ashamed of their differences but laide them foorth largely to the view neither do I esteeme it a shame wherby any man should couet to hide the same to be descended as a yoonger brother sithence that euerie brother hauing the like parents is as well descended as the eldest and therefore as good a Gentleman though not so rich as he And the more is his honor if without the helpe which by reason of his patrimonie the elder hath he can aduance himselfe into place of office or dignitie whereby he may raise an other florishing familie of the same surname And therefore you my masters that be yoonger brothers neuer hide your differences by putting foorth a little cressant or a peeping mollet but vse some faire large deuise sithence in truth your estimation is by your rising to be had in as good a regard as if you were the elder And now being in speech of yoonger brothers and their differences I haue obserued two kinds of them which the antiquitie vsed besides the aforesaid one was that such as were aduanced by Kings Princes or other great Lords did manie times beare some part of the deuise of him who aduanced them by way of addition vnto the marke of their owne familie which serued verie aptlie to distinguish them from their elder house The other was that diuers did adde vnto the marke of their owne house some part of the deuise of that familie from which their mothers descended and both these two kinds of differings are in my minde greatly to be commended not onely for that they may be made large and apparent and for that cause serue very properly to the vse for which Badges are ordained but also that the one makes manifest a gratefull minde in him that is aduanced to his prince or lord of whom he receiued benefit and by reason thereof linketh them togither in a kinde of amitie which seldome or neuer is worne out and by that meanes a great strengthening it is vnto both houses The other not onely serueth to vnite the families which haue matched togither in the foresaid loue and amitie and thereby worketh the like effect but besides it sheweth the certainty of the dessending of the said yoonger brother out of both the said houses and also giueth knowledge of the time thereof whereby if any title of inheritance be at any time cast vpon the yoonger brother either descending from ancestor of the fathers side or mothers it giues him a testimonie of his title and witnesseth vnto the world the truth of his descent by the continuall bearing of that deuise so that this kind may many times worke profit to the bearer and auoid many troubles and sutes and therefore into one of these kind of differings could I wish our yoonger brothers which from hencefoorth shal be aduanced to inuest them selues as being both honorable faire certaine and profitable But now it may be obiected that the order in vse sheweth plainly ynough the diuersitie of brothers as the cressant a second the mollet the third that by this means the matters are made certaine to this I answere that first the time is not by this means signified neither can it be known which of the Cressant bearers was the vncle or nephew And further it is a very vsuall matter for euery new Riser at this day if he can find that there is any of the like Surname that beareth marke presently to vsurpe the same with a Cressant or some such difference so that for my owne part I do seldome credit such kinde of differinges nor their bearers vnles it be by some other testimony or proofe made manifest which cannot be counterfetted so well in the other deuise except the riser should be throughly acquainted with the descent of him whose line he seeketh to intrude himselfe into and besides it may be the sooner espied by them of the true line forbidden nor the other dare for feare thereof so soone venter the committing of a falsitie But what a confusion is it when you shall see the second of a second brother and sometimes an other second from him to cluster one Cressant vpon an other many times three or foure one on horsebacke vpon an other where as by the aforesaid bearing of the difference from the Prince Lord or mothers family a man may better distinguish the brothers and set downe for a second a third and fourth c. And after from those againe in a fairer larger and more apparent manner And the more apt am I to speake against these ordinary differences as they are called knowing them to be but new inuentions and any of them as ordinaries in fashion as now they are neuer vsed before the time of King Henrie the sixt before which time men were much more warie and discreet in bearing of their marks and in foreseeing that no intruders should enter into their families nor that any should lay away or remoue their differings without speciall warrant or license of them that thereby might be preiudiced for a Labell being much in vse for the heire apparent to wear as his difference during his fathers life was seldome remooued to the second brother but when the inheritance went vnto the daughters of the elder brother and then the second was permitted to beare the same for his difference as being the heire male of his familie and as one that remained in expectancie yet might not the second brother vse to intrude himselfe into the absolute signes of his house the inheritance being in his neeces or kinswomen as appeared in the case betweene Gray of Ruthine and Hastings which was this Iohn Lord Hastings married to his first wife Izabell one of the sisters and heires of Almerie de vallence Earle of Penbrooke by whom he had issue Iohn Hastings after Earle of Penbrooke Elizabeth married to Roger Lord Gray of Ruthin and some other children which needs not to be spoken of for that as I take it al the lines of them failed before the extinguishing of the line of the said Iohn Earle of penbrooke after such issue being had the said Izabell Vallence died and the said Iohn Lord Hastings tooke to a second wife Izabell the daughter of Hugh Spenser by whom he had issue Hugh Hastings and Thomas and then died and left as heire Iohn his son by his first wife who was Earle of Penbrooke as I haue said erected by reason of his mothers inheritance which Iohn Earle of Penbrooke married and had issue an other Earle of Penbrooke who also married and had issue a third Earle of Penbrooke but in the end all the line of the said Iohn Hastings first Earle of Penbrooke of that familie fayling there arose a question betwixt the heires of Roger Gray and Elizabeth his wife being sister of the whole blood and the heires of Hugh Hastings brother of the halfe blood to the said Iohn Earle of Penbrooke for the inheritance of the Hastings But Gray recouering the same by the law
to gard the towne at best And thither doth the Duke of Aniou mooue Enuirning close the towne in such a wise The dwellers thinke it best for their behooue To render it and do their strength despise Thunstable commons like Protheus guise Are so delighted in ech chaffring change Like fleeting tides their thoughts do euer range The captaine also was becommen French infest with loue of glittering ticing gould Too foule a swill a soldiers minde to drench That thoughts to honor euer fasten should And his giue promise permanent to hould I vnderstood how all this practise went At Bergareth and to be there I ment At this deliuerie sir Thomas Phelton and My selfe do ride what time the sun was plast Betwixt the east and west in lower land We came as French were reddie entring fast At thother gate to Batfoyle spide I hast Traitrous Batfoyle was busie t' entertaine My croching foes in hope of greedie gaine In hands I shooke my suer bright shaking sword Enflamde with courage as reason did requier I plainly shewd I came not now to bourd Traitor I said take heere deserued hier Treasons no more thou shalt from hence conspier And as I spake I lent him such a bloe That soule and bodie doth a sunder goe A iust reward for such foule treason don But when the French our wefting banners vew Their backs they turne and swift away they run Lightly clad with feare they nimbly flew The townsmen ginne their dealing false to rew Lay all the fault in him that I had slaine And so the towne did English still remaine The Duke and Glesquine went to Limoges Where the Dukes Berrie and Burbon siege do hould Which citie yeelded was by th tretrousnes Of their Bishop which matter being tould Vnto the prince he sware reuenge he would So vile despite by his deere fathers soule Which oth he kept unbroke and euer whole From Coynoc then he marcht in braue aray Twelue hundred Lords knights and hardie squiers A thousand archers so many Brigands sway That all the countrie dread their flaming iers On sharp reuenge do boile their hot desiers Sir Thomas Percie and Lord Rosse was there Who did in gules three siluer Bogets bear Sir William Mesnile a chiff of burnisht gold Three gemels finely set in Azurd shield Sir Simon Borley six bars equall told Of black and yellow in his chiff he held Of the mettaile two pales as first is speld In midst a scuchion of Rubie fairly dight In it three bars of ermins plainly pight Right fierce assault the citie so was tane Many an innocent with the nocent died Man woman childe were brought to blooddie bane Such wofull rigor did this towne betide The duke of Lancaster stoutlie here was tried In single fraie the erle of Cambrig and The erle of Penbroke fighting so are fand Which tripart combate was so noblie fought As sick prince tooke pleasure it t'behould Causing his litter neerer to be brought The French resist so long as ear they could And lasht and stroke with noble courage bould But conquerd yeeld and yeelding fauor finde As noble arms her sacred lawes assinde Deuine mercy whose lore I euer loud The soueraine good that God to man affords Most like to God man hath his likenes prooud That treasure such within sweete heauen hords And you great captains and renowmed Lords That manage arms hold mercy in your minde Bloods wilfull spiller seld doth mercie finde I was right glad from this that so I bide At Bergareth the frontier to sustaine And now through Fraunce with ventring troupe did ride Sir Robert Canole to the Frenchmens paine Welth and treasure did such abundance gaine His soldiers but siluer and gold esteemd Oystrige feathers or what was daintie deemd Not vertues selfe can lengthen mortall daies Yet fame prouides that vertue should not die Obliuion repugnes good fame alwaies True writers of braue acts doth still defie Ech wight depriud of honor shut should lie She much desiers all couered with the corse Of valiant deeds she taketh no remorse If Phrigian Poet should the praises shew Of noble Priam and his woorthie sons Their high exploits set foorth in order dew Although large fame of all their doings runs Yet but defendaunts when toth sight it cums Assailant conqueror this braue English king Triumphant victors his noble ofspring As Priam nor his sonnes left nought behind But golden praise pronounst by writers skill And none could now their names or dooings find So hugely woxt the vastie world to fill Vnlesse it had dropt from a heedie quill So Muse and Mars togither must agree The first the last makes liue eternally And since our Hector stout came out of Spaine He languished which greatly made vs grieue For stealingly ech hower increast his paine Gainst which with courage good he much did striue Wasting sicknes quite doth his strength depriue Now into England to returne he ment Of peyred helth to seeke amendement He sent for all his squiers knights and Lords That of him hold and when we present were Such princely gentle language he affords As might braue courage and allegance steare Full sweetly spake he like a noble peere In euery thing he wild vs to obay His brother Gaunt which regent heere should stay Then shipping takes the gentlest knight aliue And most renowmed for his woorthines Right pensiue I that sicknes did depriue His health that bread the Frenchmens sikernes In batteled Arms they found him matchles For so he pinde and inly grew his griefe As finall death did worke his first reliefe He newly gon fowre Britton knights aduaunce Themselues to take Mountpaon and they sped So well by practise as the matter chaunct The Lord therof French turned in that sted Which known did make Duke Iohn to shake his hed Sommons he forst and vowd it to regaine In conquering wise or die with deadlie paine It toucht him near bicause it lay him near So on a day with kindled courage stout From Bourdeux accompanied strongly faire He doth depart with his braue warlike rout Of Poyctow Xanton and Gascoine there about Of th'english Phelton Freuile and Rosse there was Sir Michael Delapole did in this iourney passe Whose cornerd shield was laid with skilfull blew A fesse between three Liberds heads of gold Sir William Bewchampe gay as bridegroome new Armed in red right stately to behold A girdle plast between six martlets told Glistering bright like Phoebus in his pride Well could he iust and comly could he ride Now when we were this castle plast before And ordred had ech thing in order dew We raisd assault but were resisted sore A whole long day then back our soldiers drew This castle was inuirond with deep stew So fast we fild with fagots vp the mot As to the wals with much adoe we got And now much worke and buisnes was begun And many a man reuerst and ouerthrowne More feller stut was none vnder the sun So that this newes was bruted wide and knowne
THE TRVE VSE OF ARMORIE Shewed by Historie and plainly proued by example the necessitie therof also discouered with the maner of differings in ancient time the lawfulnes of honorable funerals and moniments with other matters of Antiquitie incident to the aduauncing of Banners Ensignes and marks of noblenesse and cheualrie By William Wyrley Imprinted at London by I. Iackson for Gabriell Cawood 1592 TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORDS AND OTHERS THE professors of martiall discipline NOBLES and Gentlemen I will salute you with a sentence of mine Author sir Iohn Froysard The aduentures of armes saith he are so diuers and so far oftentimes beyond expectation as that their effects causeth great admiration which saying of his caused me with the more attention to read ouer his works and finding the same most truly prosecuted through the whole course of his historie but especially in the actions and aduentures of two famous Capitains Sage and Imaginatiue the one sir Iohn Chandos and the other sir Iohn Grayllie by name commonly called the Captall de Buz it delighted me as a louer of honor and cheualrie to note downe their seuerall fortunes with some reasons of their falles as men may gesse at the iudgements of God and hauing enterprised the publishing thereof haue dedicated these my labors such as they be to your honorable societie which doings of mine though they may seeme to some men friuolous and not woorth your regard yet doubt I not but you shall finde matter of benefit valuable to the time you shall therein bestow both by way of imitation and vertuous aemulation as being a subiect that may stir your woorthie endeuors to the honor of God your dutifull seruice of hir Maiestie the benefit of your countrie and your owne eternall glorie I haue been carefull to set downe as my maner is the Standards pennons cote armours and other marks of honor to the end it may publikely be knowen of what necessitie the vse of them is as being for that cause first ordeined how and in what maner they are to be vsed and to whom they do of right most chiefly and properly appertaine and belong And these matters being well conceiued as indeed without such tokens no martiall discipline can be exercised no armie ranged no attempt of any companie atchieued and so by consequence no conquest made nor so much as any Common-wealth whatsoeuer defended neither from outward enimies ciuill discord nor the rebellion of any plebeian rout be the same neuer so simple rude or of small esteeme it will I hope reduce into estimation a matter both of honor order and necessitie which now through the abuse thereof is so far run into contempt as that of many men it is holden for a thing of no price but thought to be a very mockerie and a matter of no other sequence than to set vp vaine and fantasticall glorious fellowes into a pride and to drawe from them some small summes to certaine persons into an office instituted which no doubt was by the wisest and best gouerned states at the first deuised and generally by all of any policie receiued to a most necessarie end yet thinke they as it is now in vse it serueth but onely for that purpose And indeed I must by the way complaine that certaine of the said officers or others pertaining to them either for want of skill or maintenance or otherwise for their gaine haue committed faults not iustifiable whereby they haue brought a matter of great honor into defame and iniured thereby the Commonwealth and brought both others that haue managed those affaires with more discretion and themselues into obloquie But these faults and errors and some others also spoken of in this dedication instituted to that purpose will in the handling of this matter more easily appeere and the thing be I hope reformed either by the good endeuors which the officers vnderstanding thereof will vse or else by the magistrate when he shall haue knowledge of such the abuses as he may be informed of And first that Guydhomes ensignes and marks of armorie be of necessitie let it be but considered whether wars be somtimes of necessitie to be taken in hand or not and surely I thinke there is none of so very meane capacitie but will yeeld vnto it that they be especially defensiue and in some cases also offensiue which as a thing granted I will ouerpasse And then I say further that wars being lawful and of necessitie it must also be granted that the same must be made by companies and bands of men ouer which some must command and the rest obey and then will it follow that for the oredring diuiding of those to the best aduantage standards and banners must be allotted to euery companie to the end they may draw togither in their strength and performe such actions as they shall be cōmanded thus may you see the necessitie And for the vse it doth also appeer that sithence some must be commanders it is of importance that they be known both by the persons ouer whom they command generally by al and that so perspicuously that vpon euery sudden occurrent the meanest simplest common soldier may thereby know euerie particular officer and captaine that hath charge for which purpose our ancestors deuise was that such men should weare some such coate of marke ouer his armor as whereby they might be easily discerned to be the same persons which indeed they were and where somtimes when occasion so offered it selfe they were forced to vse pauishes for their defence whereby a great part of the marke which was vpon their vesture was shadowed from sight it was thought necessarie that their markes should be also laide vpon their shieldes the commanders of horse-men their faces being for the most part couered they added to the crests of their helmets some further distinction to be the better also knowen by thus much for the ordinance and vse of armorie And hereby also may it appeere to whom they do properly belong and appertaine namelie to Kings Princes Archbishops Bishops Earles Barons Lords of prouinces and fees Knights officers in the Armie Nauie or peece and generallie to all that haue charge ouer bands and companies of soldiers And now sithence from hencefoorth manie of my speeches will tend to the discouerie of such things as I take to be abused erronious or faultie wherein I may peraduenture not square in opinion with some others and being my selfe no officer or of any authoritie whereby I should haue cause to deale in these affaires I will therefore first beseech your honors and all others to whom it may appertaine that if anie thing shall passe my pen which shall be offensiue that they wil conceiue no woorse of it then I meane which is but to bring these matters of armorie into question to the ende that if anie thing be amisse as I for my part thinke that manie things are that then the same may be reformed but if happelie
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
durs sages Combatants à bonnes certes ia pour mourir plain pie nen fuiront c. LORD CHANDOS THE GLORIOVS LIFE AND HONORABLE DEATH OF SIR IOHN CHANDOS LORD OF SAINT Saluiour le Vicount great Seneschall of Poyctow high Constable of Acquitaine Knight of the honorable order of the Garter elected by the first founder king Edward the third at his institution thereof LET none reioice too much in fortunes state Reading the storie of my tragike death But watchfull be t' attend some turning fate Which like wild whirlwind all our dooings sweath For as graue Senec in wise morals seath No mortall man with Gods gaine fauor might Of warrantice to see next mornings light No earthly one how goodly so he seeme Fine faire or perfect how so he appear Renowmed rich of excellent esteeme That firmly stands and fixed forme doth bear For wauing fortune so the ship will stear With giddie guiding to hir fond intent Nor wit nor prowesse can bad rule preuent Vncertaine more than is slow Lidian brooke Which dallieth his winding banks within Fast forward hasts then doth regardant looke Staying in doubt th' ocean t' enter in Or to reslide where first it did begin Yet suddenly quicke plungeth in amaine After much showe turnes backe to springs againe No whistling fowler hath so many gins No wading fisher halfe so many baits No nimble spider threeds so many spins No toiling hunter tenth part of deceits That fortune hath of woondrous ticing feats Training men on triumphing in their fall Shewing them honie poisning them with gall As AEacus imagind was to deale With Tantalus deluded with the pray Of hungers ease and scalding thirsts assaile Whom wearie proffers make to emptie way Yet near vncaught the luring frute doth stay So are they fed high honors seeke to gaine Shee l manies blood and purpose not obtaine When fortune shewes hir friendly countenance What mightie ones in selfe conceits we seeme Weightie affaires dispose by ordinance As what we list to bring to passe we deeme In our owne reach ech thing we do esteeme We him appoint to death and him we â—ease Welding whole world as doth our liking please Led onward with hope of long assurance We neuer thinke of fortunes frowning But high honors plant as if perdurance had promised continuall showring Fresh still to increase increased springing But long before proud honor taketh roote Wisest forecasting proued is no boote Oft when we are most busie tampering Some foes to trap within our plotted snares Not him vnlike who pit is digging Headlong into it fals himselfe vnwares So we surprised in our owne affaires For fortune that attendeth worldlie chaunce Where smooth she smild now blinketh wide askaunce For proofe marke me of hir deare darlings one That seemd to haue hir fettred fast in giues It might be thought that onely I alone Faire fauor had and thus she daily striues To haue the chiefest regement of our liues That when she list to knit the brows and frowne He standing high is quickly tumbled downe When first that woorthy golden booke began For Magistrates bright mirror cleare indeed Through which eternall praise the Authors wan Streight I beleeud as truly as my Creed My hard mishap so happely would speed As that some one of those rare learned men My blis and bale would haue vouchsaft to pen. In perfect die could they haue pictured False turncote with true shadowes in true kind Hir fained shew of truth and truest falshed Hir glosing face and hir vnconstant mind And hir continuall foe-mate still I find Since fates she driues my spent life to rehearse In lowly rimes refuse of loftie verse Outragious she slayeth without remorse Alike most woorthy and vnwoorthy wight As roling waue that needs must haue the force Tossing light things subiected to great might Respectles where or when so ere they light So careles she not caring when or how She casteth downe or maketh low to bow What time King Edward first inuaded France With good aid of th'erle of Henauld won Friend fortune then mine actes seemd to aduance So euenly my silken threed did run High enterprise what I attempt was done With shining glory and faire honors name As golden trumpe shield foorth Iohn Chandos fame Then as my King by Cambray Cittie past I armd approchd the barriers of the towne There lept I in my foes some wondred fast To see my deed a Squier of renowne Iohn de saint Ager stroue to beat me downe Right strong we coped with sterne courage bold Our mightie bufs some ioyed to behold Ecchoing stroks on eithers helmet lights With sparkling fier thundering mightilie All for glorious praises both our fights Stird with youths heat and mindfull dignitie Th'assailed strikes and both incessantly Imprinting dents do yeald so I at last Returnd with praise on with the Armie past When as the French had gathered mightie power Came to Vironfosse where treatie ended war Froisard me recounts among the flower Of English Squiers sets my fame full far In his large booke is shone how much we are In reuerence bound vnto such learned clarks As with their paine eternize broad our warks For if none should register noble deed Ther 's none would striue to shew his noblenes Or presse in vertues others to exceed If memorie none made were of valiantnes Freshlie burgening to future ages This pricking spur doth harts heroick heaue To thinke fell death faire Fame cannot bereaue Some sots there be so scrupulous that nought At all beleeue but what themselues do see These coy iudgers haue seld or nener thought Of times forepast what mightie men might be Of others deem by thimbecilitie Found in themself recall in question when Our acts memorizd are by learned men This truce expirde King Edward new prepard puissantly to passe the foming flud Which gate king Phillip strongly thought t' aue bard Decking a fleete thick seeming like a wood Whereof had charge three captaines seamen good Sir Hugh Kyriell Babuchet Barbnoire With stretched sailes the narrow seas do scower These Chieftaines fortie thousand men command Laid by French King to stop vs if they could Which when our King had spide he doth demand What masts they were so thicke he doth behould His Pylot named them and well he tould These were the foes that so his costes anoid Southamton towne and th'yle of Wight destroid Replide the king Saint George God be our guide I much desire with yonder fleete to fight A looffe to winde-ward all our Nauie wride To view the turne right goodlie was the sight Banners pensils stremers wauing bright Ladies we had whose minds these sights might daunt Going to see the Queene brought bed at Gaunt Whose presences fresh minds incouraged With double flame t'assaile the enimie For trustie seruants oft had vowed For their sweete sakes t'prooue all extremitie T'fight for his Ladie knights felicitie hot feruent loue makes coldest coward bold desirous much gaie Ladies grace to hold In front the French foorth plast a goodly
thing Full seauen months the armie held their ground Within which time so many braue assaies For to defend so many practise found In forraging so many goodly fraies Such skirmiges and that such sundrie waies To win the same as Greekes had neuer more When they strong Ilion planted were before This Castle strongly seated is betweene Two sliding streames that vessels well may beare Enuironed with gawdie meddow greene Vpon the which right bitter bickering are Oft on the riuers fight they without feare Sir Gualter Mannie chiefe of the English band Full expert knight on water or on land This courteous knight sage imagenatiue Found to his foes much warlike buisnes Right warilie affaires doth he contriue For sure defence of honor spotles Couragious knight and valiant doubtles Yellow banner he shewd three Cheurons blacke An English Lion on the highmost stake Whilst thus thassailaunt and defendaunt striue Euery day some practise new to doe The King of England maks hast to ariue Hearing declard his friends besiged so Conueniently he hasts himselfe to go To rease the Duke from Hamton port he saild Contrary wind made that his purpose faild For where he thought in Gascoine to take land Sir Godfrey Harcourt causd him change his mind Whose reasons being by grauest counsell scand And likte bicause contrary was the wind A faire large bay in Constantine we find Cald Hogg saint vast from shipping well ariud In Battails three our Armie is contriud Toward wealthfull Cane we onward hold our way And all the Countrie wast with sword and fier The Earle of Tankervile made with vs a fray Fast to the towne we forst him to retier After taken by his owne desier Within the towne of which we Masters were And Countrie round all trembled fast with feare Our soueraine determinde in his mind To passe through France to Callis if he could The Castle of Poys we in the way do find Rease assault and easly gaine the hould Nothing so strong might dure our forcement bould Absent the owner of the fort away Spoild was the towne bicause they false did play Two damesels faire were in this Castle found Of bewtie rare and of fine tender age Who rudely Rauisht had been in that stound Saue that Lord Basset and my selfe in rage Did them defend and by aduisement sage Safely protect and brought before the King Which them receiud and thankt vs for the thing Right princely he and sweetly intertaind These Virgins causing them to be conuaid To Corby towne high praise hereby we gaind Ech armed Knight who Knighthood true hath waid Will suffer no foule act done silly maid A souerain praise it is to armed Knight Outragious acts to hinder by his might What wight vile sin forbids not if he may Consents and giltie is to wicked ill The King doth march to Callis seeking way The riuer of some we are attaind vntill Where Godmare say a Knight of warlike skill Hauing in charge from soueraigne to keepe The passages where water was not deepe The Knight obeyd and Knightly did his best Due woorthie praise ech man doth well deserue That to his power fulfils his Princes hest Tho tickle fortune seeme oft times to swerue As vnto him who leader like did serue Strong Archer shot so whely all togither From kept defence the Frenchmen they deseuer When this Baron I meane sir Godmare say Sawe this huge mischiefe light amongst his men What he can helpe when fortune sayeth nay Fairly withdrew the best he could as then Its wisedome good for ech commander when Things crosse fall out to gouerne so his will That he the more for lesser do not spill Into the water brauely did we mount Which at that time passed with channell loe Where ouerthrowne Knights were of good account The passage won dame fortune fauored so To be admierd how she can ouerthroe Thus we Blanchtaque by noble courage gaine Gladded with ioy in lew of passed paine Thus when we had acquierd the further banke The gratious King as duety doth requier To mightie God yeeldeth most humble thanke Highly inflamed King Philips boyling yer In streete to close vs was his chiefe desier Angerly vexed with Lord Godmare fay Till sir Iohn Henault doth his rage allay Foorth hould we martch to Cressie in Ponthew The King his mind the Campe should there be staid Well informed the Frenchmen him pursew A space pondring lastly to vs said This Land my mothers dower should haue staid It giuen was therefore here make I choice To challenge it from Philip of Valoys And for that we were scarcely one gainst eight We warely batteled at aduantage Th'assayling tempter by fine skilfull sleight Of warlike heed for to indammage Three battailes ordred for knightly vsage i th first the Prince and Earle of Warwicke were In guls a fes six croslets gold did beare Sir Reignald Cobham strongly armd in red Three sable stars plast on a Cheuron gold Sir Barthelmew Burwash in like colour sped Gold ramping Lion queue doth forked hold Amongst these first my name is also told Sir Richard Stafford in gold shield did beare A gulie Cheuron and blew Labell faire With vs there were eight hundred men at Armes Two thousand Archers Brigands a thousand Purposely bent to worke fell enimies harms i th second did th' earle of Northanton stand With men at Armes iust numbred to our band Twelue hundred Bowes in gold Lord Basset dight Three Rubie piles a quarter ermins bright Faire clad in Armes seuen hundred the king With bowmen thousands two for gard abide Well pointed and directed euerie thing Our second battell moude somwhat aside Vs first to second as the time espide The king withdrew him to a windmill hill Where he and his all day they stooden still When as the French thus heard of our addresse They forward came bedect right sightly It pleasure was taview their noblenesse Their gilded armors glistering brightly To fight with them stird vs more lightly High valerous mind where enterprise is braue Would conquer honor and due praises craue Too long to tell the fierce incounters made The puissant strength or courage of the foe How euerie prince in order doth inuade Or how the arrowes flew like flakes of snowe Or how the horse their masters ouerthrow Or how we were oppressed so with might As that we sent vnto the king a knight Requesting him with his fresh power to aid His tender sonne so fiercely fought withall What slaine or wounded is my sonne he said That thus they send and for my succour call Neither the knight then tell him that he shall Replide the king his first worne spurs obtaine To him and his the honor shall remaine When as we heard this answer vs resent As lions fell with fasting mawes near pinde Amongst the herds new come do fellie rent The sillie flocke such like our vs finde For many liues from bodies we vntwinde Fourscore banners deiected to the ground And sixscore knights were there prostrated found And thirtie thousand of the
common sort With sir Reignald Cobham three Heraulds sent Searching the fields of truth to giue report For to be slaine so fully were we bent To fight when as we hard the Kings intent Some Knights yet thought he dealt but ouer hard That of his succour we were so debard This happie day by noble valiantnes We vanquished immortall fame we gaind And so the King held on his purposes To Callis where as we long time remaind That stoutest Knights garding the towne constraind Surrender make of Callis to his will All which he doth with English people fill Duke Hanniball when as graue senate sent And him home cald to aid his natiue soyle From Italy with no lesse anguish went Then did Duke Iohn from Aguillon recoyle Long hauing lean was loth to suffer foyle But his sad father wild him thence in hast Vs to resist that much his Countrie wast How turning times do trauerse humane course From ruffling war to calmest quietnes And doth allay the mightiest rage and force Appearing plesant temperat stilnes Freed of Tumult stur or buisnes For clanging trumpet and harsh armors sound Daintie blis and meriment is found For Cardnall Guy of Bullen he was sent As legate into Fraunce well doth intreat Firme peace between the kings vntill was bent Their raged minds t' endure without deceat Twixt them and theirs till two yeers out were beat Home went our king but Britton was except Where two braue Ladies cruel wars they kept The one of Mountfort intitled Countesse Whose husband dide a prisoner late in France Redoubted Lady of great valientnes Sharp wars maintaind for all hir Lords mischance Amason like would ride with sheild and Launce Defend hir selfe with battelous axe in fist Threatning blowes bestow and well resist On swelling seas puissance hath she tride In stormie fight amongst the mightiest With enimies blood the marble waters dide With braue Bundutia or Viragoes best Great Edelsleda or the woorthiest Of manly dames that wouen maile haue worne She may compare for valerous adorne Th' other possest a Lions hart in brest Little Inferiour to hir couragious foe Sir Charls of Bloys hir husband now did rest A prisoner fell fortune would it so Gainst whom she oft hir mightie power did shoe These warlike dames hard wars do still maintaine T'on for hir sonne th' other for husbands gaine The two yeers truce expierd King Phillip died And Iohn his sonne was Crowned in his sted Our Prince of Knights when he his time espied Surnamed blacke from England is he sped And into Gascoine warlike Knights he led Whose vertue good and courage did abound And for no death would flee on foote of ground To Thoulous and Carcasson led his host Late before the Riuer of Garron past Hauing burned and spoyled all the cost With pillage store and prisners fiaunct fast To Burdeux safe returned at the last Tho th' earle of Arminack and th' earle of Fois Had Countries charge with soldiers of some chois The prince fresh in the flowers of his youth So much desierd to follow martiall deeds As duly to recount of him the truth His noble thought thereon he onely feeds Right busie Lord to sow wilde otes his seeds A second rode doth into Berry make And countrie round at pleasure spoile and take King Iohn informed of our chevachaunce His sommons cald but first of all he sent Three Barons wise t' aduise our ordinaunce Lord Craon Bowciqualt and the Herment Cald of Chaumount who ordred their intent Vs to intrap abushment one they plast From which we droue them to a castle fast Cald Remorentine the prince doth me command To go persuade these foresaid knights to yeeld I salued them which done I do demand Surrender of the castle which they held Vnto my Lord that matters so would weld Of curtesie vnto his rendred foe Of custome vsed in like case to shoe This rendring mart they thought too bad to make All three men of prooued valure much In silken white that puffing blast did shake Blacke egle spred whose either head doth tuch The banners sides sir Bowcequalts was such That foorth he hoised wefting in the winde Thinking he doth himselfe in safetie finde Plaine said he would no follie such commit As to become a prisner without cause Trusting right well himselfe for to acquit But morrow morne they yeelded without pause Thereto compeld by raging fiers lawes Of well conceiued hope they were beguild Their fortresse left forsaken and exild Like sparkling lightning droue by southern blast Scorching all it findeth in hit power The valerous prince proceedeth with like waste In burning Townes in raising many a Tower Such hideous stormes he on the French doth shower Rich spoiles we gained and great booties wone Without controle of ought which we had done The valiant and renowmed king of Fraunce When as he hard our Prince in field to be Vowed to fight in armes to prooue his chaunce And carefull was by Poyicters towne least we Should there repasse or that he should vs see Woorthie king most woorthie glorious crowne Right valiant Lord though Fortune now did frowne He sommoned braue Dukes stout Earles and Lords In batteled armes before him to appeere With so much haste as hastie speed affords Encountring strength against vs foes to reare Resolud to fight as one deuoid of feare No spare of coste to furnish his intent Loftie thoughts on vengfull battaile bent When this great masse of men all mustered were The battailes three ordained out of hand Gay duke of Orleaunce first well gouernd there Where sixe and thirtie wauing banners stand Long pennons twice so many there were fand Beate with fine armes of euerie Lord and knight Most glorious vnto the gasers sight Charls duke of Normandie had second guiding The third stout king and there drest to behold Faire knights in glistering armors shining Proud stamping steeds richly trapt in gold High placed crests that hautie helme doth hold Trim flower of France in their braue araie For gallantnes here present were full gaie Ordred did mount on steed as white as snowe Of courage like the king that on him sate Knightly armd ride foorth from ranke to rowe With smiling grace his men to animate Did pleasing and right stirring words relate So Castor like with kingly resemblaunce And kindled heat his speech he did aduaunce My Lords in parle at Parris when you be Your English foes you stoutly menace Desiring that so happie day to see To find them ranged in some open place Heere is the thing apparant to your face The onely thing that you so much did craue The English plast in open field you haue And as the king was in this parlaunce Lord Ribamount who had our battels seen Sent for that cause to view our guidaunce Approcht the king saying sir as I ween Your enimies in one battell placed been Are men at arms two thousand as I gesse Fiue thousand fiue hundred archers no lesse Right sagely they and warily ordred ar With bowmen they
the same Pleasant musicke to sound mild victors name Armed knight true staie of commonwealth Selfe gouerning in goodly temperaunce Conseruer of her cheefest states in health Good winner of her peacefull plesaunce For lawyer none could plead his ordinaunce Vnles thy armed bodie did defend Him and the thing whereto his speech doth tend Departed life the Prince my heire remaind Vnto my goods which great esteemed were Foure hundred thousand Franks which I had gaind In wars pursuit of body I had no heire On expert knight King Edward loued deare Sir Allain Bocquesels who bare in shield of gold A Lion blew that siluer fret did fold Saint Saluiours lands sir Godfrey Harcourts Late he bestowd and sir Thomas Percie My office had and thus coy fortune sourts Some now aloft and then cast downe we see Thus gasing stages euer filled bee He was he is he is vp and now he is downe He liues he dies here is here was the towne Ah throughfare full of balefull miseries Hard passage couerd with sharp thretning rocks Vile toilsome life subiect to destinies Mad fools on stage whom flouting fortunes mocks Poore silly sheepe to slaughter led by flocks Drunke peeuish men whom safties thought confound Dreaming they neuer shall consume in ground As silent night brings quiet pawse at last To painfull trauels of forepassed day So closing death doth rest to labors cast Making of our toilfull worke a stay Thoughts griefes sad cares are bandon then away In pomp and glory though braue daies we spend Yet happie none vntill be knowen his end FINIS WILLIAM WYRLEY CAPITALL DE BVZ THE HONORABLE LIFE AND LANGVISHING DEATH OF SIR IOHN DE GRALHY CAPITALL DE BVZ one of the Knights elected by the first founder of the Garter into that noble order And somtime one of the principall Gouernors of Guyen Ancestor to the French King that now is LOVE is a thing that cannot be compeld Nor further wrested then his liking growes Not mines of wealth nor honors glory weld Nor blandisment with hir faire pleasing shoes Not gastfull death from which great horror growes Not lothd imprisonment nor loue of libertie Nor sad conceits plungd in perplexitie The more you striue the more you vainely striue Thinking to mooue a constant setled mind Such one as seeks not after gainfull thriue But firmely doth his thoughts to honor bind And troubles makes him faster for to twind Fast gaged band of loue and scornes to liue More rather then the same he will vnriue Rather then that one iot of plighted truth Good valiant hart will swerue from voud behest It suffer will much woe and pining ruth With endles griefes and torments ouer prest For true loue dwels but in a valiant brest Harboreth but in high Heroique thought For cowards loue is fickle light and nought Record my selfe a knight in Gascoine borne And to the house of Foix by wife allide Germaine Remond from him fame did adorne With Phoebus surname for his wittie guide His honor wealth estate were bruted wide For errant knights such as braue Arms professe Right welcome these strange knights his chiefest gesse And vnder him I first gan Arms to wear Learnd faire to ride and tame the raging steed To don my helme and couch my thretning spear To brandish sword to serue his maisters need That daring foe by these his end might reed To weld resisting shield with gold bedight On sables crosse fiue siluer scallops bright The English partie strongly I maintaind And euer armd against the crowne of Fraunce Much honor praise and noblenes I gaind Most highly me king Edward did aduaunce Deckt in his knightly Garter gay I praunce Mongst first elected is my name enrold And euer went my valure vncontrold At Poicters field in battelous aray I raunged was among the hardie knights My shining pennon wefting I display Amid the throngs in thickest of the fights On whom soeuer my sad axe it lights Is either feld or slaine or prisoner bound So dealt I death and many a dolefull wound Sir Charls D'artoys and many knights were tane By me and mine that ransoms rich we gaine For through the presse I pressing made a lane Of ventring Arms delighted with the paine No trifling heere nor leasure was to faine But fight or die or yeeld with foule reproofe Defend assaile for honor and behoofe The battaile wone our furie all was laid In such triumphant iolitie we groe That ech one thinks him selfe so well apaid As numbers of our captiues we let goe On their gagd faiths we trust them euen soe Word and deed deare Christian blood is saude The conquest ours the thing we onely craud The noble mind nought but the conquest seeks And where the quarrels but for titles cause Faire wars should be not like reuenging Greeks Whom scattered blood and fier made to pawse For as our God is iust in all his lawes Plagues the murtherous and bloodthirstie mind With blood for blood as those fell Greeks did find I ouer passe the taking of King Iohn His yoongest son and many a great estate The numbers slaine of Erles and Lords ech one But fortune here did yoong Lord Barckeley mate Pursuing foe with swift and speedie gate With courage stout through too much courage lost His iorney did a Barons ransom cost A squier he spide to void the field in hast Well mounted braue he after him doth hie The French lookt backe and was not much agast Though fine in Armes the Lord he dight espie In field of gneuls ten formed croslets bee Of siluer bright a cheuron them betweene Full knightly Lord one might him easly deeme This skilfull squier a warie man at Armes Practisde in fight and heedy in his deed The Lord venterous dreadles of all harms Fast spurring coms as he that thought to speed But fortune him a little faild at need Right poysent bloe he stroke and haples mist For th 'others checke hit right vpon his wrist Th'incountring stroke did force his sword to fall Into the field the Lord dismounted streight As he no misaduenture could apall But as he stoupt the squier by cunning sleight Picketh his sword and pearst his thies with weight Iohn Helens light the Lord his prisoner swore Drew out his sword and from the field him bore Such doth of wars the rare aduentures fall Most sonst to loose when least we do mistrust Now was blacke prince so buissie t'order all His great affairs abstaine a space he must From Armes but I lest that mine Armour rust With cosen Foix to war in Pruce do wend Where Sarisines soules full fast to hell we send Like Christian knights on miscreants we war High honor gaine and home we ment returne But now in France was falne so foule a iar To heare the same ech honest eare would burne The pesant French did at the gentle spurne No Scythian nor lothd Parthian act So monstrous euer both for forme and fact This clownish rabble by troups assembled Vntill that they six thousand were
For Dalbreth selfe I aske and he replide With Charls the Regent now he doth abide Who sunday next to Reams t' be crownd is led And after that I studied had a space I laid my hand vpon my buissie hed Be there quoth I such Gascoyne Lords in place Yes suer he said I tooke it in disgrace Gascoyne thus gainst Gascoyne then I swore By that same cap that saint Anthony wore My Lord said Faulcon a herauld by doth stay From tharchpriest sent of message vnto you That herauld French let pack him hence away For not at all my person shall he vewe Tharchpriest his master is a knight vntrew Then sir Iohn Ionell wild he should be brought But I said no his message is for nought His master faine our dealing would descrie And for no other would he hither come Iangle and prate he would so many a lie That paine it were to heare him part or some When Faulcon thus had hard my settled dome He went whereas the herauld French doth staie Faire answer gaue the other went his waie For otherwise then I in choler spake This modest herauld smoothly me excusd In peacefull maner he the best did make As one that strife and discord flat refusd Peace meeknes loue his ciuill hart had vsd For rancor malice pale enuie and wrong Vnto no heraulds office doth belong Throughly waieng euery thing at large Being buisnes of so great a substance As valiant foes as welden sheild or targe Were named and of as good approuance That thus gainst me were come in ordnance To praise the foes doth honors owne aduance What seuer is theuent of battailes chaunce If one reproch his foe of cowardise And with base words him greatly doth defame Afterwards doth of hoped purpose misse Being ouerthrowne much to his owne shame Hath he foorth told foes honorable name Doth conquest make right great and glorious And abiect triumphs more lesser famous Who can assure himselfe of victorie That is but flesh and blood as others are Then foule is it and too great infamie The basenes of the foe for to declare Which often hurts owne selfe at vnaware Mean conquest is it base rascolds to subdue Vnto the foe giue then faire praises due Thus both we parties of ech other hard By both these heraulds presently I sent To Eureux shewing the captain how I fard Willing him all such to fight that ment To send them foorth to me incontinent Which if performd I then do vow to fight With these French troupes attain them if I might Directed by this heraulds warie guide It hapned that the four and twentith day In pleasants month of all faire Vernas pride To Chocherell ward we light into the way Where we behold foemats provd display So many banners wefting in the aire They seemed twise the number that they were Whose glistering marks when as I do behold And many knew whom faithfull friends I thought I thought gainst me they neuer raise them would As great a matter percing coine hath wrought My countrimen should no such gaine haue sought And leagmen to one king and soueraine But kingly rule no louing harts doth gaine They made three battels and a reregard The first had Glesquine and his Brittons bold The Earle of Aucer ruld the second ward Th'archpriest did their tertian battell hold The Gascoins held the rergard that I told Led by Pomiers the souldish and Curtone Perducas Dalbreth my neighbors euerie one When as they busie were in marshalling Themselues to fight within the meddowes faire On Itons banks which doth neere Couches spring Shoring a hill we plainly do appeer By a little wood and to our enimies neere Into the which our boies and carriage went Lest in the fight they suffer detriment We egal battails gainst our foes ordaine Except a reregard and with his English crew Sir Iohn Ionell our first did well deraine The second rightly plast in order dew I ruld my selfe the third as faire to vew The Marnel held my banner high was pight Vpon a bush appeering plaine in sight That if our men were scattered in the fray Thither they might as time would serue retier Twice twentie men about mine ensigne stay It to defend and honor to acquier Thus how to win I plast my whole desier And vantage tooke ofth ' hill for more auaile Purposd to let my enimies me assaile Which they perceiuing drew to counsaile all Many of them that day had eate no meat Thinking betimes to fight which I did stall Some thirstie were nigh sweltred with the heat Some scorcht almost and choked with their sweate Some presently would fight without delay The wiser some that thing would flat denay Of weightie affairs as thus they hould debate And counsailes hard and verdits too and fro The Gascoyns who perused well my state Taught by triall my dealing for to kno Said Lords aduise ear forward that yee go A better knight found is there in no land Then is the Captall for to lead a band First do ordaine some men of armes t'assaile Those that his banner haue in charge to gard Much heedie care in this for to preuaile Then thirtie of the best that may be spard Mounted well and so to take regard For nothing else but suerly to aduise To take the Captall prisoner for a prise And carrie him straight from out the field amaine For otherwise so long as he may bide To win the same it will be passing paine The Captall is a knight so nobly tride But of his men when his surprise is spide They sodenly will so discomfort be As ours you shall the iorney present see Beshrew his hart that there did praise me so For by his counsaile was I ouertane And for that I mine enimies wise do kno And heedy were to bring me to my bane I held the hill which made them nothing faine For by no art or policie they could Me there assaild vnlesse be lost they would When they perceiud me plast in such a strength New counsaile then these gallants new deuise Ech thing well waid they all accord at length That me t' attempt they might be thought vnwise High mounting Phoebus blasing hotly fries Some of them faint and neither bread nor wine Nor no auitaile had they for to dine Good policie it oft is to refuse And warie deale when foes strong numbers beene Sir Bertram slie our doings doth peruse Which smally pleasing were to him I weene And then he said Lords I do suerlie deeme If we make shoe back ore the brig t'retier Our foes will soone descend in great desier And thinke we le flie then round vpon the plaine We may returne in order duly pight With wishing courage set on them amaine Obseruing former constitutions right This counsell liked was of euery knight They execute which when I do espie Fine cunning working easly I descrie But sir Iohn Ionel hastily to me said Sir see you not how yonder Frenchmen flee Yes sure quoth I their doings I
At saint Maquere all our striuing showne Where Iohn Maltrait Siluester Buds did hold Two hardie Brittons couragious tride and bold These two could not agree which he should part To sucker sieged frends then by accords They cuts would draw so fortune and not art Should chuse and chance the longest cut affords To Buds whereat they laugh with pleasant words Foorth he comes with twelue right hardie men Got in where we his frends full close do pen Loue of frend despiseth dangerous feare We one whole quarter of the wall downe breake Then marshalling our selues to enter there A lowly herauld they sent in haste to speake Vnto our Duke finding themselues too weake Enraged he so much in angrie minde Small was the grace that they were like to finde But then sir Richard Dangle sought for me As one to mercie greatly bent he knoeth This noble Duke toth reasons doth agree That we pronounce for deer he loude hus both So we appeased his conceaued wroth Buds his cutting a raunsome deere him cost And thus againe the French the fortresse lost Mountcounter castle in the marches stands Of Aniou and of Poictow very strong Foure leagues from Thouars two captains with bands Of men it kept offering neighbors wrong The peece toth Duke of Aniow did belong Sir Thomas Percie Poictow seneshall To come to him doth good commanders call Assembled soone three thousand armors bright From citties frends doth mightie engins bring And fiercely it assailed day and night Incessantly they battring engins fling Here were companions courage stirring Whose harts eirned ought should them resist Still toth assault they forward do persist Sir Walter Huet and sir Iohn Carswell heare Daui of Hulgreue in ermins finely clad A scuchion gules these three them well do beare And cheefest praise at this assailment had Companions three the Frenchmen greatly drad By heedy force and skilfull warie paine Won was Mountcounter neere alth'warders slaine And to these three was this faire castle giuen Strong frontier war against the French t' maintaine Booties rich from them they often driuen And patised the countrie for their gaine Idle to rest for busie wits is paine Braue captaines and good soldiers at assaies Deserue rewards as well as pleasing praies Faire Ladie Blanch the noble Henries heir Duke of Lancaster and of Darbie erle Whose titles Iohn of Gaunt did rightly beare But death his percing dart too soone did therle Bereft her life the worlds sweete orient perle In widdowers state this hautie duke did bide When he thaffairs of Gascoyne had in guide Don Peter king of Castile and of Spaine Slaine he left two daughters heirs behinde Which Ladies yoong in great distresse remaine Lest froward bastard vnkle should them finde Sir Guiscard Dangle had this thing in minde Imparts to me these Ladies titles faire Then to the duke both we the same declare Perswading him to comfort their distresse He speciall knights of good account foorth sends Declaring how for their behoofulnes It was he so himselfe to them commends And for their safetie all his thoughts attends They come he likes the eldest doth he wed Thus of a wife and kingly title sped Till September with vs he made his staie Then into England purposd he to saile My selfe Mucident and Lespaire the swaie He left of Gascoyne hoping to preuaile So with the king as that we should not faile Of succors when the spring time did returne He gon in Gascoine made I my soiorne The sommer prochaine truely to record Was to vs sent much succors and reliefe By th'erle of Penbroke and many a noble Lord Which all was lost vnto our heauie griefe No worser dispite or blinder mischiefe Could haue befalne the erle two daies did fight In Rochell hauen in the townsmen sight Yet could not sir Iohn Arden Seneshall There at that time perswade the paultrie maire With any of his the erle to helpe at all But like a broking varlet dasht with feare Or traitrousnes no reasons foorth could steare In daintie ermins armed was this knight Gold and azure in fes faire chekered right I hard of this and thither hide amaine And many knights of England willing bent The Lords of Gascoyne with their gallant traine Of noble harts fraught with hardiment We come too late our enimies tooke Le vent Which made me storme and fret with anger sad That they and we so hard mischaunce had had The Constable French assembled mightie power With him the dukes Berrie and Burbon both Gay erls and Lords drest for warlike stower In gaining forts his time he whole bestoth Besieged one made sir Iohn Deuereux wroth Saint Seuer namde at Poicters he did bide When as the siege Saint Seuer doth betide Sir Thomas Percie he earnest doth desier To further that his men may rescude be Who condescends to that most iust requier So foorth they come and both encounter me Shewing the state of friends extremitie The ground and strength that French foemates hield We purposed to seeke them in the field So foorth to friends we letters sent in haste good numbers gaine and for the rescue pace Our enimies receiue these newes at last Which mightily their courage doth abace No will they had t'meete vs in open place Our friends ignorant of our present post Yeelded and our desiers were wholie lost When sir Iohn Deuereux of this yeelding hard He chaft and stampt for his the castle was And thus with vs our Poyctaine buisnes fard Thus wauering fortune too and fro doth pas Worldly triumphs are like to flowering gras Whose fragrant smels and hewe at suns vprise With liked fauor vades ere night and dies No knight that cloths himselfe for wars affaires That alwaies can atchiue his harts request All are alike to fortune none she spares Her coiest darlings oft she makes distrest Now is she sloe and then too forward prest She dandles him and then on him she frowns Here spades she giues and there she deales her crowns Oftenest times when least we do mistrust With some od toy are soonest ouertane Euerie hower ech daring captaine must Be well resolud for to attend her wane Often she sports to bring vs to our bane Yet noble minds must still despise her might Braue honor liues maulgree so wicked wight It is a world to marke the iollitie Of seamen floting in the Liquid sea His careles thought of dredles ioperdy His buisie prattle his so plesant lay Full merrie mate like gladsome bird in may Fairely forward with spredded canuas flies Like him that would attaine the hautie skies Of all the liues led vnder Phaetons wheele He thinkes none can compare in blisfulnes With his such tickling ioy his hart doth feele And laughing pride at present happines Right cherefully whistles to their buisnes His company not any helliers end Hawser booling but soone he will amend Scarce little chip shall lie vpon the hatch But for the swabber hastely doth call Cleane and fine ech buisnes to dispatch Then to his ioy a fresh
which pertaind to him of right King Charls well nie excepting him had all The Brittons harts now so it did befall His castle siegd gaue hostage for a staie To yeeld it vp not rescude by a daie Sir Hue Brooe that this strong fortresse heild That marchet made who bare in banner red On siluer cheuron three roses of the feild Sir Robert here ariued in that sted Before the rendring day expired A herauld French Constable sent to kno Hostage whether they would redeeme or no. Sir Robert flatly held not any one In absence his his castle so should mart Thanswerd messenger backe is lightly gone Tould his Lords they make him soone depart And shew sir Robert if he so do start His hostages ech one should hedded be Herauld he said saie to thy Lords from me Three knights one squier in prison here I haue If they a hundred thousand frankes would giue And mine do die no one of these thest saue The French of life the hostages depriue Which seene sir Robert a scaffold made beliue His prisners brought in duke of Aniou sight Their harmles heds he caused off to smite The siege brake vp this execution done The castle with sir Robert doth remaine True hostage true prisners death haue won Such chaffring brought good harts their deadly paine But noble captains such rigor should refraine Lest when their frends they need in such like cace They make refusall doubting the disgrace Iustice oft from ancient custome growes Affection seldom lookes with single eie Strict iustice like iniurious dealing showes Hard law to make the innocent creature die And yet good right appeered for to be God loues not right which doth to rigor tend Neither of both their crueltie can defend I likewise heard how noble Iohn of Gaunt Ariud at Callis with puissant power Puissantly the Frenchmen doth he daunt Fearfull makes both towne and many a tower Numbers my old acquaintance in that stower As Chanoyne Robersart sir Hue Caueley Sir William Bewchamp sir Henrie Percie Sir Walter Huet sir Steuen Gousenton With many more which some did to me name Sir Lewis Clifford sir Richard Pontchardon To heare of whom to sorrow brought some game I hopt and wisht the French that they might tame But in their cheuachey a venture did befall That was at Parris talkt with ioy of all Fowrscore horse of sir Hue Caueleys band Were ridden foorth aduentures for to trie The Lord of Busiers doth it vnderstand The Lord of Chin sir Iohn Buell these three With sixscore launce against them ridden be Lord Chin was slaine through his great hardines Which to his friends was cause of heauines Thus when they were assembled in such sort Right felonous and cruell was the fray And many a deed was don of good report Chin his banner disueloped that day Which seen the English orgulous words did say Gainst Lord Cowcie which English houerd still Who was in Austrige warring at his will This Chin did raise Lord Cowcies faire deuice Which was six bars of varrey and of red This was the same or difference small so nice and slender that mongst them this error bred Which now were either taken slaine or fled All men of yoonger house that banners bear Should haue their difference glistring large and fair I likewise heard the flower of all our pride The valiant Prince of Wales departed life No earthly thing so good may alwaies bide Nor honor such preuailing ouer strife Where glories most mischaunce is euer rife Great things great fals and far abroad are blown Low things low fals their fallings are not known His falling known was fall of all my ioy His death depriuer of my comfort chiefe His losse the loder of my sad annoy His want the wanting of my freed reliefe Ah filching death thou felonous bloodie thiefe Bereauer of my sole deliueraunce Dispoiler of my worldly pleasaunce For could it be that any marshallist Such one as loud to cloth himselfe in Arms But honorable presence thine he mist And many waies thy losse did worke his harms And froward mischiefs backward on him swarms Farwell fairst flower of Plantagenets line Adiew all comfort to this life of mine Full many treaties had the English now Made with the French which came to small effect Some of my friends oftimes did tell me how In these their parleys they had of me respect Yet did no good which made me to suspect That neuer I my weldie Arms should don For griefe wherof I pine away with mone The yoong Earle Saint Pole and three other knights In exchange they offerd for me alon Which Lord Comigines tane had in faire fights by th subtill traine of sir Iohn Harleston By his coursers bountie sir Hue Chatelon Was saud or else he had full dearly paid Bicause from England he was late mistraid The matter thus after we came from Spaine And that the quarrels fresh gan to renew All things to strife and battaile woxt againe The French at first the countie of Ponthew Regaine this Lord of Chatelon named Hue Vnwares he doth sir Nicholas Loudine rest His prisner and by slight he him surprest When as the valiant duke of Lancaster At Callis riud new come from Turnehen Intending the Frenchmen proud to master He fast prepard to make a rode agen With store of squiers knights and noblemen Trauasing Fraunce vp and downe at pleasure In burning spoiling and gaining treasure If oppression to minde valiant Be offered by wisdoms warie guid It so couerneth through much discontent As if euer happie chaunce betide It shoes the fier close couered it doth hide And breaketh foorth into reuenging flame If euer good occasion mooue the same Deepe rooted malice doth not lightly die When as the duke passed by Abuile To Louaines mind repard the iniurie That Chatelon had done to him erewhile Sir Nicholas laid a bushment by a wile Neere to the towne for all the streights he knew Whole three yeers space he vsed them to vewe Sir Hue Chattelon at that instant bode Within the towne as gardant of the same Near vnto it he knew the English rode Then of the crossebowes he bare the maisters name Them to aduise he thought was for his fame Only ten and armed saue his head He came where as the tending bushment stead When valiant Louaine saw his shield of guels Three varey pales on chiffe of loued gold A martlet blacke himselfe he scarcely ruels For ioy the man quoth he I most desier would In all the world I comming do behould The ransome deere to him this yeer I paid Shall rendred be if that he may be staid And foorth he breaks the Frenchmen in that sted Do maruell much from whence doth noise proceed One cried Chatelon yeeld or thou art ded To whom said he to Louaine now with speed Replied sir Nicholas ioying at his deed Being knightly armd in red fresh to behold A siluer fes tween many billets gold And to the host in iolitie retiers Prowd of his prisner afterward
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