when Henry crown'd his sonne Assistants at the coronation With Yorkes Archbishop for that office he Claim'd to belong to Canterburies See Nor would he then absolve them though in their Behalfe a Suitor young King Henry were While this was rumor'd there to second fame To old King Henry the wrong'd Bishops came And to his eare declar'd their grievances He vext at Beckets wilfull stubbornesse Such words though generall in his choller spoke As in some brests too deepe impression tooke Foure knights that heard by chance the kings discourse As Morvile Tracy Britaine and Fitz-Vrse Vnhappy men inflam'd with such a rage And erring zeale as no succeeding age Shall ever praise resolve in heate to doe For Henry's sake what Henry's selfe must rue And their sad memories as long as fame Has wings or tongues shall feele in lasting shame From Normandy without the Kings consent These foure unhappy Knights for England went To execute what they had there design'd And fondly thought would please their Soveraignes mind Archbishop Becket's death but found too soon What fatall service they to him had done How sad a cure fond wretches have you found For balme you powre in poyson to the wound And make that death which then was but a sore King Henryes cause is lost for evermore If Becket suffer so your selves are lost The King must suffer all but Rome are crost While Becket bleedes while you beare lasting staine While Henry grieves the Pope alone shall gaine â—…ate seem'd to pitty Henry and decree That he meane-while should breath in Normandy And from his England absent should remaine Whil'st England was defil'd with such a staine To Canterbury the foure Knights at last Arm'd with their followers came and freely past Into the Bishop's palace their intent Vnknowne had fill'd with feare and wonderment The peoples hearts who flocking up and downe Afâ—…ighted all but Becket he alone Whose head that suddaine danger threaten'd he In lookes and gesture unappall'd and free From all dismay their comming did receive And fearelesse answers to their threatnings give As if his courage strove not to asswage At all but to exasperate their rage Nor could that stoutnesse hasten on his fate So soone but or their faultring hands forgate To act it then or else unhappy they Not fully yet resolv'd upon the way A while for Counsell did retire from him How much the respite of that little time Did afterwards encrease their monstrous guilt Else in the Pallace had his blood beene spilt And not the sacred Temple made to be The seat of that inhumane butchery Which on their crime by circumstance of place Must set a fouler and more horrid face While thus the Knights retiâ—…e the Monkes in care Of Beckt's safety to himselfe declare How great a danger he was in desire That from the Pallace straight he would retire And to the Church for safeguard fly but he Too full of fatall magnanimity Disdaines to stirre but there resolues to stay By force at last they hurry him away When words prevaile not and in vayne alas Into the Temple as a safer place Convey his person but not all the awe Which so Divine a place from men should draw Not all the râ—…verend Roabes that Becket wore Nor th' high and sacred oâ—…ice which he bore When once those furious Knights were enter'd in Kept him from death nor them from deadly sinne In all his Roabes the great Archbishop slayne Did with his blood his owne Cathedrall stayne How much did every fatall circumstance In this abhorred act of theirs advance Thy â—…ame oh Becket their unhallowed rage Made thee not only pity'd by the age But worshipp'd too for them no infamy Is thought enough no dignity for thee How ill the people in so blinde an age Can keepe a meane in reverence or in rage They first pronounce thee innocent to be A Martyr then and then a Deity To thee they all will pray and to thy Tombe Shall greatest Kings in adoration come Even he to whom thou living owd'st thy knee Before thy shrine shall prostrate worship thee Whose gorgâ—…ous wealth and lustre shall outshine All other shrines as reliques most divine Not only shall thy nobler parts be worne In gold and gemmes but men shall strive t' adorne Thy meanest garments and obeisance doe To thy ridiculously-holy shoo Thither from farre shall Pilgrims come to pray Nay in her danger once a bird they say Could we beleeve that any bird would be Of such a Christian faith did pray to thee Soone to King Henry then in Normandy Did this sad newes of Becket's murder fly And fill'd his pensive soule with heavinesse For well he judg'de nor proov'd it any lesse 'T would be by all the Christian Princes thought That that foule deede by his command was wrought But more he griev'd that he had rashly spoke Such words before in Choller 's heat as tooke That bad impression in the Knights alas He griev'd to thinke into how sad a â—…ase Those wretched men had plung'd themselues to doe Him service as they thought they durst not now Appeare at all into the North they fledd And there alone their lives in sorrow ledd And all of them if we may trust to fame Within foure yeares to ends untimely came King Lewis of France or for the love he bore To slaughtered Becket show'd so oft before Or else for envy at the high renowne And power of Henry that ecclips'd his owne Since now Religion gave him faire pretence Pursu'd his ends with all the vehemence Of words or prayers to exasperate Pope Alexander 'gainst King Henry's state Beseeching him he would avenge with ali The armes of holy Church th' unworthy fall And cruell murder of so deare a sonne The like had other neighbouring Princes done But Henry full of feares dispatch'd from thence Embassâ—…dours to pleade his innocence Before the Pope and there to testifie What griefe he tooke for Becket's tragaedy Beseeching him he would be pleas'd to send His Legats thither that might heare and end So sad a cause for much he fear'd from Rome An Interdiction 'gainst his Realmes would come But soone the matter could not have an end The fates were pleas'd it should a while depend Vntill successes of a fairer kinde Had given some ease to Henry's grieved minde And Irelands conquest prosperously gain'd Allay'd the sorrow he for this sustain'd His thoughts are wholly bent on Ireland now In person thither he entends to goe And fearing interruptions to prevent What Bulls or mischiefes might from Rome be sent To trouble England ere he leave the Land Of Normandy he layes a straight command On th' officers of evâ—…ry Port to see That no Briefe-carrier without certainty Of his estate entent and businesse Should be permitted thence to crosse the Seas Nor long in England did the King abyde No cause of stay was there but to provide Such force and fit retinew as from thence Might guard him ore in high Magnificence To Irelands conquest like
command lest if they wholly goe They should all woods all cities ouerthrow And beare downe all that did before them stand Confounding Neptunes kingdome with the land Yet have those windes still leave in some degree Though they disdaine such petty liberty To range abroade to make their natures knowne To shake some weakely â—…ounded houses downe Oreturne some aged Oakes and now and than To cause a shipwracke on the Ocean Even so these hellish monsters though great Iove Permit them not in their full strength to move Are acting mischeiâ—…e every day and goe Contriving here and there designes of woe And worke though they almost such worke despise The wracke of private men and families But to effect a great and publike woe Without a speciall license cannot goe Hither while Lucifer did thus survey His Master-Vices as they chained lay He bad them bring Enyo downe below For then to th'upper cave he would not goe What would'st thou crave quoth he what blacke designe What stratagem t' enlarge thy power or mine Hath made Enyo hither take her flight The furious Maide replyes great Prince of night T is not my cause alone that makes me come As fearing generall peace in Christendome Thy cause is joyn'd I feare if that peace be Such warres as more will hurt thy Monarchy Then briefly thus full fifteene yeares are gone Since potent Henry wore the English crowne Possest besides in wealthy France of more Strong lands then doe the crowne of France adore Blest with a numerous issue and by none Annoy'd disturb'd by no rebellion Nor forreine foes and lest French Lewis should be His foe though too too weake aâ—…inity Ioines them faire Margaret is by wedlocke ty'd To young Prince Henry Brittaines heire 's affy'd To Geoffrey his third sonne who comes to adde That Dutchy too to what before he had In France it did not seeme enough that he Before possest Maine Aniou Normandy Nor that he did by Eleanor obtaine Poiâ—…tou besides and fertile Aquitaine What warre dares menace such strong power as he Possesses now what fortune woe is me Ha's chang'de the times with what delight could I If now not crost by this tranquillity Remember Stephen's raigne and tragicke times Oh heavens what slaughters then what civill crimes Did England see when on her frighted Coast The Empresse Maude was landed with her hoast And came by armes to claime her royall right What suddain tumults rose and did afright The wretched people different passions then Made sad divisions in the hearts of men Some wept some fear'd some sadly tooke their armes And with intent to cure their countryes harmes Prepar'd to wound her more some did not know What side to take or where they might bestow Their rage or love before each mourning eye Did formes of fire of blood and slaughter flye Within themselves their passions made arise Such things as they imagin'd prodigies With thoughts confus'd the people rush'd to armes No noise in England but my loud alarmes Was heard the warre long carryed to and fro At Lincolne wholly met at last and now All hop'd one battell would the right decide No feild was ever with more fury try'd Nor rage ere met more aequall rage as they That saw the slaughters of that dismall day Could justly tell till great Augustaes right Whose powers renowned Gloster led in fight Prevail'd at last there after he in vaine Had shew'd rare valour was king Stephen tane And to the conquering Empresse captive brought Then turn'd the State who would not then have thought All civill warres had ended quite when she Had on her side both right and victory The people all congratulate her state But soone beginne to pity Stâ—…phens faâ—…e And too hard durance who a king had beene Then pinch'd in irons lay his weeping Queene For her deare Lord did to the Empresse sue But all in vaine the warres from thence renew Againe the discontented people rise In aide of Stephens faction and surprise Glosters brave Earle Augustaes Generall Then seem'd the like calamities to fall On both the parties and in aequall paine Of durance did the king and Earle remaine Accord was made but not an end to make Of civill warre nor for their countries sake But to release their owne captivity And in exchange they set each other free From this accord with greater fury farre Through all the kingdome rose the civill warre For those sad changes had not pacify'd But more incens'd the chiefes of either side Whose wrath the people felt all kindes of woe The wretched Realme was forc'd to undergoe The countryes pillag'd castles lost and wonne Rich cloysters robb'd the fairest cities downe Or ras'd or burned in â—…ude heapes did ly As Wiltons pittyed sacke could testify By Glosters furious army burn'd with fire Nor thee faire Worster in king Stephens ire Could all thy beauteous structure save from wracke In fatall flames thy walls and houses cracke Through what great hazards did both Princes runne How hardly oft escape destruâ—…tion What neede I tell how Stephen forc'd to fly From Gloster's powers forfooke his treasury At Wilton Abbey how the Empresse fled When least she seem'd to fly supposed dead And like a coarse was carryed through her 〈◊〉 So to escape what need I now disclose How after she when she iâ—… Oxford lay Straightly beseig'd by Stephen got away No strength of friends at all no parleys there Could free her person Winter rescu'd her And the cold season strove to mocke the foe December rag'd the Northerne windes did blow And by their power had glaz'd the silver flood Of neere-adjoyning Thames whose waters stood Congealed still ore which the snow around Had fall'n and with white fleeces cloath'd the ground When the wise Empresse cloath'd alike in white Forsooke the towne and past along by night Deluding so the watches carefull eyes They thought the snow had moov'd or did surmise Their opticke spirits had disturbed beene Not cleare and they tumultuously had seene Fixt objects oft doe seeme in motions so Thus then securely did the Empresse goe And was receiv'd with joy to Walingford Nor then did England bleed alone her Lord Anious great Earle by feirce and bloody warre Was winning Normandy in right of her Those those were times but now ah woe is me Great Lucifer if this tranquillity Without disturbance hold in Christendome I feare for thee a farre worse warre will come Thy Saracens shall rue the Christians peace And feele their conquering swords what large increase Of territories honour and of fame Through farthest Asia will the Christian name Acquire what bounds alas would Salem know If potent Henry to this warre should goe If he should there the English crosse advance His aide they all will seeke his puissance Will Salems feeble king implore to joyne Against those foes that threaten Palaestine Therefore in time this peacefull knot divide Enyo ceas'd when Lucifer reply'de Thy just complaint heroike Maide I heare But doe not doubt the power of Lucifer Those
Coronation day But most of all though least discerning why Vnusuall joy the Vulgar testify Not good but new things please the peoples eyes Nor dooes King Henry in his love surmise That all the face of England all the state Were witnesses enow to celebrate His sonnes high honour but King William too Arriv'd from Scotland must be brought to doo His homage to him as to Englands King And with him must his brother David bring The sacred oile in banish'd Becket's stead Is by Yorkes Prelate powr'd upon his head The Diadem which was possess'd before Empales his brow whilest all the Peeres adore Two Sunnes at once and ill presaging see What aâ—…ter proov'd a fatall prodigy How ill Imperiall Majesty can brooke A sharer seeke not farre nor neede you looke Sâ—…oryes whose credit time has ruin'd quite Nor neede you read what old Tragaedians write Of this â—…add Theame or east your pitying eyes Vâ—…on the Theban brothers tragoedyes Oâ—… brothers blood that Romes first walls did stayne The sâ—…arious heavens as Poets wisely faine Brook'd not old Saturne and his Iupiter By every age and dire examples neere To us how oft has this sadd truth been proov'd How many sonnes and fathers have been moov'd To parricide to set themselues but free From that which Henry makes himselfe to be Rivall'd in reigne but if he still retayne Full Regall power what more dost thou obtaine By this thy father's kinde donation Young King then title and a fruitlesse throne How vaine thy Scepter is when thou shalt see The power divided from the dignity Yet doe not so mistake thy fate no lesse Nay greater farre esteeme thy happinesse Then if thou now wert seiz'd of all alone The â—…ares and dangers waiting on a Crowne Have made some feare the burden or despise That sacred jewell of unvalewed price A prudent King when he awhile survey'd The glittering splendour that his Crowne display'd Was sighing heard to say if those that view Farre off thy flattering gloryes only knew How many cares and gâ—…efes in thee are found They would be loath to take thee upp from ground This wisest Monarch if he now should see Thy royall State young King would envy thee And count thee happy sure that doost alone Weare without cares the glories of a Crowne That from the burden of a King art free Invested only with the dignity Yet this prerogative bâ—…ings no content To thee that seem'st to want th' accomplishment Of royalty the power and Regall sâ—…ay Nothing alas this Coronation day Has brought thee to but to a nearer sight Of what thou hast not nor is yet thy right Thy stirring minde meetes torture with a throne But Tantalized in dominion The cause alas of woes that must ensue And thy great father too too soone shal rue That dayes solemnity in truest state The Court of England strove to celebrate And with such great magnificence as might The Majesty of that high presence fitt Where all at once three Kings two Queenes were mett Besides so many high borne Princes great In same and wealth the feasting boords were fill'd With what this Iland or â—…ich France could yeild Sâ—…ch cates as those with which old Poets fain'd In Thessaly the Gods were entertain'd At sâ—…lver-footed Thetis bridall feast Where â—…ove himselfe vouchsaf'd to be a guest Where aged Chiron waited at the boord And brought what aire earth waters could afâ—…ord When all rich Tempe and th' adjoyning seas Were search'd besides what then the Najades What young Palaemon Glaucus and the greene Sea-nymphs had brought to grace their beautious queen The choisest Wines that France or Spaine could yeild In cupps of gold studded with gemms were fill'd And antique Gobletts where the Carver strove To aequall natures skill beasts seem'd to moove And pretious birds their glistering wings display'd The faire and mâ—…ssy vessels that conveyâ—…d The feast to them did far in their high rates Exceede the valew of those sumptuous cates King Henry wanton with excesse of joy Which now he thought no fortune could destroy How soone deceiv'd how soone enforc'de to finde The errour in his ill-presaging minde To testifie a great affection And grace the state of his young-crowned Sonne Himselfe as sewer will vouchsafe to waite Vpon his sonne who sitts in Regall state And to his table the first dish present The Lords and Princes all with one câ—…nsent Applaud the King 's great love but secretly Are stroke with wonder these strange rites to see Some seeke examples for it some within Themselues doe sadly from that sight divine When Yorkes Arch-Bishop the young King bespake Rejoyce my Princely sonne and freely take The comfort of your state no Monarch know On Earth has such a servitour as you With that the Prelate gently smil'd but he With a proud looke replyes why wonder yee Or thinke these rites so strange my Father â—…ooes My birth is farre more Royall well he knowes Then his he only by the Mothers side With high Imperiall blood was dignify'de His father was but Anjous Earle but I Derive from both my Parents royalty A King and Queene thâ—…y all with wonder heare King Henry sigh'd and gan even then to â—…eare What after might ensue from such a pride But at that triumph he resolv'd to hide His feares or griefes instead of which the Court Was fill'd with Revells with all Royall sport All showes that high magnificence could give There art in strange varietyes did strive Both to perplexe and please the eyes of all â—…ut nature more for to the festivall From every part the choisest beauties came There like a fire aetheriall every Dame Did blaze more bright then Elements could make While from the Countreys they all flock'd to take Survey of Kingly gloryes while they sought To view the lustre of a Court they brought The lustre with them and might seeme to be Themselues that splendour that they came to see Amidd'st those sparkling beauties Cupid sate Loves powerfull God and rul'd in highest state Arm'd with his fires and shafts resolv'd to be In Henry's Court a greater King then he Whose yoake the King must suffer On the state Of Cupid there the little Loves did waite Throughout the Court they tooke their wanton flight With wings unseene and when they list would light Vpon the Ladyes shoulders or their breasts Their Ruffes or tires they feele not those light guests Which they give harbour to Bold Lycence there Sweete reconciled Anger blushing Feare Vnsafe Delight did with pale Watching fly Desiring teares with Wanton perjury And all the rest They say the beauteous Queene Of Love her selfe upon that day was seene Approching London up cleare Thames his streame Borne on a sounding Triton's backe she came The River smooth'd his face to entertaine The Queene of Love with her ligâ—…t footed traine The silver Swans ador'de her all 〈◊〉 way And churking did their snow-white wings display The river-nymphes that saw her comming thought Some sweete atchievement now was to be wrought That Cupid sure
houses nor the milky way All pav'd with silver Starres doe seeme so cleare The woods are heaven while faire Caliâ—…to's there â—…une then beganne and roses grac'd the Spring Into his garden walkes the Love-sicke King To seeke a sweet retreat with her alone â—…o feast his pleas'd imagination There while he view'd the Queen of flowers his flame Encreas'd and tooke fresh fuell from the name For her the blushing rose must praised bee And scorn'd againe because it is not shee No roses can quoth he be fragrant else Thâ—…re is no spring but where Lord Clifford dwells â—…hus vainely runne his thoughts upon the flower While gentle birds about his â—…hady bower Tune their soft notes and by degrees sweet sleepe Through all his wearyed senses gan to creepe As if faire Venus pittying his sad plight Would send him now by dreame some short delight And what his waking eye could not have found Present in sleepe the shape of Rosamund But Heaven was more propitious to his fame And for Love-dreames a Nobler vision came Honours bright Goddesse that heroike maide That issu'de from the braine of Iove array'de In all her radiant gloryes came before Whose face the Cupids fledd her right hand bore The warlike Lance her left Medusaes head Her golden plumed Helme both full of dread And Majesty such rayes of splendour yeilds As rising Phaebus when farre off he guilds The Easterne Cloudes her eyes wore Starry light But fixt not twinckling like weake humane â—…ight Nor did she seeme by stepps at all to goe Or stirring severall Limmes as mortalls doe But one sole motion through the ayre to make Thus she appear'd and thus the King bespake Forgetfull Henry wake the Fates provide While thou art sleeping Fame for thee and chide Thy dull delayes how long to thee in vaine Shall Ireland yeld her selfe and court thy raigne Ireland that must hereafter bring a style So great to thy posterity that I le The most enduring part of thy renowne And best addition to faire Englands Crowne Ten yeares have turn'd into themselues againe Since that late Pope deceased Adrian Did freely send by Iohn of â—…alisbury The grant of Irelands soveraignty to thee And with it sent that ring to be a sure And lasting signe of thy investiture Into that sacred honour canst thou weare The pretious Emrauld on thy finger there And yet so long forget with what entent Thou then didst take that royall ornament That mariage token wiâ—…t thou now refuse The spouse thou did'st with such affection chuse Let not the thoughts of faâ—…tious Becket now Nor what Church-threats or censures thence may grow Divert thee from this happy enterprise Thinke not that troubles may in France arise Through thy short absence since no stirres at home No losse that to those provinces can come Can countervaile such great and lasting gayne That Westerne Ilaâ—…d as the â—…ates ordayne To thy Victorious seede through every age Shall be a great and constant heritage An I flourish then when all those Provinces All those riâ—…h lands thou doost in France possesse 〈◊〉 from the English Crowne divided be When thy most ancient right faire Normandy It selfe is gone together with rich Maine With Brettaine Aniou Poictou Aquitane Although how oft shall France before those dayes Be scourg'd What trophes shall the English raise In every part and province which no power Shall ere extinguish nor strong time devoure When all amazed Christendome shall see The Armes of England twice with victory To graspe great France and once to seize her Crowne And wear 't in uncontroll'd possession When Caesar's deeds against the ancient Gaules Shall be out done by English Generalls And three fam'd battells shall exceede what he Atchiev'd against his strongest enemy Stout Vercingentorix that Prince his fall Arvaricum's â—…am'd sacke and th' end of all Alexia taken to each severall feild Of Cressy Poictiers Agincourt shall yeild But Ireland which by easy victory Without a warre almost shall yeild to thee Shall to thy royall heires remayne although Bâ—…fore that Kingdome to perfection grow And be establish'd in a quiet Reigne â—…ft horrid warres and bloody fields shall stayne â—…er face in future times and loud alarmes â—…ft to the world shall fame the English armes And raise the glory of Elisaes name A virgin Queene shall all rebellion tame And to her rule in spight of Spaines proud fate That spatious â—…and wholly vindicate There wise King Iames shall spread the English Law And by divinest skill like Orpheus draw Those ruder people to a civile life And well establish'd Peace all jarres and striâ—…e Shall fly before his most auspicious reigne This is that Prince by whom high heavens ordeine The long wish'd marriage of two royall lands Briâ—…aines united I le to his commands And sacred Scepter shall obedient be Who after long and blest tranquillity Shall leave those States to his heroik sonne Renowned Charles in whose pure breast alone All regall vertues shall inhabite join'd With those that make a spotlesse privaâ—…e mynde Who shall refraine pleas'd with just power alone All the licentious pleasures of a throne And by example governe pleas'd to be A King in vertue as in Royalty The troubles now thaâ—… threaten Normandy 〈◊〉 sent to wake thee from this Lethargy And bring thee Nobler thoughts and now was rest Qâ—…ite banished from waken'd Henry's breast He with amazed thoughts look'd up and 〈◊〉 But when his eyes were ope the sight was gone And yet on Ireland wholly ranne his thought When suddaine tidings to his eare were brought Of what King Lewis of France beyond the Seas Had then attempted 'gainst his Provinces At which moov'd Henry armes and crosses ore As swift as thought unto the Norman-shore THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second The Third Booke The Argument of the third Booke The Kings of France and England at Vendome Without a battell to agreement come Henry return'd to England meetes againe With beautious Rosamund and dooes obtaine His wanton suit he builds for her a rare And sumptuous bower stout Becket's famous jarre This booke declares and dooes at large relate By what degrees it had disturb'd the state His Soveraignes pardon Becket dooes obtaine And to his See returnes in peace agayne SOone were those stormes that threatn'd Normandy Blowne ore againe and that hostility That Lewis of France in unadvised ire Had rashly harbour'd did as soone expire Before that any dire effects it wrought A peace King Henry's armed presence brought Who now in France arrived at Vendosme To enterview the two great Kings doe come There Lewis declaâ—…es his cause that wrong was done To him and France when Henry crown'd his sonne And with like state befitting had not set That Crowne upon the head of Margaret His Princely spouse but this which first did seeme A cause of just hostility to him Was there controll'd by all and judg'd to be On sound advise a lighter injury Then that the hand of Warre should it decide For such a wrong a
promise satisfy'de Which Henry freely gaue and did maintaine That he ere long would crowne his sonne againe And then young Margaret should full sharer be In all her Husbands state and dignity Then to performe what he had promis'd there Since these late-raised stormes allayed were Back into England Henry crost againe And in his noble breast ' gann entertaine The thought of Ireland's conquest now although He yet in person did not meane to goe But unto Dermot th' Irish Prince he gave Free leave from any of his Realmes to have What Voluntaryes he could carry ore That might hereafter to the Irish shoâ—…e Prepare his passage and begin the warres On fitter tearmes but not those high affaires Of Warre and Fame could keepe imperious Love From tyrannizing nor much lesse remoove His force that had before found entrance therâ—… Againe to him did Rosamund appeare And what ensu'd declare my Muse resound The love of Henry and faire Rosamund Thou knowest it Erato thou that to give My pen a true intelligence did'st dive So lately downe into th' Elysian groves And there beheld'st the seat of tragicke Loves That farre renowned shade of Mirtles where The beautious troope of Love-slaine dames appeare And weare the markes of their sad ruines yet Vpon those gloomy grounds no flowers are set But such alone which as old Poets sing Did from wail'd deaths and tragike changes spring Such as the pale-fac'd Daffadill that from That too too beautious boy's selfe-love did come And purple Hyacinth that first tooke growth From that so much lamented Spartan youth Adonis short-liv'd flower of crimson hew That from faire Venus sprinckled Nectar grew Dooes there appeare by whom is sadly set The pining Clyties pale-leav'd Violet Thou Erato within that Mirtle grove Saw'st those fam'd Ladyes whom their owne sad love Or others love had ruin'd wandring there Thou saw'st the Theban Semele appeare Wâ—…o too too late complain'd of amorous Iove And now condemn'd her owne ambitious Love There with the fatall shaft did Procris stand Who yet forgave her Lord's mistaking hand Faire Dido too of life and crowne bereft Bâ—… whom the perjur'd Trojan's sword was left And there by Aspes destroy'd sent from above In all her gloryes to th' Elysian grove â—…at Cleopatra walk'd there thou did'st see The Lesbian Sappho sadd Eryphile Thâ—… waâ—…ling Phaedra sham'd Pasiphaë Câ—…st â—…hisbe and incestuous Canace Witâ—… them the much lamented Sestian Maide And thousands moe whom whilest thine eyes survey'd Thou saw'st the second Henry's Paramour Faire Rosamund within that gloomy bower Among the rest and now return'd relate The circumstances of her love and fate While those late stirres detain'd the King in France By power of Cupid's godhead or by chance To Court the beautious Rosamund had beene Brought up to waite on Elianor the Queene There did the longing eyes of Henry finde Their brightest blisse the wishes of his mind There met their bound and her at court to whom He had resolv'd the Court it selfe should come T was then too late for him to checke desire Or to suppresse so strong and sweet a fire When he had seene his love againe so soone A longer absence might perchance have done That cure on him short absence hurt him more And made his wound farre greater then before Absence not long enough to root out quite All love encreases love at second sight So fares it now with Henry who pursues His amorous wishes taught by Love to use All those rich aides that Nature could allow That birth and hight of fortune could bestow For him his persons worth his deedes of glory His royall gifts the strongest oratory Doe proudly pleade all subject-wits must move As second causes serve the will of love For him that he may his desires enjoy And great enough are his desires t' employ All aides in this faire suite you might descry The charmes of beauty power of majesty And all that ancient Poëts sung of Love When they ascrib'd it to Imperiall Iove When he a bull would for Europa be A shower of gold for beautious Danae A Swanne for Leda with a thousand moe Such shapes to woe and winne faire Dames why so Could he change shapes and gaine in them so much Because he was great Iove his power was such But why should Iove himselfe vouchsafe to take Such humble formes as these why should he make Himselfe a bull a swanne a golden shower Because so great was Loves commanding power And nothing else was shadow'd in those things But power of beauty and the power of Kings How oft in Court the royall Henry strove By secret favours to endeare his love To Rosamund yet to delude the eyes Of Elianor and her officious spies How many spyes a jealous Queene may finde Some bounty makes some Dames an envious minde Workes to that cruell office to betray And ruine her that is more grac'd then they Faire Rosamund so young and inocent She could not fully sound the kings intent Yet loves the grace he does her loves the thought Of that effect which her owne beauty wrought And though she feele no flames reciprocall Nor Cupid's golden shaft 'gainst her at all Had beene discharg'd she loves king Henry's flame As her owne trophee there 's no beautious Dame But in that kind's unjust they often strive To gaine love there where they refuse to give And spread their proudly charming nets t' enthrall All hearts but cherish few or none at all They joy that men are forc'd to make the suite Yet too much grudge that men should reape the fruite Of their desires and wish those hearts to have Which they resolve to ruine not to save But Cupid oft is just and by degrees while they foresee not workes his servants ease Making those beauties while they boast the fame Of firing hearts approach too neere the flame And be themselves at last the selfe-same way By which they meant to triumph made a prey The open Court in Henry's owne surmise Was thought a place too full of eares and eyes Too full of eminence to woo and winne A maid so coy so young and bashfull in That love that he to her had then declar'd By graces at the Court had but prepar'd Her mind and taught her how to entertaine That parley that must his full suite obtaine A faire retreat of greater privacy Remov'd from London then was sought where he Might lodge that jewell which he meant t' enjoy With other agents fitting to employ An ancient Dame skill'd in those arts was found To aide the kings desires of most profound And subtle wit of winning speech was she And such in all â—…he might be thought to bee No Beldame but wise Venus lurking in A Beldames shape faire Rosamund to winne False Venus for her ends has oft done so And once as Homer's wisest Muse did show She tooke the shape of an old Spartan Dame In Hellens brest to blow Loves powerfull flame And subtly winne her to the Trojan's bed Perchance this Dame
was Venus or else bred In all her arts and subtle sure as she Who now by Henry was employ'd to be The chiefest Agent in his amorous ends Vpon whose skill his sweetest hope depends No farther distance then at ease a day Might reach from London stood the place which they Had chose for beautious Rosamund to bide Within a forrest rarely beautify'd Without by all that nature could afford Within the house it selfe was richly stor'd As guesse you may with what a bounteous King To please his dearest Mistres eye would bring The place it selfe did seeme his sute to move And intimate a silent plea for love Such was that bower where oft the Paphian Queene With young Anchises was on Ida seene About this house such groves springs gardens were As Poëts placed in Loves region where The Westwinds ever blow faire youth doth stay And keepes from thence old age and care away To this delicious countrey house is she Conducted by a trusty company Appointed by the King on her to waite And doe her service in the higest state While Henry's love is in such gifts exprest As might have power to tempt the chastest brest And each day courts her with a richer shower Then rain'd on Danae in the brazen tower The subtle Dame that waited on her there On all occasions fill'd her tender eare With Henry's praise and fame striving t'endeare His bounty and unaequall'd love to her Into a spatious gallery they went Where well-wrought pictures did to life present Those things which ancient tales or stories told Which whilest faire Rosamund did pleas'd behold And entertain'd with fresh variety To severall pictures oft remov'd her eye The cunning Dame pick'd some nor would she name Those beauties that had beene of loosest fame But chose the coyest out behold quoth she My noble daughter the severity Of Dian ' there by which Actaeon dy'd Cause unawares her naked limbs he spy'd Yet this forsooth soure Goddesse turne your eye The tother way by Pan of Arcady Is caught and with a toy of no esteeme A white-fleec'd Ramme see how she followes him Into the grove and does not there disdaine In kindest sort to ease a Lovers paine See Atalanta the swift running maide Whose cruell beauty to sad death betray'd So many noble youths at last by one For three gold apples willingly is wonne And yeilds her beauty to Hippomenes Oh Gods what pretious gifts indeed are these What is a white fleec'd Ramme or golden ball Compar'd to what the greatest Lord of all This Westerne world great Henry can bestow Nay blush not faire one this conceit just now Runne crosse my brest nor was it in my thought That gifts could merit or true love be bought But where true love doth reigne guifts may expresse And that alone is great mens happinesse That by so brave a way as gifts can show That love that poore ones are enforc'd to doe By sighes and teares and many times too late By pining death behold that cruell fate In Iphis there that hangs himselfe and see The faire but scornesull Anaxarete Who with dry eyes beholds poore Iphis death Whom onely love of her had reft of breath The Gods themselves were mov'd her spite to see And in revenge of such a cruelty Turn'd her to stone replyes faire Rosamund If love have power to make so deepe a wound Has he not justice too those two should be Inseparable in a Deity Why fits he not his shafts to both the parts And wounds reciprocally Lovers hearts That sure were justice I remember I Once read and pittyed Iphis tragedy And wonder'd that her cruelty was such To kill a heart to whom she ow'd so much And thought what I in such a case should doe The subtle Dame straight answers and would'st thou Be juster faire one since we here are free I le boldly speake a Monarch pines for thee And what the difference is 'twixt slighting him And vulgar loves weigh in a just esteeme I doe not speake it onely 'cause a King in power a greater recompense can bring For love then others juster reasons farre And truer fairest Rosamund there are As kings have greater soules so they in love Doe feele farre stronger passions then can move A private brest besides those spirits that raigne Ore other people lesse can brooke disdaine It therefore double cruelty must prove To give a sterne repulse to those whose love Is both in nature strongest and beside Lesse patient a denyall to abide But most of all consider at how great And high a value Monarchs lives are set If they should dye for love that sway the fate Of nations borne to change the worlds estate Or settle it to judge of peace and warre Oh what respects of private honour are To be in ballance put with these but let Me speake in more particular as great As high a fortune would from Henry's love Accrew to Rosamund should death remove Queene Elianor away as Englands thronâ—… And royall title nor can death alone Divide her from him a divorce may doe it And her unkindnesses may move him to it She was divorc'd before from Lewis of France He brook'd her not great Henry did advance Her lessen'd state agayne to royalty By leave obtein'd from Rome and may not he Againe reject her may not Rome be wonne And that for Henry which for Lewiâ—… was done Oh could'st thou Fortunes gratious proffers use While thus alone they were discoursing newes Was brought them up the King was lighted there Faire Rosamund was strooke with suddaine feare Yet such a feare as did containe a kinde Of joy and twixt the two perplex'd her minde Nor had she leisure to dispute the case The King himselfe so soone appear'd in place Who with so sweete a kisse salutes his love That in his lipps his soule did seeme to moove And meete the object it desir'd so much His powerfull language Cupid aides and such His whole deportment was as most might moove And seeme to challenge by desert a love Oh what beseidged chastity could long Hold out against so many and so strong Assaults such cruell snares as there were lay'd What beauty could escape the noble Maide At last alas is wonne to his delight Within whose armes he spends the wanton night Th' unlawfull fruite of his desires he tasts And by that action with dishonour blasts The pity'd sweetnesse of so fresh a Rose Yet thence when time maturely shall disclose Her burden'd wombe the fates had so decree'd A brave and Noble offspring must proceede William surnamed Long-sword after by His right of Marriage Earle of Salisbury And made the happy father of a faire And Noble issue by that Earle domes heire Great Henry now possest of that bright gemme Which almost aequall to his Diadem His longing fancy oft had priz'd before In this sweete trance could slumber evermore Heere could he dwell arrived at the height Of his desires and ravish'd with delight Contemning fame could be a while content To lay
to the place Which by those factious stirres that must ensue Shall both the King himselfe and Becket rue But now when hee deny'de to give assent Vnto those lawes proposde in Parliament The King was moov'de the other Bishops all Fearing his wrath from Becket's party fall Hee stiffely stands alone although to gayne Him to his side the King had striv'de in vayne Pope Alexander though hee knew the cause To bee his owne and gâ—…eatly fear'd those lawes Yet since his Papall diadeâ—… did stand On doubtfull teâ—…mes and th' Emperours strong hand Did then support the Antipope he strove In every thing to keepe King Henryes love He therefore wrote to Becket to assent Without all clauses to the Kings entent Becket repaires to Woodstock to the King Humbly submits himselfe and promising That he now freely without any clause Of reservation would accept the Lawes Is by the King receiv'd to grace againe Who much rejoyces thinking that the maine Opposer of him now was growne his owne A Councell straight he calls at Clarendon Assur'd that all the Bishops now would signe What he propos'd to them the rest encline To his desire Becket revolts againe Seemes to repent his promise to complaine That he in that had rashly sinn'd before Aâ—…d in that kinde resolues to sinne no more The King deluded and enrag'de at this So unexpected a revolt of his Threatens th' Archbishop but a Princes threats Cannot prevaile with him nor all th' entreats Ofth ' other Bishops and those Peeres that love The quiet of the State have power to moove His resolution now the fatall wound Was growne past cure nor must this kingdome bound The maladyes of such a spreading sore King Henry's fill'd with grâ—…efe and scorne the more His great soule weighs the meannesse of his foe The more his wrath fed by disdaine doth grow He grieves yet scornes to grieve so when a net Which treacherous hunters in the woods have set To bâ—…â—… snare for smaller beasts doth stay By chance a noble Lyon in his way The royall beast with greater shame then greife Teares his base bonds and almost scornes releife The more King Henry calls to minde how he Had raisd this Becket from a low degree Against the wills of all he still doth finde More fuell for his wrath-enflamed minde At last resolv'd he cites him to appeare Before his Iudges and to answer there Vpon accompt for such large summes as he When Chancellour of England formerly Had from the King detayn'd for Seignioryes Vnjustly held for proud enormityes And disobedience in a high degree Vnto the King his state and dignity To these will Becket scarse vouchsafe replyes But being no Layman at their Courts denyes At all to answere or obey their doome From thence appealing to the Court of Rome But that discharg'd him not the Parliament Then at Northhampton did with one consent Confiscate all his goods the Bishops there Pronounc'de him by the mouth of Chichester To be a perjur'd and a factious man Disclaim'd him for their Metropolitan And all obedience to him Becket now Weary'd with these calamityes that grow And fearing worse disgraces every day 〈◊〉 secret meâ—…nes at last to scape away And from the kingdome in disguise is gone To plead his cause before the Papall throne Oh what unwearyed Muse at large cantell Each severall jarre that from that day befell How Beckeâ—… to the Pope resign'd his Pall How in his wrath king Henry banish'd all Beckets allyes and kinne how oft 'gainst Rome In contestation he was forc'd to come The Papall power against the royall right How oft it was debated in the sight Of Christendome how Henry by entreats Sometimes and sometimes like a King with threats Mainâ—…ain'd his cause how oft the dreadfull doome And interdicting thunderbolt of Rome Was fear'd in England and for Beckets jarre Whole nations likely to be drawne to warre How oft did forraigne Princes interpose Some to increase the wound and some to close How many vaine Commissions had beene spent How many fruitlesse Legacies were sent How many dayes of bootlesse parleys set How ofâ—… with him the King in person met Seven yeares had past since this debate beganne Sixâ—… yeares had Beckeâ—… as a banish'd man At Pontinew and Saint Columba liv'd Maintain'd by Lewis of France who oft had striv'd Or seem'd to strive and so had Flanders Lord In vaine till now in making this accord But now accord although in vainâ—… is made For though King Lewis and Bloyâ—…es Earle perswade King Henry all offences to forget That paâ—…t before and Becket to submit Though both agreement make and Becket bee With Henry's leave returned to his See The Church from thence no lasting concord findes Seldome is factious fire in haughty mindes Extinguish'd but by death it oft like fire Supprest breakes forth againe and blazes higher This end ends not the strife nor drawes more nigh The Churches peace but Beckets tragaedy THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second The Fourth Booke The Argument of the fourth Booke Th' oâ—…casion heere and Noble deeds are showne That first brought Ireland to the English Crowne From Wales Earle Strongbow and Fitz-Stevans bring In aide of Dermot Leinsters banish'd King Their forces ore Archbishop Becket slayne Dâ—…oes with his blood his owne Cathedrall staine King Henry sends to plead his innocence Before the Pope to England goes from thence Himselfe in person into Ireland sailes In which his power without a warre prevailes And gaines that land without the aide of swords In royall state he feasts the Irish Lords And heares the wâ—…nders of that I le thence he To England sailes and thâ—…nce to Normandy FAire Floras pride into the Earth againe Was sunke cold Winter had begun his reigne And summond beautious daylight to restore To night those howers which he had stol'n before King Henry then in Normandy resolv'd To make abode and in his thoughts revolv'd Th'aâ—…aires of Ireland tidings daily came From thence and spread his valiant servants fame What noble actions they had there atchiev'd How many townes already were receiv'd By that small strength which they transported ore From Southerne Wales unto the Irish shore Fame had already fill'd his Princely eare With what Fitz-Stephens what Fitz-Girald there What noble Raimond had with handfulls wonne And private men against a Land had done Beâ—…des what great Earle Strongbow's actions were 〈◊〉 was already growne the Ilands feare Fame is not onely due though lowder farre She needes must speake of those to deedes that are By potent Monarchs or huge armies done That change the worlds estate and overrunne With speed the farthest spreading Emperies No deedes of worth can fame at all despise Though done by few and those the meanest men Nor did she onely sound Romes glories then When Pompeys lawrell'd Charriot show'd at once The vanquish'd VVest and Easterne nations Nor when great Caesar's triumphs did extend Fâ—…om farthest Thule to Cyrenes end She did record Romes infant honours too What poore
Quirinus could 'gainst Tatius doo What Tullus then 'gainst Alba wrought and now Who does not Numa and Aegeria know How king Porsenna did for Tarquin come How â—…ocles kept the bridge how Claelia swumme The worthy deedes of her beginning age Gave to her after greatnesse faire presage Her greatnesse after gave this age renowne And made her infant honours clearely knowne Their noble deedes in Ireland gave presage Of her full conquest in this later age Her conquest now shall their first deedes renowne As long as Ireland serves the English crowne The yeare before when first the Westerne windes Blew on the waters when all various kindes Of flowers beganne to beautify the spring In aide of Dâ—…rmot Leinsters banish'd King To whom that promise was ingag'd before The brave Fitz-Stephans lanching from the shore Of Wales with three tall ships accompany'd With his stout brother by the mothers side Fitz-Gerald safely crost the Ocean And with their Souldiers landed at the Banne A little creeke neere Wexford then scarce nam'd But ever since by his arrivall fam'd The â—…ext day after on the selfe same shore Maurice de Pendergast with two ships more Part of Fitz-Stephens company arriv'd And there by joyfull Dermot were receiv'd Who by that Prince his guidance and his aide With th' English colours and their armes display'd With dauntlesse courage able to supply The want of number in their company To Wexford martch'd which by assault they wonne The country neere together with the towne Dermot Mac Morough for such valour show'd Vpon Fitz-Stephans thankefully bestow'd There planted they that towne of all the rest Was first by English victory possest And has a lasting colony remain'd Which through all changes ever has retain'd The English manners their attire and though With Irish somewhat mixt their language too When famous Strongbow had in Wales receiv'd The newes of what Fitz-Stephans had atchiev'd With â—…resh supplies unto the Irish shore He sends his friend the valiant Reimond ore And shortly after with farre greater bands The noble Earle himselfe in Ireland lands Within the bay of Waterford which towne The next day after by assault he wonne Thither king Dermot came and brought with him His beautious daughter Eua Irelands gemme The pretious cause which drew the Earle so farre The faire reward of his victorious warre This beautious Lady when her father fled For aide to England then was promised To noble Strongbow and with her for doure Th' inheritance of Leinsters regall power Which here the King performes and with as high A state as might befit their dignity The marriage rites are celebrated now Mars smooths the horrours of his wrinckled brow And folds his bloody colours up a while The Paphian Queene in that delicious smile With which she charmes the Thracian God appeares His purple robe the pleased Hymen weares While Dermot gives with right of all those lands His beautious daughter into Strongbow's hands Nor was this marriage mannaged alone By those two Deities but from his throne Great Iove look'd downe and made that knot to be A worke belonging to his Deity By which himselfe did into union bring Two spatious lands and by that marriage ring Which noble Strongbow to his bride combin'd To Englands crowne the Realme of Ireland joyn'd A Ladies love when Dermot was decay'd In state and power first brought this forraigne aide And to his native land did him restore A Ladies love had banish'd him before And of his crowne and countrey him bereft The King of Meth had in an Iland left While he farre off into the land remov'd His faire but wanton Queene who long had lov'd This Dermotâ—…einsters â—…einsters king with flames unchast His love on her as her 's on him was plac'd Her Lords departure from her seife or fame Had Dermot learn'd and to the â—…land came Where soone he gain'd his wish a willing prey From thence he tooke the wanton Queene away Then as when once the â—…rojan Paris came And stole from Greece that farre renowned Dame 'T was not her husbands strength alone that sought Revenge a cause oâ—… that foule nature brought All Greece in Armes the Princes joyn'd in one And drew a thousand ships to Ilion So when this Prince his fatall Hellen gain'd The land was mov'd her wronged lord complain'd T'ambitious Rhotherike Connaughts King who claim'd The stile of Irelands Monarch and had aim'd At conquest of the land he wondrous glad Of such a faire pretence as now he had Rais'd his owne forces and 'gainst Leinsters King Did all th' incensed neighbour-Princes bring Whose force when Dermot could no way withstand Bereft â—…f all his strengths he fled the land And to great Henry's royall Court whom fame Then spoke the greatest king in Europe came The King that then remain'd in Aquitaine This Irish Prince did gladly entertaine Whom after feasting and magnificent Rewards bestow'd he with free licence sent To England there to gather without let What voluntaries he from thence could get In Southerne Wales Earle Strongbow then remain'd Fitz-Stephans too whose aide the King obtain'd On faire conditions to Fitz-Stephans he If wonne did promise Wexfords seigniory On th' Earle his daughter Eva to bestow Which promises were both performed now The marriage feasts of Strongbow now were done The revells ended all and Mars begunne Againe his threatning colours to display When th' Earle and old king Dermot ganne to weigh What acts remained further to be done And leaving there sufficient garrison Through Leinster all along they tooke their way For Dublin bent the countrey open lay To their victorious armes on every side No foe durst meete them or their force abide Proud Rhoderike himselfe swell'd with the stile Of universall Monarch of the I le Was glad to lurke within his proper bounds And keepe those safe retreates the boggy grounds Which in his owne peculiar Connagh lay Thus unresisted Strongbow kept his way Till he at last to Dublin came which soone By force and terrour of his name he wonne Faine would my Muse in this faire field proceede Of Irelands conquest and each noble deede Aâ—…cheived there of trophees rais d to fame The armes of England and great Henry's name Faine would she sing but Beckets fatall jarre Againe revives and from a nobler warre Drawes backe her eager flight and turnes againe Her song â—…riumphant to a tragicke straine By this King Henry in his active mind Great deedes and forreine conquests had design'd Secure from trouble as in vaine he thought Since Beckets peace and reconcilement wrought That might twixt State and Clergy rise at home When lo from England swift-wing'd fame was come And to his grieved eare sad tidings brought What reakes his stout Archbishop there had wrought Since last he did his dignity obtaine And to his See return'd in peace againe That 'mongst his fellow Bishops some of late He did suspend some excommunicate For actions past before from whence it plaine Appear'd old grudges were reviv'd againe As alâ—… that were
grazing cattell cover all those grounds They feele no want what grass they eate by dayes The dewy night backe to the land repayes And what fam'd Maro of that wealthy field In Mantua spake these meadows truely yeild But so myraculously temperate Prooves Irelands aire sometimes Wolues have of late In middst of bare December whelped beene And young-hatch'd Crowes at Christmas have bin seen What neede I speake of that fam'd Willow tree At Glindelachan which was knowne to be Chang'd from his nature though it yet appeare In outward forme a Willow and each yeare Brings forth faire Apples that have proov'd of strange And medcinable vertue still that change The common people as divinely rare Imputed to S. Keiwin's powerfull prayer Or to your sacred eare relate the story Of our S. Patrick's famous Purgatory Nine dismall caves there are in one of those If any man by night himselfe repose Such most unsufferable torments there As humane nature scarce has power to beare He shall endurâ—… the silly folke suppose â—…he paines of Hell not much exceeding those But if that all the prodigyes we know Of truth in Ireland or all those that so Are by the common people thought to be We should relate your sacred Majesty Would first be weary'd day would first be done Ere through those wonders our discourse could runne With that the Bishop his relation ceas'd Great Henry gave him thankes and highly pleas'd To heare the nature of his new-gain'd land Rewards those Irish with a bounteous hand That on his Royall Court did then attend And that this action might to happy end Be brought and Ireland setled in a blest And sure estate beginning at the best Of cares God's service he to Dublin then A Synod calls of th' Irish Clergymen With whom were many English Prelatâ—… joyn'd To sift the state of Irelands Church and finde What errours had by time crept in to be The blemishes of Christian purity While thus great Henry labours to secure His new-gaind Realme to leave it in a sure And peacefull state from these his wish'd affairâ—… He is diverted by more tragicke cares Sad newes to him though secretly are brought Of what the fiend Impiety had wrought In his bold sonnes their inclinations now And bad designes beyond concealment grow Enough to breake a tender fathers heart But of his sorrow this was but a part Although alas he were enforc'd to see In this unnaturall conspiracie His life and kingly state endanger'd were For other tidings to encrease his feare Came flying ore as mischiefes ever joyne Not singly come Albert and Theodine Were by Pope Alexander sent from Rome As Legates and to Normandy were come There to examine Becket's murder now With power not only to enquire and know But punish it and interdict at once All great King Henry's large dominions Vnlesse that he himselfe in person there Vpon their summons did forthwith appeare And now the feast of Easter was at hand King Henry griev'd that from his new gain'd land He was so soone enforc'd to part away Before well setled yet because delay On tother side did seeme so dangerous Of those affaires he briefly does dispose Makes Hugh de Lacy chiefe Iustitiar And to the chiefest Captaines each a share Of governement he leaves then crosses ore Aâ—…d with a prosperous winde upon the shore Of Wales arrives but making then no stay At all in England sailes with speede away To Normandy to meete the Legates there And does before them personally sweare That he commanded not that horrid deede But for those words that rashly did proceede Out of his mouth and might be thought to be The mooving cause of that blacke tragaedy He is contented to what pennance fit The Pope or they enjoyne him to submit THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second The Fift Booke The Argument of the fift Booke Against their Father Henry's impious Sonnes Raise Warre through all his large dominions By forreigne Princes back'd the old King's successe On every side and wondrous happinesse King Lewis of France is chasd from Normandy And Chesters Earle surpris'd in Brettainy At Farneham field the Earle of Leister's tane And almost all his warrelike Flemmings slaine The King of Scotland by a little band Is taken prisoner in Northumberland To Becket's shrine old Henry pensive goes Then freely pardons all his yeilding foes Tâ—…kes in the Forts that were against him mann'd And without bloodshed quiets all the land The wofull newes of murder'd Rosamund Amidd'st these joyes his bleeding heart doth wound A truce twixt Lewis and him young Richard gets Poictou but when King Henry comes submits And by his father is sent forth to winne His yet-offending brothers from their sinne NOw did those fatall and unnaturall jarres Disclose themselues and more then civill wars Began to make afflicted England bleede While Henryes foes from Henryes loynes proceede From Hell to Earth did that accursed fiend The Viper-hair'd Impiety ascend T' infect the Royall houshould such was she As ancient Poets made Megaera be That lov'd no warres but twixt neere kindred bred No blood but such as sonnes or brothers shed Such warres whose tryalls must be ever bad Whose conquests must be losse and triumphs sad Twixt Pelops sonnes t was she that bred despight T was she that made the Theban brothers fight That made Atrides impiously be slayne And impiously to be reveng'd againe She now through France through England sounds alarmes And Henry's sonnes against their father armes Henry the sonne too soone crown'd King on slight Prâ—…tences of a wrong resolues to fight 'Gainst his deare Faâ—…her in that blacke designe Richard and Geoffrey with their brother joyne As then was thought incensed by the spleene And jealousies of Elianor the Queene With them the Earles of Chester Leister too And Bigot Norfolkes Eaâ—…le with many moe ' Domestick Rebells joyne nor did so bad So impious a cause as theirs oh sadd Crime of the Fates want forreine aiders too For all the Christian Princes neere as though They understood not what Rebellion were Nor treason knew to th' unjust side adhaere King Lewis of France assists his sonne in Law And to that party Scotlands King doth draw That side does Philip Earle of Flanders take So much old Henry's state now seem'd to shake As nothing almost but th' immediate hand Of heaven alone had power to make him stand Why doe you Princes such Rebellion love Such sadd examples 'gainst your selues approove You that are Kings and Fathers is it hate Oâ—… envy borne to Henry's prosperous state That mooves you â—…hus alas you doe not show A skilâ—…ull hate to him in arming so Your arming makes those warres that were before Warres civill onely to be so no more But gives the grieved father hope to share A glorious triumph from a tragicke warre For else the conquest which great Henry had Ore his owne sonnes and subjects had beene sad The King of Scotland must a prisoner be And Lewis with shame oft chas'd from Normandy
betray'd Her Ladyes life and while she doubting fear'd Too soone the fatall certainty appear'd For with her traine the wrathfull Queene was there Oh who can tell what cold and killing feare Through every part of Rosamund was strooke The rosie tincture her sweete cheekes forsooke And like an Ivory statue did she show Of life and motion reft had she beene so Transform'd in deede how kinde the fates had beene How pitifull to her nay to the Queene To free her guilty hand from such a cryme So sadd and foule as no succeeding time But shall with griefe condemne yet had she beene A Statue and look'd so the jealous Queene Perchance on that her cruelty had showne Least Henry should have turn'd Pygmalion And for a Stâ—…tues love her bed forsooke The Queenes attendants with remorse are strooke Even she herselfe did seeme to entertaine Some ruth but straight Revenge return'd againe And fill'd her furious breast Strumpet quoth She I neede not speake at all my sight may be Enough expression of my wrongs and what The consequence must proove of such a hate Heere take this poyson'd cup for in her hand A poyson'd cup she had and doe not stand To parley now but drinke it presently Or else by tortures be resolv'd to dye Thy doome is set pale trembling Rosamund Receives the cup and kneeling on the ground When dull amazement somewhat had forsooke Her breast thus humbly to the Queene she spoke I dare not hope you should so farre relent Great Queene as to forgive the punishment That to my foule offence is justly due Nor will I vainely plead excuse to shew By what strong arts I was at first betray'd Or tell how many subtle snares were lay'd To catch mine honour these though nere so true Can bring no recompence at all to you Nor just excuse to my abhorred crime Instead of suddaine death I crave but time Which shall be stil'd no time of life but death In which I may with my condemned breath While griefe and pâ—…nnance make me hourely dye Poure out my prayerâ—… for your pâ—…osperity Or take revenge on this offâ—…ding face That did procure your wrong and my disgrace Make poysonous leprosies orespread my skinne And punish that that made your Henry sinne Better content will such a vengeance give To you that he should loath me whilest I live Then that he should extend if thus I dye His lasting pity to my memory And you be forc'd to see when I am dead Those teares perchance which he for me will shed For though my worthlesse selfe deserue from him No teares in death yet when he weighs my crime Of which he knowes how great a part was his And what I suffer as a sacrifice For that offence t will grieve his soule to be The cause of such a double tragaedy No more reply'd the furious Queene have done Delay no longer least thy choyse be gone And that a sterner death for thee remaine No more did Rosamund entreat in vaine But forc'd to hard necessity to yeild Drunke of the fatall potion that she held And with it enter'd the grimme tyrant death Yet gave such respite that her dying breath Might begg forgivenesse from the heavenly throne And pardon those that her destruction Had doubly wrought forgive oh Lord said she Him that dishonour'd her that murder'd me Yet let me speake for truths sake angry Queene If you had spar'd my life I might have beene In time to come th' example of your glory Not of your shame as now for when the story Of haplesse Rosamund is read the best And holyest people as they will deteâ—…t My crime and call it foule they will abhorre And call unjust the rage of Elianor And in this act of yours it will be thought Hing Henry's sorrow not his love you sought And now so farre the venoms force assail'd Her vitall parts that lifâ—… with language fail'd That well built palace where the Graces made Their chiefe abode where thousand Cupids plai'd And cowch'd their shafts whose structure did delight Even natures selfe is now demolish'd quite Nere to be rais'd againe th' untimely stroake Of death that pretious Cabinet has broake That Henry's pleased heart so long had held With suddaine mourning now the house is fill'd Nor can the Queenes attendants though they feare Her wrath from weeping at that sight forbeare There well they could while that faire hearse thy view Believe the ancient embleme to be true And thinke pale death and winged Cupid now Their quivers had mistooke untimely so By rough North blasts doe blooming Roses fade So crushed falls the Lillyes tender blade Her hearse at Godstow Abbey they enterre Where sad and lasting monuments of her For many yeeres did to the world remaine Nought did the Queene by this dire slaughter gaine But more her Lords displeasure aggravate And now when he return'd in prosperous state This act was cause togeâ—…her with that crime Of raising his unnaturall sonnes 'gainst him That she so long in prison was detain'd And whilest he liv'd her freedome never gain'd But Henry's troubles finde not yet an end Whose cares beyond the English shores extend As if one kingdomes burden could not be Enough for his great magnanimity The yet-perplex'd affaires of Normandy Invite his presence next where fates decree Almost as easie peace shall be obtain'd As England late had by his presence gain'd Now did King Lewis and young King Henry lye Beseiging faithfull Roane in Normandy To whose reliefe the brave old Henry goes But first with care and prudence does dispose The setled state of England to his minde And loath to leave at liberty behinde So great a firebrand as his jealous Queene Fierce Elianor in this late warre had beene Commits her person to close custodie Then musters all his martiall company And Caesar-like transporting all his â—…tore Of great and princely prisoners crosses ore As if he went to triumph not to fight Nor proov'd it lesse indeede for even the sight Alone of so renown'd and fear'd a Chiefe As old King Henry was faire Roanes reliefe King Lewis of France no longer meant to stay Nor on the tryall of one doubtfull day To set his fortunes yet asham'd that he Should seeme to flye before his enemy And fearing that disgrace encamped lay Himselfe a while and first convey'd away From thence the sicke and weakest of his men And with the rest in order followed then For uncontroll'd had Henry enter'd Roane Set ope the gates and beate the rampiers downe Levell'd the trenches all that stopp'd the way And dar'd the French to tryall of the day But Lewis retir'de and weighing in sadd thought What small advantage his designes had wrought Or for himselfe or those whom he entended To aide now wish'd this bootelesse warre were ended And thoughts of peace he wholly entertain'd And since he knew a peace might be obtain'd As then it stood with ease from Englands King And love besides in labouring to bring The sonnes in too
and that th' old King would seeme For such a savour much oblig'd to him A reverend Bishop he to Henry sent Who signify'd the Christian King's entent To worke that pious and Religious peace That warres so sad and impious now might cease Twixt sonnes and Father nature made the way And joyfull Henry nam'd the meeting day â—…ho though successefull ever in that warre Was still a father not a conquerer Then to Gisors with joy he goes to whom King Lewis of France and yong King Henry come Where though no perfect unâ—…on could be wrought For young Prince Richard was not thither brought Who still was fiercely warring in Poictou Yet something 's done and as a prologue now To that faire peace which afterward ensu'd A truce both Henryes and King Lewis conclude Fierce Richard though King Henryes second sonne Yet borne to sit on Englands royall throne Had all the time of these unnaturall jarres Against his father made victorious warres Within Poictou in which few townes remain'd But that Prince Richard the whole land had gain'd This is that Heroe who by deedes of fame Shall gaine through all succeeding times the name Of Lions-heart whose deedes as farre shall sound â—…s lyes the farthest Verge of Christian ground Who by deserved honours fetch'd from farre Shall wash the staine of this rebellious warre From off his sacred memory againe And conquests great 'gainst Saracens obtaine From him the dreadfull Saladine sh all fly Philip of France his envious enemy Shall feare the force of his victorious hand And rue it oft he in his time shall stand Th' ecclipse of other Christian Princes fame And only terrour of the Pagan name After the true concluded at Gisors Into Poictou with all his martiall force The old King Henry marches 'gainst his son At whose arrivall every fort and towne Which Richard not by love but force had gain'd Straight yeild themselues into his Fathers hand Whose Marches almost no resistance finde When young Prince Richard with perplexed minde Had heard his father's comming and successe He stormes and taxes of perfidiousnesse King Lewis of France and young King Henry that Had thus forsaken their confaederate But yet resolves too proudly not to yeild At all but stand the tryall of a field Against his father and with impious hopes â—…nto the field drawes all his Martiall Tropes From whence Kings Henry's army was not farre And now too neere approach'd the wicked warre Some pious Souldiers ' gann those mischiefes feare Which they should act as well as suffer there Richard's great heart began to yeild to shame And feele the reverence of a fathers name Sometimes his stubborne courage rais'd him high Sometimes againe relenting Piety Check'd those proud thoughts and in so bad a cause Told him how great a crime his valour was Yet had not Piety alone the power To curbe his spirit his father every houre Encreast in men and Iustice with a tide Of strength flow'd in to vindicate her side Why stood'st thou out Richard so long a time T is now too late to free thy selfe from crime Though thou submit the world may justly say It was not true repentance but dismay Thou could'st no longer cheere thy fainting troopes And not thy resolution but thy hopes Forsake thee heere that act will termed be Despaiâ—…e which had before beene piety But thanke the weakenesse of thy army now That made thee see though late and disallow That horrid guilt before that lives it cost Or blood by thy impiety were lost Strucke with remorse at last young Richard throwes His late rebellious armes aside and goes To his offended father to present Himselfe a sad and humble paenitent There on his knees for that unkind offence He pardon craves no other eloquence But teares and sighs his griefe had power to use No other pleas were strong in his excuse The royall father meetes with teares of joy Those teares and pardons him the noblest way With kinde embraces liftes him from the ground And in his rich paternall love had found Instead of chiding him for what was done A way to praise him by comparison That of the brothers he submitted first As if the father had forgot that erst He aequall to the rest astray had gone Remembring Richards paenitence alone So much King Henry's wondrous goodnesse wroughâ—… On Richard's noble nature as it brought Frâ—…sh teares from him and though it pardon'd more Did seeme to aggravate th' offence before Yet such encouragement from thence he tooke As thus when teares would give him leave he spoke Sir your preventing grace has tane from me So farre the neede of all apology As I should only speake my thankfulnesse If any language could so much expresse But that my dutious deedes shall better show And for the first true service I can doe Vouchsafe me leave great Sir to goe and winne My yet offending brothers from their sinne Let me be there employ'd I shall prevaile In that when other advocates will faile When forreine Princes for their owne close ends Shall faintly speake when false and factious friends In their misdeedes shall flatter them shall I By true example check impiety I that have sinned happily in this To make them know how good our Father is Which most accurs'd I had not grace to know Till by offending I had found it so More had he utter'd but King Henry there Cut off his speech almost or ejoy'd to heare That thing propos'd which was his chiefe entent And then with faire and kind encouragement For that designe dispach'd his Sonne away Himselfe resolv'd in Normandy to stay And thankefull Richard with a joy as high Goes to performe the pious Legacy THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second The Sixt Booke The Argument of the sixt Booke Betwixt Ambois and Tours the Sonnes are brought To meete their Father perfect peace is wrought A Peace is made with France and Scotland too From Normandy the two King Henryes goe Great signes of joy in England every where Are show'd to welcome their arrivall there The King his Realme of England doth divide Into six circuits and for each provide Iudges Itinerant what great resort Was seene at onee in Henry's stately Court His happinesse his power and high renoune His daughters royall marriages are showne Old Henry does refuse the proffred Crowne Of Palaestine to take Henry the sonne Rebells againe and does repentant dye The third sonne Geoffrey's wâ—…full tragaedy NOw did victorious Henry's wish succeede With such effectuall diligence and speede Had young Prince Richard with his Brothers wroughâ—… That both of theÌ„ he to their father brought Betwixt Ambois and Tours there first of all Are diâ—…ontents and jarres unnaturall By 〈◊〉 King Henry's prudence made to cease There first is wroâ—…ght a full and finall peace The sonneâ—… aâ—…e taught to hate their impious crime Aâ—…d vow oâ—…edience for the future time Nor does thâ—… fathers wisedome thinke he does Eâ—…ugh if for the present â—…e compose This fatall strife but carefull to prevent
his head was large his eyes gray whose aspect was terrible in his anger his voyce was hoarse and hollow Hee was a Prince of great affabilitie facetious in discourse and when he was free from anger or important businesse ◅ee was ◅ost pleasant and Courtly in his whole conversation Eloquent he was by nature and which was rare then very learned The best histories which in those dark times could be gotten in Christendome he had perused with diligence and by the benefit of an extraordinary memorie did retaine them perfectly He was very hardy in enduring either labo◅r or extremities of the seasons couragious in warre but not rash and willing to try all wayes before the chance of a battell yet when there was occasion very resolute and so much feared by those Princes that had to doe with him that hee was never put to any great field Hee was more kinde in honouring the memories of his souldiers that were slaine then hee was in rewarding those that were alive and never seemed truly to value his best Captains till after they were dead Exceeding frugall and parsimonious hee was almost below the dignity of a King but it proved happy to his affaires Though in private hee were very sparing ◅et abroad hee appeared often in great magnificence his bountie to some poore Princes and those large summes which hee disbursed to the holy warre might teach the worl◅ that hee was not covetous but wisely provident The greatest taxe that was laid upon him by those that lived in the same age was his too too often breaking of his promises a fault that many Princes great in other vertues have beene guilty of Hee was exceeding fond of all his children especially in their childish age before their carriage had deserved either way which shewed that Nature onely wrought that strong affection in him Yet there where he most loved and by those of whom hee had most deserved it pleased God hee tasted the greatest crosses his Sonnes were his scourges and the onely instruments that did or in l◅kelihood could shake the felicitie of so puissant a Monarc◅ So great a contrarietie there seemed to be betweene his affection to them and the returne of theirs to him Hee appeared in nothing almost of a tender nature but in loving them and might have beene thought fomewhat severe in disposition if hee had not beene a father to shew the contrary they were in generall of a Noble deportment taxed in their times almost of no unjust or bad act◅ons but their ingratitude and disobedience to him and had carried a repute of the Noblest Princes if they had not at all beene Sonnes But perchance it pleased God by the fruit of his loynes to punish those sinnes of the flesh to which the King was so much addicted Hee was noted more then any Prince of his time to be given to the love of women but especially after the displeasure conceived against his wife Queene Elianor as a stirrer up of his Sonnes against him when hee altogether forbore her bed hee was growne carelesse of the voyce of Fame and strove not at all to hide his wanton affections All his vertues which indeed were many had occasion often to be knowne by the varieties of his reigne in which felicitie and crosses did so often ◅ceed each other they were not onely tried but declared to the world For very remarkeable were the alterations of Fortune if we consider all things which happened in the reigne of this great Prince Of which if you will take a briefe survey consider it divided as it were into five Acts for as one sayes Tanquam fabula est vita hominis Let the first eight yeares of his reigne or thereabouts be counted for the first Act. Where the bravery and wisedome of his youth for but 24. years of age was he enough appeared in setling the kingdome and vindicating the rights of his royall Crowne after so long a confusion and so many calamities of civill warre He◅ expelled the strangers out of the Realme which in St◅phans time had bin the diseases of it He providently setled not onely the revenues but the authority of his Crown as before appeareth and fitly disposed of all the Castles and strong holds which he either kept in his owne power or quite demolished Hee maintained the ancient bounds honor of the Realme not onely in the North but against the Welsh Beyond the Seas he suf◅ered no damage but gained upon all occasions K. Lewis he were sometimes likely to have come to battel b◅t peace was made and King Lewis content rather to sit downe with some little losse then contend with so puissant a foe Chaumont he tooke from him seized against his wil upō Nants in Britain this was indeed the time of K H◅nry's greatest felicity in which hee enjoyed his dignitie without any vexations and the people that had long beene afflicted with miserable times did truly rejoyce in their new King And during these yeares as a farther blessing to him and securitie to the kingdome the Queene was fruitfull and bare him three Sons For the second Act wee may consider his next eleven or twelve yeares in which time though hee suffered nothing by the hand of warre as not molested by rebels at home nor threatned at all by forraigne enemies yet by the opposition of one Church-man he found a long and wearisome vexation For almost all this time did that famous jarre of Archbishop Becket and at the last his lamentable murther a◅flict King Henry and exceedingly disturbe the quiet of his minde The particulars at large have appeared in the foregoing storie and shall not here trouble the Reader Yet in this incumbred time his State and Dignitie had great additions of which the happiest was that easie accession of the Realme of Ireland unto his Scepter And another considering the present occasions of state of as much importance to him the gaining of the Dutchy of Britaine to his third Sonne Geoffrey Which hee with great wisedome and industrie obtayned in the nonage of that yong Ladie Constantia the daughter an◅ heire of Coran Duke of Brittaine then deceased Hitherto his happinesse was not at all impaired nor hee afflicted with any thing but the dissention of Archbishop Becket His times of danger and great sufferings now ensue Let therefore the three following yeares of his reigne be taken for the third Act in which the Scene is altogether changed and instead of a glorious and happy reigne nothing but afflictions and the extremest dangers that cou◅d be feared threaten not onely his Crowne but life also This is the time of that great revolt of his three Sons from him besides so mighty a confederacy ioyned with them as Lewis King of France William King of Scotland David his brother Philip Earle of Flanders Matthew Earle of Boloigne Theobald Earle of Bloys besides so many of the greatest and strongest English Peeres as the Earls of Leister Chester and Norfolke with the