Chapter X: Part I: By JOHN HIGGINS (1)

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

_Loue and liue._

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

_Amen._

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

1586.

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

“I. HIGGINS TO

THE READER.

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

Thy friende
I. H.”[80]

A PREFACE TO

THE READER.

[Before the edition 1587.]

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

Thy frende,

IOHN HIGINS.[81]

THOMAS NEWTON

TO THE READER,

_in the behalfe of this Booke_.

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

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

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

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

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

1587.

THOMAS NEWTONUS,

_Cestreshyrius_.[82]

THE AUTHORS INDUCTION.

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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

8.

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

9.[93]

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

10.

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

11.

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

12.

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

13.[101]

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

14.

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

15.

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

16.

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

17.

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

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

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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

8.

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

9.

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

10.

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

11.

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

12.

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

13.

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

14.

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

15.

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

16.

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

17.

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

18.

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

19.

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

20.

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

21.

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

22.

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

23.

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

24.

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

25.

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

26.

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

27.

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

28.

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

29.

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

30.

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

31.

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

32.

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

33.

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

34.

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

35.

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

36.

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

37.

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

38.

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

39.

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

40.

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

41.

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

42.

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

43.

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

44.

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

45.

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

46.

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

47.

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

48.

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

49.

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

50.

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

51.

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

52.

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

53.

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

54.

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

55.

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

56.

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

57.

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

58.

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

59.

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

60.

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

61.

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

62.

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

63.

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

64.

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

65.

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

66.

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

67.

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

68.

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

69.

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

70.

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

71.

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

72.

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

73.

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

74.

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

75.

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

76.

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

77.

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

78.

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

79.

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

80.

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

81.

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

82.

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

83.

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

84.

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

L’ENVOY[232].

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

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

1.

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

2.