How glad were wee, thinke you, of this alyaunce? So neerely coupled with so noble[1252] a king: Who durst with any of vs bee[1253] at defiaunce Thus made of might the mightyest to wring? But fye, what cares doe highest honoures bring? What carelesnes our selues or frendes to knowe? What spyte and enuy both of high and lowe? 26. Because the king had made our sister queene, It was his honour to prefer her kin: And sith the redyest way, as wisest weene, Was first by wedding welthy heyres to win, It pleasde the prince by[1254] like meane to begin: To mee hee gaue the rich lord _Scales_ his heyre, A vertuous mayde, in my minde very[1255] fayre. 27. Hee ioyned to my brother _Iohn_, the olde Duches of _Northfolke_ notable of fame: My nephue _Thomas_ (who had in his holde The honour and right of marquise _Dorcet’s_ name) Espoused _Cicelie_, a right welthy dame, Lord _Bonuile’s_ heyre: by whome hee was possest In all the rightes where through that house was blest. 28. The honours that my father[1256] attaynd were diuers, First Chamberlayne, then constable hee was: I doe omit the gaynfullest, earle _Riuers_: Thus glistred wee to[1257] glory, clere as glasse: Such miracles can princes bring to passe Among theyr lieges, whom they minde to heaue To honours false, who all theyr gestes deceiue. 29. Honoures are like that cruell king of _Thrace_, With new come gestes that fed his hungry horses: Or like the tyrant _Busiris_, whose grace Offred his gods all straungers strangled corses: To forreyners so hard false honor’s force is, That all her bourders, straungers, eyther geastes, She spoyles to feede her gods and greedy beastes. 30. Her gods be those whom God by law, or lot, Or kinde by byrth, doth place in highest roumes, Her beastes bee such as greedely haue got Office, or charge, to guide the seely gromes: These officers in law, or charge, are bromes That sweepe away the sweete from simple wretches, And spoyle th’[1258]enriched by theyr crafty fetches. 31. These plucke downe those whome princes set aloft, By wresting lawes, and false conspiracyes: Yea kings themselues by these are spoyled oft, When wilfull princes carelesly despise To heare th’[1259]oppressed people’s heauy cryes, Nor will correct theyr polling theues, then God Doth make those reues the reckles princes’ rod. 32.