Sibilla a deuine Prophesiar writer Merilinus Ambrosius a man of hye knowledge spirit A description of Oske Two Riuers nere together of seuerall natures shewes a strange thing King Edward the fourth and his children as some affirme and King Richard the third were borne here Castle StrogeÌ„ doth yet remaine three myle from Oske but the Castle is almost cleane downe In the Duchie of Lancaster these three Castles are but not in good plight any way The Duke of Yorke once lay here and now the Castell is in Maister Roger Willyams hands A description of Carleon Maister Morgan of Lanternam in a fayre house dwelles two mile from Carleon A plaine and true rehearsall of matter of great antiquitie A fayre Fountaine now begun A free Schoole now erected by Maister Morgan of Lanternam A gird to the flatterers and fauners of present tyme. A house of reformatioÌ„ newly begun likewise The Bishop of Landaffe still lying in the Towne We praise and extoll strange Nations and forget or abase our owne Countries In Arons the Martyrs Church King Arthur was crowned Three Archbishops Yorke London and CarleoÌ„ crowning King Arthur Arthur was great that coÌ„manded such solemnitie The true Authors are in the beginning of this booke for profe of this Another notable solemnitie at a Coronation In Iulius Church the Martyr the Queene was crowned An honor rare and great yet seldome seene A deepe and large round peece of grouÌ„d shewes yet where Arthur sate A Church on a hil a mile of Saint Gillyans is a faire house where Sir William Harbert dwelles Wonderfull huge and long pauements The notablest seate to behold being on the top that may be seene The Castle almost downe The flowing water may easily be brought about both Towne and Castle A great beautie of grounds waters groues other pleasures for the eye to be seene from the old Castle of Carleon I haue seene Caues vnder ground at this day that goe I know not how farre all made of excellent work and goodly great stones both ouer head and vnder foote close and fine round about the whole Caue The name so mightie argues it was a mightie and noble towne Two hundred Philosophers were norished in Carleon Yeeld right as well to our elders daies as to our present age Allobroges Allobroges Sybilla her prophesies touching the Britaines An exhortatioÌ„ of Howell The sentence and resolution of the King of Albania Vaticinia Sibille de Britonibus Exhortatio Hoeli Sententia regis Albaniae Analles sue gentes A Hill most notable neere CarleoÌ„ a myle froÌ„ the towne A very high Hill of a marueilous streÌ„gth which was a strong Forâ—â—n Arthurs daies Bellinus MaÌ„gnus made this called Bellingstocke A wonderfull high mountaine with the like maner of defence The towne of Neawport On a round hill by the Church there is for Sea and Land the most princely sight that any man liuing at one instant may with perfect eye behold The Towne hath Marchants in it A Castle is at the end of this Towne and full by the Bridges and Riuer Greenefield Castle that was the Duke of Lancasters Eboyth is the Riuers name that runneth here For Riuer wood pasture ayre walke pleasure this place passeth A true iudgement of the commodities in Wales if the people there would be laborous Nychill The people of wales in many places thriues by labour daylie and gets great gayne through tillage I haue knowen many places so barraine that they haue sought for come farre of who now are able to liue without helpe of any other Countrey It stands ouer two little Riuers called Ceybbie and Ceyuennie of which Ceyuenie Aborgeuenie tooke the name The Bridge of stone a eleuen fayre arches and a great bridge of stone to come drylie to that bridge Of the bountie of tyme past and the hardnes of our age A fayre and noble Castle belonging to the auncient house and race of the honorable the Lord of Aborgaynie The bountie of the Castle and Countrie A goodly and stately peece of worke as like to fall as be repayred againe Any heart in the world would pittie the decay of Castles in MoÌ„mouth shiere In this church was a most famous worke in maner of a genealogie of Kings called the roote of Iesse which worke is defaced and pulled downe in peeces On the right hand in a faire Chappell Both the windowe and in other parts about him shewes that he was a stranger Blewe is The labell whereon are nyne Flowerdeluces On the left hand a Lord of Aborgany Sir William Thomas Knight alias Harbert Sir Dauie Gam Knight father to this Knights wife This Knight was slaine at Edgingcourt field His Tombe is of hard and good Allablaster Sir William Thomas was father to the next that followes called Sir Richard Harbert of Colbroke Knight In the Chronicle this is rehearsed On the left hand of the Chappell they lye She was daughter to Thomas ap Griffith father to Sir Rice ap Thomas Knight On the right hand of the Chappell The old Earle of Penbroke one of the priuie Councell In the windowe now he lyes Some say this great Lord was called Bruce and not Hastings but most doe hold opinion he was called Hastings A Ladie of Aborgaynie A Ladie of some noble house whose name I knowe not Doctor Lewis lately Iudge in the Amoraltie Maistre Gams dwelles here Doctor Awberie hath a house here The auncient house of Gams The Armes of the Gams The Armes of one Waters His name was Reynold Debreos Glasseberies Bridge is within two myle of Portthamwel Maister Robert Knowles that maried one of the heires of the Vaughhans hath a fayre house and a Parke at Portthamwell The names of streates there Castle streate Broad streate Old streate And the Mill streate A fayre house by the gate of the making of Iustice Walter Nere this is a fayre house of Maister Sackfords which he lid buyld and a fayre house that Master Secretarie Foxe did bestowe great charges on a house that Maister Berrie dwelles in M. Townesend hath a fayre house at Saint Austins once a Frierie The Lord President Sir Harrie Sidneys Daughter called Ambrosia is entombed here in most brauest maner and great chargeable workmanship on the right hand of the Aulter On the same is my Lord of Warwicks Armes excelleÌ„tly wrought and my Lord Presidents Armes and others are in like sort there richly set out Sir Robert Townes-end Knight lyes in a maruelos fayre Tombe in the Queere here and his wife by him at his feete is a red Rowbuck and a word tout en dieu On the left hand Hozier lyes in the bodie of the Church On the right hand Cookes lyes This man was my mothers father Beawpy was a great ritch and verteous man he made another Chantrie The Castle of Ludloe Sir Harry Sidney built many things here worthie praise and memorie Ouer a Chimney excellently wrought in the best chamber is S. Androwes Crosse ioyned to Prince Arthurs Armes
himselfe accordingly to perfourme and solemnize this charge in his owne person The King being crowned was royally brought to the Cathedrall Church of that Metropoliticall See On either hand of him both the right and the left did two Archbishoppes support him And fower Kings to wit Angusell King of Albania Caduall King of Venedocia Cador King of Cornewall Sater King of Demetia went before him carying iiii golden Swords The companies also and concourse of sondrie sorts of officers played afore him most melodious heauenly harmonie On the other parte the Quéene was brought to the Church of professed Nunnes being cōducted and accompanied with Archbishops and Bishops with her Armes and titles royally garnished And the Quéenes being wiues vnto the fower Kings aforesayd caryed before her as the order and custome was fower white Doues or Pigeons For behold twelue discréete personages of reuerend countenance came to the King in stately maner carying in their right hands in token and signe of Ambassage Oliue boughes And after they had saluted him they deliuered vnto him on the behalfe of Lucius Tyberius Letters contayning this effect ¶ The Epistle of Lucius the Romaine Lieutenant to Arthur King of Britaine LVcius Gouerner of the Commonwealth to Arthur King of Britaine as he hath deserued I haue excéedingly wondered to thinke of thy malepert and tyrannicall dealing I doe meruaile I say and in considering the matter I am angrie and take in ill part the iniurie that thou hast offered to Rome and that thou no better aduising thy self refusest to acknowledge her Neither hast thou any care speedelie to redresse thyne ouersight thus by vniust dealings to offend the Senate vnto whom thou art not ignorant that the whole world oweth homage and seruice For the Tribute done for Britaine which the Senate commaunded thée to pay for that Iulius Caesar and other worthie Romaines long and many yéeres enioyed the same thou to the contempt of such an honorable Estate hast presumed to detaine and kéepe backe Thou hast also taken from them Gallia thou hast wonne from them the Prouinces of Sauoy and Daulphinie thou hast gotten the possession of all the Ilands of the Ocean the Kings whereof so long as the Romaine authoritie was there obeyed payed Tribute to our Auncestors Sith therfore the Senate hath decréed to redemaund amends and restitution at thy hands for these thy so great wrongs I enioyne and commaund thée to come to Rome in the middest of August the next yéere thexe to answere vnto thy Lords and to abyde such sentence and order as they by iustice shall lay vpon thée Which thing if thou refuse to doe I will inuade thy Countries and whatsoeuer thy wilfull rashnes hath disloyally taken away from their Commonwealth that will I by dint of sword assay to recouer and to them restore ¶ Cador the Duke of Cornewall his Oration to the King I Haue hitherto bene in feare least the Britaines through much ease and long peace should growe to flouth and cowardize and lose that honorable reputation of Cheualrie and martiall prowesse wherein they are generally accoumpted to surmount all other Nations For where the vse of Armes is not estéemed but in stéede therof Dyeing Carding dalying with women and other vayne delites frequented it cannot choose but there cowardize and sluggardie must néedes dimme and deface all vertue honour valiaunce and fame There bee now almost fiue yéeres passed since we hauing lacked Martial exercise haue effeminately bene nuzzeled in these foresayd delites God therefore not willing to see vs any longer marred and stayned with sluggardie hath stirred vp the Romaines that they should be the meanes to reduce our auncient valour vnto the former state and dignitie While hée vsed these and such like wordes confirmed by those that were there at that tyme in presence they came at length to their Benches or Seates where after that euery person was set and placed Arthur vsed this spéech vnto them ⧠The Oration of Arthur to his Lords and people MY fellowes sayth he and companyons both of aduersitie and prosperitie whose fidelities I haue heretofore both in your sound counsels and in exployting militare seruices had good tryall and experience of listen now and affoord vnto me your aduise and wisely foresee what you thinke conuenient for vs touching such demaunds and commaundements to be done For when a thing is wisely aforehand deliberated and carefully foreseene when it commeth to the pinch it is more easilie auoyded and tolerated We shall therefore the easier bee able to abyde the imperious demaund of Lucius if wee lay our heads together and foresee how and which way wee may best defeate and infringe the same And surely for my part I doe not thinke that we haue any cause greatly to feare him sith vpon an vnreasonable cause he seeketh to haue a tribute payed out of Britaine For he alledgeth that the same is due and payable to him because it was payd to Iulius Caesar and others his Successors which being inuited and called hether through the discorde and iarres of the auncient Britaines arriued here in Britaine with numbers of armed Soldiours and with force and vyolence brought vnder their subiection this our Countrey miserably tossed with ciuile garboyles and domesticall discord And because they in this sort got the possession of it they haue since taken and vniustly receiued a Tribute out of it For nothing that is gotten by force and vyolence is iustly possessed by him that offered the vyolence The cause therefore which he pretendeth is vnreasonable whereby he d 〈…〉 eth vs by law and right to be tributarie vnto them Sith therfore he thus presumeth to demaund of vs that which is vniust let vs by the same reason demaund of him tribute at Rome he that is the stronger let him carie away that which he desireth and claymeth For if his reason why he demaundeth tribute now as due to be payed by vs because Caesar and other Romaine Princes sometymes conquered Britaine be good by the like reason I doe thinke that Rome ought to pay tribute to mee because my Predecessors heretofore wanne and subdued it For Belinus that most noble King of Britaines with the helpe and ayde of his brother Brennus Duke of Sauoy tooke by force that Citie and long while possessed it hanging vp in the middest of their chiefe Market place and high streate twentie of the chiefest Nobles among them Constantine also the sonne of Helena and Maximianus likewise being both of them my nere Cosens and either of them successiuely crowned King of Britaine were enthronized in the imperiall Seate of the Romaine Empyre What thinke ye now Iudge you that the Romaines haue any reason or right to demaunde Tribute at our hands As touching Fraunce or other collaterall Ilands of the Ocean it néedeth no answere sith they refused to defend them when we forcibly tooke them out of their cloutches iurisdiction The answere of Howell King of little Britaine THough
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
Archbishop that Dubrick hight Did crowne this King in déede Foure Kings before him bore in sight Foure golden Swords we réede These Kings were famous of renowne Yet for their homage due Repayrd vnto Carleon Towne As I rehearse to you How many Dukes and Earles withall Good Authors can you tell And so true writers shewe you shall How Arthur there did dwell What Court he kept what Acts he did What Conquest he obtaynd And in what Princely honor still King Arthur long remaynd Quéene Gueneuer was crown'd likewise In Iulius Church they say Where that fower Quéenes in solemne guise In royall rich aray Foure Pigeons white bore in their hands Before the Princesse face In signe the Quéene of Brittish Lands Was worthie of that grace Carleon lodged all these Kings And many a noble Knight As may be prou'd by sondrie things That I haue seene in sight The bounds hath bene nine myles about The length thereof was great It shewes it self this day throughout It was a Princes Seate In Arthurs tyme a Table round Was there whereat he sate As yet a plot of goodly ground Sets foorth that rare estate The Citie reacht to Creet church than And to Saint Gillyans both Which yet appeares to view of man To trye this tale a troth There are such Uautes and hollowe Caues Such walles and Condits déepe Made all like pypes of earthen pots Wherein a child may créepe Such streates and pauements sondrie waies To euery market Towne Such Bridges built in elders daies And things of such renowne As men may muse of to behold But chiefly for to note There is a Castle very old That may not be forgot It stands vpon a forced Hill Not farre from flowing flood Where loe ye view long Uales at will Enuyron'd all with wood A Seate for any King aliue The Soyle it is so swéete Fresh springs doth streames of water driue Almost through euery streate From Castle all these things are seene as pleasures of the eye The goodly Groues and Uallies gréene and wooddie Mountaines hye The crooked Créekes and pretie Brookes that are amid the Plaine The flowing Tydes that spreads the land and turnes to Sea againe The stately Woods that like a hoope doth compasse all the Uale The Princely plots that stands in troope to beautifie the Dale The Riuers that doth daily runne as cleare as Christall stone Shewes that most pleasures vnder Sunne Carleon had alone Great ruth to see so braue a Soyle Fall in so sore decay In sorowe sit full nere the foyle As Fortune fled away And world forsooke to knowledge those That earst hath bene so greate Where Kings and graue Philosophers Made once therein their Seate Vrbs legionum was it namde In Caesars daies I trowe And Arthur holding resdence there As stories plainly showe Not only Kings and noble Péeres Repayrde vnto that place But learned men full many yéeres Receiu'd therein their grace Than you that auncient things denyes Let now your talke surcease When profe is brought before your eyes Ye ought to hold your peace And let Carleon haue his right And ioye his wonted fame And let each wise and worthie wight Speake well of Arthurs name Would God the brute thereof were knowne In Countrey Court and Towne And she that sits in reagall Throne With Scepter Sword and Crowne Who came from Arthurs rase and lyne Would marke these matters throwe And shewe thereon her gracious eyne To helpe Carleon now Thus farre my pen in Arthurs praise Hath past for plainnesse sake In honor of our elders daies That kéepes my muse awake All only for to publish plaine Tyme past tyme present both That tyme to come may well retaine Of each good tyme the troth ¶ An Introduction to the Letters sent from Lucius Tyberius at the Coronation of King Arthur NOt vnwilling to delate and make large the matter now written of further because the raigne of King Arthur is diuersly treated on and vncertainly spoken of the men of this world are growen so wise I haue searched and found in good Authors such certaintie of King Arthur and matter that merits the reading that I am compelled with pen to explaine and with some paines and studie to pâ—esent the world with in generall The substance whereof being in Latin may be read and vnderstood by thousands is englished because the common sorte as well as the learned shall see how little the Kings and Princes of this Land haue esteemed the power of the Romaines or manasing and force of any forraine foe whatsoeuer And for the amending of my tale let our Soueraine Ladie be well considered of whose graces passeth my pen to shewe and you shall see great things are encountred and no small matters gone about and brought to good passe in the action afore named which becommeth well a Quéene of that race who is descended of so noble a progenie But now purposing orderly to procéede to the former discourse and to rehearse word for word as it was left by our forefathers men of great learning and knowledge I haue set doune some such Letters and Orations as peraduenture wil make you to maruell of or at the least to thinke on so much that some one among a multitude will yéeld me thankes for my labour and rather encourage a true writer to continue in the like exercises then to giue him any occasion to sit ydle and so forget the vse of pen. There followeth hereafter those things before mentioned which I hope the Readers will iudge with aduisement and construe to the best intent and meaning For this matter not only shewes by good authoritie the royall Coronation of King Arthur but in like maner declares with what pride and pomp the Romaines sent hether at the very instant of this great tryumph for tribute and homage at which proud and presumptuous demaund King Arthur and all his other Princes about him began to bee greatly moued and presently without further delay gaue so sharpe and sodaine an answer to the Embassadors of Rome that they were so vexed and abashed therewith that they neither knewe well how to take it nor made any further reply as followes by matter presently here if you please throughly to reade it Consider withall that after this Embassage King Arthur in plaine battaile slue Lucius and had gone to Rome to haue bene crowned Emperour there if Mordred had not made a reuolt in Arthurs owne kingdome The Coronation and solemnitie therof The Embassage and proude message of the Romaines And the whole resolution of King Arthur therein is first set forth here in English THE appoynted tyme of the solemnitie approching and all being readie assembled in the Citie of Carleon the Archbishops London and Yorke and in the Citie of Carleon the Archbishop Dubright were conueighed to the Palace with royall solemnitie to crowne King Arthur Dubright therefore because the Court then lay within his Diocesse furnished
All this without and all the Towne within When Castle stood to vewe hath subiect bin But now doth hold their fréedome of the Prince And as is found in Records true vnfaynd This trim shiere towne was buylt a great while since Whose priuiledge by loyaltie was gaynd Two Bayliefes there doth rule as course doth fall In state like Maior and orders good withall Each officer due that fits for stately place Each yéere they haue to yéeld the roume more grace On sollemne daies in Scarlet gownes they goe Good house they kéepe as cause doth serue therefore But Christmas feasts compares with all I knowe Saue London sure whose state is farre much more That Cities charge makes straungers blush to see So princely still it is in each degree But though it beare a Torch beyond the best This Lanterne light may shine among the rest This Towne with more fit members for the head Makes London ritch yet reapes great gayne from thence It giues good gold for Clothes and markes of lead And for Welsh ware exchaungeth English pence A fountaine head that many Condits serue Kéepes moyst drye Springs and doth it selfe preserue The flowing Sea to which all Riuers run May spare some shewres to quench the heate of Sun So London must like mother to the Realme To all her babes giue milke giue sucke and pap Small Brookes swelles vp by force of mightie streame As little things from greatest gaynes good hap If Shrewsebrie thriue and last in this good lucke It is not like to lacke of worldly mucke The trade is great the Towne and Seaee stands well Great health they haue in such swéete Soyles that dwell Thus farre I goe to proue this Wales in déede Or els at least the martches of the same But further speake of Shiere it is no néede Saue Ludloe now a Towne of noble fame A goodly Seate where oft the Councell lyes Where Monuments are found in auncient guyse Where Kings and Quéenes in pompe did long abyde And where God pleasde that good Prince Arthur dyde This Towne doth front on Wales as right as lyne So sondrie Townes in Shropshiere doe for troth As Ozestry a pretie Towne full fine Which may be lou'd be likte and praysed both It stands so trim and is maintaynd so cleane And péepled is with folke that well doe meane That it deserues to be enrould and shrynd In each good breast and euery manly mynd The Market there so farre excéedes withall As no one Towne comes néere it in some sort For looke what may be wisht or had at call It is there found as market men report For Poultrie Foule of euery kind somewhat No place can shewe so much more cheape then that All kind of Cates that Countrie can afford For money there is bought with one bare word They harke not long about the thing they sell For price is knowne of each thing that is brought Poore folke God wot in Towne no longer dwell Then money had perhaps a thing of nought So trudge they home both barelegge and vnshod With song in Welsh or els in praysing God O swéete content O merrie mynd and mood With sweat of browes thou lou'st to get thy food O plaine good folke that haue no craftie braines O Conscience cléere thou knowst no cunning knacks O harmlesse hearts where feare of God remaines O simple Soules as sweete as Uirgin waxe O happie heads and labouring bodies blest O sillie Doues of holy Abrahams brest You sléepe in peace and rise in ioye and blisse For Heauen hence for you prepared is Where shall we finde such dealing now adaies Where is such chéere so cheape and chaunge of fare Ride North and South and search all beaten waies From Barwick bounds to Venice if you dare And finde the like that I in Wales haue found And I shall be your slaue and bondman bound If Wales be thus as tryall well shall proue Take Wales goodwill and giue them neighbours loue To Ludloe now my muse must needes returne A season short no long discourse doth craue Tyme rouleth on I doe but daylight burne And many things in déede to doe I haue Looke what great Towne doth front on Wales this hower I minde to touch God sparing life and power Not hyerd thereto but hal'de by harts desire To giue them praise whose deedes doe fame require Verte folium ¶ Of Shrewsebury Churches and the Monuments therein with a Bridge of stone two bowshot long and a streate called Colam being in the Subbarbs and a fayre Bridge there in like maner all this was forgotten in the first copie I Had such haste in hope to be but briefe That Monuments in Churches were forgot And somewhat more behind the walles as chiefe Where Playes haue bin which is most worthie note There is a ground newe made Theat or wise Both deepe and hye in goodly auncient guise Where well may sit ten thousand men at ease And yet the one the other not displease A space belowe to bayt both Bull and Beare For Players too great roume and place at will And in the same a Cocke pit wondrous feare Besides where men may wrastle in their fill A ground most apt and they that sits aboue At once in vewe all this may see for loue At Astons Play who had beheld this then Might well haue seene there twentie thousand men Fayre Seuarne streame runs round about this ground Saue that one side is closde with Shrewsebrie wall And Seuarne bankes whose beautie doth abound In that same Soyle behold at will ye shall Who comes to marke and note what may be seene Shall surely see great pleasures on this greene Who walkes the bankes and thinkes his payne not greate Shall say the Towne is sure a princely Seate Without the walles as Subbarbs buylded bée So doe they stand as armes and legges to Towne Each one a streate doth answer in degrée And by some part comes Seuarne running downe As though that streame had mynd to garde them all And as through bridge this flood doth dayly fall So of Freestone three Bridges bigge there are All stately built a thing full straunge and rare Then iudge by this and other things a heape They had déepe skill that first the founders were Good right they should the fruite of labour reape Whose wit and wealth did all the charges beare O fathers wise and wits beyond the nicke That had the head the spréetes and sence so quicke O golden age that car'de not what was spent So leaden daies did stand therewith content Gold were those yéeres that sparde such siluer pence And brazen world was that which hoorded all The leaden daies that we haue sauerd since Bytes to the bones and tasteth worse then gall What newe things now with franknesse well begun Can staine those déedes our fathers old haue done Great Townes they buylt great Churches reard likewise Which makes our fame to