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1

POEMS FROM PRINTED TEXTS
[_]

Italicised letters have been used to denote editorial expansions of original contractions. Square brackets enclose editorial interpolations.

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I. SONNET.

When as my minde exemed was from caire,
Among the Nymphis my self I did repose:
Where I gaue eare to one, who did prepaire
Her sugred voice this sequele to disclose.
Conveine your selfs (ô sisters) doe not lose
This passing tyme which hasteth fast away:
And thow who wrytes in stately verse and prose,
This glorious Kings immortall gloire display.
Tell how he doeth in tender yearis essay
Aboue his age with skill our arts to blaise.
Tell how he doeth with gratitude repay
The crowne he wan for his deserued praise.
Tell how of Ioue, of Mars, but more of God.
The gloire and grace he hath proclaimed abrod.
M. W. F.
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II. SONNET

The Muses nyne haue not reueald to me
What sacred seedes are in their gardens sowne,
Nor how their Salust gaines the Laurer tre
Which throw thy toyle in Brittain groūd is grown;
But sith they se thy trauell treuly showne
In verteus skoole th' expyring tyme to spend,
So haue they to his hienes made it knowne,
Whose Princely power may dewly the defend.
Then yow that on the Holy mount depend
In christall ayr, and drinks the cleared spring
Of Poetrie, I do yow recommend
To the protection of this godly King,
VVho for his verteus and his gifts deuyne
Is only Monark of the Muses nyne.
FINIS.
M. V. F.
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III. SONET

TO THE ONELY ROYAL POET.
Where shall the limits lye of all your fame?
Where shall the borders be of your renowne?
In East? or where the Sunne again goeth down?
Or shall the fixed Poles impale the same?
Where shall the pillars which your praise proclaime
Or Trophees stand, of that exspected crowne?
The Monarch first, of that triumphant towne
Reuiues in you, by you renewes his name.
For that which he performd in battels bold,
To vs his bookes with wonders doth vnfold.
So we of you far more conceaue in minde,
As by your verse we plainelie (Sir) may see.
You shall the writer and the worker be,
For to absolue that CÆSAR left behinde.
M. W. Fovler. Mufa Cœlo beat.
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IV. EPITAPHE VPON THE DEATH OF SIR IOHN SEton

of Barns Knight, ane of the Lords of our Soueranes privie Counsell and Session.

To win in heaven, perpetuall praise and prise,
And that this Land, shuld seik and sigh for thee:
Yea, that our joies, even by thy death might dee,
Heir with thy corps, our confort also lies,
No private losse, bot publik all men spies.
And in this wrack, thair ruine dois foresee:
Whiles that the better sort; by heauens decree
Defaced are, quhais fame filles Earth, and Skies.
Thou rests with God, quha was belou'd of Kings,
And graced in their Court, quhais grace thou was,
The Pyrenees, nor Alpes, not bounds these things,
Quhilk from thy vertuous valiant mind did pas.
The limmits be the Polles of South and North:
With Ibere, Garon, Seine, Rhein, Thames and Forth.
ABIIT NON OBIIT.
M. W. F.
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V. AN EPITAPHE VPON THE DEATH OF THE RIGHT HONO- rable, M. Robert Bowes Esquire, Thesaurer of Barwick:

who ended this life, the sixteenth of November, 1597. Being at that present Ambassadour for the Queenes Majestie, to the King of Scotland.

Bvilde vp, O England! Statuaes, Arches BOWES,
And Tombes, and Pillers, to his liuing fame,
Who was the wisdome of the valiant BOWES,
And solide honour, of that ancient name.
And you white Swannes, of Thames, and Tweide, proclame
Your grieuous losses, and his high desert,
Who both his courses, and his cares did frame,
All dangers from your bankes aye to divert.
He lou'd his Queene, and crowne, with vpright heart:
Postponing private wealth, to publicke weale:
He all his thoughts, and counsels did convert:
To peace For CHVRCH, & for the STATE with zeale.
And now at last, hath pearst the heauens a-laft,
Whose bodie was the BOWE, and Soule the SHAFT.
The Raine-Bowes now of peace, are cloudes vn-cleare:
And Concordes mouth, now speachlesse lyes alace,
Yea Englands MERCVRE, passing MERCVRES sphære,
By grace hath gone, to the EMPERIALL place.
Where neither bounds, nor limits, endes, nor space,
Nor was, nor shall, nor time to come, or past:
But all in presence are, before his face:
Who was the MAKER first, and MOVER last.
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Why then should I, such projects seeme to cast?
To make him famous, who is elles divine.
(Whose soule with heauenly MANNA is repast,
To whom the Lord, doth lasting crownes propine.)
Or yet him offer? which he doth not craue,
In making TEARES his TOMBE, & GRIEFS his GRAVE.
Abiit Non Obiit.
By M. WILLIAM FOWLER Secretarie to the Queenes Majestie of Scotland.
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VI. A FVNERAL SONET,

Written vpon the death of the Honorable, and maist vertuous Gentlewoman, Elizabeth Dovvglas, spouse to M. Samvell Cobvvrne Laird of Temple-Hall.

If vertue could haue died, here vertue lies,
If Bewtie, Bountie, and vnspotted fame,
If euer glorie, glorifieng a dame,
Could be deforst, here death his forces tries.
O! with quhat eyes? quhat teares? or with quhat cries?
Might I lament this losse, and Clotho blame.
Eyes, pearse the Heauens. Cries, sound throgh earth her name.
Teares dimme the air through woe, and cloud the Skies.
To the chaste Dame, the Heauens dois serue for graue:
Thy Funeralles my Muse with heauie tone
Shall celebrate, and sound in all mens eares:
This doth thy vertue, and thine honour craue.
Though carelesse thou, how euer this be done.
Quha sitts in Heauen, and smyles to see my teares.
ABIIT, NON OBIIT.
M. W. F.
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