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.
D10 He nowe is deade, from whome men fledd
Notes. The target of this verse is not made fully explicit, but the poem’s allegation that its subject died of syphilis, and its placement in Bodleian MS Tanner 299 in a section dominated by libels on Cecil, suggests the late Lord Treasurer is the intended victim.
He nowe is deade, from whome men fledd
As from the sickness
But justice lives, and to him gives
His due with quickness
Pittie his prayse, in these oure dayes
5Shoulde be forgotten
Noe, lett that Jewe, bee still in viewe
Though he bee rotten,
Lett noe disgrace in any case
or spight forgett him
10That whilst he stood in place so good
Noe worth could gett him
For all his freinds he had base ends
To which he usd'e them
And having donne, when they were gone
15He soe abusde them
But yet his wench, gave him the French1
Before the parting
For which he is deade, and wrapt in leade2
To sure for starting.
20Now lett the rest, so high he blest
To have like places
Soe nobly live, that men them give
Noe such disgraces.
Source. BL MS Egerton 2230, fols. 34v-35r
Other known sources. Bodleian MS Tanner 299, fol. 11v
D10
1 French: common slang term for syphilis in this period. <back>
2 wrapt in leade: the bodies of the rich were encased in lead to contain the stench of decay during funerals that often occurred some time after death. <back>
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