What workes my woe, what breedes my smarte,
What woundes myn harte and mynde;
Reason restrayns me to emparte

Such perylls as I fynde.

ANSWER.

If present peryll reason fynde,
And hope for helpe doe haste:
Unfolde the secretts of yowr mynde,
Whyles hope of helpe may take:
And I will ease yowr payne and smarte,
As yf yt weare myne owne;
Respects and perylls put aparte,

And let the truthe be knowne.

QUESTION.

The wordes be sownde, the sownde ys sweete, The sweete yeeldes bounty free;

Noe wyghte hathe worthe to yeelde meed meete For grace of suche degree:

Now, sythe my playnte dothe pytie move,

Grawnt grace that I may taste

Suche joys as angells feele above,

That lovingly may last.

ANSWER.

I yeeld, with harte and wylling mynde,
To doe all yow desyre;

Doubtinge noe deale suche faythe to fynde

As suche trusté dothe requier:

Now yow have wealthe at your owne will,
And lawe at your owne luste,
To make or mar, to save or spill ;-
Then be a Conquerour juste.

ANSWER.

Fyrste shall the sunne in darknes dwell,
The moone and starrs lacke lyghte,
Before in thought I doe rebell

Agaynste my lyves delyghte:

Tryed is my truste, knowne ys my truthe,
Yn tyme, my sweete, provyde,
Whilest bewtie florishe in thine yowthe,

And breathe in me abyde.

Jo. HAR.

Verses written by the Lord Admiral Seymour, the week before he was beheaded, 1549.

FORGETTING God to love a Kynge
Hath been my rod, or else nothy'nge
In this frail lyfe, being but a blaste
Of care and stryfe, till yt be paste.
Yet God did call me in my pryde,
Leste I shulde fall, and from him slyde.
For whom he loves he muste correcte,
That they may be of his electe.

Then Death haste thee, thou shalt me gaine
Immortallie with God to raigne!

Lord! sende the Kinge like years as Noye,*
In governinge this realme in joye;
And, after thys frayl lyfe, such grace,

That in thy blisse he maie find place.'

This aspiring man is said to have been an excellent master to those knights and gentry who served under him. In Sir John's notes to the nineteenth book of his translation of " Orlando Furioso," mention is made of a copy of verses underneath a picture of this nobleman, presented to Queen Elizabeth by John Harington, and hung in Somerset-House: these are here added, from a copy in his own hand-writing, dated 1567.

Upon the Lord Admiral Seymour's Picture.

OF

person rare, stronge lymbes and manly shape, By nature fram'd to serve on sea or lande; In friendshippe firme, in good state or ill happ, In peace, head wise; in war, skill great, bolde hande. On horse, on foote, in peryl, or in playe,

None coud excell, tho manie did assaie.

A subjecte true to Kynge, a servante great,
Friend to God's truth, and foe to Rome's deceat ;

• Noah.

'These were not very unaptly styled "miserable verses," by the late Lord Orford, who archly added, "that the Muses seldom visit a man at his death, whom they neglected till that crisis." Royal and Noble Authors, p. 528, 4to edit.

Sumptuous abroad for honor of the lande,

Temp'rate at home, yet kept great state with staie,
And noble house that fed more mouthes with meat,
Than some advanc'd on higher steppes to stande;
Yet, against nature, reason, and just lawes,
His blood was spilt, guiltless, without just cause.
J. H. 1567."

The Hospitable Oake. 7

I.

ERST in Arcadia's londe much prais'd was found
A lustie tree, far rearing t'ward the skie,
Sacred to Jove, and placed on high grounde,

Beneath whose shade did gladsome shepherds hie, Met plenteous good, and oft were wont to shunne Bleak winter's drizzle, summer's parching sunne.

Mr. Andrews, in his continuation of Dr. Henry's History of Great Britain, has ascribed these lines to Sir John Harington; but the date of 1567, makes them the property of his father. He truly adds, that they speak more in favour of the Admiral, than any other document, and seem to savour rather of blind amity than of real discernment. Hist. vol. i. p. 10.

7 This allegorical poem is said to have been written on the Lord Admiral Seymour, after his being beheaded. The great state and magnificence of his table, justly entitled him to such a compliment. The quaint phraseology in the original copy occasioned some liberties to be taken with it (by the former

II.

Outstretch'd in all the luxurie of ease,

They pluck'd rich misletoe, of virtue rare; Their lippe was temptede by each kindlie breeze That way'd the branch to proffer acorns fair; While out the hollowd root, with sweets inlaide, The murm'ring bee her daintie hoard betrayde.

III.

The fearless bird safe bosom'd here its neste,
Its sturdie side did brave the nippinge winde,
Where many a creeping ewe mought gladlie reste;
Warme comforte here to all and ev'ry kinde;
Where hunge the leaf well sprint with honey dew,
Whence dropt their cups, the gamboling fairie knew.

.IV.

But, ah! in luckless day, what mischief 'gan 'Midst fell debate, and madd'ning revelrie, When tipsie Bacchus had bewitched Pan,

For sober swains so thankless neer mought be; Tho' passinge strange-twas bruited all arounde, This goodlie tree did shadowe too much grounde.

V.

With much despight they aim its overthrow,
And sorrie jestes its wonted giftes deride,—

Editor) which the candid reader is desired to excuse, as the present form is said to differ but little in sentiment from the original. The MS. is dated 1564, some years after his death, but was written probably about the time of his execution.