Whose wicked warkes warne princes to detest,
That other’s harmes may keepe them better blest.[1213]
[By that this tragedy was ended, night was so nere come that wee could not conueniently tary together any longer: and therefore sayd maister Ferrers: “It is best my maisters to stay here. For wee be come now[1214] to the end of Edward the fourth’s raigne.[1215] For the last whom wee finde vnfortunate therein, was the duke of Clarence: in whose behalfe I commend much that which hath bene noted. Let vs therefore for this time leaue with him, and this day seauen nights hence, if your busines will so suffer, let vs all meete here together[1216] agayne. And you shall see that in the meane season I will not only deuise vpon this my selfe, but cause diuers other of my acquayntance, which can doe very well, to helpe vs forwarde with the rest.” To this euery man gladly agreed. “Howbeit,” sayd[1217] another, “seing we shall end at Edward the fourth’s end, let himselfe make an ende of our daye’s labour, with the same oration which maister Skelton made in his name, the tenour whereof, so far as I remember, is as foloweth.”][1218]
Howe King Edward the fourth[1219] through his surfeting and vntemperate life, sodaynly dyed in the middest of his prosperity, the nynth of Aprill, Anno 1483.
1.
Miseremini mei yee that bee my frendes,
This world hath formed mee downe to fall:
How may I endure whan that euery thing ends?
What creature is borne to be eternall?
Now there is no more but pray for mee all,