University of Virginia Library

TO THOSE NOBLE Personages rancked in the CATALOGVE.

My feebler Muse farre too too weake to sing,
Ha's got your Honours on her staggring wing,
And borne them to the loftiest pitch she may:
Therefore (submissiue) she do's humbly pray,
That when her tongue reeles, or Inuention haults,
Your Fauours will giue crutches to her faults.

To The King.

Those (mighty Soueraigne) are your Graces text,
Right King of Heralds, not to any, next:
You might their mysticke learning blazon best,
But you reserue your knowledge vnexprest:
As being most peculiar to you:
And yet because the people may allow
That which concernes your selfe: Let me to them
Vnlocke the value of this prizelesse Iem:
The Lyons trebled thus, may represent
Your equall fitnes for the Regiment
Of this faire Monarchie: Brittaine then
Which euer ha's bin stuft with valiant men,
May fittest beare a Lyon, vrg'd to spoile:
Your Irish Kernes, who neuer vs'd to toyle,
Are in their silver-studded Harpe explain'd.
These Splendent Beauties limm'd by Natures hand,
By grace of Ancient Kings, made Royall flow'rs,
But now thrice Royall made, by being Yours.

EMBLEME 1

VVhy be these marshal'd equall, as you see?
Are they dis-rankt, or not? No: they should be
Thus plac'd: for Common-weales doe tottering stand,
Not vnder-propt thus by the mutuall hand
Of King and Priest, by Gods and humane lawes:
Divine assistance most effectuall drawes
Kings to confesse, that t'heav'n they homage owe;
Which consequently leads a King to knowe,
That, that Ambition's by dead Embers fir'd,
Which has not beyond earth to heav'n aspir'd:
Earth can but make a King of earth partaker,
But Knowledge makes him neerest like his maker.
For mans meere power not built on Wisdomes fort,
Dos rather pluck downe kingdomes than support.
Perfectly mixt, thus Power and Knowledge moue
About thy iust designes, ensphear'd with loue;
Which (as a glasse) serue neighbour-Kings, to see
How best to follow, though not equall thee.

EMBLEME 2

Seated on this three-headed Mountaine high,
Which represents Great Brytaines Monarchie,
Thus stand I furnisht t'entertaine the noise:
Of thronging clamours, with an equall poyse:
And thus addrest to giue a constant weight
To formall shewes, of Vertue, or Deceit:
Thus arm'd with Pow'r to punnish or protect,
When I haue weigh'd each scruple and defect:
Thus plentifully rich in parts and place
To giue Aboundance, or a poore disgrace:
But, how to make these in iust circle moue,
Heav'n crownes my head with Wisedome from aboue.
Thus Merit on each part, to whom 'tis due,
With God-like power disbursed is by you.

To The Qveene.

Of all proportions (Madam) diuers dare
Conclude that absolute, which is most square:
Well may they proue that Theoreme: for I know
Square Bodies doe the most perfection show:
Perfection still consisting in this best,
To stand more sure, the more it is supprest.
Which speciall vertue chiefly doth belong
Vnto square bodies, or right do's them wrong:
Your scutchion therefore, and the Honours due,
May constantly support your Worth and You;
Whose life's drawne out (vnsoild with subiects hate)
By such a Samplar, none can imitate.

EMBLEME 3.

Here aboue number, doth one wonder sit;
But One, yet in her owne, an infinit:
Being simply rare, no Second can she beare,
Two Sunnes were neuer seene stalke in one Spheare.
From old Eliza's Vrne, enricht with fire
Of glorious wonders, did your worth suspire:
So must, from your dead life-infusing flame,
Your Multiplyed-selfe rise thence the Same:
She whose faire Memories, by Thespian Swaines
Are sung, on Rheins greene banks, and flowrie plaines.
Thus Time alternates in its single turnes;
One Phænix borne, another Phænix burnes.
Your rare worths (matchlesse Queene) in you alone
Liue free, vnparalle'd, entirely One.

To The Prince.

Your Princedome's Ensigne here (Right-Royall Sir)
May pinion your vp-soaring thoughts, and stirre
Them to a pitch of loftier eminence,
Then can be reached by base vulgar sense.
These Plumes (charact'red liuely signifie
Valour in warre, ioyn'd with velocitie.
The blacke Prince (bearing Plumes) approues this true,
When through the French he like win'gd-lightning flue,
And pull'd downe liues about him to the ground,
Till he himselfe with death had circled round:
His very looke did threaten publicke death:
With every stroke fell from him, fled a breath.
Arm'd in the confidence of his iust cause,
Thus freely fearelesse his foes overthrowes.
Those high-borne acts which from his valour flue,
With new-additions are impress't in you.

EMBLEME 4

VVhen Peace (suspecting he would warre inferre,)
Tooke Henry hence, to liue aboue with her,
She bade Ioues Bird returne from's quicke convoy
Of his faire soule, left in Heav'ns lasting Ioy,
And mildly offer to your Princely hands,
This Embleme of soft Peace and Warlike bands:
Both vvhich (vs'd rightly) their large cares extend
To gaine o're others, and their owne defend.
Though all bright Honours did their Beauties shroud
In his Ecclipse, like Phœbus in a cloud:
Yet at your Rising, they more cleare againe
Peept-forth, like Sun-shine after clouds and raine.
And in your worth their worthinesse displayes
To worthiest Princes; as the Sun, his rayes.

To The Arch-bishop Of Canterbvry.

How well these sacred Ornaments become
One, who by earth walkes this celestiall home:
The Staffe of Comfort this, to leane vpon,
This, Pall of peace, these, Crosses vndergone:
How easily good men (knowne well by this)
Lodge at the Inne of their eternall Blisse:
These Fruits, are workes, from Bounty springing found,
Perfuming Heau'n, & with Heau'ns bounties crown'd:
These shadow'd fruits, but by a figure, shew
The Ioyes of Paradise prepar'd for you:
Saile thither with good speede then, yet make stay;
Good Angels guide you, y'are i'th Abbots way.

EMBLEME 5.

These Hands connext, engird Religion,
Deciphring th'holy Concords vnison,
Of faiths full harmony: this spiny pale
Sharpe conflicts are, who still the Truth assaile:
This Heart the Church is, th'holy Ghost being Center,
Afflictions may surround, but cannot enter.
You are the prime linke of this manuall chaine,
Whereby Religion do's its strength maintaine:
O! may the Reuerend Rest to you sticke fast,
That Truth (though long) yet conquer may at last.

To The Lord Chancellor.

The North and Southerne Poles, the two fix'd Starres
Of worth and dignitie, which all iust warres,
Should still maintaine, together: be here met
And in your selfe as in your Scutchion set:
The halfe Moone 'twixt, threatens as yet no change,
Or if she doe, she promises to range,
Till she againe recouer what she lost:
Your endlesse fame, (so) gaines your Bounties cost.

EMBLEME 6.

Neuer should any thinke himselfe so sure
Of friends assistance, that he dares procure
New enemies: for vnprouok'd they will
Spring out of forg'd, or causelesse malice still.
Else, why should this poore creature be pursu'd,
Too simple to offend, a beast so rude.
Therefore prouide (for malice danger brings)
House-roome to find vnder an Eagles wings.
You are this Eagle, which ore-shades the sheepe
Pursu'de by humane wolues, and safe doth keepe
The poore mans honest, though might-wronged cause,
From being crushed by oppressions pawes.
Faire Port you are, where euery Goodnesse findes
Safe shelter from swolne Greatnesse, stubborne winds
Eager to drench it: but that fearelesse rest
Dwels in your harbour, to all good distrest.
I bid not you prouide, you are compleate,
The good for to protect, or bad defeate.

To The Lord Treasvrer.

Your sable Crescent might to some (whose lips
Speake ignorance) portend a blacke Ecclipse:
I rather thus discerne, how Time would shroud
Your radiant Crescent in a sable Cloud:
And hold those enuious, ignorant, or dull,
That cannot see, your Crescent growing full.

EMBLEME 7.

The carefull States-man, who the Key doth carie
Of a a Kings Treasury, must not (partiall) varie:
But to iust causes compasse still be ti'de:
For Iustice (vniust shutting) opens wide,
And lets in hard Opinion, to disgrace
His Soueraignes selfe, his Person, and his place.
Nor must he carelesse slumber: but thus keepe
His lids vnshut-vp by soft-fingred Sleepe:
And hold a Counsell with the saddest howres
Of silent Night: and spend his purest powers
In care, to render to whom dues belong,
That Subiects may haue right, and Kings no wrong.
But you (Great Lord) beare vp this waight of Trust.
With a most easie Care, because most iust.

To The Lord Privy Seale.

Those dressings that adorne both parts of Nature,
First, is exprest in this Maiesticke Creature:
Next, in these Flowres of Light both which present
Your Honours at full height of complement,
And Clearnesse, which runnes through your noble Blood,
Mixt with this two-fold tincture, Great and Good:
What's here but shadow'd then, by outward kind,
Bedeckes the inner Roomes of your braue mind.

EMBLEME 12.

VVhen ere thou draw'st out thy reuenging rod,
Let be for Countrey, and the cause of God:
Else thy Oblations will thy curses be,
When thou encountrest with thine enemy.
Nor is it sacrifice that can appease
Gods wrath, vnlesse the mans obedience please
More then his offering: for if his dull heart
Thinkes he inricheth God in any part,
By offering Hecatombs, he looseth all:
Nay further yet, he giues a sword with all
To Heau'ns high Iustice, by inuoking downe
Reuenge, in lieu of Guerdon, or a Crowne.
Such as were sacrifices once, such bee
Our prayers still, and our true Sanctitie:
Which is your In-mate, and familiar guest,
More clearely seene in You, then here exprest.

To The Lord Admirall.

Your sable mullet like a Starre in blacke,
Shewes what our honour'd Admirall doth lacke:
And shewes as if that Starre of Effingham,
Were thus bemourn'd in a briefe Epigram:
This may your Pole-starre be, most noble Lord,
And guide you vnto that (so much abhorr'd)
The mournfull, yet the blessed, Port of death,
Blowne by the prayers of all good mens breath.

EMBLEME 9.

Svppose a Globe were fast'ned in the skie,
With cordes depending on it quarterly,
And men should striue by violence to wrest
That cordage to what crooked forme they list,
All wise men would conceiue them madly bent,
Why should they else impossibles attempt?
And we may thinke it as absurd a drift
In him, who craftily shall hope to shift
When Fate forbids him, or shall hope to thwart
The good intentions of an honest heart.
For that which heau'n directs (all ages see)
May iniured, but not diuerted be.
Seeke then no further, honest meanings can
Make a plaine minde best policy in man.

To The Dvke Of Lenox.

VVhat neede I further striue to amplifie
Your high-borne worths, and noble dignitie:
Then by these beautious flowres, which declare:
Your mind's faire puritie, vnstain'd, and bare:
These golden Buckles bordring them about,
A Palizado, to keepe Foulenesse out.

EMBLEME 10.

The Wolfe and Lyon once together met,
And by agreement they their purpose set
To hunt together: when they had obtainde
Their bootie long pursude, the Wolfe refrainde
No more then formerly, from greedinesse:
The Lyon apprehending, that much lesse
Might satisfie a beast no bigger growne,
Thought all the purchase rather was his owne:
And thought suppression of a beast so base
Was Iustice, to preserue the common race
Of harmlesse beasts; then speedily he teares
The Wolfe, to take away their vsuall feares.
Eu'n thus when our great Monarch clearely saw,
How that insatiate Wolfe of Rome did draw
More riches to his coffers, then deare soules
To Heau'n, he like this Lyon then controules
His vsurpation, deeming him a slaue,
Who more intended to deuoure, then saue.
But you know best to follow, in free course,
The Best in best things, and passe by the worse.

To The Marqvesse Of Bvckingham.

All that we see is comely, and delights
The eyes; which still are pleas'd with pretious sights:
And (as your golden Scallops) You appeare
To promise (that which we may value deare)
More then a glorious out-side, which containes
Meate, not to be disclos'd without due paines:
Thus is it scarce to be imagin'd how
Desert should paralell your worth, or You.

EMBLEME 11.

This glorious Starre attending on the Sunne,
Having, from this low world, iust wonder wonne
For brightnes; Envie, that foule Stygian brand,
T'extinguish it thrusts forth her greedie hand:
To catch it from its mounted moving place,
And hurle it lower to obscur'd Disgrace:
But while she snatches, to put out the flame,
Foolishly fiers her fingers with the same.
Who others glories striue t'eclipse (poore Elues)
Doe but drawe downe selfe-mischiefe on themselues.
You waiting on the Sunne of Maiestie
May that clamping Heliotropium be:
Still bright in your Eclipticke circle runne,
Y' are out of Envies reach, so neare the Sunne.
Moue fairely, freely in your wonted Orbe,
Aboue the danger of Detractions curbe,
And her selfe-bursting Brood: sit there, contemne,
Nay laugh, and scorne both their despight, and them.

To The Lord Chamberline.

Not because you are given to rage or spoile,
Like rampant Lyonse, which deserue a Toyle:
Nor yet because your gifts devided be,
Do Lyons thus divide themselues in three:
But (when provok'd) to shew you can resist,
Or shew your courage when Your Honor list:
Or thus in number they doe looke one way,
To shew, what You command, your friends obey.

EMBLEME 12.

Fixt heere snow-vested Pietie remaines
Al-pure, and in all pure, purg'd from the staines
Of all false worship, chaste as aire, vntainted
With the foule blemishes of that al-painted
Proude Curtizan: nor wander do's her mind,
Shee best content in Constancy doth find:
To Alethea's pillar close she clings,
Maugre the rapting straines Romes Syren sings:
Who is athirst, and do's but touch her Cup,
Drinkes, with delight, his soules saluation vp.
Thus comprehends she ioyes, which most would buy
At the high'st rate, in this one Constancy,
So aboue others may your Honours shine,
As past all others, do's this Forme Diuine,
With her ingenuous Beames blaze bright in you,
Who's doubly gilt, with Her, and Learning too.

To The Earle Of Arvndell

On Gules you beare the figure of a Bend
Betweene crosse crosselets fixt: which all intend
Rightly to shadow Noble birth, adorn'd
With valour, and a Christian cause, not scorn'd
By any but by Infidels, and they
Mistaking this, their hel-bred hate display.
But to leaue shadowes, you (substantiall) shine
With those good things, which make a man diuine.

EMBLEME 13.

Know (honour'd Sir) that th'heate of Princes loue,
Throw'n on those reall Worths, good men approue,
Doth, like the radiant Phœbus shining here,
Make fruitfull vertue at full height appeare:
T'illustrate this in you, were to confesse
How much your Goodnesse doth your Greatnesse blesse,
By its owne warme reflexe: Thus both suruiue,
And both i'th Sunne of Royall fauour thriue.
O may's reuerberating rayes still nourish
Your noble Worths, and make your Vertues flourish.

To The Earle Of Sovth-hampton.

No storme of troubles, or cold frosts of Friends,
Which on free Greatnes, too too oft, attends,
Can (by presumption) threaten your free state:
For these presaging sea-birds doe amate
Presumptuous Greatnes: mouing the best mindes,
By their approach, to feare the future windes
Of all calamitie, no lesse then they
Portend to sea-men a tempestuous day:
Which you foreseeing may before hand crosse,
As they doe them, and so prevent the losse.

EMBLEME 13.

VVhat coward Stoicke, or blunt captaine will
Dis-like this Vnion, or not labour still
To reconcile the Arts and victory?
Since in themselues Arts haue this quality,
To vanquish errours traine: what other than
Should loue the Arts, if not a valiant man?
Or, how can he resolue to execute,
That hath not first learn'd to be resolute?
If any shall oppose this, or dispute,
Your great example shall their spite confute.

To the Earle Of Hertford

These Lyons gardant wisely seeme to take
The name of gardant, for the flowers sake:
As if they kept the flower-de-luces thus
From them, who any way obnoxious,
Might gather them: it is a noble part,
To keepe the glories purchas'd by desert.

EMBLEME 12.

This Triple Close, if dis-united, none:
But knit by faith, an indiuiduall One.
Standing vnmoou'd, like an heroicke rocke,
Affronts the batt'ries of fierce Enuies shocke.
God, Heart, Religion, these, One, made of three,
Ioyn'd in vnseuer'd threefold Vnitie,
Royall paire-royall (see) three are the same,
He that hath this paire-royall wins the game.
View, how this heart, and how these hands agree,
Whose heart, and hands are one, thrice happy hee.
And though two hands, yet but one are these two,
Both doe the same, and both the same vndoe.
Concord makes in a million, but one heart,
Whereat sterne Hate may leuell her fierce dart,
And deepely wound too, yet cannot that wound
Disanimate, or her free thoughts confound:
But with a double Valour she vp-beares
Such hearts, aboue the stroke of baser feares.
Thus you within haue rais'd vp such a fort,
As keepes out Ills, and doth your good support.

To The Earle Of Essex.

The chiefest of this Scuchion comprehends
Three Torteaux, which vnto all commends
A firme and plenteous liberality,
Proper to you, and to your familie:
And this one vertue, in you (cleare as day)
All other vertues elements display.

EMBLEME 16.

No wild, or desperate foole can hence collect
Proofe to applaud his vice, or to protect:
Nor can this Figure civill warre portend,
Whither oppose, or whither it defend:
But auntient Valour, that which hath advanc'd
Our Predecessours, (while fine Courtiers danc'd)
That's heere infer'd, to re-informe the mind
By view of instances, wherein we find
Recorded of your Auncestrie, whose fame
Like forked thunder, threaten'd cowards shame;
Who fearing, lest on their debosh'd base merit,
Heav'n should drop Bolts, by a flame-winged spirit.

To the Earle Of Dorset.

Tis true, your various Bend thus quarterly
Describ'd, poynts out the great antiquitie,
Of Honour, and of Vertue truely claim'd
By You, who haue preseru'd them free, vnmaim'd.
Let none that's generous thinke his time ill spent,
To imitate your Worths so eminent.

EMBLEME 17.

The world whose happinesse, and cheife delight,
Nay more, whose Wisedome lies in Appitite,
Rather then Knowledge; claimes the largest share
Of that which pleaseth most: nor doth it care
To comprehend a higher mysterie:
And therefore well doth nature dignifie
Th'ascending point, with heau'ns neere neighbourhood
Leauing to earth what's great, to heau'n what's good.
Which you perceiuing, wisely doe bestow,
Your thoughts on Heav'n, your wealth on things below.

To The Earle Of Movntgomery.

The Crescent to a second House belongs,
The golden Crescent (worth a Poets songs)
Well appertaines vnto thy House and thee,
Thou Arch-supporter of Mountgomery.
For not the vaprous breath of bad report,
Can cloud the splendour thou deseru'st in Court:
But as in gold no rust can finde a place,
So hath thy Crescent no enforc'd disgrace.

EMBLEME 18.

As busie Bees vnto their Hiue doe swarme,
So do's th'attractiue power of Musicke charme
All Eares with silent rapture: nay, it can
Wilde Reason re-contract, diuorc'd from man.
Birds in their warblings imitate the Spheares:
This sings the Treble, that the Tenour beares:
Beasts haue with listning to a Shepheards lay,
Forgot to feed, and so haue pin'd away:
Brookes that creepe through each flowr-befretted field,
In their harmonious murmurs, musicke yeeld:
Yea, senselesse stones at the old Poets song,
Themselues in heapes did so together throng,
That to high beauteous structures they did swell
Without the helpe of hand, or vse of skill:
This Harmony in t'humane Fabricke steales:
And is the sinewes of all Common-weales.
In you this Concord's so diuinely placed:
That it by you, not you by it is graced.

To The Lord Viscovnt Lisle.

Let there be no addition, this alone
Will make an Embleme, and a perfect one.
Conceiue it thus then: A Darts forked head
Apt to endanger, though not striking dead.
Such is, or should be every noble mind,
Prepar'd like this in most resolued kind
To wound, or kill offensiue iniury,
And though vnurg'd, yet threatens dangers nie.

EMBLEME 19.

Here Sience do's in contemplation sit,
Distinguishing by formes, the soule of wit:
Knowing, perfection ha's no proper grace,
If wanting Order, Number, Time, or Place:
The Theoricke and Practicke part must be
As heate and fire: the Sunne, and Claritie:
Such twins they are, and such Correlatiues,
As the'one without the other seldome thriues.
How can a man the feates of Armes well doe,
If not a Scholler, and a Souldiour too?
If either then be missing in's due place,
Defect steps in, and steales from all their grace:
On good acts you employ the practicke part,
The Theory lies lodg'd within your heart.

To The Lord Viscovnt Wallingford.

VVell may you neuer find the want, or loss
Of that most hallowed, and instructing Crosse,
On which our Saviour di'de: for these will shew
The many blessed thoughts of that, in few:
Heere you may over-looke the world, and see
Nothing so plentifull, as crosses be:
Thence you may take occasion to prepare
Your soule, to beare those that worse crosses are.
These are the badges of Your noble brest,
That will conduct You to heave'ns quiet rest.

EMBLEME 20.

Thus playes the Courtly Sycophant, and thus
Selfe-pleasing Sinne, which poysons all of vs:
Thus playd the whore whome the wise King describes:
Thus he who rayles at, and yet pockets bribes:
Thus playes the Polititian, who will smile,
Yet like this Serpent sting your heart the while.
Bung vp thyne eares then, or suspect the harme,
When sweete Cyllenian words begin to charme.
But you, can these vnmask by knowing best
How to keepe such from lurking neere your breast.

To The Bishop Of London.

Two swords there be, which all Diuines should take,
E're they this victory can perfect make:
Preuailing Language is a powerfull one,
Zeale for the truth, the other: these haue done
More noble acts, then warre could euer boast:
Both are in your Field found, though else-where lost.

EMBLEME. 21.

Me thinkes (Right Reuerend) here you silence breake,
Viewing this Embleme, & it thus bespeake:
Ride on Triumphing, make a glorious shew,
Catch those, who onely but thy Out-side know:
Hold forth thy witching Cup, aduance thy Crowne,
And Mounted thinke thy selfe past pulling downe:
Yet after all, thou canst be prou'd no more,
Then a deluding, and deluded whore.

To The Bishop Of Winchester.

The Sword and Keyes to Church-men beene bequeathed,
Since Paul and Peter were of life bereaued:
The Keyes, a type of Prayers, which unlocke
Heau'ns glorious gates, to let in those that knocke.
The Spirits zealous, and soule-sauing Word,
Is shadow'd by the sinne-subduing Sword:
Of Word and Sword th'incorporate qualitie
Ha's power to heaue base earth aboue the skie.
Your powerfull, and victorious elegance,
Which ouercomes bold vice and arrogance,
Do's proue, no weapons to the Church belong,
But such as Heau'n makes to encounter wrong:
Nor do's your Gentry differ: Lozenges
Are curing Cordials: Generous thoughts like these.

EMBLEME 22.

Behold, on what the Romaine Faith consists:
So tost by Errours winds; so lapt in Mists;
That their Arch-pilot scarse can rule the sterne:
He lackes foundation, therefore still to learne
How to make's Ship his Harbour. O I wonder
Th'ore burden'd Vessell crackes not quite asunder,
And sinkes not downe, opprest by its owne weight,
With sinfull soules so stuft, and over-freight.
The high Auenger (though he seemes to faile)
With winged wrath will split their proudest saile.
Heau'ns yron-hand (most slowly heau'd aloft)
Falls quicke, dead-sure, and home, although not oft.
All wish, for their sakes of Romes simpler sort,
That you might steere their vessell to the Port:

To The Bishop Of Ely.

How much more better may you challenge these,
Then all your Predecessors, who in ease,
And sloath (you being consider'd) did neglect
That which deserues a Crowne, or good respect:
These then the Heralds may thinke rather due,
Not to your place of state, but vnto you.

EMBLEME 23.

Religion still its owne, cannot be lost,
Nor from it selfe diuorc'd, though to the most,
Who iudge by guesse and slight formality,
There might appeare schisme in Diuinity:
When not Diuinity, which cannot change,
But humane reason to schismes vild doth range:
For so the fruites of diuers plants may seeme
Diuers in quality: and men may deeme
Nature hath err'd in such a serious course,
When both consider'd be the same in force.
You, that best iudge of Schismes, can clearely see,
Error term'd Truth, and Truth term'd Heresie.

To The Lord Zovch

See, how a worthy spirit not imployde
May seeme to lookers on, or vaine, or voyd:
These golden peeces thus vnshap't, vncoin'd,
Seeme as if worth and they were quite disioyn'd:
When brasse or copper being stamp't or fram'd
Into the shape of plate, is oft misnam'd,
And oft mistaken for the purest gold:
But you are ever actiue, and vnfold
Your pretious substance, that your selfe may take,
Honours true stampe; what's counterfeite forsake.

EMBLEME 24.

Heere Phœbus and the Sacred Sisters sit,
Chiefely attending Harmonie, and Wit:
Who stay to heare the dying Swans to sing
Sad Epods; riding on the Thespian Spring.
Heere the Wingd-Horses hoofe digs vp that Well
Whence gurgle streames of Art, and sacred Skill.
Divines (like Pegasus) divinely mooue
In Man, springs of profound, and precious loue
To heav'nly Wisedome; who t'ech passing by,
Poynts out the path-way to Eternitie.
And whilst You doe your noble thoughts confine
To what Divines preach, You become Divine.

To The Lord Windsor.

Me thinkes, I see in this, the true estate
Of man still subiect to a lucklesse fate:
As if the greatest Crosse did represent
The generall curse, which even all over went.
From Adam to his wretched progeny:
The lesser Crosses which accompany
The greater, be each severall haplesse chance:
And all together shew, that ignorance
Is irrecoverably blind, where none
Prevents what happens thus to every one.
But You doe well support the waightiest crosses
With Patience, and esteeme them but light losses.

EMBLEME 25.

Yee, whose blind folly doth not so maintaine
A former choice, but yee may chuse againe:
And yee, whose innocence (not knowing yet
The worse from better) carelesly doth let
Both rest vnchosen: now begin to make
Your new, or first choise, and heere wisely take
The patterne: if you would encline to Peace,
Loue bookes with Vertue stor'd, so will decrease
Your troubles: those will bring such powerfull fame,
As shall the sternest Lyon soonest tame.
Experience leades thee to this certaine choice,
Chuse then at first, to grieue, or to reioice.
You haue already chosen true Content:
Nor needs your Honour euer to repent.

To The Lord Wentvvorth.

Leopards haue euer ranked bin among
Those nobler beasts, which are both swift & strong.
Swiftnes alludes to a dexteritie,
Or quicke dispatch without temeritie.
Their Strength alludes to Iudgement which indures,
When flashing Wit no long delight assures.
Make these your owne, and then you beare display'd,
Your Scutchions morrall, in your selfe pourtray'd.

EMBLEME 26.

Ioue , Phœbus and Minerua were assign'd,
To be the three chiefe ornaments of mind.
Ioue figur'd Prouidence, Minerua, Wit,
Phœbus, Content: and all that purchas'd it
Well are they seated in a holy place,
To shew the Continent of all, is grace:
It seemes that you haue well consider'd thus:
The fair'st of titles is, Religious.

To The Lord Darcie.

These health-preseruing leaues thus inly fixt
Amongst the Crosselets; shew, heau'ns fauours mixt
With all calamities that seaze on man,
If patiently he entertaine them can.
To find cure then for Crosses, looke aboue:
See, ill made well by heau'ns all-curing loue.

EMBLEME 27.

Sleepe, being the type of death: darknesse must be
The shade of that, which we euanisht see:
Men so departed, that it may be said,
A Bird, as well, as such a man, is dead:
Chase, while thou liu'st, the cloudes of death away:
Or dying, neuer looke to see more day.
You haue on earth, so studied heau'ns delight,
That you can neuer be obscur'd: though night
Should threaten to obscure noone-day, yet will
Your Noble mind vanquish deaths darkest ill.

To The Lord Wotton.

Setled afflictions may be well express't
Vnder this forme of Crosses, which men blest
Haue still indur'd to proue their patience:
But I would rather in another sence
Haue this appli'de to such a man, whose vowes
Haue fixt him to the faith Christs Church allowes:
And such a man (scorning vngrounded wrongs)
Are you, to whom this fixed Crosse belongs.

EMBLEME 28.

Th' ascending Path that vp to wisedome leades
Is rough, vneuen, steepe: and he that treades
Therein, must many a tedious Danger meet,
That, or trips vp, or clogs his wearied feet:
Yet led by Labour, and a quicke Desire
Of fairest Ends scrambles, and clambers higher
Then Common reach: still catching to holde fast
On strong'st Occasion, till he come at last
Vp to Her gate, where Learning keepes the key,
And lets him in, Her best Things to suruay:
There he vnkend (though to himselfe best knowne)
Takes rest, till Time presents him with a Crowne:
In quest of this rich Prize, your toyle's thus graced:
Euer to be in Times best Border placed.

To The Lord Stanhope.

This enterchang'd variety of Furre,
And naked quarters, fitly doe concurre,
To shew the seasonable contenting store
That rich wise men inioy, alike with poore:
Both are prouided (lest they might take harme)
To keepe their innocence, both safe and warme.

EMBLEME 29.

Imagine heere, Christ strongly fortifi'd,
Against the Popes bold heresie and pride:
And thinke, whilst his Accomplices combine
The Castle of Christs truth, to vndermine;
A flame breakes forth, which doth consume them all:
So seeking his, they meete with their owne fall.
And thus whilst heretickes (like wretched elues)
Out-stare the Truth, they doe condemne themselues,
Subiected to the twofold victory
Of Truth, and of their owne impietie.
Take refuge then, in Heau'ns eternall rest,
And see Christs foes against themselues addrest.

To The Lord Carevv.

The noblest parts of Wisedome, as cleare wit,
High Courage, and such vertues kinne to it:
Should ever be proceeding, and goe on
Forward, as seeme these Lyons; vrg'd of none.
So (like to these) You keepe a passant pace,
Till Wisedome seate You in your wished place.

EMBLEME. 30.

Forces vnited geminate their force,
And so doth vertue: never should remorse
Nor obstacle restraine that man, who may
Strengthen his vertues by a noble way:
Who cannot perfect be, needes not repent
To add his owne t'anothers President.
And he that is entire may therewithall,
By others helpe proue more effectuall.
So helpe me Learning, as I doe not know,
Where I this Embleme fitter may bestowe.

To The Lord Haye.

Beauties chiefe elements of White and Red
Is all that in your Coate is figured:
Nor is it needfull, any thing should be
Added to this most copious mysterie:
Gules vpon Argent to conceit are playne,
And pourtray out a life without all staine.

EMBLEME 31.

See Bountie seated in her best of pride,
Whose fountaines never ebbe, ever full tide
At every change: see, from her streaming heart,
How rivulets of Comfort doe impart
To Worth dryde vp by Want; and to asswage
The drought of Vertue in her pilgrimage.
Looke, how her wide-stretcht, fruit-befurnisht hand
Vnlockt to true Desert, do's open stand:
But if she should not be Deserts regarder,
Yet is it, in it selfe, its owne rewarder.
This Emblem's not presented (Noble Sir)
Your bounteous nature to awake, or stir:
For you are Bounties Almner, and do's know,
How to refraine, destribute, or bestow.

To The Three Lordes Chiefe Ivstices.

By these life-lengthning Lozenges, are show'n
Cares to cure Ills, by times corruption grow'n
To comfort Vertues heart, at point to die
Of a Consumption, and doth bed-rid lie:
This Starre, that Iustice is, which is not blind,
(As th'ancient Hieroglyphickes her defin'd)
But searcheth out with quicke discerning eye
Th'hard difference twixt Faith and Fallacy.
These Birds, as yet vnlearnt to light on earth,
Figure that Iustice, which from Heau'n ha's Birth,
And scornes to looke so low, as base respect
Of its owne priuate ends, and Truth neglect.
Care, Truth, and Iustice thus vnite, we see
Make in their Goodnesse mixt, a Sympathy,
On whose ioynt pinions the Realmes Peace vp-towres
T'her Chaire of State; subsisteted by your powres.

EMBLEME 32.

She that illuminates the midnight, may
Be well admitted to take rest all day:
Yet haue our antique Poets rather made
Night-wandring Luna t'haue a daily Trade;
Reporting, that by day she takes delight
To hunt wilde creatures, and then shines at night:
Teaching (or I mistake) how Magistrates
Should quell Disorders in all ciuill States.
In darknesse they should watchfull in sight keepe,
To hunt out Vice, when men are thought asleepe:
For Mischiefe (as in darknesse) skulkes disguis'd,
And therefore needs some watchfully aduis'd,
Who hauing sented out this secret game,
May then pursue them to a publicke shame.
But your deepe wisedomes, better know, then this,
What in our Common-weale most needfull is.