arms > feats of arms; hence: war
6 Then shall a royal virgin reign, who shall
royal virgin > [Elizabeth]
7 Stretch her white rod over the Belgic shore,
white rod > {Sceptre, symbol of authority (now called a white staff or white wand) carried by certain officials, such as the steward of the sovereign's household. Cf. 101.5:5, 209.27:7} Belgic > {Of the Netherlands, referring to the campaign in the Low Countries. See I:640}
8 And the great castle smite so sore withal,
the great castle > (The Castilian king, Philip II of Spain (cf. 111.7:2-6, 112.18, 510.26). At I:538 Spenser speaks of "those huge Castles of Castilian king", meaning the galleons of the Armada)
9 That it shall make him shake, and shortly learn to fall.
303.50
But yet the end is not. There Merlin stayd,
2 As ouercomen of the spirites powre,
Or other ghastly spectacle dismayd,
4 That secretly he saw, yet note discoure:
Which suddein fit, and halfe extatick stoure
6 When the two fearefull women saw, they grew
Greatly confused in behauioure;
8 At last the fury past, to former hew
+Hee+ turnd againe, and chearefull looks +as earst+ did shew.