Poems: by Michaell Draiton Esquire

❧ The third Booke of the Barrons warres.

The Argument.

By asleepie potion that the Queene ordaines, Lord Mortimen escapes out of the Tower, And by false slights, and many subtile traines, Shee gets to France to raise aforraigne power; The French King leaues his sister; neede constraines The Queene to Henault in a happie hower: Edward her sonne to Philip is affide, And for inuasion presently prouide.

1

SCarce had these passed miseries their ends, When other troubles instantly begunne, As (still) new matter mischiefe apprehends, By things that inconsid'rately were done; And further yet this insolence extends, Whilst all not yeelded that the sword had wonne; For some there were that secretly did lie, That to this bus'nes had a watchfull eye.

2

Whenas the King (whilst things thus fairely went) Who by this happy victory grew strong, Sommons at Yorke a present Parlement, To plant his right, and helpe the Spensers wrong, By which he thinkes t'establish his intent, Whence (more & more) his Minions greatnes sprong, Whose counsells still in all proceedings crossde Th'inraged Queene, whom all misfortunes tossde.

3

When now the eldst, a man extreamely hated, Whom yet the King not aptly could preferre, The edge of their sharpe insolence abated, This Parlement makes Earle of Winchester, Where Herckley Earle of Carlell is created, And Baldocke likewise is made Chancellor, On whom the king had for his purpose wrought, A man as subtile, so corrupt, and nought.

4

When now mishaps that seldome come alone, Thicke in the necks of one an other fell, The Scot pretends a new inuasion, And France doth thence our vse-full powre expell, Treasons suspected to attend his throne, The grieued Commons euery day rebell, Mischiefe on mischiefe, curse doth follow curse, One ill scarce past, when after comes a worse.

5

For Mortimer this winde yet fitly blew, Troubling their eyes which else perhaps might see, Whilst the wise Queene, who all aduantage knew, Is closly plotting his deliuery, (Which now she dooth with all her powres pursue) Aptly continu'd by her deepe policie, Against opinion, and the course of might, To worke her will, euen through the jawes of spite.

6

A sleepy drinke she secretly hath made, Whose operation had such wondrous powre, As with cold numnesse could the sense inuade, And mortifie the patient by an houre, The lifelesse coarse in such a slumber laide, As though pale death did wholy it deuoure: Nor for two dayes take benefite of eyes, By all meanes Arte or Physicke could deuise.

7

For which she Plantane and colde Lettice had, The water Lilly from the marrish ground, with the wanne Poppy, and the Night-shade sad, And the short mosse that on the trees is found, The poysning Henbane, and the Mandrake drad, With Cypresse flowers that with the rest are pownd; The braine of Cranes like purposely she takes, Mixt with the blood of Dormise, and of Snakes.

8

Thus sits the great Enchauntresse in her Cell, Strongly engi••t with ceremonious charmes, Her cleansed body sensde with halowing smell, With vestall fire her potent liquor warmes, Hauing full heate, vnto her busnes fell, When her with Magicke instruments she armes: And from the herbs the powrefull verdure wrong, To make the medcine forcible and strong.

9

The sundry doubts that incident arise, Might be supposde her trembling hand to stay, If she considred of the enterprise, To thinke what perill in th'attempting lay, The secret lurking of deceitfull spies, That on her steps continually do pray: But when they leaue off vertue to esteeme, Those greatly erre which take them as they seeme.

10

Their plighted faith for liberty they leaue, Their loue is colde, their lust hote, hote their hate, With smiles and teares they serpent-like deceaue, In their desires they be insatiate, There's no restraint their purpose can bereaue, Their will no bound, nor their reuenge no date, All feare exempt where they at ruine aime, Couering their sinne with their discouered shame.

11

The elder of the Mortimers this space, (That many sundry miseries had past,) So long restrainde within that healthlesse place, Redeemde by death, yet happily at last That much auailes the other in this case, And from this Lord that imposition cast: Which the deare safety of his vncles breath within the tower so strictly limiteth.

12

Put there was more did on his death depend, Than heauen was pleasde the foolish worlde shoulde know, And why the Fates thus hasted on his end, Thereby intending greater things to show; Braue Lord, in vaine thy breath thou didst not spend, From thy corruption further matters grow, And some beginning fruitfully to spring, New formes of feare vpon the time to bring.

13

All things preparde in readinesse, and fit, The Queene attends her potions powre to proue, Their stedfast friends, their best assisting it, Their seruan••s seale their secrets vp in loue; And he expresse his valure and his wit, Whome of the rest it chiefly doth behoue, Places resolu'd where guide and horses lay, And where the ship him safely to conuay.

14

As his large bounties liberally were heap't To all deseruing, or to those that heede, His solemne birth-dayes festiuall was kept At his free charge, all in the Tower to feede, which may suspition cleerely intercept, A strong assistant in so great a neede, VVhen midd'st their cates, their furious thirst to quench, Mixing their wine with this approoued drench.

15

Which soone each sence, and eu'ry power doth seize, when he that knew the strength of euery warde, And to the purpose sorting all his keyes, His corded ladders readily preparde; And lurking foorth by the most secret wayes Not now to learne his Compasse by the Carde, To winne the walles couragiously doth goe, which looke as scorning to be maistied so.

16

They soundly sleepe whilst his quicke spirites awake, Opposde to perill, and the stern'st extreames, Alcydes labours new to vndertake, Of walls, of gates, of watches, and of streames, Through which his passage he is now to make, And let them tell king Edward of their dreames: For ere they rose out of the brainsicke fraunce, He hopes to tell this noble jeast in Fraunce.

17

The sullen night hath her blacke curtaines spred, Lowring the day had tarried vp so long, Whose faire eyes closing softly steales to bed, When all the heauens with duskie clowdes are hung, And Cynthia now pluckes in her horned head, And to the West incontinently flung; As she had long'd to certifie the sunne, What in his absence in her Court was done.

18

The glimmering lights, like Sentinels in warre, Behind the clowdes stand craftily to pry, And through false loope-holes looking from afarre, To see him skirmish with his desteny; Not any fix'd, nor any wandring starre, As they had held a counsell in the skie; And had before concluded with the night, It should not looke for any cheerefull sight.

19

In deadly silence all the shores are hush'd, Onely the Skreech-howle sounds to the assault, And Isis with a troubled murmure rush'd, As if consenting, and would hide the fault; And as his foote the sand or grauell crush'd, A little whisp'ring mou'd within the vault, Made by the treading softly as he went, Which seem'd to say, it furthred his intent.

20

This wondrous Queene whom care yet restlesse kept, Now for his speede to heauen holds vp her hands, A thousand strange thoughts in her bosome heap't, As in her closet listning still she stands, That many a sigh spent, many a warme teare wept, And though diuided, as in sundry strands, Most absent, present in desires they bee, Our mindes discerne where eyes do cease to see.

21

The small clowdes issuing from his lips she saith, Labouring so fast, as he the ladder clame, Should purge the ayre of pestilence and death; And as sometime that filch'd Promethian flame, Euen so the power and vertue of his breath, New creatures in the elements should frame; And to what part of heauen it happ'd to stray, There should path out another milkie way.

22

Attainde the top, halfe spent a while to blow, Now round about he casts his longing eyes, The gentle earth salutes him from below, And couered with the comfortable skies, Viewing the way that he is now to goe, Cheer'd with the beames of Isabels faire eyes, Downe from the turret desperately doth slide, Night be successefull, fortune be his guide.

23

With his descent, her eye so still descends, As feare had fix'd it to fore-warne his fall, On whom her hope and fortune now depends, When suddaine feare her sences doth appall; For present aide her god-like hand extends, Forgets herselfe, and speedie aide doth call; Silent againe, if ought but good should hap, She begs of heauen his graue may be her lap.

24

Now she intreates the darke distempred ayre, Then by strong Magicks she coniures the wind, Then she inuokes the gloomie night by prayre, Then with her spells the mortall sence to bind; And fearing much lest these yet frustrate are, Now by the burning tapers she diuin'd, Intreating Thames to giue a friendly passe, The deerest fraught ere on her bosome was.

25

The rushing murmure stills her like a song, But yet in feare the streame should fall in loue, Suspects the drops that on his tresses hung, And that the billowes for his beautie stroue, To this faire body that so closely clong, Which when in swimming with his breast he droue; Palled with griefe she turnes away her face, Iealous that he the waters should embrace.

26

This angry Lyon hauing slipp'd his chaine, As in a feuer makes King Edward quake, Which knew (too well) ere he was caught againe, Deere was the blood must serue his thirst to stake, Many the labours had beene spent in vaine, And he inforc'd a longer course to take, Saw further vengeance hanging in the wind, That knew the pride and greatnes of his mind.

27

The faction working in this lingring jarr••, How for the Scot free passage might be made, To lay the ground of a succesfull warre, That hope might breede fresh courage to inuade; And whilst our safetie standeth out so farre, More dangerous proiects eu'ry where are layd; That some in hand home troubles to enure, Others in France do forraigne broiles procure.

28

By these discentions that were lately sowne, Inciting Charles to open Armes againe, Who seazing Guyne, pretended as his owne, That Edward should vnlawfully detaine, Proceeds to make a further title knowne. T'our Lands in Pontieu, and in Aquitaine, When wanted homage hath desolu'd the truce, Waking his wrongs by Isabels abuse.

29

This plot concluded that was long in hand, (Which to this issue prosperously had thriu'd) The Base whereon a mightie frame must stand, With mickle Art, yet with more fcare cont••iu'd; So strongly builded by this factious band, As from the same their safetie is deriu'd, Till their full-rooted and inueterate hate, Getting more strength might deepely penetrate.

30

When choise of such to sway this French affaire, Which as a sharpelesse and vnweldie masse, Might well imploy the strength of all their care; So hard and perlous to be brought to passe, Which it behooues them quickly to prepare, That being now so setled as it was, Craues a graue spirit, whose eminence and powre, Might like a stiffe gale checke this threatning showre.

31

This must a Session seriously debate, That depth of iudgement crau'd to be discust, That so concernes the safetie of the state, And in a case so plausible and iust, As might haue quench'd all sparckes of former hate, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉ight be thought euen pollicie might trust, Could enuy master her distracted will, Or apprehend sacietie in ill.

32

Tarleton, whose tongue mens eares in chaines could tie, And as a fearefull thunder-bolt could pierce, In which there more authoritie did lie, Then in the Sybils sage propheticke verse, Whose sentence was so absolute and hie, As had the power a iudgement to reuerse; On the Queenes part with all his might doth stand, To lay this charge on her well-guiding hand.

33

What helpes her presence to the cause might bring, Being a wife, a sister, and a mother, And in so great and pertinent a thing, To right her lonne, her husband, and her brother, Her gratious helpe to all distributing, To take of her what they should holde of other; Which colour serues t'effect in these extreames, That which (God knowes) King Edward neuer dreames.

34

Torleten, is this thy spirituall pretence? Would God thy thoughts were more spirituall, Or lesse perswasiue were thy eloquence. But O! thy actions are too temporall; Opinion lends too great preheminence, Thy reasons subtile, and sophisticall; Would all were true thy supposition saith, Thy arguments lesse force, or thou more faith.

35

These suddaine broiles that were begun of late, Still kept in motion by their secret sleight, By false suggestions so interminate; That as a ballast of some solide weight, Betwixt these aduerse currents of debate, Kept their proceeding in a course so streight, As lends the Queene an ampler colour still, By generall meanes to worke a generall ill.

36

She which thus fitly found both wind and tyde, And sees her leisure serue, the howre so neare, All her endeuours mutually apply'd, Whilst for her purpose things so fitly were, And thus aduantage quickly had espy'd, As one whose fortunes taught the worst to feare, Seeing the times so variously inclinde, And eu'ry toy soone altring Edwards minde.

37

Her followers such as friendlesse else had stood, Suncke, and deiected by the Spensers pride, Who bare the brands of treason in their blood, Which but with blood there was no way to hide; Whose meane was weake, whose will was but too good, Which to effect did but the howre abide, And knew all meanes that mischiefe could inuent, That any way might further her intent.

38

Whilst Mortimer which now so long hath laine From our iust course, by fortune lately crosst, In Fraunce now strugling how he might regaine That which before he had in England lost, All present meanes doth gladly entertaine, No jote dismaide in all these tempests tosst: Nor his great minde can thus be ouerthrowne, All men his friends, all countries are his owne.

39

And Muse, transported by thy former zeale, Led in our progresse where his fortune lies, To thy faire ayde I seriously appeale, To sing this great man his magnanimous guise, The auntient Heroes vnto me reueale, whose worths may raise our nobler faculties, That in my verse, transparent, nete, and cleere, His character more liuely may appeere.

40

Such one he was, of him we boldely say, In whose rich soule all soueraigne powres did sute, In whome in peace th'elements all lay So mixt, as none could soueraignty impute; As all did gouerne, yet all did obey, His liuely temper was so absolute, That t'seemde when heauen his modell first began, In him it shewd perfection in a man.

41

So throughly seasond, and so rightly set, As in the leuell of cleere iudgements eye, Time neuer tuch't him with deforming fret, Nor had the powre to wrap him once awry, Whose stedfast course no crosse could euer let, His eleuation was so heauenly hie, Those giddy tempests that the base world proue, State vnder where he Planet like did moue.

42

Which this faire Queene that had a knowing spirite, And sawe the beauties resting in his minde, One that had throughly lookt into his merit, Aboue the value of the vulgar kinde, That rightly did his Grandsires deedes inherit, When now the ages in their course declinde, when the old world, being weake began to bow, To th'effeminate basenes that it rests at now.

43

What weighs he wealth, or what his Wigmore left? Let needlesse heapes, things momentary stand, He counts not his that can be rapde by theft, Man is the sole Lord both of sea and land, And still is rich of these that is not reft, Who of all creatures hath an vpright hand; And by the starres is onely taught to know, That as they progresse heauen, he earth should do.

44

Wherefore wise Nature forcde this face of ground, And through the deeps shewd him the secret way, That in the flouds her iudgements might be found, Where she for safety did her treasure lay; Whose store, that he might absolutely sound, Shee gaue him courage for her onely kay, That he alone of all her creatures free, Her glory, and her wondrous works should see.

45

Let wretched worldlings sweate for mud and earth, whose groueling bosomes licke the recreant stones, And pesants carke for plenty, and for dearth, Fame neuer lookes vpon these prostrate drones, Man is allotted at his princely birth, To manage Empires, and to sit on thrones, Frighting coy Fortune when she sternst appeares, Which else scornes sighes, and jeeteth at our teares.

46

When now Report with her fleet murmuring wing, Tucht the still entrance of his listning eare, A fleete preparde this royall Queene to bring, And her arriuall still awaited neare, When euery sound a note of loue doth sing, The ioyfull thoughts that in his bosome were: The soule in doubt to make her function lesse, Denies the vtterance fully to expresse.

47

Quoth he, Slide billowes gently for her sake, Whose sight can make your aged Nereus yong, For her faire passage euen allies make, On the sleeke waters wast her sailes along; And whilst she glides vpon the pleasant lake, Let the sweete Syrens rocke her with a Song: Though not Loues mother that dooth passe this way, Fairer than she thats borne vpon the sea.

48

You Sea-bred creatures, gaze vpon her eie, And neuer after with your kinde make warre; O steale the accents from her lip that flie, Which like the musickes of the Angels are, And them vnto your amorous thoughts apply, Comparde with which, Aryons did but jarre: Wrap them in aire, and when blacke tempests rage; Vse them as charmes the rough seas to asswage.

49

France, send to fetch her with full sholes of oares, With which her fleete may euery way be plide, And being landed on thy happie shoares, As the vast nauie dooth at anckor ride; For her departure when the wilde sea roares, Ship mount to heauen, there brightly stellifide: Next Iasons Argo on the burnisht throne, Assume thee there a constellation.

50

Her person hence conuaide with that delight, Which best the languish of her iournies easde, That to her pleasure dooth it selfe inuite, Whereon her mind, and subtil fancie seasde, And that (most deare) her liking might excite, Which then this Lorde, naught more her presence pleasd, where, when with state she first her time could take, Thus the faire Queene her Mortimer bespake.

51

O Mortimer, great Mortimer, quoth shee, What angry power did first this meane deuise, To seperate Queene Isabell and thee, whome loues eternall vnion strongly ties; But if supposde this fault beganne by mee, For a iust pennance to my longing eyes: (Though guiltlesse they) this punishment assignde, To gaze vpon thee, till they leaue me blinde.

52

Tis strange, sweete friend, how thou arte altred thus, Since first in Court thou didst our fauours weare, whose shape seemde then not mortall vnto vs, when in our eye thy brow was beauties spheare, In all perfection so harmonious, A thousand seuerall graces mooving there; But what then couldst thou be, not now thou arte, An alien first, last home-borne in my heart.

53

That powerfull fate thy safetie did inforce, And from the worst of danger did thee free, Still regular, and constant in one course, Wrought me a firme and euen path to thee, Of our affections as it tooke remorce, Our birth-fix't starres so happily agree; Whose reuolution seriously directs Our like proceedings, to the like effects.

54

New forme of counsaile in the course of things, To our dissignement findes a neerer way, That by a cleere and perfect managing, Is that firme prop whereon we onely stay; Which in it selfe th'authoritie doth bring, That weake opinion hath no power to sway; Confuting such, whose sightlesse iudgement sit, In the thicke ranke with euery vulgar wit.

55

Then since pleasde Time our wish'd content assures, Imbrace the blessings of our mutuall rest; And whilst the day of our good hap endures, And we as fauorites leane on Fortunes breast, Which doth for vs this vacancie procure, In choice make free election of the best; Ne're feare the s••orme before thou feele the shower, My sonne a King, an Empire is my dower.

56

Of wanton Edward when I first was woo'd, Why cam'st thou not into the Court of France? Thy selfe alone then in my grace hadst stood; Deere Mortimer, how good had beene thy chance? My loue attempted in that youthfull mood, I might haue beene thine owne inheritance; Where entring now by force, thou hold'st thy might, And art deseisor of anothers right.

57

Honour thou Idole women so adore, How many plagues doost thou retaine to grieue vs, When still we finde there is remaining more, Then that great word of Maiesty can giue vs; Which takes more from vs then it can restore, And of that comfort often doth depriue vs, That with our owne selues sets vs at debate, And mak'st vs beggars vnder our estate.

58

Those pleasing raptures from her graces rise, Strongly inuading his impressiue breast, That soone entranced all his faculties, Of the prowd fulnesse of their ioyes possest; And hauing throughly wrought him in this wise, Like tempting Syrens sing him to his rest, When eu'ry power is passiue of some good, Felt by the spirits of his high-rauisht blood.

59

Like as a Lute that's touch'd with curious skill, In musickes language sweetely speaking plaine, When eu'ry string his note with sound doth fill, Taking the tones, and giuing them againe, And the eare bath's in harmony at will, A diapason closing eu'ry straine; So their affections set in keyes so like, Still fall in consort as their humors strike.

60

When now the path to their desire appeares, Of which before they had been long debar'd, By desolution of some threatning feares, That for destruction seem'd to stand prepar'd, Which the smooth face of better safetie beares, And now protected by a stronger guard, Giues the large scope of leisure to fore-cast Euents to come, by things alreadie past,

61

These great dissignements setting easly out, By due proportion measuring eu'ry pace, T'auoide the cumbrance of each hindring doubt, That might distort the comlinesse and grace, Comming with eu'ry circumstance about, Strictly obseruing person, time and place; All ornaments in faire discretions lawes, Could giue attire to beautifie the cause.

62

The Embassie in termes of equall height, As well their state and dignity might fit, Apparelling a matter of that weight, In ceremony well beseeming it, To carry things so steddy, and so right, Where Wisedome with cleare maiesty might sit; All things still seeming strictly to effect, That Loue commaunds, and Greatnesse should re∣spect.

63

Whose expedition by this faire successe, That doth againe this antient league combine, when Edward should by couenant release, And to the Prince the Prouinces resigne, With whome king Charles renues the happy peace, Receiuing homage due to him for Guyne: And lastly now to consumate their speede, Edwards owne person to confirme the deede.

64

Who whilst he stands yet doubtfull what to do, The Spensers chiefely that his counsels guide, Nor with their Soueraigne into Fraunce durst goe, Nor in his absence durst at home abide; Now whilst the weake king stands perplexed so, His listning eares with such perswasion plide, As he at last to stay in England's wonne, And in his place, to send the Prince his sonne.

65

Thus is the King encompasst by their skill, A meane to worke what Herford doth deuise, To thrust him on, to draw them vp the hill, That by his strength they might get powre to rise: Thus they in all things are before him still, This perfect steersman of their policies Hath cast to walke whilst Edward beares the light, And take that aime that must direct his sight.

66

And by th'allowance of his liberall will, Supposde his safety, furthering their intent, Stands as a test to iustifie their ill, Made sound and currant by this late euent, And what yet wanting lastly to fulfill, Things in their course to fall in true consent, Giues full assurance of that happy end, On which they now laboriously attend.

67

Nor finding reason longer to protract, Or in suspence their home-left friends to holde, By being now so absolutely backt, And thereby waxing confident and bold, By their proceedings publishing their act, whenas their powre was ripened as they would, Now with an armed and erected hand, To abet their faction absolutely stand.

68

When now the fearefull fainting Exceter, A man experiencde in their counsels long, Whether himselfe thought his way to preferre, Or moou'd in conscience with king Eawards wrong, Or t'was his frailty forede him thus to erre, Or other fatall accident among, The onely first that backe to England flew, And knowing all, discouered all he knew.

69

The plot of treason lastly thus disclosde, And Torletons drift by circumstaunces found, With what conueyance things had beene disposde; The cunning vsde in casting of the ground, The meanes and apt aduantages he chosde, When better counsell coldely comes to sound, Awakes the King to see his owne estate, When the preuention comes too vaine and late.

70

And whilst the time she daily dooth adjourne, Charles as a brother, by perswasions deales, Edward, with threates, to hasten her returne, And Iohn of Rome with Papall curse assaies, Tis but in vaine against her will to spurne, Perswasions, threats, nor curses aught preuailes: Charles, Edward, Iohn, do th'vtmost of your worst, The Queene fares best when she the most is curst.

71

The subtile Spensers which French humors felt, (And with their Soueraigne had deuisde the draught) with Prince and Peeres now vnder-hand had dealt, with golden baites that craftily were caught, whose flexed temper soone begins to melt, On which they now by sleights so throwly wrought, As with great summes now lastly ouer-waide, The wretched Queene is desperate of aide.

72

Nor can all this amaze this mighty Queene, with all th'affliction neuer yet contrould, Neuer such courage in her sex was seene, Nor was she cast in other womens mould, (Nor can rebate the edge of her hie spleene) But can endure warre, trauell, want, and cold: Strugling with Fortune, ne're with griefe opprest, Most cheerefull still, when she was most distrest.

73

And thus resolu'd to leaue ingratefull France, And in the world her fortune yet to trie, Changing the ayre, hopes time may alter chance, As one whose thoughts were eleuate more hie, Her weakned state still seeking to aduance, Her mighty minde so scorneth misery; Yet ere she went, her grieued heart to east, Thus to the King this grieued Lady saies.

74

Is this a King and brothers part, quoth she? And to this end did I my griefe vnfold? Came I to heale my wounded heart to thee, Where slaine outright I now the same behold? Proue these thy vowes, thy promises to mee, In all this heate, thy faith become so cold, To leaue me thus forsaken at the worst? My state more wretched than it was at first.

75

My frailty vrging what my want requires, To thy deere mercy should my teares haue tide, Our bloods maintained by the selfe-same fires, And by our fortunes as our birth alide; My sute supported by my iust desires, All arguments I should not be denide. The grieuous wrongs that in my bosome be, Should be as neere thy care, as I to thee.

76

Nature that easly wrought vpon my sex, To thy vile pleasure thus mine honour leaues, And vnder colour of thy due respects, My settled trust disloyally deceaues, That me and mine thus carelesly neglects, And of all comfort wholy me bereaues; Twixt recreant basenes, and disord••nate will, To expose my fortunes to the worst of ill.

77

But for my farewell this I prophecie, That from my wombe that glorious fruit doth spring, Which shall deiect thy neere posteritie, And leade a captiue thy succeeding King, That shal reuenge this wretched iniury. To fatall Fraunce I as a Sybel sing, Her citties sackt, the slaughter of her men, When of the English, one shall conquer ten.

78

Bewmount in Fraunce that had this shuffling seene, whose soule by kindnes Isabel had wonne, For Henault now perswades the grieued Queene, By full assurance what might there be done; Now in the anguish of this tumerous spleene, Offring his faire Neece to the Prince her sonne: The lurest way to gaine his brothers might, To backe yong Edward, and vphold her right.

79

This gallant Lord, whose name euen filld report, To whom the souldiers of that time did throng, A man that fashiond others of his sort, As that knew all to honour did belong, And in his youth traind vp with her in Court, And fully now confirmed in her wrong, Crosst by the faction of th'emperiall part, In things that sat too neerely to his hart.

80

Sufficient motiues to inuite distresse, To apprehend the least and poorest meane, Against those mischiefes that so strongly presse, Whereon their lowe dejected state to leaue, And at this season, though it were the lesse, That might a while their sickely powre sustaine; Till prosprous times by milde and temprate dayes, Their drooping hopes to former height might raise

81

Where finding cause to breathe their restlesse state, where welcome lookt with a more milder face, From those dishonours she receiu'd of late, Where now she wants no due officious grace, Vnder the guidance of a gentler fate, Where bounteous offers mutually embrace: And to conclude all ceremonies past, The Prince affies faire Philip at the last.

82

All couenants signde with wedlockes sacred seale, A lasting league eternally to binde, And all proceeding of religious zeale, And suting right with Henaults mighty minde, That to his thoughts much honour dooth reueale, What ease the Queene is like thereby to finde, The sweete contentment of the louely Bride, Yong Edward pleasde, and ioy on euery side.

The end of the third Canto.