Poems: by Michaell Draiton Esquire

¶ Notes of the Chronicle Historie.

From learned Florence, long time rich in fame.

FLorence a Citty of Thuscan, standing vpon the Riuer Arnus, (celebrated by Dante Petrarch, and other the most noble wits of Italie) was the originall of the familie, out of which this Ge∣ral line did spring, as Ireland the place of her birth, which is inti∣mated by these verses of the Earle of Surrey.

From Thuscan came my Ladies worthy race, Faire Florence was sometime her ancient seate, The Westerne Ile, whose pleasant shore doth face Wilde Cambers cliffs, did giue her liuely heate.

Great learn'd Agrippa, so profound in Art.

Cornelius Agrippa, a man in his time so famous for Magicke (which the bookes published by him, concerning that argument, do partly proue) as in this place needes no further remembrance. Howbeit, as those abstruse and gloomy Arts are but illusions: so in the honour of so rare a Gentleman as this Earle, (and there∣withall so noble a Poet) (a quality, by which his other titles re∣ceiue their greatest lustre) inuention may make somewhat more bold with Agrippa aboue the barren truth.

That Lion set in our bright siluer bend.

The blazon of the Howards honorable armour, was Gules be∣tweene six crosselets Fitches abend Argent, to which afterwards was added by atchieuement, In the Canton point of the bend an escutche∣on, or within the Scottish tressure, a Demi-lion rampant Gules, &c. as Maister Camden now Clerenceaulx from authoritie noteth. Neuer shall time nor bitter enuie be able to obscure the brightnesse of so great a victory as that, for which this addition was obtained. The Historian of Scotland George Bucchanan reporteth, that the Earle of Surrey gaue for his badge a Siluer Lion, (which from an∣tiquitie belonged to that name) tearing in peeces A Lion prostrate Gules; and withall, that this which he termes insolencie, was pu∣nished in him and his posteritie, as if it were fatall to the Con∣querour,

to doe his Soueraigne such loyall seruice as a thousand such seuere censurers were neuer able to performe.

Since Scottish blood discoloured Floden field.

The batttle was fought at Bramstone neere Floden hill, being a part of the Cheuiot, a mountaine that exceedeth all the moun∣taines in the North of England for bignesse, in which the wilfull periurie of Iames the fifth was punished from heauen by the Earle of Surrey, being left by King Henry the eight (then in France be∣fore Turwin) for the defence of his Realme.

Nor beauteous Stanhope, whom all tongues report To be the glory, &c.

Of the beautie of that Lady, he himselfe testifies in an Elegie which he writ of her, refusing to daunce with him, which hee see∣meth to alegorize vnder a Lion and a Wolfe. And of himselfe he saith:

A Lion saw I late, as white as any snow,

And of her.

I might perceiue a Wolfe as white as Whales bone, A fairer beast, of fresher hue, beheld I neuer none, But that her lookes were coy, and froward was her grace.

And famous Wyat who in numbers sings.

Sir Thomas Wyat the elder, a most excellent Poet, as his Poems extant doe witnesse, besides certaine Encomions written by the Earle of Surrey vppon some of Dauids Psalmes, by him translated.

What holy graue, what worthy Sepulchre, To Wyats Psalmes shall Christians purchase then.

And afterward vpon his death the said Earle writeth thus:

What vertues rare were tempred in thy breast? Honour that England such a iewell bred, And kisse the ground whereas thy corpes did rest.

At Honsdon, where those sweete cel-stiall eyne,

It is manifest by a Sonnet written by this noble Earle, that the first time he beheld his Lady, was at Hunsdon.

Hunsdon did first present her to mine eyne.

Which Sonnet being altogether a description of his loue, I do alleadge in diuers places of this glosse, as proofes of what I write.

Of Hampton Court and Windsor, where abound All pleasures, &c.

That he enioyed the presence of his faire and vertuous Mistris, in those two places, by reason of Queene Katherines vsuall aboad there, (on whom this Lady Geraldine was attending) I proue by these verses of his:

Hampton me tanght to wish her first for mine, Windsor alas doth chase me from her sight.

And in another Sonnet following:

When Winsor walls sustainde my wearied arme, My hand my chin, to ease my restlesse head.

And that his delight might draw him to compare Winsor to Paradice, an Elegy may proue, where he remembreth his passed pleasures in that place.

With a Kings sonne my childish yeeres I pass'd, In greater feast then Priams sonne of Troy.

And againe in the same Elegie;

Those large greene Courts, where we were wont to roue With eyes cast vp vnto the maidens Tower, With easie sighs, such as men draw in loue.

And againe in the same:

The stately seates, the Ladies bright of hue, The dances short, long tales of sweete delight.

And for the pleasantnesse of the place, these verses of his may testifie in the same Elegie before recited.

The secret groues which we haue made resound, With siluer drops the meads yet spread for ruth.

As goodly flowers from Thamisis doe growe, &c.

I had thought in this place not to haue spoken of Thames, be∣ing so oft remembred by mee before, in sundry other places on this occasion: but thinking of that excellent Epigram, which, as I iudge, either to bee done by the said Earle, or Sir Frauncis Brian: for the worthinesse thereof I will heere insert, which, as it seemes to me, was compiled at the Authors being in Spaine.

Tagus farewell, which Westward with thy streames, Turn'st vp the graines of gold already tride, For I withspur and saile go seeke the Thames, Against the Sunne that shewes her wealthy pride; And to the towne that Brutus sought by dreames, Like bended Moone that leanes her lusty side, To seeke my Country now, for whom I liue, O mighty Ioue, for this the windes me giue.