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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The Towne and Church of Breakenoke.
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 | The Worthines of Wales |  |
The Towne and Church of Breakenoke.
The
Towne is built, as in a pit it were,
By water side, all lapt about with hill:
You may behold a ruinous Castle there,
Somewhat defaste, the walles yet standeth still.
Small narrowe streates, through all the Towne ye haue,
Yet in the same, are sondrie houses braue:
Well built without, yea trim and fayre within,
With sweete prospect, that shall your fauour win.
By water side, all lapt about with hill:
You may behold a ruinous Castle there,
Somewhat defaste, the walles yet standeth still.
Small narrowe streates, through all the Towne ye haue,
Yet in the same, are sondrie houses braue:
With sweete prospect, that shall your fauour win.
The Riuer Oske, and Hondie runnes thereby,
Fower Bridges good, of stone stands ore each streame:
The greatest Bridge, doth to the Colledge lye,
A free house once, where many a rotten beame
Hath bene of late, through age and trackt of tyme:
Which Bishop now, refourmes with stone and lyme.
Had it not bene, with charge repayrd in haste,
That house and Seate, had surely gon to waste.
Fower Bridges good, of stone stands ore each streame:
The greatest Bridge, doth to the Colledge lye,
A free house once, where many a rotten beame
Hath bene of late, through age and trackt of tyme:
Which Bishop now, refourmes with stone and lyme.
Had it not bene, with charge repayrd in haste,
That house and Seate, had surely gon to waste.
Two Churches doth, belong vnto this Towne,
One stands on hill, where once a Priorie was:
Which chaung'd the name, when Abbyes were put downe,
But now the same, for Parrish Church doth passe.
Another place, for Morning prayer is,
Made long agoe, that standeth hard by this.
Built in this Church, a Tombe or two I finde,
That worthie is, in briefe to bring to minde.
One stands on hill, where once a Priorie was:
Which chaung'd the name, when Abbyes were put downe,
But now the same, for Parrish Church doth passe.
Another place, for Morning prayer is,
Made long agoe, that standeth hard by this.
Built in this Church, a Tombe or two I finde,
That worthie is, in briefe to bring to minde.
Three couple lyes, one ore the others head,
Along in Tombe, and all one race and lyne:
And to be plaine, two couple lyeth dead,
The third likewise, as destnie shall assyne,
Shall lye on top, right ore the other twaine:
Their pictures now, all readie there remaine,
In signe when God appoynts the terme and date,
All flesh and blood must yeeld to mortall fate.
Along in Tombe, and all one race and lyne:
And to be plaine, two couple lyeth dead,
The third likewise, as destnie shall assyne,
Shall lye on top, right ore the other twaine:
Their pictures now, all readie there remaine,
In signe when God appoynts the terme and date,
All flesh and blood must yeeld to mortall fate.
These are in deede, the auncient race of Gams,
A house and blood, that long rich Armes doth giue:
And now in Wales, are many of their names,
That keepes great trayne, and doth full brauely liue.
The eldest Sonne, and chiefest of that race,
Doth beare in Armes, a ramping Lyon crownd,
And three Speare heads, and three red Cocks in place.
A Dragons head, all greene therein is found:
And in his mouth, a red and bloodie hand,
All this and more, vpon the Tombe doth stand.
A house and blood, that long rich Armes doth giue:
And now in Wales, are many of their names,
That keepes great trayne, and doth full brauely liue.
The eldest Sonne, and chiefest of that race,
Doth beare in Armes, a ramping Lyon crownd,
A Dragons head, all greene therein is found:
And in his mouth, a red and bloodie hand,
All this and more, vpon the Tombe doth stand.
Three fayre boyes heads, and euery one of those
A Serpent hath close lapt about his necke:
A great white Bucke, and as you may suppose,
Right ore the same, (which doth it trimly decke)
A crowne there is, that makes a goodly shoe,
A Lyon blacke, and three Bulles heads I troe:
Three Flowerdeluce, all fresh and white they were,
Two Swords, two Crownes, with fayre long crosse is there.
A Serpent hath close lapt about his necke:
A great white Bucke, and as you may suppose,
Right ore the same, (which doth it trimly decke)
A crowne there is, that makes a goodly shoe,
A Lyon blacke, and three Bulles heads I troe:
Three Flowerdeluce, all fresh and white they were,
Two Swords, two Crownes, with fayre long crosse is there.
Three Bats, whose wings were spreaded all at large,
And three white barres were in these Armes likewise:
Let Harrolds now, to whom belongs that charge,
Describe these things, for me this may suffise.
Yet further now, I forced am to goe,
Of seuerall men, some other Armes to shoe.
Within that Church, there lyes beneath the Quere,
These persons two, whose names now shall ye heare.
And three white barres were in these Armes likewise:
Let Harrolds now, to whom belongs that charge,
Describe these things, for me this may suffise.
Yet further now, I forced am to goe,
Of seuerall men, some other Armes to shoe.
Within that Church, there lyes beneath the Quere,
These persons two, whose names now shall ye heare.
In Tombe of stone, full fayre and finely wrought,
One Waters lyes, with wife fast by his side:
Of some great stocke, these couple may be thought,
As by their Armes, on Tombe may well be tride.
Full at his feete, a goodly Greyhound lyes,
And at his head there is before your eyes
Three Libbarts heads, three cups, two Eagles splayd,
A fayre red Crosse: and further to be sayd,
One Waters lyes, with wife fast by his side:
Of some great stocke, these couple may be thought,
As by their Armes, on Tombe may well be tride.
Full at his feete, a goodly Greyhound lyes,
And at his head there is before your eyes
Three Libbarts heads, three cups, two Eagles splayd,
A fayre red Crosse: and further to be sayd,
A Lyon blacke, a Serpent fircely made,
With tayle wound vp: these Armes thus endeth so.
Crosse legg'd by him, as was the auncient trade,
Debreos lyes, in picture as I troe,
Of most hard wood: which wood as diuers say
No worme can eate, nor tyme can weare away:
A couching Hound, as Harrolds thought full meete,
In wood likewise, lyes vnderneath his feete.
With tayle wound vp: these Armes thus endeth so.
Crosse legg'd by him, as was the auncient trade,
Debreos lyes, in picture as I troe,
No worme can eate, nor tyme can weare away:
A couching Hound, as Harrolds thought full meete,
In wood likewise, lyes vnderneath his feete.
Iust by the same, Meredith Thomas lyes,
Who had great grace, great wit and worship both,
And world him thought, both happie blest and wise,
A man that lou'd, good Iustice faith and troth.
Right ore this Tombe, of stone, to his great fame,
Good store in deede of Latin verses are,
And euery verse, set foorth in such good frame,
That truely doth his life and death declare.
This man was likt, for many graces good
That he possest, besides his birth and blood.
Who had great grace, great wit and worship both,
And world him thought, both happie blest and wise,
A man that lou'd, good Iustice faith and troth.
Right ore this Tombe, of stone, to his great fame,
Good store in deede of Latin verses are,
And euery verse, set foorth in such good frame,
That truely doth his life and death declare.
This man was likt, for many graces good
That he possest, besides his birth and blood.
| The Worthines of Wales | |