Mirror for Magistrates, Volume 2, Part 1 — Key Ideas to Explore

Life, death, landes, goods,[104] and all by vs was deemed: Whereby with easy paine great gayne wee did in fet,[105] And euery thing was fishe, that came vnto our net.

At sessions and at sises,[106] wee bare the stroake and sway, In patentes and commission, of _quorum_ alwaye chiefe:[107] So that to whether syde soeuer wee did way, Were it by right or wrong, it past, without repriefe: The true man wee let hang[108] somewhiles to saue a thiefe, Of gold, and of siluer, our handes were neuer empty, Offices, fermes, and fees, fell to vs in great plenty.

But what thing may suffice vnto the greedy man? The more hee hath in hold, the more hee doth desire: Happy and twise happy is hee, that wisely can Content himselfe with that, which reason doth require, And moyleth for no more then for his needefull hire: But greedines of minde doth seldome keepe[109] the syse, To whom enough and more doth neuer well suffice.[110]

For like as dropsy pacients drinke and still bee dry, Whose vnstaunchst thirst no liquor can alay, And drinke they nere so much, yet thirst they by and by:[111] So catchers and snatchers[112] toile both night and day, Not needy, but greedy, still prolling[113] for their pray: O endlesse thirste of gold, corrupter of all lawes, What mischiefe is on moulde whereof thou art not cause?

Thou madest vs forget the fayth of our profession,[114] When sergeants wee were sworne to serue the common lawe, Which was, that in no point wee should make digression[115] From approued principles, in sentence nor in sawe: But wee vnhappy wightes[116] without all dread and awe Of the judge eternall, for worlde’s vaine promotion, More to man then God did beare our whole deuotion.[117]

The lawes wee did interprete[118] and statutes of the land, Not truely by the texte, but newly by a glose: And wordes that were most playne, when they by vs were skand, Wee tourned by construction to[119] a _Welshman’s_ hose, Whereby many a one[120] both life and land did lose: Yet this wee made our meane to mount aloft on mules: And seruing times and turnes peruerted lawes and rules.[121]

Thus climing and contending alway to the toppe, From hie vnto higher, and then to bee most hye, The honny dewe of fortune so fast on vs did droppe, That of king _Richarde’s_ counsayle wee came to bee most nye:[122] Whose fauour to attayne wee[123] were full fine and slye: Alway to his profite[124] where any thing[125] might sounde, That way (all were it wrong) the lawes[126] wee did expounde.

So working lawe like waxe, the subiect was not sure Of life, land,[127] nor goodes but at the prince’s will, Which caused his kingdome the shorter time to dure: For clayming power absolute both to saue and spill, The prince thereby presumed his people for to pill, And set his lustes for lawe, and will had reason’s place, No more but hang and drawe, there was no better grace.

Thus the king outleaping the limits of his lawe, Not raigning but raging, as youth[128] did him entice, Wise and worthy persons from court did dayly drawe, Sage counsayle set at naught, proude vaunters were in price, And roysters bare the rule, which wasted all in vice: Of ryot and excesse, grewe scarsity and lacke, Of lacking came taxing, and so went welth to wracke.[129]

The barons[130] of the land not bearing this abuse, Conspiring with the commons assembled by assent, And seeing neyther reason,[131] nor treaty, could induce The king in any thing his rigour to relent, Maugre[132] his might they[133] calde a parliament: Franke and free for all men without checke[134] to debate As well for weale publique, as for the prince’s state.

In this[135] high assembly, great thinges were proponed Touching the prince’s state, his regalty[136] and crowne, By reason that the king[137] (which much was to be moned) Without regarde at all, of honour or renowne, Misledde by ill aduice, had tournde all vpside downe, For surety of whose state, them thought it did behoue His counsaylours corrupt by reason[138] to remoue:[139]

Among whome, _Robert Veer_[140] calde duke of _Irelande_, With _Mighell Delapole of Suffolke_ newe made earle, Of _Yorke_ also the archbishop, dispacht were out of hande,[141] With _Brembre_ of _London_ a full vncurteous churle:[142] Some learned in the lawe in exile they did hurle: But I poore[144] _Tresilian_ (because I was the chiefe) Was dampned to the gallowes most vily as[145] a thiefe.

Lo the fine of falshood, [the] stipend of corruption, The fee of dowble fraude,[146] the fruites it doth procure: Yee judges vpon earth,[147] let our iuste punition[148] Teach you to shake off bribes, and kepe your handes pure:[149] Riches and promotion bee vayne thinges and vnsure, The fauour of a prince is an vntrusty staye, But iustice hath a fee that shall remayne alway.

What glory can bee greater before God[150] or man, Then by pathes of justice[151] in iudgement to proceede? So duely and so truely[152] the lawes alway[153] to skan,[154] That right may take his place without regarde[155] or meede: Set apart all flattery and vayne wordly dreede, Set[156] God before your eyes the iuste[157] judge supreme, Remembre well your reckoning at the day extreme.

Abandon all affray, bee soothfast in your sawes, Be constant, and carelesse of mortall men’s displeasure,[158] With eyes shut and handes close[159] you should pronounce the lawes: Esteeme not worldly goodes,[160] thinke there is a treasure More worth then golde [or stone] a thousand times in valure Reposed for all such as righteousnes ensue, Whereof you can not fayle, the promise made is true.

If judges in our dayes woulde ponder well in minde The fatall fall of vs, for wresting lawe and right, Such statutes as touche life should not bee thus definde, By sences constrayned against true meaning quite, As well they might affirme the blacke for to bee white: Wherefore wee wish they woulde our acte and end compare, And weying well the case, they will wee trust beware.[161]

[When maister _Ferrers_ had finished his[163] tragedy,[164] which seemed not vnfit for the persons touched in the same: another, which in the meane time had stayed vpon sir _Roger Mortimer_, whose[165] miserable ende (as it shoulde appeare) was somwhat before the others, sayed as foloweth: “Although it be not greatly appertinent to our purpose,[166] yet in my iudgement I thinke it woulde doe well to obserue the times of men, and as they be more auncient, so to place them.[167] For I finde that before these, (of whome maister _Ferrers_ here hath spoken) there were two _Mortimers_,[168] the one[169] in _Edwarde_[170] the iij. time, out of our date; an other slayne in _Ireland_ in _Richarde_ the seconde’s time,[171] a yeare before the falle of these iustices: whose history sith it is notable, and the example fruitefull, it were not good to ouerpasse it: and therefore by your licence and agreemente,[172] I will take vpon mee the personage of the laste, who full of woundes mangled,[173] with a pale countenaunce, and griezly looke, may make his mone to _Baldwine_, as foloweth.”[174]]

How the two _Rogers_, surnamed _Mortimers_, for their sundry vices ended their liues vnfortunately, the one An. 1329, the other, 1387.[175]

Among the riders of[176] the rolling wheele That lost their holdes, _Baldwine_, forget not mee, Whose fatall thred false fortune needes would reele,[177] Ere it were twisted by the sisters three: All folke be fraile, their blisses brittle bee: For proofe whereof, although none other were, Suffise may I, sir _Roger Mortimer_.

Not hee that was in _Edwarde’s_ dayes the thyrde, Whom fortune brought to boote and eft to bale,[178] With loue of whome, the king so much shee sturde, That none but hee was heard in any tale:[179] And whiles shee smooth blew on this pleasaunt gale,[180] Hee was created earle of _March_, alas, Whence enuy sprang which his destruction was.[181]

For welth breedes[182] wrath, in such as welth doe want, And pride with folly in[183] such as it possesse, Among a thousand shall you finde one[184] skant, That can in welth his lofty harte represse, Which in this earle due proofe did playne expresse: For whereas hee was somewhat haut before,[185] His high degree hath made him now much more.[186]

For now alone hee ruleth as him lust, Ne recketh[187] for reade, saue of king _Edwarde’s_ mother:[188] Which forced enuy foulder[189] out the rust, That in men’s hartes before[190] did lye and smother: The peeres, the people, as well the one as other,[191] Against him made so haynous a complaynt, That for a traytour hee was taken and attaynt.[192]

Then all such faultes as were forgot afore,[193] They skowre afresh, and somwhat to them adde: For cruell enuy[194] hath eloquence in store, When fortune bids to worse things meanly badde:[195] Fiue haynous crimes agaynst him soone were had, First, that hee causde the king to yeelde the _Scot_, To make a peace, townes that were from him got:[196]

And therewithall the charter called _Ragman_, That of the _Scots_ hee had[197] bribed priuy gayne,[198] That through[199] his meanes sir _Edwarde_ of _Carnaruan_, In _Barkeley_ castle most[200] trayterously was slaine: That with his prince’s mother hee had layne, And finally with polling[201] at his pleasure, Had robde[202] the king and commons of theyr treasure.

For these things lo, which erst were out of minde, Hee was condempned,[203] and hanged at the last,[204] In whome dame fortune fully shewed her kinde, For whom shee heaues shee hurleth downe as fast: If men to come would learne by other past, This cosin of mine might[205] cause them set aside High climing, bribing, murdering, lust, and pride.[206]

The finall cause why I this processe tell, Is that I may bee knowen from this other, My like in name, vnlike mee, though hee fell, Which was I thinke[207] my grandsire, or his brother: To count my kin, dame _Phillip_ was my mother, Deare[208] daughter and heyre of douty _Lionell_, The second son of a king who did[209] excell.[210]

My father hight sir _Edmund Mortimer_, True[211] earle of _March_, whence I was after earl By iust[212] discent, these two my parentes were, Of which the one of knighthood bare the ferll, Of womanhood the[213] other was the pearle: Through theyr desert so calde of euery wight, Till death them tooke, and left mee in[214] theyr right.[215]

For why th’attaynter of my[216] elder _Roger_, (Whose shamefull death I tolde you but of late) Was founde to bee vniuste, and passed ouer,[217] Agaynst the lawe, by those that bare him hate: For where by lawe the lowest of[218] free estate Should personally bee hearde ere iudgement passe, They barde him this, where through distroyde he was.[219]

Wherefore by doome of court in[220] parliament, When we had prou’de our cosin ordered thus,[221] The king, the lordes, and commons, of assent His lawles death vnlawfull did discusse: And both to bloud and good restored vs: A president most worthy, shewed, and lefte Lordes liues to saue, that laweles might bee refte.[222]

While fortune thus did forder mee a mayne,[223] King _Richarde’s_ grace, the second of that[224] name, (Whose dissolute[225] life did soone abridge his raine)[226] Made mee his mate in earnest and in game: The lordes themselues so well allowed the same, That through my titles duely comming downe, I was made heyre apparant to the crowne.

Who then but I was euery where esteemed? Well was the man that might with mee acquaynt,[227] Whom I allowed, as lordes the people deemed: To whatsoeuer folly had me bent, To like it well the people did assent:[228] To mee as prince attended great and small, I hoapt[229] a day would come to pay for all.

But seldome ioy continueth trouble voyde, In greatest charge cares greatest doe ensue, The most possest are euer most anoyde, In largest seas sore tempestes lightly brue, The freshest coulours soonest fade the hue,[230] In thickest place is made the deepest wounde, True proofe whereof my selfe too soone haue founde.

For whilst fayre fortune luld[231] mee in her lap, And gaue mee giftes more then I did require, The subtile queane[232] behinde mee set a trap, Whereby to dash[233] and lay all in the myre: The _Irish_ men[234] agaynst mee did conspyre, My landes of _Vlster_ fro mee to haue refte, Which heritage my mother had mee lefte.[235]

And whiles I there, to set all thinges in stay, (Omit my toyles and troubles thitherwarde) Among mine owne with my retinue lay, The wylder men, whom litle I did regarde,[236] (And had therefore the reckles man’s rewarde)[237] When least I thought set on mee in such numbre, That fro my corps my life they rent asunder.[238]

Naught might auayle my courage nor my force, Nor strenght of men[239] which were (alas) to fewe: The cruell folke assaulted so my horse: That all my helpes in peeces they to hewe: Our bloud distayned the grounde as drops of dewe, Naught might preuayle to flye nor[240] yet to yeelde, For whome they take they murder in the fielde.

They know no law of armes,[241] nor none will learne, They make not warre (as other doe) a play: The lord, the boy, the gallowglas, the kerne, Yeelde or not yeelde, whome so they take they slay: They saue no prisoners[242] for ransome nor for pay: Theyr chiefest boote they counte theyr bodoh’s heade,[243] Theyr end of warre to see theyr enmy deade.[244]

Amongst these men or rather sauage beastes I lost my life, by cruell murder slayne: And therefore, _Baldwine_, note thou well my geastes, And warne all princes rashnes to refrayne: Bid them beware theyr enmies when they faine,[245] Nor yet presume vnequally to striue: Had I thus done, I had beene man aliue.[246]

But I dispised the naked _Irish_ men, And, for they flew, I feared them the lesse: I thought one man enough to match with ten, And through this carelesse vnaduisednes I was destroyde, and all my men I gesse,[247] At vnawares assaulted by our foen, Which were in nombre forty to vs one.

See here the stay of fortunate estate, The vayne assurance of this brittle life:[248] For I but yong-proclaymed prince of late, Right fortunate in children and in wife,[249] Lost all at once by stroke of bloudy knife: Whereby assurde let men themselues assure, That welth and life are doubtfull to endure.

THOMAS DUKE OF GLOCESTER.

[After this tragedy was[251] ended, maister _Ferrers_ sayde: seeing it is best to place eche person in his order, _Baldwine_, take you the chronicles and marke them as they come: for there are many worthy to bee noted, though not treated[252] of. First the lord _Murrey_, a _Scotishman_, who tooke his death’s wound through a stroke lent him by the earle of _Notyngham_, whom hee chalenged at the tylt.[253] But to omit him, and also the fatte pryor of _Tiptre_, pressed to death with throng of people vpon _London_ bridge at the queene’s entry,[254] I will come to the duke of _Glocester_, the king’s vncle, a man mynding[255] the common welth, and yet at length miserably made away. In whose person if yee will gieue eare, yee shall heare what I thinke meete to be saied.]

How Syr _Thomas_ of _Woodstocke_ Duke of Glocester, vncle to King_Richarde_ the second, was vnlawfully murdered, Anno 1397.[256]

Whose state stablisht is,[257] in seeming most sure, And so far from daunger of fortune’s blastes, As by the compasse of man’s coniecture, No brasen piller may be fyxt more fast: Yet wanting the stay of prudent forecast, Whan froward fortune list for to frowne, May in a moment turne vpside downe.

In proofe whereof, O _Baldwine_, take payne, To hearken a while to[258] _Thomas_ of _Woodstocke_, Addrest in presence his fate to[259] complayne, In the forlorne hope of[260] _English_ flocke: Extract by discent from the[261] royall stocke, Sonne to king _Edwarde_, thirde of that name, And second to none in glory and fame.

This noble father to mayntayne my state, With _Buckingham_ earledome did mee indowe, Both nature and fortune to mee were greate, Denying mee nothing[262] which they might allowe: Theyr sundry graces in mee did so flowe, As beauty, strength, high fauour and fame, Who may of God more wish then the same?

Brothers wee were to the nombre of seauen, I being the sixt, and yongest but one: A more royall race was not vnder heauen, More stout or more stately of stomacke and person, Princes all peerelesse in eche condition: Namely sir _Edwarde_, called the blacke prince, When had _England_ the like before, or euer since?[263]

But what of all this, any man to assure, In state vncarefull of fortune’s variaunce? Syth dayly and hourely wee see it in vre, That where most cause is of affiaunce, Euen there is founde most weake assurance: Let none trust fortune, but follow reason: For often wee see in trust is treason.

This prouerbe in proofe ouer true I tried, Finding high treason in place of high trust, And most fault of fayth[264] where I most affied, Being, by them that should haue been iuste, Trayterously entrapt, ere I could mistrust: Ah wretched world what it is to trust thee? Let them that will learne now hearken to mee.

After king _Edwarde_ the thirde’s decease, Succeeded my nephewe _Richarde_ to raigne, Who for his glory and honour’s encrease, With princely wages did mee entertayne, Against the _Frenchmen_ to bee his chieftayne: So passing the seas with royall puissaunce, With God and S. _George_ I inuaded _Fraunce_.

Wasting the countrey with sworde and with fire, Ouerturning townes, high castles and towers, Like _Mars_ god of warre, enflamed with ire, I forced the _Frenchmen_ t’abandon theyr bowres: Where euer wee matcht[265] I wanne at all howres, In such wise visiting both city and village, That alway my souldiers were laden with pillage.

With honour and triomph was my returne, Was none more ioyous than yong king _Richarde_: Who minding more highly my state to adorne, With _Glocester_ dukedome did mee rewarde: And after in mariage I was prefarde, To a daughter of _Bohun_, an earle honourable, By whome I was of _England_ high constable.

Thus hoysed so high on fortune’s wheele,[266] As one on a stage attending a play, Seeth not on which side the scaffolde doth reele, Till timbre and poales and all fly away: So fared it by mee: for day by day, As honour encreased I looked still higher, Not seeing the daunger of my fond desire.

For fortune’s floude thus running with[267] full streame, And I a duke discended of great kinges,[268] Constable of _England_, chiefe officer of[269] the realme, Abused with desperaunce[270] in these vayne thinges, I went without feete, and flewe without winges, Presuming so farre vpon my high estate, That dreade set apart, my prince I would mate.

For where as all[271] kinges haue counsayle of theyr choyse, To whom they refer the rule of theyr land, With certayne familiers in whome to reioyce, For pleasure or profite, as the case shall stand, I not bearing this, would needes take in hand, Maugre his will, those persons to disgrace, And such as I thought fit to settle[272] in theyr place.[273]

But as an old booke sayeth, who so[274] will assay Aboute the cat’s necke to hang on any[275] bell, Had first neede to cut the cat’s clawes away, Least if the cat bee curst, and[276] not tamed well, She haply[277] with her nayles may clawe him to the fell: So putting on[278] the bell about the cat’s necke, By being to busy I caught a cruell checke.[279]

Reade well the sentence of the rat of renowne,[280] Which _Pierce_ the plowman describes in his dreame,[281] And who so hath wit the sence to expowne,[282] Shall finde that to bridell[283] the prince of a reame, Is euen (as who sayth) to striue with the streame: Note this all subiects, and construe it well, And busie not your braines about[284] the cat’s bell.

But in that yee bee lieges learne to obay,[285] Submitting your willes to your prince’s lawes: It fitteth not a subiect to haue[286] his owne way, Remember this prouerbe[287] of the cat’s clawes: For princes like lions haue long and[288] large pawes That reache at randon, and whome they once twitch, They clawe to the bone before the skin itch.

But to my purpose, I being once bent, Towardes the atchieuing of my attemptate, Fower bould barons were of mine assent, By oth and allyaunce fastly confederate: First _Henry_ of _Derby_, an earle of estate, _Richard_ of _Arundell_, and _Thomas_ of _Warwicke_, With _Mowbray_ the[289] _Marshall_, a man most warlicke.