Strange Histories, or, Songes and Sonets, of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lordes, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen Very pleasant either to be read or songe: and a most excellent warning for all estates [by Thomas Deloney] |
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The valiaunt courage & policie of the Kentishmen
with long tayles, wherby they kept their
ancient Lawes and Customes, which William
the Conqueror sought to take from them.
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 | Strange Histories, or, Songes and Sonets, of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lordes, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen |  |
The valiaunt courage & policie of the Kentishmen with long tayles, wherby they kept their ancient Lawes and Customes, which William the Conqueror sought to take from them.
Cant. I.
VVhen
as the Duke of Normandie,
with glistring speare and shield
Had entred into fayre England,
and told his foes in fielde:
On Christmas day in solemne sort
then was he crowned here,
By Albert Archbishop of Yorke,
with many a noble Peere.
with glistring speare and shield
Had entred into fayre England,
and told his foes in fielde:
On Christmas day in solemne sort
then was he crowned here,
By Albert Archbishop of Yorke,
with many a noble Peere.
Which being done, he changed quite,
the custome of this land:
And punisht such as daily sought
his Statutes to withstand:
And many Cities he subdude,
faire London with the rest:
But Kent did still withstand his force,
which did his lawes detest.
the custome of this land:
And punisht such as daily sought
his Statutes to withstand:
And many Cities he subdude,
faire London with the rest:
But Kent did still withstand his force,
which did his lawes detest.
To Douer then he tooke his way,
the Castle downe to fling:
Which Aruiragus builded there,
the noble Britaine King.
Which when the braue Arch-bishop bold,
of Canterburie knew:
The Abbot of S. Austines eke,
with all their gallant crue.
the Castle downe to fling:
Which Aruiragus builded there,
the noble Britaine King.
Which when the braue Arch-bishop bold,
of Canterburie knew:
The Abbot of S. Austines eke,
with all their gallant crue.
They set themselues in Armour bright,
these mischiefes to preuent:
With all the Yesmen braue and bold,
that were in fruitfull Kent,
At Canterburie they did meete,
vpon a certaine day:
With sword and speare, with bill and bow
and stopt the Conquerers way.
these mischiefes to preuent:
With all the Yesmen braue and bold,
that were in fruitfull Kent,
At Canterburie they did meete,
vpon a certaine day:
With sword and speare, with bill and bow
and stopt the Conquerers way.
Let vs not liue like Bondmen poore,
to Frenchmen in their pride:
But keepe our auncient libertie,
what chaunce so ere betide.
And rather die in bloudie fielde,
in manlike courage prest.
Then to endure the seruile yoake,
which we so much detest.
to Frenchmen in their pride:
But keepe our auncient libertie,
what chaunce so ere betide.
And rather die in bloudie fielde,
in manlike courage prest.
Then to endure the seruile yoake,
which we so much detest.
Thus did the Kentish Commons crie,
vnto their Leaders still,
And so marcht forth in warlike sort,
and stand at Swanscombe hill.
Where in the woodes they hid themselues
vnder the shady greene:
Thereby to get them vantage good,
of all their foes vnseene.
vnto their Leaders still,
And so marcht forth in warlike sort,
and stand at Swanscombe hill.
Where in the woodes they hid themselues
vnder the shady greene:
Thereby to get them vantage good,
of all their foes vnseene.
And for the Conquerors comming there
they priuily laide waight:
And thereby sodainely appald,
his lofty high conceipt.
For when they spied his approch,
in place as they did stand.
Then marched they to hem him in,
each one a bough in hand.
they priuily laide waight:
And thereby sodainely appald,
his lofty high conceipt.
For when they spied his approch,
in place as they did stand.
Then marched they to hem him in,
each one a bough in hand.
So that vnto the Conquerors sight,
amazed as he stood:
They seemed to be a walking Groue,
or els a moouing wood.
The shape of men he could not see,
the boughes did hide them so:
And now his heart with feare did quake,
to see a Forrest goe.
amazed as he stood:
They seemed to be a walking Groue,
or els a moouing wood.
The shape of men he could not see,
the boughes did hide them so:
And now his heart with feare did quake,
to see a Forrest goe.
Before, behind, and on each side,
as he did cast his eye:
He spide these woodes with sober pace,
approch to him full nye.
But when the Kentishmen had thus
inclosd the Conqueror round:
Most suddenly they drew their swordes,
and threw the Boughes to ground.
as he did cast his eye:
He spide these woodes with sober pace,
approch to him full nye.
But when the Kentishmen had thus
inclosd the Conqueror round:
Most suddenly they drew their swordes,
and threw the Boughes to ground.
Their Banners they displaide in sight,
their Trumpets sounde a charge:
Their ratling Drummes strikes vp Alarme
their troopes stretch out at large.
The Conquerour with all his traine,
were hereat sore agast:
And most in perill, when he thought
all perill had beene past.
their Trumpets sounde a charge:
Their ratling Drummes strikes vp Alarme
their troopes stretch out at large.
The Conquerour with all his traine,
were hereat sore agast:
And most in perill, when he thought
all perill had beene past.
Unto the Kentishmen he sent,
the cause to vnderstand:
For what intent, and for what cause,
they tooke this Warre in hand?
To whome they made this short replie,
for liberty we fight:
And to enioy K. Edwards lawes,
the which we hold our right.
the cause to vnderstand:
For what intent, and for what cause,
they tooke this Warre in hand?
To whome they made this short replie,
for liberty we fight:
And to enioy K. Edwards lawes,
the which we hold our right.
Then said the dreadfull Conquerour,
you shall haue what you will:
Your ancient customes and your lawes,
so that you will be still:
And each thing els that you will craue
with reason at my hand:
So you will but acknowledge mee
chiefe King of faire England.
you shall haue what you will:
Your ancient customes and your lawes,
so that you will be still:
And each thing els that you will craue
with reason at my hand:
So you will but acknowledge mee
chiefe King of faire England.
The Kentishmen agreed hereon,
and laid their Armes aside,
And by this meanes, king Edwards lawes
in Kent doth still abide:
And in no place in England else,
those Customes do remaine:
Which they by manly policie,
did they of Duke William gaine.
and laid their Armes aside,
And by this meanes, king Edwards lawes
in Kent doth still abide:
And in no place in England else,
those Customes do remaine:
Which they by manly policie,
did they of Duke William gaine.
FINIS.
| Strange Histories, or, Songes and Sonets, of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Lordes, Ladyes, Knights, and Gentlemen | |