 | Works of John Taylor the Water Poet not included in the folio volume of 1630 |  |
TRVTH'S TRIUMPH:
OR, Old Miracles newly revived in the Gracious preservation of our Soveraigne Lord the King.
------ Miranda canunt, sed vix credenda Poëtæ.
1
How (out of Nothing) He did All Create:
Made man, True, Holy, Just, who (fowlely) fell
And God Redeem'd him from sin, death, and hell:
His Miracles of Judgment, fearefull, rare,
His Miracles of Mercy Mighty are;
Which makes my Muse this Miracle to Sing
How graciously God hath preserv'd my King.
The Ravens fed Elias in his need,
And Hungry Daniel, Abacuck did feed,
The Meale and Oyle, did every day encrease
In Rich Aboundance, till the Dearth did cease,
King David, oftentimes to flee was forc'd,
And (like a Partridge or'e the Mountaines Cours'd,
Th'Almighty still being their Great defence,
Sav'de them from Famine, Sword, and Pestilence,
And as these Miracles long Since were done,
Yet God hath Lately shewed a Gracious one,
3
Else he had Ruin'd beene, or downe beene Trod.
For when Rebellion had the Land or'espread,
And that the foot durst kicke against the Head;
When each Fox had a Hole, each Bird a Nest
And He no place his Royall Head to Rest;
Depriv'd of Houses, Castles, Townes and Fortes,
Of Shipping, Ammunition, Havens, and Portes,
Of Powder, Shot, Guns, Pikes, onely one Sword
Was Left him, which is Gods Eternall Word;
Besides all this, his Magazins, his Tower,
His Meanes, Rents, Customes, Ravish'd from his power,
All his Revenues stopp'd, his Aides all staid,
His Friends, and faithfull Subjects pris'ners laid,
Or Banish'd, or undone, both they and theirs
Whil'st Povertie's their Portions, and their Heires.
His Antient Servants, (like poore sheepe forlorne)
Despis'd and Look'd on with the Eyes of Scorne,
Because they could not, or would not Maintaine.
Disloyall warre against their Soveraigne.
Nay more, His Gracious Queene (that Royall shee)
Was for Her safety forc'd perforce to flee;
What Wickednesse Could worse be Hatched then
When He, that is the onely man of men,
And She, the Woman for Her Vertues wonderd,
So woefully should be divorc'd and sunderd.
He whose Integritie's Admir'd Approv'd,
She who deserves of all to be belov'de,
A Blessed fruitfull Mother, and Thereby
Her issue may the whole world dignify.
He, should my pen presume his praise to write
'Twere like a Taper to give Phœbus Light;
4
In whom the Goddesses and Graces Dwell,
In heart Heroicke, like the Thund'rers Bride,
Like Citherea, She is Beautifide,
Magnanimous, Like Ioves Brave Braine-Borne Girle
In State and Minde of Maiesty the pearle.
This Matchles Paire (with whom none may compare)
By Rude, unruly Rebels sundred were.
Their onely faults are, they are both too good
For such as have their Goodnes thus withstood.
A Milde Iosias will not serve their Turne,
But Gracelesse they against his Mildnesse Spurne:
A Nero, or an Heliogabalus
Were fitter far, for Such as wrong'd him thus.
His Blessed Raigne (from Cruelty exempt)
Requited with disloyall Curst Contempt,
Traduc'd in Pulpits, and in printed Lies,
Abus'd with needlesse seares, and Jealousies;
Tax'd, he would beare an Arbitrary sway,
And turne Religion to the Romish way:
In Conventicles, Sermons, Drinking, Walking,
Or in discourse, Treason was safest talking.
Besides all this (to all true Subjects Griefe)
His never Broken Word gain'd no Beliefe,
His Vowes, and Protestations, firme and Just
(Which I account High Treason to distrust)
All unbeleev'd, Misconstred, wrongly wreasted
By false Surmise of men, Disloyall Breasted.
No faith was Left 'em, doubtfull diffidence,
Had Banish'd all Beleife, and confidence;
God and the King, were both us'd in one fashion,
The Creed was thrust out of the Congregation:
5
They neither would beleeve God, or the King.
For if they thought there were a God indeed,
They then would know damnation is decreed
In Scripture, for Resisting powers ordayn'd
By God, which should be honour'd and maintain'd.
It is a Maxime, hath beene alwaies held,
The Protestant Religion ne're Rebell'd:
Their Doctrine teaches humbly to obey,
And, Whatsoever Seperatists can say,
It plaine Appeares, they are not Protestants
That ('gainst their King) uncivill Warres Advance.
Thus did new Englands Sects Strive Impiously,
To turne old England to an Anarchy.
Thus was my Gracious Leige of all Bereft,
And (in the world's opinion) little left;
Then was he Rich in God, Then had he most,
Th'Almighty Rais'd for him a mighty Hoste,
Brave Armes, and Armies, in his Cause to fight,
And set faithes true Defender in his Right.
With Hope and Confidence hee's armed still,
And humbly waites upon his makers will:
With these he hath oppos'd false fortunes frownes,
With these he hath Recover'd Strength and Townes,
With these he hath got mony (warres strong nerves)
With these Hee's serv'd because his God he serves.
With these his Magnanimity hath won
Triumphant Honours, that shall ne're be done.
But Beyond Time his fame shall ever last,
And he in blest Eternity be plac'd.
All praise to thee, Eternall King of Kings,
That coveredst Him with thy protectious wings
6
My Soveraignes Safety All Consists in Thee.
When as Assiria's King, (or th'Aramite)
'Gainst Israel came, with Numbers Infinite,
The Man of God (Elisha) did disclose
The plots and purposes of Israel's foes.
In Dothan then the Prophet did Reside,
And Aram did a Mighty Host provide,
And Seidg'd that Towne, (with terror much dismaid)
Elishaes Servant also was afraid:
Alas Master, How shall we do said He,
The Prophet said, feare not, for with us be
More then with them; Then did the Prophet pray
His mans Mindes Blindnesse might be tooke away,
And presently Such Sight did Him Inspire
He saw his Master Compast Round with fire,
And all the Mountaine full of wondrous forces
Of Heavenly Soldiers, Charets, men and Horses.
Elishaes Prayer did such favour find
That all the Aramites were Strait Strooke Blind
And so Captiv'd, their mighty Host did bring
Into Samaria, unto Israells King.
Againe the Prophet praid unto the Lord,
And presently their Sights were all Restor'd,
With feare, they saw themselves environd Round,
By those, whom they had purpos'd to Confound.
Th'Assirians Being in this piteous plight,
Quoth Israel's King (twice) Father, shall I Smite,
The Prophet Answerd, I say Smite them not,
Those with the sword whom thou hast Captive Got;
Although they're foes they're men, opprest with greif,
Give Bread and Water to 'em, for Releife.
7
And (on his foes did much compassion take,
He fed them, and in peace he sent them back
Who came to be his Ruin and his Wrack.
So, thus th'Almighty pleased his foes to tame,
And Arams Bands no more to Israell came.
Thus unto Israel was deliverance given,
Miraculously by the hand of Heaven.
When Ammon Joynd with Moab, and Mount Seir,
Good King Jehosophat to overbear.
With Multitudes of Horse, and men of war,
So that all Humane Hope, and Helpe was far.
God then a Prophet rais'd who truly said,
Stand Still Jehosaphat, be not dismaid,
Behold the Lords Salvation, he hath spoak,
The feild is thine, thou shalt not strike a stroake.
Strait the mistakeing Ammonite (pell mell)
Together by the Eares with Moab fell,
Each, thought the other Judah's force to be
In Bloudy Battaile deadly blows did flee.
At last Mount Seir, (or th'warlike Edomite)
Came in, and on them both, Renew'd the fight;
The slaughter was so Great, that death was Cloyd,
And thus Gods foes, themselves, themselves destroyed.
Thus whilest they did each other overthrow,
The King had victory and strooke no blow.
My application of all this, is this,
That God that ever was, for ever Is,
He sav'd Samaria from the Aramites,
And Just Jehosaphat from Ammonites,
And from th'Incestuous brood of Moabites,
And Esaus Rough-haird seed, the Edomites.
8
And he doth know, King Charles his heart is right.
By Miracles of old 'tis Manifest,
Th'Almighty hath his wondrous power exprest;
And Sure, the Miracle, God shew'd of late
Is Admirable, Loving, Gracious, Great.
The Kings own Subjects, His own servants too
Pay'd, and gave Ayd, their Soveraigne to undo:
With His own Weapons, Armes, and every thing.
They, (in the Kings Name) warr against the King.
Then, in that Low, unworthy exigent
The Powerfull hand of the Omnipotent
Raised him againe, to beat Rebellion downe,
And to regaine againe, (in peace) his owne.
When (like to Aram) our Blind Separatists
Have Clear'd their Blear'd Eyes from Erroneous Mists,
The Nose-wife Brownist Grauely doth begin
To see the foolerie he hath liv'd in,
The Anabaptist likewise hath found out
How he hath gone the furthest way about.
The Papist (as I hope) is quite past Hope
That England shall be pester'd with the Pope,
And every Idle Sect discountenanc'd,
And onely Protestants true faith advanc'd,
This God by Miracle for us hath don,
And England Hath it's ancient glory Won.
Prophetically true, I hope these Lines
Of mine will prove, for (as my Soule divines)
The Lord these things to passe will shortly bring,
And God, for ever Blesse and Save the King.
FINIS.
| Works of John Taylor the Water Poet not included in the folio volume of 1630 | |