"Nowe saye, English captaine, what woldest thou give
To ransome thy selfe, which else must not live?
Come yield thy selfe quicklye, or slaine thou must bee:"
Then smiled sweetlye brave Mary Ambree.
"Ye captaines couragious, of valour so bold,
Whom thinke you before you now you doe behold?"
"A knight, sir, of England, and captaine soe free,
Who shortelye with us a prisoner must bee."
"No captaine of England; behold in your sight
Two brests in my bosome, and therfore no knight:
Noe knight, sirs, of England, nor captaine you see,
But a poor simple lass, called Mary Ambree."
"But art thou a woman, as thou dost declare,
Whose valor hath proved so undaunted in warre?
If England doth yield such brave lasses as thee,
Full well may they conquer, faire Mary Ambree."
The Prince of great Parma heard of her renowne
Who long had advanced for Englands faire crowne;
Hee wooed her and sued her his mistress to bee,
And offerd rich presents to Mary Ambree.
But this virtuous mayden despised them all,
"Ile nere sell my honour for purple nor pall:
A mayden of England, sir, never will bee
The whore of a monarcke," quoth Mary Ambree.
Then to her owrie country shee backe did returne,
Still holding the foes of faire England in scorne:
Therfore English captaines of every degree
Sing forth the brave valours of Mary Ambree.
NOTES
- A peculiar kind of armour, composed of small rings of iron, and worn under the
clothes. It is mentioned by Spencer, who speaks of the Irish gallowglass or foot-
soldier as "armed in a long shirt of mayl." (View of the State of Ireland.)