BY THOMAS ROWLEIE.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

HAROLDE,          bie T.  Rowleie, the Aucthoure. 
GODDWYN,          bie Johan de Iscamme. 
ELWARDE,          bie Syrr Thybbot Gorges. 
ALSTAN,           bie Syrr Alan de Vere. 
KYNGE EDWARDE,    bie Mastre Willyam Canynge.

  Odhers bie Knyghtes Mynnstrells.

PROLOGUE,

Made bie Maistre WILLIAM CANYNGE.

    Whylomme[1]bie pensmenne[2] moke[3] ungentle[4] name
    Have upon Goddwynne Erie of Kente bin layde: 
    Dherebie benymmynge[5] hymme of faie[6] and fame;
    Unliart[7] divinistres[8] haveth faide,
    Thatte he was knowen toe noe hallie[9] wurche[10]; 5
  Botte thys was all hys faulte, he gyfted ne[11] the churche.

    The aucthoure[12] of the piece whiche we enacte,
    Albeytte[13] a clergyon[14], trouthe wyll wrytte. 
    Inne drawynge of hys menne no wytte ys lackte;
    Entyn[15] a kynge mote[16] bee full pleased to nyghte. 10
    Attende, and marcke the partes nowe to be done;
    Wee better for toe doe do champyon[17] anie onne.

  GODDWYN; A TRAGEDIE.

GODDWYN AND HAROLDE.

GODDWYN.

Harolde!

HAROLDE.

Mie loverde[18]!

GODDWYN.

                   O!  I weepe to thyncke,

What foemen[19] riseth to ifrete[20] the londe. 
Theie batten[21] onne her fleshe, her hartes bloude dryncke,
And all ys graunted from the roieal honde.

HAROLDE.

Lette notte thie agreme[22] blyn[23], ne aledge[24] stonde; 5
Bee I toe wepe, I wepe in teres of gore: 
Am I betrassed[25], syke[26] shulde mie burlie[27] bronde
Depeyncte[28] the wronges on hym from whom I bore.

GODDWYN.

I ken thie spryte[29] ful welle; gentle thou art,
Stringe[30], ugsomme[31], rou[32], as smethynge[33] armyes seeme; 10
Yett efte[34], I feare, thie chefes[35] toe grete a parte,
And that thie rede[36] bee efte borne downe bie breme[37]. 
What tydynges from the kynge?

HAROLDE.

                               His Normans know. 
    I make noe compheeres of the shemrynge[38] trayne.

GODDWYN.

Ah Harolde! tis a syghte of myckle woe, 15
To kenne these Normannes everich rennome gayne. 
What tydynge withe the foulke[39]?

HAROLDE.

    Stylle mormorynge atte yer shap[40], stylle toe the kynge
    Theie rolle theire trobbles, lyche a sorgie sea. 
    Hane Englonde thenne a tongue, butte notte a stynge? 20
    Dothe alle compleyne, yette none wylle ryghted bee?

  GODDWYN.

    Awayte the tyme, whanne Godde wylle sende us ayde.