The Flovver of Fame Containing the bright Renowne, & moste fortunate raigne of King Henry the viii. Wherein is mentioned of matters, by the rest of our Chronographers ouerpassed. Compyled by Ulpian Fulwell. Hereunto is annexed (by the Author) a short treatice of iii. noble and vertuous Queenes. And a discourse of the worthie seruice that was done at Hadington in Scotlande, the seconde yere of the raigne of King Edward the sixt |
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A Preamble to this parte of the Booke following.
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 | The Flovver of Fame |  |
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A Preamble to this parte of the Booke following.
Lyke as the auncient Greekeshaue painted out at large,
Their noble ladyes worthie lyues
and therof taken charge:
And as the Romaine dames
had writers of their actes,
Euen so the trowpe of Englysh trayne
haue some to tell their factes.
Whose bryght and shyning fame
deserues to haue a place,
Coequall with the best that hath
runne on in vertues race.
Then let not Englande blushe
to blase their ladies lyues,
Which no whit is inferiour
vnto the Romayne wyues.
Let them vaunt if they list
of Lucrece chastitie,
I prayse the greekes Penelope
for her fidelitie.
A nomber myght be namde
that wryters pennes haue praysde,
Who for their lyues and noble actes
an endlesse fame hath raysde.
And yet among the rest
that retche their fame so farre:
lyke Venus twinkling Starre.
Whose nomber sure is greate,
although I name but fewe:
But yet as tyme will lycence mee
I shall more largely shewe.
The lyues and noble actes
of Ladyes in those dayes:
whome noble vertue hath aduaunsde
to winne immortall prayse.
For lyke as valyant men
therof do gayne renowne:
So worthie actes of weomen kynde
may not bee quite throwne downe.
Fame may not parciall bee
but as desertes requyre:
Must yelde to euery worldly wyght
their due deserued hyre.
| The Flovver of Fame | |