What neede I name you euery _Britayne_ here, As first the King, the nobles all besyde, Full stout and worthy wights in warre that were, As euer erst the stately _Romaynes_ tryde: Wee fought so long they durst no longer bide: Proude _Cæsar_ hee for all his bragges and boste Flew backe to ships, with halfe his scattered hoste. 31. If hee had bene a God (as sotts him nam’d) Hee could not of vs _Britaynes_ taken foile, The Monarche _Cæsar_ might haue bene asham’d From such an Island with his ships recoyle, Or else to flye and leaue behinde the spoile: But life is sweete, hee thought it better flye, Then byde amongste vs _Britaynes_, here[736] to die. 32. I had his sword was named _Crocea mors_, With which hee gaue mee in the head a stroke, The venime of the which had such a force, It able was to pearce the harte of oke: No medcines might the poyson out reuoke, Wherefore though scarce hee perced had the skin, In fifteene dayes my braynes it rancled in.[737] 33. And then to soone (alas) therefore I dyde, Yet would to God hee had returnde agayne, So that I might but once the dastard spyde, Before hee went I had the serpent slayne. Hee playde the coward cutthrote all to playne: A beastly serpent’s harte that beaste detects, Which, or hee fight, his sworde with bane infects. 34. Well, then my death brought _Cæsar_ no renowne, For both I gate thereby eternall fame, And eke his sworde to strike his friends adowne: I slewe therewith his _Labiene_ by name: With Prince against my Countrey foes I came, Was wounded yet did neuer faynt nor yeelde, Till _Cæsar_ with his souldiers fled the fielde. 34. Who would not venter life in such a case? Who would not fight at Countrye’s whole request? Who would not meeting _Cæsar_ in the place, Fight for life, Prince, and Countrye, with the best? The greatest courage is by facts exprest: Then for thy Prince, with fortitude, as I, And Realme’s defence,[738] is praise to liue or dy. 35. Now write my life when thou hast leasure, and Will all thy countrymen to learne by mee, Both for their Prince and for their natiue land, As valiaunt, bolde, and fearelesse for to bee. A paterne playne of fortitude they see: To which directly if themselues they frame, They shall preserue their Countrye, fayth, and fame. LENUOY.[739] 1.