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
Of fate another meanes to torture him The monsters found for feare some troope might paâ—â— By chance that knew this wofull Prince his face And rescue him his board and haire they meant To shave away and for that dire entent By Severnes side enforc'd him to alight And on the ground to sit cold was the night March then began and frosts like pearles around Lay glistering on the surface of the ground No other water while they shave their Lord Have they but what the river can afford Who seemes from their unhallowed hands to flee As loath his pure and christall streame should be Abused so that sacred head whereon The holy oyle was powred forth Vpon Whose temples once the royall Diadem Of England stood is there prophan'd by them That face where Majesty so lately sat Whose frowne the greatest nobles trembled at With impious hands doe they disfigure now The whilest the waters cold torments him too But he with patience armed or so great A spirit as scorn'd such Villaines to entreat Vtters no more but thus yet while you shave In spite of you I 'll some warme water have With that the teares flow'd downe his cheekes amaine Some servants that stood by could not refraine From melting griefe but Gurney and the rest With bitter taunts doe more and more molest His soule and all his suffring teares deride With reeds and sedge that grew on Severne side In scorne their Prince his sacred head they crowne And whilest with laughter lowly bowing downe They strive to make sad Edward feele what he Was once forget what they themselves should be Poore Bischapp then as Gurney's servant went Among the traine who now apaenitent With daily teares and sighes from Gods high throne Dooes begge forgivenesse for what then was done And fasting lets his beard and haire to grow Vnshorne ere since his Lord was â—aved so This Bischapp saw my Lord and told it me As an eye-witnesse will posterity Beleeve this story that a King although Depos'd from villaines hands could suffer so A King I say whose wife did then retaine The power of Regent and whose Sonne did reigne But then to heaven let us turne our eyes And thinke as God is purpos'd to chastise So instruments will worke and Furyes will Be found to execute the worst of ill So much was Edward wrong'd that now too late It grew to pity his afflicted state For to secure his foes his death was sought To Berkley Castle he againe was brought Vnhappy Berkley damn'd by Fates to be The balefull stage where such a tragedy Was acted as no ages that succeed But shall accurse no human hearts but bleed To heare it told to make his misery Compleat the manner of his death must be Farre worse then death for to conceale their owne Abhorred guilt and keepe the deed unknowne A hellish way the catiffes found at length To worke the murther mastring him by strength A horne they thrust into his fundament And through that pipe into his entrailes sent A burning spit oh what pathetique tongue Can tell the paine his pious soule whom long Affictions here had mortify'd and taught On heaven alone to fixe his zealous thought From forth the hands of that accursed crew Vp to the glorious quire of Angels flew No outward signes of murder did appeare And of their skill so confident they were That to the peoples open view a day The royall coarse in Gloster Abbey lay But guilt of conscience and a sad dismay Vpon th' offenders seiz'd nor durst they stay In England long Matrevers since has spent His dayes they say a weeping paenitent In Germany False Gurney as he crost The Seas of late was taken there and lost His head as we have had intelligence Too small a vengeance for his foule offence The next revenge oh murder'd Lord for thee I hope the fall of Mortimer will be And now so farre had their discourses gone That day was vanish'd and the hower drew on Which for the Kings designe was set from whom A trusted squire to Montague was come Arm'd as he was the youthfull Lord arose And forth with courage flew the like did those That were alike engag'd a gallant band About the person of their Prince they stand ' Mongst whom brave Edward in rich armour dight His early manhood showes with such a bright Heröike visage dooes the blew-ey'd maide Appeare in all her warlike tire arrey'd For yet no golden downe had cloath d his chin Nor twice nine painted Summers had he seene And yet those young those maid-like frownes as there They show'd the Genius of great France might feare Much more in them the sure and present fall Of guilty Mortimer was read by all Farre from-that Castle on the side of Trent A Caves darke mouth was found of deepe descent Vpon the brinke of which there grew a round So close a thicket as quite hid the ground From sight the Cave could be descry'd by none And had remain d for many yeeres unknowne Whose hollow wombe did farre from thence extend And under-ground an uncouth passage lend Into the Castle This darke vault was made To serve the Fort when Danes did first invade This fertile Iland now not thought upon For the remembrance as the use was gone Of such a place untill of late it chanc'd Sir Robert Holland to that charge advanc'd Surveying all his Castles nookes had try'd That horrid way and closely certify'd The King the truth of all with store of light The noble troope arrived there by night There voyd of feare into the darke descent With his brave traine Heröicke Edward went And through the ragged entrailes of the Cave And balefull paths did fierce Rhamnusia wave Here flaming brand to guide their passage right And vanquish all the terrours of the night No damps no noisome stinkes their sense invade Rhamnusia's power expell'd them all and made Her Champions passe with fresh and spritely cheare Those mouldy vaults and ayre unstirred where So many yeeres no humane foot had trode Nor living thing but toades and batts abode Yet full of hazard did th' attempt appeare So great a traine had pompous Mortimer But they secure of any danger nigh Within the Castle some in jollity Consum'd that hower of night and some in sleepe For th' Earle himselfe the Castle keyes did keepe In such a fearelesse but a fatall plight The wodden horse surpris'd old Troy by night Into her chamber the faire Queene was gone Where with her Minion Mortimer alone She sate but not his dearest company Nor loves sweet thoughts which wont to give so high A rellish to them now could bring delight They both were sad on that portentuous night The fates it seem'd into their soules had sent A secret notice of their dire entent Which she could not conceale nor Mortimer Although he often strove by courting her To hide the inward sadnesse of his brâ—â—st Carnarvan Edward's Manes had possest The roome and many strange ostents declar'd Th' approaching
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
now so great a terrour through the land Is spread of him that to his conquering hand Themselves Falaise Lyseaux and Honfleur yeeld And uncontroll'd his march had Edward held Beyond the bounds of Normandy at last Faire Eureux streame and Seine it selfe he past Now time it seem'd to stop his furious course Yet durst the French oppose no armed force But breake the bridges downe where he should passe Which soone they finde too poore a barre alas ' Gainst Edward's spirit whose resolved way No high-swoll'n streame no flood had power to stay No more then Caesars after he had gone Past the forbidden streame of Rubicon One part of Some neere Abbevile was knowne That might be foorded when the tide was gone To which sixe thousand Souldiers Philip sent By Godmar led with politicke entent To stop great Edward there but with as bad A Destiny as with presage as sad As those unhappy Persians sent to stay At Granicus great Alexander's way No disadvantage could his passage barre To whom the honour of that future warre Was meant by Fate Vpon the rivers banke Stood Godmer's Souldiers in well-order'd ranke Through them as through the channell must the worth Of th'English Souldiers carve their passage forth Edward that knew their resolutions well And could by former hard adventures tell That his bold men for him would rush to fight Through waies which some would fear to take in flight And passe that streame by his command alone Yet would not now command but lead them on And in the action their example be He cryes Who loves me now will follow me And springing forth into the trembling streame Is follow'd with such spirit and zeale by them That all the French amazed at a sight So wondrous strange almost forget to fight And with dismay are vanquished to see Th' undaunted courage of an enemy With small adoe while faintly they oppose The English gaine the banke and rout their foes Of whom are many flaine the rest for feare Disorder'd flye but their retreat is neare To Abbevile where then King Philip lay With all his great and glorious army they Chas'd by the English swords affrighted came And by their fellowes who esteem'd the shame As great as was the losse received are As bad presages of the future warre King Philip follow'd by the bravest hoast That e're before the Realme of France could boast In confidence of Conquest to succeed And to revenge the late disgrace with speed Although advis'd at Abbevile to stay And rest his Army marches thence away Thou sweetest Muse of all th' Aönian Spring Faire-hair'd Calliope that best canst sing Of Kings high deeds and God-like Heroes fames Declare King Philip's power recite the names Of all beside the native Chevalry Of France and flower of her Nobility The forraigne lands that shar'd in that great day And royall Princes that did there display Their dreadfull colours in the ayd of France And forward thence to Crescy field advance Within the Van with Charles of Alanson The royall Banner of Bohemia shone With which did Lodowike her old Martiall King His furious horse and well-try'd lances bring His glittering Plume that many an honour'd field Had knowne and many a dreadfull fight beheld Wav'd there unhappily ordain'd to be A lasting fame to Edwards victory Along with him march'd Charles his Princely Sonne For whom the Fates a fairer thread had spunne Sav'd to preserve the name and ancient stemme And after weareth ' Imperiall Diadem Thither from farre Majorca's Monarch brings His light-arm'd Souldiers from whose fatall slings As from strong Bowes death 's carried nor of yore Were Cretan shafts or Parthian feared more With fifteene thousand mortall Crosse-bowes there The stout Grimaldi and Antonio were Two noble Chiefes from stately Genoa Whose Gallyes had in many a Navall fray Against prond Venice wrastled long to gaine The rule of all the Mid-land Ocean Stout John of Heinault to King Philip's side His forces brings although so neere ally'd To Englands King as Vnckle to the Queene And had by Edward highly honour'd beene He now had chang'd his faith and for the gold Of France his mercenary valour sold There march those warlike Flemmings that attend Their Earle of Flanders Lewis a constant friend To France but no strong number could he get Nor ore his subjects was his power so great They honour'd Edward's worth and to his side Had beene without their Earles consent ally'd There Charles of Blois leads on his martiall traine In glittering armour Burbon and Lorraine To whom whilest all the army march'd away But new arrived there in rich array Brings Savoyes Duke a thousand men of armes Whom from the lofty Alps the lovd alarmes Of this great warre had drawne with dismall fate Too soone alas arriv'd though seeming late How many men dooes Fortune bring from farre Their parts to suffer in this tragicke warre How many Lands their severall shares of woe Must contribute to Philip's overthrow Perchance cause Edward will his force advance No farther then the continent of France She fear'd his fame would be no farther knowne But circumscribed where the deed was done Nor therefore suffers France to bleed alone The sad Bohemian wives that live upon Great Albis bankes and drinke faire Moldaes streame Must make this battell their lamented theame Those that beyond the clouded Alpes doe dwell And Netherlanders shall be forc'd to tell Great Edward's honor while their owne deere wounds They count receiv'd on Crescyes fatall grounds While thus the French march on in rich array In Crescy parke encamped Edward lay His firme Battalia on well chosen ground Was clos'd behinde and barricado'd round With strongest fences made by plashing trees And placing there the weighty'st carriages Thither were all the Leaders horses brought To cut off hope of flight and leave no thought In English breasts but Death or Victory Their resolutions that before were high By this strict meanes were more ascertain'd there Their minds were cheerfull fresh their bodies were And fit t' encounter their approching foes In three Battalia's does the King dispose His strength which all in ready order stand And to each others rescue neere at hand The first in ranke that early blooming flower Of fame Prince Edward leads a Warriour Before a man no Downe had cloath'd his chinne Nor seventeene Springs had this young Souldier seene Within his battell famous Leaders are Brave Warwicke Stafford Harcourt Delaware There Beauchampe Bourchier Clifford Chandois weild Their active armes whom many an honour'd field Had fam'd before The second Squadron by Northamptons Earle was led there Willoughby There Arundell Lord Rosse and Basset stand Men that could well obey and well command Within the third King Edward meanes to fight The great French Army now approach'd their sight And to each Campe did threatning Mars display What the succeeding horrors of the day Were like to be The bloody stroake is nigh Nor in the power of Fortune does it lye Their warrelike fury longer to restraine