The first parte of the Mirour for magistrates containing the falles of the first infortunate princes of this lande: from the comming of Brute to the incarnation of our sauiour and redemer Iesu Christe.

Humber the king of Hunnes shewes how he minding to conquere this land vvas drowned. &c. He liued a∣bout the yeare before Christ. 1074.

THough yet no forraine Princes in this place, Haue come to tell their haplesse great mishap: Yet giue me leaue a while to pleade my case. And shewe howe I slipt out of Fortunes lap: Perchaunce some others will eschewe the trap VVherein I fell, and both themselues be ware. And also seeke the lesse thy countreys care.

I am that Humber kinge of Hunnes that came To win this Islande, from the Britaynes fell: UUas drownde in Humber where I left my name. A iust reward for him that liude so well At home, and yet thought others to expell, Both from their Realme and right: O filthy fye On such ambition earst as vsed I.

But I must blame report, the chiefest cause Of my decaye: beware of rashe report: Tis wisedome first to take a while some pause, Before to dint of daungers you resort: Least when you come in hast to scale the fort: By rashe assaule some engin, shaft, or fyre Dispatcht you quite, or make you soone retyre.

For vnto mee the rumors daily flewe, That here a noble Hande might be won: The king was dead: no warres the people knewe, And eke themselues to striue at home begon. It were (quoth I) a noble acte well don, To win it then: and there withall did make Prouision good, this famous Ise to take.

A war like regall campe prouided was, And shipps, and vitaile for my Hunnes and mee: By sea to Britaine conquest for to passe, If Gods there to and heauenly starres agree: At length wee came to shores of Albanie, And there to fight with Britaynes pitcht our field: In hope to make them flinche, flye, fall or yeelde,

They met vs, longe we fearcely faught it out, And doubtful was the victours part of twaine, Till with my Hunnes I rusht amonge the route, And faught, till that king Albanact was staine. Then they to yeeld and pardon craue were faine, And I with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great receiude the pray: And marched forward, fleshe with such a fray.

I past an arme of Sea, that would to God I neuer had bin halfe so bold at furst: I made to beate my selfe withall a rod, When so within their Realme I venture durst: But marke my tale thou hearst not yet the worst. As sure I thought the rest to circumuent: By spyes before, they knew my whole intent.

And or I wiste, when I was come to lande: Not farre from shore, two Princes were preparde, Their scoutes conueyde away my shipps they fand, And of my shipmens fleshe they nothing sparde, To rescue which, as backe againe I farde: The armyes twaine were at my heeles behinde So closde me in, I wist no waye to winde.

On th'east Locrinus with an armye great: By West was Camber with an other bande: By North an arme of Sea the shoores did beate, Which compast mee and mine within their lande: No way to scape was there, but water fande, Which I must taste or els the swords of those, Which were to mee and mine full deadly foes.

So when I same the best of all mine boste, Beate downe with bats, shot, slaine or forst to swim: My selfe was faine likewise to flye the coast, And with the rest the waters entred in. A simple shift for Princes to begin: Yet far I demde it better so to dye, Then at mine enmyes foote an abiecte lye.

But when I thus had swam with hope to scape, If I might wend the water waues to passe: The Britaynes that before my ships had gate, Can watche mee, where amidst the surge I was: Than with my boates they rowde to me alas, And all they cryde kepe Humber kept their king: That to our Prince we may the craytour bring.

So with my boates beset poore Humber I Wiste no refuge: my werye armes did ake: My breath was short: I had no powre to crye, Or place to stand while I my plaint might make: The water cold made all my ioyntes to shake: My hart did beate with sorrow, griefe and paine: And downe my cheekes, salt teares they gusht amaine.

O must thou pelde, and shall thy boates betraye Thy selfe (quoth I) no mercy Britaynes haue: O would to God I might escape awaye: I wot not yet if pardon I may craue: Although my deedes deserue no life to haue, I will: I will: death: bondage beast am I In maters thus, in foraine soyle to dye.

With that I clapt my quauering hands abrode, And held them vp to heauen, and thus I saide: O Gods that know the paines that I haue 〈◊〉〈◊〉, And iust reuengment of my rashnes paide, And of the death of Albanacte betraide By mee and mine: I yelde my life therefore, Content to dye, and neuer greeue yee more.

Then straight not opening of my handes, I bowde My selfe, and set my head my armes betweene: And downe I sprang, with all the force I cowde: So duckte, that neither head nor foote were seene: And neuer sawe my foes againe I weene, There was I drounde the Britaynes to my fame: Yet call that arme of Sea by Humbers name.

Take heede by mee, let my presumption serue: And let my folly, fall, and rashnes bee: A glasse wherein to see if thou do swerue, Thou mayste thy selfe perceiue somewhat by mee. Let neither trust, nor treason traine forth thee: But be content with thine estate, so shall No wrath of God, procure thy haplesse fall.

If thou be forrayne bide within thy soyle: That God hath giuen to thee and thine to holde, If thou oppression meane beware the foyle: Beare not thy selfe, of thee or thine to bolde: Or of the feates thy elders did of olde, For God is iust, iniustice will not thriue: He plagues the prowde, preserues the good aliue.