Book VI, Chapter 34

HEnrie (as if by myracle preseru'd by Forraines long
From hence-ment Treasons) did arriue to right his Natiues wrong:
And chiefly to Lord Stanlie, and some other Succors as
Did wish and worke for better dayes, th[…] Riuall welcome was.
Now Richard heard that Richmond was assisted and a shore,
And like vnkenneld Cerberus the crooked Tyrant swore,
And all complexions act at once confusedly in him:
He studieth, striketh, threates, intreates, and looketh mildly grim,
Mistrustfully he trusteth, and he dreadingly did dare,
And fortie passions in a trice in him consort and square.
But when, by his conuented force, his foes increased more,
He hastned Battell, finding his Coriuall apt therefore.

When Richmond orderly in all had battelled his ayde,
Inringed by his Complices, their chearefull Leader sayde.
Now is the time and place (sweete Frends) and we the Persons be
That must giue England breath, or els vnbreath for her must we.
No Tyrannie is fabled, and no Tyrant was in deede
Worse thā our Foe, whose workes wil act my words if wel he speede:
For ill to ills Superlatiue are easely intist,
But intertaine amendment as the Gergesites did Christ.
Be valiant then, he biddeth so that would not be out-bid
For courage, yeat shall honor him, though bace, that better did.
I am right heire Lancastrian, he in Yorkes destroyed right
Vsurpeth: But, through Either ours, for neither Claime I fight,
But for our Countries long-lackt weale, for Englands peace I warre:
Wherein he speed vs vnto whom I all Euents refarre.

Meane while had furious Richard set his Armies in array,
And then, with lookes euen like himselfe, this or the like did say.
Why, Lads, shall yonder Welshman with his Straglers ouer-match?
Disdaine ye not such Riualles, and deferre yee their dispatch?
Shall Tuder from Plantagenet the Crowne by craking snatch?
Know Richards very thoughts (he toucht the Diademe he wore)
Be mettall of this mettall: Then beleeue I loue it more
Than that for other law than Life to super sead my Clame,
And lesser must not be his Plea that counter-pleads the same.

The weapons ouer-tooke his words, & blowes they brauely change,
When, like a Lion thirsting bloud, did moody Richard range,
And made large slaughters where he went, till Richmond he espied,
Whom singling, after doubtfull Swords, the valerous Tyrant died.

THus ended Englands warre and woe, vsurping Richard dead,
When Henry and Elizabeth vniting titles wed:
Of which two Heires th'vndoubted Heire of either Line did cum,
The Epilogue vnto these wounds, digested in this sum.

Fourth Henry first Lancastrian King put second Richard downe:
Fourth Edward of the House of Yorke re-seazd sixt Henries Crowne:
Lad-Princes twaine were stabd in Field, of either Linage one:
Foure Kings did perish: Sundry times now-Kings anon were none:
Sixe, three of either faction, helde successiuely the Throne:
But from the second Richard to seuenth Henry we pretend
Eight Kings this Faction to begin, continue, and to end.
The Princes, Earles, Barons, and Knights this quarrell did deuour
Exceede the tale of Gentry best and bacest at this houre:
So plagueth ciuill Warre, & so from Robe to Ragge dooth scoure.
Then luckiest of the Planets weare Predominants, say we,
When by this Bedmatch either Heire that Bloud-mart did agree:
When Seuenth begot the Eight, and Eight the First and Last for like
Our now Pandora: nor till her our humbled sailes we strike.
For should we at her Grandsier reare our Colome, yet too poore,
We could not write (as Hercules on his) Beyond no more:
For he lackt search, our Muse hath Kend an Ocean is in store,
Euen matter that importeth worth coparing all before.