Chapter XIX: Part II: By THOMAS BLENER-HASSET (2)

Then I a mayd of tender youthful yeares,
Reporte did say, of beutie fresh and fayre,
Refusde the sute of many noble peeres,
Which dayly did vnto my court repayre:
What though there were vnto my crowne no heire?
Yet I who did regard my comons good,
Refusde to linke my selfe with forrayne blood.

8.

On forrayne costes, on kingdomes to incroche,
With wrath of wrackfull warres I did despise,
And fearing aye the ruth of rude reproche,
With carking care I dayly did deuise,
How I with peace myght make my kingdome rise,
And how by lawe of God and man, I might
Giue _Cæsar_ his, and vnto God his right.

9.

No God of heauen, no Christ my people knewe:
Wherefore to _Rome_ for learned men I sent,
King _Lucie’s_ lawes decayde I did renewe,
Then preaching made my people so repent
Their former faultes, that all incontinent
Were baptized, and they[1180] within a space,
The fayth of Christ so[1181] firmly did imbrace.

10.

That nothing seemed currant in their sight,
But that which holye writers would alowe,
And that they would imbrace with all their might:
To shed their bloud, the same for to avowe
They did not feare, at _Verolane_ euen nowe,
Amidst the force of fiery flashing flame:
_Albion_ the protomartyr proude the same.

11.

As careful marchaunt men do much reioyce,
When from those iles _Molocchi_, they haue brought
There frayghted ships, for then they haue great choyce
Of marchandize, which trafficke long hath sought,
To finde the ware, which trial true hath taught
Wyl’get moste gayne, which beeing got, they giue
And cast there care, how they thereby may liue:

12.

So I, whom both Sir _Neptune’s_ surging seas,
And _Eole’s_ windes, euen God himselfe aboue
Did fauoure much, my labouring minde to please,
Geuing those thinges were best for my behoue,
God’s woorde I mene, which al my men did loue:
The pearles which Christ commaunded to be bought,
Muste here be found, and no where els be sought.

13.

Then they and I made haste, post hast, to leade
Our sinful liues as Scripture did alowe:
We knowing God, him loude with feare and dread,
Deuotion made vs crouche, and creepe, and bowe
Our hartes, our heades; we sauage were but nowe,
Yet by and by such was the good successe,
In fiery flames the truth we did professe.

14.

Then flittinge fame the truth to testifie,
Against my wyl, at _Rome_ made such reporte,
That _Constantinus_ thence dyd hether hye,
And being come vnto my _Brittayne_ court,
With louer’s lookes hee striude to scale the fort
Of my good wyll: but when it woulde not bee,
He sighing, thus addrest his talke to me:

15.

“O Queene (quoth he,) thy deedes deserue great fame.
The goodly giftes that God hath geuen to thee
Be such, as I cannot thee greatly blame,
Though thou without desert disdaynest me,
Who for thy sake doth lothe al crueltie:
But for thy loue, with _Mars_ his cruel knife,
I could commaund thy realme, and reaue thy life.

16.

“But (out alas) whilst breath doth lend me life,
My heart shal hate to thrall thy happy state,
What though thou dost refuse to be my wyfe,
Thy hatred tho, shal neuer cause me hate:
But whylste I liue, I wyl thee loue, let fate
And fortune fell, poure on me al their spight,
To die for thee shal greatly me delight.”

17.

Then I replide: “O Duke, without desert
Thou doste me loue, a little ilande’s Queene,
I know thou to the emperour heyre art,
Thy valiaunt actes I diuers wayes haue seene,
I like thy deedes, most noble which haue bene,
And thee I loue: yet priuate pleasures luste
May neuer make me throwe my realme to duste.”

18.

“If thou (quothe he) wylte dayne my Queene to be,
Thy _Bryttaynes_ shal to _Rome_ no tribute yeilde,
You if you please, to _Rome_ may go with me,
Your myghtie mate the world so wide may wielde,
Or if you please, I here wyth you wyl bylde
My byding place, and in this littell lande,
I wyl remayne yours, at your commaund.”[1182]

19.

His comely corps,[1183] his friendly promise plight,
His famous actes, his noble royall race,
Some other thinges which here I could recite,
The _Roman’s_ hart within my brest dyd place:
And when my wit had wayed well the case,
Then for the chiefe of all my realme I sent,
And thus I spake to know the whole intent.

20.

“My louing lordes, and you my subiects, see
This _Roman_ heyre, whom I indeede do loue,
He will restore your ancient lybertie,
If I wyll bende my hest to his behoue:
Which benefites they chiefely do mee moue,
To loue at last, a man by whom you may,
Receaue a shielde to keepe you from decay.

21.

“Perhaps you thinke I loue, because I see
His comely corps,[1184] and seemely sanguine face,
You be deceaude, no outward brauery,
No personage, no gallant courtly grace:
What though hee bee by birth of royall race?
I recke it not, but this I do regarde,
My commonweale by him may bee preserude.

22.

“For if hee wyll from tribute set you free,
And ende the worke which I haue well begonne,
That Christe’s gospell preached styll may bee,
God may by hym send vnto me a sonne,
To you a king: what wealth then haue you wonne?
What great renowne? what honor wyll insue?
Speake you your mindes, these thinges me think, be true.”

23.

“O Queene,” quoth they, “the Lord preserue thy grace:
Do thou the thinge that semes to thee the best,
We do alowe the matche in euery case:
If by that meanes we may haue quiet rest,
With what great good shal this our realme be blest?
Do thou therefore, O noble Queene, we pray,
The thing which best may keepe vs from decay.”

24.

The _Roman_ duke he nothing would denye,
But graunted more then I could aske or craue,
So that there was proclaymed by and by,
A famous feast, a banquet passing braue:
There to the duke the _Britayne_ crowne I gaue,
With sacred spousall ryghtes, as man and wyfe
We wedded, liude in loue, for terme of lyfe.

25.

And whylste we ment to rule this little ile,[1185]
A greater good vnlooked for befel,
Death did destroy his syre with hateful hand:
For which we both at _Rome_ must nowe go dwel,
And so we did: thinges prospered passyng wel,
My feere was made the emperour, lorde and king
Of al: and I the queene of euery thing.

26.

His myghtie mace did rule the monarchie,
My wyt did rule (some wryters say) his mace,
And to increase with ioy our mery glye,
I brought him forth a babe of royal race,
The boy he had an amiable face:
O _Rome_ thou maiste reioyce, for this was he,
Which did at _Rome_ erect diuinitie.

27.

Whilste thus in blesse I did at _Rome_ remayne,
On[1186] _Britaine_ still my mind her care did cast,
For which I causde my husband to ordayne,
That euermore those ancient lawes should last,
Which heretofore amongst them there I past,
And that to _Rome_ no _Brittayne_ borne, for aye,
Should taxe, or toll, or tenth, or tribute pay.

28.

Though there at _Rome_ an empresse life I led,
And had at hand what I could wishe or craue,
Yet stil me thought I was not wel bestead,
Because I was so farre from _Brittayne_ braue:
Which when my louing lorde did once perceiue,
He set a stay in al the emperye,
To _Brittayne_ then he did returne with me.

29.

We raygnde of yeares thrice seuen with good successe,
Then dolor and debilitie did driue
My louing lord with faynting feeblenesse,
For vitall life with braying breath to striue:
He felt, howe death of life would him depriue,
He calde his lordes, his childe, and me his wife,
And thus he spake, euen as he left his life:

30.

“The haughtye pines of loftye _Libanus_,
From earth, to earth, in tract of time returne:
So I whose spreading prayse were marueilous,
Must now returne my fleshe to filthy slime,
On fortune’s wheele I may no longer clime:
Therefore my lordes, although my glasse be runne,
Yet take remorse on _Constantine_ my sonne.

31.

“My monarche, court, my kingdomes all,
(O stately _Rome_) farewell to them, and thee,
Farewell my lordes, which see my finall fall,
Farewell my childe, my wyfe, more deare to mee
Then all the world, we must depart I see:
And must we needes depart? O Fortune fye,
We must depart, adue, farewell, I dye.”

32.

Wherewith he sighte and senselesse dyd remayne,
Then I his death as women doo, dyd wayle:
But when I view’d, that weeping was but vayne,
I was content to beare that bitter bale,
As one who founde no meanes for her auayle:
His corps at _Yorke_ in princely tombe I layde,
When funerall sacred solemne rights were payde.

33.

And when report his death about had blowne,
_Maxentius_ then the triple crowne to weare,
Did challenge all the empire as his owne,
And for a time that mighty mace dyd beare:
Which when my sonne, my _Constantine_ dyd heare,
The youthfull lad, indeuour’d by and by,
To claime his right by _Mars’_ his crueltie.

34.

I then his tender youthfull yeares to guyde,
Went with my sonne to see his good successe,
He being campt by fruitfull _Tyber’s_ side,
To spoyle his foe he dyd hymselfe addresse,
He knew that God dyd geue all happinesse:
Therefore to God, euen then the youth dyd pray,
With mightie hande to keepe hym from decay.

35.

Beholde how God doth godly men defend,
And marke how he doth beate vsurpers downe:
_Maxentius_ nowe he al his force dothe bende
For to defend his diademe and crowne:
But frowarde fate vpon the prince did frowne:
For why his men were scattered euery where,
In _Tyber_ he did drowne himselfe for feare.

36.

To _Rome_ then we and all our host did hie,
The _Romans_ they with ioy did vs receiue,
To _Constantine_ they gaue the emperie,
But he of them most earnestly did craue,
That I the rule of al the worlde myght haue:
“It is,” quoth he, “my mother’s ryght to rayne,
Til dreadful death hath shred her twyst in twayne.”

37.

“I graunt my sonne, the monarchie is myne,
For at his death thy father gaue it me
For terme of life: but let it nowe be thine,
I aged must go pay the earth her fee,
I am content to liue with lesse degree:
O louing sonne, geue eare vnto my hest,
I wyl not rule, that charge for thee is best.”

38.

And when he myght not rule his mother’s minde,
Agaynst his wyll he wylling did assent,
That al should be as I had then assignde,
To rule the worlde, he greued was content:
And whilste that there my happie dayes I spent,
Reioycing much to see my sonne’s successe,
I dyde and had a heauenly happinesse.

39.

Thrice happye I who ranne this royal race,
And in the ende my wished goale did get:
For by my meanes al people did imbrace
The fayth of Christ, the orders I did set
They were obay’d with ioy, which made me iet:
Euen in this blesse a better blesse befel,
I dyde, and nowe my soule in heauen doth dwel.

40.

So now you see the happye hap I had:
Learne then thereby to do as I haue done,
To prayse God’s name let euery prince be glad:
To persecute the truth let al men shunne,
By vertuous wayes great honor maye be wonne:
But he who doth to vices vile incline,
May be comparde vnto a filthie swine.

41.

Who doth not loue the playne nor pleasant way,
He cannot feare to sleepe amidst the greene,
But in the mire he doth delyght to lay:
So princes such as vile and vicious beene,
Do tumble aye amidst a sinke of sinne,
Whose names on earth, whose soules in hel, remayne
In infamye, the other pincht with payne.

42.

Let them that seeke for euerlasting fame,
Tread in the steps that I before haue trod,
And he who would avoyd reprochful shame,
And flee the smart of _Plutoe’s_ ruthful rod,
Let him not cease to learne the law of God,
Which onely law man’s stumbling steppes doth guyde
Who walkes therein, his feete can neuer slide.

[THE INDUCTION.

“Beholde,” quoth _Memorye_, “the effect of vertue and godlynesse. If contentation of the mind be perfecte happinesse, as some philosophers haue defynde it, then no doubt this queene was most happy, and happy is hee who can imitate her in her happynesse. But not long time after her there lyued a king, named _Vortiger_, who for his vice was as diuerslye afflicted, as this woman for her vertue was blessed. I doo remember the wickednesse of this man was exceeding great. Haue you found hym out, _Inquisition_?” “Is not this he, good _Memory_?” quoth _Inquisition_, “I founde hym both sitting and sighing amongst the misserable, and it would appeare that hee is ashamed to make rehearsall of thinges past.” “It is euen he,” quoth _Memorie_, “you may know him by his fyry lookes; for though it be long since hee liued yet he beareth about with hym the badge of his destruction. Note you his story with dilygence, (good _Inquisition_,) for this is hee who subuerted the commonweale of _Brittayne_. And you, sir prince, I doo coniure you, by the duty you owe vnto me, who doo know all thinges, that you doo heere repeate vnto vs the whole story of your estate.” Wherewith he with smoking sighes, greatly against his wyl, saide as followeth.]

THE COMPLAYNT OF VORTIGER.

How Vortiger destroyed the young kyng Constantine, and howe he
obteyned the crowne: [howe the abusyng of his prosperitie
brought hys realme so lowe, that he was constrayned
to hyre souldyers to defend hymselfe from his
enimyes] and how after many miseries,
he was miserably burnt in his
castle, by the brethren of
Constantine.[1187]

1.

By quiet peace of _Ianus_ ioylitie,
Their happy hauens with forewinds forst some haue,[1188]
By wrackful warres of _Mars_ his crueltie,
With much ado some get the goale they craue,
But subtyl sleightes, and fetches boulstred braue,
My haplesse hand dyd hyt with leueled lyne,
The aymed marke, the more mishap was myne.

2.

By giftes of grace some men haue happy hap,
By blessed byrth to kyngdomes borne some be:
Succession sets some men in Fortune’s lap,
By wisedome, wyt, and prudent policie:
Some clyme aloft by trustlesse treacherie:
And courage dooth a multitude aduaunce,
Driftes finely filde they dyd my state inhaunce.

3.

I _Vortiger_, by byrth was borne a lorde,
Kyng _Constantine_ his coosin did me call,
I cride amayne, and clapt his crowne aborde,
And for a tyme til fortune forst my fall,
With restlesse blesse I sate in stately stall:
But men of warre of much more might then I,
For my desert my carefull corpes did fry.

4.

As furious force of fiery flashing fame,
With cinders brought my body to decay,
So smulderyng smokes of euerlasting shame
Reude[1189] my renowne, and wipte my fame away:
What may I more of my misfortune say?
I sigh to see, I silent ceasse to tell
What me destroied, and drownd my soule in hel.

5.

Here to repeate the partes that I haue playd,
Were to vnrippe a trusse of trumpery,
For me to shew how I aloft was stayde,
Were to erect a schoole of trechery:
Silence is best, let no man learne by me
Nor by my meanes, how they by wicked waies,
From low estate, aloft themselues may rayse.

6.

As good men can by wicked workes beware,
So wicked men by wicked workes be wise,
If ill men reade my deedes which wicked were,
They by my meanes will compassse their surmise:
For wicked workers dayly do deuise,
To make examples vile and vicious,
To stand in stead, to serue their lawlesse lust.

7.

The serpent thence his venym vile dooth drawe,
From whence the bee her honny sweete dooth get,
Leawd liuers learne to breake the written lawe,
By that, whereby good men doo learne much wit:
For wicked men eche fetche is thought most fyt,
To serue their turne: therefore I compt it best,
To leaue my faultes and follyes vnconfest.

8.

“Giue leaue therefore, good _Memory_, I may
Not here repeate my tedious tragedy,
_Inquiry_, let me nowe departe away.
My common weale subuerted was by me,
I leawdly liude, and dyde in misery,
And for my faultes I felt disdayneful smarte,
Let this suffice, and let me nowe departe.”

9.

With that he seemde as on[1190] that would away,
But _Memory_: “Stay, stay thy steppes,” quoth she,
“Let wicked men procure their owne decay,
We recke it not, if warned once they be:
Let that suffice, and let thy misery
Make iust report, how vayne and vile a thing
It is, to liue as a vsurping king.”

10.

Sith needes I must repented faultes forerunne
Repeat, and tel the fal and foyle I felt,
Patience perforce, to speake shame bids me shunne,
To thinke thereof dooth make my harte to melte:
But sith I needes must shewe howe here I delt,
I am contente to tell the truth of al,
Let wise men learne to stande, which reade my fal.

11.

For first I causde the young king _Constantine_,
Of faythlesse _Scots_ and _Pictes_ to make his garde,
They by my meanes did kil their kyng in fine,
For which, with speede I sent them al to warde,
And hangde them al their cause was neuer harde:
So I who fyrst did cause them kil their king,
To stop their mouthes, them al to death did bring.

12.

Where rancor rules, where hatred’s heate is hot,
The hurtelesse men with trouble be turmoylde:
Where malice may send foorth her cannon shot,
There might is right, there reason’s rules are foylde:
For ruthful rancor euermore hath boylde
With griping griefe: her smuldring smokes of spite
Woulde gladly choke al iustice, lawe, and right.

13.

So might, not right, did thrust me to the throne,
I syxteene yeeres did weare the royal crowne,
In al which time with griefe I aye did grone,
As on[1191] who felt the fal from high renowne:
My noble men deuisde to thrust me downe
In al this time, and many did protest,
I layde the king in his vntimely chest.

14.

At last, my foes my friendes were made, and I
Had quiet peace, and liude a happy king:
Yea, God who rules the haughtie heauen a hygh,
Inricht my realme with foysen of eche thing,
Aboundant store did make my people syng:
As they of yore were prest with penury,
So nowe they hate their great fertilitie.

15.

My people had of corne and oyle such store,
That country men of tyllage left the toyle,
The riche man fed no better then the poore,
For all did reape the fatnesse of the soyle,
No man for meate nor mony then did toyle,
But al reioyce with ioyful iubily,
And al were soust with sinful gluttony.

16.

As cloudes dissolude fayre _Phœbus_ dooth deface,
So plague my plenty dim’d with darke disease:
For whilste my realme in ryot ran her race,
They playde, not prayed, and did their God displease:
For which they drownde in sorrowe’s surging seas,
Lyke rotten sheepe by thousands dide so thicke,
The deade coulde not be buried by the quicke.

17.

When thus the plague my people did oppresse,
That fewe were left alyue within my lande,
The _Scots_ and _Pictes_, with speede they them addrest,[1192]
Knowing their time, they raysde a mightie band,
They knewe right soone, howe heere my state did stand:
And to reuenge the wrong that earst I wrought,
They ment to bring both me and myne to nought.

18.

See howe abuse breedes blake and bitter bale,
Misuse dooth make of plenty, lothsome lacke,
Amidst his blesse with wo it makes man wale,
Onely abuse dooth woorke man’s wretched wracke:
Amidst my ioyes, from ioye it beate me backe:
For I and myne misusde our present blesse,
Which brought both me and mine to wretchednesse.

19.

We first misusde our present pleasaunt plentie,
For which we whipt in thrall with scourges three,
Had pestilence, which made my kingdome emptie,
It did destroy my men of eche degree,
Then faynting famine playde her tragedy,
_Bellona_ then that beastly bloody queene,
Did blowe her trumpe to dashe my courage cleene.

20.

When sickenesse had consumde my subiectes quite,
The _Pictes_ with pride did hast to spoyle my lande,
I had no men, nor meanes with them to fight,
For which I sent and did obtayne a bande
Of _Saxons_, such as did the _Scots_[1193] withstande:
Whose helpe that I when neede requirde might haue,
I gaue them _Kent_, a countrey passing braue.

21.

These _Saxons_ were a crewe of warrelike wightes,
They liude by spoyle, and had no byding place,
They were of truth a troupe of martial knyghtes,
Which serude for pay where _Mars_ extolde his mace:
_Saxons_ indeede they were of royal race,
They _Angli_ hight, a stocke of woorthy fame,
Of them this realme of _Englande_ tooke her name.

22.

These _Angli_ brought the _Britaynes_ to the bay,
We _Welchemen_ cal’d, to _Wales_ they did vs driue,
They brought syxe sortes of _Saxons_ to decay,
And got the goale for which they long did striue:
Of other stockes they left not one alyue,
They al this realme did plant with _Angli_ then,
And termde themselues of _Angli_, _Englishmen_.

23.

But howe they brought this enterprise about,
Marke well the sequel which I shal recite:
_Hengestus_ he the chieftayne of the route,
A suttle sir, an vndermining wight,
To feede my vaynes he tooke a great delight:
His craftie heade did deeme it the best way,
With pleasant baytes to make my crowne his pray.

24.

He me his king inuited to a feast,
A feast in fayth, which forst my final fall:
Where _Cupide’s_ curse constraynde me like a beast,
From _Pallas_ prince to geue the golden ball:
For _Venus_ vantes to _Helline_ threwe my thrall,
Whose heauenly hewe, whose beautie freshe and fayre,
Was burnishte bright like _Phœbus_ in the ayre.

25.

I being set at _Bacchus_ banquetting,
His daughter deckt with nature’s tapistrie,
And trimly trickte with euery other thing,
Which might delight a louer’s fantasie:
Why shoulde man’s mynde to loue thus subiect be?
I had a wyfe, a passing princely peece,
Which farre did passe that gallant gyrle of _Greece_.[1194]

26.

Yet from my wyfe (the woorthiest wench[1195] aliue,)
My fancies fell, I lothde her louely bed:
Howe I _Hengestus_ daughter might atchieue
Was al my care, I did this damsel wed,
My wife diuorste, I had her in the steede:
Her louely lookes, her pretie pleasant cheare,
Made me esteeme her onely loue most deare.

27.

I wore the crowne, her wyl dyd rule the rest,
And her demaunde I neuer did deny,
What she alow’d I did esteeme that best:
Which when her father _Hengest_ did espye,
He had the pray for which he long did prye:
He made his hay whilst weather fayer was,
And by her meanes he brought it thus to passe:

28.

That _Bryttaynes_ we with toyle shoulde till the ground,
The _Saxons_ woulde defende our wealth with warre:
Which graunted once, they did inhabite rownde
About my realme, and might both make and marre:
New _Saxons_ in my realme aryued were,
By meanes whereof my _Brittaynes_ did suspect
The _Saxons’_ slayghts, and did their deedes detect.

29.

Then they good men to me their king complain’d,
These men, quoth they, from vs our realme wil winne,
Except they from our frontiers be refrain’d:
Which when they told, my wife she was within,
“O husband deare, they be,” saide she, “my kin,
Cease of thy force thy faithful dreads to feare,
They meane no hurt, by _Ioue_ the iust, I sweare.”

30.

So I esteemed not my subiectes health,
That I might still my ladie’s loue enioye,
They vewde me carelesse of my common wealth,
To saue themselues they ment me to annoy,
Myne eldest sonne a proper prety boy,
They made their kyng, and me for my desert,
They did depriue: with paine which pincht my heart.

31.

Then _Vortiger_ my sonne and kyng pursude
The _Saxons_ sore, and dyd amaze them much,
For which my wyfe, his mother[1196] lawe, indude
With diuelish spite, agaynst the youth did grutche,
She him destroyde, her good successe was such:
When he seuen yeares had raygnde with great renowne,
With poyson she depriude him of his crowne.

32.

I to obtaine the seate from whence I fel,
With sacred oath I solemnly did sweare,
To end the woorke, which was begonne so wel,
And to subdue the _Saxons_ euery where:
The _Brittaines_ to my kingly crowne did reare
Me quickely then: I at the fyrst, by might
Defaste my foes in euery fray and fyght.

33.

Then lothsome lucke did turne her whurling wheele,
With treason trust intrapte did me betray,
Hateful mishappe she had me by the heele,
And clapte me close in dungeon of decay,
To _Hengest_ nowe I must a raunsome pay:
And if I loude my life and libertie,
I needes must graunt al he dooth aske of me.

34.

For chaunged chaunce of _Mars_ his warres, hath made
Me of a king a captayne’s prisoner,
To whom there must nowe foure sheares be payde,
_Northfolke_, _Southfolke_, _Southsexe_ and _Kent_ they were,
Me to release from out my caue of care:
Which being donne, I led my life in doute,
And fledde for feare to _Wales_ with al my route.

35.

Where, as I founde a place that pleasde me much,
The situation seemde so passing strong,
The worlde me thought might not annoy it much,
A castel there I builte: it were to long
Here to repeate, silence shall do no wrong
To _Marlayne_, he who wonders there hath wrought,
If auncient write to vs the truth hath taught.

36.

When I had buylt my princely bower there,
In bloody feeldes I meant no more to striue:
But true reporte did dashe my present cheere:
In _Totnesse_ hauen two brethren did ariue,
Which quickly would from that my forte me driue:
The brethren both of _Constantine_ the kyng,
_Peccaui_ they did meane to make me sing.

37.

From worse to worse, seldome is better seene,
Our present ioyes hereafter thralles do threate,
And he who now doth flourish freshe and greene,
Must fade and fal as _Hyems_ frosts doo frette:
Dame _Florae’s_ feeldes, or as the rayne with wet
In dropping dayes the pleasaunt playnes doth drowne,
So ruthfull men reaues vs from[1197] renowne.

38.

Men may therfore like _Marmaydes_ euer mourne,
The shining sunne who do so much delight,
That aye they waile like furies quite forlorne:
When _Sol_ doth shine, when _Titan’s_ beames be bright,
They feare the stormes that may hereafter light,
They weepe because they must the sunne forgoe,
When stormes do fal, they wayle their present woe.

39.

So mortal man with malice al bested,
When good successe dooth sounde a blessed blaste,
With brinishe teares then may they eate their bread:
For happy dayes from man dooth flee as fast,
As poulders force from peece dooth pellet cast:
And troubles tedious time with pacelesse staye,
Once wonne (alas) will neuer walke away.

40.

How I in maze of trouble here did toyle,
Iudge you which see me trauise in the same,
And howe I was inforst to final foyle,
Not nowe, for nowe although it dooth me shame,
I wyll declare, how I was fryde with flame.
For _Ambrose_ he and _Vter Pendragon_,
My castle brent, me and my men eche one.

41.

Then _Ambrose_ with his brother’s crowne was crown’d,
Which I from hym had reafte agaynst al right:
So nowe you see vppon what slipperie grounde
They stand, which doo extol themselues by might,
Their wandring feete doo walke as in the night,
Their stumbling steppes their giltie mindes doo feare,
They dayly see the blocke of bale appeare.

42.

With scalding sighes they doo themselues consume,
For feare to fal dooth yeelde none other fruite,
They rage with wrath, they dayly frette and fume,
Ruthful reuenge them alwayes hath in suite,
And right in time makes might both mum and mute:
For that which might by secret meanes hath wrought,
By tracte of tyme to open shewe is brought.

43.

Vsurpers then doo reape their right rewarde,
The foyle once felt, they feele how vile and vayne
It is, to be too high degrees preferde
By lawlesse meanes: they finde what pinching payne,
Amid’st the mindes of such men doo remayne,
They alwayes throngde with cruel thretting thrall,
Doo feede vppon none other foode but gall.

44.

A proofe whereof a plat, a patterne playne,
The ruthful race I _Vortiger_ haue runne,
Disciphers so, that man may see howe vayne
A thing it is his former fate to shunne:
Honour obteynde (alas) what haue we wonne?
A hidious heape of cruel carking care,
Which to consume man’s life dooth neuer spare.

[THE INDUCTION.

“What _Constantine_ was this,” quoth _Inquisition_, “that was made away by this miserable _Vortiger_?” “Not _Helline’s_ sonne,” sayd _Memorie_, “but an impe descended out of her loines, who for his soft spirit was made a monke at _S. Swithens_ in _Winchester_; and afterward, his eldest brother being dead, he was taken out and made king. He made mention of two brethren,” sayd _Inquisition_, “who ariuing at _Totnesse_ did binde the said _Vortiger_ for making away the younge king, what were they, knowe you?” “Yea,” quoth _Memory_, “they were the brethren of the vnfortunate _Constantine_, who fled out of the realme for feare of that cruel _Vortiger_: and afterwarde obteyning succour beyonde the sea came with a nauie and obteyned the reuenge of their so deadly enemie. And when the eldest, called _Aurelius Ambrose_, had raygned nienteene yeares, he dyed, as some wryte, by poyson, without issue. Then the youngest, named _Vter Pendragon_, tooke vnto him the rule of this realm.” “_Vter Pendragon_,” quoth _Inquisition_, “doo you meane the great king _Arthur’s_ father? he is here, and hath sued vnto me to be a meanes that his fall might be knowne vnto the worlde.” “Let him,” saythe _Memory_, “speake his minde, for his story is exceedyng necessary for this present time.” Wherewith he bearing still about with hym his amorous lookes, said as foloweth.]

THE COMPLAINT OF VTER PENDRAGON.

Howe Vter Pendragon was inamoured with Duke Garelus wife,
and howe by lawelesse loue he lost his kingdome.
This example is most necessary for
the present time.[1198]

1.

We leade our liues by fancies fonde delight,
For kingdomes some doo busy much theyr brayne,
But _Cupid’s_ curse that wretched litle wight,
That blinded boye vnto my pynching payne,
Dubde me a knight of dayntie _Venus’_ trayne,
Where beames of beautie brought me by and by,
To cast my care to please my ladye’s eye.

2.

O beautie braue, thy gladsome glittering gleames,
With smilyng cheare and wildie winking eyes,
Doth drowne with dole amidst the surging streames
Of deepe despayre, the wightes which be most wyse:
Aye me, my wit, my penne cannot deuise
Of beautie braue to make a true discourse,
To thinke thereof I feele my selfe the woorse.

3.

I _Pendragon_ of _Britaine_ crowned king,
The fretting force of beautie’s hateful hewe,
Those frying flames I felt, that hateful sting,
Which quickly me from crowne and kingdome threwe,[1199]
Whil’st with delight I did thy vaunting vewe,
I like the halke which sores in good estate,
Did spye a stale, I stoopte, and tooke a mate.

4.

For at what tyme the _Saxons_ dyd assayle
My _Britane_ state, and tooke eche man a share,
My kindome they, euen for their best auayle,
Dyd then deuide: for which wyth carking care
Them thence to dryue, I did my powre prepare:
And beyng come to _Cornewal_ with my bande,
I ment to haue duke _Garelus_ helping hande.

5.

[I knewe right wel the valure of his minde,
Me to my crowne his courage did aduaunce,
Him for my good most forwarde I did fynde,
He neuer fearde the force of chaunging chaunce:
Here I intrapte did stande as in a traunce,
Amazde I gazde, as one bewichte, my hart
Was wounded deep with _Cupid’s_ cruel dart.]

6.

In sacred church[1200] I set to sacrifyce,
Those holy vowes, which victories require:
Euen whilst I did with al my harte deuise,
Howe to subdue my foes with swoorde and speare,
Euen then there did this peerlesse pearle appeare,
Duke _Garelus_ wife, whose gallant gate and grace,
Stealing myne heart, my honour did deface.

7.

When _Vortiger_ my brother did oppresse,
In exile then my youthful yeares were spent,
At my retourne his fault he did confesse,
And from his crowne the crowne in haste I sent:
Then my delight was in the diery dent
Of wrackful warre, but nowe transformde I stande,
The auncient oke must growe nowe lyke a wande.

8.

I marueilde muche how _Cireus_[1201] songes might please,
But now I muse that _Circes_ sorcery,
Doth not from euery man bereaue his ease:
_Calipsoe’s_ cuppes with poysoned trechery,
Cannot so much abridge man’s liberty,
As _Circus_[1202] songes, and _Circe’s_ suttle art,
Whose chaunting charmes inwrapt with wo my hart.

9.

_Vlisses_ sayling by the perilous place,
Where these to please the passours by, did play,
Where lady _Loue_ doth vante with garishe grace,
Her daynty damsels, gallant gyrles, and gaye
Intycing trulles, they causde the Greeke to say:
“With cables come and tye me to this mast,
Lest I my selfe to pleasures court me cast.”

10.

Muse not therefore though feature fine of face,
Though comely corps, and trim intysing cheere,
Made me obay sir _Cupid’s_ mightie mace:
The force whereof _Vlisses_ wise did feare:
He sail’d aloffe, he from these bankes did beare
His shaking shippe, but other many moe
Did there ariue, and weau’d the web of woe.

11.

There _Salomon_ did reape the croppe of care,
There _Dauid_ loude as I, _Vrias’_ wife,
There _Samson_ strong was snarled in the snare,
There _Paris_ liude, euen there he lost his life,
There _Helen’s_ hate, brought _Troy_ her final strife,
_Alcides_ he the myghtie _Herculus_,
There to ariue, did finde it dangerous.

12.

And I did learne with losse of lyfe at laste,[1203]
That he who doth delyght in lawelesse loue,
Must play the foole eare al the partes be past,
And taste the sauce preparde for his behoue:
Let men take heed how they their fancies moue,
Let man beware where he doth cast his eie,
The lymed byrde doth proue in vayne to flye.

13.

O ancient _Rome_, thou did’st ordayne of yore,
That women should no banqueting frequent,
At _Rome_ she was esteemde a harlot whoore,
If from her house without her veyle she went,
Which lawes no doubt were made to good intent,
For why the beames of beautie’s sanguynde sight,
Like _Basilisco_ spoyles the gazing wyght.[1204]

14.

Therefore the maydes, and _Roman_ matrons all,
A shadowing veyle before their face did weare,
Their heauenly hewe did throwe no man to thrall,
They were content with playne and decent geare,
They hufte it not wyth paynted frisled heare:
The marryed wyfe, the matron, and the mayd,
They of there veyles were glad and wel apayde.

15.

If women thus had walked in my time,
I had not stoopte vnto that paynted lure,
Which did intice me to committe the crime,
Which to the pearch of leudnesse tide me sure,
For her disport my ladye could procure
The wretched winges of this my muting minde,
Restlesse to seeke her emptie fiste to finde.

16.

I thus ariude in pleasure’s cursed courte,
I lothed _Mars_, I hated _Mercury_,
It was me thought a passing pleasant sporte,
Leauinge the feeldes at _Bacchus_ brauery,
Sometime to sit vpon my mistresse knee,
Where that I might be at my pleasure plaste,
I sent the noble duke to warres in hast.[1205]

17.

You which haue playd with pleasure’s banding bales,
You knowe the life which lingring louers lead,
You know how sweete it is to scale the walles
Of her good wyl, who liude in feare and dreade,
You know right wel how wel those wightes haue sped,
Who haue at last by driftes of long delay,
Their hoped meede, and wished pleasant praye.

18.

[Which pray when I by tract of time obtaynde,
And had my wyl when best it did me please,
As I three monthes amidst my blesse remaynde,
The duke’s returne, return’d me from my ease,
No promise myght his raging wrath appease:
But when he knewe the drifte of my delayes,
To cause my death he sought an hundred wayes.

19.

Then I the wrath of rash reuenge to flye,
Thinking that time myght mitigate his moode:
To _Troynouant_ in haste I did me hye:
Which when the wrathful duke once vnderstoode,[1206]
He raysde my realme, and by his myght and powre
I lost my lyfe, my crowne, and princely bowre.][1207]

20.

Learne they which line in high or lowe degree,
To flee the foyle which I by folly felt:
Let them refrayne those lofty dames to see,
They know howe lofty lookes with me haue delt,
You se how sight did make my honor melte:
Let al men know man’s heart did neuer rue
The thing which he with sight did neuer vewe.

21.

But how may men the sight of beautie shunne,
In _England_, at this present dismal daye?
All voyde of veyles (like layes) where ladyes runne
And rome about at euerye feast and playe,
They wanderyng walke in euery streete and way:
With loftie luering lookes they bounsing braue,
The highest place in al men’s sight must haue.

22.

With pride they pranke to please the wandring eye,
With garishe grace they smyle, they iet, they iest:
O _English_ dames, your lightnesse veryly,
The curtizantes of _Rome_ do much deteste,
In closets close to liue they count it best:
They geue not grace to euery wandring wight,
Your smiling chere doth euery man delight.

23.

The poet’s goddes _Saturne_, and _Iupiter_,
To beautie’s becke their highnesse did obay,
_Pluto_ of hel did plead at beautie’s barre,
And _Phillis_ causde _Demophoon_ to stay:
_Pasiphäe_ a bull brought to the baye:
So goddes and diuilles, both men and beastes, they all
By women’s wyles are slaues to beautie’s thrall.

24.

What gayne is got by lyght and wanton wayes?
You reape reproche, a guerdon got thereby:
Men by your meanes do cause their owne decay,
And you your selues al souste in sinne muste die:
Refrayne therefore to please man’s gazing eie,
Let men likewise the bayted hookes refrayne
Of luering lookes, their vaunting vowes be vayne.

[THE INDUCTION.

“Verye well sayde,” quoth _Memory_, “I would I had habilitie to redeeme this prince’s soule out of _Lymbo-lake_: I wyl insuer you the shorte tragedie of this man’s life hath made a long discourse of the present estate of _England_, in which ther be more by three parts which serue, like carpite knightes, _Venus_ and her darlinges, then God and their prince: who I feare are so fast seazed vpon beautie’s fiste, that this example wyl be little auailable vnto them. But let it be as it wil, warned folkes may liue, and happie are they whome other men’s harme do make to be ware. But, good _Inquisition_, whome haue you there? What haue you brought vs in steede of a prince, a priest? It woulde appeare by his shauen crown that he hath bin a monke, or a frier. What, shal we alowe tippet wearers to pleade amongst princes? Me thinke by the deformitie of his apparel, he shoulde not be of the _religion_, nor of the reformed church: yea, I wyl insuer you, his precise lookes maketh me to suspect that he is one of them which do cry out, 'O these indifferent thinges do not edifye.’ Speake therfore, _Inquisition_, if he be one of that precise order he get no place here.” “O _Memorie_,” quoth _Inquisition_, “they of the reformed church be the most zelous pastoures of the world, moste of them both godly good liuers, and wise: and in my fancye, in many poyntes, greatly deseruing the name of reformed. But this man was both a prince and a prelate, whome I refused oftentimes to heare, because he looked so deuoutly, yet he being importunate, did ouercome me with his prayers: and when I gaue eare vnto him I reioyced: and not without a cause, good _Memorye_, for it is euen he whom you sent me to seeke.” “Let me see,” quoth _Memorie_, “is it _Cadwallader_? In good time, it is euen he in deede. O se what the alteration of apparel doth! In good fayth, I had almost forgotten the man. He was the last king of the _Brittaynes_, and when thinges would not fal out after his desire, he went to _Rome_, and there he became a _frier_. But we wyl not accuse him of anye thing, let him do the thing that he commeth for; you may perswade your selfe that seing he is of the church, his conscience wyl constrayne him in euery thing to tel the truth.” Then he stepped forthe, booted and spurde, al in blacke, with a long prieste’s gowne, a square cappe, a _scala cœli_ in his hande, and a longe payre of beades by his side: then he sighing, proceeded vnto his purpose, and said, as followeth.

THE COMPLAYNT OF CADWALLADER.

How Cadwallader the last king of the Brittaynes, after
he had behaued himselfe very valiantly against
the Saxons, resigned his crowne, and went
to Rome, where he liued in a religious
house. This storye contayneth in it
the estate of al estates.[1208]