A Strappado for the Diuell Epigrams and Satyres alluding to the time, with diuers measures of no lesse Delight. By MISOSUKOS[Greek], to his friend PHILOKRATES[Greek] [by Richard Brathwait] |
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A Panegirick Embleame, Intituled, Saint George for England. |
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 | A Strappado for the Diuell |  |
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A Panegirick Embleame, Intituled, Saint George for England.
The Argument of the Embleame.
From whence the English anciently deriued this Saints canonization, his orders, inauguration—of Sigismund, Emperour of Almaine: and his present to Henry the fift. The institution of this order where, the solemnizing where: the seuerall games, exercises, Races, and Martiall trials auspiciously begunne with that Saint.—And the like of Honour and aduauncement. —A comparison had betweene Perseus sonne to Iupiter and Danae; who preserued Andromoda from the sea monster, and Saint George, who slew the Dragon. The discription of Perseus, and of Saint George: concluding with a victorious Pæan to Saint George.
The Embleame
Haile to thy shrine thou Saint of Albion,
Who had thy auncient consecration
From thy religious mannagements, as farre
Disperst, as Turke or Christian planted are,
Thou art the Saint which we in war doe vse,
Hoping by thee to be auspicious.
Yet void of superstition we impart,
Sole laud to him, whose noble Saint thou art.
Nor loose we th' name of th' Almaine Sigismund,
By whom thy precious Reliques first were found.
And heere presented as a royall gift
To Englands Mirrour, Henry the fift.
Since when thy order is solemnized,
At Windsor, where a part of thee is sed
To be inter'd: thrice happy monument,
To couer part of one so eminent.
So Saintly vertuous as no honour can,
“Giue thee thy due, as onley due to man.
O may thy institution honour'd be,
By true deserts, and due solemnity.
Nor whom thy order doth inaugurate,
May they by vice stand subiect vnto hate.
But so euen weighd in all their actions here,
“As Georges Knights may after Saints appeare:
Which they shall be, by showing feruent zeale
Vnto the Church, loue to the common-weale.
In all dur games and pastimes seuerall,
Euer on George as on our Saint we call:
For by that name the auncients vnderstood,
Their Fortune could not chuse but to be good,
As Turnaments, Iusts, Barriers, and the rest,
In which his name was euermore exprest.
In Races too these present times affoord
Instances store, Saint George he giues the word.
So as it was (as common stories tell)
To say Saint George, as say God speede you well.
Who had thy auncient consecration
137
Disperst, as Turke or Christian planted are,
Thou art the Saint which we in war doe vse,
Hoping by thee to be auspicious.
Yet void of superstition we impart,
Sole laud to him, whose noble Saint thou art.
Nor loose we th' name of th' Almaine Sigismund,
By whom thy precious Reliques first were found.
And heere presented as a royall gift
To Englands Mirrour, Henry the fift.
Since when thy order is solemnized,
At Windsor, where a part of thee is sed
To be inter'd: thrice happy monument,
To couer part of one so eminent.
So Saintly vertuous as no honour can,
“Giue thee thy due, as onley due to man.
O may thy institution honour'd be,
By true deserts, and due solemnity.
Nor whom thy order doth inaugurate,
May they by vice stand subiect vnto hate.
But so euen weighd in all their actions here,
“As Georges Knights may after Saints appeare:
Which they shall be, by showing feruent zeale
Vnto the Church, loue to the common-weale.
138
Euer on George as on our Saint we call:
For by that name the auncients vnderstood,
Their Fortune could not chuse but to be good,
As Turnaments, Iusts, Barriers, and the rest,
In which his name was euermore exprest.
In Races too these present times affoord
Instances store, Saint George he giues the word.
So as it was (as common stories tell)
To say Saint George, as say God speede you well.
In Martiall trials when our armies met,
His name would spirit in our men beget,
“Heightning their courage, perills passing through.
“Standing desolu'd before a Cannons mouth.
“Out-bearing danger, and with violent breath
“Stand at defiance gainst the threats of death.
Marching through horrour they would boldly passe,
(As for pale feare, they knew not what it was)
Which may be instanc'd in that holy war,
Where those that lost their liues canoniz'd are
In leaues of perpetuity: I meane,
In the regayning of Ierusalem,
Where those renouned Champions enterprist,
For the due honour of their Sauiour Christ.
Either to win that Cittie (maugre th' vaunts
Of all those hellish god lesse miscreants,)
Or if they could not th' Cittie so surprize,
Resolv'd they were their liues to sacrifice;
Euen then I say when those that Marshall'd them,
Could not with-hold from flight their recreant men;
“Saint George appear'd in a submissiue show,
“Wishing them not to wrong their Countrie so:
And though a ghost (and therefore lesse belieu'd;
Yet was his mouing presence so receiv'd
As none to fight it out resolued more,
Then such as readiest were to flie before.
Vp went their scaling-ladders to displant
Th' abhorred of-spring of the miscreant,
And euer as some danger they espide,
God and St George for England still they cride.
And how successiue that renowned warre
Was to those Christians, which enrolled are
In an eternall register, may well appeare
“By Godfrey Bulloyne who was stiled there
“King of Ierusalem, yet as its showne,
“By auntient stories, would receiue no crowne,
“Thinking 't vnfit that it should be rehearst,
“Thar where his masters head with thornes was pierst,
He that his seruant was should be so bold,
As haue his head girt with a crowne of gold.
What fame in forraine coasts this Hero got,
The lake Silene shewes, if we should not;
Where in the reskew of a louely Mayde,
A fearefull Dragon he discomfited,
So as we haue portraide to euery viewe,
On signes of Innes-how George the Dragon slew;
Which story to expresse were too too long,
Being a subiect for each fidlers song:
“Yet cause there is (I cannot will nor chuse)
Comparison 'twixt him and Perseus,
VVho sonne to Ioue and showre stain'd Danae,
In reskew of the faire Andromade,
Encountred that sea-monster; Ile explane
Each attribute of their peculiar fame:
“And then conferring them one with the other,
“Collect whose best their actions laide together.
His name would spirit in our men beget,
“Heightning their courage, perills passing through.
“Standing desolu'd before a Cannons mouth.
“Out-bearing danger, and with violent breath
“Stand at defiance gainst the threats of death.
Marching through horrour they would boldly passe,
(As for pale feare, they knew not what it was)
Which may be instanc'd in that holy war,
Where those that lost their liues canoniz'd are
In leaues of perpetuity: I meane,
In the regayning of Ierusalem,
Where those renouned Champions enterprist,
For the due honour of their Sauiour Christ.
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Of all those hellish god lesse miscreants,)
Or if they could not th' Cittie so surprize,
Resolv'd they were their liues to sacrifice;
Euen then I say when those that Marshall'd them,
Could not with-hold from flight their recreant men;
“Saint George appear'd in a submissiue show,
“Wishing them not to wrong their Countrie so:
And though a ghost (and therefore lesse belieu'd;
Yet was his mouing presence so receiv'd
As none to fight it out resolued more,
Then such as readiest were to flie before.
Vp went their scaling-ladders to displant
Th' abhorred of-spring of the miscreant,
And euer as some danger they espide,
God and St George for England still they cride.
And how successiue that renowned warre
Was to those Christians, which enrolled are
In an eternall register, may well appeare
“By Godfrey Bulloyne who was stiled there
“King of Ierusalem, yet as its showne,
“By auntient stories, would receiue no crowne,
“Thinking 't vnfit that it should be rehearst,
“Thar where his masters head with thornes was pierst,
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As haue his head girt with a crowne of gold.
What fame in forraine coasts this Hero got,
The lake Silene shewes, if we should not;
Where in the reskew of a louely Mayde,
A fearefull Dragon he discomfited,
So as we haue portraide to euery viewe,
On signes of Innes-how George the Dragon slew;
Which story to expresse were too too long,
Being a subiect for each fidlers song:
“Yet cause there is (I cannot will nor chuse)
Comparison 'twixt him and Perseus,
VVho sonne to Ioue and showre stain'd Danae,
In reskew of the faire Andromade,
Encountred that sea-monster; Ile explane
Each attribute of their peculiar fame:
“And then conferring them one with the other,
“Collect whose best their actions laide together.
And first for Perseus; great I must confesse,
He was in name, his birth inferres no lesse
Being Ioues sonne, yet can he no way shun
The name of Bastard, though he were his sonne:
Deflowr'd his mother was—and in a showre
Of gold, to shew how gold has soueraigne power,
T'vnlocke the fort of fancy, and how soone
“Women are wonne, when golden bayts are showne.
Long Ioue had woo'd and yet he could not win
What he desir'd, till gold receiv'd him in,
Which seemes by easie consequence to proue,
“Gifts be the giues that bindes the hands of loue.
Thus sprung the noble Perseus, who in time
“To propagate the honour of that line
From whence he came, and that it might be sed,
That he from Ioue was rightly fathered
Tooke on him strange aduentures; as to right
“Iniur'd Ladies by a single fight,
“Encounter Giants, rescew men distrest,
In each where of his glory was exprest:
“For valiant & more worthy they doe shew them,
“That wrongs redresse, then such as vse to doe them,
But th' first and best attempt he did on Earth,
“Was, to wipe off th' blemish of his birth,
And th' staine of his corrupted mothers honour,
Which blushes blaz'd who euer look't vpon her.
“On then along imagin'd it may be
VVent he to th' reskew of Andromade;
Who now was markt for death, and brought to th' shore
Where many maids had bin deuour'd before,
By a sea-monster: here the Virgin stood,
To free her Countrey with her guiltlesse blood,
Whom Perseus (as he coasted by that way)
No sooner vew'd then he began to say.
He was in name, his birth inferres no lesse
Being Ioues sonne, yet can he no way shun
The name of Bastard, though he were his sonne:
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Of gold, to shew how gold has soueraigne power,
T'vnlocke the fort of fancy, and how soone
“Women are wonne, when golden bayts are showne.
Long Ioue had woo'd and yet he could not win
What he desir'd, till gold receiv'd him in,
Which seemes by easie consequence to proue,
“Gifts be the giues that bindes the hands of loue.
Thus sprung the noble Perseus, who in time
“To propagate the honour of that line
From whence he came, and that it might be sed,
That he from Ioue was rightly fathered
Tooke on him strange aduentures; as to right
“Iniur'd Ladies by a single fight,
“Encounter Giants, rescew men distrest,
In each where of his glory was exprest:
“For valiant & more worthy they doe shew them,
“That wrongs redresse, then such as vse to doe them,
But th' first and best attempt he did on Earth,
“Was, to wipe off th' blemish of his birth,
And th' staine of his corrupted mothers honour,
Which blushes blaz'd who euer look't vpon her.
“On then along imagin'd it may be
VVent he to th' reskew of Andromade;
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Where many maids had bin deuour'd before,
By a sea-monster: here the Virgin stood,
To free her Countrey with her guiltlesse blood,
Whom Perseus (as he coasted by that way)
No sooner vew'd then he began to say.
Faire Virgin (then he wept) impart to vs
What rude vnhallowed hand hath vs'd thee thus
And by the honour of my heauenly Sire
What ere he be he shall receiue his hire,
Giant or Monster in the earth or Sea,
Reueng'd he shall-sweete Virgin tell it me.
Kind Sir (quoth she) and then she staide her breath
As one addrest to meditate of death,
Treate not with me of life, nor aske who 'tis
Giant or Monster that's the cause of this,
Onely know this (thou gentle Knight) that I
“Am doom'd to death, and I'me resolu'd to die.
To die (faire Maide quoth he)? if't be thy fate,
Ile sympathize with thee in equall state
And die with thee: onely giue griefe a tongue,
To tell me who's the Author of thy wrong:
Know then (sayd he) I am that haplesse she,
The wretched, pittied poore Andromade,
Who here am left of friends, bereft of all
To be a prey vnto a rauenous whale:
Many haue suffered ere it came to me,
Now is my lot and welcome it shall be,
To expiate with my vnstained blood
The Monsters wrath and doe my countrey good;
As she spake this vp from the Ocean
Came that deuouring vaste Leuiathan,
Sweeping along the shore, which being spide;
Good sir retire the noble Damsell cride,
Yonder he comes for loue of honour flie,
It's I am doom'd, then let me onely die.
But Perseus (one better tempered,
Then to behold a Virgine slaughtered,
Without assayd reuenge) did streight begin
With man-like valour to encounter him,
Doubtfull the skirmish was on either side,
(While th' Maide a sad spectator did abide)
Wooing with teares which from her cheeks did flow
That Ioue would giue this Monster th' ouerthrow:
At last her prayers and teares preuail'd so well,
As vnder Perseus feete the Monster fell;
Whence came it (as the story doth proceede)
The Uirgin and her Countrey both were freede:
VVhich to requite (in guerdon of her life)
She gaue her selfe to Perseus as wife,
“Whom he receiu'd—ô he did ill in this,
“Sith by the Auncient it recorded is,
Before that Perseus to her reskew came,
She was espoused to another man
“By name Vaxedor, (ô it was a sinne
To marrie her that was not dew to him:)
And better had 't been to sustaine her fate,
“Then by such breach of faith to violate
Her former Spousals—which vniust offence
“Gods may winke at but neuer will dispence:
Yea to a barraine Rocke though she were tyde,
Yet better 'twas then to be made a Bride
“To an vsurped Bed, for that did laie,
“That staine on her, time cannot wipe away.
Thus haue you heard what noble Perseus was
VVith greatest dangers that his worth did passe,
The imminence whereof merits due praise,
“And such a Poet as deserues the Baies:
Laurell and Myrtle—though his Nuptiall knot
“Lost him more fame then ere his valour got:
“For so deprau'd's the Nature of our will,
“What's good we laine, what's ill we harpe on still.
Now to thy English Saint, my Muse repaire,
And lim him so, that when thou shalt compare
These two: He Perseus may out-strip as farre,
As sunne the Moone, or th' Moone a twinkling star.
George now enstil'd the Saint of Albion,
By linage was a Capadocian;
Whose valour was exprest in all his time,
That vertue might in euery action shine,
VVhich to induce beliefe by mouing sence,
I will produce his best description thence,
Both for th' resemblance which hath euer bin,
Twixt the renowned Perseus and him:
As also to make good, that not one staine
“Eclipst that glory which his acts did gaine
All which by instance seconded shall be
“Perseus was great yet George more great then he.
What rude vnhallowed hand hath vs'd thee thus
And by the honour of my heauenly Sire
What ere he be he shall receiue his hire,
Giant or Monster in the earth or Sea,
Reueng'd he shall-sweete Virgin tell it me.
Kind Sir (quoth she) and then she staide her breath
As one addrest to meditate of death,
Treate not with me of life, nor aske who 'tis
Giant or Monster that's the cause of this,
Onely know this (thou gentle Knight) that I
“Am doom'd to death, and I'me resolu'd to die.
To die (faire Maide quoth he)? if't be thy fate,
Ile sympathize with thee in equall state
And die with thee: onely giue griefe a tongue,
To tell me who's the Author of thy wrong:
Know then (sayd he) I am that haplesse she,
The wretched, pittied poore Andromade,
143
To be a prey vnto a rauenous whale:
Many haue suffered ere it came to me,
Now is my lot and welcome it shall be,
To expiate with my vnstained blood
The Monsters wrath and doe my countrey good;
As she spake this vp from the Ocean
Came that deuouring vaste Leuiathan,
Sweeping along the shore, which being spide;
Good sir retire the noble Damsell cride,
Yonder he comes for loue of honour flie,
It's I am doom'd, then let me onely die.
But Perseus (one better tempered,
Then to behold a Virgine slaughtered,
Without assayd reuenge) did streight begin
With man-like valour to encounter him,
Doubtfull the skirmish was on either side,
(While th' Maide a sad spectator did abide)
Wooing with teares which from her cheeks did flow
That Ioue would giue this Monster th' ouerthrow:
At last her prayers and teares preuail'd so well,
As vnder Perseus feete the Monster fell;
Whence came it (as the story doth proceede)
The Uirgin and her Countrey both were freede:
144
She gaue her selfe to Perseus as wife,
“Whom he receiu'd—ô he did ill in this,
“Sith by the Auncient it recorded is,
Before that Perseus to her reskew came,
She was espoused to another man
“By name Vaxedor, (ô it was a sinne
To marrie her that was not dew to him:)
And better had 't been to sustaine her fate,
“Then by such breach of faith to violate
Her former Spousals—which vniust offence
“Gods may winke at but neuer will dispence:
Yea to a barraine Rocke though she were tyde,
Yet better 'twas then to be made a Bride
“To an vsurped Bed, for that did laie,
“That staine on her, time cannot wipe away.
Thus haue you heard what noble Perseus was
VVith greatest dangers that his worth did passe,
The imminence whereof merits due praise,
“And such a Poet as deserues the Baies:
Laurell and Myrtle—though his Nuptiall knot
“Lost him more fame then ere his valour got:
“For so deprau'd's the Nature of our will,
“What's good we laine, what's ill we harpe on still.
145
And lim him so, that when thou shalt compare
These two: He Perseus may out-strip as farre,
As sunne the Moone, or th' Moone a twinkling star.
George now enstil'd the Saint of Albion,
By linage was a Capadocian;
Whose valour was exprest in all his time,
That vertue might in euery action shine,
VVhich to induce beliefe by mouing sence,
I will produce his best description thence,
Both for th' resemblance which hath euer bin,
Twixt the renowned Perseus and him:
As also to make good, that not one staine
“Eclipst that glory which his acts did gaine
All which by instance seconded shall be
“Perseus was great yet George more great then he.
Tutching that Dragon on Sylenes shore,
I haue in part related it before:
Yet but as shadowes doe resemblance make,
Vnto the substance and materiall shape,
Digressiuely I onely seem'd to glance,
At th' act it selfe, not at the circumstance:
Know then this noble Champion hearing one,
Along his trauaile making piteous mone,
In meere remorce drew neerer to the noice,
“Till he perceiu'd it was a Ladies voice,
VVho in a Virgin-milky white araide.
Show'd by her habit that she was a Maide;
Carelesse her haire hung dowre, and in her looke,
Her woes were writ as in a Table booke:
Warm-trickling teres came streaming from her eies
Sighs from her heart, and from her accent cries.
Tyed was she fast vnto a pitched stake,
Bounding on Sylen's Dragon-haunted lake,
All which exprest without a Character
The wofull state which did enuiron her:
Saint George observ'd her teares, and from his eyes
Her teares by his finde their renew'd supplies,
Both vie as for a wager, which to winne,
“The more she wept, the more she forced him:
At last with modest hauiour in reliefe,
Of her distresse, he thus allaide her griefe.
“Sorrowfull Lady if griefes lesned are,
VVhen those that pittie griefes receiue their share,
Impart your sorrowes to me, and in lew,
“If right I cannot, I will pittie you.
Alasse (sweet youth quoth she) pittie's too late,
VVhen my disease is growen so desperate,
Yet doe I thanke thee for thy loue to me,
That neuer yet deseru'd so much of thee:
“Pray thee begone, such friendship Ile not trie,
To see thy death one is enowe to die,
And I am shee,—crosse not the will of Fate,
“Better's to loose one then a double state:
Be gone I say do not the time fore-slowe,
“Perish I must of force, so needs not thou.
Imminent horror would admit no more;
For now the Dragon from Sylenes shore
Came spitting lothsome venome all about,
VVhich blasted trees and dried vp their roote.
St George the Dragon had no sooner vew'd,
Then fresh supplies of spirit was renew'd
In his vnmatched brest: him he assailes,
And though ore-matcht his spirit neuer failes
Till he subdew'd him: and as some auerre,
He tyed him fast and made him follow her
Vnto her fathers pallace, where we reade
In publike triumph he cut off his head.
Here may we see that act of Perseus
Equall'd by George and made more glorious
In that he aym'd no further nor was se'd
“To put his feete into anothers bed,
“His conquest it was temporate and iust,
Not stayn'd with blemish of defaming lust
For no attempt vs'd he to vndertake,
But for true honour and for Uertues sake.
I haue in part related it before:
Yet but as shadowes doe resemblance make,
Vnto the substance and materiall shape,
Digressiuely I onely seem'd to glance,
At th' act it selfe, not at the circumstance:
144
Along his trauaile making piteous mone,
In meere remorce drew neerer to the noice,
“Till he perceiu'd it was a Ladies voice,
VVho in a Virgin-milky white araide.
Show'd by her habit that she was a Maide;
Carelesse her haire hung dowre, and in her looke,
Her woes were writ as in a Table booke:
Warm-trickling teres came streaming from her eies
Sighs from her heart, and from her accent cries.
Tyed was she fast vnto a pitched stake,
Bounding on Sylen's Dragon-haunted lake,
All which exprest without a Character
The wofull state which did enuiron her:
Saint George observ'd her teares, and from his eyes
Her teares by his finde their renew'd supplies,
Both vie as for a wager, which to winne,
“The more she wept, the more she forced him:
At last with modest hauiour in reliefe,
Of her distresse, he thus allaide her griefe.
“Sorrowfull Lady if griefes lesned are,
VVhen those that pittie griefes receiue their share,
Impart your sorrowes to me, and in lew,
“If right I cannot, I will pittie you.
147
VVhen my disease is growen so desperate,
Yet doe I thanke thee for thy loue to me,
That neuer yet deseru'd so much of thee:
“Pray thee begone, such friendship Ile not trie,
To see thy death one is enowe to die,
And I am shee,—crosse not the will of Fate,
“Better's to loose one then a double state:
Be gone I say do not the time fore-slowe,
“Perish I must of force, so needs not thou.
Imminent horror would admit no more;
For now the Dragon from Sylenes shore
Came spitting lothsome venome all about,
VVhich blasted trees and dried vp their roote.
St George the Dragon had no sooner vew'd,
Then fresh supplies of spirit was renew'd
In his vnmatched brest: him he assailes,
And though ore-matcht his spirit neuer failes
Till he subdew'd him: and as some auerre,
He tyed him fast and made him follow her
Vnto her fathers pallace, where we reade
In publike triumph he cut off his head.
Here may we see that act of Perseus
Equall'd by George and made more glorious
148
“To put his feete into anothers bed,
“His conquest it was temporate and iust,
Not stayn'd with blemish of defaming lust
For no attempt vs'd he to vndertake,
But for true honour and for Uertues sake.
| A Strappado for the Diuell | |