Florus Britannicus Or, an Exact Epitome of the History of England, From William the Conquerour to the Twelfth Year of the Reign of his Sacred Majesty Charls the Second, now flourishing. Illustrated with their perfect Portraictures ... By Mathew Stevenson |
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The Conclusion.
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The Conclusion.
I Might have told ye that this Realme some callBritain, from Brutus its originall;
Or, that the Romans overthrew it quite
By providence, to make it happier by 't;
Or that the Danes were (was the like e're known?)
By Counsell-keeping Women overthrown;
Or that at other times Kings did agree,
To carve this Realm into an Heptarchie:
All these I pretermit, and many more,
Beginning with the Norman Conquerour;
Who setled here such Laws all men confesse
Are the worlds wonder and our happinesse:
'Tis true, he did the Church some injury,
And suffered for't in his posterity.
I have, and briefly as I could, set down
Who justly claim'd, and who usurpt the Crown,
As likewise that long bloudy Civill war,
Betwixt the House of York and Lancaster.
In short, all Princes have their various fate,
This prosperous, and the next unfortunate;
As too too well this Age knows, not long since
We had a good, but an unhappy Prince;
Who like our Saviour Christ did never cease
To tell us of the things concern'd our Peace.
But Heaven resolv'd to turn another Leaf,
Least his charms should convert us made us deaf:
And now being punisht for our many sins,
Appeased Heaven our Halcyon dayes begins;
Having in mercy given us a King
To all our sorrows will a period bring;
Whose Grandeur and inestimable worth,
None but an Angel's able to set forth:
Great Charls the second, whose Illustrious Name
Shall ride Triumphant on the wings of fame.
Let England say now, since her joyes increase,
Long live King Charls the second, Prince of peace.
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