The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #81735   Message #1498869
Posted By: chico
03-Jun-05 - 12:25 AM
Thread Name: Lyr:Life and Death of the Great Duke of Buckingham
Subject: Lyr:LIFE AND DEATH OF THE GREAT DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM
Air -- 'Come live with me'

When wars did plague this maiden land
Great Buckingham in grace did stand
With kings and queens he ruled, lo
When he said aye, none durst say no

Great Gloucester's Duke that wash'd the throne
With blood of kings to make his own
By Henry Stafford's help obtain'd
What reason will'd to be refrain'd.

If any noble of this land
Against great Gloucester's arm did stand
Old Buckingham with might and power
In seas of woes did him devour

He hoped when Richard was made King
He would much greater honor bring
To Buckingham and to his name
And well reward him for the same

In Clarence' death he had a hand
And 'gainst King Edward's queen did stand
And to her sons bore little love
When he as bastards would them prove

In London, having pleaded claim
And Richard thereby won the game
He challeng'd honor for his gain
But was rewarded with disdain

On which disgrace within few hours
Great Buckingham rais'd his powers
But all in vain, the king was strong
And Stafford needs must suffer wrong

His army fail'd and durst not stand
Upon a traitor's false command
Thus Richard sought to cast him down,
Whose wit did win him England's crown

The King, with speed to have him found
Did offer full two thousand pound
The plain old Duke, his life to save
Of his own man did succor crave

Base Banister, this man was nam'd
By this vile deed forever sham'd
It is quote he, a common thing
To injure him that wrong'd his king

Thus Banister his master sold
Unto his foe for hire of gold
But his and rightly see
The just reward of treachery

For when the King did hear him speak
How basely he the Duke did take
Instead of gold, gave him disgrace
With banishment from town and place

Let traitors this behold and see
And such as false to masters be
Let disobedient sons draw near
These judgments well may touch them near

Both old and young that live not well
Look to be plagu'd by heaven or hell
So have you heard the story then
Of this great Duke of Buckingham

['Crowne Garland of Goulden Roses', Richard Johnson editor, 1612. Vid. Heywood's Edward IV, Pt 2. Perf 1592, pub 1599)