Classic Poem

You : Barons bold, ma[r]ke and behold
the thinge tha t I will rite;
a story strange & yett most true
I purpose to Endite.

ffor the Noble Peere while he liued heere,
the duke of Buckingam,
he fflourisht in King Edwards time,
the 4 th King of tha t name.

in his service there he kept a man
of meane & low degree,
whom he brought vp then of a chyld
from basenesse to dignitye;

he gaue him lands & liuings good
wherto he was noe heyre,
& then mached him to a gallant dame
as rich as shee was fayre.

it came to passe in tract of time
his wealth did soe excell,
his riches did surpasse them all
tha t in tha t shire did dwell.

who was soe braue as Banister?
or who durst w i th him contend?
w hi ch wold not be desirous still
to be his daylye freind?

for then it came to passe; more woe, alas!
for sorrowes then began;
for why, the M aster was constraind
to seeke succour of his man.

then Richard the 3 swaying the sword,
cryed himselfe a kinge,
murthered 2 princes in their bedds,
w hi ch deede great striffe did bringe.

& then the duke of Buckingam,
hating this bloody deede,
against the tyrant raysed an Oaste
of armed men indeed

& when K ing Richard of this hard tell,
a mightye Ost he sent
against the duke of Buckingam,
his purpose to p re vent.

& when the dukes people of this heard tell,
ffeare ffilled their hearts eche one;
many of his souldiers fledd by night,
and left him one by one.

in extreme need the Duke tooke a steede,
& posted night and day
towards Banister his man,
in secrett there to stay

" O Banister, Sweet Banister!
pitty thow my cause, " sayes hee,
" & hyde me from mine Enemyes
that here accuseth mee. "

" O, you be welcome, my Lo rd ! " hee sayes,
" yo u r grace is welcome here!
& as my liffe Ile keepe you safe,
although it cost me deere! "

" be true, sweete Banister! " sayes hee,
O sweete Banister, be true! "
" christs curse, " he sayd, " on me & mine
if euer I proue ffalse to you!

then the Duke cast of his veluett sute,
his chaine of gold likwise,
& soe he did his veluett capp,
to blind the peoples eyes;

a lethern Ierkyn on his backe,
& lethern slopps alsoe,
a heidging bill vpon his backe,
& soe into the woods did goe!

an old felt hat vppon his head,
w i th 20 holes therin;
& soe in labor he spent the time,
as tho some drudge he had beene

& there he liued long vnknowen,
& still vnknowne might bee,
till Banister for hope of gaine
betrayd him Iudaslye.

for a p roc lamation there was made,
" whosoeuer then cold bringe
newes of the Duke of Buckingam
to Richard then our Kinge,

" a 1000 markes shalbe his ffee
of gold & silver bright,
& then be p re ferred by his grace,
& made a worthy knight"

& when Banister of tha t heard tell,
straight to the court sent hee,
& soe betrayd his M aster good
for lucre of tha t ffee.

a herald of armes there was sent,
& men w i th weapons good,
who did attach this noble Duke
where he was labouring in the wood.

" Ah, ffalse Banister! a, wreched man!
Ah, Caitiffe! " then sayes hee;
" haue I maintained thy poore estate
to deale thus Iudaslye?

" alas tha t euer I beleeued
tha t fflattering tounge of thine!
woe worth the time tha t euer I see
tha t false Bodye of thine! "

then ffraught w i th feare & many a teare,
w i th sorrowes almost dead,
this noble Duke of Buckingam
att Salsbury lost his head

then Banister went to the court,
hoping this gold to haue,
but straight in prison hee was cast,
& hard his liffe to saue.

small ffreinds he found in his distresse,
nor any comfort in his need,
but euery man reuiled him
[for] this his trecherous deede.

& then, according to his wishe,
gods Iudgments did on him fall;
his children were consumed quite,
his goods were wasted all;

ffor one of his sones for greeffe Starke madd did fall;
the other ffor sorrow drowned was
w i thin a shallow runing streame
where euery man might passe.

his daugter right of bewtye bright,
to such lewde liffe did ffall
tha t shee dyed in great miserye;
& thus they were wasted all.

Old Banister liued long in shame,
& att the lenght did dye;
& thus they Lord did plague them all
ffor this his trecherye.

now god blesse our king & councell graue,
in goodness still to p ro ceed;
& send euery distressed man
a better ffreind att need!