and there is no blemish in thee She is the Empyreal Heauen which is the habitation of the Saints and a Heauen al of light of an infinit capacitie and immeÌ„se sublimitie The blessed Virgin then is resembled to this Heauen First for her vnspeakable Claritie because she is now wholy radiant and resplendent in Celestial glorie hauing beneath the Moone vnder her feet and on her head a crowne of Starres for the rest clothed with the Sunne Secondly for her great capaciousnes for as there can be thought no place of greater capacitie then the Empyreal Heauen so can no creature be found of greater Charitie then Marie For she had an ample Womb which was able to receaue GOD She had an ample Vnderstanding which had the knowledge of al Diuine things an ample Affect she had for her singular compassion on the miseries of al the afflicted Thirdly for her highnes and sublimitie for as Heauen is the highest of al bodies so is she higher farre then al Spiritual creatures as wel Angelical as Reasonable Thy magnificence is raysed that is the Virgin Marie to whom GOD hath shewed very great things yea aboue al the Heauens as wel Material as Rational because appointed Queene ouer al Saints and therefore sayes of her self Who hath wrought great matters for me who is potent and holie is his name Which things S. Epiphanius considering in his SermoÌ„ of the Prayses of our Ladie breakes forth into these words O impolluted Womb hauing the circle of the heauens within thee which bare the incomprehensible GOD most truly compreheÌ„ded in thee O WoÌ„b more ample then Heauen which streightned not GOD within thee O Womb which art euen verie HeaueÌ„ indeed consisting of seauen Circles and art more capacious farre then them all O Womb more high and wider then are the seauen Heauens O Womb which are euen the eight Heauen itself more large then the seauen of the Firmament So he And S. Chrysologus thus O truly blessed who was greater then Heauen stronger then the Earth wider then the World For GOD whom the world could not containe She held alone and bare him that beares the world yea bare him who begat her and nursed the nourisher of al liuing things But yet heare what S Bonauenture sayth heerof Thou therefore sayth he most immense Marie art more capacious then Heauen since whom the Heauens could not hold thou hast held in thy lap thou art more capacious then the World for whom the whole world could not hold hath been enclosed within thy bowels being made Man But especially indeed is the blessed Virgin sayd to be the Empyreal Heauen because as that same being the proper place of Beatitude where GOD cleerly manifests himself to the Blessed face to face so the WoÌ„b of the blessed Mother of GOD was the first of al wherin GOD in a permament manner communicated to the soule of Christ our Lord the cleare and blessed vision of himself since certain it is that from the beginning of his Conception he was truly a comprehensour and yet in his way and a true viatour Which no doubt is a singular prayse of the Virginal womb that where the wombs of other women are meerly the shops of Original sinne as Dauid lamented And my mother conceaued me in sinnes which makes one vnworthie of the visioÌ„ of GOD the Virgins WoÌ„b of al others should be a place for the blessed Vision and the only first shop of Beatitude So as wel might the Woman of the Ghospel cry out Blessed is the Womb that bare thee THE EMBLEME THE POESIE THE Blessed Virgin euen from her birth Was like a Heauen without a clowd on earth Where fixed Starres did shine each in his place As she encreas'd by merits more in grace Til ful of grace as is with starres the sky Gabriel salurtes Then more to glorify This Heauen from his the Sunne of Iustice came Light of the world with his eternal flame Lo how the Angels from th' Empyreal sphere Admire this Heauen on earth that shines so cleare Contesting with their glorious Orbe aboue And with the Seraphins in burning loue Empyreal Heauen For in her makes abode The first blest Soule that had the sight of GOD. THE THEORIES COntemplate first that as the Heauens in their motions commit no errour because they are alwayes obedient to the Intelligences or mouing Angels that moue and guide them so likewise the Blessea Virgin could slide into no errour of sinne because she punctually obserued the Holie-Ghost her Motour and proper Intelligence as it were in al things while being moued with such motioÌ„s she was carryed to GOD through feruent loue as being the wheel of GOD wherof Ezechiel speaks Which was carryed wheresoeuer the spirit went for the spirit of life was in the wheels now in praying for vs to her Sonne now directing the Angels themselues vnto our ministerie and then exhorting the blessed Spirits to pray for vs Behold of what agilitie and motion this Heauen is CoÌ„sider then that euen as froÌ„ heauen and its â—ights we receaue al the chiefest benefits of Nature especially the growth and prosperitie of plants without which nothing would succeed or come to anie thing so from this glorious Virgin-Mother we likely receaue the most notable fauours guifts we haue froÌ„ GOD. For as the Heauen visits the earth affording its light by day night by meanes of the two great torches Sun and Moon and millions of lesser lights which with their influeÌ„ces besides doe fructify the same and with their sweet showers in a maÌ„ner inebriate it and coole it againe when need requires with dryer clowds yea enrich it also with gold siluer and precious stones so our incomparable Ladie visits and illustrats the whole vniuersal Church with her admirable examples and with the guifts of the Holie-Ghost inebriats the same stores it abundantly with good works and enriches it with an infinit treasure of al vertues and therefore is it sayd Thou hast visited the earth Ponder lastly how among al things which haue anie stuff matter or dimesion in them of length breadth or thicknes there is no incorruptible thing to be thought on but only the heauens for al mixt things whatsoeuer they be corrupt at last and the Elements we see continually corrupt saue only the Celestial bodie which is wholy incorruptible of its owne nature So in like maÌ„ner whenas al the ChildreÌ„ of Adam begot according to Nature are lyable and obnoxious to the corruption of Original sinne and al women loose in coÌ„ceauing the integritie of the bodie yet this Heauen of Marie through especial grace prerogatiue of her Sonne was made incorruptible according to either part of soule and bodie Of the soule truly because the coÌ„tagion and corruption of Original sinne touched not her so much as a momeÌ„t only of bodie also because though indeed she were a true natural Mother and coÌ„ceaued her Sonne most truly indeed
them at al. Wheras our Heliotropion heer neuer takes off her eyes froÌ„ her Sonne but hath them alwayes cast vpon him and therefore truly may say I to my beloued and his conuersion vnto me THE APOSTROPHE O Fairest Virgin-flower Thou most specious and amourous Heliotropion more happie then the rest of flowers for those especial fauours from thy Spouse being no lesse then the glorious and radiant Sun of Iustice. O gracious Queen of flowers O Sacred Prodigie of al Gardens and mâ—st stupendious Heliotropion the miracle of Paradice the amazement of Philosophie wonder of Nature fruitful Virgin Virgin-Mother O mediate for me with thy amourous Sun thy Sonne and obtaine for me through thy example I may become a true Heliotropion with mine eyes stil cast vpon thee my obiect and may receaue like glances from that al-seing Eye THE VI. SYMBOL THE DEAW THE DEVISE THE CHARACTER THE Deawes are the sugred stillicids of Nature falling from the Limbeck of the Heauens as so manie liquid pearls and euerie pearl as precious as the truest Margarits They are liquifyed Cristal made into so manie siluer-orbs as drops They are the verie teares of Nature dissolued soft through tendernes to see the Earth so made a Libian Desert which she supplies of meer compassion with the ruine of herself No teare she sheads that staÌ„ds her not in as much as a drop of her deerest bloud They are the grayne seed once reaped from the Ocean fields and sowne againe vpon the Earth for a better haruest They are the sweatie drops of Tethis face which the benigne Sol exhales wipes away for the vse of Tellus They are the MaÌ„na of Nature to vye with those Corianders food of Pilgrims made by Angels with this vnhappines they could not be coÌ„gealed to make a food so much for meÌ„ as a Nectar for the plaÌ„ts to drink They are the Protheus of fresh waters diuersifying into as manie coulours as they light vpon and are so courtlie withal as they wil easily comply with euerie thing they meete with and likely seeme to put-on the forme the garb and qualities of euerie one so as I verily beleeue had they but toungs to speake they would say the same with euerie one that can so temporize with al. And as the showres were wrung and drawne from Magdalen through contrition of her sad and clowdie hart so these Deawes are wrung and strained from heauen through compression and mutual collision of the clowds The Bees are the most laborious and industrious Factours for these Pearls and they wil venture for them as farre into the ayre as any Moor shal diue into the seas for the best pearls In fine they are the Milk of Nature wherewith she is disposed to suckle creatures at her owne breast THE MORALS RORE MADENS RORE LIQVESCENS THE sweats of that great Monark were held to be perfumes and why Perhaps because they took some Deitie to be in him for his so strange and prodigious Conquests The trees that haue a gummie viscous lickour in them looke what they haue within the same they oft put forth and if they sweat at al they sweat but gummes The Spouse when he knockt so long at his Spouses doore and could not be let in was al wet with Deawes from heauen and no maruel that Deawes should fal on him from whom al Deawes proceed since Deawes exhaled from the earth do thither distil againe When the Sauiour of the world was borne arose a Spring of oyle to signify the infused Oyle of Grace was then powred forth into the world And what is Oyle in drops but Deawes of oyle and what is it to spring but to ascend vpwards what to Deaw but to spring downe Our Sauiour then being Oyle of Grace was dissolued al into Deawes of graces when he was borne In this looke what the Sonne was the same the Mother is with this difference He the Fountaine of Grace and Mercie essentially the same she the fountaine likewise but participant of his and as He through her distils downe Deawes of Grace and Mercie so she from him distils the self-same Deawes of Grace and Mercie and therefore rightly RORE MADENS RORE LIQVESCENS THE ESSAY HEER now must I needs confesse mine ignorance for otherwise should I loose myself in considering of the one side the accompt which GOD and Nature make of the Deaw and of the other the poornes of this litle creature in itself The voice of men that set it forth is more rich and copious farre then what soeuer is in the Deaw ilself it is but euen a litle fume and oftentimes an vnholesome exhalation raysed from some corrupt marishes or other drawne-vp to the second stage of the Ayre being the Matrice as it were of Nature whence hayls snowes frosts and the like proced if it arriue so high where being dissolued and recollecting itself within a litle after thickens and turnes into litle teares which falling downe againe affords vs nothing but a meer Seren infected and breeds often very mortal catharres lighting on our heads See now a trim and goodlie thing for vs to make such reckoning of And yet how manie treasures doe I see enclosed within these litle drops within these graines of Cristal liquifyed What think you theÌ„ is it ought els then a litle water Oh do no think so of it for if Plinie say true that the Deaw takes the qualitie of the thing it lights on that which to you seemes to be a water only is Sugar in the Reeds of Madera Hypocras in the vine Manna in the fruits Musk in the flowers Medicines in the Simples Amber in the Poplers the verie milk of the breasts of Nature wherewith she nourisheth the Vniuers The Deaw it is which falling on our gardens empearls them with a thousand muskie gemmes Heer it makes the Rose there the Flower deluce heer the Tulips there the violets and a hundred thousand flowers besides It is the Deaw that couers the rose with scarlet that clothes the lillie with innoceÌ„cie the violets with purple which embroders the marygold with gold and enriches al the flowers with gold silk and pearls that metamorphosies itself heere into flowers there into leaues and then to fruits in sundrie sorts it is euen the Protheus and Chamaeleon of creatures clothing itself with the liuerie of al the rarest things heer scarlet there milk heer the emerald the carbuncle gold siluer and the rest THE DISCOVRSE BVt now come we to the mystical Deaw indeed the Incomparable Ladie Queene of al the Meteors of this Region of ours or of the other the thereal or Celestial Who if she were not the Deaw itself she was the Fleâ—ce al steept in Deaw and consequently may wel be held for Deaw for she is sayd to be ful of Grace which is a kind of Deaw The Deaw is properly engendred in the spaces and regions of the Ayre tempered with heat and cold Three Regions there are The
world and taken-vp in the Church for an admirable peece of that Art to vye with the Angels the Cherubins and Seraphins themselues to frame the like Nor yet was she so pleased to heare herself sing only as to listen to her Spouse the voice of her beloued knocking and saying My sister open vnto me to whom she would answer againe Behold my beloued speaks vnto me Oh let thy voice stil sound in mine eares and a thousand other affects of her Musical hart would she dayly sing besides to the Angelical troups which enuironed her round And lastly for her loue to wine that is to the Angelical Nectar she was dayly feasted with of spiritual gladnes as tasts before hand of her future ioyes which might appeare by the quantitie she tooke of those wines and the qualitie againe by the frequent extasies of loue she would breake into remaining in her Closet as we may piously beleeue being inebriated therewith THE EMBLEME THE POESIE TO Bethlem's sillie shed me thinkes I see The Virgin hasten like a busie Bee Which in a tempest subiect to be blowne In lieu of ballast beares a little stone As 't were with oares beats to and fro his wings Collects heauens deaw which to the hiue he brings Within that store-house lyes the daylie frait Le ts fal the stone Euen so of greater weight Cut without hands the Virgin now is gone To lay the prime and fundamental stone Heauens Deaw condens'd was in the honie-comb She was the Bee the Hiue her Sacred Womb. THE THEORIES COntemplate first how little soeuer the Bee seemes yet how great its excellencies and eminencies are and measure not the singular properties it hath with the outward shew it giues forth For though it seeme no more indeed then as raysed but a little higher then an ordinarie fly yet is it a miracle in nature an astonishment to men and a liuelie Symbol of our Blessed Ladie who being so singular and eminent in al prerogatiues and graces Celestial and Diuine made no greater a shew then she did in being so priuate in her Closet or Oratorie where she was as a Bee in her Cel a-framing the delicious honie of her admirable examples of life to sweeten the world with for after-ages Where you may note her stupenduous humilitie that seing herself elected the Mother of God and consequently the Queene of Angels and men yet held herself to be no more then as a seruiceable Bee to worke the precious honie of Man's Redemption in her Virginal Womb when she sayd Behold the hand-mayd of our Lord. Consider then that as one of the properties of the Bee is when it is on the wing and feares to be carried away with the winds of the ayre to take vp a stone to keep itself steadie therin through the poyse therof So our blessed Virgin in her highest contemplation of heauenlie mysteries which was frequent and ordinarie with her would take herself to her little Iesus the mystical stone for Christ was a Stone for feare of being carryed away with the wind of vanitie she would fly and soare aloft but yet hold her to her little Nothing which she euer tooke herself to be O admirable humilitie of our incomparable and industrious Bee Ponder lastly that if the Bee is so admired for its singular guists of Continencie of Policie and Industrie and especially so affected by al men for the benefit of the honie they receaue from it how admirable needes must the blessed Virgin be so chast as to be the first and onlie patterne of al Chastitie both Virginal Coniugal and Vidual so wise politick wel-gouerned in herself to haue Sensualitie so obedient to Reason and Reason to GOD as to haue no deordination in her either of the inferiour to the superiour part and so industrious withal as to work so exquisit a loome of al Perfection as wel Human as Angelical in the whole course of her diuine life Yea how ought she to be honoured and worshipped of vs al for the Celestial Diuine fruit she brought vs forth that mellifluous Honie of the Diuine Word Incarnate and made Man in her most precious and sacred Wombe THE APOSTROPHE O Great Monarkesse and Princesse of intercession in heauen most constant and immoueable in thy Virginal purpose who hadst rather not to haue been so great in the kingdome of God then to falsify thy promise vow of perpetual Virginitie if in being the Mother of God the same had been put in the least danger O help me then to guard this inestimable treasure of Chastitie in my state of life by that sweetest Honie-comb thou hredst within thee and broughtst into the world thy deerest Sonne Ah let me not be perfidious disloyal or a breaker of my faith nor rash in my good purposes made to His Diuine Maiestie For that O soueraigne Ladie displeases him highly and offends thee likewise deare Princesse of Virgin-soules THE VIII SYMBOL THE HEAVENS THE DEVISE THE CHARACTER THE Heauens are the glorious Pallace of the Soueraigne Creatour of al things the purple Canopie of the Earth powdred ouer and beset with siluer-oes or rather an Azure Vault enameld al with diamants that sparckle where they are And for that there is aloft aboue this seeling they make a pauiment likewise for the Intelligences and Angelical Spirits strewed as become such inhabitants with starres It is a Court where those blessed Spirits as Pensioners stand continually assisting in the King's presence with the fauour to behold him to face in his greatest glorie while the Starres as Pages attend in those spacious Hals lower roomes If al togeather should make vp the bodie of an Armie ranged and marshalled in the field the Spirits themselues would make the Caualrie and the Infanterie the Starres S. Muhael General of the one and Phoebus of the other where euen as the Foot that are as the Corps of the whole Batallions make a stand so remaine the whole multitude of Starres al fixt in the Firmament while the Planets which are as the Collonels of the rest with the speedie Coursers of their proper Orbs fly vp and down to marshal the Legions and to keepe the Companies in their due squadrons If they shoot their shafts and darts they send are but their influences they powre on mortals and terrene things good and bad some sweet of loue as those which Venus shoots from her Regiment headed with gold some with steel as those of Mars and his troups and some againe as more malignant dipt in venome as those of Saturn and the Caniculars As the Earth hath beasts the Heauens haue their Lion and Beare the great and lesse Where the Sea hath fish the Heauens haue theirs and waters enough as wel aboue as vnder the Firmament As the Ayre hath birds the Heauens haue Angels as birds of Paradise And if the vpper Region of the Elements be of fire the Seraphins are al of amourous fires of Diuine loue and the
ouercast and ful of sorrow And yet notwithstanding she shined euen then likewise because she kept the light of Fayth vnextinguished in her Her light shal not be extinguished in the night Surely two HeaueÌ„s there are which yet neuer lost their light nor euer are like to doe to wit Christ for one who neither with death did forgoe the light of his Diuinitie but his Deitie was both with his bodie in the Sepulcher and with his soule in Limbus and his Mother the other who neuer lost the light of grace and fayth within her THE EMBLEME THE POESIE THe Empresse of the Sea Latona bright Drawes like a load-stone by attractiue might The Oceans streames which hauing forward runne Calles back againe to end where they begunne The Prince of darknes had ecclipsed Eues light And Mortals clowded in Cymmerian night Were backwards drawne by Eue as is the Maine â—T was only Marie drew to GOD againe 〈◊〉 chast Diana with thy siluer beames Fluse reflux as in the Oceans streames â—Tis thou canst cause O draw and draw me so That I in vice may ebbe in Vertue flow THE THEORIES COntemplate first that if the Moon being so faire beautiful and perfect be so accounted of Mortals and for the manifold influences and fauours which she continually imparts to creatures be held in so great veneration as to share in their opinion with the Sun himself in the gouerment of the world whom the Paynim Gentilitie holds to be a GOD and her Brother and she his Sister notwithstanding she hath yet so manie blemishes defects and spots appearing in her who can except against the Churches deuotion in so magnifying our Ladie who is truly so faire beautiful perfect indeed without any the least blemish or spot in her so beneficial withal as to communicate her graces vnto vs in a far higher nature and those in a measure so immense Or who can tax vs for stiling her the Queen of heauen who is not only the Sister the Friend the Doue and beautiful Spouse of the Sun oâ— iustice but euen his most immaculate Mother the fountain of al her prerogatiues besides when especially we afford her no more honour then may worthily be due to a meer creature Consider then that as in the opinion of such as hold the Moon encreasing to haue her horns directed towards the rising of the Sun but decreasing or being in the wayne to haue the horns pointing to the setting of the Sun So our heauenlie Angelical and spiritual Moon the Incomparable Virgin-Mother had certain addresses and preparations of humilitie and Virginitie wherewith she disposed herself to embrace her Sun in her armes in the morning of his birth as he lay in the Crib And at his setting againe that is at his Passion regarded him with two other horns as it were to wit with the sorrow she had for his death of the one side and the ioy she receaued of the other for the Redemption of the world Ponder lastly how though the Moon while it is iust ouer the earth and the Sunne in oppositioÌ„ thervnto in a right diameter beneath the same is shadowed obscured or ecclipsed Yet our mystical Moone when Christ our true Sun indeed descended and abid in hel which is vnder the earth and our Moon remayning there ouer it lost not the light of Fayth of his present Resurrection for that the shadow of the earth that is the infidelitie of terrene things could not ascend vnto her whereby the darknes of Infidelitie comprehended her not THE APOSTROPHE O Empresse of the world Ladie of the Vniuers Queen of Angels standing in the Moon and crowned with Starres in Heauen by God Almightie most wise most good Oh regard me I beseech thee from the top of the heauens with thy sacred influences from thence and haue pittie vpon me most miserable wretched sinner in al points Present O sacred Virgin-Mother al my pouerties to GOD al my perils al my miseries and necessities to thy Sonne For so wil he take pittie on me and open his hand and afford me his Benediction through thy gracious intercession This grant I beseech thee most radiant and resplendent Moone who shinest in heauen and shal for al eternitie THE XI SYMBOL THE STARRE THE DEVISE THE CHARACTER THE Starres are the glittering laÌ„ps of Heauen set vp as so manie lights in the close or vpper seeling of the ample Theater of the world They are as sparckling Diamants strewed in the Firmament to entertaine the World with as a goodlie maister-piece of the great CREATOVR They are the siluer Oes al powdred heer and there or spangles sprinckled ouer the purple Mantle or night-gowne of the heauens the seed of pearle sowne in the spacious fields of the Heauens to bring forth light Haue you seen a statelie Mask in Court al set round and taken vp with a world of beautiful Ladies to behold the sports and reuels there Imagin the Starres then as sitting in the FirmameÌ„t to behold some spectacle on Earth with no other light then their owne beauties If that great Pan they speake of were that man sitting in the Cabin of the Moone the Starres would be his Sheep and lambs feeding in those ample downes of heauen which not appearing by day their proper night you must suppose to be lockt-vp in their folds for feare of those Beares and Lions in the Welkin As Cinthia in the HeaueÌ„s is euen the very same that Diana is in the woods and forests the Starres by coÌ„sequence are her Nimphs who encompas her about and daÌ„ce the Canaries in her presence while so they seeme in twinckling to dance and foot-it in the same place They are extremely giuen to mortification and to a strange annihilation of themselues that being so great as they are they appeare to be so litle in the eyes of men yea manie of them are so passionatly addicted to it as they appeare not at al. They affect equalities amongst them and be anie of them neuer so great they wil shew to be no greater then the rest Their greater height and eminencie in degrees swelles them not a whit or puffs them vp but diminisheth their creasts and abates them rather In fine they are a happie Common-wealth deuoyd of enuie or ambition where wel may you heare of coniunctions of Houses but no iarres and discords amongst them that euer I could heare of THE MORALS IN ITINERE PHARVS WHEN Theseus was puzled and entangled in Minos Labyrinth he found the twist of Ariadne to deliuer him thence The little Bird with the red breast which for his great familiaritie with men they cal a Robin if he meet anie one in the woods to goe astray and to wander he knowes not whither out of his way of common charitie wil take vpon him to guide him at least out of the wood if he wil but follow him as some think This am I sure of it is a comfortable and sweet companioÌ„ insuch a case
skins of green are but of Prim Isop and Tyme al hearbs very apt to historify withal I wil quite passe ouer those little Groues Thickets and Arbours and speake nothing of those Pety-canons there and Quiristers chanting their Complines in the Euening and Nocturnes in the Night mingling their prettie Mottets which Nature learnes them of their owne accord Nor wil I heer speake a word of those Water-works Conduits and Aquaducts which yet might you heare to make a gentle murmur throughout affording an apt Base for the birds to descant on I hast me to the Flowers only most proper to our GARDEN heer Behold I pray those Bushes al enameled with ROSES of so manie sorts these heer apparrelled with the white of Innocencie those there with a scarlet tincture one wel-nigh withered embalmes the ayre with its perfume and makes a shew with its golden threads and al its treasure that other is yet in its folds and dares not hazard so much as to peepe forth this heer puts forth the bud and now half-open smiles withal and shewes forth a glimps of its purple through a cliff of the green Cafe wherein it is which the theeuish birds would soone come to steale away were it not for the Garrison of thornes that serues for a Corps-de-guard to that Queene of flowers Behold there the Lillies of ten sorts some yet hidden in their green cups others half borne and the rest newly disclosed What think you are they not exceeding faire You would say they were of white Satin streaked without and al embroadered within with gold you can hardly tel whether they be milk condensed into leaues or figured snow or siluer flower-de-lis'd or a starre al musked Those yellow ones would you not verily think them to be golden bels and that red one a little purse of crimson-satin and those others some goodlie vessels of Emeralds or the like But marke a while see you not those beds strewed with a thousand Violets some yellow some purple some white some speckled and some party-couloured some Carnashion and some changeable Behold those faire and beautiful Tulips there those rich Amaranths cerulean Hiacinths Pansies the gemmes of the goodlie IRIS the scarlet Gilloflower the Pinks the Marygolds and a thousand other flowers O what a Paradice of flowers is this What a Heauen of muskie starres or Celestial Earth al starred with flowers empearled with gemmes and precious stones A land of promise ful of milk and honie Behold I say the ROSE dedicated they say to that little elf Cupid whose threads are as golden hayres whose thornes in steed of arrowes whose fire a flash of luster and whose leaues are wings few can touch it without touch of loue vnto it and it costs them deare who meddle with it The LILLIE hangs the head downe for modestie I suppose though it can not blush for hauing nothing to blush at her flower being al so white and without spot They say She was borne of the milk of Iuno howsoeuer she is called the Royal flower the Rose of Iuno Note there the humilitie of the VIOLET how like to the strawberrie she keeps by the ground hiding what she can her beautie in her leaues but is discouered whether she wil or no partly by the flashes of her luster breaking forth vnawares betweene the leaues not so reserued as they ought and partly with the odour she can not choose but send forth The Tulip is a singular ornament to this Garden looke and obserue it wel How were it possible one would think so thin a leaf bred and nourished in the same ayre and proceeding from the same stem should be golden in the bottome violet without saffron within bordered on the edge with fine gold and the prickle of the point blew as a goodlie Saphir and a hundred others of seueral fashions as if they had striuen to dresse themselues to put the eyes into paine not knowing where to bestow themselues There againe may you note another not vnlike to a Columbin very gracious to see to enameled with drops of gold and a thousand other the like varieties so as of necessitie we must needs confesse that GOD is very admirable in his works since on so poore a thing as a slender stalk grow such a number of excellent varieties And now I addresse myself to Thee the Soueraigne and Mystical GARDEN itself the Paragon of Gardens THE DISCOVRSE I Speake not heer of the Couent-Garden the garden of the Temple nor that of the Charter-house or of Grayes-Inne Walkes to be had and enioyed at home nor of the Garden of Padua or of Mountpelier so illustrious for Simples I speake not of the GardeÌ„ of Hesperides where grew the golden Apples nor yet of Tempe or the Elizian fields I speake not of Eden the Earthlie Paradice nor of the Garden of Gethsemany watred with Bloud flowing from our Sauiour's precious bodie But I speake of Thee that GARDEN so knowne by the name of HORTVS CONCLVSVS wherein are al things mysteriously and spiritually to be found which euen beautifyes the fairest Gardens being a place no lesse delicious in winter then in Summer in Autume then in the Spring and wherin is no season to be seen but a perpetual Spring where are al kinds of delights in great abundance that can possibly be deuised where are faire and goodlie Allies streight and euen strewed al with sands that is a streight vertuous and Angelical life yet strewed with the sands and dust of her proper Humilitie where are Arbours to shadow her from the heats of concupiscence flowrie Beds to repose in with heauenlie Contemplations Mounts to ascend to with the studie of Perfections where are hearbs and Simples soueraigne medicines of al spiritual maladies where I say are the Flowers of al Vertues The LILLIE of spotles and immaculate Chastitie the ROSE of Shamfastnes and bashful Modestie the VIOLET of Humilitie the Gilloflower ol Patience the Marygold of Charitie the Hiacinth of Hope the SVN-FLOWER of ContemplatioÌ„ the Tulip of Beautie and gracefulnes In this GARDEN ENCLOSED are certain risings to be seen of Hils in eleuations of mind and Valleys againe in depressions and demissions of the same mind through annihilation heer likewise are Vines of spiritual gladnes and Groues of a retired solitude to be found Heer whole Quiers of Angels are accustomed to to sing their Alleluyas at al howers in lieu of the Philâ—mels in the silence of the Night in steed of the Larks at the hower of Prime in place of the Thrush the Linet and Canarie-bird at al Howers Heer spring the limpid fountains of al Graces whence streame the little rils and brooks watering the Paradice on al sides and thence abundantly flowing to the rest of Mortals Heer are Pooles for the harmles fry of her innocent thoughts like fishes heer and there to passe vp and downe in the heauenlie Element of her mind heer and there certain labyrinths formed in the hearbs of Her endles perfections Heer lastly are statues
and heer doe I present thee in honour of thee the Mystical Rose and thy Sonne thy soueraigne Bud the Hymne that followes Salue CHRISTI sacra Parens Flos de spina spinâ carens Flos Spinati gloria Nos spinetum nos peccati Spinâ sumus cruentari Sed tu spinae nescia THE III. SYMBOL THE LILLIE THE DEVISE THE CHARACTER THE Lillie is the Scepter of the chast Diana whose Flower-deluce the crowne and stemme the handle which she chastly wealds amidst the Nimphs of flowers It is a Siluer-Bel without sound to the eare but ful of sweets to the brim and where it can not draw the eares the eyes it wil and inebriats the curious with its ouer-sweets It is a Box of Ciuets which opens to the Zephirs and prodigally powers forth its spices to the standers round-about though they come not very nigh it Flora it seemes hath no other Purse then this of candid saffron without strings to shut it vp so prodigal she is of her sweets which she wel knowes can neuer al be disbursed Who had not seen a Lillie heertofore especially the Flower-deluce the Prince of Lillies would start no doubt as with the sight of a Garden-Comete and cal in his friends perhaps to gaze on a Blazing Starre or Garden-Miracle It is the ensigne of France euen vying with the Brittish or Lancastrian Whiter Rose if not so happie for her Vnion with the Red the Ensigne of Peace yet in this more happie that she neuer was diuided to haue need of such a Vnion as euer standing of herself It is a Quiuer of amourous shafts with golden heads which some cal hammers rather against lust to blunt the thorns of lewd Concupiscence A verie Purselin cup replenished within with the rarities of Nature enough to stupify and astonish the curious in the search of secrets It is besides a precious Pot of the purest Alablaster filled with the inualuable Spicknard of Arabia for sent and odour as it were fellow vnto that the blessed Magdalen powred on her Maister 's head and if you wil not beleeue me approach but to the vessel itself and you shal feel it streight To say no more no snow is found to be more white then it nor giues a greater flash of lightning in the eyes then it that sweetly dazels and not duls the sight THE MORALS NIVEO CANDORE NITESCEN THey are truly chast whose mind and bodie neuer yet admitted stayne in the virgin-wax of their pure integritie in either part Chast is she held to be and so is truly that vowes her chastitie and keepes the same howbeit once stayned perhaps at least with impurities of mind and washed againe with the Lauer made of the purest Bloud of the immaculate Lamb she seemes indeed to follow the Lamb wheresoeuer he goes The Turtle-Widowes are accompted chast and so they are that hauing lost their virginal integritie are re-borne anew as it were both in mind and bodie with a chaster purpose neuer more to choose another earthlie Mate or Turtle-Doue to follow and consort withal but insteed of such make choice to linck themselues from thence-forth to a heauenlie Spouse and who trow you but the Spouse of Spouses and that for euer The Vestal-Virgins were esteemed such by al their Flamins though they had but a bodilie integritie and no more while the mind perhaps was secretly a Prostitute to al impurities And if there was anie of them as some there might be who kept both the one and other sort of purities indeed yet were they not vowed perpetually to be such and so were chast though they shined not with that snowie chastitie which if it be were and euer shal be so is not yet the perfectest chastitie of al nor anie way such as the Queen of Virgins was and therefore worthily sayd to be NIVEO CANDORE NITESCENS THE ESSAY WHEN Nature is in her cheefest iolitie she tapistryes the whole Vniuers with a world of delicious flowers And to say truth these flowers are euen the smiles and laughters of the Earth that sees herself now deliuered of the cruelties of the Winter and long captiuitie She seemes therin to take pleasure recreate and disport herself to diaper the face of the earth in a thousand fashions enameled with as manierarities while the gentle breaths of Zephirus with the sweet influences of Heauen mixing their moystures with the heats of the April-Sun make that whole diuersitie which is in the bosome of the earth al sowed-ouer with a thousand seeds now mortifyed with the austerities of the winter When they are come forth Nature solicitous of these treasures so odoriferous seekes to guard them carefully and adorne them curiously arming some with thorns others with prickles couering these with rough and others with large and shadie leaues to conserue their luster Amōg the which the Lillie carries hers very long and green the stem high and round streight vnited fat firme al clothed with leaues On the top wherof grow out as it were certain wyers with heads therō or buttons somewhat long of the coulour of the hearb which in time grow white and fashion themselues in forme of a bel of satin or siluer From the bottome and hart therof grow vpright some litle wyers of gold with heads like hammers of the same The leaues wherof of an exquisit whitnes al streaked and striped without goe enlarging themselues like a bel as before is sayd The seed remaines in these hammers of gold The stem to carrie the head the better is knotted and strengthned through-out for that the Lillie is euer with the head hanging down-wards and languishing as not able to beare vp itself There are some of them red some of them azure These are al so delicious that euen to behold them were a great delight THE DISCOVRSE THE Liseron is a Lillie also though a bastard of that kind without odour and those wyers aboue made as an essay or practice and first draught of Nature endeuouring so to forme patterns to frame some maister-piece of the true Flower-deluce the Prince of Lillies Our incomprable VIRGIN is this Flower-deluce that Princesse of Lillies for the manie sympathies and faire resemblances it hath with it The Lillie is white without and gold within and both within and without most fragrant and odoriferous and the Blessed VIRGIN was most faire and beautiful in her flesh through the candour of her virginitie she the candour of the eternal light and the glasse without spot In mind she was al inflamed as the burnisht gold Gold as Aristotle sayth can not be corrupted nor could Her Charitie be euer extinguished For manie waters as it is sayd can not extinguish charitie And how sweet She was both inwardly and outwardly who sees not that considers her Humilitie in the lowlines of her hart within and outwardly in her conuersation Which Humilitie of hers sent forth such an odour vnto God as allured and attracted him to her When the King
yet was admirably planted in the valley of Humilitie A strange thing truly and more then a Garden-miracle that our Violet should stil remaine in the valley and yet be placed on a Mountain yea the higher she was exalted on the Mountain the better she was rooted in the Valley both on the same Mountain and in the same Valley at one and the self-same time Now Philosopher tel me what would you more can not the same thing be in two places at once It may MARIE on the Hil of exaltation and the self-same MARIE in the Valley of demission fulfilling therin the precept of the Wife-man How much greater thou art do thou humble thyself in al. And now see I pray the haste the Violet makes aboue al flowers to entertaine the Spring and then to behold our Violet made to clime the mountaines would make you wonder to see her in such haste For who would not admire to see a tender Virgin great with child to fly from the valley ouer hils and dales through thick and thin to the mountain-tops But yet wonder not while we dayly see great engins moued and that most swiftly too by force of fire GOD is our consuming fire This fire then the Virgin carried in her bosome She is stirred and excited with the blast of the Holie-Ghost vnto offices of pietie The fire breaks forth what maruel then if it carries so the engine of the bodie with it I say what maruel while the Spirit of GOD whose Symbol is Fire carries her so fast through publick places to shun the aspect of men so contrarie to the inclination of Virginal modestie to hide herself in the house of her Cosen The Violet as the Rose also being planted neer the leek or garlick becomes more fragrant in odour so as the vngrateful sent of the one giues a sweeter fauour vnto the other and therefore the Gardiner plants it neer vnto them to haue it send forth a greater odour Now the Virgin-Mother being in herself a most odoriferous Violet aboue al other Violets and roses of the world breathed from herself the sweetest odour of al vertues The odour of her garments were as the odour of the fulfield But in her house at Nazareth which â—ignifyes Flowerie this Violet shined lesse and as a Violet lay hid within her leaues Wherefore it seemed good to the expert Gardiner her heauenlie Spouse in her womb to transferre this Violet with his Spirit into the mountains of Iudea being places al set with garlick and leeks as I may terme it Where Zacharie and Elizabeth sat sheading of teares for the Redemptsion of Israel the proper effect of those hearbs which She through her coming wiped away and further gaue forth a greater odour of sanctitie then euer for loe she filled the whole house with the odour of her Vertues THE EMBLEME THE POESIE IN Heauen the humble Angels GOD beheld And on the earth with Angels paralel'd The lowlie Virgin viewd Her modest eye Submissiue count'nance thoughts that did relye On him that would exalt an humble wight And make his Mother Alma ne're in sight With vertues fragrant odours round beset Close to the earth lay like the Violet Which shrowded with its leaues in couert lyes Found sooner by the sent then by the eyes Such was the Virgin rays'd to be Heauens Queene Who on the earth neglected was not seene THE THEORIES COntemplate first how as Plinie sayth the Violet is soueraigne against the Squinzi in the throat the Catharre in the eyes and Impostumes in the bodie So S. Iohn Baptist was before his Sanctification being as vlcerous and impostumat as we al before Baptisme through Original Sinne Elizabeth continually powring forth teares for the barrenes and sterilitie as wel of the Sinagogue as of herself and Zacharie's throat being stopt with the squinzi of Infidelitie so as he could not speake MARIE the Violet entering into this Hospital the impostumeâ— of Iohn vanished the defluxions of Elizabeth ceased and Zacharie's squinzies were vnstopt and finally health was restored to the whole house Consider then againe how as Plinie sayth the seed of the Violet is the infallible destruction of the Scorpion then which what more expresly in Symbolical Theologie declares the Mother of GOD to be a Violet For this malediction was giuen by GOD against the accursed Serpent from the first beginning I wil put enmities between thee and the woman and thy seed and her Seed and she shal tread or it shal tread thy head No seed more opposit to the Scorpion then that of the Violet nor none to the Serpent so much as the Seed of the Virgin IESVS Ponder lastly how the Violet by some is called the Flower of the Trinitie perhaps for the triple coulour which is found therin for that as in the Violet are seen the violet the purple and the golden coulour and as those coulours in the natural so in the Violet MARIE may you consider the Violet coulour of Humilitie the purple of her Chastiâ—â—e and the golden coulour of Maternitie or Charitie in her since her Charitie was the cause of her Maternitie and consequently she the Violet of a Trinitie THE APOSTROPHE O Faire and goodlie Flower the true Aurora of the Spring the gladsome Herbinger of the Spring of grace thou fairest of al flowers and yet who holdst the lowest place stil grounded in thy Nothing O that this true contempt of my-self were planted once and rooted in the ground of my hart that this lowlines of hart I say O Ladie Violet and humilitie of spirit were imprinted for euer in my soule Oh obtaine for me Alas due I coniure and besâ—eâ—h you to it by al the reuerences and respects which the Sonne of God the Wisedome of the Father hath yealded you in heauen and which the Great GOD your Sonne no lesse hath afforded you on earth THE V. SYMBOL THE HELIOTROPION THE DEVISE THE CHARACTER THE Heliotropion is the loftie Cedar of flowers wherin the Sun could he nestle himself would choose of al the rest to build his neast for birds we know breed where they hant most and delight to harbour and conuerse in al the day It is euen the Eye nothing els but Eye to behold the Sun which she neuer shuts til he sincks down in Tethis's bed where being drowned ouer head and eares she wincks and shrowds herself the while in the thin eyelids of her leaues to meditate vpon him It is the Arsenal of crimson-flags displayed to the Pithian Apollo in despite of Mars whom she adores as God of Armes as wel as Books wheras Mars if you take him from his speare and shield can neither write nor reade It is the Gnomon of the Garden a Dial artificially made in hearbs to expresse al the howers of the day a verie needle pointing to its radiant Starre which being so restles as it is makes her as restles euerie whit with this difference only that he measures infinit degrees
of Heauens and she as manie points It is a verie Mart of silks sarcenets taffeties and satins al of Gingeline in graine because in fashion If the Rose excel in sauour which she professes not to vtter in her shop she vowes to be more loyal and constant to her Paramour then it She is so amourous dotes so much vpon him that she can not liue without his conuersation which she hath so much as she almost is turn'd and quite metamorphosied into him and now become already in the Garden what he is in his Zodiack the true and real flower of the Sun or Sun of Flowers as he himself the Sun of starres or that great Starre they cal a Sun It is the true Alferes of hearbs bearing vp the standard of Flora amidst the rest of flowers the Pharus to direct the GardeÌ„-Nimphs wheÌ„ they loose themselues in the labyrinth of flowrie knots or Maze of flowers the Beacon al on fire to giue warning to the rest of flowers of the arising of the Sun to beware of his parching rayes for feare of withering before their times It is euen the Daphne of flowers whom Phoehus followes al the day and if she fly she hath her eye on her shoulder to looke behind her as she runnes THE MORALS AD ME CONVERSIO EIVS PIctures likely are so framed that be you in the roome in anie part they wil seeme to look vpon you Looke where the Panther is in woods and forests there wil commonly other beasts resort to look and gaze vpon him whether it be the beautie of his spotted coat or sweetnes of his breath which attracts I know not but this is sure the effect is so as I haue heard The Turtle seemes to haue no eye but for his mate and where they sit togeather their eyes wil be as glued vpon each other The Pole that drawes the Needle to it the load-stone that attracts the iron the ieat that puls the fescue what is it el's but a natural instinct or Moral rather I may say of more then mutual loue that makes the one so powerfully to allure and the other to be so easie and wiling to be drawne This I am sure of Vertue is so specious and so goodlie a thing that it drawes the eyes of al to look vpon her and where they haue not harts to follow her faire steps yet wil they stand to gaze vpon her and admire at least The litle IESVS lying in the Crib like a Loadstone drew the Shepheards from their flocks Kings from their peoples a Starre from the rest of the fellowship of starres yea euen the Angels from the Heauens to sing a Gloria in excelsis vnto God and peace to men What trow you but a secret instinct that could be no lesse then HeaueÌ„lie and Diuine made so great a conuersion of Terrestrials and Celestials to a litle Infant And as for the Mother her self that held him in her lap the while she before sitting in her little Nazareth obscure drew so the eyes of the Almightie to her that He could not choose but so conuert himself vnto her as to descend and lodge within her and she truly say AD ME CONVERSIO EIVS THE ESSAY THE honour of our Gardens and the miracle of flowers at this day is the Heliotropion or Flower of the Sun be it for the height of its stem approaching to the heauens some cubits high or beautie of the flower being as big as a man's head with a faire ruff on the neck or for the number of the leaues or yellow vying with the marigold or which is more for al the qualities nature and properties of the Flower which is to wheel about with the Sun there being no Needle that more punctually regards the Poles then doth this Flower the glorious Sun For in the morning it beholds his rising in his iourney attends vpon him and eyeth him stil wheresoeuer he goes nor euer leaues following him til he sink downe ouer head and eares in Tethis's bed when not being able to behold him anie longer she droops and languishes til he arise and then followes him againe to his old lodging as constantly as euer with him it riseth with him it falles and with him riseth againe Nature hath donne wel in not affording it anie odour at al for with so much beautie and admirable singularities had there been odour infused therinto and the sweetnesse of odoriferous flowers withal euen men who are now half mad in adoring the same for its excellent guifts would then haue been stark mad indeed with doting vpon it But Nature it seemes when first she framed a pattern for the rest not being throughly resolued what to make it tree or flower hauing brought her workmanship almost vnto the top after a litle pause perhaps at al aduenture put a flower vpon it and so for haste forgot to put the Musks into it Whervpon to countervaile her neglect heerin the benigne Sol of meer regard and true compassion graced her by his frequent and assiduous looke with those golden rayes it hath And as the Sun shewes himself to be enamoured with her she as reason would is no lesse taken with his beautie and by her wil if by looks we may guesse of the wil would faine be with him But like an Estrich with its leaues as wings it makes vnprofitable offers to mount vp vnto him and to dwel with him but being tyed by the root it doth but offer and no more It is like the Scepter which the Paynâ—ms attribute to their Deitie that beares an Eye on the top while this flower is nothing els but an Eye set on the point of its stem not to regard the affayres of Mortals so much as to eye the Immortal Sunne with its whole propension the midle of which flower where the seed is as the white of the eye is like a Turkie-carpet or some finer cloth wrought with curious needle-work which is al she hath to entertaine her Paramour THE DISCOVRSE COuld there be deuised a more noble Symbol of our Incomparable LADIE then this flower regarding indeed the true Sunne 〈◊〉 Iustice whom she followed stil in the wholâ— course of her life vnto her death Therefore whom we haue already represented as a Rose Lillie and Violet let vs now contemplate as a true Heliotropion Compare we then first by certain Analogies the Sunne being the king of Planets with the Sunne of Iustice King of the Sunne and Planets and the Heliotropion with the Virgin Marie The Sun chief of Planets fils the earth with his influences the Sun of Iustice the world with the effects of his power The Sun of Planets is the First cause among the Seconds the Sun of Iustice the First before them al that trauerses al places this penetrates al harts that lends his light to the moon and starres this giues both life and being to al creatures The Sun the Planet is the origin of life the Sun of Iustice
Heauens the World and Hel. This Deaw of Grace was not engendred in the vpper Region that is in Heauen nor was the work of the Incarnation of CHRIST effectually wrought therin because he assumed not the Angelical nature He apprehended not the Angels Nor beneath that is in Hel because he redeemed not Diuels or spared thē or shewed mercie to them God pardoned not the Angels sinning But it was engendred in the midst that is the Incarnation was wrought in this middle Region because therin the Diuine hypostastis assumpted human nature to itself God sent his Sonne made of a woman Now was this Deawing or Incarnation made as I sayd of hot cold For God vouchsafed to become Man for two respects that is out of abundāce of charitie of the one side which was excessiue heat and out of a general miserie of ours which was a kind of benumming cold From this heat therfore to wit from this Charitie of GOD and from this cold the general miserie of mankind was wrought roration or Deawing that is the Incarnation of the Sonne of God with this onlie difference that there was a temperate heat and cold togeather but heer a heat with a great excesse through his too much charitie wherewith he loued vs and a great frigiditie of languour in vs or a languishing frigiditie Because al haue declined and are become vnprofitable Moreouer this roration or Deaw we speake of was made in our Virgin-earth who being watered with Celestial Deaw brings forth the Nazaraean flower that sayth of himself I am the flower of the field Againe Let flow thy speech like Deaw and as drops vpon the gras To which the Church alluding sayth Let him descend into the Virgins womb like Deaw therin This earth therefore so moystned and watered with Deaw produced the Lillie of Paradice I the Deaw of Israel budding like the Lillie This Israel is interpreted a man seing God and heer signifyes our incomparable Ladie who was truly Masculin in al her actions beholding as it were the Diuine Essence through Contemplation I wil now then maruel no more that GOD leauing al other creatures should take complacencie as he doth to be the Father of Deawes the Scriptures saying Who begat the drops of deaw and who is the Father of rayne You would say he meāt that there is nothing which better represents the Diuine generatiō of the Sonne which is begotten of the Father by way of Vnderstanding from whence as from a fruitful clowd distils the Diuine Deaw of the Word Let my word flow like deaw But for the Incarnation itself it seemes to be iust the verie same For the Sun of the Diuinitie therin vnited to the little poore vapour of our mortalitie hath fertilizd this beautiful Paradice of the Church the Deaw watering the same which fel from the Fiue Wounds of IESVS that deawie clowd suspended in the ayre and hanging on the tree of the Crosse. Hence it is that GOD makes so great accompt of this Deaw for when he would make a feast for his people in the wildernes he did it by meanes of the Deaw which was then conuerted into Manna and Manna virtually into al meats And if GOD would make him a chamber al of gold or a cabinet for himself surely he would choose the Deaw to be his house Who puts the clowds his bower c. God makes as exact esteeme of a simple drop of Deaw as of al the world besides Before thee sayth Salomon is the whole world as a drop of morning-deaw You wonder now at a smal matter but I wil tel you yet a thing more strange which is that since the Sonne GOD of a litle graine of mustard sayes The kingdome of heauen is like to a graine of mustard-seed c. me thinks I might say as wel The kingdome of heauen is like to a drop of Deaw For the Sauiour of the world who is the graine of mustard-seed is likewise this same rich drop of Deaw For as the Sonne of God in outward apparance was as it were no bodie nor seemed to make anie shew yet when the Sun of the Diuinitie once began to appeare in him he shewed himself to be the vertue of Paradice euen so a little drop of Deaw falling from the heauens for example on the Flowerdeluce would seeme perharps to you but a little round point of water and a meer graine of Cristal but if the Sun do but shine vpon it Ah! what a miracle of beautie it is while of the one side it wil looke like an Orient-pearl and being turnd some other way becomes a glowing Carbuncle then a Saphir and after an Emerald and so an Amethist and al enclosed in a nothing or a litle glasse of al the greatest beauties of the world that seeme to be engraued therin so manie drops so manie Orient-pearls so manie drops of Manna wherewith the Heauens seeme to nourish the earth and to enrich Nature as being the Symbol of the Graces wherewith GOD doth water and fertilize our soules For what should that Flcece of Gedeon signify but the Grace of graces the admirable grace of the Incarnation of Christ to be wrought in the conception of the Diuine Word in the virginal womb or fleece of the said Gedeon which was replenished with the Deaw of the Holie-Ghost in liew of the verie Deaw that is where descended the fulnes of the Diuinitie she being worthily called and compared to a fleece since she hath cloathed the true Lamb of God with her flesh who takes away the sines of the world O Virgin worthie of al grace How art thou graced indeed and fauoured aboue al the Daughters of Ierusalem since thy head IESVS CHRIST came so to thee ful of Deaw and reposes in thy chast bower THE EMBLEME Benedicta inter mulieres lucae c. i. THE POESIE NOt like a duskie clowde which Sol exhales Nor like a gloomie mist that shrowdes the vales But from the Earth the Sunne of Iustice drew A purer vapour which dissolu'd the Deaw Distilling from the Limbeck of the skies Our drie barren Earth doth fertilize The barren womb erst was accurst but she Though Virgin was a faire fruitful tree Women bring forth with paineful throbs throwes She was a Mother but not one of those Mongst women blest drawne by heauens radiant beames Twixt clowd mist pure Deaw twixt both extreames THE THEORIES COnsider first that as Eue our first Parent and Mother of vs al was not created immediatly of earth as Adam was but taken from his rib it being a priuiledge only due to Adam so to be framed of virgin-earth and was therefore called Virago fetching her extraction as it were a Viro So our second Eue our Spiritual and Celestial Mother adopting vs engendring vs as children through the Deawes of Celestial graces procured vs from heauen was not made of virgin-extraction herself that is was not framed of the Diuine or Angelical
yet knew she no corruption at al obseruing and keeping perpetually the Virginitie of mind and bodie How worthily therefore is she compared to Heauen for this so strange and admirable incorruptibilitie in her THE APOSTROPHE O Great Miracle of the world or little world of miracles not Queene so much of Heauen alone as the Heauen of the King of thee Queene Mistris of the Heauens thou only maister-peece of the Almightie hand O Diuine Throne not second vnto anie Thou liuing Ark of Alliance and the Elder Sister of al creatures who wast a Mother and a Virgin a Virgin a Mother al in one a Mayden a Nurse a Nurse yet a Mayden the Mother and the Nurse of God and Man a Virgin and a Mayd for euer By that glorious virgin-fruit of thine the astonishment of Angels which so miraculously thou broughtst into the world after thou hadst so long afforded him thy precious Womb as a gratful and delicious Paradise of Heauen Grant we beseech thee by that shower of grace in Him which fel through thee O mysterious Heauen that we may come at last to that Heauen of his glorie which he hath purchased for vs with his more then precious Bloud THE IX SYMBOL THE IRIS THE DEVISE THE CHARACTER THE Iris is the radiant and refulgent Bow of Heauen that shoots but wonders to astonish the world with It is the Thiara or fayrest dresse of Nature her shining Carkanet enchaced with the richest iewels It is the Triumphal Arch of the heauenlie Numens set-vp in triumph as a Trophey of Beautie to allure the eyes of al to stare and gaze vpon it The Protheus of the Seas could neuer take so manie shapes vpon him as the Iris diuersifyes its coulours And for the Camelion of the ayre she doubtles vsed no other pattern then it to coppie forth the great varietie of coulours she assumes This Prodigie of Nature liues in and by the Ayre but hath its whole subsistence in the Eye only Open the eyes and there it is but shut them vp and it wil vanish It is indeed the faire and goodlie mirrour of the heauenlie Intelligences themselues which they wil gaze on as their leasure serues them and breake at their pleasure if they like it not to make them new perhaps to please them better If the Angels would lay aside their wings and goe afoot I doe not think they could haue a better way to descend by and ascend againe then by this Causway paued al with iewels heer and there and where not al strewed with tapistries the Turkie ones are nothing like nor those of Barbarie come neere them while those the mothes wil eate and time destroy their coulours and they fade but these wil last til al be quite worne out They seeme al as made by the same hand they are so like looke what you haue to day the same you haue to morrow And surely no other Artizan then he that made you this can make you such another They say it is a nothing in itself which if it be it is a prettie Nothing that so with nothing should make the heauens so beautiful nay more so rich and al with nothing THE MORALS PACIS FERO SIGNA FVTVRAE THE Scythian Tamberlan the terrour of the House of Ottomans had in his warres three Ensignes the red the black and white which he vsed to aduance vpon occasions wherof the white especially signifyed Peace a reconciliation offered which if refused the red then the black succeeded Castor and Pollux in the Heauens are held to be sweet propitious and pacifical Starres The Halcion in time of a tempestuous storme at Sea appearing on the decks is a comfortable and little lesse then a certain signe of a calme and quiet Sea wherat Mariners wil cheer vp as no such thing had euer hapned The Spring immediatly followes the bitter and sharp Winter the signes are the buds appearing then in the tender and green twigs When the Lyon is in his chiefest rage and when he roars most dreadfully of al and for anger beats himself with his tayle in meer despite let come but a tender Virgin by the while and appeare in his sight his courage wil fayle him he be a Lamb in a Lion's skin The Lion of Iuda roared then when the Lord of Hoasts to extirpate human kind so let go the Cataracts of heauen to drowne the world with a total deluge of waters couering the earth when lo the white flag was spred in the Heauens in forme of an Iris representing the pure and immaculate Virgin of Virgins which made the Lion to let fal his creast and to enter into a league with al mankind to drowne it no more and therefore our Ladie herself was a true Iris and may rightly be called and truly is that PACIS FERO SIGNA FVTVRAE THE ESSAY THE Iris or Rainebow is that goodlie mirrour wherin the humane spirit sees very easily its owne ignorance and wherin the poore Philosopher becomes Banckrout who in so manie yeares can know no more of this Bow then this that he knowes nothing to the purpose that it is a Noli me tangere since as manie as haue mused thervpon haue but broken their braines about it to their owne confusion For of the one side there is nothing of lesse being in the whole pourtrait of Nature being framed of a goodlie Nothing diuersifyed and diaperd with false coulours dressed-vp with a feigned beautie the matter nothing its durance a moment It is a Bow without an arrow a bridge without a Basis a Crescent not encreasing a phantasme of coulours a Nothing that would faine shew to be somewhat And yet is this rich Nothing a miracle of beautie among the fairest things of the world which being compared thervnto are euen as nothing Would you haue riches The whole Bow is nothing els then the carkanet of Nature enameled with al the precious Iewels she hath some are Pearls others haue the sparcle of the Diamant the flames of the Carbuncle the twincle of the Saphir I should say rather it is the maister-peece wherin Nature had embrodered al her rarest stones and placed the richest peece of her treasures which she can seuer at her pleasure It is the Collar of her Order her chaine of pearles and the fairest of al her Cabinet wherewith she decks herself to please her Spouse the Heauens Good God! what a goodlie Nothing is this if it be no more that carryes such beautie and riches with it It is said that great High way of milke which appeares in the heauens was the way of the Gods whē they went vnto the Cōsistorie of Iupiter but it is a fable whereas I should think that were there any ordinary way for the Angels to descend down vnto the earth by or for men to mount vp to heauen there could be no fayrer thē this Bridge alwayes tapistryed and paued with so bewtiful stones THE DISCOVRSE GOD himself takes
such complacencie in the Rainebow that when he is in the highest point of his iust choler if he cast but his eye thervpon he is suddenly appeased I wil looke on my Bow and wil remember c sayth he And no maruel surely since the Bow he regards so much is the Symbol heer of his deerest Mother the Incomparable Virgin Let vs see then how this heauenlie Bow deciphers the Queen of Heauen this mirrour of Nature and the astonishment of man-kind The Generation and extract of anie thing discouers it most This Iris then or Raynebow is caused by the reflexion of the Sunnie beames vpon a lucid clowd concaue and waterish Clowdes are engendred of the marine vapours or exhalation of the seas where the vapoural parts of the Ocean are attracted by the vertue of the Sun which conglomerated togeather engender a clowd when the brackishnes of the Sea-water is turned to sweetnes And so was our Ladie a true clowd since in her were found these marine vapours that is incredible tribulations bitter and brackish of themselues though to her made sweet through the force and vertue of Diuine Loue. The Sunnie beames therefore that is the grace of GOD being a ray as it were of the Diuine Essence reflecting on the purest Virgin a lucid clowd concaue and waterish produced the Iris or Rainebow in the Hierarchie of the Church as in the firmament of the Heauens and therefore called the Iris or Celestial Bow a signe of the Reconciliation of GOD with al mankind She was concaue through humilitie and therefore very apt to receaue the rayes of the Sunne of Iustice the influence of Diuine graces as she was waterish no lesse through compassion and pietie because her hart was a Spring and her eyes as continual-standing pooles of teares A bow commonly hath a string is bent with an arrow in it and hath the horns conuerted towards vs as menacing the Foes Our Blessed Vigin is a Bow indeed but without the string of seueritie because most iust and without menaces and feare because most sweet and hath two horns withal to wit Grace and Mercie which she holdeth towards vs while grace she affordeth to the iust and mercie to sinners and is therefore called the Mother of Grace and Mother of Mercie Aboue al the Rayne-bow hath its proper subsistence in coulour which it seemes to borrow as Bede sayth of the foure Elements For of the fire it contracts a ruddie coulour from the water a Cerulean from the ayre the coulour of the Hyacinth and from the earth the green it hath al which seeme spiritually to be found in our Celestial Bow the Incomparable Ladie for red she was being wholy inflamed with the fire of Diuine loue which she tooke from the Diuine fire God being our consuming fire a fire indeed that burns and consumes others but not her because although she were a bush and burning too yet incombustible She might borrow that coulour likewise from her dead Sonne as he lay on her lap being taken from the Crosse al bathed with his precious Bloud which mixed with her faire complexion might wel appeare like to flames in our heauenlie Iris. She had the Cerulean which is the coulour of the Sea because she is properly the Starre of the Sea and hath therefore a great correspondencie with that liquid Element and through meer compassion was become as it were al liquid according to that of the Psalmist My hart is become as dissolued or liquifyed wax as wel for the abundance of teares she was wont to shed as the puritie of her mind which made them so limpid and cleare She had thirdly the coulour of the Hyacinth which she tooke as from the ayre since al her conuersation was in the ayre as it were abstracted from the earth or terrene cogitations She was wholy as the Bird of Paradise which hath no feet to touch the earth with from the time that her Sonne ascended to heauen from the mount Oliuet she could do nothing but cast vp her eyes thither-wards and so powerfully perhaps contracted that coulour through the vehemencie of her attention and application to that object til her Assumption haply when she left it by the way in her Bow to remayne for euer as a signe of her puritie But now to conclude with the green which she tooke from the earth what might it be but a continual Spring of al Graces and Vertues which she practised on earth Looke into a garden in that season of the Spring and whatsoever your eyes can behold truly delicious there in the greennes of the plots and arbours both open and close and in the green-sword allies and bancks your vnderstanding shal be able to paralel and find-out her vertuous conuersation on earth For if you consider her green walks they were al as streight as garden-walks for streight were the paths of her whole life If on the arbours you shal find her continually in her closet her plots were nothing els but how to become more gratful to her Sonne her Spouse her Lord and those alwayes new euer green so as in the garden of her mind was a perpetual Spring to be seen of al vertues while she liued amongst vs no maruel then the green was so dear vnto her to be put into her bow THE EMBLEME THE POESIE FRom heauen the Father viewes his Sonne below Vpon the Crosse as on a clowde a Bowe When vapours from the earth exhal'd arise The Mother likewise sees with mourning eyes Her Sonne al black blew pale wan red Green with a crowne of thornes fixt on his head Al which reflect by reflexion die The Mother like a Raine-bow in the skie To her for mercie when the Sinner sues The Sonne his Mother as a Raine-bow viewes That pleades for mercie to her Sonne appeales Who signes the Pardon and his Wounds are Seales THE THEORIES COntemplate first that if Nature be able to frame so rare a peece of workmanship as the Rayne-bow and that no wit of man can truly comprehend the reasō of its forme and figure with the admirable diuersitie of coulours in it so as among her other works most choice and rare the same is accounted as a cheef miracle in Nature in the visible Heauens I imagin the while what GOD himself is able to doe in his works of Grace being disposed as it were to vye with Nature in framing an Iris likewise in this Heauen of Heauēs to astonish not Mortals only but the Angels and blessed Spirits themselues better able to iudge of the diuersitie of coulours in her to wit the mysteries and graces wherewith he hath adorned her Consider then that as the Rayne-bow of it-self is no more then a meer Meteor in the ayre if it be so much whose whole luster it takes from the Sun and vanisheh as soone as he is either in a clowd or hath his aspect some other way since it is wholy of him and so of him as
somewhat moyst and sweetly cōforting the tediousnes of them being otherwise gloomie and dark of themselues A Starre she is that liues but of loane and hath the visage alwayes vpon change She is the Mistris of the Sea the Queen of the Night the Mother of Deawes the sweet Nurse of the Earth the Guide of Mariners the Glasse of the Sun the Companion of his trauels the Guardian of his light and Depositariā of the day and treasures of the heauens the second Glory of the firmamēt the Empresse of Starres Regent of this world beneath where she hath her iurisdictiō demeanes She marks-out the months and yeares and the ages as they runne and through her sweetnes tempers the burning heats of her brother the Sun When she is diametrally set vnder the Sun interposed between him and the earth she ecclipseth him and robs the earth of the beames of the Sun and the shadow of the earth of the other side being cast ouer her ecclipses her and suffers her not to enioy the Sunnie rayes but the point of the shadow of the earth not mounting neere so high makes no ecclips at al in the other starres THE DISCOVRSE NOw what may this Moon denote and signify to vs but the glorious Queene of Heauen For she is al faire as the Moone She is as the Moone ful in her dayes and a perfect Moone because Her Throne as the Sun in my sight as a perfect Moone for euer She is a Moon therefore yea farre more beautiful then the Moon euer was or euer like to be For as the Moon indeed hath her light borrowed very gracious to behold but none of her owne being meerly a light reuerberated frō the Sun So the Virgin truly though her light be borrowed and none of her owne as simply hers yet hers it is indeed though borrowed of her Sonne the Sun of Iustice as daughter of the King For al the glorie of the King's daughter is within her c not outwardly only in the voice of people alwayes doubtful euer vncertain for the most part vndeserued and of little subsistence and permanencie but intrinsecally in her most certain meritorious and for euer Besides the Moon hath her light often ecclipsed and looseth wholy her light for a time but the blessed Virgin though she seemed to be ecclipsed through the vehemencie of her sorrow when she saw her Sonne so shadowed by a clowd in the time of his Passion yet for her cōstancie of fayth she could not be ecclipsed so as to despaire of his Resurrectiō I wil not cease vnto the end of the world Wel might the Apostles fayle at that time but Marie neuer Moreouer as the Moon is variable and subiect to changes in the light it affords to Mortals an argument accounted of weaknes of brayne while the foole as the Wise-man sayth is changed as the Moone let vs see what chāges mutabilities they are One is of the mind which is often moued through diuers affectīons another in the bodie which is subiect to manifold alteration and corruption an other of fortune because temporal things are alwayes a flowing or ebbing a flux or reflux the losse of guilt and offence which is in sinners who alwayes are sliding from vice to vice But our Ladie hath al these changes and mutabilities vnder her feet since the Moon indeed is placed vnder her feet while she alwayes retained the constancie of her mind and Vow of Virginitie she put on the glorie of Immortalitie on her bodie she trampled al terrene and temporal things vnder foot and lastly through a singular prerogatiue was euer priuiledged from sinne Furthermore the Moon hath her light al speckled ouer with little spots but our blessed Ladie had no blemish or spot at al either in her thoughts because alwayes pure and immaculate or in her bodie because Angelical Thou art wholy fayre my friend And there is no spot in thee I say most fayre in cogitations affections and intentions and spotles in al. Oh beautiful Moon transcending anie heauenlie Planet or Starre in the Firmament as farre in dignitie and excellencie as so heauenlie a Ladie and Queene of Heauens can surpasse her Rational Sensible or Insensible subiects The Moon is sometimes wholy obscure sometimes wholy lucid and bright and sometimes partly obscure and partly resplendent wherin it resembles the Virgin right For the Moon as S. Augustin sayth is obscured either when it is vnder a clowd or when ecclipsed or when renewed as in the new Moon So the blessed Virgin in this world was thrice or three manner of wayes obscured First through her excessiue humilitie which was a kind of obscure clowd that ouershadowed her brightnes or splendour in the eyes of the world Black I am but beautiful as if she had sayd I am outwardly black through humilitie but inwardly beautiful in grace and maiestie Secondly through acerbitie and bitternes of sorrow and this in the Passion of her Sonne as I sayd aboue where she suffered an ecclips in the vehemēcie of her greef The Sun that is to say Christ shal be turned into darknes through death and the Moon to wit the blessed Virgin into bloud that is into dolour And thirdly through corporal death for then became she obscure in a sort when her soule departed frō her precious bodie so obscured as it were to become a new Moone againe in her Assumption and then indeed was she a moone most perfect for euer Secondly this Moon of ours was wholy lucid in her Assumption because she was glorified in soule and bodie and receaued there her double Stole and likewise shines vpon vs with her infinit fauours and graces which she dayly sends vs. For then indeed as the Moon is wholy bright and lucid when she shines in the beginning midst and to the end of the night by which night is tribulation both signified and vsually vnderstood And as some Saints there are who help the afflicted in the beginning of the night as it were others who suffer men to fal into tribulation and to be tempted in the beginning and middle but help and succour them at the end the blessed Virgin shines with her fauours vpon the distressed as wel in the beginning in affording courage and in the midle in giuing perseuerance as in the end in placing the crowne on their heads This is she when others fayle who neuer fayles whom other Saints for sinnes iustly forsake she neuer leaues and while others seeme to subtract their suffrages she alwayes helps Thirdly this Moon was partly lucid and partly obscure and this truly in the Passion of her Sonne where both she was obscured and yet gaue light obscure through intēse sorrow yet lucid by most firme Fayth For as whē the Sun is ecclipsed the Moon being opposed between vs the Sun appeares wholy obscure so when the Sun of Iustice suffered ecclips at his death the blessed Virgin became wholy dark that is quite
It is the manner in al countries likely in doubtful wayes especially where they seeme to crosse one another to set vp Pillars with hands directing and pointing this way or that way and you wil not beleeue what comfort it affords to wearie Pilgrims whose euerie step out of their right way is a greeuous corrasiue to them The Kings had a Starre as companion in their pilgrimage to the Crib And the Pastours of the Church are as so manie Starres to leade their Sheep and to guide their subiects in the pilgrimages of their owne saluation When the hauens are crooked and perilous to passe to and fro the publick care of common safeties in the night especially prouides some burning torch or other vpon some turret-top to admonish the Marriners where they are and fayrly to guide and direct them into the wished port This same prouision hath the Wisedome likewise of the great CREATOVR found out to comfort and direct vs no lesse in the open Seas exposing a certain Starre among the rest as a sure and infallible Pharus But more truly and abundantly farre in ordaining the Incomparable Virgin Marie his blessed Mother to be our Starre in the dangerous and tempestuous Sea of the world and therefore is heer very truly sayd in the Motto IN ITINERE PHARVS THE ESSAY THE Starres as sowne vp and downe the Heauens are the thicker and massiue parts of Heauen certain Buttons of Crystal as it were which serue as a grace and entertainment to Heauen By these siluer channels Nature distills her influences vpon vs and insensibly distributes fauours They are the eyes of Nature which without cease serue vs as a Court-of-guard for watchfulnes the Iewels of Nature wherewith ordinarily she dresses herself Sometimes they send forth their fire rayes sometimes they ecclipse their beautie and strip themselues of al refulgence There are some who can punctually tel you the course and trauails of the Starres their aspects their encounters and their fruits the marriages and diuorces of the Planets their defects and ecclipses their risings their settings their asceÌ„dants their coniunctions and the whole â—economie of the Heauens For the swiftnes of their motions it is a thing almost incredible what they write that one Starre in the firmament should goe 200000. Italian miles in a minute of an hower so as neither the flight of a bird nor force of an arrow nor the furious shot of a CanoÌ„ nor anie thing of the world can approach or come neere the imaginable swiftnes of these Starres bus yet most true Besides al this there is no Starre thahath not a particular vertue with it though vnt knowne to vs. The clowded Starres cause infallibly rayne others frost some snow others shead abundant deawes some sow their hayle others open the mouth and gates of the winds others fold the world in clowds others send downe mistie fogs and others contribute to the production and generation of Minerals and when the Sun and the Canicular Starre are in coniunction and match togeather the world burnes with outrageous heats It is a dreadful thing to consider the greatnes of these Starres their distaÌ„ce in the Heauens and the inexplicable swiftnes of their courses and reuolutions You shal haue a Starre which shewes no bigger then a crowne that is a â—15 times greater then the earth Goodnes of GOD Who would imagin this beautie to see such a Boule of Cristal al of fire to cast downe here beneath a thousand benedictions on the earth by meanes of its rayes and the sweetnes of its influences THE DISCOVRSE THvs farre then of Starres in general which being thus decyphered may seeme as so manie glorious Suns in the Firmament of the Heauens but are indeed as the Common-people of that Celestial Citie and Kingdome compared with the Sun himself sitting in the midst of Planets as the King of Heauen to whom al the rest of Starres make vp a Court among whom as a choice Hester is one especially selected by that great Assuerus of Starres to cast his most amorous glances and fayrest influence vpon This happie and auspicious Starre is knowne and called by diuers names according to the offices she discharges in the great Assuerus his house For first is she stiled by the name of Venus not as the Goddesse of Loue which the Poets feigne but for that she disposes them to loue whom she lwayes and exercises her vertues on Secondly she is called the Morning-Starre because she shewes and declares the Morning now at hand and euen begins the same herself with her burning torch to glad the world withal who then begins to shake off sleepe and disperse the mistie vapours which so long had shadowed clowded ouer the Gemell Starres or Eyes of the Microcosmes of men Thirdly they cal her Lucifer in that her light exceeds so much the other Starres so as wel she may be sayd the Hester of theÌ„ al. And fourthly she is tearmed the Hesperus for as much as she respects the ensuing night and greatly illustrats the same with her more then ordinarie splendour and light so as she glads the world therewith drawes al eyes to gaze vpon her Such is this special Starre indeed the glorie of the Heauenlie Orbs but loe we haue another Starre in hand dwelling in the vpper Region of the Empyreal Heauens that greatly symbolizes with this but as farre exceeds it Analogically speaking as the great Assuerus Sun of Iustice excelles the same of this our Firmament or as much as this same Firmament itself where GOD eternally raignes in his Empyreal and Celestial Court to whom I say these seueral titles may aptly agree according to these other things which are sayd of her I am the Mother of faire dilection of feare of knowledge of holie hope This Starre is the blessed Virgin that may wel be tearmed Venus because she enflames mens harts with Diuine loue and therefore is sayd to be the Mother of faire dilection Then the Morning-Starre for that she is the beginning of a new life as the morning is the commencement of the ensuing day and therefore of feare For feare is the beginning of grace and of a new life according to that of the Psalmist The feare of GOD is the beginning of wisedome Againe she is sayd to be the Lucifer for that she giues the beginning of Diuine knowledge and so is the Mother of knowledge And lastly Hesperus since she so piously regards and illumines sinners who are in the darknes of wickednes and sinne and for that cause is fayd to be the Mother of holie hope She is likewise called the Morning-Starre because appearing to Mortals she is the most certain and infallible signe of the approach of the day of grace and rising of the Sun of Iustice This Starre besides is called the Starre of the Sea and that most fitly if Philo most skilful of the Hebrew tongue be worthie to be beleeued to whose interpretation Beda assents and the
Doctour S. Bonauenture in his Glosse of the Blessed Virgin yea the Catholick Church while she sings the Aue Maris stella and againe Stella Maris succurre cadenti And truly if Stella be sayd of stando for its stabilitie and immobilitie then needs must Marie be a Starre whose firmitie stabilitie in good is known to be such as she neuer stept a whit froÌ„ the wil of GOD which to no other creature once of riper yeares was yet afforded since as the Apostle S. Iames sayth We haue al offended in manie things But for the glorious Virgin as S. Bernard Sayth She was a Starre because that as the Starre sheads its rayes without corruptioÌ„ so she powred forth her Sonne without impeachment of her Virginitie And as the Starre thereby looses no light â—o the Virgins Sonne empayred not the light of her integritie anie wayes Reade but S. Bonauenture in his foresaid Glasse and he wil tel you how fitly the Virgin heer bears the office of the marine Starre For it is read sayth he and true it is that the custome of Marriners is that when they determine to sayle vnto some land to make choice of some one Starre by whose signe they may be lead without errour into that part they desire to arriue vnto And such truly is the office heer of Marie our Starre who directs the Marriners through the vast sea of the world in the Ship of Innocencie or Pennance to the shore of the Heauenlie countrey And not vnlike to this Pope innocent writes being cited likewise by the sayd S. Bernard in the same place By what helps sayth he may ships among so manie perils arriue at the shore of that Heauenlie countrie Surely by these two that is through the Wood Starre to wit through fayth of the Crosse and vertue of that Light which Marie that Starre of the Sea hath brought vs forth Now therefore as that Starre guides and directs the saylers to their port So this blessed Virgin is worthily called the Starre of this teÌ„pestuous Sea of the world while in the midst of the stormes of this life she lends so her light to such as sayle to heauen-wards and through her example and patronage continually directs them to the Hauen of the Heauenlie countrie Which S. Bernard knew wel when he sayd This is the glorious and renowned Starre very needfully raysed vpon this great and spacious sea shining with merits and illustrious in examples if the winds of temptatioÌ„s arise if thou lightst vpon rocks of tribulations if thou beest tossed by the waues of pride hoysed vp with the surges of ambition looke on the Starre cal vpon Marie let her not depart from thy hart let her not depart from thy mouth And sayth preseÌ„tly thervpoÌ„ In following her thou strayest not imploring her thou despayrest not in thinking on her thou errest not while she protects thou fearest not thou art not wearie while she guides and she propitious thou landst securely at the part and shalt find in thy felf how worthily it was sayd the Virgins name was Marie THE EMBLEME THE POESIE THe glorious Sunne withdrew his beames of light My sinne was cause So I in dismal night Am sayling in a stormie dangerous Maine And ere the sunne I feare returne againe Shal suffer shipwrack where the fraite's my Soule My onlie Hope 's a Starre fixt neere the pole But that my Needle now hath lost its force Once touchd with grace and saile out of course Starre of the Sea thy sun hath giuen thee light Til he brings day guide me in sinnes dark night I seeke what Sages heertofore haue donne Guided by thee a Starre to find the sunne THE THEORIES COntemplate first that howbeit a Starre be sayd by many degrees to be greater then the Earth yet seemes it to be but a spangle or fierie point only in that immense and vast vault of the Firmament So likewise the Blessed Virgin though she be the greatest Starre in the Heauenlie Hierarchie yet thought she alwayes humbly of herself and seemed the least meanest of al the Daughters of Hierusalem while she liued on earth For she was humble in mind in word fact in mind because she euer preferred others before herself as Ioseph Thy Father and I with heauines haue sought thee In word because she called not herself the Mother of GOD nor Ladie of the world nor Queene of Heauen but the handmayd of CHRIST when she replyed so Behold the haÌ„dmayd of our Lord and agayne He hath regarded the lowlines of his handmayd And lastly in fact because that after she was now become the Mother of GOD she made herself the handmayd of Elizabeth when she ministred to her for three months togeather that she remayned with her Consider then how this Starre of ours is as the Pole Starre or axeltree of the Firmament For as the whole circumference of the lesser Starres encompasseth the Pole and the wheel enuirons the axeltree round So is the whole Firmament of Saintlie and Angelical Starres about this singular soueraigne Starre that is the whole Celestial Court of blessed Spirits wheele as it were and beset the Virgin round because they encoÌ„passe enuiron her about as the Queen Ladie of theÌ„ al according to that which the Church sings Like the dayes of the spring-time doe the flowers of roses lillies of the vallies beset her round that is the Orders of Confessours and Virgins and the Prophet sayth The Queen stood at thy right haÌ„d in a garmeÌ„t al of gold with varietie beset round For the Saints are a certain robe or garment of the blessed Virgin adorning her richly indeed like a Ladie or Queen where the Apostles afford the embroderie of gold Martyrs the ground of scarlet Confessours Saphyrs and Emeralds and the Virgins the Orient Pearls and Diamonds PoÌ„der lastly that as this Starre is moued most swiftly by the motion of its Superiour to wit of the vpper firmament or chief Mouer because it dayly carries it about the world but moues most slowly of its owne motion for that they say it moues but one degree in a hundred yeares So the blessed Virgin our delicious Starre moued neuer of her proper motion but through the motion of her Superiour to wit the Holie-Ghost for as much as moued by the Holie-Ghost made she a vow of Chastitie and kept her virginitie inuiolable and that perpetual moued by the Holie-Ghost she gaue her assent to the Conception of the Sonne of GOD in an instant being moued to goe to serue her Coseu presently she climbd the mountains being moued so great with child and neer her time to goe to Bethlem she went her wayes and lastly moued to returne againe immediatly she returned Behold how she moued not of herself but meerly of the Holie-Ghost which was within her and guided and directed her in al things for other motion in moral actions had she none THE APOSTROPHE O Glorious Starre O Mother of
in luctu importuna narratio as much to say as Musick in mourning is a harsh hearing And yet the Rauen hath had the commendation of a good voice and been seriously told she had a good one but whosoeuer it was he did but to flatter her grosly to herface spake not as he thought indeed but to bring her into a foole 's Paradise and to sooth her vp for some politick ends of his owne But what haue we heer to doe with such Saxtons as she that rings but knells to passengers out of this world Welfare the Swan yet who though she sings very dolefully yet doth it very sweetly nor should I think the Swallow had reason of her side to contend with her for skil in musick for if her tune be reasonable good she hath no varieties though she sing very cheerfully and hath iubiley in the hart yet hath she no great melodie in her mouth The Philomel is truly she of al wind-instruments that carries the siluer bel away For she wil iug-it forth both cheerfully and sweetly to She wil sing from the hart as hauing an innocent soule of her owne not an ounce of care within nor so much as a Doit of debts to pay A good Musiciā indeed can not choose but be an honest man nor doe I see how an honest man can be ought els then a good Musician since Musick is no more then a harmonie and sweet accord of diuers tones into one melodie without any iarre or discord between them And Man is a Harp the Powers and Faculties of the Soule the strings and Reason the Harper If Reason then playes wel his part which makes the honest man Oh what a harmonie there is in al especially where the tongue and hart agree togeather When Dauid playd on the harp the il Spirit fled frō Saul And why because he hateth vnitie and concord Whereas had he iarr'd but neuer so litle the Spirit had stayd no doubt Is it so in the Harp not in the Organ of the voyce No doubt it is As the hand striks what the hart dictats so the mouth puts forth of the abundance of the hart The hart then of the Incomparable Virgin so innocent and free from al engagements how cheerful of necessitie must it needs be and being so ful of glee and iubiley how must she needs exhale vent forth melodie and consequently how diuinely brake she forth into that melodious Canticle of her Magnificat And if euer els where was that truly verifyed in her IN ORE MELOS CORDE IVBILVS THE ESSAY IT is one of the prettiest sports of Nature when she is in her deepest silence to heare the litle Nightingal to warble in telling and recounting her delights pleasures to Zephirus and the forrests tuning a 1000. Canzonets and sweetly cutting the ayre with repetitiō of a hundred thousand semi-semi-quauers which she lets go without cease To take her pleasure and recreation she wil ballance her self vpon a branch that shakes to dance Laualtoes as it were at the Cadēce of her lighter sōgs to match her voyce with the siluer streames of a chrystal currant gliding there along which breaking against the litle pibles murmures and sweetly purls while she pearches and sets herself iust ouer a banck enameled al with litle flowers This litle Musician alone making vp a song of foure Parts and a ful Quire of musick you would say she held within her throat a thousand Quiristers and as manie Violins and that the litle cornet of her beak were in steed of al the wind-instrumēts It is admirable in so smal a bodie so cleere so sweet so strong and pleasant a voice should be found that in the Spring when trees begin to bud their leaues whole dayes and nights perpetually she should sing without intermission at al. For whence from so litle a bird so bold and pertinacious a spirit Whence that force of containing yet the soule in chanting so manie diuersities in the continuation of one song and where I pray are the liuelie streightnings and remissions of the voice cōtained Whence so artificious and so perfect a knowledge of musick so ingenious a modulation so gratful a tone to the eares which now with a continued breath is drawne out at length now turns againe with a strange and admirable varietie distinguished with a slicing voice and then with a wreasted peeced togeather There is truly no Song so hard and abstruse which she can not expresse ful flat sharp quick long high meane base what more Now in these litle throats are al kinds of songs to be found entire and perfect which with so much labour with so much industrie and with so manie instruments inuented the Art of man hath deuised But oh what sport it is when this litle feathered voice this prettie harmonie in the shape of a bird this litle end of nothing as it were being viuifyed with musick is euen readie to kil herself with singing when she heares the counterfet Nightingal the Eccho to mock her in repeating and returning her whole melodie againe For then she mounts vp as it were to the heauens and then stoops againe to the Center of the earth she flyes she followes she sighs she sobs she is angrie and then pleas'd againe she mingles the sharp with the sweet the sharp with the B. flat one while a Chromatick then a sweeter stroke now strikes a Diapente and thē a Diapasō She counterfets the Hawboy Cornet Flute she deuids she gargles hath her Groppo the trills and the like and al in that her litle throat but yet can varie nothing but the Eccho imitates and expresses til at last as it were she looseth al patience falles into a litle chafe with herself in that seing nothing she heares notwithstanding and so flyes into some bush to hide her self for shame til prickt with a thorn at last she is pushed to sing againe which she doth without measure where al is delicious as before THE DISCOVRSE BVT what are al these to the sweet modulations of Maries voice wherewith she tuned a Canticle of her Diuine Soule surely a magnifying of GOD to be imitated of no Nightingal els inferiour to her self whether we regarde the manifold varietie of her voice or the delectable sweetnes or pertinacitie in the cōtinuation therof The Orpheans Amphions Arions the Orlandos and Marenzas yea the Sirens them selues with casting downe their eyes would goe their wayes confounded and breake their harps and other instruments into peeces had they heard the melodie of that Diuine Voice of hers O let thy voice then sound in mine eares for thy voice is sweet The Nightingals are sayd to be of two sorts some conuersant in the mountains and some in the marishes which wil appeare by the manner of their singing there being no comparison between them since the one doth far excel the other whether it be the litle pipes of their organs be stopt by the vapours
grow without rayne or waters cast vpon them where this plantation hath no need of waters but rather al industries are vsed to keep them out The Tortoyes in this respect is better housed not charged with reparations as long as his Lease lasts for terme of his life but yet hauing none els to trust to looke vnto it he is faine to carrie it about him The Cockle hath his house tiled with slate which hauing no lock and key too he is forced to keep at home for feare of theeues And not so much as the poore snayle but hath a house of his owne which in his pace like a Pedler with his pack wil he carrie about him throughout the world and do that with time which the Sunne can no more then do with al his swiftnes Nay you eate not an Oyster but you vn-house him and put him out of his tenement The Sun is the house of light that needs no windowes being nothing els but light And for the 12. principal houses and Pallaces in the Heauens they are but weakely built without foundation more then the Astronomers working braines The Moone is the house of the Flux and Reflux of the Seas who thence go in and out by turnes at their pleasures The Almond is a house of the kernels within which neuer comes forth til the roof comes fluttering downe about her eares that costs her life The Hiue is a house and Colledge of Bees where they liue Collegially togeather the Combs are their Refectorie The Birds for proper houses haue their neasts whose children are the yong ones and she the good huswif that keeps at home THE MORALS SEDES SAPIENTIAE LOoke where the Prince is there is the Court and where the Court there his Seate Wisedome is the Prince of the whole Microcosme of man His Court then and seate must needs be in the Power of the Vnderstanding where he chiefly resides and not where soeuer his dominion stretcheth for so should he be in euerie place in person which stands not with the Maiestie of so great a Prince Wel may his Ministers like Purseuants and Heralds performe and execute the Royal commands as the hands to make prouisions to maintaine the State the feet to trauel for that purpose the eyes to keep Centenel in the turrets of his pallace and that neer to his person against forren iuuasions and the like but yet the Prince himself in his Royal person departs not a whit from his proper Chamber of presence the Intellect And GOD himself the Monarck of the whole Vniuers is seen to be euerie where within his Dominions through his essence power and presence but not in that particular manner as he is in heauen in his proper seat or as he was in earth in his humanitie or in the Sacrament itself most mysteriously and Diuinely For to speake in general his seat is euerie where The Heauens are the roof the Starres the Seelings the earth al diaperd and diuersifyed with infinit coulours his footstool and pauements and the maruels of Nature his shop of wonders but his proper and peculiar seat where he resides in as in his Court is either in the Empyreal Heauē as I sayd or in Christ's excellent Humanitie or in the most Venerable and dreadful Sacrament of the Aultar nor hath he made choice of anie other seats to dwel in as not worthie or able to comprehend him Where then had Wisedome properly set vp his seat but in that pallace he had built for himself founded in so great an humilitie and so wel sustained with the seauen-fold pillars of the Holie-Ghost I meane in the Virgin-Womb of the Incomparable Ladie who receauing and so long entertaining the Wisedome Increated in her virginal Lap as the true Salomon indeed reposing sweetly in his Iuorie Throne may wel be stiled SEDES SAPIENTIAE THE ESSAY A House being a meer artificial and no natural thing hath its first subsistence in the Idea of Man's brayne according to whose model good or il the house so built proues good or il We recurre then to the Architect for direction in al. This Architecture is a soueraigne Mistris of building which giues the addresses for disposing al the parts of a house with relations in themselues in comlines proportion ornaments situation distances eleuations and a thousand of the like of al which yealds it a pertinent and satisfactorie reason to the curious examiners why euerie thing is so done this and not that Some are Architects by hand only and no more who frame their buildings by roat taking forth copyes heer and there but can afford no reason at al for what they do nor inuent ought that is worth a rush and for a final reason say nothing but such is the custome so to do Others are Architects by booke only and by discourses which they haue read but they haue no hands to put in practise and know but the Theorie only such as they are good for nothing but to build a house for Plato of Ideas al suspending in the ayre The good Architect should linck his spirit with his hand and the compas with his reason setting his hand to work as wel as the brayne The first do frame but bodies without a soule the second soules without a bodie the third do build the whole and are men of note and reputation indeed The perfect Architect indeed should be ignorant in no Science otherwise if he do wel it is by chance or els by nature as beasts do which do manie goodlie things and know not why nor wherefore He had need be a Painter to make his plaines eleuations designes to copie-out a thousand rarities to please the phantasie withal a Geometrian to handle the compas for the vse of Circles rulers squares plummets and the like To haue the Perspectiue to let-in lights into his house to steale-in the day in certain corners to content the eye with diuers aspects and if not directly to introduce the Sunnie rayes at least obliquikly through reflexions The Arithmetick to cast vp and calculate the charges he is at to number the materials and degrees that belong thereto The Historie for al the enrichments of buildings Armes statues and other ornaments are nothing els but Historie true and fayned which if he knowes not he shal commit a thousand errours To haue Philosophie to know the nature of beasts the seas the elements flowers fruits and al whatsoeuer in nature Astrologie and Phisick in planting his house in a holsome and sound climat in choosing the best Sun a good wind the purest ayre holesome waters a faire and free prospect a good situation for pleasure and profit This is certain that al art is then in truest perfectiō when it may be reduced to some natural Principle or other For what are the most iudicious Artizans but the Mimiks of Nature This same in our House is seen comparing it with the fabrick of our natural bodies wherin the high Architect of the world hath
At certain times of the yeare to wit in the Spring and Autumne the cockles oysters or scollops or cal them what you wil approach to the Sea-shore and lye there gaping and opening themselues and receaue the celestial deaw into their bowels from the coagulation wherof as abouesayd are the Margarits engendred Now this Shelfish oyster or Mother-Pearl for the Mother or issue Pearl are al of a substance as mothers and embrions vse to be is the Virgin-Mother-Pearl it self which opened her Virginal soule at her mysterious Annunciation in the Spring of the yeare by the quiet shore of her tacit and silent contemplation to receiue the heauenlie Deaw the new Margarit that is to conceaue that precious Pearl Christ Iesus in her womb For she opened her consent to the great Angel her singular Paranimph to obey GOD in al things saying Behold the handmayd of our Lord c. and her soule likewise to the Holie-Ghost to ouershadow her and after the opening thus of her free consent and her Angelical soule the Celestial deaw of the Holie-Ghost descended into her and so this infant Pearl was diuinely begot in the virginal womb of the Virgin-mother Pearl Of which deawing of the Holie-Ghost and opening of the Blessed Virgin therevnto it is prophetically sayd Deaw you heauens thervpon and let the clouds rayne downe the Iust let the earth open and bring forth the Sauiour These Pearls besides if they be right Margarits indeed are faire white and cleer for such as are so are truly of the best and a great deale better then those which are dimmer and of a yellow and duskish coulour For those which are faire white and cleer are bred of the morning-deaw and the others of thar which falles in the euenings And our Incomparable Margarit was predestinate so from the morning of the eternal Decree in Heauen so created as it were ab initio ante secula while the other pearls of lesse regard were only produced in the euening after that sinne was brought into the world This Margarit therefore so faire so white and cleer signifyes our heauenlie Margarit and glorious Virgin who was beautiful and faire in mind through a more then Angelical puritie of hers consisting in the mind most snowie and white in bodie through an immaculate chastitie and virginitie and cleer and sincere in works through a simple sanctitie and Saintlie simplicitie in al her actions in the whole course of her blessed and incomparable life which she led on earth I sayd aboue that Pearls being stampt and beat to powder are holesom soueraigne and medicinal for manie maladies wherof I find the Naturalists chiefly to reckon three First they are purgatiue because they purge and euacuate the bodie of al noxious and superfluuous humours secondly restrictiue staying the flux of bloud or venter and thirdly they comfort and corroborate the hart being readie to faynt or swoune through debilitie of the spirits or the vital parts To these infirmities the applications of these pownded Pearls so beat to powder are of singular auayle In this manner the Blessed Virgin being seriously pressed with importunitie of prayers and often vrged and called vpon with incessant vowes relenting and mollifyed at last as fallen into powder applyes herself first through a purgatiue power to purge vs of our sinnes by procuring vs the grace of Contrition and the holesome Sacrament of Pennance to bewayle and purge our sinnes past secondly with her restrictiue vertue to restraine the soule from flowing and falling againe into future sinnes and thirdly with her restoratiue comfortatiue and corroboratiue power to strengthen and fortify the hart in present occasions of sinnes THE EMBLEME THE POESIE A Rare and precious Pearl is hardly found That 's Great Heauie Smooth pure-white and Round The Sonne of God came from his heauenlie Throne Factour for Pearles aet last found such an one Great to containe himself Heauie ful of grace And therefore sunck vnto a Handmayds place Smooth without knob of Sinne. Virgin pure-white Round in perfection more then mortal wight This pleas'd his eye a long time hauing sought Gaue al that ere he had this he bought Vnion's a Pearle no twinnes it-self but one Such was the Virgin-Mother Paragon THE THEORIES COntemplate first how this Pearl or Margarit is vsually called as we sayd by the name of Vnion whether it be for the great vnion and sympathie there is between the Mother and the Pearl I know not for you can not mention the Mothers name but needs must you bring-in the Pearl withal or for the vnion of the Celestial deaw with the Conchal nature to make vp a Pearl in the lap of the fish I wil not say this I am sure of that our blessed Pearl heer is called Deipara as much to say as the Mother of GOD nor can she be so called a Mother as she is but GOD must needs be vnited to her to make vp her name Consider then that as the Mother-pearl being otherwise only a meer shel-fish of its owne nature and of no greater a ranck then a playne oyster of the Sea yet through the appetite she had to suck and draw in the heauenlie deaw into her bowels obtained the especial priuiledge and prerogatiue to become indeed the Mother of the true oriental Pearl So the virgin-mother though she were as she sayd herself the sillie handmayd of our Lord and of our human nature subiect to the natural fray leties therof yet through a singular immunitie with the puritie of her intention integritie of bodie and Angelical candour of mind disposing herself most affectuously and ardently indeed to receaue the Celestial deawes frō heauen that is the grace of perfect Vnion with GOD in her pure soule she deserued to become the Mother of the Pearl of Pearles sweet IESVS Ponder lastly that if a meer Pearl being so basely bred in an oyster-shel whose extract at the best is but meer Deawes let fal from the nether Region of the Ayre and those but drops of fresh water as it were impearled in the fish through benefit of the Sun should come to be so highly prized as we haue sayd being no more then a meer seed of Pearl somwhat fairer then the rest of that kind how are we to prize and magnify trow you our heauenlie Pearl heer whether you meane the Pearl or Mother herself the Pearl himself for being such a Pearl so truly descending from heauen and her for being the Mother of such a Pearl THE APOSTROPHE MOST sweet most debonnaire Virgin-Mother the Immaculate through emphasis the Mother of faeyre dilection Mother of Iesus regard me poore wretched soule and obtaine that my hart and affection be pure and clean at least like the seed pearl according to the proportion of my litlenes and my bodie wholy free from the duskish blemishes of the least sinnes and that by day and night my thoughts being repurged from al immundicities and vncleane obiects the flourishing bed
A Virgin chast pure Doue as white as snow Fethred a like consort she without gal Simple mild he Loue essential Thus they accord as they in colour sute And to the flower correspond's the fruit The Virgin 's shadowd yet remaines pure white Shadowes expeld the substance brings to light But while her Sonne is shadowd on the Crosse The mourning Doue in blackes laments her losse THE THEORIES COntemplate first how the Doue being a most pure creature feares to be defiled abhorres whatsoeuer is foule and sordid as appeares by that which hapned in Noe's Floud Noë sent forth a Doue after fourtie dayes to discerne whether the waters were fallen and ceased vpon the face of the earth or no who not finding wheron to rest her foot returned into the Ark againe and the reason was as S. Augustm thinks that though the tops of hils appeared bare yet they remained moist and slymie and therefore the Doue being a nice and delicate bird and extremly amourous of puritie and cleannes would by no meanes put her foot theron And heer reflect vpon the Virgin pure in whome no spot appeared of Original Sinne at al in that great inundation deluge therof in Adam but remayning in the Ark of her Innocencie Immaculate because the mother of the Immaculate Lamb. Consider then the singular prouidence of the Doue which is a part indeed of the prudence of this creature in that to shun the hawke she shrouds herself in the secret holes of the Rock and there securely reposeth in great peace And then consider how this Doue of Doues this same most prudent Virgin being higher then the rest and more profound had placed her nest or chamber in Christ her Rock where being alwayes safe and kept inuiolable the slights of the Diuels and the subtleties of Hereticks could doe nothing against her but what they did was against the Rock itself rebounding back vpon the impious themselues like the waues against the cliffes the ships against the shelfs the rusling of the winds against the towers the fomie froth against the beach the edge of the sword against the Adamant the reed against a target drifts of snow against a helmet fire against gold lastly a slender cloud against the Sun Ponder lastly the great similitude and resemblaÌ„ce which is between the saluation of mens liues in Noës Ark and that of Soules in the Church whose foundatioÌ„ was layd in the Virgin-mothers womb our true Doue indeed at the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel when that stupeÌ„dious miracle of grace was wrought within her But as then that Doue of the Ark carryed only the message of saluation the figure of that embassage heer brought by Gabriel whom when you behold so painted with a braÌ„ch of Oliue in his hand as a token of peace and mercie what see you els but Not's Doue bearing a bough of oliue in the feet THE APOSTROPHE O Most innocent Doue Lady of meeknes O would you please to remember me for my good most sober â—emure Virgin amourous Mother of my deerest Spouse Oh pray the eternal Loue for me reiect me not poore wretch most wretched Sinner so wholy immortifyed in al my senses who heer present myself before your goodnes in the demaÌ„d and pursuit of man suetude of mind Oh grant most precious Virgin-Mother that I perish not for euer and be lost O admirable Ladie Ladie I say of heauen and earth next GOD your deerest Sonne placed aboue al the Hierarchies of Heauen Let me not quite perish Queen of the heauenlie Empirâ— for alas what profit wil there be in my vtter ruine Alas Alas let me not fal a caytif and vnworthie worme as I am to nothing or worse then nothing so wholy drowned in Sinne and vice THE XIX SYMBOL THE FOVNTAIN THE DEVISE THE CHARACTER THE Fountain is the liquid Glasse or Mirrour of the Naiades where they haunt to contemplate their beauties in or rather is the Nimph herself who gazing on her proper beautie through a strange Metamorphosis of self-loue had lost herself in her owne Glasse Hence it is she runnes the Hay as it were in the meadowes to seeke herself in the waters which she is herself got forth to take the ayre in the fields abroad and as it runnes it playes on the Harpsicon the while whose iacks are the pible stones checking the litle waues as strings that so with purling frames the harmonie it makes The feathered Nimphs there are much taken with it especially the Swan that wil be tuning her Descant to that ground Al the care she takes is but to haste to pay her rents which she doth to the Brooks and Riuers as Bay lifes to that great Exactour who takes them grumbling as neuer satisfyed She is the breast of Nature and Nature the Nurse that suckles al things with her milke and is so good a Nurse and so prodigal of her sugred lickours as where she can not els communicate herself of her owne accord wil she break out into Springs Springs so called indeed because they leap and spring forth of the earth For so shal you see the litle lambs and kids prickt with this milk of Nature wel concoct with youthful heat to spring to iump and frisk whence doubtles the season of the Spring tooke first the name For what is the blossomes trow you to spring and bud forth but for Nature to breake out as into Springs The Rose springs forth while Nature breaks a veyne as it were that springs into a Rose The Lillie springs while Nature spilles her crystal milk that sprouts into a Lillie The Springs and Fountains therefore are the life of Nature if the life as some maintaine abide in the veynes which may wel be They are the verie ticklings of Natures hart that make her sprug vp herself in the season of the Spring to court the world with in her best array For then she crownes herself with a garland of al flowers puts on the mantle of her goodlie meadowes diapred al ouer and tricks and decks vp her hayre the fruitful trees with gemmes of blossomes of infinit varieties to feast and entertaine the new-borne world THE MORALS PERENNIS ET INDEFICIENS AL things that are haue their certain tearmes and ther is a stint and period to be seen in al things Be they treasures of immense riches how vast soeuer they may be summed with good Arithmetick to a last farthing The Cataracts of waters in Noe's time that powred downe so fast at last were exhausted quite and gaue leasure to the Earth to swallow and digest so huge a draught They were neither perpetual for they lasted but a time nor yet without measure for it may be supposed the Springs were dryed or that the hand of GOD had put a sluce to the torrents Elias called for rayne and it powred downe so fast as manie were affrayd of a second deluge but the glut and tempest ceased in a certain time
to nought but is a Cestern rather that wil in time be exhausted and that ere very long They haue left me the Fountain oâ— liuing Water and framed to themselues broken Cesterns that leake and can hold no water Lastly this Fountain of Ours is sweet and pleasant For as Springs and Fountains of waters arising from the Sea and passing through veynes as it were and subterranean places become very fauourie and sweet and that by certain degrees hauing first of al a kind of bitternes with them and then a more gratful and lastly a pleasant and delicious tast So the blessed Virgin like a Fountain springing from the source and origin of the bitter and harsh people of the Iewes was through a singular and especial prerogatiue preserued from the least tack of those brackish waters whence she came and being diuinely sanctifyed by the Holie-Ghost became a most delicious Fountain of al graces according to that of Iudith The bitter fountains are made sweet to drink From whence as from a publick Conduit of a Cittie the vniuersal Church deriues infinit streames of graces and fauours And as in great Citties there is wont to be some Conduit or Concha or most ample and spacious Channels erected in the open market-place from whence may al at their pleasure fetch waters without limit or restraint for al their vses besides some special pipes conueighed into some mens houses as a singular fauour So the blessed Virgin like a copious and endles Conduit abundantly affords the waters of her graces to al that haue their recourse to her for them and more particularly and familiarly to those that are her special Deuotes as being of her families and holie Sodalities Let vs now see then what waters she affords for surely her waters are ful of Vertues And first they coole and refrigerate and are therefore most welcome to the thirstie soule And as Fountain-water in Sommer is more cold and hotter in Winter so the Incomparable Virgin in the sommer of prosperitie giues fresh and coole waters to wit a cooling and refrigerating grace that the mind be not too much enflamed with terrene affects but in the winter of Aduersitie yealds her waters hot that is inflaming least the mind with aduersities being too much depressed might coole and at last grow vtterly cold in the loue and seruice of God As these waters coole so do they quicken and viuify withal and are therefore called liuing or the waters of life Heart the clamour of this people and open them the treasure the fountain of liuing water These Fountain-waters haue an humectiue and vegetatiue vertue with them to water and to make things prosper and grow vp A fountain ascended from the earth watering the vniuersal superficies So Genesis And for growing Esay sayth The shower falles and snow from heauen and returns no more but inebriates the earth powers vpon it and makes it to spring and grow vp For the earth indeed is sayd first to put forth the blade of the wheat then the green eare and lastly it becomes a ripe and ful-grayned eare of corne And this heauenlie Fountain of ours first makes the earth of our soule to put forth the green hearb of the feare of God which is the beginning of a new life then the green eare of Pennance which is bitter and sharp lastly a ful perfect fruit in the ripe eare which is Charitie since Dilection is the fulnes of the Law And to conclude the vertues of these waters haue the power to ascend and mount vp according to that The water which I shal giue you shal be in her a Fountain of water arising and springing to eternal life And as the nature and propertie of the water is especially in pipes to arise the higher the lower it falles so the Virgin stooping to the center of her Nothing is aduanced so high aboue the Cherubins and Seraphins themselues and so consequently the waters of grace that flow to vs from her rayse vs the higher in Heauen while by her example we stoop downe and abase our selues and especially despise these base and terrene things THE EMBLEME THE POESIE IT had not rayn'd and so the earth was dry No showres of Grace were falling from the sky An vniuersal drought possest the Land With dearth famine God's reuengeful hand On Eue pass'd to her progenie For sinne Man's soule like earth dried vp had euer byn But that there did a cristal Spring arise To drench the barren soile and fertilize For Naamans Iordan-like it made a floud That flowd with Grace 'T was Troubled not with mud While She 's cal'd ful of grace But sinner I Am troubled 'cause I want Fountain supply THE THEORIES COntemplate first that as an Aqueduct hath length and breadth with it so our glorious Virgin the Fountain I mentioned aboue of liuing waters as an Aqueduct hath so great a length as she reaches euen from heauen to the earth according to that mellifluous Doctour Marie is an Aqueduct whose top like Iacob's ladder reaches to Heauen And the breadth of this Aqueduct is such as she was able to containe the Diuine Fountain itself as the same S. Bernard affirmes A Fountain is borne to vs because that Celestial veyne hath descended by the Aqueduct though not affording vs the whole plentie of the fountain yet powring out certain stillicides of grace into our dry and arid harts Consider then that as we can not deriue the waters of the Heauens into our Conduits on earth without some conueyance or other so can we not expect the waters of Grace to come from thence without some Aqueduct of Grace which is the blessed Virgin the Incomparable Fountain therof for that as S. Bernard sayth the flouds of graces were wanting so long to human kind for that as yet no Aqueduct had made intercession for it Seeke we therefore grace through the inuocation of Marie Mother of Grace and whatsoeuer we offer to GOD commend we to Marie that grace may returne back by the same channel by which it flowed Ponder lastly the manner how this Aqueduct or Fountain of ours communicates its waters for to some she communicates in manner of a Well to some againe in manner of a Spring and thirdly to others in manner of Riuer-waters The Well hath its waters hid in the bottom of the pit and not to be drawne without some difficultie in which manner she communicates herself to sinners only to whom the waters of grace are hidden but yet to be fetcht and had with the labour of contrition and pennance but the water of the Spring is drawne without labour at al and flowes continually and in this manner she communicates herself to pious Soules and her Deuotes because continually she affords them graces with much facilitie and lastly as touching the Riuer that flowes so with great abundance she communicates and powres forth herself to the Blessed Soules with ineffable graces which are
not communicable to mortal wights THE APOSTROPHE O Virgin Marie Fountain of grace Fountain I say of the Paradise of pleasure Thou cristal Well of the liuing waters which flowe with impetuositie from Libanus O signed and sealed Fountain such as the Wise-man so points forth that beganst to rise from the earth of a barren soile to fructify the world with thy Merits and to water it with thy Graces Thou litle Fountain as then now growne to a great and ample Riuer who in thy birth appearing as a litle Spring by humilitie and then a Fountain of more note and so encreasing stil with sanctitie in conuersation becamest atlast to be a swelling Riuer when so thou conceauedst in thy WoÌ„b the source of al graces that precious Oyle CHRIST IESVS so as now from the plenitude of this Fountain through al places of the Church haue balsomed liquours been deriued to vs Obtayne ô incomparable Virgin inexhaustible Fountain of Graces of that deare Sonne of thine that the waters of his Celestial graces may so water my soule that through spiritual ariditie it be not enforced to languish vtterly This I beseech thee thou Fountain of liuing waters THE XX. SYMBOL THE MOVNT THE DEVISE THE CHARACTER THE Mount or Mountains are of the noblest and best extraction of the earth and therefore aptest to take fire witnes Aetna or Mongibel They are as great Barons in England and Grandes in Spaine for their eminencie aboue the rest of Hils in the Vpper-house the other as Knights Bourgeses of the Lower the Vallyes being no more then the Commons of the Land who choose them out to stand for the people They are the Cedars of the earth and Cesars in the Senat of the highest towers as topping them al and keeping them vnder They are the Piramides of mould more ancient and more lasting then those of Egipt and the true Mausoleums of the Monuments of Nature the statelie Collosses of earth erected as Gog Magogs among the lesser people of the Hils or Hillocks They are as Sauls far higher then their brethren by head and shoulders and the rest as litle Dauids more fit to keep sheep in the lower playnes Had not Mount Arrarat stood so a tipt-toe as it were the Ark had been forced to haue made a longer nauigation and Natures shop had not been opened so soone to expose her Specieses of liuing things to the new world nor yet the doores and windowes therof so soon had been vnbolted within The Mountains then are as Atlas shoulders to sustaine and bear vp the Welkin with If the earthlie Paradise be yet on earth it must be surely on some Mountain top or els as hanging in the ayre and so no earthlie Paradise They are the Rocks of the Ayre against the which the racking clowds like Argoseyes dash and breake themselues and suffer shipwrack They haue the honour of the first salutes of the glorious Sun in the Aurora of his first appearing and haue his last kisses ere he goe to bed They haue their intelligences with the Intelligences themselues and were they not so pursie and vnweildie might euen dance to their musicks howsoeuer they may listen to them as they stand THE MORALS IN VERTICE MONTIVM THere is nothing honourable that is not good nothing good that is not equitable and nothing equitable that is not wholy opposit to al deordinations True honour consists in fearing GOD and to spare neither life nor ought that is deerest in augmentation of one's glorie It stands not vpon its Ancesters in seeking so much to borrow luster from them as to earne it of itself So as if it can not arriue to their vertue who haue left it anie Title by inheritance it blushes more for its owne infirmitie therin then vaunts of the blazon of its House whose greatnes makes it not haughtie or imperious but rather as the fixed starres the higher it is the lesse it desires to appeare nor regards it so much an outward pomp or swelling oâ—teÌ„tation as the solid veritie of a Soule truly noble Courtesie and sweetnes can no more be seuered from it then the bodie from the soule to remayne true honour nor doth it of anie base facilitie to insinuate with but out of a natural courtesie coming from a true esteeme of its self None more enclined to compassion towards the afflicted or more disposed to succour them then it and then most when they haue least help otherwise and lesse possibilitie to requite It is more careful to yeald true honour to the Creatour then to receaue it froÌ„ anie one In a word it so behaues itself as it holds the Bodie of true honour to consist not in the bloud or dignitie only but the Soule in the eminence of vertue aboue others This true Nobilitie and honour the glorious Virgin had in high measure who being lineally descended from the race of Kings and which is more exalted to the soueraigne degree of the Mother of GOD and consequently raysed aboue al the hils of the blessed Spirits in Heauen yea the Cherubins and Seraphins themselues stiled herself the handmayd of our Lord being arriued I say to sit IN VERTICE MONTIVM THE ESSAY MOVNTAINS are one of the gallantst things in Nature especially if we regard the Prospect they afford to deliciat the eyes with when taking a stand vpon some good aduantage you behold from thence a goodlie riuer vnderneath which in token of homage as it were runnes kissing the foot therof along as it goes But the most delicious it is wheÌ„ you see on the other side a vast playne suspended before you and diuersifyed with litle risings hils and mountains heer and there which bounding not the view too short suffers the eyes with freedome to extend themselues into the immensitie of Heauen while the Riuer creeping along the meadowes with Meander-windings encloses the Hil about in forme of an Iland whence manie vessels of al sorts riding there at ancker may be discryed the neerest questionles very easily discerned the rest farther off through interposition of baÌ„cks between not perceaued the tops of the masts only appearing like a Groue or wood in winter without leaues the litle closes or fields thereabout with the hedge-rowes enuironing the same seeming as Garden-plots hedged in with prim and the lanes and high wayes as dressed into allyes The verdures giue forth themselues delicious to behold like a LaÌ„dskap in a table with al the greenes to be fouÌ„d in the neck of a mallard heer a bright there a dark and then a bright and a dark againe al by reason of the leuels with the risings and fallings togeather with the lights reflectioÌ„s caused through the dawning of the day in the morning or twylight of the euening the rayes of the sunne being an open enemie to such neer prospects offending the view with too much simplicitie sinceritie of dealing It is a great curiositie in Nature to enquire how these Mountains
this mysterious ship brought the Celestial Bread vnto vs being no lesse then from heauen to the earth an immense distance shewing yet a greater distance of natures in that this Bread consists of the Diuine and human nature which are infinitly distant one from the other togeather with the distance of merits because no merits had euer deserued that for our sakes GOD should become MaÌ„ Which bread it seemed she likewise made her self so signifyed by that Woman in the Ghospel who mingled togeather the three haÌ„d-fuls of meale as heer are vnited the soule the bodie and the Diuinitie itself O glorious Baker of so heauenline bread O Diuine bread so mysteriously made And most rich and precious Ship that conueighed the same to vs from parts so remote Lastly as the Ship vseth the Winds only to sayle with the Galley passes not to fro without the help of oares So likewise between the blessed Virgin and the rest of Saints this difference is that they as Galleyes performe the nauigation of this life with the strength of the oares as it were against the wind and tyde of carnal difficulties and trauel with infinit encounters of worldlie assaults vnto their heauenlie Countrie But the blessed Virgin with the gentle gale of the Holie-Ghost and the most sweet push thereof was conueighed thither And as the Ship is driuen with twelue sorts of seueral winds the blessed Virgin like a prosperous Ship with the twelue fruits of the Holie-Ghost which S. Paul reckons vp as with so manie fauourable winds without rebellion or impugnation of sinne or anie Remora to stop her course was sweetly wafted to the hauen of the Celestial Countrie THE EMBLEME THE POESIE A Iewish Rabby sayes the Angels fed On Manna But an other better read Affirmes ' t was Light condens'd so made meat For men which shin'd before God's glorious seat As food of Angels True for one of three The Second Person of the Trinitie Descends sayes He is the liuing bread He was the light whereon the Angels fed Which when the Holie-Ghost o'er cast his shade Was first condends'd when Flesh the Word was made In Maries womb wherewith our Soules are fed She is the Ship that brought from farre her bread THE THEORIES COntemplate first that as Ships of Salomon as we read of in the book of Kings brought most precious gold from Ophir to adorne the Temple he had built to the Maiestie of GOD So our mystical Ship brought forth our Lord the finest gold not from Ophir truly but from the most precious Mines of HeaueÌ„ with whose merits as the daughters of Hierusalem deckt their heads in memorie of Salomon's yealow hayre and Crowne So the Catholick Church is most gloriously enriched honoured and delighted by our second Salomon's glorious merits through whose valew and inestimable price great suÌ„mes of debts are defrayed with whose admirable vertue as with a most present antidote are the sick and infirme cured and the harts of the faythful coÌ„forted finally through his meruelous luster and bright splendour the Temple of the Church incredibly shineth Consider then that wheras other Ships are subiect to infinit dangers in the Seas being tossed with teÌ„pests and oftentimes cast away and swallowed vp in the waues or dasht against the Rocks for Ecclesiasticus sayth Who trauel on the seas do recount their perils either tyrannized by the winds or falling into the hands of Pirats or running on the Sirtes or Scylla and falling sometimes into the gulf of Charibdis lastly allured through the Sirens songs to their owne destruction Yet this Ship of our Ladie heer while of the one side the stormes of Original sinne had no power vpoÌ„ her so as she felt not the least internal rebellion of the bodie or mind against the rectitude of Reason and of the other was inuincibly through the Diuine assistance preserued against the assaults of the ghostlie Enemie So as neither the Syrtes or Scylla of riches nor the Charibdis of worldlie honour nor the Pirats of Concupiscence nor the Sirens of eternal delights could stopp or hinder her in the fayre nauigation she made vnto the heauenlie Countrie Ponder lastly that as heretofore in the vniuersal Deluge floud of Noë in that general inundation of the wrath furie of GOD was no maÌ„ saued or anie liuing creature besides except such only as fled to the Arck of Noë built in effect as a goodlie statelie Ship So no sinner escapes the indignation of GOD but such as hye theÌ„selues fly vnto the Virgin-Mother for refuge according to that of S. Bernard If thou darestnot approach to the Maiestie of GOD least thou melt as wax before the fire go to the Mother of Mercie shew her thy wounds she for thee wil shew her breast paps the Sonne to the Father his side wouÌ„ds The Father wil not deny the Sonne requesting the Sonne wil not deny the Mother crauing the Mother wil not deny the sinner weeping My children why feare you to go to Marie she is not austere she is not bitter but milke honie is vnder her toÌ„gue This is the Ladder and honie is vnder her tongue This is the Ladder of sinners this my great confidence this the whole reason of my hope And what meruel For can the Sonne repel the Mother or be repelled of the Mother Neither one nor other Let not therefore humane frailtie feare to approach vnto her For she is wholy sweet and sweetnes itself THE APOSTROPHE O Thou â—al and goodlie Arck thou valiant Woman valiant by excellence more faire then Rachel more gracious then Hester more pleasing then Sara more gentle and generous then Iudith more sweet and chast then Abiseig the Sunamite more officious and prudent then Abigail more magnanimous then Debora more illumined then Marie the Sister of Moyses Thou who hast found grace before the eyes of GOD work with thy prayers most dear Ladie O my most noble Princesse that I may alwayes find grace before thy Sonne Thou who through thy Sonne hast broken the head of the Serpent crush likewise through thy holie prayers his head vnder thy Seruants feet Thou Ship of the great GOD who from those counries so farre remote hast brought to vs the bread of Paradise true GOD in flesh Grant I beseech thee I may be fed with the bread of grace of life and wisdome and that receauing the sacred bread of Angels which is the precious Bodie of sweet IESVS thy Sonne I may euen suck in the fountain itself the most sweet pleasures and the most pleasing sweetnesses of the Diuinitie and be wholy inebriated with the torrent of Diuine consolations THE CONCLVSION TO HIS PROPER GENIVS NOW heer my Genius shalt thou dismisse thy Reader with his Ship ful fraught with the prayses of the sacred Parthenes and shutting vp thyself in this Parthenian Paradice walk in it vp and downe by thyself alone without eye or arbiter to witnes the secret
voyce to the miracle of his strings he made euen the people of the Seas to cast themselues in sholes vpon the Strond to listen to him and the Sirens to come forth and dance vpon the green banck-side al diaperd with flowers the Beares and Lions to quit the Forrests running in troupes to lye at the feet of their sweet Tyrant But away with these fables now and cast we our eyes eares vpon that Diuine Harp fallen from Heauen to the earth into the hands of Dauid who causing his strings to speake and chant forth his Heauenlie and Diuine Psalmes so did exorcise and dispel the Diuel from his Hold. This Musick therefore is an essay as it were and tast of Paradise itself while in Heauen they seeme to do nothing but sing the greatnes maruels of GOD in two Quiers of the Angels of the one side of the blessed Saints of the other But then what musick made the white delightful SwaÌ„ sitting on the Bancks not of Po Meander or Euridanus but on the brinck of Death Not of Cocitus Stix or fierie Flegiton but of the playnes of Elizeum that is by the shores of Paradice when like the Swan feeling her purest bloud to tickle her hart for ioy of her approaching passage out of this world we may piously coniecture she tuned forth her Diuine Cantiâ—le anew for a Farwel to the world and a last Adieu and therefore worthily is sayd AD VADA CONCINENS ELIZEI THE CHARACTER THE sweet delightful Swan is that delicious Siren of the Brook the liuing Ghost that walks and hants those humid playnes as if confined to her Eliseum there She is much taken with the pleasant banck of the Continent and spends much time therin but yet wil not trust it with her houshold nor there be brought to bed but rather hires some Iland for the purpose the rent she payes is some part of her children She likes to haue her walks and gardens there for her delights but her mansion-house for more securitie wil she haue wel gyrt with an ample and spacious Moat It is strange to see how solitarie she liues and yet otherwise you would think her though she seemes highly to affect that life made for Citties and the Court her clothing al saue her Spanish-leather buskins from top to toe of the richest Mineuers her gate statelie and Maiestical her garb and fashion graue yet not affected or sprung from an ouer-weening of herself She rather pitties the companie of men and their good fellowships as feastings bancketings and pastimes then hates them for it and so neglects them rather with a demisse eye then with a brow contracted or a lookmore Cinick to appeare Diogenes or a TymoÌ„ a hater of men rather then the deboishments of their maÌ„ners As she is solitarie and melancholie by nature she is very Musical as likely are al such but chiefly doats she on the wind-instruments and is neuer seen without her Howboy wherewith when she list wil she enchant the verie Sirens themselues with the melodie she makes but then especially when feeling the chimes of her passage out of this world to sound within her as a presage of her death to others she wil ring forth such a peale of delicious and chromatick straines mixt togeather as would moue deuotion in the hearers rather then compassion while they wil iudge streight she had a pure soule of her owne She is a right Hermitesse and hath her sallets proper to herself alone and as she loues them wel she wil feed of no man's picking but her owne Other whiles she liues in state and keeps her kitchin as the manner is in some places in the Cellars and lower roomes which by reason of the moystnes of those places are alwayes vnder waters but she likes them neuer the worse for that but rather so much the better for so she feeds on her sallets very fresh but new-gathered She is further much delighted to take her pleasure on the waters for her meer disport and recreation and wil haue no other boat then her owne Barge nor other oares then her owne and being so good a Swimmer makes a pastime of it to tilt her boat quite ouer head and eares She is very hale and hath a long breath and wil keep her head vnder water longer then any Moor shal doe that hunts for pearls WHEN milde Fauonius breathes with warbling throat The milk-white Swan chants with a sweeter note But sweeter yet her Musick farre excels When death approches which her tune fore-tels So th' holie Spirit breathing from aboue Vpon the Virgin râ—ys'd with wings of loue Her heauenlie Muse vnto a higher straine In her melodious Sonnet But againe When gentle death drew neare she high aspires To tune an Antheme with the Angels Quires Thy Cygnets mother Swan on thee relye O make them white that they may singing dye FINIS So Epiphanius very nigh describes her The Impresâ—â—â— The Morâ— Capit comme deâ—â—us The Review The Suruey * Alma signifyes Inclosed a Virgin shut vp in Hebrew The Contemplation Cant. 4. The Colloquie The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey 〈…〉 Cant. 1. Hâ—st 2. psal Iudith 14. Cant. 4. The Pause The Contemplation Cant vlt. Thess 5 Ecel 24 The Colloquis The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Sap. 7. Cant 8. c 1. Cant 1 Eccl 24. Cant. 2. Cant. 7. Cant. 2. The Pâ—use The CoÌ„templation The Colloqute The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Eccles. Deut 4. The Pause The Contemplation The Colloquie The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Cant 1. 10. The Pause The Contemplation Ierem. 31. 18. Cant. The Colloquie The Impresa The Motto The Reâ—iew The Suruey 2. Pet 2. Gal. 4. Ephes. 2 Psal. â—see 14. Iob 38. Psal. The Pause The Contemplation The Collâ—quie The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey The Pause The Contemplation S. Paul The Colloquie The Impresa The Mottâ— The Reuiew The Suruey â—arth Angl. l. 8. c. 2. Eccl. 4â— Apoc. 12. 1. Cor. 3. Eccl. 24. Cant. Psal. Epip in laud. Mariae Cherisoh Ser. 11s Bonau in spec c. 50. Psal. 50 The Pause The Contemplation Ezech. Psal. The Colloquie The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Gen. The Pause The Contemplation The Colloquie The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Cant. 5 Eccl. 53 Psal. Eccl 22. Eccl. 22. Cant. 4. Cant. 1. Iâ—el 2. Prou. vlt. The Pause The Contemplation The Colloquiâ— The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Eccl 24. Phil. de Marâ—no Bonau in opera Iacob 3. Bern. Ser. Super Mis. Bonau in spec Bern. Ser. 20. The Pause The Contemplation The Colloquie The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Iudic. 9. Eccl. 24. The Pause The Contemplation Isid. Cant. 1. Leuit. 23. Isay. 69. The Colloquie Eccl. 25. The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Cant. Alex 9 l. Galen Vliss. Aldr. Ornith l. 28. p. 780. The Pause The Contemplation The Colloquie The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Psal. 31 Eccl. 24. Psal. 27. The Pause The Contemplation Eccl. 24. The Colloquie The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey 3. Reg. 8 Ier. 31. Eccl. Prou. 86. Psal. 86. 3. Reg. 9. Iob. 4 Cant 2. Agg. 2. Ps. 111. The Pause The Contemplation Sap. 4. The Colloquie Psal. 86 Eccl. 24. Prou. 8. The Impresae The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Arist l. 9. c. 49. Ec. 19. Ecâ— 10. The Pause The Contemplation Pro. 31. Ap. 12. The Colloquie The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Reuiew Isay. 45 The Pause The Contemplation The Collâ—quie The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Canâ— 20. S. Hier. Ioan. 10. Isay. 63. Sap. 7. Cant. 3. S. Anselm Can. 5. The Pause * Columbam nigram pingebaÌ„t Aegypty ad significandaÌ„â—iduaÌ„ câ—stam constantem inquit Pierius The Contemplation Gen 88. The Golloquie The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Cant 4. Hest. 11. Prou 5. Esay 1. 6. Hier. 2. Iud. 5. Num. 13. Câ—n. 2. Esa. 55. Rom. 13. I. 4. The Pause * Turbata est in sermone cius The Contemplation S. Ber. Idem The Colloquie The Impresa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Pagnin Eccl. 24. Exod. Act 7. Psal. 71 Ps. 110. Psal. 75. 67 41. Isai. 2. Th. Pâ— The Contemplation Ec. 39. Oset. 14. The Colloquie The Imâ—resa The Motto The Reuiew The Suruey Gen. 1. Gen. 2. Esech 1 â—ern Psal. The Pause The Contemplation The Colloquie The Impresa The Mottâ— The Reuiew The Suruey Eccl. 24. Cant. 8. Luc. 1. Luc. 23. Heb. 7. Ex. 27. Pro 31. Lue. 6. The Pause The Contemplation Reg 3. Ec. 43. The Colloquie The Motto The Inpresa The Motâ—â— The Impresa
powder of Industrie in her when conceauing with fire through the match of Fiat she flew so â—imbly ouer hils and dales to her Cosen Elizabeth the subiect of Charitie wherin truly she shewed herself OPEROSA ET SEDVLA THE ESSAY The Bee is the greatest Politick in the world the gouerment of their litle commoÌ„-wealth is most admirable The King is he that hath the best preÌ„seÌ„ce with him a Royal looke al his subiects obey him with submission reuerence not doing anie thing against their oath of alleageance The King himself is armed with Maiestie and beautie if he haue a sting he neuer makes vse of it in the whole manage of his estate He carryes nothing but honie in his coÌ„mands one would not beleeue the great seueritie and courtesie there is amongst them liuing in communitie with good intelligences abroad al goes with them with weight and measure without errour or mistakings In the winter they keep wholy within not knowing otherwise how to defend themselues from the force of the weather and violence of the winds hold their little assemblies in some place deputed for that effect and keep correspondencies one with another but for the drones and idle bees they banish them quite from their common-wealth They commit not themselues to the discretion of the weather abroad vntil such time as the beanes begin to blowe and from that time they wil loose no day from labour They frame the wax from the iuice which they suck from flowers hearbs and trees and for honie they deriue it also from trees gommie reeds hauing a glue and viscous lickour on theÌ„ They wil make their wax likewise of euerie herb and flower saue only they neuer light on a dead or withered one Their sting is fastned in their bellie and when they stick it so as they cannot draw it forth againe without leauing the instrument behind they dy of it and if the sting remaine but half they liue as castrat and become as droans not being able to gather either honie or wax THE DISCOVRSE THE mellifluous Doctour S. Ambrose in his sweet booke of Virgins sayth the Bee feeds of the deaw engenders not at al and frames the honie Which three properties peculiarly and singularly appertaine to Virgins but most expresly and sublimely of al to the Sacred Virgin herself the Queen of Virgins For as al other creatures liue of the earth or water as birds beasts and fishes some few excepted to wit the Camaeleon of the ayre and the Salamander of the fire the Bee as a choicer creature more curious then the rest feeds no worse then of the deaw that falles from Heauen and wheras al other creatures not bred of putrefaction are subiect to libidinous heat in their kinds the Bee is free therof and multiplies by a way more chast and where other creatures are wholy maintained at their Maister 's charge and some wil eate you more then their bodies are worth or their labour comes to the Bee makes its owne prouision of itself and leaues his owner rich with the bootie and spoyle they make of the flowers of the field without anie cost or charge of the Maister so industrious they are to the great confusion of men Iust so our Ladie not taken with the bayts and allurements of this world for spiritual life liued not but of the heauenlie deaw of Diuine grace being capable of no other heat then of the chast and amourous fire of Diuine Loue not conceauing Fruit but by an admirable mysterious and miraculous way through the work of the Holie-Ghost remaining a Virgin before in and after her Child-birth and lastly framed without anie cost or merits of ours that Honie of honies that Honie-comb distilling which carries the honie in his lips The honie indeed is engendred in the ayre through the fauour and influence of certain starres as in the Canicular dayes we may note betimes in the morning the leaues to be charged and sugred with it Such as go forth at that time before day shal find themselues to be moistned therewith which the Bees suck from the leaues and flowers and tunne-vp in their little stomaks to discharge againe and to make it perfect honie in al points for the vse of men So our incomparable Virgin receauing this Deaw or honie of the Eternal Word as it came from Heauen into her Virginal womb so wrought it in her as being deliuered therof it proued a honie most apt for the vse of man the true Bread of Life indeed Most happie Bee and a thousand times most blessed HONIE Where it is to be noted that Bees are exceedingly delighted with these things first with faire serene weather for then those deawes more plentifully fal are more delicious and of the contrarie in the raynie more boysterous weather they are wholy hindered from their vintage as it were or gathering those sugred deawes Secondly they are pleased much with abundance of flowers from whence they gather their purest honie for though the deawes fal vpon the leaues and they gather it no doubt from them also yet is it not so delicious and pure for the nature of deawes participats much of the places they light on which makes the Bee farre more busie and industrious on the flower then on the leaues Thirdly they are wonne with a sweet sound For Aristotle sayth they are exceedingly allured with the harmonie of musick and sweet sounds which we ordinarily practise now adayes to stay them with when they are in a great consult to take their flight and be gone for then with the striking of a pan only insteed of other musick are they brought to settle themselues neer home so Musical they are And lastly they ioy greatly insweet wine as we find by experience and daylie practise as often as they begin to swarme are now on the wing and point to trauel into forren parts Al these things the Blessed Virgin was exceedingly affected to and had them al as it were within her as first a serenitie in the internal conscience where appeared no clowd in the ayre of her Mind and where the pacifical Salomon sat peacefully indeed as in his Iuorie Throne Al the glorie of the King's daughter was wholy within her Then had she the flowers of al Vertues and Graces within her to wit the diuersities of al vertues the lillies of chastitie the blush and moâ—estie of the rose the hope of the Violet the charicie and Diuine loue of the Heliotropion and the like Her soule was a Garden of al flowers and no lesse then a Paradise which had the Archangel as Paranimph Guardian therof with the two-edged sword of Humilitie and the chast Feare of God O delicious Paradise and more then terrestrial euen when she was dwelling on the earth Thirdly she was affected to Musick and very rare and singular therin as appeares by that excellent and melodious Canticle of hers the Diuine Magniâ—â—at so chanted now adayes in the
each country almost hauing their kinds There are Ships Pinaces Hoyes Barkes Ketches Galleyes Galeons Galleasses Frigots Brigandines Carackes Argoseyes for the Seas to say nothing of Lighters Barges Tiltboats Lighthorsmen Oares Canoas Gundeloes for the Riuers The Ships do fly and swimme togeather with the help of â—ayles only the Galleyes and their like as Swans do sometimes fly and sometimes paddle with the oare They haue maine masts crosse sayles top top gallaÌ„ns they haue stern poop rudden ancker cable decks tacklings gunnes andigun-holes where they haue Canon Demy-canoÌ„ Saker Culuering not to speak of the smal shot as muskets harkebuses firelocks and a thousand more And so much for the sensles bodie of this bulk in it-self But then to speak of the soule or policie and oeconomie of this admirable artificial creature or mouing world it is a busines no lesse to set them downe For as for the Officers which are simply necessarie either in the Admiral or Vice-admiral of a Fleet or Royal Armado at the seas there is a General a Lieutenant General a Captain a Pilot and the Pilot's mate a Maister and the Maister 's mate a Marchant a MarchaÌ„t's mate the Maister of the Ship-boyes a Secretarie a Chirurgion a Boatswain a Purser Dispensers Cooks Canonier his mate with vndergunners ship-boyes and marriners without number The Captain commands absolutely in al things the chief marchaÌ„t hath power ouer the marchandize and commerce only They double so the principal Officers that one may supply the others want The Secretarie sets downe the marchaÌ„dize the Ship is fraighted with takes accompt of goods vnladed The Pilot hath no other commaÌ„d but in what concerns the nauigation The Maister hath coÌ„mand ouer al the Mariners and saylers of the Ship of al the prouisions and victuals he places remoues the Officers at his pleasure The Maisters of the boyes are the ablest of al the marriners and haue the care of the cordages sayles and tacklings the like and command the yong marriners and do only giue correction to the Ship-boyes THE DISCOVRSE Bvt now come we to our mystical Ship whose wayes in the vast seas the Oraculous Salomon admired so much This had for Architect and Shipwright no lesse then the Blessed Trinitie it-self wherin the Diuine persoÌ„s bestowed their chiefest Architecture For the Heauenlie Father employed his OmnipoteÌ„cie therin as farre as the subiect was capable of the eternal Word made vse of his wisdome in preseruing so entire the seale of integritie the Holie-Ghost shewed his Loue by infusing such a plenitude of grace into her The matter she was framed of tels vs she was of herself of wood doubtles most sacred mysterious As the Cedar am I exalted in Libanus and as the Cypresse in mount Sion as the beautiful Oliue in the fields am exalted as the Planetree neer the waters in the streets This Ship then was made of the Cedar of virginitie in that the Cedar is odoriferous and incorruptible therefore signifyes her virginitie which made her grateful and odoriferous to GOD kept her flesh immaculate incorrupted It was made of Cypresse which is a wood so strong solid as shrincks yealds not with anie burden being qualities most apt for shipping nor would the charitie of the blessed Virgin permit her euer to shrinck vnder the weight of tribulations For Loue is strong as death She was made of the Oliue of pietie which alwayes flourisheth looks green in that her pietie neuer fayled any either in the Spring of their youth in the Autumne of their age in the Winter of tribulation or in the heat of inordidinate concupiscences She was further made of the Plane-tree of humilitie for the Plane is a most spacious ampletree humilitie made the Virgin most ample illustrious because thereby she receaued him into her womb whom the Heauen of heauens was not able to containe since S. Bernard sayth She pleased with her virginitie but conceaued through Humilitie Her stern is her wisdome discretion her Oares most sacred and holie affects the Mast high sublime contemplation the Galleries pure chast conuersation the ropes tacklings the cords of loue vnitie and concord the Anckor firme hope confidence in GOD the deckes hatches external holie example edification the sayles cleanes puritie of bodie ioyned with the blush of shamfastnes The Pilot or Maister of the ship the Holie-Ghost which steered guided directed her in the whole nauigation of her sacred life For if they be led by the Holie-Ghost who are the sonnes children of GOD how much rather shal she be gouerned by it who is acknowledged to be not only the Daughter but likewise the natural Mother of GOD The forme figure of a Ship we know to be open aboue close beneath streight in the beginning narrow in the end broad in the midst very deep And this ship of ours the Incomparable Virgin according to the superiour part of the Soule was open to receaue Celestial guifts but as for the inferiour wholy shut vp froÌ„ terrene affectioÌ„s moreouer so strict in the beginning of her CoÌ„ception as Original sinne could find no place to stayne her in She was narrow in the end of the PassioÌ„ while for the death of her Sonne she was put to diuers streights in the midst she was most capacious or broad because as we sayd WhoÌ„ the heauens could not hold she held coÌ„tained in the lap of her woÌ„b Lastly she was deep through humilitie when being raysed to the top of the highest dignitie of being the Mother of GOD she calles herself his lowlie haÌ„dmayd saying Behold the handmayd of our Lord. But for the Mâ—st indeed and tree of this Ship it was CHRIST Our Lord the verie same who called himself green wood saying If this be done in green Wood what shal become of the dry Erected also as S. Paul sayth Being made higher then the heauens raysed in and born of the Virgin Ship Of which tree or mast we haue this in Exodus They took out a Cedar from Libanus to make be no other then Christ erected in this Ship of our Virgin heer The Ships are made for burden and for as much as Nations oftentimes stand in need of each other they serue for transportation of commodities to and fro and especially corne from the fruitful to barren countries with the abundance of the one to supply the necessities of the other And therefore the blessed Virgin as we haue in the Prouerbs was made as a Marchants ship bringing her bread from farre remote parts For euen from the fertile and most fruitful soyle of the Celestial Paradise brought she indeed that supersubstantial bread into the barren coasts of this world which bread sayes of itself I am the liuing bread who descend from heauen wherewith the faythful are fed and nourished Whence appeares how farre off