❧A most friendly fare­well, Giuen by a welwiller to the right worshipful Sir Frauncis Drake Knight, Generall of her Maie­sties Nauy, which be appointed for this his honorable voiage, and the rest of the fleete bound to the Southward, and to all the Gen­tlemen his followers, and captaines in this exploite, who set sale from Wolwich the xv. day of Iuly, 1585.

WHERIN IS BRIEFELY TOVCHED his perils passed in his last daungerous voiage, with an Incouragement to all his saylers and souldiers, to be forward in this honourable exploite. Published by Henry Robarts of London Citizin.

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Imprinted at London by Walter Mantell and Thomas Lawe.

TO THE RIGHT­VVORSHIPFVL AND THRISE RENOWMED GENTLEMAN OF our time Syr Frauncis Drake Knight, Generall of her High­nesse Nauie and the rest of the Fleete bounde to the South­warde, Your worships poore countreyman, and faith­full well willer H. R. wisheth you all the hap­pines that euer this worlde can affoorde, with a prosperous returne from your determinate voyage, and ho­nour answerable to your heartes desire.

RYghtworshipful,

the Persians honoured their Kings▪ (as I reade that neuer sawe him) as he passed tho­rowe the Countreyes in his Progresse he was presen­ted of many his wealthy Subiects with riche giftes, which he thank fully receiued. A poore Shepheard standing by, and noting earnestly the curtesie of the King, was greeued at the heart, that he had not to bestowe as large­ly as the best: yet to shewe his zeale, he hyeth him hastily vnto a precious well not farre off, and dippyng therein his sweatie hat, pre­sentes it full of water vnto the King: the which he so gratefully re­ceiued, as he did the richest gift, noting in the poore swaine his zeale, and loue which by his simplenesse appeared to be more to him then many that were then present: My selfe (Worshipfull sir,) represen­ting the simple shepheard, humbly doe present these my rude labours vnto your handes, and doe craue of your Worshippe fauourable ac­ceptans of the same, accounting of it, as of the hat full of water, and considering the zeale of the giuer, not the worthinesse of the gifte, ex­cusing [Page] the boldnesse of blinde Bayarde, whose will is farre greater then his skill, your Worshippe shall then shewe your selfe in curtesie the rightfull heire of the Persian King. Wherefore hearing of your Worships pretended voyage (being a curtesie amongest vs English­men) to represent vnto our betters whome we honour some simple gift as a farewell in writing whereby their names might be remem­bred in their absence, and seeing none of the learned sort haue vnder­taken to write according to custome, I being the vnworthyest, yet the most willing, was lothe good Knight that you should depart our En­glishe coastes without some remembery to be published in prayse both to your worshippe, and the rest of your Gentlemen followers in this your noble exploit, who although by name I doe not knowe them as I woulde, whereby I might giue them their honour due vnto them yet euer as long as my tongue can speake, or my simple hand holde penne to wryte, I will euer renowme your worship, and them whose seruice for Countrey hath bene such as neuer English gentleman or other yet at­chieued but you: therefore they that haue not giuen you that honor worthie your desartes, haue sought to robbe you of your worthines, a base thing in schollers and the learned who seeth other countrey­men that hath not vndertaken the one halfe of your troubles to be re­gistred in the mindes of all men for euer, by their meanes which hath by wryting giuen them their desartes: as the conquest of the West Indyes can witnesse, wherein many of theyr names is explained in other wryters also: then Englishmen what dishonour doe you our famous Drake, that you haue left his name so long vnwritten of, whome fame hath bruited in all the whole worlde for his most fa­mous enterprises, and hath made him to be admired▪ among his mor­tall foes for his valour, O noble English heart, neuer yet daunted, whome the report of any euill newes howe vehement soeuer they be, can let from thy determinate voyage wherein you may rightly be compared to that conquered Monarke, for valor of mind Alexander who although he was by his spies aduertised that the host of the Persi­an King Darius was in a maner to be compared as a mountaine to his molehill, yet valiantly he gaue him the ouerthrowe, and atchieued the victorie, the like victorie thryse famous Knight God sende vnto you, that you may triumph ouer all your enemies like Alexander in this [Page] exployt, all this happynesse with much more wish I vnto the most, va­liant and fortunate Syr Francis Drake, that with such honour and willingnesse vndertaketh our princes seruice, yea, we are all bounde by duetie to pray for the happynesse of your estate for that there bee fewe, that are not the better for your last prosperous returne, which God for his mercy sende nowe to be so happy, that as litle Dauid your power may be such that you may beate downe all them that as Golias shall come to hinder you of any Iote of your determination, well wor­thy Knight, would my abilitie were answerable to my wil, then should thy honourable name liue eternally amongest vs men on the earth: Ʋnthankfull Englishmen that can suffer your wohthy countreyman to r [...]his, [...] with vnthankefulnesse, so soone to be forgotten, my selfe the vnworthyest of the Countrey haue long expected some thing from the learnee in your commendati­on, but seeing them all to be so vnmindfull of so worthy a personage, I baue thus rudely aduentured, though simply, to let all my good coun­treymen by publishing the same to vnderstande of your Worships de­parture to the Seas, with all your worthy company, whereby they may see the valour that is harboured in your noble heart, and pray with me for your happy returne.

VVOrthy Syr Francis Drake, that hath so nobly aduentured in many calamities three whole yeeres, continuing at fortunes hazard, eftsoones likely to be drenched in the raging floudes, and then in daunger of the vnknowen rockes, besides many other pe­rilles incident to sea faring wightes, as falling into the handes of your professed mortall foes which daily awaited your returne: yet all this can nothing daunt his worthye heart, nor any one whit dismay him at all, for the Lorde which is most gracious in all his workes hath left you here among vs as a mirrour for our countreymen to looke into, by your example to mooue others to the attempting the like enterprises: many other Gentlemen there be in this our laude, but I knowe fewe that will vndertake the like, or none at all that can with skill so well perfourme it, or [...] [Page] norant people like my selfe, I heare to say mutteringly, O Lorde, what doe these Gentiles meane so to roome from home that enioye such wealth as they doe, and maye staye at their owne pleasure, but the rein they shewe their basenesse, which is so vnanswerable to the mindes of the valiant, as the flint stone to the precious diamonde, but such are those base fellowes as for gaine at home will not sticke to doe any thing, when the noble minde abroade aduentu­reth for fame, which when with great peril they haue most valiantly atchieued, the enuiousnesse of our countreymen is such as they disdaine to giue them the honour they haue gained for their right as it is well séene by that worthye Knight Sir Humphrey Gylbert whose valour deserued thankes of his countrey if they had bene gratefull, the which they be lothe to bestowe vpon him, but he is dead, and in countreyes cause shortened his life, leauing many sorowe for his death, yet I thinke it were great pity seeing his actions were such, as your worship I knowe can wit­nesse to be honourable that his valiant name should so sud­denly die with his bodie, without some remēbrance wher­by his children hereafter might reape the rewarde of their fathers fame, and by his good actions be encouraged to i­mitate his wayes. This renowmed Knight as your wor­thinesse is more then any I knowe, and that you haue so well deserued, I trust some learned which can write, will of their good nature emploie their paines to your praise & in learned stile register your noble fame, whereas I poore I can doe nothing yet haue this rudely aduentured, there­by to shewe what zeale I haue to such honourable mindes as your selfe, that in your absence by these fewe lines pub­lished you may be remembred when you shall be absent in this your honourable voyage, and the rather haue I vnder­taken this because I neuer sawe any to bid you farewell from Englande, and partly for countries cause being borne in Deuonshire where your worship was, these causes good Syr considered, first that by my simple writing it may en­courage [Page] others to write that can doe farre better, and then the zeale I beare to my countrey, and to all such as ven­ture for the common weale, I hope your Worshippe will pardon the rudenesse of the writer, who wisheth hartely your welfare and prosperous successe in all your worthye enterprises, and daily shall beséeche God to make you as fortunate as Alexander, and in all your voyage to shielde you from your enemies, as he did the Prophet Dauid from the handes of King Saul which persecuted him, and sende you a happy returne from this your pretended voyage and many ioyfull yeeres to liue here amongest vs, and when it shall please God after you haue spent here many happye dayes on the earth with much worshippe and increase of al worldly felicity and that you must pay your due to death by nature, you may happely arriue to that port of all ioye to rest with God in heauen where Christ is chiefe Pilate.

ROBARTES HIS FAREVVEL TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL SYR FRANCES DRAKE▪ KNIGHT, and to his Gentlemen followers, who set sayle at Wolwich to depart towardes their voyage the xv. day of Iuly. 1585.

VVHen true report had blased abroad yt iii. yeres takē toile,
Of that rare knight Syr Francis Drake through many a forraine soile.
Who by his trauaile on the Seas vnto his endlesse fame,
Did purchase for his countrey wealth, and credit to his name.
I did expect some Ouids pen to paint his worthy praise,
Who when he dies shal stil remaine wt fame on earth alwaies▪
But none hath writ that earst I sawe which makes me saye,
The brunt was spread of trauiles his the Poets did dismay,
My minde was forward with yt first, but yet my heart did faile.
That gainst my will I forced was to strike my simple sayle.
Yet hearing how ye second time this worthy venterous knight.
Doeth goe to seas accompanyed with many a worthy wight.
My willing heart hath forced my pen thus much to vndertake,
To him and to his famous crew▪ a farewell for to make.
I doubt not but his noble heart will way of my goodwill,
That boldely dares presume thus much yt haue such simple skil.
And pardon me his countrey mā who writes for coūtreis sake,
And for because no one as yet, did euer vndertake
To tell vnto all Englishmen what dangers he abode,
And eke what coūtryes strāge he past, while he did rome abroad
Yea all the worlde almost Sir Francis Drake hath seene.
And welcomes great hath euer had where he on shore hath ben
The Heathen Princes honoured him, & fauoures did him giue,
And victuals store of such as did their bodyes all relieue.
Yea this & many a strange thing els there happened to him thē.
When many of his company for feare ran backe againe.
And gaue report that dead he was, and sunke in foming flood,
[Page]Which newes to some right ioyfull was yt wished him no good
When such as were his friēds indeed wt watry eies did waile.
And wisht their blood were shed wt his, so it might him auaile.
All this our Poets might haue wrote if they his fame did tēder,
Besides the wealth yt he home brought a good cause to remēber
You might haue taken this smal paines ye same by pen to shew,
To make his name wt fame resound & cause the world to know.
When many a thousand liued at home and slept wt quiet ease.
Great paines abroad our Knight endured wt perils on ye seas.
The dangers he hath passed through would make a many muse
That keeps their chābers close wt shame & hearken after nuse,
But lōg may good sir Francis liue which hath enricht our lād,
The like was neuer seene nor heard since Englad first did stad.
How like Vlisses did he shewe his policies ech were,
And like Achilles bearded his foes & daunted them with feare.
The Lord hath blest him noble knight & with his mighty arme
Defended him from forren foes that sought to doe him harme.
And brought him safely home at last where fauour he did gaine
Of our good Queene wt welcomes great & thāks for takē pain.
That he so nobly had imployed: to nobles all alike case,
A wight more welcome then he was came neuer in this place.
His credite since hath still increased and God hath so him blest,
That he the loue of all hath gaind from best vnto the worst.
What should I say but this of him his deedes deserue so well,
That of all others which I know Syr Frances beares ye bell.
For Bountie, sure he doeth exceede to those that doe deserue,
And feeds ye hūgry naked soules which els were like to sterue.
And such as in his voyage last to sea with him did goe,
And by demeanor ill, hath brought them selues to careful woe.
He daily doeth them still relieue and all their family.
A mirrour of a worthy minde fraught full of curtesie,
O noble Knight what should I say, my pen is to too base,
To write thy fame, it rather doth thy worthy deedes disgrace.
What wrong hath poets done to thee that learning hath at wil
That haue in giuing thee thy due not shewed forth their skill.
[Page]Who liueth now within the lande that merite doth such fame▪
Then learned poets giue it Drake that doeth deserue the same.
Would God my skill were such thy praise so for to paint,
That forren foes to heare thereof wt danted feare should faint.
And noble valiant Gentlemen that goeth with him to sea,
Although your names I do not know, Ile learn thē as I may.
I knowe you goe to purchase fame, and that shall be your hier.
And for to shew your valiancie it is your chiefe desire.
For dastardes vse at home to stay, and there will sit & talke.
When you in many a forren soile in danger daily walke.
But nothing can dismay your minds, your noble hearts to try?
And idle drones which feare to fight you doe them all defie.
Your generall a valiant Knight was neuer daunted yet,
But brauely made his foes recoile, whē face to face they met.
Now is your brauery to be shewē, there must you al take pain,
Else looke for lasting ignominie when you returne againe.
Wel, England hath to few such Knights, yt dares to do so much
againe to hazard life and goods, the perill being such.
He that doeth knowe the danger past, and venture doth againe.
Is worthy haue a crowne of golde to counteruaile his paine.
Well since that thou are going hence to take thée to the seas,
Forsaking wife and countrey both, thy costly cheare and ease.
To God thy voyage Ile commende, to whome I still wil pray.
To graunt thée life and safe returne to see that ioyful day.
Wherein thou maist behold againe thy louing countreymen,
Which wisheth well to thee, & praieth for thy returne againe.
Set forwarde noble minde, God send thee winde at will,
With coast full cleare and weather faire, thy voyage to fulfill.
And shield thee safe from foes, and such as wish you death.
Would that I might aduēture life to reaue thē of their breath.
Good Eolus be friendly nowe, and sende a happy gale,
That captaine Drake & all his men on seas may safely sale.
And God that guides the heauens aboue, so prosper thée wt hap,
That al the world haue cause to say, thou liest in fortunes lap.
And this farewel x. thousand times the mirrour of our yeeres.
Farewel the Phenix of our age, whose acts admittes no peres.
[Page]Farewel you gallant Gentes, who here might liue at ease.
Yet thrust your heads for countries welth in hasard on ye seas.
We be no Troians borne gainst whō durst Iuno iustly skold,
Happy be we at your returne, your foes confusion to behold.
Thus whilest my tōgue can talke or pen may paint thy praise,
I wil set down what dreadles deeds were done wtin thy dayes.
Thou Neptune god, if fauour ought might fierce Achilles find,
Vouchsafe to sende my countreyman a calmed waue & winde.
Thy parting nowe is blased abroad, as euery tongue can tell,
Thy ships are lancht, thy sailes are hoist, Syr Francis Drake farewell.
H. R.
FINIS.

Robarts his farewell to the saylers and souldiours appointed for this exploite.

ANd sayl [...]rs all and mates what euer that you be,
which willing are wt this good knight, these exploits for to sée.
Let neuer courage quaile, but shew your selues like men,
For good sir Drake is generrall, come shewe your valour then.
You heare before what he hath done, when he at sea was last:
And eke what knowledge he hath gaind of euery forreine coast.
The worthiest pilate in this land that euer I did knowe,
Your selues I aske to iudge with me, and many a thousand mo▪
And how he hath enricht the land, and stored it with gold.
And how he did reward his men, my pen can scarse vnfold:
And honored them in al their deeds, bicause they did take pain,
And frendship euer at his handes their duetie did them gaine.
Yea, he dealt with them so bountiful, & gaue thē such large pay,
That he for it is worthy praise, they so of him will say.
A very lambe vnto his frends, as euery toong can tell,
But vnto such that it deserue, he is both fierce and fell,
You know the valour of the man is more then I can say,
Then feare not harts, but venture on, & please him al you may.
Your foreward he himselfe will be as euer he hath beene.
In any point of seruice he will venture life and lim.
Be valiant then you noble harts, & when you meet your foes,
Apply your manhood all you may, for to increase their woes.
And in your fighting euermore, thinke you are Englishmen,
Then euery one of you I hope, will stay of Spaniards ten:
Or any els what ere they be, that shall disturbe your peace,
And seeke by any kind of meane your quiet to disease.
God and S. Georg you worthy wights, proceed triumphantly,
In Princes cause let no one quaile, but all couragious be▪
The Drum & Fife you warlike wights, shal euer by you [...]and,
As long as any fight indures, for comfort by your hand.
Gaine honor then, and hold the same, as song as ere you liue:
But if like dastards you do proue, o how your harts may grieue
That euer noble wight should trust to such a mate,
As eats his vittails with the best, yet feares to shew his pate.
[Page]Once for to looke his foe in face at any time to see,
God shield that any such among this warlike crue should be.
Since you are they must honor win, thē trie your force on foes
And shew your selues couragiously, apply your english blows.
Then valiant harts that seeke for fame, be sure the same to gain
For with her trumpe of glitring gold she wil requite your pain.
And at your home returne againe, such praise for you ile write,
Shall do you good to heare the same your trauell to requite,
If you returne, as God I trust will send you all againe, [...]
Your general wil reward you all as you imploy your paine.
Be iust therefore and gentle too, ech looke vnto his charge,
And see against your generall commit you no outrage▪
Serue God, obey your gouernor, and him both loue and feare,
You are cōmanded so my frends, your princes charge you bear.
Then God shall blesse you still if you doe liue in awe,
If you offend he punish may by vertue of his lawe.
Therefore agree in vnitie, and loue one with the other,
[...]d ioine your selues in amitie, as brother with his brother.
[...] in this cause you are as one, though many soules you be,
Then fellowe mates looke to your selues, and neuer disagrée.
For whereas brawles be set abroch, and quarrellers remaine,
It greatly will your general grieue, & vexe his hart with paine.
To see that men which ought be wise so giuen vnto will,
And in a harebraine humor seeke ech other for to kill.
My louing frends and countrymen, let these my words auaile,
And thinke vpon these simple lines, when ship is vnder saile.
Thus vnto God I you commend, to whom I still will pray,
To send you safe among your frends, and shield you on the sea.
I meane you all good will, I trust you take it so,
[...] english[?] [...]ts. God keepe you all from wo.

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