THEBATTAILEOFAGINCOVRT.The law Salique was, that women should not inherite; which law, Edward the third, by his right to the Crowne by his mother, cancelled with his sword: for so much as at that time made way to his clayme, though in France that law bee inuiolable.Ceas’dwas the Thunder, of those Drummes which wak’dTh’affrighted French their miseries to view,At Edwards name, which to that houre still quak’d,Their Salique Tables to the ground that threw,Yet were the English courages not slak’d,But the same Bowes, and the same Blades they drew,With the same Armes, those weapons to aduance,Which lately lopt the Flower de liz of France.Henry the 4. so named of a Town in Lincolne Shiere, where he was borne.Henry the fift, that man made out of fire,Th’Imperiall Wreath plac’d on his Princely browe;His Lyons courage stands not to enquireWhich way olde Henry came by it; or howeAt Pomfret Castell Richard should expire:What’s that to him? He hath the Garland now;Let Bullingbrook beware how he it wan,For Munmouth meanes to keepe it, if he can.Henry the fift borne at Munmouth in Wales.Dowglasin that battaile slew three in the Kings coat Armour.That glorious day, which his great Father got,Vpon the Percyes; calling to their aydeThe valiant Dowglass, that Herculian Scot,When for his Crowne at Shrewsbury they playde,Had quite dishartned eu’ry other plot,And all those Tempests quietly had layde,That not a cloud did to this Prince appeare,No former King had seene a skye so cleere.Wickliffe a learned Diuine, and the greatest Protestant of those times.Yet the rich Clergy felt a fearefull Rent,In the full Bosome of their Church (whilst sheAMonarchesse, immeasurably spent,Lesse then she was, and thought she might not be:)By Wickclif and his followers; to preuentThe growth of whose opinions, and to freeThat foule Aspersion, which on her they layde,She her strongst witts must stirre vp to her ayde.A Parliament at Leicester.When presentlya Parliament iscalldTo sett things steddy, that stood not so right,But that thereby the poore might be inthral’d,Should they be vrged by those that were of might,That in his Empire, equitie enstauld,It should continue in that perfect plight;Wherefore to Lester, he th’Assembly drawes,There to Inact those necessary Lawes.In which one Bill (mongst many) there was red,Against the generall, and superfluous wasteOf temporall Lands, (the Laity that had fed)Vpon the Houses of Religion caste,Which for defence might stand the Realme in sted,Where it most needed were it rightly plac’t;Which made those Church-men generally to feare,For all this calme, some tempest might be neare.And being right skilfull, quickly they forsawe,No shallow braines this bus’nesse went about:Therefore with cunning they must cure this flawe;For of the King they greatly stood in doubt,Lest him to them, their opposites should drawe,Some thing must be thrust in, to thrust that out:And to this end they wisely must prouideOne, this great Engine, Clearkly that could guide.Henry Chichley succeeding Arundell (late deceased) in that See.Chichley, that sate on Canterburies See,A man well spoken, grauely stout, and wise,The most select, (then thought of that could be,)To act what all the Prelacie diuise;(For well they knew, that in this bus’nesse, heWould to the vtmost straine his faculties;)Him lift they vp, with their maine strength, to proueBy some cleane slight this Lybell to remoue.So they termed it as not worthy of a better tytle.His braine in labour, gladly foorth would bringSomewhat, that at this needfull time might fit,The sprightly humor of this youthfull King,If his inuention could but light of it;His working soule proiecteth many a thing,Vntill at length out of the strength of wit,He found a warre with France, must be the wayTo dash this Bill, else threatning their decay.Whilst vacant mindes sate in their breasts at ease,And the remembrance of their Conquests past,Vpon their fansies doth so strongly sease,As in their teeth, their Cowardise it castRehearsing to them those victorious daies,The deeds of which, beyond their names should last,That after ages, reading what was theirs,Shall hardly thinke, those men had any Heires.And to this point, premeditating well,A speech, (which chanc’d, the very pinne to cleaue)Aym’d, whatsoeuer the successe befellThat it no roomth should for a second leaue,More of this Title then in hand to tell,If so his skill him did not much deceaue,And gainst the King in publike should appeare;Thus frames his speechto the Assembly there.The Archbishop of Canterburies Oration, to the King & Parliament at Lecester, in the Eleuen following Stanzas.Pardon my boldnesse, my Liedge Soueraine Lord,Nor your Dread presence let my speech offend,Your milde attention, fauourably affoord,Which, such cleere vigour to my spirit shall lend,That it shall set an edge vpon your Sword,To my demand, and make you to attend,Asking you, why, men train’d to Armes you keepe,Your right in France yet suffering still to sleepe.Can such a Prince be in an Iland pent,And poorely thus shutt vp within a Sea.When as your right includes that large extent,To th’either Alpes your Empire forth to lay,Can he be English borne, and is not bentTo follow you, appoint you but the way,Weele wade if we want ships, the waues or climme,In one hand hold our swords, with th’other swim.The Crowne of France descended vpon Edward the third, from Isabell his Mother, Daughter and suruiuing heyre, to King Philippe of France named the fayre.What time controules, your braue great Grandsires claim,To th’Realme of France, from Philip nam’d the faire,Which to King Edward by his mother came,Queene Isabel; that Philips onely heire,Which this short intermission doth not maime,But if it did, as he, so yours repaire;That where his Right in bloud preuailed not,In spight of hell, yet by his Sword he got.What set that Conqueror, by their Salique Lawes,Those poore decrees their Parliaments could make,He entred on the iustnesse of his Cause,To make good, what he dar’d to vndertake,And once in Action, he stood not to pause,But in vpon them like a Tempest brake,And downe their buildings with such fury bare,That they from mists dissolued were to ayre.As those braue Edwards, Father, and the Sonne,At Conquer’d Cressy, with successefull lucke,Where first all France (as at one game) they wonne,Neuer two Warriours, such a Battaile strucke,That when the bloudy dismall fight was done,Here in one heape, there in another RuckePrinces and Peasants lay together mixt,The English Swords, no difference knew betwixt.Iames, Daulphine of Viennoies. The Dukes of Lorraine, and Burbon. The Earles of Aumerle, Sauoye, Mountbilliard, Flaunders, Neuers & Harecourt.There Lewes King ofBeamewas ouerthrowneWith valient Charles, of France the younger Brother,A Daulphine, and two Dukes, in pieces hewen;To them six Earles lay slaine by one another;There the grand Prior of France, fetcht his last groane,Two Archbishops the boystrous Croud doth smother,There fifteene thousand of their Gentrie dy’deWith each two Souldiers, slaughtered by his side.King Iohn of France and Philip his Son taken by the Black Prince at the Battaile of Poyteers, brought Prisoners to England.Iohn of Cleumount.Peter of Burbon.Nor the Blacke Prince, at Poyteers battaile fought;Short of his Father, and himselfe before,Her King and Prince, that prisoners hither broughtFrom forty thousand weltring in their gore,That in the Worlds opinion it was thought,France from that instant could subsist no more,The Marshall, and the Constable, there slaineVnder the Standard, in that Battaile ta’ne.Examples of such as haue aduanced thẽselues to the Crowne of France against the strict letter of the lawe Salique, in the two following Stanzas.Nor is this clayme for women to succeede,(Gainst which they would your right to France debarre)A thing so new, that it so much should needeSuch opposition, as though fetcht from farre,By Pepin this is prou’d, as by a deede,Deposing Cheldrick, by a fatall warre,By Blythild dar’d his title to aduance,Daughter to Clothar, first so nam’d of France.Hugh Capet, who from Charles of Lorayne tookeThe Crowne of France, that he in peace might raigne,As heire to Lingard to her title stooke,Who was the daughter of King Charlemaine,So holy Lewes poring on his booke,Whom that Hugh Capet made his heire againe,From Ermingard his Grandame, claim’d the Crowne,Duke Charles his daughter, wrongfully put downe.Nor thinke my Leege a fitter time then this,You could haue found your Title to aduance,At the full height when now the faction is,T’wixt Burgoyne, and the house of Orleance,Your purpose you not possibly can misse,It for my Lord so luckily doth chance,That whilst these two in opposition stand,You may haue time, your Army there to land.And if my fancy doe not ouerpresse,My visuall sence, me thinkes in euery eyeI see such cheere, as of our good successeIn France hereafter seemes to Prophecie;Thinke not my Soueraigne, my Alegeance lesseQuoth he; my Lords nor doe you misaplyMy words: thus long vpon this subiect spent,Who humbly here submit to your assent.This speech of his, that powerfull Engine prou’d,Then e’r our Fathers got, which rais’d vs hier,The Clergies feare that quietly remou’d,And into France transferd our Hostile fier,It made the English through the world belou’d,That durst to those so mighty things aspire,And gaue so cleere a luster to our fame,That neighbouring Nations trembled at our name.When through the house, this rumor scarcely ran,That warre with France propounded was againe,In all th’Assembly there was not a man,But put the proiect on with might and maine,So great applause it generally wan,That else no bus’nesse they would entertaine,As though their honour vtterly were lost,If this designe should any way be crost.So much mens mindes, now vpon France were setThat euery one doth with himselfe forecast,What might fall out this enterprize to let,As what againe might giue it wings of hast,And for they knew, the French did still abetThe Scot against vs, (which we vsde to tast)It question’d was if it were fit or no,To Conquer them, ere we to France should goe.Ralph Neuill then Warden of the Marches betwixt England and Scotland.An old adage, He that will France winne: must with Scotland first beginne.Which Ralph then Earle of Westmorland propos’d,Quoth he, with Scotland let vs first begin,By which we are vpon the North inclos’d,And lockt with vs, one Continent within,Then first let Scotland be by vs dispos’d,And with more ease, yee spatious France may winne,Else of our selues, ere we our Ships can cleere,To land in France; they will inuade vs here.The Duke of Excester the Kings own vnckle.Not so braue Neuill, Excester replies,For that of one two labours were to make,For Scotland wholly vpon France relies;First, Conquer France, and Scotland yee may take,Tis the French pay, the Scot to them that tyes,That stopt, asunder quickly yee shall shakeThe French and Scots; to France then first say I,First, first, to France, then all the Commons cry.The first breach with France.And instantly an Embassy is sent,To Charles of France, to will him to restoreThose Territories, of whose large extent,The English Kings were owners of before;Which if he did not, and incontinent,The King would set those English on his Shore,That in despight of him, and all his might,Should leaue their liues there, or redeeme his right.The Countries demanded by the King of England.First Normandy, in his demand he makes,With Aquitane, a Dutchy no lesse great,Aniou, and Mayne, with Gascoyne which he takesCleerely his owne, as any English seat;With these proud France, he first of all awakes,For their deliuery, giuing power to treat;For well he knew, if Charles should these restore,No King of France was euer left so poore.The King and Daulphine of France, deriding the King of England.The King, and Daulphin, to his proud demand,That he might see they no such matter ment,As a thing fitter for his youthfull hand;A Tunne of Paris Tennis balls him sent,Better himselfe to make him vnderstand,Deriding his ridiculous intent:And that was all the answere he could get,Which more, the King doth to this Conquest whet.Henry the fift answered for the Tennis Balls.The language of Tennis.That answering the Ambassadour, quoth he,Thanks for my Balls, to Charles your Soueraigne giue,And thus assure him, and his sonne from me,I’le send him Balls and Rackets if I liue,That they such Racket shall in Paris see,When ouer lyne with Bandies I shall driue,As that before the Set be fully done,France may (perhaps) into the Hazard runne.So little doth luxurious France fore-seeBy her disdaine, what shee vpon her drew:In her most brauery seeming then to be,The punishment that shortly should ensue,Which so incenst the English King, that heFor full reuenge into that fury grew:That those three horrors, Famine, Sword, and Fire,Could not suffice to satisfie his ire.In all mens mouthes now was no word but warre,As though no thing had any other name;And folke would aske of them ariu’d from farre,What forces were preparing whence they came?’Gainst any bus’nesse ’twas a lawfull barreTo say for France they were; and ’twas a shameFor any man to take in hand to doeOught, but some thing that did belong thereto.Blades accounted of the best temper.Olde Armours are drest vp, and new are made;Iacksare in working, and strong shirts of Male,He scowersan olde Fox, he a Bilbowe blade,Now Shields and Targets onely are for sale;Who works for warre, now thriueth by his Trade,The browne Bill, and the Battell-Axe preuaile:The curiousFletcherfits his well-strung Bowe,And his barb’d Arrow which he sets to showe.Tents and Pauillions in the fields are pitcht,(E’r full wrought vp their Roomthynesse to try)Windowes, and Towers, with Ensignes are inricht,With ruffling Banners, that doe braue the sky,Wherewith the wearied Labourer bewitchtTo see them thus hang wauing in his eye:His toylsome burthen from his back doth throwe,And bids them worke that will, to France hee’ll goe.Armed at all points.Armings for the thigh and legge.Armings for the arme and shoulder.Rich Saddles forthe Light-horse and the BardFor to be brau’st there’s not a man but plyes,Plumes, Bandroules, and Caparizons prepar’d;Whether of two, and men at Armes diuiseThe Greaues, or Guyses were the surer guard,The Vambrasse, or the Pouldron, they should prize;And where a stand of Pykes plac’t close, or large,Which way to take aduantage in the Charge.One traynes his Horse, another trayles his Pyke,He with his Pole-Axe, practiseth the fight,The Bowe-man (which no Country hath the like)With his sheafe Arrow, proueth by his might,How many score off, he his Foe can strike,Yet not to draw aboue his bosomes hight:The Trumpets sound the Charge and the Retreat,The bellowing Drumme, the Martch againe doth beat.Great Ordnance then but newly in vse.Cannons vpon their Caridge mounted are,Whose Battery France must feele vpon her Walls,The Engineer prouiding the Petar,To breake the strong Percullice, and the Balls,Of Wild-fire deuis’d to throw from farre,To burne to ground their Pallaces and Halls:Some studying are, the scale which they had got,Thereby to take the Leuell of their Shot.The man in yeares preacht to his youthfull sonnePrest to this Warre, as they sate by the fire,What deedes in France were by his Father done,To this attempt to worke him to aspire,And told him, there how he an Ensigne wonne,Which many a yeare was hung vp in the Quire:And in the Battell, where he made his way,How many French men he struck downe that day.The good old man, with teares of ioy would tell,In Cressy field what prizes Edward play’d,As what at Poycteers the Black Prince befell,How like a Lyon, he about him layd:In deedes of Armes how Awdley did excell,For their olde sinnes, how they the French men payd:How brauely Basset did behaue him there:How Oxford charg’d the Van, Warwick the Reare.And Boy, quoth he, I haue heard thy Grandsire say,That once he did an English Archer see,Who shooting at a French twelue score away,Quite through the body, stuck him to a Tree;Vpon their strengths a King his Crowne might lay:Such were the men of that braue age, quoth he,When with his Axe he at his Foe let driue,Murriain and scalpe downe to the teeth did riue.The scarlet Iudge might now set vp his Mule,With neighing Steeds the Streetes so pestred are;For where he wont in Westminster to rule,On his Tribunal sate the man of Warre,The Lawyer to his Chamber doth recule,For be hath now no bus’nesse at the Barre:But to make Wills and Testaments for thoseThat were for France, their substance to dispose.By this, the Counsell of this Warre had met,And had at large of eu’ry thing discust;And the graue Clergie had with them beene set:To warrant what they vndertook was iust,And as for monies that to be no let,They bad the King for that to them to trust:The Church to pawne, would see her Challice layde,E’r shee would leaue one Pyoner vnpayde.Halfe the circuit of the Island, from the Spanish to the German Ocean.Edward the third.From Milford Hauen, to the mouth of Tweed,Ships of all burthen to Southampton brought,For there the King the Rendeuous decreedTo beare aboard his most victorious fraught:The place from whence he with the greatest speedMight land in France, (of any that was thought)And with successe vpon that lucky shore,Where his great Grandsire landed had before.But, for he found those vessels were to fewe,That into France his Army should conuay:He sent to Belgia, whose great store he knewe,Might now at neede supply him euery way.His bounty ample, as the windes that blewe,Such Barkes for Portage out of eu’ry bayIn Holland, Zealand, and in Flanders, brings;As spred the widesleeuewith their canuase wings.The Sea betwixt France and England so called.A Catalogue of the Ships in 12 Stanzas.But first seauen Ships from Rochester are sent,The narrow Seas, of all the French to sweepe:All men of Warre withscripts of Martthat went,And had command, the Coast of France to keepe:The comming of a Nauie to preuent,And view what strength, was in the Bay ofDeepe:And if they found it like to come abroad,To doe their best to fire it in the Road.The names of the Kings 7 Ships of War.An Indian Bird so great, that she is able to carry an Elephant.The Bonauenture, George, and the Expence,Three as tall Ships, as e’r did Cable tewe,The Henry Royall, at her parting thence,Like the huge Ruck from Gillingham that flewe:The Antilop, the Elephant, Defence,Bottoms as good as euer spread a clue:All hauing charge, their voyage hauing bin,Before Southampton to take Souldiers in.Twelue Merchants Ships, of mighty burthen all,New off the Stocks, that had beene rig’d forStoad,Riding in Thames by Lymehouse and BlackwallThat ready were their Merchandize to load,Straitly commanded by the Admirall,At the same Port to settle their aboad:And each of these a Pinnis at command,To put her fraught conueniently to land.Eight goodly Ships, so Bristow ready made,Which to the King they bountifully lent,With Spanish Wines which they for Ballast lade,In happy speed of his braue Voyage ment,Hoping his Conquest should enlarge their Trade,And there-withall a rich and spacious Tent:And as, this Fleet the Seuerne Seas doth stem,Fiue more from Padstowe came along with them.The Hare of Loo, a right good Ship well knowne,The yeare before that twice the Strayts had past,Two wealthy Spanish Merchants did her owne,Who then but lately had repair’d her wast;For from her Deck a Pyrate she had blowne,After a long Fight, and him tooke at last:And from Mounts Bay sixe more, that still in sight,Wayted with her before the Ile of Wight.The Bay of Portugall one of the highest working Seas that is known.From Plymmouth next came in the Blazing Starre,And fiery Dragon to take in their fraught;With other foure, especiall men of Warre,That in theBay of Portugallhad fought;And though returning from a Voyage farre,Stem’d that rough Sea, when at the high’st it wrought:With these, of Dertmouth seau’n good Ships there were,The golden Cressant in their tops that beare.So Lyme, three Ships into the Nauy sent,Of which the Sampson scarse a mon’th before,Had sprung a Planke, and her mayne Mast had spent,With extreame perill that she got to shore;With them fiue other out of Waymouth went,Which by Southampton, were made vp a score:With those that rode (at pleasure) in the Bay,And that at Anchor before Portsmouth lay.A Country lying upon the east Sea bordring upon Poland.Famous for Herring fishing.Next these, Newcastle furnisheth the FleetWith nine good Hoyes of necessary vse;The Danish Pyrats, valiantly that beet,Offring to Sack them as they sayl’d for Sluce:Six Hulks from Hull at Humbers mouth them meet,Which had them oft accompanied toPruce.Fiue more from Yarmouth falling them among,That had for Fishing beene prepared long.The Cowe of Harwich, neuer put to flight,For Hides, and Furres, late to Muscouia bound,Of the same Port, another nam’d the Spight,That in her comming lately through the Sound,After a two-dayes-still-continued fight,Had made three Flemings runne themselues a ground;With three neatFlee-boatswhich with them doe take,Six Ships of Sandwich vp the Fleet to make.Aydes to the King by the Nobility.Nine Ships for the Nobility there went,Of able men, the enterprize to ayde,Which to the King most liberally they lent,At their owne charge, and bountifully payde,Northumberland, and Westmerland in sentFourescore at Armes a peece, themselues and laydeAt six score Archers each, as Suffolke showes,Twenty tall men at Armes, with forty Bowes.Warwick and Stafford leauied at no lesseThen noble Suffolke, nor doe offer moreOf men at Armes, and Archers which they presse,Of their owne Tenants, Arm’d with their owne store:Their forwardnesse fore-showes their good successeIn such a Warre, as had not beene before:And other Barrons vnder Earles that were,Yet dar’d with them an equall charge to beare.Darcy and Camois, zealous for the King,Louell, Fitzwater, Willoughby, and Rosse,Berckley, Powis, Burrell, fast together cling;Seymer, and Saint Iohn for the bus’nesse closse,Each twenty Horse, and forty foote doe bringMore, to nine hundred mounting in the grosseIn those nine Ships, and fitly them bestow’d,Which with the other fall into the Road.From Holland, Zeland, and from Flanders wonneBy weekely pay, threescore twelue Bottoms came,From fifty vpward, to fiue hundred Tunne;For eu’ry vse a Marriner could name,Whose glittering Flags against the Radient Sunne,Show’d as the Sea had all beene of a flame;For Skiffes, Crayes, Scallops, and the like, why theseFrom eu’ry small Creeke, cou’red all the Seas.The man whose way from London hap’d to lye,By those he met might guesse the generall force,Daily encountred as he passed by,Now with a Troupe of Foote, and then of Horse,To whom the people still themselues apply,Bringing them victuals as in mere remorce:And stillthe acclamation of the presse,Saint George for England, to your good successe.There might a man haue seene in eu’ry Streete,The Father bidding farewell to his Sonne:Small Children kneeling at their Fathers feete:The Wife with her deare Husband ne’r had done:Brother, his Brother, with adieu to greete:One Friend to take leaue of another runne:The Mayden with her best belou’d to part,Gaue him her hand, who tooke away her heart.The nobler Youth the common ranke aboue,On their coruetting Coursers mounted faire,One ware his Mistris Garter, one her Gloue;And he a lock of his deare Ladies haire;And he her Colours, whom he most did loue;There was not one but did some Fauour weare:And each one tooke it, on his happy speede,To make it famous by some Knightly deede.The cloudes of dust, that from the wayes arose,Which in their martch, the trampling Troupes doe reare:When as the Sunne their thicknesse doth opposeIn his descending, shining wondrous cleare,To the beholder farre off standing showesLike some besieged Towne, that were on fire:As though fore-telling e’r they should returne,That many a Citie yet secure must burne.The well-rig’d Nauie falne into the Road,For this short Cut with victuall fully stor’d,The King impatient of their long aboad,Commands his Army instantly aboard,Casting to haue each Company bestow’d,As then the time conuenience could afford;The Ships appointed wherein they should goe,And Boats prepar’d for waftage to and fro.aA Blazon of the Ensignes of the seuerall Shires, in 14 Stanzas following.To be imbarqu’d when euery Band comes downe,Each in their order as they mustred were,Or by the difference of theiraArmings knowne,Or by their Colours; for in Ensignes there,Some wore the Armes of their most ancient Towne,Others againe their owne Diuises beare,There was not any, but that more or lesse,Something had got, that something should expresse.bExpressing their freedom, as still retaining their ancient liberties, by surprising the Conqueror like a mouing Wood.cAn expressiõ of King Harolds death, slaine with an Arrow in the head, at the Battaile of Hastings, fighting against the Conqueror.First, in thebKentish Stremer was a Wood,Out of whose top an arme that held a Sword,As their right Embleme; and to make it good,They aboue other onely had a Word,Which was; Vnconquer’d; as that freest had stood.cSussex the next that was to come AboardBore a Blacke Lyon Rampant, sore that bled,With a Field-Arrow darted through the head.dThe first famous Earle of that Countrey.eExpressing the pleasantnesse of the scituation of that County, lying vpon the French sea.The men ofdSurrey, Cheeky Blew and gold,(Which for braue Warren their first Earle they wore,In many a Field that honour’d was of olde:)And Hamshere next in the same Colours bore,Three Lions Passant, th’ Armes of Beuis bould,Who through the World so famous was of yore;A siluereTower, Dorsets Red Banner beares;The Cornishmen two Wrestlers had for theirs.fAs lying the fittest to expell or forwarne Inuasion.gExpressing the delicacy of the Bath, their chiefe Citty.hThe Armes of the ancient Family of Clare Earle of Gloster borne by the City.aStonidge being the first wonder of England, standing in Wiltshire.bAn old Embleme of Berech, or Berkshire.ThefDeuonshire Band, a Beacon set on fire,Sommersetga Virgine bathing in a Spring,Their Cities Armes, the men of Glostershire,In Gold threehBloudy Cheuernells doe bring;Wiltshire a CrownedaPiramed; As nigherThen any other to martch to the King;Barkshire abStag, vnder an Oake that stood,Oxford a White Bull wading in a Flood.cA Badge of the ancient family of the Staffords Dukes of that place.dQueene Helen Founder of the Crosse, wife to Constantine, and Daughter to King Coell, builder of Colchester in Essex.eSuffolke the most Easterly of the English shieres.fFor the braue prospect to the Germaine Ocean.The mustred men forcBuckingham, are goneVnder the Swan, the Armes of that olde Towne,The Londoners, and Middlesex as one,Are by the Red Crosse, and the Dagger knowne;The Men ofdEssex ouermatch’d by none,Vnder Queene Hellens Image Martching downe;eSuffolke a Sunne halfe risen from thebrack,fNorfolke a Triton on a Dolphines backe.gHauing relation to that famous Vniuersitie their Shiere Towne.hThe Armes of the Towne somewhat alluding to the name.iThe Armes of the towne of Huntingdon, first so named of a place where Hunters met.The Souldiers sent fromgCambridgshire, a BayVpon a Mountaine watred with a shower:Hartfordhtwo Harts that in a Riuer play;Bedfords an Eagle pearcht vpon a Tower,AndiHuntington a People proud as they,Not giuing place to any for their power,A youthfull Hunter, with a Chaplet Crown’d,In a pydeLyamleading forth his Hound.kThe armes of the towne.lFrom the aboundance of wooll in that tract.mA sport more vsed in that Shiere from ancient time, then in any other.nFor the length that it hath vpon the Germane Ocean.Northamptonkwith a Castle seated high,Supported by two Lyons thither came;The men oflRutland, to them marching nie,In their rich Ensigne beare an Ermine Ram,AndmLestershire that on their strength relye,A Bull and Mastiue fighting for the game.Lincolnena Ship most neatly that was lim’dIn all her Sailes with Flags and Pennons trim’d.aThe Beare and ragged Staffe, the ancient Armes of that Earledome.bFor the aboundance of fruit more there then in any other tract.cThe finenesse of the wooll of Lemster in that Shiere.dMany Hermites liued there in the woods in times past, it being all forrestie.eExpressing the loftinesse of the mountaines in that Shiere, on which many Hawkes were wont to airy.
THEBATTAILEOFAGINCOVRT.
The law Salique was, that women should not inherite; which law, Edward the third, by his right to the Crowne by his mother, cancelled with his sword: for so much as at that time made way to his clayme, though in France that law bee inuiolable.
Ceas’dwas the Thunder, of those Drummes which wak’dTh’affrighted French their miseries to view,At Edwards name, which to that houre still quak’d,Their Salique Tables to the ground that threw,Yet were the English courages not slak’d,But the same Bowes, and the same Blades they drew,With the same Armes, those weapons to aduance,Which lately lopt the Flower de liz of France.
Ceas’dwas the Thunder, of those Drummes which wak’d
Th’affrighted French their miseries to view,
At Edwards name, which to that houre still quak’d,
Their Salique Tables to the ground that threw,
Yet were the English courages not slak’d,
But the same Bowes, and the same Blades they drew,
With the same Armes, those weapons to aduance,
Which lately lopt the Flower de liz of France.
Henry the 4. so named of a Town in Lincolne Shiere, where he was borne.
Henry the fift, that man made out of fire,Th’Imperiall Wreath plac’d on his Princely browe;His Lyons courage stands not to enquireWhich way olde Henry came by it; or howeAt Pomfret Castell Richard should expire:What’s that to him? He hath the Garland now;Let Bullingbrook beware how he it wan,For Munmouth meanes to keepe it, if he can.
Henry the fift, that man made out of fire,
Th’Imperiall Wreath plac’d on his Princely browe;
His Lyons courage stands not to enquire
Which way olde Henry came by it; or howe
At Pomfret Castell Richard should expire:
What’s that to him? He hath the Garland now;
Let Bullingbrook beware how he it wan,
For Munmouth meanes to keepe it, if he can.
Henry the fift borne at Munmouth in Wales.Dowglasin that battaile slew three in the Kings coat Armour.
That glorious day, which his great Father got,Vpon the Percyes; calling to their aydeThe valiant Dowglass, that Herculian Scot,When for his Crowne at Shrewsbury they playde,Had quite dishartned eu’ry other plot,And all those Tempests quietly had layde,That not a cloud did to this Prince appeare,No former King had seene a skye so cleere.
That glorious day, which his great Father got,
Vpon the Percyes; calling to their ayde
The valiant Dowglass, that Herculian Scot,
When for his Crowne at Shrewsbury they playde,
Had quite dishartned eu’ry other plot,
And all those Tempests quietly had layde,
That not a cloud did to this Prince appeare,
No former King had seene a skye so cleere.
Wickliffe a learned Diuine, and the greatest Protestant of those times.
Yet the rich Clergy felt a fearefull Rent,In the full Bosome of their Church (whilst sheAMonarchesse, immeasurably spent,Lesse then she was, and thought she might not be:)By Wickclif and his followers; to preuentThe growth of whose opinions, and to freeThat foule Aspersion, which on her they layde,She her strongst witts must stirre vp to her ayde.
Yet the rich Clergy felt a fearefull Rent,
In the full Bosome of their Church (whilst she
AMonarchesse, immeasurably spent,
Lesse then she was, and thought she might not be:)
By Wickclif and his followers; to preuent
The growth of whose opinions, and to free
That foule Aspersion, which on her they layde,
She her strongst witts must stirre vp to her ayde.
A Parliament at Leicester.
When presentlya Parliament iscalldTo sett things steddy, that stood not so right,But that thereby the poore might be inthral’d,Should they be vrged by those that were of might,That in his Empire, equitie enstauld,It should continue in that perfect plight;Wherefore to Lester, he th’Assembly drawes,There to Inact those necessary Lawes.
When presentlya Parliament iscalld
To sett things steddy, that stood not so right,
But that thereby the poore might be inthral’d,
Should they be vrged by those that were of might,
That in his Empire, equitie enstauld,
It should continue in that perfect plight;
Wherefore to Lester, he th’Assembly drawes,
There to Inact those necessary Lawes.
In which one Bill (mongst many) there was red,Against the generall, and superfluous wasteOf temporall Lands, (the Laity that had fed)Vpon the Houses of Religion caste,Which for defence might stand the Realme in sted,Where it most needed were it rightly plac’t;Which made those Church-men generally to feare,For all this calme, some tempest might be neare.
In which one Bill (mongst many) there was red,
Against the generall, and superfluous waste
Of temporall Lands, (the Laity that had fed)
Vpon the Houses of Religion caste,
Which for defence might stand the Realme in sted,
Where it most needed were it rightly plac’t;
Which made those Church-men generally to feare,
For all this calme, some tempest might be neare.
And being right skilfull, quickly they forsawe,No shallow braines this bus’nesse went about:Therefore with cunning they must cure this flawe;For of the King they greatly stood in doubt,Lest him to them, their opposites should drawe,Some thing must be thrust in, to thrust that out:And to this end they wisely must prouideOne, this great Engine, Clearkly that could guide.
And being right skilfull, quickly they forsawe,
No shallow braines this bus’nesse went about:
Therefore with cunning they must cure this flawe;
For of the King they greatly stood in doubt,
Lest him to them, their opposites should drawe,
Some thing must be thrust in, to thrust that out:
And to this end they wisely must prouide
One, this great Engine, Clearkly that could guide.
Henry Chichley succeeding Arundell (late deceased) in that See.
Chichley, that sate on Canterburies See,A man well spoken, grauely stout, and wise,The most select, (then thought of that could be,)To act what all the Prelacie diuise;(For well they knew, that in this bus’nesse, heWould to the vtmost straine his faculties;)Him lift they vp, with their maine strength, to proueBy some cleane slight this Lybell to remoue.
Chichley, that sate on Canterburies See,
A man well spoken, grauely stout, and wise,
The most select, (then thought of that could be,)
To act what all the Prelacie diuise;
(For well they knew, that in this bus’nesse, he
Would to the vtmost straine his faculties;)
Him lift they vp, with their maine strength, to proue
By some cleane slight this Lybell to remoue.
So they termed it as not worthy of a better tytle.
His braine in labour, gladly foorth would bringSomewhat, that at this needfull time might fit,The sprightly humor of this youthfull King,If his inuention could but light of it;His working soule proiecteth many a thing,Vntill at length out of the strength of wit,He found a warre with France, must be the wayTo dash this Bill, else threatning their decay.
His braine in labour, gladly foorth would bring
Somewhat, that at this needfull time might fit,
The sprightly humor of this youthfull King,
If his inuention could but light of it;
His working soule proiecteth many a thing,
Vntill at length out of the strength of wit,
He found a warre with France, must be the way
To dash this Bill, else threatning their decay.
Whilst vacant mindes sate in their breasts at ease,And the remembrance of their Conquests past,Vpon their fansies doth so strongly sease,As in their teeth, their Cowardise it castRehearsing to them those victorious daies,The deeds of which, beyond their names should last,That after ages, reading what was theirs,Shall hardly thinke, those men had any Heires.
Whilst vacant mindes sate in their breasts at ease,
And the remembrance of their Conquests past,
Vpon their fansies doth so strongly sease,
As in their teeth, their Cowardise it cast
Rehearsing to them those victorious daies,
The deeds of which, beyond their names should last,
That after ages, reading what was theirs,
Shall hardly thinke, those men had any Heires.
And to this point, premeditating well,A speech, (which chanc’d, the very pinne to cleaue)Aym’d, whatsoeuer the successe befellThat it no roomth should for a second leaue,More of this Title then in hand to tell,If so his skill him did not much deceaue,And gainst the King in publike should appeare;Thus frames his speechto the Assembly there.
And to this point, premeditating well,
A speech, (which chanc’d, the very pinne to cleaue)
Aym’d, whatsoeuer the successe befell
That it no roomth should for a second leaue,
More of this Title then in hand to tell,
If so his skill him did not much deceaue,
And gainst the King in publike should appeare;
Thus frames his speechto the Assembly there.
The Archbishop of Canterburies Oration, to the King & Parliament at Lecester, in the Eleuen following Stanzas.
Pardon my boldnesse, my Liedge Soueraine Lord,Nor your Dread presence let my speech offend,Your milde attention, fauourably affoord,Which, such cleere vigour to my spirit shall lend,That it shall set an edge vpon your Sword,To my demand, and make you to attend,Asking you, why, men train’d to Armes you keepe,Your right in France yet suffering still to sleepe.
Pardon my boldnesse, my Liedge Soueraine Lord,
Nor your Dread presence let my speech offend,
Your milde attention, fauourably affoord,
Which, such cleere vigour to my spirit shall lend,
That it shall set an edge vpon your Sword,
To my demand, and make you to attend,
Asking you, why, men train’d to Armes you keepe,
Your right in France yet suffering still to sleepe.
Can such a Prince be in an Iland pent,And poorely thus shutt vp within a Sea.When as your right includes that large extent,To th’either Alpes your Empire forth to lay,Can he be English borne, and is not bentTo follow you, appoint you but the way,Weele wade if we want ships, the waues or climme,In one hand hold our swords, with th’other swim.
Can such a Prince be in an Iland pent,
And poorely thus shutt vp within a Sea.
When as your right includes that large extent,
To th’either Alpes your Empire forth to lay,
Can he be English borne, and is not bent
To follow you, appoint you but the way,
Weele wade if we want ships, the waues or climme,
In one hand hold our swords, with th’other swim.
The Crowne of France descended vpon Edward the third, from Isabell his Mother, Daughter and suruiuing heyre, to King Philippe of France named the fayre.
What time controules, your braue great Grandsires claim,To th’Realme of France, from Philip nam’d the faire,Which to King Edward by his mother came,Queene Isabel; that Philips onely heire,Which this short intermission doth not maime,But if it did, as he, so yours repaire;That where his Right in bloud preuailed not,In spight of hell, yet by his Sword he got.
What time controules, your braue great Grandsires claim,
To th’Realme of France, from Philip nam’d the faire,
Which to King Edward by his mother came,
Queene Isabel; that Philips onely heire,
Which this short intermission doth not maime,
But if it did, as he, so yours repaire;
That where his Right in bloud preuailed not,
In spight of hell, yet by his Sword he got.
What set that Conqueror, by their Salique Lawes,Those poore decrees their Parliaments could make,He entred on the iustnesse of his Cause,To make good, what he dar’d to vndertake,And once in Action, he stood not to pause,But in vpon them like a Tempest brake,And downe their buildings with such fury bare,That they from mists dissolued were to ayre.
What set that Conqueror, by their Salique Lawes,
Those poore decrees their Parliaments could make,
He entred on the iustnesse of his Cause,
To make good, what he dar’d to vndertake,
And once in Action, he stood not to pause,
But in vpon them like a Tempest brake,
And downe their buildings with such fury bare,
That they from mists dissolued were to ayre.
As those braue Edwards, Father, and the Sonne,At Conquer’d Cressy, with successefull lucke,Where first all France (as at one game) they wonne,Neuer two Warriours, such a Battaile strucke,That when the bloudy dismall fight was done,Here in one heape, there in another RuckePrinces and Peasants lay together mixt,The English Swords, no difference knew betwixt.
As those braue Edwards, Father, and the Sonne,
At Conquer’d Cressy, with successefull lucke,
Where first all France (as at one game) they wonne,
Neuer two Warriours, such a Battaile strucke,
That when the bloudy dismall fight was done,
Here in one heape, there in another Rucke
Princes and Peasants lay together mixt,
The English Swords, no difference knew betwixt.
Iames, Daulphine of Viennoies. The Dukes of Lorraine, and Burbon. The Earles of Aumerle, Sauoye, Mountbilliard, Flaunders, Neuers & Harecourt.
There Lewes King ofBeamewas ouerthrowneWith valient Charles, of France the younger Brother,A Daulphine, and two Dukes, in pieces hewen;To them six Earles lay slaine by one another;There the grand Prior of France, fetcht his last groane,Two Archbishops the boystrous Croud doth smother,There fifteene thousand of their Gentrie dy’deWith each two Souldiers, slaughtered by his side.
There Lewes King ofBeamewas ouerthrowne
With valient Charles, of France the younger Brother,
A Daulphine, and two Dukes, in pieces hewen;
To them six Earles lay slaine by one another;
There the grand Prior of France, fetcht his last groane,
Two Archbishops the boystrous Croud doth smother,
There fifteene thousand of their Gentrie dy’de
With each two Souldiers, slaughtered by his side.
King Iohn of France and Philip his Son taken by the Black Prince at the Battaile of Poyteers, brought Prisoners to England.
Iohn of Cleumount.
Peter of Burbon.
Nor the Blacke Prince, at Poyteers battaile fought;Short of his Father, and himselfe before,Her King and Prince, that prisoners hither broughtFrom forty thousand weltring in their gore,That in the Worlds opinion it was thought,France from that instant could subsist no more,The Marshall, and the Constable, there slaineVnder the Standard, in that Battaile ta’ne.
Nor the Blacke Prince, at Poyteers battaile fought;
Short of his Father, and himselfe before,
Her King and Prince, that prisoners hither brought
From forty thousand weltring in their gore,
That in the Worlds opinion it was thought,
France from that instant could subsist no more,
The Marshall, and the Constable, there slaine
Vnder the Standard, in that Battaile ta’ne.
Examples of such as haue aduanced thẽselues to the Crowne of France against the strict letter of the lawe Salique, in the two following Stanzas.
Nor is this clayme for women to succeede,(Gainst which they would your right to France debarre)A thing so new, that it so much should needeSuch opposition, as though fetcht from farre,By Pepin this is prou’d, as by a deede,Deposing Cheldrick, by a fatall warre,By Blythild dar’d his title to aduance,Daughter to Clothar, first so nam’d of France.
Nor is this clayme for women to succeede,
(Gainst which they would your right to France debarre)
A thing so new, that it so much should neede
Such opposition, as though fetcht from farre,
By Pepin this is prou’d, as by a deede,
Deposing Cheldrick, by a fatall warre,
By Blythild dar’d his title to aduance,
Daughter to Clothar, first so nam’d of France.
Hugh Capet, who from Charles of Lorayne tookeThe Crowne of France, that he in peace might raigne,As heire to Lingard to her title stooke,Who was the daughter of King Charlemaine,So holy Lewes poring on his booke,Whom that Hugh Capet made his heire againe,From Ermingard his Grandame, claim’d the Crowne,Duke Charles his daughter, wrongfully put downe.
Hugh Capet, who from Charles of Lorayne tooke
The Crowne of France, that he in peace might raigne,
As heire to Lingard to her title stooke,
Who was the daughter of King Charlemaine,
So holy Lewes poring on his booke,
Whom that Hugh Capet made his heire againe,
From Ermingard his Grandame, claim’d the Crowne,
Duke Charles his daughter, wrongfully put downe.
Nor thinke my Leege a fitter time then this,You could haue found your Title to aduance,At the full height when now the faction is,T’wixt Burgoyne, and the house of Orleance,Your purpose you not possibly can misse,It for my Lord so luckily doth chance,That whilst these two in opposition stand,You may haue time, your Army there to land.
Nor thinke my Leege a fitter time then this,
You could haue found your Title to aduance,
At the full height when now the faction is,
T’wixt Burgoyne, and the house of Orleance,
Your purpose you not possibly can misse,
It for my Lord so luckily doth chance,
That whilst these two in opposition stand,
You may haue time, your Army there to land.
And if my fancy doe not ouerpresse,My visuall sence, me thinkes in euery eyeI see such cheere, as of our good successeIn France hereafter seemes to Prophecie;Thinke not my Soueraigne, my Alegeance lesseQuoth he; my Lords nor doe you misaplyMy words: thus long vpon this subiect spent,Who humbly here submit to your assent.
And if my fancy doe not ouerpresse,
My visuall sence, me thinkes in euery eye
I see such cheere, as of our good successe
In France hereafter seemes to Prophecie;
Thinke not my Soueraigne, my Alegeance lesse
Quoth he; my Lords nor doe you misaply
My words: thus long vpon this subiect spent,
Who humbly here submit to your assent.
This speech of his, that powerfull Engine prou’d,Then e’r our Fathers got, which rais’d vs hier,The Clergies feare that quietly remou’d,And into France transferd our Hostile fier,It made the English through the world belou’d,That durst to those so mighty things aspire,And gaue so cleere a luster to our fame,That neighbouring Nations trembled at our name.
This speech of his, that powerfull Engine prou’d,
Then e’r our Fathers got, which rais’d vs hier,
The Clergies feare that quietly remou’d,
And into France transferd our Hostile fier,
It made the English through the world belou’d,
That durst to those so mighty things aspire,
And gaue so cleere a luster to our fame,
That neighbouring Nations trembled at our name.
When through the house, this rumor scarcely ran,That warre with France propounded was againe,In all th’Assembly there was not a man,But put the proiect on with might and maine,So great applause it generally wan,That else no bus’nesse they would entertaine,As though their honour vtterly were lost,If this designe should any way be crost.
When through the house, this rumor scarcely ran,
That warre with France propounded was againe,
In all th’Assembly there was not a man,
But put the proiect on with might and maine,
So great applause it generally wan,
That else no bus’nesse they would entertaine,
As though their honour vtterly were lost,
If this designe should any way be crost.
So much mens mindes, now vpon France were setThat euery one doth with himselfe forecast,What might fall out this enterprize to let,As what againe might giue it wings of hast,And for they knew, the French did still abetThe Scot against vs, (which we vsde to tast)It question’d was if it were fit or no,To Conquer them, ere we to France should goe.
So much mens mindes, now vpon France were set
That euery one doth with himselfe forecast,
What might fall out this enterprize to let,
As what againe might giue it wings of hast,
And for they knew, the French did still abet
The Scot against vs, (which we vsde to tast)
It question’d was if it were fit or no,
To Conquer them, ere we to France should goe.
Ralph Neuill then Warden of the Marches betwixt England and Scotland.
An old adage, He that will France winne: must with Scotland first beginne.
Which Ralph then Earle of Westmorland propos’d,Quoth he, with Scotland let vs first begin,By which we are vpon the North inclos’d,And lockt with vs, one Continent within,Then first let Scotland be by vs dispos’d,And with more ease, yee spatious France may winne,Else of our selues, ere we our Ships can cleere,To land in France; they will inuade vs here.
Which Ralph then Earle of Westmorland propos’d,
Quoth he, with Scotland let vs first begin,
By which we are vpon the North inclos’d,
And lockt with vs, one Continent within,
Then first let Scotland be by vs dispos’d,
And with more ease, yee spatious France may winne,
Else of our selues, ere we our Ships can cleere,
To land in France; they will inuade vs here.
The Duke of Excester the Kings own vnckle.
Not so braue Neuill, Excester replies,For that of one two labours were to make,For Scotland wholly vpon France relies;First, Conquer France, and Scotland yee may take,Tis the French pay, the Scot to them that tyes,That stopt, asunder quickly yee shall shakeThe French and Scots; to France then first say I,First, first, to France, then all the Commons cry.
Not so braue Neuill, Excester replies,
For that of one two labours were to make,
For Scotland wholly vpon France relies;
First, Conquer France, and Scotland yee may take,
Tis the French pay, the Scot to them that tyes,
That stopt, asunder quickly yee shall shake
The French and Scots; to France then first say I,
First, first, to France, then all the Commons cry.
The first breach with France.
And instantly an Embassy is sent,To Charles of France, to will him to restoreThose Territories, of whose large extent,The English Kings were owners of before;Which if he did not, and incontinent,The King would set those English on his Shore,That in despight of him, and all his might,Should leaue their liues there, or redeeme his right.
And instantly an Embassy is sent,
To Charles of France, to will him to restore
Those Territories, of whose large extent,
The English Kings were owners of before;
Which if he did not, and incontinent,
The King would set those English on his Shore,
That in despight of him, and all his might,
Should leaue their liues there, or redeeme his right.
The Countries demanded by the King of England.
First Normandy, in his demand he makes,With Aquitane, a Dutchy no lesse great,Aniou, and Mayne, with Gascoyne which he takesCleerely his owne, as any English seat;With these proud France, he first of all awakes,For their deliuery, giuing power to treat;For well he knew, if Charles should these restore,No King of France was euer left so poore.
First Normandy, in his demand he makes,
With Aquitane, a Dutchy no lesse great,
Aniou, and Mayne, with Gascoyne which he takes
Cleerely his owne, as any English seat;
With these proud France, he first of all awakes,
For their deliuery, giuing power to treat;
For well he knew, if Charles should these restore,
No King of France was euer left so poore.
The King and Daulphine of France, deriding the King of England.
The King, and Daulphin, to his proud demand,That he might see they no such matter ment,As a thing fitter for his youthfull hand;A Tunne of Paris Tennis balls him sent,Better himselfe to make him vnderstand,Deriding his ridiculous intent:And that was all the answere he could get,Which more, the King doth to this Conquest whet.
The King, and Daulphin, to his proud demand,
That he might see they no such matter ment,
As a thing fitter for his youthfull hand;
A Tunne of Paris Tennis balls him sent,
Better himselfe to make him vnderstand,
Deriding his ridiculous intent:
And that was all the answere he could get,
Which more, the King doth to this Conquest whet.
Henry the fift answered for the Tennis Balls.
The language of Tennis.
That answering the Ambassadour, quoth he,Thanks for my Balls, to Charles your Soueraigne giue,And thus assure him, and his sonne from me,I’le send him Balls and Rackets if I liue,That they such Racket shall in Paris see,When ouer lyne with Bandies I shall driue,As that before the Set be fully done,France may (perhaps) into the Hazard runne.
That answering the Ambassadour, quoth he,
Thanks for my Balls, to Charles your Soueraigne giue,
And thus assure him, and his sonne from me,
I’le send him Balls and Rackets if I liue,
That they such Racket shall in Paris see,
When ouer lyne with Bandies I shall driue,
As that before the Set be fully done,
France may (perhaps) into the Hazard runne.
So little doth luxurious France fore-seeBy her disdaine, what shee vpon her drew:In her most brauery seeming then to be,The punishment that shortly should ensue,Which so incenst the English King, that heFor full reuenge into that fury grew:That those three horrors, Famine, Sword, and Fire,Could not suffice to satisfie his ire.
So little doth luxurious France fore-see
By her disdaine, what shee vpon her drew:
In her most brauery seeming then to be,
The punishment that shortly should ensue,
Which so incenst the English King, that he
For full reuenge into that fury grew:
That those three horrors, Famine, Sword, and Fire,
Could not suffice to satisfie his ire.
In all mens mouthes now was no word but warre,As though no thing had any other name;And folke would aske of them ariu’d from farre,What forces were preparing whence they came?’Gainst any bus’nesse ’twas a lawfull barreTo say for France they were; and ’twas a shameFor any man to take in hand to doeOught, but some thing that did belong thereto.
In all mens mouthes now was no word but warre,
As though no thing had any other name;
And folke would aske of them ariu’d from farre,
What forces were preparing whence they came?
’Gainst any bus’nesse ’twas a lawfull barre
To say for France they were; and ’twas a shame
For any man to take in hand to doe
Ought, but some thing that did belong thereto.
Blades accounted of the best temper.
Olde Armours are drest vp, and new are made;Iacksare in working, and strong shirts of Male,He scowersan olde Fox, he a Bilbowe blade,Now Shields and Targets onely are for sale;Who works for warre, now thriueth by his Trade,The browne Bill, and the Battell-Axe preuaile:The curiousFletcherfits his well-strung Bowe,And his barb’d Arrow which he sets to showe.
Olde Armours are drest vp, and new are made;
Iacksare in working, and strong shirts of Male,
He scowersan olde Fox, he a Bilbowe blade,
Now Shields and Targets onely are for sale;
Who works for warre, now thriueth by his Trade,
The browne Bill, and the Battell-Axe preuaile:
The curiousFletcherfits his well-strung Bowe,
And his barb’d Arrow which he sets to showe.
Tents and Pauillions in the fields are pitcht,(E’r full wrought vp their Roomthynesse to try)Windowes, and Towers, with Ensignes are inricht,With ruffling Banners, that doe braue the sky,Wherewith the wearied Labourer bewitchtTo see them thus hang wauing in his eye:His toylsome burthen from his back doth throwe,And bids them worke that will, to France hee’ll goe.
Tents and Pauillions in the fields are pitcht,
(E’r full wrought vp their Roomthynesse to try)
Windowes, and Towers, with Ensignes are inricht,
With ruffling Banners, that doe braue the sky,
Wherewith the wearied Labourer bewitcht
To see them thus hang wauing in his eye:
His toylsome burthen from his back doth throwe,
And bids them worke that will, to France hee’ll goe.
Armed at all points.
Armings for the thigh and legge.
Armings for the arme and shoulder.
Rich Saddles forthe Light-horse and the BardFor to be brau’st there’s not a man but plyes,Plumes, Bandroules, and Caparizons prepar’d;Whether of two, and men at Armes diuiseThe Greaues, or Guyses were the surer guard,The Vambrasse, or the Pouldron, they should prize;And where a stand of Pykes plac’t close, or large,Which way to take aduantage in the Charge.
Rich Saddles forthe Light-horse and the Bard
For to be brau’st there’s not a man but plyes,
Plumes, Bandroules, and Caparizons prepar’d;
Whether of two, and men at Armes diuise
The Greaues, or Guyses were the surer guard,
The Vambrasse, or the Pouldron, they should prize;
And where a stand of Pykes plac’t close, or large,
Which way to take aduantage in the Charge.
One traynes his Horse, another trayles his Pyke,He with his Pole-Axe, practiseth the fight,The Bowe-man (which no Country hath the like)With his sheafe Arrow, proueth by his might,How many score off, he his Foe can strike,Yet not to draw aboue his bosomes hight:The Trumpets sound the Charge and the Retreat,The bellowing Drumme, the Martch againe doth beat.
One traynes his Horse, another trayles his Pyke,
He with his Pole-Axe, practiseth the fight,
The Bowe-man (which no Country hath the like)
With his sheafe Arrow, proueth by his might,
How many score off, he his Foe can strike,
Yet not to draw aboue his bosomes hight:
The Trumpets sound the Charge and the Retreat,
The bellowing Drumme, the Martch againe doth beat.
Great Ordnance then but newly in vse.
Cannons vpon their Caridge mounted are,Whose Battery France must feele vpon her Walls,The Engineer prouiding the Petar,To breake the strong Percullice, and the Balls,Of Wild-fire deuis’d to throw from farre,To burne to ground their Pallaces and Halls:Some studying are, the scale which they had got,Thereby to take the Leuell of their Shot.
Cannons vpon their Caridge mounted are,
Whose Battery France must feele vpon her Walls,
The Engineer prouiding the Petar,
To breake the strong Percullice, and the Balls,
Of Wild-fire deuis’d to throw from farre,
To burne to ground their Pallaces and Halls:
Some studying are, the scale which they had got,
Thereby to take the Leuell of their Shot.
The man in yeares preacht to his youthfull sonnePrest to this Warre, as they sate by the fire,What deedes in France were by his Father done,To this attempt to worke him to aspire,And told him, there how he an Ensigne wonne,Which many a yeare was hung vp in the Quire:And in the Battell, where he made his way,How many French men he struck downe that day.
The man in yeares preacht to his youthfull sonne
Prest to this Warre, as they sate by the fire,
What deedes in France were by his Father done,
To this attempt to worke him to aspire,
And told him, there how he an Ensigne wonne,
Which many a yeare was hung vp in the Quire:
And in the Battell, where he made his way,
How many French men he struck downe that day.
The good old man, with teares of ioy would tell,In Cressy field what prizes Edward play’d,As what at Poycteers the Black Prince befell,How like a Lyon, he about him layd:In deedes of Armes how Awdley did excell,For their olde sinnes, how they the French men payd:How brauely Basset did behaue him there:How Oxford charg’d the Van, Warwick the Reare.
The good old man, with teares of ioy would tell,
In Cressy field what prizes Edward play’d,
As what at Poycteers the Black Prince befell,
How like a Lyon, he about him layd:
In deedes of Armes how Awdley did excell,
For their olde sinnes, how they the French men payd:
How brauely Basset did behaue him there:
How Oxford charg’d the Van, Warwick the Reare.
And Boy, quoth he, I haue heard thy Grandsire say,That once he did an English Archer see,Who shooting at a French twelue score away,Quite through the body, stuck him to a Tree;Vpon their strengths a King his Crowne might lay:Such were the men of that braue age, quoth he,When with his Axe he at his Foe let driue,Murriain and scalpe downe to the teeth did riue.
And Boy, quoth he, I haue heard thy Grandsire say,
That once he did an English Archer see,
Who shooting at a French twelue score away,
Quite through the body, stuck him to a Tree;
Vpon their strengths a King his Crowne might lay:
Such were the men of that braue age, quoth he,
When with his Axe he at his Foe let driue,
Murriain and scalpe downe to the teeth did riue.
The scarlet Iudge might now set vp his Mule,With neighing Steeds the Streetes so pestred are;For where he wont in Westminster to rule,On his Tribunal sate the man of Warre,The Lawyer to his Chamber doth recule,For be hath now no bus’nesse at the Barre:But to make Wills and Testaments for thoseThat were for France, their substance to dispose.
The scarlet Iudge might now set vp his Mule,
With neighing Steeds the Streetes so pestred are;
For where he wont in Westminster to rule,
On his Tribunal sate the man of Warre,
The Lawyer to his Chamber doth recule,
For be hath now no bus’nesse at the Barre:
But to make Wills and Testaments for those
That were for France, their substance to dispose.
By this, the Counsell of this Warre had met,And had at large of eu’ry thing discust;And the graue Clergie had with them beene set:To warrant what they vndertook was iust,And as for monies that to be no let,They bad the King for that to them to trust:The Church to pawne, would see her Challice layde,E’r shee would leaue one Pyoner vnpayde.
By this, the Counsell of this Warre had met,
And had at large of eu’ry thing discust;
And the graue Clergie had with them beene set:
To warrant what they vndertook was iust,
And as for monies that to be no let,
They bad the King for that to them to trust:
The Church to pawne, would see her Challice layde,
E’r shee would leaue one Pyoner vnpayde.
Halfe the circuit of the Island, from the Spanish to the German Ocean.
Edward the third.
From Milford Hauen, to the mouth of Tweed,Ships of all burthen to Southampton brought,For there the King the Rendeuous decreedTo beare aboard his most victorious fraught:The place from whence he with the greatest speedMight land in France, (of any that was thought)And with successe vpon that lucky shore,Where his great Grandsire landed had before.
From Milford Hauen, to the mouth of Tweed,
Ships of all burthen to Southampton brought,
For there the King the Rendeuous decreed
To beare aboard his most victorious fraught:
The place from whence he with the greatest speed
Might land in France, (of any that was thought)
And with successe vpon that lucky shore,
Where his great Grandsire landed had before.
But, for he found those vessels were to fewe,That into France his Army should conuay:He sent to Belgia, whose great store he knewe,Might now at neede supply him euery way.His bounty ample, as the windes that blewe,Such Barkes for Portage out of eu’ry bayIn Holland, Zealand, and in Flanders, brings;As spred the widesleeuewith their canuase wings.
But, for he found those vessels were to fewe,
That into France his Army should conuay:
He sent to Belgia, whose great store he knewe,
Might now at neede supply him euery way.
His bounty ample, as the windes that blewe,
Such Barkes for Portage out of eu’ry bay
In Holland, Zealand, and in Flanders, brings;
As spred the widesleeuewith their canuase wings.
The Sea betwixt France and England so called.
A Catalogue of the Ships in 12 Stanzas.
But first seauen Ships from Rochester are sent,The narrow Seas, of all the French to sweepe:All men of Warre withscripts of Martthat went,And had command, the Coast of France to keepe:The comming of a Nauie to preuent,And view what strength, was in the Bay ofDeepe:And if they found it like to come abroad,To doe their best to fire it in the Road.
But first seauen Ships from Rochester are sent,
The narrow Seas, of all the French to sweepe:
All men of Warre withscripts of Martthat went,
And had command, the Coast of France to keepe:
The comming of a Nauie to preuent,
And view what strength, was in the Bay ofDeepe:
And if they found it like to come abroad,
To doe their best to fire it in the Road.
The names of the Kings 7 Ships of War.
An Indian Bird so great, that she is able to carry an Elephant.
The Bonauenture, George, and the Expence,Three as tall Ships, as e’r did Cable tewe,The Henry Royall, at her parting thence,Like the huge Ruck from Gillingham that flewe:The Antilop, the Elephant, Defence,Bottoms as good as euer spread a clue:All hauing charge, their voyage hauing bin,Before Southampton to take Souldiers in.
The Bonauenture, George, and the Expence,
Three as tall Ships, as e’r did Cable tewe,
The Henry Royall, at her parting thence,
Like the huge Ruck from Gillingham that flewe:
The Antilop, the Elephant, Defence,
Bottoms as good as euer spread a clue:
All hauing charge, their voyage hauing bin,
Before Southampton to take Souldiers in.
Twelue Merchants Ships, of mighty burthen all,New off the Stocks, that had beene rig’d forStoad,Riding in Thames by Lymehouse and BlackwallThat ready were their Merchandize to load,Straitly commanded by the Admirall,At the same Port to settle their aboad:And each of these a Pinnis at command,To put her fraught conueniently to land.
Twelue Merchants Ships, of mighty burthen all,
New off the Stocks, that had beene rig’d forStoad,
Riding in Thames by Lymehouse and Blackwall
That ready were their Merchandize to load,
Straitly commanded by the Admirall,
At the same Port to settle their aboad:
And each of these a Pinnis at command,
To put her fraught conueniently to land.
Eight goodly Ships, so Bristow ready made,Which to the King they bountifully lent,With Spanish Wines which they for Ballast lade,In happy speed of his braue Voyage ment,Hoping his Conquest should enlarge their Trade,And there-withall a rich and spacious Tent:And as, this Fleet the Seuerne Seas doth stem,Fiue more from Padstowe came along with them.
Eight goodly Ships, so Bristow ready made,
Which to the King they bountifully lent,
With Spanish Wines which they for Ballast lade,
In happy speed of his braue Voyage ment,
Hoping his Conquest should enlarge their Trade,
And there-withall a rich and spacious Tent:
And as, this Fleet the Seuerne Seas doth stem,
Fiue more from Padstowe came along with them.
The Hare of Loo, a right good Ship well knowne,The yeare before that twice the Strayts had past,Two wealthy Spanish Merchants did her owne,Who then but lately had repair’d her wast;For from her Deck a Pyrate she had blowne,After a long Fight, and him tooke at last:And from Mounts Bay sixe more, that still in sight,Wayted with her before the Ile of Wight.
The Hare of Loo, a right good Ship well knowne,
The yeare before that twice the Strayts had past,
Two wealthy Spanish Merchants did her owne,
Who then but lately had repair’d her wast;
For from her Deck a Pyrate she had blowne,
After a long Fight, and him tooke at last:
And from Mounts Bay sixe more, that still in sight,
Wayted with her before the Ile of Wight.
The Bay of Portugall one of the highest working Seas that is known.
From Plymmouth next came in the Blazing Starre,And fiery Dragon to take in their fraught;With other foure, especiall men of Warre,That in theBay of Portugallhad fought;And though returning from a Voyage farre,Stem’d that rough Sea, when at the high’st it wrought:With these, of Dertmouth seau’n good Ships there were,The golden Cressant in their tops that beare.
From Plymmouth next came in the Blazing Starre,
And fiery Dragon to take in their fraught;
With other foure, especiall men of Warre,
That in theBay of Portugallhad fought;
And though returning from a Voyage farre,
Stem’d that rough Sea, when at the high’st it wrought:
With these, of Dertmouth seau’n good Ships there were,
The golden Cressant in their tops that beare.
So Lyme, three Ships into the Nauy sent,Of which the Sampson scarse a mon’th before,Had sprung a Planke, and her mayne Mast had spent,With extreame perill that she got to shore;With them fiue other out of Waymouth went,Which by Southampton, were made vp a score:With those that rode (at pleasure) in the Bay,And that at Anchor before Portsmouth lay.
So Lyme, three Ships into the Nauy sent,
Of which the Sampson scarse a mon’th before,
Had sprung a Planke, and her mayne Mast had spent,
With extreame perill that she got to shore;
With them fiue other out of Waymouth went,
Which by Southampton, were made vp a score:
With those that rode (at pleasure) in the Bay,
And that at Anchor before Portsmouth lay.
A Country lying upon the east Sea bordring upon Poland.
Famous for Herring fishing.
Next these, Newcastle furnisheth the FleetWith nine good Hoyes of necessary vse;The Danish Pyrats, valiantly that beet,Offring to Sack them as they sayl’d for Sluce:Six Hulks from Hull at Humbers mouth them meet,Which had them oft accompanied toPruce.Fiue more from Yarmouth falling them among,That had for Fishing beene prepared long.
Next these, Newcastle furnisheth the Fleet
With nine good Hoyes of necessary vse;
The Danish Pyrats, valiantly that beet,
Offring to Sack them as they sayl’d for Sluce:
Six Hulks from Hull at Humbers mouth them meet,
Which had them oft accompanied toPruce.
Fiue more from Yarmouth falling them among,
That had for Fishing beene prepared long.
The Cowe of Harwich, neuer put to flight,For Hides, and Furres, late to Muscouia bound,Of the same Port, another nam’d the Spight,That in her comming lately through the Sound,After a two-dayes-still-continued fight,Had made three Flemings runne themselues a ground;With three neatFlee-boatswhich with them doe take,Six Ships of Sandwich vp the Fleet to make.
The Cowe of Harwich, neuer put to flight,
For Hides, and Furres, late to Muscouia bound,
Of the same Port, another nam’d the Spight,
That in her comming lately through the Sound,
After a two-dayes-still-continued fight,
Had made three Flemings runne themselues a ground;
With three neatFlee-boatswhich with them doe take,
Six Ships of Sandwich vp the Fleet to make.
Aydes to the King by the Nobility.
Nine Ships for the Nobility there went,Of able men, the enterprize to ayde,Which to the King most liberally they lent,At their owne charge, and bountifully payde,Northumberland, and Westmerland in sentFourescore at Armes a peece, themselues and laydeAt six score Archers each, as Suffolke showes,Twenty tall men at Armes, with forty Bowes.
Nine Ships for the Nobility there went,
Of able men, the enterprize to ayde,
Which to the King most liberally they lent,
At their owne charge, and bountifully payde,
Northumberland, and Westmerland in sent
Fourescore at Armes a peece, themselues and layde
At six score Archers each, as Suffolke showes,
Twenty tall men at Armes, with forty Bowes.
Warwick and Stafford leauied at no lesseThen noble Suffolke, nor doe offer moreOf men at Armes, and Archers which they presse,Of their owne Tenants, Arm’d with their owne store:Their forwardnesse fore-showes their good successeIn such a Warre, as had not beene before:And other Barrons vnder Earles that were,Yet dar’d with them an equall charge to beare.
Warwick and Stafford leauied at no lesse
Then noble Suffolke, nor doe offer more
Of men at Armes, and Archers which they presse,
Of their owne Tenants, Arm’d with their owne store:
Their forwardnesse fore-showes their good successe
In such a Warre, as had not beene before:
And other Barrons vnder Earles that were,
Yet dar’d with them an equall charge to beare.
Darcy and Camois, zealous for the King,Louell, Fitzwater, Willoughby, and Rosse,Berckley, Powis, Burrell, fast together cling;Seymer, and Saint Iohn for the bus’nesse closse,Each twenty Horse, and forty foote doe bringMore, to nine hundred mounting in the grosseIn those nine Ships, and fitly them bestow’d,Which with the other fall into the Road.
Darcy and Camois, zealous for the King,
Louell, Fitzwater, Willoughby, and Rosse,
Berckley, Powis, Burrell, fast together cling;
Seymer, and Saint Iohn for the bus’nesse closse,
Each twenty Horse, and forty foote doe bring
More, to nine hundred mounting in the grosse
In those nine Ships, and fitly them bestow’d,
Which with the other fall into the Road.
From Holland, Zeland, and from Flanders wonneBy weekely pay, threescore twelue Bottoms came,From fifty vpward, to fiue hundred Tunne;For eu’ry vse a Marriner could name,Whose glittering Flags against the Radient Sunne,Show’d as the Sea had all beene of a flame;For Skiffes, Crayes, Scallops, and the like, why theseFrom eu’ry small Creeke, cou’red all the Seas.
From Holland, Zeland, and from Flanders wonne
By weekely pay, threescore twelue Bottoms came,
From fifty vpward, to fiue hundred Tunne;
For eu’ry vse a Marriner could name,
Whose glittering Flags against the Radient Sunne,
Show’d as the Sea had all beene of a flame;
For Skiffes, Crayes, Scallops, and the like, why these
From eu’ry small Creeke, cou’red all the Seas.
The man whose way from London hap’d to lye,By those he met might guesse the generall force,Daily encountred as he passed by,Now with a Troupe of Foote, and then of Horse,To whom the people still themselues apply,Bringing them victuals as in mere remorce:And stillthe acclamation of the presse,Saint George for England, to your good successe.
The man whose way from London hap’d to lye,
By those he met might guesse the generall force,
Daily encountred as he passed by,
Now with a Troupe of Foote, and then of Horse,
To whom the people still themselues apply,
Bringing them victuals as in mere remorce:
And stillthe acclamation of the presse,
Saint George for England, to your good successe.
There might a man haue seene in eu’ry Streete,The Father bidding farewell to his Sonne:Small Children kneeling at their Fathers feete:The Wife with her deare Husband ne’r had done:Brother, his Brother, with adieu to greete:One Friend to take leaue of another runne:The Mayden with her best belou’d to part,Gaue him her hand, who tooke away her heart.
There might a man haue seene in eu’ry Streete,
The Father bidding farewell to his Sonne:
Small Children kneeling at their Fathers feete:
The Wife with her deare Husband ne’r had done:
Brother, his Brother, with adieu to greete:
One Friend to take leaue of another runne:
The Mayden with her best belou’d to part,
Gaue him her hand, who tooke away her heart.
The nobler Youth the common ranke aboue,On their coruetting Coursers mounted faire,One ware his Mistris Garter, one her Gloue;And he a lock of his deare Ladies haire;And he her Colours, whom he most did loue;There was not one but did some Fauour weare:And each one tooke it, on his happy speede,To make it famous by some Knightly deede.
The nobler Youth the common ranke aboue,
On their coruetting Coursers mounted faire,
One ware his Mistris Garter, one her Gloue;
And he a lock of his deare Ladies haire;
And he her Colours, whom he most did loue;
There was not one but did some Fauour weare:
And each one tooke it, on his happy speede,
To make it famous by some Knightly deede.
The cloudes of dust, that from the wayes arose,Which in their martch, the trampling Troupes doe reare:When as the Sunne their thicknesse doth opposeIn his descending, shining wondrous cleare,To the beholder farre off standing showesLike some besieged Towne, that were on fire:As though fore-telling e’r they should returne,That many a Citie yet secure must burne.
The cloudes of dust, that from the wayes arose,
Which in their martch, the trampling Troupes doe reare:
When as the Sunne their thicknesse doth oppose
In his descending, shining wondrous cleare,
To the beholder farre off standing showes
Like some besieged Towne, that were on fire:
As though fore-telling e’r they should returne,
That many a Citie yet secure must burne.
The well-rig’d Nauie falne into the Road,For this short Cut with victuall fully stor’d,The King impatient of their long aboad,Commands his Army instantly aboard,Casting to haue each Company bestow’d,As then the time conuenience could afford;The Ships appointed wherein they should goe,And Boats prepar’d for waftage to and fro.
The well-rig’d Nauie falne into the Road,
For this short Cut with victuall fully stor’d,
The King impatient of their long aboad,
Commands his Army instantly aboard,
Casting to haue each Company bestow’d,
As then the time conuenience could afford;
The Ships appointed wherein they should goe,
And Boats prepar’d for waftage to and fro.
aA Blazon of the Ensignes of the seuerall Shires, in 14 Stanzas following.
To be imbarqu’d when euery Band comes downe,Each in their order as they mustred were,Or by the difference of theiraArmings knowne,Or by their Colours; for in Ensignes there,Some wore the Armes of their most ancient Towne,Others againe their owne Diuises beare,There was not any, but that more or lesse,Something had got, that something should expresse.
To be imbarqu’d when euery Band comes downe,
Each in their order as they mustred were,
Or by the difference of theiraArmings knowne,
Or by their Colours; for in Ensignes there,
Some wore the Armes of their most ancient Towne,
Others againe their owne Diuises beare,
There was not any, but that more or lesse,
Something had got, that something should expresse.
bExpressing their freedom, as still retaining their ancient liberties, by surprising the Conqueror like a mouing Wood.
cAn expressiõ of King Harolds death, slaine with an Arrow in the head, at the Battaile of Hastings, fighting against the Conqueror.
First, in thebKentish Stremer was a Wood,Out of whose top an arme that held a Sword,As their right Embleme; and to make it good,They aboue other onely had a Word,Which was; Vnconquer’d; as that freest had stood.cSussex the next that was to come AboardBore a Blacke Lyon Rampant, sore that bled,With a Field-Arrow darted through the head.
First, in thebKentish Stremer was a Wood,
Out of whose top an arme that held a Sword,
As their right Embleme; and to make it good,
They aboue other onely had a Word,
Which was; Vnconquer’d; as that freest had stood.
cSussex the next that was to come Aboard
Bore a Blacke Lyon Rampant, sore that bled,
With a Field-Arrow darted through the head.
dThe first famous Earle of that Countrey.
eExpressing the pleasantnesse of the scituation of that County, lying vpon the French sea.
The men ofdSurrey, Cheeky Blew and gold,(Which for braue Warren their first Earle they wore,In many a Field that honour’d was of olde:)And Hamshere next in the same Colours bore,Three Lions Passant, th’ Armes of Beuis bould,Who through the World so famous was of yore;A siluereTower, Dorsets Red Banner beares;The Cornishmen two Wrestlers had for theirs.
The men ofdSurrey, Cheeky Blew and gold,
(Which for braue Warren their first Earle they wore,
In many a Field that honour’d was of olde:)
And Hamshere next in the same Colours bore,
Three Lions Passant, th’ Armes of Beuis bould,
Who through the World so famous was of yore;
A siluereTower, Dorsets Red Banner beares;
The Cornishmen two Wrestlers had for theirs.
fAs lying the fittest to expell or forwarne Inuasion.
gExpressing the delicacy of the Bath, their chiefe Citty.
hThe Armes of the ancient Family of Clare Earle of Gloster borne by the City.
aStonidge being the first wonder of England, standing in Wiltshire.
bAn old Embleme of Berech, or Berkshire.
ThefDeuonshire Band, a Beacon set on fire,Sommersetga Virgine bathing in a Spring,Their Cities Armes, the men of Glostershire,In Gold threehBloudy Cheuernells doe bring;Wiltshire a CrownedaPiramed; As nigherThen any other to martch to the King;Barkshire abStag, vnder an Oake that stood,Oxford a White Bull wading in a Flood.
ThefDeuonshire Band, a Beacon set on fire,
Sommersetga Virgine bathing in a Spring,
Their Cities Armes, the men of Glostershire,
In Gold threehBloudy Cheuernells doe bring;
Wiltshire a CrownedaPiramed; As nigher
Then any other to martch to the King;
Barkshire abStag, vnder an Oake that stood,
Oxford a White Bull wading in a Flood.
cA Badge of the ancient family of the Staffords Dukes of that place.
dQueene Helen Founder of the Crosse, wife to Constantine, and Daughter to King Coell, builder of Colchester in Essex.
eSuffolke the most Easterly of the English shieres.
fFor the braue prospect to the Germaine Ocean.
The mustred men forcBuckingham, are goneVnder the Swan, the Armes of that olde Towne,The Londoners, and Middlesex as one,Are by the Red Crosse, and the Dagger knowne;The Men ofdEssex ouermatch’d by none,Vnder Queene Hellens Image Martching downe;eSuffolke a Sunne halfe risen from thebrack,fNorfolke a Triton on a Dolphines backe.
The mustred men forcBuckingham, are gone
Vnder the Swan, the Armes of that olde Towne,
The Londoners, and Middlesex as one,
Are by the Red Crosse, and the Dagger knowne;
The Men ofdEssex ouermatch’d by none,
Vnder Queene Hellens Image Martching downe;
eSuffolke a Sunne halfe risen from thebrack,
fNorfolke a Triton on a Dolphines backe.
gHauing relation to that famous Vniuersitie their Shiere Towne.
hThe Armes of the Towne somewhat alluding to the name.
iThe Armes of the towne of Huntingdon, first so named of a place where Hunters met.
The Souldiers sent fromgCambridgshire, a BayVpon a Mountaine watred with a shower:Hartfordhtwo Harts that in a Riuer play;Bedfords an Eagle pearcht vpon a Tower,AndiHuntington a People proud as they,Not giuing place to any for their power,A youthfull Hunter, with a Chaplet Crown’d,In a pydeLyamleading forth his Hound.
The Souldiers sent fromgCambridgshire, a Bay
Vpon a Mountaine watred with a shower:
Hartfordhtwo Harts that in a Riuer play;
Bedfords an Eagle pearcht vpon a Tower,
AndiHuntington a People proud as they,
Not giuing place to any for their power,
A youthfull Hunter, with a Chaplet Crown’d,
In a pydeLyamleading forth his Hound.
kThe armes of the towne.
lFrom the aboundance of wooll in that tract.
mA sport more vsed in that Shiere from ancient time, then in any other.
nFor the length that it hath vpon the Germane Ocean.
Northamptonkwith a Castle seated high,Supported by two Lyons thither came;The men oflRutland, to them marching nie,In their rich Ensigne beare an Ermine Ram,AndmLestershire that on their strength relye,A Bull and Mastiue fighting for the game.Lincolnena Ship most neatly that was lim’dIn all her Sailes with Flags and Pennons trim’d.
Northamptonkwith a Castle seated high,
Supported by two Lyons thither came;
The men oflRutland, to them marching nie,
In their rich Ensigne beare an Ermine Ram,
AndmLestershire that on their strength relye,
A Bull and Mastiue fighting for the game.
Lincolnena Ship most neatly that was lim’d
In all her Sailes with Flags and Pennons trim’d.
aThe Beare and ragged Staffe, the ancient Armes of that Earledome.
bFor the aboundance of fruit more there then in any other tract.
cThe finenesse of the wooll of Lemster in that Shiere.
dMany Hermites liued there in the woods in times past, it being all forrestie.
eExpressing the loftinesse of the mountaines in that Shiere, on which many Hawkes were wont to airy.