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THE

HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR.

BOOK IV.

THE ARGUMENT.

King Henry his excuses publishes

For Richard's death; and truce doth entertain
With France.-The Scots, aggriev'd for wrongs, ad-
Themselves to war; and are appeas'd again. [dress
-The Welsh rebel.-The Piercies' practices
(To part the state) are stopp'd; in battle slain.
Continual troubles still afflict this king;
Till death an end doth to his travails bring.

THE bounds once overgone that hold men in,
They never stay; but on from bad to worse.
"Wrongs do not leave off there where they begin,
But still beget new mischiefs in their course."
Now, Henry, thou hast added to thy sin
Of usurpation, and intruding force,

A greater crime; which makes that gone before
T' appear more than it did, and noted more.

For now thou art enforc'd t' apologize
With foreign states', for two enormous things,
Wherein thou dost appear to scandalize
The public right, and common cause of kings:
Which, though (with all the skill thou can'st devise)
Thou overlay'st with fairest colouring;

Yet th' under-work, transparent, shows too plain. "Where open acts accuse, th' excuse is vain."

And these defences are but compliments,
To dally with confining potentates;
Who, busied in their proper governments,
Do seldom tend th' affairs of other states:
Their wisdom, which to present pow'r consents,
Live dogs before dead lions estimates:
"And no man more respects these public wrongs,
Than so much as t' his private state belongs."

Yet most it seem'd the French king to import,
As sharer in his daughter's injury:
"Though blood in princes links not in such sort,
As that it is of any pow'r to tie,"

Where their estates may seem t' adventure hurt;
Or where there is not a necessity,
That doth combine them with a stronger chain,
Than all these great alliances contain.

For though this king might have resentiment
And will t' avenge him of this injury;
Yet at that time his state being turbulent 2,
Factious, and full of partiality,
And oftentimes be himself impotent,
By means of his frenetic malady;
It was not likely any good could rise,
By undertaking such an enterprise.

And therefore both sides, upon entercourse;
(As fitted best their present terms) agreed,
The former truce' continue should in force,
According as it had been fore-decreed
Upon the match with Richard; aud a course
For Isabel (with all convenient speed)
Provided, with an honourable train
Suiting her state, to be sent home again :

Whom willingly they would have still retain'd,
And match'd unto the prince. But she (though
young;

Yet sensible of that which appertain'd
To honour and renown) scoru'd any tongue
That offer'd such a motion; and disdain'd
To have it thought, she would but hear that wrong
Mov'd to her, of her lord and husband dead,
To have his murtherer's race enjoy his bed.

Besides, the French (doubting the government,
Thus gotten, would be subject still to strife)
Not willing were to urge her to consent
T' accept a troublous and uncertain life:
And being return'd, she grew in th' end content
To be (at home) a duke of Orleans' wife';
'Scap'd from such storms of pow'r, holding it best
To be below herself, to be at rest.

And so hath Henry assecur'd that side,
And therewithal his state of Gascony';
Which, on th' intelligence was notify'd
Of Richard's death, were wrought to mutiny;
And hardly came to be repacify'd,
And kept to hold in their fidelity.
So much to him were they affectioned,
For having been amongst them born and bred.

These toils abroad, these tumults with his own,
(As if the frame of all disjointed were,
With this disorder'd shifting of the crown)
Fell in the revolution of one year.
Beside, the Scot (in discontentment grown
For the detaining, and supporting here,
The scourge of all that kingdom, George Dunbar 7)
With fire and sword proclaims an open war;

3 The truce made with Richard II. renewed for thirty years; but broken the next year after, upon their part; sending Jaques de Bourbon with forces into Wales, to the aid of Glendour.

4 The king labours to have queen Isabel matched to his son Henry, prince of Wales.

5 Queen Isabel was married to Charles, son to Louis, duke of Orleans.

Thomas Piercy, earl of Worcester, was sent into Gascony, with two hundred men at arms, and four hundred archers; to assist sir Robert Knowles, lieutenant there; where he pacified that country, being incensed by the French to revolt, upon their discontentment for the death of king Richard,

1 Commissioners are sent to foreign princes, to whom they especially loved for being born at excuse and justify the king's proceedings.

2 In the time of Charles VI. began the civil wars in France, between the dukes of Orleans and Burgoign.

Bourdeaux.

' George Dunbar, earl of March, flying out of Scotland, was received and cherished in England, and warred against his country.

Taking their time in these disturbances,
And newness of a wav'ring government,
T" avenge them of their former grievances,
And by our spoils their fortunes to augment.
Against whose forces Henry furnishes
A pow'rful army, and in person went;
But wars with a retiring enemy,
With much more travail than with victory.

And being (by sharp deformed winter's force)
Caus'd to retire, he finds new storms at home,
From other coasts arising; that prov'd worse
Than those which now he was returned from.
In Wales, a cause of law, by violent course,
Was (from a variance) now a war become;
And Owen Glendour, who with Grey of late
Contests for private lands, now seeks a state.

Whom to repress, he early in the spring,
With all provisions fit, doth forward set;
When straight his enemies (not purposing
To hazard battle) to the mountains get:
Where after long and weary travelling,
Without performing any great defeat,
He only their provisions wastes and burns,
And with some prey of cattle home returns.
Wherewith the rebel rather was the more
Encourag'd than addaunted, and begun
T adventure further than he did before;
Seeing such a monarch had so little done,
Being com'n in person with so great a pow'r,
And suddenly again retir'd and gone.

"For in this case they help, who hurt so small;
And he hath nothing done, that doth not all."

But now (behold!) other new heads appear,
New hydras of rebellion, that procure
More work to do, and give more cause of fear;
And show'd, that nothing in his state stood sure.
And these ev'n of his chiefest followers were,
Of whom he might presume him most secure ;
Who had th' especial engines been, to rear
His fortunes up unto the state they were.

The Piercies were the men-men of great might,
Strong in alliance, and in courage strong;
Who now conspire, under pretence to right
Such wrongs as to the commonwealth belong;
Urg'd either through their conscience, or despite;
Or finding now the part they took was wrong.
Or else ambition hereto did them call,
Or others' envy'd grace; or rather all.

And such they were, who might presume t' have done
Much for the king, and honour of the state;
Having the chiefest actions undergone,
Both foreign and domestical of late:
Beside that famous day of Homeldon 1o,
Where Hotspur gave that wonderful defeat

Unto the Scots, as shook that kingdom more
Than many monarchs' armies had before.

Which might perhaps advance their minds so far,
Above the level of subjection, as

T'assume to them the glory of that war;
Where all things by their pow'r were brought to pass.
They being so mighty, and so popular,
And their command so spacious as it was,
Might (in their state) forget, how all these things
That subjects do affect, must be their king's.

And so fell after into discontent,

For that the king requir'd to have as his,
Those lords were taken prisoners; whom they meant
To hold still as their proper purchases:
Then, that he would not at their suit consent
To work their cousin Mortimer's release
Out of the rebel Owen Glendour's hands,
Who held him prisoner in disgraceful bands.

But be what will the cause, strong was their plot,
Their parties great, means good, the season fit;
Their practice close, their faith suspected not;
Their states far off, and they of wary wit:
Who with large promises so woo the Scot
To aid their cause, as he consents to it;
And glad was to disturn that furious stream
Of war on us, that else that swallowed them.

Then join they with the Welsh; who now well train'd
In arms and action, daily grew more great.
Their leader by his wiles had much attain'd,
And done much mischief on the English state:
Beside his pris'ner Mortimer he gain'd,
From being a foe, to b' his confederate;

A man the king much fear'd-and well he might ";
Lest he should look whether his crown stood right.

For Richard, (for the quiet of the state)
Before he took those Irish wars in hand,
About succession doth deliberate;
And finding how the certain right did stand,
With full consent this man did ordinate
The heir apparent to the crown and land;
Whose competency was of tender touch;
Although his might was small, his right was much.

Piercy, (surnamed Hotspur) accompanied with George Dunbar, earl of March, overthrew the Scottish forces: where were slain twenty-three knights, and ten thousand of the commons; the earls of Fife, Murray, Angus, with five hundred other of meaner degree, taken prisoners.

"In the ninth year of the reign of king Richard II. was by parliament ordained Roger earl of March, heir apparent to the crown.

This Roger was the son of Edmund Mortimer, * Owen Glendour, an esquire in North Wales, who married Philippa, the only daughter of Lionel contesting with the lord Grey of Ruthen, for cer- duke of Clarence, the third son of king Edward III. tain lands which he claimed by inheritance; and who by her had issue this Roger, and Elizabeth. being not powerful enough by his own means to Roger had issue four children; all which (save recover them, procured force, and made war upon only Anne) died without issue. Anne was married the lord Grey and after attempts for the princi-to Richard earl of Cambridge, second son to Edpality of that country, anno regni 2.

9 Anno regni 3.

mund duke of York. This Richard (beheaded at Southampton) had issue by Anne, Richard, (sur

In this battle of Homeldon, the lord Henry named Plantagenet) after duke of York.

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With these the Piercies them confederate,
And as three heads conjoin in one intent;
And instituting a triumvirate,

Do part the land in triple government;
Dividing thus among themselves the state:
The Piercies should rule all the north from Trent;
And Glendour, Wales: the earl of March should
be

Lord of the south, from Trent-and so they 'gree.

Then those fair bates these trouble-states still use, (Pretence of common good, the king's ill course) Must be cast forth, the people to abuse,

And give their cause and them the better force. The king for tyranny they do accuse,

By whom the state was grown from bad to worse; A perjur'd man, who held all faith in scorn; Whose trusted oaths had others made forsworn.

And therewithal the execrable act 12
On their late murther'd king they aggravate:
"How he employ'd the doers of the fact,
Whom afterwards he did remunerate;
And daily such taxations did exact,
As were against the order of the state;
Presuming those great sums he did impose,
About his private uses to dispose..

"And how he was environed with such

As had possess'd him; and in sland'rous sort
Accus'd them so, as they durst not approach
To clear themselves of such unjust report.
And thereupon they flatly disavouch
To yield him more obedience, or support:
And as t' a perjur'd duke of Lancaster,
Their cartel of defiance they prefer;

"Protesting these objections to make good
With sword in hand; and to confirm and seal
Their undertaking with their dearest blood,
As procurators for the commonweal.
And that upon their consciences it stood,
And did import their duty and their zeal
Unto the state, as peers, to see redress'd
Those miseries wherewith it was oppress'd."

Great seem'd their cause; and greatly too did

add

The people's love thereto, these crimes impos'd;
That many gather'd to the troops they had,
And many sent them aid, though undisclos'd:
So that the king (with all main speed) was glad,
Both by his remonstrances weli compos'd,
And with his sword (his best defence) provide
To right himself, and to correct their pride.

Divulging first a fair apology

Of his clear heart, touching the foul report
Of that assassinate; which utterly
He doth abjure: protesting, in no sort
T' agree thereto, in will or privity.
And how he had been used to extort,

The state could witness best; by whose consent
Was granted what he had in parli'ment :

"Which never was but only one supply,
In four years troublous and expensive reign;
And that upon extreme necessity,
The safety of the public to maintain.
And that the Piercies best could testify,
How most that money issued was again;
To whom the same was render'd, to the end
To war the Scot, and borders to defend.

"And that the rest was to the same effect,
For which it was obtain'd, in like sort spent.
And whereas they did slanderously object,
How that they durst not hazard to present
In person their defences, in respect

He was incens'd by some malevolent:
It was most false-for he knew no defence
They were to make, till now they made offence.

"And how far he had been from cruelty,
Both Wales and Scotland could him witness bear;
Where those effects of his great clemency,
In sparing blood, do to his cost appear.
Much more his subjects find his lenity;
Whose love he seeks to have, and not their fear.
But thus," said he, "they ever do pretend
To have receiv'd a wrong, who wrong intend."

Not to give time unto th' increasing rage,
And gath'ring fury; forth he march'd with speed,
Lest more delay, or giving longer age
To th' evil grown, it might the cure exceed.
All his best men at arms, and leaders sage;
All he prepar'd he could; and all did need:
For to a mighty work thou goest, O king,
That equal spirits, and equal pow'rs shall bring.

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"The Piercies' article against Henry IV. Anno For the Piercies supposed he would have stayed regni 4.

longer than he did at Burton upon Trent, for the

And yet undaunted Hotspur (seeing the king
So near arriv'd) leaving the work in hand,
With forward speed his forces marshalling,
Sets forth, his further coming to withstand:
And with a cheerful voice encouraging
His well-experienc'd and advent'rous band,
Brings on his army, eager unto fight,
And plac'd the same before the king in sight.

"This day," saith he, "my valiant, trusty friends,
Whatever it doth give, shall glory give:
This day with honour frees our state, or ends
Our misery with fame, that still shall live.
And do but think, how well the same he spends,
Who spends his blood, his country to relieve!
What! have we hands; and shall we servile be?
Why were swords made; but to preserve men free?

"Besides, th' assured hope of victory,
Which we may ev'n fore-promise on our side,
Against this weak, constrained company;
Whom force and fear, not will and love, doth guide;
Against a prince, whose foul impiety

The Heav'ns do hate; the Earth cannot abide.
Our number being no less, our courage more ;
No doubt we have it, if we work therefore."

This said, and thus resolv'd, ev'n bent to charge
Upon the king, who well their order view'd,
And wary noted all the course at large
Of their proceeding, and their multitude:
And deeming better, if he could discharge
The day with safety, and some peace conclude;
Great proffers '4 sends of pardon and of grace,
If they would yield, and quietness embrace.

Which though his fears might drive him to propose,
To time his bus'ness for some other end;
Yet sure he could not mean t' have peace with those,
Who did in that supreme degree offend.
Nor where they such as would be won with shows,
Or breath of oaths, or vows could apprehend;
So that (in honour) th' offers he doth make,
Were not for him to give, nor them to take.

And yet this much his courses do approve,
He was not bloody in his natural;
And yield he did to more, than might behove
His dignity to have dispens'd withal.
And unto Worc'ster he himself did move
A reconcilement to be made of all;

But Worc'ster, knowing 't could not be secur'd,
His nephew's onset yet for all procur'd.

coming of his council with other forces, which were there to meet him. Whereupon they left to assail the town of Shrewsbury, and prepared to encounter the king's forces. Anno reg. 4.

The abbot of Shrewsbury, and one of the clerks of the privy-seal, were sent from the king to the Piercies, to offer them pardon, if they would come to any reasonable agreement. Whereupon the earl of Worcester coming to the king, received many kind proffers; and promising to move his nephew therein, did'at his return (as is said) conceal them, and hastened to the battle; which was fought near Shrewsbury. Anno reg. 4.

VOL. III.

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And three, with fi'ry courage, he assails;
Three, all as kings adorn'd in royal wise;
And each successive after other quails,
Still wond'ring whence so many kings should rise.
And doubting lest his hand or eye-sight fails,
(In these confounded) on a fourth he dies,
And him unhorses too: whom had he sped,
He then all kings in him had vanquished.

For Henry had divided (as it were)
The person of himself into four parts;
To be less known, and yet known ev'ry where,
The more to animate his people's hearts:
Who cheered by his presence, would not spare
To execute their best and worthiest parts.
By which, two special things effected are;
His safety, and his subjects' better care.

And never worthy prince a day did quit
With greater hazard, and with more renown,
Than thou did'st, mighty Henry, in this fight;
Which only made thee owner of thine own:
Thou never prov'dst the tenure of thy right
(How thou didst hold thy easy gotten crown)
Till now and now thou show'st thy self chief
lord,

By that especial right of kings, the sword.

And dear it cost, and much good blood is shed,
To purchase thee a saving victory:
Great Stafford 16, thy high-constable, lies dead,
With Shorley, Clifton, Gawsell, Calverly,
And many more-whose brave deaths witnessed
Their noble valour and fidelity:

And many more had left their dearest blood
Behind that day, had Hotspur longer stood.

But he, as Douglas with his fury led,
Rushing into the thickest woods of spears,
And brakes of swords, still laying at the head,
(The life of th' army) whilst he nothing fears,
Or spares his own; comes all environed
With multitude of pow'r, that overbears
His manly worth: who yields not in his fall;
But fighting dies, and dying kills withal.

What ark, what trophy, what magnificence
Of glory, Hotspur, had'st thou purchas'd here;
Could but thy cause as fair as thy pretence,
Be made unto thy country to appear!
Had it been her protection and defence,
(Not thy ambition) made thee sell so dear
Thyself this day; she must have here made good
An everlasting statue for thy blood.

Which thus mis-spent, thy army presently

(As if they could not stand when thou wer't down)
Dispers'd in rout, betook them all to fly:
And Douglas, faint with wounds, and overthrown,
Was taken; who yet won the enemy
Which took him, (by his noble valour shown,
In that day's mighty work) and was preserv'd
With all the grace and honour he deserv'd.

Worc'ster 17 (who had escap'd unhappily
His death in battle) on a scaffold dies,
The next day after, in the company
Of other chiefest of that enterprise.
And so the tempest of this mutiny
Became allay'd; and those great jeopardies
Blown over in this sort, the coasts well clear'd,
But for one threatning cloud that yet appear'd.

Northumberland recover'd, still outstands;
The principal of this great family

And faction: having Berwick in his hands,
With other holds: strong by confed'racy
With Scotland: mighty by his own command.
And likely now his utmost pow'r to try,

T' avenge him on the ruin of his blood,

And join with Wales, which yet undaunted stood.

Which mov'd the king, (who had too much endur'd
In this day's work, to hazard new again)
By all the aptest means could be procur'd,
To lay to draw him in by any train.
And write he did, and vow'd, and him assur'd
(Upon his princely word) to entertain
With former grace, if he would but submit,
And come to yield th' obedience that was fit.

The earl being now by this defeat dismay'd,
(And fearing his confederates would fail,
With fortune, and betray, rather than aid
Those who are down; being for their own avail)
Relying on his sov'reign's oath, obey'd;
Which with his tender griefs did much prevai! :
And in he came, and had no detriment,
But (for a show) some short imprisonment.

The parli'ment that afterward ensu'd,
Restor❜d him t' all his dignities and lands.
And now none but the Welsh seem'd to seclude
The king, from having wholly in his hands
All peace within: and them he had pursu'd,
Whilst this brave army, with these ready bands,
Were yet on foot; could he but have got pay
To hold them, and his charge of war defray.

But that he could not gain, though all the ways
That might be wrought, he labours to procure
Means to effect the same. But those delays,
And long protraction, which he must endure
By way of parli'ment, so much betrays
The opportunity, that might secure
His undertaking; as th' occasion lost,
Drave both the state and him to greater cost.

For now the rebel 18, thus forborn, grows strong,
Both in his reputation and success:
For having with his pow'r held out so long,
Many adventure with more forwardness
And foreign princes (in his business
To yield him aid, and to support his wrong.

Whom he solicits) now will lend their hand
To hold him up, seeing himself can stand.

17 Thomas Piercy, earl of Worcester, with sir Richard Vernon, and the baron of Kinderton, were taken in the battle, and beheaded.

16 Edmond earl of Stafford, constable of Eng-with one hundred and forty ships, which landed at

land.

18 The French king sends aid to Owen Glendour, Milford Haven, an. reg. 6.

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