The garland of Good Will Diuided into three parts: Containing many pleasant Songs, and prety poems, to sundry new Notes. With a Table to finde the names of all the Songs. Written by T. D. [i.e. Thomas Deloney] |
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 | 2. |
| 3. |
 | The garland of Good Will |  |
3. The ouerthrow of proud Holofernes, and the triumph of vertuous Queene Iudith.
When
King Nebuchadonezar,
was puffed vp with pride:
Hee sent for many men of warre,
by Holofernes guide
To plague and spoile the world throughout,
by fierce Bellonaes rod:
That would not feare and honor him,
and knowledge him their God.
was puffed vp with pride:
Hee sent for many men of warre,
by Holofernes guide
To plague and spoile the world throughout,
by fierce Bellonaes rod:
That would not feare and honor him,
and knowledge him their God.
Which when the holy Israelites
did truly vnderstand:
For to preuent his tyrannie,
they fortified their Land.
Their Townes and stately Cities strong
they did with victuals store:
Their warlike weapons they prepar'd,
their furious foe to gore.
did truly vnderstand:
For to preuent his tyrannie,
they fortified their Land.
they did with victuals store:
Their warlike weapons they prepar'd,
their furious foe to gore.
When stately Holofernes then
had knowledge of that thing:
That they had thus prepar'd themselues
for to withstand the King.
Quoth he, what God is able now,
to keepe those men from me:
Is there a greater then our King,
whom all men feare to see.
had knowledge of that thing:
That they had thus prepar'd themselues
for to withstand the King.
Quoth he, what God is able now,
to keepe those men from me:
Is there a greater then our King,
whom all men feare to see.
Come march with mee therefore he said
my Captaines euery one:
And first vnto Bethulia,
with speed let vs be gone.
I will destroy each mothers sonne,
that is within the Land:
Their God shall not deliuer them
out of my furious hand.
my Captaines euery one:
And first vnto Bethulia,
with speed let vs be gone.
I will destroy each mothers sonne,
that is within the Land:
Their God shall not deliuer them
out of my furious hand.
Wherefore about Bethulia,
that little City then:
On foot he planted vp and downe,
an hundred thousand men.
Twelue thousand more on horses braue
about the Towne had he,
He stopt their springs and water pipes
to worke their misery.
that little City then:
On foot he planted vp and downe,
an hundred thousand men.
Twelue thousand more on horses braue
He stopt their springs and water pipes
to worke their misery.
When foure and thirty yeares they had
with warres besieged beene:
The poore Bethulians at that time
so thirsty then was seene,
That they were like to starue and die,
they were both weake and faint:
The people gainst the Rulers cry,
and thus was their complaint.
with warres besieged beene:
The poore Bethulians at that time
so thirsty then was seene,
That they were like to starue and die,
they were both weake and faint:
The people gainst the Rulers cry,
and thus was their complaint.
Better it is for vs quoth they,
to yeeld vnto our foe:
Then by this great and grieuous thirst,
to be destroyed so.
O render vp the Towne therfore,
God hath forsaken quite:
There is no meanes to scape their hands,
who can escape their might?
to yeeld vnto our foe:
Then by this great and grieuous thirst,
to be destroyed so.
O render vp the Towne therfore,
God hath forsaken quite:
There is no meanes to scape their hands,
who can escape their might?
When as their grieued Rulers heard
the clamors which they made.
Good people be content, they said,
and be no whit dismaid.
Yet fiue dayes stay in hope of helpe,
God will regard our woe:
But if by then no succour come,
weele yeeld vnto our foe.
the clamors which they made.
Good people be content, they said,
and be no whit dismaid.
Yet fiue dayes stay in hope of helpe,
God will regard our woe:
weele yeeld vnto our foe.
When Iudith (prudent princely Dame)
had tidings of this thing:
Which was Manasses vertuous wife,
that sometime was their king.
Why tempt ye God so sore she said,
before all men this day:
Whom mortall men in conscience ought
to feare and eke obay.
had tidings of this thing:
Which was Manasses vertuous wife,
that sometime was their king.
Why tempt ye God so sore she said,
before all men this day:
Whom mortall men in conscience ought
to feare and eke obay.
If you will grant me leaue, quoth she,
to passe abroad this night:
To Holofernes I will go,
for all his furious might.
But what I there intend to do,
enquire not now of me:
Go then in peace, faire Dame, they said
and God be still with thee.
to passe abroad this night:
To Holofernes I will go,
for all his furious might.
But what I there intend to do,
enquire not now of me:
Go then in peace, faire Dame, they said
and God be still with thee.
When she from them was gotten home:
within her Palace gate:
She called to her the chiefest maid,
that on her then did waite.
Bring me my best attire quoth she,
and Iewels of finest gold:
And wash me with the finest balmes,
that are for siluer sold.
within her Palace gate:
She called to her the chiefest maid,
that on her then did waite.
Bring me my best attire quoth she,
and Iewels of finest gold:
And wash me with the finest balmes,
The fairest and the richest robes,
that then they did possesse:
Upon her dainty corps she put,
and eke her head did dresse.
With costly pearles and precious stones,
and Earings of fine gold:
That like an Angell she did seeme,
most sweet for to behold.
that then they did possesse:
Upon her dainty corps she put,
and eke her head did dresse.
With costly pearles and precious stones,
and Earings of fine gold:
That like an Angell she did seeme,
most sweet for to behold.
A pot of sweet and pleasant oyle,
she tooke with her that time:
A bag of Figs and fine white flower,
a bottle of fine Wine:
Because she should not eat with them
that worship gods of stone:
And from the City thus she went,
with one poore maid alone.
she tooke with her that time:
A bag of Figs and fine white flower,
a bottle of fine Wine:
Because she should not eat with them
that worship gods of stone:
And from the City thus she went,
with one poore maid alone.
Much ground alas she had not gone
out of her owne City:
But that the Centinels espide
her comming presently.
From whence come you, faire Maid, qd. they,
and where walke you so late?
From yonder Towne, good Sir, quoth she,
to your Lord of high state.
out of her owne City:
But that the Centinels espide
her comming presently.
From whence come you, faire Maid, qd. they,
and where walke you so late?
From yonder Towne, good Sir, quoth she,
to your Lord of high state.
When they did marke and view her well,
and saw her faire beauty:
And there with all her rich array,
so gorgeous to the eye:
They were amazed in their minds,
so faire a Dame to see:
They set her in a Chariot then,
in place of high degree.
and saw her faire beauty:
And there with all her rich array,
so gorgeous to the eye:
They were amazed in their minds,
so faire a Dame to see:
They set her in a Chariot then,
in place of high degree.
An hundred proper chosen men
they did appoint likewise,
To waite on Princely Iudith there,
whose beauty bleard their eyes,
And all the souldiers running came,
to view her as she went:
And thus with her they past along
vnto the Generals Tent.
they did appoint likewise,
To waite on Princely Iudith there,
whose beauty bleard their eyes,
And all the souldiers running came,
to view her as she went:
And thus with her they past along
vnto the Generals Tent.
There came his stately Guard in hast,
faire Iudith for to meet:
And to their high renowned Lord,
they brought this Lady sweet.
And then before his honour high,
vpon her knees she fell:
Her beauty bright made him to muse,
so farre she did excell.
faire Iudith for to meet:
And to their high renowned Lord,
they brought this Lady sweet.
And then before his honour high,
vpon her knees she fell:
Her beauty bright made him to muse,
so farre she did excell.
Rise vp renowned Dame, quoth he,
the glory of thy kind:
And be no whit abasht at all,
to shew to me thy mind.
When she had vttered her intent,
her wit amaz'd them all,
And Holofernes heart therewith,
by loue was brought in thrall.
And be no whit abasht at all,
to shew to me thy mind.
When she had vttered her intent,
her wit amaz'd them all,
And Holofernes heart therewith,
by loue was brought in thrall.
And bearing in his lofty breast,
the flames of hot desire:
He granted euery thing to her,
she did of him require.
Each night therfore he gaue her leaue,
to walke abroad to pray,
According to her owne request,
which she did make that day.
the flames of hot desire:
He granted euery thing to her,
she did of him require.
Each night therfore he gaue her leaue,
to walke abroad to pray,
According to her owne request,
which she did make that day.
When she in Camp had three dayes beene,
neare Holofernes Tent:
His chiefest friend, Lord Treasurer,
vnto her then he sent.
Faire Dame, quoth he, my Lord commands,
this night your company:
Quoth she, I will not my good Lord
in any thing deny.
neare Holofernes Tent:
His chiefest friend, Lord Treasurer,
vnto her then he sent.
Faire Dame, quoth he, my Lord commands,
this night your company:
Quoth she, I will not my good Lord
in any thing deny.
A great and sumptuous Feast
did Holofernes make:
Amongst the chiefest Lords and Knights,
and all for Iudiths sake:
But of their dainties in no case,
would pleasant Iudith taste,
Yet Holofernes merry was,
so near him she was plac't.
did Holofernes make:
and all for Iudiths sake:
But of their dainties in no case,
would pleasant Iudith taste,
Yet Holofernes merry was,
so near him she was plac't.
And being very pleasantly
disposed at that time:
He drunk with them abundantly
of strong delicious Wine.
So that his strength and memory,
so far from him was fled:
There lay him down, and Iudith then
was brought vnto his bed.
disposed at that time:
He drunk with them abundantly
of strong delicious Wine.
So that his strength and memory,
so far from him was fled:
There lay him down, and Iudith then
was brought vnto his bed.
When all the doores about were shut,
and euery one was gone,
Hard by the Pillar of his bed
his sword shee spide anon,
Then down she took it presently,
to God for strength she pray'd,
She cut his head from shoulders quite,
and gaue it to her maid.
and euery one was gone,
Hard by the Pillar of his bed
his sword shee spide anon,
Then down she took it presently,
to God for strength she pray'd,
She cut his head from shoulders quite,
and gaue it to her maid.
The rich and golden Canopy,
that hung ouer his bed:
She took the same with her likewise,
with Holofornes head.
And thus through all the Court of guard
she scaped clean away.
None did her stay, thinking that shee
had gone forth for to pray.
that hung ouer his bed:
She took the same with her likewise,
with Holofornes head.
And thus through all the Court of guard
she scaped clean away.
None did her stay, thinking that shee
had gone forth for to pray.
When shee had past, scaped quite
the danger of them all,
And that shee was come near vnto
the sieged Cities wall:
Come ope the gates (quoth shee)
our foe the Lord hath slain;
See here his head within my hand,
that bore so great a fame.
the danger of them all,
And that shee was come near vnto
the sieged Cities wall:
our foe the Lord hath slain;
See here his head within my hand,
that bore so great a fame.
Vpon a Pole they pitcht his head,
that all men might it spie:
And ore the City walls forthwith,
they set it presently.
Then all the Souldiers in the Town,
marcht forth in rich array:
But sure their foes spide their approach
for twas at break of day.
that all men might it spie:
And ore the City walls forthwith,
they set it presently.
Then all the Souldiers in the Town,
marcht forth in rich array:
But sure their foes spide their approach
for twas at break of day.
Then running hastily to call
their Generall out of bed:
They found his liuelesse body there,
but clean without his head.
When this was known, all in a maze
they fled away each man:
They left their tents full rich behind,
and so away they ran.
their Generall out of bed:
They found his liuelesse body there,
but clean without his head.
When this was known, all in a maze
they fled away each man:
They left their tents full rich behind,
and so away they ran.
Lo here behold how God prouides
for them that in him trust:
When earthly hope is all in vain,
he takes vs from the dust.
How often hath our Iudith sau'd,
and kept vs from decay:
Gainst Holofernes, Deuill and Pope,
as may be seen this day.
for them that in him trust:
When earthly hope is all in vain,
he takes vs from the dust.
How often hath our Iudith sau'd,
and kept vs from decay:
Gainst Holofernes, Deuill and Pope,
as may be seen this day.
FINIS.
| The garland of Good Will | |