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
was gone backe again to Saragosa for the residue of the Armie And in the meane tyme the Turkes stoale awaie and retired towardes Constantinople when intelligence was sente vnto Dom Garsia beeyng in Cicill of the departure of the Turkes Armie he made greate speede to come to Malta leauyng the power he went for behinde hym and beyng arriued tooke order for the fortification of euery dismembred peece that beyng doen he tooke certaine soldiours into the Galleyes and sought to finde some of the skattered Turkes on the seas So passyng from Malta Eastward he came to an Ilande called Strumdario Ihon Andredoria mette with an Argosie and was so bolde as to borrowe suche victualles as the Argosie had for the better releeuyng of his Galleyes And after the Armie had refreshed them there ▪ thei passed to an Ilande called Sireygo ▪ where the Armie of the Turkes were vpon the one side of the Ilande so attendyng some good Fortune thei taried there seuen daies in whiche tyme freshe victualles waxed skante Then were thei driuen to retire towardes Cisill without dooyng any exploite and hauyng greate wante of victualles and sweete water the Spaniardes died out of all order And if God had not sent a shower of Raine by meane of a Thonder full many a stoute man had perished for want of freshe water whiche releeued bothe the Soldiour and the Galley slaue the shower of Raine was so sweete and comfortable In the meane tyme a brute was blowen in Cisill on the soddaine departyng of Dom Garsia from thence that the Turkes had wonne Malta by whiche reporte and ouerthrowe a noble man of Cisill thought to expulse the Spanyardes out of that coūtrey and so slue as many as he might laye handes on and whiles he was in his greatest glory and practisyng a generall reuolte The Galleyes arriued there that lacked victualles before wherein was sixe thousande soldiours and the Generall beyng at Messina hauyng intelligence of all this businesse caused the noble man to bee apprehended and with hym sixe of his confederates and settyng vp a Skaffolde and a paire of Gallowes caused the noble mannes hedde to bee smitten of and his sixe fellowes to be hanged before his face And after this execution a new Custome was raised for their Silkes in signe that this reuolte should neuer be forgotten The Armie dispersed and euery manne gon to his countrey a quarrell had like to haue growē betwene the capitain of the Kynges Galleyes and the Capitaine of the Galleyes of Naples in the goyng out of Messina for thei beganne to striue whiche of them ought to beare the Flagge of the Admirall Dom Garsia stated the matter and made thē bothe frendes and tooke a good order for that cause Then it was appoincted by Dom Garsia that the twoo brothers should enbarke with the Capitaine of the Kynges Galleyes but sir Edward Standley beyng at Messina was occasion vpon his request that the brothers might not keepe companie together for a space but thei mette merrie after at Naples where sir Ihon Smithe mette with them who dealt as courteously with them there as he did before in Cisill And thei remainyng in Naples fourteene daies thei enbarked theim selues with Dom Alueray de Basane for Spaine who was the Capitaine of the kynges Galleyes and passyng from thence all along the coaste of Italie came to Gene and remained fourteene daies there From Gene to Barsilonia in whiche voiage befell a greate storme but the daunger beyng passed thei landed and were forced for want of horses to trauaile through the kyngdome of Katellonia Aragon and so into Castile And then findyng the kyng at Madreell thei made at their leisure their repaire to the Count de Ferrey who presented them to the kyng He beeyng in his priuie Chamber alone with one of the Generals that was at Malta whiche commended the seruice of the twoo brethren so muche that the kyng made theim kisse his hande and so thei departed towardes their lodgyng where thei founde Secretarie Arras seruaunt readie to presente them from kyng Phillippe fiue hundred Dukettes Dom Garsias letters were deliuered the kyng of their seruice a little before and so with the kynges fauoure and bountifull reward thei reposed them selues a season And mindyng but to take their leaue thei came to the Courte againe where the kyng gaue theim gracious speeches and fiue hundred Duckettes more a liberalitie meete for suche a Prince and a rewarde that might haue pleased a right good subiecte as in deede the twoo brethren stoode so well contented withall that thei accounted all those Soldidiours happie that might serue suche a kyng And there withall the kyng gaue theim fiftie Duckettes a peece to bee paied euery Monethe so long as thei listed to serue hym In Naples the like entertainement the Emperour his father had giuen them before but thei seyng the great bountie and Princely dealyng of the kyng of Spaine and mindyng to haue more experience of the worlde thei tooke their leaue of his Maiestie and purposed to retourne towardes Englande So passyng to Bilboe thei found maister Man who was come to be a leeger in Spain and hauyng a barke to bryng them into Foye a hauen in Cornwaill thei tooke shippyng and in fiue daies came into Englande Beeyng come to the Courte of Englande the honourable sir Frances Knowlles was to passe into Irelande then maistes Nicholas Malbie made sute to goe ouer where he might be emploied And his master the noble Erle of Warwicke prefarred hym bothe by letter and commendation of his seruice So attended he on sir Frances Knowles till he came to sir Henrie Sidney then Lorde Deputie who vpon vewe of his letters and the regarde of his knowledge made hym Sargeant Maior in whiche roume he serued well and worthelie till vpon good consideration the Lorde Deputie placed hym at Karikfargus and gaue hym charge there of a hundred horsemen in whiche charge he so behaued hym self towardes the Prince and soldiours that he spente fiue hundreth pounde more then his entertainemente to the honouryng of his Countrey and enrichyng of his Soldiours Thus he did continue to his great charges a long while And at length came doune to Karrikefargus sir Willyam Fuwillyams as Lorde Iustice who liyng long in Campe with a nomber of Soldiours for the reformyng of matters out of frame he wanted victualles So sente for Capitaine Malbie and sought his aduise for the releeuyng of the whole power And maister Malbies opinion was to preye vppon the enemie and findyng thynges readie for that purpose Prepared to sette vppon a Kreete as thei were feedyng the enemies had intelligence thereof and draue thei Kine into a Bawne otherwise called a place of defence Capitaine Malbie seeyng their crafte shotte of the Hargabose emong the beastes thei that were so hurte ranne in a madnesse emong their fellowes and so draue out fiue hundreth good Kine in the daunger of the Soldiours and so thei were driuen to the Campe and the hongerie people
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
returne to giue others their due praise that serued in Fraunce and Flaunders in these perillous tymes and daies of no little daunger Emong the reste I finde that Sir Willyam Morgane was one For he came on his owne voluntary will and charges with the yong Brickamone and a fewe other Frenche gentlemen to a toune called Vallencia and at their enterie whiche was on a Sondaie mornyng the Spaniardes that helde the Castell issued and thought to expulse bothe French and Burgonions out of the Toune And in deede the common soldiours hauyng small harte to maintaine their quarrell beganne to shrinke But the Frenche gentlemen and sir Willyam Morgan gaue a charge on the Spaniardes after a long skirmishe and muche adooe and draue them into the Castell and followed the Spanyardes so faste that thei sett a fire the drawe bridge because by that meanes thei thought that the Spaniardes should make no more sallies to assaile the Toune Vpon this seruice sir Willyam Morgan by the gouernour of Vallencia had a goodly gentilmannes house giuen hym stuffed with gooddes and furnished with Wines and victuall for a long yere that might haue serued his people and hym if his happe had been there to haue remained But the Graue Lodwicke sent for Sir Willyam to come vnto Mowns in Henault and after he had been there but a weeke he had the Threasurers house and all his substaunce deliuered hym The Duke of Alua besieged this Toune where many greate skirmishes and seruices were offered on bothe the sides albeit the Dukes power did farre excede the Coūt de Lodwickes yet euery daie the soldiours of the Toune did the vttermoste thei could to disquiete the Dukes Campe. And vndoubtedly the valliauncie and courage of theim that were besieged was so greate and so noble that their verie enemies commended theim for the same For it was no ordinarie maner of seruice thei did shewe but rather a newe deuised excersice of warre to make the assailantes as muche astonished at their enemies stoutenesse as take any hope to winne the Toune by any aduauntage might bee espied And in this maner of seruice the tyme was spent along season to the euerlastyng praise and fame of those that stode in the Tounes defence Sir Willyam Morgan was not idell in no one peece of all these bickerynges and at the length behelde the commyng of the Prince of Orranges power of horsemen whose power encountryng with the Duke of Aluaes force in a mornyng betymes continued in skirmishe till three a clocke in the after noone and so with the losse and slaughter of eight or nine hundred men the twoo forces did depart and seuered The Prince of Orrange thus marchyng awaie had giuen occasion to the Duke to followe or goe about some pollicie and after at a place called Sainct Gillyng the Dukes force gaue a greate ouerthrowe to the Prince of Orrenges side Whiche conflicte did argue there was no hope of succours to be looked for from the Prince at that present necessitie and Mowns standyng in this extreme daunger and beyng not well furnished with thynges that pertained to a long siege besides their Generall Count de Lodwick was sicke the Soldiours and Tounes men beganne to giue eare to a parley and so a peace was concluded on a straite composition whiche was that all the Soldiours in the Toune sauyng a fewe Almaines with the Count de Lodwick and himself should sweare neuer after to beare armour against the kyng of Spaine or of Fraunce Sir Willyam Morgan hearyng of that othe required rather death then to make a promesse paste the compasse of his alleagance and duetie to his owne Countrey and saied that he would neuer cōdescende to suche a straight composition though life and all he had laye vppon the refuse thereof Wherevpon a newe parley and cōmunication was had and there the Duke graunted sir Willyam Morgan and those Englishemen he had with hym to marche awaie in the same order and libertie of mynde that the Count de Locwick and his Almaines had obtained The Toune beyng randered into the handes of the duke of Aluae there were that perswaded sir Willyam to leaue the companie of the Count de Lodwick because it was presupposed that he should bee slaine or scape hardely from the Duke But sir Willyam beholdyng the honourable dealinges of the Counte and espectyng the regard that the Duke ought to haue to the lawe of Armes and performaunce of a Princes promesse determined to putte all to the hazarde of Fortune and to followe the Count de Lodwicke who marched saffely toward the Prince Suthe was the faithfulnesse and vsage of the Duke at that season that the Counte tame to his brother the Prince at his will and pleasure who laye with an armie at Riermont The Frenchemen had forsaken the companie of the Counte before and had procured that a passeport should be giuen to sir Willyam Morgan to passe through Flaunders by Iulian Romeroes freendshipp a gallaunt auncient man of warre But Sir Willyam refusyng that courtesie came with the Count to Riermounte where the Prince embraced hym And after the Princes Campe was dispersed he had sir Willyam to his brother in Lawe called the Count de Bergges and so to West Frese lande Holland and many other partes that the Prince had then in possession And in sondrie of these soiles sauyng in Hollande sir Willyam Morgan serued with tenne great horses at his owne charges For that he was the Quenes Maiesties seruaunt and would not be bounde for wages neither to passe the boundes of his duetie nor to tarrie a longer terme in a forraine countrey then good cause might commaunde hym So thus muche haue I thought good to write of in the behalfe of those that willyngly haue offered them selues to seruices worthie commendation Sir Humfrey Gilbart in this season with a good nomber of soldiours and Englishe gentlemen was at Floshyng and serued well in those partes and one Capitaine Morgan and maister Cotton a Pensioner did their duetie so throughly that muche was spoken of their praise at whiche seruice one Capitaine Bowsar and a valliaunte gentleman called maister Mackwillyam were slaine with sondrie others of our nation that did no whit forgette the former fame of our auncient predecessours and countreymen And those that liued and serued there at that tyme were well paied For the Floshyngars had drawen many a good hande of the Spanishe Fleete and were become wealthie with the spoiles thei had by hazard gotten I haue made mention of the goyng of the Erle of Essex into Irelande that fell out anone after this season with whō was sir Willyam Morgan maister Henry Bronkar Capitaine Barkley and sonderie other gentlemen that endured to the ende of all the seruices to their greate charges hazard and paines And for that I doe but breefly touche those thynges and haue spoken on them heretofore I commende the lengthe and discourses of those matters to youre iudgementes that haue laisure to looke and read what
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
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
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
moued any man liuyng But Capitaine Randall in a maner vsed those woordes that the Italian had dooen before expressed and goyng further on in communication commaunded the Soldiours to laye handes on maister Soutch and swore he would execute hym and learne all other by his boldnesse to knowe their dueties And when maister Soutch was staied well ê™ Capitaine Randall since thou haste challenged me I will not vse my power and aucthoritie ouer thee But by the faithe of a Soldiour when I am out of the Sergeaunte Maiors roume I will meete thee and make thy harte ake for those woordes thou haste giuen excepte thou repente before of thy lewde demenour Maister Soutche hauyng disgested and wisely waighed this matter beeyng talked with all of the Capitaines in the Campe came like a gentteman on himself and acknowledged his fault moste duetifully and with greate repentaunce for whiche submission of his he was the better thoughe on after This shewes and declares that an aunciente Soldiour and Officer hath a greate Priuilege and maie not bee compared with nor offered any iniurie because he carries the admiration of the people and the honour of the feelde Ye shall finde written in Spanishe and the language of the Portugall whiche Portugailes founde out the Easte Indians that there was a mightie Kyng of Calicute and many other Kynges in the Indians whose Soldiours were all Gentlemen and did liue euer on the stipende that the Kyng allowed theim And those Soldiours had many Priuileges and titles of honour and stoode so muche on their reputation that thei would not touche a housbande mannes handes nor suffer a Rusticall fellowe to come into their houses And the housbande men were bounde when the Soldiours goe in the streates to crie with a loude voice to make place for the Soldiours For if those gentlemen did come and bidde the common people goe out of the waie and thei doe not obaye their commaundement therein it was sufferable for the gentlemen Soldiours to kill those obstinate and proude people And furthermore the Kyng could not make Gentlemen if thei were not borne of some noble stocke of the race of Soldiours Thei could not take their weapons nor enter into any Combate before thei were armed Knightes Thei must at the age of seuen yeres bee putte to learne to plaie with all weapons and to the ende thei should bee perfecte their maisters doe hale their armes very farre out thereby to stretch their limmes and afterward thei teache theim suche fence as is apte for that purpose Thei did by an ordinaunce and custome of theirs honour and salute their Maisters that had taught theim at the weapons whiche were Graduates and cunnyng menne where soeuer thei met them in the streate Thei were bounde twoo Monethes in the yere to plie their schole and take a lesson at their Maisters handes By whiche reason thei were verie skilfull of their weapons and for that cause thei greatly esteemed theim selues Thei could not bee Knighted but by the Kynges owne handes who asked theÌ„ before he laied his hande on their heddes if thei could obserue and keepe the custome and ordinance of gentlemen Soldiours and thei saied and aunswered the Kyng Thei minded to take that profession of armes vpon them and so the Kyng caused a sworde to bee girded about them and after embraceth those gentlemen so Knighted then thei did sweare to liue and dye with hym and for hym whiche othe thei well keepe and obserue For if their Lorde were slaine in the warre thei would feight to their laste breathe and kill hym that had slaine their Kyng Or if at that instaunte thei could not bryng their purpose to effecte thei would watche and spie out a conuenient season for the performaunce of their promesse and othe And vndoubtedly some of theÌ„ would reuenge their Maisters death Thei had a greate regard to their duetie and endeuoure Thei thought nothyng so precious as fidelitie and their Princes fauour Thei cared not for life so glorie might be gotteÌ„ by their death Thei serued moste faithfully vnder them that gaue them entertainemente Thei spared nothyng but spente liberally Thei applied their onely studies for the mainteinaunce of their Kyng and Countrey Thei would not suffer any dishonoure nor offer any iniurie Thei thought it a double death to lose their good name Thei made no accompt of their meate money sleape or ease and little esteemed their owne liues or persones wheÌ„ thei should make proofe and shewe of their manhoode Their wages and stipende was so muche and so wel paied that euery one of theim might liue gallantly and the meanest might keepe to waite on hym a man or a boye The lawe was that thei might not Marrie and yet had lemmans and women appoincted by order whiche thei kept and vsed well and all quarrelles was auoided by that meanes For thei might not companie with their women but at certaine seasons appointed Thus thei past ouer their life tyme without the care and trouble of wife and children Thei might forsake vpoÌ„ a good cause any of their Lemmans And their women might at their owne willes forsake the menne All those that accompanied these Soldiours were gentlewomen and of good birth but might not be married to any persone after she had been at the Soldiours commaundemente And because many men by their often chaungyng happen to haue the coÌ„panie of one woman thei fathered not any childe though it were neuer so muche like theÌ„ and therefore their brothers children did alwaies enherite their landes and goodes And this lawe that those gentlemen Soldiours should not marrie was made by a king that would not haue a man of warre to fixe his loue on a wife and children nor thereby to waxe feeble Spirited and effeminate But the Kyng ordained because these gentlemen should haue no womaÌ„nishe manners nor myndes that thei should haue all thynges at their willes and liue in suche libertie as no one thyng might drawe them from noble seruice nor commauÌ„de them to seruile drudgerie And because thei should bee the more animated to liue in noble order and encouraged to serue well thei were Priuileged that no man might emprison theÌ„ for any cause nor thei might not bee put to death by any meane of ordinarie iustice Howbeeit wheÌ„ one had killed an other or did slepe with a Countrey woman or did speake euill of the Kyng then raignyng Then would the Kyng hauyng true and iust information of the matter make a writyng and sende the same to a hedde officer commaundyng hym to cutte in peeces the offendour where soeuer he was founde And after he was dedde there should bee hanged aboute hym the Kynges writyng to shewe the people wherefore he suffered but no Lawe nor iustice could touche hym before the Kyng had iustly condempned hym So by this libertie and honour that Soldiours had is well to be seen that none but Caesar might meddle with men of warre And it seemeth this libertie was fetched from Alexanders daies who
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
was suche a scourge to the wicked and suche a comforte to the worthie Whose particular seruices if laisure presently serued me I would publishe to sir Ihon Parrets greate glorie and commendation Finis ¶ A Mirrhor for rebelles to looke into where the death of one Roorie Oge in Irelande whose life was alwaies without order doeth shewe that the reward of vice is euer open shame and a foule ende IN an other season of Irishe seruices and triall of suche as are doubted a practise was drawne by a stobburne and stoute Rebell called Roorie Oge For the betraiyng of Capitaine Harryngton and one maister Coesbie and albeeit Capitaine Harryngton had been in notable and dangerous seruice the space of tenne yeres before where many practises were to bee seen and auoided Yet this drifte of Roorie Oges was so cunnyngly handeled no former experience might preuente it So that Roorie Oge by this cautell and traiterous maner had his purpose brought to effect and did what he pleased with Capitaine Harryngton vsyng him cruellie with all maner of rude handlyng and entertainmente Faste locked to a poste euery night a greate season and at length the Englishe Capitaines beeyng moued with this crueltie found a deuise to beset the house where Roorie Oge haunted and the traitour seeyng hym self in daunger came in a rage to Capitaine Harryngton and gaue hym twelue greate woundes where he laye locked to a poste and so lefte hym for dedde the Englishe Soldiours hearyng capitaine Harryngton call for helpe were thrustyng into the house But Roorie Oge moste stoutly ran out emong them and by a desperate aduenture escaped through the thickest of the throng and did muche hurte after But at this presence the Capitaine was brought awaie all to bee mangeled and hurte and all those that were founde a liue in the house were slaine and putte to the sworde in so muche that the wife of Roorie Oge was in like sorte dispatched of her life For whiche acte many foule murthers other cruelties Roorie Oge committed But when that Capitaine Harryngton was healed he persecuted Roorie Oge so hardlie and so often that he putte hym diuers tymes in daunger to bee ouerthrowen Maister Parcker as I heard saie Lieutenant to Capitaine Furres with his valliaunt Soldiours recouered Capitaine Harryngtō out of the handes of his enemies And to bee shorte a meanes was founde after long seruices and daungerous attemptes that Roorie Oge hym self was entrapped and taken in a Nette and stale that he had made and laied for an other The maner wherof was that Roorie Oge beeyng desirous to betraie the Lorde of Vpprosserie did drawe a drifte by one that could finelie handle the matter that he hymself should seeme to fall in daunger and so be deliuered vnto my Lorde of Vpprosseries handes who notyng the deuice giuyng no farther credite to the tale then neede required armed his men priuilie in twoo companies and made as though he would followe the fellow that came to bryng about Roories drift and commyng where Roorie had lodged pursued the enterprise and seemed to followe the aduice of hym that came to practise And by chaunce and good fortune the twoo companies mentioned of before had enuironed Roorie Oge ere he was ware and thereby he was defeited and had the rewarde of iniquitie by the self same meanes that he was wont to serue others A notable iuste iudgemente of God and an example worthie the notyng Now after this and for many good causes and peeces of seruice Capitaine Harryngton was made Knight by the honourable Sir Henry Sidney then Lorde deputie of Irelande And when he gaue vp the Sworde Sir Willyam Drurie was the Iustice in whose tyme and especially in the beginnyng of his gouernemente was many thynges to bee dooen that might shewe a Marciall minde and expresse the worthinesse of a noble gouernour For then one sir Iames Fitz Morrice a greate practisien with the Pope and other Potentates entered Irelande with seuen Shippes bryngyng with hym bothe Soldioures and other people to disquiete a state Yea and had suche a nomber of perswasions for the troublyng of a Common weale that this Fitz Morrice drewe to his side a multitude of licencious and lawlesse people in so muche that the companie grewe so greate that sir Ihon of Desmonde a manne of good birthe and ill disposition ioyned hym self with that partie committyng an execrable murther before he beganne to reuolte and slue an Englishe gentleman that had long before been his freende and vsed the murther so hainously and againste all naturall kindnesse that euery mannes harte that thinkes thereon abhorres the remembraunce thereof For vnder a pretēce of amitie Sir Ihon of Desmonde gatte his frende in a trappe whiche freende had dooen hym greate seruice and pleasure and so sodainly steppes vnto hym and gaue hym a mortall blowe notwithstandyng the followers of sir Ihon were not willyng to goe aboute suche a murther But when Ihon of Desmond had begonne the broile the bloodshedde and Butcherie followed not onely on good Henry Dauelles but also on others as innocente as hym self of any suche slaughter and vnmercifull dealing Well these thinges and an infinite nomber of straunge matters sette a broche by Iames Fitz Morres might haue appalled the spirite of greater personages then I speake of Yet the honourable and Soldiourlike sir Willyā Drurie in moste assured hope of victorie made hedde vppon the enemies and prepared with the helpe of the Erle of Kildare and others very honourable and of good callyng loyall subiectes in Ireland to withstande the great force and furie of Fitz Morres Whiche at that season waxed so warme and extreame hotte that sondrie became colde in good will that were thought to bee feruent in the seruice of the Prince But the might and force of a rightfull quarrel and the readie diligence and forewardnesse of a good gouernour so plucked vp the hartes of those that began to droupe that one hundred of the Englishe side seemed a thousande and fiue thousande on the contrary parte proued nothyng in effect For the hartes of rebelles trembleth where the Princes power is presented and the wittes and purposes of sauage people goes a Wolle gatheryng when the ciuill Soldiour is certainly grounded in a manly determination As it seemed by all those that followed the Lorde Iustice and their noble successe of seruice dooeth argue euidentlie that trothe and couragious Soldiours of God are neuer forsaken and rebellious myndes are doubtfull of life destituted of grace and vncertaine of euery thyng thei goe about Fitz Morres in this maner as you haue heard landyng and fortisiyng for his moste suretie lefte no waie vnsought that might annoye and hinder the hope of the Englishemen and in many kindes of practises excelled and waxed strong as he thought And as diuers affirme he was stout valiant and of knowledge sufficiente to encomber a sounde and a whole Countrey But in fine it happened vppon some ouersight of Fitz Morres or sette purpose of God
maintained on bothe the parties with suche a resolute mynde and determination to winne libertie or lose life There wer after this siege some other seruices but none so greate nor none of theim I mynde to treate of as yet for that I haue bente my studie to pleasure the Readers of my booke with other fancies varietie of matter The change of matter and maner of writyng thereof I hope shall rather bryng delite then breede wearinesse For that whiche doeth presently followe is sette out purposely with a nomber of deuises to occupie tyme withall and pleasure them that hath any good disposition towardes the woorke FINIS ¶ A description or discourse that declareth how that by tastyng of miseries men become happie written for that Soldiours alwaies beares the burthen of Sorrowe and suffers more calamitie then any other people GOod readers for that calamitie and combersome chances doe seeme intollerable too beare and for our first fathers offence thei are the burthens of life and companions of man till the hower of his death I beyng often charged with the heauie fardle of misfortunes haue taken in hande to treate of a troubled mynde and shewe what blessednesse and benefite to the bodie and soule this worldly infelicitie bryngeth As the common afflictions of mankynde are many in nomber and seem at the first feelyng so irksome and weightie that fewe can suffer them or support them So a multitude of miseries accustometh the minde so long in the sharpnesse of sorrowes that a sounde iudgemente is made the more able thereby to abide the brunte of troubles and attende for a short season a remedie of mischeeues by proof the trothe of this is tried For let the laboryng manne or ordinarie porter that daily carries greate burthens be often vsed to lifte vp packes he shall better beare a greate Logge then an other that is fine fingered shall bee able to heaue a small peece of Timber And there is none that laboureth so sore but is sure at one tyme or other to attaine to reste and commoditie So that all sorrowes are to be compted but a sharpe sause to season the appetite and bryng the sweete and delicate dishes in suche order that it glutte not the stomacke And nowe to consider howe all pleasures are possessed and profittes take their beginnynges The verie issue and originall of those yearthly commodities springes onely from continuall care and paine and labourious vexation of bodie and mynde The greatest glories and cheefest seates of honour anywhere are gotten and compassed by this kinde of calamitie and the leaste or moste sparke of mannes delite is maintained and at the lengthe enioyed by the meane of studious labour and painfull exersices But herein to be breef paine and labour is the portion appoincted for man in his pilgrimage and thei that are moste persecuted so thei bee not tempted aboue their strength are moste to be thought in fauour with God and happiest emong men if heauenly graces and correction bee measured by the yearthly vessailes of vanitie that we carry about whiche without correction and refourmyng would growe so full of filthe and corrupte maners that thei neither could holde good liquor nor serue to any good purpose Doe you not beholde that the purest mettall with ill lookyng vnto becommeth full of cankers and ruste if it bee not scoured rubbed and roghly handled his beautie decaieth and the worthe and vallue of it is little because it hath loste his vertue and estimation So mānes corrupt Nature were it not serched with sonderie instrumentes that takes awaie the dedde fleashe and toucheth the quicke would putrifie waxe lothsome to the whole worlde and to the creature hym self that beares it in his bowelles And for the auoydyng of suche an inconuenience calamitie muste bee tasted and troubles are necessarie for the keepyng cleane of a spotted conscience and fraile bodie puffed vp with Pride and vanitie of curious conceites And so I proue aduersitie is the brynger home of good spirites and gentill wittes that wanders after worldly follies and ronnes a gaddyng beyonde the boundes of measure to the vtter confines of daunger and destructiō Yea a little trouble and tormente produceth greate goodnesse and bryngeth foorthe noble bookes and goodly workes whiche the libertie of life and wantonnesse of pleasure denies and hinders As a thyng that drawes manne frō the couetyng of Fame and true searchyng of immortalitie Mannes prosperous estate breedes but idelnesse nourisheth vice contempnes vertue and banisheth good studies and learnyng albeit some one emong the ritchest at one season or other maie looke on a booke fauor writers and giue good speeches of well dooyng Yet seldome comes any greate woorke from their handes that are in prosperitie And none in a maner but the afflicted did at any time hether to yeelde benefite to their countrey and generally knowledge the vniuersall worlde Lette Socrates Plato Aristotoles Cleantes and a nōber of poore Philosophers ye princes of education bee witnesse of that I speake from whiche Philosophers the sowres of noble Artes and Sciences did spryng and aboundantly flow The bodie pampered bedecked with beautie full of ornamentes and sett out to sale like fleashe in the Shambelles Either would bee bought quickly or will be tainted in hangyng too long in the winde So that as horses doe waxe reistie for want of good vsage and cleanest thynges taketh corruption by lacke of lokyng vnto in season Pleasure and libertie in processe of tyme makes a manne wilde if callamitie tame not the bodie bryng the minde in willyng subiection Sorrowe sadnesse and other passions of this worlde that comes by common causes puttes the wittes and iudgemente to suche a plonge secrete shifte and pollecie that all the senses openly makes a muster to defende the estimation and vpright bodie from fallyng to the whiche assemblie comes Pacience Reuerence and Modestie that the matter is so wel taken iniuries are putt vp and wronges that haue been offered woorkes in a wise hedde a worlde of deuises wherein vertue gettes victorie To beare the comfortable Crosse of persecution is the true badge of blessednesse wherby the seruaunt is seen to followe his maister and all the vices of manne be maistered or reformed by the crossyng chances of this world and vertuous operation of callamitie whiche miraculously worketh the distempered minde as the hotte Fornace tries out the Golde and the warme fire bringes in temper and makes softe the harde and coldest Waxe A deuine secret to them that are chosen and familiare example to those that glories in worldly felicitie who knowes the naturall causes of yearthlie thynges If a manne might aske wherefore was manne made sent from the highest dignitie of pleasures to this lowe dongion of sorrowes and base soile of seruitude It maie bee aunswered Adam was thruste out of Paradice for offence he had committed and for that he was formed out of the yearth on the face of the yearth he should get his foode and liuyng as a vessell ordained to
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
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