For needs hem must take trewes every foe:
Flanders and Spain and othere, trust to mee,
Or ellis hindred all for this Narrow sea.
“Therefore I cast mee by a little writing
To shewe at eye this conclusion,
For conscience and for mine acquiting
Against God and ageyne abusion,
And cowardise, and to our enemies confusion.
For FOURE things our Noble sheweth to me,
King, Ship, and Swerd, and Power of the Sea.”