Chapter 4
[Stanza 87: _A charitable Proclamation made by the King._]
But through his Hoast, he first of all proclaim'd In paine of death, no English man should take From the Religious, aged, or the maym'd, Or women that could no resistance make: To gaine his owne for that he onely aym'd; Nor would haue such to suffer for his sake: Which in the French (when they the same did heare) Bred of this braue King, a religious feare.
[Stanza 88: _The Kings mayne Standard (for the ponderousnes thereof,) euer borne vpon a Carriage._]
His Army rang'd, in order fitting warre, Each with some greene thing doth his Murrian crowne, With his mayne standard fixt vpon the Carre; Comes the great King before th'intrenched Towne, Whilst from the walls the people gazing are, In all their sights he sets his Army downe; Nor for their shot he careth not a pin, But seekes where he his Battery may begin.
[Stanza 89: _The King makes his approches on three parts._]
And into three, his Army doth diuide, His strong aproaches on three parts to make; Himselfe on th'one, Clarence on th'other side, To Yorke and Suffolke he the third doth take, The Mines the Duke of Glocester doth guide; Then caus'd his Ships the Riuer vp to Stake, That none with Victuall should the Towne relieue Should the Sword faile, with Famine them to grieue.
[Stanza 90: _The King summons Harflew._]
From his Pauillion where he sate in State, Arm'd for the Siedge, and buckling on his Shield, Braue Henry sends his Herault to the Gate, By Trumpets sound, to summon them to yeeld, And to accept his Mercy, ere to late, Or else to say ere he forsooke the field, Harflew should be but a meere heape of Stones, Her buildings buried with her Owners bones.
[Stanza 91]
France on this sudaine put into a fright, With the sad newes of Harflew in distresse, Whose inexpected, miserable plight, She on the suddaine, knew not to redresse, But vrg'd to doe the vtmost that she might, The peoples feares and clamours to suppresse, Raiseth a power with all the speede she could, Somewhat thereby, to loose King Henries hold.
[Stanza 92: _Charles de Alibert, and Iohn Bowcequalt._]
The Marshall, and the Constable of France, Leading those Forces levied for the turne, By which they thought their Titles to aduance, And of their Countrey endlesse praise to earne, But it with them farre otherwise doth chance, For when they saw the Villages to burne, And high-towr'd Harflew round ingirt with fires, They with their powers to Cawdebeck retire.
[Stanza 93: _A Simile of the French powers._]
Like as a Hinde when shee her Calfe doth see, Lighted by chance into a Lions pawes, From which should shee aduenture it to free, Shee must her selfe fill his deuouring Iawes, And yet her young one, still his prey must be, (Shee so instructed is by Natures Lawes:) With them so fares it, which must needs goe downe If they would fight; and yet must loose the Towne:
[Stanza 94: _A description of the siege of Harflewe, in the 19 following Stanzaes._]
Now doe they mount their Ordnance for the day, Their scaling Ladders rearing to the walls, Their battering Rammes against the gates they lay, Their brazen slings send in the wilde-fire balls, Baskets of twigs now carie stones and clay, And to th'assault who furiously not falls; The Spade and Pickax working are belowe, Which then vnfelt, yet gaue the greatest blowe.
[Stanza 95]
Rampiers of earth the painefull Pyoners raise With the walls equall, close vpon the Dike, To passe by which the Souldier that assayes, On Planks thrust ouer, one him downe doth strike: Him with a mall a second English payes, A second French transpearc'd him with a Pyke: That from the height of the embattel'd Towers, Their mixed blood ranne downe the walls in showers.
[Stanza 96]
A French man back into the Towne doth fall, With a sheafe Arrow shot into the head; An English man in scaling of the wall, From the same place is by a stone struck dead; Tumbling vpon them logs of wood, and all, That any way for their defence might sted: The hills at hand re-ecchoing with the din Of shouts without, and fearefull shrickes within.
[Stanza 97: _Crosbowe Arrowes._]
When all at once the English men assaile, The French within all valiantly defend, And in a first assault, if any faile, They by a second striue it to amend: Out of the Towne come quarries thick as haile; As thick againe their Shafts the English send: The bellowing Canon from both sides doth rore, With such a noyse as makes the Thunder pore.
[Stanza 98]
Now vpon one side you should heare a cry, And all that Quarter clowded with a smother; The like from that against it by and by; As though the one were eccho to the other, The King and Clarence so their turnes can ply: And valiant Gloster showes himselfe their brother; Whose Mynes to the besieg'd more mischiefe doe, Then with th'assaults aboue, the other two.
[Stanza 99]
An olde man sitting by the fier side, Decrepit with extreamity of Age, Stilling his little Grand-childe when it cride, Almost distracted with the Batteries rage: Sometimes doth speake it faire, sometimes doth chide, As thus he seekes its mourning to asswage, By chance a Bullet doth the chimney hit, Which falling in, doth kill both him and it.
[Stanza 100]
Whilst the sad weeping Mother sits her downe, To giue her little new-borne Babe the Pap: A lucklesse quarry leueld at the Towne, Kills the sweet Baby sleeping in her lap, That with the fright shee falls into a swoone, From which awak'd, and mad with the mishap; As vp a Rampire shreeking she doth clim, Comes a great Shot, and strikes her lim from lim.
[Stanza 101]
Whilst a sort runne confusedly to quench, Some Pallace burning, or some fired Street, Call'd from where they were fighting in the Trench; They in their way with Balls of Wilde-fire meet, So plagued are the miserable French, Not aboue head, but also vnder feet: For the fierce English vowe the Towne to take, Or of it soone a heape of stones to make.
[Stanza 102]
Hot is the Siege the English comming on, As men so long to be kept out that scorne, Carelesse of wounds as they were made of stone; As with their teeth the walls they would haue torne: Into a Breach who quickly is not gone; Is by the next behind him ouer-borne: So that they found a place that gaue them way, They neuer car'd what danger therein lay.
[Stanza 103]
From eu'ry Quarter they their course must plye, As't pleas'd the King them to th'assault to call: Now on the Duke of Yorke the charge doth lye: To Kent and Cornwall then the turne doth fall: Then Huntingdon vp to the walls they crye: Then Suffolke, and then Excester; which all In their meane Souldiers habits vs'd to goe, Taking such part as those that own'd them doe.
[Stanza 104]
The men of Harflew rough excursions make, Vpon the English watchfull in their Tent, Whose courages they to their cost awake, With many a wound that often back them sent, So proud a Sally that durst vndertake, And in the Chase pell mell amongst them went, For on the way such ground of them they win, That some French are shut out, some English in.
[Stanza 105]
Nor idely sit our Men at Armes the while, Foure thousand Horse that eu'ry day goe out; And of the Field are Masters many a mile, By putting the Rebellious French to rout; No Peasants them with promises beguile: Another bus'nesse they were come about; For him they take, his Ransome must redeeme, Onely French Crownes, the English men esteeme.
[Stanza 106]
Whilst English Henry lastly meanes to trye: By three vast Mynes, the walls to ouerthrowe. The French men their approches that espye, By Countermynes doe meete with them belowe, And as opposed in the Workes they lye: Vp the Besieged the Besiegers blowe, That stifled quite, with powder as with dust, Longer to walls they found it vaine to trust.
[Stanza 107]
Till Gaucourt then, and Tuttivile that were The Townes Commanders, (with much perill) finde The Resolution that the English beare; As how their owne to yeelding were enclinde, Summon to parly, off'ring frankly there; If that ayde came not by a day assignde, To giue the Towne vp, might their liues stand free: As for their goods, at Henries will to be.
[Stanza 108]
And hauing wonne their conduct to the King, Those hardy Chiefes on whom the charge had layne: Thither those well-fed Burgesses doe bring, What they had off'red strongly to maintaine In such a case, although a dang'rous thing, Yet they so long vpon their knees remaine: That fiue dayes respight from his Grant they haue, Which was the most, they (for their liues) durst craue.
[Stanza 109]
The time perfixed comming to expire, And their reliefe ingloriously delay'd: Nothing within their sight but sword, and fire; And bloody Ensignes eu'ry where display'd: The English still within themselues entire, When all these things they seriously had way'd, To Henries mercy found that they must trust, For they perceiu'd their owne to be iniust.
[Stanza 110]
The Ports are opened, weapons layd aside, And from the walls th'Artillary displac'd: The Armes of England are aduanc'd in pride: The watch Tower, with Saint Georges Banner grac'd: Liue Englands Henry, all the people cride: Into the Streetes their women runne in hast, Bearing their little Children, for whose sake They hop'd the King would the more mercy take.
[Stanza 111: _The King of England entreth Harflew in triumph._]
The gates thus widened with the breath of Warre; Their ample entrance to the English gaue: There was no dore that then had any barre; For of their owne not any thing they haue: When Henry comes on his Emperiall Carre: To whom they kneele their liues alone to saue. Strucken with wonder, when that face they sawe, Wherein such mercy was, with so much awe.
[Stanza 112]
And first themselues the English to secure, Doubting what danger might be yet within; The strongest Forts, and Citadell make sure, To showe that they could keepe as well as win, And though the spoyles them wondrously alure, To fall to pillage e'r they will begin, They shut each passage, by which any power Might be brought on to hinder, but an hower.
[Stanza 113]
That Conquering King which entring at the gate, Borne by the presse as in the ayre he swamme: Vpon the suddaine layes aside his state, And of a Lyon is become a Lambe: He is not now what he was but of late: But on his bare feete to the Church he came: By his example, as did all the presse, To giue God thankes, for his first good successe.
[Stanza 114: _King Henry offereth to decide his right by single combat._]
And sends his Herauld to King Charles to say, That though he thus was setled on his shore, Yet he his Armes was ready downe to lay, His ancient right if so he would restore: But if the same he wilfully denay, To stop th'effusion of their Subiects gore; He frankly off'reth in a single fight, With the young Daulphine to decide his right.
[Stanza 115]
Eight dayes at Harflew he doth stay to heare, What answere back, his Herauld him would bring: But when he found that he was ne'r the neere; And that the Daulphine meaneth no such thing, As to fight single; nor that any were To deale for composition from the King: He casts for Callice to make forth his way, And takes such Townes, as in his Iourneyes lay.
[Stanza 116]
But first his bus'nesse he doth so contriue, To curbe the Townes-men, should they chance to stirre Of Armes, and Office he doth them depriue, And to their roomes the English doth preferre: Out of the Ports all Vagrants he doth driue, And therein sets his Vnckle Excester: This done, to martch he bids the thundring Drummes, To scourge proud France whe now her Coqueror comes.
[Stanza 117]
The King and Daulphine hauing vnderstood, How on his way this haughty Henry was Ouer the Soame, which is a dangerous flood; Pluckt downe the Bridges that might giue him passe; And eu'ry thing, if fit for humane food, Caus'd to be forrag'd; (to a wondrous masse) And more then this, his Iourneyes to fore-slowe, He scarce one day vnskirmish'd with, doth goe.
[Stanza 118]
But on his march, in midst of all his foes; He like a Lyon keepes them all at bay, And when they seeme him strictly to enclose; Yet through the thick'st he hewes him out a way: Nor the proud Daulphine dare him to oppose; Though off'ring oft his Army to fore-lay: Nor all the power the enuious French can make, Force him one foote, his path (but) to forsake.
[Stanza 119: _A ford found in the Riuer of Soame._]
And each day as his Army doth remoue, Marching along vpon Soames Marshy side, His men at Armes on their tall Horses proue, To finde some shallow, ouer where to ryde, But all in vaine against the Streame they stroue, Till by the helpe of a laborious guide, A Ford was found to set his Army ore Which neuer had discouered beene before.
[Stanza 120]
The newes divulg'd that he had waded Soame, And safe to shore his Caridges had brought, Into the Daulphins bosome strooke so home, And one the weakenesse of King Charles so wrought; That like the troubled Sea, when it doth Foame, As in a rage, to beate the Rocks to nought; So doe they storme, and curse on curse they heapt Gainst those which should the passages haue kept.
[Stanza 121: _A Counsell held at Roan against the King of England._]
And at that time, both resident in Roan, Thither for this assembling all the Peeres, Whose Counsailes now must vnderprop their Throne Against the Foe; which, not a man but feares; Yet in a moment confident are growne, When with fresh hopes, each one his fellow cheeres, That ere the English to their Callis got, Some for this spoile should pay a bloudy shot.
[Stanza 122]
Therfore they both in solemne Counsaile satt, With Berry and with Britaine their Alies; Now speake they of this course, and then of that, As to insnare him how they might diuise; Something they faine would doe, but know not what, At length the Duke Alanzon vp doth rise, And crauing silence of the King and Lords, Against the English, brake into these words.
[Stanza 123: _A speech of the Duke Alanzon against the English._]
Had this vnbridled youth an Army led, That any way were worthy of your feare, Against our Nation, that durst turne the head, Such as the former English forces were, This care of yours, your Countrey then might sted, To tell you then, who longer can forbeare, That into question, you our valour bring, To call a Counsaile for so poore a thing.
[Stanza 124]
A Route of tatter'd Rascalls starued so, As forced through extreamity of need To rake for scraps on Dunghils as they goe, And on the Berries of the Shrubs to feed, Besides with fluxes are enfeebled so, And other foule diseases that they breed, That they, there Armes disabled are to sway, But in their march doe leaue them on the way.
[Stanza 125]
And to our people but a handfull are, Scarse thirtie thousand, when to Land they came, Of which to England dayly some repayre, Many from Harflew carried sicke and lame, Fitter for Spittles, and the Surgions care, Then with their Swords on vs to winne them fame, Vnshod, and without stockings are the best, And those by Winter miserably opprest.
[Stanza 126]
To let them dye vpon their march abroad, And Fowles vpon their Carkases to feed, The heapes of them vpon the common road A great infection likely were to breed, For our owne safeties see them then bestow'd, And doe for them this charitable deede: Vnder our Swords together let them fall, And one that day they dye, be buried all.
[Stanza 127]
This bold invectiue forc'd against the Foe, Although it most of the Assembly seas'd, Yet those which better did the English know, Were but a little with his speeches pleas'd, And that the Duke of Berry meant to showe: Which when the murmure somewhat was appeas'd, After a while their listning silence breakes, And thus in answere of Alanzon speakes.
[Stanza 128: _The Duke of Berrys answere to Alanzon._]
My Liedge, quoth he, and you my Lords, and Peeres, Whom this great businesse chiefely doth concerne, By my experience, now so many yeeres To know the English I am not to learne; Nor I more feeling haue of humane feares Than fitteth Manhood, nor doe hope to earne Suffrage from any; but by zeale am wonne, To speake my minde here, as the Duke hath done.
[Stanza 129]
Th'euents of Warre are various (as I know) And say, the losse vpon the English light, Yet may a dying man giue such a blow, As much may hinder his proud Conquerours might; It is enough our puissant power to showe To the weake English, now vpon their flight, When want, and winter, strongly spurre them on, You else but slay them, that would faine be gon.
[Stanza 130]
I like our Forces their first course should hold, To skirmish with them, vpon euery stay, But fight by no meanes with them, though they would, Except they finde them forraging for pray, So still you haue them shut vp in a Fould, And still to Callis keepe them in their way; So Fabius wearied Hanibal, so we May English Henry, pleased if you be.
[Stanza 131]
And of the English rid your Countrey cleane, If on their backs, but Callice walles they win, Whose Frontier Townes you easly may maintaine, With a strong Army still to keepe them in; Then let our Ships make good the mouth of Seyne, And at your pleasure Harflew you may winne, Ere with Supplys againe they can inuade, Spent in the Voyage lately hither made.
[Stanza 132]
That day at Poyteers, in that bloudy Field, The sudaine turne in that great Battell then, Shall euer teach me, whilest I Armes can weeld, Neuer to trust to multitudes of men; Twas the first day that ere I wore a Sheeld, Oh let me neuer see the like agen! Where their Blacke Edward such a Battell wonne As to behold it might amaze the Sunne.
[Stanza 133]
There did I see our conquered Fathers fall, Before the English on that fatall ground, When as to ours their number was but small, And with braue Spirits France ne'r did more abound, Yet oft that Battaile into minde I call, Whereas of ours, one man seemd all one wound, I instance this; yet humbly here submit My selfe to fight, if you shall thinke it fit.
[Stanza 134: _Young mens counsailes ofttimes proue the vtter subuersion both of themselues and others._]
The Marshall and the Constable about To second, what this sager Duke had said: The youthfull Lords into a cry brake out, Gainst their opinions, so that ouer-sway'd, Some seeming of their Loyalties to doubt; Alanzon as an Oracle obay'd, And not a French then present, but doth sweare To kill an English if ynow there were.
[Stanza 135: _The French King sendeth to dare the King of England to Battaile._]
A Herault posted presently away, The King of England to the field to dare, To bid him cease his spoyle, nor to delay Gainst the French power his forces but prepare: For that King Charles determin'd to display His bloody Ensignes, and through France declare The day, and place, that Henry should set downe, In which their Battailes, should dispose the Crowne.
[Stanza 136: _The King of Englands modest answer._]
This newes to Henry by the Herault brought, As one dispassion'd soberly (quoth he) Had your King pleas'd, we sooner might haue fought; For now my Souldiers much enfeebled be: Nor day, nor place, for Battaile shall be sought By English Henry: but if he seeke me, I to my vtmost will my selfe defend, And to th'Almighties pleasure leaue the end.
[Stanza 137]
The brute of this intended Battaile spred, The coldnesse of each sleeping courage warmes, And in the French that daring boldnesse bred: Like casting Bees that they arise in swarmes, Thinking the English downe so farre to tred, As past that day ne'r more to rise in Armes, T'extirpe the name, if possible it were, At least not after to be heard of there.
[Stanza 138: _A Simily of the rising of the French._]
As when you see the enuious Crowe espye, Something that shee doth naturally detest: With open throat how shee doth squall and crye; And from the next Groue calleth in the rest, And they for those beyond them bawling flye, Till their foule noyse doth all the ayre infest: Thus French, the French to this great Battaile call, Vpon their swords to see the English fall.
[Stanza 139: _Dauid Gam, a great Captain in that Warr._]
And to the King when seriously one tolde, With what an Host he should encountred be, Gam noting well, the King did him behold, In the reporting; Merrily (quoth he) My Liege I'le tell you if I may be bold, We will diuide this Army into three: One part we'll kill, the second prisoners stay; And for the third, we'll leaue to runne away.
[Stanza 140]
But for the Foe came hourely in so fast, Lest they his Army should disordred take: The King who wisely doth the worst forecast, His speedy martch doth presently forsake, Into such forme and his Battalion cast; That doe their worst they should not eas'ly shake: For that his scouts which forrag'd had the Coast, Bad him at hand expect a puissant Host.
[Stanza 141: _The Duke of Yorke._]
On which ere long the English Vanward light, Which York, of men the brauest, doth command, When either of them in the others sight, He caus'd the Army instantly to stand, As though preparing for a present Fight, And rideth forth from his couragious Band, To view the French, whose numbers ouer spread, The troubled Country on whose earth they tread.
[Stanza 142]
Now were both Armies got vpon that ground, As on a Stage, where they their strengthes must trye, Whence from the wydth of many a gaping wound, There's many a soule into the Ayre must flye: Meane while the English that some ease had found; By the aduantage of a Village nie, There set them downe the Battell to abide, Where they the place had strongly fortifide.
[Stanza 143: _The French scorning the English, being so fewe in respect of their mighty power._]
Made drunke with pride the haughty French disdaine, Lesse then their owne, a multitude to view, Nor aske of God the victory to gaine, Vpon the English wext so poore and fewe, To stay their slaughter thinking it a paine, And lastly to that insolence they grewe, Quoyts, Lots, and Dice for Englishmen to cast, And sweare to pay, the Battaile being past.
[Stanza 144]
For knots of corde to eu'ry Towne they send, The Captiu'd English that they caught to binde, For to perpetuall slau'ry they intend: Those that aliue they on the Field should finde, So much as that they fear'd lest they should spend Too many English, wherefore they assignde Some to keepe fast those, fayne that would be gon After the Fight, to try their Armes vpon.
[Stanza 145]
One his bright sharpe-eg'd Semiter doth showe, Off'ring to lay a thousand Crownes (in pride) That he two naked English at one blowe, Bound back to back will at the wasts diuide, Some bett his sword will do't, some others no, After the Battaile, and they'll haue it tride: Another wafts his Blade about his head, And shewes them how their hamstrings he will shread.
[Stanza 146]