A Mirror to all that love to follow the wars.  

Go trudge my little book,  
Possess each willing hand,  
And give all leave to look,  
That seeks to understand,  
The travels of thy Knight,  
Plead hard to hold his right:  
Who finds thee may be bold,  
His actions to unfold.   
LONDON, Printed by john Wolf, 1589.   

 depiction of St George on horseback killing the dragon   

To the honourable minded Soldier.  
THese late frosty mornings (pleasing my humour) roused me sooner (than of custom) from my drowsy bed, and with desire (pressing me) I went abroad to walk.  
Where all alone, betrampling frosned ground,  
Me thought to hear, some fierce and warlike sound:  
For Phoebus then began his course in skies,  
On rolling wheels, his fiery waggon flies,  
Most swift, to send black Pluto to his bed:  
Who giving place, left sky like blood as red.  
This made me conceive some discourse within myself, and wondering much, there came unto mind, how God had pleased to bless, and keep our Queen, and land from the thundering and tempestuous storms of all our mortal, and furious enemies: with this conceit my joy was much augmented, and did amaze me greatly to consider, how far from common expectation, the late rumours of wars, and the rage of those which wrought to destroy us, were blown over and gone from us (with their own confusion:) and we inrest still living (in all felicity) ruled, and governed by Elizabeth our most blessed, and redoubled Princes. This seemed to my wonder most marvelous, and more moved me to muse, when stepping on a piece of broken Ice, I spurned forth a paper (rolled up,) wherein when I had opened and read, appeared matter sitting my present devise: which noting, by what chance and fortune, and in what season it came to my hands, suddenly resolved to have it printed: yet not willing to be over rash in presenting unto your views, what I knew not assuredly true, found after occasion of conference, with sundry of good judgement, who I knew had long frequented the Low countries (from whence they lately came) By whom under standing all was most true, and that they added much more honour unto the Lord Willughbie, (her majesties Lieutenant general) whom this book toucheth: I greatly longed (although I never did see his Lordship's person) to have his so noble endeavours (with all speed) published: which as it may worthily be placed for a looking glass, to such as would game fame, and honour: So with your good favour and patience, I will be bold to name this short discourse, A Mirror to all that love to follow the wars: Whereby if any shall take profit (in imitating his Lordships so honourable desire) to purchase England's good, it will advance him, and his to a never ending fame. And our sacred Prince (by whom we live most happy) shall reap sweet comfort (in her so blessed days) when her flourishing realm shallbe garnished, and stored with many such Lord Willughbies; who leaveth not both day and night to live in restless toil and travel, and joyeth most when news is brought, or means found, how he may best spoil or encounter her majesties enemies. This only do I crave, that with good construction you will (with favour) read what followeth, and yield but due right, where nought besides is demanded: and when by chance I find the like of any one of you, I promise to perform as much, (and more) if so your actions merit, or deserve.  
Yours in a greater matter at command, R. B.   


P Praise worthy yield to Mars his noble knight,  
E Excellent fame, in world shines passing bright,  
R Reporting still his valiant acts and deeds,  
E Engraved be his name, so well he speeds,  
G Gould is too base, his actions of more price,  
R Registered are in hearts, by wars right happy thrice,  
I In blessed time his life, did nature frame,  
N None knows his deeds, but will confess the same,  
E Except they hate, no man dare wrong his name.   

L Lord by descent, the honour of his house  
O O comfort great, to each good English heart,  
R Rejoice, be glad, for now your noble men,  
D Disdains no toil, nor flies from painful smart.   

W Will any man deny, that he is wise,  
I I think not one more good acts doth devise,  
L Let him stand up, when honour bids him rise:  
L Let him said I, nay sure he can not fall,  
V Upright he stands, whom valiant all men call,  
G Give him then duly right, that honoured is of all,  
H Heap shame on such, as wish thee ill to speed,  
B By courage stout, make Princes foes still bleed,  
Y Your God, & Queen, will recompense indeed.    

A Mirror for Soldiers.  

THose which in ought do well, deserves some praise to gain,  
Yet not so much by far, most will presume to think,  
As he which still sustains, a world of endless pain,  
And that from task him set, no toil can force to shrink:  
Then yield him duly right, whom fame with trump commends,  
That wisely, and with care, his country's cause defends.   

For learned and discreet, most men do know him well,  
That he is wise, and just, report hath spread the same,  
His actions, and deserts, no less abroad can tell,  
He serves, and fears high jove: And reverenceth his name:  
His wit, his will, applied, his learned skill, and all,  
That nought but happy hap, to England's cause might fall.   

His gallant Spirit appeared, when young to Danish king,  
Was sent Ambassador, from our most Royal Queen,  
How gravely he declared, and answer back did bring  
To trust reposed in him, Not better hath been seen  
Such care of common cause, did rule his liberal mind,  
As king, and people there, most loving he doth find.   

Since he began to bear, the Martial piercing Lance,  
And to the wars to bend, his well addicted will,  
Himself before his men, he ever doth advance,  
With courage priest to fight, their minds with joy to fill:  
His worthy heart upstird, Soon breaks their bravest troop,  
And Princes rightful cause, makes all her foes to stoop.   

He chaseth them in fear, like Lion fierce with rage,  
And leaves not off pursuit, till all are pulled down,  
His courage makes him oft, himself midst them enrage,  
And suffereth nought unsought, to get or win renown:  
Then Willughbie (in right) Lord worthy of great praise,  
For Country's cause maintained, lives happy in these days.   

How many men of Rome, And of the Greekish rout,  
Had been forgot (now dead) And smothered with the grave,  
Of other Nations eke, (that valiant were and stout,  
If whilst they lived some friend, their actions would not save:  
Or writ them strait in books, as now this noble knight,  
(For yielding Countries due) deserveth in his right.   

What man hath Parma found, in all this four years war,  
More priest with will (than he) To meet him in the face,  
With pain hath he not sought, to find him near and far,  
And often spoiled his men, with foul, and much disgrace:  
He marcheth on with cheer, his friend Fortune doth stand,  
And toils like him that hath, his Prince's cause in hand.   

At Zutphen when the Duke, came to relieve the place,  
This worthy Willughbie, did serve right well that day,  
and surely mounted there, with gallant comely grace,  
First broke his lance, and then, with sword he made his way:  
Emidst his foes in place, And did bestir him so,  
As he whom Country's cause, made desperate on to go.   

He passed on so far, As all began to dread,  
If God blessed him not well, he would be take or slain,  
His Bases pulled away, his plumes cut from his head,  
His Arms broke with blows: yet safe returned again:  
He Cariscio took, And prisoner brought away,  
So just was Country's cause, that no man could him stay.   

No convoy could escape, From his victorious hand,  
Nor enemy durst approach, nor come before the town,  
Of Burgen whilst he ruled, And governor did stand,  
They doubted then so much, his greatness of renown:  
The garrison him loved, and honoured him in heart,  
For Prince's cause and them, he could endure much smart.   

His Challenge nobly made, oft times to bravest foe,  
Declared a courage stout, despising cowardice:  
He dared to the fight, (the letters yet to show,)  
of Guast Marquis right, that valiant was and wise:  
But he refused to cope, with him most worthy knight,  
Whom country's cause made strong, & doubled force & might.   

When th'earl of Leycester, by Princes strait behest,  
For England should return, And leave those waters and toil,  
Lord Willughbie (as fit) in honour eke the best,  
Which on that side remained, was thrust therein to moil:  
His good endeavours passed, to further Countries right,  
Made him soon to deserve, favour of every wight.   

Confirmed then in place, He entered strait in care,  
And with upright respect, regarding his great charge,  
To end all troubles first, no travel he did spare,  
Those Countries were in pick, and fury went at large:  
But such a course he took, the people's hearts to gain,  
To favour common cause, toil was to him no pain.   

The Commons were at strife, great discord did appear,  
Each town divided was, one Province other hate,  
To Arms they run amain, the helm fierce wrath then stirred,  
Each thirst for others blood, such was their heavy state:  
But he by grave foresight, broke all this frantic fit,  
And seeks for Country's good, their humours for to hit.   

When States ensconsed round, the town of Medinblicke,  
Count Maurice joined with them, In hope poor Snoy to spoil,  
Such malice ruled their brains, as none had seen the like,  
And for to win the same, they kept a marvelous coil:  
Till they with pain and cost, by this brave Lord sustained,  
(For Country's cause in chief) to peace & love were gained.   

When Gertruidenberge, in mutiny discontent,  
Put Hollocke forth their gates, with him the Captains all,  
Not dreading Count, nor States, for desperate all were bend,  
To yield themselves and town, And to the foe to fall:  
The States in fear besought, Count Maurice then did pray,  
For Countries common good, that he would work a stay.   

Wherein, though hard it seemed, to stop so mad a will,  
From working some outrage, in hazard of the place,  
Which for to gain, the foe, lay pressing on them still,  
Not sparing crowns, nor gold, to purchase such a grace:  
Yet found this noble Lord, such means as saved all,  
And for his Country's cause, wrought to his will their fall.   

Him governor they make, Th'english Cross they bear,  
And English Captains take, to lead there horse and foot,  
They chaste th'italian troop, of lances, who for fear,  
Fled to Breda amain, his Lordship made them stoop:  
And though he did but walk, unarmed out of town,  
Yet zeal for Country's cause, them bloody left on ground   

When Parma priest to meet, the Spanish fleet at seas,  
Lay hovering at Dunkirk, with forty thousand men,  
In purpose to invade, and England take with ease,  
This lord then well prepared, was ready (even then)  
To take the seas in hope, to meet him on the way,  
And for his Country's cause, resolved to force him stay.   

But when the Duke's great brags, to smoke and wind did turn,  
And when his hope had failed, and spanish fleet was gone,  
He bended all his power, to Bargain fast they run,  
And 'gainst that town he makes, his chiefest force and head:  
Thirty thousand at least, his army did contain,  
Yet for our Country's cause, our men them do disdain.   

At first approach when he, did think to view the town,  
With cannon from the wall, amazed was made to stand,  
The general did shoot, two pages fell to ground,  
Stark dead, such happy luck, went with his noble hand,  
Then sallied bravely forth, at Steunberge port our men,  
And for their Country's cause, the foe they further send.   

No day almost did pass, but horse, or foot went out,  
And skirmish brave with foe, to England's honour great,  
Themselves confessed our men, to be both bold and stout,  
And passing fierce (they said) if stirred up to heat:  
This noble Lord went forth, as foremost as the best,  
His zeal for Country's cause, eclipsed his sleep and rest,   

And though the town was weak, unfurnished for defence,  
When Parma first approached, and works but new begun,  
And though the common voice, was he would never thence,  
Until he took the same, no means his rage could shun:  
Yet so bestirred all men, with wills to save the place,  
As care for common cause, made him part with disgrace.   

Yet lay he at that ' that siege, encamped on three sides,  
Ten or eleven weeks, his trenches brought hard by,  
Not full caliver shot, wherein his men abides,  
And vantage for to get, in them they close did lie,  
But all in vain they sped, their trenches served for grave,  
For countries common cause, our men would not them save.   

But when his hope (by force) to take the town was fled,  
And that his pains and men, he daily there had lost,  
With coin he thought corrupt, brave Grimston, & Red-head,  
False Sligo, Simon was, his life the practice cost:  
The North sconce by device, or force they think to take,  
But zeal for Country's cause, their hearts enforced to ache.   

Eight hundred men were slain, and drowned with the tide,  
For seeing themselves deceived, with force they strait assail,  
Down falls the Pallisad, and long at salt they bide,  
But twice put to retire, their purpose thus did fail:  
Lord Willughbie himself, with russel did defend,  
And for our Prince's cause, their force against them bend.   

Thus their devise did prove, a plot their throats to cut,  
For they by grave foresight, were drawn to the spoil,  
By Grimstone resolute, who forth of sconce was put,  
To lead them on like sheep, unto this deadly foil:  
Where you may view deceit, caught fast in his own net,  
For common zeal, and cause, their devilish plot did let.   

I wish no better hap, in treason may succeed,  
Then many years have chanced, To men of cursed minds,  
Which sought by spiteful drifts, in purpose for to speed,  
As Sligo did, but all, too late repentance finds,  
Fear nought their treasons then, let courage buckler be,  
And in your country's cause, their heart blood you shall see.   

Here may you see the works of mighty jove above,  
Here may you eke behold, that foes build in the sand,  
God will defend us still, his people he will save,  
And 'gainst all furious fiends, will fight with strongest hand,  
Who will not then rejoice, when wish succeeds to will,  
And when their country's good, doth grow, and prosper still.   

Would god our chiefest men, And men possessed with wealth,  
Can frame their minds & means, as Willughbie hath done,  
To seek to gain renown, by working countries health,  
And some frequented toils, would thereby leave and shun:  
Then plenty of our foes, to England soon would seek,  
With honour to our cause, for mercy at our feet.   

I mean not here such men, which countries cause do love,  
Nor those will seem to blame, which have no means, to will,  
From these and such as serve, my thoughts I far remove,  
And 'gainst the rest, which might, with plaints their ears I'll fill,  
And cry, and call amain, Let common cause in right,  
Be still respected dear, and precious in your sight.   

We see the Pope procures, great Princes us molest,  
We see what armies huge, are raised against our Queen,  
We see how safe we are, when each will do his best,  
And our good God for us, most strong hath still been seen:  
Let all then courage take, Of what sort or degree,  
Our country's cause is just, by proof our foes may see.   

Our Princes sacred power, anointed from above,  
With hearts, with hands, with lives, and with our dearest blood,  
Shall still maintained be, The people fear and love,  
Let him in sorrow dwell, that would her not much good:  
Long happy have we lived, in her most blessed days,  
Her care for subjects all, hath much advanced her praise.   

Most mighty jove, who rules, and guides each living thing,  
And that from highest throne, dost keep, and bless our Queen  
Protect, defend her right, Shame and destruction bring,  
Upon her cruel foes, and grant it may be seen.  
Throughout the world (O God) that thy strong stretched arm  
Herself, her cause, and land, preserves from hurt or harm.   

THis knight deserves much more, than here I writ,  
My verse so blunt, at full, cannot recite,  
His wise and worthy acts, what fault you find,  
Excuse the same in me, and me you bind,  
A friend (in power though small,) this grace yet give  
Lord Willughbies deserved good fame may live;  
Whose deeds his secret friend, would not leave dead,  
which done farewell; I'll go to hide my head,  
Yet ere I fly, your pardons gently give,  
And then I hope from shame abroad to live.   
FINIS.  
I. B.