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GASCOIGNE'S
PRINCELY PLEASURES
AT
KENILWORTH.
A. »
LON DON :
VKINTKD BY S. AND R. KKNTI KY, DOKSKT^TKEET,
SAUshURY-SQlARE.
GASCOIGNES
Fprincely pleasures
iMa0(lur,
«iiteu f» uiVK no riKaumui hepuhm
QFEEN ELIZABETH,
.ENILWOllTH CASTLE
lNTMOrilJCTf»HY M
<UftN, MitlllBN-LANB, pnVn<iT-aA(imH i
» BI>Sl)-aTHReTl C. AND II. BAI.IMfrM,
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INTRODUCTORY PREFACE.
I HB fesliTitics which took place at Ketiilwortli Cai
being tioiv familiar to neariy all the reading public, as
well by the recent reprint ofRobert Lanebam's letter, as
bj the admirable and interesting Romance of Keniltvorth,
it becotnes a desirable appendage to both those works to
have some specimens of ine literary compositions which
were prepared for the dranutic entertainments then dis-
played before Queen Elizabeth, Although Lancham's
letter contains a perfect description of the arrangement
aud nature of the various pageants, yet be often professes
himaelfunableto give more than ageneral abstract of the
many laudatory orations, both in verse and prose, which
were delivered in the course of the Queen b visit. For
instance, such expressions as these couvey only general
information: — "A proper poesy in English rhyme and
Bietre," — " A rough speech full of passions," — " A
well-peaned metre, and matter after this aorti" and
he itiso uses these apologetical terms, which may be
considered as an encuse for all his omissions. " Had her
Highness happened this day to have come abroad,
"■" " made ready a device of goddesses and nymphs.
which, as well for the'inger
argument,
Lhe well-handling of it in rhyme and enditing, would
undoubtedly have gained great liking, and moved no less
delight. Of the particularities whereof, however, I cease
to entreat, lest, like the bungling carpenter, by tnis-sort-
'-g the pieces, I mar agood irarae in the bad setting up;
' Dy my bad tempering beroie-hand, blemish the beauty
*"■" it should be reared up indeed." In the printer's
£ to the present work, also, is anolher alluiiou to
VI INTBOOUCTORY PREFACE.
llie lucomplelcncss of I^neham, " And iheai
thus collected," says he, " I have for thy commodiq
gcDlJe reader, now published, the rather because of
report thereof lately imprinied by llie naiiie of the Pas-
times of the ProgresE ; which indeed doth nothing touch
the particularity of every commendable action, but gene-
rally rehearseth her Majesty's cheerful eniertainmcut in
all places where she passed ; together with the exceeding
joy that her subjects had to see her, which report made
very many the more desirous to have this perfect copy.'*
Since, then, from this most impartial character of Lane>
ham's letter, it la evident that it is imperfect in its iletuls,
a reprint of the " Prince'yc Pleasures of Ken il worth," as
advertised at the end of the former gublicalion, b now
presented to the public, arranged upon the same popular
' - ' I !-=-■ — -es, and to give 3 perfect idea
The following masques, as
e not the prodactioBS of one
les appended to this volume
■s will be found of the principal
, J . , .-,-18 ijie ensuing poems are nme-
raJly known under the title of Gascoigne's Priucely Plea-
sures of Kenil worth, having been first printed with fail
works, the account of ihia celebrated writer has been re-
served for the Introductory Preface.
There are several sources whence these memoirs have
been derived; firstly, the author's own works; secondly,
the admirabli- life written by Mr. Chalmers, for his edition
of ihe English Poets ; and, lastly, from a curious biogra-
phical poem by Gascoigne's friend, George Whetstone,
a reptint of which immediately follows this introduclioa.
The history of the last-mentioned authority, though by
no nieans siogular to bibliographers, is curious. Bishop
Tanner, in his B'tb&atheca Brilanmco-lGliemica, edit.,
174S, foL p. 310, was the first who mentioned b ' ~
the following doubtful terms, " Whether it is ou:
another George Gascoisne, who is described by Geoni
Whetstone by this title, a remembrance of the w^
emplnyd life and godly end of Geo. Gascoign, 1^
who deceased at Stamford in Linculnsbire, 7 Octo
. reported by Geo. Whelsluitc, among l"
plau, tCEUpply hisileficiei
of the Kenil worth pastim
will be hereafter seen, v
person only; and in the :
some biographical sketches
authors employed; but
INTBODUCroKV PREFACE- HI
books of Tho. Tanner, Bishop of St, Asaph." In conse-
nuence of this noiJce, a search was commenced througli
the Bodleian Library, where ihe Bishop'), books were de-
posited. This, la well »s the exsminatioii of utverai
other libraries, was unsuccessful ; and serious doubis
were entertained, whether soch a pamphlet had ever
ncisltd. At length, however, it was some years since
rouDd in tbe collection of the late Mr. Voighi, of ihc
Cuslom-hoiise, London; at the sale of whose boobs in
Oeceinfoer, ieo6, it was bought by Mr. Malone, for 4'.'/.
lOfc ed, Tho tract itself is of that character ao well
known to bibliographer», slight, and of uncommon rarity;
it contains only thirteen pa^es, printed in the black letter
in Binall cjuaito. But allhoueh it had thus been con-
cealed, yet, besides Bishogi Tanner's words, there was
sufficient evidence of its existence in the boobs of the
Stationers' Company, which shew, that Robert Aggas,
oT Ihe Ked Dragon, in St. Paul's Church-yard, had
a license to print it, dated November 15th, 1577 ; which
is also meniioned by Herbert, Typog. Anli^. p. IlliiJ.
Such is the history of Whetstone's tract, which, though
it contains noihjng worthy nrbeine dennminaied, a Life
of Gescoigne, has some few facts, though Fery obscurtly
related, tllat arecerrainly of prcol imporlanc ' '
luoirs, and which have been carefully notice
lowing .tkeich ;
George Gaacoigne, the son and heir of Sir John Gas-
coigne, was descended from an ancient and reapeclable
family of Essex, aud was lirst educat«l under a minister
named Nevinson, who, as Mr. Chalmers observes, was
probably " Stephen Nevinson, LL.D. Prebendary and
Coamissary of the City and Diocese of Canterbury."
Gasctugne was next removed to the University ; Wood
supposes htm to have studied both at Oxford and Cam-
bridge, but from several pas.'^ages in his works, it is most
' probable that he belonged only to the latter. From
College, like many young gentlemen of his time, Gan-
caigne went to Gray's Inn, ofwhich he became a mem-
ber, and it is probable, that about this period, he entered
upon that dissiilute course of life, bis re])cn1ancE of
wnieh is so strongly marked in the ereaiet part of his
1 the fol-
INTRODUCTORV PREFA
With i
mud <
inly highly-gifled i
w Tilings.
poetic feeling, and a disposition amoious to a v\
iltgree, it ia not suqirising, ihat the youtfarul i
Gascoigne are oil on the lubjecl of lore ; Gabriel Harvey,
in his Gralulaliimef Valdineruei, celebrates him, nith
Chaucer, and the Earl of Surrey, aa a poetic champion of
the female sex. It -was most probably thia dissipated
courgeof life that caused Sir John Gjntcoigne lo disinherit
his son ; although, froni several passages in his poems, it
would icem that hie offences had been exa^erated by
alnndetoua reports. Left entirely to hiniBeliV and cail
into the world alone, he for some time endeavoured to
brave it with independence ; but, finding that the revellers
with whom he had associated] end the misttesses on whom
he had lavished his property, were alike insensible lo his
situation or unable lo amend it, on March igih, 1572, He_
■ sailed for Holland, and entered into the army of Willian '
Prince of Orange. After a dangerous voyage, in w " '
twenty of the crew weie drowned through Ule pilot
toxical ion, GascoiEne landed in Holland, and received sV
Captain's comtnission under the Prince. His pncnis en
titled " Gascoigne's Voyage itilo Holland," "TlieFruile
of Warre," and " the Fruile of Fetters, with the Com
plaint of the Greene Knight." under which n
pears that Gascoigne was known in ihe army, '
much information respecting his life at this period.
From these may be learned, thai he was in a fair^th tp
promotion, when an unfortunate dispute with his Colonial
caused him to remove to Delf, in order to resign his coni;- .
mission to the Prince, who, however, exerted himself lo '
bring about a reconciliation. During these events, whin
Gascoigne remained at Delf, a lady at the Hague, whidj
was then occupied by the enemy's troops, sciil a letter K
him concemine his portrait which he had give
This billet got into the possession of his Colonel and h'JM
enemies, who made such use of it as lo excite considers. ■
ble suspicion in the minds of many, especially the Dulch'l
burghers, that Gascoigne was unfaithful to their cause.
In consequence of ibis he underwent considerable priva-
tions, which lasted, js he remarks, " a winter's tyde,"
until the Prince coming into Zealand, Gascoigne laid ihc
INTBODUCTonV PREFA'
"le al&ir before him, and immediately received j>asa-
hii ^"^ "'^'^^S '■''^ '"'')'■ '"^ *" ample teslimoniul of
^, Worth. Soon after, William of Nassau kid siege lo
^'oillcbura, and Gascoigne evinced such bravery in ihe
?*piure f>rtt, thai the Prince, as he relates, presented
Dim with,
" Three hnndred ([uilderB good above my pay.
And bad me bide lill bis abilitie
Migbt Letter guerdon my tidelitie."
The credit which Gaseoigne had thus attained, wa9 cer-
tainly a principal cause of the miefortunes which suc-
ceeded it i since his enemiea had then lo add envy to thelt
former iiacred and suspicion. A reinforcemenl was at
that period sent from England to the Spaniards, and
Gaseoigne was ordered, under the command of CapUin
Shctfield, 10 an unfinished fort at Valkenhurg, which
was immediately attacked. The Dutch forces there
amounted only to five hundred men, while those of the
Spanish were about three thousand j added lo which, the
fortification works v/ere incomplete, and the garrison not
supplied either with provision or am muni lion. It was
vam to contend when this miserable defence was as-
saulted, though Gaseoigne aud hia companions held out
until they were forced to retreat, which they at length did
lo Leyden, the gates of which were shut against them.
The rest is easdy imagined — they surrendered to the
Spaniards, upon hoaourable terms, and after about four
months' captivity, the ofBcers were sent home to their
own countres. After his return to England, Gaseoigne
Raided at his chambers in Gray's Inn, and occasion-
ally at Walthamstow, as he again began the study of
the law, and also published such of nis more seriuus
poems 39 he expected would efface the memory of his
aiaaioty verses. In the summer of 1575, he attended
Lord LieicBsier at Kenilworth, to assist Hunnis, Gnlding-
ham, Mulcaster, Sec. in the production of mosques and
pageants for Queen Elizabeth's entertainment; and in
the course of the followitig work, the reader will observe
what share he took in their composition. When the
Kenilworth festival was over, Gaseoigne is supposed lu
X iNrROD.rcTORv preface.
hflTC been employed at Wallhamslow, in preparing his
sei-eral works for the press ; of which an accurate
bibliographical account will be found at the end of this
meoioir. According to Whetstone, he wrote in this re-
tirement, the satire of "The Steele Glasse." " The Glass
of G overtime nt," " The Delicate Diet," " a Book of
Hunline," and "The Doom's Day Drum ;" the latter
of which was not published until after his death. Though
Gascoigne was certainly admired and caressed in his own
time, and enjoyed the iriendship and patronage of manj
greatand emiaent men, '*yct,"9aysMT. Chalmers, "during
this period he complains bitterly of what poets in all age^
have telt, the envy of rivals and the malevolence of
] intimate that, altbotigh he appa-
nentwith patience, yet it insensiblv
nut, and brought oa a bodily (nstemner which
his physicians could not cure. In aU his publicationSi
he takes i^ery opportunity to introduce aai bewail the
errors of his youth, and to atone for any injury, real or
supposed, which mi^t have accrued to the public from
a perusal of his early poems, in which, however, the pro-
Crtion of indelicate thoughts is surely not very great."
little mnre than two years after the Queen's visit to
Kenilwnrlh, on October ihe 7th, 1577. Gascoigne died,
at Stamford in Lincolnshire, according to Whetstone, its
the presence of his wife ttnd son, and with such calmness.
rcntly bore
1
Th»t he abode l
lo man there perceiv'd
11, or striving from his breath,
ic pains and pangs of death."
It is supposed by his biographers, that his age did not
exceed forty years.
The above haaty sketch of Gascoigne's life cannot be
better coocluded, than by the ftdlowing finely-written
poetic character, which Mr. Chalmers has given of him
and of his works. " If we consider the general merit of
the poets in the early pait of the Eliiahelhan period, it
will probahlv appear that the extreme rarity of Gus-
nie'a works has been the chief c
e of his hein.
INTRODCCTOBT racrACL
K
salirisi, ifpoUung mBiiM J twt hat Siede GIh*, W waf
' iDcd one <if tbe Cnt. Thac b a ns «f al; M-
thu fiere, wliicii ^tfll ii i u «e tm kc •■wBif ;
xpeiue pnfaaUj
lodewtideiice,
itc IH tbe dresi,
ihei
ous picture o
l\ea of the umo, t
aulhor. To pooai onl ibe infiTidEd b u i mtiu oflM ■
cellaueous pieces, lAcr ihe ifteetBCBa i >Hii> J hf M
Qeatitr, b]f Bp. ]h»7. Wincni, Btsdlej, m£ B
^Kouui be Diu*ec«3sarj; bctt tboe a
lidi his claims to oriiciiialkT il miw to br ai
■HMtld be DDX
Iffaicb his dai
■nu in a hisia
Bnt EpecimcDS
«!-«-«> I ki Jo.
s ihe second ihca
and hb Supposes is ibe £iU cofordy a
" J Bandrrtk iitjukie Flowra, baaad up in oac Maill
Posie- Gathered pari)j (bv naraUtion) id the fjo€ otM-
landiah (:^in9 of Eurip>de», Oiud, Fctaifce, 'Ariotio,
and others: and partly bj inncDtian, ool of OB> ovnc
fruiiefull orchardes m Enj^nd ; Ti Mini, wiliii i"i'ii
saaoursof tiagicall, comiciT, aiiditioiandiiCMina, bothe
Cileaxaunte and profitable to the wdi-taiicSjttg bom* of
edrned readers.
MerMam pctere, fraue.
Imprinted Tor Richarde Smith." [^1573], 4lo.
In this edition, wbich Herbert hai tutij dcxribcd,
Ti/pog. Anliq. p. 990, was first published, " Sup|MKei, a
Comedic, wtiiten in the Italiaii tongue by Arioaiii,
cnglished by George Gascoi^oe, ofGreies inne, EMjuire,
atid there presented 1 566;" reprinted in Hawkma's
XII INTRODUCTORY PREFACE.
Origin tf the English Drama, 1773, vol. II. And " Jo-
c»3ta, a irageJie, written in Grecke by Euripides, lrdns~
lated and digested into acle by George Gascoiene and
Francis Kinwelinarsh", of Greies inne, and there by
* From the very little that is known respecting tbig luthor,
or rather translator, it appears tbat he was a Member of
Oraj's Inn, that lie and hia brother Anthony verc the intimate
friends of George Gancoignc, were also gentlemen of Eatex,
and had the character ofbeing noted poets of their tjme. Hie
" Ode to Concord," inaerted by him in thia translation of
" Jocaata," in conjunction with Gaacoigne, was not originBDy
nritten bf Euripidea, butliaa received the highest cooimeDda- '
tion from Warton, as exUbiting great elegance of cxpresaion
uidverdficBtian,Rndlia« been transcribed by that diatinguiihed
Brifio Into hU History o/EngUsh Fortry, vol. HI. p. 37i Kln-
welmenh has also BeverBl vctbcb in " The Paradrsc of
Daynty Deuyies," originally printed in 1576, whidi Mr,
Haslewood, In hia excellent pre£i to the reprint of that work
In the BriCu/iSiMogTap'tfr, vol. IV. conniders as inferior to the
productions of the more distinguished contributors, Richard
Edwards 1 Thomas, LordVaux; Edward Vcre, Earl of Ox-
ford; and William HunniB. The following alonias, " On
Learning," have however justly received hie commendation,
as being very pleasing! and as a fair specimen of Kinwel-
not obtruaiveljr
■cfi be.
The poor that liue in oeedie rate.
By learning doo great richease gayne ;
The rich that liue in wealthy slate,
Sleamyng doo their wealth mnintayne.
us ritcb and poore are furthered still
By sacred nilea of learned skill.
All fond conceits of franticke youth
The golden gyft of learning atayea :
Of itoubtfull thinges tu aearche the tructh.
Learning acts forth the reddy waycs.
" ' " ■"'" doo I repute,
is fraught with leaminges fruite.
INTBODUCTORV PHEFACE. XUI
ifaem preaenied In 1566." This rdilion is of'-euch ex-
treme rarity, that only Iwo perfect copies sre known,
one formerly in the poasesaion of llle late George
Steevens, Esq., and a second in Emanuel College I.i-
braiy, placed there, it h conjectureil, by Dr. Fanner; a
thinl, petfectetl in manuscript from the last named copy,
was in the libraiy of Thomas Hill, Esq. Steevens, in a
notice of this work, has slated that it differed very ma-
leiially ftom the subsequent edition, in 1567; and con-
tained several pieces which were afterwards omitted.
The only variation, however, which was perceptible to
Mr. Alex. Chalmers, on a comparison of the twoeditions,
was the omission of a short piece, not very delicate,
entitled " Ariosio allegorised." The edition of i &72, ap-
nrs in short to have been an tmckaataed work, pub-
ed, 0.1 it should seem, without ihe author's formal
iruptly at ]64, and
There growes do Come within the fetlilo,
Thai Oie and Hough did oeuer tyll :
Right so the mind no fniite can ^eelde,
That IS not lead by learaingeR skill;
Of ignoraunce conies rotten wecdes.
Of leamyng springes right nohle decdes.
Like ts the Captayne hatb respect
To trayne his souldiers io nray :
So learning doolh mans mind direct,
% Frrlues slaffe his lyfe to stny.
Ilioiigh Freendes and Fortune wsxeth skaut,
Yet learned men shall oeuer want.
Yon ImpeH therefore in yontli be sure
To fraught yonr roindea with learned thingcs ;
For Learning is the fountayne pure
Out from the which all glory spriuges.
Who BO therefore wyll glory wiiine.
With Learning fyrst must iieedes begiunc.
Piitii. F. K,
INTHODliCTOBY PREFACE.
1 for
1
■ Tarn Marti, qiiam Meruiirio.'
Printed at Lniidun, for Richard Smith." 1S75. 4li
This is generally termed the second cditJnn of
coi)(uc'e poems, aiid commences with on " Epistle t<
Reverend Deuines unto whom these Posies slwll hapj
to be presented," in defence of his former |iublicatian.
Bishop Tanner, in his enumeration of Gascoigne'i pieces,
has erroneouslj described them as having been p&bliKhed
in two volumes, 1577 and 1587; Mr.HasIewood hax,
however, expressed his hehef that Tanner should ha«e
noticed them, as being dated 157! and 1575 i lllese edi~
tions being evidently to bind in two volumes, and the
title, with the date of 1575, was probably intended for
the second folurae. Herbert has noticed another edit
of these Posies, printed for Christopher Barber, 1675, '
Typog- Antig. p. i077- This, however, though it is
intended to deny Herbert's assertion, must reina'
matter of doubt, as no catalogue, which the wrile:
consulteJ, apjidtrs to contam this particular edition.
There were some material variations in ihc names of per-
sons, in some of Gascoigne's pieces, in the edition of
1575, from that of 1572. A detailed digest of the con-
tents, Btc. of the edition of 1575, containine the whole
of Gascoigne's poetry, collected and published anterior
to the author's decease, is inserted in the pretiiuinary
memoranda preRxed to Mr, Alex. Cha1mcrs''s reprint of
Gascoigne's poems, in the Worka ijf ike EtigRsh PoettfM
■ Bin. vol. il p.45S. m
In the title of this edition of Gascoigne's Posies is inj
serted an admirable wood-cut device, prefixed by Richardm
Smith to most of the books which he published, repre-
senting Time drawing forth the figure of Truth from a
pit or cavern, encircled with the legend " Occulta Te-
RiTAB Tempore Patet." Bishop Percy has copied this
device, with some variations, in his Reliqua lifAndetU-^
English Poetry, edit. I765. vol. ii. p. HSg ; and observei,
that it possibW suggested to Rubens his well-known ie/i
si(»n of 1 similar kind, Le TemA derouvre la Veriif, m
he has introduced inlo the Liixcmboxirg Gallery. Re-
liquts. III supra, vol. li. p. 151.
" TheGlasie ^Gouememenl, A traEical! Cnroedie so in-
tituled, because therein are haiidleil tac rewardes for Ver-
tues, us also the punishment for Vices. Done by George
Gascoigoe, Esquier. 1573-"
Colophou " Imprinted at London by H. M. for Cbria-
topher Barker Bt the Grasaehopper in Puittes Church-
yarde. lfl75."4Co. Herbert noikes, another edition with
this Coloption, "Imprinted in Fleet-street at theFaulcon,
by Henry Mlddlelon, for Christopher Barker, 1575." 4to.
Tt/pog.Antif. p. 1076. 1B03. It Is, however, highly im-
probable that there was more than one edition ; the first
notice of the printer and publisher being evidently the
imprint on the title ; the latter, that of the uaual detailed
Colophon at the end, affixed to aluiuat all books |iublishcd
during the reign of Elizabeth.
" Tbe Bermils Tak at ff'oadstoch, 1675." Royal MSS.
IS A XLVIll. in the British Musemti. Printed in
the first volume of Queen Elizabeth's Progresses by Mr.
Nichols, 178S. 4to. lol. i, Andrews, in his Conlimiatien
tif Or. Henry's History qf Great Hrilain, has the following
note ; " The poet Gascoigne, as he draws his own pic-
ture, presenting his book to Elizabeth, has a pen for an
~ ni, and thus he sin^i
" BiOiold good queeue, a poett irith a spi^are,
• (StraDgc sightes well mark'd are unilerBtode tbe better)
rk soldier ariude with peusyle iu his eare,
' With pen to fighte, nod swortle to WTite a Uttu.
Frontifpiect la Gascaignt'sTraaslation of
" The Heremyle."
" The Princely Pleasures at the Courte at Kenelwoorih :
That is to saye, the L-opies of all such verses, Proses, or
Poetirall inueutions, and other deuioes of pleasure, as
were there deuised, and preaenled by Sundry Gentlemen,
before the Quenes Maiesty ; in the yeare 1575.
Imprinted at London by Richard Jhones, IblG. Hvo.
Of this edition, which is the first, only one copy is
known. At the sale of Dr. Wright's library, In April,
XVI INTRODUCTORY PREFACE.
1787, Dr. Farmer ohlaineJ it for the very irifliiie sutn of
ten shillings! On the derake of Dr. Fanner, m 179^.
his library was also dispersed bv the hnmmer, and this
unique copy was purchased by Mi. Jeffeiy of Pall Mall,
for the Ule George Ellis, Esq,, for two pounds six shiU
lings, which is somewhat surpriaing, as the rarity of the
volume had then become more generally known; it sub-,
scqucully |)33scd through the hands of Mr. Park ~
Messrs. Longman and Co., from whom it was ti"
lened to its present possessor, William Staunton, £si
irk l^_
Elisabeth; and the " Princelye Pleasures," of Gascoigoe,
are there given ftoia a transcript from the subsequent
edition of 1587; nor does it appear, that although Ritson
had noticed this edition In his BitUogTOphia Pocfica, that
Mr. A. Chalmers knew any thing more respecting it than
Mi. Nichols, as in the preliminary notices prefixed to his
republication of Gascoigne's poems, speaking of this
work, he observes, " This piece was first printed in the
posthumous edition of his works." Works qflhe Engli^
Poets, laiO. vol. ii. p. 450.
" A delicate diet for daintie mouthde Drormkan
Wherein the fowie abuse of common Carowsing i .
Quaffing with hartie draughtes, is honestlic admouishoa
liy George Gascoigne, Esquier.
' Tarn Marti, qalaa Mereurio.
Imprinted at London by Richard Jhones, Aug. S
1576.'' 8to.
The late Mr. F. G. Waldron reprinted this tract, i
originally comprised three sheets, in 17ay, from a --^,_
which Steevena possessed, and with his usual urbanity
lent him for that purpose; it afterwards formed one of
the rare tracts reprinted in the Literary Museum, edited
by Waldron, in 1792. 8vo. Mr. Heber purchased Stee-
vens's copy, at the sale of his library, in 18(X). Herben"
notices another, which was in the coUecrion of Ei_
ward Jacob, Esq., of Faversham, Kent, Typog. ArUi^M
p.. lOM.
INTROBIjCTORV I'REPACK. XVll
'■ The wgll ijflhe Deu^iii wiih his ten detenlable Coni-
tnaundementes : Direcled to hia alicdieQt and accursed
chyldien ; and ihe reward promised lo oil such as ohe-
ilienlly wil endeuct themselves lo fulfil them. Where-
unto IS adjoyned a Dyet for dyuers of the Dcuylles dear-
linss, comonly called dayly Dronkardee. Very neces9arie
to be read, arid well conaidereil of all Christians.
Imprinted by Richard Jhones." no date, Bvo. Hcriett,
p. 105 US.
A tract of extreme rarity, a copy aupears lo have Olicc
been in the library of the Hon. Topham Beauclerk, see
Paterson's Calal Bill. Beauclerk, 1781, pari I. n°. 4137,
where it is ascribed to George Gascoigne. Steevens re-
fer? to il, in a note on Shokspeare's Kiog Lear: see
S/ialapeare'i Plays, edit. I7J)3, vol. xiv. p. log; and Mr.
Haalewnnd has inserted it in the list of Gaacoigne's
works, Brilisli BitSa^aplier, 1810, vol. i. p.ftO. In 1576,
Richard Jones had hcencr. for " The Tciupiations of the
Deuyll : with remedies againsi ihe same." Hrrberl, p.
Whether this was another book, or the title
r which the above vras originally intended to have
published, is doubtful.
TTw Sleele Glas- A Satyre copiled by GeofKc Gas-
cu^e. Together with the Complainie of Phylomenc,
ail Elegie dcutscd by the same author.
Tnm Marti, quBm Mercorio.
Pritiled for Richard Smith." 167(i. 4to.
The title of this extremely rare tract, is within a nret-
tily ornamented border, formed of metal pieces, and has
also Richaril Smith's device, noticed p. xiv. ante. On the
reverse of ihe title, is Gascoigne's portrait in armour,
with a ruff round his neck ; on his right hand a musket
aiid bandaleers ; on his left, books, placed wiili their backs
to the wall, on a shelfj and, underneath hia motto,
" Tam Marti, quam Mercurio." Acopy of this portrait
is inserted in [he Bnlisli BU'liographer, vol. i. p. 73, and
in the second number ot Kenilu/arlli Ilbafraled.
'■ The Gric/e qf .
doubiftiU Delighic'
K
■tcyne Elcgica, where
3 LyfearedisploieiN
XVIII INTBODIICTORV PREFACR,
Wriiien ir> thr Queenes mq^i excellent Ma"'.
Tboi Muti, qusm Mercario.
1576."
An unpublished MS. Poem, in the British MuaeuiH
ikloe has piinled the dedication " To the highe aq|
inightie Princesse Elizabeth," in which the author hum
biy entreats her Highness " to accept ibis Nifle for a o-
yerea gyfle," dated " this first of January, l577."accom-
jiBiiied^wiih a specimen of the poem, taken from the
fourth eoag or section, Anfcdolei ijfLileralure and Searen
Booki, 1807, vol. ii. The object of this poem, whii^
consists of what the author rafis " four aongs," scema Jr
tended to impress the idea so beautifully expressed |
the writer of the celebrated Ode to Indifftreuce:
After treating of the snorl
he proceeds to censure tlie
for<laiicing,leapiiig, andnhat heiermsronij'itg', vaultyn^
Sic, continuini^ his invectives to " wreatljng," —"---- -"- ■
.u2|
e ofB
poem abruptly terminates : " left iinperfect," as he ob~
lerves, " for fearc of horsinen." Ilie MS. displays a
beautiful specimen of penmanship and whf ■'
Queen is immediulely addressed, the lelters :
zoned in burnished gold.
Gascoigne has verses before Turhervile's booke
Hnnting, 1376, " in commendation of the noble Arte of
Vsnerie," Canlanus comforte, &c. 1676, and Holly,
band's French Littleloa, I6g6. He has also a prose pre-
face before " A Discourse of a Discouerie for a new ua*.
sage to Calhaia, written by Sir Humfrey Gilbert, Kni^
1676," JJerl'ert, p. 1041 ('and is celebrated by Gabi
Harvey, as one of the English poets who h:
in praise of Women.
tbltowiDi
a of Dooms-Day, was a poathiinious |mbli-
puoa, and appeared under the fullowm^ liile: —
" Tlif Droommc qf Domcidoy. Wherein the fraillies
and miseries of man's life, are [yvely nortrayed and learn-
edly set forth. Deuided as appean-th in the page next
fbilowing. Transbted and collecled by George Vas-
:, Eaquyer.
Tarn, &c. «( supra.
it London, imprinted by John Windet, for Gabriel
:llmg in Paules Churchyard, at the signc
the Holy Ghost, 1586." 4to.
In the dedicalion to his patron the Earl of Bedford,
we are informetl that thiji work 19 |irincipallj a translation
from an old volume he found in his library ; which want*
iiig the beginning and end, he could not ascertain the
author's tiamei tlial he was prompted to traiiBtale, ar-
range, and publish the same, paitly to atone for mis->pent
lime, and partly in consequence of the suggestion nf a
friend, -who, after allowinz his poetry its fiillnierit, aaid
" hee woulde like the gaidioer much belter if he would
employ his spade in no worse ground, then either diui-
iiitie or murdl philosophie." The ilcdle<iiinu is dated,
'" From my Lodging, where I finished this trauoile in
weake iilight for health, aa your good Lordshi)ipe well
kouwclh. tills S of Maye, ibjG."
" The fVhult fForki ijf George Gascoi^nr, Esqunre.
Newlje compyled into one volume ; that is to say : His
Flowers, Hearoes, W cedes, the Fmites of Warre,lheCo-
inedie cdled Supposes, tbcTragedic of Jocasia, the Steel-
glasse, the Complaint of Phylomene, the Storie of Ferdi-
nando Jeronimi, and the Pleasure at Kenelworih Castle.
Imprinted bv Abell Jefl'es, dwelhng In the Fore Street,
without Cre£p1e-gale, neere vntoGrubatredl, IA87." +10.
Herberl, p. Iltil.
Mr. Alex. Chalmers denominates this " the third, and
Boost complete edition of his works, and nia^ he reckoned
the best, except that the errors pointed out in the fornier
editions are not corrected in this." Worki qfthe English
PiifU, vol. ii. p. 464. Mr. Haslewood has also ?iven a
paniciiUr description of the contents of this volume in
~^-\tBril'uh Bililionr<ip/iir. vnl. j, p. 70.80.
XX INTRODtCTOH
Abel JeiTes, who v<
tiixiers' Company, and aiipeari
picabic a character lo have been adiiiitltd on the liveqj,
was not oiil; In this, but in other instances, an unprilici'
[lied infringer on the literarj property of his fellow-ptin-
"* " '' Tile right of GaBcoieneV
lart to have been the properly of Henry Bynne-
se apprentice Abel Jclfes had been ; but after
(he decease of his master, aili of Jan. 1583-4, on which
day Newberry and Denm
(simiees, delirered up
ceased," io the Slationers' Company, for the benefit of
theirpoor ; he would Bceni lo have reprinted Gascoigne's
" whole works," without any richl of assignment what-
ever. " TheStee!Gla9,"pritileifin 157fi, and coHtaluMl
in this edition of 15117, dppe:irs on inspection to have
been only once printed, a new title being the only aubsli-
tntion in lieu of ihut with the portrait of Gascoigne on
the reverse. By what means ne obtained the printed
sheets of this and iheotherpiecesatlached to the volume
of IS87, whelhcrby purchase or an unjuEt encroachment,
it is nnw certainly beyond the reach of discovery. The
surreptitious aggrandisement of the right of Gascoigne's
" whole workes," or rather the poetical portion only, on
Ihepartof Abel Jeffes.iloes not appear to have ensured K
biiu the success he possibly had hoped for, as some ci
are eictant with ihe followmg variation in the title;
" Tke pUaaataUesl merkei qf George Gatcoigne, Esgui
Newlye cornpyled, &c. See. ul tupra.
Imprinted by Abel Jcfles, 1687." 4lo. Seeai
resting article on Gajscoigne, communicated by I
Oclavius Gilchrist, whose copy had formcriy been
late Thomas Warton's. Cna. Lilcraria, ■
A copy with the same
the library of the Ho
Bill. Beaaclerk, 1781
h.tpB not wholly unwi
neriy been tafm
, vol. i. p. IC^. ^
appears to have been h
Tophaui Beauclerk- Sec Cabil.
part i. no. 3278. It ' '
of 1587, which the
o observe, that na_
A REMEMBRAVNCE
of the wel imployed life, and godly end of
Gborge Gaskoigne, Esquire, who
deceassed at Stalmford in Lin-
colne Shire, the 7 of October
1577.
The reporte of Geor. Whetstons,
Gent, an eye witnes of his
Godly and charitable
End in this world.
FomuR nulla Fides.
IMPRINTED AT LON-
don for Edward Aggas, dwelling
in Pauls Churchyard, and
are there to be solde.
The Stanzas commencing,
" What is this World?" &c. p. xxxi.
to that ending.
Save only man, who as his earthly living is,
Shall live in wo, or els in endles blis." p. zxxiii.
Are the contents of a Poem, in the Paradise qf Dainty
Deuites, edit. i600. entitled " A Description, of the
World," signed G, Gaske. From a conjecture that this
name was only an abbreviation for G. Grascoigne, these
stanzas have ever since been attributed to him; it is,
however, clearly evident that Whetstone's name should
have supplied the place of that signature, he being in
reality the author of the following Poem, from which
they are an extract. 6. Gaske had, therefore, no exist-
ence, though admitted by Ritson as " an authour '* of the
reign of Elizabeth, in his Bihliographia Poetical 1802.
p. 218.
'he wel iipplpyed life, and godly ead ol'
G. Gascoi«;ne, Esquire.
s there none wil help to tel my tale,
Who (ah) in helth, a thousand plaints have shonef '
feeles all men joy ? ca no ma skil of bale ?
O yes! I see a comfort in my raone:
Help rae, good George ! my'lifc and ileath to touch
some man for thee may one day doo as much.
'hou seest my death, and long my life didat knowe ;
Ly life? nay, death : to live I now begin :
But some wil say, Durun nt kJc terma,
Tis hard indeed, for such as feed on sin.
Yet trust me, frends ! (though fiesh doth hardly how)
U am resolv'd, 1 nev«r liv'd til now.
rAnd on what cause in order shall ensue :
My worldly life (is first) must play his parte;
Whose tale attend; for once the same is true ;
Vhetaton ! IJiou has knowen my hidden hart,
And therefore 1
conju
e thee to defend
KWhen 1 am dead) my life and godly end.
first of my life, which some (amis) did knowe ;
I leve mine armeH, my acla shall blase the same ;
Yet on a thorne a grape will never growe,
no more a chiirle dooth breed a childe of fame :
but (for my birth) my birth right was not great:
my father did his forward sonne defeat."
This froward deed could scarce my hart dismay ;
Vertue (([uod I) wjl see I shall nol lacke :
And wel I wot Domini est terra ;
Besides, my wit can guide me from a wrack.
Thus finding cause to foster hye desire,
1 clapl on cost (a help) for to aspire.
But, foolish man ! deckt in my pecock's plumes,
my wanton wil coramaunded strait my wil ;
Yea, brainsick I was drunk with fancies fumes ;
But, Nemo sine crimine vii-it ;
for he that findes himself from vices free,
I give him leve to throw a stone at me.
It helps my praise that I my fault recite:
The lost sheep found, the feast was made for joy
Evil sets out good, as far as black dooth while ;
The pure delight is drayned from anoy.
But (that in cheef which writers should respect)
Trueth is the garbe that kcepcth men unclieckt.
LB Sir John G. s
in[] heirt disiiiherit
And for a trueth, begilile wit!i tii.-lt'-CDuceit,
1 thou^i ibat men would tlirowc rewards un me ;
But as a fish seld bites without a baight.
So none, unforst, mens needs will hear or see ;
and fiegging sutes from duogliil tliouglits pro<x-cd :
the mounting minde had rather sterve in need.
TfeUeave I hear of ihriftlea wil to write;
wi found ray rents agreed not with my charge ;
The sweet of war. sung by the carpet knight,
'a poste haste then shipt me in Ventures barge.
lusty limes, saunre une (quod I) will rust :
pitee were, for I to them must trust.
^el plastc at length, among the drunken DiUch,
(though rumours lewd impayred my deaert)
I boldely vaunt, the blaat of fame is such,
Aa prooves I had a froward sours hart,
^fy slender gaine a further witnea is ;
tor woortliiest men the spoites of war do mis,
there the man that went to fight for pence,
± by sly hap, in prison vile was popt ;
woordes fought for my lives dcCince^,
for all my hands, my breth had there been stopt ;
But I, in fine, did so persuade my foe,
As (set free) I was homewards set to goe.
] Inpc
it:
Tlius wore 1 time, the welihier not a wliit ;
Vet awckwaril chance lackt force to heard my hoj
In peace (quod I) ile trust unio my wit ;
Tlie windowes of my muse then straight 1 ope,
and first I ahowe the travail of such time
as I in youth imployd in looving rime.
Some straight way said (their lungs wiih envy f'etn
those wanton layes inductions were to vice.
Such did nie wrong, for Cquod norel, docet)
our neyghbours harms are items to the wise ;
And sure these toyes do showe, for your behoof.
The woes of loowe, and not the wayes to love.
And that the worlde might read them as I menl,
I left this vaine to path the vertuous waies ;
The lewd I checkt in Glas of GovEttNMEm :
And (laboring stil, by pames, to purchase praise) i
I wrought a Glasse wherin cchc man may see
Within his minde what canckred vices be.
The druncken soule transformed to a heast,
my Diet, helps a man again to make.
But (that which should be praisd above the rest)
My DoouES DAY Drum from sin doelli you awake.
I for honest sporte, which doeth refresh the wit,
I have for you a Book at Hunting writ.
XXVI I
These few books are dayly in your eyes,
Parhaps ofwoorth, my fktne alive to keup ;
Vet other woorbs (I tliink) of inorf emprise,
Coucht close OS yet, within luy col'ers uleep :
yea, til I dy, none shall the same revete ;
So men wil say, that Grukoigh wrote of i.ealc,
Eovy vile ! foule fall ihee, wretched sol !
Thou mortal foe unto the forward minde!
1 curse thee, wretch ! the only cause, God wot,
That my good wil no more account did finde.
And not content thy self to do me fear,
Tbou nipst my hart with S/iight, Suxpecl and Cure.
firat of spight, foule Envies poyeoned pye :
To Midas earee, this as[8] hath Lyntius eyes;
with painted shewes he heaves himself on hit;.
rull oft this Dolte in learned authors pries ;
But as the Drone the hony hive doth rob,
with woortliy books go dcales this idle lob.
He filcheth tearms to paint a pratling tung.
When (God he knowes) he knows not what he saiea ;
And lest tlie wise should find his wit but yung,
ill means their woorkes for Co dispraise.
'o smooth his speech, the beast tliis patch doth crop :
e shows the bad, the writers mouthes to stop.
Ikud
Yi', woorse than this, he dcaleth in offencf,
(Ten good tumes he with silence striketh de
A slender fault, ten times hcyond pretence,
This wretched spig/it in every place doth spread (•
And with his breth, the Viper dooth infect
The hearers heads and harts witli false suspect.
Now o£ suspect the propertie to showe :
he hides Lis dought, yet still mistrusteth more
The man; suspect ib so debard to knowe
The cause and cure of this his ranckling aore ;
And so in vain he good account doeth seek,
who by this Feinde is brought into mlslike.
Now hear my tale, or cause which kild my hart!
These privy foes, to tread me under foot.
My true intent with forged faults did thwart;
so that I found, for me it was no boot
to woork, as Bees, from weedes, with honyd raned
when Spiders turned my flowebs into banet
When my plain woords by fooles miscontred were,''
by whose fond tales reward held his hands back
To quite my woonh, a cause to settle care
within my brest, who wel deserv'd, did lack ;
for who can brook to see a painted crowe
SiDgiiig aloft, when Turtles tnourn belowc?
fN
XXIX
ecu veld to starve amniig his books,
foS iee pied Dotiltes uppon a booiy feed ?
Wliat honest minde can live by favring looks,
I AnJ tfe ibe lewd to rech a t'reendly deed ?
I "fat ban can bide in bloody viarrea to toile,
when carpet snada devour the soldiers spoile ?
1 am (lie wretch wliom fortune stinted soe :
Tliese meo were bribed ere I had breth to speak.
Muse then no whit with this huge overthrowc,
>liough cruRhing care my gilttes hart dotli break ;
Bui yon wil say that in delight doo dwell ;
ty outward showe no inward greef did tcl.
I graunt it true; but hark unto the rest !
Tlie Swan in songs dooth knolle her passing bel j
t\ic Nightingale with thornes against her brest,
when she might mourn, her sweetest laye doth yel ;'
^^^ valiant man so playcs a pleasant parte,
^^Rien mothes of mone doo gnaw upon his hart.
^Bn proofe, myself, with care not so afeard,
But as hurt Deere waile (through their wounds,
When stoutly they doo stand among tlie heard) alone;
that I saw but few hark to my mone,
choise to tel deaf walles my wretched plaint,
sight of men who notliing seenid to faint.
Itiit ns .>a use Aoeth weare an iron cote,
as miijling tlro]iB hard flints in time doth pearse.
By peece incales carp so wrouglit me under foot,
but more tlian straunge is tliat ] uow rehearse :
Three months 1 Uvcd and did digest no food,
w'len none by arte niy sicknex uaderstood.
What helpeth then ? to death 1 needs must pine :
yet as the horse, the use of warre wliich knowes.
If he be hurt, will neither winch nor wliine,
but til he dye poste with his Rider goes.
Even BO my hart whilst lun^ may lend me breth.
Bares up my limmes, who living go like death.
But what availes Achilles hart to have,
king Cressus welth, tlie sway of all the world ?
The Prince, the Peere, so to the wretched Slave,
when death asaaults, from earthly holdes are wliorld
yea, oft he strikes ere. one can stir his eye;
Then good you Uv,e as you would dayly dye.
You see the plight I wretched now am in,
I looke much like a threshed ear of come ;
I holde a forme within a wrimpled skin,
but from my bones the fat and flesh is worne :
See ! see the ^an, late plesures minion,
pinde to the bones with care aud wretched mane.
b
\ Sec gallants ! see a picture worili the sight,
[ (as you are now, myself was heretofore)
I my body, late stuft fill of many might.
As bare as Job is brought to Death his doore ;
My hand of late which fought to win me fame,
Stif clung with colde, wants forse to write my nui
My legges which bare my body fid of flesh.
Unable ace to stay my bones upright j
My tung (God wot!) which talkt as one would wi
In broken words can scarce my mindc recite;
My head, late stuiV with wit and learned skill,
may now conceive but not convay ray wil.
Whal say you, fronds ! this svdoin chaunge to si
you rue. my grecf, you doe like flesh and blood ;
But n
And to be plain, I would you understood
My hart dooth swim in seas of more delight :
Tlien your who seems to rue my wretched phght.
What is this world 1 A net to saare the soule,
A mass of sinne, a desart of decett,
A moments joy, an age of wretched dole,
A lur^.fcom grace, for flesh a lootlisome baight,
Onto the minde a cankerworoi of c:
1 Unsure, i|[^ust in reodring man liia share ;
XXXU
A place where pride oreruns the honest minde,
Where rich men joynes to rob the shiftles wretch,
Where bribing mists the judges eyes doo blinde.
Where Parasites the fattest crummes do catch;
Where good deserts (which chaleoge like reward) ■
Are overblowen with blasts of light regard.
And what is man? Dust, Slime, a puffof winde,
Conceivd in sin, plaste in the woorld with greef.
Brought up with care, til care hath caught his minde,
And then, (til death Touchsafe him some relief)
Day, yea nor night, his care ilootli take an end.
To gather goods fur other men to spend.
O foolish man that art in office plaste !
Think whence thou camst, and whether the shall goefl
The huge hie Okes small windes have overcast,
when slender reeda in roughest wethers growe.
Even 80 pale death oft spares the wretched wighti")
And woundeth you who wallow in delight.
You lusty youths that nourish hie desire!
Abase your plumes which makes you look so bigi'
The Colliers cut the Courtiars ateed wil tire ;
Even so the Clark the Paraones grave dooth dig,
whose hap is yet heer longer life to win,
Doth heap (God wot) but sorowe unto siune.
And to be short, all sortes of men take heede !
"ie thimderbolles the loftye Towera teare;
-The Hghtning flash consumes the house of reed ;■
1 ea more in time aU earthly things will weare,
°ave only inan, who as hla earthly living is,
Shall live in wo, or els in end]es blis>
More would I say, if life would lend me space,
but all in vain ; death waita of no mans will ;
The tired Jade dooth trip at every pace,
when pampered horse will praunce against tlie hil ;
So helthfull men at long discourses sporte,
when few woords the sick would fain reports.
The best is this, my will is quickly made ;
my welth is small, the more my conscience ease.
This abort accompt (which makes me ill apaid)
my loving wife and sonne will bardly please :
But in this case, to please them as I may,
These following woords my testament do wray.
^fy soule I first bequeath Almighty God,
An though my sinnes are grevous in bis sight,
I firmly trust to scape his firy rod,
whenas my faith his deer Sonne shall recite,
whose precious blood (to ((ucnch his Fathers ire)
Is sole the cause that saves me from hel fire.
XXXIV
My body now which onoe I decked brave, '
{from whence it caitie) unto the earth I give ;
1 wish no pomp the same for to lagrave ;
once buried com dooth rot befofe it live.
And flesh and blood in this self sorte ib tryed:
Thus buriall cost is (without proEBt) pride.
I humbly give my gratious sovereign Queene
(by service bound) my true and loyall hart ;
And trueth to say, a sight but rarely scene.
As Iron greeves from thadamant to parte ;
her highnes so hath recht the Grace alone
To gain all harta, yet gives her hart to none.
My loving wife whose face I fain would see,
my love I give, with all the welth I have;
But since my goods (God knoweth) but slender bee,
it gratious Queene! for Christs his sake I crave
(not for any service that I have doon)
you will vouchsafe to aid her and my sonne.
Come, come, deer Sonne ! my blessing take in parte,
and therwithall 1 give thee ihis in charge,
first serve thou God, iben use buthe wit and arte .
thy fathers det of service to discharge ; . i, ,.,,
which (foTste by deadi) her Maiestie he owe?,
beyond desarte who still rewardes besto>ves>. i
I freely
Tlieir wrongs lo n
And as good men
I crave my faults
I forgive
', and wiali them to amend ;
I charitte should live,
av no mans minde offend :
So here is all I have to bequest,
And this ia all I of the world request.
Now iarwell. Wife! my Sonne, and frends, farwel !
farewell, O world, the baight of all abuse!
Death! where is thy sting ? ODevil! whereisihy hel?
I little fear the foraes you can uae ;
yea to /our teeth, I doo you both defye !
yi cisem Ckristo, capio dissolui.
In this good mood, i
Bereft of apeecb, his
k end worthy the showe,
lands to God he heavd ;
And sweetly thus good Gaskoigne went a Dio ;
yea with such ease, a
By slrugling signe, <
no man there perceJvd
striving from his breth,
That he abode the pains and pangs of Death.
EXHORTATIO.
His scan is playd; you folowe on the act:
Life is but Death, til flesL and blood be slain:
God graunt is woords within your harts be pact ;
As good men doo holde eartlily plesures toid;
The good for iheir needs Vtuntur mando:
And use good deeds Vt fruaaCur Dcu.
Contemne the chaunge (use nay abuse) not God,
Through holy showes this worldly muck to scratc
To deale with men and Saints is very od,
bypocrisie a man may over catch.
But hypocrite! thy hart the Lord dooth see,
who by thy thoughts (not thy words) wil judge thi
Thou jesting foole, which makst at sin a &ce I
Beware that God in earnest plague thee not;
for whereas be is coldest in his grace,
Euen there he is in vengeance very hot ;
Tempt not to far ; the lothest man to fight.
When be is forate, the lustiest blowea dooih smighL
Von Courtiers! check not Merchants for their gaiUi
you by your losse doo match with thera in blame.
The Lawyers life you Merchants ! doo not staine
The blinde for slouih may hardly check the lame ;
I meane that you, in Ballance of deceit,
wil Lawyers payte, 1 feare with overwaight.
|jou Lawyers now, who eartlily Judges are!
ywishal bejudgd, and therfore judge aright:
you count. IgTioranda Juris no bar;
Then ignorance your sinnes wil noi acquite.
"fad, read God's law, with which yours should^gre.
Thai you may judge as you would judged bee. 1
lou Prelata now, whose woords arc perfect good !
Blake showe in woorkes, that you your woords insue :
A Diamond holdes his vertue set in wood,
but yet in Golde it hath a fresher hue ;
E'en so Gods woord told by the Devil is pure;
Preacht yet by Saints it doth more heed procure.
And Header nnw 1 what office so thou have,
lo whose behoofe this breef discourse is lolde,
Prepare thy self eche houre for the grave:
tlie market eats as wel young sheep as olde ;
Even ao the Childe who fears the smarting rod.
The father oft dooth lead the way to God.
And bothe in time this worldly life shall leave ;
thus sure thou art, but knowst not when to dye;
Then good thou live, least death doo the deceive,
as through good life thou niaiat his force deiye;
for trust me, man no better match can make ;
Then leave unsure fi>r certain things to take.
Viuit poKt funera virtus.
■ AN EPITAPH
WRITTEN BV O. W, OF THE DEATH OF M. O.
OARKOYONE.
For Gaakoygnes death, leave to mone or morne
You are deceived: alive the man is stil.
Alive 7 O yea, and laugheth death to ecorne,
in that, that he his fleshly lyfe did kil.
For by such death, two lyves he gaines for one :
His soiJe in heaven dooth live in endles joye,
his woorthy woorks such fame in earth have sow
As sack nor wrack his name can there destroy.
But you wil say, by death he only gaines,
And now his life would many stand in stead,
O dain not,; Freend! (to cottnterchauoge his payai
If now in heaven, he have his earned meade ;
For once in earth hia toyle was passing great.
And we devourd the sweet of all his sweat.
THE
I>RINCELY PLEASURES
AT
KENILWORTH CASTLE.
A brief rehearsal, or rather a
true copy of as much as was presented
before her Majesty at Kenilworth, during
her last abode there, as
foUoweth.
THE PRINTER TO THE READER.
Beikq advertised (gentle reader] ihat in this
gress, her Majesty was (by the Right Noble Earl ofL
ceater) honourably and triumphantly received and — *
tained at his Castle of Kenilwort'h: and that s
Pleasant aad Poetical Inventions were there expreiso ,
aa welt in verse as in prose. All which have been sundry
times demanded for, as welt at my hands, as also of other
printers, for that indeed all sluiltous and well-disposed
young gentlemen and others, were desirous to be par-
takers of those pleasures by a profitable publication : I
thoueht meet to My by all means possible il I mklit reco-
ver the true copies of the same, to gratify all sucn as had
required them at my hand^i, or might hereafter l>c stirred
with the tike desire. And in fine, I have with much
travail and pain obtained the very true and perfect copies
of all that were there presented and executed ; over aad
besides, one moral and gallant Device, which never
came to execution, although it were often in readiness.
And these [being thus collected,) I have (for thvcoumto-
dity, gentle reader) now published : the ra^er because of
a report thereof lately imprinted by the name of the Pas-
time of the Progress : which (indeed] doth nothing touch
the particularity of evei^ commendable action, butgene-
rally rehearseth her Majesty's cheerful entertainment m
all places where she passed : together with the exceeding
joy that her subjects nad to see her : which report made
very many the more desirous to have this perfect copy: for
thai It plainly doth set down every thing as it was indeed
presented, at lar^e : And further doth declare, who was
Author and Deviser of every Poem and Invention. So
that I doubt not but it shall please and satisfy thee both
wiih reason and conlentation : In full hope whereof, I
leave thee to the reading of the same, and promise to be
slill occupied in publishing such works as may be bojh
for thy pleasure and commodity.
This 16th of March, isjfl.
Her Majesty came thither (as I remember) on
Snlurday being the ninth of Jidy last past. On
iviiich day there met her on the way, some-
what near the Castle, Sibi/Ua, who prophesied
unto her Highaess the prosperous reign that
she should cuntinue, according to the happy
beginning of the same. The order thereof was
tliis: Sibiflla being placed in an arbour in the
park near the highway, where the Queen's Ma-
jesty came, did step out and pronounced as fol-
loweth ;
^U> hail, all hail, tliricc-happy Prince,
^I am SibsUa, she
re chance, and aftcr-haps,
fore-shewing what aLall be.
As now the dew of heavenly gifls
full thick an you doth fall,
1 80 shall virtue more and more
augment your years withal.
4 KENILWORTH.
The rage of war bound fast in chains
shall never stir nor move :
But peace shall govern all your days,
encreasing subjects love.
You shall be called the Prince of Peace,
and peace shall be your shield,
So that your eyes shall never see
the broils of bloody field.
If perfect peace then glad your mind,
h6 joys above the rest,
Which doth receive into his house
so good and sweet a guest.
And one thing more I sliall foretell,
as by my skill I know :
Your coming is rejoiced at
ten thousand times and mo.
And whiles your Highness here abides,
nothing shall rest unsought.
That may bring pleasure to your mind,
or quiet to your thought.
And so pass forth in peace (O Prince
of high and worthy praise) :
The God that governs all in all,
encrease your happy days.
*JL
This device was inveated, and the verses also
written, by M . Hunnis, Master of her Majesty's
Chapel.
Hkr Majesty passing on to the 6r8t gate,
there stood on the leads and hattlements thereof
six Trumpeters hugely advanced, much exceed-
ing the common stature of men in this age, who
W likewise huge and monstrous trumpets
wimterfeited, wherein they seemed to sound:
Md behind them were placed certain trum-
peters, who sounded indeed at her Majesty's en-
try. And by this dumb shew itwas meant, that
in the days and reign of King Arthur, men were
of that statiure. So that the Castle of Kenil-
worth should seem still to be kept by Arthur's
heirs and their servants. And when her Ma-
jesty entered the gate, there stood Hercules for
Porter, who seeming to be amazed at such a
presence, upon such a sudden, proffered to stay
them. But yet at last being overcome by view
of tile rare beauty and princely countenance
ifher Majesty, yielded himself and his charge.
6 KENILWORTH.
presenting the keys unto her Highness, with
these words : —
What stir, what coil is here? come hack, hold,
whither now ?
Not one so stout to stir, what harrying have we
here?
My friends a porter I, no poper here am placed :
By leave perhaps, else not while cluh and limhs do
last.
A garhoil this indeed, what, yea, fair Dames ? what
yea,
What dainty darling's here? oh God, a peerless
pearl;
No worldly wight no douht, some sovereign Goddess
sure:
Even face, even hand, even eye, even other fea--'
tures all, . i -
Yea heauty, grace, and cheer, yea port and ma-
jesty,
Shew all some heavenly Peer, with virtues- idl
heset.
Come, come, most perfect paragon, pass on with joy
and hliss,
KENII.WOETI1. 7
Most worthy welcome, GoddesB guest, whose presence
gluddetli all.
Have here, have here, both club and keys, myself,
my ward 1 yield.
E'en gates and all, yea I^ord himself, submit and seek
your shield.
These verses were" devised and pronounced
by Master Badger of Oxford, Master of Arts,
and Bedel in the same University.
When her Majesty had entered the gate, and
come into the base court, there came unto her
a Lady attended with two nymphs, who came
all over the pool, being so conveyed, that it
seemed she had gone upon the water. This
Lady named herself the Lady of the Lake, who
spake to her Highness as followeth ;
lliough baste say on, let suit obtain some stay,
(Most peerless Prince, tlie honour of your kind)
While that in short my state I do display,
And yield you thanks for that which now I find,
Who erst have wiah'd that death me hence had fet,
If gods, not born to die, had ow'd death any debt.
8 KENILWORTH.
I am the Lady of this pleasant lake.
Who since the time of great King Arthur's
That here with royal court abode did make.
Have led a low'ring life in restless pain.
Till now that this your third arrival here
Doth cause me come abroad, and boldly thus a
For afVer hitn, such storms this Castle shook,
By swarming Saxons first who acourg'd this lai
As forth of this my pool I ne'er durst look.
Though Kciielm King of Merc e did take in h
(As sorrowing to see it in deface)
To rear these ruins up, and fortify this place.
For straight by Danes and Normans all this isle
Was sore distress'd, and conquered at lasL
Whose force this Castle felt, and I therewhile
Did hide my head, and though it straightway p
Unto Lord Saintlowe's hands, I stood at bay :
And never shew'd myself, but still in keep I lay. J
The Earl Sir Moiintford's force gave me no heart,
Sir Edmund Crouehback's state, the prince's son.
Could not cause me out of my lake to part,
Nor Roger Mortimer's rutF, who first begun
KENILWORTn. 9
(As Arthur's heir) to keep the Table Round,
Could not comfort my heart, or cause me come
on ground.
Not any owner else, not he that's now,
(Such fear I felt again, some forcu to feel)
Till now the Gods do seem themselves t" allow
My coming forth, which at this time reveal
B; number due, that your thrice coming here
I*otii bode thrice happy hope, and voids the place
from fear.
"herefore I will attend while you lodge here,
(Most peerless Queen) to Court to make reaoi
And, as my love to Arthur did appear.
So shall 't to you in earnest and in sport.
Pass on. Madam, you need no longer stand,
The Lake, the Lodge, the Lord, are yours now to
command.
These verses were devised and penned by M
Ferrers, sometiine Lord of Misrule in the Court.
Her Majesty proceeding towards the inner
court, passed on a bridge, the which was railed
in on both aides. And on the tops of the posts
u
10
KENILWOr
thereof were Bet sundry presents, and gifts ofi
provision: as wine, corn, fruits, fishes, fowls^g
instruments of music, and weapons for martial
defence. All which were expounded by an, |
actor clad like a Poet, who pronounced these
verses in Latin :
Jupiter & suniini duni vertiee cernit Olympi,
Hue, Princepa Regina, tuos te tendere gressui
Scilicet eximiee succGnsus imagine formse,
Et memor antiqui qui semper ferverat ignis,
Siccine Ccelicolfe pacientur turpiter (inquit)
Muncris exortem Reginam hoc vise
Quod tarn Iseta subit ? Reliqui sen)
Impcrium superi, pro ae dat quisque llbenter :
Musicolas Sylvanua aves ; Poraonaque pomo,
Fruges alma Ceres, rorantia vina Lyaeus ;
Neptunus pisces, tela et tutantia Mavors :
Hebc {Regina potena) superi dant munera divi :
Ipse loci dominus dat se Castrumque Kenelmi.
These verses were devised by Master MuqhI
caster, and other verses * to the very self si
" The other verses are preserved ii
of Laneham'a Letter, p. l6.
II
efect were devised by M. Paten, and fixed over
the gate in a frame. I am not very sure whe-
ther these or Master Paten's were pronounced
by the Author, but they were all to one
effect. This speech being ended, she was
received into the inner court with sweet
oiiisic. And, so alighting from her horse,
toe drums, fifes and trumpets sounded : where-
with she mounted the stairs, and went to her
'odging.
On the next day (being Sunday) there was
Nothing done until the evening, at which time
there were fire-works shewed upon the water,
*llich were both strange and well executt^d ;
as sometimes passing under the water a long
space, when all men had thought they had been
quenched, they would rise and mount out of
the water again, and burn very furiously until
they were utterly consumed.
Now to make some plainer declaration and
rehearsal of all these things before her Majesty,
on the tenth of July, there met her in the
forest, as she came from hunting, one clad like
a savage man, all in ivy, who, seeming to won-
12 KENILWQRTH.
der at such a presence^ fell to quarrelling witl^
Jupiter as followeth : —
O ! thund'ring Jupiter y
who swayest the heavenly sword :
At whose command all gods must crouch,
and 'knowledge thee their Lord.
Since I (O wretch therewhiles)
am here by thy decree,
Ordained thus in savage-wise
for evermore to be.
Since for some cause unknown,
but only to thy will :
I may not come in stately Court,
but feed in forests still.
Vouchsafe yet, greatest god,
that I the cause may know.
Why all these worthy Lords and Peers
are here assembled so ?
Thou knowest (O mighty god)
no man can be so base.
But needs must mount, if once it see
a spark of perfect grace.
And since I see such sights,
I: mean such glorious Dames,
KENILWOBTH. 13
As kindle might in firozen breasts
a ftimace full of flames,
I crave (great god) to know
what all these Peers might be :
And what has moved these smidry shews,
which I of late did see?
Inform me, some good man,
speak, speak some courteous knight:
They all cry mum ; what shall I do,
what sun shall lend me light ?
Well, Echo, where art thou?
could I but Echo find.
She would return me answer yet
by blast of every wind.
Ho Echo: Echo^ ho,
where art thou, Echoy where ?
Why, EchOf friend, where dwell'st thou now !
thou wont'st to harbour here.
(Echo answered.)
Echo, Here.
* then tell thou me some news.
For else my heart would burst with grief,
of truth it cannot chuse.
Echo. Chuse.
>
14 KENILWORTH.
Chuse? why ? but thou me help :
I say my heart will break :
And therefore even of courtesyi
I pray thee Echo speak.
Echo» Speak.
I speak ? yes, that I will,
unless thou be too coy,
Then tell me first what is the cause,
tliat all the people joy ?
Echo. Joy.
Joy ? surely that is so,
as may full well be seen :
But wherefore do they so rejoice ?
is it for King or Queen t
Echo, Queen.
Queen? what, the Queen of Heaven?
they knew her long agone :
No sure some Queen on earth,
whose like was never none.
Echo* None.
O then, it seems the Queen *
of England for to be.
Whose graces make the Gods to grudge :
methinks it should be she.
Echo. She.
U
KENILWORTH. 15
And is it she indeed ?
then tell me what was meant
By every shew that yet was seen,
good Echo be content.
Echo. Content.
What mean'd the woman first,
which met her as she came ?
Could she divine of things to come,
as Sibyls iJU|e the same ?
Echo* The same.
The same? what Sibyl? she,
which useth not to lie ?
Alas! what did that beldame there?
what did she prophesy ?
Echo, Prophesy.
O then by like she caus'd
the worthy Queen to know :
What happy reign she still should hold,
since heaven 's ordained so.
Echo. So.
And what mean'd those great men,
which on the walls were seen ?
They were some giants certainly,
no men so big have been.
Echo, Have been.
16 KBKILWORTH.
Have been ? why then they served
King Arthur man of might,
And ever since this castle kept,
for Arthur's heirs by right.
Echo, Right. . .:^
Well, Hercules stood by, ^ .-;
why camie he from his dorter ?
Or was it eke some monstrous man,
appointed for a porter ?
Echo, A port^.
A porter ? surely then,
he either was acrazed,
Or else to see so many men,
his spirits were amazed.
Echo, Amazed.
Amazed ? so methought,
why did he let them pass:
And yield his keys? because he knew, ,, = .,.;,»
his master's will so was.
Echo, So was. ^
Well, then did he but well, t y
yet saw I yet a Dame :
Much like the Lady of the Lake ;
perchance so was her name.
Echo, Her n^me.
REIIILWOKTH. 17
Alas, and what could she
(poor, dame distressed) deserve ?
I knew her well : percase she came
this worthy Qneen to serve.
Echo. To serve.
So would I her advise :
hut what mean'd all those shifts,
Of sundry things upon a hridge?
were those rewards of gifts ?
EcAo. ' Gifts.
Gifts ? what ? sent from the god,
as presents from ahove ?
Or pleasures of provision,
as tokens of true love ?
Echo. True love.
And who gave all these gifts ?
I pray thee (Echo) say.
Was it not he, who (hut. of late)
this building here did lay ?
Echo. Dudley. ^
O DuBLBT, so methought :
he gave himself and all,
A worthy gift to be received,
and so I trust it shall.
Echo. It shall.
D
18 KBNILWORTH.
What mean'd the fiery flames,
. which through the waves so flew ?
Can no cold answers quench desire?
is that experience true ?
Echo. True.
Well, Echo, tell me yet,
how might I come to see
This comely Queen of whom we talk?
oh were she now by thee.
Echo, By thee.
By me ? oh were that true,
how might 1 see her face ?
How might I know her from the rest,
or judge her by her grace?.
Echo. Her grace.
Well then, if so mine eyes
be such as they have been,
Methinks I see among them all,
this same should be the Queen.
Echo, - The Queen.
Herewith he fell on his knees and spake as
followeth : —
KSKfLWORTH. 19
O Queen ! I must confess,
it is not without cfiuse :
These civil people so r^icei
that you should give them laws.
Since I, which live at large,
a wild and savage man.
And have run out a wilful race,
since first my life began,
Do here submit myself,
beseeching you to serve:
And that you take in worth my will,
which can but well deserve.
Had I the learned skill,
which in your head is found :
My tale had flow'd in eloquence,
where now my words are drown'd.
Had I the beauteous blaze,
which shines in you so bright :
Then might I seem a &lcon ^r,
which now am but a kite.
Could I but touch the strings
which you so heaVenly handle ;
I would confess, that fortune then,
full friendly did me dandle.
^0 KENlLWOKtH.
O Queen (without compare)
you must not think it strange,
That here amid this wilderness,
your glory so doth range.
The winds resound your worth,
the rocks record your name:
These hills, these dales, these woods, these waTes;
these fields pronounce your fame.
And we which dwell abroad
can hear none other news.
But tidings of an English Queen,
whom heaven hath deck'd with hues.
Yea, since I first was born,
I never joy'd so much :
As when I might behold your face,
because I see none such.
And death or dreary dole
(I know) will end my days.
As soon as you shall once depart,
or wish to go your ways.
But, comely peerless Prince,
since my desires be great :
Walk here sometimes in pleasant shade,
to 'fend the parching heat.
KBNILWOBTH. 21
On Thursday next (think I)
here will he pleasant Dames :
Who bet than I may make you glee,
with sundxy gladsome games.
Meanwhile (good Qneen) farewell,
the gods your life prolong :
^ take in worth the Wild-Man's words,
or eke you do him wrong.
Then he bad Echo farewell, thus : —
^cho likewise &rewell,
let me go seek some death,
^iQce I may see this Queen no more,
good grief now stop my breath.
These verses were devised, penned, and pro-
nounced by Master (jascoyne : and that (as I
have heard credibly reported) upon a very great
sudden.'
The next thing that was presented before her
Majesty, was the delivery of the Lady of the
Lake: whereof the sum was this. Triton in
likeness of a mermaid, came toward the
22
KENILWORTH.
Queen's Majesty as she passed over the bridgt
returning from hunting. And to her declared
that Neptune had sent him to her Highness, ti
declare the woeful distress wherein the poor,'
Lady of the Lake did remain, the cause whereof
was this. Sir Bruce sa?is pitii, in revenge of
his cousin Merlin the Prophet, (whom for his
inordinate lust she had inclosed in a tock) di«
continually pursue the Lady of the Lake : and
had (long since) surprised her, but that Neptum
(pitying her distress) had environed her with
waves. Whereupon she was enforced to live
always in that Pool, and was thereby called
the Lady of the Lake, Furthermore atBrming
that by Merlin's prophecy, it seemed she could
never be delivered but by the presence of a
better maid than herself. Wherefore Neptune
had sent him right humbly to beseech hei
Majesty that she would no more but shi
self, and it should be sufficient to make Sir^
Bruce withdraw his forces. Furthermore, com-
manding both the waves to be calm, and the;
fishes to give their attendance: And this hi
expressed in verse as foltoweth : —
thH
KBNILWORTH. 23
. The Speech of Triton to the Queen's Majesty.
Muse not at all, most mighty Prince,
though on this lake you see
Me, Triton^ float, that in salt seas
among the gods should he.
For look what Neptune doth command,
of Triton is ohey*d :
And now in charge I am to guide
your poor distressed maid ;
. ^ho, when your Highness hither came,
did humhly yield her Lake ;
"^nd to attend upon your Court,
did loyal promise make,
'^ut parting hence that ireful knight.
Sir Bruce had her in chace :
And sought by force, her virgin's state,
fa}l foully to deface.
Yea^ yet at hand about these banks,
his bands be often seen :
That neither can she come nor 'scape,
but by your help, O Queen ;
For though that Neptune has so fenc'd
with floods her fortress long.
Yet Mars her foe must needs prevail,
his batteries are so strong.
24 KENILWORTH.
How then can Diatif Juno's force,
and sharp assaults ahide ?
When all the crew of chiefest gods
is bent on Bruce* s side.
Yea, oracle and prophecy,
say sure she cannot stand,
Except a worthier maid than she
her cause do take in hand.
Lo, here therefore a worthy work,
most fit for you alone ;
Her to defend and set at large
(but you, O Queen) can none :«
And gods decree and Neptune sues,
this grant, O peerless Prince :
Your presence oifly shall suffice,
her enemies to convince.
Herewith Triton sounded his trumpet and
spoke to the winds, waters, and fishes, as
foUoweth :
You winds return into your caves,
and silent there remain :
You waters wild suppress your waves,
and keep you cahn and plain.
KfiNlI«WORTH. 2$
You fishes ally and each thing eUe,
that here have any sway;
I charge you all in Neptume*s name,
you keep you at a stay.
Until such time this puissant Prince
Sir Bruce hath put to flight:
And that the maid rdeased Jbe,
by aoverdgn maiden's. might.
This speech being ended, her Majesty pro-
^^ed further on the bridge, and the -Lady
of the I^e (attended with her two nymphs)
canae to her upon heaps of bulrushes, ac-
cording to this former device : and spake as
'oUoweth :—
What worthy thanks might I, poor maid, express.
Or think in heart, that is not justly due
To thee (O Queen) which in my great distress
Succours hast sent mine enemies to subdue ?
Not mine alone, but foe to ladies all,
That tyrant Bruce sans pitie, whom we call.
Until this day, the lake was never free
From his assaults, and other of his knights :
E
26
KEMLWORTtt,
Until such time as he did plainly sec
Thy presence dread, and feared of all wi
Which made him yield, and all his bragging banj
Resigning all into thy Princely hands.
For which great grace of liberty obtain'd.
Not only I, but nymphs, and sisters all.
Of this large lake, with humble heart unfeign'd
Render thee thanks, and honour thee withal.
And for plain proof, how much we do rejoice,
Express the same, with tongue, with sound, and voice.
From thence her Majesty passing yet further
on the bridge, Proteut appeared, sitting on b
dolphin's back. The dolphin was conveyed
upon a boat, so that the oars seemed to be
hia fine. Within which dolphin a concert of
music was secretly placed, vk'hicb soutideiL
and Proteus clearing his voice, sang this son{
of congratulation, as well in the behalf of tl
Lady distressed, as also in the behalf of a
the nymphs and gods of the sea.
KE%1L«<17'
Hie Sg« c^fVnMOL
ONoUeQMe
to
And let the nfjht
For herdmen of tke
The winds
Yet aiee I do wmj
VoQdiBafe (good Qneen) that talm
diCK voids to TOO m>y hnng
.^e yield yon hnmUe dunks,
in iiiigliij ^rpiwMt^t iMwip,
Both finr onrsdres and t h c t e nidia l
for yonder wyinlj Dame.
A DamCy whom none hot yon
ddhrer oonld fiom thrall :
'No, none but you delhrer ns
from loitering life withaL
She pined long in pain,
as overworn with woes :
28
KENILWOKTH.
Anil we consum'd in endless care,
to Tend her from her foes.
Bolh nbich you set at large,
most like a faithful fricail ;
Your noble name be prais'd therefore,
and ao my song I end.
This song being ended, Proteus told tJie
Queen's Majesty a pleasant tale of his delivery,
and the fishes which he had in charge. The de-
vice of the Lady of the Lake was also by Mas!
Uunnis: and snrely if it had been execul
according to the first invention, it had been
a galliint shew ; for it was first devised, that
(two days before the Lady of the Lake's deli-
very) a captain with twenty or thirty el
should have been sent from the heron hoi
(which represented the Lady of the Laki
Castle) upon heaps of bulrushes : and thj
Sir Bruce, shewing a great power upon the li
should have sent out as many or more shot
surprise the said Captain, and so they shoi
have skirmished upon the waters in such sol
de-
BtarJ
KENILWORTH.
29
that no man could perceive but that they went
upon the waves : at last (Sir Brace's men being
put to flight) the Captain should have come to
her Majesty at the castle window, and have
declared more plainly the distress of his mis-
tress, and the cause that she came not to the
court according to duty and promise, to give
Tier attendance : and that thereupon he sliould
lave besought her Majesty to succour his mis-
treaa : the rather because Merita had pro-
phesied that she should never be delivered
but by the presence of a better maid than her-
Beir. This had not only been a more apt
introduction to her delivery, but also the skir-
mish by night would have been both very
strange and gallant ; and thereupon her Ma-
jesty might have taken good occasion to have
gone in her barge upon the water, for the better
executing of her delivery. The verses, as I
think, were penned, some by Master Hunnis,
some by Master Ferrers, and some by Master
Goldingbam.
^^( And now you have as much as I could re-
^^Kpver hitherto of the devices executed there ;
the Coventry shew excepted, and the merry
marriage* : the which were so plain as aeedeth
no further explication. To proceed then, there
was prepared a shew to hiive been presented
before her Majesty in the forest;
The argument whereof was this ;
Diana piissing in chase with her nymphs,
took knowledge of the country, and thereby
called to mind bow (near seventeen years past) ■
she lost in those coasts one of her best belorc
nymphs, called Zabeta. She described
rare virtues of Zabela. One of her nymphs
confirmed the remembrance thereof, and
seemed to doubt that Dame Juno had woi^ .
Zabeta to be a follower of hers : Diana conj
firmed the suspicion; but yet affirming hers^
much in Zabeta's constancy, gave charge to
her nymphs, that they diligently hearken and
espy in all places to find or hear news o
beta : and so passed on.
• All the circumstances respecting the Coventry sbal
and the merry marriage, here noticed, are pariiculalj
described in the recent publication of Laneham'a
pbs,
eby
pasOj
iphg
and
WOftj
31
To entertain inlerva/lam lempiins, a man
clad all in moss came in lamenting, and de-
<ilared that he was the wild man's son, which
Ctiot long before) had presented himself before
■»er Majesty ; and that his father (upon such
"^^^ords as her Highness did then use unto him)
*-^y languishing like a blind man, until it
■*^*aight please her Highness to take the film
^^ora his eyes.
The nymphs return one after another in quest
"^^f Zabeta; at last Diana herself returning, and
^3earing no news of her, inroketh the help of
^er father Jupiter. Mercurif cometh down in
^ cloud, sent by Jupiter, to recorafort Diana,
wnd bringeth her unto Zabeta. Diana rejoJceth,
and after much friendly discourse departeth :
afiying herself in Zaheta's prudence and po-
b Ecy : She and Mercury being departed. Iris
^* cometh down from the rainbow sent by Juno :
persuading the Queen's Majesty that she be
not carried away with Mercury's filed speech,
nor Diana's fair words ; but that she consider
all things by proof, and then she shall find
much greater cause to follow Jniio than Diana,
KENILWORTH,
The InterlocutofB were these :
Diana: Goddess of C has tity.
Casti/mla, AnamtUe, Nichalh: Diana's nym
Mercuri/ : Jove's messenger.
Iris: Juno's messenger.
Audaj: the son of Silvester,
ACTUS 1. SCENA 1.
Mine owd dear nymplis, which luiowledge ma ya
dueen,
And vow (tike me) to live in chaatity ;
My lovely nymphs (which be as I have been)
Delightful Dames, and gema of jolhty ;
Rejoicing yet (much more) to drive your days
In life at large, that yieldeth calm content,
Than wilfiilly to tread the wayward ways
Of wedded state, which is to thraldom bent.
I need not now, with curious speech persuade i
Your chasic consents, in constant vow to stand |
But yet beware lest Cupid's kniglits invade, <
By slight, by force, by mouth, or mighty hand,
KENILWORTH.
33
The stately tower of your unspotted minds:
Beware (I say) least while we walk these woods,
In pleasant chase of swiflest harts and litnds.
Some harmtit! heart entrap your harmless moods :
You know these holts, these hills, these cover! places,
May close convey some hidden force unseen :
Vou see likewise, tlie sundry gladsome graces.
Which in this soil we joyfully have seen.
Are not unlike some court to keep at hand:
Where guileful tongues, with sweet enticing talcs.
Might (Circe like) set all your ships on sand :
And turn your present bliss to afler bales.
In sweetest 6owers the subtle snakes may lurk :
Tbe sugar'dbait oft hides the harmful hooks;
The smoothest words draw wills to wicked work
iAnd deep deceits do follow fairest looks.
HereaC /laushig, ond looking about her,
she took knowledge of the coast, and
proceeded :
tt what ? alas 1 oh whither grander we t
What chase hath led us thus into this coast ?
By sundry signs 1 now perceive we be
In Brutus' land, whereof he made such boast,
Which Albion in olden days did hight.
And Britain next by Brute his noble name;
34
Then Hengist's land ss chronicles da write :
Now England short, a land of worthy fame.
Alas, behold Iiow memory breeds moan :
Behold and see, how sight brings sorrow id,
My restless thoughts have made me woe begone ;
My gaiingeyes did all thia grief begin.
Believe me (nymphs) I feel great grips of grief.
Which bruise my breast, to think lion here I IdBt ^
(Now long ago) a love to me most lefe.
Content you alt : her whom I loved most:
You cannot choose but call unto your mind
Zabeta's name, who twenty years or more
Did follow me, still scorning Cupid's kind,
And vowing so to serve me evermore :
You cannot choose but bear in memory,
Zabeta, her, whose excellence was such.
In all respect of every quality,
As gods themselves those gifts in her did grudgl
My sister first, which I'oUae hath to name, , t]
Envied Zaiieta for her learned brain.
My sister Kmiu fear'd Zabeta's fame.
Whose gleams of grace, her beauties blaac dill
Apollo dread to touch a
Where my Zabeta chanc'd lo come in plac
KENILWUKTll.
35
Kes Mercury was not so eloquent.
Nor in his wonis had half so good a grace.
Ify Htep-dame, Jiimi, in her glittering guise.
Was nothing like so heavenly to behold ;
Sborl tale to mukc, '/ahrta was the wif;ht,
On whom to ihink my heart now waxuth coltl.
" The fearful bird oft lets her food downfall,
" Which finds her nest despoiled of her young ;"
Much like myself, whose mind such moans appal,
To see this soil, and therewithal among,
To think how now near seventeen years ago,
By great mishap T chanc'd to lose her here :
But, my dear nymphs, (on hunting as you go)
Look narrowly ; and hearken every where :
It cannot be, that such a star as she
Can lose her light for any low'ring cloud :
It caimot be, that such a saint to see
Can long inshrine her seemly self so shroud.
I promise here, that she which first can bring
The joyfiil news of my Zabcta's life,
Shall never break her bow, nor &et her string.
I promise eke, that never storm of strife
Shall trouble her. Now nymphs look well about :
Some happy eye, spy my ZtiOtla out.
Castibdla.
O heavenly Dame, thy moeful words have pierc'd
The very depth of my forgetful mind:
And by the tule which thou hast here reheare'd,
I yet record those heavenly gitla which shined
TTiumphantly in bright Zabeta's deeds :
But therewithal, a spark of jealousy.
With nice conceit, my mind thus far-forth feeds ;
That she which always liked liberty,
And could not bow to bear the servile yoke,
Of false suspect, which mars these lovers marts.
Was never won to like that smould'ring smoke.
Without some feat, tliat passeth common arts.
I dread Dame Juno, with some gorgeous gift.
Hath laid some snare her fancy to entrap.
And hopeth so her lofty mind to lift
On Hymen's bed, by height of worldly hap.
My loving nymph, even so fear 1 likewise.
And yet to speak aa truth and cause requires,
I never saw Zabeta use the guise.
Which gave suspect of such unchaste desires.
Full twenty years I marked still her mind,
Nor could I see that any spark of lust
KENILWORTH. 37
A loitering lodge within her breast could find.
How so it be (dear nymphs) in you I trust :
To hark, and mark, what might of her betide:
And what mishap withholds her thus from me.
High Jove himself my lucky steps so guide,
That I may once mine own Zabeta see.
Diana xoith her wftnphs proceed in chase:
andf to entertain time^ cometh in one
clad in moss, saying asfoUoweth :
ACTUS 1. SCENA 2.
AUDAX solus.
If ever pity pierc'd
a peerless Princess's breast ;
Or ruthful moan moved noble mind
to grant a just request ;
Then, worthy Queen, give ear
unto my woeful tale :
For needs that son must sob and sigh
whose father bides in bale.
O Queen, O stately Queen,
I am that wild man's son.
Which not long since before you here,
presumed for to run.
38 KBNILWORTH.
Who told you what he thought
of all your virtue rare :
And therefore ever since (and yet)
he pines in woe and care.
Alas, alas, good Queen,
it were a cruel deed
To punish him who speaks no more
but what he thinks indeed.
Especially when as
all men with him consent.
And seem with common voice to prove
the pith of his intent.
You heard what Echo said
to every word he spake ;
You hear the speech of Dianas nymphs,
and what reports they make.
And can your Highness then
condemn him to be blind ?
Or can you so with needless grief
torment his harmless mind ?
His eyes (good Queen) be great,
so are they clear and grey :
He never yet had pin or web,
his sight for to decay.
, -^
1
e
\
KENILWORTH. 39
^^d. sure the dames that dwell
in woods abroad with us,
**ave thought his eyes of skill enough,
their beauties to discuss.
^op proof your Majesty
may now full plainly see:
^e did not only see you then,
but more he did foresee;
^hat after should betide,
he told you that (ere long)
jTou should find here bright heavenly dames
would sing the selfsame song.
-And now you find it true,
diat he did then pronounce.
Your praises peyze * by them a pound,
which he weigh'd but an ounce.
For sure he is nor blind,
nor lame of any limb :
But yet because you told him so,
he doubts his eyes are dim.
And I therefore (his son)
your Highness here beseech,
• Peyze— we^A. Fr. peser.
40
KENILWORTH.
To take in north (as subjects due)
my lather'a simple speech,
And if you find some film,
that ieems to hide his eyes :
Voucliaafe, good Queen, to take it off,
in gracious wonted wise.
He sighing lies and says,
god put mine eyes out clean.
Ere choice of change in England fall, v,
to see another Queen.
Finis Actus I.
ACTUS 2. SCENA 1.
Anauale sola.
Would god I either had some Argm' eyes,
Or such an ear as every tiding hears ;
Oh that I could some subtitty devise.
To hear or see what mould Zabefa bears.
That so the mood of my Diana's mind
Might rest (by rae) contented or appeas'd
And I likewise might so her favour find.
Whom, goddess like, I wish to have well plei
wSwfS.
41
3 winil come blow me happy news ;
Some sweet bird sing and shew me where she is ;
Some forest god, or some of Faimus' crew.
Direct my feet if so they tread amisa.
ACTUS 2. SCENA 2.
NicoLiB sola.
"ever Echo sounded at request
To satisfy an uncontented mind.
Then Echo now come help me in my quest,
And tell me where I might Zul><:Cti find,
^peak, Ei'-ho, speak, where dwells Zabcta, where 1
Alas, alas, or she, or I am deaf.
^^he answered not, ha ! what is that I hear 1
^m Alas it was the shaking of some leaf.
HVell, since I hear not tidings in this place,
I will go seek her out in some place else :
And yet my mind divineth in this case.
That she is here, or not far off she dwells.
ACTUS 2. SCENA 3.
Diana idtA her Train.
■s, my nymphs ! well then I may well think,
LTbat carelessly you have of her enquired :
42 KENILWORTH.
And since from me in this distress you shrink,
While I (meanwhile) my weary limbs have tired ;
My father, Jbre, vouchsafe to rue my grief,
Since here on earth I call for help in vain :
O, king of kings, send thou me some relief,
That I may see Zabeta once again.
ACTUS 2. SCENA 4.
Mercury, Diana, and the Nymphs,
O goddess, cease thy moan,
thy plaints have pierc*d the skies,
And Jwe^ thy friendly father, hath
vouchsaFd to hear thy cries.
Yea more, he hath vouchsafed,
in haste (post haste) to send
Me down from heaven to heal thy hamif
and all thy miss to mend.
Zabeta, whom thou seek'st,
(in heart) ev'n yet is thine.
And passingly in wonted wise
her virtues still do shine.
But as thou dost suspect,
Dame Juno train'd a trap,
KBNJLWORTH. 43
And many a day to win her will,
hath luird her in her lap.
For first these sixteen years
she hath been daily seen,
In richest realm that Europe hath,
a comely crowned Queen.
And Juno hath likewise
suborned sundry kings.
The richest and the bravest both
that this our age forth brings :
With other worthy wights^
which sue to her for grace ;
And cunningly, with quaint conceits,
do plead the lover's case.
Dame Juno gives her wealth,
dame Juno gives her case,
Dame Juno gets her every good
that woman's will may please.
And so in joy and peace
she holdeth happy days :
Not as thou thought'st, nor done to death,
or won to wicked ways.
For though she find the skill
a kingdom for to wield,
44 K£NILWOBTH.
Yet cannot Juno win her will,
nor make her once to yield
Unto the wedded life,
but still she lives at large.
And holds her neck from any yoke, i
without control of charge.
Thus much it pleased Jove A H
that I tq thee should say.
And furthermore, by words express,
he bade I should not stay.;
But bring thee to the place . .
wherdud Zabeta bides^
To prop up so thy staggering mind, .
which in these sorrows slides.
O goddess, then be blith,
let comfort chase out grief.
Thy heavenly Other's will it is
to lend thee such relief.
DiAKA.
O Noble Mercury ^
dost thou me then assure
That I shall see Zabeta* s iEace,
and that she doth endure
KENILWORTH. 45
(Even yet) in constant tow
of dbaste uupottod life :
And that my step-dame cannot yet
make her a wedded wi&t
If that be so indeed,
Mnses, help my Toice,
Whom grief and groans have made so hoarse,
1 cannot weQ rqcnoe.
O Muses, soond die praise
of Jo9e, his migfaty name ;
And you, dear nymphs, which me attend,
by daty do the same.
Here Dicma, witli her nymphs, assisted by a
concert of music unseen, should sing this song,
or rondeau following :
O Muses, now come h^ me to rgoice,
Since Jvoe hath dianged my grief to sodden joy ;
And since the diance whereof I craved choice,
Is granted me to comfort mine annoy:
O praise the name of J<yoe^ who ^omised plain
That I shall see Zabeta once again.
46 KENILWORTH.
O gods of woods, and goddess Flora eke,
Now clear your breasts and bear a part with roe :
My jewel she, for whom I wont to seek.
Is yet full safe, and soon I shall her see.
O praise the name of Jove^ who promised plain
That I shall see Zaheta once again..
And you, dear nymphs, who know what cruel care
I bare in breast since she from me did part.
May well conceive what pleasures I prepare,
And how great joys I harbour in my heart.
Then praise the name of t/bve, who promised
plain
That 1 shall see Zaheta once again.
Mercury.
Come, goddess, come with me,
thy leisures last too long ;
For now thou shalt her here behold,
for whom thou sing'st this song.
Behold where here she sits,
whom thou so long hast sought :
Embrace her since she is to thee
a jewel dearly bought.
KENiLwonrti. A
id 1 will now return
to God in lieaven nn liigli :
\o grant you both always lo please
his heavenJy Majesty.
Mercury ilcperlelk tu htuTi n
^t, do 1 dream t or doth my mind but muse
Is this my ieefe, my love, and my delight 1
Or did this god niy longing mind abuse,
To feed my fancy with a feigned sight?
*s ihiB Zabeta, ia it she indeed ?
h is she sure : Zabeta mine, all hail I
-^nd though dame Fortune seemeth you to feed
With princely port, which serves for your avail,
Yet give me leave to gaze you in the face,
Since now (long since) myself, yourself did seek.
And be content, for all your stately grace,
Still to remain a maiden always meek.
Zabeta mine (now Queen of high renown).
You know how well I loved you always ;
And long before you did achieve this crown,
You know how weU you seem'd to like my ways ;
Since when, you (won by Juno's gorgeous gifts)
/e left my lawns and closely kept in court ;
48
Since when, delight and pleasure's gallant shifts 4
Have fed yom mind with many a princely spar
But, peerless Queen, (sometime my pcerles
And yet tlie same as Mercury doth tell.
Had you but known how much I was dismay'd '
When first you did forsake with me to dwell;^|
Had you but felt what priry pangs I had.
Because I could not find you forth again,
I know full well youreelf would have been sad,
To put me so to proof of pinchiug pain.
Well, since Dan Jove {my father) me assure
That, notwithstanding all my step-dame's wilt
Your maiden's mind yet constant still endures,
Thou(;h well content a Queen to be therewfaik
And since by prudence and by policy.
You win from Juno so much worldly wealth,
And since ilie pillar of your chastity
Still standeth fast, as Mercury me tell'th,
I joy with you, and leave it to your choice
What kind of life you best shall like to bold;
And in meanwhile I cannot but rejoice
To see you thus bedeck'd with glistering goldj,
To see you have this train of stately dames,
Of whom caeii one may seem some goddess p
KBNILWORTH. 49
^d you yourself (by due desert of fiune)
A goddess full, and so I leave you here,
h shall suffice that on your faith I trust ;
It shall suffice that once I have you seen :
'^rewell; not as I would, but as I must.
Farewell, my nymph, &rewell, my noble Queen.
Diana with her Train departeth.
ACTUS 2. SCENA ultima.
Iris sola.
^h lo, I come too late,
oh, why had I no wings ?
^'o help my willing feet, which fet
these hasty frisking flings ;
Alas, I come too late,
that babbling god is gone:
And Dame Diana fled likewise,
here stands the Queen alone.
Well, since a bootless plaint
but little would prevail,
I will go tell the Queen my tale : '
O, peerless Prince, all hail,
The Queen of heaven herself
did send me to control
H
50 KENILWORTH.
That tattling traitor, Mercury y
who hopes to get the goal,
By curious filed speech,
abusing you by art :
But, Queen, had I come soon enough,
he should have felt the smart.
And you, whose wit excels,
whose judgment hath no peer.
Bear not in mind those flattering words
which he expressed here.
You know that in his tongue
consists his chiefest might ;
You know his eloquence can serve
to make the crow seem white.
But come to deeds indeed,
and then you shall perceive
Which goddess means you greatest good,
and which would you deceive.
Call you to mind tl\^ time
in which you did insue *
Diana* s chase, and were not yet
a guest of Juno's crew.
* Insue — -follow.
KENILWORTH. 51
^^enoember all your life
before you were a Queen :
^nd then compare it with the days
whieh you since then have seen.
•^ere you not captive caught ?
were you not kept in walls ?
Were you not forc'd to lead a life
like other wretched thralls ?
Where was Diana then ?
why did she you not aid ?
^^liy did she not defend your state
which were and are her maid ?
^^ho brought you out 'of briers ?
who gave you rule of realms?
^•Vho crowned first your comely head
with princely diadems?
^ven JttnOf she which mean'd,
and yet doth mean likewise,
To give you more than will can wish,
or wit can well devise.
Wherefore, good Queen, forget
Diana*s 'ticing tale :
Let never needless dread presume
to bring your bliss to bale.
52
KENILWORTH.
How necessary were
for wortby Queens to wed.
That know you weQ, wbose life always
in learning hath been led.
The country craves consent,
yonr virtues vaunt each selC
And JoTf in heaven would smile to see
Diana set on shelf.
His Queen hath sworn (but you)
there shall no more be sud) :
You know she lies with Jme a-nights,
and night-ravens may do much.
Then give ctmsent, O Queen,
lo Juno's just desire.
Who for yonr wealth would have you wed,
and, for your farther hire.
Some Empress will you make,
she bade me tell you thus :
Forgive me (Queen), the words are her'a,
1 come not to discuss:
I am bat messenger,
bnt sure she bade me say.
That where you now in princely port
have past one pleasant day :
AmUof
lie
0^HB1.0
TmMMmti,
Tins shew was devned and penned br Mas-
^^f Gascoigne, and bra^ prepared and ready
^^^erj Actor in ins gannent) two cr three days
V^etlier, yet nerer came to execution. The
^^use whereof I cannot attribote to any oth^
thing, then to lack of <y portonity and season-
^Ue weather.
The Queen's Majesty hastening her departure
from thence, the Earl commanded Master
Gascoigne to devise some farewell worth the
presenting; whereupon he himself clad like
unto Sylvanus, god of the woods, and meeting
her as she went on hunting, spake (ex tenure)
as followeth:
54
Right escellent, puissant, and most hap^^
Princess, whiles 1 walk in these woods and
wilderness (whereof I have the charge) I have
often mused with myself, that your Majesty ~~*
being so highly esteemed, so entirely beloved, i
and so largely endued by the celestial powers: ^= :
you can yet continually give ear to the counsel-^I^ 1
of these terrestrial companions ; and so, con-^ -
sequently, pass your time wheresoever they^^i^
devise or determine that it is meet for yourT^'
Royal Person to be resident. Surely if your'^K" '
Highness did understand (as it is not to me^^^
unknown) what pleasures have been for you-*^-*
prepared, what great good will declared, whaL^^*'-
joy and comfort conceived in your presence, and-^E^
what sorrow and grief sustained by likelihood -^^
of your absence, yea, (and that by tlie whole ^^^
bench in heaven) since you first arrived in these -^^
coasts, I think it would be sufficient to draw"
your resolute determination for ever to abid*
in this country, and never to wander any furtliei
by the direction and advice of these Peers and
Counsellors ; since thereby the heavens might
greatly be pleased, and moat men thoroughly
raW^H
sides^H
tlier—M
I
i
KENILWORTH.
sd^^Bu
imfortedJ But, because
liicreaae of your delights,
mulish the heap of your contentment, I will
not presume to stay your hunting for the hear-
ing of my needless, thriftless, and bootless
discourse ; but I do humbly beseech that your
excellency will give me leave to attend you as
one of your footmen, wherein I undertake to
do you doulilfi. jervice ; for I will not only
conduct your Majesty in safety from the peril-
ous passages which are in these woods and
forests, but will also recount unto you (if your
ijesty vouchsafe to hearken thereunto) cer-
ad ventures, neither unpleasant to hear,
nor unprofitable to be marked,
Heremtk her Majesty proceeded, and Sylvanua
eontinued asfolltneelh :
■There are not yet twenty days past (most
le Queen) since I have been, by the Pro-
ir-Geoeral, twice severally summoned to
lear before the great gods in their Council-
imber ; and making mine appearance accord-
to my duty, T have seen in heaven two
exceeding great contrarieties, or rather
KENILWORTH.
intOl
two such wonderful changes as draw r
deep admiration and sudden perplexity.
my first coming I found the whole company of
heaven in such a jollity, as I rather want skill
to express it lively, than will to declare ill
readily. There was nothing in any comer ma
be seen, but rejoicing and mirth, singing, daa&
ing, melody and harmony, amiable reganiu
plentiful rewards, tokens of love, and j
good will, trophies and triumphs, gifts ana(
presents, (alas, my breath and memory fail men
leaping, frisking, and clapping of hands.
To conclude, there was the greatest feast a
joy that ever eye saw, or ear heard tell (
since heaven was heaven, and the earth began
to have his being. And enquiring the causie
thereof. Reason, one of the heavenly Ushers, toW
me, that it was to congratulate the coming Htm
your most excellent Majesty into this countr^»^
In very deed to confess a truth, I might hai'e
perceived no less by sundry manifest tokens
here on earth ; for even here in my chaise, I
might see the trees flourish in more t
dinary bravery, the grass grow greener than iti
57
■was wont to do, and the deer went tripping
(though against- their death) in extreme deli-
cacy and delight. Well, to speak of that I saw
in heaven, every god and goddess made all
preparations possible to present your Majesty
with some acceptable gift, thereby to declare
the exceeding joy which they conceived in your
presence. And I, poor rural god, which am
hut seldom called amongst them, and then also
but slenderly countenanced, yet for my great
good will towards your Majesty no way inferior
to the proudest god of them all, came down
again with a flea in mine ear, and began to beat
my brains for some device of some present,
which might both bewray the depth of mine
affections, and also be worthy for so excellent
a Princess to receive. But whiles I went so
amusing with myself, many, yea, too many
days, I found by due experience that this pro-
verb was all too true, omnis mora trahit peri-
culum. For whiles I studied to achieve the
heightof my desires; behold, I was the second
time summoned to appear in heaven. ^What
said I? Heaven? no, no, most comely Queen,
58
KENILWORTH.
for when 1 came there, heaven was not heaven,
it was rather a very hell. There waa nothing
but weeping and wailing, crying and howli
dole, desperation, mourning, and moan. A^'
which I perceived also here on earth before
went up, for of a tmth (most noble Princess)
not only the skies scowled, the winds raged,
the waves roared and tossed, but also the fishes
in the waters turned up their bellies, the deer in
the woods went drooping, the grass was wet
of growing, the trees shook off their leav)
and all the beasts of the forest stood amazed.
The which sudden change I plainly perceii
to he, for that they understood above, that yoi
Majesty would shortly (and too speedily) dc'
part out of this country, wherein the heavens
have happily placed you, and the whole earth
earnestly desireth to keep you. Surely (Gra-
cious Queen) I suppose that this late alteration
in the skies hath seemed imto your judgmeiut
drops ot" rain in accustomed manner. But,
your Highness will believe me, it was nothing
else but the very flowing tears of the gods, whd
melted into moan for your hasty departi
T in
i
KEMUWORTH. 59
Well, because we rural gods are bound pa-
I tieDtly to abide the ceiisiire of the celestial
bench, 1 thought meet to hearken what they
Vould determine, and for a final conclueion it
Was generally determined, that eome convenient
messenger should be dispatched with all ex-,
peditiou possible, as well to beseech your Ma-
jesty that you would here remain, as also,
further to present you with the proffer of any
such commodities and delights, as might draw
your full consent to continue here for their
cootentation, and the genera! comfort of men.
Here her Majesty stayed her horse to favour
Siflvaims, fearing lest he should be driven out
of breath by following her horse so fast. But
Stflvamis humbly besought her Highness to go
on, declaring tliat if his rude speech did not
offend her, he could continue this tale to be
twenty miles long. And therewithal protested
that he had rather be her Majesty's footman on
earth, than a god on horseback in heaven, pro-
^^^eding as followeth :
^^KNow to return to my purpose (most excellent
^^^faj^^eil) wbca I had heard their deliberation.
60 KENILWOHTH.
and called unto mind that sundry realms andi
provinces had come to utter aubversion by*
over great trust given to Ambaseadore, I (being
thoroughly tickled with a restless desire)
thought good to plead in person; for I will
tell your Majesty one strange property that I
have, there are few or none which know my
mind so well as myself, neither are there many
which can tell mine own tale better than I my-
self can do. And therefore I have continually
awaited these three days, to espy when yout
Majesty would (in accustomed manner) comA-i
on hunting this way.
And being now arrived most happily into
port of my desires, I will presume to beseedfei
most humbly, and to entreat most eamestlyv
that your Highness have good regard to the
general desire? of the gods, together with the
humble petitions of your most loyal and deeply
affectionate servants.
And for my poor part, in full token of my da**
tiful meaning, 1 here present you the store of my
cha^e, undertaking that the deer shall be daily
doubled for your delight in chase. Further-
any
uy-
ecttfl
theH
ENILWOBTH.
61
more I will entreat Dame Flora to make it
oontinually spring here with stores of redolent
and fragrant flowers. Ctret shall be com-
pelled to yield your majesty competent pro-
fision, and Bacchus shall be sued unto for the
first fruits of his yineyards. To be short, O
peerless Princess, you shall have all things
that may possibly he gotten for the furtherance
of your delights. And I shall be most glad
and triumphant, if I may place my godhead
in your service perpetually. This tedious tale,
comely Queen, I began with a bashful bold-
ness, I have continued in base eloquence, and
1 cannot better knit it up, than with homely
hnmility, referring the consideration of these
my simple words, unto the deep discretion of
■your Princely will. And now 1 will, by your
Majesty's leave, turn my discourse into the
rehearsal of strange and pitiful adventures.
So it is, good gracious Lady, that Diana
passeth often-times through this forest with a
stately train of gallant and beautiful nymphs.
Amongst whom there is one surpassing all
the rest for singular giUs and graces : some call
62
her Zabeta, some other have named her Aki
busife, some Completa, and some Compladi
whatsoever her name be, 1 will stiuid upon
But (as I have said) her rare gifts have dratw
the most ooble and worthy personages in I
whole world to sue uoto her for grace.
All which she hath so rigorously repulse
or rather (to speak plain English) so obstinate
and cruelly rejected, that 1 sigh to think B
some of their niishiips. 1 allow and cominetui
her justice towards some others, and yet the
tears stand in mine eyes (yea and my tongue
trerableth and faltereth in my mouth) wheU'J
begin to declare the distresses wherein soaa
of them do presently remain. I could tell yon
Highness of sundry famous and worthy [
sons, whom she hath turned and converted i
most monstrous shapes and proportioue.
some into fishes, some others into fowla, a
some into huge stony rocks and great raoun^
tains : but because divers of her most earnest
and faithful followers (as also some sycophants)
have been converted into sundry of these plai
whereof I have charge, I will shew unto yoi^
KENILWORTH, 63
Majesty so many of thein as are in sight
ill these places where you pass.
Behold, gracious Lady, this old oak, the same
was many years a faithftil follower and tnisty
Eervanlofher's, named Comlancy, whom, when
she could by none other means overthrow,
considering that no change could creep into
his thoughts, nor any trouble of passions and
perplexities could turn his resolute mind, at
length she caused him, as I say, to be con-
verted into this oak, a strange and cruel meta-
morphouie. But yet the heavens have thus
far forth favoured and rewarded his long con-
tinued service, that as in life he was unmov-
able, even so now all the vehement blasts of
the most raging wiudii cannot once move his
rocky body from his rooted place and abiding.
But to countervail this cruelty with a shew of
justJce. she converted his contrary, Incon-
slanci/, into yonder poplar, whose leaves move
and shake with the least breath or blast.
As also she dressed Vai/t Gluri/ in his right
colours, converting him into this ash-tree,
which is the first of my plants that buddeth.
C4
and the first likewise that casteth leaf. For
believe me, most excellent PriQcess, Vai/i^
Glorj/ may well begin hatitily, but seldom coi
tinueth long.
Again she hath well requited that busy e
Contention, whom she turned into this brambl^
brier, the which, as your Majesty may i
see, doth even yet catch and snatch at yoi
garments, and every other thing that passeth b
it. And as for that wicked wretch Ambttio
she did by good right condemn him into ti
branch of ivy, the which can never climb g
high, nor flourish without the help of some
other plant or tree, and yet commonly what
tree soever it riseth by, it never leavelh to wind
about it, and straitly to enfold it, until it haBjcJ
smowldered and killed it. And by your leaTteM
good Queen, such is the unthankful nature Vm
cankered ambitious minds, that commonly tlwjt|
malign them by whom they have risen, ana
never cease until they have brought them to
confusion. . Weil, notwithstanding these ex-
amples of justice, I will now rehearse i
your Majesty such a strange and cruel metavl
KRNItWORTH.
G5
morphosis as I think miist needs move your
noble mind unto compassion. There were two
sworn brethren which long time served her,
called Deep-desire and Due-desert, and al-
though it be very hard to part these two in
Bonder, yet is it said that she did long since
convert Due-desert into yonder same laurel-
tPee. The which may very well be so, con-
sidering the etymology of his name, for we
see that the laurel-branch is a token of triumph
in all trophies, and given as a reward to all
victors, a dignity for all degrees, consecrated
end dedicated to ApoUo and the Muses as a
Worthy flower, leaf, or branch, for their due
deserts. Of him I will hold no longer discourse,
because he was metamorphosed before my
time; for your Majesty must understand that
I have not long held this charge, neither do I
mean fong to continue in it; but rather most
gladly to follow your Highness wheresoever
you shall become.
But to speak of Deep-desire, (that wretch
r«pf 'Worthies, and yet the worthiest that ever
I' condemned to wretched estate,) he was
66
KENILWOBTH.
Biich an one as neither any delay could daunt
him ; no disgrace could abate his passions; no
time could tire him; no water quench his
flames; nor death itaelf could amaze him with
terror.
And yet this strange star, this courtc
cruel, and yet the cruelest courteous that
was, this Aktebasile, Zabela, or by what tm.'tae
soever it shall please your Majesty to remem-
ber her, did never cease to use imprecation,
invocation, conjuration, and means possible,
until she had caused him to be turned into
this holly-bush, and as he was in this life and'
world continually full of compunctions, so U
he now furnished on every side with shar^'
pricking leaves, to prove the restless pricks of
his privy thoughts. Marry, there are two
kinds of holly, that is to say, he holly, and shi
holly. Now some will say, that she holly hat
no pricks, but thereof I intermeddle not.
At these words her Majesty came by a closer
arbour, made all of holly ; and while Sylvtmus
pointed to the same, the principal bush shaked.
For therein were placed both strange musii
sm-
on,
ale,
nto
uid-H
.of
;wo
KENltiWORTH.
67
and one who was there appointed to represent
Deep-desire. Syfvanus, perceiving the bush to
shake, continued thus :
Behold, most gracious Queen, this holly-
bush doth tremble at your presence, and there-
fore I believe that Deep-desire hath gotten
leave of the gods to speak unto your excellent
Majesty in their behalf, for 1 myself was pre-
sent in the council-chamber of heaven, when
Desire was thought a meet messenger to be
sent from that convocation unto your Majesty
i ambassador; and give ear, good Queen,
lethinks I hear bis voice.
Herevrith Deep-desire spake out of the
holly-bush as followeth ;
Stay, stay your hasty steps,
O Queen without compare;
And hear him talk, whose trusty tongue
conaumed is with care :
a that wretch Desire,
whom neither death could daunt,
Nor dole decay, nor dread delay,
nor feigned cheer enchant.
08
KENILWOHTH
Whom neither care could quench,
nor fancy force to change;
And therefore tum'd into this tree,
which sight, percase, Beems sU
But when the gods of heaven,
and goddesses withall.
Both gods of fields and forest gods,
yea, satyrs, nympha, and all.
Determined a dote,
by course of free consent :
With wailing words and mourning notes,
your parting to lament.
Then thought they meet to choose
me, silly wretch. Desire,
To tell a tale that might bewray
as much as they require.
And hence proceeds, O Queen,
that from this holly-tree
Your learned ears may hear him speak,
whom yet you cannot see.
But, Queen, believe me now,
although I do not swear ;
Was never grief, as I could guess.
Which set their hearts so near,
SENILWQRTH.
8 wlien they heard the news,
that you. O royal Queen,
l^ould part from hence ; and that to prove
it may full weU be Been.
IT mark what tears they shed
these five days past and gone:
rain, of honesty,
it was great floods of moan.
■ first Diana wept
such brinish bitter tears;
It all her nymphs did doubt her death,
her face the sign yet bears.
Dame Flora fell on ground,
and bruis'd her woefiil breast:
_Yea, Pan did break his oaten pipes ;
Silvanua utd the rest,
hich walk amid these woods,
for grief did roar and cry;
And Joie, to shew wtiat moan he made,
with thuod'ring crack'd (he sky.
O Queen, O worthy Queen,
withiti these holts and hills,
_yiere never heard such grievous groans,
nor seen such woeful wills.
70
KRNILWOBTH.
But since they have decreed,
that I poor wretch, Denre,
In their behalfahall make their moan,
and comfort thus require:
Vouchsare, O comely Queen,
yet longer to remain ;
Or still to dwell amongst us here :
O Queen, command again
This castle and the knight,
which keeps the same for you ;
These woods, these waves, these fowls, these fishe^ 1
these deer witich are your due :
Live here, good Queen, live here,
you are amongst your friends ;
Their comfort cornea when you approach,
and when you part, it ends.
What fruits this soil may serve,
thereof you may be sure :
Dame Ceres and Dame Flora both
will with you still endure.
Diana would be glad
to meet you in the chase:
Silvanus and the forest-gods
would follow you apace.
KBNILWORTH. 71
^ea, Pan would pipe his part,
such dances as he can :
Or else Apollo music make,
and Mars would be your man.
And to be short, as much
as gods and men may do :
So much your Highness here may find,
with faith and favour too.
But if your noble mind,
resolved by decree.
Be not content, by me Desire,
persuaded for to be,
Then b^id your willing ears
unto my willing note.
And hear what song the gods themselves
have taught me now by rote.
Give ear, good gracious Queen,
and so you shall perceive
That gods in heaven, and men on earth,
are loth such Queens to leave. •. c
Herewith the concert of music sounded, and
Deep'desire sang this song :
73 KENILWOHTH.
CuME, Muses, come and help me to lament,
Come, woods, come vravea, come hills, come dolefi
Since life and death are both against me bent,
Come gods, come men, bear witness of mybalesi
O heavenly nymphs, come help my heavy hearty
With sighs to see Dame Pleasure thus depart
If death or dole could daunt a deep desire.
If privy pangs could counterpoise my plaint :
If tract of time, a true intent could tire.
Or cramps of care, a constant mind coidd taint :
Oh tlicn might I at will here live and serve ;
Although my deeds did more delight deserve.
But out, aias, no gripe« of grief suffice
To break in twain this harmless heart of mine, '*
For thougli delight be banish'd Irom mine eyes,
Yet lives Desire, whom pains can never pine.
O strange effects ! I live which seem to die,
Yet die to see my dear delight go by.
Then fcrewell, sweet, for whom 1 taste sut^ bouT)
Farewell, dehght, for whom I dwell in dole :
KENIt.WOHTH. 73
*"£« will, farewell, farewell my fancy's flower,
Farewell, content, whom cruel cares control.
»Oh farewell life, delighttul death, farewell,
I die in heaven, yet live in darksome hell.
This aong being ended, the music ceased, and
"■^Sy/iiOMHs concluded thus :
Most gracious Queen, as it should but evil
^ave beseemed a God to be found fraudulent
•^o r deceitful in his speech : so have I neither
^Hacoonted nor foretold any thing unto your
^HlajeBly, but that which you have now found
^^ttne by experience, and because the case is
very lamentable, in the conversion of Deep-
desire, as also because they know that your
Majesty is so highly favoured of the Gods, that
they will not deny you any reasonable request.
Therefore I do humbly crave in his behalf,
that you would either be a suitor for him unto
the heavenly powers, or else but only to give
your gracious consent that he may be restored
to his pristinate estate. Whereat your High-
ness may be assured that heaven will smile,
the earth will quake, men will clap their hands,
74 KENILWORTH.
and I will always continue an humble be-
seecher for the flourishing estate of your
Royal Person.
Whom God now and ever preserve, to his good
pleasure and our great comfort.
Amen.
Tarn Marti, quam Mercurio.
GLOSSAllIAL
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
^ _ — M. Hunnis, Mailer of her Majesty's Chapel.
! fim edition of Gaacoipie's Princely Pleasure)
reuls " M[ister of the children in hir Majesty's chapel."
Queen Elizabeth retained on hei Royal eBlablishment
four sets of sineing-boys ; which belonged to the Cathedral
of St. Paul, the Abbey of Weslminster, St. Geoiga'i
Chapel Windsor, and the Household Chanel. For the
support and rein fo tee men t of her musical bands, £]iza-
heth, like the other English Sovereigns, issued out
warrants for taking " up suche apt and meete children,
OB are iitt to be instructed and iramed in the Art and
Science of Musicke and Singing." Thomas Tusser, the
well-hnown author of " Five Hundreth Point!! of Good
Huabandiye," was in his youth a choir-boy of St. Paul's.
Nor is it astonishioc. that although masses had ceaaed to
be performed, the Queen should yet endeavour to pre-
serve sacred melody in a high state of perfection ; since,
according to Burney, she was herself greailv skilled in
musical learning. " If her Majesty," says that eminent
author, " was ever able to execute any of the pieces that
are preserved in a MS. which goes under the name Ol
Queen Elizabeth's Virginal-book, she must have been
a very great player ; as some of these pieces which were
d byTallis. Bird, Giles, Famaby, Dr. Bull, and
o difHcult that it would be hardly possible
"n Europe who would undertake to play
composed b
any of the
Gmtnil Hillary i{fMju
of a
76
of ihe chapel were also employed in the theatrical exhi-
bitions reprusented at Court, for which their musical
education had peculiarly qualified them. Richard Ed-
wards, an eminent poet and musician of the aisteenlh
century, had written two comedies, Damon and IVthias,
and Palemon and Arciie, which, according to Wood,
were often acted before the Queen, both at Court and at
Oxford. With the latter of these Elizabeth was so
much delighted, thai she promised Edwards a reward,
which she subsequently save him by making him first
Gentleman of her chapel, and in 1561, Master of the
Children on the death of Richard Bowyer. As the Queen
was particularly attached to dramatic entertain men Is,
■'69, she formed the I
mpany of theatrical
under the superinlec '
she formed a second
the
about 1569, she formed the children of the Royal Chapel
my of theatrical performers, and placed them
iperinlendance ot Edwards. Not Ion); aflei
iety of players, under the title of
leve.ls^" and hv these two cnm-
" Children of the Revels," and by these two ci
: all Lilly's plays, and many of Shakspeare's
Jonson's were first performed. ' The latter of these
authors has celebrated one of the chapel children, named
Salathiel Pavy, who was famous for nis performance of
old men, but who died about 16OI, under the age. of
thirteen, in a most beautiful epilaph printed with hi>
epigrams. As this poem has a close analogy with the
present note, the reader will be gratified by the following
copy of it, only premising that Jonson might speak of
his subject with greater fondness, as he acted in his own
Masques of " Cynthia's Revels" and the " Poetaslet."
F QUEEN
Weep with me all yoii thnl lend
Th;s little story:
Aud know, for wliom a tenr yuu shed
Death's self is sorry :
'TwRS a child that so did thrive
In grace and feature,
As heavcu and nature seem'd to strive
Which ovn'd the creature.
Year* he nnmber'd ncarce thirteen
When fates torti'd cmel.
Yet three fill'd Zodiacs had he been
Aad did act, what
So, t
He pky'd
hix fall
rhey all conaenled -,
But rieving him since, alas, too late!
They hate repented ;
B And have wnght, to give new birth,
^_^ In baths to steep turn (
^Hul Bnt Ijeing' much too good for earth,
^^Bf Heaven vows to keep him.
^^K Bm Jonxon's H'ofks, hy Gifford, vol. viij. p. 'jig.
But however Jotison might think and write con-
cerning young Pavy, the actors of the public theatres,
nich as the Globe, and the Fortune, looked enviously
at the Queen's protected hand of infantile perlbmiera ;
and the Puritans made their first essay at the overthrow
of the drama by writing violently against them. A
pamphlet which came from this source in \5Bg, called
" The children of the chapel slript and whiiit," remarks,
that " plaies will never he supprest, while her Maiesties
unfledged minions flaunt it in silkes and sattens. They
had aa well be at their popish service in the devil's
ramients." Bnt a certain number of the Children of the
Revels was attached to each of the public theatres i and
these, though involved in the denunciations of the Puri-
tans, weie at least free from the hatred of the actors,
Malone supposes, that it was against the choir-bojs
of St. Paul's that Shakspeare launched the fallowing
tirade in the 6th scene of the second act of Hamlet,
where Rosencranti and the Prince are conversing about
the state of dramatic excellence.
" Sos, There is. Sir, an aiery " of children, little eyasscs+
that cry out on the top of question, and are moat tyranni-
" Brood. t Ncallingii.
rully clapt foc't: theit are now the fushion; and so
be-rallle the coiDmou lUgcs (so thty call ihem) that
many wearing rapiere are afraid of goose-ituilU, and dare,
scarce come ihilhet.
" Ham. What, are they children ? who maintains thci
h«w are ihey escoted * i will they pursue the quality
longer than ihej can alng i"
At length in 1583-4 the Theatre in the Convocation-
house of St. Paul's was auppresaed ; in consequence, says
Flecknoe, of" people growing more precise, and playes
more licentious." After this, hoth the children of the
chapel and the children of the revels went over to the
theatre in Biackfiiars, and the choir-bova of St. Paul's
were confined to perform in their own actiool-room.
'■ It is believed." say the Editors of Kcnilworlh Illns-
traled, in a note upon the very passa^ now under con-^
sideraiioQ, " that Queen Ehzabeth never attended
public theatre:" now, although there is pmbably
proof extant thai she did, yet the following paasagcil
one of her licences, certainly appcara very like it. Thi
is extracted from a privilege which she granted ii
to James Burbage, and four other servants of the Earl
Leicester, to rahibit all kinds of Stage-plays, darii
pleasure, in any part of En^and, " as well for the ~
creation of our loving subjects, as for our solace
pleasure when we shall think good to see them."
Having thus given some account of the Childrei
her Majesty's Chaiiel,
randa concerning William Hunnis, their Master, who
mentioned in the lexi.
All who have written of him agree that he was a
Gentleman of the Chapel Royal In the time of Kine
Edward VI., in whose reign, in lIibQ, he published
" Cerlaync Psalms chosen out of the Psahet of David,
and drawen furlh into English meter by William Hunnis,
semant to the right honorable Sir William Harbeide,
Knyght, newly collected aud imprinted," Svo. He
the laih of November, 1566, he »
1 made Master oj
the ChildrcD b; Elizabeth, on tlie death of Richard
Sdwards*, already lueutioned, Oa Februa.cy the I4lh,
1568, probably by the command of the Queen, who
often cxertd her power in a similar manner, be received
from Sic Gilbert Uethick, Garter King" of Arms, the
(bllowing armorial easign for the name of Hunnis of
Middlesex. " Bendy iif aix. Or and Aiure, a Unicom
Tampanl Vert, ortHed Argmt. Crest, On a wreath, be-
tween iao hotuysucklet proper, a Unicom't head eouped.
Or, charged wUh liDo bendleU Azure. In 1576, Hunnis
next appeared as an author in the celebrated " Paradise
ofDaynty Deuices," for which he seems to have written
twelve poeois, including those which were printed in
the subsequent editions. In 1578, he published his
" Hyve full of Hunnye," in 4lo. and 8to. ; and in I13S5,
his " Seven Sobs of 3 SorrowftJ Soule for Sinne."
This went through five editions ; it consisted of the
Seven Penitential Psalms, and a " Handful! of Honi-
Bucklea :" it was last printed in 16S1 at £dinhiir|fh,
ISino. As a poet, Mr. Haalewood, lo his admiraule
account of the contributors to the " Paradise of Dayaty
Deuicea," printed in the British Bibliographer, vol. iv.
liv. gives him the following character ; " Some of
mnia^i pieces are pretty at least; and discover such a
■unplicit^ of sentiment, ease of language, and flow of
verse, as justly entitle them to commendation." Warton,
however, says of him, " his honeysuckles and his honey
are now no longer delicious." According to the cheque-
book of the Chapel Royal, William Hunnis died on the
6th of June, 15^7, and was succeeded in his office by
Nathaniel, aflerwaids Dr. Giles.
Page 5. — Six Irumpeters hugely adeaaced.
This serves to explain a passage in Laaeham'a Letter
which has excited considerable doubt j namely, that
* Mr. Haslevood, in the preliminary notices of the
contribatorE to Che " FaradyBc of Dainty Deuices," has in-
serted aa interesting memoir of Richard Edwards, who v/aa
considered as its principal collector, though he had been deiul
■bout tea years in 1576, when tlie first edition waa published.
ft,
80
iwliere he sap, " these inimpelcrs being sis in number,
were every one eiaht Tect long." see edit. IBSI. 8vo. p. in.
It wuulil appear tntit these were but figures coDstnicterf
like all thr>se used in ancienl iriumphB and pageants, of
hoopi, deal boards, pasteboard, paper, cloth. Duck ram,
&c. which were gildoJ and coloured on the outside; and
within this case the real trumpeter was placed. An exhU
bition similar to that mentioned in the text, is related by
Holingshed, lo have taken place when Queen Mary pro-
ceededthrough London, before her Coronation, Sept. 3<)t)i,
1533. " At the upper end of Grace' s-street," says thai
minute chronicler, " there was another pageant, made bv
the Florentines, verie high, on the lop whereof there stooS
four piclurei, and in the iniddeat of them and most hif^hest,
there stood an angel) all in greene, with a truiSpet in his
hand ; and when the trumpctter (who stood secretlie In
the pageant) did sound his trumpet, the angell did put his
trumpet to his mouth, as though it had been the same
that had sounded, to the great marvcUingof many ignorai
' ChTrmirUi qf Eng. 1586. foJ. vol. 111. p. logi.
n his " Table Talk," when speaking of Judf^
alludes to such figures, '• We see," savs he, *
pageants in Cheapsidc, the liona, and the elephants,
we do not see the men that cany them."
Page 6. — harrt/ing.
This word signifies an outcry or chasing, and is 4^
rived from the Norman French ffaro or Htmm, whici
was a hue-and-cry after felons and male&ctors. Vfdt
Phillips, and Jacob's Law Diclionaiy. "^
Tumult o
:e 7-— Tie Lady iftht Lake.
\ note to the recent reprint of Lanehun'
le-
ch
'i
Page l—fti. i. e. fetched.
The preterite and participle past of the ancient verl)
active lo Fet ; vji. to fetch, lo go and bring. This word
is evidenlly taken from the Saxon Fettan, rceim, or
pRiSiau, which are all of the same aignificaiioD its the
former, vide Bailey, Somner.
. ,^ Unto Lord Siinlloaie'i handi.
The history of Kenilworth CaaOe anJ ils various
Owners, is aJluded to both io l^neham's Lellei, page 5,
uid more particularly in the poeni printed in the text.
Notwithstanding the high uiitiquity which is assigned
to Kenilworth, aa well in the present verses as hy Lsiio-
IwiQ, Sit William Dugdale says, that the land on which
the Castle is situate was given by King Henry I. to a
J4orman, named Geoffry de Clinton, his Lord Chamber-
laia aiul Treasurer, by whom the builditig was first
erected. By [his proprietor also, he states, the Monas-
tery .of Black Canons of St. Augustine's order, to have
been instituted at the same time, near the fortress. In
Henry, who was assisted by Louis VIL King of Fiance,
and several of the English Barons. Although it is by
no means certain that the building again reverted to the
Clintons, yet early in the reign of John, Henry Clinton,
■be grandson of the founder, released to that King all his
interest in the Castle and lands. The son of this lust
poBSMSor, who also bore his father's name, engaged him-
self in the wars of the tumultuous Barons during the
reigns of -lohn and Henry IH.^ but, in 1£I7. upon
his submission to the latter Monarch, he had livery
of his father's land at Kenilworth. This appears to
bavE been the last of the Clintons who held this
estate. The Castle had long been in the hands of the
' Crown, and was held for it, ny the successive sheriffs for
the counties of Warwick and Leicester- In 1943,
Henry 111. constituted Simon Montfort,Eai4 of Leicester,
Governor of Kenilworth Castle ; and ten years afterwards
¥ anted It to him and his wife, Eleanora, for ibeir lives-
hii haughty and ambitious Baron was Commander-in-
chief of the insurrection against Henrj; IH,, concerning
Magna Carta; and soon after his receiving the grant of
tfaia Castle, himself and bis comrades met in arms at
Oxford. The conclusion of this convocation was, that
they marched against the royal army, and Simon dc
Monifnrt wa.s slain at the battle of Evesham, on August
£th, is65. It is to the warlike disposition and death
of thi- Baron, that the Lady of ihe Lake alludet i.
where ahe tap.
" The Earl, Sir Moantford'* force, gs™ me do heart."
Keallworth Casilc in the interim, was defended by SimoR
de Montfort, the younger, sou of the late EaH ; and when
the King's forces were besieging it, he, perceiviag thu
il must shortly be aurrendered, retired privatdj otto
Fiance to tuiie more soldiers in aid cf the Rirons deiigny.
In his absence HcQty de Hastings was lefl Garmaac,
whom he assured of a certain and early r^ef j but ll
King's reinforcements arriving first, nfier ntiicb doalU
and delay, the Castle was yielded to Henry III.
feast of St. Thomas, December the 21st, lafiiu
the end of ibe siege, which lasted six month .
amounted to a very considerable sum, the King, by tl^
advice of Ottobon, the Papal Legate, called a conventiM
at Kenilworth, at which il was determined, thai pei ~
who had forfeited their lauds in the late rebellion, n
redeem them by a line, to be jiaid to such as ^en i
seascd them. Some exceptions were however i
which were, the wife and children of the late Earl c|
Leicester; Robert Ferrer^i, Earl of Derby; Henry a
Hastings, mentioned abore; and those who wouDJf
the King's messenger, when he summoned Kenilwor
Castle to surrender. On all these were imposed c
heavier 6nes or imprisonment j and the act by whicL -^_
foreeoing particulars were declared, was called OititMt^
KentbeorlA, an entire copy of which may be found in los
of the ancient statu te-books, or in the " Statutes of tl
Realm," printed by command, ISSO, vol. L p. 18. f
ham ulso alludes to the Statute of Kenilworth in th
lowing passage of hia Letter, p. 86. " A singular patlei_
of humanity may he be well unto us towards all degrees: of
honour toward nich estates, and ohiefly whereby we may
learn in what dignity, worship, and reverence, herHighness
il to be esteemed, hotiourcd, and received, that was never
indeed more condignly done than liere ; so, as neither by
the builders at lirai, nor by ihe Edict <^ Pacificalion after,
was ever Kenilworth more enobled than by this, his Lord-
■hip's receiving her Highness here i
edition of Lacehain, is the follow
thispasaa^. " isfid. An. 50. Hen.l
after the siege and surrender of rile Castle, Pbilin Mar-
mioii, the first Lord of Strivelsby and Tamwortn, was
made Constable by the Kingi but, on the l(jih of
Januan', 1267, it was conferred with many privileges
npoit Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Lftncasier, second
son of the King, and to his lawful heiis. lo IsgS, Ed-
mund died at Bayotkoe, and was succeeded by his eldest
MD Thomas ; in whose time Roger Mortimer held at
Keailworih the feast of the Round Table, mentioned in
the text. This festival, acccordina to Dugdale, look
place in U7B, and he thus describes it; "The same
year 1 tind, that there was a grea.t and famous concourse
of noble persona here at Kendworth, called the Round
Table, consisting of an hundred knights, and as many
todies i whereunio divers repaired from foreign parts for
the exercise of arms, viz. tiltiug, and martial toumik-
mcntsf and the ladies, dancing; who were clad in
silken mantles, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, being
the chief, antl the occasion thereof. Which exercises
bogan on ihe eve of St. Matthew the Apostle, (BIsl Sep-
tember) and continued till the morrow after Michaelmas
day," [SOili.) Anliq. ^ Waruiicksh. edit. (<y Dr. ThetiHU;
1730. vol. 1. p. 347. Roeer Mortimer appeJirs to have
been one of the ninsL fasnionable gallants of his time,
and his son Gcoffery named him, " The King of Folly.''
Bot 'niomas, Earl of Lancaster, joined the baronial
party agiiinst the Eivoriles of King Edward 11, 1 namely,
Pierce Gavesion.^tid the two .Spencers; and although the
King once pardoned him, and restored his foifei ted lands,
yet in 1338, he was taken in armi^ at the battle of Bo-
roughhridge. and a few days after was beheaded. Kenil-
worth Castle was neitt delivered into the bands of John
de Sotneri, Baron of Dudley j Ralph Lord Basset, of
Pntyton ; and Ranulph de Oiarun, for the King's usej
but when the fortunes of King Edward were overthrown,
his oHiceTs were expelled, and himself brought to the
forticas as a prisoner in the power of Henry, brother of
(h^ late possessor, and othera of his infamous felluw-
After the cruel dealh of Edward 11., aff i
Berkeley CbsiIc, whither he wJs conveyed Irom KenJlJ ■
worth, the detestable Henry, Earl of Lancaster, wu
restored lo his brother's possessions ; and from him ibe
Castle descended, through his son and grand-daugbler, to
John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. At length the
eropertyof Kenilworih once more reverted lo Ibe CrowoJ
y passing to ilie Duke's son, Henry of Bolingbro
who afterwards became Henry IV- ; and it thus t
(inued until the reign of Elizabeth, by whom it '
presented to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Thoi^
thrice married, the Earl had only one ille^tiinate n
Robert; in consequence of which, the estate and CbUI
of Kenllworih at his death, about 1587,
brother, Ambrose Dudley, Eirl of Wuriviok, who h
it until the following year. After the decease 'of tl
latter. Sir Robert Dudley endeavoured to proTC his legt
macy; this was vain; for, as the Earl of Leicester Hi
married a ihird wife while tlir second was living, hot
of whom survived him, bis ucknowledged Countess pT'
cured a command from the Lonla of the Council to tt
the proceedings in this cause of succession, as wdl<|
that all the depositions should be sealed and laid i
with the records of the Star-chamber, fhehopes^
Sir Robert Ehidley for obtaining his father's posscssioij
being thus frustrated, he left England for Italy, havtf'
received licence to travel for three years. When he I '
departed, L^dy Leltice Dudley and her legal adfiai
one of whom, it is melancholy tn say, was the great 9
Edward Coke, then Attorney-General, procurra a. 3)in
mons for his return, by a special writ of privy
which not being obeyed, the Castle and lands of fi
worth were seized on for the Kind's use, by virtue o
Statute of Fugitives. 31st Edw. III. cap. xiv. Althoiufa
the Castle and lands of Kenilworih were now vested A
the Lord Privy-seal, through the contempt of Sir Robert
Dudley, yet the amiable Henry Frederic, Prince of
•Wales, was unwilling to make them his dwelling, wilb-
nut a compensation to the ejected owner. In conse>
quenceofthis feelinB, through the mediation of spedal
agents, in l6ll, he bought the preousea ofSiiKobcft^
for the sum of \4,500l., to be paid wiLhin a Cwelre-
month after ; the ulRce of Constable of the Custle bein^
granted by Patenl to the latter for life. On Novetnbtr
6th, Itiia, the Prince died, when not more than 3000/,
of the Slim were discharged, and that amount having
been paid to a merchant who failed, Sir Robert Dudley
lost the whole. Prince Charles, however, as his late
brother's heir, took possession of Kenilwonh, and pro-
cur«l an act of Parliament [Slst James I. c. la.) by
which the wife of Sir Robert was enabled, on May 4th,
1631, to alienate all her right to him, as if she hud been
sole poaseESor of the estate, for the sum of 4000/., which
wasjiaid to her from the Exchequer. On March 15lh,
l6so, Charles 1. issued a Patent, granting lo Robert
Carey, Earl of Monmouth, and two of his family, the
;r Cromwell divided the
lawless followers, who wholly devastated ihe property.
At the Restoration it again pasaed into the famOy of the
Earl of Monmouth ; and, after ihcit leases were expired,
Charles II. granted the reversion of the whole manor to
the Right Honoorable Lawrence Lord Hyde, afterwards
created Baron of Kenilworth, and Earl of Kocheatcr.
Through this family it has descended, by mairia^, 10
the Right Honourable Thomas Villiera, the present Lord
Clarendon, who, It is pleasing to slate, has endeavoured
10 preserve the venerable ruins of the Castle from farther
dilapidations.
It will be evident from the above slight history of
Kenilworth that there exists a considerable diflerence
between ita real memoirs, and those ascribed to it by
Laneham. Camden also in the following passage con-
demns the inaccuracy of those legends which carry its
foundation back to the Saxon period. " More to the
north'Cast," says the learned antiquary, " where a num-
ber of small streams, uniting among parks, form a lake,
which, soon after being confined in banks, makes a canal,
stauds Kenilworth, anciently called Kenelworda, though
»ow corruptly Killingworlh, which gives name to a
bige, beautitui, and strong castle, surrounded by parks.
3.°„
not built hy Kciiulphus, Keiitlinus, ot Kiii^ilsus, am
!ioaie <)reani, but. ob can b« made to appear frnm recordsft
by GalCridiis Clmion. Chiunberlain to Kihk Heury i-."
BriluHma, edit. 1769, vol. 11. p. 3£H. The Lard ba'iat-
lowc, who ii mcntiontKl iu the text as having once been
pouesMr of Kenilwonb, was niosi probably one of the
tiiuily of Saintloe, or Saintloo, who, about the time of
Elizabeth, were Lordb of the Manor of Torinartou, in
the uounty of Gloucester. Sir William Saintloe was
Cijittiin of the Guard to the above Sovereigo.
Having thus given sufficient ofa true History of Ki
worth Castle, to be a perfect guidi
works of Gas(x>lgne and Laneha
aome account of the buildlDgg 3i: ^
those who saw them in all theit 'original splendoi
Dugdale commences with saving, ihai the situation is
entrMitdiuary strength and lameness, as may be aeea by
the circuit, breadth, and deplli of the outer moats, uf-
cether with the parts called Cssar's Tower, which, by
the thiclcQeas of its wulls and Torm of building, he coiv
aiders to have been of the 6rst fauadatioo. In IS4r^
Henty HI., to whom the Castle then belong,
extensive improvements and repairs al Keiiilwonh
as ceiling the chapel wilh wainscot, paintiiw >l
making new seals for the King and Queen. Tlti
lower also was repaired, and the south walls ntxi
EBol were newly erected. The Queen's chamber
kewise enlarged and painted. In ISgi. Richard IJ
furnished John of Gaunt with materials foiimprovi
and building at this place ; and he, according to Ougdr
" began the stniclure of all the buildings here, «x<
Cicsar's Tower, with the outer walls and turrets."
tittle, however, appears to hare been done towards
ing the Castle splendid as a nobleman's seal, or a
fit for the vi»il of a Queen, until Elizahith, on ih _
of June, I56e, presented the buildiag to the Earl
Leicegter; who, Dugdale remarks, " spared for
in enlarginKi adnrnlng, and beautifying thereof; witi:
thul maguiticeot gate-house towards the north ; whi
formerly having "been tlie bock side of the Castle,
i^ade llie front; liiliRg up a great pnii»oaioa e£:<
wide atij deep double dilcli, wherein the water of the
pool came. And, besides that stately piece on th«
sodtb-easl part, still beating the nune of Leicester*!
buildin^i', did he raise (mai the ground two goodly towers
at the head of the pool, vit. — the Ftoud-gate, or Gallery
tuwer, standing at one end of the Tili-yanj, in which
was n spacious and noble room for Iddie- '
eicises of tiltins and barriers;
mer*B tower, whereupon the ar
in stone i which doubtless was
Leicester, in memory of o
there fonneriy ;
I the othei, Morti-
3 of Mortimer were cut
o named by the Earl uf
lore aotient, that slnod
i I gucsB, either the Lord
t the time of that great and solemn tilting,
formerly mentioned, (vide page 83 ante.) did lodge ; ot
else, because Sir John Mortimer, Knight, prisoner here
in Hen. V. lime, was detained therein. The Chase he
likewise enlarged, impaling pari of Blakwelt wilhil) it)
and also a large nook, exteuditig from Rudfen-lane
towards the pool; which, being then a waste, wherein
the inhabitants of KenUworlh had common*, in
consideration thereof, he gave ihcm all those field»
called Prior's fields, lying north of the Castle. 1 have
heard some, who were hii servants, say, thai the
charge he bestowed on ibis Castle, with the parks and
chase thereto belonging, was no less than sixty ihou-
sand Dounds. Here, in July, an. 1675, (17 Eliz.1 having
completed all things for her reception, did he entertain the
i^ueen for the smcc of xvii, days+, with excessive cost,
and variety of delightful shews." Of the gardens made by
Lord Leicester, LJincham gives a very particular account,
aide the re|)rint of his Letter, p. 71. Lelaod makes but
few observations on Kenilworth ; so that it is evident that
at his visit, the Castle had none of those marks of magni-
ficence with which It was anenvards adorned. " king
* Vide the 4»th note to the n
Letter, p. 71. nhere will be fouod
Memoirs of the Earl of Leicester,
tliese grounds by opprcsaivF mean
i- Other authors say nineCeea, e
nl has been estimnled at 10001. □
" did of late years great cost in nttM
Ilcnry VIII." sSys b .
|)ayrc of the Caiilte oF Killing worth. Amongsl these n
pafdliona the pretty Btinketiti^house of Tymbre, that
stood thereby in the meere, and bore the name of plea-
■ant, was taken downe, and part of it is set up ia the
Bdse-court of Killingworlh Castle." liinerary, vol. iv.
p. igl. The next notice which occurs in history con-
crrnins the appearance of Kenilwarih, ii the survey
Ukcn by (he officers of King James I., on the conleinpt
o( Sir Robert Dudley, to the Riiya! Warrant of Privy
Seal, sent after him to Italy, coramanding his returu.
The following copy of remarks upon this surrey, will
S've a more perfixt idea of the splendour of the Caatle
an any other description can ; since it was taken when
Ihe buildings were in their most perfect state, &s well
being more numerous and magnificent than at any othe; ^
period of their history.
" The Castle of Ken il worth, situate upon a rock.
1. The circuit thereof within the walls containi..
7 acres, upon which the walks arc so spacious and f*ii_
that two or three |>er90ns together may walk upon most
places I hereof.
2. The Castle, with the 4 Gate-houses,allbuatof free-
stone, heweii and cut ; the walls, in many places, x*. and
X. foot thickness, some more, and some less ; the 1<
4 font in thickness square.
3. The Castle and 4 Gate-houses, all covered
whereby it is subject to no other decay than the
tJirouzh the extremity of the weather.
4. The rooms of great slate within the
as areable to receive hisMajeslie, the Queen, am
at one time, built with as much uniformity and ..__,
ency as any houses of later time; and with such staieljr
cellars, all carryed upon pillars, and architecture of free^
stone, carved and wrought as the like are not within this
kincdom ; and also all other houses for officers answer-
able.
5. There lieth about the same in Chases and PariuTI
1300/. perann. gOO/. whereof are grounds for pleasures
the rest in meadow and pasture thereto adjoyning, leni^
ants, and freeholders.
'be«_
G. There join eth upon this grouDil, a park-like i^ound,
eallcd ihb King's Wood, wiih xv. several copicei lying
•11 together, containing 7S9 acres, within the eamc :
-which, ID the Earl of Leicester's lime, were stored with
red deer. Since whichihedeer strayed, bullhc ground in
no sort blemUhed, having great store of timber, and other
trees of much value upon ine same.
7. There runneth through the said grounds, by the
wbUj of the Castle, a Tail Pool, conuining 1 1 1 acres, well
stored with fish and fowl ; which at pleasure is to be let
round about the Castle,
8. In limber aud woods upon this ground, to the value
(as hath been offered) o! 20,000/. (having a convenient
time to remove thcmj, which, to his Majestie in the
survey, are but valued at ll,722i., which proportion, in
a like measure, ia held in all the rest tipon the other
values to his Majestie.
9. Tlie circuit of the Castle, Mannours, Parks, and
chait lying round together, contain at least xix. or xx.
miles. III a pleasant couutj^; the like, both for strength,
alEte, and pleasure, not being with in the realm of
England.
10. These lands have been surveyed by Commissioners
from the King and the Lord Privy-seal, with directions
fiom his Lordship to find all things under the true worth,
and upon oath of jurors, as well as freeholders, as cus-
inmary tenants; which course being held by them, are
notwithstanding surveyed and returned at 38,564/. ISj,
Out of which. Tor Sic Robert Dudley's contempt, there
is la be deducted 10,000/., and for the Laily Dudley's
jointure, which is without impeachment of waste,
whereby she may fell all the woods, which, by the survey
. amount unto 1 l,722l.
The loUl of III
Survey ariseth,
J Th
Land, 16,431/. 91.
Woods, 11,782/. Sj.
The Castle, 10,401/. 4».
His Majestie hath herein (he mean profits of th<
Castle and premises, through Sir Robert Dudley's cou'
tempt during his life, or his Majesties pardon ; the re-
version in fee being in the Lord Privy-seal." t>ug<lale'i
Warwickihire, vol. I. p. 251. An original co]iy
the Survey of Kenilworth Castle is presened amo
ihe Cottonian MSS. Veapaa. F. ix. 3(fS. in the Brid
s Kenilworlh at its height of magniRceDc
the t
s of il
declin
e that time it has been, as Bishop Hu
remarks, " void aad tenanllesa ruins ; clasped with t
ivy, open to wind and weather, and presentii
nothing but the ribs and carcase, as it were, of thi
former state." When Oliver Cromwell portioned
this manor to his officers, it is related inat ihey "i
(oolisbed the castle, drained the great pool, cut dov
the King's woods, deatroyed his parka and chase, al
divided the lands Into (anna amongst themselves." Tl
WM thecoraplete overthrow of that magnificent castle.al
succeeding writers have had only to record how time m
the storms of heaven have continued tn cast down sta
after stone of the interesting ruins. In l7J6,theexci
Ictit Dr. Richard Hard, afterwards Bishop of Worcesti
visited Kenilworth Castle ; and he has given a beautjl
account of its state at that lime, in the third of I
" Moral and Political Dialogues." — " When lb
alighted from the coach," says he, " the first object tfa
f relented itself was the principal gateway of the Casti
t bad been converted into a farm-house, and was indei
the only part of these vast ruins that was inhabited. C
thrir entrance to the inner court, they were struck wl
the tight of many mouldering lowf ra, which preserved
sort of magnificence even in their ruins. They amusi
themselves with obacrvingthe vaat compass of the whol
with marking the uaes, and tracing the dimensions'
the several parts. All which it was easy for them '
do by the very distinct traces that remained of them ; ai
eapeeially by means of Dugdale's plana and description
which they had taken care to consult. After ramblii
about for aome time, they clambered up a heap of ruin
which lay on the west side the court ; and thence eaoL
to a broken tower, which, when they had mounted somi
aleps, led them to a path-wav on the lops of the walli
From this eminence diey hail a very distinct view of iki
91
•veiiil parts ihcy had before contempl'iteil ; of ihe ear-
on the north-side; of the winding meadow that
mpassed the walls of the Castle, on the west and
louih ; aid had, besidea, the command of the country
mutul about them for many milcH. There was some-
thing so august in the mingled prospect of so many
BDliquc towers falling into rubbish, and in the various
beauties of the landscape, that they were, aJI of them, as
it were, suspended in admiration, and continued silent
for some time." Moral and Polil. Dial. edit. 1759- Svo.
p. S5.
Here then is the last state of that celebrated castle, in
which the most splendid scenes of Elizabeth's most
splendid reign were performed ; like the great and mag-
nilicent cities of Babylon and Jerusalem, its goodliness
is turned into ruins, and the beauty of it i> exchanged
for desolation. The flapping banners, rich with em-
broidered blazoninga, and the gorgeous cloths of tissue
and tapesli^, which once covered the chambers, have all
been rent ftom their places ; and instead of them there
is the ivy, and the long grass, the rush, the dock, and
the " hyssop that springeth out of the wall." For the
minstrel's music there are now the shrieks of the owli
and, for the court and presence of roya!^, there are now
silence and mournful solitude. One would have felt proud
of the fall of Kenilworth, had the walls been rased to the
E round in battle ; but to think that it was tirst dilapidated
y the lawless bands of our own ancestors, and then left
to the most cruel decay ; it is like viewing a dear friend
perishing, piecemeal, by consampcion; and the feelinga
ihus excited, are the finest, though the most distressing
which the heart can endure.
" The flower in ripened bloom unmntclied
Must fall the earliest prey;
Though by no hnnd untimely snatclieil,
The lesves must drop away :
And yet it were a greater grief
To watah it withering, le^ by leaf.
Than see it plucked to-day;
Since earthly eye but ill can bear
To trace the ciiaage to foul from fair."
Page g. — voids the place.
An old English terb active, originally derived (rom the
French S'ider, lo empty oi leave vacant. It was fic-
tuently used in ihe sixteeoth and eeventeenth centuries.
hEdispeare in his Henry V. act v. scene vii, inak^ th«
King My,
" Ride ihon nnto the horeenien on y
l( tfaey will fight witli ns, bid them cc
Or void Ihe field : they da offend our
,ight."
Pa^ 9. — M. Ferrers, Lord qf Mis-rvie in the Court.
Warton, in his Eistwy i/f Engliih Poetry, sol. II.'
sect. mxiv. p. eg3, states that this was George Ferrers,
whom Holingshed mentions as Lord of Mismle in the
time of King Edw. VI, ; but Wood in his " Alhtnte
Oxoniea$et," when speaking of this eminent author, never
mentions his havina held such an office; probably siip-
posing, that it would be deroeaiory to bis chBtacter,
both as B scholar and a poet. Futlenham calls him by
the name of " Maisler Edward Ferrys," aod tiiil has
created a supposition that these were [wo difTerent per-
sons, hut ine character which he has given of thai
author, has nearly identified him to be the same as
George Ferrers already mentioned. The latter writer,
when speaking ol him as a poet of Edward the Sixth**
reitcn, says : " But the principall n.an in this professiiMI,
at Hie same time was Maisler Edward Feriys, a ma — '
no lesse mirtb and feliciiie that way, but of much a
skil and magniRcencc in his meeter, and therefore wTal«
for the most part to the Stage in Tragedie, and so
times in Come<lie, or Enterludc, wherein he eave the
King so much good recreation, as he had liicrety many
good rewardea. Lib. I. ch.xjmi.p.4g. edit. ISS9, Soon
after, the same author again observes, " for Tragedie
the Lord Buckhurst and maisterEdward Ferrys, for such
doinges as 1 have sene of theirs, deserve the highest
price." Ibid. p. 51. These passages are supposed by
Warton, auUicicnt to prove that Puttenham mistook the
name of Edward for Georee, especially when Joined to
the fact, that " no plays ofan Edward Ferrets, or Fenys,
tvhich is the same, are now known to exist, nor are
mentioned by any wriler of the limes which are now con-
cerned." Notiviiha landing this conclusion, Wood in his
Allienie, mentions an Edward Ferrers, thoueh his ac-
count of him ia doublful, short, and indefinite ; as he
professes himself unahte to say where he was bom, or
to name the College in Oxford at which he was educated.
The only particulars, therefore, which can be collected
from Wood, are, that Edward Ferrers was of the family
ofFen:et3,ofBalde3ley Clinton, in Warwickshire i that he
continued at Oxford University several years, " being then
in much esteem for his poetry ;" that about the time of his
leaving College he wrote " several Tragedies, Comedies, or
Enlerludcs," and that he " was in great renown about
]i^64," when he supposes him lo have died, and to have
been buried at Baldesley Clinton, leaving a son Ueniy.
fiut although this dispute must perhaps long remain
undMnded, yet it is certain, that George Ferrers was the
Lord of Mis-rule alluded to in the text; and of him, and
his office, it will be interesting to give as full an ac-
count, as the materials now to be obtained will permit.
George Ferrers, according to all his biographers, was
born at &L Albans, in Hertfordshire, and received a part
of his education at Oxford. After quitting College, he
Entered himself of Lincoln's Inn, where tie became a
Bsirister; and as Wood remarks, was as " eminent for
ibe law, as before he was for his poetry, having been as
much celebrated for it by the learned of his time, as
■ny.'' While studying the jurisprudence of England,
f etrera appears to have published his first work, entitled,
" The Great Charter, called in Latyn, Magna Carta,
with diuers olde statutes:" no date. In the second
edition of this work, the colophon declares the author's
name in the following terms . " Thus endeth the booke
c&tled Magna Carta, translated oute of Latyn and
Frensfae into Engiishe, by George Ferrerz. Itnprynted
at London, in Paules church-yerde, at the signe of the
Maydens head, by Thomas Petyt. m.d.xlii." Mr.
Hastewood, the unwearied and excellent illustrator of
I the Poetry and Biography of Queen Elizabeth's Teizn,
''" said in his introduction to the recent reprint of the
■ Tower-whoift
, and highly ac-
90
ihe Sherifles, and m depnned to
ogiine, and to the Court bv water,
menddiinn of the Maior and Alden
cepted iif the King and Counccll."
Pol. |i. 608- In 1559, Ferrern again
in the celebrated " Mirror for Magist .
wrote, in conjunction with several of the best versifien
and most learned men of that period i and as the history
of this book is a portion of hia own life, it will not be
irrtlerani to give ii so far as Feirera was eoncemed.
Richard Baldwyne, who may be considered as the fint
of that party which composed the Mirror for Magistrato^
was a graduate of Oxford and an ecclesiastic ; and he, in I
his Preface to the work, states, that Thomas Mar»he« |
the printer, had invited him to take a share in the coai'
Ksition of a continuation of Lydrate's '< Fait of
inces;" in which ihe examples should be selected
from English history. Baldwyne, however, was un-
willing lo enitagc in a wurk so laborious without as-
sistance ; but Marshe soon after provided " divers learned
men, whose manye Kiftes nede lewe prayies, — to lake
upon them parte of the tiavayle." These met together
lo the number of seven, of whom Geoi;ge Ferrers was
oae, and who, after they had agreed upon the plan to '
pursued, wrote the first taJe, entitled, the Fall of Rnbi
Tresilian, Chiefe Justice of England. Etesides this. Ft
rers wrote five other poems, which were, on the mi
(bitunes of Thomas, of Woodstock; Kitig Richard tUlt
Second I Eleanor Cobham; Humphrey, Duke ''
Gloucester J and Edmund, Duke of Somereet; and
the above. Wood adds other stories which he does not
name. Most of these were scattered throu^ the dif-
ferent editions of the Mirror for Maaisiraies, &om 1359,
till 1578. Of that published io the latter year, Mr.
Haslewood is inclined to think Ferrers was the Editor,
since it contains many exclusive altem^tons, and his two
legends of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. In
1575, George Ferrers seems to have been employed by
the Earl of Leicester, as one of the authors lor the en-
tertainment to be given to the Queen ; at which lime
he appears still to nave been in the Othce of Lord of
^,^is-rule. la ihe clcK^nl work, entitled, " Kenilworlh
rated," William Hamper, Esq. of Birmingham,
original MS. of Ma».
session of Henry Ferrers, Esq. of Baddealey Ciinlon, in
, Warwickshire, who was, moat pnibably, a Tery near re-
lative of Geoi^. There is little doubt that they were
the production of the courtly Master of Mis-rule ; and
that the firai part, which ia called " A Cartell for a
Challeng," waBexhibited in the Tilt-yard at Weslminsler,
on November 17th, Iflgo ; when Sir Henry Lee, the
Queen's Champion, resigned the office 10 George Clif-
rard. Earl of Cumberland. It i? supposed that the re-
mainder was presented on a progress, probably when
the Queen viitited Sir Hcniy Lee, at Quarendon, in
Buckinghamshire. Only a small portion of this in-
terestioe composition has been printed before. Eariy in
1^79, beorge Ferrers is supposed to have died at Flam-
stead in Herlfordshire ; as, on the lath of May in that
year, administration was granted on his effects. Having
dwia recorded what la kaowo of the life of Ferrers, the
histotyand nature ofhis office are next 10 be considered.
The title and the duties of a Lord of Mis-rule ap-
pear in England to have had a classical origin ; since
Warton, in his Bisl. of Engl. Poelty, vol.lL sect. xvi.
S„378, mentions, that " in an oriemal draught of the
tetntes of Trinity College, at Cambridge, founded in
IfitC, one of the Chapters is etiltlled, De Piafecto Lu-
dorutH qui ItnperatoT didtur, under whose direction and
Authority, Latin Comedies and Traeedie^ are to be ex-
hibited in the hall at Christmas. With regard tr
peculiar business and office of Imperatot," conti
ttie aame writer, " it is ordered, that one of the
Masters of Arts shall be placed over the juniors, every
Christinas, for the regulation of their games and diver-
sions at that season of festivity. At the same time, he
is to govern the whole BOciely in the hall and chapel, as
a republic committed to his special charge, hy a set of
iaw« which he ia to frame in Latin anil Greek verse.
Uis aoveiieigiity ii to last duriog the twelve days of
^^^1 CliHitiiiu ; and be
^^^P Cundlemas-day." II
^^^f Nor was this pccuUuT
I
lame power art
a forty shillings.
3 the University of Caoibrulice;
r OionitTiiea, speaks of a similar
custom beinK used iii levcral of the Colleg;e3 at Oxlbld,
eapeciallv at Sl John's and Merton. The Inns of Court
also celebrated their Christmas sports undei the direction
of ■ Revel Master, who frequently nM^eived substantial
honour! aud rewards. Wurion mentioua, that a Christ-
inas Prince, elected by the Bociely of the Middle Temple,
in iGSb, was attended by a Lord Keeper, Lord Treasurei,
eight CMcers with while siavea, a band of Geotlenai
Pensioners, and two Chaplains, n-ho preached befiwe
him on the Sunday preceding Chris unas-dar- Thit
holiday Sovereign also dined in the hall and cliamber,
uiider a clolh of estate; while his feaats were mij
with venison by Lord Holland, and by the Loid 1
aud Sheriffs of London with wine. After his rragn
over. King James 1. knighted him at Whitehall,
liame Bystem ofappoinlioga Ruler of Pastimes sei.
have been common through most ranks ; for Stow ob^
serves, thai " the like had ye in the house of eveiy No-
bleman of honour or good worship, were he spiritual or
temporal. The Mayor of London, and either of the
Sherift, had their several Lords of Mis-rule, ever
tending, without quarrel or offence, who should
the rarest pastime to delight the beholders.
L^ids, beginning their rule at Allhallond-Eve, .
tinned the same till the morrow al\cr the Feast of _
Purilicalion, commonly called Candlemga-day : in which
space there were fioe and subtle diseuisingi, masks, and
mummeries, with playing at cards For counters, nayles,
and points in every house, more for pastime than for
* ■■ Strype-s Edil. of Slow,, Book L p. B62. But the
l^wint of the fees, duties, dress, and general use of
the Lord of Mis-rule, is given by the most violeiU
enemy of all sports that probably ever enisted, namely,
Philip Stobba, the vehement author of the " Anatomic
of Abuses." This sitigular writer, while he rails most
iinmodeiaiely at all the fashions and folli« of his age,
condemning them and their votaries to certain perdition,:
■^e^
m
J
Jm ncvsrihekes contrived n
lutely to n
fyt the beuefil of posterity ; and frequently, where Icsi
forupuloiia writers are deficient in their blellii^ence,
dleir imperfections may be amply supplied by a leference
to his pious invectives. Speaking of ihe Liord of Mis-
rule, Stubba writes thus: '* Firsle ail the wilde headn
of the pariahe, convenlynge together, chuse them a
graod Capilaine (of miscbeer), whom they innoble with
the title of my Lorde of Misserule, and hym ihey crown
with great solenmilie, and adopt for ihe'ir kyiig. This
kjng anoynied, chuseth brthc twentie, fourtie, three-
score, or a hundred luatie guttizs like lo hymself, to waite
uppoii his lonlely m^estie, and to guards his noble
persone. Then every one of these hia menne he in-
vesleth with his liveries, of greenc, ycllowe, or some
other light wanton colour. And as though that were not
(baudie) gaudy enoueh, I should saie, they bedeclte
theoiselvea wiUi scarnes, ribons, and laces, nanged all
over with golde rynges, precious stones, and other
jewelles: this doen, ihey tye about either legge, twentie
or fourtie belles, with rich hande-kercheefes in ibeir
handes, and sometymes laied acrosse over their shoulders
and neckea, borrowed for the moBte parte of their pri:iie
Mopsies and loovyng BesGiei, for bussyng them in the
darcke. Thus thmges sette in order, ihey have their
hobby horses *, dragons, and other antiques, together
with their baudie Pii>ers, and ihunderyng Drommers, to
strike up the Deville's daoce-t- witrtall, then marche
these heathen comDanies towardes the Churche and
Churclie-Yarde; their Pipers pipyng, Drommers ihon-
d^ite, their Btumppea dauncyng, tneir belles jyng^yugi
ihcir liandkerchefes swyngyng about their heades like
■ These were formed with the resemblKiice nf a home's
head aod tail, bRrinfc b light wooden frame to he Httsched
to the body of the pemou who nerformed the hahby-horae.
The traiipiiigs and fuoli^lolh, which were ofteo very splendirt,
reached to the ground, and hi concealed the utor'i feet,
while he pranced and curvcll>:d liku a real horse.
t ilie Morris Duace.
mailinen, their Hobbie horses and other monsiec^ sk»r-
mishyng nmnngtl ihe throng: and in this sorte ih'ej
xpe to Uie Churche, (though tlie Minister bee at Praiei
ir Preachyng) dnuneyng and swineyng their haiidket-
cheefcs over their headea
vithe
iche
churche, like Uevilles
nfused noise, that no man
Then the foolishe people,
they laugh, theyRecre, and mounl
;3, to see these goodly jiageaunteg,
rt. Then aflec ihia, aboute the
ue and againe, and so forthe into
they have commonly their
ihey looke, ihey sla
upon forinen and pt
solemnised in this
Ohuicbe they jioc c
ihe Churche-Yardi .
Sommer haulea, iheir Bowera, Arbours, and Banquet-
lyne houses set up, wherein ihey feaste, banijuet,
anadauncc all that daie, and (peradventure) al) night
loo. And thus these lerrestriall hiries spend their &ib~
baoth dale. Then for the further innoblyng of this
honourable Lurdaiie* (Lorde, I ihoidd aaye], they have
also ceriaine papers, wherein is paytited some bablerie or
other, of Imagerie worke, and these ihey call my Lord
of Misrule's badges ; these ihei giue to every one that
will geve money for them, Lo inaintaine them in this theii
heathenrie, deviltie, whorcdome, drunkennesse, pride,
and what not. And who will not shew himseltis
buKOcnet to chem, and give them money for these the
Oeville's Cugnizaunces, they shall be mocked, and
Houted at shamefully. And so assotted are aome, that
thej not onely BJve them money, lo mainlabie their at»-
hominatlon witholl, but alsd wcare their badges ami
co^iiaunces in their haites or cappes, openlye. Ad*
other sort of fantastical! fooler, bring lo these Helhoundtl
(the Lorde of Mis-rule and his complices) some Bread,
some goode Ale, some newe checac, some olde cheesot
some CuBtardea, some Cakes, some ~
Taitcs, some Creame, some Meate, s
■ A Blackhead. — Old French, /jiurdain.
t Compliant, lively, brisk, — Saxon, Bucrum.
; AccordinK to Phillips, this was a tjiecies of eoke, i
with llonr, tggs, butler, and sugar.
some another, btiL if they hnetve that as often as ihej
bring any to the maintcuaunce o( these execrable pas-
tymes, they offer sacrifice to the Devill and Sathaiias,
tnev would repent, and withdrawe their haundes, which
God graunt Ihey male." Edit. 1585. 810. fol. 98. b. Snch
WM a Lord of Mis-rule, whose office, however, branched
out into other circumstances than those now detailed,
but his duties are all equally at' an end, and the name
only remembered. Tlie puritans were the principal
cause of this overthrow; as, in the time of James I., the
raistom was preached against as a relic of the Saiuroa-
iiaD games, deduced iiom the pagan ritual.
I Page 10. — Miuler Mimcasirr.
I From Fuller's fForlhia 0/ England, edit. i002,
I patt in. p. 139. Wood's Alhfnie Oxonienses, vol, I.
p. 369, and Wilson's Memoraiilia CanlaM^cet p, 1 12,
a few particuliirs may be gained of the life of this eminent
■cholar. Dr. Richard Mulcoster. He was the son of
William Mulcasler; was bom at Carlisle, and was de-
scended from an ancient family In Cumberland, which
had been employed by King William I., to defend the
bonier provinces of England from the depredations of
the Scots. Alrer having received his education on ^e
foundation al Eton, in 1S48, he was elected to King's
College, Cambridge; but after taking one degree, ho
icmoved to Christ-Church, Onford, to which he was
elected in ISSS. In December, 1556, he assumed his
Bachelor's degree, and beca ne so eminent for his Greek
learning, that in is6l, he was made the first Master of
the Merchant-Taylors' School, then recently founded.
After jiBsaing npwarilB of twentv-five years in this situ-
ation, in 15gS, he resif^ned It, and was made Head-master
of St. Paul's, where he continued for twelve years more;
and then, on the death of his wife, he retired to the
Hectory of Stamford-Rivers, In Essex, which was given
him by Queen Elizabeth. He was also, in I694, made
AiPrebend of Salisbury, and was sometimes employed by
I tlie Queen in dramatic productlo: '
I l»ar8 for two pa)
*- ^juil I6ib, IGU,
102
was l)UTL«l, in his owti church, by the side of his wife.
The vrorks of Dr. Mulcasier wcie, " Positions;" a book
on the lraiiiingu|) of children, 1,^81, 4to.: " Elemen-
tarie," a volume iin the English langua^ 1589, 4ti>.(l
anil a CatechiEiu for St. Paul's School, in Latin scraf^
1599. evo.
Page l6.~Dorttr.
A word derived front the French noun, Dartrni . ^
Dormitory. It originally signified, accordinQ to PhilUpi
" the common room or place where all the FnE ' — '
Convent sleep together and lie all night."
Page i\.— WTio hei than I, Sfc.
An ancient poetical contraction, and also the origind
Saxon vuord Bel, used for better. During the repeutivf
of the five lines preceding the above, a marginal r
in the first edition of the Princeh Pteaiura, states
•' the Queene saide the actor was niind," in conse^uen
of whichj at p. 37, Audax, hii Son, comes l^ - —
her Majesty to restore his father to sight.
Page 2S. — Merlin Ihe Prophet, enchaed in a rock.
The original of this story, as well as the historv of the
Lady of the Lake herself, is lobe found in the well-koowa.
romance of La Morle d" Arthur ; for the first chapter of
the fourth book, is thus entitled: " How Merlyn wm
assotted and dooted on one of the lades of the lake. Hi
how he was shytle in a rcehe, vnder a stone, and tholj
deyed." The idea of Sir Bruce's revenge, seems t
without foundaiion.
Page 28. — The Heron Hoiae.
The marginal notes to the first edition of Gascoigne
Princely Pleasures, slates that " there was a Hero
House m the Pool ;" the original survey of the
preserved in the Cotton ian Libmry, Tiberius, E. vi
IS, however, so damaged by lire, that this building II
K extant : like many scholars of his time, he ap-
pears to have been employed, both as a writer and an
perlbtaieil Arion. A whole masque of hb composing
will be found ill " The receiving of the Queene's Ma-
jeslie into her Ciiie of Norwich,' which was printed in
Mr- Nichols's Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, vol. II.
E. 36, of that particular tract. There is also in the Har-
lian Manuscripts, preserved in the British Museum, b
poem by GolJingham, which is referred to in vol. III.
of Queen Elizabeth's Progresses, p. n. In the Hartelan
Catalogue, edit. 1808, vol.111, p. 447, it is thus de-
scribetT: " Numb. SgOS. A Quarto coouining a Poem
inscribed lo Queen Elizabeth by Ilcnrv Goldyngham,
and eniillcd the Garden PloL It is an allegorical poem,
(.IIB verses) with a long introduction, (46 verses) in
stanxaa of eix lioes. This aipy is prepared for intro-
ducing illuminations, but none areliuished." In another
Harletaii Manuscript, No. 3695, which is a collection of
" Merry Passages and Jeasts," are two anecdotes con-
cerning GoldinghaiD, one of which, as it relates to the
Kenilworth Pageant, is here transcribed, but the other
is wholly unworihy of being extracted.
"221. There was a spectacle presented lo Q : Eliza-
beth rpon the water, and amongst others, Har: Golding;
was to represent Arion vpon the Dolphin's backe, but
finding his voice to be veir hoarse and vnpleasani when
he came to perfornie it, he teares of hb disguise, and
iweares he was none of Arion, iiot he, but honest Har:
Goldingham; which blunt discoverie pleasd the Queene
better, then if it had gone thorough in the right way;
jet he could order his voice lo an instrutnent exceeding
well." In the romance of Kenilworth this incident ia
given to a ficdtious but well-drawn character called
Michael Lamboume, vide vol. HI. p. 79- Before clos-
e of Pro
it should be remarked, that in the text the
usiy inserted for A tit
:, when translated
.—Zabela.
the last three syllables of the
Lauo, viz. : Eliza-
104
hetba. She is, in page 69, called b^ several other ap-
pelbtione, as AhCeiasile, Cnmplela, and Complacida. The
first of these when divided thus. Ah te t»isile, signifies
Ah thou Queen, lakiuR; the word baslle, for BnriUirs'i;
the second 19 liie feminine gender in the nominative
case, of the Latin adjective Completus, accomplished,
complete ; and the third is also a female name, expres~
sive of pleasing or delighting. It is evident, that both
the exhibitions in which these names were used, were
composed to display to EUiabeth the national wish for
her marriage with Lord Leicester; who is represented in
the latter under the name of Di:ep-desire j while it is
probable thai Due-desire was meant for the Earl of
r!ssex, and that all the other allegorical characters were
but the types of real persnuanes at the Court. Dudley
in this manner showed his policy, by enforcing his owti
suit, and depreciating his rivals, even when the Queen
had withdrawn from the intrigues of government, to
PaBc3\.~Affying.
Asaunng; the word is onginaily derived from the
French verb active Fier, to trust or rely upon. Another
edition reads affirming.
Page31.— Fitrf.
Smooth, polished. — Probably from Fylb, a folding ot
Page 33.— Hotfs.
Small woods, or groves, — derived from the Saxon
Holce.
Page 33.— Bighl. Named, called.
Page 3i.—lffF. Dear-beloved,
RECENTLY PUBLISHED,
Uniformly with the present Work, Post 8vo., embellished
with a fine Portrait qf Queen Elizabeth, in extra boards,
price 5s.
LANEHAM'S LETTER,
Describing the MagniBcent Pageants presented before
Queen Elizabeth, at Kenilworth Castle, in 1575, repeat-
edly referred to in the Romance of Kenilworth ; with
an Introductory Preface, Glossarial and Explanatory
Notes.
** A very diverting Tract, written by as great a Coxcomb
as ever blotted paper." — Kenilworth.
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