Book 3
THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE
1
Now risen is that Head, by which did spring
The birth of two strong Heads, two Crownes, two rights;
That monstrous shape, that afterward did bring
Deform'd confusion to distracted wights.
Now is attain'd that dearely purchast thing
That fill'd the world with lamentable sights:
And now, attain'd, all care is how to frame
Meanes to establish, and to hold the same.
2
First, he attends to build a strong conceipt
Of his vsurped powre, in peoples mindes;
And armes his cause with furniture of weight:
Which easily the sword, and Greatnesse findes.
Succession, Conquest, and election straight
Suggested are, and prov'd in all their kindes.
More then ynough they finde, who finde their might
Hath force to make all, that they will haue, Right.
3
Though one of these might verie well suffise
His present approbation to procure.
“But who his own cause makes, doth stil deuise
“To make too much, to haue it more then sure.
“Feare casts too deepe, and euer is too wise:
“No vsuall plots, the doubtfull can secure.
And all these disagreeing Claymes he had,
With hope to make one good of many bad.
4
Like vnto him that fears, and faine would stop
An inundation working-on apace,
Runs to the Breach, heapes mightie matter vp,
Throwes indigested burthens on the place,
Lodes with huge weights, the out-side, & the top,
But leaues the inner partes in seeble case;
Whil'st th'vnder-searching water, working-on,
Beares (proudly) downe, all that was idly don:
5
So fares it with our indirect desseignes,
And wrong contriued labors, at the last;
Whil'st working Time, and iustice vndermines
The feeble frame, held to be wrought so fast:
Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines
The ill-ioyn'd plots so fayrely ouer-cast;
Turnes vp those huge pretended heapes of showes,
And all these weake illusions ouer-throwes.
6
But, after, hauing made his title plaine,
Vnto his Coronation he proceedes:
Which, in most sumptuous sort (to intertaine
The gazing vulgar, whom this splendor feeds)
Is stately furnisht, with a glorious traine:
Wherein, the former Kings he far exceedes;
And all t'amuse the world, and turne the thought
Of what & how 'twas done, to what is wrought.
7
And that he might on many props repose,
He strengths his owne, & who his part did take:
New Officers, new Councellors he chose:
His eldest sonne, the Prince of Wales doth make;
His second, Lord high Steward: and, to those
Had hazarded their fortunes for his sake,
He giues them charge, as merites their deseart;
And rayses them, by crushing th'aduerse part.
8
So that hereby, the vniuersall face
Of Court, with all the Offices of State
Are wholly chang'd, by death, or by disgrace,
Vpon th'aduantage of the peoples hate;
“Who, euer enuying those of chiefest place
“(Whom neither worth nor vertue, but their fate
“Exalted hath) doo, when their Kings doo naught
“(Because it's in their powre) iudge it their faute.
9
And in their steed, such as were popular,
And wel-deseruing, were aduanc't by grace.
Graue Shirley , he ordaines Lord Chancelor;
Both worthy for his vertues, and his race:
And Norburie hee appoints for Treasurer;
A man, though meane, yet fit to vse that place:
And others, t'other roomes; whom people hold
So much more lov'd, how much they loath the old.
10
And it behoues him now to doo his best
T'approue his vow, and oath made to the State:
And many great disorders he redrest;
Which alwayes Vsurpation makes the gate
To let it selfe into the peoples brest,
And seekes the publike best t'accommodate:
Wherein, Iniustice better doth then Right:
“For, who reproues the lame, must go vpright.
11
Though it be easie to accuse a State,
Of imperfection and misgouernment:
And easie to beget in people hate
Of present Rule, which cannot all content;
And fewe attempt it, that effect it not:
Yet, t'introduce a better gouernment
In steed thereof, if we t'example looke,
The vnder-takers haue beene ouer-tooke.
12
Then, against those he strictly doth proceed,
Who chiefe of Glosters death were guiltie thought;
Not so much for the hatred of that deed:
But, vnder this pretext, the meanes he sought
To ruine such whose might did much exceed
His powre to wrong, nor else could well be wrought.
Law, Iustice, blood, the zeale vnto the dead,
Were on his side, and his drift coloured.
13
Here, many of the greatest of the Land
Accus'd were of the act, strong proofes brought out;
Which strongly were refell'd: the Lords all stand,
To cleare their Cause, most resolutely stout:
The King, perceiuing what he tooke in hand
Was not with safety to be brought-about,
Desïsts to vrge their death, in any wise;
Respecting number, strength, friends, and allies.
14
Nor was it time now, in his tender raigne,
And infant-young-beginning gouernement,
To striue, with blood; when lenitie must gaine
The mightie men, and please the discontent.
“New Kings do feare; when old Courts farther straine:
Establisht States to all things will consent.
He must dispense with his will, and their crime,
And seeke t'oppresse and weare them out with time.
15
Yet not to seeme, but to haue something done,
In what he could, not as he would effect;
To satisfie the people (that begun,
Reuenge of wrong and iustice to expect)
He caus'd be put to execution, one,
Who to performe this murther was elect;
A base companion, few, or none would misse:
Who first did serue their turne; and now serues his.
16
And, to abase the too high state of those
That were accus'd, and lessen their degrees,
Aumarle, Surry, Exceter , must lose
The names of Dukes; their titles, dignities,
And whatsoeuer honour with it goes;
The Earles, their titles and their Signories:
And all they got in th'end of Richards raigne,
Since Glosters death, they must restore againe;
17
By this, as if by Ostracisme , t'abate
That great presumptiue wealth, whereon they stand.
For, first, hereby impov'rishing their state,
He killes the meanes they might have to withstand:
Then equals them with other whom they hate
Who (by their spoyles) are raisd to hie command;
That weake, and enuied, if they should conspire,
They wracke themselues, and he hath his desire.
18
Yet, by this grace (which must be held a grace)
As both they, and the world, are made beleeue,
He thinks t'haue dealt benignly in this case,
And left them state ynough, to let them liue;
And that the taking, from the meanes & place,
Was nothing, in respect what hee did giue:
But they, that knowe how their owne reckning goes,
Account not what they haue, but what they lose.
19
The Parlement, which now is held, decreed
What-euer pleas'd the King but to propound;
Confirm'd the Crowne, to him, and to his seed,
And by their oath their due obedience bound:
Which was the powre that stood him best in steed,
And made what-euer broken courses sound.
For, what he got by fortune, fauour, might,
It was the State that now must make his right.
20
Here was agreed, to make all more secure,
That Richard should remaine, for euermore,
Close-prisoner; least the Realme might chaunce indure
Some new reuolt, or any fresh vp-rore:
And, that if any should such broyle procure,
By him, or for him, he should die therefore.
So that a talke of tumult, and a breath,
Would serue him as his passing bell to death.
21
Yet, reuerent Carlile , thou didst there oppose
Thy holy voyce, to saue thy Princes blood;
And freely checktst this iudgement, and his soes:
When all were bad, yet thou dar'dst to be good.
Be it inrold (that time may neuer lose
The memorie) how firme thy courage stood;
When powre, disgrace, nor death, could ought diuert
Thy glorious tongue, thus, to reueale thy heart.
22
“Graue, reuerent Lords, since that this sacred place
“Our Auentine-Retire , our holy hill
“(This place, soule of our State, the Realmes best grace)
“Doth priuiledge me speake what reason will:
“Let me but say my conscience in this case;
“Least sinne of silence shew my hart was ill:
“And let these walles witnesse, if you will not,
“I do discharge my soule, of this foule blot.
23
“Neuer shall this poore breath of mine consent,
“That he that two and twentie yeeres hath raignd
“As lawfull Lord, and King by iust descent,
“Should here be iudg'd, vnheard, and vnarraignd;
“By Subiects too (Iudges incompetent
“To iudge their King vnlawfully detaind)
“And vnbrought-foorth to plead his guiltless Cause;
“Barring th'Annoynted, libertie of lawes.
24
“Haue you not done inough, with what is done?
“Must needes disorder growe, from bad, to worse?
“Can neuer mischiefe end as it begunne,
“But being once out, must farther out, of force?
“Thinke you, that any meanes, vnder the Sunne,
“Can assecure so indirect a course?
“Or any broken cunning build so strong,
“As can hold out the hand of vengeance long?
25
Stopt, there, was his too vehement speech with speed,
And he sent close to warde, from where he stood;
His zeale vntimely, deem'd too much t'exceed
The measure of his wit, and did no good.
They resolute, for all this, do proceed
Vnto that iudgement could not be withstood:
The King had all he crav'd, or could compell:
And all was done; let others iudge, how well.
26
Now Muse relate a wofull accident,
And tell the blood-shed of these mightie Peeres,
Who (lately reconcil'd) rest discontent,
Griev'd with disgrace, remayning in their feares:
How-euer seeming outwardly content;
Yet th'inward touch, that wounded honor beares,
Rests closely rankling, and can finde no ease,
Till death of one side cure this great disease.
27
Meanes how to feele, and learne each others hart,
By th' Abbots skill of Westminster is found:
Who, secretly disliking Henries part,
Inuites these Lords, and those hee meant to sound;
Feasts them with cost, and drawes them on with art;
And darke, and doubtfull questions doth propound:
Then playner speakes; and yet vncertaine speakes:
Then wishes well; then off abruptly breakes.
28
My Lords, saith he, I feare we shall not finde
This long-desired King, such as was thought:
But yet, he may do well: God turne his minde:
Tis yet new dayes: but, Ill bodes new and nought:
Some yet speed well: though all men of my kinde
Haue cause to doubt; his speech is not forgot,
That Princes had too little, we too much.
God giue him grace: but 'tis ill trusting such.
29
This open-close, apparent-darke discourse
Drew-on much speech: and euerie man replies:
And euery man addes heate: and words inforce
And vrge out wordes. For, when one man espies
Anothers minde like his, then ill breedes worse;
And out breaks all in th'end what closest lies.
For, when men well haue fed, th'blood being warme,
Then are they most improuident of harme.
30
Bewray they did their inward boyling spight;
Each stirring other to reuenge their cause.
One sayes he neuer should indure the sight
Of that forsworne, that wrongs both Land and lawes;
Another vowes the same; of his minde, right.
A third t'a point more neere the matter drawes;
Sweares, if they would, he would attempt the thing,
To chace th'vsurper, and replace their King.
31
Thus one by one, kindling each others fire,
Till all inflam'd, they all in one agree:
All resolute to prosecute their ire,
Seeking their owne, and Countries cause to free;
And haue his first, that their blood did conspire.
For, no way else, they sayd, but this, could be
Their wrong-detained honor to redeeme:
Which, true-bred blood should, more then life, esteeme.
32
And let not this our new-made faithless Lord,
Sayth Surry , thinke, that we are left so bare
(Though bare inough) but we wil finde a sword
To kill him with, when he shal not beware.
For, he that is with life and will instor'd,
Hath, for reuenge, inough, and needes not care:
For, time brings meanes to furnish him withall:
Let him but wayte occasions as they fall.
33
Then, of the manner how t'effect the thing,
Consulted was: and in the ende agreed,
That at a Maske, and common Reuelling,
Which was ordain'd, they should performe the deed;
For, that would be least doubted of the King,
And fittest for their safetie to proceed:
The night, their number, and the soddaine act,
Would dash all order, and protect their fact.
34
Besides, they might vnder the faire pretence
Of Tilts and Turnements, which they intend,
Prouide them horse, and armour for defence,
And all things else conuenient for their end:
Besides, they might hold sure intelligence
Among themselues, without suspect t'offend:
The King would thinke, they sought but grace in Court,
With all their great preparing in this sort.
35
A solemne oath religiously they take,
By intermutuall vowes protesting there,
This neuer to reueale; nor to forsake
So good a Cause, for danger, hope, or feare:
The Sacrament, the pledge of faith, they take:
And euerie man vpon his sword doth sweare,
By Knighthood, honor, or what else should binde;
To assecure, the more, each others minde.
36
And when all this was done, and thought well done,
And euerie one assures him good successe,
And easie seemes the thing to euerie one
That nought could crosse their plot, or them suppresse:
Yet one among the rest (whose minde not wonne
With th'ouer-weening thought of hot excesse,
Nor headlong carryed with the streame of will,
Nor by his owne election led to ill).
37
Iudicious Blunt (whose learning, valor, wit,
Had taught true knowledge in the course of things;
Knew dangers as they were, and th'humerous fit
Of ware-lesse discontent, what end it brings)
Counsels their heat, with calme graue words, and fit
(Words well fore-thought, that from experience springs)
And warnes a warier cariage in the thing;
Least blind presumption worke their ruining.
38
“My Lords, sayth he, I knowe your wisedomes such,
“As that of mine aduice you haue no need:
“I knowe, you knowe how much the thing doth touch
“The maine of all your states, your blood, your seed:
“Yet, since the same concernes my life, as much
“As his whose hand is chiefest in this deed,
“And that my foote must go as farre, as his;
“I thinke, my tongue may speake what needfull is.
39
“The thing we enterprize, I knowe, doth beare
“Great possibilitie of good effect;
“For-that so many men of might there are
“That venture here this action to direct:
“Which meaner wightes, of trust and credite bare,
“Not so respected, could not looke t'effect.
“For none, without great hopes, will follow such
“Whose powre, and honor doth not promise much.
40
“Besides, this new, and doubtfull gouernment,
“The wauering faith of people vaine, and light;
“The secret hopes of many discontent;
“The naturall affection to the right;
“Our lawfull Sov'raignes life, in prison pent,
“Whom men begin to pittie now, not spight;
“Our well layd plot, and all, I must confesse,
“With our iust cause, doth promise good successe.
41
“But this is yet the outward fayrest side
“Of our desseigne: within, rests more of feare,
“More dread of sad euent yet vndescri'd,
“Then (my most worthy Lords) I would there were:
“But yet, I speake not this as to diuide
“Your thoughts from th'act, or to dismay your cheere;
“Onely to adde, vnto your forward will,
“A moderate feare, to cast the worst of ill.
42
“Danger before, and in, and after th'act,
“You needes must graunt, is great, and to be waigh'd.
“Before; least, while we do the deede protract,
“It be by any of our selues bewraid:
“For, many being priuie to the fact,
“How hard it is to keepe it vnbetraid?
“When the betrayer shal haue life and grace,
“And rid himselfe of danger and disgrace.
43
“For, though some few continue resolute;
“Yet many shrink, which at the first would dare,
“And be the formost men to execute,
“If th'act, and motion at one instant were:
“But, intermission suffers men dispute
“What dangers are, and cast with farther care:
“Cold doubt cauils with honor, scorneth fame:
“And in the end, feare waighes downe faith, with shame.
44
“Then in the act, what perils shall we finde,
“If either place, or time, or other course,
“Cause vs to alter th'order now assign'd?
“Or that, then we expect, things happen worse?
“If either error, or a fainting minde,
“An indiscreet amazement, or remorse,
“In any at that instant should be found;
“How much it might the act, and all confound?
45
“After the deede, the dangers are no lesse;
“Lest that, our forwardnes not seconded
“By our owne followers, and accomplices
“(Being kept backe, or slowe, or hindered)
“The hastie multitude rush-on, t'oppresse
“Confused weakenes, there vnsuccored;
“Or rayse another head, of that same race,
“T'auenge his death, and prosecute the case.
46
“All this (my Lords) must be considered
“(The best and worst of that which may succeede)
“That valour mixt with feare, boldnesse with dread,
“May march more circumspect, with better heed.
“And, to preuent these mischiefs mentioned,
“Is, by our faith, our secrecie, and speed.
“For, euen already is the worke begun,
“And we rest all vndone, till all be done.
47
“And though I could haue wisht another course,
“In open fielde t'haue hazarded my blood;
“Yet some are heere, whose loue is of that force
“To draw my life, whom zeale hath not withstood:
“But, like you not of your desseigne the worse:
“If the successe be good, your course is good:
“And ending well, our honor then begins.
“No hand of strife is pure, but that which wins.
48
This sayd, a sad still silence held their mindes,
Vpon the feareful proiect of their woe;
But that, not long, ere forward Furie findes:
Incouraging perswasions on to goe.
We must (sayd they) we wil, our honour bindes,
Our safety bids, our fayth must haue it so:
We know the worst can come, 'tis thought vpon:
We cannot shift; being in, we must goe on.
49
And on in deed they went; but (ô!) not farre:
A fatal stop trauerst their headlong course;
Their drift comes knowne, and they discouered are:
For, some of many will be false, of force.
Aumarle became the man, that did all marre,
Whether through indiscretion, chance, or worse:
He makes his peace, with offring others blood;
And shewes the King, how all the matter stood.
50
Then lo dismayde, confusion all possest,
Th'afflicted troupe, hearing their plot descride.
Then runnes amaz'd Distresse, with sad vnrest,
To this, to that, to flie, to stand, to hide:
Distracted Terror knew not what was best;
On what determination to abide.
At last, Despaire would yet stand to the Sword,
To trie what friendes would doe, or fate affoord.
51
Then this, then that mans ayde, they craue, implore;
Poste here for helpe, seeke there their followers;
Coniure their friendes they had, labour for more,
Sollicite all reputed fauourers,
Who Richards cause seem'd to affect before:
And, in his name, write, pray, sende messengers;
To try what faith was left, if by this art
Any would step to take Afflictions part.
52
And some were found; and some againe draw backe:
Vncertaine power could not it selfe retaine:
Intreate they may, authoritie they lacke:
And here, and there they march (but, all in vaine)
With desp'rate course; like those that see their wracke
Euen on the Rockes of death, and yet they straine
That death may not them idly finde t'attend
Their certaine last, but worke to meet their end.
53
And long they stand not, ere the chiefe, surpriz'd,
Conclude with their deare blood their tragedie:
And all the rest, disperst run—some disguis'd—
To vnknowne coastes; some to the shores do flye;
Some to the woods, or whither feare aduis'd:
But running from, all to destruction hie
The breach once made vpon a battered state,
Downe goes Distresse; no shelter shroudes their fate.
54
And now what horror in their soules doth growe!
What sorrowes, with their friendes, and neere allies!
What mourning in their ruin'd houses now!
How many childrens plaints, and mothers cryes!
How many wofull Widowes left to bow
To sad disgrace! what perisht families!
What heires of hie rich hopes, their thoughts must frame
To base-downe-looking pouertie and shame!
55
This slaughter and calamitie fore-goes
Thy eminent destruction, wofull King.
This is the bloody Comet of thy woes,
That doth fore-tell thy present ruyning
Here was thy ende decreed, when these men rose:
And euen with theirs, this act thy death did bring;
Or hastened, at the least, vpon this ground:
Yet, if not this, another had beene found.
56
Kings (Lords of times and of occasions) may
Take their aduantage, when, and how they list:
For, now the Realme, he thought in this dismay,
T'auoyd like mischiefes, neither would resist,
Nor feele the wound at all; since, by this way,
All future disturbations would desist;
The roote cut off, from whence these tumults rose,
He should haue rest, the Common-wealth repose.
57
He knew this time: and yet he would not seeme
Too quicke to wrath, as if affecting blood;
But yet complaines so farre, that men might deeme
He would 'twere done, and that he thought it good:
And wisht that some would so his life esteeme,
As ridde him of these feares wherein he stood:
And there-with eyes a Knight, that then was by;
Who soone could learne his lesson, by his eye.
58
The man, he knew, was one that willingly
For one good looke would hazard soule and all;
An instrument for any villanie,
That needed no commission more at all:
A great ease to the King, that should, hereby,
Not neede in this a course of iustice call,
Nor seeme to wil the act: for, though what's wrought
Were his owne deed, he grieues should so be thought.
59
“So foule a thing (ô!) thou Iniustice art,
“That tort'rest both the dooer and distrest.
“For, when a man hath done a wicked part,
“How doth he striue t'excuse, to make the best,
“To shift the fault, t'vnburthen his charg'd hart,
“And glad to finde the least surmise of rest!
“And if he could make his, seeme others sin;
“What great repose, what ease he findes therein!
60
This Knight; but yet, why should I call him Knight,
To giue impietie this reuerent stile?
Title of honour, worth, and vertues right,
Should not be giuen to a wretch so vile:
But pardon me, if I do not aright:
It is because I will not here defile
My vnstaind verse, with his opprobrious name,
And grace him so, to place him in the same.
61
This caitife goes, and with him takes eight more
As desperate as himselfe; impiously bold
(Such villaines, as he knew would not abhorre
To execute what wicked act he would)
And hastes him downe to Pomfret ; where, before,
The restless King, conuaide, was laid in hold:
There would he do the deed, he thought should bring
To him great grace and fauour, with his King.
62
Whether the soule receiues intelligence,
By her neere Genius , of the bodies end
And so impartes a sadnesse to the sense
Fore-going ruine, whereto it doth tend:
Or whether Nature else hath conference
With profound sleepe, and so doth warning send
By prophetizing dreames, what hurt is neere,
And giues the heauie careful hart to feare:
63
How-euer, so it is, the now sad King
(Tost here and there, his quiet to confound)
Feeles a straunge waight of sorrowes, gathering
Vpon his trembling hart, and sees no ground;
Feeles sodaine terror bring cold shiuering;
Listes not to eate, still muses, sleepes vnsound;
His senses droope, his steady eyes vnquicke;
And much he ayles; and yet he is not sicke.
64
The morning of that day, which was his last,
After a wearie rest rysing to paine,
Out at a little grate his eyes he cast
Vpon those bordering hils, and open Plaine,
And viewes the towne, and sees how people past:
Where others libertie, makes him complaine
The more his owne, and grieues his soule the more;
Conferring captiue-Crownes, with freedome poore.
65
“O happie man, sayth hee, that lo I see
“Grazing his cattle in those pleasant fieldes!
“If he but knew his good (how blessed hee,
“That feeles not what affliction Greatnes yeeldes!)
“Other then what hee is, he would not bee,
“Nor change his state with him that Scepters wieldes:
“Thine, thine is that true life; That is to liue,
“To rest secure, and not rise vp to grieue.
66
“Thou sitst, at home, safe, by thy quiet fire,
“And hear'st of others harmes; but feelest none:
“And there thou telst of Kings, and who aspire,
“Who fall, who rise, who triumphs, who do mone:
“Perhaps thou talkst of mee, and dost inquire
“Of my restraint, why here I liue alone,
“And pittiest this my miserable fall:
“For, pittie must haue part; enuie, not all.
67
“Thrice happy you that looke, as from the shore,
“And haue no venture in the wracke you see;
“No int'rest, no occasion to deplore
“Other mens trauailes, while your selues sit free
“How much doth your sweet rest make vs the more
“To see our miserie, and what we bee!
“Whose blinded Greatnes, euer in turmoyle,
“Still seeking happy life, makes life a toyle.
68
“Great Dioclesian (and more great therefore
“For yeelding-vp that whereto pride aspires)
“Reckning thy Gardens in Illiria more
“Then all the Empire, all what th'earth admires;
“Thou well didst teach, that he is neuer poore
“That little hath, but he that much desires;
“Finding more true delight in that small ground,
“Then, in possessing all the earth, was found.
69
“Are Kings that freedome giue, themselues not free
“As meaner men, to take what they may giue?
“What, are they of so fatall a degree,
“That they cannot descend from that, and liue?
“Vnlesse they still be Kings can they not bee,
“Nor may they their authority suruiue?
“Will not my yeelded Crowne redeeme my breath?
“Still am I fear'd? is there no way, but death?
70
Scarce this word, Death, from Sorrow did proceed,
When in rusht one, and tels him, such a knight
Is new arriv'd, and comes from Court in speed.
What newes sayd he, with him, that traytrous wight?
What, more remouing yet? alas! what need?
Are we not farre ynough sent out of sight?
Or is this place, here, not sufficient strong
To guard vs in? or must we haue more wrong?
71
By this, the bloody troope were at the dore;
When-as a sodaine and a strange dismay
Inforc't them straine, who should go in before:
One offers, and in offring makes a stay:
An other forward sets, and doth no more:
A third the like, and none durst make the way:
So much the horror of so vile a deed,
In vilest mindes, deterres them to proceed.
72
At length, as to some great aduentrous fight,
This Brauo cheeres these dastards, all hee can;
And valiantly their courage doth incite,
And all against one weake vnarmed man:
A great exployte, and fit for such a knight;
Wherein, so much renowne his valor wan.
But see, how men that verie Presence feare,
Which once, they knew, Authority did beare.
73
Then, on thrusts one, and he would formost be
To shead anothers blood; but lost his owne:
For, entring in, as soone as he did see
The face of Maiestie, to him well knowne;
Like Marius Souldier at Minternum , hee
Stood still amaz'd, his courage ouer-throwne.
The King, seeing this, starting frõ where he sate,
Out from his trembling hand his weapon gate.
74
Thus, euen his foes, who came to bring him death,
Bring him a weapon, that before had none;
That yet he might not idly lose his breath,
But die reueng'd, in action, not alone.
And this good chaunce, that thus much fauoureth,
He slackes not: for, he presently speedes one:
And, Lion-like, vpon the rest he flyes:
And here falles one, and there another lies.
75
And vp and down he trauerses his ground;
Now wardes a felling blowe, now strikes againe,
Then nimbly shiftes a thrust, then lends a wound,
Now backe he giues, then rushes-on amaine.
His quicke and ready hand doth so confound
These shamefull beastes, that foure of them lie slaine:
And all had perisht happily and well,
But for one act, that (ô!) I grieue to tell.
76
This coward Knight, seeing with shame and feare
His men thus slaine, and doubting his owne end,
Leapes vp into a chaire that (lo) was there,
The-whiles the King did all his courage bend
Against those foure, which now before him were,
Doubting not who behind him doth attend;
And plyes his hands vndaunted, vnaffeard,
And with good heart, and life for life he stird.
77
And whiles he this, and that, and each mans blowe
Doth eye, defend, and shift, being layd-to sore,
Backward he beares for more aduantage now,
Thinking the wall would safegard him the more;
When, lo, with impious hand, ô wicked thou,
That shamefull durst not come to strike before,
Behind him gav'st that lamentable wound,
Which layd that wretched Prince flat on the ground.
78
Now, proditorious wretch, what hast thou done,
To make this barbarous base assassinate
Vpon the person of a Prince, and one
Fore-spent with sorrow, and all desolate?
What great aduancement hast thou hereby wonne,
By being the instrument to perpetrate
So foule a deed? where is thy grace in Corte,
For such a seruice, acted in this sort?
79
First, he for whom thou dost this villanie
(Though pleas'd therewith) will not auouch thy fact,
But let the weight of thine owne infamie
Fall on thee, vnsupported, and vnbackt:
Then, all men else will loath thy treacherie,
And thou thy selfe abhorre thy proper act:
“So th'Wolfe, in hope the Lyons grace to win
“Betraying other beastes, lost his owne skinne.
80
But now, as this sweet Prince distended lay,
And him nor Life, nor Death, their owne could call,
(For, Life, remouing, rid not all away;
And Death, though entring, had not seis'd on all)
That short-tym'd motion had a little stay
(The mouer ceasing) though it were but small:
(As th'Organ-sound, a time, suruiues the stop,
Before it doth the dying note giue vp).
81
When, lo, there streames a spring of bloud so fast,
From those deepe woundes, as all imbru'd the face
Of that accursed caytiue, as he past
(After the deed effected) through the place:
And therewithall those dying eyes did cast
Such an vpbrayding looke on his disgrace
(Seeming to checke so cowardly a part)
As left th'impression euen in his hart.
82
And thus one King, most neere in bloud ally'd,
Is made th'oblation for the others peace.
Which peace yet was not hereby ratifi'd
So, as it could all future feares release.
For, though the other did forthwith prouide
To haue the rumour run of his decease,
By drawing the corps to London , where it was
Layd (three dayes to be seene) with open face:
83
Yet, so great was this execrable deed,
As men would scarce therein belieue their eyes;
Much lesse their eares: and many sought to feed
The easie creditours of nouelties,
By voycing him aliue; how hee was freed
By strange escape out of his miseries:
And many did conspire now to relieue
Him dead, who had forsaken him aliue.
84
And many suffred for his Cause, when now
He had none: many wisht for him againe,
When they perceiv'd th'exchange did not allow
Their hopes so much as they did looke to gaine,
By traffiquing of kings; and all saw how
Their full exspectances were in the wane.
They had a King was more then him before;
But yet a king, where they were nought the more.
85
And sure, this murthered Prince, though weake he was,
He was not ill; nor yet so weake, but that
He shew'd much Martiall valour in his place,
Aduentring oft his person for the State:
And might amongst our better Princes paste;
Had not the flatterie, rapine, and debate
Of factious Lords and greedie Officers
Disgrac't his actions, and abus'd his yeares.
86
Nor is it so much Princes weakenesses,
As the corruption of their Ministers,
Wherby the Common-wealth receiues distress.
For, they, attending their particulars,
Make imperfections their aduantages
To be themselues both Kings and Councellors.
And, sure, this Common-wealth can neuer take
Hurt by weake kings, but such as we doo make.
87
Besides, he was (which people much respect
In Princes, and which pleases vulgarly)
Of goodly personage, and of sweete aspect,
Of milde accesse, and liberalitie;
And feastes, and shewes, and triumphs did affect,
As the delights of youth and iollitie:
But, here, the great profusion and expence
Of his reuenues, bred him much offence:
88
And gaue aduantage vnto enmitie,
This grieuous accusation to prefer;
“That he consum'd the common Treasurie:
“Whereof he being the simple vsager
“But for the State (not in proprietie)
“Did alien at his pleasure, and transfer
“The same t'his minions, and to whome hee list;
“By which, the Common-wealth was to subsist.
89
“Whereby, sayd they, the poore concussed State
“Shall euer be exacted for supplyes.
Which accusation was th'occasion, that
His successour by order nullifies
Many his Patents, and did reuocate
And reassume his liberalities:
And yet, for all these wastes, these gifts and feasts,
He was not found a Bankrupt in his chests.
90
But they, who tooke to Syndicque in this forte
The Actions of a Monarch, knew those things
Wherein the accoumpts were likely to fall short
Betweene the State of Kingdomes, and their Kings:
Which president, of pestilent import
(Had not the heauens blest thy indeuourings)
Against thee Henry , had beene likewise brought,
Th'example made of thy example wrought.
91
For, though this bountie, and this liberalness,
A glorious vertue be; it better fits
Great men, then kings: who, giuing in excesse,
Giue not their owne, but others benefits:
Which calles-vp manies hopes, but pleasures lesse;
Destroying far more loue, then it begets.
For, Iustice is their Virtue: that alone
Makes them sit sure, and glorifies the Throne.
1
Now risen is that Head, by which did spring
The birth of two strong Heads, two Crownes, two rights;
That monstrous shape, that afterward did bring
Deform'd confusion to distracted wights.
Now is attain'd that dearely purchast thing
That fill'd the world with lamentable sights:
And now, attain'd, all care is how to frame
Meanes to establish, and to hold the same.
2
First, he attends to build a strong conceipt
Of his vsurped powre, in peoples mindes;
And armes his cause with furniture of weight:
Which easily the sword, and Greatnesse findes.
Succession, Conquest, and election straight
Suggested are, and prov'd in all their kindes.
More then ynough they finde, who finde their might
Hath force to make all, that they will haue, Right.
3
Though one of these might verie well suffise
His present approbation to procure.
“But who his own cause makes, doth stil deuise
“To make too much, to haue it more then sure.
“Feare casts too deepe, and euer is too wise:
“No vsuall plots, the doubtfull can secure.
And all these disagreeing Claymes he had,
With hope to make one good of many bad.
4
Like vnto him that fears, and faine would stop
An inundation working-on apace,
Runs to the Breach, heapes mightie matter vp,
Throwes indigested burthens on the place,
Lodes with huge weights, the out-side, & the top,
But leaues the inner partes in seeble case;
Whil'st th'vnder-searching water, working-on,
Beares (proudly) downe, all that was idly don:
5
So fares it with our indirect desseignes,
And wrong contriued labors, at the last;
Whil'st working Time, and iustice vndermines
The feeble frame, held to be wrought so fast:
Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines
The ill-ioyn'd plots so fayrely ouer-cast;
Turnes vp those huge pretended heapes of showes,
And all these weake illusions ouer-throwes.
6
But, after, hauing made his title plaine,
Vnto his Coronation he proceedes:
Which, in most sumptuous sort (to intertaine
The gazing vulgar, whom this splendor feeds)
Is stately furnisht, with a glorious traine:
Wherein, the former Kings he far exceedes;
And all t'amuse the world, and turne the thought
Of what & how 'twas done, to what is wrought.
7
And that he might on many props repose,
He strengths his owne, & who his part did take:
New Officers, new Councellors he chose:
His eldest sonne, the Prince of Wales doth make;
His second, Lord high Steward: and, to those
Had hazarded their fortunes for his sake,
He giues them charge, as merites their deseart;
And rayses them, by crushing th'aduerse part.
8
So that hereby, the vniuersall face
Of Court, with all the Offices of State
Are wholly chang'd, by death, or by disgrace,
Vpon th'aduantage of the peoples hate;
“Who, euer enuying those of chiefest place
“(Whom neither worth nor vertue, but their fate
“Exalted hath) doo, when their Kings doo naught
“(Because it's in their powre) iudge it their faute.
9
And in their steed, such as were popular,
And wel-deseruing, were aduanc't by grace.
Graue Shirley , he ordaines Lord Chancelor;
Both worthy for his vertues, and his race:
And Norburie hee appoints for Treasurer;
A man, though meane, yet fit to vse that place:
And others, t'other roomes; whom people hold
So much more lov'd, how much they loath the old.
10
And it behoues him now to doo his best
T'approue his vow, and oath made to the State:
And many great disorders he redrest;
Which alwayes Vsurpation makes the gate
To let it selfe into the peoples brest,
And seekes the publike best t'accommodate:
Wherein, Iniustice better doth then Right:
“For, who reproues the lame, must go vpright.
11
Though it be easie to accuse a State,
Of imperfection and misgouernment:
And easie to beget in people hate
Of present Rule, which cannot all content;
And fewe attempt it, that effect it not:
Yet, t'introduce a better gouernment
In steed thereof, if we t'example looke,
The vnder-takers haue beene ouer-tooke.
12
Then, against those he strictly doth proceed,
Who chiefe of Glosters death were guiltie thought;
Not so much for the hatred of that deed:
But, vnder this pretext, the meanes he sought
To ruine such whose might did much exceed
His powre to wrong, nor else could well be wrought.
Law, Iustice, blood, the zeale vnto the dead,
Were on his side, and his drift coloured.
13
Here, many of the greatest of the Land
Accus'd were of the act, strong proofes brought out;
Which strongly were refell'd: the Lords all stand,
To cleare their Cause, most resolutely stout:
The King, perceiuing what he tooke in hand
Was not with safety to be brought-about,
Desïsts to vrge their death, in any wise;
Respecting number, strength, friends, and allies.
14
Nor was it time now, in his tender raigne,
And infant-young-beginning gouernement,
To striue, with blood; when lenitie must gaine
The mightie men, and please the discontent.
“New Kings do feare; when old Courts farther straine:
Establisht States to all things will consent.
He must dispense with his will, and their crime,
And seeke t'oppresse and weare them out with time.
15
Yet not to seeme, but to haue something done,
In what he could, not as he would effect;
To satisfie the people (that begun,
Reuenge of wrong and iustice to expect)
He caus'd be put to execution, one,
Who to performe this murther was elect;
A base companion, few, or none would misse:
Who first did serue their turne; and now serues his.
16
And, to abase the too high state of those
That were accus'd, and lessen their degrees,
Aumarle, Surry, Exceter , must lose
The names of Dukes; their titles, dignities,
And whatsoeuer honour with it goes;
The Earles, their titles and their Signories:
And all they got in th'end of Richards raigne,
Since Glosters death, they must restore againe;
17
By this, as if by Ostracisme , t'abate
That great presumptiue wealth, whereon they stand.
For, first, hereby impov'rishing their state,
He killes the meanes they might have to withstand:
Then equals them with other whom they hate
Who (by their spoyles) are raisd to hie command;
That weake, and enuied, if they should conspire,
They wracke themselues, and he hath his desire.
18
Yet, by this grace (which must be held a grace)
As both they, and the world, are made beleeue,
He thinks t'haue dealt benignly in this case,
And left them state ynough, to let them liue;
And that the taking, from the meanes & place,
Was nothing, in respect what hee did giue:
But they, that knowe how their owne reckning goes,
Account not what they haue, but what they lose.
19
The Parlement, which now is held, decreed
What-euer pleas'd the King but to propound;
Confirm'd the Crowne, to him, and to his seed,
And by their oath their due obedience bound:
Which was the powre that stood him best in steed,
And made what-euer broken courses sound.
For, what he got by fortune, fauour, might,
It was the State that now must make his right.
20
Here was agreed, to make all more secure,
That Richard should remaine, for euermore,
Close-prisoner; least the Realme might chaunce indure
Some new reuolt, or any fresh vp-rore:
And, that if any should such broyle procure,
By him, or for him, he should die therefore.
So that a talke of tumult, and a breath,
Would serue him as his passing bell to death.
21
Yet, reuerent Carlile , thou didst there oppose
Thy holy voyce, to saue thy Princes blood;
And freely checktst this iudgement, and his soes:
When all were bad, yet thou dar'dst to be good.
Be it inrold (that time may neuer lose
The memorie) how firme thy courage stood;
When powre, disgrace, nor death, could ought diuert
Thy glorious tongue, thus, to reueale thy heart.
22
“Graue, reuerent Lords, since that this sacred place
“Our Auentine-Retire , our holy hill
“(This place, soule of our State, the Realmes best grace)
“Doth priuiledge me speake what reason will:
“Let me but say my conscience in this case;
“Least sinne of silence shew my hart was ill:
“And let these walles witnesse, if you will not,
“I do discharge my soule, of this foule blot.
23
“Neuer shall this poore breath of mine consent,
“That he that two and twentie yeeres hath raignd
“As lawfull Lord, and King by iust descent,
“Should here be iudg'd, vnheard, and vnarraignd;
“By Subiects too (Iudges incompetent
“To iudge their King vnlawfully detaind)
“And vnbrought-foorth to plead his guiltless Cause;
“Barring th'Annoynted, libertie of lawes.
24
“Haue you not done inough, with what is done?
“Must needes disorder growe, from bad, to worse?
“Can neuer mischiefe end as it begunne,
“But being once out, must farther out, of force?
“Thinke you, that any meanes, vnder the Sunne,
“Can assecure so indirect a course?
“Or any broken cunning build so strong,
“As can hold out the hand of vengeance long?
25
Stopt, there, was his too vehement speech with speed,
And he sent close to warde, from where he stood;
His zeale vntimely, deem'd too much t'exceed
The measure of his wit, and did no good.
They resolute, for all this, do proceed
Vnto that iudgement could not be withstood:
The King had all he crav'd, or could compell:
And all was done; let others iudge, how well.
26
Now Muse relate a wofull accident,
And tell the blood-shed of these mightie Peeres,
Who (lately reconcil'd) rest discontent,
Griev'd with disgrace, remayning in their feares:
How-euer seeming outwardly content;
Yet th'inward touch, that wounded honor beares,
Rests closely rankling, and can finde no ease,
Till death of one side cure this great disease.
27
Meanes how to feele, and learne each others hart,
By th' Abbots skill of Westminster is found:
Who, secretly disliking Henries part,
Inuites these Lords, and those hee meant to sound;
Feasts them with cost, and drawes them on with art;
And darke, and doubtfull questions doth propound:
Then playner speakes; and yet vncertaine speakes:
Then wishes well; then off abruptly breakes.
28
My Lords, saith he, I feare we shall not finde
This long-desired King, such as was thought:
But yet, he may do well: God turne his minde:
Tis yet new dayes: but, Ill bodes new and nought:
Some yet speed well: though all men of my kinde
Haue cause to doubt; his speech is not forgot,
That Princes had too little, we too much.
God giue him grace: but 'tis ill trusting such.
29
This open-close, apparent-darke discourse
Drew-on much speech: and euerie man replies:
And euery man addes heate: and words inforce
And vrge out wordes. For, when one man espies
Anothers minde like his, then ill breedes worse;
And out breaks all in th'end what closest lies.
For, when men well haue fed, th'blood being warme,
Then are they most improuident of harme.
30
Bewray they did their inward boyling spight;
Each stirring other to reuenge their cause.
One sayes he neuer should indure the sight
Of that forsworne, that wrongs both Land and lawes;
Another vowes the same; of his minde, right.
A third t'a point more neere the matter drawes;
Sweares, if they would, he would attempt the thing,
To chace th'vsurper, and replace their King.
31
Thus one by one, kindling each others fire,
Till all inflam'd, they all in one agree:
All resolute to prosecute their ire,
Seeking their owne, and Countries cause to free;
And haue his first, that their blood did conspire.
For, no way else, they sayd, but this, could be
Their wrong-detained honor to redeeme:
Which, true-bred blood should, more then life, esteeme.
32
And let not this our new-made faithless Lord,
Sayth Surry , thinke, that we are left so bare
(Though bare inough) but we wil finde a sword
To kill him with, when he shal not beware.
For, he that is with life and will instor'd,
Hath, for reuenge, inough, and needes not care:
For, time brings meanes to furnish him withall:
Let him but wayte occasions as they fall.
33
Then, of the manner how t'effect the thing,
Consulted was: and in the ende agreed,
That at a Maske, and common Reuelling,
Which was ordain'd, they should performe the deed;
For, that would be least doubted of the King,
And fittest for their safetie to proceed:
The night, their number, and the soddaine act,
Would dash all order, and protect their fact.
34
Besides, they might vnder the faire pretence
Of Tilts and Turnements, which they intend,
Prouide them horse, and armour for defence,
And all things else conuenient for their end:
Besides, they might hold sure intelligence
Among themselues, without suspect t'offend:
The King would thinke, they sought but grace in Court,
With all their great preparing in this sort.
35
A solemne oath religiously they take,
By intermutuall vowes protesting there,
This neuer to reueale; nor to forsake
So good a Cause, for danger, hope, or feare:
The Sacrament, the pledge of faith, they take:
And euerie man vpon his sword doth sweare,
By Knighthood, honor, or what else should binde;
To assecure, the more, each others minde.
36
And when all this was done, and thought well done,
And euerie one assures him good successe,
And easie seemes the thing to euerie one
That nought could crosse their plot, or them suppresse:
Yet one among the rest (whose minde not wonne
With th'ouer-weening thought of hot excesse,
Nor headlong carryed with the streame of will,
Nor by his owne election led to ill).
37
Iudicious Blunt (whose learning, valor, wit,
Had taught true knowledge in the course of things;
Knew dangers as they were, and th'humerous fit
Of ware-lesse discontent, what end it brings)
Counsels their heat, with calme graue words, and fit
(Words well fore-thought, that from experience springs)
And warnes a warier cariage in the thing;
Least blind presumption worke their ruining.
38
“My Lords, sayth he, I knowe your wisedomes such,
“As that of mine aduice you haue no need:
“I knowe, you knowe how much the thing doth touch
“The maine of all your states, your blood, your seed:
“Yet, since the same concernes my life, as much
“As his whose hand is chiefest in this deed,
“And that my foote must go as farre, as his;
“I thinke, my tongue may speake what needfull is.
39
“The thing we enterprize, I knowe, doth beare
“Great possibilitie of good effect;
“For-that so many men of might there are
“That venture here this action to direct:
“Which meaner wightes, of trust and credite bare,
“Not so respected, could not looke t'effect.
“For none, without great hopes, will follow such
“Whose powre, and honor doth not promise much.
40
“Besides, this new, and doubtfull gouernment,
“The wauering faith of people vaine, and light;
“The secret hopes of many discontent;
“The naturall affection to the right;
“Our lawfull Sov'raignes life, in prison pent,
“Whom men begin to pittie now, not spight;
“Our well layd plot, and all, I must confesse,
“With our iust cause, doth promise good successe.
41
“But this is yet the outward fayrest side
“Of our desseigne: within, rests more of feare,
“More dread of sad euent yet vndescri'd,
“Then (my most worthy Lords) I would there were:
“But yet, I speake not this as to diuide
“Your thoughts from th'act, or to dismay your cheere;
“Onely to adde, vnto your forward will,
“A moderate feare, to cast the worst of ill.
42
“Danger before, and in, and after th'act,
“You needes must graunt, is great, and to be waigh'd.
“Before; least, while we do the deede protract,
“It be by any of our selues bewraid:
“For, many being priuie to the fact,
“How hard it is to keepe it vnbetraid?
“When the betrayer shal haue life and grace,
“And rid himselfe of danger and disgrace.
43
“For, though some few continue resolute;
“Yet many shrink, which at the first would dare,
“And be the formost men to execute,
“If th'act, and motion at one instant were:
“But, intermission suffers men dispute
“What dangers are, and cast with farther care:
“Cold doubt cauils with honor, scorneth fame:
“And in the end, feare waighes downe faith, with shame.
44
“Then in the act, what perils shall we finde,
“If either place, or time, or other course,
“Cause vs to alter th'order now assign'd?
“Or that, then we expect, things happen worse?
“If either error, or a fainting minde,
“An indiscreet amazement, or remorse,
“In any at that instant should be found;
“How much it might the act, and all confound?
45
“After the deede, the dangers are no lesse;
“Lest that, our forwardnes not seconded
“By our owne followers, and accomplices
“(Being kept backe, or slowe, or hindered)
“The hastie multitude rush-on, t'oppresse
“Confused weakenes, there vnsuccored;
“Or rayse another head, of that same race,
“T'auenge his death, and prosecute the case.
46
“All this (my Lords) must be considered
“(The best and worst of that which may succeede)
“That valour mixt with feare, boldnesse with dread,
“May march more circumspect, with better heed.
“And, to preuent these mischiefs mentioned,
“Is, by our faith, our secrecie, and speed.
“For, euen already is the worke begun,
“And we rest all vndone, till all be done.
47
“And though I could haue wisht another course,
“In open fielde t'haue hazarded my blood;
“Yet some are heere, whose loue is of that force
“To draw my life, whom zeale hath not withstood:
“But, like you not of your desseigne the worse:
“If the successe be good, your course is good:
“And ending well, our honor then begins.
“No hand of strife is pure, but that which wins.
48
This sayd, a sad still silence held their mindes,
Vpon the feareful proiect of their woe;
But that, not long, ere forward Furie findes:
Incouraging perswasions on to goe.
We must (sayd they) we wil, our honour bindes,
Our safety bids, our fayth must haue it so:
We know the worst can come, 'tis thought vpon:
We cannot shift; being in, we must goe on.
49
And on in deed they went; but (ô!) not farre:
A fatal stop trauerst their headlong course;
Their drift comes knowne, and they discouered are:
For, some of many will be false, of force.
Aumarle became the man, that did all marre,
Whether through indiscretion, chance, or worse:
He makes his peace, with offring others blood;
And shewes the King, how all the matter stood.
50
Then lo dismayde, confusion all possest,
Th'afflicted troupe, hearing their plot descride.
Then runnes amaz'd Distresse, with sad vnrest,
To this, to that, to flie, to stand, to hide:
Distracted Terror knew not what was best;
On what determination to abide.
At last, Despaire would yet stand to the Sword,
To trie what friendes would doe, or fate affoord.
51
Then this, then that mans ayde, they craue, implore;
Poste here for helpe, seeke there their followers;
Coniure their friendes they had, labour for more,
Sollicite all reputed fauourers,
Who Richards cause seem'd to affect before:
And, in his name, write, pray, sende messengers;
To try what faith was left, if by this art
Any would step to take Afflictions part.
52
And some were found; and some againe draw backe:
Vncertaine power could not it selfe retaine:
Intreate they may, authoritie they lacke:
And here, and there they march (but, all in vaine)
With desp'rate course; like those that see their wracke
Euen on the Rockes of death, and yet they straine
That death may not them idly finde t'attend
Their certaine last, but worke to meet their end.
53
And long they stand not, ere the chiefe, surpriz'd,
Conclude with their deare blood their tragedie:
And all the rest, disperst run—some disguis'd—
To vnknowne coastes; some to the shores do flye;
Some to the woods, or whither feare aduis'd:
But running from, all to destruction hie
The breach once made vpon a battered state,
Downe goes Distresse; no shelter shroudes their fate.
54
And now what horror in their soules doth growe!
What sorrowes, with their friendes, and neere allies!
What mourning in their ruin'd houses now!
How many childrens plaints, and mothers cryes!
How many wofull Widowes left to bow
To sad disgrace! what perisht families!
What heires of hie rich hopes, their thoughts must frame
To base-downe-looking pouertie and shame!
55
This slaughter and calamitie fore-goes
Thy eminent destruction, wofull King.
This is the bloody Comet of thy woes,
That doth fore-tell thy present ruyning
Here was thy ende decreed, when these men rose:
And euen with theirs, this act thy death did bring;
Or hastened, at the least, vpon this ground:
Yet, if not this, another had beene found.
56
Kings (Lords of times and of occasions) may
Take their aduantage, when, and how they list:
For, now the Realme, he thought in this dismay,
T'auoyd like mischiefes, neither would resist,
Nor feele the wound at all; since, by this way,
All future disturbations would desist;
The roote cut off, from whence these tumults rose,
He should haue rest, the Common-wealth repose.
57
He knew this time: and yet he would not seeme
Too quicke to wrath, as if affecting blood;
But yet complaines so farre, that men might deeme
He would 'twere done, and that he thought it good:
And wisht that some would so his life esteeme,
As ridde him of these feares wherein he stood:
And there-with eyes a Knight, that then was by;
Who soone could learne his lesson, by his eye.
58
The man, he knew, was one that willingly
For one good looke would hazard soule and all;
An instrument for any villanie,
That needed no commission more at all:
A great ease to the King, that should, hereby,
Not neede in this a course of iustice call,
Nor seeme to wil the act: for, though what's wrought
Were his owne deed, he grieues should so be thought.
59
“So foule a thing (ô!) thou Iniustice art,
“That tort'rest both the dooer and distrest.
“For, when a man hath done a wicked part,
“How doth he striue t'excuse, to make the best,
“To shift the fault, t'vnburthen his charg'd hart,
“And glad to finde the least surmise of rest!
“And if he could make his, seeme others sin;
“What great repose, what ease he findes therein!
60
This Knight; but yet, why should I call him Knight,
To giue impietie this reuerent stile?
Title of honour, worth, and vertues right,
Should not be giuen to a wretch so vile:
But pardon me, if I do not aright:
It is because I will not here defile
My vnstaind verse, with his opprobrious name,
And grace him so, to place him in the same.
61
This caitife goes, and with him takes eight more
As desperate as himselfe; impiously bold
(Such villaines, as he knew would not abhorre
To execute what wicked act he would)
And hastes him downe to Pomfret ; where, before,
The restless King, conuaide, was laid in hold:
There would he do the deed, he thought should bring
To him great grace and fauour, with his King.
62
Whether the soule receiues intelligence,
By her neere Genius , of the bodies end
And so impartes a sadnesse to the sense
Fore-going ruine, whereto it doth tend:
Or whether Nature else hath conference
With profound sleepe, and so doth warning send
By prophetizing dreames, what hurt is neere,
And giues the heauie careful hart to feare:
63
How-euer, so it is, the now sad King
(Tost here and there, his quiet to confound)
Feeles a straunge waight of sorrowes, gathering
Vpon his trembling hart, and sees no ground;
Feeles sodaine terror bring cold shiuering;
Listes not to eate, still muses, sleepes vnsound;
His senses droope, his steady eyes vnquicke;
And much he ayles; and yet he is not sicke.
64
The morning of that day, which was his last,
After a wearie rest rysing to paine,
Out at a little grate his eyes he cast
Vpon those bordering hils, and open Plaine,
And viewes the towne, and sees how people past:
Where others libertie, makes him complaine
The more his owne, and grieues his soule the more;
Conferring captiue-Crownes, with freedome poore.
65
“O happie man, sayth hee, that lo I see
“Grazing his cattle in those pleasant fieldes!
“If he but knew his good (how blessed hee,
“That feeles not what affliction Greatnes yeeldes!)
“Other then what hee is, he would not bee,
“Nor change his state with him that Scepters wieldes:
“Thine, thine is that true life; That is to liue,
“To rest secure, and not rise vp to grieue.
66
“Thou sitst, at home, safe, by thy quiet fire,
“And hear'st of others harmes; but feelest none:
“And there thou telst of Kings, and who aspire,
“Who fall, who rise, who triumphs, who do mone:
“Perhaps thou talkst of mee, and dost inquire
“Of my restraint, why here I liue alone,
“And pittiest this my miserable fall:
“For, pittie must haue part; enuie, not all.
67
“Thrice happy you that looke, as from the shore,
“And haue no venture in the wracke you see;
“No int'rest, no occasion to deplore
“Other mens trauailes, while your selues sit free
“How much doth your sweet rest make vs the more
“To see our miserie, and what we bee!
“Whose blinded Greatnes, euer in turmoyle,
“Still seeking happy life, makes life a toyle.
68
“Great Dioclesian (and more great therefore
“For yeelding-vp that whereto pride aspires)
“Reckning thy Gardens in Illiria more
“Then all the Empire, all what th'earth admires;
“Thou well didst teach, that he is neuer poore
“That little hath, but he that much desires;
“Finding more true delight in that small ground,
“Then, in possessing all the earth, was found.
69
“Are Kings that freedome giue, themselues not free
“As meaner men, to take what they may giue?
“What, are they of so fatall a degree,
“That they cannot descend from that, and liue?
“Vnlesse they still be Kings can they not bee,
“Nor may they their authority suruiue?
“Will not my yeelded Crowne redeeme my breath?
“Still am I fear'd? is there no way, but death?
70
Scarce this word, Death, from Sorrow did proceed,
When in rusht one, and tels him, such a knight
Is new arriv'd, and comes from Court in speed.
What newes sayd he, with him, that traytrous wight?
What, more remouing yet? alas! what need?
Are we not farre ynough sent out of sight?
Or is this place, here, not sufficient strong
To guard vs in? or must we haue more wrong?
71
By this, the bloody troope were at the dore;
When-as a sodaine and a strange dismay
Inforc't them straine, who should go in before:
One offers, and in offring makes a stay:
An other forward sets, and doth no more:
A third the like, and none durst make the way:
So much the horror of so vile a deed,
In vilest mindes, deterres them to proceed.
72
At length, as to some great aduentrous fight,
This Brauo cheeres these dastards, all hee can;
And valiantly their courage doth incite,
And all against one weake vnarmed man:
A great exployte, and fit for such a knight;
Wherein, so much renowne his valor wan.
But see, how men that verie Presence feare,
Which once, they knew, Authority did beare.
73
Then, on thrusts one, and he would formost be
To shead anothers blood; but lost his owne:
For, entring in, as soone as he did see
The face of Maiestie, to him well knowne;
Like Marius Souldier at Minternum , hee
Stood still amaz'd, his courage ouer-throwne.
The King, seeing this, starting frõ where he sate,
Out from his trembling hand his weapon gate.
74
Thus, euen his foes, who came to bring him death,
Bring him a weapon, that before had none;
That yet he might not idly lose his breath,
But die reueng'd, in action, not alone.
And this good chaunce, that thus much fauoureth,
He slackes not: for, he presently speedes one:
And, Lion-like, vpon the rest he flyes:
And here falles one, and there another lies.
75
And vp and down he trauerses his ground;
Now wardes a felling blowe, now strikes againe,
Then nimbly shiftes a thrust, then lends a wound,
Now backe he giues, then rushes-on amaine.
His quicke and ready hand doth so confound
These shamefull beastes, that foure of them lie slaine:
And all had perisht happily and well,
But for one act, that (ô!) I grieue to tell.
76
This coward Knight, seeing with shame and feare
His men thus slaine, and doubting his owne end,
Leapes vp into a chaire that (lo) was there,
The-whiles the King did all his courage bend
Against those foure, which now before him were,
Doubting not who behind him doth attend;
And plyes his hands vndaunted, vnaffeard,
And with good heart, and life for life he stird.
77
And whiles he this, and that, and each mans blowe
Doth eye, defend, and shift, being layd-to sore,
Backward he beares for more aduantage now,
Thinking the wall would safegard him the more;
When, lo, with impious hand, ô wicked thou,
That shamefull durst not come to strike before,
Behind him gav'st that lamentable wound,
Which layd that wretched Prince flat on the ground.
78
Now, proditorious wretch, what hast thou done,
To make this barbarous base assassinate
Vpon the person of a Prince, and one
Fore-spent with sorrow, and all desolate?
What great aduancement hast thou hereby wonne,
By being the instrument to perpetrate
So foule a deed? where is thy grace in Corte,
For such a seruice, acted in this sort?
79
First, he for whom thou dost this villanie
(Though pleas'd therewith) will not auouch thy fact,
But let the weight of thine owne infamie
Fall on thee, vnsupported, and vnbackt:
Then, all men else will loath thy treacherie,
And thou thy selfe abhorre thy proper act:
“So th'Wolfe, in hope the Lyons grace to win
“Betraying other beastes, lost his owne skinne.
80
But now, as this sweet Prince distended lay,
And him nor Life, nor Death, their owne could call,
(For, Life, remouing, rid not all away;
And Death, though entring, had not seis'd on all)
That short-tym'd motion had a little stay
(The mouer ceasing) though it were but small:
(As th'Organ-sound, a time, suruiues the stop,
Before it doth the dying note giue vp).
81
When, lo, there streames a spring of bloud so fast,
From those deepe woundes, as all imbru'd the face
Of that accursed caytiue, as he past
(After the deed effected) through the place:
And therewithall those dying eyes did cast
Such an vpbrayding looke on his disgrace
(Seeming to checke so cowardly a part)
As left th'impression euen in his hart.
82
And thus one King, most neere in bloud ally'd,
Is made th'oblation for the others peace.
Which peace yet was not hereby ratifi'd
So, as it could all future feares release.
For, though the other did forthwith prouide
To haue the rumour run of his decease,
By drawing the corps to London , where it was
Layd (three dayes to be seene) with open face:
83
Yet, so great was this execrable deed,
As men would scarce therein belieue their eyes;
Much lesse their eares: and many sought to feed
The easie creditours of nouelties,
By voycing him aliue; how hee was freed
By strange escape out of his miseries:
And many did conspire now to relieue
Him dead, who had forsaken him aliue.
84
And many suffred for his Cause, when now
He had none: many wisht for him againe,
When they perceiv'd th'exchange did not allow
Their hopes so much as they did looke to gaine,
By traffiquing of kings; and all saw how
Their full exspectances were in the wane.
They had a King was more then him before;
But yet a king, where they were nought the more.
85
And sure, this murthered Prince, though weake he was,
He was not ill; nor yet so weake, but that
He shew'd much Martiall valour in his place,
Aduentring oft his person for the State:
And might amongst our better Princes paste;
Had not the flatterie, rapine, and debate
Of factious Lords and greedie Officers
Disgrac't his actions, and abus'd his yeares.
86
Nor is it so much Princes weakenesses,
As the corruption of their Ministers,
Wherby the Common-wealth receiues distress.
For, they, attending their particulars,
Make imperfections their aduantages
To be themselues both Kings and Councellors.
And, sure, this Common-wealth can neuer take
Hurt by weake kings, but such as we doo make.
87
Besides, he was (which people much respect
In Princes, and which pleases vulgarly)
Of goodly personage, and of sweete aspect,
Of milde accesse, and liberalitie;
And feastes, and shewes, and triumphs did affect,
As the delights of youth and iollitie:
But, here, the great profusion and expence
Of his reuenues, bred him much offence:
88
And gaue aduantage vnto enmitie,
This grieuous accusation to prefer;
“That he consum'd the common Treasurie:
“Whereof he being the simple vsager
“But for the State (not in proprietie)
“Did alien at his pleasure, and transfer
“The same t'his minions, and to whome hee list;
“By which, the Common-wealth was to subsist.
89
“Whereby, sayd they, the poore concussed State
“Shall euer be exacted for supplyes.
Which accusation was th'occasion, that
His successour by order nullifies
Many his Patents, and did reuocate
And reassume his liberalities:
And yet, for all these wastes, these gifts and feasts,
He was not found a Bankrupt in his chests.
90
But they, who tooke to Syndicque in this forte
The Actions of a Monarch, knew those things
Wherein the accoumpts were likely to fall short
Betweene the State of Kingdomes, and their Kings:
Which president, of pestilent import
(Had not the heauens blest thy indeuourings)
Against thee Henry , had beene likewise brought,
Th'example made of thy example wrought.
91
For, though this bountie, and this liberalness,
A glorious vertue be; it better fits
Great men, then kings: who, giuing in excesse,
Giue not their owne, but others benefits:
Which calles-vp manies hopes, but pleasures lesse;
Destroying far more loue, then it begets.
For, Iustice is their Virtue: that alone
Makes them sit sure, and glorifies the Throne.
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