Albions England a continued historie of the same kingdome, from the originals of the first inhabitants thereof: and most the chiefe alterations and accidents there hapning: vnto, and in, the happie raigne of our now most gracious soueraigne Queene Elizabeth. VVith varietie of inuentiue and historicall intermixtures. First penned and published by VVilliam VVarner: and now reuised, and newly inlarged by the same author. — Albions England. Book 1-12

Author: Warner, William, 1558?-1609.1597

ALBIONS England: A Continued Historie of the same Kingdome, from the Originals of the first Inhabitants thereof: And most the chiefe Alterations and Accidents there hapning: vnto, and in, the happie Raigne of our now most gracious Soueraigne Queene ELIZABETH.

VVith varietie of inuentiue and historicall Intermixtures.

First penned and published by VVilliam VVarner: and now reuised, and newly inlarged by the same Author.

BY WISDOME·PEACE BY PEACE PLENTY.

LONDON, Printed by the Widow Orwin, for I. B. and are to be sold at her shop in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Bible. 1597.

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To the right Honorable, my very good Lord and Maister, Henrie Carey, Baron of Hunsdon, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter: Lord Chamberlaine of her Maiesties most Honorable Houshold: Lord Gouernour of Barwick: Lord Warden of the East Marches for and anenst Scotland: Lord Lieftenant of Suffolke and Norfolke: Captaine of her Maiesties Gentlemen Pencioners: and one of her Highnes most Honorable Priuie Counsell.

THis our whole Iland, anciently called Brutaine, but more aunciently Albion, presently containing two Kingdomes, England and Scotland, is cause (right Honorable) that to distinguish the former, whose only Occurrents I abridge, from the other, remote from our Historie, I intitle this my Booke ALBIONS ENGLAND. A subiect, in troth, (without vaine-glory be it spokē) worthy your Honorable Patronage: had it passed frō the [Page] Pen of a more countenaunced Author. But for great Personages gratefully to entertaine the good wils of meane workemen, is answerable to themselues, and animating to feeble Artists. I therefore secure of your Honors Clemencie, & herein not vnlike to Phaëton, who at the first did fearefully admire euē the Pallace of Phoebus, but anon feareles aduenture euen the presence of Phoebus, (hauing dedicated a former Booke to him that from your Honor deriueth his Birth) now also present the like to your Lordship, with so much the lesse doubt and so much the more duty, by how much the more I esteeme this my latter laboure of more Valew, & I owe, & your Lordship expecteth especiall dutie at the hands of your Seruant. And thus (right Honorable) hoping better than I may offend, desirous to please, desperate of praise, & destitute of a better Present, I make Tender onely of good will, more I haue not, for your Honors good word, lesse I hope not.

Your Lordships most humble and dutifull Seruant, W. Warner.

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To the Reader.

WEl know I, that Pearls low-prised in India are precious in England, that euen Homer was slightly authorised in Greece, but singularly admired elswhere, and that for the most part, the best Authors find at home their worst Auditors: howbeit, whatsoeuer VVriter is most famous, the same is therefore indebted to his natiue Language: Neither preferre I aboue three speeches before ours, for more sententious.

VVritten haue I alreadie in Proese, allowed of some: and now (friendly Reader) offer I Uerse, attending thine indifferent (ensure. In which, if grosely I faile (as not greatly I so feare) in Ueritie, Breuitie, Inuention, and Uarietie, profitable, patheticall, pithie, and pleasant, so farre off shall I be from being opinionate of mine owne Labours, that my selfe will also subscribe to prescribe the same for absurd and [Page] erronious. But in Uaine is it either to intreat or feare the Courteous or Captious: the one will not cauill, nor the other be reconciled.

My labour is past, and your liking to come: and things hardly founded, may easily be confounded; Arrogancie is Linx-eyed into aduantages: Enuie and selfe-conceited Readers capable of the least errour. But such are good Mindes, and the Contraries of these Men in reading of Books, as were the Paganes in reuerencing their Gods, sacrificing as deuoutly to a woodden Iupiter, as to a golden Iupiter: to an Oxe, a (at, or vnreuerent Priapus, as to the Sunne, the Starres, or amiable Venus: deuotion and discretion being euermore senceles in detraction. Of the latter sorte therefore I craue pardon, presupposing their patience; to the former, presupposing impatience, I offer pardon: resting to either, and to you all, in good will such as I should.

Yours. W. W.

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A Table for euery of the seuerall Bookes, to find out the speciall Stories and matters: directing from their Chapters and Pages.

The first Booke.

OF the deuision of the World after the generall Flood: And of the confusion of Tongues. chap. 1. pag. 1
How and vnder whome the first Monarchie began. pag. 2
Of the debate betwixt Titan and Saturne, for the kingdome of Crete: and of their conditionall Attonement. pag. 2
How Iupiter at his birth, by commaundement of Saturne his Father, should haue been put to death, and how he was preserued. chap. 2. pag. 4.
Of the crueltie of Lycaon: and how hee was driuen out of his kingdome by Iupiter. chap. 3. pag. 7
How Iupiter deliuered his Parents being imprisoned by Titan. pa. 7
Of Aesculapius, and of his death. pag. 8
How Saturne, wilfully enforcing his Sonne Iupiter to Armes, was chaced out of Crete, and Ganimaedes taken prisoner. pag. 9
How Iupiter on the Sea, ouercame the cruell Gyant and Pyrat Aegaeon. pag. 10
How Iuno pretending the death of Hercules and hismother (being in trauaile of him) was preuented. chap. 4. pag. 11
How Hercules, vanquishing the Gyant Philoctes, fetched a bootie out of the Isle of Hespera. pag. 12
How Hercules rescued fayre Hesione King Laomedons Daughter from death: and of Laomedons treachery towards him. pag. 13
How Hercules sacked Troy, and put Laomedon to flight. pag. 15
How dangerously Hercules ouercame three fierce Lyons in the Forrest of Nemea. chap. 5. pag. 16
How Hercules in Agypt subdued and sacrificed the Gyant Busiris. pag. 17.
How Hercules rescued Hippodame the Bride of Pirithous from the Centaures that would haue rauished her. pag. 18
[Page] How Proserpinc was rapted by Pluto: her deliuerie attempted, first by Orpheus, then by Theseus and Pirithous, and how she was at the length rescued by Hercules. chap. 6. pag. 19.
How Androdamus ouercame Philoctes, spoyled Thaebes, slew King Creon. How Lycus vsurped in Thaebes, imprisoned Megara the wife of Hercules: and how hee and Megara were lastly slaine of Hercules. pag. 23
How King Laomedon was slaine by Hercules, and Troy by him the second time spoyled, &c. pag. 25

The second Booke.

OF the warre and fierce Combat betwixt Hercules and Antaeus: and of King Atlas. chap. 7. pag. 26
How two Amazonian Ladies challenged the Combat of Hercules and Theseus, and of the braue performance thereof. pag. 29
Of the warre, contention, and Combat betwixt Hercules and Achelous, for the loue of Deianira. pag. 30
How the Centaure Nessus would haue rauished Deianira: of his death, and malitious treacherie towards Hercules. chap. 8. pag. 32
How Hercules slew the subtile and cruell Monster Hydra. pag 34
Of Gerion subdued, and slaine by Hercules. pag. 35
How the Tyrant Cacus (driuen out of his kingdome by Hercules) liued in a Caue with three Ladies Daughters to King Pi [...]us. pag. 36
The tragicall Storie of Queene Daphles and Doracles. chap. 9 p 37
The Tale of the old woman and Battus. chap. 10. pag. 45
The Storie of Iupiter and Calisto. chap. 11. pag. 49
Of Cacus his secret Thefts and Tyrannies: and how he was lastly discouered and slaine by Hercules. pag. 53
Of the honour done to Hercules in Italie: and of Queene Marica, on whom he was supposed to beget Latinus Grandfather to Brute. chap. 12. pag. 55
How Hercules vanquished King Picus, and fell in loue with Iole. p. 56
How Hercules ouercame the Tyrant Diomedes, and gaue him to be eaten of his owne horses: and how in Lycia hee betooke himselfe to ease and effeminacie. pag 57
Of the tragicall end of Hercules and Deianira. chap. 13 pag. 59
[Page] The occasion and circumstances of the third and last warre at Troy: The destruction thereof: and banishment of Aeneas. pag. 61
Brute his petigree from either Parent: his Exile from Italie, and ariuall in this Isle, then called Albion. pag. 62

The third Booke.

HOw Brute named and manured this Iland: built Troy-nouant or London, and at his death deuided the Isse between his three Sonnes. chap. 14. pag. 63
How Locrine ouercame Humbar and his Hunnes: fell in loue with Estrild: and of Queene Guendoleine her reuenge on him, Estrild, and Sabrin. pag. 64
Of King Leir, and his three Daughters. pag. 65
Of Porrex and Ferrex, and how Queene Iden murthered her sonne Porrex. chap. 15. pag. 67
How and when the Scots and Pichts first entred Brutaine, and of their Originals. pag. 68
Of Belinus and Brennus: their Contention: Attonement: renowmed Acts: and death of Brennus. chap. 16. pag. 69
Of the kindnes shewed by King Elidurus to his deposed Brother Archigallo. pag. 76
How Iulius Caesar, after two Repulses, made the Brutaines tributarie to the Romaines. chap. 17. pag. 77
The Fable of the old man, the boy, and the Asse. pag. 80
The Birth of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. chap. 18. pag. 81
How Guiderius & his brother Aruiragus ouercame the Romaines: how Aruiragus was reconciled to the Romaines, and married the Emperours Daughter. pag. 81
How Queene Uoada vanquished the Romanes: and of hers, and her Daughters deaths. pag. 82
Of the first Christian King in Brutaine: how the Crowne thereof became Emperiall: and of the Marriage and Holiday in Hell. pag 85
Of the extreame distresse and thraldome that the Brutaines were brought vnto by the Scots and Pichts: and how they were relieued by the King of little Britaine. chap. 19. pag. 87
[Page] How King Vortiger intertained Hengistus and his Saxons: how they droue▪ Uortiger and the Brutaines into Wales, and planted themselues in Britaine. pag. 88
Of King Arthur and his Chiualrie. pag. 90
How after the death of King Arthur, the Saxons altogether subdued and expelled the Brutaines: and of Cadwallader their last King. pag. 91

The fourth Booke.

THe Storie of Curan and Argentile. chap. 20. pag. 93
Of King Sigibert his tyrannie & miserable end. chap. 21. pa. 98
Of the amorous King Osbret slaine by the Danes, who vnder Hungar and Hubba did warre and win much of England. pag. 99
Of the politick and couragious Kings Alured and Adelstone: and how they vanquished and chased the Danes. pag. 100
How Egelred by treason of his mother became king: and how all the Danes were murthered in one night. pag. 101
Of the extreame thraldome wherein the English liued vnder the Danes. How Swayne king of Denmarke and Canutus his sonne wholly subdued England to themselues. chap. 22. pag. 102
Of the precepts that King Egelred on his death-bed gaue to his son Edmond Irneside. pag. 103
Of the noble warre betwixt Edmond Irneside and Canutus: of their Combat, Attonement, and friendly partition of England betwixt them, &c. pag. 105
Of the holy king Edward, his vertuous and valiant gouernment. Of the treacherous Earle Goodwin, and of his End. How king Harold was slaine, and England Conquered by William Duke of Normandy. chap. 22. pag. 107
Of the holy king Edward, and of his sayings. pag. 111

The fift Booke.

HOw king William Conqueror altered the lawes and gouernmet in England. Of Edgar, Athelstone, and of his mother and Sisters entertainement in Scotland. And of the restoring of the English royall blood. chap. 23. pag. 113
[Page] Of King Henrie the second: of Thomas Becket, and of his death. pag. 114
Of King Richard the first: his Victories: his imprisonment in Austrich: his reuenge therfore: and of his death. chap. 24. pag. 117
Of King Iohn: and how he was poysoned by a Monke. pag. 118
A Tale of the beginning of Friers and Cloysterers. pag. 119
Of a blunt Northerne man his speeches. pag. 120
How king Edgar wowed the Nunne: and of his pennance therefore. pag. 121
Of the warres betwixt King Henrie the third and his Barons. chap. 25. pag. 123
Of the vertuous and victorious Prince king Edward the first: and of his counsell giuen to his Sonne, &c. pag. 124
Of king Edward the second his euill gouernment. Of good Thomas Earle of Lancaster, & of his conference with an Hermit. pa. 125
How lecherous Turgesius the Norwegane, hauing conquered Ireland, was by certaine young Gentlemen in the habites of Ladies slaine, and Ireland so recouered. chap. 26. pag. 126
Of amorous king Dermot, and his Paramour the Queene of Meth in Ireland: and of Ireland conquered to England. pag. 129
Of the Hermits speeches to Earle Thomas of Lancaster. chap. 27. pag. 131
How King Edward the second for his euill gouernement was deposed, and his Parasites put to death. chap. 28. 136
Of King Edward the third his Victories and noble Gouernement. pag. 137
Of the magnanimitie of a Scottish Lady Sir Alexander Seitons wife, at the besieging of Barwicke. pag. 138
Of the troublesome Raigne of king Richard the second: and how he was deposed by Henry, surnamed Henry of Bolingbroke, Duke of Hertford and Lancaster, &c. pag. 140

The sixt Booke.

OF king Henry the fourth: of the Rebellions in his time: and of Richard the seconds death. chap. 29. pag. 142
Of the victorious Prince king Henry the fift. Of Queene Katherine and Owen Tuder. pag. 143
[Page] Of the wowing and wedding of Vulcan and Venus: and of the strife betwixt Venus and Phoebus. chap. 30. pag. 146
How Pan wowed, and was deceiued. chap. 31. pag. 152
Of Mercurie his successes loue. pag. 154
Of Mars his Censure of loue and women: and of Iupiters Sentence and sayings. pag. 156. and 157
Of the troublesome Raigne of King Henrie the sixt: how he was lastly deposed: And of King Edward the fourth. chap. 32. pa. 158
Of King Richard the third, and of his Tyrannies. pag. 160
How Henry Earle of Richmond ouercame and slew King Richard the third. chap. 33. pag. 161
Of the vniting of the two hous [...] Lancaster and Yorke by intermariage. pag. 163.

The Seauenth Booke.

OF the great difficulties ouerpassed by Henrie the Seauenth heire of the Line of Lancaster, or euer he attained to the Crowne. chap. 34. pag. 164
Of the like great difficulties ouerpassed by his wife Queene Elizabeth heire of the Line of Yorke, or euer the same two houses by their intermariage were vnited. pag. 166
Of a great Rebellion in England, occasioned by a Priest. Of Queene Elizabeth wife to Edward the Fourth. chap. 35. pag. 168
Of Perken Warbeck and his rebellious Complottors. Of the malicious Duchesse of Burgoine. Of the great Constancie of a chast Ladie wise vnto the same Perkin. pag. 169
Of a Scottish Knight distraught through his Ladies disloyaltie. Of his mad passions and speeches: of his Death: and of her euill ending. chap. 36. pag. 171
A Tale of the Bat and the Moole, &c. chap. 37. pag. 179
Of the Cuckooe and the Owle, part of the former Tale. pag. 185
Of Perken Warbecks End. Of a Third rebellion. pag. 187
Of Empson and Sutton aliàs Dudley. pag. 188

The Eight Booke.

OF King Henry the Eight. Of his Sister Mary the French Queen, and Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk. chap. 38. pag. 190
[Page] Of Queene Katherine Dowager. &c. pag. 191
Of King Edward the sixt his vertuous Raigne, &c. chap. 39. pag. 192
Of Edward Seimer, and Lord Protector, Duke of Somerset. chap. 40 pag. 195
Of Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland. pag. 195
Of the Lord Gilford Dudley and Lady Iane his wife. pag. 196
Of Queene Mary. chap. 41. pag. 198
Of fayre Rosamund and King Henrie the second. pag. 199
Of a Ladie, who by patience and quiet policie reclaimed her Lord from wantonnes. chap. 42. pag. 202
A Catalogue or Epitomie of all the most valiant and famous Kings of this Land, and of their Acts, from Brute to her now Maiesties most blessed Raigne. chap. 42. pag. 206
An obseruation touching the letter H. pag. 208

The ninth Booke.

A Fiction, alluded to our now most gratious Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth her Persecutors, Persecution, and her passage thereout. chap. 44. pag. 212
More of her Maiesties Troubles, & wonderful deliuerie. pa. 212. &c.
Of the vntimely Ends of most our English Dukes since the Conquest: by way of Caueat to Parasites, Rebels, and Conspirators. chap. 45. pag. 214
The Tale of Narcissus and Eccho. chap. 46. pag. 216
A Fiction of their Authoritie from Hell. Their present corrupting of Mankind, and wherein. pag. 218
Of the Chat passed betwixt two old Widowes, concerning new Fangles now vsed by women. chap. 47. pag. 220
More of their Chat. chap. 47. pag. 222
Of Spaynes ambitious affecting Kingdomes. chap. 48
What the Spanyards in Councell cōcluded, touching English Papists at their pretended Inuasion of England: and of the small securitie wherein Spayne standeth. pag. 225. &c.
The ouerthrow of the Spanish Armada, that anno Dom. 1588. threatned the Conquest of England. chap. 49. pag. 227
How Sathan by the only sinne of Pride hath euer preuailed. cap. 50. pag. 229
The Legend of S. Christofer. Of the Popes Drifts, and Infirmities. pag. 230. and 231
[Page] Of the Spanish Inquisition. chap. 51. pag. 232
Of the beginning of Iesuists. An admonition to such of them as bee our Natiues. Of chiefe poynts wherein the Papists dissent from vs in Opinion. pag. 233. and 234
Of the Combat betwixt the Flesh and the Spirit. chap. 52. pag. 235
How our Religion is autenticall. Of the chiefe poynts wherein we dissent from the Papists. pag. 236. &c.
A Commendation of our prosent Gouernment. With a remembrance of somewhat that in some Persons faulteth. cap. 53. p. 239
Of the Hypocrites of our time. pag. 240. &c.

The Tenth Booke.

HOw the King of Spayne and Pope first quarrelled vs: receiued, armed, & abetted our Rebels and Fugitiues. Of the Popes arrogant Bull: and of the Scottish Queene, &c. pag. 242. &c.
Of the Scottish Queene he. Pretexts and intemperate affecting the Crowne of England. Her many and most daungerous Conspiracies: with a Catalogue of most her trayterous Complottors. &c. chap. 55. pag. 245. &c.
Of her lawfull and orderly Triall. Of the most deliberate and mercifull handling of her cause. &c. chap. 56. pag. 248. &c.
Of her Death. &c. pag. 250. &c.
Of what Councell the ciuill warres in France had Originall. chap. 57
The beginning of the same ciuill warres. By whom: and against whom. pag. 253. &c.
How the Spanyard in those Tumults drifted for France. The Popes incharitable acting therein. Of our Queene her charitable and necessarie succours to the oppressed French: and the Progresse of those ciuill warres, &c. chap. 58. pag. 255
The tragicall historie of King Dauids Children applied, &c. chap. 59 pag. 256
More of the same Historie. chap. 60. pag. 263. &c.
Of the warres in the Low Countries. &c. chap. 61. pag. 265. &c.

The Eleuenth Booke.

OF Sir Iohn Mandeuil and faire Elenors loue: his Prowesse for her sake performed: and his departure to trauell strange Countries. pag. 296. &c.
[Page] Of Sir Hugh Willough by his Voyage, and death. Of Chancelor performing the same Voyage. pag. 273
Of Discoueries by Chancelor: his stately Intertainment, and succesfull dispatch of affayres in Russia. pag. 274
More of Mandeuil and Elenor: and of his Letter sent vnto her. &c. pag. 275. &c.
A description of Russia. Somewhat of their Manners, Religion, and Policie, &c. chap. 65. pag. 278
More of Chancelors laudable Actions: and of his death. pag. 279
Of Elenor her speeches to one Stafford, in answer of Mandeuils Letter, &c. chap. 66. pag. 281
Of Burrough his Discoueries, &c. chap. 67. pag. 283
Of Ienkinson his Discoueries, and succesfull imployments. pag. 284
More of the same. pag. 285
Of Mandeuil offered a great Marriage in Aegypt. Of Women, and Marriage: and a Censure of Either. chap. 68. pag. 286
More of Ienkinson labouring our affaires in Persia, &c. chap. 69. pag. 289

The Twelfth Booke.

OF the meanes whereby Elenor (thereof before ignorant) had notice that Mandeuil was her Knight beloued. cap. 70. p. 292
Of East, South, & Southeast Discouerers and Discoueries, &c. chap. 71. pag. 295. &c.
A Woman simply deliuering the Soothe concerning her owne Sexe, &c. chap. 72. pag. 297
Of the Seuenteene Kingdomes in Tymes by-passed, whereof her Maiestie is now sole Monarch, &c. chap. 73. pag. 300. &c.
Old Rome discribed in her Ruines. chap. 74. pag. 302
Of Romes politicke Gouernement from the Originals, vnto Constantines Donation. &c. pag. 304
Of the Gouernors, and Gouernment of Rome, since the Papacie. chap. 75. pag. 305
Of the free-States in Italie. pag. 306. &c.
A new Reuiuer of an olde Merriment, of one crossed in his amorous drifting. chap. 76 pag. 307. &c.
Of Mandeuil and Stafford met at Rome, &c. pag. 309. &c.
The residue of the former Merriment. chap. 77 pag. 312
Mandeuil and Elenor met, and of their loues Euent, &c. pa. 304 &c
Aeneidos in Prose. pag. 317. &c.

FINIS.

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[Page 1]

ALBIONS ENGLAND.

THE FIRST BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. I.

I Tell of things done long agoe, of many things in few:
And chiefly of this Clyme of ours, the Accidents pursue.
Thou high Director of the same, assist mine art­lesse pen,
To write the gests of 
Brutons stout, and actes of English men.

When arked 
Noah, & seuen with him, the emptyd worlds Remaine,
Had left the instrumentall meane, of landing them againe:
And that both man and beast, and all, did multiplie with store,
To 
Asia Sem, to 
Affrick Cham, to 
Europe Iapheth bore
Their Families. Thus triple wise the world deuided was:
One language common vnto all: vntill it came to passe,
That 
Nembroth sonne to 
Chus, the sonne of 
Cham, O
 [...]d 
Noah his sonne.


[Page 2] In 
Caldea (neuer seene before) an Empire had begonne.
As he and his audacious crew, the Tower of 
Babell reare,
Pretending it should check the cloudes, so to anoyd the feare
Of following flouddes, the Creator of creatures beheld
The climing toppes of cloud-high Towers and more to be fulfilde.
To cut off which ambicious plot, and quash their proud intent
Amongst a world of people there he sundry speeches sent,
So that, vnable to conferre about the worke they went,
The Tower was left vnfinished: and euery man withdrew
Himselfe apart, to ioyne with those whose language best he knew:
And thus confused tongues at first, to euery nation grew.

THe Babylonian 
Saturne though his buildings speede was bad,
Yet sound the meanes that vnder him he many Nations had,
He was the first that rulde as King, or forraine landes subdude,
Or went about into the right of others to intrude:
Ere this aspiring mindes did sleepe, and wealth was not pursude.
His sonne 
Ioue Belus after him, succeeded and puruaide
For dreadfull warres, but awlesse death his dreadfull purpose staide.

Then 
Ninus prosecutes the warres, preuented 
Belus sought,
And fild the wronged worlde with armes, and to subiection brough▪
Much people, yet not capable of such his nouile fight.
From 
Caldea to 
Assyria he translates the Empire quite:
And caused fire on horses backes, before him euer borne,
To be adorned for a God. Thus out of vse was worne
In 
Caldea and 
Assyria too the honour rightly due
To high 
Iehoua, God indeede. Idolatrie thus grevv
From 
Ninus first: he first of all a Monarchie did frame,
And bewtified 
Niniui
 [...], that bore the Builders name.

His warlike wise 
Semir amis, her husband being dead,
And sonne in nonage, faining him, long ruled in his stead:
Delating in a males attyre, the Empire new begonne:
The which, his yeares admitting it, she yeelded to her sonne,


[Page 3] Thus 
Cham his broode did borgeon first, and held the worlde in awe:
But 
Iapheths Line to 
Iauans land from 
Assur doth vs drawe.

MVch prayse is spoke of 
Thessalie, and 
Pegasus his Springs,
And how the Nimphes of 
Meonie, in 
Tempe did great things,
And how that 
Cecrops and his seede did honour 
Athens so,
As that from thence are sayd the Springs of Sciences to flow.
Not onely Artes but Cheualry, from 
Greece deriue we may:
Whereof (omitting many things) my Muse, alonely say
How 
Saturne, Ioue, and 
Hercules, did fill the world with fame
Of iustice, prowesse, and how they both men and Monsters tame:
And so from these deriue the meane how 
Brute to 
Albion came.

In 
Crete did florish in those dayes (the first that florisht so)

Vranos: he in wealth and witte all others did out goe.
This tooke to wife (not then forbod) his Sister 
Vesta fayre,
That crooked 
Titan did to him and comely 
Saturne bac
 [...].
The elder for deformities, in making and of minde,
With parents and the people too did lesser liking finde:
The younger by the contraries, gaue hansell in his prime
Of many vertues, honouring their Owners elder time.
Away slips age: death spareth none: 
Vranos leaues the stage,
His body (now depriu'd of pomp) interrd, the wormes doe gage.
Well may a rich mans Hearse want teares, but heires he shall not m
 [...]s,
To whome, that he is dead at length no little ioye it is.
How beit, at the least for forme, 
Vranos Sonnes lament:
But scarce their patted fathers Ghost to heauen or hell was sent,
When that his heires did fall at oddes about the vacant Raigne:
And 
Titan chafes, disabled then the Scepter to sustaine.
Each eye did follow 
Saturnes forme, each heart applaudes his fame,
And to conclude, with whole consent, he winnes away the game.
Yet, for because the Birth-right should inure to 
Titan still,
In 
Mars his Church did 
Saturne vow his Issues males to kill.
Not meanely glad was 
Saturne then his head possest of Crowne,


[Page 4] When, of his building, he was Lord of many a peopled Towne.
He giueth lawes, his lawes are kept, he bids, and all obay,
And equally belou'd and feard he wealds a kingly sway.
He teacheth men (vntaught before) to eare the lusty land:
And how to pearse the pathlesse ayre, with shaft from Bow-mans hand.
God 
Dis did quaile to see his golde so fast co
 [...]uayd from hell,
And fishes quakte, when men in ships amidst their flouds did dwell
Who loues not him? Wherein did not the King of 
Crete excell.

But what auaile or Townes, or Lawes, or what doe subiects moue?
Sheaues, Shasts, or Ships, or Gold, or all? king 
Saturne is in loue.
He loues, and is beloude againe: yeat so might not suffice,
In former vow to 
Titan made his paine of pleasure lies:
But no man from the Monarke 
Loue by wealth or weapons flies.

Cybella, fayre 
Cybella is espoused to her brother:
And as doe 
Venus billing Birds so loue they one another.
In Coiture she doth conceiue: one sonne is borne, and slayne:
And 
Saturne of the hansell hard, doth male-content re mayne.

CHAP. II.

THe Sunne had compast all the Signes, and 
Cybell brought to light
Her second breede, a smiling boy, and 
Iupiter he hight:
Together with the Queene of Gods (so 
Iunos stile we wright.)
The infant smiled at his birth: but 
Cybell, ioy­bereft,
And 
Vesta, whom 
Vranos had an heauy widow left,
Did both lament: for 
Saturne wild the new borne babe should die,


[Page 5] Both to acquite him of his vow, and frustrate Destinie.
For at the Oracle he had, his wife a sonne should beare,
That should e
 [...]ect him from his Realme: his vow therefore and feare
Did hasten on (vnwillingly) the slaughter of his sonne:
For which (his sorrowes granting speech) his moene he thus begonne.

And wāt not stately Crowns their cares? With pompe haue princes paine?
Ah, die he must, and die he shall, els may not 
Saturne raigne.
Yeat, might a Scepters want suffice, I gladly would resigne:
But sworne-by 
Stix and wreakfull 
Mars at periuries repine.
Then farre be it that they repine, least I too late repent:
It doubles sinne, if sinne by sinne we practise to preuent.
From this time foorth, 
Melancholie, for Surname 
Saturne had:
No mirth could wrest frō him a smile, ech smile would make him sad.
His seruants feare his solemne fittes, when if they ought did say,
He either answers not at all, or quite an other way.
Vnpeopled roomes and pathlesse wayes did fit his humour best:
And then he sighs and sheadeth teares when all things else did rest.
Who so could cite a Tragedie was formost in his creede,
For, balking pleasaunt company, on sorrowes did he feede.
Death likes him that mislikes himselfe: in gesture roabes and all
He shewes himselfe like to himselfe: and hence it doth befall
That men to Melancholy giuen, we 
Saturnists doe call.

His Wife and Sister kissing ost her Nephewe and her Sonne,
(For she his Aunt and Mother was) with 
Vesta seeke to shunne
The voted Fathers deadly doome: to kill so sweete a Childe
Their eyes and very soules abhorre: who (nothing so vnmilde)
Doe weeping kisse his laughing mouth, in minde the Babe to saue:
Howbeit feare of 
Saturnes wroth contrary counsell gaue.
But when in haste the Babe his heart was sent for by and by,
So 
Saturne wild, so 
Cybell must, and 
Vesta not de
 [...]e,
It was a woe to heare their woe and death to see them die.
Vnhollowed wretch, then 
Cybell sayd, in wombe why did I beare
This double Burthen? happy Twins, saue that my Twins they are.


[Page 6] So that my teeming with these throwes had ending well were I:
Or would I might not giue them life, that liuing foorth with die.
Thy Scepter 
(Saturne) is not worth Perfourmance of thy vow:
Thy conscience doth a scruple holde that Gods nor men allow.
Frō Gods, frō men, from brutish beasts, from nature nought doth grow,
But fosters what it bringeth soorth: thou onely doest not so.
Thy Sonnes alone for slaughters serue, and I mean while their mother
Am 
Saturnes Wife, lesse prowd of it then that he is my Brother.
Vnhappy 
Cybell borne to beare, and therefore borne to woe,
And fruitlesse fertill to a man that soweth not to mow.

Now teares had drowned further speech, till she as one bestrought
Did crie that with a knife the Babe should to her bed be brought:
My selfe (quoth she) will be his death, with whome my selfe will die:
For so may 
S
 [...]turne saue and shunne his vow and destinie.
But 
Vesta countermaunds her charge: yeat 
Saturnes will must stand,
For 
Ioue must die, or they not liue. A Damsell theare at hand
Was then enforced to that charge. Thrice toucht her knife his Skin,
But thrice his smiles did cause her teares: she fourthly did beginne,
And fourthly ended as before. Betide me death or life,
Liue still (at least for me) she sayd: and casting downe the knife,
She kist that sweete and prety mouth that laughed on her lippes:
And brings him back to 
Cybels bed. Her heart, reuiued, skippes,
Reuiewing life where reckned death had wrought repentant teares.

The Father fronted with a guile, at length the Damsell beares
The Infant vnto 
Oson Towne: and in her Ladies name,
Intreates 
Melissus Daughters twayne to nourish vp the same.
Vp to a Mountaine beare they him, and in a secret Caue
A Mountaine Goat did giue him milke, and so his life they saue.
His Nou
 [...]ses, sounding Simbals once to drowne the Infants crie,
A many Bees (the Muses birds) into the Caue did flie,
Where making Honie, 
Saturnes Sonne did long time liue thereby.

[Page 7]

CHAP. III.

IT doth remayne of 
Iupiter, as how (but then a Lad)
From 
Epire to 
Pelasgis him the Lordes 
Epyrote. had,
To fetch their pledge 
Lycaon held, when times of truce had ende.

Lycaon fayning to consent, that did not so intend,
Next day, as though he would dismisse the Legates with estate,
Did make to them a solemne feast: when, hauing slaine of late
The noble pledge, he brings his limmes and setteth them before
His Countreymen to feede vpon in saused dishes store.

The Strangers and his Subiects too abhorring such a sight,
Sit gazing each in others face, bereft of speech and sprite,
Vntill that lustie 
Iupiter, a stripling to beholde,
Did take the limmes dismembred so, and with a courage bolde
Did shew them throw 
Pelasgis streetes, declaring by the way
The murther of their bloodie King: which did so much dismay
The Citizens, that euen they, detesting such vnright,
Did rise in armes against their King, where youthfull 
Ioue did fight
So valiantly, that by his force 
Lycaon tooke his flight:
And after did by Robberies, by blood, and Rapines liue:
For which to him a Wooluish shape the Poets aptly giue.

IN 
Epyre and 
Pelasg
 [...]s thus 
Ioue first his honour wonne:
But greater things vntouched are by this same Worthy donne.
And partly, in the monstrous warre that 
Titan and his Crue


[Page 8] Did holde with 
Saturne, when by search of Issues males he knew
The which his brother had aliue, against their couenant made:
When, 
Titan Victor, fast in hold was vanquisht 
Saturne laide,
Together with his wife and friends: where sorrow much they past,
Till 
Iupiter did vnderstand his parentage at last.
He therefore landing tooke in 
Crete, with well prouided men:
And 
 [...]lew his Vncle 
Titan, and the Giant 
Tiphon then,
With most part of the 
Titanoies, and sets his Father free;
By meanes whereof they reconcile▪ and well a while agree.

NOt brooking then 
Apollos fault, in that he ente
 [...]tainde
The re
 [...]naunt of the 
Titano
 [...]es, that after warres remainde,

Ap
 [...]ll
 [...] was by 
Iupiter inforced for to flie
His kingdome 
Paphos, and to liue exilde in 
Thessalie.
There loue, but chiefly penurie, constrained him to keepe
(Vntill he was restored home) the King 
Admetus sheepe.
And for his Sonne disdainefully enuied 
Ioue his praise

Ioue was the same Phisitions death that dead to life could raise:
Whose same grew thus. As 
Aesculap an heardsman did espie,
That did with easie fight enforce a Basiliske to flie.
(Albeit naturally that Beast doth murther with the eye.)

Apollos Sonne perceiuing him with Garland on his head,
Imagins (as it was indeede) some hearb such vertue bred:
And for a proofe, he caused him to cast the wreath away,
When strait the beast her onely eyes the silly man did slay.
Then 
Aesculap himselfe did take the wreath and puts it o
 [...],
And by that meanes he ouercame the Basiliske anon.
In hearbs that deeper force is hid then Science may containe
I finde, sayd he, and hearb by hearb into his mouth did straine
That lay for dead, an hearb at last reuiuing him agayne.

Henceforth, men thought him more thē man, whē by his wondrous skill
He rendred life to many like, so winning great good will.
But as he waxed famous thus, he famous waxed proud,


[Page 9] Disdayning all, yea 
Ioue himselfe for Peere he disalowd:
Vntill that 
Saturns angry Sonne reueng'd his pride by death:
Correcting iustly each abuse, as Rector on the Earth.

THe Sonnes renoune thus added grace, vnto the Fathers name,
But shadowes waite on substances, and enuie followes fame.
Euen 
Saturne, pompous 
Saturne, ridde by 
Iupiter of Foes
And feare of 
Titan, did renewe his supersticious woes,
As touching former Oracle: and hastie sommons sent
Throughout his Realme to muster men, in purpose to preuent
By death of 
Ioue his destinie. The men of 
Crete repinde
To put on armour to his ill whom they had found so kinde:
But will they, nill they, so they must, for so their King assignd.
And 
Saturne with his armed troupes into 
Arcadia went,
Where 
Iupiter, forewarned of his Fathers ill intent,
Intreated peace, to him denide, so that perforce he must
Defend him from his froward Sire, or rather foe vniust.

Theare might ye see King 
Saturne fight like to a Lion wood,
Whilest 
Iupiter did beare his blowes and spares his Fathers blood:
And him that foe-like would him sley, he friendly did defend,
Desiring 
Saturne to retyre, but wordes were to no end.
The wilfull man pursuing blood, 
Ioue ceaseth to perswade,
And rushing in amongst his foes so hote a skirmish made,
That euery blowe sets blood abroch, and so in little space,
Euen he who late he did entreat is followed now in chace
By 
Arcas and his company: for 
Ioue resraind the flight,
Because against his countrey men he had no will to fight.

Whilest lucklesse 
Saturne did escape by flight and fortune then,
And wandred long in vncouth Seas, depriude of wealth and men,
Victorious 
Iupiter was crownde with glory King of 
Create:
And 
Saturne, now ariude at 
Troy, for succour did entreat.

Ganymedes, King 
Troys sonne, was sent in 
Saturnes ayde:
A worthy Knight, and valiant warre to 
Iupiter he made.


[Page 10] But he and his were chased backe euen to their Citie walles,
For whoso stoode with 
Iupiter, by 
Iupiter he falles.
And theare the 
Troyan Paragon 
Ganymedes was taine,
Twixt whome and 
Iupiter thenceforth sound friendship did remaine.
Then 
Saturne did the second time to Seas with shame retire,
And neuer after durst by warre against his sonne conspire:
But sayling into lower Realmes, in 
Italie did dwell:
And hereof it is said, his sonne did chase him into hell.

MEane while, lesse ioyous of his fame then ielous of his freakes,
Her wrong Queene 
Iuno on the Truls of 
Iupiter she wreakes.
Which was the cause that, all too late, he (purposing returne
To rescue 
Danae (in whose loue he amorously did burne)
Was cast by stormes into the Seas, that forthwith tooke the name
Of him whom for his Piracies 
Ioue vanquisht in the same.
Ye might haue seene 
Aegeon theare, with wreakfull wrath inflamde
At sight of 
Ioue, at whose decay he long in vaine had aimd.
And how that 
Ioue had now the worst, and in a trise againe
The Gyant with his twise three Barkes in hazard to be 
 [...]aine.
The 
Centaures shew them valerous, so did 
Ixeon stout,
And braue 
Ganymaedes did deale his balefull dole about:
But when couragious 
Iupiter had beaten to the ground

Aaegeon, and in the selfesame Chaynes wherein he often bound
The harmelesse soules that crost those Seas, himselfe in fetters lay,
Ye might haue sayd, and truly sayd, that then did end the fray.

So many were his high exploits, whereof such wonder bread,
That for the same the Heathen folke doe deifie him dead.
Which since they are so manifold, I many ouerpasse:
And though 
Amphitrio blush to heare how he deceiued was,
And that 
Alcmena pinch my tongue, possest with bashfull shame,
Yea though that 
Iupiter himselfe my lauish tongue shall blame,
Yeat since that iealous 
Iuno knowes already of the same,
I dare to tell how 
Iupiter so cunningly beguilde


[Page 11] His loue 
Alcmena, that by him she traueled with childe
Of 
Hercules: whose famous Acts we orderly shall tell,
Whereof the first, but not the least, in Cradle-time befell.

CHAP. IIII.

QVeene 
Iuno, not a little wroth against her hus­bands crime,
By whome shee was a Cockqueane made, did therefore at the time
In which 
Alcmena cride for helpe to bring her fruit to light,
Three nights and dayes inchaunt her throwes▪ and (of a Diuelish spight)
Intended both the Ladies death and that wherewith she went:
Till 
Galinthis vnwitching her did 
Iunos spels preuent.
Howbeit cankered 
Iuno, still pursuing her intent,
Two poysoned Serpents, got by charmes, into the chamber brought
Where 
Hercules in cradle lay, and thinking to haue wrought
A Tragedie, did let them loose: who smelling out their pray,
Skaerd 
Hercules his brother that in selfe same cradle lay:
But 
Hercules, as Children vse with little whelpes to play,
Did dallie childishly with them, and no whit did dismay:
Vntill at last his tender flesh did fecle their smarting stings,
And then displeasd, betwixt his hands the Snakes to death he wrings.

Amphitrio and the 
Thebanes all of this same wonder tell:
And, yeeres permitting, 
Hercules did with 
Euristeus dwell.
This King, by spitefull 
Iunos meanes, did set him taske on taske,
But 
Hercules perfourmed more then both of them could aske.


[Page 12] Yea, yet a Lad, for Actiuenes the world did lack his like,
To Wrestle, Ride, Run, Cast, or Shoote, to Swim, to Shift, or Strike,
As witnes (his inuention first) those solemne actiue Plaies,
That were on Mount 
Olimpus tride, where he had prick and praise.
For which his Nouell, and himselfe (in those not hauing Peeres)
The 
Graecians by 
th'Olimpides kept reckning of their yeeres.

KIng 
Atlas daughters in the Isles of 
Hesperae did holde
A many Sheepe: and Poets faine their fleeces were of Golde:
(For rarenes then of Sheepe and Wooll in figures so they faine)

Euristeus pricks his Puple on this nouile Prize to gaine.
The 
Greekes applie their sweating Oares, and sailing doe persist
Vntill they reach the wished shoare: where ready to resist
Their entrance to the closed Isles an armed Giant stayd,
Whose grim aspects at first approch made 
Hercules afraide.
Now buckle they, and boysterous bloes they giue and take among:
A cruell fight: But 
Hercules had victorie ere long.
The Giant slaine, 
Philoctes tooke the vanquisher in hand:
An harder taske had 
Hercules then pausing now to stand,
Most dreadfull was their doubtfull fight, both lay about them round,

Philoctes held the harder fight by keeping higher ground.
The Sonne of 
Ioue perceauing well that prowesse not auail'd,
Did faine to faint: the other thought that he in deed had quaild,
And left th'aduantage of his ground, and fiercely smites his Foe:
But 
Hercules, whose policie was to contriue it so,
Renewing fight most eagerly, so strikes and strikes againe,
That to endure the doubled force his valiant Foe had paine.
Who, yeelding to his Victors will, did finde in him such grace,
As 
Hercules did thenceforth vse his friendship in each place.

Hesperides, the goodly Nimphs, their Keepers chaunce lament:
But 
Hercules did comfort them, and cure their discontent:
And shipping then of Rammes and Ewes a parcell thence he went.

[Page 13]
IN coasting back by new-built 
Troy, he saw a monefull sort
Of people, clustering round about their yet vnconquered Port.
He musing much, and striking Saile, did boldlie aske wherefore
They made such dole: 
Laomedon, then standing on the Shoare,
Did tell the cause: the cause was thus. 
Laomedon ere than
To reare the statelie walles of 
Troy (a costly worke) began,
And wanting pay to finish vp the worke he had begunne,
Of 
Neptunes and of 
Phoebus Priests (the Godes of Sea and Sunne)
He borrowed money, promising repaiment of the same
By certaine time which thereunto he did expresly name.
The walles are built, the time is come, the Priests their money craue,

Laomedon forsweares the debt, and naughtie language gaue.
Forthwith the Sea (the Diuell then did many wonders showe)
Began to swell, and much of 
Troy with violence ouerflowe:
And thereupon the swealtie Sunne (the wastfull Sea retierd)
So vehementlie did shine vpon the Oosie plashes myerd,
That thereof noisome vapours rose, and of those vapours spread
Such plagues, as scarce the liuing might giue buriall to the dead.
Repentant then, their wretched king to diuell-god 
Delphos goes
Where at the Oracle he knew his wrongs to cause such woes:
And how the Gods of Sun and Seas, offended, doe require
Each month a Virgin, to appease a seaish Monsters ire.
Wherefore to saue their common weale, the 
Troyans did agree,
One Virgin, as her Lot did light, should pay that monthlie fee.
Now after many murdred Maids (for monthlie at one day,
The fearefull Monster at the Port expects his wonted pray)
The lot fell to 
Hesione the daughter of the King,
Whom to the Port to be deuourd with teares the 
Troyans bring.

When 
Hercules thus vnderstoode the hard occasion why
The guiltles Lady should haue died, he purposing to trie
His valiantnesse, (for what was it that 
Hercules would flie?)
Did aske the King what gift should grow to him that should both free


[Page 14] His Daughter and his kingdome of that bloody monthly fee.
The king, whom now a doubted hope of profered helpe made glad,
Made promise of two milk-white Steedes as chiefest gemmes he had.
Braue 
Hercules, whose ventrous heart did onely hunt for fame,
Accepts th'assumpsit, and prepares the fiend-like fish to tame.

Anone the dreadfull Diuell driues the Sea before his brest,
And spitting mighty waues abrode, disgorgde from monstrous chest,
Lifts vp his vgly head aboue the troubled waues to catch
The trembling Lady, for which pray his yawning iawes did watch.
But he, whose strength exceeded sense, with yron Club in fist,
Did bootlesse long with brusing waight the boistrous Whale resist.
The greater strokes, the fiercer was the monsters awlesse fight:
So that the 
Greekes and 
Troyans all misdoubt their dreadlesse knight.
Still 
Hercules did lay on load, and held the fight so long,
That in the end the Sea retirde, and left the fish among
The bared sands: and so for want of water, not of strength,
Good fortune honours 
Hercules with victorie at length.

Now when the King, his 
Troyans, and the 
Grecians had behild
The substance of the vgly shape, euen dreadfull being kild,
They bring the Champion to the towne with triumphs, gifts, & praise:
And who but he belou'd in 
Troy, whiles that in 
Troy he stayes?
Alone the King (a man no doubt predesinate to ill)
Obseruing how his Subiects bore to 
Hercules good will,
And fearing least their loue to him might turne himselfe to hate,
And seeing now himselfe and land in prosperous estate,
Vnfriendly did exclude his friend from out his City strong,
Whilest with his 
Greekes he hunts abroad, mistrustlesse of such wrōg,
And when the Champion and his men did from their sporte returne,
Not onely did gain say in 
Troy that longer they soiourne,
But also (impudent in guiles) withheld the Corsers twaine,
Which 
Hercules so dearly wonne, in hazard to be slayne.

Alemenas Sonne abashed then to finde so lewd a meede,


[Page 15] In lieu of well deserued loue was chollerick indeed:
And made a vow (if life gaue leaue) he would such vengeance take
On 
Troy, that euen the stones thereof for dread of him should quake,
And that the liuing 
Troyans then should say, and iustly say,
That they were happie whom the plague and Monster made away.
And threatning so the trothlesse King did leaue the hated Port,
And shortly did ariue at 
Thaebes, and feasts in 
Creons Court.

THence brought he war and wrack to 
Troy, and in his armie Kings,
And by the way 
Larnessus walles vnto the ground he flings,
And setteth 
Tenedos on fire, whose fearefull flames espide,
Gaue Sommons vnto carelesse 
Troy for worser to prouide.
Before the 
Greekes had reached 
Troy, the 
Troyans by the way
Did bid them battaile: many men on either part decay.
The sounding armours crack with blows, whilest piercing arrows flie,
This lyeth dead, that same is maimde, and more at poynt to die.
Heads, armes, and armour flie about, and bodies swimme in blood,
And fresh supplies did fall with them on whom they fighting stood.
But 
Hercules, aboue the rest, bestird himselfe so well,
That still before his balefull Club by Shocks the 
Troyans fell.
Who, fainting now, seeke to retire into their fensiue towne:
Where 
Hercules their Porter was, and rudely knockes them downe,

Thus wonne he 
Troy, and sacked 
Troy, and Chanels flowed blood,
Nor did he breath whilest any part of all the Citie stood,
Saue stately 
Ileon. In the same a many Ladies weare,
Whose piteous teares wrought 
Hercules that onely place to spare,
As for the false 
Laomedon he secretly was fled
And valiant 
Pryamus his sonne to 
Greece was captiue led.

[Page 16]

CHAP. V.

AT home returne, Queene 
Iuno craues his compa­nie at 
Creat,
Whom, there arriud, with hartlesse ioy his step­dame did intreat.
What? Hearest thou not my sonne (quoth she) how 
Argiue folke complaine
Of Lions three, that in their fieldes both men and heardes haue slaine?
All this she said, as knowing him to seeke such hard affaires:
To win him to which desperate fight no Course nor cost she spares.
When this was said, enough was said, and halfe was yet behinde
When 
Hercules did vow redresse, and 
Iuno had her minde.
He ioyes to heare of that exploit, such was his ventrous hart,
And thanking 
Iuno for her newes, did so from thence depart.

Philoctes now and 
Hercules in 
Nemea Forrest be,
Long seeking what they could not finde, till, crying from a tree,
An Heards-man said, friends shift away, or else come vp to me:
Least that those cruell Lions three now ranging in this wood,
Which haue deuourd those Heards I had, and with my Manies bloud
Imbrud their fierce deuouring chappes, and forced me to clime
This Tree, where I (vnhappie man) on leaues haue fed long time,
May, all too soone, with tearing teeth destroy you in like case.
The quaking Heards-man scarce had said thus much, when as a pace
From out a Thick the Lions three on 
Hercules did run.

Philoctes trustlesse of his Prowse, by climing did them shun,
And now the Rampant Lions great, whose onely view would quaile


[Page 17] An hundred Knights, though armed well, did 
Hercules assaile,
And sometimes with their churlish teeth and pinching pawes againe
So grieuously indanger him, that neere he faints with paine.
How beit (glorie checking griefe) he twaine had now dispatcht:
The third, and dreadfulst of the three, though many a blow he catcht,
Yet neither Club nor Sword had force to harme his hardned Hide,
Vntill that (weapons laid apart) by strangling hands he dide.

Not 
Hercules himselfe conceaud more ioy of this successe
Then did 
Philoctes, who ere while did hope of nothing lesse.
The Herds-man, poore 
Melorcus, like as 
Hercules him wild,
Vncaest the Lions, fearing long to touch them being kild:
And in his Cottage to the Knights a Countrey feast he hild.

The 
Argiues, hearing of this deed, with Triumphs him intreate,
And offer all: but leauing all he doth returne to 
Create:
Whom glozing 
Iuno, gainst her minde, with cost did intertaine,
And with a tongue repugnant quite to her malicious vaine
Commends his deeds, whē rather she did wish he had been slaine.
And therefore with an harder taske his labour did renew:
But what was it that manhood might, and he would not pursue?

IN 
Aegypt was a grieuous drought, the cause thereof vnknowen:
Which to redresse, their Diuelish Gods and Oracle had showen.
Doo offer vp strange bloud, they bid, and so auert our ire:

Busiris, prone before to bloud, had now his hearts desire.
No sooner Stranger toucht the shoare, but them the barbarous King
To frie in flames before his Gods for Sactifice doth bring.
Yea custome added worse to ill, his Subiect and his friend
(When Strangers misse) supplie the flames, his murthers had no end.
Howbeit, with these Butcheries the drought did still remaine:
For in 
Busiris was the bloud that should redeeme the raine.
The Gods did meane (which they not minde) that lewd 
Busiris he
An Alien borne, that Stranger was, who dead, no drought should be.
A Noble man of 
Iunos kin 
Busiris late had slaine,


[Page 18] For losse of whome the craftie Queene did often sorrowes faine.
Cease (Madame) saieth 
Hercules, not long the time shall be,
But I his tyrannie shall end, else it giue end to me.
Her sorrowes did not tith her ioy, when he had giuen consent
To vndertake that deathfull taske: for death was it she ment.

Now 
Hercules in 
Aegypt meetes 
Busiris and his Crew,
When sodainelie with maine assault on him the Giant flew:
Supposing to haue dealt with him, as he had done before
With other Strangers. 
Hercules alonely, and no more
To take his part, with skathfull stroakes bestird his Club so well,
In battering of the Tyrants bones, that strengthlesse downe he fell.
Then did he kill and chase away his lewd and cruell traine,
Till hearing of no further foe, he commeth backe againe,
And taketh vp the wretched King, that cryeth out for ayde:
And on the Altar, where himselfe had Strangers often layde,
Himselfe was made a Sacrifice: and as his blood did staine
The Altar, euen at that same time there fell a ioyfull raine.

With ended drought, and Tyrants death, a common ioy befell,
And all in 
Memphis entertaine the vnknowen Champion well:
From thence returning back to 
Thaebes he there a while did dwell,

KIng 
Creons Daughter 
Megara, at 
Thaebes he did espouse:
To coūtenāce their wedding feast did wāt nor knights, nor prowse.
Which triumphs ended, whē the knights should thence depart away,

Pirithous to his wedding bids them all, and names the day
Wherein to meete at 
Thessalie: to which did all consent,
And at the time concluded of at 
Thessalie conuent.
Amidst their cheere, the solemne feast the 
Centaures did disqueat:
Whom by no meanes the Nobles there to patience might intreat.
For they an hundred Gyants strong, with drinking whitled well,
Amongst their cups, from words to blowes, and worser dealings fell:
And (too outragious at the last, (fierce 
Eurytis their Guide)
Vnreuerently they rauish thence 
Hippodame the Bride.


[Page 19] But 
Hercules not brooking it, to arme himselfe begunne,
And all alone in rescue of the rapted Bride did runne.
By this time did 
Ixeons Seede stand still in battell ray,
When he, but one against them all, began a bloodie fray.
Ech arrow that with ayming hand from sturdy Bow he sent,
Did answere by the death of one the Sender his intent.

Whilest 
Hercules with deadly bow had store of 
Centaures slaine,
And, wanting arrowes, with their blood his valiant Club did staine,
The Bridegroome and the other knights came to the ceasing fight,
When all were soyld, excepting twelue that sau'd their liues by flight.
Alonely 
Lycus yeelded him a prisoner, and liues,
And liuing vnto 
Hercules much after-sorrow giues:
But 
Nessus, that escaped then, in time him worser grieues.

CHAP. VI.

THe glory of this high attempt and sauing of the Bride
They all ascribe to 
Hercules: and whilst they heere abide
To exercise his Piracies, as 
Pluto King of Hell,
(Such was the lewdnes of his life, and place where he did dwell,
That hee and it were titled so) lay houering neere the shore,
And saw the folke of 
Cicilie their Gods with rights adore,
This rouing King, with armed Guardes of his disordered Crew
Did come a land to make their Pray: but for, to outward view,
They faine deuotion, none suspect the ill that did ensue,


[Page 20] Anon, a wreathing Garlands sweet hard at her mothers side,
King 
Pluto sawe 
Proserpine, and liking whom he spide,
Concluding with his companie how to conuay her thence,
Betwixt his boistrous armes he tooke the faire and fearefull wench,
And doo what the 
Cicilians might, he setteth her aboord:
And to his giltie Sailes the Aire did gentle Gales afoord.

A number eyes in 
Cicilie for her did weepe, in vaine:
For her her Mother 
Ceres and her Loues mate did complaine,
Her selfe (sweet Lady) of her moane did finde no meane, God wot,
Though 
Dis to please did say and giue what might be said or got.
Imbarked then, with him his Harpe did wofull 
Orpheus take,
And to 
Molessa Plutos Realme with speedie Sailes did make:
Where he, vnknowne, at gate of Hell did harp such Musick sweete,
As lumpish 
Cerberus could not but shake his monstrous feete.
His foule and warpt ill-fauoured face, ore-hung with cole-black haires,
His horslike teeth, his lolling lips, his Doglike hanging eares,
His hooked nose, his skowling eyes, his filthie knotted Beard,
And what not in his vgly shape? but presently appeard
More milder than his common moode, and lesser to be feard.
This hellish Porter, deeming that such musick would delight
His weeping Mistris, did conuay the Harper to her sight:
Where 
Pluto swore by dreadfull 
Stix, if 
Orpheus did by play
But make her laugh, what so he askt he should receiue for pay.
Anon such Heauenly Harmonie on skilfull Harpe he plaid,
That she her husbands musick knew, and ioyfull was she made.
Now 
Orpheus did a watch-word giue, and she to laugh began:
And for reward to haue from thence his wife he asked than.

Although it gawled 
Plutoes soule his sweet-heart to forgo,
Yeat for to quit him of his oath, he yeelds it shall be so,
With this condition, that before they fully passed Hell,
He should not backwards looke on her, what chance so ere befell.
Now as they passe through blinde by-waies, he fearing least perchance
She erre or lag, returnes a looke: and who should marke that glance


[Page 21] But 
Cerberus, that purposely for such aduantage waites:
Who still detaining her, did shut her Husband out the gates.

When 
Ceres heard of this mischance, she 
Cicill leaues anon,
And knowing all the Knights of 
Greece to 
Thessalie were gone,
She thether goes in hope of helpe: where presently she meetes
With 
Thaeseus and 
Pirithous, whose salutings she regrectes.
They wondring what the noble Queene of 
Cicill there should make:
Become inquisitiue thereof: to whom sad 
Ceres spake
First of 
Proserpine her greefe, and then of 
Plutoes guile:
For her she weepes, on him she railes, and mooueth them meane while.
The mother of false 
Dis his rape had more behinde vnsaid,
When 
Aegeus and 
Ixions Sonnes did ioyntly offer aide.

About the desert parts of 
Greece there is a valley lowe,
To which the roaring waters fall that from the Mountaines flowe:
So Rockes doe ouershadow it that scarce a man may vewe
The open ayre: no Sun shines there: Amidst this darksome Mewe
Doth stand a Citie, to the same belongs one onely Gate,
But one at once may come thereto the entrance is so straite,
Cut out the rough maine stonie Rocke: This Citie did belong
To 
Pluto, and because that he was euer doing wrong,
And kept a theeuish Rable that in mischiefes did excell,
His Citizens were Diuels said, and Citie named Hell.
When to this Cities ruthlesse gate were come the friendly Knights,
Fierce 
Cerberus did rouse himselfe, and scarcely barking bites.
He thought the world had lackt the man that thether durst repaire:
And troth to say, not one till then to doo the like did dare.
Now fiery sparks from thundering strokes in darke did giue thē light,
And 
Ceres Champions valiantly maintaine their ventrous fight,
When stout 
Pirithous, too too bold, a deadly wound he catcht,
And 
Thaeseus, though Combattan-like he long the Helhound matcht,
Yeat with his fellowe had he falne, and flying feares to cope,
Expecting nothing lesse then life, but hap exceeded hope:


[Page 22] For 
Hercules at 
Thessalic did feare so hard euent:
Whence lanching out, he made in showe as ifto 
Thaebes he went,
But with 
Philoctes all his traine and 
Lycus home he sent:
And he himselfe to aide his friends did to 
Molossa goe,
Wheare, like as did his minde presage, he found it very so.
For euen as currish 
Cerberus with gorie bloes did chace
The wounded and the wearie Knight, came 
Hercules in place.
An vnexpected happie sight to 
Theseus at that tide:
Whom 
Cerberus forsaking then at 
Hercules he flide,
Vpbraiding him with threatning words, and like himselfe did raue,
And reacht him many a crabbed rap with his presumptious Glaue.

The Danter then of Trespassers perceauing 
Theseus drie
His grieuous wounds, and at his feete 
Pirithous dead to lie,
Desirous to reuenge them both, laies lustie lode about,
And with his still victorious Club did 
Cerberus so cloute,
That, quite dismaid at such a match, he reeling to the ground,
Did send from out his Doggish throat a loud and diuelish sound.
But when the victor sure enough the vanquished had bound,
He leauing 
Theseus weake without into the Cittie went:
Whereas he found the wicked King and Citizens, that spent
Their frutelesse time in vices foule, and dealings most vniust,
As those that in their Porters strength reposed all their trust.
With these did 
Hercules play Rex, and leauing 
Dis for dead,
Not one escapes his deadly hand that dares to shewe his head.
Whole thousands thē did breath their last, & who had seene the sight,
Might well haue said it Hell indeede: for euerie thing out-right,
Besides that sullen Mew it selfe, did giue a figure plaine
Of selfe same Hell where damned Soules abide in endlesse paine.
Saue howlings out & shuddering feare came nought to eare or sight,
With grieuous grones of dying Ghosts: & so much more their spight,
By how much more he found them then in pleasures and delight.

This horror hanging, 
Hercules in buskling vp and downe


[Page 23] In 
Plutoes Pallace, to her ioy, 
Proserpine he found,
And tolde her of enlargement thence: And then in harrowed Hell

(Pyrithous buried) he, nor she, nor 
Theseus longer dwell:
But, waying Anker with the Queene of 
Cicils Daughter went
To 
Thessalie: where present greefes pretended ioyes preuent,
For, hearing of 
Pyrithous death, not one but did lament.

Hippodame (a Widowe now) especially bewailes
Her ouer-hardie Husbands death: But weeping lesse preuailes
Then did Reuenge: for 
Hercules vnto her doome commits
Her greefes-Contriuer, 
Cerberus, almost besides his wits
For feare of death his due desert: whome causing to be bound
Both hands and feet, and to be dragd along the ragged ground,
A knauish Skull of Boyes and Girles did pelt at him with stones,
And laying on with staues and whippes did breake both flesh & bones

WHen 
Hercules should passe to Hell, as hath before been said,
And that 
Philoctes of his men he had Lieutenant made,
And as 
Philoctes with his charge on Seas to 
Thaebes did passe,
He met 
Androdamus, the King of 
Calcedon he was.

Androdamus, not knowing yet his Cosen there inthralde,
(For 
Lycus was his Cosen) to the 
Thaebane Pilots calde
To Ken of whence and where they would. But ere the 
Thaebans might
Giue answer, 
Lycus clogd with chaines on hatches stoode vpright
And cride, 
Androdamus beholde and succour me thy friend,
That shamefully, vnles thou helpe, am like my life to end.
I Captiue am to 
Hercules, and thus to 
Thaebes must goe:
Giue aide therefore. 
Androdamus deferres not dooing so,
But setteth on 
Philoctes, that himselfe and Shippe defends,
And part of 
Calcedons he slewe, and part to Sea he sends:
But where the number tripled there for them the Battell ends.

When 
Lycus was discharg'd of bands, and stout 
Philoctes bound,
He tolde what skath the 
Centaures late in 
Thessalie had sound.
Amongst the slaine he named some allied to the King:


[Page 24] For which the sauage Tyrant swore reuenge on 
Thaebes to bring.
And sayling thence preuailed theare by comming vnawares:
And putteth all to sacke and sword, nor olde nor young he spares.
He slaieth 
Creon, and in holde faire 
Megara was cast:
And leauing 
Lycus King in 
Thaebes, from 
Thaebes the Tyrant past.

Whilest 
Lycus thus did Lord-it theare, the error of his eye
Did vexe his heart: but 
Megara his lust did chastly flye.
And 
Hercules by now had newes how things at 
Thaebes fell out,
And how that 
Lycus theare was Lord, and none for him durst route.
Disguised then he thither comes and to the Pallace went:
Whom, whē the Porters would haue staide, his ragges he of did rēt,
And showes himselfe like to himselfe, no bloe in vaine he spent
That se
 [...]s not breath or bloud abroch. This vprore 
Lycus heard,
And thinking that some priuat Fray had falne amongst his Garde,
Presuming that his presence would appease the growing heat,
Did cast his haughtie armes abroad, as who would say, be queat,
Or here am I that can aswell commaund it as intreat,
Which 
Hercules so suddainelie chopt off, that (yet vnmist)
He thinking to haue vsed Armes, was armeles ere he wist.
Then 
Hercules, our 
Hercules is come, all 
Thaebes it cride,
Now shake we off our seruile Yoke and follow him our guide:
And so they did, till none were left to holde on 
Lycus side.

The medly ended, 
Hercules did bring the 
Centaure bound
To Prison: whereas 
Megara in miserie he found:
(For 
Lycus, speedeles in his lust, against her so had frownde)
Yea (more reuengefull) seeing her imbraced by his Foe,
And hoping nothing lesse then life, to vexe them ere he goe
He said: thou doatest ouermuch to entertaine that Whore,
The falsest Ladie vnder Heauen, for let me liue no more,
If 
Megara (I speake by proofe) imbraced so of thee,
Hath not offended diuers waies, and common been to me.


[Page 25] Then 
Hercules supposing that his speeches had been true,
Sweept off the lying 
Centaures head, and in that choller slewe
(Too credulent) his guiltlesse wife: but dead her death did rue.

FOr losse of her, and slaughtered friends, he vexed at the heart,
Did then from 
Thaebes (an hea
 [...]ie man) to Forraine lands depart.
Distressed in the 
Troyan Rhode he succour sought for pay:
To which (his peoples triple plague) 
Laomedon said nay:
And to prouide their second scourge saild 
Hercules away:
For, comming back with 
Iasons Prize from 
Colchos, he complaines
Of churlish King 
Laomedon, and so an armie gaines.

At 
Troy the 
Greek
 [...]sh Peeres and he did land their armed men:
Whome to resist 
Laomedon did range his Battailes then.
The 
Troyans they bestird them well, the 
Grecians stood not still,

Laomedon fights valiantlie, and many a 
Greeke did kill:
Till 
Hercules (disgesting ill to see his Foe pursue
Such good successe) encounters him, whom easilie he slue.
And hauing slaine the traiterous King he ceaseth not to die
His 
Thaebian Club in 
phrigian bloud, till all began to flie.
But with the 
Troyans, Telamon, and 
Hercules both twaine,
And by their valour all the 
Greekes the gates and Citie gaine,
And kill who so of 
Troy they caught, and rased to the ground
The Citie, whilest that house by house, or stone on stone they found
When ventrous 
Telamon, for that he entred first the gate,
For Prize had faire 
Hesione, of 
Troy the latest fate:
For 
priamus to quit her Rape, long after sent his Sonne
To rauish 
Hellen from the 
Greekes: So thirdly warre begonne:

Hesione the cause to 
Troy, and 
Hellen to the 
Greekes,
And all did worke that 
Troyan Brute the 
Albian Climate seekes.

[Page 26]

THE SECOND BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. VII.

THe twise-sackt Towne the 
Grecians then did merrilie forsake,
And 
Hercules for new affaires, did land in 
Aegypt take.
There in a Porte hee did espie a Fleete of Shippes from farre,
Well fraught with Men, Munition, and what else pertaines to warre.
When 
Affer (he chiefe Captaine was of that same Fleete) did spie
The Ensign
 [...]s of the famous 
Greeke, he knew them by and by:
And entertaining on his knees the Owner of the same,
Reioyced to behold the man so honoured by fame.
With 
Affer sailed 
Hercules to 
Lybia, to put downe
The Gyant King 
Aniaeus, that had aided to the Crowne
Of 
Ae
 [...]ypt, gainst th' 
Aegyptians willes, 
Busiris lately slaine
By 
Hercules, in whose conduct the doubt not to obtaine.
The taking land in 
Lybia now, and hauing in their sight
The threatned Citie of the Foe, his Tents did 
Affer p
 [...]ght,
And gi
 [...]ts it with a sodaine Siege. The Giant then did shake
His hideous head, and vow'd reuenge, yea sharpe reuenge to take.
But is
 [...]ning out his Citie gates he 
 [...]ound the 
 [...]oe so hot,


[Page 27] That, notwithstanding such his bragges, the worst 
Antaeus got:
For 
Hercules did canuase so his carkes, that at length
He did retire himselfe and men, as trustlesse of his strength.
His 
Libians slaine, and he not sound, 
Antaeus Truce did craue:
For graunt whereof vnto his Foes meane time he victuals gaue:
And whilest the Month of Truce did last, the Giant brused sore,
Did heale his wounds, and to his part sollicits Aiders more,
Meane while the 
Greeke to 
Mauritain did passe vnknowne of all,
And theare in King 
Antaeus aide he found supplies not small:
And for he looked souldier-like, they brought him to the King,
Who offered pay: not so (quoth he) I meane an other thing,
Discharge these Bands, or else will I discharge thee of thy breath,
That all alone to thee and thine oppose me to the death.

When 
Atlas knew him 
Hercules, that conquered of late
The Iland which his daughters held, and brought to latest fate
His Giant that defended them, and capt
 [...]uated than
His friend 
Philoctes: he twixt feare and fiercenesse waxed vvan.
And looke how fast the ratling haile vpon an house dooth fall,
So fast they lay on 
Hercules, that holdeth wage gainst all.
For as the Smith with Hammour beats his forged Mettall, so
He dubs his Club about their pates and sleas them on a row.
And whilest (not daring to looke downe) by heaps on him they flie,
Some stumbling on the bodies dead are smoldred so and die:
Some sliding in their slippery bloud, where with the place did swimme,
Were strangled so: some others whilest disorderedly at him
They freat and foyne, are crowded on by those that hindmost be,
And with their weapons spoyle themselues and fellowes two or three:
Some others with the wounding points of broken weapons die:
And others daring with their Foe their bootles force to trie,
Were in a moment slaine by him: and thus in little space,
Without resistance 
Hercules had Lordship of the place:
And, maugre swords or studied Starres, brought 
Atlas to the Seas,
Whereas 
Philoctes did in time his pensiuenes appease,


[Page 28] And to his friend commends the Foe for bountie (which at last
Himselfe did finde) and when as time his griefe had ouerpast,
The same that for Astrologie the Skies support was said,
In such his Science 
Hercules a perfect Artist made.

The Month of Truce by this had end, and 
Hercules returnes
To 
Affer, that incamped at the 
Lybian walles soiournes.
A second battell then begonne: 
Antaeus like a Baer
Bestires himselfe amongst his Foes, whilest 
Hercules did faer
As roughly with contrarie bloes, till none to fight did daer:
But humblie all submitting them subdued by his might,
He gaue them grace, and staied theare to doe them law and right.

Meane time 
Antaeus, lately fled, returnes from 
Mauritain,
And with a mightie Troupe of 
Moores renewed fight againe:
And all the Fields with Carcases of mangled men were filde,
And numbers failed to the 
Moores that 
Hercules had kild.
But when 
Antaeus saw his men to lessen more and more,
Resoluing or to win the Spurres or lose himselfe therefore,
He makes a bloudie glade vntill the 
Thaebane he espide,
And finding him: bestowe on me thy bloes, the Giant cride,
That am both able to endure and to repay the same,
A Flie is not an Eagles praie, nor Mouse a Lyons game:
My death might countenance thy deedes (if that it so would be)
But make account that I anon will triumph ouer thee.
In saying which he smites his Foe, perfourming wondrous might:
And bodie vnto bodie they with equall dammage fight.
But 
Hercules disdaining that so long 
Antaeus standes
With him in combat, griping him betwixt his angrie handes,
Did crush his Carkasse in the ayre that life did leaue him so:
And thus did reape a Monarchie, and rid a mightie Foe.
Then 
Hercules (Antaeus dead) with ease he ouercame
All 
Lybia with Prouinces and Kingdomes of the same,
And maketh 

 [...]ffer King of all that beares the Donees name.

[Page 29]
IN expedition of which warre when 
Hercules would dwell
No longer time, but purposed to bid his friends farewell,
A warlike wench, an 
Amazon, salutes him by his name,
And said: know 
Hercules (if it thou knowest not by same)
How that the 
Scythian Ladies, late expeld their natiue Land
By King of 
Aegypt, haue contriu'd amongst themselues a bande,
And with the same haue conquered all 
Asia, Aegypt, and
All 
Cappadocia: Now for that we, Victors, vnderstand
The 
Africanes are our Allies, we minding to proceed
In further Conquests, tendring them, haue therefore thus decreed:
That you two Champions shall elect, and we will also send
Two Ladies, that for victorie shall with your Knights contend:
And if your Champions vanquish ours, then we will tribute pay,
But if that ours doe vanquish yours, then you shall vs obay.
But hope not so, more profite giues our bountie then our bloes,
And vninforced tribute may procure your friendly Foes.

Then 
Hercules, admiring much the Chalengers, did yeeld
Two aduerse Knights the morrow next should meet them in the field
And mounted well on Corsers twaine next light by dawne of day
Into the Listes came 
Hercules and 
Theseus: Mid the way
Vpon a brace of milke white Steedes the two 
Viragoes meete
The Knights, and each the other did with ciuill Congies greete.
Then either parte retiring backe began to make their race,
And couching well their valiant Speares did run a wondrous pace.
With 
Menalippe Hercules the fight did vndertake,
And 
Theseus with 
Hippolite did his Encounter make.
They meeting, either part both Horse and load to ground were cast,
Whereat the 
Africanes did muse, and 
Scythians were agast.
Vnhorsed thus, disdainefully each Knight defendant tooke it:
And either Ladie so disgrac'd as scornefully did brooke it.
Then settle they to handy Armes, the which was long and fierce,
And with their cutting weapons did both Helms and Harnesse pierce.
But 
Hercules, though neuer matcht so hardie in his life,


[Page 30] Disarmes at length his 
Scythian Taske, and ended was their strife.
But 
Theseus with his Combattesse in doubtfull battell fights,
Till, blushing at the Maidens blowes, he checks his mending sprights:
And laid so hardlie to her charge, not able to sustaine
His fresh-got force, that he also the second Prize did gaine.

Antiope, a third vnto those warlike Sisters twaine,
Beholding how sinisterly the double fight had past,
Makes sorow, whilst the 
Africanes reioice for it as fast.

The 
Scythians to the 
Africanes did homage then, and pray
Their Ladies might be raunsomed. That sute did 
Theseus stay,
For he through launce, his Foe through loue went victoresse away.
And therefore when th' 
Athenian Knight and 
Amazon were matcht
In mariage, 
Menalippe then from durance was dispatcht.
And 
Hercules (then which to him no greater prize could be)
Had Queene 
Antiope her Bealt and armour for his fee,
And sets the dames of Thermodon from other raunsome free.
And 
Theseus with 
Hippolite at 
Athens landing takes,
And 
Hercules to 
Calidon a Dismall viage makes.

THeare did King 
Oeneus bounteously receaue so great a Guest:
Where scarcely had he any time from passed toiles to rest,
But that proud 
Achelous sent Ambassadors to knowe
If that King 
Oeneus on him his daughter would bestowe,
If not, to threaten wreakfull warres: which much abasht the King,
Till 
Hercules, who then was come about the selfe same thing,
(For loue to 
Deianira both competitors did bring)
Expelled feare by offring aide to backe him from the Foe,
By meanes whereof vnsatisfide awaye the Legats goe.
The Tyrant 
Achelous then, with all 
Epirus force
Inuades the bounds of 
Calidon, and spoyls without remorse.
But 
Hercules he leading forth his Armie got the day,
And well was he amongst his foes that fastest ran away.

They and their King, with hard escape, inmure themselues at length


[Page 31] Within a Castle neere the Sea, an Hold of wonderous strength.
The 
Thaebane then, as resolute to spoyle both Foe and Fort,
Did burne his foes forsaken shippes, left riding in the Port,
And with a fewe besets the hold. When 
Achelous he
So slender watch about the walles of Enemies did see,
He scorned that so weake a siege should pen him vp so straight,
Who hauing ten for one of them, did issue out the Gate
Against the 
Greekas, that willingly his comming did awaite.
Espying 
Hercules, he cride, lo yond same diuell is he
That droue vs out of 
Calidon, who so of mine he be
That 
 [...]aieth him, shalbe inricht with great rewards by me.
But he that made such offers large, did offer them in vaine:
For when his men saw 
Hercules approching them amaine
With fierie eyes, and angrie lookes, and dreadfull Club in fist,
They thought it needles to assaile, and booteles to resiste,
And euerie man retired backe into the holde againe,
Wheare many dayes, attempting flight, they cowardly remaine.
From warre at length they fell to wieles. There lay vpon the shore
A broken Hoy, that bad not brookt the Seas of long before,
The Mast they boring full of holes, in euerie hole did sticke
A burning Torch, and lancht it out in night when clouds were thick.
No sooner was the fierie keele a floate vpon the waues,
And that the 
Greekes espyed it, but ech man rashly craues
The viewing of so strange a sight. But 
Hercules did smell
The presupposed Stratagem, and raung'd his armie well,
And marching neere the guilefull light, did finde ambushment theare
That playing on aduantage thus (preuented though) appeare.
Occasion hapning, 
Hercules would not omit the same,
But tooke them as he found them now, and fights it out by aime.
When 
Achelous he beheld his guile by guile to faile,
Wel might he chafe, but harder chaunce his courage might not quaile:
For looke how fierce and boisterouslie a chafed Bull doth fight,
So 
Achelous lustilie on either side did smite:


[Page 32] And by his only prowesse then a many Knights were slaine,
Whilest 
Hercules with like successe his Opposits did paine.
And now, by chance, amidst the brunt the valiant Woers twaine
Doe single, and togethers tug, and as two Lions strong
Each one desiring others bloud did hold a Combate long.
King 
Achelous minding her for whom began that broyle,
To Conquer where he did contend, annexed hope to toyle:

Al
 [...]menas Sonne remembring too whose cause he did defend,
Euen hers on whom his being and his very soule depend,
So chargd his Contrarie with knocks, and vsd his Club so well,
That vanquished (though valerous) King 
Achelous fell.

Th' 
Epirotes when they saw their King a Captiue led away,
Their hearts were doone: and 
Hercules subdued them ere day:
And 
Achelous in exile did end his latter dayes:
And all 
Aetolia was fild with 
Hercules his praise,
To whom the King did giue to Wife faire 
Deianira, shee
The pleasing prise of that his prowse, and dearelie earned Fee,
Who after, of her owne decaye, and his, the meane should bee.
The 
Centaure Nessus was the man that made her erre so much:
Of which her error, but his sinne, the circumstance is such.

CHAP. VIII.

WHen ouer deepe 
Euenus Foord the passage did not fit,
This Giant, of a Stature tall, did offer helpe to it:
And 
Hercules, forgetting him (for at the 
Centaures Fray
The same vnslaine, but not vnskard, escaped then a­way)

 [...] pray him to the farther shoare with 
Deianire to waide,


[Page 33] And so he did, whilst 
Hercules this side the Riuer staid.
When 
Iunos Breed on farther bankes his Passenger had set,
The lust and long conceaued grudge to foule reuenge did whet:
Not 
Deianira could auoid a Rape, or little lesse:
Or 
Hercules, disioynd by Foord, giue aide to her distresse.
One while, contrarie to himselfe, full humbly he intreates,
Anon, like 
Hercules indeede, he did commaund with threates.
But first nor latter might preuaile, for 
Nessus halde her thence.
I may not follow, nor in flight is 
(Centaure) thy defence
Said 
Hercules. His deeds approue his latter saying true,
For letting flie a fatall Shaft the Rauisher he slue.
And though the arrow galled him euen at the very heart,
Yeat for a while he did indure the not induring smart.
And hauing brought his trembling Rape into a vallie, said:
See 
Deianira how thy Loue an end of me hath made:
Yeat is my death lesse griefe to me, then that thou shouldst bestow
Thy selfe on such a changing Churle as 
Hercules: I know
(Sweete Wench I know) he dooth preferre contrarie Loues to thee,
Wherefore my graue (the lesse my griefe) in this thy good shall be.
Take this (he gaue a folded cloth, and to the baene therein
He mixed somewhat of his bloud) this same (quoth he) shall win
To thee again thy Husbands loue, when he shall it estrange:
For out of doubt, I know it I, he takes delight in change.
When thou suspectest such a wrong, doe boyle a shirt with this:
No sooner shall he weare the same (herein such vertue is)
But that his nouell Loue will change and fall whence it did flie:
Meane while doe not the vnction touch, least so the vertue die.

In all this time betwixt his armes he did the Ladie claspe,
And hild her so, as Hawke a Pray, vntill his latest gaspe.
Then leauing him a liuelesse Coarse, mistrusting nought his drift,
She meaning simply, tooke with her the traitours poysned gift.
And 
Hercules by this had past the Riuer deepe and wide:
Who 
(Deianira first imbrast) drew from the 
Centaures side


[Page 34] The fatall Shaft that should the death of braue 
Achilles proue,
In 
Phoebus Church, by 
Paris hand, for 
Polixenas loue.

THe 
Centaure left vntoombed there, Hee, Shee, and all their traine
are come to 
Lerna, whom the King did noblie entertaine.
Theare had he from their common teares the cruell hauock made
By 
Lernan Hydra, whom in Fenne not armies durst inuade.
His vpper parts had humane forme, his nether Serpentine,
The whole was monstrous, yeat his wit more monstrous, but most fine
(For wit is moustrous when the same from vertue doth decline.)
Such were his subtill arguments, and still supplies therein,
That he by often losse of heads was fained heads to winne:
And wittie thus to others wrong confounded all hee found,
Propounding questions, and a word vnanswered was a wound.
The Scourge of Tyrants hearing this, did promise death or ayde,
Whilst fearefull 
Deianira did the contrarie perswade.
But womans speech from weapons vse might not withdraw him then,
Til entring 
Palus, he had rousd the Monster from his Denne.

Disdainfully did 
Hydra take the presence of his Foe,
And after subtill arguments to sturdie fight they goe.
Two blowes at once with Glaue and Taile made 
Hercules to reele:
Who since he first had vsed armes the like did neuer feele.
Not long he borrowed had the Loan, but 
Hydra had the like:
So either twaine repaye their debt, and neither faintly strike.
But who might stand with 
Hercules? By him the monster fell:
Who, burning vp his vgly shape did passe his soule to hell:
Which happie fate of 
Hydras fall left 
Lerna glad and well.
From whence to 
Athens, and from thence to 
Lycia did he saile,
Then to 
Hesperia Gerions Realme his outrages to quaile.

HE by his triple tyrannie (for 
Gerion he was said
three headed, in respect that him three other Giants aid)
So spoild and plag'd y
e neighbour Realmes with daily wrongs & war,


[Page 35] That all the force of 
Africa his furie could not barre.
In 
Gadira when 
Hercules his Pillers reared had,
The which (our westerne world not knowne) men farther land forbad,
Then with victorious ships he sets on 
Gerions chased Fleet:
And secondly at 
Megida did either armie meete.

Theare 
Gerion with his brothers twaine the Citie did beset,
And scornefullie aduance themselues as men not to be met.
Prouiding therefore murall workes, they threaten hot assault:
Whilest 
Hercules contrarie warres vnto his souldiers taught.
The Gates wide opned, out he comes vnto the Giants three,
Your men, he said, are well at worke, well met are also wee.

This lesse then monster more than man, a Fiende in humane shape
The 
Spanyard said, is he from whom I made so hard escape.
Yet hardlier shalt thou now escape, said 
Hercules, and than
Betweene them foure, three to one, A cruell fight began.
And euery of the Giants thought himselfe an ouer-match
To 
Hercules, who almost gaue to one a quick dispatch,
The second he dispatcht in deed, who fell his latest fall.
Then thousands came to rescue them yeat, one, he fights gainst all:
Till 
Theseus with the other knights did march their Armie out,
And ioyne to him, their Foes with them, and all make battaile stout.
Then 
Gerions brother fights againe, and both did bathe in bloud,
It was no fighting where they fought, or standing where they stood.
King 
Meleus, Theseus, Hispan, and 
Philoctes did no lesse:
But soueraignlie the sonne of 
Ioue bestird him in the presse.
The Giant, 
Gerions brother, then by him did breath his last,
And 
Gerion did retire his men into their Gallies fast,
But where they land, theare 
Hercules wonne landing, though he past
The Pikes withstanding thousand Swords, & warding thousand slings
Himselfe alone, ere that his men to fight on Shore he brings.

Then 
Gerion, cursing heauen & earth, bestirre ye friends he cride,
Now is the time to liue or die, let good or bad betide,


[Page 36] Doe liue as men, or die as men, see tenne we are for one,
What lets vs then from victorie, that victors haue beene knowne?
Reuenge your selues, reuenge your friends, reuenge our cōmō mone.
Nor did he shrinke from what he said, or said not as he wrought:
His onely deeds were manies death: Till 
Hercules he sought,
Whome singling, after combat long, of him his end he cought:
So to subiection 
Hespera by 
Hercules was brought.

NO better Spanish 
Cacus sped, for all his wondrous strength,
Whom 
Hercules from out his Realme debelled at the length.
A richer King or Tyrant worse liu'd not in any Land,
Nor any one gainst 
Hercules in hardier fight did stand.
Yeat chased by his Conqueror he was inforc'd to flie
Vpto a Mountain in those parts: where as, at poynt to die
Through famine, by his Magicke Arte he made the Mountaine flame,
And by that shift escapt his Foe, long wondring at the same.
Then fled the Giant night and day (for feare did lend him wings)
And as about from place to place the wandring Tyrant flings,
He on a Mount in 
Italie cal'd 
Auentine did light,
Where laboured 
Cacus did repose his wearied limmes all night.
In this same Hill he found a Caue, which fitting place espide,
He did resolue in secrecie thenceforth himselfe to hide
In that same Mount from sight of men: and being theare alone,
That words at least might vent his woes he maketh thus his mone.
Ah wretch (quoth he) no longer King, that title now must change,
Thou late were fearfull vnto all, now fearing all must range.
This ragged Caue must now suffice in stead of Royall seat,
And though (alas) the place should please, yet want I what to eat.
Where be my solemne banquets now? where is my stately traine?
My Tributes? nay my proper Goods? or doe my friends remaine?
Not one I feare: proud wealth was such, that now in time of need
I knowe not where to seeke a friend in any hope to speede.


[Page 37] And yeat despaire not, 
Picus liues, indebted much to me
For great good turnes: to him I will ere here I setled be.

Thus droue he foorth the dismall night, and vp by peepe of day
He sped him vnto 
Calabrie, for there King 
Picus lay.
His daughters three of long before, and still did loue him well:
And, whether with the kings consent, or not, it so befell
He took them all to 
Auentin, and there with him they dwell.
About his boisterous neck full oft their daintie armes they cast,
Still plying him with kisses sweet, no sport was ouer-past
That 
Cacus would, & they might worke: and more, their custome was
By pleasant tales in order told the wearie times to passe.
And once especially it was concluded on a row
That each of them should tell her tale, the first beginning so.

CHAP. IX.

KIng 
Aganippus ere his death had with his Lords decreed
His only daughter 
Daphles should in Empire him succeed.
A fairer Ladie liu'd not then, and now her like doth lack,
And nature, thinke I, neuer will a second She compact.
The King intombed, 
Daphles of his Scepter was possest:
And one there was, a Noble man, that could it not disgest.
Who (for he was of fame and force) did bid her battaile, and
In doubtfull end of victorie their ciuill quarrels stand.
At length the 
Argiue Maiden Queene she 
Doracles subdued:


[Page 38] But 
(Cacus) of this Stratagem a Tragedie ensued.

Now Loues, not Launces came in vre, the man that lost the day,
And lies in Chaines, left her in cares: her Conquest was his pray.
Full often did she blame her selfe for louing him her Foe,
But oftner thought she it more blame not to haue erred so.
Thus whom in Campe she loathed late, in chaines she loued now,
And thought him sure, because so sure. To Princes prisoners bow
Thinks she: and watching fitting time, vnto the Prison went,
Where at the dore of such his Lodge a many teares she spent.
But entring, when her eyes beheld the Image of her hart,
To her still peerelesse, though his bands had altred him in part,
She casting downe her bashfull eyes stood senceles then a space,
Yeat what her tonguelesse loue adiornd was extant in her face:
And now the Goaler left to her the Prisoner and the place.
Then, cheering carefull 
Doracles, let it suffice (quoth shee)
That I repent me of thy bands, and frankly set thee free.
And let that Grace grace-out the rest, for more remaines behind
Then, being said, may decent seeme to such as faults will find.
My selfe, my Land, my Loue, my life, and all what so is mine
Possesse: yet loue, and saue my life, that now haue saued thine.
Then sownes She at his sullen feete, that yet abode in thrall:
Which to auoid, he faintly rubs his Liuer on his gall:
And with his hand, not with his heart, did reare her sinking downe,
And faining to approue her Choise, had promise of the Crowne.

But neither Crowne, nor Countries care, nor She (worth all the rest)
Nor grace, nor dutie, reconcile whom enuie had possest.
No sooner was he got at large, and wealth suppli'd his lack,
But he to seeke her ouerthrow to forren aids did pack.
Demaund not how the wronged Queene disgested such her wrong,
But aske if she, the tidings tolde, to heare them liu'd so long.
She liu'd in deede, yet sowned oft, and sowning ouerpast,
From her mistempered head she teares her louely Tresses fast.
And beateth on her Iuorie brests, and casts her on the ground,


[Page 39] And wrings her hands, and scricheth out, and flingeth vp and downe.
Her Ladies pittying her distresse had got their Queene to rest:
From whenceforth outward signes & sighs her inward griefe exprest,
Her sparing Diet, seldome sleepe, her silence, and what not?
Had framd her now right Louer-like, when thus to him she wrot.

WHat fault of mine hath causd thy flight doth rest in cloudes to me,
But faultles haue I heard of none, and faultie may I be.
Yet not my Scepter, but my selfe, haue kingly Suters sought:
Did all amisse, saue thou alone, that settest both at nought?
At nought, said I? Yea well I said, because so easly cought.
One crime but cite, and I for it will shead a million teares:
And to be penitent of faults with it a pardon beares.
Ah, 
Doracles, if our extreames, thy malice and my loue,
The formers euer ill shall not the latters good remoue.
I heare thou doest frequent the warres, and war thou wilt with mee,
Forgetfull that my 
Argiue men impatient Warriours bee:
Sweet, hassard not the same to sword that Loue doth warrant thee.
Ech Speare that shal but crosse thy Helme hath force to craese my hart:
But if thou bleede, of that thy blood my fainting soule hath part.
With thee I liue, with thee I dye, with thee I loose or gaine,
Liue safe therefore, for in thy life consists the liues of twaine.
Most wisely valiant are those men that backe their armed Steeds
In beaten Paths, ore boorded Tylthes to break their staffe-like Reeds:
Wheare not the dint of wounding Launce, but some deuise of loue,
Sans danger, hath sufficient wait their manhoods to approue.
Wheare braue Aspects of louely Dames 
Tantara to the fight,
Whose forms perhaps are weg'd in harts, whē Fauours wag in sight,
Whearas the Victors Prize is praise, and Trumpets sound ech blow,
Wheare all is well, that seemes but well, in courage or in show.
Wheare Ladies doffe their Champions Helmes, and kisse wheare Bea­uers hid,
And parlie vnder Canapies how well or ill they did.
Retire therefore, sweet heart retire: or, if thou wilt be arm'd,


[Page 40] Then fight as these where all things make that all escape vnharm'd.
Such manhood is a merriment: things present are regarded:
Not thousand drammes of bloud in warre, one drop is here rewarded.
In few, the warres are full of woes, but here euen words of warre
Haue brauer grace thē works thēselues, for Courts frō Campes be far.
Than are the valiāt, who more vaine? Than Cowards who more wise?
Not men that trauell 
Pegasus, but Fortunes fooles doe rise.
Me thinks I see how churlish lookes estrange thy cheerefull face,
Me thinks thy gestures, talke, & gate, haue changd their wonted grace:
Me thinks thy sometimes nimble Limbs with armour now are lame:
Me thinks I see how scars deforme where Swords before did maime:
I see thee faint with Summers heat, and droup with winters cold:
I see thee not the same thou art, for young thou seemest old:
I see not, but my soule doth feare, in fight thou art too bold:
I sorrow, lastly, to haue seene whom now I wish to see,
Because I seeloues Oratresse pleads tediously to thee.
If words, nor weepings, loue, nor lines, if ease, nor toyle in fight,
May waine thee from a pleasing ill, yet come thou to my sight:
Perchance my presence may disswade, or partnership delight.
But wo am I, dead paper pleads, a senceles thing of woe:
It cannot weepe, nor wring the hands, but say that she did so:
And saieth so vncredited, or if, then thought of corse:
Thus thus, because not passionate, to paper failes remorse.
O that my griefes, my sighes, and teares, might muster to thy viewe,
Thē woes, not words. thē paine, not pē, should vouch my writing true.
Yeat fare thou well, whose fare-well brings such fare-ill vnto me:
Thy fare-well lacks a welcome home, and welcome shalt thou be.

These lines, subscribed with her name, when 
Doracles did viewe,
He was so far from liking them, that loathing did ensue.
And, least that hope should ease her heart, or he not seeme vnkinde,
In written Tables he to her returned thus his minde.

The Bees of 
Hybla beare, besides sweet hony smarting stings,
And beautie doth not want a baite that to repentance brings.


[Page 41] Cōtent thee, 
Daphles, Mooles take mads, but mē know Mooles to catch,
And euer wakes the 
Dawlian bird to ward the sloe-wormes watch.
I haue perus'd, I wot not what, a scrole, forsooth, of loue,
As if to 
Dirus in his Tent should 
Cupid cast his gloue.
A challenge proper to such Sottes as you would make of me,
But I disdaine to talke of Loue, much more in Loue to be.
Nor thinke a Queene, in case of Loue, shall tie me to consent,
But holde the contrarie more true, and it no consequent.
For persons must in passions iumpe, els Loue it proueth lame:
Nor thinke I of a Womans graunt, but as a Woers game.
Your Sex withstands not place and speach: for be she baese or hie,
A Womans eye doth guide her wit, and not her wit her eye.
Then senceles is he, hauing speach, that bids not for the best:
Euen Carters Malkings will disdaine when Gentrie will disgest.
The better match the brauer Mart, and willinger is sought:
And willing sute hath best euent: so 
Vulcan Venus cought.
I argue not of her estate, but set my Rest on this.
That opportunitie can win the coyest She that is.
Then he that rubs her gamesome vaine, and tempers toyes with Arte,
Brings loue that swimmeth at her eyes, to diue into her hart.
But since the best, at best, is bad, a Shrow or els a Sheepe,
Iust none at all are best of all, and I from all will keepe.
Admit I come, and come I then because I come to thee?
No, when I come, my comming is contrarie sights to see.
My leasure serues me not to loue till fish as haggards flie,
Till Sea shall flame, till Sunne shall freese, tyll mortall men not die,
And Rriuers, climing vp their bankes, shall leaue their channels dry.
When these shall be, and I not be, then may I chance to Loue,
And then the strangest change will be that I a Louer proue.
Let Beuers hide, not busses hurt, my lips, for lips vnfit:
Let skarred limbes, not carefull Loues, to honor, honor get.
I skorne a face effeminate, but hate his bastarde minde
That, borne a man, prepostrously by Arte doth alter kinde:


[Page 42] With fingers, Ladie-like, with lockes, with lookes, and gauds in print,
With fashions barbing formeles beards, and robes that brooke no lint,
With Speare in wrest, like painted 
Mars, frō thought of battaile free,
With gate, and grace, and euery gaude, so womanly to see,
As not in nature, but in name, their manhood seemes to bee.
Yea sooner then that maiden heares bud on his Boyish chinne
The furie of the fierie God doth in the foole beginne.
And yeat to winne, whō would be wonne, these woo with lesser speed,
Then might be wun a towne of warre, the croppe not worth the seede.
But let them trauaile till they tire, and then be ridde for Iaides,
If Gamesters faire, if Souldiers milde, or Louers true of Maides:
Who loue in sporte, or leaue in spight, or if they stoupe to luer,
Their kindnes must haue kindely vse: faultes onely make them suer.
Did fancie? no, did furie? yea, hang vp the 
Thracian Maide.
The wonders seuen should then be eyght, could loue thee so perswade.
But loue or hate, fare ill or well: I force not of thy fare:
My welcome, which thou doest pretend, shall proue a thankelesse care.

When 
Daphles heard him so vnkind, she held her selfe accurst:
And little lacked of so well but that her heart did burst.
And wheare she read the churlish scrole, she fell into a sowne,
But, brought againe, vpon a bed her selfe she casteth downe,
Not rising more: and so her loue and life together end:
Or (if I so may gesse) in death her soule did liue his friend.

The Queene enterr'd, and Obbit kept (as she in charge did giue)
A Knight was shipt to 
Calidon, wheare 
Doracles did liue,
To offer him, as her bequest, the 
Argiue Throne and Crowne.
Not that we force, or feare (quoth he) thy fauour or thy frowne
We moue this peace, or make thee Prince, but 
Daphles swore vs so,
Who louing more then thou couldst hate, nor liu'd nor died thy Foe.
And is she dead (quoth 
Doracles) that liued to my wrong?
I gladly doe accept these newes, expected-for of long.

The Lord and Legate were imbarkt, and Ship ran vnder saile,
Vntill into the 
Argiue Strond the Mariners did haile.


[Page 43] To 
Daphles, by adoption, theare inthronized a King,
He diuers yeares good fortune had successiue in each thing,
All friends, no Foes, all wealth no want, still peace, and neuer strife,
And what might seeme an earthly Heauen to 
Doracles was rife.

A Subiect, but a Noble man, did ritchly feast the King:
And after meat presented him with many a sight and thing.
Theare was a chamber in the which, portraied to the quick,
The Picture of Queene 
Daphles was: and deepely did it prick
The King his conscience, and he thought her like did not remaine:
So, whome her person could not pearce, her Picture now did paine.
A Kissing 
Cupid, breathing loue into her breast, did hide
Her wandring eies, whilst to her heart his hand a Death did guide:

Non moerens morior, for the Mott, inchased was beside.
Her curtesie and his contempt he calleth then to minde,
And of her beautie in himselfe he did a 
Chaos finde.
Recalling eke his late degree, and reckning his desart,
He could not think (or faintly thought) his loue to sterne her heart:
And to the Maker of the feast did such his thoughtes impart.

And doubtes your Grace the Feaster said, if 
Daphles lou'd or no?
I wish (I hope I wish no harme) she had not loued so,
Or you not loathed as you did: then she had liued yet:
To what her latest speach did tend I neuer shall forget.
My selfe, with diuers noble men whose teares bewraid our care
Was present, when her dying tongue of you did thus declare.

My hap (quoth she) is simpley bad that cannot haue, nor hope:
Was euer wretch (I wretch except) held to so skant a scope.
I see him roue at other markes, and I vnmarkt to be:
I finde my fault, but followe it, whilest death doth followe me.
Ah death (my Lords) dispaire is death, and death must ransome blisse,
Such Ransome pleaseth 
Doracles and 
Daphles Pliant is.
Not bootlesse then (since breathles strait) sweet Loue doth flames con­triue,
The which shall burne me vp at once that now doe burne aliue.


[Page 44] Alas (then did she pause in teares) that 
Doracles were by,
To take it from his eyes, not eares, that I for him doe die:
At least, perhaps, he would confesse my loue to be no lie.
But (Want wit I) offensiue sights to 
Doracles I craue:
Long liue, deare Hart, not minding me, when I am laid in graue.
And you (my Lords) by those same Goddes whose sight I hope anon,
I coniure, that ye him inuest your King when I am gon.
Alonely say I liu'd and died to him a Louer true,
And that my parting Ghost did sound, sweete 
Doracles adue.
A sigh concluding such her words, she closed vp her eye:
Not one of vs, beholding it, that seemed not to die.
Thus to your Grace I leaue to gesse how tragick 
Daphles died:
In Loue, my Lord, yea louing you, that her of Loue denied.

The Picture, and this same discourse afford sufficient woe
To him, that maimed in his minde did to his Pallace goe.
Theare 
Doracles did set abroach a world of things forgot:
What meanest thou man? ah frantick man, how art thou ouershot
(He said) to hate the substance then, and loue the shadow now,
Her painted board, whose amorous hart did breake whilst I not bow?
And couldst thou, churlish wretch, cōtemne the loue of such a Queene?
O Gods, I graunt for such contempt I iustly bide your teene.
Her onely beautie (worthy 
Ioue, that now on me hath power)
Was worthie of farre worthier Loue, without a further dower.
But gaze thou on her senceles Signe, whose selfe thou madest thy pray,
And gazing perish: for thy life is debt to her decay.

Time going on, greefe it grewe on, of dolour sprung dispaire,
When 
Doracles to 
Daphles Tombe did secretly repaire:
Theare (teares a preface to the rest) these onely words he spake:
Thy Loue was losse, for losse my life in recompence doe take,
Deare 
Daphles. So a daggers stab a Tragedie did make.

Well did this Tragicke matter sort to 
Cacus Tragicke vaine:
But merrier matter did behoue such humour to restraine.


[Page 45] That knew the second Sister well, who, smiling ere she spake,
Began her turne, and of her Tale the next report I make.

CHAP. X.

A Proper Lad made Loue (quoth she) vnto a pretie Lasse:
In self-same house, for-worne with age, this Mai­dens Grandame was.
Her eyes were sunck into her head, her cheekes were leane and lank,
Out stood her chin, into her mouth her blood­lesse lips they sanke,
Her toothlesse chappes disgracst her tongue in telling of a Tale,
And sucke she might a Teat for teeth, and spoonage too did faile,
Her haire since sixtie yeares not blacke, was now or white or none,
The substance of her wrinkled face was only skin and bone,
Dimme were her eyes, deafe were her eares, tanke smelt it shee could sent,
A Palsie made her feeling cease, downe tastlesse food it went.
Sight, hearing, sent, touch, tast, and all, thus failing with her strength,
She to her chamber, bed, and chaire, betooke her at the length.
But gold is lou'd till graue hath lodg'd, her bags and she were one:
And she must giue the Maidens Dowre, or els her Dowre is none.
The young man, though he lou'd the Maid, on whom no loue was lost,
Yeat did he loue to liue, and knew that marriage asketh cost.
The olde wiues bags did let the Banes: with whom he smoothed so,
That flattered, she fantised, her moldie braines did cro.
What Diuel I wote not made her dote, she doted on the man:
Her rotten trunke and rustie face she finified than:
And seeth what she could not see, her senslesse Senses worke,


[Page 46] And vnderneath a wrinckled hide a wanton heart did lurke.
Vnkindly too she kisses gaue, which he did kindly take,
Supposing that her kindnes was but for the Maidens sake.
Her crooked ioynts, which long ere then supported, scarcely stood,
She brought vnto a wallowing pace, disiellowing so her bloud:
And all for loue (surreuerence Loue) did make her chew the cudde.

Young 
Battus from his 
Omphida (for they were named so)
Dislodged by the Grandame long, to worke did roundly goe:
Desiring both the Maiden, and to marrie her a Dower.
The old-wife, netled at his words, for all her loue did lower,
And drying vp what drained out in belching, thus did say:
The thing (friend 
Battus) you demaund I gladly not denay,
But well you wot that I am old, and yeat not all so old,
But that the remnant of my life may spend the wealth I holde.
As all are neerest to themselues, so to my selfe am I:
And all shall lacke ere I will lacke: store is no sore we trie.
If you doe like of 
Omphida, I also like the match:
Loue hath no lacke, ye both are young, wealth comes to such as watch.
You louing her, she to her selfe a dowrie is, if not,
My money shall not sell the Maid, a sinfull sale God wot:
For money shall not sell my selfe. And yeat I cannot see,
But that a comfort to mine age an honest match would be.
My Goods besides doe want a Guide, and often did I know
Your youngers vpon elder wiues then I themselues bestow,
And liued well, and loued well. But as I doe not care
For mariage, so an honest match I neuer will forsweare.
Well, 
Battus, take you 
Omphida: but if you money craue,
My bagges must onely vent to him whome I my selfe shall haue.
Yeat thinke not I mislike of you in that you haue not sped,
But thinke I wish no better match, if I my selfe should wed.

Thus cunningly she closde with him, and he conceaues her thought:
Vnequall was the Combat then that Loue and Lucar wrought.
The one was in her flowring age, the other to too old:


[Page 47] The first with beautie did allure, the latter with her Gold.
But stormes (thought 
Battus) haue their stops, not long the Croen can liue,
Or if my kindenes length her life, my kindenes God forgiue.
Reso luing therefore on such hope, with easie sute he got
Assurance to be wedded to the old deformed Trot.

Medea charmed 
Aeson yong, 
Battus Medea-like,
Did worke no lesse a euer vpon this vaine vnweldie Tyke.
Now on the bridle played she: yeat as she laughes she lookes
With ielious eyes, if 
Omphida be blotted out his bookes.
Yea she that could not moue before, now crauleth euery wheare,
To prye if 
Battus play not false, and cause there was to feare.

But all this while no mariage was, nor witnes of their match:
And well he knewe that widdowes shrinke, if men forslowe dispatch.
So hasting what she hindred not, come was the wedding day:
The Morning thawde the eauening frost, and slipprie was the way:
Yeat hobling on her rustie ioynts, to Churchward goes the Bride:
Whose feete (her harts vnequall gides) could nothing els but slide.
Then 
Battus kindly leadeth her, and euer as she trips,
God blesse thee Mouse the Bridegroome said, and smakt her on the lips.
The oftner stumbled then his Beast, the oftner to be kist:
And thinketh in her gentle Choyse her selfe not meanly blist.
But when the Priest had done his part, and that they homeward come,
The Bride, for 
Battus, might salute the Pauement with her bomme.
She reeled oft, and looked backe: he sawe, but would not see:
At length she stumbled headlong downe, hoyst vp againe, quoth hee:
The second tyme she did the like, hoyst Brock, her good-man saide:
And thirdly falling, kindly bad her breake her necke, olde Iade.
The old-wife tooke it to the hart, and home she went and dyde:
But 
Battus, ere his first was sicke, had owed his second Bryde.

THis Iest from 
Cacus straynde a smyle, but quickly was it donne:
When, turning to her Sisters twaine, the yongest thus begonne▪
Ye, Sisters, seuerally haue tolde how soes in loue did fall,


[Page 48] And age with youth: but I doe say that Loue can a ll with all.
Examples we, whom Loue hath brought from Court to liue in Caue,
And were there neede of further proofe, a thousand proofes I haue.
Could 
Latmus speake, it might accuse euen 
Phoebe of a kis:
And of a Votarie of hers to speake my purpose is.

But first she cheared thus her friend (for 
Cacus sadly sits)
Be merrie man, thy pensiuenesse out pastimes badly fits:
Be as thou art, not as thou wouldst, it will be as it is:
Learne then to lacke, and learne to liue, for crosses neuer mis.
Thinke Fortune newly hatch is flidge, and waggeth wing to flye:
All suffreth change: our selues, new borne, euen then begin to dye.
Be resolute, not desperate: the Gods that made thee poore,
Can, if they will (doe waite their will) thy former state restoore.
At least let patience profit thee, for patience is a thing
Whereby a begger gayneth of a discontented King.
Know Destinie is Destinie. This Epitaph I reede,
Though common-booked Poetrie, yeat not vnworthie heede:

Vnborne to knowe what I should be to Gods my mother prayde:
A Male quoth 
Phoebus, Female 
Mars, and 
Iuno neither sayde:
An 
Hermaphrodite was I borne. My death then askt shee after:
By sword quoth 
Iuno, Tree quoth 
Mars, and 
Phoebus saide by water.
A Riuer-shadowing tree I climbd: out slipt my sword: I slidd:
By feete I hung, stabd with my sword, my head in water hidd.
Male, Female, neither, hanging, Sword, and drowning I abidd

Thus, 
Cacus, howsoeuer things from likelihoods discent,
In birth, life, death, the Gods are first, the middell, and Euent.
And not what they can doe they will, but what they will they can:
And that they doe, or doe it not, behooues not vs to skan,
And saying so, and kissing too, her tale she thus began.

[Page 49]

CHAP. XI.

I Speake not of the 
Argiue Nimph that had the ielious Syer,
To whome, shut vp in brasen Tower, 
Ioue pas­sage had for hyer.
Not of 
Europa, Semele or 
Maia, will I dwell:
Not of your Foe his bastardie, or 
Laedas rape I tell:
Not of King 
Ceus Daughters fault, or other freak of 
Ioue
Speake I: saue of 
th'Arcadian Nunne, with whom he thus did roue.

Calisto was as faire a Mayde, as faire as one might bee,
Her father King 
Lycaon fled, 
Ioue chaunced her to see:
And seeing liked, liking lou'd, and louing made it knowne
To her (sweet Lasse) for fathers losse that maketh then her mone.
Take patience, wench, sayd 
Iupiter, with thee shall al be wel,
Thy fathers deeds haue their deserts, but thou in peace shalt dwell.
I am his Victor, but thy selfe art Victoresse of me:
Do graunt me loue, my zeale is more than fatherlie to thee.
The restlesse cloudes that mantling ride vpon the racking Skie,
The scouring windes that sightlesse in the sounding aire doo flie,
The thriftie Earth that bringeth out and broodeth vp her breed,
The shifting Seas whose swelling waues on shrinking shores do feede,
Shall fall, and faile, ere I be false 
(Lycaons Impe) to thee:
Of hartie Loue this kisse (he kist) an happie hansell bee.

But haplesse termes are these, quoth she, vnfitting to a thrall:


[Page 50] Yeat, in respect of that I feele, I heare them not at all.
A friend (ah friendlesse name I Friend?) it being as it is,
A friend I say, much more a foe, and more, and worse then this,
The sonne of 
Saturne should, and shall, that speed and hearing misse.
Doe rid, ah rid mine eyes of teares, and set my heart at rest,
By taking life, not making Loue: the former likes me best.
Or, if that poore 
Calistos life shall lengthen to her wo,
Graunt that among 
Dianas Nunnes a Votarie I go:
For neither fi
 [...]s it now to loue, or euer shall it so.

What viewed 
Iupiter this while, not pleasing to his sight?
Or what vnuiewed did he gesse, not adding to delight?
Not excellent, but exquisite, was all to minde and eye:
Saue she, the hansel of this loue, did him of Loue denie.
It greeues that Natures Paragon in Cloister, not in Court,
Should loose the beautie of her youth, and he thereby his sport.
But constant in her chast pretence, he grants that would gain-say,
And seated in religion now, with 
Phoebe did she stay.

Blame 
Iupiter of other Loues, of this doe set him cleere:
It was his first, and first is firme, and toucheth verie neere.
He might forgoe, but not forget 
Calisto in her Cell,
When setting higher thoughts apart, the Frithes did please him well:
He takes his Quiuer and his Bow, and wheare she hunts, hunts hee:
And sacrificed to his eyes that daye he did her see.
About the Chase, Toyles, Dogs & Bowes, the Stand, Quarrie and all
Hee vseth double diligence: so often did befall,
Not onely sight of her his Saint he got, but also talke,
Whilst thus for his 
Calistos loue, he haunted 
Phoebes walke.
But sight and talke accrew to loue, the substance must be had:
And for to bring his drift about, he virgin-like is clad.
His nonage kept his beard from bloome, no wench morefaire then he
Whome at her Nunnerie a Nun 
Diana takes to be,
And with his Sisters brotherly doo gesse him to agree.


[Page 51] Thus faines 
Lycaons Conquerera Maid, to winne a Maid:
His hands to woll, and Arras worke, and womans Chares hee laid,
That not so much as by the tongue the Boy wench was bewraid.
Yeat thought is free, he sees, and smiles, and longs perhaps for more:
No maruell, for that Sister-hood had goodlie Ladies store.
Scarce one for birth and beautie too was theare vnworthie him,
Yet chieflie to 
Calistos vaine he formed life and limme:
And Sister-like they single oft, and chat of manye things,
But that 
Calisto mindeth loue no likelihood he wrings.
So 
Ioue not once durst mention 
Ioue, and force was sinne and shame;
But loue is hardie. Thus it hap: by long pursute of game,
She wearie resteth in the Thicks, wheare sitting all alone,
He seeing her, is resolute or now to end his moene,
Or for so sweet a bodies vse to leaue his soule in loene.
He Nymph-like sits him by the Nymph, that tooke him for no man:
And after smiles, with neerer signes of Loues assault began.
He feeleth oft her Iuorie breasts, nor maketh coy to kisse:
Yeat all was wel, a Maiden to a Maiden might doe this.
Than ticks he vp her tucked Frocke, nor did 
Calisto blush,
Or thinke abuse: he tickles too, no blab she thinks the Bush.
Thus whilst she thinkes her Sister Nunne to be a merrie Lasse,
The Wanton did disclose himselfe, and told her who he was.

Away the Virgin would haue fled, whom he withhild by force:
Thy loue (sweet Nymph) hath vrg'd this shift, wel worthy thy remorse,
He said: nor scorne with me a King to ioyne thy selfe a Queene:
Or doe but loue and I will liue in 
Phoebes Celles vnseene:
And theare in beds, in bushes heere (My fainings fit so well)
We may enioy what loue enioynes, and none our scapes shall tell.
She would not loue, he could not leaue: she wrangleth, and he wooeth:
She did resist, he did persist, and sport denied dooeth.
That done, which could not be vndone, what booteth discontent?
As good bee pleas'd as not be eas'd: away 
Calisto went
To Cloyster, 
Iupiter to Court: nor much she did repent,


[Page 52] Vntill her growing wombe disclosed an ante-cedent fault,
Then in the Chapter house she told of 
Iupiters assault.

Diana, and her virgins all, admyring that escape,
Did gird at her, maligning 
Ioue for such his subtill Rape.
And who more ready to controule, then 
Athalanta was?
Whome shortly 
Meleager brought vnto the selfe same pas.
The Lady Abbesse did discharge 
Calisto from her Cell:
And silly Nymph, she great with child some other wheare must dwell.

Pelasgis it was 
Iupiters, and he her cause of blame,
The King her father in exile, her selfe in this defame,
What then remain'd? euen secrecie, to hyde her selfe from shame.
Keepe close (quoth she) frō world ye woods mine error, 
Ioue his crime:
And setling theare in simple Caue, did waite her childing tyme.
At length was hairy 
Arcas borne: no sooner could he go,
But that his wildnes eiked to his wretched Mothers wo.
No beast so strong that he would shunne, and man he neuer sawe,
Nor yeat his vexed mother could from fearcenes him withdrawe.
Long time (the daughter of a King) she liued thus in Caue,
Not wanting griefe, but wanting all that poorest wretches haue.
And (worst of all) her sauage sonne (whose manners did agree
Vnto his birth-place) howerly threats his mothers death to bee:
And angrie once, pursued her so long from place to place,
That euen into the Citie gates he followed her in chase.

The people when they did behold so fayre a nimph in flight,
A Beare-like 
Arcas in pursute, (for being naked quite,
His skinne was swart and hairie) they did wonder at the sight.
And some that would his passage, stop, he rudely casteth downe,
And spares no spoyle vntill the sight was noysed through the towne.
Then out came 
Iupiter in armes, whom when 
Calisto knewe,
Helpe 
Ioue (she cryde) for loe thy sonne his mother doth pursue.
He knewe his Leiman at the first, and ioyed of her sight:
Then kisse they, when the Sauage boy by force did leaue to fight.


[Page 53] 
Calisto liued Ladie like, yea 
Iunos Riuall now:
And 
Arcas, nobly mannaged, such vertues him indow,
That 
(Ioue consenting) him for King 
Pelasgis did allow.
A Sonne well worthy such a Syer: and for his prowes and fame,

Pelasgis then, of 
Arcas, tooke 
Arcadia to name.

BVt neither might these Ladies faire by any pleasant tale,
Or dazeling toye of masking loue, (sweet Consorts to preuaile)
Disswade outragious 
Cacus from vnpatientnes of mind:
Who in his greatest tyrannies did chiefest pleasures finde.
He sleas the harmles Passengers, from eldest soule to childe,
He burnes and spoyles the neighbour parts, and women he defild.
And to his Caue 
(Troponius Caue) did bring the spoiles he gaines,
In which (except to doe more harme) he secretly remaynes.

Whilst none did passe, that did repasse vnspoyled or vnkild
(None knowing how) all 
Italie with feare thereof was fild.
But, lo an helpe: when 
Hercules had slaughtered out-right
Tenne Giants, of 
Cremona Kings, and put the leauenth' to flight,
From thence the worthie did ariue with his victorious band
At King 
Euanders Cittie, that by 
Auentin did stand.
Amongst a many richer Spoyles, though none to him so rare,
He brought a sort of Spanish kine. 
Euander taking care,
(Because the like misfortunes oft had hapned theare before,)
Least 
Hercules should loose his kyne, of which he made such store,
Gaue counsell that within the walles they might be kept all night.
And, better to approue his words, with teares he did recite
The murthers, thefts, and cruelties, without compassion made
Vpon his subiects, and their goods, by whom could not be said,
But that the Gods (for so they gesse) for sinne them so inuade.
I am resolu'd quoth 
Hercules, wheare Gods do vengeance craue,
It is not strong or fensiue walles that any thing can saue:
My Kyne shall therefore grase abroad: if mortall man it be,
Then know a tyrant is my taske, his blood the Taskers fee.

[Page 54]
The Cattell grasing then abroad (as was his vse alwaies)
The Gyant left his cruell Denne, to seeke his cursed praies.
The Moone not wanting of her light, the Kine he did espye:
And knowing them, he also knewe his feared Foe was nye.
And far much better feare had bin then malice at that tyde:
But hardly shunneth policie, what destinies prouide.
He might haue lurkte a while in Denne, but of a peeuish spight,
Eight of the Kine with fastned cords, by pollicie and might,
He dragged backward by their tailes into his diuelish nest:
Then stopping vp the subtill hole, did laye him downe to rest.
Now 
Hercules (the rather prickt by King 
Euanders talke)
Into the fieldes to see his Kine by prime of day did walke.
Where missing eight, he could not gesse which waie they shuld be gō:
A many therefore had in charge, to search them out anon.

The Searchers, following euery signe, great store of footings found
Descending from Mount 
Auentine into the lower ground:
But for the footings did descend, and not ascend, they thought
Of no such cunning as in deed in 
Auentine was wrought.

Alcaeus Grand-sonne searching long the Thefts he could not finde,
Was much disquieted in himselfe, and angrie in his minde:
And chafing, when he should depart, he twise or thrise did shake
A Tree that grew on 
Auentine: which rooted vp did make
So large a vent that one might view they hollow caue belowe,
And 
Cacus with his Leash of wiues they were disclosed so.
Whome, when the Greeke espied theare, O gracelesse King, he said,
Whose Tyrannies haue made the Realmes of 
Hespera afraid,
Whose cruelties haue been the cause of al the losse thou hast,
What moueth thee in 
Italie to prosecute such waste?
Thinkste thou, whom neither mightie Realmes, nor royal Gards of mē
Could late defend, now to escape, inclosed thus in den,
The iust reuengment of the Godds? no, no, the Heauens we see,
Haue brought to light a wretch so lewd, euen by a senceles Tree:
And since that neither wealth nor want to goodnes may thee win,


[Page 55] A greeuous death, condignly, shall cut off thy grounded sinne.
To it did 
Cacus answere thus: doest thou pursue me stil?
Who onely art the chiefest cause of these my doings ill:
Not suffering me to liue the rest of mine vnhappie daies
Among the fruitlesse Rocks, a wretch in miserie alwaies.
Cease further prate; said 
Hercules, in troth it greeueth much,
To see a King in this Distresse, but since thy life is such
As neither in aduersitie, nor prosperous estate
Thou canst afford one iot of good, I purpose to rebate
Thy wicked dayes by worthy death, prepare therefore to dye.

When 
Cacus sawe he must perforce so harde a combate trye,
He by inchanted flames againe endeuored to flye.
But 
Hercules deluded once by that deuise before,
Had learned now for being so deceiued any more:
And, casting feare aside, did leape into the flaming Caue,
And theare by Arte did conquer Arte. The Gyant then to saue
Himselfe did take his Axe in hand, wheare 
Hercules and he
Couragiously bestirre themselues, vntill they did agree,
To trye it out in open ayre. So doubtfull was their fight,
That Lookers on could not discerne to whether best should light.
The frighted Ladies did their best to helpe their fighting friend:
But 
Hercules had victorie, and 
Cacus had his end.

CHAP. XII.

FOr Gyants of 
Cremona slayne, and 
Cacus ridded so,
The 
Latine Princes prayse on him and presents did bestoe.
Wheare 
Rome is now, 
Pallantia then, 
Euander hee did frame


[Page 56] A temple, and to 
Hercules did dedicate the same:
And he (intreated thereunto) in 
Italie did stay:
To honor whome did Princes come from farre and euerie waye.

King 
Faunus had affaires abroad, when from 
Laurentum came
His wife 
Marica, Facua some this louely Queene doe name.
From liking did shee fall in loue with 
Hercules, and he
More readie to haue made demaunde, then like to disagree,
Conceauing her by circumstance, so coupled by contract,
That, had King 
Faunus neuer liu'd, 
Latinus had not lackt:
Yeat home came 
Faunus, fathering his late Corriuals act.
But whether gotten lawfully, or thus in loue forbod,

Latinus, Brute his Gran-dames Syer, was sonne vnto a God.

WHilst that in loue of this same Queene, and lande of all besides,
The vanquisher of 
Vulcans sonne in 
Italie abides,
Of 
Calabries a mightie host King 
Picus he prouides.
And, in reueng of 
Cacus, swore his Slayer should be slaine:
But he, ere long, that so did sweare, vnsweared it againe:
When, chased home into his holdes, theare sparred vp in gates,
The valiant 
Thebane, all in vaine, a following fight awaites.
Who, for dispatch, did fayne himselfe a Legate to the King,
And him the Porters, as the same, before their Tyrant bring.
Then shaking off his ciuil robes, his shining Armes appeare:
And renting downe 
 [...] 
 [...]ro
 [...] sparre, both Prince and people feare.
Some ran to Armor, other some did fight with him their last:
Both court and Cittie in the end did lay vpon him fast.
Theare 
Picus, worthely, did winne of valiantnesse a name:
Yeat 
Hercules more valiantly by death did 
Picus tame.
And to attend their King his ghoste he sendeth flocke by flocke:
His furie was as fier to Ferne, his foes as waues to Rocke:
Nor did his Lyons Spoyle giue place to darting or to knocke.
Meane tyme his men assault without, whil'st he assayles within,


[Page 57] Wheare fighting to beate downe the Gates he so the Goale did win.

Within the King his ransackt Court he 
Iole espyes,
Whose teares, then mounting frō her hart, dismount thē frō her eyes,
King 
Picus (now a lifeles corse) was Father of this Mayde:
In vaine therefore did 
Hercules her pensiuenesse disswayde:
Nor could he but lament her fate, and loue so sweete a face,
Whose person also did containe the type of female grace.
At first she was so farre from loue she rather seem'd to hate,
Yeat could she not so giue the Checke, but that she tooke the Mate.
Then eithers loue, was eithers life: poore 
Deianira she
Was out of commons, yea of thought, an other had her fee.

WIth this, so faire and portly wench, he sayled into 
Thrace:
And heares how 
Diomedes did tyrannize in that place.
No Straunger scapes vnraunsomed: but Raunsome wanting, then
He casteth them, as prouender, to Horses eating men.
A Garde of Tyrants, like himselfe, attending on him still,
Who richly did maintaine themselues, by such their doings ill.
The Scourge of such was moued, not to be remoued now
By 
Iole, whose louing teares such labours disalow.
With 
Diomedes and his Garde in Forrest did he meete,
Who with their common Stratagem the Stranger thinke to greete.
Hands of, commaunded 
Hercules, for Horse I am no hay,
All Straungers Raunsom, once for all, my comming is to pay:
Which sayd, himselfe against them all began a noble fray.

The sturdie 
Thracians, mightie men, did hardly loose their ground
But, than the King, a mightier man not any wheare was found.
These all at once assayle, and strike, and thunder on his Sheeld:
But number fitted to his force, vnwonted so to yeeld.
For with his club he skuffles then amongst their Curets so,
That speedie death was sweeter dole then to suruiue his blo.
Well mounted comes the King himselfe, whom he dismounts anon,


[Page 58] But, reseued to his Horse againe, away he would be gon.
Lesse has
 [...]e, he sayd, I Harts out-runne, no
 [...] shalt thou me out-ride:
Out stripping so the man-feade horse, he topled ore his side
The Monstrous King, that resculesse to flying people cride.
Who, lying all to frus
 [...]hed thus, the sonne of 
Ioue did bring
His cruell Iades, that soone deuoure their more than cruell King.

The 
Thracians all submit themselues, and ioye their Tyrants death,
And thinke some God had left the Heauens to succour men on earth,
From such as what they would they will, and what they will they can,
And what they can they dare and doe, and doing none withstan.
Nor thought they better of the man then did his deedes approue,
That neuer was a Conqueror vnto his owne behoue,
But to establish vertuous men, and Tyrants to remoue.

This common Soldiour of the world with 
Iole did land
In 
Lycia: and, the earth in peace, discharged theare his band.
Sweete busses, not sharpe battels, then did alter man and minde:
Till he, as others, sorrowe in securitie did finde.
From 
Assur went the Empire then when 
Tonos he had time
To court his Trulles, 
Arbaces so espying place to clyme.
Secure in 
Tomyris her flight, was valiant 
Cyrus slaine.
From 
Capua, not from 
Cannas, grewe braue 
Hanibal his baine,
The same to whose victorious Sword a second world was sought,
That 
Macedon in court, not Campe, to traytrous end was brought.
A louer, not a Soldiour, went 
Achilles to his graue.
And 
Caesar not in steele, but silke, to Rome his farewel gaue.
Euen so, this second vnto none, superior vnto all,
To whome did sooner Causes cease then Conquests not befall,
This monster-Master 
Hercules, this Tyrant-Tamer, hee
Whose high Exploytes did leaue the earth from spoyl & spoylers free,
In pleasures did he perish now, that did in perils thriue:
A greeuous Taske I vndertake his dying to reuiue.

[Page 59]

CHAP. XIII.

WHen 
Deianira vnderstood her busbands back re­turne,
She thought it strange, that he frō her so strangely did soiorne.
Explorers sent to search the cause, returne was made that he
Did loyter in a Strangers Loue: and 
Iole was she
That euer hanged at his lips, and hugged was of him,
And that, his armor layd a-part, in silke he courts it trim.
The daughter of 
th'Aetolian King did little lesse then raue:
And can the churle (quoth she) preferre in loue a captiue Slaue
Before his wife, whome late he faynd inferiour vnto none?
Ah 
Hercules thou art a man, thy manhood thus is knowne.
Fye, may a forren Strumpets armes so fasten on his necke,
As he (the Rector of the Earth) must bowe if she doth becke?
Oh how vnlike to 
Hercules, is 
Hercules in this?
But, leauing men to natures fault, in her the lewdnes is,
No man so chaste, but such as she may worke to doe amis.

Thus whilst her ouerplus of loue to Ielousie did growe,
She simply minds the spightfull gift that 
Nessus did bestowe.
And, for he dying spake the words, she held it as her Creede
That it could winne him to her selfe: of which (now hauing neede)
She vseth part, and sent a Shirt so boyled as she bad
To 
Hercules: and 
Hercules was of the Present glad:
Confessing her his onely Wife: And whilst he did repent
His breach of Loue, on 
Oeta Mount to sacrifice he went.


[Page 56] 
Philoctes, Paeans valiant Sonne, and 
Lychas, he that brought
The poysned Shirt, were present theare, but of no treason thought:
Not 
Deianiras selfe (good Soule) till tryall made it playne,
When as his body and the fire gaue moysture to the bayne.

His stoutnes hid such torments long, as els could none abyde,
Yea till the baine his Bowels and his very Marrow fryde.
But when his torments had no meane, the Altar downe he throes,
And from his martred body rents the gory smoking cloathes:
And striuing to strip off the Shirt he teareth flesh from bone,
And left his breaking Synoees bare, his Intrailes euery one
Did boyle, and burst, & shew themselues wheare lumps of flesh did lack,
And still the murdrous Shirt did cleue vnto his mangled backe.
Espying 
Deianiras Squire, that quaking stoode, he sayde,
And art thou wretch the Instrument of my destruction mayde?
Whome swinging then about his head, he slinged downe the hill:
And so did silly 
Lychas dye, that purposed no il.
Then running downe from hill to Playne, from Playne to hill againe,
He rents vp Rockes and mightie Hils in error of his paine:
Till, sadly leaning on his Club, he sighing, vowes that none
Should be the death of 
Hercules but 
Hercules alone.
And to his friend 
Philoctes tooke his Arrowes and his Bow,
And gladly to the hallowed fyer, as to his bed did go.
Wheare lying downe, and taking leaue with reared hands to skye,
The Earths Protector so, in peace, amidst the flames did dye.

Philoctes, neere o'rgone with greefe, his Ashes did conuaye
To 
Italy, inshrined in his Temple there to stay:
And wofull 
Deianira heares of 
Hercules decay.
His Ghoste she voucheth and the Gods to witnes, that her minde
Was giltles of a traitrous thought: nor thinke me so vnkinde
(Sweet Husband) as to haue the will to ouerliue thee heer,
But that my Ghoste before thy Ghoste it selfe of guile shall cleer:
And now I come, ah now I come, forgiue ye gods the deed
She sayd e
 [...]and pearsing so her breast, a breathles Corse did bleed.

[Page 61]
AS 
Greekes lament their Champions losse, so did the 
Phrygians ioy:
And 
Priamus did fortifie his stately Cittie 
Troy.
Twise 
Hercules had rased it, and thirdly was it reard
By 
Pryam, strong in wealth and walles, through 
Asia lou'd and feard.
He cald to mynde 
Laomedon whome 
Hercules had slayne,
His Sister too 
Hesione, that Captiue did remayne
In 
Salamis with 
Telamon: and well he was apayde,
In that the Doer of the same liu'd not the 
Greekes to ayde.
His Sister therefore not restorde, his Legates asking it,
By stealing of the 
Spartane Queene did 
Paris crye them quit.

Twelue hundred fiftie fiue war-Shippes, with mē & Armor frought,
By seauentie Kings & kingly Peeres, frō 
Greece to 
Troy were brought,
To winne her thence. King 
Priamus (besides his Empire greate)
Had ayders Princes thirtie three: lesse Lords I not repeate,
Not 
Sagitar, that in this Warre did many a valiant feate.
Tenne yeres, tenne monthes, & twise sixe daies, the siege they did abide:
Eight hundred sixtie thousand 
Greekes, by 
Troian weapons dyde:
Sixe hundred fiftie sixe thousands of 
Troians fighting men,
Besides the slaughtred at the sacke, by 
Grecians perisht then:
And (if that 
Hector, Troilus, and 
Paris, so we name)
Fell fortie Kings: omitting more, of little lesser fame.
Mislike, and ciuill quarrels, when the 
Grecians homewards drewe,
Did well neere waste the remnant Kings that 
Phrigia did subdewe,

Thus secure 
Troy was ouer-set, when 
Troy was ouer stoute,
And ouer rich, was ouer-runne, and tardie lookt about.
The 
Greekish Ships, with 
Phrigian Spoyles, through 
Xant and 
Simoes roe,
For now 
Antenor had betrayde 
Palladium to the foe,
And with 
Palladium Priamus, Aeneas sought to hide
From 
Pyrrhus Polyxena (she for whom 
Achilles dyde,
Wherefore vpon 
Achilles Tombe her selfe was after slayne,
What tyme old 
Hecuba discryde yong 
Polydor his bayne:)
For which, 
Aeneas banished, did hoyst his sayles to winde,
And, after many perils, rule in 
Italie did finde.

[Page 62]

AENeas dead, 
Ascanius raign'd: 
Ascanius dead, his brother

Posthumus Syluius did succeede. 
Lauinia was his mother,
Her Syer 
Latinus, Faunus his, and 
Picus him begot,
And 
Saturne him. From mother thus 
Posthumus lacked not
The noblest bloud. On Fathers side his petigree was thus:

Ioue had 
Dardanus: and the same begot 
Erictheus:
He 
Troys: Troys, Assaracus: he 
Capys: and the same

Anchises: he 
Aeneas had: of him 
Posthumus came:
And he was Father vnto 
Brute: and thus the 
Brutons bring
Their petigree from 
Iupiter, of Pagane Gods the King:
And adde they may, that 
Brute his Syer of 
Venus sonne did spring.
Thrise fiue degrees from 
Noe was 
Brute, and fower times sixe was he
From 
Adam: and from 
Iaphets house doth fetch his petigree.

Posthumus Syluius perishing in Chace amongst the brakes,
Mistooke for Game by 
Brute his Sonne, 
Brute Italie forsakes:
And to associate his Exile, a many 
Troyans mo
At all aduentures put to Seas, vncertein where to go:
To whom did Fortune, Fortune-like, become a friend and foe:
Till 
Brute, with no lesse payne and praise then had his Grandsier late
Achiued 
Latium, land
 [...]ng here, suppressed so the state
Of all the Fiend-breed 
Albinests, huge Gyants fearce and strong,
Or race of 
Albion Neptuns Sonne (els some deriue them wrong)
That of this Isle (vn-Scotted yet) he Empire had ere long.

[Page 63]

THE THIRD BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XIIII.

NOw, of the Conquerour, this Isle had 
Brutaine vnto name,
And with his 
Troians Brute began manurage of the same.
For rased 
Troy to reare a 
Troy fit place hee sear­ched then,
And viewes the mounting Northerne partes: These fit (quoth he) for men
That trust asmuch to flight as fight: our Bulwarks are our brests,
The next Arriuals heere, perchaunce, will gladlier build their nests:
A 
Troians courage is to him a Fortres of defence:
And leauing so wheare Scottes be now he South-ward maketh thence;
Whereas the earth more plentie gaue, and ayre more temprature,
And nothing wanted that by wealth or pleasure might allure:
And more, the Lady Flood of Floods, the Ryuer 
Thamis, it
Did seeme to Brute against the foe, and with himselfe to fit.
Vpon whose fruitful bancks therefore, whose bounds are chiefly said,
The want-les Counties 
Essex, Kent, Surrie, and wealthie Glayde
Of 
Hartfordshire, for Citties store participating ayde,
Did 
Brute build vp his 
Troy-nouant, inclosing it with wall:


[Page 64] Which 
Lud did after beautifie, and 
Luds-towne it did call
That now is 
London: euermore to rightfull Princes trewe,
Yea Prince and people still to it as to their Storehouse drewe,
For plentie and for populous the like we no wheare vewe.
Howbe-it many neighbour townes as much ere now could say,
But place for people, people, place, and all for sinne decay.
When 
Brute should dye thus to his Sonnes hee did the Isle conuay:
To 
Camber Wales, to 
Albnact he 
Albanie did leaue,
To 
Locrine Brutaine: whom his Queene of life did thus bereaue.

THe furious 
Hun, that drowning theare to 
Humber left his name,
The King did vanquish, and for spoyle vnto his Nauie came:
Where 
Humbars Daughter, Parragon for beautie, such a Dame
As Loue himselfe could not but loue, did 
Locrine so inflame,
That 
Guendoleyne, the 
Cornish Duke his daughter, 
Locrins Queene,
Grewe in contempt: and, 
Coryn dead, his Change of Choyse was seene.
To 
Cornwall goes the wrothfull Queene to seaze her Fathers Land,
Frō whence she brought, to worke reuenge, of warriours stout a band,
And bids her husband battell, and in battell is he slaine:
And for their Sonne in Nonage was, she to his vse did raine.
The Lady 
Estrild Locrins Loue, and 
Sabrin, wondrous faire,
Her husbands and his Leimans impe, she meaning not to spare,
Did bring vnto the water that the wenches name doth beare:
There binding both, and bobbing them, then trembling at her yre,
She sayd: if 
Scythia could haue hild the wandring King thy Syre,
Then 
Brittish waters had not been to him deserued bayne:
But 
Estrild, snout-fayre 
Estrild, she was sparde, forsooth, to traine
With whorish tricks a vicious King: But neither of you twaine,
Thou stately Drab, nor this thy Brat, a bastard as thy selfe,
Shall liue in triumph of my wrong: first mother and her Elfe
Shall fish in Flood for 
Humbars soule, and bring him newes to hell,
That 
Locrins wife on 
Locrins whore reuenged her so well.

[Page 65]
They lifting vp their lillie hands, from out their louely eyes
Powre teares like Pearles, & wash those Cheekes where naught saue beautie lyes▪
And seeking to excuse themselues, & mercie to obtaine,
With speeches good, and praiers faire, they speake and pray in vaine.
Queene 
Guendoleyne so bids, and they into the Flood are cast,
Whereas amongst the drenching waues the Ladies breath their last.

As this his Grandame, such appear'd 
Mempricius, Madans sonne,
Whose brother 
Manlius traytrously by him to death was donne.
And since of noble 
Brute his line prodigious things I tell,
I skipping to the Tenth from him will shewe what then befell.

ABout a thirtie yeares and fiue did 
Leir rule this Land,
When, doting on his Daughters three, with them he fell in hand
To tell how much they loued him. The Eldest did esteeme
Her life inferior to her loue, so did the second deeme:
The yongest sayd her loue was such as did a childe behoue,
And that how much himselfe was worth, so much she him did loue.
The formost two did please him well, the yongest did not so:
Vpon the Prince of 
Albanie the First he did bestoe:
The Middle on the 
Cornish Prince: their Dowrie was his Throne,
At his decease: 
Cordellas part was very small or none.
Yeat, for her forme, and vertuous life, a noble 
Gallian King
Did her vn-dowed, for his Queene into his Countrie bring.

Her Sisters sicke of Fathers health, their husbands by consent
Did ioyne in Armes: from 
Leir so by force the Scepter went:
Yeat, for they promise pentious large, he rather was content.
In 
Albanie the quondam King at eldest Daughters Court
Was setled scarce, when she repines, and lessens still his Port.
His secōd Daughter thē, he thought, would shewe her selfe more kind:
To whom, he going, for a while did franke allowance finde.
Ere long abridging almost all, she keepeth him so loe,
That of two bads, for betters choyse he backe againe did goe.
But 
Gonorill at his returne, not onely did attempt


[Page 66] Her fathers death, but openly did hold him in contempt.

His aged eyes powre out their teares, when holding vp his hands,
He sayd: O God, who so thou art, that my good hap withstands,
Prolong not life, deferre not death, my selfe I ouer-liue,
When those that owe to me their liues, to me my death would giue.
Thou Towne, whose walles rose of my welth, stand euermore to tell
Thy Founders fall, and warne that none do fall as 
Leir fell.
Bid none affie in Friends, for say, his Children wrought his wracke:
Yea those, that were to him most deare, did lothe and let him lacke,

Cordella, well 
Cordella sayd, she loued as a Child:
But sweeter words we seeke than sooth, and so are men beguild.
She onely rests vntryed yet: but what may I expect
From her? to whom I nothing gaue, when these doe me reiect.
Then dye, nay trye, the rule maye fayle, and nature may ascend:
Nor are they euer surest friends, on whom we most doe spend.

He ships himselfe to 
Gallia then: but maketh knowne before
Vnto 
Cordella his estate, who rueth him so poore,
And kept his theare ariuall close till she prouided had
To furnish him in euery want. Of him her King was glad,
And nobly entertayned him: the Queene with teares among,
(Her duetie done) conferreth with her father of his wrong.
Such duetie, bountie, kindnes, and increasing loue, he found
In that his Daughter and her Lord, that sorrowes more abound
For his vnkindly vsing her, then for the others crime:
And King-like thus in 
Agamps Court did 
Leir dwell, till time
The noble King his Sonne-in-lawe transports an Armie greate
Of forcie 
Gawles, possessing him of dispossessed Seate:
To whom 
Cordella did succeede, not raigning long in queate.

Not how her Nephewes warre on her, and one of thē slew th'other

Shall followe: but I will disclose a most tyrannous mother.

[Page 67]

CHAP. XV.

GOrbodugs double Issue now, when eighteene Kings were past,
Hild ioyntly Empyre in this land: till 
Porrex at the last,
Not tyed so by brotherhood, but that he did dis­daine
A fellowe King, (for neuer can one Kingdome brooke of twaine)
Did leuie secrete bands: for dread whereof did 
Ferrex flye,
And out of 
Gallia bringeth Warre, in which himselfe did dye.
Then 
Porrex only raigned heere, and ruled all in peace:
Till 
Iden, mother Queene to both, her furie did increase
So fearcely, as she seekes reuenge euen in the highest degree.
Why liueth this (quoth she) a King? in graue why lyeth he?
Dye 
Iden, dye: nay dye thou wretch, that me a wretch hast made:
His ghost, whose life stood in thy light, commaundeth me of ayde.
Nor want I 
(Ferrex) will to ayde: for why the Gods I see
Deferre reuenge, nor with a Deuill the Deuils disagree.
The heauens, me thinks, with thūderbolts should presse his soule to hell,
Or Earth giue passage, that at least with men he might not dwell.
But I my selfe, euen I my selfe, their slacknesse will supplye,
And Mothers name and Nature both to such a Sonne denye.

Dead night was come, when 
Iden found the King her sonne a sleepe,
And all was still: not then as now did Guards their Princes keepe.
Admit they had, who would haue fearde such mischiefe in a mother?
She whispring softly, sleepe thy last, yea sleep as doth thy brother,
Did gash his throte: who starting vp, whē strength & speech were gōe,


[Page 68] Lifts vp his faynting hands, and knewe the Tyrannesse anone:
And maketh signes, as who would say, ah mother thou hast done
A deede, as neuer mother earst did practise on her Sonne.
But name of Son, nor signes did serue, him still with wounds she plyes
Nor (more than Monster) did it please that simplie so he dyes,
But that his bodie, peecemeale tore, about the Lodging flyes.
And thus from noble 
Brute his line the Scepter then did passe:
When of his bloud for to succeede no heire suruiuing was.

FOwer Dukes at once, in ciuill broyles, seiunctly after raine.
Neere when, the 
Scottes (whō some accuse by Ante-dates to gaine)
Did settle in the Northerne Isles. These people bring their line
From 
Cecrops, and that 
Pharo he that euer did decline
From 
Moses, seeking 
Hebers house from 
Aegypt to conuay.
His daughter 
Scota Gathelus their Duke brought thence away,
When 
Pharos sinne to 
Iacobs Seede did neere that Land decay.
And 
Cecrops son brought thē frō thence (as 
Scottes inforce the same)
The Stone that 
Iacob slept vpon, when Angels went and came.
Of it was made their fatall Chaire: of which they beare in hand,
That whearesoere y
e same is found, the 
Scottes shall brooke y
t land:
At 
Westminster that Monument doth now, decaying, stand.
In 
Lusitania Gathelus did first his Kingdome found:
And of his race (of 
Scota, Scottes) when 
Spanish Scottes abound,
Ariue in 
Ireland, and in it a second Empire ground.
And thirdly, when their broodie Race that Isle did ouer-store,
Amongst the Islands 
Hebredes they seek out dwellings more.

These 
Irish, sometime 
Spanish Scots, of whence our now-
Scots be,
Within the Isles of 
Albion thus, whilst 
Brutaines disagree,
Did seat themselues, & nestle too amongst the Mountaine groundes:
What time a 
Scythian people, 
Pichtes, did seaze the middle bounds
Twixt them and vs: & these did prooue to 
Brutaine double wounds.
The 
Penthland people and the 
Scots, alying, friendlie liue,
Vntill the 
Pichts, by Brittish wyles, contrarie cause did giue.


[Page 69] Then from their Captains fell the 
Scots, and chose to them a King:
And 
Fergus out of 
Ireland did the Chaire of Marble bring:
In which instald the first 
Scotch King in 
Albion, so he wrought
That 
Pichts and 
Scots, then vp in Armes, were to attonement brought.

Three valiant people thus at once in 
Albion Empire hold,

Brutes, Scots and 
Pichts: the latter twaine lesse ciuil, but as bold.
The 
Pichts were fierce and 
Scythian like: much like the 
Irish now
The 
Scots were then: couragious both: Nor them I disallowe
That write they fed on humane flesh, for so it may be well,
Like of these men their bloudie mindes their natiue stories tell:
But to our 
Brittish busines now, to shew what theare befell.

Not how the tri-partited Rule vnto his quartarne Rayne

Dunwallo, after fortie yeres, did Monarchize againe:
Not what precedent Kings in 
France, and 
Denmarke did obtaine
Speake I. From 
Porrex fortie Kings in silence shall remaine:
Alonelie valiant 
Brennus, and his brother 
Beline, thay
Vnpraised for their warres and works shall not escape away.

CHAP. XVI.

THese Brothers, thirsting amplier Raignes, did martiallie contend,
Till 
Brenn his force was not of force his brothers to defend.
To 
Norway sayles hee, wheare he got an Armie and a prize,
The Prince of 
Norwaies Daughter, whom hee winneth in this wise.
The King of 
Denmarke stoode with him, vntill the States decreede
That both should plead before their Prince, and better Pleader speede.


[Page 70] And when the 
Norgane Prince and Peeres were seated for their strife,
The King of 
Danes beginning first, thus pleaded for a wife.

Not yet a King, King 
Philips son with none but Kings would cope,
His reason was, inferiour strife of glorie giues no hope:
I am a King, and graunt the Prize in question worthie mee,
But grudge that my Competitor a banisht man should bee.
Doe grant him what he hath for-gon, and neuer more shall gi
 [...],
Yeat were he but a Demi-king, to challenge me vnfit:

Dunwallos yonger Sonne, that hath his brother to his Foe,
And worthelie, his trecheries haue well deserued soe,
And yet (audacious that he is) he blusheth not to heare
The troth of his vntroth, nor yeat an heere-Repulse doth feare.
Would she for whom I must contend were not to me the same
She is, or he that stands with me a man of better fame.
But since in this vnequall Plea I must my selfe imbace,
Knowe, 
Norwaies, that my pleaded cause cōcernes your publique ca
 [...]e.
It is the King of 
Denmarke doth your Prince his daughter craue,
And note, it is no little thing with vs Allie to haue.
By league, or Leigure, 
Danske can fence, or fronte you, friend, or foe,
Our neighborhood doth fit to both, your wel-fare or your woe.
Combine therefore in needfull League our neere conioyned States:
I may your good, nought lesse can he that thus with me debates.
He is a 
Bruton (if Exile allow wee call him so)
And farre from aiding you, that knowes himselfe not to bestoe.
Admit he were receiued home, what Empire doth he sway?
A sorrie Ilands Moyetie, and farre from hence away.
Her Dowrie is your Diademe: what Ioynter can he make?
Not anie: giue not then to him from whom you cannot take.
And Ladie (She for whom they stroue was present) well I wo
 [...],
My loue doth claime a greater debt than so to be forgot.
I wish (mine Opposite his want) that Armes might giue the right,
It is not dread, but doom'd (sweet wench) that thus with tongue I fight.
Proude 
Bruton (frowning so on 
Brenn) disclaime in her my dewe,


[Page 71] Els thou repining shalt repent: doe make thy choyce a newe.
At least amend thine Error, and mine enuie shall haue end:
I neede not force so weake a Foe, seeke thou so strong a friend.

Norwaies consent, and, Ladie, be no Counter-mand to this:
Discent not 
Brenn: conclude her mine: els my Conclusion is,
If not for worth, by force perforce to winne her from you all,
Yea though our banisht Copes-mate could his 
Brittish Succours call.
The King of 
Danes concluded thus: and after silence short,
The 
Brutaine Heros vailed, and did answere in this sort.

Most gracious 
Norgane Peeres, you heare the ouer-tearming taunts
Of this Appelant, that himselfe and Scepter ouer-vaunts.
It lesser greeueth he should grudge that I with him co-riue,
Than his so peremptorie speach in your despight to wiue.
It greeues, in troth: not for my selfe, but for he beardeth you,
And seemes disdaineful of your aide, that doth so proudly wowe.
How captiously he derogates from me, and mine estate?
And Arrogates vnto himselfe, to bring me so in hate.
How daintely his eyes endure so bace an Obiects view?
How desperatly doth he conclude, and threatneth me and you?
Well, barke he, byte he, bragges nor blowes shall dare me to defend
A Challenge, wheare so braue a Prize stands for the Wagers end.
Nor thinke (vaine-glorious that thou art) me lesser than a King,
Or greater than by sute, or sword, to prize so rare a thing.
Vpbrayd me not with banishment, nor 
Belyns quarrell touch,
Nor yeat my petite Signorie: nor more than troth by much.
These present nobles knowe the cause for which I hether come:
Not as an exile, but for ayde, and they assure me some.
Then knowe, the cause is honest when their Honors giue supplies:
As capable are they of troth, as thou art apt for lies.
My bothers Kingdome seemes, forsooth, an Ouer-match to mine,
My Kingdome, 
Cutlake, therefore is an vnder-match to thine?
Nay, giue (and so I hope ye will) the Prize to me, and than
Let 
Cutlake with his Crowne of 
Danske vn-crowne me if he can.


[Page 72] Then he, disabling me to make a Ioynter happelie,
With Denmarke such a Ioynters want (if wanting) should supplie.
But neither haue I such a lacke, nor holde I such a loue,
As that her Dowrie (not in quest) before her selfe doth moue.
He harpeth as himselfe would haue, that maketh loue his Staile:
Els would he sue in milder sort, and suing, feare to faile.
For Ladie see your Louers Plea: your loue, saith he, is debt:
And if not words, nor worthines, then Armor shal you get.
Braue words and fit to feare, not feede, a courted Ladies vaine.
But say he cannot wowe in print, but Soldior-like and plaine:
Nor I, in sooth, more loues my heart than can my tongue explaine.
Conclude we therefore Souldior-like, and let a combate yeeld
Vnto the hardier of vs twaine the honour of the field,
If not: then, if my Lords so please: or she thereto agree,
Although thou should'st by force of Armes, subdue her hence to thee,
Yeat from thy strongest Holde in 
Danske I would thy Cōquest free.
Loe heer my Gage (he terr'd his Gloue) thou know'st y
e Victors meed:
(So did he pause, his Pledge vntoucht, and then did thus proceede)
Then fret thy fill, and worke thy worst: deliuer, Lords, your willes:
Ye haue experience how this same with brags, not battell, killes.
He threatneth onely, I intreate, he claimeth her of dew,
I wish, and hope for to deserue. The Counsel then withdrewe
Themselues apart: and soone for 
Brenn a verdict did ensewe.

The 
Dane inraged sayled thence, and rigged out a Fleete,
And did with 
Brenn, resayling home, at great aduantage meete.
Their Shippes did grapple, and their swords did sunder life from lim:
So fought they, as their shippes did seeme in Seas of bloud to swim.
But multitude oppressed 
Brenn, he hardlye did escape,
His Ladie will he, nill hee, left the King of 
Denmarkes Rape.

Not meanely insolent the 
Danes hoyst vp their home-meant Sayleae
But after manye crabbed Flawes, and long contrarie Gayles,
The Kings and 
Norgane Ladies Shippe was tossed to the Coste
Of 
Brutaine: wheare, imprisoned, King 
Belyn was their Hoste:


[Page 73] Vntill, sufficient Pledges had that 
Denmarke it should pay
Continuall Tribute to the 
Brutes, he them dismist away.
Meane while King 
Bren (receiued now amōgst the 
Gawles did threate
For 
Englands Crowne-halfe him with-held his Brothers selfe & Seate:
(For Time, alaying Loue, did adde vnto domesticke hate)
And with the 
Cenouesean Gawles, whose Prince his heire of late
He had espoused, did inuade the Empire of his Brother:
And almost did their Battels ioyne, when thus intreates their Mother.

I dare to name ye Sonnes, because I am your Mother, yet
I doubt to tearme you Brothers, that doe Brotherhood forget.
These Prodigies, their wrothfull Shields, forbodden Foe to Foe,
Doe ill beseeme allyed hands, euen yours allyed soe.
O, how seeme 
Oedipus his Sonnes in you againe to striue?
How seeme these words in me (aye me) 
Iocasta to reuiue?
I would 
Dunwallo liued, or ere death had lost againe
His Monarchie, sufficing Fower, but now too small for Twaine.
Then either would you, as did he, imploy your wounds elswheare:
Or for the smalnes of your Power agree, at least for feare.
But pride of ritch and rome-some Thrones, that wingeth now your darts,
It will (I would not as I feare) worke sorrow to your harts.
My Sonnes, sweet Sonnes, attend my words, your Mothers wordes at­tend,
And for I am your Mother doe conclude I am your frend:
I cannot counsell, but intreate, nor yeat I can intreate
But as a Woman, and the same whose blood was once your meate.
Hence had ye Milke (She baerd her Pappes) these Armes did hug ye ost:
These fyled hands did wipe, did wrap, did rocke, and lay ye soft:
These Lips did kisse, or Eyes did weep, if that ye were vnqueat,
Thēply I did, with Song, or Sighes, with Dance, with Tung, or Teate.
For these kind Causes, deere my Sonnes, disarme your selues: if not,
Then for these bitter teares that now your Mothers Cheekes do spot:
Oft vrge I Sonnes and Mothers Names, Names not to be forgot.
Send hence these Souldiers. yee, my Sonnes, & none but ye would fight:


[Page 74] When none should rather be at one, if Nature had her right.
What comfort, 
Beline, shall I speede? sweete 
Brenn, shall I preuaile?
Say yea (sweete Youthes) ah yea, say yea: or if I needes must faile,
Say noe: and then will I begin your Battell with my baile.
Then then some Stranger, not my Sonnes, shall close me in the Earth,
When we by Armor ouer-soone shall meet, I feare, in death.

This sayd, with gushing teares eftsoones she plyes the one and other,
Till both did shew themselues at length Sonnes worthy such a Mother:
And with those hands, those altred hands, that lately threatned bloes,
They did imbrace: becomming thus continuall frends of foes.

Glad was the Queene: and 
Beline hild sole Empier: more, he had
From 
Denmarke Tribute: and to this a greater honor add,
His daughter 
Cimbra, wedded to the 
Almayne Prince, gaue name
Vnto the 
Cimbrians, holding 
Rome so long and warlike game.
Some (if no Error) giue to him for forraine Conquests fame.

His Valour, Warre, & Peace ore past: now speake we of the Knight,
That this side and beyond the 
Alpes subdewed all by fight.
The stateliest Townes in 
Italie had 
Brenn their Builder, and
Euen 
Rome, the terror of the World, did at his mercie stand.
The Senate, giuing to the Earth ear-while both warre and peace,
Could not themselues, their Citie, scarce their Cappitoll release.

THeir Gander Feast, what 
Manlius and 
Camillus did therein,
How This the Cappitol, and That from 
Brenn his Spoyles did win,
I pretermit. The three-topt Mount 
Parnassus had beloe

Apollos Temple, whither men for Oracles did goe.
This, with the God and Goods the 
Gawles did put to sacke and spoyles:
And whil'st, incamped here, they kept such sacreligious coyle,
The God, or rather Diuell, whom th'Almightie did permit,
His Deitie prophaned, to deceiue the world in it,
With Tempests, Earth-quakes, Steneh, & Sights, so cryde the Spoy­lers quit
That most did perish, fewe disperse, and all were out of harte,


[Page 75] Yea 
Brenn himselfe, discouraged, did change in euery parte.
He looking after and vpon the scattered and the slayne,
Did seeme a second 
Cadmus, saue lesse patient of his payne:
And, shaming to be seene to weepe, deuoured sightles teares:
And, in these words, his heartie greefes did number to their Eares.

Sweet Soldiours leaue me to my selfe, it likes me that ye leaue me,
More takes your tarriance frō my health than can these plagues bereaue me:
Each of these Masse of Corpses dead hath bin a death to me,
Deliuer then mine Eyes of you, too many deathes I see.
Suruiue, and tell the Westerne World what we exployted haue:
How that to 
Rome, amidst her Roofe, the mayden Sacke we gaue.
Tell of our Battels, Booties, and our Buildings: lastly tell
(An honor to our Ouerthrowe) that we at 
Delphos fell
By wounds deuine, no humane Armes. But God, who so thou be,
Lesse is thy courage than Commaund, els would'st thou cope with me,
As 
Pluto with 
Alcides did, and 
Mars sometimes with men:
Do me like honor, and these Graues shall lightly greeue me then.
But thou full little darest so. Nay, I doe dare too much,
That with my so vnhallowed tongue thy Deitie dare touch.
Ah, see these Slaughters, and reserue aliue this small Remayne,
Let lastly me, and only me, eike number to the slayne.
But bootlesse on a ruthles God I see my prayers spent,
As haughtely doest thou reuenge as humbly I repent.
Well (God of 
Delphos) since our teares, this Incense, nor these Graues
Appease thine yre, persist to plague this flesh, that henceforth craues
No pitie: to the 
Hebrewe God, of power exceeding thyne,
(Men say) appeale I, and bequeath the Soules of me and myne:
Accept my simple Legacie, O Godhood most deuyne,
Sayd 
Brenn. And with a selfe-wrought wound did perish: and his men
Departing, wonne, and left the name to 
Gallo-Grecia then.

The righteous Gorboman might add fresh Subiect to our Muse,

But skipping to his Fathers Sonnes, of them it thus ensewes.

[Page 76]
FIue yeeres had 
Archigallo raign'd, when hated doing wrong,
He was depriued of his Realme, and liued vagrant long,
And fearing all that frended none, kept close the Woods among.
Theare 
Elidurus hunting found his wretched Brother, and
They gasing each in others face, with sighes and weepings stand.
A King, as 
Elidurus is, once was I thinkes his Brother,
A wretch, as 
Archigallo is, I may be thinkes the other.
The lowlie King alights anon, and when they had imbrac'd,
Then 
Archigallo secretly in 
Ebranks Towne was plac'd:
In which, the King commaunding so, the Nobles did conuent,
To whom did 
Elidurus thus informe of his intent.

If Fortune had bin crosse (my Lords) to me, or any feare
Of Armor were approching vs, I should perchaunce appeare
Faint and false-hearted in my charge, but euer lackt the one,
Nor hath the other likelihood, for quietler ruleth none.
Yeat Kings may thinke their heads too weake their Dyademes to su­staine,
For endles cares concurre with Crownes, a bitter sweete is Raine:
Howbeit, Subiects falsely iudge their Princes blessed are,
When both of peace and perils they containe the common care,
And yeat for this they grudgingly from Pounds a Penny spare.
Not these, my Lords, make me disclaime in it which all pursue,
But Iustice bidds my Brothers right I should commend to you.
This one Request includes, I knowe, exceeding dangers twaine,
To me, if for a priuate life I change a publique Rayne,
To you, if whom ye haue depriu'd ye shall restore againe.
But for I haue done right, no wrong, though Iustice wants not foes,
And though vnto a Magistrate disgrading bringeth woes,
Yeat gainst the bad a conscience good may safe it selfe oppoes.
Nor be ye fearefull of reuenge, that did no more than right:
Euen 
Archigallo will confesse his sinne, and cleare your spight:
Whose restitution (were he wrongd) at least shall you acquite.
You hassard lesse, re-kinging him, then I vn-king'd to bee,
And Danger ouer-dares, if it from Iustice disagree.


[Page 77] Then, good my Lords, doe right his wrong, at least-wise doe him right,
Whose smarte, no doubt, hath wrought in him a reconciled spright.
Iust 
Gorboman his brotherhood succeeding in their Line,
Then 
Archigallo should be King, to him let me resine.

So much the King did vrge this Text, that 
Archigallo rayn'd,
And 
Elidurus willingly in priuate life remaynde:
The one restored, for his late depriuing nothing mou'd,
The other (wonders tell I now) dis-crowned yeat belou'd.
Tenne yeares did 
Archigallo raigne, beloued well, and dyed:
And 
Elidurus once againe the Kingly Throne supplyed,
Vntill his Brothers secondly depose him of his raine,
But they deceasing, thirdly he was crowned King againe,
And so, vntill his Dying day, with honor did remaine.

A many Kings whose good or bad no Wrighter hath displaide
Did follow. 
Lud, and 
Hely, for their stately buildings made
Rest chiefly famous. Nor forget King 
Bledgrabed I shall,
Whom 
Brutons did their Glee-god for his skill in Musicke call.
The next whose dayes gaue famous deedes, 
Cassiuelan is sayde,
Whom 
Caius Iulius Caesar did with Armour thus inuade.

CHAP. XVII.

THis Conquerour of 
Gallia found his Victorie pro­long'd
By 
Brittish Succours, and for it, pretending to bee wrong'd,
Did send for Tribute: threatning els to bring the 
Brutons Warre.
The latter going forward first, the 
Albinests to barre
A common foe, concurre as friends: and now was come the Spring,


[Page 78] When 
Caesar out of War-wonne 
France victorious Trowpes did bring.
But easlier wonne the 
Grecians land at 
Pargama by much,
Than got the 
Latines footing heere, their Contraries were such.
Yee might haue seene of 
Hectors race, then thousand 
Hectors heere,
With pollicie on either part, the 
Romanes buying deere
The bloodie Shore: the water yeat lesse deerer than the land
To them, whom valiantlie to proofe the Ilanders withstand.
Ofte battell they, the 
Brutons still victorious, and in vaine
Their foes were valiant: onelie heere was 
Caesars force in waine.
And as our men vnto his men were as tempesteous Thunder,
So did his ankred Shippes on Seas by Tempest dash in sunder.
But twice (quoth 
Caesar) Fortune, thou wert opposite to mine,
But thirdlie heere to 
Caesars selfe thou (wontles) dost decline.
Conuaying then his wearie men into his wasted Shippes,
To 
Gallia, there to Winter them, he miscontented slippes.

Of this same Victorie did spring securitie and strife,
The 
Scottes and 
Pichtes did sunder hence, the 
Brutons, ouer-rise
In Largesse, making frollike Cheere, a quarrell then aroes
Betwixt the King and 
Luds false Sonne, and they dis-ioyne as foes:
That 
Caesar slippes Aduantage such were error to suppoes.
Euen of the 
Brutons some there were recalling backe the Foe,
And Winter past, with doubled power he backe againe did roe.

The 
Romaines more, the 
Brutons they farre fewer than before,
Offend, defend, fight for, fence from, to winne, and warde the Shore.
But 
Caesar landed, and ensew'd continuall cruell fight:
Thrice put the fierce 
Cassiuelanes the 
Caesarines to flight,
And still the King incouraging in euerie wing appeares,
So giuing needlesse spurres to fight, his Souldiours brooke not feares,
Nor little did the 
Cornish Belles offend the 
Romaine eares.
When 
Caesars oft succesles fight had tyred him and his,
Inringed with his mayhmed Campe, the 
Romane speaketh this.

Are these same Bands, those selfe-same Bands that neuer fought in vaine?
And ye the men that following still my Standard still did gaine?


[Page 79] Euen these, and ye, are verie those: nor can I discommend
Your manhoodes, that with lesser work brought greater Wars to end.
But not, as was my wont to wright, the Senate now shall reede,
I came: I sawe: I ouer-came: such Foes forbid such speede.
Nor let the Senate muse, for 
Troy with 
Troy doth here contend:
This warlike people (fame is so) from whence sprong we discend.
Yea, if 
Aeneas had not left the 
Phrygian Gods to vs,
And 
Greekes Palladium Shipt to 
Greece, this Fortune foyling thus,
I would haue thought those very Gods had followed our anoy:
But them haue we, these onely haue vndanted harts from 
Troy.
But what? shall 
Caesar doubt to fight against so brauea Foe?
No, 
Caesars Tryumphes with their Spoyles shall giue the brauer shoe.
Ye Gods that guide our Capitoll, Mount 
Palatin thou Throne
Of stately 
Rome, ye Followers too of her affayres each one,
Delay not, but depriue me quite my Triumphes now in hand,
Nor let me liue, if so I leaue vnconquered this Land:
This Land, the last of Westerne Isles, an Isle vnknowen ere this,
Which famous now through 
Caesars fight and our misfortune is.
Enough, my fellow friends in Armes, enough we 
Romaines haue
To seeke reuenge: your Conquest loe a Countrie rich and braue:
And (which perswadeth victorie) in 
Troynouant there bee,
That hold that Citie to our vse: the 
Brutons disagree,
No 
Scot or 
Pichte assisting them in these our Warres I see▪
Their ciuill strife will proue their scourge, how stout soere they seeme,
And perpetuitie doth faile in euery thing extreeme.
Not Fortune still is good or bad, and now let be our day:
Too long we liue, if that so long we shall on trifles stay,
Said 
Caesar. And with such his words did so inflame his men,
That with lesse patience did they liue, than linger battell then.

The 
Romaines bid the Bace, and then did cruell Warre begin:
And little wanted that the 
Brutes the better did not win.
But 
Caesar so foresawe Supplies, and Succors here and theare,
Perswading this, disswading that, controuling flight and feare,


[Page 80] That, after many 
Romaines slaine, the 
Brutons tooke their flight,
To Southerne Shores: whereas to proofe 
Cassiuelan did fight
With oft Eruptions out of Woods, vntill the traiterous Knight,
The Earle of 
London yeelds his Charge and Citie to the Foe,
Through which disloyall president did other Cities soe:
And then with hard-won Tribute hence the Conquerour did goe.

BVt he, that wonne in euery Warre, at 
Rome in ciuill Robe
Was stab'd to death: no certaintie is vnderneath the Globe.
The good are enuied of the bad, and glorie finds disdaine,
And people are in constancie as Aprill is in raine:
Whereof, amidst our serious penne, this Fable intertaine.

An Asse, an Old-man, and a Boye, did through a Citie passe,
And whil'st the wanton Boye did ride the Old-man led the Asse:
See yonder doting foole, said Folke, that crauleth scarce for age,
Doth set the Boye vpon his Asse and makes himselfe his Page.
Anon the blamed Boy alightes, and lets the Old-man ride,
And, as the Old-man did before, the Boye the Asse did gide:
But, passing so, the people thē did much the Old-man blame,
And told him, Churle, thy limbes bee tough, the Boye should ride for shame.
The fault thus found, both Man and Boye did backe the Asse and ride,
Then that the Asse was ouer-charg'd each man that met them cride.
Now both a-light, and goe on foote, and leade the emptie Beast,
But then the people laugh, and say, that one might ride at least.
With it they both did vndershore the Asse on either side,
But then the wondring people did that witles pranke deride.
The Old-man seeing by no waies he could the people please,
Not blameles then, did driue the Asse and drowne him in the Seas.
Thus whil'st we be, it will not be, that any pleaseth all:
Els had bin wanting, worthely, the noble 
Caesars fall.

[Page 81]

CHAP. XVIII.

AVgustus quayling 
Anthonie was Emperour alōe:
In whose vn-focd Monarchie our cōmon health was knowne.
The Brooser of the Serpents head, the Womans promisd Seede,
The Second in the Trinitie, the Foode our soules to feede,
The Vine, the Light, the Doore, the Way, the Shepheard of vs al:
Whose Manhood ioynd to Deitie did Raunsome vs from thrall,
That was, and is, and euermore will be the same to his,
That sleepes to none that wake to him, that turns our Cursse to blisse,
Whom, yet vnseene, the Patriarkes saw, the Prophets haue foretold,
Th'apossles preacht, the Saints adore, and Martyres doe behold,
The same 
(Augustus Emperour) in 
Palestine was borne,
Amongst his owne, and yeat his owne did crosse their Blisse in skorne:
Bi-formed 
Ianus then in Mewe: so would this Prince of Peace,
That 
Caesars Edict euerie wheare should 
Mars his enuie ceace.

THen raigned here King 
Cymbelyn, King 
Theomantius sonne:
Next him 
Guiderius, that with-held the Tribute 
Caesar wonne.
The 
Romaines that, in our respect, neglected 
Misia, Spaine,

Armenia, France, and 
Siria, then Recusants of their Raine,
Not by their Captaines, but himselfe the Emperour of 
Rome,
Into relapsed 
Brutaine with imperiall Ensignes come.


[Page 82] Then hotter than the 
Punike Warres to 
Romaines did begin:
And 
Claudius looseth valiantlie all that the 
Brutons win,
But 
Romish Hamo, from whose death 
Southhampton had that name,
In 
Brittish Armes salutes the King, and slewe by guile the same.
Duke 
Aruiragus vsing then the Armor of the King,
Maintained fight, and wonne the field ere 
Brutons knewe the thing.

This hardie Knight, his Brother slaine, was Crowned in his place:
And with his winnings, also wonne the Emperour to grace:
Who sending for his daughter, faire 
Genissa, so did ende
The Warres in Wedding: and away did 
Claudius Caesar wende.
But 
Aruiragus after this reuolted, and to stay
The hauocke made of 
Romaines here came succors euery day.
His Queene 
Genissa childing died, when his Reuolt she knew:
And 
Voada, deuorsed late, became his Queene of new.
Then he that at 
Ierusalem the fatall siege begonne,
Was sent from 
Rome, and warring here, the wonted Tribute wonne:
And through his gentle Victorie, bound 
Aruiragus still
A friend to 
Caesar, whome the King adopted heire by will.

I here omit the dismall Warre in Isle of 
Mona made
Against the 
Romaines, whome the Priests the 
Druides inuade
With banning words, and women, with their haire vntrussed, stand
With brands of fire in furious wise about their desperat Band.
The King deceased, 
Voada and her two daughters, they
Abused by the 
Romaine Lords, doe hotter warres assay.

THe noble 
Scot King 
Corbred he confedrates with the King
of 
Pichts: and they and 
Brittish Peeres to field their Armies bring
To aide the Queene of 
Brutes, that like the 
Amazonian Dame
That beating downe the bloodie 
Greekes in 
Priams succour came,
Had pight her Iauelin at her feete, when entred in among
The fearce confedrates, thus she spake amidst the silent throng:

My state and sex, not hand or heart, most valiant friends, with-hild


[Page 83] Me, wretched Cause of your repaire by wicked 
Romans ild,
From that reuenge which I do wish, and ye haue cause to worke:
In which suppose not 
Vo
 [...]da in female feares to lurke.
For Loe my selfe, vnlike my selfe, and these same Ladies faire
In Armor, not to shrinke an ynch wheare hottest doings are.
Euen we do dare to bid the Base, and you your selues shall see
Your selues to come behind in Armes: the 
Romaines too that bee
Such Conquerors, and valiantly can womankind oppresse,
Shall know that 
Brittish women can the 
Romish wrongs redresse.
Then Arme ye with like courages as Ladies shall present,
Whom ye, nor wounds, nor death, the praise of Onset shall preuent.
Nor enuie that our Martiall rage exceeds your manly ire,
For by how much more we endure, so much more we desire
Reuenge on those in whose default we are vnhallowed thus,
Whilst they forget themselues for men, or to be borne of vs.
Ye yeeld them Tribute, and from vs their Legions haue their pay:
Thus were too much, but more then thus the haughtie Tirants sway.
That I am Queene from being wrong'd doth nothing me protect:
Their Rapes against my daughters both I also might obiect:
They maydes deflower, they wiues enforce, and vse their wils in all,
And yeat wee liue deferring fight, inferring so our fall.
But valiant 
Brutons, ventrous 
Scots, and warlike 
Pichts I erre,
Exhorting, whom I should dehort your fiearcenes to deferre.
Lesse courage more considerate would make your foes to quake:
My heart hath ioy'd to see your hands the 
Romaine Standards take,
But when as force and Fortune faild, that you with teeth should fight,
And in the faces of their Foes your women in despight
Should fling their sucking Babes, I hild such valiantnes but vaine:
Inforced flight is no disgrace, such Flyers fight againe.
Here are ye, 
Scots, that with the King my valiant brother dead
The 
Latines, wondring at your prowes, through 
Rome in triumph lead.
Ye 
Mars-stard 
Pichtes of 
Scythian breed are here Colleagues: & more,


[Page 84] Ye 
Dardane Brutes, last named, but in valour meant before:
I
 [...] your conduct, most knightly friends, I superseade the rest:
Ye come to fight, and we in fight to hope and helpe our best.

Scarce did this braue 
Bellona end, when as the Battailes ioyne,
And life and death was bought & sould with courage, not with coine.
Aboue the rest the Queen of 
Brutes through blood did cut her way,
Sixe thousand Ladies Lyons-like exployting like Afray:
Till 
Cattus with his 
Romaine Armes, subdewed, fled away.
Of 
Romains seuentie thousand died, of 
Brutons then were slaine
Twise fifteene thousand, and the rest their ceased freedome gaine.

When valiant Plancius, President in 
Gallia, heard such newes,
He waffes an Armie out of 
Fraunce, and 
Voada pursues.
The 
Albines
 [...]s to aid the Queene assemble at her call,
And then began a second Warre, nor was the slaughter small.
The 
Brutons, barring flight, had clos'd themselues with waines about,
In which the awles women stood suruaying who was stout,
Controuling Cowards, and among did fill the aire with dinne:
But, valiant though the 
Brutones were, the day the 
Romaines winne.
In vaine the furious women then on Sonnes and Husbands call,
Themselues with Sonnes and Husbands did by aduerse weapons fall.
Queene 
Voada past helpe, and hope, betooke her selfe to flight:
Till looking backe, vnfollowed then, and hauing in her fight
The senseles Tronkes of slaughtred friends, shee leaning on her Lance
Did power forth teares, and grew at length impacient of the chance,
And said: my selfe, my trustie friends, wil with my dearest blood
Keepe Obite to your happie Ghostes, that for your Countries good
Be as you be, and I will be: no 
Romaine sword shall boast
Of my dispatch. So on her Lance she yeelded vp the Ghoste.

Her Daughter then, for to reuenge her friends vpon her foes,
Assisted by the vanquished against the Victors roes,
And slaughtring through the 
Romaine Tentes the braue 
Virago goes,
Till 
Plancius, euer prouident of perils, brought supplies,
What time 
Vodicia, vrging wounds, with constant courage dies.

[Page 85]
SVch busines hanging, 
Lucius, here the first baptized King,
Died issulesse: and for the Crowne did long contention spring.
At length 
Constantius Caesar (for the 
Brutons yeelded so)
Did 
Helin, Colis daughter wed. Of her doe praises go
For finding of the holie Crosse: and for deuotion rare.
From these proceeded 
Constantine, the most vndoubted heire
Both to the 
Romaine Monarchie and this his Parents Reame.
He turn'd the Empires ebbing pompe into her flowing streame,
And was a Prince Religious: yeat (with reuerence be it said)
If lesse religious, then not he the Empire had decaide,
By largesse to a pompeous Priest, Apostolique ere then,
But now intruding euen on God, insulting ouer men.
Nor sparest thou his natiue Realme that seazed thee of 
Rome.
Admit his franknesse were a fault (as is their common doome,
That say he made a 
Paule a 
Saule that made a Priest a Prince,
And in that grace the Empires grace disgraced euer since)
Find thou no fault with such a fault wherby he fitted thee:
But, if thou wilt vngrateful prooue, vngracious cease to be,
A Traytors Tutor is a. K. nor force we such a. T.
Let such a Prelate blesse or banne, with Candle, Booke and Bell,
He cannot raise himselfe to heauen, nor rid a knaue from hell.
Vaine are his Bulles engendring Calues, sent hither from his Stals,
To feede (mad Sots) the Foule that by his name the Sendor cals.

Nor thinke he dreamed this in vaine that dreamed thus of late:
One seemed to haue passed 
Stix, and entring 
Plutos gate,
Saw 
Hecat new canonized the Sourantisse of hell,
And 
Pluto bad it holliday for all which theare did dwell.
Sterne 
Minos and grimme 
Radimant descend their duskie roomes:
The Docke was also cleare of Ghosts, adiorn'd to after-doomes:
The Furies and the deadly Sinnes, with their inuectiue Scroles
Depart the Barre: the Feends rake vp their euer-burning Coles:
The Elues, and Fairies, taking fists, did hop a merrie Round:


[Page 86] And 
Cerberus had lap enough: and 
Charon leasure found:
The airy Sprights the walking Flames, and Goblins great and small,
Had theare good cheere, and company, and sport the diuell and all:
To 
Tantalus the shrinking flood, nor starting fruit were such:
Nor 
Titius his bowels did the hungrie Vultur touch:
Vpon his Stone sat 
Cisaphus: Ixeon on his Wheele:
The 
Belides vpon their Tubs: no wonted toile they feele.
Till, in this anticke Festiuall, these last recited fiue
Of dignities for dueties theare they earnestly did striue:
And then the quarrell grew so hot that hell was hell againe,
And flocking Ghosts did seuerally their Fauctors part maintaine.
With 
Cisaphus tooke part the Ghosts of minds that did aspire,
And by ambitious climing fell, desarts vnlike desire.
With 
Tantalus hild starued Ghosts, whose pleasure was their paine,
Whose euer Hords had neuer vse, and gettings had no gaine.
To 
Besides assisted Soules of Vnthrifts, whose supplies
Did passe from them as Sea through Cieues, whose wastes no wealthes suffise.
Vnto 
Ixeon stood their Sprights that had their lusts for law,
Rebellants to a common good, and sinning without awe.
To 
Titius lastly ioyned Ghosts, whose hearts did emptie hate
As Todes their poyson, growing when it seemeth to abate.
About flie Apples, Stones, and Tubs, the wheele was tumbled downe,
The Vultur girds, no Ghoste but had at least a broken crowne.

This skufling and confedracie in hell made such a reare,
That (wontles of such braules and blowes) 
Proserpine did feare.
But 
Pluto, laughing, told his Bride to Ela it was Fa,
To morrowes dinne should prooue that same to be a ciuill day:
In peace these were their practises on earth, and here in hell
(Saue that their Soules haue neuer peace) we finde them as they fell.
They worke to me, each of these fiue, though dailie count I aske,
Doe newlie number Million Soules, whose torments is their taske.
The Queene of such, not free of fear, replied thus againe,


[Page 87] And yeat, me thinks, that 
Pluto should haue pittie on their paine.

He lowers, and Feast with Fray had end, and drinke did euery soule
Of 
Lethe: who, their ioyes forgot, euen yet in torments houle:
Nay 
Pluto must be 
Pluto still, and so I will (quoth he,)
For this same onely day the Ghosts indebted are to thee:
For as the like shall neuer come, so neuer like befell,
But henceforth all, yea Prince, and Pope, shall euer find it hell.
So dreamed one: but ouer-long on fantazies I dwell.

CHAP. XIX.

THe Cosen of great 
Constantine, in 
Rome and here succeeds:
Betwixt the 
Brutes, the 
Scots, and 
Pichtes conti­nuall trouble breeds:
And long the reg'ment of this Land the 
Romanes did inioy,
Transmitting Captaines euermore as Foes did here anoy.
But 
Rome it selfe declined now, and 
Brutaine was opprest,
No longer were the 
Scottish Spoyles by 
Romaine Swords redrest.
Then ends the Tribute, then began new troubles, worser farre
Then Tribute: for the 
Scots and 
Pichtes inferre consuming warre.
The 
Brutons, vnder 
Rome secure, as men that did relie
On others, were disabled now by Martiall meanes to trie
The fame of fight: but Captainelesse, confusedly they deale,
And giue a wretched instant of an headles Common-weale.
And whom so many 
Romaine Peers, grand-Captaines of such might,


[Page 88] Of whome nine Emperors themselues in persons here did fight,
Could hardly foyle, were fronted now euen of a barbarous Foe:
And at the point (a wondrous change) their Country to forgoe.
Such fruit hath ease such pollicie did serue the 
Romaines turne,
Who, waining Martiall minds, themselues the quietlier here soiorn.
The 
Brutons thus dispoy'ld of Armes, and courage in effect,
Of Prince, of Captaines, and aduise, their busines to direct:
Dispatch their Legate to the Land Diminutiue in name
To 
Brutaine: where the Legate thus his Ambassie did frame:

The back-slide of our helplesse friends, the down-fall of our flate,
Our lacke of Prince, of people, and our wealth, not now as late,
The sauage dealing of our Foes, consuming outs and vs,
Is cause (right mightie King) that we approach thy presence thus.
Not for we are in blood allied, or that whil'st Fortune smil'd,
Your Ancestors had rule from vs, not for the Dames defil'd
At 
Cullin, who withstanding lust for it did loose their liues,
That els to 
Conon and his Knights had liued noble wiues,
We are emboldned in our suit: though all of these might mooue:
But for our former wants, O King, and for thine owne behooue,
Great 
Brutaine doth submit it selfe thy Subiect (if thou please.)
Or els dispose it at thy will. Prouided we haue ease
Against such Foes, as would not saue our liues to haue our Land:
Whom to conclude (except thou helpe) we neuer may withstand.

The King 
Aldroen pittying much the cause of his Allies,
Arm'd thence his brother 
Constantine, a Captaine stout and wise.
He chasing hence the 
Scottes & 
Pichtes, with glory wore the Crowne,
And through his vertue stayed vp a Kingdome sinking downe.

WIthin a while did 
Vortiger the Duke of 
Cornewalle raigne,
When 
Constans Sonne of 
Constantine he traitrously had slaine.
The 
Scotts did ruffle then anew, nor did the King affye
In 
Brutones, for they hated him, and reason had they why:


[Page 89] And 
Saxon Fleetes from 
Germanie in Armor here arriue,
Through whose support the King in wars against the 
Scots did thriue.
The Foe by 
Hengest foyled thus, he and his brother git
The chiefest credit with the King, but few gaine-saying it,
Necessitie of Souldiers here so well for them did fit.
And 
Hengests Daughter intertain'd King 
Vortiger so well,
That to misliking of his wife and liking her he fell:
And sotted thus in forren Loue, did wed the 
Saxon Wench:
Which wrought vnto the 
Saxons weale, but to the 
Brutes offence▪
For whatsoere the Queene did aske, the King would not deny,
Vntill his Subiects ran to Armes, and made the 
Saxons flie.
They putting downe the Father, then did set vp 
Vortimer,
He poisoned by his Stepdame, they restored 
Vortiger,
With this condition, that he should no 
Saxons intertaine.
But 
Hengest (hearing from the Queene that 
Vortimer was slaine,
And 
Vortiger his Sonne-in-lawe re-kinged) did resaile
With 
Saxon forces: though with fraud, not force he did preuaile,
For thus by pollicy he did the 
Brutons circumuent:
He craued Parlie, as a man that were to quietnes bent,
The place appoynted, Parlantes him in simple meaning meet
Farre from their Armie all vnarm'd, whom 
Saxon Traitors greet
With deadly wounds by hidden kniues, & held the King with them,
Confounding so the 
Brittish Oste. Nor cease they to contemne
Both Christian rights, and ciuill Rule, subuerting either twaine:
And what they would of 
Vortiger through feare
 [...]ull threats they gaine:
And plant themselues in 
Southfolke, Kent, and elsewhere at their will:
And ruffling runne throughout the Land oppressing 
Brutons still.
The King and 
Brutons fled to Wales: and Feend-got 
Marlin theare
Bewraied more then I beleeue, or credit seemes to beare:
As shewing how the Castell worke, rear'd daily, fell by night
By shaking of two Dragons great that vnderneath it fight,
With other wonders, tedious if not trothlesse to resight.

[Page 90]

Aurelius Ambrose, brother to King 
Constans murdred late,
From either 
Bruton hauing aid, wonne so the kingly state:
And, ere that 
Hengest or his Sonne stout 
Octa he subdew'd,
First to reuenge his Brothers death he 
Vortiger pursew'd,
In vaine the Welsh wild Mountaines fence the Flier from his Foe,
Or 
Gerneth Castell, when as flames throughout the buildings goe:
In midst whereof the wretched King did end his dayes in woe.

THe 
Brutons thus had peace a while, till 
Vortigerus Sonne,
And 
Gutllamour the 
Irish King, in new Conflicts begonne:
Whom, whil'st that 
Vter valiantly in 
VVales to wracke did bring,
His Brother 
Ambrose did decease, and 
Vter then was King.

What 
Vter did by 
Marlins Art, in compassing his will
Vpon the Wife of 
Garolus, transfigured by skill
Into the likenesse of her Lord, on whom he got a Sonne,
Renowmed 
Arthur: or to name the Acts by 
Vter donne,
Were much and needlesse: onely note he was a valiant Prince,
But such as was his noble Sonne, was not before or since.
Yeat blazing 
Arthur, as haue some, I might be ouer-seene:
He was victorious, making one amongst the Worthies neene:
But (with his pardon) if I vouch his world of Kingdomes wonne,
I am no Poet, and for lacke of pardon were vndonne.
His 
Scottish, Irish, Almaine, French, and 
Saxone Battelles got,
Yeeld fame sufficient: these seeme true, the rest I credite not.
But 
Bruton is my taske, and to my taske I will retire:
Twelue times the 
Saxon Princes here against him did conspire,
And 
Arthur in twelue Battles great went vanquishor away:
Howbeit 
Saxon forces still amongst the 
Brutons stay.

This King to entertaine discourse, and so to vnderstand
What Accidents in after-times should happen in this Land,
He with the 
Brutish Prophet then of Sequelles fell in hand.
Of sixe long after-Kings the man, not borne of humane seede,


[Page 19] Did Prophesie, and many things that came to passe in deede.

Now 
Arthur, chiefe of Chiualrie, had set his Crowne at stay,
And to his Nephew 
Mordred did commit thereof the sway,
When with his Knights, the wonders of the world for Martiall deeds,
Beyond the Scas in forren fights he luckely proceedes:
Till faithlesse 
Mordred cal'd him backe that forward went with fame,
For at his Vncles Diadem he traiterously did aime.
Twise 
Arthur wonne of him the field, and thirdly slewe his Foe,
When, deadly wounded, he himselfe, victorious, died so.

INterred then with publique plaints, and issules, ensewes
A drouping of the 
Brittish state: the 
Saxon still subdewes,
Howbeit worthy Kings succeed: but destiny withstood
The auncient Scepter to iniure in 
Brutes succeeding blood.
Vnlou'd 
Careticus was he that lost the Goale at length:
Whenceforth, in vaine, to win their losse the 
Brutons vse their strēgth,
Yea God, that as it pleaseth him, doth place or dispossesse,
When foes, nor foiles, nor any force, their courage might suppresse,
Seem'd partiall in the 
Saxon Cause, and with a Plague did crosse
The 
Brutons, that had els at least rebated from their losse:
For 
Cadwane, and 
Cadwallyn, and 
Cadwallader, the last,
But not the least for valorous of 
Brittish Princes past,
Brought out of 
VVales such knightly wars as made their foes agast.
The Plague (worse spoyler then the Wars) left 
Cambre almost waste,
Which to auoid, the remnant 
Brutes into their Ships did haste.

Cadwallader, in leauing thus his natiue Shore, he fixt
His eyes from whence his bodie should, and with his sighes he mixt
His royall teares, which giuing place, he speaketh thus betwixt.
Sweet 
Brutaine (for I yet must vse that sweet, and ceasing name)
Adew, thy King bids thee adew, whose flight no weapons frame:
But God cōmaunds, his wrath commandes, al counter-maund is vaine,
Els, for thy loue, to die in thee were life to thy Remaine.


[Page 92] Thus tymes haue turnes, thus Fortune still is flying to and fro:
What was not, is: what is, shall cease: some come, and others goe:
So, 
Brutaine thou of Nation and of name endurest change,
Now balking vs whome thou hast bread, and brooking people strange.
Yeat (if I shoot not past mine aime) a world of time from me,
Part of our blood, in highest pompe, shall 
Englands glorie be:
And chieflie, when vnto a first succeeds a second She.
But, leauing speeches ominous, 
Cadwallader is woe,
That seeing death determines griefe, he dies not on his foe.
Ah, Fortune fayleth mightie ones, and meaner doth aduance:
The mightiest Empier 
Rome hath change, then 
Brutaine brooke thy chance:
Let it suffice thou wert before and after 
Rome in fame:
And to indure what God intends were sinne to count a shame.
Nor vaunt, ye 
Saxons, of our flight: but if ye needs will vaunt,
Then vaunt of this, that God displac'd whom you could neuer daunt.
This said, the teares cōtrould his tong, & sailes wrought land frō sight
When (saue a Remnant small) the Isle was rid of 
Brutons quight.

[Page 93]

THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XX.

THe 
Brutons thus departed hence, Seauen King­domes here begonne:
Where diuerslie in diuers broyles the 
Saxons lost and wonne.
King 
Edel and King 
Adelbright in 
Diria iointly raigne:
In loyall concorde during life these Kingly friends remaine.
When 
A delbright should leaue his life, to 
Edel thus he sayes:
By those same bondes of happie loue, that held vs friends alwaies,
By our by-parted Crowne, of which the Moyetie is mine,
By God, to whome my soule must passe, and so in time may thine,
I pray thee, nay I coniure thee, to nourish as thine owne
Thy Neece my Daughter 
Argentile, till she to age be growne,
And then, as thou receiuest it, resigne to her my Throne.
A promise had for this Bequest, the Testator he dies:
But all that 
Edel vndertooke, he afterward denies.
Yeat well he fosters for a time the Damsiell, that was growne
The fairest Lady vnder Heauen: whose beautie being knowne,


[Page 94] A many Princes seeke her loue, but none might her obtaine:
For grippell 

 [...]del to himselfe her Kingdome sought to gaine,
And for that cause from sight of such he did his Ward restraine.

By chance one 
Curan, Sonne vnto a Prince in 
Danske did see
The Maid, with whom he fell in loue as much as one might bee.
Vnhappie Youth, what should he doe? his Saint was kept in Mewe:
Nor he, nor any Noble-man admitted to her vewe.
One while in Melancholy fits he pines himselfe away,
Anon he thought by force of Armes to win her, if he may,
And still against the Kings restraint did secretly inuay.
At length the high Controller Loue, whom none may disobay,
Imbased him from Lordlines, vnto a Kitchin Drudge:
That so at least of life or death she might become his Iudge.
Accesse so had to see, and speake, he did his loue bewray,
And tells his bearth: her answer was she husbandles would stay.

Meane while the King did beat his braines his booty to atchieue,
Nor caring what became of her, so he by her might thriue:
At last his resolution was some Pessant should her wiue.
And (which was working to his wish) he did obserue with ioye
How 
Curan, whom he thought a drudge, scapt many an amorous toy.
The King, perceiuing such his vaine, promotes his Vassall still,
Least that the baseuesse of the man should let, perhaps, his will:
Assured therefore of his loue, but not suspecting who
The Louer was, the King himselfe in his behalfe did wowe.
The Lady, resolute from Loue, vnkindly takes that he
Should barre the Noble, and vnto so base a Match agree:
And therefore shifting out of doores, departed thence by stealth,
Preferring pouertie before a dangerous life in wealth.

When 
Curan heard of her escape, the anguish in his hart
Was more then much, and after her from Court he did depart:
Forgetfull of himselfe, his bearth, his Country, friends, and all,
And onely minding (whom he mist) the Foundresse of his thrall.


[Page 95] Nor meanes he after to frequent or Court or stately Townes,
But solitarily to liue amongst the Country grownes.
A brace of yeeres he liued thus, well pleased so to liue,
And Shepherd-like to feede a flocke himselfe did wholly giue.
So wasting loue, by worke, and want, grewe almost to the Waene:
But then began a second Loue, the worser of the twaene.

A Country wench, a Neatheards maid, where 
Curan kept his Sheep,
Did feed her Droue: and now on her was all the Shepheards keepe,
He borrowed on the working daies his holie russets oft:
And of the Bacons fat, to make his Startops blacke and soft:
And least his Tarbox should offend he left it at the Folde:
Sweete Growte, or Whig, his Bottle had as much as it might hold:
A Sheeue of bread as browne as Nut, and Cheese as white as snowe,
And Wildings, or the Seasons fruite, he did in Scrip bestow:
And whil'st his py-bald Curre did sleepe, and Sheep-hooke lay him by,
On hollow Quilles of Oten strawe he piped melody:
But when he spied her his Saint, he wipte his greasie shooes,
And clear'd the driuell from his beard and thus the Shepheard wooes.

I haue sweet Wench a peece of Cheese, as good as tooth may chaw,
And bread, and Wildings souling-well (and therewithall did drawe
His Lardrie) and, in eating, see you Crumpled Ewe (quoth he)
Did twinne this fall, and twin shouldst thou if I might 
 [...]up with thee.
Thou art too eluish, faith thou art too eluish, and too coy:
Am I (I pray thee) beggerly, that such a Flocke enioy?
I wis I am not: yeat that thou doest holde me in disdaine
Is brimme abroad, and made a gybe to all that keepe this Plaine.
There be as quaint (at least that think themselues as quaint) that craue
The Match, that thou (I wot not why) maist, but mislik'st to haue.
How wouldst thou match? (for well I wot, thou art a Female) I,
I know not her that willingly with Maiden-head would die.
The Plowmans labour hath no end, and he a Churle will prooue:
The Craftsman hath more worke in hand then fitteth vnto loue:


[Page 96] The Marchant traffiquing abroad, suspects his Wife at home:
A Youth will play the Wanton, and an olde-man prooue a Mome.
Then Chuse a Shepheard. With the Sun he doth his Flocke vnfold,
And all the day on Hill or Plaine he merrie chat can hold:
And with the Sun doth folde againe: then iogging home betime,
He turnes a Crab, or tunes a round, or sings some merrie ryme:
Nor lackes he gleefull tales to tell, whil'st round the Bole doth trot:
And sitteth singing care-away, till he to bed hath got.
Theare sleepes he soundly all the night, forgetting Morrow cares,
Nor feares he blasting of his Corne nor vttering of his wares,
Or stormes by Seas, or stirres on Land, or cracke of credite lost,
Not spending franklier then his Flocke shall still defray the cost.
Wel wot I, sooth they say that say: more quiet nightes and daies
The Shepheard sleeps & wakes than he whose Cattel he doth graize.
Beleeue me Lasse, a King is but a man, and so am I:
Content is worth a Monarchie, and mischiefes hit the hie:
As late it did a King and his, not dwelling far from hence,
Who left a Daughter, (saue thy selfe) for faire a matchlesse wench:
(Here did he pause, as if his tongue had done his heart offence.)

The Nea
 [...]resse, longing for the rest, did egge him on to tell
How faire she was, and who she was. She bore (quoth he) the bell
For Beautie: though I clownish am, I know what Beautie is,
Or did I not, yeat seeing thee, I senceles were to mis.
Suppose her Beautie 
Hellens-like, or 
Hellens somewhat lesse,
And euery Starre consorting to a puer Complexion gesse.
Her Stature comely tall, her gate well graced, and her wit
To maruell at, not meddle with, as matchles I omit.
A Globe-like head, a Gold-like haire, a Forhead smooth and hie,
An euen Nose, on either side did shine a graish Eie:
Two rosie Checkes, round ruddy Lips, white iust-set Teeth within:
A mouth in meane, and vnderneath a round and dimpled Chin:
Her Snowish necke with blewish Vaines stood bolt vpright vpon


[Page 97] Her portly shoulders: beating Balles, her vained Breasts, anon
Adde more to Beautie: wand-like was her middle, falling still,
And rising whereas women rise: but ouer-skippe I will,
What Males in Females ouer-skippe: imagine nothing ill.
And more, her long and limber Armes had white and azure Wrists:
And slender Fingers aunswere to her smooth and lillie Fists:
A Legge in print, a pretie Foot: coniecture of the rest,
For amorous Eies, obseruing forme, thinke parts obscured best.
With these (O thing deuine) with these, her tong of speech was spae
 [...];
But speaking, 
Venus seem'd to speake the Balle from 
Ide to baer.
With 
Phoebe, Iuno, and with both her selfe contends in face:
Wheare equall mixture did not want of milde and stately grace.
Her smiles were sober, and her lookes were chearefull vnto all:
And such as neither wanton seeme, nor waiward, mell, nor gall.
A quiet mind, a patient mood, and not disdaining any:
Not gybing, gadding, gawdie, and her faculties were many.
A Nimph, no tong, no heart, no Eie, might praise, might wish, might see
For life, for loue, for forme, more good, more worth, more f
 [...]ire, thē she:
Yea such an one, as such was none, saue onely she was such:
Of 
Argentile to say the most, were to be silent much.

I knewe the Ladie very well, but worthles of such praies,
The Neatresse sayd: and muse I do, a Shepheard thus should blaze
The Coote of beautie. Credit me, thy latter speech bewraies
Thy clownish shape a coined shew. But wherefore doest thou weepe?
(The Shepheard wept, and she was woe, and both doth silence keepe.)

In troth, quoth hee, I am not such as seeming I professe:
But then for her, and now for thee, I from my selfe digresse.
Her loued I, (wretch that I am a Recreant to be)
I loued her, that hated loue: but now I die for thee.
At 
Kirkland is my Fathers Court, and 
Curan is my name,
In 
Edels Court somtimes in pompe, till Loue contrould the same:
But now. What now? deare heart how now? what ailest thou to weep?
(The Damsell wept, and he was woe, and both did silence keepe.)

[Page 98]
I graunt quoth she, it was too much, that you did loue so much:
But whom your former could not moue, your second loue doth touch.
Thy twise beloued 
Argentile submitteth her to thee:
And for thy double loue presents herselfe a single fee:
In passion, not in person chaung'd, and I my Lord, am she:

They sweetly surfeiting in ioy, and silent for a space,
When as the Extasie had end did tenderly imbrace,
And for their wedding, and their wish got fitting time and place.
Not 
England (for of 
Hengest then was named so this Land)
Then 
Curan had an hardier Knight, his force could none withstand:
Whose Sheep-hooke laid apart, he then had higher things in hand.
First, making knowne his lawfull claime in 
Argentile her right,
He war'd in 
Diria, and he wonne 
Bre
 [...]tia too in fight:
And so from trecherous 
Edel tooke at once his life and Crowne,
And of 
Northumberland was King, long ragning in renowne.

CHAP. XXI.

THe 
Saxons that, in these discents, deriue from Gods and men,


 [...]oue, Minos Get a, Flokwald, Flyn, Fredw
 [...]lfe, Fraeloffe, VVoden,
Each as here placed others son, not onely Con­quer here,
But with their wandring Armies spoyle the World through-out welnere.
The 
English Saxon Kings oppresse the mightier ones the weake:
Each trifling cause sufficing here their loue and leagues to breake.
One seazeth of his Neighbours Realme, and is disseaz'd ere-long:
For Empire some, for Enuie some, and some to right their wrong


[Page 99] Contend vnto their common losse, and some like Monsters rain:
As 
Sig
 [...]ert, who for tyrannie did banishment sustaine.

He wandred vnbewailed long, a man whom men exempt
From house and helpe, pursuing him with capitall contempt.
Forlorne therefore, with drouping lims, and dropping eies, in vaine,
He frendles walks the fruitles Woods, and foodles did complaine.
A Swineheard meeting him by chaunce, and pitying his estate,
Imploy'd the Westerne King, vnknowne, on his affaires to wait.
Nor did the needie King disdaine such roome, for such reliefe:
An vnder-Swineheardship did serue, he sought not to be chiefe.
But when by speech and circumstance, his Maister vnderstood,
His seruant was the somtimes King: blood cries (quoth he) for blood:
My giltles Master in thy pompe, thou Tyrant, diddest slay,
Nor vnreuenged of his death thou shalt escape away.
With that he tooke a Libbat vp, and beateth out his braines:
And dead (so odious Tyrants be) not one for him complaines.

NOt all so ill, yeat cause of worse vnto the 
English state
Was 
Osbert of 
Northumberland: his loue did winne him hate.
Enamored on Lord 
Buerns wife, as tired in the Chace,
He left the Hounds, and with a fewe dismounts at 
Buerns Place.
Her husband absent, heartely his Lady entertaines
The King, and feasts him Royally, not sparing cost or paines.
But he that fed on Fansies food, and hungred whil'st he eates,
Thought 
Venus sparer in her loues then 
Ceres in her meates.
The Trayne and table voyded, then he taking her apart,
Directs her by his tongue and teares vnto his louing heart.
Delay he sayth, breedeth doubts, but sharpe deniall death,
Or do not long surcharge my blisse, or soone discharge my breath:
For if my praiers adde no edge vnto thy begged doome,
The vintage of my thriftlesse lo
 [...]e is blasted in the bloome.
Be fauorable to my fire: for thy sweete sake, be bolde,
I durst attempt euen Hell (if hell so sweete a thing might holde.)

[Page 100]
Doe thinke her coie, or think her chaste, my Censure I suspend▪
Some Women yeeld not at the first, yeat yeeld they in the ende.
She gaue repulses to his lust, and he replies of Loue:
Not all the Writs 
Diana had might 
Cupids Plaint remoue.
She countermaunding his demaund, he ceased Courting now,
And did with her by violence what vertues disalow:
And then departed, leauing her in selfe-conceit disgraste:
More trespassed then some would thinke, and yeat perhaps as chaste.
Home came her Lord, whose browes had buds, and found his wife in tears,
And (foolish thing) she told a troth, for which reuēge he swears.
But so the man did proue a beast: he better might haue hid it,
Some such are mistically domme, yeat domly doe forbid it.
His Wiues escapes done secretly, if by the man detected,
Shewes hilled būps (supposed būps) meerehornes, not hornes suspected.
At 
Denmarke in his Cosins Court, he telleth of his wrong:
And gaines against his soueraigne Lord of 
Danes an Armie strong:

Hungar and 
Hubba, and himselfe, Conductors of this Hoast,
Did with their forren forces land, and spoyle the Northerne Coaste.
The vicious valiant 
Osbret, that had vanquished ere then
The King and Kingdome of the 
Scots, though wanting armes & men,
Thought skorne his foes should beard him so & bar him vp in walles,
And therefore, issuing out of 
Yorke, vpon the 
Danes he falles.
A Bloodie Bargaine then begonne, no fight might fearcer be,
And of the 
Danish part were slaine for euery 
English three.
But manhood lost, and number wonne, the 
Danes they got the fielde:
And 
Osbret dyed valiantly, that not to liue would yeeld.

MEane while the Danes with fresh supplies ariue at euerie Shore,

And warre almost in euery shire infesting England sore:

With whome couragious 
Etheldred contended long in vaine,
By them was he, King 
Ella, and the holy 
Edmund slaine.
Nothing was done, but all vndone, till King 
Alured hee
In daunger of his Royall selfe did set his subiects free:


[Page 101] For euery day, in euery place, the 
Danes did so increase,
That he nor any 
English King enioy one day of peace.
Nor mightier men at Armes than they, might any wheare be found,
Who in their diuers Wars els-where did diuers Realmes confound:
For as the 
Gothes, the 
Vandales, Hunnes, and 
Saxons earst did range,
So now the 
Danes did plague the world, as sent by interchange.
This Westerne and victorious king, and greatest Monarke heere,
Perceiuing of this spoyled Isle a toward Ruine neere,
Disguised like a Minstrill poore, did haunt the 
Danish Tents,
And with his feats and melodie the Enemie presents:
And of their sloth, their gluttonie, and Counsels priuie so,
He tooke aduantage, giuing them a sodaine ouerthrow.
And s
 [...]ayeth 
Hubba, Hungar, and the Cause of their repayr,
And putteth all to sword and Seas that vnbaptized wair.

Yeat to 
Northumberland return'd fearce 
Gurmond with the 
Danes,
Meane time did king 
Alured die, the Hatchet of their Tranes.
But 
Adelstane (one king betwixt) not onely clear'd the Land
Of 
Danes, but of all 
England had sole Empire in his hand.
Thus of this long dismembred Realme was he the onely King:
In which, till 
Egelred, his raigne did prosper euerie thing.
He raigning, much of 
England then the Lordly 
Danes did hold,
Exacting Tributes euery yeare, and selling Peace for Gold.
And (which no doubt did hatch those Plagues) the King a wicked one,
Did enter by his Brothers blood, extorting thus his Throne:

King 
Edgar that subdu'd the 
Scots, and slaughtered the 
Danes,
And of the 
VVelch had tribute Wolffs, of whom it more remaines
That, as it were in Triumph-wise, Eight Vnder kings did roe
Him, Sterns-man, on the Riuer 
Dee, with diuers honors moe,
This 
Edgar by a former wife had 
Edward, by an other
This 
Egelred, a Sonne vnto a kind and cruell Mother:
For as she labors to preferre her owne by well and ill,
So to destroy her Son-in-law she wanted meanes, not wil.


[Page 102] And meanes did hit. King 
Edward hunts, and hunting lost his Traine,
Whom, man-les, at her Castle 
Corfe the Queene did entertaine.
He hauing seene to whom he came in curtesie to see,
Made haste away, in Quest of them that still a hunting be:
And when he, mounted, should depart, to him his Stepdame drinkes.
Whom, pledging, him an Hierling stab'd, & life-les downe he sinkes.

Thus 
Egelred obtain'd the Crowne, but for his cr
 [...]wing so
His Subiects grudge, and he became a Preface to their woe.
For when this proud and vitious king, was neither lou'd of his,
Nor liued safely for the 
Danes, his secret Edict is,
That sodainely in one selfe hower, throughout the Land should passe charge
A common Massaker of 
Danes, which so performed was:

Hartfordia VVelwyn (VVealth-wyn then, for promptnesse in that
Beginning, other Townes as it themselues from 
Danes inlarge.

CHAP. XXI.

THis common mu
 [...] her of the 
Danes was com­mon mirth to all
The 
English, whom they did oppresse with slaueries not small,
Compelling mē by grieuous Draught as Beasts to plough their Land,
Of whom the 
English as of Gods, or Feends, in terror stand.
The Husband durst not vse his Wife if liked of a 
Dane,
Nor House nor Goods, nor ought he had, for who resists was slaine:
That frankes and feedeth daintily, This pines and fareth ill,
And of his sweat that hath the sweete, and is imperious still.
Each house maintained such a 
Dane, that so they might preuent


[Page 103] Conspiracies, if any were, and grope how mindes were bent:
Lord 
Dane the same was called then, to them a pleasing name,
Now odiously 
Lur-dane say we, when idle Mates we blame.
When 
Swaine the 
Daciā King did hear his 
Danes were murther dso.
With bitter vowes he shipt his men for 
Englands ouerthroe:
And landing, spar'd no shrine, nor Saint, nor Sex, nor any State,
Not wanting Aiders 
English-men, that held their King in hate.
Especially false 
Edricus the Admirall deceiues
His King and Countrey oftentimes, and Bribes of 
Swaine receiues:
And 
Egelred his cowardisse incouraged the Foe,
Till 
Swaine at length, for Masses great, was bribed hence to goe.
But making short returne, the Peeres of 
England that disdaine
Th'indignities of such a King, that did so feebly raigne,
Submit them Subiects vnto 
Swaine: and 
Egelred did flie
Vnto the Father of his Queene, the Duke of 
Normandie:
And 
Swaine, possessed of the land, did shortly after die.

His sonne 
Canutus, present here, had Seazon of the Crowne,
Till 
Egelred, returning back by Armor puts him downe:
Who scarcely giueth breathing time, but that he back resailes
From 
Denmarke, and by force, by friends, and fortune here preuailes:
For in this Warre King 
Egelred did sicken and decease:
And then the broiles 
(Canutus king) did for a time decrease,
Till 
Edmund, sonne of 
Egelred, did interrupt that peace.

COnferring Armes, to 
Edmonds age when 
Egelred did lie
On death-bed, to his sonne he said: not quite forlorne am I,
Whose life hath had so much of griefe, thus gratiously to dye.
Ad more, thy vertues glad my death, yeat two things greeue among,
To leaue my Kingdom so in Warres, and thee for Warres too young,
So may these troubles weare to none as thou doest waxe I pray,
And so possesse thy Fathers Seate that all approoue thy sway.
Not to be made a King (my Sonne) is so to make thee proude,
For Mildenes fitteth maiestie, high mindes are disaloude.


[Page 104] See me thy Father, now a King, and by and by but earth,
Nor thinke that euerie King hath hap to die a happie death.
Let nature for perfection molde a Paragon each way,
Yeat death at last on finest lumps of liuing flesh will pray:
For nature neuer framed it, that neuer shall decay.
The brauest are as blossomes, and the longest Liuer dies,
And dead, the louelest Creature as the lothsom'st Carrion lies.
Then thinke not but that kings are men, and as the rest miscarrie,
Saue that their fame or infamie continually doth tarry.
Deeme past Examples Sentences, and (which did fayle in me)
Make vse of those not now in vse, for now will cease to be.
Attempt not things beyond thy reach, ioyne fortune to thy will:
Least 
Phoebus Chaire doe else surcharge rash 
Phaeton his skill.
If Fortune helpe whom thou would'st hurt, fret not at it the more:
When 
Aiax stormed, then from him the Prize 
Vlysses bore.
Try friends by touch, a feeble friend may prooue thy strōgest Foe:
Great 
Pompe
 [...]s head to 
Caesars hand it was betrayed so.
Admit thou hadst 
Pactolion waues, to land thee Golde at will,
Know 
Craesus did to 

 [...]yrus kneele, and thou maist speed as ill.
Abandon lust, if not for sinne, yeat to auoyd the shame:
So Hogges of 
Ithacus his men the 
Latian Witch did frame.
Be not too moody in thy wrath, but pause though fist be bent:
Oft 
Philips Sonne did rashly strike, and leisurely repent.
Content thee with vnthreatned Meane, and play not 
Aesops Dogge:
The Golde that gentle 
Bacchus gaue did greedy 
Mydas clogge.
Be valiant, not too venterous, but fight to sight againe:
Euen 
Hercules did hold it ods for one to striue with twaine.
Be not ambitiously a King, nor grudgingly decline:
One God did root out 
Cis his stock, and rayse vp 
Iesses line.
Iest nor with edge tooles, suffer Saints, let mightie Fooles be mad:
Note, 
Seneca by 
Neroes doome for Precepts pennance had.
Haue care to whom, of whō, & what to speak, though speech be trew,
That Misse made 
Poe
 [...]us contrary his Rauens Swan-like hew.


[Page 105] He frameth torments to himselfe that feeds a Tyrants vaine:

Perillus was by 
Phalaris adiudg'd to self-taught paine.
Prayse not the beautie of thy Wife, though she of forme be sped:
For 
Gyges, moued so, did graft on 
Candaules his head.
Shunne Ielousie that heart-breake loue, if Cat will goe to kind,
Be sure that 
Io hath a meanes that 
Argus shall be blind.
Commit not Treasure with thy Child to greedy minded men:
Thou leauest 
Polidor a spoyle to 
Polymnestor then.
Occurrants giue occasions still of like, in which be sure
To serue thy God, to saue thy selfe, and well to all procure.
Be vertuous, and assure thy selfe thou canst not then but thriue:
In onely vertue it is sayd, that men themselues suruiue.
As for the vicious, such they are, as is the heedlesse Flye,
That killes it selfe, and hurts his sight that hath her in his eye.
Farewell my Sonne, 
England farewell, thy neuer happy Prince
Doth take his leaue, an happy leaue, if taken so long since.
And, 
Edmond (burying not with me thy vertues, nor my speech)
I blesse thee in his blessed Name whome I of blesse beseech,
Said 
Egelred: and shortly gaue a quiet gaspe or twaine,
And being dead, his noble Sonne succeeded him in Raigne.

THis like himselfe, euen Knight-like and an 
English-man indeede,
Did quickē 
Englands quailing Prowes, & 
Mars-like did proceed.
A brauer Captaine than was he not any band might haue:
And yeat a 
Mars did match this 
Mars, Canutus was as braue.
These wonders of that age for Armes, and 
Dirii of those dayes,
Did often battell, equally to eithers losse and praies,
Now after many bloody Fieldes, when none might estimate
The better or the worser part, a Knight that saw the state
Then present, and by likelyhoods presaged what might fall,
Said (hearing it the differing Kings and Souldiers almost all:)
We euer warre, and neuer winne, 
Edmund hath Fortitude,

Canutus Fortune, neither thus of other is subdude,


[Page 106] Death feares not vs, nor for their liues our Contraries doe care:
It followes then, that all must die wheare all so despret are.
If all be slayne, then who shall serue our Princes that suruiue?
Or fence out Forrens? better one, then none of both should thriue.
To thriue therefore, were not a-misse, that seeing one of twaine
Will Owner all, that onely they the quarrell doe maintaine.
Or if Combattensie not please, the Land is rich and large,
And they Copernicers may liue, and vs of death discharge.
If Combat nor Partition be, then will his Warre reuiue,
Till one, suruiuing all of vs, wants one with whome to striue.
This sayd, the Kings did marke and make a profit of the same,
And did conclude by Combacy to winne or loose the Game.

Within a little Island neare (round which the Armies stand)
The Kingly Champions trie their Force, by fighting hand to hand.
They spur their Horses, breake their Speares, & beat at Barriars long
And then, dismounting, did renew a Battell braue and strong.
Whil'st eyther King thus Martially defends, and did offend,
They breathing, King 
Canutus said: we both I see shall end,
E
 [...]e Empire shall begin to one: then be it at thy choyce
To fight, or part. With it their Knights crie out with common voyce,
Deuide, most valiant Kings deuide, enough ye haue of Fight:
And so the Champions did embrace, forgetting malice quite.

Partition equally was made betwixt these Princes twaine,
And Brother-like they liue and loue: till by a deu'lish traine,
Earle 
Edricus, a Traytor to the Father and the Sonne,
Did murther 
Edmund: and his head (supposing to haue wonne
The fauour of 
Canutus so) presenting sayd (O King)
For loue of thee I thus haue done. Amazed at the thing,

Canutus sayd, and for that thou hast headed him for me,
Thy head aboue all 
English heads exalted it shall be:
The Earle was headed, and his head poold vp for all to see.

Of 
England, Danske, & 
Norway, then 
Canut was perfect Lord,
And in this triple Regiment all with vertue did accord.


[Page 107] 
Harold, & 
Hardi-knought his sonnes each th'other did succeede:
Of either which small certaine Fame of well or ill we reede,
Saue by their Raigns to 
Engl
 [...]sh-men did grieuous thraldō breede.
But after 
Hardt-knought his death the 
Danes were chased hence,
Not intermedling with the state of 
England euersince.

CHAP. XXII.

OF foresaid 
Egelred his Sonnes, 
Alured, and his brother,
Was 
Edward King: (for 
Goodwins guile had made away that other.)
Religious, chaste, wise, fortunate, stout, francke, and milde was hee:
And from all Taxes, wrongs, and Foes, did set his Kingdome free.
By ouer-ruling of his Lords, intreating long the same,
Least, dying Issuelesse, he leaue succession out of frame,
He tooke to Queene a Damsell faire: howbeit, by consent,
In vowes of secret chastitie their louing liues they spent.
The Father of this maiden-wife, he sitting by the King,
And seeing one that stumbled, but not falling, vp to spring,
Did laughing say, the brother theare the brother well hath eas'd,
(His meaning was the Stumblers feete.) And haddest thou so pleas'd,
So had my Brother, quoth the King, bin easing vnto me.
The traitrous Earle tooke bread and sayd, so this digested be
As I am guiltlesse of his death: these words he scarcely spoke,
But that in presence of the King the bread did 
Goodwyn choke.

His sonne 
Harold, by 
Hardi-knoghts late daughter, him suruiues,
He, crossed by contrary winds, in 
Normandie ariues,


[Page 108] Where 
Goodwins sonne did take an oth, Duke 
VVilliam vrging so,
To keepe vnto the Duke his vse, when 
Edward hence should go,
The Crowne of 
England (claimed by Adoption, and by blood.)
But 
Harold, after 
Edwards death, not to his promise stood.
And for he was in wealth, in friends, in blood, and Armor strong,
And title had his Mothers right, he forced not the wrong:
But arming him against the Duke, so vrged vnto wroth,
Did seaze the Crowne vnto himselfe, contrary to his oth.
Whil'st 
VVilliam therfore works for war, King 
Harold had not rest,
For 
Harold Hare-foote, King of 
Danes and 
Norwaies, much opprest
The 
English with his puissant Bands. But 
Harold him assailes,
And after fearce and doubtfull fight most valiantly preuailes:
And with the 
Norgaine Prince he slew his people almost all:
When, for deuision of the spoyle, did much contention fall
Betwixt the King and 
English-men: and many a noble Knight
Not onely murmur and maligne, but did forsake him quight.

Such malice growing, 
VVilliam with his 
Normanes taking land,
Found hot hot▪ spur 
Harold prest in Armes, his puissance to withstand:
And either Battell Marshalled, as either Captaine wild,
The King of 
England eagerly the 
Normane Oste behild,
And with his cheerefull speeches thus his men with courage fild.

See valiant (War-friends) yonder be the first, the last, and all
The Agentes of our Enemies: they hencefoorth cannot call
Supplies: for weedes at 
Normandie by this in Porches groe:
Then Conquer these would Conquer you, and dread no further Foe,
They are no stouter than the 
Brutes, whom we did hence exile:
Nor stronger than the sturdy 
Danes, or victory er while:
Not 
Saxo
 [...]e could once containe, or scarce the world beside
Our Fathers, who did sway by sword where listed them to bide.
Then doe not ye degenerate, take courage by discent,
And by their burialles, not abode, their force and flight preuent.
Ye haue in hand your Countries cause, a Conquest they pretend,
Which (were ye not the same ye be) euen Cowards would defend.


[Page 109] I graunt that part of vs are fled and linked to the Foe,
And glad I am our Armie is of Traytours cleered so:
Yea pardon hath he to depart that stayeth Mal-content:
I prize the minde aboue the man, like zeale hath like euent.
Yeat troth it is, no well or ill this Iland euer had,
But through the well or ill Support of Subiects good or bad.
Not 
Caesar, Hengest, Swayn, or now (which neretheles shall fayle)
The 
Normane Bastard 
(Albion true) did, could, or can preuaile.
But to be selfe-false in this Isle a selfe-Foe euer is,
Yeat wot I, neuer Traytour did his Treasons S
 [...]ipend mis.
Shrinke who wil shrinke, let Armor's wayte presse downe the burdned earth,
My Foes, with wondring eyes, shal see I ouer prize my death.
But since ye all (for all, I hope, a like affected bee,
Your Wiues, your Children, liues, and Land from s
 [...]uitude to free)
Are Armed both in shew and zeale, then gloriously contend,
To winne and weare the home brought Spoyles, of Victorie the end.
Let not the Skinners daughters Sonne possesse what he pretends,
He liues to die a noble death that life for freedome spendes.
As 
Harold hartned thus his men, so did the 
Normane his:
And looking wishly on the earth, Duke 
William speaketh this.
To liue vpon, or lie within, this is my Ground or Graue,
(My louing Souldiers) one of twaine your Duke resolues to haue.
Nor be ye 
Normanes now to seeke in what you should be stout,
Ye come amidst the 
English Pikes to hewe your honors out,
Ye come to winne the same by Launce, that is your owne by law,
Ye come, I say, in righteous warre reuenging swords to draw.
Howbeit of more hardie Foes no passed Fight hath spead ye,
Since 
Rollo to your now-Abode with Bands victorious lead ye
Or 
Turchus, Sonne of 
Troylus, in 
Scythian Fazo bread ye.
Then worthy your Progenitors ye Seede of 
Pryams sonne
Exployt this businesse: 
Rollons do that which ye wish be done.
Three People haue as many times got and forgone this shore,
It resteth now ye Conquer it not to be Conqured more:


[Page 110] Fot 
Normane and the 
Saxon Blood conioyning, as it may,
From that consorted Seede the Crowne shall neuer passe away.

 [...]efore vs are our armed Foes, behind vs are the Seas,
On either side the Foe hath Holdes of succour, and for ease.
But that Aduantage shall returne their Disaduantage thus,
If ye obserue no shore is left the which may shelter vs,
And so hold out amidst the Rough, whil'st they hale in for Lee,
Whereas, whil'st men securely sayle, not seldome shipwracks bee.
What should I cite your passed Acts, or tediously incence
To present Armes? your faces shewe your hearts conceiue offence:
Yea euen your courages deuine a Conquest not to faile▪
Hope then your Duke doth prophecie, and in that hope preuaile.
A People braue, a terren Heauen, both Obiects wroth your warres,
Shall be the Prizes of your Prow's, and mount your fame to Starres.
Let not a Traytors periur'd Sonne ex
 [...]rude vs from our right:
He dyes to liue a famous life, that doth for Conquest fight.

By this the furious Battels ioyne, a bloody day to eyther,
And long they fight, the victory inclining vnto neyther:
At length the 
English had the ods, who keeping close aray,
Vnto the Duchie Forces gaue no entraunce any way:
Who fayning feare, and Martially retyring as opprest,
The 
English so became secure, and follow on disperst.
To which aduantage, furiously the 
Normanes did returne,
And got a bloody victorie. In vayne the 
English spurne
Amidst the Pikes against the pricke: King 
Harold then was slayne:
From whom began the 
Normanes sole, but soone conioyned rayne:
For second 
Henry, Mawd her Sonne, freed 
Englands blood agayne.
Since when (and euer may they so) that Of-spring ruled vs:
Of whose Coniunction in the Crowne, the Genalogue is thus.
King 
Edmund Irn-side Issue had 
Edward the Out-law: he
Had 
Margaret: Mawd by 
Malcolme (thē the King of 
Scots) had she:

Mawd to the Conqueror his Sonne first 
Henry, Mawd did bei
 [...]e:
This second 
Mawd the 
Angeos wife, had second 
Henry heire.

[Page 111]

EDward, King 
Harolds Preregnant, of the same Change foretold,
Who present and succeeding times thus, dying, did vnfold:
It is a world, to note (quoth he) the wayes that men adore,
And how Hypocrisie hath bred of Godlike Deuils store,
That speake to seeme, that seeme to shift, that shift to spoyle by guile,
That smooth, & sooth, & yeat deceiue with 
Scriptum est meane while.
But let them heaue their hands to Heauen, they haue their hier in Hell,
That seeme deuout to cloake deceit, and say, but doe not well.
The Rich are retchles in their willes, their liking is for law:
The Poore repine, and Goods, not theirs, by idle shiftings claw.
The Lords and Landed ouer-rent, and cunningly the same
The Parasite doth ouer-reach, and beares away the game.
One riseth by anothers fall, and some doe clime so fast,
That in the Clowdes they doe forget what Climates they haue past.
But Eagle-winged mindes that fly to nestle in the Sunne,
Their lofty heads haue leaden heeles, and end where they begun.
It is a common point on which the aged grossely ronne,
Once to haue dared, sayd, and seene, more then was euer done.
The Youth are foolish-hardie, or lesse hardie then they ought,
Effeminate, phantasticall, in few, not few are nought.
At 
Cyprus not the wanton Saint, nor yeat her wylie Sonne,
Did want her Orgies: nor at 
Rome did 
Vesta lacke her Nonne:
The 
Lampsacens gaue 
Pryapus his filthie Rites, and 
Create
To 
Ioue his Bulles: and 
Si
 [...]ilie to 
Ceres tithed Wheat:
The 
Thracians with their 
Bacchanales did 
Lybers Temple fill:
And 
Italie did blood of Babes on 
Saturnes Altars spill:
And fatall wreathes of Myr
 [...]ill boughes were sacred vnto 
Dys:
In fewe, there was no Pagane God his Sacrifice did mis.
But 
English-men, nay Christian men, not onely seeme prophane,
But Man to Man, as Beast to Beast, holds ciuill dueties vayne.
Yea Pulpits some, like Pedlers packs, yeeld forth as men affect,
And what a Synode shall conclude, a Sowter will correct.
The rude thus boasting Litrature, one Schisme begets another,


[Page 112] And grossely though a Sehis
 [...]e, yeat hath cach Schismatike his Soother.
Meane while the learned want their Meed, & none with profit heares
The tedious Doult, whose artles tongue doth preach to weary eares.
Here could I enter in a Field of matter more than much:
But gesse that all is out of frame, and long time hath bin such:
And what shall be let time disclose. This onely will I touch:
A Greene Tree cut from withered Stock, deuided Furlongs three
From proper Roote, it shall reioyne, and after fruitfull bee:
Thus sayd the King. And thus doe some expound that Prophesee:
The Tree this Land, the Stock and Roote the thralled 
English line:
King 
Har
 [...]ld, and the 
VVilliams twaine, the Furlongs some define:

Henry the 
Normane that begot on 
Mawde his 
English Queene

Mawde, second 
Henries Mother, was the Trees Returne to greene.
King 
Stephen first, though not so firme, did in this Turne proceede:
But second 
Henrie perfectly restalled 
VVodens Seede.

[Page 113]

THE FIFTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XXIII.

ASsisted by the former Bowne persist, my Muse, and tell
How by the 
Normane Conquest here an other world befell.
New lawes (not Labyrinths as now through wrested Quirkes) came in:
New Lords also, at whom, for most, our aunci­ent Crests begin.
The 
English sinke, the 
Normanes swimme, all topsie turute was,
Vntill the Conquerour had brought his whole command to pas.

Then was one 
Edgar, sonne vnto the out-law 
Edward, he
To holy 
Edward had been heire, had not King 
Harold be:
And 
VVilliam pleading too by sword admits no milder law:
So 
Edgar in his soonest flight his safest issue saw:
Who with his mother (daughter to the King of 
Hungarie)
And Sisters, did attempt into his Grandsiers Realme to flie.
Thus 
Englands hope with 
Englands heir in one same Barke did sayl:
When desprate from their villanage was English blood of baile.

 [...] God, that to the hopeles is not helples, if he please,
Did driue the storm-beate English ship into the Scottish seas:
Wheare, cast a shore, King 
Malcolme soone had notice of the wracke,


[Page 114] And did become a gracious Lord vnto their present lacke.
And 
(Agatha a Votarisse) tooke 
Margaret to Queene:
Protects her brother euen by Armes, against King 
Williams teene:
Vntill by warre and wise conuay he so to passe did bring
That 
Edgar reconciled was vnto the English King:
In credit, though withheld his Crowne, and thus at least did good:
His flight Scotch-queen'd his Sister, she regraded 
Englands blood.
For let we 
Edgar gainst the haer preserued, as exprest,
And either 
VVilliam, luckie Knight at armes, interred rest,
And set first 
VVilliams yongest sonne, first 
Henry, on the Throne,
Through him the royall 
English and the 
Normane bloods grew one.
On 
Mawd, Scotch 
Malcomes daughter by the foresaid 
Margaret he
Had 
Mawd, that solie did suruiue her drowned brothers three,
Her, Empresse to the Emperour then newly being ded,
Did 
Geffrey Plantaganet the Earle of 
Anioy wed,
And she vnto 
Plantaganet did second 
Henry beire,
Of 
England, Angeo, Gascoyne, and of 
Normandie the heire.
Yeat 
Stephen, first 
VVilliams daughters son whō th'Earle of 
Bloys did marrie,
Did with the Empresse and her son now King now Captiue varrie:
But lastly, tyred, and inter'd, all 
England by his death
Was quietly second 
Henries, who was lawfulst heire by birth.

With 
Hengests blood our droupen Muse it also now reuiues:
For harshly sounds our Poeame, saue in matter where it thriues.
Let be your bitten Vine, we here a blisfull vintage gayne,
That did, and doth, and euermore vnblasted may remaine:
For this coriuall seede begot 
England English againe.
From whence we note what Scepters, what discents, & turnes befel:
Lesse pleasing vnto some, perhaps, than toyes which many tell
That but of phansies, women, loues, and wantonnes can sing:
From which their tunes but pip their toungs & thē they hang the wing

THis second 
Henry, mightie both in Empire and in Armes,
Was onely by his Cleargie crost with vnbeseeming harmes.


[Page 115] Perplexed therefore at th'apeales that waiward 
Becket made,
To some, demaunding his disease at 
Normandie he sayd:
Our Popes that seeme (they do but seeme) S. 
Peter to succeede
Who did denie, although deserue, high Styles to him decree'd,
Are quite vnlike to 
Peter and Popes thirty three fore-past
Who liu'd in miserie and died by Martyrdome at last.
Now neede not Tyrants: Popes to Popes be Tyrants: and they all
Doe wrest euen Principalities submissiue to their Pall.

Peter did sinne, and sinning to repentant teares did flye:
Popes sinne not, but to others sinnes giue pardon (els they lye.)
Christ washed feete, Kings kisse their feet, Christ gaue to 
Caesar his,
They take, and say that either Sword in their subiection is.
The Pope did so our mothers Pheare the Emperour intreate,
As that his proud attempts I shame and sorrow to repeate.
What cite I forraine matters, when our natiue Stories yeeld
Of Myters medling with our Sword an ouerplenteous feeld?
We offer Tapers, pay our Tythes and Vowes, we Pilgrimes goe
To euery Sainct at euery shrine we Offrings doe bestoe,
We kisse the Pix, we creepe the Crosse, our Beades we ouer-runne,
The Couent hath a Legacie, who so is left vndone:
We fast the Eaue, we feast the day of euery Saint they make,
Their houslings, Shrifts, and Sacraments most reuerently we take,
By-tale we say Orysons, and to words vnknowne Amen:
The Quier doth chaunt, we knock our brests, we bow & crosse vs thē:
Their skaer-spright water, boxed Boans, their hoasts, & what not brings
The Priest, the Frier, or Pardoner we count not holy things?
We seat them in our fattest Soyles for Pasture, wood, and spring,
We lodge them safe in stately walles, we sorrowing when they sing.
Their Belles call them from easie beds to sing in gownes as warme,
But Larums vs from restles Campes, by wounds to heale their harme.
And meete is so: but meete also that they protected thus,


[Page 116] Be 
 [...]ot vnquiet, but for their quiet pray for and further vs.
When our great Grādsier thought this Isle by Cōquest cleerly wōne,
And entred 
Kent, what earst he did did seeme in 
Kent vndone.
A moouing wood stole marching on, and hem'd his Armie round,
When al at once, their boughes cast downe, was heard a warlike soūd,
That to the 
Normanes did disclose an Armie ordered well,
Resolu'd to die, rather then leaue the lawes where they did dwell:
(For so, in way of Parlie, did their mytred 
Stygand tell.)
Their Bishop, their Contriuer, and their chiefe conduct was he,
By whose deuise the conqueror, intrapped, did agree
To ratifie the lawes of 
Kent such as they were, and be.
But bearing in a common good with Crosiers crossing Crownes,
Proud 
Anselme in our Vncles raigne did farre exceede the bownes
Of Prelacie or pietie (for Church-men should be meeke:
Yeat some in practise leaue what they of vs in preaching seeke:
For they that bid me doe, and doe themselues the good they bid,
Doe leade me to the substantiue, and leaue me not in 
quid)
Yea, either of our Vncles thriu'd in Forraine Conquests more,
Than gainst their Church-men, setting al their Kingdome in vprore.
One Prelate wrought the pope to curse & crosse his Prince withfoes:
Twixt others long ambitions Pleas for Primacie aroes:
And now, through 
Becket, to our selfe no lesser damage groes.
I haue had hardy Knights for warres, and helpfull friends in peace,
Yeat helples friends, and hartles Knights this Cleargie-pride to ceace.

These words heard diuers present Knights, who vexed at the wrong,
Did, cleane vnwitting to the King, ariue in 
Kent ere long,
And at S. 
Bennits Altar, in the Minster of his Sea,
At sacring for a sacrifice the sawcie Clerke did slea.
Which heard, the Pope canonized the slir-strif Priest a Saint,
Insencing Kings against our King, till warres made 
Henry faynt.
Then humbled vnto haughty Priest as Legats sent from 
Rome
He basely bowes: and they to him for begged Pennance dome
Purs-payne and heathen battels, and (which worser was decreed)


[Page 117] Barefoote he went, whom Monkes did whip till feete & bodie bleede.
Barefoote to 
Iurie fare the Knights, fo dying for their deede:
Nor might they mend it, for as bad euen Emperors did speede.

CHAP. XXIIII.

THe Kings fayre Leiman 
Rosamund, and how his Sonnes rebell
Iouer-passe. To 
Richard next the Dyadem befel.
He did in 
Cypris, Sycil, and in 
Syria warre and winne:
Whose glory his confederate Peeres to enuy did bginne:
And, warring with the Souldan, left the English King behinde:
Who left not fighting till he forst Conditions to his minde,
And of 
Ierusalem was King. But as he did returne,
The 
Austrich Duke, (whose reared flagge our wrōged king did spurne
From 
Acon walles, his victorie,) did 
Richard intercept,
And him in easelesse prison for reuenge and raunsome kept.

The Duke his daughter, as the King did theare a captiue lie,
Did labour strongly in the loue she would but could not flie:
And sighing wept, and weeping spake, and speaking thus shee sayd:

Richard through hate, through loue am I in diffring bands betrayd.
My haruest hangeth in the grasse, and ere the proofe may blast:
Or clew-led 
Theseus, from the denne of 
Minotaurus past,
To farre more harder starres than was poore 
Ariadne lest
Leaue me he may, of all, yea, more than all, of him bereft.
Sweet Loue, Saint Loue, or rather I thy Saint and thou my God,
In such desarts let such deceite be, as should be, forbod.


[Page 118] The Gailor, bribed, with his keyes to stay or free him sent her.
Loue (louely 
Richard) makes, quoth she, that I this hell-house enter,
Hence make escape, remembring me that thus for thee doe venter.

Attentiue to her sprech, but more retentiue of her shape,
The King, awaking to her forme, did sleepe his owne escape:
And giuing her a meeting kisse, quoth he, so God me keepe
As true desire to quite this good in mee shall neuer sleepe.
Yeat ransomelesse I will not hence: but fetching backe the lone,
When as thy Father shall repay to 
England tenne for one,
I vow thy loue a recompence, till when I liue to thee.
Thus seuer they: and raunsome him ere many weekes did free.

Soone after on the 
Belgicke towers he English-flags did reare:

Austrich and all the Empire of his prowesse stoode in feare:
Vntill a desperate Stragler with an arrow pierst his head,
And sent the wofull English home, their worthie Leader dead:
Thus Lyons-hart (his courage got that surname) lastly sped.
To whom King 
Iohn, in courage not inferior to the other,
Succeeded, but in life and death moretragicke than his brother.

IN 
Scotland, Fraunce, Ireland, and 
VVales he warred, wearied lesse,
Than by the Pope and English Priests wronged without redresse,
Nor was, saue from their Soueraignes death, their malice out of date:
Yeat 
Iohn, faine they, hut they felt 
Iohn, did trouble Church and state.
When (for as Gaylers with Conuicts, so Popes deale with a faulter:
Their sin-salue like the setting loose from Shackles to the haulter)
When Masse and all the Sacraments were Strangers many a day,
And that, so farreforth as it in the triple Myter lay,
Euen God himselfe was barred hence, and that, prostrate before
His Vassall Bishop 
Langtons feete, the King did grace implore,
When 
Peter pence were graunted, and the English Crowne to hold
By rent and Homage of the Pope, and that for sums of gold
The French Kings son was cursed hēce, who els had wore 
y
e Crowne
And that the reconciled King did seeme on surest ground,


[Page 119] Then he, whil'st he in progresse did at Swinshed Abbey lye,
Was poysned by a Monke, that baend himselfe that 
Iohn might dye.

The Monke, more solemnely inter'd and song for than the King,
Was cause that diuers diuersly did consture of the thing.
Some charg'd the Popes of Auarice, for that when Rings offend
They sell them peace: of pride, for that to them euen Monarks bend:
Of meere incharitie, for that to wreake their priuate spight
Gainst Kingdomes Kingdomes they incense, and, worser, do acquite
Euen subiects to allegiance sworne against their Lords to fight:
Of Treason, for that to intrap such as from them discent
With othes and al things they dispence: Some bid vs thus preuent
Their sinnes and sleights, doe not as they, not deale with them, for why?
Who doth must liue their Vassal or their Victorie must die.
A merrie mate amongst the rest, of cloysterers thus told.

THis cloystring and fat feeding of Religious is not old
(Quoth he.) Not long since was a man that did his deuoire giue
To kill the passions of his flesh, and did in penance liue:
And, though beloued of the King, he liued by his sweat:
Affirming men that would not worke vnworthy for to eate.
He told the erring their amisse, and taught them to amend.
He counselled the comfortlesse and all his daies did spend
In prayer and in pouertie. Amongst his doings well
High-waies he mended: doing which this Accident befell.

A dosen Theeues to haue beene hang'd were lead this Hermite by,
To whom he went, exhotting them as Christian-men to dye.
So penitent they were, and he so pitifull (good man)
As to the King for pardon of the Prisoners he ran:
Which got, he gaue it them. But this 
Prouiso did he add
That they should euer worke as he. They graunt, poore soules, & glad.
He got them gownes of countrey gray, and hoods for raine and cold,
And hempen girdles, (which besides themselues) might burthens hold,
Pick axe and Spade: and hard to worke the Couent sell together,


[Page 120] With Roabes, & Ropes, & eu'rie toole for eu'rie worke & wheather.
So did they toyle as thereabout no Causie was vnwrought:
Wherefore new labours for his men the holie Hermite sought:
But at departure prayed them to fast, to watch, and pray,
And liue remote from worldly men, and goeth so his way.

The holy Theeues (for now in them had custome wrought contēt)
Could much of Scripture and, indeede, did hartely repent.
But when the countrey folke did heare of these same men deuout
Religiously they haunt their Celles, and lastly brought about
That frō the woods to Buildings braue they wound the Hermits crew,
Who was from found-out worke returnde, and their 
Aposta knew.
He going to their stately place, did finde in euery dish
Fat beefe and brewis, and great store of daintie fowle and fish.
Who seeing their saturitie, and practising to winne
His Puples thence, Excesse, he sayd, doth worke accesse to sinne.
Who fareth finest doth but feeed, and ouer-feedeth oft:
Who sleepeth softest doth but sleepe, and sometimes ouer soft:
Who clads him trimmest is but clad: the fairest is but faire:
And all but liue: yea, if so long, yeat not with lesser care
Than formes, backs, boanes & bellies that more hōely cherisht are.
Learne freedome and felicitie, Hawkes flying where they list
Be kindlier and more sound than Hawkes best tended on the fist.
Thus preacht he promist abstinence, and bids them come away.
No hast but good: well weare they, and so wel, as they would stay.
The godly Hermit, when all meanes in vaine he did perceiue,
Departing sayd: I found you knaues, and knaues I doe you leaue.

Hence sayd this merrie fellowe (if the merriment be trew)
That Cloystring, Friers cloathing, and a Couents number grew.
This heard a simple Northerne-man, no friend to Monke, or Frier,
Or preaching Lymmer: for his speach disclosed thus his yre.

AFowle ill on their weazens, for the Carles garre syke a dinne,
That more we member of their iapes than mend vs of our sinne.


[Page 121] At Ewle we wonten gambole, daunce, to carrole, and to sing,
To haue gud spiced Sewe, and Roste, and plum-pies for a King:
At Fasts-eue pan puffes: Gang tide gaites did alie Masses bring:
At Paske begun our Morrise: and ere Penticost our May:
Tho Roben hood, liell Iohn, Frier Tucke, and Marian deftly play,
And Lard and Ladie gang till Kirke with Lads and Lasses gay:
Fra Masse and Eensong sa gud cheere and glee on ery Greene,
As, saue our wakes twixt Eames and Sibbes, like gam was neuer seene:
At Baptis-day with Ale and cakes bout bon-fires neighbors stood:
At Martelmasse wa turnd a crabbe, thilke told of Roben hood,
Till after long time myrke, whē blest were windowes, dares & lights,
And pails were fild, & hathes were swept, gainst Fairie-elues & sprits:
Rock, & plow Mōdaies gams sal gāg, with saint-feasts & kirk-sights.
Iis tell yee, Clearkes earst racked not of purpoe ne of pall:
Ylke yeoman fed moe poore tume wambes than Gentiles now in Hall,
Yea, ledge they nere sa hally Writ, thilke tide was greater wrang
Than heretoforne: tho words had sooth, na writing now so strāg:
Iis na Wizard, yet I drad it will be warse ere lang.
Belyue doone lyther Kirk-men reaue the crop, and we the tythe,
And mykell bukish ben they gif they tache our lakines blithe.
Some egge vs sla the Prince and shewe a Bullocke fra the Pape,
Whilke, gif it guds the sawle, Iis sure the cragge gangs till the rape:
Syke votion gyles the people, sa but sylde gud Princes scape:
Sa teend our King his life, and song is 
Requiem for the Monke:
Gud King God rest thy sawle, but Feēds reaue him bath sawle & trōke.

Such talke was long on foote, and still was quittance tale for tale.

Dunstone, quod one, made 
Edgar, earst an English Monarke, quale
For matter of lesse moment, euen for wedding of a Nunne,
Whom in her Cell the King espi'de, lou'de, wooed, and thus wonne.

THe same (quod he) that rules this Land the same intreateth thee:
Thou maist, sweet Wench, vnto thy selfe deriue a Queene frō me.


[Page 112] What lets, since none may loue thee more, vnles perhaps this Cell,
Too strict a place wherein thy selfe, euē Beauties selfe, shouldst dwell.
Let nature hide her barren formes and imperfections thus,
And in such Puritanes as thou commend her skill to vs.
Thou wrongest Nature, molding thee to molde by thee as faer:
Thou wrōgest mē, that would beget the fruit which thou sholdst baer:
Thou wrong'st thy Countrie of increase: thou wrōg'st me in like sort:
Thou wrong'st thy Kin of kindred: & thou wrong'st thy selfe of sport.
Shouldst thou but dreame what marriage were, thou would'st not liue a maid:
One heart of two, two Soules to one by wedlock is cōuaid.
An husbands open kissings, and his secret coyings, nay,
The very Soule of Loue, more sweet then thou or I can say,
The ioy of babes which thou should'st beare, the Seruice at thy becke,
The sweet consorted common weale of houshold at thy checke,
Would make thee seeme a Goddesse: who, because thou art not such,
Offendest God in hiding of thy Tallent. Too too much
Thou dotest on Virginitie, permitted, not impos'd
On any, saue on such as for no such thy selfe thou knoest.
Els what should meane this penning vp, such vowing, & these Vailes,
Since Vessels onely are of worth that beare in stormes their sailes.
The Scedsters of thine Essence had they been as thou would'st be
Thou hadst not been: Then gratifie the same, thy selfe, and me,
And leaue these superstitious walles: Thou profitst not hereby,
Nor are we male and female borne that fruitlesse we should dye:
Then loue me, for, beleeue me, so will proue a Iubilie.

Her red disperst in shadowed white, did adde to either more,
To her of beautie, and to him Loue greater than before.
She claimes the places priuiledge, and faintly cites a Tex:
She pleades her birth too bace, and playes the No-I of her Sex,
And fighteth as she would be foyld. But, prized, 
Durstone makes
It Sacrilege: and for to wife the Recluse 
Edgar takes,
In twelue yeeres would be not annoynt or crowne him King & more,


[Page 113] Enioynes him seuen yeeres pennance, and to edifie and store
Great Monasteries fortie ere Indulgence could be got:
Thus 
Edgar for his Cloyster cheere did pay this costly shot.

CHAP. XXV.

IOhns murther bred such murmure. But third 
Henry, Iohn his sonne,
Assisted chiefly by the Pope, his fathers Scepter wonne:
Who interdited 
Lewis, till hee curst him into 
France,
And left to 
Henry prosperous raigne, till hapned this mischance.
A Parliament at 
Oxenford did derogate so much
From his prerogatiue, as that the Quarrell grew to such,
That ciuill warres betwixt the King and Barronage began:
Not ending, but with tragicke ends of many a worthy man,
Brother to brother, sire to sonne, and friend to friend was foe:
Al labouring (which they should vphold) their Countries ouerthrow.
Now was the King a Captiue, and the Barrons by and by
His Conquest, and the ciuill strife too fast begot supply.
My heart vnapts mine hand to write the troth of it too trew:
Euen warres 
Idea: more then tongue or eye can say or view.
But to conclude (which still concludes) the King he did subdue:
And shewes himselfe a gentle foe thus hauing wonne his peace:
And after liu'd in honour, and did happily decease.
Whose death (then warring with renowme in 
Syria) being knowne
To 
Edward, he resailed and possest his fathers Throne.

[Page 124]
THe hansell of his Scepter was, the 
Welchmen did rebell:
Of whom to 
Edward, though with losse, the Victorie befell.
Then on the 
French he warred, and a Winner did resayle:
And for that 
Baltoll, whom he made the King of 
Scots, did faile
His Homage, thence from 
Albanacke to 
England due and done,
Against the 
Scots he grieuous, but a glorious warre begun.
Not 
Barwicke, though for number bold vntill it flowed blood,
Nor any 
Scottish armes or hold, though infinite and good,
Might stay his awing prowesse, till he had their King his thrall,
And in that Land, by Conquest, made himselfe the Lord of all.
Then taking 
Scottish othes, which they did breake, and he reuenge,
With those Exploits he French attempts as gloriously did menge.
Yea 
Paganes, French, Cambries, & 
Scots, remembring but his name,
Cannot forget their skarres he made, though enuious of his Fame,
Matchles for Chiualrie: and yeat his Iustice matcht the same,
Not partiall for the Prince his Sonne, a rash vnbridled youth,
Whom he imprison'd, hearing of his outrages the truth,
And vnto whom he dying spake words worth report and ruth.

My life (quoth he) a warfare right in body and in soule,
Resignes my robed carkasse to be rotted in the moule.
If well I did, well shall I doe, if ill, as ill and worse:
And therefore 
(Ned) worke as I will vpon my blesse or curse.
When thou becom'st an earthly God mens liues to ouersee,
Forget not that Eternall God that ouerlooketh thee.
The least part of a King is his, all owing him, and none
Lesse priuate than a Prince, the weale or woe of euery one.
He and his People make but one, a bodie weake or strong,
As doth the head the lims, or lims the head assist or wrong.
Deriue thy lawes from wisest heads, to be vpholden still,
Not adding or abstracting as conceited Tier-braines will.
Be cheerefull, and in worke nor word be neither proud nor hot,
No sincere loue, but seruile feare, or neither, so is got.
Encourage good Men by thy loue: reforme the bad by lawe:


[Page 125] Reserue an care for either Plea: and borrow least of awe.
Oppresse not rich men, seeking so to please the poore: for neither
Is to be doomed, but as right or wrong is found in either.
To loyter well deserued gifts is not to giue but sell,
When to requite ingratitude were to doe euill well.
And (which saue for the ill-mist ill might els haue bene forgot)
Be choyce, but chuse: for wiuelesse haue each stranger, place, & shot.
Their heire, their home, & cost: which, saue the last, indeed are not.
Reforme thee euen to day: vnapt to day, lesse apt to morrow:
Youth aptly offers vertues such as yeares vnaptly borrowe.
For he that plies the lappes and lippes of Ladies all his prime,
And falles to Armes when age failes Armes, then also looseth time,
As if a Beare in Moone-shine should attempt the Moone to clime.
Well haue I driuen out my date, and well thy dayes shall runne,
If thou proue not my Glories graue, nor I plange in my Sonne.
The ouer-weening of thy wits doth make thy Foes to smile,
Thy Friends to weepe, and Clawbacks thee with soothings to beguile.
Yea, those thy Purses Parasites, vnworthie thine Estate,
Doe loue thee for themselues, nor will they leaue thee but too late.
I blesse thee; if thou banish them, and curse thee, if they bide:
My blisse and curse be at thy choyce. And so he shortly dide.

FOrth with a second 
Edward, sonne to 
Edward, wore the Crowne,
He to promote his Flatterers did put his Nobles downe.
So 
Robert Bruze, then King of 
Scots, found ingresse for his Armes;
Recouering 
Scottish forces, and did spoyle our men by swarmes.

Barwicke in fine, and all erst wonne, and more then all was lost:
Yeat of more multeous Armies we than 
Scotland were at cost.
No Land deuided in it selfe can stand, was found too true:
To worser then the wars abroad the home-bred Quarrels grewe.
Grange gotten 
Pierce of 
Gauelstone, and 
Spensers two like sort,
Meane Gentlemen, created Earles, of chiefe accoumpt and port,
Enuying all equalitie, contrine of many a Peere.


[Page 126] The wrested death: those fewe that liue liu'd mal-contented heere.

Good 
Thomas Earle of 
Lancaster, on whom the rest relye,
The chiefe and grauest of the Peeres, did, ouer-warred, flye
Into the woods: whereas himselfe and state he did bewray
Vnto an Hermite: vnto whom he, sighing, thus did say.
Happie are you sequestred thus from (so I may deuine)
Our common wracke of common weale: for how it doth decline
Through wilde and wanton Guydes in part I feele, in part I aime,
By Presidents too like and fire too likely heere to flame:
Heare (if you haue not heard) what fire, our leisure fits the same.

CHAP. XXV.

THe 
Spartanes was for rapted Queene, to 
Ilions ouerthrowe,
The Monarke of 
Assyria chang'd, & 
Latine Kings also
For 
Tarquins lust, yea how with vs a double chaunge did groe,
Whē Brittish 
Vortiger did doat vpō the 
Saxons daughter,
And 
Buerne for his forced wife frō 
Denmarke brought vs slaughter,
I ouerpasse. Who knoweth not 
Ireland, our neighbour Ile?
Where 
Noe his Neece, ere 
Noe his flood, inhabited a while:
The first manured Westerne Ile, by 
Cham and 
Iaphets race:
Who, ioyntly entring, sundry times each other did displace:
Till 
Greece-bred 
Gathelus his brood from 
Biscay did ariue,
Attempting 
Irelands Conquest, and a Conquest did archiue.

Fiue kings at once did rule that Ile, in ciuill strife that droopes,
When fierce 
Turgesius landed with his misbeleeuing Troopes.


[Page 127] This proud 
Norwegan Rouer so by aides and armes did thriue,
As he became sole Monarke of the Irish Kingdomes fiue:
Erecting Paganisme, and did eiect the Christian lawe:
And thirtie yeeres, tyrannizing, did keepe that Ile in awe:
Nor any hope of after helpe the hartlesse Irish sawe.
Alone the wylie King of 
Meth, a 
Prothew plying fauor,
Stood in the Tyrants grace that much affected his behauor.
For what he sayd that other soothde, so ecco'ing his vayne,
As not an Irish els but he a pettie King did raigne.

Turgesius friends that Vice-roy for his daughters loue the rather,
And therefore for his Leiman askt the Damsell of her Father.
Ill wot I what they knowe that loue, well wot I that I know
That that browne Girle of mine lackes worth to be beloued so:
I haue a many Neeces farre more fairer then is she,
Yeat thinke I fairest of those faires vnworthie you, quoth he,
But she and they are yours, my Lord, such Beauties as they be.

This Preface lik
 [...]e the Tyrant well, that longed for the play:
Not well contented that so long the Actors were away:
Oft iterating his demaund, impatient of delay.
Now haue I, quoth the King of 
Meth, conuented to your bed
My Neeces, and my daughter, loath to loose her Maidenhead.
But doubt not Sir: coy Wenches close their longings in their palmes,
And all their painted Stormes at length conuert to perfect Calmes.
Alonely if their beauties like (as likelier haue we none)
You may conclude them women, and the Goale therefore your owne.
To morrow, seuered from your Traine, vnlesse some speciall few,
Expect them in your chamber where I leaue the game to you:
Yeat when your eye hath serude your heart of her that likes you best,
Remember they are mine Alies, vntoucht dismisse the rest.

Sweete also was this Scene: and now vnto an Act we groe.
The 
Irish Princesse, and with her a fifteene others moe,
With hāging Glybbes that hid their necks as tynsel shadowing snoe,


[Page 128] Whose faces very 
Stoickes would, 
Narcissus-like, admire
Such 
Semeles as might consume 
I oues selfe with glorious fire,
And from the Smith of heauens wife allure the amorous haunt,
And reintise the Club-God 
Dys and all his diuelles to daunt,
And make the Sunne-God swifter than himselfe, such 
Daphnes chaced,
And Loue to fall in loue with them, his 
Psichis quite disgraced,
These rarer then the onely Fowle of Spice-burnt Ashes bread,
And sweeter than the Flower that with 
Phoebus turneth head,
Resembling her from gaze of whome transformde 
Acteon fled,
From 
Meth came to 
Tergesius Court, as Presents for his bed.

In secret was their comming, and their chambering the same:
And now the lustfull Chuffe was come to single out his game:
His Pages onely, and a youth or twaine attending him,
Wheare Banquet, Bed, Perfumes, and all were delicately trim.
He giues them curteous welcome, and did finde them merry talke:
Meane while (the Harbengers of lust) his amorous eyes did walke
More clogd with change of Beauties than King 
Midas once with gold:
Now This, now That, and one by one he did them all behold.
This seemed faire, and That as faire: and, letting either passe,
A Third he thought a proper Girle, a Fourth a pleasant Lasse,
Louely the Fift, liuely the Sixt, the Seuenth a goodly Wench,
The Eight of sweete Complection, to the Ninth he altreth thence,
That mildly seem'd maiesticall, Tenth modest looke and tongue,
Th'Eleuenth could sweetly intertain, the Twelfe was fresh & yonge,
The Next a gay Brownetta, Next and Next admirde among:
And 
 [...]ury feature so intycte his intricate affection,
As liking all alike he lou'd confounded in election.
Sweete harts quoth he, or 
Iupiter fetcht hence full many a Thefte,
Or hether brought he Thefts that here their Leiman Children lefte.
Heere wandring 
Cadmus should haue sought his missed Sister, wheare
Faire 
Leda hatcht her Cignets, whilst nor Cocke nor Henne did feare.
How many view I fairer than 
Europa or the rest,


[Page 129] And Girle-boyes, fauouring 
Ganim
 [...]de heere with his Lord a Guest.

And 
Ganim
 [...]des we are, quoth one, and thou a Prophet trew:
And hidden Skeines from vnderneath their forged garments drew,
Where with the Tyrant and his Bawds, with safe escape, they slew:
Of which yong Irish Gentlemen and 
Methean Ladies act
The Isle was filled in a trise, nor any 
Irish slackt
To prosecute their freedome and th
 [...]amased 
Norgaines fall,
Which was performed, and the King of 
Meth extold of all.

Those Rouers (whose Originals, and others not a fewe,
As 
Switzers, Normaines, Lumbardes, Danes, from 
Scandinauia grew,
A mightie Isle, an other world, in 
Scythian Pontus Clyme)
Thus wrackt, left 
Ireland free vnto our second 
Henries time:
When, farre vnlike the 
Methes that earst their Countrie did re
 [...]ore,
An Amorous Queene thereof did cause new Conquests and vprore:

Dermot the King of 
Leynister, whom all besides did spight,
Did loue, belou'd, the Queene of 
Meth to whom he thus did wright.

THy King, sweete Queene, the hindrance of our harts-ease is away,
And I, in heart at home with thee, at hand in person stay.
Now is the time (Time is a God) to worke our loue good lucke,
Long since I cheapned it, nor is my comming now to hucke:
But, since our fire is equall, let vs equally assist
To finish what we fancy, say Maligners what they list.
No like immortall she-Egge Chucke of 
Tyndarus his wife,
(The wracke of 
Dardane walles) shal mooue to vs like costly strife.
Thy husband no 
Atrides is: or were it he were such,
The 
Idane ball Iudge did not more, but I would doo as much.
For why? thy selfe, a richer cause of warre, art worthy so:
Whome to continue euer frend, I carelesse am of foe.
My Kingdome shall containe thee that containest me and it:
Yea, though we be condemned, Loue or armour shall vs quit.
Loues lawe at least adiudgeth barres, cleere bookes, to pleade in breefe
Prescription to obiections how his passions bee our cheefe:


[Page 130] For none doth liue not passionate of loue, ire, mirth, or greese.
I waite thee in the neerest woods, and thether, watching watch,
Doe waite escape: of all things els my selfe doe care dispatch:
Let onely Loue (sweete Loue) perswade, if more remaine to wowe,
I hope I wish not more be done than what you meane to doo.

This read, and red her cheekes, and to his reede alreadie bent,
Not casting further doubts vnto her Paramour she went,
Conueyed into 
Leynister. Not many weekes ensewe,
When 
Morice King of 
Meth returnes, and what had hapned knew.
A whitle-winde in a w
 [...]irle poole roost that paire of doues (quoth he)
The single state is double sweet, at price too decre I see.
How wowe we woe? and won, how loth we fowle & doubt we faire?
And onely then lacke women faults when men their faultes forbeare.
The diuell goe with her, so that I with credite might forgoe her,
But such doth sinne with sauour, he is flouted that doth owe her.
I may not put it vp. vnlesse I put vp many a mocke:
Fowle fall that H
 [...]rrolde causing that my G
 [...]itrone is the smocke,

He worth, and wronged, and his wrong a common quarrel made,
Assisted by the Irish Kings, did 
Leynister inuade.
King 

 [...]rm
 [...]te, whom his subiects then and long ere then did hate,
Was left defencelesse, desprate of his life, depriu'd his State,
And fled to 
England: wheare the Pope imbulled had of late

England for 
Irelands Conquest: So the Exile welcome was,
As aptest Instrument to bring that Stratageme to passe.
For but to be reseated was the Fugitiues request,
And then to tribute part and leaue to English men the rest.
King 
Henry, yeat in warre else-where, did freely license any
To make aduenture for themselues: so 
Dermot sped of many.
Earle 
Strang
 [...]ome, & the 
Geraldines, Fitz Stephans, Reymonde, and
Moe worth▪ Knights, of 
Wales for most, did take the taske in hand,
And to the Crowne of 
Englands vse made Conquest of that Land.
But should you aske how 
Dermot sped (Father) he sped too well:
And nothing else the Irish bookes doo of his Leiman tell.


[Page 131] Alone obserue what changes heere through onely lust befell:
And note our 
England surfetteth in greater sinnes than it
The onely cause that I am Earle an Exile heere doo sit.

The County thus concluded, and the Hermite answered this.]

CHAP. XXVII.

TO lose an Earldome, and to liue an exile what it is
I cannot tell, but not to haue what may bee lost were blis.
I will not speake of Coiture, nor of Conception, naither
It fits I should, for neuer made I Grandsier of my Father:
But mine experience at our birth begins it birth, I speake
How than doe we no creature worlds lesse helpefull or more weake.
From birth our Infancy throughout we liue as not aliue:
To others diuersly a care, we sencelesse how we thriue.
No sooner we vncradell, be we females be we boyes,
But we affect so many, and (God wot) such foolish toyes,
And are so apt for daungers, and vnapt to shift the same,
As aptly vanities by terme of childishnes we blame.
Thence growe we to more strength and sence, still senceles howbeit
Of vice or vertue bettring by correction, not by wit:
Gamesome, not caring who takes care, nor can we saue or git.
Next but demies, nor boyes, nor men, our daungerous times succeede:
For vanities erst aymed at we shortly act in deede:
Wilde roysting, wanton loue, or else vnthriftie shots and game
Doe cuppell, ere we finde our fault, distresse vnto defame.


[Page 132] Perhaps experience beating vs doth bid vs lay to thriue:
The first degree to which (say some) is warely to wiue.
But, wiued, if our Sainct become (as not vnlike) a Shroe,
Then is that first degree to thrift the third degree in woe.
Or be it she be constant, wie, well intertayning, faire,
Doe graunt her silence, patience, and what vertues els be rare,
Yeat by how much more shee deserues so much more we desire
To please and profite such an one, for whom on hers we tire
Our selues and sences, yea perchance, labour the most we may,
Much labour is too little that should houshould charge defray.
We aged carke to liue and leaue an ouerplus in store:
Perhaps for Spendals: so amidst abundance liue we poore:
Our heires waxe sickishe of our health, too long our here abod,
Meane while the neerer to our graues the further wee from God:
Grippell in workes, testy in words, lothsome for most at length,
And such at fourescore as at foure for manners, witte, and strength.
Thus Infancie is feeble: and our lustie youth vnstayde:
Our manhood carking: and our age more lothed than obayde.
And thus from first to last our liues be fruiteles and vnqueate.
But you, perhaps, expect I should of nouelties intreate.
I haue no tales of 
Robin Hood, though mal-content was he
In better daies, first 
Richards daies, and liu'd in woods as wee
A 
Tymon of the world: but not deuoutly was he soe,
And therefore praise I not the man. But for from him did groe
Words worth the note, a word or twaine of him ere hence we go.
Those daies begot some mal-contents, the Principall of whome
A County was, that with a troope of Yomandry did rome,
Braue Archers and deliuer men, since nor before so good,
Those took from rich to giue the poore, and manned 
Robin Hood.
He fed them well, and lodg'd them safe in pleasant Caues and bowers,
Oft saying to his merry men, what iuster life than ours?
Here vse we Tallents that abroad the Churles abuse or hide,


[Page 133] Their Coffers excrements, and yeat for common wants deuide.
We might haue sterued for their store, & they haue dyest our bones,
Whose tongues, driftes, harts, intice, meane, melt, as 
Syrens, Foxes, stones,
Yea euē the best that betterd thē heard but aloofe our mones.
And redily the Churles could prie and prate of our amis,
Forgetfull of their owne, when their reproofes had proofe as this:
* It was at midnight when a Nonne, in trauell of a childe,
Was checked of her fellow Nonnes for being so defilde:
The Lady Prioresse heard a stirre, and starting out of bed,
Did taunt the Nouasse bitterly, Who, lifting vp her hed,
Sayd, Madame, mend your hood (for why so hastely she rose,
That on her head, mistooke for hood, she donde a Channons hose.)
* I did amis, not missing friends that wisht mee to amend:
I did amend, but missed friends when mine amis had end:
My friends therefore shall finde me true, but I will trust no friend.
Not one I knewe that wisht me ill, nor any workt me well,
To lose, lacke, liue, time, frends, in yncke, an hell, an hell, an hell:
Then happie we (quoth 
Robin Hood) in merry 
Sherwood that dwell.
Thus sayd the Out lawe: But no more of him I list to tell.

Grammarian-like, in order wordes significant to speake,

Logitian-like, to reason 
pro and 
contra am I weake:

Rhetoricall I am not with a fluant tongue to ster:

Arithmatieke in numbring hath substracted me from her:

Geometrie her Plattes, Bownes, and Proportions passe my strayne:
Not 
Musick with her Concords or her Discords breakes my braine:
Nor yeat 
Astronomie, whose Globes doth Heauen and earth containe:
Let faire 
Mnemosine her broode their thrise three selues explaine.
Expect not here Anatomies of Lands, Seas, Hell, and Skyes,
Such length, bredth, depth, & height I balke: nor would I be so wise,
Least, knowing all thing els, I should not knowe my selfe precise.
The Skyes containe the fierie Lights: Clowdes moysture: & the ayre
Windes, Birds & Vapors: men & Beasts the vpper Earth doth beare:
Her Bowels Wormes and Mettals: Seas to Fishes properare.


[Page 134] Whom this Astrologie, and this Cosmographie mislike,
Beneath the Earth, beyond the Moone, further then farre must seeke.
Signes workings, Planets Iunctures, and the eleuated Ponle,
With thousand toyes and tearmes wherein our curious Artists roule,
Be strangers to my Cell: yeat loe as sound a minde and heart
As theirs that calculate their times, eate, sleepe, and wake by arte.
What was the world before the world, or God ere he was God,
Why this he did, or doth not that, his bidden, or forbod,
I dare not thinke, or arrogate such Misteries deuine,
Faith with her Fruites significant suffice these wittes of mine,
To loue God, and our neighouer as our selfe is all in fine.
One Law and Gospell was and is, and eithers drist is thus,
To shewe vs how the law doth kill, and Gospell quicken vs:
Which Corasiue ahd Lenatiue of Simples made compound
Doe rather cure, he kindly heales that alsh feeles his wonnd.
This is my rest: if more I knewe I should but know too much,
Or build in my eonceited brayne too high aboue my touch,
Or else against the hare in all proue toyous: euen such
As be too many blockish Clerkes and bookish Clownes, extaceme
In all things, saue in honesty, that haue no zeale but seeme.
As for the Court it is, you knowe, become a skittish Coult,
Of wise men hardlier mannaged than of the glorious doult,
Vice rides on horse backe, vertue doth from out the saddell boult.
Theare all deformities in forme in some one man wee see:
More garded than regarded, franke not to continue free,
When as the Marchants booke the Map of al his wealth shalbe.
The Muses bacely begge, or, bibbe, or both, and must, for why?
They finde as bad Bestoe as is their Portage beggerly.
Yea now by melancholie walkes and thred bare coates we gesse
At Clyents and at Poetes: none worke more and profite lesse:
None make too more, vnmade of more, the good of other men,
For those inrich our Gownests, these eternize with their pen.
Yeat, soothly, nodds to Poets now weare largisse, and but lost,


[Page 135] Since for the nodant they obserue no pen-note worth the cost:
For pallace. Hermites liue secure obscure in roufes imbost.
Some few there be much honored (well worthy of so much,)
Once wanting, wealthie, then and now in either fortune such:
But many a bace stoute blood theare is more lordly than be Lords,
Who wheare himself once coucht & bowde nor cap or beck affords:
But should we sinne (God sheild wee should in smallest sinnes offend)
What smaller sinne then skoffe such fooles so skornefull to no end?
The Souldiers qaue nor pay nor pray, but (if I may be bolde)
Themselues be prayed vpon by some that doe it vncontroulde:
And whilst the same on shore or s
 [...]as be ouer set or pine,
Or Cuppes on Cushions full secure we victorie define:
We cast what may bee done, but keep the helps meane time awaye,
And diet thriftly our friends to giue our foes a pray.
The Citizens, like ponned Pikes, the lessers feede the greate:
The rich for meate seeke stomackes, & the poore for stomackes meate:
And euery wheare no Gospell is more gospelled than this,
To him that hath is giuen, from him that hath not taken is.
Court, Citie, Countrie, Campe, and I, at ods thus euen bee,
I intermeddle not with them, they intercept not mee,
For still I tether thence mine eyes, so heere my heart is free.
Beleeue mee, Sir, such is this world, this crosse-blisse world of ours
That Vertue hardly hides her selfe in poore and desart Bowres:
And such be best that seeme not best: Content exceeds a Crowne:
They may be richer, but more sweete my pennie than their powne.
For wrest they, cark they, build they, sport they, get they worlds to­gether,
At first or last they die frō al, & passe they wot not whether:
Then comes their pelfe in plea, themselues not praysed at a feather.
And then (for so the Princes of great 
Alexander did)
Greedie of his, they striue and let the dead-man stinke vnhid.
Or he that had a Countrie hath, perhaps a Coffen now:
Perhaps lesse Cost, a Sheete and corse: perhaps, his heires allow
The toombe himselfe aliue had build, els toombles might he lye,


[Page 136] As, saue for fashion, tearelesse. And it matters not: for why?
Testators and Executors so giue and so receaue,
As doubtfull whethers ioy or griefe is more to take or leaue:
For, as do hogges their troughes to hounds, so these giue and get place:
Death, not the Dier giues bequests, and therefore but Graue-grace.
Nor all die testate: if they doe, yet wieles may wills preuent:
Or what by rigor was misgot, in ryote is mispent.
Then Churles, why are they Churles vnto themselues and others too:
The good that commeth of their goods is good themselues shall doo.
But men doe walke in shadoes, and disquiet themselues in vaine
To gather Riches, ignorant to whom they shall remaine.
The world thus brooding Vanities, and I obseruing it,
Here in the world, not of the world, such as you see me sit.

The Earle did well allow his words, and would haue liu'd his life,
Durst he haue stayd, for whom pursute in euerie place was rife.
He reconuenting armes therefore, and taken Prisner so,
Died to his Countries friends a friend, and to her foes a foe.

NOr might y
e Queene & Kings own Son escape the 
Spēcers pride,
But, fearing, fled to 
France, and there as banished abide:
Til thence supplanted, safetie at 
Henaude they prouide.

Iohn, brother to the Earle, a Knight of Chiualrie the chiefe,
With little, but a luckie band, was shipte for their reliefe.
No sooner had the 
Zealand ships conuaide their men ashoare,
But English Succors daylie did increase their Standerds more.
Yeat first the Queene, Prince 
Edward, and the Nobles humbly crauc
Theirs and their Countries enemies, but no redresse might haue:
And then Sir 
Iohn of 
Henaude shewde himselfe a warrior braue.
The King, his wicked Councellors, his big Vpstarts, and all
Were ouercome: So 
Spencers both from heauen to hell did fal,
Put to a fowle and shamefull death: with others that misled
The King in Out-rages more great than earst in 
England bred.


[Page 137] Prolers, Blood-thirstie, Parasites, Make-shifts, & Bawdes did thriue,
Nor was an ancient English Peere vnbanisht or aliue:
For forraine and domesticke Swords, Plague, Famine, and Exile,
Did more than tythe, yea tythe the Tythe of men within this Ile.
Of Baldricks, Hoodes, Tabrides, and Furres, from Knights disgraded tore,
Attaintures of Nobilitie, and Armes reuersed store,
So many Spurres hewen off the heeles, and Swords broke ouer head,
Were through a King so light and lewd a Councell neuer read.
The King in prison and depos'd, tyrannised, he dide
By Trecheries of 
Mortimer that ruld the Roste that tide,
Whilst 
Edward, in Minoritie, his Fathers throne supplide.

CHAP. XXVIII.

THIS third of that same Name, as yet in No­nage for a time,
Although a King was vnder-kept by some that ouer-clime:
Queene mother & proude 
Mortimer, familiar more than should,
Did and vndid more than they might, not lesse than as they would:
Till 
Edward, better counselled, hong 
Mortimer, the death
Of many a Peere, who Earle of 
March, and haughtie for his birth,
Was Lord of nine skore dubbed Knights, his other traynes except,
For greater pompe than did his Prince this Lord of 
VVigmore kept.
But more he had bene happie though lesse hautie in his Halls,
More honour in humilitie than safetie in walls:
Proud Climers proue not monuments, saue onely in their falls.
The senselesse pride of Fooles therefore, whome reuerently we ride,


[Page 139] Should lessen, at the least because that earth their earth shall hide.

The Countrie purg'd of Fleecers, and of Flatterers the Court,
The King became a 
Mars for Armes, a 
Iupiter for Port:
Th-
Olymp
 [...]ds, the 
Pythea, and the prowesse of the Earth,
Did seeme euen now, and not but now, to haue in him their birth:
East, South, and North, gaue ayme farrc off, admiring so the West,
As if that 
Mars discarding them had set our Realme his Rest.

Philip Valois, & 
Dauid Bruz, of power and courage more
Than any 
French or 
Scottish Kings since or of long before,
Confedrate with three other Kings and Princes farre and neere,
Warre all at once on 
Edward, but did buy their warring deere.

Dauid debelled, left his land, but lastly did returne,
And, whilst our King did war in 
France, much did he spoyle & burne,
And proud of mightie Troopes of men, of vnresisted prayes,
And 
Edwards absence, prosperously he on aduantage playes,
Vntill, not sending hence for helpe, the Queene did muster Knights,
And with the Foe, though tripled-wise, victoriously she fights:
The 
Scots for most did perish, and their King was Prisner taine,
And 
Scotland wholly for a pray to 
England did remaine
Meane while was 
Paris scarcely left, to rescue 
Philips Goale,
Whom 
Edward ferrits so from hold to hold as Fox from hoale,
That Melancholie he deceast, and valiant 
Iohn his sonne
Was crowned King of 
France: and then the wars afresh begonne.
But after many fieldes, vnto the Foes continuall wracke,
The 
French King captiuated to the English Monarke, backe
His Victor sayles, the Prince of 
VVales, Edward surnamed blacke:
The flower of Chiualrie, the feare of 
France, and scourge of 
Spaine,
Wheare 
Peter, dispossest of Crowne, was crownde by him againe.
Fower yeeres the 
French, eleuen yeres was the 
Scotch K. prisners heere.
Whose, & the 
Dolphines ransomes were as great as good their cheere.

PRince 
Edw. Iohn of 
Gaunt, & all their Fathers sonnes might boaste
Of famous Sier, and he of sonnes matchlesse in any Coaste:


[Page 138] Howbeit, King and Prince at last, misled by counsell ill,
Through Taxes lost a many hearts that bore them earst good will:
Thence finding 
Fortune contrary to that she was before,
Yeat either dying seaz'd of 
French and 
Scottish Conquests store:
Yea 
Callice late, and 
Barwick yet of their Exployts is lest,
Though Sonne before the Sier and both of liues long since bereft.

When 
Barwick was besieged, and stood brauely at defence,
Sir 
Alexander Seiton, theare chiefe Captaine, had pretence
To linger forth the Siege till 
Scots should draw the 
English thence
In rescue of 
Northumberland, and therefore sent his sonne
A Pledge of treated Truce: and when the guile-got Truce was done,
And 
Barwick not releeued nor resigned, as it ought,
Two sonnes of 
Seiton were before the walls besieged brought,
They ready for the Iybbet and their Father for his Graue,
For eyther he must yeeld the Towne or them he might not saue.
In griefe he then his Countries cause and Childrens case reuolues:
But, partiall vnto either, he on neither Choyce resolues,
To be a loyall Subiect and a louing Father too
Behooued him: but both to bee was not in him to doo.
Nature and honour wrought at once, but Nature ouer-wrought,
And, but his Ladie it preuents, to yeeld the Towne he thought.
O what pretend you Sir, quoth she, is 
Barwick woorth no more
Than error of such loue? I ioy that I such Children bore
Whom cruell 
Edward honoureth with such a cause of death,
For that especiall cause for which we all receaue our breath,
Euen for their Countries cause they dye, whose liues for it be dewe,
Why see their faces, (constantly she did their faces viewe)
The same, my 
Seiton, seeme so farre from dreading any woe,
As if they skornde that 
Barwicke should redeeme them from the Foe.
Full deere they were to me vnborne, at birth, and borne, and now,
And Mother like I moane their death and yet their death allow.
Moe Sonnes and such you may beget, your honour if you staine,
Defected honour neuer more is to be got againe.


[Page 140] Preuent not then your selfe, your Sonnes, and me so great a blis:
Adiew, & dye (sweet Sonnes) your soules in heauen shall liue for this

With such perswasions did she win her husband from the walls:
And 
Edward executes their Sonnes, and to assault he falls
So long that 
Barwicke yeelds at length, and still vs master calls.

THese were the dayes when 
English armes had eu'rie where request,
And 
Edw. knights throughout the world had prick & praise for best.
Not Knights alone, but Prelates too, & Queenes: whereof were twain,
The 
quondam & 
in esse Queenes, by Armour honour gain:
By Warre the Queene that was did cease her husbands tragicke Rayn,
And by the Queene then being was the 
Scotch King Prisnet tayne.
It followes then, that as the Pawnce doth circkle with the Sonne,
So to the vice or vertue of the Prince are people wonne.
O that our Muse might euermore on such a Subiect ronne:
But 
Vulcan forgeth other Tooles, and sharpneth deadlier swords,
For little els then ciuill warres our following Penne affords.

French Expeditions badly thriue, whereof we cease to speake:
Not forraine, but Domestick warres, grew strong to make vs weake.

Melpomen here might racke her wits, 
Sylla & 
Marius hate,

Pharsalian Fields were gentle Frayes, regarding this debate.
The second 
Richard, sonne vnto the blacke Prince 
(Edward dead)
Was crownde an Infant, and from him the Stratagem was bread.
The bace attempts of 
Ball, of 
Straw, of 
Lyster, tag, and rag,
Of Villains, Of-skoms, Clownes, & knaues that checkmate durst to brag
With 
Richards self, & to their deaths his chiefest Princes drag.
Till 
VVal
 [...]ths girdle-Armor made the Armes of 
London more,
Because his courage chiefly gaue an end to that vprore,
And what-so-els Occurrants much may interrupt our Vayne,
Digesting 
Yorke & 
Lancaster, acquiring eithers Rayne,
Our Penne shall not endenizen: Now drops it sacred blood
Of Men-Gods, 
English Potentates that in this Faction stood.

Richard begun that ciuill warre, that till the Seauenth from him


[Page 141] Did last: though often fields with blood of Citizens did swim.
Against the Nobles the vphild innoble, and his Peeres
And Commons went alike to wracke, nor God nor man he feares.
In fewe, Ambition, Auarice, and Counsell lewd had wrought
In him a nature worser than into the world he brought:
Whereby, and thus, himselfe and house at length a down-fal cought,

Twixt 
Mowbray D. of 
Norffolke, and the D. of 
Hertford, sonne
To 
Iohn of 
Gaunt, close Conference of better dayes begun.
The King (sayd 
Henry Hertford) more remisse than doth beseeme,
Leaues 
France to 
French, Scotland to 
Scots, and vs to woes extreeme:
His Flatterers doe fleece the Crowne and Commons, not a State
Doth or dares counsell, ancient Coats that on the Crowne should wate
Giue aime to bastard Armorie: what resteth then but this?
Plucke downe those grating 
Harpies that seduce our King amis,
If worthles still, set vp a King worthier than he that is.
The other, saying little then, immediatly reueales
The secrete, and before the King his Foe-made frend appeales:
Whose Gauntlet raysed by the Duke defendant, at the last
It grew to single Combate, when the King his Warder cast,
And to the Duke of 
Norffolke iudg'd for euermore exile,
And selfe same law Duke 
Henry had, saue for a lesser while.
Thus That did This, but This and That their Iudge did thus begile:
And to his Coffers did escheate a world of wealth, a Pray
Vnto his Parasites, which thriu'd by other mens decay.

Meane while (whose actious life had lawd) did 
Iohn of 
Gaunt de­cease:
So to the banisht Duke his Sonne fiue Cronets did increase.
But with his kindly aire the King withheld him all the same:
Till entring, ayded by his friends, he wonne beyond his clame:
For 
Richard was imprison'd, and by Parlament put downe,
And 
Henry Duke of 
Lancaster elected to the Crovvne,
The Lyne 
Lancastrian frollicke, but the house of 
Yorke did frowne.
For to those 
Hydra-kinded warres that after did ensue
Those Families gaue name: though first the Diadem was due


[Page 142] Vnto the house of 
Clarence, till to 
Yorke that interest gre we
By marriage, here omitted: for we onely giue a viewe
How 
Yorke mis-raigning 
Lancaster did enter, then how This
Was dispossest, That repossest, and how their Vnion is.

THE SIXT BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XXIX.

HEnry (the fourth so named) hild the King deposed strate
In 
Pomfret Castell, howebeit in honourable State:
And got an Act, that who so wrought the Prisner to restore,
That 
Richards selfe, to voyd their hope, should dye the first therefore:
Whose birth brought Nature, gentle Lord, returning whence it straid,
Now altred him, erst altring it: and 
Richard mildly said.
I must not say I am, and would I might not say I was,
Of great the greatest: lesse they grieue from whom doth little passe:
Nor more it grieues to contrarie the same I haue been, then
To haue deserued not to be vnmaliced of men.
Thus humbled and full penitent liues he, lesse mal-content
Than was the Duke of 
Exeter his brother, whose intent
Was as at a lusts to haue destroyd King 
Henrie, but descryed;


[Page 143] Himselfe, fower such, and many Knights the death of Traytors dyed:
And by these primer 
Yorkests thus King 
Richards date grew out:
But whether brayned, famisht, or exiled rests a doubt:
For often Vprores did ensue for him, as vndeceast,
How beit solemnely inter'd, himselfe, or Signe at least.
Twise by confedrate Chiualrie the 
P
 [...]ercies and their frends
Did fight and fall, for either warre to 
Henries honor ends.
He neuer had but warre, and was victorious euermore,
Aswell at home, as also of his Foes on forraine Shore:
Till lastly Armor ouercame all Enuie, and he liues
Of all beloued, and his death a common sorrow giues.

HOt spur his Sonne, 
Henry the fifth, hung at his Fathers eyes,
To watch his Ghoste, and catch his Crowne, and that or ere he dyes.
And where the Father doubted if he got it well or noe,
The Sonne did sweare, how so it came, he would it not forgoe.
His bad did blisse the Bad, the Good dispaire all good: But neither
Did aime aright, for sodainly his chaunge deceiued either:
Of good becomming best, that was of ill the baddest, and
The true perfection of a King was not but in this Land.
He lead good fortune in a line, and did but warre and winne:

Fraunce was his Conquest: 
Scots but brag and he did beate them in:
A friend vnto weldoings, and an Enemie to sinne.
Yeat of the 
Yorkests neuer lackt he Princes that rebell:
Nor other than confusion to their still coniuring fell.
In fewe, if any 
Homer should of this 
Achilles sing,
As of that 
Greeke & 
My
 [...]midon the 
Macedonian King
Once noted would I note both Prince and Poet happiest men,
That for deseruing prayse, and This for well imployed pen:
For well this Subiect might increase the Worthies vnto ten.

He, aged thirtie sixe, deceast and left his infant Sonne,
His Kingdome, Conquests, and his Queene, whose Fathers Realme he wonne,
To graue protection, Regents, and so royall for the port,


[Page 144] As that his Orphants Cradle seem'd an 
Alexanders Court.
Queene 
Katherin, Daughter of the 
French, King 
Henryes wife of late,
The fayrest Ladye in the West, hild with her sonne Estate.
She oft behild, and hild her peace, a braue Esquier of 
VVailes,
That tyde her fancie to his forme, till fancied forme preuailes.
All liking was reuersed Loue, saue 
Owen Tuder, all
Saue him (that durst not dreame such good) to her was lesse than small.
She formally, by quaint degrees, attracting him to fauor,
Did nourish burnings in her selfe, by noting his behauor.
She pitched Tewe, he masshed: She vncompaned, To flie
He bids her solitary moodes: She askes the remedie:
Disclosed pangues sometimes, quoth he, in Phisicke Phisick is:
Which sometimes to obserue, quoth she, doth Patients patience mis:
Cureles to 
Aesculapius and 
Apellos selfe am I:
The latter felt my languor, and, immortall, wisht to die:
And yeat, saue one, no one disease lay hidden to his Art:
For you were bootlesse then to gesse how to vngreeue my smart.
Had 
Daphne to 
Apollo beene 
Apollo, Tuder said,
His might haue beene, and so may be your Graces humor staid.
He, other Gods and Goddesses, found more contented Loue
Beloe, in diffring bosomes, than in equall beddes aboue.
I aime at Loue (for thereto your 
Aenigma doth incline)
And aime to him a Deity for whome I so deuine.
But gladly doubt I of the Man, for if I doubted not,
I should but massacer my lacke in enuy of his lot:
Yeat are vnworthie of the Moone 
Endymions lippes, I wot.
But (for I will disperse the mistes of further Mysteries,
And toogh the Pinuesse of my thoughts to kenning of your Eyes)
If Ge
 [...]try, Madame, might conuay so great a good to me,
From auncient King 
Cadwallader I haue my pettigree.
If wealth be sayd my want, I say your Grace doth want no wealth,
And my suppliment shall be loue, imployed to your health.
It hath beene when as heartie Loue did treate and tie the knot,


[Page 145] Though now, if gold but lacke in graines, the wedding fadgeth not.

The goodly Queene in bashfull signes blusht out a dumbe Replie:
Which he did constur as she meant, and kist her reuerently.

Tuder, quoth she, I greater am than would I were for thee,
But can as little maister Loue as Lessers in degree.
My Father was a King, a King my Husband was, my Brother
He is a King, a King my Sonne, and I thy Soueraignes mother:
Yeat Fathers, Husbands, Brothers, Sonnes, & all their Stiles together,
Are lesser valewed than to liue beloued of my 
Tuder:
Should 
England, France, and thou thy selfe gainesay thy selfe for mine,
Thy selfe, 
France, England, nor what els' should barre me to be thine.
Yea, let them take me wilfull, or mistake me wanton, so
My selfe in loue do please my selfe let all the world say no:
Let Pesants matte their marriages, and thriue at peraduenture:
I loue for loue: no gentle heart should fancy by Indenture.
But tell me, 
Owen, am I not more forward then behooues?
I am, sweet-Heart, but blame me not, the same that speaketh loues.

And long may liue, quoth he, to loue, nor longer liue may I,
Than while I loue your Grace, and when I leaue disgraced die.
But Ladie, if I doe deserue, I then desire dispatch:
For manie are the iealous Eies that on your beautie watch.
Good hap is like to hit me well, to hit so well is rare,
And rarenesse doth commence my sute, let sute conclude my care.
Should 
Caesar kisse (he kissed her) it were but such a kisse:
And he, and I, here, or elsewhere, in other sport or this,
Doe act alike: no bettring but as your belouing is.
You may experience, when you please, what difference in the men:
And if King 
Henry pleased more, blame 
Owen Tuder then.
But am I not (yes, Sweete, I am) more sawsie than behooues?
Yeat for my heart forgiue my tongue, This speaketh, and That loues.

How he imprison'd did escape, and else what else-wheare reede:
The Queene and this braue Gentleman did marry, and their Seede


[Page 146] Began that royall Race that did, doth, and may still succeede
In happie Empire of our Throne, a famous line in deede.

Once, when this Match was at a point, they merrily disposed,
Did descant what from vulgar tongues thereof would be supposed.
They will beleeue me amorous, or thee so wiued as

Vulcan the Smith of 
Lemnos that to 
Venus married was,
The Queene did say. And 
Tuder said: I hope of hansell better,
In 
Venus and in 
Vulcans names more lieth than the letter:
For he was as I would not be, She as you should be neuer,
Either so apt to giue and take as pittie them to seuer.
I pray thee, 
Owen, quoth the queene, how met they, canst thou tell?
I can he said, and more then so, then marke the processe well.
When 
Vulcan was a Batcheler, and 
Venus was vnwed,
Thus wowde he her, thus wonne he her, thus wowde & won he sped.

CHAP. XXX.

VEnus the fairest Goddesse, and as amorous as faire,
Belou'd of 
Mars, and louing 
Mars, made of­tentimes repaire
To 
Vulcans forge, as to see wrought for 
Iupiter his Fire
And thunders, 
Mars his Armors, and the Sun­waines curious tire,
When they, indeede, of merriments in Loue did theare conspire:
And lastly did conlude the Smith a Stale vnto their sport,
Wherein did 
Venus play her part, preuayling in this sort.

Vulcan (quoth she) no God there is, I thinke, but needeth thee:


[Page 147] For Thunders 
Ioue, Ceres for Sieths, for Armors 
Mars I see,

Bacchus for prewning Kniues, and 
Pan for Sheep-hookes, 
Phoebus hee
For Cart-tiers, 
Dis for shakling chaines, 
Neptune for Ankers, and
No God but lackes thee, sauing I that aske not at thy hand.
My Swans do draw in silken Geeres, my wheeles be shod with downe,
No hardines is in beauties Coach: But thou, by birth no Clowne,
But 
Ioue his Son, a God as wee, art made a drudge too much,
When, if that 
Venus might be heard, thou shouldest not be such.
How apt are all in those same toyles that tende to their behoofe
To let thee beare till backe doth breake? but common is the proofe,
That cunning is not cunning if it standeth not aloofe

By this had 
Vulcan hammered his heate, and bad to stay
The Bellowes, and he lymping from the Anfeeld thus did say.
My busines, 
Venus, is ydoe, now may I tend to play:
What woudst thou? for I member scarce thy arging by my fay.
Wodst that I leaue the forge, and thrt I god it with the Gods?
If so thou meanst, thy meaning and my meaning be at ods.
Sweeter my Bellowes blowing and my hammers beating is
To me, then trimmest fidling on the trickest kit ywis:
Aske whatso-else I haue to giue, thous maunde it for a kis.
As if, quoth she, my kisses were so currant vnto all?
No, not at all to 
Vulcan, if his kindnesse be so small.
I aske thy proper ease, then earne thy proper ease, and aske
More than a kisse: at least wise doe thy selfe from 
Mars vntaske.
He is my Foe, frend thou not him, nor forge him Armes, but let
Him luske at home vnhonored, no good by him we get.
What lets but that we may become superlatiues? Of vs
All stand in neede, we neede not them. Then gaue shee him a 
 [...]us.

And saist me so, quoth 
Vulcan, and vnto the trough he hies,
And skowres his coly fists and face, and with his apron dries
Them, badly mended, and vnto the Queene of Dalliance sayes
That 
Mars should lusk at home for him. Then guilefull 
Venus playes


[Page 148] Her part so well, that on her lappe his head the Dotardlayes.
And whilst vpon her pressed Thies (no Hauen for such Hulke)
He 
 [...]olls, and loades her with the weight of his vnwealdy bulke,
And whilst she coyes his sooty Cheekes, or curles his sweaty top,
The Groshead now and then, as hapt, a thred-bare terme lets drop.
Then laughes he like a horse, as who would say, trow said I well?
But soone his wits were 
Non plus, for his wooing could but spell.

This fitted her: for so before twixt 
Mars and her was ment,
Though not that she so cunningly should 
Mars of Armes preuēt.
But him to stawle in store, not els employde, was her intent.
Her Lubber now was snorting ripe, and she meane while was glad,
That for to serue her turne else-wheare so good a Staile she had.
What passe I, thinketh 
Venus, on his forme or fashions rude?
For, letting forme and fashion passe, one fashion is pursude
In getting Children: at the least, who so the Child shall git,
It shall suffice that 
Vulcan is the same shall father it.
Now 
Mars in heauen, 
Anchises and 
Adonis on the earth
May earne for Babes, for 
Vulcan shalbe parent at their birth.
Nay, be it that he should espy false carding, what of it?
It shalbe thought but ielousie in him, or want of wit.
Him frownes shall threat, or smiles intreat, and few wil iudge, I winne,
If it shall come in question, that to Cockhole him were sinne.
Whilst thus she thinketh in her selfe the 
Cyclops did awake:
And, to be short, more doings passe and they a marriage make.
But wonder did the Deities, when bruted was the match,
That he so foule a thick-skinne should so faire a Ladie catch,
They flout him to his face, and helde it almes to arme his head.
Wel, 
Venus shortly bagged, and ere long was 
Cupid bread:
And 
Vulcan (in like heresie of fathering as moe)
Did rack his Art to arme y
e Lad with wings, with shafts, with bowe,
Most forceable to loue or hate, as lists him shootes bestow.

When 
Vulcans Venus had obtaind her 
Cupide armed thus,


[Page 149] Then (for we wish that all besides be sutable to vs)
She, of the Gods and Goddesses before the wanton noted,
Was of the Gods and Goddesses for wantonnesse out-coted,
Not one but wexed amorous, yea euen 
Diana Doted.

Loues Mother had direction of his arrowes, and she wilde
Him hit the Son-God: for because he, blabbing had behild
Her daliance with 
Adonis: so that vexed 
Phoebus loues
Faire 
Daphne, whome nor wooes, nor vowes, nor giftes, nor greatnesse moues.
Succes
 [...]es therefore, and inrag'd, he bastards 
Cupid and
(For stoutly on their honesties doe wylie Harlots stand)

Venus did chaife, and of the Gods their strife came to be skand.
Dispersing then her goodly haires, she bar'd so sweet a face,
As from the sternest Godhood might extort suborned grace.
Fast at her side clung naked 
Loue, a louely boy in deede,
And 
Vulcan, benched with the Gods, his wife did thus proceede:
(When 
Phoebus had already tould his tale with sence and heede.)

He sayes, quoth she, for chastitie my hauiour was amis:
Which proued or disproued, then in you to sentence is.
Ah, listen whence it is, ye Gods, that 
Venus is abused,
Because that 
Phoebus making loue to 
Daphne was refused.
If that were wrong, the wrong must then by 
Phoebe be excused:
Who, rescuing her Votarisse, did so preuent her brother.
But be it that this Boy of mine, not seeing one from other,
Did hit him, for the Sonnes offence should he maligne the mother?
And shall I tell the Childes offence? Why thus forsooth it was:
He fitted him to such a Loue as did for Beautie pas.
But if he say it needeles was, because it booted not,
I say, that Beautie beggeth if by posting it be got.
He wooing like himselfe in post did kisse the post, and shee,
Too good to be his forced Trull, is now become his Tree,
His speeches too, though spoke by one, concernes in credit three.
Mine Husband, and my selfe, and Sonne, Gods, and as good as he.


[Page 150] Now woe am I, we seuerally are, as it were, arayned
Of Cuckolrie, of Spous-breach, and of Bastardy, though fayned,
Yeat too too forcible I feare to be forgot of some,
For slaunder set on foote, though false, is talkatiuely dome.
Malicious (for thy malice is thy matter all in all)
Is it to harlotize, thinkst thou, a Goddesse wrong too small,
But thou must forge it from the Earth, euen from the Sheep-cote? Nay,
That colour lacketh colour thou thy selfe I troe wilt say.
Ambitious, fayre, and amorous thou termest me: if so,
Vnlikely to disparge my selfe or bacely stoope so loe,
But being such, and knowing thee in very deede the same,
Might, leauing petite loues, haue found thy selfe my readiest game:
For 
Phoebus is a Leacher, els are many tongues to blame.
Better no bad of mine (nor neede I feare that fault in thee)
Thy bad doth passe by probate, but a 
Quere is for mee.
Perhaps (such as it is) my forme may forge to his pretence:
Since Beautie is a common marke, apt therefore to offence.
Well, be it Beautie doth atract, atracting is belou'd,
Beloued courted, courted wonne, and wonne to action mou'd,
Yeat from such causes such effects what Consequence hath prou'd?
For 
Daphne was, I wot, full faire, and well can 
Phoebus court,
Yeat 
Daphne chastly did withstand, and 
Phoebus mist his sport.
My husband though by trade a Smith, for birth out-brau'd of none,
And louely vnto 
Venus, (though mislik
 [...] of many a one)
May for his plainnes also fit my foes inuectiue drifts:
As who would say, I wedded him to salue vp other shifts.
By 
Styx I vowe, although I should exceede my selfe for fare,
Yet 
Venus would be 
Vulcans, and he knowes I truely sware.
He is indeede no Gallant, yeat a God, and meerly free
From imperfections, such at least as pay not marriage fee.
And for his plainnes, to be plaine, the rather choose I him:
For such as he liue best, loue best, and keepe their wiues most trim.


[Page 151] When Roysters either roue at chaunge, be peeuish or precise:
Faire women therefore matching thus be not, say I, vnwise:
Iudge not by such presumptions then, they add but to his lies.
Thus haue you now a Medley of his malice and my mone,
His vice, my vowe: and lastly rests your sentence to be knowne.
If 
Mercurie should plead my cause, he could but set me cleare:
Good causes neede not curious termes, and equall Iudges heare
The Equity, not Eloquence, and so I hope will yee:
And so shall gratefull 
Venus sayle vnder your gracious Lee.

So, putting finger in the Eye, the Deities discent:
Some hild with 
Phoebus, some with her: Which strife did 
Vulcan stent.
My wife, quoth he, more honest than her Cuser is, I troe,
Shall not ywis be bused by the squand
 [...]ing 
Pollo so:
She loues me, I durst sweare, and saue my selfe she loues no moe:
And why should you or I beleeue his yea before her noe?
Troth, sayd the Gods, since 
Vulcan is contented we are pleas'd:
And so the variance was by him thus wi
 [...]tely appeas'd.

Phoebus his Plainte did quash: but so he after-times did watch,
As that Sir Hornsbie had by proofe he was a louing Patch,
When 
Mars and 
Venus playing false his wier Net did catch.

Now riddle, Madame, if those tongues that make 
Sunonamies
Of them and vs proue Oracles, what should therof arise?
That more, quoth she, which you haue sayd than in the letter lies.
But names infect not, nor receiue your Riddle Prophesie:
If ought fore-sayd be ominous should any feare tis I.

When so the Queene had sayd, then to this more proceeded he:

Vulcan, Venus, Cupid, Sol, and 
Daphne turnd to Tree
Were tennis balles to euery tongue of euery Dei
 [...]ee.
Tush Tush, quoth 
Pan, gay 
Venus and the gentle youth her sonne
Are blameles blamed: What think you, would 
Phoebus thē haue don
Had he in loue bin crost as I? And then he thus begun.

[Page 152]

CHAP. XXXI.

THe Goteheards of 
Hyrcania hild their Orgies vnto me,
And theare was I, vnseene of them, the Festifall to see.
Now had they censed, and with glee eate were the hollowed Kids,
When as they fell to Rowndelaies, and I the Rownd amids.
Not 
Satires, or the 
Naiades, were halfe so nimble as
This countrey Consort (for each Lad was sorted with a Lasse.)
There was a tricksie Girle, I wot, albeit clad in gray,
As peatt as bird, as straite as boult, as fresh as flower in May,
As faire as 
Cupids Mother, or through him it is I erre,
Ifso I erre (for why his shaft had fixed me to her)
Shee daunsing dyed her lilly Cheekes, whil'st I for loue did di
 [...]:
And as vnuisible I stoode (what bootes it me to lye)
And drew with breath her sweet-stole breath, so acting spiritually,
The feast was done and all vndone that I did wish to doe:
My Deity adiornde therefore, in humaine forme I wowe.
And first (because that first they should approach vs Gods) I faine
My selfe a Priest (for well I wot they sildome wooe in vain.)
I made me smug, and with a Tex did intermix a toye,
And tould how fine and faire a life our Clergie-Femes inioy,
And how our leisure fitted Loue. And let it fit (quoth she)
To such as lust for loue: Sir Clarke, you clergefie not me.
Then came I curious in my silkes (But who would thinke that 
Pan
Could play the Courtier?) and did faine my selfe a iolly man.


[Page 153] I talkt of Castles, Mannors, Parkes, and all things more than mine.
Too course (quoth she) am I for you, and you for me too fine.
Then Souldier-like I sued, and did boast of Battels many,
And standing on my Manhood would not be coriu'd of any:
And sometimes proffered kindnesse, such as came not to the push,
But checked for my boystrousnes was balked with a blush.
Then play I maister Merchant, and did plye her by the booke:
I spake of great Accompts, Receites, nor little care I tooke
For rigging and returne of Ships, (her lippes meane while my Pex.)
Ply Sir (quoth she) your busie trade, you are besides the Tex.
I seeme a countrie Yeoman: Then a Craftsman: both in vayne:
The former was too lumpish, and the latter worse of twayne:
Doe what I could, I could not doe whereby her loue to gayne.
Then thought I, out of doubt as I a God fayne Manhood, so
This is transform'd 
Diana for some practise meant beloe.

A yeare was past, and I past hope through coyish chast denyall,
And yeat I could not but persist in quest of further tryall.
I met God 
Pryapus (for he, not 
Venus sonne it is
Abuseth vs, This darteth Loue, That driues to lust amis)
Seest yonder Clowne? quoth 
Priapus (not far-off was a Loute
With neare a handsome rag, himselfe lesse handsome soole to snout,
Lesse wel-form'd, or more il-fac'st, & like Clenchpoope looke & lim,
Lesse mannerd, and worse gated than this 
Saturns-Eeue-made Slim,
God neuer made since God made Man, if euer God made him.)
That Lob, quoth he, and yonder Lasse that this way driues her Gotes
Do marke them 
Pan, you may obserue from them vnthought-of notes,

I knew her for my Minion wench of whom I earst did tell.
First blend they heards, and forthwith lips, and after billing fell
To other sport, such sport ywis as would haue likt me well.
Must I, thought I, giue ayme to such a skrub and such a Saint,
That Skowndrell, and this Counterfeit: confounded so I faint.
How cheere you 
Pan, quoth 
Priapus, the shameles God of lust,
Thus can I fit such friends as you with such a Trull of trust:


[Page 154] (We were indeede ere then at odds.) So 
Priapus he left me,
When he had brought me to this sight that neere of sense bereft me.
But thus I loathed where I lou'd, and learned not too late
That coyest are not chastest, that the gayest Females mate
With Loutes as soone as Lords, that Loue is luck not shiftles fate,
That cowled, celled, he, or she, whoso, or wheresoeuer,
Or Votarie, or Secular, scarse one pryaped neuer.

To 
Pans report did 
Mercurie replie and thus recite,
Of 
Cupide and of 
Priapus doth 
Pan distinguish right:
But let be Lust, a word or two of Loue and of his might.

I Entring Guest-wise on a time the frolicke 
Thabane Court,
Mine eye presented to mine heart a Nymph of louely Port:
Her knew I not, nor knew she me, vnknowne therefore vnkist
I loyter on the Earth, meane while in Heauen not vnmist.
My Senses held a Synode, and vnacted Acts dispute,
And nothing els I did affect but to effect my sute.
For whencesoeuer Loue proceedes, or whatsoere it be,
Or whosoeuer loueth, Loue tormenteth in degree.
Mine Eye conuaid it to mine Heart, mine Heart controwld mine Eye:
Yeat Loue retriu'd it selfe, I lou'd not knowing whome or why.
Then did I seeke, and find (who am no Milksop as ye wot)
Acquaintance in the Court, the which the nicest balked not.
Nor smally did my shape, my tongue, and tunes (no common geere)
Preferre their Master to a place about their Mistresse neere.
When she did sigh then I did sob, I laught if she did smile,
And by officious Forgeries pretended to begile.
But her, not coy, I found so chast, as saue a kisse or twaine,
I nothing got, although in all I vained to her vaine.
From ill therefore I grew to worse, from worse to worse, for why?
Through ouer-louing at the length I loued ielously.


[Page 155] My Stomacke lest me, euery sense had imperfection then,
My colour ceast and, sicke, I forge contrary cause to men.
So many Quames came ore my heart as newes to eare or eie
Of others commoning in sport, or courting seriouslie.
No Corsiue to Coriuals, and no death vnto despaire:
I did not hope, yeat held I on with cost to nourish care.
Sometime, attyred by the booke, I faind a merrie cheere:
Sometime I drouped, and did weare disorderly my geere.
But how-soere I came to her, I found her still the same,
Gamesome enough to intertaine, and yet for me no game.
And though enuiously I aym'd at others better speede,
Yeat, too precisely, did I sift such doubts were more than neede.
Then rowsing vp my selfe, I with my selfe did reason thus:
No folly were in Loue, if so no folly were in vs:
Wheare 
Mercurie is layd asleepe may others lay a straw:
The Louer and Beloued are not tyed to one Law:
Because I am the same I am should shee not therefore bee
The same she is: mine is too loue, but hers to disagree.
Then 
Mercurie be to thy selfe thy selfe, these thoughts begile
With meeter thoughts, thou lingerest in losse too long a while.
Thinke not thy greatnesse, or thy gifts, or gracious eyes may get her:
A Foole more foule may seem more faire, Loue may think bad the bet­ter.
If she determine Chastititie, then falls thy sute to ground:
Or if some other be preferd, then better lost than found:
Likte, or misliked to thy Loue should reason be the bound.
Or Women loue to be belou'd of chaunge of Clyents, or
Vncertaine wheare to find them, with the Eagle or the Dorr.
Albeit Beautie mooues to loue, and Loue doth make thee sue,
Better at first be Non-sute, than at length not to subdue.
Such Reasons seeming plausible, I fleeting whence I loued,
By absence and new Exercise old Passions were remoued.
So did I loue, and so I left, so many a skorne, and skoffe,


[Page 156] Care, cost, disgrace, and losse of time were and may be cut off:
And women so lesse stand aloofe, when men can so be wise:
So lesser sute hath lucklier speede, than to be too precise.
Not women, but our wilfulnesse, doth worke our owne vnrest:
Though Beautie, Loue, and they lacke fault, we may abuse the best.

SO helpe me 
Iupiter, (quoth 
Mars) in Loue so may Ispeede,
As 
Mercurie and 
Pan doe erre in poynts of Loue indeede:
Precisians and plaine Plodders (such is This, and so is That)
In Loue doe swallow Cammels, whilest they nicely straine a Gnat.
Why what be Women? Women, geld the latter sillabell,
Then are they nothing more then Woe, their names remaine doth tell.
Their yea, or no, euen when they sweare they loue or loue vs not,
Beleeue who list: soone be they gone, as sodainly are got.
What neede we creepe the Crosse to giue vnto a begging Saint?
Tush tush, a Flye for booke-Loue, none be fortunate that faint.
Not paper, pursse, or kerchiefe Plea lets Fancie sooner loase
Then at the Shrine to watch the Saint, She is not coy, but cloase:
Pollitians know to cheapen, what to offer, when to skoase.
The Clowne, no doubt, that potted 
Pan lackt Art to glose and flatter,
And yeat nor 
Pan nor 
Mercurie went roundlier to the Matter:
He found right Methode (for there is a Methode, time, and place,
Which Fooles obseruing do cōmence ere Wisemē haue their grace.)
Though dastard Hawkes doe sore aloft and dare not seaze vpon,
Or Bussards-like doe sit aloofe vntill the game be gon,
Kinde killing Hawkes but wag the wing, and worke tolsowse anon.
Once Loue, surreuerence, made my selfe vale Bonnet, So submis
My ceremoniall wooing was, as common wooing is:
With rufull lookes, sighes, sweete Pigs-nye, and Fooleries more than few
I courted her, so much more stout by how much more I sew:
Till aptly singled, as it hapt, I say not what did hap,
But Loue that late did load my Head, did load her willing Lap.
Nor this Lad 
Loue of that same Loue is guiltie any whit,


[Page 157] For why? nine Moones did wexe and waine betweene his birth & it.
Alas poore Boy, before he was, Loue was a common game,
The first-made Man, the Rib-reft Man in 
Eden shewd the same:
For when his sudden eyes admir'd the boan-flesht faire Conuart
Deriued from his Side, his tongue, directed by his hart,
Foorthwith pronounced Woman, but a moment earst vnknoen,
So deare as flesh of his owne flesh, and bone of his owne boen:
Quit then, ye Gods, this Lad and let your search of Loue alone:
Who will in power be felt of all, in person found of none.
Or rather is not reall, but some Fansie: if not, then
Fantasticall in Women, but essentially in Men.
If Loue be such in Women (But mistake me not, for whie?
I note them but fantasticall in fault of Destinie)
Deferre were then to erre: When all is done that doe we may,
Labor we sorrowing all the night, and sewing all the day,
The female faultie Custome yeelds lesse merit greatest pay,
And ventrous more then vertuous meanes doth beare the bell away.
Now touching 
Venus (worthie such a Pheere, not such a Foe)

Vulcan, me thinkes, obserueth well slight proofe in yea and noe,
The Court therefore is well aduis'd to Sentence not to groe.

The Gods, that did ere while but aime at 
Vulcans wiues sonnes Fa­ther,
Saw 
Venus blush, and held that aime autentical the rather.
End Gods and Goddesses, quoth 
Ioue, to argue to and fro:
Like good and bad is either Sex. Nay more, behold, than so,
I viewd erewhile the Destenies, and thence I thus did know.

Zimois, when 
Troy must perish, shall send downe her Floods a Fleete,
And world it were our Father ruld when 
Create thought him vnmeet:
But long time hence, & farre Starres thence, that World shall world an Ile
Enuyrond with the Ocean waues, then famous in short while
Through often Triumphes ouer Foes and Traffike euery wheare,
Howbeit thrice orerunne, and once a Conquest shall be theare.
*Those Changes notwithstanding they a People shall remaine
Vnchased thence, and of that Streene shall Fiue at length re-raigne.


[Page 158] Dread, terrene Gods, the Fift of those, a terrene God desse, She
Euen at the firie Trigon shall your chiefe Ascendant be:
Right 
Phoebe-like 
(Phoebe may like a Compeere like to her)
Retriue her named Name, to time the tryall we refer.

This sayd, he bids adiorne the Court, and willed 
Mercurie
Thencefoorth not to conuent the Gods for such a Foolerie,
As Loue, the idle Bodies worke, and Surfet of the Eie.
And thus the Queene and 
Tuder chat. But thought of nothing lesse
Then that from them 
Ioues noted fiue fated to such successe
Should spring, as sprong, and part springs yet. But cease we to digresse
And shew we how her Sonne did long and lucklesse Raigne possesse.

CHAP. XXXII.

IT rests, fifth 
Henries Sonne, that made the 
Hen­ries more by one,
Did in his Infancie possesse his Conquering Fa­thers Throne,
And happely was rulde a Child, & rulde an hap­pie man,
Till with his Parrasites his Peeres and hee with them began
A bloodie quarrell: offering so vnto the 
Yorkests spright
For to reclaime, in bold attempts, their discontinued right.

Richard Plantagenet the Duke of 
Yorke, by 
VVarwicks ayde,
Did get the Gaole, not long enioy'd, for he in Armes decayde,
Subdued by King 
Henries Queene, when as by frends and force
He had in Parlament obtaynde in euery clause his corse:
For, mounted thear the Kingly Throne, that Yorkish 
Heros sayd,
Here should I speake, and shall I hope: and so his Claime conuayd


[Page 159] From 
Clarence his Progenitor, with reasons such among,
As, he Protector of the Realme, King 
Henries heires were wrung
From all Reuersion: hearts and eares did so applaud his tung.

Edward his Sonne then Earle of 
March (the Duke his Father slaine)
Wonne, by the Earle of 
VVarwicks ayde, in double battell Raigne.
King 
Henry fled to 
Scotland, and the Queene and Prince their Sonne,
From 
France sollicet Succors, which vnto their losse they wonne.

Henry was taken, they and their Confedrates were subdu'd:
Yeat still the Queene escaped, and she armour still pursu'd.
But, 
VVarwicke pleased, all attempts did faile to 
Edwards Foes:
Displeased, 
Edward fayled, and declined 
Henry rose:
He crowned Either, and the same discrowned them againe,
Admyrd of all, belou'd of all: howbeit lastly slaine
By 
Edward, whilst he did vphold vnchancie 
Henries Raigne.

So 
VVarwicke perisht, 
Henry so refalne from Kings estate
Was reimprison'd, and his Queene did land her aydes too late:
But landing, when of 
Barnet field she heard the luckles fate,
(Albeit Knights 
Lancastrians store did flocke in her defence)
She stoode a second 
Niobe, bereft of speech and sence:
And whilst the Duke of 
Somerset an ouer-hardie Knight,
Did brauely marshall out her force to ouer-matched fight,
Hers and King 
Henries Sonne, the Prince of 
VVales a proper Lad,
In comforting his mother did continue her more sad.
Ah Sonne, quoth she, through oft mishaps mishaps I can disgest:
I feare for thee, for thee the hope that to our House doth rest.
Now all are tryed we can trust, if now we faile we fall:
Thy death is in the same request as is thy Fathers thrall:
And (which I would it were the worst) the Foe doth thirst my life,
To end his Triumph in the deaths of Husband, Sonne, and Wife.
Though thy great-Grandsier, Grandsier, & thy Father wonne & wore
The King-ring, which thy Father hild yeares thirtie eight and more,
Though by the cappitall Remote of 
Lancaster withstood,
Yeat fayle prescription and discents, now lacke they but our blood:


[Page 160] Then learne against thou proue a man (ah hardly hope I so)
The Line 
Lancastrian naturally doth labour of that Foe.

The Queene, concluding thus in teares, did then to Armor goe.
Fierce was the Field, and either part did valiantly offend:
But, 
Edward ouercomming, when the Battell was at end,
The Queene was carried Captiue thence, And 
Edwards men did bring
Her Sonne the Prince (sole sonne and heire vnto the captiue King)
Before the Victor, whose demaunds receiuing answers stout,
He thrusts the manly Boy from him, whom 
Glocester about
The King (Churle that he was) did stab. (So tragicke was the spight
Betwixt those Linages that oft each others so requite.)
His death was more than death vnto his Parents: but not long
His Father moned vndispatcht alike for death and wrong
By foresaid Duke of 
Glocester, of whom succeedes our song.

THus won the 
Yorkestes ancient Raigne: sixe bloodie Fields did seate

Edward the Fourth in 
Englands Throne, possest a while in queate.
He wonne his Subiects loue, and loue was debt to his desarts,
But, as must ours, so lastly his vn-bodied Soule departs.
He left his Kingdome to his Sonne, his Sonne to be protected
By 
Richard Duke of 
Glocester, Who, pietie reiected,
Grew treble-wise tyrannicall, malicious to the blood
Of his deceased brothers Queene, And what so 
Yorkest stood
Betwixt the Scepter and himselfe, aliue, he pricked dead,
A Foe to all 
Lancastrians, as the same by nature bread,
This common Deaths-man of those Kinnes, and euery Nobles fall,
Whom he but gest Coriuall or might crosse him near so small,
This stoope-Frog 
Aesops Storke, alike tyrannous vnto all,
To giltie, giltlesse, friend, or foe was not secure one day,
But Either dyes as eithers death might fit him any way.
Yea, euen whilst his Brother rulde, when all 
Lancastrians, and
His Brothers twaine, his Nephewes twaine, & Neeces three did stand
Betwixt himselfe and home, euen then by blood he hunted Raine:


[Page 161] For when his owne and ruthles hands King 
Henries heire had 
 [...]ayue,
Then 
Henries selfe, 
Henrie the sixt a giltles King in bands,
He stabd: his brother 
Clarence dide through him, by other hands
But, now Protector, as doe Wolues the Lambes protected he,
And fared as if fearing that one wickedder might be.
Queene mother and her kindred hild the Orphant King a while,
Her Kinne hee murdred, and from her he got the King by gile,
Whom (though vncrowned tituled fist 
Edward) rest his mother,
He made be murdred, with the Duke of 
Yorke the yonger brother

When neither 
Yorkest his Allies, and of 
Lancastrians none
Were left to let it, who should let but he might leape the Throne?
He wore indeede the wrested Palme: But yeat, to better bad,
By murder of his wife he sought new marriage to be had
With that 
Elizabeth that was the Eldest daughter to

Edward the fourth: But all in vaine the King his Neece did wowe,
For 
Henrie Earle of 
Richmonds friends such doings did vndoe.
Which 
Henry and 
Elizabeth by secrete Agents were
Contracted, he of 
Lancaster, and she of 
Yorke the heire:
Of which letigious Famelies heer mapped be the Lines,
Euen till the Heire of these two Heires both Stockes in one combines.

CHAP. XXXIII.

HEnrie (as if by myracle preseru'd by Forraines long
From hence-ment Treasons) did arriue to right his Na­tiues wrong:
And chiefly to Lord 
Stanlie, and some other Succors as
Did wish and worke for better dayes, th
 [...] Riuall welcome was.
Now 
Richard heard that 
Richmond was assisted and a shore,


[Page 162] And like vnkenneld 
Cerberus the crooked Tyrant swore,
And all complexions act at once confusedly in him:
He studieth, striketh, threates, intreates, and looketh mildly grim,
Mistrustfully he trusteth, and he dreadingly did dare,
And fortie passions in a trice in him consort and square.
But when, by his conuented force, his foes increased more,
He hastned Battell, finding his Coriuall apt therefore.

When 
Richmond orderly in all had battelled his ayde,
Inringed by his Complices, their chearefull Leader sayde.
Now is the time and place (sweete Frends) and we the Persons be
That must giue 
England breath, or els vnbreath for her must we.
No Tyrannie is fabled, and no Tyrant was in deede
Worse thā our Foe, whose workes wil act my words if wel he speede:
For ill to ills Superlatiue are easely intist,
But intertaine amendment as the 
Gergesites did Christ.
Be valiant then, he biddeth so that would not be out-bid
For courage, yeat shall honor him, though bace, that better did.
I am right heire 
Lancastrian, he in 
Yorkes destroyed right
Vsurpeth: But, through Either ours, for neither Claime I fight,
But for our Countries long-lackt weale, for 
Englands peace I warre:
Wherein he speed vs vnto whom I all Euents refarre.

Meane while had furious 
Richard set his Armies in array,
And then, with lookes euen like himselfe, this or the like did say.
Why, Lads, shall yonder Welshman with his Straglers ouer-match?
Disdaine ye not such Riualles, and deferre yee their dispatch?
Shall 
Tuder from 
Plantagenet the Crowne by craking snatch?
Know 
Richards very thoughts (he toucht the Diademe he wore)
Be mettall of this mettall: Then beleeue I loue it more
Than that for other law than Life to super sead my Clame,
And lesser must not be his Plea that counter-pleads the same.

The weapons ouer-tooke his words, & blowes they brauely change,
When, like a Lion thirsting bloud, did moody 
Richard range,


[Page 163] And made large slaughters where he went, till 
Richmond he espied,
Whom singling, after doubtfull Swords, the valerous Tyrant died.

THus ended 
Englands warre and woe, vsurping 
Richard dead,
When 
Henry and 
Elizabeth vniting titles wed:
Of which two Heires th'vndoubted Heire of either Line did cum,
The Epilogue vnto these wounds, digested in this sum.

Fourth 
Henry first 
Lancastrian King put second 
Richard downe:
Fourth 
Edward of the House of 
Yorke re-seazd sixt 
Henries Crowne:
Lad-Princes twaine were stabd in Field, of either Linage one:
Foure Kings did perish: Sundry times now-Kings anon were none:
Sixe, three of either faction, helde successiuely the Throne:
But from the second 
Richard to seuenth 
Henry we pretend
Eight Kings this Faction to begin, continue, and to end.
The Princes, Earles, Barons, and Knights this quarrell did deuour
Exceede the tale of Gentry best and bacest at this houre:
So plagueth ciuill Warre, & so from Robe to Ragge dooth scoure.
Then luckiest of the Planets weare Predominants, say we,
When by this Bedmatch either Heire that Bloud-mart did agree:
When Seuenth begot the Eight, and Eight the First and Last for like
Our now 
Pandora: nor till her our humbled sailes we strike.
For should we at her Grandsier reare our Colome, yet too poore,
We could not write (as 
Hercules on his) Beyond no more:
For he lackt search, our Muse hath Kend an 
Ocean is in store,
Euen matter that importeth worth coparing all before.

[Page 164]

THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XXXIV.

NOw let vs poste-alone to 
Mars and 
Mercury repa
 [...]r,
At least so farforth as wee maye without con­trowlment daer.

Richard the third, 
Henry the Seauenth (last sub­iects of our pen)
Was slaine, was crownde, with hate, with loue, as worste, as best of men:
So not with 
Yorke and 
Lancaster doth wonted enuie raigne,
Nor can 
Aeneas Off-springs now of Orphansie complaine.
But that 
Cadwalladers Fore-doomes in 
Tuders should effect
Was vnexpected, saue that God doth destinies direct.
Els 
Owen Tuder had not wiu'd Fift 
Henries noble Queene:
Nor had they of their bodies Earles 
Penbrooke and 
Richmon seene:
Nor 
Margret, Somersets sole heire, to 
Richmon had beene weade:
Nor they the heire of 
Lancaster, Henry the Seuenth, had bread:
Nor he of 
Yorks Inheritrix, 
Elizabeth, had sped:
Nor they vnited either house all other titles dead.
Yeat, eare this vnion, Either so ariued to their right,
As 
Psiches on an errant sent to Hell by 
Venus spight.
Worse Ferrymen than 
Charon, Hoods contagious more than 
Styx,


[Page 165] Worse Porters than fowle 
Cerberus were pleas'd, past, stood betwix.
How therefore Either dangerously their Labyrinth did passe
Shall not be ouerpassed: Thus their seuerall fortune was.

Henries the fourth, the fifte, and sixt successiuely did raigne,
Vntill fourth 
Edwards sword to him did lawfull Empier gaine:

Lancastrians droupe, the 
Yorkests had their long expected day:
Sixt 
Henry and the Prince his sonne, by stabbes were made away:
The foresaid 
Margaret, sole heire of 
Somerset, earst wife
Of 
Tuder, Earle of 
Richmond, had by him a Sonne in life,
To whom, from her, the Crowne-right of 
Lancastriās did accrewe:
He from his English foes himselfe by secrete stealth withdrewe
To little 
Brutaine, wheare he found the Duke a frendfull trewe.
This 
Henry Earle of 
Richmond, now poore 
Lancasters Remaine,
Was by fourth 
Edward practis'd home by many a subtell traine:
Whome once the gentle Duke (beguilde with promises vnment)
Deliuered to the 
English-men, with whome he homewards went.
Forsaken Ladd for yet he was a Ladd) what did remaine
But certaine death, so to assure his foes vncertaine raine:
Which to establish many a Prince of his Allies weare slaine.
But him eare broughta-boorde, the Duke (aduised better, stayd,
And him (as if by c
 [...]nce escapte) to Sanctuarie conuaid.
The Lambe so rescued from the Wolfe, that priuiledged place
Assured him till 
Edwards death, and then he hoped grace.
But he that was Protector of his murthered Nephewes than
Vsurped England, and became a Monsture not a man:

Richard the third omitting all his tyrannies beside)
To be possessed of the Earle by many a message tride.
Great wealth was sent, greater assum'de, but nothing might preuail:
The gracious Duke abhord to set his guiltles frend to sayle:
But furnished with money, men, and armor shipt him thence
To winne his right: yeat churlish Seas did lett such kind pretence▪
Full hardly 
Richmonds threatned Ship escapt our armed Shoore,
For 
Richard of the Riuall got intelligence before.


[Page 166] Return'de, the Duke did sicken and 
Landoise did beare the sway:
And he for Masses great was brib'de Earle 
Henry to betray,
Yeat through wise Bishop 
Murtons meanes by stealth he scap'te away.
In trauell then from Brutaine to his Grome himselfe was Grome,
By interchaunged rayment, till to 
Angers they weare come.
The 
French King, pittying his distresse, pretended asked aide:
And secrete platformes for his weale his English friends had laide.

Henry in 
France, at home his Friends bester them, and the Foe
Meane time with hope, with fraud, with feare imployde his witts also.
Now of the Earles conspiracy the totall drift was this:

Elizabeth the daughter of fourth 
Edward vow'd he his,
And she was vow'd to him, if God with victory him blisse:
Our wounded 
Englands healing balme, for thus thereof ensew'de:
The factious Families vnite, the Tyrant was subdew'de,
And thence the surname 
Tuder doth 
Plantagenet include.

AS hardly as her husband did 
Elizabeth escape:
For why? like Stratageme for both did bloody 
Richard shape.
Whilste that her Father liued, now a King, and now exilde,
Her Crosses then did happen from such victors as weare milde.
But now the same that murthered her Brothers to be King,
That did withfraud begin and then with bloud conclude ech thing,
That flattred friends to serue his turne, and then destroyde the same,
That was her Vncle, yeat did hate her Mothers very name,
That thought he liued not because his Neeces weare vndead,
Theis now (and blame her not) in her a world of terror bread.
But of vnpriuiledged bloud yet had he store to spill,
Yet sanctuaries weare not forc'te, yet but expecting ill.
Theareofte the Queene her Mother, Shee, and Sisters would reporte
Their happie and vnhappie da
 [...]es, the fewer of first sorte.

Happy was I (the olde Queene said) when as a Maide vnweade,
Nor Husbands weale nor Childrens woe mistempered my head.
Yeat I, beloued, loued and so left that free estate,


[Page 167] And thought me happyer than before, for louely was my Mate,

Iohn Gray (a sweet Esquier for his prowysse dubbed Knight)
Was, as behoued, all my ioy: who, slaine in factious fight,
Your Father, Daughters, late my Lord and Husband now in earth,
From me had many a secrete curse, as motyue of his death:

Lancastrian was my husband, and that faction had the wourste,
So, to releeue my Widdowhood, I kneel'd to whom I curste.

Edward (for 
Henry was depoes'de, and 
Edward seaz'd the Crowne)
(I wot not for what forme of mine) did raise me kneeled downe,
And gaue me chearefull wordes, and tooke me curteously aside,
And playd the ciuell Wanton, and me amorouf
 [...]y he eide:
His plea was loue, my sute was Land: I plie him, he plies me:
Too baece to be his Queene, too good his Concubine to be
I did conclude: and on that point a while we disagree.
But when I was his Queene (sweete King) not for I was his Queene,
But for himselfe, and for the loue that passed vs betweene,
I held me happiest vnderheauen: yea, when his aduerse Line
Discrowned him, I had inough that I was his, he mine.
Then, after fortunes often change, he died, and I suruiue
A life exceeding death for griefe and greefes Superlatiue.
My heart, ah Sonnes, my heart (deare Hearts) was dead eare yee did die:
Too yong weare yee to censure of your vncles tyranny.
Then wept shee, and her daughters wept: their onely talke alwaies
Was passed ioyes, or present woes: nor hope they better daies,
But in Earle 
Richmonds good successe, that now a power did raise.

Too soone had 
Richard notice that Earle 
Henry would ariue,
By precontract his eldest Neece 
Elizabeth to wiue:
And well he knew in 
Yorks descent she was immediate heire,
And 
Henry like in 
Lancaster: a Match for him to feare.
Which to preuent he flattered his Neeces from their mother:
Who, fearefull Ladies, did expect like deaths as had their brother.
And as they feare did he affect, which for the troubles then
Was vneffected: now behou'd to winne him loue of men.


[Page 168] Yeat casts he how he might conuay to him his Neeces right,
Soone compassing his Wifes dispatch, whose life stood in his light.
Then plyes he his amazed Neece to his in
 [...]tious bead
Of her abhor'd, Shee in conceite by faith fore-plighted spead.
This marrage motion gawles her more than any former griefe:
Her selfe, Friends, Realme, Conspiracie, & all it toucht in breefe,
And therefore death, late feared, now she fantaseth in cheefe.
Meane while did 
Henry land, incampe, fight, and subdewe his Foe,
And, marrying her, long ciuill warres in 
England ended so.

CHAP. XXXV.

SEauenth 
Henries forraine busenes had succesfull honor: heere
Three schol'd 
D
 [...]dalien Icarists (whose moun­ting cost them deere)
Did interrupt the peace. The first a Priests bace Puple: he
By his Complottors was pretenst'e Duke 
Cla­rence sonne to bee.
A many of our natiue Peeres, some forraine Princes too,
Submissiuly behight him aide in all that they might doo.
The Lad was lofty, for himselfe he harrollized well,
At full he could his lessons, and a formale lie would tell.
For him was fought a bloody field, the Victory the Kinges.

Lambert the forged 
Yorkest, and the Priest (that fram'd his winges)
Weare taken: For minority the 
Icarus was quit:
The 
Dedal
 [...]s for cleargie tites was but intowr'd for it.

Thus scapte the Priest. The mother Queene to her that now was Queene
Found harder sentence for a crime more venale, as I weene,


[Page 169] Shee that did forward 
Henry with her friends, her purse, her wit,
That had conspir'd, conceil'd, concur'd, for him the Crowne to git,
And had him now her sonne in law, vnchauncy Queene, fore-went
Her whole reuenewes, and her age as if in durance spent:
Because against her heart, good Soule (for bootles to withstand)
See yeelded all her daughters to the late Vsurpers hand,
Whereby the Vnion might haue quaild, and for it might she must
Indure such law, strict law to her of mallice not vniust.

THan good old Queene 
Elizabeth our next young 
Phaeton
Had gentlier Iudgement: He till then frō Realm to Realm had gone,
And now in 
Ireland (hoping no such honor) was at 
Corke
Saluted by some Rebels theare for 
Richard Duke of 
Yorke,
Fourth 
Edwards second son. Those Stiles to him were strange, but thay
Did feofe them on the bace-borne 
Muffe, and him as King obay.
The 
Yorkesh Faction (though they knew the error) let not slip
Occasion, that they now might haue 
Lancastrians on the hip:

Margret fourth 
Edwards sisters heart for ioy hereof did skip.
Shee had him soone to 
Burgone, and informes him cuery thing
That might concerne 
Yorks pettegree, or apted for a King:
Maliciously repining still at 
Lancasters successe,
And often would thus or thus-like her heart with tongue expresse.

God hath forgot our house of 
Yorke: nay 
Yorke it selfe forgot:
To my late 
Brother Richards soule cleaue euermore this blot:
He made away our friends to make a way vnto our Foe,
To 
Lancaster, proud 
Lancaster: I, thence these teares doc floe.
Had he stock't vp that hated stocke, had he ra
 [...]'st out that Race,

Python had ceast, and he had bene 
Apollo in that cace.
That 
Henry was 
Lancastrian, and that 
Henry was aliue,
And where he liu'd, & that he should not liue if we would thr
 [...]
He knew ywis: yeat knew he not his death how to contriue.
The Duke of 
Brutaine is no God, then how the diuell y'ste
That both my brothers, laboring him, for whome they 
 [...]


[Page 170] Their 
Sinons weare too simple, and their bribes but petite geere:
Whē had they bought him with their souls they had not bought him deere.
The heire of 
Lancaster (fie how it loathes to sound that name)
Enioyes the Crowne: nay worse, enioyes to wife a 
Yorkesh Dame:
Worser, the name 
Plant
 [...]genet is buryed in the same:
And, worst of all, their Title such as law bids vs disclame.
Who would haue lookt such change to chaunce? oh howe I feed like will
As 
Ae
 [...]as daughter 
Aesons house with tragedies to fill?
Who can endure to see their friends decline, their Foes ascend?
I see it, and for seeing so doe wish my life had end.

When that her darling had his looer she left him to his wings:
Who flead not to worse company or at lesse game than Kings.
He lighteth in the 
French Kings Court, wheare (honord as the same
From whom he falsely would contriue a Crowne by forged name)
He had Supplies, and 
English ayds, and 
Irish troupes also,
With which he lands in England: where King 
Henry met the Foe.
On either part the Battell was right bloodie, but at length
The King subdues, and 
Perke
 [...] flead the land, dispoyld of strength.
Then, as the 
French, the 
Scotch King did repute of him: whereby
He wyu'd a Lady passing fayre and of the Kings Allie,
The Earle of 
Huntlies daughter of the scotch-blood-royall bread:
Shee both before and after that her low-pris'd Mate was dead,
When well she knew his parentage, and felt his ebbed state,
In onely sorrow did abound, in loue no whit abate:
Howbeit in the 
English Court prefer'd to high estate.

Theare (for she was of comely parts and vncompeered face)
Shee, often brauely courted, yeelds no Courtier labor'd grace.
To one among'st the rest that most admierd her aunswers chaste
She sayd: besides the sinne and that I so might liue disgrac'ste,
A Presedent of wrong and woe did make me long since vow
Chastly to liue the Loue of him whom Fates should me allow.
I knew (quoth she) a Knight (a Knight he was in each respecte)
I knew a Ladie (fayre she was but fouly to be chect)


[Page 171] They loued long (if that to loue and leaue may loue be sayd)
Till lastly she conceyued loue wheare loue should be denayd.
Then he, whose Sowles Soule goddiz'd her, perceiuing her vntruth,
Became vnlike himselfe, and mou'd, saue her, each one to ruth.
At last he runs'distraught about, and what his moods conceited
He did: confusedly he wept, askt, answerd, and intreated:
Ah many a time (for though his words lackt methode, yeat they mo­ued)
He had these speeches, arguments how earnestly he loued.

CHAP. XXXVI.

MY Mistresse is a Paragon, the fayrest fayre a­liue:

Atrides and 
Aeacides for faire lesse faire did striue.
Her colour fresh as Damaske Rose, her breath as Violet,
Her bodie white as Iuorie, as smooth as polisht Iet,
As soft as Downe, & were she down 
Ioue might come down & kisse
A Loue, so fresh, so sweet, so white, so smooth, so soft as this.
The 
Cleon
 [...]an Lions spoyles for her I would redresse.
I would the 
Lernan Hydras heads with sword and fire suppresse.
My force the 
Erymantheon Bore should brauely ouermatch.
The swift-foote golden horned Stag I, running, would or
 [...]catch.
My bow the Birds of 
Stymphalus from wastfull prayes should chace.
Of her proud Baldricke would I spoyle the 
Amazon at 
Thrace.

Augeas washed Stables should my seauenth Labour end.
I with the Bull of 
Calidon, victorious, would contend.
On horse-deuoured 
Diomede like honour should be wonne.


[Page 172] 
 [...] 
Spanish Robber 
Geron should by me to death be done.

 [...] 
 [...]p
 [...]ght of Spight in 
Hespera I golden fruit would pull.
Three-headed 
Cerberus in chaynes should make the Iury full,
B
 [...]ast, Snake, Bore, Stag, Birds, Bealt, Planks, Bull, Theefe, Frute, Dog, 
Diome
 [...]d,

 [...]hokt, fear'd, p
 [...]uncht, cought, pearst, priz'd, washt, throwne, slaine, puld, chaned, horse▪ fead.
Were labours lesse than I would act, might I of her be spead.
D
 [...]ll mal-contented 
Saturne rulde the houre when I was borne:
Had 
Iupiter then starr'd I had not liued now forlorne:
Or 
Mars had steel'd my milkie heart with manlier moods than thees:
Or 
Mercurie had apted me to plead for Louers fees:
Or 
Sol infused sense to search what better me behou'd:
Or 
Venus made me louely, so for loue to be belou'd:
Or 
Luna (Contrary to Loue) had bettered the best:
Ah, could seauen Planets and twelue Signes constell one such vnrest?
Then lou'd that Sier of Gods when he had vow'd his childrens death:
That Sonne of his made wanton scapes with Lasses on the earth.

D
 [...]rus, aske 
Vulcan and his Arte if thou didst loue or noc.
And 
Hermes that he 
Herse lou'd will not disclaime I troe.
Nor w
 [...]art thou 
Phoebus chaste although thou wor'st a willow withe.
Thou 
Citherea hadst a leash of Loues besides the Smith.

End
 [...]ion gaynst 
Diana could vouch farther than the eye.
Thus lou'd ye all, ye churlish Starres, yeat let ye Louers dye.
This sayd he, and for this he sayd, I for the ruth of this
Did vow, that whoso once were mine I would be onely his.

Why? these his words did sauor wit, not one distraught (quoth he.)
Nay heare the rest of his vnrest, it followeth thus (quoth she).
Oft would he kisse a senceles Tree and say, sweet Mistresse mine,
I was, I am, and will be still the same and euer thine.
B
 [...]leeue me, or if so you doubt, Anatomize my braine,
And 
 [...]re my Senses see your selfe the Sourentesse to raigne.
Beleeue me, or if so you doubt, rip out my heart, and see
Your selfe in it, in it you are and euermore will be.
Beleeue me, or if so you doubt, commaund I forthwith dye,


[Page 173] And see your selfe the onely heauen whereto my soule doth flye.
If such I seeme and be not such, let nought betide me well.
If such I seeme and be not such, I wish no heauen but hell.
If such I seeme and be not such, your Fauours let me mis.
With that he blest himselfe and sayd, ah, what a wish was this?
Then steps he to some other Tree, and, as vnto a frend,
Bewayles himselfe, with long discourse of loue to little end.
And (as it were a mysterie) thus many a time would tell
Of one 
Erickmon, as might seeme, with him acquainted well.
Who would (quoth he) haue thought that he had doted on a Lasses
Who rather would haue thought the Girle so gilefull as she was?
Once brau'd he it and often found with silken Wenches grace:
Yeat (and I wonder) faults he not, though hauing time and place.
He neuer hild but gracious thoughts of women, yeat I winne
The fayrest She he euer saw might quit his thoughts of sinne.
When of the Court and Citie both he could sufficient say,
From eithers busie Vanities he getteth him away:
Amongst the woods his happiest dayes by-come or to be past
He found, had not 
Gynettas face intrapped him at last.
Nor Court nor Citie had she seene, yeat eithers prayse she had:
So much more worth by howe much lesse she was vnnicely clad.
At sixteene yeares such was she as at Twentie, and at boeth
Well worth the louing, for her loore, her face, and comely groeth.
Thence, waxing amorous, he checkt his eyes that checkt him so,
Which checks as oft were countercheckt by Loue his mightier Fo
 [...].
He loath'd to liue, that liu'd to loue, and lou'd to losse, for why?
He scorn'd that wontlesse passion, or an amorous Foole to dye.
Full often therefore would he balke her sight that pleas'd him most,
And, if perceau'd to be in loue, false freedome would he boast.
But all for nought, not absence or sweete exercise of wit,
Or ought besides might put aside Loues ouer-mastring fit.
Thus pyned ere he pleadeth loue, yeat pleasing her so well
As none had fitter time and place his hearts vnrest to tell,


[Page 174] At length he flatly sayes he loues, when (words too sweet for trew)
Her answere was she liked him, and so attonement grew.
Then vncontroulled kisses and imbracings (often mixt
With lesse than loue too grosse, though more than should be such be­twixt)
Were currant: And if euer man did fish before the net,
If euer man might credit her did by her credit set,
If euer man for heartie loue deserued honest meede,

Erickmon might beleeue himselfe to be belou'd indeede:
More arguments of earnest loue gaue neuer Mayde than she,
Lesse cause to falsifie that loue gaue neuer Man than he.
How beit, on aduantage play'd 
Gynetta all this while,
And by externall smoothnes did obscure internall guile.
There was a Swayne, a wylie wagge, that with his apish toyes,
His Pedlarie, and pype-notes, such as pleaseth girles and boyes,
So chang'd (I would haue sayd bewitcht, but that she often chang'd)

Gynetta, that her former loue was sodaynly estrang'd.

Erickmon hardly brok't such bace coryuing of the Swayne,
And of her loue and wits did wish reducement all in vayne.
Was neuer Girle so ouergon that had so good a wit,
So well reported of ere then, and well deseruing it,
Than was 
Gynetta: giltie then both of her owne reproofe
And of her Louers griefe, that sate and sighte thereat aloofe.
And, were it not that she was young, and that 
Erickmon knew
She rather seem'd than sin'd in deede, he might haue err'd in view.
With weeping heart he her remaunds to be with him at-one:
And many restlesse daies and nights consumeth he in mone,
To thinke vpon her madnes, which her selfe beleeued none.
Her too much wronged Relict might (as wel he might) be greeu'd,
Perhaps offended, but God knowes no whit the more 
 [...]eleeu'd.
So wilfull she, so wylie and officious was her Squier,
That, craft intrapping craft, they both did enter bootles fier:
She bore a mind more haughtie than to humble her so much,
And he a bacer minde than that he hop't his fortune such:


[Page 175] Yeat either lik't at randon, not resoluing any end,
Vnlesse, perhaps, she dallied him as erst her former srend.
Meane while (for Apes be euer Apes) somwhat did he not well
That mou'd a discord, and through it their loues deuorse befell.

Er
 [...]kmon languisht all this while not re-beloued long,
For shee that 
 [...]ayl'd to doe him right did feofe on him the wrong,
Who, giltles, pleadeth giltie (for what was it he would not
To reconcile her fauour, lost might seeme ere it was got?)
So loue, againe a foote, gaue both re-intertainement hot.
Not any, lou'd they nere so much, seem'd more to loue than they,
Nor any, lou'd she any whit, in loue made shorter stay
Than shee: for he doe what he could, did often times offend:
For why? euen impudently she grew toyous in the end,
That was so modest comly erst as none might lier amend,
A Supersedeas for her loue was euery new-come frend:
And being now in much request, and waxing proud of fauour,
By artificiall pryde she chang'd her naturall behauour:
Her face was Maskt, her locks were 
 [...]url'd, her bodie pent with buske,
And (which was needles, she more sweet) her rayment sented Muske:
By all she did might seeme to be vnlike her selfe she me
 [...]:
Yeat (worst of all) to 
sanctum-Sinne too aptly is she bent:

Erickmon when that followed her vnpitied, not v
 [...]pearst,
Reform'd his wits, his sute and hope of her, not now as earst,
And scornd her mind that scornd his loue to her so firmly geason,
For why
 [...]shee offred double wrong to wrong and scorne a reason.
Thus whilst he hopt he hild her least: so altereth the ca
 [...]e
With such as she: Ah such it is to build on such a face.
This sayd he, and for this he sayd, I for the ruth of this
Did vowe that who so once were mine I would be onely his.

Why? this concern'd not him, nor shewd a mā distraught, (quoth he)
Nay heare the rest of his vnrest, it followeth thus (quoth shee.)
Then (sheading teares) he to the Tree so spoken to would say,
Was not 
Gynetta false that did 
Erickmon so betray?


[Page 176] But hath my Mistresse cause to change? what cause, thinke you, should moue
 [...]
I fram'd me hers, she fayn'd her mine, my loue is euer loue.
May 
y
e faire face proue one foule botch, those shining eies proue bleard
That sweete breath stench, like proofe to all that faire or sweete appeard
In her that wrongs her true-loue: let her loathed euer lust,
Begge may she, and vnpittied pine, rot, perish on the dust,
And, dead, be damned, that vnto her true-loue is vniust.
Yee men say all Amen, or if amend your selues ye must,
Curse not (this Mad-man sayd) but sweare that women be vntrew,
Their loue is but a Mummerie, or as an Aprils dew,
Got with a toy, gon with a toy: gifts, flattrie, gawdes, or wine
Will make her checke & flie to game lesse faire, perhaps, than thine,
More amorous than men, and men conuay their loue lesse fine.
If such they are (as such they are) and will be whilst they be,
Why am I then so true of loue? because not borne a she.
Witlackst thou then (fond Foole). I sigh to say true ayme you giue.
Wheare grew that lacke (fond Foole?) I sigh to say wheare now I liue.
Whence grew that lacke (fond Foole?) I sigh to say frō ioyes remou'd.
When grew that lacke (fond Foole?) I sigh to say when first I lou'd.
And doest thou loue? ah, too too well I wot I loue indeede.
Why doest thou loue? with lucke too ill I loue for louers meede.
Whome dosst thou loue? ah, too too well I wot a louely She.
What time in loue? with lucke too ill in loue too long for me.
Wit lackst thou then that wilfully doest erre and nourish it.
Wit doe I lacke, not wilfully, then blame not will but wit.
How shall I doe? my Heart is lost, and I am left in woe:
Met any man a poore tame Heart? the Heart, good Folke, I owe:
Strucken, maimed, all of gore, and drouping doth it goe.
A Lasse once fauour'd, or at least did seeme to fauour it,
And fosterd vp my frollicke Heart with many a pleasing bit:
She lodg'd him neere her Bower, whence he loued not to gad,
But waxed cranke, for why? no Heart a sweeter Layer had.
But whether that some other Deere estranged her or not,


[Page 177] Or that of course her game is Change, my Heart lackt brouse I wot:
Despysd, displeasde, and quite disgrac'st, my Heart euen to this day
Dislodged, wandring, woe begon, I wot not wheare doth stray.
But see, ah see, I see how 
Loue casts off 
Desire his Hound,
A fell fleet Dogge that hunts my Heart by parsee each-wheare found.
Sweet 
Cynthea rate the eger Curte, and so thy foe preuent:
For loe a farre my chased Heart imboste and almost spent.
Thankes, gentle Goddesse: now the Lad pursues a bootles chace:
My Heart recouers Couert wheare the Hound cannot hold pace.
Now tappas closely, silly Heart, vnrowse not and so liue:
The Huntsmans-self is blinde, the Hound at Losse doth ouer-giue.
But list, alas, 
Loues Beagles be vncoupeld, 
Beautie praites
And driues my Heart from out the thicks, and at Recei
 [...] awaites

Vaine-hope, and either now falls in, and now my Heart must dye,
Now haue they him at Bay, and now in vay
 [...]e he fights to flye.
Auaunt 
Desire, ha Curre, auaunt: the Bore so rase thy hyde.
Vnto the fall of my poore Heart see see how 
Loue doth ryde.
Hearke how he blowes his death: ah see, he now the Say doth take
Of my poore Heart, that neuer more for 
Loue shall pastime make.
Thus liu'd he till he left his life, and for the ruth of this
I vow'd, that who so once were mine I would be only his.

Yeat (sayd her Sutor) he, not she, was punisht, as may seeme.
Yes yes, quoth she, a Conscience prickt is deeply plagu'd I deeme.
Then 
Scotland warr'd on 
England, and in that same wa
 [...]re did end
The Knight that had coryued: so the Ladie lost each frend.
Oft saw I her in teares, and oft I heard her to complayne
For faith erst lost, for losse now sound, deuiding 
 [...]ghs in twayne.
There be that say (if truely sayd) vnbodied Soules haue walkt,
And of the Ghosts of these two Knights the like abroad was talkt:
Her eares had this and shee the heart that dared not her eyes,
For thether whence the brute did grow she (feareles faultie) hies:
Her Followers stood aloofe when she, alone approaching, sayd,
Beloued both, what meanes this fight? (they seem'd as if they srayd)


[Page 178] Ah, pardon me, sweet First-belou'd, my guile I graunt was great,
So is my griefe: My latter Loue refraine, let me intreate.
But whilst she spoke of deadly wounds they both did seeme to fall,
And after vanisht, leauing her perplext in feare not small:
Who thenceforth fared as the Knight that did for her distraught,
Stil haunted of the Ghosts, & haunts 
y
e place where they had faught,
Vntill of her despayring life her selfe the Period wraught.
Thus liu'd she till she left her life, and for the ruth of this
I vow'd, that who so once were mine I would be onely his.

Tush, this was but a Phantasie, quoth he, of subtill Feends,
Deluding her simplicitie in figure of her frends:
I heare not that they said or did aught taching her vntruth,
But foolish was her feare, the like I censure of your ruth.
And shall I tell what they did tell, and say what they did doe?
I will, for so, perhaps, you will surcease (quoth she) to wowe.
The Ghost resembling him to whom she had disloyall bin
Sayd: I, and This, and thou be thus and shal be doom'd for sin:
For dotage in my loue, for his deceitfull lust, wetwaine
Of freesh-sore wounds do hourely faint, hurt, heale, heale, hurt againe:
Nor can I vtter halfe we see, and feare, and suffer still
Of endles Torments: onely thou art Auctresse of such ill.
Who loue belou'd beleeue no life but wheare their loue doth liue,
To fault is then their murdrous fact that first defect doth giue.
He had not faulted or I falne hadst thou hild faith to mee:
Ah little feele we in regard of Plagues prepar'd for thee.
Thus sayd he, and for thus he sayd I for the ruth of this
Did vow, that who so once were mine I would be onely his.

Well, Madame, quoth the Gentleman, be this so, or a shift,
I see to frustrate my demaund is honestly your drift:
Then so, or not so, or what so you shall inferre of this
It matters not, 
Perkin is yours and be you onely his.
For, sooth to say, weare all saide false, it were indeed a hell
To haue a Loues-Coryuall, and as none could brooke it well,


[Page 179] So none should aske, and none should yeeld to alter loue begun,
Therefore, sweet Ladie, I conclude such il is well vndun:
Mine amorous sute hath here an end: and would you might preuaile
With 
Perken too, that proudly striues to beare too high a sayle:
So may you, if perhaps you haue for him so apta tayle
As this you tould to me for mee, although more hardly trew
As this which I shall tell, that doth include a morall view
Of matter worth the note for him, the rather tould by you:
Then heare it: for our leisure and the order of my Q▪

CHAP. XXXVII.

SVppose (for so must be suppos'd) that Birdes and Beasts did speake:
The Cuckooe sometimes lou'd the Owle and so with her did breake.
Then flew the Owle by day, so did the Cuckooe all the yeare,
So did the Swallow and the Batte: but howe it hapned heare.
The Cu
 [...]kooe by the Swallow (then the Swallow was his Page)
Did send the Owle a sucking Mouse, a tydie for the age:
The Bat (the Bat then seru'd the Owle) preferd the Bringer and
The Present to her Mistres sight; that in her Tod did stand.
My maister to your Owleship, quoth the Swallow, sends by me
This Modicum, desiring you to take the same in gree.
The Owle, that neuer till that day had tasted flesh of Mouse,
Had quickly lopte a Limbe or two, and feasteth in her house
The Swallow with a cut see of her then disgorged wheat:
When, talking of the daintie flesh and elswhat, as they eate,


[Page 180] The Bat (then waiting at the boorde) fetcht sighes a two or three:
The Owle did aske the cause. And doe you aske the cause, quoth she,
Why thus I sigh when thus in sight my kindred murthred be?
My selfe was sometimes such, and such am still, saue now I fly:
With that she freshly wept: and thus proceeded by and by.

A fresh, quoth she, now comes to minde mine Auncestors ill hap,
Whō pride made praies to Kestrels, Kites, Cats, Weasels, Baē, & trap:
My Grandsier (for wheare Nature failes in strength she adds in wit)
Was full of Science: But, insooth, he misapplied it.
The Weasell, Prince of Vermen (though besides a vertuous Beast)
By shrewdnes of my Grandsiers wit his Holes with hoords increaste,
And seem'd to conn him thankes, whō none besides had cause to thank:
For Princes Fauors often make the fauored too cranke.
Not only Mice, but Lobsters, Cats, and noble Vermen paide
In comming 
Coram Nobis for some crime against them laide.
But, God, it is a world to see, when purposes be sped,
How Princes, hauing fatted Such, are with their fatnes fed:
The Weasel seru'd my Grandsier so and euery Vermen laught
To see himselfe in Snare that had in Snares so many caught.
Now also liue some wylie Beasts, and fatly do they feede
Mongst Beasts of chace & birds of game, with lesse then needfull heed.
My Graundsier dead, my Father was in fauour nerthelesse:
Nor did his Father more than he for high Promotion presse.
And (though I say it) long time he deserued fauors well,
For quayling Foe men, and at home such Vermen as rebell:
And for the same the Weasell did him mightily preferre:
But Honors made him haughtie, and his haughtines to erre.
I will be plaine, he waxt too prowd, and plotted higher drifts
Than fitted him or fadged well, for who haue thriu'd by shifts?
Nor will I say (because his sonne) he wrong'd the Weasell, but
The Weasell died, and that that did succeede to shifts he put:
For which his Fathers Fortune did oretake him at the last:
Such fickelnesse in earthly pompe, which, flowing ebs as fast.


[Page 181] This double warning might haue i
 [...]kt vnto my wit, but I
Did follow Kinde: Nay, more, I did importune 
Dis to fly,
And he did giue me these blacke wings, resembling him that gaue the
A proper Gift, and hardly got, to shame me now I haue them.
But know yee 
Dis? some 
Pluto him or 
Limbos God doe call:
Or, aptlier said, in Hell of diuels the Chiefe and Principall:
And somwhat now of him and how I changed say I shall.

I hapned on a Cranny, whilst my Mouse-daies lasted, which
I entring, wandred crooked Nookes and pathes as darke as pitch:
Theare, hauing lost my selfe, I sought the open aire in vaine,
Both wanting foode, & light, and life well neare through travels paine
The Moole by chaunce did crosse my way, and (as ye know) her smell
Supplies her want of sight and serues her purpose full as well:
I heard a tracting sownd and, skar'd, my haire did stand vpright,
Nor could I see, or fly, but feare and blesse me from a Spright:
She had me, hild me, questions of my being theare the cause,
And in meane while peruseth me with fauorable clawes.
I was about to pleade for life, when she preuents me thus:
Ha, Cosen Mouse, what Fortune giues this meeting heere to vs.
Feare not my Sonne (I call thee Sonne because I loue thee much)
Doe hold thy selfe as merry heere as in a Pantlers hutch:
What know'st not me? or see'st thou not? with that she leadeth me
Into an higher roome, wheare her to be mine Eame I see.
I did my dutie, and my heart was lightned when mine eie
Encountered a friend whereas I made account to die.
Before me sets Shee Viands, and my stomacke seru'd me well:
And, hauing fed, my Grandsiers and my Fathers ends I tell,
(For She enquires for them, ere I acquaint her what befell.)
The reuerent Moole, then sighing, said: ah, let no Vermine thinke
That Fortune euer fauors, or that friends will neuer shrinke:
I did fore-smell their lostie flight would cost them once a fall,
And therefore, Cosen, see thou be forewarned therewithall.
Heere seest thou me (I tell thee, though I prise not Gentry now,


[Page 182] Thine Eame and of the elder house) that long agoe did vow
My selfe a Recluse from the world, and, celled vnder ground,
Least that the gould, the precious stones and pleasures here be found
Might happen to corrupt my minde, for blindnes did I pray,
And so contemplatiuely heere I with contentment stay.
Admitte the Weasell graceth thee, the more he doth the more
The other Vermen will maligne and enuy thee therefore:
Himselfe, perhaps, will listen to thy ruine for thy store:
Or thou thy selfe, to mount thy selfe, maiest runne thy selfe a shore.
That Vermen that hath reason, and his owne Defects espies,
Doth seeme to haue a soule, at least doth thriue by such surmies,
For what is it but reason that humaine from brutish tries?
But man, or beast, neither hath troth that this for true denies,
He hath enough that hath wherewith pure Nature to suffies:
In ouerplus an ouercharge for soule and body lies,
For Souldiors, Lawyers, Carrions, Theeues, or Casualties a Prize,
His comber-minde that liues with it and leaues it when he dies,
From whome to catch it scarce his heire staies closing of his eyes:
O wretched wealth, which whoso wants no Fortune him enuies.
Here maiest thou feast thee with a Mad: & here no Pickethanke pries
Into thy life, nor words well spoke to ill vnmeant applies:
No Flatterer to vndermind: no tongue no eare for lies:
No gleaning from the Orphant: no oppressed widowes cries:
No bribes to giue, no hands to take: no quarrelling for flies:
No wronges to right: no lawes to breake, because no law that ties,
But what wee lust we doe, nor doe nor lust badd enterprize:
And finde lesse want in Nature, than wits-want in Arts disguize.
Nor any heere in force, in friends, fraud, wealth, or wit affies:
O doe thou not so rich, so safe, and iust life despies:
Theare lacketh not of noble Births to star the courtly skies.
Theare be enowe Politians, thou maiest for thy Soule be wise:
Then leaue thou matters of estate to States, I thee aduise:
And rather sit thou safely still, than for a fall to rise.

[Page 183]
Not for shee was my Elder or mine Eame, but for the place
I hild my peace, that would haue sayd her Moolships minde was bace.
But she perceiues me to dissent, and saieth, Cosen Mouse,
Doe as you like, you shall not finde a prison of my house:
Stay while you will, goe when you will, come & returne at pleasure,
And euer welcome: Vertue is an vncompelled Treasure.
This past, & thence passe we through deepe darke waies, saue here & theare
The vaines of gould and pretious stones made light in darke appeare:
Vaste Vaults as large as Iles we passe, great Riuers theare did flow,
Huge wormes & Mōsters there I saw, which none on earth do know.
On goe we, till I saw a glimps and she heard noise of flame,
Then said shee praiers, bidding me to blesse me from the same.
I, musing, frain'd her meaning: She her meaning thus did tell.
That flaming Region, euer such (quoth she) is 
Plutos Hell:
All gould, all mettals, wealth, and pompe that nourish Mortals pride
Are hence and his, and hether they doe theare Mis-guiders gide:
He them inchaunteth, and the same inchaunt the folke on Earth,
Vntill their dying dotage theare finds heere a liuing death.
Still nertheles I wisht to see the hellish Monarch 
Dis,
When he (more ready to be found then for our profite is)
Ore-heard vs, and vnhid himselfe, and shinde in rich array,
And seem'd a glorious Angell, and full gently thus did say.
That slandrous blind bace-minded Moole, friend Mouse, deceiues thee much,
And prates of me, of Hell, and Earth more than is so or such:
Beleeue him not, but rather do beleeue thine eyes, and see
If any earthly pleasure is vntripl'd heere with mee.
Then shewde he sights (which since I found illusions to betray)
Of greater worth than Earth affords, or I haue Art to say:
Nay, more, he bids me aske what so I would, and I should haue it:
Then did I pause, bethinking what was rarest I might craue it.
My Holes were stor'd with corne & croomes, on Earth I walkt at will,
And in her Bowels now had seene indifferently my fill,
Vpon it, nor within it, not sufficing to my pride,


[Page 184] I asked winges, scarce asked when they grew on either side.

Short leaue I tooke, & mounting left the Hell God and the Moole,
And soared to the open Aire through many a sory hoole.
It was at Twilight, and the Birds were gone to roust, but I
(Inchaunted with the noueltie of flight) vnweared flye,
And had the Sunne been vp, I ween (such pride bewitcht my wit
To Egel-fie my selfe) I had assayd to soare to it:
Not seeing that my limber wings were Leather-like vnplum'de,
But at the Dawning also I of wing-worke still presum'de.
The Swallow (and I weene it was this Sallowes father) he
Was earliest vp, with him I met, and he admired me.
I hild him wing, and wistly he suruaies me round about,
And lastly, knowing who I was, did giue me many a flout,
And fled to tell the other birds, what vncouth Fowle was bred,
Who flockt to see me, till with gibes and girds I wisht mee ded.
Then, shifting out of sight, I hung till Twilight in a hoole,
Transformde, derided, hunger-spent, and (minding still the Moole)
In vaine I wisht reducement of my shape, and (which was worste)
My hap was harder than to owne in that distresse a Cruft.
Then fled I to my wonted Holes of hoorded food to get,
Too narrow by mine added wings that did mine entry let.
Now Mise fled me, not to the Moole I would returne for shame,
To 
Dis I durst not, mong'st the Birds I was a laughing game.
Then curst I mine aspiring minde, then knew I 
Dis a Diuell,
The Diuell the Prince of Pride, and Pride the roote of euery euill.
Hell, Earth, Aire, Heauen, and what not? then conspiring mine vnrest,
What might remaine but death for me that liued so vnblest?
But as I, fainting, flew that night your Ladiship, Dame Owle,
Did call me to your Todd, and glad to see a new night-fowle,
Did take me to your seruice, thence your Chamberlaine to be:
Ha 
Iupiter reward it you that so releeued mee.
It is a sweete continuall feast to liue content I see:
No daunger but in high estate, none enuy meane degree.

[Page 185]

Then all this processe (quoth the Owle) doth tend, belike, to this,

That I should eate no Mouse-flesh: Nay, Sir Bat, so sweete it is

That thou, so neere of Kinne to them, shalt also serue my lust:

And there withall in ruthles clawes the haplesse Bat she trust.

HEere meant the Courtior to haue left, whom 
Perkens Lady prayes
To tell what end such wowing had: And thus hereof he sayes.
The Swallow saw that cruell pranke and flies aloofe and sayde,
Vngratefull Glutton, what offence hath that thy Seruant made?
Choke mayst thou with the murther So he left her, and vnto
The Cuckooe telleth what the Owle vnto the Bat'did doe.
Varlet (he waxed cholericke) and what of that, quoth he?
Was not the Bat her bond-Slaue, such as thou art now to me?
What tel'st me then of other newes then what her answere is
Vnto mine amorous Message, sayes my Lady nay or yis?
The Swallow told him that through such occurrant of the Bas.
He, interrupted, came away vnaunswered in that.
A mischiefe, quoth he, both on that and thee ill sauoured Elfe:
And in a stammering chafe he fled to wowe the Owle himselfe.
The Swallow Mans him thether, whom the deu'lish Owle did hate,
And all because he had reprou'd her tyrannie of late.
The Cuckooe, offering to haue bilde, she coyely turnde her face,
Tis more, quoth she, than needeth that we kisse, as stands the cace:
Rid hence yonn same your knauish Page, you sent him with a Mouse
To spie my secretes, or belike to braue me in my house.
Gods pretious, would you knew I beare a mind lesse bace then that
I can disgest your Drudge with me so saucely should chat:
Iacke Napes, forsooth, did chase because I eate my Slaue the Bat.
O what a world is this that we can nothing priuate haue
Vncensur'd of our Seruants, though the simplest Gill or Knaue?
Well, rid him of your seruice: Nay, it skils not if of life,
At least if so you meane that we shall loue as man and wife,
For such Colecarriers in an house are euer hatching strife.


[Page 186] The Cuckooe, hearing this complaint, flew on his trusty Page,
And vndiscreatly gaue him strokes that kild him in that rage.
Yeat, eare he left his life, he thus vnto his Maister sayd:
Thus many honest Seruants in their Masters hastie brayd
Are Dog-like handled, either yeat like deare in 
Ioues iust eyes:
Of Harlots and of hastines beware, sayd he, and dyes.

When now her gluttony and spight had thus dispatched twaine,
The Cuckooe, plying amorously her fauour to obtaine,
Euen then, and looking very bigge, in came the Buszard, who
Did sweare that he would kill and slay, I mary would he doe,
If any Swad besides himselfe faire Madam Owle did wowe.
The Cuckooe, seeing him so bog, waxt also wondrous wroth:
But thus the Owle did stint the strife. Shee cals them husbands both:
Now fie (quoth she) if so you could betwixt your selues agree,
Yee both should haue your bellies full, and it no hurt to me.
The Buszard faintly did consent, the Cuckooe sayd Amen:
And so was Hen inough for Cocke, not Cocke inough for Hen,
For she deceyues them both, and had besides them other game:
The Gende Buszard dying soone for sorrow of the same.
The Cuckooe wisely saw it and did say but little to it,
As nooting she was set on it and knowing she would doe it.
But what the Swallow warned him of Harlots proued trew,
For, as was gessed, also him by trecherie she slew.

The Goddesse 
Pallas, to giue end vnto these tragicke deedes,
Descended, and (the dead reuiu'd) to Sentence thus proceedes.
The Bat, because begild of 
Dis, See pittieth partly and
Permits him Twy-light flight: to giue thereby to vnderstand
That to aspire is lawfull, if betwixt a Meane it stand.
The Swallow, for that he was trew and slaine for saying well,
Shee doomb'd a ioyfull Sommers Bird, in Winter time to dwell
Euen with 
Mineruas secrete store, as learned Clarkes doe tell.


[Page 187] The Buszard, for he doted more and dared lesse than reason,
Through blind bace Loue induring wrong reuengeable in seasō,
She eie-blur'd, and adiudged Praies the dastard'st and least geason.
Vnto the Cuckooe, ouerkinde to brooke Coriuals, she
Adiudg'd a Spring-times changeles note, and whilst his yong ones be
By others hatcht, to name and shame himselfe in euery Tree.
But liue, quoth she, vnto the Owle ashamed of the light,
Be wondred at of Birds by day, fly, filch, and howle all night,
Haue lazie wings, be euer leane, in fullen corners rucke,
When thou art seene be thought a signe to folke of euill lucke:
Nor shall thine odious forme, vile Witch, be longer on my Shield:
Whence racing forth her Figure, so the Goddesse left the field.

IVst Guerdons for Ambition, for poore Soules opprest for well,
For dastard Dotards, Wittolrie, and Harlots nice you tell,
Said 
Perkens Wife. But thus now of her husbands pride befell.
At last when sundry Armes had end, 
Henry victorious still,
And 
Perkens passage was fore-stald, he yeelds of his owne will
Himselfe from Churches Priuiledge to 
Henries Mercy, who
Did onely limitte his abode, and lesse he could not doe.
But when he sought escapes he then had petite punishment,
And after, for some new attempts, to Tower was he sent:
Whence practising escape, t'was sayd, he won to his intent
Young 
Edward Earle of Warwicke, that indeed was 
Clarenes son,
And euer had been Prisner theare eare 
Henries raigne begon,
And now by law, too strickt me seemes, for this to death was don.

Perken was hang'd, and hang may such: but that the Earle should die
Some thought hard law, saue that it stood with present pollicie.
Sir 
VVilliam Stanley dide for this (oft King-law is doe thus)
Deseruing better of the King: but what is that to vs?

The last of our three 
Phaetons was tuter'd of a Fryer:
Who, being fitted now by Art and nature to aspier,


[Page 188] (The foresaid name of 
VVarwicke fain'd) seduced folke thereby:
As I my selfe in 
Essex heard and saw a Traitor dye
That fain'd himselfe sixt 
Edward, and to grace-out such his lye,
Lookes, bodie, words, and gesture seem'd heroycall, to view
He had like age, like markes, and all that might inforce it trew:
Whereby to him assisting minds of simple Folke he drew.
Our Cowle-mans foresayd Actor so preuailed that the Fryer
In Pulpets durst affirme him King, and Aydes for him requier:
But lastly both were taken: both did fault in one same ill,
Yeat rope-law had the Youth, the Frier liu'd Clergie-knaued still.

VVHen Armour ended Auarice began (for then begins
The slye 
Mercuriles
 [...], and more by wyles then valour wins.)
Beneuolences, Taxes and sore Fines for penall lawes,
To 
Henry hoords from 
Henry hearts of many a Subiect drawes.

Empson & 
Dudly (fur'd Esquiers more harmefull, being gown'd,
To 
Englands friends than 
Englands foes, through Auarice profound)
In such exacting chiefly Act, applaused of the King,
To whom their ciuill Thefts, not Thrifts, exceeding wealth did bring.
Yeat whē the gracious King found out their tacking Rich & Poore,
He then did pardon much, and much did purpose to restore:
But, dying, those two 
Harpies lost their hated heads therefore.
So hardly fauoured of Kings themselues in bownes containe,
That they, securely stout, at length doe perish through disdaine.
So hardly too some Princes are from priuate Lucar wonne,
As, though their bags ore-flow, they think no harme abroad vndone.

Henry (acquite his latter dayes of Auarice fore named)
Deceast for Prowesse, Policie, and Iustice highly famed.

[Page 190]

THE EIGHT BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XXXIV.

EIGHT 
Henry (heire indubitate of 
Yorke and 
Lancaster)
Succeeded, and with Kingly rites his Father did interr.
His mind, his words, his lookes, his gaet, his ly­naments, and Stature,
Weare such for Maiesties as shew'd a King com­pos'd by Nature.
All Subiects now of ciuill strife, all counter-minds for Raigne,
All enuious of his Empier now weare rid, weare pleas'd, or slaine.
Rich weare his sundrie Tryumphs: but his cost had foyzen than
When 
Terwin and strong 
Turnay in resisting 
France he wan:
When 
Maximilian Emperour did vnder 
Henry fight:
When 
English Ships did often put the 
French Sea-powre to flight:
And that the 
French King was inforc'st to craue and buy his peace,
Who, wiuing louely 
Mary, so the warres for then did cease.

This sister to our King, and then the 
French Kings goodly Queene,
Was welcommed with Tryumphs such as erst in 
France vnseene.
Iustes, Barriers, Tylts, & Turneyes were proclaymed each wheare for All:
Whereforeto 
Paris at the time flockt Caueliers ful tall,
With Princes braue, and Ladies faire of euery Realme about,


[Page 190] And hence, with moe, 
Charles Brandon, in fine Chiualrie most stout,
Whose bodie fitted to his mind, whose mind was puesant, and
Whose puesance yeelded not to 
Mars, this 
Mars in 
France did lād:
With whō incoūtred valiāt knights, but none might him withstād.
The 
English-French Queene standing theare, admir'd for beautie rare,
Behild the Tryumphs, in the which high Feates performed ware.
But 
Brandon (yet no Duke) he was the Knight aboue the rest
That in her eye (nor did she erre) acquited him the best.
For whether that he trots, or turnes, or bounds, his barded Steede,
Did runne at Tylt, at Randon, or did cast a Speare with heede,
Or fight at Barriers, he in all did most her fancie feede.
Weake on a Couch her King lay theare, whō though she loued well,
Yeat likte she 
Brandon, and the same lou'd her ere this befell:
For chastly had they fancied long before she came to 
Fraunce,
Or that from meane estate to Duke 
Henry did him aduaunce.
The dayes of Triumph weare expir'd, and 
English Peeres with praise
Come home, and 
Lewes King of 
France decea'st within few daies.

Charles Brandon, Duke of 
Suffolke then, with honour furnisht hence,
Was sent to 
France for to returne the widow Queene from thence,
Who had been wed scarce th
 [...]ice three weekes vnto a sickly King,
To her, a fayre young Queene, therefore smal time might solace bring.
Yet lesse did timethā braue Duke 
Charles asswage fair 
Maries griefe:
He chats, she cheers, he courts, she coyes, he wowes, she yeelds in briefe.
No windes (thought she) assist those Sayles that seeke no certain Shore,
Nor find they constant liues that but they liue respect no more.
Let each ones life ayme some one end: as, if it be to marrie,
Then see, heare, loue, and soone conclude, it betters not to tarrie.
To cast too many doubts (thought she) weare oft to erre no lesse
Than to be rash: And thus, no doubt, the gentle Queene did gesse,
That seeing This or That at first or last had likelyhood,
A man so much a manly Man weare dastardly withstood:
Then Kisses reuel'd on their Lips to eithers equall good,
And, least King 
Henry should dissent, they secretly did wead,


[Page 191] And then sollicet his good will, and of their wishes spead.
The periut'd valiāt 
Scotch-King 
Iames, slayn at braue 
Flodons Slaugh­ter,
Had also left in widowhood 
Englands fayre elder Daughter.
She also weds a 
Scottish Earle, vnlicenc'st of her Brother:
And was to her Sons Daughters Sonne, now sixt 
Iames, great-Grand­mother.

A Scruple, after twentie yeares, did enter 
Henries mind,
For wedding of Queene 
Katherin, a Ladie fayre and kind,

Spaynes Daughter, then the Emperours Aunt, and for her vertuous life
Well worthie 
Henry: But for she had beene his Brothers wife,
And also of their coiture surmise directed Lawes,
He seem'd in conscience toucht, and sought to rid him of the Cause.
Then was the matter of Deuorse through Christendome disputed,
The Match of all adiudged voyd, and so the Queene non-suted.
She, after teares to him from whom she was to be deuorste,
Did humbly say: and am I not, my Lord, to be remorste?
That twentie yeeres haue bene your Wife, & borne your Children, and
Haue lou'd and liu'd obediently, and vnsuspected stand.
I am (ah too too sweetly err'd) I was, poore Soule, the same
Whom once you did preferre, nor now of me you neede to shame.
The blossomes of my beautie was your Bootie, nor my fauour
Now alters so to alter so from me your late behauour.
But Conscience is the colour of this quarrell: well I wot
I also haue a conscience that in this accuseth not:
But as the same, perhaps, might say that me succeedes say I,
That for the pleasure of a Prince goe many things awry.

Which her Fore-doomes seem'd to effect in her that her succeeded,
In Queene 
Anne Bullyn: who, for she in 
Luther
 [...]sme proceeded,
Was hated of the 
Papists, and enui'd because preferr'd,
And through the Kings too light beleefe (for Kinges haue sometimes err'd)
She lost her head, and might haue sayd (some thought) ere she did dye,
That for the pleasure of the Prince goe many things awry.
So dyde the gracious Mother of our now most glorious Queene,


[Page 172] Whose zeale in reuerent 
Fox his works autenticall is seene.
The Kings foure other Queenes (for why? he dide a 
Sexamus)
Shall passe, though 
Iane did beare a Sonne to him, a King to vs,

Edward the Sixt: and of the same we shall deliuer thus.

CHAP. XXXV.

SVCH as was 
Loue in Figure of 
Ascanius, whē the same
In kisses slie did sheade himselfe into the 
Tyrian Dame,
Or such as was sweete 
Hyacint, Apollos louely Boy,
Or 
Iupiters Ganymaedes, rapt vp to heauen from 
Troy,
Or rather like young 
Salomon, in sentencing betwixt
Two mothers claiming one same Child, was young 
Edward the Sixt.
Now 
Rome fell sicke in 
England, but how long she lay in traunce
We list not write, alonly death to her did neuer chaunce:
For old 
Rome neuer lackt that durst their liues for her bestoe,
Not new 
Rome that to Hell for her dare soules and bodies goe.
Then true Religion might be sayd with vs in Primatiue,
The Preachers and the people both then practiuely did thriue:
Our decent Church-Rites, still in print, not practise (worthie those
Whose reuerent heads collected them frō whence true wisedō groes.
Not mangled then of Nouesses and curious Doults, which now
Would haue they know not what, & would reform they know not how,
Omitting or admitting as their owne Conceits allow)


[Page 193] Did then put forth her Braunches, and weare fruitfull in the bood:
And, weare our Church-Lords now for zeale as Church-lawes now for good,
Soone might like vnion be, now by indifferencie withstood:
For giue to vulgar Heads the head and looke for all confused,
At once they publish and repeale, al els, saue Order, vsed:
And as 
Kytts Campe ill-form'd good forme at their reforming Tree,
Sonnes ost by aime consorting voice their Fathers hang'd should be,
So wheare the Multitude preuaile they censure ere they see.
But (might I be so bould to speake to them should speake to mee)
A good example would doe good in Church-men, seeing thay
In saying 
 [...]oth are lesse beleeu'd, not doing as the say.
I know our Churchmen know that Faith is dead where lack good works.
Yeat know I not what pollicie in Almes vnpreached lurks.
Some teach (& wel) that these concurre, but few doe vrge the Theame
Of charitie: affeard, perhaps, our More should vrge their Beame.
But feare not, Fathers, preach at full Loue, good workes, & Remorse,
More will your bad Examples let than shall your words inforce,
To preach by halfes is to be worse than those tongue-holly Iauells,
That cite good words, but shift off works and Discipline by Cauells.
Oft haue ye handled pithily (not preached without neede)
What good to giue, what hurt to take, frō those that Soules do feede:
But so obscurely hath beene blancht of good workes elsewheare done,
As many, boasting only Faith, Faiths fruites selfe-aptly shonne:
When such a faith is but the faith of that faith-fruitles Deuill
That cited Scripture vnto Christ, applying good to euill.
Tell whether that the 
Leuite or 
Samaritane did better:
Tell wherein 
Diues liu'd and dide to 
Lazarus a Debter.
Vnknot sententious 
Salomon his Parable which is,

Full Cloudes will rayne vpon the Earth: How thus is meant by this,
Rich mē by Cloudes, poore men by Earth (els Clerks expound amis)
Tell, how some Cloudes but misell Rayne: that is, if so they giue
A peny Almes or twaine a yeare they thinke they much releeue.
Som Clouds flash down their Shewres: that is, som set vp two or three,


[Page 194] And begger so themselues and theirs: say such are foolish free.
Some Clouds hayle downe their Raine, beate flat, hurt, & helpe not y
e ground:
That is, vpbraid whō they releeue, & hold thē seruile bound.
Some Cloudes giue Snow, that lights and lies a moysture moystles: so
Doe those that say, alas, God helpe, and nothing els bestoe.
Some Cloudes doe shewre into the Seas: say such do giue to such
Whom Almes make idle, or belike to recompence as much.
Som Clouds with lightning, thunder, & lowd winds drip down their raine:
That is, giue sildom almes, & those proclam'd & seene, ere 
 [...]ayne.
Some Clouds retayne but forme of clouds, with figure black as Coale:
That is, looke bigge, Examine long, but 
Scriptum est their doale.
Some gracious Clouds shed temprate Shewres on thirstie earth indeed.
That is, the Orphant, Widow, Thrall, succour, protect and feed.
Say also whatsoere wee giue, to whosoere it bee,
Though giuen in sight of men, if not because that men should see,
But with Deuotion, as a worke from Faith that cannot seuer,
God for such cheerfull Almes wilbe our bounteous Almner euer.
Say, make not as it weare a Quest of quere ere Yee giue,
But giue yee Almes as men be poore, not as poore men to liue.
Prouided common Beggers nor disordered Lossels, who
Men know prouided for, or can but labour none will doe,
Than whom doe say (for so is sooth) no Creatures worse desatue,
Take you no Orators for them, but that they hang or statue.
And thus for this. Our Ouerture to it reduceth mee.
The Vncles ofthis Orphant King, so long as they agree,
Vphild Religion, King, themselues, and Realme in happie state:
Which then began to ruinate when they begun debate.

[Page 195]

CHAP. XL.

SOme say their falling out was through two haughtie womens strife,
The 
Admiralls Queene 
Bigama & Lord Pro­tectors wife:
These (for what glorie enuies not one woman in an other?)
Began a brawle that ended in the blood of either Brother.
Tis thought the Earle of 
VVarwick threw close fewell to this fire,
And nourisht it to cut off them, that so he might aspire:
For when the one had lost his head, he forthwith tooke in hand
To forge the Lord Protector false vnto the King and Land:
Who, though he tryed by his Peeres of treason was acquited,
Yeat also of a Statute new he being then indighted,
Was hardly found a Felon, and too stricktly sentenc'st so:
For meanest fault is high offence vrg'd of a mightie Foe:
The King thus lost his Vncles both, to his no little woe.

Now 
VVarwick was become a Duke, feared of high and lowe,
Full little thinking that himselfe the next to Blocke should goe:
The two Prince-loyall 
Semers erst made let vnto his lust,
But now remayned none whose faith or force he did mistrust.
The Orphant King fell sicke (but here suspend what some suspect)
The new Duke of 
Northumberland meane while did all direct.
It was contriu'd King 
Edward from his Sisters gaue the Crowne,
Their Fathers Former Act and Will by wrested law put downe:
The Sisters Daughters Daughter of Eight 
Henry, Ladie 
Iane,
Was publisht heire apparant, and that right from 
Mary tane,


[Page 196] And from 
Elizabeth, though both collatrally preceed her:
And when by ful Confedracie the Crowne-right was decreed her,
And 
Gylford Dudly fourth-borne Sonne vnto 
Northumberland
Had married her, and nothing seem'd the Plot-forme to withstand,
King 
Edward (entred seauenteene yeares of age, & seauen of Raigne)
Departed to that endles rest his vertuous life did gaine.
The Councel then conuent. But who wil think, perhaps, that one
Should alter All, to alter true Discents vnto a Throne?


 [...]ane, Suffolks Daughter, 
Gylfords wife (One worthie such estate
For righteous and religious life, who nerethelesse should wate
Her Intrest after others Two, The younger of which twaine
Did match, yea Mate her vertues) was proclamed Queene to raigne,
And in the tower of 
London hild Estate and princely Traine.
Meane while fled 
Mary, doubting lesse her Scepters losse than life:
But sildome fayles a rightfull cause that comes to open strife:
The Commons knew our either Law prefer'd a Sisters Right
Before a Cosens, and fot it did many fadge to fight.

Northumberland with Armes pursu'd the Ladie 
Mary, and
Obseru'd directions from the Peeres: who when they vnderstand
Of 
Maries strength of flocking Friends, on sudden came to pas
That they proclamed 
Mary Queene, and 
Iane her Prisner was:
And well was he, that late did seeme a Foe, might first salute
The Queene, and all vnto the Duke did their Amis impute.
For, soothly, more the Peeres did feare than fauour alway,
Who, though he seem'd as forward now in 
Maries cause as thay,
Yeat was he taken and in-towr'd, and lost his head for this:
A Warrior braue. But than his Sier, himselfe, one Sonne of his,
Like rare Politians seldome liu'de: who in three seuerall Raignes
Successiuely did shew them such, though losse did proue their gaines.

THe Duke thus dead, 
Suffolke, Lord 
Gray, Lord 
Gylford, Lady 
Iane,
Weare executed: But we blanch the rest excepting twaine,


[Page 197] That is, Lord 
Gylford and his wife, yong and lesse worthy blame,
Because the Dukes their Fathers, all the Councell, all of name,
Yea and King 
Edwards Pattents seald for them, not they, did frame
What so was done in this, yeat they must perish for the same.
Who higher then this Couple late? and who more wretched now?
Of more then much remayned nought, nor law did life allow.
Vnhappie Youths, not for they die, but for the mutuall greefe
Of him for her, of her for him, which tortur'd them in cheefe.
Come was the day, the tragicke day, wherein they both should die,
When Either, passing to their end, ech other did espie,
Shee in her lodging, waiting death prepared her that day,
And he in being lead thereto he Lodging in his way.
Assending and dissending Signes then fly and fall apace,
And each bemones the other more than mindes their priuate cace.
Their E
 [...]es, that looked Loue ere while, now looke their last adew,
And staine their faces, faultles ere this dismall enter-vew:
Their Eares, earst listning ioies, are deafe, vnles to sighes profound:
Their tongs, earst talking ioies, those looks & sighes did now cōfound:
What parts soere of them had felt or tasted ioyes ere this,
Wheare senceles now of any ioy, saue hope of heauenly blis.
Whilst Either thus for Earthly Pompe no longer time did looke,
He passeth to the fatall Blocke, she praying on her booke:
Wence (hauing made a godly end) he was return'd, whilst Shee
Prepard for like, and of her Lord the senceles Tronke did see:
A sight more deathful than her death that should consort him straite,
And for the which her feareles eies did euery moment waite.
She vnabashed, mounting now the Skaffold, theare attends
The fatall Stroke-and vnto God her better parte commends:
And as she liu'd a vertuous life so vertuously she ends.

[Page 198]

CHAP. XLI.

OMitting Knights, three Dukes, three Lords, also a Queene elect
Then perisht thus, and somewhat some of 
Edwards death suspect.
All which fell out a Stratagem, in God his secre Dome,
That should induce a Tragedie to 
England meant by 
Rome:
For when these mighty Protestants, through Ones Ambition, fell,
Queene 
Mary seem'd to shut vp Heauen, and set wide open Hell.
Whence swarmed papish Tyrants, that false doctrine did erect,
Whilst that seduced 
Mary did Gods threatned cause neglect.
Blamelesse she was not, for a Crowne that could her Foes ore-goe:
Nor all too blame, for mightie States do and haue erred so,
To Whome the Scriptures weare obscur'd by Christs 
Italian Foe.
Her courage was not common, yeat abused ouer much
By Papists cheefly, She her selfe too naturally such.
Heere hence she is reprooued of a moste tyrannous Raigne,
And of a thriftles Mariage with the trustles King of 
Spaine.

But when rich 
Brabants supreame Faire, the Bakers daughter, staide
The King in dalliance, and the Queene had newes that false he plaide.
Tis thought his tarriance greeu'd, & told that one should counsel this
Haue patience, Madam, so it was and wil be as it is:
Fourth 
Edward did the like, yeat lou'd his Queene no whit the lesse:
Nor did the like vnpatient her, that knew him to transgresse
As guiltie of a Leash of Loues, 
Shores wife and other twaine:
She knew as Streams, if stopt, surrownd so Kings wil shew they raign:


[Page 199] As did our second 
Henry, whome his Queene oft crost in vain
 [...].
Which, and one other Story, if it please you that I tell,
I shall. Yea doc (quoth she:) Then thus (quoth he) it once befell.

NOt knowen of 
Rosamund, his eie had stoed her in his heart:
Faire Maide, quoth he, beleeue me faire and all so faire thou art
That, weare I 
Henry Englāds King, thou shouldst be 
Englāds Queene:
But so must fayle, for 
Elenour already is betweene.
He bod me buy thy loue, if so it might be bought with Golde,
If not, he bod me sweare he loues: in fayth he loues, be bolde:
He bod me aske, if so he came, what should his welcome be,
And if, perhaps, he lated weare if he should lodge with thee:
Protesting secreasie thereof to all, vnlesse to me,
With promise to performe at full each promise as I make it:
I promise Loue, Wealth, Secresie, then promise thou to take it.

Content you Sir (quoth 
Ro (amund) you aime your markes amis:
I am not for his Highnes, nor for me his Highnes is.
And should he know (I shame he should) of this your Brokage bace,
He would acquaint you what it weare your Soueraigne to disgrace.
Whoso you be, be still the same, or better if you may,
Think not Lord 
Cliffords daughter will vn-maiden her for pay,
But know, if 
Henryes selfe were heere, himselfe should haue a nay.
Then know (quoth he) which being knowen, well maist thou know I loue thee,
I am the King, and for I am the rather let it moue thee.
In sooth, sweet Wench, thou saiest nay thou knowest not whereto:
For, weare my wish at work, lesse good wy wish than work would do.
What, fearst thou shame? no shame to be beloued of a King:
Or dread'st thou sinne? The Pope for pay absolueth euery thing?
Or doubt'st thou iealous 
Elenour? I will remoue that doubt:
At 
Woodstock shall she finde thy bower, but neuer finde thee out:
Theare shalt thou passe a pleasant life, commanding me and mine:
Then loue, beloued 
Rosamund, a King subiects him thine.
He kist, She blusht, and long it was ere loue from her he wroung,


[Page 200] For, whilst vp played in her heart, it paused on her toung.

Not 
Sibils Caue at 
Cuma, nor the 
Labyrinth in 
Creat
Was like the Bower of 
Rosamund, for intricate and great.
The Pellicane theare neasts his Bird and sporteth oft with her,
Conducted by a Clew of thread, els could he not but err.
Besides her Maydes, a Knight of trust attended on her theare,
Who suffred for her Beautie, long concealing it for feare:
At length at full and formally he courted her for grace,
But all in vaine, nought booted him to haue both time and place:

Henry, quoth she, begonne and he shall end my thoughts vnchast:
Nor peach't she him, nor he, dismist, did hold himselfe disgrac'st.

The Kings three Sonnes had notice of their Fathers Leiman now,
So had the Queene, and the yof such coriuing disallowe.
Came I from 
France Queene Dowager, quoth she, to pay so deere
For bringing him so great a wealth as to be Cuckquean'd heere?
Am I so old a woman, he so young a wanton growen,
As that I may not please, that pleas'd, and still might with his owen?
What is the Drab, or tempting Diuell? or wherefore doteth he?
The 
French King once, himselfe euen now, for faire preferred me.
And hath he toyled vp his Game? and settels he to loue her?
Nor Heauen nor hell shall crosse my course but that I will remoue her.
Like 
Phrogne, seeking 
Philomel, she seeketh for and found
The Bower that lodg'd her Husbands Loue, built partly vnder ground:
She entred, but so intricate weare Turnings to and fro,
That welneere she had lost her selfe, but could not finde her Foe:
Yeat out she got, and backe she goes with her Attendants, who
Admire their furious Mistresse, and mislike what she would doe.

With her Confedrates oft she went, preuented of her will,
Howbeit lastly did preuaile: For hap did hit so ill,
That whilst the Knight did issue out, suspecting no assaut,
He was assailed, & from his giding Clewe they caught.
So wonne they vnto 
Rosamund: Whom when the Queene did vew,
Most brauely clad in rich Attire (her selfe more rich of hew)


[Page 201] The beautie and the brauenes of the Person and the place
Amazed her and hers, who stoode at gaze a certaine space.
No maruell, quoth the Queene, that oft the Court did mis the King,
Soone such an 
Hebe hither such a 
Iupiter might bring:
Now, trust me, weare she not a Whoore, or anies Whoore but his,
She should be pardon'd: But in faith I must not pardon this.
A Queane coriuall with a Queene? Nay kept at Racke & Manger?
A Husband to his honest bed through her become a Stranger?
Abide who list, abye she shall, how so I buy the daunger.

Faire 
Rosamund surprised thus, eare thus she did suspect,
Fell on her humble Knees, and did her fearefull hands erect:
She blush't out beauty, whilst the tears did wash her pleasing face,
And begged Pardon, meriting no lesse of common grace.
So farforth as it lay in me I did, quoth she, withstand,
But what may not so great a King by meanes or force command?
And daerst thou Minion, quoth the Queene, thus article to me?
That then wert 
Non-plus when the King commenced Lust to thee:
Nay, best he take thee to the Court, Be thou his Queene, doe call
Me to attendance, if his Lust may stand for law in all:
I know it, Strumpet, so harps he, and thou doest hope the same:
But loe I liue, and liue I will, at least to marre that game.
With that she dasht her on the Lippes, so dyed double red:
Hard was the heart that gaue the blow, soft were those lips that bled.
Then forc'st she her to swallow downe (prepar'd for that intent)
A poisned Potion: which dispatcht, frō whence they came they went.

The wronged Wench, the Quintessence of Beautie, and the same
(Saue that intised of a King) stoode free from all defame,
Did forthwith sicken, so that helpe for her might none be found,
When to the Knight that garded her, then greeued of a wound,
She sayd: Weare it that 
Henry knew his 
Rosamund weare thus,
No waightie busnes might withhold but he would visit vs:
Full well I lou'd and loue him still, that should not loue him so,
And for I should not worthely I labour of this woe.


[Page 202] Ah Beauty, that betraies thy selfe to euery amorous Eie,
To trap thy proud Possessors what is it but Wantons trie?
Wheare-through it seldome haps the Faire from meant deceits to flie:
At least the nicest Faire aliue shall vanish once as I.
Vaine Beauty stoupe to Vertue, for this latter is for euer,
Wheareas that former altreth with euery Ayre and Feuer.
I pray the Queene of Pardon, whom I pardon from my hart:
Farewell my present Friends: But thou, sweet King, wheare so thou art,
Ten thousand times farewell to thee: My God, whome I offended,
Vouch safe me Mercy: Saying which, her life she sweetly ended.

Thus did faire 
Rose (no longer Rose, nor faire, in sent, or sight)
Whome pensiue 
Henry did inter, and soone her wrong did right,
The Queene imprison'd and his Sonnes, rebelling, put to flight:
Thus wrought they sorrowes to thēselues in wreaking of their spight,
Nor lou'd the King thenceforth the Queene, or left to erre anew.

Now rests our other promis'd Tale, a common Tale (if true)
Like lesse had harmed 
Elenour, and more may profite you:
Be bitter and it betters not, be patient and subdue:
King 
Phillip is not gone but to returne, which when he shall,
Your Maiestie must not exclaime if so you would recall:
Impatience chaungeth smoke to flame, but Ielousie is Hell:
Some wiues, by Patience, haue reduc'st ill husbands to liue well,
As did this Lady of an Earle, of whome I now shall tell.

CHAP. XLII.

AN Earle (quoth he) had wedded, lou'd, was lou'd, and liued long
Full true to his fayre Countesse, yeat at last he did her wrong:
Once hunted he, vntill the Chace, long fasting, and the heate
Did house him in a peakish Graunge within a Forrest great:


[Page 203] Wheare, Knowne, & welcom'd (as the place & persons might afforde)
Browne bread, whig, bacon, curds, & milke were set him on the Borde:
A Cushion made of Lists, a Stoole halfe backed with a houpe
Weare brought him, & he sitteth down besides a sorry Coupe.
The poore old Couple wish't their bread were wheat, their whig were Perry,
Their bacō beefe, their milk & curds weare creame to make him mery.
Meane while (in Russet neatly clad, with linnen white as Swanne,
Her selfe more white, saue rosie wheare the ruddy colour ranne,
Whome naked Nature, not the Ayders of Arte, made to excell)
The Good mans Daughter sterres to see that all were feat and well:
The Earle did marke her, and admire such Beautie theare to dwell.
Yeat fals he to their homely Fare, and hild him at a feast:
But as his hunger slaked so an amorous heat increast.

When this Repast was past, and thanks, and welcome too, he sayd
Vnto his Oste and Ostesse, in the hearing of the Mayde:
Ye know (quoth he) that I am Lord of this and many Townes,
I also know that you be poore, and I can spare you pownes,
So will I, so yee will consent that yonder Lasse and I
May bargaine for her loue, at least doe giue me leaue to trie:
Who needs to know it? Nay who dares into my doings prie?
First they mislike, yeat at the length for lucar were mislead,
And then the gamesome Earle did wowe the Damsel for his bead.
He tooke her in his armes, as yet so coyish to be kist
As Mayds that know themselues belou'd and yeeldingly resist:
In few, his offers weare so large she lastly did consent,
With whome he lodged all that night, and early home he went.
He tooke occasion often times in such a sorte to hunt,
Whome when his Lady often mist, contrary to his wont,
And lastly was informed of his amorous haunt elsewheare,
It greeu'd her not a little, though she seem'd it well to beare.
And thus she reasons with her selfe: Some fault perhaps in me,
Some what is done that so he doth: Alas, what may it be?
How may I winne him to my selfe? He is a Man, and men


[Page 204] Haue imperfections: It behooues we pardon Nature then.
To checke him weare to make him checke, although hee now were cha'ste:
A man controuled of his Wife to her makes lesser haste.
If duetie then or daliance may preuayle to alter him,
I will be duetifull, and make my selfe for daliance trim.
So was she, and so louingly did entertaine her Lord,
As fayrer or more faultles none could be for Bed or Bord.
Yeat still he loues his Leiman, and did still pursue that Game,
Suspecting nothing lesse then that his Lady knew the same:
Wherefore, to make him know she knew, she this deuise did frame.

When long she had been wrong'd, & sought the foresayd meanes in vaine,
She rideth to the simple Graunge but with a slender Traine:
She lighteth, entreth, greets them well, and then did looke about her:
The guiltie houshold, knowing her, did wish thēselues without her,
Yeat, for she looked merily, the lesse they did misdoubther.
Whē she had seene the beautious Wench (thē blushing fairnes fairer)
Such Beautie made the Countesse hold them both excus'd the rather.
Who wold not bite at such a Bait? (thought she) & who (though loth)
So poore a Wench, but gold might tempt? sweet errors lead thē both:
Scarse one of twentie that hath brag'd of proffer'd Gold denied
Or of such yeelding Beautie baulkt but (tenne to one) hath lied.
Thus thought she: And she thus declares her cause of comming thether:
My Lord, oft hunting in these Partes, through trauell, night, or wether,
Hath often lodged in your House, I thanke you for the same,
For why? it doth him iolly ease to lie so neere his Game:
But for you haue not Furniture, beseeming such a Guest,
I bring his owne, and come my selfe to see his lodging drest.
With that two Sumpters were discharg'd, in which were Hangings braue,
Silke Couerings, Curtens, Carpets, Plate, & all such turn should haue:
When all was hansomly dispos'd, She prayes them to haue caer
That nothing hap in their default that might his health impaer.
And, Damsell, quoth she, (for it seemes this houshold is but three,
And for thy Parents Age that this shall chiefely rest on thee)


[Page 205] Doe me that good, else would to God he hither come no more.
So tooke she horse, and ere she went bestowed gould good store.

Full little thought the Countie that his Countesse had done so,
Who, now return'd from farre affaires, did to his sweet-Heart go.
No sooner set he foote within the late deformed Cote,
But that the formall change of things his woondring Eies did Note▪
But when he knew those goods to be his proper goods (though late,
Scarce taking leaue) he home returnes the Matter to debate.
The Countesse was a bed, and he with her his lodging tooke:
Sir, welcome home (quoth she) this Night for you I did not looke.
Then did he question her of such his Stuffe bestowed so.
Forsooth (quoth she) because I did your Loue and Lodging knoe,
Your Loue to be a proper Wench, your Lodging nothing lesse,
I hild it for your health the house more decently to dresse.
Well wot I, notwithstanding her, your Lordship loueth me,
And greater hope to hold you such by queat then brawles I see:
Then for my duetie, your delight, and to retaine your fauour,
All done I did, and patiently expect your better Hauour.
Her Patience, Witte, & Aunswere wrought his gentle teares to fall,
When (kissing her a score of times) Amend, sweete wise, I shall
He said, and did it: And your Grace may 
Phillip so recall.

But he (whoso he was) that thus had dubled Tales to cease
Queene 
Maries griefe, for 
Phillips guile, as well had hild his peace:
Her no perswading might disswade from pe
 [...]siuenes of hart,
Vntill that his Vnkindnes in her Deaths-Scene acts it part.
But howsoere or whatsoere her cause of death might seeme,
Her death did many a good mans life from Tyrannie redeeme:
For, as in Passion, so was she in Papistrie extreame.
And were not the abodement bad at her to end our Theame,
Our Cattell vnto stronger draughts we should and would vnteame,
But to the Head▪ land shall our Plough, vnles we breake our Beame.
Yeat ere we eare to it (for it shall be our Holly-day)
Of somwhat sayd and somwhat scapt rests thus much by the way.

[Page 206]

CHAP. XLIIII.

BEFORE we toucht (& little els) what Cour­ses hapt at home,
But now, in few, at forren Acts of Natiue Kings we rome:
Of 
Bri
 [...]tish and of 
English Kings, more famous than the rest,
This sparing Catalogue ensewes: whose deedes we thus digest.

* Ae
 [...]eas Off-spring famous 
Brute did set from 
Greekish thrall
Sixe thousand 
Phryg
 [...]an Knights; by him did 
Guyan▪ Guffer fall:
He conquering this Ile, his Name vnto his Conquest gaue:
And of his 
Cornish Cambries men couragious yet we haue.

* Torkes Builder 
Ebranke that subdu'de the 

 [...]imbrians and the 
Gawles,
And built the best of 
Scottish Townes, next in our Nomber falls.
*When 
Brennus and 
Belynus had Eight spacious Kingdomes wonne,
Had slaine two Consulls, sacked 
Rome, and matchles Armes had done,
And built ten Cities, best that be in 
Italie this day,
Those Kinglie Brothers, as must all, their debt to Nature pay.

* G
 [...]rg
 [...]nus slew the 
Dactan King: wonne Tribute: and the same
Gaue 
Spanish Exiles 
Ireland, whence our 
Scottish Nation came.

* C
 [...]ssi
 [...]lane did twice beate backe from 
Brittish Seas and Shore
The worthie 
Coesar, that but then was victor euermore:
And thirdly had preuailed but for 
Luds reuolted Sonne,
When as braue 
Nennius hand to hand of 
Caesar honor wonne.

* Guydar and 
Aruiragus wonne of 
Claudius Caesar spoyle:
The former in a second Field did s
 [...]out 
Vaspasian foyle.
*When as the wandring 
Scots and 
Pichts King 
Mar
 [...]us had subdude,


[Page 207] He gaue the Liuers dwellings, lesse than where they since intru'de.

* Constanti
 [...]s, wedding 
Coyls heyre, was Monarke of the West,
Who, with this Ilands Scepter, of 
Romes Empire was possest.
*Great 
Constantine, that worthely a Worthie might be said,
The 
Brittish Romaine Emperour, throughout the world obayd,
He made his Siege 
Bizantium, that retaines his name ere since,
And made (but so vnwitting marde) the Priest of Rome a Prince.

* Maximian as Emperiall and as valerous as any,
With 
Brittish armour did subdue both Kings and Kingdomes many.
*What speake we of great 
Arthur, of his Chiualrie or Court?
Precelling all, sole President of vertue prow's and port,
A King of many Kings, his Knights in all Exploits were seene,
He was in deede a Worthie, and the Worthiest of the Neene.
*Fiue Crownes King 
Malgo prized. *And in Battells fiftie fiue
Against the 
Mis
 [...]reants valiantly did King 
Alured thriue:


 [...]ollo (whose Seede should conquer vs) he hence did brauely beate:
That, ma
 [...]ger 
Fraunce, in 
Normandie his 
Scythian Troopes did seate▪
*He that re-monarchiz'd our Ile King 
Athelstone did slay
Sixe Kings, twelue Dukes, and countlesse tale of Heathen in one day:
The one of Nyne, his Knight Sir 
Guy, we touch but by the way:
Omitting other Kings and Knights, too long in few to say,
Of 
Brittish race a many, and of 
Saxon Princes some,
Whose blood by 
Normaine Mixture now is tripartite become:
O
 [...] (For, perhaps, from such Consort the 
Brutes casseerd will be)
Three blended blouds of Nations three hath giuen vs Natures three,
The 
Saxon prowesse, 
Dan
 [...]sh pompes, and 
Normaine Pollicee:
And of the 
Romanes and the 
Pic
 [...]ts we are no portion small:
Foure of which Nations 
Scythia bred, we thriuing in them all.

*KIng 
VVilliam, Englands Conquerour, from 
Rollo sixt, with pray
Of twice fiue hundred Townes in 
Fraunce vn-
 [...]o-met sayld away.

* Henry the second, vpon whom the 
Scotch-King tendant was,
(Which 
Scots their often ouerthrowes we henceforth ouerpasse,


[Page 208] Who to our Kings, Lords Parramounts, not warres but vprores bring)
Spoylde 
Frauncè, wonne 
Ireland, and deceast of 
Iuda chosen King.
*Next Lyon-harted 
Richard he wonne 
Cypris, Siria, and

Ierusalem, debelling quite the Sowldan from his Land:
He skalde the strong 
Aegyptian Oste, and king'd his Sisters sonne,
And plagued 
Fraunce and 
Austrich for the wrongs they had him don.
*First 
Edward made the 
Turks, Sauoies, the 
French, & 
Flemings trēble.
*The third so nam'd to them and moe did 
Mars himselfe resemble:
Whose Knights, in 2. 
Richards dayes, so tickeld 
France, and 
Spaine,
And parts 
Lugdinian, that no King but 
Richard seem'd to raine:
Ten thousand were his housholde: 
Scotch digests we here disdayne.
*The fourth and *fifth of 
Henries were as actious as the rest:
Especially the latter was the formost with the best.
*Not yeat Fourth 
Edwards honor from his Ancestors digrest.
On these doo vulgar Eares and Eyes so brimlie waite and gaze,
As they distaske our priuate Penne notorious Laudes to blaze.
Our Catalogue omitteth some for Artes and Iustice good,
Some natur'de well, aduised ill, some worthie 
Laethe flood:
Not one fore-cited but deserues at least an 
Homers Muse,
Although with 
Agamemnons Vaile 
Apelles shift I vse:
But colours to that Painter, Art vnto that Poet none
So good, to paint and prayse at ful our following Crowns, saue one,
Since 
Tuders Seede, 
Henry the Seauenth, ariued 
Englands Throne.

NOr superstitiously I speake, but 
H. the letter still
Might be obserued ominous to 
Englands good or ill.
First, 
Hercules, Hesione, and 
Hellen were the cause
Of warre to 
Troy, Aeneas Seede becomming so Out lawes.

Humbar the 
Hu
 [...]n with forren Armes did first the 
Brutes inuaide.

Hellen to 
Romes Emperiall Throne the 
Brittish Crowne conuaide.

Hengest and 
Horsus first did plant the 
Saxons in this Ile.

Hungar and 
Hubba first brought 
Danes that swayed heere long while


[Page 209] At 
Harold had the 
Saxon ende: at 
Hardiknought, the 
Dane.

Henries the first and second did restore the 
English Raine.
Fourth 
Henrie first to 
Lancaster did 
Englands Crowne obtaine.

Henry litigious 
Lancaster and 
Yorke vnites in peace.

Henrie the Eight did happelie 
Romes Irreligion cease:
The Father of our Mother Nurse, our common Ioyes increase.
Which double 
H. and 
H. H. heere our homely Poemes Lee,
He saue that salueth all our sinnes: And, God, voutsafe thou me
A prosperous Course in sayling through the 
Ocean deepe and large
Of her now-Highnes Scepter, for I heere assume that Charge.

[Page]

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE LORD, SIR GEORGE CAREY Knight, Baron of Hunsdon, &c.

THough late I wright, too soone I wot, I heere Occasion take,
(May this to none, wish I, but me Retreate to Sorowe make)
Both to remember Hi
 [...] We meant our Penn-Lee tore-use,
As to trans-patronize from him to you mine orphant Muse.
Not one aliue that shall not die, thrise happie then the same
That, as your Noble Father, shael suruiue them selues in Fame.
Both Epitaphes and Elegies his Ghoste hath many an one:
Alas, what can I say not sayde, or more than moend him mone?
Not matter more than much, nor more for 
 [...]ruth than matter skante,
Or lesse of Glorie than of both, would to his Poet want:
But, were a 
Non-plus of his Praise, all were but this in grosse,
His Good to his owne Soule is Good, his Death to vs is Losse.
What should I adde his auncient Creasts, and noble Petegrae?
Such as that 
Henrie (Primer of you 
Hunsdon Barons) bee
Your Lordshippe, to your Countrie, Prince, and such in high Degree▪
And such as you, when you are not, succeed the 
Careys blood
In stiil-Descents: and than this wish how may I wish more good▪
My 
Syrinx sounded first to you, and may eare long anewe:
B
 [...] you 
Mecaenas also to this Poesie doth ensewe.
His had it been, had he yet been, that had the rest, which now
Yeelds humblie yours, if it for yours your Lordshippe shall alowe.
Most humblie your Honors, William Warner.

[Page 211]

THE NINTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XLIIII.

AVert your eyes and eares, all yee, that enuie her the fame
Of more renowmed Regment than our fluent Thoughts can name.
Yee that conceite such Poemes as more learned not conceaue,
Reade not the rest, but silently euen at this line doe leaue.
Ridled Poesies, and those significantly flowe,
Differ in eares as doe in mouths the Apricock and Slowe.
Phisitians bylles not Patients but Apothecaries know:
Some moderne Poets with themselues be hardly inward so:
Not intellectiuely to write is learnedly they troe:
Whereby they hit Capacities, as blind-man hits the Croe.
Nor Those, not These, feare thou, my Muse, but mildly sing the prayes
Of these our present times, lesse grosse than those of elder daies.
Our world hath made it course that as the Moone doth wax & waine
From gold to siluer, then to iron, and now to golde againe.
Of whose faire-cured Leaprosie from former twaine to golde,
(For in a Quintessence was all eare Gods worlds-curse of olde)
The vndeluding Alcumist is that 
Elizabeth
Whom 
English, yea and 
Alients, hold a Goddesse on the Earth.

Elizabeth by Peace, by warre, for Maiestie for Milde,
Inriched, feared, honor'd, Lou'd, at wel meant Toyes hath smilde,
Let then 
Mnemosines controule, as well they may our Muse,


[Page 212] We shall such grace wheare we transgresse for Supersedias vse.

Phoebus, thine humbled 
Phaeton this second boone doth aske,
'That thou wouldst giue, and ioyntly guide, to, & with me, thy Taske:
Infuse 
Apollo too into thy selfe, thy selfe in me:
Yeat then our mightie Subiect threats will much omission be.
But what implore I Fictions? that I well imploye my penne,
Eternall God, say thou (which thou all-only canste) Amen.

When 
Iupiter and 
Arcas yong (the Sier, and Sonne) had clos'de

Saturnus in 
Italian Hell, not to be baylde suppos'de,
Then 
Proserpin, blacke 
Dis his wife, inlargd the Wrangler thence,
To vex her Sister, crosse her Siers and Brothers sownd pretence.
Then she, euen she whom 
Cynthia some, and some doe 
Pallas call,
(Yt skils not whether, Eithers lawdes doe aptly her befal)
By 
Saturne, Dis, and 
Proserpin, giltles molested longe,
Vnto the God y'clip't, 
I-Am, thus motioneth her wronge.
O mightiest Mightie, that of nought createdst all that is,
And gauste to Man (thy noblest Worke) him selfe, and all for his,
And, saue Obedience, didst impose on him no other Fine,
And, disobaying, didst redeeme his Losse with decrest Thyne,
Which selfe same Thyne, and still same-Oures, I also intercesse,
For thee professing being wrong'd, to haue at length redresse.
Scarce this was sayd when thus ensewd, the Three weare rapted hence.

Saturne and 
Dis confinde their Hells: 
Proserpin her offence,
Growen through Mis-Guides, Veniall perhaps, we censure in suspence,
And faire, lou'd, feard, 
Elizabeth heere Goddiz'd euer sence.

For me to wreste from 
Hercules his Club as easie weare,
As in the 
Ocean of her fame, with choysest sayles, to beare
That fraight, y
t with the 
Indiā wealth may more then much cōpare.
Yeat how 
th'Italian Feends did freat and hetherto inuaye
Against thy glory, gracious Saincte, weare ouerlong to saye.
But he that of a Prisnor thee so great a Prince did frame,
Thy louing, and beloued God, to thee is still the same.

[Page 213]
King 
Phillips-selfe (so doting on his Pope-created Crewe,
That, he it suffring, his owne Son and heire those Locusts slewe,
Because they feared he would proue vnto the Gospell trewe,)
Euen 
Phillip, now that raketh hell for rascall brybed Skomes
To ridde thee hence (indignities that badly him becomes)
Once had thee, then not hauing power to doe thee any harme.
It is the worke of God (let 
Rome vncursse, let 
Spaine vn-arme)
That thou art Queene, to plant his word, when we could hope it least,
When Ours, & all the Kings had cast their Crownes before the beast,
When greedely the Preists of 
Baal did for thy ruine gape,
Thou didst, vnharmde, the Lyons denne and firie Ouen escape.
Euen thē when Tryumphs were in hand, bells ronge, & bonfires made,
Because Queene 
Mary of a sonne deliuered was said,
Euen then, I say, God mortifide that womb, to bring to passe,
That vnto thee, his Queene-elect, no Issue letting was:
That soone Religion and our Realme might welcome wished peace:
Maiest thou, the Cause thereof, suruiue long after my decease.
But if it be his will, to whom are all Euents fore-knowne,
That Papistrie shall in our Land againe erect her Throne,
Let 
Spaniards, or what Tyrants els, be Masters heere, so thay
Take also with our Land our Liues, and rid vs out the way.
For not they only die, but die in lingring Torments, who
Fault to their Inquisition, o
 [...] their Damned Rytes must doe:
Then better Bodies perish than should soules miscarrie too:
Of neither which hath 
Rome or 
Spaine remorse, but thristing Sway,
Regard not whome, by whom, or how, they treacherously berray:
How oft haue they, the rest ore past, subborn'd our Queenes decay?
By wars, wiles, witchcrafts, daggers, dags, Pope, poyson, & what not?
To her haue they attempted death, for liewe the Traytors lot:
Vouchsafe, O God, those loues of thine be neuermore forgot.
Was neuer any thryued yet that threatned her amis:
For of anoynted Princes God sole Iudge and Rector is.
And if Examples might preuaile, then Traytors might perceaue,


[Page 214] They perish in their purpose, or but Spyders webbes doe weaue.
And heere occasion apteth that we catalogue awhile,
And vnto 
English Dukes, from first to last, addresse our Style:
Though numbers greater, & as great of power, did pryde begyle,
Yeat in this one degree obserue what headding and exile:
Yf then such Mighties felt Gods frowne, shal Meaners hope his smile?

CHAP. XLV.

EDward, surnam'd the blacke Prince, and third 
Edwards eldest sonne,
Third 
Thomas Duke of 
Norffolke, This did ende, and That begonne,
From 
Normaine VVilliams Conqueste heere of Dukes the Title hie:
Of fortie seuen, but twentie two a naturall death did die.

Edward y
e Duke of 
Yorke, that lead fifth 
Henries Vaward Knightly,
Then slaine at 
Agencourt with fame, we ouerpasse him lightly:
Nor 
Humfrey Duke of 
Glocester heere catalogue we rightly:
Nor 
VVilliam Duke of 
Suffolke, who, exilde, on seas was met,
And, hated, headded: howbeit sixt 
Henries Fauoret:
Nor 
Edmund Duke of 
Somerset, that 
Henries loued Peere:
Nor 
Humfrey Duke of 
Buckingham, to that same King as deere:
Nor sweet yong 
Richard, Duke of 
Yorke, of 
Glosters kyn too neere:
We also two 
Plantagenets, both Dukes of 
Clarence cleere,
Of which was 
Thomas slaine in 
France, George drownd in Malmsie heere:
For though these Eight remembred Dukes deceast not in their beads,
Yeat none of these had traytrous hearts that forfetted their heads:
Howbeit, otherwise, of these weare some that erred so,


[Page 215] That, stomack't for such Errors, did their ends vntimely groe.
Nor was the Duke of 
Ireland, Vere, in second 
Richards time,
A Traytor, but a Parasite, which proude no lesse a crime:
He as ambitious, as he was enuious, and enuied,
Was banisht by the Nobles, and in banishment he died.

Mowbreie of 
Norffolke (right or wrong) by foresaid 
Richard was
Exiled, and in 
Italie did hence to nature pas.
When second 
Richard was deposde, and 
Henrie wore the Crowne,
Two 
Hollands, to restore the one and put the other downe,
Conspiring, weare detected, and at 
Cercester they both,
Of 
Excester, and 
Surrey Dukes, found death in Vulgar wroth.

Richard Plantagenet, the Duke of 
Yorke, fourth 
Edwards father,
Sought to depose fixt 
Henrie, and was heard therein the rather,
For that to him by law-Descents the Scepter did acrew:
But they compound, howbeit warres were reard, and him they slew.

Iohn Holland, Duke of 
Excester, fourth 
Edwards sentence fleade,
And was long after in the sea suspuicusly found dead.
Then 
Henry, Duke of 
Somerset, rebelling lost his heade.
Of 
Edmund, Duke of 
Somerset, the like is also reade.
So 
Henrie, Duke of 
Buckingham, third 
Richards friend-foe speade.
And that tyrannous 
Richard, Duke of 
Glocester, his Raigne
Vsurped was suppressed, he for blood payd blood againe.

Iohn, Duke of 
Norffolk, fought, and fell at 
Bosworth field. His sonne
Duke 
Thomas, in Eight 
Henries daies, did heading hardly shonne,
Adiudg'd perpetuall Durance, in Queene 
Maries raigne vn-donne.

VVolsey, that slye, officious, and too Lordly Cardnall, wrought
(Who could & would effect his wil) that to the blocke was brought,
Eight 
Henrie raigning, 
Edward Duke of 
Buckingham, whose end
That Prelate ioyde, the people moend, because his foe, their friend.

Seimer, the Duke of 
Somerset, enuied more than reason,
By one that came the next to Blocke, though mightie at that season,
Sixt 
Edward in Minoritie, dide, quit although of treason.
No sooner 
Marie got the crowne, more liklie to be gon,


[Page 216] But 
Iohn, Duke of 
Northumberland, beheaded was anone,
Who wrought to set the Diedeme 
Iane Dudlies heade vpon.
Her Father 
Henrie Gray, the Duke of 
Suffolke, was also
A friend vnto that Faction, & the 
Spanish Wowers foe:
But by that act he lost his heade, as did too many moe.
In blessed Queene 
Elizabeth her happie Raigne of peace,
The Tragedies, and Tytles too, of 
English Dukes did cease,
Which 
Thomas, Duke of 
Norffolke, laste Tragedian, did increase.

All theis weare mightie in their times: yeat being Male-contents,
Both they, and hundreds powerfull Peeres, for like found like Euents:
Howbeit of the common wealth none worser did desarue,
Than such as flattred Princes faults, who faulting, all did swarue.
Which, in their Pollicie, the States of Hell did then fore-see,
When as they ioyned others, Aydes, vnto the 
Furies three,

Narcissus Shadowe, and the Voice of 
Eccho: than which twaine,
How fabulous so-ere it seeme, nought hath or more doth baine:
Wherefore to such as know them not we either thus explaine.

CHAP. XLVI.

WHeare 
Cadmus, old 
Agenors sonne, did reste and plant his Raigne,

Narcissus (of his Of spring) theare for beautie fame did gaine.
His Mother was 
Lyriope, faire 
Thetis fairer Daughter,
Whome cheefest as the choisest wowde, and braue 
Cephisus caught her.

Boeotia was the fertile Realme, 
Parnassus Plaine the place
Whear this admired Youth was borne, this Lass-Lad forme and face,


[Page 217] No Nymph so faire but wisht him hers, howbeit all in vayne:
His selfe-loue wrought his selfe-losse, & his beauty prou'd his baine,
Who, proud of Natures plentie, hild all others in disdaine:
Till God, who had created Man the fairest Creature,
(Howbeit but a shadow of his proper Feature,
More differing far than Sun-shine frō the Suns selfe-substance pure)

Narcissus ouer-scornfull pride not longer would indure,
But frō his forme, that pleas'd him most, his plague did thus procure.
As this same fond selfe-pleasing Youth stood at a Fountaynes brym,
And proudly sees his shadow theare, admiring euery lym,

Eccho, an amiable Nymph, long amorous of hym,
But louing, vnbeloued, now, at least to please her Eye,
Conuaies her selfe, vnseene, into a Thicket ioyning by,
And thear, as much ore-gone with loue, as he ore-gone with pride,
She hears, and sees, and would haue pleas'd three Senses more beside
And nothing more than euery part, thus stealth-seene, liked her,
And nothing lesse, than hidden with vnhidden to conferre,
For well it had contented then in more then sight to erre,
Although not meanely did his scorne gainst it her stomacke sterre,
Meane while the Lad (such power hath pride mens Senses to subdue)
Doats on his Shadow, now suppos'd to be a Substance t
 [...]ue:
And lastly wowes so formally in words and gestures sweete,
That 
Eccho found his error: and, he saying, Let vs meete,
Let's meete, quoth 
Eccho, mockingly: which, hearing, he with speed,

(Beleeuing that his shadow was a Nymph, and spake in deed,)
Did leape into the Fountaine, whear that Gallant, drowning thus,
Hath left example how like pride may cause like plague to vs.

How smooth-tongu'd 
Eccho, that for him in al, saue voice, did pine,
To quit his scorne, baind other Fooles, alike vain-glorious fine,
By soothing them, is 
Nas
 [...]es tale, no purpose here of mine:
But how 
Narcissus shadow and this 
Ecchos voyce, though they
Haue long bene dead, haunt now the World, is it we meane to say.

[Page 218]

PLuto, Minos, Radamant, and all th'infernall States,
Did pytch a Session, to correct Remisnes in debates:
Deuising Orders that on Earth might more Disorders be.

Tisiphone, Alecto, and 
Megaera, these same three
Weare shrewdly checkt, because it was obiected, though vntruely,
That they weare ydle, Hell lack't Guests, and men on Earth waxt ruly.
The hellish Potentates therefore a new Commission framed,

Narcissus ghost, and 
Ecchos voyce, therein of 
Quorum named.
These twayne, and those three 
Furies thus, Copattentees, leaue Hell,
And diuersly throughout the Earth to Soule-infecting fell.
Leaue we those others, labouring their Mischiefes farre and neere,
Whil'st 
Eccho and 
Narcissus are more badly busie heere.
Crab'd 
Saturne, & too-boystrous 
Mars, direct those Formers matter,
Soft 
Venus, and smooth 
Mercurie, giue Methode to these latter:
Those 
Furies roughly doe effect their tragicke Taskes, these Twoe
So slyely worke, that sweetly men their proper sorrowes wowe.
Heer-hence our gold-imbased World in view and valew fayld,
For 
Eccho and 
Narcissus much in many things preuayld.
Hence is it some of high estate themselues doe ouer-like,
Whilst deadlier wound them Ecchoing tongues than should a foe them strike.
Hence, whence dishonorde, some of them beleeue of men belyed
Their glozing Groomes, as Tyrants so by them they wrong enuied.
Hence oftentimes Authoritie lookes biglier than a Bull,
With Suters poore too sternely quicke, in helping them too dull.
Hence both in preaching, harboring, and humilitie, it is
Some Prelates sooth, be soothed, lead, and they be lead amis.
Hence Lawe, sometimes, as formde of waxe, through new refined wit
Of Iudge or Pleador, altereth sans certaintie in it.
Hence Martialists in Discipline and ordering their war,
Lesse happely, the auncient vse, conceitedly, doe bar.
Hence is it that the Lawyers more affect their fluent Tayle,
Than what is right, or whom they wrong, or how they speed, or fayle.
That Lawyer though who more by Art than right doth ouerthroe,


[Page 219] Consents to sinne, deceiues the Iudge, wrongs Right, is Iustice foe.
Hence flattred Gentrie proudly doth degenerat at last:
And some would be beleeued such, that of no Gentrie taste.
Hence Cittizens with Courtiours so doe vayne-it for the tyme,
That with their paper Ladders they euen stately Castels clyme:
Then proudly pricke the mounted Sers, the Harrolds, all to blame,
Will they, nyll they, vrging fees to gentellize their name.
Hence countrie Loutes land-lurch their Lords, & Courtiers prize thesame.
Hence worldlings so much studie wealth that they forget the vse,
And, drudges-like, presse out the Grapes, not drinking of the iuse.
Hence arrant Preachers, humming out a common-place or two,
With bad, ill, naught, Pope, pots, play, mack, keeping a fowle adoe,
Cogging, and cog'd-with, of a sorte of lazie knaues and queanes,
That they be Doltes, and preach to Doltes, will heare it by no meanes.
With those do these (who could they steale the Goose would stick the Fether)
The 
Brownist & the 
Barrowist, goe hand in hand together.
Hence is the fashion-Founder of new lockes, lookes, bas-le-maine,
And 
Iohn Deuisor in Attire, one Foole in persons twaine.
Hence, more than with our selues our selues, doe Flatterers preuaile:
They make vs proude of Virtues, knowne of vs in vs to fayle:
But lesse Man-slaughter hurts, than when Men-soothers say al-hayle.

Though 
Eccho and 
Narcissus haunte, and hurte, each Sex and State,
(Our States Superlatiue except, still one for right and rate)
Yeat cheesely they with women-kinde preuailed haue of late:
And thus of this two Gossips olde, together met, debate.

[Page 220]

CHAP. XLVII.

THE Younger of these widowes (for they both had thrise been so)
Trots to the Elders Cottage, hers but little di­stance fro:
Thear, cowring ore two sticks a-crosse, burne at a smoakie Stocke,
They chat how Young-men them in youth, & they did young-men mocke:
And how since three-score yeeres a-goe (they aged foure-score now)
Men, women, & the world, wear chaung'd in all, they know not how.
When we were Maids (qd. th'one of them) was no such new-found pride:
Yeat seru'd I Gentels, seeing store of daintie Girles beside.
Then wore they Shooes of ease, now of an inch-broad, corked hye:
Blacke karsie stockings, worsted now, yea silke of youthful'st dye:
Garters of Lystes, but now of silke, some edged deepe with gold:
With costlier toyes, for courser turns, than v
 [...]'d, perhaps of old.
Fring'd and ymbroidred Petticoats now begge. But heard you nam'd,
Till now of late, Busks, Perrewigs, Maskes, Plumes of Fethers fram'd,
Supporters, Pooters, Fardingales aboue the Loynes to waire,
That be she near so bombe-thin, yet she crosse-like seem's foure-squaire?
Some Wiues, grayheaded, shame not locks of youthfull borrowed haire:
Some, tyring Arte, attyer their heads with onely Tresses baire:
Some (grosser pride than which, thinke I, no passed Age might shame)
By Arce, abusing Nature, heads of antick't hayre doe frame:
Once starching lack't the Tearme, because was lacking once the toy:
And lack't we all those Toyes & Tearmes, it were no griefe but ioy.
But lawfull weare it some be such, should all alike be coy'


[Page 203] Now dwels ech Drossell in her Glas: when I was yong, I wot,
On Holly-dayes (for sildome els such ydell times we got)
A Tubb or Paile of water cleere stood vs in steede of Glas:
And yeat (which still I beare in mind) for it I schooled was,
Euen by an holy Fryer, that espyde me tooting so,
Who, softly stealing at my backe, cryde suddenly. Ho, Ho.
I, starting, turn'd and saw the Fryer, who, though no dyuell he weare,
Yeat, for he was a Fryer, I did for soule or body feare,
That is, least this weare pride (whereof I sharply now should heare,)
Or that the cockish Cowle-man (none but we alonely theare)
His ghostly calling layde apart, might carnally appeare:
But, meant he well, or mus'd he yll, my Mother comming in,
Mends all amys, and soberly the Fryer did thus begin.
Yong Damsels, and somtimes (quoth he) old Dotards vnawaer,
Doe thus offend, whilst thus they seeme vpon themselues to staer:
But what they see is not themselues: And then a Tale did tell,
How 
Eccho and 
Narcissus weare aucthorised from Hell,
That egging, & This acting pride, in Worldlings hearts to dwell:
And either oft in Mirrors and in Waters beautious seeme,
To curious Gazers inn, who those to be themselues do deeme.
Flye glas and water-tooting, Girle, 
Narcissus fall extreeme:
Feare flattrie too: for Men to Maides be 
Ecchos to subdewe,
The Fryer sayd: and all too soone I found his sayings trewe.
Yeat then he seemed to haue told a Tale but of a Tubbe,
Which three score Wynters-aged Sores euē now, do freshly rubbe.
My Parents they weare wealthy, and my selfe in wanton youth,
Was fayre enough, but proude enough, so Foole-enough in truth.
I might haue had good Husbands, which my desteny withstood:
Of three now dead (ah, griefe is drye, Gossyp, this Ale is good)
In faith not one of them was so: for by this drinke I sweare,
(Requarrelling the Cup, whose Lippes and it vnparted weare,
When th'other Beldamme, great with chat (for talkatiue be Cups)
The formers Prate, not worth the while, thus fondly interrups.

[Page 222]
WHen I (quoth she) the Countrie left to be a 
London Las,
I was not fayrer than my selfe beleeued faire I was.
Good God, how formall, prankt, and peart, became I in a trice,
As if vnto the Place it weare a Nature to be Nice.
Scarce entred I the Teenes, but that to Wed my will was hot:
Ye that be married, and intend to marrie, well I wot,
The Priest no sooner sayde, but I vpon my typ-toes stand,
As if that Lesson had concerned my selfe, euen out of hand.
The same proportion with my heart my groeth nor age did hold:
Dayes seeming yeares, when I, Vn-wead, was sixteene winters olde.
And growing was the greene Disease, which men in Maides doe cure,
When came a Louer, I, (for-sooth) becomming full demure.
For earst I had obseru'd this Arte, Delay giues men Desier:
Yeat lothe to hurt my haste, and least the Hansell should retyer,
I was not ouer coye, nor he to warme him at my Fier.
I'le blab (for why? for it and more that I in youth did doe,
Long since I passed ghostly shriftes, pennance, and pardons too)
Such match we made, that Maide, nor Wife, nor Widowe, left he me,
But with my Maiden-head he crost the Seas, and farewell he:
For from my fault could not, as chan'st, the Somner prole a fee:
My belly did not blab, so I was still a Mayde, and free.
It comfort should in losse to thinke we had not once to lose,
And what we haue as euer to be hild should none suppose:
But not in me this sentence hild: more eagerly than earst
I on the brydell byte, as loath to fast that late did feaste.
Swift gallops tier both man and horse, soone-hot, is soone-cold loue,
No Man, I meane, Loue-hot as mine, loues as the Turtell Doue,
And, in good soothe, a Sott is she, that cog'd-with cannot cogge:
As readily my Loue did gad, as did my Louer iogge.
Tush, in those times weare no such toyes as Gagate stones to trie,
By toysting them in Potions, if a Maide had trode awrie.
But this was rather currant, yea each holy Fathers lore,
That therefore Nature sweetneth Loue, that it the world might store.


[Page 223] Which made me thinke it then a sinne (so tender hearted I)
Beloued, not to Loue againe, indangring men to die:
(For so they swore they would, nor then beleeu'd I men would lye:
Whom now I know Camelions, whil'st to pray on vs they plye.)
Yeat better times were those than these for our auayle, for why?
Euen for good-fellowship at least then wert they roundly to it,
Now eare they loue (if euer loue) sententiously they doc it.
Who loues not for the Person but the Portion loues no whit,
But he that loues for onely Loue, doth reason quite forgit,
Say men, and article the Match, lesse by trew Loue than Wit.
Vngratefull Men, what would yee more than Loue for Loue? than we
Be close, neate, bountious, bucksome, and our bodies Masters yee?
Too curious, pettish, ielous, too imperious, too vnstable,
Are Men, say Womē: but to beat such Fooles with their own bable,
As when that I was yong, our Sex is now, troe I, as able.
Old doting Foole, one foote in graue, what prattell I of youth?
Contrition, not Shrift-pennance cure, if preach our Vicar truth.

Heere, after little pause, they prate confusedly, I wot:
Whose talke had often ended, had the Period been the Pot.
They tould how forward Maidens weare how proude if in request
How brybed, praysed, promisd fayre, men baddest out the best.
They talked of a Widowes teares, her haste againe to weade,
He gone forgot, his Orphant wrong'd, she spoyld, an Vnthrift speade,
They pratteld too of 
London Youthes, how late their headie gaer
Might haue inuited to a Sacke, wheare they prepos'd no shaer.
They talk't of times when Beastes could speake, of Foxes, and of Apes:
Much needles prattel, what through Drinke, and Dotage, them escapes
Yeat 
Ecchos and 
Narcissus Voyce and Shadowe (now as then,
Working against humilitie, of wantes the worst in men)
Caus'd them as thus to vse their prate, and me of this my penne,
And to these glorious Follies too those Furies say Amen.

[Page 202]

CHAP. XLVIII.

THE Monarch of that Continent that doth, in one, contayne
Fiue auncient Scepters (for he would the world weare wholy 
Spayne)
As 
Castile, Aragon, Nauarr, Granado, Por­tugaile
Be newly nam'd, yea 
India wheare 
Castillian Powres preuaile:
These, States in 
Affricke, Lumbardie, Peru, Assores, and
Both 
Cicells, Austra, Barbarie, Naples, with 
Netherland,
And many other Prouinces, by such ambition gott,
As giueth his 
Impressa life to verefie the Mot,
Him not sufficing (for it saith, 
the VVorld sufficeth not)
Euen he, I say, affecting Raygne in 
England, Almaine, Fraunce,
And all 
Europa, lately did an holy League aduaunce.
The Pope, Him-selfe, 
Sauoy, and 
Guise, therein Confedrates cheefe:


 [...]ome wroght by Bulls, 
Sauoy by Sword, 
Spayne yeilded 
Guise releefe,

Guise did religious Treason act: but all did fayle, in briefe.

Geneua is vnsacked, 
Fraunce yeilds 
Rome small profit, 
Spayne
By coste hath loste, 
England, through God, tryumphant doth remayne,

Nauar hath meanes to haue 
Nauar: and, when shall God so please,
The rightfull heire of 
Pertagale his Empyre shall re-seaze.
Ye Christian Princes, pittie him, in punishing his Fo,
That now afflicteth him, and would on you tyrannize so.
If one selfe-same Religion (if Religion 
Romistes haue)
If Natures Line, or Natiue Lawes, the Pope that so did craue,
If to haue had possest the Crowne, with 
Portagales applause,


[Page 225] Might haue preuailed, these and more had helpt 
Antonius cause.
But brybed Traytors, fraude, and force, have made the 
Spaniard such,
That 
Castile, from a Cronet leapt, thinksmany Crownes not much.
The great 
Nauarrois, Sampson, stauld the first 
Castilian King:
But badly 
Castile quits his loue whence did that honor spring:
And from his Line by trecherie the Diademe doth wring.
So, by what right or wrong so-eate, 
Spayne cloureth Crownes toge­ther
And aimeth, euen from 
Portugale, as is supposed, hether:
Not wanting 
English, willing to be hopled in that Teither.
But Traytors, Fooles, & Fugitiues, Whom prouendor doth pricke,
Ensew your proper sorow, leane vpon that rotten sticke,
Your kindnes shall not mis, at least, this kindly 
Spanish Tricke.

WHen 
Spaniards and their Partizens eare-while should vs inuaide,
In plotting of that Stratageme in Councell much was said:
Some of our Queene to be destroyde, of murthering vs some spake,
Some this, some that, but all of all an altred World to make:
Least 
English Papistes, then shut vp in 
Elie and els-wheare,
Meane time by vs might lose their liues, some One, by chāce did feare,
Which scruple was remoued soone by one, that well did know,
Not for religion, but a Realme, did 
Spayne that cost bestow.
Our drift (quoth he) a Conquest is, the Profit meant to 
Spaine,
Not that the 
English Papists should be Sharers of the gaine.
So hope they, but (so helpe me God) our pollicie wear small
That they should florish, nay, should liue, could we procure their fall.
Theare be they great alreadie, wheare we only great must be,
Whom, should they equall, woe to vs when we shall disagree:
Now that therefore which we cannot with honestie contriue,
Our Foes shall finish, if of them they leaue not one aliue.
Thus said he, not gaine-saide: for hang who shall so they may thriue.

This 
Maxime hath hild, and good, wheare they haue ouerthrone
By trecherous Agents, of the same they haue not trusted one:
Adde, than the 
Spaniard, prouder and more cruell People none.


[Page 226] Euen 
Cortes, that with cost and payne, rich 
India did subdew,
And gaue to 
Spayne his Conquest, found false Meede for Seruice trew.
So they that wonne them 
Portugale, and 
Naples spead, in few:
And too imperiously doe they, oppresse their Conquests new:
Yeat boast not perpetuitie, but 
(Spayne) this Patterne vew.

Caldea priz'd 
Assiria, and 
Assiria priz'd the same,
The 
Medes and 
Persians both, and them the 
Macedons orecame,
The 
Romaines thē, that Empier next had 
France, the 
Germaines now,
Which onely Title hardly doe the 
Spanyards them alowe,

Spayne hath 
Nauarre, that once had 
Spayne, wheare once crown'd wee their King,
And once did 
Spanish-Irish-Scots vs to subiection bring,
We 
Scots, French, Irish: too and fro thus often Scepters flye:
Yea to Posterities old names of Lands and Peoples dye.

Sicambries, Gawles, Picts, Vandels, Gothes, & 
Astrogothes, known late
In 
Europ by these names, haue chang'd those names, & 
Europs State,
And with the 
Spanyards, part of those, may alter in like rate.
Each Birde shall then remaunde her Plumes, and naked leaue your Iaye,
At least when 
Phillip shall decease: and why not eare that daye?
For power and prowse lacke 
Turnus Peere, yeat when his Fates with­stoode,

Iturna, no not 
Iunos-selfe, could doe him any good.
But Godhoode none in 
Indian Golde, & pope-buld hopes shall mis,
Nor 
Macedonian Phillips Sonne 
Castilian Phillip is:
But one who, whil'st he warres for ours, hath lost euen part of his.
Not onely 
Spayne thinke destinate in Pompe not to impaier,
Our liued long, that breathes, enuied, not els but odious Ayer:
And (which is monstrously too trew) Religion is pretext,
Where through the 
Spanyard and the Pope all Christendome haue vext.
Witnes their Powers, by Land and Seas, that threatned vs er'while:
Of it a word: and note how God did patronize our Ile.

[Page 227]

CHAP. XLIX.

THe 
Spanyards long time Care & Coste, inuincible surnam'd,
Was now a flote, whilst 
Parma to frō 
Flanders hither aim'd,
Like Fleete, of eightscore Ships & od, the 
Ocean neuer bore,
So huge, so strong, and so compleate, in euery Strength and Store.
Carikes, Gallions, Argosies, and Galliasses, such
That seem'd so many Castels, and their tops the cloudes to tuch.
These on the 
Lizardes shewe themselues, & threaten 
Englands fall:
But theare with Fistie Shippes of ours that Fleete was fought withall.
Howbeit of a greater sorte our Nauie did consist,
But parte kept Dyet in the Porte, that might of health haue miste,
Had 
Spayns Armada of our wants in 
Plimmouths Hauen wiste.
The rest had eye on 
Parma, that from 
Flanders armour threates:
Meane while Lord 
Charles our Admiral, and 
Drake, did worthy Feats:
Whose feareles fiftie Moole-hils bod their trypeld Mountaines bace,
And euen at first (so pleas'd it God) pursewde as if in chace:
By this (for ouer-idle seemd to 
English hearts the Shore)
Our Gallants did imbarke each-wheare, and made our Forces more
But in such warlike Order then their Shippes at Anker laye,
That we, vnles we them disperse, on bootles labor staye:
Not lacked Pollicie that to that purpose made vs waye.
Ours fyred diuers Shippes, that downe the Currant sent, so skaerd,
That Cables cut, and Ankers lost, the 
Spanyards badly faerd.
Dispersed thus, we spare not shot, and part of them we sinke,
And part we boord, the rest did flye, not fast enough they thinke.
Well guided little Axes so force tallest Oakes to fall,
So numbrous Heards of stately Hearts, flye Beagles few and smal.
Nine dayes together cha'ste we them, not actious, saue in flight


[Page 228] About Eight thowsands perished by famine, sea, and fight.
For Treasure, Shippes, and Carrages, lost Honor, Prisners tayne,
The 
Spaniards, hardly scaping hence, scapt not rebukes in 
Spaine.

Well might thus much (as much it did) cheere 
England, but much more
Concurrancie from one to all to stop that common Sore.
Euen Chatholiques (that erred name doth please the Papists) waer
As forward in this Quarrell as the formost Armes to bear:
Recusants and Suspects of noote. Of others was caer.
And had not our God-guided Fight on Seas preuailed, yet
The 
Spaniards, land whereso they could, had with our Armies met.
Our common Courage wisht no lesse, so lightly feard we Foes,
Such hope in God, such hate of them, such hearts to bar
 [...]er bloes.
Heere flam'd the 
Cyclops Forges, 
Mars his Armorie was heere,
Himselfe he sheads in vs, and with our Cause our selues we cheere.
But (which had scar
 [...]fide our wounds, if wounded, with the Balme
Of her sweete Presence, so applaus'd as in Sea-stormes a Calme)
Her royall-selfe, 
Elizabeth our Soueraigne lawfull Queene,
In magnanimious Maiestie amidst her Troupes was seene.
Which made vs weepe for ioy: nor was her kindnes lesse to vs.
Thinke nothing letting then that might the common Cause discus,
Wheare Prince and People haue in Loue a 
Sympathie as thus.

Howbeit Force, nor Policie, but Gods sole Prouidence,
Did cleare fore-bosted Conquest and behighted Thraldome hence.
He in 
Saneherib his nose did put his hooke, and brought
Him backe againe the way he came, without performing ought:
He fought for vs, Alonely we did shout and Trumpets sound,
When as the Walles of 

 [...]rico fell flat vnto the ground.
Y
 [...]a least (for earst did neuer heere like strong Supplies befall,
Like loyall hearts in euerie one, like warlike mindes in all,
Lesse spaer of Purses, more Fore-sight, and valiant Guides to act,
As shewde our hardie littell Fleet that battell neuer slackt)
Leaste these, I say, might haue been sayd the cause that we subdew'de,
Euen God, to Glorifie himselfe, our gayned Cause pursew'de,


[Page 229] Without our losse of Man, or Mast, or Foe once touching Shore,
Saue such as wrackt, wea
 [...]e Prisnors, or but landing, liu'd not more:
And as in publique Praiers we did his defence implore,
So being Victors, publiquely, we yeelded thanks therefore.
Her Highnes selfe (good cause she had) in viewe of euerie Eie,
On humbled Knees did giue him thanks that gaue her Victorie.

Remaineth, what she wonne, what Spaine & Rome did lose in fame:

Remaineth, Popes vse Potentates but to retriue their Game.

CHAP. L.

IF not with minds preiudicate, but holding in sus­pence
A while the Papacie, that takes and giues so much Offence,
With single hearts, and Eies, and Eares, al christi­an Princes would
Peruse the sacred Scriptures (as in verie deede they should)
Then might they iustly censure, how in 
 [...]owlines, or Pryde,
In Charitie, or Crueltie, how straite to God, or wide,
In Doctrine, and in Discipline, 
Rome hath, and now doth guide,
With still Prouisoes from the Laie the Scriptures light to hide,
Least should (as would, and cleerely doth) their Cosning be espide
 [...]
Wherby, euen 
ipso facto, is their Cause against them tride:

The sinne of Pride made 
Lucifer gainst God him selfe rebell,
And through that sinne he so sedu
 [...]'t that 
Adam also fell.
Then plaid he 
Rex ore all the Earth, except a faithfull Fewe:
Till Christ, incarnate, on the Crosse 
Synns Kingdome did subdewe.
Then Christ, was powrefull in the world, for Faith had practice right:


[Page 230] And what could more our Ghostly Foe then Faith & Practice spight?
His auncient Stratageme therefore to plant he casts anew,
And by the pride of only Workes from Faith a many drew.
Then were such Honors heapt on Popes, (Worlds-A
 [...]iects ere that time)
That 
Lucifer him selfe than they presum'd not more to clyme.
Their golden Legend, though not it autenticke be in aught,
To vs doth teach a Storie that to them might now be taught.

Theare was a Man of stature bigge, and bigge withall in minde,
For serue he would, yet One thā whō he greater none might finde.
He, hearing that the Emperor was in the world most great,
Came to his Court, was 
 [...]tertaynd, and, seruing him at meate,
It chanc't the Diuell was nam'd, wherat the Emperor him blest:
When as, vntill he knew the cause, the Pagane would not rest.
But when he heard his Lord to feare the Diuell his ghostly Foe,
He left his Seruice, and to seeke and serue the Diuell did goe:
Of heauen, or hell, God, or the Diuell, he earst nor heard nor carde,
Alone he sought to serue the same that would by none be darde.
He met (Who soone is mett) the Diuell, was intertayn'd, they walke,
Till, comming to a Crosse, the Diuell did fearefully it balke.
The Seruant, musing, questioned his Master of his feare:
One Christ, quoth he, with dread, I mind when doth a crosse appeare.
Then serue thy selfe, the Gyant said, that Christ to serue I'le seeke.
For him he askt an Hermit, who aduisde him to be meeke, found,
By which, by Faith, and works of Almes, would sought-for Christ be
And how & where, to practice these he gaue Directions sound.
Then he, that sko
 [...]nd his Seruice late to greatest Potentates,
Euen at a common Ferry now to carrie all awaites.
Thus doing long, as with a Child he ouer once did waide,
Vnder his Loode midway he 
 [...]aints, from sinking hardly stayde.
Admiring how, and asking who, was answered of the Childe,
As on his Shoulders Christ he bore, by being humblie milde,
So through Humilitie his Soule to Christ was reconcilde,


[Page 231] And, of his Carrage, 
Christo-fer should thenceforth be his name.
Then lett this popish Scripture, Popes, at least you Conuerts frame:
Of which Conuerting, 
Christo-fers yee thenceforth shalbe said:
If not, apply and perish in your 
Luciferring Traid.
Ye know, I know, that but in Christ may no Redemption be:
So your greate friend, our 
Gardner, on his death-bed could agree:
But to the Vulgars open not, gainst 
Rome, that gap, quoth he.
So miserable is your state who, seeing, will not see,
That 
Christofer, eare 
Christo-fer, was Atheist lesse than yee.

Well answered once a King of ours the Pope, that bod him free
Two P
 [...]elates, terming them his Sonnes: The King seem'd to agree,
But sent their compleat Armor: looke are these thy Sonne
 [...], quoth he.
False 
Hesket too not falsely spake, reporting lately this,
That such as Papists would seduce, and of seducing mis,
Are marked dead: For he to whom he so did say, feare I,
Earle 
Ferdinando Stanley, so dissenting, so did trie,
As other Peeres, heere, and els-where, haue found the like no lye.
Nor preached he the Pope amis, that did to him applie
This Tex, to witt: 
This is the Heire, come on and let him die,

Th' Inheritance let vs inioye: Nought seeke they els, for why?
Those bad be good that giue, those good be bad that Giftes deny,
From 
Annanias literall fault they Consciences would tye:
These death-eide Basilisques therefore in euerie Sense doe flie.
Be of Religion iumpe with them, in all their Toyes aff
 [...]e,
A 
Peter-Penny, if withhild, knocks all the rest awrye.
Hell, Heauen, Bulls, Pardons, Pope, and to be Pope, doth mony buy.
Yea, too blasphemous, they in
 [...]roch vpon the Deitie,
Though of these 

 [...]ifers haue been that perish through a Flie.
Each sinne gainst God, how vile so-eare, will Popes with Pardons fit:
Crosse but the Pope, pardon thou him, he will not pardon it.
For Faith his common Plea is sword and fire against his foes:
But who, but fooles, beleeue that Faith exacted is by bloes.
Than those three Mightie Emperors, Fift 
Charles, with 
Ferdinand,


[Page 232] And 
Maximilian, with the Pope did none more partiall stand:
Yeat suffred they the Consciences of Protestants in peace,
But 
Philip, nor the Pope will now their 
Inquisition cease:
Though Either suffer 
Iewes, and Stewes, because of Gaines increase.

CHAP. LI.

THis 
Spanish Inquisition is a Trappe, so slylie sett,
As into it Wise, Godly, Rich, by Blanchers bace as fett.
Direct or indirectly then to answeare all is one:
From those 
Inquisitors escape but verie fewe or none.
Euen so by racking out the ioynts, or chopping off the heade,

Procustes fitted all his Guests vnto his iron beade.

Aue Maria, Credo, and the 
Pater noster say,
In Latin, els they pennance thee, and take thy goods away.
Nay, these though said, both say and doe as they, yeat all for nought,
They will exact by Torture what thou thinkest, and hast thought,
Of Masse, the Pope, & Popish points, til in the Lapse thou fall:
Then, Mercie God, amongst those men no mercie is at all:
A bloodier Law vsde bloodierly was neuer heard or shall.
Tormenting men vntill they gesse by whom they are acus'de,
Which gessed, it against themselues for Euidence is vs'de:
As who would say, so be it must, because it so is mus'de.

Phillip, abusiuely seduc't, and World-deceiuing Pope,
Peruse all Lawes, euen 
Paganizme, past vnder heauens coope,
And rightly pondring those with this, thē speak your thoughts indeed,


[Page 233] Was not your 
Draco Sathan that himselfe could thus exceede?
Here adde for badde we might your League, if That of This had need.
O happy and thrise happy Realme of ours, and other Lands,
Wheare, touching death by Clergie-doomes, the Pollicie withstāds.

THen freated 
Paule, Pope 
Paule the Third, when 
Peter came in Plea▪
No Maruell, 
Luther preached gold, and glorie from his Sea.
But, see an helpe: 
Ignatius then conceited had his Sect,
And crau'd Confirmance of the Pope, which 
Paule did then reiect,
But when he heard that Orders vowe might cheefly him auayle,
Them 
Iesuists he incorporates: nor they his Pope ship fayle:
But for his onely Doctrine are Apostles, and as trew,
As to the Diuell the deadly-Sinnes to Popes this Order new.
Yeat these be those are vnder-hand deceiu'd whilst they deceaue:
Witnes the Gallowes, wheare for most they end those webbes they weaue.
For vnaduised are, me thinks, our 
Iesuistes in this,
In Cell-life since so strict, and here they hanging seldome mis,
That, for Applause at least (although euen so weare bacely badde)
They change not Treachers vnto them to whom from vs they gadde.
But better course than either weare secure at home to staye,
And theare with loyall hearts attend what Subiects should obaye,
Wheare no tyrannizing is ore the Conscience, though it straye.
And Men of ciuill Carriage, though in bodies not imployde,
Win good Report, they shiftles shame that wish their Home distroyde.

Young English Fooles, for cause too trew, we pittie you in deede:
First for ye are our Countriemen, then for that ye proceede
Gainst Scripture, Lawe, and Nature, and Fooles palpable, in that
Ye note not how your Follies make our English Foxes fat:

Allen at 
Rome, Others els-wheare, that liue hand-ouer-heade,
By tasking you to broach those Faultes for which themselues be feade.
Whilst these lie burrowed, safe frō skath, mongst you adoptiue Cubs,
They doe obserue the pregnanst witte, whom Discontentment rubs,
Of Atheist, factious, desprate, or vaine-glorious, him they schoole,


[Page 234] And then transport to 
England, thear to play the dangerous Foole:
Seduciugly insisting on performance of their vow,
That doth Rebellion, Regecide, and breach of Othes allow.
Though 
Dauid knew his Soueraigne 
Saul disfauored of God,
And might haue kild, and then bin crownd, such sin his soule for-bod.
Which of the Pa
 [...]riarks, Prophets, or Gods People, whilst they saru'd
Euen 
Ethnicks, traytrously vnto their owne Affections caru'd.
But thus do ye, nay worser, for your Darnell giddeth so,
As Gods Annoynted and Belou'd ye censure for his Foe:
But woorst of all, by murthring her to merite Heauen ye troe.

Put case the diulish Act were done, to scape yeat lacks your Charter,
And dead with Tormēts, not the pain, but cause, doth make the Marter.
Say that the Pope lacks Malice, Say your selues doe loue the State,
Too grosly yeat your Doctrine faults in things of greatest wate.
Which your Absurdities do our Diuines confute, I wot:
Ye say his Popeship cannot erre, We proue ye erre in, Not.
Nor in the Sacrament that Christ is really we hold.
Your Transubstantiation we iustly haue controld.
Yours for the Liuing and Deceast Propitiatorie Masses,
And Purgatorie, should we graunt, ye might conclude vs Asses.
Your Worshipping of Images, and Inuocating Saints,
And Supererogation, vs with your Defects acquaints.
Besides the Supper of our Lord, and Baptisme, we reiect
Moe Sacraments: Howbeit ye Fiue other doe erect:
As Confirmation, Penance, with Priest-Order, Marrage too,
And extreame Vnction. Ouer more too much applause ye doe
Works Meritorious. Of the Cup the Laye ye do bereaue:
And of translated Scriptures, so, vnspied, to deceaue.
D
 [...]ges▪ Vowes, Indulgences, Confession in the eare,
Dissoluing Subiects from the Faith they should their Princes beare,
Dispensing with the Scriptures, for Reuenge, to please, or gaine,
Your Pardons, Pilgrimages, and your halowed Paltries vaine,
Pope, and what-so is Papistrie, well may we call profaine:


[Page 235] Ambitious 
Rome, that for thy Pompe not sparest Soules to baine.
Once weart thou truly Catholique, corrupted fouly now,
Not outed quite the Church, A Sparke in her we thee allow:
And wish thou weart, as then thou weart, when as the Fathers good,
As touching Anti-christ, and whence, in both mis-vnderstood.
No Maruell, euen to 
Daniels-selfe in Mysterie it was:
And dye did those good Fathers ere that Scripture came to pas.
But now, who-so can Anti-christ but etymologize,
And knowes the Pope and 
Rome, the Place and Man of sinne descries.
Sheep-clothed Wolues, Christs 
Pro-contra, the Popes haue bin & be:
No place but 
Rome for Anti-christ, none but the Pope is he.

CHAP. LII.

BVt humaine Purenes none is such, but it to err
 [...] is knowne:
Thinke not we labour here your Faults, and o
 [...] ­uer-leape our Owne.
For in the best of men the Flesh and Spirit com­bat still:
One thing the Spirit, and the Flesh the contrarie doth will.
We Vertue praise, but practise Vice: possessed weale we flye,
And tract off woe. At Heauen we ayme, but with a worldly Eye.
Our selues we loue, yeat than our selues we haue no crosser Foe.
For peace we warre, a peruerse warre that doth our selues ore-throe.
At once we burne, and are key-cold. We seeme to stand that fall:
To heale that hutt. We brag of bad. We dye ere death doth call.
We triumph while we are subdude. We blisse our proper baine.
We gladly doe subiect our selues vnto each giddie Vaine.


[Page 236] Our gadding Thoughts conceite the Cloudes, our selues meane while for got.
Our Nay is Yea, our Yea is Nay: we will, and then will not.
Our Soules like this, our Flesh lusts that As 
Proteus changeth, so
Doe our Affections: and our Thoughts be shifting too and fro.
Euen 
Hydra-like we flesh our Faults: our Mindes doe wauer still.
Our selfe-Conceits be winged: and we flie from good to ill.
Our Peace with Discorde breedes our woe: the Contrarie our Ease.
We neuer doe but plague our selues, whilste that our selues we please.
We would be we, as if not we. Vs Plentie maketh poore.
We, partiall, blame, inable, and disable vs eremore.
All these, and wilfull Sinnes besides, to vs with you and all
Too common we confesse. But of our Doctrine speake we shall.
Propitious be to vs, O God, that Faith haue practise too:
Which we omit as Publicanes, as Pharisies ye doe.
Our Doctrine though is Gospell, yours Traditions but of Men:
Enough of Yours: Examine Ours by Touch of Scripture then,

VPon the onely Scriptures doth our Church Foundation lay:
Let Patriarchs, Prophets, Gospell, and th'Apostles for vs say:
For Soule and Body we affirme, are all sufficient thay:
Yeat ye adde Canons, part corrupt, some Bookes ye quite denaye.
We by the Hebrew, and the Greeke, their primer Pennes, expounde
Each Scripture, by the eldest Clarks, whē doubtful Textes be found:
Not by the Latin onely, as ye would that all weare bounde.
So farforth yeat the Fathers and the Councels we approue,
As doe their Expositions tende to sincere Faith and Loue.
Els fully Scriptures, in themselues, explaine themselues, say we:
I
 [...] searched with that humble Spirit by which they written be:
Through which is ofte from literall speech a spirituall sense set free,
Vpon which sense the Catholique Church did, doth, and must agree.
Nor doth our Church admit, at least allow, of those in her,
That teach not Faith sincerely, winne to Heauen, from Hell deter,
That with new Glozes tainte the Text, or such as be vnreade


[Page 237] In that sweete Promise of the Seede should broose the Serpents head:
The 
Alpha, and 
Omega, of all Scriptures, and whereby
Of grace, through faith in Christ, our Soules reuiue, and Sin doth die:
Our Church affects, how so effects, such pure Theologie,
And Guides, and to our Naturall Prince, graunts sole Supremacie.
Gods Cou'nant with the Patriarchs, and extending to the Seede,
Vs Gentiles to coequall is a Primate in our Creede:
And Christ we know the ende of it. In Circumcisions place
Is Baptisme. And intirely we the Tables Two imbrace
Which God himselfe in 
Synai wrote, and gaue to 
Moses then,
To publish to the people, Two Commandements in Ten:
Scriptures 
Idea, couched in our Loue to God and men.
Th'Apostles, 
Athanasian, Nice, and 
Bizain Creeds we hold
Autentick, by the holy Spirit in sacred Writ inrowld.
One Godhead of three Persons, in coequall Maiestie,
Doe we beleeue: of whom the Sonne did for Beleeuers die:
The only Ransome that redeemes from 
Sathans Tyrannie:
Euen Christ, the Way, the Truth, the Life, not crooked, glozed, fraile,
But right for Rule, in Promise firme, in Guerdon near to faile:
Who to reproue the bad, approue the good, and to assure
The Wau'ring, and against the Diuell our safetie to procure,
Did, giltles, die, that we, lost Soules, might liue: naught els did make
That he, his Deitie adiorn'd, did humaine Nature take:
Nor, glorifide, disclaimes he vs, vnles we him forsake:
And what is fruitles Faith, but such 
Apostasie? and what
Ensues 
Apostasie, but to be doomed Dam'd for that?
No Doctrine, or Traditions, we hold currant, saue the same
That Gospell, or th'Apostles Acts, or Pennes, include or name.
Baptisme, incorporating vs in Christ, and vs in one,
Christs misticall last Supper, whear in Signe his death is knowne,
Be Sacraments, except which twaine, doe we accept of none.


[Page 238] By only Christ our Aduocate we to the Father pray:
Nor thinke we Saints deceased can our Sutes to him conuay:
Howbeit still most reuerently of Saints we think and say.
Vnnecessarie Burthens, on our Christian Freedome laide,
Contrarie these, that but beleefe, and vertuous life perswaide.
Yea only Faith doth iustifie, say we, of Gods free grace,
By Christ: not Faith is idle, but doth Charitie imbrace.
Who may, but will not helpe doth hurt, we know: and curious thay
That, dribling Almes by Arte, disband wel-Meant frō wel-Dons pay:
And he that questions Ones distresse, and doth not helpe indeuour,
Than he that sees, and nothing sayes, or cares, is lesse Deceiuour.
Then hope we health when sinne is felt repentantly in heart:
Adde then new life, and we to God, God doth to vs conuart:
Thus 
Peter vsde his Keyes, not thus play Popes S. 
Peters part.
For Cleargie-men, and Laye, our Church hath godly Discipline:
Lawes worthie better than sometimes are those the Lawes define.
Our Princes in their Policies and Lawes doe we obay:
Though God his Cause they seek to crosse, yeat we for thē do pray,
In patience, not peruerse Attempts, for better times we stay.
Not as denide, but as deuout we doe and should abstaine
From Meates euen meete, the proude Flesh frō sins excesse to waine,
Which, shuld we skāt, & yet be dronk with lust or like were vaine:
Saue also publique Policie doth publique Sparing craue,
In Fasts or differences of Meates, no other keepe we haue.
Almes deedes, and workes of Charitie we practiuely professe,
And follow Saints as they did Christ, & leaue whear they trāsgresse:
Such, and so much, as sayd, are we: forgiue vs, God, if lesse.
For godly though Religion, Prince, and Policie they are,
Yeat things, that of themselues be good, abuse brings out of square,
And sundrie Faults in sundrie Folks we sometimes must forbare:
Howbeit with best gouernd States our State may now compare.

[Page 239]

CHAP. LIII.

A Wise man liuing like a Drone, an old-Man not de­uout,
Youth disobedient, Rich-men that are Charitie without,
A shameles Woman, vitious Lords, a Poore-man proudly stout,
Contentious Christians, Pastors that their Function doe neglect,
A wicked King, no Discipline, no Lawes men to direct,
Are Twelue the foulest Faults that do all Common-wealths infect:
In most of all which Twelue erres not, or much in any one,
Our State, respecting this, of some, Lawes not abused none.

Our God-blest Queene, 
Palladium of our happie publique Weale,
For worth so farre beyond all words, we one only touch in zeale.
No Realme than ours hath wiser Lawes, for euery Right & Wrong:
Nor is through Meed, or Meanes, the Weake betraied to the Strōg,
Though of vn-Quaifed Iudges some is sung another song.
But who the Person, not the Cause, respecteth, hath forgot
The Creator of Persons, who and Iustice differ not.
A Councell watchfull for the State. Our Benches euery wheare
Supplide with Iudges learned, iust, and such as God doe feare.
Winke here and there at Auerice, Incharitie, and Pride,
And better Cleargie than is ours not 
Europe hath beside.
Say me, who can, whether Extreame hath harm'd Religion more,
That old of theirs too prodigall, or This of ours too poore?
Then Giuing gaue too slack a Raine, now-Gleaning curbs too sore.
By Slauerie and by Symonie now Church-Preferment comes:
Like 
Nabal and to 
Helies Sonnes get Church-men vp their crōmes.


[Page 240] Too much, too little, or a meane, sort out alike, we see,
House-keeping, nor Humilitie, in any of the Three.
Be hospitalious, Churchmen: Lay, cease sacrilegious sinne:
Your Soules-sore, but their Stores-salue, whence, euē whiningly, they winne,
By pinching from the Pulpet, and their Purses, with this note,
Scarse will their Studies stipend them, their wiues, and Children cote.
And verely it is a fault, and maimed Learnings Foe,
That Church-Possessions should amongst the Laye be shared so.
And verely it is a fault, if so the Cleargie liue,
As theirs to take be thought no Sinne, nor Meede to them giue.
Almightie euerlasting God, which only work'st great wonders,
Amend such Pastors, and vnite thy Flock that 
Sathan sunders.
No one thing quailes Religion more than foundring Presbytrie:
Each S
 [...]ot, impugning Order, saieth, and doth his Fantasie:
Our Booke of Common prayer, though most sound Diuinitie,
They will not reade, nor can they preach, yeat vp the Pulpet towre,
Thear making tedious Preachments, of no edifying powre.
O learned Seers, whose good liues and Doctrine doe agree,
(Not barren is our Land of such) heer-hence vn-meant are ye:
To you, in Reuerence and Reward, may nothing wanting be:
T'is only wisht your work from Dolts, your Hiues from Drones were free:
T'is wisht in These, in Fugitiues, in Papists, and (more bad,
Whom to perswade to reason, were with reason to be mad)
In 
Calophantick Puritaines, amisse amendment had.

THese Hypocrites for these three Gifts to their 
Lauerna pray,
Iust to be thought, all to beguile, That none their Guiles bewray:
Their Arte is fayning good they want, and hiding bad they haue:
Their Practise is selfe-praise, of praise all others to depraue.
On Loue, say some, waites Ielosie, but Ielosie wants loue,
When curiously it ouer-plus doth idle Quarrels moue.
Best Puritaines are so ore-zeal'd: But should I terme the rest?
Inhospitalious, Mutinous, and Hypocrites the best,


[Page 241] Insociable, Maleparte, foxing their priuate good,
Exiling hence wel-neere al Troth, meete Sports, & Neighbourhood,
Learnings Foes, contemptuously by them be Lawes withstood,
Self-pleasers, Skorners, Harlots, Drones, against the Haire in all:
Of their extreame, whence Atheisme breeds, be warning 
Hackets fall.
If euer 
England will in ought preuent her owne Mishap,
Against these Skommes (no terme too grosse) let 
England shut the gap
Their giddie heds gaue colour first that 
Spayne gainst 
Flaūders arm'd,
And thē their Coūtries Foes they helpt, & most their Coūtry harm'd.
If Hypocrites why Puritaines we terme, be ask't, in breefe,
T'is but an 
Ironized Tearme, good-Fellow so spells Theefe.
Well-working single-hearted Men in silence (such be some)
Will not apply, but saintish, not in Deede, but by the Dromme.
To Vnion that our stablisht Lawes for publike Prayer ties
Not all, is wondred, and offends obedient Eares and Eyes.
The rather, for knowne Humorists, Sots, noted Mal-Contents,
Here innouate: and each one to a diuers Sect conuents,
Too much irreu'rent, in, and to, the Church and Sacraments.
But leauing these, retier we to ill-drifting 
Rome and 
Spayne,
Whō doth our Queene, next vnder God, frō 
Europs Spoyle detayne.

[Page 242]

THE TENTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. LIV.

IN 
Scotland, France, & 
Netherland, whilst 
Phil­lip, and the Pope,
Did Swordes, and ciuill Tumults broach, of pri­zing them in hope,
Her Highnes, through the highest Power, ina­bled was to ayde
Those Countries, to defend her owne, and 
Phil­lips to inuayde.
Of 
Scotland first, and then of 
France, and 
Belgike shall be saide:
When first of othe
 [...] things shall be this short Remembrance made.

It is a saying auncient (not autenticall, I win)
That who-so 
England will subdew, with 
Ireland must begin.
Imagine 
Stukelies onely name includeth all that's ill:
He forging worth, and to our State Maleuolent in will.
Of bounteous Pensions was therefore possest in 
Spayne long while,
Vntill (for it a Nature was in 
Stukelie to begile)
The King, whom he had cozen'd long, him purpos'd to exile.
Then for the Pope the Fugitiue a welcome Agent was:
(For nothing ill, might worke vs ill, hath 
Spayne and 
Rome let pas)


[Page 243] Of him he had an Armie, that for 
Irelands Conquest sayles:
When through a fight in 
Barharte that Expedition fayles.
But how had guiltles 
England then deseru'd such hostile Spight?
Her Rebell why relieued they? why arm'd they him to fight?
Why did? (why doe I aske that know the 
Spanyard so ambitious,
The 
Remaine Prelate pompious, and, which more is, auaticious?)
Why did, I say, Pope 
Pius Bull, and 
Gregories Calfe disqueate
Our Sou'raigne, and her Subiects, that did neuer them mis-treate?
Vnles for Princes to giue Lawes to theirs be to offend
Proud 
Spayne, and 
Rome: if so, as so, let God the Quarrell ende.
What else had 
England done, whē they did foster there, with more,
Our Traytor 
Moereton, sent from them to stirre an here-Vprote,
Which cost the North, two northerne Earles, and their Consorts full sore?
He whispring, how that Bull had made 
Anathema our Queene,
Deptiu'd her all Authoritie, discharg'd her Subiects cleene,
Blest all her Foes, curst all her Friends, left 
England Anies praye,
And all for damned that did ayde or her in ought obaye.
So arrogant, malitious, and mischieuous is that Bull,
That 
Belzebub, the Prince of hell, appeares in it at full.
Why sent they it by 
Felton to be bishoped at 
Paules?
Why fe'ed they 
Fitz-Morrice, that in 
Ireland marshal'd Brawles?

Saunders, that false seditious Priest that fortified theare,
Why march't hee with their Ensignes? Why did they those charges beare?
They shooke our Hiue, & forst vs forth to sting thē when they fee'd
False 
Desmond, and the Rebell now, that as the rest shall speede:
For God against all Traytors hath assured wrath decreede.
These Sturres, and more in 
Ireland, and a many Treasons heere,
Haue they abetted, to the King of Catholikes full deere.
More than his paper Pellets too the Pope hath been at cost:
His Alchumie, a dram to win, a pound of Gold hath lost.
Was it for loue they did erect Receptacles for Ours?
Or so by schooled Treacheries to adde vnto their Powrs?


[Page 244] Their 
Iesuists, our 
Iudasses, act so remote from Loue,
As Faiths Relaps, Rebellion, and to Rege-cide they moue.

Story, insatiate of the blood of Martyrs, and a many
Blood thirstie Priests, bloodier than whom nor hath nor might be any,
Tutting their Naturall Princes death, and Ruine of our State,
Doe they, and then did nourish, when twixt vs seem'd no debate.
That 
Spanish-Iewish Atheist, and Lop-heauie-headed Leach,
(Vnworthy a Physitions name) fowle 
Lopas, we impeach,
And 
Parret, that aspyring Knight, hence bryb'd for duties breach:
Hence haue been poysned of our Peeres, whom Bribes could not ore­reach.
But what are these, and more than these, to it the 
Guizian Scot,
Fatall to Seas of blood, and to her owne by earned lot,
Did with our Foes against our State and Soueraignes life complot▪
Wherein King 
Phillip and the Pope especially weare hot.

Here, but in Reuerence of her Sonne, an happie Prince in all,
Religion, Peace, his Subiects Loue, of Emperie not small,
Precelling his Progenitors, a Iusticer vpright,
Yea ouer-long it weare we should Particulars resight,
How Nature, Wit, and Virtue, decke his body, words, and minde,
Or, if his Fames Deminatiue in any thing we finde,
It is but part of Maiestie, through Puratizme declynde,
Yea, if for him, whom (and deseru'd) we haue so firme a frend,
It might, I say, be spoke, not thus of 
Marie should we end.
Her Fauoures vnto 
Dauid Rize, offensine to the King
His Highnes Father, but for him in Storie would we bring,
With hers, and 
Bothuels double wrong to Eithers married Bead,
How they wrought 
Paricidie, how the treacherous Couple wead,
How, odious to their Owne, with hard escape of liues they flead,
How, since our Prisnor, blood she sought, & much through her was head,
Yea all that 
Buchanā doth wright should largely here be read.
Yeat not her Infancie should be vpbraided with the blood
Of many thousand slaughtred Soules, when periur'd 
Scots withstoode


[Page 245] Her Marriage with Prince 
Edward, which Eight 
Henrie swore thē to,
When they esteem'd vs Hereticks (so Papists Oathes vn-doe.)
But, for th'aforesaid Reuerence, touch we but Hers and Her,
That, indirectly, heer did her abortiue Clame prefer.

CHAP. LV.

KIng 
Iames the fourth, that fayld his faith, and lost for it his life,
Had 
Iames the Fift, by 
Margaret, our Daugh­ter, and his Wife:
Fift 
Iames, through Melancholy ends, for Ours gainst him good chance,
And left this 
Marie, whom the 
Scots, an Infant, wead to 
France:
Thus, from Seuenth 
Henries Daughter, she her Title did aduance,
But howsoere by blood, or by our Lawes, she here could clame,
T'is sure, too soone, and treacherously, she did preferre the same,
And first and last vnto our Queene her selfe a Foe did frame.

Our 
Marie was no sooner dead, but that her 
G
 [...]izards arme,
And into 
Scotland Locusts-like in her Pretext did swarme:
Whilst she, in 
France, did vndertake our royall Armes and Stile:
Behoou'd therfore our Queene to stand vpon her Guard meane while.
Lord 
VVilliam Graie, our 
English Mars, not Martiall more than wise,
Did with an Armie hence pack thēce our dāgerous Neighbour 
Guise:
Nor died few of Either part, whilst 
Marie thus would rise.
Since when the League did oft her Right, with wrong too much, sur­mise.
Of Cōquests 
Spayne, of Cōuerts 
Rome, our Queene doth cheefly ba
 [...]r,
Gainst her therefore they chiefely wrought Conspiracies and Warre:


[Page 246] And not for 
Maeries Title, or her any virtuous Giftes,
Thinke that they her inleagued, but from her to plot their Driftes.
Her selfe meane while, false-Paradi'zd, besybbing 
Aesops Croe,
Vain-glorious through the Foxes gloze, did ende her song in woe.

Sufficeth what is said before, to shew wherefore she flead:
Here was she taken, whom if 
Scots had taken, had been dead:
Put vnder Guarde: and so was meete should one that quarreld Ours,
And not her selfe alone, but had Abbettors forren Powrs.
Yeat Princely her Allowance, and more stately, as is sayde,
Than had she been in 
Scotland: nor was Libertie denayde
Of Hauking, Hunting, and Disports: that, had she been content,
Her merriest and securest daies a Prisoner she spent.

Scotland, though labourd of our Queene, would not receiue her and
Such Treacher, though imprison'd here, prou'd she to either Land,
That death awaited her at Home: and had we let her goe,
She was the Leagues shot-Anchor might our Queene and State o're­throe.

Percie and 
Neuell, auncient Earles, This yet in 
Spanish paye,
(Though bacely ill, too well for him his Countrie would betray)
That other headed, both her Wreckes, wee touch but by the way.
With that succeeding County, who concurring with his brother,
Once pardon'd, still conspyred and (Lawes Progresse so to smother)
Dispatcht himselfe: 
Paget and moe, like guiltie as those other,
Whose faultes & falls had 
Rome & 
Spayne their Father, her their Mo­ther,
Omit we. 
No
 [...]folks House, from first of 
Howards made a Prince,
Though fauor'd of the Commons, haue defected euer since.
As 
Absolom vs'd Curtesie but as Ambitious smoake,
Last 
Thomas Duke of 
Norfolk
 [...] so did his aspyring cloke,
Whō promis'd faith once fre'ed, but that promise soone he broke.
Him for Confedrate with those Earles, rebelling Proofes did touch:
And with this 
Scottish Queene that he Intelligence had much:
Her Marriage that he closely sought, and her Escape pretended,
And in her Right, had fadg'd their wrong, her Highnes Raine had en­ded:


[Page 247] Of Rising neer to 
London, and to take it Plots they layde:
From 
Netherland the 
Spanish King had promised them ayde:
From 
Scotland into 
Spaeyne should be the Infant-King betrayde:

Ireland meane-while with aduerse▪ Armes should also be ore-layde:
And hereof, to, and fro, the Pope, weare Letters still conuayde,
All which, and more, directly prou'd, he, pi
 [...]ied, lost his head:
Nor ought his death, from being such, did stand his Sonne in steade.
So hardly finde we Great-men in their Greatnes satisfide,
Or for their Greatnes, not to be of other Men enuide.
But what is All to those haue All, when but in Trifles crost,
Disgrace, or Greese, or Grudge, vn-queare no lesse than all weare lost?
Conclude we then, all Riches, Forme, Pompe, Worlds-Applause, but Winde:
Conclude we then, to Monarchize is to cōmand the minde.

Throckmorton yeat, more priuie and more practising than those,
With her, 
Mendoza, Papists here, forren, and Land-leapt Foes,
Did Mischiefes that imported more our practiz'd State disclose.
But when of 
Parry, Babington, and their Attempts I thinke,
With whome this 
Scottish Lady in their bloody hopes did linke,
All foresaid Practises seeme then Epitomies to it
Whereto these folliall Traytors did themselues and Senses fit.

Our Centinels, almost too late, the Larum bell did ring,
Yeat hardly then to arme her selfe our Generall they bring:
The Queene of 
Scots frō Ours almost her Crowne & life had priz'de,
Eare to preuent the same she would, by audience, be aduis'de.
When gentle Durance might not salue that Daunger, did remaine,
(Which God, and Nature tolerate) slea rather than be slaine:
To which our Parliament aduis'd our Queene, but long in vaine▪
So far was she from foing her, that sought her life and Rayne.

[Page 248]

CHAP. LVI.

NOw thirtie sixe our greatest Peeres and States had power to heare,
And to determine, and, as found, her to con­demne or cleare,
By Statute passed in our Queene her seuen and twentith yeare.
These noble Tryers, iustly then examining the Cause,
With reuerent Note of her, who heard and spoke to euery Clause,
Did, after diuers Daies so spent, adiudge, by Verdict trew,
Her guiltie of most trayterous Conspiracies, not fewe:
And then from 
Fotheringhaye themselues to Parliament with-drew.

Of this Infection, that our Peers and People had, and would
Remediles impoyson, if not medeine it we should,
By some Decision of the Lymme whence all the bayne did floe,
Our publike Weales Phisitions much did argue to and froe.
Did neuer English Parliament, fully conuented then,
Consist of Noblier, Learneder, Wiser, and Worthier men:
By these it was debated how this common Foe might liue,
Without her death whom God to vs a common Blisse doth giue.
Much was it labord, wished much some Course herein might holde,
But to resolue of any none had reason to be bolde.
Her still obdurate Malice to her Maiestie was cleere:
If she preuaild, Religion was assurd an Altring heere:
Our Nobles Crocodile, at home, and hence, our Foe-hop't Head:
Then must our Queene, Religion, Realme, or She for them be dead.


[Page 249] Wherefore from Either House were sent the chiefest Men, to craue
Her Highnes that the passed Doome might Execution haue:
Whereof She askt to be aduisde, and (earnest her to saue)
Dismissed them with louing words, and biddeth them expect
Her Answer shortly: nor did She the sending it neglect:
Though contrarie to it that all did, hopingly, affect:
For she, perplexed in that case, did lastly them direct
To studie Meanes how Both might liue, the Perill ouer-past:
Which much amaz'd: yeat solemnly they handell it at last.
Mercie to her, Malice in her might happily preuent,
Was sayd, but not resolu'd, for oft she Mercie vnder-went,
When rose the Earles, and other times, yeat neuer did repent,
But of our Queene to be destroyd had made her Testament.
A straiter Garde, Bonds, Hostages, were also nam'd in vaine:
For, should she prize our Queene, who then durst her or thē detaine?
Or what were these to recompence the Losse we should sustaine?
For Loyaltie to take her Oth, was thought to purpose small:
Such Othes she oft had falsifide, nor thought it Sinne at all
To breake them to an Heretike (our Queene so Papists call.)
To banish her, were to possesse our Foes of their desier,
For vs to rid away the Smoake, and runne into the Fier,
To set her free to make a Head for them against our Queene:
In few, no safetie for vs, but in her Death was seene.
So wholly by the Parlament concluded was, and so
Reported to her Maiestie, still pitying her Foe.

In more sententious, learned, and delibrate sort, than I
Can set it downe, past all toucht heer: So did her Maiestie
In answering earst, and now to them her Aunswer Aunswer-lesse,
Sweet Adumbrations of her Zeale, Mercie, and Wit expresse.
But with her Oracle that bod them do, and doe it not,
Play'd they as 
Alexander did with King 
Gordians Knot.

[Page 250]
OF 
Spay
 [...]s huge Nauy, toucht before, great Rumor now was spread,
And that th'Inuaders meant to make this 
Scottish Queene a head:
For which continued doubt of her in English hearts was shead.
Not in the Vulgats only, but some Nobles of this Land,
Who had (not knowing it our Queene) then got into their hand
The Writ of Execution, that her Heading did purport:
The which was executed soone, and in a solemne sort.

This nature-frended Ladie, had she bin as wise as witrie,
Who by the Massacres in 
France had learnt to leaue off Pittie,
Made there too apt for bloody Acts, the Pope for it too blame,
To take her death, too much deseru'd, her selfe did meekly frame.
She bids commend her to her Sonne, and will him to eschew
All Practises and Policies, for thence her Sorrowes grew:
True 
Romish, Scottish, and true 
French, tell all my Friends I die.
When 
Meluin (vnto whom she spake) did, weeping, thus replie,
The wofulst Message, Madame, this that euer me befell,
When of my Queene and Mistresse Death I shal the Tidings tel,
She, kissing him, sayes pray for me, and bids him so farewell.
Then of a debt was due from her she did the payment craue,
And that her Seruants might enioy those Legacies she gaue,
And to attend her at her death some of her Owne to haue.
All which the Earles commissoned did yeeld vnto: and so
She to the black-clad Scaffold, there to take her death, did go.
Now 
Mary Stewards Troubles shall haue ending, once or twise
She sayd, and not to mone for her did giue to Hers aduise:
And whilst the Writ in reading was no more regarded it,
Than if it had secured, or concerned her no whit.
Beades at her Girdle hung, at end of them a Medall, and
An 
Agnus-Dei bout her necke, a crost-Christ in her hand.
They prayed her to set a-part those popish Toyes, and pray
In saith to Christ, in only whom her whole Saluation lay:
And, offring then to pray with her, that Offer she withstood,


[Page 251] Alleaging that our Prayers can doe Catholiques no good.
So doth the Popes false Calendar of Saints of Sense bereaue
Our Traytors, who dye Papists that therein it them receaue.
Was neuer yet Religion heard so pestilent as this:
Their murdring vs for Lawfull, of their Creed a portion is.
So had they schooled her, and that her bloodie Mischiefs past
Were meritorious, which the Pope would honor so at last.
That, euen then, the Gospels Light illuminate her heart
Was prayd of Ours, whilst she with hers prayd, as pleasde her, a-part.
Then to her wofull Seruants did she passe a kind a-dew:
And kissing oft her Crucifix, vnto the Block her drew,
And, fearles, as if glad to dye, did dye to Papisme trew.
Which, and her other Errors (who in all did euer erre)
Vnto the Iudge of Mercie and of Iustice we referre.
If euer such Conspirator, of it impenitent,
If euer Soule, Pope-schooled so, that Sea to Heauen sent,
If euer one, ill-liu'd, did dye, a Papist, God-wards bent,
Then happie she. But so, or not, it happie is for vs,
That of so dangerous a Foe we are deliuer'd thus.

The brauely mannag'd Iorney of the Countie 
Sussex, who
Did merit praise beyond my Penne, Sir 
VVilliam Druries too
Made into 
Scotland, added to Lord 
Grets sayd-Prowesse theare,
Did lesser rid our Queene and Realme, their Realme & King of feare,
Than 
Maries end: Who of her selfe all Treasons did prefer,
Gainst either State: our forraine Foes deriu'd Pretexts from her.
But thus 
Elizabeth hath salu'd, Ours, and 
Scotch Troubles. Now
Ensues we shew her Aids to 
Frāce, who wrought their Broiles, & how.

[Page 232]

CHAP. LVII.

IT by a Polititian a 
Germaine (to whose lore,
Haue 
Machiuilian French-Euents since sorted e­uer-more)
Before Queene-Mother, 
Charles the King, and others priuate, was
Aduisde a Monarch absolute in 
France to bring to pas.

Aristocratick Gouernment, nor 
Democratick pleasde
But where to one Mans Emperie is 
Monarchia seasde.
He told his Ttauels, and in States his Obseruations: how,
Besides the only 
Turke, he none a Monarch did allow:
Who suffreth none by Might, by Wealth, or Blood, to ouer-top:
Himselfe giues all Preferments, and whom listeth him doth lop.
His Bands of 
Ianizaries, who are form'd and nourisht still
From Childhood his owne Creatures, hold all at his owne will.
He out of these his Captaines, and his Bassies doth elect:
They, to deserue their Founders trust, his only Weale affect:
The rather, for their Dignities, and all that All possesse
Determine at his will, behooues therefore not to transgresse.
Saue his Religion, none is vsde, vnlesse in Conquests late,
And that of Policie, thereby to adde vnto his State:
Nor euen there permits he of Religion to debate.
Nor walled Townes, nor Forttesses, his Empier doth digest:
Except vpon the Fro
 [...]ires, for securing of the rest.
His Subiects thus, Theirs, and the whole, at his Deuotion, needs
No Imposts, Taxes, or the like, whence Tumult often breeds.

[Page 253]
Discourst of his Experience thus, he then descends to it,
Whereby of 
Monarchia might himselfe the 
French King fit.
Whereas (quoth he) 
French Policie consists of Three Estates,
The Princes, Nobles, Commons, and each one of th'other wates
For hearts and helpes, and oft the King is bridled of those Three,
Himselfe therefore, such Lets remou'd, sole Monarch thus might bee.
Of ancient Peeres, of valiant Men, great Lords, and Wisemen all,
By forced Warre, or fraudfull peace, to temporize the fall:
Whereto Religions quarrell then presented meane not small.
Meane while, vntill of them by turnes weare Riddance, did behoue
To worke them Mal-contents, the King to labor vulgar Loue.
Immediatly, euen from himselfe, No whit at their Request,
To passe Preferments, not to them, but els as likes him best:
And but of Peeces ru
 [...]ous the Great-Ones to possesse:
And when his Creatures shall grow to more, those Great to lesse,
To quarrell then those Nobles, when in them great hearts would lurk
That for the Souldier, or the sword of Iustice, should make work.
So to prouide that of the States be no Conuention nam'd:
Religion not disputed of: Strong Townes, which oft haue tam'd
The 
French Kings, be dismantled: And when things as thus be fram'd,
His Maiestie (quoth he) shall hit the Marke whereat is aim'd.

WHen this, & worse than thus, this worse than 
Machiuel had said,
With that Conuenticles Applause, so working was not staid:
For hence, if Accidents we shall obserue, may be collected
The ciuill Warres and Butcheries in 
France to haue effected.
Religion gaue the colour, whear though infinite were slaine,
The Church reform'd did not resist, yeat still by losse did gaine:
For blood of Martyrs well is sayd to be the Churches Seede,
Where Massacres haue plashed there is spread a triple Breede:
In Sense it seem'd a sillie Spring, should 
Europe ouer-floe,
Whence 
Luther his occasion tooke against the Gospels Foe:
As 
Scotlands foresaid 
Guizian Broyles, euen 
France her Tumults so,


[Page 254] From other then Religions cause did at beginning groe:
So 

 [...]ph sold, and Christ betrayd, was meeter than was ment
Of 
Ben-Iamests, or by the false 
Iscarots foule Intent:
But howsoeuer ill haps well, Woe stayes whence ill is sent.

French second 
Henries Fauorites, the Constable, and 
Guize,
The one of them ambitiously the others Hight enuies:
Each growing crosse, and crossing, it to Factions grew at length,
Poore 
Huge
 [...]tz vndoubted then, nor dreamed they of strength:
Alone in 
Henries, Francis, and ninth 
Charles their Raignes, of them

French Papists, as our 
Maries, did to Martyrdome condemne.
But by such Law as Wolues doe Lambes, those Innocents for most
Were slaughtered, whole Townes sometimes with these in thē they rost:
And like now threatned 
Guize against the Saints in euery Cost.
The 
Guizians (so that Faction shall in this Report be sayd)
Through Nonage of the Pope-taught King, grew Mighty & obayd:
Queene-Mother (Mischief-Mistres) in their Pageant featly playd.
Meane while the Royals and the Peeres they Practise to betray:
Some in the bloodie Massacre at 
Paris made away.
But what offend I Christian Eares with horror of that deede?
From 
Sarazens, nor 
Sauages, did euer like proceede.
Let that black Marrage-Feast, when were so many Thousands slaine
O
 [...] Saints, at peace with God and men, be neuer nam'd againe:
Let be a Law in euery Land, to punish such as speake
That Christiās should, like Hel-hoūds so, with God & Nature breake:
Farre be it that Posterities should heare, that 
Charles the King
For such 
 [...]oule Murthers, bon-fiers bod, and caused Bels to ring.
Yeat tell the Popes Procession, and his Iubilee for this:
For Popes be impudent, and bads their blessings neuer mis,
To haue them Fathers of those Acts, no Newes at all it is.
But more than twise sixe yeares ere this the ciuill Warres begun,
When on the Lambes of 
Vassie did the 
Guizian Butchers run:

 [...] when the Edict had giuen Peace vnto the Church reform'd,
And odious to the Papists seem'd that Peace, who therefore storm'd:


[Page 255] And then the Duke of 
Guize, who earst had figur'd for the Crowne,
Hence calculating hopes, did set his bad Designements downe:
Alonly quarrelling, till then, the Princes of the blood,
Who, partly quail'd, were yet vnkild, and to their tackling stood.
So with the Papists band's the Duke himselfe, not for Deuotion,
But aduantagious seem'd that Meane for blood-Drifts & Promotion

This Faction thus had Heart and Head, the Other yet vnborne,
Till to the Prince of 
Condie flockt the 
Hugenotz, forlorne,
And tolde the sauage Butcheries at 
Vassie newly made,
By ruthles and seditious 
Guize, on Thousands, whilst they prayde.
Like skathed Sheepe, escaped from blood-sucking Dogs, they quake,
Imploring his Protection: which he then did vndertake.
Thus, through Necessitie, this Part had also Heart and Head:
Euen after hundreds thousands such good Christians so were dead.
This knowne, to him from euery Part the Persecuted flie,
So was the Prince of vertuous Troopes possessed by and by.

CHAP. LVIII.

NOt 
Spayne this while, that held for 
France great Signories, did sleepe,
But through the Fingers into It, with lusting Eyes, did peepe:
At least, by nourishing those Broyles, all got She hopes to keepe.
For It, whose Scituation so 
Spayns scattred Realmes disioynes,
Her Teeth had watred long, and now, to weaken 
France her Loynes,
Gainst 
France she 
France doth strēgthē with the Soother of her gold:
And for that Purchace to the Diuell, is fear'd, her Soule is sold.


[Page 256] Directions also came from 
Rome, that setteth all on fier:
That, by what Right or wrong so ere, the 
Guize should still aspier:
To send the royall Bloods to Heauen or Hell, it skils not how:
Were Pardons sent for Murthers: Buls to clear Alleageance vow:
That, on Damnation, none perswade, much lesse of Peace allow.
And not alone gainst 
France this League was halowed, but gainst all
That worke the Gospell to erect, whereby the Pope might fall:
Was more than time, troe we, to goe, should not the Church vs call.
But call did they, and come did we, and to their labors fall,
When weare their Townes demolished, with Slaughters thear not small.

This busie Head of that bad League (for yet the monstrous Beath
Of 
Sextus Quintus and the Diuell, the grand League, had not breath)
This 
Guize bereft vs 
Calice, and in 
France our Peeces all:
Then fell in hand with 
Scotland, thence with vs in hand to fall:
This, in his Neece the 
Scottish Queene her Claime, did all he might
To dispossesse 
Elizabeth our Queene of regall right:
This on the infant-Person of his naturall King had seazde:
And prosecuted now in 
France what Violence him pleasde:
The Popes sworne Butcher, and proud 
Spayns fore-Runner, to prepare
Her waies for 
France & 
England, which their Owners cannot spare:
This with the blood of Innocents made Channels ouer-floe:
Against this 
Cham, and his Beau-Peeres, inuited 
English goe.
Els, saue that God can all, was feard Religion should haue quaild,
And 
Spanyards, nestling ouer neere, had easlier vs assaild:
For on the Theator of 
France, the Tragedie was ment
Of 
England too: Wherefore our Queene her Interruptors sent.

How 
Ambrose, Earle of 
VVarwick, did in 
Frāce high Feates not few:
How bloodie 
Claudie, Duke of 
Guize, a common Souldier slew:
How 
Francis, sonne of that 
Guize, did ciuill Broyles renew:
The persecuting 
Francis, Charles, and 
Henries, hence a-dew:
Which Kings, as said, to work themselues 
French Monarchs Atheists playd,
Or doting ouermuch on 
Rome, their Realme & selues betrayd:
The skarlet 
Borbone, whom the 
Guize a painted 
French King made:


[Page 257] 
Salcedo fayling 
Monsiurs Death, which did the League conspier:
The Prince of 
Orenge, murthred through 
Farnesian Parmas hier:
Renoumed 
Condie poysned, in his time the Leaguers feare:
How Pope-sent 
Saunders gainst our Queene in 
Ireland Armes did beare:
(For Leaguers then in Pollicie preuented Lettes each-wheare,
By Armies, or Armadas, or their scattred 
Iesuists, who
Haue had small cause to brag that they with 
England had to doe:)
The often sworne and for-sworne Peace, that hapned in the while

Queene-Mother, Phillip, Pope and 
Guise, the 
French Kings did begile:

Queene-Mother for Ambition of imployment, King of 
Spayne,
To make his Vsurpations sure, yea 
France it selfe to gaine,
The Pope to keepe his pompe in plight, 
Guise for the regall Ring:
How all, though drifting d
 [...]ffringly, at length to ende did bring
The House 
Valoys, of 
Capets Stocke, which Stocke had quite decaide,
But that it pleaseth God the Crowne in 
B
 [...]rbons House is staide:
How till the 
Barricados Feast, when 
Guise vn-vizard was,
Vnder Religions Cloake the Routes in wasted 
France did pas,
And after then, both Hugenote, and Papist too, if frend
Vnto 
Valoys, or 
Burbon, sound like Enmitie, or end:
Of 
Sauoy, (hoping 
France) his Aydes, and 
 [...]ll successe in all:
How 
Guise, and 
Lorraine, in the Pit for 
Henr
 [...]e dig'd did fall:
How Frier 
Iames, Pope-blest, and brib'd of 
May
 [...]e, did 
Henrie kill:
How vnto 
Mayne, pursewing Broyles, it wrought not to his will:
The Massacres, and Stratagems, did in these Tumults chance:
How God in all his Warres did blesse 
Nauar, now King of 
France:
And how, next God, that 
Frāce is French our Queene is Author cheef,
All These, thus blanch't, we leaue, and shall of 
Belgick be as breefe.

But be it first remembred how, euen for the Parents sinne,
God plagueth in Posteritie: as came to passe, I winne,
In second 
Henries, of the Church reform'd a bloudie Foe,
(Though otherwise a worthie Prince, nor tache we him but so)
And 
Katherine de Med
 [...]s, whose Athisme wrought much woe.
These had sowre Sonnes, not one of which did die a naturall death,


[Page 256] All 
 [...], 

 [...] Males none extant on the Earth▪
No maruell, euen to 
Dauids Seede, for 
Dauid▪ sinne, hap't such:
And though the holy Writ containes that Storie, yeat to tuch
This Purpose, let vs heare it here: Example vrgeth much.

CHAP. LIX.

OF holy 
Dauid, and his House, the Man approu'd to be
By Gods owne Mouth, to Gods owne heart, the 
 [...]y Troubles see.
His Soule was euer godly firme, though fraile in flesh as Man,
For who of 
Adams Seede from sinne acquite them could or can.)
Our walls of flesh, that close our Soules, God knew too weak, & gaue
A further Guard, euen euery Man an Angell Guide to haue:
And Men to vs be Angels, whilst they worke our Soules to saue.
For, eare his Fall, Man was not left vnto himselfe so free,
But that he had a Law, and Those that should his Temptors be,
And tempted, then the Spirit, that for God himselfe was made,
Was dared by the Flesh, that to the Spirit earst obayde:
The Soule by either laboured to thriue, or be betraide.
To erre is proper then to Men, but brutish to persist:
With Praise, and Praier, still to God, as 
Dauid thriu'd, or mist,
He plied: more in louing God, than liuing godly blist.
V
 [...]gratefull 
Saule distressing him, or what eare then befell,
Or afterwards, nor other then Domestick Greefes we tell.
The troublous Sequels 
Nathan tould of 
Dauids House, when as,
To wanton it with 
Bethsabe, Vrias murthred was,


[Page 257] Effecting now, is onely it whereto our Pen shall pas.

Thamar, Ammon, Absolom, Adoniah, also wrought
Vnto their Father woe enough: let these on Stage be brought.

Now to the Tribes was 
Dauid as the Zodiack to the Signes,
Euen Signifer to euery Prince that circled his Confines.
A Monarche great, in Acts and Fame more great, but great'st of all,
In that he was belou'd of God, nor ceast on him to call,
Who rai
 [...]d him, often falling, for his Crosses weare not small.
Loue-
 [...] 
M
 [...], 
 [...] King of 
Geshurs Daughter, baire
To 
Dauid 
 [...] 
Ab
 [...]m, and 
Thamar peereles faire.
No
 [...] 
 [...]a
 [...]rer ye
 [...] than vi
 [...]uous, though disastrously she speade:
Su
 [...] is admyred Bewtie that hath Worlds of Mischiefes breade.

A
 [...]mon, whom 
Ahinoam bore to 
Dauid, was the cause
Of hers and his owne griefe, in that he gaue his Eyes no lawes.
For Loue is but a Terme, like as is 
Eccho but a Voyce,
That This doth babble, That doth breed, or not, is ours the choyce.
And Virtue curbs▪ Affection, and for Conscience flyeth sinne:
To leaue for imperfection, feare, or shame, no praise doth winne.
But not so happy he as feare, or shame, or ought, might stay
His rankled thoughts, but sicke, luste sicke, for 
Thamar Ammon lay:
And subtell 
Ionadabs Aduise did her to him betray.
For neuer was Pretence so fowle but some would flatter it:
No any thing so pestilent as mis-applied Wit.
Seeme feeble sicke, and when the King thy Father visits thee,
Then faine an Appetite to Meate by 
Thamar drest (quoth he:)
Aske that she dresse it in thy sight, and of her hand to take it,
When priuate so, thy Market bee as thou doest mar or make it,
Well pleasde this Counsell: 
Ammon askes, and 
Dauid yeelds anon:
Nor readier 
Dauid to bid goe, than 
Thamar to be gone:
Like 
Phil
 [...]mela, 
 [...]attering 

 [...]on she might go
With 
Tereus, that prepos'd her shame, was 
Thamar forward so:
When either Virgin was surprisde, wheare least they look't a Foe.

So gratious, portly, 
 [...]resh, and faire, and (which no lesse attract)


[Page 260] So modest, wittie, affable, had Nature her compact,
That such as, in his Canticles, her Brother hath purtrayde
His Loues 
Idea, litrally might 
Thamar such be saide.
Goodly thus, and gladly then, and not suspecting harme,
She, entring wheare he lodged, did afresh the Leacher warme.
His leasing Sicknes then to acte by Arte was more thau neede,
For, seeing her, imagine all his Senses sick in deede.
More could she nor, more should she not, than she in kindnes did:
All adding Fewell to the Fier, which yet from her lay hid.
Now, saue of him and her, the Roome was cleard by his deuise,
When he did aske to eate, which she did bring him in a trise:
Full glad (good Soule) her Cookerie might please him any whit,
When not her Cookrie, but her selfe, his appetite did fit.
Concerning which he breakes with her, indeuoring her consent:
Whereto, amaz'de, she counter-works, nor would for ought relent.
How pretious her Virginitie, what sinne it to defile,
How for their Fathers Luste much woe was prophesied ere-while,
How Incest was much more a sinne, she wished him to way,
How permanent the Shame to both: Enough did 
Thamar say,
To haue preseru'd Virginitie, if lust had brook't a Nay.
But pleading teares and words lackt waite, by force he rauisht her,
And hauing forst, he forced not to hide how he did erre:
Nor more he loued her ere while, but hates her now as much:
Of Lust and vnchast Coiture still is the Sequell such.
Her now vn-virgin'd Eyes did shame to view the common Light:
She therefore would haue stayde, at least not come in cōmon Sight,
Supposing, by her Blusshings, all would ayme her altred Plight.
But out his Doores by violence he shutteth her, wherefore
Aloude she cride, with bitter teares, her faire attier she tore,
And did all Signes of sorrow, whilst the cause admired was.
But when her Br
 [...]ther 
Absolom found how had come to pas,
He comforts her in all he might, and to his house conuaies
His wofull Sister, wheare thenceforth, as desolate, she states:


[Page 261] Like 
Prognes sister pensiue, but her moodes weare milder still,
This wanting will, not speech to rayle, That wanting speech not will.
Contrary-wise thought 
Absolom of nothing but Reuenge,
And with his choler thinke ye him these thoughts among to menge:
Did 
Cadmus, for his Sister rapt'e, so many Countries rome?
And shall I sleepe my Sisters Rape, that may be quit at home?
For Rape of one, scarce honest, was at 
Troy such tenne-years Fight?
And shall one easie bloe seeme much, sweet 
Thamers wrong to right?

Simean and 
Leui, worthy Sonnes of 
Israel our grand Sier,
Yee in reuenging 
Dinas Rape haue set mine heart on fier,
Euen mine, that for a greater wrong should greater things acquier.
Poore 
Sychem, thou didst loue in deede, and Marriage Rites affect:
Lewde 
Ammon, thou did'st lust in deede, and then thy Rape reiect:
Poore 
Sichem, she a Stranger was whom thou so much didst wowe:
Lewde 
Ammon, she thy Sister was with whome thou hadst to doe:
Poore 
Sichem, thou to prize thy loue, didst leaue thy Godes for hers:
Lewde 
Ammon, thou to please thy luste, no God at all prefers:
But howsoeare in these, in this no diffrence shall remaine:
Poore 
Sichem he was slaughtred: lewd 
Ammon shall be slaine.

Nor more 
Maachas goodly Sonne in stomaking did threate,
Then did this Newes his Father now offensiuely disqueat
 [...] ▪
At poynt almost to act as much as 
Absolom did plot,
Euen 
Ammons death, had not he been his Isiue first-begot.
For which he earst had hild him Deare, and present Nature wrought,
And that himselfe had amorous Slyps, is likely too, hee thought:
But howsoeare, in woe enough, he ouerpafseth it
Which 
Absolom, in wroth enough, nor could, nor would, forgi
 [...]:
Two yeares in silence, neartheles, he labord of that fit.
To his Sheep-shearing 
Dauid and his Brethren he inuites,
(Such as our Wakes, conuenting Kinnes to Feastings and Delightes)
Now listen what 
Catastropha this Stratagem behightes.
The King excus'd his comming, whome his Sonne importunes so,
As 
Ammon, and his other Sonnes, had leaue, and will, to goe.


[Page 262] Vnwilling though (by what Presage I wot not) 
Dauid seem'd
Of 
Ammens going: but what Fate ordain'd hath none redeem'd:
Go did he, wheare full merily he frollicked that tyde,
When, by his Ostes Attendants there, of sudden Wounds he dyde:
(Which after Bar quet did their Lord for onely him prouide.)
More skar'd than hurt the other Sonnes of 
Dauid flead with speede,
Yeat eare their home-returne the King had notice of the deede,
And feared much their safetie, till them he saw, and then
Was such confused sorrow, more was neuer seene among'st Men.
To 
Geshur Absolom escapes, three yeares an Exile thear,
Till 
Dauids kinde relenting heart to 
Ioah did appeare:
By meanes of whome, recalled home, he lastly purchast Grace,
Yea well-appay'd was 
Dauid, if weare 
Absolom in place.

Lou'd neuer Father more a Sonne than him his Father lon'd,
Prou'd neuer Sonne vngratefull more than he vngratfull prou'd:
For hauing stolne the Peoples hearts, by affable Pretexts,
He faines his vowes at 
Hebren, but the Diadem affects:
And, by collected Forces theare, distressed 
Dauid more
Than 
S
 [...]le, the 
Cananites, or all, hap't after, or before:
Enforcing him to flie the Land. But dwell we not of this:
God neuer fauor'd such Attempts, or euer sayled His.
When 
Dauid seem'd, in common Sence, already on the hip,
Was 
Absolom himselfe ore-throne, whom God made ouer-slip,
What, wisely, false 
Achitophel had counseld him to doe,
Whose Counsell not receau'd, he hong himselfe, and worthie too,
Ambitious 
Absolom, now foyl'd, as on his Mule he flead,
Was carried vnderneath an Oke, wheare, caught-vp by the head,
(Euē by those bewtious Locks, of which, & him, such praise is read)
He sighte (and cause he had) and said (or say he might) that All
Which so vniustly seeke to clime, most iustly so doe fall.
But whatsoeare he thought or spake, this holds autenticall:
We thinke no greater blisse than such to be as be we would,
When blessed none, but such as be the same that be they should


[Page 263] Had one Man all that all Men haue, he nothing had, vulesse
He also had a Soule that All as nothing did possesse.
Natures Mynion, Eyes Admier, and now in-ayred Earth,
(For, hanging, 
Ioabs ruthles speare had vented vitall breath,
Although the King his counter-maunde should haue contraried so)
Effected had his Fathers heart no Substance else but woe:
So kinde and ouer-kinde was he in mouing such a Foe.
But thus of this, and thus to him this following Crosse did groe.

CHAP. LX.

TO epilogue our Tragedie, now 
Adoniah acts,
With whome, olde 
Dauid to depose, euen 

 [...]oabs-selfe compacts:
Yeadiuers Captaines did reuolt, and with the Sonne rebell,
Which not a little greeu'd the King, that lou'd the young-man well,
Who, next his brother, did for forme, and soly now excell.
Remayn'd but 
Salomon and he, and he the elder Sonne,
Too forward yeat to practise Rule eare 
Dauids Raigne was donne:
But what God meaneth is, Amen: The Scepter was behight
To 
Salomon, and 
Nathan mou'd the King to do
 [...] him right:
Who, aged, caus'd his Diadem to ro
 [...]alize the head
Of 
Salomon, annoynted now: which heard, the Rebel, flead.
So haue we seene, not yeares farre-past, long-Plottings ouerthrone,
Euen in a trise, to day a Queene, to morrow lesse than none:
Such was her Fate, but not her Fault, that stoode for 
Maries Throne▪
Nor cite I this A Noueltie, like Pul-backs many an one.


[Page 264] Repentant▪ 
Ad
 [...]ni
 [...] now vnto the Altar flies,

 [...] thereof: which one, that it espies,

 [...] vnto 
Salomon, that sent to fetch him Thence:
Which w
 [...]uld not be, till swore the King to pardon his offence:
Whom
 [...] 
 [...] we now so pardoned, or rather in suspence.

 [...]or though a Kings Competitor in one same Land may liue,

 [...]eat take he heed, the sleightest cause a cause of death doth giue:
Which hapned him, eare hapned this, inserted by the way.

Dauid decea'ste, in 
Salomon was sole and sou'raigne Sway,
When 

 [...], to prolong his life, did at the Altar stay.
Euen he that in so many Brunts for 
Dauid did preuaile,
That, saue for 
Adoniah now, Allegiance neare did faile,
That, saue for sheaded blood of twaine, could none impeach of wrong,
Euen this grand▪ Captaine of the Hosts, a luckie Knight so long,
Hand-fasting now the Altar, clames that Priuiledge, in vaine:
For thence he would not, and the King commaunds he th
 [...]are be slaine.
Which Warrant did 
Banaiah serue: And so this Worthie died,
For 
Abner and 
Amasas blood, like-Worthies and as-tried.

With 
Adoniah now remaines we act and ende our Sceanes,
To whō, might seeme, small good was meant, what il soere he meanes:
Wheare crowned Might, & crossed Right so neere together dwel,
Behooues that Forrest-flying Feare, whereof the Fox did tell:
Our factious 
Lancaster and 
Yorke thereof could witnes well.

Abisag, Dauids Hebe, that in comfort of his Age,
Attended him at Bed and Boarde, when naturall heate did swage,
Howbeit still a Virgin, and the goodliest Wench aliue,
Enamours 
Adoniah: at the least with her to Wiue
He drifteth, not detayned but for 
Salomons consent:
Of which he moued 
Bethsabe, for which she Sutor went
To 
Salomon, that thearewithall was onely not content,
But also tooke occasion hence, of more, perhaps, than meant.


 [...]na
 [...]ah, by the Kings Commaund, did 
Adontah slea:
For Cryme perhaps, perhaps because a Crowne might come in Plea.


[Page 265] For 
Sal
 [...]mon, diuinely wise, could Subtellizings sound:
That much the Ma
 [...]d knew 
Dauids mind, that Many she had bound,
Whilst gratious earst, with Benefits: her Kinred strong he found:
That 

 [...]oa
 [...] and 
Abiat
 [...]ar weare on his Brothers side:
That his aspiring sleepes, nor must be slept, the King espide:
Or else-what? 
Adoniah was dispatched out of hand:
So sped his Su
 [...]e, so was confirm'd to 
Salomon the Land:
If Others otherwise, not I as others vnderstand.

Nor better Meede for Merits could these 
Dauidists alleadge:
Yeat did their Father eate the Grapes that set their Teeth on edge.
Then charitable, godly-wise, and continent, weare fit
Should Parents be: So prosper they, Theirs, and whom Theirs begi
 [...] ▪
Of 
Scotland, quieted by our Queene, and 
France, by her kept 
French,
Is toucht: Of 
Belgike, long selfe-vaind, rests how the blood doth stēch.

CHAP. LXI.

THe Inquisition threatned, wrought in 

 [...]ether­landers feare,
And Signes of altring Regment in their ancient State appeare.
As ful-fead Children with their Foode, by Peace this People play,
Till, in world-matchles Wealth, did them Secu­ritie betray.
They hearing what King 
Philip meant against their State, did minde
What in the Fables Morall of the Stock and Storke we finde:
For in the Ladie Regent, and her Brother 
Philips Corse,
Their hearts presāg'd like diff
 [...]ence 
 [...] twixt Rigor and Remorse.
Arm'd was the Duke of 
Al
 [...], who by warres, by wiles, by 
 [...]


[Page 266] Shuld cōquer, circūuent, cōsume, those Lands, their Lords, the Good.
These to haue his sufficed not the 
Spanish King, vnlesse
He Monarchize their Land, their Lawes, and Liberties depresse.
The other Part their Consciences and Priuiledges pleades,
Nor other cause than only thus to Armor Either leades:
For There, else-Where, and euer 
Spayne, when 
Spayne wold Scepters lurch,
Concludes for 
Spayne, though euer 
Spayne begins for holy-Church.
No Armie was as yet ariu'd, when as the 
Belgies send
To 
Philip their Submission, and their Loyaltie defend.
If ought were done contrarie to his Edicts (as indeede
Weare some too busie Protestants did order-les proceede)
They did transpose that Fault vpon those Innouators rude,
Protesting all that Subiects should: and humbly too they sude,
(Vouching his Father, Vncle, Kings, and Emperors of old,
Who let their Liege-men, diffring from their own, Religion hold)
To suffer Consciences in them to God-wards vncontrold.
For which, and for their Charters, did they offer Masses large,
And euermore to vndergo all Truage, Taxe, and Charge.
But Theirs to alter quite in all was it that 
Philip ment:
To plague therfore those seauenteene Shires was war-flesht 
Alua sent.

This, like a pleasing poysning Aspe, to act as he did arme,
At first Ariuall, Pardons did for passed Crimes proclaime.
That tractable kind People so he to his bent did frame:
Who wear not then by hostile Meanes men easily to tame.
He thus of them possest, did then, by she Degrees, surprise
Their Townes, puts Garisons in them, built Cittadels likewise,
Inducts the Inquisition, and strange Imposts did deuise,
Cals pardon'd Crimes in question, faines the Guiltles to offend,
And thus an Aspe, and poysnous more, prou'd 
Alua in the end.
For why? ambitious men seeke, get, possesse, and practise State,
With restles minds, by fawning Meanes, enuide, in haughtie rate.
This priuiledged Prouince, and this Paradized Earth,
Thus stripped of her golden Fleece, and faintly drawing breath,


[Page 267] Was phisickt of 
Elizabeth, who with her 
English Balme,
Then much the poysnous biting of that 
Spanish Aspe did calme:
Euen Pittie preaching thus to her, that Nature is reuerst,
When as her selfe is not amongst her owne Consorts disperst.
She to that Countries Father, to that honorable Knight,
The Prince of 
Orange (armed then in Christ his cause to fight,
And for his Countries Weale) permits first Voluntarie Aides▪
And lastly, when that neighbour Fier too neerly her inuaides,
And their extreame Oppression did her Charitie inuite,
(By Ambassies 
Spayne often mou'd to doe the 
Belgies right,
Howbeit touching Peace in vaine) she franklier friends their Cause,
Who were inforced to defend their Faith, their Liues, and Lawes,
Against their Soules and Bodies foes, and (which might all perceaue)
Our cause was handled then in theirs, then theirs were ours to leaue,
And (which had often ayded vs in many a Field and Fleete)
In ancient Loue with 
Burgundie to breake, was thought vnmee
 [...]e.

How thence tyrannous 
Alu
 [...] was reuoked, all too late,
When pitiously declined was their flourishing Estate:
Ere which Oppression, where the King had countles Profits thence,
Now Ownes he nothing there, not held with infinit Expence.
The Slaughters, Sackings, Mutin
 [...]es, the Kings Vice-Gerents sence,
How 
Horne, & 
Egmōd, Coūties braue, through 
Aluas Athisme spead,
How 
Orange, through our Soueraigns Aids preuaild, how lastly dead,
How 
Anioy also, through her Meanes, became that Peoples head,
How now her Highnes only-selfe, next God, doth them secure,
Her valiant Warriors there, whose Laudes might special Pens allure,
And here mean-while should ours, saue that I cannot but deuine,
Their Chiualrie to be reseru'd for higher Muse than mine,
To which though some we leaue, yeat (by their leaues) of some is sayd
Themselues they haue misgouern'd, and their Companies be
 [...]rayd,
Some More regard of Tents, and Trash, in their Retreats haue made,
Then of our craised men, may such Conductors low be laide,
And some too ruthles, rioteus, and of their Charge r
 [...]misse,


[Page 268] Haue starued vp in number moe than Foe-slaine number is:
Thus some of some report, perhaps not true in all as told:
But somewhat somewhere faulteth, for no fier, no smoake be bold.
To be officious getteth Friends, plaine Dealing hated is:
Yeat better plainly to reproue, than fainedly to kisse:
We cannot also loue our Friends, and flatter their A-misse:
How these and thus-like passed Thear we ouer-passe it heere.
Note in our Queene, Religion wrong'd, it selfe did euer cheere:
And whear the 
Spanish Nimrod hunts in Monarchie to hold
All Christendom, through God, that Drist she chiefly hath controld.
Nor did, nor doth, nor shall it need, that thus to her be told:
Who would to God, but works no good, who seeketh fame by ease,
Comes short of both, no lesse than Mappes to very Lands and Seas.

Not only thus, but in this while, her Fleetes haue oftentimes
Set prosprously her Men on Shore, euen in the farthest Climes:
Whēce haue they brought, by fayr Cōmerce, great riches to our Land,
Or glorious Spoyles from such as did their peace or Prowse withstād,
Of which shall be digested here the Progresse, in some parte,
Though stately be the Subiect, and too slender be our Arte.

[Page 269]

THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. LXII.

INexplicable Nature, by the God of Nature wrought,
Makes things seeme Miracles to some, by some not Wonders thought:
And euery Climates People, both as they are Men, and liue,
Do differ: nothing, if obseru'd, She, not admir'd, doth giue.
The VVorkman rather than the VVork extoll we though in her,
Not curiously, and all things to his Prouidence refer.
VVho reades Sir 
Iohn de Mandeuil his Trauels, and his Sights,
That wonders not? and wonder may, if all be true he wrights.
Yeat rather it beleeue (for most, now, modernly approu'd)
Than this our Storie, whence suppose he was to Trauell mou'd:
Not contradicting though such Pens that write, perhaps more trew,
That Pennance him to Pilgrimage hence, of Deuotion, drew.

Of noble Parentage and rich was 
Mandeuil exact,
To whom nor Feature, Actiuenes, not Peoples fauour lackt.
A Ladie of the royall blood, Third 
Edwards Cozen say her,


[Page 270] On whom, for rarest Raritie, might Arte-spent Nature stay her,
Inamours him: who held it sinne, if ought he should omit,
Might please and prize his Ladie, coucht in Courage, Coste, or Wi
 [...].
But quite it quail'd his hopes to thinke he strain'd to reach a Starre:
Oft Reason therefore did with Loue, Loue did with Reason warre.
She is too high: and what of that? it hath, thinks he, bin seene,
As High haue stoopt as Low: For Loue, right-labourd, wins a Queene.
And can I hope that Beautie, which is Adamant to all?
Yea, Beautie, Natures Iuy-bush, each Passenger doth call.
But should she loue (Foole that I am to hope, that should despaire)
Such Births as she not else must loue, but as they licen'st are.
Yeat were it 
Mandeuil she lou'd, mislike it then that list,
Our vertuous Loue, else-where, as here, should render vs as blist.
O, would she loue, it should suffise: such, not of vulgar Moulds,
Whō once she blesseth with her Loue, for him she Sooth-fast holds:
The only vertue of which Loue, all other Lacks controules.

Such were his Ebbes, & Floods, and down although in Loue he sits,
Yeat, fearing Death and her disdaine, his Heart deuour'd his Fits:

 [...] ▪ 
 [...] not meanly passionate, he fared not as those,
Whose melancholy Fooleries be Pylots to their Woes.
Alreadie was he gratious both with her and all the Court,
And, more to be, did exercise Armes, and each actiue Sport,
Nor was he Stoicall in ought, but affable in all,
And apprehends, euen fleelingly, her Humours as they fall.
If sad were she, then sad was he: if merrie, merrie too:
His Senses liable to all, she did, or did not doe
If her he heard to speake, he sayd 
Cassandr
 [...] spake lesse trew,
If her he saw, hers praisde he more than 
Cythereas hew,
If odorifrous Sents he smelt, he fathers them on her,
If but her hand he toucht, that Touch did highly him prefer,
But D
 [...]ified swore he him her bed-game Sweets might taste,
And swore his Thoughts: for where we loue, euē there our Soules be plaste.
His Vertues and Officiousnes to her wards, so had wrought,


[Page 271] That vnto little lesse than loue she, by Degrees, was brought.

Then errant Knights, & euery Knight, yea Kings, would ost defend
The Beauties of such Damsels as it lik't them to commend:
And Prizes were preposde for such, whose Champions bore thē best
At Tilts and Turnies, and his Dame was Soueraigne ore the rest.
Such Iusts, in 
England to beheld, were now proclaim'd, and
The Chiualrie of Christendome conuented in our Land.
Three beautious forren Ladies, with Sir 

 [...]ohn his Ladie stood
Competitors, to win the Prize, maintain'd with Champions good.
To shew the foure-fold March of Knights, whose Prowse shuld plead ano
 [...],
Vnder distinguisht Flags her Forme their Fancies waited on,
Their rare Accomplements, and each Deuise to see or reede,
To shew the richnes of the Prize, behight the Victors Meede,
The Damsels richer hew for whom such Triumphs were decreede,
The Cost, and great Concurse was there, were ouer-long to say:
In few, was nothing wanting that might honor such a day:
Now sound they to the Iusts, and now vn-horst was many a Knight:
For Foyles were Foyles: most brauely al their Sides and selues acquite:
And almost grew the day to end, before it could be seene
Who bore him best, whē, moūted well, both Man & Horse in greene,
A Knight appear'd: his Banner had the Picture, and in gold
King 
Edwards Cozen 
Elenor was legibly inrould.
Against him ranne right hardie Knights, that thundred on his Beuer:
But he vnhorst the most of them, himselfe vn-horsed neuer:
At least he lost his Stirrops, that incounters him, wherefore
Of Knighthood he, and 
Elenor the Prize of Beautie bore,
The Iewels set for Victorie, and aduerse Banners three,
Were yeelded him: whilst 
Elenor did long her Knight to see.
But as they marched to depart, with Beuer shut, he made
To her a Conge: closely then he Thence himselfe conuaide.
Much wonder all, who, and of whence the hardie greene-Knight was:
But secretly, vnknowne of all, he to his Home did pas.

A Womans Loue is Riuer-like, which, stopt, will ouer-flow,


[Page 272] But when the Currant finds no let, it often falls too lowe:
Faire 
Elenor wish't nothing more than that she might him know:
Meane while the Fier of Loue in her, from sparkes to flame did grow.
But 
Mandeuil was more discreet, than that for Mens applause,
He would be known: as knowing that from Praise takes Enuie cause.
To moue the King threats death, in vaine to labor her he wist,
Since many mightie Potentates had labord her, and mist.
She, he, and 
England seem'd too neere, his hopes, thought he, too farre:
He absence therefore poynts to plead vnto his Loue in barre.
Of 
Ceur-de-Lion, Erigen, VVilliam the Pylgrim, who
Wrot 
Richards Syrian Watres, 
Curson, Glanuile, and 
Longe-spee too,

Long-shanks, eare King, his Knights, and of our 
English many moe,
That through the triple Orbs did Armes and Trauels vnder-goe,
And famous thus aliue, and dead, Here and Abroad, did groe,
He cal'd to minde: resolu'd in minde his Life to finish so.
Bills of Exchange and all things els, prepard for Trauell fit,
Vnto his Friends, grieu'd he would goe, he then imparteth it.
The King did giue him Letters for safe-Conducts, of the Corte
Loth him to leaue, he taketh leaue: But in more speciall forte
Of 
Elenor: good Sadnes she thus spoke, as if in sporte.
Some discontented humor sends you hence, as I deuine,
Which, be whereso you shall, will be with you, be yours as mine.
Nay, Madam, quoth Sir 
Iohn, twixt vs this diffrence is to finde,
I both in minde and body, you need trauell not in minde.
Yes yes, quoth she, my Minde I wot meete may you farre away,
If so, then giue to it this Ring, and that I sent it say.
So, with that Riddle, and a Ring she gaue, they kindly parte:
Nor knew she him the Knight she meant, nor he to him her heart:
For, second to the greene-Knight (whom she thought not him) was he
Her Fauoret, of him therefore she would remembred be.

Now let vs say the Lands, the Seas, the People, and their Lore,
This Knight did see: whom, touching which, not storie shall we more:
But to our 
English Voyages, euen in our times, shall frame


[Page 273] Our Muse: and what you heare of Theirs, of his the like do ame,
For Countries, not for Customes (then, and now, not still the same.)
Yeat interlace we shall, among, the Loue of her and him:
Meane while about the World our Muse is stripped now to swim.

CHAP. LXII.

FRom then, when first my Father, eare my birth, was one of those,
Did, through the Seas of ysie Rocks, the 
Musco­uites disclose,
We shal our 
English Voyages, the cheefe at least, digest,
Of which in this her Highnes Raigne haue been perform'd the best,
And herea while let 
Mandeuil and his Beloued rest.
To name the diuers Peoples that in 
Europe be, weare much,
Not but remotest Regions, of our Natiues seene, we touch.
But, Moderns, Yee (of whom are some haue circum-sail'd the Earth)
Here pardon vs your Sailes, and giue your proper Praises bearth.
Infuse yee Penn-life too into ore-taken Fames by death.

Caboto (whose Cosmographie and selfe-proofe brake the Ise
To most our late Discouerers, Debtors to his Aduise)
Had vs, eare 
Spayne, possest of that which 
Spanyards now abuse,
But, he inuitin̄g, idly we did offred Gold refuse.
Yeat him to say for most the Meane, it weare not vs to shame,
Of 
English new Discoueries, that yeeld vs Wealth and Fame.
Reserue we to the Actors though (of whom lost some their Wealth,
Their liues a many, all at least indangered their health,
In trewer Perils, and more braue Achieuements, than the Tailes


[Page 274] Of 
Iason and 
Vlysses, of their fabled Sea-toyld Sailes)
The Glorie of the dangerous Gole: Nor let vs here forgit
(In which I first did breath this Ayre) 
London, preferring it.

Some Marchants theare, of Worth, did mind with Nations, then, vn­knowne.
New Traffiques, & the Passe thereto was by 
Caboto showne.
By his Instructions and their costs three Ships were rigged out,

Hugh VVilloughby the Admyrall, a Knight both wise and stoute.
Next place (whose braue performance of Imployments euer liue)
To 
Chancelor, grand Pilot for that Voyage, did they giue.
Now sayle they for the Northeast Parts, 
Cathayas Shores to finde:
Incountred with huge Seas of Ise, with stormie Gustes and Winde.

Scotland, Aegeland, Halgland, th'Isles of 
Roste, and 
Lofoot past,
Tempestiously 
Arzinas Rhode receiued Sir 
Hugh at last.
Theare he, and all of two his Ships, attempting bootles shiftes,
Weare in that Climate Frozen dead, shut vp with isie Driftes.
Thus died he and all with him, if so to die be death:
But no, saith Heauen, no, saith their Fame, suruiuing them on Earth.
Then 
Chancelor, his onely Ship remayning of that Fleete,
For 
Fynmarke, at the 
VVardhouse sayles with his Conforts to meete.
There day it is two months of length, and 
Mal-strands Poole it makes.
Such hidious rore, deuouring floods, that tenne miles distance shakes.
Wheare frustrate of his Friends in quest, with courage not deiect,
He for the Course preposed did his ventrous Sayles direct.

KIng 
Arthur, Malgo, Edgar, once to haue subdewd are saide

Orkney, Gotland, Island, and those former in that Traide:

Gronland, VVireland, Curland, and colde 
Scrikfyn them obayde,

Newland, with others, and those Isles wheare men, saue Eyes alone,
Are hid in hides of Beasts, and Beasts saue Fish, haue Fothernone.
Now 
Chancelor, ariuing mong'st the 
Laplande
 [...]s, at last,
They seeing vncouth Men and Shippes, weare wondringly agaste,
(For eare that day was heard no Shippe that churlish Pole had past.)
The 
Lapland Bay wheare he ariu'd, now cald Saint 
Nicholas Bay,


[Page 275] Though 
Russiah, fifteene hundreth Miles from 
Mosco is away:
Theare Winterd he at 
Newnox, till safe-Conduct being sent,
Thence to their King on swift-drawne Sleads through frozen waies he went.

Not like 
Sarmatian Scithians (for the 
Moscouites be so)
He found them plaine, but rather much in Pompe to ouer-floe,
They neuer in the 
Russian Courte till then did 
English see:
His intertainment therefore was as stately as might be.
In sundrie Roomes weare hundreds seene in Gold and Tyssue clad:
A Maiestie, 
Augustus-like, their King inthroned had.
Let passe what paste in speech betwixt our Pilot and their King:
Full well could 
Chancelor demeane himselfe in euery thing:
Let passe how in 
Basilius Court most royally he fead:
Suffise it that our Agent of his arrant thither spead:
That is, that Ours might trade with thē, of which large leaue is read.
More, not vnworthie note, here of our purpose is to say,
But this be first of 
Mandeuil remembred by the way.

CHAP. LXIV.

WE left him form'd a Trauelet (braue Pilgrim Knight farewell,)
And 
Elenor (sweete Soule) in Loue, with whom she could not tell.
He trauels for to leaue his Loue, not caring where he lose it,
She for her Loue to finde, it skils not whom, so him that Oose it.
The greene-Knight, be whoso he shall, her heart had branded hers:
Wheare is that Second She that Loue for Vertue so prefers?
Her onely, speede howso he shall, his heart had branded his:


[Page 276] Wheare liues that second He that so, by louing, betterd is?
T'is often seene, Loue works in Man a weake deiected minde,
T'is euer seene, a Womans Loue doth alter as the winde:
Example then be 
Mandeuil for Men, not to be idle
In Amorous Passions: Labor is to loue, at least, a Bridle:
Example too be 
Elenor: But let vs say no more,
For Women euer alter, saith the Gospell preach't before.
Conclude we then, when 
Elenor and 
Mandeuil did die,
The Method of true louing did with them to Heauen flie,
For euer since too feruent in their Loue are Men, for most:
But, 
Iris-like, in Womens Hearts Loue too and fro doth poste.
One 
Stafford, of a Noble House, a Courtiour of good hauor,
A friend, and fast to 
Mandeuil, and in the Prince his Fauor,
From 
Gyprus, from his Friend receiu'd two Letters, one was his,
The other sent to 
Elenor: and that purported this.

Of you receiued I a Ring, a Token to your Minde,
If so I met it: and it is my fortune it so finde.
For if the Heart may, as it might, for Minde be vnderstood,
My Heart is yours, your Ring so mine: Harts interchang'd were good.
More did I feare, than euer in your Ladiship I found,
Disdainefull Lookes, frō those faire Eyes that me with loue did woūd.
Now speake I Loue, far from those Lookes so forceable to kill:
Howbeit that I loue is not to worke or wish you ill.
Not more than this (though Princes Frownes beare death with them) feard I:
For had you lou'd, the King mislikt, what had I for'st to die?
Wheare I haue been (were blasphemie from Women to detract)
Great store of Beauties haue I seene, but none as yours exact.
Courts also more than stately, with faire Ladies in the same:
Which seemed common Formes to me, remembring but your name.
When in the Holly-land I prayd, euen at the holy Graue,
(Forgiue me God; a sigh for sinne, and three for Loue I gaue,
Against the fearce 
Arab
 [...]ans I the 
Soldans Pay did take,
When oft, at O
 [...]set, for Saint 
George, Saint 
Elenor I spake.


[Page 277] The 
Amazones, those lustie Girles, beleeue me lik't me Well:
But nothing in the best of them but doth in you excell.
I look't vpon the sterile Lake where Heauen-fir'd 
Sodom was:
For one, thought I, here such as you not so had come to pas.
Most sweete and Soueraigne 
Balsamum in 
Indian Fields I saw:
More soueraign sweeter Sēts, thought I, my lips frō yours could draw.
Nere 
Aethiop when the spice-sweete Well of youth I saw, I saide,
My Lady lacketh not hereof, Perfection needs not Ayde.
I sawe (nor wonder you I should, who sees you sees as much)
The onely 
Phoenix: Foule, and Faier, but it, and you, none such.
But, flying thus about your Blaze, your Gnat doth burne his wings:
To my despairing Passion more your praised Bewtie brings.
Not Trauell tiers my Loue a whit, but Loue doth tire on me:
Which should I wish, me better, or you baser of degree?
Be still the same you are, let me exile my selfe for euer:
Two diffidenses I conceit will let me hope you neuer:
The first my selfe, vnworthy you, the latter, and the least,
The Kings Consent: But, well I wot, Loue is a Lordly Feast:
Aguize (so should you) so, and so despayre is part releast.
One comfort is, before you doome is Execution done:
My voluntary Banishment already is begon.
Which if you neuer shall repeale, shall neuer end, or when
(Ah, can I hope it?) should you, not for vs is 
England then.
Nor is it but our minds that make our natiue Homes our Graue)
As we to Ours, Others to theirs like parciall Fancie haue:
Transmute we but our Mindes, and then all one an Alien is,
As if a Natiue: One resolu'd makes euery Country his.
Your Answer that by Pen our speech to this return'd shall be,
Voutsafe it vnto 
Stafford, for an Other-I is he:
In perfect Friendship no suspect, for two are one in all,
Communitie or doubling ioy, or making griefe more small,
But would you to an Vnitie of hearts twixt vs incline,
Wheare Friendship is angelicall, our Loue should proue diuine.


[Page 278] More write I not: blest may you liue: teares ouertake this Line.

When 
(Stafford present) 
Elenor this Letter had perus'de,
She said, as else-where shall ensew: Now is in vs infus'de
Fresh matter of Discoueries. How 
Chancelor he speade
Is said before: of 
Russia thus remaineth to be reade.

CHAP. LXV.

AVaste and spatious Empier is 
Moscouie, in the same
Bee Riuers, 
Tanais, Volga, and 
Boristhenes of fame,
With yearely hallowed 
Mosca, which the Pri­mate hauing blest,
(Whom to attend the Clargie, Lords, and King himselfe be prest)
He thinks himselfe an happie Man may touch the yse-hewne Pit,
But him in Heauen already whom the Primat sprinks with it.

Euxinus, and the 
Caspian Seas, doe wash those frozen Shores,
Which vs with fish, oyles, hōny, salte, furs, & good Traffiques stores.
More temprate be the In-land Parts: They reape what they doe Sowe
Within the compas of fower Moones, inn all their haruest, mowe,
And house their Beasts: Thēselues keep close in Stoues vntil the Spring,
And sport with their face-painted Wiues, hild thear a comely thing.

In Customes of the 
Greeke Church, much corrupted, are they lead:
Monkes, Friers, & Priests swarme theare, not more thā in their Portesse reade:
Nor more haue Priests, or People, than a ceremonious care,
Grosse Worshippers of Images, which in their Houses are:
In all too superstitiously deuoted. Though the Pope
Theare stickell not, their Primate takes as large and pompious scope.


[Page 279] Besides these Christians (for vnto themselues they arrogate
The soundest Christianitie) are subiect to their State
Idolators, that doe adore euen Diuels, or did of late.
Not of the 
Samoeds rude-wrought Gods, or blood-Rites wil we tarry,
Or of the Stone, neere vnto which did 
VVilloughby miscarry,
To which bring Saylers whit-Meats, least their Ships should Tempests harrie,
But that same female-Idoll cal'd 
Zelotibab, in part
Of 
Russia, or the Diuell himselfe acting in it his Arte,
Is worth the note. When ought amisse amongst them doth befall,
An Instrument of Musicke, and a siluer Toade withall
They lay before the Idoll, and before her prostrate fall.
Then, Musick sounded, he to whom the Toade shall come is slaine,
(For come it will) when presently the man reuiues againe,
And tells the cause why hap't the ill, and how to pacifie
The angrie Idoll: which is done, though some for it should die.

The King by Monarchia rules, more absolutely none,
Great Duke of 
Russia late his Stile, imperiall now his Throne.
He holds a Maiestie not meane, and all of All his Owne,
When to imploy their goods vpon the common good is knowne:
Himselfe, both Iudge, and Iuror, ends with Equitie Debates.
Armipotent in Warte, and hath subdewed mightie States.
An hundred thousand leads he forth against his Foes to fight,
That scorne both hunger, thirst, and cold, wounds, yeelding, feare and flight.
Of cloth of gold, rich Stones, & Plumes, his royall Tent is pight:
Nor to his Souldiours skants he Gifts, that well themselues acquite.
But what particulate we thus, that much in few would write?

NOw wheare we left of 
Chancelor: he gratious with that King,
Obtayned for our Marchants, as he wished, euery thing.
With Letters then of Credence for himselfe, and Marte for them,
He puts to Sea for 
England, whome theyse about did hem.
But with vndaunted Courage, to his neuer dying Fame,
All Difficulties ouerpast, to 
London safe he came.


[Page 280] Thence, after some aboade, with new Consorts, an other Fleete,
And Notes digested for their new attempted Traffique meete,
He did resayle to 
Russia, there receiued as before:
Cheefe Agents 
Gray, and 
Killingworth, bearded fiue foote and more.
In all things with the King for ours did Chancelor preuaile,
And now our Agēts knew their Homes, & where to make their Saile.
But now must end our Swan-song, now the Swan himselfe must end,
Euen he, that toyld such tedious Seas his Countries weale to mend,
Returning Homewards, neere at Home, euen on the 
Scottish Cost,
Did wracke, and those aboord his Ship then perished for most.
But that he drown'd his care to saue the 
Russie, sent to vs
In his Conduct, is said the cause: but drown'd he was, and thus.

This Marte, thus set a foote, was Thence for 
Ob an other sought:
Wherein not little was it, that praise-worthy 
Burrough wrought.
Of him and (whom I neuer can commend with praises dew)
Of 
Ienkinson ensues: But first of 
Elenor anew.

CHAP. LXVI.

YEE heard how she his Letter read, whilst 
Stafford was in place,
Which hauing read, shee stoode as if astonished a space.
Her blusshing, and vn-blusshing, made that 
Staf­ford doubted whether
It pleased, or displeased: which, the troth to say, did neither.
Varietie of Men to court a Woman is her pride,
Than which their Vanitie of Men is nothing lesse espyde.
What are to vs, but common hutts, those common hopes they giue,


[Page 281] If then their Loue doth dye to vs, when ours to them doth liue?
They 
Nero-like sing 
Troy, when 
Rome by them is set on fier,
Iest at our earnest. Let vs now to 

 [...]lenor retier.
More modest she thā such (though most, in Mēs behalfe, might better)
And comes, quoth she, from 
Mandeuil this ill-come-welcome letter?
Beleeue me, 
Stafford, ill it comes that sayes a cause in me,
That from his Natiue home he should thus selfe-exiled be.
If amorous Hopes, or Hopes vnheld, to him from me had past,
I had indeed bin guiltie, as too forward, or not fast.
But to the Cause, Effect, and all, not-guiltie, doe I pleade:
His Loue is Newes, mine to despairewhat was it him should leade?
Our Court (I will not wrong the Man, nor flatter him a whit)
Can hardly shew another-such for Person, Prowse, and Wit.
But as for me (setting a-part my Birth, to which, or any
So borne, our State is interest) what am I more than Many?
If beautious now (here let me chide his Indiscretion, who
Farre from a Meane of it so meane doth make so much adoe,
And least perhaps he should haue glib'd, a vertue doth not note,
Whēce loue shuld spring, which makes me gesse he doth not loue but dote)
If beautious, as I sayd, what els is Forme but vaiding Aire?
Yea oft, because assaulted oft, it hurteth to be faire.
And were not my Descent, and I a Fauorite in Court,
My common Forme, vnheeded then, might passe without report.
But, were my wishes mine, the Court by me should be the lesse:
So much it hath of Vanitie, and painfull Idlenesse.
Since such is he, and of my selfe my selfe but so esteeme,
Himselfe by Silence, me he wrong'd, disdainfull me to deeme.
I could be angrie, were he here, with him for erring so,
Disdaine (the Volgars Fault) is not in Gentrie found, I troe.
But feare he did, and wisely too (for God forbid that I,
Vnworthie that I am, should haue indanger'd him to dye)
The Kings displeasure: Or, perhaps, vnpossible he thought


[Page 242] My loue should equall his, or I a trans-Marine be wrought.
But if he intertain'd such thoughts, there also did he erre:
Loue is a lordly Feast, he writes, and I the same auerre.
For if (not rashly though, I hope) vpon my Choice I stand,
My hand shall neuer giue my heart, my heart shall giue my hand:
Yea, so I liue with whom I loue, what care I in what Land?
With Women is too vsuall now Theirs, and themselues to sell
For Ioynters, by Indenture, with imperious Men to dwell,
And he doth her, and she doth him, with his, and hers vpbrayde:
But that I chiefly match for loue shall, when I match, be sayde.
Good Daies beget, bad Daies trie Friends, nor him a friend esteeme,
Whom firme, as to thy selfe thy selfe, thou darest not to deeme,
Say some: But 
Mandeuil, I see, of you accompteth so,
As of his firme and choycest Friend, then, least I tedious groe,
I tell thee, 
Stafford, next to one, is 
Mandeuil the Man
I could haue loued, but I loue, whom not vn-loue I can.
Yeat if you aske me whom, or where, that one beloued is,
I cannot answer whom, or where, yeat am, and will be his.

Madame, quoth 
Stafford, yet your speech hath head, nor foote, nor Middle,
Not naming him, you end a 
Sphynx, and tie me to a Riddle.
Well, friend you are to 
Mandeuil, nor foe (she sayd) to me:
The greene-Knight, Victor at the Iusts a few yeares past, is he.
In sooth, quoth 
Stafford, if for him be resolute your Choyce,
Chuse not againe, with you for him consort I also Voyce.
Nor thinke, in that I him prefer, I 
Mandeuil reiect:
Friendship may brooke Triplicitie, and shall in this respect.
For your owne sake, and for his sake (than 
Mandeuil no lesse
My Friend) I shall (his Soules desire) you of that Knight possesse.

Almost an Extasie of Ioy her from her selfe did seuer,
Hearing of him, for whom her heart did hunt, and els should euer:
And though she did obserue his soone Reuolt from friend to friend,
And him thereof had tacht, weare not her priuate Cause to end,


[Page 283] Yeat was she silent touching it, and modestly pursewes,
In Quest of her beloued Knight. But tarrie yet that Newes,
First 
Burrough, Ienkinson, and what by them was done pe
 [...]use.

CHAP. LXVII.

IT is no common Labour to the Riuer 
Ob to sayle,
Howbeit 
Burrough did therein, not Dangerles, preuaile.
He through the foresayd frozen Seas in 
Lap­land did ariue,
And thence, to expedite for 
Ob, his Labours did reuiue.
What he amongst the 
Vaigats, and the barbarous 
Samoeds notes,
Their Idols, Deer-skin Tēts, how on their backs they bare their Botes,
In which, but Hides, securely they doe fish those Seas all day,
And how on Deere they ride, and all on Sleds by Deere conuay,
Do eate their Dead, to feast their friends their Children sometime slay,
Their store of Sables, Furres, and Pealts, fetcht thence from farre away,
How, at our 

 [...]ra
 [...] and 
Lion Signes, their Frost and Snow is greate,
Let be, and many things we might of this new Tract intreate,
By 
Burrough found: whose Praise not much is 
Chancelors behinde,
As Master in that Ship with him that first did 
Russia finde:
And in this Northeast Trade, with Praise, do 
Pet & 
Iackman mind.
Yeat longer (for not largelier One yeelds Matter) let vs dwell
Of 
Ienkinson. But where shall we begin his Lawdes to tell?
In 
Europe, Asia, Affrick? For these all he saw, in all
Imployd for 
Englands common good. Nor my reioycing small,


[Page 284] That from 
Elizabeth to Raigne, and I to liue begunne,
Hath hapned that Commerce and Fame he to his Natiues wonne.

NOw, vnder his Conduct, was hence vnto his Home conuaide
The 
Russian first Ambassadour, Heere honor'd, whilst he staide:
Nor Captaine 
Ienkinson was there lesse graced, where he wrought,
That all things to a wished end were for our Traffique brought.
Here-hence also a friendly League twixt either Prince effected:
Nor little is their Amitie of vs to be respected.
For, though the 
Moscouites from vs be People farre remote,
Yeat, if how 
Danes, and 
Norses, haue inuaded vs we note,
And how the 
Russies, in the like Attempts, might hold them back,
For only it, were thence no Trade, ill might their Friendship lack.
From 
Mosco then by Iournies long the 
Caspian Sea he crost,
Himselfe and Goods by 
Tartars oft in danger to be lost.
Their Hordes of carted Tents like Towns, which Camels drew, their Kings,
By names of 
Murses, Seltans, Cans, to whō for Passe he brings
The 
Russian King his Letters, how (and royally they troe)
With Wild-horse flesh, and Mares milke, him the Kings did banquet tho,
Their hawking for the Wild-horse (For their Hawks will seaze vpon
The horses neck, who chaffing tiers, and so is kild anon)
Their oft Remoues for Pastures fresh (nor Grasse their Pasture is,
But heathie Brush, few Cattell though doe thriue as theirs with this)
Their naither vse of Coyne, or Corne (for Tillage none is theare)
Such Warriors, and Horse-Archers, as they liue not whom they feare,
Their crosse-leg eating on the ground, Pluralitie of wiues,
In 
Turkeman (So the whole is sayd) and more of their rude liues,
And how the Marchants, trauailing by 
Carauan, that is,
Great Droues of laden Camels, Meate and VVater often mis,
And how for vs did 
Ienkinson in 
Bactra Mart begin,
Let passe, to passe to it for vs he did in 
Persia win.
VVith this 
Memento, in Returne from 
Bactra, diuers Kings
Sent in his charge their Legates, whom to 
Mosco safe he brings.


[Page 285] Thence did he sayle for 
England, Hence for 
Mosco back againe,
And, with our Queene 
Elizabeth her Letters, did obtaine
The 
Mosicks Letters, to the Kings by whom he then should pas,
For 
Persian Traffique: And for this he thence imbarked was.

NOw in 
Hyrcana, Shyruan, or 
Media, all as one,
Suppose our 

 [...]enkinson before King 
Obdolowcans Throne.
Though sumptious Citties he possest, yeat for the Summers heate,
On airesome Mountaines held he then his Court, in Pleasures greate.
Of silke and gold imbroyderie his Tents, his Robes inchac't,
With Pearles and pretious Stones, and Looks of Maiestie him grac't:
On Carpets rich they trode, rich Traines on him attendance gaue,
With sixe score Concubines, that seem'd so many Queenes for braue.
Before his faire Pauilion was of Water cleere a Fount,
Drinke for himselfe, and his (for most of Water they account.)
Scarce 
Cleopatras Anthony was feasted with more cheere,
Of varied Meates, and spice-Conceits, than 

 [...]enkinson was heere.
In formall Hawking, Hunting, Chace, not thē came 
Tristram 
 [...]eere.
Such was this King for stately, such for affable, and kinde,
There and abroad so lou'd, and feard, as like was rare to finde.
Yeat, notwithstanding such his Wealth, his Signorie, and State,
He of the 
Persian Sophie held his Land, subdued late.
But in such friendship, as the 
Shaugh (the 
Sophie so is saide)
Would yeeld to 
Obdolowcan in what so he should perswaide:
Which well in 
Ienkinsons behalfe, but shortly after, made.
Him often questoned this King of Vs, and 
Europs strength,
And him, with Gifts, and Priuiledge, for Mart, dismist at length.
Silks, raw, & wrought, Spices, & Drugs, & more-els, worth the Mart,
Our Marchants fetch from thence, and there our Marchandize cōuart.

Things wisely thus dispatched there, with men for his defence,
And Letters from that King vnto the 
Shaugh, he traueld thence.
In trauell thitherwards, he grieues, in wonder, to behold


[Page 286] The down-Fals of those stately Townes, and Castles, which of old,
Whilst 
Persia held the Monarchie, were famous ouer all,
Nor 
Alexander wonne of those one Peece, with labour small.
The mightie Citties 
Tauris, and 
Persipolis, he past,
Two ruin'd Gates, sundred twelue miles, yet extant of this last:
The Gyants Wonders on the Hill of 
Quiquiffs heard he tolde,
And of the yearely Obit, which their Maides to 
Channa holde.
This was indeed a wonder, for this Virgin so was bent
To Chastitie, that by selfe-death, she Marrage did preuent.

Here 
Mandeuil, perhaps, had bin, and tooke occasion heere,
To feare least 
Flenor in like might imitate too neere:
Euen Toyes in Loue discourage, Loue frō Toyes resumeth cheere.
Of him therefore, whilst 
Ienkinson rests at his Iornies end,
With 
Obdolowcans Sonne, that on the 
Sophie did attend.

CHAP. LXVIII.

SO Knightly 
Mandeuil demeanes himselfe a­gainst the Foes
Of 
Melek Mandibron, that he in 
Aegypt famous groes.
And, of himselfe, that 
Soldan did to 
Mandeuil commend
A greater Match, than els his Thoughts with hope could apprehend,
For vertuous, beautious, Birth, & Wealth, a Match for none to mēd.
This Ladie (also of the blood, and heire vnto her Father,
A mightie Prince in those same Parts) he courteth now, the rather


[Page 287] To intermit that home-bred Loue, which seaz'd on him indeed,
As for to proue how such as he with such as she might speede,
And there experimented, here to cease or els proceede.
Fye, 
Mandeuil, how good so ere thy Merits otherwise,
In making Loue vnmeant thou didst thy selfe but mis-aduise.
Though thou could'st buzze about the flame, & keepe vnskorcht thy wings,
Few safely play with edge-Tooles, sin to iest at holy things.
With women, made for Men, therefore soone won, yeat edging Sute,
With Marrage, praisde enough in him did first it institute:
With Women, who when all was made, and Man of all possest,
Yeat lacketh Man an Helpe, sayd God, and Man with Woman blest:
With marrage, that legitimates our Propagation, and
Two Hearts in one transplants, in all befalne, or taine in hand:
With women, that no lesse attract our Senses them to leeke,
Than Hunger for to labour Foode, or Anguish Ease to seeke:
VVith Marrage, that preferreth vs, and stayes vs in content,
Vnanimieth weale or woe, as either vs is sent:
In Nature Women, Marrage by Tradition, either twaine
So sacret, and autentick, as we naither should profaine.
To trifle then or Them, or This, were not so slight a sin,
As that thy Vertues, 
Mandeuil, would fault, think I, therein.
But for she was a Pagan, and thy selfe a Christian theare,
And she the 
Soldans Tender, thou didst forme a Loue for feare.
For that thou should'st reny thy Faith, and her thereby possesse,
The 
Soldan did capitulat, in vaine: the more thy blesse:
For than a VVoman euermore the Diuell tempteth lesse.
Yeat that they tempt, not theirs but ours the sinne: for if I see,
And steale, a pretious Gemme, the Gemme faults not, the Theft in me.
Howbe
 [...]t when to actiue and to passiue loue it groes,
And VVomen then shall alter, them as Diuels then suppose:
And like of Men, if Men alike shall Reputation lose.

This faire 
Aegyptian Ladie (of the 
English Toy in this,


[Page 288] To wit, in forward Loue to whom the farthest Commer is)
Might easly haue bin wonne of him, not at an easie rate,
If to his Faith a Recreant had Miscrent bin his state.
But he, immoueable aswell in Faith, as former Loue,
Did there so well, as he from thence with honor did remoue.
On 
Elenor he still deuisde: yeat sometimes, to allay
Those Moodes, by mustring in his mind these thoughts, did thus assay.
Full soone the fairest Face, thought he, would cease from being such,
If not preserued, curiously, with tendring more than much.
Or age at least, and that not old, so alters it that was,
That 
Helen did disclaime her selfe, for 
Helen, in her Glas.
That great Phisition that had liu'd, in health, an age admirde,
Did answer, askt the cause, not he had done as Flesh desirde.
Then 
Mandeuil bethinks him of the Labyrinth of Cares,
Incumbring married Men, and neer that life, and loue, forswares.
How tedious were a Shroe, a Sloy, a Wanton, or a Foole,
(All foure a-like threatning Mislike, when time should Dotage coole,)
How seldome Women come vndow'd with one, or some, or all,
Or answerable Faults to these (to men not Crosses small,)
The Flattries, and the Fooleries, whereby are women wonne,
With fishing long to catch, perhaps, a Frog, when all is done,
And all that Sexs Infirmities, his Thoughts did ouer-runne.
But like as Mothers beate their Babes, & sing them when they crie,
Loues Incantations so did he with Malice such defie:
The Amorous with the sea-Crabs gaet doe angring Amours flie.
This humour, and the honor, by this Knight in 
Aegypt wonne,
Ore-passe we, and in 
Persia see what 
Ienkinson hath done.

[Page 289]

CHAP. LXIX.

AT 
Casben hild the 
Shawgh his Court, who thir­tie yeares, and odd,
Had not been seene abroade, thereof by Prophe▪ sie fo
 [...]bodd.
Like Maiestie he kept, as those great Monarchs did before
The 
Macedons subdewed them, of Wiues he had like store,
Besides most bewtious Concubines, not lesse than fifteene score:
And yearely of the fairest Maides, & Wiues, doth make new choyce:
When much the Friends, and Husbands, of those chosen doe reioyce.
Him blesseth he to whome doth he one of his Relicts giue:
Yeat 
Persian Shaughs esteeme themselues the holiest Kings that liue.
For when a Christian (whom they call an Infidel, because
He not beleeues in 
Mahomet, nor 
Mortezalies Lawes)
Is cal'd to audience, least the same prophaine wheare he doth stand,
Must doffe his Shooes, and to and fro treade on new-sifted sand.
Our Soueraignes Letters to the 
Shaugh so 
Ienkinson presents,
Who, being ask't his arrant, said those Letters like Contents.
But new-made Peace with 
Turkie him of new-sought Trade preuēts
The 
Turkish Marchants, fearing least their Traffique might decrease,
Had, by that 
Basha, mard his Mart that then had made that Peace.
The 
Sh
 [...]ugh did also question his Beleefe, and quarrell it:
So, well appaid is 

 [...]enkinson, if well away he git,
Whome, with our letters to the 
Turke the 
Shaugh, to send was bent,


[Page 290] Had not the 
Hyrcane Murzey Posts vnto his Father sent,
And 
Obdolowcans Letters then disswaded that intent:
When, with a Present for himselfe, he Thence to 
Hyrcan went,
And theare did him the heart-trew King most kindly intertayne,
And thence dismisse with Gifts, when he no longer would remayne:
Nor onely his Ambassadors vnto his care Commends,
But moment of that Ambassie which he to 
Mosco sends.
There now suppose them well ariu'd, and bringing gratefull newes
Of waightie Messages, whearin the 
Mosick him did vse.
Conuenient time he nerethelesse, for 
Persian Trade attends:
Which 
Arthur Edwards, thither sent, succesfully theare ends.

This 
Edwards, and a many here vnnam'd, deserued well
In these Imployments: but of All weare tedious al to tell,
For, sauing of Discouerers we purpose not to dwell.
Els would we here reuiue, but that through 
Hakluits Pen they liue,
(To him, your Fames sweet Trumpetor, Yee 
English, Garlands giue)
A Catalogue of Names, that in this North, and Northeast Clymes,
Haue more obseru'd, and more deseru'd, than perish shall with times.
Nor be my Father here forgot: for he, amongst the rest,
Deserueth in this Generall remembrance with the best.
And here, from out those churlish Seas, with 
Ienkinson we sayle
To 
London, theare an aged Man, to tell this youthfull Taile:
How he had past All 
Europe, seene all 
Leuant Ilands, and

Greece, Turkie, Affrick, India, Sur, Aegypt, the holie Land,
And all the foresaid Lands in all imployde, and intertainde,
Of Emperors, and Kings, as if him selfe a King had raign'd.
Rest may thy honorable Boanes, good old▪ Man in sweet Peace:
Nor haue thy 
Phoenix-Ashes since beene barren of increase.
But late had we a Fowle like rare, vs'd oftner Sea than Shore,
Ofte swam hee into golden Strands, but now will so no more,
For, though he weare a dyuing Fowle, to Heauen did he sore.
In 
England, not 
Arabia, now the 
Phoenix Bird is bread,


[Page 291] And euermore shall theare reuiue, when shall the olde be dead:
The Maiden Empresse, and her Knights their Enterprises rare,
Which now haue pearst through euery Pole, of all admired are.

Remaineth now, that we intreate of great Achieuements done
By 
English, in contrarie Clymes, since first her Crowne begonne.
But ride we first at Anker, though a roomesome Sea we haue,
To listen 
Staffords Comforts which to 
Elenor he gaue.

[Page 292]

THE TWELFTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. LXX.

WHen 
Stafford sounded had, as said, the Ladies Loue-seaz'd heart,
He to a Banquet her inuites, and did for then depart.
Now to his Lodging (which had earst been 
Mandeuils also)
Comes 
Elenor, accompned with a crew of La­dies more,
Of which was one that 
Stafford lou'd, of her beloued: She
Instructed was by him of all should there effected be.
The Banquet ended, 
Dorcas (so was 
Staffords Ladies name)
Thus speaketh vnto 
Elenor, as if it weare in game.
In yonder Chamber (poynting to a locked Doore thereby)
Hath 
Mandeuil his Closet and no common Armory.
Full many things theare-in, quoth she, both rare and rich saw I:
Howbeit 
Stafford, euen to me, did long that sight denye.
Weare he and all the rest abroade, wheare lies the Keye I wot:
Then sayne you sicke, and sleepie, so the rest may hence be got.

Soone Ladies listen Nouelties, and serue themselues with Shifts,


[Page 293] Not sooner 
Dorcas had deuis'd, but 
Elenor it drifts.
So finely fayn'd she ill-at-ease that none beleeu'd her well,
Saue 
Stafford and his Ladie, so preposing as befell:
And all saue onely 
Dorcas, whom she praies with her to stay,
Did sadly leaue her to her Rest, and that she rest did pray.
Meane while the Ladies and their Oste into the Garden walke,
Where 
Stafford did inuent them Sports, and hild them pleasant talke.

The Ladies twaine, thus left alone, the doore they open, wheare
To them in compleat Armor seem'd the greene-Knight to appeare.
The Burgonet, the Beuer, Buffe, the Coller, Curates, and
The Poldrons, Grandgard, Vambraces, Gauntlets for either hand,
The Taishes, Cushies, and the Graues, Staffe, Pensell, Baises, all
The greene-Knight earst had tylted with that hild her Loue his Thra
 [...],
She sawe, on Crosses and els-what, by 
Staffora so set out,
That to haue seene her very Knight made 
Elenor no doubt.
At first she feares, but lastly findes the Armor was vn-man'd:
When skaerd, and cheerd, with 
Dorcas she did enter, theare at hand,
The Closet wheare the Prizes of the for said Iusts did stand.
These, and that Armor, 
Dorcas saide, are 
Mandeuils, the same
Your Knight, that won himselfe, for Force, to you for Faire such fame▪
But, Sweete, let this be spoke in Shrift, so was it spoke to me:
Long haue you thirsted it, know I, which now you heare and see.
Though 
Stafford was by 
Mandeuil coniured to conceale it,
And I by 
Stafford, what is it but that I may reueale it?
What shame, a Gods name, can redowne to him, by being knowne
The Knight that honord both himselfe and you, as more might none.
Beleeue me, reason none his fame should thus obscured lye:
But whatsoeare the Scruple be, now out it is, for why?
To you lies bare my heart, and shall. With that (by pre-conclusion
Twixt him and 
Dorcas) Stafford made a mannerly Intrusion.
Why how now Ladies, sicke, and heale, and taine so soone in 
 [...]a
 [...]me?
You should, quoth he, to Pownd, weare this a churlish Ruslicks fa
 [...]me.


[Page 294] In vaine, I see, hath 
Mandeuil forbidden me or sight,
Or speech hereof to 
Elenor: And 
Dorcas serues me right:
Bab'd be our Shrifts to women, of simplicitie, or spight.
Well, Lady, (for by now I gesse you know this Armors Knight,
And you, concerning other things, haue reade what he did wright)
If firme you hold for him (as you haue said, and should doe still)
For you, and him, and both, therein imploye me at your will.
Who mightier than the 
Soldan? Yeat, as 
Mandeuil me wrights,
A Lady of the blood, right faire, he him for Wife be hights:
But, weare she Empresse of the World, his Resolution is,
She either shall be 
Elenor, or neuer any his.

Full well she knew those Sights, and at those Speeches did reioyce:
The greene-Knight had been 
Mandeuil, had been in her the Choyce.
That Wish, the Man, his Worth, their Loue, concurriug in this wise,
Had he been also present, what more Blisse could she deuise?
Thence went they out into that Roome where had the Banquet bin,
And theare was she about to speake, when came the Ladies in:
Full well appayde to see her cheer'd, and frained then her quaem,
(For nothing lesse than forged Panges, or what had past they aem.)
Then went they all to whence they came, and 
Elenor did plie
For 
Mandeuil: What was it now for him she would not trie?
Oft 
Stafford, She, and 
Dorcas did consult, and then conclude
This Course, not to be changed: which eare said, be first pursude
Of 
English, that in 
Affrick, and in 
Asia, bring to pas,
That 
England now is famous, wheare but late vnnam'd it was.

[Page 295]

CHAP. LXXI.

OF Northerne Regions partely is epitomed be­fore,
Of other later Voyages ensues a few, of store.
Great Personages cannot want great Poets theirs to tell.
Nor may they want, nor want o them would I, wrot I like-well.
But of some Meaners, that their liues haue ven­tured no lesse,
Perform'd as much, Some more, and Some that haue, as many gesse,
Vnto their Betters made the way to glorie they possesse,
Shall we digest: Or it we speake of great-Ones, they be dead,
For Writers aduantagiously are of the Liuing reade.
Thy Raigne also, 
Elizabeth, shall bound our Pen in it,
Which to our Theame inferreth Texts, no times yeeld more so sit.

Like amotous Scape from 
England as of 
Elenor to 
Rome,
Made 
Macham in 
Madera reare his hence-stolne Louers Toome,
Then raigned here Third 
Edwara, when so trauel'd 
Mandeuil,
And in those daies th
 [...]interring There of 
Machams Loue befell.
A Chappell built be there, his name and hers ingrauen in Stone,
To 
Iesus dedicated (then, and 
England, there vnknowne.)
Of him, this Ilands Porte is cal'd 
Machico, to this day,
Whom 
Affrick Mores to 
C
 [...]stile, as a Wonder, did conuay:
For in an hollowed Tree, or Trough, not hauing sayle or Oates,
(The Shippe they came in leauing him) discouer'd he the 
Mores.
By which discouery, and by his Instructions, did ensew,


[Page 296] Th' 

 [...]berians did 
Madera and 
Canaries Isles subdew.
Hence (els had 
Macham past our Penne) did time effect our Trade
For 
Guinie, in her Highnes Raigne acquir'd, and patent made.
For not in 
Maries weare those Partes, as now, so fully found,
Yeat still to gratefull Eares may those Negotiators sound,
To wit (although an Alien) good 
Pinteado, abus'd
By moodie 
VVindam, Guinte first, and 
Benyn, these perus'd:
Next 
Gainsh, then 
Towrson diuers times, and theare my Father dide:
Since, rife that Voyage, 
Brasile, and to 
Cape-verd Isles beside.
Gold, 
 [...]iuet, muske, graines, pepper, woad, & iuory thence be brought:
In 
Barbarie, old 
Mauritaine, like Trade this raigne hath wrought:
Of 
Affrick, and 
America, by Ours no part vnsought.
In 
Tewri
 [...], Sirta, Aegypt, Greece, the 
Turks whole Empier now,
Our Queene is gratious, our Commerce, and Agents, they allow.

Of World-admired 
Drake (for of his Worth what argues more,
Thā fame enuide? Some, for was his so rich, thought theirs too poore,)
And his braue Breeder 
Hawkins (yeat be honord euery Pen,
That, howsoeuer, honor them as high resolued Men)
In Fiction, or in Mysterie, to reade would lesse delight,
Than would significantly some their glorious Ior
 [...]es wright:
The paines of such inuited Pens such subiect would requite.
Adde 
Gilbert, Greenuill, Frobisher, of Knights to make vp fiue,
All in their better Parts with God, with Men their Fames aliue.
Adde 

 [...]hilton, Oxnam, Fenton, VVard, Dauis, an other 
Drake,
With diuers here not catalog'd, and for a Cheefest take
All actions 
Candish, and of these eternall Pen-worke make.
And, for a gowned 
Cicero, and one that did not liue
But to his Prince, and Countrie, Lawdes to 
VVaisingham doe giue.
The 

 [...]ds, and 
Ae
 [...]eados, for Text, and Truth, might yeeld
Vnto that learned Muse that should manure that plentious Field.
Was neuer Prince imployed Peace, with praise, to profit more,
Or R
 [...]alme could, in the Raigne of one, boast worthy Men like store:


[Page 297] Out Foes can also witnes her armipotent, in few,
Religiō, Vertue, Wealth, Peace, War, her Throne with same indue.
And here mine altred Muse this Theame surceaseth to pursue.

Of These, East-
Indian Goa, South, & South-east People moe,
And of their memorable Names those Toyles did vnder-goe,
Is one elaborated Pen compendicusly doth floe.
Omitted then, and named Men, and Lands (not here, indeede,
So written of as they deserue) at large in 
Hakluit reede.
To him, and (who deserues like-well of 
England, both as Any
Haue wrote of 
England) Camden, and to 
English Poets Many:
Of which are some (praise-worthy though) that towre their Wits too hie,
To make a Pitch for Loue, whē they at fairer Fowles might flie,
Now vaile I Bonnet. Rest thee, Muse, abrode what need we rome?
Our seauenteene Kingdomes once, now One, yeeld Work enough at Home,
All which her Highnes owneth now, as shall anon be saide:
But of our 
English Louers first be this Addition made.

CHAP. LXXII.

NOw at 
Constantinople (once 
Byzantium) in old 
Thrace,
Had 
Mandeuil to 
Stafford wrote should be his Wintring Place:
Next Summer would hee bee at 
Rome: That 
Stafford should direct
For either Place his Letters, which he, longing, did expect,
So 
S
 [...]efford had to 
Elenor the same informed, who,
And 
Dorcas, euermore their Loues did argue fro and too.


[Page 298] They may, quoth 
Dorcas, make more nice, but few or none, I troe,
That labour not of our disease: and why, I pray you, noe?
To be with God, what good more good? For it we all should aske.
But for by death it must be done, but few affect the Taske.
Virginitie, though praised, is alike perform'd, for why?
As much the Flesh is fraile therein, as in the feare to dye.
What, was it sayd to all, but vs, Increase and Multiply?
No Clarke will so expound that Text, God shield they should, say I.
All yeeld, that Marrage is no sinne, if chastly then we liue,
And Man and wife their Bodies each to other wholly giue:
If so, as so is granted, what needs curious strugling then?
Since God and Nature formed Men for vs, and vs for Men.
Ill match those dallying Girles, pray I, that intertaine by Arte
All Louers, giuing Hopes to all, of all to make their Marte,
And, hauing blaunched many so, in single Life take pride:
When not a Strumpet Men so much abhorre, and more deride.
Aswell as too remisse in choyce, we may be too precise,
And lose, as 
Aesops swimming Dogge, a Substance for Surmise.
But if we marke, in matching, this (which perfecteth Content)
That in the Man of Vertues be and Loue a Couplement,
For either Fortune worke we that we neuer shall repent.
We coyly may consume our Youth, till times may alter so
Or forme, friends, wealth, or fame, that we out of Request may groe.
But lose that list their Prime, since now I haue that may delight,
He shall participate my best, that must my baddet Plight.
For true it is, as Vessels of first Liquors euer taste,
Loue, seasned so with Sweets of Youth, the same doth euer last.
Nay should my 
Stafford (God forbid) lesse kinde than think I proue,
I neretheles would still be his, in chaste and cheerefull Loue.
No men, troe I (the rascall Sort except) but women may,
In Patience, temporizing well, informe, and, erring, stay.
And reason (were there Scripture none, so bidding) we forbare


[Page 299] In men their Moodes, because of vs they wholly take the care.
Admit we bring them Portions great, and beautie sought of Many,
Alas, what bring we one, that might not els haue hap't to any?
For (let me speake it to no Blab) it is a Question, whether
That longer think it we, or Men, vntill we come together.

Well Wanton, well, quoth 
Elenor, if Men should heare your chat,
This last I meane, at least they would conclude for vs in that:
Concerning which, vpon my Tongue shall mine Opinion dye,
Though should I say to it, and all, Amen, I sooth'd no Lye.
Saint 
Stafford thine, Saint 
Mandeuil for me, God for vs all,
I haue bin, a
 [...], and will be still resolu'd, what ere befall.

In saying which came 
Stafford in, and wils them to dispatch
To Ship-boord: (for before had they determin'd of that Match.)
Alreadie had he shipt their Stuffe, lack't only they a boord:
Which Opportunitie did now that time and place affoord.
How they escap't, or how disguisde, what skils it? scap't they are,
All three imbark't for 
Italie, and had the winde so faire,
That almost thither had they reach't, before they missed weare.
For them great search, and sorrow much was made, but all in vaine,
None knew or whē they went, or whence, or where they did remaine.

Here see you, what can mightie Loue in either Sexe effect:
Here see you also friends for friends nor weale nor woe respect:
Here see you one that fear'd to speake, is followed farre to speede:
Here see you that a Woman dares, if she conceits the Deede:
Here see you one in loue, not moop't at home, but mapping Lands:
Here see you how gainst all things els, for Ladies Vertue stands:
Here also heare what they, ariu'd in 
Italie, did see:
And first at 
Rome, when first shall this of Else-what spoken bee.

[Page 300]

CHAP. LXXIII.

ELizabeths now-Monarchie ore seauenteene Crownes of old,
As formerly was promised, shall briefly here bee told.
Before the 
Scots did plant them Heere, own'd ancient 
Brutaines All,
And still, take I, her Homager may 
England Scotland call:
Which ouer-passe, not now possest, in this Accompt we shall.
Of either Land the Marches, and much more, for most now Ours,
The warlike 
Picts possessing Here, built Castles, Towns, & Towers,


 [...]tes, Scots, and 
Romaines (then our Lords) oft daunting with their Powers:
T
 [...]stly ciuil Strife, & 
Scots, disskingdom'd thē frō Hence,
Whom 
Orkney Ilands, as is sayd, haue harbour'd euer sence.
The 
Br
 [...]aines, by these 
Picts of long opprest with thraldome sore,
To be deliu'red of such Foes, did 
Saxon Aides implore.
So playing as did 
Aesops Horse, that angrie with the Hart,
To be reueng'd, did craue in ayde of Man to take his part:
Till when the Horse was neuer back't nor bitted, Either now
He hauing suffered, would haue helpt, but then he knew not how.
The 
Brataines, hauing called so the 
Saxons to their aide,
Could not be rid of them, to whom they had themselues betraide:
But by the same were they at length debelled into 
VVailes:
Each of whose Kings, of long time Three, in 
Englands Monarch failes.
The 
Saxons getting 
Brutaine thus (which they did 
England name)
At once of them in seuerall Parts Seauen Kings did rule the same:


[Page 301] All which, by 
VVesterne Adelstane, in Monarchie was got,
Which since (saue 
Iron-sids & the 
Danes once Deuidēt) chang'd not.
Fiue 
Irish Kingdōs likewise add, now drown'd in 
Englands Crowne.
The Seauenteenth was the Isle of 
Man, in Ours now also downe.
Our 
Mandeuil, here cited, of Earle 
Mandeuil exact
In 
Stephens Raigne so famous, 
Man, in 
Scots Possession sack't,
And with the Spoyle of al that Isle thence, and his Brother, pack't.
Consent of times, Names, and Records, affirme, may seeme, no lesse.
But 
Monteacute, Count 
Salsburie, it wonne, and did possesse.
Of 
Percies after, 
Stanlies next, and still (gesse I) holds 
Man,
From honorable long Descents: and from they first began,
All loyall, hospitalious, lou'd, still powre-full, and I pray,
That in that Noble house those Termes may neuer-more decay.
This 
Man was diuers hundred yeares a Kingdome, and not small,
Rul'd 
Hebrides, the 
Orcades, to 
Thul the Islands all,
And chances there, and Changes, worth the note, did oft befall.
As how the naturall 
Incolants the 
Iselanders subdew,
Them 
Norses, 
 [...]rish them, them 
Scots, and 
English them, in few.

Beauchamp, the Earle of 
VVarwick, (first, and last, and but a while)
Was King of 
VVight, Sixt 
Henries Gift that Honor, and that Ile:
VVhich added, Eighteene Kingdoms, al possest, ieke 
Englands Stile.

These now, thus couched all in One, saue Parcell 
Scots withhold
Of 
Penthland, and some barren Isles subdu'd to 
Man of old,
Since hath one Monarch ruled, vs hath rendered secure:
VVhereas Pluralitie of Kings did euer Losse procure.
Twise ioyn'd our Ilanders in one, when twise did 
Caesar faile:
Disioyning, He, 
Picts, Saxons, Danes, and 
Normaines did preuaile.
The 
Spanyard, in Conceit, deuoures our Countrie, in no hope
But of Disiunctiues, who, thinks he, lesse loue their Prince than Pope.
Let 
France admonish 
England, turn'd Religion turnes not 
Spayne
From thirsting 
France: Neutralitie brought late-lost 
Calice Baine:
And 
Spanish't-French liue Peasants-like, that, 
French, did Princes raign.
Our Elders▪ illy did they well, for so should not be done,


[Page 302] Much lesse to causeles Armes against their Prince ought Subiects ron)
So badly brook't this 
Spanyards fam'd Espousall with their Queene,
That, euen at 
VVestminsters Law-Barres, were harnest Pleaders seene,
Fear'd with the trooped Bands y
t wold that Banes with swords forbid:
Of which were pittied those that dide, the Rest winkt-at, and hid.
Their meaning had it Praise, had not the Manner bin in fault:
The Manner now doth hold, may none in selfe-same Meaning hault:
But arm'd be euery hand, and heart, hence Englishly to beate

Spayn, that our Bodies wold inthral, 
Rome, that our Soules doth threat.
Yeat (which hath blinded, bridled, and beguil'd, them many a day)
Their Inquisition wish I from the 
Spanyards rid away.
What good remaines to wish the Pope, this, that had none bin borne,
From him to steale his ill-got Coyne, from vs to ship our Corne.
The best things brought from 
Rome, to vs conuert, troe I, to ill:
But new 
Rome left, of old 
Rome now abreuiat we will.

CHAP. LXXIV.

WHen 
Stafford and his double Charge to 
Italie were come,
In health, and rich (for hence brought they in Coine no little Some,
With Iewels of rare estimate, and else-what of great worth)
For 
Mandeuil they seeke, and him at last did listen forth.
That in 
Constantinople yet he was, a Marchant saide:
And thither 
Staffords Letter was to him with speed conuaide,
Purporting only that himselfe at 
Rome his comming staide.


[Page 303] Meane while in 
Rome (the Mistris once of all the world) they view
Such wonders, couch't in Ruins, as vnseene might seeme vntrew.
Once was it compast, as is read, with fiftie miles of wall:
Now some to twentie, some to lesse, in that accompt doe fall:
It hauing Towers so many as the yeare hath dayes in all.
From fortie miles was water brought in Pipes o
 [...] Arches thether.
Were vaulted walkes through euery Streete, gainst Sunne, and rainy weather.
The sumptious Bathes, with Pallaces thereto of rare delight,
The roomesome Ponds, where very Ships some Festiuals did fight,
The Trophie Arches, where to life Triumphants were purtraide,
The Statures huge, of Porphyrie and costlier matters made,
The Theaters, Pyramides, the Hill of halfe a mile,
Raisde but of tribute Pot-sheards, so to boast their Power long while,
The Obelisks, of one whole Stone neere fortie yards or more,
Huge Pillers, caru'd in Masonrie with Prowse of Knights before,
The stately Bridges, sometimes Eight, now fewer, 
Tyber crosse,
The Thirtie goodly Gates, of which is now of number losse,
The huge Colosses, Conduites, and else-what, that shew'd a State
Beyond beleefe of ruin'd 
Rome, in part repair'd of late,
They wonder at, & how the world could yeeld such Pomp, debate.
Though some the seauen inclosed Hils, did ancient 
Rome containe,
Lye waste, or Vine-yards, more doth yeat of Maiestie remaine,
Euen in the Rubble of the old, than in the now renew'd,
Though 
Rome retaines a Statelines, nor fairer Pyles are view'd.
The round 
Pantheon, once the House of all the Heathen Gods,
Stands yet a Temple, but lesse deckt for rich by too much ods.
On 
Auentine the down-fals are of Temples store to see:
On 
Tarpie of the Capitol, were wont their Guild to bee:
On 
Palantine of Pallaces, on 
Caelius signes of Playes:

Quirinall, Exquell, Viminall, of Bathes shew braue decayes.
These Hils, with 
Vatican and old 
Ianiculum ore-past,
Shew we how 
Rome did rule, was rul'd, and ruin'd at the last.

[Page 304]
FRom 
Ianus (called 
Noe of some, 

 [...]aphet of some 
Noes Sonne,
And 
Iaphets sonne of others) Rule in 
Tuscan first begonne,
Raign'd in sixe hundreth twentie yeares of 
Latines Twentie one:
(Son of the Eight of which was 
Brute, first Soueraign of our Throne)
The last of these 
Numitor was, whome 
Romulus did kill,
And, building 
Rome, slew 
Remus, there to lord-it at his will.
* This Citie, then Receptacle for all, how vile skils not,
Of 
Italie by one and one the Sixteene State-Lands got.

Tarquinius raign'd the Seauenth in 
Rome, whē for the Out-rage done
Vpon 
Lucretia, Kings did cease, and Consuls then begonne:
Whē had two hūdreth thirtie yeres bin Kings, that much had won.
* In this estate of Consuls (Two, remoueable each yeere)

Rome flourished in Victories fiue hundreth yeares well neere.
No age can boast like valiant Men, or Senatours so graue,
That Warre, and Peace, vnto the world at their Deuotion gaue:
Whose only naked Maiestie not Armour then could braue:
Like Monarchie none euer had, or likely is shall haue.
* VVhen now the world was wholly 
Romes, and 
Pompei ouercome,
Then 
Iulius Caesar did Vsurpe the Common-wealth of 
Rome.
Had Thirtie eight bin Emperours successiuely, when as
Did 
Constantine to 
Siluester Rome, by Donation pas.
* This 
Constantine (surnam'd the great, Our heire, and of our blood)
Baptiz'd of 
Siluester, did hurt, as hap't, by doing good:
VVhen to 
Constantinople he remou'd th'imperiall Seate,

Rome prou'd too proude for Priests, or pride of Priests for 
Rome too great.
Besides, was little Policie in Partnership of Raigne,
For 
Rome, and 
Greece, one Empier earst, was rul'd as if of Twaine:
VVho also chose their 
Caesars, that their priuate Turnes did waite:
VVhence, after at 
Bizantium Nine had held imperiall State,

Rome by the 
Gothe Alaracus was sackt in barbrous rate.
And here the 
Romaine Monarchie did palpably decline:
As doth her Prelacie, and soone shall quite, may we deuine.

[Page 305]

But shall we yet digresse of Rome, subiecting vs so long?

Then least, as now your Eares, our Pen your Memories should wrong,

Remembred be wheare stayde our search of Countries, where left we

Of Manaeuil and Elenir, and wheare these Louers be.

CHAP. LXXV.

ANon as 
Constantine left 
Rome, for 
Greece, to 
Syl­vester,
(So cal'd of liuing in the Woods, whence earst he durst not ster)
For consecrating after. Popes they golden Rites prefer,
And, hansling 
Rome with Heresies, in factious Schismes did erre.
Scarse was it come vnto the Third, when those that liu'd before,
(But fewe escaping Martyrdome) in Deserts, meeke and poore,
Did wrangle for Saint 
Peters keyes, and Primacie of all
The christiā Church: which to their Sea, though long, at length did fal.
Hence Dispensations, Iubilees. Pardons, and such rack't geere,
Weare had at 
Rome: nothing, naught worth, theare had, not payd for deere.
Yeat not, till long, the Emperours they dared to prouoke,
That now in choyce of Emperours did labor greatest stroke,
And S
 [...]culers from church-Affayres in all did sequester,
But wrought that Seculers should all vnto the Church refer:
Effecting so, that Emperours and Kings did kisse their feete,
Deposing, and disposing, them, and theirs, as they thought meete.

Whē now the blind seduced World was brought vnto their bent,
And more their busie heads could not, ambitiously, inuent,
Was Pope, & Pope, & sometimes Three: Popes poysond, Popes exild,


[Page 306] Popes strangeld, cozen'd Popes, a Pope deliuerd of a Childe:
Was neuer heard such Tyrants, or of other Potentates
So many did miscarrie, through Ambition, and Debates.
But be obseru'd, in highest pitch of Pride in Cleargie-men,
God still hath wrought, Religion, Realmes, and all haue ruin'd then.
So, in her Roofe, it far'd with 
Rome: he whisel'd, and did swarme
From out the North 
Barbarians that gainst 
Italie did arme.
At sundrie times the 
Goth, the 
Dane, the 
Vandale, and the 
Hunne,
With others, foure times sacked 
Rome, and oft the Land ore-runne:
Nor only so, but there did raigne, in spight of who sayd nay:
Whence 
Cisalpine is 
Lumbardie vnto this present day:
And 
Rome, which since our 
Brennus, none durst enterprise, was made
A Bootie to each barbrous Force that would the same inuade.
In vaine the 
Romaine Emperors their ancient Right defend,
For through seditious Popes the 
French begun where Those did end.
From 
Pharamonds to 
Pepins House they foyst the Crowne of 
France,
And to the Westerne Empier then did 
Charlemaine aduance.
From 
France to 
Italie againe, to 
Germanie from thence,
Whereas the naked Title hath inured euer sence.

Thus erring 
Rome hath, doth, & wil, our christian World vnqueate:
May therefore Princes ioyne to race that Monster from his Seate.
What, will ye see a glorious God of earth? goe see the Pope:
Aspiring 
Lucifer? who els? Truth fals't? reuersethe Cope:
Queanes like to Queenes? There halfe-mile Streetes affoord no other Sort,
If Skarlet Hats meane while and Stoles haue not ingro'st the Sport.
Full fortie Thousand Cur
 [...]izans there, Ladies-like, doe liue,
That to the Pope for wantoning no small Reuenew giue.
Their wiues they mew frō churchmē there: whēce doth this By-word come?
More Priuiledged Harlots liue thā honest wines at 
Rome.
Well, by their Fruits ye may them know. Thus is cast vp this Some.

WHilst were those Broyles in 
Italie, did many there reiect
Obedience to the Emperors, who could not them protect:


[Page 307] So diuers Cities did themselues infranchize, growing States:
And each of them Dominion to her Common-wealth delates.
Weare ouerlong although we should but briefely ouer-ronne
The free-
Italian States, of which the 
Spanyards part haue wonne:
As 
Naples, Myllaine, royall That, and Duchie This, both twaine
So peopl'd, fertile, pleasant, rich, as neither shew their waine.
But should we speake of 
Venic's Pompe, the Citie, and the Scite,
Too little should we speake, although too much we here should write.
But, Gallants, will you view the Courte of 
Venus, and not so,
But Myrrors too of Courtesie? to rich-built 
Genoa goe:
But farre from drifting 
Florence keep, least 
Machiuels yee groe.

Ferrara, Vrbine, Mantua, Placence, and 
Parma are
Braue Cities, great for State, and please those which to them repare.
I wot not what this spatious Land doth lacke that Man can wish:
Ayre tēprate, fertile Grounds, vnmatch't for fruits, beasts, fowles, & fish:
Men valiant, rich, kinde, courtly, and faire Academies many,
For braue and bewtious women doe, nor need they yeeld to any.

Now to our 
English Trinitie of Louers let's returne,
That still, in expectation of the Fourth, at 
Rome soiourne.
Theare, after Prayers, Church-times, Sights, & Stories sometimes read,
Amongst their merrie Tales was this, how one, inamour'd, spead.

CHAP. LXXVI.

AFaire young wife of 
Lyncolne-Shire (if say our Author truth)
In traueling to 
London-wards, squir'd of a clownish youth,
Was by a Yorke-Shire Gentleman ore-taken, & together
This Cocke of game, and Henne (as he supposed) of that Feather,


[Page 308] Doe iourney on: And, liking her, when words of course had past,
And nodding pricked on before her Seruing Creature fast,
He thus began. Faire Mistresse, since our Trauell lies one way,
If so you please, one Inne, one Boord, (and I for all will pay)
May serue vs both: I also was about, one Bead, to say.
The Gentlewoman (formally then modest) blushing, sayd,
For Inne, add Boord, as pleaseth you: And so her Answer staide,
But would you add the Third, quoth he, more would it please in deede.
What that you pay for al? quoth she, nay, so weare more than neede.
Tush, that (And yeat best Orators to Women knew he Gifts,
And therefore named, Pay, as if by chance, to edge his drifts)
Was out, quoth he, at vn awares: I also named, Bead.
You said you were about, quoth she, which still let goe for dead.
Thus off and on they dialogue best part of all that daye:
He could not win her to consent, nor would he take a naye:
For long a goe the Calendar of Women-Saints was filde,
Fewe not to Opportunitie, importunated, yeild,
Thinks this our Northerne wilie Ladde, hartie, and hardie too,
Who neuer would giue-out: nor more, than thus, yeelds she to doe,
That is, to bead: he swearing but to kisse, and her imbrace.
Then merrily for 
Huntington they mend their former pace.

Alighted theare, for Supper he bespeakes the dantiest Cheere,
And either in one Gallerie had Chambers, somewhat neere.
Betwixt their Chambers placed was a Southerne Gentleman,
That by officious Signes twix't them to sound their Match began.
Her extraordinary Forme, on worke the rather sets
His heart, and Senses (such an hand of vs such Bewtie gets.)
Resolu'd at last of what was meant, and how therein to deale,
This Smel-feast from the bidden Guest, did thus the Banquer steale.
He gaue it out, that all might heare, he earely would away,
His Man fayn'd feare to ouer-sleepe, and would not downe him laye:
But, when that all besides betooke themselues to sleepe and rest,
One while he walkes the Gallerie, another while he drest


[Page 309] His rustie Sword, which badly did the Northern-man disgest.
In vaine he cha
 [...]te, in vaine he wisht the Seruing-man were gon:
Nor durst he out to boord his Loue (for much it stood vpon
Their Credits to be cautilous.) The Southern-man, this while,
Got to the Gentle-womans bed, and did (no force) beguile
Her Expectation: Swore you not? quoth she, and he did smile.
But, had he bin the Man forsworne, if God forgaue the Sin,
She pardon'd him the 
quo advi that he had trespast in,
And, for that Nights work, swore to sweare no Man frō like, I win.
This Chaer thus chaer'd, as closely as he went returnes he backe
Vnto his proper Bed, nor long he sleepes ere thence he packe.
No sooner cleered was the Coast, but that the bidden Guest
Steales to her Chamber doore, then lock't, (for now she means to rest.)
A male-Content retireth he, not dreaming what had bin,
But better Opportunitie hopes at their next-nights Inn.
Next Morne they meete, when, blushingly (but angrie not a whit)
Ha Sir, quoth she, I'le trust againe your Oth, so kept you it.
Well, bite, and whine (quoth he) who trusts a Woman so is saru'd.
First museth she, then iests it out, soone finding how was swaru'd.
But thus the Northern-man did faile, that did no cost omit,
And thus the Southern-man preuail'd, at charge no more then Wit.
The best is yet behind, but ere be told the Storie out,
Amongst our Louers, now at 
Rome, heare how was brought about.

AT 
Rome is 
Mandeuil ariu'd, 
Stafford and he are met,
To say their Greeting, for the much, were here too long a Let.
Of 
Elenor her health, and more, suppose not Questions few:
For yet full little 
Mandeuil of her Ariuall knew,
Nor shall, till of his Loyaltie, and life, be further View.
At 
Staffords Lodging had he seene (as is 
th'Italian Guies)
Two portly Ladies, Head and Face, all vailed, saue their Eies:
Twixt one of these, and 
Stafford, much of Kindnes to haue past
Had he obseru'd, and thereupon thus breakes with him at last.


[Page 310] I haue not seene the couer'd Dish, that so your Diet fits,
But much I feare it surfet may, quoth he, your queasie wits:
Needes must I enter now the Lists, to combate 
Dorcas Foe,
Euen 
Staffords reason that from Heauen to Hell is posting so.
I will not aske, nor doe I care, what bewtie, wealth, or wit,
Your here-found Mistres hath, why you should home-left Loue forgit:
But this, I know, not 
Rome affords whome more you might affect
Than her, whome wronged here I see, and more than seene suspect:
And wherein differs Man from Beast, but in Affections checkt?
What, is she married. Then doe yee superlatiuely sinne:
Or Mayde? I like not Maidens that so forwardly beginne:
Or Curtizen? What doth she with a Vaile that is so vile,
As not to blush at shame, but, baer'd, is wonted to beguile?
But Married, Mayde, or Curtizen, or what you please her name,
I like not him makes loue to one, and wrongs the very same.
I tell thee, 
Stafford, be she good, or bad, thou here doest courte,
Thee I pronounce too bad, y
t with fore-plighted Loue do'est spourte.
Let it suffice my Friendship hates Absurdities in thee:
Farre be it Trauelers should play the Spyder, not the Bee.
I would thy courted Lady here, and her Consorte, heard this:
(A needles wish, next Roome weare both, and ouer heard he is)
Then should they heare thee false to one, a Choyser is not heere,
And, fearing like, suspect thy Loue, of Precontracts not cleere:
Or falsed Matches, finished in wrong of Others, might,
By stil improsprous Presidents, detetre from wronging Right.
To honest Eares might this suffice to interrupt herein,
Or spoke I vnto Harlots, this at least from Lust should win:
Al Touch-sweet, Tast-sweet, Eye-sweet, Eat-sweet, Sent-sweet, Soule­sweet, is
A vertuous Match, but vitious Loue in al contraries this.

Suppose this firme and naked Loue, and Friendship, much to please
His Auditorie, seene, and not, and 
S
 [...]afford, to appease
His Discontent, pretends a soone Returne for 
England thence,
And so this Parlie ended, and on either part Offence.


[Page 311] 
Stafford had said to 
Mandeuil, that 
Elenor, to trie
Whether his Loue did not with time, new Loues, and Trauell die,
Required backe the Ring she gaue, which if he could her send,
She would beleeue him loyall, and requite it in the end.
That Ring, in this Regarde, did he commend to 
Stafford now,
And, saue to her, he giue the same to none exacts a Vowe.
The next third following day was fayn'd the time he wold frō thence,
Whome to accompanie on his way had 
Mandeuil pretence:
Wherfore they feast their Friends, & thē their Friends, amōg'st the rest,
Vnknowne of him, was 
Elenor with 
Mandekil a Guest.
Such Arte she vs'd, and such Attier she wore, and who would looke
For her at Rome? that present her not for herselfe he tooke.
Vpon her Finger he espide his Ring, deliuer'd earst,
Yeat silently deuoures the Greefe, that to his Soule had pear'st.

He, and the rest, inuited weare to sup abroad that Night:
Night, Guests, and Suppers ende are come, when (greeued though in Spright
He, to recouer backe his Ring, did vse this clenly sleight:
In one had he a Mommerie deuised and a Maske,
And euery masking Mommer tooke a Lady to his taske,
He her, with whome he had espyde his Ring, and Dauncing donn
 [...],
To looke, as if for somewhat lost, to ground-wards he begonne.
Was ask't what myste, he whispers her, that he had lost a Ring,
Which wanting in each Mommers Mouth, was made a penall thing:
Faire Lady, lend me this, quoth he, that on your finger is,
And (giuing her a Tablet rich) for Gage accept of this.
Her Courtesie, his colour'd Want, and Gage, effected so,
That she, the Pawne accepted, did her loned Ring forgoe.
Now on the Boord weare cast the Dice, her turne was come to play,
Which Opportunitie takes he, and shifts him thence away.
Nor knew she him, nor her knew he, for her she was indeede:
But thus he spead his purpose, and of this did thus proceede:
Which, eare we shal reporte, insewes our Iests Remayne to reede.

[Page 312]

CHAP. LXXVII.

AT 
VVare (in 
Hertford-shire a Towne, not bet­tered, I winne,
Of thorough-Faires, from Thence to 
Twede, for many an harbrous Inne,
Washt with the once ship-bearing 
Ley, by 
Al­fred slu'ste in Three,
To dissipate the 
Dane-Fleete, that expugning 
Hertford bee,)
Next day they timely tooke their Inne, had sup't ere Sunne was ser,
Abroad walkt she, vnseene did he into her Chamber get.
First giuing out he would to bed, least, mist, be marde the Sport,
And, least she feare, the day before had made to her report,
In Merriment, that oftentimes he walked in his Sleepe,
And then nor Lock, nor Let, could him from Place, or Person, keepe:
If in this fit I chance on you, be not afrayd, quoth he.
But, if you come, I'le whip you thence, then best not come, quoth she.
Thus, and with this Preparatiue, he counts the Bootie his,
And on the Rushes, vnderneath her Bed, he couched is,
And what with watch the night before, and wearines that day,
And to be fresh, anone, he slept, assoone as downe he lay.

Meane while, a lustie Yeoman of a Northerne Bishops, who
Was often there a Guest, and good, alights and goes into
The Gentlewomans poynted Roome, and say what they could say,
There would he lodge, for that had bin his Lodging many a day,
Loth were they to displease him (for an Harbinger he was)
And then were Bishops bo
 [...]tious, as they too and fro did passe.


[Page 313] For whensoeuer they remou'd to Place, or Parlament,
Their common Meany (not a few) on Foot with Bowes fore-went,
Nor niggardly was then to them allowed to be spent.
Themselues, with learned Chaplains & great Traines did follow then,
And frankly spent in euery Place, relieuing many Men.
Yea, Monasteries, Colledges, Schooles, Hospitals, Hie-waies,
Bridges, and like, were founded by the Prelats in those daies.
But Laters could not so, for why? were Those so fleeced Theirs,
As but a thousand yearely Fee, some purcha'st to their Heires.
But now be some (may such be long, and such to them succeed)
To whom in all doth nothing want of reuerent Worth indeed.
But say ye Sooth, haue Cleargie-men Coshairers? tush a Lye:
To aske doe Courtiers, Church-men shame to offer Simonie:
And that should be such Fault, appeares small likelihood, say I.
Obscurely more, with lesser Port, lesse hospitalious too,
The great-Ones neuer liu'd, nor rack't their owne, as now they doe.
Then either this is false that thus they fleece, or this is true,
That euen Consumption of their owne, is Sacrilegers due.
But wander doe we from our Iest, of that doth thus ensue.

The Bishops man sups, and to bed, whilst soundly sleepes that other:
The Gentlewoman, barr'd that Roome, is lodged in another:
That in the Bed fell fast a sleepe, This vnderneath awakes,
And, in his creeping out, and vp, no dinne at all he makes.
One heard he breathe, ar't there? thought he, haue with thee by & by:
And softly kist, wheare felt so rough, he fear'd t'haue kist awry.
He grop't therefore her Face, and caught the Yeoman by the Beard:
And rudely starting vp (not more in all his life afeard,
Thē buskling to his Sword) cride Theeues: That other in such taking,
As though he were a Man right good, he stood amaz'd, and quaking.
The Oste and Ostlers with a Light and Tooles, then next to hand,
Came in, where he, almost vnstript, but wholly skar'de, did stand.
They wonder (for they knew him well) that he should be a Theefe:
Good Sirs, quoth he, be still, we all deceiued are, in breefe.


[Page 314] Then, taking some a-part, he tolde his Cause of being theare,
And praies their silence, and in Wine was washt away that Feare.
The Gentlewoman, hearing this, vn-Inn'd by day did peepe,
And (honester than would himselfe) left him to wake, or sleepe.
This stale-Iest tolde, Of 
Mandeuil now let vs Promise keepe.

WIth modest Mirth were ended now the Maske, and Reuels, when
Vnto their Lodging 
Stafford did the Ladies Vsher then.
There 
Elenor was passing sad, and, being ask't, did tell
The Circumstances of her Ring in order as befell,
And shewes the gaged Tablet, seene and knowne of 
Stafford well.
Her, weeping ripe, he, laughing, bids to patient her a while,
For 
Mandeuil supposde him wrong'd, and wrought, ꝙ he, that wile.
But how for you he loueth yours, it argues, and withall
A gentle-manly minde his great Exchange for value small.
Nor thinke I lesse, nor argue lesse of Loue, and Gentrie too
May what, in both preuenting him, I meane, quoth she, to doo.
His Tablet sent she, and therewith this Breuiat, by a Page.
Of you I aske not backe my Loane, but take it, and your Gage:
Yours Either, Neither say I mine, Both shall be, I presage.
He musing of her Meaning, thus to her lets his be knowne.
Of you I aske not back my Gage, but take it for your Loane:
Mine triples yours, not yours, and yeat for Price gets yours, but One.
Not musing of his Meaning (which to her was not for Newes)
She of her Meaning also meanes that he no longer muse.

Now 
Mandeuil, though grieued much at 
Stafford, whō he thought
In 
Rome to riot, 
Dorcas not esteemed as she ought,
And for his blabbing him to herthe which had had his Ring.
Against an Oth, meanes nerethelesse him on his way to bring,
And comes to 
Staffords Lodging, who prepar'd for no such thing.
But for a Bridegroome trim'd, and trim was All, and She for Bride
Him contradicted, when, as sayd, had 
Mandeuil espide
That likelihood: who, sighing, sayd, not henceforth will I chide,


[Page 315] But pitie 
Stafford, now so farre from wonted 
Stafford wide.
A Friend should not (not you will I in this Infirmenes) flye,
Alone of 
Dorcas wronged here not witnes shall mine Eye.
Came you to 
Rome to lose your selfe, and finde at 
Rome a Friend,
There to begin his Sorrowes where your Senses make an end?
Or thriue they more, or trauell lesse, may 
Englishmen, wish I:
Hence should they profit, whence for most they least doe fructifie,
How stoicall growes 
Mandeuil, quoth 
Stafford, since his Trauell:
With you, for like, may I ere long, haue cause no lesse to cauell.
With that, from out another Roome to him, that would away,
Then 
Dorcas-like came 
Dorcas out, intreating him to stay.

What should we say his Ioy, that his Mis-deemes did sort to this?
Was not a gladder man, and yeat anon he gladder is,
When 
Elenor, then like her selfe, to him came also out:
But whether gladder he, or she, thus met, shall rest a doubt.
That very day both Couples wead, but what they did that night,
Not men vnpractis'd can report, for Action, or Delight.
Nor creeded be this Loue-Tale of this Ladie and this Knight.

THus, of what worth so-ere, is brought this Work of Ours to end:
More haue wee donne, hence outed, more wee purpos'd to haue pend,
Which to intelligenced Men, more daring, we commend.
Well wotring, Acts heroick, and great Accidents, not few
Occurre this happie Raigne, here-hence, of purpose, blanched vew.
Nor Perpetuitie my Muse can hope, vnlesse in this,
That thy sweet Name, 
Elizabeth, herein remembred is.
And this, hope I, doth bode me good, that very day wherein
Was finish't This, did of thy Raigne yeare Thirtith nine begin.
May Muse arte-graced more than mine, in Numbers like supply,
What in thine Highnes Praise my Pen, too poore, hath passed-by.
A larger Field, a Subiect more illustrious, None can aske,
That with thy Scepter and thy selfe, his Poesie to taske.
Thy Peoples Prolocutor be my Prayer, and I pray,
That vs thy blessed Life, and Raigne, long blesse, as at this day.

[Page]

An Addition in Proese to the second Booke of ALBIONS ENGLAND: contayning a Breuiate of the true Historie of Aeneas.

ACcept him (friendly Reader) where he is, not where he ought, and as he speaketh, not as he should. Misapplied he is not for Matter precedent, howsoeuer the penning or misplacing may like or mislike for the English or Order. Rather hath my Remisnes borrowed of Decorum and your Patience, than that a Patriarke of our Brutons should be abruptly estranged: Of Aeneas therefore it thus followeth:

[Page 317]

Aeneidos.

WHen the reuengefull Flames of Tr [...]y, properly called Ilion, then the principall Citie of all Asia, had perfected the more than Te [...]ne yeares Siege of the Grecians expugning of the same, then Aeneas (howsoeuer by some authorities noted of disloyaltie towards Priam, in this not vnworthily surnamed vertuous) burthening his armed shoulders with his feeble and most aged Father Anchises, that laboured also vnder his loade of the Troian Gods and sacred Reliques, Aeneas (as I say) with such his Burthen, leading by the hand his Sonne Ascanius of the age of twelue yeres, followed not only of the beautifull Creusa his wife the Daughter of King Priam, but also of a many Troians participating that common calamitie, brake through the wastfull Flames, mauger the wrathful Foes, into the fields of Phrigia. Theare the Aire emptied of down-burnt Turrets, and filled with smoake of fired Buildings, assured frō their hearts more teares to their eyes, than the benefit of their present Escape could promise them comfort. Tr [...]y therefore not to be rescued, or Creusa (in this businesse lost and perishing) to be recouered, Aeneas and his Followers imbarking themselues in Simois, after long & weary Sea-faring arriued in a part of Thrace called Cressa, bounding on Mygdonia. Here Aeneas, purposing an end of his tedious Saylings, and not meanly furnished of [Page 318] Treasure conuayed from Troy, laied Foundation of a Citie (after the Founder) called Aenea. This Citie going forward lesse effectually than was expected, Aeneas, supposing the Gods to bee yet opposite to the Troians, knocking downe a milke-white Bull pitched an Altar to doe Sacrifice. Neere at hand were growing diuers shrubbed Trees, the Boughes whereof (for the greater reuerence and exornation of the present Solemnitie) he cutting and sliuing downe, perceiued blood in great abundance issuing from the broken Branches: whereat long admiring, and with great terror and deuotion intercessing the Gods to reueale the meaning of that miraculous Accident, at the length he heard a pitiful & feeble voice (for diuessly in those daies, did the Diuels answere and giue Oracles) thus answering.

Reason were it (Aeneas) that the Graues of the dead shuld priuiledge their bodies from the tyrannie of the liuing: but by so much the lesse doe I esteeme my preiudice, by how much the more I know thee vnwittingly iniurious. Thou Aeneas, in these Braunches, thou tearest the bodie of thy vnfortunate Brother-in-law Polydor, Sonne to the likestarred Priamus. Troy as yet was only threatned, not besieged, when my Father (as thou knowest) deliuered me with a world of Treasure to Polymn [...]stor the barbarous King of this Countrie, here daungerles (as he pretended) to abide, as the Conseruor and Restauration of his House and Empyre, whatsoeuer should betide of him, his other Issue, or the Warres then beginning: but the Greekes preuailing, Auarice, and the declining State of Phrigia, imboldned my Gardein (fearles of Reuengers) to the murthering of me: which he traytrously accomplishing on this Shore, secretly raked me vp in these Sands, without honor of better Sepulcher: and of my body (so hath it pleased the Gods, and Nature) are sprong these Branches, in tearing of which thou tormē test me. Howbeit, in respect of my desire to profit thee by [Page 319] foretelling of thy Destinie, I account mee happily harmed: For know (Aeneas) that in vaine thou doest build where the Gods deny thine abode: leaue therefore these defamed Coasts, and prosperously plant the Remaine of Troy and thy Posteritie in the fertill Italian Clime.

The voyce thus ceased to speake, and Aeneas, without further touch of the forbidden Shrubs, continuing his feare finished the Sacrifice, & after the Phrigian fashion solemnlie held an Obit to the Ghost of his murthered Kinsman.

THen, by this admonishment, he and his Troians leauing the new reared Citie, disanker from Thrace in quest of behighted Italie. But no sooner had they put to Sea, thē that the windes and the waues sollicited (a Poeticall fiction) by the wife of Iupiter, so tossed and turmoyled the disparkled Nauie, that the horror of the circūstances cōtinually threatning their liues, left onely hoped-for death as the remaine of all comfort. At length, these instruments of their long wandrings, and the causes of Anchises & of many noble personages there perishing, coūterpleaded (as is fabled) by Venus, tossed their distackled Fleet to the Shore of Libya. Neere to the place of their arriual stood the beautifull Citie of Carthage, which Elisa (whom the Phaenicians for her magnanimious dying, did afterwards name Dido) had newly builded: Aeneas by safe-cōduct receiued frō her repayring thether, found such royal entertainemēt, that in respect of the present solace he had forgottē al passed sorrowes, & his hart-spent Troians found bountifull supplies to all their late endured scarsities. In the meane while Aeneas, for personage the Iouilist, for wel-spokē the Mercuxilist, & no lesse fortunate vnder Venus her constellatiō, with his comelines so intised the eyes, with his speeches so inchaunted the eares, and with his vertues so enflamed the heart of the amorous Cathagenian Queene, that hardly modesty discented that her tongue affirmed not [Page 320] the loue which her eyes outwardly blabbed and her heart inwardly nourished: In the end, not able longer to containe such extraordinary Passions, in this order she vented the same to the Lady Anna her Sister.

My trusty Sister, quoth she, (then sighing out a pause) how many great Princes, since the decease of my late husband Sichaeus and our departure from Tyrus, haue in vaine laboured a marriage with me, hath been vnto thee no lesse apparant, than of me hitherto vnapproued: but now (haled on I know not by what destinie) our new-come Guest Aeneas the Troian (whose matchlesse personage and knightly prowesse I partially commend not, all confirming of him no lesse than I can affirme) the same euen the same hath supplanted my chast determinations of continual widowhood, with an amorous desire of a second marriage: howbeit, to determine without him, as I must, were to bee deceiued of him, as I may. What counsell? My selfe (Anna) ah my selfe to motion loue were immodestie, and to be silent lesse tolerable than death. I would (a violent no voluntary wish) that Elisa knew her selfe beloued of Aeneas, Aeneas not knowing himselfe so loued of Elisa.

Her Sister with a cheereful countenance promising comfort performed the same in this answer. Dum signes (quoth she) haue their speeches: not any that obserueth your looks, but easily aymeth at your loue: greater is the wonder of your strickt chastitie, than it would be a nouell to see you a Bigama. That priuatly peeuish and curious, This publiquely wish [...]d and commodious: Or euer Carthage be perfected in the ayre, Elisa may putrifie in the earth: What Monument then leauest thou to thy Tyrians, scarce warme in A [...]k, than a Cities imperfect foundation? Which being alreadie an eye [...]ore to the wild and warlike Libians, Barc [...]s, Getulians, and the rest of the Africans, shall then bee v [...]erly extinct, with the very name of the Foundres▪ but in [Page 321] matching with so great and valiant a Prince as Aeneas, thou shalt not onely liue with whom thou doest loue, and by consorting thy Tyrians with his Troians strongly disappoynt the enuie of those Nations, but (for Nature hath not giuen thee such beautie to die barren) being a wife, become ( [...] doubt) a mother, and by legitimate propagation so glad thy Subiects feareles of ciuill dissentions. Who can then dislike that Elisa should so loue? Burie Sister the thoughts of Sichaeus with his dead bones, and prosperously prosecute and preuaile in thy sweete passions of Aeneas: Plie him with all prouisions and amorous entertainements: onely for his Shippe-works fayne delatory wants, and by Winter be past he, partly comming, will (feare not) bee perfectly reclaymed.

This counsell of Anna, though it heaped as it were Athos on Aetna, yet was it praised and practised of Elisa: for Counsell soothing the humor of the counselled, howsoeuer vnprofitable, is accounted pla [...]sible. Henceforward the Queene (to be admired, not matched for her exquisite beautie, and rather borrowing of Arte than scanting Nature, as braue in apparell as beautifull in person, and voted, euen in her better part, to the loue of Aeneas) so sorted all her [...]euices to his best liking, that shortly himselfe laboured with her in one and the selfe-same paine of wished-for pleasure. Omitting therefore the circumstances of their discourses, feastings, and all poeticall faynings, onely proceede we, in few, to the Euent of these their amorous Beginnings.

A Hunting was generally appoynted, the Queene, Aeneas, their Ladies, and Knights brauely mounted, the Standes were prewned, the Toyles pitched, the Hounds vncoupled, the Gamerowsed, a foote, and followed, when sodainely, amidst the harborlesse Desart in the hotest pursute, the Skye, ouer-cast with black Clowdes, showred downe such fl [...]shes [Page 322] of Lightening, vollies of Thunder, Haylestones, and Raine, that glad was euery of the Tyrians and Troians, dispersing themselues, to shift for one, Elisa and Aeneas in the meane while finding a Caue that sheltred them twaine. Being there all alone, vnknowen of and vnsought for of their Seruants, Opportunity, the chief Actresse in al attēpts, gaue the Plaudiate in Loue his, Comedie. Imagine short wooing where either partie is willing: their faithes plighted for a mariage to be solemnized (with kind kisses among) hee did what harmed not, and she had what displeased not: A young Aeneas should haue beene molded, had he not bin marred (as might seeme) in the making. Whē this sweet Caulme in the sharp storme was with the tempest thus ouerpassed, then came they both out not such as they entred in, & were receiued of their Traines, attending their pleasures, not examining their pastimes: and so hauing continued the Chace vntill night discontinued their sport, they retyring to Carthage were sumptuously feasted of Elisa in her Pallace. During these their Alcion dayes (not generally liked of all) one there was, a noble Troian, that had these speeches to Aeneas.

Shouldest thou beleeue (farre be it from Aeneas so to beleeue) that the Oracles of our Gods, behighting vs the Conquest of Italie, were superstitious, thē beleeue also (vndeceiued mayst thou so beleeue) that our effeminate abode here is vaine and slanderous: to attempt that former without an Oracle, yea with the losse of our liues, is honorable, because we are Trotās: to entertaine this latter, inuited and daungerlesse, reprochful, because we are Troians▪ Ah (Aeneas) haue we shipped our Gods frō home to be witnesses of our wantonnesse here? Beleeue me, better had it bin we had died in P [...]r [...]gia, men, than to liue thus in Affrik like women. Consider also the place whereinto we are now brought, and then conceiue of the possibility of our here abode: shal I tel thee? were there not (if in the meane while no other Accident [Page 323] crosse thy now blisse) were there not, I say, an Elisa here to loue thee, or were there not an Aeneas to be beloued of her, no sooner shuld the first deceased of you be deliuered of life, than the Suruiuors of vs Troians be denied this Lande: And then, (if we should proue so vngratefull as to resist our Relieuors) hauing number, yet want we Munitiō: for neither our Ships be tackled, nor we armed, but at the deliuerie and appointment of the Tyrians. Learne therefore (Aeneas) after so long pleasure in loue, at the last profitably and politickly to loue, and whatsoeuer thy playe be in Affrich, let hencefoorth the Maine bee Italie. Mean-while commaund (most humbly we desire to be so commaunded) that thy shippes be secretly calked, [...]allowed, ballaced, tackled, victualled and armed: and then (thy selfe also reformed) wittingly or vnwillingly to Elisa leaue her & her effeminate Citie: with Resolution neuerthelesse (ifthou so please) at more leysure to loue her. So effectually did Aeneas listen to this motion, that giuing order for the repayring of his Fleete, he promised a speedy and sodayne departure: and his men, not slipping opportunitie, executed the same with as effectuall diligence.

It happened in this meane while, the Queene to mount the high Turrets of her Pallace royall, whear looking towards the Roade, she perceiued how earnestly the Tro [...]a [...]s laboured in trimming, pauasning, and furnishing their Nauie: then assuring her selfe not deceiued, that she should be deceiued, and descending as it were maiestically madde, meeting with Aeneas, shee said.

Before (A [...]neas) I beheld thy ship wracks and wants I beleeued some God arriued at Carthage: yea when I knewe thee but a man, my conceit honored thee with a De [...]tie: but now these thine inhumaine Treacheries (not worthy the vnworthiest Titles) argue so farre off from a Godhoode, as thou shewest thy selfe lesse than a Man and worse than a [Page 324] Diuell. What hath Carthage not worthie Aeneas? I assure thee, if any be so much, no citie is more happy thā Carthage. But the Queene pleaseth not Aeneas, oh that Aeneas had not pleased the Queene: thē might I haue bettered my choise for honour, or not haue bewayled thy chaunge for the dishonour. But (vngratefull) wilt thou indeede leaue me? Yea, then that thou meanest the contrary nothing more false: but to deriue thy departure frō any desart of mine nothing lesse true. If therefore the life of Elisa, the loue of Elisa, the land of Elisa, her wealth, thy want, her teares, thy vowes, her distresse, thy dishonour, the delights of this Shore, the dangers of those Seas, Carthage possessed, Italie vnconquered, peace without warre here, warre without peace there, thy wracks past, the Winter to come, any euils whereof I warne thee, any good that I haue wrought thee, and more good that I haue and doe wish thee, if any thing said, or more than I can say, hath or doth want Argument to seate thee in Affrick, yet at the least for thine owne safety stay a more temperate season, vrging in the meane while excuses for thine vnurged departure: and so I flattered, shal either patient my selfe, or repent thy fleeting in a milder Extasie. I did (well may I forethinke mee so to haue done) entertaine thee beyond the degree of an Hostesse or the dignitie of a Guest: & yet (vngratefull Guest to so kinde an Hostesse) for such welcome thou hast not pretended a farewell. Thus, alas, finding thy loue lesse than it ought, I repent to haue loued more thā I should, and because thou appearest not the same thou wert, I am not reputed the same I am: but as a ridiculous by-worde of the Tyrians, the Stale of the Troians, and the scorne of the Affricans: howbeit (in trueth) the fayth-plighted Wife of faithles Aeneas. But who will so beleeue? Nay beleeue not so who will, thy departure shall be my death, my death thy sinne, thy sinne the worldes speech, the worldes speech thy reproofe, and thy reproofe my purgation. For were [Page 325] thy selfe Iuror and Iudge of the more offensiue, my credulencie, or thine inconstancie, the Iuror could not but giue Verdict for Elisa, and the Iudge sentence against Aeneas: then (if not for my suite, yet for thine owne sake) let me not pleade tediously and without grace, that plead so truely, and with more griefe than for the quantitie I may suffer, or for the qualitie thou canst censure.

Aeneas, not lightly gauled at her impatience (whome he still loued more than a little, howbeit lesser than his now regarde of honour) thankfully acknowledged her great bounty, counter-pleading to haue pretended a departure without leaue taken, vouching moreouer the displeasure of his Gods for contempt of their Oracles manifested by fearefull Dreames and sundry Visions, as also the vrging of his [...]ro [...] ans impatient of tarriance. So that he resting in Resolution not to be wonne by wooing, or reclaymed by exclayming, the Queene became speechlesse and sencelesse, and was in a swoune conuayed from his presence. In which businesse hee boording his Shippes, in the dead of the night hoisting vp Sayles, left Carthage to seeke Italie.

THe Queene, not capable of any rest, by day appearing discryed from a Turret the Roade cleered of the Troian Nauie: then not willingly silent, nor able to speak, She stood as stoode Niobe after the fourteenth reuenge by Latonaes Issue: Which her then and after Extremities, to be glaunced at, not iudged of, briefely I thus decipher. Imagine a substantiall and a palpable appearance of Loue, Wrath, Sorrow, and Despayre, acting in their aptest habites and extreamest passions, and then suppose Elisa not onely the same, but more feruently louing, more furiously wrathfull, more confusedly sorrowful and more impatiently desperate. Imagine lastly the first three imagined Actors, after long parts occupied, leauing the Stage to the fourth, as to the perfectest Imperfection: [Page 326] and then from such imagined Stratagem attend this actuall Catastrophe.

A Wizard or Witch (the two common Oracles of many too credulent women) had instructed the Queene, that an Immola [...]ō or burnt Sacrifice offered to the Internal Deities, of the Armour, Ornaments, and all whatsoeuer the Reliques of Aeneas [...]t behinde him at his departure from Carthage, would effectually estrange the outrage of her passions, and ex [...]ct in her the very remembrance of Aeneas. This Counsell (either for that at the first she beleeued it possible, or for that oportunitie so offered it selfe to practise the thing she did purpose) Elisa entertaining opened the same to Anna her Sister: who, simply vnsuspi [...]ous of the sequell, prouided secretly (as was giuen her in charge) a pyle of dry Faggots, crowned with G [...]rlands for the disma [...]l Sacrifice: which and Elisa her selfe in a readinesse, Aeneas his Armour beeing her eyes Obiect, became in this wise her tongues Subiect.

With this, quoth she (eying the Armour) the craking [...]roi [...]ns boast [...]d to haue buckled with the gallant Diom [...]des, not seldome to haue offended the defenceles Grec [...]ans, and after many loued blowes at the sacking of Troy, valiantly to haue boorded his thence-bent Nauie: this Armour profitable to my pr [...]iudice, there defensiue to him, to be here offensiue to me, were it vnnecessary to this Sacrifice, should neuertheles burne for the same trespasse. This Cup, this Phrigian Cup, too guilty of too many Tyrian draughts, Assistants in forming me audaciously amorous, shal now occupie these ceremoniall flames as the then Accessary to a cōtrarie fire. These Bracelets, and these Ear-rings (by too often and officious hands fastned and loosed with begged and graunted kisses among, and now lesse precious by the giuer his practise) shall also ad C [...]ders to the repentant payment of mine ouer rated pleasure. Lastly are remaining only two Reliques of that [Page 327] Recreant, this Sword, and Elisa herselfe. But what? did dest thou (Aneas) leaue this & thine Armour in Carthage, as if in Italie thou shouldest encounter another E [...]sa? Inconsiderate that thou art, albeit such fearelesse Cōf [...]icts best beseeme such effeminate Captaines, yet no climate can affoorde thee one so foolish, & therefore in no Countrey expect such Fortune. The Storme (ah frō thence are these teares) sheltring vs twaine lately in one Caue, was (no doubt) ominous to these euils: for then should I haue remembred, that like as Shelters are chiefly sought for in Stormes, so mē labour our fauours onely in extremi [...]es: but their lusts satisfied, or wants supplied, as of Shelters in Sunne-shine they estimate our bountie, leauing thenceforth euen to seeme such as (in troth) they neuer were. But what is naturall, is of necessitie, onely let it be graunted he is a Man, and it followeth necessarily he is deceitful. Flie, Traiterous Aeneas, flie vnfollowed and vnfriended of Elisa: euer may the winds be contrary to thy Course, and the Seas not promise thee one houres safety: euer be thy Ship drowning, and thy selfe neuer but dying: often resayle in a moment, whence thou wert sayling a moneth: let no blaste from the Ayre, or Billow in the Sea, stirre but to thy preiudice: and when no horror and mishap hath sayled thee, with thy dead body, to the vttermost plagued, perish also may thy Soule vnpardoned. But least mine incharitie proue lesse pardonable than his I [...]iu [...]ie, I that will not liue to heare it so, heartily disclayme to haue it so: pardon therefore, yee Gods, [...] desiring it, & him deseruing it. Troth is it this one Sacrifice shall giue end to mine infinite sorrowes: but not (alas) with these burnings (rather found guiltie of new beginnings) but with my hearts blood, the latest Ceremonie wanting to this Exequse. Scarcely had these words passed her mouth, when with Aeneas his Sword she pearced her Brest: so performing on herselfe a Tragedie sought for, and to hers a terror vnlooked for.

[Page 328] WHilest Dido, (so named of this her death, or as haue some, not lesse probable, of so preuenting Htarba: menacing her mar [...]age) was thus passionate and did thus perish, Aeneas, after weary Sea-saring, much sorrowe, many people and places seene and sayled from, arriuing in Sicisie, was [...]oyfully entertained of this auncient friend King Ace [...]es, and there (as the yeare before at Drapenum) did solemnize and Anniuersa [...]ie at the Tombe of his father Anchises. The Masteries, feates, and actiue pastimes tried here by the Troian and Sicilian youth, with land and sea Skirmidges, the running, riding, leaping, shooting, wrestling, and such like, with Bacing on foote and on horsback (this last, a sport lately vsed of our English youthes, but now vnpolliuckly discontinued) Or how the Women of Troy (whereof many were also imbarked from thence) tyred with the perils of the Sea, and intised with the pleasures of Sici [...]ie, to preuent further sayling, fired their Ships (not without great losse rescued:) Or how A [...]neas building there the Citie A [...], peopled the same with his women, and impotent Tro [...]ns: Or of the drowning and Reuise of Palinurus, and many Occurrents hapning here, at Cuma, Caieta, & else-where I omit, as lesse pertinent to our purpose then the hastning of Aeneas into Italie. Wherefore shipping him from Sicilie, I now land him in Latium: in which part of Italie raigned and was Resident in his Citie Laurentum the King Latinus: to whome Aeneas addressed an hundred Knights, one of them deliuering this Ambassie.

Ignorant are we not, most gratious King (for in that Title art thou famous, and in that triall may we proue fortunate) of thy Consanguinitie with the Troians, by noble descents from Dardanus our auncient Progenitor: neither canst thou but know that Troy is sacked, and her people for the most parte slaughtered: onely know (if already thou knowest it n [...]t) that Aeneas our Duke with a few his Followers, after [Page 329] more than seauen yeares sayling, are lastly (and lucki lie I hope) arriued in thy Countrie: Howbeit of many places, for pleasure and ferulitie most worthy manuring, haue wee abandoned the quiet possession: yea many the greatest Princes of Europe and Affrica, haue voluntarily desired our Tariance denied: only infinit Seas haue wee sayled, and more sorrowes sustained to seeke this Clime, from whence wee Troians deriue our Originals, and whither our Gods haue directed vs by their Oracles. This thy Countrie, in respect of the bignesse, may easily affoord roome for a new Troy to be builded: A plot more spacious we doe not aske, A smaller suite thou canst not graunt, if with our present extremities thou also peise our purposed loyalties. Neuer were wee thy foes, and euer will we continue thy friends. Seated wee must be, and here wee would be. We dare not disobey, the Gods commanding it, nor would we discontent thee in demaunding it: graciously therfore conceiue of our Petition, and gratefully receiue from Aeneas these Presents.

Hauing thus sayd, he in the name of Aeneas, presented the King with a most rich Mantell or Robe, with an inualuable Crowne of Golde enchased with precious Stones, with the late royall Scepter of King Priamus, and with other Treasure: which Latinus cheerefully receiuing, returned the Troians this answer.

Had not the Gods commāded your hither repaire, which I gainsay not, were we not of consanguinitie, wherein I disclaime not, Or my Kingdome not roome-some enough to receiue you, as it is, Or had ye not brought precious and peaceable Presents, as ye haue, yeat to dismisse Wayfarers vnrested and vnreleeued were contrary to the Gods of Hospitalitie, and (which they defend that I should therein offend) Latinus his honour. Ouer: fast he sitteth that securely si [...]eth: for as he that is timorous hath [...] little prouidence, [Page 330] so he that is feareles hath too much presumption: yea lesse grieuous are expected than vnlooked-for euils. I speake not this as I feare to fall, but as I fore-see I may fall: for the vnpearching of others should be fore-preachings to vs. Priuie am I vnto your distresse, applying the like possibility for me so to decline: for who is priuiledged from becōming such? And who is such that would not haue succour? Sorrie I am that ye haue so ill cause to estrange your selues from home, but glad that I am in so good case to entertaine you here. Let Ae [...] feare him and prosper yee in Italie: my land well may abide it, and my selfe brooke it. Yea more (for the Oracle of my minde consorts no doubt with those of our Gods) Lauinia my sole daughter and heire, forbidden a Natiues and behighted a Strangers Marriage, hath found a Husbande and I a Sonne-in-lawe: at the least I wish it would bee, and hope it will bee. Make my thankes to Ae [...]eas for his Presents, and bee you Masters of your Petitions.

The Troians being then sumptuously feasted, euery man on a giuen Courser brauely and richly mounted, dismissed, returned, and Latinus his answere and Present deliuered, Aeneas, neuerthelesse as farre from being secure as ioyous of such Tidings, knowing the good speede of a Stranger to be an Eye-sore to the people, and therefore not careles suspitious of it that might causeles succeede, strongly inmured his Men in a new-built Fortresse.

In the meane while their Arriuall and Entertainment with Latinus occupied, and for the most part offended, all Italie Enuiously stormed Amata Queene that Lauinia her Daughter and Darling should be wedded to a Stranger, an Exile (as she termed him:) and therefore, when she could not disswade the King by flatterie, shee incensed his Nobles and Subiects to resist it forcibly. On the other side, [Page 331] Turnus, Prince of the Rutiles (in person exceeding all for comelinesse, and in Armes equall to any for his courage, to whom Lauinia was before promised in Marriage) as Malcontent as any for being thus circumuēted by Aeneas, held a Counsell in his sumptuous Citie Ardea scituate in the territorie of Latium, how to intercept the Troians by wi [...]es, expell them by Warres, weaken them by wants, disappoynt Aeneas, and possesse himselfe of Lauinta. Often sent he Messengers and sometimes Menaces to aduertise Latinus that he was promised he should, and to ass [...]re him hee purposed hee would enioy her or anger him. But by how much more Latinus was religiously vnremouable in his Resolution for Aeneas, by so much the more did Turnus giue loose raines to his headie anger: Howbeit sufficient matter wanted for his malice to worke vpon, vntill by euill happe his choler tooke aduantage of this colour. Ascanius with diuers Troian Gentlemen his Friends and others his Attendants, hunting in a Forrest not farre from their Fortresse, by chance did incounter, strike, and chace a fayre and well spread Stagge, which the Children of one Tyrrhus (the Kings Raunger and Steward of his Grounds, a Man of no meane account amongst the Latines) had from a Fawne nourished, and so intreated that no Beast might bee more tamer: This Stagge thus stroken and followed of the Troians, taking the readiest way to the house of Tyrrhus, and with bleeding haunches entring the Hall, was first espred of Syluta or Ilia, a young Gentlewoman, in whose lappe hee sleeping had often layd his head, and at whose hands he had many a time taken Brouse, been kemmed, and trimmed. She▪ seeing the Stagge in such a plight, almost swouned ere shee could weepe, wept e [...]e shee might speake, spoke ere shee was comforted, and was comforted onely in promise of Reuenge. At the winding of an Horne, came flocking [Page 332] [...] Heards-men, Shepheards, Plow-men, and [...] of Groomes, finding Almon the eldest Sonne of Tyrrhus, and their young Mistris Syluia grieuously passionate, and the Stagge bloodie and braying his last, question no further what should be done, but were furiously inquisitiue after the Doers.

In this meane time, by euil hap, Ascanius and his Companie drawing by Parsie after the Stagge (which they knew not for tame) were entered the view of this Shoole of inraged Clownes: who all at once and suddenly, with such weapons as they had or found neerest at hand, as Staues, Sheephookes, Dung-forks, Flayles, Plow-staues, Axes, Hedging-Beetels, yea L [...]bbats newly snatched frō burning, and what not? fiercely assayled with down-right blowes the amazed Troians: who not hauing leisure to aske questions, couragiously entertaine the vnknowne Quarrell▪ and so long and daungerously for either parte continued this confusion of blowes and effusion of blood, that by now it was bruted at the Fortresse and at Laurentum, and was anon increased by rescue from either Faction: neither had this Skuffling an end vntill night was begun: at what time the Latines, Rutiles, & Troians left the wild Medley, howbeit not discontinuing their malice.

Of chiefe account amongst the Latines, were slaine lustie Almon, and aged Galesus, (this latter a man of an honest and wealthie condition) whilest he vnseasonably amongst blowes deliuered vnregarded perswasions of Peace. The wounded Corses of these twaine did Turnus cause to bee conuayed to the view of Latinus, as Arguments of their common dammage, himselfe with an enuious heart and an inuectiue tongue amplifying the same [...]o the vttermost: not vnassisted therein by the yrefull Queene Amata, or vnfurthered by the hurlie burlie of the impatient People, all [Page 333] labouring the King to denounce Armour against the Troians.

Latinus in this tumult of his Subiects, and trauell of his Sences, assuring himselfe that Aeneas was the man prophesied to the Marriage of Lauinia and succession of Latium, disswaded, but might not perswade with the headie multitude. In fewe, with such efficacie did the dead Corses inuite it, the Queene intreate it, Turnus affect it, & the People follow it, that lastly, though against his minde, the King did suffer the Laurentines to reare on their Walles absolute Tokens of imminent Warres: Thus found Turnus that which he longed for, and Aeneas no lesse than hee looked for, and either solliciting succours, were not long vnfurnished of hardie Souldiers: yea, in respect of their multuous Armies, the Warres lately ceased at Troy, might now haue been sayd to bee reuiued in Italie. But as in his Wandrings, so in his Warres, my purpose is breuitie: either of which the Lawriat Trumpetor of his glorie hath so effectually sownded, that many might amplifie, I could iterate, but not any amend it: neuerthelesse in remembring of this Historie I haue also vsed other Authorities.

IT followeth, After long Warres valiantly on either part performed, many great Kings, Princes, and Personages perished: when lastly the Rutiles begunne to bee repentant of their wrong, and the Troians wearie of the Warres, Aeneas and Turnus meeting had these words: And first Aeneas.

Often Truces haue wee had (Turnus) for the buriall of our dead, neuer treaties of peace for the welfare of those aliue: onely once (as I haue been euer) diddest thou seeme (thou diddest but seeme) prouident that no moe should miscarrie, offering me C [...]mbate, which I accepting haue in [Page 334] vaine expected: for since thy minde changed, I wot not by what meanes, hath changed the liues of I wot not how many. But now, when for the palpable leasing thou shouldst not speak like Turnus, shouldst thou deny the better of the wars to abide with Aeneas, and yet I still be Aeneas, though playing vpon that Aduantage with Turnus, euen now, I say, my selfe doe request thee of that Combate whereby further Blood-sheds may happily be concluded. Beleeue mee, wert thou a Begger and I a Monark, yet (so much doe I emulate, not enuie thy glorie) I would hazard all in a Combat requested by thee so valerous a Competitor. But least (perhaps) I ouer-breathe thy tickled Conceit with more selfe-l [...]king than is exped [...]ent, know man, Turnus know, Nature, Birth, Arte, Education, not whatsoeuer els are in any thing more beneficiall to Turnus, than that iustly he may enuie as much or more in Aeneas.

To this answered the Rutile thus: Whether thou speakest this (Aeneas) as insulting ouer mine infortune, or as insolent of thine owne felicitie, or emulous (as thou sayest and I beleeue it) of my glorie, trust me, onely if thus in thy better successe to abandon thy selfe to such offered disaduauntage bee not indiscretion, neuer heard I wherein to derogate from thy policie: but say it indiscretion, yet by Iupiter (Aeneas) it is honourable indiscretion. Not to encounter so heroicall (for in thee I enuie not that Epitheton) a Combattant, is as contrary to my thought as contenting to my very Soule, and as contenting to my Soule, as if A [...]neas were alreadie conquered, and Turnus Conquerour: either which I deuine, at the leastwise I am determined to aduenture. Be prouided therefore (Ae [...]eas) of courage, for thou prouokest no Cowarde, but euen Tu [...]us, that would haue asked no lesse, had he not doubted Aeneas not to haue dared to answer so much. Thus, and with these Conditions: [Page 335] that further warres should finish, that the Espousall of Lauinia and Succession of Latium should bee the Prize to the Victor, a Combat to bee tried by these twaine body against body was (vpon Othes taken and other Circumstances) agreed vpon.

Now were they Armed, Mounted, did Encounter, and their Coursers breathlesse, the Riders dismounting vigoriously buckle on Foote: both offende, either defende, & neither [...]ainted: Lastly (not with vnrequited blowes) was Turnus disarmed: the Vanquished pleading for life, & the Victor not purposing his death, had hee not espied on his Shoulders the sometimes Baldrike of his once especiall Friend Pallas, King Euanders Sonne, whom Turnus in Battell ouercomming had put to Sword: then Aeneas saying, onelie in this Spoyle thou shalt not triumph, and onely for his sake am I vnintreatable, shoffed his Sworde through his breast: Turnus so ending the World, and Aeneas the Warres.

Then was he peaceably wedded to Lauinia, and shortly after possessed of Latium: After which, about three yeares he, dying, left his Kingdom to Aseanius, and Lauinia with childe. She at her time, and at the house of the before remembred Tyrrhus, was deliuered of Syl [...]i [...]s Post-humus (so called of his being borne amongst the Woods, after the death of his Father.) To him (because in right it was the inheritance of Syluius from his Mother) did As [...]anius voluntarily resigne the Kingdome of Latium: and of him (for his honorable Regiment) were all the after- Latine kings called Syl [...]ij: Finally he hunting and mistaken amongst the Thickets for a Stagge, was slaine with an Arrow by his Sonne Brutus. This Brutus for sorrow and his sa [...]tie, accompanied with many lustie Gentlemen and others of Aeneas [Page 336] his Troians Ofsprings, imbarking themselues, after long Sayling ariued in this Iland then called Albion: whose Giant-like Inhabitants (in respect of their monstrous making & inciuill Manners sayd to haue bin engendred of Diuels) he ouercomming, manured their Countrey, and after his owne name called it Brutaine. And thus hauing begotten Brutus an Originall to our Brutons, I conclude this abridged Historie of his Grandfather Aeneas.

FINIS.

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Author: Warner, William, 1558?-1609.1597

THE FIRST BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. I.

CHAP. II.

CHAP. III.

CHAP. IIII.

CHAP. V.

CHAP. VI.

THE SECOND BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. VII.

CHAP. VIII.

CHAP. IX.

CHAP. X.

CHAP. XI.

CHAP. XII.

CHAP. XIII.

THE THIRD BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XIIII.

CHAP. XV.

CHAP. XVI.

CHAP. XVII.

CHAP. XVIII.

CHAP. XIX.

THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XX.

CHAP. XXI.

CHAP. XXI.

CHAP. XXII.

THE FIFTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XXIII.

CHAP. XXIIII.

CHAP. XXV.

CHAP. XXV.

CHAP. XXVII.

CHAP. XXVIII.

THE SIXT BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XXIX.

CHAP. XXX.

CHAP. XXXI.

CHAP. XXXII.

CHAP. XXXIII.

THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XXXIV.

CHAP. XXXV.

CHAP. XXXVI.

CHAP. XXXVII.

THE EIGHT BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XXXIV.

CHAP. XXXV.

CHAP. XL.

CHAP. XLI.

CHAP. XLII.

CHAP. XLIIII.

TO THE RIGHT HONORA­BLE LORD, SIR GEORGE CAREY Knight, Baron of Hunsdon, &c.

THE NINTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. XLIIII.

CHAP. XLV.

CHAP. XLVI.

CHAP. XLVII.

CHAP. XLVIII.

CHAP. XLIX.

CHAP. L.

CHAP. LI.

CHAP. LII.

CHAP. LIII.

THE TENTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. LIV.

CHAP. LV.

CHAP. LVI.

CHAP. LVII.

CHAP. LVIII.

CHAP. LIX.

CHAP. LX.

CHAP. LXI.

THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF ALBIONS ENGLAND.

CHAP. LXII.

CHAP. LXII.

CHAP. LXIV.

CHAP. LXV.

CHAP. LXVI.

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE LORD, SIR GEORGE CAREY Knight, Baron of Hunsdon, &c.