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
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
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
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
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
of kynges and Iudges of faultes liue after your labour without trauaill prouide for kynges in a cōmon name Take awaie vice Fauour women Helpe Children Keepe councell of the Prince and of hym aske your apparell and stipende and if any deny let hym be accounted presumptuous and slaunderous If any shall doe you iniurie let hym acknowledge hymself giltie of empairing the Empire But take you heede least you defile suche worship and suche priuiledge gotten by iuste trauaill of warre either by dronkennesse baudrie or any other vice neither that we giue vnto you should redounde vnto praise or peace whiche is to bee taken of you If perhaps you shall exceede vs and our successours Kynges of the Romains for euer hereafter These before rehearsed woorde for woorde as I might I translated out of Latine findyng therein a marueilous commendation of Soldiours and so is thereby to be perceiued that in all ages tymes and publique gouernementes Kynges and mightie Monarkes tooke care as muche for their men of warre as for their commonweale and to bring thē in harte if any dispaire or mislike should growe through flacknesse of lookyng vnto The Princes of their princelie benyngnitie and mere good will borne to Marshall people inuested them with titles names and honoures suche as alwaies pluckes vp mannes courage and procures thousandes to valliauncie and seruice For who will not venter boldly a season when thei knowe for ten yeres toile and hazard he shal bee honoured sitte at ease liue without daunger and remaine in a perpetuall priuiledge neither subiecte to the mallice of leaude people nor worldlie wante whose plague persecuteth many millions of menne and throwes doune in the duste the praises of suche as otherwise should shine like the Sunne before the eyes of all nations And as those Kynges and Conquerours many hundred yeres agoe ordained by decree and vertue of a Lawe that Soldiours should bee made honourable and possesse greate contentation of mynde ▪ So fell it out from tyme to tyme their seruices were considered And that Soldiour like kyng and triumphant conquerour Kyng Henry the eight hauyng triall of Soldiours and a warlike harte to shewe the honour belongyng to that profession and to followe his noble predecessours Made a Lawe as ye maie read in the Statutes that Soldiours might weare what thei listed And further to the comforte of all menne of warre he left no one worthie soldiour vnrewarded in what place so euer of his dominion or affaires the Soldiour had been emploied In Fraunce our neere neighbours makes so greate accounte of Soldiours namely those that thei call Soldado Vetche that the greatest Dukes or Princes in the feelde Courte or Toune encounteryng a Soldiour salutes hym with courtesie takes hym to his Table and vseth hym with suche entertainement and reuerence that it is a worlde to beholde And when seruice is to bee seen either in battaill or at an assaulte The greatest Duke or noble man thinkes hym self happie to bee ioyned with a knowne Soldiour and commonlie bothe old and yong of their nobilitie are foremoste in the fighte and laste that will retire It is a thyng incredible emong some ignoraunt persones to be tolde how Soldiour-like and manlike in all poinctes thei behaue themselues and how little accompte thei make of life when death muste bee sought by seruice and thereby their honoure and libertie of Countrey is to be preferred The Spanyardes a Nation not inferiour to any yet named ioyne so in amitie at their meetyng make suche courtesie and shewe suche fastenesse of freendshippe especiallie emong soldiours that euery one in presence embraseth his companion and in absence lett es fall good report of the absent Yea their loue and constancie by custome and ceremonies knittes theim in suche an vnion that no straunger can separate and thei giue so greate place on to an other that it is hard to knowe by their gestures and vsages whiche is the better of them And thei haue their owne soldiours in suche a likyng that no people in the worlde shal be suffered to reape any peece of their glorie The Italians Soldiours of greate antiquitie and of no lesse vallue with moste humilitie and Ciuill maner enterchaungeth their talke yeeldyng for one gentle worde twentie good tearmes smothe speeches and philed phrases And happenyng to come together either in seruice or otherwise thei agree like brethren and departe without quarrell And their greate menne and mightiest in power if thei repaire where Soldiours are shewes theim selues of little aucthoritie as a manne might gesse by their courtesie Refuseth to take any thyng vpon theim where the Marshall man approcheth and seemeth to bee at the disposition of suche as haue serued so great is the reputation of a soldiour emong them The Scottes menne a stoute and manly people beginnyng to take a sauour in the warre seekes sondrie soiles to serue in and haue greate delite to bee in the companie of soldiours and proue them selues worthie of commendation in any place thei repaire And for that thei would become famous and attain to some experience and credite thei shunne no kinde of seruice that is offered and all the sortes of gentilitie emong them esteemeth muche a Soldiour Whiche is a signe that at the length soldiours wil come to their auncient dignitie and admiration where the sound of Dromme or Trompet maie bee heard Now to speake of our owne Nation were superfluous although many haue serued well and sondrie are yet in the excersices of warre beeause I haue named before diuerse thynges wherein our countrey menne haue wonne desired fame and renoume yet for argumentes sake and to enlarge this volume Further matter maie bee treated of neither hurtfull to the hearers that fauoureth well doyng nor hatefull to any when nothyng shal bee touched but that whiche is necessarie for the aduauncement of vertue Our soueraigne Ladie by Gods prouidence to make vp the matter I bryng for a testimonie of greate regard to soldiours consideryng whom thei are she hath holpen in some sort and respecte and what good thinges haue passed emong suche Soldiours as her highnesse heard well of or had intelligence giuen her to vnderstande the worthinesse of those that had well deserued Dooe but examine how many since her noble raigne of Soldiours haue had Leases gotten liuynges been preferred to gouernemente and gone from Courte with full handes that beganne with emptie purses And then tell the worlde openly what secrete suites were passed and what open wrong thei doe them that bountifully bestowed good giftes where any good cause appeared Admitte some by the reporte of their freendes stole awaie the benefites from the fountaine hedde yet looke to the reste of thynges that worthely fell out and you shall see the beste sort of Soldiours worthely rewarded and noblie vsed What care wee though some sillie soules or seruiceable Soldiours watche at receipte or are not spoken for by meane of some hinderars of good happe Yet since other some and many in nomber haue
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
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
sure I sawe good hope here in Sowre was the sweete and suger tournd to gall I sonke where hope was held vp by the chin And in dispaire I likely was to fall This goodly feeld this ley alone would be This soile would not be hedged in by me False Fortune fround and flang from me in haste And with a freake left faithfull freend disgraste Who can haue hold of Fortune when he liste She flitts so faste and flies somtymes so farre She will not come like hauke that stoups to fiste When man thinks best she mounts as hye as starre â–ª And at a brunt leau 's louers in the duste O Fortune strange thou art of little trust O daintie happe O Deastnie I thee blame For thou art she that tourns to greef my game All other harms and former wrongs of myne The scourges greate and plag's of forraine soile Were small to this that Deastnie doeth assigne Wherein at home I take an open foile All cares of minde all coste and charge abroad Not halfe so muche doeth sillie conscience load All whiche good Lorde and all the blame of this And ground of greef God wotte blinde Fortune is I blame no more though present death I found By this rebuke and charmyng checke of chance Yea though by this I haue a curelesse wound And scarre remains where Cupids darte did glance In cloked cares I hide the hurts I haue And burthen beare till bodie be in graue As one whose ghost with gronyng waests awaie Whose cold conceits warme life doeth cleane decaie So cease good pen and bid the worlde farewell No further verse nor line my hande shall write This is my laste this toulls the passyng bell Of vitall breath and wished liues delite This warns the worlde and bids the wise beware Of doubtfull chance the onely cause of care O faithfull freends yet shed some teares for me That through mishap my wretched ruine doeth se. FINIS A Pirates Tragedie beyng a gentleman of a verie good house Made at the request of Maister Peter Caroe Capitaine of Laughlin in Irelande and fette out to shewe the miserable life of a Rouer whose wretched desire of other mens goodes bringes open shame and a violente death WHen slumbryng slepe with maiger hande Can touche myne eyes that slouth doeth daunt When all my limmes repos'd did stande And so some reste to me did graunt Me thought I sawe a wretched wight With wringyng handes to make his mones He rather seemd a ghostly spright That gaspyng lyes and grouelyng grones With horie beard and scorched face With poudred hedde and heare vnshorne With hackes and hewes in euery place He seemed like a man forlorne His sappe and sauerie sent was past His youthfull daies worne in decaie His mellowed yeres were gone to wast His blowmyng spryng was blowen awaie His lippes and cheeks were pale and thinne His hollowed eyes were sonke in hedde His fleshe was frette nought left but skinne His marrowe dried that youth had bredde His teeth and gummes like harowes stoode His furrowed face like ploughed lande His vaines did want their wonted bloode His sinewes shronke like knottes did stande A Sea mans cappe on hedde he ware A slidyng stoppe of Friers graie A checker Kaep bothe thinne and bare To furnishe vp his queint araie A gables ende his girdle made His shurte besmerde with Pitche and Tarre Close by his side a rustie blade This carle in youth a man of warre A Pilotes compasse he did holde To shewe what science he profest The skill whereof had made hym bolde To saile the seas bothe East and West This wight with faultryng tonge I saie Gan curse the prancks his youth had plaied And then a loude withouten staie With double sighes these wordes he saied Woe worthe the yere the month the daie The season tyme and instant howre When first I formed was in claie And tooke my shape in yearthly bowre Woe worthe the wight that ioyned fast My parents handes in wedlockes rest Would poison had been my repast When first I suckt my mothers brest Oh would the Nurse that bound my hedde Had brus'd my braine with bloodie pawe Or that my Font had boild with Ledde When I came bounde to Christian lawe Oh would the bandes my bane had bin That swadled me in tender age Oh would the cloutes I battelled in Had been bewitcht with Cyrces rage Thou cradell that rockte me a sleepe I wishe thy couche had been my graue And who so taught me first to creepe Some vengeance vile on hym I craue When I these thynges had seen and heard And throughly waied this wofull sight It me appald and made afeard Yet ruyng on his wretched plight I askt hym then from whence he came What cause constraind hym thus to waile What life he ledde and what his name What strange mishappes did hym assaile Here at a while he held his peace With wringyng handes he wipte his eyes Then my desire did more encrease To knowe the cause of all his cryes Why staiest thou thus why doest thou pause Thou sprite thou man thou grisly ghoste Why standst thou still shewe me the cause What troubles now torment thee moste Oh meruaile sir no whit ê™ he Muse not to see me in this case I was a man as now you be Whiche haue mispent my youthfull race In Ladron lande my birthe I tooke Thalassilestis once I hight Bothe name and soule I well maie brooke My life from them deriu'd a right From noble stocke by true discent Vnworthie I my race doeth rise Good lande I had but not content Desire to clime did blinde myne eyes My home and soile I set at nought My mynde was bent to wander still To Court I came and there I thought To winne bothe worlde and wealth at will. This recknyng rashe was made in hast Myne hoste was absent you maie see Then recken twise least false thou cast Thus Prouerbes old doe counsell thee First looke then leape and doe not spare Or els thy shinnes maie chance to bleede He sure shall reape the croppe of care Of rashe attemptes that sowes the seede Who shootes before he see his marke No meruell though he shote a side In seas vnknowen who brynges his barke Without a compase saileth wide Who climes the Alpes withouten guide No meruaile though he misse the waie In Laberynth who so is tide If Dedall helpe not there must staie O happie you that learne by me And my mishappes your harmes to shunne Thrise happie thei that can for see The rocks whereon my barke hath runne In Court thus plast my self I gaue With wanton lookes eche where to gase All Pecokes plummes appered braue Bewitch'd I was with glorious blase With hardned harte I held that haunt In hope those ioyes would neuer blinne I thought no change of chaunce might daunt Or stoppe the course I did beginne But hoela sir t was tyme to staie My braue attire and wanton braggs When all my lande was sold awaie And rents were rapt on