Quirinus could 'gainst Tatius doo What Tullus then 'gainst Alba wrought and now Who does not Numa and Aegeria know How king Porsenna did for Tarquin come How â—…ocles kept the bridge how Claelia swumme The worthy deedes of her beginning age Gave to her after greatnesse faire presage Her greatnesse after gave this age renowne And made her infant honours clearely knowne Their noble deedes in Ireland gave presage Of her full conquest in this later age Her conquest now shall their first deedes renowne As long as Ireland serves the English crowne The yeare before when first the Westerne windes Blew on the waters when all various kindes Of flowers beganne to beautify the spring In aide of Dâ—…rmot Leinsters banish'd King To whom that promise was ingag'd before The brave Fitz-Stephans lanching from the shore Of Wales with three tall ships accompany'd With his stout brother by the mothers side Fitz-Gerald safely crost the Ocean And with their Souldiers landed at the Banne A little creeke neere Wexford then scarce nam'd But ever since by his arrivall fam'd The â—…ext day after on the selfe same shore Maurice de Pendergast with two ships more Part of Fitz-Stephens company arriv'd And there by joyfull Dermot were receiv'd Who by that Prince his guidance and his aide With th' English colours and their armes display'd With dauntlesse courage able to supply The want of number in their company To Wexford martch'd which by assault they wonne The country neere together with the towne Dermot Mac Morough for such valour show'd Vpon Fitz-Stephans thankefully bestow'd There planted they that towne of all the rest Was first by English victory possest And has a lasting colony remain'd Which through all changes ever has retain'd The English manners their attire and though With Irish somewhat mixt their language too When famous Strongbow had in Wales receiv'd The newes of what Fitz-Stephans had atchiev'd With â—…resh supplies unto the Irish shore He sends his friend the valiant Reimond ore And shortly after with farre greater bands The noble Earle himselfe in Ireland lands Within the bay of Waterford which towne The next day after by assault he wonne Thither king Dermot came and brought with him His beautious daughter Eua Irelands gemme The pretious cause which drew the Earle so farre The faire reward of his victorious warre This beautious Lady when her father fled For aide to England then was promised To noble Strongbow and with her for doure Th' inheritance of Leinsters regall power Which here the King performes and with as high A state as might befit their dignity The marriage rites are celebrated now Mars smooths the horrours of his wrinckled brow And folds his bloody colours up a while The Paphian Queene in that delicious smile With which she charmes the Thracian God appeares His purple robe the pleased Hymen weares While Dermot gives with right of all those lands His beautious daughter into Strongbow's hands Nor was this marriage mannaged alone By those two Deities but from his throne Great Iove look'd downe and made that knot to be A worke belonging to his Deity By which himselfe did into union bring Two spatious lands and by that marriage ring Which noble Strongbow to his bride combin'd To Englands crowne the Realme of Ireland joyn'd A Ladies love when Dermot was decay'd In state and power first brought this forraigne aide And to his native land did him restore A Ladies love had banish'd him before And of his crowne and countrey him bereft The King of Meth had in an Iland left While he farre off into the land remov'd His faire but wanton Queene who long had lov'd This Dermotâ—…einsters â—…einsters king with flames unchast His love on her as her 's on him was plac'd Her Lords departure from her seife or fame Had Dermot learn'd and to the â—…land came Where soone he gain'd his wish a willing prey From thence he tooke the wanton Queene away Then as when once the â—…rojan Paris came And stole from Greece that farre renowned Dame 'T was not her husbands strength alone that sought Revenge a cause oâ—… that foule nature brought All Greece in Armes the Princes joyn'd in one And drew a thousand ships to Ilion So when this Prince his fatall Hellen gain'd The land was mov'd her wronged lord complain'd T'ambitious Rhotherike Connaughts King who claim'd The stile of Irelands Monarch and had aim'd At conquest of the land he wondrous glad Of such a faire pretence as now he had Rais'd his owne forces and 'gainst Leinsters King Did all th' incensed neighbour-Princes bring Whose force when Dermot could no way withstand Bereft â—…f all his strengths he fled the land And to great Henry's royall Court whom fame Then spoke the greatest king in Europe came The King that then remain'd in Aquitaine This Irish Prince did gladly entertaine Whom after feasting and magnificent Rewards bestow'd he with free licence sent To England there to gather without let What voluntaries he from thence could get In Southerne Wales Earle Strongbow then remain'd Fitz-Stephans too whose aide the King obtain'd On faire conditions to Fitz-Stephans he If wonne did promise Wexfords seigniory On th' Earle his daughter Eva to bestow Which promises were both performed now The marriage feasts of Strongbow now were done The revells ended all and Mars begunne Againe his threatning colours to display When th' Earle and old king Dermot ganne to weigh What acts remained further to be done And leaving there sufficient garrison Through Leinster all along they tooke their way For Dublin bent the countrey open lay To their victorious armes on every side No foe durst meete them or their force abide Proud Rhoderike himselfe swell'd with the stile Of universall Monarch of the I le Was glad to lurke within his proper bounds And keepe those safe retreates the boggy grounds Which in his owne peculiar Connagh lay Thus unresisted Strongbow kept his way Till he at last to Dublin came which soone By force and terrour of his name he wonne Faine would my Muse in this faire field proceede Of Irelands conquest and each noble deede Aâ—…cheived there of trophees rais d to fame The armes of England and great Henry's name Faine would she sing but Beckets fatall jarre Againe revives and from a nobler warre Drawes backe her eager flight and turnes againe Her song â—…riumphant to a tragicke straine By this King Henry in his active mind Great deedes and forreine conquests had design'd Secure from trouble as in vaine he thought Since Beckets peace and reconcilement wrought That might twixt State and Clergy rise at home When lo from England swift-wing'd fame was come And to his grieved eare sad tidings brought What reakes his stout Archbishop there had wrought Since last he did his dignity obtaine And to his See return'd in peace againe That 'mongst his fellow Bishops some of late He did suspend some excommunicate For actions past before from whence it plaine Appear'd old grudges were reviv'd againe As alâ—… that were
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 oâ—… Norâ—…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 â—…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 lifâ—… 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 graviâ—… Henry was affable and wondrous liberall Richard severe and full of constancy Henry was addicteâ—… to martiall sports and pastimes Richard more inclined â—…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 â—…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 souldierâ—… to vindicate his right against all those potent enemies This young Pâ—…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 iâ—…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 â—…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 Ricâ—…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 unnaâ—…urall wars weâ—…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 Viâ—…gil in H. 2 * The Monke of Nuborough lib. 2. has all this * The Monke of Nuborough Ibidem * Hovden Chronicon de passione miâ—…aculis Thomae a Math. Paris b Gervase of Dover * Aurea legenda in vita Thomae * Silu Giraldus Cambr. relates all these wonders * Hovedâ—…n * William Parvus * Stoutvile Glanvile Vrsy Ballioll Vinfriville * Will. Parvâ—… * William Archbishop of Try
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