himselfe which soone Vnto the height of his desires was done At Milford-haven by the Kings command His whole retinue met a gallant band Of English gentry waited on the shore In glittering armes to follow Henry ore Whose lustre might to those rude Irish bring Astonishment and shew how great a King Dâ—…d now arrive to take possession there Whose name before they had beene taught to feare By what Earle Strong-â—…ow in that region And brave Fitz Stephans with the rest had done Bâ—…t oh too cruell chance how neere almost Had all that valour and themselues beâ—…ne lost Bâ—… Henry's former jealousies he heard Of their renown'd and prosperous deedes and fear'd That so much puissance by them was showne Not to advance his honour but their owne And for themselues that they had conquer'd there Some envious spirits fed his jealous feare â—…or which he made a Proclamation No Victualls Armour or Munition Should from his Kingdomes be transported ore For Strongbow's succour to the Irish shore And that his Subjects that did there remaine â—…efore next Easter should returne againe This Proclamâ—…tion had so much distrest Not long before â—…arle Strongbow and the rest Thâ—…t all which had bin conquer'd in that coast Aâ—…d theâ—… themselues had uâ—…terly beene lost If 〈◊〉 valour had not strove with fate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them what neede I heere relate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Râ—…imond and Fitz Girald were 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 and their action there Whâ—…n 〈◊〉 great Kings with all the strength almost That could be levy'd in th'adjoyning coast 〈◊〉 these worthies how they issâ—…'d out With courages miraculously stout Aâ—…d with succâ—…sse as high and march'd that day 〈◊〉 all their foes with victory away Or how Miles Cogan chas'd the King of Meth Away from Dublin walls and in the death Of many thousands seal'd his victory Or how Fitz-Stephans with a company Too small almost to be beleev'd did guard His fort neere Wexford towne besiedged hard By full three thousand Irish when no strength No force could make him yeild untill at length A false report the perjâ—…r'd foes devis'd And with the hazard of tâ—…eir soules surpris'd Fitz-Stephans body these calamityes Did through King Henry's jealousies arise Gainst those that planted first that Irish coast And time it was ere all againe were lost The King himselfe upon that shore should land Whose force no Irish Princes durst withstand Novembers cold had rob'd the forrest trees Of all their dresse and Winter gan to freeze Small lakes when not the season of the yeare Though judg'd by some untimely nor the feare Of those rough Irish Seas had power to keepe The King from passing ore into the deepe They put and hoised sailes the Easterne winde Blew faire and further'd what the King design'd By whose auspicious gales he safely câ—…me To land at Waterford when swiftest Fame Through every part of Ireland flyes to bring The fear'd arrivall of so greaâ—… a King And what that fame had wrought was quickly seene So soone came Irelands greatest Princes in Dermon Mac Arth the Prince of Corke while yet The King stay'd there came freely to submit Himselfe a subject to him and the like Did Dâ—…nold doe the Prince of Limericke Who to procure his peace swore fealty Both whom great Henry sent away with high And rich rewards and placed in the Townes Of Corke and Limricke English Garrisons The King when this at Waterford was done Leaving Fiâ—…z-Barnard to maintaine the towne March'd with his gallant troopes in faire array â—…o Dublin ward where ere he made his stay The greatest Lords of all the Countryes nigh As Ophelan the King of Ossory And Ororike of Meth to Henry came With other Princes of the highest name As Mac Talewie O Carell Ochadese Othwely Gillmeholoch all of these In person did submit themselues agree To be his vassalls and sweare fealty But Rotherike that â—…ore the Monarchs name And King of Connaught then no neerer came Then to that famous river Shenin's side Which his rough Connaught doth from Meth divide And there was met by Hugh de Lacy and Fitz-Aldeline sent by the Kings command To take his hostages which freely there He did deliver and allegeance sweare By his example all the greatest Lords Did freely yield to Henry's name no swords To gaine that land were drawne no blood was lost No warre so great an Ilands conquest cost Now Christmas was which in all heights of state The royall Henry strove to celebrate That those rude Irish people there might see And reverence so great a Majesty Who flocke in greatest companies to gaze At this unusuall lustre with amaze They see his great attendance and admire His sumptuous plate his servants rich attire While plentious Ireland to their feasting boords The Seas provisions and the lands affoords Downe with the Irish Kings great Henry sate So show'd of old Imperiall Caesars state When barbarous kings great Rome did entertaine Who view'd with wonder such a Monarch's traine And gorgeous court such did old Poets strive To make those feasts which Iove was pleas'd to give To rurall Deities and to admit The Sylvans rough and rusticke Faunes to sit At his caelestiall boord while wondring they The radiant glories of great Iove survay VVhile they behold the beautious Trojan stand A waiter by and from his snow-white hand Give cups and ravish'd with the sound admire To heare bright Phoebus and the lovely quire Of his nine daughters to heavens glorious King The Pallenaean triumphs sweetly sing As much as those rude people wondred at King Henry's sumptuous court and royall state As much the English Courtiers did admire The Irish Princes fashions and attire Their different garbes and gestures while each eye Is pleas'd in viewing such variety And to each other both afford delight VVhen wine and Cates had weakened appetite The noble Henry with a smiling cheere Offers discourses longing much to heare More of their countreys nature thus at last To Dublins reverend Prelate who was plac'd Not farre from him at boord the King beganne Grave Father since I know your wisedome can Dive deepe into the qualities and state Of things and search what old records relate Too much abstruse for vulgar braines to finde From your deepe skill informe our longing minde Of what wise Nature for this spatious I le Has wrought in tempers of the aire and soile And those fam'd wonders where she does display Prodigious power and leaves her usuall way As if she meant to mocke the purblinde eye And feeble search of our Philosophy Loud fame has spread them though obscurely ore All parts of this our Westerne world nor more Was scorched Africke fam'd by elder time For breeding wonders then your Irish clime Has beene to us renowned for her rare And strange endowments to our eare declare What you grave Father by tradition Or by experience know the King had done Attentive silence all the Princes make When thus the Bishop humbly bowing spake If I relate by Henry's high command The wondrous treasures of
So long a title to two Crownes can show Then to the North with puissant Armes he makes A prudent Voyage and by Conquests takes To keepe entire his kingdomes ancient bounds From Malcolme King of Scotland all those grounds That to the Crowne of England did belong No Cities could withstand no forts so strong But yeild to Henryes force there with the rest Newcastle Carleill he againe possest But least injustice any staine should be To his great deedes in thankefull memory Of what King Malcolme in the warres had done For th' Empresse Mawde he gives him Huntingdon A midd-land County rich and fitter farre For the bâ—…hoofe of both from whence no warre Nor troubles could arise and which before Had beene possess'd by Malcolmes Ancestor Yet did one deed with sad injustice blot The reputation he before had gott Whilest too must thirsting for encrease of lands He seiz'd out of his brothers Geoffrey's hands The Earldome of Aniou forgetting both The sacred tyes of Nature and of Oath That Oath which once so solemnly he swore His Father Geoffry Anious Earle before Knowing that Henry was by birth to be Both Englands King and Duke of Normandy Had given that Earldome to his second sonne Geoffrey and put him in possession Of three the strongest Castles in the Land But falling sicke when deaths approching hand He felt mistrusting that hiâ—… eldest Sonne The potent Henry might when he was gone Dissâ—…ize young Geoffrey made his Barons sweare For at his death Prince Henry was not there That his dead corps should not enterred be Till Henry had beene sworne to ratify His will Prince Henry though unwillingly Yet rather then his fathers hearse should lye Vnbury'd still that Oath bâ—…fore them tooke Which afterward when Englands King he broke And though possessed of so many lands And large estates out of his brother's hands That Earledome tooke by force of armes away And did in lieu a yearely pension pay But though the King could for that oath obtaine A disâ—…ensation from Pope Adrian A higher power it seem'd would not dispense But afterward in kinde did recompence â—…hat foule misdeede for when King Henry meant To Iohn his yongest sonne the governement Of those three Castles thence his eldest sonne Tooke first pretence for that rebellion Against his father so what injury Impiety had wrought Impiety Reveng'd and scourg'd by an unnaturall sonne What was 'gainst nature by a brâ—…ther done Yet could not Henry's deedes of highest fame Teach stubborne Wales to tremble at his name Or feare t' offend him by rebellious warre Till she had felt him there a conquerer And beene herselfe enforced to implore His grace and favour with one triumph more T'enâ—…ich his conquering head not all her great Rough woods could yeild her souldiers safe retreat Nor could those high and craggy mountaines bee Of proofe 'gainst Henry's magnanimity Although the Welsh rely'd not on the aide Of hills and woods their Prince was not afraide To joyne in battell with the English strength Where though stout Owen and his powers at length Subdâ—…'de did yeild themselves yet so they fought That they true fame to Henry's conquest brought Who now triumphant backe to England goes And leaves strong forts to aw rebellious foes â—…o guard the coasts and marches and appeare â—…e lasting trophees of his conquests there Those large dominions which he held in France The fame alone of his great puissance Preserv'd from tumults from rebellions free Or feare of any forreine enemy King Lewis himselfe was there too weake a foe To doe him damage or his power orethrow Beyond the seas yet though each neighbouring state With envy trembled at the prosperous fate Of Englands King such moderation hee Had shew'd so rul'd his power with equity Seeking no lawlesse and unjust encrease That Europe then possest a happy peace This peace when feirce Enyo had beheld And saw all seedes of warre and faction quel'd She sigh'd and wept for nought could pleasing bee To that dire mayde but warres calamity Nought but dissention did to her seeme good No sights but feilds and rivers stain'd with blood Were her delightsome prospects into aire She mounts and fill'd with fury and despaire Shakes as she flyes her now-extinguish'd brand Which gives no blaze at all then taking stand Above the shore of fruitfull Normandy Vpon a lofty cliffe viewes from on high Great Henry's large dominions that extend From Scotland Northward to the Southerne end Of spatious rance which those high mountaines bound Nam'd from Pirenes death ore all that ground She sees and gnashes for disdaine to see No streaming Ensignes no hostility The murdrous swords to sythes were turn'd againe And cheerefull plowmen till the fertile plaine The heardsmen heare their bullocks gently lough And their owne folds the fearelesse shepheards know Am I then banish'd quite shall Peace quoth she Boast through these lands so great a victory Over Enyo will no power orethrow These nations quiet rest if heaven allow This lethargy and still would have it so I will descend and see what hell can doo A spatious cave there was not oft before Descry'd by mortall eye within that shore Which wealthy France doth to the North display And Brittaines Ocean bounds thither they say The wise Dulichyan Heroe by adviâ—…e Of beautious Circe came to sacrifice And there restor'd by blood of bullocks slaine To silent ghosts the use of speech againe Through that darke vault did Phoebus nere shoot ray Nor ever glided beame of cheerefull day The grove of Proserpine oreshadow'd quite That dismall shore and damps of drery night Condens'd the aire no birds those boughs did grace Nor with sweet musicke cheer'd the balefull place No Tritons play'd nor did blew Proteus feede His scaly â—…locke nor faire Halcyon breede Beneath the shelter of so sadd a shore But greisly fiends and furyes evermore In hideous shapes did to the cave repaire And ghosts sadâ—… murmurs did afright the aire Who in unnumber'd companies attend Thither the feirce Enyo did descend And all her strongest arts and charmings bring To hold converse with Hells infernall king The Feind himselfe was busy farre below And ranne with gnashing envy too and fro To finde out plotts of ruine and survey His Master-vices who fast chained lay In adamantine cavernes and from thence So pleas'd the great Creators providence To curbe their might for mankindes sake least all The world should in a quicke confusion fall With all their force at once and licens'd power They cannot goe for soone they would devoure All states all lands and worke more tragicke woe Then earthquakes fires or pestilence can doe Within their severall denns the Vices lay And ore the doores proud pictures did display What severall feates and conquests they had wrought What States what kingdomes they to ruine brought For of destroying housholds or the fall Of private men they made no boast at all And as sterne Aeolus is forc'd to locke The boistrous winds in caves of strongest rocke By Ioves
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
to the place Which by those factious stirres that must ensue Shall both the King himselfe and Becket rue But now when hee deny'de to give assent Vnto those lawes proposde in Parliament The King was moov'de the other Bishops all Fearing his wrath from Becket's party fall Hee stiffely stands alone although to gayne Him to his side the King had striv'de in vayne Pope Alexander though hee knew the cause To bee his owne and gâ—…eatly fear'd those lawes Yet since his Papall diadeâ—… did stand On doubtfull teâ—…mes and th' Emperours strong hand Did then support the Antipope he strove In every thing to keepe King Henryes love He therefore wrote to Becket to assent Without all clauses to the Kings entent Becket repaires to Woodstock to the King Humbly submits himselfe and promising That he now freely without any clause Of reservation would accept the Lawes Is by the King receiv'd to grace againe Who much rejoyces thinking that the maine Opposer of him now was growne his owne A Councell straight he calls at Clarendon Assur'd that all the Bishops now would signe What he propos'd to them the rest encline To his desire Becket revolts againe Seemes to repent his promise to complaine That he in that had rashly sinn'd before Aâ—…d in that kinde resolues to sinne no more The King deluded and enrag'de at this So unexpected a revolt of his Threatens th' Archbishop but a Princes threats Cannot prevaile with him nor all th' entreats Ofth ' other Bishops and those Peeres that love The quiet of the State have power to moove His resolution now the fatall wound Was growne past cure nor must this kingdome bound The maladyes of such a spreading sore King Henry's fill'd with grâ—…efe and scorne the more His great soule weighs the meannesse of his foe The more his wrath fed by disdaine doth grow He grieves yet scornes to grieve so when a net Which treacherous hunters in the woods have set To bâ—…â—… snare for smaller beasts doth stay By chance a noble Lyon in his way The royall beast with greater shame then greife Teares his base bonds and almost scornes releife The more King Henry calls to minde how he Had raisd this Becket from a low degree Against the wills of all he still doth finde More fuell for his wrath-enflamed minde At last resolv'd he cites him to appeare Before his Iudges and to answer there Vpon accompt for such large summes as he When Chancellour of England formerly Had from the King detayn'd for Seignioryes Vnjustly held for proud enormityes And disobedience in a high degree Vnto the King his state and dignity To these will Becket scarse vouchsafe replyes But being no Layman at their Courts denyes At all to answere or obey their doome From thence appealing to the Court of Rome But that discharg'd him not the Parliament Then at Northhampton did with one consent Confiscate all his goods the Bishops there Pronounc'de him by the mouth of Chichester To be a perjur'd and a factious man Disclaim'd him for their Metropolitan And all obedience to him Becket now Weary'd with these calamityes that grow And fearing worse disgraces every day 〈◊〉 secret meâ—…nes at last to scape away And from the kingdome in disguise is gone To plead his cause before the Papall throne Oh what unwearyed Muse at large cantell Each severall jarre that from that day befell How Beckeâ—… to the Pope resign'd his Pall How in his wrath king Henry banish'd all Beckets allyes and kinne how oft 'gainst Rome In contestation he was forc'd to come The Papall power against the royall right How oft it was debated in the sight Of Christendome how Henry by entreats Sometimes and sometimes like a King with threats Mainâ—…ain'd his cause how oft the dreadfull doome And interdicting thunderbolt of Rome Was fear'd in England and for Beckets jarre Whole nations likely to be drawne to warre How oft did forraigne Princes interpose Some to increase the wound and some to close How many vaine Commissions had beene spent How many fruitlesse Legacies were sent How many dayes of bootlesse parleys set How ofâ—… with him the King in person met Seven yeares had past since this debate beganne Sixâ—… yeares had Beckeâ—… as a banish'd man At Pontinew and Saint Columba liv'd Maintain'd by Lewis of France who oft had striv'd Or seem'd to strive and so had Flanders Lord In vaine till now in making this accord But now accord although in vainâ—… is made For though King Lewis and Bloyâ—…es Earle perswade King Henry all offences to forget That paâ—…t before and Becket to submit Though both agreement make and Becket bee With Henry's leave returned to his See The Church from thence no lasting concord findes Seldome is factious fire in haughty mindes Extinguish'd but by death it oft like fire Supprest breakes forth againe and blazes higher This end ends not the strife nor drawes more nigh The Churches peace but Beckets tragaedy THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second The Fourth Booke The Argument of the fourth Booke Th' oâ—…casion heere and Noble deeds are showne That first brought Ireland to the English Crowne From Wales Earle Strongbow and Fitz-Stevans bring In aide of Dermot Leinsters banish'd King Their forces ore Archbishop Becket slayne Dâ—…oes with his blood his owne Cathedrall staine King Henry sends to plead his innocence Before the Pope to England goes from thence Himselfe in person into Ireland sailes In which his power without a warre prevailes And gaines that land without the aide of swords In royall state he feasts the Irish Lords And heares the wâ—…nders of that I le thence he To England sailes and thâ—…nce to Normandy FAire Floras pride into the Earth againe Was sunke cold Winter had begun his reigne And summond beautious daylight to restore To night those howers which he had stol'n before King Henry then in Normandy resolv'd To make abode and in his thoughts revolv'd Th'aâ—…aires of Ireland tidings daily came From thence and spread his valiant servants fame What noble actions they had there atchiev'd How many townes already were receiv'd By that small strength which they transported ore From Southerne Wales unto the Irish shore Fame had already fill'd his Princely eare With what Fitz-Stephens what Fitz-Girald there What noble Raimond had with handfulls wonne And private men against a Land had done Beâ—…des what great Earle Strongbow's actions were 〈◊〉 was already growne the Ilands feare Fame is not onely due though lowder farre She needes must speake of those to deedes that are By potent Monarchs or huge armies done That change the worlds estate and overrunne With speed the farthest spreading Emperies No deedes of worth can fame at all despise Though done by few and those the meanest men Nor did she onely sound Romes glories then When Pompeys lawrell'd Charriot show'd at once The vanquish'd VVest and Easterne nations Nor when great Caesar's triumphs did extend Fâ—…om farthest Thule to Cyrenes end She did record Romes infant honours too What poore
when Henry crown'd his sonne Assistants at the coronation With Yorkes Archbishop for that office he Claim'd to belong to Canterburies See Nor would he then absolve them though in their Behalfe a Suitor young King Henry were While this was rumor'd there to second fame To old King Henry the wrong'd Bishops came And to his eare declar'd their grievances He vext at Beckets wilfull stubbornesse Such words though generall in his choller spoke As in some brests too deepe impression tooke Foure knights that heard by chance the kings discourse As Morvile Tracy Britaine and Fitz-Vrse Vnhappy men inflam'd with such a rage And erring zeale as no succeeding age Shall ever praise resolve in heate to doe For Henry's sake what Henry's selfe must rue And their sad memories as long as fame Has wings or tongues shall feele in lasting shame From Normandy without the Kings consent These foure unhappy Knights for England went To execute what they had there design'd And fondly thought would please their Soveraignes mind Archbishop Becket's death but found too soon What fatall service they to him had done How sad a cure fond wretches have you found For balme you powre in poyson to the wound And make that death which then was but a sore King Henryes cause is lost for evermore If Becket suffer so your selves are lost The King must suffer all but Rome are crost While Becket bleedes while you beare lasting staine While Henry grieves the Pope alone shall gaine â—…ate seem'd to pitty Henry and decree That he meane-while should breath in Normandy And from his England absent should remaine Whil'st England was defil'd with such a staine To Canterbury the foure Knights at last Arm'd with their followers came and freely past Into the Bishop's palace their intent Vnknowne had fill'd with feare and wonderment The peoples hearts who flocking up and downe Afâ—…ighted all but Becket he alone Whose head that suddaine danger threaten'd he In lookes and gesture unappall'd and free From all dismay their comming did receive And fearelesse answers to their threatnings give As if his courage strove not to asswage At all but to exasperate their rage Nor could that stoutnesse hasten on his fate So soone but or their faultring hands forgate To act it then or else unhappy they Not fully yet resolv'd upon the way A while for Counsell did retire from him How much the respite of that little time Did afterwards encrease their monstrous guilt Else in the Pallace had his blood beene spilt And not the sacred Temple made to be The seat of that inhumane butchery Which on their crime by circumstance of place Must set a fouler and more horrid face While thus the Knights retiâ—…e the Monkes in care Of Beckt's safety to himselfe declare How great a danger he was in desire That from the Pallace straight he would retire And to the Church for safeguard fly but he Too full of fatall magnanimity Disdaines to stirre but there resolues to stay By force at last they hurry him away When words prevaile not and in vayne alas Into the Temple as a safer place Convey his person but not all the awe Which so Divine a place from men should draw Not all the râ—…verend Roabes that Becket wore Nor th' high and sacred oâ—…ice which he bore When once those furious Knights were enter'd in Kept him from death nor them from deadly sinne In all his Roabes the great Archbishop slayne Did with his blood his owne Cathedrall stayne How much did every fatall circumstance In this abhorred act of theirs advance Thy â—…ame oh Becket their unhallowed rage Made thee not only pity'd by the age But worshipp'd too for them no infamy Is thought enough no dignity for thee How ill the people in so blinde an age Can keepe a meane in reverence or in rage They first pronounce thee innocent to be A Martyr then and then a Deity To thee they all will pray and to thy Tombe Shall greatest Kings in adoration come Even he to whom thou living owd'st thy knee Before thy shrine shall prostrate worship thee Whose gorgâ—…ous wealth and lustre shall outshine All other shrines as reliques most divine Not only shall thy nobler parts be worne In gold and gemmes but men shall strive t' adorne Thy meanest garments and obeisance doe To thy ridiculously-holy shoo Thither from farre shall Pilgrims come to pray Nay in her danger once a bird they say Could we beleeve that any bird would be Of such a Christian faith did pray to thee Soone to King Henry then in Normandy Did this sad newes of Becket's murder fly And fill'd his pensive soule with heavinesse For well he judg'de nor proov'd it any lesse 'T would be by all the Christian Princes thought That that foule deede by his command was wrought But more he griev'd that he had rashly spoke Such words before in Choller 's heat as tooke That bad impression in the Knights alas He griev'd to thinke into how sad a â—…ase Those wretched men had plung'd themselues to doe Him service as they thought they durst not now Appeare at all into the North they fledd And there alone their lives in sorrow ledd And all of them if we may trust to fame Within foure yeares to ends untimely came King Lewis of France or for the love he bore To slaughtered Becket show'd so oft before Or else for envy at the high renowne And power of Henry that ecclips'd his owne Since now Religion gave him faire pretence Pursu'd his ends with all the vehemence Of words or prayers to exasperate Pope Alexander 'gainst King Henry's state Beseeching him he would avenge with ali The armes of holy Church th' unworthy fall And cruell murder of so deare a sonne The like had other neighbouring Princes done But Henry full of feares dispatch'd from thence Embassâ—…dours to pleade his innocence Before the Pope and there to testifie What griefe he tooke for Becket's tragaedy Beseeching him he would be pleas'd to send His Legats thither that might heare and end So sad a cause for much he fear'd from Rome An Interdiction 'gainst his Realmes would come But soone the matter could not have an end The fates were pleas'd it should a while depend Vntill successes of a fairer kinde Had given some ease to Henry's grieved minde And Irelands conquest prosperously gain'd Allay'd the sorrow he for this sustain'd His thoughts are wholly bent on Ireland now In person thither he entends to goe And fearing interruptions to prevent What Bulls or mischiefes might from Rome be sent To trouble England ere he leave the Land Of Normandy he layes a straight command On th' officers of evâ—…ry Port to see That no Briefe-carrier without certainty Of his estate entent and businesse Should be permitted thence to crosse the Seas Nor long in England did the King abyde No cause of stay was there but to provide Such force and fit retinew as from thence Might guard him ore in high Magnificence To Irelands conquest like
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
his Lands in England and in France And to that end that homage should be done By all the Lords that Iohn his yoâ—…nger sonne To whom the father's favour did encline Should straight be sent to warre in Palaestiâ—… To these demands whilest Henry does refuse To yeeld assent a sadder woe ensues In indignation Richard straight forsakes His aged Father and himâ—…elfe betakes Wholâ—…y to Philip King of France his side And firmest friendship 'twixt these two is ty'd With Richard many of the Barons goe 〈◊〉 her selfe forsakes old Henry too When now proud Philip in disdaine that from This enterview no peacâ—… at all dâ—…d come Fels downe that aged Flme whose spreading shade So oft the place of parley had beene made 'Twixt France and Englaâ—…d's mighty Kingâ—… and swore That place should never hold a parley more Sad did the ruines of so fam'd a tree To all the pittying people seeme to be Whose honour'd shade had many ages beene More then a royall Court where oft was seene Such state as one Impâ—…riall house although Of gorgeous structure could but seldome show Nor one whole kingdome at â—… time contâ—…ine Two rivall Kings together to remaine Beneath the covert of a shady tree Where onely Nature made their Canopy Those old religious trees that heretofore Great Conquerours spoyles and boasting trophees bore Sacred to Mars or to 〈◊〉 name Were not more honâ—…ur'd or indeâ—…t to Fame Then was this stately Elme not 'cause that there The Druides when Druidâ—…s there were Among the ancient Gaules had pray'd or done Their barbarous rites and superstition Nor that the Fawnes and Dryades hâ—…d made Their nightly bowers and iporâ—…ed in the shade But 'cause the peopleâ—… pride had lov'd to shew The place where Kings did stand at enterview This Elâ—…e was fell'd by Philip in his râ—…ge Of Henry's following death a sâ—…d presage Now too too weake is old King Henry's side For those proud â—…oes that so unjâ—…stly ty'd In combination threaten his estate By his owne sonne and souldiers left of late And by those weapons wounded that should guard His royall person While the Fates so hard Opprest his grieved soule in discontent To his beloved City Mauns he went Hiâ—… place of birth and high in his esteeme Buâ—… angry Fortune will not leave to him That City now Mauns must be tane away Thither while he does with small forces stay For but seven â—…undred souldiers guard their King Philip of France and furious Richâ—…rd bring A potent army For the townes defence The King too weake is forc'd to flye from thence And to abandon that beloved Towne He that had never fled before nor knowne What 't was to feare pursuing enemies From his owne sonne and young King Philiâ—… flyes And looking backe on that forsaken Towne Curses the impious prowesse of his sonne Philip and Richards unresisted powers March further up with ease surprising Tours Vpon which losse another daâ—… is set For â—…nterview and both the Kings are met Not farre from Turwâ—…n Where although that cleare The Sky at their first meeting did appeare Yet on thâ—… sudden from a swelling cloud The thunder issu'd with report so loud It stâ—…ooke a terror into every heart Ore all the fields and twice they say did part The Kings a sunder once with such a force King Henry there had fall'n from off his horse Had not his servants held him up How ere It was decreed that Henry's honour there Should â—…all farre lower and he suffer more Then all his puissant reigne had felt before He that had given conditions still that ne're Had taken any from what foe soe're Yeelds now to all conditions they demand Yeelds to deliver into Philip's hand Adela now and for those Provinces Which in that continent he did possesse To doe him homage lets his Barons sweare Allegiance to his sonne Prince 〈◊〉 there Anâ—… yeelds to pay for â—…harges of the warre Two thousand marks to Philip aâ—…d so farre His Nâ—…ble heart not us'd to bow was broke That his griev'd spirit within three dayes forsooke The earthly mansion For a Feaver joyn'd Wiâ—…h the afflicting anguish of his minde Whose forces soone disâ—…olv'd that house of clay Aâ—… Châ—…non then this dying Monarch lay When to encrease the anguish of his thought And more disturbe his peace a scrowle was brought And by ill fate presented to him there Containing all their names that did adhaere In this conspiracy to Philip's side Where first of all his haplesse eye espy'd The name of Iohn his sonne whither that he Were truly one of that conspiracy Or some of Richard's followers to remove Before King Henry dy'd that wondrous love Which towards Iohn he seem'd of late to beare Above the other falsely wrote him there From thence extremity of passions Surpris'd his soule He curst his impious sonnes Curst his owne birth and had despairing dy'd Had not Diviner counsell come to guide His griefes aright and by Religions lawes Direct his wounded conscience to the cause Of those his suffrings making the disease The cure and troubled thoughts the way to peace Wailing his sinnes into the Temple there He bids thâ—…m his yet-living body beare Where he before the holy altar plac'd In humble 〈◊〉 breaths out his lâ—…st And of so great a Monarch now remaines No more on earâ—…h then what a tombe containes Who lately ore so many Lands did reigne From Scotlands bounds to farthest Aquitaine A Prince in peace of highest Majesty In warre too great to finde an enemy In power above his neighbour Princes farre Who though his sword were often â—…rawne to warre His owne conditions without battels wrought Liv'd still victorious though he seldome fought And might have seem'd above the reach of Fate But that himselfe his greatest foes begate Wrong'd by that power which he had made and crost By those of whom he had deserved most Blest oâ—…t miraculously oâ—…t againe Beyond beleefe deprest his various reigne Temper'd with all extremities of Fate And though triumphant yet unfortunate FINIS THE DESCRIPTION OF KING HENRY THE SECOND WITH A SHORT SURVEY of the changes in his REIGNE IT has beene a custome of old Historians when they record the actions of great Princes to deliver also some Characters of their persons and peculiar dispositions that the curiositie of succeeding times who pry deepely into those men whose lives were of so great moment in the world might beefully satisfied and delighted It will not therefore bee amisse to deliver a Character of King Henry the Second a Monarch greater in Fame and Territories than any Christian King that then lived Hee was a man as we finde recorded of a just stature a strong and healthfull constitution but somewhat grosse more by the inclination of Nature then by any fault either of intemperance or sloth For besides the sparenesse and sobrietie of his dyet he vexed his bodie with continuall labour and to ouercome his naturall fatâ—…esse was almost immoderate in all his exercises Hee was of a ruddy complexion
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