Nebuchadnezzars Fierie Furnace

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King Nebuchadnezzar.

Wee Gods on earth should climb supernall stories
Wee should atchieve great things to grace our glories;
Behind us we should leave some cleare character
That wee have lived on this earths theater,
That afterdeath our names in all mens eyes
May be like starres that brandish in the skyes.

The Echo of our name with gentle gales
Will make the Hills to sound with babling Vales:
If that great things wee doe, wee fame will find;
Mens mouths like cornets with their curled wind

Will make record of all the worthy things
Which are performed by great and mighty kings
Wee in our worke ressemble should a tree
In branches that beare most fruitfullie;
To doe great things wee should not be amaz'd
Why should our names be either rent or raz'd?
Some passe their time in their most merry drinking
And some are witlesse in their silly thinking,
Some with great blood their courage strive to seale,
But in a trice they topsie turvie wheele,
Such glorious shews can not have long abode,
When they fall downe most live a wretched clod.

But greater things now come into my mind,
Whereby I may some greater glory find
'Mong my Caldeans who are learn'd and wise
Have for mine honour giv'n me this advise,
That nothing can the glory of my name
More high extoll and spread abroad my fame
Then that of gold I should incontinent
Set up ane image for a monument.

Now with all haste that image I ordaine
To be set up within faire Duras plaine,
Which in the province is of Babylon,
Let all make haste, and end this worke anone;
I highly mind this image for to raise,
And make it glorious, that on it may gaze
The wisest eyes that are in all the land
And bow their knees so soone as I command;
The height thereof shall cubits be three score
With six in breadth and neither lesse nor more.

Now must a Herauld be most quickly sent
To charge the princes that incontinent
With Governours, Captaines, and Treasurers,
And Judges, Sherifs, and the Counsellers
With all the rulers ev'n of each province
And them ordaine to come unto their prince
Most willingly with great submission

That they may see the dedication
Of this mine image a most stately thing
A glorious worke that well beseems a king.
Ho such a one of these the standers by
Goe warne the princes, t'others also cry
That they resort to see this worke of owrs
Unto this plain inammelled all with flowrs,
Whene stately stands this image made of gold
To sleight my precepts none darre be so bold.

The Kings Herauld
conveeneth the princes etc.
I am now sent with great authority
To publish that the king his majesty
Hath with great cost set up in Duras plaine
Ane glorious image which he doth ordaine
To be respected both by great and small,
He hath me sent you for this end to call;
It is his will so for to make a muster
Of all his Peers, for to give grace and luster
Unto his image for memoriall,
Which must be honour'd both by great and small.
This I you tell, under the heighest paine,
Lusk not in sloath, kings precepts not disdaine
In swarty moors the image doth not stand,
Nor yet on hills, but in faire Duras Land.

The Princes.

Most kings in thousand vanities delight,
Some for to hunt, some for to whoore or fight,
By needlesse wars some off lop legs and armes
And will not but by force lay downe their armes;
So often they who should have sav'd the nation
Doe make of all a fearefull desolation,
Some passe their time in riot drunkennesse
Some with their tributs subjects poore oppresse,

And hoord their gold, and eke their silver both
Which subject are to rust, as cloaths to moth:
Some wast their times in thousand vanities
Like children chaseing gawdie Butterflies.

But yee, Sir, alwayes by your might and powr
Are for your mens defence a strongest towr;
Yee doe in mercy fortify the weake,
In justice yee men stubborn still doe break:
Yee guide all well, most equall unto all,
Oppressours now downe let their weapons fall
Who by distressing men with miseries
To springs of teares oft turned many eyes:
But what can feede the eye or fill the hand,
If of the gods men nothing understand?

Wee have well heard how yee in Duras plaine
To be set up ane image did ordaine
The like whereof in Babylon is none
That ever heard by any Princes done.

The Governours.

When kings are foolish rageing in their ire
They doe their people calcine as with fire;
They will be high and they will all command,
But for well doeing in no stead they stand:
They men destroye with fearefull tempests sterne
They wound their worthies and can not discerne
The man that truely is the worthy subject,
Who is most wise of wrath they make the object;
They trouble all not likeing counsell good,
Till all their subjects be in knees to blood.

But yee, Sir, by your wisdome that is cleare,
Doe better rule and sift all things more neare:
Yee love the gods, for them yee spare not gold
As in this image all men may behold.
By this yee shall among men get a name
No worke at all could more increase your fame.

The Captaines.

The Captaines joye's to see the squadrons reele

With bloody sword, and to and fro to wheele:
It is our play to see men fierce renew
The charge, and so with bloody sword pursewe
Their foes afresh, and in a wrath extreme
Them to invade and round about behem.

But yet at last wee must to gods draw neare,
That they may free us of all faults and feare;
Wee can not rest secure and confident,
Except the gods be served in our tent:
What are the strongest but like potters crust?
How soone are they all crush'd and turn'd to dust?
What have wee win when wee in grave are dead
Though wee have spoild and fill'd the world with dread?
When all our dayes wee lived have like fooles
Wee must at last ev'n tumble downe our tooles,
Our speares and swordes must all at last give place
To those who by their wisdome doe make peace.
O happy king who spare mens blood and bones,
With blunted sword who sit on Mercys Thrones;
When wee were young wee smiled with Ha Ha
Wee smelled the Battell and did cry

a french word of warre

Sa, Sa
But waxed old we thinke it now a grace
That farre from trumpets wee may live in peace.

O Sir, but yee a happy course intend
This golden image for to recommend
Unto your subjects, that they lesse and more
In Duras plaine the same may all adore.

The Judges.

When princes who sit in the highest place
With Judges wise, are voide of wit and grace
Then Judges blush and covred are with shame,
Their teares out gush, they heare nothing but blame:
With greefe they see them on their fierie steedes
Camboling high with tottring crownes on heads,
Rushing in dangers with a gloomy front,
As neere to get as for to give affront.

But prudent yee take up a calmer course,

Your actions wise are mater for discourse
To wisest mouths, your progresse is farre softer
Example good to all that shall come after:
Your image rich doth unto us declare
That for your grandour all the gods will care.

The Treasurers.

When kings in haste doe make a needlesse warre
The Treasurers doe find that they doe marre
Their proper profit, and their countrey crosse,
In civill warres the kings gets ay the losse:
His rents are spent that should uphold the crowne
His men are slaine, and all the fields troad downe;
All runs with blood, the people all agast
perplexed are, all wracked is at last.
Heere all's in fire, and there a stout forlorne
The poore man stobs and strips the Noble borne:
Such bloody wars all treasurers doe grieve,
If warres persist they all may take their Lieve.

But yee, Sir, far from such a furious way
In signe of peace ane image reare the day
A worthy worke, wee doubt not but for this
The gods above will you most richly blesse.

The Counsellors.

Unto all kings wee owe firme fealty
And kings should love men for their loyalty;
Who ever he be that giv'n is unto wiles
Himself the first most shamefully beguiles:
Men should be straight and upright in their wayes
If they desire to see most pleasant dayes:
If kings would have their good things to abide,
They must not armed be with pawes of pride
Kings should not be like horse or ox forlorne
Who strike with hooves and also push with horne:
Kings fathers are and should themselves constraine
To beare some wrongs, and for to ease of paine
Their subjects poore, and not as excrement

To cast them oft, as though by such intent
They could them win; this surely shall befall
Such doeings at a gasp shall vanish all.
Then shall ensue great blood and misery
And good things shall be as a sheame past by
Which not returns; so in this case dependant
Some shall be plaintif others some defendant:
Then all at last goes in a hurly burly
All upside downe is turned topsie turvie.

But yee, Sir, farre from such a furious way
In signe of peace ane image reare the day
A worthy worke; wee doubt not but for this
The gods above will you most richly blesse.

The Sheriffes.

When gods are wroth they make the rockes to shrink,
They make the mountaines mouldring downe to sink
Or leap like calves; the errours of mans life
They boldly scourge ev'n with their terrours rife:
They thrust mens feet into the stocks most strait,
Their judgments still on vilest wretches wait;
Shall men goe mock them as a man another,
And think that they such faults can closely cover?

But yee, Sir, farre from such a furious way
For their service ane image reare the day
A worthy worke wee doubt not but for this
The gods above will you most richly blesse.

The Rulers of the Provinces.

Whene kings are proud and will not counsell heare,
The land with blood is fill'd and sallow feare
In time of peace the wardrob stuffed still
With sumptuous silks and of all bravery full,
The gold ground velvets worthy of a prince
Doe plenteously abound in each province;
As wee can tell the garners fill'd with graine,
The herds and flocks doe skip upon the plaine,

But when by war men leave their homely coats,

And men doe rune to cut each others throats,
These who heard birds with warbling repetitions,
For musick then heare bloody expeditions
Sounding resounding by the drumming croud
And trumpets als with their alarum loud,
Then souldiers fierce through all the province goe,
And all therein they fill with wrack and wo:
None dare say ill done, for to tell his want,
Each man devores ev'n like a cormorant:
All goes to wrack, the land is fill'd with feares
With cryes and noise, with troubles and with teares
Maugre the lawes, men given unto their lust,
Doe ravish maids, and cities turne to dust,
Each man doth run his fellow to devore,
The countrey all is fill'd with blood and gore

But yee, Sir, far from such a furious way
In signe of peace ane image rare this day,
Have heere set up; we doubt not but for this
The gods above will you most richly blesse.

King Nebuchadnezzar.
Religion mak's men meeke; and also mild,
Who were like beasts in flaggy fence most wilde
To brood both rapt revenge and crueltie,
As by experience wee may dayly see:
God on a hill with thorny thrummed top
Spak unto Moses: who could clamber up
These places steepe? But I doe well ordaine
My golden image on a pleasant plaine
For easie accesse; there no winds doe yeeld
Great stormes, while they goe whisking ov'r the field:
I too great paines of no man heere doe crave,
Religion should not make a man a slave:
I heard by Daniel when their God did glance
With eyes of fire that Moses fell in Transe;
When so appear'd with sterne and furious looke,
Heak their bones with shivering chilenesse strooke:

Then such a blustring tempest doune did fall;
That Moses trembled, said, I tremble all
But this our image stands upon a plaine
No climbing's heere, no clambring up with paine
To trouble men, except men whiles goe idle
By holy dayes, they sure can brooke no bridle;
Men must refresh'd with musick be and playes,
And now and then keepe some festivall dayes,
And that they may with greater zeale adore,
Some image must be setled them before:
This I have done: ane image not of mud
I have set up, but of a metall good
With great expence and cost as all may see
Kings in such things should not base niggards be.

The Princes.

Ane image that is richly high imbost
Of burnish'd gold of ane exceeding cost;
It is a worke for such a mighty prince
As may be seene by us from each province:
Most princes in a most ingratfull torrent
Upon their pleasures lash a swelling current.
Not thanking gods who have with great renowne
Upon their heads set a most glorious Crowne:
Your care for gods makes you contemne all gaine,
Your fame the blowes and burnt may well sustaine
Of cursed tongues, no man can shake the head
At all your workes which godly are indeede.
Gold garlands yee doe twist while some allowe
But willow wreathes for gods to deck their browe

O but your image stately is to see,
In all the earth the like thereof not be.

The Governours.
Men who below would conquer a great name
Build castells faire to spread abroad their fame
But at the last their walls foundation shrinks,
The lime it crumbles from the yawning chinks,

The sealling upward tott'ring all doth quiver,
And time at last the buildings makes to shiver
As for this image it shall yawne a waye
That glory may in ane immortall day
Come and exalt Nebuchadnezzars name
All glorious made with garlands of great fame.

The Captaines.
When wee are young our pleasure is in wars
With sword in hand to brandish and make scars:
Wee up and downe to kill and spoile doe reele
Our caps are yron and our sattens steele:
If wee with lances can in furie tilt
Wee justle, and not care what blood be spilt:
When wee are mounted with a crespy crest
To rush in batell wee then think it best;
This men of courage doe for to obey
Their princes who think battells but a play:
Toe many kings for to obtaine their will,
Doe little care what blood their subjects spill
What care such though ev'n in a twinkling trice
In equall halves each others heads doe slyce;
The battell found they free of danger like,
They laugh to heare mens swords mens heads down strike
Men at their will lye night and day in armes;
And at rencounters want both legs and armes.
Some by their pride, and some by want of wit,
Put all their kingdomes in a bloody fit:
Some willfull are, and fill their land with feares
Not careing though the earth still swimme with teares:
But yee your time on better purpose spend
Yee spare mens lives, and which wee must commend,
Yee feare the gods to serve them ye delite
In doeing so yee alwayes hit the white.

The Judges.

When kings are foolish all is full of feares
Then fields with blood and cheekes doe swime with teares:

Then judgment seates ly empty by such a boast,
As summer flowres are hid in winter frost;
These who were rich now bare foot hop about,
Even seeking bread with teares still gushing out:
While they behold these who their lands doe sack
Of cares the clusters lye upon their back
And houses painted with cleare glistring studs,
Are set on fire, and spoil'd of all their goods;
Where as before their fields great store of graine
Did yeeld, they beg; for nothing doth remaine,
The doloures which such dayly doe renew
Doe dye mens faces of a sable hew;

But ye hit wisely far from such a rage,
By your great skill yee angry surges swage:
A cunning steers man yee can knowe the tide
And make good use so that yee well can guide
Your subjects and from wrath yourselfe refraine
Till that the welkin cloudy cleare againe,
And sens grow calme; and binds lay downe their boast;
More wisedome doth then any Armed Hoast;
And which is more to be extoll'd by all,
Ye for the Gods have a memoriall
Set up of gold, of height, cubits threescore,
The breadth whereof is five, and als one more;
With little dinne in good things yee abound;
The fullest vessels have the lesser sound.

The Treasurers.

Some princes are like pikes which quickly scoure
The creeks of rivers and therein devoure
The smaller fishes, and the feeble «fry» try,
Their will's a law, they rageing by and by,
Beat with their billowes 'gainst them that withstand
The least of things they proudly doe command;
They subjects load with tribute toll and tax,
And subsidies which break their peoples backs,
And after that they spend in needlesse warres,
Their treasures all, and fill their land with jarres:

Thus by their folly they all at the last,
What gath'red was most lavishly doe wast;

But yee your gold for Gods doe well imploy
While they their goods in vanitie destroy;
That which they have is blasted with a curse,
Their treasurers all have still an empty purse:
Ye purchase peace; the spiders busie taske
Is wov'n within the souldiers plumed caske:
No need of armes, all men now glad and blyth
Speare into prunehooke and the sword to syth
Well turned have; now is your chiefest care,
For Gods above to dresse this image rare.

The Counsellers.

When kings are wise the counsellers have joye,
Most glade they are such jewells to enjoye:
It makes their hearts to dance and mouths to sing
Like Nightinggales in a most pleasant spring
Upon a Hawthorne in the morning dew,
Where warbling they their nots doe still renew

But o when princes make their will a law,
Not seeking love, if subjects stand in aw;
Such rage with havocke and with horror too,
If they command they care not what they doe.
Legges to lop off to them is but a play,
As als to hack and hew mens armes away:
They fill the land with creples; in word
They care not for the bloody rageing sword:
Because they willfull, counsell will not take,
They at the last bring all their land to wrack;

But yee, Sir, wisely doe your time bestow,
To honour gods which we doe well allow:
Yee still goe forward and recoyle not back,
Your sword ye bath not in a gorry track
Of subjects blood, to make more teares fall downe,
Then there be moats that reele within the sunne.

The Sheriffes.

A wicked prince with burdens heavy loads
His subjects still, he them as croking toads
Abhorres, not careing though the sword doe sweep
Their life away, they lying in a heap:
Such in their rage care not what blood they spill,
If they at last can get of all their will:
They still like Falcons aime most furiously
With sudden souse to shew their tyrrany.

But yee love peace and doe abhorr to kill,
Yee rather would your balme in wounds distill
Your way is not in bloody red carreeres
Of tyrants, who still cry for swords and speares,
Untill their subjects murdred be at last,
And fertile lands by wares be all laid wast.
Such wickednesse ye allwayes doe disdaine,
The marks thereof stand up in Duras plaine.

The Rulers of the Provinces.

Princes profane shall not their works atchieve
When judgements come who shall them then reprieve
Though they a Breastplate get of strongest steele;
They shall not faile of gods the wrath to feele:
When people still by wars are made to cry
Doubtlesse the gods will heare them by and by
And let them knowe though safe they stand aloofe
For wounds, their crownes be not at perill proof,
Though they should flee with wings, yet pause they must,
And at the last returne with shame to dust:
These cruell men whatever they now doe dreame
Shall spew at last that bloody purple streame
Of slaughtred children which for sacrifice
They murdred have by their deceitful guise:
When wicked princes rageing act their part
We Rulers of provinces feele the smart.

But ye your gold give for the gods service,
Ye care for orgies, and for sacrifice,
To honour them who sure your honour shall,
And at the last pay use and principall.

King Nebuchadnezzer.

I see my Peeres I have your approbation,
That of this image be a dedication,
Your words declare your mind, and which is more,
I see you all now standing it before
With great respect: yee know all well this thing,
That subjects must in all obey their king:
Kings precepts all on fiery wings are borne
Like thundring bullets, none but men forlorne
Dare lift the crest and care but say wherefore?
Our will's a law, we will doe it therefore:
No other reason wee are bound to give,
Let them obey who have desire to live
For wee are great Lords both of life and death,
And wee command each man and all he hath:
These who are wise, obey us by and by
Madde fooles they are who darre our lawes defy;
The people, peeres, in this must sympathize
To stoope to kings who can both patronize
Or punish men; that all may stand in awe,
Kings will must stand to subjects for a law;

Now it is time that wee a Herauld send
That all my land be warn'd from end to end,
That when they shall heare sounding pleasantly
The Cornet, Flute, Harp, Sackbute, psaltery,
the Dulcimer and musick of all «kynd» kinde,
That then they all with humblenesse of mind,
Adore the image that most stately thing
Sett up by me of Babell great the king
And who refuseth that which I require
Shall sure be cast into a furnace fire;
But who obey they shall get my protection
Thus I'le reward my subjects low subjection.

The Princes.
Kings sit on Thrones and handle scepters bright,
They armed are with majestie and might;
What they command who dare reply wherefore?

Their will may serve for reason lesse or more,
Your majestie by your continuall sessions
May all command, and punish all transgressions
What ye command is not for avarice,
To wine by bribes or wrest with ill device:
Your thoughts such thoughts do all now farre surmount
Ye doe not as your fathers all wer wont:
Yee seeke no gaine, but to respect the gods,
Who shrinks at this, deserveth sharpest rods,
Most justly may all such with thongs most fast
Be bound and in a fierie Furnace cast.

The Governoures.
Your majestie hath heere a pleasant plaine
Where yee your subjects orderly ordaine;
Floures with their coloures heere rejoice the eye,
And in the nose they smell most fragrantly:
Trees with their twigs doe one another tangle,
On branches faire the daintie fruits doe dangle.
Ye with sweet musick cause rejoice the eare;
While men in Dura dulcimers do heare
With Cornet, Harp, Sackbut and psalterie
Which join'd in sounds make heavenly melodie;
Good princes precepts goe with gentle gushing
Like silver streames through pleasant pipes still rushing
With curled waves that water all the land,
Who dare refuse what such men do command?
Who dare contemne, deserves the rigour rather
Of Judges then the mercies of a father
Most justly may all such with thongs most fast
Be bound and in a fierie Furnace cast.

The Captaines.

Men of our coat, of Drums do alwayes dreame
And speares and swords to make mens blood to sheame:
Ha, ha! our horse laugh when of Battell fell
They heare the noise and also feele the smell,
Like Eagles frankly soaring neer the sky

They goe to stroakes with courage by and by
So much more men in wrath like angrie Bees,
Do soone resolve to fight in blood to knees,
While wee such thoughts do thus brood in our heart,
Wee doe thereby our selves at least subvert,
For we the gods forget most carlessely,
While we in Battells fight thus cruelly,
Or do ambush in any bushy thorne,
Or lye in wait in caves or field of corne
To trap mens lives, for this we in and out
Doe fiske in countreyes which lye round about,
In glorious shewes our selves we nimbly shroud
And gaze upon our plums like peacocks proud,
Wee roare wee rage like Boares and Beares with paws,
Wee spoile the poore and grip with Griphins claws
What wee can get; with whip, and rope, and racke;
Wee in a rage thus of all shipwrack make
To doe mischeefe wee wickedly combine,
We spiders like doe weave such woefull twine,
Slaves to our house not haveing any might
Our lusts to bridle or them range aright.

But o of you, wee better things may learne,
To serve the gods ye togh us at your sterne:
ye teach us by your image made of gold,
To honour gods, as all may now behold:
Who 'gainst your purpose shew themselves as foes
Let them be thrilled with ten thousand throes:
Most justly may all such with thongs most fast
Be bound and in a fierie Furnace cast.

The Judges.
Men of our coat on benches high doe sit,
It is our part to tell what wee think fit;
We judges are for to give our decrees
Against men given to falshood and to lies;
'Gainst fighters and vile Drunkards, who tun in
The strongest drink which button all their skin,
And him who still with filthy purpose makes

His mouth loathsome like most filthy Jakes:
But men will scorne at all the Judges rods
Except they be train'd up to know the gods
This ye will doe, ye furnish righly gold
Now for this Jmage as wee heere behold:
O happy yee; yea happy thryse therefore;
Maugre envy your name for evermore
Shall famous be; princes in court delights
Oft spend their tyme with turneyes tilts and fights,
Which vanish shall like mist before the wind,
No fruits they shall of all such pleasures find:
Such at their best are like the ragged Bramble
Which burnes their people or their skins bescramble.
But your good workes most glorious still abide;
Like spangles on the tresses of a Bride,
Which in the sunbeames gloriously doe glance
And shaken with a little gale doe dance,
If any will your image not adore
The fierie Furnace him shall soone devore.

The Treasurers.

The gods have given rich Treasures unto Kings
With honours great and many other things:
When kings againe the gods most thankfully
Respect, it is indeed their honour hy,
But when they raise their tops unto the sky
And from the gods turne cleane away their eye
And play the tyrants; then all utterly
Is rent and raz'd; no place for equity
Is to be found; the treasures goe to nought,
And they at last find deare their pleasures bought
Ecclipsed they of all their majesty
With broken scepters on the ground doe lye;

But yee your gold for gods doe well imploy,
The fruits thereof shall comfort be and joy;
Your stately image which all men admire,
Must by all men be worshipped with feare,

If any will your image not adore
The fierie furnace shall him soone devore.

The Counsellers.

Where kings rule well; O there from coast to coast
The land it is as rings with pearles embost,
The field abroad all shines with brightest beames
The mountaines high doe spew cleare silver streames,
The valleyes als are full of wine and corne;
Great policie doth all the land adorne,
Men live at home in peace, their crooked age
Snowes not their locks in tedious pilgrimage:
But when the princes looke both sterne and strange
And cruelly doe give themselves to range
And spoile the poore; neglecting justice beame
With countenance fill'd with a pride extreame,
That with great griefe the verie earth doth grone,
The houses heere, and there, are lost alone.
Men scorne the gods and also all that's said
By counsellers who for such things are sad:
Then topsie turvie all is turn'd at last
For mirth is mourning and for feasts a fast:
Then pride and lies doe banish faith and zeale
The gods depart, and grace from common weale
Doth take its leave: warre still doth bring great want
It pulls up quickly all that peace doth plant

But yee a prince of vertue knowe the price
Ye good men raise, and raze men given to vice,
Your mind is set gods to adorne aright
With gold; ye shine like to a lanterne bright
Set on a Phavos which by beames most bright
From shipwrack saves these who doe saile by night:
What others spend in Civet, Musk, and Amber
Things of great price for to perfume their chamber,
What others spend in drunkennesse extreame,
Padling like frogs in Bachus purple streame
What others spend when drumes they cause to beat
For battells where men sweat with sweating heat

That yee for gods have set on Duras plaine
A golden image glorious to remaine,
Doubtless the gods with great fertilitie
Will guardon well your Liberalitie:
If any will your image not adore
The fierie Furnace shall him soone devore.

The Sheriffes.

The princes lewd make drink their darts with blood,
Their sword they glut with slaughter; all the brood
Of wicked race break forth, and make a song
Of doolefull notes which sound the land along,
The souldiers thus dispersed far from home
Ov'r all the fields with cruelty doe roame,
The prunning hookes are turned into speares,
And sithes to swords, the land is fill'd with feares,
The deepthes with pyrats, and the downes with theeves
Are fill'd, so one mischeefe another weeves.

But ye contemning all such rage so rare,
Have for the gods set up ane image faire:
Your subjects wrapped in soft beds doe sleep
While others watches in cold trenches keep,
While others rageing pierce the flesh and skine
With lances sharp bristling like porcupin:
While others make with swords in shivers flie
Both casks and sculls, ye guide all quietlie,
And of your subjects ye require no more;
But that most humblie they the gods adore:
Who you despise let them be at the last
Bound hand and foot within a furnace cast.

The Rulers of the Provinces.
Who with contempt despise the God of Heav'n,
Their payment shall in their owne coine be giv'n,
Their subjects shall not faile them to despise,
All men at last shall see how goes the guise:
The Gods shall judgments send with noisles foot,
Them to destroy and cut them branch and root:

Against such hurts they have no cunning charmes
When Gods doe thunder with imperious armes
Which maugre all the force of men bring downe
Their loftie lookes and scepter break and Crowne
And cast them all into the mire or mud;
Such judgements sleep not, but most quickly scud
Upon the wings of wrath, while in the poups
Of princes good, good fortune blowes with troupes
Of blessings blessings running in a heap
With such a course that they on other leap
To blesse them all heere with refreshing balmes,
And thew with laurelles and victorious palmes,
And heere againe to glade them all their dayes
With sweetest songs of lullabies and layes,
That like deare babes in craddles laid to sleep
Sweet rest anone through all their veines may creep:
So yee doe well who gives this worthie pledge
Of your good will to gods a worthy gadge
Of finest gold set up in Duras field
That all unto it worship due may yeeld:
If any will your Image not adore
The fierie furnace shall him soone devore.

King Nebuchadnezzer.

Good subjects when they see their prince affect
A purpose good they willingly effect
What he desires: it is a kings cheefe treasure
To have still subjects for to doe his pleasure.
What I doe threat or promise I not «sleap» slip
It to observe, from trueth kings should not trip:
To break his word it ill beseemes a king,
Who as so speakes should still do every thing:
Princes who are disloyall and unjust
With wrath their subjects arme and with distrust:
Princes who are in their wayes grave and sage
Can easy calme a peoples barking rage:
The kings who fierie speak words of boast most big

Doe make their scepters like a Mapple twig,
Except they joine with them th'authoritie
Of noble Peers their folies men will see.

So I intending for to make ane Image
Would do nothing but by your counsell sage:
Now seeing yee, who are the peeres, consent,
Let us an Herauld send incontinent
To publish to all people Nations all
Whom we command even whether great or small,
That when they heare Flut, Sackbut, psaltery,
Harp, Dulcimer; they in humility
Fall downe, and worship to this Image yeeld
Which I set up have in faire Duras field:
Who so doth fail to bow upon his face
The same hour shall be burnt with great disgrace;
If men praise kings lawes can not abide,
The fierie furnace shall their doubts decide.

The Princes.

Your majestie in this your wise desire
Doe nothing but great equitie require:
Wee shall a Herauld find without delay
Who quickly shall in all things you obey.

Ho such a one, anone goe back your steed,
And heere and there see that you runne with speed
Declaring that this is the kings decree
That all his liedges in humilitie
When sackbut they or psaltery shall heare
Must worship with great reverence and feare
The golden Image a most precious thing
In Duras field high set up by the King.

The Kings Herauld.

Good Heraulds are like birds upon a twig
Which nimbly still doe hop from sprig to sprig
And with their warbling shame the Cuckow notes,
By sounding sweetly with their swelled throats:
What yee command it is most just indeed,

And I the same will execute with speed

Ho, ho, Ho, ho, Let every man give eare,
When Kings command the subjects then should heare:
The King ordaines that now all Nations
Who doe reside in his dominions
When they heare Flut, Harp, Sackbut, psaltery
Or Dulcimer, they in humility
Fall downe and worship to the Image yeeld,
Which by the king is set in Duras field:
Who so doth faile to bow downe at the last
Shall in a trice be in a furnace cast
Of flaming fire where he shall be anone
Burnt and consumed both in flesh and bone.

The People.
Sith King and Peeres this Image greatly love
The peoples part is them for to approve:
They are but fooles, yea too too malapart
Who enterprise kings precepts to subvert:
These who contemne that which they doe ordaine
Deserve the fire, or to be shent in twaine;
Wee promise all when wee shall heare the sound
Of any musick; wee shall on the ground
Fall humbly downe before this golden badge
Made by the king with counsell grave and sage:
The people in such things should not contest,
But follow that their prince still counteth best.

The Caldeans.
Wee heere declare unto your majestie
That certaine Jewes contemne what yee decree:
Yee had ordain'd that when men heard the sound
Of musick, they should downe fall to the ground
To worship yor Image in Duras field,
But certaine Jewes refuse alwayes to yeeld
That which is due, our Lawes doe this require
That such be burnt even in a flaming fire:

These rebells who contemne you so and so
Are Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego,
Whom yee have made high for to rule alone
The great affaires that are in Babylon.
For nothing that the wisest men that live
Can say to them will they now worship give.

King Nebuchadnezzar.
What, what is this? what tidings doe you bring?
Dare any man stand up against the king
And say, He will my precepts not obey?
I now command that ye without delay
Bring to me these proud fellowes who doe so
Ev'n Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego.

The Caldeans.

At your command wee cheerely to the charge
Shall go, and shall declare to them at large
What is your will, wee knowe these proud precise
Do not regard how they great kings may please.

Ho Shadrach, ho, ye with your fellowes deare
Ordained are with haste for to compeare
Before the king; see that with haste yee hye
And to him yeeld obedience by and by:
Bewar that ye swolne with a sullen spight
Cease to obey that which is just and right:
Bewar that yee rebellion in your heart
Brood, or yet workes what may your well subvert:
What he commands that doe it cheerefullie
Strike saile anone, come underneath his lee.
Hee who on earth would live must surely learne
To be still toghed at his royall sterne
To follow him, and still to stand in awe,
What he commands it must stand for a law.
If ye refuse ye tremble shall all troubled
With wrack and woe your dolours shall be doubled:
Princes provoked have immortall rage,
Their fierie fewd no floods at all can swage:

The great in might still muster in their traine
The souldiers fell who think it still their gaine
Them to obey to save or yet to kill,
It is their food their furie to fullfill:
If more or lesse ye them refuse to please
Within their heads stand burning coales for eyes,
What say ye Shadrach and your fellowes deare,
Are ye not willing quickly to compeare
Before your prince that as of all his lands
The subjects have; so yee may his commands
Gladely receive, and quickly him obey
In what's his will either to doe or say?
What wee require now answer us anone,
Let us now heare the answere of each one.

Shadrach.
Wee servants are of the great God of Heav'n
Who for our sinnes us to this land hath driv'n
Wherein wee captives have been ever since,
We ever mind for to obey our prince
In lawfull things; let all these surely smart
That from his lawes would but an inch depart:
These who in vertue and Gods feare excell
Against their prince use not for to rebell
These who are led to walk within his line
Use not to plot or treasons for to twine
Against their Leige; no force no shivring feare
Should to his precepts make them stop their eare:
Gods word doth teach us princes to obey
And for their well continually to pray.

Meshach
Proud wicked hearts 'gainst Princes treasone coine
And with their foes doe oft unjustly joine.
Who them contemne doe surely spet at heaven
Whose spettle shall in their own face be driven.
Let kings be wise in vertue still sincere
As als against all vices most severe,

Then godly men them surely will obey
And alwayes will for their protection pray.

Abednego.
Wee by Gods word are well instructed all,
That princes whom on thrones God doth install
Are gods whom ye doth set on seats suppreame
Upon their heads to weare a Diademe:
What they command, their subjects must obey
If 'gainst the Lord they not their scepters sway.
Who them contemne by work or yet by word
Pale feare alwayes such hauty hearts shall guard
Who would but cut the lappet of their coat
Deserve to have their head cut from their throat:
But by your favour let us understand
What to be done the king will us command.

The Caldeans.

Goe heere and see, the king will soone declare
What is his mind, and what his precepts «a**» are:
Almighty prince ye knowe he is alway,
They suffer shall who will not him obey.
Great hoasts of men he hath brought very low
Who flew in dust, in blood did after flow.
Of nations none his forces could abide,
Some fled for feare, and some themselves did hide:
If ye would not of such great troubles taste
Goe to the king and him obey in haste

Bestir you quick to follow his command,
Or yee shall feele his thunder-throwing hand.

King Nebuchadnezzar.

Come hither ye my princes and my peeres
Consider me; who routed have with feares
The nations all, and brought them very low
Me to obey, and every knee to bow
Unto mine image set in Duras plaine
But some I heare this glorious work disdaine,

Some factious men who wisper so and so
Ev'n Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Behold them coming and hard at their back
My Caldeans who surely are not slack
To doe my will; when they my watches keep
They never slumber, and they never sleep.

Ho Shadrach, I for you look'd long ago
And for you Meshach and Abednego:
What's this I heare of you a number few?
Can this be false, or shall I think it trew?
Doe ye not serve my Gods and worship low
The golden Image which I doe allow
Stately to stand upon faire Duras plaine
Dare ye be bold such homage to disdaine?
Think yee yourselves of such a sp'rit divine
As that my precepts ye dare countermine?
Are ye so bold to whisper in the dark
Or yet aloud 'gainst me to belch or bark,
That it unlawfull alwayes seemes to be
Before mine image for to bow the knee?
If others so did jangle and debate
They not reforme, but should deforme my state,
If others were as ye are foolish rude
They should me from the sacred Helme exclude.

Yet for all this, I give you space and time
Before us heere to purge you of this crime.
Now quickly tell if that you readie be
(when ye heare Cornet, Flut, Harp, psalterie,
And Sackbut with sweet musick of all kind)
Then for to worship with a humble mind
This golden image a most stately thing
Set up by me your Liege Lord and your king:
If this ye doe, I say no more but well,
My love from you I never will conceall:
But if ye proud, precise, not stand in awe,
Me to disdaine, and als to break my law,
Not careing for that which I doe require,
Ye in a furnace shall be burnt with fire.

At you now Shadrach heere I will begine
Speake out that I may knowe what is within
Your breast, and after I will speak unto
That Meschah als and to Abednego:
Strive to obey your king in gentle sort
Before he strike he rather would exhort:
A king that's good is like to a cunning leach
Who than destroy, had rather men beseech.

Think ye not Shadrach but even when ye see
Mine image, then ye may even bow the knee.
If ye obey, well, there shall be no more,
If not, a fire shall surely thee devore:
Who is that God, who by his winged bands
Can thee deliver from my mightie hands.

Shadrach.

We honour kings, but God we doe adore:
But as for gold wee neither lesse nor more
Acknowledge that of it ane image be
Set up, to which a man should bow the knee;
Who worship gold or silver, stones or stockes
Doe shew themselves to be but senseless blocks:
The wrath of God which still is burning hote
Shall on them fling a flashing thunder shot
This fire can burne both soule and flesh at once
Your fire can onely burne the flesh and bones.
Against the sinnes of such detested livers
God shall his darts shoot from his wrathfull quivers:
God is a spirit none saw him or can see,
Unto him onely wee must bow the knee
Him onely wee will worship and adore
Take this for answere either lesse or more.

Wee know all this and well doe understand
That ye a King have a most mighty hand,
In all that which doth to this life belong
Upon the earth the sons of men among
Your fauchins sharp, your hands of forces full
With keenest edge can cutt and cleave the skull:

Your furnace hote within a little time
May burne the flesh and turne the bones to lime.

But so it is that God who is above
Can quickly from us dangers all remove:
In Heavens above a mighty Lord we have
Who can as well even from the furnace save:
This well I knowe I not in darknesse groap,
My feet are feathr'd with the wings of Hope
He who this faith within his heart not feeles
Let him in feare betake him to his heeles
For to escape by sea, or yet by land
For to avoide the furie of thine hand;
Wee understand that God can, if he will,
In fire or water keepe us safely still.

Yea more I say, that thou may'st understand
O king our God will surely from thine hand
Deliver us; yet though he not preserve
Us from the fire; thy Gods wee will not serve.

King Nebuchadnezzar.

Base naughtie stranger com'st thou hither thus
In foolish wordes to prat, and preach to us?
Within thy skull thy braine in flames most hote
Shall boille and buble like a seething pot:
So others shall by thine example learne
To bound their zeale and als their furie sterne:
Such fellowes proud who seem to be precise
Their fantasies are onely set to please:
Thy bloody tapes all railing to and fro
Deserves to be cut out and burnt also,
Or to be hang'd upon a gallows hye
Meate for the Ravens who still porke porking cry
This thou deserves, but fiercest fire for torture
With quick dispatch shall make thy sorrows shorter.

Ye princes who mine honour still regard
Judge what this fellow should have for reward:
Mine image he most proudly doth contemne,
None of you all but ye will him condemne.

The Princes.
Men who are base can not well understand
What is requir'd when great kings doe command.
They strout in rage, themselves they onely please,
Who 'gainst the lawes would seeme to be precise.
Well ruled kingdomes should such men out spew
None prouder is than a presumptuous Jew,
A cursed crew, poor rascalls all in clouts
Doe fill your kingdome with their needlesse doubts:
If ye permit things to go so and so,
Your throne anone will stagger to and fro:
Let them who will not doe what ye require
In furnace hot be scorched with a fire.

The Governoures.

Ambitious spirits the Tinder box of war
Take pleasure still in something for to Jarr,
That men may think that men of such a kind
Are more then others of a heavenly mind:
Thus wee who are in dignitie and place
Oft by such meanes doe suffer great disgrace:
What wonder sith such do not stand in aw
To scorne their prince, and proudly break his law,
Who in his heart could this but once suppose,
That such a fellow should lift up his nose
To face a prince, and to lift up his brow,
With loftie lookes his fancies to allow?
He thinks all others of a waxen mind
Fit for each seale, and whirl'd with every wind,
But he himselfe a mighty rock to be
Which scornes the surges of the raging sea.

Away with such in fashiones so preceise
Who have no care their prince at all to please
See how this fellow doth himselfe behave
Who in distress did yerst remaine a slave:
See how he stands in his right ruste of pride
As who but he, who can such things abide?
Thinks thou o man this but a little thing

For to conspire against the Caldean king?
Let them who will not doe what yee require
In furnace hot be scorched with a fire.

The Captaines.
Stout captaines hardly can such fellowes heare
And not their heads with bloody sheames besmeare
Or rather gore, that others well may learne
To princes great their dueties to discerne:
If this companion could his will dispatch
Our prince should soone be ane unsceptred wretch;
His subjects should him hurrie up and downe
Untill they should him at the last uncrowne;
He who before was but a gallie slave
Disdaines now Master, or yet match to have:
Kings thrones with ladders he would scale and tak
He souldier like the way beares on his back
To climb with speede on his ambitions wall;
But soone or since great pride doth catch a fall.
See how he stands in all this great alarme
He feareth not, becaus he feeles no harme.
Let them who will not doe what ye require
In furnace hot be scorched with a fire.

The Judges.
He who to Kings due honour great not gives
Deserves like slaves the fetters and the Gyves:
Who can abide that with insulting rust
Vile rascalls should so 'gainst their princes pust?
Behold a prince whom princes doe attend
Who Chaldean Lands commands from end to end
And many moe, and yet this fellow proud
Against this prince dare thus so highly croud:
Base fellowes of a naughtie rascall race,
Doe not conceive the Majestie and place
That's due to kings, whom all should greatly feare,
As these who are indeede the godlings heere
Most neere the gods, these who against them rude

In dumbest thoughts rebell, should lose their bloode.
Who 'gainst his prince dare onely speake a word
Should in his heart have sheathed Justice sword.
Let them who will not doe what ye require
In furnace hot be scorched with a fire.

The Treasurers.
Kings troubled are with vaine and needless motions
Most idle braines make often great commotions
By naughtie things they trouble state and crowne
That they thereby may purchase great renowne,
And be esteem'd as if they were some gods
Whereas indeede they merit sharpest rods.
By proud conceits such trouble all the state
And fill the land with strife and great debate
The Caldean lands did never such men breed
Who for good wheat give dizzie darnell seed:
The Nations great by thy victorious troup
Are forc'd unto thy standarts low to stoup.
What are these fellowes with ambitious rage?
Cause bind them fast and cast them in a cage;
Bind up their mouthes full of such surely speach
Let them now knowe how farr your power doth reach:
If they thus tosse your kingdomes for their pleasure
Wee treasurers will have ane empty treasure:
Let them who will not doe what yee require
In furnace hote be scorched with a fire.

The Rulers of the Provinces.
See how vaine fellowes as with furious waves
Would overwhelme great men as naughtie slaves
By their conceits; If all things be not so
Even as they think, all upside downe must goe,
While melancholious in a drousie fit
Deviseing folies they in chambers sit,
They fertile are devices for to brood
Which ever still tend unto strife and blood:
If such obtaine their foolish hearts desire

They care not all be spoil'd with sword and fire:
What recks it them that with a scarlet robe
Of blood, men be all cloath'd and sigh and sob?
If they be safe of dread and danger free,
They care not for the greatest prodigie
That can befall; the choisest way to war
Is that which makes the king with subjects jar.
How dar such men when they the kings decree
From Heraulds heare thus disobedient be?
Let them who will not doe what yee require
In furnace hot be scorched with a fire.

King Nebuchadnezzar.
Pride in the heart most fearefull workeings hath
It makes men soare aloft and leave the path
Of duties all which to a prince are due
In Caldea of such there be not a few:
Behold how Shadrach in his fancie wise
Me and mine image basely doth despise:
This ye have heard and als have clearely seene
He in his cariage vaine and proud hath beene.
Though I be prince, he me doth not regard,
Let him stand by till he get his reward:
It is your mind that after my desire
In furnace hote he be consum'd with fire.
Ho Meshach come it may be that now ye
Your prince to serve, than he more willing be;
Be not like Shadrach who is set for strife,
Kneele and obey, if ye would save your life:
Ane Image faire on Duras field doth stand
Bow it before, I only this demand,
If thou obey, well, there shall be no more,
If not, a fire shall surely thee devore.
Who is that God who by his winged bands
Can thee preserve from my most mightie hands.

Meschach.

I willing shall you serve in every thing,
Who feares the Lord will honour als the King

Whom God to sit on highest Thrones doth chuse
Him to obey none should at all refuse
If so that he Gods will doth understand
And precepts give which God als doth command.

But if the Prince in wickednesse be bold
Though cloath'd with stuff stift with fine beaten gold,
And rough with Rubies, this must be our care
To serve the Lord, whose servants still wee are;
If in the way to Heavens wee would not erre,
Wee still the Lord must unto men preferre
In every thing, yea whether lesse or more
None but madde fooles do gold for God adore.
Gold is but earth nothing it has divine—
Though by the Artist it be chekker'd fine:
Vaine carnall men may with their simple wit
With tooles a lump into ane image fit;
But what is there, yea either lesse or more
That men should stoup such dead things to adore?
Why should a man even any comfort seeke
From golden mouthes which have no tongue to speake?
Who can imagine comfort for to find
From that which is both deafe, and dumb, and blind?
He not deserves a comfort for to have
Who unto dead things makes himself a slave.

Now knowe, o King, thy Gods wee will not serve
We trust in God, who can us well preserve
And though he should not, yet most surely wee
Unto thine image will not bow the knee.

King Nebuchadnezzar.

Base naughtie slaves, I shall a judgement ample
Bring on you soone to make you ane example
To all my subjects; surely for your crime
Your flesh and bones shall all be burnt to lime;
Becaus that ye contemners are of Princes
Yee suffer shall the fire with all your senses:
I mind such doings timeously to snib,

Lest that my lawes seeme like a spiders web.
Vaine foolish men with their most curious wits
Doe stint their studies as their furie fits,
Such willinglie will seeme to suffer paine,
To vent the follies of their idle braine
To get on earth a glorious gilded name
That so they may be counted men of fame

But I thee shall teach in another path
To walk when thou the furie of my wrath
Shalt feele in fire, which for thy faults anone
Shall scorch thy flesh, and also burne thy bone.

Ye Princes who mine honour still regard
Judge what this fellow should have for reward,
Mine image he most proudly doth contemne,
None of you all but yee will him condemne,
Though I your Liege Lord none at all doe feare,
Yet what's your mind I now desire to heare.

The Princes.

No banks at all your fames great sea can bound,
Your temples are with Lawrells richly crown'd
With majestie, ye dwell in stately towres
The highest sprite before you humbly cowres
Except these villaines faggots for your fire
Whose hearts are dampt and dimm'd with proud desire
For to be something in some mans account
Maugre your might, but yee will soone surmount
Their foolish pride; these naughty stubborne fooles
At furnace mouth will soone lay downe the tooles
Of all their pride, though they be stout in word
The sight of fire with feare their hearts shall gird
Then they anone shall soone forget to reason
When they shall feele what hath deserv'd their treason:
These fooles not knowe the heav'nly milkin way
Wherein shall shine most brightly night & day
All those who humbly still doe set their heart
From lawes of kings a jot not to depart.

But ye Sir who have such strong Regiments

At all times ready round about your tents
Ye who doe shine adorn'd with gold and gems
In purple cloath'd and crown'd with Diademes
Your kingdomes maugre times most wastfull rages
Have lasted still so many yeeres and ages,
Yee need not feare a Traitours treacherous drift
Though foolishly he for a space uplift
Himself against his prince for to rebell,
How easie is't such rascalls to expell,
To hang, to head, or if ye doe desire
Them quick to burne with scorching flaming fire?
Base naughty sp'rits not knowe what well becomes
Great princes who doe sit in glorious roomes
With sword in hand, and who doe scepters sway
With power to force all rebells to obey:
If yee such things away let slip or slide
Unbridledly with such a furious tide,
Ye shall at last find that your majestie
By others als may soone contemned be

Who lusks in downes and lookes not well abroad
To curb in time corruption with a rod,
It may spring up from twig unto a tree,
Great rivers from most small beginnings be.
This we not speake for lucre, but for love
Let fierie flames such rebells soon remove.

The Governours.

The sprits of men are flitting whiles and floating
Whiles on their fancies they are dully dotting:
It seemes to them that they see things most cleare
And yet right farr debard from their Careere,
Not knowing what to princes great belongs
When they in pride provoke by daily wrongs

This senselesse fellow with his companie
Feares not to belch against your majestie,
Whose glory great like to a shining starr
Makes eyes to dazell whether neere or farre
Pride makes him snort on pillows of security,

And also sport as though ye for impurity
Not worthy were to sit upon a throne,
But that from thence ye should be hurl'd anone;
Who have the soundest and the sharpest eye,
What I now say, they may it clearely see.

But tary till the flame shall sing his haire
And scorch his flesh till all his flesh be bare,
Then shall he howle, or give some heavy sob
That he his prince of glory due did rob;
Then shall he knowe that yee did foully slide
When flames shall scorch his back, his breast, his side
Within the furnace, fire most fierce and fell
Shall loudly make him for to yawne and yell:
Spare not the coales, it onely is the best,
Nothing but fire is for so proud a crest:
If these ye spare who darnell are and tares
Yee shall anone be fill'd with costly cares:
Your cords of strength your subjects shall untwine,
One shall rebell, another shall repine:
Make yee your subjects tremble all for awe,
Let every wink still serve them for a law
Make all men feare so that no bush or brake
May hide the man who dare but undertake
To winke amisse against what yee command,
Make so men all your power to understand.
If ye permit rebellion on such props
To goe; anone shall fall the airie tops
Of all your towres; If fellowes thus combine
They'll break the mastick of all love divine
And humane als, and so as with a thunder
The bands of dueties will breake all asunder
When once a people moved is with rage
With new conceits then hardly shall ye swage
Their furious rage by any proclamation,
So are mens sprits still, set for innovation
What wee now say it is to you for love
Let fierie flames these rebells all remove.

The Captaines.

If yee of grace and goodnesse were not full
Yee could not suffer so this churlish gull
Whose furie no respect at all can bound
To honour such that have their temples crown'd
With laurells greene; such fellowes now alone
Contemne your Crowne, your scepter, and your throne,
Your majestie must hencefoorth take good heed,
Such rebells vaine for to represse with speede;
Lest afterward maugre your might or will
They all your lands with high rebellion fill:
Wee captaines bold will not now spare our blood
You to maintaine, and to procure your good
With stately tropheis wee your state will feed
And will maintaine your crownes upon your head:
When ye are wrong'd our sword like chearefull balmes
Shall cure your wounds, wee with victorious palmes
Will you decore, wee shall make mountaines stoup
And hills all tremble with high horned top,
Wee at your service shall make no delay,
Onely command and wee shall cause obey,
These fellowes proud no strength have but in word
But wee are men for targets, speares, and swordes,
When feeble hearts perceive us armed come
A shiv'ring feare doth then their soule benumme,
And freeze their senses or dissolve them all
From vaine conceits till at the last they fall
Downe at the feet of those who doe command
Both great and small that are in all the land:
These painted tombs who seem their God to love
And you to scorne, who can them well approve?
Great danger is when as a sparkle small
But by mischance doth into powder fall,
Then all's afire; the flamme it by degrees
From place to place in a combustion flees;
As it goes on, the greater is its force,
So such conceits the subjects will divorce

From king and lawes except that speedilie
By strictest statuts such still curved be.

To be obey'd Sir be ye constant still,
For your great worth shall not want our good will:
Among best wits ye have a worthy place
All you respect, fooles onely would disgrace
Your royall precepts; If ye grant permission
Wee shall then cause abandon their rebellion:
Wee Captaines stout shall by a mighty hand
Anone atchieve whatever ye shall command.
Away with them, let pitchie clouds of smoak
Them in a furnace altogether choak.

It pleasure is faire banners to display
To goe to war to fight in battell ray
'Gainst men of worth who have both hearts and hands
But what! all these who come from other lands
Are captives base, a shame and a disgrace
That were a prince they should at all have place;
These captive slaves to speake it in a word
Not worthie are to perish by our sword:
Wee would think shame in flesh of rascalls vile
Our fauchins bright so basely to defile;
Such in a fierie furnace cast anone
That all may learne to stoup before your throne.

The Judges.
The braines of men are fill'd with tales and toyes
A curious head the countrey all annoyes:
By foolish men who take delight to jarre
Wee judges with our prince still troubled are:
These who doe flaunt in silver, silk, and gold
To scorne their prince darre never be so bold
As Rascalls vile, who readie are anone
To vilipend Kings sitting on their throne:
None, as the think, but they, the truth can find,
While as indeed such are but Beetle blind;
Fy, fy, that wee who sit on Judgments seats

Should spend our time once for to speake of threats
'Gainst villaines vile who boldly dare gain stand
The princes Lawes obey'd by all the land.
Such in a fierie Furnace cast anone
That all may learne to stoope before your throne.

The Treasurers.

Vaine fellowes pensive still doe studie nought,
But how t'accomplish their proud foolish thought,
And tremble all with their opinions vaine,
As though men might the Lawes of Kings disdaine:
Such naughtie fellowes by a needlesse jarre,
Prepare the way unto a bloody warre,
For when some few «break» ov'r the lists of law,
Their ill example soone doth others draw
Against their Liege Lord proudly to rebell
Whereby the state and all they quickly quell:
So wee who happie and most hopefull were
To gather treasures are deceived farre:
Soo wee at last get even this for a curse,
For treasures great wee have ane empty purse.

O happy they who stand as sentinell
At all times ready for the common well!
O happy they, who being put to tryall
Unto their princes are all still found loyall,
And spare not for the publick toile to take
That they the state may all to flourish make!
When this doth lake when men of quirks all full
By fraud and guile the simple sort doe gull
When others vaine in no way can forbeare
Like foolish Buffons for to flirt and jeere
And scorne the weake with most delightfull notes,
Then men become brute like vile Hogs or Goats:
But as for these who should without delay
Obey their prince and yet goe still away
With proud contempt, and a lofty gingling

As though their knowledge were no little beameling,
But even a sun with brightnesse by and by
For to enlighten all the upper sky
And heere and there most glorious all to glance
Through all the globe to make an influence
By such a pride they like the grunting hog
Doe feed on filth, or like the loathsome frog
Ly in the mires and there still croaking they
Doe bore their neighboures both by night and day
When all's in peace then all like golden spangles
Most nimbly dances, or like fruit that dangles.

But o contentions still doe bring a curse
All treasurers in wars have empty purse
This is our feare I think this fellowes bread
Hath not been wheat but dizzie darnell seed.
Thinks he in Babell safely for to dwell
And proudly thus against the king rebell?
O king yee have a most victorious troup
Which able is to caus such fellowes stoup.
Such in a fierie Furnace cast anone
That all may learne to bow before your throne.

The Counsellours.
Who to obey their princes will not joine
May seeme fine gold, yet are but copper coine:
Who to his prince is farre or neere a foe
Most curs'd he is, and should be called so:
When fell discord comes from her loathsome cage
She blowes her poison with ambitious rage
From hand to hand, nothing she doth require
But that the land blaze like a ball of fire:
If subjects seeke for to shake off the yoke
Then sure the state upon some noisome rocke
May soone make shipwrack; oh then what can «stand» stay
The state and all for to be made a prey?
Men swell with rage, and prank with proud despight,
Not aw, not law, not faith they reak, nor right,
Then altogether they in cruell thirst,

Shall swill their fill of blood untill they brust:
So through the land one stirr'd against another
Shall goe to swordes and butcher each his brother.
Nothing but blood and burning men shall see
If from the sterne yee take authoritie;
The surges must the ship soone overwhelme
If from the pilot ye bereave the helme
If men goe on and wicked deeds dispatch
Untill their king be ane unsceptred wretch,
Then cities sack'd and wealthie subjects pill'd
Then women ravisht and much men are kill'd:
So when at last these dueties become failling,
Nothing is heard but mourning and bewailling:
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