amore beneuolentia liberalitate prosequi denique iuxta eximias probitates easdem magnificentiùs ornare decorare quatenus in personis huiuscemodi congestis clarissimis virtutum praemijs ceteri socordia ignauiaque sepositis ad peragenda pulcherrima quaeque facinora laude gloria concitentur Nos ne à maiorum nrō laudatissimis moribus discedere videamur nostri esse officij putamus probatissimū nobis virum qui ob res ab se clarissimè gestas quà m maxima de nobis promeruit condignis honorū fastigijs attollere verè regijs insignire muneribus Strenuum insignem loquimur militē Willūm Herbert Dominum Herbart iam defunctū cuius in regni nostri primordijs obsequia gratissima tum nobis multipliciter impensa cum nrō pro iure decertaretur satis ambiguè obliuisci non possumus accessere de post in hoc vsque temporis continuata seruicia que non parum nobis fuere complacita presertim nuperimis hijs diebus quibus optimum se gessit militem ac non mediocres sibi laudis fame titulos comparauit Hijs equidem iampridē cū Rebellis hostisque nostri Iasper Owini Tedur filliū nuper Pembrochiae se Comitem dicens Walliae partes peruaderet multaque arte ad contra nos statum nostrum vilem populo seditionem concitandum truculentiam moliretur societatis sibi ad eandem rem conficiendam electissimis viris fidelibus nostris arma cepit confligendi copiam hostibus exhibuit adeoque valida manu peruasus ab ipsis partes peruagatus est nusquam eis locum permiserit quo nō eos complicesque affligauerit vires eorūdem fregerit morteque affecerit seu desperantes in fugam propulerit demum Castrum nostrum de Hardelagh nobis ab initio regni nostri contrarium quo vnicum miseris patebat refugium obsidione vallabat quod capi impossible ferebatur cepit inclusos que ad deditionem compulit adiacentem quoque primam omnem nostram Regiae Maiestati rebellem hactenus ad summam obedientiam reduxit Haec itaque sua laudabilia obsequia promeritaque memoriter vt decet intimè recolentes volentesque proinde eundem Willūm condignis honoribus regalibúsque praemijs ornare amplicare sublimare octauo die Septembris anno regni nostri octauo per Chartam nostram de gratia nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia mero motu nostris ipsum Willūm in Comitem Pembrochiae ereximus praefecerimus creauerimus ei nomē statum stilum titulum dignitatem Comitis Pembrochie cum omnibus singulis preëminencijs honoribus ceteris quibuscunque huius statui Comitis pertinentibus siue congruis dederimus concesserimus ipsumque huiusmodi statu stilo titulo honore dignitate per cincturam gladij insigniuerimus realiter nobilitauerimus This was set downe for causes more then one The world beléeues no more than it hath seene When things lye dead and tyme is past and gone Blynd people say it is not so we weene It is a tale deuisde to please the eare More for delight of toyes then troth may beare But those that thinks this may a fable be To Authors good I send them here from me First let them search Records as I haue done Then shall they finde this is most certaine true And all the rest before I here begun Is taken out not of no writers nue The oldest sort and soundest men of skill Myne Authors are now reade their names who will Their workes their words and so their learning through Shall shewe you all what troth I write of now BEcause many that fauoured not Wales parsiall writers and historians haue written set downe their owne opinions as they pleased to publish of that Countrey I therefore a little degresse from the orderly matter of the booke and touch somewhat the workes and wordes of them that rashly haue written more then they knewe or well could proue As learned men hath wrote graue works of yore So great regard to natiue Soyle they had For such respect I blame now Pollydore Because of Wales his iudgement was but bad If Buckanan the Scottish Poet late Were here in sprite of Brittons to debate He should finde men that would with him dispute And many a pen which would his works confute But with the dead the quick may neuer striue Though sondrie works of theirs were little worth Yet better farre they had not bene aliue Than sowe such seedes as brings no goodnesse forth Their praise is small that plucks backe others fame Their loue not great that blots out neighbours name Their bookes but brawles their bable bauld and bare That in disdaine of fables writers are What fable more then say they knowe that thing They neuer sawe and so giue iudgement streight And by their bookes the world in error bring That thinks it reades a matter of great weight When that a tale of much vntroth is told Thus all that shines and glisters is not gold Nor all the bookes that auncient Fathers wrate Are not alo'wd for troth in euery state Though Caesar was a wise and worthie Prince And conquerd much of Wales and England both The writers than and other Authors since Did flatter tyme and still abuse the troth Same for a fee and some did humors feede When sore was healde to make a wound to bleede And some sought meanes their patient still to please When body throwe was full of foule disease The worldly wits that with each tyme would wagge Were caryed cleane away from wisedomes lore They rather watcht to fill an emptie bagge Than touch the tyme then present or before Nor car'd not much for future tyme to come They rould vp tyme like thréede about the thome And when their clue on trifles all was spent Much rotten stuffe vnto the garment went Which stuffe patcht vp a péece of homely ware In Printers shop set out to sale sometyme Which ill wrought worke at length became so bare It neither seru'd for prose nor pleasant ryme But past like that and old wiues tales full vayne That thunders long but neuer brings forth rayne A kynd of sound that makes a hurling noyse To feare young babes with brute of bugges and toyes But aged sires of riper wit and skill Disdaines to reade such rabble farst with lyes This is enough to shewe you my goodwill Of Authors true and writers graue and wise Whose pen shall proue each thing in printed booke Whose eyes withall on matter straunge did looke And whose great charge and labour witnesse beares Their words are iust they offer to your eares Each Nation had some writer in their daies For to aduaunce their Countrey to the Starres Homer was one who gaue the Greekes great praise And honord not the Troyans for their warres Liui among the Romaines wrate right mitch With rare renowne his Countrey to enritch And Pollidore did ply the pen a pace To blurre
attempt of man Can win the Fort if house be furnisht throw The troth whereof let world be witnesse now It is great payne from foote of Rocke to clyme To Castle wall and it is greater toyle On Rocke to goe yea any step sometyme Uprightly yet without a faule or foyle And as this Seate and Castle strongly stands Past winning sure with engin sword or hands So lookes it ore the Countrey farre or neere And shines like Torch and Lanterne of the Sheere Wherefore Denbigh thou bearst away the praise Denbigh hath got the garland of our daies Denbigh reapes fame and lawde a thousand waies Denbigh my pen vnto the Clowdes shall raise The Castle there could I in order drawe It should surmount now all that ere I sawe ¶ Of Valey Crucis Thlangothlan and the Castle Dynosebrane THE great desire to see Denbigh at full Did drawe my muse from other matter true But as that sight my mynd away did pull From former things I should present to you So duetie bids a writer to be playne And things left out to call to mynd agayne Thlangothlan then must yet come once in place For diuers notes that giues this booke some grace An Abbey nere that Mountayne towne there is Whose walles yet stand and steeple too likewise But who that rides to see the troth of this Shall thinke he mounts on hilles vnto the Skyes For when one hill behind your backe you see Another comes two tymes as hye as hee And in one place the Mountaynes stands so there In roundnesse such as it a Cockpit were Their height is great and full of narrowe waies And stéepe downe right of force ye must descend Some houses are buylt there but of late daies Full vnderneath the monstrous Mountaynes end Amid them all and those as man may gesse When rayne doth fall doth stand in sore distresse For mightie streames runnes ore both house and thatch When for their liues poore men on Hilles must watch Beyond the same and yet on Hill full hye A Castle stands an old and ruynous thing That haughtie house was buylt in weathers eye A pretie pyle and pleasure for a King A Fort a Strength a strong and stately Hold It was at first though now it is full old On Rocke alone full farre from other Mount It stands which shewes it was of great account Betwéene the Towne and Abbey built it was The Towne is néere the goodly Riuer Dée That vnderneath a Bridge of stone doth passe And still on Rocke the water runnes you see A wondrous way a thing full rare and straunge That Rocke cannot the course of water chaunge For in the streame huge stones and Rocks remayne That backward might the flood of force constrayne From thence to Chirke are Mountaynes all a rowe As though in ranke and battaile Mountaynes stood And ouer them the bitter winde doth blowe And whirles betwixt the valley and the wood Chirke is a place that parts another Sheere And as by Trench and Mount doth well appeere It kept those bounds from forrayne force and power That men might sléepe in suretie euery hower Here Denbighshiere departs from writers pen And Flintshiere now comes brauely marching in With Castles fine with proper Townes and men Whereof in verse my matter must begin Not for to fayne and please the tender eares But to be playne as worlds eye witnesse beares Not by heresay as fables are set out But by good proofe of vewe to voyd a dout WHen Sommer swéete hath blowne ore Winters blast And waies waxe hard that now are soft and foule When calmie Skyes sayth bitter stormes are past And Clowdes waxe cléere that now doth lowre and skoule My muse I hope shall be reuiu'de againe That now lyes dead or rockt a sleepe with paine For labour long hath wearied so the wit That studious head a while in rest must sit But when the Spring comes on with newe delite You shall from me heare what my muse doth write Here endeth my first booke of the worthines of Wales which being wel taken wil encourage me to set forth another in which work not only the rest of the Shieres that now are not written of shalbe orderly put in print but likewise all y e auncient Armes of Gentlemen there in general shalbe plainly described set out to the open vewe of the world if God permit me life and health towards the finishing of so great a labour FINIS Thomas Churchyard EN·DIEV·ET·MON·ROY· Churchiards Armes William Malmesburie de regibus anglorum Dauid Powell a late writer yet excellently learned made a sharp inuectiue against William Paruus and Pollidor Virgill all their complices accusing them of lying tongues enuyous detraction malicious slaunders reproachfull and venomous language wilfull ignoraÌ„ce dogged enuie and canckered mindes for that thei spake vnreuerently of Arthur and many other thrise noble Princes Jeffrey of Monmouth Matthewe of Westminster and others are here in like sort to be read looked on The Authors troublesome life briefely set downe A short note of the nature of many CouÌ„tries with the disposition of the people there A commendation of the loyaltie of Welshmen A rehearsall of great strife and dissention that ruinated Wales How Lawe and loue links men together like brethren The accustomed courtesie of Wales No such theft and robberie in Wales as in other Countries Victuals good cheape in most part of Wales A great rebuke to those that speakes not truely of Wales Good disposition neuer wants good maners Good true Authors that affirmes more goodnesse in Wales than I write of Two Riuers by MoÌ„mouth the one called Monnow and the other Wye King Henry the fifth Neere the Towne Sir Charles Harbert of Troy dwelt in a faire Seate called Troy At Wynestow now dwels Sir Thomas Harbert a little from the same Troy Maister Roger Ieames dwelt at Troy nere this Towne The Earle of Worcesters house and Castle The Earle of Penbroke that was created Earle by King Edward the 4. buylt the Castell of Raggland sumptuously at the first Earle of Worcester Lord hereof A faire bridge Maister Lewis of Saint Peere dwelles neere that Sir Charles Sommerset at the Grange doth dwell now Sir William Morgan that is dead dwelt at Pennycoyd Harbert of Colbroke buryed there Chepstow In the Castle there is an ancient tower called Longis tower wherby rests a tale to be considered of Of this Earle is a great and worthie tale to be heard A peece of a petigree Earle Strongbowe was maried to the King of Lynsters Daughter in Ireland and this Strongbowe wan by force of armes the Earledoms of Wolster Tyroll The Authors verses in the honor of noble mynds Good men are made of and bad men rebuked Sir William Harbert of â—â—â—nt Gillyans Polidorus Virgilius spake all of his owne nations praise and sawe but little of Brittaine nor loued the same Venerable bede a noble writer Gildas a passing Poet of Brittaine
THE Worthines of Wales VVherein are more then a thousand seuerall things rehearsed some set out in prose to the pleasure of the Reader and with such varietie of verse for the beautifying of the Book as no doubt shal delight thousands to vnderstand Which worke is enterlarded with many wonders and right strange matter to consider of All the which labour and deuice is drawne forth and set out by Thomas Church-yard to the glorie of God and honour of his Prince and Countrey ¶ Imprinted at London by G. Robinson for Thomas Cadman 1587. ⧠To the Queenes most Excellent Maiestie Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England Fraunce and Ireland c. Thomas Church-yard wisheth alwayes blessednes good fortune victorie and worldly honour with the encrease of quiet raigne vertuous lyfe and most Princely gouernment MOST Redoubted and Royall Queene that Kings doe feare Subiects doe honour strangers seeke succour of and people of speciall spirit acknowledge as their manifold books declare I least of all presume to farre either in presenting matter to be iudged of or to aduenture the cracking of credite with writing any thing that may breede mislike presents not well taken in the deepe iudgement of so high and mightie a Princesse But where a multitude runnes forward forced through desire or fortune to shewe duetie or to see what falleth out of their forwardnes I stepping in among the rest am driuen and led by affection to followe beyond the force of my power or feeling of any learned arte So being thrust on with the throng I finding my self brought before the presence of your Maiestie but barely furnished of knowledge to whom I must vtter some matter of delight or from whom I must retourne all abashed with open disgrace Thus Gracious Lady vnder your Princely fauour I haue vndertaken to set foorth a worke in the honour of VVales where your highnes auncestors tooke name and where your Maiestie is as much loued and feared as in any place of your highnesse dominion And the loue and obedience of which people so exceedes and surpasseth the common good-will of the worlde that it seemeth a wonder in our age wherein are so many writers that no one man doth not worthely according to the countries goodnes set forth that noble Soyle and Nation Though in deede diuers haue sleightly written of the same and some of those labours deserueth the reading yet except the eye be a witnes to their workes the writers can not therein sufficiently yeeld due commendation to those stately Soyles and Principalities For which cause I haue trauayled sondry times of purpose through the same and what is written of I haue beheld and throughly seene to my great contentment and admiration For the Citties Townes and goodly Castles thereof are to be mused on and merites to bee registred in euerlasting memorie but chiefly the Castles that stand like a company of Fortes may not be forgotten their buyldings are so princely their strength is so greate and they are such stately seates and defences of nature To which Castles great Royaltie and liuings belongeth and haue bene and are in the giftes of Princes now possessed of noble men and such as they appoint to keep them The royalties whereof are alwayes looked vnto but the Castles doe dayly decay a sorrowfull sight and in a maner remediles But nowe to come to the cōditions of the people to shew somewhat of their curtesie loyalty naturall kindnes I presume your Maiestie will pardon me to speake of for of trueth your highnes is no soner named among them but such a generall reioysing doth arise as maketh glad any good mans hart to behold or heare it it proceeds of such an affectionate fauour For let the meanest of the Court come downe to that countrey he shalbe so saluted halsed and made of as though he were some Lords sonne of that soyle further the plain people thinks it debt duetie to follow a strangers Stirrop being out of the way to bring him where he wisheth which gentlenes in all countries is not vsed and yet besides all this goodnes and great regard there is neither hewe nor cry for a robbery in many hundreth myles riding so whether it be for feare of iustice loue of God or good disposition small Robberies or none at all are heard of there They triumph likewise so much of fidelitie that the very name of a falsifier of promes a murtherer or a theef is most odious among them especially a Traytor is so hated that his whole race is rated at and abhord as I haue heard there report of Parrie and others who the common people would haue torne in peeces if the lawe had not proceeded And such regard they haue one of another that neither in market townes high wayes meetings nor publicke assemblies they striue not for place nor shewe any kind of roysting for in sted of such high stomackes and stoutnes they vse frendly salutations and courtesie acknowledging duetie thereby doing such reuerence to their betters that euery one in his degree is so well vnderctood and honored that none can iustly say hee hath suffered iniurie or found offence by the rude burbarous behauiour of the people These vsages of theirs with the rest that may be spoken of their ciuil maner and honest frame of lyfe doth argue there is some more nobler nature in that Nation then is generally reported which I doubt not but your Highnes is as willing to heare as I am desirous to make manifest and publish the hope whereof redoubleth my boldnes and may happely sheeld me from the hazard of worlds hastie iudgement that condemnes men without cause for writing that they know and praysing of people before their faces which suspicious heads call a kind of adulation but if telling of troth be rebukable and playne speeches be offensiue the ignorant world shall dwell long in errors and true writers may sodaynly sit in silence I haue not only searched sondry good Authors for the confirmation of my matter but also paynfully traueiled to trye out the substance of that is written for feare of committing some vnpardonable fault and offence in presenting this Booke vnto your Highnesse VVhich worke albeit it is but litle because it treateth not of many Shieres yet greatly it shal reioyce the whole Countrey of VVales whē they shall heare it hath found fauour in your gracious sight hath passed through those blessed hands that holds the rayne and bridle of many a stately Kingdome and Terrytorie And my selfe shall reape so much gladnesse by the free passage of this simple labour that hereafter I shall goe through GOD sparing life with the rest of the other Shieres not heere named These things only taken in hād to cause your Highnesse to knowe what puysance and strength such a Princesse is of that may commaund such a people and what obedience loue and loyaltie is in such a Countrey as hereunto hath bin but little spoken
of and yet deserueth most greatest lawdation And in deede the more honorable it is for that your Highnesse princely Auncestors sprong forth of the noble braunches of that Nation Thus duetifully praying for your Maiesties long preseruation by whose bountie and goodnesse I a long while haue liued I wish your Highnesse all the hap honour victorie and harts ease that can be desired or imagined Your Highnesse humble Seruant and Subiect Thomas Churchyard ⧠To euery louing and friendly Reader IT may seeme straunge good Reader that I haue chosen in the end of my daies to trauaile and make discription of Countries whereas the beginning of my youth and a long while after I haue hauÌ„ted the warres and written somewhat of Martiall Discipline but as euery season breedeth a seuerall humour and the humours of men are diuers drawing the mynd to sondrie dispositions so common occasion that commands the iudgement hath set me a worke and the warme good will affection borne in breast towards the worthie Countrey of Wales hath haled me often forward to take this labour in hand which many before haue learnedly handled But yet to shewe a difference in writing and a playnnesse in speech because playne people affects no florishing phrase I haue now in as ample a maner without borrowed termes as I could declared my opinion of that sweete Soyle and good Subiects therof euen at that very instant when Wales was almost forgotten or scarce remembred with any great lawdation when it hath merited to be written of for sondrie famous causes most meete to be honored and necessary to be touched in First the world will confesse or els it shall do wrong that some of our greatest Kings that haue conquered much were borne bred in that Countrey which Kings in their times to the glory of England haue wrought wonders brought great benefites to our weale publicke Among the same Princes I pray you giue me leaue to place our good Queene Elizabeth and pardoÌ„ me withall to commit you to the Chronicles for the seeking out of her Auncestors noble actions and suffer me to shewe a little of the goodnesse gathered by vs from her Maiesties well doing and possessed a long season from her princely and iust dealings An act so noble notorious that neither can escape immortall fame nor shall not passe my pen vnresited Now weigh in what plight was our state when she came first to the Crowne and see how soone Religion was reformed a matter of great moment peace planted and warres vtterly extinguished as the sequell yet falleth out Then behold how she succoured the afflicted in Fraunce let the going to Newhauen beare witnesse and chargeably without breaking of League mainteyned her friends and amazed her enemies Then looke into the seruice and preseruation of Scotland at the siege of Leeth and see how finely the French were al shipped away they being a great power and sent home in such sort that neuer since they had mynd to returne thether againe in that fashion and forme that they sayled towards Scotland at the first Then consider how bace our money was in what short tyme with little losse to our Countrey the bad coyne was conuerted to good siluer and so is like to continue to the end of the world Then in the aduancing of Gods word and good people regard how Rochell was relieued and Rone and other places fouÌ„d cause to pray for her life who sought to purchase their peace and see them in safetie Then thinke on the care she tooke for Flaunders during the first troubles and how that Countrey had bene vtterly destroyed if her Highnes helping hand had not propped vp that tottering State Then Christianly coÌ„ceiue how many mulâ—itudes of strangers she hath giuen gracious countenance vnto and hath freely licensed them to liue here in peace and rest Then paise in an equall ballance the daungerous estate of Scotland once againe when the Kings owne Subiects kept the Castle of Edenbrough against their owne naturall Lord Maister which presumptuous part of Subiects her Highnesse could not abide to behold wherevpon she sent a sufficient power to ayde the Kings Maiestie which power valiantly wonne the Castle and freely deliuered the same to the right owner thereof with all the treasure and prisoners therein Then regard how honourably she hath dealt with diuers Princes that came to see her or needed her magnificeÌ„t supportation and countenance Then looke throughly into the mightinesse managing of all matters gone about and put in exercise princely and yet peaceably since the day of her Highnesse Coronation and you shalbe forced to confesse that she surmounts a great number of her Predecessors and she is not at this day no whit inferiour to the greatest Monarke of the world Is not such a peereles Queene then a comfort to Wales a glorie to England and a great reioysing to all her good neighbours And doth not she daily deserue to haue bookes dedicated in the highest degree of honor to her Highnesse Yes vndoubtedly or els my sences and iudgement fayleth me So good Reader do iudge of my labours my pen is procured by a band of causes to write as farre as my knowledge may leade and my duetie hath no end of seruice nor no limits are set to a loyall Subiect but to wish and worke to the vttermost of power Within this worke are seuerall discourses some of the beautie blessednes of the Countrey some of the strength and statelynesse of their inpregnable Castles some of their trim Townes and fine situation some of their antiquitie shewing from what Kings and Princes they tooke their first name and prerogatiue So generally of all maner of matters belonging to that Soyle as Churches Monuments Mountaynes Valleys Waters Bridges fayre Gentlemens houses and the rest of things whatsoeuer may become a writers pen to touch or a readers iudgement to knowe I write not contenciously to find fault with any or confute the former writers and tyme but to aduaunce and winne credite to the present trueth agreeing and yeelding to all former tymes and ages that hath iustly giuen euery Nation their due and truely without affection hath set downe in plaine words the worthines of plaine people for I honor and loue as much a true Author as I hate and detest a reporter of trifeling fables A true Historie is called the Mistresse of life and yet all Historyographers in writing of one thing agree not well one with another because the writers were not present in the tymes in the places nor saw the persons they make meÌ„tion of but rather haue leaned and listned on the common report than stayed or trusted to their owne experience Strabo a most famous writer findes fault for the like occasion with Erstaotheus Metrodorus Septius Possidonius and Patrocles the Geographer And such discord did arise amoÌ„g writers in tyme past as Iosephus saith against Appio that they reprooued one another by bookes and all men in
straunge Soyles and yéeld the Romaines grace Admit they wrate their volumes all of troeth And did affect ne man nor matter then Yet writer sees not how all matters goeth In field when he at home is at his pen. This Pollidore sawe neuer much of Wales Though he haue told of Brittons many tales Caesar himself a Uictor many a way Went not so farre as Pollidore doth say Kings are obayd where they were neuer seene And men may write of things they heare by eare So Pollidore oft tymes might ouerwéene And speake of Soyles yet he came neuer there Some runne a ground that through each water sailes A Pylot good in his owne Compasse failes A writer that beléeues in worlds report May roue to farre or surely shoote to short The eye is iudge as Lanterne cléere of light That searcheth through the dim and darkest place The gladsome eye giues all the bodie sight It is the glasse and beautie of the face But where no face nor iudging eye doth come The sence is blynd the spirit is deaffe and dome For wit can not conceiue till sight send in Some skill to head whereby we knowledge win If straungers speake but straungely on our state Thinke nothing straunge though straungers write amis If straungers do our natiue people hate Our Countrey knowes how straunge their nature is Most straunge it were to trust a forayne foe Or fauour those that we for straungers knowe Then straungely reade the bookes that straungers make For feare ye shroude in bosome stinging Snake The straungers still in auncient tyme that wrate Exalt themselues and kéepes vs vnder foote As we of kynd and nature doe them hate So beare they rust and canker at the roote Of heart to vs when pen to paper goeth Their cunning can with craft so cloke a troeth That hardly we shall haue them in the winde To smell them forth or yet their finenesse finde Of force then must you credite our owne men Whose vertues works a glorious garland gaynes Who had the gift the grace and arte of pen And who did write with such sweete flowing vaynes That Honey seem'd to drop from Poets quill I say no more trust straungers and ye will Our Countrey breedes as faithfull men as those As famous too in stately verse or prose And trueth I trowe is likte among vs best For each man frounes when fabling toyes they heare And though we count but Robin Hood a Iest And old wiues tales as tatling toyes appeare Yet Arthurs raigne the world cannot denye Such proofe there is the troth thereof to trye That who so speakes against so graue a thing Shall blush to blot the fame of such a King Condemne the daies of elders great or small And then blurre out the course of present tyme Cast one age downe and so doe orethrow all And burne the bookes of printed prose or ryme Who shall beléeue he rules or she doth raigne In tyme to come if writers loose their paine The pen records tyme past and present both Skill brings foorth bookes and bookes is nurse to troth Now followes the Castles and Townes neere Oske and there aboutes A Pretie Towne calde Oske néere Raggland stands A Riuer there doth beare the selfesame name His Christall streames that runnes along the Sands Shewes that it is a Riuer of great fame Fresh water swéete this goodly Riuer yéelds And when it swels it spreads ore all the Féelds Great store of Fish is caught within this flood That doth in déede both Towne and Countrey good A thing to note when Sammon failes in Wye And season there goes out as order is Than still of course in Oske doth Sammons lye And of good Fish in Oske you shall not mis. And this seemes straunge as doth through Wales appeere In some one place are Sammons all the yeere So fresh so swéete so red so crimp withall As man might say loe Sammon here at call A Castle there in Oske doth yet remaine A Seate where Kings and Princes haue bene borne It stands full ore a goodly pleasant Plaine The walles whereof and towers are all to torne With wethers blast and tyme that weares all out And yet it hath a fayre prospect about Trim Meades and walkes along the Riuers side With Bridge well built the force of flood to bide Upon the side of wooddie hill full fayre This Castle stands full sore decayde and broke Yet builded once in fresh and wholesome ayre Full néere great Woods and many a mightie Oke But sith it weares and walles so wastes away In praise thereof I mynd not much to say Each thing decayd goes quickly out of minde A rotten house doth but fewe fauours finde Thrée Castles fayre are in a goodly ground Grosmont is one on Hill it builded was Skenfreth the next in Ualley is it found The Soyle about for pleasure there doth passe Whit Castle is the third of worthie fame The Countrey there doth beare Whit Castles name A stately Scate a loftie princely place Whose beautie giues the simple Soyles some grace Two myles from that vpon a mightie Hill Langibby stands a Castle once of state Where well you may the Countrey view at will And where there is some buildings newe of late A wholesome place a passing plat of ground As good an ayre as there abouts is found It seemes to sight the Seate was plast so well In elders daies some Duke therein did dwell Carleon now step in with stately style No feeble phrase may serue to set thee forth Thy famous Towne was spoke of many a myle Thou hast bene great though now but little worth Thy noble bounds hath reacht beyond them all In thée hath bene King Arthurs golden Hall In thée the wise and worthies did repose And through thy Towne the water ebs and flowes COme learned lore with loftie style and leade these lynes of myne Come gracious Gods and spare a whyle to me the Muses nyne Come Poets all whose passing phrase doth pearce the finest wits Come knowledge whereon world doth gase yet still in iudgement sits And helpe my pen to play his parte for pen is stept on stage To shewe by skill and cunning arte the state of former age For present tyme hath friends enowe to flatter faune and faine And elders daies I knowe not how doe dwell in deepe disdaine No friend for auncient yéeres we finde our age loues youth alone The former age weares out of minde as though such tyme were none King Arthurs raigne though true it weare Is now of small account The same of Troy is knowne each where And to the Skyes doth mount Both Athens Theabes and Carthage too We hold of great renowne What then I pray you shall we doe To poore Carleon Towne King Arthur sure was crowned there It was his royall Seate And in that Towne did Scepter beare With pompe and honor greate An
generall reprooued Herodotus God shield me from such caueling for I deliuer but what I haue seene and read alledging for defence both auncient Authors and good tryall of that is written Wherefore louing Reader doe rather struggle with those two strong pillars of knowledge than striue with the weaknesse of my inuention which to auoyde sharpnesse and bitter words is sweetned and seasoned with gentle verses more pleasant to some mens eares then prose and vnder whose smooth grace of speech more acceptable matter is conuayed then the common sort of people can comprehend For verses like a familiar friend with a gallant phrase rides quietly by thousands and dasheth no one person and galloping cleanly away merites no rebuke when prose with a soft pace cannot with such cunning passe vnperceiued But all is one when in neither of both is found no matter of mistrust nor speeches to offend there is no cause of dislike So crauing thy good opinion good Reader farewell ⧠A true note of the auncient Castles famous Monuments goodly Riuers faire Bridges fine Townes and courteous people that I haue seene in the noble Countrie of Wales THrough sondrie Soyles and stately Kingdomes ritch Long haue I traest to tread out time and yeares Where I at will haue surely seene right mitch As by my works and printed bookes appeares And wearied thus with toyle in forrayne place I homeward drue to take some rest a space But labouring mynd that rests not but in bed Began a fresh to trouble restles hed Then newfound toyles that hales men all in haste To runne on head and looke not where they goe Bade reason ride where loue should be enbraste And where tyme could his labour best bestowe To Wales quoth Wit there doth plaine people dwell So mayst thou come to heauen out of hell For Fraunce is fine and full of faithlesse waies Poore Flaunders grosse and farre from happie daies Ritch Spayne is proude and sterne to straungers all In Italie poysning is alwaies rife And Germanie to Drunkennesse doth fall The Danes likewise doe leade a bibbing life The Scots seeke bloud and beare a cruell mynd Ireland growes nought the people ware vnkynd England God wot hath learnde such leawdnesse late That Wales methinks is now the soundest state In all the rest of Kingdomes farre or nere A tricke or two of treacherie staynes the Soyle But since the tyme that rule and lawe came here This Brittish land was neuer put to foyle For foule offence or fault it did commit The people here in peace doth quiet sit Obayes the Prince without reuolt or iarre Because they know ethe smart of Ciuill warre Whiles quarrels rage did nourish ruyne and wracke And Owen Glendore set bloodie broyles abroach Full many a Towne was spoyld and put to sacke And cleane consum'd to Countries foule reproach Great Castles raste fayre Buyldings burnt to dust Such reuell raignde that men did liue by lust But since they came and yeelded vnto Lawe Most méeke as Lambe within one yoke they drawe Like brethren now doe Welshmen still agree In as much loue as any men aliue The friendship there and concord that I see I doe compare to Bees in Honey hiue Which kéepe in swarme and hold together still Yet gladly showe to straunger great good will A courteous kynd of loue in euery place A man may finde in simple peoples face Passe where you please on Plaine or Mountaine wilde And beare your selfe in swéete and ciuill sort And you shall sure be haulst with man and childe Who will salute with gentle comely port The passers by on braues they stand not so Without good speech to let a trau'ler go They thinke it dett and duetie franke and free In Towne or fielde to yéeld you cap and knee They will not striue to royst and take the way Of any man that trauailes through their Land A greater thing of Wales now will I say Ye may come there beare purse of gold in hand Or mightie bagges of siluer stuffed throwe And no one man dare touch your treasure now Which shewes some grace doth rule and guyde them there That doth to God and man such Conscience beare Behold besides a further thing to note The best cheape cheare they haue that may be found The shot is great when each mans paies his groate If all alike the reckoning runneth round There market good and victuals nothing deare Each place is filde with plentie all the yeare The ground mannurde the graine doth so encrease That thousands liue in wealth and blessed peace But come againe vnto their courteous shoe That wins the hearts of all that markes the same The like whereof through all the world doe goe And scarce ye shall finde people in such frame For méeke as Doue in lookes and spéech they are Not rough and rude as spitefull tongues declare No sure they seeme no sooner out of shell But nature shewes they knowe good maners well How can this be that weaklings nurst so harde Who barely goes both barefoote and vncled In gifts of mynd should haue so great regarde Except within from birth some grace were bred It must be so doe wit not me deceaue What nature giues the world cannot bereaue In this remaines a secrete worke deuine Which shewe they rise from auncient race and line In Authors old you shall that plainly reade Geraldus one and learned Geffrey two The third for troth is Venerable Beade That many graue and worthie workes did doe What néedes this proofe or genalogies here Their noble blood doth by their liues appeare Their stately Townes and Castles euery where Of their renowme doth daily witnesse beare A description of Monmouth Shiere FIrst I begin at auncient Monmouth now That stands by Wye a Riuer large and long I will that Shiere and other Shieres goe throwe Describe them all or els I did them wrong It is great blame to writers of our daies That treates of world and giues to Wales no praise They rather hyde in clowde and cunning foyle That Land than yéeld right glorie to that Soyle A King of ours was borne in Monmouth sure The Castle there records the same a right And though the walles which cannot still endure Through sore decay shewes nothing fayre to sight In Seate it selfe and well plaste Citie old By view ye may a Princely plot behold Good mynds they had that first those walles did raise That makes our age to thinke on elders daies The King here borne did proue a péereles Prince He conquerd Fraunce and raign'd nine yéeres in hap There was not here so great a Uictor since That had such chaunce and Fortune in his lap For he by fate and force did couet all And as turne came stroke hard at Fortunes ball With manly mynd and ran a reddie way To lose a ioynt or winne the Gole by play If Monmouth bring such Princes forth as this A Soyle of