PALSGRAVE

Sick at this instant now to be infirm, When the English King hath his kind Letter sent: For me to place this honourable prince, The Duke of Savoy in the Empires rule: That Nation my great Grandfather did love. And since I came to understand their valour, I held them the Prime Soldiers of the world: And think no Martial Tutor fits a prince, But he that is a true born Englishman. Ill comes this Letter, and your Grace at once, A worse time then this you could not choose. Though I am chief Elector of the seven, And a mere Caesar now the Chair is void: Sickness hath weakened all my powers so much, I shall be slighted as a worthless thing. What Spain's King? O that I were as I was wont to be, Before this dangerous sickness was my Foe, No Christian King that came to me for aid But he should speed. But now recovered. And hither come to beat you out of Spain. I hold my thunder here, & my right arm Has vigor in it, when you feel my blows To give you cause to call them Thunderbolts, If there be any in this Martial Troop That with a Soldiers face, has a bold heart, And dares aver that this religious prince Is not the lawful and true King of Spain, I will make good his Title by the sword, And against that proved combatant oppose My self as challenger to fight for him. I lost him in the press, his snowy steed Was crimsond over with the blood of men, And Lyon-like he fought with all his strength, But since the Emperor is my prisoner, I shall die less regard the Dukes escape. When fortune is disposed? a man. Valour and foresight are of no effect: Released by Saxon, and his Keepers live; You are not as I thought you, valiant men; But worse then these that run away for fear. He should have made passage through my heart, Ere escaped from me by Saxon or his plots: But now it is too late to follow him; And the whole Field is made a liquid Sea, Sink may they both into the crimson fen. But why should they sink, you deserve it best: From henceforth I'll never take a Spaniards partly, Except he had a far more valiant heart, At whose heart aim you now, that you are come? To justify and Embassage against me? Cannot. Since mildness cannot temper your stern wrath, But that your spleen must vomit upon me. I'll teach you Sir to have your tongue locked up. By taking off your lock. Pulls off his lock. Now by the honour of my Father's house, Saxon I'll meet thee in the Realm of France, In the Kings Court, or place where thou Wertenberg born, So I may have good Hostage, and fair play. This Saxons brave, gives courage to us all. But I'll requite it with a Germane braule. 'Tis such a Dream yowl never wake ̄ from? To talk of this strange admiration, Which Like the night hovers on every eye: Know that I have deluded you with Hope's Vain, Like those villains, which my sword did kill, And by a Letter to the King delivered, Sent by your Queen, to be revenged for lust, I caused his Majesty to enter thus. What can you swear? Away with them. Choose your own Weapons, and I'll meet you straight. Found trumpets, & the destinies guide all. Our Friends returned in safety cheers more Your fare rights perf to with State in Germani , whither I make the Majesty of England, and all our F j ds. Savoy, because I know them factious. And though Bohemia love me as his life, And Vmpeare-like, should pacify our jars, What is his voice when Saxon draws his sword? Mainz of a Clergyman is stout and proved, Trier his Like, in nature and in vice. And the bold Bastard, late expulst from Spain, Has a bloodthirsty heart, a vengeful spleen. Misfortune cannot daunt him though he fled Out of his own Realm, and has lost his Crown. His impudency yet aims at Caesars Throne, Idem freely partly with mine inheritance, If it could purchase health to tame his pride, But in you only I repose my trust. Reserve your voices for this Noble Duke, Who were I well should be and Emperor: Sickness will be obeyde, I must decline, For my speech fails me to urge more discourse, Pray for me all, if that they chance to win, And I recover I'll help all by War. Are you the Hermit that did bring this letter? Mean time be welcome, fit,& take your rest, And now my Lord of Cullen I me prepared, To hear the woeful tidings you have brought. Comes noble Savoy, and Bohem as King, With the stout Marquess Brandenburgh in triumph And is proud Saxon taken, with the Bastard, Trier and Mainz made subject to your sword? O if they be speak it, and make me well. Be sick who will, mine Ague does retire. And Cullen thou hast cured me with ill news. Come valiant Soldiers show your selves Like men, And be assured weel inn the victory. Hark how they shout as they applauded me: And see how bravely every Leader rides, Plumed from the Beaver to the Saddle bow, While the bold Soldier makes his lofty pike Stretch in the Air with tossing it aloft. Bravely done fellow: that trick once again, And there's gold for thy pains, he fights Like Hector. While at his feet amazed Grecians fallen, And though Achilles would renew the Field, He dares not doo't, the enemies so strong, Me thinks I hear a peal of Ordinance play, They are the Bastards Cannons, planted high, To overthrow my Castle to the ground. Now they shoot off, Death, all my foes are come. Marshal my Troops, and let Drum answer Drum. My self in person will be general. But I faint, and am not what I woul be. My spirit is stronger then my feeble lyms, Lead me once more with grief unto my bed, Few know the sorrows of a troubled head. Victorious Edward keep it as your right, And let it mingle with your Royal Crown, That have deserved it in a field of war, Not as 'tis mine, given for a Tournament. Who have we here? This is the haughty Saxon. Idle are words where we must use our swords, Yet that it may appear what minds we bear, Now we are marched into this dreadful Lists, Know that this day my Honour shall exceed. Or I lie breathless where I set my foot. Long live and happily the Caesar. This were enough to kill some man in health, But in me the effect is contrary. All lost, all conquered, Savoy made a Slave: My Friends in prison, and none escaped but you, He that can hear such ill news and be sick, Deserves never to recover, in my blood, I feel and inflammation of revenge: Theres greater strength gathered into my nerves, Then ere before, since that I grew infirm: They will not rest thus, and stay only there, But having conquered them, assume the Crown, And make the Bastard Emperor. No Combat then will be accepted of. More blood increases, & some more ill news Would make me cast my Nightcap on the ground, And call my Groom to fetch me a Warre-horse, That I may ride before and Army royal, And pluck the Crown from off the Bastards head, That is another's right. Next unto heaven to you, we give the praise, Most zealous King for our recovery, And now my Lord of Cullen show your self, As good a Soldier as a Clergy man. In stead of Beads now use a Martial sword. For here in Spain where the Black Prince incampte, And made the Bastard fly, our Tents are pitched, And the proved Foe comes with a Spleen inrag'de, To driven us from Mazieres; Harry shall know, As he has Kingly blood within his veins, And is a Caesar, he shall meet with Caesars. Well, since I think it weakness and not will, By which they are escaped, I calm my spleen, And rest content that we have won the field. After you are establish in your Throne, I'll sail to England to regreet the King: And then to Germany, where if we meet Bavaria's, air shall be his winding sheet. Retreat, retreat, and thank heaven for the day. Let him fit fast that shall contend with me, Or I shall shake him, be he never so Royal: I show no favour when I am in Arms, Nor look for any from my Opposites. But Tournaments are revels made for sport, And he runs well, that gets a good report. Then you are Cowards all . I'll so proclaim you in my thundering Drums, And by the glories that I hope to win, Prove it this day to thy perpetual shame: But to a heartless foe words are but vain. Alarm Drum, that showers of blood may reign. Your Highness honours me exceedingly. Thou fowl-mouthed sla ̄ derer eat thy proud words up, Wherewith thou hast aspersed me; or my fury Shall make thee curse this bold-fac'te impudence. This shall suffice. I have your lock to me a better pledge. as the first. Fair winds and prosperous our several Realms, we wish and pray for, 'tis not our least good To be the Favorites of the uva ng Flood. Upon them valiant friends. Saxon is fled, Caesar my captive is, I must not loose him; guard the Emperor sure, While I pursue the Duke. I rather think the ill was aimed at me, Because I came to move your Majesty. For the deposing of the Emperor: And it is known the Bastard is my foe, Witness the Wars in Germany and Spain : Treason by him is evermore in act, His brain coins faster then the English Mint; Treacherous proceedings, gold has many friends: And he must be a man of excellent virtue Whom it corrupts not. Howsoever, I am sorry The Sailors did escape. What Oak is ever strong? age makes Jove's tree, The fairest King, and Emperor of the wood, To bend it self, and bow his lofty arms Downwards unto the earth that softred it. No Caeder grows straight till his latest day: As there's a weakness in their springing up, So is there in their declination. The middle age the luffy does express, And there flows vigor, Like a sea of strength, Able to bear down what does stand the stream: Such is mine now, but as my years do flow, Like Oaks and Caeder they must straight bow low. That as he run from Spain, he shall run hence, Or I shall make him a poor Emperor. His Bastard bravery tell him must go down, And the legitimate wear Caesars Crown. Tak't how they please, If they fly hence, weel follow through the Seas. Your love and Royal presence I desire. Our revelling has struck day out of night, And bright Aurora ushers forth the Sun To his diurnal course; yet neither night, Day, nor the morning, with her flaring beams, Can stir up valour in this Saxons breast: What, is thy mind made captive with thy body? Or thinkest thou that I take advantages Where honour should be showed, Ime still my self Ready to give and answer to thy challenge As at the first, and if thou conquerest me, By my Achievements I will set thee free. But say from me my sword never drunk French And therefore it is thirsty for their lives: That are I leave the Continent of France, Without good satisfaction from the King, None of his Cavaliers shall were a lock, I'll have them all cut off, and every year Be paid in such a tribute for my wrongs. As for proud Saxon, Say my word is kept, And bid him warily respect his own: The French Kings Palace shall not save his life, Nor the best rampierd Bulwark in the Land, Except he answer me as fits a Pee e. And bring them hither. You should have fought still, twould have been my glory, To have given aim, & then the conqueror conquered: But what your variance leaves unfinish here, I'll end with the destruction of you both.