Chapter 3

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.

[Stanza 38: _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.

[Stanza 39]

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.

[Stanza 40]

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.

[Stanza 41]

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.

[Stanza 42]

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.

[Stanza 43]

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.

[Stanza 44: _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 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.

[Stanza 45]

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 wide sleeue with their canuase wings.

[Stanza 46: _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 with scripts of Mart that 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 of Deepe: And if they found it like to come abroad, To doe their best to fire it in the Road.

[Stanza 47: _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.

[Stanza 48]

Twelue Merchants Ships, of mighty burthen all, New off the Stocks, that had beene rig'd for Stoad, 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.

[Stanza 49]

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.

[Stanza 50]

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.

[Stanza 51: _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 the Bay of Portugall had 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.

[Stanza 52]

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.

[Stanza 53: _A Country lying upon the east Sea bordring upon Poland._]

[_Famous for Herring fishing._]

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 to Pruce. Fiue more from Yarmouth falling them among, That had for Fishing beene prepared long.

[Stanza 54]

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 neat Flee-boats which with them doe take, Six Ships of Sandwich vp the Fleet to make.

[Stanza 55: _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 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.

[Stanza 56]

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.

[Stanza 57]

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.

[Stanza 58]

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.

[Stanza 59]

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 still the acclamation of the presse, Saint George for England, to your good successe.

[Stanza 60]

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.

[Stanza 61]

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.

[Stanza 62]

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.

[Stanza 63]

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.

[Stanza 64]

To be imbarqu'd when euery Band comes downe, Each in their order as they mustred were, Or by the difference of their [a]Armings 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.

[Note a: _A Blazon of the Ensignes of the seuerall Shires, in 14 Stanzas following._]

[Stanza 65]

First, in the [b]Kentish 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. [c]Sussex the next that was to come Aboard Bore a Blacke Lyon Rampant, sore that bled, With a Field-Arrow darted through the head.

[Note b: _Expressing their freedom, as still retaining their ancient liberties, by surprising the Conqueror like a mouing Wood._]

[Note c: _An expressio of King Harolds death, slaine with an Arrow in the head, at the Battaile of Hastings, fighting against the Conqueror._]

[Stanza 66]

The men of [d]Surrey, 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 siluer[e] Tower, Dorsets Red Banner beares; The Cornishmen two Wrestlers had for theirs.

[Note d: _The first famous Earle of that Countrey._]

[Note e: _Expressing the pleasantnesse of the scituation of that County, lying vpon the French sea._]

[Stanza 67]

The [f]Deuonshire Band, a Beacon set on fire, Sommerset [g]a Virgine bathing in a Spring, Their Cities Armes, the men of Glostershire, In Gold three [h]Bloudy Cheuernells doe bring; Wiltshire a Crowned[a] Piramed; As nigher Then any other to martch to the King; Barkshire a [b]Stag, vnder an Oake that stood, Oxford a White Bull wading in a Flood.

[Note f: _As lying the fittest to expell or forwarne Inuasion._]

[Note g: _Expressing the delicacy of the Bath, their chiefe Citty._]

[Note h: _The Armes of the ancient Family of Clare Earle of Gloster borne by the City._]

[Note a: _Stonidge being the first wonder of England, standing in Wiltshire._]

[Note b: _An old Embleme of Berech, or Berkshire._]

[Stanza 68]

The mustred men for [c]Buckingham, 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 of [d]Essex ouermatch'd by none, Vnder Queene Hellens Image Martching downe; [e]Suffolke a Sunne halfe risen from the brack, [f]Norfolke a Triton on a Dolphines backe.

[Note c: _A Badge of the ancient family of the Staffords Dukes of that place._]

[Note d: _Queene Helen Founder of the Crosse, wife to Constantine, and Daughter to King Coell, builder of Colchester in Essex._]

[Note e: _Suffolke the most Easterly of the English shieres._]

[Note f: _For the braue prospect to the Germaine Ocean._]

[Stanza 69]

The Souldiers sent from [g]Cambridgshire, a Bay Vpon a Mountaine watred with a shower: Hartford[h] two Harts that in a Riuer play; Bedfords an Eagle pearcht vpon a Tower, And [i]Huntington a People proud as they, Not giuing place to any for their power, A youthfull Hunter, with a Chaplet Crown'd, In a pyde Lyam leading forth his Hound.

[Note g: _Hauing relation to that famous Vniuersitie their Shiere Towne._]

[Note h: _The Armes of the Towne somewhat alluding to the name._]

[Note i: _The Armes of the towne of Huntingdon, first so named of a place where Hunters met._]

[Stanza 70]

Northampton[k] with a Castle seated high, Supported by two Lyons thither came; The men of [l]Rutland, to them marching nie, In their rich Ensigne beare an Ermine Ram, And [m]Lestershire that on their strength relye, A Bull and Mastiue fighting for the game. Lincolne[n] a Ship most neatly that was lim'd In all her Sailes with Flags and Pennons trim'd.

[Note k: _The armes of the towne._]

[Note l: _From the aboundance of wooll in that tract._]

[Note m: _A sport more vsed in that Shiere from ancient time, then in any other._]

[Note n: _For the length that it hath vpon the Germane Ocean._]

[Stanza 71]

Stout[a] Warwickshire, her ancient badge the Beare, Worster[b] a Peare-Tree laden with the Fruit, A Golden Fleece and[c] Hereford doth weare, Stafford[d] a Hermet in his homely sute, Shropshire[e] a Falcon towring in the Ayre, And for the Shiere whose surface seems most brute, Darby, an Eagle sitting on a Roote, A swathed Infant holding in her foote.

[Note a: _The Beare and ragged Staffe, the ancient Armes of that Earledome._]

[Note b: _For the aboundance of fruit more there then in any other tract._]

[Note c: _The finenesse of the wooll of Lemster in that Shiere._]

[Note d: _Many Hermites liued there in the woods in times past, it being all forrestie._]

[Note e: _Expressing the loftinesse of the mountaines in that Shiere, on which many Hawkes were wont to airy._]

[Stanza 72]

Olde[f] Nottingham, an Archer clad in greene, Vnder a Tree with his drawne Bowe that stood, Which in a checkquer'd Flagge farre off was seene: It was the Picture of olde Robin Hood, And[g] Lancashire not as the least I weene, Thorough three Crownes, three Arrowes smear'd with blood: Cheshiere a Banner very square and broad, Wherein a man vpon a Lyon rode.

[Note f: _That famous out-law liued much in that Country, and is yet by many places there celebrated._]

[Note g: _Accounted euer the best Archers in England._]

[Stanza 73]

A flaming Lance, the[h] Yorkshiere men for them, As those for Durham neere againe at hand, A Myter crowned with a Diadem: An Armed man, the men of[i] Cumberland: So[k] Westmerland link'd with it in one Stem, A Ship that wrackt lay fierd vpon the sand: Northumberland[l] with these com'n as a Brother, Two Lyons fighting tearing one another.

[Note h: _For their agillity with the Speare, and swiftnesse of their Naggs._]

[Note i: _Being ready stil in Armes against the Scots._]

[Note k: _Expressing the scite therof iuting out into those dangerous Seas, betwixt England and Ireland._]

[Note l: _Their terrible conflicts (many times) with the Scots, expressed in the fight between the golden and red Lyons._]

[Stanza 74]

Thus as themselues the English men had show'd Vnder the Ensigne of each seu'rall Shiere, The Natiue Welch who no lesse honour ow'd To their owne King, nor yet lesse valiant were, In one strong Reg'ment had themselues bestow'd, And of the rest, resumed had the Reare: To their owne Quarter marching as the rest, As neatly Arm'd, and brauely as the best.

[Stanza 75]

[a]Pembrooke, a Boat wherein a Lady stood, Rowing her selfe within a quiet Bay; Those men of South-Wales of the [b]mixed blood, Had of the Welch the leading of the way: Caermardin[c] in her Colours beare a Rood, Whereon an olde man lean'd himselfe to stay At a Starre pointing; which of great renowne, Was skilfull Merlin, namer of that Towne.

[Note a: _Milford Hauen in Pembrookeshiere, one of the brauest harbours in the knowne world, therefore not vnaptly so expressed._]

[Note b: _Partly Dutch, partly English, partly Welch._]

[Note c: _Merlin, by whose birth and knowledge that towne is made famous._]

[Stanza 76]

[d]Clamorgan men, a Castell great and hie, From which, out of the Battlement aboue, A flame shot vp it selfe into the skye: The men of [e]Munmouth (for the ancient loue To that deare Country; neighbouring them so nie) Next after them in Equipage that moue, Three Crownes Imperiall which supported were, With three Arm'd Armes, in their proud Ensigne beare.

[Note d: _A Watch Tower or Pharus, hauing the scituation where Seuerne beginneth to widden, as when Pirats haue come in to giue warning to the other Maratyne Countries._]

[Note e: _For the glory it hath attained, to be the Kings birth-place, and to expresse his principalities._]

[Stanza 77]

The men of [f]Brecknock brought a Warlick Tent, Vpon whose top there sate a watchfull Cock, Radnor,[g] a mountaine of a high assent, Thereon a Shepheard keeping of his Flock, As [h]Cardigan the next to them that went, Came with a Mermayde sitting on a Rock, And [i]Merioneth beares (as these had done) Three dancing Goates against the rising Sunne.

[Note f: _The Armes of Brecknock._]

[Note g: _Lying towards the midst of Wales, and for aboundance of Sheepe, liuing on those high Mountaines._]

[Note h: _Expressing the scituation of that Shiere, lying on the Maratine part vpon the Irish Sea._]

[Note i: _For the aboundance of Goates, being on those inaccessible Mountaines._]

[Stanza 78]

Those of [a]Montgomery, beare a prancing Steed, Denbigh[b] a Neptune with his three-fork'd Mace: Flintshiere[c] a Workmayd in her Summers weed, With Sheafe and Sickle (with a warlick pace) Those of Caernaruon not the least in speed, Though marching last (in the mayne Armies face) Three golden Eagles in their Ensigne brought, Vnder which oft braue Owen Guyneth fought.

[Note a: _The Shiere breeding the best Horses of Wales._]

[Note b: _As opening it selfe to the great North or Deucalidonian Sea._]

[Note c: _Expressing the abundance of Corn and grasse, in that little Tract._]

[Stanza 79]

The Seas amazed at the fearefull sight, Of Armes, and Ensignes, that aboard were brought, Of Streamers, Banners, Pennons, Ensignes pight, Vpon each Pup and Prowe; and at the fraught, So full of terror, that it hardly might Into a naturall course againe be brought, As the vaste Nauie which at Anchor rides, Proudly presumes to shoulder out the Tides.

[Stanza 80: _A Simile of the Nauy._]

The Fleet then full, and floating on the Maine, The numerous Masts, with their braue Topsailes spred, When as the Winde a little doth them straine, Seeme like a Forrest bearing her proud head Against some rough flawe, that forerunns a raine; So do they looke from euery loftie sted, Which with the Surges tumbled too and fro, Seeme (euen) to bend, as trees are seene to doe.

[Stanza 81: _The braue solemnity at the departing of the Fleet._]

From euery Ship when as the Ordnance rore, Of their depart, that all might vnderstand, When as the zealous people from the shore, Againe with fires salute them from the Land, For so was order left with them before, To watch the Beacons, with a carefull hand, Which being once fierd, the people more or lesse, Should all to Church, and pray for their successe.

[Stanza 82: _The Nauy Landing in the mouth of Seyne._]

They shape their Course into the Month of Seyne, That destin'd Flood those Nauies to receiue, Before whose fraught her France had prostrate laine, As now she must this, that shall neuer leaue, Vntill the Engines that it doth containe, Into the ayre her heightned walls shall heaue; Whose stubborne Turrets had refus'd to bow, To that braue Nation that shall shake them now.

[Stanza 83]

Long Boates with Scouts are put to land before, Vpon light Naggs the Countrey to discry, (Whilst the braue Army setting is on shore,) To view what strength the enemy had nie, Pressing the bosome of large France so sore, That her pale Genius, in affright doth flye To all her Townes and warnes them to awake, And for her safety vp their Armes to take.

[Stanza 84]

At Paris, Roan, and Orleance, she calls, And at their gates with gronings doth complaine: Then cries she out, O get vp to your walls: The English Armies are return'd againe, Which in two Battailes gaue those fatall falls, At Cressie, and at Poyteers, where lay slaine Our conquered Fathers, which with very feare Quake in their Graues to feele them landed here.

[Stanza 85]

The King of France now hauing vnderstood, Of Henries entrance, (but too well improu'd,) He cleerly saw that deere must be the blood, That it must cost, e'r he could be remou'd; He sends to make his other Sea Townes good, Neuer before so much it him behou'd; In eu'ry one a Garison to lay, Fearing fresh powers from England eu'ry day.

[Stanza 86: _The braue encouragement of a couragious King._]

To the high'st earth whilst awfull Henry gets, From whence strong Harflew he might easl'est see, With sprightly words, and thus their courage whets, In yonder walls be Mynes of gold (quoth he) He's a poore Slaue, that thinkes of any debts; Harflew shall pay for all, it ours shall be: This ayre of France doth like me wondrous well, Lets burne our Ships, for here we meane to dwell.