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
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
I mistake that then it would please such as be of iudgement or skill to iustifie the same as well done and I shall most willinglie yeeld to authoritie and reason and so not speaking but vnder correction I saie that first I find as I conceiue some blame to be imputed in your selues which be professed soldiers that where your ancestors and al others generallie did in their standards banners and pennons shew foorth to the viewe and face of the enimie certaine faire ancient and knowne marks which their elders for the most part had vsuallie before time carried or at least themselues had then taken if they but then were in their rising age wherby their owne people were in a goodlie and decent order conducted and led and their enimies verie much terrified when they should see those marks shewed foorth the owners whereof had in their memories by plaine feat of armes ouerthrowne their parents or happely themselues beaten them out of the fielde razed downe their castels and fortresses sacked their townes and cities wasted and spoiled their countries ransomed their people and generally so daunted and amazed them that it was sometimes found to be true that verie bare names of some valiant persons ouercame whole armies I can not but blame you of all sorts which shall make choise of banners which you call colors so curtein like and so far from all due order of Ancient bearing as may be and for your parts which are descended from Ancestors of marke I would be glad to heare any reason from you to what end you should lay the same a side and make choise of a curtein in the place thereof And you others whose wisedome and valure haue gained you the reputation of a charge I would gladly also heare from you what should moue you to be of that mind as not to take some conuenient marke such a one as may be thought meete by authority for you whereby you may gaine an honor both to your selues and your posteritie and by your good vsage thereof much enlarge the reputation you haue by your valours obtained An other thing that is amisse as I take it and hath great need to be reformed is the quartering of many marks in one shield coate or banner for sithence it is true that such marks serue to no other vse but for a commander to lead by or to be knowen by it is of necessitie that the same be apparent faire and easie to be discerned so that the quartering of many of them together doth hinder the vse for which they are prouided As how is it possible for a plaine vnlearned man who may be as good a soldier in some respects as the best to discerne and know a sunder six or eight what speake I of six or eight sometimes thirtie or fortie seuerall marks clustered all together in one shield or banner nay though he had as good skill as Robert Glouer late Somerset that dead is and the eies of an Egle amongst such a confusion of things yet should he neuer be able to decipher the errors that are daily committed in this one point nor discerne or know one banner or standard from another be the same neuer so large So that except it be to be made in a pedegree or descent to locke vp in an euidence chest therby to shew mens titles to their lands or the Alliences and kindreds of their houses otherwise as I say I see not to any vse in the world they serue specially so many together to be made vpon a mans vesture Target or banner and therefore I could wish that euery man would content himselfe with his owne peculiar coate of name and not to vse aboue one quartered therewith at the most which one yet doth not so much trouble the capacitie of a man but that he may both know and discerne a banner or shield well ynough And this one do I the rather esteeme well of to be borne for that a Prince or Noble man making challenge or title to any Countrie for which he is forced to make warres before he can obtaine it it will be a goodly thing for him to shew foorth his standard of the Armes of that Countrie quartered with his owne amongest those people which in reason and conscience owe him duety and obedience to the end that they may thereby be the sooner induced to submit themselues to their true and lawfull soueraine as his subiects And for that cause as I take it King Edward the third and his valiant sonnes deuised and shewed foorth the Armes of France and England quartered together and although my Author saith that Iaques Dartuell a honie trier of Gaunt was the first deuiser thereof yet will I not beleeue otherwise but that the principall reasons that led the king thereto was to make knowne the iustnes of his title to that kingdome where he then intended to make warres But now it may be obiected sithence a Prince or great Lord may haue title to seuerall Countries that therefore it is necessarie for him to beare all such tokens or marks as he hath title too To this I answere that although I could yeeld to them but that it will bring the confusion aforesaid yet is it of no such necessity for that a man needs to shew his title but onely to them whom he means to subdue and if it should fortune that he had title to diuers and seuerall Countries and that he would make warres to them all at once yet should it not be needfull to him to shew foorth any more marks quartered in one standard but onely vnto euery seuerall countrie the Armes of that nation quartered with his owne But this being the case of Kings and Princes wherein amongest others our most famous noble and worthy kings and princes of this land haue shewed themselues most prudent and wise to what purpose is it that others being but commanders vnder their prince and which of themselues haue neither title to countrie nor are able to maintaine wars should in their princes seruice pester their banners and shields with such an infinite number as many do And in this point I cannot ynough commend the Baron of Stafford who heerin sheweth his great skill and temperance for althongh his Ancestors haue had title to quarter the marks of that valiant Thomas of Wodstocke yoongest sonne of King Edward the third Earle of Buckingham and Duke of Glocester of Bohune Earle of Hereford and Northanton and high Cunstable of England and also of that great house of Somerset which by their ancestor Iohn Earle of Somerset yoonger sonne to Iohn of Gaunt descended from the same king Edward the third I omit to speake of diuers Barons and others of great estate whose heires both with reuenue and honor enlarged greatly his family yet the said Baron contents himselfe with the paternall marke of his house and neuer so much as dreames of any other far differing from a number of meaner persons who if they possesse any
ancestors by correcting the destroiers thereof and therein to imitate the laudable actions of William Fleetwood Serieant at the Law and Recorder of the Citie of London who being commissioner amongst others for the visitation of causes Ecclesiasticall by the Princes authoritie by vertue thereof imprisoned certaine wilfull persons that had defaced the moniment of Queene Katherine Dowyger at Peterborough vntil such time as they had reformed the same which thing was through his good endeuor reedified and perfected againe and so remaineth to this daie for although some happily see standing those of their own parents yet it were good they should foresee that no others be pulled downe for that there is not to be looked for but that suffering such iniuries to rest vnpunished the dooers thereof wil in time growe more insolent and haue a cast to ouerthrowe theirs also And now being in speech of moniments I cannot but remember their ignorance who make small account of anie ancestour except before the Conquest weening that all that lie crosse-legged so were and that all ancient euidence without date is the like whereas the one was not had in vse vntil after the Palestine wars and the other such as be sealed be also since the Conquest for I could neuer see nor heare of any that had seene sealed deed but the same was made sithence the Conquest of this Land when the vse as I take it of sealing with waxe first began in England But these men will not stoupe one iote vnder the Conquest telling manie fables of their ancestors then preseruing their houses Honors Armories forgetting quite that it is much more glorious and honorable to be descended from a most famous nation conquering then such people by plaine feate of Armes subiuged for as the Poet saith quis enim sua praelia victus Commemorare velit referam tamen ordine nec tam Turpe fuit vinci quà m contendisse decorum est Magnaque dat nobis tantus solatia victor So that if they haue any thing praise woorthie left to brag of it is that they well contended with so puissant conquerors which were then in their time as wise glorious and famous a nation as were in the whole world to be found Another sort there be not much more skilfull who if they see any Armorie straight enter into the comparison of the fairenes thereof and foule and false is it if mettall lie vpon mettall alone or colour vpon colour And yet I could wish we should neuer haue more dishonorable men nor woorse soldiers than haue so borne their Armorie for to omit that woorthie Godfrey and that Mack Morise king of Lymster in Ireland whose onely daughter and heire was married to Richard Strongbowe Earle of Penbroke and bare in a blacke shield a red ramping Leon of our owne sir Richard Sanbach of Sanbach in Chesshire sir William Wakbirge of Wakbirge in Darbyshire two valiant Knights yet both bare colour vpon color Passing the number of examples I will onely recite the words of mine Author speaking of the aduentures of a braue Knight in the companie of sir Robert Canole resting by Parris this Knight hauing vowed to strike with his launce on the barriers of the citie performed it and then the words be these Celluy cheualier ie ne sca comment il auoit nom ne de quel pays il estoit mais s'armoit a gueulles a deux fousses noyeres et vne bordure noyre non endente And although I grant they be not so well to be discerned as when mettal and colour be varied the one with the other yet sithence the number be great of most woorthie men that haue borne their armes in such maner I will esteeme their marks as honorable as the rest and neuer impute any falsitie to them And this kinde of men also commonly descant vpon the proportion nature and qualitie of the deuise as if the name of Richard were better than Robert and Ralph better than Roger and in their conceits the Eagle or Faulcon are the fairest birds to be borne of all fethered foules and so of other the like when indeed except for the reuerence due to the bearers who do honor their bearings by their renowme vertue and valure otherwise there is no difference in the fairenes of marks but that those onely are to be preferred which be easiest to be perceiued discerned and knowen to be the same things they be marked out for And therefore the Capitale of Beusz blacke Midas head with his faire long Asse eares was as good a crest as sir Iohn Chandos chiftains head proper in a white scarffe goodly enuellopped and as faire a cote is Hopwells being three red hares playing on bagpipes in a siluer shield as Newinton which bare d'Azure three eglets d'Argent displaid And now me thinks I heare some that esteeme me to mend and become more fine skilfull and Herauld like in my emblazons as vsing the French phrases of d'azyer d'argent who thinke I doubt not but that I haue committed a great error for want of vsing the said French phrases in my emblazons notwithstanding I will ioine in opinion with such as esteeme it to be more proper to speake and vse English termes and phrases in an English booke dedicated to Englishmen than French or Latine otherwise than cited authoritie leadeth And now my good Lords and you braue Soldiers and Gentlemen I haue little else to trouble you with at this time but to wish you had no woorse a writer to eternize your fame then mine Author sir Iohn Froissart was to the Knights and Captains of England your predecessors and to craue your patience in that I haue been so vnaduised to molest you this long with these tedious and simple trauels of mine caused through the great zeale and affection I beare to your praiseable profession and that you would pardon my boldnes in the writing and dedicating thereof to your Honors neuerthelesse I beseech you again sithence they entreat of matter tending to the aduancement of your glories that you would vouchsafe to accept of them in good part and with the shields of your woorthie fauors to protect them from the outrage of such as enuie your memorable vertues praieng to God that all your noble atchiuements may be with no lesse praise remembred then our knights of that time were spoken of by sir Arnold Dandrehen martiall of France there enemie to King Henrie of Castile the valiant bastard a little before the battaile of Naueret and because at my first entrance into this matter I saluted you with a sentence of mine authour I haue thought it no bad Decorum with his report of those speeches being as followeth to take my leaue Sire sire saulue soit vostre Grace saith he vos dy q̄ quāt par battaille vous assembleres au Prince vous trouueres la gens d'armes tels comme il les fault trouuer car la est la fleur de tout Cheualrie du monde la trouueres
courage foes pursues apace And many knights beares he downe in chase No heed tooke I good prisoner rich to gaine But had regard the prince so well to guide Hot fresh and yoong wherfore I ply my paine As dutie would lest harme should him betide His owne desier was I should abide His person near in thickest of the fraies He credits what I speake to my great praise All as we would glad prince did franke bestow A stately supper t'prisoner king and praid His good content though buisnes gainst him goe For your owne selfe renowmed king he said Your prowes past all those to you obaid by th true censure of our best skilled knights The soueraigne praise you wan in all the fights What triumphing in England knowne these newes At Burdeux what great reioicing seene In forren courts how honored all our crewes Where they became my seruice as I weene That heere I did was highly in esteeme About a prince men thought me meet to be As well for counsell as for cheualrie King Iohn int'England gladly was conueid On trampling steed through London doth he ride Note fortunes change a king that scepter sweid With large command through noble Fraunce doth bide In forren land there pricking him beside His conquerer on cole black hobbie plast On whom the woondring vulgars praises blast No Romain in his triumphs glorious Through citie passing with trumpets sounding More apparant appeered victorious Than our braue prince by modest riding At peoples plause with ioy abounding Remembring those high words he earst did say Neuer shall England ransome for me pay Betwixt the kings there grew agreement And if performd then backe Iohn should retier The peeres of Fraunce denide their kings intent Wherat king Edward stormd with furious yer And vowd their plague with wastfull sword and fier Vntill they grant the thing which he thought good Strongly prepard he past the swelling flud Lands at Callis thence marcheth in aray With brauerie such and shew of martiall might In goodly armors dect so fine and gay All beat with Arms fine banners tossing light On vs dan Phoebus ioyd to haue a sight With fauning face he seemd on vs to smile We fresh be seen reflexion cast the while Vndoubtedly in all the world was not More noble band than heer were present now What knight was he that honor had not got In some strange land well shone his vertue how For leader good a man might him allow Most happie realme thrise happie is that king Whose subiects fame in forren regions ring First if the prince of Wales I should recite Or Henrie Duke late Darbie Earle before Or Reignald Cobham that much renowmed knight Lord Mowbray Manny Basset with great store Lord Audley Willoughby and many more Than now I shew what if I tell my name And say that Chandos was not lest in fame Fame our names imblasoned not so far For tennise plaie or handling of a lute Nor dauncing fine or glistering as a star As women drest in most vnseemly sute Our chiefest musicke trumpe and checking flute Our daunce our march our tennise oft to feele Thundring blowes our clothing tried steele Through Picardie and Artoys spoyld we passe Int fertile Cambray making there some stay In former places found we little grasse Toward Thyriach we martch anone away Till foulding siege to Cittie Reames we lay Which countrie was so wasted and so foild That all our horse for want wel ny wer spoyld Sir Barthelmew Burwash whilst siege doth hold My selfe Lord Audley and Lord Mucedent Sir Richard Pontchardon a prudent knight and bold agreed all fowr and with our troups we went To Chalous in Campayne for ventures bent We approcht strong Cragney a castle hey Whereas two knights couragious captaines be Ton Caples cald who bare in golden sheild An ancred crosse of sables we asseild Rudely the hold from whence some one did weild A mightie stone that head a peeces peild Of Lord Mucedent but it was not feild For to reuenge his hard mischance againe Tooke the hould and all the soldiers slaine Seauen weeks at Reames the king made his abode and forrage faild and men began to want For still we knights the countrie ouer rode Whereby ech thing waxed exceeding scant Then to remooue the king and nobles mant Chalous Troys and countries neere we wast Passing the riuer Muson at the last So foorth we marcht keeping same ordinance At first ordaind to Aguyllon we came Did hauke and hunt passing in pleasaunce Oft tride our horse and vsed warlike game Which still among much did the Frenchmen tame Nothing vnlesse too hot for vs could staie T'heauie or cold but we did beare away Sweeping from hence to Paris ward apace The countie of Neuers and Gastenoys we waste Raunge at our wils continuing foorth our race Vntill that we at Burge le royne were plast Two leagues fro Paris and so the towne we facst Well famed Fraunce might waile for nought but flame Was to be found in bowels of the same Where Meroue puissant warrier raind Whom fierce Attila ouerthrew in fight Where Charls le main that many kingdomes gaind In all Europa feared for his might Vnconstant fortune taking so far flight Sometimes the yoke on others shoulders laid With biting snaffle now are strongly staid From Burg le royne to Mont le herri we In sightly wise our battailes all do draw Our constant dealing when the french Lords see Perseuering still in Fraunce to make a flawe Consuming all as fier doth the strawe Vnto a peace to mooue our king they ment Their Chaunclor and their learned counsaile sent They vnderstood our king would not depart Till pleasing peace he conquerd as he voud Which thing neere toucht duke Charls his tender hart And nobles for owne harmes too hawtie proud Faire conditions twixt them were aloud By thundring storme which God from heauen sent And knotted haile our king doth first relent A written deed at Charters there was framd Betwixt the kings their heires allies and friends In which faire townes strong castles all were namd toth king and his were giuen for amends For passed paine and so the strife it ends More Castles Townes more Cities and more ground Were giuen then in England could be found Some speeches were braue dukedome to inclose Of Britton in the charter of this peace Yet do they not of it so well dispose So as fresh wars in that place did not cease How track of time hard bound doth of release Charls thoughts vpbound within his stubborne brest Them foorth to loose supposed now his best Home went his grace soone I repasse the seas As regent and lieuetenant for my king Taking the othes possessions and the keas Of Lords Cities Castles which did wringe Some Frenchmens harts like percing adders sting Great griefe it was subiuged to be bound To strangers most vncurteous they had found I stewards bailifes and captaines do ordaine As liked me and this when I had done Came to Nyort there purposd to