Chapter 26

Anno Reg. 23.Manie of these to England’s shores he sent,All diuerslie attir’d in strange array,Closely thereby to worke his foule intent,And by their presence to prepare a wayAgainst the enterprize of that great day;In which Spaine’s potent fleete the world’s great wonder,With hidious horror should gainst vs enthunder.70.Most of the which (O that time’s swan-white wingsCould sweepe away record of such foule shame)Where home-borne impes, vntimely shot vp, springsOf Britaine brood, Britaine’s alone by name,By nature monsters borne of foule defame,That sought the ruine, shame, decay and deathOf their deare dam, from whom they took their breath.71.Vnkindly impes, euen from your birth accurst,Detested stock of viper’s bloodie brood,That sought to satisfie your burning thirstBy drinking vp your dying mother’s blood,Making her death your life, her hurt your good;Your deeds are sunke to Plutoe’s darksome den,Shame is your portion mongst the sonnes of men.72.Mee seemes, I see them walk about the brimOf black Styx dangerous flood, where Dis doth wonne,Prince of dead night and darknesse gloomie grim,Howling for passage, where deep Styx doth run,Although in vaine, their funerall rites not done:For hatefull fowles of heau’n being their best graue,No passage to Elyzium can they haue.73.Alas, how error, enuie and despaireDid troope them vp to leade them on the way,Error orecast their skie, darkened their ayre,Obscur’d their sight, then enuie did assayTo make them seeke truth’s ruine and decay;Which hauing faild, despaire to them did bringConfusion, shame, and conscience griping sting.74.In fatall barkes fast flying ore the maine,They daylie came with doctrine seeming sound,In which as meritorious they maintaineThe bloodie hand that should his prince confound,If good thereby to holy church redoun’d,Aboue all whom the self-conceitedCampianPast all compare, was reckn’d Rome’s arch champian.75.This English Romane wretch with manie moreDid spred themselues disguis’d about the land,Seducing daylie both the rich and pooreAgainst their prince to lift rebellious hand,Renouncing as vniust her dread command,And ’gainst the time appointed to prouideWith forren force to set vp Romane pride.76.And then with dread and horror to dismayTheir wauering thoughts, they set before their eyesThe generall slaughter of that dismall day,When Spaine’s black fleet on Neptune’s liquid skiesShould woefull England suddenlie surprise;Wishing them craue the pope’s protectionT’escape such horror and confusion.77.But as the wolfe disguis’d with fleecie skinOf sillie sheep, the shepheard long did blinde,And 'mongst the flock thereby did credit win,Till he at length, did by his bloodie mindeBewray himselfe to be a wolfe by kinde:So they, though making manie saint-like showesDid by their deeds themselues at length disclose.78.With shamefull death, their shamefull liues took end,Leaning on earth for signes of infamieTheir totter’d carcases, to which no friendAt anie time, could giue due obsequie,Or scarse bewaile their woefull destinie;But left they were for prey, both daies and nightsTo black night rauens and to hungrie kites.79.Anno Reg. 24.Which might haue been a terror vnto those,That after sought the faireElizae’sfall,And in their harts did wickedlie supposeTo England’s bounds againe back to recallThe popish pride and Romane slauish thrall:But after this did manie vndergoeDire death and shame, to workeElizae’swoe.80.Anno Reg. 26.First furiousSommeruile, that posting cameWith his owne hands to act his soueraigne’s death,Preuented in the way, to shun such shameAs might ensue, did stop his owne deare breath,Thinking the same a far more glorious death;But simple man with far more shame thereby,Thy trembling ghost vnto the dead did flie.81.An. eodem.F.[rancis]T[hrogmorton]The next, whose shame no time away shall sweepe,Was he, who by the helpe of traytor’s hand,Searching the mighty Neptune’s waterie deepe,Vs’d all his art and skill to vnderstandThe depth of euery hauen in this land;Thereby to giue safe conduct to the foe,And bring them in to worke his countrie’s woe.82.He went to that great God’s dread kingdome’s bounds,Who often chargeth on the clouds in skie,Who cuffes the seas, who by his power confoundsHigh hils and mountaines, who doth terrifieEuen the sad ghosts of Plutoe’s emperie;He went to know what winde the fleet should wing,That should confusion vnto England bring.83.O, vnremorsefull man! O, wretched wight!Shame to thy selfe and thy posteritie,Nor friends nor countrie’s good, to whom of rightThy care was due, nor loue of loyaltieTo thy dread queene thy heart might mollifie,But wing’d with mischiefe, hauing once begun,Thou to vntimely death didst head-long run.84.An. eodem.Whose wretched steps, in that same fatall wayThat leads to house of death, loe many moreHad follow’d fast in giuing like assay,Had not our queene, whose virgin bosome boreA melting heart admir’d for mercie store,In pitie far excell’d th’impietieOf their false treason ’gainst her maiestie.85.Read the certificat of the prince’s mercie written by their owne hands.Ralph Hol.p. 1413.Out of her bountious grace and princely mind,She gaue them passage at her owne expence,Seidome on earth such mercie shall we find,For which strooke blind with shame of their offence,Against a person of such excellence,They sent their owne hand writs to testifieThis worthie deed to all posteritie.86.An. Reg. 27.Yet that vngratefull man, to whom beforeIustly conuicted for foule felonie,Renown’dElizadid lost life restore,Sought to enact a bloodie tragedieVpon the person of her maiestie,To wit that boaster who did beare the nameOf doctorParrieto increase his fame.87.The Babylonian bawd, whose strumpet-breathGiues life to treason, did with him conspireTo end their vengeance in the virgin’s death;And lest his heart should faile and he retireFrom his intent, to wing him with desire,His soule from sin, from death, and hell was freed,With impious hands to act this tragicke deed.88.The foolish man with resolution came,As sent from heau’n, yet did it nought auaile:For getting licence to this royall dameWith her to talke alone, his heart did faile,Her lookes alone his height of sprite did quaile;For daunted with her sight, he did repent,And closely sought to colour his intent.89.He did declare to her, how he had takenA solemne oath to take her life away,And how her soueraigntie he had forsaken,The Romish beast as supreame head t’obay,Who by his hands expected her decay,To which, he said, he did but seeme t’agree,That so it might by him detected bee.90.The royall virgin, when as she did heareThe wicked purpose of her treacherous foe,To shew how little she the same did feare,Pardon’d him in secret, that no peere might knowHis leaud intent, and so might worke him woe:O height of princely spirit, past humane sence!O mercie past compare, for such offence!91.Yet this false wretch, in whose obdurate heartNo loyall loue did dwell, persisted stillIn his blacke treason, and did vse all artOft times with dagger, dag or any ill,T’effect the purpose of his bloodie will:Which once being brought to light for such offence,His grudging ghost with shame was posted hence.92.Thus Rome’s blood-thirsting wolues with cruell pawes,Sought daily to deuoure our virgin lambe,And plunge poore England in death’s yawning iawes,Hiding for aye the glorie of her name,Rakte vp in cinders of a ruthlesse flame:Thereby t’extinguish that celestiall light,Which Rome’s red dragon did so sore affright.93.They knew for certaine, while our glorious lampe,Our maiden queene did liue to lend vs light,She would disperse foule errors dismall dampe,Which suffocates the soule, and choakes the sightWith fearefull shadowes of eternall night;Yea much they fear’d pure truth’s true light diuine,Which then in forren shores began to shine.94.The sea-diuided seuenteene lands great nation,The Belgick borderers by the bankes of Rheine,Cast off Rome’s yoke, and left their blind deuotion,With one consent beginning to inclineVnto a truth more perfect, more diuine;Which they with martyr’d blood did long maintaine,Gainst th’inquisition of Rome-wronged Spaine.95.But at the last, when with warre’s dreadfull thunder,Don Iohnof Austria and his warlike band,Began to shake the Belgicke state in sunder,To tyrannize and bring them with strong handBeneath the yoke ofPhilip’ssterne command,The greatElizathey did humblie craue,Their Belgick state from hostile spoile to saue.96.The Briton maid, remorsefull of their woes,In their defence did lift her royall hand,Against the threats of their inuading foes,And sent in safe conduct a warlike band,With fame-grac’dNorriceto the Belgicke strand;Which with his valiant crew he did maintaine,Against the incursions of the power of Spaine.97.An. eodem.Drake’svoyage to Carthagena and Domingo.Meane time th’ vndauntedDrakeno time did sleepe,Vpon the maine kingPhilip’spowers to sease,Who thought himselfe the Neptune of the deepe;But of such yoke, the sea-gods sonnes to ease,Draketooke from him the scepter of the seas,And put the same in his faire soueraigne’s hand,Teaching the deepe to know her milde command.98.Her winged barkes, like sea-nymphes in their flight,The aged sea-god’s daughter safely bore,Whose nimble dance the deepe did so delight,That 'bout their bosomes sweeping by the shoreThe siluer waues did play with wanton rore,Thinking themselues releas’d from yoke of Spaine,Whose gold-heap’d mountaines did oppresse the maine.99.With these vpon the seas, the nobleDrakeDid saile as lord of th’ocean emperie,At whose dread name th’Iberians hearts did quake,Who left the rule of Neptune’s moistned skieToDrake’scommand, and to the shores did flie,Whom now for ancient wrongs done long before,He with swift vengeance follow’d to the shore.100.BraueCarlile,Winter,FrobisherandKnoles,With many more of Neptune’s noble race,Made peopled cities place for beasts and fowles,Burnt bowers, sackt towers, raz’d townes before the faceOf their base foes, who fled with foule disgrace,Leauing wife, children, gold and goods for pray,By stranger people to be borne away.101.Foure townes in this their voyage they did foile,First did Saint Iago by their power decline,That done, then Saint Domingo did they spoile,Next towring Carthagena, and in fineIn Terra Florida, Saint Augustine:Thus fortune with rich spoile their deeds did crowne,And home they came with glorie and renowne.102.And while these valiant men, true sonnes of fame,In forren shores our foe-mens force did quell,And by their deeds made knowneElizae’sname,The stif-neckt Irish proudly did rebell,Whose hearts with stubborne pride did euer swell:But nobleBingham, that illustrate knight,Did bring them downe and tame their towring might.103.An. Reg. 28.Taken from a note confirmed vnder the hands of diuers gentlemen imployed in this action.When that false traytor,Mahowne ObrianTo Rome’s proud strumpet bound his loue to show,In Thomond with rebellious hand began,To stirre vp strife, and worke his countrie’s woe,In hope to haue been backt by forren foe,In warre affaires thisBinghamfar renown’d,In castle Clanowen did him confound.104.And when theBurkes, who did false rumours noiseOf wrong intended gainst their countries good,WithClangibbons, withClandonnelsandIoyes,Themselues in armes did bound and proudly stoodOn daring tearmes in field to spend their blood,RenownedBinghamwith his valiant crew,Did them through woods from caue to caue pursue.105.And when the Redshankes on the borders byIncursions made, and rang’d in battell stoodTo beare his charge, from field he made them flie,Where fishie Moine did blush with crimson bloodOf thousand foes, that perisht in the flood,For which braueBinghamcrown’d with endlesse fame,Enioyes on earth a neuer dying name.106.Sixtus QuintusPope.Earle of Leic.Although these ciuill warres of home-bred hate,First hatcht at Rome by England’ ancient foe,Did much disturbeElizae’sblessed state,Yet did the royall virgin not forgoeTh’afflicted Belgians drencht in depth of woe:But to support them gainst all foes annoy,For that designe, sheDudleydid employ.107.Anno eodem 28.Who, Iason-like to Colchos iland boundTo fetch the golden fleece by force of hand,With many great Heroes far renown’d,Past with triumphant sailes ore seas and sand,From England’s shores vnto the Belgicke strand,Where after all their high atchieuements done,Their fleece was fame, their gold was glorie won.108.O, noble virgin! O, victorious dame,England’s Bellona, nurse of chiualrie!What age brought forth so many sonnes of fame,In all the world’s thrice-changed monarchie,As in the time of thy great emperie?Whose deeds from England’s bounds did beare thy name,As far as Phœbus spreads his golden flame.109.Who now arriuing on the Belgian coastWith fatall steele did deepe ingraue thy name,Vpon the proudest crests in that great hostThat with the valiant prince of Parma came,Enacting wonders for immortall fame;Witnesse those famous deeds by Zutphen done,Where many high exploits were vndergone.110.Recorded at large byI. Stow, in his Ann. pag. 1233, taken out ofH. Archer.When both the aduerse powres afront did meet,Although the foe farre more in number were;Yet did our men with Mars swift-winged feet,Charge on their troopes, whose hearts strooke dead with feare,Vnable to resist, they backe did beare,T’whom valiantAudliein their faint recoyle,With his foot-bands alone did giue the foyle.111.Then th’Albanois vnto the rescue cameWith their horse troopes, amongst whom stoutNorriswent,And boldly singl’d out a man of fame,Gainst whom his pistoll with full charge he bentTo act his fall; but failing in th’euent,His foe-man’s head he with the same did greet,And made him fall at his victorious feet.112.Lo.Will.of Eresbeie.Next nobleWilloughbywith lance in rest,Arm’d like the god of warre on winged horse,Met captaineGeorge, opposing brest to brest,Whom from his steed halfe dead with furious force,He downe did beare in his winde-winged course,This he spake in French.Who falling said: “I yeeld me to thy might,In that I see thou art a seemely knight.”113.Rob.Earle of Essex.Then nobleDeuorax, Mars his yongest sonne,Chear’d vp his troope, “Fellowes in armes,” quoth he,“The honorable prease let vs not shunne,Ne with the dread of death dismaied be,But for your countrie’s glorie follow me:”Which said, he fiercely charg’d on th’enemie,And shew’d high proofe of his stout valiancie.114.SirWilliam Russell.To second him,Russellthat martiall knight,Like feathered shaft sent from a stiffe-bent bow,Or boysterous Boreas in his nimble flight,With weightie lance did charge vpon the foe,And horse and man to ground did ouerthrow,Who with affright did from his furie runne,As braying goats the king of beasts doth shunne.115.Amongst them all, that impe of honor’s bed,That worthie of the world, that hardie knight,The nobleSidnieto aduentures ledWith glory-thirsting zeale in death’s despightVpon his foes himselfe did noblie quight:For in one skirmish with high valiancie,Thrice did he charge vpon the enemie.116.But cursed fortune, foe to famous men,BeholdingSidnie’sdeeds with enuious eie,Turning her malice into raging teene,With deadly shot did wound him on the thigh,Which from a foe-man’s fatall peece did flie:Whose timelesse end, if time did serue thereto,I should bewaile in lines of lasting woe.117.Many more sonnes of Mars his noble race,In this daie’s fight great fame with perill wonne,Yea many high exploits each breathing space,By many a worthie wight were vndergone;Mongst whom that deed with resolution done,By valiantWilliams, and the BelgianSkinke,Downe to obliuion’s den shall neuer sinke.118.Anno eodem 28.H. Archer, Author.For when that well wall’d towne, which Venlo hight,Was round about begirted by the foe,Huge spirit and high conceit did so exciteStoutWilliams’mightie mind, to vndergoeSome great attempt, that he full bent to showProofe of his valour by some famous act,With hardieSkinkethis wonder did enact:119.When grizly night her iron carre had driuenFrom her darke mansion house, that hidden liesIn Plutoe’s kingdome, to the top of heau’n,And with black cloake of clouds muffling the skies,With sable wings shut vp all wakefull eies,Obscur’d with darknesse grim they both did go,To act this stratagem vpon the foe:120.Husht were the winds, the aire all silent was,Sad was the night, in skies appear’d no starre;Yet through darke horror dreadlesse did they passe,And listning vnto euery breach of aire,With stealing steps this dangerous worke did dare,Whom at the length the dark night’s shadie wing,Into the foe-men’s campe did closely bring.121.Where, when they came, the vtmost watch they foundVpon the ground all carelessely dispread,Who tir’d with toile, lay in deepe sleepe fast drown’d,And as they slept, each one secure of dread,His weapon had fast fixed at his head,Mongst whom, like hungrie wolues on flockes vnkept,StoutSkinkeand worthieWilliamsboldly stept.122.Then death triumpht in slaughter of the slaine,Soules strugling in the pangs of many a wound,Departs in griefe and makes aire sigh againe,Swords blusht with blood, grim horror did abound,A crimson dew stood on the grassie ground;Disorder, dread, death, noise and darknesse grim,In blood and gore of slaughtred foes did swim.123.The Prince of Parma.By the still watch and two strong courts of gard,Through death, through blood and armes they boldly went,Vntill they came, where horriblie they scar’dThe prince himselfe sweet sleeping in his tent,Whom in their power they long’d to circumuent,Where many a noble wight fast snoring drown’d,In deepest sleepe with death they did confound.124.But as their swords they in their foes did sheath,At last, through massacres, through shrikes and criesOf sad soules groning in the pangs of death,On euery side the startled foes did rise,And shrikt out thicke alarmes to shun surprise,Crying arme, arme, whereby appall’d with feare,Th’whole host in sudden throngs all gathered were.125.Then fled the valiantSkinke, blacke death to shun,But hardieWilliamsin contention stoodWith his great mind, if he more fame t’haue won,Should stoutly stay, and hazard his owne good,With slaughtering sword to shed more foe-men’s blood:Whereby at length in depth of danger drown’d,By armed foes, he was incircled round.126.But by aduantage of the gloomie nightAmongst the foe-men’s troopes, vnknowne he goes,And cri’d: “Where’sWilliams? where isWilliamshight?”To whom againe one answer’d amongst the foes,“Pursue, pursue with speed, before he goes:”Thus cloudie night this worthie wight did saue,Who shun’d his foes, and fled his darksome graue.127.These were the foster children of that nurse,England’s Minerua, queene of glorie bright,Who through the paths of warre their way did force,In armes to get true honor’s meed by might,And grace their name with title of true knight:Which honor’d order only vertue’s meed,Each one then purchas’d by some glorious deed.128.But while these captaines wedded to renowne,True loyall subiects of a royall queene,On Belgian shores their soueraigne’s head did crowne,With conquering wreath of neuer vading greene,In spight of spight for aye fresh to be seene,Rome’s raging Python full of furious wrath,Did once againe belch vp his poisoned froth.129.Anno eodem 28.Foureteene false traytors from darke treason’s denHe vp did call, foule elues of enuious night,Rebels accurst, monsters abhorr’d of men,Who for the black fleet now alreadie dight,To passe th’vnfruitfull deepe with all her might,Should make fit passage gainst that dreadfull day,By their sweet prince and countrie’s swift decay.130.Ballard, first author in this villanie,Sent from the triple-crowned sonne of night,To put in practise this their treacherie,ProudBabingtonandSauagedid excite,With vnremorsefull hands of violent might,To spoile and ruinate their countrie’s good,And bathe their swords in their deare soueraigne’s blood.131.Babingtonmade choice of the six.Six resolute and bloodie minded mates,Should haue been actors in her tragedie,Then the graue peeres and honorable states,Had been the slaughter of their butcherie,And thou, O, glorie of this emperie!Thy loftie towers been leuell’d with the plaine,Thy nauie burnt, and many a thousand slaine.132.Such dismall deeds and blacke confusion,By proud Rome’s twice-seuen sonnes intended wereAgainst the time of that inuasion,Report whereof with terror and with feare,Swift-winged fame about the world did beare;But high heau’n’s King, who for his seruant choseOur virgin queene, their drifts did soone disclose.133.Their plot bewray’d, each one did seeke t’escape,Vengeance pursuing them from place to place,HightBabingtonattir’d in rusticke shape,With walnut-leaues discolouring his face,Did seeke t’escape sad death and foule disgrace:And all the rest being clad in strange disguise,With trembling feare did seeke to shun surprise.134.As guiltie homicides, that in dead nightPursu’d for tragick deeds of dismall death,To woods and groues disperst, do take their flight,Whose gloomie shade they trembling stand beneath,With fainting knees, cold spirit and panting breath,With feare, expecting at their backes behinde,The pursuit made at euery puffe of winde:135.Euen so these wretched men, whose selfe-doom’d soules,Now prickt with deepe remorse, did daily lookeTo be the spoile and prey of hungrie fowles,From place to place their couert passage tooke,Whose hearts the thought of death with horror shooke,Vntill surpriz’d at length, vntimely deathTo end this feare expir’d their fainting breath.136.

Anno Reg. 23.

Manie of these to England’s shores he sent,All diuerslie attir’d in strange array,Closely thereby to worke his foule intent,And by their presence to prepare a wayAgainst the enterprize of that great day;In which Spaine’s potent fleete the world’s great wonder,With hidious horror should gainst vs enthunder.

Manie of these to England’s shores he sent,

All diuerslie attir’d in strange array,

Closely thereby to worke his foule intent,

And by their presence to prepare a way

Against the enterprize of that great day;

In which Spaine’s potent fleete the world’s great wonder,

With hidious horror should gainst vs enthunder.

70.

Most of the which (O that time’s swan-white wingsCould sweepe away record of such foule shame)Where home-borne impes, vntimely shot vp, springsOf Britaine brood, Britaine’s alone by name,By nature monsters borne of foule defame,That sought the ruine, shame, decay and deathOf their deare dam, from whom they took their breath.

Most of the which (O that time’s swan-white wings

Could sweepe away record of such foule shame)

Where home-borne impes, vntimely shot vp, springs

Of Britaine brood, Britaine’s alone by name,

By nature monsters borne of foule defame,

That sought the ruine, shame, decay and death

Of their deare dam, from whom they took their breath.

71.

Vnkindly impes, euen from your birth accurst,Detested stock of viper’s bloodie brood,That sought to satisfie your burning thirstBy drinking vp your dying mother’s blood,Making her death your life, her hurt your good;Your deeds are sunke to Plutoe’s darksome den,Shame is your portion mongst the sonnes of men.

Vnkindly impes, euen from your birth accurst,

Detested stock of viper’s bloodie brood,

That sought to satisfie your burning thirst

By drinking vp your dying mother’s blood,

Making her death your life, her hurt your good;

Your deeds are sunke to Plutoe’s darksome den,

Shame is your portion mongst the sonnes of men.

72.

Mee seemes, I see them walk about the brimOf black Styx dangerous flood, where Dis doth wonne,Prince of dead night and darknesse gloomie grim,Howling for passage, where deep Styx doth run,Although in vaine, their funerall rites not done:For hatefull fowles of heau’n being their best graue,No passage to Elyzium can they haue.

Mee seemes, I see them walk about the brim

Of black Styx dangerous flood, where Dis doth wonne,

Prince of dead night and darknesse gloomie grim,

Howling for passage, where deep Styx doth run,

Although in vaine, their funerall rites not done:

For hatefull fowles of heau’n being their best graue,

No passage to Elyzium can they haue.

73.

Alas, how error, enuie and despaireDid troope them vp to leade them on the way,Error orecast their skie, darkened their ayre,Obscur’d their sight, then enuie did assayTo make them seeke truth’s ruine and decay;Which hauing faild, despaire to them did bringConfusion, shame, and conscience griping sting.

Alas, how error, enuie and despaire

Did troope them vp to leade them on the way,

Error orecast their skie, darkened their ayre,

Obscur’d their sight, then enuie did assay

To make them seeke truth’s ruine and decay;

Which hauing faild, despaire to them did bring

Confusion, shame, and conscience griping sting.

74.

In fatall barkes fast flying ore the maine,They daylie came with doctrine seeming sound,In which as meritorious they maintaineThe bloodie hand that should his prince confound,If good thereby to holy church redoun’d,Aboue all whom the self-conceitedCampianPast all compare, was reckn’d Rome’s arch champian.

In fatall barkes fast flying ore the maine,

They daylie came with doctrine seeming sound,

In which as meritorious they maintaine

The bloodie hand that should his prince confound,

If good thereby to holy church redoun’d,

Aboue all whom the self-conceitedCampian

Past all compare, was reckn’d Rome’s arch champian.

75.

This English Romane wretch with manie moreDid spred themselues disguis’d about the land,Seducing daylie both the rich and pooreAgainst their prince to lift rebellious hand,Renouncing as vniust her dread command,And ’gainst the time appointed to prouideWith forren force to set vp Romane pride.

This English Romane wretch with manie more

Did spred themselues disguis’d about the land,

Seducing daylie both the rich and poore

Against their prince to lift rebellious hand,

Renouncing as vniust her dread command,

And ’gainst the time appointed to prouide

With forren force to set vp Romane pride.

76.

And then with dread and horror to dismayTheir wauering thoughts, they set before their eyesThe generall slaughter of that dismall day,When Spaine’s black fleet on Neptune’s liquid skiesShould woefull England suddenlie surprise;Wishing them craue the pope’s protectionT’escape such horror and confusion.

And then with dread and horror to dismay

Their wauering thoughts, they set before their eyes

The generall slaughter of that dismall day,

When Spaine’s black fleet on Neptune’s liquid skies

Should woefull England suddenlie surprise;

Wishing them craue the pope’s protection

T’escape such horror and confusion.

77.

But as the wolfe disguis’d with fleecie skinOf sillie sheep, the shepheard long did blinde,And 'mongst the flock thereby did credit win,Till he at length, did by his bloodie mindeBewray himselfe to be a wolfe by kinde:So they, though making manie saint-like showesDid by their deeds themselues at length disclose.

But as the wolfe disguis’d with fleecie skin

Of sillie sheep, the shepheard long did blinde,

And 'mongst the flock thereby did credit win,

Till he at length, did by his bloodie minde

Bewray himselfe to be a wolfe by kinde:

So they, though making manie saint-like showes

Did by their deeds themselues at length disclose.

78.

With shamefull death, their shamefull liues took end,Leaning on earth for signes of infamieTheir totter’d carcases, to which no friendAt anie time, could giue due obsequie,Or scarse bewaile their woefull destinie;But left they were for prey, both daies and nightsTo black night rauens and to hungrie kites.

With shamefull death, their shamefull liues took end,

Leaning on earth for signes of infamie

Their totter’d carcases, to which no friend

At anie time, could giue due obsequie,

Or scarse bewaile their woefull destinie;

But left they were for prey, both daies and nights

To black night rauens and to hungrie kites.

79.

Anno Reg. 24.

Which might haue been a terror vnto those,That after sought the faireElizae’sfall,And in their harts did wickedlie supposeTo England’s bounds againe back to recallThe popish pride and Romane slauish thrall:But after this did manie vndergoeDire death and shame, to workeElizae’swoe.

Which might haue been a terror vnto those,

That after sought the faireElizae’sfall,

And in their harts did wickedlie suppose

To England’s bounds againe back to recall

The popish pride and Romane slauish thrall:

But after this did manie vndergoe

Dire death and shame, to workeElizae’swoe.

80.

Anno Reg. 26.

First furiousSommeruile, that posting cameWith his owne hands to act his soueraigne’s death,Preuented in the way, to shun such shameAs might ensue, did stop his owne deare breath,Thinking the same a far more glorious death;But simple man with far more shame thereby,Thy trembling ghost vnto the dead did flie.

First furiousSommeruile, that posting came

With his owne hands to act his soueraigne’s death,

Preuented in the way, to shun such shame

As might ensue, did stop his owne deare breath,

Thinking the same a far more glorious death;

But simple man with far more shame thereby,

Thy trembling ghost vnto the dead did flie.

81.

An. eodem.F.[rancis]T[hrogmorton]

The next, whose shame no time away shall sweepe,Was he, who by the helpe of traytor’s hand,Searching the mighty Neptune’s waterie deepe,Vs’d all his art and skill to vnderstandThe depth of euery hauen in this land;Thereby to giue safe conduct to the foe,And bring them in to worke his countrie’s woe.

The next, whose shame no time away shall sweepe,

Was he, who by the helpe of traytor’s hand,

Searching the mighty Neptune’s waterie deepe,

Vs’d all his art and skill to vnderstand

The depth of euery hauen in this land;

Thereby to giue safe conduct to the foe,

And bring them in to worke his countrie’s woe.

82.

He went to that great God’s dread kingdome’s bounds,Who often chargeth on the clouds in skie,Who cuffes the seas, who by his power confoundsHigh hils and mountaines, who doth terrifieEuen the sad ghosts of Plutoe’s emperie;He went to know what winde the fleet should wing,That should confusion vnto England bring.

He went to that great God’s dread kingdome’s bounds,

Who often chargeth on the clouds in skie,

Who cuffes the seas, who by his power confounds

High hils and mountaines, who doth terrifie

Euen the sad ghosts of Plutoe’s emperie;

He went to know what winde the fleet should wing,

That should confusion vnto England bring.

83.

O, vnremorsefull man! O, wretched wight!Shame to thy selfe and thy posteritie,Nor friends nor countrie’s good, to whom of rightThy care was due, nor loue of loyaltieTo thy dread queene thy heart might mollifie,But wing’d with mischiefe, hauing once begun,Thou to vntimely death didst head-long run.

O, vnremorsefull man! O, wretched wight!

Shame to thy selfe and thy posteritie,

Nor friends nor countrie’s good, to whom of right

Thy care was due, nor loue of loyaltie

To thy dread queene thy heart might mollifie,

But wing’d with mischiefe, hauing once begun,

Thou to vntimely death didst head-long run.

84.

An. eodem.

Whose wretched steps, in that same fatall wayThat leads to house of death, loe many moreHad follow’d fast in giuing like assay,Had not our queene, whose virgin bosome boreA melting heart admir’d for mercie store,In pitie far excell’d th’impietieOf their false treason ’gainst her maiestie.

Whose wretched steps, in that same fatall way

That leads to house of death, loe many more

Had follow’d fast in giuing like assay,

Had not our queene, whose virgin bosome bore

A melting heart admir’d for mercie store,

In pitie far excell’d th’impietie

Of their false treason ’gainst her maiestie.

85.

Read the certificat of the prince’s mercie written by their owne hands.Ralph Hol.p. 1413.

Out of her bountious grace and princely mind,She gaue them passage at her owne expence,Seidome on earth such mercie shall we find,For which strooke blind with shame of their offence,Against a person of such excellence,They sent their owne hand writs to testifieThis worthie deed to all posteritie.

Out of her bountious grace and princely mind,

She gaue them passage at her owne expence,

Seidome on earth such mercie shall we find,

For which strooke blind with shame of their offence,

Against a person of such excellence,

They sent their owne hand writs to testifie

This worthie deed to all posteritie.

86.

An. Reg. 27.

Yet that vngratefull man, to whom beforeIustly conuicted for foule felonie,Renown’dElizadid lost life restore,Sought to enact a bloodie tragedieVpon the person of her maiestie,To wit that boaster who did beare the nameOf doctorParrieto increase his fame.

Yet that vngratefull man, to whom before

Iustly conuicted for foule felonie,

Renown’dElizadid lost life restore,

Sought to enact a bloodie tragedie

Vpon the person of her maiestie,

To wit that boaster who did beare the name

Of doctorParrieto increase his fame.

87.

The Babylonian bawd, whose strumpet-breathGiues life to treason, did with him conspireTo end their vengeance in the virgin’s death;And lest his heart should faile and he retireFrom his intent, to wing him with desire,His soule from sin, from death, and hell was freed,With impious hands to act this tragicke deed.

The Babylonian bawd, whose strumpet-breath

Giues life to treason, did with him conspire

To end their vengeance in the virgin’s death;

And lest his heart should faile and he retire

From his intent, to wing him with desire,

His soule from sin, from death, and hell was freed,

With impious hands to act this tragicke deed.

88.

The foolish man with resolution came,As sent from heau’n, yet did it nought auaile:For getting licence to this royall dameWith her to talke alone, his heart did faile,Her lookes alone his height of sprite did quaile;For daunted with her sight, he did repent,And closely sought to colour his intent.

The foolish man with resolution came,

As sent from heau’n, yet did it nought auaile:

For getting licence to this royall dame

With her to talke alone, his heart did faile,

Her lookes alone his height of sprite did quaile;

For daunted with her sight, he did repent,

And closely sought to colour his intent.

89.

He did declare to her, how he had takenA solemne oath to take her life away,And how her soueraigntie he had forsaken,The Romish beast as supreame head t’obay,Who by his hands expected her decay,To which, he said, he did but seeme t’agree,That so it might by him detected bee.

He did declare to her, how he had taken

A solemne oath to take her life away,

And how her soueraigntie he had forsaken,

The Romish beast as supreame head t’obay,

Who by his hands expected her decay,

To which, he said, he did but seeme t’agree,

That so it might by him detected bee.

90.

The royall virgin, when as she did heareThe wicked purpose of her treacherous foe,To shew how little she the same did feare,Pardon’d him in secret, that no peere might knowHis leaud intent, and so might worke him woe:O height of princely spirit, past humane sence!O mercie past compare, for such offence!

The royall virgin, when as she did heare

The wicked purpose of her treacherous foe,

To shew how little she the same did feare,

Pardon’d him in secret, that no peere might know

His leaud intent, and so might worke him woe:

O height of princely spirit, past humane sence!

O mercie past compare, for such offence!

91.

Yet this false wretch, in whose obdurate heartNo loyall loue did dwell, persisted stillIn his blacke treason, and did vse all artOft times with dagger, dag or any ill,T’effect the purpose of his bloodie will:Which once being brought to light for such offence,His grudging ghost with shame was posted hence.

Yet this false wretch, in whose obdurate heart

No loyall loue did dwell, persisted still

In his blacke treason, and did vse all art

Oft times with dagger, dag or any ill,

T’effect the purpose of his bloodie will:

Which once being brought to light for such offence,

His grudging ghost with shame was posted hence.

92.

Thus Rome’s blood-thirsting wolues with cruell pawes,Sought daily to deuoure our virgin lambe,And plunge poore England in death’s yawning iawes,Hiding for aye the glorie of her name,Rakte vp in cinders of a ruthlesse flame:Thereby t’extinguish that celestiall light,Which Rome’s red dragon did so sore affright.

Thus Rome’s blood-thirsting wolues with cruell pawes,

Sought daily to deuoure our virgin lambe,

And plunge poore England in death’s yawning iawes,

Hiding for aye the glorie of her name,

Rakte vp in cinders of a ruthlesse flame:

Thereby t’extinguish that celestiall light,

Which Rome’s red dragon did so sore affright.

93.

They knew for certaine, while our glorious lampe,Our maiden queene did liue to lend vs light,She would disperse foule errors dismall dampe,Which suffocates the soule, and choakes the sightWith fearefull shadowes of eternall night;Yea much they fear’d pure truth’s true light diuine,Which then in forren shores began to shine.

They knew for certaine, while our glorious lampe,

Our maiden queene did liue to lend vs light,

She would disperse foule errors dismall dampe,

Which suffocates the soule, and choakes the sight

With fearefull shadowes of eternall night;

Yea much they fear’d pure truth’s true light diuine,

Which then in forren shores began to shine.

94.

The sea-diuided seuenteene lands great nation,The Belgick borderers by the bankes of Rheine,Cast off Rome’s yoke, and left their blind deuotion,With one consent beginning to inclineVnto a truth more perfect, more diuine;Which they with martyr’d blood did long maintaine,Gainst th’inquisition of Rome-wronged Spaine.

The sea-diuided seuenteene lands great nation,

The Belgick borderers by the bankes of Rheine,

Cast off Rome’s yoke, and left their blind deuotion,

With one consent beginning to incline

Vnto a truth more perfect, more diuine;

Which they with martyr’d blood did long maintaine,

Gainst th’inquisition of Rome-wronged Spaine.

95.

But at the last, when with warre’s dreadfull thunder,Don Iohnof Austria and his warlike band,Began to shake the Belgicke state in sunder,To tyrannize and bring them with strong handBeneath the yoke ofPhilip’ssterne command,The greatElizathey did humblie craue,Their Belgick state from hostile spoile to saue.

But at the last, when with warre’s dreadfull thunder,

Don Iohnof Austria and his warlike band,

Began to shake the Belgicke state in sunder,

To tyrannize and bring them with strong hand

Beneath the yoke ofPhilip’ssterne command,

The greatElizathey did humblie craue,

Their Belgick state from hostile spoile to saue.

96.

The Briton maid, remorsefull of their woes,In their defence did lift her royall hand,Against the threats of their inuading foes,And sent in safe conduct a warlike band,With fame-grac’dNorriceto the Belgicke strand;Which with his valiant crew he did maintaine,Against the incursions of the power of Spaine.

The Briton maid, remorsefull of their woes,

In their defence did lift her royall hand,

Against the threats of their inuading foes,

And sent in safe conduct a warlike band,

With fame-grac’dNorriceto the Belgicke strand;

Which with his valiant crew he did maintaine,

Against the incursions of the power of Spaine.

97.

An. eodem.Drake’svoyage to Carthagena and Domingo.

Meane time th’ vndauntedDrakeno time did sleepe,Vpon the maine kingPhilip’spowers to sease,Who thought himselfe the Neptune of the deepe;But of such yoke, the sea-gods sonnes to ease,Draketooke from him the scepter of the seas,And put the same in his faire soueraigne’s hand,Teaching the deepe to know her milde command.

Meane time th’ vndauntedDrakeno time did sleepe,

Vpon the maine kingPhilip’spowers to sease,

Who thought himselfe the Neptune of the deepe;

But of such yoke, the sea-gods sonnes to ease,

Draketooke from him the scepter of the seas,

And put the same in his faire soueraigne’s hand,

Teaching the deepe to know her milde command.

98.

Her winged barkes, like sea-nymphes in their flight,The aged sea-god’s daughter safely bore,Whose nimble dance the deepe did so delight,That 'bout their bosomes sweeping by the shoreThe siluer waues did play with wanton rore,Thinking themselues releas’d from yoke of Spaine,Whose gold-heap’d mountaines did oppresse the maine.

Her winged barkes, like sea-nymphes in their flight,

The aged sea-god’s daughter safely bore,

Whose nimble dance the deepe did so delight,

That 'bout their bosomes sweeping by the shore

The siluer waues did play with wanton rore,

Thinking themselues releas’d from yoke of Spaine,

Whose gold-heap’d mountaines did oppresse the maine.

99.

With these vpon the seas, the nobleDrakeDid saile as lord of th’ocean emperie,At whose dread name th’Iberians hearts did quake,Who left the rule of Neptune’s moistned skieToDrake’scommand, and to the shores did flie,Whom now for ancient wrongs done long before,He with swift vengeance follow’d to the shore.

With these vpon the seas, the nobleDrake

Did saile as lord of th’ocean emperie,

At whose dread name th’Iberians hearts did quake,

Who left the rule of Neptune’s moistned skie

ToDrake’scommand, and to the shores did flie,

Whom now for ancient wrongs done long before,

He with swift vengeance follow’d to the shore.

100.

BraueCarlile,Winter,FrobisherandKnoles,With many more of Neptune’s noble race,Made peopled cities place for beasts and fowles,Burnt bowers, sackt towers, raz’d townes before the faceOf their base foes, who fled with foule disgrace,Leauing wife, children, gold and goods for pray,By stranger people to be borne away.

BraueCarlile,Winter,FrobisherandKnoles,

With many more of Neptune’s noble race,

Made peopled cities place for beasts and fowles,

Burnt bowers, sackt towers, raz’d townes before the face

Of their base foes, who fled with foule disgrace,

Leauing wife, children, gold and goods for pray,

By stranger people to be borne away.

101.

Foure townes in this their voyage they did foile,First did Saint Iago by their power decline,That done, then Saint Domingo did they spoile,Next towring Carthagena, and in fineIn Terra Florida, Saint Augustine:Thus fortune with rich spoile their deeds did crowne,And home they came with glorie and renowne.

Foure townes in this their voyage they did foile,

First did Saint Iago by their power decline,

That done, then Saint Domingo did they spoile,

Next towring Carthagena, and in fine

In Terra Florida, Saint Augustine:

Thus fortune with rich spoile their deeds did crowne,

And home they came with glorie and renowne.

102.

And while these valiant men, true sonnes of fame,In forren shores our foe-mens force did quell,And by their deeds made knowneElizae’sname,The stif-neckt Irish proudly did rebell,Whose hearts with stubborne pride did euer swell:But nobleBingham, that illustrate knight,Did bring them downe and tame their towring might.

And while these valiant men, true sonnes of fame,

In forren shores our foe-mens force did quell,

And by their deeds made knowneElizae’sname,

The stif-neckt Irish proudly did rebell,

Whose hearts with stubborne pride did euer swell:

But nobleBingham, that illustrate knight,

Did bring them downe and tame their towring might.

103.

An. Reg. 28.Taken from a note confirmed vnder the hands of diuers gentlemen imployed in this action.

When that false traytor,Mahowne ObrianTo Rome’s proud strumpet bound his loue to show,In Thomond with rebellious hand began,To stirre vp strife, and worke his countrie’s woe,In hope to haue been backt by forren foe,In warre affaires thisBinghamfar renown’d,In castle Clanowen did him confound.

When that false traytor,Mahowne Obrian

To Rome’s proud strumpet bound his loue to show,

In Thomond with rebellious hand began,

To stirre vp strife, and worke his countrie’s woe,

In hope to haue been backt by forren foe,

In warre affaires thisBinghamfar renown’d,

In castle Clanowen did him confound.

104.

And when theBurkes, who did false rumours noiseOf wrong intended gainst their countries good,WithClangibbons, withClandonnelsandIoyes,Themselues in armes did bound and proudly stoodOn daring tearmes in field to spend their blood,RenownedBinghamwith his valiant crew,Did them through woods from caue to caue pursue.

And when theBurkes, who did false rumours noise

Of wrong intended gainst their countries good,

WithClangibbons, withClandonnelsandIoyes,

Themselues in armes did bound and proudly stood

On daring tearmes in field to spend their blood,

RenownedBinghamwith his valiant crew,

Did them through woods from caue to caue pursue.

105.

And when the Redshankes on the borders byIncursions made, and rang’d in battell stoodTo beare his charge, from field he made them flie,Where fishie Moine did blush with crimson bloodOf thousand foes, that perisht in the flood,For which braueBinghamcrown’d with endlesse fame,Enioyes on earth a neuer dying name.

And when the Redshankes on the borders by

Incursions made, and rang’d in battell stood

To beare his charge, from field he made them flie,

Where fishie Moine did blush with crimson blood

Of thousand foes, that perisht in the flood,

For which braueBinghamcrown’d with endlesse fame,

Enioyes on earth a neuer dying name.

106.

Sixtus QuintusPope.

Earle of Leic.

Although these ciuill warres of home-bred hate,First hatcht at Rome by England’ ancient foe,Did much disturbeElizae’sblessed state,Yet did the royall virgin not forgoeTh’afflicted Belgians drencht in depth of woe:But to support them gainst all foes annoy,For that designe, sheDudleydid employ.

Although these ciuill warres of home-bred hate,

First hatcht at Rome by England’ ancient foe,

Did much disturbeElizae’sblessed state,

Yet did the royall virgin not forgoe

Th’afflicted Belgians drencht in depth of woe:

But to support them gainst all foes annoy,

For that designe, sheDudleydid employ.

107.

Anno eodem 28.

Who, Iason-like to Colchos iland boundTo fetch the golden fleece by force of hand,With many great Heroes far renown’d,Past with triumphant sailes ore seas and sand,From England’s shores vnto the Belgicke strand,Where after all their high atchieuements done,Their fleece was fame, their gold was glorie won.

Who, Iason-like to Colchos iland bound

To fetch the golden fleece by force of hand,

With many great Heroes far renown’d,

Past with triumphant sailes ore seas and sand,

From England’s shores vnto the Belgicke strand,

Where after all their high atchieuements done,

Their fleece was fame, their gold was glorie won.

108.

O, noble virgin! O, victorious dame,England’s Bellona, nurse of chiualrie!What age brought forth so many sonnes of fame,In all the world’s thrice-changed monarchie,As in the time of thy great emperie?Whose deeds from England’s bounds did beare thy name,As far as Phœbus spreads his golden flame.

O, noble virgin! O, victorious dame,

England’s Bellona, nurse of chiualrie!

What age brought forth so many sonnes of fame,

In all the world’s thrice-changed monarchie,

As in the time of thy great emperie?

Whose deeds from England’s bounds did beare thy name,

As far as Phœbus spreads his golden flame.

109.

Who now arriuing on the Belgian coastWith fatall steele did deepe ingraue thy name,Vpon the proudest crests in that great hostThat with the valiant prince of Parma came,Enacting wonders for immortall fame;Witnesse those famous deeds by Zutphen done,Where many high exploits were vndergone.

Who now arriuing on the Belgian coast

With fatall steele did deepe ingraue thy name,

Vpon the proudest crests in that great host

That with the valiant prince of Parma came,

Enacting wonders for immortall fame;

Witnesse those famous deeds by Zutphen done,

Where many high exploits were vndergone.

110.

Recorded at large byI. Stow, in his Ann. pag. 1233, taken out ofH. Archer.

When both the aduerse powres afront did meet,Although the foe farre more in number were;Yet did our men with Mars swift-winged feet,Charge on their troopes, whose hearts strooke dead with feare,Vnable to resist, they backe did beare,T’whom valiantAudliein their faint recoyle,With his foot-bands alone did giue the foyle.

When both the aduerse powres afront did meet,

Although the foe farre more in number were;

Yet did our men with Mars swift-winged feet,

Charge on their troopes, whose hearts strooke dead with feare,

Vnable to resist, they backe did beare,

T’whom valiantAudliein their faint recoyle,

With his foot-bands alone did giue the foyle.

111.

Then th’Albanois vnto the rescue cameWith their horse troopes, amongst whom stoutNorriswent,And boldly singl’d out a man of fame,Gainst whom his pistoll with full charge he bentTo act his fall; but failing in th’euent,His foe-man’s head he with the same did greet,And made him fall at his victorious feet.

Then th’Albanois vnto the rescue came

With their horse troopes, amongst whom stoutNorriswent,

And boldly singl’d out a man of fame,

Gainst whom his pistoll with full charge he bent

To act his fall; but failing in th’euent,

His foe-man’s head he with the same did greet,

And made him fall at his victorious feet.

112.

Lo.Will.of Eresbeie.

Next nobleWilloughbywith lance in rest,Arm’d like the god of warre on winged horse,Met captaineGeorge, opposing brest to brest,Whom from his steed halfe dead with furious force,He downe did beare in his winde-winged course,This he spake in French.Who falling said: “I yeeld me to thy might,In that I see thou art a seemely knight.”

Next nobleWilloughbywith lance in rest,

Arm’d like the god of warre on winged horse,

Met captaineGeorge, opposing brest to brest,

Whom from his steed halfe dead with furious force,

He downe did beare in his winde-winged course,

This he spake in French.

Who falling said: “I yeeld me to thy might,

In that I see thou art a seemely knight.”

113.

Rob.Earle of Essex.

Then nobleDeuorax, Mars his yongest sonne,Chear’d vp his troope, “Fellowes in armes,” quoth he,“The honorable prease let vs not shunne,Ne with the dread of death dismaied be,But for your countrie’s glorie follow me:”Which said, he fiercely charg’d on th’enemie,And shew’d high proofe of his stout valiancie.

Then nobleDeuorax, Mars his yongest sonne,

Chear’d vp his troope, “Fellowes in armes,” quoth he,

“The honorable prease let vs not shunne,

Ne with the dread of death dismaied be,

But for your countrie’s glorie follow me:”

Which said, he fiercely charg’d on th’enemie,

And shew’d high proofe of his stout valiancie.

114.

SirWilliam Russell.

To second him,Russellthat martiall knight,Like feathered shaft sent from a stiffe-bent bow,Or boysterous Boreas in his nimble flight,With weightie lance did charge vpon the foe,And horse and man to ground did ouerthrow,Who with affright did from his furie runne,As braying goats the king of beasts doth shunne.

To second him,Russellthat martiall knight,

Like feathered shaft sent from a stiffe-bent bow,

Or boysterous Boreas in his nimble flight,

With weightie lance did charge vpon the foe,

And horse and man to ground did ouerthrow,

Who with affright did from his furie runne,

As braying goats the king of beasts doth shunne.

115.

Amongst them all, that impe of honor’s bed,That worthie of the world, that hardie knight,The nobleSidnieto aduentures ledWith glory-thirsting zeale in death’s despightVpon his foes himselfe did noblie quight:For in one skirmish with high valiancie,Thrice did he charge vpon the enemie.

Amongst them all, that impe of honor’s bed,

That worthie of the world, that hardie knight,

The nobleSidnieto aduentures led

With glory-thirsting zeale in death’s despight

Vpon his foes himselfe did noblie quight:

For in one skirmish with high valiancie,

Thrice did he charge vpon the enemie.

116.

But cursed fortune, foe to famous men,BeholdingSidnie’sdeeds with enuious eie,Turning her malice into raging teene,With deadly shot did wound him on the thigh,Which from a foe-man’s fatall peece did flie:Whose timelesse end, if time did serue thereto,I should bewaile in lines of lasting woe.

But cursed fortune, foe to famous men,

BeholdingSidnie’sdeeds with enuious eie,

Turning her malice into raging teene,

With deadly shot did wound him on the thigh,

Which from a foe-man’s fatall peece did flie:

Whose timelesse end, if time did serue thereto,

I should bewaile in lines of lasting woe.

117.

Many more sonnes of Mars his noble race,In this daie’s fight great fame with perill wonne,Yea many high exploits each breathing space,By many a worthie wight were vndergone;Mongst whom that deed with resolution done,By valiantWilliams, and the BelgianSkinke,Downe to obliuion’s den shall neuer sinke.

Many more sonnes of Mars his noble race,

In this daie’s fight great fame with perill wonne,

Yea many high exploits each breathing space,

By many a worthie wight were vndergone;

Mongst whom that deed with resolution done,

By valiantWilliams, and the BelgianSkinke,

Downe to obliuion’s den shall neuer sinke.

118.

Anno eodem 28.

H. Archer, Author.

For when that well wall’d towne, which Venlo hight,Was round about begirted by the foe,Huge spirit and high conceit did so exciteStoutWilliams’mightie mind, to vndergoeSome great attempt, that he full bent to showProofe of his valour by some famous act,With hardieSkinkethis wonder did enact:

For when that well wall’d towne, which Venlo hight,

Was round about begirted by the foe,

Huge spirit and high conceit did so excite

StoutWilliams’mightie mind, to vndergoe

Some great attempt, that he full bent to show

Proofe of his valour by some famous act,

With hardieSkinkethis wonder did enact:

119.

When grizly night her iron carre had driuenFrom her darke mansion house, that hidden liesIn Plutoe’s kingdome, to the top of heau’n,And with black cloake of clouds muffling the skies,With sable wings shut vp all wakefull eies,Obscur’d with darknesse grim they both did go,To act this stratagem vpon the foe:

When grizly night her iron carre had driuen

From her darke mansion house, that hidden lies

In Plutoe’s kingdome, to the top of heau’n,

And with black cloake of clouds muffling the skies,

With sable wings shut vp all wakefull eies,

Obscur’d with darknesse grim they both did go,

To act this stratagem vpon the foe:

120.

Husht were the winds, the aire all silent was,Sad was the night, in skies appear’d no starre;Yet through darke horror dreadlesse did they passe,And listning vnto euery breach of aire,With stealing steps this dangerous worke did dare,Whom at the length the dark night’s shadie wing,Into the foe-men’s campe did closely bring.

Husht were the winds, the aire all silent was,

Sad was the night, in skies appear’d no starre;

Yet through darke horror dreadlesse did they passe,

And listning vnto euery breach of aire,

With stealing steps this dangerous worke did dare,

Whom at the length the dark night’s shadie wing,

Into the foe-men’s campe did closely bring.

121.

Where, when they came, the vtmost watch they foundVpon the ground all carelessely dispread,Who tir’d with toile, lay in deepe sleepe fast drown’d,And as they slept, each one secure of dread,His weapon had fast fixed at his head,Mongst whom, like hungrie wolues on flockes vnkept,StoutSkinkeand worthieWilliamsboldly stept.

Where, when they came, the vtmost watch they found

Vpon the ground all carelessely dispread,

Who tir’d with toile, lay in deepe sleepe fast drown’d,

And as they slept, each one secure of dread,

His weapon had fast fixed at his head,

Mongst whom, like hungrie wolues on flockes vnkept,

StoutSkinkeand worthieWilliamsboldly stept.

122.

Then death triumpht in slaughter of the slaine,Soules strugling in the pangs of many a wound,Departs in griefe and makes aire sigh againe,Swords blusht with blood, grim horror did abound,A crimson dew stood on the grassie ground;Disorder, dread, death, noise and darknesse grim,In blood and gore of slaughtred foes did swim.

Then death triumpht in slaughter of the slaine,

Soules strugling in the pangs of many a wound,

Departs in griefe and makes aire sigh againe,

Swords blusht with blood, grim horror did abound,

A crimson dew stood on the grassie ground;

Disorder, dread, death, noise and darknesse grim,

In blood and gore of slaughtred foes did swim.

123.

The Prince of Parma.

By the still watch and two strong courts of gard,Through death, through blood and armes they boldly went,Vntill they came, where horriblie they scar’dThe prince himselfe sweet sleeping in his tent,Whom in their power they long’d to circumuent,Where many a noble wight fast snoring drown’d,In deepest sleepe with death they did confound.

By the still watch and two strong courts of gard,

Through death, through blood and armes they boldly went,

Vntill they came, where horriblie they scar’d

The prince himselfe sweet sleeping in his tent,

Whom in their power they long’d to circumuent,

Where many a noble wight fast snoring drown’d,

In deepest sleepe with death they did confound.

124.

But as their swords they in their foes did sheath,At last, through massacres, through shrikes and criesOf sad soules groning in the pangs of death,On euery side the startled foes did rise,And shrikt out thicke alarmes to shun surprise,Crying arme, arme, whereby appall’d with feare,Th’whole host in sudden throngs all gathered were.

But as their swords they in their foes did sheath,

At last, through massacres, through shrikes and cries

Of sad soules groning in the pangs of death,

On euery side the startled foes did rise,

And shrikt out thicke alarmes to shun surprise,

Crying arme, arme, whereby appall’d with feare,

Th’whole host in sudden throngs all gathered were.

125.

Then fled the valiantSkinke, blacke death to shun,But hardieWilliamsin contention stoodWith his great mind, if he more fame t’haue won,Should stoutly stay, and hazard his owne good,With slaughtering sword to shed more foe-men’s blood:Whereby at length in depth of danger drown’d,By armed foes, he was incircled round.

Then fled the valiantSkinke, blacke death to shun,

But hardieWilliamsin contention stood

With his great mind, if he more fame t’haue won,

Should stoutly stay, and hazard his owne good,

With slaughtering sword to shed more foe-men’s blood:

Whereby at length in depth of danger drown’d,

By armed foes, he was incircled round.

126.

But by aduantage of the gloomie nightAmongst the foe-men’s troopes, vnknowne he goes,And cri’d: “Where’sWilliams? where isWilliamshight?”To whom againe one answer’d amongst the foes,“Pursue, pursue with speed, before he goes:”Thus cloudie night this worthie wight did saue,Who shun’d his foes, and fled his darksome graue.

But by aduantage of the gloomie night

Amongst the foe-men’s troopes, vnknowne he goes,

And cri’d: “Where’sWilliams? where isWilliamshight?”

To whom againe one answer’d amongst the foes,

“Pursue, pursue with speed, before he goes:”

Thus cloudie night this worthie wight did saue,

Who shun’d his foes, and fled his darksome graue.

127.

These were the foster children of that nurse,England’s Minerua, queene of glorie bright,Who through the paths of warre their way did force,In armes to get true honor’s meed by might,And grace their name with title of true knight:Which honor’d order only vertue’s meed,Each one then purchas’d by some glorious deed.

These were the foster children of that nurse,

England’s Minerua, queene of glorie bright,

Who through the paths of warre their way did force,

In armes to get true honor’s meed by might,

And grace their name with title of true knight:

Which honor’d order only vertue’s meed,

Each one then purchas’d by some glorious deed.

128.

But while these captaines wedded to renowne,True loyall subiects of a royall queene,On Belgian shores their soueraigne’s head did crowne,With conquering wreath of neuer vading greene,In spight of spight for aye fresh to be seene,Rome’s raging Python full of furious wrath,Did once againe belch vp his poisoned froth.

But while these captaines wedded to renowne,

True loyall subiects of a royall queene,

On Belgian shores their soueraigne’s head did crowne,

With conquering wreath of neuer vading greene,

In spight of spight for aye fresh to be seene,

Rome’s raging Python full of furious wrath,

Did once againe belch vp his poisoned froth.

129.

Anno eodem 28.

Foureteene false traytors from darke treason’s denHe vp did call, foule elues of enuious night,Rebels accurst, monsters abhorr’d of men,Who for the black fleet now alreadie dight,To passe th’vnfruitfull deepe with all her might,Should make fit passage gainst that dreadfull day,By their sweet prince and countrie’s swift decay.

Foureteene false traytors from darke treason’s den

He vp did call, foule elues of enuious night,

Rebels accurst, monsters abhorr’d of men,

Who for the black fleet now alreadie dight,

To passe th’vnfruitfull deepe with all her might,

Should make fit passage gainst that dreadfull day,

By their sweet prince and countrie’s swift decay.

130.

Ballard, first author in this villanie,Sent from the triple-crowned sonne of night,To put in practise this their treacherie,ProudBabingtonandSauagedid excite,With vnremorsefull hands of violent might,To spoile and ruinate their countrie’s good,And bathe their swords in their deare soueraigne’s blood.

Ballard, first author in this villanie,

Sent from the triple-crowned sonne of night,

To put in practise this their treacherie,

ProudBabingtonandSauagedid excite,

With vnremorsefull hands of violent might,

To spoile and ruinate their countrie’s good,

And bathe their swords in their deare soueraigne’s blood.

131.

Babingtonmade choice of the six.

Six resolute and bloodie minded mates,Should haue been actors in her tragedie,Then the graue peeres and honorable states,Had been the slaughter of their butcherie,And thou, O, glorie of this emperie!Thy loftie towers been leuell’d with the plaine,Thy nauie burnt, and many a thousand slaine.

Six resolute and bloodie minded mates,

Should haue been actors in her tragedie,

Then the graue peeres and honorable states,

Had been the slaughter of their butcherie,

And thou, O, glorie of this emperie!

Thy loftie towers been leuell’d with the plaine,

Thy nauie burnt, and many a thousand slaine.

132.

Such dismall deeds and blacke confusion,By proud Rome’s twice-seuen sonnes intended wereAgainst the time of that inuasion,Report whereof with terror and with feare,Swift-winged fame about the world did beare;But high heau’n’s King, who for his seruant choseOur virgin queene, their drifts did soone disclose.

Such dismall deeds and blacke confusion,

By proud Rome’s twice-seuen sonnes intended were

Against the time of that inuasion,

Report whereof with terror and with feare,

Swift-winged fame about the world did beare;

But high heau’n’s King, who for his seruant chose

Our virgin queene, their drifts did soone disclose.

133.

Their plot bewray’d, each one did seeke t’escape,Vengeance pursuing them from place to place,HightBabingtonattir’d in rusticke shape,With walnut-leaues discolouring his face,Did seeke t’escape sad death and foule disgrace:And all the rest being clad in strange disguise,With trembling feare did seeke to shun surprise.

Their plot bewray’d, each one did seeke t’escape,

Vengeance pursuing them from place to place,

HightBabingtonattir’d in rusticke shape,

With walnut-leaues discolouring his face,

Did seeke t’escape sad death and foule disgrace:

And all the rest being clad in strange disguise,

With trembling feare did seeke to shun surprise.

134.

As guiltie homicides, that in dead nightPursu’d for tragick deeds of dismall death,To woods and groues disperst, do take their flight,Whose gloomie shade they trembling stand beneath,With fainting knees, cold spirit and panting breath,With feare, expecting at their backes behinde,The pursuit made at euery puffe of winde:

As guiltie homicides, that in dead night

Pursu’d for tragick deeds of dismall death,

To woods and groues disperst, do take their flight,

Whose gloomie shade they trembling stand beneath,

With fainting knees, cold spirit and panting breath,

With feare, expecting at their backes behinde,

The pursuit made at euery puffe of winde:

135.

Euen so these wretched men, whose selfe-doom’d soules,Now prickt with deepe remorse, did daily lookeTo be the spoile and prey of hungrie fowles,From place to place their couert passage tooke,Whose hearts the thought of death with horror shooke,Vntill surpriz’d at length, vntimely deathTo end this feare expir’d their fainting breath.

Euen so these wretched men, whose selfe-doom’d soules,

Now prickt with deepe remorse, did daily looke

To be the spoile and prey of hungrie fowles,

From place to place their couert passage tooke,

Whose hearts the thought of death with horror shooke,

Vntill surpriz’d at length, vntimely death

To end this feare expir’d their fainting breath.

136.

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