These strayt assented to doe what they could, So did the lord _Hastings_ and lord _Fauconbridge_: Which altogether promised they would Set all their power the king’s dayes to abridge: But see the spite, before the byrdes were flydge The king had word and seasoned[579] on the nest, Whereby, alas, my freendes were all opprest. 16. The bloudy tyrant brought them all to end Excepted mee, which into _Scotland_ scapt,[580] To _George_ of _Dunbar_ th’earle of _March_, my frend, Who in my cause all that hee could ey scrapt: And when I had for greater succour gapt,[581] Both at the _Frenchmen_ and the _Fleming’s_ hand, And could get none, I tooke such as I fand. 17. And with the helpe of _George_ my very frend, I did enuade _Northumberland_ full bolde, Whereas the folke drewe to mee still on end,[582] Bent to death my party to vpholde: Through helpe of these, full many a fort and holde, The which the king right manfully had mand, I easely wonne, and seised in my hand. 18. Not so content (for vengeaunce draue mee on) I entred _Yorkeshire_, there to wast and spoile: But ere I had far in the countrye gone, The shiriffe thereof, _Rafe Rokesby_ did assoyle My trobled hoast of much part of our toyle: For hee assaulting freshly tooke through power, Mee and lord _Bardolph_ both, at _Bramham_ More. 19. And thence conueyed vs to the towne of _Yorke_, Untill hee knewe what was the kinge’s entent:[583] There loe lord _Bardolph_ kinder than the storke, Did lose his head, which was to _London_ sent, With whome for friendship mine in like case went, This was my hap my fortune or my faute, This life I led and thus I came to naught. 20. Wherefore, good _Baldwine_, will the peeres take heede, Of slaunder, malice, and conspiracy, Of couetise, whence all the rest proceede, For couetise ioynt with contumacy, Doth cause all mischiefe in men’s hartes to breede: And therefore this to _esperance_ my word, Who causeth bloudshed shall not escape[584] the sword.[585]