THE RAIGNE OF KING EDVVARD the third As it hath bin sundrie times plaied about the Citie of London LONDON Printed for Cuthbert Burby 1596 THE RAIGNE OF K Edward the third Enter King Edward Derby Prince Edward Audely and Artoys King RObert of Artoys banisht though thou be From Fraunce thy natiue Country yet with vs Thou shalt retayne as great a Seigniorie For we create thee Earle of Richmond heere And now goe forwards with our pedegree Who next succeeded Phillip of Bew Ar. Three sonnes of his which all successefully Did sit vpon their fathers regall Throne Yet dyed and left no issue of their loynes King But was my mother sister vnto those Art: Shee was my Lord and onely Issabel Was all the daughters that this Phillip had Whome afterward your father tooke to wife And from the fragrant garden of her wombe Your gratious selfe the flower of Europes hope Deriued is inheritor to Fraunce But not the rancor of rebellious mindes When thus the lynage of Bew was out The French obscurd your mothers Priuiledge And though she were the next of blood proclaymed Iohn of the house of Valoys now their king The reason was they say the Realme of Fraunce Repleat with Princes of great parentage Ought not admit a gouernor to rule Except he be discended of the male And that 's the speciall ground of their contempt Where with they study to exclude your grace But they shall finde that forged ground of theirs To be but dusty heapes of brittile sande Art: Perhaps it will be thought a heynous thing That I a French man should discouer this But heauen I call to recorde of my vowes It is not hate nor any priuat wronge But loue vnto my country and the right Prouokes my tongue thus lauish in report You are the lyneal watch men of our peace And Iohn of Valoys in directly climbes What then should subiects but imbrace their King Ah where in may our duety more be seene Then stryuing to rebate a tyrants pride And place the true shepheard of our comonwealth King This counsayle Artoyes like to fruictfull shewers Hath added growth vnto my dignitye And by the fiery vigor of thy words Hot courage is engendred in my brest Which heretofore was rakt in ignorance But nowe doth mount with golden winges of fame And will approue faire Issabells discent Able to yoak their stubburne necks with steele That spurne against my souereignety in France sound a horne A messenger Lord Awdley know from whence Enter a messenger Lorragne Aud: The Duke of Lorrayne hauing crost the seas In treates he may haue conference with your highnes King Admit him Lords that we may heare the newes Say Duke of Lorrayne wherefore art thou come Lor: The most renowned prince K. Iohn of France Doth greete thee Edward and by me commandes That for so much as by his liberall gift The Guyen Dukedome is entayld to thee Thou do him lowly homage for the same And for that purpose here I somon thee Repaire to France within these forty daies That there according as the coustome is Thou mayst be sworne true liegeman to our King Or else thy title in that prouince dyes And hee him self will repossesse the place K. Ed: See how occasion laughes me in the face No sooner minded to prepare for France But straight I am inuited nay with threats Vppon a penaltie inioynd to come T were but a childish part to say him nay Lorrayne returne this answere to thy Lord I meane to visit him as he requests But how not seruilely disposd to bend But like a conquerer to make him bowe His lame vnpolisht shifts are come to light And trueth hath puld the visard from his face That sett a glasse vpon his arrogannce Dare he commaund a fealty in mee Tell him the Crowne that hee vsurpes is myne And where he sets his foote he ought to knele T is not a petty Dukedome that I claime But all the whole Dominions of the Realme Which if with grudging he refuse to yeld I le take away those borrowed plumes of his And send him naked to the wildernes Lor: Then Edward here in spight of all thy Lords I doe pronounce defyaunce to thy face Pri Defiance French man we rebound it backe Euen to the bottom of thy masters throat And be it spoke with reuerence of the King My gratious father and these other Lordes I hold thy message but as scurrylous And him that sent thee like the lazy droane Crept vp by stelth vnto the Eagles nest From whence we le shake him with so rough a storme As others shal be warned by his harme War: Byd him leaue of the Lyons case he weares Least meeting with the Lyon in the feeld He chaunce to teare him peecemede for his pride Art: The soundest counsell I can giue his grace Is to surrender ere he be constraynd A voluntarie mischiefe hath lesse scorne Then when reproch with violence is borne Lor. Regenerate Traytor viper to the place Where thou was fostred in thine infancy Bearest thou a part in this conspiracy He drawes his Sword K. Ed. Lorraine behold the sharpnes of this steele Feruent desire that sits against my heart Is farre more thornie pricking than this blade That with the nightingale I shall be scard As oft as I dispose my selfe to rest Vntill my collours be displaide in Fraunce This is thy finall Answere so be gone Lor. It is not that nor any English braue Afflicts me so as doth his poysoned view That is most false should most of all be true K. Ed. Now Lord our fleeting Barke is vnder sayle Our gage is throwne and warre is soone began But not so quickely brought vnto an end Enter Mountague Moun. But wherefore comes Sir william Mountague How stands the league betweene the Scot and vs Mo. Crackt and disseuered my renowned Lord The treacherous King no sooner was informde Of your with drawing of your army backe But straight forgetting of his former othe He made inuasion on the bordering Townes Barwicke is woon Newcastle spoyld and lost And now the tyrant hath beguirt with seege The Castle of Rocksborough where inclosd The Countes Salsbury is like to perish King That is thy daughter Warwicke is it not Whose husband hath in Brittayne serud so long About the planting of Lord Mouneford there VVar. It is my Lord Ki Ignoble Dauid hast thou none to greeue But silly Ladies with thy threatning armes But I will make you shrinke your snailie hornes First therefore Audley this shal be thy charge Go leuie footemen for our warres in Fraunce And Ned take muster of our men at armes In euery shire elect a seuerall band Let them be Souldiers of a lustie spirite Such as dread nothing but dishonors blot Be warie therefore since we do comence A famous Warre and with so mighty a nation Derby be thou Embassador for vs Vnto our Father in Law the Earle of Henalt Make him acquainted with our enterprise And likewise will him with our
of her eies I le say that like a glas they catch the sunne And thence the hot reflection doth rebounde Against my brest and burnes my hart within Ah what a world of descant makes my soule Vpon this voluntarie ground of loue Come Lodwick hast thou turnd thy inke to golde If not write but in letters Capitall my mistres name And it wil guild thy paper read Lorde reade Fill thou the emptie hollowes of mine eares With the sweete hearing of thy poetrie Lo: I haue not to a period brought her praise King Her praise is as my loue both infinit Which apprehend such violent extremes That they disdaine an ending period Her bewtie hath no match but my affection Hers more then most myne most and more then more Hers more to praise then tell the sea by drops Nay more then drop the massie earth by sands And said by said print them in memorie Then wherefore talkest thou of a period To that which craues vnended admiration Read let vs heare Lo: More faire and chast then is the queen of shades King That loue hath two falts grosse and palpable Comparest thou her to the pale queene of night Who being set in darke seemes therefore light What is she when the sunne lifts vp his head But like a fading taper dym and dead My loue shall braue the ey of heauen at noon And being vnmaskt outshine the golden sun Lo: What is the other faulte my soueraigne Lord King Reade ore the line againe Lo: More faire and chast King I did not bid thee talke of chastitie To ransack so the treason of her minde For I had rather haue her chased then chast Out with the moone line I wil none of it And let me haue hir likened to the sun Say shee hath thrice more splendour then the sun That her perfections emulats the sunne That shee breeds sweets as plenteous as the sunne That shee doth thaw cold winter like the sunne That she doth cheere fresh sommer like the sunne That shee doth dazle gazers like the sunne And in this application to the sunne Bid her be free and generall as the sunne Who smiles vpon the basest weed that growes As louinglie as on the fragrant rose Le ts see what followes that same moonelight line Lo: More faire and chast then is the louer of shades More bould in constancie King In constancie then who Lo: Then Iudith was King O monstrous line put in the next a sword And I shall woo her to cut of my head Blot blot good Lodwicke let vs heare the next Lo: There 's all that yet is donne King I thancke thee then thou hast don litle ill But what is don is passing passing ill No let the Captaine talke of boystrous warr The prisoner of emured darke constraint The sick man best sets downe the pangs of death The man that starues the sweetnes of a feast The frozen soule the benefite of fire And euery griefe his happie opposite Loue cannot sound well but in louers toungs Giue me the pen and paper I will write Enter Countes But soft here comes the treasurer of my spirit Lodwick thou knowst not how to drawe a battell These wings these flankars and these squadrons Argue in thee defectiue discipline Thou shouldest haue placed this here this other here Co. Pardon my boldnes my thrice gracious Lords Let my intrusion here be cald my duetie That comes to see my soueraigne how he fares Kin: Go draw the same I tell thee in what forme Lor: I go Con Sorry I am to see my liege so sad What may thy subiect do to driue from thee Thy gloomy consort sullome melancholie King Ah Lady I am blunt and cannot strawe The flowers of solace in a ground of shame Since I came hither Countes I am wronged Cont Now God forbid that anie in my howse Should thinck my soueraigne wrong thrice gentle King King Acquant me with theyr cause of discontent How neere then shall I be to remedie Cont As nere my Liege as all my womans power Can pawne it selfe to buy thy remedy King Yf thou speakst true then haue I my redresse Ingage thy power to redeeme my Ioyes And I am ioyfull Countes els I die Coun: I will my Liege King Sweare Counties that thou wilt Coun: By heauen I will King Then take thy selfe a litel waie a side And tell thy self a King doth dote on thee Say that within thy power doth lie To make him happy and that thou hast sworne To giue him all the Ioy within thy power Do this and tell me when I shall be happie Coun: All this is done my thrice dread souereigne That power of loue that I haue power to giue Thou hast with all deuout obedience Inploy me how thou wilt in profe therof King Thou hearst me saye that I do dote on thee Coun: Yf on my beauty take yt if thou canst Though litle I do prise it ten tymes lesse If on my vertue take it if thou canst For vertues store by giuing doth augment Be it on what it will that I can giue And thou canst take awaie inherit it King It is thy beautie that I woulde enioy Count O were it painted I would wipe it of And disposse my selfe to giue it thee But souereigne it is souldered to my life Take one and both for like an humble shaddow Yt hauntes the sunshine of my summers life But thou maist leue it me to sport with all Count As easie may my intellectual soule Be lent awaie and yet my bodie liue As lend my bodie pallace to my soule Awaie from her and yet retaine my soule My bodie is her bower her Court her abey And shee an Angell pure deuine vnspotted If I should leaue her house my Lord to thee I kill my poore soule and my poore soule me King Didst thou not swere to giue me what I would Count I did my liege so what you would I could King I wish no more of thee then thou maist giue Nor beg I do not but I rather buie That is thy loue and for that loue of thine In rich exchaunge I tender to thee myne Count But that your lippes were sacred my Lord You would prophane the holie name of loue That loue you offer me you cannot giue For Caesar owes that tribut to his Queene That loue you beg of me I cannot giue For Sara owes that duetie to her Lord He that doth clip or counterfeit your stamp Shall die my Lord and will your sacred selfe Comit high treason against the King of heauen To stamp his Image in forbidden mettel For getting your alleageance and your othe In violating mariage secred law You breake a greater honor then your selfe To be a King is of a yonger house Then to be maried your progenitour Sole ragning Adam on the vniuerse By God was honored for a married man But not by him annointed for a king It is a pennalty to breake your statutes Though not enacted with your highnes hand How much more
braind Nation deckt in pride The spoyle of whome will be a trebble game And now my hope is full my ioy complete At Sea we are as puissant as the force Of Agamemnon in the Hauen of Troy By land with Zerxes we compare of strength Whose souldiers drancke vp riuers in their thirst Then Bayard like blinde ouerweaning Ned To reach at our imperiall dyadem Is either to be swallowed of the waues Or hackt a peeces when thou comest a shore Enter Mar. Neere to the cost I haue discribde my Lord As I was busie in my watchfull charge The proud Armado of king Edwards ships Which at the first far off when I did ken Seemd as it were a groue of withered pines But drawing neere their glorious bright aspect Their streaming Ensignes wrought of coulloured silke Like to a meddow full of sundry flowers Adornes the naked bosome of the earth Maiesticall the order of their course Figuring the horned Circle of the Moone And on the top gallant of the Admirall And likewise all the handmaides of his trayne The Armes of England and of Fraunce vnite Are quartred equally by Heralds art Thus titely carried with a merrie gale They plough the Ocean hitherward amayne Dare he already crop the Flewer de Luce I hope the hony being gathered thence He with the spider afterward approcht Shall sucke forth deadly venom from the leaues But where 's our Nauy how are they prepared To wing them selues against this flight of Rauens Ma. They hauing knowledge brought them by the scouts Did breake from Anchor straight and puft with rage No otherwise then were their sailes with winde Made forth as when the empty Eagle flies To satifie his hungrie griping mawe Io: Thees for thy newes returne vnto thy barke And if thou scape the bloody strooke of warre And do suruiue the conflict come againe And let vs heare the manner of the fight Exit Meane space my Lords t is best we be disperst To seuerall places least they chaunce to land First you my Lord with your Bohemian Troupes Shall pitch your battailes on the lower hand My eldest sonne the Duke of Normandie Togeither with this aide of Muscouites Shall clyme the higher ground an other waye Heere in the middle cost betwixt you both Phillip my youngest boy and I will lodge So Lords begon and looke vnto your charge Exunt You stand for Fraunce an Empire faire and large Now tell me Phillip what is their concept Touching the challenge that the English make Ph: I say my Lord clayme Edward what he can And bring he nere so playne a pedegree T is you are in possession of the Crowne And that 's the surest poynt of all the Law But were it not yet ere he should preuaile I le make a Conduit of my dearest blood Or chase those stragling vpstarts home againe King Well said young Phillip call for bread and Wine That we may cheere our stomacks with repast The battell hard a farre off To looke our foes more sternely in the face Now is begun the heauie day at Sea Fight Frenchmen fight be like the fielde of Beares VVhen they defend their younglings in their Caues Stir angry Nemesis the happie helme That with the sulphur battels of your rage The English Fleete may be disperst and sunke Ph. O Father how this eckoing Cannon shot Shot Like sweete hermonie disgests my cates Now boy thou hearest what thundring terror t is To buckle for a kingdomes souerentie The earth with giddie trembling when it shakes Or when the exalations of the aire Breakes in extremitie of lightning flash Affrights not more then kings when they dispose To shew the rancor of their high swolne harts Retreat is sounded one side hath the worse Retreate O if it be the French sweete fortune turne And in thy turning change the forward winds That with aduantage of a fauoring skie Our men may vanquish and thither flie Enter Marriner My hart misgiues say mirror of pale death To whome belongs the honor of this day Relate I pray thee if thy breath will serue The sad discourse of this discomfiture Mar. I will my Lord My gratious soueraigne Fraunce hath tane the foyle And boasting Edward triumphs with successe These Iron harted Nauies When last I was reporter to your grace Both full of angry spleene of hope and feare Hasting to meete each other in the face At last conioynd and by their Admirall Our Admirall encountred manie shot By this the other that beheld these twaine Giue earnest peny of a further wracke Like fiery Dragons tooke their haughty flight And like wise meeting from their smoky wombes Sent many grym Embassadors of death Then gan the day to turne to gloomy night And darkenes did aswel inclose the quicke As those that were but newly reft of life No leasure serud for friends to bid farewell And if it had the hideous noise was such As ech to other seemed deafe and dombe Purple the Sea whose channel fild as fast With streaming gore that from the maymed fell As did her gushing moysture breake into The cranny cleftures of the through shot planks Heere flew a head dissuuered from the tronke There mangled armes and legs were tost a loft As when a wherle winde takes the Summer dust And scatters it in middle of the aire Then might ye see the reeling vessels split And tottering sink into the ruthlesse floud Vntill their lofty tops were seene no more All shifts were tried both for defence and hurt And now the effect of vallor and of force Of resolution and of a cowardize We liuely pictured how the one for fame The other by compulsion laid about Much did the Nom per illa that braue ship So did the blacke snake of Bullen then which A bonnier vessel neuer yet spred sayle But all in vaine both Sunne the Wine and tyde Reuolted all vnto our foe mens side That we perforce were fayne to giue them way And they are landed thus my tale is donne We haue vntimly lost and they haue woone K. Io: Then rests there nothing but with present speede To ioyne our seueral forces al in one And bid them battaile ere they rainge to farre Come gentle Phillip let vs hence depart This souldiers words haue perst thy fathers hart Exeunt Enter two French men a woman and two little Children meet them another Citizens One Wel met my masters how now what 's the newes And wherefore are ye laden thus with stuffe What is it quarter daie that you remoue And carrie bag and baggage too Two Quarter day I and quartering pay I feare Haue we not heard the newes that flies abroad One What newes Three How the French Nauy is destroyd at Sea And that the English Armie is arriued One What then Two What then quoth you why i st not time to flie When enuie and destruction is so nigh One Content thee man they are farre enough from hence And will be met I warrant ye to their cost Before they breake so far into the
Realme Two I so the Grashopper doth spend the time In mirthfull iollitie till Winter come And then too late he would redeeme his time When frozen cold hath nipt his carelesse head He that no sooner will prouide a Cloake Then when he sees it doth begin to raigne May peraduenture for his negligence Be throughly washed when he suspects it not We that haue charge and such a trayne as this Must looke in time to looke for them and vs Least when we would we cannot be relieued One Be like you then dispaire of ill successe And thinke your Country will be subiugate Three We cannot tell t is good to feare the worst One Yet rather fight then like vnnaturall sonnes Forsake your louing parents in distresse Two Tush they that haue already taken armes Are manie fearefull millions in respect Of that small handfull of our enimies But t is a rightfull quarrell must preuaile Edward is sonnne vnto our late kings sister Where Iohn Valoys is three degrees remoued Wo: Besides there goes a Prophesie abroad Published by one that was a Fryer once Whose Oracles haue many times prooued true And now he sayes the tyme will shortly come When as a Lyon rowsed in the west Shall carie hence the fluerdeluce of France These I can tell yee and such like surmises Strike many french men cold vnto the heart Enter a French man Flie cuntry men and cytizens of France Sweete flowring peace the roote of happie life Is quite abandoned and expulst the lande Insted of whome ransackt constraining warre Syts like to Rauens vppon your houses topps Slaughter and mischiefe walke within your streets And vnrestrained make hauock as they passe The forme whereof euen now my selfe beheld Vpon this faire mountaine whence I came For so far of as I directed mine eies I might perceaue fiue Cities all on fire Come fieldes and vineyards burning like an ouen And as the leaking vapour in the wind I tourned but a side I like wise might disserne The poore inhabitants escapt the flame Fall numberles vpon the souldiers pikes Three waies these dredfull ministers of wrath Do tread the measures of their tragicke march Vpon the right hand comes the conquering King Vpon the lefte is hot vnbridled sonne And in the midst our nations glittering hoast All which though distant yet conspire in one To leaue a desolation where they come Flie therefore Citizens if you be wise Seeke out som habitation further of Here if you staie your wiues will be abused Your treasure sharde before your weeping eies Shelter you your selues for now the storme doth rise Away away me thinks I heare their drums Ah wreched France I greatly feare thy fal Thy glory shaketh like a tottering wall Enter King Edward and the Erle of Darby With Souldiors and Gobin de Graie Kin: Where 's the French man by whose cunning guide We found the shalow of this Riuer Sone And had direction how to passe the sea Go: Here my good Lord Kin: How art thou calde tell me thy name Go: Gobin de Graie if please your excellence Kin: Then Gobin for the seruice thou hast done We here inlarge and giue thee liberty And for recompenc beside this good Thou shalt receiue fiue hundred markes in golde I know not how we should haue met our sonne Whom now in heart I wish I might behold Enter Artoyes Good newes my Lord the prince is hard at hand And with him comes Lord Awdley and the rest Whome since our landing we could neuer meet Enter Prince Edward Lord Awdley and Souldiers K. E Welcome faire Prince how hast thou sped my sonne Since thy arriuall on the coaste of Fraunce Pr. Ed: Succesfullie I thanke the gratious heauens Some of their strongest Cities we haue wonne As Harslen Lie Crotag and Carentigne And others wasted leauing at our heeles A wide apparant feild and beaten path For sollitarines to progresse in Yet those that would submit we kindly pardned For who in scorne refused our proffered peace Indurde the penaltie of sharpe reuenge Ki. Ed: Ah Fraunce why shouldest thou be this obstinate Agaynst the kind imbracement of thy friends How gently had we thought to touch thy brest And set our foot vpon thy tender mould But that in froward and disdainfull pride Thou like a skittish and vntamed coult Dost start aside and strike vs with thy heeles But tel me Ned in all thy warlike course Hast thou not seene the vsurping King of Fraunce Pri. Yes my good Lord and not two oar ago With full a hundred thousand fighting men Vppon the one side with the riuers banke And on the other both his multitudes I feard he would haue cropt our smaller power But happily perceiuing your approch He hath with drawen himselfe to Cressey plaines Where as it seemeth by his good araie He meanes to byd vs battaile presently Kin. Ed: He shall be welcome that 's the thing we craue Enter King Iohn Dukes of Normanndy and Lorraine King of Boheme yong Phillip and Souldiers Iohn Edward know that Iohn the true king of Fraunce Musing thou shouldst incroach vppon his land And in thy tyranous proceeding slay His faithfull subiects and subuert his Townes Spits in thy face and in this manner folowing Obraids thee with thine arrogant intrusion First I condeme thee for a fugitiue A theeuish pyrate and a needie mate One that hath either no abyding place Or else inhabiting some barraine soile Where neither hearb or frutfull graine is had Doest altogether liue by pilfering Next insomuch thou hast infringed thy faith Broke leage and solemne couenant made with mee I hould thee for a false pernitious wretch And last of all although I scorne to cope With one such inferior to my selfe Yet in respect thy thirst is all for golde They labour rather to be feared then loued To satisfie thy lust in either parte Heere am I come and with me haue I brought Exceding store of treasure perle and coyne Leaue therfore now to persecute the weake And armed entring conflict with the armd Let it be seene mongest other pettie thefts How thou canst win this pillage manfully K Ed: If gall or wormwood haue a pleasant tast Then is thy sallutation hony sweete But as the one hath no such propertie So is the other most satiricall Yet wot how I regarde thy worthles tants If thou haue vttred them to foile my fame Or dym the reputation of my birth Know that thy woluish barking cannot hurt If slylie to insinuate with the worlde And with a strumpets artifitiall line To painte thy vitious and deformed cause Bee well assured the counterfeit will fade And in the end thy fowle defects be seene But if thou didst it to prouoke me on As who should saie I were but timerous Or coldly negligent did need a spurre Bethinke thy selfe howe slacke I was at sea Now since my landing I haue wonn no townes Entered no further but vpon the coast And there haue euer since securelie slept But if I haue bin other wise imployd Imagin
Valoys whether I intende To skirmish not for pillage but for the Crowne Which thou dost weare and that I vowe to haue Or one of vs shall fall in to this graue Pri Ed: Looke not for crosse inuectiues at our hands Or rayling execrations of despight Let creeping serpents hide in hollow banckes Sting with theyr tongues we haue remorseles swordes And they shall pleade for vs and our affaires Yet thus much breefly by my fathers leaue As all the immodest poyson of thy throat Is scandalous and most notorious lyes And our pretended quarell is truly iust So end the battaile when we meet to daie May eyther of vs prosper and preuaile Or luckles curst receue eternall shame Kin Ed: That needs no further question and I knowe His conscience witnesseth it is my right Therfore Valoys say wilt thou yet resigne Before the sickles thrust into the Corne Or that inkindled fury turne to flame Ioh: Edward I know what right thou hast in France And ere I basely will resigne my Crowne This Champion field shall be a poole of bloode And all our prospect as a slaughter house Pr Ed: I that approues thee tyrant what thou art No father king or shepheard of thy realme But one that teares her entrailes with thy handes And like a thirstie tyger suckst her bloud Aud: You peeres of France why do you follow him That is so prodigall to spend your liues Ch: Whom should they follow aged impotent But he that is their true borne soueraigne Kin: Obraidst thou him because within his face Time hath ingraud deep caracters of age Know that these graue schollers of experience Like stiffe growen oakes will stand unmouable When whirle wind quickly turnes vp yonger trees Dar. Was euer anie of thy fathers house king But thy selfe before this present time Edwards great linage by the mothers side Fiue hundred yeeres hath helde the scepter vp Iudge then conspiratours by this descent Which is the true borne soueraigne this or that Pri Father range your battailes prate no more These English fame would spend the time in wodrs That night approching they might escape vnfought K Ioh: Lords and my louing Subiects knowes the time That your intended force must bide the touch Therfore my frinds consider this in breefe He that you fight for is your naturall King He against whom you fight a forrener He that you fight for rules in clemencie And fames you with a mild and gentle byt He against whome you fight if hee preuaile Will straight in throne himselfe in tyrranie Make slaues of you and with a heauie hand Curtall and courb your swetest libertie Then to protect your Country and your King Let but the haughty Courrage of your hartes Answere the number of your able handes And we shall quicklie chase theis fugitiues For what 's this Edward but a belly god A tender and lasciuious wantonnes That thother daie was almost dead for loue And what I praie you is his goodly gard Such as but scant them of their chines of beefe And take awaie their downie featherbedes And presently they are as resty stiffe As t were a many ouer ridden iades Then French men scorne that such should be your Lords And rather bind ye them in captiue bands All Fra Viue le Roy God saue King Iohn of France Io: Now on this plaine of Cressie spred your selues And Edward when thou darest begin the fight Ki. Ed: We presently wil meet thee Iohn of Fraunce And English Lordes let vs resolue the daie Either to cleere vs of that scandalous cryme Or be intombed in our innocence And Ned because this battell is the first That euer yet thou foughtest in pitched field As ancient custome is of Martialists To dub thee with the tipe of chiualrie In solemne manner wee will giue thee armes Come therefore Heralds orderly bring forth A strong attirement for the prince my sonne Enter foure Heraldes bringing in a coate armour a helmet a lance and a shield Kin: Edward Plantagenet in the name of God As with this armour I impall thy breast So be thy noble vnrelenting heart Wald in with flint of matchlesse fortitude That neuer base affections enter there Fight and be valiant conquere where thou comst Now follow Lords and do him honor to Dar: Edward Plantagenet prince of Wales As I do set this helmet on thy head Where with the chamber of this braine is fenst So may thy temples with Bellonas hand Be still adornd with lawrell victorie Fight and be valiant conquer where thou comst Aud. Edward Plantagenet prince of Wales Receiue this lance into thy manly hand Vse it in fashion of a brasen pen To drawe forth bloudie stratagems in France And print thy valiant deeds in honors booke Fight and be valiant vanquish where thou comst Art: Edward Plantagenet prince of Wales Hold take this target weare it on thy arme And may the view thereof like Perscus shield Astonish and transforme thy gazing foes To senselesse images of meger death Fight and be valiant conquer where thou comst Ki. Now wants there nought but knighthood which deferd Wee leaue till thou hast won it in the fielde My gratious father and yee forwarde peeres This honor you haue done me animates And chears my greene yet scarse appearing strength With comfortable good persaging signes No otherwise then did ould Iacobes wordes When as he breathed his blessings on his sonnes These hallowed giftes of yours when I prophane Or vse them not to glory of my God To patronage the fatherles and poore Or for the benefite of Englands peace Be numbe my ioynts waxe feeble both mine armes Wither my hart that like a saples tree I may remayne the map of infamy K. Ed: Then this our steelde Battailes shall be rainged The leading of the vowarde Ned is thyne To dignifie whose lusty spirit the more We temper it with Audlys grauitie That courage and experience ioynd in one Your manage may be second vnto none For the mayne battells I will guide my selfe And Darby in the rereward march behind That orderly disposd and set in ray Let vs to horse and God graunt vs the daye Exeunt Alarum Enter a many French men flying After them Prince Edward runing Then enter King Iohn and Duke of Loraine Iohn Oh Lorrain say what meane our men to fly Our nomber is far greater then our foes Lor. The garrison of Genoaes my Lorde That cam from Paris weary with their march Grudging to be soddenly imployd No sooner in the forefront tooke their place But straite retyring so dismaide the rest As likewise they betook themselues to flight In which for hast to make a safe escape More in the clustering throng are prest to death Then by the ennimie a thousand fold K. Io: O haplesse fortune let vs yet assay If we can counsell some of them to stay Enter King Edward and Audley Ki E Lord Audley whiles our sonne is in the chase With draw our powers vnto this little hill And heere a season
let vs breath our selues Au. I will my Lord Exit sound Retreat K. Ed. Iust dooming heauen whose secret prouidence To our grosse iudgement is inscrutable How are we bound to praise thy wondrous works That hast this day giuen way vnto the right And made the wicked stumble at them selues Enter Artoys Rescue king Edward rescue for thy sonne Kin: Rescue Artoys what is he prisoner Or by violence fell beside his horse Ar. Neither my Lord but narrowly beset With turning Frenchmen whom he did persue As t is impossible that he should scape Except your highnes presently descend Kin: Tut let him fight we gaue him armes to day And he is laboring for a knighthood man Enter Derby Da: The Prince my Lord the Prince oh succour him Hee s close incompast with a world of odds Ki Then will he win a world of honor to If he by vallour can redeeme him thence If not what remedy we haue more sonnes Then one to comfort our declyning age Enter Audley Au, Renowned Edward giue me leaue I pray To lead my souldiers where I may releeue Your Graces sonne in danger to be slayne The snares of French like Emmets on a banke Muster about him whilest he Lion like Intangled in the net of their assaults Frantiquely wrends and byts the wouen toyle But all in vaine he cannot free him selfe K Ed: Audley content I will not haue a man On paine of death sent forth to succour him This is the day ordaynd by desteny To season his courage with those greeuous thoughts That if he breaketh out Nestors yeares on earth Will make him sauor still of this exployt Dar: Ah but he shall not liue to see those dayes Ki Why then his Ephitaph is lasting prayse An Yet good my Lord t is too much wilfulnes To let his blood be spilt that may be saude Kin. Exclayme no more for none of you can tell Whether a borrowed aid will serue or no Perhapps he is already slayne or tane And dare a Falcon when shee s in her flight And euer after shee le be huggard like Let Edward be deliuered by our hands And still in danger he le expect the like But if himselfe himselfe redeeme from thence He wil haue vanquisht cheerefull death and feare And euer after dread their force no more Then if they were but babes or Captiue slaues Aud. O cruell Father farewell Edward then Da: Farewell sweete Prince the hope of chiualry Art: O would my life might ransome him from death K. Ed: But soft me thinkes I heare The dismall charge of Trumpets loud retreat All are not slayne I hope that went with him Some will returne with tidings good or bad Enter Prince Edward in tryumph bearing in his hande hit shiuered Launce and the King of Boheme borne before wrapt in the Coullours They runne and imbrace him Aud, O ioyfull sight victorious Edward liues Der: Welcome braue Prince Ki Welcome Plantagenet Pr. kneele and kisse his fathers hand First hauing donne my duety as beseemed Lords I le greet you all with harty thanks And now behold after my winters toyle My paynefull voyage on the boystrous sea Of warres deuouring gulphes and steely rocks I bring my fraught vnto the wished port My Summers hope my trauels sweet reward And heere with humble duety I present This sacrifice this first fruit of my sword Cropt and cut downe euen at the gate of death The king of Boheme father whome I slue Whom you sayd had intrencht me round about And laye as thicke vpon my battered crest As on an Anuell with their ponderous glaues Yet marble courage still did vnderprop And when my weary armes with often blowes Like the continuall laboring Wood-mans Axe That is enioynd to fell a load of Oakes Began to faulter straight I would recouer My gifts you gaue me and my zealous vow And then new courage made me fresh againe That in despight I craud my passage forth And put the multitude to speedy flyght his Sword borne by a Soldier Lo this hath Edwards hand fild your request And done I hope the duety of a Knight Ki I well thou hast deserud a knight-hood Ned And therefore with thy sword yet reaking warme With blood of those that fought to be thy bane Arise Prince Edward trusty knight at armes This day thou hast confounded me with ioy And proude thy selfe fit heire vnto a king Pr Heere is a note my gratious Lord of those That in this conflict of our foes were slaine Eleuen Princes of esteeme Foure score Barons A hundred and twenty knights and thirty thousand Common souldiers and of our men a thousand Our God be praised Now Iohn of Fraunce I hope Thou knowest King Edward for no wantonesse No loue sicke cockney nor his souldiers iades But which way is the fearefull king escapt Pr: Towards Poyctiers noble father and his sonnes King Ned thou and Audley shall pursue them still Myselfe and Derby will to Calice streight And there begyrt that Hauen towne with seege Now lies it on an vpshot therefore strike And wistlie follow whiles the games on foote Ki. What Pictures this Pr: A Pellican my Lord Wounding her bosome with her crooked beak That so her nest of young ones might be fed With drops of blood that issue from her hart The motto Sic vos and so should you Exeunt Enter Lord Mountford with a Coronet in his hande with him the Earle of Salisbury Mo: My Lord of Salisbury since by our aide Mine ennemie Sir Charles of Bloys is slaine And I againe am quietly possest In Brittaines Dukedome knowe that I resolue For this kind furtherance of your king and you To sweare allegeance to his maiesty In sign where of receiue this Coronet Beare it vnto him and with all mine othe Neuer to be but Edwards faithful friend Sa: I take it Mountfort thus I hope eare long The whole Dominions of the Realme of Fraunce Wil be surrendred to his conquering hand Exit Now if I knew but safely how to passe I would to Calice gladly meete his Grace Whether I am by letters certified Yet he intends to haue his host remooude It shal be so this pollicy will serue Ho whos 's within bring Villiers to me Enter Villeirs Villiers thou knowest thou art my prisoner And that I might for ransome if I would Require of thee a hundred thousand Francks Or else retayne and keepe thee captiue still But so it is that for a smaller charge Thou maist be quit and if thou wilt thy selfe And this it is procure me but a pasport Of Charles the Duke of Normandy that I Without restraint may haue recourse to Callis Through all the Countries where he hath to doe Which thou maist easely obtayne I thinke By reason I haue often heard thee say He and thou were students once together And then thou shalt be set at libertie How saiest thou wilt thou vndertake to do it Vil. I will my Lord but I must speake with him Sa. Why so thou shalt
take Horse and post from hence Onely before thou goest sweare by thy faith That if thou canst not compasse my desire Thou wilt returne my prisoner backe againe And that shal be sufficient warrant for mee Vil: To that condition I agree my Lord And will vnfaynedly performe the same Exit Sal: Farewell Villiers Thus once I meane to trie a French mans faith Exit Enter King Edward and Derby with Souldiers Kin: Since they refuse our profered league my Lord And will not ope their gates and let vs in We will intrench our selues on euery side That neither vituals nor supply of men May come to succour this accursed towne Famine shall combate where our swords are stopt Enter sixe poore Frenchmen Der. The promised aid that made them stand aloofe Is now retirde and gone an other way It will repent them of their stubborne will But what are these poore ragged slaues my Lord Ki Edw Aske what they are it seemes they come from Callis Der. You wretched patterns of dispayre and woe What are you liuing men er glyding ghosts Crept from your graues to walke vpon the earth Poore No ghosts my Lord but men that breath a life Farre worse then is the quiet sleepe of death Wee are distressed poore inhabitants That long haue been deseased sicke and lame And now because we are not fit to serue The Captayne of the towne hath thrust vs foorth That so expence of victuals may be saued K. Ed. A charitable deed no doubt and worthy praise But how do you imagine then to speed We are your enemies in such a case We can no lesse but put ye to the sword Since when we proffered truce it was refusde So: And if your grace no otherwise vouchsafe As welcome death is vnto vs as life Ki Poore silly men much wrongd and more distrest Go Derby go and see they be relieud Command that victuals be appoynted them And giue to euery one fiue Crownes a peece The Lion scornes to touch the yeelding pray And Edwards sword must fresh it selfe in such As wilfull stubbornnes hath made peruerse Enter Lord Pearsie Ki Lord Persie welcome what 's the newes in England Per: The Queene my Lord comes heere to your Grace And from hir highnesse and the Lord vicegerent I bring this happie tidings of successe Dauid of Scotland lately vp in armes Thinking belike he soonest should preuaile Your highnes being absent from the Realme Is by the fruitfull seruice of your peeres And painefull trauell of the Queene her selfe That big with child was euery day in armes Vanquisht subdude and taken prisoner Ki Thanks Persie for thy newes with all my hart What was he tooke him prisoner in the field Per. A Esquire my Lord Iohn Copland is his name Who since intreated by her Maiestie Denies to make surrender of his prize To anie but vnto your grace alone Whereat the Queene is greouously displeasd Ki Well then we le haue a Pursiuaunt dispatch To summon Copland hither out of hand And with him he shall bring his prisoner king Per: The Queene my Lord her selfe by this at Sea And purposeth as soone as winde will serue To land at Callis and to visit you Ki She shall be welcome and to wait her comming I le pitch my tent neere to the sandy shore Enter a Captayne The Burgesses of Callis mighty king Haue by a counsell willingly decreed To yeeld the towne and Castle to your hands Vpon condition it will please your grace To graunt them benefite of life and goods K. Ed. They wil so Then belike they may command Dispose elect and gouerne as they list No sirra tell them since they did refuse Our princely clemencie at first proclaymed They shall not haue it now although they would Will accept of nought but fire and sword Except within these two daies sixe of them That are the welthiest marchaunts in the towne Come naked all but for their linnen shirts With each a halter hangd about his necke And prostrate yeeld themselues vpon their knees To be afflicted hanged or what I please And so you may informe their masterships Exeunt Cap. Why this it is to trust a broken staffe Had we not been perswaded Iohn our King Would with his armie haue releeud the towne We had not stood vpon defiance so But now t 's past that no man can recall And better some do go to wrack then all Exit Enter Charles of Normandy and Villiers Ch: I wounder Villiers thou shouldest importune me For one that is our deadly ennemie Vil: Not for his sake my gratious Lord so much Am I become an earnest aduocate As that thereby my ransome will be quit Ch: Thy ransome man why needest thou talke of that Art thou not free and are not all occasions That happen for aduantage of our foes To be accepted of and stood vpon Vil: No good my Lord except the same be iust For profit must with honor be comixt Or else our actions are but scandalous But letting passe these intricate obiections Wilt please your highnes to subscribe or no Ch. Villiers I will not nor I cannot do it Salisbury shall not haue his will so much To clayme a pasport how it pleaseth himselfe Vil: Why then I know the extremitie my Lord I must returne to prison whence I came Ch Returne I hope thou wilt not What bird that hath escapt the fowlers gin Will not beware how shee s insnard againe Or what is he so senceles and secure That hauing hardely past a dangerous gulfe Will put him selfe in perill there againe Vil: Ah but it is mine othe my gratious Lord Which I in conscience may not violate Or else a kingdome should not draw me hence Ch: Thine othe why that doth bind thee to abide Hast thou not sworne obedience to thy Prince Vil: In all things that vprightly he commands But either to perswade or threaten me Not to performe the couenant of my word Is lawlesse and I need not to obey Ch: Why is it lawfull for a man to kill And not to breake a promise with his foe Vil: To kill my Lord when warre is once proclaymd So that our quarrel be for wrongs receaude No doubt is lawfully permitted vs But in an othe we must be well aduisd How we do sweare and when we once haue sworne Not to infringe it though we die therefore Therefore my Lord as willing I returne As if I were to flie to paradise Ch: Stay my Villeirs thine honorable minde Deserues to be eternally admirde Thy sute shal be no longer thus deferd Giue me the paper I le subscribe to it And wheretofore I loued thee as Villeirs Heereafter I le embrace thee as my selfe Stay and be still in fauour with thy Lord Vil: I humbly thanke your grace I must dispatch And send this pasport first vnto the Earle And then I will attend your highnes pleasure Ch. Do so Villeirs and Charles when he hath neede Be such his souldiers howsoeuer he speede Exit Villeirs
our lookes And now vnto this proud resisting towne Souldiers assault I will no longer stay To be deluded by their false delaies Put all to sword and make the spoyle your owne All Mercy king Edward mercie gratious Lord Ki Contemptuous villaines call ye now for truce Mine eares are stopt against your bootelesse cryes Sound drums allarum draw threatning swords All Ah noble Prince take pittie on this towne And heare vs mightie king We claime the promise that your highnes made The two daies respit is not yet expirde And we are come with willingnes to beare What tortering death or punishment you please So that the trembling multitude be saued Ki My promise wel I do confesse as much But I require the cheefest Citizens And men of most account that should submit You peraduenture are but seruile groomes Or some fellonious robbers on the Sea Whome apprehended law would execute Albeit seuerity lay dead in vs No no ye cannot ouerreach vs thus Two The Sun dread Lord that in the western fall Beholds vs now low brought through miserie Did in the Orient purple of the morne Salute our comming forth when we were knowne Or may our portion be with damned fiends Ki If it be so then let our couenant stand We take possession of the towne in peace But for your selues looke you for no remorse But as imperiall iustice hath decreed Your bodies shal be dragd about these wals And after feele the stroake of quartering steele This is your dome go souldiers see it done Qu Ah be more milde vnto these yeelding men It is a glorious thing to stablish peace And kings approch the nearest vnto God By giuing life and fafety vnto men As thou intendest to be king of Fraunce So let her people liue to call thee king For what the sword cuts down or fire hath spoyld Is held in reputation none of ours Ki Although experience teach vs this is true That peacefull quietnes brings most delight When most of all abuses are controld Yet insomuch it shal be knowne that we Aswell can master our affections As conquer other by the dynt of sword Phillip preuaile we yeeld to thy request These men shall liue to boast of clemencie And tyrannie strike terror to thy selfe Two long liue your highnes happy be your reigne Ki Go get you hence returne vnto the towne And if this kindnes hath deserud your loue Learne then to reuerence Edw as your king Ex. Now might we heare of our affaires abroad We would till glomy Winter were ore spent Dispose our men in garrison a while But who comes heere Enter Copland and King Dauid De, Copland my Lord and Dauid King of Scots Ki Is this the proud presumtious Esquire of the North That would not yeeld his prisoner to my Queen Cop: I am my liege a Northen Esquire indeed But neither proud nor insolent I trust Ki What moude thee then to be so obstinate To contradict our royall Queenes desire Co. No wilfull disobedience mightie Lord But my desert and publike law at armes I tooke the king my selfe in single fight and like a souldier would be loath to loose The least preheminence that I had won And Copland straight vpon your highnes charge Is come to Fraunce and with a lowly minde Doth vale the bonnet of his victory Receiue dread Lorde the custome of my fraught The wealthie tribute of my laboring hands Which should long since haue been surrendred vp Had but your gratious selfe bin there in place Q But Copland thou didst scorne the kings command Neglecting our commission in his name Cop. His name I reuerence but his person more His name shall keepe me in alleagaunce still But to his person I will bend my knee King I praie thee Phillip let displeasure passe This man doth please mee and I like his words For what is he that will attempt great deeds and loose the glory that ensues the same all riuers haue recourse vnto the Sea and Coplands faith relation to his king Kneele therefore downe now rise king Edwards knight and to maintayne thy state I freely giue Fiue hundred marks a yeere to thee and thine Welcom Lord Salisburie what news from Brittaine Enter Salsbury Sa: This mightie king the Country we haue won And Charles de Mountford regent of that place Presents your highnes with this Coronet Protesting true allegeaunce to your Grace Ki We thanke thee for thy seruice valient Earle Challenge our fauour for we owe it thee Sa: But now my Lord as this is ioyful newes So must my voice be tragicall againe and I must sing of dolefull accidents Ki What haue our men the ouerthrow at Poitiers Oris our sonne beset with too much odds Sa. He was my Lord and as my worthlesse selfe With fortie other seruiceable knights Vnder safe conduct of the Dolphins seale Did trauaile that way finding him distrest A troupe of Launces met vs on the way Surprisd and brought vs prisoners to the king Who proud of this and eager of reuenge Commanded straight to cut of all our heads And surely we had died but that the Duke More full of honor then his angry syre Procurd our quicke deliuerance from thence But ere we went salute your king quoth hee Bid him prouide a funerall for his sonne To day our sword shall cut his thred of life And sooner then he thinkes we le be with him To quittance those displeasures he hath done This said we past not daring to reply Our harts were dead our lookes diffusd and wan Wandring at last we clymd vnto a hill From whence although our griefe were much before Yet now to see the occasion with our eies Did thrice so much increase our heauines For there my Lord oh there we did descry Downe in a vallie how both armies laie The French had cast their trenches like a ring And euery Barricados open front Was thicke imbost with brasen ordynaunce Heere stood a battaile of ten thousand horse There twise as many pikes in quadrant wise Here Crosbowes and deadly wounding darts And in the midst like to a slender poynt Within the compasse of the horison as t were a rising bubble in the sea A Hasle wand a midst a wood of Pynes Or as a beare fast chaind vnto a stake Stood famous Edward still expecting when Those doggs of Fraunce would fasten on his flesh Anon the death procuring knell begins Off goe the Cannons that with trembling noyse Did shake the very Mountayne where they stood Then sound the Trumpets clangor in the aire The battailes ioyne and when we could no more Discerne the difference twixt the friend and so So intricate the darke confusion was Away we turnd our watrie eies with sighs as blacke as pouder fuming into smoke And thus I feare vnhappie haue I told The most vntimely tale of Edwards fall Qu Ah me is this my welcome into Fraunce Is this the comfort that I lookt to haue When I should meete with my belooued sonne Sweete Ned I would thy mother
in the sea Had been preuented of this mortall griefe Ki Content thee Phillip t is not teares will serue To call him backe if he be taken hence Comfort thy selfe as I do gentle Queene With hope of sharpe vnheard of dyre reuenge He bids me to prouide his funerall And so I will but all the Peeres in Fraunce Shall mourners be and weepe out bloody teares Vntill their emptie vaines be drie and sere The pillers of his hearse shall be his bones The mould that couers him their Citie ashes His knell the groning cryes of dying men And in the stead of tapers on his tombe an hundred fiftie towers shall burning blaze While we bewaile our valiant sonnes decease After a flourish sounded within enter an herald He. Reioyce my Lord ascend the imperial throne The mightie and redoubted prince of Wales Great seruitor to bloudie Mars in armes The French mans terror and his countries fame Triumphant rideth like a Romane peere and lowly at his stirop comes a foot King Iohn of France together with his sonne In captiue bonds whose diadem he brings To crowne thee with and to proclaime thee king Ki. Away with mourning Phillip wipe thine eies Sound Trumpets welcome in Plantaginet Enter Prince Edward king Iohn Phillip Audley Artoys Ki As things long lost when they are found again So doth my sonne reioyce his fathers heart For whom euen now my soule was much perplext Q. Be this a token to expresse my ioy kisse him For inward passions will not let me speake Pr. My gracious father here receiue the gift This wreath of conquest and reward of warre Got with as mickle perill of our liues as ere was thing of price before this daie Install your highnes in your proper right and heere withall I render to your hands These prisoners chiefe occasion of our strife Kin: So Iohn of France I see you keepe your word You promist to be sooner with our selfe Then we did thinke for and t is so in deed But had you done at first as now you do How many ciuill townes had stoode vntoucht That now are turnd to ragged heaps of stones How many peoples liues mightst thou haue saud that are vntimely sunke into their graues Io: Edward recount not things irreuocable Tell me what ransome thou requirest to haue Kin: Thy ransome Iohn hereafter shall be known But first to England thou must crosse the seas To see what intertainment it affords How ere it fals it cannot be so bad as ours hath bin since we ariude in France Ioh: Accursed man of this I was fortolde But did misconster what the prophet told Pri Now father this petition Edward makes To thee whose grace hath bin his strongest shield That as thy pleasure chose me for the man To be the instrument to shew thy power So thou wilt grant that many princes more Bred and brought vp within that little Isle May still be famous for lyke victories and for my part the bloudie scars I beare The wearie nights that I haue watcht in field The dangerous conflicts I haue often had The fearefull menaces were proffered me The heate and cold and what else might displease I wish were now redoubled twentie fold So that hereafter ages when they reade The painfull traffike of my tender youth Might thereby be inflamd with such resolue as not the territories of France alone But likewise Spain Turkie and what countries els That iustly would prouoke faire Englands ire Might at their presence tremble and retire Kin: Here English Lordes we do proclaime a rest an intercession of our painfull armes Sheath vp your swords refresh your weary lims Peruse your spoiles and after we haue breathd a daie or two within this hauen towne God willing then for England we le be shipt VVhere in a happie houre I trust we shall Ariue three kings two princes and a queene FINIS