The Battaile of Agincourt Part 7

[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 a.s.signde, 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 b.l.o.o.d.y 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 pa.s.sage, 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 G.o.d 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 sh.o.r.e, 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 wh? now her Cqueror 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 pa.s.se; And eu'ry thing, if fit for humane food, Caus'd to be forrag'd; (to a wondrous ma.s.se) 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 sh.o.r.e 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 pa.s.sages 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 a.s.sembling 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 sc.r.a.ps 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, Sca.r.s.e 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 a.s.sembly 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]