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
Nor now can silver-winged Peace againe As earst at Tourney and Malstroict shee did Th' enraged troops without death's stroke divide But fierce Enyo chas'd from thence away Without controllment claimes this fatall day Darke grew the troubled ayre as if it strove Within the souldiers furious breasts to move A sad presage of what would then ensue Nor longer could the golden Phoebus shew His cheerefull face The lightnings flashy light And loudest claps of thunder ' gan affright The darkned welkin which in teares apace Dissolv'd to fall upon the tragicke place Another darknesse more portentous rose Ore both th' amazed camps Whole sholes of Crowes And croaking Ravens that obscure the skye From all the neighbouring fields to b Crescy flye As thicke as Cranes in winter that forsake To drinke warme Nile the frozen Strymons lake And muster there themselves in hope to prey Vpon the slaughter of so great a day From these ostents are deepe impressions wrought The souldiers fancies as each breast is fraught With passions various variously surmise Presaging murmurs through all parts arise In some the thirst of fight encreast in some Appear'd the palenesse of a death to come Yet none so much on their owne danger thought As they divin'd after this field was fought About their Kings and Nations changed fate Nor had they time to feare their private state 'Twixt both the Marshals one on either side Through every battell did great Edward ride Whose royall presence with fresh vigour fill'd The souldiers cheerefull bosomes and exil'd Even from the coldest hearts all thoughts of feare No long perswasive Oratory there Did that short time afford or Edward need Few exhortations serv'd that did proceed From such a Prince He briefly bids them crowne That day their Nations honour and their owne And sets before the common souldiers eyes How great how glorious was their valours prize How many Princes wealthy spoyles would be The recompence of that dayes victory But when approaching Philip had beheld His English foes embattell'd in the field And that the warre admitted no delay He vainely joy'd to see the wish'd for day That might redeeme the honour France had lost And straight drew on his rich and numerous hoast In which so many severall Nations fought By their owne Soveraignes there in person brought And now those forraigne Princes every where With fitting language briefly 'gan to cheere Their armed Subjects that in this dayes fight As well their Countries honour as the right Of Philip lay that all great France would fame And thanke their conquering hands how great a shame It were for them to shrinke in such a warre To which for honour they had come so farre And left their dearest pledges whom if they Againe would see it in their valours lay But most does Philip his French troops excite As most of all engaged in the fight By natures lawes and all the love they beare To their deare native soyle whose freedome there Or shamefull conquest into question came That 't was a staine already to the name Of France a petty King that claime durst make Or their great kingdomes conquest undertake Which they must wipe off by their valours now And for his pride chastise th' ambitious soe That easie 't was to doe since Edward's power So few in number not one hand ' gainst foure Of fighting men was able there to show And to revenge their fellow souldiers now Who neere to Sluce on Neptune's watery Maine Had beene before by English Edward slaine With such like speeches all their hearts are fir'd And now a signall every where desir'd Which given on both sides a lowd shout arose And Death began to deale his fatall blowes Farre off at first his winged message flyes While the strong-armed English Archer plyes His bloody taske while Genoan Crossebowes backe Returne their fury and the ayre growes blacke With shafts as erst with winged fowle it did The English Vangard which Prince Edward led 〈◊〉 in the figure of an herse came on ' Gainst which the furious Charles of Alanson Kâ—â—g Philip's brother with Bohemia's King The strength of all the Chevalry did bring But â—re the horse came on in full carriere The Genoan Crossebowes that stood formost were To powre their stormes of fury on the foe But there began the fatall overthrow Of that huge Army For the late great fall Ofraine although it did no hurt at all To the English bow-strings spoyl'd the Genoans quite And made their Crossebowes uselesse in the fight Who weary'd with their mornings march so farre And griev'd with dis-respect had tane no care How to preserve their strings Which seeing on On Chevaliers cryes hot Count Alanson And o're yon lazy Genoans bellies make Your way to victory let souldiers take The Van from uselesse beasts With that they ride Vpon them furiously by their owne side The wretched Genoans are trod downe and slaine But nothing by that act the horsemen gaine For o're their bodies some are tumbled downe The rest that stand in that confusion Are gall'd with arrowes that uncessant flye From th' English fresh and gallant Archery Which did almost the whole Battalia rout The whiles the dying Genoans round about Might see before their latest gaspe of breath Their owne revenge wrought in the Horsemens death And for the wrong which their owne side did doe And quickly righted by the valiant foe But loth farre off t' endure the Archers force Count Alanson with his approaching horse Within Prince Edward's battell strives to bring The fight and thither th' old Bohemian King With his brave troope does even-ranked ride Whose reines are all fast to each other ty'd As if they meant to mow the enemy By squadrons downe So chained Bullets flye And sweepe a field as those Bohemian horse Close-link'd together came And now their force Within the Archers formost ranke had got There the encounter growes more closely hot There battell-axes swords and lances stand There foot to foot and furious hand to hand The men at Armes maintaine a constant warre And now Prince Edward's battell too too farre Began to be opprest to succour whom The second battell of the English come In which with other Lords Northampton stood And all too little in this scene of blood That succour seemes to be Vp to the hill On which King Edward with his battell still Vntouch'd kept stand the Lords have sent to crave Ayd for the Prince in this sad storme but have This answer past their expectation made While hee 's alive send not to me for ayd T is he must weare this honour nor will I Be Edward's rivall in the victory Or feare so much his danger to step in And seize those Bayes which he alone will winne From this Heroike answer of a King In every bosome did fresh vigour spring That answer might have wrought despairing feare But that young Edward and the Nobles there The worth and wisdome of the King did know And he their spirits whom he sent it
Strikes England so yet this they comfort call Into the hands of man they shall not fall b Sad growes the time nor with her wonted cheare Or usuall dressing does the Spring appeare No cleansing gale of Zephyre moves the ayre While rising fogs obscure the welk in faire Without his showres contagious Auster blowes And painted Summer no kind fruit bestowes Nor does the Sunne as if inflam'd with ire Send out that wholesome and prolifique fire He us'd to doe but beames of mortall heat And from the bosome of the twins as great Combustion kindles here as if he then Vpon the Nemean Lion's backe had beene Within the farthest Easterne Lands from whence Day breakes breakes forth the fatall pestilence As if with rising Titan it begunne And follow'd thence the motion of the Sunne To Europe then does th hot contagion flye Raging through euery part of Italy And France that bled so late is forc'd to see Beside warres stroke a new mortality But most of all o're England's mourning face The sad infection spreads and Death apace In his pale Chariot rides through all the land No age nor sexe escape his vengefull hand Young men in prime of all their strength are strooke And yeeld The sucking Infant what he tooke From Nature soone is summon'd to repay From those soft limbs untimely fleets away The new-come Soule before it can be growne Acquainted with the tender mansion The aged man not because aged goes But onely ' cause he had a life to lose The mourning grave becomes a marriage bed To beauteous maids praeposterously dead One father wailes his sonne another all His houshold carries in one funerall And for so many deaths one mourning serves If one be left to mourne No care preserves Nor antidote can save from this disease Their greatest hope is but to dye in peace For oft the fiery sicknesse did invade Reasons coole seat and there prevailing made A strange distraction worse then losse of breath For which their friends wish'd as a cure their death The face oft burn'd no moisture had the eye Nor could by teares expresse their misery Some while their dearest friends they doe entombe Before that pious office done become Themselves a funerall Death makes him to be An hearse that came a mourning obsequy Nor does this venemous contagion Worke the destruction of mankind alone The sheepe and cattell perish as if growne On earth quite uselesse since the men are gone Wast lye the Lawnes the fields of tillage now Are desolate while the forsaken plow Nor men nor cattell scarce can exercise The Oxe in midst of all his labour dyes And leaves behind his mourning fellow now Dismist from toyle and service of the plow Who takes no comfort now in shady woods In flowery meadowes or cleare Chrystall floods That destiny alas for him remaines Although at rest The warrelike horse disdaines The pleasant streames and sicke forgetteth quite His food or th' honour of a race or fight Even Toads and Vipers dye acquainted growne With venome farre more mortall then their owne Twice through th' Horrizon had Hyperion runne Since first the fatall Pestilence begunne Before th' Almighty did his sword restraine And with his favour visit earth againe He now is pleas'd to cast a gracious eye On this distemper'd world her misery He cures and makes her former beauty come With kindly fruits he fills earth's fertile wombe And makes sweet blasts to move the wholesome ayre The people find at last their humble prayer Is heard and now the teares are wip'd away Due praise and thankes before his Altar pay Annotations upon the fourth Booke a Those that would see at large the actions of the Earle of Darby in Guyenne Aquitaine and Normandy let them read Froissard where they shall see them fully though not elegantly related This Earle of Darby a man of great worth and neere in blood to King Edward was afterwards by him created Duke of Lancaster the first Duke that ever was in England and left behind him no other issue but one daughter who being his sole heire was married to Iohn of Gaunt the Kings sonne and brought to him a large dowry together with the title of Duke of Lancaster b This wonderfull mortality which it pleased God in his wrath to send upon the wretched earth happened in the 22. yeare of King Edward immediately after the taking of Calleis a greater pestilence wee can scarce read of in any particular land or kingdome much lesse so great and with all so generall as this was For not onely England but France Italy and most of the Easterne and Southerne kingdomes were visited at that time and felt the rod most heavy and sad on them The fore-runner of this great sicknesse was immoderate raine for our Chronicles agree in generall that from Midsummer to Christmas it rained every day or night The yeare following it is noted that there dyed in London betweene Ianuary and the end of July seven and fifty thousand persons Other Cities and Townes suffered the like according to their proportions insomuch that some writers of those times were of opinion that halfe the inhabitants of the Land dyed for we must not beleeve Walsingham who sayes there was not above a tenth part of mankinde left alive As great a death of Cattell happened both that and the yeere following Thie was the greatest but not the onely plague which happened during the reigne of this King Edward For twelve yeeres after England was visited with another which our Chronicles called the second great Plague In that many of the Nobility dyed and among the rest that noble Henry Duke of Lancaster a chiefe actor in all the warres and victories of Edward and a maine Pillar of the state at that time THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The fifth Booke Argument V. Prince Edward levyes forces to maintaine Against the French his right in Aquitaine The King wasts Scotland Poictiers field is fought From whence King Iohn of France is prisoner brought PHilip of France had left the earth and John The eldest Sonne as in his father's Throne So in his sad mis-fortunes does succeed Who what the Fates in vengeance had decreed Against his Realme by rashnesse hastens on And gainst all right on Charles his eldest sonne Conferres the stile of Duke of Aquitaine Great Edward bound in honour to maintaine His owne inheritance creates his Sonne Young Edward Prince of that Dominion Exhorts him bravely to defend his right And ' gainst the French for his just Title fight For which Prince Edward armes and with a traine Of valiant Lords prepares for Aquitaine Never did Fortune with more favour smile On any armes nor from this martiall Ile Did ever army crosse the Seas before That more triumphant did returne or wore A richer Garland from Bellona's tree There to maintaine young Edward's signiory Brave Warwicke armes who neare the Prince his side When Crescy field his mayden prowesse try'd Before had fought and Suffolke whose renowne
know Whither the French could winne by sword or no. With that the signal 's given In full carriere They charge that little English band who there With well collected spirits stand t' abide Their fiercest onset and on every side Returne sharpe death and furious force for force Their mortall arrowes gall th' approaching horse Nor is the chevalry of France o'rethrowne By th' English archers onely but their owne Rash fury helpes to draw their ruine on And on themselves does execution In vines shrubs bushes that environ'd round Prince Edward's armies well-elected ground Th' entangled horse with miserable fate Their riders and themselves praecipitate And to their foes become an easie spoyle As beasts of greatest courage in a toyle Ensnar'd almost without resistance dye While ' gainst the rest that stand the archers ply Their fatall taske the wounded horses fall Foule on their fellowes every where through all The troope reignes nothing but confusion Those chevalliers that came so bravely on And seem'd themselves enow the day to gaine In this disorder tumbled downe are flame Nor can so few of English hands suffice To execute their routed enemies Now wondrous sad the spectacle was growne In all her foulest shapes was horror showne The mangled limbs of riders that of late Were proudly mounted by praeposterous fate Beneath the horses bloodyed hoofes are trod With heapes confus'd the mourning fields are strow'd The dikes are fill'd with slaughter while the blood Of men and horses make one purple flood As if in nature they had beene the same And from the wounds of slaughter'd Centaures came Now to the French infantery at last Which farre behind the horse King Iohn had plac'd And vainly thought that in the action He should not need their hands the horse alone Would gaine the day the furious warre was brought But they alas amaz'd before they fought To see the horsemens wondrous overthrow And now assaulted by the conquering foe Gave ground apace The first hot charge that brave And valiant Lord renowned Audley gave Who to performe a noble vow in deeds Almost the prowesse of a man exceeds And like the stroke of Jove's resistlesse thunder Shoots forth and breaks the strongest ranks in sunder Here in the thickest throng of enemies Like Thracian Mars himselfe blacke Edward plyes Deaths fatall taske here noble Warwicke gives A furious onset there brave Suffolke strives T'outgoe the formost aemulations fire Is kindled now and blazes high desire Of honour drownes all other passions there Not in the Chiefes alone each souldier In that small army feeles bright honours flame And labours to maintaine his proper fame Ne're was a battell through all parts so fought Nor such high wonders by an handfull wrought White Victory that scar'd above beheld How every English hand throughout the field Was stain'd with blood amaz'd to see the day And that so few should carry her away The fields no more their verdure can retaine Enforced now to take a purple staine And be obscur'd with slaughter while the wounds Of France manure her owne unhappy grounds Where mixed with Plebeian funerals Her greatest Princes dye There Burbon falls And Marshall Clermont welters in his gore There noble Charney's beaten downe that bore The standard royall that sad day here dyes Athens great Duke there valiant Eustace lyes Who as a badge of highest honour wore A Chaplet of bright pearles that had before When by King Edward in a skirmish neere To Calleis he was taken prisoner As testimony of his prowesse show'd Beene by that royall enemy bestow'd But ' mongst so many noble funerals Of France one starre of English prowesse fals From his bright sphaere with sorrow to allay The high successe of that victorious day Renowned Audley that so long had fought In front of all the English power and wrought High feats at Armes by many wounds bereft Of spirits sinks downe at last but is not left To th' Enemy foure valiant Squires engage Themselves for him against the fiercest rage Of foes and beare their wounded Lord away Whom gently downe in freshest ayre they lay Past hope of life alas but gentle Death So long gave respite to his latest breath Till he his Countries full renowne might see And Edward grac'd with perfect victory Great are the French Battalia's and in roome Of those that fall so oft fresh souldiers come So oft the bloody fight 's renew'd that now The English weary with subduing grow And ' ginne to faint opprest with odds so great When lo to make the victory compleat Six hundred bowmen whom to that entent Before the battell the brave Prince had sent Abroad well mounted now come wheeling o're The field and charge the French behind so sore As with confusion did distract them quite And now an execution not a fight Ensues all rowted that great army flyes A prey to their pursuing enemies With his disheartned battels Orleance Forsakes the field with him the heire of France Young Charles of Normandy and thousands moe Not overthrowne but frighted by the foe Nor are the English though enow to gaine The day enow in number to maintaine So great a chase and not so well suffice To follow as subdue their enemies Nor yet which more declar'd the conquest sent From heaven alone to strike astonishment In overweening mortals and to show Without that ayd how little Man can doe Are all the English conquerors in field Enow to take so many French as yeeld Nor to receive the Prisoners that come Though some in field are ransom'd and sent home Yet moe from thence are captive borne away Than are the hands that wonne so great a day Yet did the King almost forsaken quite By all his men maintaine a noble fight As if ashamed to out-live the sad Discomfiture which his owne rashnesse made Nor did his faultring hands even then forget To play a souldiers part appearing yet Worthy the feare of his assaling foe While death attended every furious blow Too late that prowesse comes and he in vaine By personall valour hopes to cure againe That malady which ill conduct begate No souldiers valiant deed can expiate A Generall 's folly nor one private hand Redeeme the errours of a King's command Thither to crowne their actions high successe Th' ambitious valours of the English presse With greedy hope to seize the royall prey The greatest prize of that victorious day But too too great it seem'd for one alone By many hands the King is seiz'd upon Nor had it cost lesse than a civill warre To judge whose right so great a prisoner Should prove in field and that rich claime decide On English swords had many English dy'd And in that storme the captive King of France Himselfe had perish'd had not timely chance Presented rescue noble Warwicke came And from that rabble in Prince Edward's name Demanded him whose presence seem'd to bring Not thraldome then but safety to the King There was Prince Philip tane his youngest sonne Who when his brothers
must he gaine That Crowne when England has abandon'd Spaine b And now the day beyond all hope is lost On Henry's side and that great numerous hoast Fly in amazement and themselves expose Without resistance to the conquering foes While many thousands as they thronging flye From English weapons in the river dye That flowes by Naveret whose streame affords As many deaths almost as Edward's swords Sad Henry though his heart disdaines to flye Yet since reserv'd for Royall dignity By kinder Fates hereafter yeelds to flight And though sore wounded in the fatall fight Vpon his Iennet mounted leaves the field By this the French Battalia's that bad held The longest out and first encounter'd where Stout Bertram fought ' gainst Iohn of Lancaster Are quite consum'd and weltring in their blood Cover the place where late they fighting stood Their Chiefes enforc'd to yeeld and Bertram there Againe by th' English taken prisoner Sterne Mars his taske had to the utmost done Nor e're had Spaine beheld a Garland wonne With more renowne or conquest more compleat Than in this famous field of Naveret Blacke Edward purchas'd nor could ought allay The lasting fame of that victorious day Save that the Prince his noble valour lost On such a cause that so much blood it cost To raise a wicked Tyrant and againe Advance Don Pedro to the Throne of Spaine Annotations upon the seventh Booke a Prince Edward by the common consent of all brought into Spaine an Army consisting of thirty thousand English Gascoignes and other strangers being for the number of themesteemed as expert souldiers as any in the world The cast companies of English which had served in so many famous exploits under himselfe and King Edward his father upon this occasion came in to serve him King Henry of Castile had a great Army for besides the French which served him under the conduct of Bertram of Clesquy and were in number about foure thousaad men at Armes besides many other loose troopes hee had of Spaeniards Saracens and others above fourescore thousand When it came to Battell Prince Edward obtained a compleat victory the slanghter considering so great a victory was not much for the Spaniards were too soone routed and did not in their owne deare quarrell behave themselves so stoutly as their French auxiliaries did But there were slaine of them besides five hundred Gentlemen of quality above seven thousand of the common souldiers Of the English side were slaine of men of quality but foure Knights two Gascoignes one Almaine and the fourth an English-max and of common souldiers about sixteene hundred as some write though Froissard saith not above forty but the other number is more credible considering how fiercely the battell was fought as all agree There were taken Prisoners to the number of two thousand and among them the Earle of Dene Sir Bertram of Clesquy the Marshall Dandrehen and many other men of name b After this great victory Prince Edward at Burges seated the tyrant Pedro in his Throne againe and for so great a merit the promised recompenee is required by the Prince which Don Pedro could not or cared not to provide but starving him with delayes enforced him in the end to returne to Burdeaux without money to pay his Army and which was worse without health which he never after recovered Some Hystorians report that hee was poysoned in Spaine others say it was a Dropsie of which the Prince never could bee after cured Such was the successe of this unfortunate action undertaken to right an ungratefull Tyranâ— who afterward notwithstanding was againe dispossessed taken and put to death by his brother Henry But the affaires of England did wonderfully suffer from that time The Prince to pay his souldiers who were not able to stay Don Pedro's leisure coyned his Plate and when all would not serve he fell upon a worse mis-fortune to cure a present want with a greater and more durable losse seeking to lay upon his subiects in Gascoigne a new taxation which bred a most dangerous revolt namely the imposition of Fevage or Chimney money which so discontented the people that they exclaime against the government of the English and appeale to the King and Court of France for redresse The King of Franâ—e at the instance of divers great Lords although by the Articles of accord at Brettigny hee were bound to quit all homage for the â—utchy of Aquitaine which he might claime of the English entertaines their complaint and sends to the Prince of Wales at â—urdeaux summoning him to answer before him and his Court at Paris concerning these matters The Lords of Arminiague D'Albret Peregot Cominges and many others made their protestations against the King of England for the Crowne of France alleaging that they were by nature to obey that and not a strange Soveraigne that it was absolutely against the fundamentall law of the kingdome to dissever them from the Crowne that the Contract was made in prison and therefore by the right of Nations not to obliege therefore they utterly disclaim'd the government of England By their example the Cities of the County of Ponthieu which was King Edward his undoubted inheritance revolted all to the French King King Edward complained of this breach of Accord to the Pope and other Christian Princes but treaties availed little the English side when the French hearts were weary of their yoake and resolved to returne to their old obedience From this time being the 42 yeare of King Edward's reigne the tide of Fortune was turned from the English to the French side Edward the Renowned Prince of Wales was sicke of a lingring malady and not able to endure the travell of Warre and old King Edward was mis-led in England by evill servants which caused disquiet in Parliaments and many distempers in the State at home All these occasions were politikely looked into by Charles surnamed the Wise King of France who though forewarned by his father and Grandfathers mis-fortunes he never would venture any pitch'd battels against the English for there were divers Armies sent over from hence after that time but returned fruitlesse as the Chronicles will informe you yet hee omitted no opportunities of recovering his kingdome by secret solicitations large promises and other wary practises by which as also some fortunate skirmishes of Bertram his best servant hee recovered all before the death of King Edward except the Towne of Calleis onely Those eminent victories and great actions by which the English had gained so much of France have beene the subject of this Historicall Poem the particular revolts flye practices and petty actions by which insensibly it was lost againe you may read distinctly in the Chronicles at large FINIS
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
now so great a terrour through the land Is spread of him that to his conquering hand Themselves Falaise Lyseaux and Honfleur yeeld And uncontroll'd his march had Edward held Beyond the bounds of Normandy at last Faire Eureux streame and Seine it selfe he past Now time it seem'd to stop his furious course Yet durst the French oppose no armed force But breake the bridges downe where he should passe Which soone they finde too poore a barre alas ' Gainst Edward's spirit whose resolved way No high-swoll'n streame no flood had power to stay No more then Caesars after he had gone Past the forbidden streame of Rubicon One part of Some neere Abbevile was knowne That might be foorded when the tide was gone To which sixe thousand Souldiers Philip sent By Godmar led with politicke entent To stop great Edward there but with as bad A Destiny as with presage as sad As those unhappy Persians sent to stay At Granicus great Alexander's way No disadvantage could his passage barre To whom the honour of that future warre Was meant by Fate Vpon the rivers banke Stood Godmer's Souldiers in well-order'd ranke Through them as through the channell must the worth Of th'English Souldiers carve their passage forth Edward that knew their resolutions well And could by former hard adventures tell That his bold men for him would rush to fight Through waies which some would fear to take in flight And passe that streame by his command alone Yet would not now command but lead them on And in the action their example be He cryes Who loves me now will follow me And springing forth into the trembling streame Is follow'd with such spirit and zeale by them That all the French amazed at a sight So wondrous strange almost forget to fight And with dismay are vanquished to see Th' undaunted courage of an enemy With small adoe while faintly they oppose The English gaine the banke and rout their foes Of whom are many flaine the rest for feare Disorder'd flye but their retreat is neare To Abbevile where then King Philip lay With all his great and glorious army they Chas'd by the English swords affrighted came And by their fellowes who esteem'd the shame As great as was the losse received are As bad presages of the future warre King Philip follow'd by the bravest hoast That e're before the Realme of France could boast In confidence of Conquest to succeed And to revenge the late disgrace with speed Although advis'd at Abbevile to stay And rest his Army marches thence away Thou sweetest Muse of all th' Aönian Spring Faire-hair'd Calliope that best canst sing Of Kings high deeds and God-like Heroes fames Declare King Philip's power recite the names Of all beside the native Chevalry Of France and flower of her Nobility The forraigne lands that shar'd in that great day And royall Princes that did there display Their dreadfull colours in the ayd of France And forward thence to Crescy field advance Within the Van with Charles of Alanson The royall Banner of Bohemia shone With which did Lodowike her old Martiall King His furious horse and well-try'd lances bring His glittering Plume that many an honour'd field Had knowne and many a dreadfull fight beheld Wav'd there unhappily ordain'd to be A lasting fame to Edwards victory Along with him march'd Charles his Princely Sonne For whom the Fates a fairer thread had spunne Sav'd to preserve the name and ancient stemme And after weareth ' Imperiall Diadem Thither from farre Majorca's Monarch brings His light-arm'd Souldiers from whose fatall slings As from strong Bowes death 's carried nor of yore Were Cretan shafts or Parthian feared more With fifteene thousand mortall Crosse-bowes there The stout Grimaldi and Antonio were Two noble Chiefes from stately Genoa Whose Gallyes had in many a Navall fray Against prond Venice wrastled long to gaine The rule of all the Mid-land Ocean Stout John of Heinault to King Philip's side His forces brings although so neere ally'd To Englands King as Vnckle to the Queene And had by Edward highly honour'd beene He now had chang'd his faith and for the gold Of France his mercenary valour sold There march those warlike Flemmings that attend Their Earle of Flanders Lewis a constant friend To France but no strong number could he get Nor ore his subjects was his power so great They honour'd Edward's worth and to his side Had beene without their Earles consent ally'd There Charles of Blois leads on his martiall traine In glittering armour Burbon and Lorraine To whom whilest all the army march'd away But new arrived there in rich array Brings Savoyes Duke a thousand men of armes Whom from the lofty Alps the lovd alarmes Of this great warre had drawne with dismall fate Too soone alas arriv'd though seeming late How many men dooes Fortune bring from farre Their parts to suffer in this tragicke warre How many Lands their severall shares of woe Must contribute to Philip's overthrow Perchance cause Edward will his force advance No farther then the continent of France She fear'd his fame would be no farther knowne But circumscribed where the deed was done Nor therefore suffers France to bleed alone The sad Bohemian wives that live upon Great Albis bankes and drinke faire Moldaes streame Must make this battell their lamented theame Those that beyond the clouded Alpes doe dwell And Netherlanders shall be forc'd to tell Great Edward's honor while their owne deere wounds They count receiv'd on Crescyes fatall grounds While thus the French march on in rich array In Crescy parke encamped Edward lay His firme Battalia on well chosen ground Was clos'd behinde and barricado'd round With strongest fences made by plashing trees And placing there the weighty'st carriages Thither were all the Leaders horses brought To cut off hope of flight and leave no thought In English breasts but Death or Victory Their resolutions that before were high By this strict meanes were more ascertain'd there Their minds were cheerfull fresh their bodies were And fit t' encounter their approching foes In three Battalia's does the King dispose His strength which all in ready order stand And to each others rescue neere at hand The first in ranke that early blooming flower Of fame Prince Edward leads a Warriour Before a man no Downe had cloath'd his chinne Nor seventeene Springs had this young Souldier seene Within his battell famous Leaders are Brave Warwicke Stafford Harcourt Delaware There Beauchampe Bourchier Clifford Chandois weild Their active armes whom many an honour'd field Had fam'd before The second Squadron by Northamptons Earle was led there Willoughby There Arundell Lord Rosse and Basset stand Men that could well obey and well command Within the third King Edward meanes to fight The great French Army now approach'd their sight And to each Campe did threatning Mars display What the succeeding horrors of the day Were like to be The bloody stroake is nigh Nor in the power of Fortune does it lye Their warrelike fury longer to restraine
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
sustein'd in sorrow and dismay Bewailing France and cursing that sad day He tack'd about to be in safety gone But by the warlike Earle of Huntington The Southerne Admirall so sore was chas'd And hard-beset he was enforc'd at last By secret flight almost alone to goe A sad reporter of so great a blow Blacke night now challeng'd her alternate reigne Sâ—â—â— soone enough to hide that tragicke staine Which on the blushing face of Neptune lay Not soone enough to part the mortall fray Warres raging fire was spent the fuell gone And all that Mars could doe already done Nor would great Edward then approach the shore But make the Oceans bosome which before Had beene the stage of his victorious fight To be his lodging field whilest all the night Drums beat and Trumpets to the havens nigh Proclaime his great and noble victory But when the rosie morning gan appeare With joy to welcome his arrivall there The towne of Sluce prepares while all along The haven people numberlesse doe throng To view the face of that Heroicke King And all the shores with acclamations ring At last great Edward lands and waited on By all the noblest Burgers of the towne And English Lords in triumph takes his way To Gaunt where his belov d Queene Philip lay With such expressions of true state and love Did white-arm'd Iuno meet triumphant Iove When from the Gyants warres he came as she Her Lord return'd from this great victory With her at Gaunt remain'd the greatest States Of Netherland and best confoederates King Edward had for his great warre in hand The Dukes of Brabant and of Gelderland With Heinaults Earle his comming did attend And Iames of Artevile his constant friend Whose power had drawne those people to his side There all their leagves are firmely ratifi'd While happy Gaunt is proud to entertaine So brave a Monarch with his noble traine But much more proud that she had beene the place Of birth to one faire branch of Edward's race Young princely Iohn who thence shall take his name And lend the towne in liev eternall fame Annotations upon the second Booke a This great battell of Halydon hill a place neere Berwick was tought in the sixt yeere of the reigne of King Edward the third of England and the second of King David of Scotland who being then a childe remained in France and Archimbald Dowglas Earle of Argus governed the realme of Scotland for him the English army was led by King Edward himselfe in person that of Scotland by the forenamed Earle of Angus Regent of the Kingdome in this battell the Scots received a great overthrow although the writers of those times doe much disagree about the number of those that perished in the vanquished army the Scottish Histories allowing foureteene thousand the English naming aboue thirty thousand but howsoever it were by this victory Berwicke was gained to the Crowne of England b This Robert of Artois was a Prince of the blood of France descended from Robert Sonne to Lewis the eight there had beene a suit betwixt the said Robert and Maud his Aunt Countesse of Burgundy about the Earledome of Artois Robert presuming upon his owne power and the service he had done King Philip in advancing him to the Crowne for Robert of Artois was at the first a great maintainer of Philips title against Edward of England forges a deed thereby to overthrow his Aunts right which being afterwards discovered made her right the more and moved the French King to give judgement on her side so that the County of Artois was by Parliament confirmed upon Maud which so offended Robert as in his rage he openly said hee would unmake the King by the same power that he had made him This rash threatning so incensed the King that he presently layed to apprehend him but failing therein he proclaimed him Traitour confiscated his estate forbidding all his Subjects to receive or aide him Robert of Arto is being thus distressed comes over into England is joyfully entertained by King Edward made of his Councell and invested in the Earledome of Richmond where hee becomes a great incendiary betweene the two Kings discovering to King Edward the secrets of France and disapproving now of King Philips title upon which a Declaration is published and sent to the Pope and all the neighbour Princes shewing the usurpation of Philip de Valois upon the Crowne of France c There was among the Flemmings one Iaques de Artevile a Citizen of Gavnt of great estimation among the people he was their Leader and Tribune as it were in all their tumults him King Edward gets by great rewards to take his part and thereby had them all ready to assaile the French King upon any occasion This Iaques though a man of meane condition was an usefull friend to England whose death happening about seven yeeres after for in a tumult his braines were beaten out was much lamented by King Edward d This Robert King of Cicily as Collenutius and other Neopolitan writers testifie was a learned Prince and much renowned for his skill in Astrology hee was about this time saith our Froissard at Avignion with Pope Benedict where he declared to the Pope by his skill what great warres and blood-shed was like to be and lamented the miseries of France That report of Froissard gave ground to this discouse in the Poem e This Navall fight which is here at large described in the Poem was out of doubt the greatest that ever had been vpon these narrow Seas the numbers were many the fight was cruell and the slaughter exceeding great The French Navy by consent of most writers consisted of 400 saile the English consisted according to some authors of 200 saile according to others of 200. to others of 300. although Froissard report that the Frenchmen were foure to one English which may be thought too much oddes to be beleeved for the French in those dayes had good Sea-men but the slaughter was exceeding great and the victory as compleat on the English side as could be imagined for very few of the French ships escaped home but were either sunke or taken and 30000 of their men flaine of the English those writers that report most have mentioned but 4000. THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The third Booke Argument III. Atruce ' twixt France and Englands Kings is made The Garter fâ—unded Edward dooes invade King Philip's lands the warre 's to tryall brought And that renowned field of Crescy fought A Wound so mortall had enfeebled France By Sea receiv'd she could no more advance Her colours there no more had she or veine To bleed or spirits left to strive againe What now remaines of this lovd-threatning warre The Continent alone must feele as farre As Tourney fill'd with high and wealthy hopes Victorious Edward leads his cheerefull troops Augmented lately with new-mustred bands Of his confederates in the Netherlands That towne is first enobled by his stay Iudg'd worthy to be made the
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
to Now does the day grow blacker then before The Swords that glister'd late in purple gore Now all distain'd their former brightnesse lose Whilest high the tragicke heape of slaughter rose Swords meeting swords and breaking lances sound Clattering of armed breasts that fall to ground And dying souldiers groanes are onely heard Horror in all her saddest shapes appear'd But long the fury of a storme so strong Could not endure nor Fortune waver long In such a tryall but at last must show Which way her favours were decreed to goe The English Swords with slaughter reeking all At last had carved in the Frenchmens fall Their way to victory who now apace Are beaten downe and strew the purple place Where like their owne pale-fading Lillies lye The flower of all the French Nobility What Muse can in this field of death declare Each private wound each fate particular Or pay the severall obsequies to all ' Mongst common souldiers slaughter'd Princes fall 'Twixt whom Death takes away the distance now While in one streame their bloods commixed flow There Alanson striving to cure in vaine The wound of France is beaten downe and slaine There dyes Majorca's King who from his home So farre had sail'd to find a forraigne tombe And dearely that alliance which he thought So safe to him in this fierce battell bought Lewis Earle of Flanders that to Philip's state Had beene so constant a confaederate Whom no conditions to King Edward's side Could ever draw on Edward s weapons dy'd Sealing in blood his truth to France to lye A wailed part of her calamity There Savoy's Duke the noble Amy lay Weltring in gore arriv'd but yesterday At Philip's haplesse Campe as short an ayd As Rhaesus prov'd to falling Troy betray'd The first sad night and by Tidydes hand Slaine e're his Steeds had graz'd on Trojan land Or drunke at all of Xanthus silver streame But most the warrelike Monarch of Boheme Old Lewis was fam'd Who on that honour'd ground Chain'd to the formost of his troops was found And charging at the head of all was slaine His cold dead hand did yet that Sword retaine Which living erst it did so bravely weild His hopefull sonne young Charles had left the field When he perceiv'd that Fortune quite was gone To Edward's side His Father blood alone Was too too great a sacrifice to be Bestow d on France whose dying valiancy Made all men more desire his Sonne to live And that the branch of such a tree might thrive There was the Noble Bourbon there Lorraine Aumall Nevers and valiant Harcourt slaine In vaine had Philip now whose Princely soule In all those deaths did bleed strive to controll By highest valour what the Fates would doe Wounds not in mind alone but body too Vnhorsed twice did th' active King receive As much asham'd no blood at all to leave In such a field although enforc'd to part Himselfe from thence at last his strugling heart Is to necessity content to yeeld And flyes with speed from that unhappy field With whom the Frenchmen all the fight forsake And o're the Countrey flight disordred take By this had Night her sable mantle spred Vpon the earth by whose protection fled The vanquish'd French with more security A most compleat and glorious victory The English had obtain'd yet would not now Dis-ranke themselves to chase the flying foe But in that field which they alone possest Resolve to give their weary'd bodies rest Till mornings light display those wealthy spoyles That must reward the conquering souldiers toyles Now great King Edward from the Windmill hill Came downe where his untouch'd Battalia still Had stood till all the fight below was done And in his armes embrac'd his armed Sonne Who now with blood and sweat was all distain'd Then gratulates his early honour gain'd In such a field of danger joy'd to see His blooming yeares thus flesh'd in victory Well did that day presage the future glory And martiall fame of this great Prince whose story With admiration after-times shall heare Like miracles his conquests shall appeare In France atchiev'd nor shall that kingdome bound His Swords great deeds whose fame shall farther sound And royall trophees of blacke Edward's praise Beyond the Pyrenaean mountaines raise Next morne mists fatall to the French arose To Crescy field where their encamped foes Stood now refresh'd were many troops of France Discerning not the former battels chance Like sacrifices come and fell there more Then had beene flaine in all the fight before Victorious Edward for so great a day To God's high Throne on bended knees did pay His true and humble thankes and briefly then Commend the worthy service of his men Who now the spoyles of that rich Army share As just reward of their victorious warre Annotations upon the third Booke a King Edward taking Caranton protested openly that he sacrificed it to the memory of these Gentlemen who had the yeere before beene uniustly massacred by King Philip and their heads now were standing upon the gates of that unhappy towne For King Philip of France the yeare before perceiving that a terrible tempest of warre was likely to fall upon him out of England waxed cruell in his iealousie and put sundry principall men of Normandy Picardy and Guyenne to death for no other crime but that they were English in affection Among whom are reckoned Sir Oliver de Cliâ—â—on Baco Persie and Geoffrey of Malestroict Knights of the best note Sir Godfrey of Harecourt brother to the Earle of Harecourt a man once in high favour with King Philip being upon this occasion also summoned to Paris fled to King Edward into England and became another Robert of Artois for his valour and counsels at this present invasion of France did much advantage King Edward's atchievements though two yeares after he forsooke the English and returned againe to the obedience of Philip his naturall Lord. b This great battell of Crescy where King Edward obtained so full and wonderfull a victory is at large recited in the Poem and therefore little shall need here to bee spoken of it but onely of the numbers which fought or dyed on both sides The English Army by generall consent of almost all Authors consisted of 30000. The French according to those that speake least together with their auxiliaries were about 60000. But many Authors of good credit report their number twice as many others agree upon an hundred thousand Upon that Saturday being the 26 of August 1346 when this great battell was fought the slaughter was great on the French side for none were taken to mercy upon that day for the Conquerors thought it not safe for themselves to take any Prisoners But the next morning presented new worke for a great mist arose that men could hardly see the distance of an acre of ground from them when as many troops of Frenchmen from Roan Beavicois and other Cities comming to joyne themselves with King Philip and not hearing of his discomfiture together with great
thousands dying strew the purple plaine The wretched Souldiers feele but cannot see The wondrous cause of this great tragedy Some with amaze and feare are almost kill'd Some onely overthrowne but all hearts fill'd Withsad destruction thinke the day of doome And dissolution of the world is come Or else surpriz'd with more particular feares They deeme alas some winged Messengers Of God above against their campe are sent T' inflict on them immediate punishment As once an Angell sent from God did smite The hoast of proud Senacherib by night Great Edward sadly trembles every where Enforc'd his dying souldiers grones to heare But when the horror of the storme was gone The darkenesse vanish'd and bright day-light shone On them againe and had discover'd all His heart relents and in the pity'd fall Of his poore men he thinks he truly sees God's wrath for all those Christian tragedies Which his victorious sword in France had wrought And all the woes he had on Scotland brought Never before did Edward's pensive breast Truly revolve how tragike is the best Successe that warre ' gainst Christian lands affords What impious wounds his sadly conquering swords Had made in Europe all the battel 's wonne Since first that fatall title he begunne To set on foot are running in his thought Now Crescy Poictiers Halidowne are brought Into his fad remembrance and almost He wishes all his triumphs had beene lost Rather than with such horrid slaughter wonne For which in paenitent Devotion His knees in Chartres Temple Edward bowes Forgivenesse begs for what is past aud vowes Thenceforth the fury of his sword shall cease And he with wretched France conclude a peace On easier termes then erst he stood upon Home to his land restoring ransom'd Iohn Few months had past before this good entent Of pious Edward found accomplishment At Brettigny so well on either side The Agents dealt that peace was ratifi'd On steddy Articles and John whom here Five painted Springs had seene a prisoner Is to his native land returned backe With kind embraces the two Monarchs take Their leave at Calleis With a Royall heart So full of love did John from Edward part So well his usage pleased him that he Entends againe in noble courtesie To visit England and for favâ—rs done To thanke great Edward and his Princely sonne The bloody stormes of warre away are blowne And white-wing'd peace from heaven descended down To cheare faire France her late afflicted state Whilst England's quiet Court does celebrate At once two Princely Nuptials with as high A state as may befit their dignity The Paphian Queene in all her smiles appeares His purple robe the pleased Hymen weares When brave Prince Edward now all lets remov'd Weds that faire Countesse he so long had lov'd And Iohn of Gaunt enjoyes the wealthy heire Of Noble Henry Duke of Lancaster The State at home well setled to employ Prince Edward's worth and raise his dignity He with his Princesse and a noble traine Is sent away to governe Aquitaine Annotations upon the sixth Booke a Concerning the lowly demeanour of Edward the blacke Prince toward King Iohn of France after hee had taken him Prisoner in the battell of Poictiers and the Courteous reception which King Edward gave him here in England there were no Authors either then or since but did freely acknowledge insomuch as many yeares after Guicciardine an Italian Writer and therefore indifferent to both Nations speaking of the warres of Christendome in his time when Francis the first King of France had beene taken prisoner at the battell of Pavie by the souldiers of Charles the fifth Emperour and King of Spaine and had long beene kept in hard durance in the Castell of Madrid brings in King Francis complaining of his unworthy usage where comparing the mis-fortunes of King Iohn with his owne and the wonderfull difference of both their entertainments hee much extols the Courtesie of the English Nation and condemnes the Spaniards insolence And so much did that Courtesie worke upon the noble disposition of King Iohn that as many of that time thought it occasioned his voluntary comming into England to visit King Edward not many yeares after his releasement Though other occasions there might be of that journey as the selling of his affaires before his entended voyage to the holy Warres and yet those perchance might well have beene performed by Embassadours But howsoever it were in the yeare 1364 and of King Edward's Reigne the 38 this King Iohn came into England and besides him two other Kings the Kings of Scotland and of Cyprus where the magnificence of the English Court was well expressed in feasting sumptuously three Kings at once The King of Scotland and the King of Cyprus after they had dispatched their businesse returned home to their owne kingdomes but King Iohn of France fell sicke and dyed at London the yeare following His death was much lamented by King Edward who solemnly attended his corps to Dover from whence it was conveyed to Saint Denys and entombed with his Ancestors b This miraculous storme of haile stones which neere to Chartres fell upon King Edward's Army was esteemed by many of those times an immediate Messenger of Gods wrath for all the Christian blood which King Edward for many yeares had shed both in France and Scotland So great was the haile and so violent the fall of it that it felled horses to the ground and slew above two thousand of the English Souldiers King Edward himselfe was much astonished and thought it no lesse than an immediate judgement of God upon which in penitence hee performed many devotions and on reasonable termes concluded a peace with France so that King Iohn was ransomed and returned home to his owne kingdome after hee had remained a prisoner five yeares in England THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The seventh Booke Argument VII Prince Edward marches into Spaine to fight ' Gainst Henry in deposed Pedro's right At Naveret he beats the strength of Spaine And sets Don Pedro in his Throne againe PRince Edward's honour was not mounted yet Vp to her Zenith Fate is in his debt Another Garland and from Aquitaine Shee calls him forth againe that conquer'd Spaine May feele his noble prowesse and advance His fame as high as erst triumphed France The tyrant Pedro of Castile was by His land depos'd for brutish cruelty Whose Crowne his Bastard-brother Henry gain'd At Burdeaux then the Prince of Wales remain'd Whose fame was spred through every land and he Esteem'd the noblest flower of Chevalry That Europe boasted To his Martiall Court Deposed Pedro humbly does resort And weeping craves Prince Edward's ayd to gaine His right That Pedro may his suit obtaine Beside that bloods alliance that he brings The bad example of deposing Kings Perswades the Prince and to that brave entent His Father great King Edward gives consent At hand great troops of expert souldiers are Cashier'd of late from service of the warre Who now employment want since
plague to earth I cannot feare When I behold your manly faces here Brave friends and souldiers To your valours now Let our deare land a greater safety owe Than e're she did to one successefull fight Nor let the fame of English Edward fright Your thoughts at all Fortune has done for him Enough already and it well may seeme Since blinded he maintaines so curs'd a cause That she her favour from that Prince withdrawes The King had done when all the Spanish troops Inflam'd with love of fight and fill'd with hopes A strong desire to heare the signall shew All wish to dye should what they feare be true From every part confused showts are sent And both the hoasts with passions different Together joyne th'auxiliary troops Of France are filled with revengefull hopes To make the English in that bloody day For all their conquests and proud trophees pay The English bold by former battels wonne And to maintaine their fame come fiercely on As strong resolves the eager Spaniards bring Here to establish their new-crowned King And by one prosperous fight for ever free Their wretched land from Pedro's tyranny Great is the fury high the cause is try'd Deepe the engagements lye on either side Both armies mighty in their numbers one In prowesse t'other nor had Spaine e're knowne Although of mighty warres so oft the stage Though there th' old Punicke and the Roman rage So long were seene while fortune doubted yet Which land to make the worlds Imperiall seat Two nobler Hoasts than in that tryall fought And yet this storme so blacke so tragicke brought This one sad comfort that it could not last But all the warre when this great field was past The wretched people hop'd would quite expire Spaine could not bleed so long nor feed the fire So oft with fuell to protract her fate As rich but haplesse France had done of late Against the formost English battell there Which Iohn of Gaunt the Duke of Lancaster Brought up does Bertram of Clesquy advance With all th'auxiliary troops of France There hot and furious the encounter growes No where does Death more freely deale his blowes No part of all the field more stain'd with blood As there the warre began it longest stood And various Fortune longest doubted where To give her favours Youthfull Lancaster Came bravely on in that dayes fight to winne His maiden fame and Bertram that had beene Not many yeeres before in Brittaines warre By famous Chandois taken prisoner The Banner of his ancient foe had seene ' Gainst which he prest with eager hopes to winne From him the honour he had lost againe While slaughter'd bodies strew the purple plaine With Fate farre different did Don Tello draw Against Prince Edward's maine Battalia His forces up though strong that body were And well dispos'd for charging did appeare With Speares in front so strongly fortifi'd Yet there alas King Henry's haplesse side 'Gan first to faile nor could Don Tello long Endure the fierce encounter of so strong And expert souldiers as the Prince had brought Who in so many prosperous fields had fought And in all feats of warre so well were try'd Their fatall taske the strong-nerv'd Archers ply'd So fast that soone the ranke of Speares was broke And routed so that they the field forsooke The rest left naked when the Speares were gone Are by the Gascoigne Horsemen trampled on And now the warres whole fury 'gan to draw Vpon King Henry's great Battalia And was from thence with equall fury met So much the Spaniards on that day had set Their Countries future fortunes and their owne In that Battalia from their slings were throwne Such mortall stones as seem'd awhile to be Aequivalent to th'English Archery But could not prove at last so strong an ayd There stucke the warre there Edward's fortune stay'd There various feats of hardy armes were wrought So many thousand hands to fight were brought Nor did the Common souldiers onely there The toyles of warre and brunt of dangers beare But highest Chiefetaines playd the souldiers parts And through the battell with couragious hearts Their passage made there sterne Don Pedro fought And to the ground that day had many brought Pleas'd now he seem'd he might with honour doe What by his nature he was prompted to Shed human blood Most eager was his spite His visage blacke He that had seene him fight And kill so fast would have suppos'd that from Th' infernall caves the Prince of night had come To worke on earth the ruine of mankind But not content with vulgar deaths his mind Had Fortune suffer'd chiefly aym'd to meet His brother Henry there No blood so sweet As his could be to Pedro's cruell thought So when of old the Argive Princes fought ' Gainst fatall Thebes in Polynices right The banish'd Prince could with no other fight Nor Tragedy be pleas'd but through the presse Still sought his brother proud Eteocles Vntill at last in spite of Piety They meet in field and Fate so cruelly Ballanc'd their impious strengths that both were slaine Yet both did guilty Conquerours remaine Nor did King Henry in his thoughts decline The sad encounter Had the Power Divine But let them meet the like perchance had beene And Spaine as much as fatall Thebes had seene There through the midst the terror of his foes Like Mars himselfe renowned Edward goes White Victory still o're his standard slew As if no other name but his she knew And he in warre did guide the wheele of Fate The glittering swords that shone so bright of late Are quickly all distain'd with purple gore And all the field with slaughter cover'd o're Mischiefe and fury reign'd Deaths groning sound The Trumpets noyse and showts of souldiers drown'd But long the heartlesse Spanish troops how-e're Great were their numbers and their quarrell deare Could not the prowesse of the English bide Which when alas unhappy Henry spy'd And that their rankes they 'gan forsake apace With restlesse industry from place to place He rides to breath into his fainting men Fresh vigour and restore the fight agen He cryes aloud oh friends oh souldiers why Doe you forsake so neare a victory One stroke will finish what is done almost There is no safety when this field is lost For swords why seeke you gibbets and above A noble death an ignominious love With such sad speeches did the eager King Renew the fury of the fight and bring His fainting souldiers on that bloody grew The day againe till th' English spirits anew Collected charg'd their rally'd foes so sore That soone the Spaniards routed as before Into disorder'd flight began to fall Although no office of a Generall Did Henry leave undone Thrice did he stay His vanquish'd men from flight and thrice that day Restore the desperate field but all in vaine Nor did the Fates in justice then ordaine That he should be the Conqueror one fight Must needs be lost to prove Don Pedro's right And raise Prince Edward's fame Then