"For Harry's reign, when flush'd Lancastrian roses
"Of York's pale blossoms had usurp'd the right,
"As wine drives nature out of drunkards' noses,
""Till red, triumphantly, eclipses white

"In Harry's reign.-But let me to my song,

"Or, good King Harry's reign may seem too long."

GEORGE COLMAN, THE YOUNGER.

SCARCE BOLINGBROKE lay quietly inurned, E're the succeeding Prince with ardour burn'd To pay obedience to a sire's behest,

And keep the nobles from reflective rest.

But first with manly promptuess it was said,

To stigmatise the life he lately led,

Young HENRY bade his former friends draw near,
And on his own, as on their faults severe;
Taking an ample share of serious blame,

Pointed the better path to honest fame,
Admonish'd, gave the means, their lives to mend-
Yet promised only further to befriend,
When merit justly claiming his regard,
By reformation led, should seek reward.

Those who of late reproved his lawless youth, And served his father with unyielding truth,

They

They trembling now approach'd the rising sun,
But found his thoughtless race of error run;
Advancement on their former zeal attends,
And all are hailed as counsellors and friends.*
But chiefly him† whose bold and upright mind
(To all distinction, in his duty, blind,)

Maintain❜d the honor of his master's place,
Nor would permit a prince the law disgrace;
Without reproof; his ancient sovereign then
Proclaim'd himself most blest of royal men.
In such a son who feared to disobey,
Or rather, who, for disobedience shown,
Submitted gracefully his fault to own,
Confess'd himself inferior to the laws,
And turn'd past censure to deserv'd applause.

The youthful monarch now to Paris sends, Proposing France and England should be friends,

* "He was not only anxious to repair his own misconduct. but also to make amends for those iniquities into which his father had been betrayed. He expressed the deepest sorrow at the fate of the unhappy Richard; performed his funeral obsequies with pomp and solemnity; and cherished all who had been attached to him."

Judge Gascoigne.

IIUME.

That

That CATHERINE's* hand with his in wedlock

join'd,

A league of lasting amity might bind;

But then, for dowry, 'tis demanded, France

Two million crowns, prompt payment, should advance;

With an old debt of near two million more,

As King JOHN's ransom, bargained for before. Then Normandy and other lands beside,

Were woo'd with much more ardor than the bride.

France offers HARRY, and I think no slight,

A wife, eight hundred thousand crowns, with right

Of Sovereignty in Guienne, and to be Lord
Of Rouerne, Saintongue, Aug'more, Perigord;
But HENRY ready with a numerous fleet,†
Refused, for less than what he ask❜d to treat.
There be some cunning folks to think inclined,
The King had pretty well made up his mind,

* Daughter of Charles VI. of France.

† He was, perhaps, the first English Monarch who had ships of his own; two were called the King's Chamber, and the King's Hall; they had purple sails, and were large and beautiful; there were also the Trinitie, the Grace de Dieu, the Holy Ghost, and many more which now be lost.

Vide J. P. ANDREWS.

That

That France would surely beg to be excused, From terms on purpose framed to be refused ; Whether such policy suit ill or well

With honest dealing, is not mine to tell, My task but gives in brief the Sovereign's acts, 'Tis your's to make due inference from facts.

There is a tale, but founded not in truth,
That CHARLES the DAUPHIN, slighting HENRY'S
youth,

A tun of tennis balls in gibe sent o'er,
As suited to the life HAL led before;

But all historians of respected name
The verity of such an act disclaim;
France at all time, from circumstances, was far
From wishing ought that might provoke a war.

"Now all the youth of England are on fire,"
And France is threaten'd with our hottest ire;
When treason midst an host of knightly peers,
Close to the King's her felon banner rears,
Lord SCROPE, Earl CAMBRIDGE, and Sir THOMAS
GREY,

Conspire (supposed with MARCH,) to take away

The

The crown and life of HARRY; Justice keen,
As sudden as unlook'd for, steps between
The plot and execution, treason fails,
The traitors fall, and gallant HENRY sails.

At Harfleur now the gallic druins,
Give note our English hero comes.

HARFLEUR Surrenders; HENRY's host
Prepares for Calais, when 'tis found
That France, collecting all her boast
Of rank and valour, line the coast,

And with proud threat the British band surround.

HENRY makes offer Harfleur to restore,

And to retrace his steps; the French deny;

The English Chief has but one project more,
To beat his four-fold enemy or die.

Oh, memory of CRECY, come again,

And POICTIERS too.-Shades of the slain ne'er scoff,

Let your bright blades assist to mend my pen, Or AGINCOURT* will come most tamely off.

VOL. I.

* Called also, Azincourt.

S

The