Breaking her limits, couering all the banks,
Threatning the prowde hilles with her watry handes,
As though she meant her Empery to haue,
Where euen but lately she beheld her graue.
40
Through all the land, from places farre and neere,
Led to the field as Fortune lots their side,
(With th’auntient weapons vsde in warre to beare)
As those directed whom they chose their guide,
Or else perhaps as they affected were,
Or as by friendship, or by duetie tide,
Swayde by the strength and motion of their blood,
No cause examin’d, be it bad or good.
41
From Norfolke, and the countries of the East,
That with the long pyke best could mannage fight,
The men of Kent vnconquer’d of the rest,
That to this day maintaine their ancient right,
And for their strength that we account the best,
The Cornishmen, most actiue, bold, and light,
Those neere the plaine that gleaue and polax weeld,
And claime for due vaward of the field.
42
The noble Britton sprung of Illyon race,
From Lancashiere most famous for their bowes,
With those of Cheshiere, chiefest for their place,
Men of such bone, as onely made for blowes,
That for their faith are had in speciall grace,
And as the guard vnto the Soueraigne goes;
Those of the North in feuds so deadly fell,
That for their speare and horsemanship excell.
43
For euery vse experience could espy
Such as in Fens and Marsh-lands vse to trade,
The doubtfull foards and passages to try,
With stilts and loapstaues that do aptliest wade,
And fit’st for scowts and Currers to discry,
Those from the Mines with pickaxe, and with spade,
For Pyoners best, that for intrenching are,
Men chiefly needefull in the vse of war.
44
O noble Nation furnished with Armes,
So full of spirit, so eminent alone,
Had heauen but blest thee to foresee these harmes,
And as thy valiant Nephewes to haue gone,
Paris, •oan, Orleance shaking with alarmes,
As the bright Sunne thy glorie then had shone;
To other Realmes thou hadst transferd this chance,
Nor had your sons been first that conquerd France.
45
And thus on all hands making for their rest,
And now set forward for this mightie day,
Where euery one prepares to do his best,
When in successe their liues and fortunes lay;
No crosse euent their purposes to wrest,
Where now they stand in so direct a way;
And whilst they play this strange & doubtfull game,
The Queene stands by, and onely giues the ayme.
46
When this braue Lord his foote had scarcely set
Into the road where Fortune had to deale,
But she disposd his forward course to let,
Her lewd condition quickly doth reueale,
Glory to her vaine deitie to get,
By him, whose birth did beare her omenous seale,
Winning occasion from this very hower,
In him to proue and manifest her power.
47
As when we see the earely rising Sunne,
With his faire beames to emulate our sight,
And when his course but newly is begunne,
The humorous fogges depriue his wished light,
Till through the moist clouds his cleare forehead run,
Climing the noonsted in his gorgeous height:
His bright beginning fortune hindreth thus,
To make the rest more rich, more glorious.
48
The King discreetely that considered,
The space of earth whereon the Barrons stand,
What were their powers to them contributed,
Now being himselfe but partner of his land,
And of the strength and army that heeded,
Gainst them that doe so great a power command,
In which t’was well he did so wisely looke,
The taske was great that now he vndertooke.
49
And warn’d by danger to mis-doubt the worst,
In equall scales whilst eithers fortune hung,
Must now performe the vtmost that he durst,
Or vndergoe the burden of his wrong;
As good to stirre, as after be inforst
To stop the head whence many euills sprung:
Now with the marchers thinkes it best beginne,
Which first must loose, ere he could hope to winne.
50
The Mortimers being men of greatest might,
Whose name was dreadfull, and commanded far,
Sturdie to manage, of a haughtie spright,
Strongly aly’d much followed, popular,
On whom if thus he happily could light,
He hopes more easly to conclude this war;
Which he intendeth speedily to try,
To quit that first, which most stood in his eye.
51
For which he expeditiously prouided
That part of land into his power to get,
Which if made good, might keepe them still diuided,
Their combination cunningly to let,
Who being couioyn’d, would be too strongly sided,
Two, so great strengths together safely met,
The face of warre would looke so sterne and great,
As well might threat to heaue him from his seate.
52
Wherefore from London strongly setting forth,
With a faire Army furnish’d of the best,
Accompany’d with frends of greatest worth,
With whom there’s many a gallant spirit is prest;
Great Lancaster, the Lord of all the North,
The Mortimers are Maisters of the West,
Hee towards mid England makes, the way twixt either,
Which they must crosse, ere they could com together.
53
And thus inueagled with delightfull hope,
Stowtly to front and shoulder with debate,
Knowing to meete with a resolued troupe
That came prepar’d with courage, and with hate,
Whose stubborne Crests if he inforc’d to stoope,
He now must tempt some great and powrefull fate;
And through sterne guards of swords & i•efull flame,
Make way to peace, and propagate his name.
54
When now the Marchers well vpon their way,
(Expecting such should promis’d succour bring
Which all this while abus’d them by delay)
Are suddainely encountred by a King,
And now perceiue their dilatory stay
To be the causer of their ruining,
How neere their bosoms blacke destruction stood,
With open iawes prepared for their blood.
55
And by the shifting of inconstant wind,
Seeing what weather they were like to meet,
Which (euen) at first so aukwardly they find
Ere they could yet giue sea-roomth to their fleet,
Cleane from their course, and cast so far behind,
And yet in perrill euery howre to split,
Some vnknowne harbor suddainely must sound,
Or runne their fortunes desprately on ground.
56
The elder peere, graue, politique, and wise,
Which had all dangers absolutely scand,
Finding high time his Nephew to aduise,
Since no
w their state stood on this desperate hand,
And from this mischiefe many more to rise,
With long experience learn’d to vnderstand:
Nephew (saith he) t’is longer vaine to striue,
Counsell best serues our safetie to contriue.
57
The downe-right perill present in our eye
Not to be shund, what certaine end t’assures;
The next, the weight that on our fall doth lie,
And what our life to our designe procures,
Each hope, and doubt that doth arise thereby,
Prouing with iudgement how the same endures:
For who obserues strict pollicies true lawes,
Shifts his proceeding to the varying cause.
58
To hazard fight with the Emperiall powers,
May our small troupes vndoubtedly appall,
A desperate end vs willingly deuours;
Yeelding our selues, by this wee loose not all,
We leaue our friends this litttle force of ours,
Reseru’d for them, though haplesly we fall;
That shew of weaknes hath a glorious hand,
That falls it selfe, to make the cause to stand.
59
Twixt inexpected and so dangerous ills,
That’s best wherein we smallest perrill see,
A course that reason necessary wills,
And that doth most with pollicie agree,
The idle vulgar breath it nothing skils,
T’is sound discretion must our Pylot be,
He that doth still the fayrest meane preferre,
Answers opinion how so ere he erre.
60
And to the worl••s eye seeming yet so strong,
By our discending willingly from thence,
May vrge the shew of our opposed wrong
Rather b’inforcement then fore-thought pretence,
Leauing th’aduantage doth to vs belong,
May qualifie the nature of th’offence,
Men are not alwayes incident to losse,
When Fortune seemes their forward cause to crosse.
61
Nor giue we enuie absolute accesse,
To lay our fall vpon thy forward mind,
Ther’s neerer meanes this mischiefe to redresse,
And make succesfull what is yet behinde,
Nor of our hope vs wholy dispossesse,
Fortune is euer variously inclind,
And a small vantage to the course of Kings,
Guides a slight meanes to compasse mighty things.
62
Which speech so caught his Nephews pliant youth,
Fastning vpon a dutiful respect,
Which he with such celeritie pursu’th,
(Well could he counsell, well could he direct)
Proceeding from integritie and truth,
And working with such prosperous effect,
Shewes wisemens counsels, by a powerfull fate,
(Seeming from reason) yet proue fortunate.
63
To which they awfull Maiestie inuite
By the most due and ceremonious way,
With circumstance, and each conditi’nall rite
Might winne respect vnto this new essay,
Or might opinion any way excite,
To which the King doth willingly obay;
Who as themselues in finding danger neere,
Rather accepts doubt, then a certaine feare.
64
Which he receaues in presage of his good,
To his successe auspiciously apply’d,
which cooles the heat of his distemperd blood,
Before their force in doubtfull Armes was try’d,
In his protection when they onely stood,
At his disposing wholy to abide,
whereon in safety he dismist their power,
Sends them away as prisoners to the Tower.
65
O all-preparing prouidence Diuine,
In thy large Booke what secrets are enrold?
What sundry helps doth thy great powre assigne,
To stay the course thou stedfastly doost hold?
What mortall sence is able to define
Thy mysteries, thy counsells manifold;
By these digressions strangely that extends
Thy obscure proceedings to aparent ends?
66
This was the meane, by which the Fates dispose
More threatned plagues vpon that age to bring,
Vtter confusion on the heads of those
That were before the Barrons ruining,
With the subuersion of so many foes,
The murther of the miserable King;
And that which came as Epilogue to all,
Lastly, his fearefull, and so violent fall.
67
Which to their hope giues time for further breath,
As the first pawse in this their great affaire,
That yet awhile deferr’d this threatning death,
Trusting this breach by leysure to repaire,
And heere a while this furie limetteth:
Whilst in this manner things so strangely fare,
Horror beyond the wonted bounds doth swell,
As the next Canto dreadfully shal tell.
The end of the first Canto.
THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE BARRONS WARRES.
The Argument.
At Burton-bridge the puissant armies me•,
The forme and order of the doubtfull fight,
Whereas the King the victory doth get,
And the prowd Barrons lastly forcde to flight;
How they againe towardes Burrough forward set,
Where then the Lords are vanquished outright,
Lastly, the lawes doe execute their power,
On those the sword before did not deuoure.
1
THIS chance of warre, that dreadfully had swept
So large a share from their full-reckned might,
Which their prowd hopes so carefully had kept
Whilst yet their state stoode equally vpright,
That could at first so closely intercept,
That should haue seru’d them for a glorious fight,
Musters supplies of footemen, and of horse,
To giue a new strength to their ruinde force.
2
Th’inueterate griefe so deepe and firmely rooted,
Yet slightly curde by this short strengthelesse peace;
To assay t’remoue, since it but vainely booted,
That did with each distemprature increase,
And being by euery offerd cause promooted,
Th’effect too firmely setled to surcease:
When each euasion sunday passions brought,
Strange formes of feare in euery troubled thought.
3
And put in action for this publique cause,
Whilst euery one a party firmely stoode,
Taxt by the letter of the censuring lawes,
In the sharpe tainder of his honoured blood;
And he thats free’st, entangled by some clause,
Which to this mischiefe giues continuall food;
For where confusion gets so strongly hold,
Till all consumde, can hardly be controlde.
4
Where now by night, euen when pale leaden sleepe,
Vpon their eie-lids heauily did dwell,
And, step by step, on euery sence did creepe,
Mischiefe (that blacke inhabitant of hell)
Which neuer failes continuall watch to keepe,
Fearefull to thinke, a horred thing to tell,
Entred the place where now these warlike Lordes
Lay maild in armour, girt with irefull swords.
5
Mischiefe with sharpe sight, and a meager looke,
And alwaies prying where she may do ill,
In which the fiend continuall pleasu
re tooke,
Her starued body Plenty could not fill,
Searching in euery corner, euery nooke,
With winged feete, too swift to worke her will;
Hung full of deadly instruments she went,
Of euery sort to hurt where ere she meant,
6
And with a viall fild with banefull wrath,
Brought from Cocytus by this cursed spright,
Which in her blacke hand readily she hath,
And drops the poison vpon euery wight;
For to each one she knew the readie path:
Now in the midst and dead-time of the night,
Whose enuious force inuadeth euery Peere,
Striking with furie, and impulsiue feare.
7
The weeping morning breaking in the East,
When with a troubled and affrighted mind,
Each whom this venom lately did infest,
The strong effect soone inwardly do find;
And lately troubled by vnquiet rest,
To sad destruction euery one inclind;
Rumours of spoile through euery eare doth flye,
And fury sits in eu’ry threatning eye.
8
This doone, in haste vnto King Edward hies,
Which now growne proude vpon his faire successe,
The time in feasts and wantonnesse implies
With crowned cups his sorrowes to redresse,
That on his fortune wholy now relies,
And in the bosome of his Courtly presse
Vaunting the glory of this late wonne day,
Whilst the sick Land with sorrow pines away.
9
Thether she comes, and in a Minions shape
Shee creepeth neere the person of the King,
Warm’d with the verdure of the swelling grape,
In which, she poyson secretly doth wring,
Not the least drop vntaynted doth escape,
To which intent she all her store did bring,
Whose rich commixtu•e making it more strong,
Fills his hote veines with arrogance and wrong.
10
And hauing both such courage, and such might
As to so great a businesse did belong,
Neuer considering their pretended right
Should be inducement to a trebled wrong,
When misty error so deludes their sight,
Which still betwixt them, and cleere reason hong;
By which opinion falsly was abusde,
As left all out of order, all confusde.
11
Now our Minerua tells of dreadfull Armes,
Inforc’d to sing of worse then ciuill warres,
Of Ambuscades, stratagems, alarmes,
Vnkind discentions, fearfull massacars,
Of gloomy magiques, and benumming charmes,
Fresh-bleeding wounds, and neuer-healed skarrs,
And for the sock wherein she vsde to tread,
Marching in greaues, a helmet on her head.
12
Michael Drayton- Collected Poetical Works Page 61