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 followes the Castles and Townes neere Oske, and there aboutes.
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 | The Worthines of Wales |  |
Now followes the Castles and Townes neere Oske, and there aboutes.
A pretie
Towne, calde Oske neere Raggland stands,
A Riuer there, doth beare the selfesame name:
His Christall streames, that runnes along the Sands,
Shewes that it is, a Riuer of great fame.
Fresh water sweete, this goodly Riuer yeelds,
And when it swels, it spreads ore all the Feelds:
Great store of Fish, is caught within this flood,
That doth in deede, both Towne and Countrey good.
A Riuer there, doth beare the selfesame name:
His Christall streames, that runnes along the Sands,
Shewes that it is, a Riuer of great fame.
Fresh water sweete, this goodly Riuer yeelds,
And when it swels, it spreads ore all the Feelds:
Great store of Fish, is caught within this flood,
That doth in deede, both Towne and Countrey good.
A thing to note, when Sammon failes in Wye,
(And season there: goes out as order is)
Than still of course, in Oske doth Sammons lye,
And of good Fish, in Oske you shall not mis.
And this seemes straunge, as doth through Wales appeere,
In some one place, are Sammons all the yeere.
So fresh, so sweete, so red, so crimp withall,
As man might say, loe, Sammon here at call.
(And season there: goes out as order is)
Than still of course, in Oske doth Sammons lye,
And of good Fish, in Oske you shall not mis.
And this seemes straunge, as doth through Wales appeere,
In some one place, are Sammons all the yeere.
As man might say, loe, Sammon here at call.
King Edward the fourth and his children, (as some affirme), and King Richard the third, were borne here.
A Seate where Kings, and Princes haue bene borne:
It stands full ore, a goodly pleasant Plaine,
The walles whereof, and towers are all to torne,
(With wethers blast, and tyme that weares all out)
And yet it hath, a fayre prospect about:
Trim Meades and walkes, along the Riuers side,
With Bridge well built, the force of flood to bide.
Upon the side, of wooddie hill full fayre,
This Castle stands, full sore decayde and broke:
Yet builded once, in fresh and wholesome ayre,
Full neere great Woods, and many a mightie Oke.
But sith it weares, and walles so wastes a way,
In praise thereof, I mynd not much to say:
Each thing decayd, goes quickly out of minde,
A rotten house, doth but fewe fauours finde.
This Castle stands, full sore decayde and broke:
Yet builded once, in fresh and wholesome ayre,
Full neere great Woods, and many a mightie Oke.
But sith it weares, and walles so wastes a way,
In praise thereof, I mynd not much to say:
Each thing decayd, goes quickly out of minde,
A rotten house, doth but fewe fauours finde.
Three Castles fayre, are in a goodly ground,
Grosmont is one, on Hill it builded was:
Skenfreth the next, in Ualley is it found,
The Soyle about, for pleasure there doth passe.
Whit Castle is, the third of worthie fame,
The Countrey there, doth beare Whit Castles name,
A stately Seate, a loftie princely place,
Whose beautie giues, the simple Soyles some grace.
Grosmont is one, on Hill it builded was:
Skenfreth the next, in Ualley is it found,
The Soyle about, for pleasure there doth passe.
Whit Castle is, the third of worthie fame,
The Countrey there, doth beare Whit Castles name,
A stately Seate, a loftie princely place,
Whose beautie giues, the simple Soyles some grace.
Two myles from that, vpon a mightie Hill,
Langibby stands, a Castle once of state:
Where well you may, the Countrey view at will,
And where there is, some buildings newe of late.
A wholesome place, a passing plat of ground,
As good an ayre, as there abouts is found:
It seemes to sight, the Seate was plast so well,
In elders daies, some Duke therein did dwell.
Langibby stands, a Castle once of state:
Where well you may, the Countrey view at will,
And where there is, some buildings newe of late.
A wholesome place, a passing plat of ground,
As good an ayre, as there abouts is found:
In elders daies, some Duke therein did dwell.
Carleon now, step in with stately style,
No feeble phrase, may serue to set thee forth:
Thy famous Towne, was spoke of many a myle,
Thou hast bene great, though now but little worth.
Thy noble bounds, hath reacht beyond them all,
In thee hath bene, King Arthurs golden Hall:
In thee the wise, and worthies did repose,
And through thy Towne, the water ebs and flowes.
No feeble phrase, may serue to set thee forth:
Thy famous Towne, was spoke of many a myle,
Thou hast bene great, though now but little worth.
Thy noble bounds, hath reacht beyond them all,
In thee hath bene, King Arthurs golden Hall:
In thee the wise, and worthies did repose,
And through thy Towne, the water ebs and flowes.
Come
learned lore with loftie style,
and leade these lynes of myne:
Come gracious Gods, and spare a whyle
to me the Muses nyne.
Come Poets all, whose passing phrase
doth pearce the finest wits:
Come knowledge whereon world doth gase,
(yet still in iudgement sits)
And helpe my pen to play his parte,
for pen is stept on stage,
To shewe by skill and cunning arte,
the state of former age.
For present tyme hath friends enowe,
to flatter faune and faine:
And elders daies I knowe not how,
doe dwell in deepe disdaine.
No friend for auncient yeeres we finde,
our age loues youth alone:
The former age weares out of minde,
as though such tyme were none.
and leade these lynes of myne:
Come gracious Gods, and spare a whyle
to me the Muses nyne.
Come Poets all, whose passing phrase
doth pearce the finest wits:
Come knowledge whereon world doth gase,
(yet still in iudgement sits)
And helpe my pen to play his parte,
for pen is stept on stage,
To shewe by skill and cunning arte,
the state of former age.
For present tyme hath friends enowe,
to flatter faune and faine:
And elders daies I knowe not how,
doe dwell in deepe disdaine.
No friend for auncient yeeres we finde,
our age loues youth alone:
The former age weares out of minde,
as though such tyme were none.
King Arthurs raigne (though true it weare)
Is now of small account:
The fame of Troy is knowne each where,
And to the Skyes doth mount.
Is now of small account:
And to the Skyes doth mount.
Both Athens, Theabes, and Carthage too
We hold of great renowne:
What then I pray you shall we doo,
To poore Carleon Towne.
We hold of great renowne:
What then I pray you shall we doo,
To poore Carleon Towne.
King Arthur sure was crowned there,
It was his royall Seate:
And in that Towne did Scepter beare,
With pompe and honor greate.
It was his royall Seate:
And in that Towne did Scepter beare,
With pompe and honor greate.
An Archbishop that Dubrick hight,
Did crowne this King in deede:
Foure Kings before him bore in sight,
Foure golden Swords we reede.
Did crowne this King in deede:
Foure Kings before him bore in sight,
Foure golden Swords we reede.
These Kings were famous of renowne,
Yet for their homage due:
Repayrd vnto Carleon Towne,
As I rehearse to you.
Yet for their homage due:
Repayrd vnto Carleon Towne,
As I rehearse to you.
How many Dukes, and Earles withall,
Good Authors can you tell:
And so true writers shewe you shall,
How Arthur there did dwell.
Good Authors can you tell:
And so true writers shewe you shall,
How Arthur there did dwell.
What Court he kept, what Acts he did,
What Conquest he obtaynd:
And in what Princely honor still,
King Arthur long remaynd.
What Conquest he obtaynd:
And in what Princely honor still,
King Arthur long remaynd.
Queene Gueneuer was crown'd likewise,
In Iulius Church they say:
Where that fower Queenes in solemne guise,
(In royall rich aray).
In Iulius Church they say:
(In royall rich aray).
Foure Pigeons white, bore in their hands
Before the Princesse face:
In signe the Queene of Brittish Lands,
Was worthie of that grace.
Before the Princesse face:
In signe the Queene of Brittish Lands,
Was worthie of that grace.
Carleon lodged all these Kings.
And many a noble Knight:
As may be prou'd by sondrie things,
That I haue seene in sight.
And many a noble Knight:
As may be prou'd by sondrie things,
That I haue seene in sight.
The bounds hath bene nine myles about,
The length thereof was great:
It shewes it self this day throughout,
It was a Princes Seate.
The length thereof was great:
It shewes it self this day throughout,
It was a Princes Seate.
In Arthurs tyme a Table round,
Was there whereat he sate:
As yet a plot of goodly ground,
Sets foorth that rare estate,
Was there whereat he sate:
As yet a plot of goodly ground,
Sets foorth that rare estate,
The Citie reacht to Creetchurch than,
And to Saint Gillyans both:
Which yet appeares to view of man,
To trye this tale a troth.
And to Saint Gillyans both:
Which yet appeares to view of man,
To trye this tale a troth.
There are such Uautes and hollowe Caues,
Such walles and Condits deepe:
Made all like pypes of earthen pots,
Wherein a child may creepe.
Such walles and Condits deepe:
Made all like pypes of earthen pots,
Wherein a child may creepe.
Such streates and pauements sondrie waies,
To euery market Towne:
Such Bridges built in elders daies,
And things of such renowne.
To euery market Towne:
And things of such renowne.
As men may muse of to behold,
But chiefly for to note:
There is a Castle very old,
That may not be forgot.
But chiefly for to note:
There is a Castle very old,
That may not be forgot.
It stands vpon a forced Hill,
Not farre from flowing flood:
Where loe ye view long Uales at will,
Enuyron'd all with wood.
Not farre from flowing flood:
Where loe ye view long Uales at will,
Enuyron'd all with wood.
From Castle all these things are seene,
as pleasures of the eye:
The goodly Groues and Uallies greene,
and wooddie Mountaines hye.
The crooked Creekes and pretie Brookes,
that are amid the Plaine:
The flowing Tydes that spreads the land,
and turnes to Sea againe.
The stately Woods that like a hoope,
doth compasse all the Uale:
The Princely plots that stands in troope,
to beautifie the Dale.
The Riuers that doth daily runne,
as cleare as Christall stone:
Shewes that most pleasures vnder Sunne,
Carleon had alone.
as pleasures of the eye:
The goodly Groues and Uallies greene,
and wooddie Mountaines hye.
The crooked Creekes and pretie Brookes,
that are amid the Plaine:
The flowing Tydes that spreads the land,
and turnes to Sea againe.
The stately Woods that like a hoope,
doth compasse all the Uale:
The Princely plots that stands in troope,
to beautifie the Dale.
The Riuers that doth daily runne,
as cleare as Christall stone:
Shewes that most pleasures vnder Sunne,
Carleon had alone.
Great ruth to see so braue a Soyle,
Fall in so sore decay:
In sorowe sit, full nere the foyle,
As Fortune fled away.
Fall in so sore decay:
As Fortune fled away.
And world forsooke to knowledge those,
That earst hath bene so greate:
Where Kings and graue Philosophers,
Made once therein their Seate.
That earst hath bene so greate:
Where Kings and graue Philosophers,
Made once therein their Seate.
Vrbs legionum was it namde,
In Cæsars daies I trowe:
And Arthur holding resdence there,
(As stories plainly showe).
In Cæsars daies I trowe:
And Arthur holding resdence there,
(As stories plainly showe).
Not only Kings and noble Peeres,
Repayrde vnto that place:
But learned men full many yeeres,
Receiu'd therein their grace.
Repayrde vnto that place:
But learned men full many yeeres,
Receiu'd therein their grace.
Than you that auncient things denyes,
Let now your talke surcease:
When profe is brought before your eyes,
Ye ought to hold your peace.
Let now your talke surcease:
When profe is brought before your eyes,
Ye ought to hold your peace.
And let Carleon haue his right,
And ioye his wonted fame:
And let each wise and worthie wight,
Speake well of Arthurs name.
And ioye his wonted fame:
And let each wise and worthie wight,
Speake well of Arthurs name.
Would God the brute thereof were knowne,
In Countrey, Court, and Towne:
And she that sits in reagall Throne,
With Scepter, Sword, and Crowne.
In Countrey, Court, and Towne:
And she that sits in reagall Throne,
With Scepter, Sword, and Crowne.
(Who came from Arthurs rase and lyne)
Would marke these matters throwe:
And shewe thereon her gracious eyne,
To helpe Carleon now.
Would marke these matters throwe:
To helpe Carleon now.
Thus farre my pen in Arthurs praise,
Hath past for plainnesse sake:
In honor of our elders daies,
That keepes my muse awake.
Hath past for plainnesse sake:
In honor of our elders daies,
That keepes my muse awake.
All only for to publish plaine,
Tyme past, tyme present both:
That tyme to come, may well retaine,
Of each good tyme, the troth.
Tyme past, tyme present both:
That tyme to come, may well retaine,
Of each good tyme, the troth.
| The Worthines of Wales | |