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
now so great a terrour through the land Is spread of him that to his conquering hand Themselves Falaise Lyseaux and Honfleur yeeld And uncontroll'd his march had Edward held Beyond the bounds of Normandy at last Faire Eureux streame and Seine it selfe he past Now time it seem'd to stop his furious course Yet durst the French oppose no armed force But breake the bridges downe where he should passe Which soone they finde too poore a barre alas ' Gainst Edward's spirit whose resolved way No high-swoll'n streame no flood had power to stay No more then Caesars after he had gone Past the forbidden streame of Rubicon One part of Some neere Abbevile was knowne That might be foorded when the tide was gone To which sixe thousand Souldiers Philip sent By Godmar led with politicke entent To stop great Edward there but with as bad A Destiny as with presage as sad As those unhappy Persians sent to stay At Granicus great Alexander's way No disadvantage could his passage barre To whom the honour of that future warre Was meant by Fate Vpon the rivers banke Stood Godmer's Souldiers in well-order'd ranke Through them as through the channell must the worth Of th'English Souldiers carve their passage forth Edward that knew their resolutions well And could by former hard adventures tell That his bold men for him would rush to fight Through waies which some would fear to take in flight And passe that streame by his command alone Yet would not now command but lead them on And in the action their example be He cryes Who loves me now will follow me And springing forth into the trembling streame Is follow'd with such spirit and zeale by them That all the French amazed at a sight So wondrous strange almost forget to fight And with dismay are vanquished to see Th' undaunted courage of an enemy With small adoe while faintly they oppose The English gaine the banke and rout their foes Of whom are many flaine the rest for feare Disorder'd flye but their retreat is neare To Abbevile where then King Philip lay With all his great and glorious army they Chas'd by the English swords affrighted came And by their fellowes who esteem'd the shame As great as was the losse received are As bad presages of the future warre King Philip follow'd by the bravest hoast That e're before the Realme of France could boast In confidence of Conquest to succeed And to revenge the late disgrace with speed Although advis'd at Abbevile to stay And rest his Army marches thence away Thou sweetest Muse of all th' Aönian Spring Faire-hair'd Calliope that best canst sing Of Kings high deeds and God-like Heroes fames Declare King Philip's power recite the names Of all beside the native Chevalry Of France and flower of her Nobility The forraigne lands that shar'd in that great day And royall Princes that did there display Their dreadfull colours in the ayd of France And forward thence to Crescy field advance Within the Van with Charles of Alanson The royall Banner of Bohemia shone With which did Lodowike her old Martiall King His furious horse and well-try'd lances bring His glittering Plume that many an honour'd field Had knowne and many a dreadfull fight beheld Wav'd there unhappily ordain'd to be A lasting fame to Edwards victory Along with him march'd Charles his Princely Sonne For whom the Fates a fairer thread had spunne Sav'd to preserve the name and ancient stemme And after weareth ' Imperiall Diadem Thither from farre Majorca's Monarch brings His light-arm'd Souldiers from whose fatall slings As from strong Bowes death 's carried nor of yore Were Cretan shafts or Parthian feared more With fifteene thousand mortall Crosse-bowes there The stout Grimaldi and Antonio were Two noble Chiefes from stately Genoa Whose Gallyes had in many a Navall fray Against prond Venice wrastled long to gaine The rule of all the Mid-land Ocean Stout John of Heinault to King Philip's side His forces brings although so neere ally'd To Englands King as Vnckle to the Queene And had by Edward highly honour'd beene He now had chang'd his faith and for the gold Of France his mercenary valour sold There march those warlike Flemmings that attend Their Earle of Flanders Lewis a constant friend To France but no strong number could he get Nor ore his subjects was his power so great They honour'd Edward's worth and to his side Had beene without their Earles consent ally'd There Charles of Blois leads on his martiall traine In glittering armour Burbon and Lorraine To whom whilest all the army march'd away But new arrived there in rich array Brings Savoyes Duke a thousand men of armes Whom from the lofty Alps the lovd alarmes Of this great warre had drawne with dismall fate Too soone alas arriv'd though seeming late How many men dooes Fortune bring from farre Their parts to suffer in this tragicke warre How many Lands their severall shares of woe Must contribute to Philip's overthrow Perchance cause Edward will his force advance No farther then the continent of France She fear'd his fame would be no farther knowne But circumscribed where the deed was done Nor therefore suffers France to bleed alone The sad Bohemian wives that live upon Great Albis bankes and drinke faire Moldaes streame Must make this battell their lamented theame Those that beyond the clouded Alpes doe dwell And Netherlanders shall be forc'd to tell Great Edward's honor while their owne deere wounds They count receiv'd on Crescyes fatall grounds While thus the French march on in rich array In Crescy parke encamped Edward lay His firme Battalia on well chosen ground Was clos'd behinde and barricado'd round With strongest fences made by plashing trees And placing there the weighty'st carriages Thither were all the Leaders horses brought To cut off hope of flight and leave no thought In English breasts but Death or Victory Their resolutions that before were high By this strict meanes were more ascertain'd there Their minds were cheerfull fresh their bodies were And fit t' encounter their approching foes In three Battalia's does the King dispose His strength which all in ready order stand And to each others rescue neere at hand The first in ranke that early blooming flower Of fame Prince Edward leads a Warriour Before a man no Downe had cloath'd his chinne Nor seventeene Springs had this young Souldier seene Within his battell famous Leaders are Brave Warwicke Stafford Harcourt Delaware There Beauchampe Bourchier Clifford Chandois weild Their active armes whom many an honour'd field Had fam'd before The second Squadron by Northamptons Earle was led there Willoughby There Arundell Lord Rosse and Basset stand Men that could well obey and well command Within the third King Edward meanes to fight The great French Army now approach'd their sight And to each Campe did threatning Mars display What the succeeding horrors of the day Were like to be The bloody stroake is nigh Nor in the power of Fortune does it lye Their warrelike fury longer to restraine
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
get Safe to their journey's end Through all Poictou And through the County of Xantoigne they goe The French admiring but resisting not Till to the river side at Blays they got Which with their wealth and prisoners all they past And at faire Burdeaux safe arriv'd at last Sad fame before had into England brought The Prince his danger What amazed thought Could hope alas for conquest there or who Durst thinke that valour disadvantag'd so Could worke it selfe a passage feare possest All English hearts and great King Edward's breast Revenge had entred in as horrid height As France could feare or that great cause invite How many Cities had he doom'd to sacke And men to death but Fame could not be slacke Fate would not suffer England long to erre Nor such a dayes triumphant joy deferre But on a sudden as the golden Sunne When darkest thunder-clouds are newly gone Shoots forth againe in all his glorious light That men amazed scarce dare trust their sight They heare of Poictiers battell of the high And strange successe But incredulity A while the freedome of that joy controlls For feare of too much surfetting their soules With such a change So slowly they receive Th' unlook'd for newes and by degrees beleeve That even their eyes are satisfi'd as soone As are their eares almost nor had the Moone Thrice fill'd her orbe before to second fame With that great King victorious Edward came Oh how to Plimmouth where the Paince arriv'd From every part the people flock'd and striv'd Betimes to kisse that Martiall hand and see So great a prize of one dayes viâ—â—ory Now safe at home as much was all the way From thence to London as their progresse lay With showes adorn'd and thronging people fill'd Where equall to his prowesse they beheld The Prince his goodnesse how he humbly rode Below the King no pride his gesture show'd But such respect as if he did not bring In triumph thither but attend a King Where noble Edward shall we find for thee A paralell in true humanity What ancient Prince or moderne ever shew'd So sweet a temper joyn'd with fortitude What Conqueror did ever use successe More modestly or staine his fortune lesse Imperiall Rome in her most vertuous age When wisest writers durst by strong presage Affirme the worlds sole Empire due to be Not to her strength but her morality Knew no such vertue to great Princes fals How farre unlike it her proud Generals In that inhumane pompe of Triumphs dealt Jugurtha Syphax and great Perseus felt And yet what Roman Army e're could boast A nobler conquest than thy English hoast At Poictiers battell wonne without Romes vice Her greatest vertues thou didst aequalize In that great act and shew'dst as then was try'd The Roman prowesse not the Roman pride With joy as great but more magnificence Did London welcome her triumphant Prince Where great King Edward with all curtesie Receives King Iohn of France as if that he Did aemulate the vertue of his sonne Or rather would approve what he had done And by that noble moderation shew Himselfe the stocke from whence Prince Edward grew Within his sumptuous hall at Westminster He entertaines and feasts them all and there The pensive King with gentle speeches cheeres To all the other princely prisoners The like respect the Lords of England give And at the boord in full-crown'd goblets strive To banish from their breasts all thoughts of care O're which old Heroes fortunes and the rare Events of ancient battels they relate So o're the Wine in massie Phthian plate Talk'd great Achilles in his tent at night When he the Grecian Princes did invite But he whose noble actions were become The argument of every tongue on whom The greedy eyes of all were fixed there Prince Edward seemes himselfe of heavy cheere A greater captive in his owne sad thought Than those that he from Poictiers battell brought Nor could great Mars with all his honors heale The wound that love had made Deep sighs would steale Sometimes from him although with care represt And speake the inward passions of his breast Among the sparkling beauties that resort More to enlighten this triumphant Court His Love-ficke eyes doe often wander round To find although he feare to find his wound Kents beauteous Countesse But no where at all Does she appeare nor was the festivall Grac'd with her presence Soone had she beene spy'd If there nor could so bright a starre be hid But missing her his other passions rise A thousand doubts and jealous feares surprize His loving breast at once Alas what crime Of Fate should he suspect at such a time Of Courtly state and high magnificence What cruell cause should keepe the Lady thence Faine would he know yet blushes to enquire And though he burne still strives to hide the fire As many men whose sudden ruine's nigh Have beene in height of all their jollity And some have beene observ'd in pensive mood Iust then when Fate contrives their greatest good Even so it fares with Princely Edward here Who feares the worst and cannot thinke how neere Th' accomplishment of his desires should be Till to remove the sad uncertainty Some Lords discoursing doe by chance relate How noble Holland was deceas'd of late A sudden change in Edward's lookes appeares Againe the passions alter doubts or feares Since now to every eye the cause is plaine That did the Countesse from this feast detaine No longer hold possession in his breast Love freely enters to displace the rest The Prince resolves his pleasing fuit to move And spite of all opposers gaine his love In Savoy Palace when the feast is ended King John of France is lodg'd and thence attended In fitting state to Windsor Castle there T' enjoy what sports the season of tho yeare Would yeeld what games the Countrey could present To give a King's perplexed thoughts content And David King of Scotland that ten yeare Had beene detaid'd in England prisoner Is ransom'd home since England seemes to be Secur'd from France by Iohn's captivity Vnhappy France whilest England nothing knowes But joyes and triumphs now o'rewhelm'd with woes Sits like a mourning widow wailes her fate And shee that was the pride of Europe late Is fall'n from all her glories and become The pitty of astonish'd Christendome Her bosome fill'd with sad confusion And rebell members while the head is gone Doe from their safe and wholesome order fall The Royall City Paris most of all Is out of joynt that should the rest redeeme Sicke even to death does this great kingdome seeme Nor can the Cure be sudden for the Sunne Five times through his coelestiall signes must runne Before King Iohn of France be ransom'd home Yet healthier farre for France in time to come Shall this Confusion and long sicknesse prove By such unlook'd-for wayes the Powers above Doe worke in their disposing Providence Wise Charles the Dauphine by experience Of those disordred and rough times shall gaine So true a
thousands dying strew the purple plaine The wretched Souldiers feele but cannot see The wondrous cause of this great tragedy Some with amaze and feare are almost kill'd Some onely overthrowne but all hearts fill'd Withsad destruction thinke the day of doome And dissolution of the world is come Or else surpriz'd with more particular feares They deeme alas some winged Messengers Of God above against their campe are sent T' inflict on them immediate punishment As once an Angell sent from God did smite The hoast of proud Senacherib by night Great Edward sadly trembles every where Enforc'd his dying souldiers grones to heare But when the horror of the storme was gone The darkenesse vanish'd and bright day-light shone On them againe and had discover'd all His heart relents and in the pity'd fall Of his poore men he thinks he truly sees God's wrath for all those Christian tragedies Which his victorious sword in France had wrought And all the woes he had on Scotland brought Never before did Edward's pensive breast Truly revolve how tragike is the best Successe that warre ' gainst Christian lands affords What impious wounds his sadly conquering swords Had made in Europe all the battel 's wonne Since first that fatall title he begunne To set on foot are running in his thought Now Crescy Poictiers Halidowne are brought Into his fad remembrance and almost He wishes all his triumphs had beene lost Rather than with such horrid slaughter wonne For which in paenitent Devotion His knees in Chartres Temple Edward bowes Forgivenesse begs for what is past aud vowes Thenceforth the fury of his sword shall cease And he with wretched France conclude a peace On easier termes then erst he stood upon Home to his land restoring ransom'd Iohn Few months had past before this good entent Of pious Edward found accomplishment At Brettigny so well on either side The Agents dealt that peace was ratifi'd On steddy Articles and John whom here Five painted Springs had seene a prisoner Is to his native land returned backe With kind embraces the two Monarchs take Their leave at Calleis With a Royall heart So full of love did John from Edward part So well his usage pleased him that he Entends againe in noble courtesie To visit England and for favâ—rs done To thanke great Edward and his Princely sonne The bloody stormes of warre away are blowne And white-wing'd peace from heaven descended down To cheare faire France her late afflicted state Whilst England's quiet Court does celebrate At once two Princely Nuptials with as high A state as may befit their dignity The Paphian Queene in all her smiles appeares His purple robe the pleased Hymen weares When brave Prince Edward now all lets remov'd Weds that faire Countesse he so long had lov'd And Iohn of Gaunt enjoyes the wealthy heire Of Noble Henry Duke of Lancaster The State at home well setled to employ Prince Edward's worth and raise his dignity He with his Princesse and a noble traine Is sent away to governe Aquitaine Annotations upon the sixth Booke a Concerning the lowly demeanour of Edward the blacke Prince toward King Iohn of France after hee had taken him Prisoner in the battell of Poictiers and the Courteous reception which King Edward gave him here in England there were no Authors either then or since but did freely acknowledge insomuch as many yeares after Guicciardine an Italian Writer and therefore indifferent to both Nations speaking of the warres of Christendome in his time when Francis the first King of France had beene taken prisoner at the battell of Pavie by the souldiers of Charles the fifth Emperour and King of Spaine and had long beene kept in hard durance in the Castell of Madrid brings in King Francis complaining of his unworthy usage where comparing the mis-fortunes of King Iohn with his owne and the wonderfull difference of both their entertainments hee much extols the Courtesie of the English Nation and condemnes the Spaniards insolence And so much did that Courtesie worke upon the noble disposition of King Iohn that as many of that time thought it occasioned his voluntary comming into England to visit King Edward not many yeares after his releasement Though other occasions there might be of that journey as the selling of his affaires before his entended voyage to the holy Warres and yet those perchance might well have beene performed by Embassadours But howsoever it were in the yeare 1364 and of King Edward's Reigne the 38 this King Iohn came into England and besides him two other Kings the Kings of Scotland and of Cyprus where the magnificence of the English Court was well expressed in feasting sumptuously three Kings at once The King of Scotland and the King of Cyprus after they had dispatched their businesse returned home to their owne kingdomes but King Iohn of France fell sicke and dyed at London the yeare following His death was much lamented by King Edward who solemnly attended his corps to Dover from whence it was conveyed to Saint Denys and entombed with his Ancestors b This miraculous storme of haile stones which neere to Chartres fell upon King Edward's Army was esteemed by many of those times an immediate Messenger of Gods wrath for all the Christian blood which King Edward for many yeares had shed both in France and Scotland So great was the haile and so violent the fall of it that it felled horses to the ground and slew above two thousand of the English Souldiers King Edward himselfe was much astonished and thought it no lesse than an immediate judgement of God upon which in penitence hee performed many devotions and on reasonable termes concluded a peace with France so that King Iohn was ransomed and returned home to his owne kingdome after hee had remained a prisoner five yeares in England THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The seventh Booke Argument VII Prince Edward marches into Spaine to fight ' Gainst Henry in deposed Pedro's right At Naveret he beats the strength of Spaine And sets Don Pedro in his Throne againe PRince Edward's honour was not mounted yet Vp to her Zenith Fate is in his debt Another Garland and from Aquitaine Shee calls him forth againe that conquer'd Spaine May feele his noble prowesse and advance His fame as high as erst triumphed France The tyrant Pedro of Castile was by His land depos'd for brutish cruelty Whose Crowne his Bastard-brother Henry gain'd At Burdeaux then the Prince of Wales remain'd Whose fame was spred through every land and he Esteem'd the noblest flower of Chevalry That Europe boasted To his Martiall Court Deposed Pedro humbly does resort And weeping craves Prince Edward's ayd to gaine His right That Pedro may his suit obtaine Beside that bloods alliance that he brings The bad example of deposing Kings Perswades the Prince and to that brave entent His Father great King Edward gives consent At hand great troops of expert souldiers are Cashier'd of late from service of the warre Who now employment want since
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