The deserved downfall of a corrupted conscience,
degraded from all Authority and titles of Knighthood,
censured in the high Court of Parliament, and executed
at the Kings Bench barre upon the 20. day of
June last, 1621. in the presence of foure
great Peeres of this Kingdome.
To the tune of, The humming of the Drone.
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I T was my chance of late
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in Westminster to be,
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Whereas in gallant state
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great numbers I did see,
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attending all
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in that great Hall,
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Where Justice is decreed,
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and people store
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came more and more,
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Which did amazement breed.
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At last, my longing eyes
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(expecting some strange thing)
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Bright Marshals men espies.
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with Harrolds of our King,
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awaiting there
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as dunes were,
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To have some action done,
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where presently
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I heard a cry,
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[Mak]e roome, for now they come.
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[?]es of London than
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[?] to the Barre
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[?] [gent]leman,
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[?] [w]ith much care:
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[?] back
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[?] lack
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[?]nfull cheere,
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[?]ence
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[?]
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It seem'd he was a Knight,
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and Justice by degree,
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By wrongs in stead of right,
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great benefits gain'd he:
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by wrested Lawes
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much wealth he drawes
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From many a poore mans state,
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for which it seem'd,
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he thus was deem'd
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A bribed Magistrate.
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Unto the Barre thus brought,
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foure Nobles of our Land,
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By wisedome fittest thought,
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did in Commission stand,
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to take away
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his titles gay
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Of Knighthood and renowne,
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and that high grace
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of Justice place
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In open Court lay downe.
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In that the King him gave
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these honors by his love,
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So likewise must they have
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an order of remove,
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be noble States
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and Magistrates
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Of great account and place:
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and thus was he
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from dignity,
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Made servile, meane and base.
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Before high Justice seat,
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the Harrolds there him set,
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And did at full repeat
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his knightly titles great,
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and him attir'd
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as place requir'd
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In robes of Knighthood brave,
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with spurs and sword,
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as did accord
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What grace his Highnesse gave.
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All which was taken quite,
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by order and command,
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From this degraded Knight,
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by a Marshals servants hand,
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in open Court,
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before a sort
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Of Barons, Lords and Knights:
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to his disgrace,
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even in that place
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Where Justice pleadeth rights.
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The second Part. To the same Tune.
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H Is Sword of Knighthood, first
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was cut from off his side,
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And over his head there burst,
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that should have beene his pride,
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and Knighthoods grace,
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in courtly place
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But he the same hath wrong'd,
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and now cast downe
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the faire renowne
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To his knighthood that belong'd
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His spurs of Knighthood then,
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was from his heeles there hewen,
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And by the Marshals men
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in high disgraces throwne
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into the Hall,
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amongst them all
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That stood with gazing eyes,
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to marke and see
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in what degree
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Degraded Knighthood lies.
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His sword, his spurres, his name,
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his titles, and his state,
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His knighthood and his fame,
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which he possest so late
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thus all disgrac't
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and cleane defac't
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For ever claiming more,
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and chang'd him quite
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from being Knight
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And what he had before.
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This Censure by command,
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upon him then was layd,
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That no where in this Land,
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of him be justly said,
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or nam'd to be
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in his degree
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A just and honest man,
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but one whose vaine,
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for greedy gaine,
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To shamelesse dealing ran.
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And so with vile reproach
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he as from thence sent backe,
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And hurried in a Coach
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where did no wondring lacke,
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of cries and shouts
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with mocking flouts,
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Untill he came where he
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should lye againe,
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and there remaine,
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A prisoner close to be,
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No Knight nor Justice now,
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nor of no other stile,
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Our Land will him allow,
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but that which makes me smile,
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for what I heard
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I am afeard
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To adde unto his name,
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but let that rest
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within my brest
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And so be free from blame.
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But thus much I will say,
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true justice here was done,
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To him that many a day
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did to Much-evill run:
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much good thereby,
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assuredly
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Now comes unto our Land,
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in driving hence,
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this plague of pence,
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That stood with open hand,
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FINIS.
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