Vntimely death shall not destroy his dayes: For if he wyl returne to _Rome_ agayne, Or if he wil resigne his crowne with prayse, Or if hee wyl amongst vs styl remayne. If he can like of these, we wyl refrayne From sheading bloude which if he dothe disdayne, I then against my wyl, must woorke his paine. 31. So foorth I past with all my power prest, _Seuerus_ did at _Durham_ then delay, Whereas I mente his state to haue distrest: But some I thinke my secretes did bewray, For he to _Yorke_ in hast did take his way: Which when I had besiegde on euery side, With care and griefe of mind, _Seuerus_ dide. 32. Se heere the force of cruel fretting care? Se heere how sorowe doth dismay the minde? For when he harde _Carassus_ did prepare To reue his crowne, he iudging me vnkinde, With sobbing sighes of sorrowe, he resignde Before his time his minde from manly breste: Beholde with care how sorrowe reaues man’s rest. 33. Thus he intombde in his vntimely chest, It was decreed _Carassus_ shoulde be king, The three estates of al my realme were prest, With one consent they al to me did bring The kingly crowne, then thus they al did singe, “The due deserts of this renowmed wyght, Deserues to be the _Britayne_ king by right.” 34. Marke by what steppes I dyd the toppe obtayne, With keeping sheepe my youthful yeares were spent: Then with the whyp I plide the plowe amayne, In _Mars_ his feeldes to fight my minde was bent, As legate then to _Rome_ my selfe was sente, I dubbed was a lorde of high renowne, And now at laste I haue obtayn’d the crowne. 35. The ende, the acte[1176] (the plaudite) dooth proue, And all is well, whose endyng is not yll: Who sittes aloft had neuer neede to moue, For feare least he shoulde fall agaynst his wyll: Though creepyng he dyd gayne the toppe with skil, Yet at the last, by turning of his toe, A suddayne fall may worke his wretched woe. 36. Which fall I felt, and how? I here wyll showe: When I as king dyd all the realme comaunde, I fearefull dyd suspect mine ouerthrow: The place (mee thought) did shake where I dyd stande: Then for my garde I dyd prouide a bande Of warlyke wights, to garde my noble grace, I lastly dyd my noble men displace. 37.