The flovver of fame Containing the bright renowne, & moste fortunate raigne of King Henry the viii. Wherein is mentioned of matters, by the rest of our cronographers ouerpassed. Compyled by Vlpian Fulwell. Hereunto is annexed (by the aucthor) a short treatice of iii. noble and vertuous queenes. And a discourse of the worthie seruice that was done at Hadington in Scotlande, the seconde yere of the raigne of king Edward the sixt.

¶ A Discourse of the vnyting the two noble howses of Lancaster & Yorke, from which vnyted howse, king Henry was the first king that proceeded.

WHen mightie Ioue from heauenly throne, Behelde the blody broyle, That Mars had made through ciuill sworde, within this countrey soyle.

And pitying the ruthfull rage that on this Realme did rayne: Most louingly did bend his eares, to heare our moane and plaine.

The earth that earst was brewd with blood, beginneth now to ioye: * 1.1 The Bore is chaced that was wont this Realme so to annoy.

The Lady Concord came from Heauen, To stablysh this decree: That Lancaster & Yorke henceforth, vnyted shall agree.

Meethought I hearde the golden wordes That Concorde did resite: And eke mee seemde myne eyes behelde, This noble heauenly wighte.

Who pierst the Skyes with warbling winges, and Scepter in her hande: Uppon her hed a Diadem ycompast with a bande.

Whereat my mynde was all amazde, To muse I coulde not ceace: Till at the last I myght perceiue, It was the bande of peace.

Her face as bright as Phebus beames, Her heares, lyke burnisht Golde: * 1.2 Her feature like an Angell shape, As ioyed mee to beholde.

With comly grace shee did commaund that scylence should be synde: To rule the prease that then was thear, Till shee had saide her mynde.

When all was whusht, and euery man with listning eares was bent: To heare her speake, then with these wordes, shee shewd forth her intent.

Oh noble lande, since first the tyme that Brute in thee did raygne: * 1.3 Whose lyne intestine warre did ende, As fame doth yet remaine.

Turmoilde and tost with ciuill Sworde, Thou sundry tymes hast bene: Such was thy lott and such mishap, as yet in thee is seene.

Thy noble peares haue yeld their soules When fatall Sworde had slayne: Unto the Theater of Ioue on Mars for to complayne.

Thy vulgar sorte in hugie heapes do prease their plaintes to showe: With humble sute that perfect peace, in English land may growe.

And Ioue that long haue rewde thy cace, hath sent mee for to ceace These bluddie broyles, and now to turne thy warre to perfect peace.

Where discorde raignes and breedes debate, Subuertion is at hande: And dayly proofe doth shewe that hate confoundeth many a lande.

Let Troyans testifye the same, Let Pryam witnesse beare: What Seignorie cannot bring forth Examples bought too deare.

Desire of rule doth oft tymes dymme * 1.4 And clips the fame and lyfe: When Subiects touche the Princes seate, by sowing seede of stryfe.

The Romaine rowt can well declare, The smart of Pompeies broyle: Numidia remembreth well, The brunt of Iugurthes spoyle.

With thousandes more, whome to resite, were tyme but vainly spent: But ryght shall sit in Regall seate, The Tyran to preuent.

And God that all these turmoyles vewes, at last will worke his wyll, When false vsurper shall take foyle, then ryght shall florish still.

To thee (oh famous Realme) I speake, whose brute doth pierce the Skyes: Which for thy wealth, the Heauenly heste, This order doth deuyse.

And I, of Ioue the messenger, this newes now bring to thee: With bande of Peace, as faithfull pledge, If thou thereto agree.

What losse and languor thou hast had, Thy selfe caust witnesse best: And Mischiefe hath not sparde to spurne, To purchase thy vnrest.

Wherefore the God that guydes all thinges, doth charge thee that with speede Thou ioyne in knott of Mariage, as thus he hath decreede.

There is a lande in Westerne soyle, That Britaine hath to name: Which coast doth now retayne the wyght that must thy quyet frame:

A proper youth, of pregnant witt, * 1.5 To whome with speede repayre: Of Lancaster that noble house, He is the ryghtfull heire.

His Princely porte doth well deserue, To wear thy Regall Crowne: By due discent to wield the Sworde, with fame and bryght renowne.

This worthie wight shall turne the warre That long thy wealth hath wast: This Earle Henry shall redresse Thy wayling woe forepast.

Now see the sequell of this hest, That God appointed hath: Marke well the meane against Syr Mars, To pacifie his wrath.

A noble spouse within thy lande, Of ryght must now be found: To linke in sacred wedlockes state, And Queene for to be crownde.

Beholde a Uirgin bryght of hue with vertues force bedect: Of personage surpassing all that Nature hath elect,

Dianaes peere for chastitie, A seconde Susan shee: Her godly nature well deserues A Goddesse for to bee.

The daughter of a Royall king, That rewlde thy lande of late: The heyre of Yorke, that long hath beene with Lancaster at bate.

Elizabeth this Lady hight, The late king Edwardes chylde: * 1.6 Shee shall bring forth a peerlesse Prince, thy people for to shylde.

Now sith these houses twaine hath causde Such ruyne for to raygne: Which bluddie broyle hath forced thee to feele the smarte and paine.

With speede repaire to Britaine lande This Henry home to call: And place him in thy regall seate, Be ye his Subiectes all.

As for his Foes take ye no feare, For God his frende doth stande: He is annoynted of the Lorde, to rule thy famous lande.

Which being done, let sacred state * 1.7 of Wedlocke ioyne these twayne: Then be thou sure in perfect peace, hereafter to remayne.

When Concorde had these wordes rehearst and all her message tolde: To see the ioye that men did make, was wonder to beholde.

With clapping handes and cheerefull shoutes They shewde foorth great delyght: And thought eche day to bee a yere, till he shoulde come in syght.

And when that Fame had blowne her blast that hee had taken lande: Determining to chace the Bore with force of myghtie hande.

Eche man him selfe do then addresse, This royall Prince to place: With courage stoute and loyall hartes, They serue his noble grace.

Notes

• * 1.1

  By the Bore is ment k. Ri∣chard.
• * 1.2

  Concord a heauenly wyght.
• * 1.3

  The wordes of lady Con∣corde vnto Englande.
• * 1.4

  Ambition an enemie to all common wealthes.
• * 1.5

  A description of k. Henry the vii.
• * 1.6

  The daugh¦ter of king Edw. 4.
• * 1.7

  The ende of lady concords Oration.