Coronation day But most of all though least discerning why Vnusuall joy the Vulgar testify Not good but new things please the peoples eyes Nor dooes King Henry in his love surmise That all the face of England all the state Were witnesses enow to celebrate His sonnes high honour but King William too Arriv'd from Scotland must be brought to doo His homage to him as to Englands King And with him must his brother David bring The sacred oile in banish'd Becket's stead Is by Yorkes Prelate powr'd upon his head The Diadem which was possess'd before Empales his brow whilest all the Peeres adore Two Sunnes at once and ill presaging see What aâ—…ter proov'd a fatall prodigy How ill Imperiall Majesty can brooke A sharer seeke not farre nor neede you looke Sâ—…oryes whose credit time has ruin'd quite Nor neede you read what old Tragaedians write Of this â—…add Theame or east your pitying eyes Vâ—…on the Theban brothers tragoedyes Oâ—… brothers blood that Romes first walls did stayne The sâ—…arious heavens as Poets wisely faine Brook'd not old Saturne and his Iupiter By every age and dire examples neere To us how oft has this sadd truth been proov'd How many sonnes and fathers have been moov'd To parricide to set themselues but free From that which Henry makes himselfe to be Rivall'd in reigne but if he still retayne Full Regall power what more dost thou obtaine By this thy father's kinde donation Young King then title and a fruitlesse throne How vaine thy Scepter is when thou shalt see The power divided from the dignity Yet doe not so mistake thy fate no lesse Nay greater farre esteeme thy happinesse Then if thou now wert seiz'd of all alone The â—…ares and dangers waiting on a Crowne Have made some feare the burden or despise That sacred jewell of unvalewed price A prudent King when he awhile survey'd The glittering splendour that his Crowne display'd Was sighing heard to say if those that view Farre off thy flattering gloryes only knew How many cares and gâ—…efes in thee are found They would be loath to take thee upp from ground This wisest Monarch if he now should see Thy royall State young King would envy thee And count thee happy sure that doost alone Weare without cares the glories of a Crowne That from the burden of a King art free Invested only with the dignity Yet this prerogative bâ—…ings no content To thee that seem'st to want th' accomplishment Of royalty the power and Regall sâ—…ay Nothing alas this Coronation day Has brought thee to but to a nearer sight Of what thou hast not nor is yet thy right Thy stirring minde meetes torture with a throne But Tantalized in dominion The cause alas of woes that must ensue And thy great father too too soone shal rue That dayes solemnity in truest state The Court of England strove to celebrate And with such great magnificence as might The Majesty of that high presence fitt Where all at once three Kings two Queenes were mett Besides so many high borne Princes great In same and wealth the feasting boords were fill'd With what this Iland or â—…ich France could yeild Sâ—…ch cates as those with which old Poets fain'd In Thessaly the Gods were entertain'd At sâ—…lver-footed Thetis bridall feast Where â—…ove himselfe vouchsaf'd to be a guest Where aged Chiron waited at the boord And brought what aire earth waters could afâ—…ord When all rich Tempe and th' adjoyning seas Were search'd besides what then the Najades What young Palaemon Glaucus and the greene Sea-nymphs had brought to grace their beautious queen The choisest Wines that France or Spaine could yeild In cupps of gold studded with gemms were fill'd And antique Gobletts where the Carver strove To aequall natures skill beasts seem'd to moove And pretious birds their glistering wings display'd The faire and mâ—…ssy vessels that conveyâ—…d The feast to them did far in their high rates Exceede the valew of those sumptuous cates King Henry wanton with excesse of joy Which now he thought no fortune could destroy How soone deceiv'd how soone enforc'de to finde The errour in his ill-presaging minde To testifie a great affection And grace the state of his young-crowned Sonne Himselfe as sewer will vouchsafe to waite Vpon his sonne who sitts in Regall state And to his table the first dish present The Lords and Princes all with one câ—…nsent Applaud the King 's great love but secretly Are stroke with wonder these strange rites to see Some seeke examples for it some within Themselues doe sadly from that sight divine When Yorkes Arch-Bishop the young King bespake Rejoyce my Princely sonne and freely take The comfort of your state no Monarch know On Earth has such a servitour as you With that the Prelate gently smil'd but he With a proud looke replyes why wonder yee Or thinke these rites so strange my Father â—…ooes My birth is farre more Royall well he knowes Then his he only by the Mothers side With high Imperiall blood was dignify'de His father was but Anjous Earle but I Derive from both my Parents royalty A King and Queene thâ—…y all with wonder heare King Henry sigh'd and gan even then to â—…eare What after might ensue from such a pride But at that triumph he resolv'd to hide His feares or griefes instead of which the Court Was fill'd with Revells with all Royall sport All showes that high magnificence could give There art in strange varietyes did strive Both to perplexe and please the eyes of all â—…ut nature more for to the festivall From every part the choisest beauties came There like a fire aetheriall every Dame Did blaze more bright then Elements could make While from the Countreys they all flock'd to take Survey of Kingly gloryes while they sought To view the lustre of a Court they brought The lustre with them and might seeme to be Themselues that splendour that they came to see Amidd'st those sparkling beauties Cupid sate Loves powerfull God and rul'd in highest state Arm'd with his fires and shafts resolv'd to be In Henry's Court a greater King then he Whose yoake the King must suffer On the state Of Cupid there the little Loves did waite Throughout the Court they tooke their wanton flight With wings unseene and when they list would light Vpon the Ladyes shoulders or their breasts Their Ruffes or tires they feele not those light guests Which they give harbour to Bold Lycence there Sweete reconciled Anger blushing Feare Vnsafe Delight did with pale Watching fly Desiring teares with Wanton perjury And all the rest They say the beauteous Queene Of Love her selfe upon that day was seene Approching London up cleare Thames his streame Borne on a sounding Triton's backe she came The River smooth'd his face to entertaine The Queene of Love with her ligâ—…t footed traine The silver Swans ador'de her all 〈◊〉 way And churking did their snow-white wings display The river-nymphes that saw her comming thought Some sweete atchievement now was to be wrought That Cupid sure
Quirinus could 'gainst Tatius doo What Tullus then 'gainst Alba wrought and now Who does not Numa and Aegeria know How king Porsenna did for Tarquin come How â—…ocles kept the bridge how Claelia swumme The worthy deedes of her beginning age Gave to her after greatnesse faire presage Her greatnesse after gave this age renowne And made her infant honours clearely knowne Their noble deedes in Ireland gave presage Of her full conquest in this later age Her conquest now shall their first deedes renowne As long as Ireland serves the English crowne The yeare before when first the Westerne windes Blew on the waters when all various kindes Of flowers beganne to beautify the spring In aide of Dâ—…rmot Leinsters banish'd King To whom that promise was ingag'd before The brave Fitz-Stephans lanching from the shore Of Wales with three tall ships accompany'd With his stout brother by the mothers side Fitz-Gerald safely crost the Ocean And with their Souldiers landed at the Banne A little creeke neere Wexford then scarce nam'd But ever since by his arrivall fam'd The â—…ext day after on the selfe same shore Maurice de Pendergast with two ships more Part of Fitz-Stephens company arriv'd And there by joyfull Dermot were receiv'd Who by that Prince his guidance and his aide With th' English colours and their armes display'd With dauntlesse courage able to supply The want of number in their company To Wexford martch'd which by assault they wonne The country neere together with the towne Dermot Mac Morough for such valour show'd Vpon Fitz-Stephans thankefully bestow'd There planted they that towne of all the rest Was first by English victory possest And has a lasting colony remain'd Which through all changes ever has retain'd The English manners their attire and though With Irish somewhat mixt their language too When famous Strongbow had in Wales receiv'd The newes of what Fitz-Stephans had atchiev'd With â—…resh supplies unto the Irish shore He sends his friend the valiant Reimond ore And shortly after with farre greater bands The noble Earle himselfe in Ireland lands Within the bay of Waterford which towne The next day after by assault he wonne Thither king Dermot came and brought with him His beautious daughter Eua Irelands gemme The pretious cause which drew the Earle so farre The faire reward of his victorious warre This beautious Lady when her father fled For aide to England then was promised To noble Strongbow and with her for doure Th' inheritance of Leinsters regall power Which here the King performes and with as high A state as might befit their dignity The marriage rites are celebrated now Mars smooths the horrours of his wrinckled brow And folds his bloody colours up a while The Paphian Queene in that delicious smile With which she charmes the Thracian God appeares His purple robe the pleased Hymen weares While Dermot gives with right of all those lands His beautious daughter into Strongbow's hands Nor was this marriage mannaged alone By those two Deities but from his throne Great Iove look'd downe and made that knot to be A worke belonging to his Deity By which himselfe did into union bring Two spatious lands and by that marriage ring Which noble Strongbow to his bride combin'd To Englands crowne the Realme of Ireland joyn'd A Ladies love when Dermot was decay'd In state and power first brought this forraigne aide And to his native land did him restore A Ladies love had banish'd him before And of his crowne and countrey him bereft The King of Meth had in an Iland left While he farre off into the land remov'd His faire but wanton Queene who long had lov'd This Dermotâ—…einsters â—…einsters king with flames unchast His love on her as her 's on him was plac'd Her Lords departure from her seife or fame Had Dermot learn'd and to the â—…land came Where soone he gain'd his wish a willing prey From thence he tooke the wanton Queene away Then as when once the â—…rojan Paris came And stole from Greece that farre renowned Dame 'T was not her husbands strength alone that sought Revenge a cause oâ—… that foule nature brought All Greece in Armes the Princes joyn'd in one And drew a thousand ships to Ilion So when this Prince his fatall Hellen gain'd The land was mov'd her wronged lord complain'd T'ambitious Rhotherike Connaughts King who claim'd The stile of Irelands Monarch and had aim'd At conquest of the land he wondrous glad Of such a faire pretence as now he had Rais'd his owne forces and 'gainst Leinsters King Did all th' incensed neighbour-Princes bring Whose force when Dermot could no way withstand Bereft â—…f all his strengths he fled the land And to great Henry's royall Court whom fame Then spoke the greatest king in Europe came The King that then remain'd in Aquitaine This Irish Prince did gladly entertaine Whom after feasting and magnificent Rewards bestow'd he with free licence sent To England there to gather without let What voluntaries he from thence could get In Southerne Wales Earle Strongbow then remain'd Fitz-Stephans too whose aide the King obtain'd On faire conditions to Fitz-Stephans he If wonne did promise Wexfords seigniory On th' Earle his daughter Eva to bestow Which promises were both performed now The marriage feasts of Strongbow now were done The revells ended all and Mars begunne Againe his threatning colours to display When th' Earle and old king Dermot ganne to weigh What acts remained further to be done And leaving there sufficient garrison Through Leinster all along they tooke their way For Dublin bent the countrey open lay To their victorious armes on every side No foe durst meete them or their force abide Proud Rhoderike himselfe swell'd with the stile Of universall Monarch of the I le Was glad to lurke within his proper bounds And keepe those safe retreates the boggy grounds Which in his owne peculiar Connagh lay Thus unresisted Strongbow kept his way Till he at last to Dublin came which soone By force and terrour of his name he wonne Faine would my Muse in this faire field proceede Of Irelands conquest and each noble deede Aâ—…cheived there of trophees rais d to fame The armes of England and great Henry's name Faine would she sing but Beckets fatall jarre Againe revives and from a nobler warre Drawes backe her eager flight and turnes againe Her song â—…riumphant to a tragicke straine By this King Henry in his active mind Great deedes and forreine conquests had design'd Secure from trouble as in vaine he thought Since Beckets peace and reconcilement wrought That might twixt State and Clergy rise at home When lo from England swift-wing'd fame was come And to his grieved eare sad tidings brought What reakes his stout Archbishop there had wrought Since last he did his dignity obtaine And to his See return'd in peace againe That 'mongst his fellow Bishops some of late He did suspend some excommunicate For actions past before from whence it plaine Appear'd old grudges were reviv'd againe As alâ—… that were
command lest if they wholly goe They should all woods all cities ouerthrow And beare downe all that did before them stand Confounding Neptunes kingdome with the land Yet have those windes still leave in some degree Though they disdaine such petty liberty To range abroade to make their natures knowne To shake some weakely â—…ounded houses downe Oreturne some aged Oakes and now and than To cause a shipwracke on the Ocean Even so these hellish monsters though great Iove Permit them not in their full strength to move Are acting mischeiâ—…e every day and goe Contriving here and there designes of woe And worke though they almost such worke despise The wracke of private men and families But to effect a great and publike woe Without a speciall license cannot goe Hither while Lucifer did thus survey His Master-Vices as they chained lay He bad them bring Enyo downe below For then to th'upper cave he would not goe What would'st thou crave quoth he what blacke designe What stratagem t' enlarge thy power or mine Hath made Enyo hither take her flight The furious Maide replyes great Prince of night T is not my cause alone that makes me come As fearing generall peace in Christendome Thy cause is joyn'd I feare if that peace be Such warres as more will hurt thy Monarchy Then briefly thus full fifteene yeares are gone Since potent Henry wore the English crowne Possest besides in wealthy France of more Strong lands then doe the crowne of France adore Blest with a numerous issue and by none Annoy'd disturb'd by no rebellion Nor forreine foes and lest French Lewis should be His foe though too too weake aâ—…inity Ioines them faire Margaret is by wedlocke ty'd To young Prince Henry Brittaines heire 's affy'd To Geoffrey his third sonne who comes to adde That Dutchy too to what before he had In France it did not seeme enough that he Before possest Maine Aniou Normandy Nor that he did by Eleanor obtaine Poiâ—…tou besides and fertile Aquitaine What warre dares menace such strong power as he Possesses now what fortune woe is me Ha's chang'de the times with what delight could I If now not crost by this tranquillity Remember Stephen's raigne and tragicke times Oh heavens what slaughters then what civill crimes Did England see when on her frighted Coast The Empresse Maude was landed with her hoast And came by armes to claime her royall right What suddain tumults rose and did afright The wretched people different passions then Made sad divisions in the hearts of men Some wept some fear'd some sadly tooke their armes And with intent to cure their countryes harmes Prepar'd to wound her more some did not know What side to take or where they might bestow Their rage or love before each mourning eye Did formes of fire of blood and slaughter flye Within themselves their passions made arise Such things as they imagin'd prodigies With thoughts confus'd the people rush'd to armes No noise in England but my loud alarmes Was heard the warre long carryed to and fro At Lincolne wholly met at last and now All hop'd one battell would the right decide No feild was ever with more fury try'd Nor rage ere met more aequall rage as they That saw the slaughters of that dismall day Could justly tell till great Augustaes right Whose powers renowned Gloster led in fight Prevail'd at last there after he in vaine Had shew'd rare valour was king Stephen tane And to the conquering Empresse captive brought Then turn'd the State who would not then have thought All civill warres had ended quite when she Had on her side both right and victory The people all congratulate her state But soone beginne to pity Stâ—…phens faâ—…e And too hard durance who a king had beene Then pinch'd in irons lay his weeping Queene For her deare Lord did to the Empresse sue But all in vaine the warres from thence renew Againe the discontented people rise In aide of Stephens faction and surprise Glosters brave Earle Augustaes Generall Then seem'd the like calamities to fall On both the parties and in aequall paine Of durance did the king and Earle remaine Accord was made but not an end to make Of civill warre nor for their countries sake But to release their owne captivity And in exchange they set each other free From this accord with greater fury farre Through all the kingdome rose the civill warre For those sad changes had not pacify'd But more incens'd the chiefes of either side Whose wrath the people felt all kindes of woe The wretched Realme was forc'd to undergoe The countryes pillag'd castles lost and wonne Rich cloysters robb'd the fairest cities downe Or ras'd or burned in â—…ude heapes did ly As Wiltons pittyed sacke could testify By Glosters furious army burn'd with fire Nor thee faire Worster in king Stephens ire Could all thy beauteous structure save from wracke In fatall flames thy walls and houses cracke Through what great hazards did both Princes runne How hardly oft escape destruâ—…tion What neede I tell how Stephen forc'd to fly From Gloster's powers forfooke his treasury At Wilton Abbey how the Empresse fled When least she seem'd to fly supposed dead And like a coarse was carryed through her 〈◊〉 So to escape what need I now disclose How after she when she iâ—… Oxford lay Straightly beseig'd by Stephen got away No strength of friends at all no parleys there Could free her person Winter rescu'd her And the cold season strove to mocke the foe December rag'd the Northerne windes did blow And by their power had glaz'd the silver flood Of neere-adjoyning Thames whose waters stood Congealed still ore which the snow around Had fall'n and with white fleeces cloath'd the ground When the wise Empresse cloath'd alike in white Forsooke the towne and past along by night Deluding so the watches carefull eyes They thought the snow had moov'd or did surmise Their opticke spirits had disturbed beene Not cleare and they tumultuously had seene Fixt objects oft doe seeme in motions so Thus then securely did the Empresse goe And was receiv'd with joy to Walingford Nor then did England bleed alone her Lord Anious great Earle by feirce and bloody warre Was winning Normandy in right of her Those those were times but now ah woe is me Great Lucifer if this tranquillity Without disturbance hold in Christendome I feare for thee a farre worse warre will come Thy Saracens shall rue the Christians peace And feele their conquering swords what large increase Of territories honour and of fame Through farthest Asia will the Christian name Acquire what bounds alas would Salem know If potent Henry to this warre should goe If he should there the English crosse advance His aide they all will seeke his puissance Will Salems feeble king implore to joyne Against those foes that threaten Palaestine Therefore in time this peacefull knot divide Enyo ceas'd when Lucifer reply'de Thy just complaint heroike Maide I heare But doe not doubt the power of Lucifer Those
had promis'd her to see Some high exploit some royall victory As that when once he made imperiall Iove Lough like a Bull for faire Europaes Love Or when he made rough Neptune â—…eele his fire Or warm'd chast Cynthiaes bosome with desire And made her court the Shepheard suâ—…h a one Loves Queene now look'd for from her conquering sonne Nor was her expectation voyd she found As much as she could hope a royall wound No lesse then Henry's noble breast must be The trophee of her Cupids victory Henry's pleas'd eyes now wander'd every where Among those Starres that made his Court their Sphaere For such they seem'd and no lesse bright they shew'd Although of different light and magnitude Oft could he change the oâ—…jects of his eye With fresh delight praise the vâ—…riety Without distracted thoughts till like the Queene Of light faire Cinthia Rosamund was seene There did he fixe there his amazed eye Forgot all pleasure of variety And gaz'd alone upon her matchlesse hew False Cupid laugh'd and thence in triumph slew Too much alas found Henry's wounded brest How much her beauty did outshine the rest So golden Venus 'mongst the Sea-nymphs so Did Deidamia 'mongst her sisters show When she inflam'd the young Achilles heart As Rosamund appear'd each single paâ—…t Of Loves rich dower which she alone possest Had beene enough to fire a vulgar brest And in another raise high beauties fame Into her forme all severall Cupids came And all the Graces their perfection show'd Nature confest she had too much bestow'd On one rich mixture which alone must weare All her faire liveries pure whitenesse there Nor red alone must beauties colours show Blew pleads a title since her veines are so Even blacke it selfe plac'd in her eye is bright And seemes to be the colour of the light As they are hers all â—…ormes all colours please Henry the more he lookes does more encrease His flame and whether he should checke desire And goe about to quench so sweet a fire Or feede the flame he cannot yet resolve A thousand thoughts does his sicke breast revolve Sometimes he seekes to cure the wound and cast Out Cupidsâ—…atall â—…atall shaft but still more fast The arrow stickes and goes more deepe into His wounded heart ensnared fishes so When they have once receiv'd the baited hooke The more they plunge the deeper still are strooke So when by chance the stately Stag is shot In vaine he strives 'gainst fate it bootes him not Through all the â—…orrests lawnes and feilds to take His speedy course no force no flight can shake The mortall shaft out of his wounded side It bootes not Henry to survey the pride Of other beauties now conveâ—…se with all The Princes met at his great festivall Or fixe himselfe on the solemnities The sports and revells of his court His eyes Can recompense him with no sight at all Nor yeild him pleasure aequall to the thrall They brought him to by sight of Rosamund No thoughts of state have power t' allay his wound Sometimes he yeilds to Loves imperiall flame Resolves to couâ—…t her favour straight but shame Restraines that thought His servants all discerne A change but are afraide the cause to learne T is not the crowning Henry of thy sonne Though that shall breed â—… sad confusion Can make thee lesse then king or dis-inthrone Thee halfe so much as love of her has donâ—… That makes thee humbly sue makes thee become Thy selfe a subject forc'd t' abide the doome That soveraigne beauty shall be pleas'd to give Thou mighty Prince whose high Prerogative Aequall to fate it â—…elfe us'd to bestow Or death or life on suppliants art now Thy selfe an humble suppliant and bound To sue for health to beautious Rosamund While thus the Princes met doe celebraâ—…e In feasts and revells young king Henry's staâ—…e And London's fill'd with severall jollityes Swift-winged fame from thence to Paris flies Where then the French king Lewis kept his 〈◊〉 And fill's his jealous eares with this repoâ—… Young Henry on the royall throne is set Without his wife the Princesâ—…e 〈◊〉 Though Lewis his daughter jeâ—…lousy can 〈◊〉 A reason quickly to torment his mind That reason flattering Couâ—…tiers aggravate And those that love the troubles of a State The factious spirits that seeke from thence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What other reason can there be say they Vnlesse contemptuous scorne of thee and France That Henry singly should his sonne advance Without his wife nor let young Margaret be A sharer in her husbands dignity What end of his or what designe had beene Made frustrate else had she beene crowned Queene These slight surmiâ—…es are too soone approv'd And for just reasons tane the King is mov'd To gâ—…ound a warre on these resolv'd although No hopes invite him to be Henry's foe Forc'd by miscalled honour to pursue What most of all he would himselfe eschew Honour is to a man a tyrant then When honours lawes he seekes from other men Not findes them in himselfe when he attends Not reall truth but fame which still depends On others breaths yet makes a man to goe ' â—…ainst his owne passions and his reason too Nor must king Lewis his fury stay so long As fairely to expostulate the wrong To send his grievance first then to defy And be a just and royall enemy Those fiery spirits that too much feare a peace That discontents betwixt the Kings would cease And no swords drawne at all if that were done Still urge king Lewis with speed say they goe on There 's no advantage in a course so slow T is best to be before you seeme a foe Before the newes to Henry's eare can fly With fire and sword invade his Normandy Meane time king Henry fearelesse of the blow Of warre was master'd by a greater foe Enforc'd to yeild to Cupids powerfull bow The triumphs all were done king William now Had with Prince David tane their leaves and from The court of England were returning home By English Lords attended on their way The court seem'd nak'd robb'd of that bright array And beautious splendour it so lately wore How much unlike the place it was before How solitary now but Henry's minde That change which others thinke of cannot finde No other absence can he feele but one His dearest life faire Rosamund was gone To grace the countrey with her presence now The wounded lover did by this time know Her birth and countrey thither flyes his heart And from his palace nay himselfe would part Or else contrives to bring a gemme so bright To court and place her neerer to his sight No kingly pleasures no magnificence Can tast no musicke 's sweete while she is thence So when the faire Calisto did remaine In woods a huntresse of Dianaes traine And wore her quiver when enamour'd Iove Beheld her matchlesse beauty from above â—…he woods before heavens palace please his eye Before the starry regions of the sky He loves th' Arcadian forrests to survay Not those bright
himselfe which soone Vnto the height of his desires was done At Milford-haven by the Kings command His whole retinue met a gallant band Of English gentry waited on the shore In glittering armes to follow Henry ore Whose lustre might to those rude Irish bring Astonishment and shew how great a King Dâ—…d now arrive to take possession there Whose name before they had beene taught to feare By what Earle Strong-â—…ow in that region And brave Fitz Stephans with the rest had done Bâ—…t oh too cruell chance how neere almost Had all that valour and themselues beâ—…ne lost Bâ—… Henry's former jealousies he heard Of their renown'd and prosperous deedes and fear'd That so much puissance by them was showne Not to advance his honour but their owne And for themselues that they had conquer'd there Some envious spirits fed his jealous feare â—…or which he made a Proclamation No Victualls Armour or Munition Should from his Kingdomes be transported ore For Strongbow's succour to the Irish shore And that his Subjects that did there remaine â—…efore next Easter should returne againe This Proclamâ—…tion had so much distrest Not long before â—…arle Strongbow and the rest Thâ—…t all which had bin conquer'd in that coast Aâ—…d theâ—… themselues had uâ—…terly beene lost If 〈◊〉 valour had not strove with fate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them what neede I heere relate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Râ—…imond and Fitz Girald were 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 and their action there Whâ—…n 〈◊〉 great Kings with all the strength almost That could be levy'd in th'adjoyning coast 〈◊〉 these worthies how they issâ—…'d out With courages miraculously stout Aâ—…d with succâ—…sse as high and march'd that day 〈◊〉 all their foes with victory away Or how Miles Cogan chas'd the King of Meth Away from Dublin walls and in the death Of many thousands seal'd his victory Or how Fitz-Stephans with a company Too small almost to be beleev'd did guard His fort neere Wexford towne besiedged hard By full three thousand Irish when no strength No force could make him yeild untill at length A false report the perjâ—…r'd foes devis'd And with the hazard of tâ—…eir soules surpris'd Fitz-Stephans body these calamityes Did through King Henry's jealousies arise Gainst those that planted first that Irish coast And time it was ere all againe were lost The King himselfe upon that shore should land Whose force no Irish Princes durst withstand Novembers cold had rob'd the forrest trees Of all their dresse and Winter gan to freeze Small lakes when not the season of the yeare Though judg'd by some untimely nor the feare Of those rough Irish Seas had power to keepe The King from passing ore into the deepe They put and hoised sailes the Easterne winde Blew faire and further'd what the King design'd By whose auspicious gales he safely câ—…me To land at Waterford when swiftest Fame Through every part of Ireland flyes to bring The fear'd arrivall of so greaâ—… a King And what that fame had wrought was quickly seene So soone came Irelands greatest Princes in Dermon Mac Arth the Prince of Corke while yet The King stay'd there came freely to submit Himselfe a subject to him and the like Did Dâ—…nold doe the Prince of Limericke Who to procure his peace swore fealty Both whom great Henry sent away with high And rich rewards and placed in the Townes Of Corke and Limricke English Garrisons The King when this at Waterford was done Leaving Fiâ—…z-Barnard to maintaine the towne March'd with his gallant troopes in faire array â—…o Dublin ward where ere he made his stay The greatest Lords of all the Countryes nigh As Ophelan the King of Ossory And Ororike of Meth to Henry came With other Princes of the highest name As Mac Talewie O Carell Ochadese Othwely Gillmeholoch all of these In person did submit themselues agree To be his vassalls and sweare fealty But Rotherike that â—…ore the Monarchs name And King of Connaught then no neerer came Then to that famous river Shenin's side Which his rough Connaught doth from Meth divide And there was met by Hugh de Lacy and Fitz-Aldeline sent by the Kings command To take his hostages which freely there He did deliver and allegeance sweare By his example all the greatest Lords Did freely yield to Henry's name no swords To gaine that land were drawne no blood was lost No warre so great an Ilands conquest cost Now Christmas was which in all heights of state The royall Henry strove to celebrate That those rude Irish people there might see And reverence so great a Majesty Who flocke in greatest companies to gaze At this unusuall lustre with amaze They see his great attendance and admire His sumptuous plate his servants rich attire While plentious Ireland to their feasting boords The Seas provisions and the lands affoords Downe with the Irish Kings great Henry sate So show'd of old Imperiall Caesars state When barbarous kings great Rome did entertaine Who view'd with wonder such a Monarch's traine And gorgeous court such did old Poets strive To make those feasts which Iove was pleas'd to give To rurall Deities and to admit The Sylvans rough and rusticke Faunes to sit At his caelestiall boord while wondring they The radiant glories of great Iove survay VVhile they behold the beautious Trojan stand A waiter by and from his snow-white hand Give cups and ravish'd with the sound admire To heare bright Phoebus and the lovely quire Of his nine daughters to heavens glorious King The Pallenaean triumphs sweetly sing As much as those rude people wondred at King Henry's sumptuous court and royall state As much the English Courtiers did admire The Irish Princes fashions and attire Their different garbes and gestures while each eye Is pleas'd in viewing such variety And to each other both afford delight VVhen wine and Cates had weakened appetite The noble Henry with a smiling cheere Offers discourses longing much to heare More of their countreys nature thus at last To Dublins reverend Prelate who was plac'd Not farre from him at boord the King beganne Grave Father since I know your wisedome can Dive deepe into the qualities and state Of things and search what old records relate Too much abstruse for vulgar braines to finde From your deepe skill informe our longing minde Of what wise Nature for this spatious I le Has wrought in tempers of the aire and soile And those fam'd wonders where she does display Prodigious power and leaves her usuall way As if she meant to mocke the purblinde eye And feeble search of our Philosophy Loud fame has spread them though obscurely ore All parts of this our Westerne world nor more Was scorched Africke fam'd by elder time For breeding wonders then your Irish clime Has beene to us renowned for her rare And strange endowments to our eare declare What you grave Father by tradition Or by experience know the King had done Attentive silence all the Princes make When thus the Bishop humbly bowing spake If I relate by Henry's high command The wondrous treasures of
betray'd Her Ladyes life and while she doubting fear'd Too soone the fatall certainty appear'd For with her traine the wrathfull Queene was there Oh who can tell what cold and killing feare Through every part of Rosamund was strooke The rosie tincture her sweete cheekes forsooke And like an Ivory statue did she show Of life and motion reft had she beene so Transform'd in deede how kinde the fates had beene How pitifull to her nay to the Queene To free her guilty hand from such a cryme So sadd and foule as no succeeding time But shall with griefe condemne yet had she beene A Statue and look'd so the jealous Queene Perchance on that her cruelty had showne Least Henry should have turn'd Pygmalion And for a Stâ—…tues love her bed forsooke The Queenes attendants with remorse are strooke Even she herselfe did seeme to entertaine Some ruth but straight Revenge return'd againe And fill'd her furious breast Strumpet quoth She I neede not speake at all my sight may be Enough expression of my wrongs and what The consequence must proove of such a hate Heere take this poyson'd cup for in her hand A poyson'd cup she had and doe not stand To parley now but drinke it presently Or else by tortures be resolv'd to dye Thy doome is set pale trembling Rosamund Receives the cup and kneeling on the ground When dull amazement somewhat had forsooke Her breast thus humbly to the Queene she spoke I dare not hope you should so farre relent Great Queene as to forgive the punishment That to my foule offence is justly due Nor will I vainely plead excuse to shew By what strong arts I was at first betray'd Or tell how many subtle snares were lay'd To catch mine honour these though nere so true Can bring no recompence at all to you Nor just excuse to my abhorred crime Instead of suddaine death I crave but time Which shall be stil'd no time of life but death In which I may with my condemned breath While griefe and pâ—…nnance make me hourely dye Poure out my prayerâ—… for your pâ—…osperity Or take revenge on this offâ—…ding face That did procure your wrong and my disgrace Make poysonous leprosies orespread my skinne And punish that that made your Henry sinne Better content will such a vengeance give To you that he should loath me whilest I live Then that he should extend if thus I dye His lasting pity to my memory And you be forc'd to see when I am dead Those teares perchance which he for me will shed For though my worthlesse selfe deserue from him No teares in death yet when he weighs my crime Of which he knowes how great a part was his And what I suffer as a sacrifice For that offence t will grieve his soule to be The cause of such a double tragaedy No more reply'd the furious Queene have done Delay no longer least thy choyse be gone And that a sterner death for thee remaine No more did Rosamund entreat in vaine But forc'd to hard necessity to yeild Drunke of the fatall potion that she held And with it enter'd the grimme tyrant death Yet gave such respite that her dying breath Might begg forgivenesse from the heavenly throne And pardon those that her destruction Had doubly wrought forgive oh Lord said she Him that dishonour'd her that murder'd me Yet let me speake for truths sake angry Queene If you had spar'd my life I might have beene In time to come th' example of your glory Not of your shame as now for when the story Of haplesse Rosamund is read the best And holyest people as they will deteâ—…t My crime and call it foule they will abhorre And call unjust the rage of Elianor And in this act of yours it will be thought Hing Henry's sorrow not his love you sought And now so farre the venoms force assail'd Her vitall parts that lifâ—… with language fail'd That well built palace where the Graces made Their chiefe abode where thousand Cupids plai'd And cowch'd their shafts whose structure did delight Even natures selfe is now demolish'd quite Nere to be rais'd againe th' untimely stroake Of death that pretious Cabinet has broake That Henry's pleased heart so long had held With suddaine mourning now the house is fill'd Nor can the Queenes attendants though they feare Her wrath from weeping at that sight forbeare There well they could while that faire hearse thy view Believe the ancient embleme to be true And thinke pale death and winged Cupid now Their quivers had mistooke untimely so By rough North blasts doe blooming Roses fade So crushed falls the Lillyes tender blade Her hearse at Godstow Abbey they enterre Where sad and lasting monuments of her For many yeeres did to the world remaine Nought did the Queene by this dire slaughter gaine But more her Lords displeasure aggravate And now when he return'd in prosperous state This act was cause togeâ—…her with that crime Of raising his unnaturall sonnes 'gainst him That she so long in prison was detain'd And whilest he liv'd her freedome never gain'd But Henry's troubles finde not yet an end Whose cares beyond the English shores extend As if one kingdomes burden could not be Enough for his great magnanimity The yet-perplex'd affaires of Normandy Invite his presence next where fates decree Almost as easie peace shall be obtain'd As England late had by his presence gain'd Now did King Lewis and young King Henry lye Beseiging faithfull Roane in Normandy To whose reliefe the brave old Henry goes But first with care and prudence does dispose The setled state of England to his minde And loath to leave at liberty behinde So great a firebrand as his jealous Queene Fierce Elianor in this late warre had beene Commits her person to close custodie Then musters all his martiall company And Caesar-like transporting all his â—…tore Of great and princely prisoners crosses ore As if he went to triumph not to fight Nor proov'd it lesse indeede for even the sight Alone of so renown'd and fear'd a Chiefe As old King Henry was faire Roanes reliefe King Lewis of France no longer meant to stay Nor on the tryall of one doubtfull day To set his fortunes yet asham'd that he Should seeme to flye before his enemy And fearing that disgrace encamped lay Himselfe a while and first convey'd away From thence the sicke and weakest of his men And with the rest in order followed then For uncontroll'd had Henry enter'd Roane Set ope the gates and beate the rampiers downe Levell'd the trenches all that stopp'd the way And dar'd the French to tryall of the day But Lewis retir'de and weighing in sadd thought What small advantage his designes had wrought Or for himselfe or those whom he entended To aide now wish'd this bootelesse warre were ended And thoughts of peace he wholly entertain'd And since he knew a peace might be obtain'd As then it stood with ease from Englands King And love besides in labouring to bring The sonnes in too
his Lands in England and in France And to that end that homage should be done By all the Lords that Iohn his yoâ—…nger sonne To whom the father's favour did encline Should straight be sent to warre in Palaestiâ—… To these demands whilest Henry does refuse To yeeld assent a sadder woe ensues In indignation Richard straight forsakes His aged Father and himâ—…elfe betakes Wholâ—…y to Philip King of France his side And firmest friendship 'twixt these two is ty'd With Richard many of the Barons goe 〈◊〉 her selfe forsakes old Henry too When now proud Philip in disdaine that from This enterview no peacâ—… at all dâ—…d come Fels downe that aged Flme whose spreading shade So oft the place of parley had beene made 'Twixt France and Englaâ—…d's mighty Kingâ—… and swore That place should never hold a parley more Sad did the ruines of so fam'd a tree To all the pittying people seeme to be Whose honour'd shade had many ages beene More then a royall Court where oft was seene Such state as one Impâ—…riall house although Of gorgeous structure could but seldome show Nor one whole kingdome at â—… time contâ—…ine Two rivall Kings together to remaine Beneath the covert of a shady tree Where onely Nature made their Canopy Those old religious trees that heretofore Great Conquerours spoyles and boasting trophees bore Sacred to Mars or to 〈◊〉 name Were not more honâ—…ur'd or indeâ—…t to Fame Then was this stately Elme not 'cause that there The Druides when Druidâ—…s there were Among the ancient Gaules had pray'd or done Their barbarous rites and superstition Nor that the Fawnes and Dryades hâ—…d made Their nightly bowers and iporâ—…ed in the shade But 'cause the peopleâ—… pride had lov'd to shew The place where Kings did stand at enterview This Elâ—…e was fell'd by Philip in his râ—…ge Of Henry's following death a sâ—…d presage Now too too weake is old King Henry's side For those proud â—…oes that so unjâ—…stly ty'd In combination threaten his estate By his owne sonne and souldiers left of late And by those weapons wounded that should guard His royall person While the Fates so hard Opprest his grieved soule in discontent To his beloved City Mauns he went Hiâ—… place of birth and high in his esteeme Buâ—… angry Fortune will not leave to him That City now Mauns must be tane away Thither while he does with small forces stay For but seven â—…undred souldiers guard their King Philip of France and furious Richâ—…rd bring A potent army For the townes defence The King too weake is forc'd to flye from thence And to abandon that beloved Towne He that had never fled before nor knowne What 't was to feare pursuing enemies From his owne sonne and young King Philiâ—… flyes And looking backe on that forsaken Towne Curses the impious prowesse of his sonne Philip and Richards unresisted powers March further up with ease surprising Tours Vpon which losse another daâ—… is set For â—…nterview and both the Kings are met Not farre from Turwâ—…n Where although that cleare The Sky at their first meeting did appeare Yet on thâ—… sudden from a swelling cloud The thunder issu'd with report so loud It stâ—…ooke a terror into every heart Ore all the fields and twice they say did part The Kings a sunder once with such a force King Henry there had fall'n from off his horse Had not his servants held him up How ere It was decreed that Henry's honour there Should â—…all farre lower and he suffer more Then all his puissant reigne had felt before He that had given conditions still that ne're Had taken any from what foe soe're Yeelds now to all conditions they demand Yeelds to deliver into Philip's hand Adela now and for those Provinces Which in that continent he did possesse To doe him homage lets his Barons sweare Allegiance to his sonne Prince 〈◊〉 there Anâ—… yeelds to pay for â—…harges of the warre Two thousand marks to Philip aâ—…d so farre His Nâ—…ble heart not us'd to bow was broke That his griev'd spirit within three dayes forsooke The earthly mansion For a Feaver joyn'd Wiâ—…h the afflicting anguish of his minde Whose forces soone disâ—…olv'd that house of clay Aâ—… Châ—…non then this dying Monarch lay When to encrease the anguish of his thought And more disturbe his peace a scrowle was brought And by ill fate presented to him there Containing all their names that did adhaere In this conspiracy to Philip's side Where first of all his haplesse eye espy'd The name of Iohn his sonne whither that he Were truly one of that conspiracy Or some of Richard's followers to remove Before King Henry dy'd that wondrous love Which towards Iohn he seem'd of late to beare Above the other falsely wrote him there From thence extremity of passions Surpris'd his soule He curst his impious sonnes Curst his owne birth and had despairing dy'd Had not Diviner counsell come to guide His griefes aright and by Religions lawes Direct his wounded conscience to the cause Of those his suffrings making the disease The cure and troubled thoughts the way to peace Wailing his sinnes into the Temple there He bids thâ—…m his yet-living body beare Where he before the holy altar plac'd In humble 〈◊〉 breaths out his lâ—…st And of so great a Monarch now remaines No more on earâ—…h then what a tombe containes Who lately ore so many Lands did reigne From Scotlands bounds to farthest Aquitaine A Prince in peace of highest Majesty In warre too great to finde an enemy In power above his neighbour Princes farre Who though his sword were often â—…rawne to warre His owne conditions without battels wrought Liv'd still victorious though he seldome fought And might have seem'd above the reach of Fate But that himselfe his greatest foes begate Wrong'd by that power which he had made and crost By those of whom he had deserved most Blest oâ—…t miraculously oâ—…t againe Beyond beleefe deprest his various reigne Temper'd with all extremities of Fate And though triumphant yet unfortunate FINIS THE DESCRIPTION OF KING HENRY THE SECOND WITH A SHORT SURVEY of the changes in his REIGNE IT has beene a custome of old Historians when they record the actions of great Princes to deliver also some Characters of their persons and peculiar dispositions that the curiositie of succeeding times who pry deepely into those men whose lives were of so great moment in the world might beefully satisfied and delighted It will not therefore bee amisse to deliver a Character of King Henry the Second a Monarch greater in Fame and Territories than any Christian King that then lived Hee was a man as we finde recorded of a just stature a strong and healthfull constitution but somewhat grosse more by the inclination of Nature then by any fault either of intemperance or sloth For besides the sparenesse and sobrietie of his dyet he vexed his bodie with continuall labour and to ouercome his naturall fatâ—…esse was almost immoderate in all his exercises Hee was of a ruddy complexion