ruine in the Castle-yard The dogges were heard unusually to howle About their windowes the ill-boding Owle Night-iars and shreiches with wide-stretched throats From Yews and Holleys sent their baiefull notes And which encreast their sad and ominous feares The beautious Queene relates while standing teares Began to dazle her bright starry eyes That ghastly dreame that did last night surprise Her frighted fancy Mortioner quoth she Me thought the skye was wondrous cleare when we Together walk'd in yonder court alone The gentle aire seem'd undisturb'd anone Rose sudden stormes a darke and pitchie cloud Obscur'd heaven's face and thunder roar'd aloud The trembling earth about us moved round At last it open'd and from under-ground Rose Edward's pale and dismall ghost his hand Arm'd with a flaming sword a threatning band Of furies did upon the ghost attend Hee cry'd revenge with that they all gan bend Their force ' gainstus and thee me thought they flew At which I frighted wak'd and hardly knew So great the terrour was whether we were Alive or not Ambitious Mortimer Scorning to show from any dreame a feare Strove to divert so sad a theame and cheare The Queene with amorous discourse againe While thus he flatters his owne fate in vaine A boistrous noise about the doores they heare The maids without that waited shreik'd for feare Clashing of steele and grones of dying men Approach d their cares for in the Lobby then Stout Turrington and Nevil both were slaine That durst by force resist the armed traine And in the chamber ere the Queene and he Had time to doubt what this strange storme should be Sent from the King the armed troopes appeare By whose command they seize on Mortimer And in an instant hurry him away For at the Chamber-doore did Edward stay The wofull Queene at first amazed stands But quickly recollected wrings her hands Strikes her faire breast and after them she hyes To the next Lobby weepes and kneeling cryes Deere Sonne for well she knew her Son was there Oh pitty pitty gentle Mortimer Let no accusers raise thine anger so Nor wicked counsell make thee prove a foe To him that well deserves oh pull not downe So true so strong a pillar of thy crowne But when she sees him gone and no reply Vouchsaf'd to her for Edwards modesty Because his justice her fond suite denyde For feare his tongue should be enforc'd to chide A mothers crime or folly words forbeares A griefe too great to be exprest by teares Confounds her sense as in an extasie She fals to ground and helplesse seemes to lye Vntill the maids and Ladies of her traine Had to her chamber borne her backe againe The Castle wholly to the King's command Is now reduc'd and to his royall hand The keyes deliver'd up nor dooes he feare The great and pompous traine of Mortimer They soone submitted when their Lord was taine And here seemes Edward to begin his reigne Henceforth his regall power his treasury Shall be his owne those rayes of Majesty A subjects greatnesse shall ecclipse no more Nor shall the Land a blazing-star adore Instead of true-borne Phoebus and thus farre The tragaedy of this great Mortimer Faire Nottingham began and op'd the way What now remaines another place must play The scoene from thence to London is remov'd Where more foule treasons are against him prov'd More debts then one condemned head could be Or single life enough to satisfie Had not th' opprobrious manner of his fate And that proud height that pinnacle of state From whence the people 's late astonish'd eyes Had seene him star-like shoot as from the skyes Ambitious Phaëton was dinged downe By Ioves revengefull thunder fully showne With what proportion powerfull Iustice can Redeeme her selfe against the greatest man And that there 's no such envy'd height at all But she can make it pity'd by a fall And now the common Gallowes is the place Where this great Lord with shame must end his race On earth and twice did rising Phoebus there Behold the body of dead Mortimer To all a scorned spectacle remaine But yet thus much thy memory shall gaine Of great and tragicke fame that all shall say A stranger game did Fortune never play And whensoere that fickle goddesse glories In her proud sportive trophees when the stories Of her most envy'd favovrites are told Who next to Kings and Emperours did hold The Helme and keepe the neerest roomes in state When Plavtianus greatnesse we relate With his so sudden ruine when we tell How once great Romes ador'd Sejanus fell Or how Ruffinus torne and mangled dy'd In all the height of his ambitious pride Among those names shalt thou in times to come Great Mortimer fill up a tragicke roome And in thy story like to them shalt be A Document to all posterity Annotations upon the first Booke a About the fift yeere of King Edward the second his reigne that renowned King of Scotland Robert le Bruce having now over-mastred the opposite faction in his owne Nation and driven out all the English Garrisons left there in possession by Edward the first had wholly recovered his Kingdome of Scotland and not so contented had much endammaged by often inrodes the Realme of England To take revenge of him Edward the second with a wonderfull great and rich English army containing about 80000. invadeth Scotland in his owne person at a place called Bannocks bourne it came to a battell where the English are discomfited with as great an ouer-throw as ever they received in any field sixe of their greatest Noblemen slaine about 700. Knights and gentlemen of account besides many noble prisoners taken about the number of common souldiers slaine the Authors of that time whether misinformed or partiall most wretchedly disagree some accounting 10000. some 50000. but how great so ever the number were no revenge was taken during the whole reigne of Edward the second but the kingdome of England in many ensuing actions suffred much from the hands of Robert le Bruce the fortune of war running all on that side while he lived b While deposed Edward was miserably murdered in Berkley Castle the young King was upon the borders of Scotland with a puissant army and having environed the Scots who had entred England with invasive armes in the woods of Wiredale and Stanhop parke and stopped up all passages made sure account of victory but by the treason of the Lord Mortimer for which hee was afterwards among other things accused and condemned after they had lodged there fifteene dayes and began to feele much want they were suffred to escape and the young King lost his first enterprise besides the expence of much treasure and a wonderfull danger of his owne person for Sir Iames Douglas a valiant servant of King Robert le Bruce with 200. light horses assailed the Kings owne pavilion where the King was so neere death that a Chaplaine of his who stoutly behaved himselfe was slaine in his Masters defence and Sir Iames retired from
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
is small and weigh'd with conquering Englands wars Shall be accounted slight and gentle scars Deepe as thy wounds shall thy dishonour be Alas how great a map of misery How long a tragicke field of warre shalt thou Rich France become the pride of Europe now But then the pitty of all neighbour Lands Oh doe not scorne at English Edward's hands On hardest termes a peace to entertaine Nor let King Philip strive ' gainst fate in vaine No force can there prevaile nor overthrow The Martiall fame that Destinies doe owe To Edward's high nativity for whom A glorious thread is spun such as their loome Was proud to see when those old Worthies came Into the world that with so loud a fame Have fill'd the eares of all posterity Such shall this active Edward prove as high And wondred at shall be his deeds of warre Although his stage cannot extend so farre Nor his small Kingdomes forces over-run Farre distant Lands as did the Macedon Or Romes proud Sonnes his deeds within the bounds Of France excepting Scotlands fatall wounds As mighty trophees and as great shall gaine As such a circuit ever did containe And for the severall actions of his warres Though I but dimly see particulars Within this spacious Continent where once Great Caesar govern'd those stout legions Whose strength could after over-come the power Of Rome it selfe and make him Emperour Let disadvantages of battels be Well weigh'd the past and present quality Of such a foe the stars to him do give As true a fame as Caesar did atchieve But such calamities this heart will bleed To see and therefore holy Sir with speed If a prevention can at all be had Let your high power be interposed sad Are all that heare the King's praediction And thinke which way they may the strife attone But while they thinke thus on the Ocean A mighty blow this fatall warre began Slight skirmishes had wounded either side And banish'd Peace nor must the cause be try'd By any judge but Warres uncertaine chance Edward already wore the armes of France And in his honour stood engag'd to gaine The Crowne he claim'd as Philip to maintaine That great possession in their owne estates Both strong both powerfull in confoederates And both alike incens'd But ere rich France In her owne bosome try the puissance Of warlike Edward she must weeping heare Her losses by him and be taught to feare Or Fortune else was purpos'd to declare How hot how aequall a desire of warre Both Nations had that in the middle way Would meet the tryall and disdain'd to stay Till either other should at home invade But with their armed Navall forces made Blew Neptunes face the first discolour'd stage Of warre and Scene of their incensed rage The Fleet of France so great it was esteem'd Invindible by Englands force and seem'd To beare command ore all those narrow Seas Proud of spoiles and wealthy pillages Which from sack'd Hampton they had brought away Betweene the Ports of Sluce and Blankebergh lay In three faire bodies led by three that then In navall fights were held the bravest men France had and did in all Sea-arts excell The stout Bahuchet with brave Kiriell And Barbenoire the Genois Admirall So show'd their Navy when conjoyned all Men would have thought some forrest mou'd from far When Winters rage the Pines proud tops did bare Or that the fam'd Aegaean Cyclades Torne from their roots had floated on the Seas Vpon that coast this haplesse Navie lay To intercept King Edward in his way To Sluce who now from England had put forth His Fleet though lesse in number yet in worth Fortune and courage greater then the foes Came sailing on When golden Phoebus rose Behinde the French and shooting forth his light Display'd the English Navy to their sight The royall Banners to their scouts appeare And notice give that Englands King is there At which the French are swelled with excesse Of joy though false with golden promises Flattring themselves How blinde are humane eyes How hidden are the path of Destinies Never did wretches not ordain'd to see The setting Sunne with vainer jollity Welcome their ruine and each other cheere They thanke the fates that had presented there The King of Englands person and so great A price that day had on their valour set That this great storme that proudly threatned France Was now committed wholly to the chance Of their Sea-fight that onely they should have The actions honour not alone to save Their land in warre but keepe it from a warre And cut off danger ere it came so farre Great Edward slowly brings his Navy on Waiting advantage wisely till the Sunne Declining Westward at his backe might be And dazle thence the face of th' enemy Although his Souldiers hardly brook'd delay So much they long'd for tryall of the day And in their courages were raised high To thinke they had so brave a witnesse by As was their King and such a King as he Who would as well their great example be As witnesse of their deeds This time of stay He spent to set his Fleet in faire array The middle body he himselfe maintain'd In which the great and tallest ships were mann'd Which choisest Archers held twixt every two Of whom one ship with men of armes did goe On either wing loose ships of archers lay On all occasions ' gainst the foe to play The wings themselves with gallant Lords were fill'd The Earles of Darby Pembrooke Gloster held The right where Huntington commanded all Of Englands Southerne fleet Lord Admirall Lord Morley Admirall of all the North The left wing had with many Lords of worth Northamptons Earle Lord Percy Delaware And Robert of Artois who th' honours bore Of Richmonds Earledome then with many moe Of honour'd name and noble service too Heröicke Edward when both Navies neere Had made approach 'gan thus in short to cheere His forward Souldiers It were needlesse now Brave Englishmen and valiant Lords to show How much depends on this great Navall fight That all the tryall of our royall right To France and your rich hopes are lost undone Are all designes unlesse this day be won This is the gate of our great enterprise This is that entrance where the danger lyes Which if we master now the future war Will prove more easie as more fruitfull farre And not a warre but a reward will be And recompence of this dayes victory Here let your valour sway warres future chance And though not conquer yet disharten France The Sunne and winde are both auspicious To us the channell advantagious With these let us in our owne cause appeare See what spectatours fortune gives us here Oh let our friends the Flemmings from the Bayes Of Sluce and Blankebergh now behold and praise Your deeds and viewing th English puissance Thinke themselves happy in forsaking France To side with us but I in vaine prolong The battels tryall and your valours wrong To keepe such eager spirits from action
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
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
face of woes Eustace a rich and noble Burgesse rose Who when the people 'gan a silence make Thus with a voyce and looke undanted spake Since Countreymen you know King Edward's doome Let me be bold to claime my proper roome The wealthiest men must suffer nor will I Strive now to hide that wealth and dignity That made me honour'd in our peacefull time Nor e're be guilty of so foule a crime As not to come a willing sacrifice For all I thanke the English King in this That though a generall pardon he deny He is so just in his severity To make those men that most indebted were Vnto their Countrey pay the most for her Besides he gives us privilege in the case The low the impotent and poore alas Looke on the generall slaughter of the Towne And mixt with publike ruine feare their owne Since Edward makes their lives too cheape a price To be for all th' appeasing sacrifice They onely feare but no election know And must endure what fortune we bestow But to the nobler ranke of Burgesses Though death be nearer yet our feares are lesse Election's left to us and power to make That vantage thence which others cannot take For we gaine honour if we freely dye And not abandon this brave liberty If we refuse their deaths will be the same With ours and yet no choyce to purchase same Is given to them We ought our lives to give In gratitude for this prerogative Why should so many thousand people dye When six the foes demand will satisfie Had he beene pleased to accept of one I then had spared this Oration Because my selfe had had the power to be What now I cannot without company But howsoever Eustace will be one That freely comes to this oblation A generall applausive shout was heard And many passions ' mongst the rout appear'd Mov'd with his love and noble piety The Commons weepe the Burgers instantly Present themselves and make it now a strife Who first shall offer his devoted life Daire first steps in to Eustace side to whom Two Wyssons brethren Iames and Peter come Forth in a moment the whole number stands Six of the wealthiest Burgesses whose hands The weeping people kisse and to the skye Extoll their pious magnanimity The keyes of Calleis are by Eustace borne And on they march undaunted halters worne About their necks instead of cheines are beene Yet honour'd more then chaines of gold had beene Whom to the gates the people all attend And thousand prayers for their safety send Their prayers are heard and God preserves their lives At Calleis Edward's vertuous Queene arrives Queene Philip great with child who pleas'd to make Their lives the boone she crav'd For her deare sake Though Edward srown'd at first and bade them dye He smoothes his brow and to her clemency And pleasure onely he commits the men Shee freely pardons and rewards them then An action fit for that brave Queene to doe And fitter farre for Edward to allow Then doe himselfe whom sternnesse then became No lesse then pitty did the royall Dame Thus with his family could he divide His owne renowne and give as erst hee did The fame of Crescy's conquest to his Sonne To her the thankes of this compassion In Calleis Castle proud to entertaine So great a Monarch with his warrelike traine The Conquerour feasts his vertuous Queene where she To give the Castle greater dignity Or take more firme possession then before A Princely daughter to great Edward bore Whence some presaged that that conquer'd place Should long remaine to Edward's royall race Soone o're that channell into England flyes The fame of Edward's glorious victories Of Crescy battell of faire Calleis wonne And all the other high atchievements done Where France in severall parts had felt the force Of English armes Such is the glad discourse In every part of Edward's kingdome now Some speake of France some Scotland's overthrow One tells what Dagworth had in Brittaine done Or what in Gascoyne noble Darby wonne Themselves enrich'd secur'd on every side Oft had the Moone renew'd her waned pride Since daily newes had beene of some successe Of some rich triumph or new happinesse Since they so oft had to their Temples gone And oft payd thankes to God's caelestiall Throne Oft friendly feastings did expresse their joyes The Countrey Damsels danc'd and sporting Boyes Abroad in fields by chosen companies Would act before their pleased parents eyes The late-fought battels and the story show Of Edward's conquest Philip's everthrow Such were the triumphs such the sports of Rome When newes was from victorious Scipio come Of Zama's prosperous battell and the fall Of their long terror Libyan Hanniball Faire Summers pride began to fade away And night encroach upon the houres of day When Fortune does as if in spite of time Shee meant to make in England's joyfull clime Another Summer to the people bring The long wish'd presence of their conquering King Oh how from Dover-landing all the way Along to London as his progresse lay Was strew'd with branches how the ayre was rent With acclamations which the people sent When with himselfe in highest Majesty The Queene and that young flower of Chevalry Prince Edward rode with all the valiant traine Of Lords and Knights return'd from France againe With noble Prisoners with warre 's wealthy prize And captive Ensignes of their enemies Now happy London is the Theater Of triumph growne the souldiers every where Taste the sweet fruits of their successefull toyles And fill their native Countrey with the spoyles That ransack'd France has lost On beds from thence Of richest worke lye London Citizens While every house a clothing new puts on In all their largest roomes are hangings showne Of fairest tapistry which heretofore Faire Caranton or Caen or Calleis wore At feasting tables they carouse in wine In ancient plate on which engraven shine Armes of some Norman Lord or Gascoyne Peere And their lost jewels English Ladies weare To please new Lovers whilest each Lad can decke With Peales of France his mistris beautious necke While other neighbouring Countrys curse the chance Of their successelesse warres while wretched France Beholds her losses with a mourning eye And Scotland wailes her Kings captivity England alone is fill'd with joy that sees The gaine of warre and not the miseries And thus is all the winters season spent In revels feasts and jolly merriment But oh how soone fades earthly blisse away And clouds of griefe o'recast the fairest day How soone that land that seem'd in surest state Of happinesse growes sad and desolate Such must the mourning change of England be Although no sword of forreine enemy Nor stroke of warre shall shake her quiet state Though Edward's sword continue fortunate And on his standard victory attend Yet other arrowes the great God can send To wound a kingdome That Almighty hand That wounded Israel once his chosen land With David's choyce for David's high offence Not with mans sword but his owne pestilence
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
Nor from that Noble path which hitherto Thy farre-admired youth has trod to serve Inglorious lusts and pleasures doe not swerve Those fruits seeme sweet to such alone as live Discerning not man's true prerogative Beasts lives whose soules are drowned in the flesh Not capable of perfect happinesse Nor suffring those coelestiall seeds to grow Or spring in them which God at first did sowe When purer Soules are not so much in thrall To flesh but that their high originall They well discerne and oft abstracted flye In contemplation of eternity Which spurres them on to spend th' uncertaine times They have in glorious deeds unstain'd with crimes And such I know is Edward's noble ayme Thou aemulat'st the ancient Sonnes of fame Thy worth securely may such stories love Thee great examples shame not but approve Thou know'st that Honour has a chearefull face And solid joy within that Nere's base Voluptuous feasts and lusts were not so sweet As Cato's manly temperance nor yet So truly safe Sardanapalus ease As were the labours of great Hereules Though Vertnes wayes seeme rough at first to be The habit makes them sweet nor teaches she Her noble schollers onely to endure Cold hunger thirst or labour but secure To overcome them and to make all these Their trophees rather than their grievances And not to feare what Death it selfe can doe Which Pleasures strength could never reach unto Oh give not way to this thy wanton flame Nor tempt the honour of that Princely Dame Love may hereafter blesse thee there and may Assist thy wishes in a lawfull way Great Chiefes among their other markes of fame Have gain'd by noble Continence a name Thinke on that Roman Worthy whose high story Thou read'st so oft and aemulat'st his glory That Scipio who first ' gainst Carthage fought And his great name from conquerr'd Affricke brought In heat of youth as thou art now was he When Spaines new Carthage then a Colony Of Affricans by warrelike force he wonne Great was the pillage of that wealthy Towne But ' mongst their store of captives one there was A noble Virgin that did farre surpasse The rest her wondrous beauty did amaze The Conquerors no Roman eyes durst gaze On that bright forme but streight became her thrall Though Captive she The youthfull Generall Began himselfe to feele Loves powerfull flame But that a noble vertue overcame And quench'd againe With gentle words he chear'd The maid and all her love and fortunes heard Then to that Prince to whom she was affy'd Deliver'd freely his unstained Bride The land admir'd him and that act there wonne As much as his successefull sword had done Of such a temper art thou made I know Brave Prince as much to thee as Scipio Of deathlesse fame is meant by Destiny As much thy hand shall act in France as he In Spaine or Affricke and a greater King Then Syphax was shalt thou to England bring Forsake not therefore Vertues wayes who will Thy best desires thy highest aymes fulfill To her Heröike Edward's heart inclin'd And now resolv'd to cure his love-sicke mind He musters all the thoughts of warre and fame The Nymphs were vanish'd when brave Chandois came Into his presence he relates the newes Of France and great King Edward's purpose shewes Well does the Warre his father had design'd For him to manage suit blacke Edward's mind Those gallant Lords that had resolv'd to fight Against th' injurious French for Edward's right Are all prepar'd and from the English shore With Fates auspitious soone transported o're Whilest France from them must England's prowesse feele The King ' gainst Scotland drawes his vengefull steele Enrag'd for Berwicks sacke A furious rode Although their King a prisoner yet abode In Edward's hands some Scots had lately made Whom gold from France had tempted to invade The North of England Berwicke Towne they tooke The pillage gain'd dismantled and forsooke The towne againe Great Edward not content To gaine his owne unlesse the foes repent And dearely rue their rash presumption too Wiâ—h dreadfull force and fury marches through The bowels of their land for want of foes The empty townes and walls he overthrowes Nor are religious Monasteries free Or priviledg'd from his hostility And though to conquest of the land enclin'd For all his right the Ballioll had resign'd To him at Roxburgh so he marched on That men might deeme by his invasâ—on He did not meane his conquest to enjoy Or came not to possesse but to destroy At last to Berwicke when his vengefull ire Againe was vanish'd backe does he retire To build her ruin'd walls more faire and strong And brings with him the Ballioll along I est left behind he might againe recall His resignation but no ayd at all To Edward's purpose could his title bring Whom Scotland never would acknowledge King The peoples hearts did with King David live Those hearts to Edward Ballioll could not give Nights silent charmes all eyes in slumber clos'd When lo while Edward in his tent repos'd He dreamt before him armed Scotland stood Her martiall visage pale with losse of blood Which through her loosened helmet did appeare The furious Lion her broad shield did beare And thus with sober Majesty she spake At last why furious Edward dost thou make These sad invasions and so vainly striue To ravish hence what warre shall never give My Crowne and Scepter not ordain'd to be The swords reward or spoyle of victory This truth thy Grandsire might at length have found Who did so oft my bleeding bosome wound Although not unreveng'd In threescore yeares That last have passed what alternate teares For noble sonnes with me has England shed What crimson streames have we two sisters bled What mutuall wounds have thy sterne Grandsiers blade My warrelike Bruce and thou great Edward made Yet all in vaine No conquest can unite Whom our great God is purpos'd to invite A sweeter way to bonds of unity This knot a Monarch's happy birth must tye Although before those Halcyon dayes alas Shall many yeares and strange adventures passe Thy seed commixt with ours shall then enjoy What battels cannot purchase but destroy Blew Neptunes armes that compasse both these lands And now are cruell lists to joyne our hands As combatants and make the I le a stage Of our divided Nations warre and rage Shall then embrace us as a marriage ring My royall James shall to this Iland bring By birth as well as by his reigne a peace All rapine theft and barbarous feuds shall cease Which now our borders doe so much infest And after him more to confirme those blest And Halcion dayes shall Charles from heaven be sent Whose pious just and temp rate government Shall teach the world that peacefull Vertues bring As true and lasting honour to a King As by victorious warres can be obtain'd Or by the blood of slaughter'd Nations gain'd That they more sweetly set a Monarch forth As Aristides and good Cato's worth Deserve more solid and enduring
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
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
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
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
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
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