[When[671] this was sayde, quoth[672] one of the company: “Let passe these _Scottish_ matters, and returne wee to our _English_ storyes which minister matter enough of tragedy, without seking or trauayling to forayne countreyes. Therefore returne wee to the rest of the tragicall troubles and broyles which happened in this realme during the minority of king _Henry_ the sixt, and the sondry falls and ouerthrowes of great princes and other noble persons happening thereby.” “Well sayd (qd maister _Ferrers_) as[673] it happeneth I haue penned here two[674] notable tragedies, the one of _Humfrey_ duke of _Glocester_, the other of the duchess _Elianor_ his wife, which (as mee seemeth) be two of the most memorable matters fortuning in that[675] time: but whether of them is to bee placed first in[676] the order of our booke, I somwhat stand in doubt. For albeit the sayd duke’s death happened before the deceasse of the duches, yet was her fall first, which finally was cause of both.”[677] “Why should you doubt then (quod the rest of the company) for seeing the cause doth alwayes goe before th’effect and sequell of any thing, it is good reason you should begin with her first. And therefore wee pray you let vs heare first what shee hath to say: for all this while wee haue not heard the complaynt of any lady or other woman.”] How Dame _Elianor Cobham_ Duchesse of Glocester, for practising of witchcraft and sorcery, suffred open penaunce, and after was banished the realme into the Ile of Man. 1. If a poore lady damned in exile Amongst princes may bee allowed place, Then, gentle _Baldwine_, stay thy pen a while, And of pure pitty ponder well my case, How I a duches, destitute of grace, Haue found by proofe, as many haue and shall, The prouerbe true, that pride will haue a fall. 2. A noble prince extract of royall bloud, _Humfrey_, sometime protector of this land, Of _Glocester_ duke, for vertue calde, the good, When I but base beneath his state did stande, Vouchsafte with mee to ioyne in wedlocke’s band, Hauing in court no name of high degree, But _Elinor Cobham_, as parents left to mee. 3. And though by birth[678] of noble race I was, Of baron’s bloud, yet was I thought vnfitte So high to match, yet so it came to passe, Whether by grace, good fortune, or by witte, Dame _Venus’_ lures so in mine eyes did sitte, As this great prince without respect of state, Did worthy mee to bee his wedded mate. 4.