Page:The muses threnodie (Adamson, 1638).djvu/60
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The third muse
Speak all your pleasure, I my peace shall hold,
And grant my tongue in speaking was too bold:
Therefore Monsier, be not so much annoy'd,
These walls have oft been built, and oft destroy'd
And stratagems of war have acted been,
As worthie as the world hath heard or seene.
By Sojours as good as the Earth hath born,
This boldly to avow I dar be sworn:
Englands first Edwards three can shew the same,
And Scotlands Wallace,
Bruce, and Stewarts fame,
Whose prowes within this Isle were not confin'd
The Netherlands and France scarce them contain'd,
Nor other parts of Europ, and it's cleare
What great exploits they bravelie acted heere,
These stories are well known, I must not slack,
For by and by the tide will call us back,
When Edward Langshanks Scotland did surprise,
The strengths first did he take, as Chiftaine wise,[1]
But his cheif strength to keep both South and North
Low-lands and high-lands on this side of Forth,
Perth did he chuse, and stronglie fortifie
With garisons of foot and chavalrie.
And what the former times could not outred
In walls and fowsies; these accomplished.
Thereafter worthie Wallace first expell'd them,
And for to leave these wals by force compell'd them.[2]
Whom after foughten was that fatall field
Wofull Falkirk, envie did force to yeeld
Up his governement; to Perth then came,
And in the Nobles presence quatte the same.
And grant my tongue in speaking was too bold:
Therefore Monsier, be not so much annoy'd,
These walls have oft been built, and oft destroy'd
And stratagems of war have acted been,
As worthie as the world hath heard or seene.
By Sojours as good as the Earth hath born,
This boldly to avow I dar be sworn:
Englands first Edwards three can shew the same,
And Scotlands Wallace,
Bruce, and Stewarts fame,
Whose prowes within this Isle were not confin'd
The Netherlands and France scarce them contain'd,
Nor other parts of Europ, and it's cleare
What great exploits they bravelie acted heere,
These stories are well known, I must not slack,
For by and by the tide will call us back,
When Edward Langshanks Scotland did surprise,
The strengths first did he take, as Chiftaine wise,[1]
But his cheif strength to keep both South and North
Low-lands and high-lands on this side of Forth,
Perth did he chuse, and stronglie fortifie
With garisons of foot and chavalrie.
And what the former times could not outred
In walls and fowsies; these accomplished.
Thereafter worthie Wallace first expell'd them,
And for to leave these wals by force compell'd them.[2]
Whom after foughten was that fatall field
Wofull Falkirk, envie did force to yeeld
Up his governement; to Perth then came,
And in the Nobles presence quatte the same.