2n<i S. VII. Jan. 22. '59.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



63 



it was necessary to scorifa, poor wounded word in 

 order to preserve the hobby of classlcality. 



A much more successful effort as regards eu- 

 phony was made by an anonymous writer in the 

 year 1599, who took for his subject " The Pre- 

 servation of Henry the Seventh when Earl of 

 Richmond." Having been accidentally led to look 

 at this work latel}', I have culled a few extracts 

 for the benefit of " N. & Q." 



First there are some prefatory remarks from 

 which I select the following : — 



" To the Right honorabel, worshipfull, gentel 

 and learned Headers, wliosoever ; that are 

 bothe trew favorits of poetry, and of 

 right ancient Heroicke Hexameters. 



" Right honored worshipfull and gcntell Reader, these 

 Hexameters and Pentameters in Euglishe are misliked of 

 many, because they are not yet come to their full per- 

 fection: and specially of some, that are accounted and 

 knowne to be Doctors, and singularly well learned and 

 great Linguistes : but especialb' of the plaine Rythmer, 

 that scarce knowes the footed quantitie or metricall scan- 

 ning thereof; much lesse to reade them with a grace 

 according to the same. But for him, I say thus : Scitntia 

 nullum habet inimicum, prater ignorantem. Whose bookes 

 iare stuft with lines of prose with rythme in the end; 

 which every fiddler or piper can make upon a theame 

 given. Neverthelesse, I confesse and acknowledge that 

 we have many excellent and singular good poets in this 

 our age, as Maister Spencer, that was, Maister Gowlding, 

 Doctor Phaj-er, Maister Harrington, Daniell, and divers 

 others whom I reverence in that kinde of prose rythme: 

 wherein Spencer (without offence spoken) hath surpassed 

 them all. I would to God they had done so. well in trew 

 Hexameters : for they had then beautified our language." 



Of the labours of Stanyhurst, he speaks in the 

 following terms : — 



" Therefore I reverence Stanihurst ; who, being but an 

 Irishman, did first attempt to translate those foure bookes 

 of Eneados, which (if he be lining) I desire him to refile 

 them over againe ; and thus have written in verse : — 



" If the Poet Stanihurst yet live and feedeth on ay-er, 

 I do request him (as one that wisheth a grace" to the 



meter) 

 With wordes significant to refile and finely to polishe 

 Those fower ^neis, that he late translated in English. 

 I do the man reverence, as a fine, as an exquisit 



Author ; 

 For that he first did atempt to translate verse as a 



Doctor." 



To encourage this kind of composition he ap- 

 pears to have intended compiling an English 

 Gradus. Quantity being a thing not very easily 

 appreciated by the English ear, he gives mean- 

 while 



" A briefe rule or prosodie.for the understanding of the 

 quantitie of some peculiar wordes in this booke ; untill 

 1 have set forth a Verball or littel Dictionarie, with a 

 Prosodia requisite for Poetry : — 



" This monasillabcl ow being an adiective, is indifferent, 

 either long or short : but being an adverbe, alwaies short. 

 " Also mee, thee, yee, hee, and shee, are long or short. 

 " All words ending in o are indifferent," &c. 



The necessity he felt for this key might have 



convinced him that the metre, on his principles at 

 least, was not suited to the English language ; 

 nevertheless there is a certain smoothness in the 

 following hexameters and pentameters, which are 

 a pretty fair specimen of his style : — 



" Vnto the magnipotent, the renowned princes of Europ, 

 Eraperes Elizabeth, this petie libel I give ; 

 Which I present to thy Grace, as a prime Primirose or 

 a Couslop, 

 Onely the flow-er of all our Chronicles, I beleeve. 

 Skilfully pend by Sir Thomas Moore, then a Courtier, 

 Learned in arts, who deliu'd that that he knew to be 

 trew, 

 Grounded on experience, requisite to be read of a Ruler. 

 This donative, Soveraigne, deigne to receiue to thy 

 view. 

 Give but a grace to my verse, it mounts, O Queene, in 

 a moment, 

 Up to the spang'd Element, up to that ayry Lion : 

 Give but a check to the same, it falles dowue (throwne 

 with a contempt) 

 Downe to the Tartarian riuer of hell, Phlegeton." 



More than smoothness one can hardly give 

 them credit for. James Gaxrdner. 



GOD SAVE THE KING, A HYMN OF THE 

 CHAPELS BOYAL. 



It is undeniable that the metrical hymn was 

 used in the Chapels lloyal as an anthem, and that 

 in these chapels there were poetries in the verna- 

 cular standing for the prayer " Domine fac salvura 

 Regem," set by the composers therein for the use 

 of the Quire. Thus the anthem by Byrde, — 



" Thou God that guid'st both Heaven and Earth, 

 On whom we all depend. 

 Preserve our King in perfect health, 

 And Him from harm defend." 



This, by Dr. Child,— 



" Praise 3'e the strength of Britain's hope. 

 By whom all kings their thnmes maintain ; 

 Who, by the birth and gift of Prince, 

 Successful peace hath given to reign : 

 Charles His anointed hath He blest. 

 Our Queen from gates of death hath brought, 

 Hath given to Prince and people life. 

 All glory to His Name hath wrought," &c. 



Another anthem for King Charles, — 



" Behold, God, the sad and heavy case 

 Wherein we stand, as simple sheep forlorn ; 

 If death possess whom life doth j^et embrace. 

 Then may we wail that ever we were born. 

 Wherefore, good Lord, preserve in good health 

 Thy sei-vant, Charles our King, our peace, and wealth." 



(Three other verses.) 

 And, lastly, — 



" That Godhead which these Three conjoins — 

 Our King, Queen, Prince, preserve and bless. 

 Bless them all that spring from their loins, 

 Keep them in peace, in trouble, and distress. 

 Bear up their friends, their foes depress : 

 With instruments of melody 

 Sing praises to this Trinity." 



