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“Fortunes wheele. or Rota fortunæ in gyro”

Some would complaine of Fortune & blinde chance

that durst their handes to heaven up advance

and cry, O God, which madest the glorious sunn

What hath poore England against Religion done?

That all her goodnes topsie turvie lies

5

derided geerde att, wrong’de by Contraries.

That such a mightie learned Prince1 should see

how grossely men of honor blinded bee.

That persons mounted upp to greatnes durst,

unto their wealth & Princes favour trust:

10

Abuseinge both with pride and wantonnes,

which makes them stupid in forgetfullnes.

For though they sawe the downefall of the rest,

Yet worse and worse continued they unblest.

I saie, some would complaine of Fortune nowe

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but I will plainer be, & tell you howe

this wheele of Fortune is turn’de round aboute

and soe the cause shall put you out of doubte.

As when the Prophett Balaam2 did strive

to make proud moab3 against Judah thrive

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And soe by God was curste for such a deede4

Which meerelie did from avarice proceede

He yet desisted not,5 but founde away

their soules to sinne, as captive to betray

And unto Baal peor6 did them bringe

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to bee a wonder, and a ravishinge.

The beautie of the Lande came naked to them

and with their false embraces did undoe them.

Thus plaid the devill with our English courte

for firste he to the Romanes made resorte.

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I meane the Pope & conclave of that sect

who soon a hellish stratagem7 project.

Grudginge that our Religion shoulde soe flourish

or England constantlie the truth to nourish.

Thus they contrive with some strange powder blowe

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into the aire, the Parliamente to throwe;

That with a whirlewinde, terror might appall

Gods worde professed, Courtlie state, & all.

But faileinge with base Balaam in this8

and fretted in blinde rage his ayme to misse,

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He falls to contraries, readeinge a booke

from whence he strange alluringe lessons tooke

of pride, luste, avarice, & wretched hate

Which in fewe yeares dismembred Englands state.

For presentlie the kinge affects his peace9

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proposinge nothinge but delights increase,

And as the kinge gives way, each one pretends

to honor him, though out of private endes.

Thus swarmes the Courte with youthfull gallants brave

and happie he, who can the kinges love have.

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K1i

Quick links to other poems within this section

Select page here K0. Introduction K1i. Some would complaine K1ii. K1iii. K1iv. K1v. K1vi. K1vii. K1viii. K1ix. K1x. K2. Bridewell I come

¹   mightie learned Prince: James VI and I. <back>

²   Balaam: Balaam was hired by the King of the Moabites, Balak, to curse the Israelites; however, his oracles in fact blessed Israel and cursed its enemies (Numbers 22-24). <back>

³   proud moab: probably Balak, ruler of the Moabites, who is referred to as “Moab” in Numbers 22.3-4. <back>

⁴   And soe...deede: presumably again referring to Balak rather than (as the syntax suggests) Balaam. <back>

⁵   He yet desisted not: presumably referring to the Moabites’ continued efforts to undermine Israel; as narrated in Numbers 25.1-5, the Israelites mixed sexually and spiritually with the Moabites, thus provoking the wrath of God. <back>

⁶   Baal peor: false god of the Moabites (Numbers 25.3). <back>

⁷   hellish stratagem: introducing a narrative of the Gunpowder Plot, 1605. <back>

⁸   But faileinge...in this: presumably referring back to Balak’s, and the Moabites’, unsuccessful reliance on Balaam; the latter is probably described as “base” because he lacked the spiritual insight of his ass (Numbers 23.22-34). <back>

⁹   For presentlie...peace: in 1604 James declared an end to the long-running war with Spain. <back>