[251] “The singuler great loue and affection that he bare vnto the
saide Eastrilde coued not yet out of his minde and be forgotten,
wherfore he made a Caue vnder the ground in the Citie of Troynouant and
enclosed her therein--insomuch as he had the companie of her the space
of vij yeres full, aud none knewe it, but a fewe of his verie familyer
and faythfull friendes.” _Grafton._

[252] Likewise my Elstride I as Queene ordain’d. N.

[253] Rais’d. N.

[254] Or. 1575.

[255] For. N.

[256] Stura stream. 1575.

[257] Fabian varies from the other chronicles by stating the death of
Locrine as in the life time of Gwendoline’s father; as she “beynge
sore discontent, excyted her Fader and frendes to make warre vpon the
sayd Lotryne her husbande. In the which warre, lastly, he was slayne
when he reygned or ruled Loegria, or Logiers, after the concordaunce
of moste wryters XX yers; And was buryed by his Fader in the cytie of
Troynouant.” This might be the authority of our author for relating his
burial at Troynouant as the stanza appears in the first edition.

    Then was I brought to Troynouant, and there
    My body was enterrid as you reade:
    When I had raigned all out twenty yere:
    Lo thus I liude and thus became I deade:
    Thus was my crowne depriued from my heade,
    And all my pompe, my princely troupe and trayne,
    And I to earth and duste resolude againe. (1575.)

[258] Now warne estates, ib.

[259] No false deceit deceiues. N.

[260] Edition 1575 has only seven lines in this stanza: it concludes
thus

    For though ye colour all, with coate of right:
    Yet can no fained farde deceiue his sight.

THE AUTHOUR.

    With that this king was vanisht quite and gone,
    And as a miste dissolued into ayre:
    And I was left with Morpheus all alone,
    Who represented straight a Lady faire,
    Of frendes depriude and left in deepe dispaire:
    As eke she spake, all wet in cordes fast bounde,
    Thus tolde she how she was in waters drounde.

[261] Woman. ed. 1575.

[262] The first saue three amongst vs all. ib.

[263] “Eastrildis so farre excelled in bewtie, that none was then
lightly found vnto her comparable, for her skin was so whyte that
scarcely the fynest kind of Iuorie that might be found, nor the snowe
lately fallen downe from the Elament, or the Lylles did passe the
same.” _Grafton._

[264] Was. 1575.

[265] Or. ed. 1575.

[266] For. ib.

[267] Night. N.

[268] T’whom. N.

[269] Manhode. ed. 1575.

[270] Or let me on thy Queene be wayting mayde. ib.

[271] Thou. ed. 1575. You. N.

[272] Omitted stanza from ed. 1575.

    As for my Queene as yet I none possesse,
    Therefore thou rather maiste voutchsafe to take
    That place thy selfe, then waite on her I gesse,
    Whose beautie with thy face no match can make:
    The Gods denye that I thy heste forsake;
      I saue thy life, eke God forbid that I
      Should euer cause so fayre a Ladie die.

[273] In. ed. 1575.

[274] Mine armes and giue me libertie at will. N.

[275] With whom such fauour I did after find. N.

[276] Have. ib.

[277] Sayd. ib.

[278] Constraineth one mine Elstride to imbrace. N.

[279] So, in both.

[280] Yet faithlesse in his promise he did proue. N.

[281] _i. e._ sorrow.

[282] Attainde. ed. 1575.

[283] Not be Locrinus wife. ed. 1575.

[284] Radge. ib.

[285] Parents. ib.

[286] Woman. ib.

[287] Ladye fayre. ib.

[288] This. ed. 1575.

[289] Tygres. ib.

[290] Day. N.

[291] What strumpet, think’st, for that thou seemest braue. N.

[292] Seeme. N.

[293]

    Ne stoode she still but with hir handes on syde
    Walkte vp and down, and oft hir palmes she stroke;
    “My husband now (quoth she) had not thus dyde,
    “If such an harlot whore he had not tooke:”
    And there withall she gaue me such a looke
    As made me quake. ed. 1575.

[294] Thee. ib.

[295] Take. ib.

[296] Wyse. ed. 1575.

[297] Then Elstride now prepare thy selfe therfore. ed. 1575.

[298] And friends. N.

[299] The. 1575.

[300] Striving, ed. 1575.

[301] A Prince’s wife. N.

[302] Myne. ed. 1675.

[303]

    Then warne all Ladies that howe much more hie
    Then their degrees they clime, mo daungers nye.

    ed. 1575.

[304] Flattery refuse. N.

[305] Turning, ed. 1575.

[306] Then bid beware. ib.

[307] THE AUTHOURE.

    With that she flitted in the ayre abrode,
    As twere a miste or smooke dissolued quite,
    And or I long on this had made abode,
    A virgine smale, appearde before my sight,
    For colde and wet eke scarsly moue she might.
      As from the waters drownd didering came,
      Thus wise hir tale in order did she frame.

    ed. 1575.

[308] Many of the incidents of the preceding lives are united to form
the plot of “the lamentable Tragedie of Locrine, the eldest son of
King Brutus, discoursinge the warres of the Britaines,” entered in the
Stationers Books 1594. The first act shows Brutus sick, making the
division of the kingdom among his sons Albanact, Humber, and Locrine.
The succeeding acts exhibit their wars on each other, and in the last
is that created by Guendoline against Locrine, concluding with his
death and those of his concubine and daughter the Lady Sabrine. See
Malone’s Supplement, Vol II. p. 189. There is also “an old ballad
of a duke of Cornwall’s daughter,” (Guendoline) inserted in Evans’s
Ballads, 1784, Vol. I. The respective writers appear to have consulted
the Mirror for Magistrates. In the persons represented in the play
the author has chosen to deviate from all chronicle history by making
“Madan, _daughter_ of Locrine and Guendolen.”

[309] Tis wisedome rather then to winne to saue. ed. 1575.

[310] Elstride or Astrilde, is described by Robert of Gloucester as the
stern Guendoline’s “bed suster, hire lordis concubine.”

[311] Flye, flye, thy gelous stepdame seekes thy life. ed. 1575.

[312] Eke. N.

[313] Farewell in woe you cannot scape hir knife. ed. 1575.

[314] Thryse. ib.

[315] Little, ed. 1575.

[316] Sclender. ib.

[317] An omitted stanza from ed. 1575.

    Thus throughe the hoste he bare me to my bane,
    And shewde the Souldiours what a spoyle he had:
    “Loke here (quoth he) the litle Princes tane.”
    And laught, and ran as brutish butcher mad;
    But my lamenting made the souldiours sad,
      Yet nought preuailde, the caytife as his pray
      Without all pitie bare me still away.

[318] Till. ed. 1575.

[319] Some saide lo Elstride shee resembleth right. ib.

[320] Some. ib.

[321] Some said the thiefe. ib.

[322] And. ib.

[323] Nought. ib.

[324]

    “O Queene (quoth I) God knowes me innocent,
    To worke my father’s death I neuer ment.” ed. 1575.

[325] Take. ib.

[326]

    This Sabrine hand and foote; at once let see
    Her here receyue. ed. 1575.

[327] Which. ib.

[328] Guendoline “made a proclamation throughout all the whole realme
of Briteyn that the same water should be euermore called Habren, after
the maydens name, for so euen at this day is Seuerne called in the
Welsh tongue. And this did she as one desirous to make thereby the name
of the yong mayden immortall, because she was her housband’s daughter.”
_Grafton._

[329] By this. ed. 1575.

[330] Hence. ib.

[331] Here may you see, the children seldome thee. ib.

[332] Farewell, and tell when Fortune most doth smile. ib.

[333] THE AUTHOUR.

    With that the Lady Sabrine slinckt from sight,
    I lookt about and then me thought againe
    Approched straight another wofull wight:
    It seemde as though with dogs he had bin slaine;
    The bloud from all his members torne amaine
    Ran downe: his clothes were also torne and rente,
    And from his bloudy throte these plaintes he sente. ed. 1575.

[334] That. ed. 1575.

[335] Was. ib.

[336]

    Durst none aduenture anger mine t’ aswage
    If once to freate and fume I did begin;
    And I excelde in nothing els but sinne,
    So that wel nighe all men did wishe my ende. ed. 1575.

[337] And. N.

[338] In pleasures pleasaunt was my whole repaste, ed. 1575.

[339] This seems a provincial word, as crome is used in Norfolk for a
hook. See _Grose’s Glossary_.

[340] Syrtes, a quicksand or bog. _Johnson._

[341] Neuer, ed. 1575.

[342] Vast. N.

[343] The conclusion of this life, from stanza 11, is thus varied in
ed. 1575.

    Alas that youth (in vayne) so vyly spent,
    Should euer cause a king to haue such ende:
    Alas that euer I should here lament,
    Or else should teache vnto my cost my frende:
    Alas that fortune such mishap should sende:
      But sithe it is to late for me to crie,
      I wishe that others may take hede herebye.

    I might full well by wisdome shund this snare,
    Tis sayde a wiseman all mishap withstandes.
    For though by starres we borne to mischieues are:
    Yet prudence bayles vs quite, from carefull bandes,
    Eche man (they say) his fate hath in his handes,
      And what he makes, or marres to lese, or saue
      Of good, or euill, is euen selfe do selfe haue.

    As here thou seest by me, that led my dayes
    In vicious sorte, for greedy wolues a praye:
    Warne others wysely, than to guide their wayes
    By mine example, wel eschue they may,
    Such vices as may worke their own decay:
      Which if they do, full well is spent the time
      To warne, to wryte, and eke to reade this rime.

THE AUTHOUR.

    When this was said, no more was Madan seene,
    (If it were he) but sure I half suspecte
    It was some other else, so seru’de had bene,
    For that all stories do not so detecte
    His death, or else I did perhaps neglecte
      His tale, bicause that diuers stories brought,
      Such fancies of his death into my thought.

    Therefore although it be not as some write
    Here pende by me, and yet as others haue:
    Let it not greeue thee reade that I recite,
    And take what counsaile of good life he gaue:
    I trust I may (that dreame) some pardon craue,
      For if the reste, no dreames but stories pen:
      Can I for that they wryte be blamed then?

    No sure, I thinke the readers will not giue
    Such captious dome, as Momus erste did vse,
    Though Zoilus impes as yet do carping liue:
    And all good willing writers much misuse.
    Occasion biddes me some such beastes accuse,
      Yet for their bawling hurtes me not I nill:
      But with my purpose, on procede I will.

    Next after that, came one in princely raye
    A worthy wight but yonge, yet felt the fall:
    It seemde he had bene at some warlike fraye,
    His breste was woundid wide and bloudy all:
    And as to mynde he musde his factes to call,
      Depe sighes he fet, made all his limmes to shake:
      At length these wordes, or like to me he spake.

[344] Madan had reigned forty years. Fabian says there is “lytell or no
memory made (of him) by any wryters.” As a strict conservator of laws
and for “great sapience,” he is briefly eulogised by Harding.

[345] We. ed. 1575.

[346] We neuer could our great, ib.

[347] We. ib.

[348] Our. ib.

[349] We. ib.

[350] Our. ib.

[351] We. ib.

[352] But O we thinke. ib.

[353] We. ib.

[354] Vppon this earth is all the greatest hap. N.

[355] We. ed. 1575.

[356] We. ib.

[357] We. ed. 1575.

[358] We. ib.

[359] And by me. ib.

[360] We. ib.

[361] Manlius, ib.

[362]

    Who thinkes an other of his right beguyle,
    Himselfe is soonest cleane bereaude of all. ib.

[363] My elder brother, ib. The authority for making this variation was
probably Harding, to whose work Higgins may refer as “an old chronicle
in a kind of English verse.” (See p. 7.) Harding says, “the yonger
Memprise slewe his brother Maulyne, elder of age.” The other writers
seem uniform in describing Mempricius as the elder.

[364] Did euer square, ib.

[365] Lou’d me well. ed. 1575.

[366] My brother feared I should haue his right. ib.

[367] I me bore. ib.

[368] I for because I might obtaine the crowne. ib.

[369] Fauoure. ib.

[370] Our. ib.

[371] And I could not from mine. ib.

[372] An additional stanza occurs here in the first edition.

    See here, th’ occasion of my haplesse happe,
    See here his chaunce that might haue liu’de ful wel:
    So baited swete is euery deadly trappe;
    In brauiste bowres doth deepest daunger dwell.
    I thought mine elder from his right t’expell,
      Though he both age and custome forth did bring
      For title right: I sayd, I would be King.

[373] Instead of the tenth stanza the following are in the first
edition.

    Wherefore as eache did watch conuenient time,
    For to commit this haynous bloudy facte;
    My selfe was taken not accusde of crime,
    As if I had offendid any acte,
    But he as one that witte and reason lackte,
      Sayde traytour vile thou art to me vntrue;
      And therwithall his bloudy blade he drewe.

    Not like a king but like a cut throte fell;
    Not like a brother, like a butcher brute;
    Though twere no worse then I deserued well,
    He gaue no time to reason or dispute:
    To late it was to make for life my suite,
      “Take traytoure here (quoth he) thy whole deserte,”
      And therwithall he thrust me to the harte.

[374] Chosen. N.

[375] “Lastly by medyacions of frends a day of communycacion in louynge
maner attwene these ii bretherne was appoynted, at which day of
assemble Mempricius by treason slewe his brother Manlius.” _Fabyan._

[376] Brutishe.

[377] Which likewyse went my brother for to kill. ib.

[378] Which do inuente anothers bloud to spill. ib.

[379]

    Vsurping wrong incurres the curse of heauen,
    And blood cries out for vengeance at his hand,
    Who still in care of humane good is giuen. N.

[380] A step aboue their owne degree. ed. 1575.

[381] I think she. ib.

[382] THE AUTHOURE.

    When Manlius had thus endid quite his tale,
    He vanishte out of sight as did the reste;
    And I perceiued straight a persone pale,
    Whose throte was torne and blodied all his breste:
    “Shall I” (quoth he) “for audience make requeste,
      No sure it nedes not, straunge it semes to thee,
      What he that beares this rentid corps should bee.

    “Wherefore I deeme thou canst not chuse but bide,
    And here my tale as others erste before;
    Sith by so straunge a meanes thou seest I dyde,
    With rentid throte and breste, thou musist more;
    Marke well (quoth he) my ratling voyce therefore:”
      And therwithall this tale he gan to tell,
      Which I recite, though nothing nere so well. ed. 1575.

[383] In the first edition always called Manlius.

[384] But he that myndes for rule. ed. 1575.

[385] For empire as I did. N.

[386] Must not. ed. 1575.

[387] His impious hands. N.

[388] Is. ed. 1575.

[389] Lookist for to haue. ib.

[390] Wherefore to giue example yet to som. ib.

[391] But sith I must as others tell their fall. ed. 1575.

[392] Eldest. ib.

[393] I deemde was nought vnlawfull. ib.

[394] For. ib.

[395] I was deuoid of doubt. N.

[396] After attaining the crown he “became so lyther a man, that he
destroyed within a whyle all the men of his londe.” _Chr. of St.
Albans._

[397] So ofter that I felle. ed. 1575.

[398] Lothsome. ed. 1575.

[399] I will declare whence. ib.

[400] Alas I fell. ib.

[401] Might any ill exceed. ib.

[402] Heedes. ed. 1575.

[403] Fainted. ib.

[404] Tender, ed. 1575.

[405] By sudden death, pockes, begging. N.

[406] THE AUTHOUR.

    On this me thought he vanisht quite away,
    And I was left with Morpheus all alone:
    Whom I desirde these gryzely ghostes to stay,
    Till I had space to heare them one by one.
    And euen with that was Somnus seruaunt gone,
      Whereby I slept and toke mine ease that night,
      And in the morning rose their tale to wrighte.

    Nowe (Reader) if you thinke I miste my marke,
    In any thing whilere but stories tolde:
    You must consider that a simple clarke,
    Hath not such skill theffect of things t’vnfolde,
    But may with ease of wiser be controlde:
      Eke who so writes as much the like as this,
      May hap be deemde likewyse as much to misse.

    Wherefore if these may not content your minde
    As eche man cannot fauour all mens vaines:
    I pray you yet let me this frendship finde,
    Giue your good will, I craue nought els for paines.
    Which if you grutch me, as to great a gaines:
      Then is my loue to you, and labour lost,
      And you may learne take heede, with greater cost.

    But now me thinkes I heare the carpers tell,
    Saith one, the writer wanted wordes to fill:
    The next reprou’d the verse not couched well:
    The third declares, where lackte a point of skill:
    Some others say they like the meeter ill:
      But what of this? shall these dismay mee quite?
      No sure, I will not cease for such to write.

    For with more ease, in other workes they finde
    A fault, then take vpon them selues to pen
    So much, and eke content eche readers minde:
    How should my verse craue all their likings then?
    Sith sondry are the sects of diuers men,
      I must endeuour only those to please:
      Which like that comes, so it be for their ease.

    The rest I recke as they blame worthy bee,
    For if the words I wrote for good intent:
    Take other sence then they receiu’de of mee,
    Be turnde to worse, torne, reached, rackt, or rent
    Or hackt and hewde, not constret as I ment:
      The blame is theirs, which with my workes so mell:
      Lesse faulty he, that wisht his country well.

    If some be pleasde and easde, I lease no toyle,
    At carpers gyrdle hanges not all the keyes:
    What price gaines he, that giues him fall or foyle,
    Which neuer wan by wrastling any prayse,
    I haue not spent in poetrye my dayes,
      Some other workes in proase I printed haue:
      And more I write for which I leysure saue.

    And for mine age not thirty yeares hath past,
    No style so rype can yonger yeares attaine.
    For of them all, but only ten the last,
    To learne the tongues, and write I toke the paine,
    If I thereby receiued any gaine,
      By Frenche or Latine chiefely which I chose,
      These fiue yeares past by writing I disclose.

    Of which, the first two yeares I Grammer taught:
    The other twaine, I Hulœts worke enlargde:
    The last translated Aldus phrases fraught
    With eloquence, and toke of Terence charge
    At Printers hande, to adde the flowers at large
      Which wanted there, in Vdalles worke before!
      And wrote this booke with other diuers more.

    Then pardon whats amisse, a while giue eare,
    So shall you heare the rest that I recite,
    Describing next what Princes did appeare:
    When I had ended these are past to wrighte.
    In slomber as I chaunst to lye one night,
      Was Somnus prest, whom I desyrde to sende
      His Morpheus ayde, these Tragedies to ende.

    Wherewith he graunted my request and calde
    For Morpheus straight: which knew wherto he came
    I will (quoth he) the rest, whom Fortune thralde
    Of Britaynes shewe: thy selfe to heare them frame.
    And therewithall he set forth one like Fame.
      In fethers all with winges so finely dight,
      As twere a birde, in humaine shape of flight.

    Yet twas not Fame that femme of painted plume,
    He rather seemed Icarus deceau’de,
    With winges to flye nighe Phœbus did presume.
    At length in deede I plainly well perceau’de,
    It was some king of vitall breath bereaude,
      From flight he fell presuming farre to hye:
      Giue eare take heede and learne not so to flye.

    ed. 1575.

[407] “Mempricius the _fyrst_ king of Brytons regned X yere.”
_Polychronicon._

[408] Bladud is represented as a prince eager in the pursuit of
learning, and of unusual mental acquirements. Having travelled to
Athens he had sufficient address to obtain a visit to his native land
of four of the most eminent scholars, or philosophers; for whom he
founded an University at Stamford with many liberal endowments, and
which flourished until the time of St. Augustine, who got the same
suppressed on a presumption of heresy among the scholars, He also
reputedly discovered the medicinal virtues of the hot-baths at Bath,
a circumstance alone sufficient in that remote age to add a fabulous
portion in the emblazonment of his character, and a belief, as the
Chronicle of St. Albans hath it, that “thrugh his craft of nygromancy
he made a meruaylous hote bathe, as the geste telleth.” This same
“geste” seems the foundation of the tale in all the Chronicles, which,
though often repeated, was early disbelieved. It is best descanted on
by the enlightened Treuisa in the Polychronicon. “Bladud, Leyles sone,
a nygromancer was the IX kyng of Brytons, he buylded Bathe and called
it Caerbadum. Englysshmen called it after Athamannes cyte, but atte
last men called it Bathonia that is Bathe.--W[illelmus Malmel.] de
pontificum. li. ii. In this cyte welleth vp and spryngeth hote bathes
and men wene that Julius Cezar made there suche bathes.--R[anulphus
of Chestre]. But Ganfr. Monemutensis in his Brytons book sayth that
Bladud made thylkes Bathes: by cause that William [of Malm.] had not
seen that brytons book, wrote so, by telling of other men, or by his
owne ghessing; as he wrote other thynges, not best aduisedly. Therfore
it semeth more sothly that Bladud made not the hote bathes, ne Julius
Cezar dyde suche a deede, though Bladud buylded and made the cyte. But
it acordeth better to kendly reason that the water renneth in the erthe
by veynes of brymstone and sulphure and so is kendely made hote in that
cours and spryngeth vp in dyuerse places of the cyte. And so there
ben hote bathes that washeth of tetres, soores and skabbes.--Treuisa.
Though men myght by crafte make hoote bathes for to dure longe ynough
this acordeth well to reason and phylosophye and treateth of hoote
welles and bathes that ben in dyuerse londes, though the water of this
bathe be more troubly, and heuyer of sauour and of smelle than other
hote bathes ben that I haue seen at Akon in Almayne and at Egges in
Sauoye, whiche ben as fayre and clere as ony colde welle streme. I haue
ben bathed therin and assayed them.”

Higgins, in his account of the learning of Bladud, has closely copied
Bale, whose character was then generally known through the medium of
Grafton’s chronicle. Perhaps to form the measure on a general model
this life was re-written, being first composed in quatrains. It stands
thus in the first edition.

_Bladud recyteth haw he practyzing by curious artes to flye, fell and
brake his necke. The yeare before Christe 844._

    Shall I rehearse, likewyse my name?
    And eke a place amongst them fill,
    Which at their endes to mischiefe came?
    Sith Morpheus bids me so, I will.

    And that because I see thee minde,
    To write my storie fate and fall,
    Such curious heads it reade and finde:
    May flee to flye, and shunne my thrall.

    If daunger teach them liue take heede:
    If leesers harme, make lookers wyse:
    If warines do safetie breede,
    Or wracke make saylers shelues dispise

    Then may my hurt giue sample sure:
    My losse of life may lokers learne:
    My warning may beware procure,
    To such as daunger scarce discerne.

    I am that Bladud Britaine king.
    Rudhudebras his eldest sonne,
    Did learning first to England bring:
    And other wonders more were done.

    Now giue me eare, and after wryte:
    Marke well my life, example take:
    Eschue the euill that I recite,
    And of my death a myrour make.

    In youth I gaue my minde to lore,
    For I in learning tooke repaste:
    No earthly pleasure likte me more,
    I went to Athens at the last.

    A towne in Greece, whose fame went foorth
    Through all the world hir name was spred:
    I counted knowledge so much woorth,
    Hir only loue to Greece me led.

    There first of all the artes of seuen,
    Wherein before I had small skill:
    I Grammer gate declares the steuen,
    By rule to speake, and wryte at will.

    Next after that in Rhetorike fine,
    Which teacheth how he talke to fyle:
    I gate some knowledge in short time,
    And coulde perswade within a whyle.

    I thirdly learned Logicke well,
    An arte that teacheth to dispute:
    To aunswere wisely or refell,
    Distinguishe, proue, disproue, confute.

    Then after that, of number, I
    The skilfull arte likewyse attainde:
    Wherin of Mathematickes lie,
    Full many pointes I after gainde.

    And Musicke milde I lernde, that telles
    Tune, tyme, and measure of the song:
    A science swete the reste excelles,
    For melody hir notes among.

    But sixtly I the dame of artes,
    Geometrie of great engine
    Employde, with all hir skilfull partes,
    Therby some greater giftes to winne.

    So laste I lernde Astronomie,
    A lofty arte that paste them all:
    To knowe by motions of the skye,
    And fixed starres, what chaunce might fall.

    This pleasaunt arte allured me,
    To many fonde inuentions then:
    For iudgements of Astrologie,
    Delites the mindes of wisest men.

    So doth the arte Phisiognomie,
    Dependes on iudgment of the face:
    And that of Metoposcopie,
    Which of the forehead telles the grace.

    And Chiromancie by the hande,
    Coniecures of the inward minde:
    Eke Geomancie by the lande,
    Doth diuers many farlies finde.

    Augurium eke was vsde of olde
    By byrdes of future things presagde:
    And many thinges therby they tolde,
    Were skilfull, learned, wyse and agde.

    But Magicke, for it seemid sweete,
    And full of wonders made me muse:
    For many feates I thought it meete,
    And pleasaunt for a Prince to vse.

    Three kindes there are for nature’s skill,
    The first they Naturall do name:
    In which by herbes and stones they will,
    Worke wonders thinges, are worthy fame.

    The next is Mathematicall,
    Where Magike workes by nature so:
    That brasen heads make speake it shall,
    Of woode birdes, bodies flye, and go.

    The thirde Veneficall by right,
    Is named for by it they make:
    The shapes of bodies chaunge in sight,
    And other formes on them to take.

    What nede I tell what Theurgie is,
    Or Necromancie you despise:
    A diuelishe arte, the feendes by this
    Seeme calde, and coniurde to arise.

    Of these too much I learned then,
    By those such secrete artes profest:
    For of the wise and skilfull men,
    Whome Fame had praisde I gate the best.

    They promist for to teach me so,
    The secretes of dame nature’s skill:
    That I nede neuer taste of woe,
    But alwayes might forsee it still.

    Wherfore enflamed with their loue,
    I brought away the best I could:
    From Greece to Britayne lande to proue,
    What feates for me deuise they would.

    Of which were foure Philosophers,
    For passing skill excelde the rest:
    Phisitions and Astronomers,
    In Athens all they were the best.

    My father harde of my retourne,
    Of my successe in learning there:
    And how the Grecians did adourne,
    My wittes with artes that worthy were.

    He herde likewyse what store I brought,
    Of learned Greekes from Atticke soyle:
    And of my laboure learning sought,
    With study, trauayle, payne and toyle.

    I likewyse heard he buylded here,
    Three townes while absent thence was I:
    By South he foundid Winchester,
    By East he built Cantorbury.

    By West full highe he built the last,
    On hill from waters deepe belowe:
    Calde Shaftesbury on rockes full fast,
    It standes and giue to Seas a showe.

    These causde we both might well reioyce
    He for because I gate such fame:
    And I, for that by all mennes voyce,
    His factes deseru’de immortall name.

    What nedes much talke, the peres and all
    The commons eke with one assent:
    Extold my name especiall,
    Which had my youth in learning spent.

    I was receau’de with triumphes great,
    With pageauntes in eache towne I past:
    And at the court my princely seate,
    Was by my fathers ioyned fast.

    The nobles then desir’de to haue,
    On me their children wayte and tende:
    And royall giftes with them me gaue,
    As might their powres therto extende.

    But here began my cause of care,
    As all delightes at length haue ende:
    Be mixte with woes our pleasures are,
    Amidste my ioyes, I lost a frende.

    My father, nyne and twenty yeares,
    This time had raignde and held the crowne:
    As by your Chronicles appeares,
    Whan fates, on vs began to frowne.

    For euen amidste his most of ioye,
    As youth, and strength and honours fade:
    Sore sickenes did him long anoye,
    At laste, of life an ende it made.

    Then was I chose king of this lande,
    And had the crowne as had the rest:
    I bare the scepter in my hande,
    And sworde that all our foes opprest.

    Eke for because the Greekes did vse,
    Me well in Grece at Athens late:
    I bad those foure I brought to chuse:
    A place that I might dedicate

    To all the Muses and their artes,
    To learnings vse for euermore:
    Which when they sought in diuers partes,
    At last they found a place therfore.

    Amidst the realme it lies welnighe,
    As they by art and skill did proue:
    An healthfull place not lowe nor highe,
    An holsome soyle for their behoue.

    With water streames, and springs for welles:
    And medowes sweete, and valeyes grene:
    And woods, groaues, quarries, al thing else
    For studentes weale, or pleasure bene.

    When they reported this to me,
    They prayde my grace that I would builde,
    Them there an Vniuersitie,
    The fruites of learning for to yelde.

    I buylte the scholes, like Attikes then,
    And gaue them landes to maintayne those:
    Which were accounted learned men,
    And could the groundes of artes disclose.

    The towne is called Stamford yet,
    There stande the walles vntill this daye:
    Foundations eke of scholes I set,
    Bide yet (not maintainde) in decaye.

    Whereby the lande receauid store,
    Of learned clarkes long after that:
    But nowe giue eare I tell thee more,
    And then my fall, and great mishap.

    Because that time Apollo was,
    Surmisde the God that gaue vs wit:
    I builte his temple braue did passe,
    At Troynouant the place is yet.

    Some saye I made the batthes at Bathe:
    And made therefore two tunnes of brasse:
    And other twayne seuen saltes that haue
    In them, but these be made of glasse

    With sulphur filde, and other things,
    Wylde fire, saltgem, salte peter eke:
    Salte armoniake, salte Alchime,
    Salte commune, and salte Arabecke.

    Salte niter mixid with the rest,
    In these fowre tunnes by portions right:
    Fowre welles to laye them in were dreste,
    Wherin they boyle both daye and night.

    The water springes them round about,
    Doth ryse for aye and boyleth stil:
    The tunnes within and eke without,
    Do all the welles with vapours fill.

    So that the heate and clensing powre,
    Of Sulphur and of salts and fyre:
    Doth make the bathes eche pointed houre
    To helpe the sickly health desyre.

    These bathes to soften sinewes haue
    Great vertue and to scoure the skin:
    From Morphew white and black to saue,
    The bodies faint are bathde therein.

    For lepry, scabs, and sores are olde,
    For scurfes, and botch, and humors fall:
    The bathes haue vertues manyfolde,
    If God giue grace to cure them all.

    The ioyntes are swelde, and hardned milte:
    And hardned liuer, palseis paine,
    The poxe and itche, if worke thou wilt,
    By helpe of God it heales againe.

    Shall I renege I made them then?
    Shall I denye my cunning founde?
    By helpe I had of learned men,
    Those worthy welles in gratefull grounde?

    I will do so: for God gaue grace,
    Whereby I knew what nature wrought:
    And lent me lore to finde the place,
    By wisedome where those wells I sought.

    Which once confest lo here my harme,
    Eschewe the like if thou be wyse:
    Let neuer will thy wits becharme,
    Or make the chaunge of kinde deuise.

    For if the fishe would learne to goe,
    And leaue to swim against his vre:
    When he were quite the waters fro,
    He could not swim you may be sure.

    Or if the beast would learne to flie,
    That had no plumes by nature lent:
    And get him wynges as earst did I,
    Would not thinke you it him repent?

    Though Magike Mathematicall,
    Make wooden birdes to flye and soare:
    Eke brasen heads that speake they shall,
    And promise many marueiles more.

    Yet sith it swarues from Nature’s will,
    As much as these that I recite:
    Refuse the fondnes of such skill,
    Doth ay with death the proufe requite.

    I deemde I could more soner frame,
    My selfe to flye then birdes of wood:
    And ment to get eternall fame,
    Which I esteemde the greatest good.

    I deckt my selfe with plumes and wynges,
    As here thou seest in skilfull wise:
    And many equall poysing thinges
    To ayde my flight, to fall or rise.

    Thou thinkste an arte that seldome vsde,
    In hand I tooke, and so it was:
    But we no daunger then refusde,
    So we might bring our feates to passe.

    By practise at the length I could,
    Gainst store of wynde with ease arise:
    And then which way to light I should,
    And mount, and turne I did deuise.

    Which learned but not perfectly,
    Before I had therof the sleight:
    I flew aloft but downe fell I,
    For want of skill againe to light.

    Upon the temple earst I built,
    To God Apollo, downe I fell:
    In fiters broisde for such a guilt,
    A iust reuenge requited well.

    For what should I presume so highe,
    Against the course of nature quite
    To take me wynges and saye to flye,
    A foole no fowle in fethers dight.

    As learning founds and cunning finds,
    To such haue wit the same to vse:
    So she confounds, and marres the minds,
    Of those her secrets seeme t’abuse.

    Well then deserts requirde my fall,
    Presumption proude, depriu’de my breath:
    Renowne bereft my life and all,
    Desire of prayse, procurde my death:

    Do let allureing arts alone,
    They pleasaunt seeme yet are they vayne:
    Amongst an hundreth scarce is one,
    Doth ought thereby but labour gayne.

    Their cunning castes are crafty cares,
    Deuices vayne deuisde by men:
    Such witched wiles are Sathans snares,
    To traine in fooles, despise them then.

    Their wisdome is but wily wit,
    Their sagenes is but subtiltie:
    Darke dreames deuisde for fooles are fit,
    And such as practise pampestry.

    Thou seest my fall and eke the cause,
    Vnwisely I good giftes abusde:
    Lo here the hurt of learned lawes,
    If they be wrested or misusde.

    Then wryte my story with the rest,
    May pleasure when it comes to vewe:
    Take heede of counsayles all is best,
    Beware, take heede farewell adieu.

    Farewell, will students keepe in minde,
    οὐκ αρετᾳ κακὰ ἔργα:
    Els may they chaunce like fate to finde,
    For why, Τοῖς κακοῖς τρὶς κακα.

    Τελος.

[409] Sleek. _Jamieson._

[410]

    The noble higher climes and to the skies
    T’advance his name he daily doth deuise. N.

[411] That noble arts in Britain might be taught. N.

[412] Receiu’d both crowne. N.

[413] With right and equitie to rule this land. N.

[414]

    Giuing to each such peace as best did fit
    Their birth, their wealth, their persons and their wit. N.

[415]

    And of my land I gaue the fertil’st partes,
    To foster learning and the famous artes. N.

[416] We did in noble science so excell. N.

[417]

    --------commending vs to skies,
    Deeming vs people valiant, learn’d and wise. N.

[418] Niccols to improve the measure made several omissions in the text
which are distinguished by inverted brackets.

[419] To deeme as Gods the images of men. N.

[420] By arts I made. N.

[421]

              These Tunnes I did essay
    To place by arte that they might last of aye. N.

[422] Both. N.

[423] Hard it healeth well. N.

[424] Whence ye haue helpe. N.

[425] Springs vertue take of vaines that they been in. N.

[426]

              Fountaines hot and cold,
    To heale by them the sicke, both yong and old. N.

[427]

              Extols vs to the skies,
    We look not downe from whence we first did rise. N.

[428]

    Ambition will not wisdome’s counsell brooke,
    Pride sets her thoughts on things that vade away,
    Forsaken vertue which doth nere decay. N.

[429] We might admire what monsters time did hatch. N.

[430] Surpasse in his degree. N.

[431] As all the rest in wisdome weaker bee. N.

[432] Magicke arte. N.

[433] Which in the end did proue my future ill. N.

[434] Few men did euer vse like enterprise. N.

[435] And turne and winde at last which way I would. N.

[436] And in the fall I lost. N.

[437] This was my race, this was my fatall fall. N.

[438] In their effects they are. N.

[439]

    Be wise in artes exceed not wisdome’s bound,
    The depth of arte by wit may not be found. N.

[440] That nothing haue yet promise all to you. N.

[441]

    All which by nature are abhor’d as euill,
    Practisde by fooles, inuented by the diuell. N.

[442]

          ----Beware of climing high,
    Lest that you helpelesse fall, as erst did I.  N.

THE AUTHOUR.

    When Bladud thus had ended quite his tale,
    And tolde his life as you haue heard before:
    He toke his flight, and then a Lady pale
    Appeard in sight, beraide with bloudy gore:
    In hande a knife of sanguine dye she bore:
      And in her breste a wounde was pearced wyde,
      So freshly bledde, as if but than she dyde.

    She staide a while, her coulour came and went,
    And doubtful was that would haue tolde hir paine:
    In wofull sort she seemed to lament,
    And could not wel her tongue from talke refraine.
    For why her griefes vnfolde she would right faine,
      Yet bashfull was: at length an ende to make,
      Hir Morpheus wild, and then thus wyse she spake.

[443] Cannot still keepe in my counsaile. ed. 1575.

[444] And shew mishaps. ib.

[445] That. ed. 1575.

[446] May keep. ib.

[447] And willing be to flye. ib.

[448] For sith I see thee prest to heare that wilt recorde. ib.

[449] What I Cordila tell. ib.

[450] To thee that giu’st an eare to heare and ready art. ib.

[451] Practisde for to flye and soare. ib.

[452] Who dead his sonne my father. ib.

[453] He had three daughters faire the first hight Gonerell. N.

[454] My sister Ragan. ed. 1575.

[455] And of vs all our father deire in age did dote. ib.

[456] So. ib.

[457] To giue where. ed. 1575.

[458] Had more age. ib.

[459] My prayse t’asswage. ib.

[460] Gainst. ib.

[461] But still. ib.

[462] This stanza follows in the edit. 1575.

    Yet nathelesse my father did me not mislike,
    But age so simple is and easy to subdue,
    As childhode weake thats voide of wit and reason quite;
    They thinke thers nought you flatter fainde, but all is true,
    Once old and twyse a childe tis said with you,
      Which I affirme by proofe that was definde,
      In age my father had a childishe minde.

[463] He thought to wed vs vnto nobles three, or peres. ib.

[464] Sent. ib.

[465]

    I must assaye and eke your frendships proue.
    Now tell me eche how much you do me loue.

    ib.

[466] Lou’de him well and more. ib.

[467] Would agayne therefore. ib.

[468]

    But not content with this he minded me to proue,
    For why he wonted was to loue me wonders wel:
    How much dost thou (quoth he) Cordile thy father loue
    I wil (sayd I) at once my loue declare and tell:
    I lou’de you euer as my father well,
      No otherwyse, if more to know you craue:
      We loue you chiefly for the goodes you haue.

    Thus much I said, the more their flattery to detect
    But he me aunswered therunto again with ire,
    Because thou dost thy fathers aged yeare neglect.
    That lou’de the more of late then thy deserts require,
    Thou neuer shalt, to any part aspire
      Of this my realme, emong thy sisters twayne,
      But euer shalt vndotid ay remayne.

    Then to the king of Albany for wife he gaue
    My sister Gonerell, the eldest of vs all:
    And eke my sister Ragan for Hinnine to haue,
    Which then was Prince of Camber and Cornwall:
    These after him should haue his kingdome all
      Betwene them both, he gaue it franke and free:
      But nought at all he gaue of dowry mee.

    At last it chaunst the king of Fraunce to here my fame.
    My beuty braue was blazed al abrode eche where:
    And eke my vertues praisde me to my fathers blame
    Did for my sisters flattery me lesse fauour beare.
    Which when this worthy king my wrongs did heare,
      He sent ambassage likte me more then life,
      T’intreate he might me haue to be his wife.

    My father was content with all his harte, and sayde,
    He gladly should obtaine his whole request at will
    Concerning me, if nothing I herin denayde:
    But yet he kept by their intisment hatred still,
    (Quoth he) your prince his pleasure to fulfill,
      I graunt and giue my daughter as you craue:
      But nought of me for dowry can she haue.

    King Aganippus well a greed to take me so,
    Hee deemde that vertue was of dowries all the best
    And I contented was to Fraunce my father fro
    For to depart, and hoapte t’enioye some greater rest.
    I maried was, and then my ioyes encreaste,
      A gate more fauoure in this Prince his sight,
      Then euer Princesse of a princely wight.

    But while that I these ioyes enioyd at home in Fraunce,
    My father Leire in Britayne waxed aged olde,
    My sisters yet them selues the more aloft t’aduaunce,
    Thought well they might, be by his leaue, or sans so bolde:
    To take the realme and rule it as they wolde.
      They rose as rebels voyde of reason quite,
      And they depriu’de him of his crowne and right.

    Then they agreed, it should be into partes equall
    Deuided: and my father threscore knightes and squires
    Should alwayes haue, attending on him still at call.
    But in sixe monthes so much encreasid hateful Ires,
    That Gonerell denyde all his desires,
      So halfe his garde she and her husband refte:
      And scarce alowde the other halfe they lefte.

    Eke as in Scotlande thus he lay lamenting fates,
    When as his daughter so sought all his vtter spoyle,
    The meaner vpstart gentles, thought them selues his mates
    And betters eke, see here an aged Prince his foyle,
    Then was he fayne for succoure his, to toyle,
      With all his knightes, to Cornewall there to lye:
      In greatest nede his Ragan’s loue to trie.

    And when he came to Cornwall, Ragan then with ioye,
    Receiu’d him and eke hir husband did the like:
    There he abode a yeare and liu’de without anoy,
    But then they tooke, all his retinue from him quite
    Saue only ten, and shewde him dayly spite,
      Which he bewailde complaining durst not striue,
      Though in disdayne they last alowde but fiue.

    On this he deemde him selfe was far that time vnwyse,
    When from his daughter Gonerell to Ragan hee
    Departed erste yet eache did him poore king despise:
    Wherfore to Scotlande once againe with hir to bee,
    And bide he went: but beastly cruell, shee
      Bereau’de him of his seruauntes all saue one,
      Bad him content him selfe with that or none.

    Eke at what time he askte of eache to haue his garde,
    To garde his grace where so he walkte or wente:
    They calde him doting foole and all his hestes debarde,
    Demaunded if with life he could not be contente.
    Then he to late his rigour did repente
      Gainst me, and sayde, Cordila nowe adieu:
      I finde the wordes thou toldste mee to to true.

    And to be short, to Fraunce he came alone to mee,
    And tolde me how my sisters him our father vsde:
    Then I besought my king with teares vpon my knee,
    That he would aide my father thus by them misusde,
    Who nought at all my humble heste refusde:
      But sent to euery coaste of Fraunce for ayde,
      Wherwith my father home might be conueide.

    The soldiours gathered from eche quarter of the land,
    Came at the length to know the king his mind and wil:
    Who did commit them to my father’s aged hand,
    And I likewise of loue and reuerent mere goodwill
    Desirde my king, he would not take it ill,
      If I departed for a space withall:
      To take a parte, or ease my father’s thrall.

    This had: I partid with my father from my fere,
    We came to Britayne with our royal campe to fight:
    And manly fought so long our enmies vanquisht were
    By martial feates, and force by subiects sword and might.
    The Brityshe kinges were faine to yelde our right:
      And so my father well this realme did guide,
      Three yeares in peace and after that he dide.

    Then I at Leircester in Ianus temple, made
    His tombe, and buried there his kingly regall corse,
    As sondry tymes in life before he often bade:
    For of our father’s will we then did greatly force,
    We had of conscience eke so much remorce,
      That we supposde those childrens liues to ill:
      Which brake their father’s testament, and will.

[469] Who for I could not flatter did lesse fauour beare. N.

[470] Betwixt their husbands twaine they causde him to agree. N.

[471] Of sixtie Knights that on him should attendant bee. N.

[472] As thus in his distresse he lay lamenting fates. N.

[473] Ill. N.

[474] And I was Queene the kingdoms after stil to holde. ed. 1575.

[475] Becke and bay I wolde. ib.

[476] Two churlishe impes. ib.

[477] This stanza follows in edit. 1575.

    The one hight Morgan th’ elder sonne of Gonnerell,
    My sister, and that other Conidagus hight.
    My sister Ragan’s sonne, that lou’de me neuer well,
    Both nephewes mine yet would against mee Cordell fight,
    Because I lou’de always that semed right;
      Therefore they hated mee and did pursue
      Their aunte and Queene as she had bene a jewe.

[478] This Morgane was that time the Prince. ib.

[479] Licence. ed. 1575.

[480] Was euer lady in such wofull wreckfull wo. ib.

[481] Depriu’de. ib.

[482]

    When first I left, the crowne of France did me exhalt. ed. 1575.

    When friends I left in France that did me first exhalt. N.

[483] This. ed. 1575.

[484] That drawes at length to ende. ib.

[485] As in this pryson. ib.

[486] Vile aliue. N.

[487] Their. ed. 1575.

[488] Carkas on couch of straw. ed. 1575.

[489] A deadly. ib.

[490] _i. e._ poniards.

[491] Or libertie agayne. ed. 1575.

[492] Get. ib.

[493] My Hope. ib.

[494] Nephewes. ib.

[495] My wofull plight. ed. 1575.

[496] Deadly. ib.

[497] A mortal. ib.

[498] That one. ib.

[499] Nephewes. ed. 1575.

[500] Which I, alasse, lament, bid those aliue beware. ib.

[501]

    Their soules to hell, when as they vndertake
    To kill a corps, which God did liuely make.

THE AUTHOUR.

    Now when this desperate Queene had ended thus
    Hir tale, and told what haplesse grace she had:
    As of hir talke some pointes I did discusse,
    In slomber faln I waxed wondrous sad,
    Hir nephewes dealings were me thought to bad:
      Which greu’de me much, but Morpheus had let bee,
      And therewithall presented one to mee.

    Of stature tall a worthy princely wight,
    In countenaunce he seemde yet mourning still;
    His complet harnesse not so braue in sight,
    Nor sure as ours, made now adayes by skill:
    But clampt together, ioynts but ioyned ill:
      Vnfit, vnhandsome, heauy, houge, and plaine,
      Vnweldy wearing, ratling like a chaine.

    Wherthrough he had receu’de a deadly stroake,
    By sworde, or other instrument of warre,
    And downe his thighes the bloud by sithes did soake
    Which I perceiued as he came a farre.
    Now sith (quoth he) to heare you present are:
      I will declare my name, life, factes and fall,
      And therewith thus he gan to tell it all.   ed. 1575.

[502] The tale of the gentle Cordelia and her unfortunate and too
credulous father is better known from the pages of Shakespeare than
those of History. Though in both, if not entirely sprung from, it is
enlarged by fable, yet the interest that has been excited by the drama
justifies the giving it here from manuscript, in one of its earliest
shapes, which as such forms a valuable record.

_Of King Leir and of the answere of his yongest daughter that
graciously was mariede to the kyng of Fraunce._

After kyng Bladud regned Leir his sone: and this Leir made the toune
of Leicestre and lete calle the toune after his name and he gouernede
the londe welle and nobly. This kyng Leir had iij doughters the first
hight Gonorill, the secund Rigan and the third Cordeill, and the
yongest doughter was fairest and best of condicions. The kynge hire
fader, become an olde man, and wolde that his doughtres had been maried
or that he deide: but first he thought to assaie whiche of ham [them]
loued him best and moste, for she that loued him best shuld beste be
maried. And he asked of the first doughter how moche sheo [she] him
louede? and she answerd and saide, better than hier oune life. Now
certes quoth the fader that is a grete loue. Tho [then] axede he of the
secunde doughter, hou moche sheo him louede? and sheo said more and
passing alle creatures of the world. Ma foy, quath the fader, more may
I nought axen. And tho axed he of the thirde doughter, hou moche sheo
him louede? Certes fader quoth she, my sustres haue tolde you glosyng
wordes, but for suthe I shalle telle you treuthe, for I loue you as
moche as I owe to loue my fadere, and for to bryng you more in certeyn
howe love goth, I shalle you telle, for as moche as ye be worthe so
muche shal ye be louede. The kyng hire fader hadde wente sheo hadde hym
scorned and become wonder wrothe and swore be heuen and erthe that she
shuld neuer haue good of him: but his doughtres that loued him so moche
shuld be welle auaunced and maried. And the first doughter he maried to
Mangles kyng of Scotlande and the secunde he maried to Hauemos Erle of
Cornewaille and so they ordeynede and speken betwene ham [them] that
they shulde departe the reame betwene ham too after the dethe of Leir
hire [their] fader. So that Cordeill his yongest doughter shulde no
thing haue of his lande. But this Cordeill was wonderous faire and of
so good condicions and maners that the kyng of Fraunce Agampe, herde of
hire speke and sent to Leir, hire fader, for to haue hire vnto wife and
prayed him therof. And kyng Leir hire fader sente him worde that he had
departed his londe vnto his two other doughters and saide he hadde no
more lande wherewith hire for to marien: And whenne Agampe horde this
answere he sente anone ayeyn to Leir and said, that he axid no thyng
with hire, but onliche hire clothyng and hire bodie. And anone king
Leir hire fader sente hire ouer the see to the kyng of Fraunce and he
receyuede hire with mochel worshipp, and with moche solempnite hire
spousede and made hire quene of France.

_How Kyng Leir was driven oute of his londe thurz his foly and how
Cordil his yongest daughter helped him at his nede._

Thus hit felle afterwarde that tho two eldest doughtres wolde nought
abide til that Leir hire fader were dede but werred vppon him whiles
that he leued and moche sorwe and shame him dede. Wherfore thei benomen
him holly the reame and betwene ham had ordeyned that one of ham shulde
haue kyng Leir to soiourne all his life tyme with xl [lx] knyghtes and
hire squiers, that he myght worshipfully gone and ride whider that he
wolde into what contre that him likede to playn and to solacen. So
that Managles kyng of Scotland had kyng Leir with him in the maner as
is aboue seide and or other halfe yere were passide Corneill [sic] his
eldest doughter that was quene of Scotland was so anoyed of him and of
his peple that anone he and hire lorde speken togedres. Wherfore his
knyghtes and his squyers half frame him were gone and no mo lefte but
oneliche xxx. And whenne this was done Leir began for to make moche
sorowe, for incheson that his astate was inpeired, and men had of him
more scorne and despite thanne euere thei hadde beforne. Wherfore he
wiste neuer what to done and atte the laste thought that he wolde wende
into Cornewaile to Ragan his other doughter. And whenne he was come
there, the Erle and his wife that was Leier’s doughter, him welcomede
and with him made muche ioy, and there he dwelled with xxx knyghtes
and squyers. And he had dwellede there scarsly tuelf month that his
doughter of him nas fulle and of his companye, and hire lorde and shee
of him had scorne and despite so that fro xxx knyghtes thei brougten
vnto ten and afterwarde five and so there lefte with him no mo. Tho
made he sorwe enough and said, sore wepying: allas that euere he come
into that lande. And seid yit had me better for to haue dwellede
with my ferst doughter. And anone wente thennes a yein to his first
doughter: but anone as she sawe him come, she swore be God and his holy
names, and be as moche as she myght that he shulde haue no mo with him
but on knyght if he wolde there abide. Tho began Leir wepe and made
moche sorwe and said, tho allas nou to longe haue I leuede that this
sorwe and mischefe is to me nowe falle: for now am I pouer that somtyme
was riche but nou haue I no frende ne kyn that me wolle dune eny goode.
But whenne that I was riche alle men me honoured and worsheped and now
euery man hath of me scorne and despite: And now I wote that Cordeil
my yong doughter saide me treuthe whenne she saide as moche as I hadde
so moche shulde I bene beloued. And alle the while that I hadde good
tho was I beloued and honoured for my richesse: but my two doughteres
me glosed tho and now of me thei setten litel price. And sothe [truth]
tolde me Cordeil but I wolde nought belyve hit ne vnderstonde: And
therefore I lete hire gone fro me as a thing that I sette litel price
of and now wote I neuer what for to done sith my ij doughteres haue
me thus deceyuede that I so moche louede. And nou mote I nedes sechen
hire that is in another lande, tha lightely I lete hire gone fro me
with oute eny rewarde of yiftes. And sheo said she loued me as moche as
she aught hire fadre by al manere resonn: And tho I shulde haue axed
of hire no more, and tho that me otherwise behighten thurgh hire fals
speche nou haue me deceyued. In this maner Leir longe tyme him began
to make his mone and at the laste he shope him to the see and passed
ouer into Fraunce and axede and aspiede where the quene myghten bene
founde and men tolde where that she was. And whenne he come to the cite
that sheo was inne priuiliche be sente his squyer to the quene to telle
here that hire fadere was comen to hier for grete nede. And whenne the
squyer come to the quene be tolde hire euere dele of hire sustres fro
the beginnyng vnto the ende. Cordeil the quene anone nome gold and
siluer grete plente and toke hit to the squier in counsell that he
shulde gone into a certeyn citee and him arrayen, bathen, and wesshen,
and then come ayein to hire and bringe with him an honest companye of
knyghtes, fourty atte the leste with hire mayne: and thanne he shulde
sende to hire lorde the kyng and sein that he were comen for to speke
with his doughter and him for to seen. And whenne the kyng and the
quene herde that he come they hym receyued with mochel honour. The kyng
of Fraunce tho lete sende thurgh alle his reame and comanded that al
men to him shulde ben entendaunt to Lier the quenes fader in al maner
of thing as hit were to himselfe. Whenne Lier hadde duelled their a
monthe and more he tolde to the kyng and to the quene his doughter hou
his tueyn eldest doughtres had him serued. Agampe anone lete ordeyne
a grete hooste of Fraunce and sente hit into Brutaine with Leir, the
quenes fader, for to conquere his lande ayein and his kyngdome. And
Cordeill also come with hire fader into Brutaine for to haue the reame
after heir fadres deth. And anone thei wente to shipp and passede
the see and come into Brutaigne and foughten with the felons and ham
scomfetede and quelde and Leir tho had his lande ayein and after leued
iij yere and helde his reame in pees and afterward deid and Cordeil his
doughtere him lete entere with mochel honour at Leycetre.--Whenne that
kyng Leir was dede Cordeill his yongeste doughter helde and hadde the
lande v yere and in the mene tyme deide here lorde Agampe that was kyng
of Fraunce and efter his dethe she lefte wedowe. And tho come Morgan
and Conadage, that wer Cordiell sistre sones, and to hire had enuye for
as moche that hire aunte shuld haue the lande: so that betwene ham they
ordeyned a grete pouer and vppon hire werrede gretely, and neuere they
reste til that they hadde here taken and putte hire vnto dethe. M. S.
Brute.

[503] Selfe from blame, blame worthy I. ed. 1575.

[504] Am. ib.

[505] Mothers, ed. 1575.

[506] Foe-mens. N.

[507] I deem’d if that I might once put her downe. N.

[508]

    By force or fraud I did intend alone,
    To sit as King vpon the Britaine throne.   N.

[509] Nephewes. ed. 1575.

[510] O caytife vile, that did constraine a Queene. N.

[511] Nay traytour I as nowe by proofe is seene. ed. 1575.

[512] For vengeaunce and at length procurde. ib.

[513] Cunedagius “slough Morgan that was rebel ayanst him in Glamorgan
in Wales, and by cause of that happe that countree is called Morgan’s
londe.” _Polychronicon._

[514] That. N.

[515] THE AUTHOUR.

    With that Morganus quickly past away,
    The night me thought likewise was far epast,
    Whereby it weried me so long to staye,
    But Morpheus bad me bide and see the last,
    “(Quoth he) the stories passe awaye as fast,
      “As doth the tyme, and sith th’art nigh th’ende:
      “Thou nedste not grutche, so short a space to spend.”

    And turning then him selfe from me asyde,
    He calde the next which therwithall in sight
    Appear’d, and all his breste with bloud bedide.
    What chaunce (quoth I) hath so thy corps bedight,
    Thou worthy prince, or what mishaps of fight?
      “I will (quoth he) with all my hart vnfolde
      “My fatall fall, and therwithall he tolde.”

[516] This legend is not in the first edition.

[517] Which sought by outrage golden gaines to winne. N.

[518]

    A sleepie sicknesse, nam’d the Lethargie,
    Opprest me sore till death tooke life away:
    This was the guerdon of my gluttonie,
    As with the candles light the flie doth play,
    Though in the ende it worke her liues decay:
      So of the gluttons cup so long I drunke,
      Till drown’d in it with shamefull death I sunke.  N.

[519] This line omitted by Niccols.

[520] In the first edition this legend is in quatrains.

_Forrex declares howe hee minding to kill his brother which ruled with
him (that he might therby raigne alone) was by him slain. About the
yeare before Christe, 491._

    Pride moues the mindes of stately wightes
      Such hauty hartes to haue,
    And causeth vs for glory vayne,
      That is not ours to craue.

    Pryde pluckes out reason forth hir place,
      And planted will in stede:
    She puffes our mindes with vayne desires,
      Our fancies fonde to feede.

    Wherby we growe so obstinate,
      And so ambitious ill:
    That vs at length our brauery bids
      In all things vse our will.

    Ambition thinkes that lawefull is,
      Which likes hir fancie best:
    And demes she ought to haue hir forth,
      And swinge before the rest.

    She loues no mates, controlment shee
      And warning doth despise:
    She demes her selfe in all hir deede
      And actions, wonders wise.

    She hath desire of this and that,
      To get by crouche or clawe:
    By right or wrong she forceth not,
      She vseth will for lawe.

    No kinde, or countrey she regardes,
      No mother, father shee:
    Nor wyfe, or husbande, kithe or kin:
      But enuies eche degree.

    For if thy hart Ambition haue,
      Thy greedy mynde to still:
    Thou wilt not sticke thy dearest frende,
      Or nerest kin to kill.

    But as the prouerbe sayes that Pryde
      Must needes at length haue fall:
    Though we suppose of strength and powre
      We haue the deuill and all.

    Euen so I say: Ambition makes
      Vs often clime so hie:
    At length we fall, we come to nought,
      And drownde in darkenes lye.

    This may I Forrex well auouche,
      By proufe to true I finde:
    Wherefore I praye thee with the rest,
      Do put my faultes in mynde.

    My father olde, hight Gorboduge,
      Raignde three score yeares and three:
    And at his death gaue all his lande
      Twene Porrex proude and mee.

    Fiue yeares we helde it so in peace,
      In reste we ruled well:
    But at the last by pryde and wrath
      We foule at discorde fell.

    We eache encrochte on others partes,
      For rule we liu’de at strife:
    And eache did seeke occasion aye
      To reaue the others life.

    I made this counte I elder was,
      By birth the realme was myne:
    By warre, or wrong, or bloud I ment
      To haue it all in fine.

    And he although he yonger were,
      Esteemde his state so sure
    As mine: and thought it his, if hee
      My death might once procure.

    My mother eke that lou’de me more
      Although he yonger was:
    By diuers meanes did helpe me still
      To bring my feates to passe.

    Wherby I thought my selfe so sure
      To haue my purpose sped,
    As I requirde: if once I might
      Get of his crafty head.

    See here what faith what frendship is,
      What loue what fauour wee
    Do shewe to any wight aliue,
      If once aloft we bee.

    To fathers we are faithlesse ofte:
      To brothers, butchers vile:
    Of sisters small accounte we make,
      And wedded wyues exile.

    If any kithe, or kin, we haue,
      By whom we vantage may:
    We care not by what cruell meanes
      Their liues we take away.

    But for to get the seate alone,
      And for to wynne the crowne:
    We care not whom, nor when, nor how:
      So we may get them downe.

    O brutish beasts! nay worse then those,
      For they are still content
    With that they haue, what euer them
      Hath God or Nature sent.

    But we do gape, and gaze for glore:
      We prowle, and powle, and pill,
    And sweare, and stare, and striue, and fight,
      And one another kill.

    And all for pompe, and glorie great,
      For name, renowne, estate:
    Not caring of the commons crye,
      Or God’s eternall hate.

    If I had had the giftes of grace,
      I neuer would haue sought
    By any meanes such worldly trashe,
      With brother’s bloud to bought.

    But as I ment euen so I sped,
      So bloudy butchers thye:
    When moste I deemde my purpose sure,
      He was to good for me.

    For as I thought his bloud to shed,
      I compast was about,
    So that for thousand kingdomes, I
      Could not with life scape out.

    He pearst my hart, what skilles it sith,
      My minde was euen as bad:
    For why what measure I him mente,
      My selfe like measure had.

    And so all such, as murder meane,
      Intende, or treason vse,
    Shall at the length, like ends attayne,
      Or worse they cannot chuse.

[521] To tell my storie on the tragicke stage. N.

[522]

    I may complaine that felt god Mars his rage,
    Alas, that fate to state should be so fell;
    Had I been meaner borne I know right well.  N.

[523] While that my kingly sire, _Gorbodug_, raign’d. N.

[524] Not sticke oft times in field to fight. N.

[525]

    Into her bowels by the force of hand,
      With steele and iron we do dig profound,
      Working her woe to make our ioyes abound.  N.

[526] If we behold the substance. N.

[527] How he is made of elements. N.

[528] Armie strong for field. N.

[529] Heard the counsell. N.

[530] Hope will slip. N.

[531] Bred. N.

[532] The concluding Alexandrine omitted by Niccolls.

THE AUTHOUR.

    When as king Forrex thus had tolde his tale,
    Me thought he stayde no whit but went his way.
    Then came a mangled corps as full of bale,
    And or he nerer came made half a stay.
    (Quoth Morpheus) come, for shame thou nedste not stay,
      As bad as thou haue tolde their tales before,
      And so must thou and diuers other more.

[533] The life of Porrex was also re-written. It is thus in the first
edition.

_Porrex recites howe for the slaughter of his brother, he was slaine by
his owne mother and hir maydens, as he laye sleeping. About the yeare
before Christ, 491._

[Sidenote: Genes. 4.]

    From darkesome dennes, where cruel Cayne,
      And other like do lye:
    Whose bloudie blades were bathde in bloud,
      Poore caytiue thence come I.

[Sidenote: Annius.]

    Where Typhon is, his brother slewe,
      Osiris in despite:
    And where their sister Isis is,
      Did him againe requite.

[Sidenote: Virgil. in culi.]

    Where Dardanus to rule alone
      His brother made away:
    Etheocles, Polinices,
      At once did others sley.

[Sidenote: Seruius. 3. Aeneid. Ouid in Ibin.]

    Where Helenus king Priam’s son
      His brother Theon kilde.
    Medea eke in bloudy wyse,
      Hir brother’s bloud that spilde.

[Sidenote: Statius.]

    Where Tydeus is in hunting shote
      His brother through the side:
    Polytes eke his brother’s harte
      With sworde that opened wyde.

[Sidenote: Herodotus. Gel. li. 4. cap. 3.]

    And where as that Cambyses is,
      His sister once that slewe:
    And Polipontes king that made,
      His brother treason rewe.

    And cruell where Odores s,
      Which mercy did deny
    To Mithridate his brother deare,
      That did for pardon crie.

[Sidenote: Herodotus.]

    Eke where Learchus is, that did
      His brother sicke destroy:
    With poyson deadly hoping so,
      To make him selfe a Roy.

[Sidenote: Ouid in Ibin.]

    And where that wretche Mamertes lies,
      His brothers sonnes that spilte:
    And Sisapho tormenting him,
      For such an heynous gilte.

[Sidenote: Plutarch. Laert. Volater.]

    Where Rhesus and Caduidus are,
      With shaftes their brethren slewe:
    And Philadelphus Ptolomæ
      His brother’s death did brewe.

[Sidenote: Volater.]

    Where Philopater Ptolomæ
      His father made away
    And after that his brother with
      His dearest frendes did slay.

[Sidenote: Plato. 10. de rep.]

    And where Ardieus, tyraunt vile,
      His aged father stroyde,
    And after that his elder brother,
      Kingdomes to enioyde.

[Sidenote: Cælius.]

    Where Mithridates, beastly king,
      Of Pontus feeles anoye:
    Which mother his, and brother eke,
      Sixe children did destroye.

[Sidenote: Volater.]

    Where is Antiochus the great,
      His brother brought to graue:
    That he might onely raigne alone,
      And all the kingdome haue.

[Sidenote: Liuius. Lucan. Ouid.]

    Wher Romulus, that Remus slew,
      Of Romaines, first had fall:
    Though louing brother first he were,
      Presumde to scale the wall.

[Sidenote: Flores Histor.]

    And where Mempricius lewde doth lye,
      A Britayne Prince that slue,
    His brother Manlius fearing lest
      He were to him vntrue.

[Sidenote: Salust.]

    Where Iurgurth eke that basterde is,
      His brethren brought to graue:
    That after them Numidia
      He might for kingdome haue.

    And where a thousande are beside,
      Which were to long to tell,
    Their parentes deare and brethren slue,
      And now in darkenes dwell.

    From thence I came a Britayne yore,
      Namde Porrex once a king:
    Againe to shewe what vices mee
      To sodaine death did bring.

    Now list a while and then do write,
      What I thee tell, that others may
    Themselues in such attempts as these,
      From bloudy acts, as brethren stay.

    My brother Forrex fiue yeares space,
      And I this kingdome helde:
    Betweene vs both the common weale,
      We scace did wisely welde.

    At length we fondly fell at strife,
      So Princes bide no mate,
    Nor make, nor partners, with to raigne
      But beare their equals hate.

    The heire because I yongest was,
      Thought his by right the crowne:
    But I esteemde the halfe was mine,
      And all if he were downe.

    Whereby, O brothell, butcher eke,
      Not brother I did slay:
    My brother for to haue it all,
      And get his right away.

    Such are the acts of heedelesse youthes,
      Such are their studies still:
    Which care not what offence they make,
      So they their fancies fill.

    But as it is vniustice, and
      An haynous acte to vse:
    Such murder, slaughter, parricide
      And iustice all refuse.

    So Ioue the iust at length requites
      Our deedes: and makes vs rewe
    We euer were, to God, or man
      Or nature’s hestes vntrue.

    For when I deemde the crowne was mine,
      Which had my brother slayne,
    O griefe to tell, my mother, and
      Hir maydens wrought my payne.

    Both for my fault, and for she lou’de
      My brother Forrex still:
    With all hir maydes she came by night,
      My sleeping corps to kill.

    And I that slombring sleeping lay,
      Though many dreames fortolde
    My haplesse fall, could neuer wake,
      The meaning to vnfolde.

    But last supposing with my selfe,
      I cruell Tigres sawe,
    With rauening fearcenes rent their yong,
      Against dame Nature’s lawe.

    She came on me to fill my dreame,
      Before my eyes could wake,
    And with a dagger reft my life,
      For Forrex slaughter’s sake.

[Sidenote: Virgil in Culice.]

    Much like Agaue and his mates,
      Shee and hir maydens got
    Them tooles therefore, and hewde my corse,
      As small as fleshe to pot.

[Sidenote: Ouid. 6. Metamor.]

    Or Progne Queene hir children slue,
      and hewde their membres small:
    In wrathfull ire made Tereus feede,
      and fil himselfe withall.

[Sidenote: Virgil. 8. Aegl.]

    Or like Medea monster Queene,
      hir Iason’s sonnes that kilde:
    Because she was forsaken when
      his purpose was fulfilde.

    Like these was shee, nay worse, for why,
      This ended Brutus lyne:
    Brought me to ende and hir to shame,
      though first the fault were mine.

    Bid those beware that weene to winne,
      by bloudy acts the crowne:
    Lest from the height they feele the fall
      of topsy turuye downe.

    For if when they suppose themselues
      aloft to touch the skie,
    There chaunce a storme, there is no holde
      to staye themselues so hie.

    But faster farre, more swiftly they,
      and with more swinge descende,
    Then euer erst they could with all
      there force to clime contende:
    Do bid them then in all their deedes
      marke well the finall ende.

[534]

    Or Typhon who for state and worldly pelfe,
    His deare Osiris.  N.

[535] Then to do the like may trie. N.

[536] Orodes slew his brother. N.

[537] So I my brother’s life away did take. N.

[538] Procur’d the slaughter. N.

[539] This. N.

[540] They would not so aspire to Princes place. N.

[541] From bale to blisse and downe from heauen to hell. N.

[542] Touch not the Prince, crowne, scepter, &c. N.

[543] THE AUTHOUR.

    Next after Porrex came an other such,
    Had all his body quite in peeces rent:
    A desperate man, his life bewayling much:
    Which for he seemed sorely to lament,
    I was the rather him to heare content:
      That I might also note his story here,
      From like attempts of vices you to feare.

[Here follows the tragedy of Kimarus, as at p. 208.]

[544] The author has followed the authority of the Polichronicon in
making Porrex the survivor. In the chronicle by Harding and other
authorities their destiny is reversed; though generally it is stated,
that the conqueror obtained the kingdom through the powerful aid of
the king of France. Upon the story of these brothers was founded the
tragedy of Gorboduc, produced by Norton and Sackvile in 1561, which
was one of the earliest legitimate productions of the English drama.
The murderous events of their history seem not to have been considered
sufficient to maintain the interest of the play, and the traditionary
tale was deviated from by making the old king Gorboduc survive his
sons, and to fall a sacrifice with the queen, to the rage of the
multitude. But this accumulation of horror was in taste with the times,
and Sir P. Sidney describes the piece as “full of morality, which
it doth most delightfully teach, and thereby obtain the very end of
poetry.”

[545] The three formed part of a pentarchy, whereon the chronicles are
uniform as to the obscurity.

[546] Not in the first edition.

[547] Right ouerrunnes. N.

[548] After comes. N.

[549] If good be gaine. N.

[550] The grape growes on the vine and not the hop. N.

[551]

    Of this now spoken, this would I inferre,
    Men may by might a kingdome long withhold
    Not due to them: but they far better were
    To yeeld vnto the right, what reason would.
    Good mettals bides the touch, which tries the gold,
      When copper counted counterfeit in cast,
      Is deem’d but drosse and called in at last.  N.

[552]

    I am that Pinnar, who when Brutus blood
    Extincted was in bloodie Porrex raigne,
    Amongst the Princes in contention stood,
    Who in the Britaine throne by right should raigne:
    Mongst whom by might a part I did obtaine,
      That part of Albion call’d Logria hight,
      I did long time vsurpe against all right. N.

[553]

    Stater who stept into the Scottish throne,
    And Rudacke, that vsurpt the Cambrian crowne,
    Their minds to mine did frame and ioyn’d in one,
    To keepe the Cornish Prince stout Cloten downe,
    Twixt whom and vs in fighting, for renowne
      Faire Ladie Albion Europes wondred Ile,
      Rob’d of her beautie was, alas the while.  N.

[554]

    Duke Cloten, though a man of worthie praise,
    Who claim’d the crowne as due to him by right:
    Could not preuaile till death did end his daies,
    His sonne Mulmucius that vndaunted Knight
    Pursu’d his fathers claime with all his might,
      And meeting vs in many a bloodie field,
      At length in manly fight did make vs yeeld.  N.

[555]

    He Lion-like himselfe with his all troope
    Of nimble Cornish met vs on the way,
    And to his conquering arme did cause vs stoope,
    The price of treason I with blood did pay,
    My wrong deem’d right appear’d in my decay.
      Who so by violence scales the throne of State,
      Seldome sits sure, but falles by violent fate.  N.

[556] Not in the first edition. It is scarcely necessary to notice to
the reader the change to the anapæstic metre in this short life, which
the author has just called “staylesse staggering footed verse.”

[557] Desist not in histories truly to tell. N.

[558] Mirrours. N.

[559] Our souldiers were slaughter’d, or forced to yeeld. N.

[560] Were killed before. N.

[561] Or forced to yeeld, or abandon the coast. N.

[562] Not in the first edition.

[563] Esteem’d. N.

[564] Bladhud’s fond deuice. N.

[565] Adowne. N.

[566] By my mishaps let other men be wise. N.

[567] (For Forrex hight and Porrex both were slayne. N.)

[568] The wors er thereby our faithfull friends were. N.

[569] We do enioy her vaine ioyes. N.

[570] Stand. N.

[571] When I who with others did thinke myselfe sure. N.

[572] Who, when to field our power we did draw. N.

[573] Donwallo with honour. N.

[574] Oppose. N.

[575] Not inserted in the first edition.

[576]

    Mulmucius who with conquering blade did free
    The Britans troubled state from tyrants vile.  N.

[577] With me in Albany to leade a princely life. N.

[578] His eie on Samye’s beautie had so fed. N.

[579] By force of armes to beare the. N.

[580] Erst bene heard mongst wise men sawes. N.

[581]

                      ----the like by strife,
    Or make assault by wrong to winne a Prince’s wife. N.

[582]

    But on his side the conquest did appear,
    I yeelded her.  N.

[583] For tribute hostage gaue to Beline ere he past. N.

[584] And why false fortune my attempt did crosse. N.

[585] At seas we met our foes. N.

[586] The. N.

[587] And threatned Beline sore. N.

[588] Then appointed was to take the warre in hand. N.

[589] Whose bounteous grace for aye my loue to him did bind. N.

[590] Rashnes (by proofe I found) incurs the greatest ill. N.

[591] With her his Dukedome. N.

[592] By this you shall defame. N.

[593] Wore. N.

[594] Or force him yeeld.

[595]

    By bloodshed they do build and prop their tottering state,
    Raigne, liue and die despisde, in never dying hate.  N.

[596]

                ----your force, by discord and by strife,
    Distaine your bloods and reaue Corwenna’s of her life.  N.

[597] Then let my iust request haue place. N.

[598]

                ----Pleading for a righteous peace
    Aswage the warres which gods commands you to surcease.  N.

[599]

                    ----We met, and did imbrace,
    All warre was set aside and ladie peace tooke place.  N.

[600]

    The craggie mountaines that do touch the skies,
    With aged heads are euer white with snow,
    The seas allow do rore, whence vapours rise,
    And from the hilles great streames of waters floe,
    The pathes so strict to passe which few do goe.  N.

[601] Hang threatning death to them below. N.

[602] The Tuscans as we droue our heards of neat. N.

[603] Frenchmen with vs were. N.

[604] Could not hold vs well. N.

[605]

    We raised straight, at Rome we founded loud alarmes,
    To wreake reuenge for breach done gainst the law of armes.  N.

[606] We came, which we possesse. N.

[607] Paid. N.

[608] Desired peace not daring vs prouoke. N.

[609] Though by the gods. N.

[610] And here he them. N.

[611] Who for a crowne breakes faith, and murders foule commits. N.

[612] He will be. N.

[613]

    But from King Ptolomie these newes we heare,
    No peace he crau’d, no tribute.   N.

[614] Ne friendship crau’d. N.

[615]

    Except our weapons laid adowne we should submit,
    No arguments of peace he would admit.  N.

[616] Quoth he, _not_ lost. N.

[617] Will all dispoiled bee. N.

[618] Without your powerful aides, whose actes the world haue won. N.

[619]

    For which the souldiers all did chuse him for their king,
    But them as captaine he against their foes would bring.  N.

[620] Horse, which made a goodly sight. N.

[621] We wan the fielde in fight, we spoild the land at will. N.

[622] After this battle Beline must be presumed to haue returned to his
native land, and many are the notable deeds which he reputedly effected
for the weal of Britain. He, “both in ciuile iustice and also religion,
as at that time was vsed, encresed his realm, constituting thre
Archflamins, whose seas wer at London, York, and Carleon: He finished
the foure great waies begun by his father: [Viz. Watling-street,
Ikenild-street, the Fosse, and Ermin-street, thus referred to in
Camden’s _Britannia_: 'Some imagine that these ways were made by one
MULMUTIUS, God knows who, many ages before the birth of Christ: but
this is so far from finding credit with me that I positively affirm,
they were made from time to time by the Romans!’ To return: he] subdued
and made tributarie vnto him Denmark. In London he made the hauen which
at this day reteineth the name of him, called Belines-gate: and as
master Leiland writeth (whose labour and industrie, in most diligent
serchyng out the antiquities of this realm, is greatly to be commended)
builded the tower of London. He maried his daughter Cambra vnto a
prince of Almain called Antenor, of whom those people were called
Cimbri and Sycambri. Finally after he had reigned with his brother and
alone 26 yeres he died, and after the pagan maner with great pompe was
burned.” _Lanquet._

[623] On high his temple. N.

[624] With gifts of gold. N.

[625] Brenne ouercame the Macedones with their Duke Sosteme, and after
spoyled their goddes and their temples, and sayde in myrth, riche
Goddes must geue to men some of their riches. _Grafton._

[626] Brought both far and wide. N.

[627] No foes to doubt. N.

[628] Could since be made. N.

[629] One that cride, one cride. N.

[630] T’erect a temple. N.

[631] Was spread a wondrous fame. N.

[632] The answere of deluding sprites the priests do show. N.

[633] The gold of kings and iewels rich were there. N.

[634] Run that doubtfull are. N.

[635] Then. N.

[636] Was with gold so inricht. N.

[637] Courage good nought feare I bid. N.

[638] With Delphos spoile. N.

[639] Stout Euridane and Thessalone I did assay. N.

[640] Did prouide defence. N.

[641] Their foes in face. N.

[642]

    The Greekes in villages to make them trip
    Intreated them to make.  N.

[643] Our foes scarce fourteene. N.

[644] Statures all of gold. N.

[645] Stood faire golden. N.

[646] For here the God Apolloe’s pride. N.

[647] Surmounts all Greece beside. N.

[648] Ouerborne. N.

[649] The principal events of this long life of Brennus are also
recorded by Grafton and Harding, or may be found in the amusing and
copious relation of Fabian. The supernatural discomfiture of his army
and occasion of his death is thus related in the Polychronicon. “Efte
Brennius tourned agayn oute of the eest countrees: And efte ouercome
the Macedoyns and theyr duck Sosten, and spoyled goddes and temples and
sayde meryly, that ryche goddes muste gyue men somwhat of her rychesse.
Also he spoyled Appolyn Delphicus temple in the hylle mount Pernasus.
There men of the countrey prayde helpe of her God, and sodaynly the
erthe began to shake and a grete parte of the hylle felle vpon the
hooste of Galles; and haylestones slough that other dele. The duc
Brennius for sore of his woundes myght not endure, and therefore he
slough himself with a sharpe swerde. No man shal wonder though Appolyn
toke wreche of hem that spoyled the goddes and the temples: for God
suffred Appolyn destroye many nacions by cause of theyr trespaas and
euyl lyuyng and dedes. For it is certayn that spirites of the ayer may
vse her shrewdnes in them that be mysbyleuyd and euyll of dedes: For
grace is wythdrawe from suche maner men and euyl of spirytes haue leue
graunted to noye them and to greue them.”

[650] Declare what good. N.

[651] No kingly state. N.

[652] Lofty. ed. 1575.

[653] Sith vertue. ib.

[654] Such praise that all the world giue them applause. N.

[655] “Marcia was right connynge and conde many maner craftes, she made
the lawe called Marcene lawe.” _Polychronicon._

[656] Or shall I saye, Kimarus I was king. ed. 1575.

[657] Praise the men that vertuous bin. N.

[658] Purpose I to passe did meane to bring. N.

[659] Of Kimarus “there is nothing written, but that he was a wilde and
wanton Prince, geuen to all pleasure and pastime, and reigned but thre
yeres, beyng slain of his aduersaries as he was a hunting.” _Grafton._

[660] THE AUTHOURE.

    On this Kimarus left me all alone,
    And so did Morpheus, then I thought to reste:
    But yet againe he came presenting one,
    For audience likewise making his requeste,
    A worthy prince, he ware a warlike creste:
      A blade in hande, he bloudy rusty bore,
      Was all his harnesse from his shoulders tore.

    His armes and handes were all embrued in bloud,
    So was his breste, but all the rest beside
    Seemde rayde with matter vyle, or slimy mud,
    With red and yelowe as it were bedide:
    You scarcely could the sight therof abide:
      Yet sith he seemde some worthy wight to be,
      It brought by farre lesse squemishnes to me.

[661] Which I do beare. N.

[662] I the dreadfull monster slew. N.

[663] On whom long time did. N.

[664] Till on her wheele’s steepe top she did me bring. N.

[665] Subiected thoughts doth wicked pride suppresse. N.

[666] Without all law as was my lawlesse life. N.

[667] Whom. ed. 1575.

[668]

    By strokes to find a passage to his life,
    But now I found in vaine was all my strife.  N.

[669] From scales. ed. 1575.

[670] Seazed. N.

[671] Vs. N.

[672] This fable of the monster is repeated with little if any
variation by most writers. “As he (Morindus) wente vppon a tyme by
the see side, he mette a grete beste that was blak and horrible, and
hidous: and wente that hit had bene a whale of the see: And bente an
arweblaste and wolde haue slayn that beste with a quarell, but he myght
nought smyte hit. And when he hade shote alle his quarell, the beste
anone come to hym in grete haste, and him deuourede alyue, and so he
deide.” _M. S. Brute._

[673]

              ---- an haplesse falle,
    Or God’s reuenge, example take by mee,
    And let my death sufficient warning bee.  ed. 1575.

THE AUTHOURE.

    I could not thus departe to take my reste,
    For Morpheus bad me byde and heare the last.
    (Quoth he) behinde as yet, is one the beste:
    “Do stay a whyle, giue eare till he be past,
    “And therewithall approtched one full fast,
      The worthiest wight I euer erste did see”:
      These wordes he spake, or like it seemed mee.

[674] Not in the first edition.

[675] Except the rest of Britaine princes should. N.

[676] The chronicles say six or seuen years, and deposed for his
tyranny.

[677] To yex, to have the hiccough. _Johnson._

[678] Not in the first edition.

[679] An unwilling dolt.

[680]

    A drunken sot whose faltering feete do slip,
    Must pardon craue, his tongue in talke will trip. N.

[681] Erynnys, _i. e._ the goddesses that were to search into those men
who had committed heinous offences: their names are Megæra, Tisiphone,
and Alecto.

[682] Chaung’d in me. N.

[683] Sow, a great lump of melted iron or lead. _Bailey._

[684] Not in the first edition.

[685] Also prosper. N.

[686] Yet doth stand. N.

[687] Their. N.

[688] With those that will. N.

[689] Doth spoile the corps. N.

[690] Weaker force to. N.

[691] The like examples. N.

[692] Neuerthelesse. N.

[693] This censure was probably from the circumstance of the deeds and
name of Nennius being omitted in the Polychronicon, and by Fabian,
Lanquet, Rastell, and Stowe.

[694]

    As on such tyrants who as bloodie foes,
    Vnto their countrey wrought such deadly woes. N.

[695] As for myselfe I doe not. N.

[696] That to the dead these moderne writers doe. N.

[697] Any one of yore. N.

[698] Both tall forraine force in fight. N.

[699] Of their foes may haue. N.

[700] Place height Ely of his name. N. Some, as Camden observes,
derive the name of Ely “from Helig, a British word signifying willows
or sallows, which it bears in abundance; and indeed they are the only
thriving trees here.” _Camden’s Britannia._

[701] This stanza omitted by Niccols.

[702] Lanquet, Stowe, Grafton, Flores Histor. _Margin_ of ed. 1575.

[703]

                        ----as stories tell,
    And fame did beare his name both wide and far.  N.

[704] Enlargde them made with. ed. 1575.

[705] _Sic._ Strong. N.

[706] A place for gates to keepe. ed. 1575.

[707] Foemen. N.

[708] The. ed. 1575.

[709]

              ----these letters he did frame,
    Brought by ambassadours which hither came.  N.

[710] Pledges. ed. 1575.

[711] This. N.

[712] Require. ed. 1575.

[713] No doubt the Romaines more then half were mad. ed. 1575.

[714] Ile to mee. N.

[715] He fully straight decreed. ed. 1575.

[716] Therefore. ib.

[717] The Britaines eke prepar’d themselues. N.

[718] They. N.

[719] Wee Britaynes then farre deemde. ed. 1575.

[720] To meete him first. ib.

[721] Giue an entry here. ib.

[722] Here. ib.

[723] The enemies t’aband. N.

[724] Straunger. ed. 1575.

[725] Sought the noble Britaines. N.

[726] Not looke on mee. ed. 1575.

[727] The ancient stories. N.

[728] I had. N.

[729] My case haue tride. ed. 1575.

[730] Wounded in fight. N.

[731] Romaines stout their courage lose. N.

[732] A. ed. 1575.

[733] “Upon land Cæsar’s horsemen at the first encounter were
vanquished, and Laberius Durus the tribune slaine, in a place now
called Cheston wood neare vnto Rochester, as saieth the Chronicle of
Wigmore.” _Stowe._

[734] Make thee mendes. ib.

[735] Friendship.

[736] For. ib.

[737] “The same [British] historie also maketh mention of one Belinus
that was generall of Cassibellane’s armie, and likewise of Nenius
brother to Cassibellane, who in fight happened to get Cesar’s swoord
fastened in his shield by a blow which Cesar stroke at him. Androgeus
also and Tenancius were at the battell in aid of Cassibellane. But
Nenius died within 15 daies after the battell of the hurt receiued at
Cesar’s hand, although after he was so hurt, he slue Labienus one of
the Romane tribunes: all which may well be true, sith Cesar either
maketh the best of things for his owne honour, or else coueting to
write but commentaries maketh no account to declare the needeful
circumstances, or any more of the matter, than the chiefe points of his
dealing.” _Holinshed._

[738] Behofe. ed. 1575.

[739] The first eight stanzas of the “L’enuoy” form the like number
commencing “the Author” in the edition of 1575.

[740] He vanisht with so sweete an heauenly smell. ib.

[741] Me seemde the. ib.

[742] With. ed. 1575.

[743] And mazed. ib.

[744] Which graunted, al they vanisht. ed. 1575.

[745]

    On this in traunce I lay me thought a while
    And musde reioysing.  ib.

[746] Knight. ib.

[747] Playne. ib.

[748] Whose vertues so did passe. ib.

[749] As. ib.

[750] Deseruede. ib.

[751] So. ib.

[752] And let your. ib.

[753] The remainder of “the Authour” from the first edition.

    But let me nowe retourne againe to tell,
    What after this, me chaunst to see and heare.
    I trust yee Readers like my dealing well,
    In promise that I made, this later yeare.
    For sure I thinke, a man farre better were
      Not speaks at all, to promese hilles of gold,
      And in performance, waxe as key full colde.

    I saide (if God sent time, and space therfore)
    Ye should receaue from mee (as leysure came)
    Of these my simple toyles, a greater store,
    And partly you perceaue, how I performe the same.
    Such workes, as this my simple muse can frame,
      (With all my harte and minde) you freely haue:
      As free, as God these giftes me frely gaue.

    Wherefore giue eare, now harken well to this:
    As to these tunes, I gaue me thought some heede,
    In doubte if sences led my mynde amisse,
    Or whether [Greek: pathos] me with toyes did feede.
    What doth (said Morpheus) now this musing nede?
      Art thou so farre orewatcht, thy wittes the fayle?
      Or els do fancies more then wit preuayle?

    Not so (quoth I) though far the night be past,
    And yet me thinkes, I could be well content
    To leaue them so (if this were now the last)
    So thou therto and Somnus sweete consent:
    This noble Nennius well the time hath spent.
      I would haue staide, if he had spoken more:
      ’Twas his departure, troubled me so sore.

    (Quoth he) thou must a whyle yet longer byde:
    In fewe he shall declare, how he hath sped
    That commes. And euen with that I lookt aside,
    And sawe a coarse approache without a head.
    What now (quoth I) though erste (by thee) the dead
      Were causde to speake, declaring all their will,
      Yet speach of headlesse men doth passe my skill.

    With that gan Morpheus touch him with his mace,
    And sodainly an head, on shoulders pight.
    For lacke of vse, he could not turne his face,
    Or else had Morpheus scarcely set it right.
    He had forgotten eke, to turne his sight:
      But still he stode his face to set awrye,
      And wappering turnid vp his white of eye.

    As t’were a dead man, reared vp an end,
    Deuoyde of life, and yet a feeling had:
    His lippes lay open, grimly ofte hee grend:
    With hollowe eyes, full oft he frowned sad,
    And bent his browes, and lookte as he were mad:
      I sawe not in my life, I thinke his pere:
      Nor shall not, if I liue this hundred yeare.

    At length he tryde, which way to tell his mynde:
    Yet how to speake his tonge had quite forgotte:
    Each instrument forgotten had his kinde,
    That erste could run at randon and by roate,
    But then me thought, with fist his brest hee smote,
      The other hande his musing browes did holde:
      And as awakte (at laste) this tale he tolde.

[754] Daunce. N.

[755] As. ed. 1575.

[756] Their. ib.

[757] Insteede of cheese to fill thy chaps with chalke. ed. 1575.

[758]

    I will be briefe and truly tell thee all
    The cause why I from graue do now appeare.  N.

[759]

    Let who so stands trust to a stedfast hold,
    If stedfast hold he thinke that he may find,
    Presume not on thy strength, nay yet be bold
    On Fortune’s gifts, nay let her guide thy mind
    In hope of hap, for she is counted blind.  N.

[760]

    So bad but we it frame.  N.

[761] To done. ed. 1575.

[762] Nephewe. ib.

[763] For feates in armes, for fauour, and for fame. N.

[764] Nephew, ed. 1575.

[765] No, no, be sure. ib.

[766] How seeming friends did prooue my chiefest foes. N.

[767] As. N.

[768] That. N.

[769] Quoth we, by thee did all these Britaines die. N.

[770] Yet darst not. ed. 1575.

[771] Their wounds in flight all scattered. N.

[772] Tongues ioy to light could bring. N.

[773] Our king. N.

[774] Therewith for battaile bent as mad. N.

[775] Our foes foule flight. N.

[776] Seemely there but swordes in sight. ed. 1575.

[777] And men lesse deem’d do giue the conquering stroke. N.

[778] (And turneys.) ed. 1575.

[779] The stanza thus altered by Niccols.

    A solemne iusts proclaimed was for those,
    Who would to win renowne their valour trie,
    Where th’earle of London’s cosin did expose
    Himselfe to purchase praise, against whom I
    To win the prize did all my powers applie:
      But fatall was the scope I did intend,
      Th’effects bewray’d my folly in the end.

[780] Fawting eye. ed. 1575. _i. e._ favouring eye. Their former
friendly eie. N.

[781] Their foes to feare. N.

[782] Friends worse then forren. N.

[783] That fall at oddes for fond vaine glorie’s sake. N.

[784] That. ed. 1575.

[785] Wise before it be to late. ed. 1575.

[786] Did foule display. ed. 1575.

[787] He me. ib.

[788] Mens. N.

[789] The common rout. N.

[790] Made my foes to stare. N.

[791] Nothing lesse. ed. 1575.

[792] Not be well therwith. ib.

[793] But rather therfore beare. ed. 1575.

[794] Here the following stanzas occur in the first edition.

    To which he aunswerd as despite had spoke,
    With hasty wordes and tauntes of hygher peres.
    I list not any iote (quoth he) reuoke,
    Of that is sayd, ne darste thou for thine eares
    (What euer lookes in place thy fauters beares)
      Alone to mete me in the field to fraye.
      But I may hap (by chaunce) to finde the day,
      Wherein thou shalt not beare the price away.

    As for the king we doubte if he be heyre,
    The kingdome is the Earle of London’s right,
    And though that he the prince his person beare
    (In his nonage) he ought not reue it quyte,
    Ne shall he stay mee if I mynde to fighte.
      Then where thou speakst (quoth he) of princes peace,
      And wouldst me warne, from furder dealing seace:
      Thou better were (perhaps) to holde thy peace.

    On which I playnly sayde, highe treason t’was,
    So much to speake, against our soueraigne Lorde:
    Quoth I, the boundes of modestie you passe,
    That dare your case with prince his right accorde:
    Your betters would far better wordes auorde,
      And you perhaps your selfe so stoute that showe
      Which make as though you sought his ouerthrowe,
      Shall shortly more his grace his pleasure knowe.

[795] And. ed. 1575.

[796]

    Thyselfe a traytour rather semest right,
    That darste presume amongst thy betters so.  ib.

[797] I raught to him. ib.

[798] My frendes likewyse could. ib.

[799] They drew. ib.

[800] We freshly. ib.

[801] They. ed. 1575.

[802] Was. ib.

[803] They. ib.

[804] Wherfore they layde about them francke. ib.

[805] Knight. ib.

[806] Several of the early historians concur in representing that this
improvident quarrell, and unexpected rencounter, first enabled Cæsar to
establish his landing in Britain, from the assistance afterwards given
him by the Earl of London. The following is one of the briefest of
the statements:--“It befell thus vpon a day that the gentylmen of the
kynge’s housholde and the gentylmen of the Erle’s housholde of London
after meet, went togyder for to play. And thrugh debate that arose
ymonge them Enelin, that was the Erle’s cosyn of London, slewe Irenglas
that was the kynge’s cosyn. Wherfore the kynge swore that Enelyn sholde
be hanged. But the Erle of London, that was Enelin’s lorde, wolde not
suffer hym. Wherfore the kynge was greatly wroth and vexed towarde the
Erle and thought hym to dystroye. And pryuely the Erle sende letters
to Julius Cezar, that he sholde come into this lande for to helpe hym,
and hym auenge vpon the kynge, and he wolde helpe hym with al his
myght. And whan the emperour herde these tydynges he was full glad, and
ordeyned a stronge power, and came agayne the thyrde tyme into this
lande, and the Erle of London helped hym with viii M. men. And at the
thyrde tyme was Cassybolon ouercome and dyscomfyted, and made peas to
the Emperour for thre thousande pounde of syluer, yeldynge by yere for
truage for this lande for euermore.” _Chron. of St. Albans._

[807] Oh that my friend of yore. N.

[808] The edition of 1575 finishes with the life of Lord Irenglas,
which Higgins calls the FIRST PART in his concluding lines of

THE AUTHOR.

    With that (me thought) he vanisht quite away:
    And I was come to end my worke at last:
    Not minding longer on the which to staye,
    My penne did trudge to wryte these verses fast.
    I trust sith once, they haue the Printer past
      That went before: these fragmentes come behinde,
      Shall of the Readers, likewyse fauour finde.

    So of my first part here I make an ende,
    The Seconde parte which I haue now to fyle
    Doth call me hence, from these to those to wende:
    In which if God send grace to guyde my style,
    I shall (I trust) and that in shorter whyle,
      Againe retourne, to Printer’s presse with those:
      Which shal likewise, their fight and falles disclose.

    Till then farewell a thousand times to thee,
    Which takst in hand this booke to shun the ill,
    That was the fall of these describde by mee,
    And haste to mende their faultes a firme good will,
    I wishe thy health, increase of vertu still,
      Adieu, farewell, I haue but this to say,
      God send vs both his heauenly grace for aye.

    _I. Higgins._

[809] Surely. N.

[810] In brief. N.

[811] Aurelia faire. N.

[812] Morall discipline instruct. N.

[813]

                        ----and write the truth,
    Of all my noble actions from my youth.  N.

[814] The divorce of Henry VIIIth from Q. Katherine is undoubtedly here
alluded to by the poet.

[815] That wrought his swift decay. N.

[816] The valiant Galles. N.

[817] Nations which were whilome. N.

[818] My famous warres. N.

[819] Each. N.

[820] That eke. N.

[821] Haue in field of Romane. N.

[822] Both stout. N.

[823] Went. N.

[824] Shippes againe: a wondrous thing. N.

[825] Where hauens be. N

[826] “The Brytons had pyght sharpe stakes in the ryuer of Tamyse there
Julius hadde landed, the stakes were grete, shapen as a manne’s thygh
and sette about with lede as it is yet seen.” _Polychronicon._

[827] When many diu’d the deepe before the land wee won. N.

[828] Being hardly. N.

[829] Come the following yeare. N.

[830] So stubburne. N.

[831] By our power bee ruled. N.

[832] For our second flight with sports. N.

[833] Neither best appeares. N.

[834] Elenine was stout, for. N.

[835] Vntill at length in fight hight Irenglas was slaine. N.

[836] Before the iudge doe doome. N.

[837] To me in France. N.

[838] He also Sceua sent for pledge. N.

[839] His losse in doubtfull war. N.

[840] His people’s base reuoult he chiefly did deplore. N.

[841] I after sent. N.

[842] The warlike Galles. N.

[843] I led my conquering host. N.

[844] But from. N.

[845] Slaine in fight, or more. N.

[846] But either fell in fight, or from the field did flie. N.

[847] For all our. N.

[848]

      ----and sonnes by myght did oft assaye,
    When he was done to death.  N.

[849] Of cunning skill. N.

[850] He wins immortall fame, thrice blessed is the crowne. N.

[851] The. N.

[852] Was alone. N.

[853] Sole to be. N.

[854] Me many secret. N.

[855] Soueraigne sway. N.

[856] My ruin and decay. N.

[857] Could no thing in state determin’d bee. N.

[858] Enui’d at me that. N.

[859] As hautie Cassius. N.

[860] The chiefest crime. N.

[861] Dispatch and death. N.

[862] Mine acts, my raigne, and. N.

[863] Yet. N.

[864] Fatall tombe. N.

[865] Without the guide of man. N.

[866] A little wren. N.

[867] My fall in slumber, I. N.

[868] Was from earth and. N.

[869] Hand in hand I thought I walkt with. N.

[870] Make me much that morning to mislike. N.

[871] Can void death’s dart when he doth strike. N.

[872] Seekes his life for to betray? N.

[873] Traytor bloodie Brutus. N.

[874] At last I went and there did meet vntimely fate. N.

[875] To senate as I went behold a Roman stood. N.

[876] Euery traytours name. N.

[877] Sought to spill my blood. N.

[878] Presently decreed to execute. N.

[879] I blind wretch supposde. N.

[880] My vnhappie hand. N.

[881] For which I lost my life, as you shall vnderstand. N.

[882] Diuinings true I then did. N.

[883] To warne me of my death the priest did seeke in vaine. N.

[884] I gaue. N.

[885] My cruell foes. N.

[886] Beset me round about. N.

[887] Perceiu’d my death’s approching sting. N.

[888]

    Yee princes all and noble men beware of pride,
    Wracke not the Commonwealth for wealthie kingdome’s sake;
    Be warn’d by me that set myselfe the world to guide,
    Beware what bloodie warres for rule you vndertake:
    Ere three and twentie wounds had made my heart to quake,
      How many thousands fell from Pompeyes pride and mine?
      How many valiant Knights did loued life resigne? N.

[889] Themselues againe for griefe. N.

[890] For they would neuer yeeld though I did them subdue. N.

[891] Some trauail’d farre away. N.

[892] Loth to stay and see. N.

[893] Swift. N.

[894] On Aphrike’s coasts, and Asia. N.

[895] Also knew. N.

[896] Was nought but glorie. N.

[897] Rule 'mongst men aboue. N.

[898] In mind of. N.

[899] So oft addrest. N.

[900] I iustly deeme. N.

[901] Wounds this sentence long hath stood. N.

[902] Of. N.

[903] All men that in affaires themselues imploy. N.

[904] Doe. N.

[905] But first vnto Augustus what befell.

[906] I was both vnto warre. N.

[907] The Romanes heapt on me all worldly blisse. N.

[908] Best 'mongst them. N.

[909] But otherwise then I had thought it fell. N.

[910] About that time did. N.

[911] Loe now when as the Hebrewes. N.

[912] Fiends. N.

[913] All men called. N.

[914] The priests in enuie brought him vnto me. N.

[915] Wisard ’gainst. N.

[916] Which I belieuing whipt him. N.

[917] They kept three daies with souldiers stout: yet he. N.

[918] Which wheu they heard, they. N.

[919] Say, his corpes was stolne away. N.

[920]

                        --they money taken had;
    I write the truth, if any otherwise
    Do bring report, account it but vain lies.  N.

[921] Punish. N.

[922] To their accusers threaten. N.

[923] I eke Germanicus with poyson slew. N.

[924] But mine owne selfe who did abuse my place. N.

[925] Caligula at last did poyson me. N.

[926]

    In throne on earth a prince as God doth sit,
    And as a God no iustice should omit.  N.

[927] Of foul lust incest. N.

[928]

    Which mine owne seruants loathing at the last,
    With their owne hands my timelesse death did hast.  N.

[929] The princely rote no tyrant thoughts can hide. N.

[930]

    Guiderius was my name, the sonne of yore,
    Of noble Cimbaline, and after king:
    The Romane tribute I would pay no more.  N.

[931]

    I stoutly did deny what they did claime,
    Though many counseld me to yeeld the same.  N.

[932]

    By force and fraude proud Cæsar heere did raigne,
    But now by might my right I would maintaine.  N.

[933]

    Amongst his men, a Captaine stout he had,
    With whom in fight I made my party good;
    _Hamonius_ men him cal’d, who for his blade
    In single fight so often I withstood:
    At last did worke a wile to shed my blood.  N.

[934]

    He marcht with vs as he a friend had been,
    And when we came to fight he shew’d a face
    Of comfort and bold courage ’gainst his men:
    And when they fled, and we pursu’d the chace,
    Pursue (quoth he) the Romans flie apace,
      In British tongue he cride, they flie, they flie,
      Our hostages had taught him so to crie.  N.

[935] His. N.

[936]

    Thus by deceits my life hee did confound,
    Of my decay this was the fatall ground:
    Which thou must pen that I a miror be,
    For men to shun the sleights of trecherie.  N.

[937] The Cronycle of Englande, and also Gaufride, say that in the
hoost of the Romaynes was a Capitayne named Hame or Hamon, the whiche
entendyge hurte & destruccyon of the Brytons, chaunged his shelde or
Armure and dydde vpon hym the armoure of a Brytayne, and by that meane
as a Bryton mysclad, he entred into the thyckest of the hoost, and
lastly vnto the place where as kynge Guyderius faught, and shortly
after slewe the kynge. But Aruiragus seynge this sodayne myschyef, to
the ende that the Brytons shulde nat gyue backe, he hastely causyd
hymselfe to be armyd with the cognisaunce of the kynge, and so for
kynge contynued the fyght with suche manhode that the romaynes were
put to flyght.--Aruiragas, brother to Guyderius, before slayne, wes
ordeyned kynge of Brytons, in the yere of our Lord xliiii. This in the
Englysshe booke is named Armager, the whiche, as there is shewed, well
and knyghtley maynteyned the warre agayne the Romaynes, and after slewe
the forenamed Hamo nere vnto an Hauen or port of the see, and hym, so
slayne, threwe Gobet meale into the same see. For this skyll was this
Hauen longe tyme called Hamon’s Hauen, which at this daye is called
Southampton. _Fabian._

[938] By treason vile deserues a shrowding sheete of shame. N.

[939] So well they say, I thinke. N.

[940] Tell thee heere what. N.

[941] Expresse the madnesse of my mind. N.

[942] But also me in ire a monster. N.

[943] Nor fully compleat fram’d. N.

[944] Oft in anger me defam’d. N.

[945] Blood and high descent was. N.

[946] The supreame throne. N.

[947] The bloodie Senate. N.

[948] Determining in minde t’ abolish. N.

[949] Ancient linage. N.

[950] They could, they thought. N.

[951] But still by our proud raigne were. N.

[952] I myselfe had hid. N.

[953] Loe from a place obscure. N.

[954] Forth, by force. N.

[955] I seem’d in heart. N.

[956]

    Eke t’ obtaine th’ Emperiall place,
    Whereby the warriers stout were vnto me inclin’de,
    Supposing I was meeke, and of a gentle mind.  N.

[957] The wilie wolfe that seekes to slay the silly sheepe. N.

[958] Oft times to beare. N.

[959] The craftie fox likewise would. N.

[960] If that he do perceiue the mastiue lying by. N.

[961] The Crocodile in Nile will faine. N.

[962] Wolfe, foxe, and Crocodile. N.

[963] Could wisely faine. N.

[964] Charge forme too great. N.

[965] Well in mind I wist. N.

[966] Not me by force thereof defeate. N.

[967] They had no power to stay me. N.

[968] But after I was thron’d, I gaue. N.

[969] To sport, and bellie chere. N.

[970] And foolish fearefull. N.

[971] Who Messalina hight. N.

[972] The cuckold’s horne. N.

[973] They did seeme t’ abhor the fact. N.

[974] Or if that men with her adulterate would not be. N.

[975] Some famous crime. N.

[976] For which not they. N.

[977] My houshold seruants were prefer’d in place by me. N.

[978] Her for to be. N.

[979] No more with women for to wed. N.

[980] My vicious wiues. N.

[981] Whoredome vile to violate my bed.

[982] But blind at length with folly from my vow I fled. N.

[983] And Agrippina hight, my. N.

[984] And lothsome sinne. N.

[985] Riot, drinking, cards and dice. N.

[986] Skilfull was by practise growne therein. N.

[987] That I of dicing arte did write a worke. N.

[988] May full well declare. N.

[989]

    Growne old in all my deeds, so credulous was I.
    That in each doubtfull place I had some secret spie.  N.

[990] So bloodie was I growne, that euery light offence. N.

[991] Cause enough. N.

[992] I so forgetfull was, and such. N.

[993] I would enquire for those that causde my former griefe. N.

[994] For Messalina faire, of late. N.

[995] Others dead I would enquire again. N.

[996] As I in rage before commanded to be slaine. N.

[997] I fondly did extoll. N.

[998] Adorning their degrees with titles. N.

[999] Euen such as seruants were and seru’d. N.

[1000] Amongst the ancient men in senate often sate. N.

[1001] For which the Romans me vnto the death did hate. N.

[1002] Cruell deeds and beastly. N.

[1003] That I their prince were dead. N.

[1004] My Agrippina perswaded me t’adopt her hopefull sonne. N.

[1005] That after my decease the. N.

[1006] When too soone at length. N.

[1007] Her vniust request. N.

[1008] The deadly poyson. N.

[1009] Whereof at last I di’d. N.

[1010] Which as a mirour heere to thee I do commend. N.

[1011] My mother Agrippine so wrought for me. N.

[1012] One man had me for bride and for bride-wife. N.

[1013] Of all they had. N.

[1014] With life to scape. N.

[1015] Waues. N.

[1016] Experience and the prouerbs. N.

[1017] Each tide his flowe. N.

[1018] Went for to destroy. N.

[1019] Mine outrage they no longer could endure. N.

[1020] To saue my selfe away by night I steale. N.

[1021] Which in the ditches stanke. N.

[1022] At my request my friend would me not kill. N.

[1023] Yet. N.

[1024] So mine owne sword I ran quite through my hart. N.

[1025] Euill. N.

[1026] I sought by death to post proud Nero hence. N.

[1027] Although his vice were made the chiefe pretence. N.

[1028] A thing indeed that. N.

[1029] In purple gore oft yeeldes like gainfull good. N.

[1030] The wolfe of wolfe no friendship doth refuse. N.

[1031] The crafty foxe the foxe for friend doth chuse. N.

[1032] As well the shape as qualities of minde. N.

[1033] One loues soft musick and sweet melodie. N.

[1034] For Neroe’s crue. N.

[1035] With. N.

[1036] To seeke reuenge for Neroe’s death. N.

[1037] Souldiers all I. N.

[1038]

    I cast about and many waies did trie
    With prudent fore cast to preuent all ill.  N.

[1039] Bereft. N.

[1040] Fortune was wont in state to lift her children high. N.

[1041] Fall adowne againe. N.

[1042] Those that haue renowne. N.

[1043] Amongst the states of men, best is the meaner sort. N.

[1044] A mightie man doe. N.

[1045]

    And yet with men as great doe daily liue in strife,
    His pleasure is but paine, and all his ioy but griefe:
      When we not with our own contented can abide,
      With auarice we clime, but fall againe with pride.  N.

[1046] I came, had won before. N.

[1047] In fruitfull Westmerlande. N.

[1048] Londricus “landed with a great nauy in the prouince of Albania,
now called Scotland, and there vnmercifully he began to spoyle the
country, with sworde and fire: whereof when Marius was warned, he in
all haste assembled his knightes and people, and made towardes them,
and gaue them a strong battaile, in the which Londricus was slaine,
and a great part of his people ouerthrowne. In the remembraunce of
which victorie, King Marius caused a great stone to be erected, and
commaunded therein to be grauen these woordes, _Marii Victoria_, that
is, the victory of Marius. This battaile, as the English Chronicle
sayth, was foughten at a place which is called Stanes Moore. But
wheresoeuer this stone is set, the countrie thereabout was long after
called Westmarie, and is nowe called Westmerland.” _Grafton._

[1049] As she before had done. N.

[1050] The certaine truth. N.

[1051] By Fortune false with death so dearely bought. N.

[1052] She sometimes sets vp. N.

[1053]

    As I that thought this land from Britaines to regaine,
    In field with all my Picts were vanquished and slaine.  N.

[1054] Their happie fate. N.

[1055] For vnto change of chaunce subiected is their state. N.

[1056] She enriched well. N.

[1057] And vnresisted to. N.

[1058] Take. N.

[1059] Against the law of arms. N.

[1060] Fit we found to worke our harmes. N.

[1061] King Artebane we did subdue in fight. N.

[1062] Slew his men that did with stand. N.

[1063] Mappes. N.

[1064] Rome honour’d mee. N.

[1065] Geta far more mild. N.

[1066] To rule my sonnes, I was vnblest. N.

[1067] Despite, and auarice. N.

[1068] Be. N.

[1069] My. N.

[1070] Probably a line of this stanza was dropt at the press.

[1071] My wicked children sought my death. N.

[1072]

    That by my death the empire he might sway,
    T’obtaine the same he often gaue th’assay.  N.

[1073] To Britaine ouer seas from Rome went I. N.

[1074] And tame the stout that tribute did denie. N.

[1075] So in throne to raigne. N.

[1076] Reape our tribute. N.

[1077] In league with them. N.

[1078] I made edict. N.

[1079] _Sixe score miles and twelue._ There was some error of the press
in this number. According to _Lanquet_, it should be _five_ score
and twelve, while the Polychronicon, which appears to be the poet’s
authority, says, “he made a walle in Brytayne that stretcheth six score
myle and _tweyne_ vnto the see.”

[1080] Fulgentius stout without delay. N.

[1081] To Scythia sail’d, and there his chance did tell. N.

[1082] And with an host of Picts. N.

[1083] And vnsure. N.

[1084] A wall an hundred mile. N.

[1085] Our ancient race (as I can shew with skill.) N.

[1086] Ioue’s. N.

[1087] Their foule sin. N.

[1088]

    As God did make the zones hot, milde, and cold,
    So did he make like men the same to hold.  N.

[1089] Is no fit clime, whence man should. N.

[1090] As they do vse. N.

[1091] But of proud Rome’s Seuerus. N.

[1092] Made to keepe me out. N.

[1093] And taking land. N.

[1094] The cries and shouts of men to skies resound. N.

[1095] I made my way. N.

[1096] Where with my Picts the Parthique I did stay. N.

[1097]

    For as I conquest sought,
    With my life blood the conquest deare was bought.  N.

[1098] Gifts. N.

[1099] Do. N.

[1100] Germanie. N.

[1101] I fauour had, and liu’d belou’d alway. N.

[1102] Appointed it my right. N.

[1103] Iustice had from N.

[1104] But gaue an end to causes. N.

[1105] Le stories tell if I do faine in this. N.

[1106] In warres as stout, but. N.

[1107] I not opprest the weaker sort. N.

[1108] Pleasure all, both. N.

[1109] But brother’s treason caused all our ill. N.

[1110] Hight Antonine. N.

[1111] Was, as may appeare. N.

[1112] To kill. N.

[1113] That so by them his sire might poisoned bee. N.

[1114] This when our sire Seuerus wist and saw. N.

[1115] That bloodie beast was bent. N.

[1116] Perswading vs true concord for to hold. N.

[1117] Oft. N.

[1118] T’enlarge his power for th’empire him addrest. N.

[1119] Pursuing warre: neere Yorke. N.

[1120] I was foretold my life. N.

[1121] Apart from his, that did my death deuise. N.

[1122] My seruants were allur’d. N.

[1123] By poison to procure my life’s decay. N.

[1124]

    Because they would not to his will be wrought,
    To bring them vnto death he daily sought.  N.

[1125] In danger I was forst. N.

[1126] Not long to wrecke. N.

[1127]

    That in the euen he came to spill my blood,
    As I vnarmed with my mother stood.  N.

[1128] She him besought. N.

[1129] Fates. N.

[1130] Antonine that wretch. N.

[1131] Now maist thou deeme. N.

[1132] He to his sire of sonnes was most vnkind. N.

[1133] What monster wrought his faithfull friends such woe. N.

[1134] Throng.

[1135] Their deathes my wicked heart could glad. N.

[1136] And some who did my trecherie disclose. N.

[1137] All my friends I sought to make. N.

[1138] To forsake. N.

[1139] To which in shew I granted N.

[1140] Perceiue then one alone. N.

[1141] I said, I should by foes be forc’d to die. N.

[1142] All resorted to my tent. N.

[1143] Our foe is slaine. N.

[1144] I promist if the soldiers me would saue. N.

[1145] Should haue. N.

[1146] At large in that one day. N.

[1147] Seuerus treasure I did make away. N.

[1148] The souldiers all perceiuing well my mind. N.

[1149] By them the Emperour. N.

[1150] Ill. N.

[1151] My brother’s house and fame I did deface. N.

[1152] Coach. N.

[1153] Cau’lling. N.

[1154] So that few men. N.

[1155] Could with like strength such weightie burthens beare. N.

[1156] With eie to view. N.

[1157] Giue her me to wife. N.

[1158] To vse their hand. N.

[1159] The king scarse scap’d. N.

[1160] Of all wise men. N.

[1161] What he did write againe. N.

[1162] To campe. N.

[1163] The sword at length shall iustly shed his bloud. N.

[1164] There are some lines by Turbervile, entitled: 'The author here
declareth why he wrote these histories, and forewente the translation
of the learned poet, Lucan.’

[1165] This seems as if Blenerhasset thought Lord Buckhurst and
Sackville different persons!

[1166] Neither the printer’s address, author’s epistle, or any of the
prose inductions, are inserted in the edition of 1610.

[1167] Not in the edition 1610; Higgins having inserted a life of
Guidericus among the additions to Part I. after the appearance of the
above by Blener-Hasset. See p. 286.

[1168] How Carassvs a hvsbandman’s sonne, and after King of Britaine,
was slaine in battell by Alectus a Roman, Anno Dom. 293. N.

[1169] Picts. N.

[1170] And did so far preuaile. N.

[1171] To bring the barbarous Picts. N.

[1172] of th’ armed Picts. N.

[1173] Rome. N.

[1174] The Picts preuented of their wished pray. N.

[1175] For his gray grotes. N.

[1176] The end of th’act. N.

[1177] Bred such sterne debate. N.

[1178] Our author, in the Epistle to his Friend, (see p. 350,)
describes himself to have been “altogether destitute” of books, and
that his memory and invention, or diligence, were forced to supply the
place of chronicles. Any attempt, therefore, to trace the supposed
authorities seems useless if not irrelevant; and where errors of
fact are discovered they must probably be considered excusable, from
the peculiar disadvantages under which the work was composed. Thus
the beauty of queen Helena, her piety, skill in music, and knowledge
of the liberal arts, added to the presumption of her having founded
seventy colleges, too firmly established her fame to make it doubtful
that the remembrance of her might be “smothered with oblivion.” (See
the _Chronicle of St. Alban’s_, _Geoffery of Monmouth_, _Grafton_,
_&c._) Neither is the “little report of the chronicles,” in another
respect, inconsequential. Several of them agree in her having, at an
advanced period of life, at the instigation of her son Constantine the
great, travelled to Jerusalem for the purpose of seeking for the HOLY
CROSS, and having fortunately discovered it. And hence is supposed
to originate the name of St. Helena in the Roman Calendar, and the
festival held May the third, called “the Invention of the Cross.” Later
writers have placed the birth-place of Saint Helena in Bythinia.

[1179] How Qveene Helena of Britaine married Constantivs the Emperour,
and much aduanced the Christian faith through the whole world, An. Dom.
289. N.

[1180] So. N.

[1181] They. N.

[1182] Heere at your commaund. N.

[1183] Grace. N.

[1184] Shape. N.

[1185] Misprint for land. It was not altered by Niccols.

[1186] A. N.

[1187] Anno Dom. 446. N.

[1188] Hauens some with forewinds haue. N.

[1189] Choakt. N.

[1190] One. N.

[1191] One. N.

[1192] The barbarous Picts, with speede themselues addrest. N.

[1193] Picts. N.

[1194] The poet has studiously avoided naming the young and beautiful
Rowena, and has also neglected, or forgot, to avail himself of
depicting the amusing incident of her introducing the wassail bowl,
though repeated in several of the chronicles. The following description
is from one of the earliest authorities. “And whenne nyghte come, that
the kyng shude gone into his chambre, for to take ther his nyghtes
reste, Ronewen, that was Engestis doughter, come with a coupe of
golde in here hande, and knelede before the kyng, and said to him:
“Whatsail.” And the kyng wiste nought what it was to mene, ne what he
shulde answere: for as moche as him selfe, ne none of his brutons,
yette couthe none englisshe speke, ne vnderstonde hit, but speken tho
that same langage that brutons yet done: na the lees a latymere tolde
the kyng the ful vnderstandyng ther of whatsaill; and that that other
shulde answere: “Drynk, haill.” And that was the firste tyme that
“whatsaill,” and “drinke haill,” comen vp in this lande; and frame
that tyme into this tyme hit hath bene wel vsede. The kyng Vortiger
sawe the fairenesse of Ronewenne, and his armes laide aboute hire nek,
and thrise swetely he kissed hire; and anone right he was anamerede of
hire, and he desirede to haue hire to his wife, and axede of Engeste
hire fadere, and Engeste grauntede, vpon this couenaunt, that the
kyng shulde yeue him all the cuntre of Kente that he myght dwelle in
and alle his peple. The kyng him graunted preuely with a good wille.
And anone after he spousede the damysell that was moche confusion to
himselfe: and therfore all the brutons becomen so wrothe for encheson
that he had spousede a woman of mysbileue wherfore thai wente alle fro
him and no thing to him toke kepe, ne helpe him in thinges that he hadd
to done.” MS. Brute.

[1195] Queene. N.

[1196] _Sic._

[1197] Bereaue vs of. N.

[1198] How Vter Pendragon was inamovred on the wife of Gorolus Duke of
Cornewall, whom he slew, and after was poisoned by the Saxons, Anno
Dom. 500.

[1199] That wounds my fame, which now too late I rew. N.

[1200] There in the church. N.

[1201] Misprint for Cirens. Syrens. N.

[1202] _Ut sup._ Syrens. N.

[1203] I learn’d with losse of my renowne at last. N.

[1204] Like basiliske doth spoile the gazing wight. N.

[1205] I sent the duke away to warres in haste. N.

[1206] This stanza wants the fifth line in the original edition.

[1207] Niccols substituted the following lines in place of the
eighteenth and nineteenth stanzas.

    [Vnconquered beautie whence had’st thou that power
    To make stout _Vter_ stoope to his owne shame,
    That neuer stoopt to foes? why for that flower
    Of sweete delight in _Igren_, that faire dame,
    Did I forgoe the golden flower of fame?
      Victorious beautie and base yeelding lust
      Did cast great _Vter’s_ conquests in the dust.

    Yet no such blame as writers do record
    Do I deserue for this vnhappie deed
    Proud _Gorolus_, the bright-cheekt _Igren’s_ lord,
    Receiu’d no wrong but his owne merits meed,
    When in the field I made his heart to bleed,
      If thoughts of treason merit death and shame,
      His trecherous deeds did well deserue the same.

    His gracelesse treason he in act did show,
    For when I sent him to _Nathaliod_ hight,
    In bloodie field against the _Saxon_ foe,
    He swolne in heart with enuie and despight
    Of his associates good, did leaue the fight,
      And leauing stout _Nathaliod_ for a pray
      Vnto the foes, from field he fled away.

    By which enforc’d I was with _Mars_ to rise
    From _Venus’_ bed, and arme me for the field,
    Where like a storme in thunder clad from skies,
    Vpon my foes I fell, they could not shield
    Themselues from death, few scap’t that did not yeeld:
      _Occa_ and _Ossa_ both I downe did bring,
      And led them captiue like a conquering king.

    Againe I then gan thinke vpon my loue,
    Vpon mine _Igren_ deare, against whose lord
    I finding cause, for that he late did proue
    Faithlesse to me, did with my lust accord
    ’Gainst him, as ’gainst my foe to draw my sword,
      Whom by his castle called _Dunilioc_,
      I slew with blade in battailes bloodie stroke.

    Then did I take mine _Igren_ as mine owne
    And crown’d her queene in my emperiall chaire,
    On whom great _Arthur_ I begot anone:
    And after him my _Anna_ hight the faire,
    In seeming blisse I long liu’d void of care,
      For thrice nine yeares with _Igren_ I did raigne,
      And ’gainst the _Saxons_ did my state maintaine.

    But for the rape of _Gorolus_ his wife,
    The heauens did powre down vengeance on my head,
    I by vntimely death did end my life,
    My sad soule hence enforc’d by poison fled,
    By _Saxons_ wrought, who often wish’d me dead,
      And left behind for all my deeds of fame
      Iust cause for writers’ pens to speake my shame.] N.

[1208] How Cadwallader the last king of the Britaines was expelled by
the Saxons, went to Rome, and there liued in a religious house. N.

[1209] Grizlie. N.

[1210] And the Medes. N.

[1211] Misprinted “farce,” ed. 1578.

[1212] Misprinted “doth dayly dothe,” 1578.

[1213] How Sigebert for his wicked life was thrust from his throne, and
miserablie slaine by a heardsman. Anno Dom. 755.

[1214] Leache, ed. 1578.

[1215] Mine. N.

[1216] Misprinted “would haue drownde,” ed. 1578.

[1217] Truth. N.

[1218] My poorer soule who drownd doth death request. N.

[1219] Lamenting. N.

[1220] And night the earth did with her darkenesse vaile. N.

[1221] O wicked deed, may. N.

[1222] Or. N.

[1223] Anno Dom. 870. N.

[1224] An. 870. Saint Ebbe, Abbesse of Coldingham, vi miles north from
Berwike, cut off her nose and vpperlip, and perswaded all her sisters
to do the like, that they being odible to the Danes, might the better
keepe their virginity; in despite whereof the Danes burned the abbey
and the nuns therein. _Stowe._

[1225] The complaint of Alurede, or Alfred, is omitted by Niccols.

[1226] “Aluredus was fayre of shappe, and more loued of fader and moder
than his other bretheren, and dwellyd in his fader’s courte to the yere
of his age twelue, and was not yet lettred. Yet after that the chylde
lerned ryght well and helde Saxon poesye in mynde.” _Polychronicon._

[1227] “Guttrun, kynge of Danes, was crystned, and twenty of the
grettest that were wyth hym, the whyche kynge Alfredus receyued of the
colde water, and yaue him a name, and callyd hym Adelstan. Therfore to
kyng Guttrun, that we calle Gurmundus, were yeuen the prouynces of Eest
Angles, and of Northumberlonde, for to dwelle ynne. But for the blewe
man chaungeth not lyghtly his skynne. This Guttrun destroyed the londes
wyth tyrannye and wyth pryde enleuen yere and dyede the twellyfth
yere. The other Danys that wolde not be crysten wente in to Fraunce.”
_Polychronicon._

[1228] Stowe describes him as a “victorious prince, the studious
prouider for widowes, orphanes, and poore people, most perfect in Saxon
poetrie, most liberall, endued with wisedome, fortitude, iustice,
and temperance, the most patient bearer of sicknesse, wherewith he
was dailie vexed, a most discrete searcher of trueth in executing
iudgement, and a most vigilant and deuout prince in the seruice of
God.” _Chronicle._

[1229] _Sic._

[1230] “He auentred hym to translate the sawtre into Englissh, but he
translated vnneth the fyrste parte before his deth. Whan he come to
age and wolde stable his herte and his thought in goddes heestes, and
lechery of his flesshe greuyd hym and lette hym ofte tyme, therfore to
putte awaye temptacyon of flesshely lykynge, he wente and vysyted ofte
temples of hooly sayntes erly and late, and at cokkes crowynge, and
prayed God that he wolde chastyse his flesshe with suche a sekenes that