‘First, when they passyd, was y^e Fabour Entring y^e Briggé of this noble Towne, There was a peler reysyd lik a Tour, And theron stod a sturdy champyoun; Of look and cheré stern as a lyoun, His swerd, vp rered prowdly, ’gan manace Alle foreyn enemyes from the Kyng to enchace. And in defens of his estat Rialle The geaunt wolde abyde ech auenture; And alle assautés that were marcyall For his sake he proudly wolde endure; In token wher of he hadde a long scripture On either syde, declaryng his entent, Whyche saydé thus by good avisement. ‘_Inimicos ejus induam confusione._’--Psalm cxxxii. 18. ‘_Alle those that ben enemys to the Kyng J schal them clothé withe confucion: Make hym myghti by vertuos leuyng, His mortall fone to oppressen and bere a down; And hym to encreasen as Criste’s champion, Allé myschevys from him to abrigge With the grace of God at the entryng of this Brigge._’ Too Antilopis stondyng on either syde, With the Armes of Jngelond and of Fraunce; Jn token that God schalle for hym provide As he hath title by iuste eneritaunce, To regne in pees, plenté, and alle plesaunce: Cesyng of werre, that men myzte ryden and gon, As trewe liegis there hertys mad bethe oon.’ “‘And when,’ says Fabyan, ‘the Kyng was passed the first gate, and was comen to the Draw-bridge, there was ordeined a goodly tower, hanged and apparailed with silke and clothes of arras, in most riche wise.’ Of which building thus speaks Lydgate. ‘Forthermore, so as the Kyng ’gan ryde, Myddes of the Brigge ther was a toure on lofte; The Lord of Lordes beynge ay his gyde As he hath be, and yit wil be full ofte: The toure araied with velwetty softe, Clothys of gold, silk, and tapicerie, As apperteynyth to his Regalye. And at his comyng, of excellent beauté Benygne of port, most womanly of chere, There issued out Emperesses thre, Ther hair displaied as Phebus in his sphere; With crownettys of gold, and stonés clere, At whos out comyng thei gaf swyche a light That the beholders were stonyed in there sight. [Sidenote: _Nature._] The first of them was callyd Nature, As sche that hathé vndyr here demayne Man, beest, and foul, and euery creature, With jnne the bondys of here goldyn cheyne: Eke heuene, and erthe, and euery creature, This Emperesse of custum dothe embrace; And next her com her Suster callyd Grace. [Sidenote: _Grace._] Passyng famous and of gret reuerence, Most desyryd in allé regiouns; For where that euere shewith here presence She bryngith gladnes to Citees and to townys; Of all well fare she halt the possessionys: For, y dar sey, prosperite in no place No while abidith, but if there be Grace. [Sidenote: _Fortune._]