The valiant actes And victorious Battailes of the English nation from the yeere of our Lord, one thousand three hundred twentie and seuen: being the first yeare of the raigne of the most mightie Prince Edvvard the third, to the yeere 1558. Also, of the peaceable and quiet state of England, vnder the blessed gouernement of the most excellent and vertuous Princesse Elizabeth: A compendious declaration written by C. O. And newly translated out of Latine verse into English meeter. By I. S. [i.e. John Sharrock] |
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| [2]. | [The second Booke.] |
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 | The valiant actes And victorious Battailes of the English nation |  |
[The second Booke.]
He
from his tender yeares, the workes of mighty Mars esteemd,
That other giftes most singular, which well a Prince beseemd:
As well of body, as of minde, I do not here declare.
How puissant, courteous eke, how he his shoulders loftie bare
Aboue the rest, with comely face adornd, and vertue rare.
The fourth time haruest yellowish waxt, since first he ruld this soyle,
And hott Autumnus scorching flames, the earth did chapping broile:
When Henry valiant Britayne king, did fearefull wars vp rere,
And cruell Frankes, to blouddy campes, of dreadfull Mars did stere.
The Romane bishop him incenst these warres to take in hand:
Wherfore the surging floudes he cuts, and doth at Callice land,
The Citie filling full, with thirtie thousand souldiours stout.
Foure noble Captaines onely tane, out of the warlike rout:
Lord Talbot martiall Peere, and eger Poynings fierce in fight,
Rice ap Thomas floure of Wales, and Somerset a doughtie knight.
Which Henry had foresent, to fragrant fieldes where Turwyn standes.
Turwyn a walled fortresse strong yfencst with warlike bandes.
In tune of pleasant spring, as boystrous windes with whirling blastes,
On ground all sweeping sheere, and stubble light, and dust vp castes:
Or as the earth, with croked teeth, of sickle sharpe, is shorne:
So downe the heardes of deare, with th'English horsemen thick are borne.
They troupes of prisoners take, and droues of beastes, subdue by might.
The king insues, and thirtie thousand men in harnish dight,
Of hard brasse beaten forgd, in siege gainst Turwyn walls he pight.
Under the Britaine king the mightie Emperour serues for pay,
And blouddy Germaines fierce, in bruntes of warre renownd alway.
Nothing to souldiours is disburst for hyer, but fyned gold:
Of which ech tent throughout the campe, such wondrous store did hold:
That money for to coine, the king of siluer was constrainde.
Rewardes stout courage brought, and hier in armes haut hartes maintaind.
The Celtane horsemen troupes with valiaunt Brutes do battaile make,
To rescue theirs, but all in vayne they weaker armour take.
The palme of conquest wonne away, the puissant Britayne beares,
The enemies all thrust through with sharpned pointes of thirling speares.
The walls with roring Cannon shot, all groueling battred downe,
Doe easie passage giue, and entraunce large into the towne,
And Frenchmen fild with shiuering dread. Now Turwyn Britaines hold,
And conquered spoyles, of ransackt towne, the king decks manifold.
Whose mighty puissance great, in feates of Mars, with flickring winges,
Swift sliding through the ayre, Report, to bordring Cities bringes.
In Tornay famous Citie strong, when that these newes were told,
For very grief she grones and grauntes for tribute sommes of gold.
And gates wide open setts, permitting Britaines entrance bold,
Within her walls, and subiect now, vnto new Lordes becomne,
Extincting former lawes, of Henry king takes new in romne.
Meane time kyng Iames which then of Scottes the regall mace did beare,
And to confirme the league, till warres of Britaines ended were,
With Frankes in hand, the sacred hoast had tane not long beforne,
And on the holy Sacrament, had most deuoutly sworne:
For to obserue the couenantes, then plighted to his frend:
Himselfe with flaming fire, and sword, against our bankes doth bend.
And sixtie thousand souldiours hard, all armed, training fast
In absence of their Lord, the Britaine borders wide doth wast.
The Surrey Earle of English bondes, assignd lieftenant, stright
Of valiant Brutes an army chose, and to augment his might,
He noble Peers of auncient race descended, to him ioynes,
Scroupe, Stanly, Latymer, of stomacke stout, and sturdy loynes.
Lord Dacres present was, and Clifford harnisht glistering gay
Than Bulmer, Butler than with Haward Admirall of the sea:
And Edmond to him wynd, sprong of one line of Grandsiers old,
Which first assailde his foes, couragious knight, aduentring bold.
Both dight in brestplates black, so made by salt seas springling drop,
The enemy planted was, on Flodden mountaines crested topp.
And when approching fast, the king perceau'd, in battaile ray,
With banners broad displayde, the Brutes toward him take their way,
Dismounted from his steede, where glory vaine incenst him forth
Or feruent angers rage (which in such case is little worth)
He forefront of the battaile leades, and straight assailes his foes.
On sturdy buckler bosse, the Britaine bare the enemies blowes,
And venging gleine, with goary bloud, downe runnyng red, imbrued.
Three long houres, armyes both in doutfull bickering fierce pursued.
The Scott with two large greisley woundes, the sharpe sword edge doth slay:
So doth he for his faithles part, deserued penaunce pay.
Part sau'd themselues by flight, the remnaunt downe to death are cast,
Renowned Henry, thus of nations twaine, returnes at last
Chief conquerour to his natiue land, where thus his foes destroyde,
Then after many yeares he rul'de, and quiet peace inioyde.
At length the Northarne borderers, abusde were of the Scott,
But he Embassadours doth send, the trespasse out to blott,
And to acquite himselfe, which done the Legates home retire.
But after that, on this side Britaines grudgd, and Scottish Ire,
On that side is incenst, for on their borders grewe a strife,
And secret murmuringes went, how quarrels dayly waxed rife,
Betwixt the peoples twaine, Scarse thrise dame Phœbes glittering flame
Repayred had her blazing beames, and circle round became:
When as a mightie power of Scots well arm'de with troncheon speares,
One part on foote, the other hors'd on praunsing steedes, vp reares
Themselues, and in Nouember when the high heauens rayne down powrd,
Irruption making fierce, with sword and fire, our borders scourd.
There is a Citie hight Carlile, with strong walles fenced round,
Built in the Northpart of this land, which without balke or bound,
In valley playne is set, and faire broad campes doth bordring vue,
Out of this fortrest warlike towne, the kinges lieuetenant drue.
And other partes adioyning neere, which are in Cumberland,
Two thousand Britaines harnisht bright, gainst all the Scottes to stand.
Which hautie hearted Wharton, doth conduct in open fieldes,
And egar onset giues, dishiuering speares, and battering shieldes.
But Scottes, a chilly feare theyr trembling hartes possessing stright,
Astonisht were, at first assault: and by Ioues power almight,
Were conquerde, battered downe, all groueling on the duskie ground,
Some takes the bushy groues, and dungeon caues with rough rockes bound.
Some swift to mountaynes toppes, with tale okes froughted, flying gate:
The king of Scottes himselfe, which on a hill side lurking sate,
Afright with this euent, and of his men the sloughter vast:
To passe a gurtie floud, himselfe into the channell cast.
The riuer through wilde winter showres, then flowed aboue the brinkes,
Wherfore in midst of striuing streames he, gulping waters sinkes.
Besides all those which flight preseru'd, and were in skirmage slaine,
A number captiue of the Peeres, and commons did remayne,
Which wearied sore, and sad, that night Carlile did safe containe.
The common sort with iron boltes, and shackles fettred fast.
Which for a mashy muck of coyne, all raunsom'de at the last:
As conquerours, and conquered betweene them could agree:
Doe haste them home to natiue soyle, from bondage quited free.
But all the nobler sorte, from race of auncient Peeres esprong,
From thence to London Tower with swift course were conueyed along.
Where they inclosed fast, the first night were constrayned to stay,
All mourning, pensiue wightes, sweet liberties freedome tane away.
The next morne glomy shadowes dimme, from hye heauens had depres'd,
When godly Henry mindfull still, of wretched wightes distres'd:
That other giftes most singular, which well a Prince beseemd:
As well of body, as of minde, I do not here declare.
How puissant, courteous eke, how he his shoulders loftie bare
Aboue the rest, with comely face adornd, and vertue rare.
The fourth time haruest yellowish waxt, since first he ruld this soyle,
And hott Autumnus scorching flames, the earth did chapping broile:
When Henry valiant Britayne king, did fearefull wars vp rere,
And cruell Frankes, to blouddy campes, of dreadfull Mars did stere.
The Romane bishop him incenst these warres to take in hand:
Wherfore the surging floudes he cuts, and doth at Callice land,
The Citie filling full, with thirtie thousand souldiours stout.
Foure noble Captaines onely tane, out of the warlike rout:
Lord Talbot martiall Peere, and eger Poynings fierce in fight,
Rice ap Thomas floure of Wales, and Somerset a doughtie knight.
Which Henry had foresent, to fragrant fieldes where Turwyn standes.
Turwyn a walled fortresse strong yfencst with warlike bandes.
In tune of pleasant spring, as boystrous windes with whirling blastes,
On ground all sweeping sheere, and stubble light, and dust vp castes:
Or as the earth, with croked teeth, of sickle sharpe, is shorne:
So downe the heardes of deare, with th'English horsemen thick are borne.
They troupes of prisoners take, and droues of beastes, subdue by might.
The king insues, and thirtie thousand men in harnish dight,
Of hard brasse beaten forgd, in siege gainst Turwyn walls he pight.
Under the Britaine king the mightie Emperour serues for pay,
And blouddy Germaines fierce, in bruntes of warre renownd alway.
Nothing to souldiours is disburst for hyer, but fyned gold:
Of which ech tent throughout the campe, such wondrous store did hold:
That money for to coine, the king of siluer was constrainde.
Rewardes stout courage brought, and hier in armes haut hartes maintaind.
The Celtane horsemen troupes with valiaunt Brutes do battaile make,
To rescue theirs, but all in vayne they weaker armour take.
The palme of conquest wonne away, the puissant Britayne beares,
The enemies all thrust through with sharpned pointes of thirling speares.
The walls with roring Cannon shot, all groueling battred downe,
Doe easie passage giue, and entraunce large into the towne,
And Frenchmen fild with shiuering dread. Now Turwyn Britaines hold,
And conquered spoyles, of ransackt towne, the king decks manifold.
Whose mighty puissance great, in feates of Mars, with flickring winges,
Swift sliding through the ayre, Report, to bordring Cities bringes.
For very grief she grones and grauntes for tribute sommes of gold.
And gates wide open setts, permitting Britaines entrance bold,
Within her walls, and subiect now, vnto new Lordes becomne,
Extincting former lawes, of Henry king takes new in romne.
Meane time kyng Iames which then of Scottes the regall mace did beare,
And to confirme the league, till warres of Britaines ended were,
With Frankes in hand, the sacred hoast had tane not long beforne,
And on the holy Sacrament, had most deuoutly sworne:
For to obserue the couenantes, then plighted to his frend:
Himselfe with flaming fire, and sword, against our bankes doth bend.
And sixtie thousand souldiours hard, all armed, training fast
In absence of their Lord, the Britaine borders wide doth wast.
The Surrey Earle of English bondes, assignd lieftenant, stright
Of valiant Brutes an army chose, and to augment his might,
He noble Peers of auncient race descended, to him ioynes,
Scroupe, Stanly, Latymer, of stomacke stout, and sturdy loynes.
Lord Dacres present was, and Clifford harnisht glistering gay
Than Bulmer, Butler than with Haward Admirall of the sea:
And Edmond to him wynd, sprong of one line of Grandsiers old,
Which first assailde his foes, couragious knight, aduentring bold.
Both dight in brestplates black, so made by salt seas springling drop,
The enemy planted was, on Flodden mountaines crested topp.
And when approching fast, the king perceau'd, in battaile ray,
With banners broad displayde, the Brutes toward him take their way,
Dismounted from his steede, where glory vaine incenst him forth
Or feruent angers rage (which in such case is little worth)
He forefront of the battaile leades, and straight assailes his foes.
On sturdy buckler bosse, the Britaine bare the enemies blowes,
And venging gleine, with goary bloud, downe runnyng red, imbrued.
Three long houres, armyes both in doutfull bickering fierce pursued.
The Scott with two large greisley woundes, the sharpe sword edge doth slay:
So doth he for his faithles part, deserued penaunce pay.
Part sau'd themselues by flight, the remnaunt downe to death are cast,
Renowned Henry, thus of nations twaine, returnes at last
Chief conquerour to his natiue land, where thus his foes destroyde,
Then after many yeares he rul'de, and quiet peace inioyde.
At length the Northarne borderers, abusde were of the Scott,
But he Embassadours doth send, the trespasse out to blott,
And to acquite himselfe, which done the Legates home retire.
On that side is incenst, for on their borders grewe a strife,
And secret murmuringes went, how quarrels dayly waxed rife,
Betwixt the peoples twaine, Scarse thrise dame Phœbes glittering flame
Repayred had her blazing beames, and circle round became:
When as a mightie power of Scots well arm'de with troncheon speares,
One part on foote, the other hors'd on praunsing steedes, vp reares
Themselues, and in Nouember when the high heauens rayne down powrd,
Irruption making fierce, with sword and fire, our borders scourd.
There is a Citie hight Carlile, with strong walles fenced round,
Built in the Northpart of this land, which without balke or bound,
In valley playne is set, and faire broad campes doth bordring vue,
Out of this fortrest warlike towne, the kinges lieuetenant drue.
And other partes adioyning neere, which are in Cumberland,
Two thousand Britaines harnisht bright, gainst all the Scottes to stand.
Which hautie hearted Wharton, doth conduct in open fieldes,
And egar onset giues, dishiuering speares, and battering shieldes.
But Scottes, a chilly feare theyr trembling hartes possessing stright,
Astonisht were, at first assault: and by Ioues power almight,
Were conquerde, battered downe, all groueling on the duskie ground,
Some takes the bushy groues, and dungeon caues with rough rockes bound.
Some swift to mountaynes toppes, with tale okes froughted, flying gate:
The king of Scottes himselfe, which on a hill side lurking sate,
Afright with this euent, and of his men the sloughter vast:
To passe a gurtie floud, himselfe into the channell cast.
The riuer through wilde winter showres, then flowed aboue the brinkes,
Wherfore in midst of striuing streames he, gulping waters sinkes.
Besides all those which flight preseru'd, and were in skirmage slaine,
A number captiue of the Peeres, and commons did remayne,
Which wearied sore, and sad, that night Carlile did safe containe.
The common sort with iron boltes, and shackles fettred fast.
Which for a mashy muck of coyne, all raunsom'de at the last:
As conquerours, and conquered betweene them could agree:
Doe haste them home to natiue soyle, from bondage quited free.
But all the nobler sorte, from race of auncient Peeres esprong,
From thence to London Tower with swift course were conueyed along.
Where they inclosed fast, the first night were constrayned to stay,
All mourning, pensiue wightes, sweet liberties freedome tane away.
The next morne glomy shadowes dimme, from hye heauens had depres'd,
When godly Henry mindfull still, of wretched wightes distres'd:
Commaundes the Captiues all, adornde in robes, as white as milke,
The kinges rich pretious giftes, all curious wrought with finest silke.
Through midst of London vnto him, gentlie to be conuayde.
Then of the hard vngratefull harts of Scottes, but little sayde:
There olde accustomed fraud ingraft, he reprehendeth much.
Yet all with wondrous lenitie, and pleasaunt countenance such,
As louing parentes vse to haue, when they their children deare,
Sprong from their proper loyns, correcting chide, to put in feare.
The Captiues on the other side, did render ample speech,
Both for themselues, and countrie soyle: and for their late dead leich,
And farther did in humble sort beseech his royall grace,
That he vnto their wordes would lend, his listening eare a space,
King Henry grauntes, deepe silence straight ech man from talk doth hold:
When thus the eldest of the troupe, of captiues thus he told.
O Prince amongst all noble kinges of Europe most renownd,
Whose mightie praise through weightie workes in warfare doth abound.
We conquered Scottes, thee conquerour, confesse with willing thought.
Nor shame it is to such as you, vs subiect to be brought.
what shame ist for the Panther weake, to'th Lion grim to couch?
If sharper penance you appoint, deseru'de I hit auouch.
Our vitall blisse, our finall bane, in your handes doth remaine:
Howbeit to such a prince renownd, our death small prayse can gayne.
Nor to be slayne, can profit bring, vnto your souldiers stout,
Respect our sucking babes, and dolefull spouses scriking out:
with teares the ruthfull funeralls, bewayling of their Lordes:
As dead. Offendours to forgiue, it greater glorie fordes,
If they offend which hest obey, of their annoynted king
Then twentie hundred foes in field, to dreadfull death to bring.
But now vnto our sute, which pondring wey with iustice right,
Renowmed prince: we entrance made, thy coastes to wast by might,
And wasted haue the bordring hamlettes neere with fierie flame:
Haue not our men with condigne death, paide penance for the same?
Our king no longer vitall breath and aire supernall takes,
But lucklesse chance, of lowring Mars, and life, despising hates.
Perchance the Destinies so required, and God the eternall guide,
Would haue it so, vnto whose becke all thinges on earth are tyde.
That of his wondrous clemencie, two kingdomes ioynt, combinde
Might be in friendly loue, and both haue one concordant minde:
Discordant earst before, and endlesse league of friendship knit.
This thing to bring to passe, occasion now is offered fit:
which take O noble king, and of two lands procure the blisse,
A male child of great towardnes your heyre apparant is.
Our Prince hath tane his fatall fall, his heire of female kinde,
But lately borne, the Scottish crowne to weare, is left behinde.
If these two Princes were conioynd in Hymens sacred bandes:
The cause of all our bickering iarres would quailde be out of hand.
And eke in euerlasting peace both regions should be tide.
Who can prohibitt this, if it by you be not denide?
If you commaund it to be so, which we aske and request?
He sayd. With one assent, both parties this esteeme as best.
Affirming it the wondrous worke of hye Iehoue to bee,
For nations twaine in hatred erst, by such meanes to agree.
The king that present time, few wordes did render backe agayne,
But them dismist, commaundes as states beseemd to entertaine,
And portlike, houses eke, to euery Peer he frendly lendes,
Expences all defrayes, rich vestures, gold, and siluer sendes.
And more with massie golden chaines ech captiue he addornes.
Now fearefull does they hunt, & chase oer steepe hills thick with thornes,
Now into hunting netts, they driue the swift staggs, haut with hornes.
But flattering pleasure puts a meane at length, vnto her ioyes,
And nothing is so pleasaunt sound, but it hath some annoyes.
To country gnostes, more sweet in tast, is beefe then patridg fine,
More gratefull eke then daintie cates, is powdred flesh of swine.
Euen so the Scotts their country cold, then ours, more better sayes,
Though all thinges likes them well, and all thinges they vnwilling prayse.
Such ardent loue of country soyle, mens mortall mindes doth taxe:
In respect of which, all other ioyes doe soure and lothsome waxt.
Wherfore they burning in desire, to see their natiue land,
And licence free for to depart, attaind at Henries hand:
Whilst that they promisd golden mountes, and did perswade the king,
How they two nations linkt in league, and endles truce would bring:
He froothing palfrayes fayre, and hugy heapes of fined golde
On them bestowd, and gratiously most chearefull did behold:
Their raunsomes pardoning eke. Thus captiue Scotts dismissed free
With solempne shewes of wondrous ioyes, now welcomde home they bee,
Unto the pallace of the Queene, which to her husband drownd,
The sacred rites of funerall, performing due they found.
These primates thus returned safe, the Queene their soueraigne deare,
Demaundes what newes, in Britaines court, and how they vsed weare.
Ungratefull Scotts they first concelde, king Henries gratefull hart,
And did disprayse the English guide (a vile vnworthy part)
Then dolefull her lamenting still, they earnest did exhort,
The Britaine not to chuse, in wedlocke bed to be consort.
Unto the Princesse fayre, but forraine sonne in lawe elswhere get,
And noble Celtane king or nations seuered far to fet.
And peace for wars to change, to such as wars would boldly make,
That fortune then in t{im}e to fore, successe would better take.
These sayings all, the Scottish Peeres vpheld, with one assent,
And towards britaines borders straight, with sword, and ster, they went.
The periurde Scot, to burning wrath now Henry kindled had,
And chearefull trumpets ratling sound, to broyles stout britaines bad.
Foorthwith in solempne sort, were summond states of all the land,
A haynous fact, eche one cries out, reuengement out of hand.
By dreadfull sword, by reaking flames, eche sayes must be prepard.
And promizd seuerally their helps, all cause of stay that bard
This enterprize seemd long, to ieopard life none dout doth make,
That Brytaines of such villanie, reuengement iust might take.
The Captaines chiefe assignd, the Earle of Hartford vncle deere,
To Edward tender Prince, and Dudley haut and warlike peere,
Which Henry Admirall of his Fleete, appointed had to be,
In wit, and courage like, but far vnlike in fierce, for he,
In mighty puissance fierce, of sturdie limbes, and ioynts, did passe,
The other subiect lesse to yre, lesse wroth and dreadfull was:
In fewe dayes did the enemies shore, with crooked keele attaine,
Through weltring salt sea flouds, with prosperous gales blowne on amaine
Without delay, with armed souldiours stout yfenst, they land,
Their Marriners hot blooddy broyles, beginning out of hand.
The foe runnes scattred here, and there, the countrie cottage tops,
which ether clotted turfes, or flaggie marrish rushes stoppes,
And couers from the winter showers: with fierie flames are burnd.
Lieth ransact, to the ground by Vulcans blasing brandes was turnd.
And all the bordring region neere, did smoldring smoke vp reare,
Of female sexe the dolefull mournings loud, the skies doe teare
With scriking noyse, and aier throughout, yong childrens clamours ringes,
All, sadnes did portend, a wretched shape remaind of thinges.
To Edenborowe then our men, with tents remou'd proceed,
Here bickering blowes beginnes, with showtes vplifted fierce indeed.
The Scottes their entrie gates, indeuoring fast with ingines rambd,
And ordinaunce roring loud, with iust charge of gunpouther crambd.
On this side foundred is the Scotte, their Britaine breathlesse lies,
Those gasht with goorie blade, those slaine with shaft which flickering flies.
The bounchy ashen tronch, doth many riue with gaping wound,
Sent far aloof, but more the whussing bullet dings to ground.
At length part of the Britaines campe, the battred walls had scalde,
Inuading fierce, with reaking fiers, and vautes and roofes downe haelde.
The Scotts do flye for feare, their goodly Ordinance Britaines hold,
They shunne their sight, as does, doe houndes, as hindes, do Lions bold.
The strong stone walls remainde, and housen pinions stared vast,
All other thinges to ashes burnt, with Vulcanes sparkling blast.
The castell yet of Edenbrow, vnconquered standeth stout,
An auncient fort, with ouglie walls, of cragged rocke cut out,
Depending on her strength, and burning with desire of fame,
That she durst proudly boast, no forraine force her power could tame,
The euent, and finall end of thinges, doth try them false or true.
But therof triall to be made, the kinges edict withdrue
For present time: wherfore the valiant victor Britaines hoast,
Fame leading them the way, with swift course sayle to natiue coast,
In fleeting hull ybore, with chearefull noyse of trompetts sound:
The shippes safe in their wonted roades, with mighty cables bound.
When thus the nauy strong tawe ropes, to grapling ankers tyed:
Lord Dudley martiall peere, straight waye to Princes court him hyed.
Whom, many a right hand stretched out, doth welcome home full fayne,
Where he saluted is, and salutations giues agayne.
Before all others Henry Prince, to loftie skyes doth raise,
His Admirall, and puissant corps, with minde vntamde doth prayse.
With Princely wordes, and Princelike giftes, adds to confirme the same.
Scarse through the twelue celestiall signes, done Phœbus glittering flame,
Had stealing crept, when Britaines force, the Frankes prouokt to fight,
Whose king with cruell miscreant Turkes, a league of truce had plight.
Out, out, a filthy fact, and deed vnworthy to be spake,
For Christian king to doe, religious care which seemde to take:
And of that title to the world so vast a shew did make.
Agaynst him therfore for to warre renowned Henry bent,
With suffrage of the primates chief, and councels graund consent.
He armes of proofe prouides, and souldiours customed long to warres,
And doughtie ladds, of courage stout, and prompt to bickering iarres.
And valiant guides of stomacke haut, all such he bringeth out.
The nobles present weare, and commons eke, a hugie rout,
And first that Peere, whom Suffolke name, and title hye assignde,
Up mounted on a trampling steed, in Tyrian purple shinde,
With golden helmet deckt, whose copped crest did streeming stare.
Then he to whom like title, rich of sheepes woll Norfolke, bare,
Exulting skipping came, a Duke to wrothfull anger prest,
Howbeit of minde vnconquered, nor by Mars to be supprest.
Then Arundell an Earle, of youthfull yeares a strippling braue,
With Pawlet, which did corne, and needefull foode prouide and saue.
Lord Russell then, which warlike troupes of burly ladds did trace,
Which Deuon fostred vp, of white tinne mines a fertile place.
Walles sent a iolly route, and Ireland eke a few did yeld,
Which neither dred the bright drawne sword, nor blouddy foes in field,
In running springoldes light, of hart, and handes of valure tried:
The chosen Northarne crue, on warlike Coursers fierce to ride
In mayled shurtes, of sturdy yron sweltes fine forged, dight,
By swift course of their horse, could equall striue with birdes in flight.
Anthony Browne whose comely corps, if men you would behold,
In portrature none excelde, nor in exploites of Mars more bold:
Most willingly the horsemen troupes, by Princes hest did guide,
From all the coastes of Britayne, came, thicke thrunging, far, and wide.
A mighty power of Springoldes fresh, and store of palfrays fierce,
The horne hoofe of the foming horse, the trembling earth doth pearce,
And horsemen armde with sturdy launce, do runne with frisking pace.
The campe thus ordred well, in long rankes marcheth on a pace,
And aierie region vast, with clamorous noyse discordant fills.
With armed troupes, the hollow vales, and loftie mounted hills:
As with falne flakes of snow, or Titan set, with dropps of due:
You might all scattered thick, in complet harnish cluttering, vue,
whose blasing brightnesse through the rayes of Phœbe so dimd the looke,
Of vewers all, that Titans beames, away the prospect tooke.
New rayment partie coloured made of woll by skilfull art,
The souldiours of ech Captaine did disseuering set apart.
Fine silken banners broad displayed, before ech band doth goe,
The skipping souldiours of his guide, the Ensigne spread doth know.
Euen as the fragrant floures aboue the greene grasse loftie show,
In pleasaunt time of spring: and with their coloures do delight,
If any man of fayre fresh fieldes, shall walke to take the sight:
Such semblaunce hath out bands whilst oer ye playne heathes thick they gad,
In silken iacketts fine, with skirtes imbrodered curious clad,
Their glittering armour glimsing rayes, like Sunne beames casting fro.
King Henry loftier by the head, all boistrous, stout doth goe,
A great and mighty Peere, where you his strong armes do behold,
Or huge thighs sturdy pight, which art had closd in pretious gold.
And eke his manly corps, with mighty brestbone holstred broad:
By no force to be tamde, nor through with hard steele to be throad.
Him armour strong inclosde, of finest mettall polisht wrought,
Such as by fierie puissant God, yforgd you would haue thought,
Or by the monstrous Cyclops vast, in smoldring Ætna caues.
The workman, there sleepe clammering hills, and liquid flouds ingraues,
Here shadowy darkesome woodes are set, their shrubby salowes lowe,
Moreouer Themmes, which with straight course, into the sea doth goe
And on that side whence Easterne windes, with boistrous blastes do sweepe,
Were Seuerne grau'de, and Trent, two mighty floudes with chanells deepe,
Whose weried streames to th'greedy gulf of th'Ocean vast do passe.
On the vpper margent of the shining brestplate grauen was,
The shapes of mighty kinges, and ginning of his auncient race,
Edward Plantagenet the fourth there had his royall place,
The liuely Image then, and antike forme of Henry sixt,
Of mothers, and of fathers side, his graudsiers next were fixt.
Then Henry seuenth with loyall spouse adioynd, in seates are stalde,
By name of royall Salomon most worthy to be calde:
For that he prudent was, and godly eke, which vertues twaine,
Unto a Princely Peer, eternall fame deseru'd can gaine.
His sonne of yong and tender yeares, the staring hellmet had,
Whom ruling here on earth, dire death did enuie youthfull lad.
Two Princes, virgines last, by seuerall mothers brought to light,
Successours to the crowne, so lawes, and rites requirde by right,
Two royall chaires possest, ingrau'd in crest of headpeece bright.
Where from his sturdy vow the king his flickering shaft did wrest,
All showting loude out cried, that he therein exceld the best.
Or whither he with straining force, did charge the shiuering speare,
He had agayne the prayse. If valiant Hector liuing weare,
And now Achilles should assayle, with gastly glei{u}e agayne:
Like force of thunderbolt, so he his sword wtih might did straine.
But to be short euen as their king, the army all desires,
To be the like, hye honours pricke their hautie stomackes fiers,
Incensing more, with courage great, aduentures great to take.
The souldiour will be stout, which vnder stout guide wars doth make.
Upon his armour honge, a vesture dect with pretious gemmes
From vnmost Indies brought, & Emerauldes dazeling eyes with glemmes.
The Diamond, shining Saphire eke, and Iasper were infold.
His hangers guilt, his sword hilts gold, his buckler bosse of gold,
Or if that any thing, then red gold were more pretious found.
And to be brief his gorgeous trappers gay, and bitt linkes round,
Did cunning rare containe, and cost which such a king beseemd.
The common sort thus richly dight, him not a man esteemd,
But thought a God. For God himselfe, the heauenly monarch hie,
Will earthly Princes haue also, in royall dignitie,
To be, as Salomon in glittering ornamentes we know.
And now the sea which through the strait clifes, rough with rage doth flow,
By blastes of prosperous westerne windes, the Britaines ouer cast,
At Callice landing safe. Refreshing toyles, and labours past,
The king, and all his warlike troupe, their viandes gladlyer tast.
And now the dimme night, weried corps, all drouping layes to rest.
The greatest part do watch perplexing cares them so opprest,
Ech little stay or none, to wights desirous seemes delay.
When Titan from the Easterne flouds, with bright beames gan his way,
The dreadfull trompet soundeth shrill, ech tooles in hand doth take,
And towardes coastes of Celtane kyng forthwith do iourney make:
Towardes the glistering beames of Titans flashing charriot bright,
There is an ample soyle, amongst the Galls, which Artoyse hight,
A frutefull plague, for pasturing fieldes to feede the fleesie sheepe,
Abounding eke with loftie trees, and bushie mountaines steepe,
There see we stand aloof, with pompous houses Bulloine old,
On rough sea shore ybuilt, with walls of hard rocke round infold,
In elder age inuinsible by any forraine foes.
This warlike fortresse proud, for to assault the Britaine goes,
And rampier bulwarke castes, and towne with deepe trench doth inclose.
To those that were shut in, no hope remaind of comming out,
Next to the walles fierce Dudley standes with all his dreadfull rout
Of mariners, through flashing surges brought, a people fell
Are mariners, and sterne, vnbrideled, such no force can quell.
Which boistrous roaring floudes, with mighty whirlewinde raging stoure,
When in the gurtie channels low the ouglie rockes they scoure:
Doth neuer daunt, with shiuering dread, nor chilley feare procure,
To whom nor ragged desart rockes, nor fierie flames, inure
Doe terrour cold, nor daungers dire, by sea, or els by land.
The Admirall of the sea, reioysde at this his warlike band.
The mariners, themselues of such a Captaine happy deeme,
So like, doth like, with willing hart imbracing, high esteeme.
Of all the hugie Britaine campe these men one quarter weare,
By which the Bolloyne Citizens, did vtter ruine feare.
On th'other side doth Charles Brandon dire destruction threat,
And towne besiegd, withouten rest, and walles doth battering beat.
Nor farre from thence stout Henry king, his warlike tentes hath pight.
From whence through thinne aire, ratling pearst with peise, the whirling flight,
And sparkling burning brands, to lofty tops of turrets flies,
None of the shiuering enemies durst for feare lift vp their eies.
Nothing but trembling terrour pale, within the walles remaind,
At length from rampier tops, and crested walles, down iauelinges straind
The Galls besiegd, and stoutly force, by force againe repelde,
And with their manly valure bold, to tacke the Britaines helde:
The bickering blouddy groes, here feare, here glorie moue mens brests,
The staggering launce with force, forth flying swift, both parties wrestes.
Through gasht with gaping wound, out grudging ghoshes a number send,
Most yet of these were slaine, which hye walles garrets did defend:
And maimde with gastly stripe, with grief vnto their homes are borne,
He stoynisht, gasping breathlesse lies, he haltes his foote ytorne,
With braines on ground besprinckled broad, no forme of visage left
An other spraules, with knocke of stone, he tumbleth peecemeale cleft.
The ancient age in conquering fortrest'd townes, and cities, found
The vse of ingine fell, with mightie beames of timber bound,
Or els a Ramme, with hooked hornes, of sturdie iron wrought,
which shogging pusht the walles, and hugie stones out losened brought.
This kinde of warlike ingine, in our age auaileth nought,
Our men a torment much more dire, for dreadfull warres haue sought:
There is a gunne composde of molten streames, of yre, or brasse,
Of which a Frier (as some report) the first inuentour was,
Wherewith in few dayes, strongest fortes, and townes, may down be bore,
Which scarse in space of one hole yeare, subdued might before.
That powder then, the hollow boored brasse, in equall wight
Doe load, according to her charge, a rule directeth right
Where it be more, or lesse, insuing which, close after ramd:
If that a pellet fashioned round, of ire, or stone be cramd:
And that with leuell iust direct, you peise her on her wheeles,
Who would beleeue, but triall true thereof experience yeeldes?
That whurling fearce, like wind, it lightned all and set on fire,
The bullet flies through th'ayre, and strikes what marke you will desire.
Downe battering sturdie walles, with rockie stones full strong erect,
Nothing against the whuzzing pellet swift, can force obiect,
For what can stand against, although it were a mount of ire?
The walled Citie strong, assaulted with his this torment dire,
Doth beare off many bouncing bobs, with noyse resondes the skies,
And smouldring smoke as blacke as pitch, to heauens doth reaking rise.
Both earth, and housen shake, as if with shog of whirlewinds rage,
They from their deepe foundations mou'de did staggering beckning gage,
With clamours loud which rought the starres, our men bestow their blows
When of the wall a hugie part, with rumbling crack downe goes:
Wherewith both heauens, and seas doe roare, the mariners tents eke shril
Resounding shake, whose captaine haut, the kinges pauillion till
Him hies apace, on bended knees and suppliant him doth pray,
That he the battered walles to skale might first begin the way:
And that none from his souldiers bold, that worthie praise might get,
Although the prayse with present danger prest, were ioyntly set,
Bicause that dearer was then life, hie glorie, and renowne,
And losse of breath, was to be changed, for worthie murall crowne.
As long as by him, and his men, the victorie were atchiu'de,
He death a thousand wayes would take, if thousand times reuiu'de,
He were againe. The king scarse would consent to his request,
Such ardent loue of him, he had conceau'de, in royall brest,
At length on morrow following next he licens'd was to take,
In hand his wished enterprise: he condigne thankes doth make
To Henry mightie prince, as though a pretious treasure great,
He had found out, his sute obtaind, and humbly doth intreat,
His Grace his wedded Lady deare, and children to respect.
Forthwith for to returne no time at all he doth neglect
To him desirous egar knight the night did longer seeme,
Then it was wont to be, so fayne he would at bickering beene.
His minde turmoyling this, and that, soft stealing sleepe refusde,
Before day breake, his souldiers calde, as he of custome vsde,
He bids their bodies straight, with lightest armour to be dight,
Then many thinges reuoluing deepe in thought, the cleare day light
He long expect'd, his sturdie bandes of Mariners repare:
On warning small, assembling thick, as bid to costly fare.
Then Dudley noble peere his mouth resolues amongest the rout.
They that in all their time, no hard exployt haue brought about,
Deseruing lasting fame (redoubted laddes) their liues forsake,
Much like dumbe players, from the stage descending, nothing spake:
we were our country soyle, with life, and labour, borne to ayde,
Or wherefore haue we in this world, so long like sluggardes stayde:
The earth her seede, with large increase, referres to sowe againe,
The fruitfull tree, in season due, her burden doth sustayne,
The peare tree peares doth bring: The cornell Tree, doth Cornels yeeld,
These doe their maisters good, and profit tillers of the field,
No creature els of vse so small, I can here call in minde,
By whose increase some other thinges, no needefull fostring finde.
Unto our country we were borne, no man can that denie,
And doth not Iustice vs require for it agayne to die?
What is the life of man, but slombring sleepe, or pleasant traunce?
The action of cleare Vertue doth mens prayse, to starres aduaunce,
Which simple glistereth not at all, but in her subiectes shines.
Wherfore the warriour stout, on quarrell iust, she chiefly shrines.
Some languishing in tormentes fell, with greeuous panges out blastes,
Their flickering spirite to skies: whom blouddy Mars in warres down castes,
They dye a worthy death, and in a moment yeld their ghostes,
Disseuered thin in ayre, glad wandring, in supernall coastes.
We in subiection are, and ours, to mightie Henries lore,
By poures celestialls sound decree. That we to death be bore.
If thundring Ioue do thinke it good, and Henry puissant Prince
Command, we must obey, it were in vayne gainst pricke to wince.
Than how much nobler ist, a high exploit, with willing minde
To vndertake, then by constraint thereto to be assignde?
Us victors euerlasting fame, and glory, shall endure.
Howbeit but hard aduentures, can true laude in deede procure.
And now attentiue marke I pray, whereto this speach is made,
The king & counsaile haue decreed, that we shall first inuade,
And ransact enemies walls, with ladders, fierce assaulting clime
This gratefull prouince, after long request, to me, and mine,
Permitted was, if euery one, to take his chaunce be bent,
Than dout not but your Captaine I, do promise good euent.
Through midst of London vnto him, gentlie to be conuayde.
Then of the hard vngratefull harts of Scottes, but little sayde:
There olde accustomed fraud ingraft, he reprehendeth much.
Yet all with wondrous lenitie, and pleasaunt countenance such,
As louing parentes vse to haue, when they their children deare,
Sprong from their proper loyns, correcting chide, to put in feare.
The Captiues on the other side, did render ample speech,
Both for themselues, and countrie soyle: and for their late dead leich,
And farther did in humble sort beseech his royall grace,
That he vnto their wordes would lend, his listening eare a space,
King Henry grauntes, deepe silence straight ech man from talk doth hold:
When thus the eldest of the troupe, of captiues thus he told.
O Prince amongst all noble kinges of Europe most renownd,
Whose mightie praise through weightie workes in warfare doth abound.
We conquered Scottes, thee conquerour, confesse with willing thought.
Nor shame it is to such as you, vs subiect to be brought.
what shame ist for the Panther weake, to'th Lion grim to couch?
If sharper penance you appoint, deseru'de I hit auouch.
Our vitall blisse, our finall bane, in your handes doth remaine:
Howbeit to such a prince renownd, our death small prayse can gayne.
Nor to be slayne, can profit bring, vnto your souldiers stout,
Respect our sucking babes, and dolefull spouses scriking out:
with teares the ruthfull funeralls, bewayling of their Lordes:
As dead. Offendours to forgiue, it greater glorie fordes,
If they offend which hest obey, of their annoynted king
Then twentie hundred foes in field, to dreadfull death to bring.
But now vnto our sute, which pondring wey with iustice right,
Renowmed prince: we entrance made, thy coastes to wast by might,
And wasted haue the bordring hamlettes neere with fierie flame:
Haue not our men with condigne death, paide penance for the same?
Our king no longer vitall breath and aire supernall takes,
But lucklesse chance, of lowring Mars, and life, despising hates.
Perchance the Destinies so required, and God the eternall guide,
Would haue it so, vnto whose becke all thinges on earth are tyde.
That of his wondrous clemencie, two kingdomes ioynt, combinde
Might be in friendly loue, and both haue one concordant minde:
Discordant earst before, and endlesse league of friendship knit.
This thing to bring to passe, occasion now is offered fit:
which take O noble king, and of two lands procure the blisse,
Our Prince hath tane his fatall fall, his heire of female kinde,
But lately borne, the Scottish crowne to weare, is left behinde.
If these two Princes were conioynd in Hymens sacred bandes:
The cause of all our bickering iarres would quailde be out of hand.
And eke in euerlasting peace both regions should be tide.
Who can prohibitt this, if it by you be not denide?
If you commaund it to be so, which we aske and request?
He sayd. With one assent, both parties this esteeme as best.
Affirming it the wondrous worke of hye Iehoue to bee,
For nations twaine in hatred erst, by such meanes to agree.
The king that present time, few wordes did render backe agayne,
But them dismist, commaundes as states beseemd to entertaine,
And portlike, houses eke, to euery Peer he frendly lendes,
Expences all defrayes, rich vestures, gold, and siluer sendes.
And more with massie golden chaines ech captiue he addornes.
Now fearefull does they hunt, & chase oer steepe hills thick with thornes,
Now into hunting netts, they driue the swift staggs, haut with hornes.
But flattering pleasure puts a meane at length, vnto her ioyes,
And nothing is so pleasaunt sound, but it hath some annoyes.
To country gnostes, more sweet in tast, is beefe then patridg fine,
More gratefull eke then daintie cates, is powdred flesh of swine.
Euen so the Scotts their country cold, then ours, more better sayes,
Though all thinges likes them well, and all thinges they vnwilling prayse.
Such ardent loue of country soyle, mens mortall mindes doth taxe:
In respect of which, all other ioyes doe soure and lothsome waxt.
Wherfore they burning in desire, to see their natiue land,
And licence free for to depart, attaind at Henries hand:
Whilst that they promisd golden mountes, and did perswade the king,
How they two nations linkt in league, and endles truce would bring:
He froothing palfrayes fayre, and hugy heapes of fined golde
On them bestowd, and gratiously most chearefull did behold:
Their raunsomes pardoning eke. Thus captiue Scotts dismissed free
With solempne shewes of wondrous ioyes, now welcomde home they bee,
Unto the pallace of the Queene, which to her husband drownd,
The sacred rites of funerall, performing due they found.
These primates thus returned safe, the Queene their soueraigne deare,
Demaundes what newes, in Britaines court, and how they vsed weare.
Ungratefull Scotts they first concelde, king Henries gratefull hart,
And did disprayse the English guide (a vile vnworthy part)
The Britaine not to chuse, in wedlocke bed to be consort.
Unto the Princesse fayre, but forraine sonne in lawe elswhere get,
And noble Celtane king or nations seuered far to fet.
And peace for wars to change, to such as wars would boldly make,
That fortune then in t{im}e to fore, successe would better take.
These sayings all, the Scottish Peeres vpheld, with one assent,
And towards britaines borders straight, with sword, and ster, they went.
The periurde Scot, to burning wrath now Henry kindled had,
And chearefull trumpets ratling sound, to broyles stout britaines bad.
Foorthwith in solempne sort, were summond states of all the land,
A haynous fact, eche one cries out, reuengement out of hand.
By dreadfull sword, by reaking flames, eche sayes must be prepard.
And promizd seuerally their helps, all cause of stay that bard
This enterprize seemd long, to ieopard life none dout doth make,
That Brytaines of such villanie, reuengement iust might take.
The Captaines chiefe assignd, the Earle of Hartford vncle deere,
To Edward tender Prince, and Dudley haut and warlike peere,
Which Henry Admirall of his Fleete, appointed had to be,
In wit, and courage like, but far vnlike in fierce, for he,
In mighty puissance fierce, of sturdie limbes, and ioynts, did passe,
The other subiect lesse to yre, lesse wroth and dreadfull was:
In fewe dayes did the enemies shore, with crooked keele attaine,
Through weltring salt sea flouds, with prosperous gales blowne on amaine
Without delay, with armed souldiours stout yfenst, they land,
Their Marriners hot blooddy broyles, beginning out of hand.
The foe runnes scattred here, and there, the countrie cottage tops,
which ether clotted turfes, or flaggie marrish rushes stoppes,
And couers from the winter showers: with fierie flames are burnd.
Lieth ransact, to the ground by Vulcans blasing brandes was turnd.
And all the bordring region neere, did smoldring smoke vp reare,
Of female sexe the dolefull mournings loud, the skies doe teare
With scriking noyse, and aier throughout, yong childrens clamours ringes,
All, sadnes did portend, a wretched shape remaind of thinges.
To Edenborowe then our men, with tents remou'd proceed,
Here bickering blowes beginnes, with showtes vplifted fierce indeed.
The Scottes their entrie gates, indeuoring fast with ingines rambd,
And ordinaunce roring loud, with iust charge of gunpouther crambd.
On this side foundred is the Scotte, their Britaine breathlesse lies,
Those gasht with goorie blade, those slaine with shaft which flickering flies.
Sent far aloof, but more the whussing bullet dings to ground.
At length part of the Britaines campe, the battred walls had scalde,
Inuading fierce, with reaking fiers, and vautes and roofes downe haelde.
The Scotts do flye for feare, their goodly Ordinance Britaines hold,
They shunne their sight, as does, doe houndes, as hindes, do Lions bold.
The strong stone walls remainde, and housen pinions stared vast,
All other thinges to ashes burnt, with Vulcanes sparkling blast.
The castell yet of Edenbrow, vnconquered standeth stout,
An auncient fort, with ouglie walls, of cragged rocke cut out,
Depending on her strength, and burning with desire of fame,
That she durst proudly boast, no forraine force her power could tame,
The euent, and finall end of thinges, doth try them false or true.
But therof triall to be made, the kinges edict withdrue
For present time: wherfore the valiant victor Britaines hoast,
Fame leading them the way, with swift course sayle to natiue coast,
In fleeting hull ybore, with chearefull noyse of trompetts sound:
The shippes safe in their wonted roades, with mighty cables bound.
When thus the nauy strong tawe ropes, to grapling ankers tyed:
Lord Dudley martiall peere, straight waye to Princes court him hyed.
Whom, many a right hand stretched out, doth welcome home full fayne,
Where he saluted is, and salutations giues agayne.
Before all others Henry Prince, to loftie skyes doth raise,
His Admirall, and puissant corps, with minde vntamde doth prayse.
With Princely wordes, and Princelike giftes, adds to confirme the same.
Scarse through the twelue celestiall signes, done Phœbus glittering flame,
Had stealing crept, when Britaines force, the Frankes prouokt to fight,
Whose king with cruell miscreant Turkes, a league of truce had plight.
Out, out, a filthy fact, and deed vnworthy to be spake,
For Christian king to doe, religious care which seemde to take:
And of that title to the world so vast a shew did make.
Agaynst him therfore for to warre renowned Henry bent,
With suffrage of the primates chief, and councels graund consent.
He armes of proofe prouides, and souldiours customed long to warres,
And doughtie ladds, of courage stout, and prompt to bickering iarres.
And valiant guides of stomacke haut, all such he bringeth out.
The nobles present weare, and commons eke, a hugie rout,
And first that Peere, whom Suffolke name, and title hye assignde,
Up mounted on a trampling steed, in Tyrian purple shinde,
With golden helmet deckt, whose copped crest did streeming stare.
Exulting skipping came, a Duke to wrothfull anger prest,
Howbeit of minde vnconquered, nor by Mars to be supprest.
Then Arundell an Earle, of youthfull yeares a strippling braue,
With Pawlet, which did corne, and needefull foode prouide and saue.
Lord Russell then, which warlike troupes of burly ladds did trace,
Which Deuon fostred vp, of white tinne mines a fertile place.
Walles sent a iolly route, and Ireland eke a few did yeld,
Which neither dred the bright drawne sword, nor blouddy foes in field,
In running springoldes light, of hart, and handes of valure tried:
The chosen Northarne crue, on warlike Coursers fierce to ride
In mayled shurtes, of sturdy yron sweltes fine forged, dight,
By swift course of their horse, could equall striue with birdes in flight.
Anthony Browne whose comely corps, if men you would behold,
In portrature none excelde, nor in exploites of Mars more bold:
Most willingly the horsemen troupes, by Princes hest did guide,
From all the coastes of Britayne, came, thicke thrunging, far, and wide.
A mighty power of Springoldes fresh, and store of palfrays fierce,
The horne hoofe of the foming horse, the trembling earth doth pearce,
And horsemen armde with sturdy launce, do runne with frisking pace.
The campe thus ordred well, in long rankes marcheth on a pace,
And aierie region vast, with clamorous noyse discordant fills.
With armed troupes, the hollow vales, and loftie mounted hills:
As with falne flakes of snow, or Titan set, with dropps of due:
You might all scattered thick, in complet harnish cluttering, vue,
whose blasing brightnesse through the rayes of Phœbe so dimd the looke,
Of vewers all, that Titans beames, away the prospect tooke.
New rayment partie coloured made of woll by skilfull art,
The souldiours of ech Captaine did disseuering set apart.
Fine silken banners broad displayed, before ech band doth goe,
The skipping souldiours of his guide, the Ensigne spread doth know.
Euen as the fragrant floures aboue the greene grasse loftie show,
In pleasaunt time of spring: and with their coloures do delight,
If any man of fayre fresh fieldes, shall walke to take the sight:
Such semblaunce hath out bands whilst oer ye playne heathes thick they gad,
In silken iacketts fine, with skirtes imbrodered curious clad,
Their glittering armour glimsing rayes, like Sunne beames casting fro.
King Henry loftier by the head, all boistrous, stout doth goe,
A great and mighty Peere, where you his strong armes do behold,
Or huge thighs sturdy pight, which art had closd in pretious gold.
By no force to be tamde, nor through with hard steele to be throad.
Him armour strong inclosde, of finest mettall polisht wrought,
Such as by fierie puissant God, yforgd you would haue thought,
Or by the monstrous Cyclops vast, in smoldring Ætna caues.
The workman, there sleepe clammering hills, and liquid flouds ingraues,
Here shadowy darkesome woodes are set, their shrubby salowes lowe,
Moreouer Themmes, which with straight course, into the sea doth goe
And on that side whence Easterne windes, with boistrous blastes do sweepe,
Were Seuerne grau'de, and Trent, two mighty floudes with chanells deepe,
Whose weried streames to th'greedy gulf of th'Ocean vast do passe.
On the vpper margent of the shining brestplate grauen was,
The shapes of mighty kinges, and ginning of his auncient race,
Edward Plantagenet the fourth there had his royall place,
The liuely Image then, and antike forme of Henry sixt,
Of mothers, and of fathers side, his graudsiers next were fixt.
Then Henry seuenth with loyall spouse adioynd, in seates are stalde,
By name of royall Salomon most worthy to be calde:
For that he prudent was, and godly eke, which vertues twaine,
Unto a Princely Peer, eternall fame deseru'd can gaine.
His sonne of yong and tender yeares, the staring hellmet had,
Whom ruling here on earth, dire death did enuie youthfull lad.
Two Princes, virgines last, by seuerall mothers brought to light,
Successours to the crowne, so lawes, and rites requirde by right,
Two royall chaires possest, ingrau'd in crest of headpeece bright.
Where from his sturdy vow the king his flickering shaft did wrest,
All showting loude out cried, that he therein exceld the best.
Or whither he with straining force, did charge the shiuering speare,
He had agayne the prayse. If valiant Hector liuing weare,
And now Achilles should assayle, with gastly glei{u}e agayne:
Like force of thunderbolt, so he his sword wtih might did straine.
But to be short euen as their king, the army all desires,
To be the like, hye honours pricke their hautie stomackes fiers,
Incensing more, with courage great, aduentures great to take.
The souldiour will be stout, which vnder stout guide wars doth make.
Upon his armour honge, a vesture dect with pretious gemmes
From vnmost Indies brought, & Emerauldes dazeling eyes with glemmes.
The Diamond, shining Saphire eke, and Iasper were infold.
His hangers guilt, his sword hilts gold, his buckler bosse of gold,
Or if that any thing, then red gold were more pretious found.
Did cunning rare containe, and cost which such a king beseemd.
The common sort thus richly dight, him not a man esteemd,
But thought a God. For God himselfe, the heauenly monarch hie,
Will earthly Princes haue also, in royall dignitie,
To be, as Salomon in glittering ornamentes we know.
And now the sea which through the strait clifes, rough with rage doth flow,
By blastes of prosperous westerne windes, the Britaines ouer cast,
At Callice landing safe. Refreshing toyles, and labours past,
The king, and all his warlike troupe, their viandes gladlyer tast.
And now the dimme night, weried corps, all drouping layes to rest.
The greatest part do watch perplexing cares them so opprest,
Ech little stay or none, to wights desirous seemes delay.
When Titan from the Easterne flouds, with bright beames gan his way,
The dreadfull trompet soundeth shrill, ech tooles in hand doth take,
And towardes coastes of Celtane kyng forthwith do iourney make:
Towardes the glistering beames of Titans flashing charriot bright,
There is an ample soyle, amongst the Galls, which Artoyse hight,
A frutefull plague, for pasturing fieldes to feede the fleesie sheepe,
Abounding eke with loftie trees, and bushie mountaines steepe,
There see we stand aloof, with pompous houses Bulloine old,
On rough sea shore ybuilt, with walls of hard rocke round infold,
In elder age inuinsible by any forraine foes.
This warlike fortresse proud, for to assault the Britaine goes,
And rampier bulwarke castes, and towne with deepe trench doth inclose.
To those that were shut in, no hope remaind of comming out,
Next to the walles fierce Dudley standes with all his dreadfull rout
Of mariners, through flashing surges brought, a people fell
Are mariners, and sterne, vnbrideled, such no force can quell.
Which boistrous roaring floudes, with mighty whirlewinde raging stoure,
When in the gurtie channels low the ouglie rockes they scoure:
Doth neuer daunt, with shiuering dread, nor chilley feare procure,
To whom nor ragged desart rockes, nor fierie flames, inure
Doe terrour cold, nor daungers dire, by sea, or els by land.
The Admirall of the sea, reioysde at this his warlike band.
The mariners, themselues of such a Captaine happy deeme,
So like, doth like, with willing hart imbracing, high esteeme.
Of all the hugie Britaine campe these men one quarter weare,
By which the Bolloyne Citizens, did vtter ruine feare.
On th'other side doth Charles Brandon dire destruction threat,
Nor farre from thence stout Henry king, his warlike tentes hath pight.
From whence through thinne aire, ratling pearst with peise, the whirling flight,
And sparkling burning brands, to lofty tops of turrets flies,
None of the shiuering enemies durst for feare lift vp their eies.
Nothing but trembling terrour pale, within the walles remaind,
At length from rampier tops, and crested walles, down iauelinges straind
The Galls besiegd, and stoutly force, by force againe repelde,
And with their manly valure bold, to tacke the Britaines helde:
The bickering blouddy groes, here feare, here glorie moue mens brests,
The staggering launce with force, forth flying swift, both parties wrestes.
Through gasht with gaping wound, out grudging ghoshes a number send,
Most yet of these were slaine, which hye walles garrets did defend:
And maimde with gastly stripe, with grief vnto their homes are borne,
He stoynisht, gasping breathlesse lies, he haltes his foote ytorne,
With braines on ground besprinckled broad, no forme of visage left
An other spraules, with knocke of stone, he tumbleth peecemeale cleft.
The ancient age in conquering fortrest'd townes, and cities, found
The vse of ingine fell, with mightie beames of timber bound,
Or els a Ramme, with hooked hornes, of sturdie iron wrought,
which shogging pusht the walles, and hugie stones out losened brought.
This kinde of warlike ingine, in our age auaileth nought,
Our men a torment much more dire, for dreadfull warres haue sought:
There is a gunne composde of molten streames, of yre, or brasse,
Of which a Frier (as some report) the first inuentour was,
Wherewith in few dayes, strongest fortes, and townes, may down be bore,
Which scarse in space of one hole yeare, subdued might before.
That powder then, the hollow boored brasse, in equall wight
Doe load, according to her charge, a rule directeth right
Where it be more, or lesse, insuing which, close after ramd:
If that a pellet fashioned round, of ire, or stone be cramd:
And that with leuell iust direct, you peise her on her wheeles,
Who would beleeue, but triall true thereof experience yeeldes?
That whurling fearce, like wind, it lightned all and set on fire,
The bullet flies through th'ayre, and strikes what marke you will desire.
Downe battering sturdie walles, with rockie stones full strong erect,
Nothing against the whuzzing pellet swift, can force obiect,
For what can stand against, although it were a mount of ire?
The walled Citie strong, assaulted with his this torment dire,
Doth beare off many bouncing bobs, with noyse resondes the skies,
Both earth, and housen shake, as if with shog of whirlewinds rage,
They from their deepe foundations mou'de did staggering beckning gage,
With clamours loud which rought the starres, our men bestow their blows
When of the wall a hugie part, with rumbling crack downe goes:
Wherewith both heauens, and seas doe roare, the mariners tents eke shril
Resounding shake, whose captaine haut, the kinges pauillion till
Him hies apace, on bended knees and suppliant him doth pray,
That he the battered walles to skale might first begin the way:
And that none from his souldiers bold, that worthie praise might get,
Although the prayse with present danger prest, were ioyntly set,
Bicause that dearer was then life, hie glorie, and renowne,
And losse of breath, was to be changed, for worthie murall crowne.
As long as by him, and his men, the victorie were atchiu'de,
He death a thousand wayes would take, if thousand times reuiu'de,
He were againe. The king scarse would consent to his request,
Such ardent loue of him, he had conceau'de, in royall brest,
At length on morrow following next he licens'd was to take,
In hand his wished enterprise: he condigne thankes doth make
To Henry mightie prince, as though a pretious treasure great,
He had found out, his sute obtaind, and humbly doth intreat,
His Grace his wedded Lady deare, and children to respect.
Forthwith for to returne no time at all he doth neglect
To him desirous egar knight the night did longer seeme,
Then it was wont to be, so fayne he would at bickering beene.
His minde turmoyling this, and that, soft stealing sleepe refusde,
Before day breake, his souldiers calde, as he of custome vsde,
He bids their bodies straight, with lightest armour to be dight,
Then many thinges reuoluing deepe in thought, the cleare day light
He long expect'd, his sturdie bandes of Mariners repare:
On warning small, assembling thick, as bid to costly fare.
Then Dudley noble peere his mouth resolues amongest the rout.
They that in all their time, no hard exployt haue brought about,
Deseruing lasting fame (redoubted laddes) their liues forsake,
Much like dumbe players, from the stage descending, nothing spake:
we were our country soyle, with life, and labour, borne to ayde,
Or wherefore haue we in this world, so long like sluggardes stayde:
The earth her seede, with large increase, referres to sowe againe,
The fruitfull tree, in season due, her burden doth sustayne,
The peare tree peares doth bring: The cornell Tree, doth Cornels yeeld,
No creature els of vse so small, I can here call in minde,
By whose increase some other thinges, no needefull fostring finde.
Unto our country we were borne, no man can that denie,
And doth not Iustice vs require for it agayne to die?
What is the life of man, but slombring sleepe, or pleasant traunce?
The action of cleare Vertue doth mens prayse, to starres aduaunce,
Which simple glistereth not at all, but in her subiectes shines.
Wherfore the warriour stout, on quarrell iust, she chiefly shrines.
Some languishing in tormentes fell, with greeuous panges out blastes,
Their flickering spirite to skies: whom blouddy Mars in warres down castes,
They dye a worthy death, and in a moment yeld their ghostes,
Disseuered thin in ayre, glad wandring, in supernall coastes.
We in subiection are, and ours, to mightie Henries lore,
By poures celestialls sound decree. That we to death be bore.
If thundring Ioue do thinke it good, and Henry puissant Prince
Command, we must obey, it were in vayne gainst pricke to wince.
Than how much nobler ist, a high exploit, with willing minde
To vndertake, then by constraint thereto to be assignde?
Us victors euerlasting fame, and glory, shall endure.
Howbeit but hard aduentures, can true laude in deede procure.
And now attentiue marke I pray, whereto this speach is made,
The king & counsaile haue decreed, that we shall first inuade,
And ransact enemies walls, with ladders, fierce assaulting clime
This gratefull prouince, after long request, to me, and mine,
Permitted was, if euery one, to take his chaunce be bent,
Than dout not but your Captaine I, do promise good euent.
He whusted here, with shoutes extold to starrs, bring ladders calls
Ech mariner, scarse Captaines threates, can hold them from the walls,
With such desire of prayse, and ardent loue of glory rought.
But godly Henry pondring much in minde, him vnbethought,
Not so much waying warlike townes, with rampier walls inclosde,
That with his men to certaine bale, and drierie death reposde:
He would nor fortresd Cities rich, nor kingdomes vast subdue.
Wherfore by strait edict, from his pretence, he Dudley drue.
Few dayes expired were, when Bulloine of her owne accord
All armour layd aside, to Henry yeldes, as lawfull Lord.
The Frenchmen all themselues withdrue, and gates wide open set,
With streaming murrions glimmering bright adornd, in Britaines let.
Sixe thousand Galls, their antike seates, all pensiue did forsake,
The walls, with stately buildinges fayre, and turretts Britaines take.
The warlike Castells strong, with Captaines new yfenced were,
And certaine garrisons of men, in stations settled there:
Lieutenant of the conquered towne, the king that worthy Peere
Assignd, which of his mighty fleet, did the protection beare.
Ech mariner, scarse Captaines threates, can hold them from the walls,
With such desire of prayse, and ardent loue of glory rought.
But godly Henry pondring much in minde, him vnbethought,
Not so much waying warlike townes, with rampier walls inclosde,
That with his men to certaine bale, and drierie death reposde:
He would nor fortresd Cities rich, nor kingdomes vast subdue.
Wherfore by strait edict, from his pretence, he Dudley drue.
Few dayes expired were, when Bulloine of her owne accord
All armour layd aside, to Henry yeldes, as lawfull Lord.
The Frenchmen all themselues withdrue, and gates wide open set,
With streaming murrions glimmering bright adornd, in Britaines let.
Sixe thousand Galls, their antike seates, all pensiue did forsake,
The warlike Castells strong, with Captaines new yfenced were,
And certaine garrisons of men, in stations settled there:
Lieutenant of the conquered towne, the king that worthy Peere
Assignd, which of his mighty fleet, did the protection beare.
Forthwith with primates, garded swift he salt seas doth, deuide,
And through the walloing wrastling waues, to natiue land doth slide.
Lord Dudley his committed charge respectes with wondrous care,
Reuoluing much in thought, in great foresight and all thinges bare,
And doth by secret pollicie, the wielie Frankes preuent,
Sometime by fraude diminishing, and weakning their entent,
Sometime in open fight, prouoking them to bickering blowes,
Subduing Captiue some, but more the goarie blade downe throwes.
No day past one, in which no hard exploit he did atchiue,
Whereby stout Dudleys name, through th'world so wide swift Fame did driue,
And glory greater waxt, renowned more in Celtane landes,
And higher he accepted, was imbrast at Henryes handes.
And through the walloing wrastling waues, to natiue land doth slide.
Lord Dudley his committed charge respectes with wondrous care,
Reuoluing much in thought, in great foresight and all thinges bare,
And doth by secret pollicie, the wielie Frankes preuent,
Sometime by fraude diminishing, and weakning their entent,
Sometime in open fight, prouoking them to bickering blowes,
Subduing Captiue some, but more the goarie blade downe throwes.
No day past one, in which no hard exploit he did atchiue,
Whereby stout Dudleys name, through th'world so wide swift Fame did driue,
And glory greater waxt, renowned more in Celtane landes,
And higher he accepted, was imbrast at Henryes handes.
Thrise golden Phœbe, to her brothers lampe conioyned was,
When from the puissant Britaine guide a Legate forth did passe,
The Admirall to recall, on weighty causes of this land,
The noble Order welcome him, fast clasping hand, in hand,
The Britaine springoldes fresh, at his returne do skipp for glad,
Few monthes expirde, swift fleeting Fame, throughout this land did blab,
That Frenchmen had prepard, of warlike shipps, a nauy vast,
For to inuade the Britaine coastes, and land with ruine wast.
Ech to defend prepares, hye beacons built, of fagotts light,
Weare on the copped cliffes, that kindled, they giue warning might,
If on our shore, the enemies fleet, should steale in duskie night,
And landing, downe with reaking flames, our country hamletts cast.
Sols chariot bright with swift course had the head of Leo past,
When Celtane nauy huge, with boistrous blastes along are blowne.
The sea now shewd no sea, if from a craggie steepe rocke, one
By chaunce vpon the floudes, far vnderneath had cast his eyes,
Or like a shadowy groue, or woode, with okes which loftie rise,
It rather seemd to be, or field, with tall trees thicke ypight.
When from the puissant Britaine guide a Legate forth did passe,
The Admirall to recall, on weighty causes of this land,
The noble Order welcome him, fast clasping hand, in hand,
The Britaine springoldes fresh, at his returne do skipp for glad,
Few monthes expirde, swift fleeting Fame, throughout this land did blab,
That Frenchmen had prepard, of warlike shipps, a nauy vast,
For to inuade the Britaine coastes, and land with ruine wast.
Ech to defend prepares, hye beacons built, of fagotts light,
Weare on the copped cliffes, that kindled, they giue warning might,
If on our shore, the enemies fleet, should steale in duskie night,
And landing, downe with reaking flames, our country hamletts cast.
Sols chariot bright with swift course had the head of Leo past,
When Celtane nauy huge, with boistrous blastes along are blowne.
The sea now shewd no sea, if from a craggie steepe rocke, one
By chaunce vpon the floudes, far vnderneath had cast his eyes,
Or like a shadowy groue, or woode, with okes which loftie rise,
It rather seemd to be, or field, with tall trees thicke ypight.
With salt sea waters compast round, there lyes the Ile of wight
where shearing Southwind glome, with rough waues bounce the Britaine shore,
The enemies army vast, in hollow hull is thither bore.
The grappling anker strong, is cast out of the sterne before,
And with his whistle sounding hoarse, a signe by master giune,
Ech stout lad leapes a shore, as courage haut remaind him in.
Now reaking flakes of fier, one cotage roofe of turfes downe thrue,
The country laddes, neare bordring, straight themselues to gather drue,
Out starting fierce, and manly lift their tooles agaynst their foes,
Much like a sauage beast, which in her denne her whelpes doth close,
And Terriers wielie houndes, with scratching pawes makes to retire,
And driueth backe (such to preserue their yong, is their desire)
with scath the howling curres, lest that they should approch her neare,
And hated dennes, to all their kinde, and yong ones spoyling teare:
Euen so themselues, their ofspring deare, and spouses, strongly fence
The husbandmen, least thralls to Frankes, they should be carried thence.
Insisting egar still, with weapons keene, and Galls driue backe,
Then might you see them flie, and tumbling through in swift flight stacke,
Those which by running scapte did panting clime the tall ship side.
By chaunce kyng Henries warlike fleet, in harborow safe did ride
At Portsmouth neare at hand, whence sixtie sayle, with good successe,
Against three hundred shippes of Fraunce, to new wars did addresse:
Bright swords did streaming blaze, & fier frō gunns mouth lightning starts,
The hatches couered are with mariners stout of hautie hartes,
The clanging trompetts sound with rattling noyse doth hie heauens fray,
And glomy salt sea blue, had purple coloured ranne that day,
But that a mighty armed shipp of ours oer turned was
Into the floudes, through retchlesnes, of th'mariners alas.
Forthwith the Franke the puissance of his men distrusting sore,
If blouddy bickering he should tempt, so neare the English shore:
Up hoisted sayles aloof, and natiue country coastes attaind,
So his attemptes, vnto his shame, and foule reproch remaind.
No worthy act atchiu'd; so let them ofter Britaines vade.
But puissant Henries fleet, the sequent yeare a viage made
With luckier far euent, by Northarne blastes forth swiftly borne:
Which, euery thing what should be done, knowne of the king beforne,
Lord Dudley mighty Peere, to enemies coastes directeth stright.
The English shipmen expert of their shores, and euery flight,
Downe letts small shallow skifes, into the floudes, from hollow hull,
These with the chosen Britaine youth, forthwith thicke thrunged full,
With sweeping ores swift glide, and safe their burdens bring to land.
with banners broad displayd, stout marching gads the English band,
And enters Treport towne, as souldiours ought, in battaile ray.
As euery man them meetes, him drierie blade doth stabbing slay,
Him and the stemme of singing shaft, doth through the brestplate push,
Out drawing soule with all, the red bloud streames on pauementes gush.
An other whilst from Turretts top, through casement, peepeth out,
Nor dares to draw them neare, nor bickering ioyne with courage stout,
Is through the body strake, and deadly wounde of bullet takes.
All kinde of weapons fell, to drierie death free passage makes.
where shearing Southwind glome, with rough waues bounce the Britaine shore,
The enemies army vast, in hollow hull is thither bore.
The grappling anker strong, is cast out of the sterne before,
And with his whistle sounding hoarse, a signe by master giune,
Now reaking flakes of fier, one cotage roofe of turfes downe thrue,
The country laddes, neare bordring, straight themselues to gather drue,
Out starting fierce, and manly lift their tooles agaynst their foes,
Much like a sauage beast, which in her denne her whelpes doth close,
And Terriers wielie houndes, with scratching pawes makes to retire,
And driueth backe (such to preserue their yong, is their desire)
with scath the howling curres, lest that they should approch her neare,
And hated dennes, to all their kinde, and yong ones spoyling teare:
Euen so themselues, their ofspring deare, and spouses, strongly fence
The husbandmen, least thralls to Frankes, they should be carried thence.
Insisting egar still, with weapons keene, and Galls driue backe,
Then might you see them flie, and tumbling through in swift flight stacke,
Those which by running scapte did panting clime the tall ship side.
By chaunce kyng Henries warlike fleet, in harborow safe did ride
At Portsmouth neare at hand, whence sixtie sayle, with good successe,
Against three hundred shippes of Fraunce, to new wars did addresse:
Bright swords did streaming blaze, & fier frō gunns mouth lightning starts,
The hatches couered are with mariners stout of hautie hartes,
The clanging trompetts sound with rattling noyse doth hie heauens fray,
And glomy salt sea blue, had purple coloured ranne that day,
But that a mighty armed shipp of ours oer turned was
Into the floudes, through retchlesnes, of th'mariners alas.
Forthwith the Franke the puissance of his men distrusting sore,
If blouddy bickering he should tempt, so neare the English shore:
Up hoisted sayles aloof, and natiue country coastes attaind,
So his attemptes, vnto his shame, and foule reproch remaind.
No worthy act atchiu'd; so let them ofter Britaines vade.
But puissant Henries fleet, the sequent yeare a viage made
With luckier far euent, by Northarne blastes forth swiftly borne:
Which, euery thing what should be done, knowne of the king beforne,
Lord Dudley mighty Peere, to enemies coastes directeth stright.
The English shipmen expert of their shores, and euery flight,
Downe letts small shallow skifes, into the floudes, from hollow hull,
These with the chosen Britaine youth, forthwith thicke thrunged full,
With sweeping ores swift glide, and safe their burdens bring to land.
with banners broad displayd, stout marching gads the English band,
And enters Treport towne, as souldiours ought, in battaile ray.
As euery man them meetes, him drierie blade doth stabbing slay,
Him and the stemme of singing shaft, doth through the brestplate push,
An other whilst from Turretts top, through casement, peepeth out,
Nor dares to draw them neare, nor bickering ioyne with courage stout,
Is through the body strake, and deadly wounde of bullet takes.
All kinde of weapons fell, to drierie death free passage makes.
Then William Winter scarse of eighteene yeares, the time had tract,
A strippling fresh and gay, nor stomacke bold, nor valure lackt,
Of some, at first assault, with thundring blade he hawes the flesh,
A Captaine then, which raging woode imbold through slaughters fresh,
A purple mantle curtous wrought, with hemme of gold about,
Adorned neet, vp swolne with puffing pride, he singleth out,
The Frenchman him against, fierce pressing girdes a whurling launce,
With windes wild wrested forth, the rattling state acaunt doth glaunce,
Then Winter spake. But thou vile wretch more sure shalt penaunce pay,
And of mine honour wonne in warres, shalt first frutes be this day.
Forthwith assaulting fierce, euen where the hart to lunges is bound,
His goarie bloud he thrusts, out blacke bloud belking on the ground,
The Celtane yeldes the ghost, downe others fall, and hot pursues
The Britaine army stout. The kinges liuetenant all the crue,
(Ech calling by his name) incenseth forth to manly actes,
Through present perill daunted none with fearefull stomacke backes,
Downe groueling falls to ground, who next of Frankes approcht him fast,
With arme so steedy held, the troncheon staffe he stoutly cast.
And as the trembling heardes, to ramping Lion prostrate yeldes,
When raging woode, with furie borne, he raungeth through the fieldes,
And all alone, with ougly whelpes, loud roaring, cloudes doth cracke,
when rauening hunger he with blouddy flesh of bulls hath slact,
With feeding full his hugie quarters broad on greene grasse layd:
None otherwise of Dudley stout the Frenchmen were affrayd,
Now fierie flashing flames, through garret tops do sparkling flake,
Yong tender boyes, and girles, where none erst was, do passage make.
The feeble folke, and siely sort, were spard by Captaines best,
Such mercy rare, the Britaine guide, beares in his royall brest,
That he aboue all other thinges, himselfe will gentle showe.
The Captaine thus the towne despoyld aborde agayne doth goe.
And home to regall court returnes, with all his martiall bandes,
Whose bruted fame, of hard exploites, did pearce both seas, and landes,
In fauour high of soueraigne leich, his noble dayes he led,
with glory great, throughout the coastes, of warlike Britaine spred.
A strippling fresh and gay, nor stomacke bold, nor valure lackt,
Of some, at first assault, with thundring blade he hawes the flesh,
A Captaine then, which raging woode imbold through slaughters fresh,
A purple mantle curtous wrought, with hemme of gold about,
Adorned neet, vp swolne with puffing pride, he singleth out,
The Frenchman him against, fierce pressing girdes a whurling launce,
With windes wild wrested forth, the rattling state acaunt doth glaunce,
Then Winter spake. But thou vile wretch more sure shalt penaunce pay,
And of mine honour wonne in warres, shalt first frutes be this day.
Forthwith assaulting fierce, euen where the hart to lunges is bound,
His goarie bloud he thrusts, out blacke bloud belking on the ground,
The Celtane yeldes the ghost, downe others fall, and hot pursues
The Britaine army stout. The kinges liuetenant all the crue,
(Ech calling by his name) incenseth forth to manly actes,
Through present perill daunted none with fearefull stomacke backes,
Downe groueling falls to ground, who next of Frankes approcht him fast,
With arme so steedy held, the troncheon staffe he stoutly cast.
And as the trembling heardes, to ramping Lion prostrate yeldes,
When raging woode, with furie borne, he raungeth through the fieldes,
And all alone, with ougly whelpes, loud roaring, cloudes doth cracke,
when rauening hunger he with blouddy flesh of bulls hath slact,
With feeding full his hugie quarters broad on greene grasse layd:
None otherwise of Dudley stout the Frenchmen were affrayd,
Now fierie flashing flames, through garret tops do sparkling flake,
Yong tender boyes, and girles, where none erst was, do passage make.
The feeble folke, and siely sort, were spard by Captaines best,
Such mercy rare, the Britaine guide, beares in his royall brest,
That he aboue all other thinges, himselfe will gentle showe.
The Captaine thus the towne despoyld aborde agayne doth goe.
And home to regall court returnes, with all his martiall bandes,
Whose bruted fame, of hard exploites, did pearce both seas, and landes,
In fauour high of soueraigne leich, his noble dayes he led,
with glory great, throughout the coastes, of warlike Britaine spred.
Now eight and thirtie winters neare, had puissant Henry raignde,
And prudent with immortall prayse, had Britaines haut contaynd,
Since he the mightie scepter, of their happie kingdome bore,
When that th'almightie Ioue by fatall sicknesse waxing more,
Did warne him leaue this mortall life alak, and waile a day:
How manie Brutes with blubbering teares, their soft cheekes did beray?
How bitterly the Britaine states, him sick be wayling rued?
All England droupes, bereft of ioy, with trickling teares bedewd.
Phisition nought can vayle, nor holsome herbes found in the field,
Which health accustomde wear tofore, to mortall members yeeld.
No compound drugs could life prolong, nor pleasaunt potions brought,
Alas, to cure deaths drierie sting, in vaine is phisicke sought.
Howbeit before his finall gasp, because his tender heire,
Prince Edward yet was young, he states assignde the rule to beare,
For a prescribed time, of which Lord Dudley high renownd,
In royall tombe inclosde, hys worthie corps did lay in ground:
With brinish teares. Of funerall now sacred rightes right done,
By all the troupe of mightie Pieres, on Edward prince, his sonne,
In solempne pompe, a pretious crowne of gold adorning round,
His temples faire, was sett. The Britaines all in duetie bound,
With one assent, him lawfull king, with reuerence great adore,
And heir legitimate to his sier. The Earle of Hertford bore
The title of Protector chiefe, and by his nephewes grace
The Duchie tooke of Somerset, to him, and ofsprong race.
His other vncle Seimer made Lord Admirall of his fleet.
But Dudley by the title, he of Warwicke Earle dyd greet,
From whence his ancient progenie, by long discent he drue,
The greatest mirrour of his stock, and kindreds glorie true.
As euerie man in great reuenues floed, with honor dewe
So was he high extold and deckt with glorious title newe,
A wondrous troupe of royall Pieres, the kinges court stately found,
And lookers on, applauding loud, with shoutes vp reard a sound.
All thinges haue limits true presixt. Now pleasant pastimes past,
The counsaile causes of great waight, reuoluing deepe did cast.
Of common weales affaires, of ancient forts falne in decay,
They councell take aduisde of planting garrisons in a stay,
In certaine places weake, and what auaild for common state,
But chiefly they respect'd the Scottish realme, which bordering sate,
Eche in remembraunce had the plighted troth of Scottish Peeres,
which they had firmly vowd, to bring to passe in former yeares,
Concerning linking fast their mayden prince, in wedlocke bandes,
And wisht that so might be procurd, the vnitie of two landes:
With euerlasting peace, and endles truce thereon to spring
wherfore when glittering Phœbe declinyng downe, his beames did bring
Into fayre Virgos face, straight armed troupes, of warriours, sent
They gree to Scottish soyle to be, to know the Scotts intent.
Chief Captaines were assignd, the Prince his eldest vncle deare,
And to him ioynt as mate, the Warwicke Earle, a puissant Peer,
whom warlike glory hye, of dreadfull Mars, had made renownd,
And vertue rare, with ardent loue, in souldiours hartes had bound.
The third companion to them knit, bold Dacres Lordling went
whom doughtie ladds of Cumberland, to blouddy skirmage bent
Their Captaine would elect, and after him in warfare trace.
To Dacres faythfull Cumberland, the nurse of gentle race.
The vulgar sort, their natiue Lordes, most ardent do imbrace.
A number of the Britaine Peers, to these warres put their name,
And martiall knightes, of auncient rite, of golden Garter came.
Amongst the which Lord Gray, of mighty laynes, and stomacke bold,
Of th'armed horsemen troupes did for his skill chief guidance hold.
A wondrous hugie rout, of common souldiours flockt beside.
Howbeit before within the bankes of Scotts they once did stride,
By Legates letters were foresent, their cause expressing plaine.
That to their former plighted troth, they stedfast would remaine.
By fayre meanes they were prayd, that Britaines cāpe no force should showe,
If promise vowed to Henry king, they would not now forgoe.
In vayne are admonitions gin, if no man them regard,
In vayne the deafe are counceled right, when councell is not hard.
The Scot doth wars require, he will contend and end by blowes,
He desperate nought respectes, where well, or ill, his quarrell goes.
The Britaines equall cause, committed to Ioues power almight,
Their stomackes boloned on all trembling terrour put to flight.
Therfore the Duke of Somerset, his mates, and warlike bandes
Insuing, pitcht their tentes, and armde remainde on Scottish landes.
Howbeit nor sparkling brands they flong, nor with iniurious deedes,
Did hurt, or damage any wight, fresh pasturing for their steedes,
They onely tooke, all other thing from scath preserued sure.
Lest troublous causes more to wars, the fierce Scotts should procure.
Since he the mightie scepter, of their happie kingdome bore,
When that th'almightie Ioue by fatall sicknesse waxing more,
Did warne him leaue this mortall life alak, and waile a day:
How manie Brutes with blubbering teares, their soft cheekes did beray?
How bitterly the Britaine states, him sick be wayling rued?
All England droupes, bereft of ioy, with trickling teares bedewd.
Phisition nought can vayle, nor holsome herbes found in the field,
Which health accustomde wear tofore, to mortall members yeeld.
No compound drugs could life prolong, nor pleasaunt potions brought,
Alas, to cure deaths drierie sting, in vaine is phisicke sought.
Howbeit before his finall gasp, because his tender heire,
Prince Edward yet was young, he states assignde the rule to beare,
For a prescribed time, of which Lord Dudley high renownd,
In royall tombe inclosde, hys worthie corps did lay in ground:
With brinish teares. Of funerall now sacred rightes right done,
By all the troupe of mightie Pieres, on Edward prince, his sonne,
In solempne pompe, a pretious crowne of gold adorning round,
His temples faire, was sett. The Britaines all in duetie bound,
With one assent, him lawfull king, with reuerence great adore,
And heir legitimate to his sier. The Earle of Hertford bore
The title of Protector chiefe, and by his nephewes grace
The Duchie tooke of Somerset, to him, and ofsprong race.
His other vncle Seimer made Lord Admirall of his fleet.
But Dudley by the title, he of Warwicke Earle dyd greet,
From whence his ancient progenie, by long discent he drue,
The greatest mirrour of his stock, and kindreds glorie true.
As euerie man in great reuenues floed, with honor dewe
So was he high extold and deckt with glorious title newe,
A wondrous troupe of royall Pieres, the kinges court stately found,
And lookers on, applauding loud, with shoutes vp reard a sound.
All thinges haue limits true presixt. Now pleasant pastimes past,
The counsaile causes of great waight, reuoluing deepe did cast.
Of common weales affaires, of ancient forts falne in decay,
They councell take aduisde of planting garrisons in a stay,
In certaine places weake, and what auaild for common state,
But chiefly they respect'd the Scottish realme, which bordering sate,
Eche in remembraunce had the plighted troth of Scottish Peeres,
which they had firmly vowd, to bring to passe in former yeares,
Concerning linking fast their mayden prince, in wedlocke bandes,
With euerlasting peace, and endles truce thereon to spring
wherfore when glittering Phœbe declinyng downe, his beames did bring
Into fayre Virgos face, straight armed troupes, of warriours, sent
They gree to Scottish soyle to be, to know the Scotts intent.
Chief Captaines were assignd, the Prince his eldest vncle deare,
And to him ioynt as mate, the Warwicke Earle, a puissant Peer,
whom warlike glory hye, of dreadfull Mars, had made renownd,
And vertue rare, with ardent loue, in souldiours hartes had bound.
The third companion to them knit, bold Dacres Lordling went
whom doughtie ladds of Cumberland, to blouddy skirmage bent
Their Captaine would elect, and after him in warfare trace.
To Dacres faythfull Cumberland, the nurse of gentle race.
The vulgar sort, their natiue Lordes, most ardent do imbrace.
A number of the Britaine Peers, to these warres put their name,
And martiall knightes, of auncient rite, of golden Garter came.
Amongst the which Lord Gray, of mighty laynes, and stomacke bold,
Of th'armed horsemen troupes did for his skill chief guidance hold.
A wondrous hugie rout, of common souldiours flockt beside.
Howbeit before within the bankes of Scotts they once did stride,
By Legates letters were foresent, their cause expressing plaine.
That to their former plighted troth, they stedfast would remaine.
By fayre meanes they were prayd, that Britaines cāpe no force should showe,
If promise vowed to Henry king, they would not now forgoe.
In vayne are admonitions gin, if no man them regard,
In vayne the deafe are counceled right, when councell is not hard.
The Scot doth wars require, he will contend and end by blowes,
He desperate nought respectes, where well, or ill, his quarrell goes.
The Britaines equall cause, committed to Ioues power almight,
Their stomackes boloned on all trembling terrour put to flight.
Therfore the Duke of Somerset, his mates, and warlike bandes
Insuing, pitcht their tentes, and armde remainde on Scottish landes.
Howbeit nor sparkling brands they flong, nor with iniurious deedes,
Did hurt, or damage any wight, fresh pasturing for their steedes,
They onely tooke, all other thing from scath preserued sure.
Lest troublous causes more to wars, the fierce Scotts should procure.
Meane time the Earle of Arreine with furious anger stong,
Which of the kingdome rul'de the raines, til that the Princesse yong,
Were comne to riper yeares, chose thirtie thousand warlike wightes,
With weapons armed strong, gainst Britaines power to bend their mights.
By chaunce the day which shinde before the fatall battaile fought,
The puissant Warwicke Earle on trampling palfray milke white, brought
Into an ample plaine, the foe to bickering calleth out.
Here scoures the Scott, here Britaine rides, the Carreer round about
And staggering tronch of poysoned launce, doth gird with courage stout.
He bloud out belking lyes, with goary blade through th'bowells pusht,
His flickering ghost out flies, with point of sharpe speare greisly crusht.
The courser furious fierce, his sitter cast, doth by pathes tracke,
An other topsey turnde, a while stickes dead on palfrays backe,
At length downe tūbling, gainst the groūd, his skull doth battring knack.
But chiefly, and aboue the rest, of auncient Brutus race,
With mighty puissance Dudley Peere, did Scotts downe hurling chase,
The trampling feete a misty fog, and duskie cloud vp reard:
Much like as when a glomy shoure, from aierie region teard.
At length our horsemen vrging on, the Scotts to flie constraine,
And to the campe with spoyles adorn'd returned backe agayne.
Now scarse the fourth part of the day remaind, and Phœbus lampe,
In chariot swift conuayde, did hast to th'westerne Ocean campe.
Behold from Scottish warlike tentes, an Herault comne doth pray,
That vncontrolde vnto the Duke a message he might say.
Wherfore vnto his royall tent, with frequence great conuayde,
He was permitted for to speake who thus distincklie sayd.
what is the cause, that thus you striue, our realme to wast by might?
Irruption making fierce, vnto our land what is your right?
Is this the part of nation ioynt by vicine borders knit?
The sielie people batering downe, with drierie blade to hit?
But armour layd aside, forthwith depart, and leaue our land,
Or of your bold inuasion looke reuengement out of hand.
For of the valiant Scotts collected is a mighty band.
A blouddy sckirmage on to morrow next for to succeede,
I do denounce, if to your coastes, you hast not backe with speede.
Alacke that without losse of bloud, no battaile may be fought,
With what abondant purple streames shall conquest chief be sought?
How many mestiue wiues their husbandes fail shall wailing mone,
Destroyde by cruell death, constraind to lye in bed alone?
How many parentes of their sonnes, and ofspring deare bereft,
All comfortlesse in grief, to lead their old age shall be left?
I tremble to expresse, nor you vnpunisht shall depart.
wherfore the Scottish guide with wondrous pitie mou'de in hart,
Towardes his countrey soyle, me bids, this message to declare,
Unto the Duke of Somerset, since both haue tane the care.
And guidance great of kyngdomes large, let both the common cause,
Of kingdomes safetie moue, of legall truce he offreth lawes,
Of that the Britaines will, their tooles, and armour layd aside,
All glorylesse forthwith retire, in cause inferiour tride.
Unlesse you doe,then slaughter dire, in wars without remorse,
Expect, the Scottish weapons fell, fast with such weightie force.
Moreouer puissant Huntley Earle these wordes me vtter had,
To th'mighty Duke of Somerset, lest Christian bloud be shad,
And great effusion made, that the contention may be tride,
Betweene them two, and armies both disseuered stand beside.
So losse of little bloud, of all these iarres and end may make.
And headlong prone dissensions rage, a souder may be brake,
By one mans death, and warres vpsturde, a small end may take.
Which of the kingdome rul'de the raines, til that the Princesse yong,
Were comne to riper yeares, chose thirtie thousand warlike wightes,
With weapons armed strong, gainst Britaines power to bend their mights.
The puissant Warwicke Earle on trampling palfray milke white, brought
Into an ample plaine, the foe to bickering calleth out.
Here scoures the Scott, here Britaine rides, the Carreer round about
And staggering tronch of poysoned launce, doth gird with courage stout.
He bloud out belking lyes, with goary blade through th'bowells pusht,
His flickering ghost out flies, with point of sharpe speare greisly crusht.
The courser furious fierce, his sitter cast, doth by pathes tracke,
An other topsey turnde, a while stickes dead on palfrays backe,
At length downe tūbling, gainst the groūd, his skull doth battring knack.
But chiefly, and aboue the rest, of auncient Brutus race,
With mighty puissance Dudley Peere, did Scotts downe hurling chase,
The trampling feete a misty fog, and duskie cloud vp reard:
Much like as when a glomy shoure, from aierie region teard.
At length our horsemen vrging on, the Scotts to flie constraine,
And to the campe with spoyles adorn'd returned backe agayne.
Now scarse the fourth part of the day remaind, and Phœbus lampe,
In chariot swift conuayde, did hast to th'westerne Ocean campe.
The Earle Arreine gouernour of Scotland sendeth an Herault vnto the the Duke of Somerset, and the Earle of Huntley prouoketh him hād to hand.
That vncontrolde vnto the Duke a message he might say.
Wherfore vnto his royall tent, with frequence great conuayde,
He was permitted for to speake who thus distincklie sayd.
what is the cause, that thus you striue, our realme to wast by might?
Irruption making fierce, vnto our land what is your right?
Is this the part of nation ioynt by vicine borders knit?
The sielie people batering downe, with drierie blade to hit?
But armour layd aside, forthwith depart, and leaue our land,
Or of your bold inuasion looke reuengement out of hand.
For of the valiant Scotts collected is a mighty band.
A blouddy sckirmage on to morrow next for to succeede,
I do denounce, if to your coastes, you hast not backe with speede.
Alacke that without losse of bloud, no battaile may be fought,
With what abondant purple streames shall conquest chief be sought?
How many mestiue wiues their husbandes fail shall wailing mone,
Destroyde by cruell death, constraind to lye in bed alone?
How many parentes of their sonnes, and ofspring deare bereft,
All comfortlesse in grief, to lead their old age shall be left?
I tremble to expresse, nor you vnpunisht shall depart.
wherfore the Scottish guide with wondrous pitie mou'de in hart,
Towardes his countrey soyle, me bids, this message to declare,
And guidance great of kyngdomes large, let both the common cause,
Of kingdomes safetie moue, of legall truce he offreth lawes,
Of that the Britaines will, their tooles, and armour layd aside,
All glorylesse forthwith retire, in cause inferiour tride.
Unlesse you doe,then slaughter dire, in wars without remorse,
Expect, the Scottish weapons fell, fast with such weightie force.
Moreouer puissant Huntley Earle these wordes me vtter had,
To th'mighty Duke of Somerset, lest Christian bloud be shad,
And great effusion made, that the contention may be tride,
Betweene them two, and armies both disseuered stand beside.
So losse of little bloud, of all these iarres and end may make.
And headlong prone dissensions rage, a souder may be brake,
By one mans death, and warres vpsturde, a small end may take.
These wordes he vttered. when the Duke, replyde thus backe agayne,
Determinate into your coastes, this army I did traine.
Conditions not take, but graunt, of peace (that aunswere tell)
When Scotts had time, these daungers prest, they might haue voyded well,
Now to to late to deale, by vayne colluding craft they tend.
That Huntley Earle, with natiue pride puft vp, doth to me send,
with him in combat for to ioyne, through glory vayne extold,
According to his nations guise, he prou'de, aduentreth bold.
He as a priuate souldiour serues, nor beareth impery,
If I were so I would him make his challenge dearely bye.
Determinate into your coastes, this army I did traine.
Conditions not take, but graunt, of peace (that aunswere tell)
When Scotts had time, these daungers prest, they might haue voyded well,
Now to to late to deale, by vayne colluding craft they tend.
That Huntley Earle, with natiue pride puft vp, doth to me send,
with him in combat for to ioyne, through glory vayne extold,
According to his nations guise, he prou'de, aduentreth bold.
He as a priuate souldiour serues, nor beareth impery,
If I were so I would him make his challenge dearely bye.
Here warlike Dudley with this speach, the Dukes Oration takes,
And faithles Scotts, with wordes more sharpe he reprehending shakes.
Your slipperie faith, and fickle troth, your periude glauncing tong,
Us Britaines, though vnwilling, eggs to scoure your coastes along.
Ioues anger iust, prouokes vs to reuenge such haynous sinne,
He our attemptes shall prop, and force maintaine to striue therein.
Howbeit if promise plightd you keepe, then foes vs not esteeme,
We nothing will commit, but faithfull frendes it shall beseeme.
But if with armes prepard, you meane in martiall campes to trie:
Your selues with weights of puissance stout, to warre you shall espie.
Who will not laugh to scorne, such boastings vayne, such Scottish crakes?
Thinke you that bugges, or prochant wordes vs Brutes afrighted makes?
You erre the scope of heauen, and raunging romne beside the way,
Let boyes, and girles of tender age, such vayne illusions fray.
That here your minde aboadment giues, great slaughters to insue,
And dire destruction of your men, you prophesying rue:
The holy ghost offended, with such false periured wightes,
Doth it foreshew, and to our power hath subiecte made your mightes.
Of mighty armies God is one, alone, the very same,
which huge Goliath by the hand of Dauid small subdued,
Whose brainepanne rent, by stripe of sling the ground with gore imbrued
He author of this quarrell iust, on iust cause tane in hand,
By such as reuerence due his name, will alway firmely stand.
But this, (that other thinges I passe) I cannot but admire,
How Huntley or such confidence depending, durst aspire,
And on him take, lawes to lay downe, to his superiour farre,
Himselfe inferiour in degree, and honour eke. why darre
He proudly should, to combat, and prouoke so noble a Peere,
As Duke Protectour eke, of Edward Prince, and kinsman neare.
But swolne with glorious natiue, pride, he vaunteth so by kinde,
Wherfore if such desire to fight, such longing haue his minde,
These wordes to Huntley shew, and message doe from me declare,
I in my country am an Earle, and iustly may compare
In honour with an Earle of Scotts, our title Warwicke hight
Whose Fame through Europe coastes along, renownd hath tane her flight.
Though Castells fayre, at roote of mountaines set, his name addorne,
And he from noble auncestours, the ofspring true be borne:
If honour be respect'd, one order doth vs both containd.
And faithles Scotts, with wordes more sharpe he reprehending shakes.
Your slipperie faith, and fickle troth, your periude glauncing tong,
Us Britaines, though vnwilling, eggs to scoure your coastes along.
Ioues anger iust, prouokes vs to reuenge such haynous sinne,
He our attemptes shall prop, and force maintaine to striue therein.
Howbeit if promise plightd you keepe, then foes vs not esteeme,
We nothing will commit, but faithfull frendes it shall beseeme.
But if with armes prepard, you meane in martiall campes to trie:
Your selues with weights of puissance stout, to warre you shall espie.
Who will not laugh to scorne, such boastings vayne, such Scottish crakes?
Thinke you that bugges, or prochant wordes vs Brutes afrighted makes?
You erre the scope of heauen, and raunging romne beside the way,
Let boyes, and girles of tender age, such vayne illusions fray.
That here your minde aboadment giues, great slaughters to insue,
And dire destruction of your men, you prophesying rue:
Doth it foreshew, and to our power hath subiecte made your mightes.
Of mighty armies God is one, alone, the very same,
which huge Goliath by the hand of Dauid small subdued,
Whose brainepanne rent, by stripe of sling the ground with gore imbrued
He author of this quarrell iust, on iust cause tane in hand,
By such as reuerence due his name, will alway firmely stand.
But this, (that other thinges I passe) I cannot but admire,
How Huntley or such confidence depending, durst aspire,
And on him take, lawes to lay downe, to his superiour farre,
Himselfe inferiour in degree, and honour eke. why darre
He proudly should, to combat, and prouoke so noble a Peere,
As Duke Protectour eke, of Edward Prince, and kinsman neare.
But swolne with glorious natiue, pride, he vaunteth so by kinde,
Wherfore if such desire to fight, such longing haue his minde,
These wordes to Huntley shew, and message doe from me declare,
I in my country am an Earle, and iustly may compare
In honour with an Earle of Scotts, our title Warwicke hight
Whose Fame through Europe coastes along, renownd hath tane her flight.
Though Castells fayre, at roote of mountaines set, his name addorne,
And he from noble auncestours, the ofspring true be borne:
If honour be respect'd, one order doth vs both containd.
Tomorrow morne, when Phœbe vpstart shall lift his lampe agayne,
And ouerspred the earth with light. Ile Huntley glorious, stout,
Expect, we two will trie, both armourlesse, and fight it out.
If this he doth deny, though better armde he do proceed,
On horse backe, or on foote, to meet him sure I haue decreed.
I nakt him naked will assayle, vnlesse our shirtes do close,
Perchaunce our corps from shame, as nature seemelines doth chose.
Ten Britaine Peers, to single combatt els do ten prouoke,
Or twentie, twentie Scotts, if ye will graunt, and strike the stroke.
Or I alone, will ready be, with him alone, to fight,
If that I conquerour him subdue, our part shall haue the right,
If Fortune at vs spurne, our armed troupes shall backward stright,
Unto their borders wend my finall gaspe, or his, shall cease
These iarring braules, and twixt both landes, establish future peace.
How noble ist by dint of sword, this frayle life to forsake?
Now profered opportunitie, of combat let him take,
If that he list, tomorrow morne, say I will ready bee.
These speaches vttering forth, a mighty masse of red gold, he
Upon condition gaue, that he declare that message would,
To Huntley Earle and more these wordes he him departing told,
If that the Earle assent, and will with me contending fight,
Tomorrow next, as soone as day on earth shall cast her light:
Doe thou forthwith as messenger, thereof returne this night.
And for the paines of gold receau'd, I double will the wight,
Unto these wordes most willingly, the counsaile sage assent.
And ouerspred the earth with light. Ile Huntley glorious, stout,
Expect, we two will trie, both armourlesse, and fight it out.
If this he doth deny, though better armde he do proceed,
On horse backe, or on foote, to meet him sure I haue decreed.
I nakt him naked will assayle, vnlesse our shirtes do close,
Perchaunce our corps from shame, as nature seemelines doth chose.
Ten Britaine Peers, to single combatt els do ten prouoke,
Or twentie, twentie Scotts, if ye will graunt, and strike the stroke.
Or I alone, will ready be, with him alone, to fight,
If that I conquerour him subdue, our part shall haue the right,
If Fortune at vs spurne, our armed troupes shall backward stright,
Unto their borders wend my finall gaspe, or his, shall cease
These iarring braules, and twixt both landes, establish future peace.
How noble ist by dint of sword, this frayle life to forsake?
Now profered opportunitie, of combat let him take,
If that he list, tomorrow morne, say I will ready bee.
These speaches vttering forth, a mighty masse of red gold, he
To Huntley Earle and more these wordes he him departing told,
If that the Earle assent, and will with me contending fight,
Tomorrow next, as soone as day on earth shall cast her light:
Doe thou forthwith as messenger, thereof returne this night.
And for the paines of gold receau'd, I double will the wight,
Unto these wordes most willingly, the counsaile sage assent.
Forthwith throughout the tentes, with flickering winges, swift rumor went
How mighty Dudley had an earle of Scotland challengd stout,
Ech souldier skips for ioy, and loud resounding liftes a shout,
And manly stomack takes, and hautie harted Dudleys prayse,
To starry region hye, and heauenly powers extolde, doth rayse.
The euening now in westerne coastes, with raies all fierie shinde,
When fires bright burning the tentes throughout, of hard wood you might finde:
Scoutes sent to spie, a hugy rout of Scots brim to appeare,
Returning shew, in steelecotes dight, our army setled neere:
With carefull mindes, and waking eies, the watch their charges keepe,
And now our men with gratefull cates refresht, and dulcet sleepe:
Looke when Aurora goddesse bright, from roseall bed shall rise,
And with her light coruscant, shew the world vnto their eies.
Till Huntley comes, in vaine his christalne lightes, still rolling casts
The mightie Dudley here and there, no messenger, at last:
Returnd an aunswere backe, though pure golde offered for his pay,
At length the better halfe expirde, and midpart of the day:
In valleies low appeare, the Scottish rankes in battayle ray,
Prepared for to fight, and banners broad displayd did beare,
Approching fast. But Brutes a hill, which hie himselfe did reare:
Then interiect betwixt, ascended vp, that place more apt
Might be for skirmage grim. The horsemens guide the left wing lapt,
The right, where Nauy lay at rode, a marrish moore did close,
The vaward after Warwicke Peere, in long ranckes marching goes,
Meane battaile to be led by thee, O Sommerset remaind,
The rearegard all behinde, in order Dacres stout containd.
And now approching neere, the enemie armies bustled ferce,
With dreadfull ratling noice, the clanging brasse tromp aire doth perce,
And cluttering classing armour ringes mens clamours loud abound,
Not so with dashing waues, th'weltring mayne sea flouds resound:
When they the craggie cliffes, and rough rockes bellowing loud do scoure,
Soone after Aeol puissant God of windes, the brethren foure:
With endlesse discord rapt, from dongeon caues permits to stoure:
On th'other side the Scottes with panting pace, against the hill,
Up clammering mount, and thick in plumpes, themselues do gather still.
The harnisht horsemen troupes, with shiuering speares then furious rusht,
Whose first ranke downe is borne, their huge corpes through with weapons pusht
But forth the other rayes, with sharp spurs prick their trāpling steeds
And fellowes deathes reuenging wrack which Gray stout captayne heedes,
Who euen at first assault, in mouth receaude a gastly stroke,
The Britayne army all, couragious fightes, Mars doth prouoke,
Mens mindes incensing, wood, and gaping woundes doth vigour bring,
More, neere those shores in harbour rode the nauy of the king:
From whence through powlders furious force, composde of brimstone blue,
Both bullets forgd of steele, and iron chaines, red glowing flue.
Full foureteene thousand Scottes their ghostes to glommy Stigie lake,
Downe sent in deepe disdaine, the rest to flight them did betake.
Our men with toyling labours sore, the cheerefull trompet shrill,
Doth backe againe retire, who gladly wend their tentes vntill.
O what reioysing then, what wondrous mirth that night did last,
The tentes throughout, eche takes delight, to talke of trauels past,
Of dreadfull perils dire escapte, it is a pleasaunt thing,
With minde secure to thinke, but chiefly power of heauenly king,
Did their attemptes support. Iust Ioue a false cause, down will bring.
How mighty Dudley had an earle of Scotland challengd stout,
Ech souldier skips for ioy, and loud resounding liftes a shout,
And manly stomack takes, and hautie harted Dudleys prayse,
To starry region hye, and heauenly powers extolde, doth rayse.
The euening now in westerne coastes, with raies all fierie shinde,
When fires bright burning the tentes throughout, of hard wood you might finde:
Scoutes sent to spie, a hugy rout of Scots brim to appeare,
Returning shew, in steelecotes dight, our army setled neere:
With carefull mindes, and waking eies, the watch their charges keepe,
And now our men with gratefull cates refresht, and dulcet sleepe:
Looke when Aurora goddesse bright, from roseall bed shall rise,
And with her light coruscant, shew the world vnto their eies.
Till Huntley comes, in vaine his christalne lightes, still rolling casts
The mightie Dudley here and there, no messenger, at last:
Returnd an aunswere backe, though pure golde offered for his pay,
At length the better halfe expirde, and midpart of the day:
In valleies low appeare, the Scottish rankes in battayle ray,
Prepared for to fight, and banners broad displayd did beare,
Approching fast. But Brutes a hill, which hie himselfe did reare:
Then interiect betwixt, ascended vp, that place more apt
Might be for skirmage grim. The horsemens guide the left wing lapt,
The right, where Nauy lay at rode, a marrish moore did close,
The vaward after Warwicke Peere, in long ranckes marching goes,
Meane battaile to be led by thee, O Sommerset remaind,
The rearegard all behinde, in order Dacres stout containd.
And now approching neere, the enemie armies bustled ferce,
With dreadfull ratling noice, the clanging brasse tromp aire doth perce,
And cluttering classing armour ringes mens clamours loud abound,
Not so with dashing waues, th'weltring mayne sea flouds resound:
When they the craggie cliffes, and rough rockes bellowing loud do scoure,
Soone after Aeol puissant God of windes, the brethren foure:
With endlesse discord rapt, from dongeon caues permits to stoure:
Up clammering mount, and thick in plumpes, themselues do gather still.
The harnisht horsemen troupes, with shiuering speares then furious rusht,
Whose first ranke downe is borne, their huge corpes through with weapons pusht
But forth the other rayes, with sharp spurs prick their trāpling steeds
And fellowes deathes reuenging wrack which Gray stout captayne heedes,
Who euen at first assault, in mouth receaude a gastly stroke,
The Britayne army all, couragious fightes, Mars doth prouoke,
Mens mindes incensing, wood, and gaping woundes doth vigour bring,
More, neere those shores in harbour rode the nauy of the king:
From whence through powlders furious force, composde of brimstone blue,
Both bullets forgd of steele, and iron chaines, red glowing flue.
Full foureteene thousand Scottes their ghostes to glommy Stigie lake,
Downe sent in deepe disdaine, the rest to flight them did betake.
Our men with toyling labours sore, the cheerefull trompet shrill,
Doth backe againe retire, who gladly wend their tentes vntill.
O what reioysing then, what wondrous mirth that night did last,
The tentes throughout, eche takes delight, to talke of trauels past,
Of dreadfull perils dire escapte, it is a pleasaunt thing,
With minde secure to thinke, but chiefly power of heauenly king,
Did their attemptes support. Iust Ioue a false cause, down will bring.
The next day light appears, through vncoth coasts, and by pathes blinde
Of th'chiefest Scottish primates fled, report remaind behinde.
Some, desart mountains stickle tops did shrine, some, castell wall,
Did firmely garde, that th'enimies campe appeard no where at all.
The winter now approchte, and space of daies doth shorter grow,
And blacke Orion cloudie starre, himselfe in heauens doth showe:
Wherefore our campe, their warlike tentes remou'de to natiue land,
Determining a fitter time, to take those warres in hand.
The mightie Duke of Sommerset, and Warwicke Earle also,
Are welcomd home, the nobler sort, of youth which then did go:
With them to blouddy wars, all safe returnde with them againe,
The noble king right handes to ioyne most royally did daine:
And all the Princes friendes, in armes did willing them infold,
Commending high their haughtie heartes, and manly courage bold.
Meane time the Scottish Peeres with fickle lightnesse puft in minde,
And Enuies rage vp swolne, that frustrate hope might Britaines blinde,
With generall consent, in moneth which December hight
Unto the Celtane nation send, that their young princesse bright,
Right heire vnto king Iames, be knit in bandes of wedlocke might.
To the heire of Fraunce, If Henry king, this profer would not take,
That so an euerlasting truce two nations, one, might make:
Yet that the mightie guide of Frankes this would vouthsafe to yeeld,
That for the loue, which loyall league twixt nations both did build:
As Scottish, and the Celtane eke: he would not once permit,
One of them torne by dreadfull warres, whereby the league might flit:
Or spoyld by dint of th'enemies sword, to forreine empire bend.
The Brutes by force of conquering hand, that onely to intend:
And in the sequent spring, the surging flouds with nauy vast,
Quite couered for to be, and troupes of horsemen flocking fast,
To enter scottish landes, proposing this, their onely stay,
The Scottish heire, from mothers lap by force to take away.
which pray if they attayne, by aduerse lucke, and spurning fate:
O woefull realme of Scottes O blacke and lamentable state,
Nothing but mourning sobs, and blubbering salt teares left behind.
Wherefore by Gods, by sacred rites they prayd, that cald in mind,
Their auncient league, establisht erst, he would the virgin take,
Before, for long delay doth often greater daunger make.
which tender Impe, if with the king of Fraunce she be vp traind,
with princely education eke, within his court containd:
That then they had a certayne hope, of great good to succeede,
which might the perfit happinesse, of both their kingdomes breede.
And after that through yeares mature, she may in Himens lace,
Be linked fast, to whome he please, let king of Galls her place:
Of th'chiefest Scottish primates fled, report remaind behinde.
Some, desart mountains stickle tops did shrine, some, castell wall,
Did firmely garde, that th'enimies campe appeard no where at all.
The winter now approchte, and space of daies doth shorter grow,
And blacke Orion cloudie starre, himselfe in heauens doth showe:
Wherefore our campe, their warlike tentes remou'de to natiue land,
Determining a fitter time, to take those warres in hand.
The mightie Duke of Sommerset, and Warwicke Earle also,
Are welcomd home, the nobler sort, of youth which then did go:
With them to blouddy wars, all safe returnde with them againe,
The noble king right handes to ioyne most royally did daine:
And all the Princes friendes, in armes did willing them infold,
Commending high their haughtie heartes, and manly courage bold.
Meane time the Scottish Peeres with fickle lightnesse puft in minde,
And Enuies rage vp swolne, that frustrate hope might Britaines blinde,
With generall consent, in moneth which December hight
Unto the Celtane nation send, that their young princesse bright,
Right heire vnto king Iames, be knit in bandes of wedlocke might.
That so an euerlasting truce two nations, one, might make:
Yet that the mightie guide of Frankes this would vouthsafe to yeeld,
That for the loue, which loyall league twixt nations both did build:
As Scottish, and the Celtane eke: he would not once permit,
One of them torne by dreadfull warres, whereby the league might flit:
Or spoyld by dint of th'enemies sword, to forreine empire bend.
The Brutes by force of conquering hand, that onely to intend:
And in the sequent spring, the surging flouds with nauy vast,
Quite couered for to be, and troupes of horsemen flocking fast,
To enter scottish landes, proposing this, their onely stay,
The Scottish heire, from mothers lap by force to take away.
which pray if they attayne, by aduerse lucke, and spurning fate:
O woefull realme of Scottes O blacke and lamentable state,
Nothing but mourning sobs, and blubbering salt teares left behind.
Wherefore by Gods, by sacred rites they prayd, that cald in mind,
Their auncient league, establisht erst, he would the virgin take,
Before, for long delay doth often greater daunger make.
which tender Impe, if with the king of Fraunce she be vp traind,
with princely education eke, within his court containd:
That then they had a certayne hope, of great good to succeede,
which might the perfit happinesse, of both their kingdomes breede.
And after that through yeares mature, she may in Himens lace,
Be linked fast, to whome he please, let king of Galls her place:
Forthwith by princes hest, the Celtane Fleet launchd from the shore,
Is finely furnisht neet, and Galleies swift with saile, and ore:
which after from the callmy harbour close, with Southwindes shrill,
Swift sliding through the deepes, the Scottish realme they come vntill.
The Princesse Mary now, to painted Hull with pomp was led,
where for her princely Grace, was set a stately purple bed,
Soft cushions vnderneath, with soft Downe stuft as white as milke
And costly Arras, Cabbins decks, ywouen of gold and silke.
Great heapes of siluer plate was brought, with shapes of gold inwrought,
And whatsoeuer els for virgin Princesse, meete was thought.
Forthwith the comely damesell thus, a shipbord portlike plac'd,
with all her virgine troupe, and men of armes which after trac'd:
Shee fleeting fast is borne, the aire the spred sayles driuing on,
And merry gales of winde them through the rough seas course anon,
The fleete in order saild, as Swannes twixt fishie riuers bankes,
whil'st middle, and the third, insues the first, and in long rankes:
Through gurtie channels deepe, they diuing swim for frisking bayt.
By chaunce a nauy strong of Britaine ships then lay in wayt,
Which if the kings edict, had not withheld from skirmage grim,
(For he forbad) and greatest part of counsailers with him,
That battayle on the seas as then should not with Frankes be fought
For causes of great waight, which they reuolued deepe in thought:
The mayden maugre Frenchmens teeth, had Britaine tane away:
Who coastes of Fraunce attaind, in Celtane Court now makes her stay.
So Scottish plighted promises, more light then fethers flie,
And doe defame their nation fraile, but penaunce they abie,
In time to come, as erst tofore, they haue vndoubtedlie.
Is finely furnisht neet, and Galleies swift with saile, and ore:
which after from the callmy harbour close, with Southwindes shrill,
Swift sliding through the deepes, the Scottish realme they come vntill.
The Princesse Mary now, to painted Hull with pomp was led,
where for her princely Grace, was set a stately purple bed,
Soft cushions vnderneath, with soft Downe stuft as white as milke
And costly Arras, Cabbins decks, ywouen of gold and silke.
Great heapes of siluer plate was brought, with shapes of gold inwrought,
And whatsoeuer els for virgin Princesse, meete was thought.
Forthwith the comely damesell thus, a shipbord portlike plac'd,
with all her virgine troupe, and men of armes which after trac'd:
Shee fleeting fast is borne, the aire the spred sayles driuing on,
And merry gales of winde them through the rough seas course anon,
The fleete in order saild, as Swannes twixt fishie riuers bankes,
whil'st middle, and the third, insues the first, and in long rankes:
By chaunce a nauy strong of Britaine ships then lay in wayt,
Which if the kings edict, had not withheld from skirmage grim,
(For he forbad) and greatest part of counsailers with him,
That battayle on the seas as then should not with Frankes be fought
For causes of great waight, which they reuolued deepe in thought:
The mayden maugre Frenchmens teeth, had Britaine tane away:
Who coastes of Fraunce attaind, in Celtane Court now makes her stay.
So Scottish plighted promises, more light then fethers flie,
And doe defame their nation fraile, but penaunce they abie,
In time to come, as erst tofore, they haue vndoubtedlie.
Now little England shinde, mongst externe nations far, and wide,
Renownd at home, and eke abroad, through hard aduentures tride.
The valiant Britayne youth, were high extold with wondrous prayse,
Through good successe, with songs, the loftie houses sounding braies.
The hollow boxe pipe fill'd with wind, along the broade streets ringes,
And people on the grassie plaines, with diuers gesture springes:
Whilest tripping forth they iett, and solemne maskes and dauntes brings.
No man is happie long, or prosperous standes in blessed state,
His former ioyes, and blisse, are waited on with bitter fate.
As when a darkesome glomie showre, obscures the day light cleere,
When South winde roaring loud, with boystrous puffes through skies doe sheere:
Don Phœbus in ye thick black clouds, his glittering face doth shrine:
But bright, the stormy tempest vanisht quite, againe doth shine:
Euen so eche common weale, a thousand foule offences breedes,
Of hurly burly combrous sturres, wide scattering daungerous seedes,
Howbeit the prudence of the king, them rootes out by the ground,
Much like Phisition good, which holsome herbes in gardens found,
Unto his patients ministring, them cures with little paine:
Euen so the king seditious men to loyaltie bringes againe,
By pardoning their rage, and makes still stedfast toremayne:
Or rotten members cutteth off, or partes corrupt doth launce,
Gainstanding the beginnings, least the poyson farther glaunce,
And all the bodie doe pollute, with deadly venome blacke,
So by perswasions wonne, or tamde by force, or sword, alack,
Their raging vprores quite debeld, the commons truth standes fast,
Much like a gleabland which with furrowes large of plough is cast,
Doth bushie briers bring, and darnell yeeld amongst the seedes:
So England some seditious folke, amongst true subiectes breedes.
Renownd at home, and eke abroad, through hard aduentures tride.
The valiant Britayne youth, were high extold with wondrous prayse,
Through good successe, with songs, the loftie houses sounding braies.
The hollow boxe pipe fill'd with wind, along the broade streets ringes,
And people on the grassie plaines, with diuers gesture springes:
Whilest tripping forth they iett, and solemne maskes and dauntes brings.
No man is happie long, or prosperous standes in blessed state,
His former ioyes, and blisse, are waited on with bitter fate.
As when a darkesome glomie showre, obscures the day light cleere,
When South winde roaring loud, with boystrous puffes through skies doe sheere:
Don Phœbus in ye thick black clouds, his glittering face doth shrine:
But bright, the stormy tempest vanisht quite, againe doth shine:
Euen so eche common weale, a thousand foule offences breedes,
Of hurly burly combrous sturres, wide scattering daungerous seedes,
Howbeit the prudence of the king, them rootes out by the ground,
Much like Phisition good, which holsome herbes in gardens found,
Unto his patients ministring, them cures with little paine:
Euen so the king seditious men to loyaltie bringes againe,
By pardoning their rage, and makes still stedfast toremayne:
Or rotten members cutteth off, or partes corrupt doth launce,
Gainstanding the beginnings, least the poyson farther glaunce,
And all the bodie doe pollute, with deadly venome blacke,
So by perswasions wonne, or tamde by force, or sword, alack,
Their raging vprores quite debeld, the commons truth standes fast,
Much like a gleabland which with furrowes large of plough is cast,
Doth bushie briers bring, and darnell yeeld amongst the seedes:
So England some seditious folke, amongst true subiectes breedes.
For whilest in great tranquilitie, they vnder Edward stoode,
Deuon a fertile soyle of Tinne, her people armeth woode,
Against the Primates of the land, and sacred orders eke,
Deuoyd of reasons rule, nor what they would, nor what to seeke,
They knew, which starting forth in armes, Gray conquereth out of hand,
By force of horsemen troupes, and Russell with a doughtie band:
Of souldiers stout, who victorie got not without streames of bloud.
Against the Primates of the land, and sacred orders eke,
Deuoyd of reasons rule, nor what they would, nor what to seeke,
They knew, which starting forth in armes, Gray conquereth out of hand,
By force of horsemen troupes, and Russell with a doughtie band:
Of souldiers stout, who victorie got not without streames of bloud.
But here on tother side, of England rose a furious broode,
Which neither feare of auncient lawes, nor sacred hestes regard,
Nor reuerence of their gratious liege, from fond commotion bard:
They armour take in hand, their natiue neighbours downe to beare,
All thinges turmoyling vpside downe, ech noble prudent Peere:
Most odious was despisde, the dunghill rascald fort, to guide
Presumde, of councell [illeg.] this monster Norfolk fostred wide:
Fame with her staylesse winges, into the thinne aire lift aloft,
Swift sliding, true report into the eares of Edward brought:
That a rebellious crue, from plighted loyaltie swarued had.
There is a hilly plot, on Norwich bordring, ouersprad:
With lofty shadowy Okes, whose tops doe touch the cloudie skies,
Here all the dregges, and scomme of the rebellious traytours flies,
A wondrous troupe of country Guoofes beside, there flocking hyes,
But such concourse of armed men, the Britaine lawes denyes.
Wherefore the king determined, seuerely them to scourge,
Howbeit such courteous clemency, his moody minde did vrge,
Towardes the silly wretched sort: that pardon he extendes,
To such as for their crimes would with repentance, make amendes.
Which to confirme, he Pardons sendes, vnder his Signet giuen,
But this in vayne, the country men into their eares had driuen:
The Prince his pardon they contemne, blind with outragious ire,
They vnappeased broile, of slaughters new rapt with desire.
As who inexpert is of warres, thinkes profit warres to gayne,
And pleasaunt deemes, which shortly will, be turnd to vexing paine.
Armes therefore, by the generall consent of Senate graue,
Prouided wearsome harnisht strong on foote, some praunsers braue.
All gorgeous armde, vp mountes. And in the name of open foe,
To king, and country both, against the rebels rout they goe.
By force of dreadfull Mars, this traitrous company quite to quell,
Was puissant Warwicke sent, who did in force of corps excell,
And courage haut of hart, who by long vse in battell fell:
Knew with what valiant stomackes bold, the Britaines hardnes growes.
Whil'st that in skirmage grim they with strong arme bestow their blows.
The third day comes, and Phœbe the worlde with cleere light ouer goes
Stout Dudley with his warlike mates, them selues in tents do close,
So do the doughtie bandes, which London mightie Citie yeelds,
Neere auncient Norwich walled towne, downe pitcht in open fieldes.
Which when the country crauens, rought with pale feare, had espied,
In briery brakes, and lurking holes, in shadowy groues they hide:
In no place daring peepe, but after boldnes fiercer growne,
In time, that all those soddaine panges, of feare away were flowne:
They rushing thicke out brake, and to a valley bordring hye,
No man remembring calde to minde, the daunger preasing nye:
But armed stoode, with carres, and waynes, their winges incompast round,
On thother side the princes hoast, with cheerefull trumpets sound.
Proceedes, and first the blowes begins, and egar fight vp reares,
But Warwicke furious wroth, with blouddy blade his foes downe beares,
At length, when beastlike backes to turne, on this side shame forbad
On that side certayne death the rebels sturde, outragious mad:
One part resisting fierce downe falles: the other groueling flat,
Is battered, but stout Warwicke Peere, respected chiefly, that
Least all at once were ouerthrowne, those men of peruerse wit:
Hawbeit of courage such as daungers done should force to flit:
He causeth through the Martiall field, an Herault loud to cry,
If anie armour would abiect, which he most traiterousty:
Had tane in hand, and for his fault would pardon humbly craue:
He should vnpunisht life, and goods, and former freedome haue.
Which when the commons heard, they tooles, and armour laid aside,
On bended knees, with mourning teares, and Pardon, Pardon cride.
The mercy then of Warwicke Earle, did so resplendent shine,
That penaunce of their haynous fact, he pardoned free that time.
No Britaine now remainde, whom Giaunt like, rebellious rage,
Did rechlesse beare away, none did from loyall duetie gage,
But to their true annoynted king remainde and country stage.
Which neither feare of auncient lawes, nor sacred hestes regard,
Nor reuerence of their gratious liege, from fond commotion bard:
They armour take in hand, their natiue neighbours downe to beare,
All thinges turmoyling vpside downe, ech noble prudent Peere:
Most odious was despisde, the dunghill rascald fort, to guide
Presumde, of councell [illeg.] this monster Norfolk fostred wide:
Fame with her staylesse winges, into the thinne aire lift aloft,
Swift sliding, true report into the eares of Edward brought:
That a rebellious crue, from plighted loyaltie swarued had.
There is a hilly plot, on Norwich bordring, ouersprad:
With lofty shadowy Okes, whose tops doe touch the cloudie skies,
Here all the dregges, and scomme of the rebellious traytours flies,
A wondrous troupe of country Guoofes beside, there flocking hyes,
But such concourse of armed men, the Britaine lawes denyes.
Wherefore the king determined, seuerely them to scourge,
Howbeit such courteous clemency, his moody minde did vrge,
Towardes the silly wretched sort: that pardon he extendes,
To such as for their crimes would with repentance, make amendes.
Which to confirme, he Pardons sendes, vnder his Signet giuen,
But this in vayne, the country men into their eares had driuen:
The Prince his pardon they contemne, blind with outragious ire,
They vnappeased broile, of slaughters new rapt with desire.
As who inexpert is of warres, thinkes profit warres to gayne,
And pleasaunt deemes, which shortly will, be turnd to vexing paine.
Armes therefore, by the generall consent of Senate graue,
Prouided wearsome harnisht strong on foote, some praunsers braue.
All gorgeous armde, vp mountes. And in the name of open foe,
To king, and country both, against the rebels rout they goe.
By force of dreadfull Mars, this traitrous company quite to quell,
Was puissant Warwicke sent, who did in force of corps excell,
And courage haut of hart, who by long vse in battell fell:
Knew with what valiant stomackes bold, the Britaines hardnes growes.
Whil'st that in skirmage grim they with strong arme bestow their blows.
Stout Dudley with his warlike mates, them selues in tents do close,
So do the doughtie bandes, which London mightie Citie yeelds,
Neere auncient Norwich walled towne, downe pitcht in open fieldes.
Which when the country crauens, rought with pale feare, had espied,
In briery brakes, and lurking holes, in shadowy groues they hide:
In no place daring peepe, but after boldnes fiercer growne,
In time, that all those soddaine panges, of feare away were flowne:
They rushing thicke out brake, and to a valley bordring hye,
No man remembring calde to minde, the daunger preasing nye:
But armed stoode, with carres, and waynes, their winges incompast round,
On thother side the princes hoast, with cheerefull trumpets sound.
Proceedes, and first the blowes begins, and egar fight vp reares,
But Warwicke furious wroth, with blouddy blade his foes downe beares,
At length, when beastlike backes to turne, on this side shame forbad
On that side certayne death the rebels sturde, outragious mad:
One part resisting fierce downe falles: the other groueling flat,
Is battered, but stout Warwicke Peere, respected chiefly, that
Least all at once were ouerthrowne, those men of peruerse wit:
Hawbeit of courage such as daungers done should force to flit:
He causeth through the Martiall field, an Herault loud to cry,
If anie armour would abiect, which he most traiterousty:
Had tane in hand, and for his fault would pardon humbly craue:
He should vnpunisht life, and goods, and former freedome haue.
Which when the commons heard, they tooles, and armour laid aside,
On bended knees, with mourning teares, and Pardon, Pardon cride.
The mercy then of Warwicke Earle, did so resplendent shine,
That penaunce of their haynous fact, he pardoned free that time.
No Britaine now remainde, whom Giaunt like, rebellious rage,
Did rechlesse beare away, none did from loyall duetie gage,
But to their true annoynted king remainde and country stage.
The Princes court, from this lugubrious war, did Dudley take,
With solempne pompe, and ioy: with flitting wings, whom Fame did make
Renowmed through the warlike townes, of Britaine kingdomes stout,
How in king Henries dayes, he hard aduentures brought about,
Whil'st that his thundring gleiue he rold, amongst the enimies rout.
Not of deathes drierie launce, or dreadfull edge of sword, agast,
He neuer doubtfull stoode, himselfe to daungers all to cast:
If great affaires, or countries cause, required him to goe,
Or hest of sacred king, incenst his minde for to do so.
Howe manie times with boties rich, and laud immortall wonne,
Did he to natiue soyle againe, from externe Regions come:
His enimies battered downe: or els in fearefull flight back driu'de,
Whereby he royall dignitie, and endlesse Fame atchiu'de.
God prospering the euent, which he begonne in luckie houre.
Wherefore as yet he higher was, extolde in Fortunes bowre:
The King him Duke creating, whom with ioy and mickle cheere,
Northumberland did title giue, and honouring loue full deere.
Him Lord chiefe Stuard eke, the Princes Court imbraced fayne,
Till Atrapos the fatall threed of Edward cut in twayne,
With solempne pompe, and ioy: with flitting wings, whom Fame did make
Renowmed through the warlike townes, of Britaine kingdomes stout,
How in king Henries dayes, he hard aduentures brought about,
Whil'st that his thundring gleiue he rold, amongst the enimies rout.
Not of deathes drierie launce, or dreadfull edge of sword, agast,
He neuer doubtfull stoode, himselfe to daungers all to cast:
If great affaires, or countries cause, required him to goe,
Or hest of sacred king, incenst his minde for to do so.
Did he to natiue soyle againe, from externe Regions come:
His enimies battered downe: or els in fearefull flight back driu'de,
Whereby he royall dignitie, and endlesse Fame atchiu'de.
God prospering the euent, which he begonne in luckie houre.
Wherefore as yet he higher was, extolde in Fortunes bowre:
The King him Duke creating, whom with ioy and mickle cheere,
Northumberland did title giue, and honouring loue full deere.
Him Lord chiefe Stuard eke, the Princes Court imbraced fayne,
Till Atrapos the fatall threed of Edward cut in twayne,
Renowned Edward from the paps framde of his noble Dame,
Instructed in all Sciences, by learned men, became.
Who Greekish phrase, with Latine speech conioyning in short space,
Did reape such ample fruite, that vnto none of princely race
He was inferior found, which Britaine nation fostring reares,
Nor Peere hee anie had, if flexile age, and tender yeares,
Ye do respect which three times fiue, and two, had scarse expirde,
Or redy sharpnesse of his wit, or iudgement, ye requirde:
In anie point to learning which, or morall vertues bright,
Did appertaine, the Phœnix rare of Europe, and the light.
Whom death vntimely, like the flowre from tender stalke of rapt,
From Britaines tooke away, and youthfull corps in coffin lapt.
Death enuies on the earth, who sacred lawes obserue, and keepe.
So boyes, and springoldes fresh, he with his dart away doth sweepe,
Which Ioue th'almightie king, vouchsafes to heauen to haue extold.
Instructed in all Sciences, by learned men, became.
Who Greekish phrase, with Latine speech conioyning in short space,
Did reape such ample fruite, that vnto none of princely race
He was inferior found, which Britaine nation fostring reares,
Nor Peere hee anie had, if flexile age, and tender yeares,
Ye do respect which three times fiue, and two, had scarse expirde,
Or redy sharpnesse of his wit, or iudgement, ye requirde:
In anie point to learning which, or morall vertues bright,
Did appertaine, the Phœnix rare of Europe, and the light.
Whom death vntimely, like the flowre from tender stalke of rapt,
From Britaines tooke away, and youthfull corps in coffin lapt.
Death enuies on the earth, who sacred lawes obserue, and keepe.
So boyes, and springoldes fresh, he with his dart away doth sweepe,
Which Ioue th'almightie king, vouchsafes to heauen to haue extold.
The king thus dead, him after doth a woman scepter hold,
Which Mary hight one of the sisters twaine, sprong of the race,
Of Henry royall Monarch high, which did within short space:
A Foreiner, her kinsman eke, king Phyllip Spanyard take,
In wedlocke bandes, which pensiue heartes vnto the Brutes did make.
For seldome shall you marke, two realmes concordant to agree,
Which farre by landes, and seas disiungd, and legall friendship be.
Here whilest this Bridegrome new, doth with his spowse himselfe delight
Round garded with a mighty troupe, in purple Mantles dight,
With hemme of gold about, beset with Emeraulds glittering bright:
Which wandring marchaunt had from vtmost bankes of Iudy brought.
Phœbes burning lampe the front of Leo vast, had ouerought,
And in the hye heauens region brode, now many signes oregone:
The winter Solstice passed had with swift course borne anone.
Secure and pleasaunt peace both Frankes and Britaines ioyntly bound,
Which league both Spanyardes, Fleminges, eke and Phyllips kingdomes wound
And for because the feastfull time, the great yeare rold about,
Not without solempne pompe, and mirth, the Britaine land throughout,
Which in Decembers nipping cold still falles: ech heart bereau'de,
Of faithlesse fraud, which secret foe, in watching bed conceaude:
King Henry Celtane guide, with youthfull heat prouoked mad,
And thirsting after endles Fame, great hope incensed had:
In minde, that either Phyllip none was, or but halfe a man,
And stablisht sacred bandes of league, to violate began,
With reaking flames, all Flaunders coastes, then wasting broad in sight,
Subduing droues of beastes, and troupes of men by martiall might.
Which Hyspaigne king prouoked wroth, and cholers raging yre,
Of all the Spanish Peeres incensing, kindled light on fire.
Not Autumne yet was come, that loftie Ceres frute might spring,
With yellowish eares, and pastures large, the greene grasse fragrant bring:
Nor of the earth, Sols scorching heat, the moysture had vp dride,
That vnder hye heauens coape all night, the souldiers might abide:
Wherefore till hoped houre, of them destrous looked long,
The nauy rigged is, swordes, flickering shaftes, and iauelins strong;
with armour strong of proofe are got, flesh, bread, and wine, are bought;
That needefull foode for valiant men, might not be wanting sought.
But in ech tent abound, huge chestes were packed full of gold,
That they which fought with courage stout deserued hire might bold,
From sondrie nations seuered far, full manie a martiall crue,
King Phyllip willing so his Peeres, came to his warfare newe.
Meane time the bewtious Queene, and noble spouse of Phyllip king,
To ayde her husband bent a trustie troupe of men to bring:
A legate sendes vnto the Frank, which dreadfull battayle bad,
And did vnto that nation false, rough threates moreouer add.
All Fraunce in vprore standes, with fearfull tumult, on her part,
All England crackt with noyce, to blouddy Mars vpsturd, doth start.
All Flaunders, Aspurge eke, all Burgoine, and Tirolis strong,
And many a doughtie Captaine Spaigne so mighty minges among.
Full many eke whom dreadfull warres, long times had vexed sore,
whereby their skill in workes of Mars, through vse increased more:
In crested helmets streming dight, all glorious to behold,
Their corps in harnish strong: with shieldes bright shining brode infold.
The puissant captayne present was which Brunsweikes title due
Doth beautifie, in harnish black, whom gardes a horsemen crue,
This troupe at first assault, did daunt the Frenchmen sore with feare,
And downe with manly might, did many a bardhorse tumbling beare.
From Germanie likewise to aide, were sent a chosest band:
Nor doughtie warriours wanting were, from out Italia land.
Dalmatians fierce vnto these wars, and actiue Heynowes trast,
Howbeit the chiefest confidence in Britaine bandes was plast.
The narrow league of frendship plight, and wife requirde the fame,
To whom with her espoused feere, all daungers equall came.
The Earle of Penbroke generall of Britaines rankes assignd,
Three Earles more had linkt, first him whom Worcesters title shrind,
Next him whom Bedford did adorne, with honours which beseemd
So mighty a Peere, and lastly him which Rutland high esteemd.
To these in like degree, for his exploites atchiu'de beforne,
Was ioynd Syr Anthony Browne, of Anthony sier true ofspring borne.
With whom stout Dudleys manly race, gay springoldes armour bare,
And from what noble bloud they sprang, expresly did declare.
The Palme tree cannot downe be prest, but loftier doth extend
Her braunched top, if that with waight you goe about to bend,
Her bowes, with boistrous stemme, and springing liftes her crest to stars.
Wars purchase high renowne, great honours are atchiu'd by wars.
Hence springes the Princes loue, and gratious fauour offred growes,
Hence commons like proceedes, if vnto Mauors bickering fawes
For natiue countryes sake, you boldly do obiect your brest,
Refusing daungers none, ech kinde of death to venture prest.
This was ingraft by natures skill, if no man had instruct,
The Dudleys, they with parentes milke, inuicted courage suckt.
So much it is to spring, from valiant Sire, and noble dame,
The chearefull Brethren three, in armour like exulting came.
Which Mary hight one of the sisters twaine, sprong of the race,
Of Henry royall Monarch high, which did within short space:
A Foreiner, her kinsman eke, king Phyllip Spanyard take,
In wedlocke bandes, which pensiue heartes vnto the Brutes did make.
For seldome shall you marke, two realmes concordant to agree,
Which farre by landes, and seas disiungd, and legall friendship be.
Here whilest this Bridegrome new, doth with his spowse himselfe delight
Round garded with a mighty troupe, in purple Mantles dight,
With hemme of gold about, beset with Emeraulds glittering bright:
Which wandring marchaunt had from vtmost bankes of Iudy brought.
Phœbes burning lampe the front of Leo vast, had ouerought,
And in the hye heauens region brode, now many signes oregone:
The winter Solstice passed had with swift course borne anone.
Secure and pleasaunt peace both Frankes and Britaines ioyntly bound,
And for because the feastfull time, the great yeare rold about,
Not without solempne pompe, and mirth, the Britaine land throughout,
Which in Decembers nipping cold still falles: ech heart bereau'de,
Of faithlesse fraud, which secret foe, in watching bed conceaude:
King Henry Celtane guide, with youthfull heat prouoked mad,
And thirsting after endles Fame, great hope incensed had:
In minde, that either Phyllip none was, or but halfe a man,
And stablisht sacred bandes of league, to violate began,
With reaking flames, all Flaunders coastes, then wasting broad in sight,
Subduing droues of beastes, and troupes of men by martiall might.
Which Hyspaigne king prouoked wroth, and cholers raging yre,
Of all the Spanish Peeres incensing, kindled light on fire.
Not Autumne yet was come, that loftie Ceres frute might spring,
With yellowish eares, and pastures large, the greene grasse fragrant bring:
Nor of the earth, Sols scorching heat, the moysture had vp dride,
That vnder hye heauens coape all night, the souldiers might abide:
Wherefore till hoped houre, of them destrous looked long,
The nauy rigged is, swordes, flickering shaftes, and iauelins strong;
with armour strong of proofe are got, flesh, bread, and wine, are bought;
That needefull foode for valiant men, might not be wanting sought.
But in ech tent abound, huge chestes were packed full of gold,
That they which fought with courage stout deserued hire might bold,
From sondrie nations seuered far, full manie a martiall crue,
King Phyllip willing so his Peeres, came to his warfare newe.
Meane time the bewtious Queene, and noble spouse of Phyllip king,
To ayde her husband bent a trustie troupe of men to bring:
A legate sendes vnto the Frank, which dreadfull battayle bad,
And did vnto that nation false, rough threates moreouer add.
All Fraunce in vprore standes, with fearfull tumult, on her part,
All England crackt with noyce, to blouddy Mars vpsturd, doth start.
All Flaunders, Aspurge eke, all Burgoine, and Tirolis strong,
And many a doughtie Captaine Spaigne so mighty minges among.
Full many eke whom dreadfull warres, long times had vexed sore,
whereby their skill in workes of Mars, through vse increased more:
In crested helmets streming dight, all glorious to behold,
Their corps in harnish strong: with shieldes bright shining brode infold.
The puissant captayne present was which Brunsweikes title due
Doth beautifie, in harnish black, whom gardes a horsemen crue,
This troupe at first assault, did daunt the Frenchmen sore with feare,
From Germanie likewise to aide, were sent a chosest band:
Nor doughtie warriours wanting were, from out Italia land.
Dalmatians fierce vnto these wars, and actiue Heynowes trast,
Howbeit the chiefest confidence in Britaine bandes was plast.
The narrow league of frendship plight, and wife requirde the fame,
To whom with her espoused feere, all daungers equall came.
The Earle of Penbroke generall of Britaines rankes assignd,
Three Earles more had linkt, first him whom Worcesters title shrind,
Next him whom Bedford did adorne, with honours which beseemd
So mighty a Peere, and lastly him which Rutland high esteemd.
To these in like degree, for his exploites atchiu'de beforne,
Was ioynd Syr Anthony Browne, of Anthony sier true ofspring borne.
With whom stout Dudleys manly race, gay springoldes armour bare,
And from what noble bloud they sprang, expresly did declare.
The Palme tree cannot downe be prest, but loftier doth extend
Her braunched top, if that with waight you goe about to bend,
Her bowes, with boistrous stemme, and springing liftes her crest to stars.
Wars purchase high renowne, great honours are atchiu'd by wars.
Hence springes the Princes loue, and gratious fauour offred growes,
Hence commons like proceedes, if vnto Mauors bickering fawes
For natiue countryes sake, you boldly do obiect your brest,
Refusing daungers none, ech kinde of death to venture prest.
This was ingraft by natures skill, if no man had instruct,
The Dudleys, they with parentes milke, inuicted courage suckt.
So much it is to spring, from valiant Sire, and noble dame,
The chearefull Brethren three, in armour like exulting came.
Of which the first, outstarteth fresh, of minde vnconquered bold,
With shoulders broad bespred, hight Ambrose, whom rich clothes infold,
Of purple hue, vpon his armour polisht fine with gold.
Ioint by his side, in brethren loue, linkt fast, and natures bandes,
That mutually one might defend, the others quarrell standes
Robert his brother, borne with smiling fate, in luckly houre,
Who as he gentle was, so stout, and bold, his foes to scoure.
With shoulders broad bespred, hight Ambrose, whom rich clothes infold,
Of purple hue, vpon his armour polisht fine with gold.
Ioint by his side, in brethren loue, linkt fast, and natures bandes,
That mutually one might defend, the others quarrell standes
Robert his brother, borne with smiling fate, in luckly houre,
Who as he gentle was, so stout, and bold, his foes to scoure.
The third companion to these knit, which like loue did impart,
Was Henry, voide of feare, of mighty force, and hautie hart.
These three all striplings gay, had soft lockes scarse on cheekes sprong out,
Such bodies fayre, as seldome yeldes the like this world no dout.
A fourth, these Brethren had of elder age, whom stealing death,
In floure of youthfull dayes, vntimely reft of vitall breath.
Through languishing disease, by bitter destinies cruell downe,
To mightie Syer, and Grandsiers old, who like had sure become.
Inferiour vnto none, in high exploites, of all his line,
Such courage rare of minde, and force in hardie corps did shine.
You would him sayd to be of Hercles sturdie armes, and brest,
Such vigour great he had, where girding forth the state he wrestd,
On courser mounted braue, or strong in wrastling might expressd.
What kinde of sap ingenerate, the Apple tree doth feede,
In Autumne season, sauouring like, such Apples well proceede.
So the couragious progenie, from valiant Dudley sprong,
Do imitate their auncestours, both he whom death hath stong,
And they which liuely now do skip the Spanish Peers among.
Was Henry, voide of feare, of mighty force, and hautie hart.
These three all striplings gay, had soft lockes scarse on cheekes sprong out,
Such bodies fayre, as seldome yeldes the like this world no dout.
A fourth, these Brethren had of elder age, whom stealing death,
In floure of youthfull dayes, vntimely reft of vitall breath.
To mightie Syer, and Grandsiers old, who like had sure become.
Inferiour vnto none, in high exploites, of all his line,
Such courage rare of minde, and force in hardie corps did shine.
You would him sayd to be of Hercles sturdie armes, and brest,
Such vigour great he had, where girding forth the state he wrestd,
On courser mounted braue, or strong in wrastling might expressd.
What kinde of sap ingenerate, the Apple tree doth feede,
In Autumne season, sauouring like, such Apples well proceede.
So the couragious progenie, from valiant Dudley sprong,
Do imitate their auncestours, both he whom death hath stong,
And they which liuely now do skip the Spanish Peers among.
And farther many more which were by knighthoode noble made,
With warlike weapons strong were armde, the Celtane coastes to vade.
Which Primates stout, teen thousand wightes of Brutus race were bound,
To gard, and now the time was comne, when clangring trompetts sound,
These vncoth nations, far a part, togethers summond round.
The season of the yeare the corne eare, caus'd, with reed, to strout,
And for the barbed steed the earth, greene pasturing burgend out.
With warlike weapons strong were armde, the Celtane coastes to vade.
Which Primates stout, teen thousand wightes of Brutus race were bound,
To gard, and now the time was comne, when clangring trompetts sound,
These vncoth nations, far a part, togethers summond round.
The season of the yeare the corne eare, caus'd, with reed, to strout,
And for the barbed steed the earth, greene pasturing burgend out.
The warlike region vast of Fraunce with fortrest Castels braue,
Abondes ybuilt with hugie stones, out of the hard rocke claue.
And euery side with Cities fayre, is garnisht wondrous gay,
where towardes Spanish coastes she lookes, or clouddy Alpes, alway
With slakes of snow bespred, or rising of the Sunne beholdes,
Fraunce: rightly may be proude, of mighty townes, which walls infoldes.
Here is a famous Citie, that of Quintines name doth beare,
which doth in fruitefull plot of ground, her buildings stately reare,
Most plentifull of corne, and wine, within that ample field,
King Phillip pitcht his tentes. when thus the towne besiegd beheild
Herselfe with th'enemies rankes about, she stoinde with terrour stayes,
And to to late the French kinges ayde, she craues the siege to rayse,
For some the earth deepe trenching, downe to teare indeuored fast,
Some for defence of rubble vp a bulwarke bancke did cast,
Some scaling ladders framde, and firebrandes flang to turretts tops,
The strong stone walls, with ingines fell, some other shogging popps.
But see, here none this secret guile, and subtile sleight espide,
For when the glomy darke night shades, mens eyes with soft sleepe tyed:
A Celtane Captaine with a band of Frenchmen close did slide,
Into the towne, with poulder stuft great baggs ech souldiour brought.
These things did luckly fay, whilst entraunce he by stealth had cought.
But like successe to thee bid not O Memorancy fall.
whilst eighteene thousand souldiours stout, he after him did call,
Through wouddy bypathes blind, and hilly mountaines neare to stray:
Till that the duskie night, into the towne might fourd a way:
Amongst thy hardie horsemen troupes (Renowmed Duke) he light,
The best part of his army slayne, the remnant put to flight.
But Brunsweik Duke the Captiues safe, in prison strong vp closde,
Forthwith before king Phillip was the Captaine tane reposde.
Then hurly burly sturre, and wondrous ioy through euery tent,
was spred abroad, the noyse vpreard the aierie region rent.
This good beginning, all of like successe aboadment takes,
The souldiours fierce with cannon shot, the hard walls battring shakes,
The diches are with rubble filde, and now the plaistring pusht,
And losened with the vehement shot, three hugie partes downe rusht,
And seuerall places three, into the towne gaue entraunce new.
Then out of euery band, the king did take a chosen crue,
In plated harnish white, them arming all, and bad inuade,
The enemies towne, where passage free, the walls downe ransact made.
The clamoring loude of warriours then, the hye heauens coastes doth fill
The dubling dromme resoundes, the rattling trompetts clanging shrill
Confused mixt with noyse of men, makes deafe the souldiours eares.
Here egar Almaines fight, the Italian there him doughtie beares.
On this side Spaniardes presse, by force through gaping wall to pearce,
On that side garded strong in steele thrung thicke the Britaines fierce.
But first before the rest, did hardie Henry Dudley tend,
With course vnbrideled swift, the walles downe shogde for to transcend,
So do his Brethren twaine, of puissance like, and courage found,
Howbeit of Henry, whilst he stoopt, declining to the ground,
I know not what to teare, or rip, an yron bullet brust
His scalp, broad scattering brused braines, and corps dead layd in dust.
He gentle spirite out gaspt, euen in his fresh and bloming yeares,
Whom backe vnto the tentes, his mates conuayd with blubbring teares,
His body clad in lincloth shroude, as Christian rite requeres.
His brethren furious woode, burne in desire of deepe reuenge,
As euery foe them meetes, with sharpe sword pusht, his necke he bendes
Dissolu'd in quaking death, with raging ire, and bitter sling,
The Britaine stout in armes, like thunder dint his foes doth ding.
On euery side th'assaut, gainst wretched Citizens waxeth grim,
A thousand grudging ghost are sent to gastlie shadowes dimme.
Pale death their hartes afrightes, whom ransackt walls in compassd round.
He of the Celtanes happy is, whom goarie gaping wound,
Hath groueling layd along, to be recur'de by Surgions skill.
with shriking plaintes vp lift'd, their ruthfull houies weomen fil,
And trembling in their armes, their tended sucklings do imbrace,
Distract of minde through feare, and wandring stray from place, to place.
Yong boyes do wailings make of armes such gastly horrour growes,
And suppliant both their hands, with plaints to heauens extending, throwes,
with humble voyce beseeching Ioue, some mercy downe to cast.
But they whose naturall moisture of their braine vpdried, was past,
And could not weepe, whom crooked age, from death had shrowded free,
Their countries fatall fall, and ruine of their towne to see:
They from the bottome of their hartes, do greeuous grones out powre,
Till midst of day more fiercer still, and vehement dures the stoure,
Through courage haue, and mightie force of Phillips souldiours stout,
But not without great streames of bloud, of the enemy powred out.
The Citizens inclosd, suppose at hand the finall day,
Of the subuersion of their towne, and houre of their decay.
And now the army through the gates, wide doopt, had passage wonne,
The Frenchmen strake with chillie feare, in plumpes do backward runne.
Some shroud themselues in cellars blind, some beames in houses tops clime,
A combrous rout to temples fled, themselues from death to shrine:
And wretched wightes, in armes the alters clasping fast, infoldes.
The victor with his armed bandes, the walls and strong sort holdes,
The martiall troupes, in stately buildings fayre, do beare the sway,
Which thee (Redoubted Phillip) seru'd the old Lordes driuen away.
The Celtane pompe is ouerthrowne, both pretious robes, and gold,
And massie bolls by goldsmithes art, vet out, of siluer mold:
The Spanyard souldiour sckipping takes, the cubburd sides vp torne.
And pretious Arras curious wrought, by Germaines out was borne.
Bed tikes the feathers powred forth, along the wayes were sprad,
Set out to sayle, to byers such, as ready money had.
Fine linnen Garmentes, wollen eke, in streetes did scattred lye,
And pannes, and caldrons huge, which were preseru'd, neede to supplie,
In seething meat, and instruments which kitchin ought to hold.
A brasen pot, with platters large, of pewter fine, was sold
For two grotes prise, the cryer loude proclaiming first the same.
what pretious houshold stuffe in all the town remaind, that came
With Iewels, rich attire, and Orient gemmes, in coffers found,
Unto the victors pray. King Phillips laude hye heauens resound.
Which to his mightie Sier, in warlike honour they compare.
Meane time the common people floct to sacred temples ware,
And to the Sanctuaries of the Gods, themselues in heapes had bare.
Expecting all with trembling hart, their finall gasp to breath,
No sparke of hope to them remaines, them to preserue from death.
which trying bruntes of warres, in open broyles are ouerthrone,
But God the affectes of hartes doth moue, and in his handes alone,
Are dispositions eke, of earthly Princes euery one.
What way his mightie hest, directeth forth, that way they take,
He softneth, he, their brestes, and prone to good workes harts doth make.
As mollified waxe to euery forme, is subiect brought,
And stamps or tipes impression takes, to formers pleasure wrought.
wherfore the Princes minde, more lenified, through quenched heat
Of feruent ire, through Ioues behest all iniuries doth forgeat,
And souldiours straight commandes, for to desist from shedding bloud,
Of male and female sexe, now wondrous troupes of captiues stood.
The impotent, and tender youth, with such, as wages hierd,
Dismissed were, but the wealthier sort, as martiall lawes requi'rd,
Were kept in band, mongst many Peers, esprong of worthy race,
Shattillion, which of the towne the kinges liuetenant was:
As Captiue was subdued, agayne to be redeemd for gold.
A garrison of warriours then, here left the fort to hold:
The king his tentes remou'de & Castell strong of Haune besetts,
which Conquerd ransackt downe, he manye forts despoyling getts.
while, that this blouddy scourge did range in th'Easterne parts of Fraunce,
The Admirall of th'English Fleet, his title to aduaunce.
Lord Clynton, warlike Peere, of noble grandsiers old esprong,
Unto the westerne Celtane coastes, was caried swift along.
Three hundred Carickes vast, you might haue seen the surges hye
with brasen keele to shere, whose tall tops rought the starrie skie.
The fierie belking brasen peece, with tearing chaine shot hard,
Both pup, and side, and beaked sterne, of euery ship did gard,
Distruction threatning dire, vnto the aduerse Celtane crue.
There is a Citie hight Conque, which Thetis waters blue,
with raging stoure doe wash, that takes our shipps in wished road.
Forthwith Alarme the trompet soundes, the souldiours fresh abroad,
Out sckipping fierce, along the salt sea banckes, were scattered thick,
Of all the Captaines haue, first Winter doth on drie land stick,
Red flaking brandes of fire, to rampier topps forth hurling fast,
which ragged walls, with smoldring flames incroching, lickt at last.
Not onely hugie iolstes, and beames vnweldie matter yeld,
But Tunnes of oyle increasd the fire, then dwellers life to shield,
From dint of wrathfull blade, flie backe, the walls with rattling noyce,
Are ouerthrowne, the women sckrich, and boyes with dolefull voyce.
And when no force for to resist preuayld, the stronger sort
Of solide yeares, and hardy loines, all desart left their fort,
And vncoth by wayes straunge, withouten path did pensiue stray.
Not pillage noble Clinton sought, or spoyles to beare away,
But glory great of warrs, both towne, and treasure, fire deuoures,
To ashes eke consumde are turnd, both bordring townes, and towres,
High blasing sparkles belching vp, in circles to the skies.
A while bolde Clinton tentes downe pitcht, and in the playne fields lyes,
At last with honour great adornd, to painted deck he hies.
Abondes ybuilt with hugie stones, out of the hard rocke claue.
And euery side with Cities fayre, is garnisht wondrous gay,
where towardes Spanish coastes she lookes, or clouddy Alpes, alway
With slakes of snow bespred, or rising of the Sunne beholdes,
Fraunce: rightly may be proude, of mighty townes, which walls infoldes.
Here is a famous Citie, that of Quintines name doth beare,
which doth in fruitefull plot of ground, her buildings stately reare,
Most plentifull of corne, and wine, within that ample field,
King Phillip pitcht his tentes. when thus the towne besiegd beheild
Herselfe with th'enemies rankes about, she stoinde with terrour stayes,
And to to late the French kinges ayde, she craues the siege to rayse,
For some the earth deepe trenching, downe to teare indeuored fast,
Some for defence of rubble vp a bulwarke bancke did cast,
Some scaling ladders framde, and firebrandes flang to turretts tops,
The strong stone walls, with ingines fell, some other shogging popps.
But see, here none this secret guile, and subtile sleight espide,
For when the glomy darke night shades, mens eyes with soft sleepe tyed:
A Celtane Captaine with a band of Frenchmen close did slide,
Into the towne, with poulder stuft great baggs ech souldiour brought.
These things did luckly fay, whilst entraunce he by stealth had cought.
whilst eighteene thousand souldiours stout, he after him did call,
Through wouddy bypathes blind, and hilly mountaines neare to stray:
Till that the duskie night, into the towne might fourd a way:
Amongst thy hardie horsemen troupes (Renowmed Duke) he light,
The best part of his army slayne, the remnant put to flight.
But Brunsweik Duke the Captiues safe, in prison strong vp closde,
Forthwith before king Phillip was the Captaine tane reposde.
Then hurly burly sturre, and wondrous ioy through euery tent,
was spred abroad, the noyse vpreard the aierie region rent.
This good beginning, all of like successe aboadment takes,
The souldiours fierce with cannon shot, the hard walls battring shakes,
The diches are with rubble filde, and now the plaistring pusht,
And losened with the vehement shot, three hugie partes downe rusht,
And seuerall places three, into the towne gaue entraunce new.
Then out of euery band, the king did take a chosen crue,
In plated harnish white, them arming all, and bad inuade,
The enemies towne, where passage free, the walls downe ransact made.
The clamoring loude of warriours then, the hye heauens coastes doth fill
The dubling dromme resoundes, the rattling trompetts clanging shrill
Confused mixt with noyse of men, makes deafe the souldiours eares.
Here egar Almaines fight, the Italian there him doughtie beares.
On this side Spaniardes presse, by force through gaping wall to pearce,
On that side garded strong in steele thrung thicke the Britaines fierce.
But first before the rest, did hardie Henry Dudley tend,
With course vnbrideled swift, the walles downe shogde for to transcend,
So do his Brethren twaine, of puissance like, and courage found,
Howbeit of Henry, whilst he stoopt, declining to the ground,
I know not what to teare, or rip, an yron bullet brust
His scalp, broad scattering brused braines, and corps dead layd in dust.
He gentle spirite out gaspt, euen in his fresh and bloming yeares,
Whom backe vnto the tentes, his mates conuayd with blubbring teares,
His body clad in lincloth shroude, as Christian rite requeres.
His brethren furious woode, burne in desire of deepe reuenge,
As euery foe them meetes, with sharpe sword pusht, his necke he bendes
Dissolu'd in quaking death, with raging ire, and bitter sling,
The Britaine stout in armes, like thunder dint his foes doth ding.
On euery side th'assaut, gainst wretched Citizens waxeth grim,
A thousand grudging ghost are sent to gastlie shadowes dimme.
Pale death their hartes afrightes, whom ransackt walls in compassd round.
Hath groueling layd along, to be recur'de by Surgions skill.
with shriking plaintes vp lift'd, their ruthfull houies weomen fil,
And trembling in their armes, their tended sucklings do imbrace,
Distract of minde through feare, and wandring stray from place, to place.
Yong boyes do wailings make of armes such gastly horrour growes,
And suppliant both their hands, with plaints to heauens extending, throwes,
with humble voyce beseeching Ioue, some mercy downe to cast.
But they whose naturall moisture of their braine vpdried, was past,
And could not weepe, whom crooked age, from death had shrowded free,
Their countries fatall fall, and ruine of their towne to see:
They from the bottome of their hartes, do greeuous grones out powre,
Till midst of day more fiercer still, and vehement dures the stoure,
Through courage haue, and mightie force of Phillips souldiours stout,
But not without great streames of bloud, of the enemy powred out.
The Citizens inclosd, suppose at hand the finall day,
Of the subuersion of their towne, and houre of their decay.
And now the army through the gates, wide doopt, had passage wonne,
The Frenchmen strake with chillie feare, in plumpes do backward runne.
Some shroud themselues in cellars blind, some beames in houses tops clime,
A combrous rout to temples fled, themselues from death to shrine:
And wretched wightes, in armes the alters clasping fast, infoldes.
The victor with his armed bandes, the walls and strong sort holdes,
The martiall troupes, in stately buildings fayre, do beare the sway,
Which thee (Redoubted Phillip) seru'd the old Lordes driuen away.
The Celtane pompe is ouerthrowne, both pretious robes, and gold,
And massie bolls by goldsmithes art, vet out, of siluer mold:
The Spanyard souldiour sckipping takes, the cubburd sides vp torne.
And pretious Arras curious wrought, by Germaines out was borne.
Bed tikes the feathers powred forth, along the wayes were sprad,
Set out to sayle, to byers such, as ready money had.
Fine linnen Garmentes, wollen eke, in streetes did scattred lye,
And pannes, and caldrons huge, which were preseru'd, neede to supplie,
In seething meat, and instruments which kitchin ought to hold.
A brasen pot, with platters large, of pewter fine, was sold
For two grotes prise, the cryer loude proclaiming first the same.
what pretious houshold stuffe in all the town remaind, that came
With Iewels, rich attire, and Orient gemmes, in coffers found,
Unto the victors pray. King Phillips laude hye heauens resound.
Meane time the common people floct to sacred temples ware,
And to the Sanctuaries of the Gods, themselues in heapes had bare.
Expecting all with trembling hart, their finall gasp to breath,
No sparke of hope to them remaines, them to preserue from death.
which trying bruntes of warres, in open broyles are ouerthrone,
But God the affectes of hartes doth moue, and in his handes alone,
Are dispositions eke, of earthly Princes euery one.
What way his mightie hest, directeth forth, that way they take,
He softneth, he, their brestes, and prone to good workes harts doth make.
As mollified waxe to euery forme, is subiect brought,
And stamps or tipes impression takes, to formers pleasure wrought.
wherfore the Princes minde, more lenified, through quenched heat
Of feruent ire, through Ioues behest all iniuries doth forgeat,
And souldiours straight commandes, for to desist from shedding bloud,
Of male and female sexe, now wondrous troupes of captiues stood.
The impotent, and tender youth, with such, as wages hierd,
Dismissed were, but the wealthier sort, as martiall lawes requi'rd,
Were kept in band, mongst many Peers, esprong of worthy race,
Shattillion, which of the towne the kinges liuetenant was:
As Captiue was subdued, agayne to be redeemd for gold.
A garrison of warriours then, here left the fort to hold:
The king his tentes remou'de & Castell strong of Haune besetts,
which Conquerd ransackt downe, he manye forts despoyling getts.
while, that this blouddy scourge did range in th'Easterne parts of Fraunce,
The Admirall of th'English Fleet, his title to aduaunce.
Lord Clynton, warlike Peere, of noble grandsiers old esprong,
Unto the westerne Celtane coastes, was caried swift along.
Three hundred Carickes vast, you might haue seen the surges hye
with brasen keele to shere, whose tall tops rought the starrie skie.
The fierie belking brasen peece, with tearing chaine shot hard,
Both pup, and side, and beaked sterne, of euery ship did gard,
Distruction threatning dire, vnto the aduerse Celtane crue.
There is a Citie hight Conque, which Thetis waters blue,
with raging stoure doe wash, that takes our shipps in wished road.
Forthwith Alarme the trompet soundes, the souldiours fresh abroad,
Out sckipping fierce, along the salt sea banckes, were scattered thick,
Of all the Captaines haue, first Winter doth on drie land stick,
Red flaking brandes of fire, to rampier topps forth hurling fast,
which ragged walls, with smoldring flames incroching, lickt at last.
But Tunnes of oyle increasd the fire, then dwellers life to shield,
From dint of wrathfull blade, flie backe, the walls with rattling noyce,
Are ouerthrowne, the women sckrich, and boyes with dolefull voyce.
And when no force for to resist preuayld, the stronger sort
Of solide yeares, and hardy loines, all desart left their fort,
And vncoth by wayes straunge, withouten path did pensiue stray.
Not pillage noble Clinton sought, or spoyles to beare away,
But glory great of warrs, both towne, and treasure, fire deuoures,
To ashes eke consumde are turnd, both bordring townes, and towres,
High blasing sparkles belching vp, in circles to the skies.
A while bolde Clinton tentes downe pitcht, and in the playne fields lyes,
At last with honour great adornd, to painted deck he hies.
Meane time the Frenchmā cloking fraude vnder fayre frendships name,
Two thousand souldiours led, and Alderne yland ouercame.
Where with a nauy small yfrought with ladds of courage stout,
Syr William Winter sayld, by force the Francons to driue out,
The Ile as soone as of the Brutes, it far aloof was spied,
In wallowyng surges rough to anker cast, the ship was tied.
Sixe hundred warlike souldiours then of doughtie Britaines bold,
Scelected were in all, which cockboates swift with ores, do hold,
And on the craggie rough sea shore, on foote all safely setts.
Here Winter prudent guide, (for long experience wisedome getts)
That beastly hope of dreadfull flight, he cleane might ouerthrow,
And greater courage kindled more, in ech mans minde might grow:
As soone as on the dry land set, his armed rankes did wend,
The emptie botes, vnto his fleet, he backe agayne did send,
With speedy course to goe. Then thus he spake with countenance sage:
The puissance of our Englishmen renownd in elder age,
Me warning giues, that like mine auncestours, I nought at all,
Deaths drierie dart regard, which crooked age in time doth call,
Or is by sicknes fell, with torments dire, and vexings brought,
Death is of men to be contemn'd, that endlesse fame be sought.
Behold with frothing floudes and stormy waues, vs compast round,
Our enemies neare approch, perchaunce in number far more found.
Howbeit vs Brutes in martiall feates, and courage fierce, behinde,
Fraunce mightie is, these bandes you {sl}ow, and feebled faint shall finde.
But graunt our enemies strong, with might and puissance stout indued,
We through them with our corps, and valure, passage must reclued.
Thinges of great waight, are not atchiu'de, without aduentures hard,
And victorie oft in dolefull fight, bold courage doth awarde.
Which by how much more vehement, and fierce, its in yon growne,
By so much surer (valiant harts) wee all will downe be throwne,
To Stigyan lake this day, lesse foes by sword, or flight, we quell,
We conquest will atchiue, or famous death vs all shall fell.
Stout heartes, a noble death, by mightie woundes, seeke to obtayne.
And mates let Fame of worthie death, as prise of life remayne.
If anie man for feare shall turne his backe which God forfend,
With shame in midst of weltring streames there let him take his end.
No cockbote shall him shrine from death, nor plancke from drowning saue,
(Unspeakable reproch) no not if I the same would haue:
If anie man me disobey, he life shall lose therefore,
And to the maine mast trust aloft, with tottering windes be bore.
Into the bickerings hard of Mars, I first will lead the way,
With stomacke bold, and first in armes, I force of foes will say.
The heart of him that first shall come, this hand shall riue in twaine,
Two thousand souldiours led, and Alderne yland ouercame.
Where with a nauy small yfrought with ladds of courage stout,
Sir VVilliam VVinter with many of the Queenes shipps taketh agayne Alderne Ile frō the handes of the Frenchmen.
The Ile as soone as of the Brutes, it far aloof was spied,
In wallowyng surges rough to anker cast, the ship was tied.
Sixe hundred warlike souldiours then of doughtie Britaines bold,
Scelected were in all, which cockboates swift with ores, do hold,
And on the craggie rough sea shore, on foote all safely setts.
Here Winter prudent guide, (for long experience wisedome getts)
That beastly hope of dreadfull flight, he cleane might ouerthrow,
And greater courage kindled more, in ech mans minde might grow:
As soone as on the dry land set, his armed rankes did wend,
The emptie botes, vnto his fleet, he backe agayne did send,
With speedy course to goe. Then thus he spake with countenance sage:
The puissance of our Englishmen renownd in elder age,
Me warning giues, that like mine auncestours, I nought at all,
Deaths drierie dart regard, which crooked age in time doth call,
Or is by sicknes fell, with torments dire, and vexings brought,
Death is of men to be contemn'd, that endlesse fame be sought.
Behold with frothing floudes and stormy waues, vs compast round,
Our enemies neare approch, perchaunce in number far more found.
Howbeit vs Brutes in martiall feates, and courage fierce, behinde,
Fraunce mightie is, these bandes you {sl}ow, and feebled faint shall finde.
But graunt our enemies strong, with might and puissance stout indued,
We through them with our corps, and valure, passage must reclued.
Thinges of great waight, are not atchiu'de, without aduentures hard,
Which by how much more vehement, and fierce, its in yon growne,
By so much surer (valiant harts) wee all will downe be throwne,
To Stigyan lake this day, lesse foes by sword, or flight, we quell,
We conquest will atchiue, or famous death vs all shall fell.
Stout heartes, a noble death, by mightie woundes, seeke to obtayne.
And mates let Fame of worthie death, as prise of life remayne.
If anie man for feare shall turne his backe which God forfend,
With shame in midst of weltring streames there let him take his end.
No cockbote shall him shrine from death, nor plancke from drowning saue,
(Unspeakable reproch) no not if I the same would haue:
If anie man me disobey, he life shall lose therefore,
And to the maine mast trust aloft, with tottering windes be bore.
Into the bickerings hard of Mars, I first will lead the way,
With stomacke bold, and first in armes, I force of foes will say.
The heart of him that first shall come, this hand shall riue in twaine,
He sayd, they life, and labour eke, t'aduenture presse forth faine:
And clamours loude vp lift, the trompe Alarme resounding blowes,
The onset bidding blacke, in order Winter stoutly goes:
Before the rest, and in his fist a sharpned tronch he claspt,
His bodie couered all, with glistering armour buckled fast.
Two thousand Frankes against our ranckes, themselues forth fiercely bare,
Whose Captayne marched first, and thought with ours for to compare,
Uncertaine, where with pride conceaued, or mightie valure mou'de,
Or onely but to make a shew, and backward would haue shou'de,
If him his heeles to sticke vnto, forwarnde had perils dire.
But egar Winter let not backe this glorious Franke retire,
Much like Ioues mightie bird, with grasping talents fenced strong,
When with swift course, he chasing flies, the sholes of foule among,
The smaller sort lets slip, the mightiest birdes with clawes downe pluckes,
And fethers plumes, with nooked beake, and braines, and bloud, out suckes:
Euen so the Brute couragious, doth the Celtane captaine vrge.
And for bicause with bunchy pike, the enimie did insurge:
with armour fenced like, and weapned like, on him fierce flies
Stout VVinter, groueling dead on ground, now Frankes conductor lyes.
The other pillage of his foe, and rich spoyles doth obtayne.
Meane time both parties mingling bloud, their courage stout did straine,
And gastly wound is recompenst with greislie stroke againe.
The Frankes retire, with flickering shaft stabd through in hastie flight,
The Iland is subdued, and conquered yeeldes to Britaines might.
These thinges atchiu'de, and finisht thus. By Captayne Winters hest
The Mariners their helmes, towardes the ragged shores do wrest,
Then great reportes were made, of blouddy skirmage fought that day,
Applauding euerie one, their inward ioyes did they bewray,
Which noble conquest is to mortall men wont to defray.
These thinges in August done. Then after in Decembers frost,
The Frenchman it besieging, was vnhappy Callice lost,
(Unspeakable mishap) which adge, and feeble folke contaynd,
For the most part, within her walles, fewe souldiers fresh remaind.
Howbeit fewe souldiers, cannot force, of many men abide,
This auncient fort neglected, and a woman Prince beside,
whome then a trecherous prelate made by peruerse councell stray,
Her noble spowse in forraine coastes disseuered far away:
Hereto, add rough and boistrous flouds which raging sweld that tide:
And farre disiung'd beyond the seas, the sandy Callice banke,
Unwilling it to take, the towne might thrust vnto the Franke.
This fortresse lost, the Spanyardes wife, gan to consume away,
whom eating cares, with parching griefe, brought to her fatall day.
And clamours loude vp lift, the trompe Alarme resounding blowes,
The onset bidding blacke, in order Winter stoutly goes:
Before the rest, and in his fist a sharpned tronch he claspt,
His bodie couered all, with glistering armour buckled fast.
Two thousand Frankes against our ranckes, themselues forth fiercely bare,
Whose Captayne marched first, and thought with ours for to compare,
Uncertaine, where with pride conceaued, or mightie valure mou'de,
Or onely but to make a shew, and backward would haue shou'de,
If him his heeles to sticke vnto, forwarnde had perils dire.
But egar Winter let not backe this glorious Franke retire,
Much like Ioues mightie bird, with grasping talents fenced strong,
When with swift course, he chasing flies, the sholes of foule among,
The smaller sort lets slip, the mightiest birdes with clawes downe pluckes,
And fethers plumes, with nooked beake, and braines, and bloud, out suckes:
Euen so the Brute couragious, doth the Celtane captaine vrge.
And for bicause with bunchy pike, the enimie did insurge:
with armour fenced like, and weapned like, on him fierce flies
Stout VVinter, groueling dead on ground, now Frankes conductor lyes.
The other pillage of his foe, and rich spoyles doth obtayne.
Meane time both parties mingling bloud, their courage stout did straine,
And gastly wound is recompenst with greislie stroke againe.
The Frankes retire, with flickering shaft stabd through in hastie flight,
The Iland is subdued, and conquered yeeldes to Britaines might.
The Mariners their helmes, towardes the ragged shores do wrest,
Then great reportes were made, of blouddy skirmage fought that day,
Applauding euerie one, their inward ioyes did they bewray,
Which noble conquest is to mortall men wont to defray.
These thinges in August done. Then after in Decembers frost,
The Frenchman it besieging, was vnhappy Callice lost,
(Unspeakable mishap) which adge, and feeble folke contaynd,
For the most part, within her walles, fewe souldiers fresh remaind.
Howbeit fewe souldiers, cannot force, of many men abide,
This auncient fort neglected, and a woman Prince beside,
whome then a trecherous prelate made by peruerse councell stray,
Her noble spowse in forraine coastes disseuered far away:
Hereto, add rough and boistrous flouds which raging sweld that tide:
And farre disiung'd beyond the seas, the sandy Callice banke,
Unwilling it to take, the towne might thrust vnto the Franke.
This fortresse lost, the Spanyardes wife, gan to consume away,
whom eating cares, with parching griefe, brought to her fatall day.
Thus endeth the second Booke.
| The valiant actes And victorious Battailes of the English nation | |