Shakespeare And in these epoch making days
1564-1616 Shakespeare wrote and staged his plays;
Weaving a thread whose magic strands
Entwine all English-speaking lands.
Fifteen-eight-seven Scots' Queen Mary
Lost her head through fate contrary.
When Henry Eight had robbed the Church
'Twas found the poor were in the lurch;
Poor Law A law was passed about this date
To place the poor upon the rate.
[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]
Sir Walter Sir Walter Raleigh, best of Knights,
Raleigh The first to taste the keen delights
1552-1618 Of the enchantress so serene,
The Ryghte Goode Ladye Nicotine.
No information's yet to hand
Concerning Raleigh's favourite brand;
Tobacco Was it coarse-cut shag which burns
The tongue, or birdseye or returns?
[Illustration]
Queen Good Queen Bess we understand
Elizabeth Had crowds of suitors for her hand;
And here we beg to give a view
Of suitors waiting in a queue.
[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]
Queen As time rolled on this Good Queen Bess
Elizabeth Lost somewhat of her sprightliness;
(continued) She got into a nervous state
Was mopish and disconsolate.
Now, as everyone will own,
Had 'Iron Jelloids' been but known
In Bess's time; why, it's conceded
'Twas just the Tonic that she needed.
East India The great 'John Comp'ny' now began
Company Its fine career without a plan.
1600 Great! The Elizabethan Age.
In History's book a glorious page.
[Illustration]
Somewhere or other we've heard snuff
Came in the days of frill and ruff;
And here's a noble ill at ease
Giving the first recorded sneeze.
James I. James Six of Scotland, miscalled a 'fule'
1603-1625 As James One of England comes to rule.
Gramercy! 'tis a canny thing
To be a 'double-barrelled' King.
The son of Mary Queen of Scots
Of learning he had lots and lots,
Writing sundry ponderous books
'Gainst 'bacca, witches and their spooks.
James thought his kingly power divine
And, loathing Puritanic 'whine,'
He vowed to make them all comply
Or else he'd 'know the reason why.'
Pilgrim Fathers His persecution to escape
1620 Some Zealots in the 'Mayflower' shape
Their course for an uncharted world
Where Freedom's Flag could be unfurled.
These 'Pilgrim Fathers' found a state
'New England,' blessed with happy fate.
Folks have called the first King James
Most uncomplimentary names;
To wit 'a sloven' and 'a glutton';
Perhaps his weakness was Scotch Mutton.
And as to gluttony, 'Gadzooks'!
If what we read in History books
Is true, they all were trenchermen;
There were no diet faddists then.
It startles us, one must declare,
To read their breakfast bill of fare;
All 'Kynes' of ale, some highly spiced
And divers meats, roast, boiled and sliced.
In James' reign a man could get
For money down a coronet
And titles with the greatest ease
Like folks to-day buy soap and cheese.
Harvey Yet a learned time; for Harvey shows
That blood's not stagnant, but it flows;
Lord Bacon 'Experiment!' Lord Bacon cries
'There is no progress otherwise.'
[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic
MODEL OF THE NOTORIOUS GUY FAWKES
WHICH HOWEVER IS NOT CONSIDERED
HISTORICALLY ACCURATE]
5th November Of troubles James had quite a lot,
1605 For instance the Gunpowder Plot.
It fizzled out but left to-day
A liking for Firework display.
[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic