This was my boast, which lastly was my bane, Yet not this boast was it that brought me downe: The very cause which made my weale to wane So neere of kin that I was to the crowne, That was the rock that made my ship to drowne A rule there is not fayling, but most sure, Kingdome no kin doth know, ne can indure. 9. For after my brother, the fift _Henry_,[713] Wan by conquest the royall realme of _Fraunce_, And of two kingdoms made one monarchy Before his death, for better obaysaunce To his yong sonne, not ripe to gouernaunce, Protector of _England_ I was by testament, And _Iohn_ my brother in _Fraunce_ made regent. 10. To whome if God had lent a longer life, Our house to haue[714] kept from stormes of inward strife, Or it had beene the Lord Almightie’s will _Plantagenet_[_te’s_ name] in state had standen still: But deadly discord, which kingdomes great doth spill[715] Bred by desire of high domination, Brought our whole house to playne desolation. 11. It is for truth in an history founde, That _Henry Plantagenet_, first of our name, Who called was king _Henry_ the second, Sonne of dame _Mawde_, the empresse of high fame, Would oft report that his auncient grandame, Though seeming in shape a woman naturall, Was a feend of the kind that (_Succubæ_) some call. 12. Which old fable, so long time told before, When this kinge’s sonnes against him did rebell, Hee cald to minde, and being greeued sore, “Loe! now,” quod hee, “I see and proue full well The story true, which folk of old did tell, That from the deuill[716] descended all our race, And now my children verify[717] the case.” 13. Whereof to leaue a long memoriall In minde of man euermore[718] to rest, A picture hee made and hung it in his hall Of a pellicane sitting on his nest, With four yong byrdes, three pecking at his brest, With bloudy beakes, and furder did deuise, The yongest byrde to pecke the father’s eyes. 14. Meaning hereby his rebell children three, _Henry_ and _Richard_, [who] bet him on the breast: (_Ieffrey_ onely from that offence was free) _Henry_ dyed of _England’s_ crowne possest: _Richard_ liued his father to molest, _Iohn_ the yongest pect [still] his father’s eye, Whose deedes vnkind the sooner made him dye. 15.