Valloyâ—… The Bridge a Paris built bâ—… the English campe in twâ—… dayes Phaeton thâ—… sonne of Phâ—… bus by misgouernyng his fathers chariotâ—… had almost burn the whole world The Britaine proceedingâ—… to Callice pitch their tentes neare the forrest of Crâ—…sse or Crâ—…ssey Valoys Insuâ—… eth the English army with a greaâ—… boost King Edwardes exhortation tâ—… his souldiouâ—… before thâ—… battaile 〈◊〉 English battailes placed The first battaile was led by the Prince of VValles beyng but xviii yeares of age The king causeth his army to retire neare the woode to auoyde backe ossâ—… The Frenchâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…king the 〈◊〉 to hauâ—… fled insues and assailes them The horses of the Frenchmen hurt with arrowes throw their riders and breake the rayes The noblest of the French army 〈◊〉 slayne The Duke of â—…orreine The Duke of Alanson or Dalanson The king and 〈◊〉 Eddward his sonne fight valiantly Thirtie thousand Prench men sâ—…yne Valois seeing such slaughter of his men flyeth The Britaine victor Mutabilis alea Martis The next daâ—… after the battaile the Frenchmen gathered them selues againe who by these threâ—… Baâ—…les of VVarwike Huntington and Northampton were cleanâ—… subuerted distroyed Callice besieged Dauid king of Scottes 〈◊〉 instigation 〈◊〉 the French king inuadâ—… England Prince Edward and the â—…ench kyng oyne battaile â—…care 〈◊〉 King Iohn â—…aken There were â—…ken in this â—…attade at Poytiers â—…500 of the â—…iefest of all â—…aunce The two â—…inges Dauid of Scotland â—…nd Iohn of â—…aunce 〈◊〉 with â—…he rest of the â—…aptiues Edward the 〈◊〉 dyeth â—…efore the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one â—…f the three â—…adies of 〈◊〉 whiche â—…tts the â—…ed of mans 〈◊〉 â—…ward the â—…ther dyeth â—…ichard the â—…cond began 〈◊〉 raigne â—…377 〈◊〉 Goâ—… desse of Battaile Iustes 〈◊〉 nyng at the Tilt between Englimen foâ—…reyners Foure and twenty Britayne Peeâ—… prouoke as many as will come Southfield Most in 〈◊〉 ber â—…oth the Englishmen and â—…einers beâ—…aues themâ—…elues stoutly Iohn of Gaâ—… Duke of Lancaster desired aide of king Riâ—…o inuado spaigne Gaunt The aunsweeâ—… of king Ri. Spaigne inuaded by the Duke of Lancaster The Spâ—…nvard â—…teth For peace Peace graunted ConstaÌ„ce the Dukes eldest daughter maâ—…ed to the kyng of Spayne Anne the second daughter to the kyng of 〈◊〉 An insolent challenge of 〈◊〉 Scoâ—… 〈◊〉 the Englishmen The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Torney Ireland subâ—… by kyâ—…g Richard Henry the fourth began to raigne 1â—…99 Henry 〈◊〉 fiâ—…t succedeth his father 1412. Henry banisheth from the Court all his leude coÌ„panions left they should corrupt him by their euill counsell Legates sent into Fraunce to require the king of Englandes right The Oration or speech of thâ—… English Legate The reply of the king of Fraunce Henry sayleth into Fraunce Seine a mightie â—…uer 〈◊〉 from a 〈◊〉 floweth by Roan â—…nd through a great part of Fraunce at length falleth in at Caâ—… or Kâ—…d Caâ—… where are two strong townes Henry goeth agayne into Fraunce Henry offreth the Dolphin battaile which he refuseth Henry taken with a feuer The speach of Henry before his death Henry in his death bed committeâ—… his hâ—…yre Hâ—…ry with hiâ—… wife Queenâ—… Catherine to his brothers and exhoâ—…teth theâ—… to loue and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Henry the sixt his 〈◊〉 was crowned at Paris 1422. For the. Duke of yorke claimed the crown whose sonne and heire Edward Earle of â—…h afterward ' obtained it by name of Edâ—…ward the fourth VVilliam coÌ„querour first Duke of Normandie At S. Albons was foght the first battaile betweene kyng Henry and the Duke of Yorke Blore heath field 2. The onseâ—… giuen valiand by the Ascâ—… Duke of Bâ—…â—…layne Some of 〈◊〉 nobles of Fraunce sâ—…yne 〈◊〉 God oâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…l these citâ—…tances exâ—…ressed in son â—…y places â—…ane noâ—…ing els but â—…e dyed as â—…ndyng to â—…utoes kingâ—…es to 〈◊〉 the riuers 〈◊〉 c. The Citizens â—…f London â—…eaue home â—…e kyng â—…th great solempnitie â—…o in like maâ—…er doe the 〈◊〉 â—…vgismunds â—…he Empeâ—…our coÌ„meth â—…o England â—…o treat a â—…ce beâ—…weene kyng 〈◊〉 and â—…he French â—…yng â—…he speach of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…halfe of 〈◊〉 Frankes The Frenchmen violaâ—… their 〈◊〉 Sygismond 〈◊〉 Henry strike a league during their 〈◊〉 Sygismond departeth The kyng of England reneweth his warres in Fraunce Many townes in Normandie subdued Roane besieged Eight dayes truce â—…ded Englishmen goe to inhabite Harflu their owne country left Bridges 〈◊〉 Some Henry was aduertise 〈◊〉 a great 〈◊〉 of Frenchâ—… approching Sol the sunne Henry a little before night calleth his Lordes to Counsaile as concernyng their daunger through the multitude of their enemies Thetis Goddesse of the sea vsed for the Sea A stratageme oâ—… sleight to intrapt the the enemy by fraude The English army set in order Henry rising out of his bed prayeth God to ayde him The Duke of Yorke beseecheth the king that he might lead the forefront of the battâ—…e The kyng graunted the Duke of Yorke the con lucting of the forefront The Earle of Suffolke The Earle of VVarwicke The kyng of England exhorteth his souldiours to fight At Northaâ—…ton was foughten the third battaile where the kyng was taken prisoner in the field The fourth famous battaile was at VVakefield where the Queenes pow et slue the Duke of York with his sonne the Earle of Rutland and destroyed his hoast The fift battaile fought at S. Albons againe where in the Queene discomfited her enemies and deliuered her husband The battaile at Exam fought betweene Eddward the fourth and the Lord Moâ—… tague lieuetenaunt of the North to recouer the crowne for kyng Henry the sixt The battailes at Banbury Barnet Todeastell and Teuxbury were fought in Edward the fourthes dayes Henry Earle of Richmond at Bosworth slue Richard the third beyng third brother of Edward the fourth and then maried the Lady Elizabeth daughter to kyng Edward and obtaineth the crowne he first ioyned the houses of Lancaster and Yorke beyng long tyme at variaunce â—…try 〈◊〉 509. A great expedition into Franticâ—… â—…ir Rice ap Thomas Turwyn 〈◊〉 Maximilian the Emperour seâ—…ues kyng Henry for pay Turwyn wonne Tornay rendred payes the king ten thousand duckets for yearely rent VVhilst kinge Henry is busie in Fraunce Iames King of Scottes inuadeth England Lord Haward admirall and his brother in blacke harnish The Scott had pitcht then tents on flodden hill Iames king of Scots slain and all his armie discomfited A Scottish legate comes into England The Scots â—…reaking into â—…ngland â—…ore Carlile VVharton with two M. â—…uldiours â—…bdues the â—…cots and â—…uts them to â—…ght â—…ames King of â—…cots swimâ—…ing ouer a â—…uer as some â—…y was drow â—…ed The Chiefest 〈◊〉 Scotland â—…aken prisoâ—…ers sent to â—…he Towre The clemen of King Hery The oration of the Scottish Captiuâ—… to King Heâ—… rie King Henryes â—…cence The Scots set â—…t freedome and pardoned without any â—…aunsome on them The Sâ—…ts dâ—… hâ—…t the Queene 〈◊〉 mâ—…ying hâ—… daughter to the Englishe Prince Edward 〈◊〉 of Heâ—…forde and Iohn Dudley Lord admiâ—…all with a nauy of ship
pes enter Sotland I eithe and Edenborowe ransacked The Scottes placed their ordinauâ—… full agâ—… their gâ—… The Scottes forsake their Ordinaunce Preparation of wars against Fraunce The king of Fraunce his league with the Turke The Dukes of Northfolkâ—… and Suffolkâ—… the Earle of Arundeil Lord Paulet Lord Russell appointed chiefe in this warfarâ—… Sir Anthonie browne master of the horse Or Titaâ—… set that is or when the Sunne is set The discription of king Henry thâ—… 8. â—…ulcanus The descripâ—…ion of the workeman â—…hip of kyng Henries harâ—…ish King Henry landeth at Callice Bullen besiged The English giue assault The gallâ—… resist The vse of the great gunne Iohn Dadley beâ—… checâ—… the king that bee with his marriners might first scale the was Corona murâ—… lis in old time he that first entred the Enemies fort wanne great honour and therefore crowned with a garland in the triumphe The oration of Iohn Dudâ—… ley to his mâ—… riners The King considering the daunger that Dudley with his men wear like to runne into commaundes them to desist Bullen rendred Iohn Dudley Lieuetenant of Bullen Preparation of the Frank against England The Frenchmen with a great nauy it uade the I le of wight â—…enry 8. afâ—…er 3â—… yeares â—…yeth â—…dward the sixt begunne â—…o â—…aigne â—… 546. The Earle of 〈◊〉 created Duke of Sommerset Iohn Dudley made Earle of VVarwicke Expedition of souldiours into Scotland The Duke of Sommerset Ealre of VVarwicke and Lord Dacies assigned chiefe in this warfare Lord Graiâ—… captaine of the horsemen A light skirmage of the horsemen of both partes the day before the battaile VVhori it was neare sunne set The Farle Arreine gouernour of Scotland sen. deth an Herault vnto the the Duke of Somerset and the Harle of Huntley prouoketh him had to hand Huntley challenged The Duke of Somersets reply The aunswere of the Earle of VVarwick to the messenger The Earle of VVarwicke chalengeth Huntley to single cumbat The Engliâ—… army is set order The on set â—…uskelborow â—…lde The Scots send into Frauncc to intreate a league betweene the heires of Scâ—… land and Fraunce Hymen God of wedlâ—…k To Dusson dale The Rebels â—…nclosed themselues with their cariages on euery side â—…o keep of the assaults of the Barle of war wickes horsemen The Harle of VVarwicke subdueth the rebels in Northsolke The Giants in old tiâ—…e rebelled against the Gods and would haue pulled â—…ubiter out of heaueÌ„ The Earle of VVarwicke created Dukâ—… of Northumberland The death of king Edward King Edwards praise Mary beginneth to raign 1553. Queene Mary marrieth to king Phyllip Sâ—…itium â—…ernum is 〈◊〉 the eight Calendes of Ianuary Christmas he meaneth Henry of Fraunce inuadeth Flaunders Preparation of warres against the Frenchmen Diuers nations in phillips 〈◊〉 Saint Quintinnes besieged Saint Quintines â—…ted Henry Dudley slayne Saint Quintinnes taken The Castell 〈◊〉 Houne taken ransackt The Admiral of England with too shipps sayleth into Frauncâ—… and burneth Conque Sir VVilliam VVinter with many of the Queenes shipps taketh â—…gayne Alderne I le â—…oÌ„ he handes of â—…e Frenchmen The words of Sir VVilliam VVinter to his souldiours Sir VVillim VVinter meeting with the Frenche Captaine slaieth him valiantly The Frenchmen subdued Câ—…lice lost Thirlby Bishoppe of Elye Queene Mary dyeth Aegis the shield of Pallas The Censures of the Vniuersities of Italy and Fraunce against the Pope The toune Princes of Europe more or leâ—…se are ment to be as ten hornes vnto this beast Hymeneus or Hymen God of mariage A solempne pompe at the mariage of Henry and Anno. Anne great by King Henry Anne crowned which hapneth to none but to the heires of the kingdom Nestor liâ—…ed three hudred yeares The conduiâ—… ran with wine at the coronation of Queene Anne VVhitâ—…hall Sainct Peters at VVestminster Thomas Duke of Northfolke made chiefe Steward of England â—…rle of Arundeil Tâ—…ster Phoebe two sillables vsed for the Moone Elizabeth borne on tht seuenth day of December being the sabboth day Elizabeth baptised and confirmed in the true faith Her sureties were the Archbishop of Cannterbury the duthesse of Norfolke and the Lady Mâ—…ques of Exeter Elisabeth poâ—…laimed heite vnto the Crowne by â—…n Herault The surties giue gifts of pâ—…e gold The Englisâ—… people by oâ—… vowe their loyaltie and obedience vnto Queen Elizabeth The toward nes of Elizabeth in her childhood Description of the spring tyme. â—…orpheus â—…od of dreaâ—…es â—…he dreame 〈◊〉 Queene 〈◊〉 whereâ—… she was â—…ed of 〈◊〉 death at 〈◊〉 and of â—…ny other â—…ble câ—…es A foreshew â—…ng of the exterminating and ioâ—… ting out of Idols Restâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by kâ—…g â—…dward Acheron oâ—… of tâ—…e â—…ue 〈◊〉 uers of hell where 〈◊〉 are â—…mented Maries gouâ—… nement Anne declareth her dreame vnto a noble matrone Anne dyeth Annes prayse for almes giuing Henry marieth Queene Iane. Edward borne Prince Edward and Elizabeth skilfull in the Greeke and Latin tong Henry 8. dyeth Edward 6. crowned Hatfield Periphrasis sixe yeare for the Sunne once a yeare ouerg es the xâ—… signes so that be meaneth by ouertaking the signes vi times vi yeare Edward the. 6 dieth Queene Mary ruleth The Bishoppe of VVinchester Holie sort Ironia cuius contrarium veâ—… est licolas Baâ—…ns Lord priuy seale Thomas Brockley Lord chauncolour VVilliam Paulet Marques of VVin chester Lord Cicill high treasurer of England Ae lus God the windes Baron of Burghley The Earles o Arundell an Penbroke Stewardes o the Queenes house Clinton Lord Admirall Earle of Lin colne Villiam hoâ—…ard â—…he Earle of â—…ssex high â—…hamberlaine â—…f England â—…e also was â—…esetenant in â—…eland Robart Dudly Castor Polâ—…ux hatched â—…fan agge by â—…eda whom â—…upiter rauish â—…ed in forme of 〈◊〉 swanne Master of the horse Achates companion of Aeneas in all his toiles trauailes Farle of Lecester Hospitall built by the Earle Lecester Earle of Huntington liefe tenaunt of Yorke Scoolefellow and plaimare with king Edward the 6 Earle of warwicke Earle of Bedford Iord Hunsdon liesecenant of Barwicke Queene Anne aunt to the Lord Hunsden Syr Henry Sidney Lord President of wales Thomas Pary The Duke of Northsolke Syr Thomas Smith Syr Frauncis Knolls Syr Frauncis Knolls in Q. Maries dayes fled into Germanie Syr Ambrose Caue Syr Christopher Hatton master of the Garde Sir Raph Sadler Syr Gwaltor Mildmay Syr Iames a Crostes Secretary VValsinghaâ—… D. VVilson 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
THE VALIANT ACTES And victorious BatTAILES OF THE ENGlish nation from the yeere of our Lord one thousand three hundred twentie and seuen being the first yeare of the raigne of the most mightie Prince EDVVARD the third to the yeere 1558. ALSO OF THE PEACEABLE AND quiet state of ENGLAND vnder the blessed gouernement of the most excellent and vertuous Princesse Elizabeth A compendious declaration written by C. O. And newly translated out of Latine verse into English meeter By I. S. Nobâ—… so la â—…statque vinica virtus AT LONDON Printed by Robert Walde-graue ¶ The names of the kinges of England in whose dayes these warres and great aduentures haue bene made Edward 3 Richard 2 Henry 4 Henry 5 Henry 6 Edward 4 Richard 3 Henry 7 Henry 8 Edward 6 Phillip and Mary ¶ TO THE RIGHT WORshipfull Sir William Mohun Knight longlyfe and heauenly felicitie IF Maroes Muse if Homers sacred vaine VVhich auncient Poets intombed lye in molde Parnassus Nimphes had bett into my braine If that their skill my slender quill did hold Then worthy sir your prayses manifold VVith Troian Dukes should lifted be to skie Or Thetis Impes whose fame shall neuer die But bitter Fate and cruell destinies doome Such cunning rare denide haue to bestowe On me poore lad to Homers lofty roome I may not clime but cowching lye full lowe VVith Cherilus and Virgills vaine forgoe They of their store did spred and blase their skill I of my want do testifie my will VVherefore in worth accept my willing hart VVhich what I could not what I would haue brought Of Artaxerxes play the princely part Of fountayne flouds who drunke a harty drought VVhich to his mouth with handes Synaetes rought Let Macedonian Phyllips courteous minde Right worshipfull within your brest be shrinde The Persian king in bosome shrouded close A silie bird which shund the hawke by flight And did her selfe for safetie there repose Till that her foe were soared out of sight So these my toyles accept with countenaunce bright VVhich I present here humbly to your hand Your like or loth may cause them fall or stand Here Martiall feates by valiant Brutes atchiu'de Here hard exploites here battailes fiercely fought then the valew of the gift Howbeiti the toyle and labour in trnaslatyng was myne tâ—…â—…ectation and pleasure in reading shall be yours if any be which I would it were as much as I could wishe to your contentation and good like and to my great coÌ„fort and hartes desire Both incouragements to incense me hereafter to atteÌ„pt some other thing which shall be peraduenture more pleasant I will not say more profitable vnto you for besides the notable gestes and high exploites of our Britaine kings and other particular personages deciphered in this small volume here also are liuely expressed blased forth the haut stomackes famous actes of our English natioÌ„ in generall their coÌ„quests in Fraunce their victorious baâ—…les in Scotland their memorable adueÌ„tures in Spaine their valure in Iustes combates at home their order of battaile their kinde of munition Artillery whereby they haue atchieued so many coÌ„quests and haue bene most redoubted and terrible to their enemies I meane Archery which laudable and martiall exercise how greatly it is now in these our dayes falne into decay we shall I feare me if constrained to indure those bruntes and atteÌ„pt those aduentures and perills which our forefathers haue done to soone for our selues though it to late repent I haue not presented it here as a thing exquisitely done but as a worke rudely ouerranne rather then curiously absolued and perfited If any one hereafter to the better explication of the Poets meaning to the liuelier bewtifiyng of his Countries exploytes and famous attempts and to the greater delight and vtilitie of the reader shall in a more loftie vaine and heroicall stile polishe and publish this Authour a new who I confesse deserueth a traÌ„slatour farre better then I am then let these my toyses be brent and coÌ„sumed to ashes deuoide of farther name memory In the meane space if you vouchsafe to turne them ouer for your solace at vacant times I hope you shall reape some vtility be the matter though not by the meeter in which though you here and there finde a scape I beseech you passe it ouer with patience and perswade your selues that if God send me lyfe and health vpoÌ„ information thereof it shall be in the next AeditioÌ„ reformed As for you my Maisters and Teachers which read this Author in sâ—…koles you must not be offended though euery verse auÌ„swere not your expectation according vnto the Latin for as the worshipfull Tho. Phaer in his Preface to his Aeneads affirmeth beside the differeÌ„ce of a construction a traÌ„slatioÌ„ there are many things which seeme delectable and pleasaunt in the Latine tong which coÌ„uerted into English would either be so intricate that none could vnderstaÌ„d them or so vnpleasaunt that none would vouchsase the reading of them Wherfore I haue Imitated the counsaile of Horace in his booke intituled De Arte Poetica where he commendes and allowes him as a good interpretour amongst other pointes Qui quae non sperat nitescere posse relinquit and haue somewhat in some places omitted though iâ—… but little and somewhat altered though not much altogether for the ease of the reader and the better vnderstanding of the whole worke The Authors meaning as neare as I could I haue kept perfect and inuiolate And so fare ye well most frendly Gentlemen Yours to vse IOHN SHARROCK ¶ William Bluett studient in the Vniuersitie Colledge in Oxenford in praise of the work and Author CEASE cease hence forth you worthy Englishe wightes at straungers deedes to take such admiration Since far they come behinde the noble Knights VVhich fostred haue bin in our Englishe nation Cease cease henceforth to wonder at the actes Of martiall Caesar and renowmed Pompâ—… Cease cease to talke of Alexanders factes Of Scipio Hanniball or the warlike Fabie Cease cease a while to turne the books of Liuius Plutarch Tacitus Appian and Curtius Of Homers tales or Virgill very fables Of Thucidid or Herodotus bables Behold a wight from Parnasse lately prest Hath Phoebus sent whose penne of auncient name Our noble Henries Edwardes and the rest Enrolled haâ—…h in bookeof lasting same VVhere you may see the virtues manifolde Of this your countrie done in former yeeres Patternes to followe where â—…keyou may behold If you will imitate such noble Peeres Nowe if his voice you do not vnderstand Or lâ—…iffer had in speache of this our land This Autor read harke what the Muses haue Of that decreed and done which you do â—…aue They praied Syr Phoebe in humble wise of late From out his sacred mount to send some on That might this worke into our tongue translate VVho looking round about his Helicon Sharrocke espied amongest his learned bâ—…nd VVhoâ—… straight as apt and able both hee bindes This worthy worke
his mercement payde All other thinges establisht were for common weales behoue And herewithall the Senate endes and Counsailours home remoue Staight armour is prepaide by strait commaundement from the king The valiant Britayne youth in sturdie steele coates glittering spring Great plumpes of horsemen stout cluttering troupes of footemen thrungde And now with good lucke on through mounting surges swift they plundge The â—…endly Northarne gales their hoisted sayles driue â—…orth amaine Till Normandie at last a fertile soyle of fruite and graine The Britayne fleet in harbour safe from Aeol did containe Their wery corps here well refresht their tentes they farther moue And houses riâ—…ling spoyle their formers owners quite out droue Come hourded vp in â—…ort in broade barne bayes by country swaine And otes the warlike praunser fatts the straw lest to remaine For needefull vse Vulcanus brandes the roofes downe ratling teare Yong children reft of home their wofull mothers wandring beare Their fathers lately sent by fawchon dint to shadowes dombe These but preambles are to greater warres in time to come And in what place through râ—…unging wide in broode fieldes cause of stay Is offred there the army huge doe pitch their tentes that day At length they came to Caen. Of craggie rocke a bridge whose side Doth garde through passage strait which weltring streames rough vnder Th'assaut begins more and more the fierce fight kindleth wrath slide The Chieftaine of the towne with souldiours stopps the strait bridge path To barre the enemy out The French downe groueling headlong throwes The whirling shaft vntill at length they came to handy blowes Then stayne with gastly wounde the Celtane spurling kickes the ground One Earle captiue tane an other eke no lesse renownd Through Tancaruilla of which place he title beares and name The remnaunt armour cast â—…st de all captiue thralls became The king the walles downe beates and fort consumes with fierie flame This towne thus sackt proceedes with wings on both sides strongly armde with bows which would w e pearcing steÌ„me the FreÌ„chmaÌ„s pride haue charmde The army and with sloughter dire and sword all thinges decayes Much like a noysome pestilence which when he roming strayes Creepes in by stealth and mortall men with deadly venome slayes Or as rough roaring Easterne pufes when through their caues they rush Downe woodes mighty trees with boystrous blastes they threatning push And okes vp mounted huge in hight their rootes torne battring crush On th' other part an army great with faynt hart halfe afright King Valoys gathered had into the next fieldes broode in sight Yet durst he not incounter with our bandes in open warres Or battaile ioyne and so â—…ntright disside and end the iarres But rought with feare in wooddy mountaines wandring farre vs froe He watcheth what we doe and whether we intend to goe With wary mynde respecting well his owne estate and realme And more commaundes his campe the bridges all to ouerwhelme That by that meanes the enemies force they might barre of and stay Their iourneys eke But when to valiant Britaynes ech hard way He easie saw and that no stopp could hinder their intent With all his troupe of armed men he straight to Paris went And gardes the Citie walles which shiuering feare had shakt before Commâ—…nding peecemeale downe the Sequane bridges to be tore Now safe the Frenchmen thinke themselues with gurtie riuer deepe Incompast rouâ—…e howbeit they watch and ward doe dayly keepe Suspecting both the fierce assault of mighty Brutus race As also least the light fire flames their fayre towne should deface Their iourney hasting fast the English campe is comne at hand But after downe the Bridges broke the king did vnderstand Ech place of entrance eke with great endeuouring fenced sure He fretts disple asâ—…e in mynde and thoughtes turmoiling more his fure Augments till he at last â—…pon this finall sentence stayes To builde the bridge agayne and loftie arches vp to rayse Ouer those floudes which by the walles of auncient Paris glide Which lesse then two dayes space doth finish quite that fayre and wide Ech souldiour passage hath In battaile ray and now they stand Beyond the riuer bankes prouâ—…oking Frenchmen hand to hand For to incounter fayre in martiall fieldes But when agayne No equall offer made of fight they see in great disdaine The Britaynes moue their tentes and passing forth from place to place No towne vnburned leaue that Phaetons flames agayne to trace That land throughout of that way one had lookt he would haue thought Untill at length the army stout the broad playne fieldes had rought Neare Cressy â—…des there their tentes dâ—…ne pitcht to make some stay A valley 〈◊〉 there lyes with springing medowes fresh and gay Through midst of which a brooke with siluery streames cuts forth his way One side of which a hill with fertile soyle for tillage fitt Besetts to Paris wardes which rustick swaine with plough doth slitt In ioyfull time of peace On th' other side adiacent lye Some pleasaunt hillockes eke but chiefly stickle mountaines hye Whose topps do Cresseis groues of oke trees thicke besett containe And darksome dennes where brousie beastes of sauage kinde remaine UUithin this vale the English campe of former toyles of shooke Their werinesse with dulcet sleepe and gratefull viandes tooke UUhen sodainly a spie from mountaines topps in post hast runnes And warning giues that Valoys king of Galls in armour comes UUith thousand thousandes garded thicke A sound the trompet shrill Giues forth and with Tantara thrise ech souldiours eares doth fill The valiant English hartes armes armes redoubling loude out cald Forthwith king Edward adds Take tooles in hand no white apalde Ye ladds of martiall Brutus bloud high thundring Ioue this day Hath hard my voyce and hath betooke into your handes a pray The king himselfe not onely comne with this huge hoost I heere But eke throughout the Realme of Fraunce of auncient stocketh Peere Wherefore so ost a Nation tamde by forâ—… in blouddie 〈◊〉 Shall victors dreaâ—…of stely Doues shall Lions feare the sight Now God forbid and turne that lot to bettâ—… lucke I pray If that among the heardes a fearefull captaine lead the way The followers neuer will be fierce in fight but backward sway And you I vouch with faint and fearefull men shall warre this day They come with spoyles and booties rich the Britaine home to lade You all with robes of silke and glittering gold shall rich be made You precious ringes shall weare and purses make with â—…gent strout If that you will stand to 't like valiant lads and fight it out And sley with gaâ—…ly gaping wound the Frenchmens trembling rout Thus sayd the hoast in culâ—…ed sort is set and ordred right The winges stout archers garde with whitling 〈◊〉 and armour light His sonne and heyre the beardles Prince the king in forefront plast Which had not yet of eightione yeares
Arithmetricians Art both cunning Clarkes whome vertue gaind By long vse hath extold and wisedome in most thinges attainde They both in Senate house perswade and Counsaile graue downe lay Chroftes in his royall mistresse house controller now doth slay And with his valiant burly corps adornes the Princes hall UUhich erst in campes of dreadfull Mars did force the foe to fall In Englandes chief affaires one Secretarie to the Queene Is Walsingham who Legate then of Britayne Prince was seene At Paris when the slaughter great and dire destruction was And such effusion vast was made of Christian bloud alas A godly man of courage high with bribe not to be bought Nor by corrupting chraft from path of Iustice to be brought Most happy sure which suppliant doth talke with the heauenly king But secreatly as soone as clad 〈◊〉 srâ—… his bed doth spring And of ech day by vowes deuout â—…oth good abodements take O would that many such great kings would of their Counsaile make Then should no doubt ech common weale in blessed state remaine And old Saturnus golden age would be renewde againe Commended eke with sondry vertues rare the other was Willson whose flickering ghost of late to aierie coastes did passe These doth the Princesse vse these Counsailours hath she vsde of yore For what to happy end with good successe may well be bore If that with wauering minde you holesome counsaile do despise Ech state into subuersion runnes deuoyde of good aduise And shall I hope triumph as long as Debora did raigne Whose tracte of life whose thoughts whose crowne almighty Ioue main For many yeares blessâ—…nd preserue in calme peace to remaine taine And after mortall life these worldly thoughtes and crowne forlorne UUith endlesse life diuine affectes and heauenly crowne adorne FINIS Virgil 〈◊〉 neth the 〈◊〉 deeds of Aeâ—…â—…s â—…er blaâ—… seth the acâ—… of Achilles 〈◊〉 sonn to Thâ—… tia Cherâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…y kiâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Synâ—…tes 〈◊〉 poore 〈◊〉 Phillippâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…oble 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Mars God of battaile Iul us Caesar. Caesars Commentaâ—…s Gradiuus one of the names of Mars from whom Romulus first kyng of the Romaines disâ—…ded Britaines paid tribute and did homage to the Emperours of Rome Ciuilâ—… diffention present destruction of a câ—…ntry or coÌ„mon weale Erinnis a fury breeding dissention I atines of Latini people in Italiâ—… Galles of thâ—… the people Galls in Frauâ—… Semyramis wife to kyng Ninus of Pertia gouerned the first Monarchie Nylus a great riuer in Aegipt by whose inundation with the heat of the sunne is the country adiacoÌ„t made frutefull Alexander Magnus king of Macedonia the second Monarch The Romains vnder Romulus had the third Monarchy but rather vnder Iulius Caesar. The prayse of all the natioÌ„s in Europa The Scithian and those coâ—…tryes whiche lye neare the North Pole at the people Getae and Saâ—…uromatae and others The Authorâ—…â—…uocation Bdâ—…rd the third began to â—…gne Au. 1520. in the xv yeare of his age Edward a godly Prince VVherof this was one Longbeardes haâ—…â—…eile paus ted houdes â—…else Gay coates gâ—…celesse ma nes England thâ—…stleus The Scottes entring into â—…ngland as faire as Stanhop parke were compast rosd by kyng Edward who thought to subdue there but by â—…eason of sâ—…e of his host they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the king by â—…n self of Sir Edward Mortimer who the bare great sway in England deliuered vp those Charters and Patentes But more scillict to spite the kyng of England Edward Baliol kyng of Scotts dâ—…uen out of his coâ—… trie comes into England The Oration of Baliol to kyng Edward od present at faythfull prayers The aunswere of kyng Eid ward 〈◊〉 one sillable take for the Suâ—… two sillables for the Moâ—… Preparation for warre agaynst Scotland Gold and â—…luer borne on carres to pay the souldiours Twede a mighty riuer runnyng by Barwicke Barwicke bâ—…sieged DescriptioÌ„ of Barwicke Flora the Goddesse of flowers and greene 〈◊〉 â—…tan the unne The assaulting of Barwicke Vulcanus God â—…ers Iubâ—…s smith The Britaines gaue so hot assault that the Scottes drew all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 walles and piâ—…es drye to quench the fired places of their towne The Scottes like to sa 〈◊〉 hâ—… The Oratiâ—… of the liuetenaunt of Barwicke to his souldiours Eight dayâ—… truce Pledges taken â—…he Scottâ—… 〈◊〉 their â—…ce 〈◊〉 Dacâ—…tt with a fewe other enters Barwicke in the â—…ight The Scottes truce breakers The pledges hanged Famine oppresâ—…eth the Barwicke souldiâ—…urs inhabitantes One sorrow and calamitie mittigateth an other Truce the second tyme. An army of Scottes sent to remoue the fiâ—…ge The of Scottish Nobles The Scottes deuide their army into three battailes The English army By reason of the reflexe of the sunne The exhortation of the king of England to his souldiours The prayer of the kyng of England A pollicie to animate his souldiours Vulcane as Poetes sayne had his smithey in mount Lemnos in Cicilie where he with his mates wrought A great scath by the Eng. Archers done to the Scotts Lethe a riuer in â—…al The Scottes slaine and puâ—… to flight The Retraiâ—… soâ—…nded Bacchus God of wine Ceres Goddesse of corne and such like prouision Edward the next morning after the battaile fought with all his army doe prayse the Lord. The number of the Scottes slayne in the battaile was xxxv thousand fiue huÌ„dred Thirten Englishmen onely lost Barwicke â—…elded Baliol restored to his kingdome King Edward returnes to London Edward Baliol comes to Newcastell â—…e doth homage to king Edward He scillicâ—… the king of England speaketh comfortable wourdâ—… to Baliol. Edward say led into 〈◊〉 Pillip de Valloys kyng of Fraunce threatneth England Edward summoneth the French kyng and beareth the armes of France intermixt with th' English Claimyng Fraunce to be his by inheritaunce Preparation foâ—… warres Gold at that tyâ—…e made in England by art Edward sayleth into FlauÌ„ ders A great battaile on the sea neare â—…ude Thetis goddeâ—…se of the sea The fight induced from XII a clocke at noone till day breake neâ—… morning Thirtis thousand slayne of the Frenchmen Edward victor Edward returning into England goes to VVindles Castell 〈◊〉 George is feast Bacchus God of wine vsed for wine it selfe The first institution of the golden Garter King Edwâ—…â—…yning to him the â—…ar of VVarwicâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…arl more wasteâ—… the VVesterâ—…â—…stes of Fraunce The kyng 〈◊〉 turned noâ—… calleth a Pa liâ—…t whâ—… in he sheâ—… 〈◊〉 Crownâ—… of Fraunce be his by 〈◊〉 heritance Vessell coiâ—… to make mâ—… ney Preparatioâ—… for warre The Britaâ—… 〈◊〉 arriâ—… at 〈◊〉 die Aâ—…ol Goâ—… the windâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them theâ—… selues 〈◊〉 â—…ranne â—…he assauling and subâ—…uyng of â—…ane â—…rchery doth â—…uch preâ—…ayle Celtane of Celtaea peoâ—…le in Fraunce The Hâ—…rle of Tancaâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…rom Cane the army proceedes further into Nor â—…die and 〈◊〉 breaâ—…th ray â—…alloys gaâ—…hereth an arâ—…y â—…ridges of â—…ome broken â—…owne to â—…eepe backe 〈◊〉 English â—…my â—…ridges of â—…ome broken â—…owne neare Paris by the 〈◊〉 â—…f
to take forth within hand Thereby to profitte you his countrie driends VVho yeelding straight God Phoebus hest and will Hath this performd with speed and skilfull quill Cease Zoilus to carpe the Muses him commend Be silent Momus Phoebus did him send 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hortatorium eiusdem W. Bluetti ad authorem vt ad altiora contendat Perge age quid dubâ—… as Parnassi scande cacumen Dexter Appollo tibi dextera Musa tibi ⧠TO THE MOST EXCELlent and most mighty Princesse Elizabeth by the grace of God of England Fraunce and Ireland QVEENE Defendresse of the Fayth c. REnowmed Nimph of Britaine land the guidance great staie Which dost most glorious shine in peace true religious waie Which glittering in thy liues deserts manners radiant light Exceld'st Zenobia or if one excelled her by right In rule which Iuno Uenus faire in forme Minerue in art Expressest and more virtue shrinst then female sexe in hart Come fauorable happie slide to these attempts of myne Thy gratious looke O goddesse shall as power of godhead shine The worke is hard I may not prop so huge and vast a molde Lesse with thy friendly aspect thou mee goddesse do behold Looke friendlye goddesse bright and see what hard exploites of yore Thy great forefathers haue atchieu'd three hundred yeares and more Whose royall chaier and Diademe since thou O nimphe sustaines Their glory wonnne in bruntes of Mars vnto thy laude remaines Nor t is vnmeete fearce battailes to a virgin to expresse Then pleasaunt peace the brunts of wars did Pallas please no lesse Therfoâ—… this work most worthy Queen with gratious couÌ„tenaÌ„ce take Thy iudgement settes mee bolt vpright or fondred flat doth make Though all men mee abiect and spurne I nought them all regarde It is inough if from my Muse thy liking bee not bard God graunt that longe in natiue peace thou maist enioy the crowne And eke excell thine auncestours in glory and renowme Your Maiesties most humble and dutifull subiect C. O. ⧠The notable Battailes and high exployts of the English nation HOw valiauntly the warlike race of mightie Brute did beare TheÌ„selues in blouddy campes of Mars how they the treÌ„bling speare With courage shooke and troupes of foes by force in fight did foyle Full fiften hundred yeares agoe when Caesar first this soyle With Romish army did assault his Story teacheth playne Which yet doth many a noble act of this our land containe And if that treason his attemptes had not propt and vp bore In vayne had Iulius set his foote vpon our English shore In vayne Gradiuus ofspring had their banners brood displayde Nor homadge to the Romish king nor tribute had bene payde But what is of that forceâ—… what Realme is of that might and power UUhich ciuill hatred cannot cause the enemy to deuower The common people what doe they not breake and bring to nought UUhen once dissentions headlong heat their retchlesse braines hath rought UUat doth not discord quite consume diminish and decay UUhat foule Erinnis fearefull fende doth rule and beare the sway A pearelesse Prince was Caesar sure a warlike haut and bold UUhose worthy actes in memorie deserue to be enrold So many kingdomes brought by force the Romane yoke to hold But what could he without the power diuine and sacred hest Of high Iehoue such nations fierce by force haue ouerprest The Germaines he by dince of sword subdued in Martiall field A nation which inprowesse will not to the Latine yeld Both stout in armes and haut of hart the warlike Galls he tamde UUhose vertue rare to shine in peace and wars hath still bene framde UUhy then alone to Romaines did the glory of war redounde UUhy then the world so vast to bend at Caesars bâ—…e was bounde Eche countryes force by blouddy Mars made subiâ—…â—…is might Or quayled quite before his power and army came 〈◊〉 sight Undoubtedly that Iesus Christ our sweete Messias bâ—…e All nations should be linkt in league which hatred earst had torne All thinges must haue their course and their disposed order sure Which also limittes haue beyond which time they cannot â—…ure The first that euer Monarch hight that proude and pompoue towne Which walles of bricke full huge yconipast to her great renowne Did Babilon containe and Aegipt through thy fluent streames O Nyle when Sol from hye thereto doth bend his blesing beames Replenisht full of corne and wine and oyle and cattell store Did foster vp to other landes warres scarse were knowne before A few yeares after that the Greekes the pâ—…se of warfare wanne Who other nations farre and neare suâ—…ng ouerranne The Italians than the pompe of Greece â—…prest with might and mayner Which shortly after by the Gothes were forst to yeld agayne As wallowing waues successiuely the one the other driues So he which was depriuer now an other Prince depriues It 's God almighty which all mortall thingâ—…â—…th becke doth guide UUhich seas and landes doth rule and eke the Starrie region wide He he is God of armes whose thunder dint resounding shakes He is the God of armyes to which giues at will and takes UUhich trembling terrour bringes and manly courage ads agayne UUhich victors makes and conquered foes by swourd yeldes to be slayne For he behold his enemies force quite craches with puissaunt might UUhich Gods hye sacred will esteemes most worthy of by right The Thratian nation fierce through deedes of armes renowmed are And they which Northerne nipping cold doth pinche a people rare For Martiall feates in wit and manly force who doe excell And other pointes of Chiualrye in fight too prompt and fell Usde oft to blouddy Mars the Germaynes corps which hugie haue The Polon and Dalmatian the Hunne and doughtie Swaue The Flemming Frenchman fierce the Spanyard and the Brytaine haut The Scot also through manly hart prompt for to giue assaut The noble feates of Mars in warfare vse with might and mayne And neither of the Sommers heat nor winters cold complayne But by their acces their auncestours through myndes vnconquered stayne Thou warres O mighty kyng doest send as scourge and dart most dire Sinnes iust reward when nations proude prouoke thee vnto ire And for their foule and filthy factes some dreadfull penaunce pay UUhen others by Ioues mighty hest doe beare the palme away Therfore the prayse of eche exployte and glory great of warre Referd must be to God aboue whose becke doth make and marre Let him to me intending now of blouddy warres to sing Beginnyng bee and author firme this worke to end to bring Let him with his omnipotent and heauenly power diuine Support and fauour this attempt and enterprise of myne From William sproÌ„g hight Conquerour that stout Princely Peere King Edward third of that name gan the Britayne crowne to weare When scarse the number small of thrise fiue yeares he had full filde A counsellour sage at home which seedes of
destroyed by Brytaines fell in fight Of all the Scottish army huge thirtie fiue thousand weare Which sloughtred number to augment which noblest bloud did beare Of all their realme fiue hundred Peeres were sent to limbo lake Plantagenet these thinges thus knowne returne doth speedie make Unto his tentes whom by the way a Legate meetes in hast Declaring how the Barwicke Lordes would yeld themselues at last And leaue their goodly towne which â—…rong stone walles do surely â—…arde If by the mercy of his grace their liues might all be sparde And that with bagge and baggage they might freely thence depart The godly Prince the late shed bloud lamenting at his hart Their liues with good will grauntes but goodes substaunce doth denay Which on my souldiours must quoth he bestowde be for their pray Prouookementes to incense their mindes aduentures hard to proue UUhat doth not mortall men to do leane pined hunger moue UUhat doth not aduerse fate conculking backward folke constraine Neede is a direfull dart To saue their liues they therfore faine Conclude and onely with their clothes their natiue towne forsake Forthwith Prince Edward of the tower by right doth seison take And Barwicke giues vnto his men with all her substaunce free UUhose not inricht goodes to possesse of which no owners bee Though thousand troublous thoughtes turnâ—…ild the king now here now And restlesse rage of clogging cares his mynd did peece meale teare there Yet chiefly Baliol he respectâ—… wherfore with helping hand He sets him in his Graundsiers seat and Princelie throne to stand Inricht with â—…es of coyne and garded strong with warriours stout And after garrisons were placde ech where the towne throughout Tyme styding warnes the kyng the South partes of his realme to see To London therfore hying fast in short time comne is hee UUhich fayre broode streates addornes and forth with solempne triumph Unto his royall pallace braue whose comming there abides rides The Cytizens his safe retourne applauding and his feere The Princesse Phillip with her sonne which lookt with smiling cheare His noble prayse and high renowne through euery streate doth range And glory past the vncoth coostes of Aâ—…ke people strange The swift report of this new warre beyond the bankes fâ—…ue out Of Ganges liquid floudes the mirrour of our world no dout The king vnweryed sturres and circuite makes throughout the land Survewing townes and fortes and in what case ech thing doth stand But chieflie at Newcastell he doth loue to make his stay Which from the Scottish borders farre is distant not away Here whilst he lawes confirmde and for offenders stablisht paynes King Baliol comes and after him a troupe of nobles traines His homage for to doe as customde was in eloâ—…r age And eke to shew his frendlie hart which should at no time gage Wherfore admitted for to come before the Senate sage On bended knee as in degree inferiour he submitts Himselfe King Edward on his throne with regall scepter sitts And biddes with chearefull voyce him prostrate to be tane from ground Commending highlie this his face that though in duetie bound Yet vncompelde he honour giues and ayde by promise plightes If that his traitrous subiectes should against him bend their mightes Of common weales affaires and of God Mauors noble art Much talke was spent he biddes him haue a haut vnconquered hart And not to beare in minde his former thralls and irkesome fate But courage stout to haue concordant to his present state To Saintes celestiall yelding prayse and to the powers diuine He more submisse doth humble thankes referre and thus in fine In sondrie sortes of talke and sporting mirth a day they spende And then another till away Plantagenet did wende And Baliol king to Edenbrowe his progresse straight did bende The Moone increasing oft had now repayrde her glittering gleames UUhen Edward with swift slyding hull deuides the surging streames Requested by the Flaunders Earle on causes of great weight For to consult to bothes behoofe in time redounde which might UUhom kindred neare and eke his spouse to Britaine monarch knit And hauing had on their affaires such talke as they thought fite They strike a league and heauenly bodies bright to recorde call UUhich neuer during terme of life be abrogated shall The Peeres of Flaunders on their othes this league a vowe to keepe This done the king to England backe the salt sea â—…udes doth sweepe These 〈◊〉 the French man galles and fills his minde with doutfull 〈◊〉 UUhen through the streetes of Paris pompous towne this fame had spred And rumour running fast vncertaine who it first should reare And did likewise the irefull hart through burning choler teare Of Valoys king of Galls wherfore his Lordes to counsell tane By dreadfull Mars it was decreed to worke the Britaines bane Small matter finding out and that vniust to build vpon But th' English Rector fraude preuentes with vertue pure anon For he to blouddy warres the Frenchman summons as right heyre Unto the crowne and armes of Fraunce with th' English mixt doth beate For that his vncle Charles did to ioyes supernall passe No issue left behinde whose sister true and coheire was The comely Lady Isabell out from whose loynes did spring She comne of auncient lyne her selfe the mightie English king UUho with these causes iust of ire prouookt in bagges doth fold A masse of siluer pure and hugie heapes of glittering gold And ready gettes ech thing for present warres which he thinkes meete But first he goes the Flanders Earle his faithfull frend to greet And to consult beyond the seas A mightie army gardes His maiestie which hollow hull from flashing surges wardes And now in midst of weltring waues the nauy fleetes apace UUhich with his boystrous blastes the Northwinde cold along doth chase His lustie laddes to copp with whistle shrill the carefull guide Commaundes where standing one of Shippes a nauy huge descryde And aske how many aunswere makes on wooddie mountaines hye So many as are tender okes esprong Then of what countrie Of Fraunce quoth he Forthwith the king biddes ech man to addresse Him selfe to fight and armour strong to set in readinesse And that no man should turne the sterne and course intended leaue On payne of losse of that deare ioynt to which the shoulders cleaue Don Phaebus now with glimering rayes the hye heauen costes deuides And loftie in his chariot bright the windes quite calmed rides Stout Valoys his vp sturres the broilyng battaile to begin Shipp fast to shipp conioynes the clasping grapple hellish ginne On both sides fiercer growes the fight bloud bloud pursues full fast He headlong tumblyng downe in gulfie channell quicke is cast A pleasaunt bait for frisking fish he gasht with goory knife Into the surging salt sea floudes is throwne deuoyde of life And so one man with double corture hath his fatall end Moreouer huge vnwieldie stones the English souldiours sende Downe froÌ„ their hollow topps
the â—…act out fully 〈◊〉 Nor on his cheekes the soft and 〈◊〉 lockes you might discerne By reason of his youth the weightie workes of Mars to learne The maine battaile he himselfe in gliâ—…ering armour brodered takes And backward to retyre the 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 neere he makes To Cresseis baulky boothes all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereby to voyde And more that by that meanes the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 By marching vp against the hill and disaduantage by The vnegall soyle in the assault But when the Galles did spie The Britaine backe to draw more rash then wise forth fast they hie And spurde their coursâ—… fierce supposing Britaines for to flie The trompets sound 〈◊〉 â—…mies shout the noyse hie heauen doth pearce The English raâ—…es 〈◊〉 their enemies troupes assayling 〈◊〉 With yew bowes bended stife which flickring flights forth whistling sends The warriour praunser hurt with stripe his rider flinging trendes Out of his sadle and with hard horne hoofe his maister kickes An other horse within whose paunch a long stamne staggering stickes His countrimen downe driues and raies disturbing backward runnes Outragious springing fast and stables seekes from which he comes Then other after others raungt their sitters all outwrencht And here and there crosecoursing fease nor hedge nor dike deepe trench Can stop their furious swinge but bye pathes scattered seuerall trace The goorie blacke bloud drops the ground besprinkling in the race And now the footmen forth are comne and fierce with weapons fell The battaile doe restaure the English stripe with stripe repell The theiftaines of the Frenchmen strecht along with gaping wound Digd in by dint of drierie blade lie struggâ—… on the ground He first which cruell borderers on bankâ—…s of Aibis floud Acknowledgd for their Prince then noble Lorein fierce and wood Then of Dalanson Duke then Harcourt Earle and many more Who from their auncient peâ—…egree their worthie titles bore Or els from castels fayre or warlike countries drew their name A number of the common sort then also had their bane The king with gastly gleiue like thunderbolt driues forth away So doth the Prince his sonne whose Britaine virtue bright that day Did shew it selfe and of what force it was and puissaunce good In which were thirty thousand slaine and fieldes moyst made with bloud UUhith when aloofe from hie hill top king Valois did behold Forthwith backsliding fast through swift course borne of horses bolâ—… His countrie bâ—… attainde A foule reproch to Fraunce no dout And blot most blacke to him for at his heeles a greater rout He slying after drew then Britaines were which causbe him flee So much it is at first assault of courage fierce to bee In blouddy martiall fieldes The campe throughout then ioyes at will Ech hart and â—…kes sweet consent ech care with tâ—…es doth fill Of Frenchmen thus the pillage sweet and precious gold possest Our men vâ—…to their tentes in shadowy euening them addrest Next morne â—…s soone as glittering globe of Phoebe vpstart the Frankes Together floâ—…t and once againe in order set their rankes UUith armes to trie if that perhaps Mars chaunce would wauering bee UUhich first the king intreated hard by earnest suite that he UUould giue them leaue in open field once more with Galles to fight These three Earles stout of Warwike first a haunt and egar knight Then Huntington and after him Northamptons chiefe renowne All vnawares in skirmish hot the Frenchmen batter downe Then lawfully king Edward might the large fieldes raunge at will Resistance none is made against his bandes but all is still The Frenchmen dare nomore the brunt of Britaines force abyde Nor them against in open campes their quarrell to disside Three dayes here spent the king his tentes remoues backward goes To Caleys shoares and towne with trench and bulwarke round doth close UUhen wonne by fraud and fauning flatterings smooth of Valois king The Scottish scepter bearer vades our 〈◊〉 and downe doth fling All thinges to frying flames The prudent â—…ene her husband lacke For to suppresse these falâ—…e periude irruptions doth not slacke But bandes of armed souldiours vp collectes nor need she had Th' inhabitantes it Poytiers call neare which withouten bound An open plaine there lyes in which no tree with shadowy limbe Nor braky bush doth grow a place most fic for skirmage grim Here both the armyes meet on ground out blacke bloud gushing powres The horsemen topsie tayle are turnde death conquered Frankes deuouâ—… The rayes are broke and remnant yet aliue the battaile shunnes Through swift pursute thevictor pantes and starting lightly runnes His footestepps thick thick fetching fast as in a champion plaine When as the watchfull grayhound hath a wattkin spied full faine He springeth on his pray to get he life for to maintaine The greyhound gaping wide with greedy iawes threats still to catch The hare herselfe from byting chapps away doth scudding snatch So is in hope of pray the Britayne swift and dreading bane The Frenchmen flie but in the flight most are subdued and tane The king himselfe into the tentes was captiue brought and chose More rather for toyeld then life by dint of swourd to lose Forthwith in slidyng hull through flashing floudes to Britaine shore He was conueyed where prisoner like the seruile yoke he bore To teach him of the Britaine king his Lord to obey the lore Now noble Prince Plantagenet two kinges did captiue hold And gentle prison many Peers of both landes did infold Of auncient stockes esprong which Britaines tooke in blouddy fight But clemencie of Edward king resplendent shinde so bright Such vertue rooted in his brest and mercy did remaine That on conditions and for raunsome he â—…mist agayne Ech one vnto his country soyle and kinsfolkes linkt in loue Those kinges high glory followeth fast which battaile so do moue So to contend in dreadfull warres immortall prayse atchiues Good shepheardes vse to sheere their sheepe and not to skiâ—…e with kniues He noble Monarch sparde the suppliant downe the proude supprest Thrise happy sure if Atrapos fell Goddesse had not wrest To vnripe death his noble sonnes Prince Edwardes fatall thredd But hauing first begott a tender babe in wedlocke bedd UUhich Richard had to name whom as his heyre he left behind And whom his 〈◊〉 dying to beare the regall mace assignde According as this nations lawes and auncient rites did binde The child the slender age of eleuen winters did not passe UUhen that with Princely 〈◊〉 his head adorned was But when he neare to mans estate through riper yeares was start No man can well declare how for from 〈◊〉 â—…awtie hart And maners eke he swaru'de in mynde vnlike how he became Contrarily disposde to mighty Sier and noble dame But antike vertue still in breastes of Britaine Peers was shrinde And manlie courage bold which in the auncient primates shinde By natures force ingraft that in God Mars aduentures hard The
spring That so the happie concorde of this late confirmed peace Might through a 〈◊〉 kinde of league establisht more increase The Lusitaâ—…an Prince for so ther â—…ou they did agree The second daughter tooke to wife with solempne pompe and glee These matters thus performde by power of God th' almighty guide To antike seates agayne through Ocean vast they backward slide And he withall his traine are lauâ—…ed safe on Britayne shore Few dayes expirde the Princes leaue by suite obtainde before A bragging Scottish Earle hight Marley enters English coastes On frothing palfrey borne and challenge making boldly boastes To London comne within the listes to iust with pointed speare With whosoeuer durst contend the Prince was present there And thousands of the common sort in plumpes thick thrungo that tyde Lord Moâ—…bray valiant Peere these Scottish bragges could not abide But goodly to behold in armour close his steede he takes And downe with force the Scot out of his saddle shogging shakes And horse with mighty push of steeled troncheon throwes to ground Wherewith the lookers on with shouts applauding loude resound He all astoynisht lyes two ribbes in sonder craced quite Whom set vpright his feeble feete could not support one white Wherfore from thence he was to lodging neare adioyning borne Where shortly through the grief augmented more distract and torne He yeldes his breath by force of armes so he which honour sought In armes doth honour lose and challengd combatt dearely bought Next Darel Scottish Peere Lord Courtney Britaine did prouoke And loftie lookt for prayse but of like Fortune felt the stroke In force inferiour far The third companion in the race Uâ—… that he iustling ranne of valure small and listes did trace Fiue boystrous blowes downe driues and conquered Cocburne it did shame For to haue strous no glory got retourning whence he came But the contendours chief Lord Haubers mighty limbd and next Haut â—…macke Courtney stout whose venging right hand sore had vext And backe repeld the foriners which challengd Britaines bold Through foolish pride puft vp with condigne honour were extold Those torneys finisht thus and things at home set in a stay King Richard to the sauage Kernes imbarkt did take his way And them by warres resâ—…ting fierce with little bloudshed downe He brought the Britaine yoke to hold Then shortly from the crowne And pretious Princely diademe himselfe he did depose And Henry Duke of Lancaster to â—…old the scepter chose Now Henry fourth of that name king the Britayne state did guide UUhose stout and puissant valure then sufficiently was tried UUhen for his Ladies dower his father Spanyardes made to stoupe UUhen Sier and sonne and after them of men a warlike troupe From Callice sandes proceedyng forth did enter Gascoine soyle And foes by drierie dint of blade and reaking fiers did foyle The meekle vertue of the man and stocke so much renownd Throughout the world the Britaynes foes through feare put in a slouâ—…d He yet a very youth through these aduentures hard did passe That glory whole by due desart on him bestowed was Of ech exploit were it atchiu de at home or forraine coast Besides his flowing wealth this king himselfe might happy boast Through noble progenie to whom his vertuous Lady fayre Foure sonnes of wondrous towardnes had borne of which the heyre Of comely stature tall when manly yeares he neare had rought Full many a ventrous enterprise wich courage bold he wrought Of equall yeares and maners eke companions to him sought Yet nothyng he vniustly did nor straide from vertues line Belou'd of all within whose youthfull visage then did shine The very image of those deedes which comne to riper age He should absolue Now twise seuen yeares his Syer by counsell sage The Brittish aâ—…tient land had rulde with loue and laude of all Till waxing crooke through age him finall end of life did call Incroching fast and sicknes dire procurd his fatall fall Forthwith his fathers royall crowne the sâ—…eyre apparant takes To whom the Britayne Peers on bended knees their homage makes UUith sckipping harts for glad their countenaunce eke expressing ioyes But he among his mates somewhat addict to wanton toyes Before forthwith his father dead became both stayed and graue And from the Court his leude licentious panions old he draue More for such fawning hangbies he priscribde a penalcie If once they should appeare in place whereas the Court did lye Thus changde in all his actions he doth as a Prince beseeâ—…de For counsaylours vsing such as sage and of great wit he deemde And seldome ceast from taking care what best might stand in steed For coâ—…on wealthes auayle much shepheard like which taking heede Unto his foldes long winters nightes with painefull watchinges wastes And whilst what was his right reuoluing deepe in thought he castes And what vnto his auncestours perceiude in elder age He calls to mynde â—…ow king of Galls incenst with furious rage Had sondry wayes indamaged and hurt the Britayne kinge UUherfore a counsaile straight be calls and causes good doth bringe UUhich might prouoke the valiant Brutes those wars to take in hand Unto which point agree all peers and primates of the land That backe againe by dreadfull wars the kinges right should be sought Forthwith for to requyre his owne away by Frenchmen rought The king doth legates send of polisht witt and councell rare Unto the king of Fraunce from him this message to declare The most renowned Britayne guide king Henry much doth muse UUhat this vniustice moneth you and rigour for to vse That you the plighted league haue torne UUhy others proper right Doe you with clasping clumbes by force out wrest and wrieth by might UUhat moues you thus despitefully against the English land Them absent cruelly to pill but when they be at hand If brandes of dreadfull Mars they stirre I needes must speake the troth Your cause is foundred still and forct your iustice yeeld though loth UUherfore to Britaines 〈◊〉 restore away vniustly tane Or dint of swourd and fierie force expect to breed your bane And that which we out of your handes may not by fayre meanes wring Unconquered Mars shall wrest Such hope doth feed our noble king That Ioue of heynous wickednesse be iust reuenger will UUho bids â—…s this to say and princelike threats this to fulfill Unlesse your minde to better chaungd you ware repent in time The chaunce of Mars is mutable not one way doth incline UUhen these wordes vttered had th'imbassadour from Henry sent Forthwith hot 〈◊〉 burning blacke the Frenchmans hartstringes rent The pallace vast which burly burly noyce consusde doth ring And disagreeing angers rage their mindes doth glowing sting The king all wroth at last did ope his mouth in great disdaine A labour hard to get but kingdomes got for to maintaine Is virtue great If he deserue high fame and worthy prayse UUhich through vnfriendly Mars perchaunce vniust doth goe
his wayes As victor chief subduing landes to beare his seruile yoke I st not vnto the conquered if courage they reuoke A greater glory of their legs the fettring boltes to shake And neckes from yooke to pluck and force by force recuile to make Some howre to some more happie chaunce then other doth portend And ficle Fate will not remaine to one firme to the end The Frenchman now doth rule towre the Britaine bare the sway UUe florisht haue in time and haue beene Troians doe you say Ten yeeres wars first expirde by Greekes the Troians were subdued Fraunce after many Sommers hath her antike force renued And me her captaine now againe begins to looke aloft Her iniuries reuenging bold and setting foes at nought Yong boyes do terrifie with threats with bugges make Girles auaunt No vaine colluding shadowes can the manly courage vaunt Nor boasting brags nor florisht blade with threatning trakes forth showne UUhat that your king to manly yeeres is nothing neere yet growne Inexpert quite of dolefull wars Let it suffice that he For his disport doe tosse the ball at home and shunning flee The glittering tankes of mighty Mars let riper age those guide Therfore this aunsweer take and thus declare it was replied That Frenchmen will their countrie coastes and natiue cities shryne With armes in spite of all their foes that thereat do repine The Legates aunswered thus to natiue soyle in hast they hie And wourd by wourd declare the manner of the Frankes replie The scofe the king not taking well all other thinges derides Meane time his royall nauie huge at Hampton he prouides And forth through wandring salt sea floudes with friendly gales he slides For Ioue almight the Southwindes coucht in caues did close containe That both the King and captaines stout with all their warlike traine Unlooked for on th'ennimies shore their ankers fastned faine And ships forsaking far and wide did all thinges wracke and wast And houses brued with bloud and roofes with reaking flames down cast Now puissant Henry in his tentes one night away had past When Phoebus rising cloudes consumde and brought againe the day And with his radiant light ech place in broad sight did bewray Which way that mighty floud which flowing forth from Roan doth fall Into the sea and with his rage the rocky shoores doth ball And with his sprinkling maketh moyst the bordring campes annext Neare to the tentes whereas his mouth with gaping iawes wide strecht UUithin the compasse of sixe howres still salt sea floudes doth sup And out againe gainst customde time doth belking perbrake vp Two warlike townes with mighty walles ycompast round they spied On this banke one that other built vpon the farther side Forthwith the king commaundes them both with bandes besiegd to bee Against them both the whirling crosbow shot to be let flee And walls with ingine forgd of yron hard to batter downe This vnaccustomde kinde of torment fell put in a stounde The Celtaines closd within their walles boyes mothers â—…ed siers But to his great affaires as he was wise doth fit the time If that perchaunce his fathers Law which then in yeares did clime Him absens should desire to see the coast of Fraunce agayne He goes vntill where comne the Duke of Burgoine sheweth plaine How that the Dolphin tumultes made and reared vprores newe Pretending faithles fraude Against his foe a warlike crue The king doth therfore send his false attemptes for to withstand But causes of more weight he needed than to take in hand And not for to respect at all the Dolphins sielie band Which valiant Britaines prest at hand dares manly nought to done But two dayes iourney of aloof doth warie still them shunne This did he at the first that corne and victualls might abound Throughout his campe and needefull foode might not be wanting found Who hauing all thinges bought at last the Britaine proffer makes Of battaile in an equall soyle which trembling he forsakes In number and in puissance not with Brutes to be comparde That place moreouer vnto which the warlike English garde Approching drawes the yong man shunnes worse then a dogg or snake That he refusing flies and course contrary swift doth take When that the doughtie Britaines campe Northparts of Fraunce attainde He thence his power remouâ—… and with his bandes to Narbone ttainde And hit inuading doth vesâ—…ege which from the Celtanes might The Duke of Bedford straight acquites and Dolphin puts to flight Meane time the king with broilyng heat and toyling labours brake Him languishing effâ—…ebled sore a feuer sharpe doth take The heauens intemperate ayre and scorching dog star sweltring hott Was cause that neare vnto his hart the deadly poyson gott How be it he iourneyed still with wondrous grief tormented fore Till that his hart and limbes still faultring fainting more and more He will perceau'd the struggling panges of ghaâ—…ly death draw neare His brother Humffrey posting comes and Bedford Duke so deare And doe with trickling teares this sodaine thaunce lamenting rue Most dolefull wightes The king at last these wordes with grief out drew With both his handes extended bye to heauen I much do owe O God almighty guide but worthy thankes therfore bestow I cannot that in bloming youth so fresh I hence depart Unto this day not hauing felt dame Fortunes bitter dart That in this life all my attemptes with good successe haue gone That to thy heauenly power O God referred be alone And to his brother turning sayes why thus with mestiue hart Doe you this mourning make and deepe sobs let with grief depart I do reioyse my fatall houre and death to be at hand That must with equal minde be borne which no man can withstand By sacred league of brotherhoode I do beseech you all That Henry you my tender sonne regard loue foster shall And honour as your king and specially with heauenly feare You will informe his minde so shall he worthy be to beare The scepter of so noble a Realme and purchase endlesse fame My louing spouse which of the race of mightie Princes came Which is aboue all other left a pensiue wretched dame With godly duetie her sustaine so doth it Brutes beseeme And concord greatest gift of God that fauour and esteeme The Bedford and the Burgoine Dukes let them the Frenchmen guide And to Duke Humfreys gouernance let Britaines stout be tide This carefully to be fulfilde I bid commaund require More Normandie a fertile land which vnder their empire Our auncient graundsiers did in elder age by right retaine Which lost by dint of sword and conquering arme I got agayne That do you keepe by force with iust warre that do you defend Now death approching neare did Henry bring to fatall end The onely honour of his land dame vertues shining light From age to age to come of stomacke hie vnconquered might Whose gentle hart his loyall frends alone not onely lou'de But enemies did embrace also of faith
and Iustice proude Of euerlasting memory the king now layd in grounde The Iunior Henry chearefull babe with diademe was crownde At Paris and about the streetes as custome was did ride But â—…icle Fortune wauering dame will not still firme abide UUhich with her turning wheele is alwayes tost in compas wise The Frenchmen here the tender Prince rebelling do despise A periur'de nation false and violate their faithes yplight In sacred Sinode late beforne But Bedford Duke by might Doth tame their rage great slaughter made and Dolphin puts to flight The king peace thiefly lou'de when that to ripe yeares he attainde And gastly bickering sâ—…kirmages of dreadfull Mars disdainde And neuer busied was in ciuill hatredes restlesse race But voyde of care with settled minde did gratefull rest imbrace To prayer much addict and oft on God in secret cried But wicked people fell such godly kinges cannot abide But loothes them and detestes with vertue vice cannot agree And glimmering light darke duskish cloudes eschewing swift do flee The gentle disposition therfore of Britaines guide When that the Dolphinne and the rest of Celtaine peeres had spide They blouddie battaile moue and some by fraud betraying take Some townes by conquering might vnto their force to yeelde they make The Britaines hope retired backe and hearts to faint began Since Henry fift of that name kinge a stout and valiant man UUas laide in graue Hereon a cause insude of greater griefe For suddaine strife at home concerning rule and title cheife Perdition threatning dire increasing kindled more the iarres Muse silence keepe or muttring soft the Britaines ciuill warres In dolefull verse declare because that gastly woundes againe By touching blede afreshe and doe renew the former paine Old Henry now forgotte none Normand nation stout regards UUhich barren and bereft all destitute of auncient wardes In vain doth denth of William monarch haunt bewailing rue Faire citties wresting out by force from their possessours true The Dolphin through the region vast of Fraunce doth roming strake Prohibited of none and townes assaulting first doth take A willing people to subdue it is an easie thing And freely offering vp their handes Howbeit small glorie bring It came vnto the conquerour th'out bloudshed landes to winne Such hurlie burlie ciuill broyles the Britaine land within How could they force of forraine foe oppose them selues to bend The Britaine is the Britaines foe the hand the wombe doth rend What that the foote with rechles anger mou'd the head doth crushe And Citizens do Citizens in furious rage through pushe UUith drierie blade his Lord the slaue his man the master slaies Fell slaughter beares the swaye and blouddie Mars wide raâ—…ging straies Alacke for little breach the Brother workes his brothers end One neighbour thrustes an other out no place could safetie lend From sauage enemies rage the holy sanctuarie vailed naught Which euer safety heretofore to wightes distressed brought These places were most famous made through griesly slaughters vast Saint Albones Blore Northampton Banbury fields and Barnet plast Neer copped hils Wakefielde Saint Albones than the second time And Northerne Exam which with Scottishe borders doth confine So that the husbandmen that habite neer those blouddie soiles Out wayling to this day as often as the plough turmoyles Those fieldes where casting furrowes large of men halfeburied bones The chawâ—…g souldiour wâ—…th with â—…uglte showtes the sâ—…es doth rend And now they diâ—… wearâ—… as farre 〈◊〉 â—…urdie 〈◊〉 toâ—… 〈◊〉 The whistling shaft with strength pulâ—… vp Shoâ—…te Shoote the Captaine Ye Britains stout your pâ—…rsing â—…ems steâ—…nt â—…kering flights â—…reights Applie your bending bowes applie your hatrd enemies scoure Like hailstâ—…nes thick when â—…ttling downe doth fall a winter shoure The arrowes girt forth flie and light of Sunne obscure do make In shoulder wounded deepe with beating pawes the â—…ier doth rake All endlong reeâ—…d aâ—…ooft the â—…ourser flerce his master cast The Celtaine horsemen galled thus more sauffer thincke at last Upon our footemen for to ruime with point of charged speare Forthwith our 〈◊〉 â—…ronglie sensâ—… with bowes to ground to beare They fiersly presse with launce the sight than bloudie wareth more Stabd in with sharpened stakes euen as the Prince had shewed before The horses foundred lie vpon the ground their sitters slaine By drierie blade And when no shaftes their quiuers did retaine The bowmen take their gleiues and downe their enemies tombling fell The King endeuoring fierce with sword in hand beâ—…res him well Ech noble Captaine did the same and with them all the rout The bouncing Helmet knockes did shrill resound the woudes throughout With clattering clashing loud of harnish ringes the waters cleere And morning grones the bordring hils and hollow valeis neere Of dying soules receiue The goorie bloud streames so abound As doth the earth with standing pooles when Saturne old is founde And Ioue inferiour in degree Mars Sol and Venus neate Hermes and Lune in Cancers house Pisces or Scorpion weat Iust through the brainpanne with a shaft the Duke of Barre yshot Comes tumbling of his steed his fainting spirite and hart bloud hott Out through the deadly wound disperst in thinne ayer vanisht quite The noble Duke of Alanson with fatall arrow smitte The timber pulleth out but steelehead leaues in scull remaine Dire death insâ—…es the deadly wound wherefore in deeps disdaine His steed hee falleth fro and hard earth rending with his seeth His aierie ghost out startes and thinne in starie region fleeth Like bane thy Duke O Brabant bringes vnto his fatall end These Peeres the first ranke did conduct the seconds guiders send Like wise their dying spirites to Plutoes kingdomes large to flie As th' Earle of Nauarre with whome O Sans thy Byshoppe â—…te Eight Earles more beside their flickering ghostes did send to sâ—…e With grieslie wound yâ—… And of those Peeres which Barons hight Aboue an hundred lost their liues Of Knightes and Squiers in â—…ght â—…ue times full sixtene score their breaths out gaspt the common sort Unto ten thousande soules and morâ—… did Stigie varge transportt Of Celtans army huge Three hundred Britaines onely slaine And in the handes of Henry king the victorie did remaine Alack the Duke of Yorke with staggering launce his death wound gott Where first agaynst our men the bickering skirmage waxed hott And Suffolke Earle ' huge heapes of ghostes first sent to Limbo lake Of Frenchmen Peers his vitall breath with hart bloud did forsake The Captiue Celtane Lordes were safely kept in trustie hold These thinges thus done his men inricht with th' enemies spoyles and gold The noble Victor with his fleet hastes backe to Callice shore And cutting ore the strait sea gulfe of auncient kinges of yore To royall pallaces he wendes triumphantlike a trayne And after him he drawes the Maior of pompous London fayne UUith all his troupe of Aldermen in roobes of Ermines clad Three miles agaynst his royall grace for honours sake gan
worke of high 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou 〈◊〉 â—…ll 〈◊〉 the same Thy warlike nâ—… vnto thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 straight to battaile frame Thy selfe and dreadfull foes to come by maâ—…y courage tame And through thy great exploites in warre deseru'de laud beare away Without delay the Arthets stout are sett in battaile ray Of which the greatest part in sondry winges deuided weare The martiall rankes which tronthesn piâ—…es claspt in their hands did beare The ensigne of the king in armour thick did compasse round The Earle then which by the name of Suffolke was renownde The right wing did conduct the Warwicke Earle the left hand rout Both armde with souldiours old which twangd there bowes with courage A troupe of horsemen light the pikâ—…en rankes did firmely garde stout The reregarde such as browne billâ—… date and 〈◊〉 keene did warde Like Giantes strong with hugie limbes and campe behinde did close Here was the Britaynes power this hinde of battaile ray they chose The army ordred thus the king demandes what time a day About the time in which our Priestes accustom'd are to pray The nobles aunswere make throughout the townes of Albion hie Be of good cheare ye Britaynes â—…ut the king doth straight reply For in this 〈◊〉 the sacred clarkes do pray for our successe Goe to my lads your valure so by great exploites expresse That like to your forefathers old this day you may depart Whose handes in fight not onely haue the Frenchmen made to start But manly lookes haue stoinde and forst to flie with broken hart All feare expell death dreadfull is to none of gentle kind If to be ouercomne by destinies lott we be assignde The last gasp of my vitall breath shall be blowne out this day For me as captiue to redeeme no man shall tribute pay Nor for my raunsome Brittish land shall any charge defray He sayd Like minde was to them all the army showting hie Redoubleth loude the noyce and promise plightes that all would die On paint of goarie blade if Fortune victory should denie Meane time towardes the Celtanes hoast began to wend away The army all and broad in sight their bankers to display Behold of dreadfull Mars the trompet gastly noyce out blue Prouokementes dire of blouddy slaughters fell then to insue The armies both bloudthirstie neare and neare their footestepps drue The share vprooting reares and brings to light in steede of stones Doe curse and banne with dolefull playnts those ciuill battailes fell In which an hundred thousand wights the blooddy blade did quell Todcastle eke through battaile strange a noble name doth gayne In which full thirtie thousand men in dolefull sort were slaine The last broyle of this ciuill war did Teuxburie contayne Which townes yet standing of those warres are testimonies good How then that flowing riuers ranue conuerted into blood So many dreadfull foughten fieldes the faction of two kings Did cause which mightie Ioue at last vnto conclusion brings Here Bosworth blooddy warres and others moe I will omit By which king Henry seuenth eternall fame which will not flit From age to age continned still in memorie attaynd UUho first but Earle of Richmond then king Edwards daughter gaynd In wedlocke linked fast and with her Britaine crowne possest That did the lawes require and English Primates chiefe request This God th' almightie guide as authour chiefe did bring to passe And thus at length the rage of ciuill hatred ended was He rayngd vnto his subiects all a noble prince most deare All externe enemies far and neare his puyssance great did feare He worshipt chiefly God and godlines and iustice lou'de And craftie wicked men he hating sharpely still reprou'de Full twentie yeeres and three belou'de of all he ware the crowne Of forrayne princes high esteemde and had in great renowne A king of iustice rare of prudence manners courage bolde who dying left the dyademe to Henry stout to holde His heyre with wondrous welth huge heapes of siluer pure and golde The ende of the first Booke HE from him tender yeares the workes of mighty Mars esteemd That other giftes most singular which well a Prince beseemd As well of body as of minde I do not here declare How puissant courteous eke how he his shoulders loftie bare Aboue the rest with comely face adornd and vertue rare The fourth time haruest yellowish waxt since first he ruld this soyle And hott Autumnus scorching flames the earth did chapping broile UUhen Henry valiant Britayne king did fearefull wars vp rere And cruell Frankes to blouddy campes of dreadfull Mars did stere The Romane bishop him incenst these warres to take in hand UUherfore the surging floudes he cuts and doth at Callice land The Citie filling full with thirtie thousand souldiours stout Foure noble Captaines onely tane out of the warlike rout Lord Talbot martiall Peere and eger Poynings fierce in fight Rice ap Thomas floure of Wales and Somerset a doughtie knight UUhich Henry had foresent to fragrant fieldes where Turwyn standes Turwyn a walled fortresse strong yfenest with warlike bandes In tune of pleasant spring as boystrous windes with whirling blastes On ground all sweeping sheere and slubble light and dust vp castes Or as the earth with croked teeth of sickle sharpe is shorne So downe the heardes of deare with th' English horsemen thick are borne They troupes of prisoners take and droues of beastes subdue by might The king insues and thirtie thousand men in harnish dight Of hard brasse beaten forgd in siege gainst Turwyn walls he pight Under the Britaine king the mightie Emperour serues for pay And blouddy Germaines fierce in bruntes of warre renownd alway Nothing to souldiours is disburst for hyer but fyned gold Of which ech tent throughout the campe such wondrous store did hold That money for to coine the king of siluer was constrainde Rewardes stout courage brought and hier in armes haut hartes maintaind The Celtane horsemen troupes with valiaunt Brutes do battaile make To rescue theirs but all in vayne they weaker armour take The palme of conquest wonne away the puissant Britayne beares The enemies all thrust through with sharpned pointes of thirling speares The walls with roring Cannon shot all groueling battred downe Doe easie passage giue and entraunce large into the towne And Frenchmen fild with shiuering dread Now Turwyn Britaines hold And conquered spoyles of ransackt towne the king decks manifold UUhose mighty puissance great in feates of Mars with flickring winges Swift sliding through the ayre Report to bordring Cities bringes In Tornay famous Citie strong when that these newes were told For very grief she grones and grauntes for tribute sommes of gold And gates wide open fetts permitting Britaines entrance bold UUithin her walls and subiect now vnto new Lordes becomne Extincting former lawes of Henry king takes new in romne Meane time kyng Iames which then of Scottes the regall mace did beare And to confirme the league till warres of Britaines ended
ours to mightie Henries lore By poures celestialls sound decree That we to death be bore If thundring Ioue do thinke it good and Henry puissant Prince Command we must obey it were in vayne gainst pricke to wince Than how much nobler ist a high exploit with willing minde To vndertake then by constraint thereto to be assignde Us victors euerlasting fame and glory shall endure Howbeit but hard aduentures can true laude in deede procure And now attentiue marke I pray whereto this speach is made The king counsaile haue decreed that we shall first inuade And ransact enemies walls with ladders fierce assaulting clime This gratefull prouince after long request to me and mine Permitted was if euery one to take his chaunce be bent Than dout not but your Captaine I do promise good euent He whusted here with shoutes extold to starrs bring ladders calls Ech mariner starse Captaines threates can hold them from the walls With such desire of prayse and ardent loue of glory rought But godly Henry pondring much in minde him vnbethought Not so much waying warlike townes with rampier walls inclosde That with his men to certaine bale and drierie death reposde He would nor fortresd Cities rich nor kingdomes vast subdue UUherfore by strait edict from his pretence he Dudley drue Few dayes expired were when Bulloine of her owne accord All armour layd aside to Henry yeldes as lawfull Lord. The Frenchmen all themselues withdrue and gates wide open set UUith streaming murrtons glimmering bright adornd in Britaines let Sixe thousand Galls their antike seates all pensiue did forsake The walls with stately buildinges fayre and turretts Britaines take The warlike Castells strong with Captaines new yfenced were And certaine garrisons of men in stations settled there Lieutenant of the conquered towne the king that worthy Peere Assignd which of his mighty fleet did the protection beare Forthwith with primates garded swift he salt seas doth deuide And through the walloing wrastling waues to natiue land doth slide Lord Dudley his committed charge respectes with wondrous care Reuoluing much in thought in great foresight and all thinges bare And doth by secret pollicie the wielie Frankes preuent Sometime by fraude diminishing and weakning their entent Sometime in open fight prouoking them to bickering blowes Subduing Captiue some but more the goarie blade downe throwes No day past one in which no hard exploit he did atchiue UUhereby stout Dudleys name through th' world so wide swift Fame did And glory greater waxt renowned more in Celtane landes And higher he accepted was imbrast at Henryes handes driue Thrise golden Phoebe to her brothers lampe conioyned was When from the puissant Britaine guide a Legate forth did passe The Admirall to recall on weighty causes of this land The noble Order welcome him fast clasping hand in hand The Britaine springoldes fresh at his returne do shipp for glad Few monthes expirde swift fleeting Fame throughout this land did blab That Frenchmen had prepard of warlike shipps a nauy vast For to inuade the Britaine coastes and land with ruine wast Ech to defend prepares hye beacons built of fagotts light UUeare on the copped cliffes that kindled they giue warning might If on our shore the enemies fleet should steale in duskie night And landing downe with reaking flames our country hamletts cast Sols chariot bright with swift course had the head of Leo past UUhen Celtane nauy huge with boistrous blastes along are blowne The sea now shewd no sea if from a craggie steepe rocke one By chaunce vpon the floudes far vnderneath had cast his eyes Or like a shadowy groue or woode with okes which loftie rise It rather seemd to be or field with tall trees thicke ypight UUith salt sea waters compast round there lyes the I le of Wight where shearing Southwind glome with rough waues bounce the Britaine The enemies army vast in hollow hull is thither bore shore The grappling anker strong is cast out of the sterne before And with his whistle sounding hoarse a signe by master ginne And prudent with immortall prayse had Britaines haut contaynd Since he the mightie scepter of their happie kingdome bore UUhen that th' almightie Ioue by fatall sicknesse waring more Did warne him leaue this mortall life alak and waile a day How manie Brutes with blubbering teares their soft cheekes did beray How bitterly the Britaine states him-sick bewayling rued All England droupes bereft of ioy with trickling teares bedewd Phisition nought can vayle nor holsome herbes found in the field UUhich health accustomde wear tofore to mortall members yeeld No compound drugs could life prolong nor pleasaunt potions brought Alas to cure deaths drierie sting in vaine is phisicke sought Howbeit before his finall gasp because his tender heire Prince Edward yet was young he states assignde the rule to beare For a prescribed time of which Lord Dudley high renownd In royall tombe inclosde hys worthie corps did lay in ground With brinish teares Of funerall now sacred rightes right done By all the troupe of mightie Pieres on Edward prince his sonne In solempne pompe a pretious crowne of gold adorning round His temples faire was sett The Britaines all in duetie bound UUith one assent him lawfull king with reuerence great adore And heir legitimate to his sier The Earle of Hertford bore The title of Protector chiefe and by his nephewes grace The Duchie tooke of Somerset to him and ofsprong race His other vncle Seimer made Lord Admirall of his fleet But Dudley by the title he of Warwicke Earle dyd greet From whence his ancient progenie by long discent he drue The greatest mirrour of his stock and kindreds glorie true As euerie man in great reuenues floev with honor dewe So was he high extold and deckt with glorious title newe A wondrous troupe of royall Pieres the kinges court stately found And lookers on applauding loud with shoutes vp reard a sound All thinges haue limits true presirt Now pleasant pasâ—…imes past The counsaile causes of great waight reuoluing deepe did cast Of common weales affaires of ancient forts falne in decay They councell take aduisde of planting garrisons in a stay In certaine places weake and what auaild for common state But chiefly they respect'd the Scottish realme which bordering sate Eche in remembraunce had the plighted troth of Scottish Peeres which they had firmly vowd to bring to passe in former yeares Concerning linking fast their mayden prince in wâ—…dlocke bandes And wisht that so might be procurd the vnitie of two landes UUith euerlasting peace and endles truce thereon to spring wherfore when glittering Phoebe declinyng downe his beames did bring Into fayre Virgos faâ—…e straight armed troupes of warriours sent They gree to Scottish soyle to be to know the Scotts intent Chief Captaines were assignd the Prince his eldest vncle deare And to him ioynt as mate the Warwicke Earle a puissant Peer Whom warlike glory hye of dreadfull Mars had made renownd And
them infold Commending high their haughtie heartes and manly courage bold Meane time the Scottish Peeres with â—…ckle lightnesse puft in minde And Enuies rage vp swolne that frustrate hope might Britaines blinde UUith generall consent in moneth which December hight Unto the Celtane nation send that their young princesse bright Right heire vnto king Iames be knit in bandes of wedlocke might To the heire of Fraunce If Henry king this profer would not take That so an euerlasting truce two nations one might make Yet that the mightie guide of Frankes this would vouthsafe to yeeld That for the loue which loyall league twixt nations both did build As Scottish and the Celtane eke he would not once permit One of them torne by dreadfull warres whereby the league might flit Or spoyld by dint of th' enemies sword to forreine empire bend The Brutes by force of conquering hand that onely to intend And in the sequent spring the surging flouds with nauy vast Quite couered for to be and troupes of horsemen flocking fast To enter scottish landes proposing this their onely stay The Scottish heire from mothers lap by force to take away which pray if they attayne by aduerse lucke and spurning fate O woefull realme of Scottes O blacke and lamentable state Nothing but mourning sobs and blubbering salt teares left behind UUherefore by Gods by sacred rites they prayd that cald in mind Their auncient league establisht erst he would the virgin take Before for long delay doth often greater daunger make which tender Impe if with the king of Fraunce she be vp traind with princely education eke within his court containd That then they had a certayne hope of great good to succeede which might the perfit happinesse of both their kingdomes breede And after that through yeares mature she may in Himens Iace Be â—…nked fast to whome he please let king of Galls her place Forthwith by princes hest the Celtane Fleet launch'd from the shore Is finely furnisht neet and Galâ—…ies swift with saile and ore which after from the callmy harbour close wih Southwindes shrill Swift sliding through the deepes the Scottish realme they come vntill The Princesse Mary now to painted Pull with pomp was led where for her princely Grace was set a stately purple bed Soft cushions vnderneath with soft Downe stuft as white as milke And costly Arras Cabbins decks ywoucn of gold and silke Great heapes of siluer plate was brought with shapes of gold inwrought And whatsoeuer els for virgin Princesse meete was thought Forthwith the comely damesell thus a shipbord portlike plac'd withall her virgine troupe and men of armes which after trac'd Shee steâ—…ting fast is borne the aire the spred sayles driuing on And merry gales of winde them through the rough seas course anon The flecte in order saild as Swannes twixt fishie riuers bankes whil'st middle and the third insues the first and in long rankes The third day comes and Phoebe the worlde with cleere light ouer goes Stout Dudley with his warlike mates them selues in tents do close So do the doughtie bandes which London mightie Citie yeelds Neere auncient Norwich walled towne downe pitcht in open fieldes Which when the country crautus tought with pale feare had espied In briery brakes and lucking holes in shadowy groues they hide In no place daring peepe but after boldnes fiercer growne In time that all those soddaine panges of feare away were flowne They rushing thicke out brake and to a valley bordring hye No man remembring calde to minde the daunger preasing nye But armed stoode with carres and waynes their winges incompast round On thother side the princes hoast with cheerefull trumpets sound Proceedes and first the blowes begins and egar fight vp reares But Warwicke furious wroth with blouddy blade his foes downe beares At length when beastlike backes to turne on this side shame forbad On that side certayne death the rebels 〈◊〉 outragious mad One part resisting fierce downe falles the other groueling flat Is battered but stout Warwicke Peere respected chiefly that Least all at once were ouerthrowne those men of peruerse wit Hawbeit of courage such as daungers done should force to flit He causeth through the Martiall field an Herault loud to cry If anie armour would abiect which he most traiterously Had tane in hand and for his fault would pardon humbly craue He should vnpunisht life and goods and former freedome haue Which when the commons heard they tooles and armour laid aside On bended knees with mourning teares and Pardon Pardon cride The mercy then of Warwicke Earle did so resplendent shine That penaunce of their haynous fact he pardoned free that time No Britaine now remainde whom Giaunt like rebellious rage Did rechlesse beare away none did from loyall duetie gage But to their true annoynted king remainde and country staâ—…e The Princes court from this lugubrious war did Dudley take With solempne pompe and ioy with flitting wings whom Fame did make Renowmed through the warlike townes of Britaine kingdomes stout How in king Henries dayes he hard aduentures brought about Whil'st that his thundring gleiue he rold amongst the enimies rout Not of deathes drierie launce or dreadfull edge of sword agast He neuer doubtfull stoode himselfe to daungers all to cast If great affaires or countries cause required him to goe Or hest of sacred king incenst his minde for to do so Howe manie times with boties rich and laud immortall wonne Did he to natiue soyle againe from externe Regions come His enimies battered downe or els in fearefull flight back driu'de Whereby he royall dignitie and endlesse Fame atchiu'de God prospering the euent which he begonne in luckie houre Wherefore as yet he higher was extolde in Fortunes bowre The King him Duke creating whom with ioy and mickle cheere Northumberland did title giue and honouring loue full deere Him Lord chiefe Stuard eke the Princes Court imbraced fayne Till Atrapos the fatall threed of Edward cut in twayne Renowned Edward from the paps framde of his noble Dame Instructed in all Sciences by learned men became Who Greekish phrase with Latine speech conioyning in short space Did reape such ample fruite that vnto none of princely race He was inferior found which Britaine nation fostring reares Nor Peere hee anie had if flexile age and tender yeares Ye do respect which three times fiue and two had scarse expirde Or redy sharpnesse of his wit or iudgement ye requirde In anie point to learning which or morall vertues bright Did appertaine the Phoenix rare of Europe and the light UUhom death vntimely like the flowre from tender stalke of rapt From Britaines tooke away and youthfull corps in coffin lapt Death enuies on the earth who sacred lawes obserue and keepe So boyes and springoldes fresh he with his dart away doth sweepe which Ioue th' almightie king vouchsafes to heauen to haue extold The king thus dead him after doth a woman scepter hold UUhich Mary hight one
statelinesse be seene I worthie her confesse whome Homer should insugred verse Or with the Notes of warbling Lute Apollâ—… great rehearse I am no Poet you pardon must me since I pardon pray If that a bourden ouer vast do downe my shoulders way My arte vnto the vertueyeeldes of her a Prince so great VVhich shuld be sounded by a trompe more shril with winds repleat If others lye in silence shrinde why should my Muse not sing But when her laud in fluent phrase from one more learnd shal spring Then will I these my papers voyde the fiery flames to feed Meane time the honour of her Grace let these my verses breede ELIZABETH QUEENE FOrthwith in royall throne and regall chaire as Queene was set Elizabeth a Princesse stout whâ—… Henry did begett King Henry monarch high extold amongst all earthly Peeres Elizabeth abornished euen from her ténder yeares With manners meeke with learnings lore with wisedome â—…e diuine Excelling in the Greekish tong and Latine phrase so fine She knowes ech Countries language to through Europe all along The Germaine and the Italike the French and Spanish tong In skillfull scanning of the law she palme deserueth well In comely feature bewtie cleare her visage doth excell The courage of her mynde is such as like is hard to finde In female sexe celestiall wisedome pure so deepe is shrinde within her royall brest The mirrour of this age no dout On earth a regallâ—…mace to beare from heauens dimised out A virgin brooking gratefull peace gaynst dreadfull wars opposâ—…e Howbeit that of this Princely Impe the byrth day be disclosde And from what happy mother sprong so happy a byrth made glad The Britaines harts through mestiue grones sobbs which erst were sad The Lady Anne a damsell bright with Henry linked fast In sacred wedlock was his conscience pricke and mou'd at last The best diuine of high Iehoue expresly to him showne His brother Arthurs spoused scere to cherish as his owne which twentie yeares and three vnwittyng mighty Ioues edict By Moyses mouth express such bandes contractforbidding strict He vsed had the Britaine Peers allowing this his fact Lest that so rich a dower from his demaines should be extract Agayne to be repayde The Romaine Bishopps Bull this act Confirmed to that lawfully one brother might obtaine His brothers wife if him behinde suruiuour he remaine Howbeit fewe yeares expirde the Approbation of such bandes Quite abrogated by the learned Lawyers of the landes Of Italy and Fraunce that here vnshewd their suffrage hold Our English Doctors all through sacred knowledge high extold The Romish prelate proud such actes for to allow As though the heauenly lawes diuine vnto his becke did bow And he himselfe exempted did not vnder lawes abide As subiect vnto Christ the head the very church is tide For head is one sweete Christ alone to which as corpes is knit His flocke vnite two heades cannot vnto one body fit Hence did this ougly monstrous beast first take his curelesse wound One horne off torne though nine remaine his front succincting round And doth with shiuering dread the hugie world put in a stound Moreouer with diuine instinct inspirde a prophet sage Hath song the time to come in which this hellish fend shall rage Unarmde his other hornes off torne which earthly Monarches shall For time prescribde forsake being spotted blacke and rough withall wherefore in good and luckie houre by best of Ioue almights Are worthily solemnized Hymeneus sacred rightes Twixt Henry king and Anne with royall pompe of honour due which more adornde of Britaine Peeres a huge and stately true with troupes of men beset in silken vestures brauely clad The States most pretious robes with red gold spanges imbrodered had And massie chaines of fined gold on shoulders foulded bare The Courtlike Ladies blasing gemmes their hands beseeming ware Their neckes with Iewels glimmering bright adornd and ouches rare On auncient beames bespred was cloth of Arras curious wrought Such as by Pallas proper hand ywouen you would haue thought All thinges did mirth portend both boyes and men of elder age And virgine troupes with solempne Himnes did good successe presage The holed boxe pipe fild with winde doth plaiers will obay Then might you see the springoldes fresh in streetes to skip and play These open signes of commons ioy might well the Queene delight And with his new espowsed feere reioyce the king by right But after that of seede conceau'de through wombe extended hye Undoubted tokens to the world the princesse did descrit Almightie God what wondrous ioy the heartes of Britaines rought What ardent hope what decpe desire eche noble stomacke cought That to the king into the world a male childe might be brought Forthwith vnto the antike tower of Caesar mightie king The Queene with condigne pompè a troupe of noble peeres did bring From whence she came according to this nations guise of old To take the princely Diademe imbos'de with stones of gold The people all exclayming Ioue your blisse and ioies increase God graunt you liue king Nestors yeares God giue you good successe And whil'st she did triumphantlike in gorgeous chariot passe With trampling milke white Steeds of courage fierce which caried was With yeomen tall of sturdie loines in purple decked neat Strong garded as a prince beseemd perfumes in euerie streat We are made as erst in elder age when men in temples praid Sweet smelling mith and frankensence were on the altars laid And as in time of Autumne when the round and staring stalke Standes bolt vpright in furrowes large that passers as they walke Cannot discerne the ground so thicke are sprong the reedes of corne The eares all wauering with the windes now here now there are borne None otherwise in euerie streete the people presse apace The waies vp thrunging thick that scarse remaines a standing place Eche eie directly bent vpon her gratious heauenly face The Conditts eke which liqued streames accustom'd erst did scoure Did Bacchus sacred giftes of wine fresh frothing bolls out poure The outside of eche house faire hanging carpets brodered dight And balmed odours eke of fragrant flowers breede much delight Which ioyes augmented more the cheerefull countenaunce of the Queene And thousandes thick of people which ranne stragling to be seene Most wondrous thrust on plumpes from street to street insuing fast And musickes skill the eares did fill with many a chearefull blast Now Phoebus hastning for to shrine in Ocean flouds his face Beholdes the iourney of the Queene as to the roiall place Of Henry King she hied in westerne side of London sett The next day comes The princely traine to Peters church doth set Where breathles corps of Britaine kings intombd are went to lye The nobles first before in order two and two do hye As Princes Court requires and Britaine nations antike rite A king at armes ech setts in rome as honour doth inuite His fellowes eke in auncient coates of Armes
wourd of high Iehoue then superstition vaine A foule and filthy errour shall all desolate remaine For seuen yeares space which so doth sticke vnto religions side As doth the clinging Iuie thrombe fast to the Eâ—…ne abide Almighty Ioue to heauenly blisse shall first this springold call Before the worldes frayle glory shall his hart seduce at all Or lusting flesh incense him by suggestion vnto sinne A flattering foe in floud of Acheron to plundge him in The seuenth yeare of his raigne shall him bereaue of regall mace Whom after shall a married Queene succeed in royall place The Pope reducing Then shall wofull England sliding backe Fall prostrate downe to blockes and ripp agayne the Romish pack If any man do mutter once by conscience terrour stong Or once reuolue the testâ—…nt write in his mother song Or out of it conuince the Pope to swarue from law and right In vaunting his authoritie equall with Ioues almight With diuilish pride vp pufâ—… he shall with scorching brands be burnd With raging fiers consuming force his bones to ashes turnd When that the noble Princesse had the matter peisde aright And cald to minde that daungers such and lucklesse chaunce as might Not be eschewie must suffred be and not â—…ailde with grief Few dayes expirde in robes of state and Princely bestmentes chief All shining downe he comes and musing walke in harbour greene By chaunce a Courtlike Lady than prostrate on both her kneene I know not what petition made of royall stocke esprong Of mighty Peers whose ielous loue and secret truth erst long In sondry pointes she had fortitide to whom the Queene thus spake O trustie Lady manifest do not oer secretes â—…ake None present stands we are alone and leasure serues to talke For far apart the portlike troupe of britaine nimphes did walke And opes her lipps for to proceede and faultring shutts againe At length she spake when dulcett sleepe me close in bed had laine My maydes secluded all Inrold in earth in elder yeares Ay me my Grandsier old in antike forme so brim appeares As when he drew his vitall breath he was vnto me knowne And in a long processe my fatall houre hath to me showne UUhich in this month insuing next the destinies will procure The noble dame sale trickling teares bedewing her lookes demure Astoinsht sobbing sayes noâ—… God auext this bitter lot The fancies of your troubled braine so vayne remember not But quite roote out such parching thoughtes as macerate your hart Out of a gladsome minde fresh florishing age doth bloming start Perplexing grief hart strings of mortall men vntimely freats And in his pinsers holding fast their mindes with corture beats Meane tyme a page doth warne the royall king for to approch But Anne desirous of her grief the cause to set abroch Unto her trustie frend her dreame in order doth declare And what the diuine oracles concerning England weare More of king Henries mightie race what should be the successe Then of her tender Impe in fine the fate the doth expresse Her willing truth and faythfull loue toward her to maintaine Yet yong of yeares which in processe might recompence her payne Then to the goodly Prince her spouse she lowlie doth incline For honours sake who tokens great of loue erprest that tyme Both ioyntly side by side the fragrant garden trace about UUhich sight the hartes did gladsome make of all the vulgar rout Sir Titan Venus glorious house in heauenly coape had past And some degrees incroching made in signe adiacent fast Renowmed Anne for endlesse life a short death doth exchaunge Deuouring cares expeld and in celestiall coastes doth range Learne you that liue what can backbiting malice gobling fell Blacke Enuie gastly hagg neare happy liuers still doth dwell UUhich filthy venome blew of viperous tonges insues as mate Religion and worship true of mightie Ioue which sate All drownd much like a burning coale vp rakt in embers dead In happy dayes of vertuous Anne disclosd her burnisht head Of Anne whose hand so bountifull gaue almes vnto the pore Ech day and feeble creeples lame and people blind vp bore Ye wailyng widowes do lament the black and dismall day Ye children eke of Siers bereft which tooke this Queene away The Lady Iane of Seimers bloud stout Henry mightie king In holy wedlocke rites espousâ—… from which a babe did spring A boy of wondrous towardnes and manly vertue cleare He was by sacred muses reard and fostred vp most deare To him in tender age Elizabeth coequall cleft Aa both to soone in springing yeares of noble dames bereft Howbeit that carefull prouidence in Henries brest was shrind That he a man of knowledge deepe them to instruct assignd The day in diuers partes was cut for diuers studies fitt Euen with Syr Titans springing lampe they at their bookes doe sitt These vertuous Impes now this now that with mindes intentiue reed First Iesus Christ instilled was their endlesse blisse to breed The life the rocke the tracked path to them which dread the Lord. Then bookes of ciuill gouernement which preceptes did afford And other noble Artes beside for royall children meet Sound knowledge daily did increase and ripe wit polisht neet Renowmed Henryes ardent loue towardes them kindled more And fauour of the Britaine Peers obtaind and commons lore Elizabeth three yeares by byrth her brother went before Inferiour in her sexe but for bicause of riper age Desirous laud and prayse to winne free from fell enuious rage And that her brother Prince incenst by her proceedings might Be spurd more ardent to attaine to Vertues sacred light She here desistes and qualities beseeming her degree She practisâ—… els beside Now silken vesture holdeth she In lilly handes and fitting fine with pliant fingers small With needle worke imbrodereth rich and ouerspreadeth all Mineruaes pretious webbe the vewers would haue voucht it sure The hemmes distinguisht with a gard of glistering mettall pure Now doth she exercise her selfe of solempne Lute to play On warbling stringes now more now lesse sad dumpes to driue away The Nightingale her chirping voyce so diuers scarse could make Diuideo into sondry tunes as she most sweetly strake with quauering fingers small and gentle touching of the strings All men admiting much whence that celestiall Musicke springs Where daintie cates on tables spred they were to take repast Or after viandes all remou'de in galleries they wast The time or els in gardens fresh of fragrant sauour walke Of vertue of Religion true of sayings wise her talke Should still be framde both godly speach and true she alwayes vsde A token plaine how that her hart the spot of vice refusde In old Palaemons learned Art they both most skilfull weare The Prince and Lady eke so deepe ingraft in minde did beare The Greekish phrase with Latine speach conioynd that in short space Once reeding would suffise to vnderstand the hardest place That of the hugie world so vast where Phoebus globe
hath flamde The lad the Phoenix might be calld the virgin Pallas namde Meane time with crooked age effeebled Henry yeldes the ghost whose death as hartes of Brutes it rent and mindes perplexing tost So doth his heyre apparant then with ioyes their brestes comfort Incensing them to solempne mirth and ioyes and pleasant sport Elizabeth reuenewes large takes by her fathers hest which her of yearely rentes beseeming her degree possest Of Princelike houses stately built and massie heapes of gold wherfore far from the royall Court in countrie she doth hold Herselfe alone accompanied with her most carefull guide A woman of great maiestie of noble bloud beside which alwayes in societie to this yong Impe was tide Admonishing with councell good and exhortations wise UUhat as conuenient she should brooke and what agayne despise Of twise seuen yeares the tender age she scarse had fully tract When that mature the virgin might for spousall rites exact when as behold with portlike trayne one vnkle to the king Himselfe vnto her Princely house in pompous sort did bring And doth the tender Lady bright with much ambition woe Forthwith through shame with blushing he we her eares did burning gloe ' Attending not what Hymen ment nor what this wooing Peere With earnest sute did pray Wherefore he parteth nothing neere But he insistes againe and vrgeth more his sute to winne Till from the princely Nimphe he had that finall answeare gin Declared by her gouernesse he labour lost in vayne More that it better were from his attemptes soone to abstayne That fixt it sute in royall brest of the high Lady bright Not to be linkt in wedlocke bandes to any Britaine wight Of Lordes estate forgetting not her father famous king And from what mightie auncestours she by discent did spring UUho would not here admire the noble courage of hâ—… minde Yet soft through tender yeares of roiall kinges the gentle kinde UUho would not wonder at her stomacke haue far from the lure Of Cupids how which offered bandes of wedlocke might procure Hereto accept wherefore she seelde out from her stately houres Proceedes or ruling Brother greetes or Londons pompous toures Doth ride to see lesse called forth on matters of great waight Unto the Prince his maiestie she then declming straight Th' almightie king of kinges doth pray for to preserue his grace Forthwith with swift course backe retiring to her dwelling place On pleasaunt hill erect which champion fieldes of Flora Queene Adiacent doth behold neere fountaines bright and riuers greene Beset with trembling Aspe and Beech and Okes of wondrous hight There Nightingales with chirping tunes melodious breede delight And whistling Throssell which frequentes the brierie shrubby thorne Hereunto studies such addict as chiefly might adorne The daughter of so geat a Prince with loue and laud of all UUere they estates of hye degree or meaner Fortunes thrall The royall Nimphe the sliding tract of her life doth contere UUhen sacred rites of funerall performde to Henry were UUhilell Phoebe thou with thy furious steedes whose nostrels sparkling Out blastes in heauenly pole sixt times the signes thou ouertakes flakes Sometimes she greeuous plaintes doth make of valiant Sire bereft Her selfe all left alone the ftckle worldes collusions left UUhich of the greatest part are wondered at and high extold In ciuill broiles and combrous toiles which doe themselues infold UUhereas from such vexations free they may at home remayne Sometime her spirits reuiues her brothers prosperous state againe Her future Destinie witting not procurde by powers deuine That she a regall port should beare and great in glory shine Amidst the troupes of Britaine Peeres though noâ—… she frequence hate In the seuenth yeare that royall Prince did yeeld to drierie Fate The vertuous Edward Britaines stay and comfort of their land The raynes of regall gouernment straight Mary takes in hund And popish trompery dregges establisht sets againe aloofe By Parliament confirming lawes new for the Popes behoofe Such as her famous brother had set downe extincted cleane Here straight a rablement of priestes with oile annointed gleene Throughout the land like Bacchanalles and fiers with red bloud feed If any godly were and Iesu lou'de he had for meed His bowels braild with scorching brandes and bones consumde to nought But some by warning sent from God for so beleue we ought And harkening to the powers deuine by fight their safegard sought Their natiue country Parentes deare and frendes forsaken quite UUhich chaunge succeeding Edwardes death a number did incite UUith heartes estraungd from Britaine soile to liue in forraine landes He fled in externe nations sâ—…rates he hating blouddy hands And rage of that massacring crue seekes meanes those euils to shunne UUhen here out out for shame a great comâ—…otion was begunne The deadliest rage and sharpest scourge that can on kingdomes fall Now these now those the quest attainted doth of treason call In prisons strong a wondrous rout of Brutus race were pent But manie more to glomy streames of Stigie lake were sent UUithin the mighty Tower as soone as Courtney Earle vp closde UUas to his certaine day of triall to descend reposde The glorious Prelate proud outragious wroth did fretting chaufe UUith troublous conscience vext subuersion dreading of thinges saufe UUhich were not to be feard Yea bitter Hatreds poysned sting Thee and thy state Elizabeth did in suspicion bring Of craced faith towardes the Crowne That thou deuoyd of criâ—…e Hast liu'd whose brightnesse of the minde did so coâ—…uscant shine That Enuies eies with radiant beames it dazeled till this time At h swoln with venâ—…bd malice fell the holy sort forgettes UUhich vile impatient crue with wrathfull anger furious frettes Till that the sielie lambe howbeit her keepers courteous were For God the wolues had driuen away ydrencht in deepe dispaire In prison close was kept all liberties freedome tane away That light affliction and this gentle penaunce did display The better knowledge of the Lord that so she might attaine UUisedome more deepe which trace of time to mortall men doth gaine Such like affliction mixt with griping cares thy graundsier olde To wondrous wisedome rare renowmed Henry seuenth extolde which of an other Salomon the noble name doth hold Euen as a date tree downe depres'd doth loftier lift her top And how much more with boistrous blastes Sir Aeol sturres to â—…op Her perching groth by so much more in hight she liftes her bowes So through backbiting viperous tongues the Lady nobler growes And whome pernitious Enuies peise downe keepes her Vertues light Through constant minde extolles to starrie region shining brigt Howbeit the vile masse mungring crue lamented at their hart That th' end expected had not tane their false and trecherous part Wherefore new guiles they do deferre vntill a time more fit And to themselues this kingdome vowe in hope if that it hit That in their secret trappes now laid the Britaine heire doe fall Mrane time their
white as winters snow tall pight His buttockes brode bespred his brest and backe most faire in sight As mightie Alexanders steede throughout the world renownd Bucephalus or courser fierce of Castor whom men sound Of Laedaes egge esprong this in all pointes resembling those So with his hoofes carreieing in the thinne aire swift he goes For of a stripling tought that arte by riders till this time He doth delight on loftie steedes all fierie fierce to clime UUhere when he came and license had to come vnto her sight On bended knees he prostrate falles and duetie doth aright Here Robert Dudley then of comely corpes and stature tall UUhome fresh and blooming youth commended goodly therewithall Assigned maister of the horse by her most royall grace Doth alwayes on her maiestie attend from place to place As often as she rides and like a true Achates kinde His mistres serues her person next insuing ioint behinde And takes for guerdon of his paynes and meede for vertue true An honourable name with large reuenewes thereto due with portlike houses faire and stately turretts huge in hight whome Leycester her Earle acknowledgeth and whom by right with honour one all Albion land doth worship and imbrace For he exalted vp aloft and set in royall place By lowly mind and courteous deedes hath wonne the Britaines heartes Pale Enuy and of mallice fell the sharpe and poysoned dartes The myndes uf many noble men with venome blacke bespottâ—… Howbeit this Peer is free from raging Enuies filing dropps He labreth all to helpe not damage on poore men to heape When that he can hath still redound vnto his glory great Most bountefull with stretched hand he allmes deuout doth giue Which aged and decrepit folkes erect'd for to reliue His hospitall at Warwicke shewes with annuall rentes thereto And Couentry can testifie where godly Preachers doe Continually the blessed word of hye Iehoue set downe To these annexed comes which Huntington with chief renowne Adornes and guidaunce great of Britaines Northarne borders large UUith Fame augmented high extolls wherof long time the charge UUith Counsaile rare much grauitie and faith vnspotted bore To him deserued prayse hath wonne and Princesse fauour more Increasd and natiue Countries peace and safetie made succeed He in his yong and tender yeares did auncient authors reed UUhich wisedome and Philosophie in Greeke or Latine tong Containde play mate to Edward Prince of auncient race esprong Of mighty kinges their bookes and grauer studies layd apart The Preachers word this Potentate hard with attentiue hart UUhose life with vertuous manners most coruscant glorious shind The Warwicke Earle renownd in armes of mighty Warwickes kind From noble stocke of Grandsiers old esprong of stomacke stout In skirmage grim despising death and glory seeking out More pretious then his life And Bedford Earle which Iustice seedes And godlynesse doth dayly sow religious in his deedes Professour true of Iesus Christ a fosserer of the sicke And needy soules in Counsaile both to Britaine Monarch sticke To these that mighty Lord renowmed Hunsden ioyntly ioynes whose noble aunt the gratious Queene deliuered from her loynes Espouso in Hymens sacred bandes to Henryes royall grace what should I all recite one yet remaynes who in this place Demeritts not with sinallest laud to be remembred here Of noble stocke of grandsiers old yet he himselfe a Peere Far more renoâ—… theri they Sir Henry Sidney prudent knight with the most noble order of the golden Garter dight whom Ireland thrise Embassadour holding the royall mace Hath seene and exceuting lawes set in his Ladies place Nor onely seene but felt yea feard and eke imbrac'd with loue That no man hath as true report and fame the same can proue That Region entred in with greater fauour of the same Gouernde in greater awe or with more wailyng from it came Nor onely externe Irish coastes his noble laud resound But Wales on part of Albion land which doth on Seuerne bound Seuerne a mighty floud which twixt the borders sliding flowes Her Presidentes most worthy prayse with trompe of Fame out blowes Under whose prudent gouernement she long hath florisht free From daunger that it doubtfull seemes where they more happy he Beyng there President exult or equall Iudge reioyse Long since renowmd Elizabeth Fraunce hard his sugred voyce Thy Legate being than of goodly stature comely sett Nor Pary shall I thee ydrencht in Lethe floudes forgett Which in extreme aduersitie a faithfull counsailour wast When Fortune had not yet the crowne vpon thy Lady cast And shewdst thy selfe a seruaunt true which safetie didst respect Of thy deare mistresse when thou didst those traitours guiles detect Into this sacred company the Duke of Northfolke chose Euen in the floure of all his time his vitall breath did lose Smith both with pregnant witt adornd commended eke beside With all the noble sciences whose councell hath bene tride Both iust and sound by destinies tane doth closd in Tombe abide Let here Syr Frauncis Knolls obtaine his seat amongst the rout A man of wondrous constancie religious graue a stout Defendour of the fayth who least he should destruction dire Behold and godly men consumde with scorching brands of fire The blouddy English Clergy then incenst with outrage fell He fled his natiue soyle in externe costes and those to dwell Amongst the Germaines rather there to read a lothsome life In mestiue grief and there to dye then painted Idols rife In sacred temples see Nor happy England had at all Him backe retournd beheld nor rich possessions home could call But that renownd Elizabeth her fathers regall crowne Most glorious did sustaine on whom her neace in duetie bownd Sir Frauncis loyall spouse attendant serud at euery 〈◊〉 The valiant courage of their mynde his auncestours did deck Aboue three hundred winters past and corps most goodly pight With dread not to be daunted when of yore that mighty knight Edward the third did blouddy warres agaynst the Celtanes reare Then doughtie Knolls most valiantly himselfe in armes did beare And did atchiue such hard exploites as may the myndes delight Of such as reed our Cronicles whose noble ofspring bright Yet florishing at this day shall make their nephewes yet to cente To florish more if mighty Ioue which sitts in highest rome The godlines and righteous minde of the aged Siet regard Next Ambrose Caue insues Then Hatton which the Princes gard Of yeoman call doth lead with chearefull hart to Studentes pore A liberall Moecenas none Religion fauouring more What should I tell the giftes ingraft within his vertuous mynde Or sharpnes of his witt if cause you vrge it out to finde In hearing of the Senate graue with what mellifluous phrase And dulcett voyce he speakes how louing he doth all imbrace And puissant men couragious doth affect and hurtes no wight Ralfe Sadler with his penne and Gwalter Mildmay scanning right The