They all vnable to withstand my might, Not with submission milde did mercie craue: To do to me and mine the more despight, To France they sent, desiring for to haue Prince _Lewis_ to their king, to whom they gaue Their promise to aduance him to the crowne, And as a tyrant king to cast me downe. 70. King _Philip_ fostring malice in his mind, And gainst me such aduantage hauing found, Though no pretence of title he could find, Whereon his purpos’d enterprise to ground: Yet stretcht he out his arme our state to wound, And take from me and my posteritie, Our diademe and kingly royaltie. 71. For his proud sonne prince _Lewis_ he did send, With many a troope and many a warlike band, Whose wisht accesse my barons did attend, With all their troopes vpon the Kentish strand, Where with his host French _Lewis_ first tooke land: Whence with those traytors he to London went, Which in this treason did with them consent. 72. Then did begin my former miserie, For those, in whom chiefe trust I did repose, Those stranger souldiers all from me did flie, Except some few, that did lament my woes, And Douer castle kept against my foes, Vnto whose trust I did the same betake, All other seeming friends did me forsake. 73. But see the iudgement of almightie Ioue, On the disloyall people of this land: The conquering French, whose nature is to proue, Insulting ouer whom they beare command, Now being lords of all, with heauie hand The English people did begin t’oppresse, Who could not helpe themselues in this distresse. 74. Thus did the King of heau’n iust vengeance take On them, for their vniust disloyaltie: My part he did not vtterly forsake, But in the end did force my foes to flie, And leaue the crowne to my posteritie: For he did chuse out one amongst the foe, To be our enemie’s chiefe ouerthrow. 75. There was a noble minded man of France, Vicount of Melum, and a Frenchman borne, Who falling sicke did waile the sad mischance Of th’English, iustly made false fortune’s scorne, That thus had left their king to liue forlorne: Yea with remorse his conscience it did sting, To see the subiect so oppresse the king. 76. When death in him began his due to take, He for my nobles secretly did send, To whom with fainting voice these words he spake: “My friends,” quoth he, “vnto my words attend, Which shall ere long for euermore haue end: Attend, I say, conscience bids me impart The things that now lie heauie on my hart. 77.