Troia Britanica: or, Great Britaines Troy A poem deuided into XVII. seuerall cantons, intermixed with many pleasant poeticall tales. Concluding with an vniuersall chronicle from the Creation, vntill these present times. Written by Tho: Heywood.

Argumentum

THe Graecians Land, Prothesilaus fals By Hectors sword, King Diomed is sent With wise Vlisses to debate their brals, And fetch the Spartan to her Husbands Tent: Hellen denide: the Greekes begirt Troy wals, But are by Hector raisd incontinent: Troylus and Diomed in Armes contend For Cressida, so the first battels end.

ARG. 2.

Our English Worthies, Fame & her rich Crowne, With Troyes confedred Kings, Lambda sets down

CANTO. 11. (Book 11)

OH can we forraine Worthies Memorize, And our owne Natiue Champions quite forget, Whose fame swift Clangor hath through pierst the skies, To whom due Honor still remaines in debt: How many true victorious Peeres arise From this faire Garden, midst the Ocean set: How many an English Knight hath borne his head As hie as those, whom Troy or Greece hath bread?

2

Achilles, Aiax, Diomed, or those Whom Homer hath extold with Golden praise, Haue not done greater spoile vpon their foes, Then some that haue suruiu'd euen in our dayes,

And had I spirit but like the least of those That writ the Graecian Acts, my pen should raise Our Brittish Champious, and their acts proclame, Aboue the Greekes in the high Tower of Fame.

3

What could Achilles more then Brittish Bren, * 1.1 That after many dangerous battailes wun, Fotrag'd France, Denmarke, Germany, and then Sackt Rome, and high Pernassus ouer-run, And by the ayde of his bold Englishmen, Laid siege vnto the Temple of the Sun: Or what bold Graecian dare gainst Nennius stand, * 1.2 That fought with twice-foyl'd Caesar hand to hand.

4

Renowned Arthur famous in his age, * 1.3 In his round Table, and his thirteene Crownes, Hie Romes Impetious Senate felt his rage, and paid him homage in their purple Gownes, His Came'lot Knights their hardiments ingage, Through all the world to purchase their renownes: Of Noble Edgar, my dull Muse next sings, * 1.4 Row'd on the Thames by eight commanded Kings.

5

Bold Edmond (Sir-nam'd Ironside) him succeeds,* 1.5 a brauer Spirit breath'd not vitall ayre, The Bastard Williams Sonne, Duke Roberts deeds aske the next place, for his attempts were rare, * 1.6 By Cort-hose many a Tyrant Panim bleeds, By whom the Christians re-invested are: and whilst hye Syons Towers triumphant stand, He chosen Monarch o're the holy Land.

6

Richard the first that Cordelyon hight,* 1.7 and Edward Sirnam'd Long-shankes, without Peere, Was neuer Dardan Prince or Argiue Knight, That in their ages more admired were: Edvvard the third that Conquer'd France by fight, and Edvvard the Blacke Prince to England deere, He forrag'd France, for Pedro wan all Spaine, Which after Iohn a-Gaunt subdude againe.

7

Henry the fift, then whom the world neare bread A worthier Prince. Bedford and Talbot bold, * 1.8 Who in their forrain Regency so sped, That puissant France was by their powers controld, Edward the fourth (though wantonly misled) * 1.9 Wan ten set battailes: The third Richard sold His name to scandall, else his warlike merit, Might with the rest, a Worthies name inherit.

8

The valiant Earle of Surrey often staid* 1.10 The Northerne Enemies from filching heare: * 1.11 In the eight Henries dayes Charles Brandon made England renown'd, by his victorious Speare, And those whose Woorths these late times haue displaid Howard, Grey, Norris, Sidney, Essex, Veare: These, had they liu'd in aged Priams dayes, Had dim'd the Greekes, and matcht the Troians prayse.

9

Now to our hostile preparations, we Must arme our Pen, the Greekes are vnder saile, There is a place from Earth, Sea, Heauen, stands free, And equally remoued from them all: In the worlds Nauell, fixt where Concaues be, And hollow-sounding Vaults through Crannies small: Where the reports and rumors of all sounds, Giue shrill Reuerberat Ecchoes and rebounds.

10

Heere Fame her Pallace builds by wondrous skill, * 1.12 Seating her selfe in her most lofty Tower, Yet is her house erected on a hill, A thousand Loope-holes are within her Bower, A thousand doores and windowes open still, Transparant euery late and early hower, Full of Big-bellyed Vaults, and the wals such, Of sounding Brasse that rings with euery tutch.

11

Whose empty wombe continuall murmur yeilds, And iterates againe each word it heares, Within this place no toonglesse silence builds, No solitary dumnesse spares the eares:

A whistling wind flyes round about the fields, Which shakes the trembling branches, but forbeares All violent gusts: about this hollowed ground, There are perpetuall calmes, no Tempests found.

12

And though no silence, yet no clamors rise, Onely a whispering murmur like the Seas Heard a farre off, or when the troubled skies, (With remote Thunder mou'd) soft showers appease, The Courts are throng'd with multitudes of spies, Light giddy people tatling what they please: Who (in and out) through euery chamber passe, Whispering sometimes what is, and what neare was.

13

Infinite Currors, Purseuants, and Posts, Embassadors, and such as hurry newes, Heralds (such men as Trafficke betweene Hosts) Walke too and fro, and no man Tales eschewes, One speakes of Warres, of Combats, and rude boasts, Another serious talke of Peace pursues: All as they are dispos'd, this man is telling Of buying Land, that other speakes of selling.

14

Some talkes of this mans Honors, that mans shames, Others of Stormes, and many a boysterous flaw, Some men of their successe and chance in games, One what he heard, another what he saw, Some men of Knights aduenturers, some of Dames, Others how long their sutes haue hung in Law: Toies with things serious passe, graue things with bables Lies mixt with truths, and truths discourst with Fables.

15

Numberlesse rumors through the Pallace flye, In euery nooke they make their free intrusion, heere bashfull truth doth face the bold fac'd lye, To fend and proue begets a meere confusion, Whilst some th'attentiue eare with newes supply, Others report Stale things, and in conclusion, Addes of his owne, which bandied without ceasing, From euery seuerall tongue receiues increasing

16

Heere you may see a dwarfe-like rumor grow, Euen in an instant to a Gyants size, Whether the Nature of the winds that blow, Retaines the power to make the tumors rise Or whether Fame all tydings apt to know, Giues to her traine such Bombast Liueries: Their growth is strange, whom I compare aright, Vnto the Mush-roome, statur'd in a night.

17

Heere dwels credulity, rash error, feare, Doubt, volubility, and quicke beliefe, There is no voyce hath power to pierce the eare, But fame of brutes and rumors, Queene and chiefe, Shrieks through the world: From hence the Troians hear Th' Atrides rage, King Menelaus griefe: Their expedition, and their Naual power, Ready the threatned Enemy to deuower.

18

Their Frontier Townes that border next the waues Are fortified, three distant leagues from Troy * 1.13 Stands Tenedos, whom with imperious braues The Argine Flect assault, race, and destroy: The wrathfull Greeke not one poore Phrygian saues, But to their ruines all their powers imploy: This done, by generall Counsell tis decreed, Two Kings to Priam shail on Message speed.

19

Into the Hall where th'aged King then sate, Attended with his Captaines, Sonnes, and Peeres, And such confedered Kings as to the Fate Of threatned Troy, brought Horsemen, Bowes & Spears, On this hie businesse to deliberate, And rid their hearts from all inuasiue feares: In, throngs Vlisses and bold Diomed, Two Princes arm'd at all points saue the head.

20

Heere sat the King Pandrastus King Pandore, * 1.14 And the King Galior, that to Priams ayde, Brought each of them a thousand Knights and more, Foure Kings that from Tholosson waftage made,

Carras, Amasius, Nestor dreaded sore, * 1.15 And stowt Amphimachus: these Kings displaid Their warlike Ensignes, in all dreadfull fights, Bringing along fiue thousand valiant Knights

21

Next these seauen Kings, K. Glaucus tooke his place, * 1.16 Three thousand bold Squires he from Lycia brought, * 1.17 His Sonne Sarpedon of the Troian race, In all King Priams battailes brauely fought, Next whom Eusemus sat, distant a space, * 1.18 Who with three thousand Knights Troyes honor sought, Lyconians all, Lyconias Realme he guided, Since into seuerall parted Crownes deuided.

22

Two puissant Kings to make the Iury full, Came from Larissa, these had in their traine * 1.19 Knights sist•…•…ene hundred; Mystor, whose tough scul The Argiue Princes bruis'd: Capidus slaine * 1.20 In battaile too, about the Spartan Trull, Neuer to see hir Natiue Clyme againe: On a rich bench sast by King Priams State, These twelue bold Kings vpon the right hand sate.

23

Vpon the left, from Thahory that came, King Remus, who besides three thousand men, * 1.21 Brought foure great Dukes, seauen Earles of Noble fame All clad in Azure armes, wel noted then; The King of Trachy, whom some Pylex name, * 1.22 Was plac'st next him, this royall Monarch, when He entred Troy, had in his Princely traine, Eleuen hundred valiant Knights, all after slaine.

24

With him Duke Achumus the Troians ayded, * 1.23 By whom Pessemus the Pannonian King* 1.24 Was seated, him great Hector had perswaded Vnto these wars three thousand Knights to bring, All expert Archers, with whom Stupex traded, * 1.25 A valiant Duke, and in his youthfull spring: Next him sat three Boetian Dukes Fortunus, Duke Samnus, and the bold Duke Ausernumus:

25

These led twelue hundred Knights, next whom tooke * 1.26 Two Brother-Kings, the bold Boetes first, * 1.27 place, The other Epistemus, of one race, Both Princes, in the Realme of Burtia nurst, They brought a thousand Knights the Greekes to chace, Men of great spirit, and such as all things durst: Next them was set a Gyant (dreaded sore) * 1.28 Philemus, of the Realme of Paphlagore.

26

The Aethiopian Perseus Rauen-blacke, * 1.29 And the King Thiclion of the selfe-same hue, With Symagon, in whom there was no lacke * 1.30 Of heart or skill his foe-men to pursue: These Kingly Moores that Priam come to backe Next to the lofty Gyant sit in view, Three thousand sunburnt knights, that brauely fought From Aethiopia they to Phrygia brought.

27

This State was full: and lower one degree, Another longer Bench runs crosse the Hall, Where mixt with Priams valiant sonnes, you see More of these leagued Kings in order fall: First of the ranke was Hector, next him, be * 1.31 Two potent Kings, Thelemus hye and tall, * 1.32 And young Archilochus a valiant Boy: * 1.33 These with a thousand good Knights strengthen Troy.

28

Paris next them, and by his amorous side, Two Princes raigning in Argrestes Land, * 1.34 They brought twelue hundred Knights to see them tride, Next these was Troylus plac'st on the left hand, * 1.35 And Deiphebus full of warlike pride Mixt amongst these, a King of great command: Epistropus, that beyond Scythia came, * 1.36 Twixt Greece and Troy his valour to proclame.

29

He brought a thousand Knights, and a strange Beast Halfe horse, halfe Man, two perfect shapes deuided, A Sagittary cal'd (not dreaded least) * 1.37 An expert Archer, his strong shafts were guided

With wondrous ayme and cunning, which increast His dread among the Greekes (at first derided:) Next, great Epistropus rankt by their yeeres, Sat Priams Bastard-sonnes, next them his Peeres.

30

Next them a Prince in Iewels rich, and Gold, That many Knights brought from Meander flood, The barbarous Meones Duke Nastes told, * 1.38 By whom, vpon a costly foot-pace stood Tentumidas, by some (sirnam'd the Bold,) * 1.39 Now aged in his prime, a Souldier good: By him Prince Pindarus aduanct his head, * 1.40 Next him Hyrtacides in Sestos bread.

31

Adrastus, Amphius, Merops, Princes three, * 1.41 Are ranked then, by whom Ennonius sits, And Chronius, vnder whom the Mysians bee, Pylemen the next empty place well fits, * 1.42 Prince o're the Paphlagonian Chiualry: Pyrechmes next, whose fiery Horses bits The Paeons manage. Good Euphemes then Whom the Cicintans led, all expert men.

32

Ascanius and Dius, who doth guide* 1.43 The Halizonians next in order fall, Then Pyrous who his Thracian Souldiers tride, * 1.44 And warlike Mnemon boldest of them all: Pyleus and Hypothous them beside, These the Pelasgians vnto battle cal: Warlike Aeneas of the Noblest race, Next whom, the Lords and Barons take chiefe place.

33

Anthenor, with Polydamus his sonne, The glistering Ladies keepe another State Aboue them all: Priams hye throne begun To lift it selfe where he in glory sate, Benches of Dukes and Earles from all sides run, Apparel'd in rich Robes of greatest rate: Thus was the King prepar'd, when the two Greekes, Presse forward to his throne with blushlesse Cheekes

34

At their approach the Lords amazed rise, And at their bold intrusion musing stand, * 1.45 Vpon these two, the Kings fix all their eyes, Prepar'd for some strange Nouell, when his hand Vlisses wafts for silence, and applyes His speech to Priam thus: Hee whose command Rauisht from Sparta, great Atrides wife, Forfeits to Greece, his Country, Crowne, and Life.

35

If thou beest he whom all these Lords adore, I summon thee in Agamemnons name, Backe to her Lord, Queene Hellen to restore, With full amends done to the rauisht Dame, And to present thy lustfull sonne before The bench of Argiue Kings, t'abide such shame That he in after times to our successors, Be made a terror to the like Transgressors.

36

Else shall th'inraged Princes spoile thy Townes, Thy Matrons in their husbands armes defloure, Slaughter thy Sonnes and bury their renownes, And with thy peoples blood the channels scoure, Of these confederate Kings ceaze all the Crownes, When death that swallowes them must thee deuoure: Say, wilt thou to preuent this and much more, Punnish thy sonne, and Hellen backe restore?

37

To this th'incensed King replies againe, Th'vnable Greekes (alas) are much too weake, Wanting the power thy proud vants to maintaine, Or to make good what thou doost rashly speake: They rauisht our faire Sister, whom in vaine We re-demanded, her despights to wreake: Our Sonne the amorous Paris crost the deepe, To fetch thence Hellen whom the Boy shall keepe.

38

Haue they not slaine our Father, spoyld our Citty, Pillag'd our people, wiues nor Matrons spared, Eucn Babes and Infants mangled without pitty, And in their barbarous rigor all things dared,

Then in faire Hellens rape what wrong commit I, Since not the least of these Greece hath repair'd: Since whilst our Sister leads a Strumpets life, Hellen is grac'st to be young Paris wife.

39

You shall repent: King Diomed replies, This insolence which we will punish deerely, By vs the Generall of the Greekes defies: Priam and Troy whom wee'l chastice seuerely, Vnto whose ruines seauenty Princes rise, Whose forces shall begirt you late and earely: These words promist, the Troians so disdaine them, That many drew their Faulchions to haue slain them.

40

But euer. Honoured Hector qualified The sudden vprore, and appeas'd the brall, Their passage by the multitude denide, Hector makes free, and Vshers them through all, Yet many proud braues past on either side Twixt the strange Kings and them i'th Pallace Hall: At their departure casting vp his eye, King Diomed by chance doth Cresseid spy,

41

As she with Hecuba and Hectors wife, Creusa and Pollixena was plac'st, Him thought he neuer saw in all his life A Lady better form'd, or Sweet-lyer grac'st, His mutinous thoughts are in themselues at strife, To see a face so faire, an eye so cha'st: Beauty so full of charme, with which inchanted, He craues her name by whom he seemes so danted.

42

When vp starts netled Troylus; and thus sayes, Her name is beautious Cressid whom you seeke, And Troylus Mistresse? to whose heauenly praise My soule hath bin deuoted many a Weeke, And if thou aym'st my graces thence to raise, I challenge thee the combat valiant Greeke, He would accept it, but he needs must part, His body goes, he leaues behind his hart.

43

The dantlesse Troians now prepare for warre, Whilst to th'incamped hoast the Legat Kings Relate King Priams answere, and how farre He stands from peace, the Grand-Duke now begins Like a good Captaine to foresee what barre May lie twixt him and safety: with swift wings Achilles is dispatcht to crosse the Scas, With Telephus the sonne of Hercules.

44

Because the Messean Land where Theutram raign'd * 1.46 Was fettile, they from thence demand supply Of Victuall for the hoast, but he disdaind T'assist them, therefore him the Greekes defie: The Kings hye blood Achilles Faulchion stain'd, Theutram (alas) by him is forest to dye, And Telephus crown'd King, from whose rich Coast, With store, & Victuall he relieues the hoast.

45

Twelue Moones were past since first the Greeks took land, When Duke Palamides at th'host ariues, Whose absence murmur'd long, yet the command Of the whole Army, with the Princes liues, Are made his charge, none seeming to withstand his principality: this Duke deriues His byrth from Naulus, and is made the head Of the stout Greekes, in Agamemnons stead.

46

But in desaster houre, Vlisses friend, To Agamemnon by his crafty fraud, Both to his life and his command gaue end: He that but late the Argiue Princes aw'd, And foyld the common foe, cannot defend his owne deere life, but whilst the hoast applaud Atrides honor, in vnhappy season, Is forcst to perrish for suspected Treason.

47

Tenedos sackt, the Greekes insult vpon't, * 1.47 And from that place made leuell with the plaine, The Fleet disanchors, whose proud Nauall front, Prothesilaus proudly doth maintaine,

Hoysing the first Sayles in the Hellespont, A hundred Ships whose Flags and Pendants staine The Ayre with various Colours, he commands, And twice repulst, vpon the Beach he Lands.

48

His ships tough ribs vpon the sands he brake, And many Greekes, some drown'd, some landing, fall, As well the boldest that the Ship forsake, As those that keepe aboord must perish all, Onely the bold King makes the Troians quake: Who whilst his maymed traine for rescue call, Makes good the place, till with an hundred more, Archelaus and Prothenor mans the shore.

49

Now growes the battle hot, for the rude rout Of the disordered Troians madly flocke To impeach their Landing, who with courage stout Leape on the shore, and there abide the shocke Of the proud Foe, who murder all about, And with rude taunts their proud Inuasion mocke: But Askalus and Agabus draw neare, Two Kings, whose landed souldiers change their chear.

50

Yet at the length into the Sea driuen backe, Till Nestor seconds them with fresh supply, and now th'astonisht Troians suffer wracke, Yet still make good the shores with fresh supply; againe repulst, the Greekes made good the lacke Of more arm'd men; Vlisses Ships prest ny, Whose dreaded Ensignes on the Margent spred, Conquer the Beach, the whilst the Troians fled.

51

King Philomenes enuious of his Fame, A pointed Speare brake on Vlisses face, and stounded him: but when the bold King came T'himselfe againe, he quitted that disgrace: So much did wrath his Noble thoughts inflame, he wounded him in such a speeding place, That had not Ihoue kept backe his Weapons force, The late victorious, had dropt downe a Corse.

52

Whilst these two Kings contend, the Greekes retire, And backe into the blood-stain'd Sea are driuen, When Thoas with his fleet doth Land desire, Now Agamemnons Ships are all to riuen Vpon the Strond, his men halfe blood, halfe mire, Tugge for the shore, whilst many die vnshriuen; Next Menelaus hath vnmand his Ship, And from his Barke doth stormy Aiax skip.

53

At whose approach neere to the brinish brinke, Th'amazed Troians yeild him Landing free, Beneath his ponderous Arme the strongest shrinke, Before his sword th'affrighted people flee, Their soules below the waues of Lethe drinke, Whose deeds of valor when King Perses see: He with a band of Moores their violence stayde, Making th'astonisht Greekes expect more ayde.

54

When the great Duke Palumides discends Vpon the Continent, and in his traine A thousand Armed Knights, his Noble Friends, Whose swords the Beach with blood of Troians slaine: Palumides gainst Symagon extends His pointed Iauelin, Symagon lies slaine: A valiant Moore, to Perses neere alide, Though strong, he by the sonne of Naulus dide.

55

Now gainst the beaten Troians rose lowd cries, Which puissant Hector hearing, from the Towne, Issues from forth the gates, and soone applies His fortitude, where Warre seem'd most to frowne; His armor Siluer-white, his shields deuise A Lyon Gules the field, Or after knowne And dreaded mongst the Greeks, where ere he marches The Flowers & grasse with blood of Greeks he parches

56

Prothesilaus him encounters first, and at his Steely Beauer aymes his Speare, The King his Staffe vpon his Visor burst, But from the Worthy Hector past not cleare:

All that encounter him must tast the worst, The steel-head Lance from off his steed doth beare: The dreadlesse King, who rose by great indeuour, But Hector cleft his head quite through his Beauer. * 1.48

57

So passeth on strowing his way with Corses, That in a while his smoaking blade was feared, Whom ere he meets he to the ground inforces, His valour hath the drooping Troians cheared, He without riders leaues fiue hundred horses, Whose broken limbes lie on the earth besmeared: Death Marshals him the way where ere he traces, Pauing the Margent of the Sea with faces.

58

His courser Galathee the Noblest Steed, That euer Knight bestrid, i'th morning white, In euery bare place seemes from farre to bleed, His valiant ryder shun'd no dangerous fight: Hee's flak't all ore, and where no wounds indeed Were hewed, great gashes grisly to the sight Appeare vpon him, Galathee still stood Sound, and yet stain'd all ore with Gracian blood.

59

Nor wonder if his white Steed were so painted, When his sharpe sword so many Riuers shed, This day a thousand Knights beneath him fainted, And on the verdure by his hand lye dead, With this mortality the ayre is tainted, The spatious plaines with wounded Greekes are spred: Charon the sweat wipes from his ghastly face, And neuer wrought so hard in so short space.

60

Hels Iudges and the Gods of Darkenesse wonder, What's now to do on earth, that such a throng Of Ghosts whose threds the fatall Sisters sunder, Presse in such multitudes for sentence: long The Princes of the Vaults and regions vnder, Were not so troubled to iudge right and wrong: For neuer in one day it hath befell, So great a Sessions hath bin seene in Hell.

61

Th'inuincible Dardanian Heroe tyr'd With purple Massacre, towards night with-drew, Horse, Armes, and Plumes the brightest morne admir'd For whitenesse, at his yssue, purple grew, And he returnes Vermilion all: attir'd In Crimson, scarce the royall Priam knew Great Hector from the Torras where he stood, Seeing his onset white, Retrait all blood.

62

Soone was the Noble Troian mist in field, For with his Myrmidons proudly attended Achilles Lands, and that renowned sheild God Vulcan made, in which his art extended, He vaunteth: yet the daunted Troians yeild, Th'vnconquered shores Hector so late defended Lie open to inuaders, whole Greece Lands, For gainst the great Achilles no man stands.

63

Euen to the Citty wals the Troians fly, Whom the maine hoast with hostile showtes pursude, And had not Noble Troylus heard the cry, Paris and Deiphebus where they view'd So great effusion from a Turret hy, They'had won the Towne, the streets had bin imbrude With Natiue blood, but they in hast discend, Releeue th'opprest, the Citty gates defend.

64

And yssuing with three thousand Knights, compell Achilles to retrait, and when his face Look't backe from Troy ward, there was none so fell Vpon the Graectan party, but gaue place: This day Prince Diomed was seene t'excell In Armes: him Troylus met in equall race: They spur their Steeds that ran both swift and true, Incountring, both their Staues to splinters flew.

65

Their Launces broake, they try their burnisht blades, A thousand fiery starres at euery rushing Fly from their helmes, with fury each inuades His opposite, their mutuall Armors frushing,

The big-limb'd Diomed himselfe perswades, Young Troylus cannot match his strength, and blushing A beardlesse Lad should hold him so long play, Doubles his blowes and thinkes to end the fray.

66

The Noble youth whom Cresseids loue prouokes To all atchieuements, beyond mortal power, (Though young,) his lofty spirit his riuall yoakes, Who thought his infant Vertues to deuoure, He doubles and re-doubles warlike stroakes, The battell lasts the best part of an houre: But whilst vpon their helmes each champion thunders Night that deuides the hoast their fury sunders.

67

This Eeuen the Greekes incampe, earely the Morrow,* 1.49 They shine in armor with the rising Sunne, The Troian Princes from their Ladies borrow Rich fauours, and withall to horse-backe runne, A kind of feare begot twixt ioy and sorrow, Liues in their eyes, til the dread fight be done: To see their Champions proudly arm'd they ioy, Grieue to behold so huge an hoast fore Troy.

68

Now are both Battailes pitcht, Menon appeares First from the Argiue hoast: from Troy forth stands Hector, who in his burnisht Beauer weares Andromachs Gloue, and now all Troy commands: These two begin the battell with their Speares, They broke, they tosse their bright steele in their hands: Hector soone hurles King Menon from his horse, So passes on to proue his warlike force.

69

The two hoasts ioyne, ruffling confusion flyes Through all Scamander field, the dying grones Are mixed with th'applausiue Conquerors cryes Troians and Greekes conquer and fall at ones, Renowned Hector this day wins the pryse, he sunders Males and Armors, flesh and bones: His al-deuiding sword was made by charme, No steele so wrought but shrunke beneath his arme.

70

Thus like a raging storme he rusheth still, Ouer his Plume a Clowd of terror hung, And where he rides he doth on all sides kill, His bloud-staind Faulchion spares nor old nor yung, Tyr'd with his horse, his Chariot Mount he will, Now vp he takes a Bow deuinely strung, And shooting midst the Hoast, not one steele-head Iat'd from his Bow but stroke a Graecian dead.

71

Him the King Menon and king Glaucion then, Huge Thesus and Archilochus defie, They in their squadron lead three thousand men, But Hector in his Chariot still sits hie, Vntill his Brasse-shod wheeles are purpled, when Their Naues are drown'd in blood of men that die: Charioted Hector these foure Kings assaile, But his smart Steeds spring through their armed pale.

72

Menon that was too forward boue the rest, Pursues great Hector in his lofty Carre, A dart the Troian quiuer'd through his brest, King Menon bids his last farewell to warre, * 1.50 With multitudes the Prince is ouer-prest, And yet he kils the Greekes neare and from farre: Neere, with his fatall sword he cleaues their harts, And a farre off, with his keene shafts and Darts.

73

Vnto this rescue Prince Securabor, One of King Priams Bastard sonnes soone came, And Noble Margareton thirsting for Honor, and mongst the Greekes to get a name, All Priams yssue cowardice abhor, Duke Menesteus enuious of their fame, Against them comes, now clamors fill the skie, Whilst about Hectors Chariot thousands lie.

74

Vnto this hostile tumor from Troy-ward, Three Kings with Noble Troylus the fourth man Make their incursions: King Sampitus far'd Like a fierce Lyon, King Maclaon wan

With anger, and the King that all things dar'd Alcanus: gainst whom Menesteus ran And bore him Nobly, yet alas too weake, Till Thesus came the Troian rankes to breake.

75

Troylus Menesteus singles, but his Horse Stumbled, and he enforcst on foot to fight: Fiue hundred Greekes beguirt him, and enforce The youthfull Troian (now debard from flight) To be their prisoner; Many a liuelesse corse Troylus first made, before compeld t'alight: When Hector heard but word of his disgrace, He slew on all sides till he wan the place.

76

But first Alccenus had addrest his Speare, Against the Duke that led Prince Troylus bound, The Steele point tooke him twixt his cheeke and eate, And made th' Athenian Duke a dangerous wound, Sampilus seconds him (a Steed was neare) On which they mounted Troylus from the ground: Menesteus mad that he hath lost his prise, Pierst through the throng, and cald for more supplies.

77

King Menelaus and Prothenor knowing Th' Athenians voyce, presse that way with their powers, But find Hyripsus and King Hapon strowing The earth with Greekes, at which the Spartan lowers: These foure their forces ioyne, many yet growing, Their swords supplant: death through the Champion scowers At whom th'Olimpian Gods amazed stand, To see him with such quicknesse moue his hand.

78

Anthenors sonne Polydamus makes on, King Rhemus backes him with three thousand more, Their Speare-length (through the presse he had not gon) But Celidus him from his Courser bore, A fairer Prince then Celidus liu'd none, By Venus gift he Beauties Liuery wore: Polydamus re-mounted, soone addrest, A second course, and pierst him through the brest.

79

Which Menelaus seeing, soone assayles Rhemus, and layes him stounded in the field, And but that stowt Polydamas preuailes, H'had borne him to his Tent vpon his shield, Still was not Hector Idle, Hils and Dales His Chariot skoures, to him the mightiest yeild: For like a raging Torrent after Rayne, Where ere he comes confusion fils the plaine.

80

Now was he by the men that Aiax led Troopt in: the Salamines Thunder about him Like Ciclopes, as if his Noble head Were Vulcans Anuile (yet the boldest doubt him) And seeing store of Carcasse bout him spred, Wish in their hearts to fight else-where without him: For like a baited Lyon at a stake, he cuts them off, and makes the boldest qnake.

81

King Theuter somewhat rougher then the rest, as worthy Hector kept these Dogs at bay, Finding the Prince with two much taske opprest, against him with his Courser makes swife way, The brazen-headed staffe glides by his brest, and gainst his rib he feeles the Iauelin stay: King Theuter thou hast done a Noble deed, Thou art the first that mad'st great Hector bleed.

82

Well was it for thee that thou staidst not long, Those that growe next him for thy act must fall, Like a mad Bull he fares the Greekes among, and whom he hits, beneath his Chariot sprall, The Prince, the common man, the weake, the strong, The Bold, the Coward, tast confusion all: The Sun looks pale, heauen red, the green earth blusht To see their bones beneath his Chariot crusht.

83

Whose valour Thesus seeing, nobly spake: * 1.51 Great Hector, I admire thee, though my Foe: Thou art too bold, why dost thou vndertake, Things beyond man, to seeke thine ouerthrow?

I see thee breathlesse, wherefore dost thou make So little of thy worth, to perish so? Fond man retyre thee, and recouer breath, And being thy selfe, pursue the workes of death.

84

Prince Hector his debility now finding, Thankes royall Thesus, and begins to pawse, And bout the field with his swift coursers winding, Vnto a place remote himselfe withdrawes, Meane time King Menelaus the battaile minding, Wan in the dangerous conflict much applawse: Heere Celidonius valiant Moles slew: Moles that his discent from Oreb drew.

85

By Mandon, King Cedonius lost an eye, A Graecian Admirall, Sadellus kils, And Aix Telamonius doth defie Prince Margareton, King Menestheus, spils The Galles red blood, Prothenor low doth lie By Samuels Speare, renowned Hector fils The field with wonder, he his Carre forsakes, And Milke white Galathee againe he takes.

86

At his first entrance he espies his friend Polydamas by thirty souldiers led, Amongst whom spurring, they themselues defend, But scarce one man hath power to guard his head, Vnto their dayes great Hectors sword gaue end, And freedome to Polydamas, nye dead: With shame and wrath, next to the battell came King Thoas to redeeme the Argiues Fame.

87

With him the King Philotas who adrest Themselues gainst two of Priams Bastard Sonnes, Young Cassilanus puts his Speare in rest, And with great fury against Thoas ronnes, He brake his staffe, but Thoas sped the best, As to their bold encounter Hector comes, He sees his young halfe-brother he held deare, Through-pierst (alas) by Thoas fatall Speare.

88

Hye-stomackt Hector with this obiect mad, hurries through the thicke prease, and there had slaine Whole thousands, for the death of that young Lad, But his red wrath King Nestor did restraine, For with six thousand Knights in armor clad, he fortifies the late forsaken plaine: Gainst whom marcht Philon, of the part of Troy, Their battailes ioyne, each other they destroy.

89

Polydamus and Hector taking part With Philon, aged-Nestor growes too weake, For Cassilanus death the Greekes must smart, They through their flankes, wings, rankes, and squadrons breake When Aiax Telamon spide what huge wreake, The Troian Worthy made: his men take hart, And with King Menelaus them dispose, To rescue Nestor, and assault their Foes.

90

Gainst them Aeneas with the hoast arriues, And ioynes with Hector: on the Argiue side Philoatas with three thousand souldiers striues, all proued Greekes, whose valors had bin tride: Aeneas and great Aiax gage their liues To equall conflict, whom their troopes deuide: Philoatas on great Hector thinkes to proue him, (In vaine) he from his saddle cannot moue him.

91

But him the Woorthy stounded with a blow, A flatling blow that on his Beauer glancst, Vlisses and Humerus next in row, With twice fiue thousands Knights on Hector chancst, But Paris hapned with as many moe On Hectors part, where numbers lye intrancst: Paris a keene shaft from his Quiner drew, Whose fatall point the King of Cipresse slew.

92

This Ciprian, Kinsman to Vlisses was, In whose reuenge the Ithacan defies Prince Paris, who in Arch'ry did surpasse, These two in field against each other rise,

And with their mutuall blood they staine the grasse, But parted by the tumult, they deuise On further massacre, neere to this place, Troylus, Vlisses meets, and wounds his face.

93

Nor scapt the Troian wound-free, in this stower Was Galathee beneath Prince Hector slaine, And he on foot, the Greekes with all their power Begirt him, and assault the Prince amaine; But he whose fame aboue the Clouds must lower, From all their battering strokes still guards his braine: Till Dynadorus Priams Bastard son, Against well-mounted Polixemus ron.

94

A strong Barb'd horse the Noble Greeke bestrid, a Worthier Maister now the steed must haue, The Bastard youth gainst Polixemus rid, Vnhorst him, and his Steed to Hector gaue, Who mounted, farre more deeds of Honor did, Leauing the Greekes most Coarses to ingraue: a troope of Archers Deiphebus brings, Who expell the Greekes with arrowes, darts, and slings

95

At the first shocke the Prince King Theuter hit, and car•…•…'d a deepe wound on his armed face, The well steel'd point his sword-proofe Beauer split, and now th'assaulted Greekes are all in chace, Some saue themselues by swiftnesse, some by wit, Young Quinteline of Priams Bastard race, and King Moderus haue surpriz'd by force, Thesus, and spoyl'd him both of armes and horse.

96

Whom when the Dardan-Worthy saw surpriz, d He cals to mind the cur'sie to him done, By whom nye breathlesse, he was well aduis'd, The future eminence of warre to shunne, King Thesus whom his Victors much despis'd, Hector releast, and by the glorious Sunne, Sweares not to leaue him, till he see him sent, With safe conduct vnto his warlike Tent.

97

Here Thoas, by whom Cafsilan•…•… fell, Is by great Hector beaten from his Steed, Who razing of his Helme, to send to hell A soule he so much hated, was soone freed By Menesteus: who makes on, Pell-Mell With a huge hoast, and rescues with all speed Th'astonisht King: not long the day he tride, Till Paris with an arrow pierst his side.

98

Humerus glaunst a Iauelin through the sight Of Hectors Beauer, that it racst the skin, Th'inraged Prince on proud Humerus light And with one stroke he cleft him to the chin, Proceeding on, hee still pursues the fight, The Grecians loose, and now the Troians win, They beate them to their Tents, where some inquire For pillage, whilst the rest the Nauy fite.

99

In this pursute Hector and Aiax meete, Who (after interchange of hostile blowes) Part on eeuen tearmes, and with kind language greet, For the two kinsmen now each other knowes: Aiax intreats the Prince to spare theyr Fleet, And saue theyrtents, whose flame to heauen-ward grows Which courteous Hector sweares to vndertake, For Aiax and his Aunt Hesiones sake.

100

Oh Il-stard Hector! Thou hast ouerseene A Victory, thou canst not reach to more? Hadst thou to him inexorable beene Thou hadst sau'd Troy, and freed the Dardan Shore: Duke Aiax prayet hath wrought Troyes fatall teene And hath the power (lost Grecia) to restore: Oh, hadst thou tane the aduantage of this day, all Greece had perisht, that now liues for aye.

101

But theres a Fate in all things: Hector blowes His wel-knowne horne, his Souldiers all retreat: The Greekes to quench theyr Fleet themselues dispose, and re-instaure their tents, whose spoile was great:

The next day from the campe to Priam goes A Herald, to surcease all hostile heat: Demanding truce till they the dead haue grounded, And both of Campe and Citty cur'd the wounded.

102

Tis granted, from the Towne with Coffins com Pale widdowes, winpled in their mourning weeds, To fetch their husbands coarses cold and nom, To whom they offer solemne Funerall deeds, The Children fetch their Sires, and Fathers some Their slaughtred sons, which generall mourning breeds: The Greekes likewise their fellow-mates desire, And yeild their bodies to the hallowed fire.

103

But whilst these odoriferous piles they reare, And sacrifiz'd their friends in holy flames, And in perfumed Boxes, prized deare, Coffin their precious ashes, least their names Should die in Lethe: Nouell broyles appeare, And Ate through the Campe discord proclames: But now to truce our spirits we haue intention, Before twixt them we moue a new dissention.

TO omit all our English worthies, whose names wee haue only memoriz'd, not hauing roome to insert their deeds in so little a compasse as we haue prescrib'd to our Histo∣ry, we rather couet to touch matter more forraigne, and lesse familiar to some, with whome our Booke must necessarily Tra∣ficke.

In the description of Fame, we haue rather imitated Ouid then Virgill, his Fama malum quo non &c.

In the description of King Priams state, we must needes imagine it great, where so many forraigne Kings assembled in his ayde, in whose names we haue confer'd Dares, the Tro∣ian Dictes, the Greeke Homer, Virgill, and others, who though in some particuler thinges (not momentarily they dif∣fer) yet they generally concurre in this, that such Princes with such populous and almost inuincible assistance succored Troy.

Telephus ioynd in commission with Achilles, to saile to the land of Messe, was sonne to Hercules, whom Theutam (ha∣uing before in the battayle receiued his deaths wound) volun∣tarily adopted his successour, for the great loue that he for ma∣ny benefits formerly receiued) had borne to his father Her∣cules.

The passages of Loue betwixt Troylus and Cressida, the reuerent Poet Chaucer hath sufficiently discourst, to whom I wholy refer you, hauing past it ouer with little circumstance.

The description of the first battailes seruice, disordred and confused, we must excuse, with this necessity, that beeing to remember so many, and to imploy them all, we could not do it with a directer method, then to set downe things done with∣out order disorderly, and actions hapning by accident acciden∣tally, and confused things, confusedly.

King Prothesilaus was the first King that perisht before Troy, for though it were foretold by Oracle, that he that first set foot a shore, should perish by the sword of Hector, yet hee fearelesse of death, first landed, and in his too much valor made the fayre Laodomeia a desolate widdow.

Ate, Goddesse of reuenge or strife, she is cald by Homer one of Ihoues daughters, Lesio. Homerus Iliad. 7.

Presba dios thugater ate H pantas a-atai,

Ate prisca Iouis proles quae leserit omnes.

Mortales—

The Tale of Cephalus and Procris, because I haue o∣mitted in my former Cantons, especially in that which seemes to inueigh against Iealousie, I thinke not altogither vnneces∣sary to insert in this Skolia, knowing that which was ill for∣got, cannot be amisse remembred at any seasonable opportu∣nity, Here therefore (though out of his ranke) I intend to ad∣mit him.

BEneath Hymettus hill well cloath'd with flowers, A holy Well her soft springs gently powers, * 1.52 Where stands a Cops, in which the Wood-Nymphs shroue, (No wood) It rather seemes a slender Groue, The humble shrubs and bushes hide the grasse, Heere Lawrell, Rosemary, heare Myrtle was,

Heere grew thicke Box, and Tam'rix, that excels, And made a meere confusion of sweet smels: The Triffoly, the Pine, and on this Heath Stands many a plant that feeles coole Zephirs breath. Heere the young Cephalus tyr'd in the chace, Vsd his repose and rest alone t'embrace, And where he sat, these words he would repeate, Come Ayre, sweet Ayre come, coole my heat•…•…: Come gentle Ayre, I neuer will for sake thee, Ile hug thee thus, and in my bosome take thee. Some double dutious Tel-tale hapt to heare this, And to his Iealous wife doth straight-way beare this. Which Proctis hearing, and with all the Name Of Ayre, (sweete Ayre) which he did oft proclaime, She stands confounded, and amazd with griefe, By giuing this fond tale too sound beleefe. And lookes as doe the Trees by winter nipt, Whom Frost and cold, of fruit and leaues hath stript, She bends like Corueile, when too ranke it growes, Or when the ripe fruits clog the Quinch-tree bowes: But when she comes to her selfe, she teares Her Garments, and her eyes, her cheekes, and heares, And then she starts, and to her feet applies her, Then to the Woods (storke Wood) in rage she hies her. Approaching somewhat neare, her seruants they By her appointment in a Vally stay, Whilst she alone with creeping paces steales To take the Strumpet whom her Lord conceales. What mean'st thou Procris in these Groues to hide thee? What rage of loue doth to this madnesse guide thee? Thou hopst the Arye he cals in all her brauery, Will straight approach, and thou shalt see their knauery, and now againe it Irkes her to be there. For such a killing sight her heart will teare, No truce can with her troubled thoughts dispence, She would not now he there, nor yet be thence: Behold the place, her iealous mind fortels, Here doe they vse to meet, and no where els: The Grasse is layd, and see their true impression, Euen heere they lay: I, heere was their transgression.

A bodies print she saw, it was his seat, Which makes her faint hart gainst her ribs to beat, Phoebus the lofty Easterne Hill had scald, And all moist vapours from the earth exhald: Now in his noone-tide point he shineth bright, It was the middle houre twixt noone and night: Behold young Cephalus drawes to the place, And with the Fountaine water sprinkes his face, Procris is hid, vpon the grasse he lyes, And come sweet Zephir, Come sweet Ayre he cryes. She sees her error now from where he stood, Her mind returnes to her, and her fresh blood, Among the Shrubs and Briars she moues and rustles, And the iniurious boughes away she •…•…stles, Intending, as he lay there to repose him, Nimbly to run, and in her armes inclose him: He quickly casts his eye vpon the bush, Thinking therein some sauage Beast did rush, His bow he bends, and a keene shaft he drawes, Vnhappy man, what doost thou? Stay and pause, It is no bruite beast thou wouldst reaue of life; (Oh man vnhappy) thou hast slaine thy wife: Oh Heauen she cries, Oh helpe me I am slaine, Stil doth thy Arrow in my wound remaine: Yet though by timelesse Fate, my bones heere lye, It glads me most, that I, no Cuck-queane dye: Her breath (thus in the Armes she most affected,) She breaths into the Ayre (before suspected) The whilst he lifts her body from the ground, And with his teares doth wash her b•…•…eeding wound.

The end of the eleuenth CANTO.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Bren.
• * 1.2

  Nennius.
• * 1.3

  Arthur.
• * 1.4

  Edgar
• * 1.5

  Edmond I∣ronside.
• * 1.6

  Robert of No, mandy sirnamed Cort-bise.
• * 1.7

  Richard Cordelyon. Edward long shankes. Edward 3. Black prince inuested don Pedro in Spaine. Iohn a 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.8

  Bedford. Talbot.
• * 1.9

  Edward 4. Richard 3.
• * 1.10

  Earle Surrey
• * 1.11

  Charls Bran∣don.
• * 1.12

  Fame.
• * 1.13

  Tenedos sub∣verted.
• * 1.14

  Pandrastus. Panodrus. Galior.
• * 1.15

  Carras. Amasius. Nestor. Amphimac.
• * 1.16

  Glaucus
• * 1.17

  Sarpedon.
• * 1.18

  Eusemus.
• * 1.19

  Mystor.
• * 1.20

  Capidus.
• * 1.21

  Remus.
• * 1.22

  Pylex.
• * 1.23

  Achamas.
• * 1.24

  Tessemus.
• * 1.25

  Stupex. Fortunus Samnus Ausernumus
• * 1.26

  Boetes.
• * 1.27

  Epistemus.
• * 1.28

  •…•…hilemus.
• * 1.29

  Perseus. Thiction.
• * 1.30

  Symagou.
• * 1.31

  Hector.
• * 1.32

  Thelemus.
• * 1.33

  Archilocus
• * 1.34

  Two Kinges from Argrest
• * 1.35

  Tro•…•…lus. Deiphebus.
• * 1.36

  Epistropus.
• * 1.37

  Sagittarius.
• * 1.38

  Nastes.
• * 1.39

  Tentumidas.
• * 1.40

  Pandarus. Hyrtacides.
• * 1.41

  Adrestus. Amphius. Merops.
• * 1.42

  Ennonius. Chronius. Pylemen Pyrechmes. Euphemes.
• * 1.43

  Ascanius. Dius.
• * 1.44

  Pyrous. Mnemon. Pyleus. Hypothous.
• * 1.45

  Vlisses and Di∣omeds Embas∣sle.
• * 1.46

  Theutr•…•…m.
• * 1.47

  The first battaile.
• * 1.48

  Prothesilaus slaine.
• * 1.49

  The second daies battayle.
• * 1.50

  King Menon slaine.
• * 1.51

  Thesus.
• * 1.52

  The Tale of Cephalns and Procris.