3. Called I was _William[746] De la Pole_, Of _Suffolke_ duke, in[747] queene _Margeret’s_ dayes, That found the meane duke _Humfrey’s_ bloud to coole, Whose worthy actes[748] deserue eternall prayse, Whereby I note that fortune cannot rayse Any one aloft, without some other’s wracke: Fluds drowne no fieldes before they finde a bracke. 4. But as the waters which doe breake the walles Doe lose their[749] course they had within the shore, And daily rotting stinke within their stalles, For faut of mouing which they found before, Euen so the state that ouer high is bore, Doth lose the life of people’s loue it had, And rots it selfe vntill it fall to bad. 5. For while I was but earle, ech man was glad To say and doe the best by mee they might: And fortune euer since I was a lad, Did smile vpon mee with a chearefull sight, For whan my king had doubed mee a knight, And sent mee forth to serue at warre in _Fraunce_, My lucky[750] speede mine honour did enhaunce. 6. Where, to omitte the many feates I wrought Under other’s guide, I doe remember one, Which with my souldiers valiantly was fought, None other captayne saue my selfe alone, I meane not now the apprinze of _Pucell Jone_ In which attempt my trauaile was not small, Though the duke of _Burgoyne_ had the prayse of all.[751] 7. [But] the siege of _Awmarle_ is the feate I prayse: A strong built towne, with castels, walles, and vaultes, With men and weapon armde at all assayes: To which I gaue nigh fiue times fyue assaultes, Til at the last they yeelded it for naughtes: Yet lord _Rambur’s_, like a valiaunt knight, Defended it as long as euer[752] hee might. 8. But what preuayled it these townes to winne, Which shortly after must bee lost agayne? Whereby I see there is more glory in The keeping things, than is in their attayne: To get and keepe not, is but losse and[753] payne: Therefore ought men prouide to saue theyr winnings In all attempts, els lose they their beginnings. 9. Because wee could not keepe the townes we won, (For they were more then wee might easely wyeld,) One yeare vndid what wee in ten had done: [For] enuy at home [and] treason abroade, did yeelde King _Charles_ his realme of _Fraunce_, made barrain field: For bloudy warres had wasted all encrease, Which causde the pope helpe pouerty, sue[754] for peace. 10.