Book IX, Chapter 46

EDward, surnam'd the blacke Prince, and third Edwards eldest sonne,
Third Thomas Duke of Norffolke, This did ende, and That begonne,
From Normaine Williams Conqueste heere of Dukes the Title hie:
Of fortie seuen, but twentie two a naturall death did die.
Edward ye Duke of Yorke, that lead fifth Henries Vaward Knightly,
Then slaine at Agencourt with fame, we ouerpasse him lightly:
Nor Humfrey Duke of Glocester heere catalogue we rightly:
Nor William Duke of Suffolke, who, exilde, on seas was met,
And, hated, headded: howbeit sixt Henries Fauoret:
Nor Edmund Duke of Somerset, that Henries loued Peere:
Nor Humfrey Duke of Buckingham, to that same King as deere:
Nor sweet yong Richard, Duke of Yorke, of Glosters kyn too neere:
We also two Plantagenets, both Dukes of Clarence cleere,
Of which was Thomas slaine in France, George drownd in Malmsie heere:
For though these Eight remembred Dukes deceast not in their beads,
Yeat none of these had traytrous hearts that forfetted their heads:
Howbeit, otherwise, of these weare some that erred so,
That, stomack't for such Errors, did their ends vntimely groe.
Nor was the Duke of Ireland, Vere, in second Richards time,
A Traytor, but a Parasite, which proude no lesse a crime:
He as ambitious, as he was enuious, and enuied,
Was banisht by the Nobles, and in banishment he died.
Mowbreie of Norffolke (right or wrong) by foresaid Richard was
Exiled, and in Italie did hence to nature pas.
When second Richard was deposde, and Henrie wore the Crowne,
Two Hollands, to restore the one and put the other downe,
Conspiring, weare detected, and at Cercester they both,
Of Excester, and Surrey Dukes, found death in Vulgar wroth.
Richard Plantagenet, the Duke of Yorke, fourth Edwards father,
Sought to depose fixt Henrie, and was heard therein the rather,
For that to him by law-Descents the Scepter did acrew:
But they compound, howbeit warres were reard, and him they slew.
Iohn Holland, Duke of Excester, fourth Edwards sentence fleade,
And was long after in the sea suspuicusly found dead.
Then Henry, Duke of Somerset, rebelling lost his heade.
Of Edmund, Duke of Somerset, the like is also reade.
So Henrie, Duke of Buckingham, third Richards friend-foe speade.
And that tyrannous Richard, Duke of Glocester, his Raigne
Vsurped was suppressed, he for blood payd blood againe.
Iohn, Duke of Norffolk, fought, and fell at Bosworth field. His sonne
Duke Thomas, in Eight Henries daies, did heading hardly shonne,
Adiudg'd perpetuall Durance, in Queene Maries raigne vn-donne.
Wolsey, that slye, officious, and too Lordly Cardnall, wrought
(Who could & would effect his wil) that to the blocke was brought,
Eight Henrie raigning, Edward Duke of Buckingham, whose end
That Prelate ioyde, the people moend, because his foe, their friend.
Seimer, the Duke of Somerset, enuied more than reason,
By one that came the next to Blocke, though mightie at that season,
Sixt Edward in Minoritie, dide, quit although of treason.
No sooner Marie got the crowne, more liklie to be gon,
But Iohn, Duke of Northumberland, beheaded was anone,
Who wrought to set the Diedeme Iane Dudlies heade vpon.
Her Father Henrie Gray, the Duke of Suffolke, was also
A friend vnto that Faction, & the Spanish Wowers foe:
But by that act he lost his heade, as did too many moe.
In blessed Queene Elizabeth her happie Raigne of peace,
The Tragedies, and Tytles too, of English Dukes did cease,
Which Thomas, Duke of Norffolke, laste Tragedian, did increase.

All theis weare mightie in their times: yeat being Male-contents,
Both they, and hundreds powerfull Peeres, for like found like Euents:
Howbeit of the common wealth none worser did desarue,
Than such as flattred Princes faults, who faulting, all did swarue.
Which, in their Pollicie, the States of Hell did then fore-see,
When as they ioyned others, Aydes, vnto the Furies three,
Narcissus Shadowe, and the Voice of Eccho: than which twaine,
How fabulous so-ere it seeme, nought hath or more doth baine:
Wherefore to such as know them not we either thus explaine.