_Baldwine_, when thou hearest my reason[1817] in this case, Belike thou thinkest[1818] I was not very wise, And that I was accurst, or else wanted[1819] grace, Which knowing the end of my fond enterprise, Would thus presume agaynst my prince to rise: But as there is a cause that moueth euery woe, Somewhat there was whereof this sore did growe. 46. And to bee playne and simple in this case, The cause why I such matter tooke in hand, Was nothing els but pryde and lacke of grace, Vayne hope of helpe, and tales both false and fond: By meane whereof I did my prince withstand, Denied the taxe assest by conuocation, To mayntaine war agaynst the _Scottishe_ nation. 47. Whereat the _Cornish_ men did much repine, For they of golde and siluer were full bare, And liued hardly, digging in the myne, They sayd they had no money for to spare: Began first to grudge, and then to sweare and stare, Forgot theyr due obeysaunce, and rashly fell to rauing, And sayd they would not beare such polling and such shauing. 48. They fyrst accusde the king as authour of their greife, And then the bishop _Moreton_, and sir _Reinold Bray_: For they then were about the king most cheife, Because they thought the whole[1820] fault in them lay: They dyd protest to rid them out of the way: Such thanke haue they that rule aboue a prince, They beare the blame of other[1821] men’s offence. 49. When I perceiude the commons in a roare, Then I and _Flamoke_ consulted both together,[1822] To whom the people resorted more and more, Lamenting and crying, help vs now or neuer, Breake this yoake of bondage,[1823] then are wee free for euer: Wherat [wee] inflamed in hope to haue a fame,[1824] To bee their captaynes tooke on vs the name. 50. Then might you heare the people make a shout, [And cry] “God saue the captaynes, and send vs all good speede:” Then hee that fainted was counted but a lout,[1825] The ruffians ran [abroade] to sowe seditious seede: To call for company [then] there was no neede, For euery man laboured another to entice,[1826] To bee partaker of his wicked vice. 51. Then all such newes as made for our auayle, Was brought to me, but such as sounded ill, Was none so bould to speake or yet bewayle: Euerich was so wedded vnto[1827] his will, That foorth they cryed with bowes, sword,[1828] and byll: And what the rufler spake the lout tooke for a verdite, For there the best was worst, [the] worst [was] best regarded. 52.