University of Virginia Library


iii

II. VOL. II. (UNPUBLISHED AND UNCOLLECTED POEMS, GLOSSARY, INDEX)

[_]

The source manuscript for each section is noted. Where variant sources exist for individual poems, they have been noted.


1

PSALMES OF HIS MATIE

[_]

The source of the poems in this section is the Ms. Royal 18.B.xvi. Where two versions are given, only one version of each poem has been included.


2

Psal. 1

That mortall man most happie is & blest
quho in the uikkedis counsalis doth not ualk
nor yet in sinneris uayes dois stay & rest
nor sittis in seatis of skornfull men in talk
but contraire fixes his delicht
into iehouaise lau
& on his lau both day & nicht
to think is neuer slau.
he shall be lyke á pleasant plantid tree
upon á riuer side increassing tall
that yeildis hir frute in season deu ue see
quhose quayking leafe doth neuer fade nor fall
nou this is suirly for to say
that quhat he takis in hande
it shall uithoutin doubt alluaye
most prosperously stande.
but uikked men thay shall be nothing so
but as the chaffe quhich by the uynde is tost
thairfore thay shall not to that iudgement go
nor be in iust mennis numberis sinneris lost
for great iehoua cleirly knouis
the iust mennis uay upricht
but suire the uikkeddis uay that throuis
shall perish by his micht.
finis.

4

Psal. 2.

Quhy makis the gentiles tumultis great
quhy do the nationis panse in uayne
the earthly kingis do stand & freat
uith thaime consultis the reularis tall
against iehoua great I say
& his anointid christ uithall
lett us brekk all thaire bondis say thay
& cast thaire strongest cordis auay.
he lauchis that sittis in heuinnis inpyre
yea euen the lorde doth moke at thaime
then shall he speake thaime in his yre
& hairme thaime uith his furiouse heat
& say quhen I did oynt my king
I placit him on my holy seat
euen sion, quhayre I maide him ring
& sitt commanding euery thing.
nou uill I tell goddis iust decree
iehoua said unto me this
thou art my sonne & cumd of me
I haue begottin the today
I shall the giue do thou but craue
the gentils for possession ay
the richtis thou of thy landis shall haue
shall be the quhole earth to ressaue.
but thou shall bruse thir fordsaide men
euin as á heauy yron rodd
brekkis earthin pottis, so uill thou then
thaime skattir all ashunder sone
ye kingis giue cairfull eare thairfore
be learnid ilke iudge in earthly throne
iehoua reuerently adore
reioice uith trembling euermore.

6

to kiss his sonne youre hairtis inclyne
least he be unraithfull otheruayes
& in the uaye ye perish syne
if once á kendling thoch but small
to kythe & to appeare beginn
of his great yre on you to fall
thay happie are that from thayre sinn
takkis upp & unto him do rinn.

7

Psal. 3.

[_]

psalmus Tertius iampridem conuersus extat cum cæteris.

O lorde hou many ennemies haue I
hou many do against me nou arise
quho of my soule do say ue can not spy
no helth in god for him in any uise
but thou ô lorde art both my targe & gloire
& holdes aloft my head as of befoire.
quhen as my uoice to god did cry & ueip
he ansourid me out of his holy hill
then did I lay me doun & soundly sleip
& ualk in sure since he maintaind me still
therfoire at all I uoulde not be afrayde
thoch hundreth thousandis uaire about me layde.
iehoua ryse my god preserue me nou
quho stroke my foes on iaue & on chaft bone
quho brakk the uikkeddis teeth bot only thou
all health is into iehoua alone
poure doun upon thy people from aboue
thy confortabill blessing & thy loue.
finis.
I.D.R.S.

8

Psal. 4.us

giue eare unto me since I call
god of my richteousnes alluaye
thou maide me roume quhen I uas thrall
then shou me grace & heare me pray
but ô ye sonnes of men hou long
my glorie uill ye mokke & urong
youre loue on uaine thingis shall be strong
lyes seeking ay.
then raither knou for it is best
hou iehoua haith choosed thairfore
one for him self from all the rest
quhom uith his graice he doth decoire
for suirlie iehoua uill heir
quhen I on him call loude & cleir
thairfoire be ye commoued uith feir
& sinne no moire.
think ay on him uith godly myndis
& in youre chalmeris do the same
& als of sinn leaue of all kyndys
& saicrifices to him fraime
of sueit oblationis in his sicht
to uitt of iustice & of richt
trust also in iehouase micht
& in his naaime.
full many say ô if that sum
uold mak us goode thingis for to see
but quhen as I in uishing cum
I say, iehoua pleis it the
on us the richt rayse of thy face
quhich pleasaunt is & full of graice
then shall my soule into that cace
richt ioyfull be.

10

of none quhen thaire increassis great
of corne & sueitest uynis thay spy
the hairtis for ioye so fast uill beat
as myne uill be reioised thairby
yea I in peace uill sleipp & rest
quhen thou alone iehoua blest
hath plaicit me quhaire thou thinkis it best
& suire to ly.
finis.

11

Psal. v

[_]

this psalm is copiit in the blew buik

1.

ô iehoua unto my uordes giue eare

And of my inward thochtis considder ay

2.

tak head unto my uoyce & crying cleir

ô thou my king & only god alluay
for unto the allainerly I pray.

3.

thy holy eares ô great iehoua blest

unto my uoyce thou early uill inclyne
into the morning also shall be drest
before thy holy throne this speiche of myne
& patiently abyde thy goodness syne.

4.

thou michtie god no uikkidness dois loue

nor yett uith the doth any euill remaine

5.

all foolish men moste from thy sicht remoue

thou also haitis uith uoundrouse great disdaine
all uorkeris of iniquitie most uaine.

6.

thou urakkis thaime all that lies do pertlie speik

the crafty man deceiuing euery uay
the creuell & bloodthristie tiran eik
great iehoua euen iehoua I say
doth holde into abomination ay,

12

7.

bot for thy mercies and thy louing grace

into thy holy house I entre uill
& bou me doun into that samen place
and deuly so my reuerence fullfill
unto thy sacred temple looking still.

8.

to say my captouris fals of noting me

thy iustice making gyde ô lorde of micht
& als before me mak thy uaye to be

9.

for in the mouthe of any earthly uicht

is not for to be found nou any richt.
And malice in thaire inuarde pairtis doeth byde
& all thaire throttis are turnid in uerry deid
in sepulchres that oppin are & uyde
& quhat deceit into thaire mynde doth breid
doth from thaire tounge in flattering forme proceid.

10.

thaise giltie folkis ô richteouse godd destroy

confounde thaime in thayre counsallis one & all
putt thaime auaye unto thaire griefe & noy
euen for the lairgeness of thaire fearfull fall
since thay rebelle to the both great & small

11.

but by the contraire lett thaime all reioyce

that do direct thair wayis to follou the
& lett thaime euer sing uith ioyfull uoyce
thou still protecting thaime uith ualkeryfe ee
let all that loue thy name reiosed be.

12.

for that thou iehoua uith uilling mynde

to bless the iust man uill be euer bent
& als he suirlie sall thy fauour fynd
as tairge to saue him by thy pouer sent
& couure him all quhen any euill is ment.

13

Psal. vi.

1.

Ô lorde into thy uraithfull yre

reproue me not I humblie pray
nor chasten me in thy furiouse fyre:

2.

but shou me mercie euerie uay

for that I languish sore
then cure me lorde thairfore
for bones & soule are more
then trublit ay.

[3]

hou longe ô lorde thus uill thou do?

4.

returne iehoua pleise it the

& pull my soule from perrell to
& for thy mercie keip thou me

5.

for into death the sell

no mynde doth of the duell
quho can to praise the mell
in graue that be.

6.

I ueirie in my siching still

& makis my bedd suimm all the nicht
& uith my teares I uatterr uill
my bedd stokke uith thaire uakkness licht

7.

uraith dois my eye demaine

quhich uaxeth olde for paine
that all my foes retaine
thaire uoonted micht.

8.

remoue you then from me auay

ye uorkeris all of euill apace
for that the lorde doth heare I say
my ueping uoyce euen of his grace

9.

yea euen iehoua great

did heare from holy seat
my prayeris air & lait
& pitteouse cace.

14

the lorde did of his meare gooduill
my humble praieris glaidlie heare

10.

both shame & greatest trubbill still

then lett my cruell ennemies beare
quhom shame mott so confounde
as at â suddaine stounde
thay may out of this grounde
turne bakke uith feare.
finis.

Psal. vii.

1.

o iehoua my godd I haue recourse to thee

preserue me from purseuaris all & als deliuer me

2.

that as â lyon bolde he reaue me not auay

asunder tearing me that lakis one that rescours me may

3.

ô iehoua my godd if I haue done it all

or if that suche iniquitie into my handis did fall

4.

if under freindshippis clooke I hairmed in any cace

(but by the contraire him preserued quho causeless did me chace)

5.

then lett my foe purseu ourtakking me I say

that proudlie tramp into the earth my breathing lyfe he may
& that he may uithall so uith my glorie mell
as into uyle & lichtest dust he mak the same to duell

6.

in thy consuming uraith then michtie lorde aryse

raise up thy self for to repress my foes that me despyse
& cairfully auake attending ouer me
since plaine it is all iudgement iust prescryuit is by the

7.

& quhen of nationis great the bandis thee compass shall

then for thaire saike returne unto thy hiest place of all

8.

the lorde doth iustice giue unto the nationis sure

then iudge me lorde according to my iustice great & pure

15

& euen as all my mynde to richteousness is bent
so lorde declaire it since thou knouis my mynde & hole intent

9.

putt end I pray the to the euill of uikkid men

that thou may stablish firme & sure the iuse & upricht then
since that most iustlie are by thee searched out & socht
the myndis & hairtis of euerie one & euery secret thocht

10.

the lorde he is my tairge repelling any dairte

quho doth preserue the richteouse all & upricht into hairte

11.

euen godd the iustest iudge the lorde of strongest micht

quho uexis all those uikkedd men still on both daye & nicht

12.

bot if for to conuert the uikked uill not heare

then lett him sharpe his shearing suorde & bend his bou uith [OMITTED]
[_]

13


13.

& sett him self to shoote & deadlie armes prepaire

& fedderit arroues readdy makk for his assistaires thaire

14.

yea lett him as uith chylde both trubbill breid & paine

or lett him trauellis great conceaue to beare but lieing uaine

15.

yea lett him digg a pitt & hollou hoke the same

yett sall he fall into the pitt he did for otheris aime

16.

returne shall on his heade his trubbill & his paine

& on the hiest bone thairof his urong shall licht againe

17.

thairfore uill I extoll & praise the lorde of micht

according to his iustice quhich in him is euer picht
& also uill I sing for nou for euer & aye.
iehouase noble name to be most gloriouse euerie uaye.
finis.

16

Psal. 9.

[_]

MS. ROYAL 18.B.xvi.

1.

Vith all my soule I prayse iehoua uill

& rakken out thy uonderis euerie uay

2.

in thee I glaidlie uill reioice I say

& to thy hiest name sing euer still

3.

my ennemies returning bak againe

thay fall & perish from thy blessid face

4.

for thou hes done me iustice in that cace

& so reuenged my honest cause & plaine
thus hes thou sittin into thy gloriouse throne
& as â iudge ô iustest iudge hath done.

5.

thou threatnid hath the gentillis one & all

& quhollie hath destroyed the uikked seid
& thou thaire names hath skraiped out indeid
quhich so for euer more contineu shall

6.

ô creuall foe & are compleit by thee

the great ruynes & euerlasting urakke
& hath thou done the fairest citties sakke
yett both youre selfis & memories perisht be

7.

but yett iehoua doth remaine for ay

& fittis his throne for iustice euerie uay.

8.

that he the uorlde & earth may iustlie iudge

& to the nationis giue the lau aricht

9.

& lett him be â place sett up in sicht

to the distressed soule â sure refuge
â sacred place I say sett up for thaime
quhen thay in straittest tymes do succoure craue

10.

& so thay firmest trust in thee shall haue

& deuly shall aknoulege syne thy name
for that thou leauis thaime not ô lorde of grace
that praies the to suplee thaire pitteouse cace.

17

11.

then to allmichtie great iehoua sing

quho duellis on sacred sion mount deuyne
declare abrode amongst the nationis syne
his uoundrouse uorkis & deidis in euerie thing

12.

for sure of him that bloodis reuenge doth seike

of those I say the lorde rememberis uell
nor doth forgett the many crye & yell
of needie poore & of afflicted eike

13.

then ô thou great iehoua lorde of micht

lett me finde fauoure in thy graciouse sicht.
respect my troubbill & affliction sore
the quhiche is by my haitteris thus procured
exalting me from portis of death assured

14.

that I thy praises all may more & more

tell in the gates of sionis dauchter faire
& syne be for thy saifing of me glaide

15.

since nationis are into the pitt thay maide

quyte sunken doune uithout recouerie thaire
& in the nett that thay thame selfis did hyde
thaire fitt is catchid & felterid dois abyde.

16.

godd hath him self maid to be clearlie knouin

by his great iudgement he hath deulie done
the uikked man he is intrappit sone
into the uorkemanshipp that uas his ouin

17.

then lett the uikked turne abake & fall

euen in the uerrie darke forgetfull graue
uith all the nationis that forgottin haue
him that is only godd of thaime & all

18.

for not for euer is the needie uicht

to be committed to forgetting slicht.

18

the expectation of the poorest men
it shall not perish euer more & ay

19.

goode lorde aryse for if thou doe not stay

the mortall man him self uill strenthen then
& lett the nationis euerie one & all
be iudgit ay before thy blessid face

20.

o iehoua (if so it please thy grace

makke dreaddoure great & feare on thaime to fall
& lett the nationis haue experience sure
thay mortall are & mortall shall indure.
finis.

Psal. x.

quhy doth thou lorde thy self afarr uithdrau
thou hydis thy self in tyme of greatest neid
the uikked uith the pryde that he doth breid
purseuis the puire by his tirannike lau
yett are thay catcht in girnis that thay did sau
& by thaire ouin deuycis are thay brocht
to fall in snairis that thay for otheris urocht.
the uikked fully lykis thir thingis alluaye
for that his soule to loue it is inclynde
& gredie glories als uith glaiddest mynde
& doth prouoke iehouase uraith I say
but yett the uikked lookis so hie & stay
as he for all this matter uill not caire
quhose thochtis concluides godd is not any quhaire.

19

his uayes do steadfast any tyme remaine
thy iudgementis farr be absent from his sicht
& quhat soeuer be his foes in micht
he proudlie proues to blou thaime bakke againe
& in him self he thinkis & speakis it plaine
my staite no chainge nor brangle feill it shall
nor in no aage shall euill to me befall.
his mouth is full of cursing euir still
& of deceauing fraude & craftie gyle
& under his tongue remaining all the quhyle
both trubbill great & euill aboundis at uill
he sittis in quyet couis uith craftie skill
from darkest dennis to slay the guiltless then
and blinking uaitis to urakke the needie men.
he lyis auayte in denn & quyet place
as lyone fearce in loodge, he louring lurkis
the poorest man to spoyle in uayte he uorkis
yea he bereauis the needie man alace
perforce him drauing in his nett apace
he loutis full lou quhill in his forcie handis
of men afflicted fall the simple bandis.
& in his mynde he confidentlie sayes
allmichtie godd he hes forgottin nou
& uell aneuch he hydis his face I trou
nor neuer lokis about him nou â dayes
strong godd aryse iehoua uorthy prayse
lift up thy hand least otheruayes thou do
forgett the poore that thus are handlid lo.

20

quhy dois the uikked thus the lorde offend
& say in mynde he uill not count uith me
thou spyes, & dois his spyte & cumbre see
& uith thy hande uill bakke on him it send
quhiche poore comitt to thee unto that end
& thou as onlie helper ayde dois makke
unto the pupill quho dois parentis lakke.
the uikkeddis airme do breake in peecis small
requyre the uyce at handis of uiciouse men
quhill no remainis thairof thou finde may then
ô iehoua thou michtie lorde of all
thou arte a king that laist for euer shall
quhaire all the nationis perish & decayes
euen from the landis thay duell in all thaire dayes.
thou grantid hath thaire uishes to the meike
ô iehoua confirme thaire soule & hairte
ô turne thyne eare unto thaire syde & pairte
auenging the oprest & pupill eike
that mortall man of clay no more may seike
by proude disdayne & strong hande for to do
bolde uiolence & great oppression to.
finis.

21

Psal. xi.

1.

Since quholly I myself comitted haue

into the great iehouas keeping ay
quhy then unto my soule thus do ye say
lyke baisedest litle birde flitt from youre hill

2.

for lo thir uikked bouis are bending still

& aroues fitt the string for to ressaue
to shoote out of â darke & quyet pairt
againis the richt & upricht into hairt.

3.

but thay shall by thir same destroyed be

for quhat hath done the iust deserue? or hou?

4.

godd in his temple of holyness is nou

in hiest heauenis is placet iehouaise throne
his eyes beholde & quhat is euer done
by sonnes of men thay cleyrlie spy & see

5.

the lorde he doth trye out the iust aricht

& haitis in hairt the euill & urongfull uicht.

6.

he rayne shall on the uikked coalis of fyre

uith fyre the self & brimstone pearcing fell
the uynde that he uith flammis doth ioyne & mell
shall be the portion of the cupp for thame
but yett the lorde yea euen the uerrie same
doth iustice loue as iust in his empyre
& als the richteouse man uith pleasande face
he gratiouslie dois looke on full of grace.

22

The tuelft psalme.

ô michtie god ô great iehoua saue
since the uelldoare hath left of at all
for nou the sonnes of men no treuth thay haue
echone in speaches uaine uith otheris fall
thay speake uith pleasant lippes & double myndes
the lorde cutt out the tounge great uordes that speakis
& als the pleasant lippes, & all suche kindes
of those that in this mainer sylence breakis
& sayis lett us uith oure ouin tounges preuayle
oure lippis are oures, quhat lorde can make us quayle.
for to repaire the poores destruction nou
& als the neidies exclamationis great
I shall anone aryse I sueare & uou
sayes god, & putt thaime in á sauing seat
lett uikked, girnis sett for thaire trapping syne
iehouase uordis are purest uordis I say
as siluer is in pottis of earth maide fyne
seuin sindrie tymes clein purified alluay
thou lorde preserue & keipe eche one of thaime
euen from this age, & euer do the same
the uikked ualkis throuch all as if excess
into the sonnes of men uaire praysed express.

24

Psal. xiii.

Hou long ô lorde uill thou forgett me ay
hou long thus uill thou hyde thy face from me
hou long uith thochtis my mynde shall trubled be
my hairt uith sorrou uexit all the day
quhen shall my foe to ryse against me stay
my godd iehoua looke & heare me to
& cleare my feible eyes I humlie pray
least ellis â deadlie sleiping sleip I do.
that thus my ennemie do not say in pryde
I uainquisht haue & ouercum him quyte
& that my foes reioice not uith delyte
if that I once be maid to fall or slyde
but in thy fauoure great I do confyde
my soule reioice mott in thy sauing grace
to iehoua shall I sing all tyme & tyde
that he hes done me goode in euerie cace.
finis.

Psal. xiiii.

the folish man sayes in his mynde no godd thaire is, for thay
corrupt & uylest deidis thay uorke, not one doth goode I say
iehoua doth from hiest heauen look on the sonnes of men
to see if skill or feare of godd be into any then
eche one fallin bakke is & alyke euill sauourie are becum
& none thaire be do any goode not one of all & sum
hou senceless then I pray you are euill uorkeris one & all
that do my people eat as breade & not on godd do call

25

yett thay into that uerrie place do tremble fast for feare
for godd by his assisting dois the upricht ofspring heare
ye thocht for to haue shamit quyte the counsallis of the puire
but notuithstanding iehoua is thaire refoodge most suire
ô if sum one ô quhen & quho saluation by his micht
shall bring from sion holie mount & makke on israell licht
euen quhen iehoua home shall bring his peoples flokke apace
reioyce shall iakobb, israell als shall glaidd be of the cace.
finis.

Psal. xv.

ô Iehoua quho shall abyde
into thy tent & holy place
or quho shall duell all tyme & tyde
into thy holy hill of grace
euen he quho ualkis in richteouse trace
& iustice doth exerce all uaye
& speikis the treuth in euery cace
euen as his mynde doth think it ay.
quhoise tounge no sclandrouse thing doth speik
quho hairmes his fellou nocht at all
nor uses no reproches eik
to mak his nichbouris fame to fall
before quhose eyes both is & shall
the persone uylde reiected be
bot those on god uith feare that call
he honouris as in hie degree.

26

quhoise othe thoch it micht hairme him syne
is notuithstanding keipit richt
nor occoure makis of siluer fyne
nor can persuadit be by slicht
to tak buddis gainst the guiltles uicht
he that doth all reherst befoire
shall not be mouit by any micht
bot floorish ay & euermoire.
finis.
I. D. R. S.

Psal. xvi.

Thou strong & michtie godd preserue me ay
for in thy onlie handis submitt I me
ô thou my soule to iehoua thus dois say
thou art my lorde my goode uinnes not to thee
but to the holie doth attaine
& uoorthie that on earth remaine
quhom in my quhole delyte remaining be.
thay multiplie thaire greatest dolouris fell
that ueddis ane other strainger godd at all
uith thaire bloode ofringis uill I nauayes mell
nor name thaime uith my lippis I neuer shall
for of my cupp & liuing to
iehoua is my portion lo
thou dois maintaine the lotte that did me fall.
my boundis befell me in â pleasande place
yea handsum is for me my duelling faire
I blesse uill iehoua quho of his grace
euen in the nicht to counsaile me doth caire
my secreat thochtis instructis me still
thairfore I looke directlie uill
to iehoua & fixe my countenance thaire.

27

for that at my richt hande he still doth stay
no maner of mislukke my staite shall haue
thairfor my soule reioisis euerie uay
& als most ioifull is my glorie braue
yea euen my uerrie fleshe doth duell
into a suretie for the sell
since leaue my lyfe thou uill not in the graue.
thou uill not suffer him quhome thou uell doth loue
& quhome thou fauouris once in anie cace
corruption euer for to see or proue
thou sett me uill in paithe to lyfe & grace
yea euen before thy face in short
the fouth of ioyes in many â sorte
for aye at thy richt hande â pleasande place.
finis.

Psal. xvii.

ô iehoua heare richteousness tak heade unto my call
my prayer heare the quhich is uoyde of fraudfull lippis at all
lett all my iudgement ay proceid from thy most holy face
& lett thy pearcing eyes espy the richt in euerie cace
quhen thou hes serchit throuchout my soule & tryid it all aricht
& uisitid my inuarte thochtis euen in the secreat nicht
& proued me as thou pleases best thou shall not suirlie fynde
that uith my mouthe I euer speake contrairie to my mynde
as to mennis uorkes according to the uordes of thy ouen lippis
uith uayes of those that breake thy lau I neuer mell nor dippis

28

but do conteine my futesteppes in the boundis prescryuid by the
least otheruayes my uaiuering feit may moued & branglid be
I call to the ô strongest godd for that thou heares me still
inclyne thy eare to me & heare quhat further speake I uill
keip thy goode deidis for goode mennis use ô thou that saues all those
that haue recourse to thy richt hande from thaire purseuing foes
euen as the littill blakke uithin the eyes sicht keepe me ay
& uith the shaddou of thy uingis do thou me hyde alluay
to saue me from thease uikked men that urakke me out & out
& all my ennemies capitall that compass me about
thay more & more do suell in creishe & feidis upon thaire fatt
& uith thaire mouthis thay proudlie speake & neuer suscies quhat
thay uatche about oure futesteppes all in bussie manner nou
& eyes cast on us for to makke us to the earth to bou
echone is lyke â lyon that is longing for his praye
& lyke â lyonis quhelpe that in his denn louris all the day
aryse ô iehoua preueine his face him prostratt eike
& uith thy suorde my soule pull from the uikkid that it seike
from men pull thou it iehoua uith thy most michtie hande
yea euen from mortall men that in this sinfull uorlde do stande
quhose portion is into this lyfe quhose bellies more & more
thou uith thy secreat tresoure fillis by thee layde up in store
the sonnes of men are fillid thairuith & thay do lett it rest
euen unto thaire posteritie thaire excellence & best
but I shall see thy holie face in iustice & in richt
& saitisfeit I shall auaake into thy image bricht.
finis.

29

[Psal.] xviii

O iehoua from boddume of my hairte I uill thee loue
my strenth my rokke my bulluarke & deliurer from aboue
ô iehoua my michtie godd my craigge quhomto I uill
haue my recourse in tyme of neid, my targe & buklerr still
he is the horne als of my health to uitt my onlie micht
my forteress & my strongest toure sett up upon á hicht
throuch praising of iehoua great quhen I upon him call
I suirlie ame preserued from foes & from my ennemies all
quhen as the dolouris euen of death did compasse me I say
& forcie streames of uikked did shrouedlie me efray
yea quhen the tormentis of the tombe about me uent apace
& girnis of death came readdie thaire my boddie to embrace
in all this straitness to the lorde I call uill euer still
& to my godd I schout & crye uith pearcing uoyce & schill
quho from his temple hearis my uoyce & grant doth my request
& to his earis my plainte is cum quhiche unto him I drest
then shaikin is the solide earth quhiche shudderis all amazit
yea the fundationis of the hillis do brangle sore abaizit
this trembling suirlie urocht is by the kendling of his yre
quhen reike mountis from his nose & from his mouth deuouring fyre

30

the flauchtis of fyre before him burne & quhen descend he list
he pressis heauin & under his feit doth flie the clouddie mist
& sitting on the cherubins he glorius flies aloft
& flies on uingis of uindis that postis throuchout the uorlde full oft

11.

he of the darkness maid his denn á house about him rounde

to uitt the darke & upmost clouddis quhaire uattir doth abounde

12.

& by the glistering of the licht that did before him glaunce

these thiccest clouddis uaire chacit syne haill & fyre did forduart lance

13.

quhen iehoua from loftie heauinis doth rearde his thunder fast

& quhen the hiest to his uoyce, ioynes haill & fyrie blast

14.

quhen so he shootis his dairtis I say he doth thaime skattir all

& quhen he shootis his thunderboltis he makis thaime meltid fall

15.

yea by thy threatning iehoua & force of furiouse breathe

the groundes of houest seas are sene & groundis of earth beneathe

16.

then streaching doun his hande to me he pullis me upp apace

& drauis me out of many floodis by his allmichtie grace

17.

he sauis me from my strongest foe & all my haitteris eike

hou soone thay michtier kythe to be then I quhose hairme thay seike

18.

quhen thay forgather do uith me in trublouse tymes & strait

the lorde is then my leanning staffe & onlie makis debaitt

31

19.

he doth deliuer me againe & fullie settis me free

for that he hath á great delyte & pleasoure into me

20.

according to my richteousness the lorde hath me repayed

& to the cleannes of my handes hath randerit quhen I prayed

21.

quhen as I keipe & ualkis into the uayes of godd aricht

nor uikkedlie dois turne me from my godd the lorde of micht

22.

but all his iudgementis are before my sicht & presence ay

& nouayes dois his iust decrees remoue from me auay

23.

& shortlie quhen I hole & pure before his sicht remaine

& ame auare of uikked deidis & from the same refraine

24.

conforme then to my richteousness iehoua rendris me

& to the cleanness of my handis before his heauinlie ee

25.

thou to the meike man kythis thy self for to be uerrie meike

& to the upricht kythis thy self ane upricht dealer eike

26.

thou richteouse uith the richteouse are, but uith the uikked man

thou stryuis & ouercummis him syne do all the uorst he can

27.

for thou the people afflicted saues but those that proudlie looke

thou dois abbaite & of thayre pryde makis thaime a trapping hooke

28.

yea thou geuis licht unto my lampe that gydis my footesteppis richt

euen iehoua my godd doth makke my darkeness glister bricht

29.

by thee I rinn throuchout ane oist of foes unhairmed at all

& by the pouer of my godd I free the hiest uall

30.

the uayes of this strong godd are quhole, goddis uorde is purgit & pure

to all that haue recourse to him he is a bukklerr sure

32

31.

for quho may be accounpted godd but iehoua alone

quho is oure rokke & steadfast grounde, but godd oure onlie one

32.

it suirlie is this michtie godd quho girdis my loynes uith strenth

& makis my coursis & my uayes most upricht all at lenth.

Psal. xix.

1.

The heauenis of michtie godd the glorie tell

& of his handis the uorkes spredd out doth schou

2.

day follouing day dois speiches utter uell

euen so the nichtis do scyence make us knou

3.

no uordis nor kyndlie speichis from thaim flou

yett uithout thir thaire uoyce is understand

4.

thaire beames & drauchtes they uith thaire speachis sou

throuch all the earth & habitable land.

5.

& for the sunne á tent in thaim he maid

quho brydegroome lyke in glancing braue array
cummis foorthe out of his spousing chalmer glaid
& steadfastly holdis out his course & uay

6.

from furthest pairt of heauenis he rysis ay

& euen unto thaire other furthest ende
his reuolution reachis or he stay
& nothing from his heate can lurke or fende.

7.

Iehouais doctrine upricht dois indure

& dois the soule from trublouse greif restore
his testimonie it is treu & sure
& makis him uyse that foolishe uas before

8.

his statutes all are richteous euermore

reiosing muche the soule that keipis thaim richt
his preceptis als are puire & do decore
& cleir the eyes that fixe on thaim thaire sicht.

33

9.

the reuerence of godd is passing cleine

& als it dois eternallie remaine
goddis iudgementis euen treuth the self thay bene
& in lyke mainer are thay iuste againe

10.

in pretiousness the fynest golde thay staine

& sueter are then honnie to the mouth
the honnie euen that droppis á sugred raine
& of it self distillis the self at fouth.

11.

then me thy ouin taucht by thaise thingis I say

the quhiche to be obseruid most neidfull be

12.

relieue from blyndest darkeness I thee pray

for quho may knou his uandring but by thee

13.

& als from uillfull erroures keepe thou me

least thay into thy humble seruant duell
then quhole & als most innocent sall he
be from á great defection kept full uell.

14.

& also graunt ô only godd indeid

quhom I do honoure, serue, & loue uith feare
that all the uordis that from my mouthe proceid
may be acceptable into thy eare
& on the thochtis the quhiche my soule dois beare
that thou may looke lorde uith á freindlie face
ô iehoua my rokke that sall me reare
aboue the skyes by thy redeeming grace.
finis.

34

Psal. xx.

In tymes of straite mott iehoua giue thee eare
the name of iacobs godd mott honoure thee
that from his holy place thou aydit be
& he from sion thee sustaine & heare

3.

& sueitly mot he smell thy ofringis all

thy holocauste in ashes making fall.

4.

thy heartis desyre giue mott he thee alluaye

& als thy counsalls all mott he fullfill

5.

then lett us of thy health sing loude & schill

in name of godd oure standartis als displaye
great iehoua fullfill in euerie pairt
the quhole petitionis of thy humble hairt.

6.

nou knou I godd preserues his oinctid king

& from his holy heauinnis doth heare him uell
uith greatest pouaire & micht that doth excell
by his richt hande he health dois to him bring

7.

in chariotis thaise, & yone in horsis trust

ue in the name of oure iehoua iust.

8.

& so thay bouid & brokkin fall destroyed

but ue aryse & stable againe do stande

9.

ô god preserue us by thy michtie hande

oure king him self uill heare us quhen anoyed
in humble uayes ue call upon him uill
to succoure us in oure distressis still.

35

Psal. xxi.

1.

The king ô lorde reioysis in thy strenth

& of thy gloriouse health is uondrouse glaid

2.

his hairtis desyre thou giuen him hes at lenth

& also fruitfull hes his prayeris maid

3.

yea thou uith prosperouse blessingis him præueinis

& crounis his head uith golde that purest scheinis.

4.

he askit lyfe of thee quhiche thou him gaue

uith lenth of dayes for euer to indure

5.

the glorie is great thy health dois make him haue

a maiestie thou placit into him sure

6.

for thou did giue him blessingis laisting aye

& by thy face reioiced him euerie uaye.

7.

& since the king dois firmlie putt his trust

in iehoua quhom of suche proofe he founde
thairfore upon the goodness leane he must
of the most hie quho reulis this massiue round
quhairby his throne shall not be sett on sande
but groundit suire for aye shall stable stande

8.

thy hande thy uikked foes dois ouirtaike

euen thy richt hand findis out thy haitteris all

9.

thou lyke á fyrie fornace uill thaim make

hou soone thy uraithfull face thaim kendill shall
godd shall thaim suellie up into his yre
as if thay uaire consumed by birning fyre.

36

thou dois thaire fruicte from earth destroye & tyne
& from the sonnes of men thaire seede dois race

11.

because thay hairme ment unto thee & thyne

& in thaire myndis to fraudfull thochtis gaue place
quhiche thay for all that can not bring about
according to thaire purpoise to fall out.

12.

for thou dois make á marke & butt of thaime

& syne thou fittis thyne arrouis for thy bou
& aircherlyke thou at thaire face dois aime
& soarlie shootis thaire urakke & ouer throu

13.

then of thy force ô lorde reioice on hicht

lett us sing praises of thy uondrouse micht.

Psal. xxix.

ye princes sonnes yeild to the lorde
yeild him all force & gloire
& yeild to him the honoure deu
unto his name thairfoire
inclyne & bou youre selfis adoune
adore iehoua great
quho sittis most gloriously upon
his throne & holy seat
the uoyce of god on uatteris ringis
& makis á uoundrouse sound
strong gloriouse god doth thunder his uoyce
on uattiris that abound
the uoyce of god cummis semely furth
his uoyce cummis furth uith micht
iehouas uoyce the cedres breakis
euin liban cedres uicht

37

& makis thaime as a calfe to skipp
hudge liban sirion eik
lyke to the faune of unicornis
uill leape quhen he doth speik
his uoyce makis uildernessis murne
& quenchis flammes of fyre
euen the desertis of kades large
may not abyde his yre
iehouas uoice makis hyndes to calue
& tirris the forrestis grene
bot in his temple all his gloire
he shouis & makis be sene
iehoua satt in the deluge
& sittis á king for aye
he also to his people giuis
the force thay haue alluaye
the same iehoua great doth blesse
his people uellbelouid
uith great tranquillitie & peace
pray it be not remouid.
finis.
D.R.S.

Psalme 47

all people sing to god uith uoycis cleir
& clapp youre handis youre ioye to shou
for god most hie quho reuerencit is uith feir
is michtie king on earth ye knou
quho as into á fold doth bring us heir
strange people thaime to ouerthrou
god uis
makis nationis under oure feit be traide as nou
or deis.

38

iehoua chusid to us oure duelling place
ue iakobis gloire quhom he did loue
god is gone up uith sound & gloriouse face
uith sounde of trumpettis from aboue
praise god sing sing unto oure king of grace
for god is king of earth ue proue
then sing
all kynde of sindrie songis for his behoue
oure kinge
then lett oure god god on his holy seat
the gentillis both reule & raigne
& lett god of abrahamis people great
uith uilling people thaire remaine
for god by his protection doth intreat
the earth quhich still he doith maintaine
besidis
he most excellis & but mutationis uaine
abydis.
finis.
D.I.R.S.

[Psal. 100.]

induellers of the earth reioice in god
uith glaidnes him adore
uith singing loude cum in his sicht abrod
knou iehoua thairfore
to be the god of glore
quho creat us to be
his people flok & store
no uayes our selues maid ue

39

then all agree, to praise & thank his name
uith musike sueit & schill
& so ue uill at his portes do the same
& in his temple still
thank him & bless iehouas name uith praise
quhose mercy & treuth all ages laistis aluayes
Induellers of the earth

[Psal. civ]

O thou my soule iehoua blesse & praise
o thou my god indeued uith greatest micht
quho can thy clothis of gloire & honoure blaise
as uith á goune thou cleithis thy selfe uith licht
& streichis out the heauenis lyke courtinis bricht
quhois syleringis all be maid of uatteris cleir
quho makis of cloudis á chairiot lairge & uicht
& ualkis on uingis of quhithering uindis uith beir.
quho makis his angelis uyndis to serue him ay
quhoise seruantis glancing flammis of fyre thay be
quho on hir groundis the earth did setle & stay
that none shoulde euer hir remouing see
sche couerid uas uith deipe as clothis by the
the uattiris stoode on stayest mountainis face
quhill tyme thy threatningis maid thaime suiftly flee
euen frome thy thoundring uoice thay fledd apace.

40

oure hiddeouse hillis & houis thay fledd full fast
unto that place quhiche thou for thaime had maide
thou gaue thaime then thair limitis at the last
quhairby the roring deipes returne uas stayde
then springis by the sent out throuch ualleys straide
& uent amongst the michtie montaines tall
uylde beastis of feilde uith drink to serue & ayde
& suage the thrist of assis uylde uithall.
quho maid the birdis of heauen besyde to duell
amidd the leaues to sing uith succurit sounde
quho from his chalmeris mountaines uatteris uell
that uith the fruitis that from his uorkis abound
the earth may all replenishit be found
he makis for horse & cattell grasse to spreid
& for the man the herbis to grou on grounde
that earth the man & beastis both may feid.
quho doth reioise the mortailis hairt uith uyne
& quho uith oyle his face makis cleir & bricht
& quho uith foode his stomake strenthinis syne
quho nourishis the uerry trees aricht
the cedris euin of liban tall & uicht
he plantid hath quhaire birdis do bigg thaire nest
he maid the firr trees of a uondrouse hicht
quhaire storkis do mak thaire residence & rest.
he maid the mountainis hie uylde goatis refuge
he maid the rumling rokkis á duelling place
for alpin rattis quhaire thay do liue & luge
he maid the mone hir course for to imbrace
he maid the sonne to knou his endit race
the uesten earth then maid thou darknes so
as nicht cam on quhen all uylde beastis apace
from uoodis & forrestis creip throuch plainis to go.

41

then lyonis young beginnis for prayes to roare
at god allmichtie crauing foode & pray
then at sonne rysing do thay stay no moire
but in thaire dennis thaime selfis do softly lay
the man gois foorth unto his uorke by day
& as the sonne beginnis to shyne & ryse
& quhill the euining he remainis auay
at leifsum laboure quhaire his liuing lyis.
o iehoua thy uorkes hou large thay be
& uith quhat uisdome are thay uyselie urocht
of thy great giftis hou full is earth & sea
in great large seas be creping thingis upbrocht
uithout all nomber, yea thy hande hes urocht
great fishe & small, thaire shippis do ualke & slyde
the quhayle quhiche thou hast maid thaire fleitis aflocht
& playis at list quhill thou his foode prouyde.
all thir haue trust in the yea all this heape
that thou in season uill prouyde thaire fill
thou giuing thaime thay readie are to reape
thy oppinid hande uith goode thingis fillis thaime still
bot by the contrair if it be thy uill
to hyde thy face then are thay troublit soire
thaire braith receaued by the quyt doth thaime kill
syne turne thay in thaire ashis uithout moire.
but if thou breithe thay do reuiue againe
yea euen of earth thou dois reneu the face
uith iehoua lett honoure still remaine
& lett him als great ioyfulness inbrace
into his uorkes he formed in euery place
quhois looke & touche quhenas it is essayed
on hillis & earth so alteris it thaire cace
as earth doth tremble mountaines smokes afrayed.

42

to iehoua I all my lyfe shall sing
unto my god quhill lyfe lastis shall I pray
my thocht of him great glaidnes shall me bring
in iehoua shall I delyte for ay
lett sinfull men out of the earth decay
& lett the uikkid be into noquhaire
bless thou my soule iehoua great alluay
extoll oure god aboue the skies & aire.
finis.
I.D.R.S.

Psal. cxxv.

thay quho in iehoua confyde
resemble unto sion hill
quhilk uill not moue bot shall abyde
all ages stable euer still.
& as full many montaines tall
ierushalem do compas round
so god both nou & euer shall
his people compas that abound.
the uikkiddis rodd it shall not stay
on iust men & on men upricht
that thay streiche furth thaire hand[es] nouay
to any sinne against his micht.
be goode ô lorde to goode men nou
& thaim of conscience iust & pure
bot quho to throuart uayis do bou
iehoua uill thaim not indure.

43

bot he uill send thaim quyt auay
uith thaim that uorkis all urangous thing
let great iehouas peace for ay
on israell his people ring.
finis.
I.D.R.S.

Psal. 128.

[_]

writtin in the blew buik

1.

That man that fearis the lorde is blest

& in his uayes ualk euer uill

2.

the fruictis by thee shall be possest

euen of thy handy labouris still
& thou shall blest for euer be
& als it shall be uell uith thee.

3.

thy uyfe shall lyke á fruictfull uyne

remaine into thy house at hande
lyke pleasaunt plantis of olyue syne
thy sonnes about thy boorde shall stand

4.

lo hou that man is blest I say

quho fearis iehoua great alluay.

5.

godd doth from sion hill thee blesse

then of ierushalem holy toune
enyoie the gooddis both more & lesse
euen all thy dayes of lyfe hear doune:

6.

Thou shalt thy childrenis ofspring see

& peace on israell shall be.
finis,

44

Psal. cxxxi.

Thou knouis this iehoua to be
my soule for pryde did neuer suell
nor yit myne eyes did lift on hie
nor uith great thingis i did no mell
nor yit myne arme did neuer streache
to thingis that uaire aboue my reache.
did I not setle & compone
my soule & thochtis quhich lou I plaist
lyke to á simple litle one
quho from his motheris milk is chaist
euen lyke one from the milke restrained
my soule into me still remained
lett israell then haue trust alluaye
in iehoua for nou & ay.

45

Psal. 133.

[_]

vther translatioun that is in the blew buik

1.

Hou goode & pleasaunt thing lo doth appeare

accorde amongst thaime selfis of brethrein deare
quho duellis together in á godlie loue

2.

it is most lyke that preciouse unguent cleir

pourde on the heade syne trikling lyke á teare
upon the bearde doun flouing from aboue
at last doun Aaronis clothis doth softly moue
quhill to his garmentis borderis lou it ueare
& rounde about thaime runne for his behoue
lyke cristall deu distilld on hermon tall
or balmy droppis that dois on sion fall
for on those men god sendis his blessing sure
the quhiche is lyfe for euer to endure.
[_]

It is insert in the blew buik.


finis.

46

[Psalm] 148.

Sing laude unto the lorde
heauenis induelleris i say
to do the same accorde
in places hie & stay
& so alluaies
ye angellis all
great oistis & tall
iehoua praise
praise him both sunne & moone
& starres uith shyning licht
the same of you be done
ye heauenis of heauinis most bricht
sett furth his fame
ye uatteris euen
aboue this heauen
& praise his name
all ye quho by his uill
& uorde created bene
praise great iehoua still
quho dois you ay conteine
in stablisht rest
quhose iust decree
can no uayes be
by ocht transgrest.

48

praise him ilk liuing beast
that on the earth do go
thou deepe uith most & least
of fish & quhayles also
thou glancing lou
haill roundly rold
snou quheit & cold
his praise furth shou.
ye exhalationis uakk
uith stormie uindis & shill
quhom he doth euer mak
his uorde for to fullfill
ye cedres great
hudge hillis & knouis
fruct trees that grouis
praise goddis hie seat.
ye beastis & cattell tame
ilk foule & creping thing
ilk people or prince of name
ilk earthly iudge or king
ye uirginis eik
ye babis & old
uith young men bold
his praise furth speik.
for that his name alone
doth heauen & earth adorne
he is that only one
exaltis his peoples horne
thaire praise I meane
of israell
quhom he louis uell
praise god deuine.
finis.
D.I.R.S.

50

[Psal. 150.]

Sing lett us sing great praises to the lord
praise god almichtie sanctified I say
laude him in his. [OMITTED] uith one accorde
extoll his uondr [OMITTED]
praise him uith ror [OMITTED]
uith noyce of uioles sound [OMITTED]
siklyke uith holy harpes th [OMITTED]
uith timpanes loude & fifres do [OMITTED]
uith uatry quhissiles schill ext [OMITTED]
& diuers soundit organes strange [OMITTED]
uith sounding cymbales instrume [OMITTED]
& chilping sisteris lett the same [OMITTED]
my soule mott magnifie thy [OMITTED]
praise praise the lorde oure god [OMITTED]

Ecclesiastis Cap. xij.

Be glad o yong man in thy youthfull dayes
And let thy soule reioyse in youth I say
And follow furth what most thy spreit doth praise
And what thyne eyes delytes in every way
But know that once shall come that dreadfull day
When for those deidis God shall exame the sore
And he him self in Iugement sit tharefore
Remove belyve all rancor from thy brayne
Contene thy fleshe vnworking evill at all
For youth alswell as chyldehead is but vayne

51

Tharefore on thy creator think thow shall
While in thy lothsome dayes thow dois not fall
And while the tyme is not, when thow shalt say
Now in thir yearis my pleasure is away
And while the Sunne and light is not obscurde
And while the Moone and starres are shyning bright
And while the raine thik cludds hath not procurde
To follow after darknyng all the light
What tyme they shall be bowed that are of might
Then shall the housegairds tremble all at ones
The grinders stay for lack of counter bones
They shalbe dimd that through the windois keik
The utter dores they shalbe shut assone
The grinders sound shalbe abassed eik
He shall awake then at the laverokkis tone
His whole delyte in singing shalbe done
And they shalbe for hie thingis sore affrayd
And feare shall mak thame in the way dismayd
Then shall the almond tree be florisht faire
The grashopper shall both be havy and great
He shall of lust and pleasure have no cair
For man drawis neir to his eternall seat
And dule in streit lukis for him air and late
While tyme the silver corde yet will not rax
And golden circles nather brekkis nor crakkis
And while the pitcher brekkis not at the well
Nor while at cisterne: then it comes at last
That dust returnis in earth and in it sell
The Spreit returnis to God whome fro it past
From any trouble fredd, or worldlie blast
All vanitie, all vanitie most vaine
All thir are vanitie I say againe
finis.

52

The lordis prayer.

Ô michtie father that in heauin remainis
thy noble name be sanctifeit aluayes
thy kingdome come, in earth thy uill & rainis
euen as in heauinnis mot be obeyed uith prayse
& giue us lorde oure dayly bread & foode
forgiuing us all oure trespassis aye
as ue forgiue ilk other in lyke moode
lorde in temptation lead us not ue praye
but us from euill deliuer euermoire
for thyne is kingdome ue do all record
allmichtie pouer & euerlasting gloire
for nou & ay, so mot it be ô lorde.
finis.

54

[Canticum Mosis]

Deuteronomie cap. xxxii.

ye gloriouse heauinnis giue eire & I sall speik
see earth thou harken to my speichis eik
my doctrine shall lyke raine distill & poure
my talk as deu sall softlie slyde this houre
lyke smallest schouris on tendir grasse ungrouin
& greatest raines on rank grasse micht be mouin
for I am presently for to proclame
of iehoua the great & michtie name
to oure great god yeild excellence thairfoire
that rok quhois uorkis are perfyt euermoire
for all his uayes are uery lau & richt
I meane to god both constant & of micht
& quho is uoyde of uikkidnes or urong
of that most iust & upricht is my song
the uikked generation & the throuin
defilid thaim selfis uith uyces of thaire ouin
for that thay uayre not his ouen sonnes belouid
fond foolysh people shoulde ye haue remouid
youre faith from god repaying suche á thing
is it not he that is youre father & king
youre oune redemair magnifying you
& euen that same quho hath confirmid you
think of the uorldis long laist to stay youre rage
tak head unto the yearis of euery age
requyre youre fatheris for to tell the treuth
to aske youre elderis als be uoyde of sleuth
quhen he to nationis gaue thaire duelling place
diuyding adamis sonnes & all thaire race
euen the most hie quho setlid marches then
for israellis sonnes & all thaire heapes of men
for that of iehoua the people deir
uaire of the uorlde his pairt & portion neir

56

euen iacob quhom he tenderis as his hairt
thay are his ouin inheritance & pairt
he found thaime in the desert uylde & uyde
fullfilld uith scaircetie & uith tearis beside
he uatched about thaime teaching thaime his uill
as aple of ee preserued thaim euir still
& as the eagle stirrith up hir nest
& on hir young sittis for thaire heit & rest
& streitchis sine abrod hir uingis to tak
& beir hir birdis upon thaime & hir bak
so iehoua he did alone thaime gyde
& no uayes seamed á strainger at that tyde
he buire thaime on the pairtis of earth most hie
to eat the fruites by feildis that randerit be
from stonis of craigis he gaue thaime oylee fyne
& maide thaime out of rokkis souke honny syne
he gaue thaime buttir from the cattell great
& milk from flokkis of sheip that simply bleat
uith cleinly fatt of young & tender lammis
of basan eik the olde flokk gyding rammis
of gaitis uithall, yea euen of quheate the best
ye also drank the bloode of berries prest
bot quhen as israell had uaxit fatt
thay spurrid againe & did thay uist no quhat
nou are ye uaxit great & fatt at onis
& creishe hath ouircledd youre lyre & bonis
for from thayre god that maide thaime up thay fell
& of thaire helth contemned the rokke & uell
thay mouid him to be gealouse of thaime all
for that upon strainge idolis thay did call
& for suche lyke abominationis uyld
thay did prouoke his uraith quhois land thay fyld
thay sacrificed to deuillis in goddis ouin place
goddis quhom thay kneu not laiking any grace
neu goddis & straingeris brocht thaire from astray
quhom thare foirefatheris feared not any uay
ye haue forgott the rokke that you begatt
youre strong creatoure god, alsueill as that

58

quhich quhen iehoua sau, for urayth & spyt
he lichlyid all his sonnes & dauchteris quyt
& said my face from those nou uill I hyde
& for to see thayre end I uill abyde
thay are a generation euill inclynde
sonnes uoyde of faith or treuth into thaire mynde
for thay haue maide me gealous of suche thingis
quhom in no pairt of god allmichtie ringis
thay did prouoke & stirr me up I say
uith thayre unthankfull uanities alluay
thairfoire I uill thaime gealouse mak againe
for most unuorthy people, men prophaine
for nationis fond, a uondrouse thing to heir
I uill prouoke thaime to á trembling feare
for nou is kendlit up my uraith & fyre
to burne to groundis of graiues befoire it tyre
& shall consume the earth hir birth uithall
& als in flamme the groundis of montainis tall
all kynde of euill I uill upon thaime send
& als consume my dairtis on thaime in end
quhen thay sall be uith hunger sore oprest
& eattin up uith the contagiouse pest
I shall make beistis teeth also thaime deuoire
uith earthy serpentis vennumis hairming moire
the suorde shall urakke & all destroye uithout
& in thaire chalmeris terroure thaime about
als uell the young man as the mayden myld
the olde quheit hayrid man uith the souking chyld
& if I had not feared thaire enmies pryde
& that thaire foes uoulde ignorantly chyde
& say it uas oure hand ue liftit up
that urocht this uorke & not iehouas cuppe
I uoulde haue said I uill thaime bannische still
from place to place for suche it uas my uill
extinguishing thayre memorie this day
from mortall men for euer & for aye
for thay are bot á nation uoyde of uitt
uithout all knouledge quhat is for thaime fitt

60

uoulde god thay kneu & understud all this
to tak head to thaire end I uold thaime uiss
hou one coulde chase á thousand men, & tuo
ten hundreth thousand chase thocht many mo
gif nocht, I uould thay kneu because thaire rokke
euen iehoua did giue thaime under yokke
for that thaire rokke is lyke to ours in nocht
as foes can uitness if thaire myndis uaire socht
for thaire uyne tree surpassis sodomis sure
& thaime that ammonites the uikked buire
thaire berries are uith uennum suelld & great
thaire clusteris are unto thaime bitter meat
the uennume of the dragonis is thaire uyne
& mixit uith aspiccis bittir poyson syne
and is not all this thing hidd uith me
& in my treasouris lokkit uith my kie
reuenge is myne & payment of the past
thaire fitt shall stakkir then in tyme at last
the tyme of all thaire miseries is neir
& quhat uill fall thaime shortly shall appeir
quhen iehoua shall iudge his people quhole
& for his seruantis soire repentance thole
quhen he shall spy thaire forces faill apace
inclusid & or skaipit alyke in euill cace
then shall he say quhaire are thaire goddis nou gone
quhaire on thay leind quhaire is that rokke & stone
upon quhose ofringis thay did fattlie feid
& quhose oblation uyne thay drank indeid
lett those aryse & help you nou lett see
& lett that craig á cauerne to you be
beholde me nou to be my only sell
& that no god may uith me ioyne or mell
that it is only I quho puttis to death
& I that dois restoire to uitall breath
that it is I quho uoundis & hailis anone
none can bereaue it from my handis not one
for I streache up my handis to heauen & sayis
I liue eternallie as nou alluayes

62

quhen I shall shairpe my glancing birnishit brand
& tak my ouin great iudgement in my hand
I shall reuenge me on my foes but staye
& all my haitteris iustly shall repaye
I shall make dronkin all my arroues kein
uith bloode of thaime that still my foes hath bene
& als my blaide it shall consume & uaist
thaire godless flesh uith á reuenging haist
my arroues dronke, for bloode thay shall retaine
of creuall uoundit captiue men or slayne
& so I uill at my first foes beginn
& tak euen to this tyme reuenge of sinn
his people sing sing nationis in youre moode
for that he uill reuenge his peoples bloode
& thaire reuenge makis on his foes to licht
syne doth his lande & people purge aricht
finis.
I.D.R.S.

65

All the kings short poesis that ar not printed

[_]

The main source of the poems in this section is Add. Ms. 24195. Where variant sources are used, they have been noted.


68

AMATORIA

1
A complaint against the contrary Wyndes that hindered the Queene to com to Scotland from Denmarke

From sacred throne in heauen Empyrick hie
A breathe diuine in Poëts brests does blowe
Wherethrough all things inferiour in degrie
As vassalls vnto them doe hommage showe
There songs enchants Apollos selfe ye knowe
And chaste Dianas coache can haste or staye
Can change the course of Planets high or lowe
And make the earthe obeye them euerie waye
Make rockes to danse, hugge hills to skippe and playe
Beasts, foules, and fishe to followe them allwhere
Though thus the heauen, the sea, and earthe obeye,
Yett mutins the midde region of the aire.
What hatefull Juno, Æolus entiseth
Wherby contrarious Zephyre thus ariseth.
O cruell Cupide what a rutheles rage
What hatefull wrathe thou vtterest vpon me
No medicine my sicknesse may asswage
Nor cataplasme cure my wounde I see
Through deadlie shott aliue I daylie dye
I frie in flammes of that envenomed darte
Which shotte me sicker in at ather eye
Then fastned fast into my hoalit harte
The feuer hath infected euerie parte
My bones are dried there marrowe melts awaye
My sinnowes feebles through my smoaking smarte
And all my bloode as in a pann doeth playe
I onlie wishe for ease of all my paine
That she might witt what sorrowe I sustaine.

69

2
To the Queene

As on the wings of your enchanting fame
I was transported ou'r the stormie seas
Who coulde not quenche that restles burning flame
Which onlie ye by sympathie did mease
So can I troubled be with no disease
Bot ye my onlie Medicinar remaines
And easilie when euer that ye please
May salue my sores and mitigatt my paines
Your smiling is an antidote againes
The Melancholie that oppresseth me
And when a raging wrathe into me raignes
Your louing lookes may make me calme to be
How oft yow see me haue an heauie hart
Remember then sweete Doctour on your art.

3
To the Queene, Anonimos

That blessed houre when first was broght to light
Our earthlie Juno, and our gratious Queene
Three Goddesses how soone they hade her seene
Contended who protect her shoulde by right
Bot being as Goddesses of equall might
And as of female sexe like stiffe in will
It was agreed by sacred Phœbus skill
To ioyne there powers to blesse that blessed wight.
Then happie Monarch sprung of Ferguse race
That talkes with wise Minerue when pleaseth the
And when thou list sume Princelie sporte to see
Thy chaste Diana rides with the in chase
Then when to bed thou gladlie does repaire
Clasps in thine armes thy Cytherea faire.

70

4
Two Sonnets to her M:tie to show the difference of Stiles

althogh Madame I ought not to refuse
What yee request, or pleases to desire
Yet may I justly make my oun excuse
In that which last it pleas'd you to require
Long since forsooth my Muse begunne to tire
Through daylie fascherie of my oun affaires
Which quench'd in me that heauenly furious fire
In place whereof came sad & thorny cares
Which restlesly no time nor season spares
To spoile me of my former pleasurs quite
Who wont before to vse farre other wares
As exercis'd some worthy work to write
Now ar Castalias floods dried up in me
Like suddain shoures this time of yeere ye see.
But what Madame & shall I then denie
Your juste demaunde and disobey the same?
No yee euen yee shall carrie to the skie
My barren verse and shall my Muse inflame
Was it not only your inchaunting fame
Who on her wings alofte did carrie mee
Frome natiue soil to follow on your name
And Eagle like on Theatis back to flee
Wher she commaunded Neptune for to be
My Princely guard and Triton to attend
On artificial flying tours of tree
Wherin I resting ranne to journeys end
Then since your fame hath made me flie before
Well may your name my verses nou decore.

5

[the Cheuiott hills doe with my state agree]

the Cheuiott hills doe with my state agree
In euerie point excepting onelie one
For as there toppes in cloudes are mounted hie
So all my thoughts in skies be higher gone

71

There foote is fast, my faithe a stedfast stone
From them discends the christall fontains cleare
And from mine eyes butt fained force and mone
Hoppes trickling teares with sadd and murnefull cheare
From them great windes doe hurle with hiddeous beir
From me deepe sighs, greate flocks of sheepe they feede
I flockes of loue, no fruicts on them appeare
My houpe to me no grace can bring or breede
In these alike, in this we disagree
That snowe on them, and flames remaines in me.
As man, a man am I composed all
Of brethren foure which did this worlde compone
Yett vnto me doth suche a chance befall
As I of mankinde all am he alone
Who of the foure possesseth onelie one
My flames of loue to firie heauen be past
My aire in sighs euanish'd is and gone
My moysture into teares distilling fast
Now onelie earthe remaines with me at last
That am denuded of the other three
Then crewell Dame since unto suche a cast
Your onelie beautie thus compelleth me
Send als my earth, with earth for to remaine
Or els restore me to my selfe againe.
If he that lackes the light may iustlie mone
And eke lament his miserable cace
As he to whome all wordlie ioye is gone
When drearie darknes cumes in Phœbus place
How muche the more may I lament allace
The absence of my onelie lampe of light
Since Lezardlike I feede vpon her face
And suckes my satisfaction from her sight
No more may I, then marigolde by night
Beare blossomes when no sighte of Sunne I haue
For yow Madame haue by your beauties might
Bereft, and brookes my hart your humble slaue

72

How may a man, a floure, a corps in smart
See, blossome, breathe; but eyes, but Sunne, but hart.
come fruictfull thoughts that fertill euer flowes
And showe what sicknes smites my heauie hart
The more I muse my greefe the greater growes
And painefull pangues of passions playe there parte
My euill it is incurable by art
And keepis a contrare course to nature cleene
My minde delights to pance vpon his smart
And feede on flames though secrete and vnseene
Bot as my brest a butt full long hath bene
to sightles shotts, so on the other side
O ye my harts allurer by my eyen
Respect with ruthe the bale I daylie bide
Then since we bothe like sorrowe doe sustaine
Bothe preasse to turne in pleasure all our paine.
Although that crooked crawling Vulcan lie
An-vnder ashes colde as oft we see
As senseles deade whill by his heate he drie
The greene and fizzing faggots made of tree
Then will that litle sponke and flaming eye
Bleaze brauelie forth and sparkling all abreed
With wandling wp a wondrous sight to see
Kithe clearlie then and on the faggots feede
So am I forced for to confesse indeede
My sponke of loue smor'd vnder coales of shame
By beauties force the fosterer of that seede
Now budds and bursts in an appearing flame
Bot since your beautie hath this wonder wroght
I houpe Madame it shall not be for noght.
O womans witt that wauers with the winde
When none so well may warie now as I
As weathercocke thy stablenes I finde
And as the sea that still can neuer lie

73

Bot since that tyme the trueth hath made me trie
That in inconstance thou art constant still
My courage sayes on Cupide ceasse to crie
That are rewarded thus for thy goodwill
For thogh Madame I failde not to fullfill
All sort of seruice to a Mistres dewe
Yett absence thogh bot for a space did spill
The thankes deserued of all my seruice trewe
What shall I saye, I neuer thought to see
That out of sight, shoulde out of langour be.

6
Constant Loue in all Conditions

Now doeth disdainfull Saturne sadd and olde
With ycie bearde enioye his frosen raigne
His hoarie haires and snowie mantle colde
Ou'rcouers hills and euerie pleasant plaine
Whiles deaz'd with frost, whiles droun'd with rapping raine
Doe beasts and birds bewaile there carefull cace
With longsume lookes in houpe to see againe
Sweete sauoured Flora showe her aimeled face.
And looke how long they are in this estate,
This dolent season so there courage dants
That now no Cupide with his golden bate
Darr make there harts his harbour where he hants
Bot rather deade as are the trees and plants,
There spirits of life must hide them at the hart
Wherethrough there kindlie courage daylie scants
Whill mounting Phœbus make them to reuert.
And shall I then like birde or beast forgett
For anie stormes that threatning heauen can send
That obiect sweete, wheron my hart is sett
Whome for to serue my senses all I bend
My inward flame with colde it dothe contend
The more it burnes, the more restrain'd it be
No winters frost, nor sommers heate can end
Or staye the course of constant loue in me

74

7
A Dier at her M:ties desyer

If mourning might amend my harde vnhappie cace
Or if complaining coulde appease Dame Fortunes frowning face
Then shoulde I neuer cease by songs and sonnets still
With my to iust conceaued regraits the earthe and aire to fill
My cairfull cries and grones shoulde make the rockes rebounde
The montains riue and all the earth with Echoes to resounde
No Orpheus charming notes for his departed wife
Nor raging Roland for his loue that ledd so madd a life
No not the worlde in one compared should neuer be
Vnto the mone that I shoulde make, suche passions martyrs me
Bot what can that awaile except for to renewe
My olde and deeplie rooted griefs that els to gladlie grewe
To rankle wp the sore that lurkes into my hart
And as a cancer make it spreade abroade in euerie part.
What wrathe haue all the Gods conceaued at me allace
That makes me loue where hatred dwells, and pittie hath no place
Ô if she were bot faire, or if she were bot false
Bot faire and false torments me thus and holdes me by the halse
If beautie as it ought with bountie coupled ware
Then suirlie she wolde pittie take on my consuming caire
Or if she wear but false and lacking Venus grace
Then woulde I not haue bene abused by her enchanting face
Thus am I tortured still, I mourne without remeade
My languour lackes one graine of houpe to mixe with daylie dreade

76

My teares getts no regarde, my sighs can haue no eare
And in one houre is quite forgott my seruice manie a yeare
What houpe can rest behinde, what may I looke for then
Bot be a butt to heauenlie plagues, a monstre amongs men
My state can neuer change my griefs are bot begunne
Thus casten is my luckles lott that woefull weirds haue spunne
Awaye with comfort then and wellcome colde dispaire
And since I can haue no delight, lett me delight in caire
My mirth in murning be, my ioye in dolours deepe
I will with sadd and sorie sighs my selfe from languour keepe
And for my cheefest sports to minde then will I bring syne
As in a roll my whole mishaps, then like a swanne them sing
My houpe is whole transformed in blacke and colde dispaire
Except I onlie houpe for deathe to end continuall caire:
No, death he must not haste, my mischiefs woulde he mend
It best becumes my miserie to duine before I end
Yett if the endles smart and sorrowe I sustaine
Were suffered for sume worthie wight, I happie wolde remaine
I wolde me happie thinke if thus I martyred ware
For sume sweete Sainct in sacrifice that both were good and faire
Bot ô allace my paine and restles griefe it growes
For her who neuer once on me a louing thought bestowes
Yett lett not this dishart no happie man in loue that
Who finds a maike that will not change, nor for no chance remoue.
All wemen are in ouers, in vertue sume excell
And sume in vices may ou'rmatche the greatest Diuell in hell

78

The blessedest creatures made by God the Angells ware
The cursedest creatures in the worlde the fallen Angells are
For me I onlie craue a spectacle to be
Wherin as in á masse confused all miseries men may see
And when my happ shall be to goe to wished graue
Which is the onelie happie chance I euer wishe to haue
That then the passenger may reade in going by
For true and honest constant loue, this patient here does lye.

the sonnett lakkis heere quhiche interprettis all the matter


My Muse hath made a willfull lye I grante,
I sung of sorrows neuer felt by me;
I haue as great occasion for to wante,
My loue begunne my blessing for to be.
How can I then excuse so lowd a lye?
O yes, I did it euen at her desire,
Who made me such successe in loue to see,
How soone her flames hade sett my hart on fire.
Since for her sake I presse for to aspire,
To preache of passions which I neuer prou'd;
What should yee doe who haue for haplesse hire
The lucklesse lott, to loue and not be lou'd.
Your plaints I thinke should pierce the starrie skies
And deaue the Gods with shrill and cairfull cries:

80

8
A complaint of his mistressis absence from Court

Whill as a statelie fleeting castle faire
On smoothe and glassie salt does softlie slide
With snowie sheets all flaffing here and thaire
So deck'd and trim'd as she were Neptunes bride
And no ways troubled with contrarious tide
And shining Titan from his firie cart
Smiles seing nature triumph'd of by art.
And whill the foolish pilgrims of the seas
Inflam'd with following fortunes fickle baite
Esteemes them selfs to be at such an ease.
As who bot they into there owen concaite
And euerie man sturrs wp his fellow maite
As citiezens of Thetis sliprie grounde
And sonnes to Phœbus lightner of this rounde.
Thus whill they thinke there fortune frames at will
The Sunne his beames aboundantlie bestowes
Wpon the aire to make it cleare and still
The sea so calme as scarcelie ebbs or flowes
No messager of prison'd Æole blowes
Except a gaile with breathing to and fra
To stoppe the saile from rashing on the ray.
Then if a cloude the sonne of vapours grosse
Eclipse the Sunne from there astonish'd sight
There cause of ioye becumes there cause of losse.
For looke how soone they lacke there former light
In place of Phœbus cumes a darckned night
And drumlie cloudes with rumbling thunders rearde
Doe threaten mixing heauens with sea and earde.

81

O miserable wretches woulde they crie
Who setled trust on so vnsetled grounde
Who woulde all other elements defie
For that which onelie is vnconstant founde
Now were we happie, now into a stounde
Are we ou'rladen with a hell of frayes
Bot warre the rockes, soone cast her in the stayes
O heauenlie lampe Apollo bright and cleare
What crime hath so incenst thy heauenlie ire
For as thy presence made ws heauenlie here
Our light, our ioye, our comfortable fire
Now loathe we that which most we did desire
Since by thy absence heauen in hell is changed
And we as Diuells in Plutoes court are ranged.
The like, ô not the like bot like and more
Doe we not one bot all in Court sustaine
Since she who did our Princelie Court decore
is absent, absent doth allace remaine
Whose comelie beautie graced our Princelie traine
Whose modest mirth express'd alluring grace
Whose absence makes ws lacke our light allace.
The Court as garland lackes the cheefest floure
The Court a chatton toome that lackes her stone
The Court is like a volier at this houre
Wherout of is her sweetest Sirene gone.
Then shall we lacke our cheefest onlie one?
No, pull not from ws cruell cloude I praye
Our light, our rose, our gemme, our bird awaye.
Bot houpe beginnes to hoise me on her wings
Euen houpe that presence absence shall amend.
Bot what my Muse, how pertlie thus thou sings
Who rather ought Solsequium like attend
With luckned leaues till wearie night take end.
Haste golden Titan thy so long'd returne
To cleare the skies where now we darckned murne.

82

9
A dreame on his Mistris my Ladie Glammis

Whill as the silent shaddie night
Did with her courtens blacke
Ou'rcouer Rheas fruictfull face
And being colde and wacke
By sympathie with mortall braines
Our members make of leade
And stealing all our senses make
Ws lye a while as deade.
Then whill I was in this estate
The God with golden wings,
Who entring at the ports of horne
So manie monstres brings,
And changing into sundrie shapes
By strange and subtle slight,
Does make ws heare without our eares
And see but eyes or light.
This strange and subtle God, I saye,
Of late appear'd to me,
And by the hand my Mistres ledd,
Loe here she is quoth he,
Whose presence breeds as manie ioyes
As absence breeds thee woes,
Loe here the harbour of thy hart
Loe here thy onlie chose
Loe here she is who makes thee trade
The statelie forcked hill,
Whose pleasant grasse beginnes to fade
So trampled by thee still,
Loe here she is who makes thee drinke
The christall siluer spring
Of flying horse and riding foule
As ancient Poëts sing,

83

Loe here the subiect and the wings
Of thy high flying verse
That mountes aboue the flammie vaults
And to the heauen does pearse.
With this me thought she bowed her doune
And ioyned the rubies sine,
(That hides her iuorie rankes and smells
Of Nectar) vnto mine,
Sine with her soft and silken hands
About my necke she layes
A tablet and an Amethyst
And silent slipps her wayes.
Bot loe my minde so passion'd was
My hart so sturr'd withall
With ioye extreame, as made them soone
My senses to recall.
And looke how soone from slugglish sleepe
I perfectlie awooke,
Euen at the first (ô miracle)
Into my hand I tooke
These tokens hunge about my necke
(As I hade dream'd before)
What Deïtie (quoth I amaz'd)
For this shall I adore:
Sume God or Angell suirlie hath
This present to me brought,
For if on anie naturall dreames
Hade rauished bene my thought,
Then ather of the humours foure
The cheefe that did abounde,
By sympathie with brethren foure
Wherof was form'd this rounde,
And with the seasons of the yeare
Wolde vexed haue my braine,
If bloode domin'd with bloodie iarres
In spring tyme, and againe,
If cholere raign'd with rauening fires
In Sommers pearching heate,

84

If phlegme did with drowning floods
When Hyades holds there seate,
If melancholie earth and night
With heauie things and blacke,
When frozen Saturne rules with snowe
The place wolde suirlie take:
Or els the things I last hade thought
Hade done or wish'd to be
They hade although imperfectlie
In dreame appear'd to me,
And so by nature hade I dream'd
The thing I dream'd indeede,
For I confesse that Idee oft
My rauish'd minde dois feede,
Bot then how soone I hade awack'd
And Morpheus flowen awaye,
No token hade he left behinde
As now this wedd it laye:
Then counting it sume heauenlie gift
And sent me from aboue,
I cust me narrowlie to guesse
What coulde the meaning proue,
And so beganne both wp and doune
To tosse, to wiewe, to spie—
The tablet and the Amethyst
There secrets for to trie.
Thou Lycian Lord that Deïtie
Whome Delphos did adore,
Whose shining coache doe saphirs blewe
And rubies red decore,
The sacred Sisters Monarch greate,
The spirit that did inspire
With oracles the Sybills sage
Inflam'd with heauenlie fire,
O thou that mysteries can reueale
And future things foreseis
Assist my seeking out of this
And open cleare mine eyes.

85

The Amethyst in forme of hart
Doeth signifie the hart
And constant loue vnchangeable
That is vpon my part,
And as the colours of this stone
Are purple mix'd with graye,
So flames of loue my earthlie parts
Consumes me day by daye.
The secret vertues that are hidd
Into this pretious stone
Indues me with meete qualities
For seruing such a one.
For as this stone by secret force
Can soueraignlie remeade
These daizeled braines whome Bacchus strength
Ou'rcomes as they were deade,
And can preserue ws from the harme
Of the envenomed sting
Of poysoned cuppes, that to our tombe
Vntymelie does ws bring,
So shall my harte be still preserued
By vertue from aboue,
From staggering like a drunken man
Or wauering into loue:
Bot by this soueraigne antidote
Of her whome still I serue
In spite of all the poysoned lookes
Of Dames I shall not swerue.
And speciallie with courage bolde
This stone can furnish me
That with my conquering hand I may
Enforce my foes to flie,
For suire he can not worthie be
To be accompted deare
By anie Dame that in his brest
A womans hart dois beare.
And therfor for my part I wowe
If as the rumours be

86

Of iarrs and broyles, I happen in
Effect the same to see,
I shall not from the enemies sight
To anie part remoue,
Vnkithing once in honour of
My Mistres and my loue:
But onlie mot I conquered be
And onelie will I yeelde
To Cupids shott, whose firie darts
Resist coulde neuer sheelde.
And lastlie as this stone hath force
A hunter for to aide,
In end to catche his pray, the fruict
Of all his trauell made,
So as I am an prentise past
Into that Princelie game,
Whose hounds and horns through rockes and woodes
Makes Echo answer them,
I trust by vertue of this stone
To winne and holde the pray
That prayes on me, and is of all
My passion'd thoughts the stay.
Bot loe I long to turne me to
The tablet made of golde,
And all without and in the same
At length for to beholde.
Of purest golde the tablet made
Which by the fire is fin'd,
Her chastnes pure does represent
In bodie both and mind,
The crawling scores of ameling blacke
That on the golde are wrought,
The diuers passions represents
That walters in her thought.
One of the leaues on vtter side
A nacked man does beare,
Whome Phœbus rosts with hote reflexe
And stinging flees doe teare,

87

Yett sitting in the forrest greene,
As senceles of his harme,
By harmonie of violl sweete
He neuer irkes to charme
The rauish'd foules and beasts about,
Esteeming so there ioye,
As makes him quite for to forgett
His grieuous sore anoye.
This man not onlie represents
Her Siren voyce diuine,
Wherewith she makes the dullest eares
And hardest harts encline,
Bot as his dittie sayes, To please
The rest he suffers paine,
So she her Princesse serues of loue
Without respect of gaine.
The other on the vtter side
The Sunne hath shining bright
Into the midst, with stars about
Bot darckned by his light
And as that dittie sayes, As Sunne
Amongst the stars does shine,
So she her sexe surpasseth far
In vertues most diuine:
That Sunne of whome I sung before
Whose absence made me flie
Aboue the skies, ô Sunne to seeke
Her shaddowe into the.
Bot if into these former verse
I soar'd with Eagle wings,
Then Mistres thanke your selfe for them
That by your vertue sings.
Bot greatest comfort is to me
To spie the inward part,
Wheras ane hand does holde me thinke
My onelie Mistres hart,
Whill Cupide with his bended bowe
And golden arrowe aime,

88

To shoote his subtle firie shaft
For pearcing of the same:
Bot that her hand does holde her hart
I take it for to be,
That willinglie she letts her hart
Be shotte into for me.
The inward of the other leafe
It emptie does remaine,
Which if my guesse deceaue me not,
Is ordain'd to containe,
The art of sume Apelles fine,
The portraict of her face,
To giue vnto the workemanship
Of all the rest a grace:
For as the rest does represent
Her qualities most rare,
So shoulde her selfe, though viuelie, no,
Yett best it can be there.
And suire the Gods aboue they haue
Decreed as seemes to me,
That as the tablet and the stone
Both knitt together be
Euen by a string, the tablet like
To her, to me the stone,
So shall our loue whill Atrope cutt
The threed, be knitt in one.
Thus haue I redd my dreame ye see
With wise Apollos aide,
And if this be the verrie trueth
That I herin haue saide,
Then am I gladd of such a guesse,
Bot if I be deceau'd,
And in the opening of a dreame
Haue ather dream'd or reau'd,
Yett wellcume be a gladd deceate,
For as into my sleepe,
My dreame deceaued me, so my guesse,
In gladnes doth me keepe.

89

Now may ye see ô Titan mine,
No distance far of place,
Nor other thoughts can out of me
The thought of yow deface,
In absence are ye present still
And euer so in sight,
No wonder is, what Monarch may
Resist a womans might.

90

10
A Satire against Woemen

As falcons are by nature faire of flight
Of kinde as sparhalks far excells in speede
As marlions haue in springing greatest might
As gosehalks are of nature giuen to greede
As mauises of kinde are giuen to sing
And laurocks after candlemasse to spring.
As piots steales what euer they can beare
Of kinde as corbies followes carions vilde
As ieas will conterfitt what sounde they heare
As gledds of nature kills not oft the wylde
As crowes and kaes will clatter when they playe
As hens of nature keckells when they laye.
As kinde makes hounds to followe hairs by sent
As cursours nickers riding in the night
As lions for to seeke there praye are bent
As beares by kinde, of leggs are wonderous wight
As tigres flies the waters and the wites
As nature giues the Ounces cruell sprites.
As goates delights to climbe through craige and cleughe
As deere of nature hants the forrest faire
As conns by kinde will skippe from branche to beughe
As foxes can by craft escaipe the snaire
As brockes in winter likes to sleepe and rest
As swine by nature loues the midding best.

92

As schooles of herring flees the whaill for feare
As greate olde pyckes will eate the young and small
As remora will stoppe a shippe to steare
As kinde makes sea horse to be cruell all
As kinde makes creuises to swimme abacke
As troutes of nature fishers baits will take.
As marmaides hates all men by natures will
As delphins loues all bairns in wonderous sorte
As by the contrare crocodills them kill
As mareswines loues of nature for to sporte
Of kinde as salmon in freshe water spawnes
As selchs haue milke and young ons lacking rawnes.
In short as foules by kinde in aire doe flee
And as the beasts by nature goes on grounde
And as the fishes swimmes in frothie see
And as all liuing things are euer bounde
To followe nature ruling them allwaye
Whose will obeye they must butt lett or staye.
Euen so all wemen are of nature vaine
And can not keepe no secrett vnreuealed
And where as once they doe concaiue disdaine
They are vnable to be reconcealed
Fullfild with talke and clatters but respect
And often tymes of small or none effect.
Ambitious all without regarde or shame
But anie measure giuen to greede of geare
Desyring euer for to winne a name
With flattering all that will them not forbeare
Sume craft they haue, yett foolish are indeede
With lying whiles esteeming best to speede

94

Exposition

Expone me right ye Dames of worthie fame
Since for your honours I employed my caire
For wemen bad hereby are lesse to blame
For that they followe nature eueriewhaire
And ye most worthie prayse, whose reason dants
That nature, which into your sexe, so hants.

11
Song 1

What mortall man may liue but hart
As I doe now suche is my cace
For now the whole is from the part
Deuided eache in diuers place
The seas are now the barr
Which makes ws distant farr
That we may soone winne narr
God graunte ws grace.
Full manie causes suire I haue
Which does augment my woe and caire
Bot one more speciall nor the leaue
When I doe thinke what ioye was thaire
What gladnes and what greeting
At our long wished meeting
I can not well vnwiting
My cheekis declare.
And sine how we so soone were shedd
And loste our long desired ioye
O what mischance, I neuer redd
That louers hade suche cause of noye
For other louers vses
The one to make excuses
Of absence, thus abuses
Them Venus boye.

96

Bot we endure far greater skaith
For onelie one of them hath paine
Bot we alike are wounded baith
And cairfull till we meete againe
O absence cruell foe
Why workes thou ws such woe
And gars true louers so
Far shedd remaine.
Thou absence giues me cause to feare
Lest she be harm'd by sume mischance
Thou absence gars me greine to heare
Some worde from her, thou gars me panse
What waye for to eschewe
These sorrowes which renewe
And whiles I change my hewe
Whiles falls in transe.
Bot by the contrare I reioyes
When I persaue we marrowes be
In trouble, sorrowe and in noyes
That is a thing which comforts me
The prouerbe makes relation
That likes in tribulation
Is wretches consolation
So now are we.
Reioyce therfor my halfe in all
Since honest causes be the staye,
Of presence, houpe that meete we shall
With greater gladnes on a daye
I praye the Lord abone
To send it till ws soone
Farewell till that be done
And after aye.

98

12
Song 2

When as the skillfull archer false
Inflam'd and pearc'd by craftie arte
Leanders hart and Heros als
By his so firie golden darte
Fra Cupide blinde assailde
With bowe and shaft
His will they neuer failde
Such was his craft.
And euer from that tyme agoe
There loue to others neuer past
Whill fortune was there mortall foe
And made them perishe both at last
The raging seas they war
Twixt them a barr
There cheefest toyle and caire
To swimme so farr.
Bot liker is my fortune raire
Since seas diuydes ws not at all
To Piramus and Thisbe faire
Deuyded onlie by a wall
Which in it hade a bore
Wherethrough they spake
Which of a chance before
Dame fortune brake.
The verrie like did ws befall
As them of whome I shewe before
We distant are by such a wall
And often spacke by such a bore
Whill enuie called a naile
There through so strate
As made our moyen faile
To speake of late.

99

MISCELLANEA.

[13]
Ad hoc creaturæ destinatæ sunt, vt in eis glorificetur Creator

This sonnet is printed at the end of Lepanto:—

The azured vault, the christall circles bright
The gleaming firie torches poudered thair
The changing rounde, the shining beamie light
The sadd and bearded fires, the monsters faire
The prodiges appearing in the aire
The rearding thunders and the blustering windes
The foules in hewe, in shape and nature rare
The prettie notts that wing'd musiciens findes
In earthe the sauourie flowres, the metall'd mindes
The wholesome herbes, the hautie pleasant trees
The siluer streames, the beasts of sundrie kindes
The bounded roares, and fishes of the seas
All these for teaching man the Lord did frame
To honoure him whose glorie shines in them.

100

14
A sonnet on Mr Pa. Adamsons paraphrase of Job

In wandring wealth through burbling brookes and bewes
Of tripping troupes and flocks on fertill grounde
In cattell great of sundrie shapes and hewes
With houues all whole, or in a parted rounde
In fields fullfild with cornes by shearers bounde
In heapes of golde, and ritches in all wayes
As Job excelled all others might be founde
Of Monarchs greate or Princes in his dayes
So this translatour merites no lesse praise
For gifts of sprit, then he for gifts of geare
And God in grace hath giuen suche conterpaise
As his translation to the worke is peere
God did his gifts in him so wiselie mell
Whose heauenlie wealth Jobs earthlie wealth doth tell.

15
A sonnet on Ticho Brahe

That onlie essence who made all of noght
Our great and mightie Lord the life of all
When he in ordour euerie thing hade broght
At the creating of this earthlie ball
Then made he man at last. Thy raigne it shall
Extend (quod Jehoua) in euerie cace
Ouer all these breathing beasts that flatlie fall
For humble hommage here before thy face

101

He also pitch'd eache Planet in his place
And made them rulers of the ruling Lord
As heauenlie impes to gouerne bodies basse
Be subtle and celestiall sweete accord
Then greate is Ticho who by this his booke
Commandement doth ouer these commanders brooke.

Another on the same

The glorious globe of heauenlie matter made
Containing ten celestiall circles faire
Where shining starres in glistring graithe arraide
Most pleasantlie are poudered here and thair
Where euerie planet hath his owen repaire
And christall house, a whirling wheill in rounde
Whose calme aspects or froward does declaire
Gods minde to blisse great kingdomes or confounde
Then if yow list to see on earthlie grounde
There ordour, course, and influence appeare
Looke Tichoes tooles, there finelie shall be founde
Each planet dansing in his propre spheare
There fires diuine into his house remaine
Whome sommerlie his booke doth here containe.

Another on the same

What foolish Phaëton did presume in pride
Yea more what great Apollo takes in hand
Who does the course of glistring Phœbus guide
Thou does performe that rules eache firie brand
Then greater art thou then Apollo cleare
As thy Vranias eldest fostre deare.

102

16
A sonnet on Du Bartas

Since ye immortall sisters nine hath left
All other countries lying far or neere
To follow him who from yow all them reft
And now hath caused your residence be here
Who thogh a stranger, yett he lou'd so deere
This realme and me, so as he spoil'd his awin
(And all the brookes, the bankes and fontains cleere
That be in it) of yow, as he hath shawin
In this youre worke, then lett your breaths be blawin
In recompense of this his willing minde
On me, that then may with my penn be drawin
His praise: who thogh him selfe be not inclin'd
Nor presseth bot to touche the laurell tree
Yett well he merites crown'd therwith to be.
What heauen doth furnish thee such learned skill
What heauenlie fire inspires thy furious sprite
What foule bereaues thou for to painte at will
Thy trauells greate, what booke giues floures most sweete
Deck'd, holie, cleane, alone but matches meete
Wise, loftie, learned, with good will florish'd faire
Of penn, of brightnes, smell and skill compleete
They wonder at thee in heauen, fire, earthe, and aire
Great God who heares from heauen his cantiques raire
And knowes thy harper, furie, pen, and floure
Preserue him in his midrinke with thy caire
But doubt his skill will change in heauen sume houre
His soule in starre, his furie in fires most strange
His pen in Phœnix, corps in floure shall change.
O diuin du Bartas, disciple d'Vranie
L'honneur de nostre temps, poëte du grand Dieu
Tes saincts vers doux-coulants pleins de douce manie
Distillés des hauts cieux volent de lieu en lieu
Comme esclairs foudroyants du grand esprit tonnant
Postillonent tonnants du leuant au ponant.

103

SONNET

[Since ye immortall sisters nine hes left]

Since ye immortall sisters nine hes left
All other countries lying farre or nere:
To follovv him vvho from them all you reft,
And novv hes causde your residence be here
VVho though a straunger yet he lovde so dere
This Realme and me, so as he spoilde his avvne,
And all the brookes & banks, & fountains clere
That be therein of you as he hath shavvne
in this his vvork: then let your breath be blavvne,
In recompence of this his vvilling minde
On me: that sine may vvith my pen bee dravvne
His praise: for though himselfe be not inclynde
Nor preaseth but to touch the Laurer tre:
Yet vvell he merits crovvnd thervvith to be.
FINIS.

104

17
A Sonnet on Mr W. Fullers translation of Petrarchs triumphe of loue

We find by proofe that into euerie age
In Phœbus art sume glistring starre did shine
Who worthie schollers to the Muses sage
Fullfil'd there countries with there workes diuine
So Homere was a sounding trumpett fine
Amongst the Greeks into his learned dayes
So Virgill was amongst the Romanes sine
A spirit sublimed, a piller of there praise
So loftie Petrarch his renoume did blaze
In toungue Italique in a sugred stile
And to the circled skies his name did raise
For he by poëms that he did compile
In triumphe ledde loue, chastnes, deathe, and fame
Bot thou triumphes ouer Petrarchs propre name.

18
An Epitaphe on Sr Philip Sidney

Thou mightie Mars the God of souldiours braue
And thou Minerue that does in witt excell
And thou Apollo that does knowledge haue
Of euerie art that from Parnassus fell
With all the Sisters that theron doe dwell
Lament for him who dewlie seru'd yow all
Whome in, yow wiselie all your arts did mell
Bewaile I saye his vnexspected fall
I neede not in remembrance for to call
His youth, his race, the houpe hade of him aye
Since that in him doeth cruell deathe appall
Both manhoode, witt, and learning euerie waye
Now in the bed of honour doeth he rest
And euermore of him shall liue the best.

105

Sonnet to the authoure.

[_]

Drummond MSS. vol. i.

We finde by prwif that into euerie aige
In phœbus art sum glistring starr did shyne,
Who, worthye Scollaris to the muses saige,
Fulfild thair countreis with thair works dewyne:
So Homer was a sounding trumpet fyne
Amangst the Greikis into his learned dayes;
So Virgill was amongst the Romans syne
A spreit sublimed, a pillar of thair prayse;
So loftye Petrark his renoun did blayse
In tounge Italique in a sugred style,
and to the circled skyes his name did rayse;
For he by poems that he did compyle
Led in Triumphe lowe, chaistnes, death, and fame;
bot thow triumphs ouer PETRARCHS propper name.
I. REX.

IN PHILIPPI SIDNÆI interitum, Illustrissimi Scotorum Regis Carmen.

[_]

ACADEMIAE CANTABRIGIENSIS LACHRYMAE, 1587.

Thou mighty Mars the Lord of Souldiers brave,
And thou, Minerve, that dois in wit excell,
And thou Apollo who dois knowledge have,
Of euery art that from Parnassus fell
With all your Sisters that thaireon do dwell,
Lament for him, who duelie serv'd you all
Whome in you wisely all your arts did mell,
Bewaile (I say) his inexspected fall,
I neede not in remembrance for to call
His race, his youth, the hope had of him ay
Since that in him doth cruell death appall
Both manhood, wit, and learning euery way,
Bot yet he doth in bed of honor rest,
And euermore of him shall liue the best.

106

19
An epitaphe on John Shaw

A vertuous life procures a happie deathe
And raires to loftie skies there noble name
Then blest is he who looseth thus his breathe
Though to his friends it be a griefe the same
This may be saide of thy immortall fame
Who here reposes closed in honours laire
For as of trewe and noble race thou came
So honestie and trueth was all thy caire
Thy kinn was honoured by thy vertues raire
Thy place of creditt did thy friends defend.
Then noble mindes aspire and doe not spaire
With such a life to conquise such an end
Bot here my inward greefe does make me staye
I minde with deeds, and not with wordes to paye.

20
Votum

Thy kindenes kithed in loosing life for me
My kindnesse on thy friends I vtter shall
My perrill kindled courage into the
Mine shall reuenge thy saikles famous fall
Thy constant seruice euer shall remaine
As freshe with me as if thou liued againe.

107

21
A Sonnet to Chanceller Maitlane:

Vigiliæ nostræ

If he who valliant euen within the space
That Titan six tymes twise his course does end
Did conquise olde Dame Rheas fruictfull face
And did his raigne from pole to pole extend
Hade thought him happier if that greeke hade penn'd
His worthie praise who traced the Troiane sacke
Then all his actes that forth his fame did send
Or his triumphant trophees might him make.
Then what am I who on Pegasian backe
Does flee amongs the Nymphes immortall faire
For thou ô Maitland does occasion take
Euen by my verse to spreade my name allwhere
For what in barbarous leide I blocke and frames
Thou learnedlie in Mineru's tongue proclames.
Olet lucernam certé, nam cum lucerna excogitatum fuit.

22
An epitaphe on Montgomrie

What drousie sleepe doth syle your eyes allace
Ye sacred brethren of Castalian band
And shall the prince of Poëts in our land
Goe thus to graue vnmurned in anie cace
No; whett your pens ye imps of heauenlie grace

108

And toone me wp your sweete resounding strings
And mounte him so on your immortall wings
That euer he may liue in euerie place
Remember on Montgomries flowand grace
His suggred stile his weightie words diuine
And how he made the sacred Sisters nine
There montaine quitte to followe on his trace
Though to his buriall was refused the bell
The bell of fame, shall aye his praises knell.

23
A Sonnet on the moneth of May

Haill mirthfull May the moneth full of ioye
Haill mother milde of hartsume herbes and floures
Haill fostrer faire of euerie sporte and toye
And of Auroras dewis and summer shoures
Haill friend to Phœbus and his glancing houres
Haill sister scheine to Nature breeding all
Who by the raine that cloudie skies out pouris
And Titans heate, reformes the faided fall
In woefull winter by the frostie gall
Of sadd Saturnus tirrar of the trees
And now by Natures might and thine they shall
Be florish'd faire with colours that agrees
Then lett ws all be gladd to honour the
As in olde tymes was euer wonte to be.

109

24
An ænigme of sleepe

Life is my selfe, I keepe the life of all
Without my helpe all liuing things they die
Small, greate, poore, ritche, obeye vnto my call
Feirce lions, foules, and whaills into the sie
With meete and drinke the hungrie I supplie
Deade drunken als I quicken newe againe
Dearer to Kings, nor crownes and sceptours hie
Vnto the riche, nor all there wealth and gaine
I am not nyse, the poore I'le not disdaine
Poore wretches more then Kings may me command
Where I cumme in all senses man refraine
Softer nor silke, and sadder nor the sand
I hurte, I helpe, I slaye, and cuire the same
Sleepe, and aduise, and panse well what I am.

110

25
A sonnet when the King was surprised by the Earle Bothwell

A faschious fight does force my freest minde
Betwixt two valliant champions I persaue
The one trewe courage rightlie is defin'd
The other wisedome temperat and graue
Thy selfe vndanted showe quoth courage braue
Bot wisedome wishes for a while to staye
Quoth courage rather die then liue a slaue
Quoth wisedome true, if so should be for aye
Bot wracke the not vpon thy selfe I praye
Since keeping wp thy selfe bot for a space
On others sine thy courage kithe thou may
Quoth courage, lingring is a great disgrace
Of all these straits the best is out of doubte
That courage wise, and wisedome should be stoute.

111

Another on the same

Shall treason then of trueth haue the rewarde
And shall rebellion thus exalted be
Shall cloked vice with falsehoods fained farde
In creditt creepe and glister in our eye
Shall coloured knaues so malapertlie lie
And shamelesse sowe there poysoned smitting seede
And shall periured infamous foxes slie
With there triumphes make honest harts to bleede
How long shall Furies on our fortunes feede
How long shall vice her raigne possesse in rest
How long shall Harpies our displeasure breede
And monstrous foules sitt sicker in our nest
In tyme appointed God will suirlie haue
Eache one his due rewarde for to resaue.
All kinde of wronge allace it now aboundes
And honestie is fleemed out of this land
Now trumprie ouer trueth his triumphe soundes
Who now can knowe the hart by tongue or hand
Cummes euer iustice at the barre to stande
Where can she be in these our later dayes
Alike in water for to wagg a wande
As speare for her if truelie sundrie sayes
For manie now abroade doe daylie blaize
That iustice hath her hart infected sore
How can she then be cleane in anie wayes
Bot must become corrupted more and more
Sume lockman now hath locked wp apart
Poore iustice martyr'd with a meschant hart.

112

26
A Sonnet painting out the perfect Poët:

This sonnet is alreadie printed and prefixed to the treatise of Scottish poësie:

A ripe ingine, a quicke and walkened witt
With summaire raisons suddainlie applied
For euerie purpose vsing raisons fitt
With skillfulnes where learning may be spied
With pitthie wordes for to expresse yow by it
His full intention in his propre leide
The propertie wherof well hes he tryit
With memorie to keepe what he doth reide
With skillfulnes and figures which proceede
From rhetorick, with euerlasting fame
With others wondering preassing with all speede
For to attaine to merite such a name
All these into the perfect Poëte be
Gods grante I may obtaine the laurell tre.

27
A Sonnet to the reader prefixed to the treatise of the arte of poesie:

This sonnet is prefixed to the treatise of Scottish poësie and is alreadie printed:—

Since for your sake I wrytte vpon your art
Apollo, Pan, and ye ô Muses nine
And thou ô Mercure for to helpe thy part
I the emplore since thou by thy ingine
Nixt after Pan hade founde the whissell, sine
Thou did perfect that, which he bot espied
And after that made Argos for to tine
Who keeped Io, all his windowes by it
Concurre ye Gods I can not be denied
Since of your art of poësie I writte
that birds will learne by teaching it is tried
Sic docens discam, if ye helpe to dicte
Then reader see of nature thou haue part
Sine lackes thou noght, bot here to reade the art.

113

28

[O mightie Gods since I with pen and poëts art]

O mightie Gods since I with pen and poëts art
So willinglie hath seru'd yow thogh my skill be small

These two following sonnetts, with the preface, are printed:—


I praye yow euerie one of yow to helpe his part
In granting this my suite which after followe shall.
First Ioue as greatest God aboue the rest
Grante thou to me a part of my desire
That when of the in verse I writte my best
This onlie thing of the I doe require
That thou my vaine poëtick so enspire
As they may surelie thinke all that it reede
When I describe thy might and thundring fire
That they doe see thy selfe in verrie deede
From heauens thy greatest thunders for to leade
And sine vpon the Giants heads to fall
Or cumming to thy Semele with speede
In thunders least at her request and call
Or throwing Phaëton doune from heauen to earde
With threatning thunders make a monstrous rearde.
Apollo nixt assist me to a part
Since thou are second vnto Ioue in might
That when I like describe thy heauenlie cart
The readers may esteeme it in there sight
And grante me als the worlds ô onlie light
Whome on the yeare, with seasons double twise
Doe waite: that so I may describe it right
That so I may describe the verrie guise
By thy good helpe of yeares wherin we liue
As readers sine may saye here suirlie lyis
Of seasons foure the glasse and picture viue
And grante that so I may my verses warpe
As thou maye playe them sine vpon thy harpe.

114

O mightie sonne of Semele the faire
O Bacchus borne by Ioue the God of might
O twise borne boye, who euer does and dare
Subdue all mortall with thy liquour wight
Who with thy power blinded hath the sight
To sume, to others thou the eares haue deaffed
From sume thou takes the taste, sume smelling right
Doeth lacke, sume touching, sume all fiue bereaued
Are of thee, the greate Alexandre craued
Thy mercie oft, our maistre poëte now
is warde by the; we smaller then shall leaue it
To striue with the. Then on his tombe I wowe
Shall be, Here lyis whome Bacchus by his wyne
Hath trapped first, and made him render sine.

30
A Sonett: on Sr William Alexanders harshe vearses after the Inglishe fasone

Hould hould your hand, hould, mercy, mercy, spare
Those sacred nine that nurst you many a yeare
Full oft alas with comfort and with care
Wee bath'd you in Castalias fountaine cleare
Then on our winges aloft wee did you beare
And set you on our stately forked hill
Where you our heaunly harmonyes did heare
The rockes resoundinge with there Echoes still
Although your neighbours haue conspir'd to spill
That art which did the Laurel crowne obtaine
And borowing from the raven there ragged quill
Bewray there harsh hard trotting tumbling wayne
Such hamringe hard the mettalls hard require
Our songs ar fil'd with smoothly flowing fire

116

31
A Sonet against the could that was in January 1616

How cruely these catiffs doe conspire
What loathsome loue breeds such a baleful band,
Betwixt the cancred Kinge of Creta land
That melancholy ould and angry syre
And him who wont to quench debaite and ire
Amongst the Romains when his ports were clos'd
But now his double face is still dispos'd
With Saturns helpe to freeze vs at the fire
The earth or'e-couered with a sheete of snow
Refuses foode to foule to bird and beast
The chillinge cold letts every thing to grow
And surfets cattil with a starving feast
Curst bee that loue and may't continue short
That kills all creaturs and doth spoile our sport.

118

32

[Not orientall Indus cristall streames]

Not orientall Indus cristall streames;
Nor frutfull Nilus, that no bankes can thole;
Nor golden Tagus; wher bright Titans beam[e]s,
Ar headlongst hurled, to vew the Antartike Pole;
Nor Ladon (which sweet Sidney dothe extole)
While it, th'Arcadian Beauties did embrace:
All thease cannot, thee, nameless thee, controle;
But, with good right, must rander & giue place:
For, whilst sweete she, voutsafest to show her face,
And, with her presence, honnors thee ilke day;
Thou slyding, seemest, to haue a slower pace,
Against thy will, as if thou went away,
And, loathe to leaue, the sight of such a one
Thou still imparts, thy plaints, to euery stone.
Faire famous Isle, where Agathocles rang;
Where sometymes, statly Siracusa stood;
Whos fertill feelds, were bathed in bangsters blood,
When Rome, & ryuall Carthage, straue so lang;
Great Ladie Mistriss, all the Isles amang,
Which stands in Neptunes, circle mouuing, flood;
No, nather for thy frutefull ground nor good;
I chuse the, for the subject of my sang;
Nor, for the owld report, of scarce trew fame;
Nor heeretofore, for farelies in the found;
But, for the sweet resemblance of that Name,
To whom thou seemest, so sibb, at least in sound;
If then, for seeming so, thy prays bee such;
Sweet she her selfe, dothe merit more then much.

119

33
Vpon occasion of some great disorders in Scotland.

O cruell constellation that conspird
Before my birth my bale sa sharpe & saire
O miserable Mother that desir'd
The Midwife wise na paines on me to spaire
In vaine wase milke my meate a yeare & maire
In vaine therafter wase I speand alace
In vaine ye wise Pierides tooke a caire
To bring me brauely up in euerie cace
In vaine ye made me syne to take a place
Vpon that forked hill in honnour hie
In vaine descended I of Royal race
Which by succession made a King of me
All were but shawes Marcellus sure am I
Or Job whaise patience Sathan thinkes to try.

120

[In wandring wealth through bubbling brookes & bewes]

In wandring wealth through bubbling brookes & bewes
Of tripping troupes & flocks on fertill grounde
In cattell great of sindrie shapes & hewes
With hooffes all whole or in a parted rounde
In fields fulle filld with cornes by shearers bounde
In heapes of golde & ritches in all wayes
As Job excelld all others might be founde
Of Monarchs great or Princes in his dayes
So this translator merites no lesse praise
For gifts of sprite then he for gifts of geare
And God in grace hath giuen such conter[paise]
As his translation to the worke is peere
God did in him his gifts sa wyslie mell
Whos heauenly wealth Jobs earthlie wealth doeth tell.

34
An admonition to the Master poët to be warr of great bragging hereafter, lest he not onlie slander himselfe; bot also the whole professours of the art

Giue patient eare to sumething I man saye
Beloued Sanders maistre of our art
The mouse did helpe the lion on a daye
So I protest ye take it in good part
My admonition cumming from a hart
That wishes well to yow and all your craft
Who woulde be sorie for to see yow smart
Thogh other poëts trowes ye be gone daft.

122

A friend is aye best knowen in tyme of neede
Which is the cause that gars me take such caire
Now for your state since there is cause indeede
For all the poëts leaues yow standing baire
Olde crucked Robert makes of yow the haire
And elfegett Polward helpes the smitthie smuike
He comptes yow done, and houpes but anie mair
His tyme about, to winne the chimnay nuike.
Bot as the good chirurgian oft does vse
I meane to rype the wounde before he heal'd
Appardone me I thinke it no excuse
Suppose I tell the cause why they haue rail'd
And sine considder whither ye haue fail'd
Or what hath caus'd them this waye to backbite yow
Into that craft they neuer yett preuail'd
Albeit of late they houpe for to outflite yow.
For ye was cracking crouslie of your broune,
If Robert lie not, all the other night
That there was anie like him in this toune
Wpon the grounde ye wolde not lett it light
He was so firie speedie yaulde and wight
For to be shorte he was an A per se
Bot yett beleeue ye saw an other sight
Or all was done (or Robins rithme does lie.
Thus cracked ye and bragged but replie
Or answer made by anie present then
As Dares did, when as he did ou'rhie
Æneas court nor coulde not finde a man
That matche him durst; the stirke for him that wann
Which ordain'd was, he craued at Ænes hand
And saide since there is none that doe or can
Be matche to me what longer shall I stand.

124

Delaye no more, bot giue me the rewarde
Preordinate for them that victor war
Thus Dares ended bot Æneas stairde
The campe about, since there is none that darr
Æneas saide, bot all seemes verrie skarr
T'essaye yone man gar bring the bullock soone
Thus as he bade they broght the bullocke narr
Which hade his hornes ou'rgilded all abone.
Amongs the armie which were witnes thair
And not but wonder harde yone Dares boaste
Entellus raise a man of stature mair
Nor Dares was, and saide cheefe of our hoaste
I now repent my former youthe is loste
Bot since I see he shames your armie so
Haue at him then, it shall be on his coste
As I beleeue, if Ioue be not my foe.
The circumstances of this bargane keene
I will remitt to Virgils ornate stile
Bot well I watt Entellus soone was seene
By all to winne: So cracked ye a while
That none might neere yow scarcelie by a mile,
Till your Entellus harde yow at the last
The daye was sett, bot ye begoode to smile
For scorne, and thought to winne by running fast.
The wauering worde did spredd abroade beliue
Of all your crackes and bargane that was made
Eache one with other bussilie did striue
Who should be soonest at that solemne rade
That they might iudge which of the horse shoulde leade
Ye saide there woulde no question be of that
Besides ye saide ye caired not all there feade
Brecke as they woulde, the race it should no latt.

126

That night ye ceas'd and went to bed, bot grien'd
Yett fast for day, and thocht the night to lang
At last Diana doune her heade reclin'd
Into the sea, then Lucifer wp sprang
Auroras poste whome she did send amang
The gettie cloudes for to foretell ane houre
Before she staye her teares which Ouide sang
Was for her loue which turned into a floure.
Fra Lucifer hade thus his message done
The rubie virgin came for to forspeeke
Apollos cumming in his glistring throne
Who suddainlie therafter cleare did keeke
Out through his cart where Eöüs was eke
With other three which Phaëton hade drawen
About the earthe till he became so seeke
As he fell doune where Neptune fand him fawen.
Bot to conclude the houre appointed came
Ye made yow readie for to rinne the race
Ye bracke togither, and ranne out the same,
As Robin sayes, it hade bene fil'd your face
It chanc'd ye were forerunne a prettie space
A mile or more, that keeped it so cleene
When all was done ye hade so euill a grace
Ye stoll awaye and durst no more be seene.
Remember of my protestation now
And thinke that loue hath gar'd me take these paines
Fooles counsell whiles will helpe the wise I trowe
Which reason makes me thus to breake my braines

128

Great happe hath he whome others perils gaines
That moued me nou for to repeate yone storie,
Proude Dares fall for all his might and meanes
Coulde no wayes teache yow to bewarre of glorie
Nor yett woulde ye not call to memorie
What grounde ye gaue to Christian Lindsay by it
For now she sayes which makes ws all full sorie
Your craft to lie, with leaue, now haue I tried
The prouerbe sayes that mends is for misdeed
Cracke not againe no forder then the creede.
I William Mow at after supper lawing
With pen and drinke compiled yow this propine
I gatt it ended long before the dawing
Such pith hade Bacchus ou'r me God of wine:
Againe ye cumme if ye will essey me sine
To trie your horse that lost the other daye
We neede not take no caire which of ws tine
Since both our honours is long since awaye.

35
Ex Lucano libro quinto

Cæsaris an cursus vestræ sentire putatis
Damnum posse fugæ? et cæt:

This is alreadie printed

If all the floodes amongs them wolde conclude

To staye there course from running in the sea
And by that meanes wolde thinke for to delude
The Oceane who should impaired be
As they supponed, beleeuing that if he
Did lacke there floodes he wolde decrease him sell
Yett if we like the veritie to see
It paires him nothing as I shall yow tell

130

For out of him they are augmented all
And most part creatt as yow shall persaue
For when the Sunne does sucke the vapours small
Furth of the sea which them containe and haue
A part in winde, in wite and raine the leaue
He rander does, which does augment the strands
Of Neptunes woll a cotte sine they him weaue
By hurling to him fast out ouer the lands.
When all is done, doe to him what they can
None can perceaue that they doe swell him mair
I putt the cace then that they neuer rann
Yet noghthelesse that wolde him no wayes paire
What needes he then to compte it or to caire
Except there follie wolde the more be shawen
Since thogh they staye it harmes him not a haire
What gaine they thogh they hade there course withdrawen.
Then euen siclyke thogh subiects doe coniure
For to rebell against there Prince and King
By leauing him allthogh they houpe to smuire
That grace wherewith God makes him for to raigne
Thogh by his gifts he shewe him selfe benigne
To helpe there neede and make them therby gaine
Yett wante of them to him no harme does bring
When they to rewe there follie shall be faine.
Then floodes runne on your wonted course of olde
Which God by nature duelie hath prouided
For thogh ye staye as I before haue tolde
And cast a doubt which God hath els decided
To be conioinde, by yow to be deuided
Ye kithe your spite yett does the deepe no skaith
For better were in others eache confided
Ye floodes, thou deepe, which were your dueties baith

132

36
Song. the first verses that euer the King made.

Since thought is free, thinke what thou will
O troubled hart to ease thy paine
Thought vnreuealed can doe no euill
Bot wordes past out, cummes not againe
Be cairefull aye for to inuent
The waye to gett thy owen intent.
To pleas thy selfe with thy concaite
And lett none knowe what thou does meane
Houpe aye at last, though it be late
To thy intent for to attaine
Thoght whiles it brake forth in effect
Yet aye lett witt thy will correct.
Since foole haste cumes not greatest speede
I wolde thou shoulde learne for to knaw
How to make vertue of a neede
Since that necessitie hath no law
With patience then see thou attend
And houpe to vanquise in the end.

134

FRAGMENTA

37
An epithalamion vpon the Marques of Huntlies mariage

If euer I ô mightie Gods haue done yow seruice true
In setting furth by painefull pen your glorious praises due
If one the forked hill I tredd, if euer I did preasse
To drinke of the Pegasian spring, that flowes without releasse
If euer I on Pindus dwell'd, and from that sacred hill
The eares of euerie liuing thing did with your fame fullfill
Which by the trumpett of my verse I made for to resounde
From pole to pole through euerie where of this immoble rounde
Then graunte to me who patrone am of Hymens triumphe here
That all your graces may vpon this Hymens band appeare.
O sonne of Cytherea faire, and thou Thalasse withall
Graunte that this band may happelie to these coupled folkes befall
And ô Volumna prent a will into there coupled harts
Which may retaine that vnion aye, on ather of there parts
O Venus make them brooddie als for to produce with speede
Wherin they may reuiue againe a blest and happie seede
Vitunnus and Sentinus als in happie tyme indue
The childe when as it is conceau'd, with life and senses true

136

O Prosa with Egeria ioyn'd, and thou Lucina bright
Her dolours make into her birth, by your assisting, light:
O thou Leuana doe with loue and cairefulnes embrace
The babe when it is borne which shoulde extend there happie race
O Vagitanus playe thy part and safelie doe it keepe
From all misfortunes and mischance when as it first does weepe
O thou Cunina cairefullie doe watche the cradle aye
Preseruing it from sicknes or from harme in anie waye
Rumina, with Edusa, and Potina ioyn'd, doe see
That when it sucking is or wained, the foode may wholesome be
And also for there wpbringing ô Statilinus caire
That to there perfect age it may a happie waye prepare
And thou ô Fortune to conclude, make these and all there race
To be beloued of Gods and men, and thriue in euerie cace.
If for my saike ye Gods aboue these graces will bestowe
Before these nuptiall dayes sume signe to me for promise showe.
Mercurius
I messager of Gods aboue am here vnto yow sent
To showe by proofe your tyme into there seruice well is spent
For they haue graunted your requeste and for a signe and seale
Since they them selfs amongs yow men doe no wayes haunte nor deale
They therfor haue directed here to honour all this feast
Faunes, Satyrs, Siluans, that approache there natures neare at least
And as for there conductour haue they sent the whisler Pan
Who thogh a God yett drawes he neare the nature of a man

138

With Naiades, Hamadryades, Nymphes of waters, woods, and wells
To iudge on euerie sporte wherat there brethren with yow mells
And as for me for my adieu, I drinke vnto yow here
The horne of Amalthæe, with lucke, with wealth and mirrie cheere.

Nymphes
We are sent by Gods aboue with these our brethren deare
Who are prepared for gloue, or ring, or anie sporte with speare
And we haue broght for victours pryse this yellow garland rounde
Wouen of our haire, with pearls therat, which we in fishes founde.
Then knights goe to, and make yow for it, we can no further saye
Essaye yow brethren, thogh I graunte, vnused at such a playe.

Agrestis
Good Sirs the maruelous cumming here of these goode neighbours mine
Hath moued me for to come and see, this iollie feast and fine
Such allridge people in such a sort to cumme to plenished grounde
But anie fraye and guided by a man was neuer founde
Good faith before was neuer harde the like of my conuoye
No since Deucaleons floode, I trowe ye call it the floode of Noë
Me thinke Sainct Marie gentles here makes for sume game and glee
Wa sume good Sir lenn me a speare, what racks essaye and see

140

The valliant actes, the workes of worthie fame
That bruite hath blowen abroade through euerie whair
Of King and Court of Scotlands noble name
There Martiall games, and pastymes braue and faire
Sume does your Court, to Arthures court compaire
Sume sayes to Charles the magnes it may be peere
This bruit at last made wandring knights repaire
From forrane vncouthe lands and trauell here
Fra they arriued they sent me soone to speare
If anie in your Court woulde them essaye
To runne at ring or proue sume games at warre
They three shall be defendours at the playe.
Sirs thogh this language seeme both hard and haske
Appardone new come strangers in a maske.

[Scholar.]
O Gods aboue how am I rauish'd now
A heauenlie Goddesse is come doune I trowe
Our senses to delude: what euer she be
She peerles is as all men will agree
And therfor Sirs here am I sent before
As he who might by language best decore,
As schollers can, this doubt whome to the faire
Should appartaine, whome of ye harde declaire
And whome into at equall strife doe fall
Wealth, beautie, noble race, and vertues all
Eache one of these makes her a suitour here
And she is cume vnto your Grace to speare
Whome to she should encline of all this rout
Among the rest Madame leaue me not out

Woman.1.
What meanes these kappit men? what can this be,
Is all this bussines that they make for me?


142

The verteous man.4.
The sacred state of marriage it was made
That two conioyn'd a holie life might leade

Zanie.5.
Good euen Sirs all, good faith I thinke it best
Yow quitte me this and take yow all the rest

L.G.1.
If that ye please Madame to make me yours
My rent and friends shall serue yow at all houres
God if my father.

(Sould.2)
What a kalland is this
Place sillie man Madame I will not misse
To ware for yow this hand and sworde of mine
A man of spirit his honour will not tine.

Scholler.3.
I can with pen your prayses due proclame
If that ye please accept of me Madame.

Vert.4.
Your vertues rare Madame I doe respect
I promise trueth if that may take effect.

Sould.1.
If anie here hath skill of fense come proue
Three markett strockes before my onlie loue.


144

L.G.2.
If that the morrowe Madame chance to be faire
Please see two speedie grayhounds rinn a haire.

Schol.3.
If that ye please Madame a song to heare
I'll sett the toone, and make the clareshoh cleare

Sould.2.
I whome no bloodie battells coulde effraye
Am now become a simple womans praye,
Bot what? no woman bot a Goddesse bright
No shame to blinded be with suche a light

L.G.3.
If friends or rent may serue my turne in this
I houpe to gett this Ladie full of blisse.

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

146

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

148

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:

39
A pairt of du Bartas first day

This largeness and this breadth so long, / this highnes so profounde,
This bounded infinite, the masse / confused of all this rounde;
This Chaos lourde, I saye, which in / it selfe suche wproares wroght,
And sawe it in one moment borne / in nothing made of noght,
The brooddie bodie was wherof / the essence pure diuine,
And foure contending brethren ought / there birth to borrowe sine,
Now as to these foure elements, / these twinne sonnes ment by here,
Towitt, the subtle aire, the fire, / the earthe, and waters cleere,
Composed they are not, bot of them / is all composed and made,
That can into our senses fall, / or may be thought or saide:

150

Now if there qualities do poure / there whole effects within
Eache part of euerie bodie mixed, / and so to worke beginne;
Or whether that on euerie part / there beings they confounde
And so of beings double twaine / one bodie doe compounde;
Euen as within the bottome deepe / of christall glasses cleene,
The wine with the Acheloian sucke / for to be mix'd is seene:
Or euen as meate which wholesome is / and subtle liquour fine
Doe mixe them selfs within ws for / to change in chilus sine.
This by experience may we see / into the stick that burnes,
Vnto the heauen his natiue house / his fire full swift returnes,
His aire it flies in wanished smocke, / his earth in cendres falls,
His water crackes into his knotts, / and as for succour calls.
Like warre dothe holde our bod' in peace, / whose earth her fleshe it bene,
Who does into her vitall spirits / her fire and aire contene,
Her water in her humours lies: / yet thou can see no part
In all our humaine bodie, where / eache one by naturall art
Hath not his mightie vertues mix'd, / allthogh we plainlie see
That ather one or other of them / the cheefe commander be.
Into the masse of seething bloode / this clayie dregg and thicke,
Is blacke melancholie which sadd / does to the bottome sticke,

152

Composed of earthlie substance grosse; / in bloode the aire abides,
Which pure into the mids doe swimme; / the humour in the sides
It is the colde and wattrie phlegme; / this foame that light does flote
And holds the selfe aloft, it is / the burning cholere hote.
I meane not that eache element / into his hands retaines
The sceptre of one bodie aye, / his tyme about he raignes
The subiect making for to stoupe / vnto his law and will,
And als oft as his King is changed, / he changeth nature still:
Euen as without respect of wealth, / of bloode or noble race,
Eache worthie citizen commandes / a certaine tyme and space,
In citties Democratick free, / that suddainlie appeare,
Through changing of there magistrate / a changing face to beare:
For people lightlie agitate / with diuers humours strange,
Chameleon like with manners of / there rulers doe they change,
Euen so the element that in / the wine as cheefe doeth raigne,
Whiles makes it drie, whiles wacke, / whiles hoate and colde againe
By there commixtions imperfect / or perfect in it plac'd
Enforcing it to change as well / of vertue as of taste:
So as by processe of the tyme / the veriusse bitter greene,
Sweete winne becummes, then stronger wine, / sine winaigre it bene.
Now euen as when a Prince or King / does ouer ws so commande,
As vnderneath the yoake of law / he gars his greatnes stande;
He rules without suspicion, and / the common wealth enioyes
Most happilie a quiet state / without tyrannique toyes:

154

Bot if that cruell Tyranne like / he neuer satiate be,
With his good subiects saickles bloode, / and if his sworde doe flie
To bloodie sharpe the scabert still, / his rage it will not spare
In end to turne his ciuill land / in deserts wilde and bare.
The like falls out when as one of / the elements empires,
Ouer his three fellowes modestlie, / and not there wracke requires;
And when as a proportion / affeirand ioynes we see
The subiect humours with the cheefe, / though they vnequall be:
The bod' in being then abides / and als it doth retaine,
The speciall draughts of all his forme / which outwardlie remaine.
Bot if that like vnto that King / who barb'rous did desire
That all the citizens of his / most mightie great empire,
Boore bot one craige that by that meanes / (ô crueltie) he might;
By one greate blowe bereaue the liues / of all the Romans quitt.

156

40
The beginning of Mr du Bartas Eden

Thou mightie God, that of the worlde the birth did make me see
Vnfolde her credle also now, her childehoode showe to me:
And make my spirit to walke athort the turning florish'd wayes
Of sauourie gardens, where into still crooked but anie stayes
Of riuers foure the courses quicke: declare me what offence
From Edens both, chas'd Adams selfe and seede for his pretense:
And tell who of immortall did him selfe an mortall make,
To bring from heauen the antidote to ws which we did take.
Giue thou me grace the storie of the Church to sing aright,
And als the storie of the Kings; and grante that by thy might
I guide the worlde unto her graue, my purpose making leste
Euen from the first of Sabboths all vnto the hinmest rest.
Well knowe I that this surgie sea is lacking marche or grounde
Bot ô thou holie pilote greate will guide me safe and sounde,
Vnto the hauen of my desire, where droucked then I shall;
Extoll thy mercies maniefolde and paye my uowes withall.

157

O sacred floure du lis whose youth does promise to ws all,
That euen thy famous laurells greene matche Alexanders shall;
Since that for to obeye thy will I flie into the skies,
Conuoye my course with louing eye, and helpe the faults rise
From my to blounted fruictles pen; in Pampelone so sume daye
Maye thou winne home thy croune againe the which was reft awaye:
So of thy neighbours euermore may thou the honour be,
The loue of all thy subiects true, and foes to feare for the:
So neuer may the heauen against the showe his wrathefull face,
Bot the Eternall be thy arme, his Spirit thy guiding trace;
So with my shearing sworde in hand and fighting at thy side
May I ou'rclothed with bloode and stoure so boldlie by the bide,
As for to cleaue the Spaignoll hoaste, or force sume seaged toune
The combatt done for Virgill serue to publish thy renoune.
God did not onlie (Soueraigne Prince) the whole command bestowe
On our forefather Adam of this earthe and all belowe
In making subiect to his yoake the scalie swimming race,
Who with there litle finns doe cleaue the froathie seas apace;
And these that haue no other holde bot horrour of deserts
And these that bricole through the vaste of aire that feathers partis:
Bot choosed him als an dwelling place which happie was and more,
With climat temperate and faire, the which the dentie Flore

158

With variant ameling paimented
Did payment with the aimeling. faire. of springing floures most sweete,
Adorned with Pomones fruicts, and als with Zephyrs smells repleete:
Where God him selfe did lauell iust the alles with his line,
Ou'rcouer all the hills with trees, with haruest the vallies sine;
And with the sounde of thousand brookes adiourned the sweetest sleepe;
Made cabinets faire at proofe of Sunne which out his beames did keepe,
He squar'd a garden, and als he did plante, cleange, and labour sine
The euerliuing fairenesse of an fertle orchard fine:
The sacred riuers courses als he parted here and there,
And with a thousand coulours peints the face of meddowes faire.

161

UNCOLLECTED POEMS

[_]

The sources of the poems in this section have been noted. Where variant versions appear, they have not been included.


162

II.

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

[_]

MS. BODLEY 165.

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

163

III. The CI psal.

[_]

MS. BODLEY 165.

thy mercy uill I sing & iustice eik
uith musike uill I prayse iehoua great
I uill tak head the richteous path to seik
quhill tyme thou call me to thy mercie seat
still shall i ualke in uprichtnes of soule
uithin my house quhich halloued is to the
myne eyes upon no uikkid thing shall roule
for all suche deides I hate & shall thaime flee
all godles men (thay shall) from me depairt
i uill not knou no euill nor uikked thing
the toung bakbytes the nichbour in quyet pairt
i uill cutt out & lett it for to spring
the man that lookis to hie throuch suelling pride
& uith á bouddenit brest dois seame to bolde
him can I nouayes suffer nor abyde
sith that myne eies true men on earth beholde
thay shall sitt doun uith me as also thay
shall be my seruandis that do ualk aricht
no craftie man shall duell uith me I say
nor liers shall be stablisht in my sicht
I uill rut out ilk morning one & all
of uikkid men that on the earth do duell
and by that meanes iehouas cittie shall
be uoyde of uikked uorkers fals & fell

164

IV. His Maiesties Avvin Sonnet

[_]

MEDITATIOVN ON 1 CHRON. 15, 25–29 (1589).

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.

165

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

Sonet

[_]

HAWTHORNDEN MSS., vol. xiii.

Ye surging sees, and ye Inconstant wynds
Who stayes the course of my Expecting hope
Go Calme your selfs, be constant by your kynds
let not your stormes nor Chainge or cross my scope
Bot thole my Ioyes sa happelye begun
to settell thame within an portt of rest
And cleir the darknes of the cludds o sun
that thairbye may thy powar be exprest
O Moone whose Influence dois reul the tyde
stay thou the streames whose force my course would stay
and you O polls that ar the heauens high pryde
Lamps of the Night Extend your help I pray
and plese you all to slyde In Eache degree
ye polls thou tyde ye moone sun winds and see

166

VIa.

[THV PASSENGER WHO SPYST WITH GAZEING EYES]

[_]

PARISH CHURCH OF ST MARY, HADDINGTON.

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.

168

VIIa Sonett

[Loe heir my sone a mirrour viue and fair]

[_]

MS. ROYAL 18.B.xv.

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

170

VIII. THE ARGVMENT (of the booke.)

SONNET.

[_]

JAMES VI, ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΟΝ ΔΩΡΟΝ 1599.

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.

171

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.
Finis
J.R.

172

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

[_]

MS. RAWLINSON POET. 84

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.

174

XIa
On the death of Queene Anne

[_]

MS. HARLEY 6917

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.

176

XII
To the Duke of Buckingham

[_]

MS. EGERTON 2725

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.
Jacobus Rex.

177

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

August: 1621

[_]

MS. RAWLINSON POET. 26

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.

178

XIVa
Made by K: James. 1622

[_]

MS. EGERTON 923

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

180

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.

182

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.

[_]

MS. MALONE 23, p. 49

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

184

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

186

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

188

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

190

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.

192

XVI
Off Jacke, and, Tom

[_]

MS. HARLEY 837

WHATT: suddayne Chance hath darkt of late
the glorye of th'Arcadian State
the ffleecye fflockes, reffuse to feede
the Lambes to playe the Ewes to breede.
The Altars smoak the Offringes Burne
that Jacke and Tom, may safe Returne.
The Springe neglects his Course to keepe
the Ayre contynuall stormes doth weepe
The prettye Byrdes, disdayne to singe
the Meades to smyle, the Woodes to springe
The Mountaynes droppe the ffountaynes mourne
tyll Jacke and Tom, doe safe Returne.
Whatt, maye they bee that move this woe
whose want afflicts Arcadia soe
The hope of Greece the propp of Artes
was prencely Jacke the joye of hartes,
And Tom, was to our Royall Pan
his truest Swayne and cheiffest Man.
The loftye toppes of Menalus
did shake with wynde ffrom Hesperus
Whose freshe delitious Ayres did fflye
through all the Boundes of Arcadye
Which mou'd a vayne in Jack and Tom,
to see the Coast, this wynde, came ffrom.
This wynd, was Love which prences stoute
to pages turnes, butt whoe cann doubte
Where equall ffortune, Love procures
and equall Love, successe assures
Butt ventrous Jacke shall bring to Greece
The Beauteous prize, the golden ffleece.

193

Love is a world of manye Spaynes
where Coldest Hilles, and hottest playnes
With Barren Rockes, and ffertyle ffeildes,
by turne dispayre, and Comffort yeildes.
Butt whoe can doubte of prosperous lucke
where Love, and ffortune, doth conducte.
Thie grandsire greate, thie ffather to
were thine examples, this to doe
Whose brave attempts, in heate of Love,
both ffraunce and denmarke, did approve.
Soe Jacke and Tom doe nothing newe
when Love and ffortune they pursue
Kinde Sheappeardes, that haue lou'd them longe
bee not soe rashe, in Censuringe wronge
Correct your ffeares, leaue off to murne
the Heavens will favour there returne,
Remitt the Care, to Royall Pan
of Jacke his Sonne, and Tom, his Man.

195

DOUBTFUL POEMS


196

I. The kinges verses when he was fyfteene yeere old
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

Antithesis

[_]

ADD. MS. 4737

Since thought is thrall to thy ill will,
O troubled heart great is thy pain
Thought unreveeled may doe the ill
But words weill past come weill again
Be never carefull to invent
To gett thy owne, but Gods intent
Play not thy self with thy conceate
For God knoweth all that thou doeth meane
Hope without faith will bring the late
To thy intent for to atteane
And when it breaks furth in effect
Thy wylie witt will God correct
Since of fool haste come never good speed
Pray God to give thee grace to know
That vertue onlie forced by need
Serveth little thanks to the by law
On Gods will then see thou attend
If thou would vanquishe in the end

II.
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

[Here lyith I nakit, to the anatomie.]

[_]

NOTES AND QUERIES, 6th Series, vol. x, (1884), p. 186.

Here lyith I nakit, to the anatomie.
Of my faill hairt, o humane deyitie
O tryst the almychtie, loyk the almychtie uoird
O put one me thy rob, as quhylum lorde
Thou putist one myne, me in thy bloid beleiue
And in my souill, thy secreit law Ingraue.

197

III.
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

[Yf any be distrest and fayne woulde gather]

[_]

NOTES AND QUERIES, 1st Series, vol. v (1852), p. 195.

Yf any be distrest and fayne woulde gather
some comfort, let him hast unto......Our Father
for we of hope and healpe are quite bereaven
except thou suckcour us............which art in heaven
Thou shewest mercy, therefor for the same
we praysse thee singeing............hallowed be Thy name
of all our misseries cast up the sum;
Shew us thy ioyes, and lett..........Thy kingdome come
Wee mortall are, and alter from our birth;
Thou constant arte.................Thy will be done on earth
Thou madest the earth as well as planetts Seaven;
Thy name be blessed heere..........as 'tis in heaven
Nothing wee have to use, or debts to paye,
except thou give it us..............give us this day
Wherewith to clothe us, wherewith to be fedd,
for without Thee we wante..........our daily breade
Wee want, but want no faults, for no day passes
But wee doe sinn...................forgive us our trespasses
Noe man from sining ever free did live
forgive us Lorde our sinns...........as we forgive
Yf we repent our faults Thou ne're disdainest us
We pardon them...................that trespasses agaynst us

198

forgive us that is past, a new path treade us
Direct us alwaies in thy fayth.......and leade us
Wee thine owne people and thy chosen nation
into all truth, but..................not into temtation
Thou that of all good graces art the giver
Suffer us not to wander.............but deliver
Us from the fierce assaults of worlde and divell
and flesh, so shalt thou free us.......from all evil
To these petitions let boath church and laymen
with one concent of hart and voyce say........................Amen.