The Fourth Song

England and Wales striue, in this Song,
To whether, Lundy doth belong:
When eithers Nymphs, to cleere the doubt,
By Musick meane to try it out.
Of mightie Neptune leaue they aske:
Each one betakes her to her taske;
The Britaines, with the Harpe and Crowd:
The English, both with still and loud.
The Britaines chaunt King Arthurs glory,
The English sing their Saxons storie.
The Hills of Wales their weapons take,
And are an vprore like to make,
To keepe the English part in awe.
There's heaue, and shoue, and hold, and draw;
That Severne can them scarce divide,
Till Iudgment may the Cause decide.

THis while in Sabrin's Court strong factions strangely grew,
Since Cornwall for her owne, and as her proper due,
Claim'd Lundy, which was said to Cambria to belong,
Who oft had sought redresse for that her ancient wrong:
But her inveterate Foe, borne-out by Englands might,
O're-swaies her weaker power; that (now in eithers right)
As Severne finds no Flood so great, nor poorelie meane,
But that the naturall Spring (her force which doth maintaine)
From this or that shee takes; so from this Faction free
(Begun about this Ile) not one was like to bee.
This Lundy is a Nymph to idle toyes inclin'd;
And, all on pleasure set, doth whollie giue her mind
To see vpon her shores her Fowle and Conies fed,
And wantonlie to hatch the Birds of Ganimed.
Of trafique or returne shee neuer taketh care:
Not prouident of pelfe, as many Ilands are:
A lustie black-brow'd Girle, with forehead broad and hie,
That often had bewitcht the Sea-gods with her eye.
Of all the In-laid Iles her Soueraigne Seuerne keepes,
That bathe their amorous breasts within her secret Deepes
(To loue her Barry much and Silly though shee seeme,
The Flat Holme and the Steepe as likewise to esteeme)
This noblest British Nymph yet likes her Lundy best,
And to great Neptunes grace preferres before the rest.
Thus, Cambria to her right that would her selfe restore,
And rather then to lose Loëgria, lookes for more;
The Nymphs of either part, whom passion doth invade,
To triall straight will goe, though Neptune should disswade:
But of the weaker sex, the most part full of spleene,
And onely wanting strength to wreake their angry teene,
For skill their challenge make, which euerie one profest,
And in the learned Arts (of knowledges the best,
And to th'heroïck spirit most pleasing vnder skie)
Sweet Musick, rightlie matcht with heauenlie Poësie,
In which they all exceed: and in this kind alone
They Conquerers vow to be, or lastlie ouerthrowne.
Which when faire Sabrine saw (as shee is wondrous wise)
And that it were in vaine them better to advise,
Sith this contention sprang from Countries like alli'd,
That shee would not be found t'incline to either side,
To mightie Neptune sues to haue his free consent
Due triall they might make: When he incontinent
His Trytons sendeth out the challenge to proclaime.
No sooner that divulg'd in his so dreadfull name,
But such a shout was sent from euerie neighboring Spring,
That the report was heard through all his Court to ring:
And from the largest Streame vnto the lesser Brooke,
Them to this wondrous taske they seriouslie betooke:
They curle their Ivory fronts, and not the smallest Beck
But with white Pebles makes her Tawdries for her neck;
Lay forth their amorous breasts vnto the publique view,
Enamiling the white, with veines that were as blew;
Each Moore, each Marsh, each Mead, preparing rich array
To set their Riuers forth against this generall day.
Mongst Forrests, Hills, and Floods, was ne're such heaue and shoue
Since Albion weelded Armes against the sonne of Ioue.
When as the English part their courage to declare,
Them to th'appointed place immediatly prepare.
A troupe of stately Nymphs proud Avon with her brings
(As shee that hath the charge of wise Mineruas Springs)
From Mendip tripping downe, about the tinny Mine.
And Ax, no lesse imploy'd about this great designe,
Leads forth a lustie Rout, when Bry, with all her throng
(With very madnes swolne that she had stai'd so long)
Comes from the boggie Mears and queachy fens below:
That Parret (highly pleas'd to see the gallant show)
Set out with such a traine as bone so great a sway,
The soyle but scarcely serues to giue her hugenesse way.
Then the Deuonian Tawe, from Dertmore deckt with pearle,
Vnto the conflict come•; with her that gallant Girle
Cleere Towridge, whom they fear'd would haue estrang'd her fall:
Whose comming, lastlie, bred such courage in them all,
As drew downe many a Nymph from the Cornubian shore,
That paint their goodlie breasts with sundrie sorts of Ore.
The British, that this while had stood a view to take
What to her vtmost power the publique Foe could make,
But slightlie weigh their strength: for, by her naturall kind,
As still the Britan heares a braue and noble mind;
So, trusting to their skill, and goodnes of their Cause,
For speedie Triall call, and for indifferent Lawes,
At length, by both allow'd, it to this issue grew;
To make a likely choise of some most expert crew,
Whose number comming neere vnto the others dowre,
The English should not vrge they were o're-borne by powre.
Yet hardlie vpon Pows• they dare their hopes to lay,
For that shee hath commerce with England euery day:
Nor Rosse; for that too much […] Aliens doth respect;
And following them, forgoes her ancient Dialect;
The Venedotian Floods, that ancient Britans were,
The Mountaines kept them backe, and shut them in the Reare:
But Brecknock, long time knowne a Country of much worth,
Vnto this conflict brings her goodly Fountaines forth:
For almost not a Brooke of Morga•• nor Gwent,
But from her fruitfull wombe doe f••ch their hie descent.
For Brecan, was a Prince once fortunate and great
(Who dying, lent his name to that his nobler seat)
With twice twel•e daughters blest, by one and onely wife:
Who for their beauties rare, and sanctiue of life,
To Riuers war• transform'd; whose pureness doth declare
How excellent they were, by beeing what they are:
Who dying virgins all, and Riuers now by Ea••,
To tell their former loue to the vnmaried state,
To Seuerne ships this course o• which now their forme doth beare;
Ere shee was made a flood, a virgin as they were.
And from the Irish seas with feare they still doe fli••
So much they yet delight in mayden companies
Then most renowned Wales thou famous ancient place,
Which still hast been the Nurse of all the British •ace,
Since Nature thee den•es that purple-cluster'd Vine,
Which others Temples chafes with fragrant sparkling Wine;
And being now in hand, to write thy glorious praise;
Fill me a bowle of Meath, my working spirit to raise:
And ere seuen Bookes haue end, I'le strike so high a string,
Thy Bards shall stand amaz'd with wonder, whilst I sing;
That Taliessen, once which made the Riuers dance,
And in his rapture raiz'd the Mountaines from their trance,
Shall tremble at my Verse, rebounding from the skies;
Which like an earth-quake shakes the Tomb wherein he lies.
First our triumphing Muse of sprightly Vske shall tell,
And what to euery Nymph attending her, befell:
Which Cray and Camlas first for Pages doth retenne;
With whom the next in place comes in the tripping Breane,
With Isker; and with her comes Hodny fine and cleere,
Of Brecknock best belov'd, the Soueraigne of the Sheere:
And Grony, at an inch, waits on her Mistress heeles.
But entring (at the last) the Monumethian fields,
Small Fidan, with Cledaugh, increase her goodly Manie,
Short Kebby, and the Brooke that christneth Abergeny.
With all her watry •••ine, when now at las• she came
Vnto that happie Towne which beares her onely name,
Bright Birthin, with her friend faire •h•y, kindly meet her,
Which for her present haste […] scarcely time to greet her:
But earnest on her way, she needsly will be gone;
So much she longs to •ee the ancient Carl••n.
When Avon commeth in then which amongst them all
A finer is not found betwixt her head and fall.
Then Eb•ith, and with her slides Snowy; which forelay
Her progresse; and for •ike keepe entrance to the Sea.
When Munno, all this while the•• (for her owne behoofe)
From this their great recourse had strangely stood aloofe,
Made proude by Monmouth• name appointed her by Fate,
Of all the rest herein obserued speciall st•r•.
For once the Bards foretold she should produce a King,
Which euerlasting praise to his […] should bring,
Who by his conquering sword should all the land ••rprise,
Which twixt the […] and the […]
She therefore is allow'd […] by he•,
They winne the goodly […] home strongly she doth stirre
Her powerfull helpe […] which […] had de•ide,
Because her selfe so […] England […]
But b•ing by Munn• […] she goes.
Which when as Thr•ggy […] her self• she […] throwes
Into the watry throng, with many […]
Repairing to the Welch, their number vp to ••ll.
That Remny when […] Nymphes of Gw•••,
On this appointed match, were […]
Where shee of ancient time had […]
The Monumethian […]
Intreats the Taffe along […]
With whom cleere Cun•• […] Camb•••• Lasse:
Then […] with […] hold• […] way,
And Ogmore, that would yet […] soone as they,
By Avon called […] when […] anon
(To all the neighbouring Nymp•• fo• her r•re […] known;
Besides her double head, to helpe her streame that •ath
Her handmaids, Melta sweet, […] Hepsey, and Tragath)
From Brecknock forth doth breake, then Dulas and Cl•daugh,
By Morgany doe driue her through her watry saugh;
With Taw•• taking […] •he Cambrian power:
Then Lhu and Logar, giuen to strengthen them by G•wer,
Mongst whom, […] there were, that in their sacred rage
Recorded the Descents, and acts of euerie Age.
Some with their nimble loy•ts that strooke the •a••ling string;
In fingering some […] but one […] vs'd to sing
Vnto the others Ha•p•: of which you both might find
Great plentie, and of both excelling in their kind,
That at the Stethva oft obtain'd a Visitors praise,
Had wonne the Siluer Harpe, and wor•e Apollos •ayed:
Whose Verses they […] from those first golden •imes,
Of sundry sorts of Feet, and sundly su•e• of Rimes.
In Englins some there were that on their subiect straine;
Some Makers that againe affect the loftier vaine,
Rehearse their high […] Cowiths: other-some
In Owdells theirs expresse, as matter haps to come;
So varying still their Moods, obseruing yet in all
Their Quantities, their Rests, their Geasures metricall:
For to that sacred skill they most themselues apply,
Addicted from their births so much •o Poësie,
That in the Mountaines those who sen•ce haue seene a Booke,
Most skilfully will make, as though from Art they tooke.
And as Loëgria spares not any thing of worth
That any way might set her goodly Riuers forth,
As stones by nature out from the C•r••bian Strond;
Her Dertmore sends them Pearl•, Rock vincent, Diamond:
So Cambria, of her Nymphs especiall •are will haue.
For Conwy sends them Pearle to make them wondrous braue,
The sacred Virgins d•ell, her mosse most sweet and rare,
Against infectious damps for Pomander to weare:
And Goldeliff of his Or• in plentious sort allowes,
To spangle their are yets, and deck their amorous• routes,
And lastlie, holie De• (whose pray're were highly priz'd,
As one in heauenlie things deuou•lie exercis'd
Who, changing of his Fourds, by divination had
Fore-told the neighboring folke of fortune good or bad)
In their intended course sith need• they will proceed,
His Benediction sends in way of happy speed.
And though there were such haste vnto this long-lookt howre,
Yet let they not to call vpon th'Eternall Power.
For, who will haue his worke his wished end to winne,
Let him with hartie prayer religiouslie beginne.
Wherefore the English part, with full deuou•intent,
In meet and godlie sort •o Glastenbury sent,
Beseeching of the Saints in Avalon that were,
There offring at their Tombes for euerie one a teare,
And humblie to Saint George their Countries Patron pray,
To prosper their designe now in this mightie day.
The Britans, like deuout, their Messengers direct
To Dauid, that he would their ancient right protect.
Mongst Hatterills loftie hills, that with the clowds are crown'd,
The Vally Ewias lies, immur'd so deep and round,
As they belowe that see the Mountaines rise so hie,
Might thinke the stragling Heards were grazing in the skie:
Which in it such a shape of solitude doth beare,
As Nature at the first appointed it for pray're
Where, in an aged •ell, with mosse and Ivie growne,
In which, not to this day the Sunne hath euer showne,
That reuerent British Saint in zealous Ages past,
To contemplation liu'd, and did so trulie fast,
As he did onelie drinke what crystall Hod•ey yeelds,
And fed vpon the L••ks he gather'd in the fields.
In memorie of whom, in the reuoluing yeere
The Welch-men on his day that sacred herbe doe weare:
Where, of that holie man, as humblie they doe craue,
That in their iust defence they might his furtherance haue.
Thus either, well prepard the others power before,
Conuenientlie be'ing plac't vpon their equall shore;
The Britans, to whose lot the Onset doth belong,
Giue signall to the Foe for silent to their Song.
To tell each various Straine and turning of their Rimes,
How this in compasse falls, or that in sharpeness climes
(As where they rest and rise, how take it one from one,
As euery seuerall Chord hath a peculiar Tone)
Euen Memorie her selfe, though striuing, would come short:
But the materiall things Muse helpe me to report.
As first, t'affront the Foe, in th'ancient Britans right,
With Arthur they begin, their most renowned Knight;
The richness of the Armes their well-made Worthie wore,
The temper of his sword the (try'd Escalaboure)
The bignes and the length of Rone, his noble Speare;
With Pridwin his great Shield, and what the proofe could beare;
His Baudrick how adorn'd with stones of wondrous price,
The sacred Virgins shape he bore for his deuice;
These monuments of worth, the ancient Britans song.
Now, doubting least these things might hold them but too long,
His warres they tooke to taske; the Land then ouer-layd
With those proud German powers: when, calling to his ayde
His kinsman Howell, brought from Britany the lesse,
Their Armies they vnite, both swearing to suppresse
The Saxon, heer that sought through conquest all to gaine.
On whom he chanc't to light at Lincolne: where the Plaine
Each where from side to side lay scatter'd with the dead.
And when the conquer'd Foe, that from the conflict fled,
Betooke them to the woods, hee neuer left them there
Vntill the British earth he forc't them to forsweare.
And as his actions rose, so raise they still their veine,
In words, whose weight best sute a sublimated straine.
They sung how he, him selfe at Badon bore that day,
When at the glorious Gole his British Scepter lay:
Two daies together how the battell stronglie stood:
Pendragons worthie sonne who waded there in blood,
Three hundred Saxons slew with his owne valiant hand.
And after (cald, the Pict, and Irish to withstand)
How he, by force of Armes Albania ouer-ran,
Pursuing of the Pict beyond Mount Calidon:
There strongly shut them vp whom stoutly he subdu'd.
How Gillamore againe to Ireland he pursu'd
So oft as he presum'd the envious Pict to ayde:
And hauing slaine the King, the Country waste hee laid.
To Goth-land how againe this Conqueror maketh-forth
With his so prosp'rous powers into the farthest North:
Where, Island first he wonne, and Orkney after got.
To Norway sayling next with his deere Nephew Lot,
By deadlie dint of sword did Ricoll there defeat:
And hauing plac't the Prince on that Norwegian seat,
How this courageous King did Denmarke then controle:
That scarcelie there was found a Countrie to the Pole
That dreaded not his deeds, too long that were to tell.
And after these, in France th'adventures him befell
At Paris, in the Lists, where he with Flollio fought;
The Emperor Leons power to raise his Siege that brought.
Then brauelie set they sorth, in combat how these Knights
On horseback and on foote perform'd their seuerall fights:
As with what maruailous force each other they assaild,
How mighty Flollio first, how Arthur then prevail'd;
For best advantage how they trauersed their grounds,
The horrid blowes they lent, the world-amazing wounds,
Vntill the Tribune, tyr'd, sanke vnder Arthurs sword.
Then sing they how hee first ordain'd the Circled-board,
The Knights whose martiall deeds farre fam'd that Table-round;
Which, truest in their loues; which, most in Armes renown'd:
The Lawes, which long vp-held that Order, they report;
The Pentecosts prepar'd at Carleon in his Court,
That Tables ancient seate; her Temples and her Groues,
Her Palaces, her Walks, Baths, Theaters, and Stoues:
Her Academie, then, as likewise they prefer:
Of Camilot they sing, and then of Winchester.
The feasts that vnder-ground the Faërie did him make,
And there how he enioyd the Lady of the Lake.
Then told they, how him selfe great Arthur did advance,
To meet (with his Allies) that puissant force in France,
By Lucius thither led; those Armies that while-ere
Affrighted all the world, by him strooke dead with feare:
Th'report of his great Acts that ouer Europe ran,
In that most famous Field he with the Emperor wan:
As how great Rython's selfe hee slew in his repaire,
Who rauisht Howells Neece, young Hellena the faire;
And for a Trophy brought the Giants coat away
Made of the beards of Kings. Then brauelie chanted they
The seuerall twelue pitcht Fields he with the Saxons fought:
The certaine day and place to memorie they brought;
Then by false Mordreds hand how last hee chanc't to fall,
The howre of his decease, his place of buriall.
When out the English cry'd, to interrupt their Song:
But they, which knew to this more matter must belong,
Not out at all for that, nor any whit dismay'd,
But to their well-tun'd Harps their fingers closelie laid:
Twixt euery one of which they plac't their Countries Crowd,
And with courageous spirits thus boldly sang aloud;
How Merlin by his skill, and Magiques wondrous might,
From Ireland hither brought the Stonendge in a night:
And for Carmardens sake, would faine haue brought to passe,
About it to haue built a wall of solid Brasse:
And set his Fiends to work vpon the mightie frame;
Some to the Anvile: some, that still inforc't the flame:
But whilst it was in hand, by louing of an Elfe
(For all his wondrous skill) was coosned by him selfe.
For, walking with his Fay, her to the Rocke hee brought,
In which hee oft before his Nigromancies wrought:
And going in thereat his Magiques to haue showne,
Shee stopt the Cauerns mouth with an inchanted stone:
Whose cunning strongly crost, amaz'd whilst he did stand,
Shee captiue him convay'd vnto the Fairie Land.
Then, how the laboring spirits, to Rocks by fetters bound,
With bellowes rumbling groanes, and hammers thundring sound,
A fearefull horrid dinne still in the Earth doe keepe,
Their Master to awake, suppos'd by them to sleepe;
As at their work how still the grieued spirits repine,
Tormented in the Fire, and tyred at the Mine.
When now the British side scarce finished their Song,
But th'English that repyn'd to be delay'd so long,
All quicklie at the hint, as with one free consent,
Strooke vp at once and sung each to the Instrument;
(Of sundry sorts that were, as the Musician likes)
On which the practic'd hand with perfect'st fingring strikes,
Whereby their height of skill might liueliest be exprest.
The trembling Lute some touch, some straine the Violl best
In sets which there were seene, the musick wondrous choice:
Some likewise there affect the Gamba with the voice,
To shew that England could varietie afford.
Some that delight to touch the sterner wyerie Chord,
The Cythron, the Pandore, and the Theorbo strike:
The Gittern and the Kit the wandring Fidlers like.
So were there some againe, in this their learned strife
Loud Instruments that lov'd; the Cornet and the Phife,
The Hoboy, Sagbut deepe, Recorder, and the Flute:
Euen from the shrillest Shaw me vnto the Cornamute.
Some blowe the Bagpipe vp, that plaies the Country-round:
The Taber and the Pipe, some take delight to sound.
Of Germanie they sung the long and ancient fame,
From whence their noble Sires the valiant Saxons came,
Who sought by Sea and Land Adventures farre and neere;
And seizing at the last vpon the Britans heere,
Surpriz'd the spacious Ile, which still for theirs they hold:
As in that Countries praise how in those times of old,
Tuisco, Gomers sonne, from vnbuilt Babell brought
His people to that place, with most high knowledge fraught,
And vnder wholsome Lawes establisht their aboad;
Whom his Tudeskt since haue honor'd as a God:
Whose cleare creation made them absolute in all,
Retaining till this time their pure Originall.
And as they boast themselues the Nation most vnmixt,
Their language as at first, their ancient customes fixt,
The people of the world most hardie, wise and strong;
So gloriously they show, that all the rest among
The Saxons of her sorts the very noblest were:
And of those crooked Skaines they vs'd in warre to beare,
Which in their thundring tongue, the Germans, Handseax name,
They Saxons first were call'd: whose farre extended fame
For hardiness in warre, whom danger neuer fraid,
Allur'd the Britans here to call them to their ayde:
From whom they after reft Loëgria as their own,
Brutes ofspring then too weake to keepe it beeing grown.
This told: the Nymphs againe, in nimbler straines of wit,
Next neatly come about, the Englishmen to quit
Of that inglorious blot by Bastard William brought
Vpon this conquered Ile: then which Fate neuer wrought
A fitter meane (say they) great Germany to grace;
To graft againe in one, two Remnants of her ra•e:
Vpon their seuerall waies, two seuerall times that went
To forrage for themselues. The first of which shee sent
To get their seat in Gaul: which on Nuestria light,
And (in a famous warre the Frenchmen put to flight)
Possest that fruitfull place, where onely from their name
Call'd North-men (from the North of Germanie that came,
Who thence expeld the Gaules, and did their roomes supply)
This, first Nuestria nam'd, was then call'd Normandy.
That by this meanes, the lesse (in conquering of the great)
Be'ing drawne from their late home vnto this ampler seat,
Resyding heere, resign'd what they before had wonne;
That as the Conquerors blood, did to the conquered runne:
So kindlie beeing mixt, and vp together growne,
As seuered, they were her•; vnited, stil her owne.
But these mysterious things desisting now to show
(The secret works of heauen) to long Descents they goe:
How Egelred (the Sire of Edward the last King
Of th'English Saxon Line) by nobly marying
With hardie Richards heire, the Norman Emma, bred
Alliance in their bloods. Like Brooks that from one head
Beare seuerall waies (as though to sundry Seas to hast)
But by the varying soyle, int'one againe are cast:
So chanced it in this the neernes of their blood.
For when as Englands right in question after stood,
Proud Harould, Goodwins heire, the Scepter hauing wonne
From Edgar Etheling young, the outlaw'd Edwards sonne;
The valiant Bastard this his onelie colour made,
With his braue Norman powers this kingdome to invade.
Which leauing, they proceed to Pedigrees againe,
Their after-Kings to fetch from that old Saxon straine;
From Margarit that was made the Scottish Malcoms Bride,
Who to her Grandsire had courageous Ironside:
Which out-law'd Edward left; whose wife to him did bring
This Margarit Queene of Scots, and Edgar Etheling:
That Margarit brought forth Maud; which gracious Macolme gaue
To Henry Beuclarks bed (so Fate it pleas'd to haue)
Who him a daughter brought; which heauen did strangely spare:
And for the speciall loue he to the mother bare,
Her Maude againe he nam'd, to th'Almain Emperor wed:
Whose Dowager whilst shee liu'd (her puissant Caesar dead)
She th'Earle of Arion next to husband doth prefer.
The second Henry then by him begot of her,
Into the Saxon Line the Scepter thus doth bring.
Then presently againe prepare themselues to sing
The sundry foraine Fields the English-men had fought.
Which when the Mountaines sawe (and not in vaine) they thought
That if they still went on as thus they had begon,
Then from the Cambrian Nymphs (sure) Lundy would be won.
And therefore from their first they challeng'd them to flie;
And (idly running on with vaine prolixitie)
A larger subiect tooke then it was fit they should.
But, whilst those would proceed, these threatning them to hold,
Black-Mountaine for the loue he to his Country bare,
As to the beautious Vske, his ioy and onely care
(In whose defence t'appeare more sterne and full of dread)
Put on a Helme of clowds vpon his rugged head.
Mounchdeny doth the like for his beloued Tawe:
Which quicklie all the rest by their example drawe:
As Hatterell in the right of ancient Wales will stand.
To these three Mountaines, first of the Erekinnian Band,
The Monumethian Hills, like insolent and stout,
On lostie tip-toes then began to looke about;
That Skeridvaur at last (a Mountaine much in might,
In hunting that had set his absolute delight)
Caught vp his Country Hooke; nor cares for future harmes,
But irefully enrag'd, would needs to open Armes:
Which quicklie put Penvayle in such outrageous heat,
That whilst for verie teene his hairelesse scalpe doth sweat,
The Blorench looketh bigge vpon his bared crowne:
And tall Tomberlow seemes so terribly to frowne,
That where it was suppos'd with small adoe or none
Th'event of this debate would easely haue been known,
Such strange tumultuous stirres vpon this strife ensue,
As where all griefes should end, old sorrowes still renue:
That Severne thus forewarn'd to looke vnto the worst
(And findes the latter ill more dangerous then the first)
The doome she should pronounce, yet for a while delay'd,
Till these rebellious routs by iustice might be stay'd;
A period that doth put to my Discourse so long,
To finish this debate the next ensuing Song.