp vices fall, No wicked wight to woe can make delayes, No loftie lookes preserue the proud at all, No brags or boast, no stature high and tall, No lustie[652] youth, no swearing staring stout, No brauery, banding, cogging, cutting out.

Then what auayles to haue a Princely place, A name of honour or an high degree, To come by kinred of a noble race? Except we princely, worthie, noble be! The fruite declares the goodnes of the tree, Do brag no more of birth or linage than, For vertue,[653] grace, and manners make the man.

My selfe might bragge, and first of all begin, _Mulmucius_ made and constituted lawes, And _Belinus_ and _Brenne_ his sonnes did win Such prayse, their names to be immortall cause.[654] _Gurgunstus Readbeard_ with his sober sawes, The sonne of _Beline_ and my Grandsyre grand, Was fortunate what ere he tooke in hand.

His sonne my grandsire _Guintheline_ did passe For vertue’s praise, and _Martia_ was his wife, A noble Queene that wise and learned was, And gaue her selfe to study all her life, Deuising lawes, discust the ends of strife Amongst the _Britaynes_ to her endlesse fame: Her statutes had of _Martian_ lawes the name.[655]

My father eke was sober, sage, and wise, _Cicilius_ hight, King _Guintheline_ his sonne, Of noble Princes then my stocke did rise, And of a Prince of _Cornwall_ first begonne: But what thereby of glory haue I wonne? Can this suffice to aunswere eke for mee, I came by parents of an high degree?

Or shall I say, I was forsooth the King?[656] Then might I liue as lewdely as I lust, No sure, I cannot so auoide the sting Of shame that prickes such Princes are vniust. Wee rather should vnto our vertues trust, For vertue of the auncient bloud or kinne, Doth onely praise the parties shee’s within.[657]

And nobles onely borne (of this bee sure) Without the vertues of their noble race, Doe quite and cleane themselues thereby obscure, And their renowne and dignities deface: They doe their birth and linage all deface, For why, in deede they euer ought so well In vertues graue, as titles braue excell.

But oft (God wot) they fare as erst did I, They thinke if once they come of Princely stocke, Then are they placed safe and sure, so hie Aboue the rest, as founded on a rocke: Of wise mens warnings all they make a mocke: They counsayles graue as abiect reedes despise, And count the braue men gratious, worthy, wise.

This kingdome came to mee by due discent, For why my father was before mee King, But I to pleasure all and lust was bent, I neuer reckte of Iustice any thing, What purpose I did meane to passe to bring,[658] That same t’accomplish I with all my might Endeuourde euer, were it wrong or right.

10.

I deemde the greatest ioyes in earthly hap, I thought my pleasures euer would abide, I seemde to sit in Lady Fortune’s lap, I reckte not all the world mee thought beside: I did by lust my selfe and others guide, Whereby the fates to worke my bane withall, And cut mee of, thus wise procurde my fall.

11.

As I was alwayes bent to hunting still, (Yet hunting was no vice to those I had) When I three yeares had ruld this Realme at will, In chace a chaunce did make my heart ful sad: Wilde cruell beasts as desperate and mad Turnde backe on mee, as I them brought to bay, And in their rage my sinfull corps did slay.[659]

12.

A iust reward for so vniust a life, No worse a death then I deserued yore, Such wrecks in th’end to wretches all are rife, Who may and will not call for grace before: My wilfull deedes were nought, what wilt thou more? For wanton wildenesse, witlesse, hedelesse toyes The brutishe beasts bereaude mee of my ioyes.[660]

LENUOY.

By this appeares that time in _Britayne_ were Aboundant store of wolues, and vices rife: _Mempricius_ tale the like doth witnesse beare, And so doth _Madan’s_ mangled end of life: These though they scaped stout _Bellonae’s_ knife, Yet in the end for vices foule they fell By Wolues deuourde, mine Author so doth tell.

The glory vaine that fades and flits away, Makes men so blinde, they looke not on the end: Allurde to losse, on earthly pompe they stay, But fewe to scale the vertue towres contend: Fewe seeke, by Christ, the heauenly way to wend; The onely causes why these Princes fell, Are vices vile, as auncient authors tell.

Next after this, on stage a Prince appearde, With slimye glere, and bloud beraide that came, In hand a dagger drawne his foe that dearde Hee bare perdy, and showde mee eke the same: And thus his tale in order hee did frame As shall ensue, so hee mee thought did tell How hee was slaine, and slewe a monster fell.

How King Morindus was deuoured by a monster, the yeare before Christ, 303.

Let mee likewise declare my facts and fall, And eke recite what means this slimy glere! You neede not faine so quaynte a looke at all, Although I seeme so fulsome euery where: This blade in bloudy hand, perdy, I beare,[661] And all his gore bemingled with this glue, In witnes I my deadly enmy slewe.[662]

Then marke my tale, beware of rashnes vile, I am _Morindus_ once was _Britayne_ King, On whom did sweetely[663] Lady Fortune smile, Till shee mee to her top of towres did bring:[664] My fame both farre and neare shee made to ring, And eke my praise exalted so to skye, In all my time more famous none then I.

Some say I was by birth a bastard bace, Begotten of the Prince his concubine, But what I was declared well my grace, My fortitude and stature Princely mine. My father eke that came of Princely lyne, King _Danius_ gaue not so bace degree, Nor yet the noble _Britaynes_ vnto mee.

For feats of armes and warlike poynts I past, In courage stoute there liu’de not then my peere, I made them all that knewe my name agaste, And heard how great my enterprices were, To shrinke, and slinke, and shift aside for feare: All which at length did mee such glory bring, My father dead, the _Britaynes_ made mee King.

But see how blinde wee are, when Fortune smiles, How senceles wee when dignities increase, Wee euer vse our selues discretely whiles Wee litle haue, and loue to liue in peace: Smale fauters facts with mercy wee release:[665] Wee vse no rigoure, rancoure, rapine, such As after when wee haue our willes to much.

For while that I a subiect was, no King, While I had nothing but my facts alone: I studied still in euery kinde of thing To serue my prince, and vnderfang his fone: To vse his subiects friendly euerychone, And for them all aduentures such to take, As might them all my person fauoure make.

But when I once attained had the Crowne, I waxed cruell tyranous and fell, I had no longer minde of my renowne, I vsde my selfe to ill, the trueth to tell: O bace degree in happie case full well! Which art not puft with pride, vaineglory, hate But art beneath content to bide thy fate.

For I aloft, when once my heate was in, Not rain’d by reason ruled all by might, Ne prudence reckt, right, strength, or meane a pin, But with my friendes in anger all would fight, I strooke, kilde, slewe who euer were in sight, Without respect, remorce, reproufe, regard, And like a madde man in my fury far’d,

I deemde my might and fortitude was such, That I was able thereby conquere all, High kingdome’s seate encreast my pompe so much, My pryde me thought impossible to fall: But God confoundes our proude deuices all, And brings that thing wherein we most doe trust, To our destruction by his iudgement iust.

10.

For when three yeares I ruled had this Ile, Without all rule as was my rulesse life,[666] The rumour ranne abroade within a while, And chiefly in the Norwest Countrey rife, A monster came from _Th’irish_ seas, brought griefe To all my subiectes, in those coastes did dwell, Deuouring man and beast, a monster fell.

11.

Which when I knewe for trueth, I straight prepard In warlike wise my selfe to trye the case, My haste thereto a courage bold declard, For I alone would enter in the place: At which,[667] with speare on horse I fet my race, But on his scales it enter could no more, Then might a bulrush on a brasen dore.

12.

Agayne I prou’d yet, nought at all preuaylde, To breake my speare and not to pearce his syde: With that the roring monster me assaylde, So terrifide my horse I coulde not ride, Wherewith I lighted, and with sworde I tride By strokes and thrustes to finde some open in, But of my fight hee neuer past a pin.[668]

13.

And when I weried was and spent with fight, That kept my selfe with heede his daunger fro, As last almost ashamde I wanted might, And skil to worke the beastly monster wo, I gate me nerer with my sworde him to, And thought his flankes or vnder partes to wounde, Yf there for scales[669] might any place bee founde.

14.

But frustrate of my purpose, finding none, And eke within his daunger entring quite, The grizely beast straight seasoned[670] mee vpon, And let his talauntes on my corpes to light, Hee gript my shoulders, not resist I might, And roaring with a greedy rauening looke, At once in iawes my body whole hee tooke.

15.

The way was large, and downe he drewe mee in, A monstrous paunche for rowmth, and wondrous wide, But (for I felt more softer there the skinne) At once I drewe a dagger by my side: I knewe my life no longer coulde abide, For rammish stench, bloude, poyson, slimy glere, That in his body so aboundant were.

16.

Wherefore I labouring to procure his death, While first my dagger digde aboute his harte, His force to cast mee welnigh drewe my breath, But as hee felt within his woundes to smarte, I ioyde to feele the mighty monster starte, That roard, and belcht, and groande, and plungde, and cryde, And tost mee vp and downe from syde to syde.

17.

Long so in panges hee plungde and panting lay, And drewe his wynde so fast with such a powre, That quite and cleane hee drewe my breath away, Wee both were deade well nigh within an howre. Lo thus one beastly monster did deuoure An other monster moodeles to his[671] payne: At once the realme was rid of monsters twayne.[672]

18.

Here mayst thou see of fortitude the hap, Where prudence, iustice, temperaunce hath no place, How sodaynly wee taken are in trap, When wee dispise good vertues to embrace, Intemperaunce doth all our deedes deface, And letts vs heedeles headlong run so fast, Wee seeke our owne destruction at the last.

19.

For hee that hath of fortitude and might, And thereto hath a kingdom ioynde withall, Except hee also guide him selfe aright, His powre and strength preuayleth him but small, Hee cannot scape at length an haples fall: You may perceiue a myrrour playne by me, Which may with wisdome well sufficient bee.[673]

LENUOY.

Wee reade the valiaunt actes of _Hercules_, His mighty labours all and woefull end, But _Samson’s_ conquests of his enemies, The holy histories to vs commend. Yet who so shal on fortitude depend, Still trusting to obtayne the victory, Let him beholde _Morindus’_ history.

Or of the death of _Theseus_ they tell, The fall of _Brennus_ and his woefull end, Though hee in force and powre bee nere so fell, Hee cannot still on fortitude depend: Tis vertue sole that all the wise commend: Shee still obtaynes for aye the victory, By true reporte of euery history.

Strength, beauty, wealth, facts, fauoure, fearcenesse fell, All earthly pleasures feele a paynefull end, Then happy thrice is hee (the truth to tell) That onely can on heauenly powre depend: But now I must to you the next commend, In blacke, mee thought, appearing mournefully, Declaring thus his woefull misery.

How King Emerianus for his tirany was deposed, about the yeare before Christ, 235.[674]

The wofull wight that fell from throne to thrall, The wretch that woue the web wherein hee goes, A dolefull blacke bad weede still weare hee shall In woefull sorte, and nothing blame his foes: What neede such one at all his name disclose? Except the haplesse rest of _Britaynes_ should,[675] Not here for shame recite his name hee would.

I am _Emeriane_ King that raignde a space, Scarce all one yeare,[676] in _Britayne_ Isle long sence, But for I was in maners voide of grace, Ferce, tyranous, and full of negligence, Bloud thirsty, cruell, vaine, deuoide of sence; The _Britaynes_ mee deposde, from seat and crowne, And reaude mee quite of riches and renowne.

I was despisde and banisht from my blisse, Discountnaunste, fayne to hide my selfe for shame: What neede I longer stand to tell thee this? My selfe was for my woefull fall to blame: My raygne was short, in fewe my fall I frame, My life was lothsome, soone like death that found, Let this suffice a warning blaste to sound.

LENUOY.

The cause why here this Prince is briefe in talke Is, for the stories scarce remembre such, What neede I then with them more farder walke? Sith this perhaps may seeme, is sayd to much, I must but briefly these vnworthy tutch: The next approaching pufte with dropsie wanne, Thus wise, mee thought, his yexeing[677] tale beganne.

How King Chirinnus giuen to dronkennesse raygned but one yeare. Hee died about the yeare before Christ, 137.[678]

Though I my surfets haue not yet out slept, Nor scarce with quiet browes begin my tale, Let not my drousy talke bee ouer leapt, For though my belching sent of wine or ale, Although my face bee falloe, puft, and pale, And legges with dropsy swell, and panche resound, Yet let mee tell what vice did mee confound.

Perhaps thou thinkste so groase a blockhead blunt, A sleepy swinishe head can nothing say: The greatest heads and smalest eke were wont To beare in them the finest wits away: This thing is true thou canst it not denay, And _Bacchus_ eke ensharps the wits of some: _Fœcundi calices quem non fecere disertum?_

Yet sith long since both braynes and all were spent, And this in place amongste my mates I speake, I trust thou wilt bee here withall content, Although in deede my wits of talke are weake: So old a vessayle cannot chuse but leake, A drousy nole[679] that lyes on drinke a sleepe so long, May pardon craue, although his tongue trip twifold wrong.[680]

_Chirinnus_ was my name a _Britayne_ King, But rulde short time, Sir _Bacchus_ was my let: _Erinnys_[681] eke my sences so did swing, That reason could no seat amongst them get: Wherefore the truth I pray thee playnly set, I gaue my selfe to surfets swilling wine, And led my life much like a dronken swine.

Deseases grewe, distempraunce made mee swell, My parched liuer lusted still for baste, My tympane sounded like a taber well, And nought but wine did like my greedy taste, This vice and moe my life and mee defaste, My face was blowne and blubd with dropsy wanne, And legges more like a monster then a man.

So not in shape [and shewe] I onely altered was, My dispositions chaunged mee[682] likewise, For vices make a man [a bull,] a goate, an asse, A swine or horse, (as Poets can comprise) Transforming into beasts by sundry wise Such men as keepe not onely shape of men, But them mishapeth also now and then.

Wherefore let who so loues to liue long dayes Without deseases, strong in youthfull state, Beware of _Bacchus’_ booth which all betrayes, The vayle of vices vayne, the hauen of hate, The well of weake delightes, the brande of bate, By which I loste my health, life, realme and fame, [My wealth, my crowne, my scepter, sheelde and name:] And only wan the shrowding sheete of shame.

LENUOY.

Of this bad vice who shall embrace the loue, And not refraine him selfe there from by grace, Let him bee sure it shall his sence remoue, His beauty reaue, his facts and fame deface, His wealth, strength, health, shall waste and were apace, Hee cannot liue in health till hee bee olde, Nor purchase health and sober fame againe with sowes[683] of golde.

The Poets painted _Bacchus_ naked, bare, Because hee doth all secrets deepe disclose, In woemen’s weede because men feebled are, Effeminate them selues to wine dispose, Like wanton childe likewise they faine hee goes, As dronkerds wanton were though nere so olde, Not wonne to sage and sober life with sowes of golde.

But naked therefore I suppose hee’s faynde, Because hee makes men naked, poore, and bare: By him they waste away the wealth they gaynde, And plunge them selues in seas of woefull care, Or naked then of vertues all they are, When they to _Bacchus_ bend, both yong and olde, Not wonne to sage and sober life, with sowes of gold.

Who loues to liue a wise and godly life, Let him refuse such naked gods to serue: So shall he saue his fame auoyding strife, And right report of all good men deserue. But from my purpose lest I seeme to swerue: There next me thought a Prince I did behold Of vicious life, and thus his fates he did vnfold.

How King Varianvs gaue himselfe to the lustes of the flesh, and dyed about the yeare before Christ, 136.[684]

Where no good giftes haue place, nor beare the sway, What are the men but wilful castaway? Where gifts of grace doe garnish well the King, There is no want, the land can lacke no thing: The Court is stil well stor’d with noble [prudent] men, In Townes and Cities Gouernours are graue: [The lands are tild,] the common wealth doth prosper[685] then, And wealth at will the Prince and people haue.

Perhaps you aske, what Prince is this appeares? What meanes his talke in these our golden yeares? A _Britayne_ Prince that _Varianus_ hight, I helde some time the [crowne and] scepter here by right: And though no neede there be in these your [golden] dayes Of states to tell, or vertues good discriue, Good counsayle yet may after stand[686] in stead alwayes, When time agayne may vices olde reuiue.

If not: yet giue me leaue amongst the rest Which felt the[687] fall, or had their deaths addrest: My cause of fall let me likewise declare, For falles the deathes of vicious Princes are: They fal, when all good men reioyce to heare or see That they short time enioyde their places hie, For Princes which for [princely] vertues praysed bee, By death arise extold, they scale the skie.

I will be short because it may suffice That soone is sayde, to warne the sage and wise: Or if that they no warning neede to haue, This may perchaunce somewhat their labour saue With yonger heads, that will[688] not heare their faultes them tolde, By such as would admonish them for loue: When they my words and warnings here [of vice] beholde, They may regarde and see their owne behoue.

About my time the Princes liu’de not long, For all were giuen almost to vice and wrong: My selfe voluptuous was abandond quite, To take in fleshly lust my whole delite: A pleasure vile, that drawes a man from [all good] thrifte and grace, Doth iust desires, and heauenly thoughtes expell: Decayes the corps,[689] defiles the soule, [the factes] and fame deface, And bringes him downe to _Plutoe’s_ paynes of hell.

For this my sinne my subiectes hated mee, Repining still my stayned life to see: As when the Prince is wholy giuen to vice, And holdes the lewder sort in greatest price, The land decayes, disorder [sprouts and] springes abroade, The worser sort do robbe, pille, polle, and spoyle, The weaker are constraynd to[690] beare the greatest loade, And leese the goodes for which [full sore] they erst did toyle.

How can _Iehoua_ iust abide the wrong? He will not suffer such haue scepter long. As he did strike for sinfull life my seate, And did me downe from royall kingdome beate, So hath be done for aye, examples[691] are in stories rife, No wicked wight can gouerne long in rest: For eyther some [the like] bereaues him of his life, Or downe his throne and kingdome is deprest. Bid Princes then and noble Peeres the like delights detest. There is no way the [iudgement high and] wrath of _Ioue_ to wrest.

LENUOY.

What should I longer on such Princes stay, Whose factes vnworthie were to be enrolde: The cause why thence I make more speede away, Is for his sake, whose fame hath farre bene tolde, That noble _Nennius’_ Duke, a captaine bolde, Of royall bloud, to Prince and countrey kinde, Whose fame a place aboue the skies shall finde.

When he the feates of armes had learned well, And coulde encounter with the best aliue, Hee not to treason nor to falshode fell, Nor with his ciuill friendes at home to striue: But hence the landed _Romaynes_ out to driue. Which sith he did, to Prince and countrey kinde, His fame a place aboue the skies shall finde.

Eke sith the rest, as were their liues obscure, Haue tolde their tales, but simply as you see: To helpe my style, the _Muses_ most demure, For _Nennius’_ sake, gaue greater grace to mee, Or else I thinke, frend Reader, t’was for thee, That when thou readst of _Nennius’_ noble minde, Thou maist be so to Prince and countrey kinde.

I will no longer thee from reading stay, But wish thee marke howe he exhorteth all: Do learne by him for countreye’s sake to fray, In peace no broyles of warres at home to brall: And thinke thou seest that noble captayne tall Thus wise display his warlike noble minde, Duke _Nennius_, so to Prince and countrey kinde.

Howe the worthie _Britaine_ Duke Nennius as a valiaunt souldier and faithfull subiecte encountred with Iulius Cæsar, was by him death wounded: yet naytheles[692] he gate Cæsar’s sworde, put him to flight, slewe therewith Labianus a Tribune of the Romaynes, endured fight till his countreymen wanne the field, and now encourageth all good subiectes, to defende their countrey from the power of forraine and entruding enemies. He was slaine about the yeere before Christ, 52.

I may by right some later writers blame, Of stories olde, as rude or negligent: Or else I may them wel vnlearned name, Or heedlesse in those thinges about they went: Some time on me as well they might haue spent,[693] As on such traytours, tyrants, harlots, those Which to their countreyes were the deadliest foes.[694]

Ne for my selfe I would not[695] this recite, (Although I haue occasion good thereto) But sure, me thinkes it is too great despite These men to others and their countreyes do,[696] For there are _Britaynes_, neyther one or two, Whose names in stories scarcely once appeare: And yet their liues examples worthie were.

T’s worthie prayse (I graunt) to write the endes Of vicious men, and teach the like beware: For what hath he of vertue that commendes Such persons lewde, as naught of vertue’s care: But for to leaue out those prayse-worthie are, Is like as if a man had not the skill To prayse the good, but discommend the ill.

I craue no prayse, although my selfe deseru’d As great a laude as any _Britayne_ yore:[697] But I would haue it tolde how well I seru’d My Prince and Countrye, Fayth to both I bore: All noble hearts hereby with courage more May both their forayne foes in fight[698] withstand, And of their enmies haue[699] the vpper hand.

Agayne, to shewe how valiaunt then wee were (You _Britaynes_ good) to moue your hearts thereby, All other nations lesse in fight to feare, And for your countrye rather so to die With valiaunt hauty courage, as did I, Then liue in bondage, seruice, slauery, thrall Of forayne powres, which hate your manhood all.

Doe giue mee leaue to speake but euen a while, And marke, and write the story I thee tell: By North from _London_ more then fifty mile, There lies the Isle of _Ely_ knowne full well, Wherein my father built a place to dwell: And for because hee liked well the same, Hee gaue the place hee _Ely_ hight his name.[700]

7.[701]

’Tis namde the Isle of _Ely_ yet, perdy My father namde it so: yet writers misse, Or if I may bee bolde to say, they ly Of him, which tell that farre vntruth like is: What truth (I pray you) seemes to bee in this Hee _Ely_ lou’d, a goodly place built there, Most it delited, raygnde not full a yeare.[702]

Hee raygned forty yeares, as other tell, Which seemes (as ’tis) a tale more true by farre.[703] By Iustice guided hee his subiects well, And liude in peace, without the broyles of warre. His childrens noble acts in stories are, In vulgar tongue: but nought is sayd of mee, And yet I worthy was the yongste of three.

His eldest sonne and heyre was after King, A noble Prince and hee was named _Lud_, Full politicke and wise in euery thing, And one that wil’d his Countrey alwayes good: Such vses, customes, statutes hee withstood, As seemde to bring the publique weales decay, And them abolisht, brake, repealde away.

10.

So hee the walles of _Troy_ the new renewde, Them fortified with[704] forty Towres about: And at the west side of the wall hee vewde The Towre o’th[705] gate to keepe[706] the enmyes[707] out, That made hee prisons for the poore bankrout, Namde Ludgate yet, for free men debters, free From hurt, till with their creditours they gree.

11.

Some say the City also tooke the name Of _Lud_ my brother: for hee it reparde: And I must needes as true confesse the same, For why that time no cost on it hee sparde: He still increast and peopled euery warde, And bad them aye _Kaerlud_, the City call, Or _Ludstone_, now you name it _London_ all.

12.

At length hee died, his children vnder age, The elder named was _Androgeus_: Committing both vnto my brother’s charge, The yonger of them hight _Tennancius_: The _Britaynes_ wanting aged rulers thus, Choose for that time _Cassibellane_ their King, My brother Iustice ment in euery thing.

13.

The _Romayne_ then the mighty _Cæsar_ fought Agaynst the _Galles_, and conquerde them by might: Which done, hee stoode on shoares where see hee mought The _Ocean_ Seas, and _Britayne_ clieues full bright. (Quoth hee) what region lyes there in my sight? Mee thinkes some Iland in the Seas I see, Not yet subdued, nor vanquist yet by mee.

14.

With that they told him wee the _Britaynes_ were, A people stout, and fearce in feates of warre: (Quoth hee) the _Romaynes_ neuer yet with feare Of nation rude were daunted of so farre, Wee therefore mind to proue them what they are. And therewithall hee[708] letters hither sent, By those ambassage brought, and thus they went.[709]

C. IVLIVS CÆSAR Consull of Rome, to Cassibellane King of Britayne, sendeth greeting.

Sith that the Gods haue giuen vs all the West, As subiects to our _Romayne_ Empire hie, By warre, or as it seemed _Ioue_ the best, Of whom wee _Romaynes_ came, and chiefly I:

Therefore to you which in the _Ocean_ dwell, (As yet not vnderneath subiection due) Wee send our letters greeting: wete yee well In warlike cases thus wee deale with you,

First, that you, as the other regions, pay Vs tribute yearely, _Romaynes_ wee require: Then, that you will with all the force you may Withstand our foes as yours, with sword and fire:

And thirdly, that by these you hostage[710] send T’assure the couenaunts once agreed by you: So with your daunger lesse our warres may end Else bid wee warre. _Cassibellane_ adieu.

CÆSAR.

15.

No sooner were these[711] _Cæsar’s_ letters seene, But straight the King for all his nobles sent, Hee shewde them what their auncestours had beene, And prayde them tell in this their whole intent: Hee told them whereabout the _Romaynes_ went, And what subiection was, how seruile they Should bee if _Cæsar_ bare their pompe away.

16.

And all the _Britaynes_ euen as set on fire, (My selfe not least enflamed was to fight) Did humbly him in ioyfull wise desire,[712] That hee his letters would to _Cæsar_ write, And tell him playne wee past not of his spite: Wee past as litle of the _Romaynes_, wee, And lesse then they of vs, if lesse might bee.

17.

Wherefore the ioyfull King agayne replide, Through counsaile wise of all the nobles had: By letters hee the _Romaynes_ hests denide, Which made the _Britaynes_ hauty harts full glad: And eke the _Romayne_ Consull proude as mad[713] To heare these letters written: thus they went, Which hee agayne to mighty _Cæsar_ sent.

CASSIBELLANE King of Britayne to C. Iulius Cæsar Consull of Rome.

As thou, O _Cæsar_, writste the Gods haue geuen to thee The west: so I replye, they gaue this Island[714] mee. Thou sayst you _Romaynes_ and thy selfe of Gods discend, And darst thou then to spoile our _Troian_ bloud pretend? Againe, though Gods haue giu’n thee all the world as thine, That’s parted from the world, thou getst no land of mine. And sith likewise of Gods wee came a Nation free, Wee owe no tribute, ayde, or pledge to _Rome_, or thee: Retracte thy will, or wage thy warre, as likes thee best: Wee are to fight, and rather then to frendship, prest. To saue our Countrye from the force of foraine strife, Eche _Britayne_ here is well content to venter life. Wee feare not of the end or daungers thou doest tell, But vse thy pleasure if thou maist, thus fare thou well.

CASSIBELLANE.

18.

When _Cæsar_ had receau’d his aunswere so, It vext him much hee thereupon decreede[715] To wage vs warre, and worke vs _Britaynes_ woe: Wherefore[716] hee hasted hitherwarde with speede. Wee _Britaynes_ eke preparde our selues[717] with heede To meete the _Romaynes_, all in warlike guise, With all the force, and speede wee[718] might deuise.

19.

And here the wiser deemde[719] it meeter much T’assayle them first[720] at th’entry on this land, Then for to giue aryuall here[721] to such, Might with our victualls ayde[722] our selues withstand: ’Tis better far thy enmy to aband[723] Quite from thy borders, to a forayne[724] soyle, Then hee at home thee and thy Countrye spoile.

20.

Wherefore wee met him at his entry in, And pitche our camps directly in his way: Wee minded sure to leese, or else to winne The praise, before wee past from thence away: So when that both the armies were in ray, And trumpets blaste on euery side was blowne, Our mindes to either eche were quickly knowne.

21.

Wee ioyned battayle, fearcely both wee fought, The _Romaynes_ to enlarge their Empyre’s fame: And wee with all the force and might wee mought, To saue our Countrye and to keepe our name: O, worthy _Britaynes_! learne to doe the same: Wee brake the rayes of all the _Romayne_ hoast, And made the mighty _Cæsar_ leaue his boast.

22.

Yet hee the worthyest Captaine euer was, Brought all in ray and fought agayne a new, His skilfull souldiers hee could bring to passe At once, for why his traynings all they knew: No sooner I his noble corps did vewe, But in I brake amongste the Captaynes band, And there I fought with _Cæsar_ hand to hand.

23.

O God thou mightst haue giuen a _Britayne_ grace, T’haue slayne the _Romayne Cæsar_ noble then, Which sought his bloud the _Britaynes_[725] to deface, And bring in bondage valiaunt worthy men, Hee neuer should haue gone to _Rome_ agen, To fight with _Pompey_, or his peeres to slay, Or else to bring his Countrey in decay.

24.

It ioyde my harte, to strike on _Cæsar’s_ crest, O _Cæsar_, that there had bene none but wee! I often made my sword to try thy brest, But Lady Fortune did not fauoure mee:[726] I able was mee thought with _Cæsars_ three To try the case: I made thy harte to quake, When on thy crest with mighty stroke I strake.

25.

The strokes thou strookste mee hurt mee nought at all, For why, thy strength was nothing in respect: But thou hadst bath’d thy sword in poyson all, Which did my wound, not deadly els, infect: Yet was I or I parted thence bewreckte, I gate thy sworde from thee for all thy fame, And made thee flye for feare to eate the same.

26.

For when thy sword was in my target fast, I made thee flye and quickely leaue thy hold, Thou neuer wast in all thy life so gast, Nor durst agayne bee euer halfe so bold: I made a number _Romaynes_ hartes full cold: Fight, fight, you noble _Britaynes_ now (quoth I) Wee neuer all will vnreuenged die.

27.

What _Cæsar_ though thy prayse and mine bee od, (Perdy the stories[727] scarce remember mee) Though Poets all of thee doe make a God, (Such simple fooles in making Gods they bee) Yet if I might[728] my quarell try’d[729] with thee, Thou neuer hadst retournde to _Rome_ agayne, Nor of thy faithfull friends bin beastly slayne.

28.

A number _Britaynes_ mightst thou there haue seene Death-wounded fight,[730] and spoile their spitefull foes: My selfe maimde slewe and mangled mo (I weene) When I was hurte then twenty more of those: I made the _Romaynes_ harts to take their hose,[731] In all the campe no _Romayne_ scarce I spide, Durst halfe the[732] combate gainst a _Britayne_ byde.

29.

At length I met a noble man, they cald Him _Labienus_, one of _Cæsar’s_ friends, A Tribune erst[733] had many _Britaynes_ thrald, Was one of _Cæsar’s_ legats, forth hee sends: Well met (quoth I) I minde to make th’amends,[734] For all thy frendships[735] to our Countrey crew: And so with _Cæsar’s_ sword his friend I slew.

30.

What neede I name you euery _Britayne_ here, As first the King, the nobles all besyde, Full stout and worthy wights in warre that were, As euer erst the stately _Romaynes_ tryde: Wee fought so long they durst no longer bide: Proude _Cæsar_ hee for all his bragges and boste Flew backe to ships, with halfe his scattered hoste.

31.

If hee had bene a God (as sotts him nam’d) Hee could not of vs _Britaynes_ taken foile, The Monarche _Cæsar_ might haue bene asham’d From such an Island with his ships recoyle, Or else to flye and leaue behinde the spoile: But life is sweete, hee thought it better flye, Then byde amongste vs _Britaynes_, here[736] to die.

32.

I had his sword was named _Crocea mors_, With which hee gaue mee in the head a stroke, The venime of the which had such a force, It able was to pearce the harte of oke: No medcines might the poyson out reuoke, Wherefore though scarce hee perced had the skin, In fifteene dayes my braynes it rancled in.[737]

33.

And then to soone (alas) therefore I dyde, Yet would to God hee had returnde agayne, So that I might but once the dastard spyde, Before hee went I had the serpent slayne. Hee playde the coward cutthrote all to playne: A beastly serpent’s harte that beaste detects, Which, or hee fight, his sworde with bane infects.

34.

Well, then my death brought _Cæsar_ no renowne, For both I gate thereby eternall fame, And eke his sworde to strike his friends adowne: I slewe therewith his _Labiene_ by name: With Prince against my Countrey foes I came, Was wounded yet did neuer faynt nor yeelde, Till _Cæsar_ with his souldiers fled the fielde.

34.

Who would not venter life in such a case? Who would not fight at Countrye’s whole request? Who would not meeting _Cæsar_ in the place, Fight for life, Prince, and Countrye, with the best? The greatest courage is by facts exprest: Then for thy Prince, with fortitude, as I, And Realme’s defence,[738] is praise to liue or dy.

35.

Now write my life when thou hast leasure, and Will all thy countrymen to learne by mee, Both for their Prince and for their natiue land, As valiaunt, bolde, and fearelesse for to bee. A paterne playne of fortitude they see: To which directly if themselues they frame, They shall preserue their Countrye, fayth, and fame.

LENUOY.[739]

When noble _Nennius_ thus had ended talke, Me thought he vanisht with so sweete a smell,[740] As though the[741] graces all with him had walkte, And what I heard of musicke did excell, Like notes of instruments no tongue can tell, In[742] harmony of such an heauenly noyes, Me seemde they passed all our earthly ioyes.

Their tunes declarde the battayle all so right, As if the _Britaynes_ and the _Romaines_ than Had presently in hearing and in sight, A fresh the bloudy battayle all began: Me thought I heard the vertues of the man By notes declarde, and _Cæsar’s_ daungers tolde More plainely then with eyes I might beholde.

But when they came to tell of _Cæsar’s_ flight, I saw the _Romaines_ fall me thought full fast, And all the _Britaynes_ chace them euen till night: Wherewith, the sound of _British_ trumpets blast Made me so madde, amazed[743] at the last, I lookt about for sworde or weapon, I To runne with _Britaynes_ cryde, they flie, they flie.

Their flight to ships and foyle the trumpets sound, And blewe the victours triumphes at returne: The noyse well nigh my sences did confound, And made my heart with all their loues to burne: But when they gan the wounded _Britaynes_ mourne With doubled wayling shrickes, such cryes they sente And sobbes and sighes, wel nigh my heart they rente.

Eke chiefly they at noble _Nennius_ stayde, They seemde with dolefull tunes their notes to riue: And sodaynly his prayse againe they playde, O worthie _Nennius_ for thy factes aliue! The trumpe of fame was straightly chargde reuiue, And keepe, maintaine and celebrate his prayse: Which done, me thought they vanisht[744] quite their wayes.

On this in troubled traunce I lay a while,[745] In ioy reioycing what a wight he was, A worthie Duke,[746] that for this noble Ile So fought it forth, a myrrour fayre,[747] a glasse For those aliue: his vertues so surpasse,[748] That[749] for his factes, fight, fortitude, and fame, He well deserues[750] an euerlasting name.

At such a time and place is vertue tryde, When manhood may both Prince and countrey please, But such a brunt the valiant will abide, And bende their force to worke their countreye’s ease: They thinke no trauayle loste, by land, or Seas, But venture fortune, goods, life, landes and heale, To fight it out for Prince and publique weale.

You that haue heard or read the worthie factes Of _Nennius_ here, (though[751] rudely pende by mee) Learne so to fight, let so your[752] noble actes By those that after come, recounted bee: I may full well reioyce he spake to mee, For if I had not stayde to heare him then, I thinke he scarce had come to speake agen.[753]

But next me thought appeared plaine in sight A noble Lorde, which once had lost his head, Of person tall, well set, a comely wight, Whome proude despite aliue to slaughter lead: Thus wise he wilde me penne how earst he spead, Perswading me, perdy, to write agen His fall, amongst the _Britayne_ noble men.

Howe the Lord Irenglas cosen to king Cassibellane was slayne by the Lord Elimine cosen to Androgeus Earle of London, about the yeere before Christ, 51.

Amongst the rest that whilome sate aloft, Amongst the rest, that once had happie chaunce, Amongst the rest, that had good Fortune oft, Amongst the rest, that coulde themselues aduaunce, Amongst the rest, that led in warres the staunce,[754] And wanne the palme, the prayse, renowne, and fame, [(Yet after fell in proofe to trye the same)] Leaue in thy booke a place to put my name.

[Which, _Higgins_, if thou shalt, and write therein This tale I tell, no doubt thou shalt me please; Thy selfe likewise thereby maist profit win; For why, who writes such histories as these, Doth often bring the Readers hearts such ease, And[755] when they sitte, and see what he doth note, And lessons learne to saue his[756] armour coate, Well fare his heart (say they) this worke that wrote.

Perhaps thou answere wilt and eke confesse, They may in deede giue thankes, and that is all: They can (saist thou) I thinke giue scarcely lesse, For such a gifte a guerdon farre too small: Well, yet doe write, content thy selfe withall, Thou must the ende that God appoyntes abide: Though they ingratefull be of reason wide, Thou must not therefore this thy talent hide.

This I obiect not that I thinke is so, But if it erst haue chaunced so to hitte, Thou shouldst not therefore let these stories go, Which may perchaunce so exercise thy witte, And may so frame thy phrases fine and fitte, Though now no other gifte then thankes thou haue: Yet shall thy verses liue, thy name to saue, And spread thy prayse, when thou art layde in graue.

But sure I thinke among so great a sort, As shall thy workes and writinges chaunce to see, Of courtzy all thou canst not finde them short, But some must needes consider well of thee: Though some doe pinche and saue, to thriue and thie, And some doe polle and pill to get the pelfe, And some haue layde vp all on leesing shelfe, Yet some will well consider of thy selfe.

I had almost stept in with thee so farre, To bid thee wryte and register my name, (Because I fearde of late the _Romayne_ warre Thou wrotste, had ended all thy former frame, And I had beene excluded from the same) That now I feare I wery thee with talke, While from my purpose farre aloofe I stalke, In steed of choyse, for cheese to giue thee chalke.][757]

Wherefore I will be briefe, and tell thee all My minde, the cause why I doe now appeare.[758] I will recite to thee my sodayne fall, And what in life mine exercises were: To which since I doe see thee set thine eare, Marke now my tale, and beare it well away, Marke what mee brought so sodayne in decaye, [And marke of lusty life the vnstable staye.]

Let who so stands trust to a stedfast holde, (Yf hee suppose hee may a steedy finde) And then hee neede not stagger when hee nolde, As I and others calde agayne to minde: But trust not Fortune, shee is counted blinde,[759] To prayse her prankes occasion giues no cause: Doe wisely, or you prayse her take the pause, [Else may you proue your selues at length but dawes.]

Some loue to boast what fortune they haue had, Some other blame misfortune theyrs as fast, Some tell of fortunes there bee good and bad, Some fooles of fortune make themselues agast, Some shewe of fortune comming, present, past, And say there is a fate that ruleth all: But sure it seemes theyr wisdome is but small, [To talke so much of Lady Fortune’s ball.]

10.

No fortune is so bad our selues ne frame,[760] There is no chaunce at all hath vs preseru’d, There is no fate whom wee haue neede to blame, There is no destiny but is deseru’d, No lucke that leases vs safe or vnpreseru’d: Let vs not then complayne of Fortune’s skill, For all our good descends from God’s good will, [And of our lewdnes springeth all our ill.]

11.

If so a man might stay on Fortune’s holde, Or else on Prince, as piller of defence, Then might my selfe t’haue done[761] the same bee bolde, In euery perill, purpose, or pretence: _Cassibellane_ as much as any Prince, Lou’d mee his cosin[762] _Irenglas_ by name, Both for my feats in armes, and fauour, fame,[763] [And for because I of his linage came.]

12.

I came (by parents) of his regall race, Liude happy dayes (if happy mortall bee) Had (as I sayd) his fauour, bare the grace, I was his loyall seruant[764] franke and free, But what of this at all preuayled mee? Yet furthermore the feates of armes I knew, I fought in field, when mighty _Cæsar_ flewe, [And of the _Romaynes_ came my part I slewe.]

13.

Shall I for this prayse Fortune ought at all? Did Fortune ought in this? no whit bee sure:[765] Or shall I blame her after for my fall, That neuer could mee any hurte procure? T’was glory vayne did sweetely mee allure, Wherefore giue care, and then with pen disclose [A tale which (though but rudely I dispose) Who reades and heares it both, may pleasure those.[766]]

14.

Full happy were our Countrey men that dy’d, And[767] noble _Nennius_, in the field wee[768] fought: When first both _Britaynes_, and the _Romaynes_ tryd With dint of sword, if titles theyrs were ought: They dyed in theyr defence, no pompe they sought, They liu’d to see their Countrey conquere still, They dy’d before they felt of priuate ill, [And bare eache other all their liues, good will.]

15.

When _Cæsar_ so with shamefull flight recoyl’d, And left our _Britayne_ land vnconquer’d first, Which only thought our Realme and vs t’haue spoyl’d, Wee came to see (of all our field the worst) Our souldiers slayne. O cruell _Cæsar_ curst (Quoth wee) should all these giltlesse _Britaynes_ die[769] [For thine ambition? fie, O _Cæsar_, fie,] That durst not[770] byde but like a dastard flie.

16.

But then to see them in aray to lie, And for to see them wounded all before, Not one but in his place his life did trye, To see the _Romaynes_ bloudy backes that bore In field, flight, dead, and scattered[771] on the shore, What thousand tongues (thinke you) could tell our ioy[772] This made our hartes reuiue, this pleas’d our _Roy_,[773] [And wee lesse fearde our enemies all annoy.]

17.

With trompets mourning tune, and wayling cries, And drummes, and fluits, and shawmes, wee sound adieu, And for our friends wee watred all our [weeping] eyes, As loth to leese the liues of such a [noble] crew: To th’earth wee bare them all in order dew, According vnto each man’s noble name, And as their byrth requirde and worthy fame, [Euen so to honour them, with herce wee came.]

18.

Of noble triumphes after was no spare, Wee _Britaynes_ erst were neuer halfe so glad, That so wee made the _Romaynes_ hence to fare, No tongue can tell the harty ioyes wee had: Wee were therewith so myrry mooded mad,[774] Our fingers tickled still, which came from fight, Wee had before our eyes our enmyes flight,[775] [And nought was seemely then but warlike might.][776]

19.

So fares it when the meaner giue the spoyle, And make the mighty all theyr force reuoke: So fares it when great victours feele the foyle, And meaner sorts of count doe giue the stroke,[777] That pearceth euen the hardest harte of oke, For where the weaker win the wage of fame, [And stronger leese their wonted noble name,] The victours harts a thousand ioyes enflame.

20.

A Iusting then proclaymed was for those, That turneis[778] would approatch themselues trye, Amongst vs _Britaynes_ (not agaynst our foes) Tweene th’Earle of _London’s_ cosin stout and I: And both the partes wee both could make, perdy, To winne the price, the prayse, the pompe consent, And eke the fame of former warres wee ment, But foolish was the end of our intent.[779]

21.

For why, when glory vayne stirres men to strife, When hope of prayse prouokes them once to ire, Then they at all regard no goods nor life, From faithfull frendship rudely they retire, They are so set with glorie’s gloze on fire, That quite they rule and reason wrest awrye, They turne away their friendly fuwting eye,[780] [And others eache, as fixed foes defie.]

22.

O God that workest all the wonders wrought, (And hast the powre to turne the hartes aliue) Graunt grace to those that labour so for nought But flitting fame, and titles hauty striue: Let not ambition so the Earth depriue Of worthy wightes, giue them some better grace, That they may run for Countrye’s weale their race, [And not their bloud with braynsicke brawles debace.]

23.

Let them not breake the bond of frendly loue In broyles of bate, but frendly faults redresse, Let not them so their manhood seeke to proue By priuate hate, to worke their owne distresse, So shall they neede their enemies feare[781] the lesse: Perdy, foule forayne[782] foes themselues they make, That in their Countrye, for vayne quarells sake,[783] [Doe dare in hand reuenging weapons take.]

24.

But what neede I on those aliue to stay, They haue examples good before their eyes, By which (if they haue grace) beware they may, The happiest men by others harmes are wise: Let them not then our warning wordes despise, Doe will them wisely of these thinges debate, For why, the foolishe aye the[784] warning hate, [Are neuer wise, or, had I wist, to late.][785]

25.

[Perhaps thou thinkste to long a time I stay, And from that I proposed erst digresse, Because that here (as it were by the way) For warning’s sake, my conscience I professe: Yet for my breache of compasse blame mee lesse, In talke, sith that thou come to heare mee art, Which seeme (as woemen vse) to reme my hart, Before I come to open all my smart.]

26.

Wee spent the day in iusting (as I sayd,) Appoynted erst among our selues before, And all the feates of armes in fielde wee playd, _Æneas_ taught our auncestours of yore, What neede I fill thine eares with talking more, My men and I had put those feates in vre, And hee likewise (but nothing yet so sure,) [Which did, at length, my haplesse end procure.]

27.

For as with fortune still I gaue the foyle, To him that thought the glory all to haue, When hee perceau’d hee coulde not keepe the coyle, Nor yet with equall match himselfe to saue, Occasion of dissention great hee gaue: In stead of iest hee offred earnest play, In lieu of sport hee spite did still[786] display, [In stead of myrth, both malice and decay.]

28.

The traytour vile, the tyraunt (so hee prou’d) With coward, canker’d, hatefull, hasty ire, And caytife dealing, shewde how mee hee[787] lou’d, When as hee could not to his hope aspire, To winne the prayse of triumph, his desire, Hee chalengde mee, and here began the broyle, He thought with banding braue to keepe the coyle, [Or else with flatts and facings mee to foyle.]

29.

And that because the[788] iudgment fauourde mee, [Perdy,] report almost of all the route,[789] Ran still that I was worthy praysde to bee, And often times they gaue mee all a shoute: This made mine enmies stare[790] and looke aboute, And often wish them euill aloude that cryde, Such is the nature still of naughty pryde, [Can nothing worse[791] then others prayse abyde.]

30.

Wee twayne (quoth hee) betwene our selues will try Alone our manhoods both, if thou consent: Wee ought not breake the Prince his peace, quoth I, His grace would not therewith bee well[792] content, And sith no hurt was here nor malice ment, You ought not so on choller take it ill, Though I to win the price put forth my skill, [But for my Knighthoode beare[793] mee more good will.]

31.[794]

With that quoth _Elenine_ (for so hee hight,) That was the Earle his cosin, then[795] my foe, I meane (quoth hee) to try the case in fight, Before thou passe againe my presence froe,[796] And euen with that hee raught to mee[797] a bloe: My friends nor I could[798] not this wrong abide, Wee drewe,[799] and so did those on th’other side [That fearcely[800] fought, and other each defide.]

32.

But I was all the marke whereat hee[801] shotte, The malice still hee[802] meant to none but mee, At mee hee[803] cast, and drewe mee for the lotte, Which should of all reuenge the ransom bee: Wherefore hee set them at mee francke[804] and free, Till mee they tooke, so compast rounde aboute, As I coulde not scape from among them out: [Was neuer Lord[805] betrayde with such a route.]

33.

To make it short: I singled was therefore, Euen as the Dere to finde his fatall stroke: I could not scape, in numbre they were more, My pageaunt was in presence there bespoke:[806] A pillowe they prepared mee of oke, My hands they bounde, along my corps they led, From of my shoulders quite they stroke my head, [And with my death theyr cruell eyes they fed.]

34.

If euer man that seru’d his Prince with payne, And well deserued of his publique weal: If euer Knight esteemde it greatest gayne, For Prince and Countrey in the warres to deale: My selfe was such, which venterde life and heale At all assayes, to saue my natiue soyle, With all my labour, trauayle, payne and toyle, [Both from the force of foes and foraine foyle.]

35.

Yet heere you see, at home I had my fall, Not by my fearcest foes that came in warre, But by my friend I gate this griping thrall, When folly framde vs both at home to iarre. Oh that my Countrey man[807] should raunge so farre, From wisedome’s way, to wedde himselfe to will, From reason’s rule, to wrest his wittes to ill, [From friendship fast, his dearest friend to kill!]

36.

Well, bid the rest beware of triumphes such, Bid them beware for titles vaine to striue, Bid them not trust such sullayne friends to much, Did them not so theyr honours high achieue: For if they will preserue theyr names aliue, There is no better way to worke the same Then to eschue of tyrany defame: [Meeke clemency deserues a noble name.][808]

LENUOY.

What griefe is this that such a worthy wight, (Which meant to Prince and Countrey both so wel) Should haue his death amongst his friendes adight, Though he in noble feates did so excell: But so full oft it falles (the trueth to tell) Who best doth meane the publike weales defence, By some mishap is soonest reaued thence.

Such _Nennius_ was (of whome I spake before) Such diuers haue in ages all bene seene, Such therefore still were enuide much the more, Both of the proude, and such as hatefull beene: For when they seeke the publique weales defence, By some mishap th’are soonest reaued thence:

But what ensues such members reaft away? The rest begin within themselues to striue, Which when they doe, the body feeles decay, It cannot long preserue it selfe aliue, For when diseases bad good health depriue, If once they reaue the vitall strength from thence, Too late is sought for sicknesse sure defence.

Now next appeard on stage the _Romayne_ stoute, Which made vs tribute first to Rome to pay, The monarch _Iulius Cæsar_, halfe in doubte In th’english tongue what he were best to say: At length me thought, not making more delay, His life, warres, death, to shewe he did commence, Which first with hostage bare the conquest hence.

How Caivs Ivlivs Cæsar which first made this Realme tributary to the Romaynes, was slayne in the Senate house, about the yeare before Christ, 42.

Although by _Bocas_ I haue whilom told my mind, And _Lydgate_ haue likewise translated wel the same, Yet sith my place in order here againe I find, And that my factes deseru’d in _Brytayne_ worthy fame, Let me againe renue to memory my name, Recite my mind, which if thou graunt to mee, Thou shalt therefore receiue a friendly fee, [And for my tale perhaps commended thou shalt bee.

But least thou seeme to doubt what Prince thou seest appeare, And wotst not well which way to winde or wrest his talke, As may both sound to like a perfect _English_ eare, And eke direct thy dreadfull pen which way to walke: Lest thou on this shouldst long diuine, or muse, or calke, I will the tell: but take in hand thy pen, First set thy selfe to write my wordes, and then A mirrour make yet more for Magistrates agen.]

If euer erst the fame of auncient _Romayne_ facts, Haue come to pearce thine eares before this present time, I thinke amongst the rest, likewise my noble actes Haue shewde them selues in sight, as _Phœbus_ fayre in prime. When first the _Romayne_ state began aloft to clime, And wanne the wealth of all the worlde beside, When first their force in warlike feates were tryde, [My selfe was victour hee that did the _Romaynes_ guyde.]

I, _Caius Iulius Cæsar Consull_, had to name, That worthie _Romayne_ borne, renownde with noble deedes, What neede I here recyte the linage whence I came, Or else in my great exploytes? perdy[809] t’s more then needes, But onely this to tell of purpose now proceedes, Why I a _Romayne_ Prince, no _Brytayne_, here Amongst these _Britayne_ Princes now appeere, [As if amongst the rest a _Britayne_ Prince I were.]

And yet because thou maist perceyue the story all Of all my life, and so deeme better of the end, I will againe the same to mind yet briefly call, To tell thee how thou maist me prayse or discommend: Which when thou hast, perdy,[810] as I recyte it, pend, Thou shalt confesse that I deserued well, Amongst them here my tragedie to tell, [By conquest sith I wanne this Ile before I fell.]

What neede I first recite my petegrue well knowne? No noble authour writes that can forget the same, My prayse I know in print through all the worlde is blowne, Ther’s no man scarce that writes, but he recytes my fame: My worthie Father _Lucius Cæsar_ had to name, _Aurelia_ eke[811] my mother also hight, Of _Caius Cotta_ daughter borne by right, [As fayre and wise a dame as euer saw the light.]

How I was trayned vp in youth what neede I tell? Sith that my noble Aunt (that _Iulia_ hight) me taught, Who could with morall doctrine good instruct[812] me well, And sawe the frame in me that nature’s skill had wrought, By her instructions aye I wit and fauour sought: I was accounted comely of my grace, I had by nature’s gift a Princely face, [And wisedome high to wey and deeme of euery case.]

Of stature high and tall, of colour fayre and white, Of body spare and leane yet comely made to see, What neede I more of these impertinent recyte, Sith _Plutarch_ hath at large describde it all to thee, And eke thy selfe that think’st thou seest and hearest me, Maist well suppose the rest, [or take the viewe Thou maist by talke of those which erst me knewe, And by my statures’ tell of my proportion true.][813]

In iourney swift I was and prompte and quicke of witte, My eloquence was likte of all that hearde me pleade, I had the grace to vse my tearmes and place them fitte, My roling Rhetoricke stoode my Clients oft in steade: No fine conueyance past the compasse of my heade, I wan the spurres, I had the laud and prayse, I past them all that pleaded in those dayes, [I had of warlike knawledge, Keasar, all the keyes.]

10.

At seuenteene yeeres of age a _Flamin_ was I chose, An office great in _Rome_ of priesthoode Princely hie, I married eke _Cossutia_ whereof much mischiefe rose, Because I was diuorc’st from her so speedily: Diuorcement breeds despite,[814] defame is got thereby, For such as fancies fond by chaunge fulfil, Although they thinke it cannot come to ill, [The wrong they shew doth cry to God for vengeance still.]

11.

Of these the stories tell what neede I more recyte, Or of the warres I waged _Consul_ with the _Galles_, The worthiest writers had desire of me to write, They plac’st my life amongst the worthies and their falles: So Fame me thinks likewise amids the _Britaynes_, calles For _Cæsar_ with his sword, that bare [with them] the sway, And for the cause that brought him into such decay,[815] [Which by his noble acts did beare their freedome first away.]

12.

When I in _Fraunce_ had brought the _Galles_[816] to bende, And made them subject all obaysant vnto mee, Mee thought I had vnto the worlde his ende, By west subdued the Nations whilome[817] free: There of my warres[818] I wrot an historye [By nights, at leisure times so from my Countrey far,] I did describe the[819] places and [the] sequelles of my war The Commentaryes calde of _Cæsar’s_ acts that ar.

13.

At length I did perceaue there was an Island yet, By west of _Fraunce_ which in the _Ocean_ sea did lye, And that there was likewise no cause or time to let, But that I might with them the chance of Fortune trye: I sent to them for hostage of assuraunce, I, And wil’d them tribute pay vnto the _Romayne_ stoute, Or else I woulde both put theyr liues and goods in doubte. [And also reaue away the best of all theyr route.]

14.

But they a people fearce and recklesse of my powre Abused those which brought th’ambassage that I sent, Now sith (quoth they) the land and region here is oures, Wee will not _Cæsar_ to thy rightlesse hestes assent: By dome of frendly Goddes first this Ile wee hent, Of _Priame’s_ bloud wee ar from _Greece_ we _Troianes_ came: As _Brutus_ brought vs thence, and gaue this land his name, [So for our fredome we will freely fight to keep the same.]

15.

This lande reported was full fertile for the soyle, The wealthie warlike sorte of _Britaynes_ stout within, Were rather able well to giue, then take the foyle, To those which came by warres their freedom for to win: My selfe made first assault with them I did begin, Of all the _Romaynes_ first I waged with them warre, And this I can report, they valiant people are, [They feare no foes, they recke no fame, of people nere or farre.]

16.

It was reported eke that[820] in my warres in _Fraunce_, Some _Britaynes_ thether came amongst the _Galles_ to fight, And that for pleasure sake to try of _Mars_ the chaunce, And for to haue of _Romayne_[821] warres the sight: That they no labour sparde by day nor yet by night, In campe, in scoute, for hunger, heate, or colde: But were in all attemptes of armes so stout[822] and bolde, [As erst I neuer hearde of any nation tolde.]

17.

This fame enflamed me, displeasure eke I tooke, That glory hopt to get so doughtie heartes to daunt, On which with winds at wil, I _Gallia_ shoares forsooke, Full minded for to make the _Britaynes_ tribute graunt, Sith at my message sent they seemed so to taunt: With armour, souldiers good, and of munition store, [To strands and hauens and coastes of _Britayne_ shore] I came[823] appointed wel, with fiftie sayles or more.

18.

But so the noble _Britaynes_ playde the valiaunt men, By pollicies, and force to hurt my shippes and mee, That I was forced after my returne agen, To rigge my shippes: a wonders thing[824] to see: For in the strands and in the seas, where landing places be,[825] Sharpe postes they pight, whereon our shippes wee ron:[826] [And at our enemies shoares, that woulde haue glory won, In daunger both by land and sea were almost all vndone:[827]]

19.

And hardly[828] come to land, at length we met the hoast, And sharpely fought with them, whose praises earst we herd, I haue no cause of _Britayne_ conquest for to boast, Of all the Regions first and last with whome I werd: A people stout and strong, enduring chaunces herd, And desperate, wilde and fearce, and recklesse found I then, Not soone agast with dinte, or fright with fall of men, [Nor brought to yeelde with blowes, but bent for life to strike agen.]

20.

For whan our armies mette, no daungers they forsooke, But so behau’de themselues in euery place of fight, As though to Martiall feates they onely had betooke Themselues, and for the palme did all their dealinges dight: Though with my _Romaynes_ I wagde all my warlike might, I was not able there, to cause them yeelde or flee, Or for a space to take a time of truce with mee, [Thou shalt (quod they) perceiue our equall _Mars_ with thee.]

21.

The toyles wee tooke to enter at the first on land, And for to saue our shattered ships and armour brought, To wey them out that else had bulgd themselves in sand, Hereon before the fielde with might and mayne we wrought, Beside at skirmish oft, vpon the shoare we fought; These labours tyred so my men and me that tyde, That we could not endure the battayles brunt t’abyde, [But sound retrayte till better Fortune might vs guyde.]

22.

They followed harde the chace with scath and losse we scapt, And shipt we hoysed sayles, to _Fraunce_ we made retyre: Where for an armie newe another roade we shapt, If winterr colde were past, to come agayne another yeere:[829] And so wee did in deede, and bought our comming deere, For they prouided had so well to fight, that I With all mine armies stoute could finde no victorye, [But fayne eftsoones with losse of men for life was forc’st to flye.]

23.

Againe to shippe my mates I bad my Captaines sturre, Eke from this people fearce with speede to shift away, The chaunce of warre is hard and doubtfull for t’ assure, Where th’ enemies neyther dint of death nor dangers fray: They reckt not of their wealth, nor losse of goods decay, But for their freedom fought, on Princes case they stood, With ioyfull heartes they waged warlike life and blood: [They counted rule at home, and rest, and ease, the greatest good.]

24.

Almost I had no hope at all to make retourne, The people were so fearce, so recklesse,[830] stout, and bold, No time of rest I wrought amongst them to soiourne, They could not by the _Romayne_ peeres bee ruled[831] nor control’d: They sayde they would vs pay no siluer, brasse, nor golde, To our indictions sent they would not set their hand, But for to trye the case with all their power to stand, [And for to keepe by fight and force the freedome of their land.]

25.

When to the coastes of _Gallia_ land againe with losse wee come, That neuer erst with such repulse to foes did turne the backe, The _Britaynes_ they reioyce with triumphes all and some, And Fame doth [flye to] sound report, they make the _Romaynes_ packe: Where we no men, no coyne, nor no munition lacke, No captaines good, no arte, no vitayle, hearte to fight, A goodly spoyle, the land a pray before our sight: [We wanted wonted hap, we could not cut them out aright.]

26.

Now marke the hap wee had while I in _Gallia_ lay, The _Britaynes_ past the time in triumphes and in feastes, And for their second victory with sports[832] they spend the day, Accounting vs in their respect but dastard coward beastes: Amongst their other sport of Iusts and pleasant iestes, A ciuill discorde fell betweene two worthie noble peeres, Of courage both so good that neyther boasting feares,[833] [And either bad the other come and dar’de him for his ears.]

27.

The one hight _Irenglas_, of kinred to the king, A worthie wight in warre, and prudent, wise, and sage: The other _Elenine_, whose prayse no stories bring But stoutnesse in his fight, as ruled all by rage: Yet both against the _Romaynes_ with the king did wadge The _British_ warre full well, and serued as they ought, Till time at home the prayse of triumphes vaine they sought, [Which in the end brought all the former friendly fight to nought.]

28.

This _Elenine_ did beare him high, for[834] he was neere of kin Vnto _Androgeus_ which was the Earle of _London_ then, And claimed eke the palm (they say) that he did win In triumphes at the iustes amongst the noble men. But as they went about to trye the line agen, They fell from wordes to sharpe, and layde on loade amayne, [And many blowes were tryde alone betweene them twayne:] Till at the length, I wote not how, this _Irenglas_ was slayne.[835]

29.

The King did send for _Elenine_ [in haste,] but he was fled Vnto the Earle his cosin whence he would not come: He feared least he should haue lost his hated head; The guilty heart conceau’s before the iustice of his dome,[836] He wiste if once he went there needed him no toome, Wherefore he it refusde and th’earle was discontent, Who message sharpe againe vnto the King had sent, [That he his cosin for to saue and beare him out was bent.]

30.

_Cassibellane_ displeased much that subjectes shoulde Both slay his friend and eke refuse to bide the lawe, And also in rebellious wise endeuour what they coulde, To cut themselues vniustly from the Princes awe, Though it him greeu’d to see at home so foule a flawe, He could not yet abide the iniuries were showne, But armde himselfe and his, gainst subiects once his owne, [In hope to take the Rebelles so, or haue them ouerthrowne.]

31.

When th’earle _Androgeus_ sawe that hee was farre too weake, Against his Prince to wage rebellious warres begon, He sent to me,[837] desiring helpe to wreake The iniuries and wrong _Cassibellane_ had don: He _Sceua_ sent in hostage eke for pledge,[838] his onely sonne, And thirtie youthes beside of honour great well borne: I would not trust his talke, nor message sent beforne, [For feare I might (if fayne he did) by treason be forlorne.]

32.

On this I expedition made the thirde and laste, (For he did warrant mee my pourpose to obtayne) I shipt my men and hyed mee thetherward full fast, Had wind at will and came to see the shining shoares agayne: And of my comming so the Earle was glad and fayne: Wee ioyned hands and leage and armyes for the fight, [I was conducted well by day and darkesome night,] And faught, and put _Cassibellane_ the noble King to flight.

33.

Yet hee repayrde his hoste agayne that fearcely faught, And oft assayde to sley or take the Earle, or mee, And when hee sawe at length his labour vayled naught, And _Britaynes_ with the _Romaynes_ lynked so to bee, Great griefe hee had in them such treason for to see: His losse perdy in war[839] not greude him halfe so sore, [As for to see his people liege erst subiects euermore, To fight agaynst the royall king, which lou’d them so before.[840]]

34.

To make it short: the King was faine at length to yeelde The tribute graunted was three thousand pound a yere, Wee bare away the price, wee wan the worthy feelde, And made them frends agayne that bought our fauour dere: I neede no longer staye to tell the story here, Nor yet to gieue my friend the Earle of _London_ blame, Sith by his meanes I wanne to _Rome_ eternall fame, [Though he in _Britayne_ beare for aye a shrowding sheete of shame.]

35.

From _Fraunce_ I sent[841] to _Rome_, reporting how Amongst the _Galles_[842] and _Britaynes_ I had sped, I made request by frends, I might be _Consull_ now On my returne agayne, but _Pompeye’s_ hauty hed Did ioyne him selfe with Peeres and armies which he led, Alleadging playne I meant the publique weale t’nuade, They would represse my pryde with might and dint of blade, [And for to meete mee at retourne prouision greate they made.]

36.

With speede I came and force, which made them all to flye To _Greece_ from _Rome_ in haste, where they prepared war: For in _Epyrus_ then with souldiers they did lye, This _Pompey_ proude that made the _Romaynes_ with mee iar, Hee at _Dyrrachium_ stayde, to which (though it were far) I led mine hoste,[843] I skirmisht often there, [But hee so valiauntly in armes himselfe did beare,] That from[844] the fight to flye wee soone contented were.

37.

On this hee followed fast, in hope to winne the feelde, To _Thessaly_ hee came where I did stay therefore, Our armies met and fearcely faught, not bent to yeelde, Till fifteen hundred men were slayne, or more:[845] But in the end they fled, wee tooke of prisoners store, They durst not dare t’abide the chaunce of _Mars_ to trye, But as they fell before the sworde, and flye,[846] [O souldier holde thy hande, and saue theyr liues (quod I.)]

38.

Thence _Pompey_ fled the fielde and into _Ægipt_ came, To _Ptolemy_ the king as then but yong of age, Where of his slaughter foule _Septimius_ hath the blame, Hee was his end that did these warres against mee wage: Euen so by course wee come to play vpon the stage, Our trauayles haue an end when wee doe feele the fall, For sith our[847] life is but a race of misery and thrall, [Death taketh at the length an order for vs all.]

39.

But _Pompeye’s_ friendes and sonnes did oft assaye, When hee was deade[848] to take reuenge on mee, And I by dint of sworde repelde theyr force awaye, Gate offices of rule and gouernde eche degree, At _Cæsar’s_ beck and call obeysaunt all they bee, Enacted lawes, derected ech estate, Emperially the first aloft I sate, [That had not then in all the worlde a mate.]

40.

But glory won the way to holde and keepe the same, To holde good Fortune fast a worke of skill,[849] Who so with prudent arte can stay that stately dame, Which sets vs vp so high vpon her hauty hill, And constant aye can keepe her loue and fauour still, He winnes immortall fame and high renowne:[850] [But thrise vnhappy hee that weres the stately crowne,] Yf once misfortune kicke and cast his[851] scepter downe.

41.

For when in _Rome_ I was[852] _Dictator_ chose, And Emperour or Captayne sole[853] for aye, My glory did procure mee secret[854] foes, Because aboue the rest I bare the sway,[855] By sundry meanes they sought my deepe decaye,[856] For why, there coulde no _Consuls_ chosen bee,[857] [No _Pretor_ take the place, no sentence haue decree,] Vnlesse it likte mee first and were approude by mee.

42.

This they enuide that[858] sude aloft to clime, As _Cassius_,[859] which the _Pretorship_ did craue, And _Brutus_ eke his friende which bare the crime[860] Of my dispatch,[861] for they did first depraue My life, mine actes, and[862] sought my bloud to haue, Full secretly amongst them selues conspirde, decreede To bee attemptors of that cruell bloudy deede, [When _Cæsar_ in the _Senate_ house from noble hart should bleede.]

43.

But[863] I forewarned was by _Capis_ tombe,[864] His _Epitaph_ my death did long before forshowe, _Cornelius Balbus_ sawe mine horses headlesse ronne Without a guide,[865] forsakeing foode for woe, _Spurina_ warned mee that sooth of thinges did knowe, A wrenne[866] in beake with Laurell greene that flewe [From woods to _Pompey’s_ Court, whom birdes there slew,] Forshowde my dolefull death, as after all men knew.

44.

The night before my slaughter[867] I did dreame I caried was and[868] flewe the clouds aboue, And sometime hand in hand with[869] loue supreame [I walkte mee thought, which might suspitions moue:] My wife _Calphurnia_, _Cæsar’s_ only loue, Did dreame shee sawe her crest of house to fall, Her husband thrust through breast a sword withall, Eke that same night her chamber dores themselues flewe open all.

45.

These thinges did make mee doubte that morning much,[870] And I accrazed was and thought at home to stay, But who is hee can voyde of destnyes such,[871] Where so great number seekes hym to betray:[872] The traytour _Brutus_[873] bad mee not delay, Nor yet to frustrate there, so great assembly sate, [On which to heare the publique pleas I gate, Mistrusting naught mine end and fatall fate.][874]

46.

There met mee by the way a _Romayne_ good[875] Presenting mee a scrole of euery name,[876] And all their whole deuise that sought my bloud,[877] That presently would execute[878] the same: But I supposde[879] that for some suit hee came, I heedelesse bare this scrole in my left hand,[880] [And others more till leasure, left vnscand, Which in my pocket afterwards they fand.][881]

47.

_Spurina_ as I came, at sacrifizes was, Nere to the place where I was after slayne: Of whose diuinings I did[882] litle passe, Though hee to warne mee oft before was fayne,[883] My hauty hart these warnings all disdayne: (Quoth I) the Ides of Marche bee come, yet harme is none, (Quoth hee) the Ides of Marche be come, yet th’ar not gone, [And reckelesse so to Court I went, and tooke my throne.]

48.

Assoone as I was set, the traytors all arose, And one approached nere, as to demaund some thing, To whom as I layd[884] eare, at once my foes[885] Mee compast round,[886] their weapons hid they bring, Then I to late perceiu’d the fatall sting:[887] O this (quoth I) is violence: then _Cassius_ pearst my breast: And _Brutus_ thou my sonne (quoth I) whom erst I loued best? [Hee stabde mee in, and so with daggers did the rest.]

49.

You Princes all and noble men beware of pride, And carefull will to warre for Kingdome’s sake, By mee, that set my selfe aloft the world to guide, Beware what bloudsheds you doe vndertake: Ere three and twenty wounds had made my hart to quake, What thousands fell for _Pompey’s_ pride and mine? Of _Pompey’s_ life that cut the vital line, Myselfe haue told what fate I found in fine.[888]

50.

Full many noble men to rule alone I slewe, And some themselues for griefe[889] of hart did slay: For they ne would mine Empyre stay to vewe,[890] Some I did force to yeelde, some fled away,[891] As loth to see[892] theyr Countrye’s quite[893] decay The world in _Aphrike_, _Asia_,[894] distant far, And _Europe_ knew[895] my bloudsheds great in war, [Recounted yet through all the world that ar.]

51.

But sith my whole pretence was glory[896] vayne, To haue renowne and rule aboue[897] the rest, Without remorce of[898] many thousands slayne, Which, for their owne defence, their warres addrest:[899] I deeme[900] therefore my stony harte and brest Receiu’d so many wounds for iust reuenge, they stood[901] [By iustice right of _Ioue_, the sacred sentence good,] That who so slayes hee payes, the price is[902] bloud for bloud.

How Clavdivs Tiberius Nero Emperour of Rome was poysoned by Caius Caligula, The yeare of Christ, 39.

What bootes it hawty hartes depend so muche On high estate: auayles it ought thinke yee? The gold is tryde when it is brought to tuche: So tryall telles what worldly tryomphes bee. When glory shines, no daungers deepe wee see, Till wee at last finde true the prouerbe olde: Not all that shynes is pure and perfect golde.

While valiaunt men so burne with hoat desire Of royall rule, and thyrst so sore for seate, No springes of _Pernasse_ mount can quench the fire, Nor _Boreas_ blaste alay the hawty heate. On high renowne so much theyr braynes they beate, And toyle so much for fading flickering fame, On earth for ay to leaue behinde a name.

But if they would marke Fortune’s double face, And how shee turnes about the totering wheele: How shee doth chaunge her minde and turne her grace, How blinde of sight shee is, how light of heele: They would not rew the fatall falles they feele, They would not after blame her blindnesse so, But looke before, and leape her lightnesse froe.

Euen all well neare doe proake for price and proy,[903] And[904] prayse Dame Fortune first if they speede well: But if thereby fall after some anoy, They curse her then, as hatefull hagge of hell: If Fortune firme had stoode, they had not fell. They banne her then, and yet themselues were curst, Which tooke her bayte so freely at the furst.

For while her idle impes doe bath in blisse, They count her giftes and pleasures all good hap, But if at last shee frowne (as custome is) And let them slip agayne beside her lap, They then confesse her baytes did boad some trap: As I haue prou’d, what Fortune giues to men, For pleasure eache, shee bringes displeasures ten.

_Augustus_ great that good _Octauius_ hight, The Emprour which in peace did rule so long, In whose good raigne was borne the Lord of light Nam’d _Iesus Christ_, in powre and workes so strong, Whom in my dayes the _Iewes_ opprest with wrong, Of which good _Christ_ anone I haue to tell: But of _Augustus_ first, and after how I fell.[905]

This noble Emprour did my mother wed, Which _Liuia_ hight, a fayre and noble dame, His daughter _Iulia_ I likewise did bed, And put away my wife of better fame, _Agrippa_, great with child, the more my blame: I was through this and th’ Emprisse _Liuia’s_ skill, Adopted Emprour by _Augustus_ will.

When hee was dead, then I _Tiberius_ raynde, Adopted thus, and for my noble acts, I was (perdy) to warre[906] and peace well traynde, Th’_Illyrians_ must confesse my famous facts, In three yeares space my powre their pride subacts: On them and _Germaynes_ triompht neare and farre, Saue _Punike_ fight the greatest _Romayne_ warre.

Now (for it was my hap a victoure soe To _Rome_ returne a yeare before his end) Throughout the world the fame of mee did goe, The _Romaynes_ all to fauour mee did bend. To them _Augustus_ did my warres commend, Adopted mee, and (as I sayd) for this, The _Romaynes_ bold and hee enbraued mee with blisse.[907]

10.

So when I had obtayned my desire, Who then but _Cæsar_ I did rule alone, By nature proude presuming to aspire, Desembling that which afterwarde was knowne: For when the fathers minde to me was showne, Of their electing mine Emperiall place, I seemde to stay, refusing it a space.

11.

And thus to proue my friendes before I did, And eke to heare what euery one would say, Which was the cause why some I after rid, The best perdy[908] I made as foes away, By slaughter so I thought my throne to stay, But farre besides that I purposde it fell,[909] As time doth trye the fruite of thinges full well.

12.

Another griefe conceau’d I will recyte, Which made me with the _Senate_ discontent: From _Iudæa_ did[910] _Pontius Pilate_ write His letters how the _Iewes_, to malice bent, Had put to death one _Christ_ full innocent, The sonne of God, of might, of power no lesse, Which rose from death, as _Christians_ all confesse. Thus wise he wrote:

Pontius Pilate to his Lorde Claudius wisheth health.

[Sidenote: This letter is in _Flores historiarum_, but you may not thinke that I doe set it downe thereby to affirme that he wrate it. For I am perswaded he would not write so well, and yet it appears by Orosius and others that Claudius would haue made Christ to haue bene taken in Rome for a God, and that the Senate and he fell so at variance about the same matter.]

Of late it chaunst, which I haue proued well, The _Iewes_ through wrath by cruell doome haue lost Themselues, and all their offspring that ensue. For when their fathers promise had that God Would send to them from heauen his holy one, That might deseruingly be namde their King, And [promist] by a virgine him to th’earth to sende, The same (I pronoste here) when th’_Hebrewes_[911] God was come, And they him saw restore the blind to sight, To cleanse the leapers, cure the palsies eke, To cast diuelles[912] out of men, and rayse the dead, Commaund the windes, on sea with dry feete walke, And many maruayles great beside to doe, When all the _Iewish_ people called[913] him the sonne of God, The Chiefe Priestes enuying him deliuered him to mee,[914] And bringing many forged fained faultes Namde him a wisarde, and against[915] their lawes to doe: And I beleeud it so to be, and whipt him[916] for the cause, [Deliuering him to them to vse as they thought best.] They crucifide him, buried him, [set keepers at] his tombe, Yet he, while as my souldiers kept his graue,[917] The third day rose againe, and came to life. But so their hatreds bent, they[918] bribde the souldiers all, And bad them say, that his disciples stale his corps away.[919] The souldiers yet, when they the money [taken] had, Could not the trueth keepe silent of the facte: For both they witnessed that he was risen againe, And of the _Iewes_, that [they so taken money had. I therefore here so write to you, lest any othervvise Some lye do bring, or thinke vve should beleeue of _Iewes_ the lyes.[920]]

13.

These letters read, I did thereon conferre, Both with the fathers graue in high degree, And with the nobles of [the] _Senate_ were, That _Christ_ in _Rome_ as God might counted bee, To which they onely did not disagree, (Because the letters came not first to them) But by edicte [from _Rome_] did banish[921] Christen men.

14.

To th’ accusers of them threaten[922] death I did, Although _Seianus_ from my party fell The _Senate_ which the Christians sought to rid, By me were after seru’d in order well: For as Christ’s Godhead they would _Rome_ expell, And would not serue the God of meekenesse sent, To pot apace their hawty heads were pent.

15.

I banisht some, and some to death I put, And foure and twenty fathers graue I chose, From shoulders eke most of their heades I cut, And left likewise aliue but twaine of those: _Seianus_ I did slay, of _Drusus_ deadly foes: I _Germanique_ adopted late, with poyson slewe,[923] His sonnes likewise my poysons force well knewe.

16.

The men that did _Iehouae’s_ sonne refuse, The King of _Iewes_, the Lorde of life and health, Were gouern’de thus: _Tiberius_ thus did vse The men that were the Gods in common wealth, Forsaking so their heauenly sauing health: The Emprour I, which shoulde their liues defende, Sought all the meanes to bring their liues to ende.

17.

Yet to religion I was nothing bent, Dissembled things that least I fauour’d still, I neuer vsde to speake the thinges I meant, But bare in minde the wayes to worke men ill: I seem’de to some to beare them great good will, And those I tooke away as time did serue, Inconstant vnto each yet seeming seeld to swerue.

18.

To dronkennesse and ryote, sports and ease, And pleasure all I gaue my studie then, Nought more then subtile shiftings did me please, With bloudshed, craftie, vndermining men: My Courte was like a Lyon’s lurking den, The Iesters namde mee _Caldius Biberius Mero_, In stead of this my name, _Claudius Tiberius Nero_.

19.

I will no more my life describe this time, For why, my factes at last deserude defame, Infected with so many a fulsome crime, As may not here repeated be for shame: I haue no cause the Lady blinde to blame, But blame my selfe I must, abusing place,[924] Which might full well haue vsde the giftes of grace.

20.

Three things in fine I tell that wrought my fall, First vile dissembling both with God and man, For bloudshed then, which hauocke made of all, Bloud cryes to him that well reuenge it can, For filthie life I much offended than, Wherefore aliue thus poysoned with these three, _Caligula_ did find the fourth to bane vp mee.[925]

21.

To Princes this I say, and worthie Peeres, I wish them wisely wey that heare me shall, And poyse my first exploytes with later yeeres, And well consider one thing in my fall, Abuse of power abaseth Princes all: In throne on earth, [as _Ioue_, the Prince he sits, As _Ioue_ to iudge aright, he plyes his wits. If not, then _Ioue_ whose Justice he omits, With thunderbolt from sacred seate him hits.][926]

How Caivs Caesar Caligula Emperour of Rome was slayne by Cherea and others, The yeare of Christ, 42.

Vnhappy Princes haue in wealth no grace, To see how soone their vices ping them vnder, But run vnruly, reckelesse of their race, Till at the length they make themselues a wonder: When from aloft theyr traces fall asonder, There is no hope to hold aright the trace, [_Fortuna_ once when shee beginnes to thunder.] They cannot keepe aloft th’ Emperiall place: [The Lady blynde, so blindly makes them blunder.]

Behold my hap, on whom the _Romayne_ rout With ioy did gaze, when bloudy slayne I lay, Here lyes (quoth they), thrust thirty times throughout, The monster vile, that beast _Caligula_, Which did so many giltlesse _Romaynes_ slay: The nobles now the matrones neede not doubt, [The virgins now retayne theyr vertues may:] The worthy writers may their workes set out, [They neede no longer feare theyr foule decay.]

I was (I graunt) full lewdely led by lust, I forced nought of vertue, faith, nor lawe, In powre I put my confidence and trust, Regarding right nor Justice strickte a strawe: My facts infarst my life with many a flawe, [So Venus vile by dealings moste vniust,] Did mee to deedes of deadly inceste[927] drawe: [My sisters three accuse my rudenesse must,] Which had of God nor nature’s hestes the awe.

To make my selfe a God I did deuise, That _Iupiter_ to name my selfe did dare, For incestes vile, which all good wights despise, Nam’d _Bacchus_ eke a dronken shrine I bare; To call mee God some flatterers did not spare. By message I commaunded then likewise, [_Petronius_ at _Ierusalem_ prepare] By statue in the Temple to comprise, [Of honours so, to haue an heauenly share.]

I would not haue my slaughters here enrolde, And murders mischieues mingled with the rest, Without regard of sexe, of yong or olde, For which the _Romaynes_ did my life detest: To vices vile my deedes were all addrest: [Unfit they should bee here reherst or tolde: Wherefore to rid mee _Cheria_ thought it best, Some others eke t’accomplishe it were bolde, In thirty steedes they stabde me through the brest.][928]

My life was naught, and thus at last I dyde, My life procur’de both Gods and men my foes: Let Princes then beware of pompe and pride, And not themselues to vices such dispose: The throne will soone a Princely minde disclose, The tyraunt’s hart at once in throne is tryde, [_Iehoua_ iust beholds both these and those, T’abace the bad, the godly well to guide, The good to gard, and godlesse downe depose.[929]]

How Gviderivs King of Britayne and the elder sonne of Cimbaline was slayne in battayle by a Romayne, The yeare of Christ, 44.

Or as some write, 46.

Take, Higins, now in hand thy pen for mee, Let not my death and storye lye forgote, Good cause there is I should remembred bee, If thou the falles of _Britayne_ Princes note: Aloft I sate in Princely place a flote, I had the sword, I bare the scepter right, I was accounted aye a worthy wight, [And with the _Romaynes_ proud I waged warlike fight.]

_Guiderius_ was my name, of _Britayne_ yore, The sonne of _Cimbaline_, and after King: I tribute nild to _Romaynes_ payd before,[930] Mee thought it was to bace a seruile thing: No _Romayne_ should mee in subiection bring, [I sayd I would not pay them tribute, I, They did extort the same by force, perdy, Agaynst all right, a charge without occasion why.][931]

When _Claudius_ [_Cæsar_] sent this tribute for to haue, I sent him word agayn I would not pay, I would not graunt, vniustly hee did craue, That might in time procure my realme’s decay: Hee should not beare our freedome so away, [For as by treason _Cesar_ gate the fame, And tribute, when to winne this Realme hee came: So now I iustly might deny to pay the same.][932]

On this addreste him selfe in warlike sorte, The noble _Claudius_ [_Cæsar_] came to trye the case, Which had [perdy] before receaued high reporte, Both of my wealth, my force and noble grace: So thinking well hee might my fame [and mee] deface, From _Rome_ hee came to _Britayne_ with his host, And landed here vppon my Southerne cost, [By martiall feates to try whom Fortune fauourde most.]

Now marke my tale, and hereby shalt thou knowe The subtil slights of _Romaynes_ in their war: The slye deceats of such doe make a showe, Whereby to try the people what they ar: Note well such foes in dealing neare and far, Amidst the field, in scout, or fight alone, Of all the rest example take by one, [For vnder sunne of more despite a nation is there none.]

[Amongst his armies stout a Captayne fearce hee had, With whom encountring oft I made my party good, _Hamonius_ men hym cald, and hee was more then mad, Because his might so often fearcely I withstood: At last hee wrought a wyle which way to shed my bloud,][933] Hee clad him selfe as hee a _Britayne_ [souldier] weare, Like armour, sword, and target did hee beare, [And bad the _Romaynes_ of the field to take no feare.]

[Amongst the rest hee road, perceauing nothing wee, And made abought as t’were some _Britayne_ lost his place, Or broken out of ray, hee spyde an oape at mee, Which done, his men retyrde, and wee pursude the chace. Come on my mates (quoth hee) the _Romaynes_ flye apace, In _Britishe_ tongue hee spake, and sayd, They flye, they flye; Our hostages him taught that time at _Rome_ did lye, Whereby they deemde him all a _Britayne_, as did I.][934]

As wee pursude, in mee hee thrust [the fatall][935] blade, Betweene my armour splints hee gaue the wound, And fast away for life to shift hee made, [Which did by this disceate my life and mee confound: This was my fate, of my distresse the ground; And so recite my last adieu, declare this fall of mee, That men may shun the slights, and subtile wyles of foes may see. Who well takes heede of such may liue, and long the wiser bee.][936]

How Laelivs Hamo the Romayne Captayne was slayne after the slaughter of Guiderius, about the yeare of Christ, 46.

A Romayne Captayne I in _Britayne_ armoure clad,[937] Disguis’d therfore, in field did sley their noble King: I ventred in their host, and I my purpose had To venture so for Countrye’s sake a worthy thing; But who so wenes to win by slaughter high renowne, Hath often times the fate to fall by slaughter downe.

Euen so my selfe that slewe, short time my ioyes did last, In flight I taken was, and hewde in pieces small; Which downe the cleeues they did into the waters cast, And by my name as yet the hauen and harbor call: Who thinkes by slaughter’s prayse, to winne immortall fame By treason vile perchaunce encurres a shrouding sheete of shame.[938]

How Clavdivs Tiberius Drusus, Emperour of Rome, was poysoned by his wife Agrippina, the yeere of Christ, 56.

Say not the people well, that Fortune fauours fooles, So well they say[939] which name her beetle blinde; I neede not tell what[940] I haue learnde at schooles, But may by proofe expresse my foolish minde:[941] My mother by her prouerbs me a foole defyn’de, Which often sayd when any foolishly had done, In faith you are as wise as _Claudius_ my sonne.

It pleased her not onely so to name me sot, But also me a monster[942] oft she nam’de, Unperfect all, begun by nature, but begot, Not absolute, not well, nor fully fram’de,[943] Sith thus my mother often me defam’de,[944] What meant the men of _Rome_, which so elected me, A foole, a monster foule, their gouernour to be.

Th’Emperiall bloud perdy was[945] partely cause, That I (vnfit therefore) attaynde the throne,[946] And yet the _Senate_[947] tooke a while the pause, Determin’de to abolish[948] euery one Of _Cæsar’s_ linage,[949] as their mortall fone: For why they could[950] receiue no quiet reste, But still by vs were[951] cruelly oppreste.

The souldiers which me founde where I me hid[952] In place obscure,[953] vnfit for _Cæsar’s_ grace, They brought me forth,[954] there me proclayme they did, Because I seemde[955] much meekenesse to embrace, And could dissemble [eke to serue the place, Whereby the warriours were to me enclin’de, Supposing I was meeke, of gentle minde: But they herein and Fortune both were blinde.][956]

The wilely Foxe that seekes to sley the sheepe,[957] Doth fayne himselfe to beare[958] a simple eye; The rauening Wolfe would[959] take of Lambes the keepe, If he condemne the Mastiues might to dye;[960] The Crocadile will fayne[961] to weepe and crye; But if the sheepe, her young, or wandring man be caught, The Foxe, the Wolfe, and Crocadile,[962] haue euen the pray they sought.

So I could fayne,[963] as though I did refuse To take the Empire’s sway, a charge too greate,[964] But well I wiste,[965] if th’armie did me chuse, The _Senate_ could not thereof me defeate;[966] They could not stay me[967] from the hautie seate: Thus though I seem’d at first so simple, meeke and plaine; Yet was I subtile, slye, and glad of glory vaine.

But after this, I gaue[968] my selfe to ease, To wyne, to woemen eke, and belly chere,[969] And fearefull[970] was my wife for to displease, _Messalina_,[971] whose maners homely were; She made not onely me the horne[972] to beare, But also did allure good matrones vnto vice, And virgines chaste to sinne, or made them pay the price.

For if that eyther they abhor’d the facte,[973] Or men detested present for to bee,[974] Some crime[975] was fayn’de or else some haynous acte, Not they[976] nor theirs from slaughter could be free; My seruants were preferde in place of mee,[977] Their wealth was more then mine: the prouerbe went as then, I neede no treasure want, if I would please my men.

On this I caused her be[978] made away, And made a vowe no more for aye to wedde,[979] Because my wiues[980] sought eyther me to slay, Or else with whoredome to defile my bedde,[981] But at the length, s’enraged was my head,[982] _Agrippina_ my[983] brother’s daughter braue, Incestuously I chose, for spoused wife to haue.

10.

So leading then my life in slouth and sinne,[984] I gaue my selfe to ryote, cardes[985] and dice: And I so skilfull was at length therein,[986] I wrote of dicing arte a worke[987] of price: This may declare[988] if I were graue and wise; [Suspicious, doubtfull, fearefull so was I, To euery corner sent some secret spie.][989]

11.

So cruell, credulous, eache light offence[990] Was cause[991] to take away th’offender’s life: And so forgetfull, such[992] my negligence, I would eftsoones enquire for those full rife,[993] As for _Messalina_ of late[994] my wanton wife: Eke for such others I enquir’de agayne,[995] As I before commaunded shoulde be slayne.[996]

12.

And I extol’de[997] the meaner sort of men, Adorning them with titles[998] of estate, Euen such perdy as seru’d[999] my dyet then, Amongst the auncient fathers often sate.[1000] For this the noble _Romaynes_ did me hate.[1001] And for the cruell beastly[1002] life I lead, Full often times they wish’t that I were dead.[1003]

13.

_Agrippina_ perswaded me t’adopt her sonne,[1004] That after me the[1005] Empire he might haue; Which when at length[1006] I had vnwisely donne At her request,[1007] as she the same did craue, In recompence to me she poyson[1008] gaue, Whereof I dyed:[1009] this was my life and ende, Let so my factes and fatall fall be pen’de.[1010]

How the Emperovr Domitius Nero liued wickedly and tyrannously, and in the ende miserably slewe himselfe, the yeere of Christ, 70.

Must I that lead so loose a life speake here, Amongst the wreckes whom Fortune’s tempestes tore; Wel then I see I must, the case is clere, But blame I must my onely selfe therefore, I am that _Nero_ rule in _Rome_ that bore, _Agrippina_ my mother wrought that feate for mee,[1011] Her husband poisned, I might Emprour bee.

A while I gaue my selfe to gouerne well, As _Senecke_ graue instructed me thereto; But after, I to shamelesse dealings fell, At randome liu’de in lust as Lechers doe, To slaughters fell, of friendes and kinred to, Not sparing those in fleshly lustes desire, Whome nature’s impes dombe beasts will not require.

A shame it were to tell my hatefull life, But he that wanted shame, whose face was brasse, That spared neyther men, mayde, virgine, wife, Not mother, sister, kinde, nor kin that was, Whose factes both care and shame did alwayes passe: What shoulde be shame to doe, speake, thinke, or say, Which all his life cast bashfull shame away?

For wantonnesse, I past the filthy stues; For glutony, I had no where my peere; No kinde of crueltie but I did vse, No wickednesse from which my life was cleere: My pride did passe them all, both farre and neere; Against the trade of kind in shamelesse life, One man for bride me had, another for bridewife.[1012]

With golden nets in ryot I would fishe, And purple lines to drawe my nets I had; I vsed eke for pleasures many a dishe, And was with naught but lust and mischiefe glad: Though these thinges made the _Romaynes_ hartes full sad, They durst not speake: for who so did complayne, Without respect or sentence more, was slayne.

For pleasures sake to see the flames arise, I causde that _Rome_ should then on fire bee set, And for to feede therewith my gazing eyes, On high _Mæcenas_ Towre to stand I get: So, sixe dayes fire and seauen nights waste I let, And sang there while, beholding it with ioy, The _Iliades_ sweete of _Græcians_ burning _Troy_.

Then I restraynd that no man should resort To th’ ruines great, when as the fire was past; Nor should therefrom the reliques left transport, But to my selfe reserude them all at last: The marchaunts causelesse from their goods I cast, And _Senatours_ depriude of all that ere they had,[1013] Some slaine, the rest with life alone to scape[1014] were glad.

Still out the sword to slay all sortes I drewe, My mother could not scape amongst them free; My brother deare, and sisters eke I slewe, And of my wiues likewise a two or three: My kinsemen eke I kild of each degree, Reioysing in so heynous bloudshed still, Nought else with _Nero_ then but, kill, them kill.

And for that _Seneca_ mee counsayle gaue, (My tutour good in youth) to leaue my vice, I bad him choose what death him likte to haue, Which now should pay, for then, my stripes the price: In water warme to stand was his deuice, And there to bleede a milde and gentle death, Euen so I causde them reaue his vitall breath.

10.

So with almighty _Ioue_ I gan to warre, The Christians good I did torment and sley, Commaunding all my subiects neare and farre, Their liues and goods to spoyle and take away; Which they accomplisht strayght without delay, Both _Paul_ and _Peter_, Christe’s disciples twayne, Th’Apostles, both by mine edict were slayne.

11.

But what endureth long that’s violent? The thunder seemes some time to teare the skies, At seas full oft the stormes are vehement, To cloudes alofte the wales[1015] and waters rise, Soone after th’ayre is cleare, [and calme] the water lyes: Experience eke the same and prouerbes[1016] old doe showe, Eache storme will haue his calme, [and spring tide, ebbe full lowe.][1017]

12.

For when I went about to stroy[1018] the state, And all the _Romaynes_ noble fame t’obscure; The _Senate_ all, and people did mee hate, And sought which way they might my death procure: I could no longer mine outrage endure,[1019] They mee proclaymde a foe to publique weale, By night forsooke of all, was forst away to steale.[1020]

13.

The iudgement was, such foes should pillered bee By necke, in forke made fast full sure to byde; And should with rods so long there beaten bee, Untill therewith the woefull captiues dyde; From this correction therefore fast I hyde, And eke from _Galba_ then proclaymed Emprour newe, For feare of [doomed] death, by deedes deserued due.

14.

By night (I say) forsaken quite, I fled, And _Sporus_ th’eunuche most impure likewise, With others three, like filthy life that led: To slay my selfe I desperate then deuise, Whom all the world did so for sinne despise; And thirsting sore in flight, full fayne I [sweetly] dranke The waters foule, which standing long in diches stanke.[1021]

15.

My seruaunts would not mee requested kill:[1022] Haue I (quoth I) no foe, nor yet no frend, To reaue mee from this feare of conscience ill? Will no man make of _Nero_ naught[1023] an end? With that my brest to poynt of sword I bend, With trembling hand, which _Sporus_ holpe to stay, And on the same my selfe assayde to slay.

16.

With that, of _Galbae’s_ seruaunts one drewe nie, With fayned cheere, as though hee helpe mee would: To late you come, call you this helpe (quoth I)? Is this the friendshippe firme and fayth you holde? My life was filthy, vile for to beholde, My death more vile shall bee, more filthy I departe: With that I fell on sword, which ran me through the harte.[1024]

How Sergivs Galba the Emperour of Rome (gieuen to slaughter, ambition, and glotony) was slayne by the souldiers, The yeare of Christ, 71.

Amongst the hawty Emprours downe that fell, I _Sergius Galba_ may bee placed here, Where who so sees and markes my dealings well, To him may soone the fruites of fraude appeare; All murders great are bought with price full deare; Foule slaughters donne, procure as fowle a fall, As hee deserues that workes the woefull thrall.

In _Rome_ some time I _Prætour_ chosen was, And then obtaynde of _Spayne_ the prouince fayre, To gouerne there, I brought by friends to passe, In hope to be the Emprour _Neroe’s_ heyre. For when the _Romaynes_ did of him dispaire, So bent at home to slaughter, lust and vice, By warres abroad I wan the prayse and price.

To get the souldiers fauour I tooke payne, For in the Emprour’s choise they gaue the stroke; I therefore sought some spoyles for them to gayne, Though thereby oft the lawes of armes I broke, But who may wordes or actions donne reuoke? The stayne abides, where staylesse[1025] strikes the good, And vengeaunce wreckes the waste of giltlesse bloud.

In _Lusitania_ while that time I lay, I causde the people there assemble shoulde, Reporting I had somwhat for to say, Which in effect procure them profite would; To which they came as many nere as could, Full thirty thousand, thinking naught of ill, All which I causde the souldiers there to kill.

I sought some meanes that _Nero_ might abye,[1026] Not for his vicious life, but for his place; Although pretence were made his vice, perdy,[1027] Whom all good men accounted voyde of grace: But yet I could not stay so long a space, I causde in _Spayne_ the souldiers mee proclame, Which strayght they did, and gaue mee _Cæsar’s_ name.

To _Rome_ I hyde, and _Nero_ gate him thence, Hee stale away for feare of sentence past, A publique foe proclaymde for negligence, For slaughters donne, for fire of _Rome_ the wast: Eke for because hee was of mee agast, Hee slewe him selfe before my man could comme, Which slaughter else my seruaunts there had donne.

When I my maister thus subuerted had, The _Romaynes_ eke began mislike with mee: They sayd I was ambitious, nygh so bad And cruell, giuen to pride and glotony; Now I was ruled all by _Romaynes_ three, _Cornelius_, _Iulius_, _Celius_, for the state My schoolmaisters, for which they did mee hate.

And _Siluius Otho_ sought the Empire then, That vicious beast, and coward verlet vile, Hee delte by gyftes so with mine armed men, That factious rose in campe within a while; Which when I came them for to reconcile, To _Curtius_ lake, nere which the armie lay, Of _Siluius_ friendes the souldiers did me slay.

Strooke of my head, and bare it to my foe, Who causde it should bee set vpon a speare; So through the campe they bare it to and froe, Saluting it, now dead, a sorte there were, Which late thereof, aliue, did doubt and feare; O _Galba_, ioyfull dayes the Gods thee giue, God send thee _Galba_ well long time to liue.

10.

This was the guerdon of my hawty pryde, To haue mine head thus wise extold aloft: Thus I the gaynes of hasty climing tride, To leese mine head, and after haue it scoft: A thing perdy that[1028] chaunceth wonders oft. Who thinkes the gayne is sweete [he gets] by sheeding bloud, In purple yeeldes like gaine, to doe like people good.[1029]

How the Viciovs Siluius Otho, Emperour of Rome, slew hym selfe, The yeare of Christ 71.

Like will to like (for so the Prouerbe sayes) Such are the men, as those with whom they vse: The Goate with [the] Goate togeather is alwayes, The Wolfe not of Wolfe doth fellowship refuse:[1030] The crafty Foxe of Foxe the company doth chuse:[1031] And euery liuing creature loues [of] his kinde, As well as in shape, in qualityes of minde.[1032]

And yet all men that come in company, Are not embued with qualities alike; One loues song ma chaunce and melody,[1033] Another is perhaps Melancholike, Another fumishe is and Cholerike, Another dull and sottishe in his sence, And all (in some what) full of negligence.

Now then Complexion is somewhat in [the] case, Concerning cheefe the disposition; But yet the learned writers haue a place, What maners alter our Complexion; So some say also of correction: And sure I thinke if that they say bee true, I after was the worse for _Nero_ and his crue.[1034]

His Courtisane brought mee in fauour furst, Into his Court and fellowship I came; To mee recount his vilanyes hee durst, Not fit to tell, hee thought which had no shame; I will no more recite of his defame: The day was curst to mee which brought mee in, At _Neroe’s_ house, such infamy to winne.

But yet another did mee more infect, _Seleucus_ seene in _Mathematiques_ well; Hee of my birth a figure did erect, Of many haps and chaunces hee did tell, Incyted mee 'gaynst _Galba_ to rebell, Which[1035] warraunt if I would enuade the throne, I might aloft with scepter sit alone.

Reuenge eke of _Neroe’s_ death[1036] likewise, Incyted mee his enemy to kill; Then with my souldiers[1037] I did deuise, The way t’accomplishe mine endeuour still, Whom well I might perswade almost to any ill: Eke so in deede the souldiers did him slay, And brought to mee his head with them away.

I caused them to set it on a speare, About the campe to beare it as a show, To put the rest mine enemies in feare; So they before their punishment might know; Great giftes amongste the souldiers I bestow, Wherewith they all in campe, with one assent, To choose mee for their _Cæsar_, were content.

But now to hold it fast a worke of skill, [The scepter caught, the same to hold, perdy, Doth aske much arte, and labour aske it will,][1038] _Non minor est virtus, quam quærere, parta tueri_. The hawty seate hath many a greedy eye. The election was mislikte, and in short space, _Vitellius_ sought to vndermine my grace.

In armes wee were, and hee mee batayle gaue, First at _Placentia_, where I had the foyle; Fro _Bebriaque_ by force hee nexte mee draue, And did mine army vanquishe quite, and spoyle: There I not able farder to recoyle, Dispayring quite, I wist to flye no way, As _Nero_ erst, with sword my selfe I slay: [Such is the holde whereby false traytours stay. A miroure here of mee behold you may, Which for my pride, a purple price did pay: By bloud who rose, by treason caught decay.]

How Avlvs Vitellius Emperour of Rome came to an infortunate end, The yeare of Christ, 71.

To treade the staire to state, who takes in hand, And thereon enters first by bribes or bloud; On slippery ground hee cannot firmely stand, Ne fixte is hee, his hold is nothing good, Though he knew erst how firme on ground he stood, And thinke to fixe his seat with better hold; Hee cannot scape yet schotfree vncontrol’d.

To see before his face the fall of such As climbe vp so, and cannot yet take heede, But must of force th’imperiall title tuch, Wherein so many doubts of daunger breede: A poynt of peeuishe pride, a rage in deede By blindnesse blunt, a sottishe sweame hee feeles: With ioyes bereapte[1039] when death is hard at heeles.

Hence Fortune well tooke name, accounted blind, Because men fortunate vnfitly see; To pleasures sweete and honoures all enclynde, Without respect the most addicted bee, Regarding nought but titles of degree, Whereby mishaps, infortunes of their race, In high prospects of vew can take no place.

This blindnesse is not of the eyes alone, But of the minde a dimnesse and a mist; For when they shift to sit in hawty throne, With hope to rule the scepter as they list, Ther’s no regard nor feare of had-I-wist: The present pleasure, glory, wealth, and ioy Bereaues their gaze, the feare of all anoy.

The trade of men is such too late th’are wise; Too late they knowe which way mischaunces fell; At first the _Phrygians_ counsayle did despise, At last they knewe the way t’haue holpe it well, When _Græcians_ did their noble Princes quell, Had fierde and sackt their Towne of worthie fame, When they too late knewe howe t’haue sau’de the same.

Our _Cæsar_ sawe too late his cause of fall, And _Drusus_ poisned had as fortune ill; _Domitius Nero_ hated most of all, Eke _Galba_, which his master sought to kill, So _Siluius Otho_ whose bloud I did spill, And I _Vitellius_ may affirme with these, _Illud verum, Serio sapiunt Phryges_.

We all assaylde and gate the throne by sworde, So each we sawe how they before vs spead; The onely fruite which treason hath t’afforde, Is losse of pleasures, goods, lands, life or head; The gayne we get, stands vs small time in stead, The Fame we craue, becomes defame and shame, And rusts for aye deuouring our good name.

Of slaughters mine what neede I here discry, Or how the _Romaynes_ reft away my life, When I seuen monthes had raygned wickedly, Which entred in by bloud and ciuill strife; But this I finde too late a sequell rife, Who takes by sworde from Prince the scepter’s guide, By sworde from him the scepter so shall slide, [He cannot long himselfe from _Iouae’s_ Justice hide, When loyall loue thy Prince, let treason trudge beside.]

Londricvs the Picte slayne by King Marius of Britayne, about the 80. yeere of Christ, giues his verdit of Fortune.

Fortune erst was wont to lift aloft her children high,[1040] And giue them kingdoms great and conquests at her will, And place them, as they thought, aboue the gods welnigh, She blindly leades them forth as is her custome still, With pleasures all a while she doth their fancies fill, And at the last doth let them fall in foule despite againe.[1041] Shee sets aloft and pulles them downe with might and maine; [Such is of Fortune blind the use to plague her impes with pinching paine.]

When wee the glory see of those that come to great renowne,[1042] We are enflamed straight the like attempts to make; But when we see mischaunce againe to driue them downe, We are not able yet example there to take; The stormes of enuie blacke the hawtiest housen shake, The basest sort contend with all their force t’aspire; The meaner persons eke the loftie roomes require, [And equalles heartes doe burne with hatefull brands of burning ire.]

Then is the meane estate commended well for meaner sorte[1043] And golden meane is best in euery trade of life: For though a countrey clowne doe[1044] keepe a stately porte, [And in expenses great, and idle charge is rife; Although he brauely builde his house and proudly paint his wife, Yet is he but a clowne, and makes (in deede) himselfe a scorne: Full hard it is to make such one a gentill borne, Except some noble gifts of grace his gentill minde adorne.][1045]

So though a noble borne could get an higher seate By conquest, or by weale, by fauour, or by fight, And would from mighty _Ioue_ his petegrue repeate, Yet ought hee not aduaunce him selfe aboue his height, Hee ought not make a clayme to that hee hath no right, Or trust to Fortune so (although shee seeme to smyle) As though shee did not turne her selfe within a while: [For whom shee fauours most of all, shee soonest doth beguyle.]

When with my _Picts_ I came first to the _Scotish_ shore, I bare my selfe in hand that I could _Brytayne_ win, Because that _Scithes_ of whome I came, by conquests wan before[1046] Right many noble Realmes, which they had entred in: Yet I no sooner could my conquest here begin, But strayght King _Marius_ came with all his bande, And met with mee and mine in _Westmerlande_,[1047] [Where both our armies met, and fought it hande to hande.][1048]

I trusted sure that Fortune woulde mee guide so well As erste shee had,[1049] in batayles whilome faught: But proofe doth teache mee nowe the trueth[1050] to tell What I by Fortune’s flattery fayre haue caught.[1051] Whom shee setts vp,[1052] shee bringeth soone to naught. [As when I had the _Britaynes_ in disdayne, And thought by batayle all theyr lande to gayne: In fielde both I and mine were vanquisht, taken, slayne.][1053]

T’is foly or the ende, for men to prayse theyr chaunce, Or brag what luck they haue, or tell theyr fate,[1054] Or boaste how Lady Fortune doth theyr deedes aduaunce: For Fortune at the last doth vse to gieue the mate.[1055] Whom first shee loues, shee afterwarde doth hate, She flings them headlong downe, whom erste shee made excell, Shee makes them bare and poore, whom erst shee placed well,[1056] [And those which thinke to scale the skies, she hurleth downe to hell.]

How Seuerus the Emperour of Rome, and Gouernour of Britayne, was slaine at Yorke, fighting against the Pictes, about the yeere after Christ, 206, after others, 213.

The stay of stately throne is nothing sure, Where great estates on brybes or blodshed build; As _Didius Iulian_ put for proofe in vre, Th’emperiall seate he bought, and soone was kild: So _Niger_ after him by armes assayde the same, _Albinus_ then, from _Britayne_ armed came, [For Empire sake they lost their heades and fame.]

These three stoode in my way to high estate, Which I sore thirsted for, but yet at last I made thereto, by bloudshed bold, a gate, And letlesse so vnto[1057] the throne I past: The souldiers _Iulian_ slewe, for insufficient pay: My seruants eke at _Antioch Niger_ slay: [At _Lyons_ siege they tooke _Albinus_ head away.]

Then was my seate, me thought, assurde to bide, There could no tempest teare my sayles adowne: No showre could cause my fixed foote to slide, Nor vnder creeper crooke[1058] from me the Crowne Which had the guyde of all _Europae’s_ [wealth and] might, He, needed not to feare the force of fight, [Nor yet the ire of any worldly wight.]

Encouraged with loue of lasting fame, I entred with an armie into th’East, _Armenia_ can full well reporte the same, Whereas my warlike glory first increast. _Angarus_ I subdude by fight the noble King, And bid his sonnes to _Rome_ for hostage bring, [For which my fame through all the worlde did ring.]

_Arabia Fælix_ felt my force likewise, Although those warres had not so good successe: Yet made I them with bowes (good archers) rise, Or else they had bene driue to great distresse. Their [fethered] shaftes from _Arras_ shot, made vs to smarte, They poysoned of my men by policy and arte, [And forced mee afflicted sore, with souldiers to departe.]

To _Parthia_ thence, agaynst of armes the lawe,[1059] Wee gate, forgot the truce before was plight: And when occasion fit to serue therefore wee sawe,[1060] King _Artabane_ w’assaylde, and put him thence to flight.[1061] With fire and sword wee brent, [turmoylde,] and spoylde his land, Tooke captiues, slewe the men that did vs ought with-stand,[1062] [Enritcht with boetyes thence retournde, whereof great store we fand.]

To _Rome_ I came, and caused chartes[1063] bee drawne Of iourneys mine, by land and seas the plats: Not erst before such expedition sawne, Nor of those Countryes seene so perfect mapps. The worlde did wonder at my heaps of haps, The _Romaynes_ honourde mee[1064] with triomphes when I came, They vnto mee of _Parthique_ gaue to name, [And Poets pennes perpetuate my prowes, facts, and fame.]

But when can Princes best assure themselues? What state without the stormes of strife doth stand? What barke beares sayle in tempeste on the shelues? What blisse abides and lasts, by sea or land? Who takes to raygne the scepter in his hand, Is like to him in sterne to stirre that sits, Commaunding all the rest, theyr race hee fits, [Mishandling there the helme with losse of all on rockes hee hits.]

For while that I abroade for glory hunt, My sonnes at home in pleasures spent the time: And as their father erst before was wont, Endeuourde howe aloft they both might clime. The elder fearce and cruell _Antonine_, The yonger _Geta_ gentle more and milde[1065] then hee, Could not at any time in peace agree, [Desiring both t’inioy the empire after mee.]

10.

So I endeuourde to appeaze the strife, But nought at all I could therein preuaile: This made mee woe and wery of my life, Which erst so many kingdomes did assaile. I had the hap mine enmyes force to quaile, To rule the _Romaynes_ well, and all the rest: But for to rule my sonnes, which should bee best,[1066] [I could no counsayle finde, nor haue the hurte redrest.]

11.

Perceiuing then some persons lewde there were, Which counsailde ofte my sonnes embracing vice, (As still is seene in court enueaglers are, Procurers of despite, contemners of the wise,[1067] That flatery hold for gayne a gift of price) I causde them[1068] put to death those _Thrasoes_ vile, And some were sent or banishte to exile: [But yet the griefe encreased all this while.]

12.

Mine[1069] elder sonne did thinke my life to long, The yonger lou’d the elder’s life as ill: They studied both to make their parties strong, Which griefe my griped harte well nere did kill. Such are the mischieues of the stately still. In _Britayne_ eke the _Pictes_ rebelling rose, Some _Britaynes_ there became our secret foes, [Wherfore in age my selfe againe to warres I did despose.]

13.[1070]

First to bee absent from the force at home, And partly greater glory to attayne, My children sought, perdy, my death[1071] in _Rome_, [Without of lawes or _Senate_ house the dome.] But chiefly _Antonine_ tooke herein payne, I should by gard or Phisicke drugges bee slayne, That so the Empire might to hym remayne.[1072]

14.

Yet no man would accomplishe his intent, For my Phisitions bare mee loyall hartes: My seruaunts eke full true no treason ment, But playde in eache respect their faithfull partes. They knewe themselues so bound by due desertes, They ought not, seruaunts, such a Lord betray, That gaue so great rewardes and giftes alway; [To pleasure him, that sought his father’s owne decay.]

15.

To _Britayne_ I addrest an army great, perdy,[1073] To quaile the _Pictes_ that rufled in that Ile: And for to cops the _Britaynes_ tributes that deny,[1074] Which were withheld from _Romaynes_ there a while, And to bee absent from my sonnes so vile. But see what haps befall vs in the end, Which so to clime aloft, to raygne[1075] alone contend: [Marke whereunto our laboures great and bloudsheds bend.]

16.

For when I was to _Britayne_ come that [famous] land, Where people stout, vntamde, vnuanquisht dwelt: Although once _Cæsar_ Fortune’s fauour fand, That erst before their valiaunt valure felt: I found the people nothing prest to pelt, To yeeld, or hostage geue, or tributes [due to] pay, Or couenaunts to accept, or fearefully to fray: [But bade by war to win the price, and beare the palme away.]

17.

They sayde that we did tributes sore exacte, Whereby their Isle empouerisht greately was: The _Pictes_ likewise them robde, and spoyle, and sackte, Whereof the _Romaynes_ seemed naught to pas. Wee ought (they sayd) to tame the _Galloglasse_, The ranging _Scythian Picte_ that them did spoyle, [Empouerishing their people, them to foyle:] If wee would reape a taxe or tribute[1076] of their toyle.

18.

On which at length, I did conclude a peace, And ioynde with them in league[1077] agaynst the _Picte_: But yet the wilfull people did not cease, My _Britaynes_ good [and mee] by inroades to afflicte: Whereon to wall them out I did my force addicte[1078] Long sixe score miles and twelue,[1079] the [_Scotishe_] banke I made From sea to sea, that _Pictes_ should not [them so] inuade: [Till yet the signes thereof are seene, for neuer thence to vade.]

19.

By helpe of this, I chaste the _Pictes_ away, And draue them into _Albany_ to dwell: Whereon _Fulgentius Scythian_ sans delay[1080] To _Scythia_ sayld, an army new to tell:[1081] Which gathered great of _Pictes_[1082] apoynted well, Hee did retourne with speede to _Britayne_ strand: (That time I lay by North to guide the land, [Which holpe the _Britaynes_ erst the _Scythians_ to withstand.)]

20.

At length to _Yorke_ with all his host hee came, Beseegeing it full sharpe assaultes hee gaue: Where I likewise for to defend the same, And from our foes the castell good to saue Came with my powre, as destnyes on mee draue: But in that fielde it was my chaunce to fall, I tooke my deadly wound, there ended all [Renowned lyfe, my warres, my tryomphes, and my thrall.]

21.

The _Scythian_ eke receiude a deadly wounde, Which came to conquere vs, and lost his feelde: Thus Fortune fares her children to confounde, Which on her wheele their bastiles brauely beelde. Let noble Princes then to reason yeelde, The daynefull ladie daintie and demure, Dame Fortune’s fauour fickle is vnsure,[1083] [Her ioyes and triomphes tickle, timelesse to endure.]

22.

Some say that I retournde to _Rome_ agayne, Sore troubled with the gowte, desiring death: And that I would haue taken poyson fayne, Which me denyde, to reaue my vitall breath I tooke a surfet great, which wrought my death. The _Britaynes_ say, at _Yorke_ my bones doe lye, The _Romaynes_ say at _Rome_ in _Italy_: [But where so ere they be, I nothing recke them I.]

23.

But this I wish, all noble wights to viewe Howe I by slaughter gate the throne at furst, My souldiers noble men for empire slewe, This way to rise of all I proued wurst: For why, his hand of gods and men is curst, To rise aloft that layes the ground with bloud: The states of such vnstable still haue stood, [Despisde of mighty _Ioue_, that loues the gentle, meeke, and good.]

How Fvlgentivs a Scythian, or Picte, was slayne at the seege of Yorke, about the yeare of Christ, 206, or 213.

I am that valiaunt _Scythian_ Prince the Picte, That vanquisht oft the _Britaynes_ in this Ile: Against the noble _Romaynes_ powre I kikte, And kept them play in _Britayne_ both long while, I forst them make a wall aboue an hundreth mile,[1084] From sea to sea, with towres to [watch and] keepe me out, Which of vs _Pictes_ [in prowesse proud] did daily stand in doubt.

Our auncient race (although th’ambitious _Romaynes_ nill)[1085] Had right by due discent to clayme this [noble] land: Of which repeate some proofe therefore I will, That so thou maist our title vnderstand. When all mankinde felt _Iehoue’s_[1086] almighty hand, That drensht all nations quite, for their rebellious sinne,[1087] Then strayght [eftsoones] in _Scythia_ did the world [by _Noah_] beginne.

Th’ _Ægyptians_ hold forsooth that they restord The world agayne, but, how vnlikely, see: For _Scythiae’s_ site is high as all accord, From vs the fountaynes great’ste deriued bee. The auncient writers all likewise agree, That on _Armenia_ mount the Arke [of _Noah_] did rest, Till [heauenly] _Ioue_ againe the earth with drowth addrest.

But they alleage agayne their _Zone_ is milde, And fertile, temperate, meete to foster men: Our _Scythian_ hilles (they say) are frosty, wilde, Which cannot breede but ruder people then. To which I may well aunswere make agen, [That as _Iehoua_ made the _Zones_ both hot, and milde, and cold, Euen so to them hee fitly made like men the same to hold.][1088]

They say wee are nigh neighbours to the _Pole_, Or frozen poynt: more nere the fire are they: What poysons breede with them, and _Libians_ sole In parcheing sands the writers wise display. Can nature frame mankinde more deepe decay? [Perdy] where parching heat, where serpents vgly breede, A Clyme most fit from whence mankinde should[1089] first proceede.

But now ile tell why _Scythians_ should possesse This noble Isle: first, Lord _Neptunus_ gaue The Islandes to his sonnes, both more and lesse, Eke _Albion_ first of all this Isle should haue: Hee not with this content, the firme did craue. Wherefore in _Fraunce_ him _Hercules_ dispacht, When as hee would a kingdome there haue catcht.

Now as from _Noah_ [first] (of _Scythia_) by descent, Downe vnto _Albion’s_ time they held the land: From _Scythe_ to _Scythian_ as of right it went, And after him no _Scythian_ Prince it fand, When as vsurpers tooke the raygne in hand, Was it not [right and] reason wee should vndertake, This noble Realme our owne agayne to [_Scythia_ subiect] make?

The _Romaynes_ this deny, but euen themselues likewise (If they from vertue stray as reckelesse vse,[1090] And doe _Iehouae’s_ lawes and hestes despise, And right, and trueth, and iustice so refuse) Shall finde how much their Scepture they misuse. The _Scythian_ shall [likewise] their lofty seat assaile, The [barbarous] Prince of _Pictes_ against them shall preuaile.

But softe lay here a strawe, _Seuerus_[1091] now I tell, When hee the wall had made and pingde mee out,[1092] To _Scythia_ hence I saylde, and stoarde mee well With men, munition good, a warlike route, Of youthfull _Pictes_ full strong in armour stoute A Nauy good I brought, and entred on the land,[1093] [A mighty worke,] of stately _Yorke_ I tooke the seege in hand.

10.

The Emprour great _Seuerus_, _Parthique_ proude, With _Romaynes_, _Galles_, and _Britayne_ souldiers came: To make me rayse the siege of _Yorke_ he vowde, And I likewise to winne and raze the same. To winne the prize we both our armies frame: But he was [olde and] slie, his souldiers skilfull traynde, My men to flie by ambush, [scoute, and skirmish] he constraynde.

11.

Agayne to fight wee fell afresh, the battayle grewe, Aboute I brought my winges, and now they sounde Tantara teares alarme, the fluits fight, fight anewe, And there awhile the _Romaynes_ fell to grounde: The trompet blasts, cryes, stroakes and shoutes to skyes resounde,[1094] They fall, fall, fly, the fluits; downe, downe, the drommes doe cry: Where on the _Romaynes_ sounde retrayte, and fayne [themselues] to fly.

12.

My souldiers all to rashe had broake araye, The _Romayne_ reare warde cast aboute with speede, And both theyr winges enclosed vs eache waye, Theyr mayne likewise to keepe aray gaue heede. Which when I sawe, it made my hearte to bleede, And to _Seuerus_ selfe I wounded made at length a wey,[1095] Where or retourne wee _Scythian Pictes_ the _Romayne Parthique_ sley.[1096]

13.

So when the Emprour fell, a showte arose, The _Romaynes_ blancke, amazed, woefull were; _Fulgentius_ fast recoylde, death wounded goes, And of my crewe a troupe to ayde mee there: I bought my _Britishe_ conqueste all to deare, No conqueste yet: [for as my sworde the kingdome sought, My vitall bloude _Seuerus_ death at _Yorke_ to dearly bought.][1097]

14.

You noble men, yee see what truste there is In Fortune’s feages,[1098] how mischiefe makes the martes, And howe our hoped haps in warres doe misse, When backe the braue and blinded lady starts. High reaching heades swimme ofte in seas of smartes. The [setled] man [reposde,] content, is bleste and best at ease, Which [hath decreede] in meane [e]state both God and man to[1099] please.

How Geta the Yonger sonne of th’Emperour Seuerus once gouernour of Britayne, was slayne in his mother’s armes by his brother Antonine, Emperour of Rome, about the yeare of Christ, 214.

If euer Prince [opprest] had cause his state to rue, Or by his [ruful] end might moue men mone his chaunce, My woefull tale may shewe the like to you, Whom Fortune erst, and birth did highe aduaunce. In _Rome_ [perdy] in _Britayne_, _Spayne_,[1100] and _Fraunce_ I fauour had, I honourde was, I bare the sway,[1101] I Emprour was [with _Antonine_:] what neede I more to say.

In _Britayne_ while my father waeged fight By North agaynst the _Pictes_, I rulde the South: _Seuerus_ so apoynted mee to iudge them right,[1102] And _Britayne_ justice well receaude from[1103] _Getae’s_ mouth: I gaue not then my selfe to [giftes, nor] idle slouth, But mildly made an end in causes[1104] great of strife, With dome so [right and] iust, that men reioyste my life.

The _Senate_ honourde mee [at home] for vertue’s sake, Abroade the _Britaynes_ blest mee for their blisse, The souldiers stout [in armes] of mee account did make. Let stories truely tell where I doe halte in this:[1105] Lest some suspect, that I reporte amisse. For what is hee, which is not counted [partiall] vayne, When for himselfe hee speakes, though [plea bee] nere so playne.

In peace I [wise and] prudent was, and graue of grace, In warres of courage good, but[1106] not so fearce withall: Not forste with feare to turne from foes my face, Nor bought with bribes to let Dame Justice fall, I lou’de not, I, to throng the weaker sort[1107] with thrall, But sought to pleasure eache at neede, both[1108] neare and farre: More proane to sacred peace I was, then bent to [broyles of] warre.

What hearte [is then] so harde but will for pity bleede, To heare a [giltlesse] Prince which meant to each so well. Should haue such cause to liue in feare and dreede Of sworde, of bane, of force, or poyson fell, Not daring Emprour nere his brother dwell, Whom [both the] _Romaynes_ lou’d, and straungers honourde still, In peace moe bruntes abydes at home, then erste abroade of ill.[1109]

But _Antonine_[1110] I hate his [hatefull] name and factes, Sith hee my bucher was, my brother though hee were:[1111] The worlde detestes his vile and viprous actes, And subtile shiftes to bane[1112] his father deare: So voyde of grace, so voyde of honeste [dreede or] feare, Hee durst attempte the [nerest] gardes to bribe and fee, By them theyr Lord his father might the Emprour poysoned bee.[1113]

This when _Seuerus_ wiste our aged syre, and saw[1114] How _Antonine_ that beaste was tiranously bent,[1115] Agaynst the order quite of nature’s [noble] law, Eke, how to take the empire whole hee ment; For both of vs at _Yorke_ hee often sent, Perswading vs to peace, to loue, and concorde bolde,[1116] And of the fruites of discorde [foule, and ciuill warres][1117] hee tolde.

Yet _Antonine_ regarded naught his [Father’s] heste, Ne yet the charge of [_British_] warres hee had in hande: Hee to enlarge his powre for th’Empire him addrest.[1118] Which when _Seuerus_ olde did vnderstand, All pleasures quite and ioyes hee did aband, And to the warres him gate: nere _Yorke_[1119] he tooke his ende By sworde of _Pictes_, or by some traytour [fauning] frende.

Then _Antonine_ made spoyle of all his [father’s] men, Phisitions nilde before at his requeste Dispatch theyr Lorde, to death hee put them then, And so hee serude of faythfull garde the reste. What vilany was in this [monstrous] viper’s breaste: Was not content with death [and goodes] of those hee sought, But after [them] bringes [all] theyr friendes likewise to nought.

10.

I warned was by diuers eke my life[1120] hee thirsted sore, And that the empire sole [alone] hee sought to haue, [Whereon] as wee to _Rome_ did passe I feared more, I from his courtes and diets did mee saue: I knew my life and th’empire he did [croach and] craue, Wherefore in _Rome_ my court I kepte [alone] likewise From his aparte, that did ful ofte to murder mee deuise.[1121]

11.

My cookes and butlers were allurde[1122] by sundry giftes To poyson mee, and some for mee in ambush lurking lay:[1123] Hee tryde to cut mee off a thousand shiftes, What maruayle, since hee sought his syre to slay? Hee made his father’s [dearest] friendes for spite away, [Because they nilde consent to his vile treasons wrought, Hee slewe the men, to saue his father’s life that sought.][1124]

12.

[But all] his sleights for mee coulde take no sure successe, For still his traynes and treasons were descride: And I in daunger greate was forste[1125] to seeke redresse By like attemptes [at laste,] but that likewise was spyde. Pretended murder no man close can [keepe or] hyde, But out it flyes abroade, the rumor runnes apace, The only spot thereof [doth] all [the] vertues else deface.

13.

When this was knowne [to him,] that I likewise assayde His life to reaue (though t’were my [only] life to saue) No longer time to wrecke[1126] the same the bucher stayde, Hee had the thing so long [before] hee sought to haue, [Such] cause of [iust] reuenge the rumor small him gaue, [That in the euening hee came on mee or I knew, In cruell sorte to reaue my life before our mother’s vewe.][1127]

14.

There she perceiuing him with [naked] sworde approache, In armes mee caught to saue my life and bloud, But hee deseruing all the worlde’s reproache, No whit in doubte to end my slaughter stoode. My mother him besought[1128] (as seemde an empresse good) While he [in rage] without remorce [or ruth] of her request, Betwene her armes [that bare vs both] did run me through the breste.

15.

These were the [cruell] actes of that vile monster then For Empire sake, to raigne alone aloft: Despisde that was, [contemnde,] abhord of gods and men, And curst to hell by all good men so oft, You see the fall of _Geta_, [gentle,] milde, and soft, Whose line of life no longer _Lachesis_[1129] could stretch, Cut off by sworde of _Antonine_, th’unkindely captiue wretch.[1130]

16.

Let now the world both deeme[1131] of my desertes and his, For to his father he was most, of sonnes, vnkinde:[1132] His mother’s ioyes he reaude away her blisse, That [noble] dame which bare to both so mylde a minde: And let my dealings aye due [doome and] fauour finde, Whose murder may giue playne prospect and show What monster gaue his faythfull frends such ouerthrow.[1133]

How Aurelius Antonius Bassianus Caracalla, Emperour of Rome, was slayne by one of his owne seruauntes, about the yeere of Christ, 209.

Who thirstes to thring[1134] vnto the highest throne, Ne wisely windes Dame Fortune’s subtile snare: Or who in courte would rule the rost alone, And sees not what he heapes himselfe of care, Let him well wey my case, and then beware: Whome foorth the stately seate did first allure, Which after did my hastie death procure.

And, _Higins_, here in purpose sith thou hast The haplesse hauen where Fortune’s impes ariue, A mirour make likewise of me thou mayst, If thou my life and dealings wilt discriue. It may perhaps much profit some aliue: Which when themselues playne paynted forth they see, They may presage their fatall falles in mee.

I am that _Antonine_, _Seuerus_ sonne, That once of mighty _Rome_ did beare the swaye, Which in my father’s life a stryfe begone With _Geta_, thyrsting often him to slay: I sought to haue my father made away, To raigne alone so great desire I had, Naught but theyr deathes indueste my hart to glad.[1135]

My father oft exhorted both to peace, Declarde by stories olde what came by strife, Dehorted both from ciuill discord cease, But I sought meanes to rid him of his life. I banisht to _Sycilia_ isle my wife, Encreast mine hoste, reckt not my _British_ charge, But how I might enioy the empire large.

And first when as my father once was dead, I gaue my selfe to all reuenge of foes, The seruants late which stoode me not in stead, And some physicions which my treasons did disclose,[1136] Or such to saue their prince themselues dispose, Or reconcile vs brethren tooke sore payne, I causde them all without respect be slayne.

The captaines all likewise I brybed well,[1137] In _Britayne_ then desiring them to chuse Mee Emprour sole, and _Geta_ to repell:[1138] Which they to doe for dueties sake refuse. Our mother eke all meanes with vs did vse, Perswading vs to loue and concorde bende, To which dissemblingly I graunted[1139] in the ende.

Wee both in empire like from _Britayne_ passe, A truce concluded there, and hostage take: His reliques shrinde (as then the custome was) To _Rome_ therewith our voyage fast we make. And yet the malice could not so aslake: For in our iourneyes wee durst neyther trust, But seuerall courts and dyets keepe we must.

Both fearing poyson, force or treason wrought, Both crauing all the empire to enioy, Both working all the wayes that might be sought, To worke to each some secret great anoy, Both seeking how his partner to destroy. The brother which to brother should be stay, Endeuours how to make him quite away.

And those that bare of dignities degree, The officers, were diuersly distracte: Some fauourde _Geta_, some did fauour mee, In him no poynt of courtesie there lackte. He was of maners milde, of doome exact, To studies good addict, of comely grace, In warres and peace discharging well the place.

10.

But I was rough, and violent, and fearce, Of fiery _Mars_ affected all to bloud: What neede I more my qualities rehearce, Which were so farre vnlike my brother’s good. On threatnings, force, and feare, my Empire stood, Whereby in deede of fauning friends I had, For feare or gayne were of my fauour glad.

11.

Our mother long perswading vs to peace, And both perceiuing our attempts but vaine, Did both agree our discordes to surcease, And for to part the empire into twaine: My selfe should holde of _Europe_ all the maine With th’isles thereof, and _Geta_ all the East, Of _Asia_ all the [realmes and] islands most and least.

12.

As thus we parle amongst the counsayle all, And so decree, full purposed thereto, The _Senate_, which foresawe mishaps might fall, Still sadly sate, durst nothing say nor doe: But _Iulia_ then the mother of vs two, When she perceiude the _Senate_ pause for feare, Arose to speake, and sayd as you shall heare.

13.

“The sea and land (quoth she) my sonnes you get, You finde a way how you may them deuide: The _Pontique_ floud betweene you both is set For boundes of both, it buts on eyther side: But how will you your mother now deuide? How shall my haplesse corps be parted, put Betweene you both, shall I likewise be cut?

14.

“If needes in twayne you part this empire must, I see what discorde after may betyde: How empire makes men guiltlesse bloud to thrust, What noble peeres for this betrayde, haue dyde. T’were better both, the _Romaynes_ well to guyde, Then separate farre, without so firme a stay, Your seuered force some treason should decay.

15.

“One man himselfe may much by wit foresee, But twaine may more perceiue perdy then one:[1140] One friendly man by fauour much may bee, But two in friendship knit, neede feare no fone. Two brethren then to rule the world alone As brethren shoulde, and liue in faithfull sorte, The worlde their loue and honours will reporte.

16.

“But if deuide the Empire all you will, First ere you goe for to enioy your raigne, My woefull corps I pray you here to kill, And it deuide betweene you both in twaine, That I may eke with both of you remayne. Doe burie each a parte so distant farre, Deuided as your seates, selues, kingdomes are.”

17.

So when she spoken had, with teares shee came, And sobbes, beseeching both, embracing vs, And wil’d we should our selues to friendship frame, Not bearing hate in hart, and enuie thus: On which the _Senate_ nothing durst discusse, But all arose, departing did lament, Which vew’de our thirsting sore, to bloudshed bent.

18.

Our hatred still encreased more and more, For when that captaines newe elected were, Or officers in place we did restore, In these, our mindes to all men playne appeare, We diuersly affected fauour beare: Of right in sentence eke, of diuers mindes, As hatefull oft the eyes of justice blindes.

19.

Our owne we sought, and not the publique weale, Yet both the publique wealth alone to haue: We nothing reckt to hap the publique heale, But to enioy the publique wealth we straue. To cookes and butlers giftes of price we gaue, To poyson each: when yet not these proceede, I hired some by force to doe the deede.

20.

When this likewise had not successe aright, My selfe, to slay my brother, I addrest: I rusht into his chamber euen or night, While of my force I thinke he feared lest: There with my sworde I strake him through the brest. Eke while our mother’s lap his wonndes embrewe, Her _Geta_ deare betweene her armes I slewe.

21.

Which done, I flew the palace straight, and cald the garde, Cryde treason, told I scarce escapte vnslayne, Commaunding souldiers well to watch and warde, And me conuey vnto the campe amayne, Where I might safe from violence remayne: I sayd, I should be made away, perdie,[1141] If in the court I longer time did lye.

22.

So they supposing all was trueth I tolde, (Not weeting what was done to _Geta_ than) Made speede to runne with me vnto the holde: The people hearing this, to flocke began, Enquiring why the prince and souldiers ran: In tent I kneeld encampt, the gods to prayse With promist vowes, which had prolong’de my dayes.

23.

The souldiers all amazde resorted to the tent,[1142] Where I the gods with honour serued thoe: On which I forth amongste them boldly went, Told them great daungers I had scaped fro, And of mine enmyes fall and ouerthroe. By Fortune’s gifte (quoth I) the enmye’s slayne,[1143] And th’empyre wholy doth to mee remayne.

24.

I promist then the souldiers if they would,[1144] My empire stablishe sure, and safty see, Each [fiue and] twenty hundred _Attique_ grotes haue should,[1145] More corne then earst by halfe alow’de shoulde bee, The temples welth and treasures shoulde bee free For them to vse at large, whereby that onely day[1146] _Seuerus_ pile of eighteene yeare I spoylde away.[1147]

25.

The souldiers so allurde, perceiuing all my minde,[1148] (And slaughter blazde by those in house that fled) I was by them proclaymde and th’Emprour[1149] sole assinde, And hee an enmy namde that now was deade. All night in temple forth with vowes I led, Next day to _Senate_ house with th’ [armed] hoste I gate, And seruice done, thus wise in [th’empire] throne I spake:

“I know right well (quoth I) domestique slaughters hatefull seeme, And euen the name thereof makes men full euill[1150] of parties deeme: For why, th’vnhappy slayne moues milder men to mercy still, And noble Peeres are enui’de when compel’de theyr foes they kill, The vanquisht iniur’de seeme, and victours deem’de vniustly ill. But who so euer shall this case it selfe with trueth perpende Not partially that deemes, ensearching what hee did pretend: Hee shall perceiue and finde it better farre and needefull more To wrecke the wrong, then wincke thereat, and after smarte therfore. For, to the slayne beside his woe, there comes a dastarde’s name, The victour hath beside his health, of fortitude the fame. But certis how by poysons hee, and all meanes sought my spoile, You may right soone by tortures try without of farder toyle, And therefore I commaunded all his seruaunts present bee. That you the trueth may know when their confessions plain you see: While I was at my mother’s house, he brought with swords his traine, Forwarnd, so armde, by fight my foe, I haue mine enmy slain. Sith hee about a mischiefe went, no brother’s harte that bore, To take reuenge on such, is due: as custome telles of yore. The founder right of _Rome_, not with his brother flouting bare: I leaue to speake what _Germanique_ and _Titus_ erst did dare, And _Marcus_ wise and milde his daughter’s husband did not spare. But I, for mee when poysons were and swords to slay mee drest, Reueng’de my foe, (of foe the name his workes assign’de him best) Therefore thanke you the gods, that they one prince preserued you, Beholde the same, him loyall loue, to him bee iust and true: For euen as loue aboue, amongst the gods doth rule alone, So hee in earth the empire all, alottes and giues to one.”

26.

Thus hauing sayde alowde, with irefull moode, And bloudy countnaunce cast about the place, Th’assembly pale and trembling, fearefull stoode, And I retourn’de to th’pallace thence a space. My brother’s householde then I made a way a pace,[1151] His friends, his seruaunts all, young, olde, and new, And th’infantes eke, without respect I slewe:

27.

The wrastlers and the waggeners likewise, Musitians, players, which did please his minde: Of th’order of the _Senatours_ full wise, In whome was noble bloud or wealth to finde. Not one of _Getae’s_ friends I left behinde: Also my wife whome I exilde away To _Sicile_ Ile, I caused them to slay.

28.

_Lucilla_ eke, that auncient noble Dame, To _Marcus_ wise the daughter sage and graue, Of _Commodus_ that sister great of fame, Which honour much in _Rome_ deseru’de to haue, I say, shee did my deedes therein depraue, Because to _Getae’s_ mother shee wept sore, For _Getae’s_ death: I causde her die therefore.

29.

Her sonne likewise, I caused should bee slayne, And of th’imperiall bloud (to make all sure) I left not one aliue, that might remayne, Or vnto whom they might my place procure. By night likewise I put like acts in vre: For day and night I ceased not to slay, Of _Getae’s_ friendes to roote the rest away.

30.

I vestall virgins buried eke aliue, And made the souldiers multitudes to kill Because I deemde they were in wordes to blyue. Against my couche[1152] wherein I trauailde still, The souldiers slewe the men that thought no ill, Or made them buy their liues with all they had, Which were, to scape with life alone, full glad.

31.

This donne, for feare from _Rome_ with speede I gate, The townelike life at home misliked mee: For why the citty did my murders hate, Where souldiers held their slaughters franke and free, And were enricht by spoile of each degree. I gate therefore with all my Martiall crewe From _Itayle_ land, _Danubian_ shoares to vewe.

32.

Where, vnto hunting I applyde my selfe, To ride abroade in couche, and giue them lawes: In fewe dispacht their pleas about but pelfe, Not gieuen to heare long pleading playnts for strawes. I counted such but cafling[1153] captiue dawes As spent their substaunce, time, and goods in suite, About such things as could not yeelde them fruite.

33.

I clad my selfe much like the _Germanes_ then, So trimde my haire, chose them my garde to serue: So framde my selfe to please these ruder men, As might them cause of mee full well deserue, From labour none with them I seemde to swerue: To digge, lifte, beare, to grinde, moulde, knead or bake, In painfull sort and simple fare to take.

34.

The _Germanes_ much reioyste my kinde of life, My sufferaunce great in during labours long: The name of mate with vs was holden rife, I seemde a fellowe souldier them among: Of stature small, yet was I wondrous strong, So that the stoutest men[1154] which in mine armies were, Durst not with mee great burdens dare to beare.[1155]

35.

When at _Danubius_ I had placed strength, To _Thracia_ thence with speede apace I went: Where monuments agayne I made at length To _Alexander’s_ fame: to _Rome_ I sent Likewise of statues for the same intent, In _Capitole_ and temples them to place, For honour great of _Alexander’s_ grace.

36.

I made mee garments eke of _Thracian_ guise, And captaynes mee to _Alexander_ call; To _Pergame_ thence in _Asia_ great that lies I gate, _Achilles_ tombe with honours all To vewe perdy,[1156] as stories witnesse shall: Whence (order set) to _Antioche_ I farde, Where my receyte with honour was preparde.

37.

To _Alexandria_ then I fared faste, For they had scofte full oft before at mee: My mother they had named Queene _Iocaste_, _Achilles_ great and _Alexander_ mee. They smil’de my folly great herein to see, Which though I were a dwarfe of stature small, Durst take the name of captaynes great and tall,

38.

Ne _Getae’s_ murder spared oft to spread, As is their nature gieuen to taunt and iest: Wherefore as though Religion had mee lead, I offred sacrifice with solemne feast At _Alexander’s_ tombe, where most and least Of all the youth were present to behold The offerings great I brought, and giftes of gold.

39.

This donne, I wil’d the youth should all prepare To showe themselues in field: for I would choose A band by _Alexander’s_ name to fare, As erst in _Thrace_ and _Sparta_ I did vse. They came reioysing all, to heare the newes: Where I with souldiers come to take the vewe, Them compast in, and all the people slewe.

40.

The valley all did swimme with streames of bloud, So great that time a slaughter was there made: It staynde the mighty mouthes of _Nilus_ floud, And on the shoares you might bloud wetshod wade: My piners eke were prest with showle and spade T’interre the dead, a monstrous trench that fill, And on them [scarce all] dead, they rearde a mighty hill.

41.

But then desiring glory more to get By _Parthian_ name, which erst my father had, I sent to _Artabane_, without of let, Ambassage great, with giftes his minde to glad: And for his daughter them perswade I bad, Desiring him to giue the Princesse mee to wife,[1157] The cause of lasting loue, an end of [mortall] strife.

42.

By this both ioynde in one, wee might for ay Of all the world the diademe possesse: And might to each in all attempts be stay, In fight our foes by firmer force suppresse. When they my message thus did there expresse, At first hee fearde deceyte: agayne I sent: Wherewith hee was at last full well content.

43.

By giftes I wrought, and plight my fayth withall For truth to him, and for his daughter’s loue, And hee began mee sonne in lawe to call: Which new reporte did all the _Parthians_ moue Us to receiue, our frendships firme t’approue, Reioysing now such league at last to see, Whereby they might from _Romayne_ warres bee free.

44.

And so I entred _Parthia_ as mine owne, The _Parthians_ mee receiu’de with triomphes great: When mine approache to _Artabane_ was knowne, In playne before the city of his seat, Hee came to meete me with a nomber great, Ware garlands gay, in golden vestures clad, With all the ioy and triomphes might bee had.

45.

So when great multitudes assembled were, Their horses lefte behinde and bowes layd downe, Amongst their cups deuoyde of force the feare, By nombers great the chiefe of all the towne, Which came to see the brideman’s highe renowne, Disorderly vnarmde as so they [gazing] stand, I gaue my souldiers signe, to take the blade in hand.[1158]

46.

And downe by sword they fell, they could not flye, The king escaped scarce,[1159] conuey’de by horse away: Their solemne garments long, theire flight did tye, A slaughter great of _Parthians_ was that day, Wee sackte their Townes, and noble men did slay. From thence I past t’_Azamia_, after this To hunt, and gaue my selfe [a while] to bath in blisse.

47.

Thus hauing runne my reckelesse race vnkinde, And doubting both of treason and my thrall, I sought by curious artes of sprites to finde Who should procure in th’end my fatall fall: _Materniane_ at _Rome_ should search for all, Hee should enquire my fate, of all the skillfull men,[1160] And write hereof [with speede] what was their mindes agen.

48.

What hee rewrate agayne,[1161] I wote not I, From _Carras_ I to _Lunae’s_ temple went: And for because it neare the campe did lye, To sacrifice with fewe was mine intent: For why to towne from thence retourne I ment, And so from thence to th’campe[1162] likewise agayne I might [mee thought] retyre, without a greater trayne.

49.

Amongst the which, one _Martiall_ of my garde, Whose brother (not conuinste, accusde) I slewe, Thus wise my captiue corps did watch to warde, (For when therefore conuenient time hee knewe, While I aparte me gate for nature’s due, And bade the rest aside a space departe) Hee came and stabde mee stifly through the harte.

50.

_Seuerus_ seruaunts I corrupted ofte, Them feeid to make their Lorde my syre away; With _Getae’s_ men the like attempts I wrought, To bane their lord, and brother mine to slay: How I the _Alexandrians_ did betray, And _Parthians_ eke, before to you I tolde, Deseruing death for those a thousand folde.

51.

But sith those faithfull seruaunts I did kill, Which would not sley their noble lordes for golde, I worthy was to haue a gard so ill, As shoulde to perce my hatefull harte bee bolde: The justice great of _Ioua_ here beholde, Uniustly who so seekes to slay the [iust and] good, The sword at length shall take his false and traytours bloud.[1163]

END OF THE FIRST PART.