SPEECHES.

Harold's fpeech before the Battle of Haftings.

SEE

EE valiant War-friends yonder be the first, the last, and all

The agents of our Enemies, they hencefoorth cannot call Supplies; for weedes at Normandie by this in Porches groe: Then conquer these would conquer you, and dread no further

foe,

They are no ftouter than the Brutes, whom we did hence exile:

Nor stronger than the sturdy Danes, our victory ere while :
Not Saxonie could once containe, or fcarce the world befide
Our fathers, who did sway by fword where lifted them to bide:
Then doe not yee degenerate, take courage by discent,
And by their burialles, not abode, their force and flight pre-

vent.

Yee have in hand your Countries cause, a conqueft they pretend,

Which (were yee not the fame yee be) even cowards would de

fend.

I graunt

I graunt that part of us are fled and linked to the foe,
And glad I am our Armie is of traytours cleered fo:
Yea pardon hath he to depart that stayeth mal-content:
I prife the mind above the man, like zeale hath like event.
Yeat truth it is, no well or ill this Island ever had,

But through the well or ill fupport of fubjects good or bad: Not Cæfar, Hengeft, Swayn, or now (which neretheles shall

fayle)

The Normane Baftard, Albion true, did, could, or can pre-vayle.

But to be felfe-falfe in this Ifle a felfe-foe ever is,

Yeat wot I, never traytour dìd his treasons stipend mis.

Shrinke who will fhrinke, let armors wayte preffe downe the burd'ned earth,

My foes, with wondring eyes fhall fee I over-prize my death. But fince ye all (for all, I hope, alike affected bee,

Your wives, your children, lives, and land, from fervitude to free)

Are armed both in fhew and zeale, then gloriously contend, To winne and weare the home-brought fpoyles, of Victorie the end.

Let not the Skinners daughter Sonne poffeffe what he pretends,

He lives to die a noble death that life for freedome spends."

Duke WILLIAM's Speech.

"TO live upon or lie within this is my ground or grave (My loving Souldiers), one of twaine your Duke refolves to have.

Nor be ye Normanes now to feeke in what you should be stout, Ye come amidst the English pikes to hewe your honers out, Ye come to winne the fame by launce, that is your owne by law,

Ye come, I fay, in righteous warre revenging fwords to draw. Howbeit of more hardie foes no paffed flight hath spead

yee,

Since Rollo to your now-abode with bands victorious lead

yee,

Or Turchus, Sonne of Troylus, in Scythian Fazo bread

yee.

Then worthy your progenitors yee Seede of Pryam's fonne Exployt this Buiineffe, Rollons do that which yee with be

done.

Three people have as many times got and forgone this shore,
It refteth now yee conquer it not to be conquered more:
For Normane and the axon blood conjoyning, as it may,
From that conforted feede the Crowne fhall never pafie away.
Before us are our armed foes, behind us are the feas,
On either fide the foe hath holdes of fuccour and for ease:
But that advantage fhall returne their difadvantage thus,
If ye obferve no fhore is left the which may shelter us,
And fo hold out amidst the rough whil'ft they hale in for lee,
Whereas, whil'it men fecurely fayle, not seldome shipwracks

bee,

What

What should I cite your paffed acts, or tediously incence To prefent armes; your faces fhew your hearts conceive offence,

Yea, even your courages devine a conquest not to faile.

Hope then your Duke doth prophecie, and in that hope

prevailę.

A people brave, a terren Heaven, both objects worth your

warres,

Shall be the prizes of your prow's, and mount your fame to Starres.

Let not a Traytor's perjur'd Sonne extrude us from our

right:

He dyes to live a famous life, that doth for conquest fight.”

Warner's Albion's Engl. 22 Chap. 4 B. 1602. Ed,

NORFOLK's Soliloquy before the Battle of BOSWORTH.

แ

IF

F all the Campe prove traytours to my Lord,
Shall (potleffe Norfolke falfifie his word?
Mine oath is paft, I fwore t' uphold his crowne,
And that fhall fwim, or I with it will drowne.
It is too late now to difpute the right,

Dare any tongue, fince Yorke fpread forth his light,
Northumberland, or Buckingham defame,

Two valiant Cliffords, Roos, or Beaumont's name,

5

Because

Because they in the weaker quarrell die?
They had the King with them, and fo have I.
But ev'ry eye the face of Richard fhunnes,
For that foule murder of his brother's fonnes:
Yet lawes of Knighthood gave me not a sword
To ftrike at him, whom all with joint accord
Have made my Prince, to whom I tribute bring :
I hate his vices, but adore the King.
Victorious Edward, if thy foule can heare
Thy fervant Howard, I devoutly fweare,
That to have fav'd thy children from that day,
My hopes on earthe should willingly decay;
Would Gloucester then, my perfect faith had tryed,
And made two graves, when noble Haftings died.”

Bosworth Field, p. 7.

King RICHARD's Speech.

"MY fellow Souldiers, though your fwords
Are fharpe, and need not whetting by my words;
Yet call to minde thofe many glorious dayes,
In which we treafur'd up immortal prayfe.
If when I ferv'd, I ever fled from foe,
Fly ye from mine, let me be punisht so:
But if my Father, when at first he try'd
How all his fonnes could fhining blades abide,
Found me an Eagle, whofe undazled eyes
Affront the beames, which from the steele arise,
And if I now in action teach the same,

Know then, ye have but chang'd your Generall's name.