And Marquesse Mountacute his brother that braue stem Of Neuils noble Stock who ioyned had to them The Dukes of Somerset and Excester and take The Earle of Oxford in the Armies forward make And meeting on the plaine to Barnet very neere That to this very day is called Gladmore there Duke Richard to the field doth Edwards Vaward bring And in the middle came that most couragious King With Clarence his reclaim'd and brother then most deare His friend Lord 〈◊〉 had the guiding of the Reare A man of whom the King most highly did repute On puisant Warwicks part the Marquesse Mountacute His brother and his friend the Earle of Oxford led The right wing and the left which most that day might sted The Duke of Excester and he himselfe doe guide The middle fight which was the Armies onely pride Of Archers most approu'd the best that he could get Directed by his friend the Duke of Somerset O Sabboth ill bestow'd O drery Easter day In which as some suppose the Sunne doth vse to play In honour of that God for sinfull man that dy'd And rose on that third day that Sunne which now doth hide His face in foggy mists nor was that morning seene So that the space of ground those angry hosts betweene Was ouershadowed quite with darknesse which so cast The armies on both sides that they each other past Before they could perceiue aduantage where to fight Besides the enuious mist so much deceiu'd their sight That where eight hundred men which valiant Oxford brought Ware Comets on their coats great Warwicks force which thought They had King Edwards beene which so with Sunnes were drest First made their shot at them who by their friends distrest Constrayned were to flie being scattered here and there But when this direfull day at last began to cleere King Edward then beholds that height of his first hopes Whose presence gaue fresh life to his oft-fainting troupes Prepar'd to scourge his pride there daring to defie His mercie to the host proclaiming publikely His hatefull breach of faith his periury and shame And what might make him vile so VVarwicke heard that name Of Yorke which in the field he had so oft aduanc'd And to that glorious height and greatnesse had inhanc'd Then cried against his power by those which oft had sled Their swist pursuing foc by him not brauely led Vpon the enemies backe their swords bath'd in the gore Of those from whom they 〈◊〉 like heartlesse men before Which Warwicks nobler name iniuriously defide Euen as the irefull host then ioyned side to side Where cruell Richard charg'd the Earles maine battell when Proud Somerset therein with his approoued men Stood stoutly to the shocke and flang out such a flight Of shafts as welneere seem'dt'eclipse the welcom'd light Which forc'd them to fall off on whose retreit againe That great Battalion next approcheth the fayre plaine Where in the King himselfe in person was to trie Proud VVarwicks vtmost strength when Warwicke by and by With his left wing came vp and charg'd so home and round That had not his light horse by disuantagious ground Been hindred he had strucke the heart of Edwards host But finding his defeat his enterprise so lost He his swift Currers sends to will his valiant brother And Oxford in command being equall to the other To charge with the right wing who brauely vp doe beare But Hastings that before raught thither with his Reare And with King Edward ioynd the host too strongly arm'd When euery part with spoyle with rape with fury charm'd Are prodigall of blood that slaughter seemes to swill It selfe in humane gore and euery one cries kill So doubtfull and so long the battell doth abide That those which to and fro twixt that and London ride That Warwicke winnes the day for certaine newes doe bring Those following them againe sayd certainly the King Vntill great VVarwicke found his armie had the worse And sore began to faint alighting from his horse In with the formost puts and wades into the throng And where he saw death stern'st the murthered troupes among He ventures as the Sunne in a tempestuous day With darknesse threatned long yet sometimes doth display His cheerefull beames which scarce appeare to the cleere eye But suddenly the clouds which on the winds doe flie Doe muffle him againe within them till at length The storme preuailing still with an vnusuall strength His cleerenesse quite doth close and shut him vp in night So mightie Warwicke fares in this outragious fight The cruell Lyons thus inclose the dreaded Beare Whilst Montacute who striues if any helpe there were To rescue his belou'd and valiant brother fell The losse of two such spirits at once time shall not tell The Duke of Somerset and th' Earle of Oxford fled And Excester being left for one amongst the dead At length recouering life by night escap'd away Yorke neuer safely sat till this victorious day Thus Fortune to his end this mightie Warwicke brings This puisant setter vp and plucker downe of Kings He who those battel 's wonne which so much blood had cost At Barnets fatall fight both Life and Fortune lost Now Tewksbury it rests thy storry to relate Thy sad and dreadfull fight and that most direfull Fate Of the Lancastrian Line which hapned on that day Fourth of that fatall Month that still-remembred May Twixt Edmund that braue Duke of Somerset who fled From Barnets bloody field againe there gathering head And Marquesse Dorset bound in blood to ayd him there With Thomas Courtney Earle of powerfull Deuonshire With whom King Henries sonne young Edward there was seene To claime his doubtlesse right with that vndaunted Queene His mother who from France with succours came on land That day when VVarwicke 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 which now stand Their fortune yet to trie vpon a second fight And Edward who imploy'd the vtmost of his might The poore Lancastrian part which he doth eas'ly feele By VVarwicks mightie fall already faintly reele By Battell to subuert and to extirpe the Line And for the present act his army doth assigne To those at Barnet field so luckily that sped As Richard late did there he here the Vaward led The Maine the King himselfe and Clarence tooke to guide The Rearward as before by Hastings was supplide The Army of the Queene into three Battels cast The first of which the Duke of Somerset and fast To him his brother Iohn doe happily dispose The second which the Prince for his owne safety chose The Barons of Saint Iohn and Wenlocke and the third To Courtney that braue Earle of Deuonshire referd Where in a spacious field they set their Armies downe Behind hard at their backes the Abbey and the Towne To whom their foe must come by often banks and steepe Through quickset narrow Lanes cut out with ditches deepe Repulsing Edwards power constraining him to prooue By thundring Cannonshot and Culuering to remooue Them from that chosen ground so tedious to
assayle And with the shot came shafts like stormy showres of Hayle The like they sent againe which beat the other sore Who with the Ordnance stroue the Yorkists to outrore And still make good their ground that whilst the Peeces play The Yorkists hasting still to hand-blowes doe assay In strong and boystrous crowds to scale the combrous Dykes But beaten downe with Bills with Poleaxes and Pykes Are forced to fall off when Richard there that led The Vaward saw their strength so little them to sted As he a Captaine was both politique and good The stratagems of warre that rightly vnderstood Doth seeme as from the field his forces to withdraw His sudden strange retire proud Somerset that saw A man of haughtie spirit in honour most precise In action yet farre more aduenturous then wise Supposing from the field for safetie he had fled Straight giueth him the chase when Richard turning head By his incounter let the desperate Duke to know T was done to traine him out when soone began the show Of slaughter euery where for scarce their equall forces Began the doubtfull fight but that three hundred horses That out of sight this while on Edwards part had stayd To see that neere at hand no ambushes were layd Soone charg'd them on the side disordring quite their Ranks Whilst this most warlike King had wonne the climing Banks Vpon the equall earth and comming brauely in Vpon the aduerse power there likewise doth begin A fierce and deadly fight that the Lancastrian side The first and furious shocke not able to abide The vtmost of their strength were forced to bestow To hold what they had got that Somerset below Who from the second force had still expected ayd But frustrated thereof euen as a man dismaid Scarce shifts to saue himselfe his Battell ouerthrowne But faring as a man that frantique had beene growne With Wenlock hap'd to meet preparing for his flight Vpbraiding him with tearmes of basenesse and despight That cow'rdly he had faild to succour him with men Whilst Wenlock with like words requiteth him agen The Duke to his sterne rage as yeelding vp the raines With his too pondrous Axe pasht out the Barons braines The partie of the Queene in euery place are kild The Ditches with the dead confusedly are fild And many in the flight i' th neighbouring Riuers drown'd Which with victorious wreaths the conquering Yorkists crownd Three thousand of those men on Henries part that stood For their presumption paid the forfeit of their blood Iohn Marquesse Dorset dead and Deuonshire that day Drew his last vitall breath as in that bloody fray Delues Hamden Whittingham and Leuknor who had there Their seuerall braue commands all valiant men that were Found dead vpon the earth Now all is Edwards owne And through his enemies tents he march'd into the towne Where quickly he proclaimes to him that foorth could bring Young Edward a large Fee and as he was a King His person to be safe Sir Richard Crofts who thought His prisoner to disclose before the King then brought That faire and goodly Youth whom when proud Yorke demands Why thus he had presum'd by helpe of traytrous hands His kingdome to disturbe and impiously display'd His Ensignes the stout Prince as not a iot dismay'd With confidence replies To claime his ancient right Him from his Grandsires left by tyranny and might By him his foe vsurp'd with whose so bold reply Whilst Edward throughly vext doth seeme to thrust him by His second brother George and Richard neere that stood With many a cruell stab let out his princely blood In whom the Line direct of Lancaster doth cease And Somerset himselfe surprized in the prease With many a worthy man to Gloster prisoners led There forfeited their liues Queene Margaret being fled To a religious Cell to Tewksbury too neere Discouerd to the King with sad and heauy cheere A prisoner was conuey'd to London wofull Queene The last of all her hopes that buried now had seene But of that outrage here by that bold Bastard sonne Of Thomas Neuill nam'd Lord Falkonbridge which wonne A rude rebellious Rout in Kent and Essex rais'd Who London here besieg'd and Southwarke hauing seas'd Set fire vpon the Bridge but when he not preuaild The Suburbs on the East he furiously assayl'd But by the Cities power was lastly put to flight Which being no set Field nor yet well ordred fight Amongst our Battels here may no way reckoned be Then Bosworth here the Muse now lastly bids for thee Thy Battell to describe the last of that long warre Entit'led by the name of Yorke and Lancaster Twixt Henry Tudor Earle of Richmond onely left Of the Lancastian Line who by the Yorkists reft Of libertie at home a banish'd man abroad In Britany had liu'd but late at Milford Road Being prosperously ariu'd though scarce two thousand strong Made out his way through Wales where as he came along First Griffith great in Blood then Morgan next doth meet Him with their seuerall powers as offi ing at his feet To lay their Lands and liues Sir Rice ap Thomas then With his braue Band of Welsh most choyce and expert men Comes lastly to his ayd at Shrewsbury ariu'd His hopes so faint before so happily reuiu'd He on for England makes and neere to Newport towne The next ensuing night setting his Army downe Sir Gilbert Talbot still for Lancaster that stood To Henry neere Alli'd in friendship as in Blood From th' Earle of Shrewsbury his Nephew vnder age Came with two thousand men in warlike Equipage Which much his power increas'd when easily setting on From Lichfield as the way leads foorth to Atherston Braue Bourcher and his friend stout Hungerford whose hopes On Henry long had laine stealing from Richards troups Wherewith they had been mix'd to Henry doe appeare Which with a high resolue most strangely seem'd to cheere His oft-appauled heart but yet the man which most Gaue sayle to Henries selfe and fresh life to his host The stout Lord Stanley was who for he had affide The mother of the Earle to him so neere allide The King who fear'd his truth which he to haue compeld The yong Lord Strange his sonne in hostage strongly held Which forc'd him to fall off till he fit place could finde His sonne in law to meet yet he with him combinde Sir William Stanley knowne to be a valiant Knight T' assure him of his ayd Thus growing tow'rds his hight A most selected Band of Chesshire Bow-men came By Sir Iohn Sauage led besides two men of name Sir Brian Sanford and Sir Simon Digby who Leauing the tyrant King themselues expresly show Fast friends to Henries part which still his power increast Both Armies well prepar'd towards Bosworth strongly preast And on a spacious Moore lying Southward from the towne Indifferent to them both they set their Armies downe Their Souldiers to refresh preparing for the fight Where to the guiltie King that black fore-running
Lucy and Hastings went Which charging but too home all sorely wounded were VVhom liuing from the field the Barons stroue to beare Being on their partie fixd whilst still Prince Edward spurres To bring his Forces vp to charge the Londoners T'whom cruell hate he bare and ioyning with their Force Of heauy-armed Foot with his light Northerne Horse He putting them to flight foure miles in chase them slew But ere he could returne the conquest wholly drew To the stout Barons side his father fled the field Into the Abbay there constrained thence to yeeld The Lords Fitz-warren slaine and Wilton that was then Chiefe Iustice as some say with them fiue thousand men And Bohun that great Earle of Her'ford ouerthrowne With Bardolfe Somery Patshull and Percie knowne By their Coat-armours then for Barons prisoners ta'n Though Henry ware the Crowne great Le'ster yet did raigne Now for the Conflict next at Chesterfield that chanc'd Gainst Robert that proud Earle of Darby who aduanc'd His Ensignes gainst the King contrary to his oath Vpon the Barons part with the Lord Deuell both Surpriz'd by Henry Prince of Almain with his power By comming at so strange an vnexpected hower And taking them vnarmd since meerely a defeat With our well-ordered fights we will not here repeat The fatall Battell then at fertile Eusham struck Though with the selfe same hands not with the selfe same luck For both the King and Prince at Lewes prisoners taken By fortune were not yet so vtterly forsaken But that the Prince was got from Le'ster and doth gather His friends by force of Armes yet to redeeme his father And th' Earle of Glo'ster wonne who through the Mountfords pride Disgrac'd came with his power to the Emperiall side When now those Lords which late at Lewes wonne the day The Sacrament receiu'd their Armes not downe to lay Vntill the King should yeeld th' old Charter to maintaine King Henry and his sonne Prince Edward swore againe They would repeale those Lawes that were at Oxford made Or through this bloody warre to their destruction wade But since the King remain'd in puissant Lei'sters power The remnant of his friends whom death did not deuoure At Lewes Battell late and durst his part partake The Prince excites againe an Armie vp to make Whom Roger Bigot Earle of Norfolke doth assist Englands high Marshall then and that great Martialist Old Henry Bohun Earle of Her'ford in this warre Gray Basset and Saint-Iohn Lisle Percie Latimer All Barons which to him their vtmost strengths doe lay VVith many a Knight for power their equall euery way And William Valence Earle of Pembroke who had fled From Lewes field to France thence with fresh succour sped Young Humphrey Bohun still doth with great Le'ster goe VVho for his Countries cause becomes his fathers foe Fitz-Iohn Gray Spencer Strange Rosse Segraue Vessey Gifford Wake Lucy Vipount Vaux Clare Marmion Hastings Clifford In that blacke night before his sad and dismall day VVere apparitions strange as drad Heauen would bewray The horrors to ensue O most amazing fight Two Armies in the Ayre discerned were to fight VVhich came so neere to earth that in the morne they found The prints of horses feet remaining on the ground Which came but as a show the time to entertaine Till th' angry Armies ioyn'd to act the bloody Sceane Shrill shouts and deadly cries each way the ayre do fill And not a word was heard from either side but kill The father gainst the sonne the brother gainst the brother With Gleaues Swords Bills and Pykes were murthering one another The full luxurious earth seemes surfitted with blood VVhilst in his Vnckles gore th' vnnaturall Nephew stood VVhilst with their charged Staues the desperate horsmen meet They heare their kinsmen groane vnder their Horses feet Dead men and weapons broke doe on the earth abound The Drummes bedash'd with braines doe giue a dismall sound Great Le'ster there expir'd with Henry his braue sonne VVhen many a high exployt they in that day had done Scarce was there noble House of which those times could tell But that some one thereof on this or that side fell Amongst the slaughtered men that there lay heap'd on pyles Bohuns and Beauchamps were Basets and Mandeviles Segraues and Saint-Iohns seeke vpon the end of all To giue those of their names their Christian buriall Ten thousand on both sides were ta'n and slaine that day Prince Edward gets the gole and beares the Palme away All Edward Long shankes time her ciuill warres did cease Who stroue his Countries bounds by Conquest to increase But in th' insuing raigne of his most riotous sonne As in his fathers dayes a second warre begun When as the stubborne heires of the stout Barons dead Who for their Countries cause their blood at Eusham shed Not able to endure the Spencers hatefull pride The father and the sonne whose counsels then did guide Th'inconsiderate King conferring all his graces On them who got all gifts and bought and sold all places Them raising to debase the Baronage the more For Gauaston whom they had put to death before Which vrg'd too farre at length to open Armes they brake And for a speedy warre they vp their powers doe make Vpon King Edwards part for this great Action bent His brother Edmund came the valiant Earle of Kent With Richmount Arundell and Pembroke who engage Their powers three powerfull Earles against the Baronage And on the Barons side great master of the warre Was Thomas of the Blood the Earle of Lancaster With Henry Bobun Earle of Hereford his Peere With whom of great command and Martialists there were Lyle Darcy Denvile Teis Beach Bradburne Bernvile Knovile With Badlesmer and Bercks Fitz-william Leyburne Louell Tuchet and Talbot stout doe for the Barons stand Mandute and Mowbray with great Clifford that command Their Tenants to take Armes that with their Landlords runne With these went also Hugh and Henry Willington Redoubted Damory as Audley Elmesbridge Wither Earles Barons Knights Esquiers embodied all together At Burton vpon Trent who hauing gathered head Towards them with all his power the King in person sped Who at his neere approach vpon his March discri'd That they against his power the Bridge had fortifi'd Which he by strong assault assayes from them to win Where as a bloody fight doth instantly begin When he to beat them off assayes them first by shot And they to make that good which they before had got Defend them with the like like Haylestones from the skie From Crosse-bowes and the Long the light-wingd arrowes flie But friended with the Flood the Barons hold their strength Forcing the King by Boats and pyles of wood at length T' attempt to land his force vpon the other side The Barons that the more his stratagems defide Withstand them in the streame when as the troubled flood With in a little time was turned all to blood And from the Boats and Bridge the mangled bodies feld The poore affrighted Fish
their watry walks expeld VVhile at the Bridge the fight still strongly doth abide The King had learnt to know that by a skilfull guide He by a Fourd not farre might passe his power of Horse VVhich quickly he performes which draue the Barons force From the defended Bridge t' affront th'approching foe Imbattelling themselues when to the shocke they goe On both sides so assaild till th' water and the shore Of one complexion were distaind with equall gore Oft forc'd to change their fights being driuen from their ground That when by their much losse too weake themselues they found Th' afflicted Barons flie yet still together keepe The King his good successe not suffring so to sleepe Pursues them with his power which Northward still doe beare And seldome scapes a day but he doth charge their Reare Till come to Burrough Bridge where they too soone were staid By Andrew Herckley Earle of Carleill with fresh ayd Being lately thither come King Edwards part to take The Barons range their fights still good their ground to make But with long Marches tyerd their wearied breath they draw After the desperat'st fight the Sunne yet euer saw Braue Bohun there was slaine and Lancaster forsaken Of Fortune is surpriz'd the Barons prisoners taken For those Rebellions Stirres Commotions Vprores here In Richard Burdeaux raigne that long so vsuall were As that the first by Straw and Tyler with their Rout Of Rebels brought from Kent most insolent and stout By entring London thought the the Iland to subdue * The first of which the Maior of London brauely slew Walworth which wonne his name much honour by the deed As they of Suffolke next those Rascals that succeed By * Litster led about their Captaine who enstil'd Himselfe the Commons King in hope to haue exil'd The Gentry from those parts by those that were his owne By that braue Bishop then of Norwitch ouerthrowne By such vnruly Slaues and that in Essex rais'd By Thomas that stout Duke of Glo'ster strongly * ceaz'd As that at Radcot bridge where the last named Peere With foure braue * Earles his friends encountred Robert Vere Then Duke of Ireland cald by Richard so created And gainst those Lords maintain'd whom they most deadly hated Since they but Garboyles were in a deformed masse Not ordered fitting warre we lightly ouerpasse I chuse the Battell next of Shrewsbury to chant Betwixt Henry the fourth the sonne of Iohn of Gant And the stout Percies Henry Hotspurre and his Eame The Earle of Wor'ster who the rightfull Diademe Had from King Richard reft and heau'd vp to his Seat This Henry whom too soone they found to be too great Him seeking to depose and to the Rule preferre Richards proclaimed Heire their cosen Mortimer Whom Owen Glendour then in Wales a prisoner staid Whom to their part they wonne and thus their plot they laid That Glendour should haue Wales along as Seuerne went The Percies all the North that lay beyond the Trent And Mortimer from thence the South to be his share Which Henry hauing heard doth for the warre prepare And down to Cheshire makes where gathering powers they were At Shrewsbury to meet and doth affront them there With him his peerelesse sonne the princely Henry came With th' Earle of Stafford and of Gentlemen of name Blunt Shyrley Clifton men that very powerfull were VVith Cockayne Caluerly Massy and Mortimer Gausell and Wendsley all in Friends and Tenants strong Resorting to the King still as he past along Which in the open field before the ranged fights He with his warlike Sonne there dub'd his Mayden Knights Th'Eatle Dowglasse for this day doth with the Percies stand To whom they Berwicke gaue and in Northumberland Some Seigniories and Holds if they the Battell got Who brought with him to Field full many an angry Scot At Holmdon Battell late that being ouerthrowne Now on the King and Prince hop'd to regaine their owne With almost all the power of Cheshire got together By Venables there great and Vernon mustred thether The Vaward of the King great Stafford tooke to guide The Vaward of the Lords vpon the other side Consisted most of Scots which ioyning made such spoyle As at the first constrain'd the English to recoyle And almost brake their Rankes which when King Henry found Bringing his Battell vp to reinforce the ground The Percies bring vp theirs againe to make it good Thus whilst the either Host in opposition stood Braue Dowglasse with his spurres his furious Courser strake His Lance set in his rest when desperatly he brake In where his eye beheld th' Emperiall Ensigne pight Where soone it was his chance vpon the King to light Which in his full carreere he from his Courser threw The next Sir Walter Blunt he with three other slew All armed like the King which he dead sure accounted But after when hee saw the King himselfe remounted This hand of mine quoth he foure Kings this day hath slaine And swore out of the earth he thought they sprang againe Or Fate did him defend at whom he onely aym'd When Henry Hotspurre so with his high deeds inflam'd Doth second him againe and through such dangers presse That Dowglasse valiant deeds he made to seeme the lesse As still the people cryed A Percy Espirance The King which saw then time or neuer to aduance His Battell in the Field which neere from him was wonne Ayded by that braue Prince his most couragious sonne Who brauely comming on in hope to giue them chase It chanc'd he with a shaft was wounded in the face Whom when out of the fight his friends would beare away He strongly it refus'd and thus was heard to say Time neuer shall report Prince Henry left the field When Harry Percy staid his traytrous sword to weeld Now rage and equall wounds alike inflame their bloods And the maine Battels ioyne as doe two aduerse floods Met in some narrow Arme shouldring as they would shoue Each other from their path or would their bankes remoue The King his traytrous foes before him downe doth hew And with his hands that day neere fortie persons slue When conquest wholly turnes to his victorious side His power surrounding all like to a furious tyde That Henry Hotspurre dead vpon the cold earth lyes Stout Wor'ster taken was and doughtie Douglasse flyes Fiue thousand from both parts left dead vpon the ground Mongst whō the kings fast friend great Staffords coarse was found And all the Knights there dub'd the morning but before The euenings Suune beheld there sweltred in their gore Here I at Bramham More the Battell in should bring Of which Earle Percie had the greatest managing With the Lord Bardolfe there against the Counties power Fast cleauing to his friend euen to his vtmost houre In Flanders France and Wales who hauing been abroad To raise them present powers intending for a Road On England for the hate he to King Henry bore His sonne and brothers blood augmenting
it the more Which in his mightie spirit still rooted did remaine By his too much default whom he imputed slaine At Shrewsbury before to whom if he had brought Supplies that bloody field when they so brauely fought They surely it had wonne for which to make amends Being furnished with men amongst his forraine friends By Scotland entred here and with a violent hand Vpon those Castles ceaz'd within Northumberland His Earledome which the King who much his truth did doubt Had taken to himselfe and put his people out Toward Yorkshire comming on where soone repaid his owne At Bramhams fatall More was fowly ouerthrowne Which though it were indeed a long and mortall fight Where many men were maim'd and many slaine outright Where that couragious Earle all hopes there seeing past Amongst his murthered troups euen fought it to the last Yet for it was atchieu'd by multitudes of men Which with Ralfe Roksby rose the Shreefe of Yorkshire then No well proportion'd fight we of description quit Amongst our famous fields nor will we here admit That of that Rakehel Cades and his rebellious crue In Kent and Sussex raisd at Senok fight that slue The Staffords with their power that thither him pursu'd VVho twice vpon Black heath back'd with the Commons rude Incamp'd against the King then goodly London tooke There ransoming some rich and vp the prisons broke His sensuall beastly will for Law that did preferre Beheaded the Lord Say then Englands Treasurer And forc'd the King to flight his person to secure The Muse admits not here a rabble so impure But brings that Battell on of that long dreadfull warre Of those two Houses nam'd of Yorke and Lancaster In faire Saint Albans fought most fatally betwixt Richard then Duke of Yorke and Henry cald the sixt For that ill-gotten Crowne which him his * Grandsire left That likewise with his life he from King Richard reft When vnderhand the Duke doth but promoue his claime Who from the elder sonne the Duke of Clarence came For which he raised Armes yet seem'd but to abet The people to plucke downe the Earle of Somerset By whom as they gaue out we Normandy had lost And yet he was the man that onely rul'd the roast With Richard Duke of Yorke into his faction wonne Salsbury and Warwicke came the father and the sonne The Neuils nobler name that haue renown'd so farre So likewise with the King in this great action are The Dukes of Somerset and Buckingham with these Were thrice so many Earles their stout accomplices As Pembroke great in power and Stafford with them stand With Deuonshire Dorset Wilt and fierce Northumber land VVith Sidley Bernes and Rosse three Barons with the rest VVhen Richard Duke of Yorke then marching from the west Towards whom whilst with his power King Henry forward set Vnluckily as 't hapt they at Saint Albans met Where taking vp the Street the buildings them enclose Where Front doth answer Front strength doth strength oppose Whilst like two mightie walls they each to other stand And as one sinketh downe vnder his enemies hand Another thrusting in his place doth still supply Betwixt them whilst on heaps the mangled bodies lie The Staules are ouerthrowne with the vnweldy thrust The windowes with the shot are shiuered all to dust The Winters Sleet or Hayle was neuer seene so thicke As on the houses sides the bearded arrowes sticke Where Warwicks courage first most Comet-like appeard Who with words full of Spirit his fighting Souldiers cheerd And euer as he saw the slaughter of his men He with fresh forces fil'd the places vp agen The valiant * Marchmen thus the battell still maintaine That when King Henry found on heaps his Souldiers slaine His great Commanders cals who when they sadly saw The honour of the day would to the Yorkists draw Their persons they put in as for the last to stand The Duke of Somerset Henry Northumberland Of those braue warlike Earles the second of that name The Earle of Stafford sonne to th' Duke of Buckingham And Iohn Lord Clifford then which shed their noble gore Vnder the Castles signe of which not long before A Prophet bad the Duke of Somerset beware With many a valiant Knight in death that had his share So much great English blood for others lawlesse guilt Vpon so little ground before was neuer spilt Proud Yorke hath got the gole the King of all forfaken Into a cottage got a wofull prisoner taken The Battell of Blore-heath the place doth next supply Twixt Richard Neuill that great Earle of Salisbury Who with the Duke of Yorke had at Saint Albans late That glorious Battell got with vncontrouled Fate And Iames Lord Audley stir'd by that reuengefull Queene To stop him on his way for the inueterate spleene Shee bare him for that still he with the Yorkists held Who comming from the North by sundry wrongs compeld To parley with the King the Queene that time who lay In Staffordshire and thought to stop him on his way That valiant Tuchet stir'd in Cheshire powerfull then T' affront him in the field where Cheshire Gentlemen Diuided were th' one part made valiant Tuchet strong The other with the Earle rose as he came along Incamping both their powers diuided by a Brooke Whereby the prudent Earle this strong aduantage tooke For putting in the field his Army in aray Then making as with speed he meant to march away He caus'd a flight of Shafts to be discharged first The enemy who thought that he had done his worst And cowardly had fled in a disordred Rout Attempt to wade the Brooke he wheeling soone about Set fiercely on that part which then were passed ouer Their Friends then in the Reare not able to recouer The other rising banke to lend the Vaward ayd The Earle who found the plot take right that he had layd On those that forward prest as those that did recoyle As hungry in reuenge there made a rauenous spoyle There Dutton Dutton kils A Done doth kill a Done A Booth a Booth and Leigh by Leigh is ouerthrowne A Venables against a Venables doth stand And Troutbeck fighteth with a Troutbeck hand to hand There Molineux doth make a Molineux to die And Egerton the strength of Egerton doth trie O Chesshire wert thou mad of thine owne natiue gore So much vntill this day thou neuer shedst before Aboue two thousand men vpon the earth were throwne Of which the greatest part were naturally thine owne The stout Lord Audley slaine with many a Captaine there To Salsbury it sorts the Palme away to beare Then faire Northampton next thy Battell place shall take Which of th' Emperiall warre the third fought Field doth make Twixt Henry cald our sixt vpon whose partie came His neere and deare Allies the Dukes of Buckingham And Somerset the Earle of Shrewsbury of account Stout Vicount Beaumount and the yong Lord Egremount Gainst Edward Earle of March sonne to the Duke of Yorke With
fauour there A Title to this Prince deriu'd from Mortimer To whom this Trophy rear'd much honored had the soyle The Yorkists here enrich'd with the Lancastrian spoyle Are Masters of the day foure thousand being slaine The most of which were those there standing to maintaine The title of the King Where Owen Tudors lot Was to be taken then who this young Earle begot On Katherin the bright Queene the fift King Henries Bride Who too vntimely dead this Owen had affide But he a Prisoner then his sonne and Ormond fled At Hereford was made the shorter by the head When this most warlike Duke in honour of that signe Which of his good successe so rightly did diuine And thankfull to high heauen which of his cause had care Three Sunnes for his deuice still in his Ensigne bare Thy second Battell now Saint Albans I record Struck twixt Queene Margrets power to ransome backe her Lord Ta'n prisoner at that towne when there those factions fought Whom now the part of Yorke had thither with them brought Whose force consisted most of Southerne men being led By Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke and the head Of that proud faction then stout Warwicke still that swayd In euery bloody field the Yorkists onely ayd When eithers power approch'd and they themselues had fixt Vpon the South and North the towne them both betwixt Which first of all to take the Yorkists had forecast Putting their Vaward on and their best Archers plac'd The Market-sted about and them so fitly layd That when the foe camevp they with such terror playd Vpon them in the Front as forc'd them to retreit The Northerne mad with rage vpon the first defeat Yet put for it againe to enter from the North Which when great Warwicke heard he sent his Vaward forth T' oppose them in what place so ere they made their stand Where in too fit a ground a Heath too neere at hand Adioyning to the towne vnluckily they light Where presenly began a fierce and deadly fight But those of Warwicks part which scarce foure thousand were To th'Vaward of the Queenes that stood so stoutly there Though still with fresh supplies from her maine Battell fed When they their courage saw so little them to sted Deluded by the long expectance of their ayd By passages too straight and close ambushments stayd Their succours that forslow'd to flight themselues betake When after them againe such speed the Northerne make Being followed with the force of their maine Battell strong That this disordred Rout these breathlesse men among They entred Warwicks Hoste which with such horrour strooke The Southerne that each man began about to looke A way how to escape that when great Norfolke cri'd Now as you fauour Yorke and his iust cause abide And Warwicke in the Front euen offred to haue stood Yet neither of them both should they haue spent their blood Could make a man to stay or looke vpon a foe Where Fortune it should seeme to Warwicke meant to show That shee this tide of his could turne when ere she would Thus when they saw the day was for so little sould The King which for their ends they to the field had brought Behind them there they leaue but as a thing of naught Which seru'd them to no vse who when his Queene and sonne There found in Norfolkes tent the Battell being done With many a ioyfull teare each other they imbrace And whilst blind Fortune look'd with so well pleas'd a face Their swords with the warme blood of Yorkists so inbrude Their foes but lately fled couragiously pursude Now followeth that blacke Sceane borne vp so wondrous hie That but a poore dumbe shew before a Tragedie The former Battels fought haue seem'd to this to be O Towton let the blood Palme-Sunday spent on thee Affright the future times when they the Muse shall heare Deliuer it so to them and let the ashes there Of fortie thousand men in that long quarrell slaine Arise out of the earth as they would liue againe To tell the manlike doeds that bloody day were wrought In that most fatall field with various fortunes fought Twixt Edward Duke of Yorke then late proclaimed King Fourth of that royall name and him accompanying The Nevills of that warre maintaining still the streame Great Warwicke and with him his most couragious Eame Stout Falconbridge the third a firebrand like the other Of Salisbury surnam'd that Warwicks bastard brother Lord Fitzwater who still the Yorkists power assists Blount VVenlock Dinham Knights approued Martialists And Henry the late King to whom they still durst stand His true as powerfull friend the great Northumberland VVith VVestmerland his claime who euer did preferre His kinsman Somerset his cosen Excester Dukes of the Royall line his faithfull friends that were And little lesse then those the Earle of Deuonshire Th'Lord Dacres and Lord VVels both wise and warlike wights With him of great command Neuill and Trolop Knights Both armies then on foot and on their way set forth King Edward from the South King Henry from the North. The later crowned King doth preparation make From Pomfret where he lay the passage first to take O'r Aier at Ferybridge and for that seruice sends A most selected troupe of his well-chosen friends To make that passage good when instantly began The dire and ominous signes the slaughter that foreran For valiant Clifford there himselfe so brauely quit That comming to the Bridge ere they could strengthen it From the Lancastrian power with his light troupe of Horse And early in the morne defeating of their force The Lord Fitzmater slew and that braue Bastard sonne Of Salsbury themselues who into danger runne For being in their beds suspecting nought at all But hearing sudden noyse suppos'd some broyle to fall Mongst their misgouern'd troups vnarmed rushing out By Cliffords Souldiers soone incompassed about Were miserably slaine which when great Warwicke heares As he had felt his heart transpersed through his eares To Edward mad with rage imediatly he goes And with distracted eyes in most sterne manner showes The slaughter of those Lords this day alone quoth he Our vtter ruine shall or our sure rising be When soone before the Host his glittering sword he drew And with relentlesse hands his springly Courser slew Then stand to me quoth he who meaneth not to flie This day shall Edward winne or here shall VVarwicke die Which words by VVarwicke spoke so deeply seem'd to sting The much distempered breast of that couragious King That straight he made proclaim'd that euery fainting heart From his resolued host had licence to depart And those that would abide the hazard of the fight Rewards and titles due to their deserued right And that no man that day a prisoner there should take For this the vpshot was that all must marre or make A hundred thousand men in both the Armies stood That natiue English were O worthy of your Blood What conquest had there been But Ensignes flie at large
proud aray tow'rds London march along Which when King Edward saw the world began to side With Warwicke till himselfe he might of power prouide To noble Pembroke sends those Rebels to withstand Six thousand valiant We sh who mustring out of hand By Richard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his brother them doth bring And for their greater strength appointed by the King Th'Lord Stafford of his house of Powick named then Eight hundred Archers brought the most selected men The Marches could make out these hauing Seuerne crost And vp to Cotswould clome they heard the Northern host Being at Northampton then it selfe tow'rds Warwicke wayd When with a speedy march the Harberts that forlayd Their passage charg'd their Reare with neere two thousand horse That the Lancastrian part suipecting all their force Had followed them againe their armie bring about Both with such speed and skill that 〈◊〉 the Welsh got out By hauing charg'd too farre some of their Vaward lost Beat to their 〈◊〉 backe thus as these Legions coast On Danemore they are met indifferent for this warre Whereas three easie hils that stand Trianguler Small Edgcoat ouerlooke on that vpon the West The Welsh encampe themselues the Northerne them possest Of that vpon the South whilst by warres strange euent Yong Neuill who would braue the Harberts in their Tent Leading a troupe of Youth vpon that fatall plaine Was taken by the VVelsh and miserably slaine Of whose vntimely death his friends the next day tooke A terrible reuenge when Stafford there forsooke The army of the Welsh and with his Archers bad Them fight that would for him for that proud Pembroke had Displac'd him of his Inne in Banbury where he His Paramore had lodg'd where since he might not be He back ward shapes his course and leaues the Harberts there T' abide the brunt of all with outcries euery where The clamorous Drummes Fifes to the rough charge do sound Together horse and man come tumbling to the ground Then limbs like boughs were lop'd from shoulders armes doe flie They fight as none could scape yet scape as none could die The ruffling Northern Lads and the stout Welshmen tri'd it Then Head-pieces hold out or braines must sore abide it The Northern men Saint George for Lancaster doe crie A Pembroke for the King the lustie VVelsh replie When many a gallant youth doth desperatly assay To doe some thing that might be worthy of the day Where Richard Harbert beares into the Northern prease And with his Poleaxe makes his way with such successe That breaking through the Rankes he their maine Battell past And quit it so againe that many stood aghast That from the higher ground beheld him wade the crowd As often ye behold in tempests rough and proud O'rtaken with a storme some Shell or little Crea Hard labouring for the land on the high-working Sea Seemes now as swallowed vp then floating light and free O' th top of some high waue then thinke that you it see Quite sunke beneath that waste of waters yet doth cleere The Maine and safely gets some Creeke or Harbor neere So Harbert cleer'd their Host but see th' euent of warre Some Spialls on the hill discerned had from farre Another Armie come to ayd the Northerne side When they which Claphams craft so quickly not espide Who with fiue hundred men about Northampton raisd All discontented spirits with Edwards rule displeasd Displaying in the field great 〈◊〉 dreaded Beare The Welsh who thought the Earle in person had been there Leading a greater power disheartened turne the backe Before the Northerne host that quickly goe to wracke Fiue thousand valiant VVelsh are in chase o'rthrowne Which but an houre before had thought the day their owne Their Leaders in the flight the high-borne Harberts t'ane At Banbury must pay for Henry Neuill slaine Now Stamford in due course the Muse doth come to tell Of thine owne named field what in the fight befell Betwixt braue youthfull Wells from Lincolnshire that led Neere twentie thousand men tow'rd London making head Against the Yorkists power great VVarwicke to abet Who with a puisant force prepared forth to set To ioyne with him in Armes and ioyntly take their chance And Edward with his friends who likewise doe aduance His forces to refell that desperate daring foe Who for he durst himselfe in open Armes to show Nor at his dread command them downe againe would lay His father the Lord Wells who he suppos'd might sway His so outragious sonne with his lou'd law-made brother Sir Thomas Dymock thought too much to rule the other He strangely did to die which so incens'd the spleene Of this couragious youth that he to wreake his teene Vpon the cruell King doth euery way excite Him to an equall field that com'n where they might smite The Battell on this plaine it chanc'd their Armies met They rang'd their seuerall fights which once in order set The loudly-brawling Drummes which seemed to haue feard The trembling ayre at first soone after were not heard For out-cries shreekes and showts whilst noyse doth noyse confound No accents touch the eare but such as death doe sound In thirsting for reuenge whilst fury them doth guide As slaughter seemes by turnes to sease on either side The Southerne expert were in all to warre belong And exercise their skill the Marchmen stout and strong Which to the Battell sticke and if they make retreat Yet comming on againe the foe they backe doe beat And Wels for Warwicke crie and for the rightfull Crowne The other call a Yorke to beat the Rebels downe The worst that warre could doe on either side she showes Or by the force of Bils or by the strength of Bowes But still by fresh supplies the Yorkists power encrease And Wels who sees his troups so ouerborne with prease By hazarding too farre into the boystrous throng Incouraging his men the aduerse troupes among With many a mortall wound his wearied breath expir'd Which sooner knowne to his then his first hopes desir'd Ten thousand on the earth before them lying slaine No hope left to repaire their ruin'd state againe Cast off their Countries coats to hast their speed away Of them which Loose-coat field is cald euen to this day Since needsly I must sticke vpon my former text The bloody Battell fought at Barnet followeth next Twixt Edward who before he setled was to raigne By VVarwicke hence expuls'd but here ariu'd againe From Burgundy brought in munition men and pay And all things fit for warre expecting yet a day Whose brother * George came in with VVarwicke that had stood Whom nature wrought at length t' adhere to his owne blood His brother Richard Duke of Gloster and his friend Lord Hastings who to him their vtmost powers extend And VVarwick whose great heart so mortall hatred bore To Edward that by all the Sacraments he swore Not to lay downe his Armes vntill his sword had rac'd That proud King from his Seat that so had him disgrac'd
Countrey coast Which way he vnderstood his enemies must passe When after some few dayes as if their Fortunes was At Stoke a village neere to Newarke vpon Trent Each in the others sight pitcht downe their warlike Tent. Into one Battell soone the Almans had disposd Their Army in a place vpon two parts inclosd With Dells and fenced Dykes as they were expert men And from the open fields King Henries Host agen In three faire seuerall fights came equally deuided The first of which and fitst was giuen to be guided By Shrewsbury which most of Souldiers choice consisted The others plac'd as Wings which euer as they listed Came vp as need requir'd or fell backe as they found Iust cause for their retire when soone the troubled ground On her black bosome felt the thunder which awooke Her Genius with the shock that violently shooke Her intrayles this sad day when there ye might haue seene Two thousand Almains stand of which each might haue beene A Leader for his skill which when the charge was hot That they could hardly see the very Sunne for shot Yet they that motion kept that perfect Souldiers should That most couragious Swart there might they well behold With most vnvsuall skill that desperate fight maintaine And valiant De la Poole most like his princely straine Did all that courage could or noblesse might befit And Louell that braue Lord behind him not a whit For martiall deeds that day stout Broughton that had stood With Yorke euen from the first there lastly gaue his blood To that well-foughten Field the poore Trowz'd Irish there Whose Mantles stood for Mayle whose skinns for Corslets were And for their weapons had but Irish Skaines and Darts Like men that scorned death with most resolued hearts Giue not an inch of ground but all in pieces hewen Where first they fought they fell with them was ouerthrowne The Leader Geralds hope amidst his men that fought And tooke such part as they whom he had thither brought This of that field be told There was not one that fled But where he first was plac'd there found aliue or dead If in a foughten field a man his life should loose To dye as these men did who would not gladly choose Which full foure thousand were But in this tedious Song The too laborious Muse hath taried all too long As for the Black-Smiths Rout who did together rise Encamping on Blackheath t' annull the Subsidies By Parliment then giuen or that of Cornwall call'd Inclosures to cast downe which ouermuch enthrald The Subiect or proud Kets who with the same pretence In Norfolke rais'd such stirres as but with great expence Of blood was not appeas'd or that begun in Lent By Wyat and his friends the Mariage to preuent That Mary did intend with Philip King of Spaine Since these but Ryots were nor fit the others straine Shee here her Battels ends and as Shee did before So trauelling along vpon her silent shore Waybridge a neighbouring Nymph the onely remnant left Of all that Forrest kind by Times iniurious theft Of all that tract destroy'd with wood which did abound And former times had seene the goodliest Forrest ground This Iland euer had but she so left alone The ruine of her kind and no man to bemoane The deepe intranced Flood as thinking to awake Thus from her shady Bower shee silently bespake O Flood in happy plight which to this time remainst As still along in state to Neptunes Court thou strainst Reuiue thee with the thought of those forepassed howers When the rough Wood-gods kept in their delightfull Bowers On thy embroydered bankes when now this Country fild With villages and by the labouring plowman tild Was Forrest where the Firre and spreading Poplar grew O let me yet the thought of those past times renew When as that woody kind in our vmbragious Wyld Whence euery liuing thing saue onely they exild In this their world of wast the soueraigne Empire swayd O who would ere haue thought that time could haue decayd Those trees whose bodies seem'd by their so massie weight To presse the solid earth and with their wondrous height To climbe into the Clouds their Armes so farre to shoot As they in measuring were of Acres and their Root With long and mightie spurnes to grapple with the land As Nature would haue sayd that they should euer stand So that this place where now this Huntingdon is set Being an easie hill where mirthfull Hunters met From that first tooke the name By this the Muse ariues At Elies Iled Marge by hauing past Saint Ives Vnto the German Sea shee hasteth her along And here shee shutteth vp her two and twentieth Song In which shee quite hath spent her vigor and must now As Workmen often vse a while sit downe and blow And after this short pause though lesning of her height Come in another Key yet not without delight The three and twentieth Song THE ARGVMENT From 〈◊〉 Fights Inuention comes Deafned with noyse of ratling Drummes And in the Northamptonian bounds Shews Whittlewoods and Sacies grounds Then to Mount Hellidon doth goe Whence Charwell Leame and Nen doe 〈◊〉 The Surface which of England sings And Nen downe to the Washes brings Then whereas Welland makes her way Shewes Rockingham her rich aray A Course at Kelmarsh then shee takes ' Where shee Northamptonshire for sakes ON tow'ds the Mid-lands now th' industrious Muse doth make The Northamptonian earth and in her way doth take As fruitfull euery way as those by Nature which The Husbandman by Art with Compost doth inrich This boasting of her selfe that walke her Verge about And view her well within her breadth and length throughout The worst foot of her earth is equall with their best With most aboundant store that highliest thinke them blest When Whittlewood betime th'vnwearied Muse doth win To talke with her awhile at her first comming in The Forrest thus that greets With more successefull Fate Thriue then thy fellow Nymphs whose sad and ruinous state We euery day behold if any thing there be That from this generall fall thee happily may free 'T is onely for that thou dost naturally produce More Vnder wood and Brake then Oke for greater vse But when this rauenous Age of those hath vs bereft Time wanting this our store shall sease what thee is left For what base Auerice now inticeth men to doe Necessitie in time shall strongly vrge them too Which each diuining Spirit most cleerely doth foresee Whilst at this speech perplext the Forrest seem'd to be A Water-nymph neere to this goodly Wood-nymphs side As tow'rds her soueraigne Ouze shee softly downe doth slide Tea her delightsome streame by Tawcester doth lead And sporting her sweet selfe in many a daintie Mead Shee hath not sallied farre but Sacy soone againe Salutes her one much grac'd amongst the Syluan traine One whom the Queene of Shades the bright Diana oft Hath courted for her lookes with kisses smooth and soft
And trumpets euery way sound to the dreadfull charge Vpon the Yorkists part there flew the irefull Beare On the Lancastrian side the Cressant wauing there The Southerne on this side for Yorke a Warwicke crie A Percy for the right the Northerne men reply The two maine Battels ioyne the foure large Wings doe meet What with the shouts of men and noyse of horses feet Hell through the troubled earth her horrour seem'd to breath A thunder heard aboue an earth-quake felt beneath As when the Euening is with darknesse ouerspread Her Star-befreckled face with Clouds inuelloped You oftentimes behold the trembling lightning flie VVhich suddenly againe but turning of your eye Is vanished away or doth so swiftly glide That with a trice it touch t'Horizons either side So through the smoke of dust from wayes and fallowes raisd And breath of horse and men that both together ceasd The ayre one euery part sent by the glimmering Sunne The splendor of their Armes doth by reflection runne Till heapes of dying men and those already dead Much hindred them would charge and letted them that fled Beyond all wonted bounds their rage so farre extends That sullen night begins before their fury ends Ten howers this fight endur'd whilst still with murthering hands Expecting the next morne the weak'st vnconquered stands Which was no sooner come but both begin againe To wrecke their friends deare blood the former euening slaine New Battels are begun new fights that newly wound Till the Lancastrian part by their much lesning found Their long expected hopes were vtterly forlorne When lastly to the foe their recreant backs they turne Thy Channell then O * Cock was fild vp with the dead Of the Lancastrian side that from the Yorkists fled That those of Edwards part that had the Reare in chase As though vpon a Bridge did on their bodies passe That Wharfe to whose large banks thou contribut'st thy store Had her more Christall face discoloured with the gore Of fortie thousand men that vp the number made Northumberland the great and Westmerland there layd Their bodies valiant Wels and Dacres there doe leaue Their carkases whose hope too long did them deceiue Trolop and Neuill found massacred in the field The Earle of VViltshire forc'd to the sterne foe to yeeld King Henry from fayre Yorke vpon this sad mischance To Scotland fled the Queene sayld ouer into France The Duke of Somerset and Excester doe flie The rest vpon the earth together breathlesse lie Muse turne thee now to tell the Field at Hexam struck Vpon the Yorkists part with the most prosp'rous luck Of any yet before where to themselues they gain'd Most safetie yet their powers least damage there sustain'd Twixt Iohn Lord Mountacute that Neuill who to stand For Edward gathered had out of Northumber land A sort of valiant men consisting most of Horse Which were againe suppli'd with a most puisant force Sent thither from the South and by King Edward brought In person downe to Yorke to ayd if that in ought His Generall should haue need for that he durst not trust The Northerne which so oft to him had been vniust Whilst he himselfe at Yorke a second power doth hold To heare in this rough warre what the Lancastrians would And Henry with his Queene who to their powers had got The liuely daring French and the light hardy Scot To enter with them here and to their part doe get Their faithfull lou'd Allie the Duke of Somerset And Sir Ralfe Percie then most powerfull in those parts Who had beene reconcil'd to Edward but their hearts Still with King Henry stay'd to him and euer true To whom by this reuolt they many Northerne drew Sir William T aylboys cald of most the Earle of Kime With Hungerford and Rosse and Mullins of that time Barons of high account with Neuill T unstall Gray Hussy and Finderne Knights men bearing mighty sway As forward with his force braue Mountacute was set It hap'd vpon his way at Hegly More he met With Hungerford and Rosse and Sir Ralph Percy where In signe of good successe as certainly it were They and their vtmost force were quickly put to slight Yet Percy as he was a most couragious Knight Ne'r boudg'd till his last breath but in the field was slaine Proud of this first defeat then marching forth againe Towards Liuells a large Waste which other plaines out-braues Whose Verge fresh * Dowell still is watring with her waues Whereas his posting Scouts King Henries power discri'd Tow'rds whom with speedy march this valiant Generall hied Whose haste there likewise had such prosperous euent That lucklesse Henry yet had scarcely cleer'd his Tent His Captaines hardly set his Battels nor enlarg'd Their Squadrons on the field but this great Neuill charg'd Long was this doubtfull fight on either side maintain'd That rising whilst this falls this loosing whilst that gain'd The ground which this part got and there as Conquerors stood The other quickly gaine and firmely make it good To either as blind Chance her fauors will dispose So to this part it eb'd and to that side it flowes At last till whether 't were that sad and horrid sight At Saxton that yet did their fainting spirits affright With doubt of second losse and slaughter or the ayd That Mountacute receau'd King Henries power dismayd And giuing vp the day dishonourably fled Whom with so violent speed the Yorkists followed That had not Henry spur'd and had a Courser swift Besides a skilfull guide through woods and hilles to shift He sure had been surpriz'd as they his Hench-men tooke With whom they found his Helme with most disastrous lucke To saue themselues by flight ne'r more did any striue And yet so many men ne'r taken were aliue Now Banbury we come thy Battell to report And show th' efficient cause as in what wondrous sort Great VVarmicke was wrought in to the Lancastrian part When as that wanton King so vex'd his mightie heart Whilst in the Court of France that Warriour he bestow'd As potent here at home as powerfull else abroad A marriage to intreat with Bona bright and sheene Of the Sauoyan Blood and sister to the Queene Which whilst this noble Earle negotiated there The widdow Lady Gray the King espoused here By which the noble Earle in France who was disgrac'd In England his reuenge doth but too quickly hast T' excite the Northerne men doth secretly begin With whom he powerfull was to rile that comming in He might put in his hand which onely he desir'd Which rising before Yorke were likely to haue fierd The Citie but repuls'd and Holdorn them that led Being taken for the cause made shorter by the head Yet would not they disist but to their Captaines drew Henry the valiant sonne of Iohn the Lord Fitz-Hugh With Coniers that braue Knight whose valour they preferre With Henry Neuill sonne to the Lord Latimer By whose Allies and friends they euery day grew strong And so in
night Appeare the dreadfull ghosts of Henry and his sonne Of his owne brother George and his two nephewes done Most cruelly to death and of his wife and friend Lord Hastings with pale hands prepar'd as they would rend Him peece-meale at which oft he roreth in his sleepe No sooner gan the dawne out of the East to peepe But Drummes and Trumpets chide the Souldiers to their Armes And all the neighboring fields are couered with the swarmes Of those that came to fight as those that came to see Contending for a Crowne whose that great day should be First Richmond rang'd his fights on Oxford and bestowes The leading with a Band of strong and Sinewy Bowes Out of the Army pick'd the Front of all the field Sir Gilbert Talbot next he wisely tooke to weeld The right Wing with his strengths most Northern men that were And Sir Iohn Sauage with the power of Lancashire And Chesshire Chiefe of men was for the left Wing plac'd The Middle Battell he in his faire person grac'd With him the noble Earle of Pembroke who commands Their Countrey-men the VVelsh of whom it mainly stands For their great numbers found to be of greatest force Which but his guard of Gleaues consisted all of Horse Into two seuerall fights the King contriu'd his strength And his first Battell cast into a wondrous length In fashion of a wedge in poynt of which he set His Archery thereof and to the guidance let Of Iohn the noble Duke of Norfolke and his sonne Braue Surrey he himselfe the second bringing on Which was a perfect square and on the other side His Horsemen had for wings which by extending wide The aduerse seem'd to threat with an vnequall power The vtmost poynt ariu'd of this expected hower He to Lord Stanley sends to bring away his ayd And 〈◊〉 him by an Oath if longer he delayd His eldest sonne young Strange imediatly should die To whom stout Stanley thus doth carelessely reply Tell thou the King I le come when I fit time shall see I loue the Boy but yet I haue more sonnes then he The angry Armies meet when the thin ayre was rent With such re-ecchoing shouts from eithers Souldiers sent That flying o'r the field the Birds downe trembling dropt As some old building long that hath been vnderpropt When as the Timber fayles by the vnweldy fall Euen into powder beats the Roofe and rotten wall And with confused clouds of smouldring dust doth choke The streets and places neere so through the mistie smoke By Shot and Ordnance made a thundring noyse was heard VVhen Stanley that this while his succours had deferd Both to the cruell King and to the Earle his sonne When once he doth perceiue the Battell was begun Brings on his valiant Troups three thousand fully strong Which like a cloud farre off that tempest threatned long Falls on the Tyrants host which him with terrour strooke As also when he sees he doth but vainly looke For succours from the great Northumberland this while That from the Battell scarce three quarters of a mile Stood with his power of Horse nor once was seene to stirre VVhen Richard that th' euent no longer would deferre The two maine Battels mix'd and that with wearied breath Some laboured to their life some laboured to their death There for the better fought euen with a Spirit elate As one that inly scorn'd the very worst that Fate Could possibly impose his Launce set in his Rest Into the thick'st of Death through threatning perill prest To where he had perceiu'd the Earle in person drew Whose Standard 〈◊〉 he Sir William Brandon slew The pile of his strong staffe into his arme-pit sent VVhen at a second shocke downe Sir Iohn Cheney went Which scarce a Launces length before the Earle was plac'd Vntill by Richmonds Guard inuironed at last VVith many a cruell wound was through the body gride Vpon this fatall field Iohn Duke of Norfolke dide The stout Lord Ferrers fell and Ratcliffe that had long Of Richards counsels been found in the field among A thousand Souldiers that on both sides were slaine O Red-more it then seem'd thy name was not in vaine When with a thousands blood the earth was coloured red Whereas th' Emperiall Crowne was set on Henries head Being found in Richards Tent as he it there did winne The cruell Tyrant stript to the bare naked skin Behind a Herauld truss'd was backe to Le'ster sent From whence the day before he to the Battell went The Battell then at Stoke so fortunatly strucke Vpon King Henries part with so successefull lucke As neuer till that day he felt his Crowne to cleaue Vnto his temples close when Mars began to leaue His fury and at last to sit him downe was brought I come at last to sing twixt that seuenth Henry fought With whom to this braue Field the Duke of Bedford came With Oxford his great friend whose praise did him inflame To all Atchieuements great that fortunate had bin In euery doubtfull fight since Henries comming in With th' Earle of Shresbury a man of great command And his braue sonne Lord George for him that firmly stand And on the other side Iohn Duke of Suffolks sonne Iohn Earle of Lincolne cald who this sterne warre begun Subborning a lewd Boy a false Imposter who By Simonds a worse Priest instructed what to doe Vpon him tooke the name of th' Earle of Warwicke heire To George the murthered Duke of Clarence who for feare Lest some that fauoured Yorke might vnder hand maintaine King Henry in the Tower did at that time detaine * Which practise set on foot this Earle of Lincolne sayld To Burgundy where he with Margaret preuayld Wife to that warlike Charles and his most loued Aunt Who vexed that a proud Lancastrian should supplant The lawfull Line of Yorke whence she her blood deriu'd Wherefore for Lincolnes sake shee speedily contriu'd And Louell that braue Lord before him sent to land Vpon the same pretence to furnish them a Band Of Almanes and to them for their stout Captaine gaue The valiant Martin Swart the man thought scarce to haue His match for Martiall feats and sent them with a Fleet For Ireland where shee had appoynted them to meet With Simonds that lewd Clerke and Lambert whom they there The Earle of Warwicke cald and publish'd euery where His title to the Crowne in Diuelin and proclaime Him Englands lawfull King by the fift Edwards name Then ioyning with the Lord Fitz-Gerald to their ayd Who many Irish brought they vp their Ankres wayd And at the rocky Pyle of * Fowdray put to shore In Lancashire their power increasing more and more By Souldiers sent them in from Broughton for supply A Knight that long had been of their confederacy Who making thence direct their marches to the South When Henry saw himselfe to farre in dangers mouth From Couentry he came still gathering vp his Host Made greater on his way and doth the