University of Virginia Library

Vlpian Fulwell to his Booke.

A manifest description of king Henryes noble vertues.

A Discourse of the vnyting the two noble howses of Lancaster & Yorke, from which vnyted howse, king Henry was the first king that proceeded.

The Byrthe of the puisant Prince King Henry the eyght, which was in the yere of our Lorde God. 1490. the xxii. of Iune.

King Henry the eyght being proclaimed king of Englande the xxii. day of Aprill 1509. goeth to the Tower of London.

Of the Coronation of king Henry the viii.

Of the winning of Turwin and Turnay.

Who list to reade of Martiall actes,

Bellona, the goddesse of warre.

And of Bellonaes trayne,
May in the eyghth kyng Henryes lyfe,
A Myrror see most plaine.
Of warre shee is the Goddesse stoute,
on whome doth still attend,
The noble crewe and armed rowte
that fatall bowe doth bende.
This direfull Goddesse here rehearst
hath at a call alwaye
Three handmaydes euer readye prest,
her pleasure to obey.
Whereby shee Princes doth correct
and Cities stoute subdue:
That lyue and raigne disorderly,
and rule by meanes vntrue.
The firste is Blood by dynt of Sworde,
The seconde Fyer fierce,
The thirde is Famyn worst of all,
that cruelly doth pierce.
And eyther of them by her selfe
is able to throwe downe
The myghtiest king and Conquerour
that euer yet waer crowne.
But if they all conioyne in one,
what Prince, what realme or lande:
Or else what worlde might remaine,
their powers to withstande:
So puissant these Damsels are,
That on this Goddesse wayte:
And being by their Lady calde,
they then addresse them strayte,
To shewe dame Natures dyrefull kynde,
that shee to them hath yelde:
With terror then they shewe their force
on Castle, Towne or feelde.
This Goddesse and her handmaydes three
with all their myght and mayne:
Alwaies attendant myght you see
vppon king Henries trayne.
The Scottes can well reporte the same,
who felt therof the smarte:
when all the cheefetaines of their Realme
were slayn by deadly darte.
Now let king Iames his griesly ghost
awake from fatall sleepe:
And shewe his hap and rufull fall
that causde all Scotlande weepe.
Let all the Scottish noble peeres,
bewayle the wofull hower:
when they agreede on Bramston hilles
to meete king Henryes power.
But sith from Earth they may not ryse
this dolefull tale to tell:
I will for them declare the trueth
in order as befell.
His foes of Fraunce, whose faithlesse leagues,
he euer found vntrue:
Can witnes beare of his great force,
They all his stoutnesse knewe.
And Turwin first shall testifie
his puissance and myght:
Who felt the smart of Fyers rage
with losse of many a knyght.
Now see the sole and onely cause
that he this siege did laye:
In proper person with his power
vnto this townes decaye.
When tract of tyme had tryde the truth,
that Frenchemen wonts to holde,
Whose breache of truce and Princes peace,
No wight could yet witholde.
This Roiall king sent foorth his Shippes,
with hoysed Sayles aloft:
whose force did scoure the coast from foes,
and quaylde their courage oft.
But yet he thought his presence myght
accomplysh many thinges:
That coulde not so in absence bee,
Such is the porte of kinges.
A comfort to the Subiectes all,
A terror to the foes:
A Princes person in the fielde
doth seeledome conquest lose.
His person in the fielde was suche,
As made his Souldiours stoute:
His onely name woulde feare his foes
And make them stande in doubt.
His counsell graue so prudent was,
his wytt so wisely stayde:
That all the rest myght leaue consultes
when he the woord had sayde.
When thus his prudence had perceiude
with iudgement and foresyght:
Now that his antique foes of Fraunce,
deteyned his due right.
He causde his noble Name then
in readynesse to lye.
And he him selfe determined,
Sir Neptunes chaunce to trye.
The Shipmen take their tackles then,
and all thinges redy makes:
With gladsome hartes the Soldiers all
this cheerefull voyage takes.
The Shippes are rygde with all thinges meete
For such a royall trayne.
This noble king is nowe embarkte,
his ryght in Fraunce to gayne.
With noyse of Gunnes and sound of Trumpe,
and stroke of rollyng Drum:
They cut the rage of foming waues,
tyll they to Fraunce are come.
With marching foorth in warlyke wise,
to Turwin towne they bende:
who then perceyues it is hye tyme,
herselfe for to defende.
Her walles and Towers they are deckt
with tooles of Vulcanes frame:
No thundring noyse of Gunne was sparde,
No flashe of Fyers flame.
But when their eyes could witnes beare,
this king encamped then:
And sawe the siege so stoutly set
with lustie valyant men:
Their hartes began to quake and quayle,
their courage then abate:
They knewe his presence in the Campe
was to his trayne a gate
And strong Portculleys to defende
his lusty Soldiers stoute:
Whose faithfull hartes vnto his grace
for Foes did neuer doute.
A Harolde then with blast of Trumpe,
was sent out of the fielde:
To summon them obediently
vnto their Prince to yelde.
Or else to stande vnto the lot,
that myght to them befall:
By dint of Swoord or Fiers flame,
or Famine worste of all.
Who aunswerd then that they were bent,
the chaunce of warre to trye:
And to defend their furnisht walles,
and theron lyue and dye.
Which messadge being then returnde,
it was a wondrous sight:
To see how soldiers hasted then,
with Turwyn men to fight.
The Trumpets blewe, the Drummes stryke vp
To shewe Sir Mars his lore:
A terror sure it was to heare
the thundring Cannons rore.
The king right lyke a ventrous knight
did nothing balke the brunt:
He comforted the Souldiers all
through euery Bande and Front.
Saint George Saint George they all gan crye,
and fiercely do assayle
Their enemies within the towne,
with hope for to preuayle.
No engin was omitted then
that myght their purpose gayne:
The battry was so fierce and sharpe,
that they in thende were fayne
To parle, and to entreat for peace,
their states for to maintayne.
In fine they craude for mercye then,
Acknowleging their faulte,
Desyring his most noble grace
to cease his sharpe assault.
And they his vassayls woulde become,
and faithfull to his Crowne:
In token of their loyaltie,
they yelde to him their towne.
And all the furniture thereof,
to vse at his owne will:
Desyring that he will vouchsafe,
their bloods not for to spill.
Whose noble aunswer was againe,
Sith you for mercy craue:
We mercy graunt you for your lyues,
from bloody Swoorde to saue.
With Trump and Banner then displayde,
he entreth this his towne:

An. Regni. 5.

Saint George his flagg is then aduaunst,
And all the rest throwne downe.

The Lamentable complaint of king Iames of Scotlande, who was slayne at Scottish fielde. Anno. 1513.

The Lamentation of king Iames, Sonne vnto king Iames before mentioned.

Howe King Henry and the King of Fraunce met together betweene Calice and boloigne by a place called Morguison 1532.

My glauncing Pen nowe glyded ys
From Mars his bluddie broyle:
And eke my muse desyres to rest
a whyle in frindships soyle.
As waywarde warre bereues the breath
of many worthie wyghtes:
So frindly peace preserues the lyues
of noble valyant knyghtes.
And Tully doth preferre that peace
which grounded is on yll:
Before the warre whose quarell ryght,
The blood of man doth spill.
In faithfull league of frindships force
where Princes knitt the knot:
Unto those realmes whyle it doth last
is sure a happie lott.
The Princes sleepe is not vnsounde,
For doubt of forraine foes:
The Souldiers werye wounded limmes
to rest do then repose.
The Marchant sendes hys hoysed sayles
the surging Seas to sheare:
Which scowreth through the wandring waues
deuoyde of doubtfull feare.
The publyke state of common wealth
then lyues in quyet rest,
So that recourse from sundrie soyles
Both worke all for the best.
Eche countrey helpeth other then
and what one lande doth want
Another doth supply the same,
no needefull thinges are scant.
And eke through Concorde sclender thinges
to valure great encrease:
But discorde both consume as fast
then let vs praye for peace:
Which causeth worldly wealth to ryse
and frindly faith to flowe:
As thother hath contrarye force,
and makes wealth ebbe as lowe.
Nowe frindship that long tyme had sought
to knitt within her bande:
The king of Fraunce vnto the no-
ble King of this oure lande:
Founde out a tyme conuenient,
and eke indifferent place:
Whereas these noble Princes bothe
together myght embrace.
To treate of faithfull frindships lore
with one consent they meete:
Where they with ioye and tryumphes greate
eche other then do greete.
The thing that bothe Realmes long desyrde,
at that tyme myght you viewe:
The order of which ioyfull sight,
hereafter doth ensue.

The Historie of the winning of Bulleyne by the moste victorious King Henrye the eyghth in his owne person.

Yf townes subuerted coulde declare,
with tong or paynting Pen,
Their rufull falles and finall fate
their losse of worthie men:
Or if the ruinous Castels olde
that flatt on grounde nowe lye,
Or else the walles that earst were deckt
with lofty Turrets hye,
Coulde shewe their wofull ouerthrowes
by any kynde of waye:
And eke what Captaines them subdude
to take the spoyle and praye:
Then Bulleyne that was wont to bragg
in brauery of her myght:
Woulde clips her fame of large renowne,
that earst did shyne so bryght.
This stately Forte, whose furnisht walles
felt neuer yet annoye:
Nowe playnly shewde the auncient tales
that Poets tolde of Troye.
Prince Agamemnon with his Greekes
that wan olde Ilions towne:
In all his toyle of tenne yeres siege
gat neuer such renowne.
The mighty Monarke Macedon
that conquerd Darius soyles
Wonne neuer greater victorie,
thoughe many greater spoyles.
But as king Henries courage stoute
alwayes his foes subdude:
So mercy matcht his manly mynde
who bloodshed still eschewde.
He neuer brewde his sworde in bloode
on them that mercy craue:
His face with fauour still was fraught,
submissiue men to saue.
And Bullein men among the rest,
can testifie this case:
Who tasted both his force, and eke
his fauourable grace.
What mischiefe myght his hand haue wrought,
if tyrannye had raygnd:
Or rage had harbourd in his brest
which he alwayes refraynd.
Though pleasant prayes do oft entice
the mynd that gapes for gayne:
To passe the boundes of princely fame,
great spoyle for to obtayne:
Yet no such crime of greedy mynde
from mercy might him moue:
The towne of Bulleyne can right well
this fame of him approue.
Theyr towne, theyr lyues, theyr goodes and all,
lay in his might and power:
For to haue spoylde and ouerthrowne,
and destroyde in one hower.
But piety prickt his Princely hart,
in mercy to excell:
Whose noble nature doth deserue
for prayse to beare the bell.

An Epitaph of the deathe of the moste valyant and renowmed Prince King Henry the eyghth.

Awake ye worthies nyne,
that long in graues haue rest:
Powre out your plaints with wayling teares
Let langor be your geast.
Do off your shrowding sheetes,
that clads you in the claye,
and decke your selues with black attyre,
your mourning to displaye.
Bedewe with saltie teares
your manly faces stowte:
Laye downe those weapons that were wont
to quell the raging rowte.
For nowe that pierlesse Prince
that neuer yet tooke foyle:
The eyghth king Henry hath resynde
his bodye to the soyle.
Recorde your dolefull tunes,
ye noble Peeres eche one.
Let gryping greefes gnawe on your breastes
to shewe your pensiue moane.
With bryndie blubbered teares,
ye commons all lament:
Sende forth your sobbes from boyling breast,
let trynkling teares be spent.
For our Achilles nowe
hath left vs in the fielde:
That wonted was with valiant force
from foes our lyues to shylde.
And this hath death deuysde
to wrecke his wrathfull spyght:
wherefore (O Mors) wee curses yelde
on thee both daye and nyght.
Oh noble Brutus lande,
howe much was death thy foe:
when he with cruell darte constraynde
this Gemme from thee to goe.
But though the cursed dame
that cuttes the fatall lyne:
So muche enuyed thy happie state
in making him declyne:
Yet God through mercy great
in spyght of death his darte
Hath left a Blossome of his braunche
to ease thy pensiue smarte.
For whome now let vs praye,
that shee the race may runne
of Nestors yeres, with like successe
as yet her grace hath done.
And that his royall Impe
Elizabeth by name:
May weare the Crowne and wielde the sworde
with ioye and endlesse fame.
Whose lyfe doth render lyght
vnto her fathers fame:
whose noble harte doth plainly shewe
the stocke from whence shee came.
Though death hath done his woorst
with drift of dyrefull darte:
By stryking of that valyant king
and piercing of his harte:
Yet hath he not the powre
his fame to ouercast:
which shall remaine in mouth of man
whyle Pen and ynke doth last.
And eke the shyning Sunne
shall cease his running race
before king Henries worthie fame
shall suffer one deface.
And as his soule is lodgde
with Ioue in starrie Skye:
Euen so remembraunce of his name
on earth shall neuer dye.

A Preamble to this parte of the Booke following.

Lyke as the auncient Greekes
haue painted out at large,
Their noble ladyes worthie lyues
and therof taken charge:
And as the Romaine dames
had writers of their actes,
Euen so the trowpe of Englysh trayne
haue some to tell their factes.
Whose bryght and shyning fame
deserues to haue a place,
Coequall with the best that hath
runne on in vertues race.
Then let not Englande blushe
to blase their ladies lyues,
Which no whit is inferiour
vnto the Romayne wyues.
Let them vaunt if they list
of Lucrece chastitie,
I prayse the greekes Penelope
for her fidelitie.
A nomber myght be namde
that wryters pennes haue praysde,
Who for their lyues and noble actes
an endlesse fame hath raysde.
And yet among the rest
that retche their fame so farre:
Let English dames shewe foorth their shyne
lyke Venus twinkling Starre.
Whose nomber sure is greate,
although I name but fewe:
But yet as tyme will lycence mee
I shall more largely shewe.
The lyues and noble actes
of Ladyes in those dayes:
whome noble vertue hath aduaunsde
to winne immortall prayse.
For lyke as valyant men
therof do gayne renowne:
So worthie actes of weomen kynde
may not bee quite throwne downe.
Fame may not parciall bee
but as desertes requyre:
Must yelde to euery worldly wyght
their due deserued hyre.

A Commemoration of Queene Anne Bullayne.

An Epitaph on the death of Queene Anne Bullayne.

A Commemoration of Queene Iane.

An Epitaph of the death of Queene Iane.

In Prayse of the renowned Ladye Queene Katherin Par.

Dame Vertue longing to behold
her troupe of noble trayne:
Determined to take the vewe
of them that did remayne.
Appointing Fame with sound of trompe,
to sommon and assite:
Ech one that in her booke was namde
to be a worthy wight.
Of weomen sect (as for the rest)
another tyme should bee:
For famous menne to shewe theyr selues,
ech one in theyr degree.
This noble troupe assembled was
most goodly to behold:
And eche one called by theyr names
as Fame had them enrold.
The Goddesses sate in there seates,
the Graces placed were:
The Muses nyne, the noble Nimphes,
in theire degrees sat there.
Dame Vertue being cheefest iudge
and lady of the place:
Decreed that one among the rest,
should beare the cheefest mace.
Commaunding euery lady theare,
to answere to theyr name:
As they in order should be calde,
by voyce of noble Fame.
When this decree proclaymed was,
and all thinges whusht and still:
My greedy eyes to view this sighte,
coulde neuer gase their fill.
Then Fame calde for Vlisses wife,
whereto one sayde strayght waye:
That dyrefull death with cruell launce,
had lodgde her corse in claye.
Then heard I good Cornelia namde,
and many other calde:
Some aunswerde here, and some by fate
in earthy clod were stalde.
At last by lot the Cryer sayd,
where is that noble Dame:
That was the eight king Henries wife,
and had K. P. to name.
Wherto a noble English Queene,
that then was in the place:
Made aunswere that her mortall lyfe,
had run the fatall race.
Then vertue sent foorth saltie teares,
and bad the Cryer pawse:
And sayd shee lost the worthiest wight,
that euer kept her lawes.
Dame Pacience with wringing handes,
her dollor did declare:
And prudent pallas, for her parte,
no paynefull plaints did spare.
The Muses mooude with mestiue moode,
resounded dolefull voyce:
The Graces all with rented heares,
in langor did reioyce.
In fyne the whole assembly there,
in sodayne sorowes were:
For ech one thought this noble Queene,
dame Vertues Mace shoulde beare.
At last stoode vp Virginitie,
attyred all in whyte:
Whose countenaunce lyke Phebus beames,
did yelde a heauenly lyght.
Unto the iudge dame Vertue shee,
her minde began to showe:
with Angels voice and Heauenly grace,
eche worde shee did bestow.
O noble Dames leaue off (quod shee)
your dumpyshe dolors staye:
And licence mee, O rightfull iudge.
somwhat herein to saye.
With that it was a ioye to see
How sorowes were resynde:
And Vertue bad Virginitie
proceede to say her minde.
Eche one attentiue eare gan bende
to heare this noble voice:
Whose prudent wordes and graue deuyse,
made all the rest reioyce.
This was the tale the Goddesse tolde,
O worthie wightes drawe neere:
And see the only cause, that wee
are nowe assembled heere.
Ye are the troupe and noble trayne
that vertue hath embracde,
Whose endlesse fame for vertues sake,
shall neuer be defacde.
Here haue you hearde that auncient dames
by fatall stroke are slayne:
And yet theire names in booke of Fame
for euer shall remayne.
Among the rest Queene Katherin Par,
(so was her Parents name:)
Hath yelde her soule vnto the heauens,
yet left on earth her fame.
Unto whose lot it shoulde haue lyght
dame Vertues Mace to guyde:
But cruell Atrops all too soone,
her noble race enuyde.
Yet one among this worthie crewe
must take the charge in hande:
whose due desertes, for vertuous praise,
in chiefest place must stande.
Here is a royall Queene in place,
whose lyfe I knowe right well:
within whose brest, euen from a babe,
vnto this day I dwell.
Whome you (O Lady Vertue) fyrst
committed to my charge:
When nature made her perfect moulde,
her skill to shewe at large.
And whyle vpon this Princely babe
in Cradle I attende:
You Lady Pallas came in haste,
your heauenly giftes to spende.
And Caliop with all her Nimphes,
made haste from Pernas hill:
For to adorne this peereles peace,
with perfect learned skill.
You lady Graces know right well,
and beare it yet in mynde:
What haste you made vnto this babe,
ye fearde to bee behynde.
In fyne her grace was theare adornde,
with all your giftes so well:
That outwarde shape and inwarde giftes,
Panthora did excell.
Her father was a royall king
graund Captain of the trayne:
Of all the worthie warlike wights
that fame did euer gayne.
Her noble Mother bare the bell
for vertue in her dayes:
Whose worthie fame with toung and Penne
hath reapte immortal prayse.
And shee a virgin (lo) doth were
the Fathers regall crowne:
And prudently doth wyeld the sworde,
with lardge and bright renowne.
She hath repressed errors blinde,
and causde Gods worde to shyne:
Whose noble lyfe from vertues lore,
did neuer yet declyne.
Shee best deserues to haue the Mace,
that vertue meanes bestowe:
Elizabeth of England Queene,
you all her grace do knowe.
And let Queene Katherin Par enioye
Fame for her vertuous race:
And vnto Queene Elizabeth
dame vertue yeld thy Mace.
No sooner had virginitie,
this sentence vttred tho:
But all the reste with one consent,
sayde Lady be it so.
Then Vertue praysde the noble Mayde,
that thus this tale declarde:
Commaunding scilence to be synde
that iudgement myght be harde.
Then saide the Iudge, this is the doome,
and sentence in this case:
Queene Katherin Par in booke of Fame
shall haue a speciall place:
And noble Queene Elizabeth
as cheefest of my trayne:
Shall take this Scepter at my hande,
as meetest for to raygne.
Hereat this noble heauenly crewe
brake vp with greate delyte:
And I yet holde my Pen in hande
Queene Katherins lyfe to wryte.

The names of the Capitaines that were at Hadington, as neare as coulde be called to remembrance.

The Earle of Shrewsberye.
The Earle of Rutlande.
The Lorde Graye.
Sir Iames Wilforde.
Sir Iames Acroft.
Sir Wadam Selinger.
Sir Oswalde Wolstrap.
Sir Robert Worsley.
Capitayne Pellam.
Capitayne Dethick, who was my cheefe
instructer in this matter.
Capitayne Wood.
Capitayne Windam.
Capitayne Tayler.
Capitayne Collbie.
Capitayne Fitzwilliams.
Capitaine Tiberio an Italian.
Capitayne Whitton.
Capitayne Boothe.
Capitayne Pikeman.
Capitayne Gam.
Capitayne Garton.
Capitayne Bagshot.
Capitayne Ashley.
Capitayne Lawson.

A Commendation of the Englishe Souldiers that serued at this siege of Hadington.

The frowning furious dame,
that hight Bellona fierce:
That grieflie Goddesse, whose outrage
doth Kinges and Countries pierce:
Drewe forth her bluddie blade,
Sets vp her Stander blacke:
And fenced with her fyerie Flagg,
to worke her wrakefull wracke.
Who can scape scotfree then,
that dares abyde the broyle:
The noble harte for honour fyghtes,
the Tyran huntes for spoyle.
The Cowarde crakes with woordes,
and hopes for happie daye:
Yet is he not the firste that strykes,
nor last that runnes away.
At point of harde distresse,
a hardie man is knowne:
At ratling shott or hunger sharpe
a dastarde is downe throwne.
But when Bellona sawe
the warlyke Englishe wyghtes:
That at this siege, in Marciall actes
affied their whole delyghtes:
Shee wondred as shee myght,
to see that all her rage:
Coulde by no meanes, the haughtie hartes
of Englishe men asswage.
Tryumphing Garlandes then
with speede shee gan prepare:
To crowne those lustie Captaines all
that had of her no care.
The nobles that were theare
Shee gaue eche one a Crowne:
Adorning them by due desert
with large and bryght renowne.
And then shee calles by name
the rest to take their hyre:
Whiche was, that they shoulde to the toppe
of mounting Fame aspyre.
Sir Wilforde come thou first,
Receiue thy iust rewarde:
Thy hautie harte, of furious foe
had neuer yet regarde.
Sir Croftes come forth also
to clayme thy worthie name:
Controll eche misse, for so thou maiste,
Thou winnest the forte of Fame.
Sir Sellinger approche
Thou setst thy Foe at naught:
Sir Wolstrap in the Arte of warre
hath worthelye bene taught.
Sir Worseley was not worste,
but of the worthie wightes:
And thus Bellona made an ende
of talking to her knyghtes.
Now Pellam that hath charge
of Pellet and of Shott:
A Garlande had by due desert,
as lyghted to his lot.
And Dethicke dreading nought
the daunger of his foe:
By polecie with prowes ioynde,
gaue oft the ouerthrowe.
Wood woulde not take the foyle
at anye equall matche:
And Windam well coulde wynde the twist
his wylye Foes to catche.
Fitzwilliams woulde not slacke
to fyght for countrey soyle:
And Taylers trustie diligence
sparde not for any toyle.
But Collbie knowes the cast
the craking Scot to trayne:
His name in Scotlande is well knowne,
but to their often paine.
Tiberio tooke no care
for his Italia lande:
But manfully among the rest,
did in the quarell stande.
And Whitten whet his witt,
eke playde his parte full stowte:
And Boothe woulde neuer balke the brunt
of Frenche or Scottish rowte.
Pykeman past thorough the Pykes
and provde a valyant man:
And Gam by prowes wonne the game
that Frenchemen woulde haue wan.
So Garton he coulde guyde
and garde his menne full well:
And Bagshot was no whitt abasht
what chaunce soeuer fell.
As Ashleyes Auncent came
with honour from the fielde:
So Aslaby wan good reporte
to Foe he woulde not yelde.
Nowe Lawson is the laste,
yet not of lowest name:
But equall with his captayne mates
that hath deserude good fame.
Thease Captaines and their men
them selues so stoutly showde:
That Garlandes of still lasting Fame
is now on them bestowde.
A Garlande is small gayne,
wheare lymmes and lyuing lacke:
I wishe the Souldier as my selfe
to feele no kynde of wracke.
And suche as flowe in wealth
and seese a Souldier pore:
I woulde he were in forefrunt set
when rattlyng Canons rore.

The Aucthor.