For seing wee were his deare allied frends, Our furderaunce should rather haue made him glad, Then, enmy like, to wish our wofull ends, Wee were the nerest kinsfolke that he had: Wee ioyed with him, his sorrowe made vs sad, But hee esteemde so much his paynted sheath, That he disdaynd the loue of all beneath. 47. But see how sharply God reuengeth sinne: As hee maligned mee, and many other His faithfull friends, and kindest of his kin, So _Richard_, duke of _Glocester_, his very[1271] brother, Maligned him, and beastly did him smother: A deuelish deede, a most vnkindly part, Yet iust reuenge for his vnnaturall hart. 48. Although this brother-queller, tirant fell, Enuide our state as much and more then hee: Yet did his cloaking flattery so excell To all our frendes ward, chiefly vnto mee, That hee appeard our trusty stay to bee: For outwardly hee wrought our stay to furder, Where inwardly he mynded nought saue murder. 49. Thus in appearaunce who but I was blest? The chiefest honors heaped on my head, Belou’d of all, enioying quiet rest: The forward prince by mee alone was led, A noble impe, to all good vertues bred: The king, my liege, without my counsaile knowne, Agreed nought: though wisest were his owne. 50. But quiet blisse in no state lasteth long Assailed still by mischief many wayes: Whose spoyling battry glowing hote and strong, No flowing welth, no force nor wisdom staies, Her smoakles poulder beaten souldiers slaies: By open force, foule mischief oft preuailes, By secret sleight, shee seeld her purpose failes. 51. The king was bent too much to foolish pleasure, In banqueting he had so[1272] greate delight: This made him grow in grosnes out of mesure, Which as it kindleth carnall appetite, So quencheth it the liuelynes of the sprite:[1273] Whereof ensue such sicknes and diseases, As none can cure, saue death, that all displeases. 52. Through this fault furdered by his brother’s fraud, (Now God forgeiue me if I iudge amisse) Or through that beast, his ribald, or his baud, That larded still these sinfull lusts of his, He sodainely forsooke all worldly blisse: That loathed leach, that neuer welcome death, Through spasmous humours stopped vp his breath. 53.