had promis'd her to see Some high exploit some royall victory As that when once he made imperiall Iove Lough like a Bull for faire Europaes Love Or when he made rough Neptune â—…eele his fire Or warm'd chast Cynthiaes bosome with desire And made her court the Shepheard suâ—…h a one Loves Queene now look'd for from her conquering sonne Nor was her expectation voyd she found As much as she could hope a royall wound No lesse then Henry's noble breast must be The trophee of her Cupids victory Henry's pleas'd eyes now wander'd every where Among those Starres that made his Court their Sphaere For such they seem'd and no lesse bright they shew'd Although of different light and magnitude Oft could he change the oâ—…jects of his eye With fresh delight praise the vâ—…riety Without distracted thoughts till like the Queene Of light faire Cinthia Rosamund was seene There did he fixe there his amazed eye Forgot all pleasure of variety And gaz'd alone upon her matchlesse hew False Cupid laugh'd and thence in triumph slew Too much alas found Henry's wounded brest How much her beauty did outshine the rest So golden Venus 'mongst the Sea-nymphs so Did Deidamia 'mongst her sisters show When she inflam'd the young Achilles heart As Rosamund appear'd each single paâ—…t Of Loves rich dower which she alone possest Had beene enough to fire a vulgar brest And in another raise high beauties fame Into her forme all severall Cupids came And all the Graces their perfection show'd Nature confest she had too much bestow'd On one rich mixture which alone must weare All her faire liveries pure whitenesse there Nor red alone must beauties colours show Blew pleads a title since her veines are so Even blacke it selfe plac'd in her eye is bright And seemes to be the colour of the light As they are hers all â—…ormes all colours please Henry the more he lookes does more encrease His flame and whether he should checke desire And goe about to quench so sweet a fire Or feede the flame he cannot yet resolve A thousand thoughts does his sicke breast revolve Sometimes he seekes to cure the wound and cast Out Cupidsâ—…atall â—…atall shaft but still more fast The arrow stickes and goes more deepe into His wounded heart ensnared fishes so When they have once receiv'd the baited hooke The more they plunge the deeper still are strooke So when by chance the stately Stag is shot In vaine he strives 'gainst fate it bootes him not Through all the â—…orrests lawnes and feilds to take His speedy course no force no flight can shake The mortall shaft out of his wounded side It bootes not Henry to survey the pride Of other beauties now conveâ—…se with all The Princes met at his great festivall Or fixe himselfe on the solemnities The sports and revells of his court His eyes Can recompense him with no sight at all Nor yeild him pleasure aequall to the thrall They brought him to by sight of Rosamund No thoughts of state have power t' allay his wound Sometimes he yeilds to Loves imperiall flame Resolves to couâ—…t her favour straight but shame Restraines that thought His servants all discerne A change but are afraide the cause to learne T is not the crowning Henry of thy sonne Though that shall breed â—… sad confusion Can make thee lesse then king or dis-inthrone Thee halfe so much as love of her has donâ—… That makes thee humbly sue makes thee become Thy selfe a subject forc'd t' abide the doome That soveraigne beauty shall be pleas'd to give Thou mighty Prince whose high Prerogative Aequall to fate it â—…elfe us'd to bestow Or death or life on suppliants art now Thy selfe an humble suppliant and bound To sue for health to beautious Rosamund While thus the Princes met doe celebraâ—…e In feasts and revells young king Henry's staâ—…e And London's fill'd with severall jollityes Swift-winged fame from thence to Paris flies Where then the French king Lewis kept his 〈◊〉 And fill's his jealous eares with this repoâ—… Young Henry on the royall throne is set Without his wife the Princesâ—…e 〈◊〉 Though Lewis his daughter jeâ—…lousy can 〈◊〉 A reason quickly to torment his mind That reason flattering Couâ—…tiers aggravate And those that love the troubles of a State The factious spirits that seeke from thence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What other reason can there be say they Vnlesse contemptuous scorne of thee and France That Henry singly should his sonne advance Without his wife nor let young Margaret be A sharer in her husbands dignity What end of his or what designe had beene Made frustrate else had she beene crowned Queene These slight surmiâ—…es are too soone approv'd And for just reasons tane the King is mov'd To gâ—…ound a warre on these resolv'd although No hopes invite him to be Henry's foe Forc'd by miscalled honour to pursue What most of all he would himselfe eschew Honour is to a man a tyrant then When honours lawes he seekes from other men Not findes them in himselfe when he attends Not reall truth but fame which still depends On others breaths yet makes a man to goe ' â—…ainst his owne passions and his reason too Nor must king Lewis his fury stay so long As fairely to expostulate the wrong To send his grievance first then to defy And be a just and royall enemy Those fiery spirits that too much feare a peace That discontents betwixt the Kings would cease And no swords drawne at all if that were done Still urge king Lewis with speed say they goe on There 's no advantage in a course so slow T is best to be before you seeme a foe Before the newes to Henry's eare can fly With fire and sword invade his Normandy Meane time king Henry fearelesse of the blow Of warre was master'd by a greater foe Enforc'd to yeild to Cupids powerfull bow The triumphs all were done king William now Had with Prince David tane their leaves and from The court of England were returning home By English Lords attended on their way The court seem'd nak'd robb'd of that bright array And beautious splendour it so lately wore How much unlike the place it was before How solitary now but Henry's minde That change which others thinke of cannot finde No other absence can he feele but one His dearest life faire Rosamund was gone To grace the countrey with her presence now The wounded lover did by this time know Her birth and countrey thither flyes his heart And from his palace nay himselfe would part Or else contrives to bring a gemme so bright To court and place her neerer to his sight No kingly pleasures no magnificence Can tast no musicke 's sweete while she is thence So when the faire Calisto did remaine In woods a huntresse of Dianaes traine And wore her quiver when enamour'd Iove Beheld her matchlesse beauty from above â—…he woods before heavens palace please his eye Before the starry regions of the sky He loves th' Arcadian forrests to survay Not those bright
promise satisfy'de Which Henry freely gaue and did maintaine That he ere long would crowne his sonne againe And then young Margaret should full sharer be In all her Husbands state and dignity Then to performe what he had promis'd there Since these late-raised stormes allayed were Back into England Henry crost againe And in his noble breast ' gann entertaine The thought of Ireland's conquest now although He yet in person did not meane to goe But unto Dermot th' Irish Prince he gave Free leave from any of his Realmes to have What Voluntaryes he could carry ore That might hereafter to the Irish shoâ—…e Prepare his passage and begin the warres On fitter tearmes but not those high affaires Of Warre and Fame could keepe imperious Love From tyrannizing nor much lesse remoove His force that had before found entrance therâ—… Againe to him did Rosamund appeare And what ensu'd declare my Muse resound The love of Henry and faire Rosamund Thou knowest it Erato thou that to give My pen a true intelligence did'st dive So lately downe into th' Elysian groves And there beheld'st the seat of tragicke Loves That farre renowned shade of Mirtles where The beautious troope of Love-slaine dames appeare And weare the markes of their sad ruines yet Vpon those gloomy grounds no flowers are set But such alone which as old Poets sing Did from wail'd deaths and tragike changes spring Such as the pale-fac'd Daffadill that from That too too beautious boy's selfe-love did come And purple Hyacinth that first tooke growth From that so much lamented Spartan youth Adonis short-liv'd flower of crimson hew That from faire Venus sprinckled Nectar grew Dooes there appeare by whom is sadly set The pining Clyties pale-leav'd Violet Thou Erato within that Mirtle grove Saw'st those fam'd Ladyes whom their owne sad love Or others love had ruin'd wandring there Thou saw'st the Theban Semele appeare Wâ—…o too too late complain'd of amorous Iove And now condemn'd her owne ambitious Love There with the fatall shaft did Procris stand Who yet forgave her Lord's mistaking hand Faire Dido too of life and crowne bereft Bâ—… whom the perjur'd Trojan's sword was left And there by Aspes destroy'd sent from above In all her gloryes to th' Elysian grove â—…at Cleopatra walk'd there thou did'st see The Lesbian Sappho sadd Eryphile Thâ—… waâ—…ling Phaedra sham'd Pasiphaë Câ—…st â—…hisbe and incestuous Canace Witâ—… them the much lamented Sestian Maide And thousands moe whom whilest thine eyes survey'd Thou saw'st the second Henry's Paramour Faire Rosamund within that gloomy bower Among the rest and now return'd relate The circumstances of her love and fate While those late stirres detain'd the King in France By power of Cupid's godhead or by chance To Court the beautious Rosamund had beene Brought up to waite on Elianor the Queene There did the longing eyes of Henry finde Their brightest blisse the wishes of his mind There met their bound and her at court to whom He had resolv'd the Court it selfe should come T was then too late for him to checke desire Or to suppresse so strong and sweet a fire When he had seene his love againe so soone A longer absence might perchance have done That cure on him short absence hurt him more And made his wound farre greater then before Absence not long enough to root out quite All love encreases love at second sight So fares it now with Henry who pursues His amorous wishes taught by Love to use All those rich aides that Nature could allow That birth and hight of fortune could bestow For him his persons worth his deedes of glory His royall gifts the strongest oratory Doe proudly pleade all subject-wits must move As second causes serve the will of love For him that he may his desires enjoy And great enough are his desires t' employ All aides in this faire suite you might descry The charmes of beauty power of majesty And all that ancient Poëts sung of Love When they ascrib'd it to Imperiall Iove When he a bull would for Europa be A shower of gold for beautious Danae A Swanne for Leda with a thousand moe Such shapes to woe and winne faire Dames why so Could he change shapes and gaine in them so much Because he was great Iove his power was such But why should Iove himselfe vouchsafe to take Such humble formes as these why should he make Himselfe a bull a swanne a golden shower Because so great was Loves commanding power And nothing else was shadow'd in those things But power of beauty and the power of Kings How oft in Court the royall Henry strove By secret favours to endeare his love To Rosamund yet to delude the eyes Of Elianor and her officious spies How many spyes a jealous Queene may finde Some bounty makes some Dames an envious minde Workes to that cruell office to betray And ruine her that is more grac'd then they Faire Rosamund so young and inocent She could not fully sound the kings intent Yet loves the grace he does her loves the thought Of that effect which her owne beauty wrought And though she feele no flames reciprocall Nor Cupid's golden shaft 'gainst her at all Had beene discharg'd she loves king Henry's flame As her owne trophee there 's no beautious Dame But in that kind's unjust they often strive To gaine love there where they refuse to give And spread their proudly charming nets t' enthrall All hearts but cherish few or none at all They joy that men are forc'd to make the suite Yet too much grudge that men should reape the fruite Of their desires and wish those hearts to have Which they resolve to ruine not to save But Cupid oft is just and by degrees while they foresee not workes his servants ease Making those beauties while they boast the fame Of firing hearts approach too neere the flame And be themselves at last the selfe-same way By which they meant to triumph made a prey The open Court in Henry's owne surmise Was thought a place too full of eares and eyes Too full of eminence to woo and winne A maid so coy so young and bashfull in That love that he to her had then declar'd By graces at the Court had but prepar'd Her mind and taught her how to entertaine That parley that must his full suite obtaine A faire retreat of greater privacy Remov'd from London then was sought where he Might lodge that jewell which he meant t' enjoy With other agents fitting to employ An ancient Dame skill'd in those arts was found To aide the kings desires of most profound And subtle wit of winning speech was she And such in all â—…he might be thought to bee No Beldame but wise Venus lurking in A Beldames shape faire Rosamund to winne False Venus for her ends has oft done so And once as Homer's wisest Muse did show She tooke the shape of an old Spartan Dame In Hellens brest to blow Loves powerfull flame And subtly winne her to the Trojan's bed Perchance this Dame
instruments that I from hence shal bring Will soone divert it all and make this king Whose strength the world so much admires and feaâ—… Whom now they deeme so blest ere many yeares Into themselves revolve againe to be The pity of his foes nature for me Against herselfe is working come and veiw My champions here that shall with speed pursue What I designe with that he leades her by The denns where all along his Viâ—…es ly There in her denâ—… lay pompous Luxury Stretch'd out at length no Vice could boast such hiâ—…h And generall victories as she had wonne Of which proud trophees there at large were showne Besides small States and kingdomes ruined Those mighty Monarchies that had orespread The spatious earth and stretch'd their conquering arme From Pole to Pole by her â—…nsuaring charmes Were quite consum'd there lay imperiall Rome That vanquishâ—… all the worl'd by her orecome Fetter'd was th' old Assyrian Lion there The Graecian Leopard and the Persian Beare With others numberlesse lamenting by Examples of the power of luxury Next with erected lookes Ambition stood Whose trophees all were pourtray'd forth in blood Vnder his feet Law and religion He trampled downe sack'd cities there were showne Rivers and feilds with slaughter overspread And stain'd with blood which his wild sons had shed There Ninus image stood who first of all By lawlesse armes and slaughter did enthrall The quiet nations that liv'd free till then And first tooke pride to triumph over men There was Sesostres figur'd there the sonne Of Philip lay whose dire ambition Not all the spatious earth could satisfy Swift as the lightning did his conquests fly â—…rom Greece to farthest Easterne lands and like Some dire contagion through the world did strike Death and destruction purple were the floods Of every region with their natives bloods Next him thaâ—… Roman lay who first of all Captiv'd his countrey there were figur'd all His warres and mischiefes and what ever woes Through all the world by dire ambition rose Next to that Fiend lay pale Revenge with gore His ghastly visage was all sprinckled ore The hate he bore to others had quite reft Him of all love unto himselfe and left No place for nature ore his den were showne Such tragedies and sad destruction As would dissolve true humane hearts to heare And from the furies selves inforce a teare Those bloody slaughters there to veiw were brought Which Iacobs cruell sonnes in Shechem wrought When all the Males but newly circumcis'd To their revengfull rage were sacrific'd There the slaine youth of Alexandrialy By Caracalla's vengefull butchery The captiv'd fate of Spaine was there display'd Which wrathfull â—…ulian in revenge betray'd To Pagan Moores and ruin'd so his owne Sad house his country and religion Not all these sacred bonds with him prevaile When he beholds his ravish'd daughter waile Wring her white hands and that faire bosome strike That too much pleas'd the lustfull Rhoderike The next Sedition lay not like the rest Was he attir'd nor in his lookes exprest Hatred to heaven and vertues lawes but he Pretends religion law or liberty Seeming t' adore what he did most orethrow And would perswade vertue to be a foe To peace and lawfull power above his den For boasting trophees hung suâ—…h robes as when Old Sparta stood her Ephori did weare And Romes bold Tribunes Stories carved there Of his atcheivements numberlesse were sâ—…ene Sâ—…ch as the Gracchâ—…s factâ—…ous stirres had beene In ancient Rome and such as were the crimes â—…hat oft wrack'd Greece in her most potent times Sâ—…ch as learn'd Athens and bold Sparta knew And from their ablest souldiers oft did rue Next to that Vice lay foule Impiety At large display'd the cursed enemy Of natures best and holyest lawes through all Her loathsome denne unthankfull vipers crawle Above those stories were display'd which show How much the Monarchy of Hell did owe â—…or peoples wracke to that abhorred Vice There were Mycenae's balefull tragedies And all the woes that fatall Theâ—…es had wrought There false Medea when away she brought Her owne betrayed countries spoiles before Her weeping father Aeta peicemeale tore Her brother's limbes and strew'd them ore the feild There with the same impiety she kill'd Her owne two sonnes and through the aire apace By draggons drawne she fled from Iason's face There strong Alcathoë king Nisus towne By Sâ—…yllaes impious treason was orethrowne And sack'd with fire and sword the wretched maide Had from her lofty sounding tower survey'd King Minos hoast and doating on her faire Foes face cut off her fathers purple haire This this is she this is the Vice must goe Quoth Luâ—…ifer to worke the overthrow Of Englands peace Impiety shall doe What ever thy designes can reach unto She shall ascend to England and possesse The breasts of Henri's sonnes with what successâ—… Enyo feare not I have seene the boyes Though yet but young I marke to swell my joyes Such forward signes of their ambition They soone will by Impiety be blowne Vp into such attempts as that thy brand Shall quickly blaze againe through every land That Henry rules this is the cause that hee Continues yet in his prosperity His sonnes are not of age they they must grow Their fathers onely ruine th' overthrow Of all his weale besides to further our Deâ—…gue in this and lend us present power 〈◊〉 king himselfe consents who govern'd by 〈◊〉 dotage and disastrous policy Does now entend to crowne his eldest sonne Soone as his feasts at Windsore shall be done Where now with William Scotland's king he lyes Shall Westminstâ—…r see these solemnityes Theâ—…e see how soone â—…mpiety shall fire The young kings brest and make him more aspire The more his father gives and though of late Sedition well have wrought upon the State By Becket who these five yeares ha's beene fled And yet that strife is not extinguished No warres from thence grow nor has thy desire Enyo beene fulfill'd that faâ—…tious fire Has burnt no cities nor has blood at all Beene drawne in that be sure in this there shall Impiety shall doe 't the Feind here ends And pleas'd Enyo from the cave ascends THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second The Second Booke The Argument of the second Booke King Hâ—…nry Crownes at Westminster his sonne But soone beginns to feare what he had done He feasts the King of Scotland at his Court. Among the tempting beauties that resort To that great festivall he falls in Love With Rosamond arm'd Pallas from above Appeares to Henry's sleepe chides him as slow In his affaires of Ireland and does show What lasting honour that great Ile shall be To him and his victorious progeny NOw had great Henry his designe declar'd To crowne his Sonne and all that state prepard That might befit the great solemnity The Peeres and people all approove what he Rashly decrees and in the triumph joyne Withglittering pompe the streetes of London shine Their wealth the greatest Citizens display To grace young Henry's
houses nor the milky way All pav'd with silver Starres doe seeme so cleare The woods are heaven while faire Caliâ—…to's there â—…une then beganne and roses grac'd the Spring Into his garden walkes the Love-sicke King To seeke a sweet retreat with her alone â—…o feast his pleas'd imagination There while he view'd the Queen of flowers his flame Encreas'd and tooke fresh fuell from the name For her the blushing rose must praised bee And scorn'd againe because it is not shee No roses can quoth he be fragrant else Thâ—…re is no spring but where Lord Clifford dwells â—…hus vainely runne his thoughts upon the flower While gentle birds about his â—…hady bower Tune their soft notes and by degrees sweet sleepe Through all his wearyed senses gan to creepe As if faire Venus pittying his sad plight Would send him now by dreame some short delight And what his waking eye could not have found Present in sleepe the shape of Rosamund But Heaven was more propitious to his fame And for Love-dreames a Nobler vision came Honours bright Goddesse that heroike maide That issu'de from the braine of Iove array'de In all her radiant gloryes came before Whose face the Cupids fledd her right hand bore The warlike Lance her left Medusaes head Her golden plumed Helme both full of dread And Majesty such rayes of splendour yeilds As rising Phaebus when farre off he guilds The Easterne Cloudes her eyes wore Starry light But fixt not twinckling like weake humane â—…ight Nor did she seeme by stepps at all to goe Or stirring severall Limmes as mortalls doe But one sole motion through the ayre to make Thus she appear'd and thus the King bespake Forgetfull Henry wake the Fates provide While thou art sleeping Fame for thee and chide Thy dull delayes how long to thee in vaine Shall Ireland yeld her selfe and court thy raigne Ireland that must hereafter bring a style So great to thy posterity that I le The most enduring part of thy renowne And best addition to faire Englands Crowne Ten yeares have turn'd into themselues againe Since that late Pope deceased Adrian Did freely send by Iohn of â—…alisbury The grant of Irelands soveraignty to thee And with it sent that ring to be a sure And lasting signe of thy investiture Into that sacred honour canst thou weare The pretious Emrauld on thy finger there And yet so long forget with what entent Thou then didst take that royall ornament That mariage token wiâ—…t thou now refuse The spouse thou did'st with such affection chuse Let not the thoughts of faâ—…tious Becket now Nor what Church-threats or censures thence may grow Divert thee from this happy enterprise Thinke not that troubles may in France arise Through thy short absence since no stirres at home No losse that to those provinces can come Can countervaile such great and lasting gayne That Westerne Ilaâ—…d as the â—…ates ordayne To thy Victorious seede through every age Shall be a great and constant heritage An I flourish then when all those Provinces All those riâ—…h lands thou doost in France possesse 〈◊〉 from the English Crowne divided be When thy most ancient right faire Normandy It selfe is gone together with rich Maine With Brettaine Aniou Poictou Aquitane Although how oft shall France before those dayes Be scourg'd What trophes shall the English raise In every part and province which no power Shall ere extinguish nor strong time devoure When all amazed Christendome shall see The Armes of England twice with victory To graspe great France and once to seize her Crowne And wear 't in uncontroll'd possession When Caesar's deeds against the ancient Gaules Shall be out done by English Generalls And three fam'd battells shall exceede what he Atchiev'd against his strongest enemy Stout Vercingentorix that Prince his fall Arvaricum's â—…am'd sacke and th' end of all Alexia taken to each severall feild Of Cressy Poictiers Agincourt shall yeild But Ireland which by easy victory Without a warre almost shall yeild to thee Shall to thy royall heires remayne although Bâ—…fore that Kingdome to perfection grow And be establish'd in a quiet Reigne â—…ft horrid warres and bloody fields shall stayne â—…er face in future times and loud alarmes â—…ft to the world shall fame the English armes And raise the glory of Elisaes name A virgin Queene shall all rebellion tame And to her rule in spight of Spaines proud fate That spatious â—…and wholly vindicate There wise King Iames shall spread the English Law And by divinest skill like Orpheus draw Those ruder people to a civile life And well establish'd Peace all jarres and striâ—…e Shall fly before his most auspicious reigne This is that Prince by whom high heavens ordeine The long wish'd marriage of two royall lands Briâ—…aines united I le to his commands And sacred Scepter shall obedient be Who after long and blest tranquillity Shall leave those States to his heroik sonne Renowned Charles in whose pure breast alone All regall vertues shall inhabite join'd With those that make a spotlesse privaâ—…e mynde Who shall refraine pleas'd with just power alone All the licentious pleasures of a throne And by example governe pleas'd to be A King in vertue as in Royalty The troubles now thaâ—… threaten Normandy 〈◊〉 sent to wake thee from this Lethargy And bring thee Nobler thoughts and now was rest Qâ—…ite banished from waken'd Henry's breast He with amazed thoughts look'd up and 〈◊〉 But when his eyes were ope the sight was gone And yet on Ireland wholly ranne his thought When suddaine tidings to his eare were brought Of what King Lewis of France beyond the Seas Had then attempted 'gainst his Provinces At which moov'd Henry armes and crosses ore As swift as thought unto the Norman-shore THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second The Third Booke The Argument of the third Booke The Kings of France and England at Vendome Without a battell to agreement come Henry return'd to England meetes againe With beautious Rosamund and dooes obtaine His wanton suit he builds for her a rare And sumptuous bower stout Becket's famous jarre This booke declares and dooes at large relate By what degrees it had disturb'd the state His Soveraignes pardon Becket dooes obtaine And to his See returnes in peace agayne SOone were those stormes that threatn'd Normandy Blowne ore againe and that hostility That Lewis of France in unadvised ire Had rashly harbour'd did as soone expire Before that any dire effects it wrought A peace King Henry's armed presence brought Who now in France arrived at Vendosme To enterview the two great Kings doe come There Lewis declaâ—…es his cause that wrong was done To him and France when Henry crown'd his sonne And with like state befitting had not set That Crowne upon the head of Margaret His Princely spouse but this which first did seeme A cause of just hostility to him Was there controll'd by all and judg'd to be On sound advise a lighter injury Then that the hand of Warre should it decide For such a wrong a
grazing cattell cover all those grounds They feele no want what grass they eate by dayes The dewy night backe to the land repayes And what fam'd Maro of that wealthy field In Mantua spake these meadows truely yeild But so myraculously temperate Prooves Irelands aire sometimes Wolues have of late In middst of bare December whelped beene And young-hatch'd Crowes at Christmas have bin seen What neede I speake of that fam'd Willow tree At Glindelachan which was knowne to be Chang'd from his nature though it yet appeare In outward forme a Willow and each yeare Brings forth faire Apples that have proov'd of strange And medcinable vertue still that change The common people as divinely rare Imputed to S. Keiwin's powerfull prayer Or to your sacred eare relate the story Of our S. Patrick's famous Purgatory Nine dismall caves there are in one of those If any man by night himselfe repose Such most unsufferable torments there As humane nature scarce has power to beare He shall endurâ—… the silly folke suppose â—…he paines of Hell not much exceeding those But if that all the prodigyes we know Of truth in Ireland or all those that so Are by the common people thought to be We should relate your sacred Majesty Would first be weary'd day would first be done Ere through those wonders our discourse could runne With that the Bishop his relation ceas'd Great Henry gave him thankes and highly pleas'd To heare the nature of his new-gain'd land Rewards those Irish with a bounteous hand That on his Royall Court did then attend And that this action might to happy end Be brought and Ireland setled in a blest And sure estate beginning at the best Of cares God's service he to Dublin then A Synod calls of th' Irish Clergymen With whom were many English Prelatâ—… joyn'd To sift the state of Irelands Church and finde What errours had by time crept in to be The blemishes of Christian purity While thus great Henry labours to secure His new-gaind Realme to leave it in a sure And peacefull state from these his wish'd affairâ—… He is diverted by more tragicke cares Sad newes to him though secretly are brought Of what the fiend Impiety had wrought In his bold sonnes their inclinations now And bad designes beyond concealment grow Enough to breake a tender fathers heart But of his sorrow this was but a part Although alas he were enforc'd to see In this unnaturall conspiracie His life and kingly state endanger'd were For other tidings to encrease his feare Came flying ore as mischiefes ever joyne Not singly come Albert and Theodine Were by Pope Alexander sent from Rome As Legates and to Normandy were come There to examine Becket's murder now With power not only to enquire and know But punish it and interdict at once All great King Henry's large dominions Vnlesse that he himselfe in person there Vpon their summons did forthwith appeare And now the feast of Easter was at hand King Henry griev'd that from his new gain'd land He was so soone enforc'd to part away Before well setled yet because delay On tother side did seeme so dangerous Of those affaires he briefly does dispose Makes Hugh de Lacy chiefe Iustitiar And to the chiefest Captaines each a share Of governement he leaves then crosses ore Aâ—…d with a prosperous winde upon the shore Of Wales arrives but making then no stay At all in England sailes with speede away To Normandy to meete the Legates there And does before them personally sweare That he commanded not that horrid deede But for those words that rashly did proceede Out of his mouth and might be thought to be The mooving cause of that blacke tragaedy He is contented to what pennance fit The Pope or they enjoyne him to submit THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second The Fift Booke The Argument of the fift Booke Against their Father Henry's impious Sonnes Raise Warre through all his large dominions By forreigne Princes back'd the old King's successe On every side and wondrous happinesse King Lewis of France is chasd from Normandy And Chesters Earle surpris'd in Brettainy At Farneham field the Earle of Leister's tane And almost all his warrelike Flemmings slaine The King of Scotland by a little band Is taken prisoner in Northumberland To Becket's shrine old Henry pensive goes Then freely pardons all his yeilding foes Tâ—…kes in the Forts that were against him mann'd And without bloodshed quiets all the land The wofull newes of murder'd Rosamund Amidd'st these joyes his bleeding heart doth wound A truce twixt Lewis and him young Richard gets Poictou but when King Henry comes submits And by his father is sent forth to winne His yet-offending brothers from their sinne NOw did those fatall and unnaturall jarres Disclose themselues and more then civill wars Began to make afflicted England bleede While Henryes foes from Henryes loynes proceede From Hell to Earth did that accursed fiend The Viper-hair'd Impiety ascend T' infect the Royall houshould such was she As ancient Poets made Megaera be That lov'd no warres but twixt neere kindred bred No blood but such as sonnes or brothers shed Such warres whose tryalls must be ever bad Whose conquests must be losse and triumphs sad Twixt Pelops sonnes t was she that bred despight T was she that made the Theban brothers fight That made Atrides impiously be slayne And impiously to be reveng'd againe She now through France through England sounds alarmes And Henry's sonnes against their father armes Henry the sonne too soone crown'd King on slight Prâ—…tences of a wrong resolues to fight 'Gainst his deare Faâ—…her in that blacke designe Richard and Geoffrey with their brother joyne As then was thought incensed by the spleene And jealousies of Elianor the Queene With them the Earles of Chester Leister too And Bigot Norfolkes Eaâ—…le with many moe ' Domestick Rebells joyne nor did so bad So impious a cause as theirs oh sadd Crime of the Fates want forreine aiders too For all the Christian Princes neere as though They understood not what Rebellion were Nor treason knew to th' unjust side adhaere King Lewis of France assists his sonne in Law And to that party Scotlands King doth draw That side does Philip Earle of Flanders take So much old Henry's state now seem'd to shake As nothing almost but th' immediate hand Of heaven alone had power to make him stand Why doe you Princes such Rebellion love Such sadd examples 'gainst your selues approove You that are Kings and Fathers is it hate Oâ—… envy borne to Henry's prosperous state That mooves you â—…hus alas you doe not show A skilâ—…ull hate to him in arming so Your arming makes those warres that were before Warres civill onely to be so no more But gives the grieved father hope to share A glorious triumph from a tragicke warre For else the conquest which great Henry had Ore his owne sonnes and subjects had beene sad The King of Scotland must a prisoner be And Lewis with shame oft chas'd from Normandy
bodies wrought And 't was the hand of heaven not Henry fought But killing griefe as if unconstant fate Already ' ganne to envy Henry's state Amidd'st these triumphs comes and all the joy Of this successe must one sad death destroy How deepe alas doe Loves disasters wound The woefull newes of murder'd Rosamund Was now to royall Henry brought Oh what Pathetike tongue can at the height relate How much he griev'd a starre-crost lovers woe No living tongue can tell they onely know Whom such a cause as that has reav'd of breath If those sad Ghosts should from the shades of death Arise not they themselves could speake that woe Which no expression once but death could show Yet may the Muse since Muses are divine Vnfold those depths thou saddest of the Nine Inspire my thoughts and lend thy skill to me Oh tune thy heavyest notes Melpomene And to the world in fitting accents sound The tragicke fate of fairest Rosamund Whilest old King Henry was beyond the Seas Detain'd in warre to guard those Provinces And scatter'd parts of his dominions 'Gainst Lewis of France and his unnaturall sonnes Whil'st England shaken was with loud alarmes And fill'd with forreine and rebellious armes Pale Nemesis that had possest before The jealous brest of raging Elianor In farre morâ—… horrid shapes was enter'd now And all her wrongs in doubled formes did show â—…ongst which the deepest piercing wrong she found Hâ—…r bed despis'd for love of Rosamund Then madd she raves t is not the subtilty Of that Daedalian Labyrinth quoth she Shall hide the strumpet from my vengefull hand Nor can her doating champion Henry stand Against me now to guard his Paramour If through the winding Mazes of her bower No art nor skill can passe the World shall know A Queenes revenge the house I le overthrow Levell those Iustfull buildings with the ground And in their ruines tombe his Rosamund There let him seeke her mangled limbs oh draw To my assistance just Rhamnusia I doe not strive a rivall to remoove T is now too late to seeke a husbands love I seeke revenge alone and in what part I may most deepely wound false Henry's heart The fairer and the more belov'd that she Is now the sweeter my revenge will be Oh grant that Henry to his Rosamund May feele desire as great as ere was found In man as great as beauty ere could moove To which adde all the Matrimoniall love He owes to me that when his flame is such The death of her may make his griefe as much In nothing now but Rosamund alone Can I afflict his heart what could be done In all his other comforts has beene try'd I have already drawne his sonnes to syde Against their father in unnaturall jarre And rais'd him up from his owne loynes a warre What could old Poets make Medea more Against false Iason doe tâ—…en Elianor Gainst him has done when Rosamund is dead Besides Creusaes death Medea shed Her childrens blood before their fathers eyes But I in stead of those mad tragedies In which my selfe with him should beare a part Can by his children more torment his heart Their deaths perchance though murder'd could not be So much his griefe as their impiety In which they now proceede their fathers crowne Is by their armes into the hazard throwne And to the full revenge I have begunne Does nothing want but her destruction At Oxford then with this revengefull minde The Queene abode a fitting time to finde For execution of her blacke intents Whilest every day her cruell instruments Were lurking neere to Woodstocke to descry A way to act this balefull tragedy Faire Rosamund within her bower of late While these sad stormes had shaken Henry's state And he from England last had absent beene Retir'd her selfe nor had that starre beene seene To shine abroade or with her lustre grace The woods or walkes adjoyning to the place About those places while the times were free Oft with a traine of her attendants she For pleasure walk'd and like the huntresse Queene With her light Nymphs was by the people seene Thither the countrey Ladds and Swaines that neere To Woodstock dwelt would come to gaze on her Their jolly Maygames there would they present Their harmelesse sports and rustick merryment To give this beautious Paragon delight Nor that officious service would she slight But their rude pastimes gently entertaine When ofâ—… some forward and ambitious swaine That durst presume unhappy Ladd to looke Too neere that sparkling beauty planet-strooke Return'd from thence and his hard hap did waile What now alas can Wake or Faire availe His love-sick minde no Whitsunale can please No Iingling Morris-dances give him ease The Pipe and Tabor have no sound at all Nor to the May-pole can his measures call Although invited by the merryest Lasses How little for those former joyes he passes But sits at home with folded armes or goes To carue on Beeches-barkes his piercing woes And too ambitious love Cupid they say Had stoll'n from Venus then and lurking lay About the fields and villages that nigh To Woodstock were as once in Arcady He did before and taught the rurall swaines Loves oratory and perswasive straines But now faire Rosamund had from the sight Of all withdrawne as in a cloud her light Envelop'd lay and she immured close Within her Bower since these sad stirres arose For feare of cruell foes relying on The strength and safeguard of the place alone If any place of strength enough could be Against a Queenes enraged jealousie Now came that fatall day ordayn'd to see Th' ecclipse of beauty and for ever be Accurs't by wofull lovers all alone Into her chamber Rosamund was gone Where as if fates into her soule had sent A secret notice of their dire intent Afflicting thoughts possest her as she sate She sadly weigh'd her owne unhappy state Her feared dangers and how farre alas From her reliefe engaged Henry was But most of all while pearly dropps distain'd Her rosie cheekes she secretly complain'd And wail'd her honours losse wishing in vaine She could recall her Virgine state againe When that unblemish'd forme so much admir'd Was by a thousand noble youths desir'd And might have moov'd a Monarchs lawfull flame Sometimes she thought how some more happy Dame By such a beauty as was hers had wonne From meanest birth the honour of a Throne And what to some could highest glories gaine To her had purchas'd nothing but a stayne There when she found her crime she check'd againe That high aspiring thought and gann complaine How muâ—…h alas the too too dazeling light Of Royall lustre had misled her sight Oh then she wish'd her beauties nere had been Renown'd that she had nere at Court beene seene Nor too much pleas'd enamour'd Henry's eye While thus she sadly mus'd a ruthfull cry Had pierc'd her tender eare and in the sound Was nam'd she thought unhappy Rosamund â—…he cry was utter'd by her grieved Mayde From whom that clew was taken that
betray'd Her Ladyes life and while she doubting fear'd Too soone the fatall certainty appear'd For with her traine the wrathfull Queene was there Oh who can tell what cold and killing feare Through every part of Rosamund was strooke The rosie tincture her sweete cheekes forsooke And like an Ivory statue did she show Of life and motion reft had she beene so Transform'd in deede how kinde the fates had beene How pitifull to her nay to the Queene To free her guilty hand from such a cryme So sadd and foule as no succeeding time But shall with griefe condemne yet had she beene A Statue and look'd so the jealous Queene Perchance on that her cruelty had showne Least Henry should have turn'd Pygmalion And for a Stâ—…tues love her bed forsooke The Queenes attendants with remorse are strooke Even she herselfe did seeme to entertaine Some ruth but straight Revenge return'd againe And fill'd her furious breast Strumpet quoth She I neede not speake at all my sight may be Enough expression of my wrongs and what The consequence must proove of such a hate Heere take this poyson'd cup for in her hand A poyson'd cup she had and doe not stand To parley now but drinke it presently Or else by tortures be resolv'd to dye Thy doome is set pale trembling Rosamund Receives the cup and kneeling on the ground When dull amazement somewhat had forsooke Her breast thus humbly to the Queene she spoke I dare not hope you should so farre relent Great Queene as to forgive the punishment That to my foule offence is justly due Nor will I vainely plead excuse to shew By what strong arts I was at first betray'd Or tell how many subtle snares were lay'd To catch mine honour these though nere so true Can bring no recompence at all to you Nor just excuse to my abhorred crime Instead of suddaine death I crave but time Which shall be stil'd no time of life but death In which I may with my condemned breath While griefe and pâ—…nnance make me hourely dye Poure out my prayerâ—… for your pâ—…osperity Or take revenge on this offâ—…ding face That did procure your wrong and my disgrace Make poysonous leprosies orespread my skinne And punish that that made your Henry sinne Better content will such a vengeance give To you that he should loath me whilest I live Then that he should extend if thus I dye His lasting pity to my memory And you be forc'd to see when I am dead Those teares perchance which he for me will shed For though my worthlesse selfe deserue from him No teares in death yet when he weighs my crime Of which he knowes how great a part was his And what I suffer as a sacrifice For that offence t will grieve his soule to be The cause of such a double tragaedy No more reply'd the furious Queene have done Delay no longer least thy choyse be gone And that a sterner death for thee remaine No more did Rosamund entreat in vaine But forc'd to hard necessity to yeild Drunke of the fatall potion that she held And with it enter'd the grimme tyrant death Yet gave such respite that her dying breath Might begg forgivenesse from the heavenly throne And pardon those that her destruction Had doubly wrought forgive oh Lord said she Him that dishonour'd her that murder'd me Yet let me speake for truths sake angry Queene If you had spar'd my life I might have beene In time to come th' example of your glory Not of your shame as now for when the story Of haplesse Rosamund is read the best And holyest people as they will deteâ—…t My crime and call it foule they will abhorre And call unjust the rage of Elianor And in this act of yours it will be thought Hing Henry's sorrow not his love you sought And now so farre the venoms force assail'd Her vitall parts that lifâ—… with language fail'd That well built palace where the Graces made Their chiefe abode where thousand Cupids plai'd And cowch'd their shafts whose structure did delight Even natures selfe is now demolish'd quite Nere to be rais'd againe th' untimely stroake Of death that pretious Cabinet has broake That Henry's pleased heart so long had held With suddaine mourning now the house is fill'd Nor can the Queenes attendants though they feare Her wrath from weeping at that sight forbeare There well they could while that faire hearse thy view Believe the ancient embleme to be true And thinke pale death and winged Cupid now Their quivers had mistooke untimely so By rough North blasts doe blooming Roses fade So crushed falls the Lillyes tender blade Her hearse at Godstow Abbey they enterre Where sad and lasting monuments of her For many yeeres did to the world remaine Nought did the Queene by this dire slaughter gaine But more her Lords displeasure aggravate And now when he return'd in prosperous state This act was cause togeâ—…her with that crime Of raising his unnaturall sonnes 'gainst him That she so long in prison was detain'd And whilest he liv'd her freedome never gain'd But Henry's troubles finde not yet an end Whose cares beyond the English shores extend As if one kingdomes burden could not be Enough for his great magnanimity The yet-perplex'd affaires of Normandy Invite his presence next where fates decree Almost as easie peace shall be obtain'd As England late had by his presence gain'd Now did King Lewis and young King Henry lye Beseiging faithfull Roane in Normandy To whose reliefe the brave old Henry goes But first with care and prudence does dispose The setled state of England to his minde And loath to leave at liberty behinde So great a firebrand as his jealous Queene Fierce Elianor in this late warre had beene Commits her person to close custodie Then musters all his martiall company And Caesar-like transporting all his â—…tore Of great and princely prisoners crosses ore As if he went to triumph not to fight Nor proov'd it lesse indeede for even the sight Alone of so renown'd and fear'd a Chiefe As old King Henry was faire Roanes reliefe King Lewis of France no longer meant to stay Nor on the tryall of one doubtfull day To set his fortunes yet asham'd that he Should seeme to flye before his enemy And fearing that disgrace encamped lay Himselfe a while and first convey'd away From thence the sicke and weakest of his men And with the rest in order followed then For uncontroll'd had Henry enter'd Roane Set ope the gates and beate the rampiers downe Levell'd the trenches all that stopp'd the way And dar'd the French to tryall of the day But Lewis retir'de and weighing in sadd thought What small advantage his designes had wrought Or for himselfe or those whom he entended To aide now wish'd this bootelesse warre were ended And thoughts of peace he wholly entertain'd And since he knew a peace might be obtain'd As then it stood with ease from Englands King And love besides in labouring to bring The sonnes in too
seize on Râ—…chards lands Young Henry had Full well he knew that all The Barons of those Provinces would fall Gladly from Richards sterner government Who had before declared their intent With him in this his brother Geoffrey joyn'd Who to his father bore as false a minde With Richard's lands they meane themselves to make Strong 'gainst their Father and entend to take Thence the first step to their disâ—…oyalty Riihard in wrath departs from Normandy Returning home to fortifie and manne His holds within Poictou and Aquitaine And by his brothers is pursu'd He findes A great estrangement in the Barons mindes And is enforâ—…'d by their revolt dismay'd To crave his father old King Henry's ayd Who with an army thither straight repaires Yet not to make but to compound the warres There young King Henry labours to maintaine The Barons of Poictou and Aquitaine 'Gainst Richarâ—…s great complaints and under-hand For his owne ends perswades them to withstand His fathers force and not at all submit Old Henry labours by perswasions fit To pacifiâ—… these new bred enmities And venturing of himselfe to pâ—…rleys twice Miraculously scap'd foule treâ—…sons hand Once a true servant that did next him stand Instead of him was with an arrow slaine Nor was the traytor found and when againe He made approach a barbed shaft that from Th' adjoyning Castle did with fury come Had pierc'd his royall breast had not his horse Advanc'd his head and â—…ne the arrowes force By which himselfe to save his master dy'd By these abhorred treasons terrifi'd The King no more would venture but prepares To curbe the Barons and his Sonnes by warres But that a juster stronger hand must doe Th' â—…ternall Iudge of all the world had so Dâ—…creed that 〈◊〉 sword should spared be In punishing his sonnes impietie That he himselfe whose just and certaine hand No creature can preuent no force withstand Whose sacred will the Elements obey And all the Starres doe serve would take a way Without old Henry's ayd or crime at all Without a warre so much vnnaturall To punish guilt that justice should be done Yet the old King but lose not kill a sonne Now young King Henry at Martell prepares To meet his father in rebellious warres By by a Dysentery deâ—…th assailes His youth and spite of youth or strength prevailes The sharpe malignant humour did corrode His guts and thence while there the paine abode A speed ng feavâ—…r seiz'd his vitall part Oppressed Nature past the helpe oâ—… art Beyond all hope oâ—… cure lay languishing When Paenitence from heavens eternall King To save this dying Prince his soâ—…e is sent And sweeten so his bodies punishment Now late alas though not too late did hee Feele and bewaile his first impiety And to his father humbly sent to craue His pardon now which he as freely gave Yet durst not trust himselfe in person there The late foule treasons justly made him fearâ—… But to declare a true forgivenesse sent His Ring to him Which when the paenitent And dying Prince receiv'd â—…e humbly kist While floods of teares his contrite heart exprest Then he conjuâ—…'d hiâ—… servants that did â—…tand About him to fulfilâ—… his last command Which they in all perâ—…ormed as they swore A bed of ashes on the Chamber â—…loore They strew'd and thither pensive sackcloth brought Then from his royall Couch so richly wrought With various worke with gold embroyder'd oâ—…e They tooke him downe the kingly robes he wore They stript him of and put the sackcloth on Then on the bed of ashes layd him downe This quoth the dying king this is the way To heauens bright pallace and this sad array Is faâ—…re more glorious in th' Almighty's eye Then purple silks or rich embroydery And sooner enters heaven though that be high No step 's so neare it as humility 'T is not fraile mortals gorgeous dresse that there Can rich at all or beautifull appeare Since 'twixt the Glories of earths greatest throne And blisse of Saints is no comparison Waile not my early death no 〈◊〉 is reâ—…t Too soone of breath to whom a time is left Of paenitence I had untimely dy'd Had these late warres in my rebellious pride Cut off my youth and left my name to be The curs'd example of impiety And thou my wronged father in this low And humble state vouchsafe againe to know What impious I had once forgot thy sonne No more thy rivall in the regall throne Which whilst I sought I labour'd to destroy The Royall root from whâ—…nce I grew so high I crave no interest in thy fortunes now But onelâ—… that that Nature can bestow The blessing of a childe Seeking thy throne I grew unworthy to be call'd thy sonne Forbeare you lasting Registers of time To name my title lest you speake my crime Or if the truth of story must doe so Be just and publish my repentance too How ere when Englands Kings are nam'd let mee From that high Catalogue excluded bee And witnesse you my friends when I am gone I dy'd no King but Henry's pensive sonne With that the Feaver his strong heart assailes And 'gainst resisting Natures force prevailes From his yong brest the strugling spirit flyes And night eternall closes up his eyes Soone was the newes to old King Henry brought When different sorrow powerfull Nature wrought In his great soule Sometimes he wailes a sonne In flower of all his youth untimely gone Sometimes he joyes to heare that paenitence That wash'd away the staine of his offence Yet thence againe â—…low teares as cause to prove His sorrow good and iuâ—…tifie his love So Henry wept in all respects but one As holy David did for Absalâ—…n They both lost sonnes both wail'd their sonnes offence Yet David heard no signes of paenitence In his slaine Absalon that could â—…t all Give comfort to his griefe spirituall Had Absalonâ—…or â—…or his abhorr'd offence Left markes behinde him of true paenitence Instead of that great pillars pride which he Had rays'd before to keepe his memory Farre lesse no doubt in that respect alone Had David mourned for hâ—…s slaughter'd sonne The griefe that Henry tooke though wondrous great Yet could not make him his just wrath forget Against the Barons of Poictou from whom The cause of these rebellions first did come He drawes his martiall forces vp to presse With narrow siege the Towne of Liâ—…oges Which soone was rendred to his powerfull hand And with that Towne and Castle all the Land The Barons pardon crave wiâ—…h them his sonne Pâ—…ince Geoffrey comes â—…pon submission The King forgives his sonne and is content To take of them an easie punishment But though a fathers deare affection Twice freely pardon'd this offending sonne Soone after did the hand of God on high Pursue with vengeance the impiety Of young Princâ—… Geoffrâ—…y At a Turneament In Paris held to which this Geoffrey went With other Lords in youthfull bravery To prove his active strength and chevalry He fell together with his horse the blow
So sorely bruis'd his body that although He presently expir'd not in the place For God in mercy lent him such a space Of time to breath he might repenting call To him for Grace y◅t of that ◅a tall fall As it appeared plaine in all the pride Of his fresh youth he shortly after dy'd Lib. 7. HENRY the Second The Argument of the seventh Booke Prince John King Henry's youngest sonne is sent To take the charge of Irelands government 'Twixt Henry and King Philip severall jarres And quarrels rise that threaten daily warres A reverend Prelate by the Pope imploy'd Betwixt the Kings all difference to decide Perswades them both an holy warre to make Both Kings with Philip Earle of Flanders take The Crosse upon them But their good intents Are crost againe by fatall accidents And both the Kings against each other bent Towarre againe Richard in discontent His father leaves and takes King Philip's part Ensuing losses breake old Henry's heart THus is the King of halfe his store bereft Two sons untim◅ly dead two sons are le◅ The seeming comforts of his age as who Could think but living childrē shold be so Oh who would not suppofe that to have seene Two youthfull sonnes before him dead had beene A grievous c◅rse and punishment to him But he that sees old Henry's end will deeme His living sonnes to be his curse and say God pity'd him in taking two away For furious Ri◅hard who was eldest now And heire apparant to the Crowne as though His brother's deaths could no examples be To shew the vengeance of Impiety Soone after 'gainst his father raises warre Of worse and sadder consequence by farre Then all the rest had beene they caus'd his smart But this of Richard breakes his bleeding heart The Realme of Ireland Henry did entend To Iohn his youngest sonne and to that end Had from Pope Vrban got a grant before That he might freely leaue as successour Which sonne he pleas'd in Irelands government Thither is Iohn with ◅it attendance sent But twelve yeares old to make him early knowne And lov'd among those people as his owne To rule among them as their Governour But not invested in the Regall power Th' example of his eldest sonne whom he Before advanc'd to royall dignity Too soone alas had made him justly feare The same from others But unhappy there This Prince his too too early rule did prove Instead of gaining that rude Nations love Which by a sweet demeanour had beene wonne For they as every barbarous Nation Although they know not what is true respect Yet if respected wondrously affect The youthfull Gallants of that Prince his Covrt Could not re◅raine bur in a scorne◅ull sort The Natives rude behaviours did deride And so distastfull was their mocking pride To those plaine people they began to hate Whom else they would have honour'd and forgate That loyall love and reverence which before They to the English King and Nation bore From thence sad warres the Irish Princes mov'd Which by the losse of men and treasure prov'd Vnhappy to the English side till from His government young Iohn was called home And left it after an expensive warre In worse estate then when he enter'd farre Now daily quarrels 'twixt the Realmes of France And England grow Fresh cause of variance From all occasions does the active minde Of young King Philip 'gainst old Henry finde Sometimes he c◅aimes Gisors and other lands By Henry held from him somet◅mes demands The Princesse Adela his sister now Of perfect age to be deliver'd to Her husband Henry's eldest sonne According to the old conclusion Which in her father Lewis his time was made Or else he is resolved to invade King Henry's Provinces while he delayes His answer forces on both sides they raise While neighbour-Princes kindly enterpose And strive these breaches 'twixt the Kings to close Nor perfect peace nor constant warre ensn'd Their truces often broke were oft renew'd The sword oft drawne and oft was sheath'd againe While this so jarring concord did remaine Betwixt the Kings sad newes was brought to them That Saladine had tane Ierusalem Discomfited the Noble Christian hoast And with their slaughter ◅ad through all that coast Seized the townes of strength into his hands These wofull tidings through all Christian lands In Europe flew excitements every where From Pulpits sounded in the peoples eare To aid their brother-Christians in the East And take revenge on Pagans that opprest The holy land For this great purpose some Religious Prelates sent through Christendom◅ To severall Courts of greatest Princes came To draw their succours One of greatest name In that imployment who most seem'd t' advance The cause that Prelate was who then in France Labour'd to draw these armed Kings from thence And turne their swords against the Saracens Betwixt Gisors and Try a day was set For enterview where these two Monarchs met Their royall armies slay'd not farre srom thence No p◅ace was wrought upon the conference Though thither Philip Earle of Flanders came A powerfull Prince and one of honour'd name With Noble purpose to attone their jarres And to prevent so sad and causelesse warres Till this grave Prelate to the place was come And for the generall cause of Christendome Thus humbly spake Most puissant Kings and you Renowned Earle let it in season now Be thought to speake what borne upon the wings Of Fame already through all Europe rings The tragicke slaughter of our Christian hoast And sacred Salem to vile Pagans lost Since by those Christians sufferings God for you Sets ope the way to highest honours now Let that brave cause engage these armes of yours Thither great Kings transport your conquering powers And for the name of your Redeemer move A war◅e more just than any peace can prove Much more a juster warre then this can be For when the foes of Christianity Doe rage if peace it selfe at such a time May in the Christian world be judg'd a crime What crime is that when they to warre can goe Yet not 'gainst him that ought to be their foe But for him rather Let me freely speake When Christian Princes 'gainst each other wreake Their wrath at sucst a time what side so ere Be beat the holy cause must suffer there And every death when your fierce battels joyne A Champion takes from bleeding Palaestine God sure decree'd I should prevaile with you Because he lets me finde you armed now When I am come to speake Your breasts are not Becalm'd with peace your active spirits are hot And what should hinder you from Salems warre Since you have met a juster cause by farre Then that that mov'd this heat that rays'd these armes I doe not seeke to still these loud alarmes But to direct them to an object right Where godly zeale not sinfull wrath shall fight That shall renowne you in all times to come And crowne your dying men with martyrdome Doe you for honour fight as who would make A warre at
all if not for honours sake Behold where truest honour may be gain'd When by your armes his cause shall be maintain'd Who is the fountaine of it he that gave To you those royall glories that you have And claymes some quitall by your service shew'd What fame so great as that of gratitude Even Fame it selfe which in some warres is made The highest prize for which great Kings invade Each others lands in this more glorious warre Is a small part of the reward for farre More happy recompence ordained is For this religious deed eternall blisse Goe vindicate that once most happy land So grac'd by heaven and with victorious hand Redeeme those sacred monuments that lye Detain'd by Pagans in obscurity Which to the faithfull world would more be knowne And Christian Poets shall hereafter crowne In deathlesse songs together with the fames Of that lov'd Countrey your victorious names If Homers Poëm could so farre renowne That â—…oy the long-besieged Phrygian Towne If he could give her very ruines fame And lend each field each stone a pleasing name What in this sacred subject may be done A theame disdaining all comparison In which for wit they shall not need to toyle The plentious matter will so 〈◊〉 their stile Instead of Ida's hill and famed grove Which their fictitious gods they say did love And oft descended downe from heaven to grace Their theame shall be each truly honour'd place Which glorious Angels oft have hallowed Where our blest Lord himselfe vouchsaf'd to tread Instead of â—…riam's Palace or the Cave Where Paâ—…is once his fatall judgement gave Instead of young Anchises bâ—…idall wood Or that fam'd rocke where faire Hesion stood Shall they discourse of David's Tower the Cave Which once unto that holy Baptist gave Abode on earth or where Elias stood When lifted up and make â—…aire Iordans flood And Kedrons torrent in true fame surpasse What Simois or silver Xanthus was But whither has my zeale transported me Or what is this so like an extasie Let me returne againe Great Kings I see Your Noble thoughts already working be In â—…his brave cause I will presume to adde No more â—…ut this now let your goodnesse glad All Christian hearts in friendships bands combine And thinke you have no foe but Saladine With that he ceas'd the Princes all are mov'd And in their lookes already had approv'd The Bishop's speech when Henry thus began T' expresse his thoughts Let it become the man Of greatest age to show he does forsake The worlds vaine pompe and honour first to take This holy Crosse and fight for Palaestine We thinke it no dishonour to beginne To seeke a peace at Philip's hand nor can We feare for such a cause that any man Will thinke distrust in these our warres at home And not the love we beare to Christendome Engages us since we resolve to goe And by that souldiers pilgrimage to shâ—…w No rest from armes is sought when we so â—…arre In person march to meet a noble warre On that shall Henry's thoughts be wholly set And if King Philip's resolutions meet With mine in this and yours brave Earle to stand Another Champion for the holy Land Then Princes joyne your armed hands with mine And let our peace bring warre to Saladine They both agree to what old Henry spake With that they kindly all embrace and take The holy crosse before the Bishop there And that a â—…ifference plainly might appeare Among their crossed souldiers they agree Those crâ—…sses shall in severall colours be Worne by the Naâ—…ions th' English shall be seene In white in red the French the Flemmiâ—…gs greene And now at home to â—…ettle all affaires To their owne Realms from thence each Prince repaires To levy money and provâ—…sions make For that great voyage they entend to take For when they tooke the Crosse it was agâ—…eed Betwixt the Kings and by the Pope dâ—…creed That all as well the Câ—…ergy aâ—… the Lay Within each Land should be enforc'd to pay Of their revenues the tenth part unto This warre unlesse they would in person goe And for a summe in present to be made The tenth of all the moveables they had Should levy'd be for preparation In every part of his dominion Bâ—…yond the Seas this order Henry gave And thence to England crost the Seâ—… to have Thâ—… Edict put in execution there 〈◊〉 his wealthiest subjects every where From whoâ—…e estates he migâ—…t large summes collect Two hundred 〈◊〉 he did select Iâ—… London and in Yorke an hundred moe The like entending in all Townes to doe King Philip so so th' Earle of Flanders did In their 〈◊〉 treasure to provide But what malignant spirit then did reigne To make so pious an intention vaine How were their noble preparation crost And that revenge against the Panyms lost Alâ—…s what Starres malevolent aspect Could take such sad and tragicall effect Against King Henry as to overthrow That happinesse that seem'd so neere him now How true a Fame might his last dayes â—…ave wonne With what content might those gray haires have gone Downe to the grave if in that holy wâ—…rre He happily haddy'd though ne're so farre From off his native land Hâ—… had not then With such unworthy cares distracted bâ—…ene As after must ensue nor forc'd to see Againe a sonn 's abâ—…orr'd impiety But Fates to Henry's age had not ordain'd So great a happinesse sad woes remain'd To vex his state and breake his bleeding heart Doe thou Calliope declare in part What obscure cause produc'd 〈◊〉 so strange And wrought this sudden and unlook'd for change Reimâ—…nd Thâ—…louses Earle had offâ—…r'd wrong Altâ—…ough buâ—… slight to some that dâ—…d belong To Richard oâ—… 〈◊〉 Kâ—…ng 〈◊〉 sonne Thence grew so great an alteration For fierce young Richard with his armed bands Fâ—…rst rais'd for better warre invadâ—…s the Lands Of Reimond straâ—…ght and wastâ—… his Countrey neere With fire and sword â—…urprising Castâ—…s there At th' Earle's complaint Philip oâ—… France was mov'd And to King Henry sent whose aâ—…swer prov'd No satisfaction 〈◊〉 Philip then Invaded Berry with his choysest mâ—…n And tooke â—…en Townes and Castlâ—…s â—…uddenly â—…rom Hâ—…nry there who straight to Normandy From England with a mâ—…ghty aâ—…my goes Now on both sides the warres with fury rose The holy voyage is foâ—…got in vaine The neâ—…ghbour-Princes of this jarre complaine In vaine the Pope intreats or threatens now Th' incensed Kings goe farther on although Young Henry's sonne from whom at first 〈◊〉 breach bâ—…gan is bâ—… the Lâ—…gate curst Nâ—… enterviewes no parleyes can doe good Thoâ—…gh under 〈◊〉 old famous Elme that stood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 the Kings twice meâ—… 〈◊〉 when tâ—…e wrongs were thought on both sides great Instead of peace a jarrearose that more Deprest King Henry then all warres before Philip â—…or Richard of Pâ—…ictois demands Adâ—…la there againe from Henry's hands Offers the promis'd dower requiring that Th' old King for certainty of Richard's state Would now assure him the inheritance Of all
Lord Mowbray and divers others No part of al his large dominions was free from warre Normandy invaded by Lewis of France and young King Henry Aquitaine by his Sonne Richard possessed against him as the Dutchy of Brittaine was by Geoffrey The Northern parts of England were all wasted by the great strength of William K. of Scotland the Easterne parts much afflicted by those mercenary troops of Flemmings which the Earle of Leister brought over besides the forces of the Earl oâ—… Norâ—…olk This great Monarch whose felicitie was so lately the envie of his neighbour-Princes is now become the pittie of them all and the injuries done to his estate and person are much lamented by some Princes too farre off to lend him succour But be hold the turning of Fortune againe it pleased God againe to lift him from this depth of calamitie to the height of honour Hee now found the benefit of his frugality and that large treasure which hee before had gathered was his great assistance in procuring mercenarie souldiers to his side besides some faithfull Lords there were whom we have named in the storie that were deeply moved at their masters injuries and so Nobly served him that within three yeares after the beginning of these combustions King Henry according to his owne wishes beheld a happy and victorious end of them as is before expressed Let the fourth Act continue about seven yeares that next ensued a time of honour and highest happinesse to this great King after his troubles were allended according to his wish the King of France daunted the martiall King of Scotland his prisoner all rebels under his feet his Sonnes brought to acknowledge their duty and all his large dominions in great securitie While the mightiest Monarchs of the Christian world admired his wisedome and great successe astonished almost at so wonderfull a change as they now beheld His sumptuous Court was filled with congratulating Ambassadours of whom at one time there were moe seene then ever had beene together in the Court of England as namely from the two Christian Emperours Manuel of Constantinople and Frederike of the Romans from the Kings of Navarre and Aragon â—…om the Archbishop of Triers and the Earle of Flanders During the time of this happinesse hee marryed his two youngest daughters for the eldest was married before to the Duke of Saxony to the Kings of Sicily and Arragon Hee called Parliaments in which according to his minde hee was furnished with treasure he wisely setled the estates of Church and Common-wealth and besides many other wholsome happy constitutions he first appointed Iudges Itinerant for the six circuits of the Realme of England The last and tragicall Act may be considered in the five following yeares untill the end of his reigne and lifâ—… The date of his felicitie was now expired and nothing followed but trouble and calamitie The beginning of which was a second revolt of his two Sonnes Henry and Geoffrey which was soone taken off by the untimely death of both the Princes as is before declared in the Poëm besides the ill successe in the affaires of Ireland under the government of Iohn his youngest sonne Those troubles that arose from Philip King of France and prevailed against Henry in his old age more then any enemy had beene able to doe before which had not fallen so heavily upon him if Richard then his eldest sonne had not unnaturally forsaken his father and joyned in confederacy with King Philip. That miserable dissention broke the heart of old King Henry and was the end both of his reigne and life FINIS THE SINGLE AND COMPARATIVE CHARACTERS OF HENRY the Sonne and RICHARD LEt it not seeme impertinent if the Reader therby may be informed or delighted to deliver the Characters of these two Princes the eldest Sonnes of King Henry the Second who bore so great and stirring parts in the history of their fathers reigne They were Princes of greatest eminence in those times and upon whom the eyes of Christendome were most set a large Stage they had to act upon and early occasions to discover their worth They were both tall of stature beyond the ordinary height of men of comely visage and majesticall presence for courage and magnanimity they were thought equall and both admired for royall vertue though of a nature different Henry was beloved for his sweetnesse Richard honour'd for his graviâ—… Henry was affable and wondrous liberall Richard severe and full of constancy Henry was addicteâ—… to martiall sports and pastimes Richard more inclined â—…o warre it selfe One was Courtly the other serious One beloved for mercy the other feared for Iustice. The one a refuge the other a terror to all offenders Two Princes brothers of so great worth and yet so diverse have seldome beene observed Yet well might they spring from one root their father Henry in the mixture of his nature was knowne to containe both their different Characters and iudged to have a minde as one â—…peakes of Augustus Caesar full of varietie How much the sweetnesse and lovely carriage of young King Henry had wonne upon the world let one observation which some of his owne time thought like a miracle teach us to judge How strange was it that a young Prince rising in armes against his father possessed neither of lands nor treasure much lesse of a good or just cause was followed almost by all the neighbouring world against a King of so large a territory and so full of treasure that in this great defection from him hee was able almost with mercenary souldierâ—… to vindicate his right against all those potent enemies This young Pâ—…ince had gained to his side not onely his brothers Richard and Geoffrey and most of the great Nobility of England but the Kings of France and Scotland the Earle of Flanders and many other great forraigne Princes So many rich gifts of minde and body were heaped on this young Henry saith a Writer of his time that Nature as it were envying what she had bestowed soyled it againe with one staine the vice of ingratitude and disobedieuce to so good a father Which sinne of his was thought the cause that plucked downe Divine vengeance and untimely cut off that flourishing youth which was judged worthy if God had prolonged it to have ruled a greater Empire The severity and industrious courage of Richard the second Sonne let this declare the Earledome of Poictou and the Dutchy of Aquitaine which were the inheritance of his mother Eleanor were committed to his government whilest he was very young Yet in that tender age so manly were his vertues so awefull was the hand which he carried over the rebellious and stubborne subjects of those Countryes that he soone reduced them to a more quiet state and setled obedience then any of their former Princes had ever done As he was stout in the action of warre so was hee constant and unwearied in pursuing his fortune and making the full use of any successe according to that marke that Lucan gives of Iulius Caelar Nil credens actum cum quid superesset agendum Hee was so severe in punishing their offences that hee began so great a resemblance sometimes has vice with vertue to be taxed of cruelty till the wiser sort had fully considered the quality of his actions and the necessity of such proceedings How prevalent he was in the managing of warres to omit those great high exploits which he afterwards atchieved when hee was King of England by this one sad observation we may somewhat iâ—…dge after the untimely deaths of his two brothers Henry and Geoffrey when hee onely of the Sonnes was left at mans estate and unnaturally warred against his father assisted onely by Philip King of France hee more prevailed then his brother Henry with a farre greater confederacy had beene able to doe in the foregoing warres Henry the Sonne had many and great Princes as â—…efore wee shewed that sided with him And yet so victorious an end did old King Henry make of that businesse that hee saw his greatest and most glorious times after the conclusion of that warre but when Ricâ—…ard revolted from him assisted onely by Philip of France the father was inforced to suffer more and stoope lower than any imagined that a Prince of so great a spirit and power could ever have bin brought unto By which finally his heart was broken and a period set to all his worldly glory Richard in that was more unhappy than his brother Henry that his unnaâ—…urall wars weâ—…e able to give so deepe and uncurable a wound to his fathers heart and lent him no time at all to obtaine his pardon as Henry had done nor could the father liue to bee a witnesse of Richards forrow and true repentance as hee had beene of the others Which notwithstanding was many wayes after the death of old King Henry testified by Richard and last of all when himselfe was dying he commanded his servants to bury him at Fonteverard and lay him acrosse at his fathers feet to whom his disloyalty and unnaturall revolt as hee with griefe acknowledged had beene so great a crosse FINIS * Polydore Viâ—…gil in H. 2 * The Monke of Nuborough lib. 2. has all this * The Monke of Nuborough Ibidem * Hovden Chronicon de passione miâ—…aculis Thomae a Math. Paris b Gervase of Dover * Aurea legenda in vita Thomae * Silu Giraldus Cambr. relates all these wonders * Hovedâ—…n * William Parvus * Stoutvile Glanvile Vrsy Ballioll Vinfriville * Will. Parvâ—… * William Archbishop of Try