Queene El'zabeths losse, and King Iames his vvelcome

Queene El'zabeths losse , and King Iames his welcome . YOu sacred sp'rits that haunt Pernassus spring , Whose soaring thoughts mounted on Pegas ' wing Do pierce the ●●ies 〈…〉 ising from lowly dust Euen whom you l●t , & whom you list downe thrust . You whom the Muses all do ioyntly greete , Eate , and drinke Nectar , and Ambrosta sweete . My weakeling Muse did many wishes make , That some of you her taske would vndertake ; I thought in silence still my cares to keepe , These are true teares , which we vnwitnest weepe . But since my plaints I do so publicque make , Seemeth I put on blacke for fashions sake . This caus'd my Muse her wishes to powre forth , Some abler wit would shewe his Muses worth . But since in vaine : she takes in hand the same , And sings sad Anthems to Elizaes name . What , is Elizaes name so soone forgot ? It cannot be : how then ? she heares them not . Scarce one is found to sing her dying praise , Whom all admir'd and honor'd in her daies . But whilest she liu'd : O God! yet still she liues In heauen ! I , and on earth . Her vertue giues Her this : she liues in her late subiects hearts , Shee liues in her successors vertuous parts , Shee liues in him ( euen in despight of Fate ) To whom she left her vertues , crowne , & state . Her vertues fame haue built her such a tombe , As shee shall liue euen till the day of doome : And then enioy the happie company Of all the blessed , euerlastingly . Her soule ( no doubt ) can now alreadie tell What guerdon Princes haue that gouerne well . My Muse dares vndertake for to disclose Nothing , but what the meanest reader knowes . What subiect liued in her happie daies That felt no warmth from her resplendant raies ? And feeling them , who would not seeke to know The spring from whence these happie blessings flow ? Her birth and vertuous life are so well knowne , Each one can tell as much as may be showne , Yet cannot this my zealous dutie stay , Though I shew nothing but what each can say . Greenwich , Westminster , Richmond , famous Bee , For shee was borne , crown'd , died in these three . Henry the eigth ( sprung from th' vnited Rose , Which match for Englands good God did compose ) Had by his second choise this budde diuine , Whose lustre through the world so cleare did shine ; Elizabeth whom God Almightie gaue Fulnesse of peace , and honor to the graue . Fulnesse of God , so doth her name import : How well th' euent and name together sort ? Sure there s a mysterie in Princes names , For we do hope our royall L. King Iames Will proue a true Maintainer of the faith , ( As both his name and his iust title saith ) Fidei defensor . The Pope he will supplant , Christs Church maintaine . Kings haue their names seldome imposde in vaine . But we put on too fast , let 's backe returne , And thinking on our losse againe let 's mourne . I will not speake of her exterior parts , But of of her minde , adorn'd with liberall Arts : Yet he that would describe them with his quill , Had need of Homer's or a greater skill . Not England only , but the world doth know Her learned wisedome : then what need I show What 's so well knowne ? how each Embassador Shee answere could without Interpretor ? Greeke , Latin , French , Spanish , Italian , Shee vnderstood : and spake them euery one , Or of her knowledge in diuinitie ? Her practise show'd it most apparantly . Why tell I this ? but to lament her death , Vnder whose happie raigne I first drew breath . This rose is cropt , alasse , a heauie case : But that t' is planted in a better place . But of her life since that she liu'd so well , Be bolde my Muse a litle for to tell : So well she liu'd , the learnedst man of all It to describe would finde his wit too small , My simpler wit , doing the best it can , Scarce shewes a droppe of that huge Ocean Of her praise-worthy vertues , my good will May ( as I hope ) excuse my slender skill . First , for her infancie and childish yeares I ouerslip ; though euen in them appeares Matter well worthy of a brazen pen , And leaues of hardest Marble : but yet when Her riper yeares with iudgement we do deeme , The former then we not so much esteeme . These vertues then come to perfection , The which before seem'd in election . My slender reede doth purpose to set downe Only such vertues as adorn'd her crowne . And first as chiefe of all shall be exprest , How Gods religion which her selfe profest Shee did establish : banisht Poperie , With superstition and Idolatrie . Her heartie zeale sought both by deed & word , To build the ruind Temple of the Lord : Proud Antichrist , and hautie Spaine did striue To cut her off , whom God preseru'd aliue , Safely preseru'd with his outstretched arme From murder , poyson , and all other harme Which Popish bulles , or Spanish gold procur'd , Blinde zeale prouok'd , or wicked Mammōlur'd . Nay that indeed at which Spaine most repines , She stor'd her treasury with Indian Mines : The which her bounty mongst her subiects parts , And laid vp surer treasure in their harts . Neuer was Prince of subiects better loued , Neuer in Prince like care for subiects proued . From poore mans sute she neuer turn'd her face , Her meanest subiects right she still would grace . Blest be that God who lent vs such a Queene , Whose like before no mortall eye had seene . The fiue and fortith yeare of her blest raigne , When she had liu'd neare three score yeares & ten , She paide the God of nature her last debt , And di'de in peace , without impeach or let Of home-bred traitors , or else forraigne foes , God gaue this comfort to appease our woes . Who though she liu'd and di'de a perfect maide , Left such an Heire of whom it may be saide , We lost the Iewell which we loued best , Had it restor'd againe with interest . We may well say ; Had not our losse bene such , 〈…〉 jssemus perijss 〈…〉 . ( T' is well we may so say ) we had lost much . Richmond it was first brought in Tudors name , Richmond it was abolished the same . Henry of Richmond brought to vs that peace Which al true English harts pray ne'er may cease . Now pray with me al that loue Englands good , God would for euer stablish in his blood This kingdomes rule , and these to it belong , God still defend them from all manner wrong . My hopefull spirit saies it so shall bee , Since Peeres and people do so well agree . For now the Councell and the Peeres are bent , A new King to proclaime with full consent : Both Peeres and people make the streets to ring , God saue King Iames the first , our royall King . Each faithful subiect now himselfe doth straine The best he may , his King to entertaine . How many a ioyfull Aue's sent before : My ( Hayle ) comes limping latest of a score . My teares ( alas ) do so be-blind my sight , I wipe mine eyes whilest they outstrip me quite ; Yet doubt I not but that his royall minde Holdes me excus'd , although I come behinde . How can that heart loyall to him appeare , That for Eliza cannot shed a teare ? He knowes her losse what subiect doth not mone , Would do the like by him , if he were gone . And those that wash her tombe with their salt teares , Do wish him many , many happie yeares . Now my blacke plume's to red and yealow turnd , And now I ioy as fast as erst I mournd . My sorrowes all lye buried in her tombe , Heart leape for ioy , for now King Iames doth come . Come Englands hope , come hither merrily , Bring with thee many yeares of Iubily . The Locusts that did wish Eliza dead , At thy names sound suddenly vanished . O if thy name had power to daunt them so , ( Most royal King ) what would thy presence do ? Thy lineall right banisht dissention , Thy princely vertues wrought this vnion . Our heartie praiers sent before to meete thee , Wish thy good speed : our eies do long to greete thee . Those whom Elizaes losse wounded to death , Thy glorious name hath giuen a second breath . The Merchant traffiques still without disturbe , Th' artificers or trades-men , feare no curbe Of malecontent , Papist , or Libertine , Next vnto God ( great King ) the praise be thine . The earth is till'd in peace , the ground is drest , Each vnder his owne vine in peace may rest . Thy princely wisedome , or thy rightful claime , My infant Muse dares scarce presume to name : This , hath a riper penne alreadie donne , And made apparant as the midday Sunne : For that , the spacious world full wel doth know Thy selfe ( heroick Monarch ) best can show . The Princely Poet , and the Poets Prince , That name thou art acquainted with long since . Thy many vertues also are proclaimed , Thy iustice and thy fortitude are named , As peerelesse mongst the rest , happie our land When fortitude and iustice take in hand To guide the helme , nay thou maist challenge all : Foure kingdomes , and foure vertues cardinall . Thy kingly vertues , thou a King canst tell , No other can declare them halfe so well . When Dauid teacheth Salomon his sonne , Feare God ( my childe ) and liue as I haue donne . O happie is that land when Kings so teach , Where vertue by example they do preach . My Muse weepes teares of ioy , in hope to proue Dauid doth raigne the man whom God doth loue . King Iames doth raigne whom God doth loue so much , God loues them still whose loue to him is such . Now Saturnes golden times wil come againe , And now no vice our common-weale shall staine . For as the King to good or bad doth frame His life , the people imitate the same . Thy England now doth like a longing wife Expect thy comming ; then she hopes no strife Should dare disturbe her quiet : all with one accord Wish to behold their King , their dread liege lord . And I amongst the rest of meanest place , Throw vp my hat , and say God saue your Grace . FINIS .