A Royal Rhetorician. Edited, with an Introduction, by Robert S.
Rait. (A. Constable. do. tid. net.)--In this volume we have the " Counterblast to TQbacco," a tractate very seldom read, though often quoted (it is but brief, about the length of an ordinary magazine article), and " The Reuiis and Calteulie of Scottis Danis," with some specimens of the King's own verse. The editor has prefixed a very interesting introduction. Here is "His Majestie's Owne Sonnet," prefixed to the Basil/ism Doren :-- " God gives not kings the stile of Gods In vain., For on his throne his scepter doe they swey And as their subjects ought them to obey, So kings should feare and serve their God wane: It then ye would enjoy a 'nipple ralgne, Observe the statutes of your heavenly king, And from his Law, make all your ',awes to spring • Since his Lieutenant here ye should remaine. Reward the just, be stedtast, true, and plalue, Repress the proud, maintayning ay e the rigid, Welke alwayes so, as ever in his sight, Who guardee the godly, plaguing the propbane
And so ye shall in Princely vertuee *Woe,
Resembling right your might!. King Divine."
Previous page
