I meane the ship so lately built, Without, within soe richly gilt; O never man saw rapier hilt Soe shine. I think there’s none since Noah’s Flood Was ever like to prove soe good; You never saw thing made of wood Soe fine. 3 Edgar sitts horse, in glorious wise As glorious artists could devise, And under seven kings prostrate lyes. I’me told His horse with mettle soe abounds That he shall shortly scowre the Downes, And winne, Ile hold, a hundred pounds Of gold. 4 To tell you of her bredth, her length, Her height, her depth, her bulk, her strength, Her anchor’s weight too, and the length Oth’ cable, Her guns, her tackle and the rest _Quæ nunc proscribere longum est_, It might be counted for a ieast Or fable; 5 For there be very few will guesse Her half a mile or little lesse, Her lanthorne to feast forty messe Unbidd, Her mast for to be thrice as high As Grantham steeple. If I lye Ask them that saw her, pray, for I Nere did. 6 To see how lasses flock each day, And leave their maydenheads by th’ way, I doubt that some will shortly pay Dearely; And most men wives will alsoe goe [To ’t] whe’r their hussbands will or noe To meet a freind, I don’t say soe, Not I. 7 There’s many more will see this sight; Some call their wives, and they doe right, But some with others to delight Are bent. Thus good and bad and midling some, To see this ship, to Woolwich come, This wonder of all Christendome And Kent. 8 Kent was never conquered yet, Kent was thought a place most fitt To build this goodly arke in it, Soe stronge. Kent and men of Kent have showne By sea, by land, that of their owne Which other countries have not knowne Soe long. 9 Yet a word or two in merriment To cheer up some were discontent, And thought theire mony had bin lent In vaine; But now the truth they plainely see, They all in one consent agree To double it if need shalbe Againe. 10