Book 6

THE SIXT

BOOKE

1

The furious traine of that tumultuous rout,
Whom close sub-ayding power, and good successe,
Had made vnwisely proud, and fondly stout,
ThrusTheadlong on, oppression to oppresse;
And now, to fulnesse growne, boldly giue out,
That they the publique wrongs meant to redresse:
“Formelesse themselues, reforming doe pretend;
“As if Confusion could Disorder mend.

2

 And on they march, with their false-named Head,
Of base and vulgar birth, though noble fayn'd:
Who, puft with vaine desires, to London led
His rash abused troupes, with shadowes train'd:
When-as the King, thereof ascertained,
Supposing some small power would haue restrain'd
Disordred rage, sends with a simple crew
Sir Humfrey Stafford ; whom they ouer-threw.

3

 Which so increast th'opinion of their might,
That much it gaue to do, and much it wrought;
Confirm'd their rage, drew on the vulgar wight,
Call'd foorth the timorous, fresh partakers brought:
For, many, though most glad their wrongs to right,
Yet durst not venture their estates for nought:
But, see'ing the Cause had such aduantage got,
Occasion makes them stirre, that else would not.

4

 So much he erres, that scornes, or else neglects
The small beginnings of arysing broyles;
And censures others, not his owne defects,
And with a selfe-conceite himselfe beguiles;
Thinking small force will compasse great effects,
And spares at first to buy more costly toyles:
“When true-obseruing prouidence, in warre,
“Still makes her foes, fare stronger then they are.

5

 Yet this good fortune, all their fortune mard;
“Which, fooles by helping, euer doth suppresse.
For, wareless insolence (whil'st vndebard
Of bounding awe) runnes on to such excesse,
That following lust, and spoyle, and blood, so hard,
Sees not how they procure their owne distresse:
The better, lothing courses so impure,
Rather will like their wounds, then such a cure.

6

 For, whil'st this wilde vnrained multitude
(Led with an vnfore-seeing greedy mind
Of an imagin'd good, that did delude
Their ignorance, in their desires made blind)
Ransacke the Cittie, and (with hands imbru'd)
Run to all out-rage in th'extreamest kind;
Heaping-vp wrath and horrour, more and more,
They adde fresh guilt, to mischieses done before.

7

 And yet, se'ing all this sorting to no end,
But to their owne; no promis'd ayde t'appeare;
No such partakers as they did attend;
Nor such successes as imagin'd were;
Good men resolv'd, the present to defend;
Iustice, against them with a brow seuere:
Themselues, feard of themselues, tyr'd with excesse,
“Found, mischiefe was no fit way to redresse.

8

 And as they stand in desperat comberment,
Enuirond round with horror, blood, and shame:
Crost of their course, despayring of th'euent
A pardon (that smooth bait for basenesse) came:
Which (as a snare, to catch the impotent)
Beeing once pronounc't, they straight imbrace the same:
And, as huge snowy Mountaines melt with heat;
So they dissolv'd with hope, and home they get:

9

 Leauing their Captaine to discharge, alone,
The shot of blood, consumed in their heate:
Too small a sacrifice, for mischiefs done,
Was one mans breath, which thousands did defeat.
Vnrighteous Death, why art thou but all one
Vnto the small offender and the great?
Why art thou not more then thou art, to those
That thousands spoyle, and thousands liues do lose?

10

 This furie, passing with so quick an end,
Disclos'd not those that on th'aduantage lay:
Who, seeing the course to such disorder tend,
With-drew their foote, asham'd to take that way;
Or else preuented, whil'st they did attend
Some mightier force, or for occasion stay:
But, what they meant, ill-fortune must not tell;
Mischiefe be'ing oft made good, by speeding well.

11

 Put-by from this, the Duke of Yorke dessignes
Another course to bring his hopes about:
And, with those friends affinitie combines
In surest bonds, his thoughts he poureth-out:
And closely feeles, and closely vndermines
The faith of whom he had both hope and doubt;
Meaning, in more apparant open course,
To try his right, his fortune, and his force.

12

 Loue, and alliance, had most firmly ioynd
Vnto his part, that mighty Familie,
The faire distended stock of Neuiles kind;
Great by their many issued progenie:
But greater by their worth (that clearely shin'd,
And gaue faire light to their nobilitie)
So that each corner of the Land became
Enricht with some great Worthy , of that name.

13

 But greatest in renowne doth Warwicke sit;
That braue King-maker Warwicke ; so farre growne,
In grace with Fortune, thaThe gouerns it,
And Monarchs makes; and, made, againe puts downe.
What reuolutions, his first-mouing wit
Heere brought about, are more then too well knowne;
The fatall kindle-fire of those hot daies:
Whose worth I may, whose worke I cannot praise.

14

 With him, with Richard , Earle of Salisbury ,
Courtny and Brooke , and other his deare friends;
He intimates his minde; and openly
The present bad proceedings discommends;
Laments the State, the peoples misery,
And (that which such a pitier seldom mends)
Oppression, that sharp two-edged sword,
That others wounds, and wounds likewise his Lord.

15

 “My Lords (saith he) how things are caried heere,
“In this corrupted State, you plainely see;
“What burthen our abused shoulders beare,
“Charg'd with the waight of imbecillitie:
“And in what base account all we appeare,
“That stand without their grace that all must be;
“And who they be, and how their course succeedes,
“Our shame reports, and time bewraies their deedes.

16

 “ Aniou and Maine (the name that foule appeares;
“Th'eternall scarre of our dismembred Land)
“ Guien , all lost; that did, three hundred yeares,
“Remaine subiected vnder our Commaund.
“From whence, mee thinks, there sounds vnto our eares
“The voice of those deare ghosts, whose liuing hand
“Got it with sweat, and kept it with their blood,
“To doe vs (thankless vs) their of-spring good:

17

 “And seeme to cry; What? can you thus behold
“Their hatefull feete vpon our Graues should tread?
“Your Fathers Graues; who gloriously did hold
“That, which your shame hath left recouered?
“Redeeme our Tumbs, O spirits too too cold:
“Pull-backe these Towres, our Armes haue honored.
“These Towres are yours: these Forts we built for you:
“These walles doe beare our names; and are your due.

18

 “Thus, well they may vpbraid our retchlesnes;
“Whil'st wee, as if at league with infamie,
“Ryot away, for nought, whole Prouinces;
“Giue-vp, as nothing worth, all Normandie ;
“Traffique important Holdes, sell Fortresses
“So long, that nought is left but misery;
“Poore Calais , and these water-walles about,
“That basely pownd vs in, from breaking out.

19

 “And (which is worse) I feare, we shall in th'end
“(Throwne from the glory of inuading Warre)
“Be forc't our proper limits to defend:
“Where euer men are not the same they are,
“The hope of conquest, doth their spirits extend
“Beyond the vsuall powres of valour, farre:
“For, more is he that ventureth for more,
“Then who fights, but for whaThee had before

20

 “Put-to your hands, therefore, to reskew now
“Th'indangered State (deare Lords) from this disgrace:
“And let vs in our honour, labour how
“To bring this scorned Land in better case.
“No doubt, but God our action will allow,
“That knowes my right, and how they rule the place,
“Whose weakeness calls-vp our vnwillingnesse;
“As opening euen the doore to our redresse.
21

“Though I protest, it is not for a Crowne
“My soule is moov'd (yet, if it be my right,
“I haue no reason to refuse mine owne)
“But onely these indignities to right.
“And what if God (whose iudgements are vnknowne)
“Hath me ordain'd the man, that by my might
“My Country shall be blest? If so it be;
“By helping me, you raise your selues with me.

22

 Those, in whom zeale and amity had bred
A fore-impression of the righThe had,
These stirring words so much incouraged,
That (with desire of innouation mad)
They seem'd to runne-afore, not to be led;
And to his fire doe quicker fuell adde:
For, where such humors are prepar'd before;
The opening them, makes them abound the more.

23

 Then counsell take they, fitting their desire:
(For, nought that fits not their desire is waigh'd)
The Duke is straight aduised to retire
Into the bounds of Wales , to leauie ayd:
Which vnder smooth pretence he doth require;
T'amoue such persons as the State betray'd,
And to redresse th'oppression of the Land;
The charme, which Weakenesse seldome doth withstand.

24

 Ten thousand, straight caught with this bait of breath,
Are towards greater lookt-for forces led:
Whose power, the King, by all meanes, trauaileth
In their arising to haue ruined:
But, their preuenting Head so compasseth,
That all ambushments warily are fled;
Refusing ought to hazard by the way,
Keeping his Greatnesse for a greater day.

25

 And to the Cittie straight directs his course;
The Cittie, seate of Kings, and Kings chiefe grace:
Where, hauing found his entertainement worse
By farre, then he expected in that place;
Much disappointed, drawes from thence his force,
And towards better trust, marcheth apace;
And downe in Kent (fatall for discontents)
Neere to thy bankes, faire Thames , doth pitch his tents.
26

 And there, intrencht, plants his Artillerie;
Artillerie, th'infernall instrument,
New-brought from hell, to scourge mortalitie
With hideous roaring, and astonishment:
Engine of horrour, fram'd to terrifie
And teare the Earth, and strongest Towres to rent:
Torment of Thunder, made to mocke the skies;
As more of power, in our calamities.

27

 If that first fire (subtile Prometheus brought)
Stolne out of heaven, did so afflict man-kinde,
That euer since, plagu'd with a curious thought
Of stirring search, could neuer quiet finde;
What hath he done, who now by stealth hath got
Lightning and thunder both, in wondrous kinde?
What plague deserues so proud an enterprize?
Tell Muse, and how it came, and in what wise.

28

 It was the time, when faire Europa sate
With many goodly Diadems addrest;
And all her parts in florishing estate
Lay beautiful, in order, at their rest:
No swelling member, vnproportionate,
Growne out of forme, sought to disturbe the rest:
The lesse, subsisting by the greaters might;
The greater, by the lesser kept vpright.

29

 No noise of tumult euer wak't them all:
Onely, perhaps, some priuate iarre within,
For titles, or for confines, might befall;
Which, ended soone, made better loue begin:
But no eruption did, in generall,
Breake down their rest, with vniuersall sin:
No publique shock disioynted this faire frame,
Till Nemesis from out the Orient came;

30

 Fierce Nemesis , mother of fate and change,
Sword-bearer of th'eternall Prouidence
(That had so long, with such afflictions strange,
Confounded Asias proud magnificence,
And brought foule impious Barbarisme to range
On all the glory of her excellence)
Turnes her sterne looke at last vnto the West;
As griev'd to see on earth such happy rest.

31

 And for Pandora calleth presently
( Pandora, Ioues faire gift, that first deceiv'd
Poore Epimetheus imbecillitie,
That thoughThe had a wondrous boone receiv'd;
By means whereof, curious Mortalitie
Was of all former quiet quite bereav'd):
To whom, beeing come, deckt with all qualities,
The wrathfull Goddesse breakes out in this wise:

32

 Doost thou not see in what secure estate
Those florishing faire Westerne parts remaine?
As if they had made couenaunt with Fate,
To be exempted free from others paine;
At-one with their desires, friends with Debate,
In peace with Pride, content with their owne gaine;
Their bounds containe their minds, their minds appli'd
To haue their bounds with plentie beautifi'd.

33

 Deuotion (mother of Obedience)
Beares such a hand on their credulitie,
That it abates the spirit of eminence,
And busies them with humble pietie.
For, see what workes, what infinite expence,
What monuments of zeale they edifie;
As if they would, so that no stop were found,
Fill all with Temples, make all holy ground.

34

 But wee must coole this all-belieuing zeale,
That hath enioy'd so faire a turne so long;
And other reuolutions must reueale,
Other desires, other designes among:
Dislike of this, first by degrees shall steale
Vpon the soules of men, perswaded wrong:
And that abused Power, which thus hath wrought,
Shall giue herselfe the sword to cuTher throat.

35

 Goe therefore thou, with all thy stirring traine
Of swelling Sciences, the gifts of griefe:
Go loose the links of that soule-binding chaine;
Inlarge this vninquisitiue Beliefe:
Call-vp mens spirits, that simplenes retaine:
Enter their harts, & Knowledge make the thiese
To open all the doores, to let in light;
That all may all things see, but what is right.

36

 Opinion Arme against Opinion growne:
Make new-borne Contradiction still to rise;
As if Thebes -founder, Cadmus , tongues had sowne,
Instead of teeth, for greater mutinies,
Bring new-defended Faith, against Faith knowne:
Weary the Soule with contrarieties;
Till all Religion become retrograde,
And that faire tire, the maske of sinne be made.

37

 And, better to effect a speedy end,
Let there be found two fatall Instruments,
The one to publish, th'other to defend,
Impious Contention, and proud Discontents:
Make, that instamped Characters may send
Abroad, to thousands, thousand mens intent;
And in a moment may dispatch much more,
Then could a world of Pennes performe before.

38

 Whereby, all quarrels, titles, secrecies,
May vnto all be presently made knowne;
Factions prepar'd, parties allur'd to rise,
Sedition vnder faire pretentions sowne:
Whereby, the vulgar may become so wise,
That (with a self-presumption ouer-growne)
They may of deepest mysteries debate,
Controule their betters, censure actes of State.

39

 And then, when this dispersed mischiefe shall
Haue brought confusion in each mysterie,
Call'd-vp contempt of states in generall,
Ripened the humor of impiety;
Then haue they th'other Engin, where-with-all
They may torment their selfe-wrought miserie,
And scourge each other, in so strange a wise,
As time or Tyrants neuer could deuise.

40

 For, by this stratagem, they shall confound
All th'antient forme and discipline of Warre:
Alter their Camps, alter their fights, their ground,
Daunt mightie spirits, prowesse and manhood marre:
For, basest cowardes from a far shall wound
The most couragious, forc't to fight afarre;
Valour, wrapt vp in smoake (as in the night)
Shall perish without witnesse, without sight.

41

 But first, before this generall disease
Break soorth into so great extreamitie,
Prepare it by degrees; first kill this ease,
Spoyle this proportion, marre this harmonie:
Make greater States vpon the lesser seaze:
Ioyne many kingdomes to one soueraigntie:
Rayse a few Great, that may (with greater power)
Slaughter each other, and mankinde deuour.

42

 And first begin, with factions, to diuide
The fairest Land; that from her thrusts the rest,
As if she car'd not for the world beside;
A world within her selfe, with wonders blest:
Raise such a strife as time shall not decide,
Till the deare blood of most of all her best
Be poured foorth, and all her people tost
With vnkinde tumults, and almost all lost.

43

 LeTher be made the sable Stage, whereon
Shall first be acted bloodie Tragedies;
That all the neighbour States, gazing thereon,
May make their profite, by her miseries:
And those, whom she before had marcht vpon,
(Hauing, by this, both time and meane to rise)
Made martiall by her Armes, shall growe so great,
As (saue their owne) no force shall them defeat:

44

 That when their power, vnable to sustaine
And beare it selfe, vpon it selfe shall fall,
She may (recouered of her wounds againe)
Sit and behold their Parts as tragicall:
For there must come a time, that shall obtaine
Truce for distresse; when make-peace Hymen shall
Bring the conioyned aduerse powers to bed,
And set the Crowne (made one) vpon one head.

45

 Out of which blessed vnion, shall arise
A sacred branch (with grace and glory blest)
Whose Virtue shall her Land so patronize,
As all our power shall noTher dayes molest:
For, shee (faire shee) the Minion of the skies,
Shall purchase (of the high'st) to hers such rest
(Standing betweene the wrath of heauen and them)
As no distresse shall touch her Diadem:

46

 And, from the Rockes of Safetie, shall descrie
The wondrous wracks, that Wrath layes ruined;
All round abouTher, blood and miserie,
Powres betray'd, Princes slaine, Kings massacred,
States all-confus'd, brought to calamitie,
And all the face of Kingdomes altered:
Yet, she the same inuiolable stands,
Deare to her owne, wonder to other Lands.

47

 But, let noTher defence discourage thee.
For, neuer one, but shee, shall haue this grace,
From all disturbs to be so long kept free,
And with such glorie to discharge that place.
And therefore, if by such a Power thou bee
Stopt of thy course, reckon it no disgrace;
Sith shee alone (being priuiledg'd from hie)
Hath this large Patent of her dignitie.

48

 This charge the Goddesse gaue: when, ready straight
The subtill messenger, accompayned
With all her crew of Artes that on her wait,
Hastes to effect what she was counsailed:
And out she pours, of her immense conceit,
Vpon such searching spirits as trauayled
In penetrating hidden secrecies;
Who soone these meanes of miserie deuise.

49

 And boldly breaking with rebellious minde
Into their mothers close-lockt Treasurie,
They Mineralls combustible do finde,
Which in stopt concaues placed cunningly,
They fire: and fire, imprisoned against kinde,
Teares out a way, thrusts out his enemie;
Barking with such a horror, as if wroth
With man, that wrongs himselfe, and Nature both.

50

 And this beginning had this cursed frame,
Which Yorke now planted hath against his King;
Presuming, by his powre, and by the same,
His purpose vnto good effect to bring;
When diuers of the grauest Councell came,
Sent from the King, to vnderstand what thing
Had thrust him into these proceedings bad,
And whaThe sought, and what intenThe had.

51

 Who, with words mildly-sharpe, gently-seuere,
Wrought on those wounds that must be toucht with heed;
Applying rather salues of hope, then feare,
Least corrasiues should desparat mischiefes breed.
And, what my Lord (sayd they) should moue you here,
In this vnseemely manner to proceed?
Whose worth being such, as all the Land admires,
Hath fairer wayes then these, to your desires.

52

 Wil you, whose means, whose many friends, whose grace,
Can worke the world in peace vnto your will,
Take such a course, as shal your Blood deface,
And make (by handling bad) a good Cause, ill?
How many hearts hazard you in this case,
That in all quiet plots would ayde you still?
Hauing in Court a Partie farre more strong
Then you conceiue, prest to redresse your wrong.

53

 Phy, phy! forsake this hatefull course, my Lord:
Downe with these Armes, that will but wound your Cause.
What Peace may do, hazard not with the Sword:
Lay downe the force that from your force with-drawes;
And yeeld: and we will mediate such accord
As shal dispense with rigor and the lawes;
And interpose this solemne fayth of our
Betwixt your fault, and the offended Power.

54

 Which ingins of protests, and proffers kinde,
Vrg'd out of seeming griefe and shewes of loue,
So shooke the whole foundation of his Minde,
As they did all his resolution moue,
And present seem'd vnto their course inclin'd;
So that the King would Sommerset remoue;
The man, whose most intolerable pride
Trode down his worth, and all good mens beside.

55

 Which, they there vow'd, should presently be done:
For, what will not peace-louers willing graunt,
Where dangerous euents depend thereon,
And men vnfurnisht, and the State in want?
And if with words the conquest will be won,
The cost is small: and who holds breath so scant
As then to spare, though with indignitie?
“Better descend, then end, in Maiestie.

56

 And here-upon the Duke dissolues his force,
Submits him to the King, on publique vow:
The rather too, presuming on this course,
For-that his sonne, the Earle of March , was now
With mightier powers abroad: which would inforce
His peace; which else the King would not allow.
For, seeing not all of him, in him, he hath,
His death would but giue life to greater wrath.

57

 Yet, comming to the King, in former place
(His foe) the Duke of SommerseThe findes:
Whom openly, reproching to his face,
Hee charg'd with treason in the highest kindes.
The Duke returnes like speeches of disgrace;
And fierie wordes bewray'd their flaming mindes:
But yet the triall was for them deferd,
Till fitter time allow'd it to be heard.

58

 At Westminster, a Counsell, sommoned,
Deliberates what course the Cause should end
Of th'apprehended Duke of Yorke ; whose head
Doth now on others doubtfull breath depend.
Law fiercely vrg'd his act, and found him dead:
Friends fayl'd to speake, where they could not defend:
Onely the King himselfe for mercy stood;
As, prodigall of life, niggard of blood.

59

And, as if angrie with the Lawes of death,
“Ah! why should you, sayd he, vrge things so far?
“You, that inur'd with mercenarie breath,
“And hyred tongue, so peremptorie are;
“Brauing on him whom sorrow prostrateth:
“As if you did with poore Affliction warre,
“And prey on Frayltie, Folly hath betray'd;
“Bringing the lawes to wound, neuer to ayd.

60

“Dispense sometime with sterne seueritie;
“Make not the Lawes still traps to apprehend;
“Win grace vpon the bad with clemencie;
“Mercie may mend, whom malice made offend.
“Death giues no thankes, but checkes Authoritie:
“And life doth onely Maiestie commend
“Reuenge dies not, Rigor begets new wrath:
“And blood hath neuer glorie; Mercy hath.

61

 “And for my part (and my part should be chiefe)
“I am most willing to restore his state:
“And rather had I win him with reliefe,
“Then lose him with despight, and get more hate.
“Pittie drawes loue: blood-shed is natures griefe;
“Compassion followes the vnfortunate:
“And, losing him, in him I lose my power.
“We rule who liue: the dead are none of our.

62

 “And should our rigor lessen then the same,
“Which we with greater glorie should retaine?
“No; let him liue: his life must giue vs fame;
“The childe of mercie newly borne againe.
“As often burials are Physicians shame;
“So, many deaths argue a Kings hard Raigne.
“Why should we say, The Law must have her vigor?
“The Law kills him; but quits not vs of rigor.

63

 “You, to get more preferment by your wit,
“Others to gaine the spoyles of miserie,
“Labour with all your powre to follow it;
“Shewing vs feares, to draw-on crueltie.
“You vrge th'offence, not tell vs what is fit:
“Abusing wrong-informed Maiestie:
“As if our powre, were onely but to slay,
“And that to saue, were a most dangerous way.

64

 Thus, out of Pittie, spake that holy King:
Whom milde affections led to hope the best;
When Sommerset began to vrge the thing
With words of hotter temper, thus exprest;
“Deare soueraigne Lord, the Cause in managing
“Is more then yours; t'imports the publique rest:
“We all haue part, it toucheth all our good:
“And life's ill spar'd, that's spar'd to cost more blood.

65

 “Compassion, here, is crueltie my Lord;
“Pittie will cut our throates, for sauing so.
“What benefite enioy we by the sword,
“If mischiefe shall escape to draw-on mo?
“Why should we giue, what Law cannot afford,
“To be'accessaries to our proper wo?
“Wisedome must iudge, 'twixt men apt to amend,
“And mindes incurable, borne to offend.

66

 “It is no priuat Cause (I do protest)
“That moues me thus to prosecute his deede.
“Would God his blood, and mine, had well releast
“The dangers, that his pride is like to breed.
“Although, at me, hee seemes to haue addrest
“His spight; 'tis not the end hee hath decreed,
“I am noThe alone, hee doth pursue:
“But thorow me, he meanes to shoot at you.

67

 “For, thus, these great Reformers of a State
“(Aspiring to attaine the Gouernment)
“Still take aduantage of the peoples hate,
“Who euer hate such as are eminent.
“(For, who can great affaires negotiat,
“And all a wayward multitude content?)
“And then these people-minions, they must fall
“To worke-out vs, to work themselues int'all.

68

 “But note, my Lord, first, who is in your hand;
“Then, how he hath offended, what's his end:
“It is the man, whose Race would seeme to stand
“Before your Right, and doth a Right pretend:
“Who (Traitor-like) hath rais'd a mightie Band,
“With colour, your proceedings to amend.
“Which if it should haue hapned to succeed,
“You had not now sate to adiudge his deed.

69

 “If oftentimes the person, not th'offence,
“Haue beene sufficient cause of death to some,
“Where publique safety puts in euidence
“Of mischiefe, likely by their life to come;
“Shall hee, whose fortune, and his insolence,
“Haue both deserv'd to die, escape that doome;
“When you shall saue your Land, your Crowne thereby;
“And since You cannot liue, vnlesse He die?

70

 Thus spake th'aggrieued Duke, that grauely saw
Th'incompatible powers of Princes mindes;
And what affliction his escape might draw
Vnto the State, and people of all kindes:
And yet the humble yeelding, and the aw,
Which Yorke there shew'd, so good opinion findes,
That (with the rumor of his Sonnes great strength,
And French affaires) he there came quit at length.

71

 For, euen the feare t'exasperat the heat
Of th'Earle of March , whose forward youth and might
Well follow'd, seem'd a proud reuenge to threat,
If any shame should on his Father light:
And then desire in Gascoyne to reget
The glorie lost, which home-broyles hinder might,
Aduantaged the Duke, and sav'd his head;
Which, questionlesse, had else beene hazarded.

72

 For, now had Burdeux offered (vpon ayd)
Present reuolt, if we would send with speed.
Which faire aduantage to haue then delay'd,
Vpon such hopes, had beene a shamefull deed.
And therefore this, all other courses stayd,
And outwardly these inward hates agreed;
Giuing an interpause to pride and spight:
Which breath'd, but to breake-out with greater might.

73

 Whil'st dreadfull Talbot , terror late of Fraunce ,
(Against the Genius of our Fortune) stroue,
The downe-throwne glorie of our State t'aduance;
Where Fraunce far more then Fraunce he now doth proue:
For, friends, opinion, and succeeding chaunce
(Which wrought the weake to yeeld, the strong to loue)
Were not the same, thaThe had found before
In happier times; when lesse would haue done more.

74

 For, both the Britaine , and Burgonian now,
Came altred with our lucke, and won with theirs
(Those bridges, and the gates, that did allow
So easie passage vnto our affaires)
Iudging it safer to endeuour how
To link with strength, then leane vnto despaires.
“And, who wants friends, to backe whaThe begins,
“In Lands far off, gets not, although he wins.

75

 Which too well prov'd this fatall enterprize,
The last, that lost vs all wee had to lose.
Where, though aduantag'd by some mutinies,
And pettie Lords, that in our Cause arose:
Yet those great fayl'd; whose ready quick supplies,
Euer at hand, cheer'd vs, and quail'd our foes.
Succours from far, come seldome to our minde.
“For, who holds league with Neptune , and the winde?

76

 Yet, worthy Talbot , thou didst so imploy
The broken remnants of discattered power,
That they might see it was our destiny,
Not want of spirit, that lost vs what was our:
Thy dying hand fold them the victorie
With so deare wounds, as made the conquest sowre:
So much it cost to spoyle who were vndon;
And such adoe to win, when they had won.

77

 For, as a fierce courageous Mastiue fares;
That, hauing once sure fast'ned on his foe,
Lyes tugging on that hold, neuer forbeares,
What force soeuer force him to forgo:
The more he feeles his woundes, the more he dares;
As if his death were sweet, in dying so:
So held his hold this Lord, whil'sThe held breath;
And scarce, but with much blood, lets goe in death.

78

 For, though he saw prepar'd, against his side,
Both vnlike fortune, and vnequall force,
Borne with the swelling current of their pride
Downe the maine streame of a most happy course:
Yet standes he stiffe, vndasht, vnterrifi'd;
His minde the same, although his fortune worse:
Virtue in greatest dangers being best showne;
And though opprest, yet neuer ouer-throwne.

79

 For, rescuing of besieg'd Chatillion
(Where hauing first constraind the French to fly,
And following hard on their confusion)
Comes (lo) incountred with a strong supply
Of fresh-arriuing powers, that backe thrust-on
Those flying troupes, another chaunce to trie:
Who, double arm'd, with shame, and fury, straine
To wreake their foyle, and win their fame againe.

80

 Which seeing, th'vndaunted Talbot (with more might
Of spirit to will, then hands of power to do)
Preparing t'entertaine a glorious fight,
Cheeres-vp his wearied Souldiers thereunto.
“Courage, sayth hee: those brauing troupes, in sight,
“Are but the same, that now you did vndo.
“And what if there be come some more then they?
“They come to bring more glory to the day.

81

 “Which day must either thrust vs out of all;
“Or all, with greater glorie, backe restore.
“This day, your valiant worth aduenture shall,
“For what our Land shall neuer fight for, more.
“If now we faile, with vs is like to fall
“All that renowne which we haue got before.
“This is the last: if we discharge the same,
“The same shall last to our eternall fame.

82

 “Neuer had worthy men, for any fact,
“A more faire glorious Theater, then we;
“Whereon true Magnanimitie might act
“Braue deedes, which better witnessèd could be
“For, lo, from yonder Turrets, yet vnsackt,
“Your valliant fellowes stand, your worth to see,
“I'auouch your valour, if you liue to gaine;
“And if we die, that we di'd not in vaine.

83

 “And euen our foes (whose proud and powreful might
“Would seeme to swallow vp our dignitie)
“Shall not keep-backe the glory of our right;
“Which their confounded blood shall testifie:
“For, in their wounds, our goarie swords shall write
“The monumentes of our eternitie:
“For, vile is honor, and a title vaine,
“The which, true worth and danger do not gaine.

84

 “For, they shall see, when we (in carelesse sort)
“Shall throwe our selues on their despised speares,
“Tis not despaire, that doth vs so transport:
“But euen true Fortitude, that nothing feares;
“Sith we may well retire vs, in some sort:
“But, shame on him that such a foul thought beares.
“For, be they more, let Fortune take their part,
“Wee'll tugge her too, and scratch her, ere we part.

85

 This sayd; a fresh infus'd desire of fame
Enters their warmed blood, with such a will,
That they deem'd long, they were not at the game;
And, though they marcht apace, thought they stood still,
And that their lingring foes too slowely came
To ioyne with them, spending much time but ill:
Such force had wordes, fierce humors vp to call,
Sent from the mouth of such a Generall.

86

 Who yet, his forces weighing (with their fire)
Turnes him about, in priuate, to his Sonne
(A worthy Sonne, and worthy such a Sire)
And telleth him, what ground hee stood vpon,
Aduising him in secret to retire;
Considering how his youth, but now begun,
Would make it vnto him, at all, no staine:
His death small fame, his flight no shame could gaine.

87

 To whom, th'aggrieued Sonne (as if disgrac't)
“Ah Father, haue you then selected me
“To be the man, whom you would haue displac't
“Out of the roule of Immortalitie?
“What haue I done this day, that hath defac't
“My worth, that my hands worke despis'd should be?
“God shield, I should beare home a Cowards name,
“He long enough hath liv'd, who dyes with fame.

88

 At which, the Father, toucht with sorrowing-ioy,
Turnd him about (shaking his head) and sayes;
“O my deare Sonne, worthy a better day,
“To enter thy first youth, in hard assayes.
And now had Wrath, impatient of delay,
Begun the fight, and farther speeches stayes:
Furie thrustes on; striuing, whose sword should be
First warmed, in the wounds of th'enemie.

89

 Hotly, these small but mightie-minded, Bands
(As if ambitious now of death) doe straine
Against innumerable armed hands,
And gloriously a wondrous fight maintaine;
Rushing on all what-euer strength withstands,
Whetting their wrath on blood, and on disdaine:
And so far thrust, that hard 'twere to descry
Whether they more desire to kill, or dye.

90

 Frank of their owne, greedy of others blood,
No stroke they giue, but wounds, no wound, but kills:
Neere to their hate, close to their work they stood,
Hit where they would, their hand obeyes their wills;
Scorning the blowe from far, that doth no good,
Loathing the cracke, vnlesse some blood it spils:
No wounds could let-out life that wrath held in,
Till others wounds, reueng'd, did first begin.

91

 So much, true resolution wrought in those
Who had made couenant with death before,
That their smal number (scorning so great foes)
Made Fraunce most happie, that there were no more;
And Fortune doubt to whom she might dispose
That weary day; or vnto whom restore
The glory of a Conquest dearely bought;
Which scarce the Conqueror could thinke well got.

92

 For, as with equall rage, and equall might,
Two aduerse windes combat, with billowes proud,
And neither yeeld; Seas, skies maintaine like fight,
Waue against waue oppos'd, and clowd to clowd:
So warre both sides, with obstinate despight,
With like reuenge, and neither partie bow'd;
Fronting each other with confounding blowes,
No wound, one sword, vnto the other owes:

93

 Whil'st Talbot (whose fresh ardor hauing got
A meruailous aduantage of his yeares)
Carries his vnfelt age, as if forgot,
Whirling about, where any need appeares:
His hand, his eye, his wits all present, wrought
The function of the glorious ParThe beares:
Now vrging here, now cheering there, he flyes,
Vnlockes the thickest troups, where most force lyes.

94

 In midst of wrath, of wounds, of blood, and death,
There is he most, where as he may do best:
And there the closest ranks hee seuereth,
Driues-back the stoutest powres, that forward prest:
There makes his sword his way: there laboreth
Th'infatigable hand that neuer ceast;
Scorning, vnto his mortall wounds to yeeld;
Till Death became best maister of the Field.

95

 Then like a sturdy Oke, that hauing long,
Against the warres of fiercest windes, made head
When (with some forc't tempestuous rage, more strong)
His down-borne top comes ouer-maistered,
All the neere bordering Trees (hee stood among)
Crusht with his waightie fall, lie ruined:
So lay his spoyles, all round about him slaine,
T'adorne his death, that could not die in vaine.

96

 On th'other part, his most all-daring sonne
(Although the inexperience of his yeares
Made him lesse skil'd in what was to be done;
And yet did carrie him beyond all feares)
Into the maine Battalion, thrusting on
Neere to the King, amidst the chiefest Peeres,
With thousand wounds, became at length opprest;
As if he scorn'd to die, but with the best.
97

 Who thus both, hauing gaind a glorious end,
Soone ended that great day; that set so red,
As all the purple Plaines, that wide extend,
A sad tempestuous season witnessed.
So much adoe had toyling Fraunce to rend,
From vs, the right so long inherited:
And so hard went we from what we possest;
As with it went the blood wee loued best.

98

 Which blood, not lost, but fast lay'd vp with heed
In euerlasting fame, is there held deere,
To seale the memorie of this dayes deed;
Th'eternall euidence of what we were:
To which, our Fathers, wee, and who succeed,
Doe owe a sigh, for that it toucht vs neere:
Nor must we sinne so much, as to neglect
The holy thought of such a deare respect.

99

 Yet happy-hapless day, blest ill-lost breath,
Both for our better fortune, and your owne!
For, what foul wounds, what spoyl, what shamefull death,
Had by this forward resolution growne,
If at S. Albons, Wakefield, Barnet-heath ,
It should vnto your infamie beene showne?
Blest you, that did not teach how great a fault
Euen Virtue is, in actions that are naught.

100

 Yet, would this sad dayes losse had now beene all,
That this day lost: then should we not much plaine,
If hereby we had com'n but there to fall;
And that day, ended, ended had our paine:
Then small the losse of Fraunce , of Guien small;
Nothing the shame to be turn'd home againe
Compar'd with other shames. But now, Fraunce , lost,
Sheds vs more blood, then all her winning cost.

101

 For losing warre abroad, at home lost peace;
Be'ing with our vnsupporting selues close pent;
And no dessignes for pride (that did increase)
But our owne throats, and our owne punishment;
The working spirit ceast not, though work did cease,
Hauing fit time to practise discontent,
And stirre vp such as could not long lie still:
“Who, not imploy'd to good, must needes do ill.

102

 And now this griefe of our receiued shame,
Gaue fit occasion, for ambitious care,
To draw the chiefe reproche of all the same
On such as obuious vnto hatred are,
Th'especiall men of State: who, all the blame
Of whatsoeuer Fortune doth, must beare.
For, still, in vulgar eares delight it breeds,
To haue the hated, authors of misdeeds.

103

 And therefore, easily, great Sommerset
(Whom Enuie long had singled out before)
With all the vollie of disgraces met,
As th'onely marke that Fortune plac't therfore:
On whose ill-wrought opinion, Spight did whet
The edge of Wrath, to make it pearce the more:
And Grief was glad t'haue gotten now on whom
To lay the fault of what must light on some.

104

 Whereon, th'againe out-breaking Yorke beginnes
To build new modules of his old desire.
And se'ing the booty Fortune for him winnes,
Vpon the ground of this inkindled ire,
He takes th'aduantages of others sinnes
To ayde his owne, and help him to aspire:
For, doubting, peace should better scanne deeds past,
He thinkes not safe, to haue his sword out, last:

105

 Especially, since euery man (now prest
To innouation) doe with rancor swell:
A stirring humor gen'rally possest
Those peace-spilt times, weary of beeing well:
The weake with wrongs, the happy tyr'd with rest,
And many mad, for what, they could not tell:
The World, euen great with Change, thought it vvent wrong
To stay beyond the bearing-time, so long.

106

 And therefore now these Lords confedered
(Beeing much increast in number and in spight)
So shap't their course, that gathering to a head,
They grew to be of formidable might:
The'abused world, so hastily is led
(Some for reuenge, some for wealth, some for delight)
That Yorke , from small beginning troups, soone drawes
A world of men, to venture in his Cause.

107

 Like as proud Seuerne , from a priuaThead,
With humble streames at first, doth gently glide,
Till other Riuers haue contributed
The springing riches of their store beside;
Where-with at length high-swelling, she doth spread,
Her broad-distended waters, lay'd so wide,
That comming to the Sea, shee seemes, from farre,
Not to haue tribute brought, but rather warre:

108

 Euen so is Yorke now growne, and now is bent
T'incounter with the best, and for the best.
Whose neere approach the King hastes to preuent,
With hope, farre off to haue his power supprest;
Fearing the Cittie, least some insolent,
And mutinous, should harten on the rest
To take his part. BuThee so forward set
That at S. Albones both the Armies met.

109

 Where-to, their haste farre fewer hands did bring,
Then else their better leysure would haue done:
And yet too many for so foul a thing;
Sith who did best, hath but dishonour won:
For, whil'st some offer peace, sent from the King,
Warwicks too forward hand hath Warre begon;
A warre, that doth the face of Warre deforme:
Which still is foul; but foulest, wanting forme.

110

 And, neuer valiant Leaders (so well knowne
For braue performed actions done before)
Did blemish their discretion and renowne
In any weake effected seruice more;
Bringing such powres into so straight a Towne,
As to some Citty-tumult or vp-rore:
Which, slaughter, and no battaile, might be thought;
Sith that side vs'd their swords, and this their throat.

111

 But this, on th'error of the King, is lai'd,
And vpon Sommersets desire t'obtaine
The day with peace: for which they longer staid
Then wisedome would, aduent'ring for the Maine:
Whose force, in narrow streets once ouer-laid,
Neuer recouerd head: but euen there slaine
The Duke and all the greatest Leaders are;
The King himselfe beeing taken prisoner.

112

 Yet not a prisoner to the outward eye,
For-thaThe must seeme grac't with his lost day;
All things beeing done for his commoditie,
Against such men as did the State betray:
For, with such apt deceiuing clemencie
And seeming-order, Yorke did so allay
That touch of wrong, as made him make great stealth
In weaker minds, with shew of Common-wealth.

113

 Long-lookt-for powre thus got into his hand,
The former face of Court doth new appeare:
And all th'especiall Charges of Commaund,
To his partakers distributed were:
Himselfe is made Protector of the Land.
A title found, which couertly did beare
All-working powre vnder another stile;
And yet the soueraigne Part doth act the while.

114

 The King held onely but an emptie name,
Left, with his life: whereof the proofe was such,
As sharpest pride could not transpearce the same,
Nor all-desiring greedinesse durst touch:
Impietie had not inlarg'd their shame
As yet so wide, as to attempt so much:
Mischiefe was not full ripe, for such foul deedes;
Left, for th'vnbounded malice that succeedes.
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