VI.

SIMON DE MONTFORT AND THE
BATTLE OF LEWES.

A Fragment.

Now does fair England breathe again, hoping for liberty;

And may the grace of God above give her prosperity! Liken'd to dogs the Englishmen of little price were

made;

Now o'er their conquer'd enemies once more they raise their head!

The sword was strong, and many men were slaughter'd in the fight;

But truth prevail'd, and traitors were turn'd to shameful flight;

For the Lord God of valour the perjured men with

stood,

And cast His guarding shield of truth over the pure and good.

By sword without and fear within the one side was opprest;

The other by the favouring grace of Heaven was at

rest.

Earl Simon's faith and faithfulness all England's

peace secure ;

He smites the rebels, calms the realm, and drooping hearts makes sure.

He felt that he must fight for truth, or else must truth betray:

To truth he gave his right hand brave, and trod the rugged way.

Read, read, ye men of England, of Lewes' fight my lay;

For guarded by that fight ye live securely at this day. If victory had fall'n to those who there were sorely chased,

The memory of England had sorely been disgraced. M. CREIGHTON (from a contemporary Latin poem).

VII.

THE BLACK PRINCE AND CRESSY.

To King Henry V.

Go, my dread lord, to your great-grandsire's tomb, From whom you claim: invoke his warlike spirit, And your great-uncle's, Edward the Black Prince, Who on the French ground play'd a tragedy, Making defeat on the full power of France,

Whiles his most mighty father on a hill
Stood smiling to behold his lion's whelp
Forage in blood of French nobility.

O noble English, that could entertain
With half their forces the full tide of France,
And let another half stand laughing by,
All out of work and cold for action!

SHAKSPERE, King Henry V., Act i. Sc. 2.

THEN the Prince caused his chambers to be opened

And all his followers to come in,

Who in his time had served him,

And served him with a free will:

66

Sirs," said he, "pardon me,

For, by the faith I owe you,

You have served me loyally,
Though I cannot of my means
Render to each his guerdon;
But God, by His most holy name
And saints, will render it you."
Then each wept heartily

And mourn'd right tenderly,

All who were there present,
Earl, baron, and batchelor :
Then he said in a clear voice,
"I recommend to you my son,
Who is yet but young and small,
And pray that, as you served me,

So from your heart you would serve him.”
Then he call'd the King his father,

And the Duke of Lancaster his brother,

And commended to them his wife,
And his son, whom he greatly loved,
And straightway entreated them ;
And each was willing to give his aid,
Each swore upon the book,

And they promised him freely

That they would comfort his son,
And maintain him in his right;
All the princes and barons.

Swore all round to this.

And the noble Prince of fame

Gave them an hundred thousand thanks.

But till then, so God aid me,

Never was seen such bitter grief,

As was at his departure.

CHANDOS.

IX.

BALLAD OF NEVILLE'S CROSS, OR

DURHAM FIELD.

THE King looked toward litle Durham,

& that hee well beheld,

that the Earle Percy was well armed,

With his battell axe entred the feild.

the King looket againe towards litle Durham,
4 ancyents there see hee;

there were to standards, 6 in a valley,
he cold not see them with his eye.

My lord of Yorke was one of them,
My lord of Carlile was the other;
& my Lord ffluwilliams,

the one came with the other.

the Bishopp of Durham commanded his men,

& shortlye he them bade,

"that never a man shold go to the feild to fight til he had served his god."

500 priests said masse that day
in durham in the feild;

& afterwards, as I hard say,

they bare both speare and sheeid.