From the Tanner MSS., Bodleian, Oxford.
1. Mr. Britton 1st Junii 1616.
Mr. Brittons verses.
twoe to one is odds: twoe with one makes oddes—twoe from one breakes oddes.
and 2 alone is no oddes: pauvo paghato in mezzo.
[_]
Poem 2 (in Latin) omitted.
3. I and U.
1617, Oct. 17.
A placed alone is but an idle worde.
E parce E, spells nothinge but it selfe;
I yet alone, maie lovely thoughtes afoorde:
but O, alas, dothe plaie the frowarde elfe:
to prove the Reason of this Riddle true:
not A, nor E, nor O, but I and yow.
4. My Witche.
Yor eies bewitchte my wit, yr wit bewitchte my will,
Thus wth yor eies and wit you doe bewitche me still
And yet you are no witche, whose spirit is not evill,
And yet you are a witche, and yet you are no devill.
Oh witchinge eies, and wit, where wit and eies maie Reade,
A witche, and not a witche, and yet a witche indeede.
5. A passionate Son̄ett made by the
Kinge of Scots uppon difficulties
ariseing to crosse his proceedinge
in love & marriage with his moste
worthie to be esteemed Queene.
In sunny beames the skye dothe shewe her sweete
And with her flowers the earthe perfumes the aire
Amid the mountaynes doe the muses meete
And in the fountaynes make the fowle their faire
But all my skye with cares is overclouded
And weedes for flowers my blasted garden bringes
In mazes are my muses ever shrowded
And to my fountaynes sorrowes are the Springes
Woe to the darke where Love did loose his seeinge
Bare be the earthe that bringes me nought but weedes
Madd be the muse where mazes have their beinge
Curste be the Sea that of my sorrowe feedes
But shine sunne, growe flowers, singe muse, and springe faire fountaynes,
Or be no more Sea, Skye, Earthe, muse, nor mountaynes.
