THE Worthines of Wales VVherein are more then a thousand seuerall things rehearsed some set out in prose to the pleasure of the Reader and with such varietie of verse for the beautifying of the Book as no doubt shal delight thousands to vnderstand Which worke is enterlarded with many wonders and right strange matter to consider of All the which labour and deuice is drawne forth and set out by Thomas Church-yard to the glorie of God and honour of his Prince and Countrey ¶ Imprinted at London by G. Robinson for Thomas Cadman 1587. ⧠To the Queenes most Excellent Maiestie Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England Fraunce and Ireland c. Thomas Church-yard wisheth alwayes blessednes good fortune victorie and worldly honour with the encrease of quiet raigne vertuous lyfe and most Princely gouernment MOST Redoubted and Royall Queene that Kings doe feare Subiects doe honour strangers seeke succour of and people of speciall spirit acknowledge as their manifold books declare I least of all presume to farre either in presenting matter to be iudged of or to aduenture the cracking of credite with writing any thing that may breede mislike presents not well taken in the deepe iudgement of so high and mightie a Princesse But where a multitude runnes forward forced through desire or fortune to shewe duetie or to see what falleth out of their forwardnes I stepping in among the rest am driuen and led by affection to followe beyond the force of my power or feeling of any learned arte So being thrust on with the throng I finding my self brought before the presence of your Maiestie but barely furnished of knowledge to whom I must vtter some matter of delight or from whom I must retourne all abashed with open disgrace Thus Gracious Lady vnder your Princely fauour I haue vndertaken to set foorth a worke in the honour of VVales where your highnes auncestors tooke name and where your Maiestie is as much loued and feared as in any place of your highnesse dominion And the loue and obedience of which people so exceedes and surpasseth the common good-will of the worlde that it seemeth a wonder in our age wherein are so many writers that no one man doth not worthely according to the countries goodnes set forth that noble Soyle and Nation Though in deede diuers haue sleightly written of the same and some of those labours deserueth the reading yet except the eye be a witnes to their workes the writers can not therein sufficiently yeeld due commendation to those stately Soyles and Principalities For which cause I haue trauayled sondry times of purpose through the same and what is written of I haue beheld and throughly seene to my great contentment and admiration For the Citties Townes and goodly Castles thereof are to be mused on and merites to bee registred in euerlasting memorie but chiefly the Castles that stand like a company of Fortes may not be forgotten their buyldings are so princely their strength is so greate and they are such stately seates and defences of nature To which Castles great Royaltie and liuings belongeth and haue bene and are in the giftes of Princes now possessed of noble men and such as they appoint to keep them The royalties whereof are alwayes looked vnto but the Castles doe dayly decay a sorrowfull sight and in a maner remediles But nowe to come to the cōditions of the people to shew somewhat of their curtesie loyalty naturall kindnes I presume your Maiestie will pardon me to speake of for of trueth your highnes is no soner named among them but such a generall reioysing doth arise as maketh glad any good mans hart to behold or heare it it proceeds of such an affectionate fauour For let the meanest of the Court come downe to that countrey he shalbe so saluted halsed and made of as though he were some Lords sonne of that soyle further the plain people thinks it debt duetie to follow a strangers Stirrop being out of the way to bring him where he wisheth which gentlenes in all countries is not vsed and yet besides all this goodnes and great regard there is neither hewe nor cry for a robbery in many hundreth myles riding so whether it be for feare of iustice loue of God or good disposition small Robberies or none at all are heard of there They triumph likewise so much of fidelitie that the very name of a falsifier of promes a murtherer or a theef is most odious among them especially a Traytor is so hated that his whole race is rated at and abhord as I haue heard there report of Parrie and others who the common people would haue torne in peeces if the lawe had not proceeded And such regard they haue one of another that neither in market townes high wayes meetings nor publicke assemblies they striue not for place nor shewe any kind of roysting for in sted of such high stomackes and stoutnes they vse frendly salutations and courtesie acknowledging duetie thereby doing such reuerence to their betters that euery one in his degree is so well vnderctood and honored that none can iustly say hee hath suffered iniurie or found offence by the rude burbarous behauiour of the people These vsages of theirs with the rest that may be spoken of their ciuil maner and honest frame of lyfe doth argue there is some more nobler nature in that Nation then is generally reported which I doubt not but your Highnes is as willing to heare as I am desirous to make manifest and publish the hope whereof redoubleth my boldnes and may happely sheeld me from the hazard of worlds hastie iudgement that condemnes men without cause for writing that they know and praysing of people before their faces which suspicious heads call a kind of adulation but if telling of troth be rebukable and playne speeches be offensiue the ignorant world shall dwell long in errors and true writers may sodaynly sit in silence I haue not only searched sondry good Authors for the confirmation of my matter but also paynfully traueiled to trye out the substance of that is written for feare of committing some vnpardonable fault and offence in presenting this Booke vnto your Highnesse VVhich worke albeit it is but litle because it treateth not of many Shieres yet greatly it shal reioyce the whole Countrey of VVales whē they shall heare it hath found fauour in your gracious sight hath passed through those blessed hands that holds the rayne and bridle of many a stately Kingdome and Terrytorie And my selfe shall reape so much gladnesse by the free passage of this simple labour that hereafter I shall goe through GOD sparing life with the rest of the other Shieres not heere named These things only taken in hād to cause your Highnesse to knowe what puysance and strength such a Princesse is of that may commaund such a people and what obedience loue and loyaltie is in such a Countrey as hereunto hath bin but little spoken
of and yet deserueth most greatest lawdation And in deede the more honorable it is for that your Highnesse princely Auncestors sprong forth of the noble braunches of that Nation Thus duetifully praying for your Maiesties long preseruation by whose bountie and goodnesse I a long while haue liued I wish your Highnesse all the hap honour victorie and harts ease that can be desired or imagined Your Highnesse humble Seruant and Subiect Thomas Churchyard ⧠To euery louing and friendly Reader IT may seeme straunge good Reader that I haue chosen in the end of my daies to trauaile and make discription of Countries whereas the beginning of my youth and a long while after I haue hauÌ„ted the warres and written somewhat of Martiall Discipline but as euery season breedeth a seuerall humour and the humours of men are diuers drawing the mynd to sondrie dispositions so common occasion that commands the iudgement hath set me a worke and the warme good will affection borne in breast towards the worthie Countrey of Wales hath haled me often forward to take this labour in hand which many before haue learnedly handled But yet to shewe a difference in writing and a playnnesse in speech because playne people affects no florishing phrase I haue now in as ample a maner without borrowed termes as I could declared my opinion of that sweete Soyle and good Subiects therof euen at that very instant when Wales was almost forgotten or scarce remembred with any great lawdation when it hath merited to be written of for sondrie famous causes most meete to be honored and necessary to be touched in First the world will confesse or els it shall do wrong that some of our greatest Kings that haue conquered much were borne bred in that Countrey which Kings in their times to the glory of England haue wrought wonders brought great benefites to our weale publicke Among the same Princes I pray you giue me leaue to place our good Queene Elizabeth and pardoÌ„ me withall to commit you to the Chronicles for the seeking out of her Auncestors noble actions and suffer me to shewe a little of the goodnesse gathered by vs from her Maiesties well doing and possessed a long season from her princely and iust dealings An act so noble notorious that neither can escape immortall fame nor shall not passe my pen vnresited Now weigh in what plight was our state when she came first to the Crowne and see how soone Religion was reformed a matter of great moment peace planted and warres vtterly extinguished as the sequell yet falleth out Then behold how she succoured the afflicted in Fraunce let the going to Newhauen beare witnesse and chargeably without breaking of League mainteyned her friends and amazed her enemies Then looke into the seruice and preseruation of Scotland at the siege of Leeth and see how finely the French were al shipped away they being a great power and sent home in such sort that neuer since they had mynd to returne thether againe in that fashion and forme that they sayled towards Scotland at the first Then consider how bace our money was in what short tyme with little losse to our Countrey the bad coyne was conuerted to good siluer and so is like to continue to the end of the world Then in the aduancing of Gods word and good people regard how Rochell was relieued and Rone and other places fouÌ„d cause to pray for her life who sought to purchase their peace and see them in safetie Then thinke on the care she tooke for Flaunders during the first troubles and how that Countrey had bene vtterly destroyed if her Highnes helping hand had not propped vp that tottering State Then Christianly coÌ„ceiue how many mulâ—itudes of strangers she hath giuen gracious countenance vnto and hath freely licensed them to liue here in peace and rest Then paise in an equall ballance the daungerous estate of Scotland once againe when the Kings owne Subiects kept the Castle of Edenbrough against their owne naturall Lord Maister which presumptuous part of Subiects her Highnesse could not abide to behold wherevpon she sent a sufficient power to ayde the Kings Maiestie which power valiantly wonne the Castle and freely deliuered the same to the right owner thereof with all the treasure and prisoners therein Then regard how honourably she hath dealt with diuers Princes that came to see her or needed her magnificeÌ„t supportation and countenance Then looke throughly into the mightinesse managing of all matters gone about and put in exercise princely and yet peaceably since the day of her Highnesse Coronation and you shalbe forced to confesse that she surmounts a great number of her Predecessors and she is not at this day no whit inferiour to the greatest Monarke of the world Is not such a peereles Queene then a comfort to Wales a glorie to England and a great reioysing to all her good neighbours And doth not she daily deserue to haue bookes dedicated in the highest degree of honor to her Highnesse Yes vndoubtedly or els my sences and iudgement fayleth me So good Reader do iudge of my labours my pen is procured by a band of causes to write as farre as my knowledge may leade and my duetie hath no end of seruice nor no limits are set to a loyall Subiect but to wish and worke to the vttermost of power Within this worke are seuerall discourses some of the beautie blessednes of the Countrey some of the strength and statelynesse of their inpregnable Castles some of their trim Townes and fine situation some of their antiquitie shewing from what Kings and Princes they tooke their first name and prerogatiue So generally of all maner of matters belonging to that Soyle as Churches Monuments Mountaynes Valleys Waters Bridges fayre Gentlemens houses and the rest of things whatsoeuer may become a writers pen to touch or a readers iudgement to knowe I write not contenciously to find fault with any or confute the former writers and tyme but to aduaunce and winne credite to the present trueth agreeing and yeelding to all former tymes and ages that hath iustly giuen euery Nation their due and truely without affection hath set downe in plaine words the worthines of plaine people for I honor and loue as much a true Author as I hate and detest a reporter of trifeling fables A true Historie is called the Mistresse of life and yet all Historyographers in writing of one thing agree not well one with another because the writers were not present in the tymes in the places nor saw the persons they make meÌ„tion of but rather haue leaned and listned on the common report than stayed or trusted to their owne experience Strabo a most famous writer findes fault for the like occasion with Erstaotheus Metrodorus Septius Possidonius and Patrocles the Geographer And such discord did arise amoÌ„g writers in tyme past as Iosephus saith against Appio that they reprooued one another by bookes and all men in
amore beneuolentia liberalitate prosequi denique iuxta eximias probitates easdem magnificentiùs ornare decorare quatenus in personis huiuscemodi congestis clarissimis virtutum praemijs ceteri socordia ignauiaque sepositis ad peragenda pulcherrima quaeque facinora laude gloria concitentur Nos ne à maiorum nrō laudatissimis moribus discedere videamur nostri esse officij putamus probatissimū nobis virum qui ob res ab se clarissimè gestas quà m maxima de nobis promeruit condignis honorū fastigijs attollere verè regijs insignire muneribus Strenuum insignem loquimur militē Willūm Herbert Dominum Herbart iam defunctū cuius in regni nostri primordijs obsequia gratissima tum nobis multipliciter impensa cum nrō pro iure decertaretur satis ambiguè obliuisci non possumus accessere de post in hoc vsque temporis continuata seruicia que non parum nobis fuere complacita presertim nuperimis hijs diebus quibus optimum se gessit militem ac non mediocres sibi laudis fame titulos comparauit Hijs equidem iampridē cū Rebellis hostisque nostri Iasper Owini Tedur filliū nuper Pembrochiae se Comitem dicens Walliae partes peruaderet multaque arte ad contra nos statum nostrum vilem populo seditionem concitandum truculentiam moliretur societatis sibi ad eandem rem conficiendam electissimis viris fidelibus nostris arma cepit confligendi copiam hostibus exhibuit adeoque valida manu peruasus ab ipsis partes peruagatus est nusquam eis locum permiserit quo nō eos complicesque affligauerit vires eorūdem fregerit morteque affecerit seu desperantes in fugam propulerit demum Castrum nostrum de Hardelagh nobis ab initio regni nostri contrarium quo vnicum miseris patebat refugium obsidione vallabat quod capi impossible ferebatur cepit inclusos que ad deditionem compulit adiacentem quoque primam omnem nostram Regiae Maiestati rebellem hactenus ad summam obedientiam reduxit Haec itaque sua laudabilia obsequia promeritaque memoriter vt decet intimè recolentes volentesque proinde eundem Willūm condignis honoribus regalibúsque praemijs ornare amplicare sublimare octauo die Septembris anno regni nostri octauo per Chartam nostram de gratia nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia mero motu nostris ipsum Willūm in Comitem Pembrochiae ereximus praefecerimus creauerimus ei nomē statum stilum titulum dignitatem Comitis Pembrochie cum omnibus singulis preëminencijs honoribus ceteris quibuscunque huius statui Comitis pertinentibus siue congruis dederimus concesserimus ipsumque huiusmodi statu stilo titulo honore dignitate per cincturam gladij insigniuerimus realiter nobilitauerimus This was set downe for causes more then one The world beléeues no more than it hath seene When things lye dead and tyme is past and gone Blynd people say it is not so we weene It is a tale deuisde to please the eare More for delight of toyes then troth may beare But those that thinks this may a fable be To Authors good I send them here from me First let them search Records as I haue done Then shall they finde this is most certaine true And all the rest before I here begun Is taken out not of no writers nue The oldest sort and soundest men of skill Myne Authors are now reade their names who will Their workes their words and so their learning through Shall shewe you all what troth I write of now BEcause many that fauoured not Wales parsiall writers and historians haue written set downe their owne opinions as they pleased to publish of that Countrey I therefore a little degresse from the orderly matter of the booke and touch somewhat the workes and wordes of them that rashly haue written more then they knewe or well could proue As learned men hath wrote graue works of yore So great regard to natiue Soyle they had For such respect I blame now Pollydore Because of Wales his iudgement was but bad If Buckanan the Scottish Poet late Were here in sprite of Brittons to debate He should finde men that would with him dispute And many a pen which would his works confute But with the dead the quick may neuer striue Though sondrie works of theirs were little worth Yet better farre they had not bene aliue Than sowe such seedes as brings no goodnesse forth Their praise is small that plucks backe others fame Their loue not great that blots out neighbours name Their bookes but brawles their bable bauld and bare That in disdaine of fables writers are What fable more then say they knowe that thing They neuer sawe and so giue iudgement streight And by their bookes the world in error bring That thinks it reades a matter of great weight When that a tale of much vntroth is told Thus all that shines and glisters is not gold Nor all the bookes that auncient Fathers wrate Are not alo'wd for troth in euery state Though Caesar was a wise and worthie Prince And conquerd much of Wales and England both The writers than and other Authors since Did flatter tyme and still abuse the troth Same for a fee and some did humors feede When sore was healde to make a wound to bleede And some sought meanes their patient still to please When body throwe was full of foule disease The worldly wits that with each tyme would wagge Were caryed cleane away from wisedomes lore They rather watcht to fill an emptie bagge Than touch the tyme then present or before Nor car'd not much for future tyme to come They rould vp tyme like thréede about the thome And when their clue on trifles all was spent Much rotten stuffe vnto the garment went Which stuffe patcht vp a péece of homely ware In Printers shop set out to sale sometyme Which ill wrought worke at length became so bare It neither seru'd for prose nor pleasant ryme But past like that and old wiues tales full vayne That thunders long but neuer brings forth rayne A kynd of sound that makes a hurling noyse To feare young babes with brute of bugges and toyes But aged sires of riper wit and skill Disdaines to reade such rabble farst with lyes This is enough to shewe you my goodwill Of Authors true and writers graue and wise Whose pen shall proue each thing in printed booke Whose eyes withall on matter straunge did looke And whose great charge and labour witnesse beares Their words are iust they offer to your eares Each Nation had some writer in their daies For to aduaunce their Countrey to the Starres Homer was one who gaue the Greekes great praise And honord not the Troyans for their warres Liui among the Romaines wrate right mitch With rare renowne his Countrey to enritch And Pollidore did ply the pen a pace To blurre
grace it shalbe calde of right Speake what you can a happie Seate it is A trim Shiere towne for Noble Barron or Knight A Cittie sure as free as is the best Where Size is kept and learned Lawyers rest Buylt auncient wise in swéete and wholesome ayre Where the best sort of people oft repayre Not farre from thence a famous Castle fine That Raggland hight stands moted almost round Made of Freestone vpright as straight as line Whose workmanship in beautie doth abound The curious knots wrought all with edged toole The stately Tower that lookes ore Pond and Poole The Fountaine trim that runs both day and night Doth yéeld in showe a rare and noble sight Now Chepstowe comes to mynd as well it may Whose Seate is set some part vpon an hill And through the Towne to Neawport lyes a way That ore a Bridge on Wye you ride at will This Bridge is long the Riuer swift and great The Mountaine bigge about doth shade the Seate The craggie Rocks that ore the Towne doth lye Of force farre of doth hinder viewe of eye The common Port and Hauen is so good It merits praise because Barkes there doe ride To which the Sea comes in with flowing flood And doth foure howers aboue the Bridge abide Beyond the same doth Tyntterne Abbey stand As old a Sell as is within that Land Where diuers things hath bene right worthie note Whereof as yet the troth I haue not gote To Chepstowe yet my pen agayne must passe Where Strongbow once an Earle of rare renowne A long time since the Lord and Maister was In princely sort of Castle and of Towne Then after that to Mowbray it befell Of Norffolke Duke a worthie knowne full well Who sold the samet o William Harbert Knight That was the Earle of Penbrooke then by right His eldest Sonne that did succeede his place Of Huntyngton and Penbrooke Earle likewise Had but one childe a Daughter of great race And she was matcht with pompe and solempne guise To Somerset that was Lord Chamberlaine And made an Earle in Henry seuenths raigne Of him doth come Earle Worster liuing nowe Who buildeth vp the house of Raggland throwe A Creation of an Earle EDward by the grace of God King most imperiall Of France England the Lord of Ireland therwithall To Archbishops Bishops all to Abbotes and to Priors To Dukes to Earles to Barrons to Sheriffes of the shires To Iustices to Maiors and chiefe of Townly gouernment To Baylieffes my lichefolke all haue herewith greeting sent Knowe ye whereas we iudge it is a gracious Prince his parte To yéeld loue fauour and reward to men of great desarte Who of himselfe his Royall house and of the publique state Haue well deseru'd their vertues rare euer to renumerate And to adorne with high reward such vertue cléere and bright Stirs others vp to great attempts and faintnes puts to flight We following on the famous course y e former Kings haue run That worthie approued wight whose déedes most nobly dun Haue greatest things of vs deseru'd we do intend to raise To fame and honors highest type with gifts of Princely praise That truely regall are we meane that valiant worthie Knight That William Herbert hath to name now L. Herbert hight Whose seruice wheÌ„ we first did raigne we did most faithful find When for our royal right we fought which stil we call to mind To which we ad from then till now continuall seruices Which many were whereof each one to vs most pleasing is And chiefly when as lately now his déedes did him declare A worthie Knight wherby he gayn'd both fame and glorie rare When as that Rebell and our foe euen Iasper Tudyrs sonne who said he Earle of Penbroke was did westwales coast oreruÌ„ And there by subtile shifts and force did diuers sondrie waies Anoy our State and therewithall a vyle Sedition raise But there he gaue to him a fielde and with a valiant hand Orethrew him and his forces all that on his part did stand And marching all along those Coasts y e most he flew out right The rest he brake and so disperst they gaue themselues to flight Our Castle then of Hardelach that from our first daies raigne A refuge for all Rebels did against vs still remaine A Fort of wonderous force besiege about did he And tooke it where in most mens mynds it could not taken be He wan it did make them yéeld who there their saftie sought And all the Countrie thereabouts to our obedience brought These therefore his most worthie Acts we calling into minde His seruices and great desarts which we praise worthie finde And for that cause we willing him with honors royally For to adorne decke and aduaunce and to sublime on hye The eight day of September in the eight yéere of our Raigne We by this Charter that for ours shall firme for euer remaine Of speciall grace and knowledge sure sound and determinate And motioÌ„ méere him William doe of Penbroke Count create Erect preferre and vnto him the Title stile and state And name thereof and dignitie foreuer appropriate As Earle of Penbroke and withall we giue all rights that do All honors and preheminence that state perteyne vnto With which estate stile honor great and worthie dignitie By cincture of a Sword we him ennoble reallie For that the sence and worthie words were great The seruice such as merites noble fame The forme thereof in verse I doe repeate And shewe likewise the Lattin of the same He seru'd a King that could him well reward And of his house and race tooke great regard And recompenst his manly doing right With honor due to such a noble Knight Where loyall mynd doth offer life and all For to preserue the Prince and publique state There doth great hap and thankfull Fortune fall As guerdon sent by destnie and good fate No Soueraine can forget a Subiects troeth With whose good grace great loue and fauour goeth Great gifts and place great glorie and renowne They get and gayne that truely serues a Crowne And thou my Knight that art his heire in blood Though Lordship land and Ragglands stately towers A female heire and force of fortunes flood Haue thée bereft yet bearst his fruits and flowers His armes his name his faith and mynd are thyne By nature nurture arte and grace deuyne Ore Seas and Lands these moue thée paynes to take For God for fame for thy swéete Soueraines sake ⧠Here followeth the Creation of an Earle of Penbroke in Latin EDwardus Dei gracia Rex Angliae Fraunciae Dominus Hiberniç Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibê° Prioribus Ducibus Comitibus Baronibus Iusticiarijs Vicecomitibus Prepositis Ministris omnibus Balliuis fidelibus suis saluteÌ„ Sciatis quod cum felicis grati admodum Regis munus censeamus de se de Regia domo deque Republica regno bene meritas personas coÌ„gruis
was and yet to mend thy tale Make Wales the Parke and plaine Shropshiere the pale If pale be not a speciall peece of Parke Sit silent now and neither write nor speake But leaue out pale and thou mayst misse the marke Thy muse would hit or els thy shaft may breake Against a stone thou thinkst to glance vpon Now weigh these words my chorlish check is gon More gentle spéech hereafter may I spend When that in verse I see thy Countrie pend When Reasons threat had rapt me on the pate With priuie blowes that neuer drawes no blood To studie streight with pen and ynke I gate And sadly there bethought me what was good But ere the locke and doore was bolted fast Ten thousand toyes in head through fancie past And twentie more conceyts came rouling on That were too long to talke and treat vpon Wherefore in briefe I settled pen to worke For feare least world found fault with slouthfull muse And calling vp the spréetes that close did lurke In cloke of ease that would good wits abuse I held on way to auncient Shrewsebrie Towne And so from horse at lodging lighting downe I walkt the streates and markt what came to vewe Found old things dead as world were made a newe For buildings gay and gallant finely wrought Had old deuice through tyme supplanted cleane Some houses bare that seem'd to be worth nought Were fat within that outward looked leane Wit had won wealth to stuffe each emptie place The cunning head and labouring hand had grace To gayne and kéepe and lay vp still in store As man might say the heart could wish no more A number sure were ritch become of late By worldly meanes by hap or wisedomes arte He had no praise that did apayre his state And he most lawde that playd the wisest parte To come by goods well won with honest trade And warely looke there were no hauock made Such thriftie men doe dwell in Shrewsebrie now That all the Towne is full of Marchants throw And sondrie borne of right good race and blood Who freely liues from bondage euery way Whose rent and lands whose wealth and worldly good When other works giues them free leaue to play Most part are ritch or els right well to liue And to the poore the godly people giue To preaching still repayres both young and old Makes more thereof then of ritch pearle or gold Now come to poynts and rules of ciuill men Good maner calde that shewes good nature still And so with Wales ye may compare them then The meanest sort I meane of slendrest skill For as some whelpes that are of gentle kinde Excéedes curre dogges that beares a doggish minde So these méeke folke that méetes you in the streete Will curchie make or shewe an humble spréete This argues sure they haue in Wales bin bred Or well brought vp and taught where now they dwell If haughtie heart be spyde by loftie hed And curteous folkes by lookes are knowne full well Me thinkes the myld wins all goodwill away The sturdie stands like Stagge or Bucke at bay The tame white Doue and Faulkon for delytes Are better farre then fifteene hundred Kytes My theame is Wales and to that theame I goe Perhaps some seede of that same Soyle is here Sowne in such sort that dayly it doth growe In fayrest fourme to furnish forth this shiere Admit the same the sequell graunts it well Passe that discourse and giue me leaue to tell How Shrewsebrie stands and of the Castles seate The Riuer large and stonie bridge so greate The Towne three parts stands in a valley loe Three gates there are through which you néedes must passe As to the height of Towne the people goe So Castle seemes as twere a looking glasse To looke through all and hold them all in awe Treangle wise the gates and Towne doth drawe But Castle hill spyes out each streate so plaine As though an eye on them did still remaine In midst of Towne fower Parrish Churches are Full nere and close together note that right The vewe farre of is wondrous straunge and rare For they doe seeme a true loue knot to sight They stand on hill as Nature wrought a Seate To place them fower in stately beautie greate As men deuout to buyld these works tooke care So in these daies these Temples famous are First for the cause whereon they so were made Then for their fourme and fashion framed fine Next for the cost the stones and auncient trade And chiefe of all for mans intent deuine Their placing thus the plots whereon they stand The workmanship with cunning Masons hand Their height and breadth their length and thicknesse both Argues in déede a wondrous worke of troth Not farre from them doth goodly Seuarne run An arme of Sea a water large and deepe Whose headstrong streame the Fisher can not shun Except by banke both bote and he doth creepe This Riuer runs to many a noble Towne As Wyster one and Bristowe of renowne With moe besides which here I neede not name The Card can shewe both them and all their fame About the walles trim vnder goodly banks Doth Seuarne passe and comes by Cotten hill Much praise they had and purchast many thanks That at Stonebridge made place for many a Mill. About the Towne this water may be brought If that a way were nere the Castle wrought So Castle should stand like a péereles mount And Shrewsebrie Towne be had in great account Full from Welshbridge along by meddowes greene The Riuer runs most fayre and fine to vewe Such fruitfull ground as this is seldome seene In many parts if that I heare be true Yet each man knowes that grasse is in his pride And ayre is fresh by euery Riuers side But sure this plot doth farre surpasse the rest That by good lot is not with graces blest Who hath desire to vewe both hill and vale Walke vp old wall of Castle rude and bare And he shall see such pleasure set to sale In kindly sort as though some Marchants ware Were set in shop to please the passer by Or els by shewe beguyld the gazers eye For looke but downe along the pleasant coast And he shall thinke his labour is not lost One way appeares Stonebridge and Subbarbs there Which called is the Abbey Forehed yet A long great streate well builded large and faire In as good ayre as may be wisht with wit Where Abbey stands and is such ring of Belles As is not found from London vnto Welles The Stéeple yet a gracious pardon findes To bide all blasts all wethers stormes and windes Another way full ore Welshbridge there is An auncient streate cal'd Franckwell many a day To Ozestri the people passe through this And vnto Wales it is the reddie way In Subbarbs to is Castle Forehed both A streate well pau'd two seuerall waies that goeth
fall and theirs to rise Looke on the works and wits of former age And our tyme shall come dragging farre behind If both tymes might be plainly playd on stage And old tyme past be truely calde to mind For all our braue fine glorious buyldings gay Tyme past would run with all the fame away Aske Oxford that and Cambridge if it please In this one poynt shall you resolue at ease In auncient tyme our elders had desire To buyld their Townes on stéepe and stately hill To shewe that as their hearts did still aspyre So should their works declare their worthie will And for that then the world was full of strife And fewe men stood assur'd of land or life Such quarrels rose about great rule and state That no one Soyle was free from foule debate For which sharpe cause that dayly bred discord They made strong Holds and Castles of defence And such as weare the Kings the Prince and Lord Of any place would spare for no expence To see that safe that they had hardly won For which sure poynt were Forts and Townes begun And further loe if people waxed wyld They brought in feare by this both man an child And if men may iudge who had most ado Or gesse by Forts and Holds what Land was best Or looke vpon our common quarrels to Or search what made men seeke for peace and rest Behold but Wales and note the Castles there And you shall finde no such works any where So old so strong so costly and so hye Not vnder Sunne is to be seene with eye And to be plaine so many Holds they haue As sure it is a world to marke them well Pause there a while my muse must pardon craue Pen may not long vpon such matter dwell Now Denbigh comes to be set foorth in verse Which shall both Towne and Castle here rehearse So that the verse such credit may attayne As writer shall not lose no péece of payne ⧠An Introduction to bring in Denbighshiere HAth slouth and sleepe bewitcht my sences so That head cannot awake the ydle hand Is frendly muse become so great a foe That labring pen in pennor still shall stand What trifeling toye doth trouble writers brayne That earnest loue forgets swéete Poets vayne Bid welcome mirth and sad conceytes adue And fall againe to write some matter newe Let old deuice a Lanterne be to this To giue skill light and make sound iudgement see Since gazing eyes hath seene what each thing is And that no Towne nor Soyle is hid from thee Set foorth in verse as well this Countrey here As thou at large hast set out Monmouthshiere Praise one alone the rest will thee disdaine A day may come at length to quite thy paine Though former toyles be lost in Sommer last Dispayre not now for Wales is thankfull still Thou hast gon farre the greatest brunt is past Then forward passe and plucke not backe goodwill Put hand to Plough like man goe through with all Thy ground is good rim and thou canst not fall When seede is sowne and tyme bestowes some paine Thou shalt be knowne a reaper of good graine Hold on thy course and trauaile Wales all ore And whet thy wits to marke and note it well And thou shalt see thou neuer saw'st before Right goodly things in déede that doth excell More auncient Townes more famous Castles old Then well farre of with ease thou mayst behold With Denbighshiere thy second worke begin And thou shalt see what glorie thou shalt win So I tooke horse and mounted vp in haste From Monmouthshiere a long the coasts I ryde When frost and snowe and wayward winters waste Did beate from tree both leaues and Sommers pryde I entred first at Chirke right ore a Brooke Where staying still on Countrey well to looke A Castle fayre appéerde to sight of eye Whose walles were great and towers both large and hye Full vnderneath the same doth Kéeryock run A raging Brooke when rayne or snowe is greate It was some Prince that first this house begun It shewes farre of to be so braue a Seate On side of hill it stands most trim to vewe An old strong place a Castle nothing newe A goodly thing a princely Pallace yet If all within were throughly furnisht fit Beyond the same there is a Bridge of stone That stands on Dée a Riuer déepe and swift It seemes as it would riue the Rocks alone Or vndermyne with force the craggie Clift To Chester runs this Riuer all along With gushing streame and roring water strong On both the sides are bankes and hilles good store And mightie stones that makes the Riuer rore It flowes with winde although no rayne there bée And swelles like Sea with waues and foming flood A wonder sure to see this Riuer Dée With winde alone to waxe so wyld and wood Make such a sturre as water would be mad And shewe such life as though some spréete it had A cause there is a nature for the same To bring this flood in such straunge case and frame Not farre from this there stands on little mount A right fayre Church with pillars large and wide A monument therein of good account Full finely wrought amid the Quéere I spyde A Tombe there is right rich and stately made Where two doth lye in stone and auncient trade The man and wife with sumptuous sollemne guyse In this ritch sort before the Aulter lyes His head on crest and warlike Helmet stayes A Lyon blew on top thereof comes out On Lyons necke along his legges he layes Two Gauntlets white are lying there about An auncient Squire he was and of good race As by his Armes appéeres in many a place His house and lands not farre from thence doth shoe His birth and blood was great right long agoe The trimmest glasse that may in windowe bée Wherein the roote of Iesse well is wrought At Aulter head of Church now shall you see Yea all the glasse of Church was déerely bought Within two myles there is a famous thing Cal'de Offaes Dyke that reacheth farre in length All kind of ware the Danes might thether bring It was free ground and cal'de the Britaines strength Wats Dyke likewise about the same was set Betwéene which two both Danes and Britaines met And trafficke still but passing bounds by sleight The one did take the other prisner streight Thus foes could méete as many tymes they may And doe no harme when profite ment they both Good rule and lawe makes baddest things to stay That els by rage to wretched reuell goeth The brutest beasts that sauage are of kynd Together comes as season is assyude The angryest men that can no friendship byde Must ceace from warre when peace appalles their pride Now let this goe and call in haste to minde Trim Wricksam Towne a pearle of Denbighshiere In whose fayre Church a Tombe of stone I finde