Classic Poem

The whole Ile of greate Brittaine was of yore divided into 13. Kingdoms, as by Monuments of antiquity, and Historie (the witnesse of time) appeareth, viz
England into 8 namelie, Kent, South-Saxons, East-Saxons, West-Saxons, Bernnicia, (alias Northumberland) Deira, (or Southumberland) Est-Angles, Mercia Scotland into a, viz. Scottes, & Picts; The Scottes on the West side, the Picts on the East, called Pictland, as the other, Scotland .
Wales into 3. viz. North-wales, Southwales, and Powys-land. Vppon which Plaine-songe thus I descant .
A N Articke Ile there is (most famous) found
In the great Lavor of this lesser Round ,
Which Neptune's hand (as most esteemd) infolds
And in his vnsweet-sweating bozome holdes,
On whom at once, Heaven's providence begate
Thirteene Kinges, which did her participate;
Shee fedd them sweetlie, made them fatte to grow;
For, from her Brest did Milke and Hony flow:
Who being pampred, so, ambitious made,
Gainst Nature gan each other to invade:
Shee greatly griv'd, they quited so her loue;
And ay to make them one, shee oft did proue:
But (froward) at the least, they would be Twoo,
So lived long (in strife) with much adoo:
Yet like a tender Mother (vext to see
That hir deere children could no better gree)
Shee laboured night and day with Tyme , to doe
That which shee tride, but could not bring them to:
Who (both togither ioyn'd) did them attone,
So, Tyme and shee, (at last) haue made them One
Then if in One, Thirteene vnited be,
How great, how glorious, and how good is hee?