thence with safety c All the Authors of that time doe generally agree concerning the greatnesse of Roger Mortimer his power in state his pompous attendance and haughty carriage of all businesse as likewise the greatnesse of the Queenes Dower and her familiarity with that Lord which offending as needs it must the rest of the Nobilitie I thought it not so fit to be barely related in the Authors person as by the way of speech to proceed angerly from the mouth of that brave Lord Mountague who was by the consent of those writers a speciall assistant to King Edward in the surprising of Mortimer and such particulars as concerne the lamentable murther of that deposed King to proceed from his servant Sir Thomas de la Moore who accordingly wrote the story of it THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The second Booke Argument II. King Edward's homage to the King of France He claimes that Crowne his friends and puissance Sicilia's King fore-tels the misery Of France King Edwards Navall victory NOt yet had Edward in his active minde The claime and conquest of great France design'd Nor look'd abroad domesticke businesse Employ'd his early manhood the redresse Of those distempers which had growne at home Too great for any youth to over-come But such a youth as his had yet detain'd His spirit there when Fate that had ordain'd Through fire and sword the miseries of France Finds out a meanes to wake the puissance Of this victorious Prince and make him know That fatall title that had slept till now Philip of France but newly crown'd and not Content in rest to hold what he had got Vpon a doubted title nor abate The least and strictest circumstance of state Which might belong to that high crowne he wore In punctuall manner summons Edward ore For Guyennes Dukedome which he held to doe His personall homage nor did Edward though Fill'd with disdaine and manly rage refuse To come faire Amiens is the place they chuse In whose Cathedrall Church King Philip sate Oh who can tell what pompe and wondrous state Was show'd at this so great solemnity How many noble Peeres and Princes high In blood and fame did there attendance give And in their best attires and lustres strive To grace the crowne of France and Philips state Vnder a wealthy Canopy he sate His roabe of colour like the violet With golden flower de luces all beset With crowned head and scepter'd hand to take That low obeisance th'English King should make The Kings of Boheme and Navarre were by Plac'd as spectators of his dignity Vnhappy Philip boast not this vaine state Which bleeding France shall buy at dearest rate Why doost thou fondly show to Edwards eyes That wealth that must hereafter be his prize And by those gorgeous splendours teach so great A spirit as his what value he should set Vpon thy Kingdomes conquest those thy Peeres That proudly face him now ere many yeeres Doe turne againe shall in their ruine be Sad monuments of Edward's victory And mourning see though now he seeme to low His reall honour in thine overthrow Bohemia's King oh ominous whose eye This shadow sees of Philip's dignity In Philip's fall a tragicke part must play And as a trophee to remaine for aye To Edward's conquering hands must dying yeeld His glittering plume in Cressyes fatall field The English King to Philip's royall seat Makes faire approach attended with a great And gallant traine of Peeres whose bright array The wealth and pompe of England did display A gowne of crimson Velvet Edward wore With golden Leopards all embroider'd ore His well-becomming sword was guirded on And spurs of gold about his anckles shone Vpon his head stood Englands diadem And such did his Heroicke presence seeme As in the French mens hearts although that there He came with peace did strike a silent feare So much unlike his Princely lookes did show To that low action that he came to doo Thus comming before Philip's chaire he stands Melun the Chamberlaine of France commands To doffe his royall Crowne his Spurs and Sword And bids him kneele to Philip as the Lord Supreme of all those Aquitanian lands Then twixt King Philip's puts King Edward's hands Declaring the Oath then Edward gives a kisse To Philip sitting as the manner is The King of France rejoycing in this vaine Shadow of Majesty to entertaine His royall Leigeman makes a sumptuous feast Put deepe in Edwards young and fiery breast Remaines the thought of this indignity Which though a while it smoother'd seeme to lye Breakes out in such a flame as long in vaine The neighbour Princes strive to quench againe Vntill Revenge had given to France as sad And great a wound as ere that Kingdome had But to attempt the conquest of so great So populous a land as France and set The title that he had on foot requir'd Strong preparations the young King retir'd To England in his eager thoughts revolues This weighty cause and though the great resolves Of his undaunted spirit ore-master all The difficulties that were like to fall Yet fitting time must be allow'd to make Confaederacies of import and take Faire opportunities The fates afford Occasions straight to flesh his conquering sword In Scotland wounds whose miseries must be The prologue to great France her tragaedy Ballioll unhappy to his nation Was now return'd to challenge Scotlands crowne While young King David did abide in France Which soone he gain'd by Edward's puissance Whose prosperous valour first at Berwicke towne Then in that fam'd defeat at a Halidowne In which so many valiant Scots were slaine Appear'd and seem'd to quit that blow againe Which whilest his father second Edward reign'd England from Bruce his warlike hand sustain'd Enough had these victorious warres declar'd Great Edward's prowesse and enough prepar'd His martiall thoughts for France when Fates conspire To bring fresh fuell to this raging fire For discontented from his native home To England b Robert of Artois was come His Countries fire-brand one that well had learn'd King Edward's minde and well his spirit discern'd So doe the peoples shouts encourage more A fierce Olimpicke Steede that strove before To force the lists and breake th opposing bars As this young fiery King too prone to wars Before is now by his incitements mov'd So ' gainst his Rome bold Curio's language prov'd When with the Tribunes banish'd he was come To armed Caesar at Ariminum Curio by death prevented could not see What he had wrought his Countries misery Whose slaughter'd carcasse strew'd the field a prey To Lybian birds before that tragicke day His Caesar conquer'd on Pharsaliaes plaines How like a fate for thee Artois remaines Thou shalt not see thy Countries greatest woe Nor Edward's bayes in Philip's overthrow Thy death shall first in Britaines warres be wrought Before that Crescyes mortall field be fought And ere that Poictiers wondrous battell fame Blacke Edwards sword be nothing but a name As much by France accurs'd in times to
His great round Table for those warrelike feasts And invitation of such noble guests At Windsor Castle does King Edward found Where he himselfe was borne a place renown'd For Britaine Arthur's name who with his bold Round-table Knights resided there of old Of whose majesticke state and honour there Some monuments did in that age appeare Though too much darkned by injurious time And more by those vaine fables made of him Which casts such mists ore his bright deeds of glory That he remaines a name without a story Nor does faire Windsor seeme alone to be The Throne of Mars and Scene of Chevalry But Loves delicious Bower more grac'd then e're Th' Idalian wood or gentle Paphos were Here are the Cupids here the Graces seene Hither does Philip Edward's noble Queene In state repaire with all her beautious traine Which then three hundred did no lesse containe Of all the greatest and most Courtly Dames That this blest land could boast they like the flames Of heaven those Orbs of pure aetheriall sire With noble thoughts the Knights strong breasts inspire For Courage oft from Beauties influence Receives his motion Iusts and Turneaments With all the other feats of active Warre Are daily show'd on this faire Theater Such Martiall labours once the Trojan Band Did exercise in old Acestes land Train'd by that pious Prince who first brought ore The Phrygian reliques to Laviniums shore But one unhappy Crosse is sent to be A sad allay to this high jollity And make great Edward mourne in midst of all His feasts and triumphs the untimely fall Of that renowned Earle of Salisbury His deare-lov'd William Mountague who by A bruise in Tilting tooke his fatall wound Who though a Subject still was lately crown'd The Monarch of an I le and first began To weare that Royall title King of Man That Iland on the westerne Sea betweene Scotland and Ireland lying that had beene Subject so many yeeres to Scotlands Crowne Had by the valour of that Earle beene won From them of late whilst great King Edward come From Brittaines Truce with his strong army home Was wasting Scotland who bestow'd that I le On th' Earle together with a Royall stile But oh how short a time did envious Fate Allot to noble William's Kingly state Who like a sacrifice did onely seeme So neere his death to weare a Diadem Soone ore all parts of Europe had the fame Of Edward's table and the Knights that came Thither to show their manly prowesse spred And in his jealous foe King Philip bred High emulation who discernes the end To which these haughty preparations tend That Edward's aime is onely to advance His strengths friendships gainst the Realme of France He thinks it now concernes him to prepare Himselfe as well against th approaching Warre And in a cause and danger great as that Dooes not at all disdaine to imitate His subtile foe but such a table he Sets up to draw from Austria Italy And southerne Lands the Knights of best renowne To grace his Court and guard his threatned Crowne Prevented thus a new society King Edward founds not onely made to be For military deeds a present tye But lasting honour to posterity The noble order of Saint George his Knights Nor for invention of those sacred rites To former times is he indebt at all As for the tables first originall He was to Brittaine Arthur's old renowne So many standing monuments were knowne Of his round tables in the Kingdome yet Besides the warlike Mortimer had set Another table up at Killing worth The age before whose fame had sounded forth And many forreine Knights had drawne from far But in this act not Mortimer shall share Nor any ancient Heröe this renowne Without a rivall is third Edward's owne No Killing worth shall sound with Windsors name Nor Brittish Arthur darken Edward's fame Saint George the Martyr is esteem'd to be A Patron fit for this society Among the Martyrs noble army none Had suffred more nor more on earth forgone For our deare Lord when Dioclesian reign'd And every land with Christians slaughters stain'd Not all his wealth nor stately signiories Nor prime of youth did this young Martyr prize For thrice seven Summers onely had he told Yet in that early age so wondrous bold And in Warres feats so skilfull was he growne That many famous battels he had wonne ' Gainst Caesar's stubbornst foes before that he By patience conquer'd Caesar's cruelty Him since for tutelary Saint of Warres The Christians honour'd as the Heathen Mars Him they invok'd in field before they fought His noble ayd th' encourag'd Christians thought Against the faithlesse Saracens they had That beauteous George in silver armour clad And crimson Crosse appear d conducting them Vnto the conquest of Ierusalem That Saint and Souldier in this Martiall age Edward entitles to the Patronage Of that most noble Order he erects Whose armed figure 's worne about their neckes The Garter buckled on their legge to be A marke of prowesse and of unity Which shall increase and in all ages be Deliver'd greater to Posterity While other lands in aemulation vaine Shall strive so bright a lustre to attaine But Englands Garter shall obscure the rest Saint Michael's Knights in fhelly collars drest Rhodes silver Crosses and Burgundia's fleece Though worne by gteater Worthies then from Greece Did first in Argo crosse the Seas and bore That golden purchase from the Colchian shore Peace could no longer hold Warres raging fire Supprest a while breakes forth and blazes higher Then e're it did the battell must be try'd For which both Kings so long on either fide Had made their strengths all Truces now are broke And nothing can prevent the fatall stroke The noblest army that e're crost the Seas From England yet was now in readinesse Which Martiall Edward soone transported o're And safe arrived on the Norman shore Nor are King Philip's preparations slacke Whose side so many mighty Princes take While in suspence all Christian Nations are To see the issue of so great a Warre Forth through the midst of quaking Normandy Like Lightnings fatall stroke did Edward flye With his couragious troops where-ere he went Diffusing feare and pale astonishment Swords freely raging and remorselesse fire Were instruments of his reuengefull ire Vnhappy a Caranton must be by fates First offred to his fury on her gates The heads of Edward's slaughter'd friends remaine The heads of Percy Bacon Clifton slaine Not long before by Philip's rage for whom The towne alas must bide a wofull doome For their deere fakes great Edward vowes to have No mercy there no age no sexe can save From deaths sad stroke all slaughter'd that are found The towne it selfe is levell'd to the ground And in confused heapes of cinders lyes To them a tombe and mourning sacrifice From thence the dreadfull army marches on Saint Lo so rich in merchandise is won And pillag'd by the Souldiers stately Caen Although a while it durst resist is tane And
get Safe to their journey's end Through all Poictou And through the County of Xantoigne they goe The French admiring but resisting not Till to the river side at Blays they got Which with their wealth and prisoners all they past And at faire Burdeaux safe arriv'd at last Sad fame before had into England brought The Prince his danger What amazed thought Could hope alas for conquest there or who Durst thinke that valour disadvantag'd so Could worke it selfe a passage feare possest All English hearts and great King Edward's breast Revenge had entred in as horrid height As France could feare or that great cause invite How many Cities had he doom'd to sacke And men to death but Fame could not be slacke Fate would not suffer England long to erre Nor such a dayes triumphant joy deferre But on a sudden as the golden Sunne When darkest thunder-clouds are newly gone Shoots forth againe in all his glorious light That men amazed scarce dare trust their sight They heare of Poictiers battell of the high And strange successe But incredulity A while the freedome of that joy controlls For feare of too much surfetting their soules With such a change So slowly they receive Th' unlook'd for newes and by degrees beleeve That even their eyes are satisfi'd as soone As are their eares almost nor had the Moone Thrice fill'd her orbe before to second fame With that great King victorious Edward came Oh how to Plimmouth where the Paince arriv'd From every part the people flock'd and striv'd Betimes to kisse that Martiall hand and see So great a prize of one dayes viâ—â—ory Now safe at home as much was all the way From thence to London as their progresse lay With showes adorn'd and thronging people fill'd Where equall to his prowesse they beheld The Prince his goodnesse how he humbly rode Below the King no pride his gesture show'd But such respect as if he did not bring In triumph thither but attend a King Where noble Edward shall we find for thee A paralell in true humanity What ancient Prince or moderne ever shew'd So sweet a temper joyn'd with fortitude What Conqueror did ever use successe More modestly or staine his fortune lesse Imperiall Rome in her most vertuous age When wisest writers durst by strong presage Affirme the worlds sole Empire due to be Not to her strength but her morality Knew no such vertue to great Princes fals How farre unlike it her proud Generals In that inhumane pompe of Triumphs dealt Jugurtha Syphax and great Perseus felt And yet what Roman Army e're could boast A nobler conquest than thy English hoast At Poictiers battell wonne without Romes vice Her greatest vertues thou didst aequalize In that great act and shew'dst as then was try'd The Roman prowesse not the Roman pride With joy as great but more magnificence Did London welcome her triumphant Prince Where great King Edward with all curtesie Receives King Iohn of France as if that he Did aemulate the vertue of his sonne Or rather would approve what he had done And by that noble moderation shew Himselfe the stocke from whence Prince Edward grew Within his sumptuous hall at Westminster He entertaines and feasts them all and there The pensive King with gentle speeches cheeres To all the other princely prisoners The like respect the Lords of England give And at the boord in full-crown'd goblets strive To banish from their breasts all thoughts of care O're which old Heroes fortunes and the rare Events of ancient battels they relate So o're the Wine in massie Phthian plate Talk'd great Achilles in his tent at night When he the Grecian Princes did invite But he whose noble actions were become The argument of every tongue on whom The greedy eyes of all were fixed there Prince Edward seemes himselfe of heavy cheere A greater captive in his owne sad thought Than those that he from Poictiers battell brought Nor could great Mars with all his honors heale The wound that love had made Deep sighs would steale Sometimes from him although with care represt And speake the inward passions of his breast Among the sparkling beauties that resort More to enlighten this triumphant Court His Love-ficke eyes doe often wander round To find although he feare to find his wound Kents beauteous Countesse But no where at all Does she appeare nor was the festivall Grac'd with her presence Soone had she beene spy'd If there nor could so bright a starre be hid But missing her his other passions rise A thousand doubts and jealous feares surprize His loving breast at once Alas what crime Of Fate should he suspect at such a time Of Courtly state and high magnificence What cruell cause should keepe the Lady thence Faine would he know yet blushes to enquire And though he burne still strives to hide the fire As many men whose sudden ruine's nigh Have beene in height of all their jollity And some have beene observ'd in pensive mood Iust then when Fate contrives their greatest good Even so it fares with Princely Edward here Who feares the worst and cannot thinke how neere Th' accomplishment of his desires should be Till to remove the sad uncertainty Some Lords discoursing doe by chance relate How noble Holland was deceas'd of late A sudden change in Edward's lookes appeares Againe the passions alter doubts or feares Since now to every eye the cause is plaine That did the Countesse from this feast detaine No longer hold possession in his breast Love freely enters to displace the rest The Prince resolves his pleasing fuit to move And spite of all opposers gaine his love In Savoy Palace when the feast is ended King John of France is lodg'd and thence attended In fitting state to Windsor Castle there T' enjoy what sports the season of tho yeare Would yeeld what games the Countrey could present To give a King's perplexed thoughts content And David King of Scotland that ten yeare Had beene detaid'd in England prisoner Is ransom'd home since England seemes to be Secur'd from France by Iohn's captivity Vnhappy France whilest England nothing knowes But joyes and triumphs now o'rewhelm'd with woes Sits like a mourning widow wailes her fate And shee that was the pride of Europe late Is fall'n from all her glories and become The pitty of astonish'd Christendome Her bosome fill'd with sad confusion And rebell members while the head is gone Doe from their safe and wholesome order fall The Royall City Paris most of all Is out of joynt that should the rest redeeme Sicke even to death does this great kingdome seeme Nor can the Cure be sudden for the Sunne Five times through his coelestiall signes must runne Before King Iohn of France be ransom'd home Yet healthier farre for France in time to come Shall this Confusion and long sicknesse prove By such unlook'd-for wayes the Powers above Doe worke in their disposing Providence Wise Charles the Dauphine by experience Of those disordred and rough times shall gaine So true a
bright Princesse and in words declares How just a cause excites him to the warres Besides the honour he from thence may gaine That Pedro is the true-borne Lord of Spaine And crowned Monarch that no vice what-e're Can wash away that sacred Character That Subjects may not put their Soveraigne downe Nor give Don Henry title to their Crowne But ought to leave that power to God alone Who can revenge at full what he has done Or else so clense him from the greatest crimes That Pedro's penitence in after-times May all his former impious reigne redeeme Like King Manasses in Ierusalem That it concern'd a true-borne Prince his right To take that part lest other Nations might Hereafter from a president so bad Vsurpe more freedome than they justly had Then taking leave of his deare wife he went To that which after prov'd by accident A fatall warre to England Where though he Obtain'd a great and glorious victory And present honour through all Europe gate Yet most unhappy to his future state The voyage was his treasures wast which cost Sad tumults and his French Dominions lost Besides his losse of health All which was sent Perchance to Edward as a punishment For ayding such a monster though true heire Nor long held Pedro his recover'd chaire Soone after th'English went from thence againe Depos'd and by victorious Henry slaine Thus all their punishments did undergoe Castile Don Pedro and Prince Edward too The Tyrant Pedro for his impious reigne Edward for lifting up the fiend againe And all Castile by England's conquering sword Scourg'd for deposing of their lawfull Lord. With noble Edward to this Spanish warre Young Iohn of Gaunt the Duke of Lancaster His brother marches to whose future state Castile shall prove a name more fortunate Who by the marriage of Don Pedro's heire The Royall title of that land shall weare With large revenues thence The Duke commands One of the three Battalia's with him stands Brave Sir Iohn Chandois who in warre before Had ever beene Prince Edward's Counsellor Now set to guide the youth of Princely Iohn With him young Beauchamp noble Warwick's sonne And stout Lord Dalbert with a gallant traine Of Gentlemen and Knights of Aquitaine The Prince of Wales himselfe commands the maine And middle Battell Pedro King of Spaine For whom the warre is made by Edward's side There marches on and English Chieftaines try'd In many a Battell then esteem'd to be The very flowers of Europes Chevalry With many Lords of high account and name That from Poictou from Maine and Guyenne came A Monarch leads the third Battalia on Iames of Mallorques King that in renowne Like th' ancient Caesars might blacke Edward stand And Kings not scorne to serve in his command There th' Earle of Arminacke leads on his power And English Knolls that expert warriour Thither the Lords of Dalbreth Piergort And many noble Knights and Squires resort With all his army thirty thousand strong The Prince sets forth from France to passe along The famous streights of Roncevall and through The kingdome of Navarre gets leave to goe By which with faithfull guides they passe as farre Before they meet th'approach of any warre As faire Victoria on the bounds of Spaine There some fore-runners of King Henry's traine Descry'd gave notice that the blow was neere But thrice as many as Prince Edward's were The troops that Henry of Castile had brought Besides the natives of the Land that fought To guard their new-elected King and free Themselves from Pedro's future tyranny Th'expertest souldiers of the Realme of France Come to encrease King Henry's puissance And Saracens from our invasions free Beare here a part in Christian enmity And ' gainst Don Pedro guard his brothers throne In three great bodies comes that army on The first and noblest where the French-men stand Is under Bertram of Cleâ—quy's command The greatest body in the midd'st the King Himselfe drawes up the last his brothers bring And now beside the towne of Naveret In faire array are both the battel 's set Renowned Edward to his men declares Th' undoubted justice of their present warres And that no odds of numbers he can feare When he beholds those men those Leaders there Who but ' gainst odds did never battell try Yet never fought without a victory As those that Sluces navall fight had seene That had in Crescy field and Poictiers beene And bids them now maintaine that old renowne They in so many honour'd fields had wonne As much does Bertram his French troops excite And briefly tells them they not onely fight King Henry's Crowne and honour to maintaine And winne fame there but to redeeme againe That dearest honour ' gainst the English hoast Which France of late had to that Nation lost But when King Henry whose great cause was try'd In that dayes hazard saw the English side Were marching on against him in array And that the warre admitted no delay He thus bespeakes his souldiers If a cause Of such great weight as to this battell drawes Your farre-engaged hands could need at all Th' inciting language of a Generall The wrongs of Spaine and brutish cruelty Our foe has us'd afford a scope to me Too large too sad to play the Oratour But well I know your Countries love has power Enough to raise your highest courages And bring you forward were our army lesse Than theirs in number as the odds is ours Vnlesse this battell make us Conquerors There can no people be so low as we No land so wretched as Castile will be T is not our wealth alone or lawes we lose Nor to be quite o're-runne by forreine foes Though every Nation have esteemed those The worst but Spaine must suffer greater woes ' Gainst her so fierce no forreine sword can be As her restored tyrants cruelty His who was once depos'd when to a mind Before so bloody sterne revenge is joyn'd If Spaine before could not endure his yoke How will she beare it now if by warres stroke Our conquering hands make not the action good Better the tyrant undisturb'd had stood What made old Marius when returned home With so much slaughter fill the streets of Rome Marius whose hand was once her best defence But that himselfe had beene exil'd from thence The prisons stinch the shackles that he bore The bread he begg'd on wasted Affrick's shore Which he himselfe before had overcome Made his returne so sad to wretched Rome And can we here feare lesse than Marius brought On Rome or than the Butcher Sylla wrought When not in warres but executions So many thousands were destroy'd at once If in this battell Pedro should o'recome But God avert from Spaine so sad a doome What sights would all her mourning Cities see But racks and gibbets blood and cruelty The land no place in such a peace could yeeld More safe from slaughter than this fighting field And tortur'd wretches that were left in Spaine Would call us happy who in warre were slaine But such a
is small and weigh'd with conquering Englands wars Shall be accounted slight and gentle scars Deepe as thy wounds shall thy dishonour be Alas how great a map of misery How long a tragicke field of warre shalt thou Rich France become the pride of Europe now But then the pitty of all neighbour Lands Oh doe not scorne at English Edward's hands On hardest termes a peace to entertaine Nor let King Philip strive ' gainst fate in vaine No force can there prevaile nor overthrow The Martiall fame that Destinies doe owe To Edward's high nativity for whom A glorious thread is spun such as their loome Was proud to see when those old Worthies came Into the world that with so loud a fame Have fill'd the eares of all posterity Such shall this active Edward prove as high And wondred at shall be his deeds of warre Although his stage cannot extend so farre Nor his small Kingdomes forces over-run Farre distant Lands as did the Macedon Or Romes proud Sonnes his deeds within the bounds Of France excepting Scotlands fatall wounds As mighty trophees and as great shall gaine As such a circuit ever did containe And for the severall actions of his warres Though I but dimly see particulars Within this spacious Continent where once Great Caesar govern'd those stout legions Whose strength could after over-come the power Of Rome it selfe and make him Emperour Let disadvantages of battels be Well weigh'd the past and present quality Of such a foe the stars to him do give As true a fame as Caesar did atchieve But such calamities this heart will bleed To see and therefore holy Sir with speed If a prevention can at all be had Let your high power be interposed sad Are all that heare the King's praediction And thinke which way they may the strife attone But while they thinke thus on the Ocean A mighty blow this fatall warre began Slight skirmishes had wounded either side And banish'd Peace nor must the cause be try'd By any judge but Warres uncertaine chance Edward already wore the armes of France And in his honour stood engag'd to gaine The Crowne he claim'd as Philip to maintaine That great possession in their owne estates Both strong both powerfull in confoederates And both alike incens'd But ere rich France In her owne bosome try the puissance Of warlike Edward she must weeping heare Her losses by him and be taught to feare Or Fortune else was purpos'd to declare How hot how aequall a desire of warre Both Nations had that in the middle way Would meet the tryall and disdain'd to stay Till either other should at home invade But with their armed Navall forces made Blew Neptunes face the first discolour'd stage Of warre and Scene of their incensed rage The Fleet of France so great it was esteem'd Invindible by Englands force and seem'd To beare command ore all those narrow Seas Proud of spoiles and wealthy pillages Which from sack'd Hampton they had brought away Betweene the Ports of Sluce and Blankebergh lay In three faire bodies led by three that then In navall fights were held the bravest men France had and did in all Sea-arts excell The stout Bahuchet with brave Kiriell And Barbenoire the Genois Admirall So show'd their Navy when conjoyned all Men would have thought some forrest mou'd from far When Winters rage the Pines proud tops did bare Or that the fam'd Aegaean Cyclades Torne from their roots had floated on the Seas Vpon that coast this haplesse Navie lay To intercept King Edward in his way To Sluce who now from England had put forth His Fleet though lesse in number yet in worth Fortune and courage greater then the foes Came sailing on When golden Phoebus rose Behinde the French and shooting forth his light Display'd the English Navy to their sight The royall Banners to their scouts appeare And notice give that Englands King is there At which the French are swelled with excesse Of joy though false with golden promises Flattring themselves How blinde are humane eyes How hidden are the path of Destinies Never did wretches not ordain'd to see The setting Sunne with vainer jollity Welcome their ruine and each other cheere They thanke the fates that had presented there The King of Englands person and so great A price that day had on their valour set That this great storme that proudly threatned France Was now committed wholly to the chance Of their Sea-fight that onely they should have The actions honour not alone to save Their land in warre but keepe it from a warre And cut off danger ere it came so farre Great Edward slowly brings his Navy on Waiting advantage wisely till the Sunne Declining Westward at his backe might be And dazle thence the face of th' enemy Although his Souldiers hardly brook'd delay So much they long'd for tryall of the day And in their courages were raised high To thinke they had so brave a witnesse by As was their King and such a King as he Who would as well their great example be As witnesse of their deeds This time of stay He spent to set his Fleet in faire array The middle body he himselfe maintain'd In which the great and tallest ships were mann'd Which choisest Archers held twixt every two Of whom one ship with men of armes did goe On either wing loose ships of archers lay On all occasions ' gainst the foe to play The wings themselves with gallant Lords were fill'd The Earles of Darby Pembrooke Gloster held The right where Huntington commanded all Of Englands Southerne fleet Lord Admirall Lord Morley Admirall of all the North The left wing had with many Lords of worth Northamptons Earle Lord Percy Delaware And Robert of Artois who th' honours bore Of Richmonds Earledome then with many moe Of honour'd name and noble service too Heröicke Edward when both Navies neere Had made approach 'gan thus in short to cheere His forward Souldiers It were needlesse now Brave Englishmen and valiant Lords to show How much depends on this great Navall fight That all the tryall of our royall right To France and your rich hopes are lost undone Are all designes unlesse this day be won This is the gate of our great enterprise This is that entrance where the danger lyes Which if we master now the future war Will prove more easie as more fruitfull farre And not a warre but a reward will be And recompence of this dayes victory Here let your valour sway warres future chance And though not conquer yet disharten France The Sunne and winde are both auspicious To us the channell advantagious With these let us in our owne cause appeare See what spectatours fortune gives us here Oh let our friends the Flemmings from the Bayes Of Sluce and Blankebergh now behold and praise Your deeds and viewing th English puissance Thinke themselves happy in forsaking France To side with us but I in vaine prolong The battels tryall and your valours wrong To keepe such eager spirits from action
maiden prey A royall army would vouchsafe to take Nor is King Philip in her rescue slacke But for the late dishonourable blow Fill'd with revenge and fury thither now Is marching with a numerous hoast and brings Besides his French-men the two warlike Kings Navarre and Boheme nor will Edward rise From Tourneys siedge although too small a prize One Cities conquest now appeares to be For Edward's sword but Fortune lets him see That she to crowne his glorious hopes so nigh Had brought a warre of greater dignity And now the two incensed Kings are met And their great cause on one dayes tryall set As all beleeve all expectations neere Are drawne nor have they time to hope or feare The armies both stand rang'd in faire array And fierce Bellona proud of such a day As if it lay not in the power of chance That storme to scatter shakes her dreadfull lance For like two high-swoll'n seas on either side Whose meeting rage no Isthmos did divide But windes that from contrary quarters blow Together drive the two Battaliaes show But that Eternall God who from on high Surveys all hoasts disposes victory Call'd thence the Lord of hoasts and sets the times Of warre or peace as sinfull Nations crimes Provoke his justice did not thinke it good That cloud should yet dissolue in showres of blood But pleas'd to respite for a time the woes Of wretched France and for his purpose chose An instrument whose weaknesse might make knowne The power that reconcil'd them was his owne A veiled Nun alone could enterpose And stay the fury of these armed foes Jane de Valois a Princely Lady neere To one in blood as by alliance deere To tother Mother to great Edward's Queene And Philip's sister who of late had beene Since Heinaults death at Fontenelles vow'd A holy Nun She waken'd with the loud Alarmes of this so great so fear'd a blow Her quiet cloister had forsaken now Amidst their armed troopes her way she tooke And through the rudest breasts a reverence strooke Well did the fame of her chaste life before Become the sacred habit that she wore Pure innocence her snow-white veile profest Her blacke a sorrow silently exprest Grave was her comely face Devotion On beavties ruines with more beavty shone In all her gestures dwelt humility But temper'd with commanding Majesty As thus she passes to perswade the Kings Faire Peace descends and with her silver wings Cutting the ayre above the Princesse still Hangs gently hovering whose calme breath doth fill The changed Campes the Souldiers 'gan to feele A mildenesse seize their breasts all thoughts of steele Of blood and slaughter seemed to withdraw This gentle Nymph when fierce Bellona saw As she from heaven descended downe and knew Her hopes were now put off away she flew And left the field but with an angry looke Turn'd backe and proudly her plum'd helmet shooke Goe sluggish Nymph quoth she enjoy thy day Fates may deferre but cannot wipe away This Kingdomes wounds but 't is not their decree The fields of Tourney should renowned be To future times for such a glorious day In Crescy fields brave Edward shall display His conquering colours there the French shall fall And that poore Village now scarce nam'd at all Shall for the death of many thousands be A place of fame to all posterity There I shall reigne till then dull fields adieu And like a Dragon through the ayre she flew And now so well the Princesse did perswade Both Kings so powerfull he that sent her made Her pious Eloquence that all their hate Seem'd banish'd Philip of Valois forgate His thirst of vengeance for the fatall blow France tooke in that great Navall overthrow Edward relented too content to cease His royall clayme a while a sudden peace Is for three yeeres concluded to remaine The dreadfull colours folded up againe The threatning swords are sheath'd not stained yet In blood at all and all those Princes met To make the tryall of so great a day Depart againe King Edward takes his way By Flanders home and with his dearest Queene That royall pledge that for two yeeres had beene Left there by him the honour of their clime And there had brought within that happy time His royall family a faire increase Two Princely Sonnes to England crost the Seas But soone Wars flame that had a while in vaine Beene by the Truce deprest broke out againe And higher blaz'd but by degrees it came Nor did the royall quarrell and great claime That Edward laid to France begin the jarre But to draw on this great and fatall Warre Collaterall causes are found out by fates And first in aide of their confoederates Abovt the question'd right of Brittaines Lands Th'engaged Princes by their servants hands And meaner strengths begin to blow the flame To England Montford's widow'd Dutchesse came And here from Edward noble succours gain'd Gainst Charles of Bloys whom Philip's power sustain'd The Earles of Suffolke Pembrooke Salisbury And Stafford flowers of English chevalry Bourchier and Spencer Lords and many moe Of honour'd name with her to Brittaine goe With them went Robert of Artois who first In Edward kindled that ambitious thirst And fir'd his active spirit to advance His owne high honour by the woes of France At Vannes siedge so fate ordain'd he tooke His mortall wound but ere the soule forsooke Her earthly reliques thence to Englands ground Transported backe a quiet grave he found Her Souldier England willingly entomb'd His native France that by his meanes was doom'd So many following mischiefes to endure Bestow'd his death but not his sepulture Vannes and other little townes are won And lost but no important action This warre produces where the threats are high Save that the two great foes are drawne so nigh Though timely truces doe againe prevent The fatall blow great Edward not content To send in Montford's aide those forces ore Arrives himselfe upon the Brittaine shore To whom Prince Iohn the Duke of Normandy With forty thousand men approached nigh In Bloys his right the armies both prepare To give the blow Neere was the stroke of warre And Brittaine Vannes had almost beheld What was decreed to Crescyes fatall field The royall powers of England and of France In Brittaines cause to try their puissance Before their owne great quarrell they maintaine But Brittaines Dutchie must not hope to gaine So great an honour here cleere growes the day Without a showre this cloud is blowne away The warre is done two Cardinals attone As earst a Ladies gentle breath had done The royall Armies and so well perswade Truce is againe 'twixt France and England made Sterne Mars a while from deeds of blood restrain'd Strove still to whet his rage and entertain'd That breathing space in pastimes to prepare His cruell forces for th' ensuing warre For like a Campe showes Edwards marshall Court To which the Knights of greatest fame resort From every land their prowesse there to try And gaine renowne by active Chevalry
In many an hard adventure France had knowne His noble service Oxford tenders there And that redoubted Lord that must appeare In Poicteirs battell honours brightest starre Lord Audley Chandois in all feats of warre And policies to none inferiour And then young Edward's chiefest Counsellour With these brave William Earle of Sarum clad In shining armes appeares now not so sad Since sage resolves had weaned fond desire And in his breast extinguish'd Cupid s fire A fire once swéet alas whilest lawes did seeme T' allow his love and power to favour him The sowrest Vertues did excuse his flame When he the beauties of that Princely Dame Enjoy'd as then he well might seeme to be The envy of a Prince much more is he Since reason did that passion quite convince Now truly growne the envy of a Prince Prince Edward sigh'd and wish'd himselfe as free When he beheld the cheere of â—alisbury From that faire flame One object kindled both But Edward's was not of so long a growth As Salisburies nor had beene ayded so By powerfull Time the passion to forgoe Forbeare a while to sound the Martiall noyse Calliope and tune thy gentler voyce Soft Erato declare what Princely love Did then thâ— Heroike breast of Edward move Not many yeares had past since by the lawes Of holy Church that long-depending cause Betwixt Lord Holland and Earle Mountague Who both with power and eager clayme 's did sue For Kent's faire Countesse was on Holland's side Decree'd and by Pope Clement ratifi'd By which decree blest Holland freed from strife Possession tooke of his admired wife And his bright Iewell now in publike wore Which from the Court had beene conceal'd before While that great suit depended and unknowne It was what husband should the Lady owne Her tempting beauties now th' ecclipse and pride Of Englands Court had love-sicke Edward spy'd The flames unseene his youthfull bosome burn'd His active thoughts so cheerefull once are turn'd To pensive musings company he flyes And for his wonted Princely exercise And high discourse with martiall Lords he loves Retreats sad musicke and the silent groves Why did you gaze unhappy eyes quoth he Too late on her it is too soone for me Because too late The Lawes are false that say No time can barrea Prince Debarr'd for aye Am I. In what possession can they give Vnlesse in Love a fit prerogative For Princes to receive where did she lye While free she was conceal'd from Edward's eye Was not her birth of height enough and shee A branch of England's royall family Her name Plantagenet Earle Edmund's heire Did she not bring together with that faire And heavenly forme a dower that might affright Those Lords from courting of her and invite A Prince his highest flames why is not she Restor'd againe to her great family From which th' ambitious love of Holland durst To draw her maiden innocence at first Or else some forraine Monarch would from farre Have come perchance to fetch a prize so rare A thousand Princely suitors for the fame Of Spartan Helen's virgin beauties came By deeds of armes their persons to endeare And by a warre reveng'd the rape of her As many ventrous youths for such a Bride As was the faire Hippodamea dy'd At cheaper rate why did our climate set Thy maiden blossome faire Plantagenet Would thou hadst beene the prize of Chevalry For which great Princes might have come to try Their manly prowesse Edward might have worne Thee then perchance or thou at worst beene borne From hence away to be a forraine Queene Nor had I here thy killing beauty seene Thus as within a laurell Bower he sate Did Edward's love-sicke thoughts expostulate The twy-light then began nor had night spred Her sable mantle yet though day were fled When lo before him one on either hand Two Nymphs of more than humane visage stand The one was plaine her looks compos'd and grave Yet seem'd a chearefull Majesty to have A mantle rough o're her tall shoulders hung Her undeck'd haire behind she earelesse flung Her name was Arete on tother side Stood Hedone her foe her beauties pride In all alluring amorous formes display'd Transparant silkes her snow-white limbs array'd And Tyrian scarfes with gold embroyder'd o're The precious spoyles of every Easterne shore Adorn'd her ivory necke and tresses faire From whence diffused odours fill'd the ayre Shee thus assailes the Prince Enjoy the time Sweet Prince that Fortunes height and Natures prime Both meet to blesse thee with and ravish'd see What pleasures wait on youth and Royalty Thou hast the top of others wish and mayâ—st Plucke those sweet fruits which neither age can taste Nor low estate procure Both fade away Not onely men but Princes turne to clay Then take in time what ne're will come againe What is not used was bestow'd in vaine Which prudent Nature never did intend In any gift she gave Why should'st thou spend In toyles and hazards these thy happy dayes To gaine that nothing that vaine shadow Praise Of which as life no reall use can make So th' absent ghost or senselesse grave can take No joy at all What e're the vulgar deeme Beleeve me wisest men did ne're esteeme That bubble Honour When King Pyrrhus once Resolv'd t' invade so many nations A vaine renowne by restlesse toyles to winne And make the ending of one warre beginne Another still wise Cyneas ask'd his Lord What comfort all those labours should afford His life at last When all is overcome Wee 'll live quoth Pyrrhus merrily at home So may you now quoth he Why seeke you by Those toyles what now you have in certainty Nor could vaine Pyrrhus answer him or name A reall end of his ambitious ayme Then use thy time But if thou onely strive For so much fame as may more licence give And more sweet rellish to thy pleasures know Thou hast already what thy age could doe Attain'd unto thy worth enough is knowne And Crescy field with Bayes enow did crowne Thy youthfull browes Now reape the happy fruit With confidence pursue thy amorous suit Regard not lawes nor popular ayre at all I 'le worke thine ends and Kents faire Countesse shall Her bed and beauties yeeld to thy delight And meet thy wish 'T was I that did invite The Spartan Dame to Paris armes and led The Queene of Love to young Anchises bed Can she refuse can wedlock's aëry tye Or that supposed vertue Chastity Poore names which men ' gainst natures free entent To rob themselves of pleasure did invent Resist those reall arguments that be Opposers here and proudly plead for thee Alas what tempted Lady can deny Such love fame feature youth and dignity Then weigh not rumour sit not pining downe But freely take what power can make thine owne With that she ceas'd when thus faire Arete Heroike Prince built up by Fate to be Bright Honour 's great example England's fame And to succeeding times a glorious name Oh doe not staine thy high beginnings now