1

haue foręsene, as I haue with my more euill disposed parsons fro the boldnes of payne then pleasure proued, by Goddes their formar outerages, to the gouern. blessed Ladie (that was euer his othe) I aunce and ordering of this yong prince woulde neuer haue won the courtesye of at his sending thyther, was there apmennes knees, with the losse of soo pointed Sir Anthony Woduile lord Rimany heades. But sithen thynges passed uers and brother vnto the quene, a right cannot be gaine called, muche oughte honourable man, as valiaunte of hande as wee the more beware, by. what occasion politike in counsale. Adioyned wer we haue taken soo greate hurte afore, that there vnto him other of the same partie, we eftesoones fall not in that occasion and in effect euery one as he was nerest agayne. Nowe be those griefes passed, of kin vnto the quene, so was planted and all is (Godde be thanked) quiete, next about the priuce. That drifte by the and likelie righte wel to prosper in quene not vnwisely deuised, whereby wealthfull peace vnder youre coseyns my her bloode mighte of youth be rooted in children, if Godde sende them life and the princes fauour, the duke of Gloucester you loue. Of whiche twoo thinges, the turned vnto their destraccion, and vpon jesse losse wer they by whome thoughe that grounde set the foundacion of all his Godde dydde hys pleasure, yet shoulde vnhappy building. For whom soeuer lie the realme alway finde kinges and per- perceiued, either at variance with them, aduenture as good kinges. But yf you or bearing himself their fauor, hee brake among youre selfe in a childes reygne vnto them, som by mouth, som by writfall at debate, many a good man shall ing or secret messengers, that it neyther perish and happely he to, and ye to, ere was reason nor in any wise to be suffered, thys land finde peace again. Wherfore that the yong king their master and kinsin these laste wordes that euer I looke to manne, shoold bee in the handes and speake with you: I exhort you and re- custodye of his mothers kinred, sequesquire you al, for the loue that you haue tred in maner from theyr compani and euer borne to me, for the loue that I attendance, of which eueri one ought haue euer borne to you, for the loue that him as faithful seruice as they, and manye our Lord beareth to us all, fruip this time of them far more honorable part of kin forwarde, all grieues forgotten, eche of then his mothers side: whose blood, you loue other. Whiche I verelye truste (quod he) sauing the kinges pleasure, you will, if ye any thing earthly regard, w33 ful vnmetely to be matched with either Godde or your king, affinitie or his : whiche nowe to be as who say rekinred, this realme, your owne coun moued from the kyng, and the lesse notrey, or your owne surety. And there-' ble to be left aboute him, is (quod he) withal the king no longer enduring to neither honorable to hys magestie, nor sitte vp, laide him down on his right side, vnto vs, and also to his grace no surety his face towarde them: and none was to haue the mightiest of his frendes from there present that coulde refrain from him, and vnto vs no little jeopardy, to weping But the lordes reconforting suffer our welproued euil willers, to grow him with as good wordes as they could, in ouergret authoritie with the prince in and answering for the time as thei thought youth, namely which is lighte of beliefe to stand with his pleasure, there in his and sone perswaded. Ye remember I presence (as by their wordes appored) trow king Edward himself, albeit he was eche forgaue cther, and joyned their a manne of age and of discrecion, yet hands together, when (as it after appear was he in manye thynges ruled by the ed by their dedes) their hearts wer far a bende, more then stode either with his sonder. As sone as the king was de- honour, or our profite, or with the comparted, the noble prince his sonne drew moditie of any manne els, except onely the toward London, which at the time of bis' immoderate aduauncement of them selfe. decease, kept his houshold at Ludlow in Whiche whither they sorer thirsted after Wales. Which countrey being far of their owne weale, or our woe, it wer from the law and recourse to justice, was harde I wene to gesse. And if some folkes begon to be farre oute of good wyll and frendship had not holden better place waxen wild, robbers and rivers walking with the king, then any respect of kinred, at libertie incorrected. And for this en thei might peraduenture easily baue be cheason the prince was in the life of his trapped and brought to confusion somme father sente ihither, to the erde that the ofvs ere this. Why not as easily as they authoritie of his presence should refraive haue done some other alreadye, as neere

of his royal bloode as we. But our Lord and them hadde bene sommetyme de-
hath wrought his wil, and thanke be to bate, to feare and suspecte, leste they
bis grace that peril is paste. Howe be it shoulde gather thys people, not for the
az great is growing, yf wee suffer this kynges sauegarde whome no manne em-
yonge kyng in oure enemyes hande, pugned, but for theyr destruccion, hauý..
whiche without bis wyttyng, might ing more regarde to their old variaunce,
abuse the name of his commaundement, than their newe attonement. For whiche
to ani of our vndoing, which thyng God cause thei shoulde assemble on the other
and good prouision forbyd. Of which good partie muche people agayne for their de-
prouision none of vs hath any thing the fence, whose power she wyste wel farre
lesse nede, for the late made attonemente, stretched. And thus should al the realme
in whiche the kinges pleasure hadde more fall on a rore. And of al the hurte that
place then the parties willes. Nor none therof should ensue, which was likely
of vs I beleue is so vnwyse, ouersone to not to be litle, and the most harme there
truste a newe frende made of an olde foe, like to fal wher she lest would, al the
or to think that an houerly kindnes, so- worlde woulde put her and her kinred
dainely contract in one houre continued, in the wyght, and say that thei had vn-
pet scant a fortnight, shold be deper set. wyşelye and vntrewlye also, broken the
led in their stomackes : then a long ac amitie and peace that the kyng her hus-
customed malice many yeres rooted. band so prudentelye made, betwene hys

With these wordes and writynges and kinne and hers in his death bed, and
suche other, the duke of Gloucester sone whiche the other party faithfully ob-
set a fyre, them that were of themself serued.
ethe to kindle, and in especiall twayne, The quene being in this wise perswad-
Edwarde duke of Buckingham, and Ri- ed, suche woorde sent vnto her sonne,
charde lorde Hastinges and chaumber- and unto her brother being aboute the
layn, both men of honour and of great kynge, and ouer that the duke of Glou-
power. The tone by longe succession cester hymselfe and other lordes the
from his ancestrie, the tother by his of- chiefe of hys bende, wrote vnto the
fice and the kinges fauor. These two not kynge soo reuerentlye, and to the
bearing eche to other so muche loue, as queenes frendes there soo louyngelye, that
hatred bothe vnto the quenes parte; in they nothynge earthelye mystrustynge,
this poynte accorded together wyth the broughte the kynge vppe in greate haste,
duke of Gloucester, that they wolde vt not in good spede, with a sober coum-
terlye amoue fro the kinges companye, panye. Nowe was the king in his waye
all his mothers frendes, vnder the name to London gone, from Northampton,
of their enemyes. V pon this concluded, when these dukes of Gloucester and
the duke of Gloucester vnderstandyng, Buckyngham came thither. Where re-
that the lordes whiche at that tyme were mained behynd, the lorde Ryuers the
aboute the kyng, entended to bryng him kynges vicle, entendyng on the morowe
sppe to his coronacion, accoumpanied with tó folow the kynge, and bee with him
suche power of theyr frendes, that it at Stonye Statford miles thence,
shoulde bee harde for hym to brynge his earely or hee departed. So was there
purpose to passe, without the gathering and made that nyghte muche frendely chere
great assemble of people and in maner of betwene these dukes and the lorde Ri.
open varre, whereof the ende he wiste was uers a great while. But incontinente
doubtous, and in which the kyng being after that they were oppenlye with greate
on their side, his part should haue the courtesye departed, and the lorde Riuers
face and name of a rebellion : he secretly lodged, the dukes secretely'e with a fewe
therefore by diuers meanes, caused the of their moste priuye frendes, sette thein
quene to be perswaded and brought in downe in counsayle, wherin they spent
ihe mynd, that it neither wer nede, and a great parte of the nyght. And at their
also sold be ieopardous, the king to risinge in the dawnyng of the day, thei
come vp strong. For where as nowe euery sent about priuily to their seruantes in
lorde loued other, and none other thing the innes and lodgynges about, geuinge
studyed vppon, but aboute the corona- them commaundemente to make them
cion and honoure of the king: if the selfe shortely readye, for their lordes wer
lordes of her kinred shold assemble in to horsebackward. Vppon whiche mese
the kinges name muche people, thei sages, manye of their folke were attend.
abould geue the lordes atwixte whome aunt, when inanye of the lorde Riuers

h

VOL. I.

feruantes were vnreadye. Nowe hadde and on theire knees in very humble wise, These dukes taken also into their custo- salued his grace ; whiche receyued them dye the kayes of the inne, that none in very ioyous and amiable maner, noshoulde passe foorth without theyr lic thinge earthlye knowing nor mistrustinge cence

as yet. But euen by and by in his preAnd ouer this in the hyghe waye to- sence, they piked a quarrell to the lorde ward Stonye Stratforde where the kynge Richarde Graye, the kynges other brolaye, they hadde beestowed certayne of ther by his mother, sayinge that hee theyr folke, that shoulde sende backe with the lorde marques his brother and agayne, and compell to retourne, anye the lorde Riuers his vncle, hadde coummanne that were gotten oute of North- passed to rule the kinge and the realme, ampton toward Stonye Stratforde, tyll and to sette variaunce among the states, they should geue other lycence. For as and to subdewe and destroye the noble muche as the dukes themselfe entended blood of the realm. Toward the acfor the shewe of theire dylygence, to bee coumplishinge whereof, they sayde that the fyrste that shoulde that daye attende the lorde Marques hadde entered into the vppon the kynges highnesse oute of that Tower of London, and thence taken out towne : thus bare they folke in hande. the kinges treasor, and sent menne to the But when the lord Kyuers vnderstode sea. All whiche thinge these dukes wiste the gates closed, and the wayes on euerye well were done for good purposes and side besette, neyther hys seruauntes nor necessari by the whole counsaile at Lonhymself suffered to go oute, parceiuyng don, sauing that sommewhat thei must well so greate a thyng without his know- sai. Vnto whiche woordes, the king ledge not begun for noughte, comparyng aunswered, what my brother Marques this maner present with this last nightes hath done I cannot saie. But in good chere, in so few houres so gret a chaunge faith I dare well aunswere for myne vnmarueylouslye misliked. How be it cle Riuers and my brother here, that the sithe hee coulde not geat awaye, and be innocent of any such matters. Y keepe himselfe close, hee woulde not, my liege quod the duke of Buckinghan leste he shoulde seeme to hyde himselfe thei haue kepte theire dealing in thes for some secret feare of hys owne faulte, matters farre fro the knowledge of you whereof he saw no such cause in hym good grace. And foorthwith thei a self: be determined vppon the suretie of rested the lord Richarde and Sir Thoma his own conscience, to goe boldelye to Waughan knighte, in the kinges pro them, and inquire what thys matter sence, and broughte the king and a myghte meane. Whome as soone as backe into Northampton, where the they sawe, they beganne to quarrell with tooke againe further counsaile. AE hym, and saye, that hee intended to sette there they sent awaie from the kin distaunce beetweene the kynge and them, whom it pleased them, and sette ne and to brynge them to confusion, but it seruantes aboute him, suche as lyk shoulde not lye in hys power.

And better them than him. At whiche de when hee beganne (as hee was a very inge hee wepte and was nothing conten well spoken manne) in goodly wise to but it booted not. And at dyner excuse himself, they taryed not the ende duke of Gloucester sente a dishe fi of his aunswere, but shortely tooke him his owne table to the lord Riuers, pr and putte him in warde, and that done, inge him to be of good chere, all sho foorthwyth wente to horsebacke, and be well inough. And he thanked tooke the waye to Stonye Stratforde. duke, and prayed the messenger to be Where they founde the kynge with his it to his nephewe the lorde Richard companie readye to leape on horsebacke, the same message for his comfort, and departe forwarde, to leaue that lodg- he thought had more nede of coum ing for them, because it was to streighte as one to whom such aduersitie for bothe coumpanies. And as sone as straunge. But himself had been al they came in his presence, they lighte dayes in yre therewith; and the adowne with all their companie aboute coulde beare it the better. But f them. To whome the duke of Buck- this coumfortable courtesye of the ingham saide, goe afore gentlemenne and of Gloucester he sent the lorde F yeomen, kepe youre rowmes. And thus and the lorde Richarde with Sir TI in goodly arraye, thei came to the kinge, Vaughan into the Northe countre

diuers places to prison, and afterward al At the same time with Sir Thomas to Pomfrait

, where they were in conclu- More lived Skelton, the poet laureate of sion beheaded

Henry VIII. from whose works it seems proper to insert a few stanzas, though he cannot be said to have attained

great

eleA letter written with a cole by Sir Tho- gance of language.

MAS MORE to hys doughter maistres
MARGARET ROPER, within a whyle

after he was prisoner in the Towre. The Prologue to the Bouge of Courte. MYNE own good doughter, our Lorde In Autumpne when the sonne in vyrgyne be thanked I am in good helthe of bodye, By radyante hete enryped hath our corne, and in good quiet of minde: and of all As Emperes the dyademe hath worne worldly thynges i no more desyer then I. Of our pole artyke, smylynge half in a scorne have. I beseche hym make you all mery At our foly and our vnstedfastnesse in the hope of heaven. And such The time whan Mars to warre hym dyd dres, thynges as I somewhat longed to talke I callynge to mynde the greate auctoryte with

you all, concerning the worlde to Of poetes olde, whiche full craftely come, our Lorde put theim into your Vnder as couerte termes as could be myndes, as I truste he dothe and better Can touche a trouth, and cloke subtylly to by hys holy spirite : who blesse you Dyuerse in style some spared not vyce to

With fresshe viteraunce full sentencyously and preserue you all. Written wyth a

wryte cole by your tender louing father, who Some of mortalitie nobly did endyté in hys pore prayers forgetteth none of

Whereby I rede, theyr renome and theyr you all nor your babes, nor your nurses, fame nor your good husbandes, nor your good May never dye, but enermore endure husbandes shrewde wyues, nor your fa- I was sore moued to a forse the same thers shrewde wyfe neither, nor

But ignoraunce full soone dyd me dyscure other frendes. And thus fare ye hartely And shewed that in this arte I was not sure well for lacke of paper.

For to illumine she sayd I was to dulle
Thomas More, knight.

Aduysynge me my penne awaye to pulle

And not to wryte, for he so wyil arteyne

Excedyng ferther than his connyage is Two short Ballettes which Sir THOMAS His heed maye be harde, but feble is brayne More made for hys pastime while he But of reproche surely he maye not mys

Yet haue I knowen suche er this was prisoner in the Tower of London.

That clyinmeth hyer than he may foringe

haue Lewys the lost louer.

What and he slyde downe, who shall him

saue ? Ey Aatering fortune, loke thou neuer so Thus vp and downe my mýnde, was drawen fayre,

and cast Or neuer so plesantly begin to smile, That I ne wyste what to do was beste As though thou wouldst my ruine all repayre, So.sore enwered that I was at the laste During my life thou shalt not me begile. Enforsed to slepe, and for to take some reste Trust shall I God, to entre in a while. And to lye downe as soone as I my dreste Hyshauen or heauen sure and vniforme. Ac Harwyche porte slumbrynge as I laye Euer after thy calme, loke I for a storme. In myne hostes house called powers keye.

our

Dauy the dycer.

Of the wits that flourished in the reign LONG was

of Henry VIII. none has been more frewas I lady Luke your serving man, quently celebrated than the earl of'murry; And now haue lost agayne all that I gat, and this history would therefore have Wherfore whan I thinke on you nowe' and been imperfect without some specimens than,

of his works, which yet it is not easy to Aod in my mynde remember this and that, Ve may oue blame me though I beshrew your Ilyat and others

, with wbich they are

distinguish from those of Sir Thomas Bat in fayth I blesse you agayne a thousand confounded in the edition that has fallen times,

into my hands. The three first are, I For lending me now some laysure to make believe, Surry's; the rest, being of the гуmеѕ.

saine age, are selected, some as examples

cat,

he restes.

The litening Macedon by swordes, by gleaves, And sayth, Nectanaks bastard shamefull By bandes and troupes of footemen, with his stayne garde,

Of mothers bed, why losest thou thy strokes, Speedes to Dary, but hym his merest kyn, Cowardes among, Turn thee to me, in case Oxate praserves with horsemen on a plumpe Manhood there

be so much left in thy heart, Before his carr, that none his charge should come fight with me, that on my helmet weare give,

A pollo's laurell both for learninges laude, Here grunts, here groans, eche where strong And eke for martiall praise, that in my youth is spent :

shielde Shaking her bloudy hands, Bellone among The seven fold Sophie of Minerve contein, The Perses soweth all kind of cruel death : A match more mere, Syr King, then any With throre yřent he roares, he lyeth along.

here, His entrailes with a launce through gryded The noble prince amoved takes ruth upon quyte,

The wilfull wight, and with soft wordes Hym smytes the club, hym woundes farre

ayen, stryking bowe,

O monstrous man (quoth he) what so thou And hym the sling, and him the shining

art, sword;

I pray thee live, ne do not with thy death He dyeth, he is all dead, he pantes,

This lodge of Lore, the Muses mansion Right over stoode in snow white armour brave,

marre ; The Memphite Zoroas, a cunnyng clarke,

That treasure house this hand shall never To whom the heaven lay open as his booke;

spoyle, And in celestiall bodies he could tell

My sword shall never bruise that skillful The moving meeting light, aspect, eclips,

brayne, And influence, and constellations all; Long gather'd heapes of science sone to spill; What earthly chaunces would betyde, what O how fayre fruites may you to mortall men yere,

From Wisdoms garden give; how many may Of plenty storde, what signe forewarned By you the wiser and the better prove : death,

What error, what mad moode, what frenzy How winter gendreth snow, what tempera

thee ture, my

Perswades to be downe, sent to depe Averne, In the prime tyde doth season well the soyle, Where no artes flourish, nor no knowledge Why summer burnes, why autumne hath vailes ripe grapes,

For all these sawes. When thus the soveWhither the circle quadrate may become,

reign said, Whether our tunes heavens harmony, can Alighted Zoroas with sword unsheathed, yelde

The careless king there smoate above the Of four begyns among themselves how great greve, Proportion is; what sway the erryng lightes At th' opening of his quishes wounded him, Doth send in course gayne that fyrst movyng So that the blood down trailed on the ground: heaven ;

The Macedon perceiving hust, gan gnashe, What grees one from another distance be, But yet his mynde he bent in any wise What starr doth lett the hurtfull fyre to Hym to forbeare, sett spurrs unto his stede, rage,

And turnde

away,

lest
anger

of his smarte Or him more mylde what opposition makes, Should cause revenger hand deale balefull What fyre doth qualifye Mavorses fyre,

blowes. What house eche one doth seeke, what plan. But the Macedonian chieftaines knights, nett raignes

One Meleager could not bear this sight, Within this heaven sphere, nor that, small But ran upon the said Egyptian rude, thynges

And cutt him in both knees : he fell to I speake, whole heavea he closeth in his ground, brist.

Wherewith a whole rout came of souldiours This sage then in the starres hath spyed the

sterne, fates

And all in pieces hewed the scly seg, Threatned him death without delay, and, But happely the soule fled to the starres, sith,

Where, under him, he hath full sight of all, He saw he could not farall order chaunge, Whereat he' gazed here with reaching'looke. Foreward be prest in batrayle, that he might The Persians waild such sapience to forgoe, Mete with the rulers of the Macedons, The very fone the Macedonians wisht Of his right hand desirous to be slain," He would have lived, king Alexander selfe The bouldest borne, and worthiest in the Demde him a man'unmete to dye at all; feilde;

Who wonne like praise for conquest of hi And as a wight, now wery of his lyfe,

Yre, And seking death, in fyrst front of his rage, As for stoute men in field that day subdued Comes desperately to Alexanders face, Who princes taught how to discerne a man At him with dartes one after other throwes, That in his head so rare a jewel beares, With recklesse wordes and clamour him But over all those same Camenes, those same provokes,

Divine Camenes, whose honour he procurd.