THE COMPLAINT OF HAROLDE.

Howe king Harolde raygnyng but niene monthes, had continuall warre with the Danes, with the Norway kyng, with his brother Tosto, and with duke William, who partely by hys strength, but chiefly by policie, overcame hym, and by killyng him in the feelde, obteyned the kingdome of Englande. Thys historie dooth declare that no manhoode nor courage can keepe the crowne from the right heyre’s head[1250].

Woulde he haue warre, and we to warre proclame?

O bastarde duke, and dost thou dare to fyght?

My noble men, come forth, and purchase fame:

Geue me my swoorde, let me defende my right:

Steppe foorth with speede my martiall men of myght:

With bowes and bylles, let vs their course restrayne:

And teach them that their vaunting vowes be vayne.

But that we may with wysedome wisely woorke,

It vs behoues in Normandy to fight

With hym, and not to let his souldiers lurke

Here in my realme, we shal thereby achiue

No noble acte, though hence we him do driue:

But if we deale with him in Normandy,

We shal receiue renowne and victorie.

It is the best with forraine foes to fyght

Abroade, as did the haughtie Hannibal,

And not at home to feele their hatefuil spight:

Of all the rest it is the greatest thrall,

That foes ariud shoulde spoyle our subiectes all:

And for a truth this alwayes hath bin found,

He speedeth best which fightes on forrayne grounde.

[My men of warre were mustered in hast,

But hast to late was then of none auayle,

The duke ariude, he in my realme was plaste,

He euery where my subiectes did assayle,

And euery where he caused them to quayle:

For which I bode hym battaile by and by,

Where equall warres gaue neither victorye.

For both our strengthes were weakned in such wise,

We both for breath to pause were wel content,

Euen then the duke he wisely did deuise,

How here to yeeld my crowne I might be bent:

For whiche to me a pursiphaunt he sent,

With letters, suche as here I shall recite,

Wherein he claimes the Brittayne crowne his right.][1251]