University of Virginia Library

UNCOLLECTED POEMS

II.

[it nou appeares that persephone the aufull quene of hell]

it nou appeares that persephone the aufull quene of hell
unlousing megere, alecto, & tisiphone furies fell
ellis uearie on the stigien boundis more residence to make
transportis betuixt us & the heauen her horrible hell & blake

III. The CI psal.

IV. His Maiesties Avvin Sonnet

The natiounis bandit gainst the Lord of micht,
Prepard ane force, and set them to the way:
Mars dressit himself in sik ane awfull plicht,
The lyke thairof was neuer sene they say.
They fordward came in monstruous array
Baith sea and land beset vs euery quhair.
Braggis threatned vs ane ruinous decay
Quhat came of that? The ischew did declair
The wynds begouth to tosse them heir and thair
The Seas begouth in foming waues to swell
The number that escapt, it fell them fair
The rest wer swallowed vp in golfis of Hell
But how wer all thir thingis miraculous done.
God lewch at them out of his heuinlie throne.

V. King James his Verse in his Voyage to Denmarke.

Sonet

VIa.

[THV PASSENGER WHO SPYST WITH GAZEING EYES]

THV PASSENGER WHO SPYST WITH GAZEING EYES
THIS SAD TROPHIE OF DEATH'S TRIVMPHING DART,
CONSIDER, WHEN THIS OVTWARD TOMB THV SEES,
HOW RAIR A MAN LEAVES HERE HIS EARTHLY PAIRT,
HIS WISDOME, AND HIS VPRIGHTNESS OF HEART,
HIS PIETY, HIS PRACTICE IN OVR STATE,
HIS PREGNANT WIT WELL VERSED IN EVERY AIRT,
AS EQVALLY NOT ALL WERE IN DEBATE.
THEN IVSTLY HATH HIS DEATH BROVGHT FORTH OF LATE
A HEAVY GRIEF TO PRINCE AND SVBJECTS ALL
WHO VIRTVE LOVE, AND VICE TO TRVLY HATE,
THO' VICIOVS MEN BE JOYFVL AT HIS FALL;
BVT FOR HIMSELF, MOST HAPPIE, DOTH HE DIE,
THO' FOR HIS PRINCE IT MOST VNHAPPIE BE.

VIIa Sonett

[Loe heir my sone a mirrour viue and fair]

Loe heir my sone a mirrour viue and fair
Quhilk schawis the schadow of a vorthie king
Loe heir a booke, a paterne dois ȝow bring
Quhilk ȝe sould preass to follow mair and mair
this trustie freind the treuthe will never spair
Bot giue a guid advyse vnto ȝow heir
how it sould be ȝour chief and princelie cair
to follow verteu, vyce for to forbeare
And in this booke ȝour lessoun vill ȝe leare
for gyding of ȝour people great and small
than as ȝe aucht gif ane attentiue eare
and panss how ȝe thir preceptis practise sall
ȝour father biddis ȝow studie heir and reid
how to becume a perfyte king indeid

VIII. THE ARGVMENT (of the booke.)

SONNET.

God giues not Kings the style of Gods in vaine,
For on his throne his Scepter do they swey:
And as their subiects ought them to obey,
So Kings should feare and serue their God againe.
If then ye would enioy a happie raigne,
Obserue the Statutes of your Heauenly King;
And from his Lawe, make all your Lawes to spring:
Since his Lieutenant heare ye should remaine,
Reward the iust, be steadfast, true, and plaine:
Represse the proud, maintaining ay the right,
Walke alwaies so, as euer in his sight
Who guardes the godly, plaging the prophane,
And so ye shall in princely vertues shine.
Resembling right your mighty King diuine.

IX
1604. Sonnet of his Majesty.

Full many ane tyme the archier slakkis his bow
That afterhend it may the stronger be:
Full many ane time in Vulkane's burning stow
The Smith does water cast with careful ee.
Full oft contentions great arise we see
Betwixt the husband and his loving wife
That sine they may the fermlyer agree
When ended is that sudden choler strife.
Yea, brethern, loving vther as their lyfe
Will have debates at certain tymes and hours.
The wingèd boy dissensions hot and rife
'Twixt his lets fall like sudden summer showers.
Even so this couldnes did betwixt us fall
To kindle our love as sure I hope it shall.

Xa
King James on the blazeing starr: Octo: 28: 1618

You men of Britaine, wherefore gaze yee so
Vppon an Angry starr, which as yee know
The sun shall turne to darknesse, the Moon to blood
And then twill be to late for to turne good
O be so happy then while time doth last
As to remember Dooms day is not past
And misinterpret not with vaine Conceit
The Caracter you see on Heauen gate.
Which though it bring the world some news fro fate
The letters such as no man can translate
And for to guesse at God Almightys minde
Weere such a thing might cozen all mankinde
Wherfore I wish the Curious man to keep
His rash Imaginations till he sleepe
Then let him dreame of ffamine plague and war
And thinke the match with spaine hath causd this star
Or let them thinke that if their Prince my Minion
Will shortly chang, or which is worse religion
And that he may haue nothing elce to feare
Let him walke Pauls, and meet the Devills there
And if he be a Puritan, and scapes
Jesuites, salute him in their proper shapes
These Jealousys I would not haue a Treason
In him whose ffancy overrules his Reason
Yet to be sure It did no harme, Twere fit
He would be bold to pray for no more witt
But onely to Conceale his dreame, for there
Be those that will beleiue what he darrs feare.

XIa
On the death of Queene Anne

Thee to inuite the great God sent a starre,
whose friends and neerest kinne good princes are;
for though they runne the race of man and dye,
death seemes but to refine their maiesty;
so did our Queene from hence her court remoue,
and leaue the Earth to be enthroned aboue;
then she is changed not dead, noe good prince dyes,
but only like the sunne doth sett to rise.

XII
To the Duke of Buckingham

Now let us [all] reioice sing Peans all
For Buckingham is now made Admirall
And he that rules the horse our strenght by land
Our strenght by sea the Navy doth command:
Soe in the heauenly Courte that selfe same God
Neptune I meane that with his three tooth'd Rod
Brought forth the horse doth with the same appease
The raging fury of the boysterous seas.
Why then should any grudge that favour graces
The meritt of one person with two places
Since it is soe amongst the states of heaven
Where none dare doubt but things are carried even.

XIII
Verses made by the Kinge, when hee was entertaynd at Burly in Rutland-shire, by my L. Marquesse of Buckingham.

August: 1621

The heauens that wept perpetually before,
Since wee came hither show theyr smilinge cleere.
This goodly house it smiles, and all this store
Of huge prouision smiles vpon vs heere.
The Buckes & Stagges in fatt they seeme to smile:
God send a smilinge boy within a while.

Votum

A Vow or Wish for the felicity & fertility of the owners of this house.

If euer in the Aprill of my dayes
I satt vpon Parnassus forked hill:
And there inflam'd with sacred fury still
By pen proclaim'd our great Apollo's praise:
Grant glistringe Phoebus with thy golden rayes
My earnest wish which I present thee heere:
Beholdinge of this blessed couple deere,
Whose vertues pure no pen can duly blaze.
Thow by whose heat the trees in fruit abound
Blesse them with fruit delicious sweet & fayre,
That may succeed them in theyr vertues rare.
ffirme plant them in theyr natiue soyle & ground.
Thow Joue, that art the onely God indeed,
My prayer heare: sweet Jesu interceed.

XIVa
Made by K: James. 1622

You women that doe London loue so well
whome scarce a proclamacōn can expell
and to be kept in fashion fine & gaye
Care not what fines there honest husbands pay
you dreame on nought but vizitts maskes & toyes
And thinke the cuntrey contributes noe ioyes
Be not deceiu'd the cuntrey is not soe bare
But if your trading lacke there's ware for ware
or if you musicke loue knowe every springe
Both Nightingale & Cockoe there doe singe
Your compleat Gallant or your proper man
are not confin'd to fleete streete or the stran
But you haue nobler thoughts then do not doe
no ill nor any thinge that longes there to
Cesar would haue an honest [woman] be
not onely chast but from suspicōn free
which you that sorue here can hardly shunne
you must so many temptinge hazards runne
for (saue) some ffewe that are more full of grace
The world hath not a more debaushed place
your owne propension ill enoughe Contriues
without thexcesse of Townes procuratiues
Therefore departe in peace and looke not backe
Remember Lotts wife ere you suffer wracke
of ffame and fortune which [you] may redeeme
And in the cuntrey liue in good esteeme
ladies of honour grace the court I grant
But this noe place for vulgar Dames to haunt
The cuntrey is your Orbe and proper Spheare
Thence your Reuenues rise bestowe them there
Convert your coatch horse to the thrifty plough
Take knowledge of your sheepe, your corne your cowe
And thinke it noe disparagement or taxe
To acquaint your fingers with the wooll & fflaxe
whereof examples are not farr to seeke
where noble Princesses haue done the like
your husbands will as kindly you embrace
without your iewels or your painted face
and there your Children you may educate
aswell as they of ffrench & Spanish prate
visitt your sicke & needie, & for plaies
plaie the good huswifes, wast not golden dayes
In wanton pleasures which doe ruinate
insensibly both honor, wealth, & state
Do'ot of your selfes shortely the Spanish dames
frugality will teach you to your shames
& then no thankes for then it comes in fashion
you wilbe seruile apes to euery nation
And you good men its best you gett you hence
least honest Adam paie for Eves offence.

XVa
King Iames his verses made vpon à Libell lett fall in Court and entituled The wiper of the Peoples teares
The dryer vpp of doubts & feares.

O stay your teares yow who complaine
Cry not as Babes doe all in vaine
Purblinde people why doe yow prate
To shallowe for the deepe of state
You cannot iudge whats truely myne
Who see noe further then the Ryne
Kings walke the heauenly milky way
But yow by bypathes gadd astray
God and Kings doe pace together
But Vulgar wander light as feather
I should be sorie you should see
My Actions before they bee
Brought to the full of my desires
God aboue all men Kings enspires
Hold you the publique beaten way
Wounder at Kings, and them obey
ffor vnder God they are to chuse
What right to take, and what refuse
Wherto if yow will not consent
Yet hold your peace least you repent
And be corrected for your pride
That Kings designes darr thus deryde
By railing rymes and vaunting verse
Which your kings brest shall neuer peirce
Religion is the right of kings
As they best knowe what good it brings
Whereto you must submitt your deeds
Or be pull'd vpp like stubborne weeds
Kings euer vse their instruments
Of whome they iudge by their euents
The good they Cherish, and aduance
And many things may come by chance
Content your selfe with such as I
Shall take neere [me], and place on highe
The men you nam'd seru'd in their tyme
And soe may myne as cleere of cryme
And seasons haue their proper intents
And bring forth seuerall euents
Whereof the choyse doe rest in kings
Who punish, and reward them brings
O what A calling weere A King
If hee might giue, or take no thing
But such as yow should to him bring
Such were A king but in A play
If hee might beare no better sway
And then weere you in worser case
If soe to keepe your auntient face
Your face would soone outface his might
If soe you would abridge his right
Alas fond men play not with kings
With Lyons clawes or serpents stings
They kill euen by theire sharpe aspect
The proudest mynde they cann deiect
Make wretched the most mightiest man
Though he doth mutter what hee cann
Your Censures are in hurrying sound
That rise as vapours from the ground
I knowe when I shalbee most fitt
With whome to fill, and emptie it
The parliament I will appoint
When I see thyngs more out of ioynt
Then will I sett all wry things straight
And not vpon your pleasure waite
Where if yow speake as wise men should
If not, by mee you shalbe school'd
Was euer king call'd to Account
Or euer mynd soe high durst mount
As for to knowe the cause and reason
As to appoint the meanes and season
When kings should aske their subiects ayd
Kings cannot soe be made affraid
Kings will Comand and beare the sway
Kings will inquire and find the way
How all of yow may easiely pay
Which theyle lay out as the[y] thinke best
In earnest sometimes and in ieast.
What Counsells would be ouerthrowne
If all weere to the people knowne?
Then to noe vse weere Councell tables
If state affaires weere publique bables.
I make noe doubt all wise men knowe
This weere the way to all our woe
ffor Ignorance of causes makes
Soe many grosse and fowle mistakes
The moddell of our princely match
You cannot make but marr or patch
Alas how weake would proue your care
Wishe you onely his best welfaire
Your reasons cannot weigh the ends
So mixt they are twixt foes and frends.
Wherefore againe meere seeing people
Striue not to see soe high A steeple
Like to the ground whereon you goe
Hig[h]e Aspects will bring yow woe
Take heed your paces bee all true
And doe not discontents renewe
Meddle not with your princes Cares
ffor who soe doth too much hee darrs
I doe desire noe more of yow
But to knowe mee as I knowe yow
Soe shall I loue, and yow obey
And yow loue me in à right way
O make me not vnwilling still
Whome I would saue vnwilling kill
Examples in Extremitie
Are neuer the best Remedie
Thus haue I pleased my selfe not yow
And what I say yow shall finde true
Keepe euery man his ranke and place
And feare to fall in my disgrace
You call your children chicks of state
You claime A right vnto your fate
But know yow must be pleas'd with what
Shall please vs best in spight of that
Kings doe make Lawes to bridle yow
Which they may pardon, or embrue
Their hands in the best blood you haue
And send the greatest to the graue.
The Charter which yow great doe call
Came first from Kings to stay your fall
ffrom an vniust Rebellion moued
By such as Kingdomes little Loued
Embrace not more then you can hold
As often doe the ouerbold
As they did which the Charter sought
ffor their owne greatnes who soe wrought
With Kings and you; that all prou'd nought
The Loue that Kings to yow haue borne
Mou'd them therto for to be sworne
ffor, where small goods are to be gott
We are knowne to thee, that knowes vs not,
But yow that knowe mee all soe well
Why doe you push me downe to hell
By making me an Infidell
Tis true I am A Craddle King
Yet doe remember euery thinge
That I haue heeretofore putt out
And yet beginn not for to doubt
But oh how grosse is your deuise
Change to impute to kings for vice
The wise may change yet free from fault
Though change to worse is euer nought
Kings ever ouerreach you all
And must stay yow thoe that you fall,
Kings cannot comprehended bee
In Comon circles. Coniure yee
All what you cann by teares or termes
Deny not what your king affirmes
Hee doth disdaine to cast an eye
Of Anger on you least you die
Euen at the shadowe of his face
It giues to all that sues for grace
I knowe (my frends) neede noe teaching
Proud is your foolish ouerreaching.
Come Counsell me when I shall call
Before bewarr what may befall
Kings will hardly take aduice
Of Counsell they are wondrous nice
Loue and wisdome leads them still
Their Counsell tables vpp to fill
They need noe helpers in their choice
Their best aduice is their owne voyce
And be assured such are kings
As they vnto their Counsell brings
Which allwaies soe compounded are
As some would make and some would marr.
If I once bend my angrie browe
Your ruyne comes though not as nowe
ffor slowe I am reuenge to take;
And your Amendments wroth will slake
Then hold your pratling spare your penn
Bee honest and obedient men
Vrge not my Iustice I am sloe
To giue yow your deserued woe.
If proclamations will not serue
I must do more, Peace to preserue
To keepe all in obedience
And driue such busie bodies hence.

XVI
Off Jacke, and, Tom