When fair REBECCA set me free, 'Twas then a golden time with me! But soon those pleasures fled; For the gracious Princess died, In her youth and beauty's pride: And JUDITH reigned in her stead! VII. One month, three days, and half an hour, JUDITH held the sovereign power. Wondrous beautiful her face; But so weak and small her wit, That she to govern was unfit: And so SUSANNA took her place! VIII. But when ISABELLA came, Armed with a resistless flame And th' artillery of her eye; Whilst she proudly march'd about, Greater conquests to find out, She beat out SUSAN by the bye. IX. But in her place, I then obeyed Black-eyed BESS, her Viceroy-maid: To whom ensued a Vacancy. Thousand worst passions then possess'd The interregnum of my breast. Bless me, from such an anarchy! X. Gentle HENRIETTE then, And a third MARY next began; Then JOAN, and JANE, and ANDRIA; And then a pretty THOMASINE, And then another KATHERINE, And then a long _Et cetera_! XI. But should I now to you relate The strength and riches of their State! The powder, patches, and the pins! The ribbons, jewels, and the rings! The lace, the paint, and warlike things, That make up all their magazines! XII. If I should tell their politic arts To take, and keep men's hearts! The letters! embassies! and spies! The frowns! and smiles! and flatteries! The quarrels! tears! and perjuries! Numberless, nameless mysteries! XIII. And all the little lime twigs laid By MACHIAVEL, the waiting maid! I, more voluminous should grow, (Chiefly if I, like them, should tell, All change of weathers that befell,) Than HOLINGSHED, or STOW! XIV. But I will briefer with them be; Since few of them were long with me! A higher and a nobler strain, My present Empress does claim; HELEONORA, First o' the name, Whom, GOD grant long to reign! [Illustration] England's WAY TO WIN Wealth, and to employ Ships and Mariners; OR, A plain description what great profit it will bring into the Common Wealth of England, by the erecting, building, and adventuring of Busses to sea, a fishing.