What heart so hard, but doth abhorre to heare The rufull raigne of me the third _Richard_? King vnkindly calde, though I the crown did weare, Who entred by rigour, but right did not regard, By tyranny proceding in killing king _Edward_, Fift of that name, right heyr vnto the crowne, With _Richard_ his brother, princes of renowne. 2. Of trust they were committed vnto my gouernaunce, But trust turned to treason, too truly it was tryed, Both agaynst nature, duty, and alleigaunce, For through my procurement most shamefully they dyed: Desire of a kingdom forgetteth all kinred, As after by discourse it shalbe shewed here, How cruely these innocents in prison murdered[1757] were. 3. The lords and commons all with one assent, Protectour made me both of land and king, But I therewith, alas, was not content: For minding mischife I ment another thing, Which to confusion in short time did mee bring: For I, desirous to rule and raigne alone, Sought crowne and kingdom, yet title had I none. 4. To all peeres and princes a president I may bee, The like to beware how they do enterprise, And learne theyr wretched falles by my fact to foresee, Which rufull stand bewayling my chaunce before theyr eyes, As one cleane bereft of all felicityes: For right through might I cruelly defaced, But might helped right and mee agayne displaced. 5. Alas, that euer prince should thus his honour stayne With the bloud of innocents, most shamefull to be tolde: For these two noble impes I caused to be slaine, Of yeares not full ripe as yet to rule and raigne: For which I was abhorred both of yong and olde, But as the deede was odious in sight of God and man, So shame and destruction in the end I wan. 6. Both God, nature, duty, alleigaunce all forgot, This vile and haynous act vnnaturally conspyred:[1758] Which horrible deede done, alas, alas, God wot, Such terrours mee tormented, and my sprites[1759] fired As vnto such a murder and shamefull deede required, Such broyle dayly felt I breeding in my brest, Whereby, more and more, increased mine vnrest. 7. My brother’s children were right heyres vnto the crowne, Whom nature rather bound to defend then destroy, But I not regarding theyr right nor my renowne, My whole care and study to this end did employe, The crowne to obtayne, and them both to put downe: Wherein I God offended, prouoking iust his ire, For this my attempt and most wicked desire. 8.