A web-based edition of early seventeenth-century political poetry from manuscript sources. It brings into the public domain over 350 poems, many of which have never before been published.
Pi28 At Portsmouth Duke I will no longer staye
Notes. This poem is the shorter of the two surviving dialogues between Buckingham and Charon, ferryman of the dead (cf. “Great Duke, which art commaunder of the Seas”). The last three speeches (i.e. the last six lines) may be unique to our chosen source.
“The Admiralls ferriman, Duke Buckingham”
Charon. At Portsmouth1 Duke I will no longer staye
my boat’es at hand, nowe therfore come awaye,
Duke. Who calls greate George? (Charon.) tis Charon that commaunds
thy guilty ghost to goe him none withstands.
Duke. but whither must I goe? (Charon.) to land at Styx2
5from whence you had your stratagems and trickes.
Duke. nay prithee stay, sweete Charon, thou shallt see
that if George lives, then all shall come to thee.
Charon. pish3 come I saye! my boate shall stay for none.
thy sweete perfumed sins will fill’t alone,
10yf not thy Titles.4 (Duke.) Sure thow’lt stay a while
that I may Charles a little more beguile
Charon. No no I cannot, Felton make no delaye
if thou lov’st Charles send me proud George awaye
Duke. Am I of sea & land that greate Commaunder5
15when this small boate doth scorne I should command her
sweete pleasures, honors, titles, fortune brittle,
Adieu, I have no title to a tittle.6
Charon. ho, ho! now welcome George; no soule shall more
For theese twelve moneths be lanched from this shoare
20but see my bottome sinkes whence comes this weight
Duke. Greate Brittaines burdthen is thy heavy freight
Charon. then use thy art Charon to gaine the strand7
this wood till nowe was ne’re so basely man’d.
Source. BL Add. MS 29492, fol. 56r-v
Other known sources. Bodleian MS Douce f.5, fol. 13v; Bodleian MS Eng. Poet. e.14, fol. 19r; Bodleian MS Rawl. Poet. 26, fol. 14r; Bodleian MS Tanner 465, fol. 103r; BL MS Sloane 826, fol. 188r; BL MS Harley 791, fol. 57r; St. John’s MS K.56, no. 22; St. John’s MS S.32, fol. 42v; Rosenbach MS 240/7, p. 60
Pi28
1 Portsmouth: Buckingham was assassinated in the southern English town of Portsmouth. <back>
2 Styx: a river in Hades, the classical realm of the dead. <back>
3 pish: an exclamation of contempt. <back>
4 Titles: Buckingham held a number of titles in addition to his dukedom, including Earl of Coventry and Baron Whaddon. His list of offices was longer still. <back>
5 of sea & land...Commaunder: Buckingham was Lord Admiral and the commander of English armies at the Ile de Ré in 1627. <back>
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