You else but slay them, that would faine be gon.

[Stanza 130]

I like our Forces their first course should hold,
To skirmish with them, vpon euery stay,
But fight by no meanes with them, though they would,
Except they finde them forraging for pray,
So still you haue them shut vp in a Fould,
And still to Callis keepe them in their way;
So Fabius wearied Hanibal, so we
May English Henry, pleased if you be.

[Stanza 131]

And of the English rid your Countrey cleane,
If on their backs, but Callice walles they win,
Whose Frontier Townes you easly may maintaine,
With a strong Army still to keepe them in;
Then let our Ships make good the mouth of Seyne,
And at your pleasure Harflew you may winne,
Ere with Supplys againe they can inuade,
Spent in the Voyage lately hither made.

[Stanza 132]

That day at Poyteers, in that bloudy Field,
The sudaine turne in that great Battell then,
Shall euer teach me, whilest I Armes can weeld,
Neuer to trust to multitudes of men;
Twas the first day that ere I wore a Sheeld,
Oh let me neuer see the like agen!
Where their Blacke Edward such a Battell wonne
As to behold it might amaze the Sunne.

[Stanza 133]

There did I see our conquered Fathers fall,
Before the English on that fatall ground,
When as to ours their number was but small,
And with braue Spirits France ne'r did more abound,
Yet oft that Battaile into minde I call,
Whereas of ours, one man seemd all one wound,
I instance this; yet humbly here submit
My selfe to fight, if you shall thinke it fit.

[Stanza 134: _Young mens counsailes ofttimes proue the vtter subuersion
both of themselues and others._]

The Marshall and the Constable about
To second, what this sager Duke had said:
The youthfull Lords into a cry brake out,
Gainst their opinions, so that ouer-sway'd,
Some seeming of their Loyalties to doubt;
Alanzon as an Oracle obay'd,
And not a French then present, but doth sweare
To kill an English if ynow there were.

[Stanza 135: _The French King sendeth to dare the King of England to
Battaile._]

A Herault posted presently away,
The King of England to the field to dare,
To bid him cease his spoyle, nor to delay
Gainst the French power his forces but prepare:
For that King Charles determin'd to display
His bloody Ensignes, and through France declare
The day, and place, that Henry should se