1.When England’s PhœbusHenrie’shopefull sonneThe world’s rare Phœnix, princelyEdwardhight,To death did yeeld, his glasee of life outrun,And Phœbus-like no more could lend his light:Then men did walke in shades of darkesome night,Whose feeble sight with errors blacke strooke blind,Could in no place time’s faireFidessafind.2.That blind borne monster, truthe’s sterne opposite,Begotten first in Demogorgon’s hall,Twixt vglie Erebus and grizlie night,The sonnes of truth did horriblie appallWith her approch, much dreaded of them all:Who euer came in reach of her foule pawes,She in their blood imbru’d her thirstie iawes.3.Witnesse may bee the manie a burning flame,Made with the limbes of saints to mount on high,Whose constant soules without the least exclaime,In midst of death downe patientlie did lie,And in bright flames did clime the clow’d-brow’d skie:Yea, letElizae’swoes in that blind age,A witnesse bee of bloodie error’s rage.4.Whose deepe distresse and dolefull miserie,I not assay to sing, but leaue the sameTo our deare sister sad Melpomene,That she her sweet patheticke voice may frameIn dolefull dittie to condole the same:I onely here in high heroick streine,Do striue to sing of her triumphant reigne.5.Ioue looking downe, from his celestiall throneWith eies of pitie on poore England’s woes,Did lend her helpe, when hope of helpe was none,And in his mercy did his power opposeGainst error’s night-borne children, her cheife foes,Who sought t’obscure with cloudes of enuious night,Her Cynthia’s shine, the lampe of all her light.6.But he disperst those cloudes, and droue awayThe lowring stormes, that ouercast our skie,And made our glorious Cynthia to displayHer heauenlie shine, to giue them light thereby,Who long before in darknesse bound did lie:For she it was, who with her sweet repaireFrom th’hearts of men did banish black despaire.7.Euen as that morning starre that doth displayHer golden tresses in th’orientall skie,Brings happie tidings of approching dayTo them, that long in bed do restlesse lie,Expecting comfort from the sun’s bright eye:So ourElizadid blest tidings bringOf ioy to those, whom sad distresse did sting.8.No sooner did this empire’s royall crowneBegirt the temples of her princelie hed;But that Ioue-borne Astrea straight came downeFrom highest heauen againe, to which in dreadOf earth’s impietie before shee fled:Well did shee know,Elizae’shappie reigneWould then renew the golden age againe.9.The heau’ns did smile on her with sweet delight,And thundering Ioue did laugh her foes to scorne,The god of warre did cease from bloodie fight,And fruitfull plentie did her land adorneWith richest gifts, powr’d from her plenteous horne,The happie seedes, which th’hands of peace did sowIn euerie place with goodlie fruit did grow.10.Deuouring Mulciber, whose flames beforeWith blood of holy men were heard to hisse,Of England’s happie sonnes were seene no more:But truth and mercie did each other kisse,And brought sweet tidings of their heauenly blisse:All which by powerfull loue haue granted beenFor loue t’Eliza, Albion’s matchlesse queene.11.Matchlesse for all the gifts of heauenly grace,For nature’s good and happie destinie,All which, in one sole subiect hauing place,If they a mortall wight may beautifie,And giue a prince earth’s true felicitie,She truly did enioy, while she did liue,Thatsummum bonum, which this life could giue.12.In th’happie horoscope of her sweet birth,Both heauen and nature seemed to consentWith fortune’s selfe t’augment their fame on earth,Each one in hope to perfect their intent,By this queene virgin and her gouernment,And 'mongst themselues, they seemed to contend,Who should to her the greatest gifts extend.13.For when fromAnnae’swombe, she came to light,Th’whole aggregate of heau’n from Ioue’s high throne,Vnto the lowest orbe lookt blithe and bright,And in the same, each constellationVnited was in sweet coniunction,Powring their influence of felicitieVpon the virgin’s blest natiuitie.14.Nor can I tell the gifts of grace exact,With which heau’n did enrich her royall mind,Had I a brazen throat or voice infract,A thousand tongues, and rarest words refin’d,With vtterance swifter, then the swiftest winde;Yet were they all too weake at large to tellThe gifts of grace, that in her soule did dwell.15.Her setled faith, fixt in the highest heau’n,Remained firme vnto her liue’s last date,Nor her vndanted spirit could be driuenAt any time one iot thereof t’abateBy Spaine’s sterne threats, and Rome’s pernitious hate,The ankor of the same, her hope, aboueStood fixt vpon the promise of great Ioue.16.Her deeds of mercie, not in hope to merit,Were true ostents of her fidelitie,For which a name on earth she shall inheritWhich shall outliue the vading memorieOf spiteful! Rome’s defaming forgerie;For not alone did we her bountie know,But forren shores the same likewise can show.17.Heau’n hauing dignifi’d her soule diuine,With rarest gifts of goodly qualitie,Dame nature’s selfe, as seeming to refineThe common mixture of mortalitie,Into a matter of more puritie,Made for her soule a mansion house so faire,That few with it for beautie might compare.18.And though her beautie were exceeding rare,Yet Rome’s Lucretia for a sober eieSo far renown’d, with her might not compare,Nor the Greekes constant queene Penelope,Might match this maiden queene for modestie:For Phœbe’s selfe did want her gouernanceIn modest gesture and chaste countenance.19.Thus heau’n and nature hauing shew’d their skillIn perfecting a creature so diuine,Fortune, as loth so rare a worke to spill,At our Great Britaine maid did not repine,But did to her all happinesse assigne,Whereby no prince on earth yet euer was,That for rare giftsElizadid surpasse.20.Cease then, yee black-mouth’d brood of enuie’s race,Men monsters like, or monsters like to men,Whose tongues with scandall tipt, seeke to disgraceOur royall soueraigne, Ioue’s anoynted queene,Whose like in any age hath seldome been:Cease vipers, cease I say, from your offence,In spitting poyson at such excellence.21.Yet, if your English Romanized hearts,Gainst nature’s custome swell with foule defame,Brandish your stings, and cast your vtmost dartsAgainst the greatnesse of her glorious name,Yet shall it liue to your eternall shame;Yea, though Rome, Spaine, and hell it selfe repine,Her fame on earth with sun-bright light shal shine.22.And while that we, the brood of Phœbus witIn golden verse her deeds to light can bring,On mount Parnassus, as we safely sit,In such high straine her worth we all will sing,That earth’s whole round of her great fame shall ring:For endlesse praise to her well may we giue,That did protect our cause, while she did liue.23.O, how the wreath of Phœbus flowring bay,The victor’s due desert, and learning’s meed,Did flourish in her time without decay!Which to obtaine, each one did striue t’exceedIn high atchieuement of some glorious deed:Though now, alas, such custome is forgot,And loue of ease great Albion’s sonnes doth blot.24.Lull’d in the bosome of securitie,Vpon th’ignoble bed of idle ease,Foully defacing true nobilitie,Few now do care, but how they best may pleaseThe hungrie fancie of sweet loue’s disease,That pitie ’tis so many a worthie wight,Let’s honor flie for fancie’s fond delight.25.But wake, yee honor’d impes of noble race;Rouze vp the dying sparkes of courage bold,’Tis Clyo speakes to you, that she may placeYour lasting praises writ with lines of gold,In flying fame’s great booke to be inrol’d,Yea let your father’s late done deeds inflameYour sleeping thoughts to gaine a glorious name:26.Who thought it not true honor’s glorious prizeBy nimblie capring in a daintie dance,To win th’affects of women’s wanton eies,Ne yet did seeke their glorie to aduanceBy only tilting with a rush-like lance,But did in dreadfull death themselues oppose,To winne renowne againstElizae’sfoes.27.How stoutly did they march in honor’s field,In stately station like the sonnes of fame,Led by renowne, who nere did let them yeeld,Though drown’d in death in midst of martiall game,Till by their deeds they gain’d a glorious name,Whose valour stillElizadid directEach where to beat downe wrong and right erect.28.An. Reg. 2.When England’s Scotland in distresse did stand,AmbitiousGuiseintending her decay,England’s faire virgin lent her helping hand,And soone did chace th’insulting French away,That proudly did their ensignes there display:For that braue lord greatGreyof Wilton hight,Did force them thence by warre’s impulsiue might.29.An. Reg. 4.When France within it selfe diuided stood,Th’aspiringGuisein hostile furie bentAgainst braueCondie, prince of royall blood,Then our faire queene all danger to preuent,GreatWarwickeore the seas broad bosome sent,Whose dreaded powers our Calice losse had quited,Had heau’n not sicknesse through his host excited.30.Anno Reg. 9.When Ireland’s greatOneale, first that did moueThe Kernes and Gallowglasses, men of might,Vnto their soueraigne to renounce their loue,HightHenrie Sidniethat heroick knight,Did oft times turne him to inglorious flight,Till traytor-like mongst friends he found his fall,Who hew’d his bodie into pieces small.31.An. Reg. 8.Nor heere renownedRandolbraue esquireCan I forget to giue to thee thy right,When with thine owne few troopes, whose hearts on fireThy valour set, thou put’st to shamefull flightThisShane Oneale, and all his host in fight:Where though thou fell in venturing past the rest,Thy name shall liue in fame’s great booke exprest.32.An. Reg. 12.And heere at home, when in the north did riseThe louring stormes stirr’d vp by discontentOf peace-disturbers, who did enterprizeBy force of hand their soueraigne’s right to rent,And take from her this kingdome’s gouernment,Then stood vp many a loyall hearted peere,To shield her safe from threatning foe-men’s feare.33.For well they knew, with right it could not stand,That any one their soueraigne might displace,And take the scepter from the prince’s hand:The rule of many is absurd and base,One prince must sit inthron’d in iustice place;For many heads, what bodie euer bare,That was not monster like and out of square?34.Which little did those iarring members know,When with their banner of the fiue wounds spread,And holy-seeming crosse, a fained showOf their vngodly zeale, they first made headAt Durham’s towne against their soueraigne dread,Where their first outrage men did vnderstand,In tearing th’holy writs of God’s owne hand.35.Gainst whom, these greatHeroesvp did stand,RenownedSussex, th’eldest sonne of fame,GreatWarwicke,Rutland, and stoutCumberland,BoldDeuorax,Howardlord of Effingham,Braue lord of PerhamWillowbyby name,Scroope,Euers,Knoles, all men of famous might,From whom their foes to Scotland tooke their fight.36.L.[eonard]D.[acre]And thou braueHunsdonborne of prince’s blood,Though last in place yet not the least in name,When a disloyall lord vndaunted stood,To bid thee battell, to thy endlesse fame,Thou mad’st him flie the bounded field with shame:’Gainst whom with thy few troopes, thou didst aduanceAnd authoriz’d high seruice with thy lance.37.Vpon the bankes, where siluer Chelt doth glide,With his three thousand men in armes well dight,He stoutly stood and did thy charge abide,Gainst whom with fifteene hundred thou didst fight,And forc’d him yeeld vnto thy powerfull might:For heartlesse from the field away he fledTo Scotland by, to hide his shamefull hed.38.And as the lordly lion, king of beasts,When he by chance hath lost his wished prey,Runs roring through the wood, and neuer restsTill he haue truly tract the readie way,Where he may follow his escaped prey:So nobleHunsdonwith his conquering crew,His flying foe to Scotland did pursue.39.Anno eodem12.With that stout sonne of Mars, greatSussexbent,T’inferre reuenge vpon the borderers byFor misdemeanor done, much time he spentIn making hostile spoile on th’enemie,That sought to succour rebels treacherie:Which done, loden with honor and rich spoile,They made returne vnto their natiue soile.40.Thus did these lords to their faire virgin queene,Returne with glorie got from euery place,Though at her greatnesse with malignant spleene,Many leaud sonnes of enuie’s hellish race,Did much repine, and sought her name’s disgrace:For spitefull enuie neuer doth repine,But where true vertue’s glorie most doth shine.41.Downe in the deepes of earth’s profunditieHer dwelling is in dungeons darksome blind,Where she nere sees the bright sunne’s cheerefull eie,Ne comfort of the wholesome aire doth finde,Tost to and fro by gentle breathing winde;But with the furies of the Stygian flood,Sits low in hell in hate of humane good.42.The restlesse griefe, which carking care doth breed,Her thoughts with endlesse torment doth oppresse,Her woes of other’s welfare do proceed,Ne euer is she seene to laugh, vnlesseAt lucklesse hap of other’s ill successe;For other’s happinesse her woe doth bring,And all her ill from other’s good doth spring.43.To this foule helhound from that blood built towne,Which Tybur’s siluer armes doe round imbrace,Blind error came, where truth was troden downe,Since bloodiePhocasto the world’s disgrace,Did seat the first false priest inCæsar’splace;And thence did error take her speedie flightTo enuie’s caue to worke the world despight.44.Where when she came before the hags foule sight,Elizae’sglorie she did oft propose,And more to whet her forward to despight,She shew’d how truth and loue their two chiefe foes,On that faire virgin only did repose,Which enuie’s malice did so much augment,That she throughout the world with error went.45.Blinde error bore foule enuie on her backe,And ouer many kingdoms tooke their flight,Where enuie’s poison mixt with errors blacke,In scalding drops, as they did flie, did lightVpon the limbes of many a wretched wight,Which through their veins diffus’d did swiftly run,Choaking that loue, that in their hearts did won.46.At length to Rome with error, enuie came,Where gorg’d with fulnesse of excessiue feast,Finding proudPius, fift of that false name,Laid on soft couch his heauie head to rest,She laid her scuruie fist vpon his brest,And from his feet, euen to his sleepie head,She made her poison canker-like to spread.47.And with more malice to augment his hate,She did propose vnto his enuious eye,Th’admired glorie ofElizae’sstate,And his lost priuiledge and dignitieIn this her kingdome of great Britanie;Which did so vex greatPius, that on nought,But mischiefe gainst our queene thenceforth he thought.48.His threatning bull, whose rore in ages past,The superstitious world did terrifie,AmongstElizae’ssubiects he did cast,Thereby to alienate their loyaltie,And dutie vow’d to her soueraigntie;Yea pardon in it he did denounce to all,That from our queene their dutie would recall.49.An. Reg. 12.Which bull, fondFelton, thy vnhappie handDid fixe vpon that prelate’s palace gate,Which doth by Paule’s high towering temple stand;Where thou didst iustly meete thy wretched fate,The meed that traytors steps doth still await;Nor could that priest remit thy foule offence,Though with large sinne his bull did then dispence.50.And though he did denounce both pardon and curse,Yet by the one small comfort didst thou find,Ne yet was England’s happie state the worse;But as in gloomie caues and corners blinde,The sun’s bright blazing beames most cleare we finde;So did the virgin’s glorie shine most brim,When her proud foes did seeke the same to dim.51.An. Reg. 15.Walter Deu, Earle of Essex.For hereupon, when with rebellious sword,Those stout strength-breathing Irish vp did stand,RenownedDeuoraxvicount Hereford,That most illustrate lord of high command,No sooner did approch with powerfull hand,But that the rebels daunted with his name,Armes laid aside, in humble manner came.52.Brian Mac-Phelin, that much scath had done,WithFerdorough Macgillastick, that bold knight,By some surnam’d the blind Scot’s valiant sonne,WithOdonel,Roze,OgeandMacknelhight,Did yeeld themselues to famousDeuoraxmight,Which shewes, that he of heau’n beloued was,That without blood could bring such things to passe.53.Anno Reg. 18, 19, 20.And heau’n, the more to blesse our happie queene,After this Romish buls loud bellowing rore,Three times the famousFrobisherwas seene,In winged barkes full fraught with golden ore,Dancing ore Neptune’s backe to England’s shore:ForIason-like to his eternall fame,Thrice from Catay with golden fleece he came.54.An. Reg. 21.To adde more fame to this for future time,GreatDraketo quell their pride that had set downe,Theirne plus vltrain the farthest climeBy seas, sands, rocks and many a sea-sieg’d towne,Did compasse earth in spight of Neptune’s frowne:For which his name with fame for aye is crown’d,Whose barke still sailes about the world’s whole round.55.Anne Reg. 11, 15, 21.And thee braueHolstockmay I not forget,Whose conquering sword on Neptune’s high commandElizae’shaplesse foes hath often met,And brought them captiue with victorious hand,Rich fraught with spoile toAlbion’srockie strand,Whereby the greatnesse ofElizae’snameA terror both by land and seas became.56.O what a princely charge did she maintaineOf men, munition and artillirieIn flying castles on the purple maine,Which on the clowds of Thetis liquid skie,Seeming to frisk about for iollitie,Stood like safe centinels 'bout England’s shoreMaking seas tremble at their cannons rore.57.Thus did the heau’ns showre downe felicitieIn ample manner onElizae’sstate,At which Rome’s holie sire did still enuie,Who failing in our English home-bred bate,In foraine shoares shew’d his malignant hate:For by falseDesmond’smeanes he made great showGainst ourElizae’sweale to worke much woe.58.Anno Reg. 22.But heau’n did soone oppose against his mightTh’heroick spirit, that burned in the hartOf nobleGreyofWilton, that bold knight,Who vnto wounds did challenge th’aduerse partIn manie a field, who hauing felt the smartOf his keene sword, the stoutest hid his hed,And from his furie to the wilde woods fled.59.And when th’Iberian troopes did there displayRome’s ensigne, in that castle hight Del Ore,InDesmond’scause against our queene, greatGreyDid thunder gainst their walls with cannons rore,Ne would from fierce assault desist beforeVnto his furie passage he had madeIn Spanish blood to bathe his conquering blade.60.Thus all his plots still failing in th’euent,Preuented by heau’n’s all foreseeing eye,A thousand mischiefes now he gan inuent,Inuasion, outrage, murder, treacherie,Sounding the depths of all iniquitie;For all blacke deedes his vice-blackt thoughts could find,He turn’d and return’d in his vengefull minde.61.Vpon his furrowed front, the signes of ire,Furie and rage, did sit like lowring night,And both his burning eyes like glowing fireBeneath his bended browes did sparkle bright,As irefull lightnings of his heart’s despight,Yea nought could mollifie his raging teene,But blood and vengeance gainst our royall queene.62.Amongst his holie sonnes he cald a quest,Whose counsell to his mischiefe might giue way,And to his raging thoughts at length giue rest,Setting his wrath on wing against that day,Wherein he purpos’d England’s swift decay;For by them all in counsell ’twas decreed,England should fall,Elizae’shart should bleed.63.The time was set by stratagems deuise,And force of hands to worke their wicked hate,The persons chosen for that enterprise,All bent to tread downe England’s happie stateBeneath the feete of some disaster sate,Bosting abroad before the deed was done,By their firme valor, what rich prize was wone.64.The conquerd nations of the Indian soyle,At whose huge wealth the world is made to wonder,Their mother’s wombe were forced to dispoyle,And rudely rend her golden ribs in sunder,Thereby to set on wing warre’s roring thunder:For souldiers thoughts on golden wings flie far,And earth’s rich spoiles are sinewes of the war.65.Manie tall pines were leueld with the plaineBy the confederates of the Latin shore,Being taught to flie vpon the purple maineBy force of winde and strength of sable oare,That on the solid ground stood firme before,Whose hugenesse mightie mountaines did resemble,Making the monsters of the deepe to tremble.66.The famous artizans, that by their artDo imitate the thunder of the skie,And digging downe into the earth’s black hart,With that salt humor, that doth hidden lie,Into the ayre make fierie lightnings flie,Were all imploy’d by Spaine’s supreme commandTo hurle their thunder gainst our sea-sieg’d land.67.All warre habiliments they did prepareTo set sterne Mars vpon his conquering feete,Their farre-fetcht Indian gold they did not spare,That nothing might be wanting, that was meetTo furnish out their most vnconquered fleet;Before all which was consummate and done,Bright Phœbus oft his yearely race had runne.68.Meane time Rome’s dragon rousde his bloodie crest,And wau’d his wings, from whence that rabble rout,That hell-hatch’d brood, who, fed on error’s brestAnd suck’d her poysonous dugs, came crawling outAs was their woont, to flie the world about:For those he hatch’d beneath his shadie wings,T’imploy ’gainst potentates and mightiest kings.69.
1.When England’s PhœbusHenrie’shopefull sonneThe world’s rare Phœnix, princelyEdwardhight,To death did yeeld, his glasee of life outrun,And Phœbus-like no more could lend his light:Then men did walke in shades of darkesome night,Whose feeble sight with errors blacke strooke blind,Could in no place time’s faireFidessafind.2.That blind borne monster, truthe’s sterne opposite,Begotten first in Demogorgon’s hall,Twixt vglie Erebus and grizlie night,The sonnes of truth did horriblie appallWith her approch, much dreaded of them all:Who euer came in reach of her foule pawes,She in their blood imbru’d her thirstie iawes.3.Witnesse may bee the manie a burning flame,Made with the limbes of saints to mount on high,Whose constant soules without the least exclaime,In midst of death downe patientlie did lie,And in bright flames did clime the clow’d-brow’d skie:Yea, letElizae’swoes in that blind age,A witnesse bee of bloodie error’s rage.4.Whose deepe distresse and dolefull miserie,I not assay to sing, but leaue the sameTo our deare sister sad Melpomene,That she her sweet patheticke voice may frameIn dolefull dittie to condole the same:I onely here in high heroick streine,Do striue to sing of her triumphant reigne.5.Ioue looking downe, from his celestiall throneWith eies of pitie on poore England’s woes,Did lend her helpe, when hope of helpe was none,And in his mercy did his power opposeGainst error’s night-borne children, her cheife foes,Who sought t’obscure with cloudes of enuious night,Her Cynthia’s shine, the lampe of all her light.6.But he disperst those cloudes, and droue awayThe lowring stormes, that ouercast our skie,And made our glorious Cynthia to displayHer heauenlie shine, to giue them light thereby,Who long before in darknesse bound did lie:For she it was, who with her sweet repaireFrom th’hearts of men did banish black despaire.7.Euen as that morning starre that doth displayHer golden tresses in th’orientall skie,Brings happie tidings of approching dayTo them, that long in bed do restlesse lie,Expecting comfort from the sun’s bright eye:So ourElizadid blest tidings bringOf ioy to those, whom sad distresse did sting.8.No sooner did this empire’s royall crowneBegirt the temples of her princelie hed;But that Ioue-borne Astrea straight came downeFrom highest heauen againe, to which in dreadOf earth’s impietie before shee fled:Well did shee know,Elizae’shappie reigneWould then renew the golden age againe.9.The heau’ns did smile on her with sweet delight,And thundering Ioue did laugh her foes to scorne,The god of warre did cease from bloodie fight,And fruitfull plentie did her land adorneWith richest gifts, powr’d from her plenteous horne,The happie seedes, which th’hands of peace did sowIn euerie place with goodlie fruit did grow.10.Deuouring Mulciber, whose flames beforeWith blood of holy men were heard to hisse,Of England’s happie sonnes were seene no more:But truth and mercie did each other kisse,And brought sweet tidings of their heauenly blisse:All which by powerfull loue haue granted beenFor loue t’Eliza, Albion’s matchlesse queene.11.Matchlesse for all the gifts of heauenly grace,For nature’s good and happie destinie,All which, in one sole subiect hauing place,If they a mortall wight may beautifie,And giue a prince earth’s true felicitie,She truly did enioy, while she did liue,Thatsummum bonum, which this life could giue.12.In th’happie horoscope of her sweet birth,Both heauen and nature seemed to consentWith fortune’s selfe t’augment their fame on earth,Each one in hope to perfect their intent,By this queene virgin and her gouernment,And 'mongst themselues, they seemed to contend,Who should to her the greatest gifts extend.13.For when fromAnnae’swombe, she came to light,Th’whole aggregate of heau’n from Ioue’s high throne,Vnto the lowest orbe lookt blithe and bright,And in the same, each constellationVnited was in sweet coniunction,Powring their influence of felicitieVpon the virgin’s blest natiuitie.14.Nor can I tell the gifts of grace exact,With which heau’n did enrich her royall mind,Had I a brazen throat or voice infract,A thousand tongues, and rarest words refin’d,With vtterance swifter, then the swiftest winde;Yet were they all too weake at large to tellThe gifts of grace, that in her soule did dwell.15.Her setled faith, fixt in the highest heau’n,Remained firme vnto her liue’s last date,Nor her vndanted spirit could be driuenAt any time one iot thereof t’abateBy Spaine’s sterne threats, and Rome’s pernitious hate,The ankor of the same, her hope, aboueStood fixt vpon the promise of great Ioue.16.Her deeds of mercie, not in hope to merit,Were true ostents of her fidelitie,For which a name on earth she shall inheritWhich shall outliue the vading memorieOf spiteful! Rome’s defaming forgerie;For not alone did we her bountie know,But forren shores the same likewise can show.17.Heau’n hauing dignifi’d her soule diuine,With rarest gifts of goodly qualitie,Dame nature’s selfe, as seeming to refineThe common mixture of mortalitie,Into a matter of more puritie,Made for her soule a mansion house so faire,That few with it for beautie might compare.18.And though her beautie were exceeding rare,Yet Rome’s Lucretia for a sober eieSo far renown’d, with her might not compare,Nor the Greekes constant queene Penelope,Might match this maiden queene for modestie:For Phœbe’s selfe did want her gouernanceIn modest gesture and chaste countenance.19.Thus heau’n and nature hauing shew’d their skillIn perfecting a creature so diuine,Fortune, as loth so rare a worke to spill,At our Great Britaine maid did not repine,But did to her all happinesse assigne,Whereby no prince on earth yet euer was,That for rare giftsElizadid surpasse.20.Cease then, yee black-mouth’d brood of enuie’s race,Men monsters like, or monsters like to men,Whose tongues with scandall tipt, seeke to disgraceOur royall soueraigne, Ioue’s anoynted queene,Whose like in any age hath seldome been:Cease vipers, cease I say, from your offence,In spitting poyson at such excellence.21.Yet, if your English Romanized hearts,Gainst nature’s custome swell with foule defame,Brandish your stings, and cast your vtmost dartsAgainst the greatnesse of her glorious name,Yet shall it liue to your eternall shame;Yea, though Rome, Spaine, and hell it selfe repine,Her fame on earth with sun-bright light shal shine.22.And while that we, the brood of Phœbus witIn golden verse her deeds to light can bring,On mount Parnassus, as we safely sit,In such high straine her worth we all will sing,That earth’s whole round of her great fame shall ring:For endlesse praise to her well may we giue,That did protect our cause, while she did liue.23.O, how the wreath of Phœbus flowring bay,The victor’s due desert, and learning’s meed,Did flourish in her time without decay!Which to obtaine, each one did striue t’exceedIn high atchieuement of some glorious deed:Though now, alas, such custome is forgot,And loue of ease great Albion’s sonnes doth blot.24.Lull’d in the bosome of securitie,Vpon th’ignoble bed of idle ease,Foully defacing true nobilitie,Few now do care, but how they best may pleaseThe hungrie fancie of sweet loue’s disease,That pitie ’tis so many a worthie wight,Let’s honor flie for fancie’s fond delight.25.But wake, yee honor’d impes of noble race;Rouze vp the dying sparkes of courage bold,’Tis Clyo speakes to you, that she may placeYour lasting praises writ with lines of gold,In flying fame’s great booke to be inrol’d,Yea let your father’s late done deeds inflameYour sleeping thoughts to gaine a glorious name:26.Who thought it not true honor’s glorious prizeBy nimblie capring in a daintie dance,To win th’affects of women’s wanton eies,Ne yet did seeke their glorie to aduanceBy only tilting with a rush-like lance,But did in dreadfull death themselues oppose,To winne renowne againstElizae’sfoes.27.How stoutly did they march in honor’s field,In stately station like the sonnes of fame,Led by renowne, who nere did let them yeeld,Though drown’d in death in midst of martiall game,Till by their deeds they gain’d a glorious name,Whose valour stillElizadid directEach where to beat downe wrong and right erect.28.An. Reg. 2.When England’s Scotland in distresse did stand,AmbitiousGuiseintending her decay,England’s faire virgin lent her helping hand,And soone did chace th’insulting French away,That proudly did their ensignes there display:For that braue lord greatGreyof Wilton hight,Did force them thence by warre’s impulsiue might.29.An. Reg. 4.When France within it selfe diuided stood,Th’aspiringGuisein hostile furie bentAgainst braueCondie, prince of royall blood,Then our faire queene all danger to preuent,GreatWarwickeore the seas broad bosome sent,Whose dreaded powers our Calice losse had quited,Had heau’n not sicknesse through his host excited.30.Anno Reg. 9.When Ireland’s greatOneale, first that did moueThe Kernes and Gallowglasses, men of might,Vnto their soueraigne to renounce their loue,HightHenrie Sidniethat heroick knight,Did oft times turne him to inglorious flight,Till traytor-like mongst friends he found his fall,Who hew’d his bodie into pieces small.31.An. Reg. 8.Nor heere renownedRandolbraue esquireCan I forget to giue to thee thy right,When with thine owne few troopes, whose hearts on fireThy valour set, thou put’st to shamefull flightThisShane Oneale, and all his host in fight:Where though thou fell in venturing past the rest,Thy name shall liue in fame’s great booke exprest.32.An. Reg. 12.And heere at home, when in the north did riseThe louring stormes stirr’d vp by discontentOf peace-disturbers, who did enterprizeBy force of hand their soueraigne’s right to rent,And take from her this kingdome’s gouernment,Then stood vp many a loyall hearted peere,To shield her safe from threatning foe-men’s feare.33.For well they knew, with right it could not stand,That any one their soueraigne might displace,And take the scepter from the prince’s hand:The rule of many is absurd and base,One prince must sit inthron’d in iustice place;For many heads, what bodie euer bare,That was not monster like and out of square?34.Which little did those iarring members know,When with their banner of the fiue wounds spread,And holy-seeming crosse, a fained showOf their vngodly zeale, they first made headAt Durham’s towne against their soueraigne dread,Where their first outrage men did vnderstand,In tearing th’holy writs of God’s owne hand.35.Gainst whom, these greatHeroesvp did stand,RenownedSussex, th’eldest sonne of fame,GreatWarwicke,Rutland, and stoutCumberland,BoldDeuorax,Howardlord of Effingham,Braue lord of PerhamWillowbyby name,Scroope,Euers,Knoles, all men of famous might,From whom their foes to Scotland tooke their fight.36.L.[eonard]D.[acre]And thou braueHunsdonborne of prince’s blood,Though last in place yet not the least in name,When a disloyall lord vndaunted stood,To bid thee battell, to thy endlesse fame,Thou mad’st him flie the bounded field with shame:’Gainst whom with thy few troopes, thou didst aduanceAnd authoriz’d high seruice with thy lance.37.Vpon the bankes, where siluer Chelt doth glide,With his three thousand men in armes well dight,He stoutly stood and did thy charge abide,Gainst whom with fifteene hundred thou didst fight,And forc’d him yeeld vnto thy powerfull might:For heartlesse from the field away he fledTo Scotland by, to hide his shamefull hed.38.And as the lordly lion, king of beasts,When he by chance hath lost his wished prey,Runs roring through the wood, and neuer restsTill he haue truly tract the readie way,Where he may follow his escaped prey:So nobleHunsdonwith his conquering crew,His flying foe to Scotland did pursue.39.Anno eodem12.With that stout sonne of Mars, greatSussexbent,T’inferre reuenge vpon the borderers byFor misdemeanor done, much time he spentIn making hostile spoile on th’enemie,That sought to succour rebels treacherie:Which done, loden with honor and rich spoile,They made returne vnto their natiue soile.40.Thus did these lords to their faire virgin queene,Returne with glorie got from euery place,Though at her greatnesse with malignant spleene,Many leaud sonnes of enuie’s hellish race,Did much repine, and sought her name’s disgrace:For spitefull enuie neuer doth repine,But where true vertue’s glorie most doth shine.41.Downe in the deepes of earth’s profunditieHer dwelling is in dungeons darksome blind,Where she nere sees the bright sunne’s cheerefull eie,Ne comfort of the wholesome aire doth finde,Tost to and fro by gentle breathing winde;But with the furies of the Stygian flood,Sits low in hell in hate of humane good.42.The restlesse griefe, which carking care doth breed,Her thoughts with endlesse torment doth oppresse,Her woes of other’s welfare do proceed,Ne euer is she seene to laugh, vnlesseAt lucklesse hap of other’s ill successe;For other’s happinesse her woe doth bring,And all her ill from other’s good doth spring.43.To this foule helhound from that blood built towne,Which Tybur’s siluer armes doe round imbrace,Blind error came, where truth was troden downe,Since bloodiePhocasto the world’s disgrace,Did seat the first false priest inCæsar’splace;And thence did error take her speedie flightTo enuie’s caue to worke the world despight.44.Where when she came before the hags foule sight,Elizae’sglorie she did oft propose,And more to whet her forward to despight,She shew’d how truth and loue their two chiefe foes,On that faire virgin only did repose,Which enuie’s malice did so much augment,That she throughout the world with error went.45.Blinde error bore foule enuie on her backe,And ouer many kingdoms tooke their flight,Where enuie’s poison mixt with errors blacke,In scalding drops, as they did flie, did lightVpon the limbes of many a wretched wight,Which through their veins diffus’d did swiftly run,Choaking that loue, that in their hearts did won.46.At length to Rome with error, enuie came,Where gorg’d with fulnesse of excessiue feast,Finding proudPius, fift of that false name,Laid on soft couch his heauie head to rest,She laid her scuruie fist vpon his brest,And from his feet, euen to his sleepie head,She made her poison canker-like to spread.47.And with more malice to augment his hate,She did propose vnto his enuious eye,Th’admired glorie ofElizae’sstate,And his lost priuiledge and dignitieIn this her kingdome of great Britanie;Which did so vex greatPius, that on nought,But mischiefe gainst our queene thenceforth he thought.48.His threatning bull, whose rore in ages past,The superstitious world did terrifie,AmongstElizae’ssubiects he did cast,Thereby to alienate their loyaltie,And dutie vow’d to her soueraigntie;Yea pardon in it he did denounce to all,That from our queene their dutie would recall.49.An. Reg. 12.Which bull, fondFelton, thy vnhappie handDid fixe vpon that prelate’s palace gate,Which doth by Paule’s high towering temple stand;Where thou didst iustly meete thy wretched fate,The meed that traytors steps doth still await;Nor could that priest remit thy foule offence,Though with large sinne his bull did then dispence.50.And though he did denounce both pardon and curse,Yet by the one small comfort didst thou find,Ne yet was England’s happie state the worse;But as in gloomie caues and corners blinde,The sun’s bright blazing beames most cleare we finde;So did the virgin’s glorie shine most brim,When her proud foes did seeke the same to dim.51.An. Reg. 15.Walter Deu, Earle of Essex.For hereupon, when with rebellious sword,Those stout strength-breathing Irish vp did stand,RenownedDeuoraxvicount Hereford,That most illustrate lord of high command,No sooner did approch with powerfull hand,But that the rebels daunted with his name,Armes laid aside, in humble manner came.52.Brian Mac-Phelin, that much scath had done,WithFerdorough Macgillastick, that bold knight,By some surnam’d the blind Scot’s valiant sonne,WithOdonel,Roze,OgeandMacknelhight,Did yeeld themselues to famousDeuoraxmight,Which shewes, that he of heau’n beloued was,That without blood could bring such things to passe.53.Anno Reg. 18, 19, 20.And heau’n, the more to blesse our happie queene,After this Romish buls loud bellowing rore,Three times the famousFrobisherwas seene,In winged barkes full fraught with golden ore,Dancing ore Neptune’s backe to England’s shore:ForIason-like to his eternall fame,Thrice from Catay with golden fleece he came.54.An. Reg. 21.To adde more fame to this for future time,GreatDraketo quell their pride that had set downe,Theirne plus vltrain the farthest climeBy seas, sands, rocks and many a sea-sieg’d towne,Did compasse earth in spight of Neptune’s frowne:For which his name with fame for aye is crown’d,Whose barke still sailes about the world’s whole round.55.Anne Reg. 11, 15, 21.And thee braueHolstockmay I not forget,Whose conquering sword on Neptune’s high commandElizae’shaplesse foes hath often met,And brought them captiue with victorious hand,Rich fraught with spoile toAlbion’srockie strand,Whereby the greatnesse ofElizae’snameA terror both by land and seas became.56.O what a princely charge did she maintaineOf men, munition and artillirieIn flying castles on the purple maine,Which on the clowds of Thetis liquid skie,Seeming to frisk about for iollitie,Stood like safe centinels 'bout England’s shoreMaking seas tremble at their cannons rore.57.Thus did the heau’ns showre downe felicitieIn ample manner onElizae’sstate,At which Rome’s holie sire did still enuie,Who failing in our English home-bred bate,In foraine shoares shew’d his malignant hate:For by falseDesmond’smeanes he made great showGainst ourElizae’sweale to worke much woe.58.Anno Reg. 22.But heau’n did soone oppose against his mightTh’heroick spirit, that burned in the hartOf nobleGreyofWilton, that bold knight,Who vnto wounds did challenge th’aduerse partIn manie a field, who hauing felt the smartOf his keene sword, the stoutest hid his hed,And from his furie to the wilde woods fled.59.And when th’Iberian troopes did there displayRome’s ensigne, in that castle hight Del Ore,InDesmond’scause against our queene, greatGreyDid thunder gainst their walls with cannons rore,Ne would from fierce assault desist beforeVnto his furie passage he had madeIn Spanish blood to bathe his conquering blade.60.Thus all his plots still failing in th’euent,Preuented by heau’n’s all foreseeing eye,A thousand mischiefes now he gan inuent,Inuasion, outrage, murder, treacherie,Sounding the depths of all iniquitie;For all blacke deedes his vice-blackt thoughts could find,He turn’d and return’d in his vengefull minde.61.Vpon his furrowed front, the signes of ire,Furie and rage, did sit like lowring night,And both his burning eyes like glowing fireBeneath his bended browes did sparkle bright,As irefull lightnings of his heart’s despight,Yea nought could mollifie his raging teene,But blood and vengeance gainst our royall queene.62.Amongst his holie sonnes he cald a quest,Whose counsell to his mischiefe might giue way,And to his raging thoughts at length giue rest,Setting his wrath on wing against that day,Wherein he purpos’d England’s swift decay;For by them all in counsell ’twas decreed,England should fall,Elizae’shart should bleed.63.The time was set by stratagems deuise,And force of hands to worke their wicked hate,The persons chosen for that enterprise,All bent to tread downe England’s happie stateBeneath the feete of some disaster sate,Bosting abroad before the deed was done,By their firme valor, what rich prize was wone.64.The conquerd nations of the Indian soyle,At whose huge wealth the world is made to wonder,Their mother’s wombe were forced to dispoyle,And rudely rend her golden ribs in sunder,Thereby to set on wing warre’s roring thunder:For souldiers thoughts on golden wings flie far,And earth’s rich spoiles are sinewes of the war.65.Manie tall pines were leueld with the plaineBy the confederates of the Latin shore,Being taught to flie vpon the purple maineBy force of winde and strength of sable oare,That on the solid ground stood firme before,Whose hugenesse mightie mountaines did resemble,Making the monsters of the deepe to tremble.66.The famous artizans, that by their artDo imitate the thunder of the skie,And digging downe into the earth’s black hart,With that salt humor, that doth hidden lie,Into the ayre make fierie lightnings flie,Were all imploy’d by Spaine’s supreme commandTo hurle their thunder gainst our sea-sieg’d land.67.All warre habiliments they did prepareTo set sterne Mars vpon his conquering feete,Their farre-fetcht Indian gold they did not spare,That nothing might be wanting, that was meetTo furnish out their most vnconquered fleet;Before all which was consummate and done,Bright Phœbus oft his yearely race had runne.68.Meane time Rome’s dragon rousde his bloodie crest,And wau’d his wings, from whence that rabble rout,That hell-hatch’d brood, who, fed on error’s brestAnd suck’d her poysonous dugs, came crawling outAs was their woont, to flie the world about:For those he hatch’d beneath his shadie wings,T’imploy ’gainst potentates and mightiest kings.69.
1.
When England’s PhœbusHenrie’shopefull sonneThe world’s rare Phœnix, princelyEdwardhight,To death did yeeld, his glasee of life outrun,And Phœbus-like no more could lend his light:Then men did walke in shades of darkesome night,Whose feeble sight with errors blacke strooke blind,Could in no place time’s faireFidessafind.
When England’s PhœbusHenrie’shopefull sonne
The world’s rare Phœnix, princelyEdwardhight,
To death did yeeld, his glasee of life outrun,
And Phœbus-like no more could lend his light:
Then men did walke in shades of darkesome night,
Whose feeble sight with errors blacke strooke blind,
Could in no place time’s faireFidessafind.
2.
That blind borne monster, truthe’s sterne opposite,Begotten first in Demogorgon’s hall,Twixt vglie Erebus and grizlie night,The sonnes of truth did horriblie appallWith her approch, much dreaded of them all:Who euer came in reach of her foule pawes,She in their blood imbru’d her thirstie iawes.
That blind borne monster, truthe’s sterne opposite,
Begotten first in Demogorgon’s hall,
Twixt vglie Erebus and grizlie night,
The sonnes of truth did horriblie appall
With her approch, much dreaded of them all:
Who euer came in reach of her foule pawes,
She in their blood imbru’d her thirstie iawes.
3.
Witnesse may bee the manie a burning flame,Made with the limbes of saints to mount on high,Whose constant soules without the least exclaime,In midst of death downe patientlie did lie,And in bright flames did clime the clow’d-brow’d skie:Yea, letElizae’swoes in that blind age,A witnesse bee of bloodie error’s rage.
Witnesse may bee the manie a burning flame,
Made with the limbes of saints to mount on high,
Whose constant soules without the least exclaime,
In midst of death downe patientlie did lie,
And in bright flames did clime the clow’d-brow’d skie:
Yea, letElizae’swoes in that blind age,
A witnesse bee of bloodie error’s rage.
4.
Whose deepe distresse and dolefull miserie,I not assay to sing, but leaue the sameTo our deare sister sad Melpomene,That she her sweet patheticke voice may frameIn dolefull dittie to condole the same:I onely here in high heroick streine,Do striue to sing of her triumphant reigne.
Whose deepe distresse and dolefull miserie,
I not assay to sing, but leaue the same
To our deare sister sad Melpomene,
That she her sweet patheticke voice may frame
In dolefull dittie to condole the same:
I onely here in high heroick streine,
Do striue to sing of her triumphant reigne.
5.
Ioue looking downe, from his celestiall throneWith eies of pitie on poore England’s woes,Did lend her helpe, when hope of helpe was none,And in his mercy did his power opposeGainst error’s night-borne children, her cheife foes,Who sought t’obscure with cloudes of enuious night,Her Cynthia’s shine, the lampe of all her light.
Ioue looking downe, from his celestiall throne
With eies of pitie on poore England’s woes,
Did lend her helpe, when hope of helpe was none,
And in his mercy did his power oppose
Gainst error’s night-borne children, her cheife foes,
Who sought t’obscure with cloudes of enuious night,
Her Cynthia’s shine, the lampe of all her light.
6.
But he disperst those cloudes, and droue awayThe lowring stormes, that ouercast our skie,And made our glorious Cynthia to displayHer heauenlie shine, to giue them light thereby,Who long before in darknesse bound did lie:For she it was, who with her sweet repaireFrom th’hearts of men did banish black despaire.
But he disperst those cloudes, and droue away
The lowring stormes, that ouercast our skie,
And made our glorious Cynthia to display
Her heauenlie shine, to giue them light thereby,
Who long before in darknesse bound did lie:
For she it was, who with her sweet repaire
From th’hearts of men did banish black despaire.
7.
Euen as that morning starre that doth displayHer golden tresses in th’orientall skie,Brings happie tidings of approching dayTo them, that long in bed do restlesse lie,Expecting comfort from the sun’s bright eye:So ourElizadid blest tidings bringOf ioy to those, whom sad distresse did sting.
Euen as that morning starre that doth display
Her golden tresses in th’orientall skie,
Brings happie tidings of approching day
To them, that long in bed do restlesse lie,
Expecting comfort from the sun’s bright eye:
So ourElizadid blest tidings bring
Of ioy to those, whom sad distresse did sting.
8.
No sooner did this empire’s royall crowneBegirt the temples of her princelie hed;But that Ioue-borne Astrea straight came downeFrom highest heauen againe, to which in dreadOf earth’s impietie before shee fled:Well did shee know,Elizae’shappie reigneWould then renew the golden age againe.
No sooner did this empire’s royall crowne
Begirt the temples of her princelie hed;
But that Ioue-borne Astrea straight came downe
From highest heauen againe, to which in dread
Of earth’s impietie before shee fled:
Well did shee know,Elizae’shappie reigne
Would then renew the golden age againe.
9.
The heau’ns did smile on her with sweet delight,And thundering Ioue did laugh her foes to scorne,The god of warre did cease from bloodie fight,And fruitfull plentie did her land adorneWith richest gifts, powr’d from her plenteous horne,The happie seedes, which th’hands of peace did sowIn euerie place with goodlie fruit did grow.
The heau’ns did smile on her with sweet delight,
And thundering Ioue did laugh her foes to scorne,
The god of warre did cease from bloodie fight,
And fruitfull plentie did her land adorne
With richest gifts, powr’d from her plenteous horne,
The happie seedes, which th’hands of peace did sow
In euerie place with goodlie fruit did grow.
10.
Deuouring Mulciber, whose flames beforeWith blood of holy men were heard to hisse,Of England’s happie sonnes were seene no more:But truth and mercie did each other kisse,And brought sweet tidings of their heauenly blisse:All which by powerfull loue haue granted beenFor loue t’Eliza, Albion’s matchlesse queene.
Deuouring Mulciber, whose flames before
With blood of holy men were heard to hisse,
Of England’s happie sonnes were seene no more:
But truth and mercie did each other kisse,
And brought sweet tidings of their heauenly blisse:
All which by powerfull loue haue granted been
For loue t’Eliza, Albion’s matchlesse queene.
11.
Matchlesse for all the gifts of heauenly grace,For nature’s good and happie destinie,All which, in one sole subiect hauing place,If they a mortall wight may beautifie,And giue a prince earth’s true felicitie,She truly did enioy, while she did liue,Thatsummum bonum, which this life could giue.
Matchlesse for all the gifts of heauenly grace,
For nature’s good and happie destinie,
All which, in one sole subiect hauing place,
If they a mortall wight may beautifie,
And giue a prince earth’s true felicitie,
She truly did enioy, while she did liue,
Thatsummum bonum, which this life could giue.
12.
In th’happie horoscope of her sweet birth,Both heauen and nature seemed to consentWith fortune’s selfe t’augment their fame on earth,Each one in hope to perfect their intent,By this queene virgin and her gouernment,And 'mongst themselues, they seemed to contend,Who should to her the greatest gifts extend.
In th’happie horoscope of her sweet birth,
Both heauen and nature seemed to consent
With fortune’s selfe t’augment their fame on earth,
Each one in hope to perfect their intent,
By this queene virgin and her gouernment,
And 'mongst themselues, they seemed to contend,
Who should to her the greatest gifts extend.
13.
For when fromAnnae’swombe, she came to light,Th’whole aggregate of heau’n from Ioue’s high throne,Vnto the lowest orbe lookt blithe and bright,And in the same, each constellationVnited was in sweet coniunction,Powring their influence of felicitieVpon the virgin’s blest natiuitie.
For when fromAnnae’swombe, she came to light,
Th’whole aggregate of heau’n from Ioue’s high throne,
Vnto the lowest orbe lookt blithe and bright,
And in the same, each constellation
Vnited was in sweet coniunction,
Powring their influence of felicitie
Vpon the virgin’s blest natiuitie.
14.
Nor can I tell the gifts of grace exact,With which heau’n did enrich her royall mind,Had I a brazen throat or voice infract,A thousand tongues, and rarest words refin’d,With vtterance swifter, then the swiftest winde;Yet were they all too weake at large to tellThe gifts of grace, that in her soule did dwell.
Nor can I tell the gifts of grace exact,
With which heau’n did enrich her royall mind,
Had I a brazen throat or voice infract,
A thousand tongues, and rarest words refin’d,
With vtterance swifter, then the swiftest winde;
Yet were they all too weake at large to tell
The gifts of grace, that in her soule did dwell.
15.
Her setled faith, fixt in the highest heau’n,Remained firme vnto her liue’s last date,Nor her vndanted spirit could be driuenAt any time one iot thereof t’abateBy Spaine’s sterne threats, and Rome’s pernitious hate,The ankor of the same, her hope, aboueStood fixt vpon the promise of great Ioue.
Her setled faith, fixt in the highest heau’n,
Remained firme vnto her liue’s last date,
Nor her vndanted spirit could be driuen
At any time one iot thereof t’abate
By Spaine’s sterne threats, and Rome’s pernitious hate,
The ankor of the same, her hope, aboue
Stood fixt vpon the promise of great Ioue.
16.
Her deeds of mercie, not in hope to merit,Were true ostents of her fidelitie,For which a name on earth she shall inheritWhich shall outliue the vading memorieOf spiteful! Rome’s defaming forgerie;For not alone did we her bountie know,But forren shores the same likewise can show.
Her deeds of mercie, not in hope to merit,
Were true ostents of her fidelitie,
For which a name on earth she shall inherit
Which shall outliue the vading memorie
Of spiteful! Rome’s defaming forgerie;
For not alone did we her bountie know,
But forren shores the same likewise can show.
17.
Heau’n hauing dignifi’d her soule diuine,With rarest gifts of goodly qualitie,Dame nature’s selfe, as seeming to refineThe common mixture of mortalitie,Into a matter of more puritie,Made for her soule a mansion house so faire,That few with it for beautie might compare.
Heau’n hauing dignifi’d her soule diuine,
With rarest gifts of goodly qualitie,
Dame nature’s selfe, as seeming to refine
The common mixture of mortalitie,
Into a matter of more puritie,
Made for her soule a mansion house so faire,
That few with it for beautie might compare.
18.
And though her beautie were exceeding rare,Yet Rome’s Lucretia for a sober eieSo far renown’d, with her might not compare,Nor the Greekes constant queene Penelope,Might match this maiden queene for modestie:For Phœbe’s selfe did want her gouernanceIn modest gesture and chaste countenance.
And though her beautie were exceeding rare,
Yet Rome’s Lucretia for a sober eie
So far renown’d, with her might not compare,
Nor the Greekes constant queene Penelope,
Might match this maiden queene for modestie:
For Phœbe’s selfe did want her gouernance
In modest gesture and chaste countenance.
19.
Thus heau’n and nature hauing shew’d their skillIn perfecting a creature so diuine,Fortune, as loth so rare a worke to spill,At our Great Britaine maid did not repine,But did to her all happinesse assigne,Whereby no prince on earth yet euer was,That for rare giftsElizadid surpasse.
Thus heau’n and nature hauing shew’d their skill
In perfecting a creature so diuine,
Fortune, as loth so rare a worke to spill,
At our Great Britaine maid did not repine,
But did to her all happinesse assigne,
Whereby no prince on earth yet euer was,
That for rare giftsElizadid surpasse.
20.
Cease then, yee black-mouth’d brood of enuie’s race,Men monsters like, or monsters like to men,Whose tongues with scandall tipt, seeke to disgraceOur royall soueraigne, Ioue’s anoynted queene,Whose like in any age hath seldome been:Cease vipers, cease I say, from your offence,In spitting poyson at such excellence.
Cease then, yee black-mouth’d brood of enuie’s race,
Men monsters like, or monsters like to men,
Whose tongues with scandall tipt, seeke to disgrace
Our royall soueraigne, Ioue’s anoynted queene,
Whose like in any age hath seldome been:
Cease vipers, cease I say, from your offence,
In spitting poyson at such excellence.
21.
Yet, if your English Romanized hearts,Gainst nature’s custome swell with foule defame,Brandish your stings, and cast your vtmost dartsAgainst the greatnesse of her glorious name,Yet shall it liue to your eternall shame;Yea, though Rome, Spaine, and hell it selfe repine,Her fame on earth with sun-bright light shal shine.
Yet, if your English Romanized hearts,
Gainst nature’s custome swell with foule defame,
Brandish your stings, and cast your vtmost darts
Against the greatnesse of her glorious name,
Yet shall it liue to your eternall shame;
Yea, though Rome, Spaine, and hell it selfe repine,
Her fame on earth with sun-bright light shal shine.
22.
And while that we, the brood of Phœbus witIn golden verse her deeds to light can bring,On mount Parnassus, as we safely sit,In such high straine her worth we all will sing,That earth’s whole round of her great fame shall ring:For endlesse praise to her well may we giue,That did protect our cause, while she did liue.
And while that we, the brood of Phœbus wit
In golden verse her deeds to light can bring,
On mount Parnassus, as we safely sit,
In such high straine her worth we all will sing,
That earth’s whole round of her great fame shall ring:
For endlesse praise to her well may we giue,
That did protect our cause, while she did liue.
23.
O, how the wreath of Phœbus flowring bay,The victor’s due desert, and learning’s meed,Did flourish in her time without decay!Which to obtaine, each one did striue t’exceedIn high atchieuement of some glorious deed:Though now, alas, such custome is forgot,And loue of ease great Albion’s sonnes doth blot.
O, how the wreath of Phœbus flowring bay,
The victor’s due desert, and learning’s meed,
Did flourish in her time without decay!
Which to obtaine, each one did striue t’exceed
In high atchieuement of some glorious deed:
Though now, alas, such custome is forgot,
And loue of ease great Albion’s sonnes doth blot.
24.
Lull’d in the bosome of securitie,Vpon th’ignoble bed of idle ease,Foully defacing true nobilitie,Few now do care, but how they best may pleaseThe hungrie fancie of sweet loue’s disease,That pitie ’tis so many a worthie wight,Let’s honor flie for fancie’s fond delight.
Lull’d in the bosome of securitie,
Vpon th’ignoble bed of idle ease,
Foully defacing true nobilitie,
Few now do care, but how they best may please
The hungrie fancie of sweet loue’s disease,
That pitie ’tis so many a worthie wight,
Let’s honor flie for fancie’s fond delight.
25.
But wake, yee honor’d impes of noble race;Rouze vp the dying sparkes of courage bold,’Tis Clyo speakes to you, that she may placeYour lasting praises writ with lines of gold,In flying fame’s great booke to be inrol’d,Yea let your father’s late done deeds inflameYour sleeping thoughts to gaine a glorious name:
But wake, yee honor’d impes of noble race;
Rouze vp the dying sparkes of courage bold,
’Tis Clyo speakes to you, that she may place
Your lasting praises writ with lines of gold,
In flying fame’s great booke to be inrol’d,
Yea let your father’s late done deeds inflame
Your sleeping thoughts to gaine a glorious name:
26.
Who thought it not true honor’s glorious prizeBy nimblie capring in a daintie dance,To win th’affects of women’s wanton eies,Ne yet did seeke their glorie to aduanceBy only tilting with a rush-like lance,But did in dreadfull death themselues oppose,To winne renowne againstElizae’sfoes.
Who thought it not true honor’s glorious prize
By nimblie capring in a daintie dance,
To win th’affects of women’s wanton eies,
Ne yet did seeke their glorie to aduance
By only tilting with a rush-like lance,
But did in dreadfull death themselues oppose,
To winne renowne againstElizae’sfoes.
27.
How stoutly did they march in honor’s field,In stately station like the sonnes of fame,Led by renowne, who nere did let them yeeld,Though drown’d in death in midst of martiall game,Till by their deeds they gain’d a glorious name,Whose valour stillElizadid directEach where to beat downe wrong and right erect.
How stoutly did they march in honor’s field,
In stately station like the sonnes of fame,
Led by renowne, who nere did let them yeeld,
Though drown’d in death in midst of martiall game,
Till by their deeds they gain’d a glorious name,
Whose valour stillElizadid direct
Each where to beat downe wrong and right erect.
28.
An. Reg. 2.
When England’s Scotland in distresse did stand,AmbitiousGuiseintending her decay,England’s faire virgin lent her helping hand,And soone did chace th’insulting French away,That proudly did their ensignes there display:For that braue lord greatGreyof Wilton hight,Did force them thence by warre’s impulsiue might.
When England’s Scotland in distresse did stand,
AmbitiousGuiseintending her decay,
England’s faire virgin lent her helping hand,
And soone did chace th’insulting French away,
That proudly did their ensignes there display:
For that braue lord greatGreyof Wilton hight,
Did force them thence by warre’s impulsiue might.
29.
An. Reg. 4.
When France within it selfe diuided stood,Th’aspiringGuisein hostile furie bentAgainst braueCondie, prince of royall blood,Then our faire queene all danger to preuent,GreatWarwickeore the seas broad bosome sent,Whose dreaded powers our Calice losse had quited,Had heau’n not sicknesse through his host excited.
When France within it selfe diuided stood,
Th’aspiringGuisein hostile furie bent
Against braueCondie, prince of royall blood,
Then our faire queene all danger to preuent,
GreatWarwickeore the seas broad bosome sent,
Whose dreaded powers our Calice losse had quited,
Had heau’n not sicknesse through his host excited.
30.
Anno Reg. 9.
When Ireland’s greatOneale, first that did moueThe Kernes and Gallowglasses, men of might,Vnto their soueraigne to renounce their loue,HightHenrie Sidniethat heroick knight,Did oft times turne him to inglorious flight,Till traytor-like mongst friends he found his fall,Who hew’d his bodie into pieces small.
When Ireland’s greatOneale, first that did moue
The Kernes and Gallowglasses, men of might,
Vnto their soueraigne to renounce their loue,
HightHenrie Sidniethat heroick knight,
Did oft times turne him to inglorious flight,
Till traytor-like mongst friends he found his fall,
Who hew’d his bodie into pieces small.
31.
An. Reg. 8.
Nor heere renownedRandolbraue esquireCan I forget to giue to thee thy right,When with thine owne few troopes, whose hearts on fireThy valour set, thou put’st to shamefull flightThisShane Oneale, and all his host in fight:Where though thou fell in venturing past the rest,Thy name shall liue in fame’s great booke exprest.
Nor heere renownedRandolbraue esquire
Can I forget to giue to thee thy right,
When with thine owne few troopes, whose hearts on fire
Thy valour set, thou put’st to shamefull flight
ThisShane Oneale, and all his host in fight:
Where though thou fell in venturing past the rest,
Thy name shall liue in fame’s great booke exprest.
32.
An. Reg. 12.
And heere at home, when in the north did riseThe louring stormes stirr’d vp by discontentOf peace-disturbers, who did enterprizeBy force of hand their soueraigne’s right to rent,And take from her this kingdome’s gouernment,Then stood vp many a loyall hearted peere,To shield her safe from threatning foe-men’s feare.
And heere at home, when in the north did rise
The louring stormes stirr’d vp by discontent
Of peace-disturbers, who did enterprize
By force of hand their soueraigne’s right to rent,
And take from her this kingdome’s gouernment,
Then stood vp many a loyall hearted peere,
To shield her safe from threatning foe-men’s feare.
33.
For well they knew, with right it could not stand,That any one their soueraigne might displace,And take the scepter from the prince’s hand:The rule of many is absurd and base,One prince must sit inthron’d in iustice place;For many heads, what bodie euer bare,That was not monster like and out of square?
For well they knew, with right it could not stand,
That any one their soueraigne might displace,
And take the scepter from the prince’s hand:
The rule of many is absurd and base,
One prince must sit inthron’d in iustice place;
For many heads, what bodie euer bare,
That was not monster like and out of square?
34.
Which little did those iarring members know,When with their banner of the fiue wounds spread,And holy-seeming crosse, a fained showOf their vngodly zeale, they first made headAt Durham’s towne against their soueraigne dread,Where their first outrage men did vnderstand,In tearing th’holy writs of God’s owne hand.
Which little did those iarring members know,
When with their banner of the fiue wounds spread,
And holy-seeming crosse, a fained show
Of their vngodly zeale, they first made head
At Durham’s towne against their soueraigne dread,
Where their first outrage men did vnderstand,
In tearing th’holy writs of God’s owne hand.
35.
Gainst whom, these greatHeroesvp did stand,RenownedSussex, th’eldest sonne of fame,GreatWarwicke,Rutland, and stoutCumberland,BoldDeuorax,Howardlord of Effingham,Braue lord of PerhamWillowbyby name,Scroope,Euers,Knoles, all men of famous might,From whom their foes to Scotland tooke their fight.
Gainst whom, these greatHeroesvp did stand,
RenownedSussex, th’eldest sonne of fame,
GreatWarwicke,Rutland, and stoutCumberland,
BoldDeuorax,Howardlord of Effingham,
Braue lord of PerhamWillowbyby name,
Scroope,Euers,Knoles, all men of famous might,
From whom their foes to Scotland tooke their fight.
36.
L.[eonard]D.[acre]
And thou braueHunsdonborne of prince’s blood,Though last in place yet not the least in name,When a disloyall lord vndaunted stood,To bid thee battell, to thy endlesse fame,Thou mad’st him flie the bounded field with shame:’Gainst whom with thy few troopes, thou didst aduanceAnd authoriz’d high seruice with thy lance.
And thou braueHunsdonborne of prince’s blood,
Though last in place yet not the least in name,
When a disloyall lord vndaunted stood,
To bid thee battell, to thy endlesse fame,
Thou mad’st him flie the bounded field with shame:
’Gainst whom with thy few troopes, thou didst aduance
And authoriz’d high seruice with thy lance.
37.
Vpon the bankes, where siluer Chelt doth glide,With his three thousand men in armes well dight,He stoutly stood and did thy charge abide,Gainst whom with fifteene hundred thou didst fight,And forc’d him yeeld vnto thy powerfull might:For heartlesse from the field away he fledTo Scotland by, to hide his shamefull hed.
Vpon the bankes, where siluer Chelt doth glide,
With his three thousand men in armes well dight,
He stoutly stood and did thy charge abide,
Gainst whom with fifteene hundred thou didst fight,
And forc’d him yeeld vnto thy powerfull might:
For heartlesse from the field away he fled
To Scotland by, to hide his shamefull hed.
38.
And as the lordly lion, king of beasts,When he by chance hath lost his wished prey,Runs roring through the wood, and neuer restsTill he haue truly tract the readie way,Where he may follow his escaped prey:So nobleHunsdonwith his conquering crew,His flying foe to Scotland did pursue.
And as the lordly lion, king of beasts,
When he by chance hath lost his wished prey,
Runs roring through the wood, and neuer rests
Till he haue truly tract the readie way,
Where he may follow his escaped prey:
So nobleHunsdonwith his conquering crew,
His flying foe to Scotland did pursue.
39.
Anno eodem12.
With that stout sonne of Mars, greatSussexbent,T’inferre reuenge vpon the borderers byFor misdemeanor done, much time he spentIn making hostile spoile on th’enemie,That sought to succour rebels treacherie:Which done, loden with honor and rich spoile,They made returne vnto their natiue soile.
With that stout sonne of Mars, greatSussexbent,
T’inferre reuenge vpon the borderers by
For misdemeanor done, much time he spent
In making hostile spoile on th’enemie,
That sought to succour rebels treacherie:
Which done, loden with honor and rich spoile,
They made returne vnto their natiue soile.
40.
Thus did these lords to their faire virgin queene,Returne with glorie got from euery place,Though at her greatnesse with malignant spleene,Many leaud sonnes of enuie’s hellish race,Did much repine, and sought her name’s disgrace:For spitefull enuie neuer doth repine,But where true vertue’s glorie most doth shine.
Thus did these lords to their faire virgin queene,
Returne with glorie got from euery place,
Though at her greatnesse with malignant spleene,
Many leaud sonnes of enuie’s hellish race,
Did much repine, and sought her name’s disgrace:
For spitefull enuie neuer doth repine,
But where true vertue’s glorie most doth shine.
41.
Downe in the deepes of earth’s profunditieHer dwelling is in dungeons darksome blind,Where she nere sees the bright sunne’s cheerefull eie,Ne comfort of the wholesome aire doth finde,Tost to and fro by gentle breathing winde;But with the furies of the Stygian flood,Sits low in hell in hate of humane good.
Downe in the deepes of earth’s profunditie
Her dwelling is in dungeons darksome blind,
Where she nere sees the bright sunne’s cheerefull eie,
Ne comfort of the wholesome aire doth finde,
Tost to and fro by gentle breathing winde;
But with the furies of the Stygian flood,
Sits low in hell in hate of humane good.
42.
The restlesse griefe, which carking care doth breed,Her thoughts with endlesse torment doth oppresse,Her woes of other’s welfare do proceed,Ne euer is she seene to laugh, vnlesseAt lucklesse hap of other’s ill successe;For other’s happinesse her woe doth bring,And all her ill from other’s good doth spring.
The restlesse griefe, which carking care doth breed,
Her thoughts with endlesse torment doth oppresse,
Her woes of other’s welfare do proceed,
Ne euer is she seene to laugh, vnlesse
At lucklesse hap of other’s ill successe;
For other’s happinesse her woe doth bring,
And all her ill from other’s good doth spring.
43.
To this foule helhound from that blood built towne,Which Tybur’s siluer armes doe round imbrace,Blind error came, where truth was troden downe,Since bloodiePhocasto the world’s disgrace,Did seat the first false priest inCæsar’splace;And thence did error take her speedie flightTo enuie’s caue to worke the world despight.
To this foule helhound from that blood built towne,
Which Tybur’s siluer armes doe round imbrace,
Blind error came, where truth was troden downe,
Since bloodiePhocasto the world’s disgrace,
Did seat the first false priest inCæsar’splace;
And thence did error take her speedie flight
To enuie’s caue to worke the world despight.
44.
Where when she came before the hags foule sight,Elizae’sglorie she did oft propose,And more to whet her forward to despight,She shew’d how truth and loue their two chiefe foes,On that faire virgin only did repose,Which enuie’s malice did so much augment,That she throughout the world with error went.
Where when she came before the hags foule sight,
Elizae’sglorie she did oft propose,
And more to whet her forward to despight,
She shew’d how truth and loue their two chiefe foes,
On that faire virgin only did repose,
Which enuie’s malice did so much augment,
That she throughout the world with error went.
45.
Blinde error bore foule enuie on her backe,And ouer many kingdoms tooke their flight,Where enuie’s poison mixt with errors blacke,In scalding drops, as they did flie, did lightVpon the limbes of many a wretched wight,Which through their veins diffus’d did swiftly run,Choaking that loue, that in their hearts did won.
Blinde error bore foule enuie on her backe,
And ouer many kingdoms tooke their flight,
Where enuie’s poison mixt with errors blacke,
In scalding drops, as they did flie, did light
Vpon the limbes of many a wretched wight,
Which through their veins diffus’d did swiftly run,
Choaking that loue, that in their hearts did won.
46.
At length to Rome with error, enuie came,Where gorg’d with fulnesse of excessiue feast,Finding proudPius, fift of that false name,Laid on soft couch his heauie head to rest,She laid her scuruie fist vpon his brest,And from his feet, euen to his sleepie head,She made her poison canker-like to spread.
At length to Rome with error, enuie came,
Where gorg’d with fulnesse of excessiue feast,
Finding proudPius, fift of that false name,
Laid on soft couch his heauie head to rest,
She laid her scuruie fist vpon his brest,
And from his feet, euen to his sleepie head,
She made her poison canker-like to spread.
47.
And with more malice to augment his hate,She did propose vnto his enuious eye,Th’admired glorie ofElizae’sstate,And his lost priuiledge and dignitieIn this her kingdome of great Britanie;Which did so vex greatPius, that on nought,But mischiefe gainst our queene thenceforth he thought.
And with more malice to augment his hate,
She did propose vnto his enuious eye,
Th’admired glorie ofElizae’sstate,
And his lost priuiledge and dignitie
In this her kingdome of great Britanie;
Which did so vex greatPius, that on nought,
But mischiefe gainst our queene thenceforth he thought.
48.
His threatning bull, whose rore in ages past,The superstitious world did terrifie,AmongstElizae’ssubiects he did cast,Thereby to alienate their loyaltie,And dutie vow’d to her soueraigntie;Yea pardon in it he did denounce to all,That from our queene their dutie would recall.
His threatning bull, whose rore in ages past,
The superstitious world did terrifie,
AmongstElizae’ssubiects he did cast,
Thereby to alienate their loyaltie,
And dutie vow’d to her soueraigntie;
Yea pardon in it he did denounce to all,
That from our queene their dutie would recall.
49.
An. Reg. 12.
Which bull, fondFelton, thy vnhappie handDid fixe vpon that prelate’s palace gate,Which doth by Paule’s high towering temple stand;Where thou didst iustly meete thy wretched fate,The meed that traytors steps doth still await;Nor could that priest remit thy foule offence,Though with large sinne his bull did then dispence.
Which bull, fondFelton, thy vnhappie hand
Did fixe vpon that prelate’s palace gate,
Which doth by Paule’s high towering temple stand;
Where thou didst iustly meete thy wretched fate,
The meed that traytors steps doth still await;
Nor could that priest remit thy foule offence,
Though with large sinne his bull did then dispence.
50.
And though he did denounce both pardon and curse,Yet by the one small comfort didst thou find,Ne yet was England’s happie state the worse;But as in gloomie caues and corners blinde,The sun’s bright blazing beames most cleare we finde;So did the virgin’s glorie shine most brim,When her proud foes did seeke the same to dim.
And though he did denounce both pardon and curse,
Yet by the one small comfort didst thou find,
Ne yet was England’s happie state the worse;
But as in gloomie caues and corners blinde,
The sun’s bright blazing beames most cleare we finde;
So did the virgin’s glorie shine most brim,
When her proud foes did seeke the same to dim.
51.
An. Reg. 15.
Walter Deu, Earle of Essex.
For hereupon, when with rebellious sword,Those stout strength-breathing Irish vp did stand,RenownedDeuoraxvicount Hereford,That most illustrate lord of high command,No sooner did approch with powerfull hand,But that the rebels daunted with his name,Armes laid aside, in humble manner came.
For hereupon, when with rebellious sword,
Those stout strength-breathing Irish vp did stand,
RenownedDeuoraxvicount Hereford,
That most illustrate lord of high command,
No sooner did approch with powerfull hand,
But that the rebels daunted with his name,
Armes laid aside, in humble manner came.
52.
Brian Mac-Phelin, that much scath had done,WithFerdorough Macgillastick, that bold knight,By some surnam’d the blind Scot’s valiant sonne,WithOdonel,Roze,OgeandMacknelhight,Did yeeld themselues to famousDeuoraxmight,Which shewes, that he of heau’n beloued was,That without blood could bring such things to passe.
Brian Mac-Phelin, that much scath had done,
WithFerdorough Macgillastick, that bold knight,
By some surnam’d the blind Scot’s valiant sonne,
WithOdonel,Roze,OgeandMacknelhight,
Did yeeld themselues to famousDeuoraxmight,
Which shewes, that he of heau’n beloued was,
That without blood could bring such things to passe.
53.
Anno Reg. 18, 19, 20.
And heau’n, the more to blesse our happie queene,After this Romish buls loud bellowing rore,Three times the famousFrobisherwas seene,In winged barkes full fraught with golden ore,Dancing ore Neptune’s backe to England’s shore:ForIason-like to his eternall fame,Thrice from Catay with golden fleece he came.
And heau’n, the more to blesse our happie queene,
After this Romish buls loud bellowing rore,
Three times the famousFrobisherwas seene,
In winged barkes full fraught with golden ore,
Dancing ore Neptune’s backe to England’s shore:
ForIason-like to his eternall fame,
Thrice from Catay with golden fleece he came.
54.
An. Reg. 21.
To adde more fame to this for future time,GreatDraketo quell their pride that had set downe,Theirne plus vltrain the farthest climeBy seas, sands, rocks and many a sea-sieg’d towne,Did compasse earth in spight of Neptune’s frowne:For which his name with fame for aye is crown’d,Whose barke still sailes about the world’s whole round.
To adde more fame to this for future time,
GreatDraketo quell their pride that had set downe,
Theirne plus vltrain the farthest clime
By seas, sands, rocks and many a sea-sieg’d towne,
Did compasse earth in spight of Neptune’s frowne:
For which his name with fame for aye is crown’d,
Whose barke still sailes about the world’s whole round.
55.
Anne Reg. 11, 15, 21.
And thee braueHolstockmay I not forget,Whose conquering sword on Neptune’s high commandElizae’shaplesse foes hath often met,And brought them captiue with victorious hand,Rich fraught with spoile toAlbion’srockie strand,Whereby the greatnesse ofElizae’snameA terror both by land and seas became.
And thee braueHolstockmay I not forget,
Whose conquering sword on Neptune’s high command
Elizae’shaplesse foes hath often met,
And brought them captiue with victorious hand,
Rich fraught with spoile toAlbion’srockie strand,
Whereby the greatnesse ofElizae’sname
A terror both by land and seas became.
56.
O what a princely charge did she maintaineOf men, munition and artillirieIn flying castles on the purple maine,Which on the clowds of Thetis liquid skie,Seeming to frisk about for iollitie,Stood like safe centinels 'bout England’s shoreMaking seas tremble at their cannons rore.
O what a princely charge did she maintaine
Of men, munition and artillirie
In flying castles on the purple maine,
Which on the clowds of Thetis liquid skie,
Seeming to frisk about for iollitie,
Stood like safe centinels 'bout England’s shore
Making seas tremble at their cannons rore.
57.
Thus did the heau’ns showre downe felicitieIn ample manner onElizae’sstate,At which Rome’s holie sire did still enuie,Who failing in our English home-bred bate,In foraine shoares shew’d his malignant hate:For by falseDesmond’smeanes he made great showGainst ourElizae’sweale to worke much woe.
Thus did the heau’ns showre downe felicitie
In ample manner onElizae’sstate,
At which Rome’s holie sire did still enuie,
Who failing in our English home-bred bate,
In foraine shoares shew’d his malignant hate:
For by falseDesmond’smeanes he made great show
Gainst ourElizae’sweale to worke much woe.
58.
Anno Reg. 22.
But heau’n did soone oppose against his mightTh’heroick spirit, that burned in the hartOf nobleGreyofWilton, that bold knight,Who vnto wounds did challenge th’aduerse partIn manie a field, who hauing felt the smartOf his keene sword, the stoutest hid his hed,And from his furie to the wilde woods fled.
But heau’n did soone oppose against his might
Th’heroick spirit, that burned in the hart
Of nobleGreyofWilton, that bold knight,
Who vnto wounds did challenge th’aduerse part
In manie a field, who hauing felt the smart
Of his keene sword, the stoutest hid his hed,
And from his furie to the wilde woods fled.
59.
And when th’Iberian troopes did there displayRome’s ensigne, in that castle hight Del Ore,InDesmond’scause against our queene, greatGreyDid thunder gainst their walls with cannons rore,Ne would from fierce assault desist beforeVnto his furie passage he had madeIn Spanish blood to bathe his conquering blade.
And when th’Iberian troopes did there display
Rome’s ensigne, in that castle hight Del Ore,
InDesmond’scause against our queene, greatGrey
Did thunder gainst their walls with cannons rore,
Ne would from fierce assault desist before
Vnto his furie passage he had made
In Spanish blood to bathe his conquering blade.
60.
Thus all his plots still failing in th’euent,Preuented by heau’n’s all foreseeing eye,A thousand mischiefes now he gan inuent,Inuasion, outrage, murder, treacherie,Sounding the depths of all iniquitie;For all blacke deedes his vice-blackt thoughts could find,He turn’d and return’d in his vengefull minde.
Thus all his plots still failing in th’euent,
Preuented by heau’n’s all foreseeing eye,
A thousand mischiefes now he gan inuent,
Inuasion, outrage, murder, treacherie,
Sounding the depths of all iniquitie;
For all blacke deedes his vice-blackt thoughts could find,
He turn’d and return’d in his vengefull minde.
61.
Vpon his furrowed front, the signes of ire,Furie and rage, did sit like lowring night,And both his burning eyes like glowing fireBeneath his bended browes did sparkle bright,As irefull lightnings of his heart’s despight,Yea nought could mollifie his raging teene,But blood and vengeance gainst our royall queene.
Vpon his furrowed front, the signes of ire,
Furie and rage, did sit like lowring night,
And both his burning eyes like glowing fire
Beneath his bended browes did sparkle bright,
As irefull lightnings of his heart’s despight,
Yea nought could mollifie his raging teene,
But blood and vengeance gainst our royall queene.
62.
Amongst his holie sonnes he cald a quest,Whose counsell to his mischiefe might giue way,And to his raging thoughts at length giue rest,Setting his wrath on wing against that day,Wherein he purpos’d England’s swift decay;For by them all in counsell ’twas decreed,England should fall,Elizae’shart should bleed.
Amongst his holie sonnes he cald a quest,
Whose counsell to his mischiefe might giue way,
And to his raging thoughts at length giue rest,
Setting his wrath on wing against that day,
Wherein he purpos’d England’s swift decay;
For by them all in counsell ’twas decreed,
England should fall,Elizae’shart should bleed.
63.
The time was set by stratagems deuise,And force of hands to worke their wicked hate,The persons chosen for that enterprise,All bent to tread downe England’s happie stateBeneath the feete of some disaster sate,Bosting abroad before the deed was done,By their firme valor, what rich prize was wone.
The time was set by stratagems deuise,
And force of hands to worke their wicked hate,
The persons chosen for that enterprise,
All bent to tread downe England’s happie state
Beneath the feete of some disaster sate,
Bosting abroad before the deed was done,
By their firme valor, what rich prize was wone.
64.
The conquerd nations of the Indian soyle,At whose huge wealth the world is made to wonder,Their mother’s wombe were forced to dispoyle,And rudely rend her golden ribs in sunder,Thereby to set on wing warre’s roring thunder:For souldiers thoughts on golden wings flie far,And earth’s rich spoiles are sinewes of the war.
The conquerd nations of the Indian soyle,
At whose huge wealth the world is made to wonder,
Their mother’s wombe were forced to dispoyle,
And rudely rend her golden ribs in sunder,
Thereby to set on wing warre’s roring thunder:
For souldiers thoughts on golden wings flie far,
And earth’s rich spoiles are sinewes of the war.
65.
Manie tall pines were leueld with the plaineBy the confederates of the Latin shore,Being taught to flie vpon the purple maineBy force of winde and strength of sable oare,That on the solid ground stood firme before,Whose hugenesse mightie mountaines did resemble,Making the monsters of the deepe to tremble.
Manie tall pines were leueld with the plaine
By the confederates of the Latin shore,
Being taught to flie vpon the purple maine
By force of winde and strength of sable oare,
That on the solid ground stood firme before,
Whose hugenesse mightie mountaines did resemble,
Making the monsters of the deepe to tremble.
66.
The famous artizans, that by their artDo imitate the thunder of the skie,And digging downe into the earth’s black hart,With that salt humor, that doth hidden lie,Into the ayre make fierie lightnings flie,Were all imploy’d by Spaine’s supreme commandTo hurle their thunder gainst our sea-sieg’d land.
The famous artizans, that by their art
Do imitate the thunder of the skie,
And digging downe into the earth’s black hart,
With that salt humor, that doth hidden lie,
Into the ayre make fierie lightnings flie,
Were all imploy’d by Spaine’s supreme command
To hurle their thunder gainst our sea-sieg’d land.
67.
All warre habiliments they did prepareTo set sterne Mars vpon his conquering feete,Their farre-fetcht Indian gold they did not spare,That nothing might be wanting, that was meetTo furnish out their most vnconquered fleet;Before all which was consummate and done,Bright Phœbus oft his yearely race had runne.
All warre habiliments they did prepare
To set sterne Mars vpon his conquering feete,
Their farre-fetcht Indian gold they did not spare,
That nothing might be wanting, that was meet
To furnish out their most vnconquered fleet;
Before all which was consummate and done,
Bright Phœbus oft his yearely race had runne.
68.
Meane time Rome’s dragon rousde his bloodie crest,And wau’d his wings, from whence that rabble rout,That hell-hatch’d brood, who, fed on error’s brestAnd suck’d her poysonous dugs, came crawling outAs was their woont, to flie the world about:For those he hatch’d beneath his shadie wings,T’imploy ’gainst potentates and mightiest kings.
Meane time Rome’s dragon rousde his bloodie crest,
And wau’d his wings, from whence that rabble rout,
That hell-hatch’d brood, who, fed on error’s brest
And suck’d her poysonous dugs, came crawling out
As was their woont, to flie the world about:
For those he hatch’d beneath his shadie wings,
T’imploy ’gainst potentates and mightiest kings.
69.