faction of the house of _Yorke_, set vpon the kinge’s army, gate the victory, and slue _Edmund Beauford_ duke of _Somerset_. Where also the same day were slaine in the quarell of king _Henry_ the sixt, _Henry Percy_ the second[823] of that surname, earle of _Northumberland_, _Humfreye_ earle of _Stafford_, sonne and heire to _Humfrey Stafford_,[824] duke of _Buckingham_, _Iohn_ lord _Clifford_, _Babthorpe_ the kinge’s attorney and his sonne and heire, besides many moe of the nobility. But[825] because the duke of _Somerset_[826] was the chiefe of that part, passing ouer the rest, let vs onely heare him speake for all.”] The tragedy of _Edmund_ Duke of Somerset, slayne in the first battayle at Sainct Albane’s, the 23 day of May, in the 32 yeare of _Henry_ the sixte, Anno 1454. 1. Some I suppose are borne vnfortunate, Els good endeuours could not ill[827] succede, What shall I call it? ill fortune or fate, That some men’s attempts haue neuer good speede,[828] Their[829] trauaile thankles, all booteles their heede, Where other vnlike in working or skill, But wrestle[830] the world, and wyeld it at will.[831] 2. Of the first nombre I count my selfe one,[832] To all mishap I weene predestinate, Beleeue mee, _Baldwine_, there bee fewe or none, To whome fortune was euer more ingrate: Make thou, therefore, my life a caueat: That who so with force will worke against kinde, Sayleth (as who sayth) agaynst the streame and winde. 3. For I of _Somerset_ [which] duke _Edmund_ hight, Extract by discent from _Lancaster_ lyne, Were it by folly, or fortune’s despite,[833] Or by ill aspect of some crooked signe, Of mine attempts could neuer[834] see good fine: What so I began did seldome well end: God from such fortune all good men defend. 4. Where I thought[835] to saue, most part did I spill, For good hap with mee was alway at warre: The linage of _Yorke_ whom I bare so ill, By my spite became bright as the morning starre,[836] Thus somewhiles men make when faine they would mar, The more yee lop trees the greater they growe, The more ye stop streames, the higher they flowe. 5. Maugre my spite,[837] his glory[838] grewe the more, And mine, as the mone in the wane, waxt lesse: For hauing the place which hee had before, Gouernour of _Fraunce_, needes I must confesse, That lost was _Normandy_ without redresse, Yet wrought I alwayes that wit might contriue, But what doth it boote with the streame to striue?[839] 6.