ISAHACS' INHERITANCE; DEW TO OUR HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE, JAMES THE sixth OF SCOTLAND, OF ENGLAND, FRANCE AND IRELAND THE FIRST. By E. W. for'rs unita valet. printer's or publisher's device AT LONDON Imprinted for john Harrison, dwelling in Paternoster row at the sign of the Unicorn and Bible. 1603. TO THE RIGHT Worshipful the Master, Maister-wardens, assistance, and other the brethren of the most worshipful society of the Drapers in London: E. W. wisheth all happiness and aeternal felicity. RIght Worshipful, though my unskilful Muse, praesuming in her infancy to soar above her reach, feared at first the vulgar view of her unpolished lines, lest her wings scorched like those of Icarus, her downfall should be as great as Phaeton's; knowing that snarling Zoylous will sooner bite with his black tooth of envy, than any well-willer can read and judge with favourable censure: yet soon resolving to make choice of your worships for her Maecenas, the advancers of the virtuous, the maintainers of the learned, friends to the Muses, and helpers to all forward proceed, thus far she is bold to peep forth her head: assured nevertheless that some Agesilaus will tell her, he will never prove sutorem expertum, qui parvo pedi magnos induat calceos, and that she is no way to be commended, who tunes so high notes with so slender an Oaten Pipe: But such she will answer that her will was better than her work, and as the Painter's 〈◊〉 sometimes handles his Pencil, when he should but grind his colours, so he that will prove his craftes-maister, must aim at the famest: but those which shall be such cynical censorers of her first simtes, let them take the like task, mend hers, and she will yield up the Bucklers. Thus not doubting of your worship's fa●●●●able acceptance, craving no more: friendly censure, hoping no 〈◊〉 kind countenance the chief of her wish: all which shall arm her against each foule-mouthd Momus, or carping Diogenes, she commits the tuition of this her poor Orphan to your most worthy protection. Resting Your worship's most humbly devoted Edw: Wilkinson. ISAHACS' INHERITANCE. Dew To our high and mighty Prince james the sixth of Scotland, of England, France and Ireland the first. 1. WHen first our warlike Brute, AEneas great gransier of Brute. sprung from the stock Of grave Aeneas, stem of virtues race, Abode the stock of Fortune like a rock, Which surging billows would in vain displace, And in his exile did the g●ues unlock Of Trojan bondage, freeing from disgrace His country men, who subjugate in Greece Were there despoiled of their golden fleece. 2. He with this remnant, erst like wandering sheep Dispersed 'mongst wolves, whose hideous jaws did reek With luke war me blood of these, which oft did sleep Hid in the rock, cave, den, or rivers creak, As safest place, in safety them to keep. Poor captives, who to each vassal were both meek, Humble, and duteous, as we usual see The bondman is in his captivity. 3 With these (I say) our grandsire took his course, To seek new habitation, and abode: Whose ancestors ere while, without remorse Were fired from the sight of Trojan road: (Which to recite would crave too long discourse,) And thus with Brute and's followers it stood, They were all vagrant, though the Phrygian plain, Did to their nation by due right pertain. 4 After a long and tedious Pilgrimage, Straying now here, now there, each way uncertain, Like to the straggling of Deucalion's forage After the inundation: and in vain Spent being the flower of his youthful age, Hopeless almost a country to regain, Where to implant a new the Trojans line, Which now alack to low ebb did decline. 5 joining his troops with Corinens band, 〈…〉 year 〈…〉 A Trojan like himself, distressed as he, At length arriving on this Western sand, Displaying colours, showing victory Had crowned him Monarch of old Albion's land, Her name he changed to worthy Britanny: Which isle being Spring then to their Winter past, Promised a harvest too, for aye to last. 6 Now blush proud Rome at thy aspiring mind, That by thy Virgil's Pen challengd'st descent From Trojan issue, yea from Aeneas kind, When by thy Sibyl's oracles 'twas meant Brute should inhabit Britain, and we find It proved true, to Albion's great content: Yet Maro I collaude thee, who wouldst make Thy Caesar his descent from Troy to take. 7 Thou aimedst fair, 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 told 〈◊〉 ●●gustus ●●●●rily he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Ba●●●●●● son. but Caesar knew thou flatterd'st, Wherefore with penny-dole thou wast rewarded: Aeneas yet by lofty style thou madest T'arriue in Italy, and to Lavinia wedded. The daughter of Latinus, this sure thou forgedst With colourable gloss to have defended Thy wit's invention, yet Rome itself well knows, Romulus her founder was, this her name shows. 8. And Romulus near sprang of Trojan line, Rhea a Vestal virgin was his mother, But who his father was doubtful hath been, A silly shepherd nursed him, and his brother, Faustulus When they were both rejected of their kin Whom they for fire took, knowing none other: But grant Aeneas did Laninia wed King Numitor near from his loins descended. Father to Rhea. 9 But whether wanderest thou so far my muse? Muse not to think Rome forged so smooth a tale, It is no changeling it will not refuse, To forge a greater lie, if it avail And serve her turn for profitable use, And help her in her errors to prevail: Cry, cry her mercy, it comes to her by kind, To forge, deceive, and lie, as we well find. 10 Return I then to sing the soundest truth Of Brute our sire, Ilion's new reviver, Who being arrived here with Trojan youth, Few in number, and a small remainder Of that they were, (which to rehearse breeds ruth. And for such loss I tremble to remember) Planted himself by destinies degree, Finding this Isle his resting place to be. 11. Here built he a new Troy, London our city, For a remembrance of old Ilion's wall: Here did he establish laws both good and witty, Which might th'audacious to orders good recall, Here did he govern long with love and pity, And nought in's reign but good did him befall He governed as sole Monarch all the I'll, Till death the soul of body did beguile. 12. 〈…〉 (alas) for now new Britain's bounds 〈…〉 divided into sundry shares: 〈…〉 cell the Western grounds, 〈…〉 all the realm, 〈…〉 which ere since bears 〈…〉 of Cornwall, the sons of Brute here frowns, 〈…〉 a diadem amongst them wears: 〈…〉 nature thus far thought it meet, 〈…〉 which felt the sour, should taste the sweet. 13. 〈…〉 he hath which must bear soveraingty, 〈…〉 amongst them part the rest: 〈…〉 hardly bear superiority, 〈…〉 to have an equal thinks it best. 〈…〉 divides his signiority, 〈…〉 else the brother should detest, 〈…〉 sprung from one stock disdain to see, 〈…〉 branches highest in degree. 14. 〈…〉 end division which first bred, 〈…〉 Humber to Severne smoothly gliding 〈…〉 shared, wishing his brethren dead, 〈…〉 have all for his own abiding, 〈…〉 partners he must be contented, 〈…〉 his cares it were no welcome tiding. 〈…〉 S●uern back ward must bear sway 〈…〉 from Humber takes his way. 15. 〈…〉 shaking her disheveled hair, 〈…〉 and snarled, composed with viper's brood, 〈…〉 her venomous serpents in the air, 〈…〉 their amity, which as yet firm stood: 〈…〉 of brotherhood, brethren though they were 〈…〉 forgot, being parted by the flood. 〈…〉 not all, not many years were passed, 〈…〉 this middle region 'gan to waste. 16 The brother which was eldest stood in doubt The younger loved him not, but wished his death, Memsus slew 〈◊〉 brother Ma●●●● And to prevent all harms, he cast about To save himself, and stop his brother's breath: This bad example doubtless caused a rout Of stag-hairde Ruffians, careless to unsheath Their slicing falchions, 'gainst their brother's throat, If by his death they might set all on float. 17 Scarce ages two in such disorder wasted, 〈◊〉 who● to quished 〈…〉 slew 〈…〉 prison Morgan slain ●● Cunedag●●● But middle Britain swayed by woman's beck, The fruits of her division too soon tasted, When neighbouring kingdoms sought to break her neck, Albany, Camber, Cornwall hither hasted, To spoil her of her plumes themselves to deck: Soon after which themselves at variance fall, And one being slain, the other governs all. 18 Thus Britain was reduced to her full force, And governed by one Monarch as before, Now flourished she, but soon having run that course, Porres Porres Porres flame. Dissension grew twixt brethren as of yore, Alack it should be so, it breeds remorse To think that Porrex should his brother gore, But mother's hate, much greater ruth hath bred, Jdion● 〈◊〉 Porres 〈◊〉 which Brut●● line was extin guished. Which slew the other sleeping in his bed. 19 Monster of women which could her own bowels tore, And glut her with the blood of her own child, Whom did she think, by offspring should repair The ancient stock of Brute, now clean exiled? Whom meant she should her Britain walls uprear, When she her hands with her sons gore defiled? Whom though she should this desolate I'll defend, When all her hopes on Brutus' stock did depend? 20 Now lay she open to invasions, To civil discord, mutinies, and jars, Now was she subject to intrusions, As well to foreign as domestic wars, Now neighbouring regions made incursions, Now was she entangled dangerously in snares. For so it falls, when kingdoms lack a guide, Subject are harms, no good can them betide. 21 Much like they are to ship, where Pilots wanting, Which tossed and turmoiled is in surging waves, Subject to be over whelmed, subject to splitting, Against some hideous rock, when wind quite shaves And tars away her fails, subject to drowning, Making the depth to be the sailors graves: Such is the state of Realms, where heads are scant, Britain's this was thy grief, thy woe, thy want. 22 The giddy-headed multitude were glad, They were exempted from a King's command, Thus laws dissolved the good scarce from the bad Can be discerned; broke was all friendship's band In this tempestuous, dangerous, and sad Tumultuous time, where none could surely stand, Not yet his goods, or chattels safe possess, Nor know where for his harms to seek redress. 23 Thus enemy to thyself thou long didst live, In ●●●●ll discord, shedding guiltleste blood: When father envied that the son should thrive, And haire-braind youth maligned the ageds good, When Politicians to surmount did strive, But hindered by the vulgar, who as wood, And raging in a madness, would permit No base intruder in Caesar's throne to sit. 24 Until Mulmutius Duke of Cornewalls son, Commiserating greatly thy distress, Brought thee from many Monarchies to one, From all thy troubles yielding thee release, Peace-meale when thou wast tottered, broke, and torn, He jointed thee, and did thy griefs redress: He constituted laws for thy tranquillity, Called Mulmutius laws. Which kept thee after long in amity. 25 near till his time was worn a wreath of gold, His temples were the first such metal bore, This he deserved, for courage stern and bold He was endued with, and what is more Wisdom surpasde his courage twenty fold, Which caused his fame both far and wide tofore. Here Britain flourished, her storms were calmed, Her wounds this king with sovereign oil embalmed. 26 Now trophies were upreard for victory, The Laurel bow in sign of peace she bore, Now was she glittering in her chiefest glory, For happiness none with her might compare, Her father Neptune now no more is sorry, Britain environed with the sea. But lulles her in his lap, (a thing most rare) Gladly begirts her, hoping she is free, From like distress, woe, or calamity. 27 England, and Scotland, Cornwall, Wales and all Stands jointly now a Britain; And as then A wise Mulmutius from the suns downfall, Shone as a bright star to our countrymen, Delivering them from that their present thrall, Renewing their full liberty again, Swaging their outrages for government, And making laws to serve his good intent. 36. An 〈◊〉 doth a kingdom better flourish 〈…〉 united, and when part 〈…〉 neither doth diminish, Any 〈…〉: well always fares the heart 〈…〉 firmly knit, they it establish 〈…〉 to endure each smart: 〈…〉 the limbs will not the heart defend, 〈…〉 thody soon will have an end. 37. 〈…〉 with few years beside, 〈…〉 since 'mongst ourselves we had 〈…〉 billows, surging waves 〈…〉 between the white Rose and the red, 〈…〉 severed kingdom had her sides 〈…〉 self, herself her own blood shed 〈…〉 civil mutinies: O grief 〈…〉 hopeless of all relief. 38. 〈…〉 Richmond lived to be thy guide, 〈…〉 pilot to direct thy course 〈…〉 heaven, which before wert wide 〈…〉 yea and which was worse, 〈…〉 huge rocks, ready thy side 〈…〉 sink thyself without remorse: 〈…〉 Rose will●●●●●● white uniting, 〈…〉 aloft kept thee from sinking. 39 〈…〉 still long time in peace, 〈…〉 his sceptre long time swayed, 〈…〉 in his reign did encrase, 〈…〉 willing 〈◊〉 Prince obeyed, 〈…〉 behind him after his disease, 〈…〉 of renown, 〈…〉 robes arrayed, Who shone long time, especially the last, Whose sempiternal fame shall never waste. 40. But Richmond's issue female must continue Our happiness begun: Margaret a gem Of peerless price, who passed with her retinue To Edenbrough, to a glorious stem King james the fourth, who royally in am Of kindness, crowned her with his diadem, From whose fair Princely loins we fetch descent Of James our king: King be he permanent. 41. He and his Lineage Caesar's throne possess, Whilst Sun gives light by day, or Moon by night, aeternal Jove with happiness them bless, Enable them with power to keep their right, Near let their Monarchy again be less Than now it is, even whole Britain's might, Enlarge it rather of thy heavenly grace, And never let decay the Steward's race. 42. james our dread King thy steward is on earth, (According to our hopes just let him be,) To execute his office here beneath, That so his soul may gain eternity: To him (O Lord) in mercy thou bequeath A heart reple at with heavenly policy, His Princely grace with wisdom (Lord) endue, To root out vice, and wickedness subdue. 43. Enable him with power to extirpate All heresies, as he hath ever done, T'advance thy truth, thy foes to subingate, That they thy Church may never overrun, Infuse thy sacred spirit in his heart That wisperers against thy truth he shimmer Let him unmask such, as in virtues cloak Wrap up themselves, when all their deeds are smoke. 44 ●● shall we boast a Steward just thou hast, And my (though first we grieved) at our late change, The sweet milk of thy Gospel we shall taste, 〈…〉 ha'done, and not in errors range. 〈…〉 obtain by mercy at the last 〈…〉 Si●n: hen wilt thou not estrange 〈…〉 us, but lovingly embrace 〈…〉 look, receiving us to grace. 45 〈…〉 we shall daily pray, 〈…〉 of promise thou hast placed him, 〈…〉 spring never may decay: 〈…〉 dowry thou hast graced him, 〈…〉 still flourish like the Bay, 〈…〉 those that ever have defac'd him: 〈…〉 like years many let him see, 〈…〉 and loyal subjects be. FINIS.