Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
lord_n earl_n henry_n son_n 38,482 5 5.8567 4 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A07328 The reigne of King Henry the Second written in seaven bookes. By his Majesties command. May, Thomas, 1595-1650.; Vaughan, Robert, engraver. 1633 (1633) STC 17715; ESTC S122115 72,475 216

There are 8 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

Henry the 2d. surnam'd Short mantle King of England Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine Earle of Poicteres and Anjou Lord of Ireland c THE REIGNE OF KING HENRY THE SECOND Written in Seaven Bookes By his Majesties Command Invalidas vires Rex excitat juvat idem Qui jubet obsequium sufficit esse meum Auson LONDON Printed by A. M. for Benjamin Fisher dwelling in Aldersgate-streete at the signe of the Talbot 1633. TO THE SACRED MAIESTIE OF CHARLES BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF GREAT BRITTAINE FRANCE AND IRELAND DEFENDER OF THE FAITH c. THIS HISTORICALL POEM BORNE BY HIS COMMAND AND NOT TO LIVE BVT BY HIS GRATIOVS ACCEPTATION IS HVMBLY DEDICATED BY THE AVTHOR His Majesties most obedient Subject and Servant THO. MAY. THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second The First Booke The Argument of the first Booke The happy part of Henry's reigne is showne His first Triumphant yeares and high renowne His peace and power Enyo grieves to see And to disturbe his long tranquillity Descending downe to Lucifer below She craves some Vices aide to overthrow The causes of it there those tragike times Of Stephens reigne and Englands civill crimes So lately past Enyo does relate And shewes with griefe King Henry's present state The Fiend foretells what suddaine change shall be Of Englands peace and his felicity THe Second Henry first Plantagenet The first of Englands royall Kings that set Victorious footing on the Irish-shore And taught that warrelike nation to adore A forreine Scepter sound ye Muses foorth Declare how much his high Heroike worth By stormes of spitefull fortune oft assail'd As oft'gainst fortunes spitefull stormes prevail'd His glorious reigne but wrapt in various fate And though triumphant yet unfortunate How his great Vertues were too saddly try'de By rebell Subjects by the Papall pride And his owne Childrens strange impiety By opposition to ecclipse his high And great Renowne or higher to advance The fame of his undaunted puissance Vouchsafe dread Soveraigne Charles with that most cleare And gracious eye with which you use to cheare Poore suppliants while destinyes attend Your royall doome to view these lines and lend Your favours influence which can infuse Vertue alone into an English Muse. Shee else would tremble to approach too nigh So pure a minde so great a Majesty Vouchsafe to read the actions of a King Your noble Ancestour and what we sing In Henry's reigne that may be true renowne Accept it Sr. as Prologue to your owne Vntill this Muse or some more happy strayne May sing your Vertues and unaequall'd Reigne Those civill swords that did so lately stayne The land with slaughter now were sheath'd againe The rents of State were clos'd the wounds were cur'de Peace by victorious Henry was secur'de And justice waited on his awfull throne Without controll all feares all faction That tooke beginning with King Stephen's reigne With him descended to the grave againe Stephen deceas'd the Crowne of England now Came by accord t'empale young Henry's brow Which was before by right of birth his due But he least England too too long should rue In blood and slaughter their ambitious strife Came to accords of peace and during life Of Stephen respited his royall right Now like bright Phaebus to the longing sight Of all the People did young Henry ri●…e Before whose rayes all past calamities Like mists did vanish no sadd clouds accloy The aire of England with loud showtes of joy The People flock the Peeres their wealth display To grace his wish'd-for Coronation day His brave atchievements and that early fame Which he in France had gain'd had made his name Already lov'd in England and admir'd Him all the people for their Lord desir'd And now possest of him take faire presage Such youth would end in a triumphant age Then as when once the charriot of the Sunne Had beene misguided by bold Phaëton Iove walk'd the round and veiw'd with carefull eye If heaven were safe then from the starry sky Descending downe survey'd the scorched ground And there repair'd the ruines that he found To their dry channells he call'd backe the floods And with fresh verdure cloath'd the seindged woods Renew'd the herbage and redresse ordain'd For all that wronged Nature had sustein'd So Henry stablish'd in the Regall throne Iove-like surveyes his large dominion To see what parts of state might be decay'd What rents so long a civill warre had made With physicke fit he purges from the State Those humours that did stirre and swell so late Digests the reliques and by Princely arts And policy corroborates the parts And first of all those troopes of forreiners That from all parts during the civill warres Resorted hither to seeke spoyle and prey He banishes that at th' appoynted day Within the coasts no strangers did remaine Restoring England to it selfe againe And least the Crowne should want for that expence That must support the high magnificence Of such a Monarchy into his hands He boldly seizes all the royall lands Which either greatest men did uncontroll'd In those tumultuous times unjustly hold Or else King Stephen to support so badd And weake a title as they knew he had Had given freely as rewards to tye Their truth to him against their loyalty Nor did King Henry vindicate alone The state and wealth of his Imperiall Crowne But the just power and with a puissant hand Setled that sure obedience through the land That to his awfull Scepter did belong The greatest Peeres that were before too strong To be commanded he by force compell'd To yeild to him the Castles that they held And all the midland forts he rased downe The strength of nothing but rebellion Nor though as yet presumptuous Mortimer Had not forgot the late licentious warre But strove to guard against his Soveraigne By lawlesse armes the strength that he had tane Could he resist the King enforc'd to yeild To him those three strong Castles that he held Well did this reformation suite the thought Of such a great Heroike King who brought Besides his persons worth and true esteeme So lov'de a title to the Crowne with him Not from the Norman Conquerour did he Deduce alone his royall pedegree But from the ancient Saxon Kings beside As lineall heire to Edmund Ironside And in his happy birth did so conjoyne The conquering Norman and old Saxon line Which hearty love and reverence to his throne From all the English people justly wonne Who now forgate pleas'd with his lawfull power That they were servants to a Conquerour Great Grand-childe by the Femall side was he To Margaret the Queene of Scotland she Daughter to Edward sonne to Ironside Whose royall birth and blood was dignify'd By twenty faire descents of Saxon Kings All which the happy birth of Henry brings The more to England to endeare his reigne And heere your selfe most Gracious Soveraigne Your ancient right to Englands Crowne may see In Scotlands royall blood your pedegree Is farther drawne and no knowne king as you
Lest noble Henry should triumph ore none But onely sonnes and subjects of his owne And you most gracious Soveraigne borne to be Th'admir'd example of true piety To your deceased Father with an eye Secure may read your vertues contrary In Henry's sonnes and read it Sir true story That brands their names will sound your endlesse glory King Iames whilest living did behold and blest Your piety of what you since exprest No little part the wondring people all Beheld and honour'd at his funerall But most of all is what we daily see Your pious truth to his deare memory So may our Princely Hope let God above Be pleas'd young Charles by your example prove And such unto your selfe hereafter be As you to blessed Iames in piety The foes in this great combination ty'd Invade King Henry's lands on every side While Scotlands King fall's on Northumberland While Chesters Earle and Fulgiers armed stand To seaze the townes of Brittaine Lewis of France With young King Henry all their force advance For Normandy attempting to surprise Vernoul a towne that in the confines lyes Thus like a Lyon rows'd on every side Old Henry's prudence must at once provide For all assaults and first in person he To succour Vernoul martches speedily Which Lewis of France by treachery that day Had tane but left it straight and fled away The English King pursues and in his course Surprises many forts of his by force Nor durst the King of France of all the time That warre endur'd in field encounter him But making short incursions as for prey Would never stand the tryall of a day From thence with winged speed old Henry goes To meete in Brettaine with his rebell foes But Chesters Earle and ●…ulgiers durst not bide His puissance but fled and fortify'd Themselves within the castle Dole which he Str●…ightly besieg'd and wonne it speedily There Chesters Earle into his hands he got With fourescore other prisoners of note While thus in France the conquering King proceedes Heavens potent hand assists their valiant deedes That loyall warres for him in England made The Northerne parts does Scotlands King invade To whose resistance their most able men The noble Lucy Lord chiefe Iustice then And Bohun Constable of England bring And stay the progresse of that warrelike King There whilest with loyall and couragious hearts They guard the North in Englands Easterne parts Arise warr●…s fiercer where with numerous bands Of warlike Flemmings furious Leister lands With him does Bigot Earle of Norfolke joyne There their rebellious forces they combine To wast their native soyle the wofull fame Of which to brave Bohun and Lucy came Who hea●…ing this conclude with Scotlands King A speedy truce and all their forces bring Into the Easterne parts where fates provide Fresh strength to succour injur'd Henry's side The loyall Earles of Gloster Arundel And Cornewall there are met provided well Of all munition in their just designe With noble Lucy and Bohun to joyne The Lords all met to Farneham march away There was the tryall of that bloody day Ordain'd there Leister with his Flemish troopes Comes to encounter them with different hopes Though aequall fury the two armies fought The Flemmings prey the English freedome sought To chase from thence the forreiners away Long doubtfull stood the tryall of the day When thus the lo●…all Lords their souldiers cheere Now let your truth and loyalty appeare Brave Englishmen nor is it Henry's right 'Gainst rebells armes for which alone you fight And to revenge your wronged Prince although That were engagement great and high enough You fight lest England should be made a spoyle To vagrant theeves or more your native soyle Here suffer conquest by a forreine sword And after ages in blacke leaves record The fatall field of Farneham fortune meant In this to keepe your valours innocent Though rebell Leister make a civill warre He frees you from it since his souldiers are All forreiners in fight you neede not feare To wound at all your native countrey there Nor shed your kindreds blood the foe frees you From those foule crimes which he intends to doe Fight 'gainst his Soveraigne friends and native land What great advantage on our side doth stand Our armes are loyall 'gainst a forreine foe His warres both civill and rebellious too Such speeches from the Lords had raysed high The English vertue they all wish'd to dye Rather then see what else they sadly fear'd On one side Englands woefull state appear'd On tother side the justice of so brave A cause fresh vigour to their spirits gave The Flemmings armed with resolve as great Whose desperate fortunes on that day were set And no hope left beyond came fiercely on Breathing out nothing but destruction To gaine the price of their adventures there Or to their foes to leave a conquest deare So neere the flockes fight hungry beasts of prey So fight brave dogs to chase the wolves away As then the English and the Flemmings fought How many tragedies that day were wrought How were the fields with slaughter cover'd ore How was th'adjoyning river stain'd with gore At last bright ●…ustice rose and by the lawes Of God and nature ballancing the cause Gave a full conquest to the English side But so the desperate Flemmings fell and dy'd As in their deaths it plainely might appeare With what resolves they had encountred there Ten thousand of them in the field were slaine Their great Commander Leisters Earle was tane With him his Amazonian Countesse too Was taken prisoner and many moe Who by the conquering Earles were speedily Sent out of England into Normandy And to old Henry brought where then he lay With joyfull newes of that victorious day One of the strongest propps young Henry had And bold'st supporter of a warre so bad Is now remov'd ambitious Leister he Who most had sooth'd the sonnes impiety And 'gainst the father beene most insolent Is at his mercy now a prisoner sent The King forbeares revenge and does disdaine With any show of cruelty to staine The joy of this successe but keepes him there As warre had made him onely prisoner But Englands wretched state by one successe Could not be rescu'd wholly from distresse Gainst which so great conspiracies did aime For second newes from thence to Henry cam●… By Richard then elect of Winch●…ster That other forces had arrived there By that rebellious Earle of Norfolke brought By whom outragious mischiefes had beene wrought And th' Easterne parts of England much annoy'd That stately Norwich was with fire destroy'd That greater woes are feared every day That th' Earle of Flanders then at Gravelin lay With young King Henry purpos'd to invade England with all the strength that they had made The King is mov'd to heare his countreys woe And to her rescue straight resolves to goe In person then with his accustom'd speede By which he found his actions still succeede For all his acts and march●…s still did show Such speede that Lewis of
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 St●…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 p●…nnance make me hourely dye Poure out my prayer●… for your p●…osperity Or take revenge on this off●…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 dete●…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 lif●… 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 toge●…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 ●…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
his Lands in England and in France And to that end that homage should be done By all the Lords that Iohn his yo●…nger sonne To whom the father's favour did encline Should straight be sent to warre in Palaesti●… To these demands whilest Henry does refuse To yeeld assent a sadder woe ensues In indignation Richard straight forsakes His aged Father and him●…elfe betakes Whol●…y to Philip King of France his side And firmest friendship 'twixt these two is ty'd With Richard many of the Barons goe 〈◊〉 her selfe forsakes old Henry too When now proud Philip in disdaine that from This enterview no peac●… at all d●…d come Fels downe that aged Flme whose spreading shade So oft the place of parley had beene made 'Twixt France and Engla●…d's mighty King●… and swore That place should never hold a parley more Sad did the ruines of so fam'd a tree To all the pittying people seeme to be Whose honour'd shade had many ages beene More then a royall Court where oft was seene Such state as one Imp●…riall house although Of gorgeous structure could but seldome show Nor one whole kingdome at ●… time cont●…ine Two rivall Kings together to remaine Beneath the covert of a shady tree Where onely Nature made their Canopy Those old religious trees that heretofore Great Conquerours spoyles and boasting trophees bore Sacred to Mars or to 〈◊〉 name Were not more hon●…ur'd or inde●…t to Fame Then was this stately Elme not 'cause that there The Druides when Druid●…s there were Among the ancient Gaules had pray'd or done Their barbarous rites and superstition Nor that the Fawnes and Dryades h●…d made Their nightly bowers and ipor●…ed in the shade But 'cause the people●… pride had lov'd to shew The place where Kings did stand at enterview This El●…e was fell'd by Philip in his r●…ge Of Henry's following death a s●…d presage Now too too weake is old King Henry's side For those proud ●…oes that so unj●…stly ty'd In combination threaten his estate By his owne sonne and souldiers left of late And by those weapons wounded that should guard His royall person While the Fates so hard Opprest his grieved soule in discontent To his beloved City Mauns he went Hi●… place of birth and high in his esteeme Bu●… angry Fortune will not leave to him That City now Mauns must be tane away Thither while he does with small forces stay For but seven ●…undred souldiers guard their King Philip of France and furious Rich●…rd bring A potent army For the townes defence The King too weake is forc'd to flye from thence And to abandon that beloved Towne He that had never fled before nor knowne What 't was to feare pursuing enemies From his owne sonne and young King Phili●… flyes And looking backe on that forsaken Towne Curses the impious prowesse of his sonne Philip and Richards unresisted powers March further up with ease surprising Tours Vpon which losse another da●… is set For ●…nterview and both the Kings are met Not farre from Turw●…n Where although that cleare The Sky at their first meeting did appeare Yet on th●… sudden from a swelling cloud The thunder issu'd with report so loud It st●…ooke a terror into every heart Ore all the fields and twice they say did part The Kings a sunder once with such a force King Henry there had fall'n from off his horse Had not his servants held him up How ere It was decreed that Henry's honour there Should ●…all farre lower and he suffer more Then all his puissant reigne had felt before He that had given conditions still that ne're Had taken any from what foe soe're Yeelds now to all conditions they demand Yeelds to deliver into Philip's hand Adela now and for those Provinces Which in that continent he did possesse To doe him homage lets his Barons sweare Allegiance to his sonne Prince 〈◊〉 there An●… yeelds to pay for ●…harges of the warre Two thousand marks to Philip a●…d so farre His N●…ble heart not us'd to bow was broke That his griev'd spirit within three dayes forsooke The earthly mansion For a Feaver joyn'd Wi●…h the afflicting anguish of his minde Whose forces soone dis●…olv'd that house of clay A●… Ch●…non then this dying Monarch lay When to encrease the anguish of his thought And more disturbe his peace a scrowle was brought And by ill fate presented to him there Containing all their names that did adhaere In this conspiracy to Philip's side Where first of all his haplesse eye espy'd The name of Iohn his sonne whither that he Were truly one of that conspiracy Or some of Richard's followers to remove Before King Henry dy'd that wondrous love Which towards Iohn he seem'd of late to beare Above the other falsely wrote him there From thence extremity of passions Surpris'd his soule He curst his impious sonnes Curst his owne birth and had despairing dy'd Had not Diviner counsell come to guide His griefes aright and by Religions lawes Direct his wounded conscience to the cause Of those his suffrings making the disease The cure and troubled thoughts the way to peace Wailing his sinnes into the Temple there He bids th●…m his yet-living body beare Where he before the holy altar plac'd In humble 〈◊〉 breaths out his l●…st And of so great a Monarch now remaines No more on ear●…h then what a tombe containes Who lately ore so many Lands did reigne From Scotlands bounds to farthest Aquitaine A Prince in peace of highest Majesty In warre too great to finde an enemy In power above his neighbour Princes farre Who though his sword were often ●…rawne to warre His owne conditions without battels wrought Liv'd still victorious though he seldome fought And might have seem'd above the reach of Fate But that himselfe his greatest foes begate Wrong'd by that power which he had made and crost By those of whom he had deserved most Blest o●…t miraculously o●…t againe Beyond beleefe deprest his various reigne Temper'd with all extremities of Fate And though triumphant yet unfortunate FINIS THE DESCRIPTION OF KING HENRY THE SECOND WITH A SHORT SURVEY of the changes in his REIGNE IT has beene a custome of old Historians when they record the actions of great Princes to deliver also some Characters of their persons and peculiar dispositions that the curiositie of succeeding times who pry deepely into those men whose lives were of so great moment in the world might beefully satisfied and delighted It will not therefore bee amisse to deliver a Character of King Henry the Second a Monarch greater in Fame and Territories than any Christian King that then lived Hee was a man as we finde recorded of a just stature a strong and healthfull constitution but somewhat grosse more by the inclination of Nature then by any fault either of intemperance or sloth For besides the sparenesse and sobrietie of his dyet he vexed his bodie with continuall labour and to ouercome his naturall fat●…esse was almost immoderate in all his exercises Hee was of a ruddy complexion
Lord Mowbray and divers others No part of al his large dominions was free from warre Normandy invaded by Lewis of France and young King Henry Aquitaine by his Sonne Richard possessed against him as the Dutchy of Brittaine was by Geoffrey The Northern parts of England were all wasted by the great strength of William K. of Scotland the Easterne parts much afflicted by those mercenary troops of Flemmings which the Earle of Leister brought over besides the forces of the Earl o●… Nor●…olk This great Monarch whose felicitie was so lately the envie of his neighbour-Princes is now become the pittie of them all and the injuries done to his estate and person are much lamented by some Princes too farre off to lend him succour But be hold the turning of Fortune againe it pleased God againe to lift him from this depth of calamitie to the height of honour Hee now found the benefit of his frugality and that large treasure which hee before had gathered was his great assistance in procuring mercenarie souldiers to his side besides some faithfull Lords there were whom we have named in the storie that were deeply moved at their masters injuries and so Nobly served him that within three yeares after the beginning of these combustions King Henry according to his owne wishes beheld a happy and victorious end of them as is before expressed Let the fourth Act continue about seven yeares that next ensued a time of honour and highest happinesse to this great King after his troubles were allended according to his wish the King of France daunted the martiall King of Scotland his prisoner all rebels under his feet his Sonnes brought to acknowledge their duty and all his large dominions in great securitie While the mightiest Monarchs of the Christian world admired his wisedome and great successe astonished almost at so wonderfull a change as they now beheld His sumptuous Court was filled with congratulating Ambassadours of whom at one time there were moe seene then ever had beene together in the Court of England as namely from the two Christian Emperours Manuel of Constantinople and Frederike of the Romans from the Kings of Navarre and Aragon ●…om the Archbishop of Triers and the Earle of Flanders During the time of this happinesse hee marryed his two youngest daughters for the eldest was married before to the Duke of Saxony to the Kings of Sicily and Arragon Hee called Parliaments in which according to his minde hee was furnished with treasure he wisely setled the estates of Church and Common-wealth and besides many other wholsome happy constitutions he first appointed Iudges Itinerant for the six circuits of the Realme of England The last and tragicall Act may be considered in the five following yeares untill the end of his reigne and lif●… The date of his felicitie was now expired and nothing followed but trouble and calamitie The beginning of which was a second revolt of his two Sonnes Henry and Geoffrey which was soone taken off by the untimely death of both the Princes as is before declared in the Poëm besides the ill successe in the affaires of Ireland under the government of Iohn his youngest sonne Those troubles that arose from Philip King of France and prevailed against Henry in his old age more then any enemy had beene able to doe before which had not fallen so heavily upon him if Richard then his eldest sonne had not unnaturally forsaken his father and joyned in confederacy with King Philip. That miserable dissention broke the heart of old King Henry and was the end both of his reigne and life FINIS THE SINGLE AND COMPARATIVE CHARACTERS OF HENRY the Sonne and RICHARD LEt it not seeme impertinent if the Reader therby may be informed or delighted to deliver the Characters of these two Princes the eldest Sonnes of King Henry the Second who bore so great and stirring parts in the history of their fathers reigne They were Princes of greatest eminence in those times and upon whom the eyes of Christendome were most set a large Stage they had to act upon and early occasions to discover their worth They were both tall of stature beyond the ordinary height of men of comely visage and majesticall presence for courage and magnanimity they were thought equall and both admired for royall vertue though of a nature different Henry was beloved for his sweetnesse Richard honour'd for his gravi●… Henry was affable and wondrous liberall Richard severe and full of constancy Henry was addicte●… to martiall sports and pastimes Richard more inclined ●…o warre it selfe One was Courtly the other serious One beloved for mercy the other feared for Iustice. The one a refuge the other a terror to all offenders Two Princes brothers of so great worth and yet so diverse have seldome beene observed Yet well might they spring from one root their father Henry in the mixture of his nature was knowne to containe both their different Characters and iudged to have a minde as one ●…peakes of Augustus Caesar full of varietie How much the sweetnesse and lovely carriage of young King Henry had wonne upon the world let one observation which some of his owne time thought like a miracle teach us to judge How strange was it that a young Prince rising in armes against his father possessed neither of lands nor treasure much lesse of a good or just cause was followed almost by all the neighbouring world against a King of so large a territory and so full of treasure that in this great defection from him hee was able almost with mercenary souldier●… to vindicate his right against all those potent enemies This young P●…ince had gained to his side not onely his brothers Richard and Geoffrey and most of the great Nobility of England but the Kings of France and Scotland the Earle of Flanders and many other great forraigne Princes So many rich gifts of minde and body were heaped on this young Henry saith a Writer of his time that Nature as it were envying what she had bestowed soyled it againe with one staine the vice of ingratitude and disobedieuce to so good a father Which sinne of his was thought the cause that plucked downe Divine vengeance and untimely cut off that flourishing youth which was judged worthy if God had prolonged it to have ruled a greater Empire The severity and industrious courage of Richard the second Sonne let this declare the Earledome of Poictou and the Dutchy of Aquitaine which were the inheritance of his mother Eleanor were committed to his government whilest he was very young Yet in that tender age so manly were his vertues so awefull was the hand which he carried over the rebellious and stubborne subjects of those Countryes that he soone reduced them to a more quiet state and setled obedience then any of their former Princes had ever done As he was stout in the action of warre so was hee constant and unwearied in pursuing his fortune and making the full use of any successe according to that marke that Lucan gives of Iulius Caelar Nil credens actum cum quid superesset agendum Hee was so severe in punishing their offences that hee began so great a resemblance sometimes has vice with vertue to be taxed of cruelty till the wiser sort had fully considered the quality of his actions and the necessity of such proceedings How prevalent he was in the managing of warres to omit those great high exploits which he afterwards atchieved when hee was King of England by this one sad observation we may somewhat i●…dge after the untimely deaths of his two brothers Henry and Geoffrey when hee onely of the Sonnes was left at mans estate and unnaturally warred against his father assisted onely by Philip King of France hee more prevailed then his brother Henry with a farre greater confederacy had beene able to doe in the foregoing warres Henry the Sonne had many and great Princes as ●…efore wee shewed that sided with him And yet so victorious an end did old King Henry make of that businesse that hee saw his greatest and most glorious times after the conclusion of that warre but when Ric●…ard revolted from him assisted onely by Philip of France the father was inforced to suffer more and stoope lower than any imagined that a Prince of so great a spirit and power could ever have bin brought unto By which finally his heart was broken and a period set to all his worldly glory Richard in that was more unhappy than his brother Henry that his unna●…urall wars we●…e able to give so deepe and uncurable a wound to his fathers heart and lent him no time at all to obtaine his pardon as Henry had done nor could the father liue to bee a witnesse of Richards forrow and true repentance as hee had beene of the others Which notwithstanding was many wayes after the death of old King Henry testified by Richard and last of all when himselfe was dying he commanded his servants to bury him at Fonteverard and lay him acrosse at his fathers feet to whom his disloyalty and unnaturall revolt as hee with griefe acknowledged had beene so great a crosse FINIS * Polydore Vi●…gil in H. 2 * The Monke of Nuborough lib. 2. has all this * The Monke of Nuborough Ibidem * Hovden Chronicon de passione mi●…aculis Thomae a Math. Paris b Gervase of Dover * Aurea legenda in vita Thomae * Silu Giraldus Cambr. relates all these wonders * Hoved●…n * William Parvus * Stoutvile Glanvile Vrsy Ballioll Vinfriville * Will. Parv●… * William Archbishop of Try
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 a●…ter proov'd a fatall prodigy How ill Imperiall Majesty can brooke A sharer seeke not farre nor neede you looke S●…oryes whose credit time has ruin'd quite Nor neede you read what old Tragaedians write Of this ●…add Theame or east your pitying eyes V●…on the Theban brothers tragoedyes O●… brothers blood that Romes first walls did stayne The s●…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 ●…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 g●…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 b●…ings no content To thee that seem'st to want th' accomplishment Of royalty the power and Regall s●…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 ●…ich France could yeild S●…ch cates as those with which old Poets fain'd In Thessaly the Gods were entertain'd At s●…lver-footed Thetis bridall feast Where ●…ove himselfe vouchsaf'd to be a guest Where aged Chiron waited at the boord And brought what aire earth waters could af●…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 m●…ssy vessels that convey●…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 c●…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 ●…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 th●…y all with wonder heare King Henry sigh'd and gan even then to ●…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 ●…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 lig●…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
France would oft avow He thought King Henry did not goe but fly Prepares to crosse the seas from N●…rmandy And takes aboord besi●…es his faithfull men Those Lords with him that were his prisoners the●… Leister and Chesters Earles with many moe But when he hoys'd his sailes crosse windes gan blow The Seas grow rough as if the Seas conspir'd And windes to crosse what he so much desir'd King Henry sighes and lifting his sad eyes To heaven thus speakes oh God thou onely wise If my entents in E●…gland may succede If her afflicted state my pre●…ence neede And that my safe arrivall there may be Her health and cure of all her malady Then grant me passage thou whose onely becke Has power the windes and swelling Seas to checke But if my presence to her coast may prove More cause of woes and fiercer tumults move If my revenging hand may launce the sore Too deepe and make it greater then before Let these crosse windes still keepe me from that shore Oh let me never see my England more Rather then these my armes should onely gaine My right and not the nations peace maintaine Let me loose all and my unthankefull sonne Before his time po●…sesse her as his owne Rather then seat a long and tragicke warre Within her bleeding bosome farre oh farre Let my sad state from thence be banished Too much already has that Iland bled For Princes strifes and Soveraigneties dire love Oh if my landing may auspicious prove For Englands peace and quench all factious fire Let windes and Seas consent to my desire His pious prayer was heard the swelling Maine Smooth'd his rough face the wind turn'd faire againe And gave presage to his rejoycing minde Of what successe he should in England finde By which his navy soone is wafted ore And at Southampton safely set on shore Departing thence before he seeke his foes Or realmes sicke parts in Pensive wise he goes Himselfe to visite slaughter'd Becket's shrine Whether the Lega●…es did before enjoyne That paenitence or that 't were voluntary At three miles di●…ance off from Canterbury The King himselfe alighting from his horse Does barefoote thither take his pensive course Whil'st paines with his humiliation meete And ruthlesse stones doe cut his tender feete Leaving the peoples wondring eyes from thence A bloody tracke of his sharpe paenitence But when he came to slaughter'd Becket's shrine Oh there could worship greater then divine Have beene he had perform'd it on his face He prostrate fell and weeping kiss'd the place Which yet of Becket's murder bore the staine There with submissive praye●…s he strove to gaine Pardon for that which others wrought and he Was guilty of but accidentally But yet as if no teares could expiate Nor prayers could cleanse so foule a crime as that To such esteeme in that blind age's thought Was this supposed Martyr Becket brought The pensive King goes farther bares his backe And on his flesh refuses not to take Rod-stripes from each blind Monke that there did live Which they as freely to their Soveraigne give A strange example sure but let the sage Nor censure them nor Henry but the age But ere great Henry from that city went More glorious newes as if chang'd Fortune meant To recompence him for her threats so late And now on all sides make him fortunate Was thither brought to his rejoycing eare That Scotlands King was taken prisoner The warlike William who had made almost Without resistance on the Northerne coast So many inrodes such rich spoiles had wonne And so much wracke in severall places done Huge was his army but by different wayes D●…spers'd they sought securely for their preyes Ranging abroad and pillaging without Controll the townes and hamlets round about Five gallant Yorkshire Knights whom glorious Fame Was pleas'd to grace to Alnwicke Castle came To enter thither secretly they meant The misty weather favour'd their intent Vnseene they came although the strength were small For but foure hundred horse were they in all Such prize to them did friendly fame ordaine As greatest armies have beene proud to gaine A captive Monarch from the Castle towers They view'd farre off the scatter'd Scottish powers Whose armie 's greatest part from thence was gone And led by severall Captaines marched on To spoyle some other parts the Knights at last Who in their active thoughts did hourely cast Some brave designes by scouts that had descry'd The Scotts proceedings all were certify'd Which way King William with small guards abroade Was gone and thither with their troopes they rode Oretooke and charg'd him there the King although Amaz'd to meete so suddainly a foe Did not forget he was a King but made As brave resistance as the strength he had Would give him leave the trumpets sound in vaine To draw to rescue of their Soveraigne His stragling troopes whom sweetnesse of the prey Had carryed thence and scatter'd every way The Knights prevaile the King 's surprised there And to New-castle borne a prisoner Oh mocke of fortune he that enter'd late The English bounds so strong a Potentate Guarded with fourescore thousand Souldiers As if he sought to gaine by 〈◊〉 warres The Kingdome 's conquest not a meaner prey By this small troope is captive borne away Pleas'd with this newes triumphant Henry goes From thence to London where with all true showes Of joy and duty they receiv'd their King And with an army marches thence to bring The realmes sicke parts unto their former state No towne no fort how proud so ere of late And strongly mann'd durst now resist or stay His course fame opens him a bloodlesse way Huntingdon Castle 's yielded to his hands Nor durst Earle Bigot with his Flemmish bands That lately strooke such terrour through the land Resist his Lord but into Henry's hand Did freely yield Bungay and Fremingham His two strong forts and humbly kneeling came To sue for mercy which he there obtain'd The like did Ferrers Darbies Earle and gain'd His pardon too contented now to yield Those two strong Castles which he long had held As much stout Mowbray was enforc'd to doe And with himselfe resign'd his Castle too So did the forts then kept in Leisters name And to Northampton Duresmes Prelate came To give three Castles freely to the King Thither did then the Knights of Yorkeshire bring Their royall captive Scotlands King and there Presented him as Henry's prisoner Who could have hop'd to fin●…e such blest successe From such a warre what greater happinesse Could ore-joy'd Henry in his largest thought Have wish'd to see or all the starres have wrought So high a conquest gain'd by fame alone So many Castles without slaughter wonne No blood in purging of rebellion shed And in three weekes all England q●…ieted Without the sword no fields with slaughter stain'd What Prince ore sonnes and subjects ever gain'd So just and true a triumph or could see In civill warre a joyfull victory This conquest was ore hearts not
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