Before I came to age _Charles_ had recouered _Fraunce_, And kild my men of warre, so happy was his chaunce: And through a mad contract I made with _Raynerd’s_ daughter I gaue and lost all _Normandy_, the cause of many a slaughter. 25. First of mine vncle _Humfrey_, abhorring sore this act, Because I thereby brake a better precontract: Than of the flattering duke that first the mariage made, The iust rewarde of such as dare theyr princes ill perswade. 26. And I poore sely wretch abode the brunt of all, My mariadge lust so sweete was mixt with bitter gall: My wife was wise and good, had she ben rightly sought, But our vnlawfull getting it, may make a good thing nought. 27. Wherefore warne men beware how they iust promise breake, Least proofe of paynfull plagues do cause them wayle the wreake, Aduise well ere they graunt, but what they graunt performe: For God will plague all doublenes although we feele no worme. 28. I falsly borne in hand, beleued I did well, But all thinges bee not true that learned men doe tell: My clergy sayd a prince was to no promise bound, Whose wordes to be no gospell tho, I to my griefe haue found. 29. For after mariage ioynde queene _Margaret_ and mee, For one mishap afore, I dayly met with three: Of _Normandy_ and _Fraunce_, _Charles_ got away my crowne, The duke of _Yorke_ and other sought at home to put mee downe. 30. Bellona rang the bell at home and all abroade, With whose mishaps amayne fell fortune did mee lode: In _Fraunce_ I lost my forts, at home the foughten field, My kinred slayn, my friendes opprest, my selfe enforst to yeeld. 31. Duke _Richard_ tooke mee twise, and forste mee to resine My crowne and titles, due vnto my father’s lyne: And kept mee as a warde, did all thinges as him list, Till that[1157] my wife through bloudy sword had tane me from[1158] his fist. 32. But though we[1159] slew the duke my sorrowes did not slake, But like to _Hydrae’s_ head still more and more awake: For _Edward_, through the ayde of _Warwicke_ and his brother, From one field draue mee to the _Scots_, and toke me in another. 33. Then went my friendes to wracke, for _Edward_ ware the crowne, From[1160] which for nine yeares space his pryson held me downe: Yet thence through _Warwicke’s_ worke I was agayne releast, And _Edward_ driuen fro the realme, to seeke his friendes by east. 34. But what preuayleth paine, or prouidence of man, To help him to good hap, whom destiny doth ban? Who moyleth to remoue the rocke out of the mud, Shall myre himselfe, and hardly scape the swelling of the flud. 35.