Diary of John Manningham Part 33

_The choise of the Regent was the beginning of their broyles. Duke Hamilton a worthie, wise prince, chosen Regent, purposed a marriag twixt Q. Mary and Ed. 6., interrupted by the Clergy, and matched with the Dauphine of Fraunce._[146]

[Footnote 146: This is given by Manningham as the substance of stanzas 34 to 40.]

[Sidenote: fo. 92^b.]

41. Thus to and fro, I, silly wretch, was tost, And made the instrument of either side, Turmoyled with stormes, with wilfull wynde and tyde.

47. The Cardinall of Lorraine bare the purse, The Duke of Guyse the Civil Wars did nurse.

_Our Queene offered hir 30,000 crownes per annum soe she would not marry a forreyner._[147]

[Footnote 147: Manningham's abstract of stanzas 48 to 66.]

67. In heaven they say are weddings first decreed, All though on earth they are solemnized.

70. Soe most unhappy is a princes state Who must have least respect them selves to ease, Barr'd of the right men have of meaner state, Whose choyse is cheife theyr eyes and mynde to please; Noe outward pompe can inward grief appease; A sheepherds lyfe with calme content of mynde Is greater blisse then many princes finde.

78. G.o.d graunt in safety long his life may stay That riper years may yeild a plenteous crop Of virtues which doe kingdomes underprop.

81. Not civil but unciuil wars they were, Twixt man and wife, which jealousy did breede.

82. But if my mynde which was not growne soe base, Or Dauis yeares unfitt for Ladyes loue, As fitt excuses might have taken place.

_Dauis hir secretary gave counsell, that shee should not crowne hir husband. Lord Darly._[148]

[Footnote 148: Abstract of stanzas 83 and 84.]

85. Whose rule was like for to eclipse my power.

86. Not any hate unto the Prince he had, Not unbeseeming loue to me he bare.

88. But as they clyme whom princes doe aduaunce Eache tongue will trip, and envyes eye will glaunce.

[Sidenote: fo. 93.]

89. To be aduanced from a base estate By virtue is indeede a happy thing; But who by fortune clymes will all men hate, Unles his lyfe unlookt for fruit doe bring Wherewith to cure the wound of envies sting, But seldome-tymes is found soe wise a man That gayneing honour well it governe can.

_Of the murther of Davies._

94. I would have wisht some other had him stroke, And in a place more farther from my sight, Or for his right arraigned he had spoke, Or of his death some other sense had light.

95. A Princes presence should a pardon bee, A ladyes shout should moue a manly mynde, A childwifes chamber should from bloud be free, A wife by husband should not slaunder finde.

101. To disvnite their league I went about, For cables crack like threds when they vntuist.

_That not the Queen but others procured Bothwell to murther Lord Darly._[149]

[Footnote 149: Abstract of stanzas 102 to 117. The numbers in this and the following page are printed as in the MS.]

118. It stoode them well upon to finde a way To rid a foe whose power they well might feare; They knewe the King did watch reuenging day, And Bothwell did them litle likeing beare, They knewe ambition might his malice teare, They knewe the hope of kingdome and of me Would win him to the Kings decay agree.

119. To fayne my hand to worke soe greate effect They would not stick to haue their lives a.s.sured.

109. Howe ere it was, by whose soeuer fact, The breache of peace betwixt us growne of late, Our parted bed, my loue which somewhat slackt, Some letters shewed as myne importing hate, With the slender shewe I make in mourners state[150]

Conferred with my match which did ensue, Makes most suppose a false report for true.

[Footnote 150: This line does not occur in Mr. Fry's publication.]

[Sidenote: fo. 93^b.]

110. With equall mynde doe but the matter weigh, And till thou heare my tale thy judgment stay.

114. I craue noe priuiledge to s.h.i.+eld my cause, Lett only reasons balance triall make, A guiltles conscience needes not feare the lawes.

My Nay might answer well a bare suspect, But likelyhoodes of thinges shall me protect.

_That she mourned not._

122. I must accuse the custome of the place, Where most our auncestors themselves doe want Due monuments theyr memoryes to plant.

130. Soe hard it is to virtue to reclayme The mynde where pride or malice giueth ayme.

132. Noe cause soe bad you knowe, but colours may Be layd to beautifie what princes say.

135. A fetch soe foule as to report I shame, Euen to depriue the life I lately gave, And shed the bloud I would have dyed to save.

136. A dangerous thing it is once to incur A common bruit or light suspect of ill, Fame flyeth fast, the worse she is more farr She goeth, and soone a jealous head will fill; What most men say is held for Ghospell still.

_Of hir favors._

148. My suit did crave but liberty to liue Exiled from those at home which sought my bloud; Hir bounty did extend further to giue, With lyfe, eache needefull thing with calling stood, And such repayre of frends as me seemed good; Which had I used as did a guest beseeme I had not bin a prisoner, as I deeme.

149. But winged with an over high desyre.

[Sidenote: fo. 94.]

150. Small provocations serue a willing mynd, Soe p.r.o.ne wee are to clyme against the hill, If honour or reuenge our sayles [soules?] doe fill, But woe is me I ever tooke in hand That to decide I did not understande!

_The cause that moued hir to stir sedition._