The reigne of King Henry the Second written in seaven bookes. By his Majesties command.

THE REIGNE OF King HENRY the Second. (Book 1)

The First Booke. (Book 1)

The Argument of the first Booke.

The happy part of Henry's reigne is showne. His first Triumphant yeares and high renowne. His peace and power Enyo grieves to see; And to disturbe his long tranquillity Descending downe to Lucifer below She craves some Vices aide, to overthrow The causes of it: there those tragike times Of Stephens reigne, and Englands civill crimes So lately past, Enyo does relate; And shewes with griefe King Henry's present state▪ The Fiend foretells what suddaine change shall be Of Englands peace, and his felicity.

THe Second Henry, first Plantagenet, The first of Englands royall Kings, that set Victorious footing on the Irish-shore, And taught that warrelike nation to adore

A forreine Scepter, sound ye Muses foorth. Declare how much his high Heroike worth By stormes of spitefull fortune oft assail'd, As oft'gainst fortunes spitefull stormes prevail'd. His glorious reigne, but wrapt in various fate, And, though triumphant, yet unfortunate. How his great Vertues were too saddly try'de By rebell Subjects, by the Papall pride, And his owne Childrens strange impiety. By opposition to ecclipse his high And great Renowne, or higher to advance The fame of his undaunted puissance.

Vouchsafe, dread Soveraigne Charles, with that most cleare And gracious eye, with which you use to cheare Poore suppliants, while destinyes attend Your royall doome, to view these lines, and lend Your favours influence, which can infuse Vertue alone into an English Muse. Shee else would tremble to approach too nigh So pure a minde, so great a Majesty. Vouchsafe to read the actions of a King Your noble Ancestour; and what we sing In Henry's reigne, that may be true renowne, Accept it, S^r. as Prologue to your owne, Vntill this Muse, or some more happy strayne May sing your Vertues, and unaequall'd Reigne.

Those civill swords, that did so lately stayne The land with slaughter, now were sheath'd againe. The rents of State were clos'd, the wounds were cur'de, Peace by victorious Henry was secur'de, And justice waited on his awfull throne Without controll; all feares, all faction, That tooke beginning with King Stephen's reigne, With him descended to the grave againe. Stephen deceas'd, the Crowne of England now Came by accord t'empale young Henry's brow, Which was before by right of birth his due. But he, least England too too long should rue In blood and slaughter their ambitious strife, Came to accords of peace, and during life Of Stephen, respited his royall right. Now like bright Phaebus to the longing sight Of all the People did young Henry ri•…•…e; Before whose rayes all past calamities Like mists did vanish: no sadd clouds accloy The aire of England; with loud showtes of joy The People flock, the Peeres their wealth display To grace his wish'd-for Coronation day. His brave atchievements, and that early fame Which he in France had gain'd, had made his name Already lov'd in England and admir'd. Him all the people for their Lord desir'd,

And now possest of him, take faire presage Such youth would end in a triumphant age.

Then, as when once the charriot of the Sunne Had beene misguided by bold Phaëton, Iove walk'd the round, and veiw'd with carefull eye If heaven were safe; then from the starry sky Descending downe, survey'd the scorched ground, And there repair'd the ruines that he found; To their dry channells he call'd backe the floods, And with fresh verdure cloath'd the seindged woods, Renew'd the herbage, and redresse ordain'd For all that wronged Nature had sustein'd: So Henry stablish'd in the Regall throne Iove-like surveyes his large dominion, To see what parts of state might be decay'd, What rents so long a civill warre had made. With physicke fit he purges from the State Those humours, that did stirre, and swell so late, Digests the reliques, and by Princely arts, And policy, corroborates the parts.

And first of all, those troopes of forreiners, That from all parts during the civill warres Resorted hither to seeke spoyle and prey, He banishes, that at th' appoynted day Within the coasts no strangers did remaine, Restoring England to it selfe againe.

And least the Crowne should want for that expence, That must support the high magnificence Of such a Monarchy, into his hands He boldly seizes all the royall lands, Which either greatest men did uncontroll'd In those tumultuous times unjustly hold; Or else King Stephen to support so badd And weake a title, as (they knew) he had, Had given freely, as rewards to tye Their truth to him against their loyalty.

Nor did King Henry vindicate alone The state and wealth of his Imperiall Crowne, But the just power, and with a puissant hand Setled that sure obedience through the land; That to his awfull Scepter did belong. The greatest Peeres, that were before too strong To be commanded, he by force compell'd To yeild to him the Castles that they held. And all the midland forts he rased downe (The strength of nothing but rebellion.) Nor, though as yet presumptuous Mortimer Had not forgot the late licentious warre, But strove to guard against his Soveraigne By lawlesse armes the strength that he had tane, Could he resist the King, enforc'd to yeild To him those three strong Castles that he held.

Well did this reformation suite the thought Of such a great Heroike King, who brought Besides his persons worth, and true esteeme, So lov'de a title to the Crowne with him. Not from the Norman Conquerour did he Deduce alone his royall pedegree: But from the ancient Saxon Kings beside, As lineall heire to Edmund Ironside; And in his happy birth did so conjoyne The conquering Norman and old Saxon line. Which hearty love and reverence to his throne From all the English people justly wonne. Who now forgate, pleas'd with his lawfull power, That they were servants to a Conquerour▪ Great Grand-childe, by the Femall side, was he To Margaret the Queene of Scotland; she Daughter to Edward, sonne to Ironside; Whose royall birth and blood was dignify'd By twenty faire descents of Saxon Kings. All which the happy birth of Henry brings The more to England to endeare his reigne. And heere your selfe, most Gracious Soveraigne, Your ancient right to Englands Crowne may see. In Scotlands royall blood your pedegree Is farther drawne; and no knowne king, as you, So long a title to two Crownes can show.

Then to the North with puissant Armes he makes A prudent Voyage, and by Conquests takes (To keepe entire his kingdomes ancient bounds) From Malcolme King of Scotland, all those grounds That to the Crowne of England did belong. No Cities could withstand, no forts so strong, But yeild to Henryes force. there, with the rest Newcastle, Carleill he againe possest. But least injustice any staine should be To his great deedes, in thankefull memory Of what King Malcolme in the warres had done For th' Empresse Mawde, he gives him Huntingdon A midd-land County, rich, and fitter farre For the b•…•…hoofe of both; from whence no warre Nor troubles could arise, and which before Had beene possess'd by Malcolmes Ancestor.

Yet did one deed with sad injustice blot The reputation he before had gott; Whilest too must thirsting for encrease of lands, He seiz'd out of his brothers Geoffrey's hands The Earldome of Aniou; forgetting both The sacred tyes of Nature and of Oath; That Oath which once so solemnly he swore. His Father Geoffry Anious Earle, before Knowing that Henry was, by birth, to be Both Englands King, and Duke of Normandy,

Had given that Earldome to his second sonne Geoffrey, and put him in possession Of three the strongest Castles in the Land. But falling sicke, when deaths approching hand He felt, mistrusting that hi•…•… eldest Sonne The potent Henry might, when he was gone, Diss•…•…ize young Geoffrey, made his Barons sweare (For at his death Prince Henry was not there) That his dead corps should not enterred be Till Henry had beene sworne to ratify His will; Prince Henry, though unwillingly, Yet rather then his fathers hearse should lye Vnbury'd still, that Oath b•…•…fore them tooke. Which afterward, when Englands King, he broke; And, though possessed of so many lands And large estates, out of his brother's hands That Earledome tooke by force of armes away; And did, in lieu, a yearely pension pay.

But though the King could for that oath obtaine A dis•…•…ensation from Pope Adrian, A higher power (it seem'd) would not dispense; But afterward in kinde did recompence •…•…hat foule misdeede. for when King Henry meant To Iohn his yongest sonne the governement Of those three Castles; thence his eldest sonne Tooke first pretence for that rebellion

Against his father. so what injury Impiety had wrought, Impiety Reveng'd; and scourg'd by an unnaturall sonne What was 'gainst nature by a br•…•…ther done.

Yet could not Henry's deedes of highest fame Teach stubborne Wales to tremble at his name, Or feare t'offend him by rebellious warre, Till she had felt him there a conquerer, And beene herselfe enforced to implore His grace and favour, with one triumph more T'en•…•…ich his conquering head; not all her great Rough woods could yeild her souldiers safe retreat; Nor could those high and craggy mountaines bee Of proofe 'gainst Henry's magnanimity. Although the Welsh rely'd not on the aide Of hills and woods: their Prince was not afraide To joyne in battell with the English strength; Where though stout Owen and his powers at length Subd•…•…'de, did yeild themselves, yet so they fought, That they true fame to Henry's conquest brought. Who now triumphant backe to England goes, And leaves strong forts to aw rebellious foes, •…•…o guard the coasts and marches, and appeare •…•…e lasting trophees of his conquests there.

Those large dominions which he held in France, The fame alone of his great puissance

Preserv'd from tumults, from rebellions free, Or feare of any forreine enemy. King Lewis himselfe was there too weake a foe To doe him damage, or his power orethrow Beyond the seas; yet though each neighbouring state With envy trembled at the prosperous fate Of Englands King; such moderation hee Had shew'd, so rul'd his power with equity, Seeking no lawlesse and unjust encrease, That Europe then possest a happy peace. This peace when feirce Enyo had beheld, And saw all seedes of warre and faction quel'd, She sigh'd and wept; for nought could pleasing bee To that dire mayde but warres calamity: Nought but dissention did to her seeme good; No sights but feilds and rivers stain'd with blood Were her delightsome prospects. into aire She mounts, and fill'd with fury and despaire Shakes, as she flyes, her now-extinguish'd brand, Which gives no blaze at all, then taking stand Above the shore of fruitfull Normandy Vpon a lofty cliffe, viewes from on high Great Henry's large dominions, that extend From Scotland Northward to the Southerne end Of spatious rance, which those high mountaines bound Nam'd from Pirenes death▪ ore all that ground

She sees, and gnashes for disdaine to see, No streaming Ensignes, no hostility; The murdrous swords to sythes were turn'd againe, And cheerefull plowmen till the fertile plaine; The heardsmen heare their bullocks gently lough, And their owne folds the fearelesse shepheards know. Am I then banish'd quite? shall Peace (quoth she) Boast through these lands so great a victory Over Enyo? will no power orethrow These nations quiet rest! if heaven allow This lethargy, and still would have it so: I will descend, and see what hell can doo.

A spatious cave there was (not oft before Descry'd by mortall eye) within that shore Which wealthy France doth to the North display, And Brittaines Ocean bounds. thither they say, The wise Dulichyan Heroe, by advi•…•…e Of beautious Circe came to sacrifice, And there restor'd, by blood of bullocks slaine, To silent ghosts the use of speech againe. Through that darke vault did Phoebus nere shoot ray, Nor ever glided beame of cheerefull day. The grove of Proserpine oreshadow'd quite That dismall shore, and damps of drery night Condens'd the aire; no birds those boughs did grace, Nor with sweet musicke cheer'd the balefull place;

No Tritons play'd, nor did blew Proteus feede His scaly •…•…locke, nor faire Halcyon breede Beneath the shelter of so sadd a shore: But greisly fiends and furyes evermore In hideous shapes did to the cave repaire, And ghosts sad•…•… murmurs did afright the aire, Who in unnumber'd companies attend. Thither the feirce Enyo did descend, And all her strongest arts and charmings bring To hold converse with Hells infernall king.

The Feind himselfe was busy farre below, And ranne with gnashing envy too and fro To finde out plotts of ruine, and survey His Master-vices, who fast chained lay In adamantine cavernes; and from thence (So pleas'd the great Creators providence To curbe their might for mankindes sake, least all The world should in a quicke confusion fall) With all their force at once, and licens'd power They cannot goe; for soone they would devoure All states, all lands, and worke more tragicke woe Then earthquakes, fires, or pestilence can doe. Within their severall denns the Vices lay; And ore the doores proud pictures did display What severall feates and conquests they had wrought, What States, what kingdomes they to ruine brought.

For of destroying housholds, or the fall Of private men they made no boast at all. And as sterne Aeolus is forc'd to locke The boistrous winds in caves of strongest rocke By Ioves command, lest, if they wholly goe, They should all woods, all cities ouerthrow, And beare downe all that did before them stand, Confounding Neptunes kingdome with the land. Yet have those windes still leave in some degree (Though they disdaine such petty liberty) To range abroade, to make their natures knowne, To shake some weakely •…•…ounded houses downe, Oreturne some aged Oakes, and now and than To cause a shipwracke on the Ocean. Even so these hellish monsters, though great Iove Permit them not in their full strength to move, Are acting mischei•…•…e every day, and goe Contriving here and there designes of woe, And worke (though they almost such worke despise) The wracke of private men and families; But to effect a great and publike woe Without a speciall license cannot goe: Hither, while Lucifer did thus survey His Master-Vices, as they chained lay, He bad them bring Enyo downe below, For then to th'upper cave he would not goe.

What would'st thou crave (quoth he) what blacke de∣signe What stratagem t'enlarge thy power or mine Hath made Enyo hither take her flight? The furious Maide replyes; great Prince of night, Tis not my cause alone that makes me come (As fearing generall peace in Christendome) Thy cause is joyn'd; I feare if that peace be, Such warres as more will hurt thy Monarchy. Then briefly thus; full fifteene yeares are gone Since potent Henry wore the English crowne, Possest besides, in wealthy France of more Strong lands, then doe the crowne of France adore, Blest with a numerous issue, and by none Annoy'd, disturb'd by no rebellion, Nor forreine foes; and lest French Lewis should be His foe (though too too weake;) a•…•…inity Ioines them; faire Margaret is by wedlocke ty'd To young Prince Henry; Brittaines heire's affy'd To Geoffrey his third sonne, who comes to adde That Dutchy too, to what before he had In France; it did not seeme enough that he Before possest Maine, Aniou, Normandy, Nor that he did by Eleanor obtaine Poi•…•…tou besides, and fertile Aquitaine. What warre dares menace such strong power as he Possesses now? what fortune (woe is me)

Ha's chang'de the times? with what delight could I (If now not crost by this tranquillity) Remember Stephen's raigne, and tragicke times? Oh heavens what slaughters, then, what civill crimes Did England see, when on her frighted Coast The Empresse Maude was landed with her hoast, And came by armes to claime her royall right? What suddain tumults rose, and did afright The wretched people? different passions then Made sad divisions in the hearts of men. Some wept, some fear'd, some sadly tooke their armes, And with intent to cure their countryes harmes Prepar'd to wound her more; some did not know What side to take, or where they might bestow Their rage or love, before each mourning eye Did formes of fire, of blood, and slaughter flye. Within themselves their passions made arise Such things as they imagin'd prodigies; With thoughts confus'd the people rush'd to armes; No noise in England but my loud alarmes Was heard; the warre long carryed to and fro At Lincolne wholly met at last, and now All hop'd one battell would the right decide. No feild was ever with more fury try'd, Nor rage ere met more aequall rage, as they That saw the slaughters of that dismall day,

Could justly tell; till great Augustaes right, Whose powers renowned Gloster led in fight, Prevail'd at last; there after he in vaine Had shew'd rare valour, was king Stephen tane, And to the conquering Empresse captive brought. Then turn'd the State. who would not then have thought All civill warres had ended quite, when she Had on her side both right and victory? The people all congratulate her state; But soone beginne to pity St•…•…phens fa•…•…e, And too hard durance. who a king had beene, Then pinch'd in irons lay. his weeping Queene For her deare Lord did to the Empresse sue, But all in vaine. the warres from thence renew; Againe the discontented people rise In aide of Stephens faction, and surprise Glosters brave Earle, Augustaes Generall Then seem'd the like calamities to fall On both the parties, and in aequall paine Of durance did the king and Earle remaine Accord was made, but not an end to make Of civill warre, nor for their countries sake, But to release their owne captivity, And in exchange they set each other free. From this accord with greater fury farre Through all the kingdome rose the civill warre.

For those sad changes had not pacify'd But more incens'd the chiefes of either side. Whose wrath the people felt; all kindes of woe The wretched Realme was forc'd to undergoe. The countryes pillag'd, castles lost and wonne, Rich cloysters robb'd, the fairest cities downe Or ras'd or burned, in •…•…ude heapes did ly; As Wiltons pittyed sacke could testify By Glosters furious army burn'd with fire. Nor thee faire Worster, in king Stephens ire Could all thy beauteous structure save from wracke; In fatall flames thy walls and houses cracke. Through what great hazards did both Princes runne? How hardly oft escape destru•…•…tion! What neede I tell how Stephen forc'd to fly From Gloster's powers, forfooke his treasury At Wilton Abbey? how the Empresse fled When least she seem'd to fly (supposed dead) And like a coarse was carryed through her 〈◊〉〈◊〉 So to escape? what need I now disclose How after she, when she i•…•… Oxford lay Straightly beseig'd by Stephen, got away? No strength of friends at all, no parleys there Could free her person; Winter rescu'd her, And the cold season strove to mocke the foe. December rag'd, the Northerne windes did blow,

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And by their power had glaz'd the silver flood Of neere-adjoyning Thames, whose waters stood Congealed still; ore which the snow around Had fall'n, and with white fleeces cloath'd the ground; When the wise Empresse cloath'd alike in white Forsooke the towne, and past along by night, Deluding so the watches carefull eyes. They thought the snow had moov'd, or did surmise Their opticke spirits had disturbed beene, Not cleare, and they tumultuously had seene. Fixt objects oft doe seeme in motions so. Thus then securely did the Empresse goe, And was receiv'd with joy to Walingford. Nor then did England bleed alone; her Lord Anious great Earle by feirce and bloody warre Was winning Normandy in right of her. Those, those were times; but now, (ah woe is me) Great Lucifer, if this tranquillity Without disturbance hold in Christendome, I feare for thee a farre worse warre will come. Thy Saracens shall rue the Christians peace, And feele their conquering swords. what large increase Of territories, honour, and of fame Through farthest Asia will the Christian name Acquire? what bounds, alas, would Salem know If potent Henry to this warre should goe?

If he should there the English crosse advance? His aide they all will seeke; his puissance Will Salems feeble king implore to joyne Against those foes that threaten Palaestine. Therefore in time this peacefull knot divide. Enyo ceas'd; when Lucifer reply'de; Thy just complaint, heroike Maide, I heare; But doe not doubt the power of Lucifer. Those instruments, that I from hence shal bring, Will soone divert it all, and make this king, Whose strength the world so much admires, and fea•…•…▪ Whom now they deeme so blest, ere many yeares Into themselves revolve againe, to be The pity of his foes; nature for me Against herselfe is working. come and veiw My champions here that shall with speed pursue What I designe. with that he leades her by The denns, where all along his Vi•…•…es ly.

There in her den•…•… lay pompous Luxury Stretch'd out at length; no Vice could boast such hi•…•…h And generall victories as she had wonne. Of which proud trophees there at large were showne. Besides small States and kingdomes ruined, Those mighty Monarchies, that had orespread The spatious earth, and stretch'd their conquering arme▪ From Pole to Pole, by her •…•…nsuaring charmes

Were quite consum'd. there lay imperiall Rome, That vanquish•…•… all the worl'd, by her orecome. Fetter'd was th'old Assyrian Lion there, The Graecian Leopard, and the Persian Beare, With others numberlesse lamenting by, Examples of the power of luxury.

Next with erected lookes Ambition stood, Whose trophees all were pourtray'd forth in blood. Vnder his feet Law and religion He trampled downe; sack'd cities there were showne, Rivers and feilds with slaughter overspread, And stain'd with blood which his wild sons had shed. There Ninus image stood, who first of all By lawlesse armes and slaughter did enthrall The quiet nations, that liv'd free till then, And first tooke pride to triumph over men. There was Sesostres figur'd; there the sonne Of Philip lay, whose dire ambition Not all the spatious earth could satisfy. Swift as the lightning did his conquests fly •…•…rom Greece to farthest Easterne lands, and like Some dire contagion, through the world did strike Death and destruction; purple were the floods Of every region with their natives bloods. Next him tha•…•… Roman lay, who first of all Captiv'd his countrey; there were figur'd all

His warres and mischiefes, and what ever woes Through all the world by dire ambition rose.

Next to that Fiend lay pale Revenge; with gore His ghastly visage was all sprinckled ore. The hate he bore to others, had quite reft Him of all love unto himselfe, and left No place for nature. ore his den were showne Such tragedies and sad destruction As would dissolve true humane hearts to heare, And from the furies selves inforce a teare. Those bloody slaughters there to veiw were brought, Which Iacobs cruell sonnes in Shechem wrought, When all the Males but newly circumcis'd To their revengfull rage were sacrific'd. There the slaine youth of Alexandrialy By Caracalla's vengefull butchery, The captiv'd fate of Spaine was there display'd, Which wrathfull •…•…ulian in revenge betray'd To Pagan Moores, and ruin'd so his owne Sad house, his country and religion. Not all these sacred bonds with him prevaile, When he beholds his ravish'd daughter waile, Wring her white hands, and that faire bosome strike, That too much pleas'd the lustfull Rhoderike.

The next Sedition lay, not like the rest Was he attir'd, nor in his lookes exprest

Hatred to heaven and vertues lawes; but he Pretends religion, law, or liberty, Seeming t'adore what he did most orethrow, And would perswade vertue to be a foe To peace and lawfull power. above his den For boasting trophees hung su•…•…h robes, as when Old Sparta stood, her Ephori did weare, And Romes bold Tribunes. Stories carved there Of his atcheivements numberlesse were s•…•…ene, S•…•…ch as the Gracch•…•…s fact•…•…ous stirres had beene In ancient Rome, and such as were the crimes, •…•…hat oft wrack'd Greece in her most potent times, S•…•…ch as learn'd Athens, and bold Sparta knew, And from their ablest souldiers oft did rue.

Next to that Vice lay foule Impiety At large display'd, the cursed enemy Of natures best and holyest lawes; through all Her loathsome denne unthankfull vipers crawle. Above those stories were display'd, which show How much the Monarchy of Hell did owe •…•…or peoples wracke to that abhorred Vice. There were Mycenae's balefull tragedies, And all the woes that fatall The•…•…es had wrought. There false Medea, when away she brought Her owne betrayed countries spoiles, before Her weeping father Aeta peicemeale tore

Her brother's limbes, and strew'd them ore the feild. There with the same impiety she kill'd Her owne two sonnes, and through the aire apace By draggons drawne, she fled from Iason's face. There strong Alcathoë king Nisus towne By S•…•…yllaes impious treason was orethrowne, And sack'd with fire and sword; the wretched maide Had from her lofty sounding tower survey'd King Minos hoast, and doating on her faire Foes face, cut off her fathers purple haire.

This, this is she, this is the Vice must goe (Quoth Lu•…•…ifer) to worke the overthrow Of Englands peace; Impiety shall doe What ever thy designes can reach unto. She shall ascend to England, and possesse The breasts of Henri's sonnes; with what success•…•… Enyo feare not; I have seene the boyes. Though yet but young; I marke, to swell my joyes, Such forward signes of their ambition, They soone will by Impiety be blowne Vp into such attempts, as that thy brand Shall quickly blaze againe through every land That Henry rules. this is the cause that hee Continues yet in his prosperity, His sonnes are not of age. they, they must grow Their fathers onely ruine, th'overthrow

Of all his weale. besides to further our De•…•…gue in this; and lend us present power, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 king himselfe consents; who govern'd by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dotage and disastrous policy Does now entend to crowne his eldest sonne. Soone as his feasts at Windsore shall be done, Where now, with William Scotland's king, he lyes, Shall Westminst•…•…r see these solemnityes. The•…•…e see how soone •…•…mpiety shall fire The young kings brest, and make him more aspire The more his father gives, and though of late Sedition well have wrought upon the State By Becket, who these five yeares ha's beene fled, And yet that strife is not extinguished; No warres from thence grow, nor has thy desire Enyo, beene fulfill'd; that fa•…•…tious fire Has burnt no cities, nor has blood at all Beene drawne in that; be sure in this there shall. Impiety shall doe't▪ the Feind here ends, And pleas'd Enyo from the cave ascends.