Within a few days after the expiration of the truce, king Henry, whose preparations were now completed, sent one of his heralds, called Glocester, to Paris, to deliver letters to the king, of which the contents were as follows. Annibalis savi Manes, captique Syphacis, Supplementum Lucani, Lib. III. I am not conscious of having imitated these lines; but I would not lose the opportunity of quoting so fine a passage from Thomas May, an author to whom I owe some obligations, and who is not remembered as his merits deserve. May himself has imitated Valerius Flaccus in this passage, though he has greatly surpassed him. "To the very noble prince Charles, our cousin and adversary of France, Henry, by the grace of God, king of England and of France. To give to every one what is their due, is a work of inspiration and wise council, very noble prince, our cousin and adversary. The noble kingdoms of England and France were formerly united, now they are divided. At that time it was customary for each person to exalt his name by glorious victories, and by this single virtue to extol the honor of God, to whom holiness belongs, and to give peace to his church, by subjecting in battle the enemies of the public weal; but alas! good faith among kindred and brotherly love have been perverted, and Lot persecutes Abraham by human imputation, and Dissention, the mother of Anger, has been NOTE 165, p. 50, col. 1. — . . . raised from the dead. "We, however, appeal to the sovereign Judge, who is neither swayed by prayers nor gifts from doing right, that we have, from pure affection, done every thing in our power to preserve the peace; and we must now rely on the sword for regaining what is justly our heritage, and those rights which have from old time belonged to us; and we feel such assurance in our courage, that we will fight till death in the cause of justice. "The written law in the book of Deuteronomy ordains, that before any person commences an attack on a city he shall first offer terms of peace; and although violence has detained from us our rightful inheritances, charity, however, induces us to attempt, by fair means, their recovery; for should justice be denied us, we may then resort to arms "And to avoid having our conscience affected by this matter, we make our personal request to you, and exhort you, by the bowels of Jesus Christ, to follow the dictates of his evangelical doctrine. Friend, restore what thou owest, for such is the will of God to prevent the effusion of the blood of man, who was created in his likeness. Such restitution of rights, cruelly torn from us, and which we have so frequently demanded by our ambassadors, will be agreeable to the supreme God, and secure peace on earth. "From our love of peace we were inclined to refuse fifty thousand golden crowns lately offered us; for being more desirous of peace than riches, we have preferred enjoying the patrimony left us by our venerable ancestors, with our very dear cousin Catherine, your noble daughter, to iniquitously multiplying our treasures, and thus disgracing the honor of our crown, which God forbid ! "Given under our privy seal, in our castle of Southampton, the 5th day of the month of August." Monstrelet, vol. iv. p. 137. NOTE 163, p. 50, col. 1.-....... Sure that holy hermit spake While Henry V. lay at the siege of Dreux, an honest hermit unknown to him, came and told him the great evils he brought upon christendom by his unjust ambition, who usurped the kingdom of France, against all manner of right, and contrary to the will of God; wherefore in his holy name he threatened him with a severe and sudden punishment, if he desisted not from his enterprise. Henry took this exhortation either as an idly whimsey, or a suggestion of the Dauphin's, and was but the more confirmed in his design. But the blow soon followed the threatening; for within some few months after, he was smitten in the fundament with a strange and incurable disease. Mezeray. Et pater orantes casorum Tartarus umbras, nor aught avails Man unassisted 'gainst infernal powers To dare the conflict. To some, says Speed, it may appear more honorable to our nation, that they were not to be expelled by a human power, but by a divine, extraordinarily revealing itself. NOTE 170, p. 51, col. 2. — Hung from her neck the shield. there was a young lusty esquire of Gascoigne, named William The shield was often worn thus. "Among the Frenchmen Marchant, who came out among the foremost into the field, well mounted, his shield about his neck, and his spear in his hand."- Barnes. This is frequently alluded to in romance. "Then the knight of the burning sword stept forward, and lifting up his arm as if he would strike Cynocephal on the top of his head, seized with his left hand on the shield, which he pulled to him with so much strength, that plucking it from his neck he brought him to the ground."-Amadis de Greece. Sometimes the shield was laced to the shoulder. The shield of the middle ages must not be confounded with that of the ancients. The knight might easily bear his small shield around his neck; but the Grecian warrior stood protecting his thighs and his legs, his breast also and his shoulders with the body of his broad shield. Μηρους τε κνήμας τε κατω και στέρνα και ωμους NOTE 171, p. 52, col. 1.—An armet. The armet or chapelle de fer was an iron hat, occasionally put on by knights when they retired from the heat of the battle to take breath, and at times when they could not witì. propriety go unarmed. NOTE 172, p. 53, col. 1. — Fix'd their last kisses on their armed | and the ranks duly settled, the valourous young king mounted on a lusty white hobby, and with a white wand in his hand, rode between his two marshalls from rank to rank, and from one battalia unto another, exhorting and encouraging every man that day to defend and maintain his right and honour: and this he did with so chearful a countenance, and with such sweet and obliging words, that even the most faint-hearted of the army were sufficiently assured thereby. By that time the English were thus prepared, it was nine o'clock in the morning, and then the king commanded them all to take their refreshment of meat and drink, which being done, with small disturbance they all repaired to their colours again, and then laid themselves in their order upon the dry and warm grass, with their bows and helmets by their side, to be more fresh and vigorous upon the approach of the enemy."- Barnes. The English before the battle of Agincourt "fell prostrate to the ground, and committed themselves to God, every of them tooke in his mouth a little piece of earth, in remembrance that they were mortall and made of earth, as also in remembrance of the holy communion."- Stowe. NOTE 174, p. 55, col. 1.-..... ...... then on the herald A robe rich-furr'd and broider'd he bestow'd. When the armies of England and Frauce lay in the plain between Vironfosse and Flemenguere, 1339, Edward sent to demand a day of battle of the French king. "An herald of the duke of Gueldres, being well skilled in the French tongue, NOTE 179, p. 55, col. 2. —The pennons rolling their long waves was sent on this errand: he rode forth till he came to the French host, where being admitted before the king and his council, he spake aloud these words, 'Sir, the king of England is here hard by in the fields, and desires to fight you power against power; and if you please to appoint him a day he will | not fail to meet you upon the word of a king.' This message being thus delivered, king Philip yielded either to give or take battle two days after, and in token of his acceptance of the news, richly rewarded the herald with furred gowns, and other gifts bestowed on him, as well by himself as others, the princes and lords of his host, and so dismissed him again.”— Barnes. NOTE 176, p. 55, col. 1. To shrive them. Religious ceromonies seem to have preceded all settled engagements at this period. On the night before the battle of Cressy, "King Edward made a supper in his royal pavilion for all his chief barons, lords and captains: at which he appeared wonderful chearful and pleasant, to the great encouragement of his people. But when they were all dismissed to their several quarters, the king himself retired into his private oratory, and came before the altar, and there prostrated himself to almighty God and devoutly prayed, 'That of his infinite goodness he would vouchsafe to look down on the justice of his cause, and remember his unfeigned endeavors for a reconcilement, although they had all been rendered frustrate by his enemies: that if he should be brought to a battle the next day, it would please him of his great mercy to grant him the victory, as his trust was only in him, and in the right which he had given him.' Being thus armed with faith, about midnight | he laid himself upon a pallet or mattress to take a little repose; but he arose again betimes and heard mass, with his son the young prince, and received absolution, and the body and blood of his Redeemer, as did the prince also, and most of the lords and others who were so disposed."— Barnes. Thus also before the battle of Agincourt "after prayers and supplications of the king, his priests and people, done with great devotion, the king of England in the morning very early set forth his hosts in array."-Stowe. NOTE 177, p. 55, col. 1.— The shield of dignity. NOTE 178, p. 55, col. 1.-...... that in undiminish'd strength The conduct of the English on the morning of the battle of Cressy is followed in the text. "All things being thus ordered, every lord and captain under his own banner and pennon, Before the gale, and banners broad and bright. The pennon was long, ending in two points, the banner square. "Un seigneur n'etoit banneret et ne pouvoit porter la banniere quarrée, que lors qu'il pouvoit entretenir a ses depens un certain nombre de chevaliers et d'Ecuyers, avec leur suite a la guerre: jusques-la son etendard avoit deux queues ou fanons, et quand il devenoit plus puissant, son souverain coupoit luimeme les fanons de son etendard, pour le rendre quarré.” — Tressan. An incident before the battle of Najara exemplifies this. "As the two armies approached near together, the prince went over a little hill, in the descending whereof he saw plainly his enemies marching toward him: wherefore when the whole army was come over this mountain, he commanded that there they should make an halt, and so fit themselves for fight. At that instant the lord John Chandos brought his ensign folded up, and offered it to the prince, saying, 'Sir, here is my guidon; I request your highness to display it abroad, and to give me leave to raise it this day as my banner; for I thank God and your highness, I have lands and possessions sufficient to maintain it withall.' Then the prince took the pennon, and having cut off the tail, made it a square banner, and this done, both he and king Don Pedro for the greater honour, holding it between their hands displayed it abroad, it being Or, a sharp pile Gules: and then the prince delivered it unto the lord Chandos again, saying, 'Sir John, behold here is your banner. God send you much joy and honour with it.' And thus being made a knight banneret, the lord Chandos returned to the head of his men, and said, 'Here, gentlemen, behold my banner and yours! Take and keep it, to your honour and mine!' And so they took it with a shout, and said by the grace of God and St. George they would defend it to the best of their powers. But the banner remained in the hands of a gallant English esquire named William Allestry, who bore it all that day, and acquitted himself in the service right honourably.". - Barnes. beautiful sight of fair harness, of shining steel, feathered | had on his chafron a long sharp pike of steele, and as the two crests of glittering helmets, and the rich embroidery of silken surcoats of arms, together with golden standards, banners and pennons gloriously moving in the air." And at Najara "the sun being now risen, it was a ravishing sight to behold the armies, and the sun reflecting from their bright steel and shining armour. For in those days the cavalry were generally armed in mail or polished steel at all points, and besides that, the nobility wore over their armour rich surcoats of silk and satin embroidery, whereon was curiously sticht or beaten, the arms of their house, whether in colour or metal." NOTE 182, p. 55, col. 2. For not to brutal strength they deem'd it right To trust their country's weal. Nos ancestres, et notamment du temps de la guerre des Anglois, en combats solemnels et journées assignées, se mettoient la pluspart du temp tous à pied; pour ne se fier d autre chose qu'à leur force propre et vigueur de leur courage et de leur membres, de chose si chere que l'honneur et la vie. - Montaigne, Liv. i. c. 48. In the battle of Patay, Monstrellet says, "les François moult de pres mirènt pied à terre, et descendirent la plus grand partie de leur chevaulx." champions coaped together, the same horse thrust his pike into the nostrills of the bastard's horse, so that for very paine, he mounted so high that he fell on the one side with his master." — Stowe. This weapon is mentioned by Lope de Vega, and by an old Con el fuerte pyramide delante, Jerusalen Conquistada, 1. 10. His horse in fyne sandel was trapped to the hele, Stode, as an unicorne, Als sharp as a thorne, An anlas of stele. Sir Gawan and Sir Galaron. Florisel found this part of his horse's armour of good service, when in the combat of eighteen against eighteen, he encountered the king of the Scythians, geant demesuré; il chevauchoit un grand animal de son pays, duquel nous ne sçavons le nom: aussi etoit-il tant corpulent et membru, qu'on n'eust sceu fournir roussin qui l'eust peu porter. The first encounter fut très belle jouste à voir, et au joindre des corps mourut treize In El Cavallero Determinado, an allegorical romance trans-chevaux, compris l'animal du Roy de Scythie, qui fut si lourdelated from the French of Olivier de la Marche by Hernando de Acuna, Barcelona, 1565, this custom is referred to by Understanding, when giving the knight directions for his combat with Atropos. En esto es mi parecer Que en cavallo no te fies; Por lo qual has de entender Que de ningung confies Tu lymosna y bien hazer. NOTE 183, p. 55, col. 2. Their javelins shorten'd to a wieldy length. Thus at Poictiers, "the three battails being all ready ranged in the field, and every lord in his due place under his own banner, command was given that all men should put off their spurs, and cut their spears to five foot length, as most commodious for such who had left their horses."- Barnes. NOTE 184, p. 56, col. 1. —. - Hræsvelger starting. Hrasvelger vocatur Qui sedet in extremitate cæli, Gigas exuvias amictus aquile : Ferunt venire ventum Omnes super homines. - Vafthrudnismal. Where the Heaven's remotest bound The Edda of Sæmund, translated by Amos Cottle. Among the idols of Aitutaki, (one of the Hervey Islands,) sent home among other trophies of the same kind to the Missionary Museum, is the God of Thunder, Taau. The natives used to believe that when Taau was flying abroad, Thunder was produced by the flapping of his wings. Williams's Missionary Enterprises in the South Sea Islands, p. 109. At the promontory of Malea on the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, there is a chapel built to the honor of Michael the archangel. Here we could not but laugh at the foolish superstition of the sailors, who say, when the wind blows from that place, that it is occasioned by the violent motion of Michael's wings, because forsooth, he is painted with wings. And for that reason, when they sail by Michael they pray to him that he may hold his wings still. - - Baumgarten. NOTE 185, p. 56, col. 1.-Or with the lance protended from his front. In a combat fought in Smithfield, 1467, between the lord Scales and the bastard of Burgoyne, "the lord Scales' horse ment recontré par le destrier de Florisel, portant bardes de fer, et une poincte accrée sur le chanfrain qu'il fourra si avant parmy les flancz de ceste grosse beste, qu'il atterrace avec les autres, et la jambe de son maistre dessouz. - Amadis, L. x. ff. 51, 52. The Abyssinians use it at this day; Bruce says it is a very troublesome useless piece of their armor. The bore's heed I understande Is the chefe servyce in this lande, Be gladde lordes bothe more and lasse When Henry II. had his eldest son crowned as fellow with him in the kingdom, upon the day of coronation, king Henry, the father, served his son at the table as sewer, bringing up the bore's head with trumpets before it, according to the manner; whereupon (according to the old adage, Immutant mores homines cum dantur honores) the young man conceiving a pride in his heart, beheld the standers-by with a more stately countenance than he had been wont. The archbishop of York who sat by him, marking his behaviour, turned unto him and said, "Be glad, my good son, there is not another prince in the world that hath such a sewer at his table." To this the new king answered as it were disdainfully thus: "Why doest thou marvel at that? my father Tenia escrito de David un verso. he was. Jerusalen Conquistada. in doing it thinketh it not more than becometh him, he being NOTE 193, p. 57, col. 2. — Fastolffe, all fierce and haughty as born of princely blood only on the mother's side, serveth me that am a king born, having both a king to my father and a queen to my mother." Thus the young man of an evil and perverse nature, was puffed up in pride by his father's unseemly doings. But the king his father hearing his talk was very sorrowful in his mind, and said to the archbishop softly in his ear, "It repenteth me, it repenteth me, my lord, that I have thus advanced the boy." For he guessed hereby what a one he would prove afterward, that shewed himself so disobedient and forward already. — Holinshed. NOTE 190, p. 57, col. 2. — He from the saddle-bow his falchion caught. In the combat between Francus and Phouere, Ronsard says-de la main leurs coutelas trouverent Bien aiguisez qui de l'arçon pendoyent. On this passage the commentator observes, "l'autheur arme ces deux chevaliers à la mode de nos gendarmes François, la lance en la main, la coutelace ou la mace à l'arçon, et l'espé eau costé. Thus Desmarests says of the troops of Clovis A tous pend de l'arçon, à leur mode guerrierre, Et la hache tranchante, et la masse meurtriere. In the Paston letters, published by Mr. Fenn, Fastolffe appears in a very unfavorable light. Henry Windsor writes thus of him," hit is not unknown that cruelle and vengible he hath byn ever, and for the most part with oute pite and mercy. I can no more, but vade et corripe eum, for truly he cannot bryng about his matiers in this word (world) for the word is not for him. I suppose it wolnot chaunge yett be likelenes, but i beseche you sir help not to amend bym onely, but every other man yf ye kno any mo mysse disposed." The order of the garter was taken from Fastolffe for his conduct at Patay. He suffered a more material loss in the money he expended in the service of the state. In 1455, 40831. 15. 7. were due to him for costs and charges during his services in France, "whereof the sayd Fastolffe hath had nouther payement nor assignation." So he complains. NOTE 194, p. 57, col. 2.- Battle-axe. In a battle between the Burgundians and Dauphinois near Abbeville (1421) Monstrellet especially notices the conduct of John Villain, who had that day been made a knight. He was a nobleman from Flanders, very tall, and of great bodily strength, and was mounted on a good horse, holding a battleaxe in both hands Thus he pushed into the thickest part of the battle, and throwing the bridle on his horse's neck, gave such blows on all sides with his battle-axe, that whoever was struck was instantly unhorsed and wounded past recovery. In this way he met Poton de Xaintrailles, who, after the battle was over, declared the wonders he did, and that he got out of his reach as fast as he could. Vol. v. p. 294. NOTE 195, p. 58, col. 1. The buckler, now splinter'd with many a stroke. L'écu des chevaliers était ordinairement un bouclier de forme And when Clovis, on foot and without a weapon, hears the à peu près triangulaire, large par le haut pour couvrir le corps, shrieks of a woman, he sees his horse, et se terminant en pointe par le bas, afin d'être moins lourd. On les faisait de bois qu'on recouvrait avec du cuir bouilli, avec des nerfs ou autres matieres dures, mais jamais de fer ou d'acier. Seulement il était permis, pour les empêcher d'être coupés trop aisément par les epées, d'y mettre un cercle d'or, d'argent, ou de fer, qui les entourât. Le Grand. NOTE 196, p. 58, col. 2. — Threw o'er the slaughter'd chief his blazon'd coat. This fact is mentioned in Andrews's History of England. I have merely versified the original expressions. "The herald of Talbot sought out his body among the slain. Alas, my lord, and is it you! I pray God pardon you all your misdoings. I have been your officer of arms forty years and more: it is time that I should surrender to you the ensigns of my office.' Thus saying, with the tears gushing from his eyes, he threw his coat of arms over the corpse, thus performing one of the ancient rites of sepulture." mystic oil. But pardon the Latin, for it was not his, but his camping NOTE 197, p. 59, col. 1.- Pour'd on the monarch's head the chaplain's. A sword with bad Latin upon it, but good steel within it, says Fuller. It was not uncommon to bear a motto upon the sword. Lope de Vega describes that of Aguilar as bearing inlaid in gold, a verse of the psalms. It was, he says, Mas famosa que fue de hombre cenida, "The Frenchmen wonderfully reverence this oyle; and at the coronation of their kings, fetch it from the church where it is kept, with great solemnity. For it is brought (saith Sleiden in his Commentaries) by the prior sitting on a white ambling palfrey, and attended by his monkes; the archbishop of the town (Rheims) and such bishops as are present, going to the church door to meet it, and leaving for it with the prior some gage, and the king, when it is by the archbishop brought to the altar, bowing himself before it with great reverence." Peter Heylyn. The Vision of the Maid of Orleans. IN the first edition of Joan of Arc this Vision formed the ninth book, allegorical machinery having been introduced throughout the poem as originally written. All that remained of such machinery was expunged in the second edition, and the Vision was then struck out, as no longer according with the general design. THE FIRST BOOK. The plumeless bats with short, shrill note flit by, There, a mouldering pile Its head; the earth was heaved with many a mound, ORLEANS was hush'd in sleep. Stretch'd on her And here and there a half-demolish'd tomb. couch The delegated Maiden lay; with toil Along a moor, moon Struggled at times with transitory ray, Lifting her tatter'd mantle, coil'd around And now, amid the ruin's darkest shade, So saying, he arose, and drawing on, He dragg'd her on |