HIS majesties LEPANTO, Or, HEROICAL SONG, being part of his Poetical exercises at vacant hours.  
Imprinted at London by Simon Stafford, and Henry Hook. 1603.   

THE AUTHORS' Preface to the Reader,  
IT falls out often, that the effects of men's actions comes clean contrary to the intent of the Author. The same find I by experience (beloved Reader) in my Poem of Lepanto: For although till now, it have not been imprinted, yet being set out to the public view of many, by a great sort of stolen copies, purchased (in truth) without my knowledge or consent, it hath for lack of a Preface, been in some things misconstrued by sundry, which I of very purpose thinking to have omitted, for that the writing thereof might have tended, in my opinion, to some reproach of the skilful learnedness of the Reader, as if his brains could not have conceived so uncurious a work, without some manner of commentary, & so have made the work more displeasant unto him: it hath by the contrary fallen out, that the lack thereof hath made it the more displeasant to some, through their mistaking a part of the meaning thereof. And for that I know the special thing misliked in it, is, that I should seem far contrary to my degree & Religion, like a mercenary Poet, to pen a work, ex professo, in praise of a foreign Papist hastard; I will, by setting down the nature and order of the Poem, resclue the ignorant of their error, and make the other sort inexcusable of their captiousness. The nature then of this Poem, is an argument, a minore ad maius, largely entreated by a Poetike comparison, being to the writing hereof moved, by the stirring up of the league & cruel persecution of the Protestants in all countries, at the very first raging whereof, I compiled this Poem, as the exhortation to the persecuted in the hindmost eight lines thereof doth plainly testify, being both begun and ended in the same Summer, wherein the league was published in France. The order of the cantic is this: First, a Poetike preface, declaring the matter I treat of, wherein, I▪ name not Don-Iohn, neither literally nor any ways by description, which I behoved to have done, if I had penned the whole Poem in his praise, as Virgil, Arma virumque cano: & Homer, Dic mihi musa virum: of whose imitation I had not been ashamed, if so my purpose had been framed. Next follows my invocation to the true God only, and not to all the He and She Saints, for whose vain honours, Don-Iohn fought in all his wars. Next after my invocation, follows the poetike History of my comparison, wherein following forth the ground of a true history, (as Virgil or Homer did) like a painter shadowing with umbers a portrait else drawn in gross, for giving it greater vivenes, so I eike or pair to the circumstances of the actions, as the rules of the poetike art will permit: which historike comparison continues till the song of the Angels: in the which I compare and apply the former comparison to our present estate, taking occasion thereupon to speak somewhat of our religion. Lastly, the Epilogue of the whole, in the last eight lines, declares fully my intention in the whole, and explains so fully my comparison and argument, from the more to the less, as I cannot without shameful repetition speak any more thereof. And in a word, what soever praise I have given to Don-Iohn in this Poem, it is neither in accounting him as first or second cause of that victory, but only as a particular man, when he falls in my way, to speak the truth of him. For as it becomes not the honour of my estate, like an hireling, to pen the praise of any man: So becomes it far less the highness of my rank and calling, to spare for the fear or favour of whomsoever living, to speak or write the truth of any. And thus craving pardon, beloved Reader, for this long some Apology (being driven thereto, not by nature, but by necessity) I bid you heartily farewell.   

THE SONNET.  
THe azur'd vault, the crystal circle's bright,  
The gleaming fiery torches powdered there,  
The changing round, the shining beamy light,  
The sad and bearded fires, the monsters fair:  
The prodigies appearing in the air,  
The rearding thunders, and the blustering winds,  
The fowls, in hue, in shape, and nature rayre,  
The pretty notes that winged musicians finds:  
In earth the sau'ry flowers, the metalled minds,  
The wholesome herbs, the haughty pleasant trees,  
The silver streams, the beasts of sundry kinds,  
The bounded roars, and fishes of the seas:  
All these for teaching man, the LORD did frame,  
To do his will, whose glory shines in thame.  
I. R.   

HIS majesties LEPANTO: OR, HEROICAL SONG.  
I Sing a wondrous work of God,  
I sing his mercies great,  
I sing his justice here— withal  
Poured from his holy seat:  
To wit, a cruel Martial war,  
A bloody battle bold,  
Long doubtsome fight, with slaughter huge,  
And wounded manifold.  
Which fought was in LEPANTOES gulf,  
Betwixt the baptised race,  
And circumcised Turban Turk's  
Rencountring in that place.  
O only God, I pray thee thrice,  
Thrice one in persons three,  
Alike Eternal, like of might,  
Although distinct ye be.  
I pray thee Father, through thy Son,  
Thy word immortal still,  
The great ARCHANGEL of records,  
And worker of thy will,  
To make thy holy Spreit my Muse,  
And eik my pen inflame,  
Above my skill to write this work,  
To magnify thy name.  
Into the turning still of times,  
I err, no time can be,  
Where was and is, and times to come,  
Confounded are all three:  
I mean, before great God in Heaven,  
(For Sun and Moon divides  
The times in earth by hours and days,  
And seasons still that slides.)  
Yet Man, whom Man must understand,  
Must speak into this case,  
As man; our flesh will not permit,  
We heavenly things embrace.  
Then, as I else began to say,  
One day it did fall out,  
As glorious God in glistering throne,  
With Angels round about  
Did sit, and Christ at his right hand,  
That crafty Satan came,  
deceiver, Liar, hating man,  
And Gods most sacred Name.  
This old abuser stood into  
The presence of the Lord:  
Then in this manner Christ accused  
The sour of discord:  
I know, thou from that City comest,  
CONSTANTINOPLE great,  
Where thou hast by thy malice made  
The faithless Turks to fret:  
Thou hast inflamed their maddest minds  
With raging fire of wrath,  
Against them all that do profess  
My Name with fervent faith.  
How long, O Father, shall they thus,  
Quite under foot be tread,  
By faithless folks, who executes  
What in this Snake is bred!  
Then Satan answered, Faith? Quoth he,  
Their Faith is too too small;  
They strive, me think, on either part,  
Who farthest back can fall:  
Hast thou not given them in my hands,  
Even both the sides, I say,  
That I, as best doth seem to me,  
May use them every way?  
Then jehovah, whose nod doth make  
The heavens and mountains quake,  
Whose smallest wrath the Centres makes  
Of all the Earth to shake;  
Whose word did make the world of nought,  
And whose approving sign  
Did 'stablish all, even as we see,  
By force of voice divine:  
This God began from thundering throat  
Grave words of weight to bring:  
All Christians serve my son, though not  
Aright in every thing.  
No more shall now these Christians be  
With Infidels oppressed,  
So of my holy hallowed Name  
The force is great and blessed  
Desist o Tempter. Gabriel, come,  
O thou ARCHANGEL true,  
Whom I have oft in message sent  
To Realms and Towns anew.  
Go quickly hence to Venice Town,  
And put into their minds,  
To take revenge of wrongs the Turks  
Have done in sundry kinds.  
No whistling wind with such a speed,  
From hills can hurl over heugh,  
As he whose thought doth furnish speed,  
His thought was speed aneugh.  
This Town it stands within the Sea,  
Five miles or thereabout,  
Upon no Isle nor ground, the Sea  
Runs all the streets throughout,  
Who stood upon the steeple head,  
Should see a wondrous sight,  
A Town to stand without a ground,  
Her ground is made by slight:  
Strong Timber props dung in the Sea  
Do bear her up by art,  
An I'll is all her marketplace,  
A large and spacious part.  
A Duke with Senate joined doth rule,  
Saint MARK is patron chief,  
Ilk year they wed the Sea with rings  
To be their sure relief.  
The Angel then arrived into  
This artificial Town,  
And changed in likeness of a man,  
He walks both up and down,  
While time he met some man of spreit,  
And then began to say,  
What do we all? me think we sleep:  
Are we not day by day▪  
By cruel Turks and Infidels  
Most spitefully oppressed?  
They kill our Knights, they brash our forts.  
They let us never rest.  
Go too, go too, once make a proof:  
No more let us desist:  
To bold attempts God gives success,  
If once assay we list.  
With this he goes away. This man  
Unto an other tells  
The purpose, whereunto they both  
Agree among themsels.  
This other to an other tells,  
And so from hand to hand  
It spreads and goes, and all that heard  
It, necessare it found.  
And last of all it comes unto  
The Duke and Senate's care,  
Who found it good, and followed forth  
The same as ye shall hear.  
The Town was driven into this time,  
In such a piteous strait  
By Mahometists, that they had else  
Given over all debate.  
The Turk had conquest Cyprus I'll,  
And all their lands that lay  
Without the bounds of Italy,  
Almost the whole, I say:  
And they for last refuge of all,  
Had moved each Christian King,  
To make their Churches pray for their  
Relief in every thing.  
The Town with piteous plaints did call  
Upon the Lord of might,  
With praying still and fasting oft,  
And groaning all the night:  
Was nothing heard but sobs and sighs,  
Was nothing seen but tears,  
Yea sorrow drove the bravest men  
With mourning to their bears.  
The women swoon for sorrow oft,  
The babe for woe did weep,  
To see the mother giving milk,  
Such doleful gesture keep.  
Young men and maids within the Town  
Were ay arrayed in black,  
Each Eau'n the Sun was sooner hid  
Then erst, the night to macke.  
No Venus then, nor Cupid false,  
Durst kith or once appear,  
For pale distress had banished them,  
By sad and sorry cheer.  
As seas did compass them about,  
As Seas the streets did run,  
So Seas of tears did ever flow  
The houses all within.  
As Seas within were joined with howls,  
So Seas without did rayre,  
Their careful cries to Heaven did mount,  
Resounding in the air.  
O stay, my Muse, thou goest too far:  
Show where we left before,  
Lest trickling tears so fill my pen,  
That it will write no more.  
Then VENICE being in this state,  
When Gabriel there was sent,  
His speeches spread abroad, made Town  
And Senate both so bend  
To take revenge, as they implored  
The Christian Princes aid,  
Of forces such, as easily,  
They might have spared and maid.  
At last, support was granted them,  
The holy league was past,  
Als long to stand, as twixt the Turks  
And Christians war should last.  
It was agreed, that into March,  
Or April every year,  
The army should on Eastern Seas,  
Conuene from far and near.  
Thus bend upon their enterprise,  
The principals did convene,  
Into Messena to consult,  
What order should have been  
Observed in all their army great:  
There Don john d' Austria came,  
Their General great, and Venier als  
Came there in Venice name▪  
From Genes Andrea Dor●● came,  
And Rome Colonne sent,  
When they with others many days  
Had into counsel spent.  
In end Ascagnio Dela Corn,  
A martial man and wise,  
His counsel gave, as ye shall hear  
Upon their enterprise.  
Three causes be (o chieftains brave)  
That should a General let,  
On Fortune's light uncertain wheel  
The victory to set:  
First, if the loss may harm him more,  
Then winning can avail,  
As if his Realm he do defend  
From them that it assail.  
The next, is when the contrary Host  
Is able to divide,  
For sickness sore, or famine great,  
Then best is to abide.  
The third and last, it is in case  
His forces be too small,  
Then better far is to delay,  
Then for to per●●● all.  
But since of these two former points  
We need not stand in doubt,  
Then though we lose, we may defend  
Our Countries round about.  
As to the last, this army is  
So awful, strong and fair,  
And furnished so with necessares  
Through your foreseeing care,  
That nought doth rest but courage bold.  
Then since your state is such,  
With trust in God assay your chance.  
Good cause availeth much.  
But specially take heed to this,  
That ere ye make away,  
Ye order all concerning water,  
Into their due array:  
For if while that ye see your foes,  
Ye shall continue all,  
Then shall their sudden sight with fear  
Your bravest Spreits appall.  
Each one command a sundry thing,  
Astonished of the case,  
And every simple Soldat shall  
Usurp his Captains place.  
This counsel so contents them all,  
That every man departs,  
With whispering much, and so resolves  
With bold magnanime hearts.  
THEIR preparations being made,  
They all upon a day,  
Their biting Ankers gladly weighed,  
And made them for the way.  
The Grecian Fleet, for Helen's cause  
That Neptune's town did sack,  
In brave array, or glistering arms,  
No match to them could make.  
There came eight thousand Spaniards brave  
From hot and barren Spain,  
Good ordour-keepars, cold in fight,  
With proud disdainful brain,  
From pleasant fertile Italy,  
There came twelve thousand als,  
With subtle spreits bend to revenge,  
By crafty means and fals.  
Three thousand Almans also came,  
From Country's cold and wide,  
These money men with awful cheer  
The chock will dourely bide.  
From divers parts did also come,  
Three thousand ventures brave,  
All voluntaires of conscience moved,  
And would no wages have.  
Armed Galleys twice a hundr'and eight,  
Six ships all wondrous great,  
And five and twenty loaded ships,  
With baggage, and with meat;  
With forty other little barks,  
And pretty galliots small.  
Of these aforesaid was compound  
The Christian Navy all.  
THIS cloud of Galleys thus began  
On Neptune's back to row:  
And in the ships the Mariners  
Did skip from tow to towe.  
With willing minds they hailed the Ties,  
And hoist the flaffing Sails,  
And strongest tow, from highest masts,  
With force and practic hails.  
The Forceats loathsomely did row,  
In Galleys 'gainst their will,  
Whom Galley-masters oft did beat,  
And threaten ever still.  
The foaming Seas did bullor up,  
The risking Oars did rash,  
The Souldats' pieces for to clang  
Did showers of shots delash.  
But as the Devil is ready bent,  
Good works to hinder ay,  
So sowed he in this Navy strife,  
Their good success to stay.  
Yet did the wisdoms of the Chiefs,  
And of the general most,  
Compound all quarrels and debates  
That were, into that Host,  
Preferring wisely as they ought,  
The honour of the Lord,  
Unto their own, the public cause,  
To private men's discord.  
The feathered fame of wondrous speed.  
That doth delight to flee  
On tops of houses prattling all  
That she can hear or see,  
Part true, part false: this monster strange  
Among the Turks did tell,  
That divers Christian Princes joined,  
Resolved with them to mel.  
Then spies were sent abroad, who told  
The matter as it stood.  
Except in Arythmetique (as  
It seemed) they were not good:  
For they did count their number, to  
Be less than was indeed,  
Which did into the great Turk's mind  
A great disdaining breed.  
A perilous thing, as ever came  
Into a Chieftains brain,  
To set at nought his foes (though small)  
By lighleing disdain.  
Then Selym sent a Navy out,  
Who wandered without rest,  
while time into LEPANTOES gulf,  
They all their Ankers kest.  
In season when with sharpest hooks  
The busy shearers cow  
The fruitful yellow locks of gold,  
That do on Ceres grow,  
And when the strongest Trees for weight  
Of birth do downward bow  
Their heavy heads, whose coloured knops  
In showers rain ripely now,  
And husband men with Woodbine crowns,  
To twice borne Bacchus dance,  
Whose pleasant poison sweet in taste,  
Doth cast them in a trance:  
Into this riping season sure,  
The Christian Host, I say,  
Were all assembled for to make  
Them ready for the way.  
But or they from Messena came,  
The Vines were standing bayre,  
Trees void of fruit, and Ceres' polled,  
And lacking all her hair:  
But when that leaves, with rattling falls  
In banks of withered boughs,  
And careful labourers do begin  
To yoke the painful ploughs,  
The Navies near to other drew,  
And Venier (sent before)  
Gave false Alarm, sending word,  
The Turks had skowped the score,  
That fifty Galleys quite were fled.  
This word he sent express,  
To make the Christians willingly  
To battle them address.  
As so they did, and entered all,  
(Moved by that samen flight)  
Into LEPANTOES gulf, and there  
Prepared them for the fight.  
while this was doing here on earth,  
Great God, who creates all,  
(With wakrife eye preordoning  
What ever doth befall)  
Was sitting in his pompous throne,  
In highest heaven above,  
And gloriously accompanied  
With justice and with Love:  
The one hath smiling countenance,  
The other frowning cheer:  
The one to mercy still persuades  
Him as a Father dear:  
The other for to power his plagues  
Upon repining sin,  
And fill the fields with woeful cries,  
The houses all with din.  
But yet the Lord so temperates them,  
That both do brook their place,  
For justice whiles obtains her will,  
But evermore doth grace:  
jehovah als hath balances,  
Wherewith he weighs aright  
The greatest and the heaviest sins  
With smaller faults and light:  
These grace did move him for to take:  
And so he weighed in heaven  
The Christian faults, with faithless Turks.  
The balance stood not even,  
But sweyd upon the faithless side.  
And then with awful face,  
Frowned God of Hosts, the whirling heavens  
For fear did tremble space.  
The stayest mountains shuddred all,  
The grounds of earth did shake,  
The Seas did bray, and Pluto's Realm▪  
For horror cold did quake.  
HOW soon Aur●raes joyful face  
Had shed the shady night,  
And made the chivering Larks to sing  
For gladness of the light,  
And Phoebe with inconstant face,  
In Seas had gone to rest,  
And Phoebus chase vapours moist,  
The Sky made blew celest;  
The General of the Christian Host,  
Upon his Galley Mast,  
The bloody sign of furious Mars,  
Made to be fixed fast.  
Then, as into a spacious town,  
At breaking of the day,  
The busy workmen do prepare  
Their Worklumes every way.  
The Wright doth sharp his hacking Axe,  
The Smith his grinding File,  
Glass-maker's beets their fire that burns  
Continual, not a while:  
The Painter mixes colours vive,  
The Printer Letters sets,  
The Mason clinks on Marble stones,  
Which hardly dressed he gets:  
Even so, how soon this Warrior world  
With earnest eyes did see  
Yond sign of war, they all prepared  
To win or else to die:  
Here Hagbutters prepared with speed  
A number of Bullets round;  
There Cannoners, their Cannon's steild,  
To make destroying sound;  
Here Knights did dight their burnished brands,  
Their Archers bows did bend,  
The Armourers on corselets knocked,  
And Harness hard did mend,  
The fiery Mariners at once  
Made all their tackling claire  
With whispering din, and cries confused,  
Preparing here and there:  
As busy Bees within their Hives  
With murmuring ever still,  
Are earn'st upon their fruitful work,  
Their empty holes to fill.  
The Flags and Ensigns were displayed,  
At Zephyrs will to wave,  
Each painted in the colours clear  
Of every owner brave.  
But all this time, in careful mind  
The General ever rolled,  
What manner of array would best  
Fit such an army bold.  
To pance on this it paynd him more,  
This more did trouble his breast,  
Then Cannons, Cor●e-lets, Bullets, Tackle,  
And Swords, and Bows, the rest.  
And at the last with ripe advice,  
Of Chieftains sage and grave,  
He shed in three, in Crescents form,  
This martial army brave:  
The General in the battle was,  
And Colonel undertook  
The right wing with the force of Genes,  
The left did Venier brook.  
WHEN this was done, the Spanish Prince  
Did row about them all,  
And on the names of special men,  
With loving speech did call,  
Remembering them how righteous was  
Their quarrel, and how good,  
Immortal praise, and infinite gains,  
To conquer with their blood;  
And that the glory of God in earth,  
Into their manhood stands,  
Through just relief of Christian souls  
From cruel Pagan's hands.  
But if the Enemy triumphed  
Of them and of their fame,  
In millions men to bondage would,  
Professing JESUS name,  
The Spaniol Prince exhorting thus  
With glad and smiling cheer,  
With sugared words and gesture good,  
So pleased both eye and ear,  
That every man cried victory.  
This word abroad they blew,  
A good presage that victory  
Thereafter should ensue.  
The Turquish Host in manner like  
Themselves they did array,  
The which two Bassa's did command  
And order every way.  
For Portan Bassa had in charge,  
To govern all by land,  
And Ali-Basha had by Sea  
The only chief command,  
These Bassa's in the battle were,  
With more than I can tell,  
And Mahomet Bey the right wing had,  
The left Ochiali fell.  
Then Ali-Basha visied all  
With bold and manly face,  
Whose tongue did utter courage more  
Than had alluring grace:  
He did recount amongst the rest,  
What victory Turks obtained  
On caitiff Christians, and how long  
The Ottomans race had reigned:  
He told them als, how long themselves  
Had victors ever been,  
Even of these same three Princes small,  
That now durst so convene.  
And would ye then give such a lie  
Unto your glories past,  
As let yourselves be overthrown  
By losers at the last?  
This victory shall Europe make  
To be your conquest pray,  
And all the rare things therein till,  
Ye carry shall away:  
But if ye lose, remember well  
How ye have made them thrall,  
This samen way, or worse shall they  
Demayne you one and all,  
And then shall all your honours past,  
In smoke vanish quite,  
And all your pleasures turn in pain,  
In dolour your delight:  
Take courage then, and boldly to it,  
Our Mahomet will aid,  
Conducting all your shots and strokes  
Of arrow, dart, and blade:  
For nothing care, but only one,  
Which only doth me fray,  
That ere with them we ever meet,  
For fear they flee away.  
This speech did so the Army please,  
And so their minds did move,  
That clinks of Swords, and rattle of Pikes,  
His speeches did approve.  
THE glistering clear of shining Sun  
Made both the Hosts so glance,  
As fishes eyes did reel to see.  
Such hews on Seas to dance:  
But Titan shined on eyes of Turks,  
And on the Christians backs,  
Although the wavering wind, the which  
But seldom settling tacks,  
The Turks did second ever still,  
while but a little space  
Before the chock, o miracle!  
It turned into their face:  
Which Christians joyful as a s●ale  
And token did receive,  
That God of Hosts had promised them,  
They victory should have.  
HOW soon a Cannons smoky throat  
The Seas did dindle all,  
And on Bellona bold and wise,  
And bloody Mars did call,  
And that the sounding clear of brass,  
Did als approve the same,  
And kindled courage into men,  
To win immortal fame.  
But what? Me think I do intend  
This battle to recite,  
And what by Martial force was done,  
My pen presumes to write,  
As if I had yond bloody God,  
And all his power seen,  
Yea to descrive the God of Hosts,  
My pen had able been:  
No, no: no man that witness was,  
Can set it out aright.  
Then how can I by hearsay do,  
Which none could do by sight?  
But since I rashly took in hand,  
I must assay it now,  
With hope that this my good intent  
Ye Readers will allow:  
I also trust, that even as he  
Who in the Sun doth walk,  
Is coloured by the samen Sun,  
So shall my following talk,  
Some savour keep of Martial acts,  
Since I would paint them out,  
And God shall to his honour als  
My pen guide out of doubt.  
This warning given to Christians, they  
With Turk's yoke here and there,  
And first the six aforesaid ships,  
That were so large and fair,  
And placed were in former ranks,  
Did first of all pursue  
With Bullets, Raiser's, Chains, & nails,  
That from their pieces flew:  
Their Cannons rummisht all at once,  
Whose mortal thudding drove  
The fatal Turks, to be content  
With Thetis for their grave.  
The Fishes were astonished all,  
To hear such hideous sound,  
The Azure sky was dimmed with smoke:  
The din that did abound,  
Like thunder rearding rumling rave  
With roars the highest Heaven,  
And pierced with pith the glistering vaults  
Of all the Planets seven:  
The piteous plaints, the hideous howls,  
The grievous cries and moans,  
Of millions wounded sundry ways,  
But dying all at ones,  
conjoined with former horrible sound,  
Distempered all the air,  
And made the Seas for terror shake  
With braying ever where:  
Yet all these unacquainted roars,  
The fearful threatening sound,  
joined with the groaning murmuring howls,  
The courage could not wound  
So far of Turkish Chieftains brave,  
As them to let or fray,  
With boldest speed their grievous harms  
With like for to repay,  
Who made their Cannons bray so fast,  
And Hagbuts crack so thick,  
As Christians dead in number almost  
Did countervail the quick,  
And sent full many carcages  
Of Seas to lowest ground,  
The Cannon's thuds and cries of men  
Did in the sky resound,  
But Turks remained not long unpaid  
Even with their proper coin,  
By bitter shots, which Christians did  
To former thundering join:  
Dead dropped they down on every side,  
Their sighing Spreits eschews,  
And crosses Sty● into disdain,  
To hear infernal news:  
Yea scarcely could the ancient boat  
Such number of souls contain,  
But sobbed underneath the weight  
Of Passengers profane.  
While here the Father stood with Son,  
A whirling round doth bear  
The lead that dings the Father in dross,  
And fills the Son with fear;  
while there a chieftain shrilly cries,  
And Soldats doth command,  
A speedy Pellet stops his speech,  
And stays his pointing hand▪  
while time a clustered troop doth stand  
Amazed together all,  
A fatal Bullet them among,  
Makes some selected fall:  
The hideous noise so deafed them all,  
Increasing ever still,  
That ready Soldats could not hear  
Their wise Commanders will;  
But every man as Mars him moved,  
And as occasion served,  
His duty did, the best he might,  
And for no peril swerved:  
Their old Commanders precepts passed  
They put in practice then,  
And only memory did command  
That multitude of men.  
THUS after they with Cannons had  
Their duty done afar,  
And time in end had wearied them  
Of such embassad war,  
A rude recounter than they made,  
Together Galleys clipped,  
And each one other rashed her nose,  
That in the Sea was dipped:  
No manner of man was idle then,  
Each man his arms did use:  
No scaping place is in the Seas,  
Though men would Mars refuse:  
The valiant Knight with Coutlasse sharp,  
Of fight foe doth part  
The bloody head from body pale,  
while one with deadly dart  
Doth pierce his enemy's heart in twain,  
Another fierce doth strike  
Quite through his fellows arm or leg,  
With pointed brangling Pike.  
The Cannons leave not thundering of,  
Nor Hagbuts shooting still,  
And seldom Powder wastes in vain,  
But either wound or kill:  
Yea even the simple forceats fought  
With beggars bolts anew,  
Wherewith full many principal men,  
They wounded sore and slew;  
while time a Christian with a sword,  
Let's out a faithless breath,  
A Turk on him doth with a dart  
Revenge his fellows death,  
while time a Turk with arrow doth  
Shoot thorough a Christians arm,  
A Christian with a Pike doth pierce  
The hand that did the harm:  
while time a Christian Cannon kills  
A Turk with threatening sound,  
A Hagbut hits the Cannoner,  
Who dead, falls to the ground:  
The beggars bolts by forceats casten,  
On all hands made to fly,  
jawbones and brains of killed and hurt,  
Who wished (for pain) to die.  
The clinks of swords, the rattle of Pikes,  
The whirr of arrows light,  
The howls of hurt, the Captains cries  
In vain, do what they might:  
The cracks of Galleys broken and bruised,  
Of Guns the rumbling bear  
Resounded so, that though the Lord  
Had thundered, none could hear.  
The Sea was varnished red with blood,  
And fishes poisoned all,  
As jehova by Moses rod,  
In Egypt made befall.  
THIS cruel fight continued thus  
Uncertain all the while:  
For Fortune oft on either side  
Did frown, and after smile.  
It seemed that Mars and Pallas both  
Did think the day too short,  
With bloody practice thus to use  
Their old acquainted sport:  
For as the slaughter ay increased,  
So did the courage still  
Of martial men, whom loss of friends  
Enarmed with eager will;  
The more their number did decrease,  
The more that they were harmed,  
The more with Mars then were they filled  
With boldening spite inarmed:  
Now up, now down on either side,  
Now Christians seemed to win,  
Now overthrown, and now again,  
They seemed but to begin.  
My pen for pity cannot write,  
My hair for horror stands,  
To think how many Christians there  
Were killed by pagan hands.  
O Lord, throughout this Labyrinth  
Make me the way to view,  
And let thy holy threefold Sprcit  
Be my conducting clew.  
O now I spy a blessed Heaven,  
Our landing is not far:  
Lo, good victorious tidings comes,  
To end this cruel war.  
IN all the time that thus they fought,  
The Spanish Prince was clipped  
With Ali-Basha, whom to meet,  
The rest he had o'erslipped,  
And even as throughout both the Hosts,  
Dame Fortune varied still,  
So kythde she twixt those Champions two,  
Her fond inconstant win:  
For after that the Castles four  
Of Galleys both, with found,  
And slaughter huge, their Bullets had  
In other made rebound,  
And all the small Artillery,  
Consumed their shots below,  
In kill men, or else to cut  
Some Cable strong, or Tow:  
Yet victory still uncertain was,  
And Soldats never ceased  
(With interchange of Pikes and Darts,)  
To kill or wound at least.  
In end, when they with blood abroad,  
Had bought their meeting dear,  
The victory first on Spanish side  
Began for to appear:  
For even the Spanish Prince himself  
Did hazard at the last,  
Accompanied with boldest men,  
Who followed on him fast,  
By force to win the Turkish deck,  
The which he did obtain,  
And entered in their Galley sign,  
But did not long remain:  
For Ali-Basha proved so well,  
With his assisters brave,  
That backward faster than they came  
Their valiant foes they drove,  
That glad they were to scape themselves,  
And leave behind anew  
Of valiant fellows carcases,  
Whom thus their enemies slew.  
The General boldened then with spite,  
And varnished red with shame,  
Did rather choose to lose his life,  
Then time his spreading fame:  
And so of new encouraged  
His Soldiers true and bold,  
As now for eigrenesse they burn,  
Who erst were waxed cold:  
And thus they entered in again,  
More fiercely than before,  
Whose rude assault could Ali then  
Resist not any more,  
But fled unto the Fort at STEVIN,  
For last refuge of all,  
Abiding in a doubtsome fear,  
The chance he did befall.  
A Macedonian Soldier then,  
Great honour for to win,  
Before the rest in earnest hope,  
To Bassa bold did run,  
And with a Cutlace sharp and fine,  
Did whip me off his head,  
Who lacked not his reward of him  
That did the Navy lead:  
The General sign caused fix the head  
Upon his Galley Mast.  
At sight whereof, the faithless Host▪  
Were all so sore aghast,  
That all amazed gave back at once,  
But yet were stayed again,  
And never one at all did scape,  
But taken were or slain,  
Ochiali except, with three times ten  
Great Galleys of his own,  
And many of the Knights of MALT,  
Whom he had overthrown:  
But if that he with his convoy  
Had missed a safe retreat,  
No news had SELYM but by brute,  
Herd ever of this defeat.  
WHEN thus the victory was obtained,  
And thanks were given to God,  
Twelve thousand Christians counted were,  
Relieved from Turquish rod.  
O Spanish Prince, whom of a glance  
And suddenly away  
The cruel fates gave to the world,  
Not suffering thee to stay!  
With this the still night sad and black  
The earth oreshadowed then,  
Who Morpheus brought with her and rest,  
To steal on beasts and men.  
BUT all this time was Venice Town  
Revolving what event  
Might come of this prepared fight,  
With doubtsome minds and bend:  
They longed, and yet they durst not long,  
To hear the news of all:  
They hoped good, they feared the evil,  
And kest what might befall.  
At last the joyful tidings came,  
Which such a gladness bred,  
That Matron's grave, and Maids modest,  
The market place bespread:  
Anon with cheerful countenance  
They dress them in a ring,  
And thus the foremost did begin  
Sign all the rest to sing.  

Chorus Venetus.  

SIng praise to God both young and old,  
That in this town remain,  
With voice, and every Instrument,  
Found out by mortal brain:  
Sing praises to our mighty God,  
Praise our deliverers name,  
Our loving Lord, who now in need,  
Hath kythd to be the same.  
The faithless snares did compass us,  
Their nets were set about:  
But yet our dearest Father in Heaven,  
He hath redeemed us out.  
Not only that, but by his power,  
Our enemy's feet they slayed,  
Whom he hath trapped, and made to fall  
Into the pit they made.  
Sing praises then both young and old,  
That in this town remain,  
To him that hath relieved our necks,  
From Turkish yoke profane.  
Let us wash off our sins impure,  
Cast off our garments vile,  
And haunt his Temple every day,  
To pray his name a while.  
O praise him for the victory,  
That he hath made us have:  
For he it was revenged our cause,  
And not our army brave:  
Praise him with Trumpet, Piphre, & drum,  
With Lutes and Organs fine,  
With Viols, Gitterns, Cistiers als,  
And sweetest voices sign:  
Sing praise, sing praise both young and old,  
Sing praises one and all,  
To him that hath redeemed us now,  
From cruel Pagan's thrall.   

IN hearing of this Song, me thinks,  
My members waxes faint,  
Nor yet from dullness can I keep  
My mind by no restraint.  
But lo, my Yrny head doth no●  
Upon my Adamant breast,  
My eyelids will stand up no more,  
But fall to take them rest.  
And through my weak and weary hand,  
Doth slide my pen of lead,  
And sleep doth else possess me all,  
The similitude of dead.  
The God with golden wings through ports  
Of horn doth to me creep,  
Who changes ofter shapes transformed,  
Then Proteus in the deep.  
How soon he came, quite from my mind,  
He worldly cares removed,  
And all my members in my bed,  
Lay still in rest beloved.  
And sign I heard a joyful song,  
Of all the feathered bands  
Of holy Angels in the heaven,  
Thus singing on all hands.    

Chorus Angelorum.  

SIng, let us sing with one accord  
Hallelu-iah on high,  
With every elder that doth bow  
Before the Lamb his knee:  
Sing four and twenty all with us,  
while Heaven and earth resound,  
Replenished with jehova's praise,  
Whose like cannot be found:  
For he it is, that is, and was,  
And evermore shall be,  
One only one unseparate,  
And yet in persons three.  
Praise him, for that he create hath  
The Heaven, the earth, and all,  
And ever hath preserved them since  
From their ruin and fall:  
But praise him more, if more can be,  
That so he loves his name,  
As he doth mercy show to all  
That do profess the same:  
And not alanerly to them  
Professing it aright:  
But even to them that mix therewith  
Their own inventions slight:  
As specially this samen time  
Most plainly may appear,  
In giving them such victory  
That not aright him fear:  
For since he shows such grace to them  
That think themselves are just,  
What will he more to them that in  
His mercies only trust?  
And sith that so he uses them  
That doubt for to be saved,  
How much more them that in their hearts  
His promise have engraved?  
And since he doth such favour show  
To them that fond pray  
To other Mediators, then  
Can help them any way:  
O how then will he favour them,  
Who prayers do direct  
Unto the Lamb, whom only he  
Ordained for that effect?  
And since he doth revenge their cause,  
That worship God of bread,  
(An error vain the which is bred  
But in a mortal head)  
Then how will he revenge their cause  
That only fear and serve  
His dearest Son, and for his sake  
Will for no perils swerver?  
And since that so he pities them  
That bear upon their brow  
The mark of Antichrist the Whore,  
That great abuser now,  
Who does the truest Christians  
With fire and sword invade,  
And make them holy Martyrs, that  
Their trust in God have laid,  
How will he them that thus are used,  
And bear upon their face  
His special mark, a certain sign  
Of everlasting grace?  
Put end unto the travels (Lord)  
And miseries of thy Saints,  
Removing quite this blindness gross,  
That now the world so daunts▪  
Sing praises of his mercy then  
His superexcellence great,  
Which doth exceed even all his works  
That lie before his seat:  
And let us sing both now and ay  
To him with one accord,  
O holy, holy, God of Hosts,  
Thou everliving Lord.   

THus ended was the Angel's song:  
And also here I end,  
Exhorting all you Christians true  
Your courage up to bend.  
And since by this defeat ye see,  
That God doth love his name  
So well, that so he did them aid  
That served not right the same:  
Then though the Antichristian sect  
Against you do conjure,  
He doth the body better love  
Than shadow, be ye sure:  
Do ye resist with confidence,  
That God shall be your stay,  
And turn it to your comfort, and  
His glory now and ay.    
FINIS.