I did a feast through al my realme proclame, At which both _Danes_ and _Englishmen_ did meete, Then secretely my friendes, and I did frame, That _Englishmen_ the _Danes_ shoulde friendly greete, And at the feast that they shoulde doo their feate: And that they might the better woorke their wyl, They thus were plast according vnto skill. _Two before one, and three before fiue, Here two, and there two, and foure them beliue: Here one, and there one, and three at a cast, Then one, and twice two, and one at the last._ 16. They mingled thus, the watchworde wysely geuen, And _Englishmen_ with weapons wel bestead, The _Danes_ amidst their cuppes were shauen and shriuen: Fiue hundred thousand in one day were dead:[1243] Now note the ende of blood so beastly shed, For _Swane_ the king of _Denmarke_ did ariue, He for reuenge did me to _Richard_ driue. 17. Marke here how lawlesse polices preuaile, Their good successe doo promise present payne: What, may man’s vayne deuises ought auaile? Dishonest deedes no honour can obtayne, Al murthering massacres be vile and vayne, Such suttle slayghtes haue neuer good successe; The proofe whereof with payne I here expresse. 18. For _Swane_ with swoorde and fyre did[1244] destroye, Both man and beast, and euery earthly thing, He did that noble _London_ much annoy, He wonne the realme and was the _Englishe_ king: When tract of time him to his beere did bring, _Canutus_ then his sonne did him succeede, Whom to displace I did despatch with speede. 19. My brother _Richarde_ duke of _Normandy_, Of _Normans_ gaue to me a goodly bande, By helpe of whom _Canutus_ forst to flee, I got agayne the kingdome of _Englande_, But out (alas) what thing may fyrmely stande, Whose vnder-propt is of so litle might? That want of strength dooth let thinges drop downright. 20. _Canutus_ did from _Denmarke_ nowe returne, The wrathful wight appoynted passyng strong, My subiects slue, my cities he did burne; Which when I hearde I liude not very long, My faynting hart was thronged with a throng Of cares, which broke it in my feareful brest, And so at last death brought my bones to rest. 21. Twice tenne and eight I ranne my ruthful race, And then in _Paule’s_ my cursed corps was layde, _Canutus_ did my common-weale deface, The _Danes_ were kinges, my kingdome was decayde,[1245] This worlde is frayle, and euery thing must fade, But alwayes that which wanteth gouernment, That fyrst dooth feele the force of danger’s dent. [THE INDUCTION.