The ioyfvll receyuing of the Queens most excellent Maiestie into hir Highnesse Citie of Norvvich: The thing done in the time of hir abode there: and the Dolor of the citie at hir departure. Wherein are set downe diuers orations in Latine, pronounced to hir Highnesse by Sir Robert Wood Knight, now maior of the same citie, and others: and certaine also deliuered to hir Maiestie in vvriting: euery of the[m] turned into English [by Bernard Garter] |
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Then spake Martia. |
 | The ioyfvll receyuing of the Queens most excellent Maiestie |  |
Then spake Martia.
VVith long discourse (oh puissant Prince) some tract of time we spend,Vouchesafe yet nowe a little more, and then we make an ende.
The thundring blaste of Fame, whereof Dame Norwich first did speake,
Not only shooke the aire and skies, but all the earth did breake,
It rend vp graues, and bodies raisde, eche spirite tooke his place,
And this alonely worde was hearde: Here comth the pearle of Grace,
Here commes the Iewell of the worlde, hir peoples whole delight,
The Paragon of present time, and Prince of Earthly Might.
The voice was strange, the wonder more: For when we viewde the Earth
Eche Prince that erst had raigned here, receyvde againe his breath,
And with his breath, a libertie to holde againe his place,
If any one amongest vs all exceede your noble Grace.
Some comforte euery one conceyued to catche againe his owne,
His vtmost skill was trimly vsde, to haue his vertues knowne.
The playes surpasse my skill to tell, but when eche one had sayde,
VVil you contende with hir (quoth he,) within whose sacred breast
Dame Pallas and my selfe haue framde our soueraigne seate of rest?
VVhose skill directs the Muses nine, whose grace doth Venus staine:
Hir eloquence like Mercurie: Like Iuno in hir traine?
VVhose God is that eternall Ioue which holds vs al in awe?
Beleeue me, you exceede the bounds of equitie and lawe.
Therewith they shronk themselues aside, not one I coulde espie,
They coutcht them in their caues agayne and there ful quiet lye,
Yet I that Martia hight, whiche sometime rulde this land,
As Queene for thirtie three yeares space, gate licence at his hande,
And so Gurguntius did, my husbands father deare,
VVhiche built this Towne and Castle both, to make oure homage here,
VVhiche homage mightie Queene accept: The Realme and right is thine:
The Crowne, the Scepter, and the sworde to thee we do resigne.
And wishe to God, that thou mayste raigne, twice Nestors yeares in peace,
Triumphing ouer all thy foes, to all our Ioyes encreace.
Amen.
FINIS.
B. G.
| The ioyfvll receyuing of the Queens most excellent Maiestie | |