That for the Combate they had singled forth When this was done the Earle demaunds his Name Pardon quoth he that were against a Vow To no man liuing I le reueale the same For I haue changed Name and Nature now Natures corruptions I doe striue to leaue A new Regeneration to receiue Farewell my friend euen as my soule would fare If we ne're meete on Earth Heauen be the place For idle howers I haue no time to spare My hayres looke gray they turne to white apace I haue great losse in short time to redeeme A minutes sorrow is of much esteeme So he departs towards Iudea ground Samarta and Galile to see Those parts by Christian Pilgrims so renown'd Because their Sauiours choyse was their to bee Where he did suffer to redeeme our losse Euen from the Cratch vnto the bloody Crosse. Much time he spends and many yeares bestowes From place to place about this Holy Land That all his friends in England doe suppose Now Death of him had got the vpper-hand For no reporter came that could relate His Life his being or his present state This put the world to silence men were mute Concerning Guy they knew not what to say The dreadfull Champion in the armed sute Was neither knowne nor fear'd in simple Gray But did endeauour all that ere he might Neuer to be reueal'd to any wight For vnto none he would his Name disclose Nor tell direct what Countrey-man he was Nor of his Noble minde make any showes But striue in all thinges most obscure to passe Vntill by natiue loue his minde was led To come and lay his bones where he was bred Guy after many yeares comes home To England for his Graue Kils Colbron that great Gyant and Dyes poorely in a Caue Canto 12. EVen as the brightest glorious shining Day Will haue a Night of darknes to succeed Which takes the pride of Phoebus quite away And makes the Earth to mourne in sable weed Presenting vs with drowsie heauy sleepe Death's memory in carefull thoughts to keepe So Youth the day of Natures strength and beauty Which hath a splendor like faire Heauens eye Must yeeld to Age by a submissiue duty And grow so darke that life of force must dye When length of yeares brings ancient euening on Irreuocable time is posting gone This cogitation in Guyes brest appeares By his returning from the Holy Land He findes himselfe to be a man in yeares And that his Glasse had but a little sand To runne before his date of life expire Therefore to England he doth backe retire There to be buryed where he had bin borne Was all the cause that did induce him backe To end his euening where he had his morne In dolefull colours of a dead-mans blacke And let that body rest in English ground which through the world no resting place had found When he arriued on his Natiue shore He found the Countrey in extreame distresse For through the Kingdome armed troupes great store Against the Foe were all in readinesse The King of Denmarke whose destroying hand A mighty Army did securely land And marched from the Coast with deuastation Destroying Townes Villages set on fire Working such terrour vnto all the Nation King Athelstone was forced to retire To Winchester which when the Danes once knew Towards that Citty all their strength they drew Which was too strong for Speare and shield to win Inuincible our walles of Stone were then They wanted Cannon-keyes to let them in Hell's pick-locke powder was vnknowne to men The Deuill had not taught such murdering smoke A Soldiers honour was his manly stroke Beholding now how they repulsed were That Winchester by no meanes could be wonne They doe conclude to summon parley there And with a Challenge haue all quarrels done An Englishman to Combate with a Dane And that King loose that had his Champion slaine Wherewith a huge great Gyant doth appeare Demaunding where the Foxes all were crept Saying if one dare come and meete me heere That hath true valour for his Countrey kept Let him come forth his man-hood to disclose Or else the English are but Coward foes Why very crauens on their dunghils dare Both crow and strike before they runne and cry Is English courage now become so rare That none will fight because they feare to dye Then I pronounce you all faint-hearted fooles Affraid to looke on manly Martiall tooles What slaunders I haue heard in forraigne Lands Of these poore men for deeds which they haue done Most false they are belyed of their hands But he sayes true that sayes their feete can runne They haue a Prouerbe to instruct them in That 't is good sleeping in a sound whole skin Thus did he vaunt in tearmes of proude disdaine And threw his Gantlet downe saying ther 's my gloue At length great Guy no longer could refraine Seeing all straine curt'sie to expresse their loue But comes vnto the King and sayes dread Lord This Combate to thy vnknowne Knight afford Although in simple habite I am hid Yeelding no showe of that I vndertake I ne're attempted ought but what I did An end of Colbrond on my soule I le make Palmer quoth Athelstone I like thy sprite God sent thee hither and hee ayde the right His pow'rfull hand lend vigor to thy blowes And grant thy foote vpon the foe may treade Amen quoth Guy and with great courage goes Forth Winchesters North-gate vnto Hide-meade Where that same Monster of a man hee found Treading at eu'ry step two yardes of ground Art thou the man quoth Colbrond art thou he On whom the King will venter Englands Crowne Can hee not finde a fitter match forme Then this poore Rascall in a thred-bare Gowne Where 's all his Knights and worthy Champions now I doe disdaine so base a Slaue as thou Guy fights to free all Englands feares With Colbrond Gyant Dane And in Hide-mead at VVinchester Was that Goliah slaine Gyant said Guy man-hood should neuer rayie To beate the ayre with blasts of idle winde A Soldiours weapon best can tell his tale Thy destiny vpon my Sword I finde T will let thee blood while thou hast drops to bleed And spell thy Death for all the Danes to reed Thus I begin and on his Armour layd That Colbronds coate was neuer cudgel'd so Who with his Club did watch to meete his blade Intending to haue broke it with a blowe But Guy was sure his Sword would holde out play It had bin trusty many a cruell fray And therefore boldly he presumes thereon Laying about as fast as he could driue Vntill the Lubbers breath was almost gone For with a weighty Club did Colbrond striue Which lighting on the ground made earth giue ways As if some Deuill did about him lay So long they held this sterne and irefull fight That the beholders knew not what to deeme Yet still some wounds to Colbronds share did light Which to the English did great comfort seeme Besides their Champion gaue encouragement By
foundation vnto Loue Corrupted hearts it drawes away by stealth These money-matches cannot happy proue For as the goods of Fortune doth decay So loue which they beget consumes away I know how Plutoes golden Treasure swayes By deuillsh and accursed false illusion I know how Womens humours now a dayes Run after riches to their owne Confusion I see the Peassant of most abiect life With Golde enough can buy a dainty Wife But Phelice if thou knew'st asmuch as I How base the Gods esteeme of such abuses When Beauty selles and Riches comes to buy Which are not made for one anothers vses Thou wouldest scorne that Maydens should be solde As Cattell are for Siluer and for Golde Loue must bee simple harmeltsse pure and plaine And take originall from true affection It must reciprocall returne againe Or else it doth discouer imperfection Loues inward thoughts concurre with outward deeds Such as from loyalty and truth proceeds Thy louer comes not for aduancement to thee In that thy Father is a worthy Earle It is not Dowry that can cause him woo thee Had'st thou th' Arabian Golde or Indian Pearle But as great Iupiter to Leda came For a sweet Face His purpose is the same Therefore kinde Virgin vse him kindly well Make much of Guy imbrace him for thine owne Affoord him Loue-roome in thy Heart to dwell Let him no longer liue in pensiue moane But the next time thou doest behold his face Giue him encouragement with kinde imbrace And with that worde imbrace hee shot and hit The very center of her tender heart Feeling the wound she starts awake with it Being taught thereby to pitty Louers smart For Cupid drew his Arrow to the head Because hee would be sure shee should be sped With that shee fetch'd a sigh a grieuous one And from her eyes a shower of teares did fall Where is quoth shee the gentle Loue-god gone Whose power I finde is powerfull vnto all Oh call him backe my fault I doe confesse I haue in Loue beene too too pittilesse Sweet Boy solicite for mee to thy Mother And at her Alters I will sacrifice From this day foorth I will adore no other No Goddesse shall bee gracious in mine eyes But shee that hath imperious rule and might To leade obdurate hearts to kinde delight Compassion now hath worthy conquest made Of that strong fort which did resistance make One shaft had bin sufficient to perswade A league for Life a truce till Death doe take Guy more then Life doth Phelice Loue prefer Phelice affects Guy deare as hee doth her But vnto him her loue is yet vnknowne Though his be made apparant long before Hee vnderstands not that shee is his owne Hee feeles no salue apply'd vnto his sore Till forc'd by passions and constrain'd laments A second suite hee boldly thus presents Phelice I was arraigned long agoe And now I looke for Iudgement at thy hand I haue beene Prisoner in a Iayle of woe So long that speedy sentence I demaund Oh speake vnto mee either Life or Death For I am tyred with my vitall breath If kindnesse dwell in that faire shape of thine Expresse it with I Loue if none there bee Then say I cannot vnto Loue incline And so thou mak'st a quicke dispatch with mee Censure me sodaine either smile or frowne I will not liue thus for this Kingdomes Crowne Phelice reply'd 't is not at my dispose To fashion Loue without my friends consent What would you wish me to bee one of those That are to Parents disobedient Shall fond affection ouer-rule the will And doe you good to bee accounted ill You know my Fathers greatnes in the Land And if he should as there 's no other like The loue of one too mean for me withstand How could we beare the stroke disgrace would strike Nothing but death could make my sorrow sweete And shame would wrap me in a winding-sheete Doubt not of Father in this case quoth he For Warwicks Earle that honourable man Shall see such deedes of valour done by me To haue dislike he neither will nor can Inioyne me what aduentures thou think'st good That wounds and scars may let my body blood Why then quoth shee Guy make thy valour shine Through-out the world as glorious as the Sunne My heart my soule my life my loue is thine When deedes of honour by thy hand are done Make thy selfe famous by a martiall life And then take Phelice for thy lawfull wife I aske no more said he to gaine thy Loue I shall esteeme it bought at easie rate Oh that I were at worke my taske to proue With Hercules or some such churlish mate Phelice farewell this kisse thou giuest mee Shall make a number kisse the ground for thee From England Guy to France doth goe Where deedes of Annes are done And thence returnes Tryumphantly With all the Prizes wonne Canto 3. INlarg'd from sorowes thraldome by Hopes bayle Guy armes his thoughts with Honours enterprize Imbarkes himselfe and into France doth sayle Leauing faire England where his comfort lyes Hee seekes for enemies hee longs for foes And now desires to bee a dealing blowes In Normandy arriu'd hee vnderstands That there was Warlike busines to bee doue For valiant Knightes of diuers Christian Lands The race of Valour did intend to runne A great aduenture was propounded there Which newes was musique to his greedy eare The Prize that drew them all vnto that place Was Daughter to the Almane Emperour Faire Blaunch with such a wondrous heauenly face It had attractiue Beauty full of power In her such graces did vnite together The Worthyes of the world came posting thither Who wonne the Damsell it was thus decreed By manly Courage and victorious might Should haue her mounted on a milke-white Steed Two Gray-hounds and a Faulcon all as white This was his Lot that could attaine the Day To beare the Honour and the Mayde away Our English Knight prepares him for the Field Where Kinges were present Princes did repaire Where Dukes and Earles a great assembly held About the Face that was so wondrous faire Though onely one must speed and hundreds misse Yet each man there imagin's Blaunch is his The spacious Field where they assembled were Hardly affoorded roome for Armed crowdes The golden glittering Armour that was there Did dart the Sun-beames backe vnto the Clowdes The pamper'd Horses proudly stampt the ground To heare the clangor of the Trumpets sound A Germaine Prince of an vndaunted sprite A first and very fierce Encounter gaue Vnto an Earle whose Valour did requite With blow for blow as resolutely braue Till by a stroake the Earle receiu'd on 's head Hee was vn-horst falling to ground for dead Then Guy came foorth with courage to the Prince And deales with him as Hercules would doe Like force hee neuer felt before nor since Such hard extreames hee ne're was put vnto Iust where himselfe had layde the Earle in swound There downe comes he both horse man to ground Duke Otton seeing
doth sore possesse And sicknes gripes doe touch about my heart I feele I am not farre from happines But am in hope my foe and I shall part This aduersary which I long haue fed By whome my soule hath bin so much misled To my deare Phelice I will send my Ring Which I did promise for her sake to keepe I may no longer time deferre the thing For feare that Death preuent me with his sleepe I feele his Messenger approach apace And poore weake Nature must of force giue place So call'd a Heardsman as he passed by And said good friend doe me a speciall fauour Euen in a matter that concernes me nye My hope relyes vpon thy kinde behauiour To Warwicke Castle speedily repaire And for the Countesse aske with trusty care Deliuer this Ring to her-owne hand And say the ancient Pilgrim sent the same That lately at her Gate with Scrip did stand To beg an Almes in blessed Iesus Name And if shee aske thee where I doe remaine Direct her hither she 'le requite thy paine Sir quoth the Heardsman I shall be asham'd That ne're dust speake to Lady in my life Nay more and 't please you I may much be blam'd To carry Rings to such a great mans Wife Besides if I should loose it by the way Why what would you and Madam Phelice say Pre-thee said Guy frame not such idle doubt No preiudice can light on thee at all The acte is honest which thou goest about And for it none can thee in question call A curteous eare the Lady will thee lend Vpon my warrant feare you nothing friend With that he goes and mannerly betakes The token to the Countesse which she seeing Most admirable wonder at it makes Ah friend quoth she where is my husbands being Husband said he that newes I doe not bring From an olde Begger I receiu'd the Ring His house was made of neither Wood nor Stone But vnder ground into a hole he went And in my Conscience there he dwels alone And neuer payes his Land-lord quarters rent Ah 't is my Guy she said showe me his Cell And for thy paines I will reward thee well So he directs Warwicks faire Countesse thither Who entring in that melancholly place Her Lord and shee embracing weepe together Vnable to pronounce a word long space Long time they two had not a Tongue to speake Till Guyes discretions sorrowes doore did breake Phelice quoth he now take thy leaue of Guy That sent to see thee ere his sight decay Within thine armes I doe intreat to dye And breath my sprite from thy sweet soule away Thou gau'st me almes at Warwicke Castle late T is blessednes to pitty poore mens state Guy in repentance poorely liues Obscurely in a Caue Reueal'd to Phelice by a Ring When Death had digg'd his Graue Looke not so strange bewayle not so my Deare Ah weepe not Loue I doe not want thy teares I haue shed plenty since my comming heere Of true remorse my Conscience witnes beares Thou weep'st not now because I wept no more But to behold me friendlesse helplesse poore Wife I haue sought the place that all desire Though few endeauour for eternall rest The soule which to that Heauen doth aspire Must leaue the world and worldly thinges detest T is full of Deuils that on soules doe wayte And full of snares in euery place some bayte Ah Phelice I haue spent and then he wept Youth Natures day vpon the Loue of thee And for my God olde rotten Age haue kept The night of Nature Christ forgiue it me Sorrow lyes heauy on my soule for this Sweet Sauiour Iesus pardon my amisse In that I had destroy'd so many men Euen for one Woman to inioy thy Loue Therefore in this most solitary Den I sought my peace with that great God aboue Gainst whome by sinne I haue bin more misled Then there be hayres vpon my hoary head The other day feeling my body ill And all the partes thereof opprest with paine I did compose a Testament and Will To bee the last that euer I ordaine Loe heere it is I le reade it if I can Before I cease to bee a liuing man HIS WILL. EVen in the Name of him whose mighty pow'r Created all in Heauen and Earth contained As one to dye this very instant hower I leaue the world and all therein vnfained My soule I giue to him that gaue it mee Receiue it Jesus as I trust in thee I owe a debt of Life is due to Death And when 't is payde him he can aske no more A very vapour of a little breath Would he had had it many yeares before But heer 's my comfort though he come or stay T is ready for him if hee will to day I owe the world the stocke of wealth it lent When I did enter traffique with the same Lesse would haue giuen Nature more content T is happinesse to want a Rich mans name World leaue mee naked as I did begin I aske but one poore Sheet to wrap me in I doe bequeath more sinnes then I can number My dayly euils in a countlesse summe Euen from my cradle vnto Death's dead slumber Those past these present all that are to come To him that made them loades to burthen mee Sathan receiue them for they came from thee I giue good thoughts and eu'ry vertuous deed That euer grace hath guided me vnto To him from whom all goodnes doth proceed For onely euill Natvre taght me doe I was Conceiued bred and borne in sinne And all my Life most vaine and vile hath bin I giue to Sorrow all my sighes and cryes Fetch'd from the bottome of a bleeding heart I giue Repentance teares and watery eyes The signes vnfained of a true conuert Earth yeeld a Graue or Sea become a Tombe Jesus vnto my soule graunt Heauen-roome Phelice I faint farewell true loyall Wife Assist me with thy prayers thy Husband dyes I trust to meete thee in a better life Where teares shall all be wip'd from weeping eyes Come blessed Spirits come in Jesus Name Receiue my soule to him conuay the same And with these words his quiet sprite departs While mournfull Phelice well-nye dead for woe Her sences all to sorrowes vse conuerts And too aboundant doth her teares bestow Beating her brest till brest and heart be sore Wringing her handes till she could striue no more Then sighing said ah Death my sorrowes cause That hast depriu'd mee of my dearest Lord Since loathsome ayre my vitall spirits drawes This fauour for thy tyrannie afford Doe me a good to recompence thy ill And strike the stroke that all my cares can kill Let me not liue to see to morrowes light But make me thus colde bloodlesse pale and wan As this dead Carcasse doth appeare in fight This true discription of a mortall man Whose deedes of wonder past and gone before Haue left him now at Deaths darke prison doore Kissing his face with a farewell ef teares Shee leaues the body for the Graue to claime And from that place as 〈…〉 â—oule shee beares As euer Woman that the world can name Liuing but Fifteene dayes after his Death And then through extreame sorrow yeelded breath FINIS