Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 When he had thus ended, the earle of Glocester answered in this wise:The earle of Glocesters answer to the earle of Che|sters oration.
It is not against reason that you should require the honor of the first onset, both for the nobilitie of your house, and also in respect of the prowesse wherein you excell: but yet if you stand vpon nobilitie, for my part, being the sonne and ne|phue of a king, ought not I to be preferred? If vpon valiancie, here are manie verie worthie men, afore whom there is not one aliue that may chalenge any prerogatiue. But another reason moueth me most chieflie to be the formost. The king, who contrarie to his oth made to my sister, hath cruellie vsurped the kingdome, and setting all in trouble, hath beene the cause of manie thousand mens deaths, and distri|buted lands and liuings to such as haue no right to the same, which he hath violentlie taken from the rightfull owners, who are quite disherited. This king (I saie) is first to be assailed with the assistance of the righteous iudge, who prepareth punishment for wic|ked dooers. For almightie God, who iudgeth his peo|ple with equitie, will looke downe from his heauen|lie habitation, and will not leaue vs comfortlesse in this so great a necessitie. One thing there is, most valiant capteines, and all you right hardie souldiers, which I would haue you to consider, that through the fennes, which with much adoo you haue passed, there is no waie to escape by flight. Here must we either vanquish the enimies,The necessi|tie to fight valiantlie. or else die in the field: for no hope of safegard remaineth in fléeing awaie. This onelie resteth (I saie) that you make waie for you to enter the citie with force of your weapons. If I be not deceiued in that which my mind giueth me to coniecture, the lacke of meanes to escape, otherwise than by shewing your selues valiant men, by Gods helpe will bring vs the victorie. For he must néeds plaie the man, who hath not other succor to auoid the danger of destruction. The citizens of Lincolne, who shall fight so néere their houses as you shall sée, will not staie long to get them thither for their refuge. And herewith consider and weie (I beseech you) a|gainst whom you shall match in this battell. There is Alane duke of Britaine,Alane duke of Britaine. who commeth armed a|gainst you, yea rather against God, a wicked person, and spotted with all kind of filthinesse; who in ma|lice hath no péere, as one that neuer wanted desire to doo mischéefe: and who to be comparable in cruel|tie, would iudge it a great reproch. There commeth also the earle of Mellent,The earle of Mellent. a man full of all guile and deceit, in whose hart iniquitie is rooted, and nothing sounding in his mouth but vnthankfulnesse; besides this, he is slothfull in déeds, presumptuous in words, not hastie to fight, but swift to run awaie. Then com|meth earle Hugh, who hath not thought it sufficient to breake his oth to my sister the empresse,Earle Hugh. but he must commit periurie the second time, in aduouch|ing (vpon a new oth) that king Henrie granted the kingdome to Stephan, and disabled his daughter. After him marcheth the earle of Albemarle, a man of singular constancie in euill,The earle of Albemarle. verie readie to at|tempt and loth to giue ouer a mischeefe: whose wife, through irkesomnes of his filthie behauiour is gone from him; & he that keepeth hir,The earle of Albermarles wife. cõmeth with him also against vs, an open adulterer, & one well esteemed of Bacchus, but nothing acquainted with Mars. Then setteth foorth Simon earle of Hampton, whose déeds consist in words, & whose gifts rest in promises.Simon earle of Hampton. For when he hath said, he hath doone; & when he hath pro|mised, ye get no more. Finallie there come togither a knot of Péeres & Noble men,Like maister, like seruants. like to their king and maister, accustomed to robberies, enriched with ra|pines, embrued with manslaughters, & defamed with periurie. You therefore (most valiant capteins & har|die souldiers) whom king Henrie hath aduanced, and this man hath brought vnder foot; whom he made wealthie, and this man hath impouerished; vpon trust of your worthy valiancie, yea rather vpon trust of Gods iustice seeke your reuenge thus offered by God vpon these wicked wretches, & with manlie sto|machs vow to go forward, & forswere stepping back.When the earle had made an end, all the armie (lift|ing vp their hands to God) abiured all intention to flée, and so made themselues readie to set forward.
Compare 1577 edition:
1 King Stephan
hauing no pleasant voice of him|selfe, appointed earle Baldwin to giue an exhortati|on to his armie,
wherevpon getting himselfe to an high place where he might be seene & heard of them, he thus began.
All such as shall giue battell,
Earle Bald|win his ora|tion in the be|halfe of king Stephan. Thrée things to be fore|séene by them that shall giue battell.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 The righteousnes of their cause ought to be regarded, least men runne in danger of the soule; the number of men is to be respected, least they should be oppressed with multitude of enimies; and the goodnesse of the soldiers is to be considered, least trusting in the multitude, they should presume vpon the aid of feeble persons, & such as are of small valure. In all these points we see our selues suffici|entlie furnished. The iustice of our cause is this: that obseruing the thing which we vowed to our king be|fore God, we stand to the same against those that haue falsified their faith, euen to the perill of death. Our number is not much lesse in horssemen, and in footmen we excéed them. As for the goodnesse or suffi|ciencie of our men, who is able to expresse the noble prowesse of so manie earles, of so manie lords and soldiers, trained vp euer in warres? The passing va|liancie of our king may stand in place of innumera|ble souldiers. Sith then he being the lords annoin|ted, is here amongst you, vnto whom ye haue vowed allegiance, performe your vow. For the more ear|nestly and faithfully ye serue your prince in this bat|tell, which you are readie to fight against periured persons, the more shall your reward be at the hands of God and him. Therfore be of good comfort, & haue EEBO page image 53 in remembrance against whom you doo darraine the battell.Erle Robert. The force of erle Robert is well knowne, his maner is to threaten much, & to worke little, furious in words, eloquent of speach, but cold or rather dead harted in déeds.The earle of Chester. The earle of Chester what is he? A man of vnreasonable boldnesse, bent to conspira|cie, inconstant to performe that which he rashlie ta|keth in hand, readie to run into batell, vncircumspect in danger, practising things of great importance, sée|king after things vnpossible, bringing with him few good soldiers, but gathering a vagarant rout of ras|cals. There is nothing in him that we ought to be afraid of, for looke whatsoeuer he attempteth man|fullie, the same he giueth ouer womanlie, in all his dooings vnfortunate, in all encounters either he is ouercome and fléeth awaie, or if he get the vpper hand (which seldome times chanceth) he susteineth greater losse than they whom he dooth vanquish.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 The Welshmen, whom he bringeth with him are little estéemed of vs, who pretend a naked rashnesse without any vse of armor, so that as men without any knowledge of martiall policie, they fall as brute beasts vpon the hunters iaueline. The other, as well the nobles as the common souldiers are but runna|gates and vagabounds; of whom I would wish the number greater than it is: for the more they be, the woorsse in effect their seruice shall prooue in time of need. You therefore (most worthie cheefetaines) you men of honor, it standeth you vpon to haue in regard your vertue and dignities. This day aduance your renowme, and follow the foresteps of your famous ancestors, leaue to your sonnes an euerlasting com|mendation.Continuall good successe a prouocation of boldnesse. The continuall successe of victorie ought to be a prouocation vnto you to doo manfullie: the continuance of euill speed may be to yonder side an occasion to run away. For euen alreadie (I dare say) they repent them of their comming hither, and could be contented to be gone, if the nature of the place would suffer them to depart. Then sith it is not possi|ble for them either to fight or to flée, what other thing can they doo, but (as appointed by Gods ordinance) offer themselues and all they haue about them pre|sentlie vnto vs. Yée sée then their horsses, their ar|mour, and their bodies readie here at your pleasure, lift vp your hearts therefore, and reach your hands to take that with great chearefulnesse of mind, which the Lord hath thus offered and freelie presented vnto you.