❧ The Queen's visiting of the Camp at Tilsburie with her entertainment there, To the Tune of wilson's wild.  
 

WIthin the year of Christ our L●rd  
a thousand and five hundredth finny  
And eighty eight by just record  
the which no man may disannul.  
And in the thirtieth year remaining,  
of good Queen Elizabeth's reigning.  
A mighty power there was prepared  
By Philip then the king of Spain:  
Against the maiden Queen of England,  
which in peace before did reign.   

Her Ryall ships to sea she sent,  
to guard the coast on every side:  
And seeing how her foes were bend,  
her realm full well she did provide.  
With many thousands so prepared:  
as like was never erst declared.  
Of horsemen and of footmen plenty,  
whose good hearts full-well is seen:  
In the safeguard of their country,  
and the service of our Queen.   

In Essex fair that fertile soil,  
upon the hill of Tilsbury:  
To give our Spanish foes the foil.  
in gallant camp they now do lie.  
Where good orders is ordained,  
and true justice eke maintained.  
For the punishment of persons,  
that are lend or badly bend.  
To see a sight so strange in England,  
'twas our gracious queens intent.   

And on the eight of August she,  
from fair Saint james took her way:  
With many Lords of high degree,  
in princely robes and rich array.  
And to barge upon the water,  
being King Henry's royal daughter.  
She did go with trumpets sounding,  
and with dubbing drums apace:  
Along the Thames that famous river,  
for to view the camp a space.   

When she as far as Gravesend came,  
right over against that pretty town:  
Her royal grace with all her train,  
was landed there with great renown.  
The Lords and Captains of her forces,  
mounted on their gallant horses.  
Ready stood to entertain her,  
like martial men of courage bold:  
welcome to the camp dread sovereign,  
●hus they said both young and old.   

The bulwark strong that stood thereby,  
well guarded with sufficient men:  
Then flags were spread courageously,  
their cannons were discharged then.  
Each Gunner did declare his cunning,  
for joy conceived of her coming.  
All the way her Grace was riding,  
on each side stood armed men:  
With Muskets, Pikes, and good calivers,  
for her Grace's safeguard then.   

The Lord general of the field,  
had there his bloody ancient been:  
The Lord marshal's colours eke,  
was carried there all rent and torn.  
The which with bullets was so burned,  
when in Flaunders he sojourned.  
Thus in warlike wise they marched  
even as soft as foot could fall:  
Because her Grace was fully minded,  
perfectly to view them all.   

Her faithful soldiers great and small,  
as each one stood within his place:  
Upon their knéees began to fall,  
desiring God to save her Grace.  
For joy whereof her eyes was filled,  
that the water down distilled.  
Lord bless you all my friends, she said,  
but do not kneel so much to me:  
Then sent she warning to the rest,  
they should not let such reverence be.   

Then casting up her Princely eyes,  
unto the hill with perfect sight:  
The ground all covered she espies,  
with feet of armed soldiers bright.  
Whereat her royal heart so leapt,  
on her feet upright she stepped.  
Tossing up her plume of feathers,  
to them all as they did stand:  
Cheerfully her body bending,  
waving of her royal hand.   

Thus through the camp she passed quite,  
in manner as I have declared:  
At master Riches for that night,  
her grace's lodging was prepared.  
The morrow after her abiding,  
on a princely paulfrey riding.  
To the camp she came to dinner,  
with her Lords and Ladies all:  
The Lord general went to meet her,  
with his Guard of yeomen tall.   

The Sergeant trumpet with his mace,  
and nine with trumpets after him:  
Bore headed went before her grace,  
in coats of scarlet colour trim.  
The king of Heralds tall and comely,  
was the next in order duly.  
With the famous Arms of England,  
wrought with rich embroidered gold:  
On finest velvet blue and crimson,  
that for silver can be sold.   

With Maces of clean beaten gold,  
the queens two sergeant than did ride  
Most comely men for to behold,  
in velvet coats and chains beside.  
The Lord general than came riding,  
and Lord marshal hard beside him.  
Richly were they both attired,  
in princely garments of great price:  
Bearing still their hats and feathers,  
in their hands in comely wise   

Then came the Queen on pranceing steed  
attired like an Angel bright:  
And eight brave footmen at her feet,  
whose jerkins were most rich in sight.  
Her Ladies likewise of great honour,  
most sumptuously did wait upon her.  
With pearls and diamonds brave adorned,  
and in costly cales of gold:  
Her Guard in scarlet then rid after,  
with bows and arrows stout and bold.   

The valiant Captains of the field,  
mean space themselves in order set:  
And each of them with spear and shield,  
to join in battle did not let.  
With such a warlike skill extended,  
as the same was much commended.  
Such a battle pitched in England,  
many a day hath not been seen:  
Thus they stood in order waiting,  
for the presence of our Queen.   

At length her grace most royally,  
received was and brought again:  
Where she might see most loyally,  
this noble host and warlike train.  
How they came marching all together,  
like a wood in winter's weather.  
With the strokes of drummers sounding,  
and with trampling horses than:  
The earth and air did sound like thunder,  
to the ears of every man.   

The warlike Army than stood still,  
and drummers left their dubbing sound:  
Because it was our Prince's will,  
to ride about the Army round.  
Her Ladies she did leave behind her,  
and her Guard which still did mind her.  
The Lord general and Lord marshal,  
did conduct her to each place:  
The pikes, the colours, and the lances,  
at her approach fell down apace.   

And then bespoke our noble Queen,  
my loving friends and countrymen:  
I hope this day the worst is seen,  
that in our wars ye shall sustain.  
But if our enemies do assail you,  
never let your stomachs fail you.  
For in the midst of all your troop,  
we ourselves will be in place:  
To be your joy, your guide and comfort,  
even before our enemies face.   

This done the soldiers all at once,  
a mighty shout or cry did give:  
Which forced from the Assure skies,  
an Echo loud from thence to drive.  
Which filled her grace with joy and pleasure,  
and riding then from them by leisure.  
With trumpets sound most loyally,  
a long the Court of guard she went:  
Who did conduct her Majesty,  
unto the Lord chief general's tent.   

Where she was feasted royally,  
with dainties of most costly price:  
And when that night approached nigh,  
her Majesty with sage advice.  
In gracious manner then returned,  
from the Camp where she sojourned.  
And when that she was safely set,  
within her Barge, and past away:  
Her farewell then the trumpets sounded,  
and the cannons fast did play,   
T. D.  
FINIS.   

Imprinted at London by john Wolf for Edward White. 1588.