Notes. Croft (“Reputation” 49) discusses part of this verse compendium of attacks on Cecil.

Falshoods Jewell,

Mischeifes fewell,

Now is wasted;

Trecheries burden,

Lecheries guerdon1

Hath he tasted.

Deceits commander,

Abuses defender

Scarsely repented;

Oppressions praiser,

Taxations raiser,

Death hath prævented.

The kings abuser,

The Parliaments misuser

Hath left his plotting:

The Queenes deceiver,

The princes bereaver

Is now a rotting

The Counsells curber,

The states disturber

Dyed unwilling;

The Countries scourger,

The Citties Cheator

Of many a shilling.

Bawds best rewarder,

Queanes2 most regarder,

Both did attend him;

Both laid uppon him,

Both sett uppon him,

That soone did end him.

Source. Bodleian MS Tanner 299, fol. 11v

D11

¹   Guerdon: reward. <back>

²   Queanes: here means harlots, strumpets, rather than the more literal use of the word in stanza three. <back>