and that th' old King would seeme For such a savour much oblig'd to him A reverend Bishop he to Henry sent Who signify'd the Christian King's entent To worke that pious and Religious peace That warres so sad and impious now might cease Twixt sonnes and Father nature made the way And joyfull Henry nam'd the meeting day â—…ho though successefull ever in that warre Was still a father not a conquerer Then to Gisors with joy he goes to whom King Lewis of France and yong King Henry come Where though no perfect unâ—…on could be wrought For young Prince Richard was not thither brought Who still was fiercely warring in Poictou Yet something 's done and as a prologue now To that faire peace which afterward ensu'd A truce both Henryes and King Lewis conclude Fierce Richard though King Henryes second sonne Yet borne to sit on Englands royall throne Had all the time of these unnaturall jarres Against his father made victorious warres Within Poictou in which few townes remain'd But that Prince Richard the whole land had gain'd This is that Heroe who by deedes of fame Shall gaine through all succeeding times the name Of Lions-heart whose deedes as farre shall sound â—…s lyes the farthest Verge of Christian ground Who by deserved honours fetch'd from farre Shall wash the staine of this rebellious warre From off his sacred memory againe And conquests great 'gainst Saracens obtaine From him the dreadfull Saladine sh all fly Philip of France his envious enemy Shall feare the force of his victorious hand And rue it oft he in his time shall stand Th' ecclipse of other Christian Princes fame And only terrour of the Pagan name After the true concluded at Gisors Into Poictou with all his martiall force The old King Henry marches 'gainst his son At whose arrivall every fort and towne Which Richard not by love but force had gain'd Straight yeild themselues into his Fathers hand Whose Marches almost no resistance finde When young Prince Richard with perplexed minde Had heard his father's comming and successe He stormes and taxes of perfidiousnesse King Lewis of France and young King Henry that Had thus forsaken their confaederate But yet resolves too proudly not to yeild At all but stand the tryall of a field Against his father and with impious hopes â—…nto the field drawes all his Martiall Tropes From whence Kings Henry's army was not farre And now too neere approach'd the wicked warre Some pious Souldiers ' gann those mischiefes feare Which they should act as well as suffer there Richard's great heart began to yeild to shame And feele the reverence of a fathers name Sometimes his stubborne courage rais'd him high Sometimes againe relenting Piety Check'd those proud thoughts and in so bad a cause Told him how great a crime his valour was Yet had not Piety alone the power To curbe his spirit his father every houre Encreast in men and Iustice with a tide Of strength flow'd in to vindicate her side Why stood'st thou out Richard so long a time T is now too late to free thy selfe from crime Though thou submit the world may justly say It was not true repentance but dismay Thou could'st no longer cheere thy fainting troopes And not thy resolution but thy hopes Forsake thee heere that act will termed be Despaiâ—…e which had before beene piety But thanke the weakenesse of thy army now That made thee see though late and disallow That horrid guilt before that lives it cost Or blood by thy impiety were lost Strucke with remorse at last young Richard throwes His late rebellious armes aside and goes To his offended father to present Himselfe a sad and humble paenitent There on his knees for that unkind offence He pardon craves no other eloquence But teares and sighs his griefe had power to use No other pleas were strong in his excuse The royall father meetes with teares of joy Those teares and pardons him the noblest way With kinde embraces liftes him from the ground And in his rich paternall love had found Instead of chiding him for what was done A way to praise him by comparison That of the brothers he submitted first As if the father had forgot that erst He aequall to the rest astray had gone Remembring Richards paenitence alone So much King Henry's wondrous goodnesse wroughâ—… On Richard's noble nature as it brought Frâ—…sh teares from him and though it pardon'd more Did seeme to aggravate th' offence before Yet such encouragement from thence he tooke As thus when teares would give him leave he spoke Sir your preventing grace has tane from me So farre the neede of all apology As I should only speake my thankfulnesse If any language could so much expresse But that my dutious deedes shall better show And for the first true service I can doe Vouchsafe me leave great Sir to goe and winne My yet offending brothers from their sinne Let me be there employ'd I shall prevaile In that when other advocates will faile When forreine Princes for their owne close ends Shall faintly speake when false and factious friends In their misdeedes shall flatter them shall I By true example check impiety I that have sinned happily in this To make them know how good our Father is Which most accurs'd I had not grace to know Till by offending I had found it so More had he utter'd but King Henry there Cut off his speech almost or ejoy'd to heare That thing propos'd which was his chiefe entent And then with faire and kind encouragement For that designe dispach'd his Sonne away Himselfe resolv'd in Normandy to stay And thankefull Richard with a joy as high Goes to performe the pious Legacy THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second The Sixt Booke The Argument of the sixt Booke Betwixt Ambois and Tours the Sonnes are brought To meete their Father perfect peace is wrought A Peace is made with France and Scotland too From Normandy the two King Henryes goe Great signes of joy in England every where Are show'd to welcome their arrivall there The King his Realme of England doth divide Into six circuits and for each provide Iudges Itinerant what great resort Was seene at onee in Henry's stately Court His happinesse his power and high renoune His daughters royall marriages are showne Old Henry does refuse the proffred Crowne Of Palaestine to take Henry the sonne Rebells againe and does repentant dye The third sonne Geoffrey's wâ—…full tragaedy NOw did victorious Henry's wish succeede With such effectuall diligence and speede Had young Prince Richard with his Brothers wroughâ—… That both of theÌ„ he to their father brought Betwixt Ambois and Tours there first of all Are diâ—…ontents and jarres unnaturall By 〈◊〉 King Henry's prudence made to cease There first is wroâ—…ght a full and finall peace The sonneâ—… aâ—…e taught to hate their impious crime Aâ—…d vow oâ—…edience for the future time Nor does thâ—… fathers wisedome thinke he does Eâ—…ugh if for the present â—…e compose This fatall strife but carefull to prevent
The causes of all future discontent He lends a gentle eare while they expresse In humble sort their former grievances He grants their just demands and does advance With liberall hand their yearely maintenance Which had before bin justly thought to be Too small for them and that this enmity Might not alone be ended but forgot On every side the lands unâ—…ustly got While this sad warre remain'd are every where Restor'd againe and every prisoner Without a ransome on both sides set free And all their followers in that state to be As when the warre beganne with Henry there A peace King Lewis and th' Earle of Flanders sweare And that the friendship may be firmely ty'd Adela Lewis his daughter is affy'd To Princely Richard to remaine till she Should come of age in Henry's custody There to conclude these sad dissentions Richard and Henry's younger sonnes A personall homage to their father doe Which young King Henry freely offred too But that the father suffâ—…ed not since he Invested was in regall dignity White-winged Concord come from heaven above Concord of all estates the joy and love Whose sacred armes the spatious world infold And that mixt fabricke from dissolving hold On Henry's countreys now was pleas'd to light With her her lately banish'd sister bright As she faire Piety did not disdaine Descending downe to visite earth againe She that from Englands Court had lately fled As once from Argos tragicke towers she did When Atreus feast did her pure soule affright And made the Sunne obscure his mourning light Nor does the presence of bright Phoebus more Comfort earths drooping face when to restore Her fragrant Wardrobe he returnes in spring Then Piâ—…ty and blessed Concord bring True joy to humane hearts the King in thought Is recompens'd for what the fates had wrought So lately 'gainst him his two younger sonnes He sends away to their dominions And wise men with them Geoffrey to remaine In Brettaine Richard in his Aquitaine There with their severall Councells to advise The best for their estates and dignities The two King Henryes father and the sonne Through every part of their dominion Vpon that side the Sea a progresse take To cure the wounds of that late warre and make The rents all whole againe then from that coast The Seas for England they together crost But oh what Muse can at the height relate The joy that Englands long-afflicted state Express'd to welcome their arrivall there Or show how all the wayes from Porchmouth where They landed first and thence to London rode Were fill'd with people numberlesse and strow'd With such greene dresse as then the spring could show And Sol from Taurus gilded hornes bestow Vpon the cheered earth as if that then The season had consented with the men How did the aire with acclamations sound When in that joyous sight the people found Their happinesse they saw two Kings as one Distracting not the quiet of a throne And as a glorious wonder might descry Two Sunnes at once and yet a peacefull sky This sight more joy'd the hearts of people now Then any triumph of a warre could doe Nor could the greatest conquest by the blood Of slaughter'd nations purchas'd be so good So did th' Italian youths follow in throngs Their laurell'd charriots with triumphant songs When captive Kings were brought when woefull stories Of ruin'd lands were made their envy'd glories Before this triumph no sad captives goe To waile in chaines their woefull overthrow No pale dejected lookes no hearts afraid Are found no envy'd glories are display'd But gentle peace does with a gracious eye Appeare and leade the faire solemnity Whose crowne of olive does more glorious show Then any victor's laurell wreath could doe One Court one table now receives againe Whom late this spatious Ile could not containe As fâ—…iends within blew Neptune's watery armes And they whose presence fill'd with warres alarmes So oft of late great France and England too Without warres feare are seene together now And promise like th' Oebalian friendly starres Health to the late distressed Marriners Nor does King Henry spend in wanton ease The Halcyon dayes of this his happy peace But like a wise and noble Potentate â—…o cure the sad diseases of his state He first beginnes as first it ought to be With holy Church the sinne of Simony Which those corrupted times too much had fill'd A Synod to that end at London held By wholsome lawes and canons did restraine From thence old Henry fully to maintaine His honour goes in person and repaires Some breaches of the late unhappy warres And many Castles of the inner land Which had in those rebellious times beene mann'd And kept against himselfe he rases downe As Leister Walton Groby Huntington To deedes of justice then he turn'd his minde And first of all the English Kings did finde That happy course applauded till this day To give his subjects by an easier way The use of justice England he divides Into sixe circuites and for each provides Three reverend Iustices itinerant That all his subjects farthest off whom want Would not perâ—…it so great a way to come Might meete bright Iustice twice a yeare at home And that offences there where they were done Might be to Iudges made more clearely knowne A glorious act which shall for ever fame To after times the second Henry's name Those mighty kings who by such specious deedes As founding towers or stately Pyramids Would raise their names and by that vast expence Doe seeke the fame of high magnificence Doe not deserve by those proud workes they raise So true an honour nor such lasting praise As he whose wisâ—…dome to good manners drâ—…wes The mindes of men by founding wholesome lawes And planting perfect justice in a state Those let the vainer people wonder at By those a state showes faire by this it lives They outward beauty this true essence gives But now my faire Calliope relate How high how glorious was old Henry's state In this so happy and establish'd peace When all dissentions on such tearmes did cease As he himselfe could wish when his command Was fear'd in Wales when Englands happy land Was well assured Scotlands strength dismay'd And conquer'd Ireland quietly obey'd His powerfull scepter when he did possesse Without controll those stately Provinces Of France which stretch'd even to the bounds of Spain From Normandy to farthest Aquitaine That King of Connaught Roderike the stout He that in Ireland had so long stood out 'Gainst th' English power does now to England send Embassadours on Henry to attend To yield himselfe to his protection A tributary to the English Crowne And now through Europe the loud voyce of fame So wide had spread this potent Monarchs name That from the farthest partâ—… of Christendome Embassadours of greatest Princes come To hold their leagues and amity with him And London saw so high was his esteeme In his great Court at once th'Embassadours Of the two mighty Christian Emperours The East and Westerne
So sorely bruis'd his body that although He presently expir'd not in the place For God in mercy lent him such a space Of time to breath he might repenting call To him for Grace y◅t of that ◅a tall fall As it appeared plaine in all the pride Of his fresh youth he shortly after dy'd Lib. 7. HENRY the Second The Argument of the seventh Booke Prince John King Henry's youngest sonne is sent To take the charge of Irelands government 'Twixt Henry and King Philip severall jarres And quarrels rise that threaten daily warres A reverend Prelate by the Pope imploy'd Betwixt the Kings all difference to decide Perswades them both an holy warre to make Both Kings with Philip Earle of Flanders take The Crosse upon them But their good intents Are crost againe by fatall accidents And both the Kings against each other bent Towarre againe Richard in discontent His father leaves and takes King Philip's part Ensuing losses breake old Henry's heart THus is the King of halfe his store bereft Two sons untim◅ly dead two sons are le◅ The seeming comforts of his age as who Could think but living childrē shold be so Oh who would not suppofe that to have seene Two youthfull sonnes before him dead had beene A grievous c◅rse and punishment to him But he that sees old Henry's end will deeme His living sonnes to be his curse and say God pity'd him in taking two away For furious Ri◅hard who was eldest now And heire apparant to the Crowne as though His brother's deaths could no examples be To shew the vengeance of Impiety Soone after 'gainst his father raises warre Of worse and sadder consequence by farre Then all the rest had beene they caus'd his smart But this of Richard breakes his bleeding heart The Realme of Ireland Henry did entend To Iohn his youngest sonne and to that end Had from Pope Vrban got a grant before That he might freely leaue as successour Which sonne he pleas'd in Irelands government Thither is Iohn with ◅it attendance sent But twelve yeares old to make him early knowne And lov'd among those people as his owne To rule among them as their Governour But not invested in the Regall power Th' example of his eldest sonne whom he Before advanc'd to royall dignity Too soone alas had made him justly feare The same from others But unhappy there This Prince his too too early rule did prove Instead of gaining that rude Nations love Which by a sweet demeanour had beene wonne For they as every barbarous Nation Although they know not what is true respect Yet if respected wondrously affect The youthfull Gallants of that Prince his Covrt Could not re◅raine bur in a scorne◅ull sort The Natives rude behaviours did deride And so distastfull was their mocking pride To those plaine people they began to hate Whom else they would have honour'd and forgate That loyall love and reverence which before They to the English King and Nation bore From thence sad warres the Irish Princes mov'd Which by the losse of men and treasure prov'd Vnhappy to the English side till from His government young Iohn was called home And left it after an expensive warre In worse estate then when he enter'd farre Now daily quarrels 'twixt the Realmes of France And England grow Fresh cause of variance From all occasions does the active minde Of young King Philip 'gainst old Henry finde Sometimes he c◅aimes Gisors and other lands By Henry held from him somet◅mes demands The Princesse Adela his sister now Of perfect age to be deliver'd to Her husband Henry's eldest sonne According to the old conclusion Which in her father Lewis his time was made Or else he is resolved to invade King Henry's Provinces while he delayes His answer forces on both sides they raise While neighbour-Princes kindly enterpose And strive these breaches 'twixt the Kings to close Nor perfect peace nor constant warre ensn'd Their truces often broke were oft renew'd The sword oft drawne and oft was sheath'd againe While this so jarring concord did remaine Betwixt the Kings sad newes was brought to them That Saladine had tane Ierusalem Discomfited the Noble Christian hoast And with their slaughter ◅ad through all that coast Seized the townes of strength into his hands These wofull tidings through all Christian lands In Europe flew excitements every where From Pulpits sounded in the peoples eare To aid their brother-Christians in the East And take revenge on Pagans that opprest The holy land For this great purpose some Religious Prelates sent through Christendom◅ To severall Courts of greatest Princes came To draw their succours One of greatest name In that imployment who most seem'd t' advance The cause that Prelate was who then in France Labour'd to draw these armed Kings from thence And turne their swords against the Saracens Betwixt Gisors and Try a day was set For enterview where these two Monarchs met Their royall armies slay'd not farre srom thence No p◅ace was wrought upon the conference Though thither Philip Earle of Flanders came A powerfull Prince and one of honour'd name With Noble purpose to attone their jarres And to prevent so sad and causelesse warres Till this grave Prelate to the place was come And for the generall cause of Christendome Thus humbly spake Most puissant Kings and you Renowned Earle let it in season now Be thought to speake what borne upon the wings Of Fame already through all Europe rings The tragicke slaughter of our Christian hoast And sacred Salem to vile Pagans lost Since by those Christians sufferings God for you Sets ope the way to highest honours now Let that brave cause engage these armes of yours Thither great Kings transport your conquering powers And for the name of your Redeemer move A war◅e more just than any peace can prove Much more a juster warre then this can be For when the foes of Christianity Doe rage if peace it selfe at such a time May in the Christian world be judg'd a crime What crime is that when they to warre can goe Yet not 'gainst him that ought to be their foe But for him rather Let me freely speake When Christian Princes 'gainst each other wreake Their wrath at sucst a time what side so ere Be beat the holy cause must suffer there And every death when your fierce battels joyne A Champion takes from bleeding Palaestine God sure decree'd I should prevaile with you Because he lets me finde you armed now When I am come to speake Your breasts are not Becalm'd with peace your active spirits are hot And what should hinder you from Salems warre Since you have met a juster cause by farre Then that that mov'd this heat that rays'd these armes I doe not seeke to still these loud alarmes But to direct them to an object right Where godly zeale not sinfull wrath shall fight That shall renowne you in all times to come And crowne your dying men with martyrdome Doe you for honour fight as who would make A warre at
houses nor the milky way All pav'd with silver Starres doe seeme so cleare The woods are heaven while faire Caliâ—…to's there â—…une then beganne and roses grac'd the Spring Into his garden walkes the Love-sicke King To seeke a sweet retreat with her alone â—…o feast his pleas'd imagination There while he view'd the Queen of flowers his flame Encreas'd and tooke fresh fuell from the name For her the blushing rose must praised bee And scorn'd againe because it is not shee No roses can quoth he be fragrant else Thâ—…re is no spring but where Lord Clifford dwells â—…hus vainely runne his thoughts upon the flower While gentle birds about his â—…hady bower Tune their soft notes and by degrees sweet sleepe Through all his wearyed senses gan to creepe As if faire Venus pittying his sad plight Would send him now by dreame some short delight And what his waking eye could not have found Present in sleepe the shape of Rosamund But Heaven was more propitious to his fame And for Love-dreames a Nobler vision came Honours bright Goddesse that heroike maide That issu'de from the braine of Iove array'de In all her radiant gloryes came before Whose face the Cupids fledd her right hand bore The warlike Lance her left Medusaes head Her golden plumed Helme both full of dread And Majesty such rayes of splendour yeilds As rising Phaebus when farre off he guilds The Easterne Cloudes her eyes wore Starry light But fixt not twinckling like weake humane â—…ight Nor did she seeme by stepps at all to goe Or stirring severall Limmes as mortalls doe But one sole motion through the ayre to make Thus she appear'd and thus the King bespake Forgetfull Henry wake the Fates provide While thou art sleeping Fame for thee and chide Thy dull delayes how long to thee in vaine Shall Ireland yeld her selfe and court thy raigne Ireland that must hereafter bring a style So great to thy posterity that I le The most enduring part of thy renowne And best addition to faire Englands Crowne Ten yeares have turn'd into themselues againe Since that late Pope deceased Adrian Did freely send by Iohn of â—…alisbury The grant of Irelands soveraignty to thee And with it sent that ring to be a sure And lasting signe of thy investiture Into that sacred honour canst thou weare The pretious Emrauld on thy finger there And yet so long forget with what entent Thou then didst take that royall ornament That mariage token wiâ—…t thou now refuse The spouse thou did'st with such affection chuse Let not the thoughts of faâ—…tious Becket now Nor what Church-threats or censures thence may grow Divert thee from this happy enterprise Thinke not that troubles may in France arise Through thy short absence since no stirres at home No losse that to those provinces can come Can countervaile such great and lasting gayne That Westerne Ilaâ—…d as the â—…ates ordayne To thy Victorious seede through every age Shall be a great and constant heritage An I flourish then when all those Provinces All those riâ—…h lands thou doost in France possesse 〈◊〉 from the English Crowne divided be When thy most ancient right faire Normandy It selfe is gone together with rich Maine With Brettaine Aniou Poictou Aquitane Although how oft shall France before those dayes Be scourg'd What trophes shall the English raise In every part and province which no power Shall ere extinguish nor strong time devoure When all amazed Christendome shall see The Armes of England twice with victory To graspe great France and once to seize her Crowne And wear 't in uncontroll'd possession When Caesar's deeds against the ancient Gaules Shall be out done by English Generalls And three fam'd battells shall exceede what he Atchiev'd against his strongest enemy Stout Vercingentorix that Prince his fall Arvaricum's â—…am'd sacke and th' end of all Alexia taken to each severall feild Of Cressy Poictiers Agincourt shall yeild But Ireland which by easy victory Without a warre almost shall yeild to thee Shall to thy royall heires remayne although Bâ—…fore that Kingdome to perfection grow And be establish'd in a quiet Reigne â—…ft horrid warres and bloody fields shall stayne â—…er face in future times and loud alarmes â—…ft to the world shall fame the English armes And raise the glory of Elisaes name A virgin Queene shall all rebellion tame And to her rule in spight of Spaines proud fate That spatious â—…and wholly vindicate There wise King Iames shall spread the English Law And by divinest skill like Orpheus draw Those ruder people to a civile life And well establish'd Peace all jarres and striâ—…e Shall fly before his most auspicious reigne This is that Prince by whom high heavens ordeine The long wish'd marriage of two royall lands Briâ—…aines united I le to his commands And sacred Scepter shall obedient be Who after long and blest tranquillity Shall leave those States to his heroik sonne Renowned Charles in whose pure breast alone All regall vertues shall inhabite join'd With those that make a spotlesse privaâ—…e mynde Who shall refraine pleas'd with just power alone All the licentious pleasures of a throne And by example governe pleas'd to be A King in vertue as in Royalty The troubles now thaâ—… threaten Normandy 〈◊〉 sent to wake thee from this Lethargy And bring thee Nobler thoughts and now was rest Qâ—…ite banished from waken'd Henry's breast He with amazed thoughts look'd up and 〈◊〉 But when his eyes were ope the sight was gone And yet on Ireland wholly ranne his thought When suddaine tidings to his eare were brought Of what King Lewis of France beyond the Seas Had then attempted 'gainst his Provinces At which moov'd Henry armes and crosses ore As swift as thought unto the Norman-shore THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second The Third Booke The Argument of the third Booke The Kings of France and England at Vendome Without a battell to agreement come Henry return'd to England meetes againe With beautious Rosamund and dooes obtaine His wanton suit he builds for her a rare And sumptuous bower stout Becket's famous jarre This booke declares and dooes at large relate By what degrees it had disturb'd the state His Soveraignes pardon Becket dooes obtaine And to his See returnes in peace agayne SOone were those stormes that threatn'd Normandy Blowne ore againe and that hostility That Lewis of France in unadvised ire Had rashly harbour'd did as soone expire Before that any dire effects it wrought A peace King Henry's armed presence brought Who now in France arrived at Vendosme To enterview the two great Kings doe come There Lewis declaâ—…es his cause that wrong was done To him and France when Henry crown'd his sonne And with like state befitting had not set That Crowne upon the head of Margaret His Princely spouse but this which first did seeme A cause of just hostility to him Was there controll'd by all and judg'd to be On sound advise a lighter injury Then that the hand of Warre should it decide For such a wrong a