MICROCOSMOS THE DISCOVERY OF THE LITTLE World with the government thereof Manilius An mirum est habitare Deum sub pectore nostro Exemplumque Dei quisque est sub imagine paruâ By IOHN DAVIES At Oxford Printed by Ioseph Barnes and are to bee solde in Fleetestreete at the signe of the Turkes head by Iohn Barnes 1603. TO MY MOST DEERE AND dread Soveraigne IAMES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland be all heavenly and earthly happinesse THoughts fight no more but now with Wits accord Yeeld al obedience to Arts rightest rule Then like a constant treble-twisted cord Binde vp the sweet'st affections of my Soule And in a Poesy giue them to O no They are too base for such high Excellence Yet prostrate giue them to him and say so So I may shunne dislike you insolence Great ó too narrow is this name for thee King yet too straite a stile for thy great worth And Monarch this with it doth best agree Deigne to accept a Base base Wit brought forth And base it is great Highnesse in each line Because indeede it is too rightly mine His Maiesties lesse then least and most vnworthy Subiect IOHN DAVIES To the sacred Queene of Englands most excellent Maiestie IF those VVombs blessed be from whom proceedes A world of blessings to the VVorld accurst Or if that gracious be that Graces breedes To make Men gracious being at the worst O then how blest and gracious is thy VVombe Deere Daughter Sister VVife vnto a King Wherein Heaven wrought as in a sacred roome Strong Props of peace which blest Time forth did bring Vnto a Mother-maide we all are bound For bringing forth our Soules preservatiue Who for the same is Queene in Heaven Crownd And sith thou bring'st our Corpes conservatiue We must crown thee in Earth or els we should Doe otherwise then Saints Angels would Your Highnesse most humbly devoted Vassall IOHN DAVIES The vvhole I le of greate Brittaine vvas of yore divided into 13. Kingdoms as by Monuments of antiquity and Historie the vvitnesses of time appeareth viz. England into 8. namelie Kent South-Saxons East-Saxons VVest-Saxons Bernnicia aliàs Northumberland Deira or Southumberland Est-Angles Mercia Scotland into 2. viz. Scottes Picts The Scottes on the VVestside the Picts on the East called Pictlād as the other Scotland VVales into 3. viz. North-wales Southwales and Povvys-land Vppon vvhich Plaine-songe thus I descant AN Articke I le there is most famous found In the great Lavor of this lesser Round Which Neptunes hand as most esteemd infolds And in his vnsweet-sweating bozome holdes On whom at once Heavens providence begate Thirteene Kinges ' which did her participate Shee fedd them sweetlie made them fatte to grow For from her Brest did Milke and Hony flow Who being pampred so ambitious made Gainst Nature gan each other to invade Shee greatly griv'd they quited so her loue And ay to make them one shee oft did proue But froward at the least they would be Twoo So lived long in strife with much adoo Yet like a tender Mother vext to see That hir deere children could no better gree Shee laboured night and day with Tyme to doe That which shee tride but could not bring them to Who both togither ioyn'd did them attone So Tyme and shee at last haue made them One. Then if in One Thirteene vnited be How great how glorious and how good is hee IOHN DAVIES AENIGMA A Treble paire doth our late wracke repaire And sextiplies our mirth for one mishappe These six as hopes to keepe vs from dispaire When clappes wee feard were sent vs at a clappe That we might clapp our hands in his high praise That made vs by our Heads losse much more faire And vs beheaded so our Head to raise One headlesse made all looke as blacke as Hel◠All headlesse makes the Head and all looke well SPHINX IF this a Riddle be then so be it Yet Truth approues what therein hid doth lie And Truth 's most louelie in the Eye of VVit When she is rob'd with richest misterie In few by losse we haue gott benefitt That 's six for one by lawfull vserie Then if we gaine by losse our losse is gaine So saith France Flāders Scotland Irelād Spaine To the iudicious Reader THou seest this great VVorld Reader perchāce Thine Eie is cloid with often seeing it Then see the Lesse with noe lesse circumstance Aud with VVittes Eie that Monarchy of VVitte The Heav'ns and Earth do make the greater VVorld And Soule and Bodie make the Lesse we prove The Heav'ns doe moue the Earth they are whirld By Him that makes the Soule the Body moue Who conquers it at least are Monarchs great Greater then those that conquered the greater For from their goodnesse Men their greatnes gette And they are best that doe subdue the better The great VVorld's good but better is the least Then view it to subdue it thou wert best IOHN DAVIS A Request to the Cittie of Hereford Deere Mother in whose Wombe my vitall flame Was kindled first by the Almighties breath Lend me thy name to adde vnto my name That one with other may keepe both from death Vnto thy conscience I poore I appeale Whether or no I haue deserved it My conscience telles me I haue sought thy weale With al my skill my will my woorth my witte Iudge God iudge good men iudge my truth herein Impartiall Iudges you shall iudge for me If so my soule is sear'd or I haue bin Deere Mother what I now would seeme to thee And doe confesse though vnkinde Parents proue Yet are their children bound to seeke their loue Iohn Davies of Hereford In Microcosmon IOH. DAVIS II Herefordiensis EN tibi Pythagorae sacram diamque 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Almae Naturae scatebram fontemque perennem Cuius quis pandet mysteria quisve profundos Audebit timidogressu tentare recessus Audet Davisius nec magnis excidit ausis Non is Daedaleâ per coelum remigat alâ Nec Phaetontaeo raptatus in aethera curru Stellarum inspector stupet aut Iovis atria lustrat In se conversus Divinae particulam aurae Non lippo aut lusco solers rimatur ocello Hunc lege quisquis aves Animani tam nobile germen Noscere decerptum delibatumque supremi Quod de mente Dei quisque hoc in corpore gestat Non te AEgyptiacus teneat tardetve character Nulla Syracusij Senis arte inventa morentur Suspensus coeli fornix vitreus orbis AEdibus in proprijs quae recta aut prava gerantur Inspicias haustamque polo vigil excute mentem Coelitùs emissum descendit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IO. SANFORDVS Charissimo Iohanni Davisio Salutem OXoniae vates cum sis Herefordia quare Davisi in titulo pristina scripta tuo Crede mihi doctam non vrbem tale pigebit Ingenium in numero nomen habere
suo Charus illius mihi nomine charus huius Vrbis es hinc artes ducimus indegenus Charior at proprio mihi nomine fas mihi suave Ingenium mores fas sit amare probos Ingenium moresque tuos redamem illud istos Plura mihi cunctis hic libâ—r ipse probat Robertus Burhillus Coll. C.C. Soc. Liber Lectores alloquitur HEm tu qui leve paginas pererrans Nostras pollice inquiete ocello Piscaris rabidum tibi venenum Ex hoc fonticulo scaturienti Nisi Castaliae liquore nullo Abito procul hinc facessat ist hic Ocelli malè prurientis ardor Non nostris olidae natant papyris Algae nec levibus tume sco nugis Molestanta scelus Patre expiandum Lemnio hinc profugus Cupido lirae Sordes qui squiliae exulant omnis Putredo iuveni nocens legenti Quin tu sobrie docte perspicacis Cui luces Aquilae altiusque acumen Cultor Virginis integer Patrimae Et tu Montis amans biforme culmen Chara progenies novem Dearum Adsis genium meumque carmen Expendas rogo strictiore lance Tui iudicij sagacioris Non supercilium striasve frontis Declino tetric as minacioris Thaletem accipio venito Brute Censorem volo te severioris Nec durum fugio Catonis vnguem Hoc est quod fugio labore tanto Commentum peperisse mollicellum Veltricas apinasve queis inepto Ridendi moveatur aâ—sa vulgo N. Debillus In Libri Auctorem PHilosophi laudes laudes meruêre poêtae Davisius vatem philosophumque refert Ergo Parnassi lauro lauroque Lycaei Philosopho vati cinge Britanne caput Nam quorum Pylios vnum dare postulat annos Haec effecta duo sedulus ille dedit MIrum in modum Men did wonder-maze Which wonderment this later worke of thine Not by detracting from it doth deface How so by giving out a greater shine The soules Horizon that made light whil-ere But this inlightens her whole Hemispheare Blest be thou Sunne froÌ„ wheÌ„ce this light doth spring And blessed be this little World of light By which who walkes perforce must be a King King of a little World in Fortunes spight For force and vertue in the soule doe sitte And they doe raigne that ruled are by it TheÌ„ raigne thou in Mens thoughts thou thoughtful Soule Whil'st thy rare Worke among their Workes shall raigne For it in passion passion doth controule Then mightie is thy grace thine Arte thy paine As thou for writing faire art most renownd So writing thus thou must be Lawrell cround IOHN IAMES Mihi charissimo Iohanni Dauisio Herefordiensi QVid petis nostrae leviora Musae Fila Davisi fateor Sorores Tardus ignoro Ardalides quid isthoc Me-ne lacessas Eia nec factum bene mellilinguis Te canat Maiâ genitus Camoenae Te canant diuae ingeminentque cantus Agmina vatum Cui bono Maiâ genitus Camoenae Agmina vatum procul ite mirum In modum dio cecinit seipsum Carmine vates Dij boni talis titulus Pöesi Optimae quà m conveniens isthic Microcosmos sed tamen acquiesco Ipse loquatur Desinas tu steriles arare Me citando arvos niveum Libelli Est scelus frontispicium lituris Tinguere nostris T. R. To the Author MAns soule th' Idea of our Makers mould Whiles it doth harbour in this house of clay Is so ore-whelm'd with passions manifold Is so ore-throwne with Adams olde decay That much like bastard Eagle dimme of sight It dares not take a view of Reasons light O then redoubled thankes deserues thy VVorke Whose Verse Prometheus-like striues to enflame That sacred Sparke which in our Soules doth lurke Giving blinde Reason eies to see the same Davies thine Arte beyond our Arte doth reach For thou each Soule soule-humbling Arte dost teach Thus Oxford Artists are oblig'd to thee Who Stork-like building heere a while thy Nest For Earthly Lodge dost leaue an heav'nly fee Giving a Sword to kill that foe of Rest Faire learnings blott which Scollers know to well I mean Self-loue which thy Self-Arte doth quell DOVGLAS CASTILION Vpon Master Iohn Davies Beginning his Discoverie of the litle VVorld with a Preface vnto the most high and mightie Prince Iames the first King of England c. SO ere he dare adventure on the Maine The prudent Sailoure prostrate on the shoare Makes first his vovves vnto the swan-bred Twaine And their aspect religiously implores So ere vnto the Ocean he sets-forth Who is this lesse Worlds great Discouerer He turns his eies vnto the hopefull North And viewes the Cynosure that shineth there Auspicious Star at whose divine arise Earth did put of her saddest maske of Night Shine mildely on him who beholdes thine Eies As sole directors of his course aright So that the great world may the lesse world see By that faire Light he borrowed first of thee Vpon the Discoverie of the litle VVorld By Master Iohn Davies GOe Drake of England Doue of Italie Vnfolde what ever Neptunes armes infolde Travell the Earth as Phoebus doth the skie Till you begette newe Worlds vpon this olde Would any wonders see yet liue at rest Nor hazard life vpon a dangerous shelfe Behold thou bear'st a World within thy brest Take ship at-home and sayle about thy selfe This Paper-Bark may be thy Golden-Hinde Davies the Drake and true discou'rer is The end that thou-thy-selfe thy-selfe maist finde The prize and pleasure thine the trauell his See here display'd as plaine as knowledge can This litle World this wondrous I le of Man Charles Fitz-Ieffry To the Reader BEyond the reach of vulgar intellect Inbred by Nature but refin'd by Art Doth wisdomes Heyre this monument erect Grace't with what ere the Graces can impart Here Wits not soild with looser blandishment The Subiect pure abstruse and worthy paine Annatomizing civill goverment And of the Soule what Reason can attaine The many sweetes herein contained be Epitomiz'd would aske too large Narration To be compris'd within this narrow station Reade then the VVorke when if thou canst not see Th'infolded flame be rapt with admiration But censure not for Owles haue bleared eies Dazled with every Starre that doth arise To the Booke as it is dedicated vnto his most excellent Maiestie THrise happy Issue brain-begotten Birth Wits pure Extraction life of Poesie Togither borne with Englands endlesse mirth How haue the Heauens grace 't thy nativity Wast from disdaine to powre th'ambrosian dew Dropping like Nectar from a sacred quill Into the common Lavour vulgar view That Heaven deferd thy birth these howres vntill O blessed Booke reserv'd to kisse that hand From which desert nere parted discontent Go pay thy vowes await his dread command To whom in prostrate duety thou art sent Shall He say liue flie Time swell Lethe lake Burst fell Detraction thou liu'st and when A thousand Ages dust shall over-rake Thy living Lines shall please both God and men For grace 't by him whom swift intelligence
Hath made Arch-Master of each excellence It needes must follow that succeeding daies Cannot detract from what he dain'd to praise Nicholas Deeble Ad Lectorem de libro BEnigne lector parvuli orbis incola Qui coeca falsi transfretans mundi vada Dirigere recto tramite exoptas ratem Istum libellum vt Nauticum Indicem sequens Fugies Ceraunia saxa Syrenas leves Fugies trucem Carybdin Syrtes vagas Vide Teipsum in spice omnes angulos Quisquis seipsum non videt cernit Nihil Noscito Teipsum cordis explorans sinus Quisquis seipsum nescit hic novit Nihil Cura teipsum vt proprij medicus mali Quisquis seipsum negligit curat Nihil Vides teipsum modò Animam inspicias tuam Curas teipsum modò Animam sanes tuam Nathanael Tomkins TO praise thee beeing what I am to thee Were in effect to dispraise thee and mee For who doth praise himselfe deserves dispraise Thou art my selfe then thee I may not praise But this in Naâ—ure may I say by Arte Thine Arte by Nature makes thee what thou art Your louing Brother and worst part of your selfe Richard Dauies A Preface in honor and devotion vnto our most puissant and no lesse roially-accomplished Soveraigne Iames by the grace of God King of England Scotland France Ireland defender of the faith c. THou blessed I le white Marke for Envies aime If Envy aims at most felicity Triumph sith now thou maist by iustice claime Precedence in the VNIVERSITY VVherein best Iles doe striue for mastery Now shalt thou be great MODERATOR made In each Dispute that tendes to EMPERY So that AMBITION shall no deeper wade Then thy DECREES in iudgment shall perswade Now Grand-dame ALBION in thy grandure thinke Thinke seriously vpon each circumstance Sith late thou wert at Pitt of Perills Brincke That may make thee though old as yong to dance Mou'd by sweete straines of more sweete Concordance But staie deere Mother ô I doe thee wrong To putt thee in thy Muses now advance Thy voice in Praise to whom it doth belong GOD and thy KING that made thee fainting strong Thy God and King King given thee of GOD To make thee loue thy Goâ— and like thy Kinge And so gaue thee a Royall for a Rod To punish thee with what doth comfort bring And make thee richer by his chastening Hee came by no Meanders of Mans bloud Vnto our Land but with a sure slow winge Hee â—lew farre from it and did leaue that Flud On the left hand for those that Right with-stoode Though home-bred harts may harbour strange desires Nere-pleas'd Perversnesse yet must needes confesse He to this Crowne by double right aspires Bloud and Bequest say Male-contentednesse If thou dost liue but I hope nothing lesse Ist true or no I see Shame holdes thy tongue From such deniall then for shame expresse Thy loue to right and doe thy Liege no wrong But say long may our Crowne to him and his belong His precious Veines doe flow with our deer'st bloud Bone of our bones Flesh of our Flesh is he If he by vs then should haue beene withstoode We had withstoode our selues and cursed bee The hand that with the head doth disagree Beyond his birth he was a Kinge in right And borne to beare rule in the high'st degree Whose hand and head endowed are with might Scepters and Crownes to weld and weare aright And giue we her her due that now is gone Who had in her a World of Princely Parts Yet shee hath left her World and Worth to one That 's Master of himselfe and of the Arts Which Art and Nature but to Kings impartes And as this Queene was oft from death preserv'd When in his lawes he had got all her partes â— So was this King from like distresse conserv'd And both no doubt for Englands life reserv'd And right well worthy of the Crowne is hee Were it more deere then Caesars Diadem When envious World did him her Monarch see That never did molest our Queene and Reame That might with bloud for bloud haue made it streameâ— That God that tenders all that tender bloud Blesse him and his for it and make his Stemme Yeeld many Branches that may ever bud And bring sweete fruit for Scottish-Englands good Much Bloud though drawne from Heavens vnholy foâ—s Seemes irksome if not loathsome to their sight For when iust David thought their Arke t' inclose Within a Temple with all glory dight Which hee in zeale meant to erect outright Hee was forbad by Heav'ns most holy One For making Bâ—oud to flow though in their right And that Taske put on peacefull Salomon Then peacefull be thy Raigne deare Lord alone To build the Temple of true Vnion But though our Bloud were thus deere in thine Eies More deere then Gold although a double Crowne Yet did our feare thy Loue with care surprize And bee'ng our owne we vs'd it as our owne For safe we kept it as to thee it s knowne We lou'd thee so as still we fear'd thy powre For if a wren from vs to thee had flowne We as supposing that hee ment to towre Would keepe him safe for loue and feare in Towre Deere King drade Sov'raigne sacred Maiesty And what stile els a mortall state may beare We truely English doe but liue to die For thee for that thou stirred didst not steere Thy powre against our peace but didst indeere Vs to thee by thy peerelesse patience showne True token of thy loue-begotten care Of vs and ours as if that loue alone Had held our losse of bloud as t is thine owne Had not our blouds beene precious in thine Eie Thou mightst perhaps haue made vs buy it deare Or made thee heire apparant publikely As Iustice would but croâ—t by private feare Stories swarme with Examples farre and neere That many further off and of lesse force To catch at Crownes would heires thereto appeere Or pull of Crownes and heades of them perforce That wearing Crownes crost their vnblessed course But thou to thy true glory be it said Though having hands of powre to reach a Crowne Thou didst thy selfe containe and praid and staid Till now in peace thou haste it for thine owne And still may thee and thine by it be knowne That Scots and English no more may be two But made by true-loues artlesse Art all one As Nature hath made vs and Contry too Both which to vnitie vs both doe woo So neighbour Nations seeing our concent Shall stand in awe of our vnited powr's And of our friendshippe glad shall vs present With precious gifts and all that loue alures So all as friends while friends we are is ours And may hee bee a terror made to all That twixt vs the least discontent procures And as a Monster most vnnaturall Let odious bee his damn'd memoriall If wee when wee were but halfe what we are And had a woman to our soveraigne Were able all foes at
thy fame from thy name WILLIAM Sons Son of VVilliam dreaded Earle Of Pembrooke made by Englands dreadful'st King Nephue to Sidney rare VVorths richest Pearle That to this Land her fairest fame did bring These VVorthies worthes are treasured in thee So three in one makes one as deere as three I. D. To the same VVIthin my Soule I sensiblie doe feele A motioÌ„ which my Minds atteÌ„tion markes That is to strike Loues Flint against Truthes Steele More hard to kindle thy loue by the Sparkes But if the fire come not so freely foorth As may inflame the Tinder of thy loue The tender of my Zeale shal be hencefoorth Offred in flames that to thy grace shal move Which is their Spheare where they desire to rest And resting there they wil in glorie shine I am thine owne by double interrest Sith once I vow'd my selfe to thee and thine O then had I but single loue of you I should bee double bound to VV. Your Honors peculier Iohn Dauies To the Right Honorable and highly renowmed Lady the Countesse of Pembrooke the Vertuous Lady Lady Anne her daughter and the Right Worthie and Worshipfull Phillipp Herbert Esquier her Sonne THus must poore Debters pay their Creditors And share a little where the due is more I owe my selfe to you great Favorers And I am little so are great Ones poore I owe my selfe vnto my selfe and so Doe â— to those whom as my selfe I loue I owe you more the three in One belowe Which I haue honor'd most next That aboue If more what more sith that 's more theÌ„ I haue for I am not so much mine owne as yours More by as much as what I else might crave I wish it mine for you for in your powres All that and more if more could be possest Should while you held me yours yours firmly rest I. D. To the Right Honorable the Earle of Mar. c. LOE how my Muse inflamed by desire To winne thy loue in paying thee thine owne Doth striue with VVitts dull sword and loves quicke fire To honor thee but how that is vnknowne And if vnknowne to me then needs it must To All to whom my Thoughts are lesse reveal'd In me it 's like an Embrio or like Dust Wherein the first Man laie at first conceal'd I am devising how to fash'on it God grant I spoile it not in hammering And if I doe I le sacrifize my VVitt In fire of Zeale the while my Muse doth sing Like to the Swanne when death the songe ensu'th Most blest to die with sweete Mar in her Mouth I. D. To the Right Honorable and Loiall-harted Lord the Earle of Clanricard OVR English Crownes approued Irish frend That raign'st in our true loue for such thy truth Let thine owne rare perfections thee coÌ„meÌ„d For perfect praise perfection still ensu'th I never was so happie as to see thee Much lesse to knowe thee whom I longe to see But in thy predecessor did fore-see thee For if Fame fable not much like you bee To add then to thy glory more bright beames Loue His thy other-selfe with deerest loue For shee hath martir'd bin with greefes extreames Deere Innocent whose vertues all approue Her loue to thee doth argue thy hie vvorth Then loue such loue that setts thy glory forth I. D. To the Right Honorable and no lesse vertuous Lady the Countesse of Clanricard HOnor attend as vertue guides thy life Deere Lady lou'd of all that are belov'd As it hath done thee virgin VViddowe VVife For which thou wert of all in all approu'd By Heav'n assign'd to Natures Miracles Mirrors of Manhood and Heroick partes VVorld Flesh Fiends to such are obstacles But God Saints Angels guerdoÌ„ their deserts In thee it is the loue of such â—'alure And binde them to thee with loves Gordian knott It is thy grace and reputation pure That made these worthies fall so to thy Lott God give thee ioy of this for in the rest Thou seemd'st accurst because so highly blest I. D. To the most heroick meritoriously renowmed Lord the Lord Mount ioy Lord Deputy of Ireland TO praise thee noble Lord were but to doo What all the world doth and to doo the same Were to offend and that extreamly too And al extreame offence incurrs defame Praise is not seemely in a wicked mouth The VVorld is wicked and her mouth is worse Ful of detraction false-praise and vntruth Then should I praise according to her course O no! thy vertue merits more regard Let Vertue praise thee as thou her dost praise For sacred vertue is her owne reward And Crowns her selfe in spight of Fortunes Nayeâ— She is thy guide and Glory her attends VVhich her in thee and thee in her commends The true lover of your honor vertue I. D. To the Right honorably honored and right wel-beloved yonge Earle of Essex c. DEere offspring of that all-belooued One Deere vnto all to whom that one was deere The Orphanes God requites thy cause of mone By Him that doth to all like God appeere Al those that loue you al-beloued Two Will blesse and loue him for it blest of God To comfort Innocents and Orphanes too That ruin'd were by fell Disasters Rod. Liue like His Sonne that liv'd too like him selfe And dide like one deere to Him without like He wrackt his fortunes on false Favors shelfe Which are this worlds that smiles wheÌ„ it doth strike And that thou mai'st thy country glorifie No lesse then hee all pray then needes must I. I. D. To the R. Honorable Sr. Iohn Popham Knight Lord chiefe-Iustice of England c. IVstly seveare seveare in Mercies cause Sith it is mercie mercie-wanting men To cut of with the razor of the lawes That wounds the wounders of their brethren To thee graue Cato are these lines adrest As proofes of what respect they beare thy fame Which with these VVorthies shal be here imprest By my best Pen in Honor of thy name If best deseruers of the publike weale Should not be memorized of the Muse Shee should her proper vertue so conceale And so conceal'd should that and them abuse To free her then and thee from so great wrong Liue lines with Pophams earned praises long I. D. To the R. Honorable and most learned Lord the Lord Henry Haward c. WHat hope the noble vertuous and the learn'd May haue they having now so rare a King In thee learn'd vertuous noble Lord 's discern'd In whom these flourisht without cherrishing Where vertue raignes her subiects shal beare rule The learn'd and vertuous shee wil haue to sway For vice wel-learned is but arm'd Misrule By whom the vertuous stil are made awaie Honors doe alter manners in â—those men That are to honor and good manner foes In thee that is not to be feared then For each with thee from thy conception groes And sith Apollo now doth water them They wil grow great togither with the stemme I. D. To the Right Noble