as well as the blacke Smith and other suche haue done. All resist that wilfully breake any lawe, not being agaynst God’s lawe, made by common consent for the wealthe of the realme, and commaunded to be kept by the authority of the prince: or that deny to pay such duties, as by consent of the high court of parliament, are appointed to the prince, for the defence and preseruation of the realme.” “You haue saide very truly herein,” quoth[1868] I, “and I trust this terrible example of the blacke Smith, will put all men in minde of their duties, and teach them to bee obedient to all good lawes, and lawfull contributions. The scriptures do forbyd vs to rebell, or forcibly to withstand princes, though they commaund vniust things: yet in any case wee may not doe them: but receiue quietly at the prince’s hand whatsoeuer punishment God shall suffer to bee layd vpon vs for our refusall. God will suffer none of his to bee tempted aboue their strength.”[1869] This talke thus being ended: “I was willed my maisters,” quoth I, “by maister _Holinshed_, to bring sir _Nicholas Burdet_ vnto you.” “Were you?” quoth they: “on his word we will heare what he sayes.” “Read it, I pray you,” quod one. “You must thinke then,” quoth I, “that you see him all wounded as he was slaine at _Pontoise_, to say as foloweth.”] How the Valiant Knight Sir _Nicholas Burdet_, Chiefe Butler of Normandy, was slayne at Pontoise, Anno 1441. 1. “Yf erst at prince’ affayres[1870] wee counted were of truste, To fight in waeged warres, as captayne gainst the foes, And might therefore aliue receiue the guerdon iuste, Which ay his maiesty employde on those: Why should wee so keepe silence now, and not disclose Our noble acts to those remayne aliue, T’encourage them the like exployts t’achiue? 2. For if when as wee werde,[1871] for prince and publique weale, We might to ech for both haue time and place to speake, Then why not now, yf wee to both appeale? Sith both well knowe our dealeings were not weake: Wee clayme as ryghte, in trueth our myndes to breake, The rather eke wee thinke to speake wee franchizde ar, Because wee serude for peace and dyde in prince his war.[1872] 3. Which graunted so, and held deserued due, I may full well on stage supply the place a while, Till I haue playnly layde before your vew That I haue cause, as these, to playne of fortune’s guyle, Which smirking though at first, she seeme to smoothe and smyle, (If fortune bee) who deemde themselues in skyes to dwell, She thirleth downe to dreade the gulfes of ghastly hell. 4.