IV.

Q. ELIZABETH'S VERSES, WHILE PRISONER AT WOODSTOCK,

WRIT WITH CHARCOAL ON A SHUTTER,

Are preserved by Hentzner, in that part of his _Travels_ which has been reprinted in so elegant a manner at Strawberry-hill. In Hentzner's book they were wretchedly corrupted, but are here given as amended by his ingenious editor. The old orthography, and one or two ancient readings of Hentzner's copy, are here restored.

* * * * *

Oh, Fortune! how thy restlesse wavering state Hath fraught with cares my troubled witt! Witnes this present prisonn, whither fate Could beare me, and the joys I quit.[538] Thou causedest the guiltie to be losed 5 From bandes, wherein are innocents inclosed: Causing the guiltles to be straite reserved, And freeing those that death had well deserved. But by her envie can be nothing wroughte, So God send to my foes all they have thoughte. 10

A.D. MDLV. ELIZABETHE, PRISONNER.

FOOTNOTES:

[538] Ver. 4. "Could beare," is an ancient idiom, equivalent to "did bear" or "hath borne." See below the _Beggar of Bednal Green_, Book 2, No. x. v. 57. "Could say."