remaine Keeping estate whereby mens harts I won Largely I spent most like a Princes son In plentious fare bountifull and much King Edwards loue and lowance to me such His royall loue to me was passing rare Numbers thought I did deserue no lesse Courteous I aduisd and would not spare But liberall be fraught with temperatenesse Faire points of honor would I not disgresse Amongst braue Lords faire Ladies I esteemd Of great estates in gentle fauor deemd Foorth of the charter was except the land Saint Saluiour sir Godfrey Harecourts late Who Pollux like at Constantine did stand To his defence when slaine was euerie mate With weldie axe his stroke so heauie sate Not prowdest enemie durst sad blowes abide Till at the length two horsemen at him ride Inragd beare downe a knight most cheualrous Which stradling set his legs to stand more suer On surest leg and there dispiteous They beare him downe who fights whilst he may duer Liue still his praise and glory fresh in vre For wisdome and prooude skill in martiall facts No liuing knight one iote exceeds his acts With plainest difference of Earle Harcourts race In glorious red two golden bars did beare Daring gainst foe toth vtterance shew his face Which tride he was well woorthie armes to weare Amongst his foes that durst them noblie reare The home made knight that neuer ward in field Small title hath vnto a noble sheild In his past life his land he did behest To my good king and he to me it gaue Toth valiant Iohn of Fraunce he made request For his consent that I the same might haue He gently seald to what the king doth craue I it enioid well woorth in yeerely rent Of hundred franks fifteene which free I spent Most bountifully amongst soldiers bould To gallant men my purse was neuer closd Which caused that as often as I would I had companions valiants lads disposd To warlike feats that strongest holds haue posd Sweet behauiour ioind to liberall hand Reasons I was with manly soldiers mand Braue Duke of Lancaster mars his Henrie dide Whilst I at Nyort kept so high estate Faire cosen Germaine to the king allide Good gentle Duke lamented was thy fate Mongst valiant knights thou nobly ledst of late When as thou didst with Darbie title raine As after when the Dukedome thou didst gaine In battelous Arms before the king of Fraunce Like Pallas knight thou entredst roiall list Gainst Brownswick Duke full bent to prooue the chaunce Of doubtfull combat the king cause why it mist Staid the euent great eithers losse he wist This Brownswick Duke tride strong champion bold Bare faire in red two lions passant gold True golden fame blacke death cannot defile Glistering honor buds from dustie graue Ech noble Lord that beareth glorious stile Spend must his life eternall praise to haue As thou high Duke didst honor euer saue Most mightie God let England neuer want Such noble Lords true honor seeke to plant In England cause the prince kept princely port Most like himselfe the counsell thoughten best Int ' Acquitaine that he should make resort Partly for that the Gascoins do request His presence and reuenewes largely rest His noblenes right noble to vphold And Gascoin Lords desier that he would Repasse the seas he answereth their desiers Once landed carefull I to meet him well Accompaned with knights and youthfull squiers On coursers mounted decked euerie sell And receiuing him at warlike Rochell We thence attended vnto Poycters towne As reason wild and dutie had vs bowne Of Acquitaine I Cunstable was ordaind High honors giuen and feastings to me made Continually his fauor more I gaind Through enterprises of account I wade Noble exploits I end by skilfull trade Which plaisd him so as he loude me euer Bicause in honor still I do perseuer Peter of Lusignon King of Cypresse I le Made means to all the Kings of Christendome From iarring discord to abstaine a while Helpe to repulse the miscreants late come Their borders neere and much of neighbors wone Had been in Italie France and Almaine In Flaunders England came to Acquitaine Not when swift fame had pierced hautie skies Admetus praise which made Apollo bowe Downe from estate to view with leeuing eies His bountifulnes which seen made him alowe So well of it and further did avowe Fame sparing was yet suer my Prince exceeds The praises of Admetus lib'rall deeds For when he hard of this strange kings ariue He sent me foorth with knights accompaned In gentlenes could with right courteous striue At kings first entrance he saw well placed Fortie knights so many squiers faced All for the honor of Lady Princes Faire was the iusts ech prooued blamles More signe of loue more shew of princelie power Rare welcoms giuen fine curtesies withall Of curtesie sweete prince a pearles flower Nor wandring king did neuer see nor shall More store of knights in earthly regents hall The prince me will to take him to my guide Him plesaunce shew in his dominions wide A vermile crosse the Cyprian king still wore For holy voyage he had vndertake Against the Turke his soueraign to adore In glorious Arms a partie prince to make He wild and found to no good seruice slake Our loued prince departed well content Great intercourse of loues betwixt them blent Thus hauing been most kindly intertaind By me and stout sir Thomas Phelton much Sir Neal Loring sir Simon Basset daind Him well to treat sir Baldwine Frâ—uile such His kindnes shewd as spite could not but gruch To see the like he safely went his way The principalitie through I him conuay King Iohn of Fraunce into England past Braue king faire queen gay nobles for to see Through true firme loue which doth eternall last Wher 's fained loue small iars remembred be No vertues more in phear of high degree Than were resiant in this soueraine Whose woorthie praises euer may remaine Bloodie parcas what meanest thou to sheare His vitall twine so woorthie longer life Canst thou pale malice such priuly vertues beare Than bluntest coulter duller be thy knife Amongst best things thou mischiefe euer rife But mightie God oft takes away the best For our bad sins or for to ease his blest Whilst this good king in England made his stay Him sicknes tooke with sharpe incresment sore And strong oppresment at Sauoy where he lay Death doth approch then flesh can breath no more His losse king Edward greatly doth deplore From England Parris to stately tombe conueid And Charls his sonne the Regall scepter sweid Oh vading flower why flatterest thou thy selfe In pompeous seat of mightie maiestie Fraile honors titles or foule wasting pelfe Forgetting great eternall dignitie Scorneth mightiest earthly Imperie What low inferior fears of you amisse That high superior threts againe ywis Sir Iohn Montfort in th'aprill of his youth Gay Arms gan weld and with successe begon In Britton to sir Charls of Bloys his ruth This faire new knight was that braue Countesse sonne Of whom
From one to thother thus she hurls the ball A goodly custome of our passed wars That passing faire and Christian like did seeme For euer at the end of hottest iars The conquests selfe so much we did esteeme That ransom better than spilt blood we deeme On solem oth we oft great prisoners trust That would redeem their gaged promise iust For curtesie at end of battels rage We Englishmen and French are greatly famde For cruell handling and slauish vsage Rough Almains and sterne Spaniards greatly blamde Vnciuill rude and beastly were they namde Vndoutedly braue knight most valerous Vnarmed is most sweet and courteous With baissed launce the knights approch amaine Foorth stept the French willing them to hold For as tane prisoners they do all remaine My heauie seruants that same thing haue told When coummen knights saw me lie on the mold In wounded state they greatly do bemone My luckles death that heer was slaine alone Sharpe brinish teares trickle from their eies Some wring their hands making full pitious griefe Some fill the eare with their resounding cries My speciall seruants such whose sole reliefe Stay comfort aid and succor was I chiefe I heard one waile my hard and luckles chaunce And in his mone my praises high aduaunce Sweete gentle knight he said faire peerles flower Of Mars his traine good valiant champion stout What wicked wight to forge bad gleaue had power Whereby bright lampe of life was striken out Blacke colie smith when first thou wents about This toole to forge I would thou hadst ben mad Dan Vulcans luck or woorse mischaunce hadst had Braue England neuer bred a brauer knight Puissant Fraunce hath felt no fierceser foe Fairer conditionde neuer liuing wight More curtesies no earthly man did knoe More finer wit more iudgement none did shoe In his attempts more honors none hath gaind By high exployts then those thou hast attaind From out our bunch our Orients pearle is gon From treasure ours our rarest iewell lost From iuorie ours stolne is our whitest bon Reft from our welth rich thing of greatest cost Of all our pillars falne is most surest post Good Chandos slaine I saie no more but this Best English knights thy presence much will mis Companions bold adiutors of thy acts Captains stout whose harts with thee did dwell Soldiers true the furtherers of thy facts For thy mischaunce their pleasures will expell As onely he they loued deerely well This speech I hard but could not speake againe Oppressed I so much with dolefull paine Right pensiuely resorteth to my minde Lord Cleremount slaine at Poycters feild Not far from hence sir Charls of Bloys I finde My conscience neere whom I from peace withheild Now I as he lay tumbled by my sheild Ech captaine that doth slaie when he may saue Some blooddie end must euer looke to haue More praisefull vertue in a conquerer Then mansuetie is none to be found More famous neuer any victorer Then those whose acts do breath good gentle sound Loth tyrant hatefuls name vpon the ground As thundring storme suffers smooth calme at last Well intreating should be when battails past Vertuous clemencie spareth life from death When gastly Mors attacheth with sharpe dart The onely thing dasht mind in quiet sleath From crueltie is free to haue the hart Sweete soule it makes most ioyfully depart A princely thing the yeeldeds life to spare Most manly minde in victor doth declare On sheilds and pauish laied warely Borne to Mortimer plast on softned bed My wounded hed vnarmed charely And salues applied to that which freshly bled In dolerous plight I laie thus sore bested But in the space of fowr and twentie howers Foorth flew my soule to faire Elisian bowers The English they lament my sodaine losse Some Frenchmen ioyed much at my mischaunce Because I woonted was with them to tosse In warlike wise to their anoyaunce My fortunes fauors they thought abundaunce Frends English loud because in me they found Bountie valure and vertue to abound Foes French feared from hence growed their hate Vile giddie fortune laugh vntill thou burst Triumph and ioy that thus thou gaues a mate To me shewing hatefull spite at woorst Who trusts thy fauns is senceles mad and curst Toling me on vnto my sharpe decay Setting my sun and closing vp my day At prosperous things thy leuell dost thou ame Proud though thou hast thus foild me in the feild No fretting time shall yet decay my name Thou strengthles art bright glory to ore weild But vertuous fame thy spite obscureth seild All mortall men be subiect to mishap But cheefely those that sit in fortunes lap I Chandos felt the force of fortunes power How fickle she how soone she doth decay In greatest brauery me lesse then in an hower She did confound as here perceaue you may At Chauigney if I had made my stay What I desirde had come vnto my hand For Frenchmen had been taken and their band Or being come if that I had not slid And so receud my fatall deadly blo Or that my vysore closed downe had bid Or Percy had of my aduenture kno What do I here of ifs fond resons sho My dismall day my latest time was doon My oyle all spent and hastie course out run My death bewaild mongst Lords and noble dames For that in me much noblenes they found Full many a knight my great misfortune blames To whom my curtesie often did abound For my large fame about the world did sownd A batchelers life pursuing armes I liud In countries cause that hastie death depriud What glorious praise deserues that woorthy wight Whose armd bodie as bulwark gainst the foe Dispising life in throngs of foes doth fight For cuntries cause and sweetest sweet bestow Though bodies die wide do their praises gro Seld well got honor sufferd is to die But memorized liues perpetually I count not my past death vnfortunate Because I was in my kings quarrell slaine But that when least I thought of fortunes mate Alone I was brought to my finall baine Why God so would the reasons shewed I plaine Though like offence on earth God pardoneth Great dangers is of that still lasting death For though vile murtherer florish as a palme Fast planted in faire Iordans meddows flore And goodlike daies passe foorth in pleasant calme And bended peoples knee him doth adore Great kingdome rules from one toth other shore Yet douted is it that eternally He is condemnd to hels perplexitie Wherefore good captains sprong of English race That faire atchiue makes Lords of life or death To yealded foe shew woonted English grace Before you kill do as olde prouerbe saith Talke eate drinke sleepe and often take your breath Ear you execute thing of importaunce Then seldome will ensue repentaunce Rare is the vertue hurt not to reharme Great fortitude offences to remit Shining glorie to strong conquering arme To sheath his sword when ended fighting fit Which happie fames doth so togither knit As wering age can neuer waste
durs sages Combatants à bonnes certes ia pour mourir plain pie nen fuiront c. LORD CHANDOS THE GLORIOVS LIFE AND HONORABLE DEATH OF SIR IOHN CHANDOS LORD OF SAINT Saluiour le Vicount great Seneschall of Poyctow high Constable of Acquitaine Knight of the honorable order of the Garter elected by the first founder king Edward the third at his institution thereof LET none reioice too much in fortunes state Reading the storie of my tragike death But watchfull be t' attend some turning fate Which like wild whirlwind all our dooings sweath For as graue Senec in wise morals seath No mortall man with Gods gaine fauor might Of warrantice to see next mornings light No earthly one how goodly so he seeme Fine faire or perfect how so he appear Renowmed rich of excellent esteeme That firmly stands and fixed forme doth bear For wauing fortune so the ship will stear With giddie guiding to hir fond intent Nor wit nor prowesse can bad rule preuent Vncertaine more than is slow Lidian brooke Which dallieth his winding banks within Fast forward hasts then doth regardant looke Staying in doubt th' ocean t' enter in Or to reslide where first it did begin Yet suddenly quicke plungeth in amaine After much showe turnes backe to springs againe No whistling fowler hath so many gins No wading fisher halfe so many baits No nimble spider threeds so many spins No toiling hunter tenth part of deceits That fortune hath of woondrous ticing feats Training men on triumphing in their fall Shewing them honie poisning them with gall As AEacus imagind was to deale With Tantalus deluded with the pray Of hungers ease and scalding thirsts assaile Whom wearie proffers make to emptie way Yet near vncaught the luring frute doth stay So are they fed high honors seeke to gaine Shee l manies blood and purpose not obtaine When fortune shewes hir friendly countenance What mightie ones in selfe conceits we seeme Weightie affaires dispose by ordinance As what we list to bring to passe we deeme In our owne reach ech thing we do esteeme We him appoint to death and him we â—ease Welding whole world as doth our liking please Led onward with hope of long assurance We neuer thinke of fortunes frowning But high honors plant as if perdurance had promised continuall showring Fresh still to increase increased springing But long before proud honor taketh roote Wisest forecasting proued is no boote Oft when we are most busie tampering Some foes to trap within our plotted snares Not him vnlike who pit is digging Headlong into it fals himselfe vnwares So we surprised in our owne affaires For fortune that attendeth worldlie chaunce Where smooth she smild now blinketh wide askaunce For proofe marke me of hir deare darlings one That seemd to haue hir fettred fast in giues It might be thought that onely I alone Faire fauor had and thus she daily striues To haue the chiefest regement of our liues That when she list to knit the brows and frowne He standing high is quickly tumbled downe When first that woorthy golden booke began For Magistrates bright mirror cleare indeed Through which eternall praise the Authors wan Streight I beleeud as truly as my Creed My hard mishap so happely would speed As that some one of those rare learned men My blis and bale would haue vouchsaft to pen. In perfect die could they haue pictured False turncote with true shadowes in true kind Hir fained shew of truth and truest falshed Hir glosing face and hir vnconstant mind And hir continuall foe-mate still I find Since fates she driues my spent life to rehearse In lowly rimes refuse of loftie verse Outragious she slayeth without remorse Alike most woorthy and vnwoorthy wight As roling waue that needs must haue the force Tossing light things subiected to great might Respectles where or when so ere they light So careles she not caring when or how She casteth downe or maketh low to bow What time King Edward first inuaded France With good aid of th'erle of Henauld won Friend fortune then mine actes seemd to aduance So euenly my silken threed did run High enterprise what I attempt was done With shining glory and faire honors name As golden trumpe shield foorth Iohn Chandos fame Then as my King by Cambray Cittie past I armd approchd the barriers of the towne There lept I in my foes some wondred fast To see my deed a Squier of renowne Iohn de saint Ager stroue to beat me downe Right strong we coped with sterne courage bold Our mightie bufs some ioyed to behold Ecchoing stroks on eithers helmet lights With sparkling fier thundering mightilie All for glorious praises both our fights Stird with youths heat and mindfull dignitie Th'assailed strikes and both incessantly Imprinting dents do yeald so I at last Returnd with praise on with the Armie past When as the French had gathered mightie power Came to Vironfosse where treatie ended war Froisard me recounts among the flower Of English Squiers sets my fame full far In his large booke is shone how much we are In reuerence bound vnto such learned clarks As with their paine eternize broad our warks For if none should register noble deed Ther 's none would striue to shew his noblenes Or presse in vertues others to exceed If memorie none made were of valiantnes Freshlie burgening to future ages This pricking spur doth harts heroick heaue To thinke fell death faire Fame cannot bereaue Some sots there be so scrupulous that nought At all beleeue but what themselues do see These coy iudgers haue seld or nener thought Of times forepast what mightie men might be Of others deem by thimbecilitie Found in themself recall in question when Our acts memorizd are by learned men This truce expirde King Edward new prepard puissantly to passe the foming flud Which gate king Phillip strongly thought t' aue bard Decking a fleete thick seeming like a wood Whereof had charge three captaines seamen good Sir Hugh Kyriell Babuchet Barbnoire With stretched sailes the narrow seas do scower These Chieftaines fortie thousand men command Laid by French King to stop vs if they could Which when our King had spide he doth demand What masts they were so thicke he doth behould His Pylot named them and well he tould These were the foes that so his costes anoid Southamton towne and th'yle of Wight destroid Replide the king Saint George God be our guide I much desire with yonder fleete to fight A looffe to winde-ward all our Nauie wride To view the turne right goodlie was the sight Banners pensils stremers wauing bright Ladies we had whose minds these sights might daunt Going to see the Queene brought bed at Gaunt Whose presences fresh minds incouraged With double flame t'assaile the enimie For trustie seruants oft had vowed For their sweete sakes t'prooue all extremitie T'fight for his Ladie knights felicitie hot feruent loue makes coldest coward bold desirous much gaie Ladies grace to hold In front the French foorth plast a goodly
haue all the hedges lind None can approch the streights the watching bar We hard aduenture and perilous find If we assaile the king requiers his mind Which way were best for he ment to inuade Then presently all things were readie made As thus the king prepared was to fights The cardnall of Perigourt came in hast Full lowly on his knees toth king resits How dangerously he might deere subiects wast Pondring if it pleasd his grace to cast With him all his peers his enimies wear A desperate remnant waying what was thear Willing the King to giue him leaue to prooue Whether the Prince so to him would agree Peace might be had the Prince thereto did mooue If with his honor it might concluded be Faire offers made king Iohn would none but he Himselfe and more a hundred in his field Of his owne choice as prisners all should yeeld Whilst busie cardnall spent this day in vaine It being truce some speciall knights did ride Their foes to view and maner of their traine I riden foorth returning me espide Lord Cleremount who quicklie to me hied Chandos quoth he how long thus haue you borne My sole deuise and for your owne it worne We both were clad in vestments wrought as one A Ladie blew in glistering Phoebus raies I then replid its onely mine alone And none of yours whereto the Frenchman saies You English ianglers vse such speech alwaies Of your grosse wits can nothing new deuise What others weare is pleasing to your eies But if the truce withheld not I would prooue It whole were mine and that you did me wroong Why sir I said to morrow I le not remooue From of the field I will be in the throng But if it chance I meete you them among I le make it good for all your fluent tong That properly to me it doth belong Contrarie vnto sacred vsage I was not in my armes inuested Ware strange deuise too great abusage And an others which he not disgested No knightly minde should be infested With error such his owne armes not to weare But found conceits and others toys to beare Too cruell I causd this braue noble kild The morrow when hydeous was the fray For checking me I made his blood be spild His murther I commanded that same day Prouiding that no ransome he should pay For which God would the like to hap to me In my discourse as you shall plainly see What greater burden to a noble mind Then to be clogged with murtherous thought What mightier harme can braue captains find Then when their noble doings are foorth sought That they vnto their fame such blame haue brought This cholerike action oft I did repent When God on me threw equall punishment When labring Cardnall could no truce obtaine He did depart but we that day had spent Right busily did ech deuise ordaine That best was thought or Art could best inuent Eight thousand we that in this iourney went Threescore our foes mongst which two thousand knights Full goodly Armd t' aue seene these gorgeous sights The morrow day when blushing sunne did rise Great pleasure t was thus to behold vs dight One of the things that most delights mans eies Is for to see a glistering Armie bright Faire drest in Armes in order duely pight Prepard to ioine euen so both parties were And euer I about the Prince was nere Who Hector like in battelous Armes was clad Enuirnd as he intending to haue burnd The Greekish fleets said noble harts be glad High victorie almightie God hath turnd To fewest folkes and greatest number spurnd If we be slaine we all haue valiant friends To venge our deaths on those that worke our ends Therefore I pray ech Lord in presence now To prooue his best and haue regard to see His honor kept I heer my Lords do vow A Knight most good and resolute to be And that no chaunce shall make me yeeld or flee Most mightie Prince thy words did so inflame Our setled minds to die was but a game And as the battailes now approchen near Sir Iames Audley clad in glorious red Faire fretted gold doth to the Prince appear Requesting that for former seruice led T' is father and to him in loyall sted To giue him leaue the foremost man to be For to assaile the ventrous enimie Sweetly accords the prince to his desier Gaue him his hand and wisht him well to speed Such speciall grace that he might there acquier All present knights in vertue to exceed He chose a place to make his vow a deed And by the helpe of four right trustie squiers He woon th'achieument of his high desiers Sir Eustace Dabrigcourt fearing t' be behind Did baisse his gleaue and well imbrace his shield And as the arrow from the bow doth twind He flieth towards the enimies field An Almain knight his comming well behield In siluer targ that bare fiue roses red They strongly meet and both downe tumbled Dabscote no harme receiued by his fall But lightly vp himselfe againe doth rease Fiue Almains streight they light vpon him all At once and beare him downe with mightie feas So mongst his foes tide to a chear he staies Vntill that we that ground recouered had Losd he fard like tiger raging mad Heere lustie knights were and aduenturous As euer foming courser carried At good vertue most brauely aemulous Euer thinking too long they tarried Vntill that enimies stout they harried The venturous hart doth oft aduenture chieue That manie hearers scarcely will beleeue So hideous waxt the stur so strong the broyle So fell the fight so cruell was the shot And men at armes they stroue with forced toyle Nor shields nor armors gay defended not The bodies from the shafts who paid the scot Where right they hit and thus discomfit was Their martiall host that foremost on did pas I waited time and spake vnto the prince Sir sir passe foorth the iourneys yours I see Set on the king good fight must him conuince He valerous is I know he will not flee This day you vowd a knight most good to bee He quickly said Iohn forward le ts aduaunce We so performe we tooke the king of Fraunce With as much toile as Phillips sonne did take Darius we the French kings person wan No need there is large prosses for to make Or slaughter shew how it befell as than Or prisoners name but seuenteen earls we wan With many Lords and knights which we did gaine And near six thousand one and other slaine In this strong medle taken was a knight The Chattelon of Dampost neer alide Toth Cardnall th'inflamed prince had sight Of him humblie had I not denide Distressed Chattelon suddenly had dide The noble prince tooke in high dispite That 's maister would against him let him fight This battaile to the French maulpartuis Two leagues from Poycters cruell and furious Enduring with horrible noise and huis From prime till noone the prince desirous Like stoutest lion t' be victorious With princelike
to gard the towne at best And thither doth the Duke of Aniou mooue Enuirning close the towne in such a wise The dwellers thinke it best for their behooue To render it and do their strength despise Thunstable commons like Protheus guise Are so delighted in ech chaffring change Like fleeting tides their thoughts do euer range The captaine also was becommen French infest with loue of glittering ticing gould Too foule a swill a soldiers minde to drench That thoughts to honor euer fasten should And his giue promise permanent to hould I vnderstood how all this practise went At Bergareth and to be there I ment At this deliuerie sir Thomas Phelton and My selfe do ride what time the sun was plast Betwixt the east and west in lower land We came as French were reddie entring fast At thother gate to Batfoyle spide I hast Traitrous Batfoyle was busie t' entertaine My croching foes in hope of greedie gaine In hands I shooke my suer bright shaking sword Enflamde with courage as reason did requier I plainly shewd I came not now to bourd Traitor I said take heere deserued hier Treasons no more thou shalt from hence conspier And as I spake I lent him such a bloe That soule and bodie doth a sunder goe A iust reward for such foule treason don But when the French our wefting banners vew Their backs they turne and swift away they run Lightly clad with feare they nimbly flew The townsmen ginne their dealing false to rew Lay all the fault in him that I had slaine And so the towne did English still remaine The Duke and Glesquine went to Limoges Where the Dukes Berrie and Burbon siege do hould Which citie yeelded was by th tretrousnes Of their Bishop which matter being tould Vnto the prince he sware reuenge he would So vile despite by his deere fathers soule Which oth he kept unbroke and euer whole From Coynoc then he marcht in braue aray Twelue hundred Lords knights and hardie squiers A thousand archers so many Brigands sway That all the countrie dread their flaming iers On sharp reuenge do boile their hot desiers Sir Thomas Percie and Lord Rosse was there Who did in gules three siluer Bogets bear Sir William Mesnile a chiff of burnisht gold Three gemels finely set in Azurd shield Sir Simon Borley six bars equall told Of black and yellow in his chiff he held Of the mettaile two pales as first is speld In midst a scuchion of Rubie fairly dight In it three bars of ermins plainly pight Right fierce assault the citie so was tane Many an innocent with the nocent died Man woman childe were brought to blooddie bane Such wofull rigor did this towne betide The duke of Lancaster stoutlie here was tried In single fraie the erle of Cambrig and The erle of Penbroke fighting so are fand Which tripart combate was so noblie fought As sick prince tooke pleasure it t'behould Causing his litter neerer to be brought The French resist so long as ear they could And lasht and stroke with noble courage bould But conquerd yeeld and yeelding fauor finde As noble arms her sacred lawes assinde Deuine mercy whose lore I euer loud The soueraine good that God to man affords Most like to God man hath his likenes prooud That treasure such within sweete heauen hords And you great captains and renowmed Lords That manage arms hold mercy in your minde Bloods wilfull spiller seld doth mercie finde I was right glad from this that so I bide At Bergareth the frontier to sustaine And now through Fraunce with ventring troupe did ride Sir Robert Canole to the Frenchmens paine Welth and treasure did such abundance gaine His soldiers but siluer and gold esteemd Oystrige feathers or what was daintie deemd Not vertues selfe can lengthen mortall daies Yet fame prouides that vertue should not die Obliuion repugnes good fame alwaies True writers of braue acts doth still defie Ech wight depriud of honor shut should lie She much desiers all couered with the corse Of valiant deeds she taketh no remorse If Phrigian Poet should the praises shew Of noble Priam and his woorthie sons Their high exploits set foorth in order dew Although large fame of all their doings runs Yet but defendaunts when toth sight it cums Assailant conqueror this braue English king Triumphant victors his noble ofspring As Priam nor his sonnes left nought behind But golden praise pronounst by writers skill And none could now their names or dooings find So hugely woxt the vastie world to fill Vnlesse it had dropt from a heedie quill So Muse and Mars togither must agree The first the last makes liue eternally And since our Hector stout came out of Spaine He languished which greatly made vs grieue For stealingly ech hower increast his paine Gainst which with courage good he much did striue Wasting sicknes quite doth his strength depriue Now into England to returne he ment Of peyred helth to seeke amendement He sent for all his squiers knights and Lords That of him hold and when we present were Such princely gentle language he affords As might braue courage and allegance steare Full sweetly spake he like a noble peere In euery thing he wild vs to obay His brother Gaunt which regent heere should stay Then shipping takes the gentlest knight aliue And most renowmed for his woorthines Right pensiue I that sicknes did depriue His health that bread the Frenchmens sikernes In batteled Arms they found him matchles For so he pinde and inly grew his griefe As finall death did worke his first reliefe He newly gon fowre Britton knights aduaunce Themselues to take Mountpaon and they sped So well by practise as the matter chaunct The Lord therof French turned in that sted Which known did make Duke Iohn to shake his hed Sommons he forst and vowd it to regaine In conquering wise or die with deadlie paine It toucht him near bicause it lay him near So on a day with kindled courage stout From Bourdeux accompanied strongly faire He doth depart with his braue warlike rout Of Poyctow Xanton and Gascoine there about Of th'english Phelton Freuile and Rosse there was Sir Michael Delapole did in this iourney passe Whose cornerd shield was laid with skilfull blew A fesse between three Liberds heads of gold Sir William Bewchampe gay as bridegroome new Armed in red right stately to behold A girdle plast between six martlets told Glistering bright like Phoebus in his pride Well could he iust and comly could he ride Now when we were this castle plast before And ordred had ech thing in order dew We raisd assault but were resisted sore A whole long day then back our soldiers drew This castle was inuirond with deep stew So fast we fild with fagots vp the mot As to the wals with much adoe we got And now much worke and buisnes was begun And many a man reuerst and ouerthrowne More feller stut was none vnder the sun So that this newes was bruted wide and knowne