we begynne?” “Wyth the west _Saxons_,” quoth _Inquisition_, “for they subdued the other six, and returned the realme into one monarchie. And surely _Ewe_, their first king, were worthy the speaking of, who for hys wife _Eheldreda’s_ pleasure, gaue ouer al his royalties, and then went to _Rome_, like a begger, in pilgrimage. But we wyl not spende our time in hearing these deuout men. Let vs (if you please) see what this meaneth: behold a heardman doth holde in his hand a headlesse body, who by his apparel would seeme to be some forlorne thing: shall I inquire of the man what the matter meaneth?” “No,” quoth _Memory_, “you neede not, for I see he wyl doo it without request.” Wherewyth the heardman lamenting both his harde happe and his good successe, sayde as followeth.] THE COMPLAINT OF SIGEBERT. How Sigebert was thrust from his throne, and miserably slayne by a heardman. This tragedie dooth teach both prince and subject his duetie at large.[1213] 1. Two parts in one a heardman here must play, My tale must tende eche prince’s lyfe to mende, And this my talke most playnely must displaye, How farre a subiect may himselfe defende Agaynst his liege,[1214] his souerayne lorde and king, If his default his commonweale dooth bring To miserie: therefore a litle while Attende, and knowe the tenoure of my stile. 2. A subiect I of base and lowe degree, This headlesse corps of lyfe I did depriue, (King _Sigebert_ it was) with crueltie: Whose lust was lawe, whilst he was here aliue, To feele my force it was his destinie: Then crueltie I wrackt with crueltie, And to reuenge the wrong that earst he wrought, With losse of lyfe his lawlesse lust he bought. 3. This _Sigebert_ the _Saxons_ rulde by west, Their auncient lawes he at his lyst did chaunge, For which his commons did him much detest: The duke of _Cornwell_ woulde not let him raunge Thus at his wyll, but wisht him like a friend, To mende his faultes, or els his life to ende: Then he in rage this duke my master’s lyfe, His cruel handes bereaude with blooddy knife. 4. A lawelesse life to lawlesse death dooth hale, When witlesse wil wyl passe the powere of may: Then il mishappe dooth drowne in dolour’s dale The peruerse prince, whose wit doth beare the sway: Iust _Abel’s_ blood to God for vengeance calde, For blood with blood the bloodsheader is thralde, And him whom here before you I present, For sheading bloode, my blade his lyfe hath hent. 5.