Chapter XVIII: Part II: By THOMAS BLENER-HASSET (1)

[Reprinted from the edition of 1578, collated with that of 1610.] ]

THE PRINTER TO

THE FRIENDLY READER.

[Before the edition 1578.]

Gentle Reader, I trustyng in thy accustomed kyndnesse, haue published this booke, entituled, _The Second part of the Mirrour for Magistrates_, the authour whereof, is now beyond the seas, and wyl marueile at his returne to find thys imprinted. For his intent was but to profite and pleasure one priuate man, as by his Epistle may appeare. But I fyndyng the copie by chaunce, shewing it vnto diuers men, both learned and wise: and findyng a booke alredy in print, entituled _The first and third part of the Mirrour for Magistrates_, I was moued diuersly of diuers men, by printyng this latter woorke, to make perfite the former booke. It may be (good reader) that the friendely acceptyng hereof wyll encourage the authour to set thynges of greater price in print: yet esteeme thou this as a lanterne, hauyng lyght sufficient to guyde thy wandryng steppes, both vnto the happynesse of this worlde, and of the world to come. Whiche happynesse God graunt wee all may enioye.

THE AUTHOUR’S EPISTLE

VNTO HIS FRIENDE.

[Before the edition 1578.]

Sir, it woulde be too manifest an argument of a nature degeneratyng from al gentrie, if I shoulde not consider of your request, you asking and vrging both honest and profitable thyngs. I therfore to ensure you, that I am not forgetful of your demaund, presumyng like blynd _Bayard_ to this my boldnesse, haue not with _Apolloe’s_ pensile, but with _Pan’s_ pleasantlesse pen, indeuoured to endite that which you are so desirous to haue done. And although I once translated for you, _Ouid, De remedio amoris_, as you said, to your contentation, we beyng then in _Cambridge_, where aske helpe, and haue helpe, might be had: yet nowe I wyl ensure you, lyke one amazed, I haue strayned my strength vnto the vttermost, being desirous to finish this woorke. You know that loue matters be agreeing with _Caliope’s_ quill; euery apprentise can, of such matter, make a meter. But how hard a thing it is to compell _Clio_, with her boysterous banners, to couch vnder the compasse of a few metered lines, I referre you vnto the good _Turberuile_, who so soone as he began to take the terrible treatise of _Lucan_ in hand, he was inforst to vnyoke his steeres, and to make holy day.[1164] Shal I then with _Bochas_ pen declare the falles of the vnfortunate Princes of the olde worlde? O, intollerable presumption, that timorous _Tyro_ shoulde dare to deale with menasing _Mars_: or that a young infant should offer to put on the buskins of _Hercules_: shall I then with silence ceasse to accomplish your request? O, singuler ingratitude, that any friend should refuse to sweate, to pleasure and profite his friend. Doo you not consider, that al the fine wyts that England hath inioyed these many yeres, haue busied their braynes very much, to make an English _Mirrour for Magistrates_, which booke is left euen vnto this day, like the vnperformed image of _Venus_, paynted by _Apelles_? no man is able to finish the work, which they with _Homer’s_ hawtie heroycal style haue begunne: and yet you woulde haue me (the least of the poets,) to make trial what I am able to doo therin. But me thinke I do heare you say, as you were woont, we being conuersant together: “What meane al these wordes? thou knowest that the vayne of thy verse doth most delight my humor. And seeing it is but for my priuate study, what meane you to allege all these allegations, as though _Orestes_ were _Zoilus_?” Syr, I confesse al this to be true: yet this I speake, to signifie vnto you, howe willyng the good wyl I doo beare vnto you hath made me, being otherwise vnwillyng to beare a sayle in such rough weather, where euery sea is ready to deuoure me. And when with sayles and oares (as they say,) I with al my diligence endeuoured to compasse the thing nowe accomplished, I founde myselfe euen in the myddest of the matter, clapt close with _Theseus_, in a returnable labarinth, to fight with despayre that miserable _Minotaur_: where, when I could finde no _Ariadne_, to lende me a bottome of twist, I looked that _Parcæ_ shoulde haue shread my twyne before my returne. Yet at the last wandring _Erato_, with her sister _Terpsichore_ perceiuing me with such diligence to trauise that maze, they willing to helpe the desyres of my mynd, said thus vnto me:

Come forth thou wandring wight this way,
Doo followe vs outright:
We geue thee leaue, with poets’ penne,
On Princes’ falles to write.

Wherewith they leadyng me vnto the fountayne _Permestus_, I without any further determination, gallopped through the rest, whiche when leysure shall geue you leaue to reade, ceasse then to thinke on the L. _Buchurst_, or _Sackuyll_,[1165] let _Gascon_ and _Churchyarde_ be forgotten. And if you chaunce to see the meter, or matter, not so well polished, as beseemeth, then remember that they whose falles I haue here penned, were not of late tyme, but suche as lyued presently after the incarnation of Christe: and I haue not thought it decent, that the men of the olde worlde shoulde speake with so garnished a style, as they of the latter tyme.

Moreouer, you may, if you please to consider that souldiers, of whiche I am one by profession, wee be not alwayes lusking in our forte or castle, but be as tyme and occasion wyll permyt, here to-day, wee knowe least our selues where tomorrowe. And I wyll ensure you, the most part of these my Princes dyd pleade their causes vnto me euen in the sea, a place, in fayth, not meete to penne Tragedies. And as for bookes, I was altogether destitute: for when I, to please my fantasie, trauayled (as you knowe) I could not beare about with me a library: but for cariage sake, contented myself with these foure: With the third _Decade of Titus Liuye_, with _Bossewell’s Concordes of Armorie_, with _Monsignor de Lange_, that notable warriour, and with the vnperfect _Mirrour for Magistrates_: which bookes made nothing to this purpose. I had not those Chronicles whiche other men had: my Memorie and Inuention were vnto me in stead of _Grafton_, _Polidore_, _Cooper_, and suche like, who dyd greatly ayde other men. And last of al you must consider, that the other part of the miseries of those miserable Princes were written, I sittyng on a rocke in the sea, not in Spaine, Italie, Fraunce, Scotlande, or Englande, but in Garnzie Castle, where although there be learned men, yet none whiche spende their tyme so vainely as in Poetrie. So that the complaintes of these men were written (as I say) where the want of helpe dyd diuersly daunt me with despayre. You haue greatly requested me by your last letter, to make vnto you a discourse of the Ile of Garnzie, and howe it is possible for the castle to be a place so pleasaunt for habitation, as I haue reported it, seeing it standeth in the Sea, separate from any lande. Good Syr, to write thereof (so manyfolde be the commodities and thinges woorthy the writyng of) woulde rather require a good volume, then a peece of an epistle. Let it therefore suffice for this tyme, that I by writyng vnto you some fewe lines of the Gouernour, I may briefely declare what the gouernement and commodities be. The right woorshipful Maister Thomas Leighton is her Maiesties Lieutenaunt there.

Syr, I doo remember, howe constant _Constantine the Great_ was in religion, and howe that noble Emperour mynded the reformation thereof. You knowe howe carefull _Licurgus_ and _Solon_ were, for making of good lawes, and ministring of iustice. And histories doo recorde, howe passing happye _Epaminundas_ was in al his affayres: but what a seemely sight is it, to see al these vertues so to concurre in one man, that hee who shoulde compare hym with them, should, I wyl ensure you, doo hym great iniurie? for (that I may briefly conclude) vndoubtedly a few such men as he is, being plaste at a Princes’ elbow, were sufficient to keepe the most ruinous commonweale that is, from ruine and destruction. And now iudge you the commodities of the countrey, by the goodnesse of the Gouernour, for as Seneca sayeth:--

Where Gouernours be good, and rule their charge aright,
Without an ebbe there flowes the flood, which vertuous minds delight.

And heere I doo turne me from these thinges, vntill by talke with you, I may dilate more at large therof, and returning myselfe vnto my former purpose, I haue not thought it conuenient to write the complaynts of these men, with so obscure a stile as some other haue done, but with so playne an exposition, that he who doth reade them, shall not neede to be an _Oedipus_, for euery playne _Dauus_ shall by reading them, easily vnderstand the authour’s drift. And because _Diligence_ and _Memorie_ bee all the helpers that I haue, therefore I haue ordayned them, as the chief workers of my wyll. _Higgins_ vsed (I know not what) _Morpheus_, the god of dreames, but I dreamt not. The other had _Baldwine_ for their hearer, but I haue diligent _Inquisition_, who can finde out al things, and _Memorie_, who knoweth al thinges, for the arbiters of my matter. Take you therefore, the fruites of these my idle howres, sent vnto you with a good wyll, and according vnto the trust reposed in you, keepe these trifles from the view of all men, and as you promysed, them not raunge out of your priuate study. And thus wishing vnto you honour, and long lyfe, I ende, the 15 daye of Maye, An. 1577.

Your Friende to vse.

THOMAS BLENER HASSET.

[[1166]THE INDUCTION.

“Diligent _Inquisition_,” saieth _Memorie_, “beholde in the bottom lesse pyt of blind _Obliuion_: there remayneth as yet a multitude, who although in their tyme, they were of all men most famous, and euen in this our time, their ensamples be patternes passing singular, to refourme the deformities of this age, notwithstanding they are so couered and hidden with those mistie cloudes of fylthy forgetfulnes, that if thou _Inquisition_ doest not with all dilygent inquiry, and I _Memorye_, (who haue howrded vp in my treasury the knowledge of all thinges) except wee with all our industrye, doo endeuour our selues, they are not lyke euer to come into the light. For at what time those barbarous nations, (I meane the _Gothes_, _Hunes_, and _Danes_) dyd with so great outrage ouerrunne all the worlde: euen then the auncient historyes and recordes of time, were by them vtterly defaced: so that Princes before that time, how renowmed so euer they were, be at this present, euen by their meanes, buryed so deepe in obliuion, that I _Memorye_ cannot without a new inquirye of many most noble Princes, repeate a few wordes: speake you therfore _Inquisition_, and declare your mynde, how we mighte renew the decayed _Memory_ of those men.” “See heere,” quoth _Inquisition_, “with great and diligent _Memorye_, I haue founde out diuers, who with their continuall complayinges, haue euen for conscience sake made me their procleare, to exhibite vnto you in their behalfe a supplycation, in which they complayne of the great iniurie they suffer, because they bee excluded out of the English _Mirrour of Magistrates_: their only desire is that you would once agayne, by celebrating their decayed names, with a fresh memoryall geue them libertie to declare their estates themselues. Of which, as fyrst though not chiefest _Guidericus_ the thyrde king of the subdued _Brittaynes_: and the fyrst that refused to pay trybute to _Rome_, desyreth to bee harde.” “Wee will,” sayth _Memory_, “assist hym in what wee may, and not onely geue them leaue, but also intreate them to declare their estates. But where is that _Guidericus_, the exployts of whose lyfe were so passing singular, that had hee not beene moued with two much boldnesse, euen hee had brought vnder his rule the whole worlde: wee wyll heare hym wyllingly, for his death is a great ensample of God’s vengeaunce, vnto all them which thinke by their owne courage and abilitie, to compasse their desyres.” “Beholde,” quoth _Inquisition_, “hee is euen heere, his body rent and torne dooth declare, that great was his mishappe.” “Speake then, Syr Knight,” quoth _Memory_, “and let vs heare what you wil saye.” Wherewith the sorrowfull Prince sayde as followeth.]

[1167]THE COMPLAINT OF GUIDERICUS.

How Guidericus refused to paye tribute vnto Claudius Cæsar:
howe he subdued Galba: how hee became desyrous to winne
all the worlde: spoyled France, Germany, and a great
part of Italy: and lastly, how hee was miserably
slayne in a tempest of thunder, euen at what
time hee shoulde have dealt with Cæsar.
This History is a synguler ensample
of God’s vengeance against
pride and arrogancy.

1.

On staylesse top of honour’s high renowne,
With busye brayne to builde a bower there,
Is donne to fall at fortune’s froward frowne,
Whose turning wheele, the hyest fyrst dooth feare,
And them below it vpwardes styl dooth reare.
Let them therefore for good estate that striue,
With sailes halfe hoyst in happy hauen arive.

2.

I prest to tell my suddayne yll successe,
Amidst the meane which dyd not dayne to dwell,
To higher state whilst I dyd mee addresse,
By chaunging chance of fortune’s force, I fel
Euen suddaynly from heauen to hatefull hell:
From heauen (I saye,) I fell from that my blysse,
To hatefull hell, I meane, to wretchednesse.

3.

_Guidericus_ which rul’de the _Brittayne_ lande,
I am the same, of _Simbaline_ the sonne,
_Cassiuelane_ my grandsyer dyd withstand
Sir _Cæsar’s_ force, tyll _Parcæ_ had vndone
The fatal knot and twist that they had sponne.
Euen then to soone the _Romanes_ did oppresse
This realme, which I to ryght did me addresse.

4.

Which that I myght the better bring about,
The three estates in court to _parle_, I
In hast did call, amongst which royal route,
As one who ment for welthe of commonty,
Howe to restore their ancient libertie,
Pronounst the speache which here I shal recite,
Which moued much there manly mindes to fight.

5.

The emperour of _Rome_ hath sent, you see,
Ambassatours, the tribute to obtayne,
Which _Theomant_ subdued, did agree
To pay, but I such greement do disdayne.
Shal I to _Rome_ a tribute slaue remayne,
Because they did subdue this realme of yore?
Shal we buy yoke with tribute euermore?

6.

Shall we this badge of beastly blemishe beare?
Shall _Troians_ we to _Troians_ tribute yeelde?
Of _Brutus’_ bloude, a prince withouten peare,
We do descend, whose father fyrst dyd buylde
In _Italy_: he _Alba Longa_ fyl’de,
And furnishte fine with princely byldinges braue,
He was entombde next good _Aeneas’_ graue.

7.

Then _Romulus_ of _Siluius_ did succeede,
And _Rome_ of hym (as _London_ tooke of _Lud_)
Her name which _Alba Longa_ was in deede,
Built at the first by good king _Brutus_ blood:
Dare they for guerdon of so great a good
Demaund of vs whose parentes patrons were
To them? to doo this deed, they doo not feare.

8.

Let them demaunde vngrateful beastes they be,
Euen tribute of vs _Troians_ let them craue,
But wee in _Mars_ his feeldes wyl pay their fee,
If needes they must of vs a payment haue,
They shal ryght stoutly then themselues behaue,
We wil not feare to fyght it out in feelde,
Without reuenge we neuer al wyl yeelde.

9.

Dyd _Cæsar’s_ princely prowesse so preuayle,
That _Britaynes_ were by _Romanes_ brought to bay?
Was _Cæsar’s_ valure of so great auayle,
That it coulde cause _Cassiuelayne’s_ decay?
Why should not then _Guidericus_ assay,
By furious force of _Mars_ his bloody feelde,
To make those roming _Romanes_ al to yeelde?

10.

By prowesse worne (who dooth not knowe) by skyl,
That he who once as victor wore the wreath,
By chaunged chaunce is forst agaynst his wyl,
That garlande gay and vitall lyfe to leaue?
Such ill mishappes misfortune still dooth heaue,
That he who dyd subdue but yesterday,
Is now subdude, and hath the lyke decaye.

11.

Which may appeare by kyng _Cassiuelayne_,
Whom _Cæsar_ thryce in fyght dyd fynd too strong,
Yet at the last, (the lewder chaunce was thine,
Thou litle Ile) he thurst in with a throng
Of mightie men, and dyd thee double wrong:
Thee then subdude, to _Rome_ he seruile made,
Which wrong to right, with this my bloudye blade,

12.

If you my subiectes wyll thereto consent,
I wil not cease, tyll I reuenge haue seene,
And them destroyed with dreadful diery dent
Of wrathful warre, and therefore now I meane
To byd the bace, and fetch them from their denne.
To sende them woorde, we owe no tribute we,
But we of them must recompenced be.

13.

I to the gods, which rule the rolling skyes,
Haue bowde a bowe, for countreye’s lybertie,
To die in feelde, or els that these mine eyes
Shall see you free from forrayne tyranny,
To which no doubt theyr goodnesse wil agree.
Nowe that you haue the whole of myne intent,
You knowe the cause why I for you haue sent.

14.

Al you therefore which compt this quarrell good,
By heaued handes let me them vnderstand:
My brother _Aruiragus_ by me stoode:
“I must not I,” (he sayde) “holde vp my hande,
Nor thee herein assist with any bande:
For sith we both haue sworne aleagance due,
To _Rome_, to _Rome_ I euer wil be true.

15.

“No feare of force, no hasarde, no mishappe,
Doth dant my mynde, I dare what dare be donne,
Though nowe we sit in lady fortune’s lappe.
By fayth defilde, no honour can be wonne:
The wrath of God men periurde cannot shun:
Do thou therefore what best thyselfe doth seeme,
Giue them their ryght, for that is best I deeme.”

16.

Sith all but you (my brother) do consent,
My counsayle and my commons do agree,
Yea all the force of this my realme is bent,
To liue and dye for countrie’s libertie:
Take you therefore this sentence in _boun gre_,
Because thou seemst a seruile lyfe to loue,
The towre a house is best for thy behoue.

17.

An othe constraynd is made to none auaile,
To breake such othe doth not the fayth defile,
Let them goe tel to _Claudius_ this tale,
We meane with force to furnishe this our ile,
Which force himselfe shal fede within a while,
For if he wyll not fetch his tribute here,
We then wyl goe and pay hym tribute there.

18.

Which when the Roman _Claudius_ had heard,
Though he at home had ciuile strife in hande,
And though he were by forrain foes debar’de,
And could not come him selfe, yet he a bande
Of thirtie thousand sent, for to withstand
My strength: which strength in the fyrst foughten feelde
They found so strong, that forst they al did yeelde.

19.

From _Galba_ then myselfe his shield did get,
In golden feelde which had the horse of fame,
Euen _Pegasus_ in seemely siluer set,
The curious skill of heraultes there did frame,
Th’asheument true, of auncient _Troy_ by name,
Imbordred braue with golden letters thus,
_Senatus, Populusque Romanus_.

20.

Wherewith as one prict foorth with good successe,
A great attempt I quickly did deuise,
I ment, O _Rome_, vpon thy walles to presse,
It easye seem’de to me in my surmise,
To compasse all that I did enterprise:
Me thought I could winne al the worlde in haste,
But fyrst I ment the _Romane_ state to waste.

21.

I did prepare in euery poynt my powre,
I sayl’d the seas, I spoyled them of _France_,
I made the _Germans_ and the _Lumbartes_ lowre,
Yea, good successe did so my state aduance.
In _Italy_ such was my luckye chaunce,
I did subdue, my souldiers had the spoyle,
Of all the chiefest cities in that soyle.

22.

See here howe roming rumor ranne about,
See how report did tel a truthlesse tale:
For _Hannibal_, the _Carthage_ duke so stout,
Renide, it sayd, would once agayn assayle
The _Roman_ state, and cause it nowe to quake:
Which false report did put them in such feare,
Cities would yeelde before my campe came neare.

23.

His former feates the fuming fancies fed,
That doubtful now affrighted sore with feare,
They tel howe at _Trisemenus_ they sped,
In _Cannas_ feeldes how they despoyled were,
They hate to tel, they lothe that hap to heare,
A bushel there he fyld (most true it is)
With golden ringes _equestriordinis_.

24.

And whilst their mindes on these mishaps do muse,
They wishe that nowe good _Graccus_ were not dead,
For _Fabius_, he who wysely would refuse
Forthwith to fight, they wish for such a head,
_Camillus_ nowe would stand them in great stead:
And some with sighes did wishe for _Scipio_,
Them to defend from me there deadly foe.

25.

But as the lion _passente_ once with feare,
_Gardante_, a mouing mollhil did beholde,
From whence he thought some wonder would appeare,
A little moule crepte from the mouing mould,
Which made the quaking lione then so bolde,
Feare set aside, that he for his delyght,
Playd with the moule, and kilde the strengthlesse wight.

26.

So nowe the campe of _Claudius_ did drawe neare,
Where he hymself was lord cheefe general,
Which greatly did delyght my hart to heare,
And caused me my captaynes then to call,
To whome I sayde, we two must striue for al
The world so wide: which if I chance to winne,
Then you yourselues haue ample part therein.

27.

Euen whilst I marcht my men in good aray,
A corsser post came praunsing in the fielde,
Who comming to my cabbin, thus dyd say,
“_Guidericus_, thy friendes at home be kilde,
Thy natiue soyle to forrayne force did yielde,
The _Romans_ they haue spoylde thee of eche thing,
Thy brother there _Aruiragus_ is kyng.”

28.

Which newes although they dyd amaze me much,
Yet I whose hart did neuer faynt for feare,
“Although,” sayd I, “their good successe be such,
Yet if we can subdue the _Romans_ here,
They shal I think buy _Britayne_ very deare,
Which out of doubt yf you as you haue donne,
Will fight like men, the fielde wil soone be wonne.”

29.

But they who hilde their wiues and children deare,
Could not digest the losse of that their lande,
For which they fledde, left me their chieftayne there,
When _Claudius_ host to fight was euen at hande,
Whose mightie force I could not then withstande,
Yea all my page, my footmen fled for feare,
And left me post alone, with heauy cheare.

30.

That cruell Queene of hel, _Proserpina_,
From foorth whose loynes this fury feare first fled,
_Megera’s_ sighes, no, no, nor _Medusa_,
Who hath ten thousand snakes about her head,
The fiery flames of hell doth not so dreade
The minde, as feare, which makes man’s hart we see,
To shake, and quake, like leafe of aspen tree.

31.

My martial knyghtes who once so valiant were,
That they the worlde, euen al the world would spoyle,
This fury fyerce, this feeble fayntyng feare,
Did causlesse cause them thus here to recoyle,
Her only force inforst me to this foyle,
Not _Cæsar’s_ force: no strength of _Roman_ power,
But feare, euen feare, dyd make me here to lower.

32.

Which feare (for trueth) dyd neuer me dismaye,
But too to soone my hartlesse men it made,
To shrinke, to flinche, to flee eche man his way,
And me a pray most fit for _Claudius_ blade,
They left alone: alas, what may be sayde,
What may be done, what fittes for mine auayle?
I wyl not flee, to fight cannot preuayle.

33.

What, must I then go crouche vnto my foe?
Fy on that fate, that I should sue for grace
To hym who is the worker of my woe,
Whose hart from foorth his brest for to displace,
I gladly woulde ten thousand deathes imbrace,
My lyfe (in faith) doth lothe to liue with shame,
By death therfore my lyfe shall purchase fame.

34.

For as I once did winne with courage stout,
In _Galba’s_ shielde, the praunsing _Pegasus_,
So with renowne I nowe will go about,
To see if _Claudius_ dare the cause discusse
With me alone, if couragious
Dare do that deed: that we in open feeld,
May try the case, then he or I must yeelde.

35.

And therewithal in armour bright I clad,
Myne arming swoorde, my targate I did take,
And on my helme, or burgonet, I had
My royal crowne, and so I dyd forsake,
The place, whereas my souldiers fled of late,
I marcht and met the scoute of _Claudius_,
To whom I dyd addresse my language thus.

36.

“The _Britayne_ kyng is come alone you see,
Conduct him then your Emprour to salute,
You for your paynes shal gayne a golden fee;
For why my grace to _Claudius_ hath a sute.”
The scurers they al silent, mumme, and mute,
Yet wel appayde of such a princely pray,
In hast they dyd to _Cæsar_ me conuay.

37.

With ten times twentie thousand men, I met,
Him marching there, to meete with me but one;
To whom I sayde: “Thy powre is passing great,
My force is fled: what, must I then bemone
My selfe to thee, not so but I alone,
Am come to knowe with magnanimitie,
If thou dost dare to wrecke thy wrath on me.

38.

“The crowne for which so many men be slayne,
Thy _Galba’s_ shield, with many iewels more,
Which vnto me do only appertayne;
For in the fielde I wonne them al of yore,
And vnto thee I wyl them not restore:
If thou, as I, canst winne them with renowne,
Then al is thine, both realme and royal crowne.

39.

“Why doost thou muse as though thou wert dismayde?
Doeth doubtful dreade nowe daunt thy _Roman_ mynde?
Faynt not for feare, thou needst not be afrayde,
A _Britayne_ borne thy selfe ryght well shalt fynde,
I am a man, and not a god by kinde.”
Wherewith to grounde a golden gauntlet, I
Dyd cast, and he at last dyd thus reply:

40.

“Thou mighty _Ioue_, which hast seemely seat
Aboue the sphere of _Mars_ and _Mercury_,
Thy fleshlesse eyes (my tongue can not repeate,
What syghtes they see) nothing is hid from thee:
Thy eyes, the hart, and secrete thoughts doo see,
Thou knowest, O _Ioue_, how iust my quarrel is,
Which here to proue, thou knowst I compt a blisse.

41.

“No god thou man: thou art no god in deede,
I faynt for feare: and doost thow thus me dare,
Thy gauntlet lo to take I doo not dreade,
Such courage though I fynde but very rare,
In pryncely brest, what though I wil prepare
Myselfe to feelde, where thou I hope shalt fynde,
Myselfe alone wyl cause thee curse thy kynd.

42.

“To deale with thee I _Cæsar_ might disdayne,
My tryple mace dooth rule the worlde you see,
Thou subiect art the meanest of the traine,
Whom conquest hath compeld to wayte on me:
A meaner knyght were meete to match with thee,
Yet, I myselfe, with al my hart doo dayne,
To reue thy life, and cause thee to complayne.”

43.

Then I whose hart was al beglarde with glee,
To _Cæsar_ sayd: “If fate hath framde my foyle,
If now the last of all my lyfe I see,
It shal delight that _Cæsar_ dyd me spoyle,
And that his blade did cause my bloudy broyle.”
And whilst I ment a longer speache to make,
A storme most straunge constraynd the earth to quake.

44.

Straunge sundry fightes, then sodaynly wer seene,
The lightsome day was turnde to lothsome night;
Then darknesse did affright me much with feare,
The seemly sunne did lose her louing lyght:
And that which would amaze eche worldly wight,
The thundring heauens constraynde the earth to quake,
The trees did daunce, the mighty mountes dyd shake.

45.

Haue here myne end, from threatning thunder clap,
A burning bolt did pearce my hart with payne,
Wherewith I cryed: “O _Cæsar_, my mishap
Is comme, for whilst I thought thee to haue slayne,
_Ioue’s_ vengeaunce iust hath torne my corps in twayne.”
This was my end, although some writers say,
That _Claudius_ blade did cause my last decay.

46.

To slip at first, such fall hath little foyle,
Greate ruth it is to lose a race forerunne,
And at the end by slipping suttle soyle,
Wagelesse too lose a race too wel begonne,
The turrets top let wise men wisely shunne,
Who falles from top, he mercilesse is slayne;
Who falles below, can quickly ryse agayne.

47.

I tel this tale who knowledge bought too deare,
I could not be content with meane estate;
Let them therefore which shal this story heare,
So loue the meane, extremitie so hate,
That they may liue in blesse without debate.
Who is content amidst the meane to dwel,
With perfite blysse he only dooth excell.

48.

With royal rule you kinges which runne your race,
Take heede, beware, flee fancies fonde delight,
Ambition blinde wyl moue you to imbrace,
A thousande euils, disdayne with al your might
Her luring lookes: she me a wretched wyght,
Transformde, and made with _Circe’s_ sorcerie,
A brutishe beast, and worse if worse may be.

49.

When _Thanatos_ had thus destroyed my dayes,
Then due desert my soule to hel conuayde:
I fearde not God, his name I did not prayse,
But foolishe fate and fortune stil me stayde:
For which, with pinching payne, I nowe am payde.
Fortune I finde is nowe of none auayle,
But God is he whose power dooth preuayle.

[THE INDUCTION.

“It was great pitie,” quoth _Memorie_, vnto _Inquisition_, “that thys man liued in the tyme of blinde ignorance, when neyther vertue nor religion were knowen. Beleeue me, if he coulde haue conteyned himselfe within the limites of his owne countrey, or if too much courage had not moued him to so great interpryses, surely euen he had restored the _Britaines_ vnto auncient libertie, and might haue liued long without paying any tribute.” “You haue said,” quoth _Inquisition_, “he might haue had a very glorious day ouer the _Romans_, if he had not desired _Rome_; for when _Claudius Cæsar_ had him abroade, he did not presently incounter with _Guidericus_, as he supposed he woulde haue donne, but remembring how _Scipio Africanus_ layd siege vnto _Carthage_, did draw _Hannibal_ out of _Italy_, he imitating his grand chieftayne and predecessor, fyrst brought _Britayne_ vnto his obedience, then he inuaded _Guidericus_, with whom God being displeased, he was destroyed as you haue harde. After whom the _Britaines_ were greeuously oppressed by the _Romans_, and dayly inuaded by the _Scots_ and _Pictes_ whiche _Lodrike_ their king brought out of _Scithia_, insomuch that at this time the _Britaynes_ were compelled to sende vnto the Emperour _Bassianus_ for aide; who sent vnto them the _Roman Seuerus_, with a great power. And then how _Carassus_, a _Britayne_, not _nobilis_, but altogeather _ignotus_, did both redeeme his countrey from the _Pictes_ and _Romans_, and also obteyned the crowne and raygned eight yeares, thys story following shal declare: who although he felt the fall of his own follie yet surely his story is very profitable, chiefly for all such as doo suffer suspicion to seduce them, as the diligent noting of the processe wyll declare.”]

THE COMPLAINT OF CARASSUS.

Howe Carassus, a Husbandman’s sonne, slewe Lodrike
the king of the Pictes, and howe the Emperour
made him a Captayne. Then howe he obtayned
the Britayne crowne, and howe suspition
brought him to decay.[1168]

1.

Sith men be borne by nature naked all,
With their estates why are not men content?
Why doe they deeme the want of wealth a thral?
Why shoulde they lothe the lot, which God hath sent?
_Adam_ himselfe I finde, at fyrst was sent,
As one who did disdaine his poore estate,
To disobay, with God to be a mate.

2.

Thou maist be made a god, (quoth satan than,)
If on the fruite forbidden thou wilt feede:
The senselesse wight, the feeble forcelesse man,
Did taste thereof, supposing that with speede
He shoulde in hast haue beene a god indeede:
He not content, hoping for hygher place,
Brought bitter bale to him and al his race.

3.

And I the sonne of _Adam_ by descent,
Dyd seeke to set my selfe in princely seate,
With mine estate I could not be content,
For which I felt the force of hatred’s heat:
As at the first, my good successe was greate,
So at the last, by fansie’s fond desires,
I gropte for grapes amidst the bramble brires.

4.

Let such as woulde by vertue them aduaunce,
Marke by what menes I did my selfe addresse,
To flye at first my poore alotted chaunce
By honest meanes: let them from wickednesse
Which fayne would flye, learne this by my distresse,
That he who doth from right and reason stray,
Destruction shall destroy him with decay.

5.

For I by byrth borne next to beggers doore,
Was stayde aloft with staffe of high estate:
But whil’ste that I so hye a pitche did soore,
I left the meanes which made me ryse of late,
I vices lou’de, I did al vertues hate.
For which, _Carassus_ ranne a race in vayne,
And nothing got, but death and deepe disdayne.

6.

When ciuile strife had _Bryttayne_ quite vndone,
So that her strength was now of none auayle,
The faythlesse _Scots_[1169] with ruth did ouerrunne
That royall realme: the _Pictes_ did so preuayle,[1170]
That sorrow did on euery side assayle
My natiue soyle: and being thus dismayde,
To _Rome_ we sent for succour, helpe, and ayde.

7.

_Seuerus_ then by _Bassianus_ sent,
To bring this realme vnto some quiet stay,
The _Romans_ and the _Brittaynes_ both were bent,
To bring the _Scottes_ and _Pictes_[1171] to their decay,
Them to returne agayne to _Scithya_,
And at the last by good _Seuerus_ ayde,
We them destroyde when we were most afrayde.

8.

Whose force though twice the _Romans_ felt to strong,
Yet at the last we got a goodly day,
Euen by my meanes, who thrust into the throng
Of _Scots_ and _Pictes_,[1172] I desperate ther dyd play
The part of hym, whom feare did neuer fray.
And at the last to end this mortall strife,
I did depriue King _Lodrike_ of his life.

9.

And when the _Pictes_ did see their king depriude
Of vitall life, Lord, how they fled the fielde!
They made me muse, to see how fast they striude,
With staylesse steppes, eche one his life to shielde,
Who could not flye, he there with care was kilde:
So by my meanes, my country did obtaine
Her auncient state, and liberty agayne.

10.

At my returne I to _Seuerus_ sayde,
See here how I with woundes am all bestead?
I cannot liue, I feele how lyfe doth fade,
_Lodrike_ himselfe did carue and cut my head,
For which my blade his lukewarme blood hath shed:
He cut my cap, and I haue got his crowne,
He lost his lyfe, and I haue found renowne.

11.

_Seuerus_ then vnto his surgion sayde,
“Heale hym, and bryng him safe and sound agayne,
Thou for thy paynes with poundes shalt wel be payd,
And he shall haue such honoure for his payne,
As vnto him for euer shal remayne:
For by the gods which rule the skies aboue,
His noble actes deserue eternal loue.”

12.

When by the skill of surgion’s curious arte,
My hurtes were heal’d, and holesome health ensude,
_Seuerus_ then reioycing at the harte,
Made me a lorde, with wealth he me indude,
Yea, he although my learning were but rude,
Sent me to _Rome_, as legate of this lande,
To make report how here our state did stande.

13.

My deedes at home[1173] inrichte me with renowne,
My talke abroad, with proper filed phrase,
Adornde my head euen with a _laurell_ crowne:
The emperour did much commend my wayes,
So that I was bedeckt with double prayse:
I could not reade, my lerning was but weake,
Yet they of _Rome_ did muse to heare me speake.

14.

As learned arte doth geue a goodly grace
To some: so some by nature’s giftes do get
Eternal fame, and purchase them a place
Aboue the place where learned men do sit.
We finde the fine dexteritye of wit
In them which be both wise and ful of skill:
Yet neuer striude to clime _Pernassus_ hill.

15.

So I with prayse a time at _Rome_ did stay,
And tract of time returnde me backe agayne,
The emperour, he gaue my ryght away
Within a while, which made me storme amayne:
I had great cause me thought for to complayne,
_Seuerus_, he was made the king of all:
The giftes he gaue to me were very small.

16.

I was but made the captayne of the coast,
From forrayne force to keepe my realme in rest,
_Seuerus_, he was crowned king in post,
Which did so boyle within my warrelike brest,
That I with griefe most strangely was distrest.
Shal hee (sayde I) thus reape the high renowne
Which I deserue? Shal he inioy the crowne?

17.

I wonne the wreath, and he wil weare the same:
I got the goale, and he will get the gayne.
For me in faith it were a deadly shame,
If I in this his regall royall raygne,
Without repulse should suffer him remaine:
Which if I do, then let the dreadfull darte
Of _Vulcan’s_ wrath, torment in twayne my hart.

18.

For why, I see what seruile seruitude
Shall then insue, if he may raigne in rest:
Shall _Bryttayn_ braue by _Romanes_ be subdude?
It shal no doubt, by _Romans_ be distrest,
Except my might against his might be prest,
My might as yet cannot his strength constraine,
Yet may my might compell him to complaine.

19.

The drainyng droppes doo make the marble yeeld
In time: the seas the cragged rockes do rende:
And courtly kinges by tearing time be kilde,
For time dooth make the mightie okes to bende,
And time dooth make the litle twigges ascende:
So I in time, such power may prepare,
As shal constraine _Seuerus_ death, with care.

20.

But whylst I did indeuour to destroy
_Seuerus’_ strength, the _Pictes_ were prickte with pride,
For theyr reuenge vs _Britaynes_ to annoy:
Which when I hard, in post I did prouide
A power great, then I in hast did ride,
And kept the coast so strong with men of warre,
That no man coulde ariue, to make or marre.

21.

The poore _Pictes_ preuented of their pray,[1174]
In waltering waues did bouse their bitter bayne,
They digde a diche, and caught theyr owne decay,
On rockes theyr barkes, in seas themselues were slaine:
The westerne windes with wo did them constrayne,
By _Britayne_ bankes to make so long delaye,
I, and the seas, brought them to their decay.

22.

By meanes whereof my credite did increase:
_Seuerus_ did esteeme me as his stay,
I from my fyrst deuises coulde not cease,
For aye I hopte to haue a happy day,
To bring the _Roman_ rule to their decay,
With fauning face good fortune smyled so,
I had my wyshe what might I hope for mo?

23.

For into _Spayne_ the _Roman_ souldiours sent,
I had at home the might him to depriue,
Then wisely I al perilles to preuent,
Prouided so that no man could ariue,
No _Pict_, nor _Scot_, nor _Roman_, then could striue
With me at home, then I the lordes with speede,
Of _Brittayne_ calde, and thus I did proceede.

24.

“The _Roman_ rule vs subiect slaues hath made,
You se, my lordes, a _Roman_ heere doth raigne,
Whome to destroy my power shal inuade,
I do indeede this seruile life disdayne:
And you your selues do much therof complayne.
If you with helpe wyl me assiste I sweare,
The _Roman_ rule shal haue no power here.”

25.

Then they most glad with one consent replide:
“We wyl assist thee with what myght we may,
And we our selues most wylling wyl prouide,
No _Britayne_ borne against thee shal display
His shielde, but al at the appoynted day,
As prest to please thy heste, shal thee assist:
Winne thou the crowne, and weare it at thy list.”

26.

Which when I hard them say with one consent,
Blame not though pride did then possesse my hart
For princely crowne: the dreadfull dierie dent
Of wrakful warre, who would not feele the smart
Of griping grefe? who would not feele the dart
Of dreadful death? or who regardeth payne?
If he a crowne and kingdome may obtayne?

27.

For gunne-hole grotes[1175] the countrie clowne doth care,
Restlesse with ruth, the rusticke gets his gayne:
The marchant man for welth doth send his ware
About the worlde, with perill and great payne:
And all the worlde for welth doth not disdayne,
Amidst the surge of mighty mounting seas,
To caste themselues their owne delightes to please.

28.

If to obtayne such triffles they do toyle,
And neuer ceasse to bring there driftes about:
Why should I feare the force of forrayne foyle?
Why should I not assay with courage stout,
To wreake my wrath vppon the _Romishe_ rout
Which heere remayne? whome to the bale to bringe
Were me to crowne my natiue countrie’s king.

29.

One thing there is which greatly doth me grieue,
_Seuerus_, he who did inhance my state,
He did in my distresse with life relieue
My dyinge dayes, he neuer did me hate:
Yet now with hym I must be at debate.
Euen hym with myght I greatly must disgrace,
Eare I can set my selfe in princely place.

30.

Vntimely death shall not destroy his dayes:
For if he wyl returne to _Rome_ agayne,
Or if he wil resigne his crowne with prayse,
Or if hee wyl amongst vs styl remayne.
If he can like of these, we wyl refrayne
From sheading bloude which if he dothe disdayne,
I then against my wyl, must woorke his paine.

31.

So foorth I past with all my power prest,
_Seuerus_ did at _Durham_ then delay,
Whereas I mente his state to haue distrest:
But some I thinke my secretes did bewray,
For he to _Yorke_ in hast did take his way:
Which when I had besiegde on euery side,
With care and griefe of mind, _Seuerus_ dide.

32.

Se heere the force of cruel fretting care?
Se heere how sorowe doth dismay the minde?
For when he harde _Carassus_ did prepare
To reue his crowne, he iudging me vnkinde,
With sobbing sighes of sorrowe, he resignde
Before his time his minde from manly breste:
Beholde with care how sorrowe reaues man’s rest.

33.

Thus he intombde in his vntimely chest,
It was decreed _Carassus_ shoulde be king,
The three estates of al my realme were prest,
With one consent they al to me did bring
The kingly crowne, then thus they al did singe,
“The due deserts of this renowmed wyght,
Deserues to be the _Britayne_ king by right.”

34.

Marke by what steppes I dyd the toppe obtayne,
With keeping sheepe my youthful yeares were spent:
Then with the whyp I plide the plowe amayne,
In _Mars_ his feeldes to fight my minde was bent,
As legate then to _Rome_ my selfe was sente,
I dubbed was a lorde of high renowne,
And now at laste I haue obtayn’d the crowne.

35.

The ende, the acte[1176] (the plaudite) dooth proue,
And all is well, whose endyng is not yll:
Who sittes aloft had neuer neede to moue,
For feare least he shoulde fall agaynst his wyll:
Though creepyng he dyd gayne the toppe with skil,
Yet at the last, by turning of his toe,
A suddayne fall may worke his wretched woe.

36.

Which fall I felt, and how? I here wyll showe:
When I as king dyd all the realme comaunde,
I fearefull dyd suspect mine ouerthrow:
The place (mee thought) did shake where I dyd stande:
Then for my garde I dyd prouide a bande
Of warlyke wights, to garde my noble grace,
I lastly dyd my noble men displace.

37.

From foorth the feeldes I for my father sent,
Hym of a clowne a noble man I made:
My brethren all euen for the same intent,
Lyke courtiers there in court with me they stayde,
And all my stock were glad and well apayde:
For they of late which rulde the paynefull plow,
Of _Brittayne_ land they bee the rulers now.

38.

From cart to court, a countrye man to call,
With braue attyre to decke a dunghyll Dycke,
Is lyke a paynted image in a wall,
Which dooth deceiue, and seemeth to bee quicke,
Though woorkmanship most trimly dooth it tricke,
Yet of a stone, a stone wyll still remayne:
A clowne cannot from clownish deedes refrayne.

39.

As hard it is of quarryed marble stone,
For man to make a liuely mouing wyght,
As of a lout, or els of such a one
Who dayly doth imploy his whole delyght
To digge and delue, it passeth mortal myght,
To make him serue the courte a kinge’s behest:
Turne hym to plowe, the cart for him is best.

40.

For though thou canst by cunninge art compell
Nature a tyme to leaue her wonted place,
She wyl returne, in spight of heauen or hell:
No alcumist dame nature can displace,
Except that God doth geue abundant grace:
The caske wyl haue a taste for euermore,
With that wherewith it seasoned was before.

41.

Why did I then my courtlesse court mayntayne
With _Hob_ and _Iohn_, _Rafe Royster_, and his mate?
Whose greedy iawes aye gaping after gayne,
Did polle, and pil, and bred bitter debate:[1177]
Men much vnmeete to mayntayne myne estate:
Why did I them so neare myne elbowe place?
Because my selfe by byrth was borne but bace.

42.

Like wyl to lyke, the mule doth claw her mate,
With horned beasts the Ienite cannot iest,
Those bauling houndes, the haughty harte doth hate,
With beares the beare in safetie countes her best:
So I amongst my lyke did looke for rest,
Their dedes by me were alwayes wel alowde,
By them likewyse my doinges were auow’d.

43.

But as you see the husbandman with care
From new sowne feeldes the rauening rookes to driue,
So dyd the gentrie of my realme prepare,
My countrie courte and mee for to depriue:
But gentlemen were then to weake to striue
With mee, and mine, for which they dyd prepare
A new founde snache, which dyd my feet insnare.

44.

In surgelesse seas of quiet rest, when I
Seauen yeares had sayl’d, a perrye did arise,
The blastes whereof abrig’d my liberty:
For whilste I dyd with busye brayne deuise
Them to destroy, which did my courte despise,
The boystrous blastes of hatred blewe a gale,
My cables crakte, my barke was bong’d with bale.

45.

For they (I meane the gentrie of my lande)
Both mee, and mine, theirs, and themselues had sold
Subiects to _Rome_, from whence a mighty bande
They had conuaide to make my courage cold:
Into my realme they could not be controlde,
But when they were ariude, they quickly brought
Both me and mine, and all the rest to nought.

46.

_Alectus_ then the chiefetayne of the rest,
Spoyling my friendes, he forst me to the feelde,
The daye was come, we both in fight were prest:
His trustelesse trayne, did seeme to me to yeelde,
But al the feeldes with great ambushmentes filde,
I coulde not flee, _Alectus_ had the day,
With his owne sworde for breath he made me bray.

47.

As due desert did force my shippe to flote,
So vices vile me drencht in waues of woes:
O false suspect, why did’st thou make me dote?
Fearing my fall, my friends I deem’d my foes:
Fearing the worst, the best I did depose,
And was deposde: let other learne heereby,
The crooked crabbe will alwayes walke awry.

48.

And let them know which do not lothe to learne,
That kinges in court, be combred most with care:
The pilote’s charge, who sitteth at the stearne,
Doth make him watche, when other do prepare
Themselues to sleep: so kinges distressed are
With doutful dread, and many other thinges,
The sheephearde’s life is better then the kinge’s.

[THE INDUCTION

_Carassus_ hauing thus finished his tragicall history, _Inquisition_ presented vnto _Memory_ the lady _Hellina_; but _Memorye_ hauing her at the fyrst sight in great admiration, sayde as followeth: “Why haue you brought before vs the goddesse of _Diana_? Our intent is to heare the complayntes of them who are smothered with _Forgetfulnesse_: as for this goddesse she is renowmed more then sufficient.” “O _Memory_,” quoth _Inquisition_, “this is not _Diana_: no, _Diana_, no _Gouzaga_, no _Emila_, no _Cariclia_, no _Pallas_, no _Iuno_, no not knowing _Minerua_, may compare with her for the flourishing features of her incomprehensible complexion for the comly composition of her ladilike limmes, being the perfectest peece of woorke that euer nature created, that euer earth nouryshed, or that euer death destroyed, for the passing great dexteritie of her ingenious capacitie, the very _Phœnix_ of women, and the chiefest amongst men that euer thou _Memory_ didst celebrate for learning, for knowledge of tongs, and for the diuers gifts of the mind, shee only dyd inhabite betwixt the wings of flilling fame, for a happye, long, quiet lyfe in this worlde, she onely was fauoured by fortune, or rather singularly preserued by her maker. For that shee neuer tasted in all her raigne any aduersytie, shee is to bee esteemed immortall: for that in all her actions shee had her harte’s desyre, shee may iustly bee esteemed a goddesse (or rather the very beloued of God.) Now I report me vnto you is there any goddesse or nimph inhabiting the mount _Helicon_, which maye compare with queene _Hellina_, not shee of _Greece_ which brought finall destruction vnto the flourishing _Troy_, but shee of _Brittayne_, who redeemed her decaying country from forraine tyrannye, which made not onely a menes for the bodyes of her subiects to liue in quiet peace, but she also prescribed vnto them an order how they might saue their soules. She planted religion amongst her subiects which were at that time sauage, neither knowing God, nor esteeming godlynesse, she was daughter vnto king _Coell_: shee was queene of _Bryttayne_, empress of the worlde, wyfe vnto _Constantius_, mother of _Constantine_ the great. Yet the descriptions of time, I meane the chronicles, haue lefte so litle reporte of her that I founde her standyng betwixte _Forgetfulnesse_ and _Memory_, almost smothered with _Obliuion_.”[1178] “If shee bee so renowmed, as you haue spoken of,” sayde _Memory_, “we shoulde doo her great wrong to deny her a place in this pageant. Speake therefore, good madame _Hellina_, with good leaue, your minde, and as other by their falles doo set downe examples very necessary for the auoyding of vice, so let your history bee a meanes to incourage all men to imbrace vertue.” Then the good queene, although somewhat abashed, yet glad to repeat her lyfe forerunne, sayde as followeth.]

THE LYFE OF QUEENE HELLINA.

How Queene Hellina was empresse of all the
worlde. This storie dooth declare how
happye they bee, which liue in the
feare and loue of God.[1179]

1.

Men’s due desertes ech reader may recite,
For men of men doo make a goodly show,
But women’s workes can neuer come to light,
No mortall man their famous factes may know,
No writer wyll a litle time bestowe,
The worthy workes of women to repeate,
Though their renowne and due deserts be great.

2.

For I by byrth to _Coel_ daughter deare,
King _Lucy_ was my good grand-mother’s sonne,
My father dead, I rulde his kyngdome heere,
And afterwarde the world so wide I wonne.
I empresse was of all vnder the sunne,
I liued long, I dyde with perfect blisse,
Yet writers will repeate no word of this.

3.

But now at last I haue obtayned leaue,
My spotlesse life to paynt in perfect white:
Though writers would al honour from me reaue,
Of al renowne they would depriue me quite,
Yet true report my deedes shal burnishe bright,
And rubbe the rust which did me much disgrace,
And set my name in her deserued place.

4.

From _Roman_ rule who _Brittayne_ did redeme?
Who planted first God’s woorde in _Brittayne_ land?
Who did so much virginitie esteme?
Who did the force of forrayn foes withstand?
Who al the world subdude without a band
Of martial men? who did these noble actes?
I _Hellina_, haue done these famous factes.

5.

And now haue here the storye of my state:
The _Brittayne_ queene inheritage me crownde,
Euen then when _Romans_ had so great debate
Amongst themselues for _Caracalla’s_ wounde,
An emperour, who highly was renownde,
As then at _Rome_, whose death vndoutedly,
Diminishte much the _Roman_ emperie.

6.

The _Romans_ then were storde with ciuile strife,
And many realmes against them did rebell,
Their trouble turn’d me to a quiet life,
My commonweale did prosper passing well,
When al the worlde agreed like deuils in hel,
Then I and myne becalmde from hatred’s blast
In happy hauen harboured were at last.

7.