Chapter XI: Part I: By JOHN HIGGINS (2)

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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

8.

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

9.

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

10.

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

11.

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

12.

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

13.

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

14.

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

15.

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

16.

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

17.

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

LENVOY.

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

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

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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

8.

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

9.

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

10.

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

11.

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

12.

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

13.

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

14.

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

15.

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

16.

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

17.

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

18.

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

19.

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

20.

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

21.

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

22.

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

23.

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

24.

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

25.

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

26.

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

27.

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

LENVOY.

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

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

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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

8.

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

9.

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

10.

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

11.

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

12.

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

13.

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

14.

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

15.

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

16.

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

17.

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

18.

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

19.

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

20.

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

21.

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

22.

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

23.

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

24.

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

25.

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

26.

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

27.

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

28.

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

29.

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

30.

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

31.

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

32.

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

33.

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

34.

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

35.

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

36.

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

37.

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

38.

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

39.

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

40.

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

41.

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

42.

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

43.

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

44.

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

45.

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

46.

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

47.

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

48.

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

49.

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

50.

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

51.

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

LENUOYE.

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

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

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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

8.

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

9.

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

10.

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

11.

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

12.

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

13.

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

14.

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

15.

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

16.

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

17.

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

18.

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

19.

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

20.

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

21.

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

22.

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

23.

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

24.

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

25.

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

26.

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

27.

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

28.

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

LENUOY.

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

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

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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

8.

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

9.

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

10.

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

11.

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

12.

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