THE
DESCRIPTION
OF
KING
HENRY
THE
SECOND
,
WITH
A
SHORT
SURVEY
of
the
changes
in
his
REIGNE
.
IT
has
beene
a
custome
of
old
Historians
,
when
they
record
the
actions
of
great
Princes
,
to
deliver
also
some
Characters
of
their
persons
and
peculiar
dispositions
;
that
the
curiositie
of
succeeding
times
,
who
pry
deepely
into
those
men
,
whose
lives
were
of
so
great
moment
in
the
world
,
might
beefully
satisfied
and
delighted
.
It
will
not
therefore
bee
amisse
to
deliver
a
Character
of
King
Henry
the
Second
;
a
Monarch
greater
in
Fame
and
Territories
than
any
Christian
King
,
that
then
lived
▪
Hee
was
a
man
(
as
we
finde
recorded
)
of
a
just
stature
,
a
strong
and
healthfull
constitution
;
but
somewhat
grosse
,
more
by
the
inclination
of
Nature
,
then
by
any
fault
either
of
intemperance
or
sloth
.
For
besides
the
sparenesse
and
sobrietie
of
his
dyet
,
he
vexed
his
bodie
with
continuall
labour
,
and
to
ouercome
his
naturall
fat●…esse
,
was
almost
immoderate
in
all
his
exercises
.
Hee
was
of
a
ruddy
complexion
,
his
head
was
large
,
his
eyes
gray
,
whose
aspect
was
terrible
in
his
anger
;
his
voyce
was
hoarse
and
hollow
.
Hee
was
a
Prince
of
great
affabilitie
,
facetious
in
discourse
;
and
when
he
was
free
from
anger
,
or
important
businesse
,
●…ee
was
●…ost
pleasant
and
Courtly
in
his
whole
conversation
.
Eloquent
he
was
by
nature
,
and
(
which
was
rare
then
)
very
learned
.
The
best
histories
,
which
in
those
dark
times
could
be
gotten
in
Christendome
,
he
had
perused
with
diligence
,
and
by
the
benefit
of
an
extraordinary
memorie
did
retaine
them
perfectly
.
He
was
very
hardy
in
enduring
either
labo●…r
,
or
extremities
of
the
seasons
;
couragious
in
warre
:
but
not
rash
,
and
willing
to
try
all
wayes
before
the
chance
of
a
battell
;
yet
when
there
was
occasion
,
very
resolute
,
and
so
much
feared
by
those
Princes
that
had
to
doe
with
him
,
that
hee
was
never
put
to
any
great
field
.
Hee
was
more
kinde
in
honouring
the
memories
of
his
souldiers
that
were
slaine
,
then
hee
was
in
rewarding
those
that
were
alive
;
and
never
seemed
truly
to
value
his
best
Captains
,
till
after
they
were
dead
.
Exceeding
frugall
and
parsimonious
hee
was
,
(
almost
below
the
dignity
of
a
King
)
but
it
proved
happy
to
his
affaires
.
Though
in
private
hee
were
very
sparing
,
●…et
abroad
hee
appeared
often
in
great
magnificence
;
his
bountie
to
some
poore
Princes
,
and
those
large
summes
,
which
hee
disbursed
to
the
holy
warre
,
might
teach
the
worl●…
that
hee
was
not
covetous
,
but
wisely
provident
▪
The
greatest
taxe
that
was
laid
upon
him
by
those
that
lived
in
the
same
age
,
was
his
too
too
often
breaking
of
his
promises
;
a
fault
that
many
Princes
,
great
in
other
vertues
,
have
beene
guilty
of
.
Hee
was
exceeding
fond
of
all
his
children
,
especially
in
their
childish
age
,
before
their
carriage
had
deserved
either
way
;
which
shewed
that
Nature
onely
wrought
that
strong
affection
in
him
.
Yet
there
,
where
he
most
loved
;
and
by
those
of
whom
hee
had
most
deserved
,
it
pleased
God
,
hee
tasted
the
greatest
crosses
;
his
Sonnes
were
his
scourges
,
and
the
onely
instruments
that
did
,
or
(
in
l●…kelihood
)
could
shake
the
felicitie
of
so
puissant
a
Monarc●…
.
So
great
a
contrarietie
there
seemed
to
be
betweene
his
affection
to
them
,
and
the
returne
of
theirs
to
him
.
Hee
appeared
in
nothing
almost
of
a
tender
nature
,
but
in
loving
them
;
and
might
have
beene
thought
fomewhat
severe
in
disposition
,
if
hee
had
not
beene
a
father
,
to
shew
the
contrary
:
they
were
in
generall
of
a
Noble
deportment
,
taxed
in
their
times
almost
of
no
unjust
or
bad
act●…ons
,
but
their
ingratitude
and
disobedience
to
him
:
and
had
carried
a
repute
of
the
Noblest
Princes
,
if
they
had
not
at
all
beene
Sonnes
.
But
perchance
it
pleased
God
by
the
fruit
of
his
loynes
to
punish
those
sinnes
of
the
flesh
to
which
the
King
was
so
much
addicted
.
Hee
was
noted
,
more
then
any
Prince
of
his
time
,
to
be
given
to
the
love
of
women
;
but
especially
after
the
displeasure
conceived
against
his
wife
Queene
Elianor
(
as
a
stirrer
up
of
his
Sonnes
against
him
)
when
hee
altogether
forbore
her
bed
,
hee
was
growne
carelesse
of
the
voyce
of
Fame
,
and
strove
not
at
all
to
hide
his
wanton
affections
.
All
his
vertues
(
which
indeed
were
many
)
had
occasion
often
to
be
knowne
by
the
varieties
of
his
reigne
,
in
which
felicitie
and
crosses
did
so
often
●…ceed
each
other
,
they
were
not
onely
tried
,
but
declared
to
the
world
.
For
very
remarkeable
were
the
alterations
of
Fortune
(
if
we
consider
all
things
)
which
happened
in
the
reigne
of
this
great
Prince
.
Of
which
if
you
will
take
a
briefe
survey
,
consider
it
divided
as
it
were
into
five
Acts
;
for
as
one
sayes
,
Tanquam
fabula
est
vita
hominis
.
Let
the
first
eight
yeares
of
his
reigne
(
or
thereabouts
)
be
counted
for
the
first
Act.
Where
the
bravery
and
wisedome
of
his
youth
(
for
but
24.
years
of
age
was
he
)
enough
appeared
in
setling
the
kingdome
,
and
vindicating
the
rights
of
his
royall
Crowne
,
after
so
long
a
confusion
,
and
so
many
calamities
of
civill
warre
.
He●…
expelled
the
strangers
out
of
the
Realme
,
which
in
St●…phans
time
had
bin
the
diseases
of
it
.
He
providently
setled
not
onely
the
revenues
but
the
authority
of
his
Crown
(
as
before
appeareth
)
and
fitly
disposed
of
all
the
Castles
and
strong
holds
;
which
he
either
kept
in
his
owne
power
,
or
quite
demolished
.
Hee
maintained
the
ancient
bounds
&
honor
of
the
Realme
not
onely
in
the
North
,
but
against
the
Welsh
.
Beyond
the
Seas
he
suf●…ered
no
damage
,
but
gained
upon
all
occasions
.
K.
Lewis
&
he
were
sometimes
likely
to
have
come
to
battel
;
b●…t
peace
was
made
,
and
King
Lewis
content
rather
to
sit
downe
with
some
little
losse
,
then
contend
with
so
puissant
a
foe
.
Chaumont
he
tooke
from
him
,
&
seized
(
against
his
wil
)
upon
Nants
in
Britain
:
this
was
indeed
the
time
of
K
H●…nry's
greatest
felicity
in
which
hee
enjoyed
his
dignitie
without
any
vexations
,
and
the
people
,
that
had
long
beene
afflicted
with
miserable
times
,
did
truly
rejoyce
in
their
new
King
.
And
during
these
yeares
,
as
a
farther
blessing
to
him
,
and
securitie
to
the
kingdome
,
the
Queene
was
fruitfull
,
and
bare
him
three
Sons
.
For
the
second
Act
,
wee
may
consider
his
next
eleven
or
twelve
yeares
;
in
which
time
,
though
hee
suffered
nothing
by
the
hand
of
warre
,
as
not
molested
by
rebels
at
home
,
nor
threatned
at
all
by
forraigne
enemies
:
yet
by
the
opposition
of
one
Church-man
he
found
a
long
and
wearisome
vexation
.
For
almost
all
this
time
did
that
famous
jarre
of
Archbishop
Becket
,
and
at
the
last
his
lamentable
murther
a●…flict
King
Henry
,
and
exceedingly
disturbe
the
quiet
of
his
minde
.
The
particulars
at
large
have
appeared
in
the
foregoing
storie
,
and
shall
not
here
trouble
the
Reader
.
Yet
in
this
incumbred
time
,
his
State
and
Dignitie
had
great
additions
;
of
which
the
happiest
was
that
easie
accession
of
the
Realme
of
Ireland
unto
his
Scepter
.
And
another
(
considering
the
present
occasions
of
state
)
of
as
much
importance
to
him
,
the
gaining
of
the
Dutchy
of
Britaine
to
his
third
Sonne
Geoffrey
.
Which
hee
with
great
wisedome
and
industrie
obtayned
in
the
nonage
of
that
yong
Ladie
Constantia
,
the
daughter
an●…
heire
of
Coran
Duke
of
Brittaine
,
then
deceased
.
Hitherto
his
happinesse
was
not
at
all
impaired
,
nor
hee
afflicted
with
any
thing
but
the
dissention
of
Archbishop
Becket
.
His
times
of
danger
,
and
great
sufferings
now
ensue
.
Let
therefore
the
three
following
yeares
of
his
reigne
be
taken
for
the
third
Act
;
in
which
the
Scene
is
altogether
changed
,
and
instead
of
a
glorious
and
happy
reigne
,
nothing
but
afflictions
,
and
the
extremest
dangers
that
cou●…d
be
feared
,
threaten
not
onely
his
Crowne
,
but
life
also
.
This
is
the
time
of
that
great
revolt
of
his
three
Sons
from
him
;
besides
so
mighty
a
confederacy
ioyned
with
them
,
as
Lewis
King
of
France
,
William
King
of
Scotland
,
David
his
brother
,
Philip
Earle
of
Flanders
,
Matthew
Earle
of
Boloigne
,
Theobald
Earle
of
Bloys
,
besides
so
many
of
the
greatest
and
strongest
English
Peeres
,
as
the
Earls
of
Leister
,
Chester
,
and
Norfolke
,
with
the
Lord
Mowbray
,
and
divers
others
.
No
part
of
al
his
large
dominions
was
free
from
warre
;
Normandy
invaded
by
Lewis
of
France
,
and
young
King
Henry
,
Aquitaine
by
his
Sonne
Richard
possessed
against
him
,
as
the
Dutchy
of
Brittaine
was
by
Geoffrey
.
The
Northern
parts
of
England
were
all
wasted
by
the
great
strength
of
William
K.
of
Scotland
,
&
the
Easterne
parts
much
afflicted
by
those
mercenary
troops
of
Flemmings
,
which
the
Earle
of
Leister
brought
over
,
besides
the
forces
of
the
Earl
o●…
Nor●…olk
.
This
great
Monarch
,
whose
felicitie
was
so
lately
the
envie
of
his
neighbour-Princes
,
is
now
become
the
pittie
of
them
all
;
and
the
injuries
done
to
his
estate
and
person
,
are
much
lamented
by
some
Princes
too
farre
off
to
lend
him
succour
.
But
be
hold
the
turning
of
Fortune
againe
;
it
pleased
God
againe
to
lift
him
from
this
depth
of
calamitie
,
to
the
height
of
honour
▪
Hee
now
found
the
benefit
of
his
frugality
;
and
that
large
treasure
,
which
hee
before
had
gathered
,
was
his
great
assistance
in
procuring
mercenarie
souldiers
to
his
side
;
besides
some
faithfull
Lords
there
were
,
(
whom
we
have
named
in
the
storie
)
that
were
deeply
moved
at
their
masters
injuries
;
and
so
Nobly
served
him
,
that
within
three
yeares
after
the
beginning
of
these
combustions
,
King
Henry
,
according
to
his
owne
wishes
,
beheld
a
happy
and
victorious
end
of
them
,
as
is
before
expressed
.
Let
the
fourth
Act
continue
about
seven
yeares
that
next
ensued
,
a
time
of
honour
,
and
highest
happinesse
to
this
great
King
;
after
his
troubles
were
allended
according
to
his
wish
,
the
King
of
France
daunted
,
the
martiall
King
of
Scotland
his
prisoner
,
all
rebels
under
his
feet
;
his
Sonnes
brought
to
acknowledge
their
duty
,
and
all
his
large
dominions
in
great
securitie
.
While
the
mightiest
Monarchs
of
the
Christian
world
admired
his
wisedome
and
great
successe
,
astonished
almost
at
so
wonderfull
a
change
as
they
now
beheld
.
His
sumptuous
Court
was
filled
with
congratulating
Ambassadours
;
of
whom
at
one
time
there
were
moe
seene
,
then
ever
had
beene
together
in
the
Court
of
England
;
as
namely
from
the
two
Christian
Emperours
,
Manuel
of
Constantinople
,
and
Frederike
of
the
Romans
,
from
the
Kings
of
Navarre
,
and
Aragon
,
●…om
the
Archbishop
of
Triers
,
and
the
Earle
of
Flanders
.
During
the
time
of
this
happinesse
,
hee
marryed
his
two
youngest
daughters
(
for
the
eldest
was
married
before
to
the
Duke
of
Saxony
)
to
the
Kings
of
Sicily
and
Arragon
.
Hee
called
Parliaments
,
in
which
according
to
his
minde
,
hee
was
furnished
with
treasure
,
he
wisely
setled
the
estates
of
Church
and
Common-wealth
,
and
besides
many
other
wholsome
&
happy
constitutions
,
he
first
appointed
Iudges
Itinerant
for
the
six
circuits
of
the
Realme
of
England
.
The
last
and
tragicall
Act
may
be
considered
in
the
five
following
yeares
,
untill
the
end
of
his
reigne
and
lif●…
.
The
date
of
his
felicitie
was
now
expired
;
and
nothing
followed
but
trouble
and
calamitie
.
The
beginning
of
which
was
a
second
revolt
of
his
two
Sonnes
,
Henry
and
Geoffrey
,
which
was
soone
taken
off
by
the
untimely
death
of
both
the
Princes
(
as
is
before
declared
in
the
Poëm
;
)
besides
the
ill
successe
in
the
affaires
of
Ireland
under
the
government
of
Iohn
his
youngest
sonne
.
Those
troubles
that
arose
from
Philip
King
of
France
,
and
prevailed
against
Henry
in
his
old
age
,
more
then
any
enemy
had
beene
able
to
doe
before
:
which
had
not
fallen
so
heavily
upon
him
,
if
Richard
(
then
his
eldest
sonne
)
had
not
unnaturally
forsaken
his
father
,
and
joyned
in
confederacy
with
King
Philip.
That
miserable
dissention
broke
the
heart
of
old
King
Henry
,
and
was
the
end
both
of
his
reigne
and
life
.
FINIS
.
THE
SINGLE
,
AND
COMPARATIVE
CHARACTERS
OF
HENRY
the
Sonne
,
and
RICHARD
.
LEt
it
not
seeme
impertinent
(
if
the
Reader
therby
may
be
informed
or
delighted
)
to
deliver
the
Characters
of
these
two
Princes
the
eldest
Sonnes
of
King
Henry
the
Second
,
who
bore
so
great
and
stirring
parts
in
the
history
of
their
fathers
reigne
.
They
were
Princes
of
greatest
eminence
in
those
times
,
and
upon
whom
the
eyes
of
Christendome
were
most
set
;
a
large
Stage
they
had
to
act
upon
;
and
early
occasions
to
discover
their
worth
.
They
were
both
tall
of
stature
beyond
the
ordinary
height
of
men
;
of
comely
visage
,
and
majesticall
presence
;
for
courage
and
magnanimity
they
were
thought
equall
;
and
both
admired
for
royall
vertue
,
though
of
a
nature
different
.
Henry
was
beloved
for
his
sweetnesse
:
Richard
honour'd
for
his
gravi●…
.
Henry
was
affable
and
wondrous
liberall
:
Richard
severe
and
full
of
constancy
.
Henry
was
addicte●…
to
martiall
sports
and
pastimes
:
Richard
more
inclined
●…o
warre
it selfe
:
One
was
Courtly
:
the
other
serious
.
One
beloved
for
mercy
:
the
other
feared
for
Iustice
.
The
one
a
refuge
:
the
other
a
terror
to
all
offenders
.
Two
Princes
brothers
of
so
great
worth
;
and
yet
so
diverse
,
have
seldome
beene
observed
.
Yet
well
might
they
spring
from
one
root
;
their
father
Henry
in
the
mixture
of
his
nature
was
knowne
to
containe
both
their
different
Characters
;
and
iudged
to
have
a
minde
(
as
one
●…peakes
of
Augustus
Caesar
)
full
of
varietie
.
How
much
the
sweetnesse
and
lovely
carriage
of
young
King
Henry
had
wonne
upon
the
world
,
let
one
observation
(
which
some
of
his
owne
time
thought
like
a
miracle
)
teach
us
to
judge
.
How
strange
was
it
,
that
a
young
Prince
rising
in
armes
against
his
father
,
possessed
neither
of
lands
nor
treasure
,
much
lesse
of
a
good
or
just
cause
,
was
followed
almost
by
all
the
neighbouring
world
against
a
King
of
so
large
a
territory
,
and
so
full
of
treasure
▪
that
in
this
great
defection
from
him
,
hee
was
able
,
almost
with
mercenary
souldier●…
to
vindicate
his
right
against
all
those
potent
enemies
▪
This
young
P●…ince
had
gained
to
his
side
not
onely
his
brothers
Richard
and
Geoffrey
,
and
most
of
the
great
Nobility
of
England
,
but
the
Kings
of
France
and
Scotland
,
the
Earle
of
Flanders
,
and
many
other
great
forraigne
Princes
.
So
many
rich
gifts
of
minde
and
body
were
heaped
on
this
young
Henry
(
saith
a
Writer
of
his
time
)
that
Nature
,
as
it
were
envying
what
she
had
bestowed
,
soyled
it
againe
with
one
staine
,
the
vice
of
ingratitude
,
and
disobedieuce
to
so
good
a
father
.
Which
sinne
of
his
was
thought
the
cause
that
plucked
downe
Divine
vengeance
,
and
untimely
cut
off
that
flourishing
youth
which
was
judged
worthy
(
if
God
had
prolonged
it
)
to
have
ruled
a
greater
Empire
.
The
severity
and
industrious
courage
of
Richard
the
second
Sonne
let
this
declare
;
the
Earledome
of
Poictou
,
and
the
Dutchy
of
Aquitaine
,
which
were
the
inheritance
of
his
mother
Eleanor
,
were
committed
to
his
government
whilest
he
was
very
young
.
Yet
in
that
tender
age
(
so
manly
were
his
vertues
,
so
awefull
was
the
hand
which
he
carried
over
the
rebellious
and
stubborne
subjects
of
those
Countryes
,
that
he
soone
reduced
them
to
a
more
quiet
state
,
and
setled
obedience
,
then
any
of
their
former
Princes
had
ever
done
.
As
he
was
stout
in
the
action
of
warre
;
so
was
hee
constant
and
unwearied
in
pursuing
his
fortune
,
and
making
the
full
use
of
any
successe
,
according
to
that
marke
that
Lucan
gives
of
Iulius
Caelar
:
Nil
credens
actum
cum
quid
superesset
agendum
.
Hee
was
so
severe
in
punishing
their
offences
,
that
hee
began
(
so
great
a
resemblance
sometimes
has
vice
with
vertue
)
to
be
taxed
of
cruelty
,
till
the
wiser
sort
had
fully
considered
the
quality
of
his
actions
,
and
the
necessity
of
such
proceedings
.
How
prevalent
he
was
in
the
managing
of
warres
(
to
omit
those
great
&
high
exploits
,
which
he
afterwards
atchieved
when
hee
was
King
of
England
)
by
this
one
sad
observation
we
may
somewhat
i●…dge
;
after
the
untimely
deaths
of
his
two
brothers
,
Henry
and
Geoffrey
,
when
hee
onely
of
the
Sonnes
was
left
at
mans
estate
;
and
unnaturally
warred
against
his
father
;
assisted
onely
by
Philip
King
of
France
,
hee
more
prevailed
then
his
brother
Henry
with
a
farre
greater
confederacy
had
beene
able
to
doe
in
the
foregoing
warres
▪
Henry
the
Sonne
had
many
and
great
Princes
(
as
●…efore
wee
shewed
)
that
sided
with
him
.
And
yet
so
victorious
an
end
did
old
King
Henry
make
of
that
businesse
,
that
hee
saw
his
greatest
and
most
glorious
times
after
the
conclusion
of
that
warre
;
but
when
Ric●…ard
revolted
from
him
,
assisted
onely
by
Philip
of
France
,
the
father
was
inforced
to
suffer
more
,
and
stoope
lower
than
any
imagined
that
a
Prince
of
so
great
a
spirit
and
power
could
ever
have
bin
brought
unto
.
By
which
finally
his
heart
was
broken
,
and
a
period
set
to
all
his
worldly
glory
.
Richard
in
that
was
more
unhappy
than
his
brother
Henry
,
that
his
unna●…urall
wars
we●…e
able
to
give
so
deepe
and
uncurable
a
wound
to
his
fathers
heart
,
and
lent
him
no
time
at
all
to
obtaine
his
pardon
,
as
Henry
had
done
,
nor
could
the
father
liue
to
bee
a
witnesse
of
Richards
forrow
and
true
repentance
,
as
hee
had
beene
of
the
others
.
Which
notwithstanding
was
many
wayes
,
after
the
death
of
old
King
Henry
,
testified
by
Richard
;
and
last
of
all
,
when
himselfe
was
dying
,
he
commanded
his
servants
to
bury
him
at
Fonteverard
;
and
lay
him
acrosse
at
his
fathers
feet
,
to
whom
his
disloyalty
and
unnaturall
revolt
(
as
hee
with
griefe
acknowledged
)
had
beene
so
great
a
crosse
.
FINIS
.