The Worthines of Wales Wherein are more then a thousand seuerall things rehearsed: some set out in prose to the pleasure of the Reader, and with such varietie of verse for the beautifying of the Book, as no doubt shal delight thousands to vnderstand. Which worke is enterlarded with many wonders and right strange matter to consider of: All the which labour and deuice is drawne forth and set out by Thomas Churchyard, to the glorie of God, and honour of his Prince and Countrey |
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[Now must I touch, a matter fit to knowe] |
 | The Worthines of Wales |  |
[Now must I touch, a matter fit to knowe]
Now
must I touch, a matter fit to knowe,
A Fort and strength, that stands beyond this Towne:
On which you shall, behold the noblest showe,
(Looke round about, and so looke rightly downe)
That euer yet, I sawe or man may view:
Upon that Hill, there shall appeare to you,
Of seauen Shieres, a part and portion great,
Where Hill it selfe, is sure a warlike Seate.
A Fort and strength, that stands beyond this Towne:
On which you shall, behold the noblest showe,
(Looke round about, and so looke rightly downe)
That euer yet, I sawe or man may view:
Upon that Hill, there shall appeare to you,
Of seauen Shieres, a part and portion great,
Where Hill it selfe, is sure a warlike Seate.
Ten thousand men, may lodge them there vnseene,
In trebble Dykes, that gards the Fortresse well:
And yet amid, the Fort a goodly greene,
Where that a power, and mightie Campe may dwell:
In spyte of world, if Soldiours victuall haue.
The Hill so stands, if Bird but wing doe waue,
Or man or beast, but once stirre vp the head
A Bowe aboue, with shaft shall strike it dead.
In trebble Dykes, that gards the Fortresse well:
And yet amid, the Fort a goodly greene,
Where that a power, and mightie Campe may dwell:
The Hill so stands, if Bird but wing doe waue,
Or man or beast, but once stirre vp the head
A Bowe aboue, with shaft shall strike it dead.
The Hill commaunds, a maruels way and scope,
It seemes it stood, farre off for Townes defence,
And in the warres, it was Carleons hope:
Or els in deede, the Duke of Gloster sence
(That did destroy, both Towne and all therein)
To serue his turne, this Fortresse did begin.
Not farre from this, much like vnto the same,
Tombarlowm stands, a Mountaine of some fame.
It seemes it stood, farre off for Townes defence,
And in the warres, it was Carleons hope:
Or els in deede, the Duke of Gloster sence
(That did destroy, both Towne and all therein)
To serue his turne, this Fortresse did begin.
Not farre from this, much like vnto the same,
Tombarlowm stands, a Mountaine of some fame.
A Towne nere this, that buylt is all a length,
Cal'd Neawport now, there is full fayre to viewe:
Which Seate doth stand, for profite more then strength,
A right strong Bridge, is there of Timber newe:
A Riuer runnes, full nere the Castle wall:
Nere Church likewise, a Mount behold you shall,
Where Sea and Land, to sight so plaine appeeres,
That there men see, a part of fiue fayre Sheeres.
Cal'd Neawport now, there is full fayre to viewe:
Which Seate doth stand, for profite more then strength,
A right strong Bridge, is there of Timber newe:
A Riuer runnes, full nere the Castle wall:
Nere Church likewise, a Mount behold you shall,
Where Sea and Land, to sight so plaine appeeres,
That there men see, a part of fiue fayre Sheeres.
As vpward hye, aloft to Mountaine top,
This Market towne, is buylt in healthfull sort:
So downeward loe, is many a Marchants shop,
And many sayle, to Bristowe from that Port.
Of auncient tyme, a Citie hath it bin,
And in those daies, the Castle hard to win:
Which yet shewes fayre, and is repayrd a parte,
As things decayd, must needes be helpt by arte.
This Market towne, is buylt in healthfull sort:
So downeward loe, is many a Marchants shop,
And many sayle, to Bristowe from that Port.
Of auncient tyme, a Citie hath it bin,
And in those daies, the Castle hard to win:
Which yet shewes fayre, and is repayrd a parte,
As things decayd, must needes be helpt by arte.
A goodly Seate, a Tower, a princely pyle,
Built as a watch, or saftie for the Soyle,
By Riuer stands, from Neawport not three myle.
This house was made, when many a bloodie broyle,
In Wales God wot, destroyd that publicke state:
Here men with sword, and shield did braules debate:
Here saftie stood, for many things in deede,
That sought sauegard, and did some sucker neede.
Built as a watch, or saftie for the Soyle,
By Riuer stands, from Neawport not three myle.
This house was made, when many a bloodie broyle,
Here men with sword, and shield did braules debate:
Here saftie stood, for many things in deede,
That sought sauegard, and did some sucker neede.
The name thereof, the nature shewes a right,
Greenefield it is, full gay and goodly sure:
A fine sweete Soyle, most pleasant vnto sight,
That for delight, and wholesome ayre so pure,
It may be praisde, a plot sought out so well,
As though a King, should say here will I dwell:
The Pastures greene, the woods, and water cleere.
Sayth any Prince may buyld a Pallace heere.
Greenefield it is, full gay and goodly sure:
A fine sweete Soyle, most pleasant vnto sight,
That for delight, and wholesome ayre so pure,
It may be praisde, a plot sought out so well,
As though a King, should say here will I dwell:
The Pastures greene, the woods, and water cleere.
Sayth any Prince may buyld a Pallace heere.
And in this place, and many parts about,
Is grasse and Corne, and fertile ground enough:
And now a while, to speake of Wales throughout,
Where if men would, take paynes to plye the Plough:
Digge out of drosse, the treasure of the earth,
And fall to toyle, and labour from their birth:
They should as soone, to store of wealth attaine,
As other Soyles, whose people takes great paine.
Is grasse and Corne, and fertile ground enough:
And now a while, to speake of Wales throughout,
Where if men would, take paynes to plye the Plough:
Digge out of drosse, the treasure of the earth,
And fall to toyle, and labour from their birth:
They should as soone, to store of wealth attaine,
As other Soyles, whose people takes great paine.
But most of Wales, likes better ease and rest,
(Loues meate and mirth, and harmelesse quiet daies)
Than for to toyle, and trouble brayne and brest,
To vexe the mynd, with worldly wearie waies.
Some stand content, with that which God shall send,
And on their lands, their stock and store doth spend:
And rubs out life, cleane voyde of further care,
Because in world, right well to liue they are.
(Loues meate and mirth, and harmelesse quiet daies)
Than for to toyle, and trouble brayne and brest,
To vexe the mynd, with worldly wearie waies.
Some stand content, with that which God shall send,
And on their lands, their stock and store doth spend:
And rubs out life, cleane voyde of further care,
Because in world, right well to liue they are.
Yet were they bent, to proule and purchace still,
And search out wealth, as other Nations doe:
They haue a Soyle, a Countrey rich at will,
Which can them make, full quickly wealthie too.
They haue begun, of late to lime their land.
And plowes the ground, where sturdie Okes did stand:
Conuerts the meares, and marrish euery where,
Whose barraine earth, begins good fruite to beare.
And search out wealth, as other Nations doe:
They haue a Soyle, a Countrey rich at will,
Which can them make, full quickly wealthie too.
And plowes the ground, where sturdie Okes did stand:
Conuerts the meares, and marrish euery where,
Whose barraine earth, begins good fruite to beare.
They teare vp Trees, and takes the rootes away,
Makes stonie fieldes, smooth fertile fallowe ground:
Brings Pastures bare, to beare good grasse for Hay,
By which at length, in wealth they will abound.
Wales is this day (behold throughout the Sheeres,
In better state, than twas these hundred yeeres:
More rich, more fine, and further more to tell,
Fewe men haue knowne, the Countrey halfe so well.
Makes stonie fieldes, smooth fertile fallowe ground:
Brings Pastures bare, to beare good grasse for Hay,
By which at length, in wealth they will abound.
Wales is this day (behold throughout the Sheeres,
In better state, than twas these hundred yeeres:
More rich, more fine, and further more to tell,
Fewe men haue knowne, the Countrey halfe so well.
Whereas at first, they sought for Corne farre off,
(To helpe the wants, of Wales when grayne was deere)
Now on the boord, they haue both Cheese and lofe,
To shewe the world, in house is greater cheere.
The open Plaine, that hath his rubbish lost,
Saith plentie is, through Wales in euery coast:
The well wrought ground, that thousands may behold,
Where thornes did growe, sayth now there springs vp gold.
(To helpe the wants, of Wales when grayne was deere)
Now on the boord, they haue both Cheese and lofe,
To shewe the world, in house is greater cheere.
The open Plaine, that hath his rubbish lost,
Saith plentie is, through Wales in euery coast:
The well wrought ground, that thousands may behold,
Where thornes did growe, sayth now there springs vp gold.
I meane where weedes, and thistles long hath growne,
(Wild drosse and docks, and stinking nettles vile)
There Barley sweete, and goodly Wheate is sowne,
Which makes men rich, that liu'd in lacke long while.
No gift nor gayne, more great and good to man,
Then that which toyle, and honest labour wan:
What sweat of browes, brings in is sugred sweete,
Makes glad the mynd, and comforts hart and spreete.
(Wild drosse and docks, and stinking nettles vile)
There Barley sweete, and goodly Wheate is sowne,
Which makes men rich, that liu'd in lacke long while.
No gift nor gayne, more great and good to man,
Then that which toyle, and honest labour wan:
What sweat of browes, brings in is sugred sweete,
Makes glad the mynd, and comforts hart and spreete.
| The Worthines of Wales | |