University of Virginia Library

SONNETS Vpon THE LATE MIRACVLOVS PEACE IN FRANCE.

TO THE MOST HONORABLE, LEARNED, and religious Gentleman, Master Anthony Bacone.

Bound by your Bounty and mine owne desire,
To tender still new tribute of my zeale
To you (your Countries watchfull Sentinel,
Whose wisedome, ours and other States admire)
Lo, here I tune vpon mine humble Lyre
Our neighbour Kingdomes vn-expected weale,
Through suddain ceasing of Warrs enter-deale;
As Celtike Muses to my Muse inspire,
Miraculous the Work; and so his wit
That firstly sung this sacred Miracle:
A gratious Theame (if I dis-grace not it)
That your graue eyes may daigne for spectacle.
What e'r it be, accept it as a due
From him whose all doth all belong to You.

TO THE FRENCH KING, Henry the fourth.

Sonnet 1.

[Henry, triumphant though thou wert in war]

Henry , triumphant though thou wert in war,
Though Fate and Fortitude conspir'd thy glory,
Though thy least Conflicts well deserue a Story;
Though Mars his fame by thine be dark'ned far;
Though from thy Cradle (Infant Conquerer)
Thy martiall proofs haue dimm'd Alcides praise;
And though with Garlands of victorious Bayes
Thy Royall temples richly crowned are:
Yet (matchless Prince) nought hast thou wrought so glorious
As this vn-lookt-for, happy Peace admired;
Whereby thy self art of thy self victorious:
For, while thou might'st the worlds Throne haue aspired,
Thou by this Peace thy war-like hart hast tamed:
What greater conquest could there then be named?

Sonnet 2.

[But what new Sunne doth now adorne our Land]

But what new Sunne doth now adorne our Land,
And giues our skie so smooth and smiling cheer?
For, 'tis not Phœbus; els his golden brand
Shines brighter now then 't hath don many a yeer.
Sweet Angel-beauty (sacred Peace) Heav'ns present;
Is't not the Rising of thy new-com starr,
Which makes the Air more clear, the spring more pleasant,
Zephyre more calm, and Flora merrier?
Ah, I perceiue the Oliue, Doue, and Bowe,
Divine presages that the Flood abates
(The dismal flood where blood and tears did flowe)
And Ianus now locks-vp his Temple gates:
Iustice and Faith doo kindly kisse each other:
And Mars, appeas'd, sits down by Cupids Mother.

Sonnet 3.

[Fair fruitfull Daughter of th'Omnipotent]

Fair fruitfull Daughter of th'Omnipotent,
Great Vmpire that doost either World sustain,
Without whose help all would return again
(Like hidious Chaos) to confusion bent.
O Mother of the liuing, second Nature
Of th'Elements (Fire, Water, Earth, and Air)
O Grace (whereby men climbe the heavenly stair)
Whence void, this world harbours no happy creature.
Pillar of Lawes, Religious pedestall,
Hope of the godly, glory of th'Immortall;
Honour of Cities, Pearl of Kingdoms all;
Thou Nurse of Vertues, Muses chief supportall;
Patron of Arts, of Good the speciall spring:
All hail (deer Peace) which vs all heale doost bring.

Sonnet 4.

[Com forth (deer France) from thy dark Cell of mone]

Com forth (deer France) from thy dark Cell of mone,
Com (as new-born) from Warrs vnkindly quarrels:
Turn tragick Cypresse to triumphant Laurels;
Change black to green, and make thy Graue a Throne.
Let Ceres dwell vpon thy Desart Plain,
Bacchus, and Dian, on thy Hills and Groues,
Pomona in Gardens, Pan among thy Droues,
Secure all Roades, and ope all Gates again.
Resume (O Cities) Rule and Reuerence;
Revest (yee States) your Robes of dignitie;
Rise-vp (yee Ruines) in fair Battlements;
Com Muses, Pallas, Themis, Mercury,
Restore vs Lawes, Learning, and Arts, and Trade:
And let our Age, a golden Age be made.

Sonnet 5.

[Most Christian Kingdom, thou wert ne're so near]

Most Christian Kingdom, thou wert ne're so near
Drown'd in the deep Gulphes of thy Ciuill warre,
As in the tempest of this later Iar,
Which past conceit of calming did appear.
When all the windes aduersly armed were,
(Though selfly-foes, yet friends to work thy wrack)
Thy Ship a helm, thy self a heart didst lack,
On troubled waters tossed here and there:
Then from aboue (O bounty most admired!)
Saint Hermes shin'd: whose gentle light presageth
That then the anger of the Heav'ns asswageth.
O happy Peace! lesse hoped then desired:
O grace much honour'd! little yet conceiv'd;
O blessed guile, that thus our sense deceiv'd!

Sonnet 6.

[Who could expect (but past all expectation)]

Who could expect (but past all expectation)
So suddain order, from so sad confusion?
So loyall friendship, from false emulation;
So firm possession, from so fierce intrusion?
Who could expect (but past all likelyhood)
From such a storm, such and so sweet a calme;
From France her cinders, such a Phœnix-brood;
Pandoras box to yeeld so rare a balme?
Who could expect (but past all humane thought)
So frank a freedom from a thrall so late,
Or certain Rudder of so rent a State?
True Æsculapius, thou alone hast wrought
This Miracle, not on Hyppolitus,
But on this Kingdom, much more wonderous.

Sonnet 7.

[Th'vnlookt-for working of all things almost]

Th'vnlookt-for working of all things almost,
Inconstant-constant, in succession strange,
Amazeth those whose wits we chiefly boast,
To see this suddain vn-expected change.
Each feels th'effect, but none the cause descries
(No though he haue with starrs intelligence):
God to himself reserues such Mysteries,
Disposing Kingdoms by his Prouidence,
O end-less Bounty! In the midst of Broyles
He giues vs Peace, when Warr did vs inflame;
And reaues the mischiefe we pursu'd yer-whiles:
But, this doth most extoll his glorious Name,
That when most sharply this extreamest Fit
Stroue to be cure-less, soon he cured it.

Sonnet 8.

[Som reasoned thus; No violence can last]

Som reasoned thus; No violence can last:
Revolted Subiects, of themselues will quail:
Iust Soueraignty can never be displac't;
And lawfull Princes first or last preuail:
But who could think, that the conioyned powers
Of Spain and Rome, with an exceeding number
Of rebell Cities, and false States of ours,
So weak a King so little should encumber?
Others discoursed in another sort,
While all things sorted to another end
Then their imaginations did purport:
That earth may knowe, it cannot comprehend
The secret depths of Iudgements all-divine,
No: there's no ground, beginning, midst, nor fine.

Sonnet 9.

[Admire we onely Gods Omni-potence]

Admire we onely Gods Omni-potence,
His deep-deep Wisedom, and his Mercy deer.
For, with these three, he hath surmounted heer
Our hatefull foes, our hopes, and all our sense:
His power appears vpon our Lord and King,
As yerst on Dauid: for, they both attain
By war-like broyls their preappointed Raigne;
Strangers, and subiects, and selues conquering:
His prudence shines, when to preserue vs thus,
All humane wit his wisedom doth convince:
His gracious bounty in our bountious Prince.
O various wonders! mel delicious
Flowes from a living Lion, Mars is quiet,
Valour relenting, Conquest void of ryot.

Sonnet 10.

[This was no action of a humane hand]

This was no action of a humane hand,
But th'only work of the great Thunderer,
Who (wise-directing all the things that are)
In vs divinely works his owne command.
Som men, vnwilling, benefit their Land,
Or vn-awares their Countries good preferr;
Another motions Peace, but mindeth Warr,
And Peace succeeds what-ever drifts withstand.
Th'Arch-Architect, the matchless Artizan
All instruments vnto good vses prooues:
Man's but a wheel, which that great Moover moues;
Each gracious gift in that first cause began:
Each good's a gleam of that first light alone,
If Ill approach vs, onely that's our owne.

Sonnet 11.

[If God dart lightning, soon he deaws down rain]

If God dart lightning, soon he deaws down rain;
A dreadfull Iudge, and yet a gentle Father:
Whose wrath slowe-kindled is soon quencht again,
To moue vs sinners to repent the rather.
'Gainst Hel-bred Hydra, Heav'n-born Theseus brings
The great Alcides arm and armory:
Of greatest Ill, a greater Good there springs;
And Mercy still doth Rigour qualifie.
Ah France, so many Monsters to suppresse,
Thou hadst great need of Royall fortitude,
Els had'st thou been an Africk Wildernes.
O happy lost Realm! for, it hath ensude,
That now thy gain is more, in restauration,
Then was thy losse in all thy desolation.

Sonnet 12.

[But, if I sing great Henries fortitude]

But, if I sing great Henries fortitude;
Shall I not then be blam'd for ouer-daring?
If ouer-slip it, then be taxt for fearing,
Of silent dread, and dumb ingratitude?
What e're befall, my youth-bold thoughts conclude
(Like Icarus) my nimble Muse to raise:
And if I fall in such a Sea of praise,
What rarer Mausole may my bones include?
A sacred rage of som sweet-furious flame,
Will-nill-I, rapts me boldly to rehearse
Great Henries Tropheis, and his glorious name.
Then roule thou Torrent of my tender verse:
Though his high Theam deserue a consort rather
Of all the Muses, and all musikes Father.

Sonnet 13.

[Great Prince, not pleas'd with a vain vertue-seeming]

Great Prince, not pleas'd with a vain vertue-seeming:
Great Victor, prone to pardon humblenes,
Happy, all Hap Heav'ns onely gift esteeming;
Warriour, whose warrs haue wrought his Countries Peace:
Noble by deeds, and noble by descent;
Ancient Achilles, youthfull Nestor sage,
Whose ripe-experienç't courage confident,
To knocks knits counsail, and giues rule to rage.
As hard in toyle, as in compassion soft:
Inur'd to that, by nature born to this;
Who sheds no blood, but sheddeth tears as oft,
Who neuer fights but still the Field is his.
So like to Mars, that both in loues and wars,
Bellona and Venus take him still for Mars.

Sonnet 14.

[A spirit, to vertues cheerfully addrest]

A spirit, to vertues cheerfully addrest;
Apt to all goodnes, to no ill inclin'd;
Quick to conceiue, ingenious to digest;
Whose tongue is still true trumpet of the minde:
A body, resting when it hath no rest;
A waxen mildnes in a steely minde;
A soule tra-lucent in an open brest,
Which others thoughts through boany wals can finde;
Whose front reflects maiestical-humility,
Whose graue-sweet look commandingly-intreats,
Which in one instant fear and loue begets:
A King still warring to obtain tranquillity,
To saue his Country scorning thousand dangers;
Mirror of Fraunce, and miracle of Strangers.

Sonnet 15.

[If that, before thee fall rebellious Towers]

If that, before thee fall rebellious Towers,
If battered Walls, before thy Souldiers, loofe;
If hugest Rocks be pearced by thy powers;
If 'gainst thine Armes, no armour be of proof:
If that our fields flowe with Iberian blood,
If that thy Camp compos'd of many a Cæsar
Can by no dismall dangers be withstood;
Iousting with Gyants, as it were at pleasure:
If lofty Mountains to thine homage vail;
If valleys rise to bulwarke thee about;
If for thy sake, riuers doo flowe and fail;
'Twas neither Canons, nor our conflicts stout,
Nor strength, nor stomack got these victories:
No, 'twas thy presence (Henry) and thine eyes.

Sonnet 16.

[They be too blame then, that thy boldness blame]

They be too blame then, that thy boldness blame,
For hauing put thy self so oft in danger:
Sith against Rebels and against the Stranger,
Thy looks, like lightning, did thy Troops inflame.
Fraunce fought before, all bloody, faint, and lame,
Crauing thine aid to venge her hatefull wrong;
When, like a Lion to preserue her yong
Thou layd'st about thee to redeeme the same.
Then hadst thou cause to hazard so thy life
(In extream perils, extream remedies.)
But spare thee now, thy State is free from strife:
Soueraign, our safety in thy safety lies.
Codrus could keep his, onely by his death:
Thou thine, alone by thine owne liuing breath.

Sonnet 17.

[What wreath were worthy to becom thy Crown]

What wreath were worthy to becom thy Crown,
What Carr-Triumphant equall with thy worth,
What marble statue meet for thy renown,
Thou that hast rais'd the Lilly of the earth?
What honorable Title of Addition
Dost thou deserue, who (ioyning might with mildnes)
Hast sav'd this great Ship from a sad perdition,
Nigh lost in th'Ocean of warrs ciuill wildnes?
O modern Hercules (thy Countries Father)
Hope not of vs thy iust deserued meed:
Earth is too-base, in Heav'n expect it rather.
Our Laurels are too-pale to crown thy deed,
Who thus hast salv'd the vniuersall Ball:
For, th'hnalth of Fraunce imports the health of all.

Sonnet 18.

[Pardon me (Henry) if Heav'ns siluer raine]

Pardon me (Henry) if Heav'ns siluer raine,
Dewing thy pearles, impearle mine humble Laies:
And if my verse (void both of price and paine)
Presume thy Vertues passing-price to praise:
Pardon (great King) if that mine Infant Muse
Stutter thy name; and if with skill too scant
Ilimne thee here, let zeale my crime excuse;
My steel's attracted by thine Adamant.
For, as the Sunne, although he do reflect
His golden Rayes on grosser Elements,
Doth neuer spot his beautifull aspect:
So, though the praises of thine Excellence
Doo brightly glister in my gloomy stile,
They nothing lose of their first grace the while.

Sonnet 19.

[Now, sith as well by conquest as succession]

Now, sith as well by conquest as succession
France is thine owne; O keep it still therefore.
'Tis much to conquer: but, to keep possession
Is full as much, and if it be not more.
Who well would keep so plentifull a portion,
Must stablish first the heauenly Discipline;
Then humane Lawes, restraining all extortion;
And Princely wealth with publike weale combine.
A Princes safety lies in louing People:
His Fort is Iustice (free from Stratagem)
Without the which strong Cittadels are feeble.
The Subiects loue is wonne by louing them:
Of louing them, n'oppression is the triall:
And no oppression makes them euer loyall.

Sonnet 20.

[Bold Martialists, braue Imps of noble birth]

Bold Martialists, braue Imps of noble birth,
Shining in steele for France, and for your King:
Ye Sons of those that heretofore did bring
Beneath their yoake the pride of all the earth.
It is an honour to be high-descended;
But more, t'haue kept ones Country and fidelitie.
For, our owne vertues make vs most commended:
And Truth's the title of all true Nobility.
Your shoulders shoar'd vp France (euen like to fall)
You were her Atlas; Henry, Hercules:
And but for you, her shock had shaken All;
But now she stands stedfast on Ciuill Peace:
Wherefore, if yet your war-like heat doo work,
With holy Armes goe hunt the hatefull Turk.

Sonnet 21.

[But you that vaunt your antike Pedigrees]

But you that vaunt your antike Pedigrees,
So stately timbring your surcharged shields,
Perking (like Pines aboue the lower Trees)
Ouer the Farmers of your neighbour fields;
Is't lack of loue, or is it lack of courage,
That holds you (Snaile-like) creeping in your houses,
While ouer all your Countries Foes doo forrage,
And rebell out-rage euery corner rouses?
If no example of your Ancesters,
Nor present instance of bright-armed Lords,
The feeble Temper of your stomack stirres,
If in your liues yee neuer drew your swords
To serue your King, nor quench your Countries flames,
Pardon me, Nobles, I mistooke your names.

Sonnet 22.

[You sacred Order, charg'd the church to watch]

You sacred Order, charg'd the church to watch,
And teach the holy Mysteries of Heav'n,
From hence-forth all seditious plots dispatch,
And (Father-like) to all be alwaies euen.
Though superstition stirre to strife againe;
Reuolt's a mischiefe euermore pernicious:
Pluck vp abuses, and the hurtfull graine
Sprung from the Ignorant and Auaricious.
Auoid Ambition (common cause of strife)
Your reuerend Robe be free from staines of blood,
Preach holy Doctrine, prooue it by your life:
Fly Idlenes, choose exercises good;
To wit, all works of liuely faith and pietie.
So, to your Fold shall flock the blest Societie.

Sonnet 23.

[You graue assembly of sage Senators]

You graue assembly of sage Senators,
Right Oracles, yee Ephori of France;
Who, for the States and Iustice maintenance,
Of Sword and Balance are the Arbitrers:
That from hence-forth (against all enemies)
Our Peace may seat her in a settled Throne;
Represse the malice of all mutinies,
Which through th'aduantage of these times haue growne.
At a lowe tyde 'tis best to mend a breach,
Before the flood returne with violence:
'Tis good in health to counsaile with a Leach:
So, while a People's calme from insolence,
'Tis best that Rulers bridle them with awe;
And (for the future) curbe the lewd with law.

Sonnet 24.

[People, lesse settled then the sliding sand]

People, lesse settled then the sliding sand;
More mutable then Proteus, or the Moone;
Turn'd, and return'd, in turning of a hand:
Like Euripus ebbe-flowing euery Noone.
Thou thousand-headed head-less Monster-most,
Oft slaine (like Antheus) and as oft new rising,
Who, hard as steele, as light as winde art tost;
Chameleon like, each obiects colour prysing:
Vnblinde thy blinde soule, ope thine inward sight;
Be no more Tinder of intestine flame:
Of all fantastike humors purge thy spright:
For, if past-follie's vrge yet griefe and shame,
Lo (like Obliuions law) to cure thy passion,
State-stabling Peace brings froward minds in fashion.

Sonnet 25.

[Engins of Vulcan, Heav'n-affrighting wonders]

Engins of Vulcan, Heav'n-affrighting wonders,
Like brittle glasse the Rocks to cindars breaking;
Deafning the windes, dumbing the loudest thunders;
May ye be bound a thousand yeeres from speaking.
Yee hate-peace Hacksters flesht in Massacres,
Be you for euer banisht from our soile;
Yee steeled Tooles of slaughter, wounds, and warres,
Be you condemn'd to hang, and rust a while:
Or (not to languish in so fruit-less rest)
Be you transform'd to husband furniture,
To plow those fields you haue so oft deprest:
Or (if you cannot leaue your wonted vre)
Leaue (at the least) all mutinous alarmes,
And be from hence-forth Iustice lawfull Armes.

Sonnet 26.

[O Paris, knowe thy selfe, and knowe thy Master]

O Paris, knowe thy selfe, and knowe thy Master,
As well thy heav'nly as thine earthly guider:
And be not like a Horse, who (proud of pasture)
Breakes Bit, and Reanes, and casts his cunning Rider.
Who nill be Subiects, shall be slaues in fine:
Who Kings refuse, shall haue a Tyrant Lord:
Who are not moov'd with the milde rods diuine,
Shall feele the fury of Heav'ns venging Sword.
Thy greatnes stands on theirs that weare the Crowne,
Whereof, th'hast had now seuentie (sauing seuen).
Thinke one sufficient soone to pull thee downe:
Kings greatnes stands on the great King of Heav'n.
Knowing these two, then Paris knowe thy selfe,
By Warres afflictions, and by Peaces wealth.

Sonnet 27.

[Swell not in pride, O Paris (Princely Dame)]

Swell not in pride, O Paris (Princely Dame)
To be chiefe Citie, and thy Soueraines Throne:
Citie? nay modell of this totall Frame,
A mighty Kingdom of thy selfe alone.
The scourge that lately with paternall hand
For thine amendment did so mildely beat-thee,
If any more against thy Kings thou stand,
Shall proue that then God did but only threat-thee.
Wert thou a hundred thousand-fold more mighty,
Who in th'Olympike Court commands the thunders,
In his least wrath can wrack thee (most Almighty).
Thebes, Babel, Rome, those proud heav'n-daring wonders,
Lowe vnder ground in dust and ashes lie:
For earthly Kingdoms (euen as men) doe die.

Sonnet 28.

[But, O my sorrowes! whither am I tost?]

But, O my sorrowes! whither am I tost?
What? shall I bloody sweet Astræas Songs?
Re-open wounds that are now heal'd almost,
And new-remember nigh forgotten wrongs?
Sith stormes are calmed by a gentle Starre,
Forget we (Muse) all former furie-moods,
And all the tempests of our viper-Warre:
Drown we those thoughts in deep-deep Lethe floods.
O but (alas) I cannot not-retaine
So great, notorious, common miseries,
Nor hide my plaint, nor hold my weeping raine:
But 'mid these hidious hellish out-rages,
I'le showe and prooue by this strange spectacle,
Our ciuill Peace, a sacred Miracle.

Sonnet 29.

[As he that, scap't from Ship-wrack on a plank]

As he that, scap't from Ship-wrack on a plank,
Doubts of his health, and hardly yet beleeues
(Still faintly shiuering on the feareless bank)
That (through that fraile helpe) certainely he liues:
As he that new freed from strange seruitude,
Returnes again to tread his natiue allies,
Seems still to feare his Patrons rigour rude,
And seems still tugging, chained in the Gallies:
So alwayes, ruth, ruine, and rage, and horror
Of troubles past doo haunt me euery-where,
And still I meete Furies and gastly Terror:
Then, to my selfe thus raue I (rapt with feare)
From pleasures past, if present sorrow spring,
Why should not past cares present comfort bring?

Sonnet 30.

[We must not now vpbraid each others crimes]

We must not now vpbraid each others crimes
Committed wrongly in the time of warre;
For we haue all (alas) too often-times
Prouok't the vengeance of the Lord too farre:
Some robbing Iustice, vnder maske of Reason;
Some blowing coles, to kindle-vp Sedition;
Some 'gainst their King attempting open Treason;
Some Godding Fortune (Idol of Ambition).
Alas, we knowe our cause of maladie,
All apt t'accuse, but none to cleanse th'impure;
Each doth rebuke, but none doth remedy:
To knowe a griefe, it is but halfe a cure.
Is it our sinnes? let's purge away that bane;
Eor what helps Physicke, if it be not tane?

Sonnet 31.

[Who cloake their crimes in hoods of holines]

Who cloake their crimes in hoods of holines,
Are double villaines: and the Hypocrite
Is most-most odious in Gods glorious sight,
That takes his Name to couer wickednes.
Profane Ambition, blinde and irreligious,
In quest of Kingdoms, holding nothing holy
Think'st thou th'Eternall blinde (as thou in folly)
Or weake to punish Monsters so prodigious?
O execrable vizard, canst thou hide thee
From th'All-pierce Eye? Are treason, rape, and murder
Effects of Faith, or of the Furies-order?
Thy vaile is rent, the rudest haue discride thee.

Sonnet 32.

['Tis now apparant to each plaine Opinion]

'Tis now apparant to each plaine Opinion,
Thy hot Deuotion hunted but Dominion.
'Tis strange to see the heat of Ciuill brands.
For, when we arme vs brother against brother,
O then how ready are our hearts and hands,
And Wits awake to ruine one another!
But, come to counter-mine 'gainst secret treason,
Or force the forces of a stranger foe,
Alas, how shallow are we then in reason,
How cold in courage, and in camping slowe!
Fraunce only striues to triumph ouer Fraunce:
With selfe-kill Swords to cut each others throat.
What swarmes of Soldiers euery where doo float,
To spend and spoile a Kingdoms maintenance?
But, said I Soldiers? ah, I blush for shame,
To giue base Theeues the noble Soldiers name.

Sonnet 33.

[Is't not an endless scandall to our dayes]

Is't not an endless scandall to our dayes
(If possible our heirs can credit it)
That th'holy name of Peace, so worthy praise,
Hath been our Watch-word for a fault vnfit?
That the pure Lilly, our owne natiue flower,
Hath been an odious obiect in our eyes?
That kingly Name, and Kings heav'n-stablisht power,
Hath been with vs a marke of trecheries?
T'haue banisht hence the godly and the wise,
Whose sound direction kept the State from danger;
Yea, made their bodies bloody Sacrifice?
And (to conclude) seeking to serue a Stranger,
T'haue stabd our owne? but (O Muse) keep that in:
The fault's so foul, to speak it were a sinne.

Sonnet 34.

[I waile not I so much warres wastefull rigours]

I waile not I so much warres wastefull rigours,
Nor all thy ruines make me halfe so sorie,
As thy lost honor (France) which most disfigures,
Losing thy loyalty, thy Natiue glory.
From Moores to Muscouites (O cursed change!)
The French are called, Faith-less Parricides:
Th'yerst-most-prince-loyall people (O most strange!)
Are now Prince-treachers more than all besides:
With vs, Massacres passe for Pietie;
Theft, rape, and wrong, for iust-attaind possessions:
Reuolt for Merit, Rage for Equity:
Alas, must we needs borrow the transgressions
And imperfections of all other Nations,
Yerst onely blamed for inconstant fashions?

Sonnet 35.

[Not without reason hath it oft been spoken]

Not without reason hath it oft been spoken,
That through faire Concord little things augment,
And (opposite) that mightiest things are broken
Through th'vgly Discord of the discontent.
When many tunes doe gently symphonize
It conquers hearts, and kindly them compounds;
When many hearts doe gently sympathize
In sacred friendship, there all blisse abounds.
Alas, if longer we diuide this Realme,
Loosing to euery Partizan apart;
Farewell our Lillies and our Diadem.
For, though it seeme to breath now somwhat peart,
Our sinnes (I feare) will worke worse after-claps:
And ther's most danger in a re-re-relapse.

Sonnet 36.

[O, how I hate these partia-lizing words]

O, how I hate these partia-lizing words,
Which show how we are in the Faith deuised:
Is't possible to whet so many Swords,
And light such flames 'mong th'In-one-Christ-baptized:
Christians to Christians to be brute and bloudy,
Altars to Altars to be opposite,
Parting the limmes of such a perfect Body,
While Turks with Turks do better farre vnite?
We, in our Truth finde doubts (whence follow Schismes)
They, whose fond Law doth all of Lies consist,
Abide confirm'd in their vaine Paganismes.
One nought beleeues, another what him list:
One ouer-Creeds, another Creeds too-short;
Each makes his Church (rather his Sect) a-part.

Sonnet 37.

[Put-off (deere French) all secret grudge and gall]

Put-off (deere French) all secret grudge and gall,
And all keen stings of vengeance on all parts:.
For if you would haue Peace proclaim'd to all,
It must be first faire printed in your hearts.
Henry the mildest of all Conquerers
(Your perfect Glasse for Princely clemencie)
He, to appease and calme the State from iarres,
For his friends sake, hath sav'd his enemie.
Let's all be French, all subiects to one Lord;
Let France from hence-forth be one onely State;
Let's all (for Gods sake) be of one accord.
So (through true zeale Christs praise to propagate)
May the most Christian King with prosperous power
On Sion walls re-plant our Lilly-flower.

Sonnet 38.

[O christian cor'siue! that the Mahomite]

O christian cor'siue! that the Mahomite
With hundred thousands in Vienna Plaine,
His mooned Standards hath already pight,
Prest to ioyne Austrich to his Thracian Raigne:
Malth, Corfu, Candie, his proud Threats disdaine;
And all our Europe trembles in dismay;
While striuing Christians (by each other slaine)
Each other weak'ning make him easie waie.
Khodes, Belgrade, Cyprus, and the Realmes of Greece,
Thrall'd to his barbarous yoake, yet fresh-declare,
That while two striue, a third obtaines the fleece.
Though name of Christian be a title faire;
If, but for Earth, they all this while haue striv'n,
They may haue Earth, but others shall haue Heav'n.

Sonnet 39.

[May I not one day see in France againe]

May I not one day see in France againe
Some new Martellus (full of stout actiuity)
To snatch the Scepter from the Saracen,
That holds the Holy Land in strait captiuitie?
May I not see the selfe-weale-wounding Launce
Of our braue Bloods (yerst one another goring)
Turn'd with more valour on the Musulmans,
A higher pitch of happy prowesse soaring?
But who (deare Fraunce) of all thy men-at-armes
Shall so farre hence renue their ancient Laurels:
Sith here they plot thine and their proper harmes?
I rather feare, that (through their fatall quarrels)
That hate-Christ Tyrant will in time become
The Lord and Soueraigne of all Christendome.

Sonnet 40.

[Mid all these mischiefes, while the friend-foe Strangers]

Mid all these mischiefes, while the friend-foe Strangers,
With vs, against vs, had intelligence;
Henry our King, our Father, voides our dangers,
And (O Heav'ns wonder) planteth Peace in Fraunce.
Thou Iudge that sitt'st on the supernall Throne,
O quench thy fury, keep vs from hostilitie:
With eyes of mercy looke thou still vpon
Our Peace, and found it on a firme stabilitie:
Sith (in despight of discord) thou alone,
Inward and outward, hast thus salv'd vs (Lord)
Keep still our Fraunce (or rather Lord thine owne)
Let Princes loue, and liue in iust accord:
Dis-arme them (Lord) or, if Armes busie them,
Be it alone for thy Ierusalem.