t 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,
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