His Maiesties Lepanto, or heroicall song being part of his poeticall exercises at vacant houres. James I, King of England, 1566-1625. 1603 Approx. 48 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 19 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A04258 STC 14379.3 ESTC S2147 23072666 ocm 23072666 26196 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A04258) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 26196) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1796:25) His Maiesties Lepanto, or heroicall song being part of his poeticall exercises at vacant houres. James I, King of England, 1566-1625. [36] p. By Simon Stafford, and Henry Hooke, Imprinted at London : 1603. In verse. Signatures: A-D⁴ E². Reproduction of original in the Harvard University. Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng 2006-01 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-01 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-12 Ali Jakobson Sampled and proofread 2006-12 Ali Jakobson Text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion HIS MAIESTIES LEPANTO , Or , HEROICALL SONG , being part of his Poeticall exercises at vacant houres . Imprinted at London by Simon Stafford , and Henry Hooke . 1603. THE AVTHOVRS Preface to the Reader , IT falls out often , that the effects of mens actions comes cleane contrary to the intent of the Authour . The same find I by experiēce ( beloued Reader ) in my Poeme of Lepanto : For although till now , it haue not bene imprinted , yet being set out to the publike view of many , by a great sort of stoln copies , purchast ( in truth ) without my knowledge or consent , it hath for lack of a Preface , bene in some things misconstrued by sundry , which I of very purpose thinking to haue omitted , for that the writing thereof might haue tended , in my opinion , to some reproch of the skilful learnednes of the Reader , as if his braynes could not haue conceyued so vncurious a work , without some maner of commentary , & so haue made the worke more displeasant vnto him : it hath by the contrary falne out , that the lack thereof hath made it the more displeasāt 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 seeme far contrary to my degree & Religion , like a mercenarie Poet , to pen a worke , ex professo , in praise of a forraine Papist hastard ; I will , by setting downe the nature and order of the Poeme , resclue the ignorant of their error , and make the other sort inexcusable of their captiousnes . The nature then of this Poeme , is an argument , a minore ad maius , largely intreated by a Poetike comparison , being to the writing hereof moued , by the stirring vp of the league & cruell persecution of the Protestants in al coūtries , at the very first raging wherof , I compiled this Poeme , as the exhortation to the persecuted in the hinmost eight lines thereof doth plainely testify , being both begun and ended in the same Summer , wherin the league was published in Fraunce . The order of the Cantique is this : First , a Poetike preface , declaring the matter I treat of , wherein , I ▪ name not Don-Iohn , neither literally nor any wayes by description , which I behoued to haue done , if I had penned the whole Poeme in his praise , as Virgil , Arma virumque cano : & Homer , Dic mihi musa virum : of whose imitation I had not bene ashamed , if so my purpose had bene framed . Next followes my inuocation to the true God onely , and not to all the Hee and Shee Saints , for whose vaine honors , Don-Iohn fought in al his wars . Next after my inuocation , followes 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 vmbers a portrait els drawne in grosse , for giuing it greater viuenes , so I eike or paire to the circumstances of the actions , as the rules of the poetike arte 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 explaines so fully my comparison and argument , from the more to the lesse , as I cannot without shameful repetition speak any more thereof . And in a word , what soeuer praise I haue giuen to Don-Iohn in this Poem , it is neither in accounting him as first or second cause of that victorie , but onely as a particular man , when hee falles in my way , to speake 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 lesse the highnesse of my ranke and calling , to spare for the feare or fauour of whomsoeuer liuing , to speake or write the truth of any . And thus crauing pardon , beloued Reader , for this long some Apologie ( being driuen thereto , not by nature , but by necessitie ) I bid you hartily farewell . THE SONNET . THe azur'd vault , the cristall circles bright , The gleaming fiery torches powdred there , The changing round , the shining beamy light , The sad and bearded fyres , the monsters fayre : The prodigies appearing in the ayre , The rearding thunders , and the blustering winds , The fowles , in hew , in shape , and nature rayre , The pretty notes that wing'd musicians finds : In earth the sau'ry flowres , the mettal'd minds , The holesome hearbes , the haughty pleasant trees , The siluer streames , the beastes of sundry kinds , The bounded roares , and fishes of the seas : All these for teaching man , the LORD did frame , To doe his will , whose glory shines in thame . I. R. HIS MAIESTIES LEPANTO : OR , HEROICALL SONG . I Sing a wondrous worke of God , I sing his mercies great , I sing his iustice heere — withall Powr'd from his holy seat : To wit , a cruell Martiall warre , A bloudy battell bold , Long doubtsome fight , with slaughter huge , And wounded manifold . Which fought was in LEPANTOES gulfe , Betwixt the baptiz'd race , And circumcised Turband Turkes Rencountring in that place . O onely God , I pray thee thrice , Thrice one in persons three , Alike Eternall , like of might , Although distinct ye be . I pray thee Father , through thy Sonne , Thy word immortall still , The great ARCHANGELL of records , And worker of thy will , To make thy holy Spreit my Muse , And eik my pen inflame , Aboue my skill to write this worke , To magnify thy name . Into the turning still of times , I erre , no time can be , Where was and is , and times to come , Confounded are all three : I meane , before great God in Heauen , ( For Sunne and Moone deuides The times in earth by houres and dayes , And seasons still that slides . ) Yet Man , whome Man must vnderstand , Must speake into this case , As man ; our flesh will not permit , Wee heauenly things imbrace . Then , as I els 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 , Deceyuer , Lyar , hating man , And Gods most sacred Name . This olde abuser stood into The presence of the Lord : Then in this maner Christ accus'de The sower of discord : I know , thou from that Citie comest , CONSTANTINOPLE great , Where thou hast by thy malice made The faythlesse Turkes to freat : Thou hast inflamde their maddest mindes With raging fire of wraith , Against them all that doe professe My Name with feruent fayth . How long , O Father , shall they thus , Quite vnder foote be tred , By faythlesse folkes , who executes What in this Snake is bred ! Then Satan answered , Fayth ? Quoth he , Their Fayth is too too small ; They striue , me thinke , on eyther part , Who farthest backe can fall : Hast thou not giuen them in my hands , Euen both the sides , I say , That I , as best doth seeme to me , May vse them euery way ? Then IEHOVA , whose nod doth make The heauens and mountaynes quake , Whose smallest wrath the Centers makes Of all the Earth to shake ; Whose word did make the world of nought , And whose approouing syne Did stablish all , euen as we see , By force of voyce diuine : This God began from thundering throate Graue words of wayght to bring : All Christians serue my sonne , though not Aright in euery thing . No more shall now these Christians be With Infidels opprest , So of my holy hallowed Name The force is great and blest Desist ô Tempter . Gabriel , come , O thou ARCHANGEL true , Whome I haue oft in message sent To Realmes and Townes anew . Go quickly hence to Venice Towne , And put into their mindes , To take reuenge of wrongs the Turkes Haue done in sundry kindes . No whisling winde with such a speed , From hilles can hurle ore heugh , As he whose thought doth furnish speed , His thought was speed aneugh . This Towne it stands within the Sea , Fiue miles or thereabout , Vpon no Ile nor ground , the Sea Runnes all the streetes throughout , Who stood vpon the steeple head , Should see a wondrous sight , A Towne to stand without a ground , Her ground is made by slight : Strong Timber props dung in the Sea Do beare her vp by art , An I le is all her market-place , A large and spacious part . A Duke with Senate ioynd doth rule , Saint MARKE is patron chiefe , Ilk yeare they wedde the Sea with rings To be their sure reliefe . The Angell then arriu'd into This artificiall Towne , And chang'd in likenes of a man , He walkes both vp and downe , While time he met some man of spreit , And then began to say , What do we all ? me thinke we sleepe : Are we not day by day ▪ By cruell Turkes and Infidels Most spitefully opprest ? They kill our Knights , they brash our forts . They let vs neuer rest . Go too , go too , once make a proofe : No more let vs desist : To bold attempts God giues successe , If once assay we list . With this he goes away . This man Vnto an other tells The purpose , whereunto they both Agree among themsels . This other to an other tels , And so from hand to hand It spreads and goes , and all that heard It , necessare it fand . And last of all it comes vnto The Duke and Senates care , Who found it good , and followed furth The same as ye shall heare . The Towne was driuen into this time , In such a pitteous strait By Mahometists , that they had els Giuen ouer all debait . The Turke had conquest Cyprus I le , And all their lands that lay Without the bounds of Italie , Almost the whole , I say : And they for last refuge of all , Had moou'd each Christian King , To make their Churches pray for their Reliefe in euery thing . The Towne with pitteous plaints did call Vpon the Lord of might , With praying still and fasting oft , And groning all the night : Was nothing heard but sobs and sighs , Was nothing seene but teares , Yea sorrow draue the brauest men With mourning to their beares . The women swound for sorrow oft , The babe for woe did weepe , To see the mother giuing milke , Such dolefull gesture keepe . Young men and maides within the Towne Were ay arraid in blacke , Each Eau'n the Sunne was sooner hid Then earst , the night to macke . No Venus then , nor Cupid false , Durst kyth or once appeare , For pale distresse had banisht them , By sadde and sory cheare . As seas did compasse them about , As Seas the streets did rin , So Seas of teares did euer flow The houses all within . As Seas within were ioynd with howles , So Seas without did rayre , Their carefull cries to Heauen did mount , Resounding in the ayre . O stay , my Muse , thou goest too farre : Shew where we left before , Lest trickling teares so fill my pen , That it will write no more . Then VENICE being in this state , When Gabriel there was sent , His speaches spread abroad , made Towne And Senate both so bent To take reuenge , as they implorde The Christian Princes ayd , Of forces such , as easily , They might haue spar'd and may'd . At last , support was graunted them , The holy league was past , Al 's long to stand , as twixt the Turkes And Christians warre should last . It was agreed , that into March , Or Aprill euery yeare , The army should on Easterne Seas , Conuene from farre and neare . Thus bent vpon their enterprise , The principals did conueene , Into Messena to consult , What order should haue beene Obseru'd in all their army great : There Don Iohn d' Austria came , Their Generall great , and Venier al 's Came there in Venice name ▪ From Genes Andrea Dor●● came , And Rome Colonne sent , When they with others many dayes Had into counsayle spent . In end Ascagnio Dela Corne , A martiall man and wise , His counsayle gaue , as ye shall heare Vpon their enterprise . Three causes be ( ô chieftaynes braue ) That should a Generall let , On Fortunes light vncertayne wheele The victory to set : First , if the losse may harme him more , Then winning can auayle , As if his Realme he doe defend From them that it assayle . The next , is when the contrare Host Is able to deuide , For sicknesse sore , or famine great , Then best is to abide . The third and last , it is in case His forces be too small , Then better farre is to delay , Then for to per●●● all . But since of these two former poynts We need not stand in doubt , Then though we leese , we may defend Our Countries round about . As to the last , this armie is So awfull , strong and fayre , And furnisht so with necessares Through your foreseeing care , That nought doth rest but courage bolde . Then since your state is such , With trust in God assay your chaunce . Good cause auayleth much . But specially take heed to this , That ere ye make away , Ye order all concerning watre , Into their due array : For if while that ye see your foes , Ye shall continue all , Then shall their sudden sight with feare Your brauest Spreits appall . Each one commaund a sundry thing , Astonisht of the case , And euery simple Soldat shall Vsurpe his Captaynes place . This counsall so contents them all , That euery man departs , With whispering much , and so resolues With bold magnanime hearts . THEIR preparations being made , They all vpon a day , Their biting Ankers gladly wayde , And made them for the way . The Grecian Fleet , for Helens cause That Neptunes towne did sacke , In braue array , or glistring armes , No match to them could macke . There came eight thousand Spaniards braue From hote and barren Spayne , Good ordour-keepars , cold in fight , With proud disdaynfull brayne , From pleasant fertill Italie , There came twelue thousand al 's , With subtill spreits bent to reuenge , By crafty meanes and fals . Three thousand Almans also came , From Countries cold and wide , These money men with awfull cheare The chock will dourely bide . From diuers parts did also come , Three thousand venturers braue , All voluntaires of conscience mou'd , And would no wages haue . Armde Galleyes twice a hundr'and eight , Six shippes all wondrous great , And fiue and twenty loadned shippes , With baggage , and with meat ; With fourty other little barkes , And prettie Galeots small . Of these aforesayd was compound The Christian Nauie all . THIS cloud of Gallies thus began On Neptunes backe to rowe : And in the ships the Marriners Did skippe from towe to towe . With willing minds they hayld the Tyes , And hoyst the flaffing Sayles , And strongest towes , from highest mastes , With force and practique hayles . The Forceats lothsomly did rowe , In Gallies ' gainst their will , Whom Galley-masters oft did beat , And threaten euer still . The foming Seas did bullor vp , The risking Oares did rash , The Souldats pieces for to clenge Did showres of shots delash . But as the Deuill is ready bent , Good workes to hinder ay , So sowd he in this Nauy strife , Their good successe to stay . Yet did the wisdomes of the Chiefes , And of the generall most , Compound all quarrels and debates That were , into that Host , Preferring wisely as they ought , The honour of the Lord , Vnto their owne , the publike cause , To priuate mens discord . The feathered fame of wondrous speed . That doth delight to flee On tops of houses pratling all That she can heare or see , Part true , part false : this monster strange Among the Turkes did tell , That diuers Christian Princes ioynd , Resolu'd with them to mel . Then spyes were sent abroad , who told The matter as it stood . Except in Arythmetique ( as It seemd ) they were not good : For they did count their number , to Be lesse then was indeed , Which did into the great Turkes mind A great disdayning breed . A perrilous thing , as euer came Into a Chieftaynes brayne , To set at nought his foes ( though small ) By lighleing disdayne . Then Selym sent a Nauy out , Who wandred without rest , Whill time into LEPANTOES gulfe , They all their Ankers kest . In season when with sharpest hooks The busie shearers cowe The fruitfull yellow locks of gold , That doe on Ceres growe , And when the strongest Trees for weight Of birth doe downeward bow Their heauy heads , whose colourd knops In showres rayne ripely now , And husband men with Woodbind crownes , To twice borne Bacchus dance , Whose pleasant poyson 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 readie for the way . But or they from Messena came , The Vines were standing bayre , Trees voyd of fruite , and Ceres polde , And lacking all her hayre : But when that leaues , with ratling falles In banks of withered boughes , And carefull labourers doe begin To yoke the paynefull ploughes , The Nauies neere to other drew , And Venier ( sent before ) Gaue false Alarum , sending word , The Turkes had skowp'd the score , That fifty Gallyes quite were fled . This word he sent expresse , To make the Christians willingly To battell them addresse . As so they did , and entred all , ( Moou'd by that samin flight ) Into LEPANTOES gulfe , and there Preparde them for the fight . Whill this was doing here on earth , Great God , who creates all , ( With wakrife eye preordoning What euer doth befall ) Was sitting in his pompous throne , In highest heauen aboue , And gloriously accompanide With Iustice and with Loue : The one hath smiling countenance , The other frowning cheare : The one to mercy still perswades Him as a Father deare : The other for to powre his plagues Vpon repining sinne , And fill the fields with wofull cryes , The houses all with dinne . But yet the Lord so temperates them , That both doe brooke their place , For Iustice whiles obtaynes her will , But euermore doth grace : IEHOVA al 's hath balances , Wherewith hee weighes aright The greatest and the heauiest sinnes With smaller faults and light : These grace did moue him for to take : And so he weighed in heauen The Christian faults , with faithlesse Turkes . The ballance stood not eauen , But sweyd vpon the faythlesse side . And then with awfull face , Frownd God of Hosts , the whirling heau'ns For feare did tremble space . The stayest mountaynes shuddred all , The grounds of earth did shake , The Seas did bray , and Plutoes Realm ▪ For horrour cold did quake . HOW soone Aur●raes ioyfull face Had shead the shady night , And made the chiuering Larks to sing For gladnesse of the light , And Phoebe with inconstant face , In Seas had gone to rest , And Phoebus chasing vapours moyst , The Skye made blew celest ; The Generall of the Christian Host , Vpon his Galley Mast , The bloudy signe of furious Mars , Made to be fixed fast . Then , as into a spacious towne , At breaking of the day , The busie worke-men doe prepare Their Worklumes euery way . The Wright doth sharpe his hacking Axe , The Smith his grinding File , Glasse-makers beets their fire that burnes Continuall , not a while : The Paynter mixes colours viue , The Printer Letters sets , The Mason clinks on Marble stones , Which hardly drest he gets : Euen so , how soone this Warriour world With earnest eyes did see Yon signe of warre , they all preparde To winne or else to dye : Here Hagbutters prepar'd with speed A number of Bullets round ; There Cannoners , their Cannons steild , To make destroying sound ; Here Knights did dight their burnisht brands , Their Archers bowes did bend , The Armorers on Corslets knockt , And Harnesse hard did mend , The fiery Marriners at once Made all their tackling claire With whispering dinne , and cryes confus'd , Preparing here and there : As busie Bees within their Hiues With murmuring euer still , Are earn'st vpon their fruitfull worke , Their empty holes to fill . The Flags and Ensignes were displayd , At Zephyrs will to waue , Each paynted in the colours cleare Of euery owner braue . But all this time , in carefull minde The Generall euer rolde , What maner of aray would best Fit such an army bolde . To pance on this it paynd him more , This more did trouble his brest , Then Cannons , Cor●e-lets , Bullets , Tackle , And Swords , and Bowes , the rest . And at the last with ripe aduice , Of Chieftaynes sage and graue , He shead in three , in Cressents forme , This martiall army braue : The Generall in the battayle was , And Colonell vndertooke The right wing with the force of Genes , The left did Venier brooke . WHEN this was done , the Spanish Prince Did rowe about them all , And on the names of speciall men , With louing speach did call , Remembring them how righteous was Their quarrell , and how good , Immortall praise , and infinit gaynes , To conquere with their blood ; And that the glory of God in earth , Into their manhead stands , Through iust reliefe of Christian soules From cruell Pagans hands . But if the Enemie triumphed Of them and of their fame , In millions men to bondage would , Professing IESVS name , The Spaniol Prince exhorting thus With glad and smiling cheare , With sugred words and gesture good , So pleas'd both eye and eare , That euerie man cryed victorie . This word abroad they blew , A good presage that victorie Thereafter should ensew . The Turquish Host in manner like Themselues they did aray , The which two Bashas did commaund And order euery way . For Portan Basha had in charge , To gouerne all by land , And Ali-Basha had by Sea The onely chiefe command , These Bashas in the battaile were , With mo then 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 vtter courage more Then had alluring grace : He did recount amongst the rest , What victorie Turkes obtaind On caytife Christians , and how long The Ottomans race had raignd : He told them al 's , how long themselues Had victours euer bene , Euen of these same three Princes small , That now durst so conuene . And would ye then giue such a lye Vnto your glories past , As let your selues be ouerthrowne By loosers 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 leese , remember well How ye haue made them thrall , This samin way , or worse shall they Demayne you one and all , And then shall all your honours past , In smoake euanish quite , And all your pleasures turne in payne , In dolour your delite : Take courage then , and boldly to it , Our Mahomet will ayd , Conducting all your shots and stroakes Of arrowe , dart , and blayd : For nothing care , but onely one , Which onely doth me fray , That ere with them we euer meet , For feare they flee away . This speach did so the Army please , And so their mindes did moue , That clinks of Swords , and rattle of Pikes , His speaches did approue . THE glistring cleare of shining Sunne Made both the Hosts so glaunce , As fishes eyes did reele to see . Such hewes on Seas to daunce : But Titan shinde on eyes of Turkes , And on the Christians backs , Although the wauering wind , the which But seldome setling tacks , The Turks did second euer still , Whill but a little space Before the chocke , ô miracle ! It turnd into their face : Which Christians ioyfull as a s●ale And token did receaue , That God of Hosts had promis'd them , They victory should haue . HOW soone a Cannons smoaky throat The Seas did dindle all , And on Bellona bold and wise , And bloudy Mars did call , And that the sounding cleare of brasse , Did al 's approue the same , And kindled courage into men , To winne immortall fame . But what ? Me thinke I doe intend This battayle to recite , And what by Martiall force was done , My pen presumes to write , As if I had yon bloody God , And all his power seene , Yea to descriue the God of Hosts , My pen had able bene : No , no : no man that witnesse was , Can set it out aright . Then how can I by heare-say doe , Which none could doe by sight ? But since I rashly tooke in hand , I must assay it now , With hope that this my good intent Ye Readers will allow : I also trust , that euen as he Who in the Sunne doth walke , Is colourd by the samin Sunne , So shall my following talke , Some sauour keepe of Martial actes , Since I would paint them out , And God shall to his honour al 's My pen guide out of doubt . This warning giuen to Christians , they With Turkes yoake here and there , And first the sixe aforesayd shippes , That were so large and fayre , And placed were in former ranks , Did first of all pursew With Bullets , Raisers , Chaynes , & nayles , That from their pieces flew : Their Cannons rummisht all at once , Whose mortall thudding draue The fatall Turkes , to be content With Thetis for their graue . The Fishes were astonisht all , To heare such hideous sound , The Azure skye was dim'd with smoke : The dinne that did abound , Like thunder rearding rumling raue With roares the highest Heauen , And pearst with pith the glistring vaults Of all the Plannets seauen : The piteous plaints , the hideous howles , The grieuous cryes and mones , Of millions wounded sundry wayes , But dying all at ones , Conioynd with former horrible sound , Distemperd all the ayre , And made the Seas for terrour shake With braying euer where : Yet all these vnacquainted roares , The fearefull threatning sound , Ioynd with the groning murmuring howles , The courage could not wound So farre of Turkish Chieftaynes braue , As them to let or fray , With boldest speed their grieuous harmes With like for to repay , Who made their Cannons bray so fast , And Hagbuts crack so thicke , As Christians dead in number almost Did counteruayle the quicke , And sent full many carcages Of Seas to lowest ground , The Cannons thuds and cries of men Did in the sky resound , But Turkes remaynd not long vnpayd Euen with their proper coyne , By bitter shots , which Christians did To former thundring ioyne : Dead dropt they downe on euery side , Their sighing Spreits eschewes , And crosses Sty● into disdayne , To heare infernall newes : Yea scarcely could the ancient boate Such number of soules contayne , But sobbed vnderneath the weight Of Passengers prophane . While here the Father stood with Sonne , A whirling round doth beare The lead that dings the Father in drosse , And fils the Sonne with feare ; Whill there a Chieftayne shrilly cryes , And Soldats doth command , A speedy Pellet stops his speach , And stayes his poynting hand ▪ Whill time a clustered troupe doth stand Amaz'd together all , A fatall Bullet them among , Makes some selected fall : The hideous noyse so deaf'd them all , Increasing euer still , That ready Soldats could not heare Their wise Commaunders will ; But euery man as Mars him moou'd , And as occasion seru'd , His duty did , the best he might , And for no perill sweru'd : Their old Commaunders precepts past They put in practise then , And onely memory did commaund That multitude of men . THVS after they with Cannons had Their duty done afarre , And time in end had wearied them Of such embassad warre , A rude recounter then they made , Together Galleys clipt , And eche one other rasht her nose , That in the Sea was dipt : No maner of man was idle then , Each man his armes did vse : No scaping place is in the Seas , Though men would Mars refuse : The valiant Knight with Coutlasse sharpe , Of fighting foe doth part The bloody head from body pale , Whill one with deadly dart Doth pearce his enemies heart in twayne , Another fearce doth strike Quite through his fellowes arme or leg , With poynted brangling Pike . The Cannons leaue not thundering of , Nor Hagbuts shooting still , And seldome Powder wastes in vayne , But eyther wound or kill : Yea euen the simple forceats fought With beggers bolts anew , Wherewith full many principall men , They wounded sore and slew ; Whill time a Christian with a sword , Le ts out a faythlesse breath , A Turke on him doth with a dart Reuenge his fellowes death , Whill time a Turke with arrow doth Shoot thorow a Christians arme , A Christian with a Pike dooth pearce The hand that did the harme : Whill time a Christian Cannon killes A Turke with threatning sound , A Hagbut hits the Cannoner , Who dead , falls to the ground : The beggers bolts by forceats casten , On all hands made to flye , Iaw-bones and braynes of kild and hurt , Who wisht ( for payne ) to dye . The clinks of swords , the rattle of Pikes , The whirre of arrowes light , The howles of hurt , the Captaynes cryes In vayne , doe what they might : The cracks of Galleyes broken and bruz'd , Of Gunnes the rumbling beare Resounded so , that though the Lord Had thundred , none could heare . The Sea was vernish'd red with blood , And fishes poyson'd all , As Iehoua by Moses rodde , In Aegypt made befall . THIS cruell fight continued thus Vncertayne all the while : For Fortune oft on either side Did frowne , and after smile . It seem'd that Mars and Pallas both Did thinke the day too short , With bloody practise thus to vse Their olde acquainted sport : For as the slaughter ay increast , So did the courage still Of martiall men , whome losse of friends Enarm'd with eigre will ; The more their number did decrease , The more that they were harmd , The more with Mars then were they fild With boldning spite inarm'd : Now vp , now downe on either side , Now Christians seemd to winne , Now ouerthrowne , and now agayne , They seemd but to beginne . My pen for pitty cannot write , My hayre for horrour stands , To thinke how many Christians there Were kild by Pagane 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 Heauen , Our landing is not farre : Loe , good victorious tydings comes , To end this cruell warre . IN all the time that thus they fought , The Spanish Prince was clipt With Ali-Basha , whome to meet , The rest he had oreslipt , And euen 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 foure Of Gallies both , with found , And slaughter huge , their Bullets had In other made rebound , And all the small Artillery , Consumde their shots below , In killing men , or else to cut Some Cable strong , or Towe : Yet victory still vncertayne was , And Soldats neuer ceast ( With interchange of Pikes and Darts , ) To kill or wound at least . In end , when they with bloud abroad , Had bought their meeting deare , The victory first on Spanish side Began for to appeare : For euen the Spanish Prince himselfe Did hazard at the last , Accompanied with boldest men , Who followd on him fast , By force to winne the Turkish decke , The which he did obtayne , And entered in their Galley syne , But did not long remayne : For Ali-Basha prou'd so well , With his assisters braue , That backward faster then they came Their valiant foes they draue , That glad they were to scape themselues , And leaue behind anew Of valiant fellowes carcases , Whom thus their enemies slew . The Generall boldned then with spight , And vernisht red with shame , Did rather chuse to leese his life , Then time his spreading fame : And so of new encouraged His Souldiers true and bolde , As now for eigrenesse they burne , Who earst were waxed cold : And thus they entred in agayne , More fiercely then before , Whose rude assault could Ali then Resist not any more , But fled vnto the Fort at STEVIN , For last refuge of all , Abiding in a doubtsome feare , The chance he did befall . A Macedonian Souldier then , Great honour for to win , Before the rest in earnest hope , To Basha bold did rin , And with a Cutlace sharpe and fine , Did whip me off his head , Who lackt not his reward of him That did the Nauy lead : The Generall syne caus'd fixe the head Vpon his Galley Mast . At sight whereof , the faythlesse Host ▪ Were all so sore agast , That all amaz'd gaue backe at once , But yet were stayd agayne , And neuer one at all did scape , But taken were or slayne , Ochiali except , with three times ten Great Galleyes of his owne , And many of the Knights of MALT , Whome he had ouerthrowne : But if that he with his conuoy Had mist a safe retreat , No newes had SELYM but by brute , Heard euer of this defeat . WHEN thus the victory was obtaynd , And thanks were giuen to God , Twelue thousand Christians counted were , Releeu'd from Turquish rod. O Spanish Prince , whome of a glance And suddenly away The cruel fates gaue to the world , Not suffering thee to stay ! With this the still night sad and blacke The earth oreshadowed then , Who Morpheus brought with her and rest , To steale on beasts and men . BVT all this time was Venice Towne Reuoluing what euent Might come of this prepared fight , With doubtsome mindes and bent : They long'd , and yet they durst not long , To heare the newes of all : They hoped good , they fear'd the euill , And kest what might befall . At last the ioyfull tydings came , Which such a gladnesse bred , That Matrons graue , and Mayds modest , The market place bespred : Anone with cheerefull countenance They dresse them in a ring , And thus the formost did begin Syne all the rest to sing . Chorus Venetus . SIng praise to God both young and olde , That in this towne remayne , With voyce , and euery Instrument , Found out by mortall brayne : Sing praises to our mighty God , Prayse our deliuerers name , Our louing Lord , who now in need , Hath kythd to be the same . The faythlesse snares did compasse vs , Their nets were set about : But yet our dearest Father in Heauen , He hath redeemd vs out . Not onely that , but by his power , Our enemies feet they slayd , Whom he hath trapt , and made to fall Into the pit they made . Sing prayses then both young and olde , That in this towne remayne , To him that hath releeu'd our necks , From Turkish yoke prophane . Let vs wash off onr sinnes impure , Cast off our garments vile , And haunt his Temple euery day , To pray his name a while . O prayse him for the victory , That he hath made vs haue : For he it was reueng'd our cause , And not our army braue : Prayse him with Trumpet , Piphre , & drum , With Lutes and Organes fine , With Viols , Gitterns , Cistiers al 's , And sweetest voyces syne : Sing prayse , sing prayse both yong and old , Sing prayses one and all , To him that hath redeemd vs now , From cruell Pagans thrall . IN hearing of this Song , me thinks , My members waxes faynt , Nor yet from dulnesse can I keepe My minde by no restraint . But loe , my Yrny head doth no● Vpon my Adamant brest , My eye-lids will stand vp no more , But fall to take them rest . And through my weake and weary hand , Doth slide my pen of lead , And sleepe doth else possesse me all , The similitude of dead . The God with golden wings through ports Of horne doth to me creepe , Who changes ofter shapes transformd , Then Proteus in the deepe . How soone he came , quite from my mind , He worldly cares remoou'd , And all my members in my bed , Lay still in rest belou'd . And syne I heard a ioyfull song , Of all the feathered bands Of holy Angels in the heauen , Thus singing on all hands . Chorus Angelorum . SIng , let vs sing with one accord Hallelu-iah on hye , With euery elder that doth bow Before the Lambe his knee : Sing foure and twenty all with vs , Whill Heauen and earth resound , Replenisht with Iehouas prayse , Whose like cannot be found : For he it is , that is , and was , And euermore shall be , One onely one vnseparate , And yet in persons three . Prayse him , for that he create hath The Heauen , the earth , and all , And euer hath preseru'd them since From their ruine and fall : But prayse him more , if more can be , That so he loues his name , As he doth mercy shew to all That doe professe the same : And not alanerly to them Professing it aright : But euen to them that mixe therewith Their owne inuentions slight : As specially this samin time Most playnely may appeare , In giuing them such victory That not aright him feare : For since he shewes such grace to them That thinke themselues are iust , What will he more to them that in His mercies onely trust ? And sith that so he vses them That doubt for to be sau'd , How much more them that in their hearts His promise haue engrau'd ? And since he doth such fauour shew To them that fondly pray To other Mediatours , then Can helpe them any way : O how then will he fauour them , Who prayers doe direct Vnto the Lambe , whom onely he Ordaynd for that effect ? And since he doth reuenge their cause , That worship God of bread , ( An errour vayne the which is bred But in a mortall head ) Then how will he reuenge their cause That onely feare and serue His dearest Sonne , and for his sake Will for no perils swerue ? And since that so he pities them That beare vpon their brow The marke of Antichrist the Whoore , That great abuser now , Who does the truest Christians With fire and sword inuade , And make them holy Martyrs , that Their trust in God haue layd , How will he them that thus are vsde , And beare vpon their face His speciall marke , a certayne signe Of euerlasting grace ? Put end vnto the trauels ( Lord ) And miseries of thy Saynts , Remouing quite this blindnesse grosse , That now the world so dants ▪ Sing prayses of his mercy then His superexcellence great , Which doth exceed euen all his works That lye before his seat : And let vs sing both now and ay To him with one accord , O holy , holy , God of Hosts , Thou euerliuing Lord. THus ended was the Angels song : And also here I end , Exhorting all you Christians true Your courage vp to bend . And since by this defeat ye see , That God doth loue his name So well , that so he did them ayd That seru'd not right the same : Then though the Antichristian fect Against you doe coniure , He doth the body better loue Then shaddow , be ye sure : Doe ye resist with confidence , That God shall be your stay , And turne it to your comfort , and His glory now and ay . FINIS .