take in Fraunce where nothing loud Nor honored and thus dispiteous Spake he by reason none it could be prooud That I two Lords might serue thus Iulie moud A squier I resent vnto the king Surrendring castle and ech other thing Making abodement with the loued Prince Whose wisdome seeing me bashed in such sort And how his words so much did me conuince He all forgot turnd all to pleasant sport Endewd me rich for to maintaine my port Doubtles I loude his fauor so entier Than Croesus coine I did it more desier Let him that stands heed well he do not slide For he that in a Princes fauor dwels Must wary watch lest blame to him betide And carefull be when meaner sences swels It to surpresse when seuer it rebels And not to yeeld to ought that may displease His soueraines mind and breed his owne disease Heed and temperance are the things whereby Men must them rule that liue in Princes grace Far out stretched recheth his persaunt eie Vewing ech person time and secret place Much beond his rule and dreded mace Therefore disseuerd from thy soueraines sight Doe as his eie vpon thy act were pight I with my Prince and in my Countrie staid Till that Don Peter was come out of Spaine Bastard Henrie of crueltie he vpbraid In crueltie deposing him of raine The Prince resolud to place him there againe Sending for me and many a Gascoine Lord That vnto him our legence due afford Him I attend and highly was esteemd Amongst the noblest held I euer place For highly was my knightly seruice deemd As well for Mars as prudent Pallas grace With Lord Clisson sprong of Brittish race This Spanish iourney did I companie hould An expert knight in ventring arms right bould And when the prince this king restored had To former height inuest in Royall state Full like him selfe he dealt with vs but bad His peruersnes too long were to relate His breach of promise wrought the great debate That hapt between the Gascoins and my Lord The prince fell cause of war and much discord Though many Gascoin Lords my kinsmen near The English left and French themselues out shoe Yet I gainst them did still my banner rear In fronting war my time I did bestoe With Chandos to Mountaboune armd I goe That soon I trust we made our foes to feele Our Axes sharpned were with caruing steele Now when the French the English had defide And noise of strifes were bruted openly Sport was to see the captains them diuide As their affections led them stirringly Without requests to yeeld them willingly Those that were French did English streight become Contrariwise there changed other some Lord Chanoyne Robersart he English turnd Whose hautie seruice welcomed our king Sir Perducas Dalbreth toth French returnd Who gulie shield about his neck did fling Wrapt with dented bordure siluer shining Do what one can affection will be free Spite of desert or highest dignitie Bold sir Hue Caueley now in Arragon This thundring newes of wars had plainly hard With all his soldiers he arriud anon At Angolesme a partie for to ward The prince him had in reuerent regard And presently him noble chiftaine made Of thousands two and sent him to inuade The lands of Lord Dalbreth and Arminacke The greatest two of all our Gascoyne Lords Where many a tower and towne he fiercely bracke And fier and bloud vnto his foes affords Thus all we captains growing of accords Seeke to defend and to offend our foes Which likewise so themselues towards vs dispose When Canole Chandos and sir Thomas Phelton Who did in red two ermine lions beare Passant crowned gold my selfe for one Go to the prince who held vs all full deare Such companions as behinde vs weare We promised new fortresse if they gaine And then besiegd we rescue will amaine Which of our friends did three encourage so As they Belperch do win and there they kept About this time did fortune ouerthro Lord Chandos for whose losse great numbers wept The Duke of Burbon little space he slept For that our captains held his mother fast Within Belperch where they perforce were plast Duke Burbon hauing purueied iollie store Of warlike knights strong siege did bout them lay With battering engins he constraind them sore His power still increasing day by day To sir Iohn Deuereux they sent without delay Which Seneschall of Limson was and he Toth former promise was a partie This gentle knight toth prince in haste he came And did their case with such effect declare In shewing that to vs it would be blame If that we should not succour them that bare Themselues so well good words he did not spare For their behoofe and so it was agreed The captains should be rescude with some speed Th erle of Cambrige faire brother to the prince Th erle of Penbroke prest for deeds of arms Sir Iohn Montague who Batfoyles did conuince Sir Thomas Phelton dreadles of his harms Sir Robert Canole that oft the Frenchmen charms My selfe we met a noble knightly crew As of so many eie did euer vew At Lymoges the erls their musters tooke Fifteene hundred launce our selues we found Three thousand others bent on their foes to looke And ioyne with them though numbers do abound This hard the French trencht in a peece of ground With strong inclosure like a castle wall That from the fight their ventring foes should stall But when we were in opposition plast Against the French a herauld soone was sent Toth Duke who closed lay more halfe agast The herauld told him through bould hardiment We there were riude with vigerous entent With him to fight the Duke this answere drest That fight he would not so at our request And looke how he was dard at Turnehen So was he now our herauld morrow morne To him rewent who safe himselfe doth pen He said sir Duke euen she that hath you borne Before your face shall led be to your scorne Way with my Lords lesse her you rescue will We tooke her thence cold Duke he sate him still Shirle trumpets sound fresh courage to inflame We all are raungd in battelous aray Launte Wiske and Sale these ventrous three I name That from the castle issued at noone day And Burbons mother brought with them away Two noble knightly soldiers did receaue Led her thence and askt the Duke no leaue When Thaniou Duke his armie mightie made And Glesquines power to his he had vnite They forward came the Princes land tinuade Tooke Aguillon by th' thretning siege they pight Which made me woonder when I knew it right The selfe captaine did once so well it hould That hundred thousand men ne take it could On Dordon riuer a towne is planted faire Cald Lind a league from Bergareth no more Which Phelton and my selfe did well repaire With vittails and artilleries fencing store Well puruied now with that it had before Sir Touius Batfoyle captaine there doth rest And promise voud
I spake Bloys hearing what was don By him and how he sieged strong Alroy And with sharpe war the countrie doth destroy Told king Charls who aiding cosen Bloys Sent sir Bertram Glesquine who doth intreat Knights such he knew of whom he had good choyse Him to assist in ventrous warlike feat Sir Bertrams praises now were waxen great King Charls him had in reuerence and account In praisfull vertues cause he doth surmount Yoong Earle Mountfort of their assemblie hard Seald letters into Acquitaine doth send To some good knights telling how he fard Especially he writ to me his frend Willing my presence helpfull to defend His heritage I soone agreed to go If my good prince would say it should be so I licence craue for this departaunce If that thereby I might not breake the peace The prince said no breach and releasaunce Gaue vnto me and others who not cease Him to beseech my numbers to increase Through Xanton Poyictow I passe vnto Alroy Friendly welcomd with no little ioy Of Earle Iohn and many a valiant knight Accouting all themselues in safetie now So long as me amongst them haue they might My counsaile their opinions so allow And t was not long ear some plaine told hus how Sir Charls Bloys accompaned doth aduaunce In best appoint that hath been seene in Fraunce And faste approcht which newes when so I knew I placed me where comming I behold A seemely band as eie did euer vewe And goodly dight as hart desier cold Oftlie returning vnto freends I told That I had seene of noblenes the flower For discipline in ordring of a power One cannot cast a gloue from off his hand But it on Launce will or on basnet light So properly in order plast they stand Their leader is a Lord of great insight They haue vs taught our battails soone to dight My friends then said sir you our Chieftaine are Please you command and all we will prepare Though yoong Earle were soueraine in the place To Martiall buisnesses yet I tend By princely letters from King Edwards grace To me he wild the Earldome to defend Heedy for this my time here well to spend Three battails then I ordred with good hast And in the first sir Robert Canole plast Lord of Duriuall hardie Britton borne Sir Oliuer Clisson the next doth guide Whom Lion white in red crownd doth adorne The third fresh Earle with whom my selfe abide Him well t' aduise for doute what might betide Reregard of fiue hundred men I made To sir Hugh Caueley these few words I said Sir knight this companie I appoint to you Withdraw your selfe and chuse some peece of ground From thence not buge vnlesse you plainly vewe Vs to disrout then hasting in that stound Vs reunited to place retier you round Lately left there tending like do stay More better seruice can no man do this day When stout sir Hue all hard my speeches passe Right shamefast waxt and thus in haste replide Such charge to take he neuer minded was With feruent words flatlie the same denide Halfe angrie asking what weaknes I espide In bodie his with foremost not to fight Willing the gifter to some other wight Aduisedly to him I answered Your valour sir I passing tried know Your high desiers I throughly measured Strong ablenes to fight in foremost row Bicause right sage and wise your selfe I know This charge I giue wishing you that place In which you shall acquier thankefull grace With honor and applause amongst the best And furthermore I faithfull promise giue To you sir knight to grant the first request You shall demaund if that Iohn Chandos liue My rightfull treating herein do not depriue This noble soldier too kt still in dispite He might not in the front of battaile fight Whose setled minde to see well neare I weepe Him to that passe it commen was I told He or my selfe the reregard must keepe Which better was allow his iudgement should Confusd he staid yet take the charge he would For which salt teares distill from manly eies Departs to ground that fittest he espies A Baron rich in Britton there did dwell Lord Beumanoyr a prisoner safely sworne Vs English too which thought he might do well Spending his time fell strife might out be worne To passe between of both sides was he borne By his spent trauell so much he brought to pas As one whole day and night of truce there was Gay Phoebus lodgd faire Luna prest in place Our English soldiers most requested me Largely telling the poorenes of their case With much expence that I should not agree To peace determined to win or die By battaile to whom I easely giue consent As one thereto by inclination bent Chast Cynthia gon Aurora blushed Lord Beumanoyr betime was stirring From his campe toward vs his footings sped In hope to speed I soon departing We salued at our first incountring He wild I would indeuor to accord These parties for the goodnes of our Lord. Contrarie to his iust desiering I answered good sir of Beumanoyr I counsell that you haste retiering From whence you came our companies deuoyr Is you t' inclose and slaie as destroier Of their desiers they so hate talke of peace Therefore herein your best is for to ceace And furthermore tell to sir Charls of Bloys Earle Iohn this day will Duke of Britton be Or slaine abide shunning other choise When this rich Baron hard these words of me Said Chandos Chandos as good will as yee Or your yoong Lord my Lord hath to the fray Calme peace yet offereth if you said not nay We both depart and both to friends returne I scarcely ariud Earle Mountfort asked What newes for he in longing thoughts doth burne I told him now that he was hardly tasked But fairest truth I fouliest masked Lord Beumanoyr hath sent you word by me This day your foe will Duke of Britton be Or else this day he will not breath at all Which message told he colour seemd to change Willed t' aduance and streight to battell fall T' inflame his courage I from truth did range Somwhat to make the matter seeme more strange I said aduise whether you will fight or leaue Yes by Saint George our banner forward heaue Lord Beumanoyr his answer likewise framd Saying he had the prowdest langage hard Of me that euer erst foorth to Bloys he namd What were my words but more he plain declard How that all right I said clean him debard From truest title to great dukedome quite He doth reply God knowes whose is the right The Ermine banners of the dukedome right Were placed ech gainst other orderly To see braue Lords vnder their pennons dight All beat with Arms bedecked properly So feateously both battels beautify As to the gaser well it might appeere That all the Vallewer in the world was heere As raging tides about some Ilsland meet In stredned channell forced by a prime With like incounter both our battels greet Like bustling rage was shewed at
t'high mountaine land Horse nor man scarce on their feete might stand Our armie closd in three we do deuide That one might passe whilst other two abide On munday armd like youthfull Troyilus And fresh as he in all his iolitie As stirring weldie and as cheualrous As Chaucer makes him in felicitie Past Iohn of Gaunt and with him passed I Twelue hundred pensils vnder me remaine Wrought with my armes that glisteren on the plaine On twesday past our Hector princelie Spanish Peter and Charls king of Nauare Lewis Harcourt in barons dignitie Sir Thomas Phelton well drest for war His brother William of selfe had little care King of Malorques on wensday ouer came Accompaned with Lords of peereles fame Erle Arminak Dalbreth bold Gascoynes all Pomiers Gomigines and stout Mucident And of Buiff couragious capitall Lord Clisson and sir Robert Canol went Barnerdle Sall that was to scaling bent Of Rounceuauls we haue forsake the streights Which flieng Fame to bastard Henrie beits And more how we strong Sauatar had won Placed at the entrie into Spaine When storming king all hard what we had don He sommons forst and doth such numbers gaine Entring in armes into the open plaine Which newes foreriders to the prince haue tould Who saith the bastard valiant is and bould The cherefull trumpet soundeth to addres Fresh knights furbishen armors hastelie And many squiers to stirre vp hardines The noble prince doth knight immediatelie Some made the duke and some were made by me But th'ennimie battaile doth denie before Braue Frenchmen come in number fortie score Right warlike band which bold sir Bertram led And wise sir Arnole Cleped Dandrehen With heedie toiling wairie iourney sped At Spannish campe ariuing with their men It hapt vnto king Henries brethren when They new were come to ride our hoste to vew With the attempt some haples ouerthrew Strike fierce into the Canton where I set The watch I stirring they recoile with speed Returning they with both the Pheltons met Which foorth were rid to do some valiant deed With hundreds two well Armed for their need Sir Richard Cauton sir Hugh Hastings With other knights of faire proceedings These Spaniards six thousand were no lesse And when our English once they had espide Which little mountaine t' aue had in distresse With shooting ioy amaine they toard them ride Where many a skilfull feat of war was tride But in the end they were all take but one And he too rash doth lose himselfe alone For when he saw proud Spaniards placed In leueld plaine his sharp gleiue he taketh His hard resisting sheild he soone imbraced Towards the thickest speedie hast he maketh One stroke he dead then bright sword he shaketh So vigorously in his threatning hand And stroke and foynd and lasht whilst he might stand Armed he was in red most glorious Two Ermin Lions passant crowned gold With Scottish treasure diffrence spatious His brother and his friends the fight behold And saw his ending too aduenterous bold Raging furor fair knighthood doth confound Sir William Phelton brought dead to ground Spaniards of faire aduenture ioyious The leaders were king Henries bretheren Their iourney to their brother prosperous They glad declare shew prisoners taken Great thanks he gaue and residue threaten Soft stepped foorth a soldier bold and wise Praying the king heerin to take aduise Sir saue your grace your speech I not gain say But yonder 's armed manie a prooued knight As euer rangde in battelous affray Hardie in Arms and matchles in strong might If with stout prince you do assemble fight You l find no fliers what so ere betide Twixt life and death toth vntraunce thei le abide In reuerent sort vnto your grace I speake Abstain from war let fierce enimies be Contagious aire will make their strongest weake Your countrie left behind them shall you see They pincht with want it so will chaunce that we May fight with them who present are the flower Of cheualrie of wisdom and of power Marshall replide the king I so desier The princes power with good power to meet He shall not by my fathers soule retier Till him I do in ioined battell greet Seuen thousand I haue armed head and feet Of genetors full twentie thousand more And threescore thousand which haue truly swore Me not to faile therefore sir Arnole I A basht to be may seeme to haue no cause Stout willing numbers vowd haue with me to die Yet full six daies vpon these things they pause We forward come compeld by hungers lawse The swift riuer near to the groyne we passe Where as we find a better soile for grasse At entrance first when we approched Spaine King Henrie seald letter sent our Prince Requesting knowledge and the title plaine Why so with power he sought him to conuince The Herauld was retained euer since He came till now wherein seuen weeks spent Now backe by him his answer thus he sent That his true cosen he was come to aide In rightfull cause as iustice doth desier Therefore quoth he Earle Cristmer hauing waid Your great wrong thus to the Crowne t'aspier Am come in armes but yet I faire requier You both t' accord right king to haue the crowne Your selfe rich lands but if at this you frowne Then you chiefe cause of slaughter spoile and blood Which I God knowes am passing loth to shee l I wish you would well ponder of the good We offer and not trust th' uncertaine speed Of fickle chaunce so careles in hit heed Here rest your frends if that you say not nay Dated from Groyne in March the thirtith day This Herauld gon his letters red with all Sir Bertram said now shortly shall we haue A doo therefore O noble King let call Ech officer his charge to order braue The hawtie prince doth nought but battaile craue Replide the king I little do him dreed Good hope is of a furtherance to the speed Int ' three their fights the first sir Bertram lad Aduentrous French and strangers where with him Th'erls of Dancell and sanxes second had Greatly renowmed cause they late did win The third stout King martiall passing trim A hundred thousand the one and other were Right noblie seene before vp deckt appere As busie king pricketh from ranke to ranke Neerer Naueret we a little drew Where they behold vs raised on a banke From vnder which we all the vallies vew Couerd with helms whose banners some I knew Gainst me ear this reasd had they been and borne Taken and beat and all too peeces torne Sir Bertram Glesquine thimperiall egle bare In siluer gulie baston ouer all Sixe white spur rowels Dandrahen doth reare In field of red a checkered fes doth stall Of th'on and th' other colour then I call My banner for vproled I hit bring Vnto my Prince in presence Spanish king Beloued Lord behould my banner hear Vouchsafe the pains it to vnfould for me Graunting licence this day it vp to rear Thanks good Father yours
which pertaind to him of right King Charls well nie excepting him had all The Brittons harts now so it did befall His castle siegd gaue hostage for a staie To yeeld it vp not rescude by a daie Sir Hue Brooe that this strong fortresse heild That marchet made who bare in banner red On siluer cheuron three roses of the feild Sir Robert here ariued in that sted Before the rendring day expired A herauld French Constable sent to kno Hostage whether they would redeeme or no. Sir Robert flatly held not any one In absence his his castle so should mart Thanswerd messenger backe is lightly gone Tould his Lords they make him soone depart And shew sir Robert if he so do start His hostages ech one should hedded be Herauld he said saie to thy Lords from me Three knights one squier in prison here I haue If they a hundred thousand frankes would giue And mine do die no one of these thest saue The French of life the hostages depriue Which seene sir Robert a scaffold made beliue His prisners brought in duke of Aniou sight Their harmles heds he caused off to smite The siege brake vp this execution done The castle with sir Robert doth remaine True hostage true prisners death haue won Such chaffring brought good harts their deadly paine But noble captains such rigor should refraine Lest when their frends they need in such like cace They make refusall doubting the disgrace Iustice oft from ancient custome growes Affection seldom lookes with single eie Strict iustice like iniurious dealing showes Hard law to make the innocent creature die And yet good right appeered for to be God loues not right which doth to rigor tend Neither of both their crueltie can defend I likewise heard how noble Iohn of Gaunt Ariud at Callis with puissant power Puissantly the Frenchmen doth he daunt Fearfull makes both towne and many a tower Numbers my old acquaintance in that stower As Chanoyne Robersart sir Hue Caueley Sir William Bewchamp sir Henrie Percie Sir Walter Huet sir Steuen Gousenton With many more which some did to me name Sir Lewis Clifford sir Richard Pontchardon To heare of whom to sorrow brought some game I hopt and wisht the French that they might tame But in their cheuachey a venture did befall That was at Parris talkt with ioy of all Fowrscore horse of sir Hue Caueleys band Were ridden foorth aduentures for to trie The Lord of Busiers doth it vnderstand The Lord of Chin sir Iohn Buell these three With sixscore launce against them ridden be Lord Chin was slaine through his great hardines Which to his friends was cause of heauines Thus when they were assembled in such sort Right felonous and cruell was the fray And many a deed was don of good report Chin his banner disueloped that day Which seen the English orgulous words did say Gainst Lord Cowcie which English houerd still Who was in Austrige warring at his will This Chin did raise Lord Cowcies faire deuice Which was six bars of varrey and of red This was the same or difference small so nice and slender that mongst them this error bred Which now were either taken slaine or fled All men of yoonger house that banners bear Should haue their difference glistring large and fair I likewise heard the flower of all our pride The valiant Prince of Wales departed life No earthly thing so good may alwaies bide Nor honor such preuailing ouer strife Where glories most mischaunce is euer rife Great things great fals and far abroad are blown Low things low fals their fallings are not known His falling known was fall of all my ioy His death depriuer of my comfort chiefe His losse the loder of my sad annoy His want the wanting of my freed reliefe Ah filching death thou felonous bloodie thiefe Bereauer of my sole deliueraunce Dispoiler of my worldly pleasaunce For could it be that any marshallist Such one as loud to cloth himselfe in Arms But honorable presence thine he mist And many waies thy losse did worke his harms And froward mischiefs backward on him swarms Farwell fairst flower of Plantagenets line Adiew all comfort to this life of mine Full many treaties had the English now Made with the French which came to small effect Some of my friends oftimes did tell me how In these their parleys they had of me respect Yet did no good which made me to suspect That neuer I my weldie Arms should don For griefe wherof I pine away with mone The yoong Earle Saint Pole and three other knights In exchange they offerd for me alon Which Lord Comigines tane had in faire fights by th subtill traine of sir Iohn Harleston By his coursers bountie sir Hue Chatelon Was saud or else he had full dearly paid Bicause from England he was late mistraid The matter thus after we came from Spaine And that the quarrels fresh gan to renew All things to strife and battaile woxt againe The French at first the countie of Ponthew Regaine this Lord of Chatelon named Hue Vnwares he doth sir Nicholas Loudine rest His prisner and by slight he him surprest When as the valiant duke of Lancaster At Callis riud new come from Turnehen Intending the Frenchmen proud to master He fast prepard to make a rode agen With store of squiers knights and noblemen Trauasing Fraunce vp and downe at pleasure In burning spoiling and gaining treasure If oppression to minde valiant Be offered by wisdoms warie guid It so couerneth through much discontent As if euer happie chaunce betide It shoes the fier close couered it doth hide And breaketh foorth into reuenging flame If euer good occasion mooue the same Deepe rooted malice doth not lightly die When as the duke passed by Abuile To Louaines mind repard the iniurie That Chatelon had done to him erewhile Sir Nicholas laid a bushment by a wile Neere to the towne for all the streights he knew Whole three yeers space he vsed them to vewe Sir Hue Chattelon at that instant bode Within the towne as gardant of the same Near vnto it he knew the English rode Then of the crossebowes he bare the maisters name Them to aduise he thought was for his fame Only ten and armed saue his head He came where as the tending bushment stead When valiant Louaine saw his shield of guels Three varey pales on chiffe of loued gold A martlet blacke himselfe he scarcely ruels For ioy the man quoth he I most desier would In all the world I comming do behould The ransome deere to him this yeer I paid Shall rendred be if that he may be staid And foorth he breaks the Frenchmen in that sted Do maruell much from whence doth noise proceed One cried Chatelon yeeld or thou art ded To whom said he to Louaine now with speed Replied sir Nicholas ioying at his deed Being knightly armd in red fresh to behold A siluer fes tween many billets gold And to the host in iolitie retiers Prowd of his prisner afterward
ashamed of their differences but laide them foorth largely to the view neither do I esteeme it a shame wherby any man should couet to hide the same to be descended as a yoonger brother sithence that euerie brother hauing the like parents is as well descended as the eldest and therefore as good a Gentleman though not so rich as he And the more is his honor if without the helpe which by reason of his patrimonie the elder hath he can aduance himselfe into place of office or dignitie whereby he may raise an other florishing familie of the same surname And therefore you my masters that be yoonger brothers neuer hide your differences by putting foorth a little cressant or a peeping mollet but vse some faire large deuise sithence in truth your estimation is by your rising to be had in as good a regard as if you were the elder And now being in speech of yoonger brothers and their differences I haue obserued two kinds of them which the antiquitie vsed besides the aforesaid one was that such as were aduanced by Kings Princes or other great Lords did manie times beare some part of the deuise of him who aduanced them by way of addition vnto the marke of their owne familie which serued verie aptlie to distinguish them from their elder house The other was that diuers did adde vnto the marke of their owne house some part of the deuise of that familie from which their mothers descended and both these two kinds of differings are in my minde greatly to be commended not onely for that they may be made large and apparent and for that cause serue very properly to the vse for which Badges are ordained but also that the one makes manifest a gratefull minde in him that is aduanced to his prince or lord of whom he receiued benefit and by reason thereof linketh them togither in a kinde of amitie which seldome or neuer is worne out and by that meanes a great strengthening it is vnto both houses The other not onely serueth to vnite the families which haue matched togither in the foresaid loue and amitie and thereby worketh the like effect but besides it sheweth the certainty of the dessending of the said yoonger brother out of both the said houses and also giueth knowledge of the time thereof whereby if any title of inheritance be at any time cast vpon the yoonger brother either descending from ancestor of the fathers side or mothers it giues him a testimonie of his title and witnesseth vnto the world the truth of his descent by the continuall bearing of that deuise so that this kind may many times worke profit to the bearer and auoid many troubles and sutes and therefore into one of these kind of differings could I wish our yoonger brothers which from hencefoorth shal be aduanced to inuest them selues as being both honorable faire certaine and profitable But now it may be obiected that the order in vse sheweth plainly ynough the diuersitie of brothers as the cressant a second the mollet the third that by this means the matters are made certaine to this I answere that first the time is not by this means signified neither can it be known which of the Cressant bearers was the vncle or nephew And further it is a very vsuall matter for euery new Riser at this day if he can find that there is any of the like Surname that beareth marke presently to vsurpe the same with a Cressant or some such difference so that for my owne part I do seldome credit such kinde of differinges nor their bearers vnles it be by some other testimony or proofe made manifest which cannot be counterfetted so well in the other deuise except the riser should be throughly acquainted with the descent of him whose line he seeketh to intrude himselfe into and besides it may be the sooner espied by them of the true line forbidden nor the other dare for feare thereof so soone venter the committing of a falsitie But what a confusion is it when you shall see the second of a second brother and sometimes an other second from him to cluster one Cressant vpon an other many times three or foure one on horsebacke vpon an other where as by the aforesaid bearing of the difference from the Prince Lord or mothers family a man may better distinguish the brothers and set downe for a second a third and fourth c. And after from those againe in a fairer larger and more apparent manner And the more apt am I to speake against these ordinary differences as they are called knowing them to be but new inuentions and any of them as ordinaries in fashion as now they are neuer vsed before the time of King Henrie the sixt before which time men were much more warie and discreet in bearing of their marks and in foreseeing that no intruders should enter into their families nor that any should lay away or remoue their differings without speciall warrant or license of them that thereby might be preiudiced for a Labell being much in vse for the heire apparent to wear as his difference during his fathers life was seldome remooued to the second brother but when the inheritance went vnto the daughters of the elder brother and then the second was permitted to beare the same for his difference as being the heire male of his familie and as one that remained in expectancie yet might not the second brother vse to intrude himselfe into the absolute signes of his house the inheritance being in his neeces or kinswomen as appeared in the case betweene Gray of Ruthine and Hastings which was this Iohn Lord Hastings married to his first wife Izabell one of the sisters and heires of Almerie de vallence Earle of Penbrooke by whom he had issue Iohn Hastings after Earle of Penbrooke Elizabeth married to Roger Lord Gray of Ruthin and some other children which needs not to be spoken of for that as I take it al the lines of them failed before the extinguishing of the line of the said Iohn Earle of penbrooke after such issue being had the said Izabell Vallence died and the said Iohn Lord Hastings tooke to a second wife Izabell the daughter of Hugh Spenser by whom he had issue Hugh Hastings and Thomas and then died and left as heire Iohn his son by his first wife who was Earle of Penbrooke as I haue said erected by reason of his mothers inheritance which Iohn Earle of Penbrooke married and had issue an other Earle of Penbrooke who also married and had issue a third Earle of Penbrooke but in the end all the line of the said Iohn Hastings first Earle of Penbrooke of that familie fayling there arose a question betwixt the heires of Roger Gray and Elizabeth his wife being sister of the whole blood and the heires of Hugh Hastings brother of the halfe blood to the said Iohn Earle of Penbrooke for the inheritance of the Hastings But Gray recouering the same by the law
sacerdoti vt tollat Thuribula quae iacent in incendio ignem huc illucque dispergat c. produc atque ea in laminas affigat altari c. vt cernant ea pro signo monimento filij Israel Also in the booke of Iosua I finde these words Et ait Iosue ad eos ite ante arcam Domini Dei vestri ad Iordanis medium portate inde singuli singulos lapides in humeris vestris iuxta numerum filiorum Israel vt sit signum inter vos quando interrogauerint vos filij vestri cras dicentes quid sibi volunt isti lapides Respondebitis defecerunt aquae Iordanis ante arcam foederis Domini cum transiret eum idcirco positi sunt lapides isti in monimentum filiorum Israel vsque in aeternum And for the disposing of heritages it is written thus Homo cum mortuus fuerit absque filio ad filiam eius transibit haereditas si filiam non habuerit habebit successores fratres suos quod si fratres non fuerint dabitis haereditatem fratribus patris eius sin autem nec patruos habuerit dabitur haereditas his qui ei proximi sunt Eritque hoc filijs Israel sanctum lege perpetua sicut praecepit Dominus Moysi And for the collection of Genealogies thus saith God to Moyses and Eleasar Numerate omnem summam filiorum Israel à viginti annis suprà per domos cognationes suas cunctos qui possunt ad bella procedere c. Ruben primogenitus Israel huius filius Henoch à quo familia Henochitarum Phallu à quo familia Phalluitarum Hesron à quo familia Hesronitarum And for a further proofe of the recording of Genealogies it is to be considered how diligently the same hath beene obserued through the whole course of the Scriptures as the descents from Adam to Noe and from Noe to Abraham c. do sufficiently testifie And more that with the spirit of truth the Genealogie of Christ our Sauiour and redeemer as concerning his humanitie is also by the writing of his holie Euangelistes most plainelie and sincerely remembred and set downe All these things being therefore by the Scriptures of God and decider of all controuersies prooued and declared Your Lordships may see that the bearing of Armes raising and aduauncing of Standerds Banners and Ensignes vsing of obsequies erecting of moniments enroling and regestrings of pedegrees and descentes haue ioyned to the auncient customes and Lawes both of this Land and all other nations the authoritie of Gods word being very well accompanied with discretion reason and iudgement for God hauing by his sacred institution ordeined Kingdomes Prouinces and Seignories and that ouer them Kings Princes and Magistrates shall commaund rule and gouerne his people to the ende chiefely that his heauenly kingdome may be replenished with the blessed soules of his seruants for the instructing whereof he hath also ordeined his holy Church and the Bishops pastors and ministers of the same which Bishops and other spirituall officers cannot so well enforme his Christan people without the aid of the said Kings and temporall Lords neither can they gouerne their particular Countries either from the inuasion of outward tyrants or inward rebels but through the vse of their sword of iustice which sword cannot be exercised against vnruly persons being of strength wanting men skilful in Martiall Discipline who cannot manage those affaires but by meane of the aforesaid Armes and ensignes in maner as before I haue more largly expressed And in like sort as Princes great Lords Iudges Magistrates and Gouernors do vse to weare sacred Robes of gold purple scarlet and other ornaments and apparell not to take pride in or for any vaine ostentation or show but onely that they may be distinguished from the inferior people to the end that a reuerent regard may be had of them in respect of the high office which vnder God here on earth they beare And as these things no man of any reason will gainsay so I see not but as wel may their iust vertues and good gouernment be remembred with funerals obsequies and moniments after their decease whereby such as succeed in gouernment may also be had in more high estimation and a faire example is thereby giuen them to imitate the regiment of their predecessors Likewise doth the registring of descents carrie with it reason ioined to authoritie and custome for as by Gods lawe there is commanded a priuiledge of enheritance to the first begotten of Israell and so for want of sonnes to the females and from them to others answerable to the proximitie of their blood and kindred which with our lawes of this land and of most nations do concur and agree it doth well stande with peacefull gouernment for the auoiding of contentions which may rise for want of records to testifie the truth of mens titles to their enheritances that Genealogies and Pedegrees should be enrolled and kept in remembrance I haue my good Lords stood the longer vpon this point for that of late traueling through some countries of this Land and hauing a desire to see the moniments of antiquitie which haue remained in such places as I passed by for which cause as otherwise I many times resorted to Churches and other houses to satisfie my affection I found that many moniments both of burials and in glasse were so broken and defaced that vneth may be had any knowledge what the fragments remaining did signifie and enquiring of the inhabitance how it came to passe that those things were so blemished they made report that certaine persons delighting as may seeme in noueltie for they can abide no marke of antiquitie had defaced the same These men that take vpon them to be reformers whose desires are great through the singularitie pride they haue in their owne wits and vnderstandings weening themselues to be very wise where indeed they are verie simple and onely looke but into the abuses of things and do not see into the grounds depth of the reasons and causes for which good ordinances were made go about to finde faults where many times none are but if peraduenture they hap to finde an ordinance well made misused then streight neuer seeke they to reforme the abuse but by their wils downe goeth ordinance and all such is their insolencie rashnes and want of iudgement It were well done therefore my good Lords and I could wish that your Honors hauing somtimes accesse to hir Maiestie and oftentimes conference with my Lords of hir priuie Councell should enforme hir Highnes and their Honors of the said abuses committed and to be thereby a meane that these simple fellowes taking vpon them to be reformers might be reformed themselues and both kept from destroieng of good ordinances and be punished for their offences in that behalfe committed In the meane time yet shall I desire that Honorable personages will looke better to the moniments of their
remaine Keeping estate whereby mens harts I won Largely I spent most like a Princes son In plentious fare bountifull and much King Edwards loue and lowance to me such His royall loue to me was passing rare Numbers thought I did deserue no lesse Courteous I aduisd and would not spare But liberall be fraught with temperatenesse Faire points of honor would I not disgresse Amongst braue Lords faire Ladies I esteemd Of great estates in gentle fauor deemd Foorth of the charter was except the land Saint Saluiour sir Godfrey Harecourts late Who Pollux like at Constantine did stand To his defence when slaine was euerie mate With weldie axe his stroke so heauie sate Not prowdest enemie durst sad blowes abide Till at the length two horsemen at him ride Inragd beare downe a knight most cheualrous Which stradling set his legs to stand more suer On surest leg and there dispiteous They beare him downe who fights whilst he may duer Liue still his praise and glory fresh in vre For wisdome and prooude skill in martiall facts No liuing knight one iote exceeds his acts With plainest difference of Earle Harcourts race In glorious red two golden bars did beare Daring gainst foe toth vtterance shew his face Which tride he was well woorthie armes to weare Amongst his foes that durst them noblie reare The home made knight that neuer ward in field Small title hath vnto a noble sheild In his past life his land he did behest To my good king and he to me it gaue Toth valiant Iohn of Fraunce he made request For his consent that I the same might haue He gently seald to what the king doth craue I it enioid well woorth in yeerely rent Of hundred franks fifteene which free I spent Most bountifully amongst soldiers bould To gallant men my purse was neuer closd Which caused that as often as I would I had companions valiants lads disposd To warlike feats that strongest holds haue posd Sweet behauiour ioind to liberall hand Reasons I was with manly soldiers mand Braue Duke of Lancaster mars his Henrie dide Whilst I at Nyort kept so high estate Faire cosen Germaine to the king allide Good gentle Duke lamented was thy fate Mongst valiant knights thou nobly ledst of late When as thou didst with Darbie title raine As after when the Dukedome thou didst gaine In battelous Arms before the king of Fraunce Like Pallas knight thou entredst roiall list Gainst Brownswick Duke full bent to prooue the chaunce Of doubtfull combat the king cause why it mist Staid the euent great eithers losse he wist This Brownswick Duke tride strong champion bold Bare faire in red two lions passant gold True golden fame blacke death cannot defile Glistering honor buds from dustie graue Ech noble Lord that beareth glorious stile Spend must his life eternall praise to haue As thou high Duke didst honor euer saue Most mightie God let England neuer want Such noble Lords true honor seeke to plant In England cause the prince kept princely port Most like himselfe the counsell thoughten best Int ' Acquitaine that he should make resort Partly for that the Gascoins do request His presence and reuenewes largely rest His noblenes right noble to vphold And Gascoin Lords desier that he would Repasse the seas he answereth their desiers Once landed carefull I to meet him well Accompaned with knights and youthfull squiers On coursers mounted decked euerie sell And receiuing him at warlike Rochell We thence attended vnto Poycters towne As reason wild and dutie had vs bowne Of Acquitaine I Cunstable was ordaind High honors giuen and feastings to me made Continually his fauor more I gaind Through enterprises of account I wade Noble exploits I end by skilfull trade Which plaisd him so as he loude me euer Bicause in honor still I do perseuer Peter of Lusignon King of Cypresse I le Made means to all the Kings of Christendome From iarring discord to abstaine a while Helpe to repulse the miscreants late come Their borders neere and much of neighbors wone Had been in Italie France and Almaine In Flaunders England came to Acquitaine Not when swift fame had pierced hautie skies Admetus praise which made Apollo bowe Downe from estate to view with leeuing eies His bountifulnes which seen made him alowe So well of it and further did avowe Fame sparing was yet suer my Prince exceeds The praises of Admetus lib'rall deeds For when he hard of this strange kings ariue He sent me foorth with knights accompaned In gentlenes could with right courteous striue At kings first entrance he saw well placed Fortie knights so many squiers faced All for the honor of Lady Princes Faire was the iusts ech prooued blamles More signe of loue more shew of princelie power Rare welcoms giuen fine curtesies withall Of curtesie sweete prince a pearles flower Nor wandring king did neuer see nor shall More store of knights in earthly regents hall The prince me will to take him to my guide Him plesaunce shew in his dominions wide A vermile crosse the Cyprian king still wore For holy voyage he had vndertake Against the Turke his soueraign to adore In glorious Arms a partie prince to make He wild and found to no good seruice slake Our loued prince departed well content Great intercourse of loues betwixt them blent Thus hauing been most kindly intertaind By me and stout sir Thomas Phelton much Sir Neal Loring sir Simon Basset daind Him well to treat sir Baldwine Frâ—uile such His kindnes shewd as spite could not but gruch To see the like he safely went his way The principalitie through I him conuay King Iohn of Fraunce into England past Braue king faire queen gay nobles for to see Through true firme loue which doth eternall last Wher 's fained loue small iars remembred be No vertues more in phear of high degree Than were resiant in this soueraine Whose woorthie praises euer may remaine Bloodie parcas what meanest thou to sheare His vitall twine so woorthie longer life Canst thou pale malice such priuly vertues beare Than bluntest coulter duller be thy knife Amongst best things thou mischiefe euer rife But mightie God oft takes away the best For our bad sins or for to ease his blest Whilst this good king in England made his stay Him sicknes tooke with sharpe incresment sore And strong oppresment at Sauoy where he lay Death doth approch then flesh can breath no more His losse king Edward greatly doth deplore From England Parris to stately tombe conueid And Charls his sonne the Regall scepter sweid Oh vading flower why flatterest thou thy selfe In pompeous seat of mightie maiestie Fraile honors titles or foule wasting pelfe Forgetting great eternall dignitie Scorneth mightiest earthly Imperie What low inferior fears of you amisse That high superior threts againe ywis Sir Iohn Montfort in th'aprill of his youth Gay Arms gan weld and with successe begon In Britton to sir Charls of Bloys his ruth This faire new knight was that braue Countesse sonne Of whom
rage of wars alaie For where but late the trembling mother cride Dreading hir babe in safetie doth she plaie None carefull now their treasures close to hide None watcheth now for doubt what may betide Britton but now with bluddie wars did rage And now faire concord doth all furie swage Now doth weare the great Castilian Crowne Dan Peter whose extremest rage was such As on him all his chiefest nobles frowne And vulgar commons at his doing gruch Some said his deeds whole Christendome did tuch The Pope the French and Arragon agree Him to depose and Henrie plast to be And for that cause the foresaid states do pay Sir Bertram Glesquins ransome vnto me For hundred thousand franks I said not nay From his gagd fiaunce cleere I set him free These states request me into their iorney As one to rule and speciall roume to beare I flat refusd my liking was not there Yet certaine of my princes knights did go When these troups assembled were in Spaine They thirtie thousand soldiers were and mo When ech considered the euill raine Of Peter and the nobles he had slaine They him depose and Henrie do adorne As king although Alphonsus bastard borne Thus he possest bestoweth right largelie And soldiers bountifull him account To Siuile citie first in haste doth flie Forsaken king thence to high sea doth mount Accompaned with Dan Casters in count Faithfull knight to Galitia ward amaine Making saile there of one castle faine Called Coulone on craggie cliffe strong plast Distressed selfe welth children and treasure There doubting staid sent trustie knight in haste T'acquitain with letters shewing the seasure Of bastard Henries wrongfull displeasure Vnto my Prince who thought too hard euent Was falne on him and too sharpe punishment Spitefull Fortune great enimie to those Of high degree what pastime canst thou take Through turning times thy selfe so to dispose Of mightie king meane fugitiue to make But peeuish selfe thou all men wilt forsake To highest things peasd leuell dost thou ame At sharpest fals thou makest sporting game A king but late vnto whose onely becke Whole Castile bowd liues like a prisner pend Dares not appeere for feare of too great checke And stateliest troupes of nobles with attend Remayns one knight like sad AEneas frend Large countries late obeid his bending will And now possest but barren basest hill The Prince cald me these letters in his hand And braue sir Thomas Phelton speedilie In most princely fauor we highly stand Sir Knights quoth he strange news is come to me Which vnto you shall soone imparted be Which don he wild as was his vsage Our opinions to so great voyage Then presently a parlement was cald To which repaird the noble Gascoine knights Arminack Gomigines Dalbreth stald In highest rooms from hence four woorthie Wights T'england sent as reason wils of rights King Edward he our iourney doth allow Fresh Iohn of Gaunt to go with vs doth vow Without delay into Nauar were wild Sir Thomas Phelton and my selfe to fleet We so exploit with iourney labring hild As with the king at Pampelune we meet From loued prince him do we nobly greet He promisd be at Bayon by a day With courteous leaue we home returne our way Our prince dan Peter both do meet him there With parle much at last he condescends Hard passages to ope that straightest were For which dan Peter promisd for amends The Groine and countrie shoring that extends To Sauater and more a hundred thousand franks Thus he an aid toth prince and all his ranks The prince two heraulds doth dispatch with speed To Castile ward giuing his knights to kno The purposd war and what he had decreed His pleasure knowne they came king Henrie fro But why they part they little to him sho Then Caueley Dabscote and bold Huet was Gay sir Iohn Deuereux all thence do passe Companions some hard not so soone this newes Safe to returne much toiling they endure King Henrie closely vp all passage mewes In dangerous state remaine the most vnsure The prince doubted his enimies might allure Them to their wils which well twelue hundred were Of pyked men in welding shield or spere At th' entrie of Foix inclosd they stay And may not pas th'erle doth flat forbid Them t' enter in his countrie any way Most noble prince of message send me did Toth Earle of Foix and shew him he would rid Him of these men and that what harme they should His countrie do that he remend it would The Erle accords to their safe passage I chaffer so as them I wholie hier Mongst whom in wars full many a trustie gage All which one word would worke to my desier To busie prince I hastelie retier These waged soldiers do themselues deuide By companies toard Acquitaine they ride Toward Tholouse some their rediest iourney take At Mountabon the riuer seeke to passe Sir Guy Dazay and Earle of Narbone make Quick sommons and of soldiers gether a masse Sir Iohn Comes Mountabons captaine was The French toth towne sent courrors riding T' see if companions would be stirring Sir Iohn demaunds why thus in armors drest They came t' inuade the principalitie They chaffing said our enimies with you rest Whom we will rouse for their iniquitie Sir Iohn sir Iohn you know not curtesie If thus you harbour the pillers of the land Here be their foes will wake them out of hand Lords he replide heer be some men of war Into Montaubon lately entered That with my Lord the prince retained ar And him must serue as is indented Better vndoon than soon repented Aduise you well ere forward you proceed My princes frowns you haue good cause to dreed But when our men tride and aduenterous Threatning enimies plast before them see To hazard battell hard and dangerous They ment ordaining ech thing feateouslie Though pressing enimies far more numbers be Sir Iohn Comes his soldiers all armed Then to assist great need required Sir Perducas Dalbreth sir Robert Cheney Passe all before requesting safe they might Go by in peace the Frenchmen fierce denie Then suddenly terrible was the fight Back to the towne our men were beaten right Nandon of Begerant and Burg of Bertvell Had rid all night and came in time so well Vnto their aid as foes were take or slaine Rich prisoners were woon and fienced Vpon their faiths which lost our men there gaine For with their othes the Pope dispenced Wherof our captains to me complained And wild redresse in this they thoughten wrong To me of Arms the iudgement did belong To cipher plainly how braue Lords did cum gaily beseen with valiant numbers How Lord Dalbreth was countermand his sum Of thousand spears wherat he woonders Or else what lets peect buisnes sunders Or all winter t'shew the princes charge Where things past count asking recitall large With buisnes much we pearse into Nauare With toiling more some streights we got beand Which asperous foule and stiepâ—e doubtles are Mantled with snow was all
Now blooddie broil and now the battails ceace To Acquitaine returned noble prince And into England fresh valerous Iohn Sir Bertram Glesquine prisoner euer since Our fights to me remaining once alon In chamber with the prince who askt anon How he fard and what most people said That he so long as prisoner with him staid Well most gratious prince he answered For though prisoner sworne I do abide It is with knight most nobliest vertued I know and diuers people talke beside Vnto my praise you doubt to let me ride Be God not so the Prince replied pay A hundred thousand franks and go your way He tooke the word and soone the monie paid Against my minde yet do I not denie The deed but sure he should haue staid Till Dan Peter sent vs safe the monie He promisd by him impeached suer t' be Wanting which a fowage was desierd To pay the soldiers for this iourney hierd This taxe displeasd our Gascoyns maruels much Who flat refusd at all to pay the same In open words at princes doings gruch In counsaile chamber at Paris him they blame With ticing words cold Charls his minde they flame He venters t'send the prince a sommoning At Paris court to make appeering Sterne looking Lion hauing run his race Safe home retierd still resting in his den The prickeard foxe should send t is noble grace Bidding him come and make account as then Of wrongs he wrought or threaten him to pen In bower fierce Lion fell couragious Would storme at bringer sender meruelous Tossing his head this answer to the fox Poore hartles wight thy father haue I had In grasping pawes giuing his kindred knox For lended life thy sier fauor had What desperate furie vexed thee so mad My onely name me thinks should cause thee quaile Beware I plucke not off thy bushing taile For head thou lt saue within some peeuish hole Neere like to this the princes speaking The same his case with words he doth controle King Charls and saith his to Parris comming Shalbe with helmet his head inclosing Armd threescore thousand waiting him vpon Letters in haste he writ to me anon Int Constantine first when this speech was had Of taxe I went for much I hit disleeke I knew the Gascoyns would account it bad Being great commanders furthermore would seeke Redresse and here we lost more in a weeke Then was recouered the remnant of my life And thus againe began new cause of strife His pleasure knowen right reddie speed I make Attained streight faire Angolesme in hast Smooth sea but late more still then standing lake So roreth as the world it would all wast For Charls defide King Edward at the last So flaming wars were open on ech side To Mountabon commanded I do ride Vnto the French to hold war frontier The Captall Beuff sir Lewes Harcourt went Sir Richard Pontchardon for mars a soldier Whose sables shield siluer plats ysprent We issues make of most knightly euent Two Gascoin Lords warie bushment make Tooke a Seneshall namd sir Thomas Wake Armd in siluer two fair bars of red Three rundels in the lostie chiefe do stand In sable bordure deepely ingreled This venture hap betwixt Lusiguen and Meribell great error soone was fand In so weake riding we closer trouping kept Toward our enimies well appointed stept Vnto Terriers and siege about it laid Raised assaults the which auailed nought Fearing least too long a time we staid Good myners got that so their buisnes wrought The strong foundations of the wals out sought Spoyld was the Towne and greatest numbers slaine We heaped welth and treasure in it gaine Atchiued to Mountabon we retier Sir Eustace Dabscote new come from Nauar Vnto the prince foorth sent by his desier Vs to assist in this braue fronting war In Ermins sheild three hamets red he bare We him receud as fresh as Aprils flower Faire Marques Iuliers onely paramour In true amors liud this knight valerous And Ladies forme in brest close shrined Absent thoughts vewd Ladie glorious With Iulie thinking stout hart it pined And mightie goodly things it shrined For to attempt knight of amorous trade Lou'd Ladies fauor hath more valiant made Sir Robert Canole in Britton rested Where he large lands and heritage possest From thenglish his hart he neuer wrested Euer most true and loyall to vs prest Knowing how the French themselues addrest On vs to win with threescore men at armes Like nomber archers dreadles of their harmes Left Britton and ariud at Rochell Towne Where sir Iohn Deuereux captaine doth remaine Whose gulie armor with faire fes was bowne In cheefe three plats of siluer standen plaine He noblie doth sir Robert intertaine Staid not long doth Angolesme attaine Where of his knights th'prince maks him soueraine And sent him now asscotiat passing well With stirring knights towards vs forth the launce Came to Agen from whence not far doth dwell Sir Perducas Dalbreth that ward for Fraunce Speaking with him preached so by chaunce As English he for euer doth abide Commanding well three hundred by his side So marching they to Darmell siege do lay Strong fortresse and most able to endure Besides in it fiue warlike captains stay Skild in defence and warie garding suer The onely practise cheefe they put in vre I hard of this and those which were with me Thither to wend we shortly all agree But in our way to Mountsac neere we came Strong towne and kept we thought to passe it bie Foure vittaild sommers going vnto the same We met asking they do not ought denie How stood the towne and then we backward wrie Take it and leaue sir Robert Mutton there In siluer shield a cinquefoile blue doth beare Hauing sped we to the siege approched Where sir Robert doth highly vs receaue Well pondring here how little we incroched Of these stout fiue we it and them do leaue Marched to Doume and there assault do heaue Strongly seated by nature and by art But long we staid not ear we thence depart We resting here Chandos my Herauld goes Vnto sike prince from vs of credence sent Declaring t' him the order of our foes And other affairs great and importent Willing herein his gratious plaisment He gone Gauaches Foyns and Rochmadore We gaind and make them English subiects swore Toward Villa frank we swingd and countrie spoile Faire townes strong castles by treatie or by force We take with flame doth champion countrie broile In Thoulasine we prosecute like course And Villa frank was take with some remorse The Duke of Aniow fell angrie in his mind At vs but yet no remedie durst find My Herauld come in quercy doth vs find Tribulation greatly we had brought The countrie in to learne the princes mind We readie his pleasure hauing sought Desiering all his mind should whole be wrought Accordingly to Angolesme we goe Prest to depart we let our Captains knoe What towne strong fortresse so from French they take For keeping it to haue at all no dout We
strongly would such speed vnto them make That angred enimies should not get them out Doutles they were a braue and ventrous rout Ortigo Wisk and Bernard Delasale Who ouer a wall like anie cat would scale These three the castle of Belperch do gaine Olde Queene of Fraunce Duke Borbons mother there Made her abode great cause had she to plaine Such companions of her rulers were How so she plaine hard Fortune must she bere Ortigo Launt and Bernard Wysk I weene With sale right happie thus to rule a Queene From Quercy we from Burdell so retierd Both erles of Cambrig and of Penbroke It hauing wone as greatly they desierd Where sir Iohn Mountague at the skirmige toke Two brethren Batfoyls oft their hoste awoke At Angolesme arriued all by chaunce To ech the prince shewd lowly semblance Still purposing fierce foes with war to vex The Roch sur you a fortresse mightie strong Which enimies held we thought to ours tanex Iohn Bloudew captaine was the French among The peece toth Duke of Aniow did belong Thinking it against our power sure Ablie well one yeare strong to indure Attempting we gaind it in little space Madlie displeasd the fretting Duke his minde Poore Bloudew found with him but little grace For in a sacke some drowned do him finde In which the Duke some caused him to binde We returned of wished purpose sped The castle won and captaine Bloudew ded Magnanimous Proteselaue that desirde The threatning Troians first for to inuade Therby vnto perpetuall fame aspirde Of loftie honor gaining highest grade Before the best the ventring way he made So oftentimes when men do most dispise Their liues faire fame ene then doth highest rise Our Proteselaue at Poicters that vs led Sir Ieams Audley thrise renowmed knight Sharpe sicknes tooke causing him keepe his bed Wherin he dide with praises euer bright His funerall the prince caused be dight Most solemly himselfe in person there At Poycters where his bodie we Iteer Thus changing time about doth changes wheele Present in office I do him succeed Shortly making stoutest Frenchmen feele My being there I euer found good speed Which greatly made them stand of me in dreed Although bright sun heer Poyctow seemd to lose Yet many deemd another to them rose For Seneschall of Poyctow was I made Int ' Aniow then I ment to make a rode Gathered knights and men of warlike trade Th'erl of Penbroke at Mortain made abode Chandos my herauld vnto him he yode To ride with me him most humbly praying With his command he sent me the denaying At first he seemed gladly to agree AEmulous som about him that attend Affirmd the honor would remaine to me Of his iourney and farther do defend That by himselfe it honor was to wend. A batchelor I respecting his regard So he refusd but yet I forward fard Foorth sending hauing gathered som my friends Sir Thomas Percie who in sun bright banner raisd A blew lion rampine which difference fends From challenging sir Thomas Spencer plaisd With me to ride sir Eustace Dabscote seasd His launce and came sir Thomas Balester All in good will the French stout to master Sir Iohn Crinell sir Steuen Gouseton Three roses gold in Azurd shield had pend Sir Neal Loring who fairly Arms put on Quarterly white and red of guls a bend Sir Richard Dargenton doth knightly wend Who faire in Corall bar as we beheld Three siluer cups bright glistering in the field Burned Aniow bout Loundonoys we bide Right plentious rich and good the countrie was By Crewse green banks we Thourayn ouer ride Burning wasting that many shrike alas Thence to Vicount Rochaorts land we pas Sir Lewis Sanxer I hard did rest vs near Who Campain banner did sans difference bear Toth Earl this caused me to send againe Desierous this Marshall fresh to vew Created for old was sir Dandrehen Notwithstanding th'erl all this well knew He yet to me excuses framd of new I discontent for orgule that he did Refuse dischargd and back to Poycters rid Earl Iohn of Penbroke gatherd soldiers bold Entring spoild where late I left before A manche of rubie richly set in gold In banner ventelan en la vent he bore Rochaorts lands he burneth very sore One day by noon vnto Puirone he came The Frenchmen well aduised had the same Well purposing to rest him there all night Dismounting soone as one that dreaded nought His people all from off their horses light Some herbage for themselues and them they sought But here they all close in a trap were cought Sir Lewis Sanxer for the noueltie Of his new office sought for dignitie He knew the erl couragious gaie and yoong More sooner for to be intrapt then I His folks assaild the foemate was too strong At entrance they our Ladie Sanxer crie Of therls troupe a hundred and twentie die At greeting first therle him soone adrest Assembling fast his masd freends the neerest Sir Thomas Percey sir Baldwine Freuile Perceiuing strength and foes furiousnes Into a house their men within a while They drew the French making great ioyousnes Apperceiuing them well so succourles Saieng they should most dearely and suerly pay For their misdeeds before they went away So fierce assaile so fine defence againe So strong attempt and then so sure resist Such eger climing such tumbling downe amaine More briefer worke no soldier euer wist That afternoone the French their purpose mist Wearie and toild at night they make retrait The morrow morne determind of their fait Ne could they scape so hardlie inclosed The French men thought they had them sure and fast Good watch they kept least any escaped Distressed erl strange misse auenture cast And found himselfe oppressed sore at last For vittaile none nor comfort ought at all But helpfull hands and bad thin stonie wall At silents hower and darkest of the night Good squier he cald in whom he trusted much Intreating him with swiftest speed he might To Poycters considering danger such From needfull iourney true squier doth not gruch From postern parting wandred vp and downe All night could finde no way to Poycters towne Till broad day his horse then wearie was Yet traueling by nine to me he came Found me kneeling as custome vsd at masse The state of his left Lords doth plainly frame Repeating oft the erle of Penbroks name Praieng aide greatly I repinde At former act so easely not inclinde Pawsing a space then dinner was prepard And I disposd to dine before I went About this time the fight exceeding hard The erle a second squier to me hent Willing him ride ragd foes for to preuent From finger taking his knowne ring of gold Chandos from me salute praie him he wold Giue me releefe so hardly in distresse By storming foes who many ladders brought Right egerly ascending to oppresse Them toild within so vertuously they wrought That desperate climers deerely climing bought So well induring as woonder was to see So weake a place defended strong to bee
This knightly erl was as couragious As full of comfort in extremitie As any Lord that armes battelous Euer put on to quaile his enimie As braue defending prooued most plainlie Daring do what to tride armes belongeth As proudest he largest praise out throngeth This latter squier entring in my hall On bended knee doth foorth sad message tell I staide halfe dind pondring said I shall Be highly blamd and sure I do not well To suffer him lost whose valor doth excell So high allide companion at assaies To my good Lord of Cambrig woorthy praise Himselfe great Lord extraght from noble birth Presently commanding ech to horse Vnto my knights words full of pleasing mirth Most glad to see me bent to sweet remorse Grand gallop we hold a hastned corse Which newes was brought vnto the French by chaunce Fast comming I was with two hundred launce All sodenly they left oft to assaile Long wearie erle and fast away they flie These fresh gallant of hoped purpose faile Thinking not good my comming to abie Or toyled sore a battaile for to trie My drawing neere our labred friends do iudge When fast they saw away their foes to trudge Then leaping on such horses as they had Leau Puirone mounting some two on one Some walke a foote whose chaunces were so bad To lose their horse way with the Frenchmen gone In this estate we encounter them anon Slo comming onward where as great semblaunce And shew of loue made at incountraunce Saluings done low thanks both giue and take Gaie erle as blith as scaped bird from snare To Mortayn glad his reddie way doth make Accounting me cheefe cause of his welfare Saith to his frends we much beholding are To Chandos at great pleasure doth recount His scape my aide to Poycters I remount Ech one which from aduentures dangerous Is safe escaped by good accident Though losse were much beseeming dolerous Yet selfe escaping is woes bannisment The greater danger greater meriment Forpassed trauell most pleasant telling Sweet is fresh aire to lost prisners smelling Pale enuie greeues when matter wants to grieue At others weale pines more then owne mischaunce Ioyes when disaster hap doth all depriue Some mortall wight of happie pleasaunce Full sadly beweeping ech faire semblaunce Bad fauorite of blacke infernall diuell Gladly delighting in most wicked euill Cancred malice sound reasons enimie Vile enuies cheefest agent of her thought Wide blasting bellowes to raging furie For wilfull selfe mischiefe hath out sought Where ginnings bad there endings euer nought As true loues flame the minde to honor boundeth So malice rage the sences all confoundeth As lurcking sparke in hept straw inclosed Feeling winde quicke life of cresment blowing Stealing at first to strong flambes disposed His late couer with furious bestowing Both selfe and couers sooner ore throwing So lurking malice cares not selfe to burne So that others with selfe she ouerturne No state so holly free from enuies bait No man so voud but malice seeks to raine Prieng occasion the humor doth awaite Of better sort glad if she can then gaine To take reuenge to weakest humors straine Her onely heauen in black reuenge doth rest As soueraine good reuenge she counteth best An Abbey strong seuen leags from Poycters stood Called Saint Saluine a place of some defence Wherein there celd a Monke of enuious moode That his superior hated through pretence Of buisnes some one day he got him thence To the roch of Poisay where did remaine Two captains French right glad of me to gaine Caring not what or how so they might haue Knowing wicked monke to these two he came In close darke night to come of them doth craue He would restore the towne to them agame Sir Lewis saint Iulian Carlonet frame Their wils to his the towne is so betraid The knight it kept and there as captain staid False cursed monke true causer of my death What made thee gad thy ciuill cloister out Sweet contemplation vowd not thee staieth Monsterous furie stird thy thought no dout Vsing thy worke to bring my end about Hadst thou been of blessed Barnards trade Good thoughts diuine had thee more honest made I whom slie fortune neuer once did mate In high dispite tooke so foule treason don Wicked treason wrought my luckles fate The vilest plague that raineth vnder sun Goodnes neuer by thy bad working don Practising thoughts had I lost place t'regaine Forcing not how or by what subtile traine To armed knights and squiers in my charge Bout this reprince I secretly do send Bold Poytouins to me in bounties large Of louing thoughts which freely they did lend Vnto my requesting soon condescend On Newyeers eue the period of the yeere They commen are to me they loued deere Sir Richard Dangle sir Lewis Harcourt came Two golden bars that bare in field of guls Pons Dargenton Pount Chardons must I name Sir Thomas Percy the Rochelos that ruls Sir Baldwine Freuile from me he not reculs A patie crosse of red in gold he bare On which fiue losinges varrey placed are When ech braue knight with his bold ventring band Ariued were three hundred spears we found With iudgement much our great buisnes scand Poycters we left and swift away we bound None but we chiefe commanders knew the ground Where well I thought to bring fine feat to pas By wondrous hap I much deceaued was Approched close vnto saint Saluins wals In deepe diches buisie to ascending Our horses giuen to wayting boys there cals A shirling horne with sharp sownd eccoing We were discride I warely doubting Said we haue faild and willed to remount What worlds deuise is woorthy good account What practises we mortall men deuise God doth dispose as likes his pleasure best Our wise conceats right foolish doth he prise Vaine the soundest iudgements of our brest His high decrees permanently do rest We platforms lay but sequell neuer see Example plainly doth appear in me Rebounding horne shirl hard the worst I dout Casting indeed my thoughts beond the Moone Vngratious fortune me to my teeth doth flout Making my deepe pondrings all vndoone My long studies were confounded soone Mightie God my dooings laught to scorne Daunting my courage by th sounding of a horne The reasons why it sounds that proper hower From Poysay roch with onely fortie launce Came Carlonet to seeke sir Lewis power Ariuing here with vs by luckles chaunce With ioyned soldiers pointed to aduaunce This night in t Poyctow hoping there to win His horne doth winde his friend should let him in Had I taken the oportunitie Faire offered by these captains absence The towne had I surprised speedilie And well atchiued forewished pretence Against decreed fate finde no defence Wight euer could why should I hope alone To finde the grace that erst found neuer none Of these two Frenchmen their foorth outriding We ignorant euerie one retier Vnto Chauigney there purposd I some byding Good knights of Poyctow courteouslie desier I ft pleased me t'command their seruice hier I render
From one to thother thus she hurls the ball A goodly custome of our passed wars That passing faire and Christian like did seeme For euer at the end of hottest iars The conquests selfe so much we did esteeme That ransom better than spilt blood we deeme On solem oth we oft great prisoners trust That would redeem their gaged promise iust For curtesie at end of battels rage We Englishmen and French are greatly famde For cruell handling and slauish vsage Rough Almains and sterne Spaniards greatly blamde Vnciuill rude and beastly were they namde Vndoutedly braue knight most valerous Vnarmed is most sweet and courteous With baissed launce the knights approch amaine Foorth stept the French willing them to hold For as tane prisoners they do all remaine My heauie seruants that same thing haue told When coummen knights saw me lie on the mold In wounded state they greatly do bemone My luckles death that heer was slaine alone Sharpe brinish teares trickle from their eies Some wring their hands making full pitious griefe Some fill the eare with their resounding cries My speciall seruants such whose sole reliefe Stay comfort aid and succor was I chiefe I heard one waile my hard and luckles chaunce And in his mone my praises high aduaunce Sweete gentle knight he said faire peerles flower Of Mars his traine good valiant champion stout What wicked wight to forge bad gleaue had power Whereby bright lampe of life was striken out Blacke colie smith when first thou wents about This toole to forge I would thou hadst ben mad Dan Vulcans luck or woorse mischaunce hadst had Braue England neuer bred a brauer knight Puissant Fraunce hath felt no fierceser foe Fairer conditionde neuer liuing wight More curtesies no earthly man did knoe More finer wit more iudgement none did shoe In his attempts more honors none hath gaind By high exployts then those thou hast attaind From out our bunch our Orients pearle is gon From treasure ours our rarest iewell lost From iuorie ours stolne is our whitest bon Reft from our welth rich thing of greatest cost Of all our pillars falne is most surest post Good Chandos slaine I saie no more but this Best English knights thy presence much will mis Companions bold adiutors of thy acts Captains stout whose harts with thee did dwell Soldiers true the furtherers of thy facts For thy mischaunce their pleasures will expell As onely he they loued deerely well This speech I hard but could not speake againe Oppressed I so much with dolefull paine Right pensiuely resorteth to my minde Lord Cleremount slaine at Poycters feild Not far from hence sir Charls of Bloys I finde My conscience neere whom I from peace withheild Now I as he lay tumbled by my sheild Ech captaine that doth slaie when he may saue Some blooddie end must euer looke to haue More praisefull vertue in a conquerer Then mansuetie is none to be found More famous neuer any victorer Then those whose acts do breath good gentle sound Loth tyrant hatefuls name vpon the ground As thundring storme suffers smooth calme at last Well intreating should be when battails past Vertuous clemencie spareth life from death When gastly Mors attacheth with sharpe dart The onely thing dasht mind in quiet sleath From crueltie is free to haue the hart Sweete soule it makes most ioyfully depart A princely thing the yeeldeds life to spare Most manly minde in victor doth declare On sheilds and pauish laied warely Borne to Mortimer plast on softned bed My wounded hed vnarmed charely And salues applied to that which freshly bled In dolerous plight I laie thus sore bested But in the space of fowr and twentie howers Foorth flew my soule to faire Elisian bowers The English they lament my sodaine losse Some Frenchmen ioyed much at my mischaunce Because I woonted was with them to tosse In warlike wise to their anoyaunce My fortunes fauors they thought abundaunce Frends English loud because in me they found Bountie valure and vertue to abound Foes French feared from hence growed their hate Vile giddie fortune laugh vntill thou burst Triumph and ioy that thus thou gaues a mate To me shewing hatefull spite at woorst Who trusts thy fauns is senceles mad and curst Toling me on vnto my sharpe decay Setting my sun and closing vp my day At prosperous things thy leuell dost thou ame Proud though thou hast thus foild me in the feild No fretting time shall yet decay my name Thou strengthles art bright glory to ore weild But vertuous fame thy spite obscureth seild All mortall men be subiect to mishap But cheefely those that sit in fortunes lap I Chandos felt the force of fortunes power How fickle she how soone she doth decay In greatest brauery me lesse then in an hower She did confound as here perceaue you may At Chauigney if I had made my stay What I desirde had come vnto my hand For Frenchmen had been taken and their band Or being come if that I had not slid And so receud my fatall deadly blo Or that my vysore closed downe had bid Or Percy had of my aduenture kno What do I here of ifs fond resons sho My dismall day my latest time was doon My oyle all spent and hastie course out run My death bewaild mongst Lords and noble dames For that in me much noblenes they found Full many a knight my great misfortune blames To whom my curtesie often did abound For my large fame about the world did sownd A batchelers life pursuing armes I liud In countries cause that hastie death depriud What glorious praise deserues that woorthy wight Whose armd bodie as bulwark gainst the foe Dispising life in throngs of foes doth fight For cuntries cause and sweetest sweet bestow Though bodies die wide do their praises gro Seld well got honor sufferd is to die But memorized liues perpetually I count not my past death vnfortunate Because I was in my kings quarrell slaine But that when least I thought of fortunes mate Alone I was brought to my finall baine Why God so would the reasons shewed I plaine Though like offence on earth God pardoneth Great dangers is of that still lasting death For though vile murtherer florish as a palme Fast planted in faire Iordans meddows flore And goodlike daies passe foorth in pleasant calme And bended peoples knee him doth adore Great kingdome rules from one toth other shore Yet douted is it that eternally He is condemnd to hels perplexitie Wherefore good captains sprong of English race That faire atchiue makes Lords of life or death To yealded foe shew woonted English grace Before you kill do as olde prouerbe saith Talke eate drinke sleepe and often take your breath Ear you execute thing of importaunce Then seldome will ensue repentaunce Rare is the vertue hurt not to reharme Great fortitude offences to remit Shining glorie to strong conquering arme To sheath his sword when ended fighting fit Which happie fames doth so togither knit As wering age can neuer waste
haue waid They thinke to vs no good I easly see But tole vs from the strength wherin we bee Suddenly back vnto his men he hide And fight he would whatseuer should betide And boldly spake such as my person loue Rest not behind with battelous glaue in fist He forward floong but when I saw him moue Of great presumption that deed I tooke and wist The knight too far the enimies meaning mist I frowning said he fights not without me Our foes in order swiftly turned be This English knight right brauely dealt his blowes Amongst the Brittons with couragious stower With mightie force he many ouerthrowes In haste I came to aid him with my power At first our foes do find their turning sower Saint George we cride our Ladie Glesquine they So fell and bitter gan this mortall frey Now when the battel 's strong assembled were Th'arch priest streight departed from the field Willing his men his banner on to bere And crie his cries as if his place he held Gainst me himselfe his Arms would neuer weld He promise kept well made to me before For which of treasons some accusd him sore Sir Iohn Ionel who first this fray began Payed for rashnes at too high a rate Mad furie that confoundest euery man Who wisdome wants thy raging to abate Doth oft too soone his error find too late When strength and blood and life and all is lost Purchast too deare the wit that so much cost Who wars doth vse must nought at all be greeud To haue the worse or conquerd be in field For he that triumphs most of all atcheeud Hath eftsoons lost his strong resisting shield Vnconstant fortune is constant very sield Losse is no shame nor to be lesse then foe As selfe esteemes ech man is euen soe This hardy knight sore wounded was and dide Who had before delt thundring strokes amaine Lord Beumont French among the dead doth bide Sir Baldwine Danekine here likewise slaine They bought it deare before the place they gaine My ventrous men stroue with commended pride Presuming victory would with them abide Th'instructed thirtie found me where I deale So huge and mightie bloes as that no plate No hardned steele no quilt nor warped meale Could make resist but yeelded open gate To my sharpe axe my bloes so heuie sate But here these thirtie sease me in the fray And by fine force they bear me thence away Fast to the rescue crie my friends apace When they perceud me rauisht in this wise Much broyling there much foyning for a space Forth ' rescue some and some to saue their prise But foes preuaile as earst they did deuise To Vernon then I was transport in hast And there in saftie strong and suerly plast As much respect they tooke to win the field Such heedie care was had lest I were slaine The noble mind with murther very seld His fame and estimation will distaine His foe may liue and ransome yeeld againe To saue when one may slay an enimie Is chiefest vertue praisd in cheualrie From Vernon t'Parris with ioy I was conueid Where tharchpriest of the king is fouly blamde For his depart but all the matter weid Although the Lords of Fraunce him much defamde Yet holpe I much t' excuse him badly namde The matter furthered for that he lately had In Burgoyne slaine foure hundred robbers bad What harme tooke I through much mistrustfulnes Toward him that did my faithfull friend remaine Calling his truth in question questionles That faire my fauor sought to entertaine His carefull message flatly I disdaine Preiudicating his intendiment Was for to worke me some foule bad euent Yet time discouered his fidelitie And my outragious rash mistrusting Great mischiefe bred through wicked ielousie Of frendly honest thoughts often working The minde from truth by bad misdeeming The friend suspected without giuing cause Is breach sometime of truest trueloues lause Tharchpriest he sent vnto me for my good But I refused to heare his message Being distempered in my cholericke moode Which bare the rule then vnto my dommage Reason I taste the follie of my rage Yet now we talked at Parris being And good leasure had of cold agreeing For by the meanes of Lord Dalbreth I went About the citie where I pleased best The coward Charls so cruellie was bent Against Lord Saqueuile with me distrest As he cut off his noble cheefest crest Lord Ganuile at that present time had dide But that his sonne a meane did well prouide Who notice gaue vnto this king of Fraunce That if he vsd t' is father any tort Or that he died reprocht with sad mischaunce The Lord Lauall a man of great resort His prisoner now would vse in equall sort By this braue deed this noble sonne did saue His fathers life they sought for to depraue Renowmed act well woorthie woorthie sonne For parents life to hazard life and all Careles striuing owne selfe to be vndon Rather then suffer so his fathers fall No danger strange he danger ought to call That sonne or friend desireth to be namd Suffering father friend by death defamd I well haue seene a master guide his barke When blustring winds and tumbling waues did rage Sauing himselfe and friends with care and carke Vntill the swelling surges did aswage This skyphier haue I seene through dotage To sand his ship in calme and quiet floud When neither blasts nor tides his course withstood More harder much in compas good to liue When careles heed our minde hath whole possest And sense to daintie pleasure quite is giue Then when we are with anguishment distrest In troublous times we hide our guidment best For hundred vice the thoughts doth conquerd make When bathing hart doth floting pleasure take As by my selfe a patterne of reproofe Who well did saile when fretting tide did thret From sholes and flats I warie lay aloofe No gaping fish no hoped praie could get My leueld course by carde and compas set Yet did I ground when least was winde and tide Strike on the cliues in danger to haue dide For whilst at Parris prisoner I remaine In banding pleasure void of warines The king and nobles me sweetly entertaine So that I furthered much their buisnes Holpe to perswade a band of sikernes And peace betwixt the Kings Nauare and Fraunce So was I quite of ransome and finaunce The Lord Dalbreth full often for me spoke And greatly holpe the battaile of Alroy Which was performd with manie a blooddie stroke Which to king Charls brought little cause of ioy Yet treaties had and faire exchanges coy Which all fell out to further my desier I was redeemd as prisoner could requier Subtile Charls shewed me great signes of loue Castle Denemoux with thappurtnance gaue Willing my seruice for his more behoue His pension rich far more then I did craue I homage yeeld for these rewards I haue Into Acquitaine to the prince I came Who hearing this full sharpely doth me blame And said I was too woondrous couetous Lands to
conueid To England where great ransom he desiers When Chatelon his mischaunce had weid Back in a ship in stealing wise he streid This same the cause why he so swift did pas From friends when medling with Gomigines was King Edward his death I heard reported Who gloriously in knightly dignitie Had raind first noble sonne departed Which Hector like with great triumphancie Had conquerd kings through magnanimitie Then followed father woorthie such a sonne A shining sun which still bright glorie won The founder of our high fraternitie The fortresse of a firme concordance The fauor of right noble soueraintie The perfect pledge of true assurance The constant gage of goodly ordenance The founder of the Azurd garter dide With honor Ioue so long let th' order bide The strong incursions sir Hue Caueley made Then Callis captaine were vnto me told How sir Iohn Harleston doth fierce inuade Captaine of Guins some did to me vnfold And how at Arde Gomigines did hold Exploiting well of braue attempts I hard But oh my selfe from fair atchiuements bard My closure I with great impatience tooke Perplexed thoughts oppresse me euery hower This vile restraint I heauily do brooke And bitter sighes continuall foorth I power Right safely shut within this warding tower Still in danger euery day of death Least melancholious griefe would stop my breath If thousand marchants venter into Ind Seeking forraine stroud for wished gaine And only one his ship hath left behind Through wrack which peeuish fortune did constraine How could it choose but inly breed his paine To see the rest in such a reioicing For that he hopt now greeues at the loosing For fellowes many in distressednes Is to the greeuance much releasment Far lesse by ods he thinks his wretchednes That sees with his the tears of many spent To saddest woes it is much easement When others with like griefe as ours do mone And that we are not wracked all alone All other captains my selfe excepting Of ech calling had their deliuerie Though somtimes they staid th'expecting Being not wrought to wish most speedilie Yet ear the end it chaunced still to be It was my fortune and not deseruing That thus I lay in prison staruing Past hope I make a vertue of my need With pining patience I my griefe support Desiered death comes on with wished speed I drooping passe as one stroke alemort This hard restraint was vnto me more tort Than sharpest death that tirant might deuise My swelling mind could halfe so sore agrise Thus long I liud I thought it was too long All hopeles of relinquishing my care Or relaxment from loth prison strong Vnles on booke I would full solemn swear Against the crowne of Fraunce no Arms to bear I flat refusd me leuer were to die Than to abiure my English loyaltie Heere prooud I plaine that force no harts could win Heere tride I true that proffers nought preuaile Heere was it seen loue forst not of a pin Sweet libertie the mind her greats assaile No luerments wrought my constant mind to faile No no my Gascoine bodie bare an English hart Not mooueable by fortunes ouerthwart And in my smart it oft did straine a smile To thinke how Charls my libertie did dreed He doubted least I would within a while Some broiling wars and battels newly breed For quaking fear his hart did euer feed How much the English excelled in the war So much the French in treaties past them far For by the Parley still they somewhat got I leading foorth my life all malecontent In smoking sighs which out I daily shot But for my soule I thought it pertinent Which giuen was and must be permanent Most quiet and sweet harmonie to make Of discords all and all the world forsake Fore passed life I ouer canuassing Found my great sins exceeding numberous Subiected to fraile natures trauasing Ore whelmd vnlesse by mercie wonderous We saued were in world so comberous By sweetely Lord that straied sinners sought And perisht soules through blessed torment bought And he diuers waies deuinely worketh To bring vs in the compas of his fold Out of the which what worldling dieth Perisheth as sage deuines haue told He grant vs all our selues therein to hold Which made himselfe a subiect for our sin Yet Lord of heauen earth and all therein Oh how good God vs often suffereth With worldly wit our selues to iniurie Chaffring as occasion offereth Respecting not the end till sodainely Repentaunce comes our frendly enimie And then we crie if this had not been don Then had not fates so foule against vs run If I had not perswaded Iohn of Gaunt For to make choise to Spanish marriage Which thing our buisnes French did greatly daunt For he tended as is common vsage To owne aduancement and aduantage I had not lean he me would haue redeemd How difficult so ear the matter seemd And from first time I welded glorious arms Full carefull I least murther should attaint My fame with bad and blacke reprochfull charms Of hellish rumors to ages to depaint Through murther many captains are distaint This prouerbe vsd mongst some I highly hate A hedlesse man doth seldome breed debate But often times for cruell murther don God stirreth vp our friends vnto our harme And father hath been slaughtered by his son And brother slaine with brothers blouddy arme Oft for one murther thousand men will swarme Whom greatest God doth vse as instruments For sharpe reuenge of murtherers torments Most happie knight that vseth temperance So in past life that he be not defilde With murtherers name which works anoyance Through world of ages badly be reuilde And lasting heaps of slander hath vp pilde In quarrels iust whilst foes resisting bin To slay them then in fighting is no sin No man of life I euer did depraue In my cold bloud when striuing fight was don In hottest wars I willed bloud to saue Whereby among my foes great praise I won The cheefst thing God hateth vnder sun Is murther and for mercy bloud to spill Bloud crieth for bloud the prouerbe runneth still Reuenge on hatefull murther doth attend And slie occasion doth so warely watch As bloud for bloud with earth doth fouly blend Merciles plagues this blacke reuenge doth hatch When parties selfe of plagues tasts but a smatch To generations three or fower they run Till all the brood and ofspring be vndun Oh heauenly God that long didst lend me space My former faults committed to deplore Fiue yeeres I did in lothed prison pace Which my proud nature did too much abhore That so I tamed was I thee addore I mercy loud and thou didst mercy lend Sweet mercy far more then man may offend Receaue my soule Lord to thy gouernance Most richly since from hell thou it redeemd I flat renounce all worldly pleasance Yea those vaine ioies that I so high esteemd How lothsome now that earst so likefull seemd Lord since I come thy promise is not old Receaue me where the ioies may not be told LENVOY Thus closed was his burning lampe of life That glorious shone in knightly dignitie Here was the period set of all his strife Conclusion of his fatall destinie Lanterne sometime of noble cheualrie Dreaded champion whilst the fraie did last Louely conqueror at th end of battails blast In prison dide this most valiant knight Renoumd and dred for magnanimitie His funerall king Charls causd be dight At Parris in estate most solemnly Of barrons knights and praieng clergie A nobler one could scarcely there be found Within the French or in the English ground The king of England lost a trustie hart The king of Fraunce a stout couragious fo The warlike countrie Gascoine cheefest part When thou braue knight wast reft her bowels fro Thy glistering fame about the world shall glo As bright as star set in faire welkings face The starrie skie thy fittest dwelling place For vertue good transcends the decked skie Enstalde in throne beond ech twinckling star No time day night obscures hir glorious eie Ech vading substance so she passeth far Mongst cheefest knights extold for noble war Thou houldst thy seat within sweet heauens rest In paradice prepared for the blest Almightie God that oft hast England blest With glorious triumphs ouer enimie In thy puissance victorie doth rest And not in mans weake plotting policie Giue t' our Captains in their true cheualrie Like constant vertue truth and courage bold That Chandos and the Captall true did hold FINIS WILLIAM WYRLEY Act. Apost Cap. 28. Num. cap. 2. Num. ca. 31. Num. cap. 16. Iosue lib. cap. 4. Num. cap. 27. Num. cap. 26. Counter changed to Sir Walter Deuereux the elder house Arnaldin Barnardine Sir Aimon de Pommiers the Lord of Courton Sir Balwine Danekin Sir Arnole Canole brother to sir Robert Canole Yoonger brother to sir Lewis Robersart Sir Iohn Deuereux and sir Eustace Dabscote Meignill of the north Of Poiwike Edward the 3. first founder of the noble order of the Garter