How Shore’s Wife was Despoiled Author Thomas Churchyard Editor Toby Malone Conversion and Remediation LEMDO Team Markup and Metadata LEMDO Team Copyright Holder (Content) Toby Malone Copyright Holder (XML and interface) University of Victoria Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada McMaster University Poculi Ludique Societas University of Waterloo University of Toronto Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies University of Victoria Friends of the ISE

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 University of Victoria on the Linked Early Modern Drama Online platform

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Queen’s Men Editions

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Modernized excerpts of How Shore’s Wife, King Edward the Fourth’s Concubine, was by King Richard despoiled of all her goods, and forced to do open penance. prepared from Mirror for Magistrates (Churchyard).

I joined my talk, my gestures, and my grace In witty frames, that long might last and stand, So that I brought the king in such a case, That toUp until. his death I was his chiefest hand. I governed him that ruled all this land: I bare the sword, though he did wear the crown, I strakeStruck, swung. the stroke that threw the mighty down. If justice said that judgment was but death, With my sweet words I could the king persuade, And make him pause and take therein a breath, Till I with suite the faulter’s peace had made. I knew what way to use him in his trade, I had the art to make the lion meek, There was no point wherein I was to seek. I took delight in doing each man good, Not scrattingAiding, helping. all myself as all were mine, But looked whose life in need and danger stood, And those I kept from harm with cunning fine On prince’s train I always cast mine eyne. For lifting up the servants of a king, I did through court myself in favor bring. I offered aid before they sued to me, And promised naught, but would perform it straight. I shaked down sweet fruit from top of tree, Made spies fall in laps of men by sleight. I did good turns whiles that I was a height, For fear a flaw of wind would make me reel, And blow me down when Fortune turned her wheel. I filled no chests with chinksPieces of money (OED chink, n.3 3). to cherish age,Provide for later in life. But in the hearts of people laid my gold. Sought love of lord, of master, and of page, And for no bribe I never favor sold. I had enough, I might do what I would, Save spend or give or fling it on the ground, The more I gave the more in purse I found. If I did frown, who then did look awry? If I did smile, who would not laugh outright? If I but spake, who durst my words deny? If I pursued, who would forsake the flight? I mean, my power was known to every wight:Person, creature (OED wight, n. 1.a). On such a height good hap had built my bower, As though my sweet should ne’er have turned to sour. My husband then, as one that knew his good, Refused to keep a prince’s concubine. Foreseeing th’ end, and mischief as it stood, Against the king did never much repine:Grumble, complain (OED repine, v. 1.a). He saw the grape whereof he drank the wine. Though inward thought his heart did still torment, Yet outwardly he seemed he was content. To purchase praise, and win the people’s scale, Yea, rather bent of kind to do some good, I ever did uphold the common weal. I had delight to save the guiltless blood: Each suitor’s cause, when that I understood, I did prefer as it had been mine own, And help them up, that might have been o’erthrown. My power was pressed to right the poor man’s wrong, My hands were free to give where need required. To watch for grace I never thought it long: To do men good I need not be desired, Nor yet with gifts my heart was never hired. But when the ball was at my foot to guide, I played to those that fortune did abide. My want was wealth, my woe was ease at will, My robbers were rich, and braver than the sun. My fortune then was far above my skill, My state was great, my glassHourglass, time. did ever run: My fatal threadLength of time allotted on earth by the Fates. so happily was spun, That then I sat in earthly pleasures clad, And for the time a goddess’ place I had. As long as life was remained in Edward’s breast, Who was but I? Who had such friends at call? His body was no sooner put in chest,A coffin. But well was he that could procure my fall. His brother was mine enemy most of all, Protector then, whose vice did still abound, From ill to worse, till death did him confound. He falsely feigned that I of counsel was To poison him, which thing I never meant, But he could set thereon a face of brass,An impassive, stern look. To bring to pass his lewd and false intent. To such mischief this tyrant’s heart was bent, To God, neNor. man, he never stood in awe, For in his wrath he made his will a law. Lord Hastings’ blood for vengeance on him cries, And many more, that were too long to name, But most of all, and in most woeful wise, I had good cause this wretched man to blame. Before the world I suffered open shame, Where people were as thick as is the sand, I penance took, with taperWax candle for devotional or penitential purposes (OED taper, n.1 a). in my hand. Each eye did stare and look me in the face: As I passed by, the rumors on me ran, But patience then had lent me such a grace, My quiet looks were praised of every man. The shamefast blood brought me such color then, That thousands said, which saw my sober cheer, It is great ruthCompassion, sorrow (OED ruth, n. 1). to see this woman here. But what prevailed the people’s pity there? This raging wolf would spare so guiltless blood: Oh wicked womb, that such ill fruit did bear! Oh cursed earth, that yieldeth forth such mud! The hell consume all things that did thee good, The heavens shut their gates against thy spirit, The world tread down thy glory under foot. I ask of God a vengeance on thy bones: Thy stinking corpse corrupts the air I know. Thy shameful death no earthly wight bemoans, For in thy life thy works were hated so, That every man did wish thy overthrow, Wherefore I may, though partial now I am, Curse every cause whereof thy body came. Woe worth the man that fathered such a child! Woe worth the hour wherein thou wast begat! Woe worth the breasts that have the world beguiled To nourish thee, that all the world did hate! Woe worth the gods that gave thee such a fate To lie so long, that death deserved so oft: Woe worth the chance that set thee up aloft. Woe worth the day, the time, the hour, and all, When subjects clapped the crown on Richard’s head! Woe worth the lords, that sat in sumptuous hall, To honor him that princes’ bloodThe young princes in the Tower, king Edward V and Richard, duke of York, who are supposed to have died at Richard’s command around 1483. so shed! Would God he had been boiled in scalding lead, When he presumed in brother’s seat to sit, Whose wretched rage ruled all with wicked wit. Ye princes all, and rulers everyone, In punishment beware of hatred’s ire. Before ye scourge, take heed, look well thereon: In wrath’s ill will, if malice kindle fire, Your hearts will burn in such a hot desire, That in those flames the smoke shall dim your sight, Ye shall forget to join your justice right. You should not judge till things he well discerned, Your charge is still to maintain upright laws, In conscience rules ye should be thoroughly learned, Where clemency bids wrath and rashness pause, And further sayeth, strike not without a cause: And when ye smite do it for justice sake, Then in good part each man your scourge will take. If that such scale had moved this tyrant’s mind, To make my plague a warning for the rest, I had small cause such fault in him to find, Such punishment is used for the best, But by ill will and power I was oppressed: He spoiledConfiscated. my goods, and left me bare and poor, And caused me to beg from door to door. What fall was this, to come from prince’s fare, To watchScrounge, scavenge. for crumbs among the blind and lame? When alms were dealt I had an hungry share, Because I knew not how to ask for shame, Till force and need had brought me in such frame, That starve I must, or learn to beg an alms, With book in hand, to say St. David’s psalms.David, king of Israel, wrote the majority of the Bible’s psalms. Where I was wont the golden chains to wear, A pair of beads about my neck was wound, A linen cloth was lapped about my hair, A ragged gown that trailed on the ground, A dish that clapped and gave a heavy sound, A stayingSteadying. staff and wallet therewithal, I bare about as witness of my fall. The fall of leaf is nothing like the spring, Each eye beholds the rising of the sun, All men admire the favor of a king: And from great states grown in disgrace they run, Such sudden claps neNot. wit nor will can shun: For when the stool is taken from our feet, Full flat on floor the body falls in street. I had no house wherein to hide my head, The open street my lodging was perforce. Full oft I went all hungry to my bed, My flesh consumed, I looked like a corpse. Yet in that plight who had on me remorse: O God, thou knowest my friends forsook me then, Not one holpHelped, aided. me, that succored many a man. They frowned on me that fawned on me before, And fled from me, that followed me full fast: They hated me, by whom I set much store, They knew full well my fortune did not last. In every place, I was condemned and cast, To plead my cause at bar it was no boot, For every man did tread me underfoot. Thus long I lived, all weary of my life, Till death approached, and rid me from that woe. Example take by me, both maid and wife, Beware, take heed, fall not to folly so: A mirror make by my great overthrow. Defy the world and all his wanton ways, Beware by me, that spent so ill her days.