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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Ludloe Towne, Church and Castle.
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 | The Worthines of Wales |  |
Ludloe Towne, Church and Castle.
The
Towne doth stand most part vpon an Hill,
Built well and fayre, with streates both large and wide:
The houses such, where straungers lodge at will.
As long as there the Councell lists abide,
Both fine and cleane the streates are all throughout,
With Condits cleere, and wholesome water springs:
And who that lists to walke the Towne about,
Shall finde therein some rare and pleasant things:
But chiefly there the ayre so sweete you haue,
As in no place ye can no better craue.
Built well and fayre, with streates both large and wide:
The houses such, where straungers lodge at will.
As long as there the Councell lists abide,
Both fine and cleane the streates are all throughout,
With Condits cleere, and wholesome water springs:
And who that lists to walke the Towne about,
Shall finde therein some rare and pleasant things:
But chiefly there the ayre so sweete you haue,
As in no place ye can no better craue.
The Market house, where Corne and Cates are sold,
Is couered ore, and kept in finest sort:
From which ye shall, the Castle well behold,
And to which walke, doe many men resort.
On euery side thereof fayre houses are,
That makes a shewe, to please both mynd and eye:
The Church nere that, where monuments full rare
There is, (wherein doth sondrie people lye)
My pen shall touch, because the notes I finde
Therein, deserue to be well borne in minde.
Is couered ore, and kept in finest sort:
Nere this is a fayre house of Maister Sackfords which he hid buyld, and a fayre house that Master Secretarie Foxe did bestowe great charges on, & a house that Maister Berrie dwelles in. M. Townes-end hath a fayre house at Saint Austins once a Frierie. The Lord President Sir Harrie Sidneys Daughter, called Ambrosia, is entombed here in most brauest maner and great chargeable workmanship on the right hand of the Aulter. On the same is my Lord of Warwicks Armes excellētly wrought, and my Lord Presidents Armes and others, are in like sort there richly set out.
And to which walke, doe many men resort.
On euery side thereof fayre houses are,
That makes a shewe, to please both mynd and eye:
The Church nere that, where monuments full rare
There is, (wherein doth sondrie people lye)
My pen shall touch, because the notes I finde
Therein, deserue to be well borne in minde.
Within the Quere, there is a Ladie layd
In Tombe most rich, the top of fayre Touchstone:
There was bestow'd in honour of this mayd,
Great cost and charge, the trueth may well be knowne.
For as the Tombe, is built in sumptuous guise,
So to the same, a closet fayre is wrought,
Where Lords may sit in stately solemne wise,
As though it were a fine deuice of thought,
To beautifie both Tombe and euery part
Of that fayre worke, that there is made by arte.
In Tombe most rich, the top of fayre Touchstone:
There was bestow'd in honour of this mayd,
Great cost and charge, the trueth may well be knowne.
For as the Tombe, is built in sumptuous guise,
So to the same, a closet fayre is wrought,
Where Lords may sit in stately solemne wise,
As though it were a fine deuice of thought,
To beautifie both Tombe and euery part
Of that fayre worke, that there is made by arte.
Against that Tombe, full on the other side,
A Knight doth lye, that Iustice Townesend hight:
His wife likewise, so soone as that she dyed,
In this rich Tombe, was buryed by this Knight:
And trueth to tell, Dame Alice was her name,
An Heire in deede, that brought both wealth and land,
And as world sayth, a worthie vertuous Dame,
Whose auncient Armes, in colours there doth stand:
And many more, whose Armes I doe not knowe,
Unto this Knight, are ioyned all a roe.
A Knight doth lye, that Iustice Townesend hight:
His wife likewise, so soone as that she dyed,
In this rich Tombe, was buryed by this Knight:
And trueth to tell, Dame Alice was her name,
An Heire in deede, that brought both wealth and land,
And as world sayth, a worthie vertuous Dame,
Whose auncient Armes, in colours there doth stand:
And many more, whose Armes I doe not knowe,
Unto this Knight, are ioyned all a roe.
Amid the Church, a Chantrie Chappell stands,
Where Hozier lyes, a man that did much good:
Bestow'd great wealth, and gaue thereto some lands,
And helpt poore soules that in necessitie stood.
As many men, are bent to win good will
By some good turne, that they may freely showe:
So Hoziers hands, and head were working still:
For those he did, in det or daunger knowe.
He smyld to see, a begger at his doore:
For all his ioye, was to releeue the poore.
Where Hozier lyes, a man that did much good:
Bestow'd great wealth, and gaue thereto some lands,
And helpt poore soules that in necessitie stood.
By some good turne, that they may freely showe:
So Hoziers hands, and head were working still:
For those he did, in det or daunger knowe.
He smyld to see, a begger at his doore:
For all his ioye, was to releeue the poore.
Another man, whose name was Cookes for troth,
Like Hozier was, in all good gifts of grace:
This Cookes did giue, great lands and liuings both,
For to maintaine, a Chauntrie in that place.
A yeerely dole, and monthly almes likewise
He ordaynd there, which now the poore doe mis:
His wife and he, within that Chappell lyes,
Where yet full plaine, the Chauntrie standing is:
Some other things, of note there may you see
Within that Church, not touched now by mee.
Like Hozier was, in all good gifts of grace:
This Cookes did giue, great lands and liuings both,
For to maintaine, a Chauntrie in that place.
A yeerely dole, and monthly almes likewise
He ordaynd there, which now the poore doe mis:
His wife and he, within that Chappell lyes,
Where yet full plaine, the Chauntrie standing is:
Some other things, of note there may you see
Within that Church, not touched now by mee.
Yet Beawpy must, be nam'd good reason why,
For he bestow'd, great charge before he dyde,
To helpe poore men, and now his bones doth lye
Full nere the Font, vpon the formost side.
Thus in those daies, the poore was lookt vnto,
The rich was glad, to fling great wealth away:
So that their almes, the poore some good might do.
In poore mens boxe, who doth his treasure lay,
Shall finde againe, ten fold for one he leaues:
Or els my hope, and knowledge me deceiues.
For he bestow'd, great charge before he dyde,
To helpe poore men, and now his bones doth lye
Full nere the Font, vpon the formost side.
Thus in those daies, the poore was lookt vnto,
The rich was glad, to fling great wealth away:
So that their almes, the poore some good might do.
In poore mens boxe, who doth his treasure lay,
Shall finde againe, ten fold for one he leaues:
Or els my hope, and knowledge me deceiues.
The
Castle now, I mynd here to set out,
It stands right well, and pleasant to the vewe,
With sweete prospect, yea all the field about.
An auncient Seate, yet many buildings newe
Lord Presdent made, to giue it greater fame:
But if I must, discourse of things as true,
There are great works, that now doth beare no name,
Which were of old, and yet may pleasure you
To see the same: for loe in elders daies
Was much bestow'd, that now is much to praise.
It stands right well, and pleasant to the vewe,
With sweete prospect, yea all the field about.
An auncient Seate, yet many buildings newe
Lord Presdent made, to giue it greater fame:
But if I must, discourse of things as true,
Which were of old, and yet may pleasure you
To see the same: for loe in elders daies
Was much bestow'd, that now is much to praise.
Ouer a Chimney excellently wrought in the best chamber, is S. Androwes Crosse ioyned to Prince Arthurs Armes in the hallwindowe.
(A worthie worke, that fewe or none may mend)
This worke not such, that it may passe alone:
For as the tyme, did alwaies people send
To world, that might exceede in wit and spreete:
So sondrie sorts of works are in that Seate,
That for so hye a stately place is meete:
Which shewes this day, the workmanship is greate.
Looke on my Lords, and speak your fancies throw,
And you will praise, fayre Ludloe Castle now.
In it besides, (the works are here vnnam'd)
A Chappell is, most trim and costly sure,
So brauely wrought, so fayre and finely fram'd,
That to worlds end, the beautie may endure.
About the same, are Armes in colours sitch,
As fewe can shewe, in any Soyle or place:
A great deuice, a worke most rare and ritch:
Which truely shewes, the Armes, the blood and race
Of sondrie Kings, but chiefly Noble men,
That here in prose, I will set out with pen.
A Chappell is, most trim and costly sure,
So brauely wrought, so fayre and finely fram'd,
That to worlds end, the beautie may endure.
About the same, are Armes in colours sitch,
As fewe can shewe, in any Soyle or place:
A great deuice, a worke most rare and ritch:
Which truely shewes, the Armes, the blood and race
Of sondrie Kings, but chiefly Noble men,
That here in prose, I will set out with pen.
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