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Her Royall ships to sea she sent, to garde the
coast on euerie side
And seeing how her foes were bent, her realme
full well she did prouide.
With many thousands so prepared as like was neuer
erst declared,
Of horsemen and of footemen plentie, whose good
harts full well is seene
In the safegarde of their countrie, and the seruice
of our Queene.
In Essex faire that fertill soile, vpon the hill
of Tilsbury:
To giue our Spanish foes the foile, in gallant
campe they now do Iye.
Where good orders is ordained, and true iustice
eke maintained,
For the punishment of persons, that are lewde
or badly bent.
To see a sight so straunge in England,
t'was our gracious Queenes intent.
And on the eight of August she, from faire St.
Iamess tooke her way:
With many Lords of high degree, in princely robes
and rich aray.
And to bardge vpon the water, being King Henryes
royall daughter,
She did goe with trumpets sounding, and with
dubbing drums apace:
Along the Thames that famous riuer, for to view
the campe a space.
When she as farre as Grauesend came, right
ouer against that prettie towne:
Her royall grace with all her traine, was landed
there with great renowne.
The Lords and Captaines of her forces, mounted
on their gallant horses,
Readie stood to entertaine her, like martiall
men of courage bold:
Welcome to the campe dread soueraigne, thus they
said both yong and old.
The Bulworkes strong that stood thereby, well
garded with sufficient men:
Their flags were spred couragiously, their cannons
were discharged then.
Each Gunner did declare his cunning, for ioy
conceiued of her coming.
All the way her Grace was riding, on each side
stood armed men:
With Muskets, Pikes, and good Caleeuers, for
her Graces safegarde then.
The Lord generall of the field, had there his
bloudie auncient borne:
The Lord marshals coulors eke, were carried there
all rent and torne.
The which with bullets was so burned, when in
Flaunders he soiourned.
Thus in warlike wise they martched euen as soft
as foote could fall:
Because her Grace was fully minded, perfectly
to view them all.
Her faithfull souldiers great and small, as each
one stood within his place:
Vpon their knees began to fall, desiring God
to saue her Grace.
For ioy whereof her eyes was filled, that the
water downe distilled.
Lord blesse you all my friendes (she said) but
doe not kneele so much to me:
Then sent she warning to the rest, they should
not let such reuerence be.
Then casting vp her Princely eyes, vnto the hill
with perfect sight:
The ground all couered, she espyes, with feet
of armed souldiers bright.
Whereat her royall hart so leaped, on her feet
vpright she stepped.
Tossing vp her plume of feathers, to them all
as they did stand:
Chearfully her body bending, wauing of her royall
hand.
Thus through the campe she passed quite, in manner
as I haue declared:
At maister Riches for that night, her
Graces lodging was preparde.
The morrow after her abiding, on a princely paulfrey
riding.
To the camp she cam to dinner, with her Lordes
and Ladies all:
The Lord generall went to meete her, with his
Guarde of yeomen tall.
The Sargeant trumpet with his mace, and nyne with
trumpets after him:
Bare headed went before her grace, in coats of
scarlet colour trim.
The king of Heralds tall and comely, was the
next in order duely.
With the famous Armes of England, wrought
with rich embroidered gold:
On finest veluet blew and crimson, that for siluer
can be sold.
With Maces of cleane beaten gold, the Queenes
two Sargeants then did ride,
Most comely men for to behold, in veluet coates
and chaines beside.
The Lord generall then came riding, and Lord
marshall hard beside him.
Richly were they both atired, in princelie garments
of great price:
Bearing still their hats and fethers in their
handes in comely wise.
Then came the Queene on pranceing steede atired
like an Angell bright:
And eight braue footemen at her feete, whose
Ierkins were most rich in sight.
Her Ladies, likewise of great honor, most sumpteuous]y
did waite vpon her.
With pearles and diamonds braue adorned, and
in costly cales of gold:
Her Guarde in scarlet then ride after, with bowes
and arrowes stoute and bold.
The valiant Captaines of the field, meane space
them selues in order set:
And each of them with speare and sheelde, to
ioyne in battaile did not let.
With such a warlike skill extended, as the same
was much commended.
Such a battaile pitcht in England, many
a day hath not beene seene:
Thus they stood in order waiting, for the presence
of our Queene.
At length her grace most royally receiued was
and brought againe:
Where she might see most loyally this noble hoast
and warlike traine.
How they cam martching all together, like a wood
in winters weather.
With the strokes of drummers sounding, and with
trampling horses than:
The earth and aire did sound like thunder, to
the eares of euerie man.
The warlike Armie then stood still, and drummers
left their dubbing sound:
Because it was our Princes will, to ride about
the Armie round.
Her Ladies she did leaue behind her, and her
Guarde which still did minde her.
The Lord generall and Lord marshall, did conduct
her to each place:
The pikes, the colours, and the lances, at her
approch fell downe apace.
And then bespake our noble Queene, my louing friends
and countriemen:
I hope this day the worst is seen, that in our
wars ye shall sustain.
But if our eimies do assaile you, neuer let your
stomackes falle you.
For in the midst of all your troupe, we our selues
will be in place:
To be you ioy, your guide and comfort, euen before
your enimies face.
This done the souldiers all at once, a mightie
shout or crye did giue:
Which forced from the Assure skyes, an Eccoo
loud from thence to driue.
Which filled her grace with ioy and pleasure,
and riding then from them by leasure,
Along the Court of guard she went:
Who did conduct her Maiestie, vnto the Lord chiefe
generals tent.
Where she was feasted royally, with dainties of
most costly price:
And when that night aproched nye, Her Maiestie
with sage aduice,
In gracious manner then returned, from the Campe
where she soiourned.
And when that she was safely set, within her
Barge, and past away:
Her farewell then the trumpets sounded, and the
cannons fast die play,
T.D.
FINIS.
Imprinted at London by Iohn Wolfe
for Edward White. 1588.