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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A true note of the auncient Castles, famous Monuments,
goodly Riuers, faire Bridges, fine Townes, and courteous people,
that I haue seene in the noble Countrie of Wales.
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 | The Worthines of Wales |  |
A true note of the auncient Castles, famous Monuments, goodly Riuers, faire Bridges, fine Townes, and courteous people, that I haue seene in the noble Countrie of Wales.
Through
sondrie Soyles, and stately Kingdomes ritch,
Long haue I traest, to tread out time and yeares:
Where I at will, haue surely seene right mitch,
As by my works, and printed bookes appeares.
And wearied thus, with toyle in forrayne place,
I homeward drue, to take some rest a space:
But labouring mynd, that rests not but in bed,
Began a fresh, to trouble restles hed.
Long haue I traest, to tread out time and yeares:
Where I at will, haue surely seene right mitch,
As by my works, and printed bookes appeares.
And wearied thus, with toyle in forrayne place,
I homeward drue, to take some rest a space:
But labouring mynd, that rests not but in bed,
Began a fresh, to trouble restles hed.
Then newfound toyles, that hales men all in haste,
To runne on head, and looke not where they goe:
Bade reason ride, where loue should be enbraste,
And where tyme could, his labour best bestowe.
To Wales (quoth Wit), there doth plaine people dwell,
So mayst thou come, to heauen out of hell:
For Fraunce is fine, and full of faithlesse waies,
Poore Flaunders grosse, and farre from happie daies.
To runne on head, and looke not where they goe:
Bade reason ride, where loue should be enbraste,
And where tyme could, his labour best bestowe.
To Wales (quoth Wit), there doth plaine people dwell,
So mayst thou come, to heauen out of hell:
For Fraunce is fine, and full of faithlesse waies,
Poore Flaunders grosse, and farre from happie daies.
Ritch Spayne is proude, and sterne to straungers all,
In Italie, poysning is alwaies rife:
And Germanie, to Drunkennesse doth fall,
The Danes likewise, doe leade a bibbing life.
The Scots seeke bloud, and beare a cruell mynd,
Ireland growes nought, the people waxe vnkynd:
England God wot, hath learnde such leawdnesse late,
That Wales methinks, is now the soundest state.
In Italie, poysning is alwaies rife:
The Danes likewise, doe leade a bibbing life.
The Scots seeke bloud, and beare a cruell mynd,
Ireland growes nought, the people waxe vnkynd:
England God wot, hath learnde such leawdnesse late,
That Wales methinks, is now the soundest state.
In all the rest, of Kingdomes farre or nere,
A tricke or two, of treacherie staynes the Soyle:
But since the tyme, that rule and lawe came here,
This Brittish land, was neuer put to foyle,
For foule offence, or fault it did commit:
The people here, in peace doth quiet sit,
Obayes the Prince, without reuolt or iarre,
Because they know, ethe smart of Ciuill warre.
A tricke or two, of treacherie staynes the Soyle:
But since the tyme, that rule and lawe came here,
This Brittish land, was neuer put to foyle,
For foule offence, or fault it did commit:
The people here, in peace doth quiet sit,
Obayes the Prince, without reuolt or iarre,
Because they know, ethe smart of Ciuill warre.
Whiles quarrels rage, did nourish ruyne and wracke,
And Owen Glendore, set bloodie broyles abroach:
Full many a Towne, was spoyld and put to sacke,
And cleane consum'd, to Countries foule reproach.
Great Castles raste, fayre Buyldings burnt to dust,
Such reuell raignde, that men did liue by lust:
But since they came, and yeelded vnto Lawe,
Most meeke as Lambe, within one yoke they drawe.
And Owen Glendore, set bloodie broyles abroach:
Full many a Towne, was spoyld and put to sacke,
And cleane consum'd, to Countries foule reproach.
Great Castles raste, fayre Buyldings burnt to dust,
Such reuell raignde, that men did liue by lust:
But since they came, and yeelded vnto Lawe,
Most meeke as Lambe, within one yoke they drawe.
Like brethren now, doe Welshmen still agree,
In as much loue, as any men aliue:
The friendship there, and concord that I see,
I doe compare, to Bees in Honey hiue.
Which keepe in swarme, and hold together still,
Yet gladly showe, to straunger great good will:
A courteous kynd, of loue in euery place,
A man may finde, in simple peoples face.
In as much loue, as any men aliue:
The friendship there, and concord that I see,
I doe compare, to Bees in Honey hiue.
Which keepe in swarme, and hold together still,
Yet gladly showe, to straunger great good will:
A courteous kynd, of loue in euery place,
A man may finde, in simple peoples face.
Passe where you please, on Plaine or Mountaine wilde,
And beare your selfe, in sweete and ciuill sort:
And you shall sure, be haulst with man and childe,
Who will salute, with gentle comely port
The passers by: on braues they stand not so,
Without good speech, to let a trau'ler go:
They thinke it dett, and duetie franke and free,
In Towne or fielde, to yeeld you cap and knee.
And beare your selfe, in sweete and ciuill sort:
Who will salute, with gentle comely port
The passers by: on braues they stand not so,
Without good speech, to let a trau'ler go:
They thinke it dett, and duetie franke and free,
In Towne or fielde, to yeeld you cap and knee.
They will not striue, to royst and take the way,
Of any man, that trauailes through their Land:
A greater thing, of Wales now will I say,
Ye may come there, beare purse of gold in hand,
Or mightie bagges, of siluer stuffed throwe,
And no one man, dare touch your treasure now:
Which shewes some grace, doth rule and guyde them there,
That doth to God, and man such Conscience beare.
Of any man, that trauailes through their Land:
A greater thing, of Wales now will I say,
Ye may come there, beare purse of gold in hand,
Or mightie bagges, of siluer stuffed throwe,
And no one man, dare touch your treasure now:
Which shewes some grace, doth rule and guyde them there,
That doth to God, and man such Conscience beare.
Behold besides, a further thing to note,
The best cheape cheare, they haue that may be found:
The shot is great, when each mans paies his groate,
If all alike, the reckoning runneth round.
There market good, and victuals nothing deare,
Each place is filde, with plentie all the yeare:
The ground mannurde, the graine doth so encrease,
That thousands liue, in wealth and blessed peace.
The best cheape cheare, they haue that may be found:
The shot is great, when each mans paies his groate,
If all alike, the reckoning runneth round.
There market good, and victuals nothing deare,
Each place is filde, with plentie all the yeare:
The ground mannurde, the graine doth so encrease,
That thousands liue, in wealth and blessed peace.
But come againe, vnto their courteous shoe,
That wins the hearts, of all that markes the same:
The like whereof, through all the world doe goe,
And scarce ye shall, finde people in such frame.
For meeke as Doue, in lookes and speech they are,
Not rough and rude, (as spitefull tongues declare)
No sure they seeme, no sooner out of shell,
(But nature shewes) they knowe good maners well.
That wins the hearts, of all that markes the same:
The like whereof, through all the world doe goe,
And scarce ye shall, finde people in such frame.
For meeke as Doue, in lookes and speech they are,
Not rough and rude, (as spitefull tongues declare)
No sure they seeme, no sooner out of shell,
(But nature shewes) they knowe good maners well.
How can this be, that weaklings nurst so harde,
(Who barely goes, both barefoote and vncled)
In gifts of mynd, should haue so great regarde,
Except within, from birth some grace were bred.
It must be so, doe wit not me deceaue,
What nature giues, the world cannot bereaue:
In this remaines, a secrete worke deuine,
Which shewe they rise, from auncient race and line.
(Who barely goes, both barefoote and vncled)
Except within, from birth some grace were bred.
It must be so, doe wit not me deceaue,
What nature giues, the world cannot bereaue:
In this remaines, a secrete worke deuine,
Which shewe they rise, from auncient race and line.
In Authors old, you shall that plainly reade,
Geraldus one, and learned Geffrey two:
The third for troth, is Venerable Beade,
That many graue, and worthie workes did doe.
What needes this proofe, or genalogies here,
Their noble blood, doth by their liues appeare:
Their stately Townes, and Castles euery where,
Of their renowme, doth daily witnesse beare.
Geraldus one, and learned Geffrey two:
The third for troth, is Venerable Beade,
That many graue, and worthie workes did doe.
What needes this proofe, or genalogies here,
Their noble blood, doth by their liues appeare:
Their stately Townes, and Castles euery where,
Of their renowme, doth daily witnesse beare.
| The Worthines of Wales | |