 | Parts added to The mirror for magistrates |  |
191
[NENNIUS]
Nennius a worthy Britayne, the very paterne of a valiaunt, noble, and faithful subiecte encountring with Iulius Caesar at his firste comming into this Islande, was by him death wounded, yet nathelesse he gate Caesars swoorde: put him to flighte: slewe therewith Labienus a Tribune of the Romaynes, endured fight till his countrey men wan the battayle, died fiftene dayes after. And nowe encourageth all good subiectes to defende their countrey from the powre of foraine and vsurping enemies. About the yeare before Christe. 50.
I may by right some later wryters blame,
Of stories olde, as rude or negligente:
Or else I may them well vnlearned name,
Or heedelesse, in those thinges about they wente:
Some tyme on mee, as well they might haue spente:
As on suche traytours, tyrauntes harlottes those,
Which to their countreyes, were the deadliest foes.
Of stories olde, as rude or negligente:
Or else I may them well vnlearned name,
Or heedelesse, in those thinges about they wente:
Some tyme on mee, as well they might haue spente:
As on suche traytours, tyrauntes harlottes those,
Which to their countreyes, were the deadliest foes.
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Ne for my selfe, I would not this resite,
Although I haue occasion good therto,
But sure me thinkes, it is to greate dispite,
These men to others and their countries do.
For there are Britaynes nether one nor two,
Whose names in stories scarcely once appeare:
And yet their liues, examples worthy were.
Although I haue occasion good therto,
But sure me thinkes, it is to greate dispite,
These men to others and their countries do.
For there are Britaynes nether one nor two,
Whose names in stories scarcely once appeare:
And yet their liues, examples worthy were.
Tis worthy praise (I graunt) to write the endes
Of vicious men, and teach the like beware:
For what hath of virtue that commends,
Such persones lewde, as nought of vertues care:
But for to leaue out those praiseworthy are:
Is like, as if a man had not the skill,
To praise the good but discommend the ill.
Of vicious men, and teach the like beware:
For what hath of virtue that commends,
Such persones lewde, as nought of vertues care:
But for to leaue out those praiseworthy are:
Is like, as if a man had not the skill,
To praise the good but discommend the ill.
I craue no praise, although my selfe deserude,
As great a laude as any Britaine yore:
But I would haue it tolde how well I serude,
My Prince and countrey, faith to both I bore:
All noble hartes, hereby with couradge more:
May both their forraine, foes in fight withstande,
And of their enmyes haue the vpper hande.
As great a laude as any Britaine yore:
But I would haue it tolde how well I serude,
My Prince and countrey, faith to both I bore:
All noble hartes, hereby with couradge more:
May both their forraine, foes in fight withstande,
And of their enmyes haue the vpper hande.
Againe to shewe how valiaunt then we were,
(You Britaynes good) to moue your harts therby,
All other Nations lesse in fight to feare,
And for your country rather so to dye
With valiaunt hauty couradge as did I:
Then liue in bondage, seruice, slauery, thrall
Of foraine powres, which hate your manhode all.
(You Britaynes good) to moue your harts therby,
All other Nations lesse in fight to feare,
And for your country rather so to dye
With valiaunt hauty couradge as did I:
Then liue in bondage, seruice, slauery, thrall
Of foraine powres, which hate your manhode all.
193
Do giue mee leaue to speake but euen a while:
And marke, and write this story I the tell.
By North from London, more then fiftye myle:
There lyes the Isle, of Ely knowne full well:
Wherein my father built a place to dwell,
And for because he liked well the same:
He gaue the place he Ely hight, his name.
And marke, and write this story I the tell.
By North from London, more then fiftye myle:
There lyes the Isle, of Ely knowne full well:
Wherein my father built a place to dwell,
And for because he liked well the same:
He gaue the place he Ely hight, his name.
Tis namde the Isle of Ely yet perdy,
My father namde it so, yet writers misse.
Or if I may be bolde to saye: they lye
Of him, which tell that farre vntruthlike is.
What truth (I pray you) seemes to bee in this?
“Hee Ely loude, a goodly place built there:
“Most it delited, raignde not full a yere.
My father namde it so, yet writers misse.
Or if I may be bolde to saye: they lye
Of him, which tell that farre vntruthlike is.
What truth (I pray you) seemes to bee in this?
“Hee Ely loude, a goodly place built there:
“Most it delited, raignde not full a yere.
He raigned fourtye yeares as other tell,
Which seemes as tis a tale more true by farre:
By iustice guided he his subiects well,
And liude in peace without the broyles of warre.
His childrens noble actes in storyes ar.
In vulgare tongue: but nought is said of mee,
And yet I worthy was, the yongste of three.
Which seemes as tis a tale more true by farre:
By iustice guided he his subiects well,
And liude in peace without the broyles of warre.
His childrens noble actes in storyes ar.
In vulgare tongue: but nought is said of mee,
And yet I worthy was, the yongste of three.
His eldest sonne and heire was after king,
A noble Prince and he was named Lud:
Full polliticke and wise in euery thing,
And one that wild his country alwayes good.
Such vses, customes, statutes he withstoode,
As seemde to bring the publique weales decaye:
And them abolisht, brake, repealde awaye.
A noble Prince and he was named Lud:
Full polliticke and wise in euery thing,
And one that wild his country alwayes good.
Such vses, customes, statutes he withstoode,
As seemde to bring the publique weales decaye:
And them abolisht, brake, repealde awaye.
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So he the walles of Troy the new renewde;
Enlargde them made, with fourty towres about,
And at the West side of the wall he vewde
A place, for gates to keepe the enmyes out:
There made he prisons for the poore bankrout,
Namde Ludgate yet for free men debters, free
From hurt, till with their creditours they gree.
Enlargde them made, with fourty towres about,
And at the West side of the wall he vewde
A place, for gates to keepe the enmyes out:
There made he prisons for the poore bankrout,
Namde Ludgate yet for free men debters, free
From hurt, till with their creditours they gree.
Some say the Citye also toke the name
Of Lud my brother: for he it reparde,
And I must needes as true confesse the same:
For why that time no cost on it he sparde.
He still encreast and peopled euery warde:
And bad them aye Kaer lud the city call,
Or Ludstone, now you name it London all.
Of Lud my brother: for he it reparde,
And I must needes as true confesse the same:
For why that time no cost on it he sparde.
He still encreast and peopled euery warde:
And bad them aye Kaer lud the city call,
Or Ludstone, now you name it London all.
At length he dyed, his children vnder age.
The elder named was Androgeus,
Committing both vnto my brothers charge:
The yonger of them hight Tennancius.
The Britaynes wanting aged rulers thus,
Chose for that time Cassibellane their kinge,
My brother Iustice ment in euery thinge.
The elder named was Androgeus,
Committing both vnto my brothers charge:
The yonger of them hight Tennancius.
The Britaynes wanting aged rulers thus,
Chose for that time Cassibellane their kinge,
My brother Iustice ment in euery thinge.
The Romaine then the mighty Caesar fought,
Against the Galles and conquerde them by might,
Which don: he stode on shores wher see he mought
The Ocean seas, and Britayne clieues full bright.
“(Quoth hee) what Region lyes there in my sight,
“Mee thinckes some Ilande in the seas I see:
“Not yet subdued, nor vanquisht yet by mee?
Against the Galles and conquerde them by might,
Which don: he stode on shores wher see he mought
The Ocean seas, and Britayne clieues full bright.
“(Quoth hee) what Region lyes there in my sight,
“Mee thinckes some Ilande in the seas I see:
“Not yet subdued, nor vanquisht yet by mee?
195
With that they told him, wee the Britaynes were:
A people stoute, and fearce in feates of warre.
“(Quoth he) the Romaynes neuer yet with feare,
“Of Nation rude, was daunted of so farre:
“Wee therefore minde, to proue them what they are.
And therewithall, the letters hither sent,
By those Embassage brought, and thus they went.
A people stoute, and fearce in feates of warre.
“(Quoth he) the Romaynes neuer yet with feare,
“Of Nation rude, was daunted of so farre:
“Wee therefore minde, to proue them what they are.
And therewithall, the letters hither sent,
By those Embassage brought, and thus they went.
C. Iulius Caesar Dict. of Rome to Cassibellane kinge of Britaine sendeth greetinge.
“Sith that the Gods haue giuen vs all the West,
“As subiects to our Romaine Empire hie:
“By warre, or as it seemed Ioue the best,
“Of whom we Romaynes came and chiefely I.
“As subiects to our Romaine Empire hie:
“By warre, or as it seemed Ioue the best,
“Of whom we Romaynes came and chiefely I.
“Therefore to you which in the Ocean dwell,
“As yet not vnderneth subiection due:
“Wee sende our letters greeting, wete ye well,
“In warlike cases, thus we deale with you.
“As yet not vnderneth subiection due:
“Wee sende our letters greeting, wete ye well,
“In warlike cases, thus we deale with you.
“First that you as the other Regions paye,
“Vs tribute yearely, Romaynes we require:
“Then that you will with all the force you may,
“Withstand our foes, as yors with sword and fire.
“Vs tribute yearely, Romaynes we require:
“Then that you will with all the force you may,
“Withstand our foes, as yors with sword and fire.
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“And thirdly that by these, you pledges sende,
“T'assure the couenaunts once agreed by you.
“So with your daunger lesse, our warres may ende:
“Els bid we warre, Cassibellane Adieu.
“T'assure the couenaunts once agreed by you.
“So with your daunger lesse, our warres may ende:
“Els bid we warre, Cassibellane Adieu.
Caesar.
No sooner were these Caesars letters seene,
But straight the king for all his nobles sent:
He shewd them what their auncestours had bene.
And praide them tell in this their whole intent.
He tould them where about the Romaynes went,
And what subiection was, how seruile they
Should bee, if Caesar bare their pompe away.
But straight the king for all his nobles sent:
He shewd them what their auncestours had bene.
And praide them tell in this their whole intent.
He tould them where about the Romaynes went,
And what subiection was, how seruile they
Should bee, if Caesar bare their pompe away.
And all the Britaynes euen as set on fyre,
(My selfe not least enflamed was to fight)
Did humblye him in ioyfull wise require:
That he his letters would to Caesar write,
And tell him plaine wee paste not of his spite.
Wee past as litle, of the Romaynes wee,
And lesse: then they of vs, if lesse might bee.
(My selfe not least enflamed was to fight)
Did humblye him in ioyfull wise require:
That he his letters would to Caesar write,
And tell him plaine wee paste not of his spite.
Wee past as litle, of the Romaynes wee,
And lesse: then they of vs, if lesse might bee.
Wherefore the ioyfull kinge againe replide,
Through counsaile wise of all the nobles had,
By letters hee the Romaynes hestes denyde:
Which made the Britayns hauty harts full glad,
No doubt the Romaynes more then halfe were mad,
To here his letters written, thus they went:
Which he againe to mighty Caesar sent.
Through counsaile wise of all the nobles had,
By letters hee the Romaynes hestes denyde:
Which made the Britayns hauty harts full glad,
No doubt the Romaynes more then halfe were mad,
To here his letters written, thus they went:
Which he againe to mighty Caesar sent.
197
Cassibellane kinge of Brit. to C. Iulius Caesar Dictat. sendeth aunswere.
“As thou O Caesar writste, the Gods haue giuen to thee,
“The West: so I reply, they gaue this Islande mee.
“Thou sayst you Romaynes, and thy selfe of Gods discende:
“And darst thou then, to spoile our Troian bloud pretende?
“Againe, though Gods haue giune, thee all the world as thine:
“Thats parted from the world, thou getst no lande of mine.
“And sith likewise of Gods we came, a Nation free:
“Wee owe no tribute, ayde, or pledge to Rome or thee.
“The West: so I reply, they gaue this Islande mee.
“Thou sayst you Romaynes, and thy selfe of Gods discende:
“And darst thou then, to spoile our Troian bloud pretende?
“Againe, though Gods haue giune, thee all the world as thine:
“Thats parted from the world, thou getst no lande of mine.
“And sith likewise of Gods we came, a Nation free:
“Wee owe no tribute, ayde, or pledge to Rome or thee.
“Retract thy will, or wadge thy warre, as likes thee best:
“Wee are to fight, and rather then to frendship prest.
“To saue our country, from the force of forraine strife:
“Eche Britaine here, is well content to venter life.
“Wee feare not of the ende, or daungers thou dost tell:
“But vse thy pleasure if thou mayste, thus fare thou well.
“Wee are to fight, and rather then to frendship prest.
“To saue our country, from the force of forraine strife:
“Eche Britaine here, is well content to venter life.
“Wee feare not of the ende, or daungers thou dost tell:
“But vse thy pleasure if thou mayste, thus fare thou well.
Cassib.
When Caesar had receaude his aunswere soe,
It vext him much: he fully straight decreed,
To wadge vs warre, and worke vs Britaines woe:
Therefore he hasted hitherwarde with speede.
Wee Britaynes eke, prepard our selues with heede,
To meete the Romaynes all in warlike wise:
With all the force, and speede we might deuise.
It vext him much: he fully straight decreed,
To wadge vs warre, and worke vs Britaines woe:
Therefore he hasted hitherwarde with speede.
Wee Britaynes eke, prepard our selues with heede,
To meete the Romaynes all in warlike wise:
With all the force, and speede we might deuise.
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Wee Britaynes then farre deemde it meeter much,
To meete him first at th'entry on this lande:
Then for to giue an entrye here to suche,
Might with our victuals here our selues withstand.
Tis better far thy enemye to abande,
Quite from thy borders to a straunger soyle:
Then he at home, thee and thy country spoyle.
To meete him first at th'entry on this lande:
Then for to giue an entrye here to suche,
Might with our victuals here our selues withstand.
Tis better far thy enemye to abande,
Quite from thy borders to a straunger soyle:
Then he at home, thee and thy country spoyle.
Wherefore we met him, at his entry in,
And pitche our campes directly in his way:
Wee minded sure to leese or els to winne
The praise, before wee paste from thence away.
So when that both the armies were in ray,
And trumpets blaste on euery side was blowne:
Our mindes to either eche, were quickely knowne.
And pitche our campes directly in his way:
Wee minded sure to leese or els to winne
The praise, before wee paste from thence away.
So when that both the armies were in ray,
And trumpets blaste on euery side was blowne:
Our mindes to either eche, were quickely knowne.
Wee ioyned battaile, fercely both we fought:
The Romaynes to enlarge their Empires fame,
And wee with all the force and might wee mought,
To saue our country, and to keepe our name.
O worthy Britaynes learne to do the same,
Wee brake the rayes of all the Romaine host:
And made the mighty Caesar leaue his boast.
The Romaynes to enlarge their Empires fame,
And wee with all the force and might wee mought,
To saue our country, and to keepe our name.
O worthy Britaynes learne to do the same,
Wee brake the rayes of all the Romaine host:
And made the mighty Caesar leaue his boast.
Yet he the worthiest Captaine euer was,
Brought all in ray, and fought againe a newe:
His skilfull souldiers he could bring to passe,
At once for why his traynings all they knewe.
No soner I his noble corps did vewe,
But in I brake amongst the Captaines bande,
And there I fought with Caesar hand to hande.
Brought all in ray, and fought againe a newe:
His skilfull souldiers he could bring to passe,
At once for why his traynings all they knewe.
No soner I his noble corps did vewe,
But in I brake amongst the Captaines bande,
And there I fought with Caesar hand to hande.
199
O God thou mightst haue giuen a Britaine grace,
T'haue slaine the Romaine Caesar noble then:
Which sought his bloud the Britaynes to deface,
And bring in bondage, valiaunt worthy men.
He neuer should haue gone to Rome agen,
To fight with Pompey, or his Peres to slaye,
Or els to bring his countrye in decaye.
T'haue slaine the Romaine Caesar noble then:
Which sought his bloud the Britaynes to deface,
And bring in bondage, valiaunt worthy men.
He neuer should haue gone to Rome agen,
To fight with Pompey, or his Peres to slaye,
Or els to bring his countrye in decaye.
It ioyde my hart to strike on Caesars crest,
O Caesar that there had bin none but wee:
I often made my sworde to trye thy brest,
But Lady Fortune did not looke on mee.
I able was mee thought with Caesars three,
To trye the case: I made thy hart to quake,
When on thy crest with mighty strokes I strake.
O Caesar that there had bin none but wee:
I often made my sworde to trye thy brest,
But Lady Fortune did not looke on mee.
I able was mee thought with Caesars three,
To trye the case: I made thy hart to quake,
When on thy crest with mighty strokes I strake.
The strokes thou strokst mee, hurt me nought at all:
For why thy strength was nothing in respect,
But thou hadste bathde thy sword in poyson all:
Which did my wounde, not deadly els infect.
Yet was I or I parted thence bewrekte,
I gate thy sworde from thee for all thy fame:
And made thee flye, for feare to eate the same.
For why thy strength was nothing in respect,
But thou hadste bathde thy sword in poyson all:
Which did my wounde, not deadly els infect.
Yet was I or I parted thence bewrekte,
I gate thy sworde from thee for all thy fame:
And made thee flye, for feare to eate the same.
For when thy sword was in my Target fast,
I made the flye, and quickly leaue thy holde:
Thou neuer wast in all thy life so gast,
Nor durst againe be euer halfe so bolde.
I made a nomber Romaynes harts full colde,
Fight, fight, you noble Britaynes now (quoth I)
Wee neuer all will vnreuenged dye.
I made the flye, and quickly leaue thy holde:
Thou neuer wast in all thy life so gast,
Nor durst againe be euer halfe so bolde.
I made a nomber Romaynes harts full colde,
Fight, fight, you noble Britaynes now (quoth I)
Wee neuer all will vnreuenged dye.
200
What Caesar though thy praise and mine be od?
Perdy the stories scarce remember mee:
Though Poets all of the do make a God,
Such simple fooles in making Gods they bee.
Yet if I might my case haue tride wyth thee,
Thou neuer hadst retournde to Rome againe:
Nor of thy faithfull frendes, bin beastly slaine.
Perdy the stories scarce remember mee:
Though Poets all of the do make a God,
Such simple fooles in making Gods they bee.
Yet if I might my case haue tride wyth thee,
Thou neuer hadst retournde to Rome againe:
Nor of thy faithfull frendes, bin beastly slaine.
A nomber Britaynes mightst thou ther haue seene,
Death wounded fight, & spoile their spiteful foes:
My selfe maynde, slewe and mangled mo I weene,
When I was hurt then twenty more of those.
I made the Romaynes harts to take their hose:
In all the campe no Romaine scarce I spyde,
Durst halfe a combat gainst a Britaine byde.
Death wounded fight, & spoile their spiteful foes:
My selfe maynde, slewe and mangled mo I weene,
When I was hurt then twenty more of those.
I made the Romaynes harts to take their hose:
In all the campe no Romaine scarce I spyde,
Durst halfe a combat gainst a Britaine byde.
At lengthe I met a noble man they calde
Him Labienus, one of Caesars frendes,
A Tribune erste had many Britaynes thralde:
Was one of Caesars legates forth he sendes.
Well met (quoth I) I mynde to make the mendes,
For all thy frendship to our contrey crewe:
And so with Caesars sworde, his frende I slewe.
Him Labienus, one of Caesars frendes,
A Tribune erste had many Britaynes thralde:
Was one of Caesars legates forth he sendes.
Well met (quoth I) I mynde to make the mendes,
For all thy frendship to our contrey crewe:
And so with Caesars sworde, his frende I slewe.
What nede I name you euery Britayne here,
As firste the king the nobles all beside:
Full stoute and worthy wightes in warre that were,
As euer erste the stately Romaines tryde.
We fought so long they durst no longer byde,
Proude Caesar he for all his bragges and boste:
Flew backe to shippes, with half his scattered hoste.
As firste the king the nobles all beside:
Full stoute and worthy wightes in warre that were,
As euer erste the stately Romaines tryde.
We fought so long they durst no longer byde,
Proude Caesar he for all his bragges and boste:
Flew backe to shippes, with half his scattered hoste.
201
If he had bene a God as sottes him namde,
He coulde not of vs Britaynes taken foyle:
The Monarche Caesar might haue bene ashamde,
From such an Islande with his shippes recoyle,
Or else to flie and leaue behinde the spoyle:
But life is swete, he thought it better flye,
Then byde amongst vs Britaynes for to die.
He coulde not of vs Britaynes taken foyle:
The Monarche Caesar might haue bene ashamde,
From such an Islande with his shippes recoyle,
Or else to flie and leaue behinde the spoyle:
But life is swete, he thought it better flye,
Then byde amongst vs Britaynes for to die.
I had his sworde, was namde Crocea mors,
With which he gaue me in the head a stroke,
The venime of the which had such a force,
It able was to perce the harte of oke:
No medcines might the poyson out reuoke,
Wherfore though scarce he perced had the skin:
In fiftene dayes my braynes it ranckled in.
With which he gaue me in the head a stroke,
The venime of the which had such a force,
It able was to perce the harte of oke:
No medcines might the poyson out reuoke,
Wherfore though scarce he perced had the skin:
In fiftene dayes my braynes it ranckled in.
And then to soone (alas therfore) I dyde,
I would to God he had retournde againe:
So that I might but once the dastard spyde,
Before he went I had the serpent slaine.
He playde the cowarde cutthrote all to playne,
A beastly serpentes harte that beaste detectes:
Which or he fighte, his sworde with bane infectes.
I would to God he had retournde againe:
So that I might but once the dastard spyde,
Before he went I had the serpent slaine.
He playde the cowarde cutthrote all to playne,
A beastly serpentes harte that beaste detectes:
Which or he fighte, his sworde with bane infectes.
Well then my death, brought Caesar no renowne:
For both I gate therby, eternall fame,
And eke his sworde to strike his frendes a downe:
I slewe therewith his Labiene by name,
With prince, against my countrey foes I came:
Was wounded, yet did neuer fainte nor yelde:
Till Caesar with his souldiours fled the fielde.
For both I gate therby, eternall fame,
And eke his sworde to strike his frendes a downe:
I slewe therewith his Labiene by name,
With prince, against my countrey foes I came:
Was wounded, yet did neuer fainte nor yelde:
Till Caesar with his souldiours fled the fielde.
202
Who would not venter life in such a case?
Who would not fight, at countreis whole requeste?
Who would not, meeting Caesar in the place,
Fight for life, prince and countrey with the beste?
The greatest courage is by factes expreste.
Then for thy prince with fortitude as I,
And realmes behofe: is prayse, to liue or dy.
Who would not fight, at countreis whole requeste?
Who would not, meeting Caesar in the place,
Fight for life, prince and countrey with the beste?
The greatest courage is by factes expreste.
Then for thy prince with fortitude as I,
And realmes behofe: is prayse, to liue or dy.
Nowe wryte my life when thou haste leisure and,
Will all thy countrey men to learne by mee,
Both for their prince and for their natiue lande:
As valiaunte, bolde and fearelesse for to bee.
A paterne playne of fortitude they see,
To which directly if them selues they frame:
They shall preserue, their countrey, faith and fame.
Will all thy countrey men to learne by mee,
Both for their prince and for their natiue lande:
As valiaunte, bolde and fearelesse for to bee.
A paterne playne of fortitude they see,
To which directly if them selues they frame:
They shall preserue, their countrey, faith and fame.
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The Authour.
When noble Nennius thus had ended talke,
He vanisht with so sweete an heauenly smell:
Mee seemde the graces all with him did walke,
And what I heard of Musicke did excell.
Like notes of Instruments no tongue can tell,
With harmonye, of such an heauenly noyes:
Mee seemde they passed all our earthly ioyes.
He vanisht with so sweete an heauenly smell:
Mee seemde the graces all with him did walke,
And what I heard of Musicke did excell.
Like notes of Instruments no tongue can tell,
With harmonye, of such an heauenly noyes:
Mee seemde they passed all our earthly ioyes.
Their tunes declarde the battaile all so right,
As if the Britaynes and the Romaynes than,
Had presently in hearing and in sight:
A freshe the bloudy battaile all began.
Mee thought I heard the vertues of the man,
By notes declarde, and Caesars daungers tolde:
More plainely, then with eyes I might beholde.
As if the Britaynes and the Romaynes than,
Had presently in hearing and in sight:
A freshe the bloudy battaile all began.
Mee thought I heard the vertues of the man,
By notes declarde, and Caesars daungers tolde:
More plainely, then with eyes I might beholde.
But when they came to tell of Caesars flight,
I sawe the Romaines fall me thought full fast,
And all the Britaines, chace them euen till night:
Where with the sounde of Britishe trompets blast.
Made mee so madde and mazed at the last:
I lookt about for sword or weapon I,
To runne with Britaynes, cryde they flie they flie.
I sawe the Romaines fall me thought full fast,
And all the Britaines, chace them euen till night:
Where with the sounde of Britishe trompets blast.
Made mee so madde and mazed at the last:
I lookt about for sword or weapon I,
To runne with Britaynes, cryde they flie they flie.
204
Their flight to shipps, and foyle the trompets sound,
And blewe the victours triumphes at retourne:
The noyse welnighe my sences did confound,
And made my hart with all their loues to borne.
But when they gan the wounded Britaynes mourne.
With doubled wayling shriekes, such cryes they sent:
And sobbes and sighes, welnighe my hart they rent.
And blewe the victours triumphes at retourne:
The noyse welnighe my sences did confound,
And made my hart with all their loues to borne.
But when they gan the wounded Britaynes mourne.
With doubled wayling shriekes, such cryes they sent:
And sobbes and sighes, welnighe my hart they rent.
Eke chieflye they at noble Nennius stayde,
They seemde with doulefull tunes their notes to riue,
And sodainly his praise againe they playde:
O worthye Nennius for thy facts aliue,
The trumpe of Fame was straightly chargde reuiue,
And keepe, maintaine and celebrate his praise:
Which graunted, all they vanisht quite their wayes.
They seemde with doulefull tunes their notes to riue,
And sodainly his praise againe they playde:
O worthye Nennius for thy facts aliue,
The trumpe of Fame was straightly chargde reuiue,
And keepe, maintaine and celebrate his praise:
Which graunted, all they vanisht quite their wayes.
[_]
[The text of the 1574 edition ends at this point in the Huntington Library copy, on folio 74, sig. Kii, verso. As Professor Trench was the first to point out (pp. 102–3), the British Museum copy of the 1574 text includes additional pages of text which are found in the Huntington Library copies of the 1575 edition. I find that the K gathering was cancelled and a new K gathering substituted in the British Museum copy. Since I am following the Huntington Library copies, I am printing the additions as made in the 1575 text. The signature of Higgins is omitted, eleven stanzas are added to Lenvoy 16, and a new tragedy of Irenglas and a new lenvoy are added. The last two lines, of valediction, are, of course, omitted when the new stanzas are added. For the continuation of the lenvoy, see p. 207.]
Viuit post funera virtus.
Finis quoth Iohn Higgins.
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