University of Virginia Library

A supposed Inter-locution between the Spirit of Prince Henry, and Great Britain.

Britain.

Spir.
He's dead.

Brit.
What voice was that, which from the vaulted roofe
Of my last words did make so plain a proofe?
What was it seem'd to speak above me so,
And saies, He's dead? Was't Eccho, yea, or no?

Sp.
No.

Br.
What? Is it some dispos'd to flout my mone?
Appeare; Hast thou a body, or hast none?

Sp.
None.

Br.
Sure some illusion, oh what art? come hither,
My Princes Ghost, or fiend, or neither?

Sp.
Neither.

Br.
Indeed his Ghost in heaven rests I know,
Art thou some Angel for him, Is it so?

Sp.
So.

Br.
Do not my reall griefs with visions feed,
In earnest speak, Art so indeed?

Sp.
Indeed.

Brit.
What power sent thee now into my Coast?
Was it my Darling Henries Ghost?

Sp.
s' Ghost.

Br.
Th' art welcome then, thy presence gratefull is,
But tell me, Lives he happily in blisse?

Sp.
y's.

Br.
If so much of thee may be understood,
Is the intent of this thy comming good?

Sp
God.

Br.
Say, hath he there the fame that here he had?
Or doth the place unto his glory adde?

Sp.
Adde.

Br.
May I demand what thy good errands be,
To whom is that he told to thee?

Sp.
To thee.

Br.
Oh, doth he minde me yet, sweet Spirit say,
What is thy message? Ile obey:

Sp.
Obey.

Br.
I will not to my power one tittle misse,
Do but command and say, Doe this:

Sp.
Doe this.

Br.
But stay; it seems that thou hast made thy choyse
To speak with Eccho's most imperfect voyce:
In plainer wise declare why thou art sent,
That I may heare with more content:

Sp.
Content.

The Spirit leaves his Eccho, and speaks on.

Sp.
Then heare me Britain, heare me, and beleeve
Thy Henri's there now where he cannot grieve.
He is not subject to the sly invasion
Of any humane or corrupted Passion.
For then (although he sorrow now forbeares)
He would have wept himselfe to see thy tears.
But he (as good Saints are) of joyes partaker,
Is jealous of the glory of his Maker:
And though the Saints of Rome may take it to them,
(Much help to their damnation it will doe them)
He will not on his Masters right presume,
Nor his small'st due unto himselfe assume.
And therefore Britain in the name of God,
And on the pain of his revengefull rod,
He here conjures thee in thy tribulation
To make to God alone thy invocation;
Who took him from thee that but late was living,
For too much trust unto his weaknesse giving.
Yet call'st thou on thy Prince still, as if he
Could either Saviour or Redeemer be:
Thou tell'st him of the wicked Whore of Rome,
As if that he were Iudge to give her doome.
But thou might'st see, were not thy sight so dim,
Thou mak'st mean while another Whore of him.
For what is't for a Creatures aide to crie
But Spirits whordome? (that's idolatry.)
Their most unpleasing breaths that so invoke,
The passage of th' Almighties mercies choke:
And therefore if thy sorrows shall have end,
To God thou must thy whole devotions bend.
Then will thy King that he leave off to mone,
God hath tane His, yet left him more than one.
And that he hath not so severely done,
As when he crav'd the Hebrewes onely sonne;
Because beside this little blessed store,
There's yet a possibility of more.
Goe tell the Queen his Mother that's lamenting,
There is no cause of that her discontenting.
And say, there is another in his place,
Shall do his loving Sisters Nuptialls grace.
Enforme the Palatine his Nymph of Thame,
Shall give his glorious Rhine a treble Fame:
And unto Charles, to whom he leaves his place,
Let this related be in any case;
Tell him he may a full possession take
Of what his Brother did so late forsake;
But bid him look what to his place is due,
And every vice ingenerall eschew:
Let him consider why he was his Brother,
And plac'd above so many thousand other.
Great honours have great burthens; if y'are high,
The stricters your account, and the more nigh:
Let him shun flatterers at any hand,
And ever firmly in Religion stand,
Gird on his Sword; call for th' Almighties might,
Keep a good conscience, fight the Lambs great fight.
For when his Father shall surrender make,
The Faith's protection he must undertake.
Then Charles take heed, for thou shalt heare a-far,
Some cry, Peace, peace, that have their hearts on war.
Let Policie Religion obey,
But let not Policie Religion sway:
Shut from thy Counsells such as have profest
The worship of that Antichristian beast.
For howsoe'er they dawb't with colours trim,
Their hands do beare his mark, their hearts on him;
And though they seem to seek the Commons weale,
'Tis but the Monsters deadly wound to heale.
Banish all Romish Statists, do not sup
Of that dy'd-painted Drabs infectious Cup,
Yea, use thy utmost strength, and all thy power
To scatter them that would buil'd Babels tower.
Thou must sometime be Iudge of equity,
And oft survey e'en thine own Family:
That at thy Table none part ker bee,
That will not at Christ's board partake with thee.
The Lords great Day is neare, 'tis neare at hand,
Vnto thy combate see thou bravely stand.
For him that overcomes Christ keeps a Crown,
And the great'st conquest hath the great'st renown.
Be mercifull, and yet in mercy just:
Chase from thy Court both wantonnesse and lust.
Disguised fashions from the land casheere,
Women may women, and men, men appeare.
The wide-wide mouth of the blasphemer tears
His passage unto God through all the Sphears,
Provoking him to turn his peacefull Word
Into a bloudy double-edged sword:
But cut his tongue, the clapper of damnation,
He may fright others with his Vlulation.
The Drunkard and Adulterer, from whence
Proceeds the cause of dearth and pestilence,
Punish with losse of substance and of limbe,
He rather maimed unto heaven may climbe,
Than tumble whole to Hell, and by his sin
Endanger the whole state he liveth in.
Down, down with Pride, and overthrow Ambition;
Grace true devotion, root out superstition;
Love them that love the Truth, and Vertue graces,
Let honesty, not wealth, obtain great places;
Begin but such a course, and so persever,
Thou shalt have love here, and true blisse for ever.
Thus much for thy new Prince: now this to thee,
Britain, it shall thy charge and duty be,
To tell him now what thou hast heard me say,
And whensoever he commands, obey:
So if thou wilt in minde this counsell beare;
Vnto thy state have due regard and care;
And without stay unto amendment hie,
Thou shalt be deare to those to whom I flie.

Br.
Oh, stay, and do not leave me yet alone.

Sp.
My errand's at an end I must be gone.

Brit.
Go then; but let me aske one word before.

Spir.
My speech now fails, I may discourse no more.

Brit.
Yet let me crave thus much, if so I may,
By Eccho thou reply to what I say.

Sp.
Say.

Br.
First, tell me for his sake thou count'st most deare,
Is Babel's fall, and Iacob's rising neare?

Sp.
Neare.

Br.
Canst thou declare what day that work shall end,
Or rather must we yet attend?

Sp.
Attend.

Br.
Some land must yeeld a Prince that blow to strike
May I be that same land or no, is't like?

Sp.
Like.

Br.
Then therfore 'tis that Rome bears us such spight.
Is she not plotting now to wrong our right?

Sp.
right.

Brit.
But from her mischiefe, and her hands impure,
Canst thou our safe deliverance assure?

Sp
Sure.

Brit.
Then notwithstanding this late losse befell,
And we fear'd much, I trust 'tis well?

Sp.
'Tis well.

Brit.
Then flie thou to thy place, if this be true,
Thou God be prais'd, and griefes adieu.

Sp.
Adieu.