maner marueile at the happe and manlinesse of our people I will firste and formoste declare vnto you a victorie gotten against the Count de Ringraue albeit it falles not in order of the whole discourse a man of greate honour and no little courage and conducte Who gouerned his Campe and regiment with as good pollicie and knowledge as any manne liuyng in his daies and place of seruice It fell out after the Frenche were knit in vnion and that bothe the Religions were bente against vs as in causes of dominion is alwaies to be looked for and so determinyng to laye siege to Newe Hauen with all the power thei could make Thei sent this noble Count Ryngraue to take a certaine village not farre from the Forte in whiche village did encampe the whole regiment of the Ryngraue when he had with some difficultie possessed it The Earle of Warwicke Lorde Lieutenaunt for the Queenes Maiestie beyng carefull of his charge and watchfull to preuente mischeef Sent out at Midnight Capitaine Reade and some other bandes to holde the enemie some plaie and bidde them the basse and so in skirmishe as the season and occasion would serue thei droue out a peece of the night receiuyng little harme and doyng all the hurte thei could deuise But my Lorde Lieutenaunt beholdyng the boldnesse of the Ryngraue and seyng how nere he sought to nestell hym self to Newe Hauen with suche a power as peraduenture might haue troubled the whole toune My Lorde issued and went to the Forte whiche stoode a good distaunce from the Hauen And after my Lorde had a while digested this businesse and had well foreseen what might followe if the enemie wer suffered like a strong hedded horse to take the bridell in his teeth my Lorde called Capitaine Reade before hym and tolde hym that the enemie must bee remoued For by Gods will ê™ he as it is my Lordes earnest woorde if the Ryngraue lodge so nere my charge the one of vs bothe shall take little reste and so my Lorde concluded and fully determined that Capitaine Read should haue the leadyng of a thousande men and goe giue a charge on the enemie To whiche commaundement Capitaine Read willyngly obeyed wherevppon Capitaine Souche Capitaine Ward Capitaine Gam Capitaine Somersettes Lieutenaunte Capitaine Apleyarde Capitaine Parkinson Capitaine Anttwesill Capitaine Wilfforde and all their bandes were appoincted to followe Capitaine Reades order and direction in as duetifull maner as my Lorde hym self had had the leadyng of these bandes and officers Now it behoued Capitaine Reade to looke well aboute hym and to sette doune a course and order to keepe firmelie and aduisedlie because he had not to deale with men of small value nor people that before tyme had been ignoraunte of the seruice in the feelde Wherefore he sorted his soldiours and placed them in the moste assured and aptest maner for the accomplishyng of suche an enterprise deuided theim into that order that one might aunswere an other and the maine battaill should giue releef to the whole companie But here is to bee noted that the enemies were thought verie strong and to the nomber of fiue or sixe thousande soldiours Frenche and Almaines who looked for some encouÌ„ter and were in battaill closely sette and knitte together at the entrie of the village hauyng certaine louse shott without the toune and some horsemen withall redy to giue a charge and take what aduauntage might be gotten Fearyng little that our people would haue ventered on their battaill and doubtyng nothyng the victorie if so small a power as ours durst putte in hazarde the fight or offer to giue the repulse Well in this daungerous and doubtfull peece of seruice Capitaine Reade beeyng resolued to trie the vttermoste of Fortune and followe my Lordes will and pleasure who behelde all the exploite With as greate expedition as could be deuised he sette Capitaine Souche Capitaine Gam Capitaine Parkinson and Capitaine Warde menne of good seruice and readie to aduenture for renowme as a wyng on the lefte hande of his battaill to plie the enemie with shotte and in the battaill and as occasion required he placed Capitaine Apleyard Capitaine Anttwesill and Capitaine Wilford For to aunswere his hope with their manhood and diligence and doe that was conuenient in suche a hotte and couragious encounter Now Capitaine Souche and his companie made suche haste to the seruice this beeyng at sixe a clocke in the Mornyng and had trotted so faste towardes the enemies that thei were likelie to haue been out of breathe and in greate perill had thei not been succoured with the foresight and dexteritie of Capitaine Read. For he beholdyng the swiftenesse of the wing and the necessitie of the cause beganne sodainly to mende his wonted marche and helde a good pace and trotte towardes the village hauyng euer an eye and regarde to bryng on his people whiche was the battaill alwaies in good order and breath But this haste and bolde attempte was no soner offered but the enemie thought to preuent it and so with suche horsmenne as thei had at hande thei charged our footemen who were so strongly garded with Pikes that the horsemennes labour was loste and some of them slaine emong the Pikes thei were so well ioyned and clasped together By this tyme went of all the small shotte of the enemies battaill and as God would our menne were come so nere that thei were crept vnder the daunger of the hargaboze by meane of a smother and smoke that a greate while before the enemies shot and ours had made For Capitaine Read espiyng that aduauntage badd marche apace to come to the ioynyng so that through this occasion the enemies shott did little or no hurte at all At this instaunt were our people euen at the verie entrie of the village and a Frenche gentleman as seemed beholdyng Capitaine Read the cheef leader of our battaill marchyng before the reste leuied his peece at hym myndyng to haue shotte but by trauesyng of grounde Capitaine Reade staied the Frenche mannes hande who stepte straight waie behinde a little waule and at the enteryng into the Toune discharged his peecefull at the breast of Capitaine Reade the peece beeyng charged with twoo bullettes but albeeit it was so nere that the fire flewe in his face yet he was so well armed that the shotte but rente and broke his Armour and did hym no further hurte Wherevppon Capitaine Reade steppes to the Frencheman and so thrust hym through with a Halbert an other gentleman standyng nere this offered to bee taken prisoner but Capitaine Read myndyng to doe that he came for followed his enterprise and charged on the battaill of the enemie that stoode as stiffe as a waule till our men laied their Pikes lustely vppon theim and by verie fine force and pushe of the Picke put them backe and caused theÌ„ to wheele aboute In whiche conflicte sixe hundreth were slaine and nine score and three persones were taken and brought awaie The victorie was followed a small season with as
in the daie should bee cutte of from their bodies and brought to the place where he incamped at night and should there bee laied on the ground by eche side of the waie leadyng into his owne Tente so that none could come into his Tente for any cause but commonly he muste passe through a lane of heddes whiche he vsed ad terrorem the dedde feelyng nothyng the more paines thereby and yet did it bryng greate terrour to the people when thei sawe the heddes of their dedde fathers brothers children kinsfolke and freendes lye on the grounde before their faces as thei came to speake with the saied Collonell Whiche course of gouernemente maie by some bee thought to cruell in excuse whereof it is to bee aunswered That he did but then beginne that order with theim whiche thei had in effecte euer tofore vsed toward the Englishe And further he was out of doubte that the dedde felte no paines by cuttyng of their heddes accordyng to the example of Diogenes who beyng asked by his freendes what should be doen with hym when he died aunswered in this sorte Caste me on a dunghill ê™ he where vnto his freendes replied saiyng The Dogges will then eate you his aunswere thereto was thus why then sette a staffe by me Wherevnto thei aunswered you shall not feele them to whom he again replied with these woordes what neede I then to care But certainly by this course of gouernemente although to some it maie seeme otherwise there was muche blood saued and greate peace ensued in haste For through the terrour whiche the people conceiued therby it made short warres For he reformed the whole Countrey of Munster and brought it into an vniuersall peace and subiection within six weekes leauyng at his commyng froÌ„ thence Iames Mack Morres as a woode Kerne accompanied onely at the moste not with aboue seuentene menne who at his first commyng thether commaunded many a thousande Whiche reformation and establishemente of the Countries peace there performed presently came from thence and so lefte his charge there with sufficiente pledge bonde and paune for the good behauioure of euery Lorde and Capitaine for theim selues and their followers refusyng no duetifull seruice euer since An abstracte of some of his perticular seruices EMongeste many others these perticulare seruices followyng he did in persone of whiche onely I haue thought good to make rehearsall of these fewe omittyng the reste Firste with 150. footemen he seruyng then a priuate capitaine vnder the leadyng of maister Edward Randolphe then his Collonell at Knockfargus he stoode firmely in the plaine feelde charged with fower thousande footemen and sixe hundred horsemen of Onyles companie and there killed and hurte of the enemie about twoo hundred hauyng of his companie in all not aboue thirtie hurte and slaine This seruice was doen for the rescuyng of Capitaine Wilforde and Capitaine Warde who although thei ventered them selues farther then reason would to cause certaine disordered Soldiours to retire stirred therevnto through the tender care of the Soldiours safeties Thei did so valiauntly behaue theim selues therein as that thei worthely deserued greate commendation The seconde seruice was doen by Kylkennie the third of Iulie a thousande fiue hundred sixtie and nine where he beyng accompanied with maister Henry Dauels a noble and valiant gentleman now slain by Ihon of Desmond and xij others went from sir Peter Carewe knight with pretrnce but to vewe the Rebelles And yet with that small nomber charged he them at the leaste fourtie score before all the rest of his companie the rebelles beeyng then in nomber aboute twelue hundred as it was reported and standyng then in battaill raye The saied sir Peter Carewe and one Appesley Lieutenaunt to the saied Collonell commyng nexte after hym accompanied with the horsebande of the saied Collonell and a certaine of maister Capitaine Wingefeeldes soldiours who were that daie in the vauntegard amountyng in the whole to the nomber of a hundreth and twentie horse Capitaine Malbe and Capitaine Bassenet followyng in the rereward either of them hauyng vnder their leadynges fiftie horsemen In this charge the saied Collonelles blacke Curtall horse whervpon he then serued was verie sore hurt vnder hym in eight places The thirde seruice was doen by Kylmallocke the xxiiij daie of September 1569. wherewith his owne horsebande he scirmouched with three thousande rebells at the least the Erle of Glanckar beyng then there emongest theÌ„ in persone with diuers other Lordes and Capitaines of countreis In this scirmouche all his companie were beaten from hym sauyng one Tadcastell a Soldiour of his owne bande who standyng with hym in defendyng of a Forde was in th ende slaine And he hym self beyng lefte alone and enforced to defende the same kepte it a greate while againste verie neere thirtie horsemen Iames Macke Morres Râ—wrey Macke Shee the cheef Capitaine of the Desmondes Galliglasses the Lorde of the greate Wood Pursell Suppell Edmonde Sites Dani with diuers other gentlemen emongst them Also in this scirmouche his blacke Curtall horse of whom I spake of before was hurte in diuers places of the bodie and was shotte through the necke with a Harcabushe And the saied Collonelles Targatte was stricken throughe with diuers dartes besides many blowes on his Armoure but in persone not hurte Whereat the Irishe wondered so muche thei made sondrie songes and Rimes of hym and his blacke Curtall horse imaginyng hym self to haue been an enchaunter that no man could hurte ridyng on a Deuill And here is to bee specially noted that in all the seruices before spoken of and at moste of suche other seruices as wer doen by the saied Collonell in Munster Capitaine Ward and maister Crues shewed them selues verie foreward and valiaunte And therefore in that respecte thei haue deserued commendation whiche in nowise is to bee forgotten The saied sir Henry Sidney Lorde Deputie inuested the saied Collonell with the title and honour of knighthoode for his good seruice on Neweyeres daie 1569 and so came he into England where he hath remained a while the moste parte in Courte Since that he serued the Prince of Orrange in the cause of Religion in Zelande and Flaunders where beyng geneall of twoo thousande Englishe he had for the entertainement of his owne persone in wages and other allowaunces verie neere tenne thousande Markes per Annum besides verie large allowaunces for all the Officers Capitaines and Soldiours vnder his regimente At an other time sir Ihon Parret beyng as lorde Iustice in a Prouince of Irelande behaued himself so nobly and vsed suche seuere Iustice that no one Lorde nor other vnder his charge durst any waie offende hym For he nether graunted pardoÌ„ but vpoÌ„ merueilous great cause nor would giue eare to a parley But alwaies proceded in suche a manly maner and stoute resolution of minde that he was bothe feared and beloued And so muche desired of good menne to tarry in the countrey that the badde sorte to this daie are aferd to heare his name rehearsed He
her name Come Countrey youth come noble courtly Dame. And marke my woords whose woorks in wondryng daies With double blotte redounds to my dispraies From tender yeres till twentie twoo were paste I nourisht was at pompe and pleasures papps But who can tell how long our ioye shall laste For greatest calmes comes ofte to Thonder clapps And sweetest hopes doe chaunge to sowrest happs O tickle tyme that wanders swift as winde With heare before and bare and balde behinde No gripe nor hande can take sure holde on thee Thou flittst so faste and leaues the worlde at worst Looke what tyme bryngs tyme takes awaie you see Good tyme is blest badd tyme wee holde accorst Tyme hurtes them oft that tyme did helpe at forst Looke what we haue when youth is moste in prime That shall wee want in age by course of tyme. My freashe delites doe fall and fade like flowre The blossomes gaie from beauties budds are gone Our state of life doeth alter euery howre As pleasures passe come sorowes pasyng on The worlde it self is like a rowlyng stone And on suche wheeles our tomblyng happs doe ronne Thei slide as swifte as shadowe in the Sonne Whiles carelesse witte doeth carry youth about To sportes and plaies that doeth from pasty meries The merrie mynde is voyde of feare and doubt And all the powres are glad to please the eyes But when wilde hedde or wanton waxeth wise The weightie thoughtes that deepe foresight retains Bryngs troubled sleepes and breakes the quiet brains In childishe daies I made no counte of chaunce When freends tooke care to matche me to their will So hopyng long good happ would me aduaunce I kept me free from wedlocks boudage still But parents wise that had good worldly skill With open checks rebukt the causes cheef The more thei sturde the greater grewe my greef As when a sore is rubbde and handled harde The lesse it heales because ye touche it neere O fathers graue if that you tooke regarde How that with checks you vse your children deere Or in your moodes you would some reason heere Thei should bee ioynde where thei greate ioye should haue And you of them enioye the thyng you craue But wilfull men that wealth maie wrest awrie Will force poore babes to marrie or to morne What father will the child maie not denie He hurts his shins against the pricke shall sporne When matche is made it is paste tyme to torne When sillie Lambe is to the slaughter ledde The Butchar braggs the simple Sheepe is dedde And yet in deede t were better childern smarte And matche in tyme as cause and matter moues Then childrens choyse should breake the fathers harte Or breede debate as wilfull marrage proues Short is the ioye of them that longest loues When want comes on and woe beginnes to wryng For lacke is thrall and slaue to euery thyng Loue is not now as loue hath been of old A game some babe to dandle on the knee Loue cares for nought but lande and baggs of gold That keepes bothe man and horse in stable free Thei haue no witte that other louers bee Wealthe maister is and porter of the gate That lettes in loue when want shall come to late Well as it was my freends could doe no good My Fortune bore the swaie and ruled all And I full long on will and freedome stoode Till fleshe and blood must needes to fancie fall And then though happe and worldly wealth was small I lighted where I likte and loued well And where I voude for terme of life to dwell My choise was likte for many giftes of grace He had though wealth somtyme was not at will And for his sake in many a noble place I welcome was and purchast fauour still My candell blasde like torche on toppe of hill And for content of minde where loue doeth reste Myne owne poore choise might passe emong the beste Long liu'de we thus at home and eke abroad When kindred cleane in deede forsooke vs bothe What burthen fell I helpt to beare the loade And glad in worlde to taste how Fortune gothe The minde I had to God and sacred othe Made me refuse no trauaill for his sake Whom of free will I choose to bee my make The seas wee sailde the lande wee rode about The Court wee sawe the Toune wee dwelt long in The feeldes we walke the gardains gaie throughout Wee went vnto where many a feast hath bin Wee could not sincke for happe helde vp the chin He prosperde well and looke what God had sent With louyng wise at home the same he spent He tooke greate paines to come by that he had And trauailde sore through many a forraine soile To bryng that home that makes the housholde glad And keepe the wife and housholde folke from foile And I tooke care that nothyng went to spoile And looke in deede what thyngs that I did lacke Was seen in face or founde vpon my backe The worlde might see I went in garmentes good Though small I brought to hym as I confesse I spent hym muche and at greate charge he stoode Whiche bryngs strong harts somtyme to greate distresse But neuer that might make his loue the lesse For looke how he his likyng first beganne In fine for trothe he proude the self same manne I could not sleepe but where in bedde he laie I could not eate but where he satte at boorde I could not laugh when likyng was awaie I silent satte gaue he but halfe a woorde Ill newes of hym strake me with mortall sworde His minde and myne did drawe so in one yoke The self same fitts he felt where of I spoke Full seuen yeres this constant course wee kept Though often tymes there happened housholde iarrs And trattlyng tales that in betweene vs crept Made many wounds where yet remaines the skarrs Yet alwaies peace tooke vp our braulyng warrs And wee did seeke to salue eche others sore And passe old greefes and thinke thereon no more Sweete is that peace that patcheth vp greate harmes Sharpe is the warre that teares a house in twaine Wo worthe those words that brings in braules by swarms Darke be those cloudes that alwaies threatens raine Curste bee the cause that breedeth woe and paine And dampde in hell those subtell spirits shal be That councell gaue to parte my choise from me Well as our chaunce together was to ioyne And dwell long while as here in breef you harde So happe came on through hope of wealth or coyne And drewe my choise where he might bee prefarde To warrs and I that had a greate regarde To hym that tyme when I his mynde did knowe Gaue my consent that he to warrs should goe With sighes and sobbs and bitter tears emong Wee parted tho with promes suerly paste That one should here from other ere t were long And sadly soe wee seured at the laste His goods his gold his freends bothe firme and faste He lefte me then to comfort me with all But nere a child
iotte of honor from them that well had deserued Yea this Ryngraue was suche a noble warriour that after the battaill or skirmishe was ended or any peece of seruice was doen he would sende flaggons of wine to his enemies and in tyme of truce or breache of warre whiche he vsed often for honours sake he would make bankettes giue giftes shewe liberalitie and bee as courteous as a little child And in the feelde a verie Lion more like then a manne and yet a man of moste sober iudgement and knowledge The whole Campe of the Frenchemen came to a greate hille after the ouerthrowe that the Ryngraue had and fullie bent to besiege Newe Hauen thei made euery daie a newe approche to the toune in moste soldiourlike sorte and order and to holde them in some awe as our power might many skirmishes were made and good pollicie and courage was put in excersice and nothyng lefte vndoen that either tyme or place would permit But what should I further delate of thinges paste mannes helpe and pollice when Gods wrathe and visitation dooeth cutte of all argumentes and makes a quicke dispatche of the matter For the Plague was so sore in the Toune that many men in a rage did leape out of the windowes into the streate and suche a generall disease and dispairing sicknesse was spread throughout the whole companie of soldiours that no one stoode in certaintie of his own state or life Suche was the heate and furie of the fearefull Pestilence and greeuous botche a dauntyng malladie that takes awaie the vse of witte and courage of man. Well albeeit that this greate mortalitie and miserable state of life might haue vtterly ouerthrowen the valliaunte myndes of many good men yet our people stoode so stoutely to their defence that many exploites were taken in hande and thei forced the enemie to make an offer vnto theim of a noble composition whiche of necessitie muste bee taken all thynges considered for there was no succour to bee hoped for to come out of Englande And some that were sent thether as sir Thomas Finche and diuerse other gentlemen were caste awaie by the sea and presently drouned Then noble Capitaine Randall who can not haue to muche fame who after was slaine in Irelande was appoincted by the Lorde Lieutenaunt to tarrie behynde when the Toune was yeelded vp to see all conditions and capitulations performed whiche were but slackly handeled and looked vnto by the Frenche and yet in effecte our soldiours with as muche honour as men in their plight could haue came home and brought muche ordinaunce and goods with them But thei had so greate a plague still emong them that many here at their arriuall departed this worlde This was but a peece of the seruice that capitaine Read was at in his daies for his moste paines hath been taken aboute the warres of Scotlande and roades made into that Countrey where he hath borne hym self so well and that a long season that all those who knowes the same or can call the seruice to memorie giueth good reporte thereof and speaketh muche to the adâ—â—â—ncement of his good name And seeyng that in 〈◊〉 praise and others my penne hath gone so farre I wil â— touche the seruices of sir WillyaÌ„ Winter who bothe by lande and Sea hath often been emploied And in the rehearsall of some parte of his doynges I will as I maie make mention of sir Willyam Drewrie sir Humfrey Gilbart sir Willyam Morgane Capitain Barkley Capitaine Morgane Capitaine Chester Capitaine Bingham and sondrie that of late daies hath been in diuers places of daunger and good seruices But this is to bee looked for that the honourable sir Iames Croftes now Controller of the Queenes Maiesties houshold sir Ihon Walloppe sir Iames Wilfforde and sir Ihon Bellyngame bee not forgotten and that euery one of these as remembrance shall serue me be breefly spoken of For if at large I touched some of their noble exploites that laste I haue made mention of I should make a greate volume of the same and so seeme to write a Chronicle that meanes but to treate of a fewe passages for the passyng of the tyme and the pleasuryng of my freendes The seruices of sir Iames Croftes maie well bee vnderstoode if you loke into the siege of Bullein The warres of Scotlande and the troublesome affaires of Irelande where he was Lorde Deputie And who that looketh depely in the mannagyng of those matters shall iustely of hym self yeelde due honoure to the persone that hath taken these paines without the reporte of my penne or further publishyng of the same Sir Ihon Walloppe that long remained gouernour of Gines and the seruice of the good knight Bellyngame once lorde Deputie of Irelande are of no little moment For the one had suche a hurt by a counter boffe that he got at Laundersey that he carried it to his death albeit he liued long after and did many greate thynges and the other was giuen to suche valliauntnesse as his doynges doe declare that in a maner we can not imagine more worthinesse in twoo men nor rightly attribute vnto them the glorie thei deserue If neuer any seruice but the siege of Haddyngton were spoken of it were sufficient enough and a witnesse greate to shewe the greate mynde and manly courage of sir Iames Wilfforde For he beeyng there as generall helde out the force of Fraunce and power of Scotlande the Queene mother lookyng and liyng at the siege and the Toune was so battered and beaten that men on horsebacke might haue ridden ouer the breache Yet notwithstandyng besides a nomber of other greate causes to make men rander a Forte sir Iames Wilfforde kepte the enemies out and did so noblie euery waie neither scarcitie of victuall nor want of pouder could moue his inuincible mynde For the more was the miserie the greater grewe his harte and hope to haue good Fortune for the whiche assured fortitude and determinate purpose he purchased euerlastyng renowne And liues at this daie in as freshe memorie as he were seen presently before the eyes of the people In that season was a place called Donglasse at our deuotion where one maister Aston was placed and an other fort beyonde Fiffeside called Broghttie Cragge where sir Ihon Luttrell did serue verie valliauntely a longe tyme And at a Toune nere the same Forte called Dondie Sir Willyam Winter and others did a greate peece of seruice worthie the rehearsall But for that Broghttie Cragge was at the length loste for lacke of succour out of Englande I leaue out muche matter that otherwise I had written After the Siege of Haddyngton was raised and the Frenche had withdrawen their batterie and the old Erle of Shrewesburie was come with an armie and laie at a place called Abberladie The Earle of Linkcolne that now is beeyng Lorde Admirall landed a greate companie of soldiours at a Pile called sainct Minius where our Fortune was but frowarde and for that I was taken prisoner there and our
enterprises to doe their Countrey pleasure Yea some haue solde their patrimonie and consumed their Threasure and riches to enriche their Princes with glorie and euerlastyng renowme Were not this a madnesse and more then a meere folly to be a drudge to the worlde and a labourer for those that sittes at reste and to watche and warde Feight striue and struggle with strangers for victorie and then to come home and be rewarded as common persones and walke like a shadowe in the Sunne without estimation or countenaunce Would any that had wisedome vallue and courage be ouer ronne with vicious fooles and cowardes or be made a footestoole to ther inferiour when thei haue climed vp the steppes of honoure and are gotten into the toppe gallaunte of worldlie glorie and warlicke triumphe Emong children that doe but plaie at the bucklars there is a preheminence and one will acknowedge the other to be his better when good bobbes are bestowed and sodainlie a stoute taule lobber will laye doune the waster and yeelde to hym that hath more practise and skill in the weapon then hym self Then shall not a man that hath coped with Champions buckled with Conquerers and abidden the hazard of the Cannon stande on his Pantoffelles and loke to the steppes he hath passed Yes sure and suche a mēber of the state the baser sorte are Ciphers ought to be made of deserueth place and preheminence and is no companion for punies ▪ nor meete to bee matched with Milkesoppes whose manhoode and maners differs as farre from the graue Soldiour as a Donkite in courage and condition differs from a Ierfaucō As the duetie to a mannes countrey and the wages that he taketh bindes him to doe the vttermoste he maie so were there not an other cause that forceth further matter Full coldly some would feight and full slowly some would march to the battaill albeit the Princes quarrell and wages receiued commaundeth muche and is a thyng stoutly and wisely to be looked to But I tell you fame and reputation is the marke that men shoote at and the greedinesse of glorie and ambitiō pricketh the mynde so fast forward that neither the man lookes vppon the multitude of enemies Nor regardes the daunger of death so he maie bee eternised and liue in the good opinion of the Prince and people For he that but bluntly lookes aboute hym and goeth to the warre for wealth whiche hardly is there gotten is lead on with a coueteous desire of that he shall not haue and may feight like an Oxe and dye like an Asse But who so respecteth his credite and paiseth in ballaunce the worthinesse of fame that riseth by well doyng doeth combate like a Lyon and either conquers like a man or dieth like a conquerour as many greate Kynges and Capitaines haue doen whose ensamples a long while agoe as yet remaines freashelie in memorie It maie not be thought that euery mercionarie mnane and common hirelyng taken vp for awhile or seruyng a small season is a Soldiour fitte to bee regestered or honoured emong the renowmed sort of warlike people For suche nombers of besoingnes or necessarie instrumentes for the tyme are to fall to their occupation when the seruice is ended and not to liue idellie or looke for embrasyng For neither thei tarrie long in the feelde when thei are preste to goe forthe Nor are not often called againe to the like iourney so greate is our store of suche persones and so many shiftes thei can make to putte of any paine and hazard But he is to be accounted the couragious Soldiour that is giuen by his owne disposition to delight and folowe the Cannon wheele whose countenaunce and chearfull face beginnes to smile and reioyce when the Dromme soundeth and whose harte is so high it will not stoupe to no seruile slauerie But hath a bodie and mynde able to aunswere that is looked for and hath often been tried and experimented in Marshal affaires through hauntyng whereof he is become ignoraunt of drudgyng at home and made a skilfull scholler in the discipline of warre whiche is not learned without some losse of blood charges of purse and consumyng of tyme. And this maie bee iudged and plainly presupposed that many of that sorte of men are not founde a liue to trouble or burthen a common wealth because thei are cutte of through daungerous seruices or forced by seekyng of Fame in the feeld to sell that thei haue at home and so to trauaile abrode subiecte to all miserie and farre from any freendship or prosperous estate And sometymes through the greatnesse of their myndes that galloppes after glorie are carried awaie to seeke out newe kyngdomes and refuse their old abitatiō A matter fallyng out well worthie to bee liked but other wise a heauie tale to bee tolde and an experience bought with ouermuche repentaunce But euery waie occasions thei are that dispatcheth many a good Soldioure and makes the nomber so little that it is reason suche as are lefte a liue of that profession should either bee rewarded or at the least reape some suche credite as the common sort of people should haue theim in admiration for and offer theim suche courtesie as the worthinesse of their experience and seruice requireth If in the olde tyme our forefathers vsed their menne of warre noblie prefarred theim to promotions and dealte honourably with theim that serued their countrey when warres were not so cruell Why should not this worlde wherein pollicies murthers and bloodshed is followed and hazardes are maruelously escaped to the vttermoste of mannes power haue more regard to a soldiour that shunneth no hazard nor refuseth no perill There is no more to saie for the aunsweryng of this greate ouersight but the Hackney horse is vnhappie hauyng borne a burthen al the daie on his back and is caste of at night to a bare common there to seeke for foode and abide a harde Fortune There is a worse matter then this to bee treated of yet nothing but that so farre past remedie to bee touched let any one seruyng man gett a good maister and for followyng his heeles at an ynche he shal be more spoken for and gett more benefite then twentie of the beste Soldiours that you can name that haue followed the warres all their life daies and knewe not how to flatter and faune or crouche and coursie for commoditie Yea suche as serues at home and can not goe out of the vewe of a faire house and Smoke of a foule Chimney snatcheth vp good tournes and stealts awaie prefarmentes priuilie when those that merites more consideration ofte goes openly a beggyng and findeth fewe emong thousandes that wisheth them well or doeth them any good Some saie the cause of this harde happe to the one and good Fortune to the other is a certaine deadly discention fallen betwene the Sworde and the Penne. By which mortall malice is bredde and nourished in bosome suche a head-strong hatred and parciallitie that the Penne is euer giuyng a dashe out of
A generall rehearsall of warres called Churchyardes Choise wherin is fiue hundred seuerall seruices of land and sea as Sieges Battailes Skirmiches and Encounters A thousande Gentle mennes names of the beste sorte of warriours A praise and true honour of Soldiours A proofe of perfite Nobilitie A triall and first erection of Heraldes A discourse of calamitie And ioyned to the same some Tragedies Epitaphes as many as was necessarie for this firste booke All whiche workes are dedicated to the honourable sir Christopher Hatton knight vize Chamberlain Capitaine of the Garde And one of the Quéenes Maiesties priuie Counsaile Written by Thomas Churchyard Gent. 1579. ¶ Imprinted at London by Edward White dwellyng at the little North-doore of S. Paules Churche at the signe of the Gunne To the right honourable my most assured freend sir Christopher Hatton Knight vize chamberlaine to the Queenes Maiestie and one of her highnesse priuie Counsaill Thomas Churchyarde wisheth as greate good Fortune and worldly felicitie as he desireth heauenlie blessyng IF the ground yeld not corne the Tree beare fruite the flower keepe sent and sauour we hold them as waste and in a shorte season forget their former goodnesse So freendes waxyng faint of memorie feble in duetie and negligent of that becomes them fall at length out of fauour and lose the blessed benifite of freendshippe For the penne hedde or hande that hath vsed honeste exercises once liyng idell doeth not onely purchace suspition but also breedeth muche misliking and makes menne forgotten where moste thei would be remembred So right honourable consideryng these causes I ought to be occupied in my accustomed maner of writyng least that tyme and slouth the corrupter and cankerar of good conditions weare me cleane out of credite and compell me to forthinke the idelnesse I haue vsed Yea albeit the matter be but barraine I seeke to bryng forthe yet a duetifull wel willar ought to bee doyng the beste in his power that the best maie be taken and gathered of the good will that still hath a desire to bryng forth some acceptable fruite And truely though my senses are simple to sift and search out suche matter as were meete for the personage to whom this is offered Yet I can not want good store and copie of causes to write of in this crooked age where no one thing is streight and vpright but a noble mynde that neither stoupes to the mutabilitie of fortune nor boweth doune to the wickednesse of this waiward worlde To treate of the whiche vnder correctiō I haue a great desire For the common people haue clapped on sutche newe Natures and are so finely transformed from the olde fashion of goodnesse as a perfite iust man is as hard to finde emong them as a Phenix out of Arabie Yet was there neuer more curiositie of woordes nor lesse constancie in deedes for now is he accoumpted no bodie that can not deceiue a multitude And the more finelier he can behaue hym self the more affection is borne hym so that the plaine meanyng is ouermatched with the connyng cōueiance of muffled mischeef And the outwarde show of simplicitie disceiues the inward iudgement so mutche that the subtell Foxe goes vnspied and the simple Sheepe is led to the slaughter For with artificiall courtezie and double dessembled countenaunce plaine people are carried from them selues and made the bonde slaues of those wolues that priuelie deuoures thē The little Antes ronnes not so faste out of the Moule hill as the fauners with flattrie followes their heeles that thei minde to ouer reache and wrest to their profite And who is so diligent as the deceiuer and so readie to attende waite as the wilie worldlyng VVho first can fishe out mennes maners inclinations and after feede their humours accordyng to their infirmities And in deede these craftie men pleasars haue more mynde of Mammon then of God of vanitie then of vertue For like vices on a stage thei serue in a State and helpe to fill out a bare matter with a bad laughter These are the wiely Spannyels of the worlde that can not be beaten frō the heles of nobilitie These are the turning weather cockes that seldome standeth stil. And these are the cunnyng Clarkes who neuer came in vniuersitie and yet are fine maisters of Art. And who licketh vp the crommes that falleth from the table of good fortune but these whinyng whelpes that priuely can bite and openly can faune For the dissembler getts more by doublenesse then by plaine dealyng more by good lucke then by good maners As some of the Sages affirme that conning creepes alwaies in fauour And blinde affection is the onely father that begettes the children of good chance and brynges the fauoured to prefarment And all the reste are but bastardes of beggarie begotten out of season borne in haste VVhich babes for want of blessyng are become wanderars of this worlde pilgrims of the yearth and blossomes of a blasted tree But the graue and wise holde opinion a man maie as well seeke to clime to the cloudes as come by commoditie till the cause and ground of all goodnesse call hym to the doale and deale hym an almes For neither shifte nor snatchyng will helpe where portions are deuided and lotted out to the pleasure of the giuer In plentie he tombleth that is prefarred to any place or benefite by this celestiall order and appointment of the almightie But some shreude serchers of secretes holde opinion that Sathan is princeps mundi and the mucke of this moulde vndeseruedly falles in their lappes that least is thought worthie of so greate aboundance And the poore are the personages that in the other worlde for their pacience here shal be placed beyonde our common exspectation It maie be moste likely For riche's is a readie instrument and a pleasaunte pipe to make men dance after the deuells Tabber And pouertie is the perfite pathe to lead men to felicitie Yet there nedes no argument to descipher the one from the other For in bothe estates a manne maie doe well but the riche hath better meane to doe good then the poore If those that are fleetyng in the flood of good fortune looke backwarde on the little brookes that feedes the Sea with water and followes the tides by continuall recourse the onely cause of the swellyng of the Seas and pride of the streames For if euery small spryng were stopte eche large Riuer kepte in and all kinde of Fountaines restrained from their course a seconde Sea would bee seen on the lande or the fulnesse of the firste would begin to decline So that the repaire of people to any place procures vaine glorie loftie lookes ambicious myndes and maintaineth mutche pompe and sutche as withdrawe them selues frō wilfull seruitude neither flatter their owne iudgementes to farre nor filles vp the flood to faste There is no more to bee saied but in this worldly Theater euery man plaies one parte or other that either is worthie rebuke or merites
commendation O that menne knewe what gaie garlande is gotten by the goodnesse of vertue then the inferior sort would not striue wrastell to putte on the wretched wreath of vice For as right renoume is the true reward of well dooyng So open reproche followes as a shadowe the bodie that is readie to doe harme The good that is dooen emong the thankefull is not onely redoubled againe with good will but like wise linketh in a chaine of loue the hartes of those that receiues it And thei are priuie rich that can by bountie purchace many debtars deserue many blessynges and make many people be beholdyng vnto them A number of glosyng and glorious worldlinges that by bragges of boūtie offer good turnes to saell with a signe and showe that thei maie be bought for a little or nothyng but on a sodaine thei rather looke who can doe theim good then remember to whō thei haue offered the saell and commmoditie of their marchandice Sutche fine fellowes and petie foggars are the frothe and scome of the sea that welters with the waues and not the Honie and Creame of the yearth that ought to be preciously made of And lo for a proofe of praise sutche yonkars can promesse more in an howre then thei minde to performe all their life tyme thinking with bare woordes to winne freendes and followers where naked woorkes of Nature nourisheth nothyng but hollownesse of harte For proofe and example thereof let the thristie looke for drinke and finde his hope deceiued at the well hedde of comforte he flynges awaie his bottle beates his breast with repētance falles in misliking for euer or seekes some other faire fountain to coole and quenche the flaming furnaies of the stomacke An other sorte there are but no greate number whiche without boste bragge or businesse are glad to finde an occasion to pleasure their freende by woorde deede trauaill or charges And these are the Salte of the worlde that seasoneth the life of manne with sweete sauor and giueth good tast at the death to the soule before god There is no one man so mightie so strong valiaunt or wise but needes the aide of an other and happie are the handes hedde and bodie from whom helpe proceadeth It breedeth merrie thoughtes causeth sweete sleepes shaketh of displeasure to woorke a common commoditie or a priuate benefite whiche goodnesse and noble Nature is in some that I knowe But for feare of fallyng into a kinde of adulation therein nor in the discourse of the worlde I goe no farther confessyng that who soeuer listeth to write hath coppie and store of matter enough to treate vppon when willyng mynde leades the penne and honest iudgement shall skilfully scan the maners of menne their sondrie inclinations their quallities and callinges and the disposition of the worlde And for that my capacitie reacheth not farre and discoursyng of greate thynges maie bryng my small knowledge out of compasse I haue bente my studie to treate of cōmon causes as familiar with the wise learned in these our daies as weakest fancies in other seasons hath been with the ignoraunte people embraced And because many writers haue but sleightly touched both in Chronicle and otherwise the affaires of warre the honour of Soldiours the cause and beginnyng of Nobilitie the erection of Haraldes the names of Gentlemen that well haue deserued the goodnesse that Calamitie bryngeth and the fame that noble life attaineth vnto I haue taken this troublous taske in hande not onely to woorke truely for the daiely hire that good report giueth but to showe plainly my honeste meanyng in the thynges named that bothe laboure and long studie hath brought me too Not thinking but your honourable insight and acquaintaunce with these matters needes none of my discourses but because I promised in the booke of my Chipps a matter vnfit for your honour to looke on to presente an other worke whiche hath been long of commyng out and I feare is ouer simple with all this greate laisure to merite thankes Notwithstandyng the paines hath been greate and desire to dooe well not little yet the barenesse of the woordes and weakenesse of the matter I dread will either lose my thankes or driue me in disgrace And yet I might saie that the matter nowe presented though not well written maie claim a greate consideration and merites as mutche fauour as any thyng that euer passed from my penne The iudgemente whereof can not escape the compasse of your honorable knowledge and albeeit that with diuers deuises and bookes dedicated to sondrie good and greate personages I haue wandered a while after the fauour of this worlde and the good Fortune that diligence might haue brought yet nowe wearied with ouermutche labour in gaddyng about for the purchasyng of freendshippe hardely to bee gotten and as daungerous to bee kepte am driuen to retire to my firste Fortresse and holde where helpe is to bee had and succour is to bee sought because my second practise neither purchased prefarment nor paied for the paines and paper that I thinke well bestowed And though verely some thinke that good turnes comes rather in generall cases by Fortune affection or fauoure then by diligence studie or desarte I a dresse my laste woorkes where I truste a noble mynde shal bee iudge of my labours and so further my happ and fauour in the worlde that no hatefull Fortune nor people shall hinder my hope Thus hopyng the woorkes by help of your protection presented shall haue as many fauourers as readers and no more readers that mislikes the matter then liketh to write an other discourse as well meante I shadowe my self vnder the sheelde of youre honoure so dwellyng in that saffetie staiednesse of mynd whiche is a beautie to hoarie heares I wishe you what beste can bee imagined of honoure wealthe knowledge credite and worldly felicitie Praiyng with all that the blessed deawe of heauen multiplie and keepe moiste the manifold graces of your well desposed mynde From my lodging the xv of October 1579. Thomas Churchyard in all that he maie at your honorable commandmente To the freendly reader AS it is a thing sufferable and daiely seene that eche man fauors those personages whose nature qualitie or condition agreeth together so I hope albeit I am but a small Soldiour I maie boldly write of Marciall affaires and men of warre without dislikyng of any because suche matter or menne are fittest for my penne to be honoured withall and neerest the compasse of my knowledge and profession Yet albeeit that some of the malicious sort doe maruell at my boldnesse herein I let them babble and aunswere the quiet people of milde and sounde iudgemente that I thinke the beste tyme I can bestowe is to further the fame of the honest nexte to the prefarmente of my countries commendation And that before all other thynges excepte the honouryng of Prince and publike state a true writer ought of duetie to haue in admiration and reuerēce the valliaunt Soldiours and
men of worthy value For thereby the beste are knowne and reape the reward of wel doyng and the worst will blushe in the beholdyng of the vertues of other when the burthen of their owne vices coÌ„dempneth theim as idell drones of the common wealth And surely in myne opinion the nexte waie to make a nomber of meete members to the state wee dwell in is to giue them that deserue as mutche renowne as can bee clapped on their shulders and followe with infamie the base mynded fellowe so farre that he shall scarcely knowe in what soile he maie hide his hedde The noble Romains in the tyme of their greatnesse of courage and conquestes were regestred not onely in golden bokes and monumentes but also were made in a maner halfe gods and more then men in any kinde of condition or respecte The Lacedemonians Athenians and other nations a nomber did striue so by vertue one to excell an other that the whole worlde to this daie dooeth ryng of their glorie And happie was he in those daies that either deserued well hym self or might finde by fine inuention and iuste cause good matter to aduaunce any one of singulare learnyng or manhoode But now euery manne is so couetous and greedâ—e of fame for his owne woorkes that fewe or none can spare any dragme or sparke of credit to an others praise and good report by which generall ambitioÌ„ and naughtinesse of nature all good studies and noble enterprises are drowned in disdaine and little or nothyng is suffered to florishe but that whiche Fortune preferreth or the fonde affectioÌ„ of a multitude will commende A custome so perillous and cankred that I feare will ruste and corrupte all good sciences and bring in obliuion better matter then I speake of or can bee remembered Yet some hope is left to the wise and well doer because the honest and rieppest menne of iudgement are glad to embrace and welcome the labours of well disposed people and painful exercises of the learned But now to what ende make I this florishe and recitall of abuse in any since I want power to reforme any one persone enuious of others reputation Wherefore without further recitall of needelesse causes I will followe the substaunce of the matter here intended to bee written of requiryng the readers to admit I praised them selues if any be praise worthie for some warlike exercises in the whiche consaite of theirs thei will be the better contented to beare with the commendation of others For if euery one were a Soldiour in deede that readeth this volume I knowe but a fewe would be angry to heare of their owne glory and deseruinges Thus committyng this discourse to the iudgement of the wise I commende you to the Almightie And fall to my matter FINIS Churchyardes Choise IN the renoumed raigne of that noble prince Kyng Henrie the eight whose famous memorie shall laste whiles this worlde standeth All Cheualrie was cherished Soldiours made of and manhoode so muche esteemed that he was thought happie and moste valiaunt that sought credite by the exercises of Armes and dissipline of warre Whiche did so animate the noble mindes of men that in a maner he was counted no bodie that had not been knowen to bee at some valiaunte enterprice And euery simple subiecte was giuen to the aduaunsement of his Countrey As the burnyng of Treporte the winnyng of Tornay Bullaine and sonderie other places dooeth manifestly declare The iourneis into Scotlande and victories there would wearie you to reade of and beareth yet recorde what greate honor was in our kyng and courage in our people So that in this fortunate season the whole worlde did resounde of our worthinesse and forward desire of seruice And then beganne M. Nicholas Malbie to fauour the warre and take therein suche paines and delight that in Kyng Edward the sixte his daies the first yere of his raigne maister Nicholas Malbie was at Gines a Clarke of the victualles in a reasonable good credite vnder Maister Wauller then a speciall officer And the second yere he was a light horseman vnder capitaine Crayer in the seruice of the Frenche Kyng where was muche seruice at that presente And in this tyme there was a practise for the takyng of Arras which the noble men of Fraunce had deuised in this sorte The nobilitie put them selues in Peisauntes apparell colourablie to become prisoners to the Englishe horsemen And so marched a foote toward the gates of Arras as though the Englishe horsemen of the Emperours side had brought in certaine prisoners from the Frenche but one Peter Androwes a false traitour to the Englishe seruyng in Fraunce beeyng made priuie to this practise disclosed the matter to the Burgonions before Mounsire Vandiuill of Graueline wherupon a greate nomber issued out of the toune and so a hotte skirmishe was begonne and ended to the greate losse of the Burgonions side and so the Frenche disapointed of their purpose retired awaie From thence capitain Crayer and his companie were commaunded to Heddyng where thei tooke diuerse greate booties and made many spoiles to the greate benefite of all the Englishe horsemen I had forgotten how that the Duke de Vandome before these exploites entered the lowe Countrey with an armie and aboute Bottes Bulwarke and other partes nere vnto Saincte Homers did greate harme whiche I sawe being then a soldiour on the Emperors side and vnder Mounsire de Rues grand maister of Flaunders And after that Heddyng was besieged by MouÌ„sire de Rues and wonne in a short space at whiche seruice was capitaine Matson M. Richard Bingham Willyam Hinde and one capitaine Plonket with a nomber of other gentlemen not here named And at the winnyng of Torwain these Englishmen that serued the Emperour were in like sort From Heddyng captain Crayer with his bande were sent three leagues further into the frontires to a place called Farsine whiche borders vpon the Countie of S. Poule where there was a Castell of the Emperours called Countie in the whiche was a bande of footemen and an other of horsemen who daiely skirmished with the Englishe horsemen but alwaies the losse returned to the Burgonions side and capitain Crayers bande gatte greate honoure in so muche that the borders where the Englishemen serued stoode in as good securitie as though a nomber of other bandes had been there to haue aided the Englishe horsemen In deede there were suche soldiours in capitaine Crayers bande the Malbies beeyng as then ryng leaders emong theim as hath not been seen seruyng any where at that season for so small a companie and so greate value of courage and conducte From this place this bande was placed in garrison at Mottrell where mouÌ„sire Vilboun was gouernour at whiche toune the twoo brethren desired the leadyng of xxiiij of that bande and wente with theim twelue leagues into the Burgonion Pale to a riche village called Drues and spoiled the same of all their cattell and riches and brought awaie from thence eight rich prisoners
and at the requeste of the Soldiours in Mottrell those prisoners were giuen to Mounsire Bilboe to purchace his fauour because he seemed to bee angrie for the burnyng of the Abbey of S. Poule and the Frier house there Now at the same tyme when this bootie was gotten and brought into Motterell thei made open sale of the preye in the Market place and the soldiours beeyng of the old garrison in the Toune bloshyng at the boldnesse of the Englishemen and disdainyng their well dooyng that were not of their owne nation immediatlie beganne to spoile the bootie Maisters and by force thought to haue reaped the laboures of others that better deserued Whereupon the Scottishemen of Armes assembled in the Markette place and takyng the Englishe mennes parte demaunded wherefore that outrage was committed and saied thei would not suffer suche a follie to goe vnreuenged For the whiche cause and encouraging of good men Mounsire Bilboe tooke order in the matter committyng one of them that made the spoile to passe the shotte of the Hargaboes without mercie notwithstandyng the twoo brethren seeyng that Mounsire Bilbowe fauoured so muche lawe of Armes and dissipline of warre made sute for the pardon of the offendour by whiche sute and courtesie of theirs thei conquered and obtained the loue of al the Frenche soldiours whiche amitie after did thē as greate pleasure as their present pitie was a thyng to be liked For when the Englishemen wente to any seruice the Frenche would striue to see who could bee fauoured moste to goe in their companie Suche force and vertue hath mercie and gentilnesse to leade the hartes of people euery where either toward seruice or any other hazarde or worthie accion that the remembrance of mercie maie reche into and consider of The Englishe beeyng commaunded then to lye in the borders of Picardie of season at their owne discretion and the Countries charge were after sent to Bohayn and putte there in garrison where was a Capitaine called Capitaine Hearyng with a valiaunt bande of Gascoins whiche ioyned with the Englishmen and made many iournies and roades together into the Burgonion Pale spoilyng the Countrie and puttyng the Burgonions sondrie tymes to the worse and endamaged the countrie so muche and so often that the poore people complained to the Emperour of their Burgonion capitaines beyng many in nomber did suffer a fewe of their aduersaries to distresse the whole Frontiers Wherevpon Mounsire de Fammey then capitain of Laundersey seyng the Emperour moued with this incurssion beganne to practise by all the meanes he might to ouerthrowe the Englishe bande either by pollicie or Treason and findyng a guide that alwaies had the leading of the English when thei wēt about a bootie Moūsire de Fammey infected this guide with a fewe Crounes to betraie his companie and in the meane while againste the daie appoincted Defammey had prepared and made readie a thousande horse and diuerse bandes of footemen to entrappe the Englishe soldiours of Bohain The daie of this practise and murther approchyng and all thyng in readinesse the Burgonions to lye in waite and the Englishe to issue there fell a debate and quarrell betwene twoo Englishemen the one called Tuttell and the other Cheaston whiche faulyng out hindered their goyng to horse and detracted tyme in so muche this traitorous guide could not at the hower appoincted bryng foorthe the Englishemen nor answere the expectation of the Burgonions and so the Capitaine of Laundersey mistrustyng the guide had deceiued hym brake sodainly into the countrey and fell to spoile and to followe their moste aduauntage for the season and beeyng many in nomber did muche hurte aboute Gwyes before the small power there might make any head towardes their enemies but in conclusion the Englishe bande though but a fewe of them were at that presente at Bohayn with the helpe of capitain Hearyng a valiant man and leader of the Gascoins sette vpon the Burgonions and at the first encounter ouerthrew so many Burgonions that the residue fledde and made shifte for them selues at whiche on sette and couragious charge maister Nicholas Maelbie was sore hurte through bothe the sides and one Ihon Daie and he beeyng by seruice drawen from their companie in a daungerous place and plight thei tooke greate care how to recouer their people and in the ende to escape the hazarde Ihon Daie carried maister Malbie on his backe till a horsemanne by chaunce happened to come and comforte theim both Mounsire Deffammey by meanes of a blowe that Ned Driuer had giuen him on the hedde peece was faine to kepe his Beauer doune a long season and taried al a whole night in a woodde the meane while A none after this bickeryng the Frenche kyng made a Proclamation that all his Garrisons should repaire vnto Reins in Schampanie at whiche tyme there was a secrete speache of battaile betwene the Emperour and the Frenche kyng for the whiche cause all the bandes and garrisons that might be made with greate expedition repaired to the place appoincted for the fight And beyng assembled together thei encamped and so the Frenche kyng marched towardes Meattes in Lorraine where he vsed suche pollicie and faire speache that he wanne the toune without bloodshed tooke the Duke of Lorraine and sente hym safely into Fraunce And from Meattes the kyng marched vnto Speeres in Almaignie where he had a certaine masse of money And so to Stroseborough the kyng giuyng order that the Englishe horsemen and others that serued as vaunt currours should ride about the countrey and spoile what thei thought good Maister Nicholas Malbie beyng left at sainct Quintaines to bee healed of his hurte as you haue heard had his brother Ihon Malbie in the campe with the Frenche king who ioyned an other gentleman vnto hym called George Liell and thei twoo seekyng aduentures mette twoo gentlemen Almaines well mounted and appointed but the twoo English men charged them and tooke them prisoners and possessed their Borespeares and other weapōs of warre But George Liell hauyng somewhat to amende deliuered his prisonar his Borespeare to hold because he could not hymself amende his thinges and holde his Borespeare at that instaunte the prisoner seyng his aduauntage thruste the Borespeare vnder the armour of George Lyell and so slue hym he giuyng his laste gaspe and wofull crie made maister Ihon Malbie looke behinde hym who findyng his fellowe dedde ran hastely on the Almaine and in that charge slewe hym and so forthwith set vppon the other prisoner with like determination the other Almaine fell on his knees and asked mercie vppon whiche submission he was saued and ledde awaie by Ihon Malbie where other Englishemen attended to heare some newes And hearyng of this straunge cace thei altogether repaired where the twoo dedde bodies were and buried them bothe as the tyme and place did permit The Frenche Kyng marchyng from Stroseborough came to a strong toune called Domuiell whiche the Kyng besieged and the assaulte beyng readie to be giuen the capitaine
the Earle made diuerse iourneis vppon hym As a iourney where a preye was to be wonne where maister Maunsfeelde a proper man was slaine at and maister Harry Knowles was fore hurte in who serued noblie that daie And a iourneye made to the Glyns to Freers Toune and to many other places emong the enemies but with this seruice and diligence the Englishe glentlemen were so weried that sondrie sought meanes to departe into Englande and so the Earle remained with the lesse force and could not put further the mater in practise then his power and Fortune would suffer and procure notwithstandyng he founde meanes to entrappe and take sir Bryan Mackefellyn whiche he sent to Deuelyn and caused to bee retourned againe At whose retourne to auoide further trouble sir Bryan was put to death on whiche execution runneth diuerse reportes the maner whereof I leaue to the worlde For my intente is but to shewe breefly how thynges were begonne and ended at that present tyme of seruice All this season remained with the Earle sir Nicholas Malbie and his brother Capitaine Barkley Capitaine Selbie Capitaine Bousar Capitaine Deeryng sir Peter Carewe sir Willyam Morgan and twoo of my Lorde of Hunsdons soonnes maister Harry Bronkar and others of good callyng courage and credite Sir Willyam Fuwillyams was Lorde Deputie then who tooke greate paines to reforme the badde disposition of disobediente people and often tymes was in Campe hym self to vse the sworde and minister iustice And at his goyng awaie came the honorable sir Harry Sidney in whose tyme was muche to be doen but especially against one Sarlaboyes a Skotte that kepte aboute the Ban and had ouerthrowne a nomber of talle soldiours saruyng at Karryckefargus emong the whiche companie was Capitaine Baker slaine So for the reuenge and redresse of these and suche like causes the Lorde Deputie made a power and marched frō Dradaffe to Dondalke and so to the Newewrie and from thence to Lakaell and so toward Bellfaste where in a woode a greate nomber of wilde Kerne vnder the leadyng of Brian Macke Farttie did attende vs and staied vs from takyng the aduauntage of the tide thei plied vs with suche shot and other their leaude demeanour But we charged on them and so draue them into their fastnesse Capitain Harryngton and his bande serued well that season I behelde the same and with small difficultie we put the enemies backe and passed the Riuer with some hazard for the floud was come in and we were faine to carrie our footemen behind vs a horseback and some we ledde by the handes whiche moyled and wette the poore soldiours extremely but the marche that wee had after to Karryckefargus brought the poore menne in good harte againe but their victualles waxed scante and we carried a longer season then was looked for by meane of the hollowe and false dealyng of the wilde Scottes of whom Sarlaboyes was Capitaine This Serlaboyes had in his Creete as thei call it thirtie thousande Kye and yet wee wanted bothe Beefe and Biskette The reason was the winde serued not to conueigh vs victualles from Strangfforde and other places appoincted to victuall the Campe. At the length Serlaboyes was faine and glad to sende vs some Kye and so we marched awaie but the seconde daie after the woodde Kernes spied their tyme and set vpon some of our carriages and tooke with theim bothe tronkes full of apparell and some plate but thei could not dooe to our power any hurte at all saue to a fewe that went without order and felte some scourge for their follie After this the Lorde Deputie roade to a place called Blackwater to whom came the Oneall and made his humble submission and so we helde on in iourneyng and marche still towardes the Weste and came firste to the Forttes in Affayleye where some offendours were hanged and then to Kylkennie the Lorde Deputie passed but before he came nere the Toune the noble Earle of Ormonde with a braue traine mette the Lorde Deputie and afterwardes feasted hym moste sumptuously and now to speake of this valliant Earle it shall beautifie my matter For his seruice charges and trauaill hath been suche that it deserueth memoriall for euer For alwaies and at all seasons he hath on his owne proper coste and charge been as readie and as forwarde to serue the Prince as any man that euer I haue heard spoken of noble or otherwise and this is moste to be commended in that noble Earle he neuer brake faithe in his daies but had suche regard to his honour that he would keepe touche with his mortall enemies and muche more with his freendes and where due obedience doeth leade hym I lacke but laisure to praise that noble man a right and so for this tyme I goe no further in his honourable commendations Now from Kylkennie the lorde Deputie went to Korke and so to Lymbricke where I sawe the Earle of Desmonde come in with greate humilitie and reuerence and many others of the Nobilitie of Irelande duetifully behaued them selues there So from that place the Lorde Deputie went to Gallawaie and retourned home through Connaught where now Sir Nicholas Malbie remaines as gouernor FOr that it shall not seeme in any sorte that either affection or report should lead my penne to the praise of one and leauing out the laude of an other which is a kind of curryng fauour with menne and a fauourer of good fortune I haue drawne and sett doune in good order the valliant seruices of diuerse capitaines that were at Newe Hauen who ought not to bee forgotten if I write not parshallie and voide of consideration Emong the whiche Capitaines I finde Capitaine Reade now in the Garrison of Barwicke a manne so worthie of memorie and garnished with knowledge and courage that he not onely merites to bee spoken of but likewise deserueth to be honoured in Marshall causes and exercises of warre And because sonderie reportes hath been bruted and blowen abroad otherwise then reason requireth of the kepyng and yeeldyng of Newe Hauen I mynde in breef and shorte maner to make a whole and sounde discription of the seruices there Whiche in myne opinion were bothe daungerous and manly and maie be called a noble exploite till Goddes visitation by terrible Plague and diseases had infected the toune and disouraged stoute soldiours For in callyng to mynde the sondrie hazardes and extremities thei were in consideryng a fewe in comparison in a straunge Countrey withstoode a greate nation and multitude of men well experimented I am moued to touche a little their vallue and to shutte in silence by this my true rehersall the bablyng speeches of those that haue barked or snarred at the well dooyng of their Countrey men Whose fame and laudation in our Forefathers daies hath ouermatched and farre surpassed the glorie of any our neighbors examine but their deedes and conquestes and you shall neede no further triall of the matter Now to make good myndes of vpright meanyng conceiue the trothe and in a
other men haue written of those causes Now I make a little recitall of a seruice beeyng dooen betweene sainct Dennis and Parris where the Conestable of Fraunce was slaine in whose companie was maister Edward Barkley attendyng on Mounsire Brizak This battaill was attempted and fought by the power of the king againste the Prince of Conde whose force laye scattered a broade in the countrey aboute Parris and yet the nomber of xviij hundred horsemen and three thousande footemen wer lefte at saincte Dennis Whiche hearyng of the kynges power marched towardes them issued out of the Toune and beganne the skirmishe moste daungerously and with suche courage as seldome hath been seen or redde of consideryng their power was so small and the Parrisians were suche a multitude and to tell the trothe it seemed that the Prince of Condes force was but a handfull in comparison of the contrary side And it seemed a greate madnesse or mockerie for the small nomber to encounter with the greate and huge companie But necessitie that either redoubleth the strength of menne or dauntes the hartes of cowardes had so plucked vp the hartes of this little nomber that thei imagined thei rather sought againste children then champions And as it proued this little troupe presupposed that in a multitude is many opions and many that would rather bee at home in suretie then abroad in daunger whiche opinion and desire of of the weaker sorte breedes oftentymes a confusion and vtter mischeef emong a greate multitude Well albeit the hazard was marueilous and the enterprise paste all the exspectation of man yet the Prince of Condeis power did sette a good face on the matter and plied the kynges force with shotte and polliticke deuises of warre Yea in suche sorte and with suche manhoode at euery encounter some paied the beste blood in their bodies and some were forced to giue a lustie charge to staye and amuse the whole battaill And charge vpon charge was giuen on bothe sides moste noblie with moste assured hope of victorie And the fight beeyng begonne nere Saincte Dennies endured from the winde-milles almoste to the suburbes of Parris But alwaies as the multitude did ouerlaye the little bande the small companies courage did encrease and their myndes were become so greate that thei thought the feelde to small and the daie to short to shewe the valliauncie of their hartes And in this their manly disposition thei gatte grounde at euery charge thei gaue And in fine beeyng furiously bente compelled by greate Fortune and daungerous seruice the kynges side to swaie a little about and takyng the aduauntage offered thei charged a bande of horsemen where thei thought the Conestable of Fraunce stoode in troupe and hitte so full vpon the marke thei shotte at that the noble Mounsire Memorancie was slaine at the firste stroke by the handes of one called capitaine Steward a Scottishe gentleman Thus the Conestables death and others of good credite beeyng knowne and published emong the Parrisiens that came with hym to the feelde Thei fled as faste as thei could and so the whole armie was discouraged and as thei might euery man made shift for hym self But yet some order was kept emong them or els a great slaughter had been made and yet in trothe the Prince of Condeis side were waxt so a wearie that thei but looked for a tyme to take breathe in and refreshe their ouerlaboured horses Here maie the worlde beholde what good Fortune the forward myndes of men maie attaine vnto and what victorie and conquest is compassed by a constaunt determination and a resolute seruice Whiche who that lookes into and regardes throughly shall euer haue a prosperous successe For in all battailes and seruices where good Capitaines are the leaders the valliauncie of menne commonly goes awaie with the garlande and all worldly glorie and triumphes attendes and waites on the worthinesse of mennes courages as a thyng incident to those that dare aduenture by vallue to striue for good fame The Kyng notwithstandyng this ouerthrowe whiche might not a little moue his Maiestie raised a greate Armie after this when Sharters was besieged by the prince of Conde and marched thetherwardes with a princely power where was greate seruice and many a man slaine before the siege was raised But for that but a fewe of any greate name loste their liues there I write little of the particulars and yet if I liste to delate there is matter enough lefte to enlarge my volume of the same seruice Maister Edward Barkly was on the kynges side in like sort at this seruice and at the reste of the Frenche warres that followes on the Prince of Condies side Capitaine Barkley went after with the Prince of Conde and was at the siege of sainct Ihon Dangill At the siege of Poictiers At the siege of Angulem At the skirmishe of Lodwyne At the skirmishe of Lasmirie At the skirmishe of Pompero in whiche skirmishes many greate conflictes were giuen and many thousandes were slaine And a nomber of greate aduentures were to bee seen the Chronicle of Fraunce settes theim foorthe at the full For whiche cause I leaue out muche of the matter And after Capitaine Barkley had been at all these seruices afore named he was with the Prince at the battaill of Iernake where there was a greate fight and a hotte encounter long in ballaunce hangyng betweene hope and doubte But to conclude as the Frenche writers and trothe dooeth testifie The Kyng had the vpper hande and the Prince of Conde was slaine and his whole force driuen backe In whiche fight and blouddie battaill thousandes were discomfited on bothe the sides But the grace of good Fortune and the glorie of that daie wente awaie with the Kyng that longe had sought victorie and founde but harde chaunce till that present howre Some doe excuse the Princes misfortune with an ouersight of those that were aboute hym But in Gods blessed bosome the bowels of those broiles and businesse is shrined and lyes faste locked from the lookes and iudgement of man. Now I mynde to touche somewhat the seruices that were by Sea since we that are a liue can remember the reporte of the same and yet I maie not expresse at large any greate thyng thereof because I would not be tedious to the reader nor would not write more then is or maie bee well liked â–ª For that I searche no bookes nor robbe no one Aucthour of his studie and laboure I runne but to my owne vewe and reache of reason or followe the true report of those that I knewe will not fable with the worlde in matter of trothe and credite In the raigne of that moste redoubted and perelesse Prince Kyng Henry the eight whose famous actes can not bee to muche spoken of There was a noble and terrible fight on the Sea betweene the Frenche Galleis whiche were nineteene in nomber and twoo Foistes and our shippes whiche were not many The Kyng hauyng sente to Laundersey sir Ihon Walloppe and a
saile in his coÌ„panie But he proceaded onward and houered vp and doune the coast a certain space till at length commyng before the Castell of Cane Mongomrie hauyng espied the Shippes that Capitaine Biston brought before the Toune of Cane whiche was besieged by the enemies of Count Mongomries beganne to prepare hym self and all his people to goe a Shippe boarde and so came from Cane and passed to Newe Hauen by Capitaine Bistons meanes giuyng hym greate thankes for his commyng to Cane and for seruyng the Counties tourne in that extremitie The Counte had brought with hym from Cane twelue hundred soldiours and other thynges necessarie for his furniture And Capitaine Biston departyng from hym made saile into Englande and receiued sir Adriane Poinynges and maister Cutbart Vaughan with twoo thousande Soldiours and there on sailed backe againe to Newe Hauen and landed them there at their owne willes and pleasure After the siege of Newe Hauen the Count Mongomrie gathered a greate Nauie and wente out of Englande in hope to succour Rotchell that was strongly besieged and enteryng in at the hauens mouthe of Rotchell a Cannon shotte passed through the Shippe the Count was in hym self So vpon that or other causes vnknowne to many in his companie he retourned and lefte Rotchell in greate daunger Whiche toune notwithstandyng againste all hope or expectation of manne kepte it self in suretie and did suche wonderfull thynges duryng the siege thereof as to this daie and to the worldes ende is and wil be spoken of For emong all the sieges that euer wee haue heard of there is not one comparable to the siege of Rotchell Albeeit Haddyngton Harlam and Malta are monumentes and patrons to shew that manhoode maie woorke maruailes and constancie ioyned with courage is not easely conquered As Rotchell and these places before mention of doeth witnesse and shall whiles we are men be daiely remembred In that season whiles the Count Mongomrie was aboute to succoure Rotchell Bell Ilande was assaulted and verie valliaunly wonne with a fewe menne one of sir Willyam Winters brethren beeyng the cheef leader to that seruice In whiche seruice was many a hotte skirmishe and many more matters worthie memorie putte in practise wherein manhoode and diligence of manne was throughlie tried And the Englishe nation did shewe their accustomed courage in in suche maner and sort that the Frenche which thought to keepe Bell Ilande were forced to leaue it and seeke their beste waie to conueigh theim selues from daunger albeeit thei defended the saied Ilande as long as thei might Now hauyng further causes to treate of and meanyng no more to wearie the readers with many wordes or warre either of Sea seruice or Landes bloodie broiles I mynde to expresse and set forthe at large how Soldiours were made of and honoured in tymes paste and what prerogatiue thei had aboue other people And to declare how Princes helde them in admiration and gaue theim liberties titles and dignities farre beyonde the reste of any that liued vnder their lawes and obedience And this by the waie is to be thought that all my former discourse and rehearsall of warres attended to no other purpose and effecte but for the aduauncement of Soldiours and to be as it were a foile to sette forthe the matter I presently mynde to publishe out For now I will in a maner shewe how Gentilitie beganne and where and in what sorte honour was first gotten and maintained whiche argumente as I hope shall not onely contente the wise and wel learned but also please euery degree and make the simple sorte plucke vp their courages and imitate by some honest exercises the liues of noble Soldiours I truste I neede not in this readie and ripe age wherein good writers greate learnyng and studious iudgementes doeth florishe rehearse by particulars euery parcell and poincte that belongeth to a Soldiours profession Nor that you looke I should recite when and where the Romaines Lacedemonians Athenians and other nations did preferre and extoll menne of Marshall myndes and noble courages For their bookes and Commentaries and the innumerable Libraries of greate antiquitie are the verie recordes of my discourse and remaine as mirrours for you to looke in And shall proue a thousande partes more in the comendation of Soldiours then either my penne or tongue by sufficiente cuÌ„nyng hath power to expresse For it can not be that from a little gutte or Channell of water you should looke for so greate a flood as from a multitude of springes froÌ„ whence mightie Riuers takes originall and recourse And so I sende you to the Welspryng of â—â—â—â—â—edge I meane the auncient Fathers woorkes to fetche true intelligence of the thynges I make mention of touchyng the worthie reputation of a good Soldiour and the antiquitie of his credite triumphe and glorie Firste looke in the sacred Scriptures and searche from the death of Abell commyng doune orderly to the birthe of Christe And see whether Souldiours were made of or no. And doubtlesse you shall finde thei were not onely embraced and maintained but like wise thei are of a long continuance and credite As al the Bible before Ihon the Baptistes time declareth And Christe hym self in a sorte did vtter when he saied he had not founde suche faithe in Israell as he sawe in a Senturion Yea and in the Apostles Actes there is a speciall poinct to bee noted Deuoute Soldiours were sente to Symon Tanners house to finde out Peter Well now I commit you to the Scripture and I will followe prophane histories and beginne at the verie Infidelles a scorne for a Christian to bee taught by whiche are no small nomber nor of no little continuaunce people alwaies brought vp in war and Princes of greate fame power and aucthoritie Yea conquerours of the whole worlde and kynges to whom all people did stoupe and doe homage These Paganes or as we maie tearme them loste shepe to whom the greate Shepherd would not bee knowne and yet emong theim tormented and crucified did make suche lawes and orders for Soldiours as the Turke to this daie obserueth and holdeth in greate reuerence Regard but the liberties and aucthoritie of the Ienessaries and that shall manifestlie proue that menne of warre are had in greate admiration But because you shall haue the more beleef to the matter read the life of Alexander the Greate The Commentaries of Iulius Caesar and the noble actes and victories of a nomber of other notable Princes And then assuredlie you shal be perswaded that the renowme of Soldiours hath reached and spread as farre as fame can flie or good reporte could haue passage I praie you can any manne deny but it springeth of a greate courage and zeale to the Common wealthe when a man forsaketh the pleasure of life to followe the painfulnesse of warre and daunger of death and refuseth no toile nor trauaill to purchase credite and attaine vnto knowledge Yea some suche wee reade of as Marcus Cursius and Musius Sceuola that refused no
no good in nor none but the Soldiour in the feelde hath power to comforte and succour And for certaine I knowe Soldiours of that disposition that hath been occupied in these honeste actions when some helhoundes haue been spoilyng and murtheryng and founde by their follie and ouer greate crueltie a dispatche of their owne daies and peraduenture the terrible wrathe of God and damnation to their soules My Prince maie bee well serued and the enemie not alwaies to the vttermoste persecuted the lesson that Saincte Ihon Baptist gaue the soldiours maie suffice for this matter and carrie mennes myndes from violence and doyng wrong to quallifie furie and maintaine right with a regard to the innocent that ought not to bee touched for the offence of an ambicious leader or one whose faultes the ignoraunte maie not aunswere This poincte though simplie it is passed ouer maie containe a large volume and is to be looked into with a deuine spectacle and a Christian consideration Then if the souldiours as fewe there are in nomber bee honest and is to be proued thei are not to bee reproued it followes that honour and reputation accompanies those soldiours and that a singulare priuiledge and libertie maie bee had for those that haue suche regarde of their Fame that thei will doe no any one thyng preiudiciall to their credite in the compasse of whiche regarde is knitte valliaunce modestie pittie and hope of an other life to come when the affaires of this worlde shall duetifully and honestly bee finished And for that the reader hereof shall not thynke but that greate Princes thought their Soldiours to bee honeste and men that were worthie the makyng of whose doynges and regard did argue and shewe a speciall hope of an other place to goe to or a certaine fame and eredite here to bee mainteined I will shewe you as I haue gathered by translation how triumphant kinges and princely potentates did ordain sette doune and deliuer a lawe and rule for Soldiours By the whiche thei had honour libertie and prerogatiue aboue and beyonde the Commoners or common course of people The translation I speake of is not so long and tedious but bryngyng willyng myndes to heare and knowe the truthe you maie reade if laisure permitte and you peruse that followeth Firste you muste marke and make a good note of that Heraldes were at the beginnyng Soldiours and were called aunciente Knightes as well it seemeth to bee true For thei I meane Harraldes beyng brought vp in warre behelde who deserued renowme and had by their aucthoritie and experience a power to giue Armes and signe of honour to those whiche for well doyng in feelde or publike state did merite remembraunce whiche power and place of the Harralde doeth plainly expresse that from the feelde or honourable offices at home sprong vp our gentillitie and generation of gentilmen For as euery mannes bloud in a bason lookes of one colour and whē Adam was created and a long while after men were all a like So vertuous actes that shines to the heauens hath made them to be honoured and aduaunced where vicious liuers and bloudthirstie wretches were accursed of God and hated of man And had a marke sette vppon theim to bee knowen by and bee a testimonie to the worlde that thei were not worthie of honour and were appointed to reproche Let Caine that killed his brother Abell by an vniuste warre bee a witnesse in this behalfe Eneas Siluius doeth deriue Heraldes of ab Heroibus of noble men For Heroes were aunciente Knightes otherwise called Soldiours and an Herauld signifieth Centonicum vocabulum videlicet and olde manne of Armes or an olde knight but at this daie said Eneas a long while since certaine seruile menne feeble and weake messengers whiche neuer haue plaied the soldiours dooe professe that office The priuileges and offices of the Herauldes in auncient tyme to this daie continuyng neuerthelesse And the first aucthour of theim was Bacchus whiche India beeyng conquered did call thē by this name I absolue you of warres and trauaill and will that you be auncient soldiours and to bee called Heroes Your office shal bee to prouide for the Commonweale to trie out the originall of causes and to praise the wise you shall cal for greate rewardes in what place or countrey you shall come And the kynges shal giue you meate and apparell You shal be most honourable to all menne Princes shall offer vnto you many thynges and shall licence you their apparel Credite shal be giuē to your saiynges you shall abhorre lyes You shall iudge traitours and aduouterers These infamous persones ye shall punishe and in euery nation you shall haue libertie and sure egresse and regresse shall be vnto you if any man shall gainsaie any of you in woorde or deede let him dye with the sworde Alexander the Great hath annexed to these Priuileges of noble men after a long season that thei might vse Purple golden and beautifull garmentes And that thei should bryng in princely and notable Armes at euery place in any countrey or Region soeuer it shal be If any man shall repulse these without respecte or secretly defame in worde he shal be accounted giltie of death and deposition of gooddes And so the same Eneas doeth saie Thucidides Herodotus Didimses Magashones Zencphon together Thirdly then Octauian Auguste the Romain Monarche beyng established hath beautified them on this condition Who so euer saied he hath plaied the Soldiour with vs the space of tenne yeres and be of the age of fourtie yeres whether he bee horseman or els footeman he shall haue his wages and afterwardes bee absent from warres bee a noble man and old Soldiours No man shall forbidde thee the Citie the Markette the Churche Hospitalitie and house no man shall impute any faulte to thee thou shalte bee discharged of that blemishe or burthen no man shal aske any thing of thee if thou make fault in any thyng onely looke thou for Caesars vengeance for what filthinesse men shall impute Let them feare thee beyng a iudge and corrector Whether thei be priuate or Princes what soeuer thou saiest thou shalte affirme and no man contrary All iourneis and places shal bee free and plaine to thee let thy meate and drinke be in the houses of Princes ▪ and take daiely of the Common treasure wherwithall to keepe thee and thine house Marrie thou a wife of comely beautie and esteeme her aboue all other Whom thou wilte checke and reproche with infamie thou shalt saie this man is an infamous reprobate Armes Ensignes names and ornamentes of noble men beare thou Doe what thynges become kynges and what thou wouldest doe or saie in euery place and Nation make mention of it if there be any iniurious persone let hym dye And laste of all Charles the Greate the name of the Empire beeyng translated to the Germains after the conquest of the Saxons and Lombardes Caesar called Augustus hath rewarded them with this honour saiyng My Knightes you noble men fellowes
It must be likewise that the enemie did hold and possesse the place that same daie that the Romaine Citezen was rescued in It is necessarie that the manne whiche hath been succoured should confesse the same before the people For a Soldioures owne witnesse in that behalfe serues to no purpose And furthermore it is required that he whiche was rescued be knowen to be a Burgois of Rome For if one dooe rescue a Kyng that commeth to serue the Romains he dooeth not merite for the same the Croune Ciuique In like sort if one doe rescue a generall of an armie he gettes no more honor therefore then though he had rescued a simple Citezen For thei whiche established this ordinaunce had no regard but to the conseruation of the Citezens of Rome who so euer thei were The Priuilege of this Croune shall be to giue power to weare a Hatte of broad leaues as ofte as he pleased that had been once Crouned for his well dooyng Further all the Senate had a custome to rise out of their places and to doe honour to them that haue had this croune when thei goe to see the common plaies and pastymes And it is sufferable and permitted that thei shall sitte in a seate neere the Senatours And thei shal be exempt from all Ciuill charges not onely theim selues but their naturall Fathers and Graundfathers and now beholde touchyng their Priuileges there was one Cicinius Dentatus accordyng as wee haue saied Crouned fowerteene tymes And one Capitolinus had sixe tymes been Crouned for he rescued Seruilius then generall of the armie not withstandyng Scipio Affrican would not suffer them to giue hym the croune Ciuique for succouryng his Father in the iourney of Trebia O ordinaunce worthie of immortalitie saieth Plinie that assigneth no other praise for suche greate workes then this greate honor whiche surpasseth all other warlike crounes This farre goes the verie woordes of Plinie and many other auncient aucthors that I could rehearse in the commendation of menne of warre whiche neither in Tholomeus tyme Artaxerses daies nor any of the mightie Monarkes long raignyng before could bee forgotten but were so honoured that lawes and orders was onely deuised for the enlargyng of their lande and stirryng vp their noble myndes Yea Soldiours and Herrauldes had power to denounce warres in so muche as the aunciente Romains who were the Fathers of all Marshall affaires and conquerours of the worlde helde this for a moste certaine rule Nullum bellum iustum esse nisi pro rebus iniuste ablatis quod fecialis Romani antea denunciabant Whiche rule and order of the Romains for the power and honour of soldiours and Herrauldes declareth thei are of greate dignitie and callyng and maie compare by this their authoritie to be no whit inferiour to the beste sorte of gentlemen You maie reade in like maner that there was a manne emong the Romains that merrelie or paraduenture in contempte putte a Croune Cinique vppon his owne hedde and loking out at a greate windowe into the streate was espied And thervpon apprehended and brought before the Senate where he was iudged presently to bee putte to death for touchyng and abusyng that Croune Ciuique Whiche was ordained for the wearyng onely of an honourable Soldiour and for suche a one as had been by deserte Crouned with triumphe and solempnitie in open audience So this foolishe manne albeit he might meane but little harme was had to the place of execution and there loste his life to the greate terrour of those that rashely meddle with thynges that becomes theim not and to the greate honour of those that are aduaunced by vertue and winneth with courage the wearyng of this Croune called the Croune Ciuique Nowe commyng doune to this presente age in the tyme of our peace where Soldioures haue nothyng to dooe there is enough spoken and peraduenture to muche for the Soldiours commendation yet let me leade you a little further in that cace For now is to bee proued what degrees of Soldious hauyng serued long or borne any office of credite are gentilmen and maie vnrebukeable be bolde to take that name and title vpō them First you haue heard that seruyng tenne yeres honestly and truely he is not onely paste his prentishippe but also aboue a iourney manne and ought from all iourneis to bee spared As a man might saie though vnproperly compared a good free horse after his long labour and many greate iourneies is to bee ridden but seldome and kepte in the stable till extreme necessitie requireth and then is to bee vsed gentillie least his stiffe limmes and old bodie deceiue the riders expectation So a soldiour commyng to this age and perfection or beyng paste the iollitie of youth and youthfull actions ought to be prouided for and maie without presumption pleade for armes albeeit he neuer gaue none before and can bryng no greate proofe of his house gentrie or dissent and though he be the first of that house stocke and name that gaue Armes his beginnyng is allowed of all our aunciente writers and Princes and shall put his aduersaries to silence when in that poinct thei seeke to deface hym I remember once I sawe and heard an Italian vceyng in the Emperour Charles the fifth his Campe so stande on his reputation that when a meane Gentleman quarrelled with hym and desired the Combate he aunswered he had been Soldado Vetche an old Soldiour and had borne office and passed through sondrie offices by order and that the gentleman was but a yong man and but of twoo yeres experiēce in warre and farre vnmeete to make challenge with hym that had passed so many steppes of honour and places of credite But saied the Italian to his aduersarie goe and dooe that I haue dooen or passe through the like and when thou haste mounted vp and troden on euery steppe that I haue passed come to me and I will fight with thee the combate But to saie I will stoupe so lowe and base my self as a Lorde maie in fightyng with a Ruffian beyond the compasse of my callyng I will not nor no Lawe of Armes can commaunde me The matter came in question before the Prince of Orrange that now is and the Duke of Sauoye yet liuyng and the challenger had a foule disgrace in the audience of a multitude and the defendaunte had a rewarde of fiue hundreth Crounes allowed hym by the Emperour for preseruyng his honour and estimation so muche This was doen and openly seen a little before the siege of Renttie and standeth for a good recorde Then an old Soldiour is a gentleman bothe worthie to giue armes and collours and mete to be borne withall in causes of quarrell An other proofe for the maintenaunce of my matter I sawe at the siege of Leeth a gentlemant of greate courage and birthe called maister Ihon Soutch quarrell with Capitaine Randall then Maiour of the feelde And maister Soutche did vrge through ill woordes and stoute language Capitaine Randall verie farre whiche might haue
that his cunnyng failed him his force was but ill and his fortune worse For in the middell of his traiterous triumphyng he tasted the right recompence of rebellion and was slain in the feeld his hedde brought into Corke Toune and his bodie and reputation buried in the graue of reproche and infamie The Lorde Iustice had by this tyme or in shorte tyme after receiued some succour and aide out of Englande And sir Ihon Parret as Admirall of fower of the Quenes Shippes maister Willyam Gorge maister Nicholas Gorge maister Gilbart Yorke Capitaine Peers Capitaine Awdley Capitaine Hinde accompaniyng hym as Capitaines appointed for that seruice Sir Willyam Morgan maister Pellam maister Bousser maister Broncker maister Willyam Norrice maister Crofttes maister Ihon Soutche and many other lustie Capitaines and Gentlemen of good regarde were in like sorte appoincted for the seruice of Irelande But what was dooen and the rehearsall thereof I committe to those that liueth to Regester and keepe in memorie mennes labours and seruices hereafter Whiche writers in giuyng life to matters that tyme maie weare out of mynde are not onely well occupied but likewise makes good Soldiours imitate and followe the noble footesteppes of those that wente before them by whiche meanes Goddes glorie is aduaunced and our Countries honoure is vpholden and worthely defended Finis ¶ A small rehersall of some speciall seruices in Flaunders of late part whereof were in the tyme of Don Ihons gouernment and the reste beyng doen in the present seruice of the Prince of Parma now gouernour of Flaunders THE remembraunce of a booke dedicated to the right honourable Sir Frances Walsyngham touchyng the troubles of Flanders moues me againe to putte penne to Paper in that dehalfe Breefly to beginne where I left whiche was a matter of Don Ihon and procede a little in the dooynges of the Prince of Parma presentely in action and place of greate matter exspected And because my moste desire is to aduaunce the Soldiours of Englande as well as to publishe the seruices of forraine countreys I omitte many thinges that straunge Nations haue been exercised withall And declare somwhat in the fauour of myne owne countreymen that serue and haue serued vnder the Prince of Orange and States of the Lowe Countrey meanyng not to meddell with matter of State that passeth my reache and capacitie but familiarely to treate of suche thynges as the common sorte of people doe carpe vpon and is sufferable to bee written of As muche to delite the reader that searcheth for noueltie as any other cause that moues me to this labor and rehearsall of seruice The houge and greate armies the long continuaunce of troubles the passages and and discourses of manyfolde miseries and the open Plague and disturbaunce of poore afflicted Flaunders I referre to the vnsearcheable wisedome of the Almightie and the graue iudgement of the worlde And hearyng the certaintie of some scirmouches and seruices of late I followe the trothe of newe matter that falles nexte into my memorie You haue heard and the worlde can witnesse that Don Ihon before his death being desirours of fame and victorie sought and practised all meanes possible to come to his purpose and knowyng where and in what order the states laye and what straites were kept by the pollecie of Mounsire de Bussie Generall of the Campe for the States He determined with a full resolute mynde manfullie to attempte some exploite that might amase the Prince of Orranges side and plucke vp the courages of his owne people that laye a longe season idelly from dooyng of any greate enterprise And so therevppon Don Ihon in a maner gaue to vnderstande as by the sequel was perceiued that he would visite the campe of the States or winne suche straites from them as should be muche to their discontent and his greate aduauntage In the yere of our Lorde 1578. the warres beyng then at the hottest betwixt the estates and the Kyng the estates hauyng a greate puissant armie in the feelde vnder the conduicte of the Graue of Busie The Kyng hauyng also an other vnder the leadyng of Don Ihon his base brother It happened the firste of August the enemie to visite the armie of the states who laye then intrenched in the feelde nere vnto a Toune called Reminant The Armie beeyng composed of diuers nations bothe horsemen and footemen there was one regimente of Englishe of twelue hundred vnder the leadyng of the Collonell Candishe and in his absence his Lieutenaunte Collonell Richard Bingham The saied Lieutenaunt and no other Generall officer of that Nation beeyng commaunded to the feelde by the Generall of the states led forthe the whole nomber of shotte that was vnder his charge viz. sixe hundred The leaders vnder hym of the regimente were Capitaine Laukynges Capitaine Fitz Willyams Capitaine Edwardes the Lieutenant Paddon the Lieutenante Dalton the Liutenante Chubbe well accompanied with diuers other worthie gentlemen and officers Beeyng thus appointed with direction to leaue in a sure garde vpon the nexte Mounte to the trenche and with the reste to make hedde to the enemie and to entertaine hym as he should see cause offered at sight of the eye keepyng euermore the streight on the right hande and Steward with the Scottes on the lefte hande hauyng now placed a sufficient garde vppon the Mounte and sent Capitaine Fitz Willyams farther forthe by a quarter of a mile to assure theim of an other grounde and strength of aduauntage He receiues commaūdemente againe from the Generall that he should leaue the Mount and drawe his forces to the Churche whiche stoode aboute an Englishe Mile from the Mounte and vppon the saied streight wherevpon he presently lefte the Mounte leauyng behinde Capitaine Fitz Willyam to garde the place of aduauntage where he firste lefte hym beeyng a place of greate importaunce And with the reste he maketh waie to the Bridge where he lefte the Lieutenaunte Paddon with Chubbe and their companies in garde of the place and to stande faste for a releef to those that he ledde more foreward to the Churche Beeyng now arriued at the Churche with Capitaine Liggins his Lieutenant Dalton And Capitaine Edwardes with a three hundred shotte he sendeth vp to the Steeple twoo of his Soldiours to discouer the enemie who presently shewed that thei might see the faire Hethe whiche was yet halfe an Englishe Mile further and vppon it the whole power of the enemie in battaillions bothe horsemen and footemen and further that thei marched in for bothe the streightes The Lieutenante not reposing to muche truste in the twoo priuate Soldiours leaped of from his horse and went vp the Steeple hym self where as soone as he had discouered the enemie and perceiued hym to make in for bothe the streigtes he presentely at his commyng doune commaunded Capitaine Liggins to stande fast with twoo hundred shotte at the Churche and takyng with hym the Lieutenaunt Dalton Edwardes Finche and Straubrige with diuers other gentlemen officers with twoo hundred shotte He maketh hedde
as Fortune so did fall He paste the seases and sent me tokens still And money suche as might supplie my neede And for to shewe his faithe and greate good will Long letters large he made that I might reede Of promes paste and to come home in deede But to what ende should serue this businensse greate My minde was toernd warme loue had loste his heate A newe fine man bothe yong and apt for chaunge I chose and cleane forgat my former ioye And in a while I was become so straunge As hagard Hauke that takes in hedde a toye And flees from Lure and waxeth nice and coye My wedlocke now not hearyng of these newes Made no haste home till I was oer the shewes Yet knacks I wrought to blear my housbandes eyes I made a brute be blowne that I was dedde When that he heard he did his life dispies And so forsooke sleepe reste and taste of bread He rent his hear he sadly shooke his head He walkt the woods and shunned all repaire As one would be deuourd with foulls of chaire He daiely bledd when little foode he tooke He would not come where women were in place And he so leane and like a ghost did looke That Death it self was seen amid his face A noble Erle as he behelde this cace Brake with the man that thus tormented was And so in sports the troubled tyme did passe But Ague fitts and sicknesse followde on That in poore plite came home my housbande thoe Not leane in purse but bare and neere the boen The bodie weake was worne with warre and woe And yet full sounde as all the worlde might knowe His limmes I sawe but I so nice did waxe There was no flame of fire might come to flaxe For I could weepe and quenche by connyng arte The hottest loue that euer housbande bore And so twoo yeres I plaied a Foxes parte Whiche ere I dye I maie repent full sore My housbandes bedde I shond and furthermore I fainde I had a sicknesse let it goe I neuer mynde that follie forthe to showe A finer tricke to compasse that I sought I plaied through sleight and castyng figures trim To my good man a bastard girle I brought And from my freend presented her to hym He sawe thereby the flood ronne oer the brim Yet kept it close and saied nothyng at all Till out by chaunce might further matter fall And alwaies would my housbande tell me plaine I did hym wrong to keepe me from his bedde But I could vse hym in a pleasaunt vaine And make hym soone forget that he had sedde My dore was lockt how ere I laied my hedde My maids and I kept solempne cheare alone How euer plaine poore housbande made his moue Twoo yeres this wise I shifted Cardes full cleane Till housbande spied a letter of my hande Whereby he founde what follie I did meane But I was bent against my deede to stande So faest hym doune and swore when all was scande It was not myne but as he soundly slept To his bedds side my maied and I wee stept And heaude hym vp and so from bolster than Wee tooke his purse wherein the letter laye When that wee had wee lefte the sillie man As saffe as he that sleepes in cocke of haie Well when he lookt in purse the other daie And founde my fraude and falshed as it was Out of the dore in furie did he passe Yet came againe that night and so fell sicke The cause whereof sone after you shall heer Full long he laie and toucht so neere the quicke That he was like to bye that sicknesse deer But when on foote he stept and all was cleer He badde farewell false wife God sende thee grace Thy wicked waies makes housbande giue thee place I sawe how worlde would wonder on this acte And streight newe tales on housbande gan I raise With forged lyes and railyng reasons rackt That still should sounde vnto his moste dispraise I fainde one while he vsed wanton waies With euery maied that he might touche or see And then he was to sicke a soule for me Then poore he was I saied to cloke my pride When this serude not I swore the man was madd And in his rage would beate me backe and side So euery daie a newe deuice I hadd To make the worlde beleeue he was to badd And at the length when all I had was sold My maied and I goe trie the worlde we wold So shuttyng dore and trussyng vp my packe I flang from home not biddyng freends farewell But I had not no sooner tournde my backe But housbande heard how all this matter fell And yet a lone a while he let me dwell Till that he sawe I was so farre paste shame I caerd not what became of honest name In deede the house where I my residence made With lustie ladds was haunted euery owre And I had those that well could tosse the blade To take my parte if housbande gan to lowre His freends were weake and I with strongest powre Beganne to bragge and threaten hym full sore And had preparde a bloudie bande therefore I sought to bryng my brethren to this braull But thei were wise and would no quarrell take And puttyng of the harms that might befall Thei wisely wrought a freendly peace to make But euer I good councell did forsake And thought to make my housbande hide his hedde Or practise still till he poore man were dedde Yet in a moode when least I lookt therefore He came and tolde me all was muche amis Where at I cried alas and loude I rore For neighbours helpe who quickly hearyng this Came thrustyng in as ofte the maner is How now good folke ê™ he with bended brow Twene man and wife dare you be sticklars now No in good faithe ê™ thei and so retierd But still I lookt for other succour there And for that thyng that housbande then desierd I tooke no care I ment a further feare To bryng hym in yet maied in giuyng eare To honest woords fell doune on knees at laste And pardon craued for priuie knaurie paste My housbande then forgaue her and tooke leaue In hope my minde â–ª would gentill waxe thereby But I that ment my housbande to deceaue In better place beganne a greater crie Where women were that markt my weepyng eye And though in deede I had been handled ill So staied me there perforce emong them still My housbande swore I should receiue no harme And home againe I should be saffely brought But I had taught the women suche a charme Thei would not then depart from me for nought That could be saied thus he like waxe was wrought And tempred so that home without his wife He went awaie the more my shamelesse life When shamefaste lookes forsooke my modest face I waxt so bolde I blusht no more then blocke Then clapt on robes of gaie vainglories grace With collours faire to paint a foule blacke stocke Yet calde I was a Hen for eche good Cocke A
morsell sweete a whetstone fine forsothe To sette on edge on euery daintie tothe I carde not how my housbande murthred were By Magicks force or any Deulishe arte I shonde his sight and presence eurie where As one that lodgde disdaine in hatefull harte And still I plaied full many a silthie parte To rid hym hence and take awaie his life Who God preserude to plague a paltryng wife And for to hide those brain sicke prancks of mine I had a knacke to breake the matrage bande And so a dragme or draught of poison fine I did deuise to happ in housbands hande And as that cuppe on tables ende did stande With feruent thirst he came and so it raught And in that heate dranke of the mortall draught When giltie harte should make my face to blushe I braude it out in silks and Veluetts gaie And caerd not what worlde saied of me a rushe For I tooke tyme ere tyme would weare awaie At gracelesse games and many a shamelesse plaie And sowyng seeds that Nettle flowers brought forthe I reapt but weeds or thistles nothyng worthe I ruffled long when housbande barely went And facest hym out in streate or ciuill toune My freends did force the man to stande content It was no boote to striue or sweare me doune For I had made the worlde on hym to froune And raisde a brute that he was bedlem madd Thus loe of hym the conquest still I hadd My haunt was suche emong the noblest sort That I was calde a sober Sibill sage And worthie witts would builde on my report For I knewe how to flatter eurie age And alwaies wrought to make my housbande rage Whereby his life in hazard hard might fall And I the while ronne cleane awaie with ball I loude not one but lusted after all The puddell foule was fittest for a gigge The Fountaine faire did drinke like bitter gall In filthie mudde I wallowde like a pigge About the streats was gaddyng gentill rigge With cloes tuckt vp to sette badd ware to sale For youth good stuffe and for old age a stale A louyng looke could make a Gudgeon bite A fiue dugard could fetche in scolles of fishe A cunnyng knacke could stirre vp cold delite A glittryng girle could feede a wantons wishe And who doeth not desire a daintie dishe Whose sugred taste breeds secret eger moode That faine would feede and finds moste fearfull foode I could in streate besturre and stretche my limmes As though some sprite were â—â—der outward showe Who angleth not for fishe that smothly swimmes At pleasant marke who doeth not bende the bowe Small shaftes are shotte at many a carraine Crowe Then if faire birdes doe happ to come in waie Blame not the Hauke that maks of foule a maie Not beautie here I claime by this my talke For browne and blacke I was God blesse the marke Who calls me faire doeth scarce knowe cheese froÌ„ chalke For I was formde when Winters nights were darke And Natures woorks tooke light at little sparke For kinde in scorne had made a mould of Iette That shone like cole wherein my face was sette Three yeres I straâ—ed like waffe that waxeth wilde Twoo more at least I laie from housbands bedd And all this while I vsde hym like a childe For at no tyme I neither wrate nor sedd Ne sent to hym suche toyes I had in hedd That stomacke stiffe thought not to stoupe a whit For stubborne Colt in teeth had got the bit He let me runne oer hedge oer hill and dale And would not plucke the raines of bridell backe I could tell why but thereby hangs a tale Would make me blushe and shewe of grace greate lacke I had my will whiles all thyng went to wracke What needs more wordes I ranne so rude a race I neuer thought againe to turne my face What sleight scapes free from subtell searchyng hedde What wit works not to serue leawde womens wiells What practise flies the foile of stained bedde What is not wonne with woords or worldly giells What will not yeeld and â—â—â—ne where Fortune smiells What tyme is loste to gaine that women craue And all proceeds from waâ—ward will we haue If that wee loue the furie lasts not long If once wee hate â—ut malice hath no â—â—lde If that wee minde to offer housbande wrong Wee want no witte the quarrell to defende Our stubborne harte hath rather breake then bende And custome hath emong vs made suche lawse That all our sexe will take one part and cause And where the floud and streame of strife doeth ronne In comes the Tide of daiely troubles greate Yea where a storme or braule is once begonne All bitter blasts repairs and breathes out heate The eyes will stare the face will froune and sweate The tong must clapp the hedde will shake and nodd And harte with in hath cleane forgotten God. Freends must be wrought with blades to bande it out Fose must be whippt and scourged in their kinde Worlde shal be toste and tourned rounde about Still to maintaine the mischeef of the minde Tale bearars then shall lye within the winde To bryng badde newes and set the house a fier That flaemd before with sparks of spietts desire My practise straunge can all these plaeggs vnfolde That better were lappt vp in silence here To late to call againe that tong hath tolde The wise should sell their words and worship deere But since in worlde my self I can not cleere I will goe through this heauie tale of myne That worlde maie well at wicked waies repine Long after this he heard that I laye sicke And then from Court he coms with right greate speede To comfort me that was bothe sounde and quicke To plaie the Foxe or knaue againe for neede But though that tyme I would not bee agreede I tooke his wine and sent hym so awaie With scorne enough in signe of partyng daie For since that tyme he neuer sawe my face Nor had no mynde to come where was my haunt And since that storme I had so little grace In eurie soile I make my boste and vaunte I conquerd hym and so I doe you graunte For three yeers more I haue doen what I please And lidde at large in luste and lordlie ease And these fiue yeres I haue doen what I can By tong and arte and figuers that I caste And eurie waie to shame my plaine good man Whiche shame I feare will sure be myne at laste I am so learnd I can plaie louse and faste My skill is suche in Planetts hye and loe I ruell the Skies and Heauens where I goe Good Fortunes sure some saie that I can tell And many thyngs by figures I vnfolde I saie no more but wishe that all were well For he that doeth this wicked worlde beholde Whose Godhed seeth into this massie molde Knowes well how ofte I tread my shue a wrie And in what plite my synfull soule doeth lye And if this God regard with angrie cheere The vice on yearth that vainly we committe
Loue is a sprite a shadowe or a ghoste A needlesse charge that seldome quitts the coste A practise bought with many a threede bare purse A wretched blisse that I and myne maie curse It is the skum and onely drosse of youth That bryngs bothe soule and bodie in decaye A kinde of taske wherein there is no truth A Courtyng trade that doeth muche crafte bewraie A wilie Foxe a wanton full of plaie A sainct to showe a Deuill God he knose That me betraied and made me freedome lose The Horse ronns farre that neuer tourns againe The beaten child is learnd to feare the rod The double minde maie fall to meanyng plaine Thei maie a mende that feels the feare of God. The clouds maie cleere that long hath threatned raine The tyme ill spent if reason will redeeme Calls home wilde witts from toyes that are extreeme Youth tak's his course and follows fancies freaks Age all reforms and sore repents tyme paste The bowe long bent ye knowe in processe weaks Hard thyngs at first maie gentill waxe at laste Who often faulls is taught to stande full faste And fewe there are but slieds or falls doune right In youth or age our iudgements are so light When witte is bought and follie throughly waied An vnce of skill is worthe a pounde of drosse Till bodie smarte the minde is neuer staied Gaine is not likte till we haue tasted losse Some saie eche one is borne to beare his crosse My heauie faults now burthens breast so sore That heare or hence I must be scourgd therefore Sweete are those stripps that breaks ne bone nor lim And yet setts sound the soule and bodie bothe Sowre are those ioyes and worldly braurie trim That doune to hell with dampned people gothe Sweete are sharpe woords that tells leawd life the trothe Sowre is sweete sause that cloyes the stomacke still Sweete are those nipps that doeth restraine the will. The pampred horse that still in stable stands Will ware a iade if spurre ne wande he taest The wildest Colt is tam'd by riders hands And so through bitte is made well traind and paest All hedstrong thyngs are not reformd in haest But when regard looks backe where blindnesse went The perrill paste bides pompe and Pride repent Greate is the scope that greedie will desiers Small gaine or grace doeth growe by gaddyng out With heauie lode the wearie leggs retiers And hartfull fraught of worldly dread and dout And sure the ground from whence all vice doeth sprout Is gaddyng geres that lovs a broad to gase Who shame sends home in greate sadde muse and mase And when in dores dame dalliance close is 〈◊〉 And noets what blot she did escape without She thinks in streate she put her name to pawne Or went abroad to plaie the bare banckrout Where wanton eyes did naught but stare about Where all a flant at full like shippe with saile Fine minions marche as braue as Pecockes taile The croked backe must bolstred be by arte The taunie skinne must shine by some trim knacke The twinklyng looks for sport must plaie their parte The perwicks fine must curle where hear doeth lacke The swellyng grace that fills the emptie sacke And iettyng pace with limes stretcht out full streight To patche out pride are matters of greate weight Then fie on all suche trashe and tromprie vile That setts forthe shaeds in Sonnie daie to shine My youth is paste I can not worlde begile Men will not looke for babes in hollowd eyen A witherd grape hangs now on rotten vien From blasted branche the berrie round is gone A doskie glasse is little lookt vpon Wherefore I vowe to weare a sorie vaile To shrowd the face that feaw or none will like And get some shell to holde in hedde like Snaile For former faults in conscience so doeth strike That I doe feare I shall my self mislike If shadowes doe not cloke defects I haue Or death dispatche and sende me to my graue Now note my tale you dames of gentill blood Now waile with me all suche as plaies my parte Now let my harms doe harmlesse people good Now bid all wivs defie this deulishe arte For my consaite is suche a deadly darte That where I goe or walke in any place Me thinks my faults are written in my face FINIS A heauie matter of a Englishe gentleman and a gentlewoman in maner of a Tragedie whiche gentlewoman called her freende the wanderyng Prince THE wandryng Prince whiche ran the restlesse race Had muche a doe to trie this froward fate And I poore man that doeth supplie his place In pilgrims porte maie waile my wofull state To Gods and men the storie now I tell That iudgement haue to marke my matter well Bothe lande and seas as farre as wandrer goes And worlde so wide my sokyng sorrowe knoes In natiue soile where long I fostred was A make I chose to leade my life with all From whom at length I wandryng Prince did pas For causes greate that tournd my sweete to gall Suffice to thinke some fire did raise the smoke That made me flie and shunne from marrage yoke Some piuishe pranck some padde laied in the strawe That forced feers thus seurall waies to drawe A wretched happ betid's betweene them twaine That parts in haste where long the loue was bent An open plague a pinchyng priuie paine Is felt and founde where suche mishapp is sent The house decaies the credite cracks with all And doune full flatte doeth eche good Fortune fall And of renowme the propps and pillars shak's And babblyng tongs there on a wonder mak's Let sleepe some harms my muse must now awake To blase the broills that wandryng life did bryng Who goes from home and doeth a iourney take Full little knowes where doeth the saddell wryng Till bityng greefs bewraies a secret sore As sone as man setts foote on forraine shore A mischeef streight doeth meete hym full in face As welcome fitte for men from forraine place As straungers here somtymes haue gazers on And Crowes with Kietts doe seldome well agree So home bred birds from hence no soner gon In countrey straunge full sone oermatched bee First finesse coms and fram's some fashon newe To catche wilde hauks or cast tame birde in mewe Then falshed fliers and plaies the wilie Foxe With gaddyng foote that faste is in the stoxe The traular tasts more toile then tong can tell More troublous tyms than trothe maie well report Wants heuens blisse and feeleth more of hell Then all the souls that to this worlde resort The Camell bears a burthen greate you knowe The Asse likewise doeth not vncharged goe But neither beast nor nothyng name you maie Surmounts the pains of wandryng Prince I saie My deastnie drewe my daies to dolefull date Desire to see strange realms bred myne vnrest For where I thought in suretie saffe I sate Farre from my freends I found my self distrest In daunger oft and feare of mortall foe I daiely paste betweene the stryng and boe
make sale of feathers in the winde And sell good cheape a drousie adell braine Yet Musicke not compares with merrie minde For that bryngs blood to eurie vitall vaine And heaues vp harte from dongeon of dispaire To be as blithe as birde in open aire If any glance of matter be in this Past merrie meane yet merrie muse it is That leades my penne I sweare by heauens blis Wherefore in mirthe I praie you take these lines My duetie maie excuse my boldnesse here I borrowd not my wordes of graue deuines Nor of fine wittes that holdes small dainties dere Thei came good cheape from merrie nourses papp Good chepe thei goe where muses fauour moste But dere thei are if writer finde mishapp Thereby and worlde account the labour loste God graunt the tyme be good when thei were sent And that eche worde be taken as I ment The best is sure and that is moste to praies Thei goe to one I honour all my daies FINIS The Epitaphe of the rare vertuous Prince and towardes Impe of grace Kyng Edward the sixte THe Lampe is out that lightned Englishe harts Whose liuely shoe and beautie shoen so bright And gaue suche ioye to all our inward smarts That well was hym that had thereon a sight Edward I meane whiche was our kyng by right The golden torche and candle matutine Did blase and burne within his Christalleyne But well awaie those lookes their life hath loste Full dimme and darcke Is now that sparke That whilome was the staie of Englandes boaste Now Death hath dried this pleasaunt princely plant And hent our happ an hye aboue the skyes Who knowes the losse but those that feele the want Wherefore the teares distilled from our eyes But since this babe hath made his sacrifies And yeelded vp his life and vitall breath What can ye blame but hastie cruell death Whiche pluckt the Rose before his leaues were spredde Yet shall his name Remaine with fame And florishe still although the flowre be dedde A face so fraught with fauour bloomyng still A cheere so chaste subduyng eche desire A hedde so ripe with grace and connyng skill A tong so deckt and cladd in trothes attire A harte so meeke and cleane deuoide of yre An eare so pure to heare the poore mannes cause A witte to iudge a zeale to make good lawes A hande so clere from blood looke well thereon Was seldome seene In Kyng ne Queene Helas the while our Lanterns light is gon His witte wanne praise as by his waies apperes His vertuous stepps wan fame emong the wice His tender youth did teache the aged yeres His sober life rebuked euery vice His woords and works did passe the pearle in price His gestures all if thei were grauen in gold A mirrour were to learne bothe yong and old Wherfore the vnfitte the yearth is for his graue His place of reast Is Abrams breast A worthie tombe for suche a Kyng to haue Finis The Epitaphe of the worthie Erle of Essex I Blushe to write in verse a matter of suche weight That makes the hearars shed some teares and moueth sorrowe streight In graue and statly stile this tale should sounded be Too base for suche greate cause I finde my slender muse and me My harte doeth bléede in breast my pen in hande doeth shake Mine inward sprits doe wepe for woe this sad discourse to make But though with heauie newes a while I fill your eares The fame I write of this great mā to ioy shall turne your tears Yea greate of birthe and minde and fewe so greate as he For daiely through desarts he grewe in greatnesse by degree A Caesars harte he boare that neuer shronke nor quaild A courage that against his foes in all attemptes preuaild A hedde that could conceiue as farre as cause was found A bodie apt for warlike broiles where bountie did abound Yea for his bountie greate a prince in very deede That made no more account of gold then of a rotten reede The noble giftes he gaue a worlde of worthies wan Was neuer seen in Britaine bred for bountie suche a man. An Erle and liuely Lorde as milde as is the Doue Whose courtuous speeche pleasant port did purchace peoples loue A freend to all good men as faste and true as steele That would not wagg with worlds abuse turn about like whéele A pearlesse subiect sure that Englandes honour sought And carde not with what losse of goods his countrey gaine was bought Full bent to Marciall feats a Mars in deede well tried Abroad in féeld where men are known and cowards easly spied The care of publique weale laie wakyng in his eyes A noble Soldiour framde by kinde in best and brauest gyes A house and houshold kept so frankly euery where That all the lookers on would saie some prince was placed there The Soldiours swarmd like Bées about his stately gate He was a Lanterne of this land and Mirrhour of the state In all thyngs that he did then what a losse had they That comes to sée his noble shrine and findes the sainct awey O fréends that honord hym and faithfull seruaunts bothe Come wéepe with me shew thereby some signe of your great trothe For I haue lost a fréend and for his sake I vowe To plant my penne vpon his tombe and rest from writyng now Till I his like maie finde whiche hardly shal be don O Essexe of renowmed fame thy race is nobly ron FINIS