XIX. BRAVE LORD WILLOUGHBY. Peregrine Bertie lord Willoughby of Eresby had, in the year 1586, distinguished himjelf at the fiege of Zutphen in the Low Countries. He was the year after made general of the English forces in the United Provinces, in room of the earl of Leiceper, who was recalled. This gave him an opportunity of signalizing his courage and military ;. ill in several actions against the Spaniards. One of these, greatly exagge , rated by popular report, is probably the subject of this old ballad, which on account of its flattering encomiums on Englih valour, hath always been a favourite with the common people. My lord Willoughbie (Jays a contemporary writer) was one of the queenes best swordsmen : he was a great master of the art military. . . . . I have heard it spoken, " that had be not slighted the court, but applied himself to queene, be might have enjoyed a plentifull portion of grace; and it was his Jaying, and it did him no good, that he was none of the Reptilia; intimating, " that he could not creepe on the ground, and tbat the court was not his element, for indeed, as he was a great Joul"dier, so he was of juitable magnanimitie, and could net " brooke the obsequiou nesse and affiduitie of the court.” See Naunton's fragm. Regal. Lord Willoughbie died in 1601. See his chara&ter in Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia.-Both the names of Norris and Turner are famous among those of the military men of that age. Printed from an ancient black-letter copy, THE 16 the “ her T HE fifteenth day of July, With glistering spear and shield, A famous fight in Flanders Was foughten in the field : The most couragious officers Were English captains three, But the bravest man in battel Was brave lord Willoughbèy. 5 The next was captain Norris, ; The other captain Turner, From field would never flee. Alas! there were no more, Upon the bloody fhore. Stand to it noble pikemen, And look you round about : And we will keep them out : Do you prove true to me, Says brave lord Willoughbèy, And |