Penny Dreadfuls, 1602 · page 186 of 400
Penny Dreadful Cover — page 186: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# A Page of Running Verse from *Albions England* This is a page of continuous narrative poetry from Chapter 33 of what appears to be Samuel Daniel's *Albions England* (1602). The text describes a confrontation between the tyrant Cerberus and Richard (seemingly Richard III), with Richmond preparing for battle. The passage includes rousing speeches—one urging English soldiers to fight for their country's peace, another showing Richard arming himself dramatically before combat, comparing him to a lion. The verse is in Early Modern English couplets and concerns itself with themes of tyranny, rightful succession, and martial courage during what appears to be a historical conflict.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
eo REBIONSIZENGDAND, | And like vnkenneld cerberus the ctooked Tyrantfwores.2if.p aio g _ 4:ndallcomplexions a@ at once confufedly in him: C, | Heftudicth, ftriketh,threats,intreates,and looketh mildly grim, | Mifruftfally he trufteth,and he dreadingly did dare, . | 4\ad fortic paffions in a trice in him confort and fquare. _ Bot when,by his conuented force, his foes increafed more, | #He haftned Battell, finding his Coriuall aprtherefore, | _ When Richmond orderly in all had battelled his ayde, | foringed by his Compliees,their chearefull Leaderfayde. | Now is the time and place ({weete Friends)anid we the Perfons be | hat nauft giue Exg/indbreath,or elfe vnbreath for her muft we. _ No Tyrannie is fabled,and no Tyrant wasindeede — | _ Worfe than our Foe,whofe workes wil, a& my words,if wel he fpeede: - Por illto ills Superlative are eafily intift, | | - Burigtertaine amendmentas the Gergefites did Chrift. He valiant then,he biddeth fo that would not be out-bid | for courage,yeat {hall honor him,though bace,that better did, | Sam right heire Lamcaffrianghe in Yorkes dettroyed right | Vfurpeth: But,through Eicher ours,for neither claime I fight, | But for our Countries long-lackt weale,for Englands peace l warte: (Wherein he fpeed vs vnto whom Lall Events refarre. | Meanewhile hadfurious Richard fet his Armies in array, | ‘And then,with lookes euen like himfelfe,this or the like did fay. ~ Why,Lads,thall yonder Welchman with his Straglers ouer-matche _ Difdaine ye not fuch Riualles,and deferre yee their difpatch ? Shall Tsder froin Planragenet the Crowne by craking {natch ? Kaow Richards very thoughts(he toucht the Diademe he wore) ‘Be mettall of chis mettall : Then beleene [loue it more Than that for other law than Life to Superfead my Clame, And lefler muft not be his Plea that counter-pleads the fame. ‘The weapons oucr-tooke his words,& blowes they brauely change, _ When,like a Lion thirlting blood,did moody Richard range, _ . k Y ~~ s. t ee Sa one