ANCIENT POETRY.

LORD VAUX

It seems now to be believed was Thomas Lord Vaux, who was summoned to parliament 22 Hen. viii. In 24 Hen. viii. he waited on the King to Calais, and thence to Bulogne, and 25 Hen. viii. upon the coronation of Q. Anne Bulleyne was one of the Knights of the Bath then made for the honour of that solemnity. He was Captain of the isle of Jersey, but 28 Hen. viii. surrendered that trust. By Elizabeth his wife, daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Cheney of Istlingburgh in Northamptonshire he had his son and heir William, summoned to Parliament 4 and 5 Ph. and Mary; who died 1595, and whom I suspect to have been the poet rather than his father Lord Thomas. Lord Nicholas the grandfather is now allowed to have lived at too poems. See Warton's Hist. Po. Angl. 49. Percy's Ballads ii. 49. elegance in his manner, which deserves much praise. His poems discover the air of a man of fashion, and a certain reality and sincerity of sentiment which generally results from a long intercourse and disgust with the world.

early a period for these iii. 44. Theatr. Poet. There is an ease and

OF THE MEAN ESTATE.

BY LORD VAUX.

[FROM THE PARADISE OF DAINTY DEVISES, 1576.]

THE higher that the cedar tree

Under the heavens do grow,
The more in danger is the top

When sturdy winds 'gin blow.

Who judges then in princely throne
To be devoid of hate,

Doth not yet know what heaps of ill

Lie hid in such estate.

Such dangers great, such gripes of mind,

Such toils do they sustain,

That oftentimes of God they wish

To be unking'd again.

For as the huge and mighty rocks
Withstand the raging seas,

So kingdoms in subjection be,

Whereas Dame Fortune please;

Of brittle joy, of smiling chear,
Of honey mix'd with gall,
Allotted is to every prince

In freedom to be thrall.

What watches long, what steps unsure, What griefs and cares of mind; What bitter broils, what endless toils, To kingdoms be assign'd!

The subject then may well compare
To prince for pleasant days;
Whose silent night brings quiet rest;
Whose might no storm bewrays:
How much be we then bound to God,
Who such provision makes
To lay our cares upon the prince;
Thus doth he for our sakes:
To him therefore let us lift up
Our hearts, and pray amain,

That every prince, that he hath plac'd,
May long in quiet reign!

TRY BEFORE YOU TRUST.

BY THE SAME.

[FROM THE SAME.]

To counsel my estate,
Abandon'd to the spoil

Of forged friends, whose grossest fraud
Is set with finest foil;

To verify true dealing wights

Whose trust no treason dreads; And all too dear th' acquaintance be

Of such most harmful heads;

I am advised thus,

Whoso doth friend, friend so,

As though to morrow next he fear'd
For to become a foe.

To have a feigned friend,

No peril like I find;

Oft flering face may mantle best

A mischief in the mind;

A pair of angel's ears oft-times
Doth hide a serpent's heart,

Under whose gripes whoso doth come,
Too late complains the smart.
Wherefore I do advise

Whoso doth friend, friend so,

As though to-morrow next he should Become a mortal foe.

Refuse respecting friends

That courtly know to feign; For gold that wins, for gold shall lose

The self-same friend again.

The quail needs never fear
In fowler's nets to fall,

If he would never bend his ear
To listen to his call.

Therefore trust not too soon;

But when you friend, friend so, As though to morrow next ye fear'd For to become a foe.