bright Princesse and in words declares How just a cause excites him to the warres Besides the honour he from thence may gaine That Pedro is the true-borne Lord of Spaine And crowned Monarch that no vice what-e're Can wash away that sacred Character That Subjects may not put their Soveraigne downe Nor give Don Henry title to their Crowne But ought to leave that power to God alone Who can revenge at full what he has done Or else so clense him from the greatest crimes That Pedro's penitence in after-times May all his former impious reigne redeeme Like King Manasses in Ierusalem That it concern'd a true-borne Prince his right To take that part lest other Nations might Hereafter from a president so bad Vsurpe more freedome than they justly had Then taking leave of his deare wife he went To that which after prov'd by accident A fatall warre to England Where though he Obtain'd a great and glorious victory And present honour through all Europe gate Yet most unhappy to his future state The voyage was his treasures wast which cost Sad tumults and his French Dominions lost Besides his losse of health All which was sent Perchance to Edward as a punishment For ayding such a monster though true heire Nor long held Pedro his recover'd chaire Soone after th'English went from thence againe Depos'd and by victorious Henry slaine Thus all their punishments did undergoe Castile Don Pedro and Prince Edward too The Tyrant Pedro for his impious reigne Edward for lifting up the fiend againe And all Castile by England's conquering sword Scourg'd for deposing of their lawfull Lord. With noble Edward to this Spanish warre Young Iohn of Gaunt the Duke of Lancaster His brother marches to whose future state Castile shall prove a name more fortunate Who by the marriage of Don Pedro's heire The Royall title of that land shall weare With large revenues thence The Duke commands One of the three Battalia's with him stands Brave Sir Iohn Chandois who in warre before Had ever beene Prince Edward's Counsellor Now set to guide the youth of Princely Iohn With him young Beauchamp noble Warwick's sonne And stout Lord Dalbert with a gallant traine Of Gentlemen and Knights of Aquitaine The Prince of Wales himselfe commands the maine And middle Battell Pedro King of Spaine For whom the warre is made by Edward's side There marches on and English Chieftaines try'd In many a Battell then esteem'd to be The very flowers of Europes Chevalry With many Lords of high account and name That from Poictou from Maine and Guyenne came A Monarch leads the third Battalia on Iames of Mallorques King that in renowne Like th' ancient Caesars might blacke Edward stand And Kings not scorne to serve in his command There th' Earle of Arminacke leads on his power And English Knolls that expert warriour Thither the Lords of Dalbreth Piergort And many noble Knights and Squires resort With all his army thirty thousand strong The Prince sets forth from France to passe along The famous streights of Roncevall and through The kingdome of Navarre gets leave to goe By which with faithfull guides they passe as farre Before they meet th'approach of any warre As faire Victoria on the bounds of Spaine There some fore-runners of King Henry's traine Descry'd gave notice that the blow was neere But thrice as many as Prince Edward's were The troops that Henry of Castile had brought Besides the natives of the Land that fought To guard their new-elected King and free Themselves from Pedro's future tyranny Th'expertest souldiers of the Realme of France Come to encrease King Henry's puissance And Saracens from our invasions free Beare here a part in Christian enmity And ' gainst Don Pedro guard his brothers throne In three great bodies comes that army on The first and noblest where the French-men stand Is under Bertram of Cleâ—quy's command The greatest body in the midd'st the King Himselfe drawes up the last his brothers bring And now beside the towne of Naveret In faire array are both the battel 's set Renowned Edward to his men declares Th' undoubted justice of their present warres And that no odds of numbers he can feare When he beholds those men those Leaders there Who but ' gainst odds did never battell try Yet never fought without a victory As those that Sluces navall fight had seene That had in Crescy field and Poictiers beene And bids them now maintaine that old renowne They in so many honour'd fields had wonne As much does Bertram his French troops excite And briefly tells them they not onely fight King Henry's Crowne and honour to maintaine And winne fame there but to redeeme againe That dearest honour ' gainst the English hoast Which France of late had to that Nation lost But when King Henry whose great cause was try'd In that dayes hazard saw the English side Were marching on against him in array And that the warre admitted no delay He thus bespeakes his souldiers If a cause Of such great weight as to this battell drawes Your farre-engaged hands could need at all Th' inciting language of a Generall The wrongs of Spaine and brutish cruelty Our foe has us'd afford a scope to me Too large too sad to play the Oratour But well I know your Countries love has power Enough to raise your highest courages And bring you forward were our army lesse Than theirs in number as the odds is ours Vnlesse this battell make us Conquerors There can no people be so low as we No land so wretched as Castile will be T is not our wealth alone or lawes we lose Nor to be quite o're-runne by forreine foes Though every Nation have esteemed those The worst but Spaine must suffer greater woes ' Gainst her so fierce no forreine sword can be As her restored tyrants cruelty His who was once depos'd when to a mind Before so bloody sterne revenge is joyn'd If Spaine before could not endure his yoke How will she beare it now if by warres stroke Our conquering hands make not the action good Better the tyrant undisturb'd had stood What made old Marius when returned home With so much slaughter fill the streets of Rome Marius whose hand was once her best defence But that himselfe had beene exil'd from thence The prisons stinch the shackles that he bore The bread he begg'd on wasted Affrick's shore Which he himselfe before had overcome Made his returne so sad to wretched Rome And can we here feare lesse than Marius brought On Rome or than the Butcher Sylla wrought When not in warres but executions So many thousands were destroy'd at once If in this battell Pedro should o'recome But God avert from Spaine so sad a doome What sights would all her mourning Cities see But racks and gibbets blood and cruelty The land no place in such a peace could yeeld More safe from slaughter than this fighting field And tortur'd wretches that were left in Spaine Would call us happy who in warre were slaine But such a
EDWARDVS III. D.G. ANGLIAE ET FRANCIAE REX DOMINVS HIBERNIAE EDWARD the III King of England and France Lord of Ireland Hee raigned 50 yeares 5 mo Hee died at the manor of Shene in Surrey 1377 and lyeth buried at Westminster The Victorious REIGNE OF KING EDVVARD THE THIRD Written in seven Bookes By his Majesties Command Tu mihi tu Pallas Caesariana veni Matt. LONDON Printed for T. Walkley and B. Fisher and are to bee sold at the signe of the Talbot without Aldersgate 1635. TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY MONARCH CHARLES BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF GREAT BRITTAINE FRANCE AND IRELAND DEFENDER OF THE FAITH c. SIR I Should have humbly craved your Majesties pardon for my omission of the latter part of King Edward's Reigne but that the sense of mine owne defects have put mee in minde of a more necessary suit to beg forgivenesse for that part of it whichis here written For I am not so presumptuously vaine when I consider either the Dignity of your Office or the Vertues of your Person as to imagine that any writing from my unworthy selfe can bee either too short er enough elegant to be presented to your sacred hand For should your Maiesty vouchsafe to read it as the precious howres of so great a Monarch which maáe Horace affect shortnesse to Augustus Caesar would tell me the Poem were too too long so the iudicious Censure of so wise a Prince would make mee tremble at the defects of it Those defects whatsoever they be can be imputed onely to insufficiency for neither was there Argument wanting nor yet endevour since I had the Actions of a great King to require my skill and the Command of a greater King to obliege my care Those great Actions of Edward the Third are the Argument of this Poem which is there ended where his fortune beganne to decline where the French by revolts and private practises regained that which had beene wonne from them by eminent and famous victories which times may affoord fitter observations for an acute Historian in Prose than straines of height for an Heroike Poem Your gracious Pardon onely can rectifie what may bee amisse in my unworthy and imperfect labour In hope of which I humbly cast both it and my selfe at your Maiesties feet beseeching Almighty God to blesse you with a long and happy Reigne on earth and after to crowne you with incorruptible glory So prayeth Your Majesties Most humble Subject and Servant THO. MAY I have perused this Booke and conceive it very worthy to be published IO. COKE Knight Principall Secretary of State Whitehall 17. of November 1634. THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The first Booke Argument I. Edward the third is crown'd a bootlesse warre ' Gainst Scotland made ambitious Mortimer At Notingham surpris'd in all his glory Carnarvan Edward's lamentable story THe third greatest Edward's reigne we sing The high atchievements of that martial King Whose long succesfull prowesse did advance So many trophees in triumphed France And first her golden Lillies bare who ore Pyrenes Mountaines to that Westerne shore Where Tagus tumbles through his yellow sand Into the Ocean stretch'd his conquering hand The second Edward while disloyall hate Vn justly strove to cure the wounds of state And sadly punish to this Nations staine The grievances of his misgovern'd reigne Was now deposed from the Regall throne To which the Sonne is chosen and upon His Fathers ruines is compell'd to rise As if by that the envious Destinies Meant to allay this Edward's glorious reigne As loath to suffer England to obtaine So great a blessing at the lawfull time Or such a Prince without a publike crime For which the Land must after suffer by A rent so made in his Posteritie Young Edward's age may plead his innocence And free his fame from this unkind offence He did receive not seize the royall crowne Which other mens disloyalty had throwne Too soone on him nor could an actor be In his devested father's injurie But to employ the new-establish'd state In forreigne action and to vindicate The Kingdomes honour gainst that enemy A warre on Scotland they at first decree Fresh were the causes of it a deepe and sad Remain'd those wounds that warlike Bruce had made And that great losse which England had sustain'd While her unhappy second Edward reign'd This expedition that did bootlesse prove To Englands ends serv'd onely to remove The young Kings person and his court so farre Whilest every thought was busi'd in the warre That murdrous Treason who still shuns the light From Hels blacke shades might take his dismall flight And worke without the search of curious eye Deposed Edward's wofull tragedy But while this execrable murder here Was wrought upon his person fruitlesse were Th' attempts ' gainst Scotland that the yong King made The same proud traitour Mortimer betray'd His Countries honour there and let the foes Whom that great English army did enclose b At Stanhop Parke retire in safety thence By him the Kingdomelost a warres expence And that brave Prince for triumphs borne to whom Fate ow'd so many victories to come Of his first actions honour was depriv'd But this perchance the pittying fates contriu'd T' appease oh murder'd Edward thy sad ghost That Englands state by his corruption crost Might feele thy traitour to be hers and know Who kill'd his King would prove his Countries foe This to thy just revenge must make the way Forgive the powers above though they delay A while that certaine punishment they owe To guilt let Fortune haue a time to show Her power in raising and how long she can In spight of Iustice guard a wicked man Till she have made him high enough to be A fit and hated sacrifice for thee Ambitious Mortimer who reign'd alone In Isabels misled affection And with the beauties of that Queene as Dower To them enjoy'd almost a Regall power Had like an high-swolne and impetuous tide Borne all before him rais'd to such a pride As did his owne approaching ruine show And draw it on Plethorike bodies so From whence diseases of themselves doe breed The seeds of death in that strong fulnesse feed The greatest Nobles now begin to feare And therefore hate the power of Mortimer They that had joyn'd with his attempts before And help'd to worke them out doe now abhor To see the fruit on him alone to fall And though at first they doe not looke at all Vpon his wicked deeds but high estate And not his vices but great power doe hate At last through that his vices they survey For Iustice Envie must prepare the way But nothing thence feares his aspiring minde For Fortune like her selfe dooes ever blinde Her favovrites who nere decline at all Their envy'd height untill they ruin'd fall Nor ought does hee in their repining see But his owne greatnesse and selicity Swell'd with that flattring distance provd to move Their feare and would not change it for their love
Strikes England so yet this they comfort call Into the hands of man they shall not fall b Sad growes the time nor with her wonted cheare Or usuall dressing does the Spring appeare No cleansing gale of Zephyre moves the ayre While rising fogs obscure the welk in faire Without his showres contagious Auster blowes And painted Summer no kind fruit bestowes Nor does the Sunne as if inflam'd with ire Send out that wholesome and prolifique fire He us'd to doe but beames of mortall heat And from the bosome of the twins as great Combustion kindles here as if he then Vpon the Nemean Lion's backe had beene Within the farthest Easterne Lands from whence Day breakes breakes forth the fatall pestilence As if with rising Titan it begunne And follow'd thence the motion of the Sunne To Europe then does th hot contagion flye Raging through euery part of Italy And France that bled so late is forc'd to see Beside warres stroke a new mortality But most of all o're England's mourning face The sad infection spreads and Death apace In his pale Chariot rides through all the land No age nor sexe escape his vengefull hand Young men in prime of all their strength are strooke And yeeld The sucking Infant what he tooke From Nature soone is summon'd to repay From those soft limbs untimely fleets away The new-come Soule before it can be growne Acquainted with the tender mansion The aged man not because aged goes But onely ' cause he had a life to lose The mourning grave becomes a marriage bed To beauteous maids praeposterously dead One father wailes his sonne another all His houshold carries in one funerall And for so many deaths one mourning serves If one be left to mourne No care preserves Nor antidote can save from this disease Their greatest hope is but to dye in peace For oft the fiery sicknesse did invade Reasons coole seat and there prevailing made A strange distraction worse then losse of breath For which their friends wish'd as a cure their death The face oft burn'd no moisture had the eye Nor could by teares expresse their misery Some while their dearest friends they doe entombe Before that pious office done become Themselves a funerall Death makes him to be An hearse that came a mourning obsequy Nor does this venemous contagion Worke the destruction of mankind alone The sheepe and cattell perish as if growne On earth quite uselesse since the men are gone Wast lye the Lawnes the fields of tillage now Are desolate while the forsaken plow Nor men nor cattell scarce can exercise The Oxe in midst of all his labour dyes And leaves behind his mourning fellow now Dismist from toyle and service of the plow Who takes no comfort now in shady woods In flowery meadowes or cleare Chrystall floods That destiny alas for him remaines Although at rest The warrelike horse disdaines The pleasant streames and sicke forgetteth quite His food or th' honour of a race or fight Even Toads and Vipers dye acquainted growne With venome farre more mortall then their owne Twice through th' Horrizon had Hyperion runne Since first the fatall Pestilence begunne Before th' Almighty did his sword restraine And with his favour visit earth againe He now is pleas'd to cast a gracious eye On this distemper'd world her misery He cures and makes her former beauty come With kindly fruits he fills earth's fertile wombe And makes sweet blasts to move the wholesome ayre The people find at last their humble prayer Is heard and now the teares are wip'd away Due praise and thankes before his Altar pay Annotations upon the fourth Booke a Those that would see at large the actions of the Earle of Darby in Guyenne Aquitaine and Normandy let them read Froissard where they shall see them fully though not elegantly related This Earle of Darby a man of great worth and neere in blood to King Edward was afterwards by him created Duke of Lancaster the first Duke that ever was in England and left behind him no other issue but one daughter who being his sole heire was married to Iohn of Gaunt the Kings sonne and brought to him a large dowry together with the title of Duke of Lancaster b This wonderfull mortality which it pleased God in his wrath to send upon the wretched earth happened in the 22. yeare of King Edward immediately after the taking of Calleis a greater pestilence wee can scarce read of in any particular land or kingdome much lesse so great and with all so generall as this was For not onely England but France Italy and most of the Easterne and Southerne kingdomes were visited at that time and felt the rod most heavy and sad on them The fore-runner of this great sicknesse was immoderate raine for our Chronicles agree in generall that from Midsummer to Christmas it rained every day or night The yeare following it is noted that there dyed in London betweene Ianuary and the end of July seven and fifty thousand persons Other Cities and Townes suffered the like according to their proportions insomuch that some writers of those times were of opinion that halfe the inhabitants of the Land dyed for we must not beleeve Walsingham who sayes there was not above a tenth part of mankinde left alive As great a death of Cattell happened both that and the yeere following Thie was the greatest but not the onely plague which happened during the reigne of this King Edward For twelve yeeres after England was visited with another which our Chronicles called the second great Plague In that many of the Nobility dyed and among the rest that noble Henry Duke of Lancaster a chiefe actor in all the warres and victories of Edward and a maine Pillar of the state at that time THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The fifth Booke Argument V. Prince Edward levyes forces to maintaine Against the French his right in Aquitaine The King wasts Scotland Poictiers field is fought From whence King Iohn of France is prisoner brought PHilip of France had left the earth and John The eldest Sonne as in his father's Throne So in his sad mis-fortunes does succeed Who what the Fates in vengeance had decreed Against his Realme by rashnesse hastens on And gainst all right on Charles his eldest sonne Conferres the stile of Duke of Aquitaine Great Edward bound in honour to maintaine His owne inheritance creates his Sonne Young Edward Prince of that Dominion Exhorts him bravely to defend his right And ' gainst the French for his just Title fight For which Prince Edward armes and with a traine Of valiant Lords prepares for Aquitaine Never did Fortune with more favour smile On any armes nor from this martiall Ile Did ever army crosse the Seas before That more triumphant did returne or wore A richer Garland from Bellona's tree There to maintaine young Edward's signiory Brave Warwicke armes who neare the Prince his side When Crescy field his mayden prowesse try'd Before had fought and Suffolke whose renowne
praise Then Marius triumphs or great Pompey's Bayes My ransom'd King home to his Kingdome send And these so bloody jarres and bootlesse end Strive not ' gainst Fate With that she vanished While Edward wak'd lay musing on his bed A messenger arrived at the tent That from his sister Scotland's Queene was sent Who su'd for her beloved Lord's release Great Edward gan relent and termes of peace Resolv'd t' embrace fates onely did ordaine That David there a prisoner should remaine Till he in woes a partner find and see A greater King in that captivity That weighing well the losse of potent France He may the more excuse warres fatall chance Past Touraine now the Prince of Wales was come And through Poictou to Burdeaux marching home After so many great atchievements done So many Townes and stately Cities wonne His men enrich'd the French endammag'd more Then all th'incursions that had beene before Could make them feele when th' open hand of warre Though uncontroll'd it let him passe so farre Beside Poictiers presents it selfe to stay This youthfull Lion and redeeme the prey Or else kind Fortune thought the prey to be Too meane for her blacke Edward's dignity Nor had the forts the Cities he had wonne As strong Narbon and stately Carcason With all the pillage gain'd in her esteme Or fame or danger great enough for him Vnlesse this wondrous battell had beene fought From which a captive Monarch should be brought With fame as great to him as e're before One field could give to any Conquerour Few were Prince Edward's troops King Iohn of France Arm'd with his kingdomes choycest puissance And all the flower of French Nobility With a resolve unfortunate though high Pursu'd the Prince to make him that sad day A deare account for all his voyage pay His passages they cut off every way In hope to seize what they esteem'd their prey But prov'd too strong for their weake armes to hold So when Getulian hunters too too bold A furious Lion round about beset And will not let him scape they vainly whet The beast's high courage whose collected ire To them as deadly as enclosed fire Breakes forth at last his danger anger moves And fatall onely to the hunters proves Not farre from Poictiers towne brave Edward was And there encamp'd nor further could he passe Nor longer shun the battels fatall stroke Him there King Iohn's huge army overtooke His wisely seated campe on every side Was both by paines and Nature fortifi'd Thicke Vines and bushes round had fenc'd the place Hard for the French Cavallery to passe With poore eight thousand there entrench'd he lyes Against six times as many enemies And disadvantag'd so a courage shew'd As great as was the fortune that ensu'd Men knew not which to wonder at that he With such a strength durst hope for victory Or that he gain'd it that he stood the blow Or that he gave so great an overthrow The Cardinall of Perigortin vaine Had strived long by treaties to detaine King Iohn's resolved fury from the fight As much bewailing Edward's wofull plight In vaine had Edward offred to restore All townes and forts that he had gain'd before And satisfie for all the dammage done But Fate to worke his fall had blinded Iohn No other termes will be accepted now But that Prince Edward with a hundred moe His chiefest Knights and noblest in the field Should to his hands themselves as prisoners yeeld These base conditions Edward scornes to take And to the King returnes defiance backe His valiant troops agree resolv'd to dye Or spite of a odds to gaine a victory Whom thus their most undaunted Prince bespake Brave Countreymen if I have skill to take Presage of future fortune when I see Your lookes your not despairing industry Which all the time that our vaine treaties were About your campe could worke with such a cheare Me thinkes I swell with hopes nor could be sad If twice as many that proud army had But that I know their numbers fright not you I could brave souldiers by example show How uselesse thronging numbers prove in warre Then why should Iohn presume on that so farre To make such proud conditions as that we For feare of him should choose captivity And yeeld our selves as prisoners to the foe Before the chance of warre have made us so By which our honour we had quite forgone Honour our Countries Iewell not our owne By her entrusted to us which when I Forget to keepe let me unvalu'd dye How great a price is on this battell set If we subdue no army ever yet In all the books of fame was honour'd more A richer Bayes no Nation ever wore But if we dye those conquering souldiers Whom bleeding France has often selt and feares Survive in England our revenge to take But God that gives all victories can make Our owne swords do 't There is no souldier here But does already some French trophee weare Here fight those armes who from the Norman warres From Brittaines conquest brought victorious scarres Those noble names whom Crescy field renown'd And Sluce before with Navall Garlands crown'd Then by such armed friends environ'd why Should I at all despaire of victory The Prince had done th' undanted souldiers show By cheerefull signes they dare abide the foe Too confident of victory King John In three large battels drawes his army on On fire to charge nor could his heat forbeare When he that led the first Battalia there His brother Orleance with sage advice Thus spake oh Sir forbeare your enemies A while deferre the dayes uncertaine chance And let this conquest cost no blood of France We need not fight at all the famish'd foe Our strengths environ round he cannot goe To forrage now nor fetch provision in To feele that want already they begin It will become their wish on swords to dye And mix their ruine with our tragaedy But why should we against a Christian hoast Refuse that conquest that no blood will cost And rather hasten in their tragicke fall To beare a part without a wound at all The captive Prince shall be at your command Then why should you with danger thrust your hand To quench that flame that would it selfe expire And battell more than victory desire Sound was the Dukes advice brave Edward's day In midd'st of Fates had vanished away Nor so had headlesse France beene over-runne Had that beene follow'd but unhappy Iohn Whom Fate had blinded thus in wrath replyes Does that poore handfull of the enemies Affright your courage brother can you weigh ' Gainst such a prize the danger to what day Should France her fortune ever trust if here She should misdoubt her swords and feeding feare By such flye courses seeke to steale renowne Not take it boldly as our Nation Have ever us'd if famine not the sword Should here to us a victory afford The boasting English who so oft of late ' Gainst us have prov'd in battell fortunate Even in our kingdomes bosome would not
get Safe to their journey's end Through all Poictou And through the County of Xantoigne they goe The French admiring but resisting not Till to the river side at Blays they got Which with their wealth and prisoners all they past And at faire Burdeaux safe arriv'd at last Sad fame before had into England brought The Prince his danger What amazed thought Could hope alas for conquest there or who Durst thinke that valour disadvantag'd so Could worke it selfe a passage feare possest All English hearts and great King Edward's breast Revenge had entred in as horrid height As France could feare or that great cause invite How many Cities had he doom'd to sacke And men to death but Fame could not be slacke Fate would not suffer England long to erre Nor such a dayes triumphant joy deferre But on a sudden as the golden Sunne When darkest thunder-clouds are newly gone Shoots forth againe in all his glorious light That men amazed scarce dare trust their sight They heare of Poictiers battell of the high And strange successe But incredulity A while the freedome of that joy controlls For feare of too much surfetting their soules With such a change So slowly they receive Th' unlook'd for newes and by degrees beleeve That even their eyes are satisfi'd as soone As are their eares almost nor had the Moone Thrice fill'd her orbe before to second fame With that great King victorious Edward came Oh how to Plimmouth where the Paince arriv'd From every part the people flock'd and striv'd Betimes to kisse that Martiall hand and see So great a prize of one dayes viâ—â—ory Now safe at home as much was all the way From thence to London as their progresse lay With showes adorn'd and thronging people fill'd Where equall to his prowesse they beheld The Prince his goodnesse how he humbly rode Below the King no pride his gesture show'd But such respect as if he did not bring In triumph thither but attend a King Where noble Edward shall we find for thee A paralell in true humanity What ancient Prince or moderne ever shew'd So sweet a temper joyn'd with fortitude What Conqueror did ever use successe More modestly or staine his fortune lesse Imperiall Rome in her most vertuous age When wisest writers durst by strong presage Affirme the worlds sole Empire due to be Not to her strength but her morality Knew no such vertue to great Princes fals How farre unlike it her proud Generals In that inhumane pompe of Triumphs dealt Jugurtha Syphax and great Perseus felt And yet what Roman Army e're could boast A nobler conquest than thy English hoast At Poictiers battell wonne without Romes vice Her greatest vertues thou didst aequalize In that great act and shew'dst as then was try'd The Roman prowesse not the Roman pride With joy as great but more magnificence Did London welcome her triumphant Prince Where great King Edward with all curtesie Receives King Iohn of France as if that he Did aemulate the vertue of his sonne Or rather would approve what he had done And by that noble moderation shew Himselfe the stocke from whence Prince Edward grew Within his sumptuous hall at Westminster He entertaines and feasts them all and there The pensive King with gentle speeches cheeres To all the other princely prisoners The like respect the Lords of England give And at the boord in full-crown'd goblets strive To banish from their breasts all thoughts of care O're which old Heroes fortunes and the rare Events of ancient battels they relate So o're the Wine in massie Phthian plate Talk'd great Achilles in his tent at night When he the Grecian Princes did invite But he whose noble actions were become The argument of every tongue on whom The greedy eyes of all were fixed there Prince Edward seemes himselfe of heavy cheere A greater captive in his owne sad thought Than those that he from Poictiers battell brought Nor could great Mars with all his honors heale The wound that love had made Deep sighs would steale Sometimes from him although with care represt And speake the inward passions of his breast Among the sparkling beauties that resort More to enlighten this triumphant Court His Love-ficke eyes doe often wander round To find although he feare to find his wound Kents beauteous Countesse But no where at all Does she appeare nor was the festivall Grac'd with her presence Soone had she beene spy'd If there nor could so bright a starre be hid But missing her his other passions rise A thousand doubts and jealous feares surprize His loving breast at once Alas what crime Of Fate should he suspect at such a time Of Courtly state and high magnificence What cruell cause should keepe the Lady thence Faine would he know yet blushes to enquire And though he burne still strives to hide the fire As many men whose sudden ruine's nigh Have beene in height of all their jollity And some have beene observ'd in pensive mood Iust then when Fate contrives their greatest good Even so it fares with Princely Edward here Who feares the worst and cannot thinke how neere Th' accomplishment of his desires should be Till to remove the sad uncertainty Some Lords discoursing doe by chance relate How noble Holland was deceas'd of late A sudden change in Edward's lookes appeares Againe the passions alter doubts or feares Since now to every eye the cause is plaine That did the Countesse from this feast detaine No longer hold possession in his breast Love freely enters to displace the rest The Prince resolves his pleasing fuit to move And spite of all opposers gaine his love In Savoy Palace when the feast is ended King John of France is lodg'd and thence attended In fitting state to Windsor Castle there T' enjoy what sports the season of tho yeare Would yeeld what games the Countrey could present To give a King's perplexed thoughts content And David King of Scotland that ten yeare Had beene detaid'd in England prisoner Is ransom'd home since England seemes to be Secur'd from France by Iohn's captivity Vnhappy France whilest England nothing knowes But joyes and triumphs now o'rewhelm'd with woes Sits like a mourning widow wailes her fate And shee that was the pride of Europe late Is fall'n from all her glories and become The pitty of astonish'd Christendome Her bosome fill'd with sad confusion And rebell members while the head is gone Doe from their safe and wholesome order fall The Royall City Paris most of all Is out of joynt that should the rest redeeme Sicke even to death does this great kingdome seeme Nor can the Cure be sudden for the Sunne Five times through his coelestiall signes must runne Before King Iohn of France be ransom'd home Yet healthier farre for France in time to come Shall this Confusion and long sicknesse prove By such unlook'd-for wayes the Powers above Doe worke in their disposing Providence Wise Charles the Dauphine by experience Of those disordred and rough times shall gaine So true a
thousands dying strew the purple plaine The wretched Souldiers feele but cannot see The wondrous cause of this great tragedy Some with amaze and feare are almost kill'd Some onely overthrowne but all hearts fill'd Withsad destruction thinke the day of doome And dissolution of the world is come Or else surpriz'd with more particular feares They deeme alas some winged Messengers Of God above against their campe are sent T' inflict on them immediate punishment As once an Angell sent from God did smite The hoast of proud Senacherib by night Great Edward sadly trembles every where Enforc'd his dying souldiers grones to heare But when the horror of the storme was gone The darkenesse vanish'd and bright day-light shone On them againe and had discover'd all His heart relents and in the pity'd fall Of his poore men he thinks he truly sees God's wrath for all those Christian tragedies Which his victorious sword in France had wrought And all the woes he had on Scotland brought Never before did Edward's pensive breast Truly revolve how tragike is the best Successe that warre ' gainst Christian lands affords What impious wounds his sadly conquering swords Had made in Europe all the battel 's wonne Since first that fatall title he begunne To set on foot are running in his thought Now Crescy Poictiers Halidowne are brought Into his fad remembrance and almost He wishes all his triumphs had beene lost Rather than with such horrid slaughter wonne For which in paenitent Devotion His knees in Chartres Temple Edward bowes Forgivenesse begs for what is past aud vowes Thenceforth the fury of his sword shall cease And he with wretched France conclude a peace On easier termes then erst he stood upon Home to his land restoring ransom'd Iohn Few months had past before this good entent Of pious Edward found accomplishment At Brettigny so well on either side The Agents dealt that peace was ratifi'd On steddy Articles and John whom here Five painted Springs had seene a prisoner Is to his native land returned backe With kind embraces the two Monarchs take Their leave at Calleis With a Royall heart So full of love did John from Edward part So well his usage pleased him that he Entends againe in noble courtesie To visit England and for favâ—rs done To thanke great Edward and his Princely sonne The bloody stormes of warre away are blowne And white-wing'd peace from heaven descended down To cheare faire France her late afflicted state Whilst England's quiet Court does celebrate At once two Princely Nuptials with as high A state as may befit their dignity The Paphian Queene in all her smiles appeares His purple robe the pleased Hymen weares When brave Prince Edward now all lets remov'd Weds that faire Countesse he so long had lov'd And Iohn of Gaunt enjoyes the wealthy heire Of Noble Henry Duke of Lancaster The State at home well setled to employ Prince Edward's worth and raise his dignity He with his Princesse and a noble traine Is sent away to governe Aquitaine Annotations upon the sixth Booke a Concerning the lowly demeanour of Edward the blacke Prince toward King Iohn of France after hee had taken him Prisoner in the battell of Poictiers and the Courteous reception which King Edward gave him here in England there were no Authors either then or since but did freely acknowledge insomuch as many yeares after Guicciardine an Italian Writer and therefore indifferent to both Nations speaking of the warres of Christendome in his time when Francis the first King of France had beene taken prisoner at the battell of Pavie by the souldiers of Charles the fifth Emperour and King of Spaine and had long beene kept in hard durance in the Castell of Madrid brings in King Francis complaining of his unworthy usage where comparing the mis-fortunes of King Iohn with his owne and the wonderfull difference of both their entertainments hee much extols the Courtesie of the English Nation and condemnes the Spaniards insolence And so much did that Courtesie worke upon the noble disposition of King Iohn that as many of that time thought it occasioned his voluntary comming into England to visit King Edward not many yeares after his releasement Though other occasions there might be of that journey as the selling of his affaires before his entended voyage to the holy Warres and yet those perchance might well have beene performed by Embassadours But howsoever it were in the yeare 1364 and of King Edward's Reigne the 38 this King Iohn came into England and besides him two other Kings the Kings of Scotland and of Cyprus where the magnificence of the English Court was well expressed in feasting sumptuously three Kings at once The King of Scotland and the King of Cyprus after they had dispatched their businesse returned home to their owne kingdomes but King Iohn of France fell sicke and dyed at London the yeare following His death was much lamented by King Edward who solemnly attended his corps to Dover from whence it was conveyed to Saint Denys and entombed with his Ancestors b This miraculous storme of haile stones which neere to Chartres fell upon King Edward's Army was esteemed by many of those times an immediate Messenger of Gods wrath for all the Christian blood which King Edward for many yeares had shed both in France and Scotland So great was the haile and so violent the fall of it that it felled horses to the ground and slew above two thousand of the English Souldiers King Edward himselfe was much astonished and thought it no lesse than an immediate judgement of God upon which in penitence hee performed many devotions and on reasonable termes concluded a peace with France so that King Iohn was ransomed and returned home to his owne kingdome after hee had remained a prisoner five yeares in England THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The seventh Booke Argument VII Prince Edward marches into Spaine to fight ' Gainst Henry in deposed Pedro's right At Naveret he beats the strength of Spaine And sets Don Pedro in his Throne againe PRince Edward's honour was not mounted yet Vp to her Zenith Fate is in his debt Another Garland and from Aquitaine Shee calls him forth againe that conquer'd Spaine May feele his noble prowesse and advance His fame as high as erst triumphed France The tyrant Pedro of Castile was by His land depos'd for brutish cruelty Whose Crowne his Bastard-brother Henry gain'd At Burdeaux then the Prince of Wales remain'd Whose fame was spred through every land and he Esteem'd the noblest flower of Chevalry That Europe boasted To his Martiall Court Deposed Pedro humbly does resort And weeping craves Prince Edward's ayd to gaine His right That Pedro may his suit obtaine Beside that bloods alliance that he brings The bad example of deposing Kings Perswades the Prince and to that brave entent His Father great King Edward gives consent At hand great troops of expert souldiers are Cashier'd of late from service of the warre Who now employment want since
must he gaine That Crowne when England has abandon'd Spaine b And now the day beyond all hope is lost On Henry's side and that great numerous hoast Fly in amazement and themselves expose Without resistance to the conquering foes While many thousands as they thronging flye From English weapons in the river dye That flowes by Naveret whose streame affords As many deaths almost as Edward's swords Sad Henry though his heart disdaines to flye Yet since reserv'd for Royall dignity By kinder Fates hereafter yeelds to flight And though sore wounded in the fatall fight Vpon his Iennet mounted leaves the field By this the French Battalia's that bad held The longest out and first encounter'd where Stout Bertram fought ' gainst Iohn of Lancaster Are quite consum'd and weltring in their blood Cover the place where late they fighting stood Their Chiefes enforc'd to yeeld and Bertram there Againe by th' English taken prisoner Sterne Mars his taske had to the utmost done Nor e're had Spaine beheld a Garland wonne With more renowne or conquest more compleat Than in this famous field of Naveret Blacke Edward purchas'd nor could ought allay The lasting fame of that victorious day Save that the Prince his noble valour lost On such a cause that so much blood it cost To raise a wicked Tyrant and againe Advance Don Pedro to the Throne of Spaine Annotations upon the seventh Booke a Prince Edward by the common consent of all brought into Spaine an Army consisting of thirty thousand English Gascoignes and other strangers being for the number of themesteemed as expert souldiers as any in the world The cast companies of English which had served in so many famous exploits under himselfe and King Edward his father upon this occasion came in to serve him King Henry of Castile had a great Army for besides the French which served him under the conduct of Bertram of Clesquy and were in number about foure thousaad men at Armes besides many other loose troopes hee had of Spaeniards Saracens and others above fourescore thousand When it came to Battell Prince Edward obtained a compleat victory the slanghter considering so great a victory was not much for the Spaniards were too soone routed and did not in their owne deare quarrell behave themselves so stoutly as their French auxiliaries did But there were slaine of them besides five hundred Gentlemen of quality above seven thousand of the common souldiers Of the English side were slaine of men of quality but foure Knights two Gascoignes one Almaine and the fourth an English-max and of common souldiers about sixteene hundred as some write though Froissard saith not above forty but the other number is more credible considering how fiercely the battell was fought as all agree There were taken Prisoners to the number of two thousand and among them the Earle of Dene Sir Bertram of Clesquy the Marshall Dandrehen and many other men of name b After this great victory Prince Edward at Burges seated the tyrant Pedro in his Throne againe and for so great a merit the promised recompenee is required by the Prince which Don Pedro could not or cared not to provide but starving him with delayes enforced him in the end to returne to Burdeaux without money to pay his Army and which was worse without health which he never after recovered Some Hystorians report that hee was poysoned in Spaine others say it was a Dropsie of which the Prince never could bee after cured Such was the successe of this unfortunate action undertaken to right an ungratefull Tyranâ— who afterward notwithstanding was againe dispossessed taken and put to death by his brother Henry But the affaires of England did wonderfully suffer from that time The Prince to pay his souldiers who were not able to stay Don Pedro's leisure coyned his Plate and when all would not serve he fell upon a worse mis-fortune to cure a present want with a greater and more durable losse seeking to lay upon his subiects in Gascoigne a new taxation which bred a most dangerous revolt namely the imposition of Fevage or Chimney money which so discontented the people that they exclaime against the government of the English and appeale to the King and Court of France for redresse The King of Franâ—e at the instance of divers great Lords although by the Articles of accord at Brettigny hee were bound to quit all homage for the â—utchy of Aquitaine which he might claime of the English entertaines their complaint and sends to the Prince of Wales at â—urdeaux summoning him to answer before him and his Court at Paris concerning these matters The Lords of Arminiague D'Albret Peregot Cominges and many others made their protestations against the King of England for the Crowne of France alleaging that they were by nature to obey that and not a strange Soveraigne that it was absolutely against the fundamentall law of the kingdome to dissever them from the Crowne that the Contract was made in prison and therefore by the right of Nations not to obliege therefore they utterly disclaim'd the government of England By their example the Cities of the County of Ponthieu which was King Edward his undoubted inheritance revolted all to the French King King Edward complained of this breach of Accord to the Pope and other Christian Princes but treaties availed little the English side when the French hearts were weary of their yoake and resolved to returne to their old obedience From this time being the 42 yeare of King Edward's reigne the tide of Fortune was turned from the English to the French side Edward the Renowned Prince of Wales was sicke of a lingring malady and not able to endure the travell of Warre and old King Edward was mis-led in England by evill servants which caused disquiet in Parliaments and many distempers in the State at home All these occasions were politikely looked into by Charles surnamed the Wise King of France who though forewarned by his father and Grandfathers mis-fortunes he never would venture any pitch'd battels against the English for there were divers Armies sent over from hence after that time but returned fruitlesse as the Chronicles will informe you yet hee omitted no opportunities of recovering his kingdome by secret solicitations large promises and other wary practises by which as also some fortunate skirmishes of Bertram his best servant hee recovered all before the death of King Edward except the Towne of Calleis onely Those eminent victories and great actions by which the English had gained so much of France have beene the subject of this Historicall Poem the particular revolts flye practices and petty actions by which insensibly it was lost againe you may read distinctly in the Chronicles at large FINIS
Till those distastefull courses that did seeme To prop his state wrought on to ruine him Faire Notingham the theater where all His pompe is shew'd must show his sudden fall No scene of Fortune in so short a space Presented ever a more changed face Nor more amaz'd spectatours hearts then here Did this quick-turning fate of Mortimer So farre beyond what any could surmise They scarse dare trust the witnesse of their eyes Such hidden paths doe God's high judgements tread That ere the pride of wicked men can dread Their neere approach they feele the fatall blow His ruine is contriu'd young Edward now Whose manly thoughts are riper then his yeares Had with a number of his stoutest Peeres And saithfull servants cast a ventrous way In spight of all his guards to seize the prey Night is th' appointed time for their designe And now the golden Phoebus 'gan decline Vnto the West that young couragious Lord The noble Mountague whose prosperous sword In forraine parts hereafter shall deserve So well and early here begins to serve His Prince at home a chiefe assistant now To young King Edward in the overthrow Of Mortimer was in his house alone Retir'd his youthfull thoughts still fix'd upon Th'atchievement tedious seem'd the houres of light To him and slow th'approach of duskie night His trusty armes with various carving wrought And glittering sword two nimble Pages brought Which whilest with care they buckle on at doore A knocke is heard Sir Thomas de la Moore A Knight well knowne to noble Mountague And welcome still that long had beene a true And faithfull servant to that wofull Prince Carnarvan Edward and had ever since His Lords accursed murder mourning spent His daies and prayers to God's high throne had sent Imploring justice for so blacke a crime His presence is admitted though the time And action greatest secrecy require To whom while gazing he did seeme t' admire Those armes thus spake the gallant Montague Ah thinke not De la Moore that vengeance due To wicked men can be for ever stay'd Or that bright Iustice should be still afraid To draw her sword three Summers now have past Thrice has the painted pride of Flora grac'd Earths joyfull bosome thrice has winters raine Bereav'd her of that verdant dresse againe Since we oh shame have not disdain'd to beare The yoake of that proud traitour Mortimer And England suffred his usurped reigne To guard his pride and fill his pompous traine Where ninescore Knights attend his gawdy state The Royall patrimony's spent of late That wealth that noble Edward should possesse His mother holds whose unjust Dower no lesse Containes should all the Crowne revenues be But rightly valu'd then two parts of three And what she holds false Mortimer enjoyes Who link'd too neere in love with her destroyes Not onely her revenues but her fame And brands the kingdome with another shame One Port one undistinguish'd house with her Her sawcy Minion keepes one Caterer With aequall price and priviledge dooes buy Provision for that ill-joyn'd family So is their state in all as man and wife To open view and for their secret life How free the bed has beene ere long they say Her teeming wombe will to the world betray Nor is this all the sieknesse of the time Great Edward's honour is ecclips'd by him Who long has rul'd the Land whilest we afrayd Of that usurped power perforce obey'd And fatall 't was to contradict at all What else so lately caus'd the pity'd fall Of noble Edmund Earle of Kent who dy'd A sacrifice to Mortimer's sterne pride And Isabellaes lawlesse power nor could Though Edward's Vncle his high birth and blood Protect his life This haplesse Prince abus'd By their delusions his best meanes had us'd To helpe not knowing he before was slaine Deposed Edward to the crowne againe Ah De la Moore the wondring people saw That Prince condemn'd by their tyrannicke law Five houres together on a scaffold stand Nor all that while found they so base a hand That would be hir'd untill the Sunne was set To shed the blood of a Plantagenet What neede I speake those treasons which of late He wrought for Scotland gainst the English state What bribes he thence received to betray His Countreys honour which he now shall pay How two yeeres since he drew the Parliament Held at Northampton then to give consent That peace with Scotland should be ratify'd So prejudiciall to the English side In which those famous Rolls that did containe Their homage to this Scepter were againe Giv'n up and all those jewels of renowne And price that did belong to Scotlands crowne And thence by former English Kings were tane Were at this peace delivered backe againe Which by a marriage was confirm'd and Ioane King Edward's sister was bestow'd upon Young David Bruce their King Fates can deferre No longer now th' account of Mortimer Nor dooes our brave young Edward feare to call The traitour to a tryall nor shall all His traine defend him nor the strength of that Faire Castle there in which with wanton state His beautious Queene and hee their revels keepe And there by night securely guarded sleepe Nor can their pride allow they filling all The King a roome within his Castle wall A meaner lodging in the towne alas Must serve the King but ere this night doe passe The Castle shall be his againe and there Shall rising Phoebus see proud Mortimer A prisoner where now he reignes whilest all The Land shall wonder at his sudden fall Or else the blood that feeds this life shall flow Vpon you stained earth but ere I show To thee the way that Edward has design'd Doe thou relate what yet remaines behind Of Mortimer's foule crimes which thou so well Hast learn'd which I in part have heard thee tell And at each accent passionately sigh The late King Edward's ruthfull tragedy Though sad the story be 't will take up time Vntill that houre that must revenge the crime Doe call us hence Lord Montague had done When thus deepe sighing De la Moore begun ` Since you command my Lord I will recite Though still I tremble to remember it That ruth that never found a parallell That story that no eloqvence can tell In accents sad enough no moorning line Expresse although the saddest Muse of nine Melpomene should search through all her store And tune her tragicke lessons ore and ore When all those balefull mischiefes she has sought That barbarous Thrace that Thebes and Argos wrought A sadder story she did nere relate Then was Carnarvan Edward's tragicke fate While this depos'd unhappy Prince remain'd In Killingworth faire Castle entertain'd In gentle manner by his kinsman there The noble Henry Earle of Lancaster In part he seemed to enjoy content If after losse of Regall government Content can come the curteous Earle still showes Himselfe compassionate of Edward's woes And in the noblest manner lessons them That he almost could have forgot t' esteeme Those
thence with safety c All the Authors of that time doe generally agree concerning the greatnesse of Roger Mortimer his power in state his pompous attendance and haughty carriage of all businesse as likewise the greatnesse of the Queenes Dower and her familiarity with that Lord which offending as needs it must the rest of the Nobilitie I thought it not so fit to be barely related in the Authors person as by the way of speech to proceed angerly from the mouth of that brave Lord Mountague who was by the consent of those writers a speciall assistant to King Edward in the surprising of Mortimer and such particulars as concerne the lamentable murther of that deposed King to proceed from his servant Sir Thomas de la Moore who accordingly wrote the story of it THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The second Booke Argument II. King Edward's homage to the King of France He claimes that Crowne his friends and puissance Sicilia's King fore-tels the misery Of France King Edwards Navall victory NOt yet had Edward in his active minde The claime and conquest of great France design'd Nor look'd abroad domesticke businesse Employ'd his early manhood the redresse Of those distempers which had growne at home Too great for any youth to over-come But such a youth as his had yet detain'd His spirit there when Fate that had ordain'd Through fire and sword the miseries of France Finds out a meanes to wake the puissance Of this victorious Prince and make him know That fatall title that had slept till now Philip of France but newly crown'd and not Content in rest to hold what he had got Vpon a doubted title nor abate The least and strictest circumstance of state Which might belong to that high crowne he wore In punctuall manner summons Edward ore For Guyennes Dukedome which he held to doe His personall homage nor did Edward though Fill'd with disdaine and manly rage refuse To come faire Amiens is the place they chuse In whose Cathedrall Church King Philip sate Oh who can tell what pompe and wondrous state Was show'd at this so great solemnity How many noble Peeres and Princes high In blood and fame did there attendance give And in their best attires and lustres strive To grace the crowne of France and Philips state Vnder a wealthy Canopy he sate His roabe of colour like the violet With golden flower de luces all beset With crowned head and scepter'd hand to take That low obeisance th'English King should make The Kings of Boheme and Navarre were by Plac'd as spectators of his dignity Vnhappy Philip boast not this vaine state Which bleeding France shall buy at dearest rate Why doost thou fondly show to Edwards eyes That wealth that must hereafter be his prize And by those gorgeous splendours teach so great A spirit as his what value he should set Vpon thy Kingdomes conquest those thy Peeres That proudly face him now ere many yeeres Doe turne againe shall in their ruine be Sad monuments of Edward's victory And mourning see though now he seeme to low His reall honour in thine overthrow Bohemia's King oh ominous whose eye This shadow sees of Philip's dignity In Philip's fall a tragicke part must play And as a trophee to remaine for aye To Edward's conquering hands must dying yeeld His glittering plume in Cressyes fatall field The English King to Philip's royall seat Makes faire approach attended with a great And gallant traine of Peeres whose bright array The wealth and pompe of England did display A gowne of crimson Velvet Edward wore With golden Leopards all embroider'd ore His well-becomming sword was guirded on And spurs of gold about his anckles shone Vpon his head stood Englands diadem And such did his Heroicke presence seeme As in the French mens hearts although that there He came with peace did strike a silent feare So much unlike his Princely lookes did show To that low action that he came to doo Thus comming before Philip's chaire he stands Melun the Chamberlaine of France commands To doffe his royall Crowne his Spurs and Sword And bids him kneele to Philip as the Lord Supreme of all those Aquitanian lands Then twixt King Philip's puts King Edward's hands Declaring the Oath then Edward gives a kisse To Philip sitting as the manner is The King of France rejoycing in this vaine Shadow of Majesty to entertaine His royall Leigeman makes a sumptuous feast Put deepe in Edwards young and fiery breast Remaines the thought of this indignity Which though a while it smoother'd seeme to lye Breakes out in such a flame as long in vaine The neighbour Princes strive to quench againe Vntill Revenge had given to France as sad And great a wound as ere that Kingdome had But to attempt the conquest of so great So populous a land as France and set The title that he had on foot requir'd Strong preparations the young King retir'd To England in his eager thoughts revolues This weighty cause and though the great resolves Of his undaunted spirit ore-master all The difficulties that were like to fall Yet fitting time must be allow'd to make Confaederacies of import and take Faire opportunities The fates afford Occasions straight to flesh his conquering sword In Scotland wounds whose miseries must be The prologue to great France her tragaedy Ballioll unhappy to his nation Was now return'd to challenge Scotlands crowne While young King David did abide in France Which soone he gain'd by Edward's puissance Whose prosperous valour first at Berwicke towne Then in that fam'd defeat at a Halidowne In which so many valiant Scots were slaine Appear'd and seem'd to quit that blow againe Which whilest his father second Edward reign'd England from Bruce his warlike hand sustain'd Enough had these victorious warres declar'd Great Edward's prowesse and enough prepar'd His martiall thoughts for France when Fates conspire To bring fresh fuell to this raging fire For discontented from his native home To England b Robert of Artois was come His Countries fire-brand one that well had learn'd King Edward's minde and well his spirit discern'd So doe the peoples shouts encourage more A fierce Olimpicke Steede that strove before To force the lists and breake th opposing bars As this young fiery King too prone to wars Before is now by his incitements mov'd So ' gainst his Rome bold Curio's language prov'd When with the Tribunes banish'd he was come To armed Caesar at Ariminum Curio by death prevented could not see What he had wrought his Countries misery Whose slaughter'd carcasse strew'd the field a prey To Lybian birds before that tragicke day His Caesar conquer'd on Pharsaliaes plaines How like a fate for thee Artois remaines Thou shalt not see thy Countries greatest woe Nor Edward's bayes in Philip's overthrow Thy death shall first in Britaines warres be wrought Before that Crescyes mortall field be fought And ere that Poictiers wondrous battell fame Blacke Edwards sword be nothing but a name As much by France accurs'd in times to
come As Curio his by his afflicted Rome This stirring Frenchman Edward joyes to see And honours him with Richmonds signiory Then ore the Seas to Antwerpe to provide Confederacies to support his side He sailes in person with his Queene and Sonne Where what Queene Philips father had begun The noble William Heinaults Earle to draw Those German Dukes to his great sonne in law King Edward's royall presence in their land Soone brings to passe the Dukes of Gelderland And Brabant joyne with him and to his side The potent Flemmings too though strongly ty'd By oath and obligation to the Crowne Of France by c Iames of Artevile are won Nor were their oathes and obligations broke For noble Edward to preserve them tooke Vpon himselfe the style and armes of France And on his royall Standard did advance The Flower deleces thence he past the Rhine And there with speed did to his party joyne The potent Prelate that did then the land Of Agrippina's Colony command There did Bavarian Lewis the Emperour Bestow on Edward more to same his power An office high creating him ore all The Roman Empire Vicar generall Though soone unconstant Lewis did revoke That grant and to his owne dishonour tooke The side of France that men might after know By Edward's conquest Philip's overthrow That Lewis the Roman Emperour could be Nor usefull friend nor hurtfull enemy No lesse doos Philip labour to advance His strength by leagues and to his wealthy France The power of many forraine Princes draw With him the two great Dukes of Austria And the old warlike King of Boheme joyne With Cassimere th Elector Palatine And in this heat on either side too soone By little sparkles is the fire begun Pope Benedict now summers gawdy pride Had his belov d Avignion beavtify d With all the Court resided there to whom Those Lords that saught the peace of Christendome Which as they justly fear d would by the warre Of these two Monarchs be engag'd too farre Resorted thither daily to complaine The Pope himselfe was griev'd that he in vaine Had by his Legates often striv'd of late To reconcile the Kings that fresh debate Was nourish'd daily and that either Land Had felt already warres ungentle hand That Philip's royall Navy which had beene Prepar'd for pious wars in Palaestine To free th' afflicted Christians of the East Was now so ill diverted to infest The shores of England sometimes would he chide King Edwards heat and too ambitious pride That durst make such a claime or hope at all That he could conquer with a strength so small So great a land so rich a crowne from one That had already firme possession Sometimes againe would he expostulate ' Gainst Philip's punctuall and vainglorious state That Edward's strictest homage would require And tease a spirit active as the fire One Prince in vertue as in honour high Robert the learned King of Sicily Was then in person at Avignion Whose skill discerning every motion Aspect and powerfull influence of the starres Foresaw th event of these so tragicke warres And wail'd the woes that France would suffer thence Of that the Pope desir'd intelligence About his chaire the revered Colledge sate By whom the King was plac'd in fitting state When thus the Pope bespake him Royall Sonne Since well we know your good intention And can no lesse commend your pious will To end these warres then we admire that skill By which your noble soules delighted eye Takes wise survey of all the starry skye And in that glorious booke the future fates Of men can read and change of greatest states And shall we thinke the stars would ever show What shall betide mortality if now They would be silent in so great a warre If this great warre proceed that doos so farre Engage the shaken state of Christendome And looke so full of tragicke threats on whom If they neglect a state so eminent As France or England can they be intent Vnto our cares declare renowned d King What strange effects these stars are like to bring For we allow that Christian use may be Made of praedictions by Astrology Let dim-ey'd heathens count it double woe When future fates they are enforc'd to know Who thinke the stars no higher power obey And judgements unavoidable which they Denounce ' gainst mortall men which when they heare Their hopes are fled and they can onely feare But we that worship his eternall name That rules the stars that heaven and earth did frame Have learn'd that though their usuall vertue guide The state of earth and show what shall betide Beyond controll of Nature certaine still It is not certaine ' gainst his sacred will If not ' gainst him then why should we despaire It is not certaine ' gainst a Christians prayer That sacred charme has power to thwart the law Which constant Nature strives to keepe to draw The moving stars on t of their wonted way And in the height of his carriere to stay The glorious Sunne himselfe which once was done When noble Ioshuah fought in Gibeon As afterward he was enforc'd to take A backward course for Hezekiah's sake In vaine a cause of this great wonder wrought Chaldaeaes wise Astrologers had sought To finde by Art for all Arts uselesse prov'd Vntill the great Assyrian Monarch mov'd His servants sent to Hezekiah's land The powerfull working of so great a hand None but inspired Prophets could descry No Oracle but Iuda's Deiry We therefore may beleeve no starres portent Is sure against a Christian paenitent Nay more if paenitence have oft controll'd Those doomes which sacred Prophets have foretold And could reverse the Lord's severe decree Denounc'd by Ionas ' gainst great Ninivee It well may thwart what ere the heavens portend But happy are those threats when they amend The sinfull world made usefull so to be A wholesome cure and not a malady Be therefore pleased learned Prince to show To us what Kingdomes are most threatned now King Robert sigh'd since holy Sir quoth he Yov have beene pleas'd to grace Astrology And tell her Christian uses I shall now My good entents with greater freedome show But when I speake of this ensuing warre Expect no actions in particular Too dim an eye have we Astrologers Too generall to search out those the stars Distinctly cannot future things decree Or mens fraile skill exactly cannot see Inspired Prophets onely that can finde Allow'd to speake their great Creators minde Whose eye of Providence counts nothing small As to his power is nothing great at all But thus we finde if this sad warre proceed So much so long unhappy France shall bleed Th' enfeebled Kingdome shall expire or neere To utter ruine grow full fourescore yeere This blacke and balefull influence shall last Recount oh France thy former woes what wast The conquering Romans made what blood so ere The Frankes drew from thee to inhabite here Or when fierce Rollo with his Danish flood Broke in upon thee to this sea of blood 'T
On then brave Souldiers Scarse had Edward done When the bold English archers with a flight Of winged shafts begin the mortall fight The Crossebowes answer from the Frenchmens side And through the ayre dooes Death in triumph ride Twixt both the fleets while stormes of arrowes flye And with a fatall darknesse cloud the skye All noise of tacklings and shrill trumpets sound Is by the lovder shouts of souldiers drown'd That wound the ayre whose strong concussions make The hollow parts of Sluce and Blankebergh shake And strike with terrour Englands Easterne shore Nere did blew Neptune on those seas before Behold so great so tragicall a fight Oh fates why was not all great Edward's right To France in this one Navall fury try'd But if the mourning land must bleede beside In horrid wounds if Crescyes mortall day And Poictiers field could not be wip'd away From th'adamantine booke of Destiny But uncontroll'd must there remaine oh why Was not this Sea-fight spared why in vaine Did so much slaughter the sad Ocean staine The worlds imperiall wreath was won and lost With farre lesse blood then this dayes tryall cost At Leucas battell whence Antonius head Of halfe the world with Cleopatra fled Lesse slaughter there covld that high quarrell try Then here could purchase Edward's victory Nor yet alas can this so cruell fight Determine all or stablish Edward's right By so much blood that Kingdome is not won Nor this great warre concluded but begun Nor now did bowes alone maintaine the warre Or barbed shafts bestowing wounds from farre More close together their sterne fury meets And with each other grapple both the Fleets With iron hookes and chaines to draw more nigh Vnto themselves their owne sad destiny The sword acts freely there and hand to hand Whilest firmely linked both the Navies stand And without distance cover th Ocean ore Short pikes and bils encountring make a sore And mortall fight no hopes of flight at all Vpon the decks the slaughter'd bodies fall In heapes together some ore boord are throwne And twixt the grapling ships fall dying downe As if they strove againe to seperate What was conjoyned by so bad a fate Nor did the blood that streamed downe apace No more then onely staine blew Neptune's face But on the top that aëry liquour swam And by it selfe a crimson sea became And oft to dying men prov'd mortall too Anticipating what the sea would doo When some that downe the ships alive are cast Are choak'd in blood ere they the water tast A gallant English ship the Christopher That had beene taken by the French that yeere Now in the front was placed bravely mann'd As if to let the English understand And grieve for what they had so lately lost But deere the French must pay for such a boast The sight of her dooes not dismay but whet The English courages who strive to get That ship againe her they in fight auaile With greatest fury and at last prevaile They boord the Christopher the French are kill'd And she againe with English souldiers fill'd Who now more fiercely fights as if to be Revenged for her late captivity Another warlike English ship that bore The name of Edward and the yeere before Had from Southampton like the Christopher Beene taken by the French was fighting there ' Gainst her the Christopher with fury came Two sister-ships of aequall strength of frame Alike they shew'd no vantage was in ought Vnlesse that here the French there th'English fought They joyne and grapple with each other close The sword acts all for uselesse are their bowes And no roome left at all for arrowes flight 'Twixt no two vessels was so sterne a fight Nor English ships so fiercely French invade As was the fight which these both English made So hostile soules when they imprison'd are In kindred bodies make the sharpest warre With greatest spleene the Theban brothers fought No Argive souldier ' gainst a Theban brought Such perfect hate as twixt the fruit of one Divided wombe was in that combat showne Long was the fight 'twixt these two vessels ty'd Ere doubting fate the conquest could decide At last the English prowesse dooes appeare The Edward's boorded by the Christopher The French within her all captiv'd or slaine And to their Nation both restor d againe The English Souldiers lesse in number are But free and wider on the Ocean farre Have roome to stretch their wings keep them even Into the havens straits the French are driven And so unhappily encumber'd there They cannot helpe themselves the Marriner Wants Sea-roome to employ his skill aright The Souldier freedome to maintaine his fight No part of all the fleet of France was free From this encumbrance and perplexity But that which Barbenoire of Genoa Commanded he that danger well foresaw And from the haven when the fight began To gaine the freedome of the Ocean Brought out his ships the rest a haplesse prey Vnto their foes together crowded lay That now it seem'd the Sunne the winde and tide Did all assist victorious Edward s side Yet stroveth'unhappy French to sell as deere Their lives as that strait place would suffer there With flaming brand the fierce Enyo flew Ore both their heads and great the slaughter grew Oh what unwâ—aried Muse has time to show How many soules fled to the shades below Or each Plebeian tragedy to tell Scarse can we thine renowned Kiriell Who in the heat of all wert gladly slaine Asham'd to see thy native France againe With thee the flower of all thy Captaines fall To wait upon their dying Admirall Meane while the valiant English Lords divide Their dreadfull forces and on every side Assaile the wretched Frenchmen here come on The Earles of Derby Pembrooke Huntington There Morley Percy Deleware invade And sterne D'artois distaines his vengefull blade In wounds of bleeding France ' mongst whom as high In prowesse as imperiall Majesty Like Mars himselfe Heröicke Edward goes Whose armed presence quels the fainting foes He worst of danger dar'd while by the side Of such a Prince his valiant servants dy'd Stout Poinings Butler noble Latimer Before his eyes were slaine but wondrous deare Th' unhappy French did for their slaughter pay For every English ghost that mortall day Ten ghosts of France fled to the shades below Nor in the heat of fight could th'English know How great a wrack their conquering swords had made The James of Deepe a mighty ship that had Endur'd so long the shocke of hottest fight And never seem'd to faint at all when night Gan now approach was by the English tane In which Death's treasure onely did remaine Foure hundred slaughtred carcasses in her They found and by that tragicke token there Perceiv'd how deepe a wound their armes had given Now all the other ships that had beene driven Into the havens straits were sunke or there Surprised by the English Conquerer When Barbenoire who not enclos'd at all Had Sea-roome left perceiv'd how great a fall His side
sustein'd in sorrow and dismay Bewailing France and cursing that sad day He tack'd about to be in safety gone But by the warlike Earle of Huntington The Southerne Admirall so sore was chas'd And hard-beset he was enforc'd at last By secret flight almost alone to goe A sad reporter of so great a blow Blacke night now challeng'd her alternate reigne Sâ—â—â— soone enough to hide that tragicke staine Which on the blushing face of Neptune lay Not soone enough to part the mortall fray Warres raging fire was spent the fuell gone And all that Mars could doe already done Nor would great Edward then approach the shore But make the Oceans bosome which before Had beene the stage of his victorious fight To be his lodging field whilest all the night Drums beat and Trumpets to the havens nigh Proclaime his great and noble victory But when the rosie morning gan appeare With joy to welcome his arrivall there The towne of Sluce prepares while all along The haven people numberlesse doe throng To view the face of that Heroicke King And all the shores with acclamations ring At last great Edward lands and waited on By all the noblest Burgers of the towne And English Lords in triumph takes his way To Gaunt where his belov d Queene Philip lay With such expressions of true state and love Did white-arm'd Iuno meet triumphant Iove When from the Gyants warres he came as she Her Lord return'd from this great victory With her at Gaunt remain'd the greatest States Of Netherland and best confoederates King Edward had for his great warre in hand The Dukes of Brabant and of Gelderland With Heinaults Earle his comming did attend And Iames of Artevile his constant friend Whose power had drawne those people to his side There all their leagves are firmely ratifi'd While happy Gaunt is proud to entertaine So brave a Monarch with his noble traine But much more proud that she had beene the place Of birth to one faire branch of Edward's race Young princely Iohn who thence shall take his name And lend the towne in liev eternall fame Annotations upon the second Booke a This great battell of Halydon hill a place neere Berwick was tought in the sixt yeere of the reigne of King Edward the third of England and the second of King David of Scotland who being then a childe remained in France and Archimbald Dowglas Earle of Argus governed the realme of Scotland for him the English army was led by King Edward himselfe in person that of Scotland by the forenamed Earle of Angus Regent of the Kingdome in this battell the Scots received a great overthrow although the writers of those times doe much disagree about the number of those that perished in the vanquished army the Scottish Histories allowing foureteene thousand the English naming aboue thirty thousand but howsoever it were by this victory Berwicke was gained to the Crowne of England b This Robert of Artois was a Prince of the blood of France descended from Robert Sonne to Lewis the eight there had beene a suit betwixt the said Robert and Maud his Aunt Countesse of Burgundy about the Earledome of Artois Robert presuming upon his owne power and the service he had done King Philip in advancing him to the Crowne for Robert of Artois was at the first a great maintainer of Philips title against Edward of England forges a deed thereby to overthrow his Aunts right which being afterwards discovered made her right the more and moved the French King to give judgement on her side so that the County of Artois was by Parliament confirmed upon Maud which so offended Robert as in his rage he openly said hee would unmake the King by the same power that he had made him This rash threatning so incensed the King that he presently layed to apprehend him but failing therein he proclaimed him Traitour confiscated his estate forbidding all his Subjects to receive or aide him Robert of Arto is being thus distressed comes over into England is joyfully entertained by King Edward made of his Councell and invested in the Earledome of Richmond where hee becomes a great incendiary betweene the two Kings discovering to King Edward the secrets of France and disapproving now of King Philips title upon which a Declaration is published and sent to the Pope and all the neighbour Princes shewing the usurpation of Philip de Valois upon the Crowne of France c There was among the Flemmings one Iaques de Artevile a Citizen of Gavnt of great estimation among the people he was their Leader and Tribune as it were in all their tumults him King Edward gets by great rewards to take his part and thereby had them all ready to assaile the French King upon any occasion This Iaques though a man of meane condition was an usefull friend to England whose death happening about seven yeeres after for in a tumult his braines were beaten out was much lamented by King Edward d This Robert King of Cicily as Collenutius and other Neopolitan writers testifie was a learned Prince and much renowned for his skill in Astrology hee was about this time saith our Froissard at Avignion with Pope Benedict where he declared to the Pope by his skill what great warres and blood-shed was like to be and lamented the miseries of France That report of Froissard gave ground to this discouse in the Poem e This Navall fight which is here at large described in the Poem was out of doubt the greatest that ever had been vpon these narrow Seas the numbers were many the fight was cruell and the slaughter exceeding great The French Navy by consent of most writers consisted of 400 saile the English consisted according to some authors of 200 saile according to others of 200. to others of 300. although Froissard report that the Frenchmen were foure to one English which may be thought too much oddes to be beleeved for the French in those dayes had good Sea-men but the slaughter was exceeding great and the victory as compleat on the English side as could be imagined for very few of the French ships escaped home but were either sunke or taken and 30000 of their men flaine of the English those writers that report most have mentioned but 4000. THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The third Booke Argument III. Atruce ' twixt France and Englands Kings is made The Garter fâ—unded Edward dooes invade King Philip's lands the warre 's to tryall brought And that renowned field of Crescy fought A Wound so mortall had enfeebled France By Sea receiv'd she could no more advance Her colours there no more had she or veine To bleed or spirits left to strive againe What now remaines of this lovd-threatning warre The Continent alone must feele as farre As Tourney fill'd with high and wealthy hopes Victorious Edward leads his cheerefull troops Augmented lately with new-mustred bands Of his confederates in the Netherlands That towne is first enobled by his stay Iudg'd worthy to be made the
maiden prey A royall army would vouchsafe to take Nor is King Philip in her rescue slacke But for the late dishonourable blow Fill'd with revenge and fury thither now Is marching with a numerous hoast and brings Besides his French-men the two warlike Kings Navarre and Boheme nor will Edward rise From Tourneys siedge although too small a prize One Cities conquest now appeares to be For Edward's sword but Fortune lets him see That she to crowne his glorious hopes so nigh Had brought a warre of greater dignity And now the two incensed Kings are met And their great cause on one dayes tryall set As all beleeve all expectations neere Are drawne nor have they time to hope or feare The armies both stand rang'd in faire array And fierce Bellona proud of such a day As if it lay not in the power of chance That storme to scatter shakes her dreadfull lance For like two high-swoll'n seas on either side Whose meeting rage no Isthmos did divide But windes that from contrary quarters blow Together drive the two Battaliaes show But that Eternall God who from on high Surveys all hoasts disposes victory Call'd thence the Lord of hoasts and sets the times Of warre or peace as sinfull Nations crimes Provoke his justice did not thinke it good That cloud should yet dissolue in showres of blood But pleas'd to respite for a time the woes Of wretched France and for his purpose chose An instrument whose weaknesse might make knowne The power that reconcil'd them was his owne A veiled Nun alone could enterpose And stay the fury of these armed foes Jane de Valois a Princely Lady neere To one in blood as by alliance deere To tother Mother to great Edward's Queene And Philip's sister who of late had beene Since Heinaults death at Fontenelles vow'd A holy Nun She waken'd with the loud Alarmes of this so great so fear'd a blow Her quiet cloister had forsaken now Amidst their armed troopes her way she tooke And through the rudest breasts a reverence strooke Well did the fame of her chaste life before Become the sacred habit that she wore Pure innocence her snow-white veile profest Her blacke a sorrow silently exprest Grave was her comely face Devotion On beavties ruines with more beavty shone In all her gestures dwelt humility But temper'd with commanding Majesty As thus she passes to perswade the Kings Faire Peace descends and with her silver wings Cutting the ayre above the Princesse still Hangs gently hovering whose calme breath doth fill The changed Campes the Souldiers 'gan to feele A mildenesse seize their breasts all thoughts of steele Of blood and slaughter seemed to withdraw This gentle Nymph when fierce Bellona saw As she from heaven descended downe and knew Her hopes were now put off away she flew And left the field but with an angry looke Turn'd backe and proudly her plum'd helmet shooke Goe sluggish Nymph quoth she enjoy thy day Fates may deferre but cannot wipe away This Kingdomes wounds but 't is not their decree The fields of Tourney should renowned be To future times for such a glorious day In Crescy fields brave Edward shall display His conquering colours there the French shall fall And that poore Village now scarce nam'd at all Shall for the death of many thousands be A place of fame to all posterity There I shall reigne till then dull fields adieu And like a Dragon through the ayre she flew And now so well the Princesse did perswade Both Kings so powerfull he that sent her made Her pious Eloquence that all their hate Seem'd banish'd Philip of Valois forgate His thirst of vengeance for the fatall blow France tooke in that great Navall overthrow Edward relented too content to cease His royall clayme a while a sudden peace Is for three yeeres concluded to remaine The dreadfull colours folded up againe The threatning swords are sheath'd not stained yet In blood at all and all those Princes met To make the tryall of so great a day Depart againe King Edward takes his way By Flanders home and with his dearest Queene That royall pledge that for two yeeres had beene Left there by him the honour of their clime And there had brought within that happy time His royall family a faire increase Two Princely Sonnes to England crost the Seas But soone Wars flame that had a while in vaine Beene by the Truce deprest broke out againe And higher blaz'd but by degrees it came Nor did the royall quarrell and great claime That Edward laid to France begin the jarre But to draw on this great and fatall Warre Collaterall causes are found out by fates And first in aide of their confoederates Abovt the question'd right of Brittaines Lands Th'engaged Princes by their servants hands And meaner strengths begin to blow the flame To England Montford's widow'd Dutchesse came And here from Edward noble succours gain'd Gainst Charles of Bloys whom Philip's power sustain'd The Earles of Suffolke Pembrooke Salisbury And Stafford flowers of English chevalry Bourchier and Spencer Lords and many moe Of honour'd name with her to Brittaine goe With them went Robert of Artois who first In Edward kindled that ambitious thirst And fir'd his active spirit to advance His owne high honour by the woes of France At Vannes siedge so fate ordain'd he tooke His mortall wound but ere the soule forsooke Her earthly reliques thence to Englands ground Transported backe a quiet grave he found Her Souldier England willingly entomb'd His native France that by his meanes was doom'd So many following mischiefes to endure Bestow'd his death but not his sepulture Vannes and other little townes are won And lost but no important action This warre produces where the threats are high Save that the two great foes are drawne so nigh Though timely truces doe againe prevent The fatall blow great Edward not content To send in Montford's aide those forces ore Arrives himselfe upon the Brittaine shore To whom Prince Iohn the Duke of Normandy With forty thousand men approached nigh In Bloys his right the armies both prepare To give the blow Neere was the stroke of warre And Brittaine Vannes had almost beheld What was decreed to Crescyes fatall field The royall powers of England and of France In Brittaines cause to try their puissance Before their owne great quarrell they maintaine But Brittaines Dutchie must not hope to gaine So great an honour here cleere growes the day Without a showre this cloud is blowne away The warre is done two Cardinals attone As earst a Ladies gentle breath had done The royall Armies and so well perswade Truce is againe 'twixt France and England made Sterne Mars a while from deeds of blood restrain'd Strove still to whet his rage and entertain'd That breathing space in pastimes to prepare His cruell forces for th' ensuing warre For like a Campe showes Edwards marshall Court To which the Knights of greatest fame resort From every land their prowesse there to try And gaine renowne by active Chevalry
His great round Table for those warrelike feasts And invitation of such noble guests At Windsor Castle does King Edward found Where he himselfe was borne a place renown'd For Britaine Arthur's name who with his bold Round-table Knights resided there of old Of whose majesticke state and honour there Some monuments did in that age appeare Though too much darkned by injurious time And more by those vaine fables made of him Which casts such mists ore his bright deeds of glory That he remaines a name without a story Nor does faire Windsor seeme alone to be The Throne of Mars and Scene of Chevalry But Loves delicious Bower more grac'd then e're Th' Idalian wood or gentle Paphos were Here are the Cupids here the Graces seene Hither does Philip Edward's noble Queene In state repaire with all her beautious traine Which then three hundred did no lesse containe Of all the greatest and most Courtly Dames That this blest land could boast they like the flames Of heaven those Orbs of pure aetheriall sire With noble thoughts the Knights strong breasts inspire For Courage oft from Beauties influence Receives his motion Iusts and Turneaments With all the other feats of active Warre Are daily show'd on this faire Theater Such Martiall labours once the Trojan Band Did exercise in old Acestes land Train'd by that pious Prince who first brought ore The Phrygian reliques to Laviniums shore But one unhappy Crosse is sent to be A sad allay to this high jollity And make great Edward mourne in midst of all His feasts and triumphs the untimely fall Of that renowned Earle of Salisbury His deare-lov'd William Mountague who by A bruise in Tilting tooke his fatall wound Who though a Subject still was lately crown'd The Monarch of an I le and first began To weare that Royall title King of Man That Iland on the westerne Sea betweene Scotland and Ireland lying that had beene Subject so many yeeres to Scotlands Crowne Had by the valour of that Earle beene won From them of late whilst great King Edward come From Brittaines Truce with his strong army home Was wasting Scotland who bestow'd that I le On th' Earle together with a Royall stile But oh how short a time did envious Fate Allot to noble William's Kingly state Who like a sacrifice did onely seeme So neere his death to weare a Diadem Soone ore all parts of Europe had the fame Of Edward's table and the Knights that came Thither to show their manly prowesse spred And in his jealous foe King Philip bred High emulation who discernes the end To which these haughty preparations tend That Edward's aime is onely to advance His strengths friendships gainst the Realme of France He thinks it now concernes him to prepare Himselfe as well against th approaching Warre And in a cause and danger great as that Dooes not at all disdaine to imitate His subtile foe but such a table he Sets up to draw from Austria Italy And southerne Lands the Knights of best renowne To grace his Court and guard his threatned Crowne Prevented thus a new society King Edward founds not onely made to be For military deeds a present tye But lasting honour to posterity The noble order of Saint George his Knights Nor for invention of those sacred rites To former times is he indebt at all As for the tables first originall He was to Brittaine Arthur's old renowne So many standing monuments were knowne Of his round tables in the Kingdome yet Besides the warlike Mortimer had set Another table up at Killing worth The age before whose fame had sounded forth And many forreine Knights had drawne from far But in this act not Mortimer shall share Nor any ancient Heröe this renowne Without a rivall is third Edward's owne No Killing worth shall sound with Windsors name Nor Brittish Arthur darken Edward's fame Saint George the Martyr is esteem'd to be A Patron fit for this society Among the Martyrs noble army none Had suffred more nor more on earth forgone For our deare Lord when Dioclesian reign'd And every land with Christians slaughters stain'd Not all his wealth nor stately signiories Nor prime of youth did this young Martyr prize For thrice seven Summers onely had he told Yet in that early age so wondrous bold And in Warres feats so skilfull was he growne That many famous battels he had wonne ' Gainst Caesar's stubbornst foes before that he By patience conquer'd Caesar's cruelty Him since for tutelary Saint of Warres The Christians honour'd as the Heathen Mars Him they invok'd in field before they fought His noble ayd th' encourag'd Christians thought Against the faithlesse Saracens they had That beauteous George in silver armour clad And crimson Crosse appear d conducting them Vnto the conquest of Ierusalem That Saint and Souldier in this Martiall age Edward entitles to the Patronage Of that most noble Order he erects Whose armed figure 's worne about their neckes The Garter buckled on their legge to be A marke of prowesse and of unity Which shall increase and in all ages be Deliver'd greater to Posterity While other lands in aemulation vaine Shall strive so bright a lustre to attaine But Englands Garter shall obscure the rest Saint Michael's Knights in fhelly collars drest Rhodes silver Crosses and Burgundia's fleece Though worne by gteater Worthies then from Greece Did first in Argo crosse the Seas and bore That golden purchase from the Colchian shore Peace could no longer hold Warres raging fire Supprest a while breakes forth and blazes higher Then e're it did the battell must be try'd For which both Kings so long on either fide Had made their strengths all Truces now are broke And nothing can prevent the fatall stroke The noblest army that e're crost the Seas From England yet was now in readinesse Which Martiall Edward soone transported o're And safe arrived on the Norman shore Nor are King Philip's preparations slacke Whose side so many mighty Princes take While in suspence all Christian Nations are To see the issue of so great a Warre Forth through the midst of quaking Normandy Like Lightnings fatall stroke did Edward flye With his couragious troops where-ere he went Diffusing feare and pale astonishment Swords freely raging and remorselesse fire Were instruments of his reuengefull ire Vnhappy a Caranton must be by fates First offred to his fury on her gates The heads of Edward's slaughter'd friends remaine The heads of Percy Bacon Clifton slaine Not long before by Philip's rage for whom The towne alas must bide a wofull doome For their deere fakes great Edward vowes to have No mercy there no age no sexe can save From deaths sad stroke all slaughter'd that are found The towne it selfe is levell'd to the ground And in confused heapes of cinders lyes To them a tombe and mourning sacrifice From thence the dreadfull army marches on Saint Lo so rich in merchandise is won And pillag'd by the Souldiers stately Caen Although a while it durst resist is tane And
Nor now can silver-winged Peace againe As earst at Tourney and Malstroict shee did Th' enraged troops without death's stroke divide But fierce Enyo chas'd from thence away Without controllment claimes this fatall day Darke grew the troubled ayre as if it strove Within the souldiers furious breasts to move A sad presage of what would then ensue Nor longer could the golden Phoebus shew His cheerefull face The lightnings flashy light And loudest claps of thunder ' gan affright The darkned welkin which in teares apace Dissolv'd to fall upon the tragicke place Another darknesse more portentous rose Ore both th' amazed camps Whole sholes of Crowes And croaking Ravens that obscure the skye From all the neighbouring fields to b Crescy flye As thicke as Cranes in winter that forsake To drinke warme Nile the frozen Strymons lake And muster there themselves in hope to prey Vpon the slaughter of so great a day From these ostents are deepe impressions wrought The souldiers fancies as each breast is fraught With passions various variously surmise Presaging murmurs through all parts arise In some the thirst of fight encreast in some Appear'd the palenesse of a death to come Yet none so much on their owne danger thought As they divin'd after this field was fought About their Kings and Nations changed fate Nor had they time to feare their private state 'Twixt both the Marshals one on either side Through every battell did great Edward ride Whose royall presence with fresh vigour fill'd The souldiers cheerefull bosomes and exil'd Even from the coldest hearts all thoughts of feare No long perswasive Oratory there Did that short time afford or Edward need Few exhortations serv'd that did proceed From such a Prince He briefly bids them crowne That day their Nations honour and their owne And sets before the common souldiers eyes How great how glorious was their valours prize How many Princes wealthy spoyles would be The recompence of that dayes victory But when approaching Philip had beheld His English foes embattell'd in the field And that the warre admitted no delay He vainely joy'd to see the wish'd for day That might redeeme the honour France had lost And straight drew on his rich and numerous hoast In which so many severall Nations fought By their owne Soveraignes there in person brought And now those forraigne Princes every where With fitting language briefly 'gan to cheere Their armed Subjects that in this dayes fight As well their Countries honour as the right Of Philip lay that all great France would fame And thanke their conquering hands how great a shame It were for them to shrinke in such a warre To which for honour they had come so farre And left their dearest pledges whom if they Againe would see it in their valours lay But most does Philip his French troops excite As most of all engaged in the fight By natures lawes and all the love they beare To their deare native soyle whose freedome there Or shamefull conquest into question came That 't was a staine already to the name Of France a petty King that claime durst make Or their great kingdomes conquest undertake Which they must wipe off by their valours now And for his pride chastise th' ambitious soe That easie 't was to doe since Edward's power So few in number not one hand ' gainst foure Of fighting men was able there to show And to revenge their fellow souldiers now Who neere to Sluce on Neptune's watery Maine Had beene before by English Edward slaine With such like speeches all their hearts are fir'd And now a signall every where desir'd Which given on both sides a lowd shout arose And Death began to deale his fatall blowes Farre off at first his winged message flyes While the strong-armed English Archer plyes His bloody taske while Genoan Crossebowes backe Returne their fury and the ayre growes blacke With shafts as erst with winged fowle it did The English Vangard which Prince Edward led 〈◊〉 in the figure of an herse came on ' Gainst which the furious Charles of Alanson Kâ—â—g Philip's brother with Bohemia's King The strength of all the Chevalry did bring But â—re the horse came on in full carriere The Genoan Crossebowes that stood formost were To powre their stormes of fury on the foe But there began the fatall overthrow Of that huge Army For the late great fall Ofraine although it did no hurt at all To the English bow-strings spoyl'd the Genoans quite And made their Crossebowes uselesse in the fight Who weary'd with their mornings march so farre And griev'd with dis-respect had tane no care How to preserve their strings Which seeing on On Chevaliers cryes hot Count Alanson And o're yon lazy Genoans bellies make Your way to victory let souldiers take The Van from uselesse beasts With that they ride Vpon them furiously by their owne side The wretched Genoans are trod downe and slaine But nothing by that act the horsemen gaine For o're their bodies some are tumbled downe The rest that stand in that confusion Are gall'd with arrowes that uncessant flye From th' English fresh and gallant Archery Which did almost the whole Battalia rout The whiles the dying Genoans round about Might see before their latest gaspe of breath Their owne revenge wrought in the Horsemens death And for the wrong which their owne side did doe And quickly righted by the valiant foe But loth farre off t' endure the Archers force Count Alanson with his approaching horse Within Prince Edward's battell strives to bring The fight and thither th' old Bohemian King With his brave troope does even-ranked ride Whose reines are all fast to each other ty'd As if they meant to mow the enemy By squadrons downe So chained Bullets flye And sweepe a field as those Bohemian horse Close-link'd together came And now their force Within the Archers formost ranke had got There the encounter growes more closely hot There battell-axes swords and lances stand There foot to foot and furious hand to hand The men at Armes maintaine a constant warre And now Prince Edward's battell too too farre Began to be opprest to succour whom The second battell of the English come In which with other Lords Northampton stood And all too little in this scene of blood That succour seemes to be Vp to the hill On which King Edward with his battell still Vntouch'd kept stand the Lords have sent to crave Ayd for the Prince in this sad storme but have This answer past their expectation made While hee 's alive send not to me for ayd T is he must weare this honour nor will I Be Edward's rivall in the victory Or feare so much his danger to step in And seize those Bayes which he alone will winne From this Heroike answer of a King In every bosome did fresh vigour spring That answer might have wrought despairing feare But that young Edward and the Nobles there The worth and wisdome of the King did know And he their spirits whom he sent it
In many an hard adventure France had knowne His noble service Oxford tenders there And that redoubted Lord that must appeare In Poicteirs battell honours brightest starre Lord Audley Chandois in all feats of warre And policies to none inferiour And then young Edward's chiefest Counsellour With these brave William Earle of Sarum clad In shining armes appeares now not so sad Since sage resolves had weaned fond desire And in his breast extinguish'd Cupid s fire A fire once swéet alas whilest lawes did seeme T' allow his love and power to favour him The sowrest Vertues did excuse his flame When he the beauties of that Princely Dame Enjoy'd as then he well might seeme to be The envy of a Prince much more is he Since reason did that passion quite convince Now truly growne the envy of a Prince Prince Edward sigh'd and wish'd himselfe as free When he beheld the cheere of â—alisbury From that faire flame One object kindled both But Edward's was not of so long a growth As Salisburies nor had beene ayded so By powerfull Time the passion to forgoe Forbeare a while to sound the Martiall noyse Calliope and tune thy gentler voyce Soft Erato declare what Princely love Did then thâ— Heroike breast of Edward move Not many yeares had past since by the lawes Of holy Church that long-depending cause Betwixt Lord Holland and Earle Mountague Who both with power and eager clayme 's did sue For Kent's faire Countesse was on Holland's side Decree'd and by Pope Clement ratifi'd By which decree blest Holland freed from strife Possession tooke of his admired wife And his bright Iewell now in publike wore Which from the Court had beene conceal'd before While that great suit depended and unknowne It was what husband should the Lady owne Her tempting beauties now th' ecclipse and pride Of Englands Court had love-sicke Edward spy'd The flames unseene his youthfull bosome burn'd His active thoughts so cheerefull once are turn'd To pensive musings company he flyes And for his wonted Princely exercise And high discourse with martiall Lords he loves Retreats sad musicke and the silent groves Why did you gaze unhappy eyes quoth he Too late on her it is too soone for me Because too late The Lawes are false that say No time can barrea Prince Debarr'd for aye Am I. In what possession can they give Vnlesse in Love a fit prerogative For Princes to receive where did she lye While free she was conceal'd from Edward's eye Was not her birth of height enough and shee A branch of England's royall family Her name Plantagenet Earle Edmund's heire Did she not bring together with that faire And heavenly forme a dower that might affright Those Lords from courting of her and invite A Prince his highest flames why is not she Restor'd againe to her great family From which th' ambitious love of Holland durst To draw her maiden innocence at first Or else some forraine Monarch would from farre Have come perchance to fetch a prize so rare A thousand Princely suitors for the fame Of Spartan Helen's virgin beauties came By deeds of armes their persons to endeare And by a warre reveng'd the rape of her As many ventrous youths for such a Bride As was the faire Hippodamea dy'd At cheaper rate why did our climate set Thy maiden blossome faire Plantagenet Would thou hadst beene the prize of Chevalry For which great Princes might have come to try Their manly prowesse Edward might have worne Thee then perchance or thou at worst beene borne From hence away to be a forraine Queene Nor had I here thy killing beauty seene Thus as within a laurell Bower he sate Did Edward's love-sicke thoughts expostulate The twy-light then began nor had night spred Her sable mantle yet though day were fled When lo before him one on either hand Two Nymphs of more than humane visage stand The one was plaine her looks compos'd and grave Yet seem'd a chearefull Majesty to have A mantle rough o're her tall shoulders hung Her undeck'd haire behind she earelesse flung Her name was Arete on tother side Stood Hedone her foe her beauties pride In all alluring amorous formes display'd Transparant silkes her snow-white limbs array'd And Tyrian scarfes with gold embroyder'd o're The precious spoyles of every Easterne shore Adorn'd her ivory necke and tresses faire From whence diffused odours fill'd the ayre Shee thus assailes the Prince Enjoy the time Sweet Prince that Fortunes height and Natures prime Both meet to blesse thee with and ravish'd see What pleasures wait on youth and Royalty Thou hast the top of others wish and mayâ—st Plucke those sweet fruits which neither age can taste Nor low estate procure Both fade away Not onely men but Princes turne to clay Then take in time what ne're will come againe What is not used was bestow'd in vaine Which prudent Nature never did intend In any gift she gave Why should'st thou spend In toyles and hazards these thy happy dayes To gaine that nothing that vaine shadow Praise Of which as life no reall use can make So th' absent ghost or senselesse grave can take No joy at all What e're the vulgar deeme Beleeve me wisest men did ne're esteeme That bubble Honour When King Pyrrhus once Resolv'd t' invade so many nations A vaine renowne by restlesse toyles to winne And make the ending of one warre beginne Another still wise Cyneas ask'd his Lord What comfort all those labours should afford His life at last When all is overcome Wee 'll live quoth Pyrrhus merrily at home So may you now quoth he Why seeke you by Those toyles what now you have in certainty Nor could vaine Pyrrhus answer him or name A reall end of his ambitious ayme Then use thy time But if thou onely strive For so much fame as may more licence give And more sweet rellish to thy pleasures know Thou hast already what thy age could doe Attain'd unto thy worth enough is knowne And Crescy field with Bayes enow did crowne Thy youthfull browes Now reape the happy fruit With confidence pursue thy amorous suit Regard not lawes nor popular ayre at all I 'le worke thine ends and Kents faire Countesse shall Her bed and beauties yeeld to thy delight And meet thy wish 'T was I that did invite The Spartan Dame to Paris armes and led The Queene of Love to young Anchises bed Can she refuse can wedlock's aëry tye Or that supposed vertue Chastity Poore names which men ' gainst natures free entent To rob themselves of pleasure did invent Resist those reall arguments that be Opposers here and proudly plead for thee Alas what tempted Lady can deny Such love fame feature youth and dignity Then weigh not rumour sit not pining downe But freely take what power can make thine owne With that she ceas'd when thus faire Arete Heroike Prince built up by Fate to be Bright Honour 's great example England's fame And to succeeding times a glorious name Oh doe not staine thy high beginnings now
know Whither the French could winne by sword or no. With that the signal 's given In full carriere They charge that little English band who there With well collected spirits stand t' abide Their fiercest onset and on every side Returne sharpe death and furious force for force Their mortall arrowes gall th' approaching horse Nor is the chevalry of France o'rethrowne By th' English archers onely but their owne Rash fury helpes to draw their ruine on And on themselves does execution In vines shrubs bushes that environ'd round Prince Edward's armies well-elected ground Th' entangled horse with miserable fate Their riders and themselves praecipitate And to their foes become an easie spoyle As beasts of greatest courage in a toyle Ensnar'd almost without resistance dye While ' gainst the rest that stand the archers ply Their fatall taske the wounded horses fall Foule on their fellowes every where through all The troope reignes nothing but confusion Those chevalliers that came so bravely on And seem'd themselves enow the day to gaine In this disorder tumbled downe are flame Nor can so few of English hands suffice To execute their routed enemies Now wondrous sad the spectacle was growne In all her foulest shapes was horror showne The mangled limbs of riders that of late Were proudly mounted by praeposterous fate Beneath the horses bloodyed hoofes are trod With heapes confus'd the mourning fields are strow'd The dikes are fill'd with slaughter while the blood Of men and horses make one purple flood As if in nature they had beene the same And from the wounds of slaughter'd Centaures came Now to the French infantery at last Which farre behind the horse King Iohn had plac'd And vainly thought that in the action He should not need their hands the horse alone Would gaine the day the furious warre was brought But they alas amaz'd before they fought To see the horsemens wondrous overthrow And now assaulted by the conquering foe Gave ground apace The first hot charge that brave And valiant Lord renowned Audley gave Who to performe a noble vow in deeds Almost the prowesse of a man exceeds And like the stroke of Jove's resistlesse thunder Shoots forth and breaks the strongest ranks in sunder Here in the thickest throng of enemies Like Thracian Mars himselfe blacke Edward plyes Deaths fatall taske here noble Warwicke gives A furious onset there brave Suffolke strives T'outgoe the formost aemulations fire Is kindled now and blazes high desire Of honour drownes all other passions there Not in the Chiefes alone each souldier In that small army feeles bright honours flame And labours to maintaine his proper fame Ne're was a battell through all parts so fought Nor such high wonders by an handfull wrought White Victory that scar'd above beheld How every English hand throughout the field Was stain'd with blood amaz'd to see the day And that so few should carry her away The fields no more their verdure can retaine Enforced now to take a purple staine And be obscur'd with slaughter while the wounds Of France manure her owne unhappy grounds Where mixed with Plebeian funerals Her greatest Princes dye There Burbon falls And Marshall Clermont welters in his gore There noble Charney's beaten downe that bore The standard royall that sad day here dyes Athens great Duke there valiant Eustace lyes Who as a badge of highest honour wore A Chaplet of bright pearles that had before When by King Edward in a skirmish neere To Calleis he was taken prisoner As testimony of his prowesse show'd Beene by that royall enemy bestow'd But ' mongst so many noble funerals Of France one starre of English prowesse fals From his bright sphaere with sorrow to allay The high successe of that victorious day Renowned Audley that so long had fought In front of all the English power and wrought High feats at Armes by many wounds bereft Of spirits sinks downe at last but is not left To th' Enemy foure valiant Squires engage Themselves for him against the fiercest rage Of foes and beare their wounded Lord away Whom gently downe in freshest ayre they lay Past hope of life alas but gentle Death So long gave respite to his latest breath Till he his Countries full renowne might see And Edward grac'd with perfect victory Great are the French Battalia's and in roome Of those that fall so oft fresh souldiers come So oft the bloody fight 's renew'd that now The English weary with subduing grow And ' ginne to faint opprest with odds so great When lo to make the victory compleat Six hundred bowmen whom to that entent Before the battell the brave Prince had sent Abroad well mounted now come wheeling o're The field and charge the French behind so sore As with confusion did distract them quite And now an execution not a fight Ensues all rowted that great army flyes A prey to their pursuing enemies With his disheartned battels Orleance Forsakes the field with him the heire of France Young Charles of Normandy and thousands moe Not overthrowne but frighted by the foe Nor are the English though enow to gaine The day enow in number to maintaine So great a chase and not so well suffice To follow as subdue their enemies Nor yet which more declar'd the conquest sent From heaven alone to strike astonishment In overweening mortals and to show Without that ayd how little Man can doe Are all the English conquerors in field Enow to take so many French as yeeld Nor to receive the Prisoners that come Though some in field are ransom'd and sent home Yet moe from thence are captive borne away Than are the hands that wonne so great a day Yet did the King almost forsaken quite By all his men maintaine a noble fight As if ashamed to out-live the sad Discomfiture which his owne rashnesse made Nor did his faultring hands even then forget To play a souldiers part appearing yet Worthy the feare of his assaling foe While death attended every furious blow Too late that prowesse comes and he in vaine By personall valour hopes to cure againe That malady which ill conduct begate No souldiers valiant deed can expiate A Generall 's folly nor one private hand Redeeme the errours of a King's command Thither to crowne their actions high successe Th' ambitious valours of the English presse With greedy hope to seize the royall prey The greatest prize of that victorious day But too too great it seem'd for one alone By many hands the King is seiz'd upon Nor had it cost lesse than a civill warre To judge whose right so great a prisoner Should prove in field and that rich claime decide On English swords had many English dy'd And in that storme the captive King of France Himselfe had perish'd had not timely chance Presented rescue noble Warwicke came And from that rabble in Prince Edward's name Demanded him whose presence seem'd to bring Not thraldome then but safety to the King There was Prince Philip tane his youngest sonne Who when his brothers
all were fled and gone Still by his fathers side the fight maintain'd And in that field the name of Hardy gain'd And now the swords sad worke was ended quite When that the weary'd souldiers who from fight Or from the chase returned backe might spye Their place of rendevous display'd on high Vpon an hill Prince Edward's banner stood To which the souldiers smear'd with dust and blood Laden with spoyles and wealthy prisoners come Some leading three in bands some foure to some Did five belong that whosoe're had beene A stranger to the battell and there seene Them altogether had supposed then The Campe to be of French not Englishmen Annotations upon the fifth Booke a Concerning the slaughter of this miraculous battell of Poictiers and the numbers of which both Armies consisted we finde thus for though Historians differ it is not much The Prince his Army contained not in all above eight thousand of whom the greatest part were Archers the French King according to most Wrâ—â—rs had threescore thousand and no writer at all speakes the number much lesse The slaughter on their side was exceeding great for besides fifty Lords of whom the chiefe were Peter of Burbon Duke of Athens high Constable of France Iohn Clermont Marshall George of Charney Lord great Chamberlaine c. there fell about seventeene hundred Knights Esquires and Gentlemen bearing coats of Armes and of common souldiers there dyed about six thousand in the field besides those that fell in the chase or were beaten downe under the walls of Poictiers The list of Prisoners comprehended these great names Iohn King of France Philip his Sonne afterward Duke of Burgoigne the Archbishop of Sens Iames of Burbon Earle of Ponthieu Iohn of Artois Earle of Eu Charles his brother Earle of Longuevile Charles Earle of Vendosme the Earles of Tankervile Salbruch Nassaw Dampmartine La-Roch with many other great Lords and about two thousand Knights Esquires and Gentlemen bearing armouries Many Prisoners had beene ransomed in the field and some let goe for feare of the danger that might have ensued by retaining a greater number of Prisoners than themselves were THE REIGNE OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD The sixth Booke Argument VI. With fire and sword King Edward uncontroll'd Wasts wretched France Prince Edward's love is told King Iohn of France is ransom'd home againe The Prince is sent to governe Aquitaine THe chase together with the day was done And all return'd in his pavilion Brave Edward feasts the Royall prisoner At which as noble did the Prince appeare As erst in battell and by sweetnesse wonne As great a conquest as his sword had done No faire respect or honour that might cheere That Kings afflicted breast was wanting there No reverence nor humble curtesie That might preserve his state and dignity But Edward shew'd at full and at the feast In person waited on his captive guest But what content what object fit could Fate Present to comfort such a changed state Or cheere the Kings perplexed soule at all New is the wound nor doe his thoughts recall A long-past glory where the hand of time Best cure of griefe might ease the smart but him Whose state the morning Sunne had seene so high This night beholds in sad captivity His restlesse passions rowling to and fro No calme admit when thus his noble foe Prince Edward spake Great King for such you are In my thoughts still what-e're the chance of warre Have lately wrought against you here forgive Your humble kinsman's service if I strive To ease your sorrow and presume to doe What is too much for me to counsell you Doe not deject your Princely thoughts or thinke The Martiall fame that you have gain'd can sinke In one successelesse field or too much feare Your Nations honour should be tainted here Mens strengths and honours we most truly try Where fields are fought with most equality But God was pleas'd to make this dayes successe The more miraculous that we the lesse Might challenge to our selves and humbly know That in so great and strange an overthrow Some secret judgement of our God was wrought And that the sword of heaven not England fought All forreine Nations will expound it so That are by noble stories taught to know What your French armes in Easterne lands have done What trophees you have rais'd what Garlands wonne Against the faithlesse Saracens whose wounds So oft have flow'd on Iuda's holy grounds And stain'd with purple Siria's swarthy face And can the fortune of one field disgrace A Nation of so great Nobility And for your selfe great King all hystorie That shall hereafter to the world make knowne Th' event of Poictiers battell shall renowne Your personall prowesse which appear'd so high As justly seem'd to challenge victory Had not God's secret providence oppos'd But though his will great Sir have thus dispos'd Your state remaines your person and your fame Shall in my humble thoughts be still the same And till my father see your face to show How he respects your worth and state to you As to himselfe were he in person here In all a observance Edward shall appeare The noble King a while amaz'd to see Victorious youth so full of Courtesie At last replyes Brave Coozen you have showne Your selfe a man built up for true renowne And as in action of the warres to be This ages Phoenix in humanity Why doe you wrong me thus as to enthrall Me doubly not insulting o're my fall You rob me Coozen of that sole renowne Which I though vanquish'd might have made mine owne To beare adversity I might have shew'd Had you beene proud a passive fortitude And let the world though I were fallen see What spirit I had in scorning misery But you have rob'd me of that honour now And I am bound in honour to allow That noble theft content since such are you To be your captive and your debtor too And since my Starres ordain'd a King of France Arm'd with such odd so great a puissance Must in a fatall field be lost to raise So great a trophee to anothers praise I am best pleas'd it should advance thy story And Iohn's dishonour be Prince Edward's glory What love the vertues of a noble foe May winne did that great Persian Monarch show Who pray'd if he must from his kingdome fall That Alexander might succeed in all The Prince all signes of humble love exprest And when the banquet ended to his rest Conducts the King if any rest at all His thoughts could take after so great a fall Next morne had cheerd the earth with Phoebus light And from the Pole remov'd the damps of night When with his hoast victorious Edward goes Marching along without controll of foes Neere to the walls of Poictiers towne he past Who shut their gates and all their guards had plac'd For feare of him But no such thought had he Enough of miracle it seem'd to be If with so many prisoners and so great A spoyle that small enriched hoast could
wisdome as his prosperous reigne Shall cure againe the wounds of bleeding France His quiet gowne her state shall re-advance Recovering all by policy alone Which English swords in those fam'd battels wonne But Love with Honour strives to beare a part And cure what he had wounded Edward's heart Within the house since her deare husbands Fate Had Kent's faire Countesse beene immur'd of late Her mourning times not fully yet expir'd To comfort her as thus she sate retir'd The other Ladies daily doe resort There they discourse the triumphs of the Court Of every Princely prisoner they tell And on Prince Edward's worth and praises dwell Nor can the mourning Countesse chuse how-e're Her times may seeme but with true pleasure heare His noble story told from her faire breast Sometimes a sigh would steale not like the rest Nor ought of kinne to those sad sighes at all She us'd to fetch for Holland's funerall A Blush would seize her then as if shee knew That stranger-sigh encroach'd on Holland's due But yet she knew not truly whence it came Nor did the sparke so soone begin to flame And teach her bosome that the tyrant Love As many teares and sighes as deepe can move As death by dearest funerals can doe Loves winged god into her chamber though Hung with so sad a darknesse and unfit For such a guest had tane his secret flight As once into the darke Elysian grove Among the silent ghosts as if he strove To show no place so melancholly were But that his god-head could or change or cheere Love-care in time his place 'bove sorrow takes And by degrees another watching makes Her pale and reaves the quiet of her breast And whensoe're she takes her flumbering rest No dreames of death are sent Before her eyes Moves Edward's image in triumphant wise Like Liber clad in golden armes when from The spiced Inde he came with conquest home And yoked Tygers his proud chariot drew She dreamt and could not chuse but wish it true Nor did th' event prove lesse that Love appear'd In such a shape as she had often heard The Boy described and thus gently spake To her at last Now is the time to take What was ordain'd thee faire Plantagenet Fate pity'd thee and would no longer let That Royall blood and heavenly beauty lye Ecclipsed in a private family Let all thy thoughts of sorrow now expire For Holland's death and cherish Edward's sire As did thy fathers so thy seed shall reigne And thou descended from the Crowne againe Art bound to propagate the royall stemme And beare an Heire to England's Diadem But when the Countesse from this flattering sleepe For such it seem'd was waked sighing deepe Shee ' gan accuse Dayes too ambitious thought That had by night so vaine a vision brought Resolv'd to checke that thought for evermore And rather court the sorrow which before Her breast had lodg'd She studies to recall Her mourning and on Holland's funerall Againe to fix thinking that griefe more free From torture than an hopelesse love can be Why was I curs'd quoth she by envious Fate Did not the mournings of a widow'd state Seeme sad enough to punish me unlesse A passion more than franticke should possesse My breast and wound it deeper than it was Why should I hope for Edward's love alas Or fondly thinke the heire of England's Crowne And such a Prince as he high in renowne As in his Royall birth and now become The onely Theame of praise in Christendome On whom the greatest Monarchs would bestow Their fairest daughters should descend so low As give that pretious love to me and grace The beauties of a widowes waning face Too much ambition had it beene for me To hope nay thinke of such a dignity In my fresh Virgin flower and blooming prime Much more alas in this autumnall time When like a sully'd Lilly or a Rose Too fully blowne my fading beauty showes That for a Prince his love is too much wasted Whose sweets two subjects have already tasted Yet Edward's lookes and frequent visits here Seeme to betoken Love if with uncleare And partiall eyes my state I did not see And so suppose his noble Courtesie To be Love-passion But alas we all Are our owne flatterers and I mis-call That Love which is a kinsmans kind regard Oh would that name of nearenesse could be spar'd In that againe as in his high estate Am I debarr'd from such a blessed Fate And by that nearenesse farther from his love But Dispensations of the Church remove Those obstacles and nearer kindred tye Oh wherefore wander my wild thoughts so high Sinke downe for aye false hope disturbe no more The quiet griefe that I enjoy'd before Thus would she strive those fancies to remove But his kind visits still renew'd her love And as her flame encreas'st his noble heart Was more and more pierst with Loves golden dart Vntill at last Prince Edward to prevent All others plainly told his kind entent And both their wishes in so full a joy Are met too high for fortune to destroy Though she a while deferre their Nuptiall rites And growing warre breake off Loves sweet delights For while the French delay by treaties vaine The ransome of their King sad France againe Is forc'd to feele revengefull Edward's hands Who with a great and powerfull army lands At Calleis marching through the heart of France In three Battalia's his whole puissance Is drawne along himselfe conducting one Another led by his renowned sonne The third by Henry Duke of Lancaster ' Gainst whom while no resisting foes appeare They wast and spoyle the Countrey without fight The greatest Cities to his force submit Burgundia's Duke at Edward's conquering hands With money buyes the safety of his lands Aras is tane with many townes beside Within faire Paris strongly fortifi'd With all his forces Charles the Dauphin lay Whom Edward dares to triall of the day But wary Charles instructed by the sad Successe his father â—â—d his Grandsire had Within the walls â—â—ntaines his army now Nor to the hazard of one fatall blow Against the English dares he trust his strength Whence Edward after his vaine stay at length Drawes backe his forces when no hope he sees At all of fighting with his enemies Much lesse he hop'd to force a Towne so strong Wasting the wretched Countries all along As farre as Chartres uncontroll'd he goes But there although no mortall strength oppose God's mighty b hand does th'English hoast dismay Blacke on a sudden growes the troubled day Heavens cheerefull face wrapt in a pitchy cloud No beame sheds forth while cracks of thunder loud Rend all the ayre and in the frighted eyes Of every souldier horrid lightning flyes In more than usuall manner and anon Like murdring stones throwne from a Castle downe Vpon th' assailants fatall hailestones fall Of such amazing greatnesse over all The English army that nor man nor horse Is able to endure their fatall force But both together are beat downe and slaine While
plague to earth I cannot feare When I behold your manly faces here Brave friends and souldiers To your valours now Let our deare land a greater safety owe Than e're she did to one successefull fight Nor let the fame of English Edward fright Your thoughts at all Fortune has done for him Enough already and it well may seeme Since blinded he maintaines so curs'd a cause That she her favour from that Prince withdrawes The King had done when all the Spanish troops Inflam'd with love of fight and fill'd with hopes A strong desire to heare the signall shew All wish to dye should what they feare be true From every part confused showts are sent And both the hoasts with passions different Together joyne th'auxiliary troops Of France are filled with revengefull hopes To make the English in that bloody day For all their conquests and proud trophees pay The English bold by former battels wonne And to maintaine their fame come fiercely on As strong resolves the eager Spaniards bring Here to establish their new-crowned King And by one prosperous fight for ever free Their wretched land from Pedro's tyranny Great is the fury high the cause is try'd Deepe the engagements lye on either side Both armies mighty in their numbers one In prowesse t'other nor had Spaine e're knowne Although of mighty warres so oft the stage Though there th' old Punicke and the Roman rage So long were seene while fortune doubted yet Which land to make the worlds Imperiall seat Two nobler Hoasts than in that tryall fought And yet this storme so blacke so tragicke brought This one sad comfort that it could not last But all the warre when this great field was past The wretched people hop'd would quite expire Spaine could not bleed so long nor feed the fire So oft with fuell to protract her fate As rich but haplesse France had done of late Against the formost English battell there Which Iohn of Gaunt the Duke of Lancaster Brought up does Bertram of Clesquy advance With all th'auxiliary troops of France There hot and furious the encounter growes No where does Death more freely deale his blowes No part of all the field more stain'd with blood As there the warre began it longest stood And various Fortune longest doubted where To give her favours Youthfull Lancaster Came bravely on in that dayes fight to winne His maiden fame and Bertram that had beene Not many yeeres before in Brittaines warre By famous Chandois taken prisoner The Banner of his ancient foe had seene ' Gainst which he prest with eager hopes to winne From him the honour he had lost againe While slaughter'd bodies strew the purple plaine With Fate farre different did Don Tello draw Against Prince Edward's maine Battalia His forces up though strong that body were And well dispos'd for charging did appeare With Speares in front so strongly fortifi'd Yet there alas King Henry's haplesse side 'Gan first to faile nor could Don Tello long Endure the fierce encounter of so strong And expert souldiers as the Prince had brought Who in so many prosperous fields had fought And in all feats of warre so well were try'd Their fatall taske the strong-nerv'd Archers ply'd So fast that soone the ranke of Speares was broke And routed so that they the field forsooke The rest left naked when the Speares were gone Are by the Gascoigne Horsemen trampled on And now the warres whole fury 'gan to draw Vpon King Henry's great Battalia And was from thence with equall fury met So much the Spaniards on that day had set Their Countries future fortunes and their owne In that Battalia from their slings were throwne Such mortall stones as seem'd awhile to be Aequivalent to th'English Archery But could not prove at last so strong an ayd There stucke the warre there Edward's fortune stay'd There various feats of hardy armes were wrought So many thousand hands to fight were brought Nor did the Common souldiers onely there The toyles of warre and brunt of dangers beare But highest Chiefetaines playd the souldiers parts And through the battell with couragious hearts Their passage made there sterne Don Pedro fought And to the ground that day had many brought Pleas'd now he seem'd he might with honour doe What by his nature he was prompted to Shed human blood Most eager was his spite His visage blacke He that had seene him fight And kill so fast would have suppos'd that from Th' infernall caves the Prince of night had come To worke on earth the ruine of mankind But not content with vulgar deaths his mind Had Fortune suffer'd chiefly aym'd to meet His brother Henry there No blood so sweet As his could be to Pedro's cruell thought So when of old the Argive Princes fought ' Gainst fatall Thebes in Polynices right The banish'd Prince could with no other fight Nor Tragedy be pleas'd but through the presse Still sought his brother proud Eteocles Vntill at last in spite of Piety They meet in field and Fate so cruelly Ballanc'd their impious strengths that both were slaine Yet both did guilty Conquerours remaine Nor did King Henry in his thoughts decline The sad encounter Had the Power Divine But let them meet the like perchance had beene And Spaine as much as fatall Thebes had seene There through the midst the terror of his foes Like Mars himselfe renowned Edward goes White Victory still o're his standard slew As if no other name but his she knew And he in warre did guide the wheele of Fate The glittering swords that shone so bright of late Are quickly all distain'd with purple gore And all the field with slaughter cover'd o're Mischiefe and fury reign'd Deaths groning sound The Trumpets noyse and showts of souldiers drown'd But long the heartlesse Spanish troops how-e're Great were their numbers and their quarrell deare Could not the prowesse of the English bide Which when alas unhappy Henry spy'd And that their rankes they 'gan forsake apace With restlesse industry from place to place He rides to breath into his fainting men Fresh vigour and restore the fight agen He cryes aloud oh friends oh souldiers why Doe you forsake so neare a victory One stroke will finish what is done almost There is no safety when this field is lost For swords why seeke you gibbets and above A noble death an ignominious love With such sad speeches did the eager King Renew the fury of the fight and bring His fainting souldiers on that bloody grew The day againe till th' English spirits anew Collected charg'd their rally'd foes so sore That soone the Spaniards routed as before Into disorder'd flight began to fall Although no office of a Generall Did Henry leave undone Thrice did he stay His vanquish'd men from flight and thrice that day Restore the desperate field but all in vaine Nor did the Fates in justice then ordaine That he should be the Conqueror one fight Must needs be lost to prove Don Pedro's right And raise Prince Edward's fame Then
troubles cease By France and Englands late concluded peace Of those the Prince an aâ—my soone may take For that great warre which he entends to make And happily may free his Countrey too From spoyle and rapine which they daily doe As much does Henry of Castile provide To guard his late-gain'd Throne and to his side Has gotten many expert troops of France Bertram's their leader to whose puissance In future times faire France so much shall owe. The warre to Spaine must be removed now Yet there the French ' gainst English fight wars rage The same and nothing alter'd but the stage The fortune too shall be the same and they In Spaine must grace victorious Edward's day The French must there before the English fall Nor shall the Climate change their fate at all To Bertram's Standard cashier'd souldiers flocke From farthest Provence Dauphine Languedocke And other people arme not they alone That till the neighbouring fields and dwell upon Seines nearest banks but those that see his head And from those mountaines where the Marve is bred Who gliding through the meadowes of Champaigne In various windings falls into the Seine And they that live by Isdrus streame who gets Growth from so many rising rivolets Till he himselfe be swallow'd by the Rhone Who by so many large encreases growne Rowles on his furious billowes and in three Faire channels fals into the mid-land Sea From that faire Southerne shore that bounds th'extent Of France her rich and spacious continent To Edward's Standard with couragious hopes Beside those active well-provided troops That unto him from England crossed o're Arriving on the Aquitanian shore And with lowd clangor filling th' ayre of France The greatest part of Edward's puissance a From France her Northerne coast doe souldiers come And cashierd troops from farthest South and from The banks of Seure those that neere the bounds Of Aquitaine are bred whose fertile grounds Are farre together water'd by Dordonne And those that see the mouth of fam'd Garoone With souldiers dwelling on the farthest land Of France where those renowned mountaines stand The bounds of Spaine which if we trust to fame Did from the faire Pyrene take their name All France in ayd of these two Spanish Kings Is fill'd with streaming Ensignes now and rings Of warres alarmes yet ne're more free from feares Shrill Trumpets sound th'unfrighted plow man heares And loves the noise ' mongst drums the shepherd swains Feed their faire flocks securely on the plaines And middâ—st those seeming terrors joyfull are To heare the sound of a departing warre So look'd the ancient Gaules then when sterne Fate Was bent to wound great Romes divided state And mighty Caesar drew from thence at once His there dispers'd and wint'ring Legions When dreadfull Classicks in all parts were heard And threatning Eagles every where appear'd Yet they rejoyc'd and saw in that stout hoast How great a danger left their quiet coast But while the chearefull Souldiers all prepare And Edward's thoughts are fixed on the warre His beauteous wife is sad those starry eyes Oft dimm'd with sorrowes clouds nor can she prize So much one conquests fame or aëry praise As she his danger and his absence weighes And thinks how long a time though he be grac'd With victory her feares and doubts must last Besides alas her tender breast abhorr'd That savage Tyrant in whose right her Lord Himselfe adventures ' gainst the strength of Spaine And thus to him deep-sighing she began Though I should rather to my selfe deny The happinesse of Edward's company Than love it with so great presumption As for mine owne delights to hinder one Of his resolves yet pardon dearest Lord If to mine owne desires I doe afford One place in love why shouldst thou march so farre To find out danger seeke a causelesse warre When none provokes thy sword compelling those That are not in their thoughts to be thy foes England is safe firme peace with France is made Nor does this Henry of Castile invade Thy lands But oh deare Edward when I see For whom thou mak'st all Spaine thine enemy That men oh no that monster in whose right Thou go'st I tremble that my Lord should fight For such a tyrant mankind's enemy Who has out-done in brutish cruelty What ere 's of Rome's most hated Caesar's told Or those Sicilian tyrants fam'd of old No Christian Pagan or Mahumetan Can be compar'd with this Castilian Not Spain's great forces onely are thy foes Not Henry but the murder'd ghosts of those Who now for vengeance ' gainst Don Pedro cry Will plead to heaven against thy victory There is no human heart that can forbeare To melt when they his cruell story heare I tremble to recite it in his reigne How forty Lords of greatest marke in Spaine He butcher'd cruelly without a cause How scorning both divine and humane lawes Being admitted into Toro Towne Vpon condition he should murder none He broke his faith and in his mothers fight As blood and torture were his chiefe delight Commanded foure the greatest Lords to dye The Queene abhorring her sonnes cruelty Forsooke his Court and to her father went How foure and twenty Burgers innocent Within Toledo 'fore the tyrants face Were executed in the Market place Or with how many study'd tortures there He rack'd a Iew that was his Treasurer With all his friends and kindred to confesse Their Treasury and flew them ne're the lesse Nor safe could his owne blood and kindred be Of either sex from that dire cruelty He kill'd three brothers of his owne his wife Queene Blanch he poyson'd and bereav'd of life In cruell wise his Aunt Queene Leonore Commanding then two noble Ladies more That were his kindred both and did remaine As prisoners in his keeping to be slaine But would you see besides his bloody vice Perfidiousnesse and sordid Avarice A King of Moores exiled from his land Old Aben Alamar at Pedro's hand To find some succour came just so as he Now comes my Edward suppliant to thee But he that never knew what pitty was In stead of that when he perceiv'd alas Th' old King was rich in jewels caus'd for gaine Himselfe and all his servants to be slaine And as to blood to all impiety Is this Don Pedro giv'n nor is he free From lust besides Padilla who had beene His strumpet long and for whose sake the Queene At last was murdred when he could not get To satisfie a sudden lustfull heat Faire Donna Iane of Castro to his bed A false divorce he caused to be read Betwixt Queene Blanch and him and so to Iane Was marry'd whom he soone forsooke againe For all his divellish acts at last though late The holy Church did excommunicate This impious Prince Wilt thou deare Edward be A friend to whom the Church is enemy Oh pardon me if now I feare thy Fate Though still in warre victorious yet With that Downe her faire cheeks the teares distill'd apace The noble Edward with a kind embrace Cheeres his