The Queenes visiting of the Campe at
Tilsburie with her entertainment there.
To the Tune of Wilsons wilde.
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WIthin the yeare of Christ our Lord
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a thousand and five hundreth full:
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And eightie eight by just record
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the which no man may disanull.
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And in the thirtieth yeare remaining,
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of good Queene Elizabeths raigning.
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A mightie power there was prepared
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By Philip then the king of Spaine:
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Against the maiden Queene of England,
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which in peace before did raigne.
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Her Ryall ships to sea she sent,
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to garde the coast on everie side:
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And seeing how her foes were bent,
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her realme full well she did provide.
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With many thousands so prepared:
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as like was never erst declared.
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Of horsemen and of footemen plentie,
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whose good harts full well is seene:
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In the safegarde of their countrie,
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and the service of our Queene.
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In Essex faire that fertill soile,
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upon the hill of Tilsbury:
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To give our Spanish foes the foile.
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in gallant campe they now do lye.
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Where good orders is ordained,
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and true justice eke maintained.
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For the punishment of persons,
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that are leude or badly bent.
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To see a sight so straunge in England,
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t'was our gracious Queenes intent.
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And on the eight of August she,
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from faire Saint James tooke her way:
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With many Lords of high degree,
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in princely robes and rich aray.
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And to bardge upon the water,
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being King Henryes royall daughter.
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She did goe with trumpets sounding,
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and with dubbing drums apace:
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Along the Thames that famous riner,
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for to view the campe a space.
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When she as farre as Gravesend came,
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right over against that prettie towne:
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Her royall grace with all her traine,
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was landed there with great renowne.
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The Lords and Captaines of her forces,
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mounted on their gallant horses.
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Readie stood to entertaine her,
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like martiall men of courage bold:
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Welcome to the campe dread soveraigne,
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thus they said both yong and old.
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The Bulworkes strong that stood thereby,
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well garded with sufficient men:
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Their flags were spred couragiously,
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their cannons were discharged then.
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Ech Gunner did declare his cunning,
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for joy conceived of her coming.
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All the way her Grace was riding,
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on each side stood armed men:
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With Muskets, Pikes, and good Caleevers,
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for her Graces safegarde then.
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The Lord generall of the field,
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had there his bloudie auncient borne:
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The Lord marshals coulors eke,
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was carried there all rent and torne.
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The which with bullets was so burned,
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when in Flaunders he sojourned.
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Thus in warlike wise they martched
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even as soft as foote could fall:
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Because her Grace was fully minded,
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perfectly to view them all.
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Her faithfull souldiers great and small,
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as each one stood within his place:
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Upon their kneees began to fall,
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desiring God to save her Grace.
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For joy whereof her eyes was filled,
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that the water downe distilled.
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Lord blesse you all my friendes, she said,
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but doe not kneele so much to me:
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Then sent she warning to the rest,
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they should not let such reverence be.
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Then casting up her Princely eyes,
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unto the hill with perfect sight:
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The ground all covered she espyes,
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with feet of armed souldiers bright.
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Whereat her royall hart so leaped,
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on her feet upright she stepped.
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Tossing up her plume of feathers,
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to them all as they did stand:
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Chearefully her body bending,
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waving of her royall hand.
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Thus through the campe she passed quite,
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in manner as I have declared:
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At maister Riches for that night,
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her graces lodging was preparde.
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The morrow after her abiding,
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on a princely paulfrey riding.
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To the camp she cam to dinner,
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with her Lordes and Ladies all:
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The Lord generall went to meete her,
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with his Guarde of yeomen tall.
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The Sargeant trumpet with his mace,
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and nyne with trumpets after him:
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Bare headed went before her grace,
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in coates of scarlet colour trim.
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The king of Heralds tall and comely,
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was the next in order duely.
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With the famous Armes of England,
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wrought with rich imbroidered gold:
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On finest velvet blew and crimson,
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that for silver can be sold.
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With Maces of cleane beaten gold,
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the Queenes two Sargeants then did ride
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Most comely men for to behold,
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in velvet coates and chaines beside.
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The Lord generall then came riding,
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and Lord marshall hard beside him.
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Richly were they both atired,
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in princelie garments of great price:
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Bearing still their hats and fethers,
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in their handes in comely wise
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Then came the Queene on pranceing steede
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atired like an Angell bright:
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And eight brave footemen at her feete,
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whose Jerkins were most rich in sight.
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Her Ladies likewise of great honor,
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most sumpteously did waite upon her.
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With pearles and diamonds brave adorned,
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and in costly cales of gold:
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Her Guarde in scarlet then rid after,
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with bowes and arrowes stoute and bold.
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The valiant Captaines of the field,
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meane space them selves in order set:
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And each of them with speare and sheelde,
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to joyne in battaile did not let.
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With such a warlike skull extended,
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as the same was much commended.
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Such a battaile pitcht in England,
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many a day hath not beene seene:
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Thus they stood in order waiting,
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for the presence of our Queene.
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At length her grace most royally,
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received was and brought againe:
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Where she might see most loyally,
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this noble hoast and warlike traine.
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How they cam martching all together,
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like a wood in winters weather.
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With the strokes of drummers sounding,
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and with trampling horses than:
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The earth and aire did sound like thunder,
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to the eares of everie man.
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The warlike Armie then stood still,
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and drummers left their dubbing sound:
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Because it was our Princes will,
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to ride about the Armie round.
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Her Ladies she did leave behind her,
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and her Guarde which still did minde her.
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The Lord generall and Lord marshall,
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did conduct her to each place:
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The pikes, the colours, and the lances,
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at her approch fell downe apace.
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And then bespake our noble Queene,
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my loving friends and countriemen:
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I hope this day the worst is seene,
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that in our wars ye shall sustaine.
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But if our enimies doe assaile you,
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never let your stomackes faile you.
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For in the midst of all your troupe,
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we ourselves will be in place:
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To be your joy, your guide and comfort,
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even before our enimies face.
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This done the souldiers all at once,
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a mightie shoute or crye did give:
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Which forced from the Assure skyes,
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an Ecco loud from thence to drive.
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Which fild her grace with joy and pleasure,
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and riding then from them by leasure.
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With trumpets sound most loyally,
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a long the Court of guarde she went:
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Who did conduct her Majestie,
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unto the Lord chiefe generals tent.
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Where she was feasted royally,
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with dainties of most costly price:
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And when that night aproched nye,
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her Majestie with sage advice,
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In gracious manner then returned,
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from the Campe where she sojourned
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And when that she was safely set,
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within her Barge, and past away:
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Her farewell then the trumpets sounded,
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and the cannons fast did play,
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