forces in the
Netherlands during the Armada campaign)

630
631 Who ever gave more honourable prize

prize > prize; plunder

632 To the sweet Muse, than did the martial crew;
633 That their brave deeds she might immortalize

That > [In that]
brave > brave; splendid

634 In her shrill trump, and sound their praises due?

trump > trumpet-note

635 Who then ought more to favour her than you,
636 Most noble lord, the honour of this age,
637 And precedent of all that arms ensue?

precedent > pattern, model
arms ensue > seek after feats of arms; _hence:_ follow a military
career

638 Whose warlike prowess and manly courage,
639 Tempered with reason and advisement sage

advisement > advice; prudence, consideration

640 Have filled sad Belgium with victorious spoil,

Belgium > {The Netherlands}

641 In France and Ireland left a famous gage,

gage > prize, military spoil

642 And lately shaken the Lusitanian soil.

Lusitanian > (A somewhat impolitic reference to the ill-fated Portugal
expedition of 1589, in which Norris and Sir Francis Drake, with
over 100 ships and some 20,000 soldiers, were sent to liberate
Portugal from the Spanish)

643 Since then each where you have spread your fame,

each where > everywhere

644 Love him that has eternized your name.
645 _E. S._
646
647
648 _To the right noble and valorous knight, Sir Walter Raleigh_,
649 Lo. Wardein of the Stanneryes, and lieftenaunt of
650 Cornewaile.
651
652 _TO thee that art the sommers Nightingale,
653 Thy soueraine Goddesses most deare delight,
654 Why doe I send this rusticke Madrigale,
655 That may thy tunefull eare vnseason quite?
656 Thou onely fit this Argument to write,
657 In whose high thoughts Pleasure hath built her bowre,
658 And dainty loue learnd sweetly to endite.
659 My rimes I know vnsauory and sowre,
660 To tast the streames, that like a golden showre
661 Flow from thy fruitfull head, of thy loues praise,
662 Fitter perhaps to thonder Martiall stowre,
663 When so thee list thy lofty Muse to raise:
664 Yet till that thou thy Poeme wilt make knowne,
665 Let thy faire Cinthias praises bee thus rudely showne._
666 E. S.
667
647
648 _To