University of Virginia Library

Here follow certaine Sonnets in the Honorable memory of Queenes and great Ladies, who haue bin famous for their rare Inventions and practise with the Needle.

1

[King David by an apt similitude]

King David by an apt similitude,
Doth shew with Maiesty, the Church her worth;
And to a faire Kings daughter doth allude,
Where to her Spouse, he bravely brings her forth,
In Garments wrought of Needle-worke and Gold,
Resplendent and most glorious to the eye:
Whose out-side much more glory did infold,
The presence of th'eternall Majesty.
Thus may you see Records of holy Writ
Set downe (what death or Time can nere deface.)
By these comparisons, comparing fit,
The noble worth of Needle-workes high grace.
Then learne faire Damsels, learne your times to spend
In this, which such high praisings doth commend.

2
Katharine first married to Arthur, Prince of Wales, and afterward to Henry the 8. King of England.

I read that in the seventh King Henries Raigne,
Faire Katharine, Daughter to the Castile King,
Came into England with a pompous traine
Of Spanish Ladies which shee thence did bring.
She to the eight King Henry married was,
And afterwards divorc'd, where vertuously
(Although a Queene) yet she her dayes did passe,
In working with the Needle curiously,
As in the Towre, and places more beside,
Her excellent memorialls may be seene:
Whereby the Needles prayse is dignifide
By her faire Ladies, and her selfe, a Queene.
Thus for her paines, here her reward is iust,
Her workes proclaime her prayse, though she be dust.

3
Mary, Queene of England, and wife to Philip King of Spaine.

Her Daughter Mary here the Scepter swaid,
And though shee were a Queene of mighty power,
Her memory will never be decaid,
Which by her workes are likewise in the Tower,
In Windsor Castle, and in Hampton Court,
In that most pompous roome call'd Paradise:
Who euer pleaseth thither to resort,
May see some workes of hers, of wondrous price.
Her greatnesse held it no dis-reputation,
To take the Needle in her Koyall hand:
Which was a good example to our Nation,
To banish idlenesse from out her Land:
And thus this Queene, in wisedome thought it fit,
The Needles worke pleas'd her, and she grac'd it.

4
Elizabeth Queene of England, and Daughter to King Henry the eight.

When this great Queene, whose memory shall not
By any terme of time be over-cast;
For when the world, and all therein shall rot
Yet shall her glorious fame for ever last.
When she a maid, had many troubles past,
From Iayle to Iayle, by Maries angry spleene:
And Woodstocke, and the Tower in Prison fast,
And after all was Englands Peerelesse Queene.
Yet howsoeuer sorrow came or went,
She made the Needle her companion still,
And in that exercise her time she spent,
As many living yet doe know her skill.
Thus shee was still, a Captive, or else crownd,
A Needle-woman Royall, and renownd.

5
The Right Honourable, Vertuous, and learned Lady Mary, late Countesse of Pembrooke.

A Patterne, and a Patronesse she was,
Of vertuous industry and studious learning:
And shee her earthly Pilgrimage did passe,
In Acts which were high honour most concerning.
Braue Wilton house in Wiltshire well can show,
Her admirable workes in Arras fram'd:
Where men, and beasts, seeme like, trees seeme to grow,
And Art (surpass'd by Nature) seemes asham'd,
Thus this renowned Honourable Dame,
Her happy time most happily did spend;
Whose worth recorded in the mouth of fame,
(Vntill the world shall end) shall never end
She wrought so well in Needle-worke, that shee,
Nor yet her workes, shall ere forgoten be.

6
The Right Honourable and religious Lady Elizabeth Dormer, Wife to the late Right Honourable, the Lord Robert Dormer deceased.

This Noble Lady imitates time past,
Directs time present, teacheth time to come,
And longer then her life, her laud shall last,
Workes shewes her worth, though all the world were dumb.
And though her Reverend selfe, with many dayes,
Of honourable age is loaden deepe,
Yet with her Needle (to her worthy prayse)
Shee's working often ere the Sunne doth peepe.
And, many times, when Phœbus in the West
Declined is, and Luna shewes her head:
This antient honour'd Lady rests from Rest,
And workes when idle sloath goes soone to bed,
Thus shee the Needle makes her recreation,
Whose well-spent paines are others imitation.