Spain to squash us comes along;
Which Howard, Frobisher and Drake
And stormy weather overtake.

[Illustration: GLOBE THEATRE TONYGHTE
Ye TRAGEDYE OFFE HAMLETTE
BY WILLIAM SHAKSPERE.

IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]

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'
1603-16