Then did her husband so provide
That fire and coales he got with speede;110
She sate downe by the fiers side,
To dresse her daughter, that had neede;
And while she drest it in her lapp,
Her husband made the infant papp.
Anone the sexton thither came,115
And finding them there by the fire,
The drunken knave, all voyde of shame,
To drive them out was his desire:
And spurning forth this noble dame,
Her husbands wrath it did inflame.120
And all in furie as he stood,
He wroung the church-keies out of his hand,
And strooke him so, that all of blood
His head ran downe where he did stand;
Wherefor the sexton presently125
For helpe and ayde aloude did cry.
Then came the officers in hast,
And tooke the Dutchesse and her child,
And with her husband thus they past,
Like lambes beset with tygers wild,130
And to the governour were they brought,
Who understood them not in ought.
Then Maister Bartue, brave and bold,
In Latine made a gallant speech,
Which all their miserie did unfold,135
And their high favour did beseech:
With that, a doctor sitting by
Did know the Dutchesse presently.
And thereupon arising straight,
With minde abashed at their sight,140
Unto them all that there did waight,
He thus brake forth, in wordes aright:
"Behold within your sight," quoth hee,
"A princesse of most high degree."
With that the governour and the rest145
Were all amazde the same to heare,
And welcomméd these new-come guestes
With reverence great and princely cheare;
And afterward conveyd they were
Unto their friend Prince Cassemere.150
A sonne she had in Germanie,
Peregrine Bartue cald by name,
Surnamde The Good Lord Willobie,
Of courage great and worthie fame.
Her daughter young, which with her went,155
Was afterward Countesse of Kent.
For when Queene Mary was deceast,
The Dutchesse home returnde againe,
Who was of sorrow quite releast
By Queene Elizabeth's happie raigne:160
For whose life and prosperitie
We may prayse God continually.