Englands vvelcome TO Iames by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith c. Wherein is shewed her zealous loue and reuerent dutie to her Soueraigne Composed into three Cantoes LONDON Printed for E.VV. and C.K. 1603. The Authors encouragement not to be discomforted for the follie of euery finde-fault IF men may credit auncient writs or nouels great of fame Or wander safelie through the straites where Wisedome winnes her name Or if deedes done in former daies may haue some fresh attyre To make the Reader arme himselfe a new with fresh desire Or if that Poets pennes may winne such profit for their paine As elder daies did gladlie yeeld as guerdon for their gaine Or if that praises spoke in right and glorie of a King Vnto the Author breed no spight but true aeternizing Then haue I hit the white where-at ten thousand shoote If acceptance be the leaues and gratitude the roote For why such Dastards as doe doubt the noyse of ratling Drum By my consent shall neuer be prefer'd to Captaines roome For he that doubts annoy before his sute begin May lump in bogue with countrie Kate when ventrous Ladies win So he that spares the poole to lade can hardly come by fish Nor he that still conceales his griefe can euer win his wish Nor yet the Meacocks minde that 's drownde in selfe conceit Can euer scale Pernassus Tops although the pathe be straight So he that feares the frumpe of euery lesting swaine Conceales the pride of natures gifts and spends his time in vaine Each writer must be arm'd to beare and brooke a scoffe And as it is by follie giuen with wisdome shake it off Dispaire not for a scorne leane still on patience staffe For Pallas clearkes are sifted out as Corne is from the Chaffe Striue thou with all thy strength the golden meane to keepe Please thou the good and let the rest in scorners saddle sleepe Let all the rash rewardes not make thee ill apaide Thy worke shall keepe thy fame aliue when they full lowe are laide And children yet vnborne shall descant on thy deeds With treble blessings to the ground that bare such happie seeds Grudge not to loose an inch so thou maist gaine an ell Feare not at all the fooles reproofe if wise-men like thee well Thou must be bought and solde by difference of delights Some laude the life of bloudy Mars some reuerence carpet Knights Some honor loue some loath her lawe some musicke doe esteeme Some hunt some hauke with seuerall sports such as they deerest deeme Giue euery man his scope to loue what he likes best Weake is the worke that willing mindes make not a welcome guest Leaue off thy hope to please both Court and countrie too Or else thou tak'st in hand a worke that Christ could neuer doe Driue from thy studie slouth with paine be busie still So shall thy wants be all excus'd and guarded with good wil. FINIS An Epitaph vpon the death of our late Soueraigne Ladie of famous memory Queene Elizableth ALL dames that euer tryumpht in ioy With sorrowfull hearts come waile ye Your pleasant Songs may turne to sobbet No sighings can preuaile yee A Diamond flower of late ye lost Whose loyall heart was kept with cost For euer let fame her name goe boast Shee makes me sigh when I should sleepe With blubberd teares lamenting No earthly ioy can profer'd be To my poore hearts contenting But still and still in sorrow I say A precious pearle is turn'd to clay Whose vertues floorisht as flower in may This wretched life compar'd may be Vnto the flowers springing Or to the bird on loftie bush That surged notes is singing Yet in the minute of an houre The fowler doth her breath deuour And life retaines no longer power The fragrants flower that euer did grow The beauty will be fleeting The brauest branch that euer did blow With Sythe sometime is meeting The stoutest heart that ere was borne Hath been disgrac't and left forlorne Death holdes all golden giftes in scorne What though her mortall shape be gone Her memorie restes behinde her Deseruing praise of worthy dames That many a day will minde her Then though her corpes be shrin'd in clay And death hath rest her hence away Her noble fame shall liue for aye Virtutie excepta concedunt omnia fato FINIS God saue I In memorable brasse let there be writ A An euerlasting storie of a King M Maruell of men wonder of chiefest wit E Eternall glorie doth to England bring S So let his stile be fram'd and he be said E Englands true King successor of a Maide K Know forraigne powers Englands true loyaltie I Is bent in seruice to her Soueraigne King N Nor shal the fierce allar'ms nor frowne of enemy G Giue alteration or daunted courage bring O O no she shall first in a scarlet flood F Fight to the lips with losse of dearest blood E Euen as the day which first proclaim'd his name N Neuer as yet did seeme to make an end G Glorious with bon-fires pyl'd on stateliest frame L Lookt like the morning the Sun the night which did pretend A A quiet raigne happy to our King N Neare ceasing Ioyes and his aeternizing D Do therefore England marching in stately traines E Englands true Leige-lord welcome bid King Iames. God saue King James THE COPIE OF the K. Maiesties letter to the L. Maior of the Citie of London and to the Aldermen and Commons of the same TRustie and welbeloued Wee greete you heartily well Being informed of your great forwardnesse in that iust and Honourable action of proclaiming vs your Soueraigne Lord and King immediatly after the decease of our late dearest sister the Queene wherein you haue giuen a singular good proofe of your ancient fidelitie a reputation hereditarie to that our Citie of London beeing the Chamber of our Jmperiall Crowne and euer free from all shadowes of tumultuous and vnlawfull courses We could not omit with all the speed wee might possible to giue you hereby a taste of our thankefull minde for the same And withall assurance that you cannot craue any thing of vs fit for the maintenance of you all in generall and euery one of you in particuler but it shal be most willingly performed by vs whose speciall care shall euer be to prouide for the continuance and increase of your present happines Desiring you in the meane time to goe constantly forward in doing all and whatsoeuer things you shall finde necessary or expedient for the good gouernment of our said Citie in execution of Justice as you haue bene in vse to doe in our said dearest Sisters time till our pleasure be further knowen vnto you Thus not doubting but you will do as ye may be fully assured of our gracious fauour towards you in the highest degree we bid you heartily farewell Halirudhouse the 28. of March 1603. Iames R. To our trustie and welbeloued Robert Lee L. Maior
molde What shall I speake of other dead reuiued Or make rehearsall of such obiects sere Of blind and lame of sence and sight depriued He made the dumbe to speake and deafe to heare He fowle infected soules from sinne did cure And vgly vlcer'd Leapers clensed pure When waltring waues and windes would ouerthrow The shaking ships amid the Seas ytost He caus'd the sturdie stormes to stoope below And saued ships and men like to be lost He made the lame in leaping beare his bed And with fiue loaues two fish fiue thousand fed He water wan conuerted into wine He daunted deuills and furies put to flight He for thy sake did let them strangle swine He taught all sorts of men to follow light His workes within no leaues can be enroul'd The ample world his wonders cannot hould Doe what he could his actions did displease His worthy words incurred spotlesse blame No Angell tongue their malice could appease They forged crymes and fained lyes did frame They mercilesse will kill their louing King Who came to shrow'd them vnder mercies wing Lost childe hells slaue Deuils guest did him betray For thee that Lambe was traterously solde The Ethnish doggs and Iewes haule him away They whip him bound vnto a piller colde The mightie maule of death diuell hell and sinne By coined lyes is falselie compast in His fathers wisedome diuine truth is taken God and man heauens lamp and glorious light Is of his owne deciples deare forsaken Is bound and led away as theefe by night He whipped is and beat till from the crowne Tot'h ground red streames of blood distilled downe Stout Gedons Trumpets kept the dreadfull sound His brickle Lanthornes broken shined bright But Christ his trumpe lay smothered in the ground The lamps of light and truth did lacke their light When Iewes their Maister bound away had led Th'Apostles into hollowe caues are fled Now Peters lofty vants and braggs are knowne That mightie mount is rent and shaken sunder A maidens voice the fact hath ouerthrowne A Cocks third cry proclaimes the rocke brought vnder That siluer bell hath lost it sounding tung Which all abroad with praise the Gospell rung The Lambe of God to Pilats hall is brought His dome and iudgement most vniust to haue Where fraud and false surmising witnes sought His worthy words by wresting to depraue They spit through spighte vpon his gracious face And they with blowes and buffets him disgrace When Diuels hell snakes foule fends and furyes fell Had fil'd blasphemous Iewes with poyson rancke Then they with spight contempt and malice swell Within their hearts mischeuous vennome sancke They sound these bloody words in Pilats hall We craue naile him on crosse before vs all They scoffe at him and laugh him vnto scorne And him as King in purple roabe array They spit they spight and crowne his head with thorne In iesting wise on knees all hayle they say They force him also beare a heauie crosse Tot'h place where he redeemed Adams losse They hoyse him vp vpon a filthie mount On crosse both hand and foote they fixed sure Betwixt two theeues whose worse they him account Where he most bitter torments did endure If all the Martirs paines were put in one They all to this should be esteemed none He thirsting on the crosse mans soule to saue Did fainting seeme to them for drinke to call They dreaming that indeed he drinke would haue In place thereof did proffer bitter gall Thus seru'd they him who suffered for thy sake The Lord of all who heauen and earth did make When this was done he yeelded vp the Ghost His soule he to his father did commend He offred vp himselfe a sacred hoast And so his glorious passion made an end All this he did for thee yet thou vnkinde Hast almost rac'd him quite out of thy minde When as the voice ended her long discourse She gaue me leaue a little for to pause Then hauing stood a while quite out of course Was euery thing and I the chiefest cause Nature quite out of course to checke my course Neglect her worke to worke in me remorse Then like a childe which hauing done amisse Doth trembling stand in feare of Maisters rod So did I then and gladly seem'd to kisse The very path where I might praise my God And as the childe doth wish the deed vndone So did I wish I had with him begun The voice which then did lately seeme to chide Did change her chaunt and did new comforts bring Saying oh England thou hast time and tide As yet remaining for to praise heauens King Take time by 'th bush that growes vpon his brow For that being past thou canst not take him now And if thou slip'st him now farewell my hope Thou shalt not haue occasion like to this Not God knowes when wherein will be such scope And cause of comfort where nothing is amisse Hauing wisedomes wealth vertues florishing Which makes thee happy through thy graue wise King Therefore to God which thus hath been thy stay All honour giue praise him eternally With hands and heart vp-throwne see thou dost pray Giue tryple laude vnto his Maiestie Giue praise to God the giuer of thy King In glorying him thou prayseth still thy King Then cease to praise and pray an other space That God may graunt him long and happy daies And prosper all his vertues with his grace That all the world may testifie his praise And that hee 'l send such wisedome from aboue That thou mayst him in dutie serue hee thee in loue This hauing said England said she adue Thinke on my words be sure when I am gone Giue God the praise and thou shalt neuer rue For all ensuing dangers comming on He of his mercie will keepe from thy King If thou to him dost onely glorie sing With that I heard caelestiall harmonie The voice departed straight into the ayre To heauen I thinke for it was heauenlie Sweet of all sweets and fayrest of all fayre Then I remembring what the voice had bod Sung these thankes-giuings to my liuing God A Song of thankes-giuing GOds name be glorifyed who with his heauenly might Hath hell in chiefe and top of pride put to a shamefull flight Who sent his onely Sonne mans sinfull soule to saue Which heere on earth a race did run to sinne a seruing slaue All glory be to God which in my widdow-hood Sent me a husband and a King to cheere my sorrowing moode I humbly therefore pray with praises to thy name That he directly so may liue his deedes may merit fame Powre downe thy heauenly deawe guard him with giftes of grace And triple all his former yeares to guide his Princely Mace Place truth amongst his traine confound all traytrous mindes Amongst the commons plant true zeale to doe as dutie bindes And lastly on my knees J pray my heauenly God From worthy Iames and from his Realme to stay his wrathfull rod. God saue King Iames. FINIS
of our Citie of London and to our welbeloued the Aldermen and Commons of the same Englands vvelcome TO Iames by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith c. Canto 1. EVen as a widdow hauing lost her spouse Doth close her mourning thoughts in sable hew So was 't with me when I lost my repose My sole defendresse hauing bid adew My adamantine rocke which was so true For like a widdow mourning for her mate I hung my head my trembling sence did shake I was affraide yet knew not what to feare A chilling tremor did possesse my bones I l stned still yet still I naught could heare Which did augment my mourning and my mones And made me sigh with many sorrowing grones Musing vpon my state I heard one sing Cheare vp thy heart for thou shalt haue a King This vnexpected voice pierc'd through my eares And made a passage to my sorrowing hart Where it was mourning circumcinct with feares Lamenting wofullie his maisters smart As one being smitten with a poysoned Dart. The voice amaz'd it it gaz'd on the voice The voice spake thus and bid my heart reioyce What though thy Prince haue had a prosperous raigne Thou must not thinke for euer t' enioy one Prince What though in peace she did thee long maintaine Peace-giuing God can giue an other Prince And he shall be a Noble vertuous Prince Which shall in wealth in loue in truth and peace Encrease thy ioyes encreasing still increase Long maist thou Ioy and he a Prince may be Whose Scepter swayes the glory of thy land Whose Sun-like beames Europe shall shining see Vpholding Englands good with happie hand Glorious adornment of thy peacefull land His states most state-like each in his degree Shall grac'd be by his gracious Maiestie And he himselfe grac'd by the Gods aboue With learning by Ioues of spring richly dight His minde hath beautified with wisdomes loue Paâ—las endu'd him Joue whome all men dread As all men ought that mighty King to dread All other graces which could wished be Hath dew'd in plenty on his maiesty Cease to lament encounter griefe with ioy And thou shalt quickely haue the vpper hand Ioy in thy King and thinke it is a ioy To haue a vertuous Prince gouerne thy land Which shall against all forraine foes withstand This hauing said quite vanisht was the voyce I rouz'd me vp my heart begun t'reioyce Yet still I stai'd and feard it was a dreame Me thought it was too pleasing to be true I look't about as gazing on a streame Ones eyes are dazled with the sliding view Seeing the water heere was there but new So were my eyes I naught distinct could see My eyes were in my minde minde in my eye Long had I not thus look't with mixed dint When loe I saw fast fixed on a poast A long broade scroule in Proclamation print And Nobles names vpon it were imbost Which did adorne the paper it the poast I started vp thinking to reade the names When vnderneath I saw God saue King James I trembling stood as one was still in feare I gaz'd about as one was still amaz'd Vntill a wel-tun'd concord I might heare With one consent and still one name they prais'd And still made me in feare which was amaz'd I drew me neere to heare what they did sing I heard them sing King Iames God saue our King Then as the widdow I reioyc't a fresh And quite forgot the sorrow I was in When she is tempt with frailty of the flesh To take new husband new Ioyes to begin And hauing taine him being trick and trim As she is gladsome on her wedding day So I reioyc't hearing them thus to say No sooner had I with mind-casting counts Ponder'd his title and his true descent His Noble vertues each other to surmount In high'st degree in striuing conflict bent His gratious wisdome and his gouernment But as the Sun enseweth still the raine My heart did leape and so reioyc't againe No sooner had my of-spring heard t' was true It had pleas'd God giue them a gratious King When each in pompe and each in publike view His royall name which did this comfort bring With one assent concordingly did sing My greater powers in state which state proclaimes With caps vp throwne God saue our King King James Thus loue and duety tooke each others parts They shew'd their duetie in obedience Loue shew'd it elfe within th ir ioyful hearts As when in loue with a selfe feeling sence The Louer giues his loue preheminence So did my people ioyfullie reioyce Lauding their King with one concording voice The little birds proude of this vnitie Begun to tune their chirping siluer'd notes The lofty trees glad of their harmonie Did entertaine them in their new greene coats Sending foorth musicke from melodious throats The tree's adorn'd the birds the birds the trees Who flockt into them as a swarme of Bees Which lately hauing left their wonted hiue Partly for noueltie and parte for loue For loue to let the little yonglings thriue Which doth in Bees a kindely nature prooue Themselues into some other place remooue Where on some bushe or clagging on some tree They doe remaine till they new hyued bee As flew the Bees in swarmes so did the birds For they came flocking to thee all haile sing trees As flee the Bees their hiue so did the birds They left the easings when past were colde degrees Of snowy winter and congealed freeze And singing set in trees welcome thou spring The springing happines of Iames our King Like trees and Birds so did Dame Tellus too For she put on her naturall ornaments As when her louer comes her for to wooe She decks her selfe in richest complements And doth perfume her breath with sweetest sents So did she now for this was in the spring And in her pride she went to meete our King I gladsome was to see her loyall roabe Her spangled garments and her light-some cheare As in a frostie night within the globe A glorious sight of bright-some starres appeare Who with their twinckling stemme now there now here So was her kirtle all imbrodring set Heere with a primrose there a violet Her other ornaments be suited this For she was Prince-like in her chiefest prime Her sweet perfumes she still did seeme to kisse As being glad they in so fit a time Came to adorne her that in pompe and prime With her delights she might new pleasures bring And be a ioyance to King Iames our King The modest Muses tended on her grace The Graces round about her seem'd to sing The frisking Fayries daunc'd their rounds apace The melodie was such the place did ring Their Song they sung was still God saue the King Amongst the rest I gladdest of the rest Tun'd vp my Lute and sung amongst the best A Sonnet LEt Phoebus in his brightest rayes Tune vp Appollos voice Let mortals in these happie daies With gladsome hearts reioyce With one
consent let vs all say Of late there hap't a happie day Therefore reioyce reioyce therefore reioyce sing For it hath pleas'd God to giue vs a King Let all the true and noble hearts Wherewith England abounds Vnto their King of rarest parts Be loyall subiects found Sing they melodious harmony Sing welcome welcome hartily Therefore reioyce reioyce therefore reioyce and sing For it hath pleas'd God to giue vs a King The second Canto AS I was singing thus with cheerefull voice The Anticke voice appeares which earst appear'd England quoth she seeing thou hast chiefest choyce Of true Nobilitie and gallant Peeres Why dost forget to recompence their cares Who with their wisedome and their pollicie Kept thee in peace being in miserie If that their wisedomes had not well fore-seene Thy dangers eminent being in distresse When thou hadst lost thy latest Soueraigne Queene Plunging in woe wayling in wretchednesse Lamenting still thy late lost Gouernesse Thou mightst haue falne to some seditious hand Which would haue rac'd thy name and spoil'd thy land Perhaps thou may'st thus foolishly reply They knew my King had right and tytle good Therefore I might liue in securitie Seeing that there was no feare of shedding blood The way to his succession plainly stood If thou sayst thus thou proou'st thy selfe vnwise For he that hath least right will soonest rise For he whose tytle is direct and plaine And needes no varnishing to set it out And hath a spotlesse minde free from disdaine And liues secure not hauing cause to doubt And feares no feare-full foes nor rascall route He soonest is deceiu'd and soonest harm'd For being set on he is found vnarm'd When as the proude set in ambitious throane Which by vnsurping haue obtain'd a crowne Are still in feare neuer are left alone But are persu'd with dangers vp and downe Byting their lips for anger then they frowne Bending their browes thinking't a hellish thing They cannot liue as safe as lawfull King But these I say like to a watchfull snake Neuer dare sleepe but with one open eye For euery doubt doth make their sences quake And feare doth force them oft t' vse crueltie And still perseuer in their tyranie For euery bud which may but danger bring They nip it off when 't is in tender spring Thus feare at al times armed is with force When sweet security is still vnarm'd And tyrants seldome euer brooke remorse When they may gaine by others that are harm'd They care not who be colde so they be warm'd And therefore England thou hast cause to grace Those Noble Peeres which did this feare deface She hauing said I look't and turn'd me round When presently the voyce that spoke was gone I cal'd a Iury and I guilty found My selfe which carelesly had left vndone Those worthy praises which I ought t' haue done Vnto those worthyes which proclaim'd my King Then tooke my Lute and thus againe did sing A Sonnet ALL those which late were wrapt in woe With ioyfull hearts let them come sing Their passed griefe and care let goe Let them reioyce they haue a King Let them say with one ioyfull heart Vertue and wisedome shines in Court Let them giue praises to our Peeres Which thus haue sow'd their wisedomes skill Which haue abandon'd gastly feares And fram'd each thing euen to our will Let them J say with ioy and mirth Be gladsome of bright wisedomes birth Let them giue praise to pollicie Which did fore-cast what should betide And let them in their iollicie And in the prime of all their pride Giue chiefest praise to chiefest wit Let them annex iudgement to it Let them giue praise vnto the olde Whose grand experience makes them graue Whose noble vertues shine like golde Or sparkling Diamond glistring braue Let this be sung sans flatterie For 't longs to our Nobilitie Long had I not thus prais'd my happie state When I was interrupted once againe I then grew angrie cursing cruell fate Which would not let me make my pleasures plaine I lookt about with furious disdaine When I behelde the voice in angry wise Which crying said England thou art not wise Thou art as brutish now as beastly swine Which vnder the broad Beech eates vp her mast Yet to the top their eyes doe neu'r incline Looking from whence it falles they eate so fast This similye before my eyes she cast England saith she giue but attentiue eare And in an other tune thou shalt me heare The third Canto in a differing verse THen grasping hard my conscience by the hand England quoth she tho' art now in happie case Thou hast a vertuous King t'gouerne thy land And grauest wisedome flowes in euerie place Thou dost reioyce and to them praises sing Yet dost forget the giuer of thy King Gods Sonne his fathers glorious shine who raignes In statelie throne earthes prop heauens mightie stay Whome furies feare and deuils in dragging chaines Whome men and beastes and Angels bright obay Twise borne who as a Gyant tooke his race From heauen was borne for thee in stable base He laide in cribbe new borne thy state lamented He wept for thee yfram'd of lumpish clay His head which earth and haughtie heauen inuented In stable vile on stonie pillow lay Thy King heauens Queene in homelie cloutes did holde Not wrapt in roabes be-wrought with wouen golde According to the law the Octane day His tender flesh with knife of stone was shred The auncient ryte he would not disobay For thee with paine his purple bloud was shed He death of death and conquerour of sinne Thy sauing health at first did thus beginne Through tyrants rage he could not rest in manger Ambition powred out a bloudie shower He fled through desarts wilde a wandring stranger Exylde to Aegipt in his tender flower From cribbe to caue he toyl'd to Nilus strand And thence with paine reiourn'd to Iewish land What did he heere his parents he obayes He wept for thee he watched night and day With eyes and hands to heauen vp-throwne he prayes He sought no pompe no rest no earthlie sway His light his life his deedes did others teach Vntill such time as he must goe to preach Where is his home where is a place of rest Repos'd for him wherein to lay his head The little bird can frame a quiet nest The wylie Fox can haunt a resting stead From cribbe to crosse whiles breath in him remaines He found no rest but trouble toyle and paines This King thy priest and Prince of happie peace Through Iewries land did trauell too and fro To cure both sicke and sore he did not cease No raging storme could hinder him to go Where he might worke his fathers worthy will And with lifes foode might soule and body fill An Angels trumpe from heauen proclaim'd his name Iesus who came lost Adams impes to saue Whose wondrous actes deserues eternall fame He Lazarus reuiued from the graue Whose stincking coarse and rotten carkas colde Foure daies and nights was couered in the