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 This armour by the which I found Achilles. I it gave Achilles whyle he was alive: and now that he is gone I clayme it as myne owne agein. What tyme the greefe of one Had perst the harts of all the Greekes, and that our thousand sayle At Awlis by Ewboya stayd, bycause the wyndes did fayle, Continewing eyther none at all or cleene ageinst us long, And that our Agamemnon was by destnyes overstrong Commaunded for to sacrifyse his giltlesse daughter to Diana, which her father then refusing for to doo Was angry with the Godds themselves, and though he were a king Continued also fatherlyke: by reason, I did bring His gentle nature to relent for publike profits sake. I must confesse (whereat his grace shall no displeasure take) Before a parciall judge I undertooke a ryght hard cace. Howbeeit for his brothers sake, and for the royall mace Committed, and his peoples weale, at length he was content To purchace prayse wyth blood. Then was I to the moother sent, Who not perswaded was to bee, but compast with sum guyle. Had Ajax on this errand gone, our shippes had all this whyle Lyne still there yit for want of wynd. Moreover I was sent To Ilion as ambassadour. I boldly thither went, And entred and behilld the Court, wherin there was as then Great store of princes, Dukes, Lords, knyghts, and other valeant men. And yit I boldly nerethelesse my message did at large The which the whole estate of Greece had given mee erst in charge. I made complaint of Paris, and accusde him to his head. Demaunding restitution of Queene Helen that same sted And of the bootye with her tane. Both Priamus the king And eeke Antenor his alye the woordes of mee did sting. And Paris and his brothers, and the resdew of his trayne That under him had made the spoyle, could hard and scarce refrayne There wicked hands. You, Menelay, doo know I doo not feyne. And that day was the first in which wee joyntly gan susteyne A tast of perrills, store whereof did then behind remayne. It would bee overlong to tell eche profitable thing That during this long lasting warre I well to passe did bring, By force as well as pollycie. For after that the furst