An Exhortation to England, to join for defence of true Religion and their native Country.  
Seen and allowed according to the order appointed.  
Imprinted at London by Henry D●nham dwelling in Pater n●ster Row, at the sign of the Star.  
Anno. 1568.   

To the Reader.  
THE great care I have, being yet but a mean and inferior member of the body of this our flourishing common wealth of England, that the same and all the parts thereof might more and more in wealth and prosperity abide free from thraldom and bondage, that might happen by foreign greedy governors. And the fear that I have conceived, lest some evil disposed persons, not content with their own, might in this dangerous time, upon some hope to find us a monstrous & unnatural body, attempt a disturbance, yea rather an utter overthrow of us all: These things I say, have been the causes (gentle Reader) of this my brotherly Exhortation, dedicated unto thee, humbly beseeching thee to accept the same, as a welment token of my good will, though not stuffed with eloquen style, yet stored with hearty and loving zeal towards thee, and the rest of this our native Country. Farewell in the Lord.  
R. D.   

¶ AN EXHORTAtion to England.  
A Wake each English Wight,  
both high and low awake:  
Fear not the froward boasting brags,  
that foreign foes do make.  
Conspiring your distress, for  
sticking to the troth,  
And for reforming the abuse,  
of such as lived in sloth.  
But way the rightful ground,  
and state wherein you stand:  
And mark thaccursed cruel cause,  
that they do take in hand.  
You do your sacred faith,  
and country's soil defend:  
Tabolish faith, and conquer you,  
they surely do intend.  
Each cause of yours may cause  
your heart great comfort take:  
Each cause of theirs may justly cause  
their coward heart to quake.  
They hope perhaps to have,  
some help within this isle:  
But sure I hope their firmest friends,  
will justly them beguile.  
For though they think that some,  
do so digress from kind,  
That trifling toys and childish chattels,  
can change their English mind:  
I trust when trial haps,  
they shall have their deserts.  
Not Traitors aid, but sharp revenge  
by trusty english hearts.  
Think they we force so light,  
the loss of English soil?  
Our native country so long kept,  
will we now lose with foil?  
Our kindred and Allies,  
our wives and children dear  
Shall we not seek to shield from death?  
shall we so vile appear?  
Each brute and salvage beast  
his kind will seek to save:  
Shall Christians then? shall they be seen  
more beastly minds to have?  
I hope what ever cause  
doth cause debates to be,  
The doubt to lose life, lands, and goods,  
will cause us to agree  
To join our willing minds,  
our goods and greatest force:  
Tannoy our foes, to shield ourself  
from bloody stained corpse.  
What should us daunt one iota,  
or make us be dismayed?  
Let never threats of foreign foes  
make English men afraid.  
Look back to ancient writ  
of valiant enterprise:  
And see with how great foils their foes  
your Elders did agrise.  
Read froissart that did write  
the Frenchmens haps that fell:  
What overthrows by thenglish given  
to France, doth he there tell?  
1 Let Cressy battle great  
most joyful comfort yield:  
Who there but manful Englishmen  
did win the fought field?  
King Edward third of name,  
ematcht with eight to one,  
Did yet prevail: shall we then quail,  
though Edward now be gone?  
2 At Poitiers note our fight  
with Bow and rested Lance:  
Did not one handful (as it were)  
beat all the force of France?  
For as their Story tells,  
no French were from the same,  
But such as forced not too lose  
their honour or their fame.  
The king himself was ta'en,  
each noble (well-nigh) slain:  
Right few or none but dint of sword  
did put to deadly pain.  
3 How dealt the Englishmen  
in Britain at Alroy?  
Did they not French and Britain's both  
full deadly there annoy?  
4 The spaniards may not boast  
to daunt an English heart,  
If they to ancient history  
their memory do revart.  
Prince Edward's noble act  
call unto mind again,  
Who did discomfit Henrick, that  
usurped the crown of Spain:  
Did vanquish both the French  
and spaniards there in fight:  
And set king Peter in his seat,  
and state of sovereign right.  
5 Where had our hardy hearts  
of courage greater use  
For our avail, than on the sea  
before the town of Scluse?  
The fight was fierce, and we  
there matched with four to one:  
Did yet from French and Normans  
both, win victory alone.  
6 The field of Egincourt  
the Frenchmen yet may rue:  
Their greatest force our army small  
did nobly there subdue.  
7 The journey of the Spurs  
so called by hasty flight  
The French did make, and by our  
hot pursuit of them in fight  
May make us to rejoice,  
and passing comfort find:  
As oft as we the hap thereof  
do haply call to mind.  
Our king had then in France  
that field in chase to scour  
The most of his nobility  
and other his chiefest power.  
But yet the Scottish king  
that sought this Realm to sack,  
Found men enough (huge though it were)  
to beat his army back.  
His chance each other Prince  
by proved skill may teach  
To govern well his own, not roanie  
for that he cannot reach.  
¶ We that have thus so oft  
been used to victories,  
Shall we now doubt for to subdue  
such deadly enemies?  
Nay rather think we sure,  
that these their plagues forepast,  
To deal with us on this side sea,  
will make them sore aghast.  
‡ I trust as of one realm,  
even so they shall us see  
Of one allegiance, of one heart,  
and firm fidelity.  
Behold the woeful state,  
our neighbours stand now in:  
By cloaked craft, with show of sooth,  
their sorrows did begin.  
Those that did nothing doubt  
defended for to be,  
Do now with bitter tears lament  
their heavy hap, you see.  
Their land and riches great,  
confiscate to the spoil,  
That they and theirs in many years  
have won with painful toil.  
And shall we think to find  
more courtesy than those,  
If we permit, and not withstand  
the force of foreign foes?  
Nay rather, this deceit  
may drive us for to dréed,  
And of such like most subtle sleight  
to take most careful heed.  
Our foes like friends will fain  
to come for our soul health;  
But God doth know their foul pretence,  
they shoot but at our wealth.  
The help they hope to have,  
for that we not agree  
(As they suppose for sacred writ)  
most justly forceth me,  
To call to mind th'advice  
of Scorios' host alone  
The Romans in dissension then.  
that he would set upon.  
Not so said Scorio,  
I not allow your reed:  
For that were even the nearest way  
to make them soon agreed.  
For argument whereof  
two Mastiffs forth he brought,  
And deadly foes he did them make,  
by cause right aptly sought.  
A Wolf put forth in place  
no sooner in their sight,  
But they as friends their common foe,  
did set upon with spite.  
‡ Let then our foes forecast,  
in seeking us to sack,  
That natural love in English hearts  
shall not be seen to lack.  
And lack we men to fight?  
nay were there ever more?  
More active or more firmly bend,  
to kill their common foe?  
Munition wanteth not,  
nor ordinance for war:  
Each storehouse stust, each private house  
hath furniture from far.  
The Queen hath courage stout,  
her subjects to defend:  
Her people have as willing minds,  
their goods and life to spend.  
The cause is chief Gods,  
whom ever his elect  
Have found most ready from their foes  
to shield them and protect.  
Examples manifold,  
for proof thereof most strong  
I might allege: but some, perhaps,  
would think the work to long.  
Let this therefore suffice,  
and let us firmly trust,  
God never did nor never will  
forget them that be just.  
Let each repent in heart,  
and mend that is amiss:  
Then God, no doubt, our chief defence  
will take us to be his.  
That we may grace obtain  
by his most gracious will,  
Let every well disposed Wight  
cry out unto him still.  
Look Lord on England's state,  
we humbly pray thee then,  
And grant that each true English heart  
consent to say, Amen.  
R. D.   

Imprinted at London by Henry Denham, dwelling in Paternoster Row, at the sign of the Star.  OS HOMINI SVBLIME DEDIT  printer's or publisher's device 
Anno Domini 1568.  
Cum Privilegio.