Henry the 2d. surnam'd Short mantle King of England Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine Earle of Poicteres and Anjou Lord of Ireland c THE REIGNE OF KING HENRY THE SECOND Written in Seaven Bookes By his Majesties Command Invalidas vires Rex excitat juvat idem Qui jubet obsequium sufficit esse meum Auson LONDON Printed by A. M. for Benjamin Fisher dwelling in Aldersgate-streete at the signe of the Talbot 1633. TO THE SACRED MAIESTIE OF CHARLES BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF GREAT BRITTAINE FRANCE AND IRELAND DEFENDER OF THE FAITH c. THIS HISTORICALL POEM BORNE BY HIS COMMAND AND NOT TO LIVE BVT BY HIS GRATIOVS ACCEPTATION IS HVMBLY DEDICATED BY THE AVTHOR His Majesties most obedient Subject and Servant THO. MAY. THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second The First Booke The Argument of the first Booke The happy part of Henry's reigne is showne His first Triumphant yeares and high renowne His peace and power Enyo grieves to see And to disturbe his long tranquillity Descending downe to Lucifer below She craves some Vices aide to overthrow The causes of it there those tragike times Of Stephens reigne and Englands civill crimes So lately past Enyo does relate And shewes with griefe King Henry's present state The Fiend foretells what suddaine change shall be Of Englands peace and his felicity THe Second Henry first Plantagenet The first of Englands royall Kings that set Victorious footing on the Irish-shore And taught that warrelike nation to adore A forreine Scepter sound ye Muses foorth Declare how much his high Heroike worth By stormes of spitefull fortune oft assail'd As oft'gainst fortunes spitefull stormes prevail'd His glorious reigne but wrapt in various fate And though triumphant yet unfortunate How his great Vertues were too saddly try'de By rebell Subjects by the Papall pride And his owne Childrens strange impiety By opposition to ecclipse his high And great Renowne or higher to advance The fame of his undaunted puissance Vouchsafe dread Soveraigne Charles with that most cleare And gracious eye with which you use to cheare Poore suppliants while destinyes attend Your royall doome to view these lines and lend Your favours influence which can infuse Vertue alone into an English Muse. Shee else would tremble to approach too nigh So pure a minde so great a Majesty Vouchsafe to read the actions of a King Your noble Ancestour and what we sing In Henry's reigne that may be true renowne Accept it Sr. as Prologue to your owne Vntill this Muse or some more happy strayne May sing your Vertues and unaequall'd Reigne Those civill swords that did so lately stayne The land with slaughter now were sheath'd againe The rents of State were clos'd the wounds were cur'de Peace by victorious Henry was secur'de And justice waited on his awfull throne Without controll all feares all faction That tooke beginning with King Stephen's reigne With him descended to the grave againe Stephen deceas'd the Crowne of England now Came by accord t'empale young Henry's brow Which was before by right of birth his due But he least England too too long should rue In blood and slaughter their ambitious strife Came to accords of peace and during life Of Stephen respited his royall right Now like bright Phaebus to the longing sight Of all the People did young Henry riâ—…e Before whose rayes all past calamities Like mists did vanish no sadd clouds accloy The aire of England with loud showtes of joy The People flock the Peeres their wealth display To grace his wish'd-for Coronation day His brave atchievements and that early fame Which he in France had gain'd had made his name Already lov'd in England and admir'd Him all the people for their Lord desir'd And now possest of him take faire presage Such youth would end in a triumphant age Then as when once the charriot of the Sunne Had beene misguided by bold Phaëton Iove walk'd the round and veiw'd with carefull eye If heaven were safe then from the starry sky Descending downe survey'd the scorched ground And there repair'd the ruines that he found To their dry channells he call'd backe the floods And with fresh verdure cloath'd the seindged woods Renew'd the herbage and redresse ordain'd For all that wronged Nature had sustein'd So Henry stablish'd in the Regall throne Iove-like surveyes his large dominion To see what parts of state might be decay'd What rents so long a civill warre had made With physicke fit he purges from the State Those humours that did stirre and swell so late Digests the reliques and by Princely arts And policy corroborates the parts And first of all those troopes of forreiners That from all parts during the civill warres Resorted hither to seeke spoyle and prey He banishes that at th' appoynted day Within the coasts no strangers did remaine Restoring England to it selfe againe And least the Crowne should want for that expence That must support the high magnificence Of such a Monarchy into his hands He boldly seizes all the royall lands Which either greatest men did uncontroll'd In those tumultuous times unjustly hold Or else King Stephen to support so badd And weake a title as they knew he had Had given freely as rewards to tye Their truth to him against their loyalty Nor did King Henry vindicate alone The state and wealth of his Imperiall Crowne But the just power and with a puissant hand Setled that sure obedience through the land That to his awfull Scepter did belong The greatest Peeres that were before too strong To be commanded he by force compell'd To yeild to him the Castles that they held And all the midland forts he rased downe The strength of nothing but rebellion Nor though as yet presumptuous Mortimer Had not forgot the late licentious warre But strove to guard against his Soveraigne By lawlesse armes the strength that he had tane Could he resist the King enforc'd to yeild To him those three strong Castles that he held Well did this reformation suite the thought Of such a great Heroike King who brought Besides his persons worth and true esteeme So lov'de a title to the Crowne with him Not from the Norman Conquerour did he Deduce alone his royall pedegree But from the ancient Saxon Kings beside As lineall heire to Edmund Ironside And in his happy birth did so conjoyne The conquering Norman and old Saxon line Which hearty love and reverence to his throne From all the English people justly wonne Who now forgate pleas'd with his lawfull power That they were servants to a Conquerour Great Grand-childe by the Femall side was he To Margaret the Queene of Scotland she Daughter to Edward sonne to Ironside Whose royall birth and blood was dignify'd By twenty faire descents of Saxon Kings All which the happy birth of Henry brings The more to England to endeare his reigne And heere your selfe most Gracious Soveraigne Your ancient right to Englands Crowne may see In Scotlands royall blood your pedegree Is farther drawne and no knowne king as you
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
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
betray'd Her Ladyes life and while she doubting fear'd Too soone the fatall certainty appear'd For with her traine the wrathfull Queene was there Oh who can tell what cold and killing feare Through every part of Rosamund was strooke The rosie tincture her sweete cheekes forsooke And like an Ivory statue did she show Of life and motion reft had she beene so Transform'd in deede how kinde the fates had beene How pitifull to her nay to the Queene To free her guilty hand from such a cryme So sadd and foule as no succeeding time But shall with griefe condemne yet had she beene A Statue and look'd so the jealous Queene Perchance on that her cruelty had showne Least Henry should have turn'd Pygmalion And for a Stâ—…tues love her bed forsooke The Queenes attendants with remorse are strooke Even she herselfe did seeme to entertaine Some ruth but straight Revenge return'd againe And fill'd her furious breast Strumpet quoth She I neede not speake at all my sight may be Enough expression of my wrongs and what The consequence must proove of such a hate Heere take this poyson'd cup for in her hand A poyson'd cup she had and doe not stand To parley now but drinke it presently Or else by tortures be resolv'd to dye Thy doome is set pale trembling Rosamund Receives the cup and kneeling on the ground When dull amazement somewhat had forsooke Her breast thus humbly to the Queene she spoke I dare not hope you should so farre relent Great Queene as to forgive the punishment That to my foule offence is justly due Nor will I vainely plead excuse to shew By what strong arts I was at first betray'd Or tell how many subtle snares were lay'd To catch mine honour these though nere so true Can bring no recompence at all to you Nor just excuse to my abhorred crime Instead of suddaine death I crave but time Which shall be stil'd no time of life but death In which I may with my condemned breath While griefe and pâ—…nnance make me hourely dye Poure out my prayerâ—… for your pâ—…osperity Or take revenge on this offâ—…ding face That did procure your wrong and my disgrace Make poysonous leprosies orespread my skinne And punish that that made your Henry sinne Better content will such a vengeance give To you that he should loath me whilest I live Then that he should extend if thus I dye His lasting pity to my memory And you be forc'd to see when I am dead Those teares perchance which he for me will shed For though my worthlesse selfe deserue from him No teares in death yet when he weighs my crime Of which he knowes how great a part was his And what I suffer as a sacrifice For that offence t will grieve his soule to be The cause of such a double tragaedy No more reply'd the furious Queene have done Delay no longer least thy choyse be gone And that a sterner death for thee remaine No more did Rosamund entreat in vaine But forc'd to hard necessity to yeild Drunke of the fatall potion that she held And with it enter'd the grimme tyrant death Yet gave such respite that her dying breath Might begg forgivenesse from the heavenly throne And pardon those that her destruction Had doubly wrought forgive oh Lord said she Him that dishonour'd her that murder'd me Yet let me speake for truths sake angry Queene If you had spar'd my life I might have beene In time to come th' example of your glory Not of your shame as now for when the story Of haplesse Rosamund is read the best And holyest people as they will deteâ—…t My crime and call it foule they will abhorre And call unjust the rage of Elianor And in this act of yours it will be thought Hing Henry's sorrow not his love you sought And now so farre the venoms force assail'd Her vitall parts that lifâ—… with language fail'd That well built palace where the Graces made Their chiefe abode where thousand Cupids plai'd And cowch'd their shafts whose structure did delight Even natures selfe is now demolish'd quite Nere to be rais'd againe th' untimely stroake Of death that pretious Cabinet has broake That Henry's pleased heart so long had held With suddaine mourning now the house is fill'd Nor can the Queenes attendants though they feare Her wrath from weeping at that sight forbeare There well they could while that faire hearse thy view Believe the ancient embleme to be true And thinke pale death and winged Cupid now Their quivers had mistooke untimely so By rough North blasts doe blooming Roses fade So crushed falls the Lillyes tender blade Her hearse at Godstow Abbey they enterre Where sad and lasting monuments of her For many yeeres did to the world remaine Nought did the Queene by this dire slaughter gaine But more her Lords displeasure aggravate And now when he return'd in prosperous state This act was cause togeâ—…her with that crime Of raising his unnaturall sonnes 'gainst him That she so long in prison was detain'd And whilest he liv'd her freedome never gain'd But Henry's troubles finde not yet an end Whose cares beyond the English shores extend As if one kingdomes burden could not be Enough for his great magnanimity The yet-perplex'd affaires of Normandy Invite his presence next where fates decree Almost as easie peace shall be obtain'd As England late had by his presence gain'd Now did King Lewis and young King Henry lye Beseiging faithfull Roane in Normandy To whose reliefe the brave old Henry goes But first with care and prudence does dispose The setled state of England to his minde And loath to leave at liberty behinde So great a firebrand as his jealous Queene Fierce Elianor in this late warre had beene Commits her person to close custodie Then musters all his martiall company And Caesar-like transporting all his â—…tore Of great and princely prisoners crosses ore As if he went to triumph not to fight Nor proov'd it lesse indeede for even the sight Alone of so renown'd and fear'd a Chiefe As old King Henry was faire Roanes reliefe King Lewis of France no longer meant to stay Nor on the tryall of one doubtfull day To set his fortunes yet asham'd that he Should seeme to flye before his enemy And fearing that disgrace encamped lay Himselfe a while and first convey'd away From thence the sicke and weakest of his men And with the rest in order followed then For uncontroll'd had Henry enter'd Roane Set ope the gates and beate the rampiers downe Levell'd the trenches all that stopp'd the way And dar'd the French to tryall of the day But Lewis retir'de and weighing in sadd thought What small advantage his designes had wrought Or for himselfe or those whom he entended To aide now wish'd this bootelesse warre were ended And thoughts of peace he wholly entertain'd And since he knew a peace might be obtain'd As then it stood with ease from Englands King And love besides in labouring to bring The sonnes in too
The causes of all future discontent He lends a gentle eare while they expresse In humble sort their former grievances He grants their just demands and does advance With liberall hand their yearely maintenance Which had before bin justly thought to be Too small for them and that this enmity Might not alone be ended but forgot On every side the lands unâ—…ustly got While this sad warre remain'd are every where Restor'd againe and every prisoner Without a ransome on both sides set free And all their followers in that state to be As when the warre beganne with Henry there A peace King Lewis and th' Earle of Flanders sweare And that the friendship may be firmely ty'd Adela Lewis his daughter is affy'd To Princely Richard to remaine till she Should come of age in Henry's custody There to conclude these sad dissentions Richard and Henry's younger sonnes A personall homage to their father doe Which young King Henry freely offred too But that the father suffâ—…ed not since he Invested was in regall dignity White-winged Concord come from heaven above Concord of all estates the joy and love Whose sacred armes the spatious world infold And that mixt fabricke from dissolving hold On Henry's countreys now was pleas'd to light With her her lately banish'd sister bright As she faire Piety did not disdaine Descending downe to visite earth againe She that from Englands Court had lately fled As once from Argos tragicke towers she did When Atreus feast did her pure soule affright And made the Sunne obscure his mourning light Nor does the presence of bright Phoebus more Comfort earths drooping face when to restore Her fragrant Wardrobe he returnes in spring Then Piâ—…ty and blessed Concord bring True joy to humane hearts the King in thought Is recompens'd for what the fates had wrought So lately 'gainst him his two younger sonnes He sends away to their dominions And wise men with them Geoffrey to remaine In Brettaine Richard in his Aquitaine There with their severall Councells to advise The best for their estates and dignities The two King Henryes father and the sonne Through every part of their dominion Vpon that side the Sea a progresse take To cure the wounds of that late warre and make The rents all whole againe then from that coast The Seas for England they together crost But oh what Muse can at the height relate The joy that Englands long-afflicted state Express'd to welcome their arrivall there Or show how all the wayes from Porchmouth where They landed first and thence to London rode Were fill'd with people numberlesse and strow'd With such greene dresse as then the spring could show And Sol from Taurus gilded hornes bestow Vpon the cheered earth as if that then The season had consented with the men How did the aire with acclamations sound When in that joyous sight the people found Their happinesse they saw two Kings as one Distracting not the quiet of a throne And as a glorious wonder might descry Two Sunnes at once and yet a peacefull sky This sight more joy'd the hearts of people now Then any triumph of a warre could doe Nor could the greatest conquest by the blood Of slaughter'd nations purchas'd be so good So did th' Italian youths follow in throngs Their laurell'd charriots with triumphant songs When captive Kings were brought when woefull stories Of ruin'd lands were made their envy'd glories Before this triumph no sad captives goe To waile in chaines their woefull overthrow No pale dejected lookes no hearts afraid Are found no envy'd glories are display'd But gentle peace does with a gracious eye Appeare and leade the faire solemnity Whose crowne of olive does more glorious show Then any victor's laurell wreath could doe One Court one table now receives againe Whom late this spatious Ile could not containe As fâ—…iends within blew Neptune's watery armes And they whose presence fill'd with warres alarmes So oft of late great France and England too Without warres feare are seene together now And promise like th' Oebalian friendly starres Health to the late distressed Marriners Nor does King Henry spend in wanton ease The Halcyon dayes of this his happy peace But like a wise and noble Potentate â—…o cure the sad diseases of his state He first beginnes as first it ought to be With holy Church the sinne of Simony Which those corrupted times too much had fill'd A Synod to that end at London held By wholsome lawes and canons did restraine From thence old Henry fully to maintaine His honour goes in person and repaires Some breaches of the late unhappy warres And many Castles of the inner land Which had in those rebellious times beene mann'd And kept against himselfe he rases downe As Leister Walton Groby Huntington To deedes of justice then he turn'd his minde And first of all the English Kings did finde That happy course applauded till this day To give his subjects by an easier way The use of justice England he divides Into sixe circuites and for each provides Three reverend Iustices itinerant That all his subjects farthest off whom want Would not perâ—…it so great a way to come Might meete bright Iustice twice a yeare at home And that offences there where they were done Might be to Iudges made more clearely knowne A glorious act which shall for ever fame To after times the second Henry's name Those mighty kings who by such specious deedes As founding towers or stately Pyramids Would raise their names and by that vast expence Doe seeke the fame of high magnificence Doe not deserve by those proud workes they raise So true an honour nor such lasting praise As he whose wisâ—…dome to good manners drâ—…wes The mindes of men by founding wholesome lawes And planting perfect justice in a state Those let the vainer people wonder at By those a state showes faire by this it lives They outward beauty this true essence gives But now my faire Calliope relate How high how glorious was old Henry's state In this so happy and establish'd peace When all dissentions on such tearmes did cease As he himselfe could wish when his command Was fear'd in Wales when Englands happy land Was well assured Scotlands strength dismay'd And conquer'd Ireland quietly obey'd His powerfull scepter when he did possesse Without controll those stately Provinces Of France which stretch'd even to the bounds of Spain From Normandy to farthest Aquitaine That King of Connaught Roderike the stout He that in Ireland had so long stood out 'Gainst th' English power does now to England send Embassadours on Henry to attend To yield himselfe to his protection A tributary to the English Crowne And now through Europe the loud voyce of fame So wide had spread this potent Monarchs name That from the farthest partâ—… of Christendome Embassadours of greatest Princes come To hold their leagues and amity with him And London saw so high was his esteeme In his great Court at once th'Embassadours Of the two mighty Christian Emperours The East and Westerne
command lest if they wholly goe They should all woods all cities ouerthrow And beare downe all that did before them stand Confounding Neptunes kingdome with the land Yet have those windes still leave in some degree Though they disdaine such petty liberty To range abroade to make their natures knowne To shake some weakely â—…ounded houses downe Oreturne some aged Oakes and now and than To cause a shipwracke on the Ocean Even so these hellish monsters though great Iove Permit them not in their full strength to move Are acting mischeiâ—…e every day and goe Contriving here and there designes of woe And worke though they almost such worke despise The wracke of private men and families But to effect a great and publike woe Without a speciall license cannot goe Hither while Lucifer did thus survey His Master-Vices as they chained lay He bad them bring Enyo downe below For then to th'upper cave he would not goe What would'st thou crave quoth he what blacke designe What stratagem t' enlarge thy power or mine Hath made Enyo hither take her flight The furious Maide replyes great Prince of night T is not my cause alone that makes me come As fearing generall peace in Christendome Thy cause is joyn'd I feare if that peace be Such warres as more will hurt thy Monarchy Then briefly thus full fifteene yeares are gone Since potent Henry wore the English crowne Possest besides in wealthy France of more Strong lands then doe the crowne of France adore Blest with a numerous issue and by none Annoy'd disturb'd by no rebellion Nor forreine foes and lest French Lewis should be His foe though too too weake aâ—…inity Ioines them faire Margaret is by wedlocke ty'd To young Prince Henry Brittaines heire 's affy'd To Geoffrey his third sonne who comes to adde That Dutchy too to what before he had In France it did not seeme enough that he Before possest Maine Aniou Normandy Nor that he did by Eleanor obtaine Poiâ—…tou besides and fertile Aquitaine What warre dares menace such strong power as he Possesses now what fortune woe is me Ha's chang'de the times with what delight could I If now not crost by this tranquillity Remember Stephen's raigne and tragicke times Oh heavens what slaughters then what civill crimes Did England see when on her frighted Coast The Empresse Maude was landed with her hoast And came by armes to claime her royall right What suddain tumults rose and did afright The wretched people different passions then Made sad divisions in the hearts of men Some wept some fear'd some sadly tooke their armes And with intent to cure their countryes harmes Prepar'd to wound her more some did not know What side to take or where they might bestow Their rage or love before each mourning eye Did formes of fire of blood and slaughter flye Within themselves their passions made arise Such things as they imagin'd prodigies With thoughts confus'd the people rush'd to armes No noise in England but my loud alarmes Was heard the warre long carryed to and fro At Lincolne wholly met at last and now All hop'd one battell would the right decide No feild was ever with more fury try'd Nor rage ere met more aequall rage as they That saw the slaughters of that dismall day Could justly tell till great Augustaes right Whose powers renowned Gloster led in fight Prevail'd at last there after he in vaine Had shew'd rare valour was king Stephen tane And to the conquering Empresse captive brought Then turn'd the State who would not then have thought All civill warres had ended quite when she Had on her side both right and victory The people all congratulate her state But soone beginne to pity Stâ—…phens faâ—…e And too hard durance who a king had beene Then pinch'd in irons lay his weeping Queene For her deare Lord did to the Empresse sue But all in vaine the warres from thence renew Againe the discontented people rise In aide of Stephens faction and surprise Glosters brave Earle Augustaes Generall Then seem'd the like calamities to fall On both the parties and in aequall paine Of durance did the king and Earle remaine Accord was made but not an end to make Of civill warre nor for their countries sake But to release their owne captivity And in exchange they set each other free From this accord with greater fury farre Through all the kingdome rose the civill warre For those sad changes had not pacify'd But more incens'd the chiefes of either side Whose wrath the people felt all kindes of woe The wretched Realme was forc'd to undergoe The countryes pillag'd castles lost and wonne Rich cloysters robb'd the fairest cities downe Or ras'd or burned in â—…ude heapes did ly As Wiltons pittyed sacke could testify By Glosters furious army burn'd with fire Nor thee faire Worster in king Stephens ire Could all thy beauteous structure save from wracke In fatall flames thy walls and houses cracke Through what great hazards did both Princes runne How hardly oft escape destruâ—…tion What neede I tell how Stephen forc'd to fly From Gloster's powers forfooke his treasury At Wilton Abbey how the Empresse fled When least she seem'd to fly supposed dead And like a coarse was carryed through her 〈◊〉 So to escape what need I now disclose How after she when she iâ—… Oxford lay Straightly beseig'd by Stephen got away No strength of friends at all no parleys there Could free her person Winter rescu'd her And the cold season strove to mocke the foe December rag'd the Northerne windes did blow And by their power had glaz'd the silver flood Of neere-adjoyning Thames whose waters stood Congealed still ore which the snow around Had fall'n and with white fleeces cloath'd the ground When the wise Empresse cloath'd alike in white Forsooke the towne and past along by night Deluding so the watches carefull eyes They thought the snow had moov'd or did surmise Their opticke spirits had disturbed beene Not cleare and they tumultuously had seene Fixt objects oft doe seeme in motions so Thus then securely did the Empresse goe And was receiv'd with joy to Walingford Nor then did England bleed alone her Lord Anious great Earle by feirce and bloody warre Was winning Normandy in right of her Those those were times but now ah woe is me Great Lucifer if this tranquillity Without disturbance hold in Christendome I feare for thee a farre worse warre will come Thy Saracens shall rue the Christians peace And feele their conquering swords what large increase Of territories honour and of fame Through farthest Asia will the Christian name Acquire what bounds alas would Salem know If potent Henry to this warre should goe If he should there the English crosse advance His aide they all will seeke his puissance Will Salems feeble king implore to joyne Against those foes that threaten Palaestine Therefore in time this peacefull knot divide Enyo ceas'd when Lucifer reply'de Thy just complaint heroike Maide I heare But doe not doubt the power of Lucifer Those
aside the cares of governement And only feast on Loves transporting joyes But soone a weighty businesse destroyes His short delight the Pope is discontent That Becket suffers so long banishment And intermixing threats requires an end Of this debate King Lewis of France a friend To Becket's side and other Princes too Are forward for their owne respects to show Themselues complyers to the Popes desire Hence Henry's wisedome feares some raging fire Of warre while he is absent might breake foorth Beyond the seas and thinkes it therefore worth His passage ore assured that the sight Of him in armes would those weake Princes fright But yet before the King from hence depart For thee the dearest jewell of his heart Faire Rosamund as fearing where to hyde So sweete a pledge his loving cares provide A sumptuous bower did he at Woodstock build Whose structure by Daedalian art was fill'd With winding Mazes and perplexed wayes Which who so enters still deceived strayes Vnlesse by guidance of a clew of thread Through those obscure Maeanders he be led There with all objects that delight might lend And with such chosen servants to attend And guard her as had still beene faithfull knowne Dooes Henry leave this beautious Paragon And swiftly passing into Normandy Findes there no stirres in peace and amity King Lewis and th' Earle of â—…loys neere Ambois were Both met to parley with King Henry there And mediate with him for Becket's peace That all dissention now at last might cease Sixe yeares in exile had the Prelate liv'd By France supported since he first had striv'de Against his King and for the Clergy cause Oppos'de himselfe against the royall lawes Which made the name of Becket sound so farre Declare my Muse from whence this fatall jarre Arose and from th' originall relate By what degrees it had disturb'd the State The English Clergy if we trust record Of Monkes then living at that tyme was stord With all the blessings temporall they flow'd In wealth with strange immunityes endow'd And wanted nought but what they ought to have Knowledge and piety which essence gave First to that sacred stile of Clergymen Who dooes not know what fatall darkenesse then The mourning face of Europe had orespread How all thâ—… Arts and Sciences were fled And learnings sunne to these darke regions set Was not recover'd from Arabia yet As much did wisest writers of those times Complayne of their licentious Clergyes crimes The powerfull Prelates strove not to correct The vices of their Clerkes but to protect Their persons 'gainst the justice of the State And to affrout the civill Magistrate And pleading priviledge oppos'd to stand Not 'gainst the Vice but Iustice of the Land The meaner Clerkes by this impunity With greater boldnesse durst offend that high And sacred order so it ought to be Was growne a refuge for impiety And not a burden but an ease to men Which worst of people sought and thither then As to a place of safety Vices fledd And Iustice only thence was banished An hundred murders done by Clergymen And more in those nine yeares that Henry then Had reign'd ore England were before him proov'd At which King Henry was in justice moov'd Since it appear'd no punishments at all Or those too unproportionably small Too slight for that abhorr'd and crying sinne On the delinquents had inflicted beene By those that claim'd the power to punish them King Henry weighing in a just esteeme How much the Land and State was wronged then By this pretended power of Clergymen Strove to revive those ancient Lawes which were Establish'd by his Royall Grandfather Wise Henry Beauclarke to secure the State And from the Papall claymes to vindicate The Royall power those Lawes while Stephen kept Vnjustly Englands Crowne a while had slept Nor durst that King that had so weake a cause So bad a title to maintaine those Lawes In contestation 'gainst the power of Rome Then is the time for Papall claymes to come When Kings estates are in distresse and stand On doubtfull tearmes as almost every land Of Christendome has beene too sadly taught King Stephen knew not against whom he fought He thought the Empresse Maude alone had beene The foe to his estate but Rome stept in So in the age that follow'd when King Iohn Vnjustly did ascend the Regall throne And Englands Peeres in armes against him rose King Iohn suppos'd he had no other foes But only them 'gainst them his strength he bent But found a sterner foe Pope Innocent T was he that watch'd their tryalls and his prey That side was sure to be that lost the day So Crowes on Armyes waite because King Iohn Could not 'gainst them guard his usurped Crowne The Pope claymes that which whenthe King resignes His Holynesse straight to the King enclines Whom he before had curst the right was try'de When the Popes power and ends were ratify'd To Arthur and the realme the wrong was done To Innocent the satisfaction Those wholesome Lawes the noble Henry striv'de To have by act of Parliament reviv'de Which he had therefore call'd at Westminster The Prelates there and Peeres assembled were The Peeres and Commons all approov'de the Lawes Some Prelates only judging that the cause Of holy Church would be impeach'd thereby Refus'd by their assent to ratifie The Kings desire others more moderate Who weigh'd how great a profit to the State Losse of a shadow from the Church would be Would gladly yeild 'mongst those that did deny Becket was stoutest in resolue as he Was highest farre in place and dignity He was the stay of all and kept the rest From then assenting to the Kings request But how this famous Becket grew in state And whence he sprung Calliope relate A London Citizen by birth he was But of an active spirit and for place Of high employments ever seem'd to be By nature moulded borne for dignity The gratious fortunes of his youth had brought Him first to Court attendance and there taught Him all those wily garbes from thence the warre Receiv'd him as an able Souldier In which he came to be implanted high In Henryes grace then Duke of Normandy Who when he first gain'd Englands royall power Created Becket his Lord-Chancellour Oh haddst thou there great Henry stay'd thy grace And not advanc'd him to that higher place More happy farre perchance had Becket liv'd Nor on those termes had King and Clergy striv'd Thou hadd'st not then that sad example beene Of paenitence nor had Religion seene Those fooleryes that heathens may deryde When Becket was so strangely Deify'de But Canterburyes Prelate Theobald dead The King promoted Becket in his stead Though the wise Empresse whose direction In other things was followed by her sonne Mislik'de the choyse so all the Clergy did As then their speech and writings testify'de That he a Courtier and a Souldier Not learn'd enough was farre unfit to weare So high a Mitre but the Kings sole grace Was strength enough to lift him
grazing cattell cover all those grounds They feele no want what grass they eate by dayes The dewy night backe to the land repayes And what fam'd Maro of that wealthy field In Mantua spake these meadows truely yeild But so myraculously temperate Prooves Irelands aire sometimes Wolues have of late In middst of bare December whelped beene And young-hatch'd Crowes at Christmas have bin seen What neede I speake of that fam'd Willow tree At Glindelachan which was knowne to be Chang'd from his nature though it yet appeare In outward forme a Willow and each yeare Brings forth faire Apples that have proov'd of strange And medcinable vertue still that change The common people as divinely rare Imputed to S. Keiwin's powerfull prayer Or to your sacred eare relate the story Of our S. Patrick's famous Purgatory Nine dismall caves there are in one of those If any man by night himselfe repose Such most unsufferable torments there As humane nature scarce has power to beare He shall endurâ—… the silly folke suppose â—…he paines of Hell not much exceeding those But if that all the prodigyes we know Of truth in Ireland or all those that so Are by the common people thought to be We should relate your sacred Majesty Would first be weary'd day would first be done Ere through those wonders our discourse could runne With that the Bishop his relation ceas'd Great Henry gave him thankes and highly pleas'd To heare the nature of his new-gain'd land Rewards those Irish with a bounteous hand That on his Royall Court did then attend And that this action might to happy end Be brought and Ireland setled in a blest And sure estate beginning at the best Of cares God's service he to Dublin then A Synod calls of th' Irish Clergymen With whom were many English Prelatâ—… joyn'd To sift the state of Irelands Church and finde What errours had by time crept in to be The blemishes of Christian purity While thus great Henry labours to secure His new-gaind Realme to leave it in a sure And peacefull state from these his wish'd affairâ—… He is diverted by more tragicke cares Sad newes to him though secretly are brought Of what the fiend Impiety had wrought In his bold sonnes their inclinations now And bad designes beyond concealment grow Enough to breake a tender fathers heart But of his sorrow this was but a part Although alas he were enforc'd to see In this unnaturall conspiracie His life and kingly state endanger'd were For other tidings to encrease his feare Came flying ore as mischiefes ever joyne Not singly come Albert and Theodine Were by Pope Alexander sent from Rome As Legates and to Normandy were come There to examine Becket's murder now With power not only to enquire and know But punish it and interdict at once All great King Henry's large dominions Vnlesse that he himselfe in person there Vpon their summons did forthwith appeare And now the feast of Easter was at hand King Henry griev'd that from his new gain'd land He was so soone enforc'd to part away Before well setled yet because delay On tother side did seeme so dangerous Of those affaires he briefly does dispose Makes Hugh de Lacy chiefe Iustitiar And to the chiefest Captaines each a share Of governement he leaves then crosses ore Aâ—…d with a prosperous winde upon the shore Of Wales arrives but making then no stay At all in England sailes with speede away To Normandy to meete the Legates there And does before them personally sweare That he commanded not that horrid deede But for those words that rashly did proceede Out of his mouth and might be thought to be The mooving cause of that blacke tragaedy He is contented to what pennance fit The Pope or they enjoyne him to submit THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second The Fift Booke The Argument of the fift Booke Against their Father Henry's impious Sonnes Raise Warre through all his large dominions By forreigne Princes back'd the old King's successe On every side and wondrous happinesse King Lewis of France is chasd from Normandy And Chesters Earle surpris'd in Brettainy At Farneham field the Earle of Leister's tane And almost all his warrelike Flemmings slaine The King of Scotland by a little band Is taken prisoner in Northumberland To Becket's shrine old Henry pensive goes Then freely pardons all his yeilding foes Tâ—…kes in the Forts that were against him mann'd And without bloodshed quiets all the land The wofull newes of murder'd Rosamund Amidd'st these joyes his bleeding heart doth wound A truce twixt Lewis and him young Richard gets Poictou but when King Henry comes submits And by his father is sent forth to winne His yet-offending brothers from their sinne NOw did those fatall and unnaturall jarres Disclose themselues and more then civill wars Began to make afflicted England bleede While Henryes foes from Henryes loynes proceede From Hell to Earth did that accursed fiend The Viper-hair'd Impiety ascend T' infect the Royall houshould such was she As ancient Poets made Megaera be That lov'd no warres but twixt neere kindred bred No blood but such as sonnes or brothers shed Such warres whose tryalls must be ever bad Whose conquests must be losse and triumphs sad Twixt Pelops sonnes t was she that bred despight T was she that made the Theban brothers fight That made Atrides impiously be slayne And impiously to be reveng'd againe She now through France through England sounds alarmes And Henry's sonnes against their father armes Henry the sonne too soone crown'd King on slight Prâ—…tences of a wrong resolues to fight 'Gainst his deare Faâ—…her in that blacke designe Richard and Geoffrey with their brother joyne As then was thought incensed by the spleene And jealousies of Elianor the Queene With them the Earles of Chester Leister too And Bigot Norfolkes Eaâ—…le with many moe ' Domestick Rebells joyne nor did so bad So impious a cause as theirs oh sadd Crime of the Fates want forreine aiders too For all the Christian Princes neere as though They understood not what Rebellion were Nor treason knew to th' unjust side adhaere King Lewis of France assists his sonne in Law And to that party Scotlands King doth draw That side does Philip Earle of Flanders take So much old Henry's state now seem'd to shake As nothing almost but th' immediate hand Of heaven alone had power to make him stand Why doe you Princes such Rebellion love Such sadd examples 'gainst your selues approove You that are Kings and Fathers is it hate Oâ—… envy borne to Henry's prosperous state That mooves you â—…hus alas you doe not show A skilâ—…ull hate to him in arming so Your arming makes those warres that were before Warres civill onely to be so no more But gives the grieved father hope to share A glorious triumph from a tragicke warre For else the conquest which great Henry had Ore his owne sonnes and subjects had beene sad The King of Scotland must a prisoner be And Lewis with shame oft chas'd from Normandy
Lest noble Henry should triumph ore none But onely sonnes and subjects of his owne And you most gracious Soveraigne borne to be Th'admir'd example of true piety To your deceased Father with an eye Secure may read your vertues contrary In Henry's sonnes and read it Sir true story That brands their names will sound your endlesse glory King Iames whilest living did behold and blest Your piety of what you since exprest No little part the wondring people all Beheld and honour'd at his funerall But most of all is what we daily see Your pious truth to his deare memory So may our Princely Hope let God above Be pleas'd young Charles by your example prove And such unto your selfe hereafter be As you to blessed Iames in piety The foes in this great combination ty'd Invade King Henry's lands on every side While Scotlands King fall's on Northumberland While Chesters Earle and Fulgiers armed stand To seaze the townes of Brittaine Lewis of France With young King Henry all their force advance For Normandy attempting to surprise Vernoul a towne that in the confines lyes Thus like a Lyon rows'd on every side Old Henry's prudence must at once provide For all assaults and first in person he To succour Vernoul martches speedily Which Lewis of France by treachery that day Had tane but left it straight and fled away The English King pursues and in his course Surprises many forts of his by force Nor durst the King of France of all the time That warre endur'd in field encounter him But making short incursions as for prey Would never stand the tryall of a day From thence with winged speed old Henry goes To meete in Brettaine with his rebell foes But Chesters Earle and â—…ulgiers durst not bide His puissance but fled and fortify'd Themselves within the castle Dole which he Strâ—…ightly besieg'd and wonne it speedily There Chesters Earle into his hands he got With fourescore other prisoners of note While thus in France the conquering King proceedes Heavens potent hand assists their valiant deedes That loyall warres for him in England made The Northerne parts does Scotlands King invade To whose resistance their most able men The noble Lucy Lord chiefe Iustice then And Bohun Constable of England bring And stay the progresse of that warrelike King There whilest with loyall and couragious hearts They guard the North in Englands Easterne parts Arise warrâ—…s fiercer where with numerous bands Of warlike Flemmings furious Leister lands With him does Bigot Earle of Norfolke joyne There their rebellious forces they combine To wast their native soyle the wofull fame Of which to brave Bohun and Lucy came Who heaâ—…ing this conclude with Scotlands King A speedy truce and all their forces bring Into the Easterne parts where fates provide Fresh strength to succour injur'd Henry's side The loyall Earles of Gloster Arundel And Cornewall there are met provided well Of all munition in their just designe With noble Lucy and Bohun to joyne The Lords all met to Farneham march away There was the tryall of that bloody day Ordain'd there Leister with his Flemish troopes Comes to encounter them with different hopes Though aequall fury the two armies fought The Flemmings prey the English freedome sought To chase from thence the forreiners away Long doubtfull stood the tryall of the day When thus the loâ—…all Lords their souldiers cheere Now let your truth and loyalty appeare Brave Englishmen nor is it Henry's right 'Gainst rebells armes for which alone you fight And to revenge your wronged Prince although That were engagement great and high enough You fight lest England should be made a spoyle To vagrant theeves or more your native soyle Here suffer conquest by a forreine sword And after ages in blacke leaves record The fatall field of Farneham fortune meant In this to keepe your valours innocent Though rebell Leister make a civill warre He frees you from it since his souldiers are All forreiners in fight you neede not feare To wound at all your native countrey there Nor shed your kindreds blood the foe frees you From those foule crimes which he intends to doe Fight 'gainst his Soveraigne friends and native land What great advantage on our side doth stand Our armes are loyall 'gainst a forreine foe His warres both civill and rebellious too Such speeches from the Lords had raysed high The English vertue they all wish'd to dye Rather then see what else they sadly fear'd On one side Englands woefull state appear'd On tother side the justice of so brave A cause fresh vigour to their spirits gave The Flemmings armed with resolve as great Whose desperate fortunes on that day were set And no hope left beyond came fiercely on Breathing out nothing but destruction To gaine the price of their adventures there Or to their foes to leave a conquest deare So neere the flockes fight hungry beasts of prey So fight brave dogs to chase the wolves away As then the English and the Flemmings fought How many tragedies that day were wrought How were the fields with slaughter cover'd ore How was th'adjoyning river stain'd with gore At last bright â—…ustice rose and by the lawes Of God and nature ballancing the cause Gave a full conquest to the English side But so the desperate Flemmings fell and dy'd As in their deaths it plainely might appeare With what resolves they had encountred there Ten thousand of them in the field were slaine Their great Commander Leisters Earle was tane With him his Amazonian Countesse too Was taken prisoner and many moe Who by the conquering Earles were speedily Sent out of England into Normandy And to old Henry brought where then he lay With joyfull newes of that victorious day One of the strongest propps young Henry had And bold'st supporter of a warre so bad Is now remov'd ambitious Leister he Who most had sooth'd the sonnes impiety And 'gainst the father beene most insolent Is at his mercy now a prisoner sent The King forbeares revenge and does disdaine With any show of cruelty to staine The joy of this successe but keepes him there As warre had made him onely prisoner But Englands wretched state by one successe Could not be rescu'd wholly from distresse Gainst which so great conspiracies did aime For second newes from thence to Henry camâ—… By Richard then elect of Winchâ—…ster That other forces had arrived there By that rebellious Earle of Norfolke brought By whom outragious mischiefes had beene wrought And th' Easterne parts of England much annoy'd That stately Norwich was with fire destroy'd That greater woes are feared every day That th' Earle of Flanders then at Gravelin lay With young King Henry purpos'd to invade England with all the strength that they had made The King is mov'd to heare his countreys woe And to her rescue straight resolves to goe In person then with his accustom'd speede By which he found his actions still succeede For all his acts and marchâ—…s still did show Such speede that Lewis of