the Jews asked one of the Rabbies his Master Whether he might read any of the humane Writers or not He gave him this Answer You may read them provided you read them neither day nor night Apelles when his boy shew'd him a painted Table and told him that it was done in haste He answered He might have spared to tell him so for the work sufficiently shew'd it Luther said The Cardinals were like Foxes sweeping the house with their tails raising more dust than they cleansed Mr. Greenham answered one that spake somewhat in his own disparagement Oh said he why do you praise your self so much Espenceus saith of the Bishops in the Council of Trent They were learned in their assistants Du Mouline said of Roniface his Extravagants They will doe well with a sword in hand The Roman General said of a recruited Army of Enemies That those African Nations muster'd under several names were but the same men whom they had formerly beaten under the notion of Carthaginians When a Roman Senator asked the Carthaginian Embassador How long the Peace should last That saith he will depend on the Conditions you give us If Just and Honourable they will hold for ever but if otherwise no longer than till we have power to break them Batton Desidiale who moved the people of Dalmatia to rebel against the Romans seeing them opprest too much with tributes and exactions making such sharp war against them as Tyberius the Emperor asked him on a time why he had caused the people to take Arms To whom he answered bâ—dly That the Romans were the cause thereof for they in sending them shepherds with good dogs to preserve them they had sent them wolves which devoured them The Emperor Maximilian the 2d could not endure that War should be made for Religion and was wont to say That it was a deadly sin to seek to force mens consciences the which belongs to God only At the Treaty for delivery of the Town of Antwerp the Hollanders insisting upon explaining the word scandal c. the Duke of Parma said Can you not do as the Countryman did at Rome who passing along the streets before an Ecce homo which is the figure of the representation which Pilate made of our Saviour Jesus Christ unto the people having made reverence and passing on he bethought himself that Pilate might attribute this honour unto himself wherefore turning and putting off his hat again He said It is to the Christ not to the Pilate Pieresk us the famous Frenchman was wont to say That whosoever seeks after the uncertain good things of this world should think and resolve that he gathers as well for thieves as for himself Plato saith That the Lawes of Necessity are so inevitable that the gods themselves cannot alter them Caracalla having miserably impoverished the people his Mother reproved him To whom he shewing his naked sword replyed As long as I have this I will not want Aurelian demanding how he might govern well Was answered by a great Personage You must be provided with iron and gold iron to use against your enemies and gold to reward your friends The Caliph of Babylon demurring to give the Embassador of Almerick King of Jerusalem his hand bare but gave it him in his glove To whom the resolute Earl of Caesarea said Sir truth seeks no holes to hide it self Princes that will hold Covenants must deal openly and nakedly give us therefore your bare hand we will make no bargain with your glove Lewis King of France going the second time to the Holy Land passing by Avignon some of the City wronged his Souldiers wherefore his Nobles desired him to besiege the City the rather because it was suspected that therein his Father was poysoned To whom Lewis most Christianly I come not out of France to revenge my own quarrels or those of my Father or Mother but injuries offer'd to Jesus Christ Lewis severely punished blasphemies searing their lips with an hot iron And because by his command it was executed upon a great rich Citizen of Paris some said He was a Tyrant He hearing it said before many I would to God that with searing my own lips I could banish out of my Realm all abuse of Oaths It was the Speech of Gustavus Adolphus but three dayes before his death Our affairs saith he answer our desires but I doubt God will punish me for the folly of the people who attribute too much unto me and esteem me as it were their God and therefore he will make them shortly know and see I am but a man He be my witness it is a thing distasteful unto me And whatever befall me I receive it as from his divine will onely in this I rest fully satisfied that he will not leave this great enterprize of mine imperfect Hormisda being asked what he thought of Rome Said He took contentment in this onely that he had now learned how even there also men are mortal Socrates appointed to suffer death would learn to sing And being asked what good it would do him seeing he was to die the next day He answered thus Even that I may depart out of this life learning more than I knew before Themistocles after a Battel fought with the Persians espying a pair of bracelets and a collar of gold lying on the ground Take up those things quoth he speaking to one of his company that stood near unto him thou art not Themistocles A Jew being turned Turk soon after buying of grapes of another Turk fell at variance with him about weighing the grapes from words they fell to blows and the Jew-Turk beat the other which he endured very patiently to encourage him as it seem'd in his new Religion Soon after another Jew came to the Turk who had been beaten and demanded of him why he suffered himself to be so abused Who answered You shall beat me as much if you will turn Musulman So zealous are they to win Proselytes Philip the 2d King of Spain was devoted to his Religion in so intense a degree that he would often say If the Prince his Son were an Heretick or Schismatick he would himself find fuel to burn him The Chyrurgeons being lancing his knee one day the Prince his Son ask'd him Whether it did not pain him much He answered My sins pain me much more Reading a letter that brought him the newes of the loss of his Fleet in 88. He said without the least motion or change of countenance Welcome be the will of God I sent my Cousin the Duke of Medina to fight with men not with the Elements He used to have a saying often in his mouth Time and I will challenge any two in the world Bias being demanded by a wicked man what was piety He was silent The other asking the reason of his silence I answer not saith he because you enquire after that which nothing concerns you It was the sentence of Cleobolus Do good to your friend that he may be
ipsa juvat Charls the First whom but to name is to cast a cloud upon all former Ages and to benight Posterity In taking of whose Picture I shall not need to doe as that Painter did who drew Antigonus imagine luscâ halâ— faced that so he might hide his want of an eye from the view of the beholder There is nothing in Charls but what is lovely and admirable no deformity or imperfection I shall rather choose to imitate the famous Apelles who to express his art to the full in the picture of Venus rising naked out of the Sea assembled together all the most beautifull women of the Island of Coos his native place uniting in that piece all their divided perfections There is nothing eminent or excellent in all the deservedly admired antients that is not only met but out-done in Charls It is affirmed by the learned Raleigh that if all the pictures and patterns of a merciless Prince were lost in the world they might all again be painted to the life out of the Story of Hen. 8. But I shall with as much truth and perhaps more Charity maintain that if all the Pictures and Patterns of a mercifull Prince of a couragious and constant King of a vertuous and brave Man were lost they might be repaired if not infinitely excell'd in the Story of Charls the First whose life needs no Advocate whom detraction it self cannot mention without commendation I find not any man in all the Records of the antients or the Writings of the more modern authors over whom he hath not some advantage nor any ones life taken altogether so admirable as His nor any thing admirable in any that was not in Him Quâ— simul omnia uno isto nomine continentur In Him alone are to be found all the vertuous qualities of the best Princes in the world without the vices of any of them for he only hath made it appear that great vertues may be without the attendance of great vices It was said of our Hen. the 5th that he had something in him of Câ—sar which Alexander the Great had not that he would not be drunk and something of Alexander the Great which Caesar had not that he would not be flattered But Charls had the vertues of all without the vices of any tam extra viciâ— quam cum summis virtutibus He as much exceeded all other Kings as other Kings doe all other men In a word he was what ever a good Prince ought to be and what others should be yet was this Lilly born in the land of thorns and briers this Rose sprang up amidst a field of thistles I presume the description hath prevented me saying it was Scotland A Land that calls in question and suspence Gods Omni-presence but that Charls came thence In quo nihil praeter unum Carolum est quod commendemus A Nation famous for the birth of Charls but infamous for their treachery and disloyalty to so brave a Prince But the happiness of a brave and incomparable Father did sufficiently recompence for the place of his birth So that I may say of him what is said of Lewis the 8th of France father to St. Lewis that he was Son to an excellent Father and Father to an excellent Son a Son only worthy of such a Father a Father only worthy of such a Son A Father so admirable that Sir W. Raleigh hath left it upon Record to all Posterity that if all the malice of the world were infused into one eye yet could it not discern in his life any one of those foul spots by which the consciences of all forreign Princes in effect have been defiled nor any drop of that innocent bloud on the Sword of his justice with which the most that fore-went him have stained both their hands and fame This Encomium of the Father may justly descend to the Son as Heir apparant to his virtues as well as his Crowns In his Childhood the weaknesse of his lower parts which made him unapt for exercises and feats of activity rendred him more retired and studious and more intent upon his Book then perhaps he had been otherwise So great a Student was he in his younger dayes that his Father would say he must make him a Bishop Providence then seeming to design him rather to the Crosier then the Crown By his great study he became a great Historian an excellent Poet a great lover and Master of Musick and indeed a generall Scholar This rare Cien was not grafted upon a wilding or crab-stock but an innocent and studious youth was the prologue to a more active and vigorous manhood For being grown in years and state he shook off his former retiredness and betook himself to all manner of man-like exercises as vaulting riding the great Horse running at the Ring shooting in Cross-bowes Muskets and great Ordinance in which he became so expert that he was said to be the best Marks-man and the most comely Manager of a great Horse of any one in his three Kingdoms Nor were these excellencies ill-housed but his fair Soul was tenant to a lovely and well proportioned body His stature of a just proportion his body erect and active of a delicate constitution yet so strong withall as if nature had design'd him to be the strife of Mars and Venus His countenance amiable and beautiful wherein the White Rose of York and the Red of Lancaster were united his hair inclining to a brown till cares and grief changed them into a white at once the Embleme of his innocence and his fortune clear and shining eyes a brow proclaiming fidelity his whole frame of face and favour a most perfect mixture and composition of Majesty and Sweetness Thus long have we beheld him as a Man Let us now view him as a Husband as a Father as a King and we shall find him alike admirable in all relations As an Husband he is a rare Example of love and chastity at his first receiving of his Queen he professed that he would be no longer Master of himself then whilst he was a Servant to her and so well did he make his words good that on the day before his death he commanded his Daughter the excellent Princess Elizabeth to tell her Mother that his thoughts had never strayed from her and that his love should be the same to the last And indeed no man more loved or less doâ—â—â—d upon a wife As a father how tender was he of his children without a too remiss indulgence how carefull of their education in the true Protestant Religion which he alwayes professed and learnedly defended advising the Lady Elizabeth and in her the rest to read Bishop Andrews Sermons Hookers Ecclesiaistcall Politie and Bishop Laud's book against â—isher to ground them against Popery Let us now view him as a King and we shall see him as the Soul of the Common-wealth acting vigourously and regularly every particular member in its several place and office Behold him in
To dwell no longer on this unpleasant subject we had sinned and Charls must suffer Dilirant Archivi plectunâ—ur Reges He who had worn a Crown of Gold must now admit a crown of thornes that might fit him for the Crown of Glory They had promised to make him a glorious King and now was the time come Sit divus modo non sit vivus say they His Kingdom was not to be any longer of this world and therefore he prepares himself with humility piety charity and magnanimity to bear this earthly cross that he might attein his heavenly crown His enemies curse him he prays for them they slander him he forgives them they load him with affronts he carries them with patience And now his pious soul is on the wing and makes many a sally to the place where she longed to be at rest and in the fire of an ardent devotion he offers up himself an Holocaust being kindled with the flames of Divine Love and is fill'd with a large measure of celestial joy and holy confidence witnesse that admirable Anagram made by himself on the day before his death Carolus Rex Cras ero Lux. Hermigildus Son of Levigildus King of the Vâ—sogoths forsaking the Arrian Heresie which his Father maintain'd and embracing the Catholick truth was threatned by his Father with death unless he returned to his former errors To whom the pious Son Poteris saith he in me statuere pater quod lubet regno privas sed peritura tantum immortale illud eripere non potes In vincula me rapis ad coelum certè patet via ibimus illuc ibimus Vitam eripitâ—s restat melior aeterna Such were the pious resolves of the most Christian Charls You may doe with me what you will ye may deprive me of my Kingdomes alas these are perishing things but mine immortal Crown ye cannot reach If ye confine me to the narrow walls of a prison my soul vvill mount to Heaven thither thither vvill vve goe If ye take avvay this life I shall but exchange it for a better and eternal one Thus prepared he vvith all humility and Christan resignation offers up himself the peoples Martyr to the grief of his friends the shame of his enemies and the amazement of all the world Quis talia fando temperet à laâ—hrymis Many wiped up his blood with their handkercheifs which experience proved afterwards an admirable Collirium to restore the sight even to those I could name some of the recovered patients from whom I received the relation who were almost blind this wants not truth so much as a Roman pen to make it a miracle Sure I am his death opened thousands of eyes which passion and prejudice had blinded and those who whilst he lived wish'd him dead now he was dead wish'd him alive again That so great a Prince who yet chose rather to be good than great to be holy rather than happy might not die unattended many loyal subjects left this life with the very news of His death as it is reported of Hugh Scrimiger servant to S. W. Spotswood beheaded by the Covenanters of Scotland passing by the Scaffold before it was taken down fell into a swound and being carried home died at his own door The truth of this Relation I leave to the credit of the Historian the former I attest upon mine own knowledge my self being assistant at the Funeral of a Kinsman who with divers others died of no other disease than the newes of the Kings death on whom as I then bestowed I here deposite this Epitaph Here lies a loyal member dead Who scorned to survive his Head Thus died Charls Aliorum majori damno quam suo It being hard to determine whether the Church and State were more happy to have had or more miserable to lose so incomparable a King who wanted nothing but to have lived in an Age when it was in fashion to Deifie their Worthies or in a Country where it is a trade to be Sainted But alas He lived in an Age when vices were in fashion and virtues accounted vices Of whom his worst enemies sayes one who was none of his best friends cannot but give this civil yet true Character That he was a Prince of most excellent natural parts an universal Gentleman very few men of any rank or quality exceeding him in his natural endowments and the most accomplished King this Nation had ever since the Conquest FINIS Doloris nullus Oweni Epigr. in Regicidas Si manus offendat te dextra abscindito dextram Offendat si pes abjice Christus ait Corpus in errorem dexter si ducat ocellus Ipse oculus peccans effodiendus erit Quaelibet abscindi pars corporis aegra jubetur Excipiunt medici Theologique Caput An Elegie on Charls the First c. COme saddest Muse tragick Melpomine Help me to weep or sigh an Elegie And from dumb grief recover so much breath As may serve to express my Sovereigns death But that 's not all had Natures oil been spent And all the treasury of life she lent Exhausted had his latest sand been run And the three fatal Sisters thred been spun Or laden with yeares and mellow had he dropt Into our mothers bosome not thus lopt We could have born it But thus hew'd from life B'an Axe more hasty than the cruel knife Of grisly Atropos thus to be torn From us whom loyal death would have â—orborn This strikes us dead Hence Nero shall be kind Accounted he but wished and that wish confin'd Within the walls of Rome but here we see Three Kingdoms at one blow beheaded be And instead of the one head of a King Hundreds of Hydra-headed Monsters spring Scarce can I think of this and not engage My Muse to muster her Poetick rage To scourge those Gyanâ—s whose bold hands have rent This glorious Sun from out our Firmament Put out the light of Israel that they might Act their black deeds securely in the nighâ— When none but new and foolish lights appear Not to direct but cheat the traveller But biting births are monstrous Ours must be My Midwife Muse a weeping Elegie Well may we like some of whom Stories write From this Sun-set in mourning spend our night Until we see a second Sun arise That may exhale those vapours from our eyes Since the breath of our nostrils we have lost We are but moaning statues at the most Our wisedome reason justice all are dead As parts that liv'd and died with our Head How can we speak him praise or our loss when Our tongue of language silenc'd is with him Or can our fainter pensils hope to paint Those rayes of Majesty which spake him Saint In mortal weeds not man As great a King Of virtues as of men A sacred thing To such an heighth of eminency rais'd Easier by far to be admir'd than prais'd 'T would puzzle the sage Plutarch now to tell Or finde on earth our Charls's parallel Let Rome and Greece of
being sick to death said When I lived I provided for every thing but death now I must die I am unprovided to die Gerson brings in an Englishman asking a Frenchman Quot annos habes His answer was Annos non habeo I am of no years at all but death hath forborn me this 50 years A man said Luther lives forty years before he knows himself to be a fool and by that time he sees his folly his life is finished Anaxamander said of the Athenians That they had good Laws but used ill Augustus lamented for Varus death being asked why He said Now I have none in my Country to tell me truth A certain King of Tartaria writ to the Polonians then wanting a King that if they would choose him their King he would accept of it upon these terms Vester Pontifex meus Pontifex esto vester Lutherus meus Lutherus esto But the Polonians rejected him with this wise answer Ecce hominem paratum omni à sacra deos deserere regnandi causa Marius being accused by the Senate of treason tears open his garments and in the sight of them all shews them his wounds received in the service and defence of his Country saying Quid opus est verbis â—bi vulner a clamant Sir William Stanly railing against his native Country a Spanish Verdugo gave him this answer Though you have offended your Country your Country never offended you It is storied of a wicked City which fearing the invasion of a potent enemy sought relief of a neighbouring Prince charging their Embassadors to relate unto him what forces they were able to levy of their own The Prince replying to the Message demanded of them what coverture they had to defend their heads from the wrath of heaven telling them withal That unless they could award Gods anger he durst not joyn with them God being against them The Mother of Peter Lombard when having transgressed her vow of Continency she told her Confessor plainly that when she saw what a Son she had brought forth she could not repent that she had sinned in having him But her Confessor sadly answered her Dole saltem quod dolere non possis Caracalla said to them that desired that some honours might be spent upon his brother Geta now dead out of his way Sit divus saith he modo non sit vivus Edward the Third of England having sent to France to demand the Crown by Maternal Right the Council there sent him word That the Crown of France was not tied to a distaff which scoffing answer he replyed That then he would tie it to his sword Scaliger said He had rather have been the Author and Composer of one Ode in Horace than King of all Arragon Cato would say He wondred how one of their aruspices could forbear to laugh when he met with any of his fellows to see how they deceived men and made a great number of simple ones in the City King Lewis the 11th looking upon a Tapistry wherein a certain Nobleman who from a mean Clerk of the Exchequer was advanced to be Lord Treasurer of France had pourtray'd the steps and degrees whereby he had ascended himself represented sitting on the top of Fortunes wheel Whereupon King Lewis told him He might do well to fasten it with a good strong nail for fear lest turning about it brought him to his former estate again Which proved a true Prophecie of him One who before he was Pope was the most crouching submiss Cardinal that ever was His manner was to eat upon a net as it were in a way of devout humility but after he had obtein'd the Popedom he commanded them to take away the net saying He had caught that which he fish'd for When a French King seeing the Persian pomp of the Popes Court and pride of the Cardinals asked a Cardinal of Avinion Whether the Apostles ever went with such a Train after them He answered No verily but you must consider Sir that they were Apostles the same time that Kings were shepherds It was the saying of Rabbi Gamaliel He that multiplies servants multiplies thieves Melancthon said when he furthered the Edition of the Alchoran that he would have it printed Vt videamus quale poema sit That the World might see what a piece of poetry the Alchoran was Artabazus a Courtier received from King Cyrus a cup of gold At the same time Chrysantas the beloved Favourite received a kiss from him which the other observing said The cup which you gave me was not so good gold as the kiss you gave Chrysantes It was the Speech of an ancient Rabbi I learned much of my Rabbies or Masters more of my companions most of my Scholars The Emperor Sigismond demanding of Theâ—doricus Arch-Bishop of Collen the directest course to happiness Perform saith he when thou art well what thou promisedst when thou wert sick A certain King of the Lacedemonians being one day private in his garden was teaching one of his children of five years old to ride on a stick and unawares a great Embassador came to speak with him in that manner at which both the King and the Embassador in the Kings behalf began to blush at first but soon after the King putting away the blush and the hobby-horse together and with a pretty smile asked the Embassador if he had any children of his own He answered No. Then said he I pray you tell not what you found me doing till you have some little ones of your own and then tell it and spare not The Scouts of Antigonus relating unto him the multitude of his enemies and advising by way of information the danger of a Conflict that should be undertaken with so great an inequality He replyed And at how many do ye value me A West-Indian King having been well wrought upon towards his conversion to the Christian Religion and having digested the former Articles when he came to that He was crucified dead and buried had no longer patience but said If your God be dead and buried leave me to my old god the Sun for the Sun will not die Pythagoras said He that knoweth not what he ought to know is a brute beast among men he that knoweth no more than he hath need of is a man among brute beasts he that knoweth all that is to be known is a god among men The Lord Treasurer Burleigh was wont to say That he used to overcome envy and ill will more by patience than pertâ—nacy The Embassadors of the Council of Constance being sent to Pope Benedict the 11th when he laying his hand upon his heart said Hic est arca Noae they tartly and truly replyed In Noahs ark were few men but many beasts When one seemed to pity an one-ey'd man He told him he had lost one of his enemies a very thief that would have stolen away his heart The King of Navarre told Beza He would launch no farther into the Sea than he might be sure to return safe
fame Where every whisper every sound Is taken at the first rebound And like an aiëry bubble blown By vainer breath till it be grown Too big to be conceal'd it flies About a while gaz'd at then dies Something he tells and hasts away He could not and fame would not stay To near the rest for she well knew By mixing of false tales with true To make it more To Rome she plyes Her greatest Mart of truths and lyes The gods says she will dwell on earth And give themselves a mortal birth But they of fame had got the ods For they themselves made their own gods And car'd not to encrease their store For they had gods enough before To Solyma she takes her flight And puts the Citie in a fright Unwelcome newes fills Herods ears And then his head with thoughts and fears The King of whom the Sages told And all the Prophecies of old Is born sayes fame a King who shall Deliver Judah out of thrall Kings shall his subjects be and lay Their scepters at his feet his sway Shall know no bounds nor end but he Beyond all time so fates decree By this the Sun had cross'd the seas And told the newes to th' Antipodes The aiëry spirits pack'd hence away Chas'd by the beams of this bright day The fiends were in an uproar hell Trembl'd with the dismal yell The Prince of darkness was in doubt The Lord of light would find him out And that the word of truth being come His oracles must all be dumb Pale death foresaw he was betray'd That King of terrors was afraid Glory be to God above For this miracle of love Ever blessed be the morn When the God of Love was born Love so charming that it can Contract a God into a Man And by the magick of his birth Make an Heaven of the Earth Ever ever sing we thus Till Angels come and joyn with us They rejoyce with all their powers Yet the Benefit is Ours They with joy the tydings bring Shall We be silint when They sing The 25. Cap. of Job Paraphras'd Then Bildad answers dominion and fear Which rule us mortals loe his In-mates are Can numbers shallow bounds confine his hoasts Or does his light baulk any unknown coasts Can man be Gods Corrival to be just Can he be clean that is defiled dust The Moon in th' ocean of his light is drown'd The stars impure in his bright eyes are found Then what is man alas poor worthless span Or what 's his son a worm less than a man 35. Cap. of Job Then 'gan Elihu speak vileness dost dare Thy righteousness with Gods thus to compare Thou sayst what gain will righteousness bring in Or shall I thrive by that more than by sin I 'll answer thee Behold the clouds that stand His surer guard against thy sinning hand Legions of doubled sins cannot assault Thy God or pierce his starry-guarded vault Nor can thy stock of good encrease his store Thy hand may hurt or help like thee the poor c. On the Widows 2 Mites How comes it that the widows mites are more Than the abundance the rich gave the poor Whilst they their worldly goods lib'rally hurl'd She gave her heart more worth than all the world On Christs Cross As from a Tree at first came all our woe So on a tree our remedie did grow One bare the fruit of death the other life This was a well of Salem that of strife On Christs Death and Resurrection What can God die or man live being slain He dy'd as man as God he rose again Gen. 2. 18. When man was made God sent an helper to him And so she prov'd for she help'd to undoe him On the miracle of the Loaves This was a miracle indeed when bread Was by substraction multiplied Why wonder we at this strange feast When Gods's both giver and a guest On Christ's Resurrection The Lord of life lay in a tomb as in the womb His Resurrection was a second birth from th'womb of th' earth On M. M. weeping at Christs death What weep to see thy Saviour die Whereby thou liv'st eternally But now I know 't was cause thy sins Were the sharp spears that wounded him Mark 12. Give to God c. And to Caesar c Give God and Caesar both how shall I do Give Gods receiver and thou giv'st him too On the world That the worlds goods are so inconstant found No wonder is for that it self is Round Similis simili gaudet Wherefore doth Dives love his Money so That 's earth So 's Hee Like will to like we know On Calvus Calvus of late extream long locks doth wear The reason is Calvus hath lost his Hair On Malâ—ido Malâ—ido on his neighbour looks so grim Proximus is Postremus sure with him On Will who had run through all trades and was now a Cobler I prethee Will whither wilt thou so fast Thou canst not farther for th' art at thy Last Better fortune Whilst that the Huntsman stared he became Unto his dogs their banquet and their game But from Acteons fortune I am free Because whilst I saw her she could not me On Cornuto Cornuto cries Hee 's weary of his life He cannot bear the Lightness of his wife She wants so many Grains she 'l go with loss Yet a Light Woman is an Heavie Cross Mart. Ep. 24. lib. 2. If unjust fortune hale thee to the bar In rags paler than guilty prisoners are I 'll stick to thee banîshd thy native soyl Through Seas and Rocks I will divide thy toyl On one who fell in love with Julia throwing Snow-balls at him I 'me all on fire strange miracle of Love These Watry Snow-bals Hand-Granadoes prove If from cold clouds thou dost thy lightnings dart Julia what Element will â—ence my heart J. Cesaris Epigram A Thracian lad on Ice-bound Heber playes The glassie Pavement with his waight decayes Whilsts with his lower parts the river fled The meeting Ice cut off his tender head Which having found the Son-less mother urnd Those to be drownd were born this to be burnd Hensii Epitaph Trina mihi juncta est variis aetatibus vxor Haec Juveni illa viro tertia nupta seni est Prima est propter Opus teneris sociata sub annis Altera propter Opes tertia propter Opem Englished Three wives I had in severall ages Past A Youth a Man an old man had the last The first was for the Work a tender maid The second was for VVealth the third for Ayd Out of Italian My Mistris hath my heart in hold But yet 't is under locks of gold In which the wind doth freely play But my poor heart doth prisoner stay What happier prison can there be Confinement is my libertie H. Grotius S. Petâ—i Querela Quae me recondet recondet regio quâ moestum diem Fallam latebrâ quaero nigrantem specum Quâ me sepeliem vivus ubi nullum videns Nulli videndus lachrymas foveam meas Englished
What place will hide my guilt that there I may Deceive th' approaches of discovering day I 'll seek some gloomy cave where I may lie Entomb'd alive in shades of secrecie There seeing none nor any seeing me I will indulge my tears with libertie Out of Italian I am a child and cannot love Ah me that I my death must prove Wilt thou that I thee adore Cruel thou must be no more Torments my heart cannot bear Nor must any grief come there To Henry the 4th out of Bahusius O mighty King glory of Princely race Thy Kingdoms safety and it 's chiefest grace We wish our Muse worthy thy worth t' adorn She nothing more desires can nothing less perform Thou grace of arms mak'st war a sport to be To labour's rest to wake is sleep to thee Thy call makes souldiers whom th' hast so in awe Thy word is a decree thy beck a law Thou lead'st them on thy deeds serve for commands They learn their dutie from thy feet and hands Thou conquer'st e're thou fight'st fortune's decree Assures thee triumph 'fore the victorie Thy helmet lawrel fights all trophies be To fight and conquer is all one with thee Thy mercie strives thy sword for to reprieve And when thou strik'st thy foe thy self doth grieve Though forc'd to fight to expiate their deed Thine eyes do weep fast as thy foes do bleed Pardons are thy revenges whilst thy sword Doth wounds dispence thy hand doth help afford Like dreadful lightning to the war thou com'st Conquerour than conquer'd milder thou return'st To conquer others were too small but thou A nobler triumph o're thy self dost show Loves Duel out of Anacreon CUpid all his arts did prove To invite my heart to love But I alwayes did delay His mild summons to obey Being deaf to all his charms Strait the god assumes his arms With his bow and quiver he Takes the field to duel me Armed like Achilles I With my shield and spear defie His bold challenge as he cast His golden darts I as fast Catch'd his arrows in my shield Till I made him leave the field Fretting and dis-armed then Th' angry god returns agen All in flames ' stead of a dart Throws himself into my heart Useless I my shield require When the fort is all on fire I in vain the field did win Now the enemy 's within Thus betray'd at last I cry Love th' hast got the victory With a Letter to Aglaia Goe happy paper view those eyes Where beauties richest treasure lies The quiver whence he takes his darts Wherewith he wound 's poor mortalis hearts But yet fond paper come not near Those all-consuming flames for fear Thou perish by their cruell art That have inflam'd thy masters heart Yet if thou wil't so hardy be To venture on a batterie On that presuming Castle say Wonder not I have found the way For fairest Lady hereby know The dart came first from your own Bow Excuse for absence You need inflict no other banishment The fault it selfe's my greatest punishment Oft would I pardon crave but still my Muse Prompts me foul weather is a fair excuse If that will not suffice then let this be That I have none my best apologie Convict me of my crime and as 't is meet I 'le do you daily Penance in a sheet But prove me absent first and then I 'le write apologies or burn my Pen. Planets are where they worke not where they move I am not where I live but where I Love With Herberts Poeme The Poet 's now become a Priest and layes His Poem at your feet expects no Bayes But your acceptance kind'le it with your eyes And make this Offering prove a Sacrifice The Vestal fire that 's in your breast will burn Up all his drosse and make it Incense turne And then your smile a second life will give Hee 'l fear no death if you but bid him live Pardon this bold ambition t is his drift To make the Altar sanctifie the Gift Visit this Temple at your vacant houres T was Herberts Poem once but now t is Yours On the death of M. A. S. Fain would I pay my tribute to thy Herse And sigh thy death in never dying verse But I in vain invoke my Muse for she Alas is dead with him for company Like to those Indian wives who count the thred Of their life ended when their Mate is dead When souls thus linck'd divorce one cannot part Without the breaking of the others heart To vent my sorrowes yeelds me no relief He grieves but little that can tell his grief Let others less concern'd this truth approve And strive to shew their Wit more than their Love My grief confutes the Laws of Numbers I Whilst others Write will Weep thine Elegie Each line my tears a Colons charge defray Verses have Periods but no Period they Reader since He my better half is gone My heart is but his Monumentall Stone On which this Epitaph inscrib'd shall be I di'd in him and yet he lives in me Laus votum vitae Beatae Out of Lipsius EQuall unto the Gods is he And much above what Mortalls be Who the uncertain day of fate Nor wisheth nor repineth at T'whom impotent Ambition nor The hope of gaine 's Solicitor Whom Princes thundring threats can't move No nor the darts of angry Jove But seated in Securitie Laughs at the vulgars vanitie Whose life 's thread 's spun so ev'n that there Can not be seen th' least knot of care O might I but thus far aspire To shape my life to my desire Nor Offices nor Wealth I 'de crave Nor with white Stee'ds in triumph brave To lead along poor Captiv'd Slaves I in vast Solitude should dwell A neighbour to the Muses Well Orchards and Gardens to frequent There would I seat my sole content So that when as full ripened Death Shall put a period to my breath Tedious to none and without strife Calmely to end my aged life On T. Bastard and his Epigrams That thy names Bastard friend is thy hard fate Thy Births I 'm sure are Legitimate Well may'st a Bastard be all Common race To thy diviner wit must need give place No Jove himself begat thee and thy Birth Gets in us Wonderment as well as mirth Momus to Bastard The proverb sayes Bastards remember it Must fling no stones least they their father hiâ— Answer Momus stand off gald backs will winch t is true Here 's Salt or we should never hear of you Again to Bastard Bastard that is of best wit say the Dutch Then as thy name is so 's thy nature such What if the multitude laugh at thy Name Know their disprayses do advance thy fame To the Reader Out of Faius Who will read these None Why nor mock nor jeere Nor Baudry wishd by many comes not here But one or other hap'ly they may finde Preferring good before Jests he will minde But if none read griefe doth not me assault For if none read then
banishment to expiate their former injuries to so good a King And now we have brought him to the last and most glorious act of his life wherein we shall see him out-do himself as he had done all others in his former actions God fitting him with a Couragious and Christian patience as much above all other men as his case and condition was transcending all former examples Trees that grow on the tops of rocks they say have stronger roots than other trees because they are more exposed to the boisterousness of the winds and weather His Sacred Majesty was now to act a part beyond all president and God fitted him with a virtue and constancy beyond all parallel En horret animus pavor membra excutit refugit loqui mens â—gra tantis at que inhorrescit malis My thoughts are distracted and my pen falls out of my hand with amazement I must there-therefore draw a veil of silence over and Comment upon this Tragical Scene with tears instead of words I will onely adventure to draw the curtain so far as may let in the Readers eye to discover the King singly maintaining his own Innocence his Successors Rights and his peoples Liberty against a Legion of his adversaries who were at once his Judges and Accusers Scipio being one day accused before the Roman people of a capital offence instead of excusing himself or flattering the Judges turning to them he said It will well beseem you to judge of his head by whose means you have authority to judge of all the world Private persons have many Judges Kings none but God said M. Antonius But our King had to do with people of another principle who too well knew that politick maxime of Monsieur de Foy That a man must not trust a reconciled enemy especially his King against whom when he draws his sword he must throw the scabbard into the river It was not enough that he had granted whatever they desired which his conscience and the safety of his subjects would permit or that his Royal Concessions went beyond the foremost of their hopes and wishes or that his reasons were unanswerable and that they had no greater plea against him but that of the rapacious wolf to the innocent lamb Thou hast the better cause but I have the better teeth Though Charls was innocent it was crime enough that he was King and stood in the place that ambition aimed at Semiramis as Aelian tells the Story was an humble Petitioner to the King of the Assyrians whose Concubine she was that she might take upon her the government of Aâ—sia and command the Kings servants but for the transitory space of five dayes it was granted she came forth witâ—â— a Princely robe and her first words were ingrateful wretch Go take the King and kill him and so by one venturous step climbed up to a setled state of Imperial Government I leave the parallel to the readers thoughts and go on to observe what is truly observable that notwithstanding the natural impediment of the Kings Speech God at this time of his extremity so loosed his tongue that he delivered his thoughts without the least stammering or haesitation enough to have convinced any but a Pilat and a Jurie of Jewes that by that miracle God seemed to say to them in the language of that dumb man Rex est ne occide But it was argument enough to them to cut off that head that it wore three Ctowns A thing so strange and unheard of before our times that though they made a President they could never find an Example for it in all the Histories of the world So sacred and inviolable was the Person of the Prince amongst the Romans that when Nero made valiant by his own fear ran himself through Epaphroditus his Secretary at his request helping to dispatch him the sooner for that service was afterwards put to death by Domitian who thought it not meet to suffer any man to live who had in any sort lent his hand to the death of a Prince The Kings of Peru were so reverenced by their subjects and so faithfully served that never any of their subjects were found guilty of Treason Indeed the people of Nicer a gua in America had no law for the killer of a King but it was for the same reason that Solon appointed none for a mans killing of his Father both of them conceiting that men were not so unnatural as to commit such crimes But such is the miserable condition of Princes as the Emperor Domitian complained that they cannot be credited touching a Conspiracy plainly detected until they be first slain More strange and sad it is that men should commit murther with the sword of Justice and treason execute justice as a malefactor Such actions seldome want their reward and many times receive it from the Actors own hands It is the observation of Causabon in his Annotations upon Suetonius that all they who conspired against Caesar slew themselves with the same poniards wherewith they had stabbed the Emperor Such a death saith he may all have who so wickedly and disloyally enterprize upon the lives of Princes For a man to attempt upon the life of a forreign or neighbour Prince may perhaps passe with the guilt of simple murther but for a subject to assassinate his own native King is no less than Paracide in the superlative degree At the Solemn Coronation of the Prince every Peer of the Realm hath his station about the Throne and with the touch of his hand upon the Royal Crown declareth the personal duty of that honour which he is called unto namely to hold on the Crown on the Head of his Soveraign to make it the main end of his greatnesse to endeavour the establishment of his Princes Throne Justly may those branches wither that contrive the ruine of the Stock that feeds them and well may they prove falling stars who endeavour the ecclipsing of that Sun from whom they have received their light and lustre Rodolphus D. of Suevia having usurped the Empire of the Romans in a Conflict with Henry the right Emperor his right hand was struck off in battel which being brought to him lying upon his death-bed in the horrour of his guilt he cryed out This is the hand wherewith I confirmed my promised loyalty to the Emperor Such as repay hatred where they owe love and return disloyalty where they owe allegiance may expect a payment in their own coin from the hand of Divine Justice But to disguise Majesty into an habit of treason and to dress up treason in a robe of justice to place guilt on the bench and set innocence at the bar and by a mockery of Law to condemn the Fountain of Law is like the Italian Physician who boasted he had kill'd a man with the fairest method in the world è mortâ— said he canonicamente è con tutti gli ordini He is dead says he regularly and with all the rules of art
left imperfect I have chosen rather to erect a new frame by his model than to build upon anothers foundation That the Volume is small my diligence hath been the greater for I have laboured to substract rather than multiply them not putting in every one I met with but what was best at least in my opinion These are but the fiâ—st fruits your acceptance may ripen them into a larger harvest if God shall lend me time and opportunity I have waved any particular Dedication as not willing to entitle any man to the Patronage of my weaknesses nor am I of that vain humour of Appian the Grammarian who promised immortality to those to whom he dedicated any of his Works And they who write to Lords rewards to get Are they not like singers at doors for meat There is a Vine in Asia that brings forth Burnt-wine so excellent saith mine Author that none exceeds it Such is the nature of these short sentences they are ready dress'd and dish'd out to thy hand like some Diamonds which grow smoothand polished and need no farther labour to fit them for use but using As it is said of Isidore the Philosopher that he spake not words but the very substance and essence of things They contain magnum in parvo much matter in a few words Significant potius quam exprimunt You have here much gold in a little ore easie for carriage ready for use We have many things to learn and but little time to live I know not therefore any kind of Learning more pleasant or more profitable than this which teacheth us many lessons in a few lines But I will not waste thy time Reader whilst I study to improve it and to approve my self Thy servant T. F. Apothegmes AN old Mass-Priest in the dayes of Hen. 8. reading in English after the Translation of the Bible the mircale of the five loaves and two fishes when he came to the verse that reckoneth the number of the guests he paused a little and at last said they were about 500 the Clerk whispered into the Priests eares that it was 5000 but the Priest turned back and replied with indignation Hold your peace sirrah we shall never make them believe they were 500. Aristides said concerning the Elegance of the City of Smyrna that no man except he which shall see it will be drawn to believe it The Savages an English Family held Ardes in Ireland long in possession amongst whom there goeth a great name of Him who said no less stoutly than pleasantly when he was moved to o build a Castle for his defence that he would not trust to a castle of stones but rather to a castle of bones Meaning his own body Columbane a Monk of Ireland when Sigebert King of the Frankners dealt very earnstly with him and that by way of many fair and large promises that he should not depart out of his Kingdom Answered him That it became not them to embrace other mens riches who for Christs sake had forsaken their own Porpherie in regard of the many tyrants rising up in his dayes in Britain cried out in these terms Britain a foolish Province of tyrants St. Ambrose in his Funeral Sermon of Theodosius cryeth out in these terms that Eugenius and Maximus who had five years usurped the Empire by their woful example doe testifie in hell what a heavy thing it is to bear arms against their Natural Prince Of this Maximus it is said that he was a valiant man victorious and worthy the title of Augustus but that against his allegiance he had by way of tyranny and usurpation attained the place Homer saith of one that had a misfortune It was because he did not honour his Parents Upon a triumph all the Emperor Severus's Souldiers for the greater pomp were to put on Crowns of Bayes but one Christian there was amongst them which wore it on his arm and being demanded the reason boldly answered It becomes not a Christian to be crowned in this life Arnobius was wont to say that persecution brings death in one hand and life in the other for while it kills the body it crowns the soul The Empress Eudoxia sending a threatning message to Chrysostom for boldly reproving her He answered Go tell her I fear nothing but sin Justus Jonas said of Luther that he could have of God what he pleased Epaminondas being asked what was the greatest joy he ever had in the world He said Leutrica Victoria the Battel of Leutrick Rocardus King of Frisland being by Wolfranius perswaded to be Baptized having one foot in the Font the other out asked Wolfranius where went the most part of his Predecessors that were not Baptized To hell said Wolfranius then Rocardus drew his foot out of the Font saying It was best following of the greatest company The Devil meeting with a devout Hermit asked him three questions First what should be the strangest thing that God made in a little frame He answered a mans face The second Where was the Earth higher than all the Heavens Where Christs body born of the Virgin Mary was adored of Angels and Archangels The third what space was between Heaven and Earth Thou knowest best said the Hermit which wast from Heaven thrown down to the Earth L. Silla finding his souldiers timerous and fearful to fight with Archelaus Mâ—â—hridates General drew out his sword and said You souldiers that mean to fly to Rome tell them at Rome that you left Silla your General fighting in the midst of the Battel with the enemies in Boetia Philipides the Poet refused to be of King Lysimachus Counsel that when the King said to him What wilt thou that I give unto thee Nothing said the poor Poet but onely this that I may not be of thy Council In a publick meeting with all the Princes of Germany at Wormatia where the Duke of Saxon first preferring his mettals and rich veins of earth the Duke of Bavaria much commending his strong and brave Cities and Towns and the Duke Palatine of his wines and fertility of his lands the Duke of Wittenbergh said I can lay my head and sleep upon the lap of any of my subjects I have abroad in the field every where Huic facile concedite palmam said Maximilian the Emperor Give him the palm Themistocles being asked whose Oration he would hear Even him said Themistocles that can best set forth my praise and advance my fame Isocrates repeating an Oration of Demosthenes his adversary at Rhodes they of Rhodes much delighting therein and much commending the Oration that Isocrates made though he was enemy to Demosthenes was forced against his will to say to the people What if you had heard the beast himself pronouncing his own Oration Julius Caesar seeing certain men of Apulia in Rome carrying Apes upon their arms playing asked the men If they had no women in Apulia to get children to play withal Diogenes when he saw mice creeping for some crums to his
be no heaven An Italian Prince being upon his death-bed and comforted by his friends touching the joys of the other world whereunto he was going he fetched a deep sigh and said Oh! I know what 's past but I know not what 's to come There is a saying fathered upon Paul 3d. when he lay upon his death-bed that shortly he should be resolved of two things Whether there be a God and Devil or whether there be a heaven and hell When a rare Italian Statuary offered Rh. 2d of Spain that without expence to the King he would set up his Majesties arms and portraicture over the gates of every City in Lombardy the King commending the mans good will answered He had rather have a workman that with any expence whatsoever could set up his image in Heaven When the souldiers demanded a donative of Galba he answered That he used to choose not to buy souldiers Vespasian was not moved with the scoffs of Demetrius Cynicus but slighted them saying I use not to kill barking dogs Domitian punished Informers saying That not to punish such was to encourage them Trajan delivered his sword to the Captain of the Guard willing him to use it for him if he did well but against him if otherwise Antonius Pius Emperor comming to see Omulus his house he enquired whence he had his marble pillars Omulus answered that in another mans house he should be both deaf and dumb When Julia Mother-in-law to Caracalla whom he married told him he was too prodigal he laid his hand on his sword saying I shall never lack money so long as this is with me Julian robbed the Church of her Revenues telling the Clergy that they should be the fitter for Heaven because it is written Blessed be the poor Tyberius Constantinus Co-Emperor with Justin when Sophia the Empress reproved him as being too prodigal in his bounty to the poor He answered that he should never want wealth on earth as long as he had laid up treasures on earth by relieving the poor Maximilian the Emperor was wont to say to compel the conscience is to force heaven It was not ill answered of Merope to King Polyphontes who therefore kill'd his brother because he had entertained a purpose to have killed him You should only have done the same injury to him which he did to you you should still have had a purpose to kill him Aquinas was once asked with what compendium a man might best become learned He answered By reading one Book A great Italian General seeing the sudden death of Alphonsus Duke of Ferrara kneeled down instantly saying And shall not this sight make me religious When the Duke of Candia had voluntarily entred into the incommodities of a Religious life and poverty he was one day spied and pitied by a Lord of Italy who out of tenderness wish'd him to be more careful and nutritive of his person The good Duke answered Sir be not troubled and think not that I am ill provided of conveniencies for I send a harbinger before who makes my lodgings ready and takes care that I be royally entertained The Lord asked him who was his harbinger He answered the knowledge of my self and the consideration of what I deserve for my sins which is eternal torments and when with this knowledge I arrive at my lodging how unprovided soever I find it me thinks it is ever better than I deserve 'T was a reasonable answer of Pericles to one that asked him Why he being a severe and Philosophical person came to a Wedding trimmed and adorned like a Paranymph I come adorned to an adorned person trim'd to a Bridegroom The Emperor Ferdinand the 2d had wont to say to those that brought him any ill newes 't is good 't is Gods pleasure I am contented Sir Thomas Moore somewhat before he was made Lord Chancellor built a Chappel in his Parish at Chelsey where the Parish had all ornaments belonging thereunto abundantly supplied at his charge and he bestowed thereon much plate often using these words Good men give it and bad men take it away The King of Sweden to the Dutch Embassador perswading him to a care of his person answered that his hour was written in heaven and could not be altered on earth Sir Jervis Ellwis when executed on Tower-hill for Overburies death left these two Items to Posterity 1. Not to vow any thing but to perform it 2. Not to take a pride in any parts though never so excellent A Lord Mayor of London in K. James his time stopping the Kings carriages as they were going through the streets with a great noise in time of Divine Service and the King being told of it he in a rage swore he thought there had been no more Kings in England but himself sent a warrant to the Lord Mayor to let them pass which he then obeyed with this answer While it was in my power I did my duty but that being taken away by a higher power it is my duty to obey Demodocus said of the Milesians they were no fools but they did the same things that fools did Vincentius Lyrenensis saith of St. Cyprian who had before the Council of Carthage defended re-baptizing the Author of this errour saith he is no doubt in heaven the followers and practisers of it now goe to hell A Gentleman having by fatherly indulgence tolerated the humour of gaming and wenâ—hing in his son dis-inherited him for drinking saying of the first If he had wit he would not lose much by it and of the second that in time for his own case he would leave it but of the third he said he would prove the elder the viler and hardly ever amend it A certain man comming to Athens meeting one of his friends in the street desired him to shew him the rarities of the City His friend carried him to Solon but the man having viewed him some time would have gone farther no said his friend You have seen all Vidisti Solon vidisti omnia It is said of the Germans that they understand more than they can utter and drink more than they can carry A certain old man being asked why he wore his beard so large and long that beholding those grey hairs said he I may doe nothing unbeseeming them Cyrus was wont to say that a good Prince was like a good Shepherd who can by no other means grow rich than by making his flock to thrive under him A maid in Plutarch being to be sold in the Market when a Chapman asked her Wilt thou be faithful if I buy thee Yes said she â—tiamsi non emeris whether you buy me or no. Demosthenes said to him that objected that his Speech smelt of the candle I know my candle stands in your light The man being suspected for a thief Melancthon was used to say He that dealeth with some men had need to bring a Divine a Lawyer and a Souldier with him to get his right St. Bernard comming to the great Church
of Spire in Germany he was no sooner come into the Church but the Image of the Virgin saluted him and bad him Good morrow Bernard whereat he well knowing the jugling of the Friers made answer again out of St. Paul Oh said he your Ladiship hath forgot your self it is not lawful for women to speak in the Church John King of England being wished by a Courtier to untomb the bones of one who whilst he was living had been his great enemy Oh no said the King would all mine enemies were as honourably buried The Egyptian Calyph offering an English Embassador his hand in his glove the Embassador answered Sir we come not to treat with your glove but your self When a Pyrate said to one of his fellows Woe to us if we be known an honest man in the same ship replyed And woe to me if I be not known Luther was wont to say He would be unwilling to be a souldier in that army where Priests were Captains because the Church not the Camp was their proper place Plato being demanded how he knew a wiseman answered When being rebuked he would not be angry and being praised he would not be proud Marquess Pawlet there being divers factions at Court in his time yet was he beloved of all parties and being asked how he stood so right in the judgment of all He answered By being a willow and not an oak Diogenes was wont to say when the people mock't him They deride me yet I am not derided I am not the man they take me for Rather than want exercise of his patience he would crave alms of dead mens Statues and being demanded why he did so He answered That I may learn to take denial from others the more patiently Marius was never offended with any report went of him because he said If it were true it would sound to his praise if false his life and manners should prove it contrary A Steward once replyed to his passionate Lord when he called him knave c. Your Honour may speak as you please but I believe not a word that you say for I know my self an honest man Philip of Macedon professed himself much beholden to his enemies the Athenians for speaking evil of him For said he they made me an honest man to prove them lyars When Diogenes was told by a base fellow that he once had been a Coiner of money He answered 'T is true such as thou art now I once was but such as I am now thou wilt never be Socrates when one asked him why he took such a ones bitter railing so patiently Answered It is enough for one to be angry at a time Dion of Syracuse being banished came to Theodorus Court suppliant where not presently admitted he turned to his companion with these words I remember I did the like when I was in like dignity Socrates being perswaded to revenge himself of a fellow that kick'd him answered If an ass had kick'd me should I have set my wit to his and kick'd him again Another time being told that one spake evil of him He replyed Alas the man hath not as yet learned to speak well but I have learned to contemn what he speaks Diogenes being told that many despised him answered It is the wise mans portion to suffer of fools When Dionysius the Tyrant had plotted the death of his Master Plato and was defeated by Plato's escape out of his Dominions when the Tyrant desired him in writing not to speak evil of him the Philosopher replyed That he had not so much idle time as once to think of him knowing there was a just God would one day call him to a reckoning When once an hot-spur was perswaded to be patient as Job was He replyed What do ye tell me of Job Job never had any suits in the Chancery Mr. Bradford was wont to say that in Christs cause to suffer death was the way to heaven on horsback Jugo an ancient King set all his Nobles being Pagans in his Hall below and certain poor Christians in his Presence-chamber with himself at which all wondring he told them this he did not as King of the Drones but as King of another world wherein these were his fellow-Princes It was the saying of a merry fellow That in Christendom there were neither Scholars enough Gentlemen enough nor Jewes enough because if there were Scholars enough so many would not be double and treble beneficed if Gentlemen enough so many peasants would not be ranked among the Gentry and if Jewes enough so many Christians would not profess usury Socrates was wont to say to Alcibiades when he met him among gallants like himself I fear not thee but thy company Alexander when a Commander of his in the Wars spake loudly but did little told him I entertained you into my service not to rail but to fight Illyricus when one asked him why the old Translations of the Bible had no vowels I think saith he that they had no consonants for they could not agree among themselves Doctor Reynolds his Lecture in Oxford ceasing by reason of his sickness some desired him to read before he was well recovered The Doctor said He desired so to serve God that he might serve him long Erasmus was wont to say in his time That to Preach with many Ministers was but Perfricare frontem linguam voluere Epiphanius having stayd long at Constantinople and being to take ship to return home again said He was leaving three great things a great City a great Palace and great Hypocrisie Charls the Great when he was shewed by a Duke a Royal Palace and all the rings and sumptuous ornaments and jewels said Has sunt qui nos invitos faciunt mori These are the things that make us unwilling to die Erasmus was used to say That the dunsery and idleness of the Monks of his time made him a Student The Athenian Commander being asked what God was said He was neither bow-man nor pike-man nor hors-man nor footman but one that did know istis omnibus imperare A noble Commander in the Wars having taken great spoils said to a souldier behind him Tolle istos Ego Christianus When Cajetan told Luther he should be banished Luther answered Si non capiat terra capiat coelum A great man comming to Aquinas and offering him a Bishoprick he leaning on his elbow in his Study replyed Mallem Chrysostomum in Matthaeum The â—ame Aquinas when he was entreated to take a Cardinals place answered Sepulchrum cogito non gradum sublimiorem Luther and his Wife with four children were in a boat and being in a great storm were like to be cast away Luther laughing aloud said Oh how the Devil would rejoyce if we were all drowned Plato discoursing unto one of the contempt of death and speaking strangely upon it was answered That he spake more couragiously than he lived To whom Plato replyed that he spake not as he lived but as he should live Caesar Borgia
why he not onely not kill'd his enemies but took them to be his friends It seems says he to thee profitable to kill an enemy and I kill an enemy while I spare him and make him my friend while I advance him The Philosopher Anacharsis said of Solons Common-wealth That in the Consultations and Deliberations of the Greeks Wise-men propounded the matters and fools decided them Darius was wont to say of himself In a pinch and extremity of peril he was always wisest Favorinus told Adrian the Emperor who had censured him in his own profession of Grammar That he durst not be learneder than he who commanded 30. Legions Thou art an Heretick said Woodrofe the Sheriff to Mr. Rogers the Proto-Martyr in Queen Maries dayes That shall be known quoth he at the day of Judgment General Vere told the King of Denmark that Kings cared not for souldiers until such time as their Crowns hung on one side of their heads Tamberlain having overthrown Bajazet asked him Whether ever he had given God thanks for making him so great an Emperor who confessing he never thought of it Tamberlain replyed that it was no wonder so ingrateful a man should be made a spectacle of misery For you saith he being blind of one eye and I lame of one leg was there any worth in us why God should set us over two such great Empires Luther was wont to say that three things make a Preacher reading prayer and temptation reading a full man prayer an holy man temptation an experienced man One having made a long tedious and idle discouse before Aristotle concluded it thus Sir I doubt I have been too tedious to you with my many words In good sooth said Aristotle you have not been tedious to me for I gave no heed to any thing you said Aigoland King of Arragon comming to the French Court to be Baptized and asking who those lazers and poor people were that waited for alms from the Emperor Charlemain's table When one answered him that they were the servants of God I will never serve that God said he that keeps his servants no better One being ready to die clapt a 20 s. peece into his mouth and said Some wiser than some if I must leave all the rest yet this I' ll take with me Sabina a Roman Martyr crying out in her travail and being asked by her Keeper how she would endure the fire the next day Oh well enough said she for now I suffer in child-birth for my sin but then Christ shall suffer in me and support me Cardinal Columnus when the Pope threatned to take away his Cardinals Hat That then he would put on an Helmet to pull him out of his throne King James after he had moderated as Dr. of the Chair at Oxford in all Faculties when in the publique Library there he beheld the little chaines wherewith the several Books were fastned to their places I could wish saith he if ever it be my lot to be carried captive to be shut up in this prison to be bound with these chains and to spend my life with these fellow-captives that stand here chained Aesop being set to sale with two other slaves a Chapman enquired of the first what he could do He to endear himself answered mountaines and wonders and what not For he knew and could do all things The second answered even so for himself and more too But when he came to Aesop and demanded of him what he could do Nothing said he for these two have fore-stalled all and have left nothing for me The Philosopher Byon when a certain King for grief tore his hair Doth this man said he think that baldness will asswage his grief One being demanded what his studies would stead him in his decrepit age answered That he might the better and with more ease leave the world The Embassadors of Samos being come to King Cleomenes of Sparta prepared with a long prolix Oration to stir him up to war against the tyrant Polycrates after he had listned a good while unto them his Answer was Touching your Exordium I have forgotten it the middle I remember not and for the conclusion I will do nothing in it Scipio being one day accused before the Roman people of an urgent and capital offence in stead of excusing himself or flattering the Judges turning to them he said It will well beseem you to judge of his head by whose means you have authority to judge of all the world Atisthenes was wont to say to his disciples Come on my Masters let you and me go to hear Socrates there shall I be fellow-disciple with you Julius Drusius to those Workmen which for 3000 crowns offered so to reform his house that his neighbours should no more over-look into it I will give you 6000 said he and contrive it so that on all sides every man may look into it The Stanhop said merrily That not he but his stately house was guilty of high treason Eleazer a Jew being demanded when it would be time to repent amend Answered One day before death And when the other replyed that no man knew the day of his death He said Begin then even to day for fear of failing Apollidorus was wont to say of Chrysippus his Books That if other mens sentences were left out the pages would be void Cato said He had rather men should ask why he had no Statues erected for him than why he had A certain Souldan who died at the Siege of Zigetum being perswaded by the Muphti not to suffer so many Religions as were in his Dominions He answered That a nosegay of many flowers smelled far more sweet than one flower onely Pope Sixtus said That a Pope could never want money while he held a pen in his hand One said of Erasmus his Enchyridion That there was more devotion in the Book than in the Writer A Frenchman being asked by one of his Neighbours if the Sermon were done No saith he it is said but it is not done neither will be I fear in haste When one asked the Duke of Alva whether he had not observed the great Ecclipse of the Sun No truly said he I have so much business on earth that I have no time to look up to heaven A Physician was wont to say pleasantly to delicate Dames when they complained they were they could not tell how but yet they could not endure to take any Physick Your onely way is to be sick indeed and then you will be glad to take any medicine Diogenes being asked what time is best for meals He answered For the rich man when he had a stomack and for a poor man when he could get meat Jovinian said to the Orthodox and Arrian Bishops contending about Faith Of your learning I cannot so well judge nor of your subtle disoutations but I can observe which of you have the better behaviour An Arrian Bishop entreating the Emperor Constantine to give them a Church He answered If your
preserve it And although me thinks I hear you tell me that my sounding on so slight a knock doth but argue me the empter vessel whilst you who are more full fraught give no answer though with much importunity I have no other excuse but to tell you that I do it to let you see I had rather seem to be a troublesome than a forgetful friend Truly sayes our English Proverb He loves not at all that knows when to make an end And the Italians are not amiss who say L'amore senza fine non ha fine Love that has no by-end will know no end For my part I profess no other end in my affections but your service for which I once gave you my Heart and now my Hand that the World may see whose servant is T. F. To Mr. C. H. Mr. Ch. AS I was going to Church to keep the Fast your Letter encounter'd me and as good reason turn'd my Fast into a Feast but such a one as my Senses were more employ'd on than my Palat It rejoyc'd me exceedingly to hear of that ingenious Fl. though I expected to have heard from him before this But I see Non factis sequimur omnia quâ— loquimur I am sure Non passibus aequis To those Poesies you tell me of I shall only answer them with expectation since the Instructer of the Art of Poetry tells me Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere And to return you something for your Newes I can only tell you this that our streets abound with Grashoppers silenc'd by our great Hercules and others that look like horses thrown into a certain River in Italy which are consumed to the bare bones For your desire to be made merry I must confess Laeta decet laetis pascere corâ—a jocis But for you to desire it of me seems to be a jest it self I doubt to be tedious and well know Seneca's rule That an Epistle should not Manum legentis implere I onely take time to subscribe my self Your true Friend T. F. To Mr. S. M. at Barbados Friend I Received your as welcome as unexpected Letter of which I will say in the words of Seneca that famous Moralist in an Epistle to his friend Lucilius Exulto quoties lego Epistolam tuam implet me bonâ spe jam non promittit de te sed spondet And God forbid that I should be so uncharitable as not to believe it Yet let me tell you that without the reality of the actions it is but a dead letter nay 't will prove a deadly for should you neglect to do what you there promise or speak there more than you do that very letter will one day rise up in judgment against you Pardon my plainness and think never the worse of the Truth for my bad language Truth may many times have bad cloaths yet has she alwayes a good face It is a good mark of the moral Philosopher that sheep do not come to their shepherd and shew him how much they eat but make it appear by the fleece that they wear on their backs and the milk which they give I will not wrong the sharpness of your judgment by applying the Moral I have read of two famous Painters who to shew their skill the one drew a bunch of grapes so lively that he cozened the Birds the other drew a veil so perfectly over his grapes that he deceiv'd the Artificer himself Could we draw the colour of our good works never so lively as to cozen every mortal eye and draw so fine a veil over our evil deeds as to conceit our selves into a conceit we had none yet is there an All-seeing eye to whom the darkest secret is most apparâ—nt Did we but truly consider this it could not chuse but hinder us from committing those things we would be ashamed to do in the sight of Man which we daily doe in the sight of an Omniscient God Therefore the advice of the Heathen Philosopher may be made good Christian practice who advised to set the conceit of Cato or like Grave man alwayes before us to keep us from doing what might mis-befit their presence It is a Character of the wicked man drawn by the Divine hand that in all his wayes he sets not God before his eyes There is also another witness within us that can neither be brib'd not blinded O te miserum si contemnis hunc testem O have a care to offend that Bird in the breast that must one day sing either your joyful Elogie or more doleful Dirge Camdâ—n our English Historiographer tells us of a place in Stafordshire call'd Wotton in so doleful a place under the barren Hill Weaver that it is a common Proverb of the neighbours Wotton under Weaver Where God came never But alas there 's no such place on Earth to be found yet can I tell a place where his pure Spirit abhors to enter namely into a person contaminated and defiled with sin and thereby made the harbour of Satan and hatred of the most High Whereas you tell me you are faln to labour let me comfort you with this that it is as universal as unavoidable a Fate laid on us by the mouth of Truth Man is born to labour as the sparks to fly upward As if Man and Labour were Termini Convertibiles But that you take more pleasure now in Labour than you did before in your Pleasure it much comforts me assuring me that you are now sensible of that which the Romans taught by placing Angina the goddess of sorrow and pain in the Temple of Volupeia the goddess of Pleasure as if that pain and sorrow were the necessary consequences of pleasure Whereas on the contrary Goodness is like the Image of Diana Pliny speaks of Intrantes tristem Euntes exhilerantem How wretched therefore is their condition that have their portion in this life Well may we be strangers in this worldly Aegypt so we may be inhabitants hereafter of the Heavenly Canaan And you and I may say in the words of Seneca Satis multam temporis sparsimus incipiamus nunc in vasa colligerâ— We have spent time enough already and 't is high time now to save the rest and to make the best of the remnant of our life because we know not how short it is It was a wise caution of Eleazer a Jew who being demanded When it would be time to repent and amend Answered One day before death And when the other replied That no man knew the day of his death Begin then said he even to day for fear of failing Hoc proprium inter caetera mala hoc quoque habet stultitia proprium semper incipit vivere quid est enim turpius quam senex vivere insipieâ—s Give me leave not to instruct you but to tell you what counsel I desire to practise for it was an envious disposition of that Musician that would play so softly on his Harp that none could hear but himself First 'T is my
know how to honour it as much as I want it In a word Sir I thank you for your Letter more for your Verses but most that you please to style me Sir your very Friend T. F. To Mr. R. R. Sir I Return you your New-Forrest with as many thanks as it merits and that 's infinite which submission to your better judgment from which I would no sooner dissent than from truth it self I conceive this not at all behind the first part but in time it appearing to me of as fine a thred and no less curious workmanship Happily the others being chequer'd with forreign flowers may render it more delectable But why should we think a forreign garden of flowers and perhaps some weeds better than an English Forrest Well may it be more sightly but I 'm sure 't is not so serviceable Scarce can I hold my pen from glutting in his praises who is far above it's highest flight did not the Italian proverb check me and tell me truly La Lode nascer deve quando è morto chi si ha da Lodar That praises should not be born till the praised be dead I will therefore content my seff to say that I hope such pleasant groves are not superstitious and could wish that the whole Kingdome were so turned to a Forrest and the Author the Ranger General That 's body might not be confin'd Who 's a free Monarch in his mind One who with 's Majestick Pen May give the Law to other men Sir I have sent you a Clavis to it not that I think you need any but that if you invite any friend to those pleasant walks they may have an entry of understanding without picking the lock by a false construction It was done at a heat and I have not time to file it over but such as it is 't is yours If you please to send me the last Edition of the Kings learned pieces I shall keep it carefully return it speedily and remain continually Sir yours to command T. F. To Mr. W. L. Sir I Must esteem it an happinesse to hear of you though I cannot hear from you and that I heard nothing of your sickness till I heard also of your recovery so that now to tell you I am sad or sorrowful for your sicknesse were as preposterous as to grieve for your death after your resurrection or to bid you good-night in the morning when you are risen But like the trembling needle between two equally attractive Loadstones so am I between the two different passions of joy and sorrow Joy for a friends recovery and sorrow for a friends restraint Not to be joyful for your recovery were to envy a publick good and I might justly be accused for an enemy to the State in not rejoycing at a happinesse so common that deserves a day of Publick Thanksgiving Then not to be affected with the sorrows and sufferings of a friend and such a friend as E. B. were as great a crime as his whom the Romans condemned to death For wearing a Crown of Roses in a time of common calamity I long to hear how our honest friend stands since the High Court sits which if I do not now from thee I shall think that whilst thy body suffer'd under the fire of a Feaver thy friendship was sick of an Ague that though the Dog-star reigned in thy blood thy affections laboured under Capricorn But since thy sickness is in it's Declension I shall expect thy friendship to be again Ascendant that before did Culminate And for my part think not that thirty miles distance cold raines or your silence can make me forget you or that I am As much as ever Sir your Friend T. F. To Mr. J. H. Sir HAving hitherto waited with silence to hear of your receit of my Letter and finding none makes me fearful that it miscarried in the delivery and I am not ignorant or insensible of the many abortives of the Carriers Midwifery But I hope your candor is sufficient to dispel all clouds of suspition that might seem to ecclipse my realitie or to think that I am so much foe to my self as not to desire or at least not to endeavour the gainful commerce of your letters I am not ignorant that all kind of Learning hath been wrapt up in Letters And I assure you Sir I shall in the enjoyment of yours think my self little less honoured than I do Lucillius by Seneca's Nor shall I be a little proud that I may be any wayes though but occasionally instrumental to you to exercise your excellencie in this way Neither do I altogether doubt of the pardon of my rude scribling because I am Sir without Complement your very humble Servant T. F. To Mr. E. H. Sir THough I have paid the Principal in returning your books I am still indebted for the Interest you were pleased to lay on them in giving you my account of them For your Caussin I return you thanks in stead of censures wishing that he were now alive that our late Tragedies might be acted over again by his high-flying quill and be thereby committed to incredulous posteritie The Novum Lumen Chymicum I understand is lately Translated and indeed it were a wonder if there were any New Lights that we should not have in English in these Times But because you told me you lent me that onely to laugh at I shall only tell you it no whit failed your intention or my expectation Now for your Vaughan be pleased to take notice that he is since answered by one Moore learned and better famed than He and therefore I shall let that Answer be mine Yet withal that I serve such Books as the good Bishop serv'd Persius when he threw him on the ground with a Si noâ—vis intelligi debes negligi Thus as the Hollanders sometime made money of past-board I make my payment in Paper and in this coyn I shall pay you liberally for your Arithmetick Believe me Sir 't is Homers Iliads in a Nut-shell and so handsomely compacted that the doggedest Critick cannot fasten on it onely let me tell you it is deficient in one thing and that is that it is not able to help me to number the Engagements you have lain upon Sir your unmeriting Friend T. F. To Mr. R. R. Sir HE 's a bad debtor that payes by halfs but he 's a worse that never payes That I may not be guilty of that superlative ingratitude I have sent you two Books of your three And for Bacon I pray think it not long if I should keep it till Lent for I mean to all his Experiments to add one more of your friendship If you expect an account of your Iâ—â—â— Bâ—â— know it is far above my censure as my praise I go to that as to my Bible yet something in Allegiance Certainly that Portraiture was drawn by a Divine hand and wrote with a pen pull'd from some Angels wing If there be one that wrote by divine
those fruits with which they often seem so big I have endeavoured my promises should not prove abortive but it hath staid so long by the Carriers Midwifry that what you expected as a gift will amount to a purchase for a courtesie delay'd is dearly bought Besides I cannot expect it should arise to the merit of a gift since it will hardly amount to the least mite that I owe you Your courtesies have been so many your favours so large and the continuance so long that I despair of discharging the Interest should your goodness abate me the Principal But if a thousand thanks and ten thousand good wishes may pass for pay you shall never have cause to call me ingrateful for herein I can be as liberal as your self I remember the Dutch History tells us that at the Siege of Alcmar the souldiers within being without pay the Magistrates caused dollers of tin to be coyned of three shillings a piece with promise that the Town being delivered they would redeem them for good silver at the rate I will wrap up this poor present with a faithful promise that when propitious Heaven shall transmute my tin and copper into gold and silver payments shall be more proportionate to your merits and my obligations by which I stand firmly bound to profess my self Sir your Servant T. F. To M. J. W. Madam NEither out of sloth nor slighting not out of forgetfulness nor unwillingness have I hitherto delay'd this debt of duty which you may justly have expected sooner Believe me I have not yet forgot those many many favours whereby you have perpetually bound me to serve you My silence thus long hath been not out of negligence but designe I was not willing to meet your sorrow in its full careere resolving rather to await the turning of the tide and expect an ebb of your passion lest in stead of a lenitive I had brought a corrosive and in stead of abating encreased your grief By this time I hope your Reason hath subdued your Passion and natural affection given place to Religion which as it allows a moderate sorrow for the death of our friends and relations so it appoints bounds to our tears and commands us Not to weep as those without hope When my thoughts reflect upon your losse of so dutiful a daughter so good a wife so pleasant a companion so true a friend in the fair flower of her youth in the pleasant Spring of her age me thinks I could mingle my tears with yours and forget what I intended But when agen I consider the miseries of this life the troubles of this world the losses and crosses the corroding cares the doubtful fears that attend us here when I ballance our loss with her gains the miseries she is past with the happinesses she enjoyes I can find so little cause to mourn that I must confess we have infinitely more reason to rejoyce Alas what is our life but a sea of troubles a pilgrimage of dangers a race a warfare a banishment the world a prisonfull of chaines and captives at best an Inn no habitation Death is our quiet harbour an end of our journey a conclusion of our warfare that brings us from exile to our native home that gives us a Kingdome for a prison crowns for chains and for this poor baiting-place of earth an everlasting habitation in Heaven Shall we then grieve for those are gone before us who are released from the evils present and secured against those to come who are taken from labour to rest from expectation to fruition from death to life Is it not unjust Is it not envious The Philosopher who was asked Which was the best ship wisely answered That which is safely arrived Shall we weep for those who have already made their voyage or rather for our selves who are still tossed upon the waters of strife who are still subject to those storms and tempests which they have happily past They are not lost but gone before not perished but perfected not dead but departed A long-sick man commanded this Epitaph to be written upon his grave Here I am well Fortune they say most hurts whom she seems to favour Death most favours those he seems to hurt Nor may we account an early death untimely The fruit which to our apprehension is blown down green and untimely is gathered full ripe in Gods providence The fairest flowers soonest fade The Sun and Moon the most bright and glorious of these heavenly bodies fulfill their courses in a short season whilest the dimmer and duller Planets are longer time wheeling about It is sometimes the happiness of young John to out-run old Peter to the Sepulchre This is Gods will and therefore not to be resisted not to be repined at It is their happiness therefore not to be lamented Can our feares profit them where they are or bring them back to us I could allow you to be lavish of your sighs to be prodigal of your tears were they not unfruitful were they not unlawful I can easily believe your loss of her to be as great as your love to her but your meeting again will be more joyous than your parting was grievous But what do I do I forget that I write to one whose Christian carriage hath I doubt not already prevented me this office and whose excellent parts are able to anticipate whatsoever I am able to say Give me leave onely to kisse your hands and once more to assure you that I am still as much as ever Madam the most humble and the most real of your Friends and Servants T. F. To Mr. T. C. Sir IT is informed from several parts that the Butchers have knock't down the Excise-men and cut the throat of the Excise upon meat And they have so generally thrown off that yoke that it is believed they will hardly be brought to admit the putting of it on again Whither do these confusions tend Where will they end We are like the poor Ass in the Fable who often changed his Master but alwayes for the worse Will not all these miseries yet open the eyes of the blinded multitude I would be-speak them in the words of Ananus one of the Jewish Priests inciting the people against the factious Zealots amongst other passages which you may find in Josephus he thus questions them But why should I exclame against the tyrants Did not you your selves make them great and nourish their power and authority by your patience Did not you by despising those who before were in authority being but a few make all these who are many in number tyrants over your selves When Consuls succeeded the Roman Kings the Historian sayes they changed gold for brass and loathing one King suffered many tyrants scourging their folly with their fall and curing a fester'd sore with a poysoned plaister Do we not plainly see the Fable moralized by our selves The Serpents Tail would needs one day fall a quarrelling with the Head saying that she would by
serpents teeth which will raise up armed men to revenge the quarrel of those brave spirits For though our Curfeu-bell hath been rung out and the fire of our zeal rak'd up in the ashes of Acts and Orders yet it is not extinguished Witness those Sparks who have revenged the death of their Sovereign with the hazard of their own lives By this time I doubt not but they who most endeavoured his Majesties death have seen cause enough to wish him alive again and are ready to engrave that Motto upon his Statue which they threw down with contempt which was set upon the Statue of the Roman Brutus Vtinam viveres It is yet some comfort that we can mingle sighs and assist one another with mutual counsels and courtesies which shall never be wanting from Sir your assured Friend T. F. To Mr. T. L. Sir BEing lately at our New Court there I saw his Highnose so environed with his guard as if he had been their prisoner and wondred how he durst venture himself amongst so many dangerous weapons I was ready to have said unto him as Plato did to Dâ—onysius the tyrant when he saw him compassed about with many souldiers of his guard What hast thou committed so many evils that thou standest in need of such a guard of armed fellows To see the difference betwixt fearlesse innocence and fearful guilt M. Aurelius that good Prince never had any guard for sayes my Author he stood not in fear of his subjects Innocence is the surest guard as Pliny told Trajan the Emperour Haec arx inaccessa hoc inexpugnabile munimentum munimento non egere Frustra se terrore succinxeret qui septus charitate non fuerit Armis enim arma irritantur White-hall is now become Black-hall with the smoak of coals and matches But it would make one sad and sigh to see what havock is made of his Majesties goods and houshold-stuff and to whose using his house furniture is faln It minded me of a story in Q. Curtius who says Alexander that great robber as the petty Pyrat call'd him sitting in Darius Seat which was not fit for him but higher than served for his stature his feet could not touch the ground one of his Pages put a board underneath for him to tread upon whereat one of the Eunuchs that belonged to Darius looked heavily and fetch'd a deep sigh whose sadnesse when Alexander perceived he enquired of him the cause He answered That when he beheld the board whereon Darius was wont to eat employed to so base an use he could not behold it without grief Who can see those brave horses which used to draw his Majestics Coach now drag in enemies cart without pity indignation But enough of this and for this time I am Sir your very Friend Servant T. F. To Mr. E. H. Sir HAving now retrived my rude draught of that excellent but lost virtue of friendship I send the picture to you the pattern that it may be corrected by the comparison It cannot be expected that it should be an exact piece or that I should draw it to the life which hath been dead to us poor mortals especially having had so little light and at so great a distance as we are removed from that golden age wherein friendship flourished I cannot but admire that so noble a subject hath found so few friends For except that Triumvirate of Eloquence the Roman Cicero our English Seneca and that great Dictator of Learning Sir Fra. Bacon I have found few or none who have written any just discourse of it From their trine Aspect hath my discourse received some light and augmentation Yet have I not altogether trod in their steps nor made any better use of them than admire those I could not imitate neither have I used any gay or painted language but plain and simple like the subject I handle I have laboured to make it like rather than handsome An Embassador comming to Treat with the Roman Senate having his head powdered and his face painted Cato told them they could not expect any truth from him whose very locks and looks did lye I have therefore studied to represent this Lady sine fuco sine fallaciis without the dressings of any artificial handsomness or auxiliary beauty If you like it love it if not draw the curtain of your charity over it and let it lie till some abler workman shall take the pensil in hand It is enough for me if it can but speak the Author Sir your true Friend T. F. To Mr. J. A. Sir DId not the same peremptory businesse that pressed me down still keep me here I shoud at least have prevented the Office of this Paper and not been beholding to a mute proxie for the delivery of a message I should rather if not better have done in person Since fate will have it thus let me crave your credence that what you shall here read is not so much the dictate as the transcript of my heart Sir I left not my careful thoughts with your line of Communication they have been and will be my constant companions Haeret lateri lethalis arundo and I despair of any other cure than the dictamen of your friendly counsel I am confident your goodness will doe me not onely the courtesie but the justice to believe that my recesse was rather retreat than a flight from the negotiation we had in hand A businesse if my thoughts deceive me not too weighty to be carried to the end without a rest Pardon me if I am willing to look before I leap But after the verdict of my most considerate and serious thoughts I must professe I have a large and long experience of the skill and fidelity of you my leader Nor doe I fear a miscarriage where you are pleas'd to be my guide To say nothing of other circumstances I am not forgetful of though silent in allow me the liberty to tell you Spem de futuris foveo principium liquet and it shall not only be my wish but the most earnest of my endeavours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have hitherto but tythed my thoughts which should I allow my pen the liberty to write would be too tedious for you to read In a word therefore to doe you the courtesie of concluding I shall promise that one line from if he please to maintein his first favour with a second will easily and quickly draw me from the most earnest of my engagements to tell him Vis à vis that I am what I ever was and still hope to be accounted Sir your very very Friend T. F. To Mr. R. H. Sir IN my addreresses to my friends I do always intend too much reality to be beholding to a Complement in this to you if an excess of affection should unawares transport my pen to an extravagant flight your merits to me and my obliged respects to you may sufficiently secure me from the guilt of a suspitious hyperbole When I have said
in My breast nor shall it meet or be put out With any cold extinguisher but death If many shoulders make griefs burthen light Then so shall ours and may mine cease to be When they shall cease to bear their equal part And sympathize with thee as doth my heart Seph Uncle my thanks How rare it is to find A friend in misery Men run from such Like Deer from him is hunted with the dogs As if that misery infectious were Men fly with Eagles wings away But creep like snails when they should succour lend I cannot therefore chuse but prize your love Who dare be true unto your friend a name Nearer than that of kindred or of blood This is th' effect of noblest virtue which Ties firmer knots than age can e're undo Such is the knot my Maximus and I Have tied spight of my fathers anger it Shall hold when envy 's tired to invent Mischiefs in vain to cut the knot in two Which heaven hath knit too fast to loose again Alas fond man who thinks to unravel what The gods have wove together 'T is in vain Scaen. 3. 1 Lo. Lady time cals upon you not to stay Lest by a fond delay you call upon His fury to convert into some worse And sudden punishment which may deny All hopes of future safety of all ills The least is always wisely to be chosen Seph Go and prepare that floting grave which must Devour's alive I will attend you here Before when will my dearest find his grief In finding me thus lost without relief Exeunt Manet Sephestia Why doth my Love thus tarry surely he Forgotten hath the place or time or else He would not stay thus long but can I blame Him to be slow to meet his ruine I Could wish he would not come at all that so He yet might live although I perish but How fondly do I wish to be without Him without whom alas I cannot live 'T were as impossible as without air He 'tis for whom I suffer and with him All places are alike to me See where He comes who is sole keeper of my heart Enter Maximus Max. My dear Seph Ah dear indeed for whom thy life Must pay the shot of cruelty enrag'd Max. What meanes my love is 't she or do I dream Sure this cannot be she whose words were wont To be more sweet than honey soft as oil These words more sharp than daggers points nâ—'re came From her I know What sayst thou my sweet Seph The same truth will not suffer me to speak Other lest I should injure her O that 'T were possible so to dispense with truth Not to betray our selves I know not what to say Max. Heavens bless us what a sudden change is here Love who hath wrong'd thee tell me that I may Thrid their lives upon my sword make their Dead trunks float in their own blood till they blush At their own shame Tell me my heart who is 't Seph Alas poor soul thou little dreamst what sad News do's await thine ears my tongue doth fail Not daring once to name the thing must be Our loves sad end and dire Catastrophe My fathers fury Oh that that name I once delighted in should odious be To mine affrighted senses But for thee Alone it is I grieve not for my self Max. Be 't what it will so that it be but in Relation to thy love I will embrace And hug and thank that malice too that so Invented hath a means whereby I may But testifie my loyalty to thee For whose sweet sake I would encounter with Legions of armed furies sacrifice My dearest blood unto thy service which I more esteem than all the wealth the world Can boast of 'T is thee alone I value Above whatever mens ambitious thoughts Can fathom with their boundless appetites Seph This flame of love must now be quenched in Tâ—â— foaming sea we are design'd a prey Unto the fury of winds and waves The deadly Barque's providing which must be Our moving habitation the sea Must be our Kingdom and the scaly frie Our subjects This this the portion is Of fortunes frowns and fathers fiercer hate Fly fly my dearest Maximus and save My life in thine oh stay no longer here weeps Max. Why dost thou torment thy self before Thy time wilt thou anticipate the sea And drown thy self in â—ears Deny me not To share with thee in suffering as well As I have done in pleasure 't is for me This storm is rais'd were I once cast away His rage would cease I I have wrong'd thee And I 'll be just to thee and to my word draws I 'll ope the sluces of my fullest veins And set them running till they make a flood Wherein I 'll drown my self He offers to kill himself She stays his hand Seph Thine heart lies here 'T is here lock't up securely in my brest First open that and take it out for death Shall ne're divorce me from thy company I will attend thee through those shady vaults Of death or thou shalt live with me Dost think This body possible to live without A soul or without thee Have pitie on Thy tender babe whose life depends on thine And make not me widow and him orphan With unadvised rashness Sheath thy sword Max. Mine eyes will ne're endure it to behold Thee miserable no no death first shall draw A sable veil of darkness over them Pardon my rashuess I will live with thee And tire thy fathers rage with suffering So he 'l but suffer thee to live in mirth The greatest sorrow shall not make me sad Seph Here comes my father cerainly his rage Will know no bounds I fear it will Break forth into some desperate act on me Max. Although he be a King which sacred name I reverence and as a mortal god Adore he shall not dare to injure you Before my face first shall he wear my life Upon his sword if he but dare to touch Thy sacred self Sâ—â—n 4. Enter Damocles Kin. How now light-skirts have you got your Champion To shield you from our anger know I have Not yet forgot the name of father though You thus have slighted it but as a King We must be just to punish your contempt Did you so well know your beauty to be Proud of it and yet so little value it As thus to throw it all away at once Well get you gone Since that you have esteem'd A strangers love before your lovalty To me or my care to you a stranger shall Inherit what you were born to had not Your fond affections forc'd this vile exchange Max. Sir for your fury will not suffer me To call you father think not your daughter Undervalued by her love to me Her love ran not so low as to be stoâ—p'd To meet with crime who am a Prince nâ— less Than is your self Cyprus my Kingdome is Kin. What drew you hither then you must needs know It is no less than treason for to steal An heir to
companions Lam. Well fear not Sâ—â—â—la already I Have found a way to case thy mind I have A little money left and there withal Soon shall I purchase a small flock for thee Where thou shalt live secure and free from fear Enjoy thy little with content there is A shepherd lately dead whose flock I 'll buy And thou shalt be it's Mistris Samela Sam. Uncle my thanks shall ever ready be For you as always is your care for me But let your haste prevent my comming griefs For griefs have wings wherewith they flie to us Comforts are leaden heel'd and move but slow Lam. Fear not I will dispatch it suddenly The shepherd Doron's brother's lately dead And he hath the disposal of the flock As soon as I can find him we will try If reasonable price will make them ours Enter Doron See where he comes preventing me Doron The merry shepherd whither away so fast Dor I 'm running for my life Sir my brother 's Lately dead and I 'm afraid death will catch Me too if I don't make haste I 'm sure Carmela has half cut the thred of my Life in twain with the hook of her crueltie Besides Moron's sheep are roving to find Their master and they I go till they lose Themselves if I find them not the sooner Lam. Moron what was he a kin to a fool Dor. Why he was my own brother Sir Lam. I thought so Dor. I must be gone Lam. Nay stay Doron what wilâ— thou take and we Will ease thee of the trouble of thy sheep Dor. By my troth Sir and you shall have them but What will you give me and you shall have His flock ay and me too if you will for I think Carmela won't Gives him gold Lam. Will these content thee for thy sheep Dor. Ay marry this is something lik you Shall have them Sir were there as many Of them as there are hairs on their Backs They talk of a golden fleece But I think I have made their fleeces Gold now Come Sir I 'll deliver you the sheep Exeunt Scaen. 6. Enter Menaphon Forlorn forsaken and the object made Of all the shepherds storms what shall I do Love is no god Fortune is blind and can Not help sleep flies and cares possess my head Mirth makes me melancholy company Yields me no comfort when I am alone A thousand fancies do distract my thoughts And when I try to drown my cares in wine They swim aloft and will be uppermost I 'll try if I can sing my cares asleep Ye restless cares companions of the night That wrap my joyes in clouds of endless woes Spare not my heart but wound it with your â—â—ight Since love and fortune prove my equal foâ—s Enter Pesana Farewel my hopes farewel my happy dayes Welcom sweet grief the subject of my layes Pes Now will I take time by the fore-lock and Creep into Menaphon's breast through the cracks His minion Sâ—â—â—lâ— has made in it Aside Friend Menaphon what is your courage cool'd Men. Cold entertainment hath my courage cool'd Pes You know where you might have been let in long E're this without assault or batterie But you 'r serv'd in your kind for being coy Now you have met with your mate friend I hope Men. She set my heart on fire by her presence That will not be put out by her absence Pes Then I see you mean to follow her with Your suit and service still for all her scorn Men. No she hath wounded me too deep to make Pursuit after her therefore let her go Pes Now then you know what 't is to be slighted So once you slighted me now I 'll slight you Exit Men. Ah cruel love whose musick is compos'd Of Lovers jars an discords mixt with sighs If I turn traytor once more unto love I 'll rob him of his deitie and pull His little Kingdom down I 'll pull his wings And with the quils made into pens and dipt In saddest lovers tears in stead of ink I 'll Satyres write against his tyrannie Exit Scaen. 7. Enter King Agenor Plusidippus and Euriphila Kin. Why then my Plusidippus will you leave Us and your fortunes It is my resolve To make you heir to my crown my Son And Successor Plu. Great Sir I would not be Fondly injurious to my self or you Or so prophane unto the gods to slight Their and your gifts when proffer'd me so fair I must obey their dictates and my vowes Which call me to Arcadia till when I cannot rest Give me your Royal leave To go I will engage my hopes and all My future happinesses to return In so short a time as you shall limit me Kin. Then daughter since it must be so I can Not tell how to denie his just request But see you part with him in friendship And The like Sir I require of you to her Exit Plu. Far bâ— it from me to denie so fair Requests Lady in signe hereof I take This parting kiss and may it cancel all Miscarriages and seal Loves covenants And thus I take my leave but for a while Eur. Then take thee this my dearest heart and bear It with thee may it be a charm to keep Thy chaste affections from a Strangers love May your return shorten my tedious hours Since I neglect mine own content for yours Exeunt Scaen. 8. Enter 2 Lords 1 Lo. It seems our Kink hath pretty well out-grown His griefs and now he meditates new Loves 2 Lo. The fire of love hath thaw'd his frozen breast And turn'd his cold December into May His Scepter 's chang'd into a sheep-hook He Is gone on pilgrimage to seek a wife Amongst the shepherdesses there is one Whom I have seen and he is gone to see May vie with Juno for precedencie Who in the habit of a Country lass Carries a Prince-like countenance and grace In th' Arcadian Plains she keeps a flock Of sheep whose innocence and whiteness she Surpasseth whilst the shepherds daily strive VVho shall bid fairest for this fairer prize 1 Lo. And he 'l out-bid them all if that will do But what a motley mixture will it be To see his grey hairs joyned with her green And springing youth The strange effects of love VVell may she be his nurse but not his wife VVhat 's love in young is dotage in old men 2 Lo. Love can create an Autumn Spring inâ—uâ—â— New spirits in the old and make them young Besides Honour 's a bait frail women know Not to resist who would not be a Queen Exeunt Scaen. 9. Enter Samela Once more doth Fortune flatter me with hopes Of a contented life now am I free From jealous Menaphon's suspitions And without fear enjoy my wished love Enter Melecertus See where he comes the picture drawn to th' life Of my dead Maximus my former joy Mel. All hail unto the fairest Samela And to her happy flock I envie them She is their Mistris I her servant am Long since my heart was hers may she
Why a miracle of beautie and I think You 'l be a miracle of folly if you Don't love me now Car. What small Poet have you hired To make a miracle of my name Dor. Nay I have more yet and better That I found in the Nichodemus Of Complements that 's a sweet book 'T is a very magazine of Poetrie a Store-house of wit do but hear Them Carmila Car. Let 's hear them Doron are they Worth a laughing at Let 's hear Dor. Well well it is no laughing matter but I 'm Sure your laughing ha's made me crie Now Carmila you must imagine that 't is I and only I say this to you and none but you For the unhappy wag ha's so fitted my Fancie as if 't were made for no bodie but me Excellent Mistris brighter than the Moon Than scowred pewter or the silver spoon Fairer than Phoebus or the morning Star Dainty fine Mistris by my troth you are Thine eyes like Diamonds shine most clearly As I 'm an honest man I love thee dearly What think you now Carmila is not this Admirable if these strong lines will Not draw your love I know not what will Car. Had it been your own mother-wit Doron I could have like't it well But for you to father the brat of Another's brain is too ridiculous I like your love much better than your Hackney lines but bought wit's best Dor. If you like not my lines because they are None of mine you will not love my Heart neither for that 's not mine but yours Car. Yes Doron if you have given me your Heart I will not die in your debt but Give you mine in exchange for yours Dor. Than welcome to me my new found heart We 'l live and love and never part Exeunt Scaen. 7. Enter Melecertus Revenge shall soon o're-take this proud boy who Committed hath so bold a rape upon My Samela He had been better to Have lodged snakes in his breast than to steal This spark that shall consume him and his nest Samela Samela that name alone Infuseth spirits into me inflames My soul with vengeance till I recover My dearest love Enter Menaphon Men. Now shall I be reveng'd on Samela And on her Melecertus both at once I 'll make her know neglected love may turn To hate and vengeance take the place of scorn Well met friend Melecertus what alone Mel. I 'm solitarie since my mate is gone Men. Your mate has taken flight she 's on the wing But I can tell thee where she nests and bring Thee guickly where thou shalt retrive the game Mel. If thou wilt do this Menaphon I shall Be studious to requite thy love with mine I pay thee sterling thanks and services Men. I will not sell my favours to my friends My work is all the wages I expect Come follow me I 'll lead thee to the place Where the fresh gamesters have thy love in chase Exeunt Scaen. 8. Enter King Damocles in his Royal robes Plusidippus and Samela prisoners Kin. Now Sir you see the shepherd is become A King and though you have deserved death Yet since you have but acted our commands We here release you and not onely so But entertain you with all due respect At once belonging to our neighbour-Prince And near Allie the King of Thessaly Some secret power doth force me love him so That if I had a daughter to bestow I 'de wish no other Son-in-law but him Now my Sephestia what would I give Thou wert alive I had thee and thou him Sam. He little thinks I am so near or that It is his daughter he would make his wife Kin. Thus Gentlewoman you are once more faln Into my hands I am th' Arcadian King Be sudden therefore to give me your love Or else forseit your life for your contempt Think on 't and chuse which you 'l rather do Sam. Sir I am still the same I was before My love like to a mighty rock stands fast Disdaining the proud billows of your threats Crowns cannot tempt nor Kings command my love My love is free and cannot be compell'd True love admits no partners is content With one and Cupids statute law forbids Pluralities of loves Kin. Since y' are so stiff You will not bow I 'll make you bend or break Enter Menaphon with Melecertus Mel. I am betray'd by this base Menaphon Kin. Here comes my Rival when I have dispatch'd Him to the other world your plea is spoil'd My sword shall cut your gordian knot in two Your ghosts may wed your bodies never shall I 'll be his Executioner my self I 'll trust no other eyes to see it done Sam. Now is it time t' unmask and let him know He wounds his daughter through her Lovers sides She kneels Father your furie once expos'd me to The greedie jaws of death which yet more kind In pitie sav'd my life you sought to lose I 'm your Sephestia Father know your child Mel. And is it possible Sephestia lives Once more t' enjoy her truest Maximus Sam. My Maximus I 'm thy Sephestia Oh that our Plusidippus too were here Plu. And I am he my name is Plusidippus Seph My dearest son 't is he now were my joys Compleat indeed were but my Uncle here Mel. I am so wrapt with joy I scarce can get Breath to express my thanks unto the gods Men. What will become of me I shall be hang'd Or lose my place at least I 'll get me home Amidst their mirth they will not think on me Exit Kin. My onely daughter Dear Sephestia And you kind Maximus I ask Both of you pardon for your injuries And for requital thus I do create Thee King of Arcadie and may the gods Requite your sufferings and forgive my crimes Long may ye live and happy may your dayes Be sun-shine all and know no clouds nor night Enter Lamedon And that we may not leave one string untun'd My brother comes to make our consort full The best of brothers and the best of friends Thanks for your care of her whom you have made Your daughter by a better claim than mine Now let the whole land swim in mirth and load The altars with their thankful sacrifice Unto the kinder deities who through A sea of woes have sent us happiness Let 's in and hear the strange adventures have Befaln your heaven-protected persons griefs Grow less by telling joyes are multiplied Although against them all things seem to strive At last just men and lovers alwayes thrive FINIS Fragmenta Poetica OR Poetical Diversions WITH A PANEGYRICK UPON HIS SACRED MAJESTIE' 's Most happy Return on the 29. May 1660. By THO. FORDE Philothal LONDON Printed by R. and W. Leybourn for William Grantham and are to sold at the Signe of the Black Bear in St. Pauls Church-yard 1660. Poetical Diversions For Christmass-day 1 Shepherd WHat have we slept or doth the hastie Sun Bring back the day before the night be done 2 Shep. What melodie is this that charms our