THE POORES LAMENTATION FOR THE DEATH OF our LATE dread sovereign the High and mighty princess Elizabeth, late queen of England, France and Ireland.  
With their prayers to God for the High and mighty Prince james by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defender of the Faith.  
 printer's or publisher's device  
Imprinted at London for Thomas Pauier, and are to be sold 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 shop in cornhill, near the Exchange, at the sign of the Cat and the parrots. 1603.   

THE POORES LAMENTATION.  

YOu wailing wights that take delight to mourn  
vouchsafe to lend your aid unto my Pen:  
Assist my muse, my verse for to adorn,  
scythes, sobs,& tears, shall sure be pleasing then  
For sorrow sadly sits vpon my breast,  
And doth bereave my hart of quiet rest.   

Come woe and wander with me all alone,  
and guide me to some solitary place:  
Where I with floods of tears may sith and groan,  
and wailing wander by myself a space.  
But soft a while me thinks I here some cry,  
Stay, stay, and take with thee more company.   

We all will bear a part in this lament,  
for this thy cares doth all of us concern:  
Wherefore lets all prepare incontinent,  
now we are private none can us discern,  
Nay lets not fear, if all the world did see,  
For most within it do with us agree.   

Then let us all fall down vpon our knee,  
and then direct our eyes to heaven so high:  
Then with consent let all of us agree,  
to wring our hands and sadly sobring cry,  
Lord it is thou, tis thou oh Lord I say,  
Which for our sin hath taken quiter away   

Our good and Godly gracious royal queen,  
which was our comfort while she did remain:  
Whose like on earth before was never seen,  
nor did, nor doth, the world her like contain,  
Elizabeth, Elizabeth I say,  
From little England now is ta'en away.   

In the beginning of queen Maries reign,  
her grace at Ashridge at her house did lye:  
Sore sick God wot, and very full of pain,  
not like to live, but very like to die.  
To her in all the hast queen Mary sent,  
To haue her brought to her incontinent.   

Three of the counsel to that end did ride,  
with twelve score horse-men in their company:  
And every one his weapon by his side,  
To Ashridge posting they in hast do high.  
Yet it was ten a clock within the night,  
When they were at the gate for to alight.   

strait to her chamber they in hast did go,  
and with her grace demanded for to speak:  
answer was made them that the cause was so,  
that she in bed that time was very weak,  
And did request them stay till the next day,  
Who answered that the queen they must obey.   

And she had charged them all vpon their life,  
alive or dead to bring her thence away:  
Wherefore quoth they we soon will end this strife,  
going into the chamber where she lay.  
Her grace did see them and with grief did say,  
Could you not while to morrow morning stay.   

No, strait they answered all with one consent,  
alive or dead away from hence you must:  
Thus with commission to you we are sent,  
'tis very strait quoth she, yet I do trust,  
My gracious queen will mercy to me show,  
Of this my sickness if she did but know●   

The queen hath sent her letter for your grace,  
'gainst nine a clock therefore I pray prepare:  
alas quoth she th●s is a grievous case,  
is this hard hap allotted for my share.  
Great God that knows the secrets of my hart,  
Vouchsafe, vouchsafe, to take thy hand-maids part.   

Then on the morrow very sick and weak,  
she from her house was carried strait away:  
Her seruants harts ready with grief ●o break,  
did for their gracious Lady weeping pray.  
That God would still defend her with his might,  
For this strange dealing did them much affright.   

From thence unto the Court she was conuayde,  
where fourteen daies her grace was closely kept:  
And might not see the queen while there she stayed,  
this dealing when her grace did see, she wept.  
Some charged her with Wyats conspirasie,  
The which her grace did utterly deny.   

Yet for all that, the queen commandment sent,  
that she next tide should to the Tower go:  
And when the time was come she grieved went,  
the queen commanded, and it must be so.  
Then to the Tower she was carried strait,  
Where for her coming many did await.   

She landing, passed strait into the Tower,  
when she was there, the gates they bolted fast:  
Quoth she, I never thought to see this hour,  
well now I see my joyful dayes are past.  
Which I haue here vpon the earth to spend,  
Y●t ●… aue me not O Lord, but comfort sand.   

Oh Lord thou knowst the secrets of my hart,  
thou knowst how I am wronged in this place;  
I pray vouchsafe great God to take my part,  
and let my wrong be turned to their disgrace.  
That are the cause of my imprisonment,  
Lord let them see their sin incontinent.   

Within the Tower long time she did remain,  
being too much abused by many a one:  
And though her grace did often times complain,  
yet there was none that did regard her mone  
At last one told her, she from thence should go,  
To Woodstock for the queen would haue it so.   

Then from the Tower to Woodstocke she was sent,  
there to be kept a prisoner as before:  
And threescore souldiers for to gard her went,  
where at her Princely grace was grieved sore.  
Thus traitor like quoth she, why do you use me,  
In truth, in truth, you all do much abuse me.   

During the time that she in Woodstocke lay,  
with life she often escaped very near:  
For many ways Stephen gardener did assay,  
as in the story it doth plain appear.  
To bring that Godly Lady to her end,  
But God above, her grace did still defend.   

From thence to Hampton Court she was conuey'd,  
there to remain as she had done before:  
Wherein close prison she a fortnight laid;  
and out of doors not suffered for to stir,  
From thence at last at ten a clock at night,  
She was conveyed to queen Maries 〈◇〉   

Who did demand, and if she would not yield,  
unto her grace that mercy she might haue:  
If I offended haue, let me be held  
a traitor, for no mercy I will crave.  
For God that liveth in eternity,  
Doth know I never wronged your majesty.   

From prison then the queen did her release,  
and to her house at Lamheye did her sand:  
From all her troubles there to live in peace,  
with two or three vpon her to attend.  
Thus was our gracious and our loving queen,  
Toste too and fro, as one of no esteem.   

Not like a princess of such great renown,  
the like of her fair England never had:  
And rightful heir next unto the crown,  
which ioy'd all faith full hearts and made them glad.  
For shortly after God did take away  
mary from us which was a joyful day.   

Then was Elizabeth proclaimed queen,  
whose love unto us alway did abound,  
More joy in England there was never seen,  
not without cause, as since we all haue found.  
Specially those which rightly fear the Lord,  
And loved the truth, and Papistry abhorred.   

Thus did the Lord from troubles many a one,  
preserve and keep her gracious majesty.  
And with his hand did set her on her throne,  
to be admired of all posterity.  
That after ages might report and say,  
Thus deals the Lord with them that him obey.   

Nay of her right when as she was possessed,  
and had vpon her head that glorious crown:  
There he in mercy did not let her rest,  
but all her foes with speed that did but frown.  
The Lord in Iustice ended soon their dayes,  
Therefore alone to him we yield the praise.   

All those that please Chronicles to red,  
shall see how God did keep her with his power:  
And by the hand( as 'twere) her grace did led,  
even from her birth day, to her latest hour:  
And many traitorous acts against her grace,  
Did bring to light, and utterly deface.   

He did not bless our gracious queen alone,  
but all her counsel, and her realm likewise:  
For none of them had cause to make their moan,  
for she the meanest sort did not despise.  
But did direct such orders for theirstay,  
As binds the poor vpon their knees to pray.   

That God would grant her Nestors yeares to live,  
and Cressus wealth thrice doubled to enjoy:  
Salomons wisdom, Lord we pray thee give,  
unto her Grace, and keep her from annoy.  
These were the prayers that the poor did make,  
For virtuous queen Elizabeth her sake.   

Whom from her birth the Lord did keep no doubt,  
as he did Moyses from proud Pharaohs hand:  
To end her dayes though many went about,  
yet like Mount Sina still her grace did stand.  
In spite of Pope and Spanish policy,  
The Lord did bless and keep her majesty   

For Israell did Moyses often pray,  
our queen for England ever did the same,  
And samuel always did the Lord obey,  
so did our good and gracious queen of famed.  
As England found, whose welfare did rely,  
vpon the person of her majesty.   

Abraham is gone, which for us oft did pray,  
our stay is gone whereon we all did rest:  
For lot from us is taken quiter away,  
joseph is gone, for whom this land was blessed,  
Our Abraham, Lot, with joseph now is dead,  
And with our queen their virtues wrapped in led.   

Gone is our queen, whose like cannot be found,  
gone is our queen which always loved us dear,  
Gone is our queen whose virtues did abound,  
as by her care it often did appear.  
Gone is our ioy, our stay, our life, our love,  
Gone is our lodestar unto heaven above.   

down is that sun which oft did shine so bright,  
down is that star which many did excel:  
down is that moon which oft did give us light,  
down is that light which darkness did excel.  
Our lamp is out, the which did burn so clear,  
And gave us light this five and forty year.   

But shall we grieve that she is gone to rest,  
who all her life to do us good did spend:  
No, lets rejoice, sithe God doth count it best,  
from troubles for her majesty to sand,  
To give her that for which she laboured long,  
〈…〉 ●●●●ine her, you should do her wrong.   

To heauén, to heaven, our gracious queen is gone,  
to live with Christ in ioy for evermore:  
Then leave to sithe, to sob, to weep and mone;  
for she in glory doth Gods name adore.  
With many thousand Saints and angels she,  
Sings Holy, holy, holy, Trinity.   

Thus let us leave her with that glorious train,  
to praise the Lord in heaven for evermore:  
There crowned with glory ever to remain,  
with heavenly voices and with Martyrs store.  
Who in their comforts all agree in one,  
Still giuing honour unto God alone.   

Yet weeping, weep for her which had your harts,  
who loved you dearly while she did remain:  
But let your cries be severed into partes,  
your state and welfare still for to maintain.  
And praise the Lord, the which in mercy haue,  
Sent thee a King that is both wise and grave.   

The Pope long time hath wished for this day,  
thinking to bring us underneath his yoke:  
But now poor fools they know not what to say,  
hypocrisy they find their fittest cloak.  
For though our queen Elizabeth be dead,  
We haue a King that ruleth in her stead.   

Who will the truth maintain while he doth live,  
in spite of Pope of spain or all that rout:  
Thy holy spirit Lord unto him give,  
to be his guide in all he gots about.  
And all that seek by means to wrong his grace,  
Lord we beseech thee utterly deface.   

That little England still may praise thy name,  
and live in peace as we before haue done:  
preserve O God our royal King of famed,  
he may proceed as he hath well begun:  
Gods glory, and his gospel to maintain,  
while here vpon the earth we do remain.   

God give us grace which be his subiects true,  
with loyal hearts to serve him all our life:  
And to prevent those dangers may ensue,  
If we among ourselves should live at strife.  
Come let us join our hearts with hands and say,  
The Lord be praisde that ere we saw this day.   

For we in England now enjoy a King,  
which fears the Lord, and holds his subiects dear:  
Whose famed for ever through the world shall ring,  
for through his realms the gospel shineth clear.  
And we enjoy the peace we long possessed:  
That without fear we all may take our rest.   

Then let us all confess with one consent,  
that God hath brought this mighty work to pass:  
And of our sin lets earnestly repent,  
for through the land more need there never was.  
For pride and envy now doth bear such sway,  
That faithful dealing grows into decay.   

Well to conclude, let every one amend,  
of his bad life that long he lived in:  
Then many blessings God will on us sand,  
then speedily let every one begin.  
To pray, obey, and serve the God of might,  
For that is wholly pleasing in his sight.   

The God of heaven preserve our noble King,  
and grant him three times Nestors yeares to live:  
That we with peace and plenty still may sing,  
and always to the Lord true praises give.  
Lord bless both him and his, for evermore,  
And grant we alway may thy name adore.   

Lord let those virtues which our queen possessed.  
be trebeled vpon his royal head:  
Lord guide him in those things which please thee best:  
and let her virtues live though she be dead.  
Lord bless his grace, and all his royal train.  
That peace and plenty he may still maintain.   

That all thy subiectes may rejoice in thee,  
which live within the compass of thy realms:  
And joining harts with hands may all agree,  
saying God save, our noble Prince King james,  
Whose Godly life, and virtuous deeds do show,  
Our state in England shall not ebb but flow.   

God grant it may for ever flourish so,  
and still be famous all the world throughout,  
And let us not the word of God foregoe,  
though popish Priestes to wrong it go about.  
Yet let this island still the same enjoy,  
For that is it hath kept us from annoy.   

Then fear the Lord and honour still thy King,  
join all as one, the truth for to defend:  
Then peace unto our land will plenty bring,  
and all our feeble states shall then amend.  
Then let us all with echoing voices cry,  
The Lord preserve his royal majesty.   
FINIS.