---

“A Song”

Come heare, Lady Muses, and help mee to sing,

Come love mee whereas I lay

Of a Duke that deserves to bee made a King

The cleane contray way

O the cleane contrary way.

5

Our Buckingham Duke is the man that I meane

Come love mee &c

On his shoulders the weale1 of the Kingdome doth leane

The cleane contrary &c

O the cleane contrary &c

10

O happiest Kingdome that ever was ken’d2

Come love mee &c

And happie the King that hath such a Frend

The cleane contrary &c

O the cleane &c

15

Needes must I extoll his worth and his blood

Come love me whereas I lay

And his sweet disposition soe milde and soe good

The cleane contrary way

O the cleane contrary way.

20

Those innocent smiles that establish his face

Come love mee &c

Who sees them not tokens of goodnes and grace

The cleane contrary &c

O the cleane &c

25

And what other Scholler could ever arise

Come love mee &c

From a Master3 that was soe sincere and wise

The cleane &c

O the cleane &c

30

Who if hee could now from his Grave but ascend

Come love mee &c

Would surely the trueth of his service commend

The cleane contrary way

O the cleane &c

35

The King understands how hee honours his place

Come love mee &c

Which is to his Majestie noe little grace

The cleane &c

O the cleane &c

40

And therefore the Government justly hath hee

Come love mee &c

Of horse for the land and shipps for the Sea4

The cleane &c

O the cleane &c

45

What though our Fleet bee our Enemies debtor

Come love mee &c

Wee brav’d them once and wee’l brave them better

The cleane contrary way

O the cleane &c

50

And should they land heere they should be disjoynted

Come love mee &c

And finde both our horse and Men bravely appointed

The cleane &c

O the cleane &c

55

Then let us sing all of this noble Dukes praise

Come love mee &c

And pray for the length of his life and his daies

The cleane &c

O the cleane &c

60

And when that death shall close up his Eyes

Come love mee &c

God take him up into the skies

The cleane &c

O the cleane &c

65

---

Source. BL MS Sloane 826, fols. 164v-166v

Other known sources. Bodleian MS Add. C.302, fol. 18r; Bodleian MS Rawl. Poet. 26, fol. 61r; BL MS Add. 58215, fol. 173v; Rosenbach MS 1083/16, p. 196

Oi16

Quick links to other poems within this section

Select page here O0. Introduction Oi1. The Parliament sitts Oi2. Oh honoured England Oi3. Our digby digd’e Oi4. The base on which Oi5. There was a man Oi6. There was a great fleete Oi7. There was a Munkye Oi8. Yee Spanyards Oi9. There was some policye Oi10. The Kinge and his wyfe Oi11. Why did the fond Oi12. Fower Cheyffe Justices Oi13. Justice of late hath Oi14. Ould Ned Cooke Oi15. Rex and Grex Oi16. Come heare, Lady Muses Oi17. There is a man Oii1. when the uncivill civill Oii2. It makes mee to muse Oii3. Great Buckinghame Oii4. In reading these Oii5. And wilt thou goe Oii6. Charles would yee Prevaile Oii7. Rejoice, brave English Oii8. Why was the varlett Oii9. One askte me Oii10. Oure crossrow’s turnd Oii11. The noblest brave Oii12. And art return’d againe Oii13. All you that will goe Oii14. As sick men feare Oiii1. O Admirall! Oiii2. The wisest King Oiii3. The warrlike King Oiii4. Excuse me Eliott Oiii5. Avaunt you giddie Oiii6. Here Dr Lambe Oiii7. If heav’n rejoyce Oiii8. For Lambe go ringe Oiii9. Heare lyes the Impostar Oiii10. Our state’s a Game Oiii11. When onely one doth Oiii12. Of Brittish Beasts Oiii13. To hunt the Doe Oiii14. The Parliament of late Oiii15. A thinge gott by candle

¹   the weale: the good; the welfare. <back>

²   ken’d: seen. <back>

³   Master: James I. <back>

⁴   Government...shipps for the Sea: Buckingham was Master of the Horse and Lord Admiral. <back>