actiue cariage danger to preuent Quoth Colbrond English-man wilt thou forbeare And sue for mercy let the Fight alone Villaine quoth Guy I scorne thy Coward feare I le haue thy Life or it shall cost mine owne Wee le neuer part till one be soundly sped The King hath ventur'd England on my Head For twenty Denmarkes if they might be found And all the wealth that on the Ocean swimmes I will not yeeld an inch of English ground Thou shalt finde mettall in these aged limmes Although thy bodyes height be more then mine I haue a heart bigger by oddes then thine Thinke on thy ancient grand-fire Gogmagog Whom Corâ—neus delt withall at Douer How that same Lubber like a timber-log Was by the worthy Brittaine tumbled ouer For his bolde Challenge he had such a checke There was no Surgeon could amend his necke Thou art deceiu'd in me poore silly sot I am vntaught to bend submissions knees Holde me no Christian if I fayle a iot And for the world that tytle I le not leese Betake thee to thy tooles honour thy King Vpon thy man-hood lyes a mighty thing And thus I doe encounter thee afresh With that he lent him such a powerfull stroke It made wide rupture in the Gyants flesh And did his furious Choller much prouoke Laying about him in most cruell rage Till the next wound did all his heate asswage It was so mortall that it brought him downe To lye and groane vpon the bloody ground Forthwith a showte was heard from out the Towne That all the Sky did Eccho to the sound Great ioy was made by euery English heart And all the Danes with extreame griefe depart King Athelstone sent for his Champion then To doe him Honour for his famous deede Who was receiued by the Clergie men With all solemnity for such high meede Embraced by the Nobles and renown'd With Martiall musicke Drum and Trumpets sound But little pleasure Guy conceiues herein Refusing Iewels costly Ornaments Saying with these he out of loue hath bin For many yeares by true experiments Onely thankes God that blest him with an hower To free his Countrey from inuading power And so intreates that hee may passe vnknowne To liue where pouerty regards not weahh And be beholden to the helpe of none Seeing the world but now and then by stealth For true Content doth such a Treasure bring It makes the Begger richer then the King With true Content saith hee I will abide In homely Cottage free from all resout For I haue found Content cannot be spide To make abode within a Monarchs Court No there 's ambition pride and enuy seene And fawning flatt'ry stepping still betweene Yet gentle Palmer said the King agree Where euer thou resoluest to remaine Acquaint thy Name in priuate vnto me And this is all thy Sou'raigne will obtaine Tell me but who thou art I will conceale it As I am Englands King I le not reueale it Why then quoth he your Grace shall vnderstand I am your Subiect Guy of Warwicke named That haue these many yeares not seene your Land But bin where Youth by auncient Age is tamed Yea where experience taught me wit dread Prince The world of many follyes to conuince And now am come to bring my bones to Graue Within the Kingdome where I first tooke life Yet shall no Creature else the notice haue Of my arriuall not my dearest Wife Till sicknes come and doth my Death foretell Then I le acquaint her with my last farewell The King with ioy embrac'd him in his armes And with great admiration answers thus Most worthy Earle freer of Englands harmes It grieues my soule thou wilt not liue with vs Oh were thy resolutions thoughts but now That my perswasions might preuent thy Vow But 't is too late they are growne ripe I see Thou art too setled in determination Well Honourable man yet this ioyes mee Thou bringest thy bones vnto thy dearest Nation Where Monuments of thy great deeds shall last Till after Ages of the world be past In Warwicke Castle shall thy Sword be kept To witnes to the world what thou hast bin And least forgetfull time should intercept A President I present will begin The Castle-keeper shall receiue a fee To keepe thy Sword in memory of thee Thy Armour likewise and the martiall Speare That did thee seruice in thy high designes Shall be preserued very carefull there That all such men as haue distrustfull mindes May thinke if from a truth this did not grow A King would scorne to cousen people so And in thy Chappell distant thence a mile A bone shall hang of that most cruell Beast Which neare to Couentrey remain'd long while Whose Rib by measure is sixe foote at least Destroying many that did passe that way Vntill thy man-hood did the Saluage slay That by tradition men may speake and tell This was Guyes Armour this his massie Blade These bones of murdering Beasts which men did quell And this the Tombe wherein his Corpes was layde This the true Picture of his shape at length And this the Speare did oft expresse his strength For sure I holde it an vngratefull thing When thou by Natures course in dust shalt lye No Memory should cause some Muse to sing The Worthinesse of matchles English Guy Thy Countrey-men would proue too farre vnkinde When out of sight they leaue thee out of minde This said in humble duty wondr'ous meeke Guy reuerenceth the King and so departs Some solitary den or Caue to seeke Which he vnto his mansion house conuerts And so liues poorely in the hollow ground Making his meate of rootes and hearbes he found Sometimes he would to Warwicke Castle goe And craue an Almes at his deere Ladyes hand Who vnto Pilgrims did more bounty show Then any Noble woman in the Land And she would aske all Palmers that came there If at the Holy Land they neuer were Or in their trauels if they had not seene An English-man was Lord of that same Tower Who many yeares away from thence had beene A Knight ne're conquer'd yet by humane power But there 's a Tyrant whom I onely feare They call him Death that murders euery where If he haue met him O my dearest Lord I neuer shall behold thy face againe Till that same Monster doe asmuch afford Vnto my heart and so release all paine Which gracious Heauens grant if Guy be dead Vpon this earth let me no longer treade Thus did he often heare his Wife enquire With deep complaints from extream passions flowing Yet by no meanes would grant her kinde desire The comfort of a hopefull word bestowing But looke vpon her as his heart would breake Then turne away for feare his tongue would speake And so depart with weeping to his Cell Setting a dead-mans Head before his eyes Saying with thee I shortly come to dwell This sinfull Flesh I constantly despise My soule is weary of so bad a guest And doth desire to bee at home in rest My feeble limbes weakenes
To the Honourable Ladyes of ENGLAND LAdyes in Elder times your sexe did neede Knight-hoods true valour to defend your rights Of admirable actions wee doe reede Haue beene atchiu'd in cruell bloody Fights Fell vgly Serpents were destroy'd and slaine Strange mōsters mangled Gyants hew'd in twaine But who deseru'd more in such enterprise Then worthy English bred where wee are borne Such as did ease and idlenes despise For Armour more then Silke by them was worne These were the Champions that for Ladyes good Would bleede as long as they had drops of blood Such was Sir Guy whose story heere wee tell Valours renowned honourable man He lou'd your kinde in heart exceeding well How can you chuse but loue his legend than Bestow the Reading of it if you please Gainst melancholy that same dull disease S. ROVVLANDS The Argument GVy of Warwicke Sonne to Earle Rohands Steward in blooming youth of Natures spring fell in Loue with the Earles faire Daughter Phelice whose disdaining of him in that hee was but a meane Gentleman and not by Birth answerable to her Honourable estate did afflict his cormented minde with most distressed passions till in a vision Cupid presents her with the Picture of Mars inioyning her to loue Guy as the admired Champion of Christendome Vpon this shee yeeldeth affection on condition of Aduentures which to atchiue hee departs into France and shortly returnes with Trophes of victory and prizes of Honour But Phelice not satisfied therewith he leaues England againe performing in forraine Countryes wonderfull acts then returning marries his Loue whom after Forty dayes hee leaues departing on Pilgrimage to the Holy Land effecting in that Iourney many strange things Then supposed to bee Dead comes backe disguised and out-worne to memory and Fights a combate for King Athelstone killing Colbrond the Gyant of Denmarke freeing thereby the Kingdome from inuasion After that liues obscurely in a Caue and comes for Almes to his owne Castle not reuealing himselfe till the houre of his Death and then hee sent his Lady a Ring by which token shee knewe her Husband and came most wofully to close vp his eyes dying her selfe shortly after him for very griefe and extreame sorowe The Famous History of Guy Earle of VVARWICKE In Natures greene vnmellowed yeares Cupid tormenteth Guy Inthrals his heart to Phelice Loue By obiect of the eye Canto 1. WHen dreadfull Mars in Armour eu'ry Day Lou'd stately Iuno and Bellona best Before hee knew the Court where Venus lay For then hee tooke himselfe to ease and rest When all his thoughts vnto the proofe were steeld And all his actions manag'd for the Field A Knight of his a worthy Englishman That went like him clad in an Yron Coate In Warwicke with the worlds applaude began To bee a man of admirable note Such was the Valour hee ascended by That Pagans trembled at the Name of Guy This man compos'd of courage full of spright Of hard aduentures and of great designes To fight with Gyants tooke a chiefe delight Or search some Caue that Monster vndermines Meete with a Bore to make a bloody fray Or Combate with a Dragon by the day Yet e're hee entertain'd his Loue to armes He grew deuoted to the Queene of Loue Attempting Beauties fort with fierce allarmes The victory of such a prize to proue As elder times before could ne're inioy A sweeter face then lost olde Priam Troy Faire Phelice equall match to Cupids Mother A curious Creature and the Kingdomes pride All spacious Brittaine had not such another For glorious Beauty and good partes beside Twixt her and Vulcans wife no ods were knowne But Venus had a mole and shee had none For most directly shee had Venus haire The same high fore-head and attractiue eye Her cheekes of Roses mixt with Lillies faire The very lippes of perfect Corall dye Iuory teeth a dainty rising Chin A soft touch-pleasing smooth and silken skin With all perfections make a pearelesse Creature From head to foote shee had them eu'ry one Mirrour shee was of comelinesse and feature An English Phenix supreme faire alone Whom gazing people censures thus would grace Beauty liues no where but in Phelice face In Phelice face this obiect of Guyes sight Were lookes of Loue and glaunces of disdaine From thence sometimes his eyes attracts delight From thence anon his heart deriueth paine One while sweet smiles doe giue encouragement Another time sterne lookes worke discontent Thus on Loues Seas tost by the stormes of terrour Twixt present calme and sodaine furious blast Resoluing Loue yet finding loue in errour In freedome chayn'd in liberty bound fast Hee sighes that Fortune doth so strangely deale To giue a wound that Beauty will not heale That Beauty will not heale quoth he fond man Thou wrongst thy selfe and thy faire Goddesse too By lookes to know a Womans heart who can And looke on her is onely all I doe I le take another course more resolute To speake to write my honest meanings suite But if I should doeso what hope haue I That shee will heare my wordes or reade my Lines Shee is Earle Rohands heyre and borne too hye To condiscend vnto my poore designes Though Ia Gentleman by Birth am knowne Earledomes I want and Lordships I haue none Oh! Women are ambitious out of measure They mount aloft vpon the winges of Pride And often match more for this worldly Treasure Then any louing cause on earth beside Which makes some wish rather there were no Golde Then Loue for it should base bee bought and solde If such she bee as not be such be rare What will my wordes or sighes or teares preuaile I enter then a Laborinth of care And striue against both winde and tyde to Sayle A restlesse Stone with Scisiphus I roule And heape continuall torments on my soule Then I attempt to flye with waxen winges Where Phoebus Chariot burnes in brightest flame And shall bee censur'd that in Childish thinges As Loue I haue begot eternall shame Reiected and dispisde in base esteeme To th' enuious world I shall no better seeme But cease Loues coward banish thoughts of feare Bee resolute and good accesse attend thee Phelice of force a louing heart must beare If he that shootes loues Darts of golde befriend And by no reason hee can be thy Foe Because thou lou'st his Mothers picture so I am resolu'd goe on to Phelice Bower And from as true a heart as Flesh can yeeld Intreat her heare me in a blessed houre And with kinde pitty all my sorrowes shield To looke vpon me with remorse of minde That holdes my life as her Loue is inclinde This said to Warwicke Castle hee repaires Where the rich Iewell of his heart remained Earle Rohand bids him welcome and prepares With Hunting sports to haue him entertained But thereunto vnwilling eare hee lends And sodaine Sicknesse for excuse pretends The Earle much grieued at this alteration Sent his Physition for to doe him good Who tolde Guy that his onely preseruation
doth sore possesse And sicknes gripes doe touch about my heart I feele I am not farre from happines But am in hope my foe and I shall part This aduersary which I long haue fed By whome my soule hath bin so much misled To my deare Phelice I will send my Ring Which I did promise for her sake to keepe I may no longer time deferre the thing For feare that Death preuent me with his sleepe I feele his Messenger approach apace And poore weake Nature must of force giue place So call'd a Heardsman as he passed by And said good friend doe me a speciall fauour Euen in a matter that concernes me nye My hope relyes vpon thy kinde behauiour To Warwicke Castle speedily repaire And for the Countesse aske with trusty care Deliuer this Ring to her-owne hand And say the ancient Pilgrim sent the same That lately at her Gate with Scrip did stand To beg an Almes in blessed Iesus Name And if shee aske thee where I doe remaine Direct her hither she 'le requite thy paine Sir quoth the Heardsman I shall be asham'd That ne're dust speake to Lady in my life Nay more and 't please you I may much be blam'd To carry Rings to such a great mans Wife Besides if I should loose it by the way Why what would you and Madam Phelice say Pre-thee said Guy frame not such idle doubt No preiudice can light on thee at all The acte is honest which thou goest about And for it none can thee in question call A curteous eare the Lady will thee lend Vpon my warrant feare you nothing friend With that he goes and mannerly betakes The token to the Countesse which she seeing Most admirable wonder at it makes Ah friend quoth she where is my husbands being Husband said he that newes I doe not bring From an olde Begger I receiu'd the Ring His house was made of neither Wood nor Stone But vnder ground into a hole he went And in my Conscience there he dwels alone And neuer payes his Land-lord quarters rent Ah 't is my Guy she said showe me his Cell And for thy paines I will reward thee well So he directs Warwicks faire Countesse thither Who entring in that melancholly place Her Lord and shee embracing weepe together Vnable to pronounce a word long space Long time they two had not a Tongue to speake Till Guyes discretions sorrowes doore did breake Phelice quoth he now take thy leaue of Guy That sent to see thee ere his sight decay Within thine armes I doe intreat to dye And breath my sprite from thy sweet soule away Thou gau'st me almes at Warwicke Castle late T is blessednes to pitty poore mens state Guy in repentance poorely liues Obscurely in a Caue Reueal'd to Phelice by a Ring When Death had digg'd his Graue Looke not so strange bewayle not so my Deare Ah weepe not Loue I doe not want thy teares I haue shed plenty since my comming heere Of true remorse my Conscience witnes beares Thou weep'st not now because I wept no more But to behold me friendlesse helplesse poore Wife I haue sought the place that all desire Though few endeauour for eternall rest The soule which to that Heauen doth aspire Must leaue the world and worldly thinges detest T is full of Deuils that on soules doe wayte And full of snares in euery place some bayte Ah Phelice I haue spent and then he wept Youth Natures day vpon the Loue of thee And for my God olde rotten Age haue kept The night of Nature Christ forgiue it me Sorrow lyes heauy on my soule for this Sweet Sauiour Iesus pardon my amisse In that I had destroy'd so many men Euen for one Woman to inioy thy Loue Therefore in this most solitary Den I sought my peace with that great God aboue Gainst whome by sinne I haue bin more misled Then there be hayres vpon my hoary head The other day feeling my body ill And all the partes thereof opprest with paine I did compose a Testament and Will To bee the last that euer I ordaine Loe heere it is I le reade it if I can Before I cease to bee a liuing man HIS WILL. EVen in the Name of him whose mighty pow'r Created all in Heauen and Earth contained As one to dye this very instant hower I leaue the world and all therein vnfained My soule I giue to him that gaue it mee Receiue it Jesus as I trust in thee I owe a debt of Life is due to Death And when 't is payde him he can aske no more A very vapour of a little breath Would he had had it many yeares before But heer 's my comfort though he come or stay T is ready for him if hee will to day I owe the world the stocke of wealth it lent When I did enter traffique with the same Lesse would haue giuen Nature more content T is happinesse to want a Rich mans name World leaue mee naked as I did begin I aske but one poore Sheet to wrap me in I doe bequeath more sinnes then I can number My dayly euils in a countlesse summe Euen from my cradle vnto Death's dead slumber Those past these present all that are to come To him that made them loades to burthen mee Sathan receiue them for they came from thee I giue good thoughts and eu'ry vertuous deed That euer grace hath guided me vnto To him from whom all goodnes doth proceed For onely euill Natvre taght me doe I was Conceiued bred and borne in sinne And all my Life most vaine and vile hath bin I giue to Sorrow all my sighes and cryes Fetch'd from the bottome of a bleeding heart I giue Repentance teares and watery eyes The signes vnfained of a true conuert Earth yeeld a Graue or Sea become a Tombe Jesus vnto my soule graunt Heauen-roome Phelice I faint farewell true loyall Wife Assist me with thy prayers thy Husband dyes I trust to meete thee in a better life Where teares shall all be wip'd from weeping eyes Come blessed Spirits come in Jesus Name Receiue my soule to him conuay the same And with these words his quiet sprite departs While mournfull Phelice well-nye dead for woe Her sences all to sorrowes vse conuerts And too aboundant doth her teares bestow Beating her brest till brest and heart be sore Wringing her handes till she could striue no more Then sighing said ah Death my sorrowes cause That hast depriu'd mee of my dearest Lord Since loathsome ayre my vitall spirits drawes This fauour for thy tyrannie afford Doe me a good to recompence thy ill And strike the stroke that all my cares can kill Let me not liue to see to morrowes light But make me thus colde bloodlesse pale and wan As this dead Carcasse doth appeare in fight This true discription of a mortall man Whose deedes of wonder past and gone before Haue left him now at Deaths darke prison doore Kissing his face with a farewell ef teares Shee leaues the body for the Graue to claime And from that place as 〈…〉 â—oule shee beares As euer Woman that the world can name Liuing but Fifteene dayes after his Death And then through extreame sorrow yeelded breath FINIS