Classic Poem

T OWE noble dukes of great renowne
tha t long had liued in ffame,
throug ffatall envye were cast downe
& brought to sudden bane:

the Duke of Hereford was the one,
a prudent prince & wise,
gainst whom such mallice there was showen,
w hi ch soone in fight did rise.

the Duke of Norfolke most vntrue
declared to the King,
" the duke of Hereford greatly grew
in hatred of eche thinge.

w hi ch by his grace was acted still
against both hye & lowe,
& how he had a traiterous will
his state to ouerthrowe. "

the Duke of Hereford then in hast
was sent for to the Kinge,
& by his lords in order placet
examined in eche thinge;

w hi ch being guiltelesse of tha t crime
w hi ch was against him layd,
the duke of Norfolke at that time
these words vnto him sayd:

" how canst thou w i th a shamelesse face
deny a truth soe stout,
& there before his royall grace
soe falselye faced itt out?

" did not these treasons from thee passe
when wee together were,
how tha t the K ing vnworthye was
the royall crowne to weare?

" wherfore, my gracyous Lo rd s, " q uo th hee,
" & you, his Noble Peeres,
to whom I wish long liffe to bee,
w i th many happy yeeres,

" I doe pronounce before you all
the duke of Hereford here,
a traytour to our Noble Kinge,
as time shall show itt clere. "

the Duke of Herefford hearing tha t,
in mind was greeved much,
& did returne this answer fflatt,
w hi ch did Duke Norfolke tuche;

" the terme of Traytor, trothelesse Duke,
in scorne & deepe disdaine,
w i th fflatt deffyance to thy face
I doe returne againe!

" & therfore, if it please yo u r grace
to grant me grace, " q uo th hee,
" to combatt w i th my knowen ffoe
tha t hath accused mee,

" I doe not doubt but plainlye proue,
tha t like a p er iured knight
hee hath most falslye sought my shame
against all truth & right. "

the K ing did grant their iust request,
& did therto agree,
att Couentry in August next
this combatt fought shold bee.

the Dukes in barbed steeds full stout,
in coates of steele most bright,
w i th speares in brest did enter list,
the combatt feirce to ffight.

the K ing then cast his warder downe,
com m anding them to stay;
& w i th his Lords some councell tooke
to stint tha t Mortall ffraye.

att lenght vnto the Noble Duke[s]
the K ing of Heralds came,
& vnto them w i th loftye speech
this sentence did p ro claime:

" w i th Henery Bullenbrooke this day,
the Duke of Hereford here,
& Tho mas Mawbray, Norfolkes Duke,
soe valyant did apeare,

" & haue in hono ura ble sorte
repayred to this place.
our noble K ing for specyall cause
hath altered thus the case:

" ffirst, Henery Duke of Hereford,
Ere 15 dayes were past
shall p ar t this realme, on payne of death,
while 10 yeeres space doth last.

" & Tho mas , duke of Norfolke, thou
tha t hast begun this striffe, —
& therfore noe good proue can bring,
I say, — for terme of liffe,

" by iudgment of our sou er raine Lo rd
w hi ch now in place doth stand,
for euermore I banish thee
out off thy Natiue Land,

" charging thee on payne of death,
when 15 dayes are past,
thou neu er treade on English ground
soe long as liffe doth last. "

thus were the sworne before the K ing
ere they did further passe,
the one shold neuer come in place
wheras the other was.

then both the dukes w i th heaiuy hart
were p ar ted p re sentlye,
the vncoth streames of froward chance
in forraine lands to trye.

the duke of Norfolke cominge then
where [he] shold shipping take,
the bitter teares fell from his cheekes,
& thus his moane did make:

" now let me sob & sigh my fill
ere I from hence dep ar t,
tha t inward panges w i th speed may burst
my sore afflicted hart!

" accursed man, whose lothed liffe
is held soe much in scorne,
whose companye is cleane despised,
& left as one forlorne,

" Now take thy leaue & last adew
of this thy country deare,
w hi ch neuer more thou must behold,
nor yett approache itt neere!

" how happy shold I count my selfe,
if death my hart had torne,
tha t I might haue my bones entombed
where I was bredd and borne;

" or tha t by Neptunes rathfull rage,
I might be prest to dye,
while tha t sweet Englands pleasant bankes
did stand before mine eye.

" how sweete a sent hath Englands ground
w i thin my sences now!
how fayre vnto my outward sight
seemes euery branch & bowe!

" the ffeeleds, the flowers, the trees & stones,
seeme such vnto my minde,
tha t in all other countreys sure,
the like I shall not ffinde.

" oh tha t the sun his shining face
wold stay his steeds by strenght!
tha t this same day might streched bee
to 20 yeeres of lenght;

" & tha t they true p er formed tyde
their hasty course wold stay,
tha t Æolus wold neu er yeeld
to bring me hence away!

" tha t by the fountaine of mine eyes
the ffeldes might wattered bee,
tha t I might graue my greevous plaints
vpon eche springing tree!

" but time, I see, w i th Egles wings,
I see, doth flee away,
& dusty clouds begin to dimm
the brightnesse of the day;

" the ffatall hower draweth on,
the winds & tydes agree;
& now, sweet England, ouer soone
I must dep ar t from thee!

" the Mariners haue hoysed sayle,
& call to catch me in,
& in [my] woefull hart doe feele
my torments to begin.

" wherfore, farwell for euermore,
Sweet England, vnto thee!
& farewell all my freinds w hi ch I
againe shall neuer see!

" & England, heere I kisse the ground
vpon my bended knee,
herby to shew to all they world
how deere I loued thee. "

this being sayd, away he went
As fortune did him guide;
and att the lenght, w i th greefe of hart,
in Venis there he dyed.

the other duke in dolefull sort
did lead his liffe in ffrance,
& at the last the mightye Lord
did him ffull hiye advance.

the Lords of England afterwards
did send for him againe,
while tha t K ing Richard in the warres
in Ireland did remaine;

who thro the vile and great abuse
w hi ch through his deeds did springe,
deposed was, & then the duke
was truly crowned Kinge.