maiden prey A royall army would vouchsafe to take Nor is King Philip in her rescue slacke But for the late dishonourable blow Fill'd with revenge and fury thither now Is marching with a numerous hoast and brings Besides his French-men the two warlike Kings Navarre and Boheme nor will Edward rise From Tourneys siedge although too small a prize One Cities conquest now appeares to be For Edward's sword but Fortune lets him see That she to crowne his glorious hopes so nigh Had brought a warre of greater dignity And now the two incensed Kings are met And their great cause on one dayes tryall set As all beleeve all expectations neere Are drawne nor have they time to hope or feare The armies both stand rang'd in faire array And fierce Bellona proud of such a day As if it lay not in the power of chance That storme to scatter shakes her dreadfull lance For like two high-swoll'n seas on either side Whose meeting rage no Isthmos did divide But windes that from contrary quarters blow Together drive the two Battaliaes show But that Eternall God who from on high Surveys all hoasts disposes victory Call'd thence the Lord of hoasts and sets the times Of warre or peace as sinfull Nations crimes Provoke his justice did not thinke it good That cloud should yet dissolue in showres of blood But pleas'd to respite for a time the woes Of wretched France and for his purpose chose An instrument whose weaknesse might make knowne The power that reconcil'd them was his owne A veiled Nun alone could enterpose And stay the fury of these armed foes Jane de Valois a Princely Lady neere To one in blood as by alliance deere To tother Mother to great Edward's Queene And Philip's sister who of late had beene Since Heinaults death at Fontenelles vow'd A holy Nun She waken'd with the loud Alarmes of this so great so fear'd a blow Her quiet cloister had forsaken now Amidst their armed troopes her way she tooke And through the rudest breasts a reverence strooke Well did the fame of her chaste life before Become the sacred habit that she wore Pure innocence her snow-white veile profest Her blacke a sorrow silently exprest Grave was her comely face Devotion On beavties ruines with more beavty shone In all her gestures dwelt humility But temper'd with commanding Majesty As thus she passes to perswade the Kings Faire Peace descends and with her silver wings Cutting the ayre above the Princesse still Hangs gently hovering whose calme breath doth fill The changed Campes the Souldiers 'gan to feele A mildenesse seize their breasts all thoughts of steele Of blood and slaughter seemed to withdraw This gentle Nymph when fierce Bellona saw As she from heaven descended downe and knew Her hopes were now put off away she flew And left the field but with an angry looke Turn'd backe and proudly her plum'd helmet shooke Goe sluggish Nymph quoth she enjoy thy day Fates may deferre but cannot wipe away This Kingdomes wounds but 't is not their decree The fields of Tourney should renowned be To future times for such a glorious day In Crescy fields brave Edward shall display His conquering colours there the French shall fall And that poore Village now scarce nam'd at all Shall for the death of many thousands be A place of fame to all posterity There I shall reigne till then dull fields adieu And like a Dragon through the ayre she flew And now so well the Princesse did perswade Both Kings so powerfull he that sent her made Her pious Eloquence that all their hate Seem'd banish'd Philip of Valois forgate His thirst of vengeance for the fatall blow France tooke in that great Navall overthrow Edward relented too content to cease His royall clayme a while a sudden peace Is for three yeeres concluded to remaine The dreadfull colours folded up againe The threatning swords are sheath'd not stained yet In blood at all and all those Princes met To make the tryall of so great a day Depart againe King Edward takes his way By Flanders home and with his dearest Queene That royall pledge that for two yeeres had beene Left there by him the honour of their clime And there had brought within that happy time His royall family a faire increase Two Princely Sonnes to England crost the Seas But soone Wars flame that had a while in vaine Beene by the Truce deprest broke out againe And higher blaz'd but by degrees it came Nor did the royall quarrell and great claime That Edward laid to France begin the jarre But to draw on this great and fatall Warre Collaterall causes are found out by fates And first in aide of their confoederates Abovt the question'd right of Brittaines Lands Th'engaged Princes by their servants hands And meaner strengths begin to blow the flame To England Montford's widow'd Dutchesse came And here from Edward noble succours gain'd Gainst Charles of Bloys whom Philip's power sustain'd The Earles of Suffolke Pembrooke Salisbury And Stafford flowers of English chevalry Bourchier and Spencer Lords and many moe Of honour'd name with her to Brittaine goe With them went Robert of Artois who first In Edward kindled that ambitious thirst And fir'd his active spirit to advance His owne high honour by the woes of France At Vannes siedge so fate ordain'd he tooke His mortall wound but ere the soule forsooke Her earthly reliques thence to Englands ground Transported backe a quiet grave he found Her Souldier England willingly entomb'd His native France that by his meanes was doom'd So many following mischiefes to endure Bestow'd his death but not his sepulture Vannes and other little townes are won And lost but no important action This warre produces where the threats are high Save that the two great foes are drawne so nigh Though timely truces doe againe prevent The fatall blow great Edward not content To send in Montford's aide those forces ore Arrives himselfe upon the Brittaine shore To whom Prince Iohn the Duke of Normandy With forty thousand men approached nigh In Bloys his right the armies both prepare To give the blow Neere was the stroke of warre And Brittaine Vannes had almost beheld What was decreed to Crescyes fatall field The royall powers of England and of France In Brittaines cause to try their puissance Before their owne great quarrell they maintaine But Brittaines Dutchie must not hope to gaine So great an honour here cleere growes the day Without a showre this cloud is blowne away The warre is done two Cardinals attone As earst a Ladies gentle breath had done The royall Armies and so well perswade Truce is againe 'twixt France and England made Sterne Mars a while from deeds of blood restrain'd Strove still to whet his rage and entertain'd That breathing space in pastimes to prepare His cruell forces for th' ensuing warre For like a Campe showes Edwards marshall Court To which the Knights of greatest fame resort From every land their prowesse there to try And gaine renowne by active Chevalry
to Now does the day grow blacker then before The Swords that glister'd late in purple gore Now all distain'd their former brightnesse lose Whilest high the tragicke heape of slaughter rose Swords meeting swords and breaking lances sound Clattering of armed breasts that fall to ground And dying souldiers groanes are onely heard Horror in all her saddest shapes appear'd But long the fury of a storme so strong Could not endure nor Fortune waver long In such a tryall but at last must show Which way her favours were decreed to goe The English Swords with slaughter reeking all At last had carved in the Frenchmens fall Their way to victory who now apace Are beaten downe and strew the purple place Where like their owne pale-fading Lillies lye The flower of all the French Nobility What Muse can in this field of death declare Each private wound each fate particular Or pay the severall obsequies to all ' Mongst common souldiers slaughter'd Princes fall 'Twixt whom Death takes away the distance now While in one streame their bloods commixed flow There Alanson striving to cure in vaine The wound of France is beaten downe and slaine There dyes Majorca's King who from his home So farre had sail'd to find a forraigne tombe And dearely that alliance which he thought So safe to him in this fierce battell bought Lewis Earle of Flanders that to Philip's state Had beene so constant a confaederate Whom no conditions to King Edward's side Could ever draw on Edward s weapons dy'd Sealing in blood his truth to France to lye A wailed part of her calamity There Savoy's Duke the noble Amy lay Weltring in gore arriv'd but yesterday At Philip's haplesse Campe as short an ayd As Rhaesus prov'd to falling Troy betray'd The first sad night and by Tidydes hand Slaine e're his Steeds had graz'd on Trojan land Or drunke at all of Xanthus silver streame But most the warrelike Monarch of Boheme Old Lewis was fam'd Who on that honour'd ground Chain'd to the formost of his troops was found And charging at the head of all was slaine His cold dead hand did yet that Sword retaine Which living erst it did so bravely weild His hopefull sonne young Charles had left the field When he perceiv'd that Fortune quite was gone To Edward's side His Father blood alone Was too too great a sacrifice to be Bestow d on France whose dying valiancy Made all men more desire his Sonne to live And that the branch of such a tree might thrive There was the Noble Bourbon there Lorraine Aumall Nevers and valiant Harcourt slaine In vaine had Philip now whose Princely soule In all those deaths did bleed strive to controll By highest valour what the Fates would doe Wounds not in mind alone but body too Vnhorsed twice did th' active King receive As much asham'd no blood at all to leave In such a field although enforc'd to part Himselfe from thence at last his strugling heart Is to necessity content to yeeld And flyes with speed from that unhappy field With whom the Frenchmen all the fight forsake And o're the Countrey flight disordred take By this had Night her sable mantle spred Vpon the earth by whose protection fled The vanquish'd French with more security A most compleat and glorious victory The English had obtain'd yet would not now Dis-ranke themselves to chase the flying foe But in that field which they alone possest Resolve to give their weary'd bodies rest Till mornings light display those wealthy spoyles That must reward the conquering souldiers toyles Now great King Edward from the Windmill hill Came downe where his untouch'd Battalia still Had stood till all the fight below was done And in his armes embrac'd his armed Sonne Who now with blood and sweat was all distain'd Then gratulates his early honour gain'd In such a field of danger joy'd to see His blooming yeares thus flesh'd in victory Well did that day presage the future glory And martiall fame of this great Prince whose story With admiration after-times shall heare Like miracles his conquests shall appeare In France atchiev'd nor shall that kingdome bound His Swords great deeds whose fame shall farther sound And royall trophees of blacke Edward's praise Beyond the Pyrenaean mountaines raise Next morne mists fatall to the French arose To Crescy field where their encamped foes Stood now refresh'd were many troops of France Discerning not the former battels chance Like sacrifices come and fell there more Then had beene flaine in all the fight before Victorious Edward for so great a day To God's high Throne on bended knees did pay His true and humble thankes and briefly then Commend the worthy service of his men Who now the spoyles of that rich Army share As just reward of their victorious warre Annotations upon the third Booke a King Edward taking Caranton protested openly that he sacrificed it to the memory of these Gentlemen who had the yeere before beene uniustly massacred by King Philip and their heads now were standing upon the gates of that unhappy towne For King Philip of France the yeare before perceiving that a terrible tempest of warre was likely to fall upon him out of England waxed cruell in his iealousie and put sundry principall men of Normandy Picardy and Guyenne to death for no other crime but that they were English in affection Among whom are reckoned Sir Oliver de Cliâ—â—on Baco Persie and Geoffrey of Malestroict Knights of the best note Sir Godfrey of Harecourt brother to the Earle of Harecourt a man once in high favour with King Philip being upon this occasion also summoned to Paris fled to King Edward into England and became another Robert of Artois for his valour and counsels at this present invasion of France did much advantage King Edward's atchievements though two yeares after he forsooke the English and returned againe to the obedience of Philip his naturall Lord. b This great battell of Crescy where King Edward obtained so full and wonderfull a victory is at large recited in the Poem and therefore little shall need here to bee spoken of it but onely of the numbers which fought or dyed on both sides The English Army by generall consent of almost all Authors consisted of 30000. The French according to those that speake least together with their auxiliaries were about 60000. But many Authors of good credit report their number twice as many others agree upon an hundred thousand Upon that Saturday being the 26 of August 1346 when this great battell was fought the slaughter was great on the French side for none were taken to mercy upon that day for the Conquerors thought it not safe for themselves to take any Prisoners But the next morning presented new worke for a great mist arose that men could hardly see the distance of an acre of ground from them when as many troops of Frenchmen from Roan Beavicois and other Cities comming to joyne themselves with King Philip and not hearing of his discomfiture together with great
is small and weigh'd with conquering Englands wars Shall be accounted slight and gentle scars Deepe as thy wounds shall thy dishonour be Alas how great a map of misery How long a tragicke field of warre shalt thou Rich France become the pride of Europe now But then the pitty of all neighbour Lands Oh doe not scorne at English Edward's hands On hardest termes a peace to entertaine Nor let King Philip strive ' gainst fate in vaine No force can there prevaile nor overthrow The Martiall fame that Destinies doe owe To Edward's high nativity for whom A glorious thread is spun such as their loome Was proud to see when those old Worthies came Into the world that with so loud a fame Have fill'd the eares of all posterity Such shall this active Edward prove as high And wondred at shall be his deeds of warre Although his stage cannot extend so farre Nor his small Kingdomes forces over-run Farre distant Lands as did the Macedon Or Romes proud Sonnes his deeds within the bounds Of France excepting Scotlands fatall wounds As mighty trophees and as great shall gaine As such a circuit ever did containe And for the severall actions of his warres Though I but dimly see particulars Within this spacious Continent where once Great Caesar govern'd those stout legions Whose strength could after over-come the power Of Rome it selfe and make him Emperour Let disadvantages of battels be Well weigh'd the past and present quality Of such a foe the stars to him do give As true a fame as Caesar did atchieve But such calamities this heart will bleed To see and therefore holy Sir with speed If a prevention can at all be had Let your high power be interposed sad Are all that heare the King's praediction And thinke which way they may the strife attone But while they thinke thus on the Ocean A mighty blow this fatall warre began Slight skirmishes had wounded either side And banish'd Peace nor must the cause be try'd By any judge but Warres uncertaine chance Edward already wore the armes of France And in his honour stood engag'd to gaine The Crowne he claim'd as Philip to maintaine That great possession in their owne estates Both strong both powerfull in confoederates And both alike incens'd But ere rich France In her owne bosome try the puissance Of warlike Edward she must weeping heare Her losses by him and be taught to feare Or Fortune else was purpos'd to declare How hot how aequall a desire of warre Both Nations had that in the middle way Would meet the tryall and disdain'd to stay Till either other should at home invade But with their armed Navall forces made Blew Neptunes face the first discolour'd stage Of warre and Scene of their incensed rage The Fleet of France so great it was esteem'd Invindible by Englands force and seem'd To beare command ore all those narrow Seas Proud of spoiles and wealthy pillages Which from sack'd Hampton they had brought away Betweene the Ports of Sluce and Blankebergh lay In three faire bodies led by three that then In navall fights were held the bravest men France had and did in all Sea-arts excell The stout Bahuchet with brave Kiriell And Barbenoire the Genois Admirall So show'd their Navy when conjoyned all Men would have thought some forrest mou'd from far When Winters rage the Pines proud tops did bare Or that the fam'd Aegaean Cyclades Torne from their roots had floated on the Seas Vpon that coast this haplesse Navie lay To intercept King Edward in his way To Sluce who now from England had put forth His Fleet though lesse in number yet in worth Fortune and courage greater then the foes Came sailing on When golden Phoebus rose Behinde the French and shooting forth his light Display'd the English Navy to their sight The royall Banners to their scouts appeare And notice give that Englands King is there At which the French are swelled with excesse Of joy though false with golden promises Flattring themselves How blinde are humane eyes How hidden are the path of Destinies Never did wretches not ordain'd to see The setting Sunne with vainer jollity Welcome their ruine and each other cheere They thanke the fates that had presented there The King of Englands person and so great A price that day had on their valour set That this great storme that proudly threatned France Was now committed wholly to the chance Of their Sea-fight that onely they should have The actions honour not alone to save Their land in warre but keepe it from a warre And cut off danger ere it came so farre Great Edward slowly brings his Navy on Waiting advantage wisely till the Sunne Declining Westward at his backe might be And dazle thence the face of th' enemy Although his Souldiers hardly brook'd delay So much they long'd for tryall of the day And in their courages were raised high To thinke they had so brave a witnesse by As was their King and such a King as he Who would as well their great example be As witnesse of their deeds This time of stay He spent to set his Fleet in faire array The middle body he himselfe maintain'd In which the great and tallest ships were mann'd Which choisest Archers held twixt every two Of whom one ship with men of armes did goe On either wing loose ships of archers lay On all occasions ' gainst the foe to play The wings themselves with gallant Lords were fill'd The Earles of Darby Pembrooke Gloster held The right where Huntington commanded all Of Englands Southerne fleet Lord Admirall Lord Morley Admirall of all the North The left wing had with many Lords of worth Northamptons Earle Lord Percy Delaware And Robert of Artois who th' honours bore Of Richmonds Earledome then with many moe Of honour'd name and noble service too Heröicke Edward when both Navies neere Had made approach 'gan thus in short to cheere His forward Souldiers It were needlesse now Brave Englishmen and valiant Lords to show How much depends on this great Navall fight That all the tryall of our royall right To France and your rich hopes are lost undone Are all designes unlesse this day be won This is the gate of our great enterprise This is that entrance where the danger lyes Which if we master now the future war Will prove more easie as more fruitfull farre And not a warre but a reward will be And recompence of this dayes victory Here let your valour sway warres future chance And though not conquer yet disharten France The Sunne and winde are both auspicious To us the channell advantagious With these let us in our owne cause appeare See what spectatours fortune gives us here Oh let our friends the Flemmings from the Bayes Of Sluce and Blankebergh now behold and praise Your deeds and viewing th English puissance Thinke themselves happy in forsaking France To side with us but I in vaine prolong The battels tryall and your valours wrong To keepe such eager spirits from action
thence with safety c All the Authors of that time doe generally agree concerning the greatnesse of Roger Mortimer his power in state his pompous attendance and haughty carriage of all businesse as likewise the greatnesse of the Queenes Dower and her familiarity with that Lord which offending as needs it must the rest of the Nobilitie I thought it not so fit to be barely related in the Authors person as by the way of speech to proceed angerly from the mouth of that brave Lord Mountague who was by the consent of those writers a speciall assistant to King Edward in the surprising of Mortimer and such particulars as concerne the lamentable murther of that deposed King to proceed from his servant Sir Thomas de la Moore who accordingly wrote the story of it THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The second Booke Argument II. King Edward's homage to the King of France He claimes that Crowne his friends and puissance Sicilia's King fore-tels the misery Of France King Edwards Navall victory NOt yet had Edward in his active minde The claime and conquest of great France design'd Nor look'd abroad domesticke businesse Employ'd his early manhood the redresse Of those distempers which had growne at home Too great for any youth to over-come But such a youth as his had yet detain'd His spirit there when Fate that had ordain'd Through fire and sword the miseries of France Finds out a meanes to wake the puissance Of this victorious Prince and make him know That fatall title that had slept till now Philip of France but newly crown'd and not Content in rest to hold what he had got Vpon a doubted title nor abate The least and strictest circumstance of state Which might belong to that high crowne he wore In punctuall manner summons Edward ore For Guyennes Dukedome which he held to doe His personall homage nor did Edward though Fill'd with disdaine and manly rage refuse To come faire Amiens is the place they chuse In whose Cathedrall Church King Philip sate Oh who can tell what pompe and wondrous state Was show'd at this so great solemnity How many noble Peeres and Princes high In blood and fame did there attendance give And in their best attires and lustres strive To grace the crowne of France and Philips state Vnder a wealthy Canopy he sate His roabe of colour like the violet With golden flower de luces all beset With crowned head and scepter'd hand to take That low obeisance th'English King should make The Kings of Boheme and Navarre were by Plac'd as spectators of his dignity Vnhappy Philip boast not this vaine state Which bleeding France shall buy at dearest rate Why doost thou fondly show to Edwards eyes That wealth that must hereafter be his prize And by those gorgeous splendours teach so great A spirit as his what value he should set Vpon thy Kingdomes conquest those thy Peeres That proudly face him now ere many yeeres Doe turne againe shall in their ruine be Sad monuments of Edward's victory And mourning see though now he seeme to low His reall honour in thine overthrow Bohemia's King oh ominous whose eye This shadow sees of Philip's dignity In Philip's fall a tragicke part must play And as a trophee to remaine for aye To Edward's conquering hands must dying yeeld His glittering plume in Cressyes fatall field The English King to Philip's royall seat Makes faire approach attended with a great And gallant traine of Peeres whose bright array The wealth and pompe of England did display A gowne of crimson Velvet Edward wore With golden Leopards all embroider'd ore His well-becomming sword was guirded on And spurs of gold about his anckles shone Vpon his head stood Englands diadem And such did his Heroicke presence seeme As in the French mens hearts although that there He came with peace did strike a silent feare So much unlike his Princely lookes did show To that low action that he came to doo Thus comming before Philip's chaire he stands Melun the Chamberlaine of France commands To doffe his royall Crowne his Spurs and Sword And bids him kneele to Philip as the Lord Supreme of all those Aquitanian lands Then twixt King Philip's puts King Edward's hands Declaring the Oath then Edward gives a kisse To Philip sitting as the manner is The King of France rejoycing in this vaine Shadow of Majesty to entertaine His royall Leigeman makes a sumptuous feast Put deepe in Edwards young and fiery breast Remaines the thought of this indignity Which though a while it smoother'd seeme to lye Breakes out in such a flame as long in vaine The neighbour Princes strive to quench againe Vntill Revenge had given to France as sad And great a wound as ere that Kingdome had But to attempt the conquest of so great So populous a land as France and set The title that he had on foot requir'd Strong preparations the young King retir'd To England in his eager thoughts revolues This weighty cause and though the great resolves Of his undaunted spirit ore-master all The difficulties that were like to fall Yet fitting time must be allow'd to make Confaederacies of import and take Faire opportunities The fates afford Occasions straight to flesh his conquering sword In Scotland wounds whose miseries must be The prologue to great France her tragaedy Ballioll unhappy to his nation Was now return'd to challenge Scotlands crowne While young King David did abide in France Which soone he gain'd by Edward's puissance Whose prosperous valour first at Berwicke towne Then in that fam'd defeat at a Halidowne In which so many valiant Scots were slaine Appear'd and seem'd to quit that blow againe Which whilest his father second Edward reign'd England from Bruce his warlike hand sustain'd Enough had these victorious warres declar'd Great Edward's prowesse and enough prepar'd His martiall thoughts for France when Fates conspire To bring fresh fuell to this raging fire For discontented from his native home To England b Robert of Artois was come His Countries fire-brand one that well had learn'd King Edward's minde and well his spirit discern'd So doe the peoples shouts encourage more A fierce Olimpicke Steede that strove before To force the lists and breake th opposing bars As this young fiery King too prone to wars Before is now by his incitements mov'd So ' gainst his Rome bold Curio's language prov'd When with the Tribunes banish'd he was come To armed Caesar at Ariminum Curio by death prevented could not see What he had wrought his Countries misery Whose slaughter'd carcasse strew'd the field a prey To Lybian birds before that tragicke day His Caesar conquer'd on Pharsaliaes plaines How like a fate for thee Artois remaines Thou shalt not see thy Countries greatest woe Nor Edward's bayes in Philip's overthrow Thy death shall first in Britaines warres be wrought Before that Crescyes mortall field be fought And ere that Poictiers wondrous battell fame Blacke Edwards sword be nothing but a name As much by France accurs'd in times to
sustein'd in sorrow and dismay Bewailing France and cursing that sad day He tack'd about to be in safety gone But by the warlike Earle of Huntington The Southerne Admirall so sore was chas'd And hard-beset he was enforc'd at last By secret flight almost alone to goe A sad reporter of so great a blow Blacke night now challeng'd her alternate reigne Sâ—â—â— soone enough to hide that tragicke staine Which on the blushing face of Neptune lay Not soone enough to part the mortall fray Warres raging fire was spent the fuell gone And all that Mars could doe already done Nor would great Edward then approach the shore But make the Oceans bosome which before Had beene the stage of his victorious fight To be his lodging field whilest all the night Drums beat and Trumpets to the havens nigh Proclaime his great and noble victory But when the rosie morning gan appeare With joy to welcome his arrivall there The towne of Sluce prepares while all along The haven people numberlesse doe throng To view the face of that Heroicke King And all the shores with acclamations ring At last great Edward lands and waited on By all the noblest Burgers of the towne And English Lords in triumph takes his way To Gaunt where his belov d Queene Philip lay With such expressions of true state and love Did white-arm'd Iuno meet triumphant Iove When from the Gyants warres he came as she Her Lord return'd from this great victory With her at Gaunt remain'd the greatest States Of Netherland and best confoederates King Edward had for his great warre in hand The Dukes of Brabant and of Gelderland With Heinaults Earle his comming did attend And Iames of Artevile his constant friend Whose power had drawne those people to his side There all their leagves are firmely ratifi'd While happy Gaunt is proud to entertaine So brave a Monarch with his noble traine But much more proud that she had beene the place Of birth to one faire branch of Edward's race Young princely Iohn who thence shall take his name And lend the towne in liev eternall fame Annotations upon the second Booke a This great battell of Halydon hill a place neere Berwick was tought in the sixt yeere of the reigne of King Edward the third of England and the second of King David of Scotland who being then a childe remained in France and Archimbald Dowglas Earle of Argus governed the realme of Scotland for him the English army was led by King Edward himselfe in person that of Scotland by the forenamed Earle of Angus Regent of the Kingdome in this battell the Scots received a great overthrow although the writers of those times doe much disagree about the number of those that perished in the vanquished army the Scottish Histories allowing foureteene thousand the English naming aboue thirty thousand but howsoever it were by this victory Berwicke was gained to the Crowne of England b This Robert of Artois was a Prince of the blood of France descended from Robert Sonne to Lewis the eight there had beene a suit betwixt the said Robert and Maud his Aunt Countesse of Burgundy about the Earledome of Artois Robert presuming upon his owne power and the service he had done King Philip in advancing him to the Crowne for Robert of Artois was at the first a great maintainer of Philips title against Edward of England forges a deed thereby to overthrow his Aunts right which being afterwards discovered made her right the more and moved the French King to give judgement on her side so that the County of Artois was by Parliament confirmed upon Maud which so offended Robert as in his rage he openly said hee would unmake the King by the same power that he had made him This rash threatning so incensed the King that he presently layed to apprehend him but failing therein he proclaimed him Traitour confiscated his estate forbidding all his Subjects to receive or aide him Robert of Arto is being thus distressed comes over into England is joyfully entertained by King Edward made of his Councell and invested in the Earledome of Richmond where hee becomes a great incendiary betweene the two Kings discovering to King Edward the secrets of France and disapproving now of King Philips title upon which a Declaration is published and sent to the Pope and all the neighbour Princes shewing the usurpation of Philip de Valois upon the Crowne of France c There was among the Flemmings one Iaques de Artevile a Citizen of Gavnt of great estimation among the people he was their Leader and Tribune as it were in all their tumults him King Edward gets by great rewards to take his part and thereby had them all ready to assaile the French King upon any occasion This Iaques though a man of meane condition was an usefull friend to England whose death happening about seven yeeres after for in a tumult his braines were beaten out was much lamented by King Edward d This Robert King of Cicily as Collenutius and other Neopolitan writers testifie was a learned Prince and much renowned for his skill in Astrology hee was about this time saith our Froissard at Avignion with Pope Benedict where he declared to the Pope by his skill what great warres and blood-shed was like to be and lamented the miseries of France That report of Froissard gave ground to this discouse in the Poem e This Navall fight which is here at large described in the Poem was out of doubt the greatest that ever had been vpon these narrow Seas the numbers were many the fight was cruell and the slaughter exceeding great The French Navy by consent of most writers consisted of 400 saile the English consisted according to some authors of 200 saile according to others of 200. to others of 300. although Froissard report that the Frenchmen were foure to one English which may be thought too much oddes to be beleeved for the French in those dayes had good Sea-men but the slaughter was exceeding great and the victory as compleat on the English side as could be imagined for very few of the French ships escaped home but were either sunke or taken and 30000 of their men flaine of the English those writers that report most have mentioned but 4000. THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The third Booke Argument III. Atruce ' twixt France and Englands Kings is made The Garter fâ—unded Edward dooes invade King Philip's lands the warre 's to tryall brought And that renowned field of Crescy fought A Wound so mortall had enfeebled France By Sea receiv'd she could no more advance Her colours there no more had she or veine To bleed or spirits left to strive againe What now remaines of this lovd-threatning warre The Continent alone must feele as farre As Tourney fill'd with high and wealthy hopes Victorious Edward leads his cheerefull troops Augmented lately with new-mustred bands Of his confederates in the Netherlands That towne is first enobled by his stay Iudg'd worthy to be made the
His great round Table for those warrelike feasts And invitation of such noble guests At Windsor Castle does King Edward found Where he himselfe was borne a place renown'd For Britaine Arthur's name who with his bold Round-table Knights resided there of old Of whose majesticke state and honour there Some monuments did in that age appeare Though too much darkned by injurious time And more by those vaine fables made of him Which casts such mists ore his bright deeds of glory That he remaines a name without a story Nor does faire Windsor seeme alone to be The Throne of Mars and Scene of Chevalry But Loves delicious Bower more grac'd then e're Th' Idalian wood or gentle Paphos were Here are the Cupids here the Graces seene Hither does Philip Edward's noble Queene In state repaire with all her beautious traine Which then three hundred did no lesse containe Of all the greatest and most Courtly Dames That this blest land could boast they like the flames Of heaven those Orbs of pure aetheriall sire With noble thoughts the Knights strong breasts inspire For Courage oft from Beauties influence Receives his motion Iusts and Turneaments With all the other feats of active Warre Are daily show'd on this faire Theater Such Martiall labours once the Trojan Band Did exercise in old Acestes land Train'd by that pious Prince who first brought ore The Phrygian reliques to Laviniums shore But one unhappy Crosse is sent to be A sad allay to this high jollity And make great Edward mourne in midst of all His feasts and triumphs the untimely fall Of that renowned Earle of Salisbury His deare-lov'd William Mountague who by A bruise in Tilting tooke his fatall wound Who though a Subject still was lately crown'd The Monarch of an I le and first began To weare that Royall title King of Man That Iland on the westerne Sea betweene Scotland and Ireland lying that had beene Subject so many yeeres to Scotlands Crowne Had by the valour of that Earle beene won From them of late whilst great King Edward come From Brittaines Truce with his strong army home Was wasting Scotland who bestow'd that I le On th' Earle together with a Royall stile But oh how short a time did envious Fate Allot to noble William's Kingly state Who like a sacrifice did onely seeme So neere his death to weare a Diadem Soone ore all parts of Europe had the fame Of Edward's table and the Knights that came Thither to show their manly prowesse spred And in his jealous foe King Philip bred High emulation who discernes the end To which these haughty preparations tend That Edward's aime is onely to advance His strengths friendships gainst the Realme of France He thinks it now concernes him to prepare Himselfe as well against th approaching Warre And in a cause and danger great as that Dooes not at all disdaine to imitate His subtile foe but such a table he Sets up to draw from Austria Italy And southerne Lands the Knights of best renowne To grace his Court and guard his threatned Crowne Prevented thus a new society King Edward founds not onely made to be For military deeds a present tye But lasting honour to posterity The noble order of Saint George his Knights Nor for invention of those sacred rites To former times is he indebt at all As for the tables first originall He was to Brittaine Arthur's old renowne So many standing monuments were knowne Of his round tables in the Kingdome yet Besides the warlike Mortimer had set Another table up at Killing worth The age before whose fame had sounded forth And many forreine Knights had drawne from far But in this act not Mortimer shall share Nor any ancient Heröe this renowne Without a rivall is third Edward's owne No Killing worth shall sound with Windsors name Nor Brittish Arthur darken Edward's fame Saint George the Martyr is esteem'd to be A Patron fit for this society Among the Martyrs noble army none Had suffred more nor more on earth forgone For our deare Lord when Dioclesian reign'd And every land with Christians slaughters stain'd Not all his wealth nor stately signiories Nor prime of youth did this young Martyr prize For thrice seven Summers onely had he told Yet in that early age so wondrous bold And in Warres feats so skilfull was he growne That many famous battels he had wonne ' Gainst Caesar's stubbornst foes before that he By patience conquer'd Caesar's cruelty Him since for tutelary Saint of Warres The Christians honour'd as the Heathen Mars Him they invok'd in field before they fought His noble ayd th' encourag'd Christians thought Against the faithlesse Saracens they had That beauteous George in silver armour clad And crimson Crosse appear d conducting them Vnto the conquest of Ierusalem That Saint and Souldier in this Martiall age Edward entitles to the Patronage Of that most noble Order he erects Whose armed figure 's worne about their neckes The Garter buckled on their legge to be A marke of prowesse and of unity Which shall increase and in all ages be Deliver'd greater to Posterity While other lands in aemulation vaine Shall strive so bright a lustre to attaine But Englands Garter shall obscure the rest Saint Michael's Knights in fhelly collars drest Rhodes silver Crosses and Burgundia's fleece Though worne by gteater Worthies then from Greece Did first in Argo crosse the Seas and bore That golden purchase from the Colchian shore Peace could no longer hold Warres raging fire Supprest a while breakes forth and blazes higher Then e're it did the battell must be try'd For which both Kings so long on either fide Had made their strengths all Truces now are broke And nothing can prevent the fatall stroke The noblest army that e're crost the Seas From England yet was now in readinesse Which Martiall Edward soone transported o're And safe arrived on the Norman shore Nor are King Philip's preparations slacke Whose side so many mighty Princes take While in suspence all Christian Nations are To see the issue of so great a Warre Forth through the midst of quaking Normandy Like Lightnings fatall stroke did Edward flye With his couragious troops where-ere he went Diffusing feare and pale astonishment Swords freely raging and remorselesse fire Were instruments of his reuengefull ire Vnhappy a Caranton must be by fates First offred to his fury on her gates The heads of Edward's slaughter'd friends remaine The heads of Percy Bacon Clifton slaine Not long before by Philip's rage for whom The towne alas must bide a wofull doome For their deere fakes great Edward vowes to have No mercy there no age no sexe can save From deaths sad stroke all slaughter'd that are found The towne it selfe is levell'd to the ground And in confused heapes of cinders lyes To them a tombe and mourning sacrifice From thence the dreadfull army marches on Saint Lo so rich in merchandise is won And pillag'd by the Souldiers stately Caen Although a while it durst resist is tane And
multitudes of such as had lost their way in the last flight lighted vnhappily upon the victorious English and were severely put to the Sword Among those that came with fresh forces to ayd the King were the Archbishop of Roan and the Grand Prior of France who were both slaine after a great and sore battell with the English for they brought a good strength with them The Earles of Northampton Suffolke and Norfolke had execution of the French which fled from this last overthrow for the space of nine English miles from the ground where they encountred And it is the generall consent of Authors that more of the French were slaine upon this second day then were the day before when the great battell was fought some Prisoners were then taken though none of great name for they were spent in the day before When the account was taken it was found that there dyed in all of the French side eleven great Princes of Earles Barons and gentry of high account about fifteene hundred of common souldiers above thirty thousand And to make the victory the more wonderfull there was not one man of honour or note slaine upon the English side of common souldiers so few that we finde no mention of the number THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The fourth Booke Argument IIII. Calleis by Edward is besieg'd and wonne Great deeds in severall parts of France are done By Edward's souldiers whilest in England here The King of Scotland's taken prisoner FIve mornes had cleer'd the Earth with Phoebus light And from the Pole remov'd the dampes of night Since England's conquering King from Crescy gone Without controll of foes had marched on Through Picardy and now before the Towne Of Calleis sate with his strong Army downe Resoly'd in spite of all releefe or fence Till he had gain'd it not to rise from thence Impregnable was Calleis to be wonne Not by assault but length of siedge alone Where meagre famine Natures greatest foe And heavens fear'd plague must all th'atchivement doe For which great Edward had on every side His Campe entrench'd and strongly fortifi'd With timber-workes investing it by land The circuit round the Sea at his command Was wholly then where his strong Navy lay And brought his Campe provisions every way But while the siedge is yet but new begun Fortune presents a brave occasion To make King Edward s noble nature knowne That all the Countrey may as much renowne His minds brave sweetnesse as his Martiall fame And learne to love as well as feare his name De Vein the Marshall and Lord Dandregan That then commanded Calleis while they can Resolve to th' utmost to preserve so deare A pledge and nought but onely famine feare They therefore straight enforce out of the Towne The folke that now for warre are uselesse growne Full fifteene hundred heads to spare their store The lame the sicke the aged and the poore At mercy of the foe these wretches goe If to such wretches Edward were a foe But he remembers he 's a King and they Too weake alas to be the Lion's prey Instead of foes his bounty makes them guests And French by French forsaken Edward feasts With store of victuals and with money too He sends them thence who every step they goe Send backe a prayer for his prosperity And in their hearts acknowledge silently That he 's the lawfull Soveraigne of the land For when two titles thus in question stand Whose doe the people thinke should be the right But his whom first just heaven assists in fight And makes ' gainst odds a conquerour of his foes And who besides by his compassion showes Himselfe his Countries father as Kings are Those barricado'd strongest works of warre Which must in spite of Philip's forces stand Till Calleis keyes be given to Edward's hand Can these weake people find a passage through Which th'armed strength of France could never doe Nor loses Edward time in staying there For every day to his rejoycing eare Some prosperous newes from forreine parts is brought Of what abroad his conquering men have wrought How every action 's crown'd with high successe And all their conflicts adde some happinesse To his triumphant side as if that then Kind Fortune strove the name of Englishmen Even to the highest point of fame to bring Or that the Genius of so great a King Through all the lower parts diffused were To guide their deeds alike For wheresoe're They fight the Garland's wonne and every warre A Crescy proves where Edward's souldiers are From Guyenne first he heares the prosperous fights Of noble a Darby who with Gascoyne Knights And other Lords from Burdeaux tooke his way And o're the river of Garonne 'twixt Blay And that great City march'd through Philip's lands Faire Mirabell is yeelded to his hands Aunay and her strong Castle with Benon And Maraunt in Poictou by force are wonne Tailebourgh and Bourgh Saint Maximent they win Both by assault and Montrevill Bonin Nor with so small a power of Souldiers feares The warrelike Darby to assault Poictiers So large in circuit that he could not lay Round siege about it but one onely way Surpriz'd it by assault and many moe Atchievements high did his small army doe There many noble Prisoners did he take And march'd without controll to Burdeaux backe There breakes his Army up with thankes and home His souldiers fill'd with wealth and honour come As much true honour wonne the English name In Brittaines warres as radiant was their fame Where Charles of Bloys the great Competitour By valiant Dagworth and his English power Was overthrowne and taken Prisoner The odds so wondrous in their numbers were One Writer then amazed in his thought Among the deeds of th' ancient Worthies sought A paralell for Dagworth's victory Entituling him another Machabee But that which most secur'd great Edward's state Left English swords should prove lesse fortunate In England then in forraigne parts they were That Conquest was and royall Prisoner Which his brave men had in his absence gain'd Queene Philip sent the newes and there complain'd Of Copland's stout demeanour who to her Deny'd to yeeld the King his Prisoner For which to Calleis Copland sent for had So good excuses to great Edward made That for the service from his royall hand He gain'd a â—â—â—h reward The King commands Him to relate the battell and display Each circumstance of that victorious day Full well quoth noble Edward doe I know That most to God's Almighty hand I owe For preservation of my kingdome there What strength had you alas what forces were In readinesse what Army could you bring Against th' invasion of a warrelike King Whilest here our selfe with our chiefe Army lay At Calleis siedge the second was away As farre as Guyenne and the third then fought In Brittaines wars what were the hands that wrought This great atchievement but King David brake The truce he made with us that he might take With Philip's fortune Philip's falling side
For heaven does justly warres successes guide Doe thou relate the fight The King had done When humbly bowing Copland thus begun Since you are pleas d dread Soveraigne to command For whose victorious brow the sacred hand Of heaven is weaving Garlands every where From me the meanest of your servants heare This battels great successe and what for you The same high hand has wrought in England now To Durham walls while farre his terror spread Among the people had King David led His royall army where those warrelike Peeres Of Scotland march'd that had for many yeeres Late past so well the English borders knowne That there so many strange exploits had done And wealthy pillage gain'd when to withstand That threatning force and guard their native land With noble spirits the English Lords prepare And draw their forces to this sudden warre Lord Percy Nevill Mowbray D' Eincourt there Humfrevile Mawley Musgrave Scroope appeare And many more of worthy note to whom The men at armes and nerved Archers come Nor in so great a danger was it thought Enough if onely usuall souldiers fought To save their Countryes universall harme The Churchmen fight the reverend Prelates arme The two Archbishops and grave Durham there Their Crosier-staves ' midst streaming Ensignes beare No cause they thought could make them to refuse So deare a warre no calling could excuse O're all the field doe armed Priests appeare And shaven Monkes unused helmets weare Such was that law the ancient Romans made When e're the furious Gaules did them invade No Priesthood from warres service then excus'd But that which into th' English breasts infus'd The noblest fire was that your vertuous Queene Great Sir among us was in person seene Nor could the Princely burden of her wombe Great as she was with childe detaine her from That gracious visit As along she rode On every ranke and squadron she bestow'd Words that inspir'd new life such seemed shee Such did her lookes and cheerefull Majesty Appeare to each adoring souldier As Poets fancy'd in the Trojan warre Majesticke Iuno when in all her state Shee would descend from heaven to animate The warrelike Greekes or Pallas come to lead Her wise Vlisses or stout Diomed. At Nevils Crofle a place not fam'd at all Till this great conflict and King David's fall The eager Armies meet to try their cause Our English Lords in foure Battalia's Bring on their forces but so furious growes In little time the fight so neare the blowes That soone no order we perceive at all For like one body closely move they all And thought the archers had at first begun The fight with wondrous happinesse and done So much as caus'd the future victory Yet now their arrowes scarce have roome to flye While swords and bils doe all while hand to hand The armies wrastling with each other stand Small ground and that alternately they gave As by a rivers side tall reeds doe wave Or when a field of lofty standing corne Two severall wayes by different gales is borne That if a man had from some hill survei'd The fight and seene what equall motion sway'd Both armies there he would have beene so farre From judging which should conquer in that warre As to have fear'd almost that all would dye And leave no conquest but one tragaedy No stratagem no foule default was show'd Nor could your servants tell to what they ow'd Vnlesse to justice of their cause it were That dayes hard conquest which 'gan then appeare When those chiefe flowers of Scotlands noble blood Strew'd dead those places where before they stood There Murrey's Earle the noble Randolph sonne To that renowned Randolph that had done His native land such wondrous service falls Encircled not with vulgar funerals Alone but men of Scotlands greatest power Her Marshall Chamberlaine and Chancellour With many moe of note and dignity The King himselfe who with resolve as high As any souldier had maintain'd the fight Neere still where greatest danger did invite His forward sword and might for valiancy Deserve a conquest not captivity That through the thigh had with a lance bin strucke Besides two shafts that in his body stucke And lost much royall blood when he beheld His Army now discomfited in field Not yet dismay'd fought on when 't was my chance Your Graces meanest souldier to advance The next to him I humbly bade him there To yeeld himselfe King Edward's prisoner And gently came to take his hand but hee That sought for death before captivity And therefore strove our anger to provoke My face so fiercely with his Gauntlet strooke That two teeths loste can witnesse yet the blow Then with his sword though hurt and weary'd now He flyes among us while disdaine and ire Into his weary nerves new strength inspire That scarce could we his most unwilling foes Preserve that life which he desir'd to lose At last he fell by which our royall prey We seiz'd and bore him by maine strength away That fate the greatest Nobles of his land The Earles of Fife Menteith and Southerland With warrelike Douglas are enforc'd to take While all the rest that could escape the wracke Of that sad day forsake the tragicke fight And into Scotland take disordred flight King Edward pleas'd with this relation And what John Coplond in that fight had done Conferres on him beside revenues great The martiall honour of Knight Banneret And sends him backe for England with command To yeeld his prisoner to Queene Philip's hand Despaire had entred the besieged Towne Of Calleis now pale famine which alone Subdues the strongest forts had taken hold Vpon the wretched Citizens and gold Which reignes in humane breasts at other times Esteem'd a price even for the greatest crimes Is proved no just rate at all to beare Food only is of price and valu'd there All former hopes of their releefe were crost In vaine had Philip with a numerous hoast From Amiens marched Edward's siedge to raise And challeng'd him in vaine for all the wayes Of their approaching both by sea and land Were by the English kept each passage mann'd And now though late the governors were bent To yeeld to termes and to King Edward sent Who scornes t' accept of any termes but these That six the wealthiest of their Burgesses With halters on their neckes resolv'd to dye Should to his pleasure yeeld them presently And that their deaths his wrath should expiate That all conditions else should come too late And he no mercy on the Towne would take These sad conditions are returned backe And through all hearts had strucke a chilling feare In every visage did pale Death appeare For though destruction challeng'd but a few It threatned every head untill they knew What heads would suffer They despair'd to find Among the noblest ranke so brave a mind That would on that condition choose to dye As once for Rome devoted Decij In this amaze the weeping people throng Into the publike Market-place Among Their cryes confus'd and different
Strikes England so yet this they comfort call Into the hands of man they shall not fall b Sad growes the time nor with her wonted cheare Or usuall dressing does the Spring appeare No cleansing gale of Zephyre moves the ayre While rising fogs obscure the welk in faire Without his showres contagious Auster blowes And painted Summer no kind fruit bestowes Nor does the Sunne as if inflam'd with ire Send out that wholesome and prolifique fire He us'd to doe but beames of mortall heat And from the bosome of the twins as great Combustion kindles here as if he then Vpon the Nemean Lion's backe had beene Within the farthest Easterne Lands from whence Day breakes breakes forth the fatall pestilence As if with rising Titan it begunne And follow'd thence the motion of the Sunne To Europe then does th hot contagion flye Raging through euery part of Italy And France that bled so late is forc'd to see Beside warres stroke a new mortality But most of all o're England's mourning face The sad infection spreads and Death apace In his pale Chariot rides through all the land No age nor sexe escape his vengefull hand Young men in prime of all their strength are strooke And yeeld The sucking Infant what he tooke From Nature soone is summon'd to repay From those soft limbs untimely fleets away The new-come Soule before it can be growne Acquainted with the tender mansion The aged man not because aged goes But onely ' cause he had a life to lose The mourning grave becomes a marriage bed To beauteous maids praeposterously dead One father wailes his sonne another all His houshold carries in one funerall And for so many deaths one mourning serves If one be left to mourne No care preserves Nor antidote can save from this disease Their greatest hope is but to dye in peace For oft the fiery sicknesse did invade Reasons coole seat and there prevailing made A strange distraction worse then losse of breath For which their friends wish'd as a cure their death The face oft burn'd no moisture had the eye Nor could by teares expresse their misery Some while their dearest friends they doe entombe Before that pious office done become Themselves a funerall Death makes him to be An hearse that came a mourning obsequy Nor does this venemous contagion Worke the destruction of mankind alone The sheepe and cattell perish as if growne On earth quite uselesse since the men are gone Wast lye the Lawnes the fields of tillage now Are desolate while the forsaken plow Nor men nor cattell scarce can exercise The Oxe in midst of all his labour dyes And leaves behind his mourning fellow now Dismist from toyle and service of the plow Who takes no comfort now in shady woods In flowery meadowes or cleare Chrystall floods That destiny alas for him remaines Although at rest The warrelike horse disdaines The pleasant streames and sicke forgetteth quite His food or th' honour of a race or fight Even Toads and Vipers dye acquainted growne With venome farre more mortall then their owne Twice through th' Horrizon had Hyperion runne Since first the fatall Pestilence begunne Before th' Almighty did his sword restraine And with his favour visit earth againe He now is pleas'd to cast a gracious eye On this distemper'd world her misery He cures and makes her former beauty come With kindly fruits he fills earth's fertile wombe And makes sweet blasts to move the wholesome ayre The people find at last their humble prayer Is heard and now the teares are wip'd away Due praise and thankes before his Altar pay Annotations upon the fourth Booke a Those that would see at large the actions of the Earle of Darby in Guyenne Aquitaine and Normandy let them read Froissard where they shall see them fully though not elegantly related This Earle of Darby a man of great worth and neere in blood to King Edward was afterwards by him created Duke of Lancaster the first Duke that ever was in England and left behind him no other issue but one daughter who being his sole heire was married to Iohn of Gaunt the Kings sonne and brought to him a large dowry together with the title of Duke of Lancaster b This wonderfull mortality which it pleased God in his wrath to send upon the wretched earth happened in the 22. yeare of King Edward immediately after the taking of Calleis a greater pestilence wee can scarce read of in any particular land or kingdome much lesse so great and with all so generall as this was For not onely England but France Italy and most of the Easterne and Southerne kingdomes were visited at that time and felt the rod most heavy and sad on them The fore-runner of this great sicknesse was immoderate raine for our Chronicles agree in generall that from Midsummer to Christmas it rained every day or night The yeare following it is noted that there dyed in London betweene Ianuary and the end of July seven and fifty thousand persons Other Cities and Townes suffered the like according to their proportions insomuch that some writers of those times were of opinion that halfe the inhabitants of the Land dyed for we must not beleeve Walsingham who sayes there was not above a tenth part of mankinde left alive As great a death of Cattell happened both that and the yeere following Thie was the greatest but not the onely plague which happened during the reigne of this King Edward For twelve yeeres after England was visited with another which our Chronicles called the second great Plague In that many of the Nobility dyed and among the rest that noble Henry Duke of Lancaster a chiefe actor in all the warres and victories of Edward and a maine Pillar of the state at that time THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The fifth Booke Argument V. Prince Edward levyes forces to maintaine Against the French his right in Aquitaine The King wasts Scotland Poictiers field is fought From whence King Iohn of France is prisoner brought PHilip of France had left the earth and John The eldest Sonne as in his father's Throne So in his sad mis-fortunes does succeed Who what the Fates in vengeance had decreed Against his Realme by rashnesse hastens on And gainst all right on Charles his eldest sonne Conferres the stile of Duke of Aquitaine Great Edward bound in honour to maintaine His owne inheritance creates his Sonne Young Edward Prince of that Dominion Exhorts him bravely to defend his right And ' gainst the French for his just Title fight For which Prince Edward armes and with a traine Of valiant Lords prepares for Aquitaine Never did Fortune with more favour smile On any armes nor from this martiall Ile Did ever army crosse the Seas before That more triumphant did returne or wore A richer Garland from Bellona's tree There to maintaine young Edward's signiory Brave Warwicke armes who neare the Prince his side When Crescy field his mayden prowesse try'd Before had fought and Suffolke whose renowne