The [P]raise of Saint Davids day.
Shewing the Reason why the Welshmen honour the Leeke
on that day. To the tune of When this Old Cap was new.
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WHo list to reade the deeds
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by valiant Welch-men done,
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Shall find them worthy men of Armes,
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as breath[e]s beneath the Sunne:
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They are of valiant hearts,
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of nature kind and meeke,
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An honour on Saint Davids day,
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it is to weare a Leeke.
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The Welch most ancient is
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of this our famous land,
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Who were the first that conquerd it,
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by force and warlike hand.
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From Troy stout [B]rute did come,
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this kingdome for to seeke;
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Which was possest by savage men,
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then honoured be the Leeke.
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He having won the same,
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and put them to the sword:
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Of Brute did Britaine first take name,
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as Chronicles record.
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The Welch true Brittaines are,
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whose swords in blood did reeke,
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Of Pagan men being heathenish,
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then honoured be the Leeke.
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And now if you would know,
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why they the Leeke doe weare,
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In honour of Saint Davids day,
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it plainely shall appeare.
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Upon Saint Davids day,
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and first of March that weeke,
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The Welch-men with their foes did joyne,
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then honoured be the Leeke.
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And being in the field,
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their valour they did try;
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Where thousands on both sides being slaine,
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within their bloods did lye.
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And they not knowing how
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their friends from foes to seeke,
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Into a Garden they did goe,
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where each one pulld a Leeke:
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And wore it in his Hat,
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their Countrey-men to know;
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And then most valiantly they did,
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orecome th[e]ir warlike foe.
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Then were no colours knowne,
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nor any feathers eeke;
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The feathers first originall,
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it was the Welch-mans Leeke.
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And ever since that time,
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the Leeke they use to weare,
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In honor of Saint Davids day,
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they doe that Trophy beare.
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A Reverend Bishop was
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Saint David mild and meeke,
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And tis an honour that same day,
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for them to weare a Leeke.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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FOr Englishmen Saint George,
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Saint Andrew for the Scot,
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Saint Patericke for Ireland,
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Saint David Welsh-mens Lot:
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In honour of which Saint,
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those Countrey men doe seeke,
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For to remember the same day,
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in wearing of a Leeke.
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Each Countrey hath his Saint,
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why should not Welsh-men then
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Give honour to her Country due,
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as well as other men,
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A Reason for the same,
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are many men to seeke,
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Then know it is an honour brave,
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that day to weare a Leeke.
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What Royall Princes have,
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in fruitefull Wales bin borne,
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Yea for to weare a Leeke that day,
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they tooke it for no scorne.
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The seventh Henery,
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was borne on mountaine Peke,
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Which on that day did use to weare,
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in solemne sort the Leeke.
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From him Elizabeth,
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did lineally descend,
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Who did the Gospell true maintaine,
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untill her life did end,
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And shee upon that day,
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with divers Courtiers meeke
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In token of that victory,
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did weare the honoured Leeke.
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And Royall Kings likewise,
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from Heneryes loynes did spring,
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With many noble Princes else,
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besides our Royall King,
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And Princes more of Wales,
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that day were nere to seeke,
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For on that day for Davids sake,
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they alwaies wore a Leeke,
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When Princes of the Blood,
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did celebrate the same,
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Whom forraine nations so admird,
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and praisd with lasting fame,
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Who had such Lyons hearts,
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yet like to lambes were meeke,
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That did in honour of that day,
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still weare the royall Leeke.
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I call it Royall Leeke,
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Cause Princes i[t] doth weare,
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Let no true hearted Welch-man then,
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disdaine the same to beare:
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But let them now as they,
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true honour alwaies seeke,
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And still remember Davids day:
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in wearing of a Leeke.
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