Chapter VI: Part III (3)

Of whom when some beganne to finde the fraud,
(And yet the traytor made himselfe so cleare,
That hee should seeme to haue deserued laud,
So woefull did hee for his prince[655] appeare)
My doubtfull father, louing mee full deare,
T’avoyde[656] all daunger that might after chaunce,
Sent mee away, but nine yeares olde, to _Fraunce_.

7.

But windes and weather were so contrary,
That wee were driuen to the _English_ coast,
Which realme with _Scotland_ at that time did vary,
So that they tooke mee as prysoner,[657] not as[658] hoast:[659]
For which my father, fearing I was[660] lost,
Conceiued shortly such an inward thought,
As to the graue immediatly him brought.

8.

Then had mine uncle all the regiment
At home, and I in _England_ prisoner lay:
For to himselfe hee thought it detriment
For my release any ransome for to pay,
For as hee thought hee had possest his pray:
And therefore wisht I might in duraunce dure
Till I had died, so should his raigne be sure.

9.

But good king _Henry_, seeing I was a childe,
And heyr by right vnto a realme and crowne,
Did bring mee vp, (not like my brother, wilde)
But vertuously, in feates of high renowne,
In liberall artes, in instrumentall sowne:
By meane whereof when I was after king,
I did my realme to ciuill order bring.[661]

10.

For ere I had beene prysoner eighteene yeere,
In which short space two noble princes dyed,
Whereof the first in prudence had no peere,
The other in warre most valiaunt throughly tryed,
Whose roume his sonne babe _Henry_, eke supplyed:
The peeres of _England_ which did gouerne all,
Did of theyr goodnes helpe mee out of thrall.

11.

They maryed mee to a cosin of theyr king,
The duke of _Somerset’s_ daughter rich and fayre,[662]
Releast my ransome saue a trifling thing:
And after I had done homage to th’heyre,[663]
And sworne my frendship neuer should appayre,
They brought mee kingly furnisht to my land,
Which I receaued at mine vncle’s hand.

12.

Whereof my lords and commons were full glad,
So was mine vncle chiefly, as hee sayde,
Who in his mouth no other matter had,
Saue punish such as had my brother trayed:
The fault whereof apparauntly hee layed
To good duke _Murdo_, his elder brother’s sonne,
Whose father dyed long ere this was done.

13.

My cursed vncle, slyer than the snake,
Which would by craft vnto the crowne aspire,
Because hee sawe this _Murdo_[664] was a stake
That stayed vp the top of his desire,
(For his elder brother was duke _Murdoe’s_ syre)[664]
Hee thought it best to haue him made away,
So was hee sure (I gone) to haue his pray.

14.

And by his craftes the traytour brought to passe,
That I destroyde duke _Murdo_ and his kin,
Poore innocents, my louing friendes, alas:
O kinges, and princes, what plight stand wee in,
A trusted traytour shall you quickly win,
To put to death your kin and friendes most iust:
Take heede therefore, take heede whose reede yee trust.

15.

And at the last to bring mee whole in hate
With God and man, at home and eke abrode,
Hee counsayl’d mee, for suraunce of my state
To help the _Frenchmen_, then nigh ouertrode
By _Englishmen_: and more to lay on lode,
With power and force all _England_ to inuade,
Against the oth and homage that I made.

16.

And though at first my conscience did grudge,
To breake the boundes of friendship knit by oth,
Yet after proofe (see mischiefe) I did iudge
It madnes for a king to keepe his troth,
And semblably with all the world it goth:
Sinnes oft assayde are thought to bee no sinne,
So soyleth sinne the soule it sinketh in.

17.

But as diseases common cause of death,
Bring daunger most when least they pricke and smart,
Which is a signe they haue expulst the breath
Of liuely heate, which doth defend the heart:
Euen so such sinnes as felt are on no part
Haue conquered grace, and by theyr wicked vre
So kild the soule, that it can haue no cure.

18.

And grace agate, vice still succedeth vice,
And all to haste the vengeaunce for the furst,
I areade therefore all people to bee wise,
And stop the brake when it begins to burst:
Attast no poyson (vice is venim worst,
It mates the minde) beware eke of too much,
All kill through muchnes, some with onely touch.

19.

When I had learnde to set my oth at nought,
And through much vse the sence of sinne exiled,
Against king _Henry_ what I could, I wrought,
My fayth, my oth, vniustly foule defiled:[665]
And while slye fortune at my doings smyled,
The wrath of God, which I had well deserued,
Fell on my necke, for thus loe was I serued.

20.

Ere I had raygned fully fifteene yeare,
While time I lay at _Pertho_, at my place,
With the queene my wife and children mee to chare,
My murdring uncle with the double face,
That longed for my kingdome and my mace,
To slay mee there suborned _Robert Grame_,
With whom his nephue, _Robert Stuard_, came.

21.

And when theyr time fit for theyr[666] purpose founde,
Into my priuy chamber they astart,
Where with theyr swordes they gaue mee many a wound,
And slue all such as stuck vnto my part:
There loe my wife did shew her louing heart,
Who, to defend mee, felled one or twayne,
And was sore wounded ere I coulde bee slayne.[667]

22.

See _Baldwine_, _Baldwine_, the vnhappy endes
Of such as passe not for theyr lawfull oth:
Of those that causeles leaue theyr fayth and[668] frendes,
And murder kinsfolkes through their foes vntroth:
Warne, warne all princes, all like sinnes to loth,
And chiefly such as in my realme be borne,
For God hates highly all that[669] are forsworne.][670]

[When[671] this was sayde, quoth[672] one of the company: “Let
passe these _Scottish_ matters, and returne wee to our _English_
storyes which minister matter enough of tragedy, without seking
or trauayling to forayne countreyes. Therefore returne wee to
the rest of the tragicall troubles and broyles which happened in
this realme during the minority of king _Henry_ the sixt, and the
sondry falls and ouerthrowes of great princes and other noble
persons happening thereby.” “Well sayd (qd maister _Ferrers_)
as[673] it happeneth I haue penned here two[674] notable
tragedies, the one of _Humfrey_ duke of _Glocester_, the other
of the duchess _Elianor_ his wife, which (as mee seemeth) be two
of the most memorable matters fortuning in that[675] time: but
whether of them is to bee placed first in[676] the order of our
booke, I somwhat stand in doubt. For albeit the sayd duke’s death
happened before the deceasse of the duches, yet was her fall
first, which finally was cause of both.”[677] “Why should you
doubt then (quod the rest of the company) for seeing the cause
doth alwayes goe before th’effect and sequell of any thing, it
is good reason you should begin with her first. And therefore
wee pray you let vs heare first what shee hath to say: for all
this while wee haue not heard the complaynt of any lady or other
woman.”]

How Dame _Elianor Cobham_ Duchesse of Glocester,
for practising of witchcraft and sorcery,
suffred open penaunce, and after
was banished the realme into
the Ile of Man.

1.

If a poore lady damned in exile
Amongst princes may bee allowed place,
Then, gentle _Baldwine_, stay thy pen a while,
And of pure pitty ponder well my case,
How I a duches, destitute of grace,
Haue found by proofe, as many haue and shall,
The prouerbe true, that pride will haue a fall.

2.

A noble prince extract of royall bloud,
_Humfrey_, sometime protector of this land,
Of _Glocester_ duke, for vertue calde, the good,
When I but base beneath his state did stande,
Vouchsafte with mee to ioyne in wedlocke’s band,
Hauing in court no name of high degree,
But _Elinor Cobham_, as parents left to mee.

3.

And though by birth[678] of noble race I was,
Of baron’s bloud, yet was I thought vnfitte
So high to match, yet so it came to passe,
Whether by grace, good fortune, or by witte,
Dame _Venus’_ lures so in mine eyes did sitte,
As this great prince without respect of state,
Did worthy mee to bee his wedded mate.

4.

His wife I was, and hee my true husband,
Though for a while hee had the company
Of lady _Iaquet_, [the] dutchesse of _Holland_,
Being an heyre of ample patrimony,
But that fell out to bee no matrimony:
For after warre, long sute in lawe, and strife,
Shee proued was the duke of _Brabant’s_ wife.

5.

Thus of a damsell [a] duchesse I became,
My state and place aduaunced next the queene,
Whereby mee thought I felt no ground, but swam,
For in the court mine equall was not seene,
And so possest with pleasure of the spleene,
The sparkes of pride so kindled in my brest,
As I in court would shine aboue the rest.

6.

Such giftes of nature God in mee had graft
Of shape and stature,[679] with other graces moe,
That by the shot of _Cupid’s_ fiery shaft,
Which to the harte of this great prince did goe,
This mighty duke with loue was kindled so,
As hee abasing the height of his degree,
Set his whole hart, to loue and honour mee.

7.

Grudge who so would, to him I was most deere,
Aboue all ladyes[680] aduaunced in degree,
(The queene except) no princesse was my peere,
But gaue mee place, and lordes with cap and knee
Did all honour and reuerence vnto mee:
Thus hoisted high vppon the rolling wheele,
I sate so sure, mee thought I could not reele.

8.

And weening least that fortune hath a turne,
I lookt aloft, and would not looke alowe,
The brondes of pride so in my brest did burne
As the hot sparkes, burst forth in open showe,
And more and more the fire began to glowe
Without quenching, and daily did encrease,
Till fortune’s blastes with shame did make it cease.

9.

For (as tis sayd) pride passeth on afore,
And shame followes, for iust rewarde and meede,
Would God ladyes, both now and euermore,
Of my hard hap, which shall the story reede,
Would beare in mind, and trust it as their creede,
That pryde of hart is a most hatefull vice,
And lowlines, a pearle of passing price.

10.

Namely in queenes, and ladyes of estate,
Within whose mindes all meekenes should abound,
Since high disdayne doth alwayes purchase hate,
Being a vice, that most part doth redound
To their reproach, in whome the same is found,
And seeldome gets good fauour or good fame,
But is at last knit vp with worldly shame.

11.

The proofe wherof I found most true in deede,
That pryde afore, hath shame to wayt behinde:
Let no man doubt, in whom this vice doth breede,
But shame for pride by iustice is assynde,
Which I well found, for truely in my minde
Was neuer none, whome pride did more enflame,
Nor neuer none receiued greater shame.

12.

For not content to bee a duchesse great,
I longed sore to beare the name of queene,
Aspiring still vnto an higher seat,
And with that hope my selfe did ouerweene
Since there was none, which that time was betweene
_Henry_ the king, and my good duke his eame,
Heyre to the crowne and kingdome of this realme.

13.

So neare to bee, was cause of my vayne hope
And long awayte, when this faire hap would fall:
My studies all were tending to that scope,
Alas, the while to councell I did call
Such as would seeme, by skill coniecturall
Of art magique and wicked sorcery,
To deeme and dyuine[681] the prince’s destiny:

14.

Among which sort of those that bare most fame
There was a beldame called the witch of _Ey_,
Old mother _Madge_ her neighbours did her name,[682]
Which wrought wonders in countryes by here say,
Both feendes and fayries her[683] charming would obay:
And dead corpsis[684] from graue shee could vp rere,
Such an inchauntresse [as] that time had no peere.

15.

Two priests also, the one hight _Bolenbroke_,
The other _Suthwell_, [great] clerkes in coniuration,[685]
These two chapleins were they that vndertooke
To cast and calke the kinge’s constellation,[686]
And then to iudge by deepe[687] diuination
Of thinges to come, and who should next succede
To _Englande’s_ crowne, all this was true in deede.

16.

And further sure they neuer did proceede,
Though I confesse that this attempt was ill,
But for my part, for any thing in deede,
Wrought, or else thought, by any kinde of skill,
God is my iudge I neuer had the will,
By any inchauntment, sorcery, or charme,
Or otherwise, to worke my prince’s harme.

17.

Yet nethelesse,[688] when this case came to light
By secrete spies to _Cayphas_, our cardinall,
Who long in hart had borne a priuy spight
To my good duke, his nephue naturall,
Glad of the chaunce so fitly forth to fall,
His long hid hate with justice to color,
Used this case with most extreame rigor.

18.

And caused mee with my complices all,
To bee cyted by processe peremptory,
Before judges, in place judiciall,
Whereas _Cayphas_, sitting in his glory,
Would not allow my aunswere dilatory,
Ne doctor, or proctor, to alledge the lawes,
But forced mee to plead in mine owne cause.

19.

The kinge’s councell were called to the case,
(My husband than shut out for the season)
In whose absence I found but little grace,
For lawyers turned our offence to treason:
And so with rigor, without ruth or reason,
Sentence was gieuen that I for the same
Should doe penaunce, and suffer open shame.

20.

Nay the like shame had neuer wight I weene,
Duches, lady, ne damsel of degree,
As I that was a princesse, next the queene,
Wife to a prince, and none so great as hee,
A kinge’s vncle, protector of his countrey,
With taper burning, shrouded in a sheete,
Three dayes a row, to passe the open streete,

21.

Bareleg’d, and barefoote, to all the worlde’s wonder,
Yea, and as though such shame did not suffise,
With more despite then to part asunder
Mee and my duke, which traytors did deuise
By statute lawe, in most vnlawfull wise,
First sending mee with shame into exile,
Then murdring him by trechery and gyle.

22.

Yea, and besides this cruell banishment,[689]
Far from all friendes to comfort mee in care,
And husband’s death, there was by parliament
Ordayn’d for mee a messe of courser fare:
For they to bryng mee to begger’s state most bare,
By the same act from mee did then withdrawe
Such right of dower, as widowe’s haue by lawe.[690]

23.

Death (as tis sayd) doth set all things at rest,
Which fell not so in mine vnhappy case:
For since my death, mine enmies made a jest
In minstrel’s rymes, mine honour to deface:
And then to bring my name in more disgrace,
A song was made in manner of a laye,
Which olde wiues sing of mee vnto this day.[691]

24.

Yet with these spites theyr malice could not end,
For shortly after, my sorrowes to renue,
My loyall lord, which neuer did offend,
Was calde in haste, the cause hee litle knew,
To a parliament, without sommons due,
Whereas his death was cruelly contriued,
And I, his wife, of earthly ioyes depriued.

25.

For all the while my duke had life and breath,
So long I stoode in hope of my restore:
But when I heard of his most causles death,
Then the best salue for my recureless sore
Was to despayre of cure for euermore,
And as I could, my carefull heart to cure
With pacience, most paynfull to endure.

26.

O traytors fell, which in your heartes could find,
Like feendes of hell, the guiltles to betray,
But yee chiefly his kinsmen most vnkinde,
Which gaue consent to make him so away,
That vnto God, with all my heart I pray,
Vengeaunce may light on him that caused all,
_Beaufort_, I meane, that cursed cardinall.

27.

Which bastard priest of th’house[692] of _Lancaster_,
Sonne to duke _Iohn_, surnamed _Iohn of Gaunt_,
Was first create byshop of _Winchester_,
For no learning whereof hee might well vaunt,
Ne for vertue, which hee did neuer haunt,
But for his gold and sommes that were not small,
Payde to the pope, was made a cardinall.

28.

Proud _Lucifer_, which from the heauens on high
Downe to the pit of hell belowe was cast,
And being once an aungell bright in sky,
For his high pride in hell is chained fast
In deepe darknes that euermore shall last,
More hawt of heart was not before his fall,
Then was this proud and pompous cardinall:

29.

Whose life, good _Baldwine_, paynt out in his pickle,
And blase this _Baal_ and belligod most blinde,
An hypocrite, all faythles, false, and fickle,
A wicked wretch, a kinsman most vnkind,
A deuill incarnat, all deuishly enclinde,
And (to discharge my conscience all at once)
The deuill him gnawe, both body, bloud, and bones.

30.

The spitefull prieste would needes make mee a witch,
As would to God I had beene for his sake,
I would haue claw’d him where hee did not itche,
I would haue playde the lady of the lake,
And as _Merline_ was, cloasde him in a brake,
Ye a meridian to lul him by day light,
And a night mare to ride on him by night.

31.

The fiery feends with feuers hot and frenzy,
The ayery heggs with stench and carren sauoures,
The watry ghostes with gowtes and with dropsy,
The earthy goblines, with aches at all houres,
Furyes and fayryes, with all infernall powers,
I would haue stir’d from the darke dungeon
Of hell centre, as deepe as demagorgon.

32.

Or had I now the skill of dame _Erichto_,
Whose dreadfull charmes (as _Lucan_ doth expresse)
All feendes did feare, so far forth as prince _Pluto_,
Was at her call for dread of more distresse,
Then would I send of helhoundes more and lesse
A legion at least, at him to cry and yel,
And with that chyrme, herrie him downe to hell.

33.

Which neede not, for sure I thinke that hee
Who here in earth leades _Epicurus’_ life,
As farre from God as possible may be,
With whome all sinne and vices are most rife,
Using at will both widdow, mayde, and wife,
But that some deuill his body doth possesse,
His life is such as men can iudge no lesse.

34.

And God forgieue my wrath and wreakefull minde,
Such is my hate to that most wicked wretch,
Dye when hee shall, in heart I could well finde
Out of the graue his corps agayne to fetch,
And racke his limmes as long as they would stretch,
And take delight to listen euery day
How hee could sing a masse of welaway.

35.

The ile of _Man_ was the apoynted place
To penaunce mee for euer in exile,
Thither in haste they poasted mee apace,
And douting scape, they pind mee in a pyle,
Close by my selfe in care, alas, the while,
There felt I first poore prysoner’s hungry fare,
Much want, thinges skant, and stone walles harde and bare.

36.

The chaunge was straunge, from sylke and cloth of gold
To rugged fryze my carcas for to cloath,
From prince’s fare, and daynties hot and cold,
To rotten fish, and meates that one would loath,
The diet and dressing were much alike boath,
Bedding and lodging were all alike fine,
Such downe it was as serued well for swyne.

37.

Neyther doe I myne owne case thus complayne,
Which I confesse came partly by desert:
The only cause which doubleth all my payne,
And which most neere goeth now vnto my hearte,
Is that my fault did finally reuert
To him that was least guilty of the same,
Whose death it was, though I abode the shame.

38.

Whose fatall fall when I doe call to minde,
And how by mee his mischiefe first began,
So ofte I cry on fortune most vnkinde,
And my mishap most vtterly doe banne,
That euer I to such a noble man,
Who from my crime was innocent and cleare,
Should bee a cause to buy his loue so deare.

39.

Oh, to my heart how greeuous is the wounde,
Calling to minde this dismall deadly case:
I would I had beene doluen vnder ground
When hee first saw or looked on my face,
Or tooke delight in any kinde of grace
Seeming in mee, that him did stir or moue
To fancy mee, or set his heart to loue.

40.

Farewell, _Greenewych_, my pallace of delight,
Where I was wont to see the christall streames
Of royall _Thames_, most plesaunt to my sight:
And farewell, _Kent_, right famous in all realmes,
A thousand times I minde you in my dreames,
And when I wake most griefe it is to mee,
That neuer more agayne I shall you see.[693]

41.

In the night time when I should take my rest
I weepe, I wayle, I weat my bed with teares,
And when dead sleape my spirites hath opprest,
Troubled with dreames I fantazy vayne feares,
Myne husband’s voyce then ringeth at mine eares,
Crying for help: “O saue mee from the death,
These vilaynes here doe seeke to stop my breath.”

42.

Yea, and sometimes mee thinkes his drery ghost
Appeares in sight, and shewes mee in what wise
Those fell tyraunts with torments had emboost
His winde and breath, to abuse people’s eyes,
So as no doubt or question should arise
Among rude folke, which litle vnderstand,
But that his death came only by God’s hand.

43.

I playne in vayne, where eares bee none to heare,
But roring seas, and blustring of the winde,
And of redresse am near a whit the neere,
But with waste wordes to feede my mournfull minde,
Wishing full oft the _Parcas_ had vntwinde
My vitall stringes, or _Atropose_ with knife
Had cut the lyne of my most wretched life.

44.

Oh that _Neptune_, and _Æolus_ also,
Th’one god of seas, the other of weather,
Ere mine arriuall into that ile of woe,
Had sunke the ship wherein I sayled thether,
(The shipmen saued) so as I together
With my good duke, might haue beene deade afore
Fortune had wroken her wrath on vs so sore.

45.

Or els that God, when my first passage was
Into exile along Saynt _Albon’s_ towne,
Had neuer let mee further for to passe,
But in the streete with death had strucke mee downe:
Then had I sped of my desired bowne,
That my poore corps mought there haue lien with his
Both in one graue, and so haue gone to blisse.

46.

But I, alas, the greater is my greefe,
Am past that hope to haue my sepulture
Nere vnto him, which was to mee most leefe,
But in an ile and country most obscure,
To pyne in payne whilst my poore life will dure,
And being dead, all honourlesse to lye
In simple graue, as other poore that dye.

47.

My tale is tolde, and time it is to ceasse
Of troubles past, all which haue had theyr end:
My graue I trust shall purchase mee such peace[694]
In such a world, where no wight doth contend
For higher place, whereto all flesh shall wend:
And so I end, vsing one word for all
As I began, that pryde will haue a fall.

Quod G. F.[695]

[“Svrely,” sayd one of the company, “this lady hath done much
to moue the hearers to pitye her, and hath very well knit vp
her[696] tragedy according to the beginning: but I meruayl much
where shee learned all this poetry touched in her tale, for in
her dayes learning was not common, but a rare thing, namely in
women.” “Yes,” quod Maister _Ferrers_, “that might shee very well
learne of the duke her husband, who was a prince so excellently
learned, as the like of his degree was no where to bee founde.
And not only so, but was also a patron to poets and orators,
much like as _Mecenas_ was in the time of _Augustus Cæsar_. This
duke was founder of the diuinity schole in _Oxford_, whereas he
caused _Aristotle’s_ workes to bee translated out of Greeke into
Latin, and caused many other thinges to bee done for aduauncement
of learning, hauing alwayes learned men nere about him, no
meruayl therefore though the duchesse brought some pece away.”
“Mee-thinke,” quod another, “shee passeth boundes of a ladye’s
modesty, to inuey so cruelly against the cardinall _Beaufort_.”
“Not a whit,” quod another, “hauing such cause as shee had, and
somwhat ye must beare with women’s passions. Therefore leaue wee
her to eternall rest, and let vs heare what Maister _Ferrers_
will say for the duke her husband, whose case was the more
lamentable, in that hee suffered without cause. And surely though
the cardinall against nature was the duke’s mortall foe, yet
the chiefe causers of his confusion was the queene and _William
Delapoole_, earle of _Suffolke_, and afterwardes duke, whose
counsayle was chiefly followed in the contriuing of this noble
man’s destruction. Shee through ambition to haue soueraynty and
rule, and hee through flattery to purchase honour and promotion,
which as hee in short time obtayned, so in as short time he lost
agayne, and his life withall by the iust iudgement of God,
receiuing such measure as he before met to this good prince. This
drift of his turned to the vtter ouerthrowe of the king himselfe,
the queene his wife, and _Edward_ theyr son a most goodly prince,
and to the subuersion of the whole house of _Lancaster_, as you
may see at large in the cronicles: but now let vs heare what the
duke will say.”]

Howe _Hvmfrey Plantagenet_ Duke of Glocester
Protector of England, during the minority
of his nephue King _Henry_ the sixt,
(commonly called the good Duke)
by practise of enemyes was
brought to confusion.

1.

As highest hilles with tempestes beene most touched,
And tops of trees most subiect vnto winde,
And as great towers with stone strongly cowched,
Haue heauy falles when they be vndermynde,
Euen so by proofe in worldly thinges wee finde,
That such as clime the top of high degree
From perill of falling neuer can bee free.

2.

To proue this true, good _Baldwine_, hearken hyther,
See, and behold mee vnhappy _Humfrey_,[697]
_England’s_ protector and duke of _Glocester_,
Who in the time of the sixt king _Henry_,
Ruled this realme yeares moe then twenty:
Note well the cause of my decay and fall,
And make a myrour for magistrates all.[698]

3.

In theyr moste weale to beware of vnhap,[699]
And not to sleepe in slumbring sickernes,
Whilst fortune false doth lul them in her lap
Drowned in dreames of brittle blessednesse,
But then to feare her freakes and ficklenesse
Accompting still the higher they ascend,
More nigh to bee to daunger in the end.

4.

And that vayne trust in bloud or royall race,
Abuse them not with careles assuraunce[700]
To trust fortune,[701] but waying well my case,
When shee most smyleth to haue in remembraunce[702]
My sodayne fall, who in all apparaunce[703]
Hauing most stayes which man[704] in state mayntayne,
Haue found the same vntrusty and most vayne.

5.

Better then I none may the same affirme,[705]
Who trusting all in height of high estate,
Led by the eares with false flatterie’s chyrme,[706]
Which neuer prince could banish from his gate,
Did litle thinke on such a sodayne mate,
Not heeding, lesse breeding, all vnaware,
By foes least feared was trapt in a snare.

6.

If noble byrth or high autority,
Nombre of friendes, kinred, or alliaunce,
If wisedome, learning, [or] worldly pollicy,
Mought haue beene stayers to fortune’s variaunce,
None stoode more strong, in worldly countenaunce,
For all these helpes had I to auayle mee,
And yet in fine, all the same did fayle mee.[707]

7.

Of king _Henry_ the fourth,[708] fourth sonne I was,
Brother to _Henry_, the fift of that name,[709]
And uncle to _Henry_ the sixt,[710] but, alas,
What cause had I to presume on[711] the same?
Or for vayne glory, aduauncing my[712] fame
My selfe to call in recordes and writinges,
The sonne, brother, and vncle vnto kinges.

8.

This was my boast, which lastly was my bane,
Yet not this boast was it that brought me downe:
The very cause which made my weale to wane
So neere of kin that I was to the crowne,
That was the rock that made my ship to drowne
A rule there is not fayling, but most sure,
Kingdome no kin doth know, ne can indure.

9.

For after my brother, the fift _Henry_,[713]
Wan by conquest the royall realme of _Fraunce_,
And of two kingdoms made one monarchy
Before his death, for better obaysaunce
To his yong sonne, not ripe to gouernaunce,
Protector of _England_ I was by testament,
And _Iohn_ my brother in _Fraunce_ made regent.

10.

To whome if God had lent a longer life,
Our house to haue[714] kept from stormes of inward strife,
Or it had beene the Lord Almightie’s will
_Plantagenet_[_te’s_ name] in state had standen still:
But deadly discord, which kingdomes great doth spill[715]
Bred by desire of high domination,
Brought our whole house to playne desolation.

11.

It is for truth in an history founde,
That _Henry Plantagenet_, first of our name,
Who called was king _Henry_ the second,
Sonne of dame _Mawde_, the empresse of high fame,
Would oft report that his auncient grandame,
Though seeming in shape a woman naturall,
Was a feend of the kind that (_Succubæ_) some call.

12.

Which old fable, so long time told before,
When this kinge’s sonnes against him did rebell,
Hee cald to minde, and being greeued sore,
“Loe! now,” quod hee, “I see and proue full well
The story true, which folk of old did tell,
That from the deuill[716] descended all our race,
And now my children verify[717] the case.”

13.

Whereof to leaue a long memoriall
In minde of man euermore[718] to rest,
A picture hee made and hung it in his hall
Of a pellicane sitting on his nest,
With four yong byrdes, three pecking at his brest,
With bloudy beakes, and furder did deuise,
The yongest byrde to pecke the father’s eyes.

14.

Meaning hereby his rebell children three,
_Henry_ and _Richard_, [who] bet him on the breast:
(_Ieffrey_ onely from that offence was free)
_Henry_ dyed of _England’s_ crowne possest:
_Richard_ liued his father to molest,
_Iohn_ the yongest pect [still] his father’s eye,
Whose deedes vnkind the sooner made him dye.

15.

This king (some write) in his sicknes last
Sayde, as it were by way of prophecye,
How that the deuill a darnell grayne had cast
Among his kin, to encrease enmity,
Which should remayne in theyr posterity
Till mischiefe and murder had spent them all,
Not leauing one to pisse against the wall.

16.

And yet from him in order did succeede
In _England_ here of crowned kinges, fourteene
Of that surname, and of that line and seede,
With dukes and earles, and many a noble queene,
The numbre such as all the world would weene,
So many ympes could neuer so be spent,
But some heyr male should bee of that discent.

17.

Which to bee true if any stand in doubt,
Because I meane not further to digresse,
Let him peruse the storyes[719] throughout
Of _English_ kinges whom practise did oppresse,
And hee shall finde the cause of theyr distresse
From first to last, vnkindly to begin
Alwayes by those that next were of the kin.

18.

Was not _Richard_, of whom I spake before,
A rebell playne vntill his father dyed,
And _Iohn_ likewise an enmy euermore
To _Richard_ agayne, and for a rebell tryed?
After whose death, it cannot bee denied,
Agaynst all right this _Iohn_ most cruelly,
His brother’s children caused for to dye.

19.

_Arthur_ and _Isabell_ (I meane) that were
_Ieffrey’s_ children, then duke of _Britayne_,
_Henrye’s_ thyrd sonne, by one degree more neere
Then was this _Iohn_, as storyes shew most playne,
Which two children were famisht or els slayne
By _Iohn_ theyr eame, cald _Saunzterre_ by name,
Of whose foule act all countreys speake great shame.

20.

_Edward_ and _Richard_, second both by name,
Kinges of this land, fell downe by fatall fate:
What was the cause that princes of such fame
Did leese at last theyr honour, life, and state?
Nothing at all, but discord and debate,
Which when it haps in kinred, or in bloud,
_Erynnis_ rage was neuer halfe so wood.

21.

Be sure therefore, ye kinges and princes all,
That concord in kingdomes is chiefe assuraunce,
And that your families doe neuer fall,
But where discord doth leade the doubtfull daunce
With busy brawles, and turnes of variaunce:
Where malice is minstrel, the pype ill report,
The maske mischiefe, and so endes the sport.

22.

But now to come to my purpose agayne,
Whilst I my charge applyed in _England_,
My brother in _Fraunce_ long time did remayne,
Cardinal _Beauford_ tooke proudly in hand,
In causes publique agaynst mee to stand,
Who of great malice, so much as hee might,
Sought in all thinges to doe mee despite.

23.

Which prowde prelate to mee was bastard eame,
Sonne to duke _Iohn_ of _Gaunt_ as they did fayne,
Who being made high chauncellour of the realme,
Not like a priest, but like a prince did raigne,
Nothing wanting which might his pryde maynteine,
Bishop besides of _Winchester_ hee was,
And cardinall of _Rome_ which angels brought to passe.

24.

Not God’s angels, but angels of old gold,
Lift him aloft in whome no cause there was
By iust desert so high to bee extold,
(Riches except) whereby this golden asse
At home and abroad all matters brought to passe,
Namely at _Rome_, hauing no meane but that
To purchase there his crimzin cardinall hat.

25.

Which thing the king my father him forbad
Playnly saying, that hee could not abide
Within his realme a subiect to bee had
His prince’s peere, yet such was this man’s pride,
That hee forthwith, after my father died,
(The king then young) obtayned of the pope
That honour high, which erst hee could not hope.

26.

Whose prowde attemptes because that I withstood,
My bounde duty the better to acquite,
This holy father waxed welnere wood,
Of meere malice deuising day and night
To worke to mee dishonour and despite,
Whereby there fell betweene vs such a iarre,
As in this land was like a ciuill warre.

27.

My brother _Iohn_, which lay this while in _Fraunce_,
Heard of this hurle, and past the seas in hast,
By whose traueil this troublesome distaunce
Ceassed a while, but nethelesse[720] in wast:
For rooted hate will hardly bee displast
Out of high hartes, and namely where debate,
Happeneth amongst great persons of estate.

28.

For like as a match doth lye and smolder
Long time before it commeth to the trayne:
But yet when fire hath caught in the poulder,
No arte is able the flames to restrayne:
Euen so the sparkes of enuy and disdayne,
Out of the smoke burst forth in such a flame,
That _Fraunce_ and _England_ yet may rue the same.

29.

So when of two realmes the regiment royall,
Betweene brothers was parted equally,
One placed in _Fraunce_ for affayres martiall,
And I at home for ciuill pollicy:
To serue the state, wee both did so apply,
As honour and fame to both did encrease,
To him for the warre, to mee for the peace.

30.

Whence enuy sprang, and specially because
This proud prelate could not abide a peere
Within the land to rule the state by lawes,
Wherefore sifting my life and actes most neere,
Hee neuer ceast, vntill, as you shall heare,
By practise foule of him and his allies,
My death was wrought in most vnworthy wise.

31.

And first hee sought my doings to defame,
By rumours false, which hee and his did sowe:
Letters and billes to my reproach and shame
Hee did deuise, and all about bestowe,
Whereby my troth in doubt should daily growe,
In _England_ first, and afterward in _Fraunce_,
Mouing all meanes to bring mee to mischaunce.

32.

One quarell was, that where by common lawe
Murder and theft beene punisht all alike,
So as manslears, which bloudy blades doe drawe,
Suffer no more then hee that doth but pike,
Mee thought the same no order pollitike,
In setting paynes to make no difference,
Betweene the lesser and greater offence.

33.

I being seene somewhat in ciuill lawe,
The rules thereof reputed much better:[721]
Wherefore to keepe offenders more in awe,
Like as the fault was smaller or greater,
So set I paynes more easier or bitter,
Waying the quality of euery offence,
And so according pronounced sentence.

34.

Amongst my other _Delicta Iuuentutis_,
Whilst rage of youth my reason did subdue,
I must confesse as the very truth is,
Driuen by desire, fond fancies to ensue,
A thing I did whereof great trouble grewe,
Abusing one, to my no small rebuke,
Which wife was than to _Iohn_, of _Brabant_ duke.

35.

Called shee was lady _Iaquet_ the fayre,
Delightfull in loue like _Helene_ of _Troy_:
To the duke of _Bauier_ sole daughter and heyre,
Her did I marry to my great annoy:[722]
Yet for a time, this dame I did enioy,
With her whole landes, witholding them by force,
Till _Martin_ the pope, betweene vs made diuorce.

36.

Yet all these blastes not able were to moue
The anchor strong, whereby my ship did stay,
Some other shift to seeke him did behoue,
Whereto ere long ill fortune made the way,
Which finally was cause of my decay
And cruell death, contriued by my foes,
Which fell out thus, as now I shall disclose.

37.

_Elianor_ my wife, my duches only deare,
I knowe not howe, but as the nature is
Of women all, aye curious to enquire
Of thinges to come (though I confesse in this
Her fault not small) and that shee did amisse,
By witche’s skill, which sorcery some call,
Would knowe of thinges which after should befall.

38.

And for that cause made her selfe acquainted
With mother _Madge_, called the witch of _Eye_,
And with a clerke that after was attaynted,
_Bolenbroke_ hee hight, that learned was that way,
With other moe, which famous were that day,
As well in science called mathematicall,
As also in magique [and] skill supernaturall.

39.

These cunning folkes shee set on worke to knowe
The time how long the king should liue and raygne,
Some by the starres, and some by deuills[723] belowe,
Some by witchcraft sought knowledge to attayne,
With like fancies, friuolous, fond, and vayne,
Whereof though I knewe least of any man,
Yet by that meane my mischiefe first began.

40.

Yet besides this there was a greater thing,
How shee in waxe, by councell of the witch,
An image made, crowned like a king,
With sword in hand, in shape and likenes syche
As was the king, which daily they did pitch
Against a fire, that as the waxe did melt,
So should his life consume away vnfelt.

41.

My duchesse thus accused of this cryme,
As shee that should such practise first begin,
My part was then to yeelde vnto the time,
Geuing her leaue to deale alone therein:
And since the cause concerned deadly sinne,
Which to the clergie onely doth pertayne,
To deale therein I playnely did refrayne.

42.

And suffered them her person to ascite
Into their courtes, to aunswere and appeare,
Which to my hart was sure the greatest spight
That could be wrought, and touched mee most neare,
To see my wife, and lady leefe and deare,
To my reproch, and playne before my face,
Entreated so, as one of sort most base.

43.

The clergie then examining her cause,
Conuinced[724] her, as guilty in the same,
And sentence gaue, according to their lawes,
That shee and they whom I before did name
Should suffer death, or els some open shame:
Of which penaunce my wife by sentence had
To suffer shame, of both the two, more bad.

44.

And first shee must by dayes together three,
Through _London_ streetes passe all along in sight
Barelegd and barefoote, that all the world might see,
Bearing in hand a burning taper bright,
And not content with this extreme despite,
To worke mee woe in all they may or can,
Exilde shee was into the ile of _Man_.

45.

This heynous crime and open worldly shame,
Was[725] such rigour shewed vnto my wife,
With[726] a fine fetch further thinges to frame,
And nothing els but a preparatiue
First from office, and finally from life
Mee to depriue, and so passing further,
What lawe could not, to execute by murther.

46.

Which by slie driftes and windlaces aloofe,
They brought about, perswading first the queene,
That in effect it was the kinge’s reproofe,
And her’s also, to bee exempted cleane
From princely rule, or that it should be seene
A king of yeares, still gouerned to bee
Like a pupill, that nothing could foresee.

47.

The daunger more, considering the king
Was without childe, I being his next heyre,
To rule the realme as prince in euery thing
Without restraynt, and all the sway to beare:
With people’s loue, whereby it was to feare
That my haut heart, vnbrideled in desire,
Time would preuent, and to the crowne aspire.

48.

These with such like were put into her heade,
Who of her selfe was thereto soone enclind,
Other there were that this ill humour fed,
To neyther part that had good will or mind,
The duke of _Yorke_ our cosin most vnkinde,
Who keeping close a title to the crowne,
_Lancaster’s_ house did labour to pull downe.

49.

The stay whereof hee tooke to stand in mee,
Seeing the king of courage nothing stout,
Neyther of witte great perill to foresee,
So for purpose, if hee could bring about
Mee to displace, then did hee litle doubt
To gayne the goale, for which hee droue the ball,
The crowne (I meane) to catch ere it should fall.

50.

This hope made him agaynst mee to conspyre
With those which foes were to ech other late,
The queene did weene to win her whole desire,
Which was to rule the king and all the state
If I were rid, whom therefore shee did hate,
Forecasting not, when that was brought to passe,
How weake of friendes the king her husband, was.

51.

The dukes two, of _Excester_, and _Buckingham_,
With the marquise _Dorset_ therein did agree,
But namely the marquise of _Suffolke_, _William_,
Contriuer chiefe of this conspiracy,
With other moe, that sate still and did see
Theyr mortall foes on mee to whet theyr kniues,
Which turnde at last to losse of all theyr liues.

52.

But vayne desire of soueraynty and rule,
Which otherwise (ambition) hath to name,
So stird the queene, that wilfull as a mule,
Headlong she runnes from smoke into the flame,
Driuing a drift, which after did so frame,
As shee, the king, with all theyr line and race,
Depriued were of honour, life, and place.

53.

So for purpose shee thought it very good,
With former foes in frendship to confeder,
The duke of _Yorke_, and other of his bloud,
With _Neuills_ all, knit were then altogether,
And _Delapoole_, friend afore to neither:
The cardinall also came within this list,
As Herode and Pilate to iudge Ihesus Christ.

54.

This cursed league too late discouered was
By bayardes blinde, that linked in the line,
The queene and cardinall brought it so to passe,
With marquise _Suffolke_ maister of this myne,
Whose ill aduise was counted very fine,
With other moe which finely could disguise,
With false visours my mischiefe to deuise.

55.

Concluding thus, they poynt without delay
Parliament to holde, in some vnhaunted place,
Far from _London_, out of the common way,
Where few or none should vnderstand the case,
But whom the queene and cardinall did embrace:
And so for place they chose Saint _Edmondsbury_,
Since when (some say) _England_ was neuer mery.

56.

Somens was sent this company to call,
Which made mee muse, that in so great a case
I should no whit of counsayle bee at all,
Who yet had rule, and next the king in place,
Me thought nothing my state could more disgrace
Then to beare name, and in effect to bee
A cypher in algrim, as all men mought see.

57.

And though iust cause I had for to suspect
The time and place apoynted by my foes,
And that my friendes most playnly did detect
The subtil trayne, and practise of all those
Which agaynst mee great treasons did suppose:
Yet trust of truth with a conscience cleare
Gaue mee good heart in that place to appeare.

58.

Upon which trust with more haste then good speede,
Forward I went to that vnlucky place
Duty to show, and no whit was in dread
Of any trayne, but bold to shew my face
As a true man, yet so fel out the case
That after trauayle seeking for repose,
An armed band my lodging did enclose.

59.

The vicount _Beaumont_, who for the time supplyed
The office of high constable of the land,
Was with the queene and cardinall allied,
By whose support hee stoutly tooke in hand
My lodging to entre with an armed band,
And for high treason my person did arest,
And layde mee that night where him seemed best.

60.

Then shaking and quaking, for dread of a dreame,
Halfe waked, all naked, in bed as I lay,
What time strake the chime of mine houre extreame,
Opprest was my rest with mortall affray,
My foes did vnclose, I know not which way,
My chambre dores, and boldly they in brake,
And had mee fast before I could awake.[727]

61.

Thou lookest now, that of my secret murther,
I should at large the maner how declare,
I pray thee, _Baldwine_, aske of me no further,
For speaking playne, it came so at vnware,
As I my selfe, which caught was in the snare,
Scarcely am able the circumstaunce to shew,
Which was kept close, and knowne but vnto fewe.

62.

But bee thou sure by violence it was,
And no whit bred by sicknes or disease,
That felt it well before my life did passe,
For when these wolues my body once did cease,
Used I was but smally to mine ease,
With torments strong which went so nere the quicke,
As made mee dye before that I was sicke.

63.

A palsey (they sayd) my vital spirites opprest,
Bred by excesse of melancholie black,
This for excuse to lay, them seemed best,
Least my true friendes the cause might furder racke,
And so perhaps discouer the whole packe
Of the conspirers,[728] whom they might well suspect
For causes great, which after tooke effect.

64.

Dead was I found by such as best did know
The maner how the same was brought to passe,
And then my corps was set out for a show,
By view whereof nothing perceiued was:[729]
Whereby the worlde may see as in a glasse,
Th’vnsure[730] state of them that stand most hye,
Which than dread least, when daunger is most nye.

65.

And also see what daunger they are in,[731]
Which next theyr king are to succede in place:
Since kinges most part bee ielous of theyr kynne,
Whome I aduise, forewarned by my case,
To beare low sayle, and not too much embrace
The people’s loue: for as _Senec_ sayth truly:
_O quam funestus est fauor populi._

G. F.[732]

[The good duke hauing ended his wofull tragedy, after much talke
hadde concerning discention among those that bee magistrates:
“Good Lord,” quod one, “what mischiefe and destruction doth priuy
grudge and malice rayse among all sortes of people both hye and
lowe? but especially among magistrates being the head and guide
of the commonwealth: for what mischief did the discention betwene
these two persons (being both of hye estate) bring after to both
realmes:[733] yea and the vtter ruin of most of them that were
workers[734] of this duke’s death.” “You say troth,” quoth I,
“and now for that, if I may craue your pacience a while, you
shall heare what I haue noted in the duke of _Suffolke’s_ doings,
one of the chiefe procurours of duke _Humfreye’s_ destruction,
who[735] by the prouidence of God came shortly after in such
hatred of the people, that the king himselfe could not saue him
from a straunge and notable death.[736] For being banisht the
realme for the terme of fiue yeares, to appease the continuall
rumours and inward grudges, that not only the commons, but most
part of the nobility of _England_, bare towardes him for the
death of the sayde duke, he sayling[737] towardes _Fraunce_, was
met with a ship of _Deuonshire_, and beheaded forthwith the first
day of May, Anno 1450. And the dead corps throwen vp at _Douer_,
vpon the sandes, which may lament his death after this maner.”]

How Lord[738] _William De la pole_, Duke of
Suffolke, was worthely banished, for
abusing his King, and causing
the destruction of the good
Duke _Humfrey_,[739]
Anno 1450.[740]

1.

Heauy is the hap whereto all men bee bound,
I meane the death, which no estate may flie:
But to be banisht, [be]headed, and than drownd[741]
In sinke of shame from top of honors hie,
Was neuer man so serude, I thinke, but I:
Wherefore, _Baldwine_,[742] amongest the rest by right,
I clayme of thee my woefull case to write.[743]

2.

My only life in all poynts may suffise,
To shewe how base all baytes of fortune bee,
Which thawe like yse, through heate of enuie’s eyes,
Of[744] vicious deedes which much possessed mee:
Good hap with vice, long time cannot agree,[745]
Which bring best fortunes to the basest fall,
And happiest hap to enuy to bee thrall.

3.

Called I was _William[746] De la Pole_,
Of _Suffolke_ duke, in[747] queene _Margeret’s_ dayes,
That found the meane duke _Humfrey’s_ bloud to coole,
Whose worthy actes[748] deserue eternall prayse,
Whereby I note that fortune cannot rayse
Any one aloft, without some other’s wracke:
Fluds drowne no fieldes before they finde a bracke.

4.

But as the waters which doe breake the walles
Doe lose their[749] course they had within the shore,
And daily rotting stinke within their stalles,
For faut of mouing which they found before,
Euen so the state that ouer high is bore,
Doth lose the life of people’s loue it had,
And rots it selfe vntill it fall to bad.

5.

For while I was but earle, ech man was glad
To say and doe the best by mee they might:
And fortune euer since I was a lad,
Did smile vpon mee with a chearefull sight,
For whan my king had doubed mee a knight,
And sent mee forth to serue at warre in _Fraunce_,
My lucky[750] speede mine honour did enhaunce.

6.

Where, to omitte the many feates I wrought
Under other’s guide, I doe remember one,
Which with my souldiers valiantly was fought,
None other captayne saue my selfe alone,
I meane not now the apprinze of _Pucell Jone_
In which attempt my trauaile was not small,
Though the duke of _Burgoyne_ had the prayse of all.[751]

7.

[But] the siege of _Awmarle_ is the feate I prayse:
A strong built towne, with castels, walles, and vaultes,
With men and weapon armde at all assayes:
To which I gaue nigh fiue times fyue assaultes,
Til at the last they yeelded it for naughtes:
Yet lord _Rambur’s_, like a valiaunt knight,
Defended it as long as euer[752] hee might.

8.

But what preuayled it these townes to winne,
Which shortly after must bee lost agayne?
Whereby I see there is more glory in
The keeping things, than is in their attayne:
To get and keepe not, is but losse and[753] payne:
Therefore ought men prouide to saue theyr winnings
In all attempts, els lose they their beginnings.

9.

Because wee could not keepe the townes we won,
(For they were more then wee might easely wyeld,)
One yeare vndid what wee in ten had done:
[For] enuy at home [and] treason abroade, did yeelde
King _Charles_ his realme of _Fraunce_, made barrain field:
For bloudy warres had wasted all encrease,
Which causde the pope helpe pouerty, sue[754] for peace.

10.

So that in _Tourayn_ at the towne of _Toures_,
Duke _Charles_ and other for their prince appered,
So did lord _Rosse_ and I than earle, for oures:
And whan wee shewed wherein ech other dered,
Wee sought out meanes all quarels to haue clered,
Wherein the lordes of _Germany_, of _Spayne_,
Of _Hungary_, and _Denmarke_, tooke exceeding payne.

11.

But sith wee could no finall peace induce,
For neyther would the other’s couenauntes here,
For eyghteene monthes wee did conclude a truce:
And while as friendes wee lay together there,
Because my warrant did mee therein beare,
To make a perfite peace and through accord,
I sought a mariage for my soueraigne lord.

12.