Philomythie or Philomythologie wherein Outlandish Birds, Beasts, and Fishes, are taught to speake true English plainely. By Tho: Scot ... The second edition much inlarged |
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 | CERTAINE PIECES OF THIS AGE PARABOLIZD.
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 | Philomythie or Philomythologie |  |
CERTAINE PIECES OF THIS AGE PARABOLIZD.
Duellum Britannicum.
Regalis Justitia Iacobi.
A quignispicium.
Antidotum Cecillianum.
Scire tuum nihil est.
DVELLVM BRITANNICVM.
DEDICATED To the eternall memorie of that admirable Combat performed by two valorous Knights, Sir Robert Mansell appellant, and Sir Iohn Heydon Defendant; where both equally expressing fortitude and skill in giuing and receiuing wounds, scaped death, notwithstanding by the onely fauour of Prouidence.
Since you haue done more then I can relate(A miracle in conquering Death) what hate
Is that, then death more deadly, which suruiues
To cloude the glory of your after liues?
Be reconcilde; we shew most strength and skill
In mastering our strong frailtie, our weake will.
HOMO HOMINI DÆMON
Man may Man perswade amisse,But the skill and cunning is,
To rule him right, to cause him do,
What true wisedome longs vnto.
See how the busie Lawyers throng
Twixt Man and Man for right and wrong,
Those Papers, all those bookes are writ,
To reconcile Mans iarring wit.
Pistols, Muskets, Rapiers, Swords,
All the Engines war affords,
Are for Man prepar'd, not hell:
There no foe like Man doth dwell.
“Man for sport baites Lyons, Beares,
“Man alone Man hates, and feares.
[Great Volumes in few lines epitomiz'd]
Great Volumes in few lines epitomiz'd
Are easiest apprehended, and so priz'd.
Large Countries in small Maps are best suruaide,
Because the sense (in these abridgments staid)
Keeps company with Reason, neuer flitting
From that firme obiect their ioynt powers fitting.
Thus the whole world is in one Man exprest,
And euery part describ'd and iudged best.
Then noble Britaine do not scorne to see
Thy owne face in this Glasse I proffer thee:
Two of thy children, whose fortune tels,
What danger and assur'd destruction dwels
In thy dis-vnion; and how fond they are,
Who with false reasons nurse thy ciuill warre.
Are easiest apprehended, and so priz'd.
Because the sense (in these abridgments staid)
Keeps company with Reason, neuer flitting
From that firme obiect their ioynt powers fitting.
Thus the whole world is in one Man exprest,
And euery part describ'd and iudged best.
Then noble Britaine do not scorne to see
Thy owne face in this Glasse I proffer thee:
Two of thy children, whose fortune tels,
What danger and assur'd destruction dwels
In thy dis-vnion; and how fond they are,
Who with false reasons nurse thy ciuill warre.
The two (two Worthies, nobly borne and bred;
Inrich'd with vertue, and vpon the head
Of Court and Kingdome plac'd, (as Iewels worne
For vse and ornament) now rent and torne,
Remaine sad spectacles; and cry aloud
O Man, why, being mortall, art thou proud?
Why art thou proud of beauty? Roses blast;
Or of thy wealth? the mines of India waste;
Or of thy strength? since sicknes, age, or wounds
Let loose the stiff-strung ioynts, and spirit confounds.
Or of thy honour, and thy high-borne blood?
Since to be great is not worth praise, but good:
Or of all these? since all these, and much more
Wharton and Steward had, lost, and di'd poore.
Inrich'd with vertue, and vpon the head
Of Court and Kingdome plac'd, (as Iewels worne
For vse and ornament) now rent and torne,
Remaine sad spectacles; and cry aloud
O Man, why, being mortall, art thou proud?
Why art thou proud of beauty? Roses blast;
Or of thy wealth? the mines of India waste;
Or of thy strength? since sicknes, age, or wounds
Let loose the stiff-strung ioynts, and spirit confounds.
Or of thy honour, and thy high-borne blood?
Since to be great is not worth praise, but good:
Or of all these? since all these, and much more
Wharton and Steward had, lost, and di'd poore.
Much more they had; so much, that hard it is
To tell what either wanted. Earths chiefe blisse,
(Their Princes fauour) like the Sunne aboue
In his hot Solstice stood, and did improue
Their blooming youth's with ripened fruit, before
Their thoughts could hope: ô what could they wish more?
Friends sought thē, fortune blest thē; blest them so,
That which might happiest seeme was hard to know,
Neither had cause of Enuie; except thus,
As th'eies, hands, feet, which guide, guard, carry vs;
Whose selfe like shape, and equall vse admits
No warre, but fellow-feeling of such fits,
Griefes, and diseases, and each part sustaines;
So shar'd they in all pleasures, toyles, sports, paines.
Nor had these other cause of warre at all,
“And causelesse warre is most vnnaturall.
Yet (oh) that subtle Spirit incens'd rash blood
With franticke rage, that euery ill seem'd good.
They first must pray; so vndeserued gold
“Ill got, we waste, and haue no power to hold.
Then they proceed to words, from words to blowes;
“The way to ill is easie; but who knowes
The Clue that we returne by? hence proceeds
A Challenge from wrong'd Wharton: Steward needs
No such stale prouocation: Mischiefes feet
“Are swift to blood: their quicke desires soon meet,
And (met) soone fight; bold Steward falls by Fate;
Wharton by Chance: those powers each other hate.
To tell what either wanted. Earths chiefe blisse,
(Their Princes fauour) like the Sunne aboue
In his hot Solstice stood, and did improue
Their blooming youth's with ripened fruit, before
Their thoughts could hope: ô what could they wish more?
That which might happiest seeme was hard to know,
Neither had cause of Enuie; except thus,
As th'eies, hands, feet, which guide, guard, carry vs;
Whose selfe like shape, and equall vse admits
No warre, but fellow-feeling of such fits,
Griefes, and diseases, and each part sustaines;
So shar'd they in all pleasures, toyles, sports, paines.
Nor had these other cause of warre at all,
“And causelesse warre is most vnnaturall.
Yet (oh) that subtle Spirit incens'd rash blood
With franticke rage, that euery ill seem'd good.
They first must pray; so vndeserued gold
“Ill got, we waste, and haue no power to hold.
Then they proceed to words, from words to blowes;
“The way to ill is easie; but who knowes
The Clue that we returne by? hence proceeds
A Challenge from wrong'd Wharton: Steward needs
No such stale prouocation: Mischiefes feet
“Are swift to blood: their quicke desires soon meet,
And (met) soone fight; bold Steward falls by Fate;
Wharton by Chance: those powers each other hate.
So I haue seene from th'Indies East and West,
Two Ships well rigg'd and mann'd vpon the brest
Of Thetis dancing, spreading flags abroad
For ioy of their long-wisht-for English roade;
Past now all dangerous Rocks, Gulphs, Pyrats, Sand,
Ready t'vnlade their rich fraught on firme land,
And tell the story of their perils past,
And frolicke with glad friends in peace, at last.
When spying each other so bedeckt, adorn'd,
With outward pomp: ones pride the other scorn'd,
And from that enuious scorn some word proceeding,
And from that word some blow, from that blow bleeding.
Then giuing way to fury, all inrag'd,
Both are in desp'rate tearmes of fight ingag'd.
The fire in water, Lead in th'ayre, their center
Doe madly seeke; and both these rudely enter
The strong ships wombe, and ransacke euery hold,
For pretious life, neglecting Indian gold.
The shot seems thunder, but the dying grones
Of slaughtered soules, shrike louder, deeper tones
Then roring Cannons, whose thicke charging rout
Lets water freely in, and poures bloud out.
In this hot fight both firmly doe defend,
Both nimbly do assault, both madly spend,
Strength, skill, and all to hurt. Conquest inclines
To neither part as partiall. Equall lines
Are drawne betwixt them both by Fate and Chance;
Till th'one his topsaile fairely doth aduance
To win the winde, and in that vantage flies
With force and fury on his foe; who plies
All meanes to salue this losse, and to regaine
Faire ods, or equall standing once againe.
Two Ships well rigg'd and mann'd vpon the brest
Of Thetis dancing, spreading flags abroad
For ioy of their long-wisht-for English roade;
Past now all dangerous Rocks, Gulphs, Pyrats, Sand,
Ready t'vnlade their rich fraught on firme land,
And tell the story of their perils past,
And frolicke with glad friends in peace, at last.
When spying each other so bedeckt, adorn'd,
With outward pomp: ones pride the other scorn'd,
And from that word some blow, from that blow bleeding.
Then giuing way to fury, all inrag'd,
Both are in desp'rate tearmes of fight ingag'd.
The fire in water, Lead in th'ayre, their center
Doe madly seeke; and both these rudely enter
The strong ships wombe, and ransacke euery hold,
For pretious life, neglecting Indian gold.
The shot seems thunder, but the dying grones
Of slaughtered soules, shrike louder, deeper tones
Then roring Cannons, whose thicke charging rout
Lets water freely in, and poures bloud out.
In this hot fight both firmly doe defend,
Both nimbly do assault, both madly spend,
Strength, skill, and all to hurt. Conquest inclines
To neither part as partiall. Equall lines
Are drawne betwixt them both by Fate and Chance;
Till th'one his topsaile fairely doth aduance
To win the winde, and in that vantage flies
With force and fury on his foe; who plies
All meanes to salue this losse, and to regaine
Faire ods, or equall standing once againe.
But all in vaine, fortune, the winde, and sea,
Confederate with the aduerse seeme to be.
So this to sinke (rather then yeeld) resolues,
And halfe his tatter'd sides the Sea inuolues.
When th'other (couetous) grapples with his foe,
To bourd and rob him: and (being chained so)
The ship that leaks sinks, and with his weight drawes
The Conqueror with Conquest, to deaths iawes.
Confederate with the aduerse seeme to be.
So this to sinke (rather then yeeld) resolues,
And halfe his tatter'd sides the Sea inuolues.
When th'other (couetous) grapples with his foe,
To bourd and rob him: and (being chained so)
The ship that leaks sinks, and with his weight drawes
The Conqueror with Conquest, to deaths iawes.
So fares it with these noble Combatants
Both equally of blood and honor vaunts:
Both enui'd and belou'd alike, both friends,
Both yong, both valiant, and their life and ends
So paralell, and twin-like like in all
That they obtain'd one graue, one funerall.
Both equally of blood and honor vaunts:
Both yong, both valiant, and their life and ends
So paralell, and twin-like like in all
That they obtain'd one graue, one funerall.
One graue, one funerall, they obtain'd, yet lost
The fame and honor their youth thirsted most.
Because their quarrell on false grounds begun,
Could not produce true praise, nor true blame shun.
The wounds thou gau'st stout Wharton had bin good
Against thy Kings or faiths foe; and thy blood
Heroicke Steward, had been nobly shed,
Against such slaues; so both had brauely bled.
And your brasse Monuments had spoke the fame
Of Whartons noble, Stewards royall name.
Then the fierce challenger for his quicke charge,
And stout assault with wounds giuen deepe and large;
His apt command of euery part soone shunning,
All wounds saue one, giuen more by chance then cunning
And the Defendant, who so long time stood
Drownd (yet vndanted) in his owne life blood;
And deadly wounded, past all hope of liuing,
Death in his death to his haile fooeman giuing;
Had filld the largest leaues of Fames faire story,
And both worne wreath of triumph, conquest, glory:
And then like patterns to both Realms, set out
By vertue for example; the wise and stout
Had been your schollers, and their lessons read,
In those greene fields, where both so boldly bled.
But now (aye me!) as rocks, bars, sands, at sea,
Or marks set vp to shew ships where they bee,
Or rather as some wrack'd ships selfe, whose mast
Ore-looks the waues, and yet still sticking fast
In th'eating silt, bids the wise Pilot flye
The tracklesse path, where such hid dangers lye.
So stand these two, the signes of woe, and ruth,
Of shipwrackt honor, fortune, valour, youth;
And by their deaths confirme this speech for good,
“Vertue hath greater priuiledge then blood.
“Our soules are Gods, our bodies are the Kings,
“And he that in his priuate quarrell brings
“Either of these in question doth betray
“The Kings part, and giues Gods part cleane away.
The fame and honor their youth thirsted most.
Because their quarrell on false grounds begun,
Could not produce true praise, nor true blame shun.
The wounds thou gau'st stout Wharton had bin good
Against thy Kings or faiths foe; and thy blood
Heroicke Steward, had been nobly shed,
Against such slaues; so both had brauely bled.
And your brasse Monuments had spoke the fame
Of Whartons noble, Stewards royall name.
Then the fierce challenger for his quicke charge,
And stout assault with wounds giuen deepe and large;
His apt command of euery part soone shunning,
All wounds saue one, giuen more by chance then cunning
And the Defendant, who so long time stood
Drownd (yet vndanted) in his owne life blood;
And deadly wounded, past all hope of liuing,
Death in his death to his haile fooeman giuing;
Had filld the largest leaues of Fames faire story,
And both worne wreath of triumph, conquest, glory:
And then like patterns to both Realms, set out
By vertue for example; the wise and stout
Had been your schollers, and their lessons read,
In those greene fields, where both so boldly bled.
But now (aye me!) as rocks, bars, sands, at sea,
Or marks set vp to shew ships where they bee,
Or rather as some wrack'd ships selfe, whose mast
Ore-looks the waues, and yet still sticking fast
The tracklesse path, where such hid dangers lye.
So stand these two, the signes of woe, and ruth,
Of shipwrackt honor, fortune, valour, youth;
And by their deaths confirme this speech for good,
“Vertue hath greater priuiledge then blood.
“Our soules are Gods, our bodies are the Kings,
“And he that in his priuate quarrell brings
“Either of these in question doth betray
“The Kings part, and giues Gods part cleane away.
England, behold in Wharton what thou art,
And Scotland see in Steward euery part
Of thy best power; shun enmitie and strife,
None but your selues haue power of eithers life.
Let no slight toyes (the snares and traines of hell)
Breed war betwixt you two; but kindly dwell
Within this Ile as in one house, the rather
Being thereto wooed by your good King, kind father.
If not, peruse this glasse, and let not me
The fatall Prophet of such ill newes be
To your succeeding times; but choose you whether
You'le still liue friends, or like these die together.
And Scotland see in Steward euery part
Of thy best power; shun enmitie and strife,
None but your selues haue power of eithers life.
Let no slight toyes (the snares and traines of hell)
Breed war betwixt you two; but kindly dwell
Within this Ile as in one house, the rather
Being thereto wooed by your good King, kind father.
If not, peruse this glasse, and let not me
The fatall Prophet of such ill newes be
To your succeeding times; but choose you whether
You'le still liue friends, or like these die together.
DUELLI FINIS
A cast of Falcons (in their prideAt passage scouring) fowle espide
Securely feeding from the spring,
At one both ayme with nimble wing.
They first mount vp aboue Mans sight,
Plying for life this emulous flight
In equall compasse, and maintaine
Their pitch without a lazie plaine.
Then stooping freely (lightning like)
They (counter) dead each other strike.
The fowle escapes, and with her wings
Their funerall dirge, this lesson sings.
“Who aimes at glory not aright,
“Meetes death, but Glorie takes her flight.
Epitaphium Georgii Whartoni Milit.
Th' offence was great, worse the report,The iniurie Reuenge acquitting,
And life with many wounds ta'ne for't
Argu'de a minde true honour fitting.
“For sluggish Cowardice doth shame
“A noble Stocke, and honour'd name.
Epitaphium Iacobi Stewardi Armigeri.
VVith an vndaunted heart I fought,Reuenge and Choller me assailing,
In fight I fell, with courage stout,
My life and foes, together failing:
I dig'de my graue out with my sword,
And stroke, whilst life would strength afford.
IVSTITIA IACOBI.
Dedicated to the graue, reuerend, and iudicious Knight, Sr. Robert Gardiner, sometime Lord Iustice of Ireland.
So many men presse now for place in State,Deseart and Worth cannot come neere the gate:
But happy were it for the State and Vs,
If we (as Rome did) sought for Curius.
There should we finde him, farre from Court, with you
Perhaps a Gardiner, or perhaps at Plow.
Yet euen the same which Pyrrhus did withstand,
Samnites, and Sabines ruld, as you Ireland.
Then should our Kings cleare Iustice shine too bright
To suffer potent wrong, cloude impotent right.
Then should this act of Iustice so aboue
All presidents, make others like it mooue.
But wretched we, whilst few the doore can passe
Of high preferment, but the Laden Asse.
DEUS VIDET.
Man, Angell, nor the Fiend of Hell,Can Mans heart see, search, and tell,
That God alone doth vnderstand,
Closing all thoughts within his hand,
He better knowes then Priest, Iudge, Scribe,
Who gaue the last cause-carrying bribe.
He sees, when sentence goes awry,
Where the hidden ground doth lie.
He knowes if it be true or no,
The doubtfull witnesse sweares vnto.
He markes the Iewrie and their leader,
And obserues the lying Pleader.
He notes the Councell what they doe,
And the Kings heart searcheth too.
[How hatefull is this silence? I haue stood]
How hatefull is this silence? I haue stood
Wishing, expecting, musing long, who wou'd
With honest thrift, this faire aduantage take
To fame himselfe for euer, and to make
This sencelesse age conceiue (perhaps commend)
The good we now enioy, not apprehend.
Time was, Kings words were like to apples, snatch'd
From t'Hesperides, so obseru'de, so watch'de.
None suffer'd to drop downe; all highly prizde
Preserued, recorded, apothegmatizde.
But now their words (though Oracles to those
Of former times, though verse vnto their prose)
Are slighted by this lip-wise age of ours;
Whose rootles knowledge bears no fruits but flow'rs.
Where is the Man whose better fate, admits
Him place, time, meanes, to heare the King of wits.
Discourse like Salomon, of euery thing,
Begot betwixt the winter and the spring?
Determine euery doubt that doth arise
Twixt heauen and earth, the idiot and the wise?
That doth for priuate vse, or publike good
Make knowne how Saba-like, he vnderstood?
And did not (like the pictures) waite for show
To fill place only, but to learne to know.
This man is yet no Courtier, or at least
No daily waiter; scarce seene at a feast.
Too poore and plaine to trauaile, and bring backe
The tongue and heart of treason; he doth lacke
A face t'outface his wants, and doth bewray
His ignorance in euery arrogant way.
He meanes good faith and speakes it, though the lip
Of censuring law, his state and body stript
Of coyne, and eares, and freedome; it's no crime,
To speake truth (he thinks) though't be out of time.
He is no chamber Traytor from hell sent,
To vndermine the Soules high Parliament.
He cannot candy poyson; wants the waies
To tickle truth to death, with her owne praise.
He dares not weare a desperate suite t'vndoe
Himselfe, a Mercer, and a Taylor too:
And then make that the preface how to aske
Towards his vnknowne losse in the last maske.
Wishing, expecting, musing long, who wou'd
To fame himselfe for euer, and to make
This sencelesse age conceiue (perhaps commend)
The good we now enioy, not apprehend.
Time was, Kings words were like to apples, snatch'd
From t'Hesperides, so obseru'de, so watch'de.
None suffer'd to drop downe; all highly prizde
Preserued, recorded, apothegmatizde.
But now their words (though Oracles to those
Of former times, though verse vnto their prose)
Are slighted by this lip-wise age of ours;
Whose rootles knowledge bears no fruits but flow'rs.
Where is the Man whose better fate, admits
Him place, time, meanes, to heare the King of wits.
Discourse like Salomon, of euery thing,
Begot betwixt the winter and the spring?
Determine euery doubt that doth arise
Twixt heauen and earth, the idiot and the wise?
That doth for priuate vse, or publike good
Make knowne how Saba-like, he vnderstood?
And did not (like the pictures) waite for show
To fill place only, but to learne to know.
This man is yet no Courtier, or at least
No daily waiter; scarce seene at a feast.
Too poore and plaine to trauaile, and bring backe
The tongue and heart of treason; he doth lacke
A face t'outface his wants, and doth bewray
His ignorance in euery arrogant way.
He meanes good faith and speakes it, though the lip
Of censuring law, his state and body stript
Of coyne, and eares, and freedome; it's no crime,
To speake truth (he thinks) though't be out of time.
To vndermine the Soules high Parliament.
He cannot candy poyson; wants the waies
To tickle truth to death, with her owne praise.
He dares not weare a desperate suite t'vndoe
Himselfe, a Mercer, and a Taylor too:
And then make that the preface how to aske
Towards his vnknowne losse in the last maske.
But such as can those Court-lie Mysteries
Want time for this. Themselues are histories
Not easely learn'd; t'will aske a perfect Man
To read them daily o're, do what he can.
And ere he learns by heart each attribute
Appropriate to the body, and the suite,
Himselfe growes old, or a new-fashion springs:
Which shifts the Scene, the forme, and face of things.
Want time for this. Themselues are histories
Not easely learn'd; t'will aske a perfect Man
To read them daily o're, do what he can.
And ere he learns by heart each attribute
Appropriate to the body, and the suite,
Himselfe growes old, or a new-fashion springs:
Which shifts the Scene, the forme, and face of things.
Thus silk-worms spend their times, & schollers too
Haue idle worke enough to turne them to.
Perhaps a paire of feete and a tongue stroue
Who should walke fastest, and most countries roue.
In fewest howers to smallest purpose; these
At length returne (their trauailes finisht) please
To publish their fond Iournall. But (alasse!)
Neither themselues, nor their huge worke can passe
Our presse vnpraisde. O Courtiers thither hie,
Gallants, Wits, Poets; Let your Muses flie
Not to reforme, or settle this light braine,
But render him more wilde. Your selues shall gaine
Much wonder by't; extol'd shall be your skill,
For writing well in ieast, in earnest ill.
Or if not this, some other witty taske
Staies your continuall leisures, and doth aske
Inke from your pens, t'asperge, deforme, defile,
States and their instruments, with libells vile.
No man must liue without your fawning praise,
Nor no man die without your round delaies.
Death maks you sport, & stroks which force the State,
Stagger and reele; your humors eleuate.
“Vice liuing, is preferd to Vertue dead,
“The present, no time els, is honored.
Haue idle worke enough to turne them to.
Perhaps a paire of feete and a tongue stroue
Who should walke fastest, and most countries roue.
In fewest howers to smallest purpose; these
At length returne (their trauailes finisht) please
To publish their fond Iournall. But (alasse!)
Neither themselues, nor their huge worke can passe
Our presse vnpraisde. O Courtiers thither hie,
Gallants, Wits, Poets; Let your Muses flie
Not to reforme, or settle this light braine,
But render him more wilde. Your selues shall gaine
Much wonder by't; extol'd shall be your skill,
For writing well in ieast, in earnest ill.
Or if not this, some other witty taske
Staies your continuall leisures, and doth aske
States and their instruments, with libells vile.
No man must liue without your fawning praise,
Nor no man die without your round delaies.
Death maks you sport, & stroks which force the State,
Stagger and reele; your humors eleuate.
“Vice liuing, is preferd to Vertue dead,
“The present, no time els, is honored.
If you attend on Kings, it's to obserue
Their imperfections, where their frailties swerue
In rash attempts or passionate words vnstaid,
From iuster rules, their intemperate bloods once laide
As if Kings were not men, weake, fraile, and poore,
Like to their Subiects, and subiected more.
As if at Rome (whether you send this newes)
All there were Saints, & your Popes Court no stewes.
As if that you a Patent had from Hell
All things to say or doe, but nothing well.
O! if you yet retaine a graine of that,
Which your high aimes would seeme to leuell at:
Or if no faith (but that you Atheists be,
And nothing but vnhallow'd Reason see)
If but a sparke of that remaine intire,
Which you seeme to monopolize (the fire
Prometheus filch'd from Ioue) let that bright flame
Kindle your zeales for selfe, kings, countries fame,
To vse those opportunities, parts, places,
Intelligences, meanes, friends, fortunes, graces,
You haue 'boue other, for the publique good,
That we may vnderstand you vnderstood.
Learne Saba-like to heare, obserue, report,
The good our Salomon speakes, doth at Court.
Not Shemei-like to slander, curse, deride,
Religions Nurse, Arts glory, vertues pride,
But you contemne my admonition. Goe
Feed fat for hell, the place you couet so.
And let my humble Muse, applaud, admire
And celebrate heauens grant to our desire.
Tell what thou seest and feel'st. Ingratitude
“Receiues, craues swallowes, a whole multitude
“Of gifts and graces, without thanks or cense,
“And with dul silence beats heau'ns blessings hence.
“It is Detraction to conceale due praise,
“When good related, might more goodnesse raise.
“It is not flattery to report truth well;
“True glasses both our faults and fauours tell.
Their imperfections, where their frailties swerue
In rash attempts or passionate words vnstaid,
From iuster rules, their intemperate bloods once laide
As if Kings were not men, weake, fraile, and poore,
Like to their Subiects, and subiected more.
As if at Rome (whether you send this newes)
All there were Saints, & your Popes Court no stewes.
As if that you a Patent had from Hell
All things to say or doe, but nothing well.
O! if you yet retaine a graine of that,
Which your high aimes would seeme to leuell at:
Or if no faith (but that you Atheists be,
And nothing but vnhallow'd Reason see)
If but a sparke of that remaine intire,
Which you seeme to monopolize (the fire
Prometheus filch'd from Ioue) let that bright flame
Kindle your zeales for selfe, kings, countries fame,
To vse those opportunities, parts, places,
Intelligences, meanes, friends, fortunes, graces,
You haue 'boue other, for the publique good,
That we may vnderstand you vnderstood.
Learne Saba-like to heare, obserue, report,
The good our Salomon speakes, doth at Court.
Religions Nurse, Arts glory, vertues pride,
But you contemne my admonition. Goe
Feed fat for hell, the place you couet so.
And let my humble Muse, applaud, admire
And celebrate heauens grant to our desire.
Tell what thou seest and feel'st. Ingratitude
“Receiues, craues swallowes, a whole multitude
“Of gifts and graces, without thanks or cense,
“And with dul silence beats heau'ns blessings hence.
“It is Detraction to conceale due praise,
“When good related, might more goodnesse raise.
“It is not flattery to report truth well;
“True glasses both our faults and fauours tell.
Here then receiue this one worke royall Iames,
Which now reflects vpon thee, and more fames
This Church and kingdom, then thy birth, crown, pen,
Or what else makes thee the good King of men.
I sing thy Iustice, whose cleere raies giues light,
To neighbour Princes in this ignorant night
Of mistie error, and corrupt Respect,
How to informe aright their intellect.
And (hauing here on earth, mongst Christian Kings
And Pagans shone) it mounts the winds swift wings
Calming the sea, bounding her ebs and tides,
And in her monthly change the moist Moone guides.
Then sores vp higher, and informes the Sunne,
How mongst the signes in an euen line to run;
How to make daies, and nights; and higher yet
Mounts, till it be in the first Mouer set.
Which now reflects vpon thee, and more fames
This Church and kingdom, then thy birth, crown, pen,
Or what else makes thee the good King of men.
I sing thy Iustice, whose cleere raies giues light,
To neighbour Princes in this ignorant night
Of mistie error, and corrupt Respect,
How to informe aright their intellect.
And (hauing here on earth, mongst Christian Kings
And Pagans shone) it mounts the winds swift wings
Calming the sea, bounding her ebs and tides,
And in her monthly change the moist Moone guides.
Then sores vp higher, and informes the Sunne,
How mongst the signes in an euen line to run;
How to make daies, and nights; and higher yet
Mounts, till it be in the first Mouer set.
Two warlike kingdomes linck't in happy peace.
When they beheld how common fewdes did cease
And saw how strongly blest that concord stands,
Where brethren ioyne first hearts, and after hands,
Resolu'd that course; turn'd matches into Maskes,
And reuelling tissues wore for massier Caskes:
Steeds traind for ready fight, learnd now to peace,
And knew no foes but Buckes and Hares; nor race
But on smooth plaines for wagers, or for sport,
Not for lou'd life; where Campes lay, lay the Court.
Keene swords that bit the bone, abated now
Kist without making skars, or help'd the plow
To draw long furrowes on the fruitfull earth,
Least Peace should (breeding teeth too fast) breed dearth.
Blunt foiles were on sharpe pointed Rapiers set,
And so Lord Sanquier and poore Turner met.
They met to play: there Sanquier lost an eie.
O Brittaine! canst thou nothing further spie,
In this then his losse? Looke vp now and see;
Securitie hath ta'ne an eye from thee.
Ill didst thou ward that blow; If sport hurt so,
O what will open force and malice do?
Thy King rides, hunts and falls. Are horses then
Turn'd traitors too? will beasts proue like to men?
Can Kings finde sportfull peace so hazardous?
To armes then Cæsar, shun the Senate house.
Like poison, ponyards, pistols, Death aboue
Attends on Princes when they feed, sleep, moue;
Beneath like powder, that the ground they tread,
Seemes all one continent, to quicke and dead.
And is't not so with others too? behold,
This silly Fencer, in his ignorance bold
Think's his submissiue sorrow will suffice
For that vnhappy thrust at Sanquiers eyes;
And begging pardon, seemes to haue it then.
What foole dares trust the vnseald words of men?
Yet Turner will. A reconciled foe
“Seemes a true friend, to him would haue him so.
He thinks (now Dunne is dead) to die in peace.
“but blood cries out for blood, and doth not cease
“Till vengeance followes. Vengeance euen at hand
Whaits like a treacherous Groome of Sanquiers; and
(When Turner nothing of his neere death thinkes,
But laughes,, & plaies, & to his deaths-man drinkes.)
Let's his charg'd pistoll flie, whose mouth spits lead
With fire-wing'd speede, striking the Fencer dead.
“No ward auoides that blow: Pale Death we see
“A fellow-gamester in all sports will be.
The Murtherers flee; Iustice pursues with speede,
Th' Abettor, Actor, Author of this deede;
Who (apprehended) apprehend too late
(If friends helpe not), the issue of their fate.
But friends will help. One steps vnto the King,
Kneeles and thus pleads. Leige Lord, you are the spring,
From whence Nobilitie flowes. And all our blood
The neerer yours it comes, the neerer good:
As you first gaue, so let your power preserue
Those that are set a part the Crowne to serue;
Others by fit election, these by fate
Are made hereditarie to the State;
Distinguish'd from the common ranke of those
Who only know they are not, when they rose.
And priuiled'ge aboue the raskall rout,
Whose words and deeds haue reference to account.
Else why did our bold fathers, with the losse,
Of lymmes and liues, honors for vs ingrosse?
O why do these new Nobles dearely buy
Those attributes for which they dare not die?
Or why should land or gold, which all things can
Be giuen for titles, if they mend not man,
And something adde besides an emptie sound,
To recompence the glosse of gold and ground?
If honour doth nought but a name afford,
A Lordship then is better then a Lord.
“Nobilitie this priuiledge doth bring,
“It makes the owner something like a king;
“Exempting him from penall lawes, which crack
“With heauy pressure the poore Commons back.
This (Sir) I speake t' excite your royall power
To rescue Noble Sanquir, who this houre
Is by the too-strick't vnrespectiue lawes
Condemn'd to die a villaines death. The cause
And quarrell this. The Barron chanc'd to play
With a rude Fencer; where both did bewray
Their best ability at Rapier foyles.
The Pencer to vphold his credit toyles,
But wanteth skill; which makes his hate arise;
And with an enuious thrust at Sanquirs eyes,
The wicked and inchanted foyle depriues
An eye of sight; worth many Fencers liues.
The suffering Lord forbeares to kill him then
But being after scorn'de by watermen,
Fidlers, and such base instruments of hell
For this foule blemish, his great heart did swell.
And (full of noble courage) loth to do
So blacke a deede himselfe, he puts it to
His mans performance, who obaide too soone,
Repentance came before the deede was done.
The equall lawes to equalls doth appoint
An eye should haue an eye, ioynt answere ioynt.
But where such oddes of persons be, I ghesse
An eye should haue a life to boote, no lesse.
Yet not on this or that doth Sanquir stand;
His death, his life, his doome is in your hand.
He doth confesse the foulnesse of his guilt:
He sorrowes for the blood that he hath spilt.
Your mercy (royall Sir) he doth implore
For this rash act, who neuer beg'd before.
When they beheld how common fewdes did cease
Where brethren ioyne first hearts, and after hands,
Resolu'd that course; turn'd matches into Maskes,
And reuelling tissues wore for massier Caskes:
Steeds traind for ready fight, learnd now to peace,
And knew no foes but Buckes and Hares; nor race
But on smooth plaines for wagers, or for sport,
Not for lou'd life; where Campes lay, lay the Court.
Keene swords that bit the bone, abated now
Kist without making skars, or help'd the plow
To draw long furrowes on the fruitfull earth,
Least Peace should (breeding teeth too fast) breed dearth.
Blunt foiles were on sharpe pointed Rapiers set,
And so Lord Sanquier and poore Turner met.
They met to play: there Sanquier lost an eie.
O Brittaine! canst thou nothing further spie,
In this then his losse? Looke vp now and see;
Securitie hath ta'ne an eye from thee.
Ill didst thou ward that blow; If sport hurt so,
O what will open force and malice do?
Thy King rides, hunts and falls. Are horses then
Turn'd traitors too? will beasts proue like to men?
Can Kings finde sportfull peace so hazardous?
To armes then Cæsar, shun the Senate house.
Like poison, ponyards, pistols, Death aboue
Attends on Princes when they feed, sleep, moue;
Beneath like powder, that the ground they tread,
Seemes all one continent, to quicke and dead.
And is't not so with others too? behold,
This silly Fencer, in his ignorance bold
Think's his submissiue sorrow will suffice
For that vnhappy thrust at Sanquiers eyes;
What foole dares trust the vnseald words of men?
Yet Turner will. A reconciled foe
“Seemes a true friend, to him would haue him so.
He thinks (now Dunne is dead) to die in peace.
“but blood cries out for blood, and doth not cease
“Till vengeance followes. Vengeance euen at hand
Whaits like a treacherous Groome of Sanquiers; and
(When Turner nothing of his neere death thinkes,
But laughes,, & plaies, & to his deaths-man drinkes.)
Let's his charg'd pistoll flie, whose mouth spits lead
With fire-wing'd speede, striking the Fencer dead.
“No ward auoides that blow: Pale Death we see
“A fellow-gamester in all sports will be.
The Murtherers flee; Iustice pursues with speede,
Th' Abettor, Actor, Author of this deede;
Who (apprehended) apprehend too late
(If friends helpe not), the issue of their fate.
But friends will help. One steps vnto the King,
Kneeles and thus pleads. Leige Lord, you are the spring,
From whence Nobilitie flowes. And all our blood
The neerer yours it comes, the neerer good:
As you first gaue, so let your power preserue
Those that are set a part the Crowne to serue;
Others by fit election, these by fate
Are made hereditarie to the State;
Distinguish'd from the common ranke of those
Who only know they are not, when they rose.
And priuiled'ge aboue the raskall rout,
Whose words and deeds haue reference to account.
Else why did our bold fathers, with the losse,
Of lymmes and liues, honors for vs ingrosse?
Those attributes for which they dare not die?
Or why should land or gold, which all things can
Be giuen for titles, if they mend not man,
And something adde besides an emptie sound,
To recompence the glosse of gold and ground?
If honour doth nought but a name afford,
A Lordship then is better then a Lord.
“Nobilitie this priuiledge doth bring,
“It makes the owner something like a king;
“Exempting him from penall lawes, which crack
“With heauy pressure the poore Commons back.
This (Sir) I speake t' excite your royall power
To rescue Noble Sanquir, who this houre
Is by the too-strick't vnrespectiue lawes
Condemn'd to die a villaines death. The cause
And quarrell this. The Barron chanc'd to play
With a rude Fencer; where both did bewray
Their best ability at Rapier foyles.
The Pencer to vphold his credit toyles,
But wanteth skill; which makes his hate arise;
And with an enuious thrust at Sanquirs eyes,
The wicked and inchanted foyle depriues
An eye of sight; worth many Fencers liues.
The suffering Lord forbeares to kill him then
But being after scorn'de by watermen,
Fidlers, and such base instruments of hell
For this foule blemish, his great heart did swell.
And (full of noble courage) loth to do
So blacke a deede himselfe, he puts it to
His mans performance, who obaide too soone,
Repentance came before the deede was done.
An eye should haue an eye, ioynt answere ioynt.
But where such oddes of persons be, I ghesse
An eye should haue a life to boote, no lesse.
Yet not on this or that doth Sanquir stand;
His death, his life, his doome is in your hand.
He doth confesse the foulnesse of his guilt:
He sorrowes for the blood that he hath spilt.
Your mercy (royall Sir) he doth implore
For this rash act, who neuer beg'd before.
Scarce had he done, and e're the king could speake,
An other thus begins. If you should wreake
Each English peasants life with bloud so hie
As noble Sanquir is, No memorie
Of your faire traine, of Natiue Scots, should stand,
To let times know the glory of that land.
Souldiers must doffe their armes, and gowns put on,
If villaines so foule may passe vpon
Lords vnreueng'de; or if those antique names,
Those honors, trophees, and eternall fames,
We got by killing many Englishmen,
Be for the death of one, thus lost agen.
If thus to quench the fewde you pleased are,
You thereby quench the heart of lawfull warre.
Remember what a souldier he hath bin;
How easly might forget it was a sinne.
And thinke he did but chastice one of those
Who 'gainst his Leader muteni'de, and rose.
Many of th' English haue been pardoned
For treasons capitall. Some honored
For their knee-seruice, and no other merit.
Then (Sir) let vs who lineally inherit
Allegeance, worth, and honours; sometime finde
You left not all your Scottish blood behinde:
Nor meane to leaue vs in the hands of those
Who kill with law more friends, then fewdes kil foes.
An other thus begins. If you should wreake
Each English peasants life with bloud so hie
As noble Sanquir is, No memorie
Of your faire traine, of Natiue Scots, should stand,
To let times know the glory of that land.
Souldiers must doffe their armes, and gowns put on,
If villaines so foule may passe vpon
Lords vnreueng'de; or if those antique names,
Those honors, trophees, and eternall fames,
We got by killing many Englishmen,
Be for the death of one, thus lost agen.
If thus to quench the fewde you pleased are,
You thereby quench the heart of lawfull warre.
Remember what a souldier he hath bin;
How easly might forget it was a sinne.
And thinke he did but chastice one of those
Who 'gainst his Leader muteni'de, and rose.
Many of th' English haue been pardoned
For treasons capitall. Some honored
For their knee-seruice, and no other merit.
Then (Sir) let vs who lineally inherit
You left not all your Scottish blood behinde:
Nor meane to leaue vs in the hands of those
Who kill with law more friends, then fewdes kil foes.
Thus ended he; And then as in a Queere
Of solemne singers, one shall euer heare
After the Trebles hath the Antheme sung,
(And their diuisions with shrill vtterance rung);
The Base, the Tenor, Counter-tenor sweet,
With Howboyes, Cornets, Trumpets, Organs meet,
And ioyne their hye-stretcht notes, that all the ring
Seemes Eccho-like, their sonnets to resing:
So did the graue and gallant troope, which stood
About the King (like a dew-dropping wood)
Conuey their powres to make this consort full
And cryed; Be stil'd King Iames the mercifull.
Or (if to satisfie the course of law,
And stop Opinions wide-gull swallowing iaw)
Life must haue life, take Carlisle, one for one,
And one to boote too; so this Lord be none.
With that (as if all aymes would this aduance)
Comes from the Regent and the King of France,
Letters, intreating for their Pensioners life;
And last, as if the difference of a wife
Should from this fact take characters, to know
A true good wife, from a good wife in show:
Comes his forsaken Lady all in blacke,
(Whose youth from him did due beneuolence lacke)
Weeping, intreating, for her lost Lords sinne,
And then like fullomes that run euer in
A baile of Gossips (some true beggars borne,
Pittying this Lord more then the Lord of Lorne)
Beg his remission with obstreperous voice:
But mongst the rest, she that made lowdest noise,
Was Turners Widdow, whose shrill throat did yell,
That she was satisfied, and all was well.
Of solemne singers, one shall euer heare
After the Trebles hath the Antheme sung,
(And their diuisions with shrill vtterance rung);
The Base, the Tenor, Counter-tenor sweet,
With Howboyes, Cornets, Trumpets, Organs meet,
And ioyne their hye-stretcht notes, that all the ring
Seemes Eccho-like, their sonnets to resing:
So did the graue and gallant troope, which stood
About the King (like a dew-dropping wood)
Conuey their powres to make this consort full
And cryed; Be stil'd King Iames the mercifull.
Or (if to satisfie the course of law,
And stop Opinions wide-gull swallowing iaw)
Life must haue life, take Carlisle, one for one,
And one to boote too; so this Lord be none.
With that (as if all aymes would this aduance)
Comes from the Regent and the King of France,
Letters, intreating for their Pensioners life;
And last, as if the difference of a wife
Should from this fact take characters, to know
A true good wife, from a good wife in show:
Comes his forsaken Lady all in blacke,
(Whose youth from him did due beneuolence lacke)
Weeping, intreating, for her lost Lords sinne,
And then like fullomes that run euer in
A baile of Gossips (some true beggars borne,
Pittying this Lord more then the Lord of Lorne)
But mongst the rest, she that made lowdest noise,
Was Turners Widdow, whose shrill throat did yell,
That she was satisfied, and all was well.
The king abhord it, and his vpright heart,
Beholding these assaults on euery part,
Made it his glory to be onely good,
And from his crowne to wipe those staines of blood.
Thus he replies: “The crowne for Iustice sake,
“Heau'n plac'd vpon our head; which none can shake
“Or touch, till with vniustice we make way,
“And (for respect) that strict rule disobay.
“God is our Guard of proofe, that we may be
“A guard to you vnpartiall, iust, and free.
“And this stands firme; If one hand goes about
“To signe a croock't line, th'other blurs it out.
Beholding these assaults on euery part,
Made it his glory to be onely good,
And from his crowne to wipe those staines of blood.
Thus he replies: “The crowne for Iustice sake,
“Heau'n plac'd vpon our head; which none can shake
“Or touch, till with vniustice we make way,
“And (for respect) that strict rule disobay.
“God is our Guard of proofe, that we may be
“A guard to you vnpartiall, iust, and free.
“And this stands firme; If one hand goes about
“To signe a croock't line, th'other blurs it out.
O magnanimitie, aboue a Man!
O Iustice more confirm'd then that which wan
Zeleuchus so much fame! Corrupt with gold
States, Courtiers, Law, or Wiues that will be sold.
Peruert with passion euery solid heart,
Moue Stoickes, or melt marble with thy Art,
Iustice sits still vntouch'd, with kingly care,
Not pardoning till true mercy bids him spare.
And then not striking, though the life he giues,
Repines, and enuies that the giuer liues.
O Iustice more confirm'd then that which wan
Zeleuchus so much fame! Corrupt with gold
States, Courtiers, Law, or Wiues that will be sold.
Peruert with passion euery solid heart,
Moue Stoickes, or melt marble with thy Art,
Iustice sits still vntouch'd, with kingly care,
Not pardoning till true mercy bids him spare.
And then not striking, though the life he giues,
Repines, and enuies that the giuer liues.
Deni'de they vanish, as the cloudes disperse,
When the hot-shining Sunne lookes red and fierce.
The law proceeds; the Actors suffer first,
A death too-good, too-bad; the best the worst.
The Author then submits him to his doome,
And dies a Catholike; That's a man of Rome.
O Rome! Liues yet that Wolfe which was thy Nurse
When (growing great) thou grewst the whole worlds curse?
May none yet leap thy wals, or leaue thy Sea
Vnslayne, though he a King and brother be?
Retain'st thou yet that sauage kinde, to pray
On the distressed flocke which shuns thy way?
Do all that sucke thy brests, for milke sucke blood?
Dare not that spring from thee die well, doe good?
Must Gibbets onely rocke them to their rest?
Doe they desire that death? become they't best?
Must Traytors, Murtherers, only be thy Saints?
Weare none white robes but such as scarlet paints?
Else why doe all euill men so soone drinke vp
The deadly lees of thy inchaunted cup?
Or why doe fooles so credit what Rome sayth,
But for they easely learne implicit faith?
When the hot-shining Sunne lookes red and fierce.
The law proceeds; the Actors suffer first,
A death too-good, too-bad; the best the worst.
The Author then submits him to his doome,
And dies a Catholike; That's a man of Rome.
When (growing great) thou grewst the whole worlds curse?
May none yet leap thy wals, or leaue thy Sea
Vnslayne, though he a King and brother be?
Retain'st thou yet that sauage kinde, to pray
On the distressed flocke which shuns thy way?
Do all that sucke thy brests, for milke sucke blood?
Dare not that spring from thee die well, doe good?
Must Gibbets onely rocke them to their rest?
Doe they desire that death? become they't best?
Must Traytors, Murtherers, only be thy Saints?
Weare none white robes but such as scarlet paints?
Else why doe all euill men so soone drinke vp
The deadly lees of thy inchaunted cup?
Or why doe fooles so credit what Rome sayth,
But for they easely learne implicit faith?
If Rome keep heauens keyes, (as 'tis out of doubt),
None dare barre Lambert, or Lord Sanquir out:
Nor neede they feare, where Iesuits haue to doe,
Garnet shall be a Saint, and Iudas too:
Their writings and examples murther teach;
They'l not condemne the doctrine which they preach.
This makes our desperate Ruffins, Romanes dye.
And our crack'd Virgins seeke a Nunnery.
None dare barre Lambert, or Lord Sanquir out:
Nor neede they feare, where Iesuits haue to doe,
Garnet shall be a Saint, and Iudas too:
Their writings and examples murther teach;
They'l not condemne the doctrine which they preach.
This makes our desperate Ruffins, Romanes dye.
And our crack'd Virgins seeke a Nunnery.
Iustice rise Lyon-like out of thy sleepe,
The Westerne Wolues worry the Irish sheepe:
And here at home thy borders swarme with those
Who doe imitate, breed, beget thee foes.
The scar thou thinkst to close, these make more wide,
“True faith vnites, but their faith doth deuide.
The Grimes are banish'd, but worse Foxes earth
In those vast places, through the Gospels dearth.
The Humour that feeds these, affects the heart,
And doth dilate it selfe through euery part
By secret influence, though it closely lurkes,
“Causes are best discouered by their workes.
“Examples though they doe no other ill,
“Rebell against the Lawes in being still.
“They count'nance giue to error, and curbe in
“Bold reprehension, making truth a sinne.
“Who hides his question'd faith he ought reueale,
“Will vtter what perhaps he should conceale.
Hunt out these Foxes then; it is a sport
Fitting a King, a Councell, and a Court.
Vse Hounds that lie not, or flie out; for such
Spend freely, sweetly, but thee ground ne're touch,
They please the eare and eye, but neuer minde
To kill the Game. Those Cubs are of their kinde.
But stay, take off, we ryot: leaue the sent:
“Plaine Truth cannot be slaine, but may be shent.
The Westerne Wolues worry the Irish sheepe:
And here at home thy borders swarme with those
Who doe imitate, breed, beget thee foes.
The scar thou thinkst to close, these make more wide,
“True faith vnites, but their faith doth deuide.
The Grimes are banish'd, but worse Foxes earth
In those vast places, through the Gospels dearth.
And doth dilate it selfe through euery part
By secret influence, though it closely lurkes,
“Causes are best discouered by their workes.
“Examples though they doe no other ill,
“Rebell against the Lawes in being still.
“They count'nance giue to error, and curbe in
“Bold reprehension, making truth a sinne.
“Who hides his question'd faith he ought reueale,
“Will vtter what perhaps he should conceale.
Hunt out these Foxes then; it is a sport
Fitting a King, a Councell, and a Court.
Vse Hounds that lie not, or flie out; for such
Spend freely, sweetly, but thee ground ne're touch,
They please the eare and eye, but neuer minde
To kill the Game. Those Cubs are of their kinde.
But stay, take off, we ryot: leaue the sent:
“Plaine Truth cannot be slaine, but may be shent.
Aquignispicium.
DEDICATED TO THE FREE and bountifull House-keeper, Sr. Le-strange Mordant, Knight Baronet.
Thou that art almost onely left to tell,Wherein our ancient Gentry did excell,
These vpstart plants, be still thy selfe, till we,
For shame reforme our liues, and wax like thee.
So plaine, free, vpright, honest, open, iust:
But sure first die, and rise againe we must.
A CAPITE VSQ; AD CALCEM.
The State is cast; God doth beholdEyes blinde, eares deafe, tongues dumbe with cold.
Dayes care to get, gets nightly cares,
Which memorie foyles, and iudgment marrs.
The faint hearts (slowly beating) tells
Dull spirits in the slacke nerue dwells,
The Liuer boyles with lustfull blood,
Weake stomacke brookes no meat that's good.
Loose palsie makes the hands to tremble,
When they for loue shake, they dissemble.
The gowty knees doe stifly bend;
The feete walke slow to all good end.
The Doctor saith; Repent, fast, pray,
Die, or this diet take we may.
[God bends his bowe but shoots not; see, it stands]
God bends his bowe but shoots not; see, it stands
As if the stiffe string were in Mans owne hands.
For God first plac'd it so, that Man might know
How prone to peace he is, to warre how slow,
That couenant which he made with Noah, he keeps,
His Mercy euer wakes, his Iustice sleeps.
And though our sins a second Deluge craues,
Hee'l drench the world no more in those salt waues.
“What hurt frō heauē fals, first frō th' earth proceeds,
“And Mans misfortune, springs from mans misdeeds.
Misdeeds that from our selues, friends, country come,
And where they should on all, light but on some.
The snow, haile, raine, are by the Suns pure beames
Exhalde from standing Marishes, whose streames
Infect the ayre with foggy mists, and then
Are bottled vp in clouds for sinfull men.
And for Mans good, in season they distill
Or out of season, to amend the ill.
The plagues we feele fall at the head and foot,
Are shafts gainst God our hands first vpward shoot.
As if the stiffe string were in Mans owne hands.
How prone to peace he is, to warre how slow,
That couenant which he made with Noah, he keeps,
His Mercy euer wakes, his Iustice sleeps.
And though our sins a second Deluge craues,
Hee'l drench the world no more in those salt waues.
“What hurt frō heauē fals, first frō th' earth proceeds,
“And Mans misfortune, springs from mans misdeeds.
Misdeeds that from our selues, friends, country come,
And where they should on all, light but on some.
The snow, haile, raine, are by the Suns pure beames
Exhalde from standing Marishes, whose streames
Infect the ayre with foggy mists, and then
Are bottled vp in clouds for sinfull men.
And for Mans good, in season they distill
Or out of season, to amend the ill.
The plagues we feele fall at the head and foot,
Are shafts gainst God our hands first vpward shoot.
Presumptuous sins in Country and at Court,
Greatnesse, and Grace, and Fauour do support.
The Pulpit flatters; Iustice sits and smiles,
Making a gainefull skill, of lingring wiles.
“Who hath great friends liues free, & wanteth faults,
“But without friends the vpright innocent haults.
Vice now prouides vs rayment, meat and drinke,
So how't increas't not how to curb't we thinke.
Greatnesse, and Grace, and Fauour do support.
The Pulpit flatters; Iustice sits and smiles,
Making a gainefull skill, of lingring wiles.
“Who hath great friends liues free, & wanteth faults,
“But without friends the vpright innocent haults.
Vice now prouides vs rayment, meat and drinke,
So how't increas't not how to curb't we thinke.
Old men waxe impudent, lasciuious, wilde,
That fits them best, which scarce becomes a childe.
That fits them best, which scarce becomes a childe.
Young men are stubborne, disobedient, stout,
And rule, and teach, euen from the swathing clout,
They all things know and can but (what they ought)
Themselues and vertue. These they neuer sought.
And rule, and teach, euen from the swathing clout,
They all things know and can but (what they ought)
Themselues and vertue. These they neuer sought.
Fashions from Spaine, France, Germanie, and Rome,
And Turkie too, with their Religions come.
So they are suited faire from top to toe,
And each new suite in a new faith they goe.
And Turkie too, with their Religions come.
So they are suited faire from top to toe,
And each new suite in a new faith they goe.
Matrons that are not dead nor yet aliue.
But betwixt both, in some part vegetiue,
Crown their smooth scalps with haire, we now makes braue
A second Mistres ready for the graue
But betwixt both, in some part vegetiue,
Crown their smooth scalps with haire, we now makes braue
A second Mistres ready for the graue
Young Maids (that goe for such) are Mothers known
And such as should be none, are Virgins showne.
O modesty where dwelst thou? Womanhood
Is scarce by our high English vnderstood
Vice growes so common, that it is far more
Opprobrious, to be chaste, then be a whore.
All things are out of order. Lawes are made
Strong meanes not to defend, but to invade.
Then why should we limit the sea, or fire
Within their bounds, and not our owne desire?
Southward th' Armado, and the fleetes of Spaine,
(Oft beaten) seeme to threaten vs againe.
And East and West the Seas would meet we see:
But that (O wonder!) Northward blest we bee.
The want of water was the cause before
Those huge built hulkes, could not approch our shore,
VVho came resolu'de of conquest: and did stand
As if they ment to beare away our land.
Poore Ile so small thou wert, and they so great
Too scant a sea for them that was thy seat.
But had they staide till now, now might they ride
On the swolne waues at ease in all their pride.
And into euery heauen their bold Ships steere,
As if no sands, barres, shallowes, had bin there.
We know whens'ere they come, God can prouide
Such seas, so high, so vncontrold a tide,
Able without their Enuie, or their ayde
To bury vs; for see how he hath layde
Our workes all leuell; draines, dikes, sluces, bankes,
Fields, pastures, gardens, mannors, farmes, and franks
With man their owner, and what Man doth feed,
Are buried with a sea of teares indeed.
And such as should be none, are Virgins showne.
O modesty where dwelst thou? Womanhood
Is scarce by our high English vnderstood
Vice growes so common, that it is far more
Opprobrious, to be chaste, then be a whore.
All things are out of order. Lawes are made
Strong meanes not to defend, but to invade.
Then why should we limit the sea, or fire
Within their bounds, and not our owne desire?
Southward th' Armado, and the fleetes of Spaine,
(Oft beaten) seeme to threaten vs againe.
And East and West the Seas would meet we see:
But that (O wonder!) Northward blest we bee.
The want of water was the cause before
Those huge built hulkes, could not approch our shore,
VVho came resolu'de of conquest: and did stand
As if they ment to beare away our land.
Poore Ile so small thou wert, and they so great
Too scant a sea for them that was thy seat.
But had they staide till now, now might they ride
On the swolne waues at ease in all their pride.
As if no sands, barres, shallowes, had bin there.
We know whens'ere they come, God can prouide
Such seas, so high, so vncontrold a tide,
Able without their Enuie, or their ayde
To bury vs; for see how he hath layde
Our workes all leuell; draines, dikes, sluces, bankes,
Fields, pastures, gardens, mannors, farmes, and franks
With man their owner, and what Man doth feed,
Are buried with a sea of teares indeed.
Nouember did we scape thy fift day thus,
That euery day thou should'st be ominous?
Doe we so soone forget the sixt day last,
And worst of all daies to our Iland past,
That thus we should so oft remembred be,
From what strange thraldom, we were once set free?
Or do the waters thus breake in, to show
How humorous and irregular vices flow?
How Saint-like Sacriledge doth impropriate?
And calme Oppression swallowes Church and State?
How close Hypocrisie bends his courtly knee,
And (wanting all faith) would haue all faith's free?
How holy Hymens sacreds band are broken,
His torch extinquish'd, and his rites fore-spoken?
How Gotish lusts needs all those waues to slake
His scorching flames, hot as th'infernall lake?
Or is't for all these crimes, and more vntold,
The faithfull Sea, which wont our Ile to hold
In his moist armes, from strange assaults secure,
Hath chang'd his loue to this sad ouerture?
And (for our sinnes) learnes vs to fast and pray,
Bringing in fish, sweeping our flesh away?
That euery day thou should'st be ominous?
Doe we so soone forget the sixt day last,
And worst of all daies to our Iland past,
That thus we should so oft remembred be,
From what strange thraldom, we were once set free?
Or do the waters thus breake in, to show
How humorous and irregular vices flow?
How Saint-like Sacriledge doth impropriate?
And calme Oppression swallowes Church and State?
How close Hypocrisie bends his courtly knee,
And (wanting all faith) would haue all faith's free?
How holy Hymens sacreds band are broken,
His torch extinquish'd, and his rites fore-spoken?
How Gotish lusts needs all those waues to slake
His scorching flames, hot as th'infernall lake?
Or is't for all these crimes, and more vntold,
The faithfull Sea, which wont our Ile to hold
In his moist armes, from strange assaults secure,
Hath chang'd his loue to this sad ouerture?
Bringing in fish, sweeping our flesh away?
That land which (Goshen-like) did flow whil-ere,
With all that Man desires or life holds deere,
So that no spot in all this Iles large field,
The sythe more hay, sickle more corne did yield:
Where sweetnes was the sawce, and fatnes fed,
Whil'st Dearth, and Famine from the confines fled:
Where the stiffe-vdder'd Cow long'd twice a day,
To meet the merry milke-maide on the way:
And missing her by chance, wrot on the ground
With milke-white letters where she would be found,
Now prostrate lyes; the goodly beauty foil'd,
The welth wash'd thence, the gards & trēches spoil'd.
O what assurance haue we then in clay
Which (if not Lawyers) Seas thus eat away?
Build farre from waters, that secures thy feare,
Though lesse thy profit be, safe dwelling there.
With all that Man desires or life holds deere,
So that no spot in all this Iles large field,
The sythe more hay, sickle more corne did yield:
Where sweetnes was the sawce, and fatnes fed,
Whil'st Dearth, and Famine from the confines fled:
Where the stiffe-vdder'd Cow long'd twice a day,
To meet the merry milke-maide on the way:
And missing her by chance, wrot on the ground
With milke-white letters where she would be found,
Now prostrate lyes; the goodly beauty foil'd,
The welth wash'd thence, the gards & trēches spoil'd.
O what assurance haue we then in clay
Which (if not Lawyers) Seas thus eat away?
Build farre from waters, that secures thy feare,
Though lesse thy profit be, safe dwelling there.
O no; what's that I see? a raging flame
Mounts vp in yonder plaine, and none can tame
His hot misgouern'd furie. Water heere
Some cry, but no such element is neere.
Like a mad-Dog that through the thronged streets
Ranging with rage snatcheth at all he meets,
And all that bitten are, as mad as he,
Runne raging too, that few or none scape free:
The cry is vp, and euery man stands arm'd,
To do he knowes not what till he be harm'd;
And then to saue himselfe neglects the rest,
And madly mischiefe does when he meanes best.
Or as a towne of strength, at dead of night,
Surpriz'd (by sodaine stratagem or slight,)
The people (with the allarum bell awak'd)
Run out to see what newes amaz'd and nak'd;
And meeting death abroad, for life run home,
And finde their houses sack'd before they come.
Then turning backe againe they know not whither,
Flocke all on heaps and dye like freinds together:
So far'de it there; the fire flew vp and downe
Snatching at euery house within the towne.
And whilst one thought his neighbors house to saue,
He sees his owne doth instant succour craue.
Mounts vp in yonder plaine, and none can tame
His hot misgouern'd furie. Water heere
Some cry, but no such element is neere.
Like a mad-Dog that through the thronged streets
Ranging with rage snatcheth at all he meets,
And all that bitten are, as mad as he,
Runne raging too, that few or none scape free:
The cry is vp, and euery man stands arm'd,
To do he knowes not what till he be harm'd;
And then to saue himselfe neglects the rest,
And madly mischiefe does when he meanes best.
Surpriz'd (by sodaine stratagem or slight,)
The people (with the allarum bell awak'd)
Run out to see what newes amaz'd and nak'd;
And meeting death abroad, for life run home,
And finde their houses sack'd before they come.
Then turning backe againe they know not whither,
Flocke all on heaps and dye like freinds together:
So far'de it there; the fire flew vp and downe
Snatching at euery house within the towne.
And whilst one thought his neighbors house to saue,
He sees his owne doth instant succour craue.
Here stands an Alehouse tosting, and the Hostis
Swearing her false-scor'd de tally burn'd or lost is.
The Tapster (wanting water) plies with ale
The thirstie fire which drinks both new and stale,
And by that oyly-liquor is not quenched
But rather (Drunkard-like) inrag'd, incensed.
The Host (instead of pailes) fils pots and sweares
Hee'le vse no penny-pots that wants their eares.
Wisheth his Iuggs were bigger, he would fill them,
And (but in vaine) on the wilde fire doth spill them.
Here stares an Ostler whil'st the flame makes ceasure,
On his small bottles and his ostry measure,
And here a Chamberlaine giues quicke attendance
To saue his pretty faggots with a vengeance.
Those pretty faggots which fire-hot being eat
In a cold morning, scarce would make one sweat.
Here runs a rauening Usurer dog-like tyred
Betwixt his owne house and the mort-gagde fired.
Here flames a barne of some ingrossing Farmer.
And here the study burnes of some false Termer.
Here stands a kennell, there a rack and manger
For running horses, but both stay the danger.
A Baude houles here, and here a neast of whores
Burnde oft within, are now burnde out of dores.
Heere's a Tobacco shop, and in the Celler
Th' Indian Deuil, our band, witch, whore, man-queller,
That spirit waster, and that Liuer heater,
Of t'humor radicall that greedy eater,
That breath corrupter, and quick-eye-sight spoyler,
That wit confounder, and strong Memorie foyler,
That pickpurse, theefe, time-cheater, connycatcher,
That alehouse haunter, and fell mischiefe hatcher,
That all compounded euill of euery Nation,
Too bad (almost) for th'English imitation;
Tobacco by the fire was there caroused
With large pettounes, in pisse perfum'd and soused.
Swearing her false-scor'd de tally burn'd or lost is.
The Tapster (wanting water) plies with ale
The thirstie fire which drinks both new and stale,
And by that oyly-liquor is not quenched
But rather (Drunkard-like) inrag'd, incensed.
The Host (instead of pailes) fils pots and sweares
Hee'le vse no penny-pots that wants their eares.
Wisheth his Iuggs were bigger, he would fill them,
And (but in vaine) on the wilde fire doth spill them.
Here stares an Ostler whil'st the flame makes ceasure,
On his small bottles and his ostry measure,
And here a Chamberlaine giues quicke attendance
To saue his pretty faggots with a vengeance.
Those pretty faggots which fire-hot being eat
In a cold morning, scarce would make one sweat.
Here runs a rauening Usurer dog-like tyred
Betwixt his owne house and the mort-gagde fired.
And here the study burnes of some false Termer.
Here stands a kennell, there a rack and manger
For running horses, but both stay the danger.
A Baude houles here, and here a neast of whores
Burnde oft within, are now burnde out of dores.
Heere's a Tobacco shop, and in the Celler
Th' Indian Deuil, our band, witch, whore, man-queller,
That spirit waster, and that Liuer heater,
Of t'humor radicall that greedy eater,
That breath corrupter, and quick-eye-sight spoyler,
That wit confounder, and strong Memorie foyler,
That pickpurse, theefe, time-cheater, connycatcher,
That alehouse haunter, and fell mischiefe hatcher,
That all compounded euill of euery Nation,
Too bad (almost) for th'English imitation;
Tobacco by the fire was there caroused
With large pettounes, in pisse perfum'd and soused.
Thus what full many thrifty yeeres erected,
One prodigall flame hath wasted and deiected.
And now (behold) the prouder Chimnies stand
As heires left well, who wasted haue their land,
Of whom the common people vse to say,
It's pitty proper men should thus decay;
Yet none releeues them, or build vp their state
To such an eminent fortune as of late.
Mongst these one Chimney stands, where passers by
May reade this sentence with a running eye,
Nothing is so close carried or concealde,
Which shall not be in his due time reueal'd.
Whether by chance or by diuine decree,
(For so all humane actions ordr'ed bee)
This obiect stands; that all may make good vse
Of what they see, or quit them from excuse,
Ile not determine. Let it bee my folly
Rather than bee profane, to bee too holy.
One prodigall flame hath wasted and deiected.
And now (behold) the prouder Chimnies stand
As heires left well, who wasted haue their land,
Of whom the common people vse to say,
It's pitty proper men should thus decay;
Yet none releeues them, or build vp their state
To such an eminent fortune as of late.
Mongst these one Chimney stands, where passers by
May reade this sentence with a running eye,
Nothing is so close carried or concealde,
Which shall not be in his due time reueal'd.
(For so all humane actions ordr'ed bee)
This obiect stands; that all may make good vse
Of what they see, or quit them from excuse,
Ile not determine. Let it bee my folly
Rather than bee profane, to bee too holy.
He that once drown'd the world, can if he please,
Drowne part or the whole world againe with ease:
But since his word is past, though we abound
With that which caus'd the former world be drown'd
Hee'le keep his promise, and the Sea restraine
From ouerflowing sinfull flesh againe.
Yet is it in his power the whole t'mmerse
In variable woes; plagues to disperse
In the most frequent streetes, most fragrant fields,
That th'ayre may breath out death, we helth now yields
Or thin cheek'd Famine (though a stranger borne)
Who now to know on Fridayes th'English scorn,
Who of all forrainers is worst intreated,
His fashion left, himselfe in prison seated,
May be familiar with our countreymen
(Like a post-Natus, or free Denizen)
And that without an act, if God thinke good,
Though all the Peeres and Commons it withstood.
Drowne part or the whole world againe with ease:
But since his word is past, though we abound
With that which caus'd the former world be drown'd
Hee'le keep his promise, and the Sea restraine
From ouerflowing sinfull flesh againe.
Yet is it in his power the whole t'mmerse
In variable woes; plagues to disperse
In the most frequent streetes, most fragrant fields,
That th'ayre may breath out death, we helth now yields
Or thin cheek'd Famine (though a stranger borne)
Who now to know on Fridayes th'English scorn,
Who of all forrainers is worst intreated,
His fashion left, himselfe in prison seated,
May be familiar with our countreymen
(Like a post-Natus, or free Denizen)
And that without an act, if God thinke good,
Though all the Peeres and Commons it withstood.
Fire, aire, earth, water, all are his: he can
With or without these, saue or punish Man.
No place is free from him, no thing is hid,
He knowes what Faukes, Persie, and Catesbie did
Vnder the ground; and what new plots doe come
From hell, or from hels Councel-chamber (Rome).
And this, (and all els) his blest hand reueales
To his elect, and with deliuerance seales.
With or without these, saue or punish Man.
No place is free from him, no thing is hid,
He knowes what Faukes, Persie, and Catesbie did
Vnder the ground; and what new plots doe come
From hell, or from hels Councel-chamber (Rome).
To his elect, and with deliuerance seales.
Attend his pleasure then; first we shall see
Rome burne, and all with Rome that lynked bee.
Then the whole world; and that fire shall disclose
Each truth, each falshood, and each cause of those.
Till then, these waters doe but wash the slime
Of Babel from this too indifferent time.
These petty fires, kindle our loue and zeale,
(Halfe-dead) to King, the Church, & cōmon-weale,
Affliction profits. Strike vs (Lord) in loue;
Let thy milde hand each way our firme faith proue.
But let not Babel triumph in our fall,
Nor any that on Baal, or Dag in call.
Rome burne, and all with Rome that lynked bee.
Then the whole world; and that fire shall disclose
Each truth, each falshood, and each cause of those.
Till then, these waters doe but wash the slime
Of Babel from this too indifferent time.
These petty fires, kindle our loue and zeale,
(Halfe-dead) to King, the Church, & cōmon-weale,
Affliction profits. Strike vs (Lord) in loue;
Let thy milde hand each way our firme faith proue.
But let not Babel triumph in our fall,
Nor any that on Baal, or Dag in call.
ANTIDOTVM Cecillianvm.
DEDICATED To the Common-wealth.
Desert hath no true follower after deathBut Enuy; others flatter with their breath.
Jn vaine I sought particular Patrons; they
When life left greatnesse, ran with life away.
Blood, kindred, friends, forsooke him: so't was fit,
We might haue doubted else his worth and wit.
Their compasse was too narrow to yield shade
To him that both their rootes and fortunes made:
But gentle England, since he quiet gaue
To thee by his cares, giue his corps a graue.
And since his wisdome did renowne thy name,
Be thou a Sanctuary to his fame.
And since he gaue for thee his life and health,
Giue him protection, thankefull Common-wealth.
TO THE HONOVR of the illustrious Familie of the Cecills, deseruing of this Commmon-wealth, all the Romane wreaths of triumph: The memorable Pyramids of Egypt: And all other Trophes of Eternitie.
As by one mouer, motion, doth commence,Euen from the Center, to circumference:
So from one good Man, many may arise,
Like-good, like-apt, like-faithfull, and like-wise,
This now is verified; The Cecills are
Statesmen in time of peace, Souldiers in warre.
Epicedium.
What needs, thy Monument be rais'd?What needs, the Muses sing thy worth?
What needs, thy memory be prais'd?
Or what needs Art, thy fame set forth?
Let Art, time, gold, the Muse, and Men,
Guild falshood, folly, ignorance:
Let them conspire gainst thee; and then,
The more they shall thy worth aduance.
They worke, write, raile, or praise to please,
“But Truth giues vertue, life, not these.
THESAVRVS INTVS.
Darius on a Graue-stone foundThis Epitaph: Who digs this ground
Shall treasure finde. The greedy King
Dig'd there, but found another thing.
Within was written; Had'st not been
A beastly-minded man, I ween
The harmelesse bones of the deceast
Had in their quiet tombes tane rest.
Who rips the coffins of the dead,
Finds fame and honour thence are fled
With life, the Subiect of their Ire;
Stench onely stayes to pay their hire.
“Worth hath his Epicedium sung
“By enuies shrill and slandrous tongue.
[When this rich soule of thine (now sainted) kept]
When this rich soule of thine (now sainted) kept
Her State on earth, my humble Muse nere stept
Out of that sweete content wherein shee dwelt,
To sing thy worth, th'effects whereof we felt.
But now since death hath freedome giuen to thee,
To see thy scorne made others flatterie,
And that each mouse on the dead Lyon leaps,
And euery riming pen, forg'd matter heaps
On thy bright frame, casting their owne base durt
Vpon thy honour'd hearse, (minding more hurt
To thee then Death or Hell can doe) I may
And must be bold (or sinne) this truth to say.
Her State on earth, my humble Muse nere stept
To sing thy worth, th'effects whereof we felt.
But now since death hath freedome giuen to thee,
To see thy scorne made others flatterie,
And that each mouse on the dead Lyon leaps,
And euery riming pen, forg'd matter heaps
On thy bright frame, casting their owne base durt
Vpon thy honour'd hearse, (minding more hurt
To thee then Death or Hell can doe) I may
And must be bold (or sinne) this truth to say.
Each euidence thy foes bring, speakes thy praise:
For what can more thy fame and glory raise,
Then to be rail'd on by the worst of men,
Such as like out-lawes liue, not in the ken
Of Iustice, or communitie? Base slaues
Whose crimes & sins make their own nest their graus.
For what can more thy fame and glory raise,
Then to be rail'd on by the worst of men,
Such as like out-lawes liue, not in the ken
Of Iustice, or communitie? Base slaues
Whose crimes & sins make their own nest their graus.
T'was meet thy vertues eminent and hie
Should not vn-enuied liue, vnslandred dye:
For then we might haue fear'd thou had'st not been
So absolute a man; now it is seen
Euen by those many shadowes Enuy throwes,
That thy worth was substantiall, and not showes.
Should not vn-enuied liue, vnslandred dye:
For then we might haue fear'd thou had'st not been
So absolute a man; now it is seen
Euen by those many shadowes Enuy throwes,
That thy worth was substantiall, and not showes.
Detraction is perplext, and flies about
Ouer a world of Acts to single out
Some one or two in thy whole life to scan,
And proue by thē (what Death did) thou wer't man:
Yet seeing that past credit, she descends
To view thy body, and her venom spends
Not against it but nature, which did shroud
So great a sunne vnder so small a cloud.
But we that plainly see men sildome rise
Though they be learn'd, iudicious, daring wise,
Except the body somewhat suites the minde,
And good cloathes sute the body too; are blinde
And mad with enuie if we yeeld not thee
Worth aboue thought, who to that high degree
Rose through the eminent parts of thy blest soule,
Aboue contempt, disgrace, scorne or controule.
Nature did recompence thy want of clay
With heauenly fire; thy body could not stay
Thy actiue soule heere longer, t'was too light
A clog to keepe from Heauen so strong a spright.
Ouer a world of Acts to single out
Some one or two in thy whole life to scan,
And proue by thē (what Death did) thou wer't man:
Yet seeing that past credit, she descends
To view thy body, and her venom spends
Not against it but nature, which did shroud
So great a sunne vnder so small a cloud.
But we that plainly see men sildome rise
Though they be learn'd, iudicious, daring wise,
And good cloathes sute the body too; are blinde
And mad with enuie if we yeeld not thee
Worth aboue thought, who to that high degree
Rose through the eminent parts of thy blest soule,
Aboue contempt, disgrace, scorne or controule.
Nature did recompence thy want of clay
With heauenly fire; thy body could not stay
Thy actiue soule heere longer, t'was too light
A clog to keepe from Heauen so strong a spright.
Well might thy body be a soule to those
Whose more grosse earthen soules did late compose
Blacke libels gainst thy fame, and rak'd so low
Into thy purged excrements to know
What foule disease durst kill thee, and then found
Many were guilty: for it could not sound
They thought like truth, that one disease slue thee
When they hauing all yet scape to Deddick free.
Whose more grosse earthen soules did late compose
Blacke libels gainst thy fame, and rak'd so low
Into thy purged excrements to know
What foule disease durst kill thee, and then found
Many were guilty: for it could not sound
They thought like truth, that one disease slue thee
When they hauing all yet scape to Deddick free.
By this they shew that whatsoe're we thinke,
They know all these diseases by th'instinck,
They are familiar with them and of kin,
To their first causes of being deadly sinne,
And of the elders house too. For the diuell
(Chiefe libeller formes all degrees of euill
And like good boies of his, these labour too
(More then disease, or Death, or Hell can doe)
To kill the soule, and to bely a fame
Which laughes to scorn, all scorn, & shames all shame.
They know all these diseases by th'instinck,
They are familiar with them and of kin,
To their first causes of being deadly sinne,
And of the elders house too. For the diuell
(Chiefe libeller formes all degrees of euill
And like good boies of his, these labour too
(More then disease, or Death, or Hell can doe)
To kill the soule, and to bely a fame
Which laughes to scorn, all scorn, & shames all shame.
You that stand next the helme and thinke y're free
From their sharpe viperous tongues, it cannot be;
If death comes, these Rauens follow, and perchance
(Time fauouring their desires) th'eile leade the dance
And raile at you too. Tis not you they hate
But our blest King, Religion, and the State.
And if (which God forefend) so stood the time
Y'ould see they could do worse, then they can rime.
From their sharpe viperous tongues, it cannot be;
If death comes, these Rauens follow, and perchance
(Time fauouring their desires) th'eile leade the dance
But our blest King, Religion, and the State.
And if (which God forefend) so stood the time
Y'ould see they could do worse, then they can rime.
Now I haue throwne my selfe into the way
To meete their rage, and (if I can) to stay
Their dog-like malice rather on my head
Then suffer it pollute and wrong the dead.
If they alledge I giue him more then due,
You know their custome, they cannot speake true.
But if they say I gaue him lesse, their spite
Shewes neither I nor they can do him right.
To meete their rage, and (if I can) to stay
Their dog-like malice rather on my head
Then suffer it pollute and wrong the dead.
If they alledge I giue him more then due,
You know their custome, they cannot speake true.
But if they say I gaue him lesse, their spite
Shewes neither I nor they can do him right.
OPPORTVNE TIBI INTEMPESTIVE NOBIS.
The Sunne past by degrees those signesWhich to his sotherne seate inclines,
And now in Leo sate aloft.
The sweating labourer bans him oft,
The Shepheard melts, and ore the Plaine
His new shorne-sheepe seeke shades in vaine.
The Marchant, Sea man, euery Trade
They say by him are Banckrupt made.
He heares it and (at height of noone,
Hides his bright beames behinde the Moone.
They sadly know that doth presage
Dearth, death, warre, want to euery age
And then his late wisht absence mone;
“Fooles wisemen misse, when they are gone.
[Since its decreed in heauen, found true on earth]
Since its decreed in heauen, found true on earth,
That all things haue an end which had a birth;
That no estate is fixed, nights follow noone,
Ebs second floods, change fils the horned Moone
Which wanes againe at full, and shewes the glory
Of Earths best essence to be transitory:
How happy is that Man whose fate expires
Before declension crowned with his desires.
And hath his daies by vertuous actions told,
Guessing how much he would had he been old,
Since yong, his noted deeds out-vied his daies
And he lack't not true worth but rather praise.
Few touch this point, yet hither seeme to bend
Preuenting ruine with a violent end.
So Otho, and the Persian Monarch fell,
But this steepe way precipitates to Hell
Flattering with seeming help our wretched state
Not curing woes, but making desperate.
Our way is holy, white, and leades to blisse
Not by oblique attempts. For nature is
Made priuy with our passage, and we stay
Till she leades gently on, Grace making way.
That all things haue an end which had a birth;
Ebs second floods, change fils the horned Moone
Which wanes againe at full, and shewes the glory
Of Earths best essence to be transitory:
How happy is that Man whose fate expires
Before declension crowned with his desires.
And hath his daies by vertuous actions told,
Guessing how much he would had he been old,
Since yong, his noted deeds out-vied his daies
And he lack't not true worth but rather praise.
Few touch this point, yet hither seeme to bend
Preuenting ruine with a violent end.
So Otho, and the Persian Monarch fell,
But this steepe way precipitates to Hell
Flattering with seeming help our wretched state
Not curing woes, but making desperate.
Our way is holy, white, and leades to blisse
Not by oblique attempts. For nature is
Made priuy with our passage, and we stay
Till she leades gently on, Grace making way.
Not euery common President can fit
This golden rule, all aime; but few can hit
This narrow passage which more fames the man,
Then sayling twise through fatall Magelan:
Or girding all the earth with one small bote,
Discouering gold, new worlds, things of rare note.
This golden rule, all aime; but few can hit
This narrow passage which more fames the man,
Then sayling twise through fatall Magelan:
Or girding all the earth with one small bote,
Discouering gold, new worlds, things of rare note.
From hence the ground of thy great praises spring
O Cecill lou'd of God, good men, the King,
Borne vp not by stolne imps or borrowed plumes,
Which lets them fall who with high flight presumes
Neere the suns scorching beames; thy natiue worth,
Vertue, and actiue knowledge, set thee forth
This Kingdomes Pilot, where no storme or stresse
Could make thee lose thy compasse or expresse
[illeg.]shew of doubt, but firmely guide our state
[illeg.]s th'adst beene ruler both of chance and fate.
O Cecill lou'd of God, good men, the King,
Borne vp not by stolne imps or borrowed plumes,
Which lets them fall who with high flight presumes
Neere the suns scorching beames; thy natiue worth,
Vertue, and actiue knowledge, set thee forth
Could make thee lose thy compasse or expresse
[illeg.]shew of doubt, but firmely guide our state
[illeg.]s th'adst beene ruler both of chance and fate.
This well thy Master saw, who therefore plac'd
thee next himselfe, and with high honors grac'd
Thy great deserts: more could'st thou not desire
Nor earth afford, yet that which we admire
Was aboue this, euen in the top of these,
Being neerer heauen thither to mount with ease,
As if th'adst tane th'aduantage of the time
On Greatnesse staires, helpt by good deeds to clime.
thee next himselfe, and with high honors grac'd
Thy great deserts: more could'st thou not desire
Nor earth afford, yet that which we admire
Was aboue this, euen in the top of these,
Being neerer heauen thither to mount with ease,
As if th'adst tane th'aduantage of the time
On Greatnesse staires, helpt by good deeds to clime.
O happy thou, but wretched creatures wee
To see thy flight, and yet to slander thee:
To feele the fruite of thy life wasting care,
Which zealous for our good, no time would spare,
To cherish nature, that we thus being free
Should onely freedome vse to raile at thee.
Our idlenesse proclaimes thy well spent time,
Since by thy meanes we leisure haue to rime,
Whil'st neighbour States are acting it in blood,
Which we scarce heare of, neuer vnderstood.
To see thy flight, and yet to slander thee:
To feele the fruite of thy life wasting care,
Which zealous for our good, no time would spare,
To cherish nature, that we thus being free
Should onely freedome vse to raile at thee.
Our idlenesse proclaimes thy well spent time,
Since by thy meanes we leisure haue to rime,
Whil'st neighbour States are acting it in blood,
Which we scarce heare of, neuer vnderstood.
The benefite the Sunne giues to our sight,
“We see not halfe so well by day as night.
“Want giues a grace to goodnesse, when th'inioying
Confounds and dazells sense like honny cloying.
Rome needes no target till the sword be lost:
Whil'st Nestor wakes, well may Thirsites boast.
Fishers and expert Masters are all one
In calmes and deepes, the ship there goes alone.
But when the winds, seas, rocks, and sands do fight,
The skilfull Master then keepes all vpright.
We feare no stormes the Porpuses do play,
The Dolphins dance, and Proteus flocks do stray
O're Neptunes watry Kingdome safe and free,
None casting doubts, or fearing what may be.
May this calme last perpetuall, and faith then
We ne're shall need thee Cecil nor such men:
Others we haue to fill thy roome thou gone,
So Aristippus saith; stone sits on stone.
“We see not halfe so well by day as night.
“Want giues a grace to goodnesse, when th'inioying
Confounds and dazells sense like honny cloying.
Rome needes no target till the sword be lost:
Whil'st Nestor wakes, well may Thirsites boast.
Fishers and expert Masters are all one
In calmes and deepes, the ship there goes alone.
But when the winds, seas, rocks, and sands do fight,
The skilfull Master then keepes all vpright.
The Dolphins dance, and Proteus flocks do stray
O're Neptunes watry Kingdome safe and free,
None casting doubts, or fearing what may be.
May this calme last perpetuall, and faith then
We ne're shall need thee Cecil nor such men:
Others we haue to fill thy roome thou gone,
So Aristippus saith; stone sits on stone.
We yet are senselesse of thy losse, and find
No danger in't. Like some within the winde
Of a great shot, whose violent thunder driues,
The sense into distraction, and depriues
The eare of present vse: so did report
Of thy death make vs mad to raile and sport,
To temporise, lye, flatter; so defaming
Our selues, state, manners, law, religion shaming:
But now the fit being past, tis plaine to fense
“Though man forbeares Heauen pleads for innocence
“Vertue o'recomes by sufferance, and good deeds
“Are fenc'd by Calumny, as herbes by weeds.
No danger in't. Like some within the winde
Of a great shot, whose violent thunder driues,
The sense into distraction, and depriues
The eare of present vse: so did report
Of thy death make vs mad to raile and sport,
To temporise, lye, flatter; so defaming
Our selues, state, manners, law, religion shaming:
But now the fit being past, tis plaine to fense
“Though man forbeares Heauen pleads for innocence
“Vertue o'recomes by sufferance, and good deeds
“Are fenc'd by Calumny, as herbes by weeds.
BACVLVM TANTVM.
The Cynicke sicke and like to die,To such as askt where he would lie,
Made answere where you will; the field
Is large, and roome enough doth yeeld.
But they reply'de, the fields are wide;
Rauenous beasts and vermine vilde
Haunt those places; Kites and Crowes
Who to dead men no mercy showes.
True (quoth he) but if you please
Lay a staffe to driue hence these.
Tis only man I feare aliue,
From my graue beasts only driue.
“Though (liuing) we haue slaues for dogs,
“Dead w'are rooted vp by hogs.
EPITAPHIVM.
Romes poison, Spaines coplots, the French designesThy skill foresees, discouers, vndermines.
Dog-like they lick'd the dust, crouch't low, and faund,
When (liuing) thy skil'd power did ought command:
But (dead) they madly rage, grin, some for spite;
For toothlesse curres will bark that cannot bite.
TO THE RIGHT WORTHY, Henry Doile, Esquire.
The folly which in man with wit is fixt,Must needes haue pleasant things with wholesome mixt;
Else Nature loath it. Homers frogs aud mise
Instructs Achilles: Virgil is not nice
To tue an Oten pipe. These toyes I send:
Accept; to please, and profit is my end.
SATYRA AVLICA.
Sic paruis componere magna solebam. Virgi.
VVho (weary of contentfull Countries rest)
Repaires to Court, with patience had best
Fore arme himselfe, both Fate and Fortune proofe
'Gainst all assaults, or wisely stand aloofe:
For plainnesse is despisde, and honestie
Is fellow Shakerag with simplicitie.
To be a Scholler, is to be a foole:
Rude impudencie is the Courtiers Schoole.
Arts are but Lackies to attend and waite
On Ignorance, Apparance, and Deceite.
“Vizards haue fairer vizages then men.
To be a Souldier is to be a slaue,
Danger abroad, reproach at home to haue.
Deepe furrow'd wounds fresh bleeding in the wars
Findes lesse reliefe and pittie then the scars
Of muskey Courtiers, when their smooth slicke skin,
Is bramble-scratched with a Ladies pinne.
Nor do they now, (as er'st they did) delight,
The stubborne Steedes to mannage to the fight;
To tilt and turnay with strong staues of oake,
To fight at barriars with a Brandons stroake,
To dance in compleat armour, (but alas!)
To tilt, fight, dance and turnay with a lasse.
The Schollership they vse, is to discourse
Of my Lords bloud-hound, and his Honors horse:
To tell how well the one pursued the chase,
The other swiftly ranne a lustie race.
Or if more high their heauy wits aspire,
It's to dispute of lust, and loose desire.
Their Soulderie is swaggering in the Court,
Where none may strike the vrger but in sport:
To offer strangers, strange and foule disgraces,
Presuming on their priuiledged places,
Which oft-times is repaide them, when they come
Abroad from Court, they'r welcom'd like Iack drum.
Their idle houres, (I meane all houres beside
Their houres to eate, to drinke, drab, sleepe and ride)
They spend at shooue-boord, or at penny pricke,
At dice, cards, tennis; or they will not sticke
Rather then not be idle, to delay
At shittle-cocke the precious time away.
From your effeminate slow cowardise.
Haue you no Soules? no pens? no swords in hand?
Behold where cursed Mæhomet doth stand,
Triumphing o're the Crosse; he Iew beside
And Heathen do our holy faith deride.
For shame vnsheath your swords, let not reproch
You sluggish ease is forraine kingdomes broch.
Cast painted Puppets from your yeelding neckes
And scorne to stoope when the stale Strumpet beckes:
Let stallians serue to squench the scorching heate
Of such as marrow, oysters, Ringoes, eate.
You that are Scholers, souldiers, or such men
Whose soules seeke knowledge, flee this shady den
Of ignorance; let thither none resort
But Taylors, Bauds, Perfumers, fooles for sport,
Cookes, Painters, Barbers, Fidlers; these may hap
To sleepe in fortunes net, and honors lap.
In honors lap? auaunt base dunghell groomes
You are but shadowes: honors lofty roomes
Must be supplide with men. Though Isis Asse
Thinke men adore his greatnesse as they passe.
Yet Isis knowes tis false; then hence be gon
And let desert be honored alone.
Fortune vsurpe no more, permit not fooles
To triumph ouer Souldiers, Arts, and Schooles.
Let not the wit for higher actions able,
Attend for scraps at Jgnoramus table.
Faire Cynthia fill thy horne, at length arise
And chase these blacke clouds from our troubled skies
AN IRISH BANQVET, OR THE Mayors feast of Youghall.
Tales many haue been told by men of yore,
Of Giants, Dragons, and of halfe a score
Worthies saue one, of Castles, kings and knights,
Of Ladies loues, of Turnaies, and such sights
As Mandeuile ne're saw; yet none like this
Which my Muse howles: then listen what it is.
Of Giants, Dragons, and of halfe a score
Worthies saue one, of Castles, kings and knights,
Of Ladies loues, of Turnaies, and such sights
As Mandeuile ne're saw; yet none like this
Which my Muse howles: then listen what it is.
Saturne grew old, and the gods did agree,
That Ioue should him depriue of Soueraigntie,
And become chiefe himselfe. A solemne day
Appointed was, when all the Gods most gay,
Attired in mantles faire, and truses strange,
Came to behold this Lecher-like lou'd change.
The frie of all the Gods was there beside,
And each his bastard had, his Whore and Bride.
The milk-white path which to Ioues Pallace leades,
In comely order all this rich troope treades.
Ceres threw wheate vpon Ioues face most daintie,
Presaging and forespeaking future plenty.
The well-instructed swine did follow after,
And for the wheat left something that was softer,
Ciuet, like Irish sope. Sweete naturde beasts,
Fit waiters at such ciuill solemne feasts.
At length the traine reach't the high Hall of Ioue.
The Gods sat downe, the Goddesses then stroue
For place and state: but Iuno most demurely,
Plac'de and displac'de that day, as pleasde her surely,
The tables stood full crownde with dainty dishes,
Enough to satisfie the idle wishes
Of longing Wiues, or Maids grown green and sickly,
With eating fruit, and doing nothing quickly.
Huge hands of butter not yet fully blue,
With quiuering custards of a doubtfull hue.
Stewde prune, and bread that passeth Malahane.
And honny sweeter farre then sugar cane.
Greene apples and such plenty of small Nuts.
That therewith safely one might fill his guts,
Though he were sure the Cookes were Irish sluts.
The goblets sweld with pride, themselues to see,
So full of French and Spanish wines to be.
Nectar-like Vsqua-bath, or Aqua-vitæ,
And browne Ale growne in yeeres and strength most mighty
Was there as plentifull a Bonniclabbar,
That euery guest his cleane lickt lips might slabbar
In full satiety, till they were crownde
With Bacchus wreathes, and in still slumber drownde.
The fidling Spheeres made musicke all the while
And riming Bardes braue meeter did compile
To grace this feast: when Phœbus standing vp
Tooke in his greasie fist a greasier cup
And drunke to Daphnes health. Bacchus replide
And straightway quaft another to the bride
Of Mulciber. This health past all along.
Then Mars his feather wagde amongst the throng
Carowsing Pallas health (braue wench and wise)
Which draught cost bonny Cupid both his eyes,
Straining to pledge it. Maias sonne stood still,
And stilly mark't how Ganimed did fill
The seuerall healths, which swiftly past around
Till all the Gods, and Goddesses had bound
Their browes with wreathes of Iuy leaues and vines,
And each his forehead to his knee enclines.
Apollo then slipt thence, and being halfe drunke
His burning bonnet doft, and slily sunke
His head in Thetis lap. So heauen lost light,
And cheerefull day was damp't with irksome night.
Ioue yet disposde to mirth, bad Iuno spread
Her Starry mantle or'e the worlds blacke head.
But she inrag'de with plumpe Lyeus iuice,
And mad with iealousie, without excuse
Refusde to guild the then vnspangled skie,
With th'eyes of Argus her cow-keeping spie.
And aided by Necessitie, and Fate,
And all the shrewder Goddesses, Ioues state
She durst assume, and boldly presse as farre
As all the Gyants in their ciuill warre.
They first bound Ioue, then all the other Gods,
Who were constrain'd by darknes, drinke, and th'ods
Of this conspiracie, to condescend
To hard conditions for a quiet end.
Ioue granted Iuno power of all the ayre,
Her frowne or smile makes weather fowle or faire.
His thunderbolts and lightning she may take,
And with her tongue the worlds firmes axtree shake.
From hence do women their free charter hold,
To rule gainst reason, or else cry and scold.
Proserpina obtained of her Pluto,
That such should only speed, who she-saints sue to:
That all affaires of man in state or purse
His wife should sway, or women that are worse.
From whence this custome springs in towne and city,
The wife growes rich, the bankerout begs for pitty.
Venus got leaue to lie with all that loue her.
And that no sawcy god should once reproue her:
That Mars and she might dally, whil'st Don Vulcan
Should freely to their pleasures drinke a full can.
Frō whence this vse proceeds, that wiues once wātons
Wage seruants, as the French the Swizzers Cantons.
You that are Statists looke vnto this geare,
Do not Tyrone and his rash striplings feare;
Feare not Tirconnel, nor those Galliglasses
That cut, and hacke, and carue men as it passes:
Feare those which all these feare, those fathers holy
Which make the whole world their sole monopoly:
That crowne & vncrowne Kings, when as they please,
Play fast and loose like Iuglers with slight ease;
Dissolue all othes, though made with hand and heart,
those they ioyne with, lest too late
We finde our Ile an Amazonian state,
Where none but women, Priests and Cocknies keepe
As close as young Papirius, and as deepe,
And none but these state mysteries may know,
Lest they to more fooles then themselues should show
The treasons, stratagems, and golden fables
Which are proiected at their Councell tables.
If this aduice be good, crie, Ioue be thanked,
And with that short grace close my Irish banquet,
That Ioue should him depriue of Soueraigntie,
And become chiefe himselfe. A solemne day
Appointed was, when all the Gods most gay,
Attired in mantles faire, and truses strange,
Came to behold this Lecher-like lou'd change.
The frie of all the Gods was there beside,
And each his bastard had, his Whore and Bride.
The milk-white path which to Ioues Pallace leades,
In comely order all this rich troope treades.
Ceres threw wheate vpon Ioues face most daintie,
Presaging and forespeaking future plenty.
The well-instructed swine did follow after,
And for the wheat left something that was softer,
Ciuet, like Irish sope. Sweete naturde beasts,
Fit waiters at such ciuill solemne feasts.
At length the traine reach't the high Hall of Ioue.
The Gods sat downe, the Goddesses then stroue
For place and state: but Iuno most demurely,
Plac'de and displac'de that day, as pleasde her surely,
Enough to satisfie the idle wishes
Of longing Wiues, or Maids grown green and sickly,
With eating fruit, and doing nothing quickly.
Huge hands of butter not yet fully blue,
With quiuering custards of a doubtfull hue.
Stewde prune, and bread that passeth Malahane.
And honny sweeter farre then sugar cane.
Greene apples and such plenty of small Nuts.
That therewith safely one might fill his guts,
Though he were sure the Cookes were Irish sluts.
The goblets sweld with pride, themselues to see,
So full of French and Spanish wines to be.
Nectar-like Vsqua-bath, or Aqua-vitæ,
And browne Ale growne in yeeres and strength most mighty
Was there as plentifull a Bonniclabbar,
That euery guest his cleane lickt lips might slabbar
In full satiety, till they were crownde
With Bacchus wreathes, and in still slumber drownde.
The fidling Spheeres made musicke all the while
And riming Bardes braue meeter did compile
To grace this feast: when Phœbus standing vp
Tooke in his greasie fist a greasier cup
And drunke to Daphnes health. Bacchus replide
And straightway quaft another to the bride
Of Mulciber. This health past all along.
Then Mars his feather wagde amongst the throng
Carowsing Pallas health (braue wench and wise)
Which draught cost bonny Cupid both his eyes,
Straining to pledge it. Maias sonne stood still,
And stilly mark't how Ganimed did fill
The seuerall healths, which swiftly past around
Their browes with wreathes of Iuy leaues and vines,
And each his forehead to his knee enclines.
Apollo then slipt thence, and being halfe drunke
His burning bonnet doft, and slily sunke
His head in Thetis lap. So heauen lost light,
And cheerefull day was damp't with irksome night.
Ioue yet disposde to mirth, bad Iuno spread
Her Starry mantle or'e the worlds blacke head.
But she inrag'de with plumpe Lyeus iuice,
And mad with iealousie, without excuse
Refusde to guild the then vnspangled skie,
With th'eyes of Argus her cow-keeping spie.
And aided by Necessitie, and Fate,
And all the shrewder Goddesses, Ioues state
She durst assume, and boldly presse as farre
As all the Gyants in their ciuill warre.
They first bound Ioue, then all the other Gods,
Who were constrain'd by darknes, drinke, and th'ods
Of this conspiracie, to condescend
To hard conditions for a quiet end.
Ioue granted Iuno power of all the ayre,
Her frowne or smile makes weather fowle or faire.
His thunderbolts and lightning she may take,
And with her tongue the worlds firmes axtree shake.
From hence do women their free charter hold,
To rule gainst reason, or else cry and scold.
Proserpina obtained of her Pluto,
That such should only speed, who she-saints sue to:
That all affaires of man in state or purse
His wife should sway, or women that are worse.
From whence this custome springs in towne and city,
Venus got leaue to lie with all that loue her.
And that no sawcy god should once reproue her:
That Mars and she might dally, whil'st Don Vulcan
Should freely to their pleasures drinke a full can.
Frō whence this vse proceeds, that wiues once wātons
Wage seruants, as the French the Swizzers Cantons.
You that are Statists looke vnto this geare,
Do not Tyrone and his rash striplings feare;
Feare not Tirconnel, nor those Galliglasses
That cut, and hacke, and carue men as it passes:
Feare those which all these feare, those fathers holy
Which make the whole world their sole monopoly:
That crowne & vncrowne Kings, when as they please,
Play fast and loose like Iuglers with slight ease;
Dissolue all othes, though made with hand and heart,
those they ioyne with, lest too late
We finde our Ile an Amazonian state,
Where none but women, Priests and Cocknies keepe
As close as young Papirius, and as deepe,
And none but these state mysteries may know,
Lest they to more fooles then themselues should show
The treasons, stratagems, and golden fables
Which are proiected at their Councell tables.
If this aduice be good, crie, Ioue be thanked,
And with that short grace close my Irish banquet,
To all those Knights, Ladies, and Gentlemen, to whom my Dedications are made, a true reason and excuse why I haue not placed them in their rankes and distances.
If any of you now be discontented,To haue your names found here, it is repented
On my part too: for I would no man wrong
Nor honour, but for merit in my song.
If here yon finde your vertues be not proude,
But thinke you are by me and truth allowde
To weare Fames liuery, which if y'abuse,
Shee'l soone pull off againe; and as you vse
To deale with your euill seruants, put ye forth
Naked of honour, if you be of worth:
But whilst you be what now I know and write,
Your fames guard me, and I giue you your right;
Yet not in place, for I my selfe professe
To be no Harold; but if worthinesse
Had as much power, as many hath, to grace,
You should not (hauing so much worth) want place.
FINIS.
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