A farewell Entituled to the famous and fortunate generalls of our English forces: Sir Iohn Norris & Syr Frauncis Drake Knights, and all theyr braue and resolute followers. VVhereunto is annexed: a tale of Troy. Doone by George Peele, Maister of Artes in Oxforde.

❧ The beginning , accidents and ende of the warre of Troy . WHilom in Troy Troy . that ancient noble Towne , Did dwell a King of honor & renowne , Of port , of puisaunce , and mickle fame , And Priam Priam. was this mighty princes name Whom in regard of his triumphant state , The world as then surnamde the fortunate : So happy was he for his progenie , His Queene , his Court , his Children and Countrie . Yclypped stately Hecuba Hecuba . was shee , So faire a creature hardlie might you see , So braue , and of so comelie personage , And long before she tasted fortunes rage , With twenty sonnes and daughters , wondrous thing , This lustie Ladie did enrich her King . Priams honours . Fruite not vnlike the Tree wherof they sprong , The daughters louely , modest , wise and yong . The sonnes as doth my storie well vnfolde , All Knights at Armes , gay , gallant , braue and bolde , Of wit and manhood such as might suffice , To venter on the highest peece of seruice . His Peeres as loyall to their royall Lord , As might ne taynted be for deede or worde , His Court presenting to our earthlie eyes , A skye of starres or shyning Paradise . Thus happy Priam didst thou liue of yore , That to thy hap could nought be added more : Till mong the Gods , I wot not what was hee Eouying tho this happines to thee , Or Goddesse , or accursed fend belowe , Conspyring thy Troyes wracke and ouerthrowe . Alack th●t happines may not long last , That all these braueries beene so breefe a blast . Till one ( I say ) a venging power or other , Buz'd in the brayne of the vnhappy mother , A dreadfull Dreame , and as it did befall , Hecuba wyth Chylde with Paris . To Priams Troy , a dreame deadly and fatall . For when the time of Mothers payne drewe nie , And now the loade that in her wombe did lie Began to stirre , and mooue with propper strength , Readie to leaue his place , behold at length She dreames , and giues her Lord to vnderstand , Hecubacs Dreame . That she should soone bring foorth a fire-brand , Whose hote and ●lyming flame should grow so great , That Neptunes Troy it would consume with heate . And counsell taken of this troublous dreame , The Sooth sayers said , that not swift Sinois streame , Might serue to quench that fierce deuouring fire , That did this brand gainst Towne of Troy conspire . Which to preuent , ( a pittious tale to tell ) Both Sire and Dame gainst law and kind rebell , And that this feare might so be ouer-blowne , This babe from Troy withouten ruthe is throwne . Paris throwne out of Troy . But tempted may the gods , not mocked be , It is thy fate , nor may thou Troy foresee What must befall , thou maist it not foreknoe , Yet Paris liues , and men him called so . He liues a sheepheards swayne on Ida hils , Paris a sheepheard in Ida. And breathes a man gainst Troy and Troyans wils That threatens fire to Troy , a iolly swaine , And heere me list leaue Priam and his trayne . And tend we Paris 〈◊〉 another while , How he can Nymphes and sheepheards trulls beguile . And pypen songs , and whet his wits on bookes , And wrap poore Maydes with sweet alluring lookes . So couth he sing his layes among them all , And tune his pype vnto the waters fall , And weare his coate of gray and lustie greene , That had the fayre Oenone Oenone enamoured of Paris . neuer seene His tycing curled haire , his front of Iuorie , The carelesse Nymphe had nere bene so vnhappy . Then was the time when Flora with her flowers , Like Iris in her pryde and partie collours , Sate in her Sommer Sommer . Arbours like a Queene , And dight the earth in yellow , blew and greene . Then Phaebe gan a sollemne hunting make , A feast for Pallas , Iuno , Venus sake . Dianaes feast and hunting . with Pallas , Iuno , & Venus . And on that Ida where king Pr●ams sonne Paris , this louelie sheepheards swayne did wonne , A wondrous strife and variance did befall , Among the goddesses The Goddesses contende . for a golden ball . Ate throwes the ball . That some fell furie threw among them all . And fatall was it to this sheepeheards boy That in his bosome bare the bane of Troy , To wander by that sacred place alone . Belike his Nymphe and walking mate was gone . And there was chosen iudge to ende this strife , Paris chosen Iudge of beauty . That after lost full many a man his life . And thus this doubtie daies-man as I reede , Did crancklie venture on this thankles deede . Whom Iuno Iunoes offer . first , the great and stately goddes , Entiste with honor of much welth and riches . And certes gold hath store of eloquence . Him Pallas eke Pallas offer . the Queene of sapience , Tempted with wisedome and with Chiualrie . To win the golden ball bequeath'd to beautie . But neither welth nor wisedome might him moue , When Venus Venus offer . gan t' encounter him with loue . So led away with ouer vaine conceite , And surfeyting belike on pleasures baite , As men are wont to let the better goe And choose the worse , this iolly sheepheard loe , In hope to winne the gallant flower of Greece , Fayre Helena that braue and peereles peece , G●ueth the pryze to Lady Venus grace , Paris giues the ball to Venus . And ends with endles warre this doubtfull case . Ah Paris , hadst thou had but equall eyes , Indifferent in bestowing of the pryze , Thy humaine wit might haue discerned well , Wherein true beautie of the mind did dwell . But men must erre , because that men they bee . And men with loue yblinded cannot see . Throughout the world the rumour beeing blowne Of this euent : the man was quicklie knowne , And homewards comes forsooth to luckles Troy , Paris returnes 〈◊〉 Troy from Ida. Of yore a sheepheards swayne , King Priams boy . And in his brest did beare an vncooth heate , The strength whereof began to grow so great As needes Sir Paris must prepare to see , What might the substaunce of this shaddow bee , That yet his fancie wrought vpon so fast , So furnished with men and ships , at last To Lacedemon Paris expedicion to Lacedemon . doth this mynnion come , The windes made way , the sea affoording rome , In fine , the cut and voyage beeing short , This Knight arriues at Menelaus Court . Paris ariues at Menelaus Court Where such his entertainment was I finde , As iustlie might content a princelie mind . For she was there to giue him welcome thoe , Who more his inward sence then eye did knoe . A lustie , braue , and liuely Dame was shee , A lasse well worthy to be Paris fee . The Queene her selfe that hight faire Helen● , Whom yet vnseene his thoughts did all obey . And by the hand she takes her newcome guest , And giues him entertainment Helen entertaines Paris . of the best . Yet stately Troy did floorish in his pryde , And Priam whom no Prince might mate beside T●ll loue and hate together did conspyre , To waste this Towne and Realme with wastfull fire . The Prince of Troy gan eazelie now to see , How we●l her person with her fame did gree . When calling on Dame Venus for his due , The King of Sparta Me●elaus goes from Sparta . with a lordhe ●rue Must poste from home , and leaue his wife forsooth , To giue Sir Paris welcome for his tooth . Thus Venus first to helpe Loues pollicie , Aduantag'd him with oportunitie . And nowe as Louers wont their times espie , This Louer can his taske full well apply : And striues to court Paris Courtes Melen . his Mistres cunninglie Whose tender breast the conquering God of Loue , As wild his Da●e , with arrowes gan to prooue , And found it fit for loues impression . No sooner was King Menelaus gone , But Helens hart had tane so great a flame , As loue increast with Paris onelie name . And nowe she gan suruay his louelie face , Helen lookes on Paris . And curiously obserue each courtlie grace . And after large disputes of right and wrong , What did to loue and womanhoode belong ▪ Ah that this loue will be no better rulde , Ah that these Louers nill be better schoold . After sweete lyn●s that from this straungers penne , Came swiftly to her reading now and then . Regard of honour throwne aside by this , She armes her boldlie to this great amis . And for her hart was from her body he●● , To Troy this Helen Helen sayles to Troy with Paris . with her Louer wen● ▪ Thinking perdie a part contrary kinde Her hart so wrought , her selfe to stay behind . And thus hath Paris with his cunning caught , The daint●e Byrd that all so farre he sought . No sooner were they started thus away , But straight the King , yet all too late a day , Had newes of this vnworthy trayterous deede , And after ( sayes my story ) gins to speed● . But conque●ing Loue that hath no leaden heelns , Belike tide wings vnto the Troyan● keeles . 〈…〉 Away flyes Paris with his chased pray , And lands in Troy the gallant Helena . Whom aged Friam and Queene Hecuba , With all their noble sonnes and daughters to Welcome with royall feastes and much adoe . And euery louelit Dame and lustie Knight , Doe pay the Prince such honour as they might . The Peeres , the Princes , and the Lords of Greece , Toucht with the rape of this reprochfull peece , Not suffering such barbarous villanie , Dishonour to their state and Countrey . In furie gan the quarrell vndertake . Not all alone for Menelaus sake , The Greekes vndertake Menelaus quarrel . But to rebuke and to auenge beside , Helens false loue , Paris adulterous pride . Making prouision for a lasting warre That wounded all so deepe , and yet the skarre Remaines , and will endure from day to day , That teeth of fretting T●ne shall neuer were away . In Aulis Aulis . gulfe they mightilie assemble , Whose power might make the proudest Troy to tremble . Lord Agamemnon Agamemnon Generall of the Grecian● . there among them all , With Greekes consent was chosen Generall . Before this time a while , as I ●an reade , Vlisses by the me●nes Vlisses saynes madnesse . of Palumede , Vnhappy man was fetch'd from It●●ica , Yet well could counterfeir a cause of stay , To tarry with his wife Penclope . But priuate came must common cause obey . And though 〈…〉 a madnesse for the nonce , Yet can Sir Palamedes Palamedes dysciphers him . all at once To try his wit , offer his tender sonne , Whom while the Sire refusd to ouer-ronne That playd the frantick plow man all in vaine , He roundly brought him to the Argiue trayne . That for the hate he harbourd in his heade . Nil cease till this Sir Palamede Vlyss●● 〈…〉 was deade . So Peleus noble sonne , the great Achilles , Achilles hyd by Thetis . That loth'lie with the Grecians went to seas , Clad by his Dame in habite of a woman , Vnworthy cowardize of a valiant man . But that no cowardize this deede can hight ▪ In him that was approu'd so good a Knight . Vlisses Achilles dyscouered by Vlisses . with his toyes and tryfles trim , Full like a Pedler can discipher him . The force of Greece and Armies all by this . For want of wind haue houerd long in Aulis . The Greekes ●ayd in Aulis . What mighty men misdoe , the meaner rue , So great an ill by lingring dooth ensue . Nor was there other helpe but Iphigen , That might enforce the windes to blow agen . And will he , nill he , Agamemnon Agamemnon sends for Iphigenia . must , If he will termed be a Generall iust , Dispatch some trustie messenger or page , Vnder pretence of loue or mariage , To fetch to Aulis Clytemne●●●● comes to Aulis . gulfe the Argiue Queene , To see the spousalles of faire Iphigen . And Prince Achilles was her louer namde , But all vntowardly this busines framd . For Clytemnestra had espied ere long ▪ Whereto this subtile message did belong . In fine , the Virgine flayne in sacrifice , Iphigenia sacri●zed . The Greekes haue winde at will , the waters rise . How many ills doo follow one annoy ? Now merily saile our Gallant Greokes to Troy . And scoure the seas , & cheerly runne forth right , As shootes a streaming starre in winters night , The Greekes arriue at Troy . Away they flye , their tackling te●t and tight . Toppe and top gallant in the brauest sort And as ye wote , this warre and tragicke sport It was for Helena . King Priam now gan easelie vnderstand , How Greekes with all their power were hard at hand . And sadlie doo the peeres their Prince aduise , The while in rage Cassandra Cassandr●●● Co●nsell . calles and cryes . Render ye Troyans to these madding Greekes , The Dame that all this expedicion seekes . And to this battaile bruted farre by fame , Great ayde of Armes on either partie came , From Tyber , and the quaking Tanais To Troy , the Queene of Amazons by this , Penthesilea with her warlike bande , 〈◊〉 in ayde of Pryam . Ariu'd in honor of King Priams land . And ouer-long it were for me to tell , In this afflicting warre what hap befell . How many Greekes , how many Troyan Knights , As Chiualrie by kind in loue delights . Vpon their helmes their plumes can well aduaunce , And twist their Ladies coullers in their Launce . So loue doth make them bold and venturous , So hardie was the true Knight Troylus , Troylus . All for pure loue of the vnconstant Cresid . T' encounter with th' unworthy Diomed. Diomede . But leaue I heere of Troylus to say , Whose passions for the raunging Cressida , Creside . Requires a vollume to vnfold at large , And cunning neede he be that takes the charge , To paint the colloures of that chaunging peece , Staine to all Dames of Troy and stately Greece . And that I may doo euery man his right , Sir Paris mounted in his Armour bright , Pricks foorth , and on his helme his Mistres sleeue , How could that sight but Menelaus greeue . And nowe the Greekes , and nowe the Troyans may , As pleaseth Fortune beare away the day . The times of truce sette downe by Marshall lawe , The Dames of Troy with louelie 〈…〉 , The harts of 〈…〉 The 〈…〉〈…〉 That night 〈…〉 he might his rest enioy , So was his 〈◊〉 gaged whole to Troy : That now 〈…〉 this warrier would , Or mought I 〈◊〉 no more for loue he could ▪ The Campe complames vpon his loue and ●●oth , And charge him with his knighthoode and his othe . Now rides out Hector , call'd the scourge of Greekes . And like the vn●ath'd Panther pryes and seekes Where he might prooue his 〈◊〉 and ●lorming thus , 〈…〉 He lights vpon Ac●●lles friend 〈◊〉 When as the great , Achilles ga● him greete , And Lyon like runnes proudlie him to meete , For reskue of his friend as he were woode , And charging tight his staffe in eager moode , Forgetfull of the 〈…〉 As Fawlcon wonts 〈◊〉 stoope vpon her pray . As Hector had vnhorst Patroch●s tho : Dispoyling him in field , alas for woe , Vnwares to wreake this 〈◊〉 of his beleeke , He slayes a peereles Troyan for a Greeke . And hauing thus performd this murdrous treason , Achilles kyl● Hector . He tryumphes in the spoyles of Priams son . Now gan the Gree●ans ●lap their hands for glee , But blood will blood so euer mought it be . The Troyans glory now gan waxen dim , And cold their hope , sith death hath seazed him , That gaue them hope and happy fortune to . The Mother Queene withouten more adoe , Gan whether wits to wreake this mallice donne , And trayterous murther of her va●ant sonne . When Hectors death was more then halfe forgot , Or at the least dissembled well I wot , Full 〈◊〉 g●n this Lady offer make , That if the Prince Achilles list to take . 〈…〉 Polixena to Achilles . Her daughter faire 〈◊〉 to spouse , In Pallas Temple should he make his vowes . And thus the Queene that knew no law of Armes , Vowde cleere to him , and voide of further harmes . But when this Greeke did little thinke of guile To worke reuenge for Hectors death , the while , Euen in the fatall place , Sir Paris than , Paris woundes Achilles in the ●eele . With poysoned shaft dispatcht the haples man . And where his Mother Thetis him not hent , Directlie thether was his arrowe sent . Now lyes the great Achilles deade in Troy , Achilles dies . The Greekes make mone , the Troyans leape for ioy . And Pri●● doth bestow his bloodles bones , Vpon his wretched hartles Mirmidons . Immediatly began a bloodie brawle , Among the Lords and Greekish Captaines all , Touching the Armour of this valiant Knight . Sir Aiax Contention twixt Aiax and Vlisses for Achilles Armour . first doth clayme it as his right , And then gainst him the Lord of Ithica , Thinkes for desert to beare the prize away . And of the twayne but one might it enioy , And pleade they must vpon the stronde of Troy Before the Ships : where Aiax in a heate , For that the stomacke of the man was great : Layes open to the Greekes his seruice donne , In their affaires since first this warre begonne . And twits Vlisses with his cowardize . But Aiax this for thee may not suffize . For though the Targe were ouerbig to beare , And stoute Achilles helme vnfit to weare For wise Laertes sonne : yet pollicie That hight indeede the strength of Chiualrie , Was that where of this Knight doth cheefely vaunt , So with his words he gan their wits enchaunt : That when he must conclude and say no more , A shewes the fatall signe , 〈◊〉 that to the shore . A stole by night from Troy , and then ( quoth he ) Bestowe it heere yee Greekes if ye nill giue it me . Wherewith he wonne their harts & cha●●nde their 〈◊〉 And from Sir Aiax got the Marshall prize . Vlisses winnes the Arm●n● . The man whom wrath and furie 〈◊〉 , Not able to endure this open shame , Foulie sought violent meanes to stint this strife , And with a deadlie stab reau'de his owne life . And nowe this wastfull warre that lasted long , To Dames of Troy and Greece a tedious wrong , With hote encounter and vnhappy fight , And hast ●ed death of many a hardie Knight . Gan grow to this , that Greekes to bleere the eyes Of their foreweried ●oes , began denise . And hauing built a great vnweldie frame Much like a Horse , The Troyan● Horsse . and well ystuft the same with men of warre , they make a subtill shoe , As though from Troy they homewardment to goe , And rayse the siege , and leaue the prize behind , But Gods doo know they nothing lesse doo minde . For as I weene , my History doth say , To Tenedos The Greekes retyre to Tenedos . the Grecians tooke their way . An I le that gaue them harbour and abode , Now leaue we there these Greekes to lie at road● ▪ Amidst this hurlie burlie and vprore , King Pria● sends away young Pollydore , Polydore King Priams sonne . With store of treasure , and with mickle mucke , His yongest sonne to Thrace , but little lueke Ensude this deede : for Polymnestor loe , Polymnestor King of Thrace , murthers Polydore . The thirst of Priams riches choak● him so , A wofull tale as I haue heard it tolde , Murthers this Prince for lucre of his golde . The subtile Synon Synons treason . for his villanie , The noted Author of Troyes tragedie . When traytrous Greekes had sluncke to Tenedos , Gan with the silly Troyans highlie gloze . And tell a tale p●rdie of little trueth , Although as it befell of mickle ruthe . And so bewitcht King Pria●● and his Cours , That nowe at last to Troyans fatall hurt , In stedde of that might most their states aduaunce , They gree to hoyse this engine of mischaunce , The Troyan● re●●eiue the 〈◊〉 ●uto the towne . And make a breache like fooles , and neuer lin , Till their owne handes had pulde their enemies in . Thus ryot , rape , and vaine credulitie , Binnam'd cheefe Authors of Troyes tragedie . The monstrous Horse that in his hugie fides , A traytrous throung of subtill Grecians hides , Gan nowe discharge his vast and hydeous loade , And silently disperse his strength abroade . Nyght . It was the time when midnights sleepe and rest , With quiet pause the towne of Troy possest . The Greekes forsake the ships and make returne , Nowe Troy as was foretolde began to burne , Troy set on fi●e by the Greekes And Iliums statelie towres to smoake a pace . The conqu'ring Greekes begin a maine to chase And follow fast their foes , that vnawares False Synon had betrapped in his snares . Ah what a piercing sight it was to see , So braue a towne as Troy was said to be , By quenchlesse fire layd leuell with the soyle , The Prince and people made the souldiers spoyle , The vnhappy Priam mazde with frights and feares , Seeing his Pallace flame about his eares , Out of his wretched slumber hastlie start : And weening to haue playd a young mans part , Girts to his Arming sword with trembling hand , But she alas that bare the fatall brand That firde the towne , the most vnhappy Queene , Whose like for wretched hap was neuer seene . Said leaue my Lord , becomes vs not to striue , Whom woulde 〈◊〉 morning Sunne ●●ght see aliue . And flie from ayde of men to powers 〈◊〉 And so with me lay hold on 〈◊〉 shry●e . But he whose bloodie mind and murdring rage , Nor lawe of Gods , nor reuerence of age , Coulde temper from a deede so tyrann●●s . Achilles sonne , the fiercevnbridled Pyrrhns . Pyrrh●s . His fathers ghost belike entycing him , With slaughtring hand , with visage pale and dim . Hath hent this aged Pri●● by the haire , Like Butcher bent to sley , and euen there , The man that liu'd so many golden yeeres , The Lord and Maister of such lordlie peeres , The King of Troy , the mightie king of Troy , With cruell yron this cursed Greekish boy Rids of his life : as whilome hee had donne With poysond shaft Paris , old Priams sonne . Priam 〈◊〉 the Altar by Pyrrhu● . Thus soules by swarmes doth presse to Plutoes ●all , Thus naked Troy , or now not Troy at all . Doone is thy pride , dim is thy glorious gite , Dead is thy Prince in this vnhappy fight . My penne forbeare to write of Hecuba , That made the glorious Sunne his Chariot stay , And rayning teares his golden face to hide , For ruth of that did afterwards betide , Sith this vn●●phy Queene suruiude the last ; Till Fortunes spight and mallice all was past . And worne with sorrow , wexen fell and mad . Hecuba mad . And all the happines that Priam had , In his mishaps and bloodie funerall , Was that he saw not yet the ende of all . His daughters rauisht , slaine in sacrifice , Astianax Polixena sacrisi . Astyanax . before his mothers eyes , The princelie babe throwne from the highest towre , Thus to our deathes there needeth but an howre . Short tale to make , when first the towne of Troy The Greekes had sac●t , to Asias great annoy , When Pyrrhus had the guiltie Paris slaine , Paris slayne by Pyrrhus . Loe now at last the Greekes haue home againe , With losse of manie a Greeke and Troyans life Vnhappy Helen , Menalaus wife . Menelaus receiues Helen . The good Aeneas , Aeneas . whom the Gods beleeke , Reseru'd some further better happe to seeke , With olde Anchyses , Anchises , leaues this wretched Towne , And on the Seas ytossed vp and downe , Ariues in Lauine land , when he had seene The bounty of the famous Carthage Queene . Dido . Whom driuen by fates this wandring Knight deceau'd , That him and his so royallie receau'd . MY Author sayes , to honour Helens name , That through the worlde hath beene belide by Fame : Howe when the King her pheere was absent thence , A tale that well may lessen her offence . Sir Paris tooke the Towne by Armes and skill , And carried her to Troy against her will . Whom whether afterward she lou'd or no , I cannot tell , but may imagine so . FINIS .