Notes. There is only one known version of this poem on the monopolist Sir Giles Mompesson in this form; however, as listed below, three known sources preserve the final stanza as a discrete piece. In their final lines, there is some commonality between this poem and “The tottering state of transitory things”.

“On Sir Giles Mumpesson”

Pervertinge of the lawes makes justice blind

Converted lawes makes her, her eyes to find

Whilst now God present is, & president

Of our thrice noble, happy Parliament.

The Cobweb law1 that did our small theeves spoyle

Hath catcht our great ones in his hanginge toyle

The earth growes happy & the heaven smiles

Theres noe respect of Persons. Mum Sir Giles.2

The proverbe of lame Giles3 is false I say

Had Giles beene lame hee had not runne away

Sir Giles thought fitt noe longer time to ’bide

For feare hee by Saint Giles his Church should ride4

Source. Folger MS V.a.162, fol. 53r

Known sources of the shorter version. Bodleian MS Don. d.58, fol. 36v; Folger MS V.a.103, fol. 73r; Folger MS V.a.262, p. 132

Mi3

¹   Cobweb law: the prosecution of Mompesson depended on the revival of a medieval procedure of impeachment. <back>

²   Mum Sir Giles: i.e. silent Sir Giles (in the context of the whole line, a strained play on his name). <back>

³   proverbe of lame Giles: probably “lame Giles has played the man” (Tilley G115). <back>

⁴   For feare...ride: the scribe adds here an explanatory marginal note: “To Tyburne”. <back>