praysed for hys good successe to the greate terror and feare of the enemie, he beeing a man of meane calling to deale with so mightie a monarke. The Poem commences thus: THE TRUE AND PERFECTE NEWES OF THE WORTHY AND VALIANT EXPLOYTES ATCHIVED AND DOONE BY THAT VALIANT KNIGHT, SIR FRAUNCIS DRAKE. Tryumph, O England, and rejoyce, And prayse thy God uncessantly, For thys thy Queene, that pearle of choyce, In countryes strange, both farre and neere, Yee worthy wights that doo delighte, First call to mind how Gedeon, But with these hundred fighting men, Josua, cap. 3. The Medians hosts he overcame, Sa So likewise by Gods mighty hande, Twenty five ships were then preparde, The best navigators in this lande, SIR FRANCIS HUBERT. THE name of this English Poet does not appear, either in the first or last edition of Phillips's Theatrum Poetarum, or in Ritson's Biographia Poetica. But the author of an Epic Poem, and that by no means contemptible in plan or execution, in the spirit or harmony of versification, should not be entirely forgotten, I am happy in this opportunity of contributing to its preservation. The following Poem is in the British Museum. "THE HISTORIE OF EDWARD THE SECOND, SURNAMED CARNARVON, one of our English Kings, together with the Fatal Down-fall of his two unfortunate Favorites, Gaveston and Spencer. Now published by the Author thereof, according to the true originall Copie, and purged from those foule Errors and Corruptions wherewith that spurious and surreptitious Peece which lately came forth, under the same Tytle, was too much defiled and deformed. With the Addition of some other Observations, both of Use and Ornament. By F. H. Knight. London. Printed by B. A. and T. F. for L. Chapman, and are to be sold at the upper end of Chancery Lane. 1629." Prefixed is a head of the unfortunate Edward; and the Poem is dedicated to the Authors " loving Brother, Mr. Richard Hubert." very This Poem must have been of some notoriety in its day, for the Author complains that a surreptitious copy had been industriously circulated. The dedication to the author's brother thus concludes: "And so humbly desiring the Almighty to blesse you, both in soule, body and estate, I rest not your your Servant, according to the new and fine but false phrase of the time, but in honest old English, your loving Brother and true Friend for ever. FRAN. HUBERT." The following is a specimen of the Poem: O sacred vertue, what a powerfull guard But they both see and tast, and love and nourish What understandinge soule, that doth not know, At wil, his subjects purse, his heart, his hand. Flight was our best defence, and flye we did, My peeres surpris'd: whom Warwickes Earl Syr Guy O what O what is honour but an exhalation? A ceasing sweet, like Danaes golden shoure, There breeds a little beast by Nilus streames, How much more happy is that sweet estate, Which others not disdaine, not yet envie, He lives indeed, and spendes his course of time And studies how his home affaires to wield. He |