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“On Sir Lyonell Cranfield Earle of Middlesex & Lord Treasurer of England his fall. 1624”

The base on which mans greatnesse firmest stands

Is Goodnes, els its built on sands

Princes have power to make men great wee see

But Goodnes is involv’d by the Dyetie1

Soe that to make a good greate Man’s a thing

5

Wrought joynt together both by God & King

For where the King makes great & God not good

There greatnes dyes, whilst it doth scarcely budd.

Witnes this Great one mounted to the ayre

But (wanting goodnes) his Honors vapours are,

10

Hee being not good, his greatnes was but small

For meane men good are pittied when they fall

So is not hee, hee loved himselfe alone

And nowe noe good man doth his fall bemoane

I pray observe from whence hee came, the citty2

15

That hee rose so soone and fell noe sooner; Pitty.

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Source. Bodleian MS Malone 23, p. 27

Other known sources. Bodleian MS Ashmole 781, p. 136; Bodleian MS Eng. Poet. c.50, fol. 23r; Bodleian MS Rawl. D. 1100, fol. 89v; BL Add. MS 28640, fol. 148r; BL Add. MS 29492, fol. 27r; BL Add. MS 72479, fol. 8r; BL MS Stowe 962, fol. 146r; Brotherton MS Lt. q. 9, fol. 61r; CUL MS Gg.4.13, p. 47; Folger MS V.a.275, p. 135

Oi4

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   Dyetie: i.e. deity. <back>

²   the citty: Cranfield had been a successful London merchant before turning courtier and taking royal office. <back>