A web-based edition of early seventeenth-century political poetry from manuscript sources. It brings into the public domain over 350 poems, many of which have never before been published.
Piii15 When Poets use to write men use to say
Notes. Like many posthumous defences of Buckingham, this poem represents libels on the Duke as the work of the socially base and the intellectually credulous. At the same time, the poem (like “What! shall I say now George is dead”) alludes to Buckingham’s actions in Spain in 1623 and the popular credit they (temporarily) earned him. Our chosen source ascribes the poem to “ T. Aliff”.
“On the Duke of Buckinghams death”
When Poets use to write men use to say
tis for preferment or some other pay
They sell their witts which basely flatters those
Whome they themselves but for base1 people knowes
Or els for som affection or some kine2
5Against ther conscience thus doe sinne
Perhaps the same they will impute to me
Though for a gloss I pleade integritie
But let them know these by base respects I scorne
Or to inslave my Muse which free was borne
10I was a stranger to this noble peere
No kiff,3 nor kinn, nor followers name did beare
whose worth (I must confess) needs not my praise
Yet who loves vertue must the vertuouse raise
Lest base detraction to the future age
15Should cloude ther glory: wisemen did presage
That these (who weary of him) would repent
A second worse; a fortune incident
To discontented folke. But why dost
Blurr these my leines with ther inconstancy
20And leave the sacred subject whose deere fame
Merits the palme of an eternall name
Nature herselfe to shew her workemanship
Blushs, having seene her self, her self outstript:
Which to perfection that it might be brought
25Fortune begann to add what could be thought
Art lik’t the frame, which to adorne throughout
Indew’d4 it with her riches rounde aboute
These heavenly powers when they had given boone5
Presents it to erthly, which as soone
30Enthral’d themselves under his brave commande
Soe, did the sea that both together stand
And at his becke,6 yet proud that they might beare
A burthen of such worth, fell out & sware
Eternall enmitie, least each might have him
35But heaven (the umpire) to the earth it gave him,
Which swelling with the glory of that prize
Scornd his old levell, doth on tiptoes rise;
Which Neptune7 grev’d, & yet desir’d to kiss
The hallowed earth which shrind him; Thamisis8
40Each winter, spring he sends to visit him
& pay the tribute of his eies (waxt dim
with weeping) then takes leave yet comes againe
To take new farwell, but tis in vaine
He must returne, thus doth his greef appeare
45He groans & murmers then he dropps a teare
As witness of his losse. And shall all these
Teach us to know his worth, & we not please
Once to behold what heaven & earth admired?
How many nations weare ther him desir’d
50To crowne his years with adoration? we
what we possesse dispise, but eagerly
Hunt after trash, & guesaw9 novelty
Some may object he hath us all undonne
wee’ve cause to curse him every mothers sonne,
55Peac wretches peace, can peasants comprehend
Statlik actions? if ther lords commende
(Land lords I meane) the basest groome that lives
Calling him noble, whoe’s he that straight gives
Not addition to his words? the period
60Of your conceipts then rests on him (the god)
To whome I leave you, But the graver sort
I dare presume, contemne there base report
who well conceve the slander they have mad
to kepe theyr tongs inure,10 tis envies trade
65which yet despight ther malice must confess
He brought from Spaine our Englands happiness,
A worke of meritt, then they cried blest peere
our lives, and all is thine we hold most deare11
But what good deeds we doe ar writt in sande,
70What bad (though donne by chance) in Marble stande
Men now oure actions judge, by ther event
But will heare nor see our good intent
Could these detractors thy designes upbraid
For want of grounde? had not ther sinnes betrayd
75Thy prosperouse fate & glory every way
But sure they could not what so ere they say
Which makes them rave insteade of argument
And when they most complaine, most inocent
They prove thy actions, which thou bee’st dead
80Good men approve, and wise have hallowed,
Whose judgments all men judge most worthy thee
Applauding them adore thy memorie.
Source. BL MS Sloane 542, fols. 15r-16r
Other known sources. Rosenbach MS 239/27, p. 384
Piii15
1 base: low-born; immoral. <back>
2 kine: i.e. kin; tie of kinship. <back>
3 kiff: i.e. kith; friend or acquaintance. <back>
4 Indew’d: i.e. endued; covered, dressed. <back>
7 Neptune: god of the sea. <back>
8 Thamisis: the River Thames. <back>
9 guesaw: i.e. gewgaw, a showy trifle (Rosenbach MS 239/27 reads “guegaw”). <back>
10 inure: i.e. inured; practised. <back>
11 He brought from Spaine...most deare: allusion to the popular celebration of Buckingham after he had brought Prince Charles (safely unmarried) from Spain in 1623 (for which, see Sections N and O). <back>
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