The [...]raise of Saint Dauids day.
Shewing the Reason why the Welshmen honour the Leeke on that day.
To the tune of When this Old Cap was new.
VVHo list to reade the déeds
by valiant Welch-men done,
Shall find them worthy m [...]n of Armes,
as breath is beneath the Sunne:
They are of valiant hearts,
of nature kind and méeke,
An honour on Saint Davids, day,
it is to weare a Leeke.
The Welch most ancient is
of this our famous land,
Who were the first that conquer'd it,
by force and warlike hand.
From Troy stout, Brute did come,
this kingdome for to seeke;
Which was possest by sauage-men,
then honoured be the Leeke.
He hauing won the same,
and put them to the sword:
Of Brute did Britaine first take name,
as Chronicles record.
The Welch true Brittaines are,
whose swords in blood did reeke,
Of Pagan men being heathenish,
then honoured be the Leeke.
And now if you would know,
why they the Leeke doe weare,
In honour of Saint Davids day,
It plainely shall appeare.
Vpon Saint Davids day,
and first of March that weeke,
The Welch-men with their foes did ioyne,
then honoured be the Leeke.
And being in the field,
their valour they did try;
Where thousands on both sides being slaine,
within their bloods did lye.
And they not knowing how
their friends from foes to seeke,
Into a Garden they did goe,
where each one pull'd a Leeke:
And wore it in his Hat,
their Countrey-men to know;
And their most valiantly they did,
o'recome their warlike for.
Then were no colours knowne,
nor any feathers eeke;
The feathers first or'ginall,
it was the Welch-mans Leeke,
And euer since that time,
the Leeke they vse to weare
In honor of Saint Davids day,
they doe that Trophy beare.
A Reuerend Bishop was
Saint David mild and méeke,
And tis an honour that same day,
for them to weare a Leeke.
The second part.
To the same tune.
FOr Englishmen Saint George,
Saint Andrew for the Scot,
Saint Patericke for Ireland,
Saint David Welshmens Lot:
In honour of which Saint,
those Countrey men doe seeke,
For to remember the same day,
in wearing of a Leeke.
Each Countrey hath his Saint,
why should not Welsh-men then
Giue honour to her Country due,
as well as other men,
A Reason for the same,
are many men to seeke,
Then Know it is an honour braue,
that day to weare a Léeke.
What Royall Princes haue,
in fruitefull Wales bin borne,
Yea for to weare a Leeke that day,
they tooke it for no scorne.
The seuenth Henery,
was borne on mountaine Peke,
Which on that day did vse to weare,
in solemne sort the Leeke.
From him Elizabeth,
did lineally descend,
Who did the Gospell true maintaine,
vntill her life did end,
And shee vpon that day,
with diuers Courtiers meeke
In token of that victory,
did weare the honoured Leeke,
And Royall Kings likewise,
from Heneryes loynes did spring,
With many noble Princes else,
besides our Royall King,
And Princes more of Wales▪
that day were ne're to seeke,
For on that day for Dauids sake,
they alwaies wore a Leeke▪
When Princes of the Blood,
did celebrate the same,
Whom forraine nations so admir'd,
and prais'd with lasting fame,
Who had such Lyons hearts,
yet like to lambes were meeke,
That did in honour of that day,
still weare the royall Leeke.
I call it Royall Leeke,
Cause Princes it doth weare,
Let no true hearted Welch-man than,
disdaine the same to beare:
But let them now as they,
true honour alwaies seeke,
And still remember Dauids day:
in wearing of a Leeke.
FINIS.