Gypsies Metamorphosed 2


Verses made by King James in reponse to his entertainment at Burley-on-the-hill. Transcribed by James Craigie from Bodleian MS. Rawlinson Poet. 26, fol. 4.


[p. 177]

Verses made by the Kinge, when
hee was entertaynd at Burly in
Rutland -shire, by my L. Marquesse
of Buckingham .

August: 1621

The heauens that wept perpetually before,
Since wee came hither show theyr smilinge cleere.
This goodly house it smiles, and all this store
Of huge prouision smiles vpon vs heere.
The Buckes & Stagges in fatt they seeme to smile:
God send a smilinge boy within a while.

Votum

A Vow or Wish for the felicity
& fertility of the owners of
this house.

If euer in the Aprill of my dayes
I satt vpon Parnassus forked hill:
And there inflam'd with sacred fury still
By pen proclaim'd our great Apollo's praise:
Grant glistringe Phoebus with thy golden rayes
My earnest wish which I present thee heere:
Beholdinge of this blessed couple deere,
Whose vertues pure no pen can duly blaze.
Thow by whose heat the trees in fruit abound
Blesse them with fruit delicious sweet & fayre,
That may succeed them in theyr vertues rare.
Thow Joue, that art the onely God indeed,
My prayer heare: sweet Jesu interceed.

Bibliography
H&S, 10.613
James VI and I (1955-58), 2.177