Good Counsell Poem by Gilbert West

Starre of the Senate, light of all the land,
Truths cheese supporter, piller of aduice,
Mishaps preuenter, leader of the band,
Out of Captiuitie Iewell of great price.
Guard to thy King, country and peoples health,
Wisdomes way-maker roote of common-wealth.
Vigilant waker when that others sleepe,
The King and Countries good, that seekst to find:
To heare the wofull plaints of such as weepe,
Opprest by their superiors most vnkinde.
Helping with thy aduice that to redresse,
That otherwise would countries bane encrease.
To framing of good lawes thou lend'st thine eare,
With purse and helpe in seruice of thy Prince;
Countrie and neighbours with a tender care,
Of being forward people to incense.
To the right seruice of Almighty God,
And breaking superstitious heauie clod.
Be thou as fore-man in this Iewrie graue,
Receiue a robe befitting such a wight:
Let giue thy sentence, 'gainst deceiptfull knaue,
Be to his hid deceit an open light.
Receiue of people thankes and worthy praise,
In heauen of God, the crowne which neuer decaies.