A SOLDIERS WISH UNTO HIS SOVEREIGN LORD KING JAMES.  
LONDON, Printed by john Harison, and are to be sold in Pater noster row, at the sign of the Greyhound. 1603.   

To the right honourable the Lords and others of her late majesties privy Counsel: Robert Pricket wisheth all increase of honour and Celestial happiness.  
RIght honourable, I humbly entreat your honours vouchsafe to patronize this little book, for in the absence of my sovereign, I know not unto whom better to direct the same, 〈◊〉 unto you my honoured Lords whose prudent, wise, and foreseeing consideration, hath for these many years principally assisted the protection of England's safety; if your Lord▪ shall be pleased to peruse the lines herein contained, I hope not any word in them shall prove offensive, for my heart hath desired nothing more than to manifest my loves best wishes unto my Lord and King. I humbly refer the discourse to be censured by your wisdoms: and yet desires (if your honours shall think it worthy) that it might pass unto the star bright eye of England's Majesty, to whom a Soldier wisheth a happy Coronation, and a long, continued, blessed, peaceful, triumphant, and victorious Reign, to God's glory and England's benefit, and that your honours may be unto his Majesty, as late you were to Queen Elisabeth.  
Your Lordships in all humbleness of duty. Robert Pricket.   

A Soldiers wish unto his Sovereign Lord King james.  
Thrice noble King the wonder of our days,  
Give leave my Muse may speak thy virtues praise;  
A soldiers hand made rough with Iron war:  
Not smoothly can with Poet's lines confer.  
Aonian banks he doth not use to tread,  
But march where Mars a warlike step doth lead:  
If roughly then into his verse he breaks:  
A Cannon's mouth, a boisterous languish speaks.  
Thence doth he learn: for muskets, pikes, and swords,  
Do teach a Soldier: no great choice of words.  
Yet in the hope of his Dread Sovereign's love:  
A Poet's skill he thus desires to prove.  
Geeat peerless Prince I need not to derive,  
The line all race which doth our hopes revive.  
Thy kingdom England: knows thy true dissent,  
And yealds itself unto thy government.  
And first, my wish doth pearcs the Crystal sky,  
And humbly prays heavens greatest Majesty;  
That in our far renounde Eliza's stead,  
Her Crown may stand upon thy princely head.  
Fair England hath this forty four years been,  
The Kingdom of the world's renowned Queen.  
High jove did by the wonder of his hand,  
Raise her upon a regal throne to stand;  
That by her means he might his children bring,  
With peace to rest under her princely wing.  
When Rome's black vail of everlasting smoke,  
Did strongly strive the purest light to choke.  
Even when the Pope that Antichristian devil,  
Had turned all good into the worst of evil.  
Changing the truth of everlasting verity:  
Into the dreams of faithless friars imagery.  
Leaving the Oracles of Gods eternal will,  
Ruling by strength of vain traditions skill.  
Seeking to race Christ jesus kingdom down,  
For to uphold an Antichristian crown.  
Burning alive all those that would deny,  
To yield unto their gross idolatry.  
When England thus was massicred by Rome,  
The just condemned by injustice doom.  
Then God in mercy to his children sent,  
A gracious Queen: to salve their woes lament.  
Dread sovereign, your royal self no doubt,  
Have hard how God did bring this work about.  
And how he saved our Queen from danger great,  
To set her safe upon a Princely feat.  
That she thereby that Gospel might advance,  
Which drowned was in darksome ignorance.  
And when he had installed her regal throne.  
She peerless lived upheld by God alone.  
No foreign foes could once her land invade,  
Proud Spain to fly by England's force was made.  
No treasons plot laid by the best advice,  
Of Rome and Spain could work her prejudice.  
No Popish pardoned perjured traitors vow,  
To be of force would heavens great God allow.  
But to the horror of Rome's usupped name.  
His champions all were brought to public shame.  
No hell borne hand distained with villainy,  
Could get advantage 'gainst her dignity,  
For all the treasons bend against her life,  
Brought traitors to the slead, the rope, the knife.  
In spite of devil and hell and men made devils,  
God kept her safe from all sinister evils.  
So that her throne was to the world a wonder;  
No king nor Queen like her the heavens clouds under.  
All her attempts did prosper royally,  
And crowned were with glorious victory:  
Her people so were hallowed for her sake.  
As that in war there Pikes did passage make.  
Through tropes of men the Holland states do know,  
By England's hands there honour first did grow.  
And Spain hath seen through clouds of smoke and fire  
How England's fame did to the heavens aspire.  
More could I speak, but this I briefly tell,  
heavens maiden Queen in all things prospered well.  
And whilst she lived in peace her sceptre swayed,  
With such renown as mighty kings dismayed,  
Did in amazement say unto there Lords,  
Go see if truth with fame's report accords,  
Beyond the bounds of Europekings most great,  
Did send to see the Queen of England's seat.  
And thus her state in fame all kings above,  
Was safely kept by Ioues celestial love.  
And all her time: the beauty of our story,  
Shined in her land with unecclipsed glory.  
The king of peace her his lieutenant made,  
When as his kingdom did in her kingdom fade.  
She once a Queen the kingdom of heavens King:  
On earth she made to be a glorious thing.  
Salvation sound by world's redeemer sent,  
Was fetch from forth a saviours testament.  
Whose written word for ever firmly stands,  
Caractered first by Euangelian hands  
Whose golden pens commanded were to wright,  
No more but what heavens king should first indite  
That king of kings that mercy most esteem d:  
That jesus Christ who us from hell redeemed,  
His Gospel was the glory of our land,  
Whereby we learned the truth to understand.  
And so our Queen on Christ her faith did ground  
As that her fame did through earth's kingdoms found  
And Christ did unto her his love reveal,  
When as by him her hand had power to heal:  
Her snow white palm by faith had virtue such,  
As that the sick she healed with gracious touch.  
Thousands diseased that did her mercy pray,  
Touched by her hand were safely sent away.  
And for by faith, the sick were thus redreste:  
Her sound belief, was by that truth expressed.  
That faith in Christ whose written verity,  
Was daily preached by England's ministry,  
Unto our Queen a crown of glory sent,  
Whose precious beauty was her souls content.  
For to obey that law which Christ had taught,  
Our Queen herself and all her subjects brought,  
Thence did proceed the glory of her state;  
No strength had power her hopes to ruinate,  
And therein stood a soldiers name renowned,  
When he should fight for her whom Christ had crowned.  
And when by her that Christ our heavenly Lord,  
Ruled like a King by sceptre of his word;  
Then God, than Christ, than Queen, than country's laws:  
Held in themselves a most supreme applause.  
No cause can well a soldiers name commend,  
But when his sword shall all those rights defend.  
And for them all a soldiers arms I bear,  
My quarel's just nor men nor devils I'll fear.  
But now my Queen whom I have thus commended,  
Her heavenly soul is unto heaven ascended.  
Her peaceful reign in peace did end her days,  
Heaven hath her soul, the earth retains her praise.  
And now I will a sovereign look to find,  
Endued with all the virtues of her mind.  
And thus my king my verse shall now return,  
To thee whose heart with godly zeal doth burn.  
God left our Queen this kingdom to maintain,  
Whilst by his word he taught thee how to reign,  
For in the kingdom where thy rule was seen,  
The law of Christ hath in that kingdom been.  
Thy royal thro' one and sceptre bearing hand,  
Did strive with truth in equal life to stand.  
Most prudent, wise, and just in every thing,  
Approved was Prince james then Scotland's king.  
And for thy heart with God did stand upright,  
He now hath raised thee to a greater might.  
Great King how may thy heart with joy be glad,  
When God to one three kingdoms more doth add.  
How good a thing is it that God to serve,  
Who thus rewardeth them that well deserve?  
Great king I know thy ever righteous heart,  
Will dignify the worth of thy desert.  
And make us blessed by thy virtues grace,  
Because thy soul the way of truth doth trace.  
Well may I say thy prudence thought upon,  
That God hath sent a second Solomon.  
Whose wisdom shall adorn his kingly name,  
And to all kingdoms memorise his fame.  
Thy royal hand O king hath wisely tried,  
To prove thy heart divinely sanctified.  
Thy Angel spirit with David's pen doth wright  
And wisdom gives thy mind a glorious light.  
Cloaven tongues of fire have made thy muse divine,  
In all thy words a heavenly grace doth shine.  
Thy work approves thy exercise hath been,  
In holy writ true judgement thence to win.  
With how great joy may all good people say,  
A godly king shall England's sceptre sway.  
Whose royal self with kingly domination.  
Shall build his house upon a firm foundation.  
For such hath been his virtues preparation,  
That God for him will bless his kingdom's nation.  
England regard how God hath thee respected,  
And how thy weal is still by him protected.  
And now whilst that it may be called thy day,  
Turn to thy God and all his laws obey.  
Peruse thy state & then thou mayest behold,  
The love of God with merces many fold.  
Even when the time was come that wild ones wished,  
Even than their hopes were presently dismiste.  
And quiet peace with gracious calm content,  
Proclaimed King whose princely regiment,  
Shall wrap thy glory in a golden vale,  
And make thy fame, the star-bright skies to scale,  
Thy house of honour, shall be built a new:  
And in their state, thou shalt thy nobles view.  
But this I charge, where justice made surprise,  
Let not a thought so much as mutinise:  
I speak with love unto my countries weal,  
There is no salve, hath power dead things to heal:  
But every branch of honour that doth live,  
God unto them their ancient honours give:  
That England may for many hundred years,  
Attend her King with all her princely Peers.  
And this I hope in glorious sort to see,  
When great King james our crowned King shall be.  
Pray England then God may thy Sovereign bless:  
In whom consisteth all thy happiness,  
Thus mighty King thy own is given to the,  
Thyself alone is England's Majesty,  
Come to thy kingdoms, in peace thy Crown enjoy,  
Who wish not so, God's judgements them destroy,  
Coraga then for that's a soldiers term,  
Thy God oh King shall shield thy throne from harm:  
Thy heart obeys the sceptre of his word.  
Strong therefore will he make thy kingdoms sword,  
Come then brave prince, make England's earth to ring:  
With hundred thousands tongues, that cries God save the King  
The hearts of England are in preparation,  
To dignify thy glorious Coronation.  
Come with the spring, in the our sping doth flourish  
Thy royal hand shall England's kingdom nourish:  
The heavens and earth agrees with choice of time,  
To raise thy fame above the clouds to climb:  
God makes a promise that thy Reign shall be,  
As was our Queens in princely dignity:  
For well we know the written truth shall stand,  
Like gold to gild the Churches in thy land:  
Imperious prince be then thy right possessed,  
And make thy Queen, a glorious Emperest.  
Thy Royal race incorporated right:  
In blood of Kings that were of greatest might,  
Tells that thy name with glorious power shall grow,  
And that the world thy valiant strength shall know.  
And as I think divinest destiny,  
Did promiss at thy blessed nativity,  
That in thy race there should be something done,  
Whose glorious fame through all the world shall run.  
And in this hope, thy kingdom England lives,  
Thy happy issue such great comfort gives;  
A King, a Queen, a Prince, a Duke, all these  
Great titles, do thy England's people please:  
For they rejoice to see each princely bud,  
That springs from forth King Henry's Royal blood.  
And now whilst that the world, a world is called,  
No doubt thy throne is in thy line installed:  
This makes the land thy presents to expect,  
Whose prudent wisdom must her weal protect:  
Thy nobles here united all in one,  
Humbly attends their King to wait upon:  
Thy City London, doth itself address,  
The love unto her sovereign to express.  
There shall the King a hundred thousand see,  
Lift up their hands, and bow an humble knee:  
And cry King james, God by thy power defend,  
Their echoing shouts shall to the heavens ascend:  
The commons all, thinks long to see that day,  
God save the King, their hearts desires to say;  
Thy England in all pomp of Royalty,  
Prepares great King thy throne to dignify:  
The wealth of England all her gold and treasure,  
Offers itself unto king james his pleasure.  
A fleet of ships, enriched with wars great thunder,  
Whose force hath caused earths nations all to wonder,  
That Navy Royal, the terror of Spain's fear,  
The name and fame of great King james doth bear:  
The strength of England, and each defensive town,  
Offers themselves unto king james his Crown:  
For England's Crown is made his proper own,  
The great king james for England's king is known:  
Great Caesar's tower, with her unvalued store,  
Doth with her strength & wealth king james adore:  
And England's Court doth for his presence crave,  
That gallant state doth wish king james to have:  
The pleasure of fair England's pleasant land,  
Doth give itself into king james his hand.  
All those rich honours that befits a king,  
They will themselves unto their Sovereign bring:  
The laws of England will themselves derive,  
From great king james his high prerogative.  
The Church in England our sweet saviours spouse  
Next unto Christ king james her head allows.  
And Ireland which did in rebellion stand,  
Is conquered now, unto king james his hand.  
And thus great King thy greatness doth excel,  
All princes that in Europe's compass, dwell:  
And now my wish desires that day to see,  
When james the king of England crowned shallbe.  
That then my eyes may my dread Soveraingne view  
When all his own becomes his proper due,  
Then do I look that God's Lieutenant here,  
Shall like earth's God most gloriously appear:  
Armed in the strength of true salvations law  
Thereby to keep his kingdoms land in awe,  
And then oh King, heavens Lord shall be thy God,  
Who in his wrath will with an Iron rod:  
Bruse and break down the strength of every arm,  
That but attempts to do thy highness harm,  
And then thy Crown shall sure established be,  
To the Oh King and thy posterity.  
Because thy heart upon thy God doth wait,  
He will thy throne exalt to highest height:  
A race of princes from thy loins shall spring,  
And each of them shall be a mighty King.  
Thy seed for evershall thy throne adorn,  
And Kings and Queens shall to thy sons be borne:  
From the and thine shall dangers force be bard,  
God's Angels shall be your celestial guard,  
When foreign kings against thy state shall rise,  
Thy England shall their forces soon surprise:  
God shall in arms thy warlike vanguard lead,  
And make thy foes thy battles fight to dread:  
That when their eyes upon thy glory look,  
Their backs shall turn before a blow be struck:  
And when they fly to scape their danger's thrall,  
On their own swords themselves by heaps shall fall.  
The files and ranks upon thy battles wing,  
Amidst their troops shall heavenly Angels sing:  
Whose music shall thy men encourage so,  
As boldly they upon their foes shall go.  
Thy rearward strength shall Angel hands defend,  
A heavenly host shall on thy powers attend;  
Thy battle shall with such great force be knit,  
As all thy foes shall never enter it:  
Thy troops of horse, thy pitched battalions guarding,  
Thy proudest foes shall fear their valiant charging  
Thy Royal self in kingly dignity,  
With joy shalt see thy glorious victory.  
This to effect when wars allarams come,  
Great multiudes shall wait upon thy drum:  
Thy kingdom can no doubt afford the then,  
A hundred hundred thousand fight men.  
But our long peace free from contentious jar,  
Hath made them such great strangers unto war:  
That want of skill will work thy kingdoms wrong,  
Unless they learn what things to war belong.  
I wish that peace wars children nourish might,  
So as they may defend their mother's right:  
That when as danger brings itself in sight,  
They well may know to order every fight.  
For God commands each welcommended means  
Be used to shield a kingdom from extremes:  
Thus by our God thy kingdoms state erected,  
Shall by his love securely be protected:  
And thus King james shall to his Crown retain,  
The glory of our late Eliza's Reign.  
And add unto his glories now begun,  
More than could by a maiden Queen be done.  
In which attempt, when justice gives the word,  
I then desire to use a soldiers sword:  
And in my heart thus much I contemplate,  
I shall not need the lines effeminate:  
A Lady's letter shall not a Soldier shake,  
Nor be of force, a captains name to make.  
But due desert, a soldiers cause shall plead,  
And tried experience shall the vanguard lead:  
Those bodies that shall for their country bleed,  
No reason but their country should them feed.  
And England's law for them provideth so;  
But now our name unto our King shall go.  
My Sovereign King, my life is only thine,  
And nothing else within this world is mine:  
And whilst my God shall suffer me to live,  
My lives employment to my King I give.  
And when you please that Soldiers used shall be,  
My Sovereign Lord, even then remember me:  
In dust and blood my life I'll sacrifice,  
To serve my king 'gainst England's enemies.  
My little skill it were in vain to boast,  
But were I tried amidst a warlike host,  
I would not think but be sufficient then,  
In wars array, to range ten thousand men:  
Yet in my heart I England's peace prefer,  
And not desire to see a causeless war.  
But for my God, my Christ, my King, my land,  
I ready am to take my sword in hand.  
These humble lines an infant muse hath fed,  
And left them rough, not wisely polished.  
Unfit to swim unto that blessed shore,  
Where springs the tree of sacred wisdoms lore:  
Where Majesty locked up in princely eyes,  
With mercy mixed in Courts of safety lies.  
Yet that word mercy, bids my muse to fly,  
Unto the throne of England's Majesty.  
And having wished to him all happiest health,  
At's princely foot she humbly throws herself:  
I cannot smooth with flatteries filled phrase,  
Wherein doth stand a Poet's gilded praise.  
A warlike pike is made a soldiers pen,  
Where with is writ the deeds of worthy men.  
And like a Soldier with a subjects zeal,  
I thus my love unto my King reveal;  
And wish all good, with an unfeigned heart,  
That heaven and earth can to his grace impart.  
Humbly my wish unto his period comes,  
Praying for King, for Queen, for princely Sons,  
Unto them all my God thy love express,  
Protect them safely, increase their happiness.  
And in thy mercy let not England's sin,  
Blast the fresh flowers of our glorious spring:  
Unite two lands that but by name stands parted,  
Their people bless, and make them single hearted.  
England and Scotland, let all their Lords agree,  
And serve their King in loves best purity:  
Then Ireland's rebels full soon there is no doubt,  
From doing harm will all be razed out.  
These kingdoms God in peace together knit,  
That on his throne King james may safely sit.  
So in their hopes those minds shall quickly quail,  
That thought ere this the Pope should most prevail:  
The self same law which Christ himself did teach  
The self same law, shall England's pastors preach:  
And all God's children shall rejoice with joy,  
To see their King, the beast of Rome destroy:  
Thus England now provide thy triumphs games,  
In honour of thy mighty prince King james.   

here followeth an excellent Poem wherein the author hath comprehended, the principal effect of all before written, and this he desires to dedicate to the Lord Mayor of London and his brethren, as a testimony of his love unto there wisdoms, and well ordered cities government, and humbly prayeth that the beauty of there state may long be continued to the honour of the King of England and his kingdom generally.  

Celestial graces help my muse,  
By your divine direction.  
That it may well that state peruse,  
Upheld by Ioues protection.  
Whose honours praise doth far surmount,  
All nations of the best account.  
And tells the world that her bright glory,  
For ever lives in fames true story.   

England that I'll with seas enclosed,  
Whose state twice twenty two years stood.  
Ruled by a Queen by heaven composed.  
To be the best of every good,  
That human race did ever yield.  
Her praises heaven and earth hath filled.  
Her royal hand did kings control,  
Earth hath her fame, and heaven her soul▪   

That happy land when change had wrought,  
Occasion that did menace war.  
By council wise full soon was brought,  
In peace to order every jar.  
The day that caused sad griefs annoy,  
The self same day procured much joy.  
Farewell sweet Queen did sorrow bring,  
But joy embraced the name of king.   

A true descent from race of kings,  
Raised up a king to England's crown,  
Whose virtues praise the muses singes,  
He is Prince of great renown.  
England's nobles true honour gained,  
When they king james, there king proclaimed.  
His prudent, wise, and valiant spirit:  
Doth like a King a kingdom merit.   

Wondrous, and yet a pleasant sight.  
Did cross reports contention,  
When Earls and Lords, and many a knight,  
With wisdoms best prevention,  
Did stop the mouth of private hate,  
With love unto the public state.  
And still I wish that things foredone,  
Spoil not the glories now begun.   

London I will thy fame impart,  
To stranger countries, for my eyes  
Did see the worth of thy desert,  
I will thy wisdom memorise.  
Thy people governed with like awe,  
As when thy Queen ruled by her law.  
The name of King no more could crave,  
All tongues did cry the king God save.   

Thy commons did in order stand,  
With careful watch to guard thy peace.  
Hearing what king should rule there land,  
Then with a smile there sighs did cease.  
With tears they did their Queen deplore;  
With love they did there king adore.  
And then the joy of there desires,  
Filled London streets with triumphs fires.   

Disordered minds looked for that coil,  
Which there degenerate thoughts had wished,  
When they might fill their hands with spoil,  
But now there hopes are all dismiste.  
The sea of Rome with all her friends,  
The hope of there proceedings ends.  
And England doth with peace embrace,  
The glory of Eternal grace.   

World's great fame and wonders mirror,  
Let honour now thy hopes renew.  
Thy peaceful state hath been wars terror  
Great kings hath sent thy court to view.  
Thy sovereigns' sceptre bearing hand,  
Upon a four fowld throne doth stand.  
Let constant love thy state enclose,  
And fear not then a world of foes.   

England, thy God hath showed his love,  
Stand on thy guard, the truth defend.  
And such as would contentions move,  
Teach them to know how they offend.  
Fetch home thy king and him annoin.  
Whom God and nature doth appoint.  
Thy Autums passed, now comes thy springe,  
Thy Queen God hath, God save the king.