Thomas Vaux (1509–1556)

Thomas Vaux, 2nd Baron of Vaux of Harrowdon (April 1509 - October 1556) was a courtier at the time of Henry VIII. He accompanied Cardinal Wolsey on his embassy to France, but privately disapproved of The Kings attempts to divorce from his first wife Catherine of Aragon. He was lieutenant Governer of Jersey in 1536. He made a reappearance at court when the catholic queen Mary 1st came to the throne. Keeping his head down during Henry VIII’s reign probably helped to keep his head on his shoulders. He was a friend of other court poets: Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard Earl of Surrey and some of his poems were collected in a couple of early anthologies.

17 of his poems have been collected by Larry P Vonalt, which are all that can be attributed to him. I think of Lord Vaux as the death bed poet. His best poems seem to have been written at the end of his life when he looks backwards on lessons learnt, they have a moral tone to them and look forward to when he will meet his maker. They are for the most part plain speaking with Lord Vaux giving his readers thoughts from the benefit of his experience. In "His Extreme Sickness is" an example which starts:

“What grieves my bones and makes my body faint ?
What pricks my flesh and tears my head in twain ?
Why do I wake when rest should me attaint ?
When others laugh why do I live in pain?
I toss, I turn, I change from side to side
And stretch me oft in sorrow’s links betied.”

"The aged Lover Renounceth Love":

“The harbinger of death
To me I see him ride;
The cough, the cold, the gasping breath,
Doth bid me to provide.”

My favourite poem is "He Renounceth All The Effects of Love" which has an excellent final rhyming couplet:

“In time, as Phoenix ends her care and carks,
I make the fire and burn myself with sparks.”

He uses alliteration to good effect and his poems have a regular rhyming scheme, some are written in iambic pentameter and most of them read well. This collection of poems has a very short introduction, but presents the poems nicely with modern spelling. The poems are worth a look and are concise, clear and easy to read.… (mais)