The mirror of martyrs, or The life and death of that thrice valiant capitaine, and most godly martyre Sir Iohn Old-castle knight Lord Cobham

The Life and death of Sir Io: Oldcastle knight , Lord Cobham . FAire Lucifer , the messenger of light , Vpon the bosome of the star-deckt skie , Begins to chase the rauen-fethered night : That stops the passage of his percing eie : And heauing vp the brim of his bright beuer , Would make that day , which day was counted neuer . But Mercurie , be thou the morning Star , Beare my embassage from Elysium , Shew to my countrie hence remoued far , From these pauilions I can neuer come : Staind vice ascends from out th' infernall deepes , But in the heauens vnspotted vertue keepes . Deliuer but in swasiue eloquence , Both of my life and death the veritie , Set vp a Si quis , giue intelligence , That such a day shall be my Tregedie : If thousands flocke to heare a Poets pen , To heare a god , how many millions then ? The many-headed multitude were drawne By Brutus speach , that Caesar was ambitious , When eloquent Mark Antonie had showne His vertues , who but Brutus then was vicious : Mans memorie with new forgets the old , One tale is good vntill another's told . Sing thou my dirgies like a dying Swan , Whose painfull death requires a playning dittie : That my complaint may pierce the hart of man , Plaine be thy song , sweete , pleasing , full of pittie : And more , to moue the multitude to ruth , Let my apparell be the naked truth . Truth bring I nak't , for other weedes she scorneth , Saue that her smocke in flames of coulored silke Is straunglie wrought , her beawtie it adorneth , As through the same it peares more white then milke : In open view she comes , faire , comelie , meeke , For , Truth the hidden corners doth not seeke . My father Reignold Cobham ( whom so many Haue crownd with euer-greene victorious baies , For valorous worth before him plac'd not any ; O but I must be parciall in his praise . T'emblazon forth her owne truth , Truth 's denide , Herein the Truth , for Truth , is counted pride . ) Within the Spring-tide of my flowring youth , He stept into the winter of his age : Made meanes ( Mercurius thus begins the Truth , ) That I was made Sir Thomas Mowbraies page : A meanes to die , who meanes to liue so long , Aged in ill , in goodnesse euer yong . There did I spend my purple-coloured May , Bathing in blisse , and courtlie blondishment : Vntill the sentence on Saint Lamberts day Pronounced was of M●wbraies banishment ; Of Englands woe , of Richards lowe deposing , Of Herfords honour , of my seruice losing . He might haue seen how Fate that day sore-pointed , That gloomie day wherein the heauens did mone : She would haue Herford Englands king annointed , To rend the wreath of Diamonds from his Throne : But Maiesty , whose lustre is so bright , Destroies the sense , and dazleth the sight . Fate the foule of-spring of black Erebus , Th' inhabitresse of foamie Phlegeton : Ill fortunes day star , good lucks Hesperus , Pale Deaths fore-teller , grim Porphyrion . Ioues scribe in brasse with pens of dragons wings , The chiefe commaundresse both of gods and kings . Earths Genius , mans inauspicious starre , A triple power , the knowledge of things past , To come , and present , Trumpeter to warre , Ill at the first , injurious at the last : A crosse wherewith we all must rest contented , Fare tho fore-seene can seldome bee preuented . Then whil'st the Aprill of my yong yeares lasted , ( Aged in nothing onely but my name : ) Her forward budding in the prime I blasted , With wind of pride , and hoarie frost of shame ; With riotous Loue , whose highest point's a pleasure , with paine before , repentance at more leasure . And like a Trau'ler which his way hath lost , In th' vnknowne woods , when vp and downe he rangeth , On euery side with blind Meanders crost , And this for that , that for another changeth : Within the sharp-set thickets long thus tost , At length finds this that he himselfe hath lost . So in my youth I was a Traueler , Within this world a wildernesse of woe , No Palmers then could tell a Passenger Which way from danger safely he might goe : Led once astray in youth , who euer found His first trode path , where pleasures do abound . Thus lost within the Laborinth of sin , Wandring the woods in Egypts gloomie Night , Tying no threed from whence I first came in , No Sun to shine , no star to giue me light : Echidnaes ofspring , hell-borne serpents knew me , And at their pleasures to strange pleasures drew me . Some way I left before I had begun it , And some was knottie , othersome would bryre me : This marrish ground , and yet I could not shun it , This steepe and sandie sooner it would tyre me . This way to follow vertue would procure me , To this my youthful head-strong yeares did lure me . And youth excusd the errours in my nature , Whose greenenes tooke vpon him all the fault : Perswading me , su●● power was in no creature , Once to resist vice when it gaue assault , Perswasion 's vaine , for one to vices bent , The minde agrees , as Nature doth consent . Audacious Youth , impatient being moued , A witlesse substance in a seeming show ; Scorner of age , of age yet best beloued ; By Phaeton the world's ouerthrow , A sleepe , a dreame , a brauling lunacie , A selfe-conceit short-killing plurasie . Before this Youth in mirthfull sports was lauisht , No meane Cumrades , no base associates , In company with my perfections rauisht , Swore me for one of their confederates , For valour , wit , and court-ship few came nie me , In all which , Richard , Henries both did trie me . But valour , court-ship , wit , and all good parts , Make without maners but a glittring show : Nature is onely beautified with arts : Wit oftentimes is her owne ouerthrow . This court-ship , valour , wit , al are disgraced , Within the minde when vertue is not placed . For strange attempts , for Mars-like chiualrie , Among my fellowes yet I beare the bell , In hastie wroth , and heedlesse hazardrie . I counted vertue alwaies to excell , And deem'd it better perish in the field , Then for basefeare my weapons vp to yeeld . Feare the minds fall with lasting infamie , In expectation of some future ill : Twixt Mars and Venus got in luxurie , A cold con●ealed ice , a bloudlesse chill , An Ecstasis , a breeder of gray haires , An object spirit , scorne to youthfull yeares . Yet the world poys'ned with a swaggering humour , Of some shape-altring Succubus begot ; A wynd-swolne monster , many headed Rumour : Vices preseruer , vertues festred rot ; Prides male-content , minds putrified wound , A liqour moist distilled from the ground . This ayres innate and chiefest qualitie , This Ship-mans hose ; this heat extinguisher , This gallants wisdome , wise-mens gullerie , This paynted wethercocke , Arts diminisher . With cowardize beginneth to empeach me , Because in worth not able for to reach me . We daft the world with time our selues beguiled , Dreaming on nought saue on eternitie , And good Successe from highest heauens smiled On our attempts and mirthfull jollitie : For that seemes good which present pleasures brings , Tho 't bee the roote , from whence all euil springs . Succeesse the friend of famous Conquerours , Faire Fortunes handmaid , daughter of pure blood , The worlds darling , wish of Emperours Desyres great Goddesse , fauorite of the good . From pale facde death or danger euer blest me , And with the robe of honour doth inuest me . And seeking how she might the more inhaunce me , Though lew'd my hauiour was , vnsound my carriage , With roialtie and high discent t' aduaunce me , Shee join'd me with a Ladie faire in marriage ; By whose high honour I first won the name And Seigniorie of Cobhams endlesse fame . Long I injoi'd this weary wing of Fame , My beauteous wife , my Margarite of worth , Whose Nature was more precious then her name , All titles were but straines to set her forth : For stature , bewtie , vertue , wit , and blood , More comelie none , faire , sober , matchlesse , good . But bewtie , stature , vertue , wit , nor blood , Nor yet the ripenesse of a flowring age , Faire , comelie , sober , matchlesse , lustie , good , Can ought at all delay deaths murdrous rage , For all these gifts from Margarite y come , And buried lie with Margarite in her tombe . Hymen put on his saftron-coloured cote , And now vice had no warrandize by yeares , With that I gin my fellowes faults to note , Sounding sweete councell in their Adders eares . But ill it seem'd me them to blame : though I Censurd my selfe like mine owne enemy . Delight saw this ; and would not slip the season , But in my soule thee made a strange diuision , The sensuall parts shee armed all gainst Reason . Defending goodnesse to be superstition ; A fopperie , a fond Precisians toy , The which who loues , doth liue still void of ioy . My wil , whose obiect was the chiefest good , And vnderstanding facultie the truth , This sharpe encounter cowardlie withstood , So weakned with the pleasures of my youth . T is hard to hate vice which we long haue loued , An habite got once , seldome is remoued . The troupes disperst , now darknesse ends the fight , And reason held his late-won victorie : But inward Senses skirmish in the night , The common sense , Remembrance , Phantasie , Whose warre , is warre , warre onely to increase , When Reasons warre , is warre to liue in peace . Faire was the field where first we met , and spatious , Enuironed with odoriserous meads , Ioyn'd to a Citie , to the sight most gratious , Where stately Trees , with wood-bine pleighted heads . Of Mandrake , Poppie , euer greene did flourish , With hearbs whose iuice the drowsy sense wold nourish . Here none saue night-byrds houer with their wings , The fatall scritch-owles , feast profaning Bats ; From two faire founts the Riuer Lethe springs : And on the clearest Minerall she pats ; Whose stealing streames along the channell fals , Like Euphrates , at first , twixt Edens wals . This crawling runnet , hony-bubling fountaine , Whil'st thousands stept in Nights securitie ; Descending from the Diamond-rockie mountaine , Like the mellifluent brooke of Castilie ; Turning the sand , and playing with the stones , Would alway answere both their sighes and grones . The Citie with two entrances is graced , Whose workmanship the matter seemes to scorne ; The first , wherein expreslie dreames are placed , With curious Art is builded all of horne ; The other made of polisht Iuorie , Where dreames vnvail'd , and ouershaddowed be . A sumptuous Temple , all of burnisht gold Within the wals erected vnto night , Which Phantasies in greatest reuerence hold ; Another Chappell Alethia hight , With diuers formes , to diuers shapes , some tall , Some vglie , winged , wither'd , grosse , some small . With scaling ladders on the wals I venter , ( In which fierce entrance well I might haue perisht , ) Whose Pallaces no sooner could I enter , But pleasant sights , my soule and senses cherisht : From ghastly feare faire Icolon me keepes , And lullabies my thoughts with carelesse sleepes . Sweete Sleepe , distresse and sorrowes soueraigne cure , Worthie entitled Nox sonne Morpheus , Send downe from Heauen vnto Pallinure , Mans king and Gods endeard by Orpheus , Within the circuit of this pallace knew me , And pleasures past , with what would come , did shew me . For the Idaea of a thing in sleepe , May be imprinted in the Phantasie , With shape-transforming visions so deepe , That it deludes the senses outwardly , And so in forme , and in estate appeere Within the mind , as if he waking were . Thus neere Iberiaes foremost fertile coast , I entred in Gades two-leau'd brasen dore . Where I espide of Demi-gods an hoast , Landing vpon the sea - Atlanticke shore , In yeeres none yong , with yeeres not any olde , None parcht with heate , none withered with colde . These Deities liu'd in so rare a ground , Which thrice a yeere her fruitfulnes did show , Yet plow nor planting did her forehead wound , No other winde but Zephyrus did blow , No showres , no raine for fruits will neuer perish , Which the danke moisture of the ayre doth cherish . Downe in a dale enameled with roses , Ten thousands Adones standing on a raw , And by a crannie which a garden closes , So many Virgins and wood Nymphs I saw , With brests halfe hid , with loose dishevil'd haire , To catch the baulme-sweete breathing of the aire . Which game somlie into their bosomes got , Whisks vp and downe , twines , curls vp their tresses , And enterlaces with a Trew-loues knot ; And last ; diuides each haire , each plight vndresses ; Playes fast and loose , as fearing least his sport Should end too soone , his pleasure be too short . Thrice twentie thousand Cupids in their eies , Bathing them selues ; so many Graces set Vpon the banck ▪ their browes ; each ( naked ) hies : The first place in this paradize to get . Tell me the man these visions would not moue , For Sight breedes wonder , wonder bringeth Loue . One thought of hate , ten thoughts of loue reuiueth , Whilst beauty charmes the vertue of the senses , Great powers , small aide gainst loues encounter giueth : Wit 's but a warrant for these sweete offences : What hope hath reason now to quench loues fire , When hate breedes loue , wit kindleth loues desire ? Mine inward sense thus argu'd with my reason , Told her these saints , this heauenly place enioying : Spent all their life in mirth , their baiting season Slept in delights ; and past in amorous toying : Gainst heauen herselfe who would not be rebelling , To liue , where loue , youth , beutie haue their dwelling . With that I stretcht my lims along the bed , Hauing no power to ope my gowlie eyes ; Thrice ore the caddow I mine armes out spred : Thrice did I fall , before I once could rise : Leaning vpon mine elbow for a rest , Nodding , I knockt my chin against my brest . Then sigh'd , slipt downe , and twixt the sheete and pillow I nuzled in , joyn'd knees and chin together : I dream'd I wore a garland of greene willow . But snuffling low , I prickt me with a fether ; So wakt , the bolster for my backe I chose , And yawning thrice , I rub'd mine eyes and rose . At length , well wakened from that pleasing slumber : ( O that such slumbers euer should awake ! ) As I began my follies past to number , Despaire gainst comfort gins a head to make . Yet in remembrance of my youthfull yeares , Innumerable sins , I spent innumerable teares . Like to a needle plac'd in equall distance , Betwixt a Load-stone and an Adamant , By either drawne , to neither makes resistance● But stands immote as she their force did dant . So do I stand in great perplexitie , And onely certaine in vncertaintie . I 'm in a wood , greene may it euer grow , Yet o're my head , a threatning Rocke still hingeth The Rocke despaire , the wood doth comfort show , The rocke my soule , which worme of conscience stingeth , Twixt wood and rocke , I stand on six and seauen , Yet m●kes the wood my through-fare into heauen . So ( but I list not of my valour boast , T is no ambition though , to boast of good : ) Reason outbrau'd this heauen-aspiring hoast , And left them wallowing in their loathsome blood , Whilst many fled , which made the more affraide , Thus I mine ensignes in the aire displaide . But Rochester shall Eccho forth , my praise If Rochester remaine not most vngratefull , A sin in fashion for these humerous daies : To whome wee owe , to them we are most hatefull : O that it were in fashion ; I am sure Nine daies ( like wonders ) fashions but endure . I must vpbraide her else , not praises giuing , How first my fauours patronag'd her pride : But in too much remembraunce of the liuing , In darke obliuion dead mens praise wee hide . A begger from the dunghill on●e extold , Forgets himselfe , whom what he was of old . When first her grauell-purified riuer , No bridge vpon her bote-lod'n bosome bore , Some high renowne I striued for to giue her , And made a bridge her swiftest currant o're . Sir Robert Knowles was in the same an actor : But Cobham was the chiefest benefactor . And Walter Merton , Mertons Colledge founder , ( Why doth mischance neere charitie thus dwell , ) With lime and sand gainst tempest-beating bound her , Who from her top by great misfortune fell , Riding along the workemen for to see : Fortune is alwaies vertues enemie . Kinde Rochester it seemes hath yet respected , His name should liue in ages for to come , In whose memoriall : lately is erected , An Epitaph vpon a Marble tombe : But one good turne another still doth craue : For this ; they found a goblet in his graue . Warham th' archbishop once of Canterbery , The Iron barres vpon the bridge bestow'd : Warner the copings did reedifie , And many since their liberall minds haue show'd , Whose deedes in life ( if deedes can heauen merit ) Made them in death all heauenly joyes inherit . Thus Medway by this faire stone bridge adorned , Made Thamesis enamor'd of her beauty : All other riuers England had he scorned , Yeelding to her kinde loue-deseruing duty , In smiles , embracements , gratious lookes and greetings , In amorous kisses , murmures , night-set meetings . But how he courted , how himselfe hee carri'd , And how the fauour of this Nimph he wonne , And with what pompe Thames was to Medway marri'd . Sweete Spenser shewes ( O griefe that Spenser's gone ! ) With whose life heauens a while enricht vs more , That by his death wee might be euer pore . With swifter currant Medway to this day From Maidstone runs , in hope the bridge to kisse , One streame another chasing fast away , That thousands hasting of their purpose misse : And downe the gullet all in anger glide , Yet turne in whirle-pooles round , to vew her side . One streame stands kissing with a naked piller , Whose force rebutts the streame which runneth after , And backe retires , with glauncing lookes to fill her Long-wisht desire ; and smiles , and falls to laughter , Last ( in her language ) when she slides away , She seemes to thanke mee for her marriage day . With thanks the gods , with thankes good men are pleased , And thankes she giues him that this bridge first founded : Because this rest her wearie streame hath eased , And now with oares her sides are neuer wounded , But thankefull she , vnthankefull all the towne , The cause ( no doubt ) was once the bridge fell downe . Ioues issue borne of faire Eurynomes , Mirth's naked mothers , snow-white Charites : Daughters of th' Ocean , riuers Presides , The pride of Desarts , sweete mouth'd Naides , These Nimphs of Ashdon forrest neuer haunted Medways flour'd banks ; whilst this fair bridge she wanted For goddesses could not abide the sauour Of millions ouerwhelmed in her brooke : These deyties now take it for a fauour , Their beautie in her glassie streames to looke , All do rejoyce ; and are most thankefull ; man Which should be thankefull , most vnthankefull than . Let marriners which shute his arches through Describe aright , his length , his bredth , his beautie ; Riding in 's sight , they vaile their bonnet low , And strike their top-saile in submissiue dutie : Hee 'l not be brau'd ; no vessell since the marriage Will he receiue , but of a lowly carriage . Some higher ship , whose sailes are swolne with pride , Whose bloudy flaggs like fierie streamers hing , At Chattam lies , and from her hollow side , With double charge sendes forth a culuering , Which rends the shore , and makes the towne to shake , The bridge her breath , herselfe in snuffe doth take . The fierie smooke this Engine vomits out , To him transported by the aire and wind , Hee straight receiues ; and prisons in throughout His hollow vaults , his creuices , and rindes , So th' aire redoubling in his arches , slips A mocking eccho to these prowder ships . This bridge reuiues my dying memorie , Ouer the which I passe into the towne , To view the sacred church of Trinitie : Built by Sir Robert Knowles : and ( though vnknowne ) That Chauntrey joyning to the same I founded , Where Harmonie for euer should be sounded . Sweete Harmonie supposd of Pithagoreans , To be the spheares and heauenly bodies motion , Of Platonists , Amphibolites , and Iouians , A Simmetrie within the soules sharp notion : Heauens handmaide , one of the liberall arts A concord , all of disagreeing parts . Soule-drowning pleasure rauisher of sense , Elisiums Anthem , court-enchanting spell , Our nouice lady-woing eloquence , The fetcher of Euridice from hell , The cowards courage to vphold his armes , The valiant mans encountring fresh alarmes . The ioy to griefe-accloyd calamitie , Thebes singing Syren to display her banners , Prisoners comfort in cold miserie , Cares cosoner , reformer of the manners ; In sorrow , smart , exilement , hunger , anguish , An helper , least we faint , despaire , or languish . Wench-wanton Ioue , and faire Electraes daughter , Of seauen starres , the seauenth not appearing , Empresse of solace , greatest Queene of laughter , Venus white doue , and Mars his onely dearing , Why am I thus in thy remembrance rotten , And in thy sweete saint-pleasing songs forgotten ? Had some feirce Lionesse by the Libian so untaines , Or blacke-mouth'd barking Scilla brought thee forth , On flintie Etnaes sulphur-flaming mountaines : By Tygres nurs'd in th' ice congealed north , Thou couldst not be more frozen harted hatefull , Injurious more , lesse louing , more vngratefull . Neptune obtayning but his Amphitrite , By the Dolphins meanes in heauens azure frame ; In the remembrance of this benefite : Ten star● compacted by the Dolphins name ; Nor Gods , nor men , but Clownes , illiterate , rude , Would thus be poisned with ingratitude . O but I heare thy notes Angelicall , On Orpheus siluer-sounding Harp excuse thee , Whose strayned ditties most melodicall Tell me , the world in dotage doth abuse me : The world is old , and I more old in name , Old age , by youth's preseru'd , not by the same . The time 's in dotage , and the world in yeares , This organ-aged litle world man , Which cradle-witted infant-waxen peares , Gray coated , fond , pale , hoarie , feeble , wan , Bald , drie , diseased , rheumaticke , and cold : Therefore the world is earthlie doting old . He that lyes well , doth well this ill age fit , Hee 's a bare foole which speakes the naked Truth ; The one wise follie , th' other foolish wit : This stripling world is alwaies thus in youth : Such wisdome's doting , doting's frostie cold : Therefore the world is foolish doting old . Old age within her hart a Fox doth hold , A Kyte in hand ; a Bee within her brest , Fox false , deceaues , Kyte greedie , catch thee wold , Bee angrie , stings , beleev'd , come neare , deprest ; These signes all shew within this world I could , Therefore the world is crooked dooting old . Shee builds high roofes with ruines of the Church , Sels lyes for nothing , Nothing for too much ; Faith for three farthings , t' haue thee in the lurch : Shee 's meale mouth'd , simple , scarse abiding tuch . First shee is greedie , next , her craft behold : Therefore the world is wylie doting old . When for a looke shee will be in the lawe , To take the wall , is by the wall to dye , At a great word she will her poynard draw , Looke for the pincke if once thou giue the lye , Is she not angry , hot , audacious bold ? Therefore the world is testie doting old . T is greedie , first , which vsurers will nourish , T is craftie , Lawers lie not to the truth , T is angry , Fencers euery where do flourish , Craft , anger , vsury , neuer seene in youth : In crabbed age these vices we behold , Doubtlesse the world is wonderous doting old . But all the world in question is not cald , For art can varnish o're decayed nature , Old men haue haire , and many yong men bald , Yet perriwigs and painting helpe their feature , In nature weake , in art the world's strong , The world in age againe thus waxeth yong . When great Apollo shewes his threefold might , And by his issue dayly's made the yonger Keeping his vertue , influence , and light , May not man thinke thereby to liue the longer ▪ No , he 's a father , though his chin be bare , But man's a monster if he want his haire . Time was of old , when all of vs were yong , Then we learn'd much , for litle were we knowing , When riper yeares and manhoode made vs strong , Then we knew much , and more still would be showing , Age knowes all well , do nothing well it would In vertue yong the world , in knowledge old . Our fixed stars , a pur-blind old mans eyes , The aire 's a gnastie old mans breath ill smelling , Water a rhume in dropsie when he lyes , Valleyes rough wrinckles , mountaines gowtie swelling : The earth a sleepy old mans long-kept dregs , Men now a feeble old mans windie egs . Let vs but looke into the giants age , Danske Corioneus English Albion , Or Titans broode which gainst the heauens did rage , Fierce Lentesmophius , Effra , Gration . These were the worlds first youthfull progenie , To these our men are an Epitomie . Whose dig'd vp reliques , if we but behold , Do we not wonder at their ribs or teeth ? Like props and milstones : so our issue old Will wonder at our greatnesse which she seeth , Now are we dwarfs , they will be pismires then , This is the fumbling of our age● men . Nor thou faire frame with azure lines thicke quoted , Bright heauen thy swift orbicular round motion , ( As Linceus-eyde Astronomers haue noted : ) From East to West keepes not thy reuolution , Seauen stars their seates haue left , and lost some light : The world is old when heauen is dimme of sight . Ioue's gone to Libra from his amorous maide , And Mercurie thou' rt fled to Scorpio then From Scorpio , Saturne to the Shooters straide , Mars loaths the crab , lie's in the lions den : How can the course of this our world go euen : When all this ods and jarring is in heauen ? Pure , thin , and pleasing , was the aires first breath , Now thick , grosse , noysome t is whereon we feede , A vile contagious mist which can vnneath But pestilence or worse diseases breede : If sicknes thus infect her from the skies , Then the world 's old , and on her death bed lies . The water famous by a Nimphs faire name , Of some foule-leprous body now 's the lees : The sea a sinke , and riuers to the same Are rotten pipes , so fountaines in degrees , The world o'reworne , vnwholesome , for new birth Shee must returne needes to her grandame earth . Our grandame earth whose for-head is o're thwarted , With high-wayes bald , whose backe huge buildings sway , Whose bellie's stuft with piles of men departed Boweld , puld out , and garbisht euery day , Heauen , earth , aire , water , man , the world and all , Are doting old and must to ruine fall . Deceiptfull world , blood-thirsty , couetous , Bleare-eyde , mishapt , vntoward , impious , Three-legd , treble-tong'd , bifronted , traiterous , Backe-broken , bald , enuie-swolne , obliuious , Aire , water , putriside , heauen , earth , infectious , To gods , to men , and to thy selfe injurious . Wax old and die what ? dost thou want a toombe ? Into thy Chaos backe againe returne : And thus twise child perhappes thou maist becoome , Wax old , a new the sooner to be borne , Meane while encrease , thou maist decrease thereby , At length wax old , and last for euer die . Die thou for euer with thy harmonie , Extenuate no more worth's matchlesse deedes , Rochester blot me out of memorie , Let Cobham haue disdaine for worthie meedes : For slaue-borne pesants are for worthies deemed And worthies worse then pesants are esteemed . Ioues Purfiuant ; nimble Mercurius , The proloquutor of my worlds wonne glorie , Swift as Medusaes flying Pegasus : Heare now ( O heare ) the processe of my storie , Greiu'd at the world , in anger ouer-shot , My iust complaint I almost had forgot . Looke when the sun most bride-groome like doth rise , Soone as the morne vnbarres her christall gate : So Bullingbrooke vnto the gazers eyes , Riseth in Richards royall chaire of state , Whose rising was the cause that millions fel , That we in peace , and endlesse pleasure dwel . Great Bolingbrooke this type of chiualrie , In ayding false-faith-breaking Orleance , Against the hote assault of Burgundie , Whose ciuil warres neere driue him out of France , To higher honour willing me to call , Of al the forces made me generall . Then ledde I warre mailde vp in sheetes of brasse , Drawne in a Charriot with amaze and horror , Whose fiery steedes Bellona sterne would lash , To strike the Frenchmen in an vncouth terror ; Feare , clamour , wrath , warres followers but assembled , The French astonisht , turned backe and trembled . Burgundie stonisht , which so prowdly vaunted , Turn'd backe and trembled , turning warre to peace , So much our souldiers sight his courage daunted , So much the Frenchmen lou'd to liue at ease : How would these warriors then haue feard to fight , When with out looks whole myriads tooke their flight Marke what ensues ( for marking it deserues , ) With this dayes honour Orleance not content , But from his oath and neare alliance swerues ; And a bold challenge to king Henry sent : But once forsworne and be forsworne for euer : A Traitor once will be a subiect neuer . Henry ( to calme the Sea of war ) betraid , Rebates the edge of choller with aduise ; Most mildlie answeres to the challenge made : So of himselfe the Conquerour did rise . Which conquest is a far more kinglie boast , Then for to brag the conquering of an hoast . Proude Orleance marching with six thousand strong , ( For hate deepe rooted hardlie left in Frenchmen ) Beseig'd the Towne of Vergie three moneths long : Three hundred English onlie there entrencht then : Of which smal force , ( in force great to withstand hers , ) I and Sir Robert Antfield were commaunders . Three months expyr'd , mind-loftie Orleance Saw that his Souldiers courage gan recoile , With that retyr'd his forces back to France , Without all honour , victorie , or spoile . All Guien since for sauing of their Towne , Long time gaue tribute vnto Englands Crowne . With Thomas Percie Worcesters braue Earle , Against the French againe I went to fight : Percie of bold aduenterous knights the pearle : Many to sword ; but more we put to flight . In wars abroad , in ciuill broiles at home , Oldcastle still selected was for one . Then high-resolued Hotspur Scotlands terrour , The child of Mars and magnanimitie ; The throne of fame , wars palme , & knighthoods mirrour , Ioin'd with the Yorkists , made a mutinie . Thus ill to worse , and worse to wo●se did fall , Worst to rebellion , which was worse then all . To raise all people sooner to commotion , The Archbishop let the commons vnderstand , In guilfull Rhetoricke that it was deuotion , Which caus'd them take these home-bred warrs in hand . This euer is a Rebels chiefe pretence , To vaile his treason or'e with innocence . Looke how a Swarme of hony-gathering Bees , ( The Muses birds ) leauing their luscious bowers , Follow their king in order and degrees , Vntill they find some arbour deckt with flowers : And then they murmur , hum , and all rejoice : Euen so the Commons yeelding , made a noice . And followed Percie to these ciuill broiles , Who made no doubt of Henries victorie : Emboldened by Scotlands late-won spoiles , Yet left him slaine behind at Shrewsbury : And all the Armie , ventrous , valorous , bold , Hote on the spur , now in the spur lie cold . If this deserue a Conquerours praise , For with a Conquest this may make comparison ; Engirt my temples with triumphant baies : Gainst Percie then I led a garrison . Percie so cald ; because he pierst the eie Of the Scots king , and set Northumbers free . Prest then I was with Iohn of Lancaster , Vertues Pyramides , fames imagerie . We vanquished our foes at Doncaster With wisedome , not with rash temeritie . T is often seen , ill-pleasing accidents Proceed from rage and hare-braind hardiments . No day which would not me to wars importune , No warres , but got palme-crowned victorie ; No victorie , but brought her handmaide fortune ; No fortune , but enlarg'd my dignitie . Daies , wars , victorie , fortune , and renowne , Cald me so high , to cast me lower downe . On Sea the mild-aspecting heauens would guide me , ( Whereon who fares may not commaund his waies ; Cherubs on earth , and Seraphins would hide me Vnder their brode gold-flaming winged raies , On Sea , on Land , the Heauens , and Angels all , First fauourd me , at last to make me fall . Fall , ah ! no fall , but honour-climing staire , Staire , ah no staire ; but prince-ascending Throne , Throne , ah no throne ; but Ioues gold-scorning chaire , Chaire , ah no chaire ; but Heauen her selfe alone : That no tong , mind , nor Art , can tell , think , measure , My crownd , soule-pleasing , sweet , joy , mirth , & pleasure . The radiant Eos which so brightlie shone , Whose lamps enlightned all this Hemisphare : Henry the fourth vnto Elisium's gone ; Of whose departure England gins to feare Her soddain fall ; and iudg'd by outward signe , Henry the fifth would lose his fathers shine . Looke how the Suns approach doth ouershade The lesser stars from entercourse of sight ; But from the worlds quick-ere the Sun conuaide , The Stars receiue from him their former light . Stars by the Sun ; Sun in the stars be graced , In Sun , in Stars , heauens sun-bright glori's placed . Henry the fift euen thus did rise , whose shine Of vertue , dimm'd all kings before him quight , He being barred from his glorious shrine ; Their memorie reuiu'd , and shone more bright : Thus they by him , and he in them was graced , In them , in him , faire Englands glorie placed . Now one , by none , but one makes all illustrious , One the first mouer of this firmament , In ruling all her orbes and spheares industrious ; Sun , stars , all plannets are to her obedient ; Like the first mouer as she now appeares , O that she might all England moue his yeares . When Henry , first injoi'd th' imperiall Crowne , A blazing Comet in the West appeared ; At which strange vision , pointed streaming downe : The common sort Art-ignorant much feared . A cause , or signe , some said t was , to portend , The kingdomes fall , or kings vntimely end . Our sharper wits suppos'd thus Ouid wrasted The fable of foole-hardie Phaeton , When some huge Comet was dissolu'd and wasted , Great heat , and drinesse following therevpon , For want of water so the world burned , But vpside downe the Suns carr neuer turned . This all-affrighting Comet I haue heard To be the plighted tresse of Meropes , Or staring haires within the curled beard Of Vulcans prentice swartie Steropes . Be what it will , thus much I do define , Of kingdomes fall t is neither cause nor signe . A Comet is an earth-agreeing vapour , Drawne by the power attractiue of some star , Fyr'd by the Suns beames , burneth like a tapour : Seen in the supream region of the aire : Turning those beames , receiueth forme withall , Bearded , or trest , or stretching forth his taile . Why should a mist-hung Star-exhaled Meteor To kings , or kingdomes be prestigious ? Whose cause is not aboue the power of Nature : Why should it seeme to men prodigious ? Vnlesse we would this Axiom reject , A naturall cause , a naturall effect . In Europe many Comets haue we seen Fore-running kings , nor kingdomes ouerthrow , And kings with kingdomes vanquished haue been , When neuer Comet in the Aire did show . To prophesie from Comets , or deuine , T is foolerie , they neither cause nor signe . If euer sheild-shapt Comet was portent Of Criticke day , foule and pernitious : Then to the Frenchmen , this assigne was sent , Disaster , fatall , inauspitious : Whose bloudie tresses tilting did foreshow , At Agincourt their blooddie ouerthrow . Or else it was ( would it had neuer been , ) But the fore-runner of my Tragedie : And heauens saw ( oh had they neuer seen ) I should sollicite nimble Mercurie , To ingraue my words vpon the hardest mettle , Whose Characters in harts of steele may setle . Which when heauens saw , ( what doth not heauens see ? With raine of teares she seemes my case to weepe , Vsing all meanes , but all meanes would not bee , From death insuing danger me to keepe . But hard it is for heauens to preuent , When destinies for death giue once consent . My Destinies are set in parlament , Aboue their heades a curious frame of stone : Marble below , and during Adamant , On each side flint , and softer object none , Saue that in chaires of hardest oake they sate , In steede of wooll-packes neere the barred gate . In scarlet vestments winter-coloured tresses , Iron their wands , of brasse their writing table , Pens made of tinne ; for inke strong aqua fortis , Their paper steele , their carpet Indian sable , Their countenance like Caiphas , mou'd to ruth ; For god , religion , valour , age , nor youth . In Paules thus sate this vniuersall Sinode The cheife Archbishop Thomas Arundell , More sterne then Minos , Eacus , or Herode , Like Rhadamanth the grim-fac'd iudge of hell : In the first yeare of Henries happy raigne , Last of my ioy , and midle of my paine . First the forsworne Inquisitours sent to them , Of Wickleues ( as they tearm'd them ) villanies , Ouf of whose bookes they did collect , to shoe them Two hundred sixtie and six heresies ; All stricken dumbe , they star'd as if their eies Should for an answere then intreate the skies . To stop the worlds talkatiue wide mouth , Wherefore they sate vpon this conuocation , They hired men to blazon for a much , It was all for the churches reformation ; Thus mischeife will her vice in vertue mother , Blearing mens eyes with one deceit or other . For first the sun dissolue might with his beames , The icie bulke of way lesse Caucasus , On whose snowie mantled top it neuer gleames , Then these frost-bitten prelates sembled thus Would otherwise haue all their causes ended , But as before the Sinode they pretended . Nay Mercurie , if with thy charming wand , Thou had'st descended from the' Olimpique spheares , To plead for pittie , at their feete to stand . With both thine eyelids full of swelling teares , This sense-beguiling action had but ended , My iudgement as before it was pretended . Before these deepe-braind all-fore-seeing Doctours , These reuerent fathers purgatorie teachers , I was complain'd of by the generall proctours , To be a great maintainer of good preachers . O times vntaught , men scorners of sound teaching , Louers of playes , and loathers of good preaching . That Richard , Henries both I had enformed , Of the clergies great and manifold abuses : That popish bulls and ceremonies scorned , Roomes dignitie , her rites , and sacred vses , And that I wisht the popes dominion , Might stretch no surr then Callis O●●an . That I had caused W●ckleues bookes be sent , Faire writ , to Boheme , France , and Germanie , Whereof two hundred openly were brent By Prages Archbishops great authoritie , That I pre●erd vp Bills in Parliament , Where to the King and Lords gaue all consent . Of all the Cleargies villainous abusion , Which I put vp in open Pa●lement , Writ in a briefe-containing sharpe conclusion , These verses were the summarie content , Whose soules with sin empoisning hate did anguish , That they ne're left me till th●y law me languish . Plangunt Auglorum Gentes crimen Sodomorum , Paulus fert horum sunt idola causa malorum , Surgunt ingrati Grezite symone nati , N●m●ne pr●lati , hoc def●nsare parati , Qui reges esti● , populis quicunque praestis , Qualiter hijs estis gladios prohibere potestis . Bewaile may England sinne of Sodomites , For Idoles and they , are ground of all their wo , Of Symon Magus a sect of hypocrites , Surnamed Prelates are vp with them to go , And to vphold them in all that they may do : You that be rulers peculiarly selected , How can you suffer such mischiefes vncorrected ? Now least delay bred danger , they were prest , For to proclaime me for an heretike . But one of more experience than the rest , Such hazard rash proceedings did not like , Because I was in fauour with the King , T was best ( he thought ) to haue his councelling . My life-surmising Bishops swolne in rage , Ambitiously ( high Prelates lowlines ) As if th 'ad vow'd sin-pard'ning pilgrimage , With tapers to Saint Peters holines , Went to the king , made great complaints and lies , Blemisht my name with grieuious blasphemies . Which when he heard ( kings then too much would heare them ) Then he desir'd ( why should not kings command ) In mild-perswading words and deedes to beare them To mee the chiefest pillar of his land , Vnto the church to bring me without rigour , Respecting knighthood prowesie , stocke , and vigour . And promis'd them vpon his excellence , ( If in pursute they tooke deliberation , ) In smoother-edge-rebating eloquence To conquer me by might of sweete perswasion : The clergie gone , Henry for Cobham sent , I came , and shew'd my selfe obedient . Looke how some tender bleeding-harted father , When 's son hath vow'd a vertue-gaining voyage , Flint-rock-relenting arguments will gather All to diswade him from this pilgrimage , And prayes , intreates ; intreates , and prayers vaine , At length considers t is for vertues gaine . Yet bout his necke he vseth kissing charmes , And downe his bosome raines a shower of teares , Hugges , culles , and clippes him in his aged armes : This thing he doubts , another thing he feares , Takes leaue , turnes backe , returnes , intreates anew , Giues ouer , weepes , and last , bids him a dew . Euen so the king , to stay my voyage tended , ( My vowed voyage to the holy land , ) Ten thousand reasons both begunne and ended , That gainst the Pope I should in no wise stand : Then vowes , prayes , treates ; vowes , treates , and praiers vaine From prayers , treates , and vowes he doth refraine . To whom I answerd in humilitie , ( Because I knew kings were the Lords annoynted ) To him I yeelded all supremacie , As Gods sword-bearing minister appointed : My body , goods , my life , my loue , my land Were his to vse , distribute , or command . Then in a sorrow-sighing extasie , ( Seeing my zealous burning true affection , ) Denying to the Pope supremacie , Yeelding to him foote-treading low subjection ) Henry tooke leaue turn'd backe , entreated new , Gaue ouer , wept , and last bade me adew . If tyrants will , vsurpt authoritie Must be obey'd , what reuerence me behoued To giue this king , this tyrants enemie , Feared for loue , and for his vertues loued , Whose honours ensigne o're the world had spred him , In warres , and peace , if church men had not led him . And tyrants tended on with injurie , With murders , rapes , lou'd only but for feare , Whose sword and scepter gards iniquitie , Ought t' haue their subiects reuerence to them beare , As we our selues , so must the common w●●lth , Some sicknesse , sometimes suffer , sometimes health . As some disease , or bed infecting bile , Whose pricking ach , sharpe agonie , and stings , Must be sustaind and suffred for a while , Till time to his maturitie him brings , Not rashly then , but as the Surgeon will , Least suddain handling all the bodie spill . Euen so a Tyrant ( Realmes infectious bile , ) Must not be robd of his regalitie , Till death him of his regiment beguile : Or wise men for this griefe find remedie : Not rashly then , for altring of a State Breedes often outrage , bloodshed , and debate . Euen as the head the bodie should commaund , And all his parts , to peace or warfare lead ▪ So with a mightie Monarch doth it stand , His subjects parts , and he himselfe the head : But if those parts do grudge and disobay , Head , bodie , Monarch , subiects , all decay . A God , a King , are conuertible voices , Then Kings like Gods should gouerne and beare sway : What Gyants broode in vprore so rejoices , That gainst the Gods his banners will display ? Though with his huge weight Pelion Ossa prest , And fought with Ioue , he neuer got the best . How many blessed Patriarches suffred wrong By cruell Tyrants sin-reuenging rod ? And haue endur'd such heauie bondage long , Accounting it a torture sent from God . The Tyrant as a man may be rejected , His place and office yet must be respected . What punishment for practizing belongs ? But punishment , nor practise will I name : Men more doe follow most forbidden wrongs ; When by forbidding they doe know the same . For Parricide the Romaines made no Law , Least such a sin the people so might knaw . Now Arundell resorts vnto the King , By Popish charmes inchaunting him thereto , To send Cytations , fore them me to bring . ( What was it not but Clergie men could do ? ) The Sumner came to Cowling , but as one Afraid , turnd back his message left vndone . The Kings doore-keeper ( in the silent night , ) Iohn Butler sent for was by Arundell : For this heauen-martyring deede he doubtlesse might In Cerberus place haue kept the doore of Hell . With great rewards , and warrantize from blame , He caus'd him cyte me in king Henries name . This kiss-betraying Iudas writ I stood , Who with a lie thus left me in the lurch : But still the Bishop thurstie of my blood , Caus'd writs be set on Rochesters great Church . In paine of curse commaunding me remember , To appeare at Lede● th' eleuenth of September . All were rent downe . He excommunicates And cites a fresh with curse and interdiction , Compels the Lay power : them he animates T' assist him in Apostataes conuiction . In more reproach and vile contempt to haue me ; Such like opprobrious names the Bishop gaue me . At last ( thus tost ) I writ my faiths confession , Vnto the foure chiefe Articles answered : Of Penance , Shrift , Saints , transubstantiation , Which gainst me all by Arundell were laid . I come to Court and written with me bring , My Swans last funerall dirgee to the king . Which to receiue Henry began to grudge : ( Marke but the power of Clergie men those daies ) Commaunding me deliuer it to my judge ( Here Arundell both sword and miter swaies ) The Archbishop : But with a flat deniall , I did appeale vnto the Pope for triall . But this denyde in presence of the king , ( Without vainglorious ostentation , ) I proffred an hundreth Knights to bring , Esquiers as many , for my iust purgation . Not once depending on their safe protection , But to the King shew dutifull subjection . Againe I offred in my faiths true quarrell , By law of Armes to fight for life or death , With Christ'n , Heathen , Turk , Iew , Infidell : The king excepted , any that drew breath . They answered me , I was too valorous bold . Then in the Tower they laid me fast in hold . Valour the sonne of mightie Ioue esteemed Where blooddie Mauors borroweth his name , Of old Philosophers onelie vertue deemed : Learnings bright sheild , the register of Fame . Which to expresse the Grecians could afford , For Valour , Mauors , Vertue , but one word . Death scorning Arioth , why is not regarded Thy Sun-resplendant kingdome conquering power ? Is Mars-amazing Turnaments rewarded With Traitors meede impris'nment in the Tower ? From bearing Armes valour hath me exempted ; Why was my challenge else not then accepted ? Sir Robert Morley then the Towers Lieutenant , Twice ( to be briefe ) did bring me to appeare ; In Plutoes court before this Rhadamant : The Arguments of my strong faith to heare . Yet he no faith had , was it not a wonder , That he was faithlesse , all the Church Faith vnder ? In all mine answeares taking great aduise , As a true faith-professing Protestant , Not superstitious , nor too fond precise , Whose firme resolue no tyrannie can dant . So with mine answeares as it seemd amazed , My iudgement on the soddaine forth they blazed . To heauens all seeing light vpon my knees , ( The sentence giuen ) humblie did I fall , With heau'd-vp hands pray'd for mine enemies ; In his great mercie to forgiue them all : Bound hand and foote back through the Sluce I 'm led , The gazers eyes like sluces in his head . Whilst there I lie in midnight-dark immur'd , My friends emblazoned forth mine injurie● Whereby the Priests great obloquie incur'd , Both of the Commons , and Nobilitie , In pollicie , to haue this tempest staid , They to my Bils an abjuration made . A parlament was cald at Leicester , ( Because I had such fauour bout the citie ; They would not haue it kept at Westminster : This act establisht was ; O more then pittie , That such strange acts should be establisht euer , Which man from wife , from goods & lands doth seuer . That whosoeuer in the mothers tong , Should reade , or heare , the sacred Scriptures scand : For this so hainous heauen-offending wrong , From him , his heires , should lose his goods and land ; Gainst Heauens , and gainst the Kings great majestie , He should be hang'd for treason , burnt for heresie . O murder-poisned ruthlesse Rhadamants , Blood thurstie Neroes , brainsicke Bacchides , Earth swallowed Typhons , currish Coribants , Beare-fostered Dracons , damn'd Busirides . Liue by your euill , know for euill done , Liues with the father , dyes not with the son . Now to release my bodie from the Tower , ( How might the Tower include so old a castle ) Case-altring bribes I vs'd not , strength , nor power ; But with my wit , out of her bonds I wrastle . The prentice bard of freedom thus aduentures , To break his bonds and cancell his indentures . Riches in thraldome no contentment bring , All lordship 's lost when libertie is gone , What vaileth it a lion be a king ? Closely shut vp within this tower of stone , Man was made free , and lord o're euery creature : To be in bondage then , is gainst his nature . The husband man more glad is at the plough , That browne-bread crusts , and restie bacon eates : Then th' imprisoned king that hath inough , Of wastell cakes ; and far more lushious meates . No bird takes solace by her songs in hold , Although her meate be curds , her cage of gold . Nor vnto mee that lay in prison bound , In musicke mirth was : or in riches pleasure , Iingling of fetters had no merie sound , My griefe too much , for ioyes on earth to measure , But now I 'm free ; my keeper he remaines To taste my sorrowes ; vndergoe my paines . Nor can I iudge , I being misst the morrow , His griefe 's extreame , though foolishnes it be , For treasure lost , to waile , or make great sorrow : When , whosoeuer greeues in that degree , Counting his losse , and afterward his paine , He of one sorrow maketh sorrowes twaine . But the remembrance of my prisonment , In little ease fast bound in yron chaines , Did breede more comfort , ioy , and soules content , When libertie had loosenes of the raines , One by another contraries delight , Daie is delightsome in respect of night . And though I am escaped from the Tower , Feare yet my soule in prison fast doth hold , Other mishaps pursue me eu'ry hower , Burnt childe dreadeth fire , the prouerb 's old , Who d●eades no danger , in danger must fall , What foole once at large , would make himselfe thrall ? Sir Roger Acton , in the priests displeasure , Of my escape was thought the chiefe procurement : Onely when t' was the night , which gaue me leasure , ( Whose shade for freedome , is the sole allurement : ) To thinke of slight , effecting what I thought , With both together my escape I wrought . Night the beginning of this massie round , The worlds mother , shaddow of the earth , Greate Demogorgons issue from the ground , The ancientest of Goddesses by birth , Louers delight ; loues fittest time to play , Venus bright star , and Cupides clearest day . The ease of care , for ease the sweetest rest , The peace of minde , the quiet seate of peace , The soule of sleepe , the sleepe of soules opprest , Desires best meane , impris'nments release : Aboue all nights , nights , dayes , each hower remember , To solemnize the twenteth of Nouember . Mounting her chariot of darke Ebony , Whilst thorn-backt Cinthia held her sennets raine , Adorned in her winters liuery , Of stars three millions following as her traine , She rockt the world with sense-sure-binding sleeps , And bade me lanch forth to the Ocean deeps . Tide for the ship , and ship was for the tide , Wind for the tide , and tide was for the wind , For Neptune men , and Neptune them to guide , Thames wanton-currant stealing on behind , Night , Neptune , men , ship , tide , the Thames , and wind , For my escape were all in one combind . And whilst I cut this dangerous swelling sourse , The brest-bare-loue-enticing Naiedes , Play on before me , and direct my course To the dew-bedangled Oceanitides , For whose sweete sake I 'm entertain'd a stranger , And harmelesse sau'd from waues , from wind , from danger . What time the gloomie morning from her bed , Muffled in mists , and raukie vapours rose , With watrie lockes about her shoulders spred Regardlessely ; because she did suppose Our quiuering flags and streamers did out-braue The golden sun , vpon the siluer waue . I rode on Goodwins mercie-wanting sand , Or sea-mans swallowing gulfe drunke Hecates , And like Vlisses to his dearest land , I scour'd the Scillaes and Simphlegades , Ariuing at my wisht-for hauen Douer , And thorow Kent to Cowling I came ouer . Ship , slice the sea , and be thou deifi'd , Shine brightest on this starre-bestudded vaile , In heauen more worthy to be stellifi'd , Than that wherein the Argonautes did saile : Let frothie waues die o're thy pitchie blacke , And in Elisiums deepe last suffer wracke . But home , no harbour was for mine estate ; I 'm still pursu'd so with mine enemies , E're thrise the sun did ope his Eastern gate , I with my houshould were constrain'd to slee : Tost long vpon the Bishops Sea , at last Neere to saint Albones , we our anchor cast . But by misfortune t' was the Abbots land , Whereas we lay ; so by his priuie spies , The fat-backt tumbrell soone did vnderstand , And vnawares a sleepe did vs surprise , Three of my men he tooke , my bookes , my wife , Onely with one I fled , and sau'd my life . My men to treate the Abbot now begin , My Margarites beauty , streaming on his face , Fairenesse no fauour in his sight would win , Their wordes no pittie moue , their lookes no grace : Then the gan speake , but spake vnto the wind , Remorse did neuer lodge in clownish mind . Dumb stoode my doue , and wrung her hands , whilst often Low kneeling downe , teares from her eies did shower : Hard is that hart which beauty cannot soften , Yet mourning beautie had on him no power : Although her teares were like his christall beads , Which melted , wash the place whereon he treades . Stil she intreates , and still the pearles round Stil through her eies , and wel vpon her face , Such hony drops , on roses I haue found , When bright Apollo held the morne in chace : But both the charmes , of teares and sugred words , For their release no aide at all asordes . Thus kneeld , thus prai'd , thus wept my beuteous Queene , To see my louing mens imprisonment : Thus wisht shee ; rather that they might haue seene Her dying day , or endlesse banishment : And in remembrance I was mist among , Her weakned sorrowes therby grew more strong . But now the limbecke of her blood-shot eies , Burnt vp with sighs , their springing teares haue staid , No hope of life in her the Abbot sees ; So backe to Cowling safe she was conuaid : She drowps , she faints , she swownds , she comfort flieth , I was her comfort , comfortlesse she dieth . I trauell still , like to the wandring knight For ladies loue , on strange aduentures bownd , As counceller I made the tonglesse night Of my distresse , which all in silence drownd , Least to the world , day should my griefe discouer , I striue , vntill hart , eies , sighs , teares , ran ouer . Through many bywaies , many countries fled , In midst of Cheshire now I 'm on a riuer , By more crookt winding which her currant led , Then I had gone by-wayes ; her name the Weeuer : On whose prowde banke such entertaine I had , As longer , if I might , I would haue staid . Still doe I wander by the banks of Weeuer , With gorgeous buildings statelie ritch adorned : Buildings the banks , and banks outbraue the Riuer ; Shee swels o're banks and buildings , them shee scorned : Limits there be for euery thing beside , No banks can limit in the sea of pride . Her tumbling streame my guide was to vaile roiall , Through all the Wyches vnto Ashtons chappell , Frodsham , Rockesauage , Thus I had a triall , How she vnloaded all her rolling Channell : With neare embracements Weeuer , Mersey met , And both together th' Irish Seas they gret . I will but wade neare to this Riuers brink , And of her deepnesse make this shallow boast : Her cooling water those dry countries drink : So shee makes fruitfull all the western coast ; That no lesse famous , no lesse faire a riuer , Then the fift Auon , or third Ouze , is Weeuer . To Lancashire from hence my journey lies , Where plentie dwels , where pleasantnesse of Aire Breathes forth like baulme from rose-strawne Paradies ; At the first blushing of the morning faire : Where beutie , vertue , loue , wit , and the Graces , Sit all in ●riumph on the weemens faces . I doe salute this climate in my way , On which the heauens such fauours did bestow : But t' was too hote for me therein to stay , Except I would my selfe a Papist show : So there , through many paines and perils past , I 'm safe returned back to Wales at last . Here Cobham liues , oh doe not say he liues , But dying liues , or liuing howerly dies● A liuing death exilement alwaies giues , A banisht man still on his death bed lies . Mine high estate is low misfortunes graue , My power restrain'd is now a glorious slaue . What in exilement to my sect befell , Daigne to vnfould mellifluous Mercurie : Nay stay , why shouldst thou to the world tell , That with thy tong , all eies abhord to see : Yet greefe kept in ofttimes doth grow more fell , For riuers damm'd , aboue the bank doe swell . This Act proclaim'd and disanuld in many , Twice twentie hundred soules were martyred : Out of the land to Spaine , and Germanie , Bohemia , Fraunce , and Scotland , others fled . Who would not flie , what patient man can bide , In Clergie men ambitious hautie pride ? Sir Roger Acton , Browne , and Beuerley , Knight , Squire , and Preacher , valorous , vertuous , good : In Chr●stenmas vpon Saint Thomas day , Gainst certain Priests vpon a quarrell stood : For which so hainous and inhumane wrong , They were attacht , and into prison flong . Now was the month which Ianus hath to name , Of old new christened by Pompilius ; And wondrous proud that he had got such fame ; Added feeld-purging Februarius : Ianus bifronted , one which bids adew Vnto the old yeare , entertaines the new . When Roger Acton , Beuerley , and Browne , Of Heresie conuicted by the Act : To Thicket feelds vpon an hurdle drawne , Were hang'd , and burn'd ( O more then monstrous fact : ) And through the Realme all Artists it would cumber , By that fore Act the martyres all to number . Some two yeares after was a mutinie , An vproare , tumult , or rebellion In Saint Gyles feelds ; the which conspiracie Acton and I , some doe affirme begone ; But the Kings power not able to with-stand , We fled , were taken , burned out of hand . Which time tree-garnisht Cambriaes loftie mountaines Did ouer-shade me with their beetle browes , And by Elysiums Nectar-spouting fountaines Acton did march in Saint-triumphing showes : From Wales returne I could not then to fight , From Heauen Acton would not if he might . Twice told , two twelue months now the howers haue broke , Their morning slumbers on the Sun to tend , And bring his horses to the charriots yoke : Mark now the period of my dolefull end : The Clergie mallice ( not ore-blowne ) will haue me , Though heauen and earth , & all had sworn to saue me . With lordlie gifts and kinglie promises They fed Lord Powis ( gouernour in Wales , He came to me pretending holinesse ; To true Religion for a time he falls : And last , his Iudas kindnes did bewray me , Seeking all meanes how that he might betray me . Powis his promise faine would haue forsaken , Before the meanes for my attach he wrought : I was not one so easie to be taken , With his owne blood his bribes he dearlie bought : But I not able to withstand his strength , ( Not Hercules gainst two ) was tooke at length . In greatest greefe this one thing made me glad , ( Though hard t is fasten mirth with miserie ) That in mine absence Arundell was dread , Which was resolu'd before , my death to see : But seld comes better , he though void of grace , Yet was a man , the Deuill came in his place . Thus ill at worst doth alway gin to mend , And by example good doth often gaine : That by degrees so rising in the end , To perfect goodnesse it returnes againe : So since his time they haue so risen still , Thriuing in good , as they decaid in ill . Now goodnesse raised to her highest pitch , In snow-white robes is sent vs for a gift : The radiant splendour of this Empire ritch , Whose shining lustre heauens doth enlight : O that I could a spirit in thee breathe , Whose life preserues diuinitie from death . By Chichley Archbishop of Canterburie , And Bedford Prorex ( oh the King was absent : ) Of Treason I 'm condemn'd and Heresie ; A double crime , a double punishment : My iudgement giuen ; of death , the day and hower Appointed ; I am sent back to the Tower . Death the pale daughter of black Erebus , What fashion to appeare in doth not know : But councell takes of Nox and Morpheus , What forme most terrour and amaze will show : Hell , Sleepe , Night , Death , are troubled to deuise , What new found shape might please these tyrants eies . Two fyrie coursers foming clottred blood , Whurries ; at last , Death bound in iron chaines ; Whil'st goblings ( gaping like a whirle-poole ) wood , Doe lash their goarie sides , with steeled yaines : Blood and reuenge , by in a chariot ride , Millions of furies scudding by their side . Which all at once doe vomit Sulphure flakes , Throw scorching brands , which wrapt in brimston , choke The trembling Audience ; that affrighted quakes , To vew the Sun eclipst with steaming smoke : To heare deuils , ghosts , and feends howle , roare , & yell , Filling the earth , as though they empted hell . To Thickets feeld thus was Oldcastle hurried , The gallowes built of purpose wondrous hie : Neare to the top of which , ( as one lies buried ) In three cold chaines mine aged corps doe lie : The faggots fyr'd , with me the gallowes burne , I call on God , and to the fyre I turne . The Prelates curse , alowd the people crie , One would rebell , another him aswageth , One sighs , to vew anothers blubred eie , One murmuring railes , another inlie rageth , All weep , some howle , some faint , some swound , some die . Deafing the heauens , darkening the skie . The bundels cracke ; with that the mourning Aire Comes whisking round to coole the raging flame , When he perceiues his breathes but bellowes are , Rather to kindle then to coole the same : He turnes himselfe to water , and he raines To quench the fyre , and ease me of my paines . The fyre , red-blushing of his fact ashamed , Clad him in Smoke , the smoke to Aire he turned , That aire to water , water earth receiued , Earth , like the fyre to melt to water , burned : Earth , Water , Aire , Fyre , symboliz'd in one , To quench , or coole , Oldcastles Martyrdome . But now I gaspe , I fry , I drop , I fall , My Chaines doe yeeld , Spectators stand agast , To make the which abhorred more of all , My Bootes and Spurs must in the fyre be cast . O death ! strange death ! which to describe at large , Would aske sweete Ouids wit , and Nestors age . If wits pearle-dropping Opobalsamum , In Amber-streaming Eloquence were drie ; Vnto my bleached cindars she might come , And take a fluent Helicon supplie : Mine Ashes bath'd in th' vnguent of her eies , A siluer-fethered Phaenix would arise . Ah no! my bodies snow-white burned ashes , ( Those harmlesse reliques ) cast were in the riuer ; Whose salt-fresh-meeting waues betwixt them washes , Like Lethe , my remembrance not to liue here : My vertues fame , is like my bodies death , Kindled with a blast , and burnt out with a breath . And in this idle age who 's once forgotten , Obliuion dims the brightnesse of his glory : Enuie is ripe before his bones be rotten , And ouerthrowes the truth of vertues story : Despoil's his name , and robs him of his merits ; For naught but fame man after death inherits . Nor can my soule within the sable night , When all ( but louers ) welcome carelesse rest : Like to some subtle shade , or wandring spright , With goarie sides , and deeper lanched brest ; Holding in tho'ne hand wildfyre , in the other A torch , to stifle th' aire with pitchie smother . With deep sunke eyes , lanke cheeks , and pallide hew , Dismembred armes , sharpe visage , doubtfull sight , Enter some watchfull Poets secret mew , His heauenly thoughts , and quiet studies fright ; With hollow voice : commaunding him set forth , Immortall verse for my entomblesse worth . Then should the world on brasen pillers view me with great Achilles , in the house of Fame ; His Tutor'd pen with Tropheis would renew me , And still repaire the ruin of my name : But I 'm inuirond with the Elisian feelds , Which for departed soules no passage yeelds . But Wickleues soule now beares me company , And Ierome Prages , within the highest heauen , ( These were my comfort in calamitie ) Whose ioyes ( Rome sayes ) her curses hath bereauen : Thus ( if they could ) they would denie vs t' haue , In heauen our soules , as in the earth our graue . Iewes burie him , which railes on Moses lawes , Turkes him , which worships not their Alkaron , Tartarians him , which Cham no reuerence shawes , The Persians him , which worships not the sun , More rigorous cruell then this Romish crew : Then Persian , Turke , Tartarian , or Iew . Their dead in banquets Scithians deuoure , Their dead with dogs Hircanians do eate , Phagi with fish ; with foule th' Assirian poure , The Troglodites to wormes are giuen for meate : More heath'nish papists , they deny me t' haue , In beast , fish , foule , in man , or worme , my graue . Becket was wounded in his priests apparrell , In Romes defence ; his death was glorious , I burnt , vnburied , drown'd for Christs owne quarrell , My death to most was ignominious ; He prais'd , adornd , and for a martyr sainted , Whilst I ( Romes scoffe ) my rites of buriall wanted . For Beckets sake erected was a tombe , Like an Egiptian high Pyramides , Millions of bare-foote pilgrims yeerely come , With tapers burning to his holynes , Till Henry th' eight by Cromwells good procurement , Cast downe this mocke-ape toy , this vaine alurement . The glorious beutie of this brightest shrine , The treasorie of euer-springing gold : Becket is set ; now doth Oldcastle shine ; Him for a Saint within your Kalends hold . Thus fooles admire what wisest men despiseth , Thus fond affects doe fall , when vertue riseth . Wit , spend thy vigour , Poets , wits quintessence , Hermes make great the worlds eies with teares ; Actors make sighes a burden for each sentence : That he may sob which reades , he swound which heares . Mean time , till life in death you doe renew , Wit , Poets , Hermes , Actors , all adew . FINIS .