O stubborne England, that with such foresigne From future euill couldst not warned bee: When heau’n and earth destruction did diuine, For thy rebellious sinne to fall on thee, Why didst thou close thy eyes and would’st not see? When God did thunder iudgement in thine eare, Why wert thou deafe, as if thou would’st not heare? 34. For pitie reade thy ruine, drawing nigh, Vpon the crystall battlements of heauen, Where grau’d in golden letters to each eie, Thou maiest behold thy wretched kingdome giuen Into a stranger’s hand: thy sad king driuen To flie from thee forlorne and leaue his state, Sold to misfortune by his subiects hate. 35. Let time’s blacke hand blot out the memorie Of that vile age, and let it not be said That _Iohn_ did euer guide this emperie, That future time with shame may not vpbraid This nation’s name, by whom I was betraid, And say that subiects yet did neuer bring Such grieuous wrongs vpon a wretched king. 36. To guide thy muse, that she the cause may know Whence first these euils in the state did spring, To blood-built Rome, our Albion’s ancient foe, Nurse of all factions, let her take swift wing, That when this wofull storie she shall sing, She truly may define the Roman hate, Which first did broch these mischiefes in our state. 37. When as our England’s metropolitan Leauing his life, had left at emptie chaire, I did elect a right religious man, Who with the best might in those daies compare, For habitude to manage that affaire: In whose behalf at Rome I did entreate, That he might be installed in that seate. 38. Great Rome then in the ruffe of all her pride, Deiects my suite with proud contempt, and chose _Langton_, a man vnfit that place to guide, On which such trust in state we did repose, Since he was nurst in France amongst our foes: And might in time, bearing such rule in state, Vnto my fortunes worke vnluckie fate. 39. For this with Rome’s proud priest thus I contend, “Thinke not,” said I, “that I that right will yeeld, On which my royaltie doth sole depend, The same in spight of hate I trust to shield, While I shall liue this scepter’s state to wield: No power on earth in my despight shall place A stranger in my realme to my disgrace. 40.