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 Creation of an Earle.
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 | The Worthines of Wales |  |
A Creation of an Earle.
Edward
by the grace of God, King most imperiall,
Of France, & England, & the Lord of Ireland therwithall,
To Archbishops, & Bishops all, to Abbotes and to Priors
To Dukes, to Earles, to Barrons, & to Sheriffes of the shires,
To Iustices, to Maiors, and chiefe of Townly gouernment,
To Baylieffes, & my lichefolke all, haue herewith greeting sent.
Knowe ye whereas we iudge it is a gracious Prince his parte,
To yeeld loue, fauour, and reward to men of great desarte:
Who of himselfe, his Royall house, and of the publique state,
Haue well deseru'd, their vertues rare euer to renumerate:
And to adorne with high reward, such vertue cleere and bright,
Stirs others vp to great attempts, and faintnes puts to flight.
We following on the famous course, yt former Kings haue run,
That worthie & approued wight, whose deedes most nobly dun,
Haue greatest things of vs deseru'd, we do intend to raise,
To fame and honors highest type, with gifts of Princely praise,
That truely regall are we meane, that valiant worthie Knight,
That William Herbert hath to name, & now L. Herbert hight.
Whose seruice whē we first did raigne, we did most faithful find.
When for our royal right we fought, which stil we call to mind:
To which we ad from then till now, continuall seruices,
Which many were whereof each one, to vs most pleasing is.
And chiefly when as lately now, his deedes did him declare,
A worthie Knight wherby he gayn'd, both fame and glorie rare:
When as that Rebell and our foe, euen Iasper Tudyrs sonne,
who said he Earle of Penbroke was, did westwales coast orerū
And there by subtile shifts and force, did diuers sondrie waies
Anoy our State, and therewithall a vyle Sedition raise.
But there he gaue to him a fielde, and with a valiant hand
Orethrew him and his forces all, that on his part did stand.
And marching all along those Coasts, ye most he slew out right,
The rest he brake and so disperst, they gaue themselues to flight.
Our Castle then of Hardelach, that from our first daies raigne,
A refuge for all Rebels did, against vs still remaine:
A Fort of wonderous force, besiege about did he,
And tooke it, where in most mens mynds, it could not taken be.
He wan it & did make them yeeld, who there their saftie sought,
And all the Countrie thereabouts, to our obedience brought.
These therefore his most worthie Acts, we calling into minde,
His seruices and great desarts, which we praise worthie finde:
And for that cause we willing him, with honors royally
For to adorne, decke, and aduaunce, and to sublime on hye.
The eight day of September, in the eight yeere of our Raigne,
We by this Charter, that for ours shall firme for euer remaine:
Of speciall grace and knowledge sure, sound and determinate,
And motiō meere him William doe, of Penbroke Count create
Erect, preferre, and vnto him the Title stile and state,
And name thereof and dignitie, foreuer appropriate,
As Earle of Penbroke and withall, we giue all rights that do
All honors and preheminence, that state perteyne vnto:
With which estate, stile, honor, great, and worthie dignitie,
By cincture of a Sword, we him ennoble reallie.
Of France, & England, & the Lord of Ireland therwithall,
To Archbishops, & Bishops all, to Abbotes and to Priors
To Dukes, to Earles, to Barrons, & to Sheriffes of the shires,
To Baylieffes, & my lichefolke all, haue herewith greeting sent.
Knowe ye whereas we iudge it is a gracious Prince his parte,
To yeeld loue, fauour, and reward to men of great desarte:
Who of himselfe, his Royall house, and of the publique state,
Haue well deseru'd, their vertues rare euer to renumerate:
And to adorne with high reward, such vertue cleere and bright,
Stirs others vp to great attempts, and faintnes puts to flight.
We following on the famous course, yt former Kings haue run,
That worthie & approued wight, whose deedes most nobly dun,
Haue greatest things of vs deseru'd, we do intend to raise,
To fame and honors highest type, with gifts of Princely praise,
That truely regall are we meane, that valiant worthie Knight,
That William Herbert hath to name, & now L. Herbert hight.
Whose seruice whē we first did raigne, we did most faithful find.
When for our royal right we fought, which stil we call to mind:
To which we ad from then till now, continuall seruices,
Which many were whereof each one, to vs most pleasing is.
And chiefly when as lately now, his deedes did him declare,
A worthie Knight wherby he gayn'd, both fame and glorie rare:
When as that Rebell and our foe, euen Iasper Tudyrs sonne,
who said he Earle of Penbroke was, did westwales coast orerū
And there by subtile shifts and force, did diuers sondrie waies
Anoy our State, and therewithall a vyle Sedition raise.
But there he gaue to him a fielde, and with a valiant hand
Orethrew him and his forces all, that on his part did stand.
And marching all along those Coasts, ye most he slew out right,
The rest he brake and so disperst, they gaue themselues to flight.
Our Castle then of Hardelach, that from our first daies raigne,
A refuge for all Rebels did, against vs still remaine:
A Fort of wonderous force, besiege about did he,
And tooke it, where in most mens mynds, it could not taken be.
He wan it & did make them yeeld, who there their saftie sought,
And all the Countrie thereabouts, to our obedience brought.
These therefore his most worthie Acts, we calling into minde,
His seruices and great desarts, which we praise worthie finde:
For to adorne, decke, and aduaunce, and to sublime on hye.
The eight day of September, in the eight yeere of our Raigne,
We by this Charter, that for ours shall firme for euer remaine:
Of speciall grace and knowledge sure, sound and determinate,
And motiō meere him William doe, of Penbroke Count create
Erect, preferre, and vnto him the Title stile and state,
And name thereof and dignitie, foreuer appropriate,
As Earle of Penbroke and withall, we giue all rights that do
All honors and preheminence, that state perteyne vnto:
With which estate, stile, honor, great, and worthie dignitie,
By cincture of a Sword, we him ennoble reallie.
For that the sence, and worthie words were great,
The seruice such, as merites noble fame:
The forme thereof, in verse I doe repeate,
And shewe likewise, the Lattin of the same.
He seru'd a King, that could him well reward,
And of his house, and race tooke great regard,
And recompenst, his manly doing right,
With honor due, to such a noble Knight.
The seruice such, as merites noble fame:
The forme thereof, in verse I doe repeate,
And shewe likewise, the Lattin of the same.
He seru'd a King, that could him well reward,
And of his house, and race tooke great regard,
And recompenst, his manly doing right,
With honor due, to such a noble Knight.
Where loyall mynd, doth offer life and all,
For to preserue, the Prince and publique state:
There doth great hap, and thankfull Fortune fall,
As guerdon sent, by destnie and good fate.
No Soueraine can, forget a Subiects troeth,
With whose good grace, great loue and fauour goeth:
Great gifts and place, great glorie and renowne,
They get and gayne, that truely serues a Crowne.
For to preserue, the Prince and publique state:
There doth great hap, and thankfull Fortune fall,
As guerdon sent, by destnie and good fate.
No Soueraine can, forget a Subiects troeth,
With whose good grace, great loue and fauour goeth:
Great gifts and place, great glorie and renowne,
They get and gayne, that truely serues a Crowne.
And thou my Knight, that art his heire in blood,
Though Lordship, land, and Ragglands stately towers,
A female heire, and force of fortunes flood
Haue thee bereft, yet bearst his fruits and flowers:
His armes, his name, his faith and mynd are thyne,
By nature, nurture, arte and grace deuyne:
Ore Seas and Lands, these moue thee paynes to take,
For God, for fame, for thy sweete Soueraines sake.
Though Lordship, land, and Ragglands stately towers,
A female heire, and force of fortunes flood
Haue thee bereft, yet bearst his fruits and flowers:
By nature, nurture, arte and grace deuyne:
Ore Seas and Lands, these moue thee paynes to take,
For God, for fame, for thy sweete Soueraines sake.
| The Worthines of Wales | |