University of Virginia Library

38
The beginning of his Mties jurnei to Denmarke; neuer ended.

True is that saying vs'd of olde amongs philosophes wise
That to eschue his destinie in no mans hands it lies
And thogh that they as ethnicks blinde on fortune laide the cause
And on the course and influence of starres and of there lawes.
Yett doe we Christians clearlie knowe that it is God alone
Who did before beginnings all, on wordlie things dispone
Euen he into his glorious and stedfast shining throne
Hath giuen to euerie thing a tyme when as it must be done
That thogh this statelie heauen we see, the seas, and solide grounde
Must perish, and must changed be into a suddaine stounde
Yett not a worde of his decrees shall euer fall in vaine
Bot must be at that instant done, he did for it ordaine
And so as I haue saide it does from Gods preordining flowe
The certaintie of destinies, and not of starres does growe
For they as simple creatures can no wayes guided be
Except by him that creatt them, then iudge how like is he
That can not stande nor rule him selfe, to guide so manie things
Turne famous kingdomes wpside doune, make and vnmake there Kings
Thus Ethnicks fonde thogh wordlie wise, not knowing anie God
Did first inuent that fortune and the starres did rule the rod
For like a blindman lacking light they wandered here and there
By guesse with groaping, stumbling oft, bot knewe not how nor where
And since sume Christians on there stepps Cimmerians hath no shame
To take wpon them to debaite and putt in proofe the same.
O soft and faire, redounding Muse returne into thy waye
Thou chooses here to large a fielde, and to to far astraye
And worse then that, thou are to weake a Momus to be bolde
So manie learned men to impugne that this coniecture holde.
Then to returne to destinies, how none can them eschue
I may affirme that in my selfe, I proued it to be true
For I as being a King by birth, it seam'd my lott was made
thaire to resyde quhaire god my charge & burthen on me laide
And lacking parents, brethren, bairns, or anie neare of kinn
Incace of death, or absence to supplie my place therin
And cheeflie in so kitle a land, where few remember can
For to haue seene gouerning there a King that was a man
yett thogh through these occasions all, it was my setled minde
That I shoulde neuer on vncouthe coastes a harberie seeke to finde: