Great Britain -- History -- Poetry; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Sources
How stoutly did they march in honor’s field,
In stately station like the sonnes of fame,
Led by renowne, who nere did let them yeeld,
Though drown’d in death in midst of martiall game,
Till by their deeds they gain’d a glorious name,
Whose valour still _Eliza_ did direct
Each where to beat downe wrong and right erect.
28.
[Sidenote: _An. Reg. 2._]
When England’s Scotland in distresse did stand,
Ambitious _Guise_ intending her decay,
England’s faire virgin lent her helping hand,
And soone did chace th’insulting French away,
That proudly did their ensignes there display:
For that braue lord great _Grey_ of Wilton hight,
Did force them thence by warre’s impulsiue might.
29.
[Sidenote: _An. Reg. 4._]
When France within it selfe diuided stood,
Th’aspiring _Guise_ in hostile furie bent
Against braue _Condie_, prince of royall blood,
Then our faire queene all danger to preuent,
Great _Warwicke_ ore the seas broad bosome sent,
Whose dreaded powers our Calice losse had quited,
Had heau’n not sicknesse through his host excited.
30.
[Sidenote: _Anno Reg. 9._]
When Ireland’s great _Oneale_, first that did moue
The Kernes and Gallowglasses, men of might,
Vnto their soueraigne to renounce their loue,
Hight _Henrie Sidnie_ that heroick knight,
Did oft times turne him to inglorious flight,
Till traytor-like mongst friends he found his fall,
Who hew’d his bodie into pieces small.
31.
[Sidenote: _An. Reg. 8._]
Nor heere renowned _Randol_ braue esquire
Can I forget to giue to thee thy right,
When with thine owne few troopes, whose hearts on fire
Thy valour set, thou put’st to shamefull flight
This _Shane Oneale_, and all his host in fight:
Where though thou fell in venturing past the rest,
Thy name shall liue in fame’s great booke exprest.
32.
[Sidenote: _An. Reg. 12._]
And heere at home, when in the north did rise
The louring stormes stirr’d vp by discontent
Of peace-disturbers, who did enterprize
By force of hand their soueraigne’s right to rent,
And take from her this kingdome’s gouernment,
Then stood vp many a loyall hearted peere,
To shield her safe from threatning foe-men’s feare.
33.
For well they knew, with right it could not stand,
That any one their soueraigne might displace,
And take the scepter from the prince’s hand:
The rule of many is absurd and base,
One prince must sit inthron’d in iustice place;
For many heads, what bodie euer bare,
That was not monster like and out of square?
34.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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